Seth had managed to turn the rumors around, fix it so the siblings believed that the ‘attack’ had just been a training exercise gone wrong. Copia got an earful that evening from Sister Imperator for the stunt as she hadn’t been warned beforehand. Luckily he was able to convince her that, had it been a real attack, there would have been no warning to begin with and that seemed to calm her ire on the subject, though she was still weary. Annie had spent the rest of that afternoon tending to the ghouls' wounds, creating salves and poultices tailored to how each would need them. Rain and Swiss sat patiently and let her fuss over them, but it was Dew who gave her trouble. It took her threatening no dessert for a month for him to stop grumbling and allow her to tend to him. She turned to Kali next and he fought against it, insisting that he be left alone to suffer the full extent of his wounds as a type of penance for his actions. She would have none of it and, despite his fussing - and more than likely with the aid of the other ghouls glaring at him until he relented - she was able to patch him up like the others. She had every intention to go down to the infirmary then and tend to Mysti next but her own exhaustion caught up with her and Aether insisted she go rest before anything else.

She slept the rest of the day and through the night.


The next morning she had been stiff and sore, her muscles weak and bruised. Copia stayed with her as long as he could that morning before work called him away, helping her change and brush her hair. He even brought her breakfast in bed complete with a fresh cut rose from the garden. She didn’t think she would ever get used to him going out of his way to take care of her like he did. That afternoon she was finally able to rise from the bed, albeit with Cirrus’ help, and Lilit came to sit with her. She was doing better herself today, had more color in her cheeks, but she was still really tired and ended up napping for a while.

When Lilit woke up Annie told her about Kali, about everything that happened. Lilit was shocked and enraged, upset that this ghoul had hurt all their friends and that her Mountain had to fight him too. But she was glad everyone was okay, and after listening to Annie tell her about her time as a child, living here with the ghoul and pleading that she give him a chance, she relented. She trusted her sister, so if she trusted this ghoul even after all that, then so would she. After an early dinner, most of which went untouched by the smaller witch even though it was one of her favorites, Annie had Aether bring Kali up to her room to meet Lilit. Aether was watchful, very much still on edge and ready to act if needed, and Lilit was nervous, forcing her anger aside to give this ghoul a chance. In no time, though, they were chatting like long lost friends and he was so very happy to have another little sister.

The day was wearing on Annie so, after only a couple of hours, she reluctantly asked them if they would be okay leaving to let her rest. Lilit was understanding and, after giving her sister a tight hug, she left to return to her rooms. Kali was a little more reluctant to leave, worried about her, but she insisted that she would be fine after some more rest. Hugging both ghouls goodbye she laid on the couch intending to read more of the journal but ended up falling asleep before she even finished the first sentence. She woke up at some point later to find herself in bed, changed into a nightgown and embraced by strong arms and the scent of leather and incense. Turning to snuggle into his chest, she fell back into a peaceful slumber.

Due to the attack and her needing to recover, Annies class on Wednesday and Thursday had been canceled, and on Friday she finally gave her quiz. The students had done a marvelous job and were all quick to think and concoct a basic poultice for both abrasions and burns. Once class was over she took the remaining unused herbs, tucked away into her satchel with anything else she might need, and headed to the infirmary. Ace was, as they had been since they found out, at Mysti’s side, currently carefully curled up next to her on the bed napping as Mysti combed her fingers through their neon blue hair.

After a heated discussion with the nurses and head doctor, Annie tended to the ghoulette herself. Carefully unwrapping the bandages she frowned at how red and inflamed the sutured skin was and she ground her teeth in frustration that she hadn’t powered through her exhaustion earlier to care for the ghoulette herself. Mysti tried to assure her that it was fine, that the doctors had taken good care of her but Annie wouldn’t hear it. She was halfway through rebandaging her after applying her own poultices to the wounds when she started crying, causing Mysti to panic. It took several long minutes of reassurances and comforting words and hugs before Annie calmed enough to finish what she was doing. Guilt would continue to eat at her, but being able to finally tend to her friend herself she felt a little more at ease about it all.


When she was finished she was able to convince Ace to take a walk with her so they could talk. Once out in the garden she sat the ghoul on a bench and held their hands as she calmly explained what was going on. She winced as their grip tightened painfully around her hands as their rage flared but she was able to calm them with relative ease and, once the ghoul finally tuned in and listened to her, they agreed, very reluctantly, to try and give Kali a chance.


“Only for you, Levy. If anyone else asked I’d tell them they could shove my boot so far up where the sun don’t shine they would be able to taste it. I’m not happy about this, not at all, and I want to rip his fucking throat out myself for all he did to you and Mysti and the others. But… For you, I’ll try.”

Saturday was uneventful for the most part. She woke up alone, Copia having been summoned to an early meeting. After eating some breakfast she made her way down to the kitchens where she was greeted by the ghouls there rushing over to ask how she was doing. They parted when Sage walked over and the tall ghoul, to the shock of not only Annie but the others, pulled her into a gentle hug. After reassuring him she was fine he finally let her go. Together they spent the rest of the morning until lunch prepping for her to bake. At lunch she helped them prepare the food before joining her friends at their usual table in the dining hall. Kali, who Annie could tell was uncomfortably nervous, joined them. He was quiet, watching the group laugh and joke with each other. He would catch lingering glances from the group and glares from the gremlin, but other than that they were all friendly and tried including him in the conversations. The hardest thing for him, though, was seeing Rain and the human, Seth, hold hands and flirt openly now that their relationship was known, regret stabbing deep in his heart for what happened all those years ago. He was glad, though, to see Rain so happy.


Table cleared, Annie went back into the kitchens followed by Kali and Dew, the latter assuring Aether he would keep an eye on the other ghoul. Knowing how Dew could be, she ordered him to sit in his usual spot on the counter and watch until she asked for his help earning her a pouty glare. Annie and the kitchen ghouls eased into a familiar routine, the ghouls forgoing their usual appliances to follow Annie’s lead as she mixed and prepared everything with her bare hands. Kali watched over her shoulder, intrigued and hit with a sense of nostalgia as he remembered this was how Morrgan would prepare all her meals and treats. He flushed when Annie insisted he help and he nervously did so, following her lead. The nerves slowly ebbed to joy and he found himself having fun getting his hands messy as he was helping to prepare the doughs and batters for the goodies she was making, laughing when Dew would try to sneak over and steal numerous samples only for him to be shooed away by Annie, more than once having his ass zapped with a spark of electricity when he successfully managed to nab something, laughing loudly as he scrambled back onto his perch with his stolen loot.

Between baking cycles Annie would teach the ghouls some songs her mother had taught her, the kitchen echoing with the many voices and laughter. It drew the attention of other passing ghouls and siblings who would stop in and enjoy a few free moments, some lingering longer to sample some of the still warm and gooey cookies or brownies before heading out to go about their days. The word spread and, as the afternoon drew to a close, there was a steady stream of people from new siblings to seasoned clergy making their way over for some of the fresh goodies. Last batch finished, Annie prepared a few plates of the goodies. She gave one to Dew, telling him that, although he was a little shit and didn’t deserve anything after all of his stolen samples, that plate was just for him. She handed him another, making sure he understood that one was for the others to have and if he so much as touched a single crumb he would get absolutely nothing next time she baked. He nodded, more than content with his generous plate. Another smaller one she handed to  Kali after giving him a hug, telling him he didn’t have to share if he didn’t want to. The final three plates she stacked and, with a wave to the kitchen ghouls, headed towards the infirmary.


She found Ace once more with Mysti, the pair sitting and chatting happily on her bed as the ghoul painted her nails. After checking her wounds, all of which were far less inflamed and already healing at a faster rate, and spending some time chatting with them she let them be, leaving behind one of the plates of goodies for them to share. Returning upstairs she knocked and let herself into Lilit’s rooms finding Mountain napping on the couch, Lilit laid across him also asleep. Her heart swelled at how adorable they looked and left one of the remaining plates on the counter for them before leaving, locking the door behind her and going back to her shared rooms with Copia.


When she entered she was greeted with a mouthwatering aroma of garlic and spices and smiled seeing Copia at the stove standing over a sizzling pan, his old boombox on the far counter playing music he swayed his hips to as he hummed along. Quiet as a mouse, she closed the door behind her and set the last plate on the island before sneaking up behind Copia. He jumped and let out a loud sound of surprise, dropping his utensil of choice with a clatter in the pan when her arms suddenly wrapped around his waist from behind. She couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled out of her as she kissed the back of his shoulder.

“Satan help me,” he sighs with a groan, picking up the dropped utensil. “You will be the death of me one of these days, amore. You know that, right?”

“Eh, you love me,” she smiles, resting her chin atop his shoulder to look at what he was making. “It smells really good. What’s on the menu tonight?”

“Garlic alfredo. Working on the sauce now. I’ve got some seasoned chicken breasts baking in the oven as well. Hungry?”

“How can I not be with how good this is smelling already? Can I do anything to help?”

“Ah, that is not necessary. We’ve got a little bit yet for the chicken to be done. I’d say about fifteen minutes or so until I have to check it.”

Annie hums in response and places a gentle kiss to the side of his neck before pulling away. He sets the utensil on the stone holder and shuts off the burner before turning to face her, pulling her back into his arms as he moves to lean against the counter.

“How was your day, amore?”

“It was good. Spent most of it in the kitchens. Had lunch with our ghouls before baking. Went and saw Mysti. She’s doing good, healing well now that I'm using my poultices on her. I brought back dessert, by the way.”

He smiles and brings a hand up to stroke his thumb over her cheek, trailing his fingers against her jaw to her chin before tilting her chin up to place a kiss to her lips. “Bene. I’m glad your day was good.  I cannot wait to try your goodies, but I think you’d make a much better dessert. Your kisses alone are always sweet and I can’t get enough.”

“You, sir,” Annie laughs, tracing her fingers over his chest as she smiles at him, “Are such a flirt.”

“Ah, but you love it, no?”

“Have you heard me complain or say otherwise?”

“No.”

“Then I love it.” She laughs again and leans up, kissing him softly.

They kiss for a few minutes, unrushed, just enjoying the affection and closeness of each other after a long day. Eventually they part, each taking a deep breath as they smile.

“You heard about my day. Tell me about yours?”

He leans back against the counter, his smile falling slightly as he sighs. “It was… Well. It was annoying. That meeting… cazzo. Thomas still has a stick shoved up his ass, but then again he has always been like that. Our little event caused a discussion and it was decided all other abbeys would start training drills to ensure they would be prepared should anything happen, so that's good I guess. Never hurts to be too prepared."

He leans back, his eyes unfocused on a random spot on the far wall, a frown settling in his face. Annie watched him, seeing his eyes flick down and away before returning to their spot, recognizing he was thinking deeply about something.

"What is it?" She asked, reaching up to brush a stray wisp of hair from his forehead. "I've come to know that look. You're thinking about something."

"Si, I am." His eyes turn back to her and he strokes her cheek with the backs of his fingers before starting again. "I never told you, but back in Karlstad, while we were circled with the ghouls, Lucifer came to me. Gave me a warning."

Annie's eyes widened in awe. "Lucifer came to you? What was that like?"

"Intense," he laughs softly. "Always intense. When he visits I always see or hear his hellfire, hear the imps and demons whispering and cackling.  When he speaks it is loud and consuming, yet at the same time it is barely a whisper."

"You've had visions of him before?"

"Si. Once when I rose to my position as Cardinal,  though that was through a ritual we must do. He's come to me twice more of his own will…both after you arrived."

"Why? What could he want?"

"The first time was on the first night after we found you. He told me I had to unlock my powers. I still do not know what he means.  And at Karlstad it was to give a warning."

Annie frowns and draws back to regard him more carefully. "What warning?"

" 'Protect thy flock, you're against the clock.
My son, my faith is in you.
You'll be deceived, and on Midsummer eve,
More of my children will fall.' "

"But Midsummer…that's a month away. Is that why so many changes have been happening? More ghouls being summoned?"

He nods and sighs. "He would not tell me more than that, and with so little to go on and no new information we've been doing what we can to prepare."

Annie is quiet for a moment, worrying at her lip as she thinks over what he said. Her eyes slowly rise to him,  brows drawn together in concern. "He only said 'My children'."

"Yes, we are his children. We follow in his path, walk in the shadow of our dark father."

"I.. I don't think… but I could be wrong." She looks away, biting more harshly at her lip.

"What is it, cara? What don't you think?"

"He might not have meant you. Meant the church."

"What do you mean? He came to me so how could he not have been referring to his flock?"


"What am I, Vincenzo?"

He blinks in confusion, eyes narrowing briefly at her sudden question.  "My immediate answer is 'you are my goddess,' but I do not think that is what you meant."

Annie giggles lightly and shakes her head. "No, that is not what I meant. What am I? Why were we hunted?"

"Because you are a witch."

"Exactly."

"But amore," he sighs, shrugging his shoulders lightly. "I do not understand what you are trying to get at."

"Not all witches follow the old ways as I do. Many covens out there devote themselves to darker arts. To Lucifer. It's partially why we as a whole are persecuted. Why so many see witches as evil and bad."

He looks at her carefully, taking in her words trying to figure out what she was getting at. His brows raised and his eyes widened when it clicked.

"You are saying a coven could be the next to be attacked?"

She nods. "Because of our isolation, I don't know much about other witches and their covens.  But… maybe my mom did."

"How could you find out?"

"I find her book. The one she hid back home."

Copia sighs lightly, his hands flexing against her hips as he frowns. "I want to help you get your book, but I cannot leave here for some time.  I have too many responsibilities to tend. Masses, rituals,  summonings. Not to mention overseeing and coordinating all these changes. We've got more transfers coming the day after tomorrow..."

"So don't leave. I can go with some ghouls."

"Cara…"

"Don't 'cara' me. I know where it is I have to look. I just need to get there."

He sighs and brings his hand up to cup her cheek. "I want to go with you, though. To see where it is you came from."

He looks at her, eyes moving across her face as he thinks a moment before sighing. "Tomorrow. We will go Tomorrow."

"Don't you have-"

"This is more important," he cuts her off. "I have Mass tonight. Tomorrow we are summoning more ghouls. I don't need to be here for that, the other Cardinals can handle it."

Annie eyes mist slightly and she gives him a small smile before hugging him tightly, her head tucking under his chin as his arms wrap around her. "Thank you."

"For you, anything, amore. You know this."

She nods and gives him another squeeze. Taking a deep breath her nose scrunches slightly and she giggles, pulling back.

"I… think I can safely say your chicken is done, hun."

"What makes you-"

He smells it then, smoky, burned herbs and he groans, gently pushing her away as he grabs the oven mitts and opening the oven to a slight puff of darker smoke before reaching in to pull the baking sheet out. The chicken was smoking from a large char patch on both and he grimaced, setting the sheet on the stove top.

"I blame you," he laughs, closing the oven. "So distracting. It's a wonder more of our dinners aren't burnt."

"You aren't gonna blame me for your lousy cooking skills," she quips with a playful tone, holding in a giggle as she draws her lips in to bite back the smile that's twitching at her cheeks. He slowly turns to her, one of his brows raised sharply in question, his own smile wide on his face.

"My cooking is lousy now?" He asks, trying and failing to keep a serious tone. He takes a step towards her and she backs up, her own smile widening as she laughs nervously.

"Oh yeah.  Who burns chicken? I never have."

"Amore…" He steps forward and again she steps back.

"...Yes?" She can barely restrain her giggles.

"I am going to get you for saying that." He laughs and lunges at her. She shrieks and turns, darting around the island with him hot on her heels. She rounds the table and into the seating area, jumping over the slim coffee table, laughter bubbling out of her as he chuckles close behind.

It was when she went to round the couch that he grabbed her arm, tugging her close. Their shifting momentum knocked them off balance and she shrieked again as they fell into the couch, her under him, bouncing off the soft edge of the cushion, rolling to the floor with him under her. They laid there laughing loudly Annie straddling his middle leaning over him, her hair a wild cascading mess of fire as she panted, looking down at his bright laughing smile that scrunched his eyes closed.

"Looks…looks like you're the one who got me, eh?" He pants, looking up at her. "You're not hurt, are you?"

She shakes her head, a blush on her cheeks as she looks at him. His laughter finally subsides and he gazes back up at her, his eyes bright with latent mirth. She leans down, not realizing it, his hands sliding up her thighs to hold her waist, one continuing up to gently cup her cheek. 

She kisses him gently, finally closing that small distance and he groans lightly into her mouth, hand sliding back to tangle his fingers in her hair as the kiss deepens. Only when they need air do they part to breathe heavily.


"I love you, Levanna," he whispers, brushing his nose against hers as she opens her eyes to meet his once more.

"And I love you, Vincenzo. Even if your cooking is lousy," she teases again with a wide smile. He groans and lets his head thump back against the floor.

"Fine then, see if I cook for you ever again."

She laughs and shifts to lay on him, his arms circling her once she's settled.


They lay together for a few minutes, their heart rates slowing and content smiles on their faces. Only when her stomach grumbles do they get up from the floor and returned to the kitchen, him to the stove and Annie to set the table

Only those slight spots on the chicken were burned, the rest of it untouched. Cutting these sections off, he finished constructing their dinner before plating it. They ate in a comfortable silence, casting teasing smirks and glances at each other. Plates cleared and washed they stole away to the bedroom where they cuddled until he had to leave for Mass. Annie tried to stay awake for his return but the pull of sleep was too strong and she drifted off with a smile on her face, her heart still fluttering with love for her Cardinal and excitement at the chance to finally go home.