Author's note: this is from Seraphina's point of view

- - -

​​

After seeing me stab her in the arm, Mona entered panic mode and I feared that she will pass out or run away.

"Watch!", I exclaimed to get Mona's attention and pointed at her stab wound that was healing at the speed visible to the naked eye.

"WOW!", Mona shouted. "Holy fuck!"

I laughed while thinking how that was probably my expression when Aldus stabbed me the first time in his lab in Venice. Ah, we have come a long way since then.

"I forgot to say that other than the non-aging and resilience to diseases, you also heal fast. As long as a piece of you is not cut off completely, the wound will close without leaving a scar behind."

Mona observed her now perfectly healed arm with fervent curiosity.

"This is amazing…", she said under her breath. "If it doesn't hurt like hell, I would ask you to do it again. Is this what it means to be your familiar?"

"Mhm…", I confirmed with a hum and raised my glass.

"Will I die if I bleed out?", Mona asked.

"How about we don't test that theory? You are not indestructible, just not aging."

I wondered if making her my familiar was too soon because she was overenthusiastic. But she already took it, so it was too late to back down.

I waved my hand that was holding the glass, reminding Mona that I want a toast.

After clinking glasses with Mona, I spoke, "Welcome, Mona. As my familiar, you are officially not a regular human anymore. As such, there are certain things you need to keep on your mind. First, don't expose yourself as anything other than a human. There are different creatures out there and you don't know who is watching. If they capture you and figure out your special constitution, it won't end well for you and probably for me either."

Mona nodded in understanding. "I can imagine that many people would kill to get their hands on something like this." She looked at me seriously. "Don't worry. I will be careful as I don't want to end up like a lab rat."

I was glad that she was aware of this.

Over the years, Mona proved to be smart, reliable, and trustworthy, and that is why I decided to make her my familiar. Well, Aldus was the one who urged me to go through it, but I warmed up to the idea eventually.

"Did you say... other creatures?", Mona asked when my words sank in.

"I can't tell you everything as of now because you need to adapt to your current identity. Sometimes, the less you know, the safer you will be…"

There were many things I couldn't disclose to Mona, not yet at least. But I made sure to emphasize that our fates are connected and that she needs to act like nothing changed.

Gradually, I will reveal to Mona more information and I hope that she will not freak out and regret her decision to be my familiar.

- - -

Author's note: this is from Aldus's point of view

- - -

~ Genoa, Italy ~

I was glad to hear that Serina's trip to London went well.

She was excited about her penthouse apartment, saying that it's perfect and she loves it.

Serina mentioned that the only thing missing is the garden, and I thought of ordering some plants to surprise her the next time when she visits.

Mona didn't disappoint as a host, and she became Serina's familiar. That was something to celebrate.

Serina was concerned that Mona doesn't know what she got herself into, but I didn't care.

Mona doesn't have a way out, and her livelihood will depend on Serina which means that Serina got herself a loyal follower.

Does she really think that others are willing to put their lives in someone else's hands?

All of my familiars were desperate or on the verge of perishing when I made them an offer. There is no such thing as cajoling them into eternal servitude.

Options are to serve me or to perish. It's that simple.

Serina is too kind. I don't want her to change, but I am aware that it's only a matter of time before someone takes advantage of it.

There is a reason why good people don't last long and as much as I'm warning Serina to watch her back, I see that she can't stop herself when someone needs help. It's natural for her to assume others are good and that will come to bite her back big time.

Serina wants to be independent, but in order to truly do so, she will need to erect walls around herself and act with caution or she will suffer. Did she forget that she almost got married to a dragon? But I didn't want to talk about it and spoil the mood. Not now.

I suggested going out for a dinner somewhere, to celebrate her first familiar, but Serina told me to hold off with that, and then she produced an old book she brought with her from London.

I thought that Serina will find in that house memories and return with some souvenirs. After all, Marius was in charge of checking that place for traps and hidden rooms, and he said there were none.

I was caught unprepared when I opened the book and instead of a manual for playing the piano, there were notes that reminded me of journal entries.

We went over the text several times before summarizing what we knew.

First, Amelia Bennett was some kind of a servant to someone, and she got a mission to take care of a child.

Second, she hired two greedy people (this matches the description of Serina's so-called parents perfectly) to fill in the role of her parents and Amelia was in a rush.

Third, the child was not human, but a person named Argona managed to do something that will conceal the child's nature until reaching maturity.

Fourth, Amelia felt the urgency to abandon her identity as someone was watching. She decided that it's in the child's best interest to leave assets to the child and to disappear.

All this fits with what I suspected about Serina.

They mention maturity, but that holds a different meaning for different creatures.

Serina was not human, and per Serina's knowledge, her powers didn't manifest until that evening when she was attacked in Venice.

Was Serina no more than a human because she didn't reach her maturity or because of some magic that Argona cast? Assuming that it's magic, would it wear off on its own, or when Serina reaches maturity she can break the shackles?

I have testing materials in the lab, and we confirmed that the bindings and paper were old, placing them about two centuries in the past. However, the ink used was of newer date, not older than two-to-three decades.

This only confirmed that writings could be about Serina.

I also analyzed handwritten birthday cards that Amelia Bennett wrote to Serina and confirmed that the handwriting matches with the one in the book.

"I'm glad you thought of bringing these cards, Serina."

She beamed at my praise.

"Now we know that these pages are written by your grandmother.", I voiced my thoughts.

"If that was her, and I'm the child she speaks about… then, she is not my grandmother.", Serina pointed out.

I had to agree with that.

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