In the end Nikola had been saved by Nathaniel knocking loudly on the door and complaining that Ryota was eating the blankets. Nikola thought that the boy exaggerated it all. But when Wei Caihong pulled a key out and let him go to the children Nikola rushed to their room only to see Ryota…chewing on a blanket with another one torn at the floor.

He went calmly to him and tugged the cloth from his mouth. Ryota growled and made an attempt to snatch it back.

“My teeth itch, Pa.” He said and Nikola nodded. They would have to pay for the blankets. He looked around the room for any other damage but fortunately found nothing.

“You will probably be changing them soon. If a tooth goes loose then tie it to a string and run in the opposite direction of whatever you tied it to.” Said Nikola. It had been centuries since he had to deal with a small child. The last one being Nathaniel. So, he wasn’t sure about what other advice he could give.

“Can’t you use magic to make my teeth stop itching, Pa?” Whined Ryota and Nikola petted his head.

“No, it has to come naturally. As a fox didn’t you change your teeth?” Ryota shook his head. Why should he change his teeth? They never itched before.

Nikola scooped the ruined blankets and went to the receptionist to explain to her what had happened. She didn’t seem to believe him and growled at him.

“No pets! The next one I see is going straight into the pot!” Nikola assured her they didn’t have any pets and then dragged his feet back to his room. He opened the door to see Penemue smirking at him, Wei Caihong sitting on her lap.

“Please, let me control you.” Said Wei Caihong in such a gentle voice that Nikola palled. He closed the door behind him and approached his two spouses.

“No.” He said simply as he laid on the bed. Wei Caihong climbed off of Penemue and straddled him.

“I want to try just once.” Said Wei Caihong. A delicate hand uncovered a creamy shoulder and Penemue kissed it. The bed dipped as Nikola was straddled by another warm body. He groaned. He couldn’t help himself, he reached out his hands to hold them, marveling at their softness.

“Ah, ah, ah. We play after you agree.” Said Wei Caihong, his hand over Nikola, pushing it down. But he did it slowly so Nikola got a good feel of the hip under his hand. And then of the shapely leg connected to it. Not too hard, not too soft. Perfect for a woman.

“What are you going to make me do?” He said finally. He looked up to see that Penemue’s hands were trailing over Wei Caihong’s chest. Playing with his breast. There was a promise in the angel’s mischievous eyes and Nikola wanted to see where it led.

“I will make you tell me the truth. I have some questions for you and ach…”

Wei Caihong moaned as his nipple was tugged. He slapped at Penemue’s hand.

“Careful, will you? You know I am sensitive!” He complained and he received a kiss to the shoulder in response.

“Eager for a romp in the sheets is what you are. I am beginning to like you, my Ebony.” Said Penemue as she trailed kisses down the length of the shoulder, pulling at the robe covering it and revealing more skin for Nikola to marvel at. He reached out to touch the cold soft flesh and his hand was immediately snatched and brough back down at his side.

“You hide many things from me.” Said Wei Caihong sternly. “You both do. I will not have it.” A hand sneaked inside his robe and he sucked in a breath, leaning into the owner of the hand.

“Fine, just stop teasing. Both of you.” Said Nikola as he stared pointedly at Penemue who looked unapologetically at him. But she removed the hand and then hugged Wei Caihong’s now naked shoulders. Wei Caihong quickly said the incantation before Nikola had a chance to change his mind. And then Nikola was in a daze. He knew where he was but not why. And it didn’t matter to him anyway. He only needed to listen to the beautiful woman before him. His life depended on it; of that he was sure.

“Who do you love more? Me or Penemue?” Asked Wei Caihong and Nikola blinked. Well, that was a silly question.

“You.” He answered simply and the beautiful woman smiled while the beauty behind her frowned.

“And why is that?” Asked Wei Caihong, hoping to hear an answer different than it was because of his looks or since they were soulmates.

“You have never hurt me.” Said Nikola without giving it much thought. Even now, when his will was almost robbed from him, he was willing. “And you love me back.” He received a kiss then. But his Ebony was crying now and he reached out a finger to brush the tears away.

“Will you ever leave me if Penemue asked it of you?” Asked Wei Caihong. This was it. The moment of truth. Because Penemue was very good at getting what she wanted out of Nikola. And this was Wei Caihong’s greatest fear.

“Never. But I won’t leave Penemue either.” Said Nikola. The daze was beginning to clear. Wei Caihong looked like he might want to ask him more questions but he saw the clearer gaze of Nikola and held himself back. He had used up all of his magic and Nikola hadn’t even been ten minutes under the spell. Just how powerful was he?

“You could have asked me all that without the spell.” Said Nikola when he regained his senses. He moved so Wei Caihong and Penemue could lay on the bed too. “And I would have been truthful.”

“Well, I am disappointed you love me less.” Said Penemue from behind Wei Caihong. Nikola expected to be hit with a mind controlling spell for his admission. “But it is to be expected. I have to tell you something. Something that neither of you will like.”

Nikola frowned. He moved his arms to hold the two of them tighter to himself.

“What is it?” He asked and Penemue shifted so that her head was resting on Wei Caihong’s shoulder.

“I can no longer see your future. Back when you brought me back from the Abyss, I had orders from Samyaza to force you to take my place. I saw myself doing it but I held myself back. And now that I changed your faith, I see only mist when I try to peer into it.”

Nikola hummed. It was good that Penemue had somehow resisted a command with the name invoked. For Samyaza liked to throw it around often. It must have taken a lot of her to do so. She must have made a deal with something to do so, but with what?

“Who helped you resist the command?” He asked, curious.

“My father.” Said Penemue and she sighed. “He is not as gone as people think. I felt his presence in the Abyss. But he seems to have gone there willingly. And he refuses to get out. Also, don’t look into the Abyss ever again. It angers him.”

Nikola nodded. He didn’t want to be struck by lightning in the middle of a village and then have to explain why he hadn’t died to the gawkers. Or to be dragged into the Abyss.

“He didn’t ask anything of you?” He asked and Penemue looked guiltily at him.

“He asked I find my wayward older brother, Lucifer.” Nikola sucked in a breath. During the century of sorrow Lucifer had earned himself a new name: Mortifer. There was no way that the archangel would want to be found.

“Do you have a time limit?” He asked and when Penemue shook her head he breathed a sigh of relief. “Then it will never come to pass.” He closed his eyes to try to fall asleep but Penemue’s chuckle made his open them again.

“What my father wills always happens, my Emerald. If he says we are to find Lucy, then we will find him. The next corpse infestation or ghost haunting is ending up powering a communication ritual. I miss my older brother. I wish to at least know he is well.”

“Wasn’t he the first rebel? He had plenty of time to adjust to live among humans. I am sure he is fine.” Said Nikola, not wanting to speak with Mortifer. The archangel had destroyed whole legions of Nephilim like they were nothing. During the battle of the angels, which was Lucifer’s duel with Azazel, Azazel had managed to cut off one of his golden wings and the angel had retreated.

“Can this wait until after Azazel has given birth and has weaned his daughter?”

Because if they were going to speak with a grumpy Archangel who might end up wanting to kill them after what Penemue had to tell him then they needed to have someone strong on their side.

“My brother likes to bark, but he does not bite family. You’ll be fine. He even approves of you.”

“He approves of me so much he stuck a lance through my left leg?” Asked Nikola with a raised eyebrow. Penemue giggled and closed her eyes. Soon Nikola followed her. He dreamed of a golden angel with a single wing. And of a bloody battlefield, hoping beyond hope that history didn’t repeat itself.

The next morning it was the day of the competition. This time Nikola got extra early so he could get his hand on some breakfast. He found a frog leg in his stew and then a child screamed that they were missing their pet bird.

“No pets.” Said the inn owner, rubbing her hands together. Nikola watched as the child broke down crying and the inn owner got into a spat with the girl’s parents. His children ran down the stairs and attacked the food upon seeing it on the table. They did set aside some for Wei Caihong and Penemue which made Nikola both proud and irked. They could have done the same for him, these bottomless pits of his. He was given Han Fengfan and he begun to feed her some milk. When he was done he handed her back to Ryota who was telling her a story about three pigs and a wolf. Nikola had never heard this story so he listened in as he ate. And so did the all the children in the room.

Wei Caihong came soon down the stairs laughing with Penemue. Nikola smiled at how close they were. It was good that they have forgotten their rivalry over him.

“Today when you take the stage you make sure to smile more. You looked like death warmed over last time.” Said Wei Caihong as he took his rice bowl and he placed some pork and seaweed over it.

“I will, Master Wei.” Said Han Shanyuan as he ate nervously. Last night he had been given a magic drink to help his memory after dinner by Master Nikola who told him he was going to be giving it to him from now on. He also said that he had been giving it to Wei Zhaohui ever since he had started school. Which explains his good memory.

“And listen carefully to the counter arguments of your opponent. I read his essay. Why families divide and when is well structured and has good key points. But you can poke some holes in it. But be warned, this boy will not be above making an example of your own family to poke holes in your counter arguments.” Said Penemue and Han Shanyuan got a thoughtful look. His only family was Han Fengfan and…oh.

They considered him a part of the family even though they weren’t going to adopt him. Wei Zhaohui gripped his hand beneath the table and gave it a squeeze. Han Shanyuan blinked back tears. It didn’t matter how good the other boy’s logic was, Han Shanyuan was going to defend his family’s image.