The Phantom’s Gambit

I hastily remove the pictures from the wall, one by one. But I wasn't fast enough. Just as I was pulling down the last photo, I heard Ava's voice behind me.

"What's Dominique's picture doing there?"

I pulled out the photo and tossed it into the bag with the others, then turned to Ava. Her question had reassured me that neither she nor her mother had snooped around my house and discovered the pictures while I was asleep. At least, that's what I hoped. The fact that she hadn't stumbled upon the entire wall of photos was a relief.

However, her mention of Dominique's name caught me off guard, causing my eyebrows to furrow in concern. How did she know about him? I wondered.

Ava inched closer, her eyes locked on mine, and stretched out her hand to offer me the glass of water. "I've seen supporters of his do some crazy things, but you... you take the cake," she said, as she gazed back at the now empty wall.

I was taken aback, unsure what she was insinuating. "What do you mean?" I asked, my brow furrowed in confusion. I hesitated for a moment before taking the glass of water from her, my eyes never leaving hers.

"I mean, if you want him to be mayor… you can support him in any of the ongoing rally, not hang his pictures in your house. That's so… cringe."

I registered two important pieces of information immediately. The first was that Dominique was contesting for mayor. This revelation struck me, highlighting just how much I had neglected to keep tabs on his activities. I couldn't help but wonder what other actions he might have taken while I was confined to a hospital bed, disconnected from the world around me.

The second thing that caught my attention was Ava's evident disdain for Dominique. It was clear that she wasn't a supporter of his, and her tone suggested a deep-seated hatred for him, a sentiment that seemed to run far beneath the surface.

Just as I was about to make further inquiries, a loud crash echoed from downstairs, followed by the sound of shattering glass drawing our attention away from the tense conversation. Ava quickly rushed down the stairs, and I followed close behind, wondering what was wrong.

As we descended, Ava suddenly stopped midway and turned to me, her expression stern. "Don't run," she cautioned. "It's not good for your health." With that, she darted off, leaving me momentarily stunned.

I couldn't help but think that her concern for my well-being was misplaced, given the potential danger that might be lurking downstairs. A life-threatening situation could be unfolding, and yet she was worried about my health? It seemed like a peculiar priority, but It also made me a bit happy knowing she had my interest at heart.

I pushed the thought aside and continued down the stairs, my heart racing with anticipation.

As I reached the bottom of the stairs, I saw Ava kneeling on the floor, carefully picking up the shattered remains of a plate. Celine was standing nearby, looking frazzled, while the babies were chuckling in their high chairs. The scene was chaotic, but it didn't appear to be life-threatening.

I breathed a sigh of relief, but my mind was still racing with questions. What had caused the commotion?

"Are you okay, what happened?" I asked Celine, concern etched on my face.

She turned to me, nodding hastily. "I was just about to call you and Ava to come downstairs to eat when I noticed the children."

I frowned, my mind racing with worst-case scenarios, before hurrying over to check on my babies. Ava followed closely behind me.

As I reached their high chairs, my eyes widened in shock. The babies' skin was covered in a fine, downy layer of soft, black fur, resembling the gentle coat of a kitten. It was as if they had suddenly developed a strange, velvety texture, sending a shiver down my spine.

I stood frozen, my eyes fixed on the babies as I stuttered out the words, "W-what's that on their bodies?" The room fell silent, with no one responding to my question. I turned to Celine, who still wore a baffled expression, her eyes wide with fear.

"Celine, what...what did you do to them?" I asked, my voice laced with a mix of concern and accusation.

Ava stepped forward, her eyes flashing with a stern warning. "Watch your tongue, young lady," she cautioned, her voice firm but controlled.

But she didn't stop there. Instead, she took a step closer, her eyes gleaming with an otherworldly intensity. "Those are their skins," she stated, her voice low and mysterious.

I felt a shiver run down my spine as I stared at Ava, my mind reeling with questions. "What do you mean skins?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. "That's not normal, is it? Is that what you...vampires have on you?" I hesitated, unsure if I should be voicing my suspicions out loud.

Ava's expression remained enigmatic, but I detected a flicker of something in her eyes - a hint of amusement, perhaps, or a glimmer of warning. Whatever it was, it only added to the sense of unease that was growing inside me.

"Vampires don't have that," Celine said, her voice breaking the silence that had fallen over the room. She walked towards me, her eyes locked on mine, and I could sense a mix of emotions swirling beneath her calm exterior.

"But other distinct species do," she continued, her words dripping with a sense of gravity. "And they're called werewolves."

I felt like I had been punched in the gut. Werewolves? Was she serious? I stood there, frozen in shock, as Celine stopped in front of me.

At first, it was Vampires now werewolves?

"That's what we need to talk about," she said, her voice firm but gentle. "About you, your children, and their father. Your parents were neither werewolves, so that could only mean one thing..." She paused, her eyes searching mine. "It was the person who left his semen in you."

The words hung in the air like a challenge, and I felt my mind reeling with the implications.

I knew who that was. The father of my children... But him being a werewolf? It sounded like something out of a fantasy novel, but the look on Celine's face told me that this was all too real.