Streets of Ravetham

Kaelen’s mind spiraled into a disorienting haze as the scene unfolded before him. His daughters, twisted little creatures with their charm and cruelty, looked innocent, almost angelic. He watched Celesse, perched on Mira’s back as if her mother were nothing more than a well-trained pet. Mira now reduced to this... thing. Her blank, submissive expression broke Kaelen’s heart. Xyra stood over Arian, her slitted blue eyes glowing with an unsettling intensity, forcing cake into her brother’s mouth with a cruel smirk. No one else seemed to notice or care. The others, Jason, Surge, even Seraphis, were either too lost in their own drunken haze or simply used to the bizarre dynamic. The room was filled with an eerie acceptance, as if this grotesque dance was just another night.

Kaelen’s breath hitched as he realized just how deep this went. His daughters held sway over them all, their beautiful faces hiding the monsters beneath. They were his little devils, but he couldn’t punish them. No matter how hard he tried to steel himself, the sight of their cherubic faces softened his resolve. They were his precious little girls—dangerous, yes, but also too adorable to scold.

His gaze landed on Arian, who sat rigidly, his face pale, and agitation rippling off him in waves. His son’s icy blue eyes darted between Xyra and Kaelen, as if calculating the odds of an escape. Kaelen couldn’t let that continue. As much as his daughters were like living dolls of cruelty, he couldn't ignore his son.

Taking one last sip from the goblet of blood, the metallic taste mingling with the sickly sweetness, Kaelen placed the glass down on a nearby table. He crossed the room, his boots heavy against the marble floor. Xyra pouted as he approached, her eyes narrowing in disappointment at the thought of him intervening. She slunk away toward the gathering of her sisters and More, whispering secrets to each other as they circled around Mira, who was being petted like a loyal hound. The sight was surreal—haunting, even—and yet, Kaelen found no words to stop it.

Kaelen pushed the image away, his heart heavy with dread, and approached Arian. “What’s going on?” he asked quietly.

Arian’s icy eyes met his with a cold, calculated glare. “How do I know you’re not under their glamor too, Father?” His voice was low, filled with a bitterness Kaelen had never heard from his son before. “I’m tired of how much they get away with.”

Kaelen sighed, running a hand through his white hair. He knelt beside Arian, his voice soft and steady, though his own mind was spinning. “I know what you mean, son. I’ve been fighting their nasty charm all night.” He chuckled, though it was devoid of humor. “But have you ever thought about what they are going through? Born into a world where one look can control anyone, anything they desire—including their own mothers.” His voice dropped, almost conspiratorial. “We should be grateful they’ve shown restraint. They could destroy everything if they wanted.”

Arian’s gaze darkened, his eyes hardening as if Kaelen had just said the most absurd thing imaginable. “Father, I’ve never used my glamor on anyone. If I can show restraint, so can they. You’re just making excuses for their bad behavior.” His voice cut through Kaelen like a blade. Sharp. Accusing. But also painfully true.

Kaelen felt a chill run down his spine, but instead of confronting the truth in Arian’s words, he hugged his son tightly. “And that’s why I love you, Arian,” he whispered into the boy’s ear. “Because you’ve mastered the ability to resist temptation. Thank you, my son. But as the eldest, wouldn’t you agree that you bear some responsibility for letting your sisters do as they please?”

Arian pulled back, flustered, his face turning red with embarrassment. He stammered, “B-but Dad, they outnumber me. I can’t stand against all three of them.”

Kaelen smirked, a grim, knowing smile. “Not anymore, son. You have me now.”

The words hung in the air, heavy and laced with a promise that felt both comforting and dangerous. Arian’s tension eased, but a flicker of doubt lingered in his eyes. The truth was, Kaelen wasn’t sure if he was enough to stop them either. The horror of it all twisted deep inside him—he loved them, but they were powerful, uncontrollable forces, barely restrained by his influence.

Across the room, Celesse, Selene, and Xyra watched, their eyes gleaming with a mixture of mischief and malevolence, their voices a soft, eerie hum as they toyed with Mira like a broken doll. They knew Kaelen and Arian were talking about them, but they didn’t care. They had their own plans, their own games to play.

Kaelen knew this was only the beginning. His daughters were monsters, yes—but they were also *his* monsters. And as much as he tried to deny it, there was a part of him, deep down in the darkest recesses of his mind, that admired them for it.