Bound to Earth

37: Ear Piercings and Numbers

"What do you mean you can't get it done?" I rubbed my temples in gentle circles, a headache already forming. Brynjar glanced at me with curiosity as I growled into the phone.

"I'm sorry, Mistress, but it isn't possible. I can't give you Mirai's legal documents, or even get you custody over her." Diane sighed, sounding as irritated as me. She was a blessing, being able to deal with all the shit I gave her.

"And why is that?" I snarled loud enough for even Malachi to peak over the spine of his book.

"Mistress, she doesn't have any legal documents. The government doesn't know she exists." Diane whispered, as if afraid the government was listening to our conversation.

I barely believed what I was hearing. "I—What? Then does that mean—her . . ."

"Her father isn't in the system either, I'm assuming her mother wasn't either—immigrants. You should ask her more about her past, especially since she's a—"

"What she is doesn't matter. If the government doesn't know she exists, then clean up our tracts. Make it to where she's purely translucent, where we are the last people the authorities will go to if they ever find her." I quickly scrolled through my laptop, closing out of the many tabs I had open. "Have someone wipe my laptop clean too."

"Consider it done, Mistress." Diane was already typing away on her keyboard.

This woman deserved a promotion. 

The front door closed hard enough for me to pause and glance at Mirai, who'd come home with a scowl. "Thank you, Diane. I need to go but if you ever want a promotion, give me a call."

She chuckled into the phone. "I am satisfied where I am. Goodbye, Mistress." 

The phone clicked off and I turned to Mirai. "How was school?"

"Fine." She trudged across the room, her arms wrapped around her waist and head tilted down.

"What happened?" I shut my laptop and shoved it away, not wanting to touch my work for another decade. 

"I don't want to talk about it." Her voice broke and she sniffled, hard. She reached up and whipped her face, keeping her hands there for coverage.

"Do you want something to eat?" I was clearly supposed to say something, or possibly comfort her. Only, I didn't really know how. She always loved a delicious, warm meal. 

"No. I'm not hungry." She didn't even glance at the kitchen for a meal, let alone the four men sprawled across the living room. Though they did have an eye on her.

"Okay." What the hell was I supposed to do for emotional support? I didn't even know who I was supposed to beat up for her. "Why don't you go grab the throwing knives? I'll be out there in a second."

"I don't want to practice today. I'll be in my room." She didn't wait, sprinting across the rest of the kitchen to the stairs. Her footsteps were soundless against the wood stairs. We all expected her door to slam, only to be surprised by its soft click shut.

"I'll go talk to her." Malachi grabbed her plate of food and sprinted after her before any of us could do or say anything. 

I stood there, wanting to follow Malachi but keeping my feet planted where I was. If I was as pissed as her, I'd want my space too, and maybe someone to beat the shit out of. "Valentino." I grabbed his wrist and dragged him up. "Hurry and go get changed. We're leaving in 20 minutes."

He picked at his pajamas. "20 minutes? That's all the time I have to get ready? Where are we going?"

"Shopping," I grumbled.