Breeder

Second Partner (3)

Third Pov

".....They were allowed to live because they survived," Isabella answered, watching Erica closely.

Despite being so young, she didn't act her age. Sometimes, she felt as though she was someone- no, something- much older.

"Close. They were allowed to live because some of the children managed to escape."

Isabella took a sharp breath at the newfound information.

"And I'll tell you this now- some of the Moms were allowed to survive- at the expense of the Grandmas. Oh, and under my guidance and permit, of course. So, here's another question. How many within the staff hierarchy works for, with, or under me, do you think?"

Isabella's mind was reeling. She didn't understand the reason why Erica was telling all of this to her. Was it to help her? Was it a roundabout way of her asking Isabella to join forces with her? Or was it a threat to destroy her and everything that she's taken care of until now?

Isabella opened and closed her mouth like a fish out of water, trying to estimate a reasonable number of staff that Erica could be in cahoots with. But as she began to question Erica's real age, an infinite number of possibilities were showing up.

"Didn't expect you to be able to answer anyway. It was more of a rhetorical question." Erica snickered, making sure that the fire was completely dead.

"How about a question about something else?" She continued, stepping off of the chair and walking over to Isabella at the other side of the room.

"The father didn't want the child in the first place. The mother forced herself on the father for survival- but died herself afterwards. Should the abandoned child hate their father or their mother?"

Isabella was starting to really hate the situation. She'd brought Erica in for questioning, not for some strange child's life choices. She had enough on her plate as-is, with Ray knowing the secret and Erica herself being suspicious to Hell and back- not to mention the "lost" Premium good Norman now that he'd gone and become a Partner.

Instead of taking point on the interrogation, Isabella had been pulled into Erica's pace and found herself trying to answer questions she didn't know the answers to.

But something in Erica's dull, deep blue eyes made her think a bit more about her questions. From what she knew, Erica didn't say or do things without reason. So what was the reason for the stories? The questions?

Erica's pretty face melted into what Isabella could only label as a wistful, bitter smile.

"Baby birds are bound to fly out of the coop one day, Isabella. if you try to keep them... only bad things will befall you." Erica finished, leaving the office.

The click of the door closing echoed quietly in Isabella's now-empty office.

.

.

.

"We're having hamburgers with salad for dinner," Ray commented, bringing Erica up to speed.

"Don and Guilda are super hyped about making tasty food for everyone after you complimented them, you know. Don't be surprised if they watch you intensely during dinner." He continued.

"Sounds great to me~" Erica hummed, skipping lightly beside the boy.

"What'd you talk about with Mom?"

"Lots of things. Events that happened at the first few Farms I went to, my life story, what I should do... I gave her a couple of warnings and a few suggestions for her upcoming hardships, too. But it'll be on her to figure them out."

".....You know, you don't seem to be a ten-year-old sometimes. You speak all wise and smart." Ray grunted.

"Demons age much more slowly than humans as long as they have enough food, you know."

"Yeah, but you're not a Demon."

Erica only chuckled at Ray's words, rounding up the children to head to the cafeteria for dinner.

The scent of delicious food only became thicker as they approached, swathed in happily chattering kids with grumbling bellies. Emma and Norman greeted the two of them excitedly, while the latter seemed to have a few things to say about the change in sleeping arrangements.

"We put Emma in the middle!! Norman's by the door to her left, and Ray's by the window and on Erica's right!!" Emma said without prompt, face beaming with innocent happiness like usual.

"The beds are pretty heavy... Thanks for moving it for me, Emma, Norman." Ray said.

"Yeah, we barely managed to finish moving them in time for dinner... you still have to grab your stuff before bed," Norman confessed, laughing shyly in the presence of Erica.

"Why don't you join us, Emma? Let's all have a secret midnight party!!" Erica suggested excitedly, lowering her voice so that the other children couldn't hear her."

"Ooh, sounds fun!! Let's do it!!" Emma agreed.

What could go wrong?

~~~ /// ~~~ \\\ ~~~

3/9/2022

Here are the updates that everyone wanted so badly!! Please don't hesitate to leave comments!! Thank you for sticking around, and more updates will be following (eventually)!!

A more formal announcement with notice of the story being updated will come later since it's pretty late right now.

2.7 pages, 852 words