Haidou

Light

She studied the board, impatiently brushing her unruly curls from her face. She studied every piece, considered every move. This was the game she'd win.

"Iva, victory is already lost. Make a move."

She peeked at her father across from her, casually sprawled across the ground. He smiled at her confidently, but the spark of interest in his eyes gave her hope. She closed a hand around a piece, and a low whine came from her left, like the sound Cerebus made if she refused to rub his belly. At her side, Alexander looked as though he might combust. When she moved her hand to another piece, her playmate made the sound again.

"No cheating," Abaddon sighed, stretching his arms over his head.

Quickly, Iva moved a piece, flinching when Alexander flopped on the ground beside her with a groan.

"Maybe next time, princess," Abaddon said, finishing the match with a winning move. Iva growled and launched herself at him. He caught her before she could swing at him, easily pinning her arms at her sides. He chuckled. "Who taught you to fight, Waif? Your mother?"

Kore raised a brow. "Why are you baiting me?"

"I was not aware that I was."

At Kore's scoff, he chuckled. "Go on, Iva, get your prize from your mother before she demonstrates her skills on me."

"But she lost," Alexander pointed out. Scrambling to her feet, Iva smashed the palm of her hand into the boy's nose. Ignoring his grunt of pain, she kneeled next Kore beside the weeping willow. With a small smile, Kore bent to pull twin daggers from her boot. The hilt and blade were a deep black with brilliant sparks of blue. Intricate swirls formed deep that arched and furled around pure white stones. Iva gasped, tracing the delicate designs.

"They're beautiful."

Kore tilted them, showing Iva tiny sharp nubs on the hilts. "Touch your fingers here."

Iva did as she was told, tapping the spikes and frowning when they broke the skin. They flattened, and her blood ran along the carvings in the blades. The stones transformed to a dusky rose, then a deep scarlet. The blades extended, shooting out the pierce the ground.

"Now, they belong to you and only you. When the time is right, you will wield them."

"First," Abaddon interjected, tapping Iva's shoulder with a pair of wooden daggers, "You will practice."

Iva snatched the sparring weapons and charged for Alexander. As he lurched to his feet to defend himself, Abaddon settled beside Kore, tucking her to his side.

"That girl is just like you," Kore murmured.

"Thank you," he retorted, kissing her forehead.

She laughed, picking a lily with bold bursts of pink and orange and tucking it behind his ear.