Selenophilia

Twenty

Everyone was in the lounge, enjoying the fire that cackled mildly in the fireplace.

Elise knew that it was for her own good and not for theirs. She knew that selenophiles doesn't get affected too much by temperatures.

Still, the gesture was appreciated.

For now, Elise was just playing with Alice's hair, trying to braid it like he does with hers as the man chats with Marielle. Kieran and Lucian was talking to their parents with a bit of seriousness in them, their voices hushed and Elise was unable to grab a single topic out of their conversation.

Damn it, if only she has their ability then maybe she could eavesdrop.

That didn't dampen her spirits though since it was too much fun to mess Alice's hair.

"Elise, you'll mess up Alice's hair." Marielle scolded her after a while, seeing how her brother's majestic blond hair turned into a lion's mane with Elise's mess.

Alice chuckled, not really minding it at all. "I find Elise's hands comfortable."

Elise beamed smugly at Marielle who just rolled her eyes when she saw it.

"Shut it." The young woman ordered, making Elise snicker.

"This is why Alice is my favorite person."

"And you're mine!"

Elise looks at Lucian and found him looking at her with this childlike twinkle in his eyes as he continued to smile genuinely towards her.

It made her grin back at him, feeling her heart flutter happily at the declaration. She wanted to say it back as well but it's too embarrassing.

She still tried to act cool and hummed like a mature person. "I'm honored."

Kieran and Marielle seemed to see the facade and snorted, making Elise immediately glare at them.

Isobel giggled. "Why can't you just be more honest?"

Elise shrugged. "Because it's more fun that way."

Serafino nodded in agreement. "Lucian suffering is truly a fun way. Good, that's very good of you, Elise."

His wife gasped and slapped his shoulder with a pout.

"Sera!" Isobel huffed at her husband's words.

Alice laughed briefly.

"Father!" Kieran scolded but there really wasn't any heat in it. He even sounded amused.

The victim of everything had his lips trembling fakely as he pouts.

"How could you do this to me?" Lucian asked theatrically, placing his hand on his chest, with a pained look painted on his face but it was too obviously fake that it brought a few snickers from the group. "I'm hurt, father. You've betrayed me."

"Honesty and betrayal are two different things." Kieran and Serafino said in unison, wearing the same tone, the same expression and the same posture.

It was like Kieran is the complete clone of his father.

"Children."  Isobel chastised with a shake of her head.

Marielle clicked her tongue in annoyance. "Idiots."

Alice only rolled his eyes,  looking at Elise with a smile. "Mind if you play with my hair again, Eli?"

"You don't mind?"

Alice chuckled before shaking his head. "Not at all. It's relaxing."

"You'll regret that decision later." Marielle exclaimed while checking out her nails like a punk.