Astraea

"So...what is this meeting supposed to be about?" Briony asked with uncertainty after the tension subsided. She is not sure if her Uncle would still want to talk about it.

Lorcan let out an exasperated sigh. Then he propped up his elbow on his chin.

"I was reluctant about this. But since Bianca already got her certification which will surely add up to the creases in my forehead," He heard Briony and Brylee chuckled.

"And always hearing the twins getting injured," Lorcan continued.

"Since when have we ever got injured?" Briony acted as if she was treated unfairly. Brina was just smiling awkwardly because she knew that it was a lie.

Lorcan raised his finger. "This is not the first time that the criminal you caught said that they injured you. This is the fifth time and I refuse to believe that they were just bluffing." Lorcan said eyeing the twins.

Bell gave the twins a warning glare to shut them up.

"And you," Lorcan pointed a finger at Bell. "Always defying the rules."

Bell rolled her eyes. "I don't remember ever defying any rules."

"My rules. NO. CASUALTIES. Remember?" Lorcan raised an eyebrow at her.

Bell jutted her lower lip and gave him a side-eye.

"So I decided to put up a bail enforcement and recovery agency. And you'll all be a part of it. You'll be under my supervision. That way, I could monitor your hunts." Lorcan paused to see any reaction from the girls.

"And you will be hunting as a team, you will look after each other." Lorcan continued.

The girls looked at each other like they were having an internal conversation.

Then after a moment, Bell raises her head and looks at Lorcan with doubt. "We are not working alongside others?" She asked with a raised brow.

Lorcan shook his head. "No. Just the five of you. As a team. And you as the eldest will look after your sisters. But all of you will still be my responsibility."

Bell used to hunt alone unless it was with Brylee.

Brylee used to hunt alone unless it was with Bell.

And the twins were used to hunt together.

But they don't have a problem hunting with each other.

It's not about trust issues, it is about being unrestrained. There are things that they cannot do in the presence of others but they can with themselves.

"Fine." Bell finally said.

Lorcan was not surprised that Bell agreed without consulting her sisters. Sometimes he wonders if the sibling could talk through their mind because, with just their eyes, they could understand each other.

"Good." Then Lorcan looked at Bianca. "Are you sure about this?"

Bianca looked at Bell then she nodded her head at Lorcan.

Lorcan sighed them mumbled to himself. "What have I got myself into?"

The five sisters heard him but ignored him to avoid bringing out the topic again.

"Have you had lunch Uncle Lorcan? I'm sure you haven't. I doubt if you even had breakfast either. We haven't as well so I'm cooking." And without asking for permission, Brylee invaded Lorcan's kitchen.

"We'll help you." Briony and Brina followed her.

"Call me when you are done. I'll be just downstairs." Lorcan said. He doesn't have to give any details, base on his current mood, the girls knew that he would probably be in the gym.

Bell and Bianca were left in the living room.

Bell is still slouching on the sofa while Bianca is sitting on the accent chair near her.

"You want to talk?"

Bianca was startled to hear Bell speak because she thought that she fell asleep on the couch. When Bell lacks sleep she could fall asleep anywhere in any position. Her sleeping habit has always been one of their humorous talks.

When she was a kid, Bell would sometimes fall asleep on her plate while eating. Making everyone laugh at her even until now when they would talk about their younger days.

Hearing no reply from Bianca, Bell opened her eyes and straightened her back.

She looked at her solemnly, "What's going on with you?" She directly asks wanting to get a direct answer though she doubts that Bianca would talk about it right now. She just wanted to know that Bell noticed that something is bothering her and she is there to listen.

Bianca lowered her head and bit her lower lip, still not ready to talk.

Bell remembered when Bianca said something about her being different.

"I'm sorry about what I said earlier." Bell suddenly said, making Bianca raise her head and look at her. She obviously didn't expect that apology from her. She doesn't even know what she is apologizing for.

"You are not different, Bianca. You are special. Each one of us is special." More or less Bell already had an idea about what is bothering her sister.

"Whatever that is bothering you, you know where to find me. You can always speak to me. I will listen. I won't judge." Bell said before giving her a small smile.

Bianca remained silent but she nodded her head showing that she appreciated Bell's attempt to converse with her.

Bell didn't force her to talk. She'll wait until Bianca finds it comfortable to speak up.

"So, you want to be a hunter, huh?" Bell changed the topic to ease the atmosphere. She is now leaning back on the sofa.

"Mm..." Bianca nodded her head. "Thank you for standing up for me."

"You deserve every chance in the world, Bianca. Though I am not comfortable with the decision I made, I will still help and support you. And I will have to keep reminding you that this is a dangerous job. We may be seeing you as a fragile girl right now but I know that you are a smart girl. You of all people know your limit. You will not put yourself into this just to prove yourself. You got..." Bell paused and looked straight into Bianca's eyes.

"...something. And I'll help you figure it out." She said in a serious tone without breaking their eye contact.

Bianca felt her eyes welled up. It is true that among the five sisters, she is the most mysterious. Briony is close to Brylee and Brina. Brina is close to everyone and though cold and aloof, Bell has been looking out constantly on the three since they were all in a dangerous job. She is the only one who is closest to no one.

And it felt good to have someone, her eldest sister that she looks up to, sharing time with her and willing to stand up for her, willing to listen to her, willing to help and support her.

"Thank you," Bianca thanked her again for the second time because she really can't find words to say. She felt her voice crack up a bit for being emotional.

Bell rolled her eyes. "You don't have to thank me. We are sisters. And that's what sisters are for." Thou Bell's tone has always been cold and aloof, she truly cares for her sisters. She loves them more than anything.

She doesn't need to say it. She shows it.

"Lunchtime!"

After a moment, they heard the voice of Briony from the dining room.

Bell and Bianca stood up from their seats. Bianca headed for the dining room while Bell went for the stairs.

"You go ahead, I'll call Uncle Lorcan," Bell said before disappearing from the living room.

Inside Lorcan's gym.

"Hangover, shower then boxing. I don't get your routine." Bell said leaning on the door frame with her arms crossed in front of her chest.

"Are your sisters done creating havoc in my kitchen?" Lorcan replied instead.

He is still in his grumpy mode.

"Yeah. Lunch is ready. Come upstairs. Food might help." Bell said then she left. She's done trying to open up a problematic family member. She is not a counselor, she reminds herself.

Lorcan hissed. "Fuck!" Nothing can help me. He thought internally.

At the dining room, Brylee prepared a fine dining experience for her sisters and Uncle Lorcan. She rarely cooks at home because her mother would always insist that she should be the one cooking for them.

So, she seized this opportunity to cook for her sisters.

"Wow! Thank you for this rare fine dining opportunity at home, Brylee." Briony claps her hand while ogling at the dishes that Brylee prepared.

"So, you've forgotten that you are still in my house?" Lorcan came shirtless and walked around the dining table.

"And thank you for messing up with the presentation, Briony," Brylee said, annoyed that she wasn't able to perfect the presentation of her dishes because of Briony's helping hand.

"What's the use of a perfect presentation when they will only get crushed by my teeth and tongue." Briony sticks out her tongue on Brylee.

"Let's just eat and be gone. Come on." Lorcan said. He has already taken a seat.

"Eew! Uncle Lorcan! Can you please take a shower first! You stink!" Brylee is used to having her dishes being eaten by fine and well-dressed men and women in the restaurant and not by a stinking shirtless man.

Lorcan rubbed his forehead. Hi,s nieces obviously forget that they are in his house.

"Bell, make your sister shut up, or else I will," Lorcan said in an irate mood. He's already in a bad mood and it is getting worse and the last thing he needs is a young girl telling him that he cannot eat at his dining table because he stinks.

It only takes one glare from Bell to make Brylee shut up.

After lunch, Lorcan chased the girls away not minding if they left him with the dirty plates. But when he went to the kitchen, he was pushed to his limits after seeing the state it was.