Waking up in the morning had Damon feeling better than ever. He stepped out into the sunlight and took in a long deep breath, the crisp morning air filling his lungs as warmth brushed against his skin.
Life was good. No, it was better than good.
True, Damon had worries, many of them in fact, but he had decided there was little point drowning in endless paranoia when for once things were peaceful. Right now there was nothing he wanted more than for these quiet days to continue for just a little longer.
He stretched his arms above his head, rolling his shoulders lazily before leaning slightly from side to side to loosen his stiff muscles.
Then, when he casually glanced to the side, he noticed a small golden-haired girl mimicking every single one of his movements with utmost concentration.
Damon couldn’t stop the smile tugging at his lips.
That smile lasted exactly two seconds before his expression suddenly froze.
His eyes widened.
"You... when did you reach the second class advancement?"
Ranar blinked up at him with complete innocence written across her tiny face.
Naturally, she had absolutely no idea what he was talking about or even what class advancement meant. As far as she was concerned, she had always been like this. Maybe a little stronger, maybe a little faster, but children didn’t exactly question these things.
"Huh?"
She tilted her head to the side, golden hair swaying softly with the motion.
Damon slowly raised a hand and smacked his own forehead before releasing a long defeated sigh as though this was somehow the most natural thing in the world.
"Oh well... I guess you aren’t a normal child."
Her golden eyes narrowed immediately and a pout formed on her little face.
"Are you picking a fight daddy, because I’m ready to put you in your place."
Damon crouched slightly until they were eye level, a soft amused smile resting on his face.
"Well no, but I don’t back down from fights and unfortunately for you I outrank and outclass you. In simple terms, I am better."
She bit her lip aggressively, staring at him with adorable hostility before suddenly nodding as though reaching some dangerous conclusion.
"I have a weapon you don’t."
Damon raised an eyebrow.
Then without warning she spun around so dramatically it looked rehearsed, and in the very next second tears instantly flooded her eyes.
"Evaaaaaa..."
Her voice cracked pitifully as she sniffled.
A flash of golden light erupted nearby.
Before Damon could even process what was happening, Evangeline appeared out of thin air.
Ranar immediately pointed one accusing finger toward him while putting on the expression of the world’s most oppressed child.
"Daddy said... he said... ahhhh..."
She burst into full tears.
Damon’s jaw dropped.
Unfortunately, not faster than Evangeline’s fist crashing directly into his face.
Thud.
His entire body stumbled backward.
Evangeline stood there glaring daggers at him.
"Can’t believe you’re being mean to a baby."
Ranar immediately jumped into Evangeline’s arms, wrapping herself around her protectively before turning toward Damon.
"No don’t hurt my daddy. He may be a bad guy and very mean to me but I’ll forgive him... as long as he apologizes."
Damon remained frozen.
His brain had completely shut down.
Where...
How...
Since when...
"I... this... when... huh..."
Evangeline lowered herself slightly until her face was level with his, her eyes narrowing dangerously.
"Listen here mister... you will be nice and you will do whatever she wants..."
Her expression darkened.
"Or else."
For a brief second Damon could have sworn her voice came crawling out of the lower abyss itself.
He nodded immediately.
Fast.
Very fast.
Satisfied, she turned away and began carrying Ranar back toward the tent.
As they walked off, the little girl rested comfortably in her arms before glancing back over her shoulder.
She smiled sweetly.
Then waved.
Bye bye.
Damon remained standing there in utter disbelief, still trying to process the injustice that had just occurred.
The moment they stepped inside the tent, Evangeline let out a soft laugh.
"Wow... you really got him."
Ranar folded her tiny arms with great seriousness.
"Yeah. He deserves it for abandoning me for so long."
Evangeline stared at the little girl for a moment before shaking her head slowly.
"You really are your father’s daughter."
"Thank you."
Ranar beamed proudly, showing off her adorable baby face.
Evangeline immediately narrowed her eyes.
"That wasn’t a compliment."
The little girl froze.
"And you are grounded."
Ranar stared at her in disbelief.
"But I’m just a baby."
She reached up and squeezed her own chubby cheeks, fully confident Evangeline would soften.
Unfortunately that confidence was misplaced.
Evangeline reached out and pinched both cheeks firmly.
"A baby does not know how to lie that well. You are a little trickster."
Ranar puffed her cheeks even harder in silent protest.
Damon was still standing there gasping in complete shock at the sudden turn of events.
Normally he was the one setting people up.
Never in his life had he ever been so unexpectedly double-crossed.
He slowly rubbed the side of his face where Evangeline had punched him, still struggling to comprehend how the entire situation had spiraled so catastrophically against him.
That girl would survive better than I did on the streets of Valerion...
Then his expression softened slightly.
Not that he would ever allow his daughter to become a street child.
If he died, he would claw his way back even as an undead abomination if that was what it took just to make sure she remained safe.
He folded his arms and stared toward the tent where the two girls had disappeared.
"Oh goddess... who taught my Ranar this behavior and why is she so petty?"
"Children learn by observing. You never know when they begin picking up your habits."
A woman’s calm voice suddenly drifted from behind him.
Damon turned at once, instinctively shifting his posture before his eyes landed on the speaker.
Standing a short distance away was a woman with flowing blonde hair that shimmered softly beneath the fading sunlight. Her deep brown eyes were unnervingly tranquil, carrying the kind of quiet depth that made it feel as though she saw far more than she let on.
She stood with perfect composure, hands resting neatly before her, her entire demeanor radiating an almost unnatural stillness.
There was something deeply unsettling about her.
Something mysterious.
Then again, that had always been a trait associated with her family.
Damon gave a polite nod of greeting.
"It’s been many moons, Lady Hightower."
She inclined her head gracefully in return, barely moving more than necessary.
"Yes... it has."
Her eyes lingered on him for a moment longer than comfortable.
"Though I don’t recall us ever speaking beyond the occasional curt greeting."
Then, rather unexpectedly, a small smile curved across her lips.
Elegant, measured and all so difficult to read.
"I do hope I was never rude."
Damon studied her immaculate features for a brief moment before shaking his head lightly.
"Of course not. I certainly hope I wasn’t rude either."
She seemed to relax ever so slightly, the tension in her shoulders easing as if some invisible concern had just been addressed.
"I see."
She paused, her deep brown eyes meeting his directly now.
"Then I can be at ease."
Her smile deepened faintly.
"It is not every day one gets the opportunity to meet the hero of the Empire."
She tilted her head ever so slightly, gaze sharpening almost imperceptibly.
"A man carrying so very many secrets."