She entered with a graceful stride, her smile a beacon of genuine warmth that did not quite reach her eyes. She closed the door behind her and looked at Corbin, her head tilted slightly, as if she were appraising a rare piece of art.
"My name is Serafina,"
she said, her voice a gentle, melodic hum.
"I assume you're all friends of my father."
The children watched in a stunned silence, unable to comprehend the sight of the young woman. She was a vision of elegance and stunning beauty, dressed in a simple, but well-made dress that accentuated her slender figure. Her eyes, a deep brown, sparkled with an intelligent light, and her hair was tied up in a simple bun.
Corbin blinked, a faint blush creeping up his cheeks. He, the ever-calculating and cynical genius, was at a loss for words.
"We're his... associates,"
he managed to say, his voice lacking its usual smooth confidence.
Serafina laughed, a soft, sound that filled the awkward silence.
"Associates, huh? How very formal."
Aveline emerged from the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron. Her smile was warm, but her eyes held a hint of concern as she looked at her husband. Theodore stood stiffly, his arms crossed, he gave Corbin a warning look, afraid that he might tell his daughter the truth about them.
"Don't mind him,"
Aveline said, turning to Corbin.
"He's just had a long day."
Serafina was already seated, her eyes still on Corbin.
"So, Mr. Associate,"
she said, her voice laced with amusement. "What is it you do that has you working with my father?"
Corbin cleared his throat.
"We're... consultants,"
he said, his eyes on Theodore.
"We help with... difficult situations."
Serafina raised an eyebrow, a slight smirk on her face.
"Difficult situations, huh? That sounds very vague."
She turned to Eta, her eyes sharp and appraising.
"And you, young lady, what is your specialty?"
Eta stiffened, her eyes narrowed. She didn't like the way Serafina was looking at her.
"I don't have a specialty,"
she said, her voice flat.
"I'm just a part of the team."
Serafina chuckled.
"A team of children? My father's tastes have certainly changed."
Theodore cleared his throat, his voice curt. "Serafina, that's enough. They're here on business."
Serafina turned to her father, her smile unwavering.
"Oh, I know, Father. I'm just trying to get to know your new... associates."
She turned back to Corbin, her eyes sparkling with a mischievous light.
"You know, you remind me of someone. Someone who had a lot of potential, but just needed a little grooming."
Eta clenched her fists, her knuckles turning white. She hated the way Serafina was talking to Corbin, as if he were a pet. She wanted to slap the smug look off Serafina's face, but she knew she couldn't. She had to remain calm. But the sight of Serafina's hand reaching out to touch Corbin's arm was too much. She wanted to tear her hand off, to rip her eyes out.
Dinner became tense and awkward. The children ate in silence, their eyes darting between the family. Theodore and Aveline spoke in low tones, their conversation a mix of everyday life and whispered secrets. Serafina was the only one who seemed to be enjoying herself. She ate with ease, her eyes on Corbin, a small, secretive smile on her face.
After dinner, the children retreated to their respective rooms for the night, and for the first time in a long while, the children were finally alone and free to speak as they wished.
In the boys' room, a tense silence fell over them. Corbin sat on the edge of the bed, his face still flushed pink. Emmett stood by the window, his back to them. Felix sat on the floor, his head in his hands. Rhys was already in bed, his eyes closed.
"She was weird,"
Emmett murmured, his voice low.
"She's trying to figure us out. To see what we know."
Corbin said, his voice flat.
"She's just a girl, Corbin,"
Felix said.
"She was probably just trying to be friendly."
"Friendly?"
Corbin scoffed.
"She's on to us. She knows something. And she's trying to get it out of us."
"And you're just going to let her?"
Emmett's voice was low, his back still to them.
"You're just going to let her play her little games with you?"
"I'm not letting her do anything,"
Corbin said, his voice laced with annoyance.
"I'm just trying to figure her out."
In the girls' room, the atmosphere was just as tense. Eta was pacing back and forth, her hands clenched into fists. Beatrice sat on the bed, her hands clasped together, her eyes wide with fear. Theta was already asleep on one of the beds. Briar was looking out the window, her mind far away.
"I don't like her,"
Eta said, her voice filled with a quiet fury.
"I don't like the way she looks at Corbin, the way she talks to him. As if he's her pet."
"She was just being friendly,"
Beatrice said softly, her voice filled with a timid anxiety.
"Friendly? Beatrice, did you not see the way she looked at Corbin?"
Eta said, her voice filled with a venomous contempt.
"She looked at him as if he were a prize to be won. And he just let her."
"Maybe he likes her," Beatrice said, her voice barely a whisper.
Eta stopped pacing. She looked at Beatrice, her eyes wide with shock.
"He doesn't like her,"
she said, her voice filled with a desperate hope.
"He can't. She is at least seventeen, and Corbin is eleven. The age gap is too much, and he just met her."
Briar turned from the window, her eyes filled with curiousity.
"Why does it bother you so much?"
A pink blush spread over Eta's cheeks, but she said nothing. She just stared at the wall, a knot of jealousy and frustration tightening in her stomach.
The next morning, Serafina was gone. Theodore was back in his work clothes, his face now cold and professional. He gave them no greeting, no apology for his behavior the night before. He simply gave them their instructions.
"We're heading to the warehouse,"
he said, his voice flat.
"The explosion was contained, but there's a lot of debris we need to sift through. We're looking for anything that seems out of place. Any strange item or belonging, any unusual burn marks. Anything that points to who did this."
He passed them a small device, a brass-and-copper receiver.
"This is a receiver. We will use this to communicate during the investigation."
He led them out of the house, his posture rigid and his movements precise. The children followed him, a mix of apprehension and determination in their eyes. They were finally on their first mission, and they had no idea what to expect.
As they stepped out onto the street, a man in a hooded coat, who had been standing by the entrance of the building, pulled out a small, intricate brass receiver. He spoke into it, his voice low and urgent.
"They're moving out,"
he said.
"They're heading to the warehouse."
A voice, cold and chilling, replied.
"Excellent. Let them go. They have no idea what's waiting for them there."
The man in the hooded coat smiled. He watched Theodore and the children walk away, a sinister look on his face. The game had just begun.