With that Carl activated the next feature of his skill and set the household skill to "Neo pet telepathy", then watched the carnage unfold.
Gillian left after the headache passed to go revise Carl's paper, then the rest of them ate, Carl and Klaire made plans to go recruit Alysse and then they all went to bed. Carl was sleeping quite soundly when he was awoken by the door hissing open.
"Klaire, don't even think about it." The door hissed closed behind the nasally voice and Carl chalked it up to a dream and went back to sleep. Leaving Klaire to pant away her frustrations.
The next day Carl was eating breakfast with Danielle and his mums, and getting some revision done whilst Klaire took the longest shower in history. When the door hissed open she went to finish getting ready without a word.
"Did I do something wrong?" He asked them.
"No, you were definitely innocent this time." They said as a door hissed open and Lydia stepped out, breathing like she hadn't tasted fresh air in hours.
"How do you people not smell that?"
"Lydia, it's too early for succubus nonsense, eat food, and dink coffee. Sign paperwork for programme." Leanna warned without looking up from her slate.
Then Lydia winced and followed Klaire to the bedroom and the door hissed and clamped to full lock. Then twenty minutes later they emerged like nothing had happened although Klaire was acting almost robotic like a part of her brain had shut down.
"Carl, ignore it, she'll be right as rain in an hour." Danielle said, also not looking up from her slate.
"What's wro-"
"Women issues." They all said, which was all a guy needs to hear to realise they don't ask anymore questions.
After they finished eating, Carl and Klaire went off to recruit Alysse, Carl had messaged her to let them know they were coming so they knew she was at the workshop. Then as they approached the door, Klaire pushed him to the wall. "Stay there, I'll get you when you're welcome." She was still a bit robotic so Carl was a bit sceptical, but also not brave enough to argue.
The heavy thunk and mechanical winding of the workshop containment doors opening reverberated through the hallway, the Klaire stepped just passed the threshold and they began closing. Though as they had nearly met in the middle, a single sentance made him panic. "Ah. Ah. Ah, don't run, we just need to have a little chat before Carl can come in."
Carl silently apologised to his friend, both for leaving her to this situation and also for the unrequited love that he knew he could never mention to her face-to-face.
A short while later the door began winding open and Carl stood up straight. "What's wrong?" Klaire asked, as his behaviour naturally inspired a note of suspicion.
"Is she still alive? It's never good when you say "Ah. Ah. Ah." I mean I didn't see you go in there or hear anything." Carl ended in rambling.
"Wow! Thanks for that Carl. Guess you really would cover for her." A familiar and dry voice said from out of sight.
"Duh! I just lev- love her so much I'd have to! I could never turn he-"
"Carl, stop talking. She's in, let's go."
Carl gestured for her to lead, then mouthed "Are you really okay?" Unaware that Klaire had stopped and turned until Alysse's eyes bulged slightly.
After a stern lecture on literally talking to girls secretly behind her back they continued home. Arriving back to find the pets in a spat over Lydia's attention.
"Kids, don't pester." Klaire barked, getting the attention of all three.
"Oh, hello Dr. Cambion." Alysse said shyly.
"Wow, the rival's in one piece. How'd you manage that one lil' Aly."
"I told her the truth."
"The truth?" Carl asked slightly smug, thinking they were wrong and she didn't have a crush on him after all.
"That I have a crush on you..." She said shattering the smugness before it formed. "... and Klaire, I like you both and you two being together is just perfect." She admitted as Carl gave up with trying to understand.
"Ahhh!" Lydia screamed playfully. "I can't believe she told you. Isn't she just the cutest half-gnome ever."
"Yes, she did... I didn't know how to respond so I just told her everything. Alysse, are you sure you'll be okay with this though? I felt bad asking you to tune out one crush, but two will be even worse won't it?"
"You two are just meant to be. I didn't make a move on either of you because I wanted you to be together. That said, if you do ever split up for good for good, then I will definitely be making a move on one of you. Not sure who though so we will see what happens. Gnomes aren't as emotional as most species, we care about reproductive merit, so you don't need to worry about me getting all teary over you two being happy together."
"Well, like I said, if that changes, just let us know okay."
"Sure, now where do I sign so I can get to work?"
"Thought you'd say that, paperwork is right here." Lydia cheered as she slapped the contract a few times.
"Gnome, I thought you said she was a harpy?" Carl whispered to Klaire.
"You seriously didn't even know I was speaking metaphorically? Do you see wings?"
"I don't see souls flying around you."
While that hushed conversation was going on and Alysse was signing the paperwork, Alisha and Danielle sat wordless on the couch watching the blank screen of the switched-off display slate.
[ ALYSSE HAS JOINED THE HOUSEHOLD ]
Then as the trio moved into the bedroom, tensed...
"Door, switch to open mode."
...Then relaxed as Lydia laughed at them.
For the next two hours, Alysse used her skills to prepare the space for the shielding panels. "Carl, you can go get them, the code for the door is 4-8-4-5-2, store them in your armlet, it will raise suspicion if they see you carrying them, nine should do." She said finally.
Carl didn't wait, he was so excited he ran straight there and back, finding Gillian on the way who raced home with him just as excited to use their gate room.
As they reached the half-way point though the incursion alarm sound. *BEEP*
"Was that your data slate? Did something happen back at yours?" Gillian asked growing concerned.
"Fuck. We could be done." Carl replied looking at the message. "Grandma just came for a visit." He gulped, before they fled back with no stat restraint.
Usually it would be punishable, but during an incursion alarm that was lifted. So they ran as fast as they could making it back in under a minute. Carl didn't bother with slippers, just took his shoes off and hurried in.
"Does everyone know?" He didn't really need to ask, their faces were tense, fear clear on the faces of Klaire and Alisha, barely restrained on Danielle and Lydia's. "Gillian, get to my room with Alysse, don't hide and don't speak unless spoken to. Just do what we all do."
They all lined up waiting, Squidge had clung to Klaire as a puddle and Levi was wrapped around her waist as though trying to pass as a belt and go unnoticed.
A short while later the outer door hissed open and they all flinched before recomposing themselves quickly. "Mum! Put the damn slippers on!" Leanna yelled, it was astounding she had the courage but she barely managed to sound like more than a moody teenager.
"Fine." The emotionless deadpan voice was unmistakable. The chill it carried felt like she stabbed them all with icicles. The blood-lust, made their hearts skip beats for the worst possible reason, as though they were already dying at her hands. "Hmm? I don't smell as much fear."
With that the inner door slid open, the figure was that of a flawless beauty and anyone who saw just her silhouette would undoubtedly be lured in, that was how she mothered so many daughters after all.
Her eyes pierced through them like she wasn't looking at anyone present and then they settled on both Klaire and Carl. "My grandson and my... My granddaughter-in-law it seems... Come here. Now." The final world was most certainly not an order.
The moment they got within two-metres, she suddenly raised a hand. "Stop."
No one could believe what they were seeing, the mother of demons' raised hand was shaking, only slightly, but definitely shaking. Her eyes scanned back over the room, then the walls, then at things not even present and then she froze. Her human form faltering with her unbreakable image and absolute authority.
No one dared speak, no one dared move, no one dared so much as breathe.
"I apologise for prying."
"Of course, I meant no harm."
"Apologies."
"I will care for him better."
"Of course his "chick" too."
The moment she said that word, Carl and Klaire's blood ran cold and they crumpled.
"Yes, at once." Lillim quickly knelt down and pulled one over each shoulder before carrying them to the bed to lay down. For the next hour she nursed them like she were the sweetest blend of Lydia and Leanna and Danielle and Alisha.
The fact she was acting that way was actually so unthinkable it made everyone else more terrified and slowed down the pairs recovery.
"Th-thank you G-Grandma L-L-Lillim." Carl forced out the words, both terrified but also sincerely grateful for her efforts.
"Come now, Carl don't be scared, let Grandma take care of you." She spoke in a voice so soothing it would have sent him straight to sleep if he weren't so terrified. "Rest for now, be with your love, we will talk later, my dear.... Grandma will keep you safe until you're well again." The extra dose was enough to beat the fear and he fell asleep.
She then moved around to Klaire and stroked her hair with more maternal love than anyone had ever been shown before. "Sleep now child... Beautiful babe of Faylorn... Dream of the whale song and rain-less nights... The moonlit sea and silver mist..." With those few words Klaire drifted off into sleep also.
Then, and only then, did Lillim breathe with relief...