Making a Deal

Cian was standing in a lake of blood. At first, he was alone but then Simone was there with him. She looked different. It was like it was made of blood.

"Interesting. Normally I take the form of what the person finds most attractive but you don't have a body type that you prefer over another I take this form. So I will do this." Simone began shifting to what the Simone that Cian knew.

"You can change your shape. So what do you really look like?" asked Cian.

"You are dying and yet you want to ask me stupid questions. Let us save your life first and then maybe you will see what I truly look like." Simone smiled. "I want to make a pact with you."

"What type of pact and how are you able to do all this?" asked Cian.

"I will answer the first now and the second later. The pact will bind you and your soul with me much as it did with Koray but know that Koray and I already have bonded long ago. It was a pact of friendship but binding with you in this way will bind the three of us beyond what you have done with her." Said Simone.

"How will this change me?" asked Cian.

"This bond can not be broken and the bond itself will become a well of mana we can draw upon when needed. The stronger our feeling the larger the well. We fill the well by showing love and affection for each other. Some other things will fill the well faster but that is for later."

"Why are you doing this? Before you seemed angry about my relationship with Koray," asked Cian.

"To be honest I was jealous. The way Koray felt about me was obvious but I didn't want to be the first to make a move. Then you showed up. From the first time you helped her she was falling for you and I thought that you were going to replace me." Simone laughed. "I thought love, at first sight, was a fairy tale but it seems she fell for you pretty hard. Now here you are killing yourself to save her and honestly, I never thought I would ever see such sacrifice from anyone. I can see why she is falling for you." Simone smiled.

"Now don't think that this comes without any bad sides. You now have two women bonded to you and you need to work hard to make us both happy."

"I willll..." Cian started to say but he became too weak. He was on the brink of death.

"Shit!" Simone reached out and grabbed Cian's hand. "We seal this pack with a kiss." Simone drew Cian in and the two once more kissed. This wasn't a normal kiss. This was a kiss from legend. A kiss that could launch a thousand ships. A kiss that would wake sleeping beauty. A kiss that promised a life with someone you love with all of your heart. A kiss that could seal three souls into love.

Thirty minutes later the police arrived. The guards that Blackthorn hired were found dead. Cian mourned they're lost deeply. He had known them for over a year. Jason arrived ten minutes after the police with Cian's lawyer only a few minutes behind him.

Jason was a wreck. "I am so sorry to all of you. I should have been here to protect you," said Jason.

Cian gave a weak smile. "You have a life too Jason. You can't be here all the time to protect me. I am sorry that you lost Janet and Simon. They were good people."

"I will call their families later. Right now I want to get you guys to the safe house." Said Jason.

"I think you have things wrong there Mr. Hawthorn we still need to question these three." Said, Detective Wong.

"These three just survived an attack from Noble Eclipse I think I need to get them to safety." Said Jason.

"We have not established what happened here Mr. Hawthorn so we will be taking them to the station." Said Detective White.

When the detective said this Simone and Koray got their phones out and called their lawyers.

"Jason we will go with the detectives," Cian said the words but his voice was like honey filled with razor blades. "I will have my lawyer meet us there."

Cian pulled Jason to the side. "Jason add Koray and Simone to my protection plan."

"As?" asked Jason.

Cian smiles and says "Girlfriends. Both."

"Alright." Jason drew out the word as if it was hard to believe but began making calls.

Cian, Koray, and Simone were driven separately to the station. The officers in the cars tried to get each of them to talk but they all remained silent the entire drive. At least to what the officers knew.

"{{So how do we play this?}}" Asked Simone through their telepathic link.

"{{We tell the truth for the most part but leave out anything to do with the pact.}}" Said Cian.

"Yeah well, you guys still need to tell me about the pact. I can feel it but that doesn't mean I understand what happened.}}" Said Koray.

"{{We will tell you but not at the moment.}}" answered Simone. "{[Right now we need to focus on the enemy in front of us.}}"

"{{I promise Koray. We will tell you everything.}}" vowed Cian.

When they arrived at the station all of their lawyers including Simone's was there. Each of them was taken to a separate room and their lawyers got their stories. When they were ready each of them told the police what happened but got vague when it came to Koray's injury. The Detectives continually switch between the rooms comparing stories to see if anyone's story didn't match up with the other. After five hours of grilling the lawyers got the police to let them go. The three met up on the main floor of the building. Captain Benoit made her way to the group.

"I would like to place all of you in protective custody until this matter is dealt with." Said Captain Benoit.

Cian smiled "I have taken care of that Captain but I thank you for the offer."

"Does he speak for you ladies as well?" Asked Benoit.

Koray spoke first. "Yes. I trust Cian's judgment."

"So do I." Said Simone.

"Well, we see where his security did last time." Said the Captain.

"Yeah two stiffs in the morgue," said Detective White.

Cian smiled "Well I think here comes to my security now."

When the Captain turned to look she saw about five men in suits and earpieces. Two of which the Captain has met before.

"Hello, again Captain." Said, agent Combs.

Cian gave a high five to agent Nelson. "Good to see you, Tom. How is your daughter doing?"

Agent Nelson let his stern demeanor crack for a moment and said "She is doing well. She asks about you all the time."

Agent Nelson clears his throat. "Captain we shall be taking these three into protective custody so if you excuse us."

Cian, Koray, and Simone were escorted out to waiting Black SUVs. Cian could feel a slight sense of wonder and jealousy coming from both women.

"Something wrong ladies?" Asked Cian as they climbed into the SUV.

"His daughter?" asked Simone.

Agent Nelson laughed. "Yeah, he used to babysit her when she was 8. If I remember correctly she said she would marry him one day." again agent Nelson laughed along with Cian. After a moment the girls joined in. They laughed not so much at the foolishness they felt for being worried but to also relieve the stress of all that was happening to them. There were five SUVs total. Each one with an armed protective team of various types of spellcasters. Cian sat between the two girls and held each of their hands.

"{{I know we need to talk but let us get to our safe house first and we will talk in private.}}" Said Cian using their link.

The girls agree and the drive took a bit to get to their final destination. The house they arrived at was massive. Armed guards with attack dogs could be seen patrolling the interior and exterior of the gate. Cian knew this house well. It was his parents' winter home. Cian began to feel a deep-set fear in his heart. The girls picked up on it immediately but did not ask. The SUV pulled up to the front of the house and Cian's heart filled with dread. Cian got out of the SUV and stood at the front doors. Koray and Simone had seen this man face a pack of werewolves and murderers but he stood before the doors with fear of what was beyond. Koray took Cian's right hand and Simone his left and they entered through the main doors. The main foyer was all white marble and gold with a crystal chandelier. Cian looked up to the top of the stairs and saw what he expected.

"Welcome home son." Said one of the most powerful Battle Magus on the planet, Vradus Ethan Gray while standing next to his wife Veronica Gray...Cian's parents.