Blessed by Night

Celeste stared at the glass containing a black liquid that she had watched Malachi pour out of his literal fingernail.

…She had so many questions.

"You guys want me to drink this..?"

Everyone in the house nodded together in unison.

"…This seems so unsanitary!"

Try as she might've, Celeste could not ignore the years she spent in nursing school. Or the icky feeling it gave her.

"It doesn't taste like anything." Anna tried to coax. "And it has more health benefits than anything detrimental."

"You'll feel younger, stronger, more beautiful.." Sei added.

"You'll be able to keep up with us better too." Bianca winked.

That last reason felt like far too much of a dig for Celeste to just let it go.

She grabbed hold of the shot glass and threw it back as if she had returned to her younger years.

She swallowed it and gagged, though not from the taste, more so the consistency.

"Not a big swallower, huh?" Anna chuckled and then turned her head to Malachi. "Sucks for you, babe."

Four hands slapped her on the butt at once to admonish her.

Celeste finally finished chugging the bottle of water that she had nearby and inhaled deeply.

"Okay… So how long is it supposed to take before…"

Celeste couldn't say that a change gripped her all at once.

Mostly, it felt gradual. As if her world was slowly but surely becoming rose colored.

Her chest felt warm. Her mind was filled with song.

But more than anything else, she was in awe.

How had it never before occurred to her just how beautiful these people were..?

"Did you… drug me..?" Celeste asked.

Honestly, even if they had, she wouldn't care.

Nevertheless, Mal shook his head and showed her a warm smile.

"I wouldn't dare. We just helped you to understand us better and maybe even…"

Malachi's words trailed off as Celeste came around the counter.
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She rubbed her hands along his face and stared at him with eyes loaded with attraction.

Malachi had always been handsome to her. Even if she usually hated to tell him.

But at this point, she couldn't imagine a man more attractive than him even if she were to use 203% of her brain power.

She loved every tangible thing about him and she ran her hands along his body like she was on ecstasy.

From his face, to his chest, to his arms, and even down below. She pulled back the hem of his sweatpants and stared inside while giggling.

"Hello there, little guy..!"

Malachi hated her choice of words but he knew what she meant.

"You're much more adorable when you're not all angry looking."

He felt a little bit better now.

"Okay, maybe we should just help you lie down for a bit, yea?" Anna tried to guide her to the couch.

Celeste seemingly found a new target for her harassment and she quickly placed her hands over Anna's sports-bra.

More specifically, over the pierced nipples that she could see through it.

"They're so glorious…! C-Can I touch them?"

Celeste seemed to have forgotten that she already was.

But Anna relished in the opportunity to show off her piercings because of the few chances she got to do so.

It was nothing for her to pop up her bra and give the curiosity-addled beauty a taste of what she wanted.

Once her chest was fully exposed to the room, Celeste groped and stared at them like they were a modern marvel.

"Did it hurt..?"

"Worse than anything I've ever felt in my life." Anna nodded. "But in moments like this? It feels worth it."

Anna was leaving out that if she had to do it again, then she would probably rather die.

"Gaba."

Celeste looked across the room and saw an adorable little girl sitting in a high chair and waving around an empty sippy cup.

Celeste stopped fondling Anna instantly.

Her eyes softened immeasurably as she became choked up.

"W-… What did she just say..?"

"Gaba." Cami held out her cup again as if to show proof that it was empty.

"I can hear her… And she's so mannerable…" Celeste tried to hide her shock.

"Why did you think she wouldn't be?" Luna laughed as she walked towards the refrigerator.

She pulled out a bottle of pediatric juice and after pricking her finger, she dropped a bit of her blood inside.

"I-I don't know, it's just from listening to one side of your conversations, you all kind of made her sound like an agent of chaos." Celeste admitted.

Camille grinned as wide as she possibly could when she heard that. And Luna was once again beginning to wonder who actually gave birth to the little princess, her or Anna.

They were just too similar for her to wrap her mind around.

Celeste wandered over to Camille and leaned down so that they were at eye level.

"Can you… say something again?"

Camille looked her up and down curiously.

"Bu. Awa?"

Celeste's cheeks turned pink as she looked down at her breasts.

"N-No, there's no milk in them anymore. I-I'm pretty sure these are just a gift from my mother's side of the family."

Camille nodded slowly and turned her head as if she had suddenly lost interest. "Awa."

Celeste's face twitched. "And what do you hear your parents say when they talk about them-"

A flurry of voices hurried to break up the conversation and get the two on opposite sides of the room.

Malachi and Joanne were the only ones not in a rush to do anything.

He was surprised when she suddenly hugged him out of nowhere. As he wrapped his arms around her, she rested her head on his chest gently.

"Did you miss me that much?"

"Don't be snarky.." Joanne pinched him. "…How was D.C?"

"…Eventfull." Was all Malachi could say.

For some reason, he didn't tell her about meeting Awena just the day before.

Maybe he just feared dredging up something painful for her.

Either way, he decided to keep it to himself. At least until they were in a more private setting.

"If you want to know more though…"

Malachi briefly separated from Joanne and flicked on the tv.

After switching it to the news station, he turned the volume up on a broadcast that was already running.

The girls collectively felt their jaws drop.

The news anchor was just wrapping up a story about the end of the war and a summit would be held in the next two days.

But none of that was more surprising than the words 'Arias' and 'surrender to authorities' written in the same sentence.