[center][color=DarkKhaki][img]https://i.imgur.com/v1UkrNX.png[/img][/color][/center]
[center]Collab w/ [@AtomicNut][/center]
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The door seemed to be silent for a moment, before hushed whispers were heard inside. The doorknob creaked very slowly, before the sultry, decadent figure of Nyxdaemona was in full view. Today her dressing code... was oddly normal. She could pass off as a normal woman, even. "Huh, Wolf. And the tick is nowhere to be seen. How... peculiar."

[color=DarkKhaki]"Watch your tongue before I rip it out!"[/color] Wolf's hand shot toward her throat to grip her in a chokehold... And then he snapped back to reality where he was simply standing meekly in the doorway before her. He was surprised by the sudden intrusion of his own, violent thoughts, leading to a brief moment of awkward silence before his mind rebooted.

[color=DarkKhaki]"I need to..."[/color] He swallowed hard. Now that he was there, he found actually maintaining the courage to do this was harder than he'd anticipated. [color=DarkKhaki]"I need to, uh... talk to you...actually..."[/color]

"Most peculiar indeed. You desire to talk with me, and not my daughter." Mona commented before slowly getting out of his way. "In you go, then. It is safer nowadays, what with demonic cultists running around. So much that my poor darlings are afraid..."

[color=DarkKhaki]"I... see."[/color] Wolf replied and stepped in. [color=DarkKhaki]"It's... not that I don't want to talk to Meredith, but I'm pretty sure she's not here. I don't really know how to find her right now."[/color] He sighed. Again, he needed a second to gather himself. [color=DarkKhaki]"Any... idea why she wouldn't want to come home?"[/color] As innocent as it may have sounded coming from Wolf, it was a heavily loaded question.

"Not coming home... That is where you are mistaken. She is coming home and performing her duties admirably... " She paused. "She is just avoiding you."

[color=DarkKhaki]"Maybe."[/color] Wolf wouldn't have been surprised. Was it true? He supposed Meredith could have truly gone home in the end.  [color=DarkKhaki]"And what do you know about that, then?"[/color] It was true enough that Meredith had reason to avoid him, if perhaps only out of shame. Mona must have known something, but how much had she learned? Had Meredith told her?

"Apples dont fall far from the trees" Mona said, a small smile forming in her lips. "Does it really matter how much I know? "

[color=DarkKhaki]"If we were talking about her father that would be fine,"[/color] Wolf said, not caring about the insulting implications of what he said. [color=DarkKhaki]"But she kidnapped my friend and used her as payment to have Vera killed."[/color] He was done mincing words. Something about her demeanor, he felt like he was being mocked. And with everything that had happened, it was enough to light the fire once more. [color=DarkKhaki]"Doesn't sound like Victor. You must be proud of her."[/color]

Mona chuckled lightly. "What mother would not be proud of her own daughrer. But i have to admit, little man, that the audacity she had as of late is refreshing."

[color=DarkKhaki]"I don't buy it."[/color] Wolf frowned. [color=DarkKhaki]"She's not Victor, but she's sure as hell not you. You twisted her somehow. Now she promised me to never do something like that again, but I know that if you have your way, none of that matters."[/color] It was quickly approaching the angriest Wolf had ever felt. [color=DarkKhaki]"I'm giving Meredith a second chance. I'm not willing to let you waste that. I know your story. You've had your fair share of second chances already, to the point where it makes me wonder if me just coming here to talk is being too kind."[/color] His eyes narrowed as his jaw tightened. [color=DarkKhaki]"My mother never trusted you. I used to think she was too paranoid. Not anymore."[/color]

"Oho" Mona seemed to raise from the table ever so slightly. "No, coming here is proof of your confusion.  And naivety. Veiled threats and strong language under my own roof..." She paused. "Did you actually know my other daughter favours you too? What would she say if she were to witness this." The demoness raised to full height. "I only lit what she repressed from so long ago. She did the rest. Well, that and probably that Galbrek brat. "

[color=DarkKhaki]"Your roof? You being alive at all is a mercy I'm not sure you've earned."[/color] Even dwarfed as he was by the demoness before him, he didn't flinch -- even if he maybe should have. [color=DarkKhaki]"So let me unveil it for you. My existence should be a threat to you, or do I need to remind you what my family does for a living? If I have to choose between you and Meredith, if I even think you're you're trying to twist her mind again, I will come back and it won't be to talk. I suggest you don't give me a reason to."[/color]

"And yet, you are no threat. Even a rich girl with a sharp tongue can make you cower"

[color=DarkKhaki]"Try me."[/color] He glared back at her, unblinking. [color=DarkKhaki]"I dealt with Galbrek, I'll deal with you. Just give me a reason."[/color]

"Anna, Wolf is in here." Mona added, and the sounds of wings were heard at his back. "He came here to play."

For a moment, Wolf's pupil's shrank to pinpoints. It was a look quite unlike him. A look of someone almost entirely consumed by rage. He'd never before had the chance to sit still and consider his anger. Never had to bottle it up. In those rare moments of fury it had always just been a quick snap before he swung away. In this moment, however, it could only escape through his eyes as he expressed the resolve he'd found deep down.

But it was brief.

Foreign as the feeling was, it was easy to return to something more familiar. An admittedly shaky smile as he turned to greet Ana.

[color=DarkKhaki]"Hey! I, uh, heard you guys were scared so I thought I'd come keep you company for a bit..."[/color]

She was a child. She didn't need to deal with this today. For the time being, Mona could have whatever kind of victory she saw this as.

Anna was pretty unresponsive, her gaze tired and nervous, like a bird she was caged long ago. "Outside is scary." She added, as her usual bravado had been drained out of her.  "Too many weird people.  Can you make them go away? I can be a good girl if it's what it takes..."

"Oh my, poor thing is still so scared, Wolf. Pay no heed. She needs to rest." Mona added as she hushed her daughter out, having achieved her point. "It will be okay, my little imp... the bad men are gone." She finished as she indicated the exit to Wolf, but not before whispering one last time. "I have seen you grow up, Wolf. I know what and how you think. And i know how to bid my time. Here is  some food for thought. Instead of spitting threats, why don't you be true to yourself and talk to little Mer?"

Easier said than done, considering he had no idea where to find Meredith.

[color=DarkKhaki]"No... I don't think you do."[/color] He made his way toward the door and stopped. [color=DarkKhaki]"Ana! If you hear from your sister let me know! I don't live far, it's safe. I promise." [/color]

"Try the school. She is still St Laurels." was Mona's reply.

With a final withering glare at Mona he left the house. He walked quietly for a time before his knees began to shake and he broke into a cold sweat.

What the hell had he been thinking?