Adam stood frozen for a few seconds, staring at the phone screen as if it might somehow take the words back. But no, he had sent the message as demanded. Penny was on her way. And now he had maybe twenty minutes to figure out how to explain this.
’Hey guys. I just kinda revealed our information to my niece and she is on her way over here now. It’s no big deal though, right?’
"Yeah right...That will go over well."
He ran a hand down his face, muttering under his breath.
"I should’ve lied. I should’ve said I fled the country or something."
But it was too late for regrets. He could only let out a sigh as he made his way back into the house. The first thing he saw upon entering the house was Lily locked into a fierce staring contest with Aria of all people over the last crepe.
"I have known Leo longer!"
Lily hissed angrily, baring her teeth as her nose twitched with agitation.
Aria’s wings puffed up, feathers flaring in a dramatic display of righteous indignation
"But you ate twice as much as me! That one is mine!"
her voice rose an octave as she refused to back down. Adam looked around and saw that Crystal was watching this from the sidelines with a faint glint of amusement in her eyes while Leo and Luna had begun cleaning up the kitchen.
Rachel had disappeared somewhere again but for now Adam didn’t question it, instead he pointed at the standoff between the girls and asked
"Umm. Shouldn’t we do something?"
Luna washed her hands and approached the table. Before Adam could say anything more, Luna stepped between them and grabbed the last crepe off the plate with the reflexes of a predator. She took a bite without breaking eye contact with either of them.
she said flatly through a mouthful. Both girls stared at her in stunned betrayal.
Lily whispered, scandalized.
"I was gonna have that!"
Aria added, aghast but Luna just shrugged and chewed.
Adam coughed to get their attention, holding up both hands.
"Okay, not to ruin the very intense crepe diplomacy happening here, but I kind of have a situation."
Lily immediately turned her attention away from Luna and focused on Adam with a gaze full of suspicion locked onto him.
"What sort of situation are we talking about here? Did it have something to do with your phone call outside?"
Adam could only sheepishly smile as he scratched at the back of his neck.
His voice was small but he could feel the pointed glares coming from the girls. Thankfully, the first one to speak was actually Leo.
"Who did you call man?"
"I was calling my Niece back after I forgot my phone was on silent."
As Leo washed a pan, he glanced at the other girls before turning back to Adam.
"So you just called her back and she wants to meet you or something? I don’t see the problem with that. She must have been worried about you and called a couple of times after you didn’t answer right?"
Leo’s voice was calm, but he was clearly trying to give Adam the benefit of the doubt.
"She called 147 times. I also got 379 text messages..."
Even Luna’s expression twitched slightly in disbelief.
Silence filled the room Crystal blinked first.
"That’s not concern for someone. That’s just a straight up obsession at this point."
Aria tilted her head, brow raised slightly.
"Did you steal her cat or something?"
Lily leaned forward, voice low and serious.
Adam let out a long sigh and shook his head.
"She’s not dangerous. She’s just... persistent. And unfortunately for me, the only normal family member I have."
’She’s the normal one?!’
Everyone but Aria was secretly shocked at that statement but she knew that Adam was speaking the truth, that was normal as far as Adam’s family went.
Luna crossed her arms, eyeing him with something between amusement and annoyance.
"What exactly did you say to her?"
Adam lowered his head as he mumbled
"What did you just say? Speak up."
Lily repeated with her eyes widening, failing to catch the mumble. With a sigh, Adam raised his head with guilt written all over his face.
"I told her everything. I initially called her to ask if she could bring some easy access clothes for Aria but she thought I was some womanizing bastard. Then shit hit the fan and I kinda just..forgot about her."
He could feel the disdainful glares coming from Luna and Lily, only Leo and Aria were feeling slightly sympathetic for him while Crystal didn’t have any opinions on the matter as she too was technically an outsider.
"So when is this niece of yours going to get here?"
Luna asked after swallowing the last piece of the crepe.
"Based on how she drives, I would say it would take her about 15-20 minutes."
As soon as he said those words, Rachel burst into the room with a serious look on her face.
"I just got a report that a car registered to Anthony Samael, Adam’s oldest brother, is racing here at breakneck speeds. We may need to look into evacuating from here...wait, what am I missing here?"
No one said a word as they all just turned to look at Adam who could only chuckle helplessly as he remarked.
"Correction. Make that 5-10 minutes..."
Rachel blinked, her serious expression faltering for just a moment.
"...You’re joking. Please tell me you’re joking."
Adam gave her a strained smile, spreading his hands in surrender.
"I wish I was. But judging from what I know of Penny, she probably hit the gas the second I hung up."
Leo let out a low whistle as he dried his hands.
"She sounds... intense."
"That’s one way to put it,"
"I’ll be back in a minute. I have to make a call now."
Rachel grumbled as she left the room, shooting Adam an annoyed glare as she did so.
Leo scowled as he then picked up on something. He turned to face Rachel and shouted.
"Are you doing surveillance around the house?!"
Rachel froze for a second, before turning back to face Leo with a clearly forced smile and chuckle.