I walked back to the mansion. I saw quite a few people standing by the gates. They seemed displeased. I asked them nicely, "What is your problem?" They didn't say anything. I asked again. This time they walked away. Tiberius came and wrapped his cloak around me. He took me inside and gave me a cup of hot cocoa. He asked me why was the previous guardian trapped in a mirror on the fifth floor. I told him everything and he stared at me weirdly. Then he calmly walked over and pressed his locket on my forehead. The glamour spell receeded for a moment and he saw my real face. He started hyperventilating. He demanded to where Erebus was. I told him about her punishment. She is locked in an iron maiden and her gift is being siphoned to fortify the shields in this property. He blinked three times and walked away. Mrs. Kol came to inform me she filled the tub with milk, saffron and a few other things.
I was in the tub when the portal opened and my mom came through. She happily explained that I was her granddaughter. She wishes to see my mom. I picked up my phone and she stared weirdly. I called her number. I put it on speaker so she can hear own daughter's voice. Mom answered on the fifth ring. I asked her to join me for dinner. I missed her company. Mom was flattered. She said she will come after her shifts ends. Which is in ten minutes. I told her I have a surprise. She laughed with delight. She loved surprises. She will come with great anticipation. I hung up and saw grandma crying. I reached out and wiped her black tears. She kissed my hands and asked me why I was soaking in this concoction. I told her it is removed any residue of the day's events. The creatures I fight with leave a mark that only this soak can remove. In some cases dead doesn't simply mean defeated. They need an anchor to come out and hurt people. If I don't remove the residue then their arrival is my fault.
She blinked several times and asked me to show her. I got up and she saw angry markings. Like someone had used a branding iron to hurt me. She watched they turned white as they slipped into the tub. They singed as they touched the milk. The milk boiled rapidly as the hex was neutralised. Smoked billowed for full minute. I told her I have several more to remove so I will be here for the next eight minutes. She watched as I sat down again. She wanted to know more I told her about Yami. The sisters three who are trapped in a pocket realm. All because the skeleton king duped them with false information. The prison is opened several times. Once with a planetary alignment. The next is someone from this side or the other side uses spells to open the rift.
I told her that I saw the tear in space. How eight pairs of invisible hands held on to dear life to keep the portal open at any cost. The only thing that did some serious damage was the black powder that Erebus made. She was curious. I told her about the defensive perimeter. How I was unconscious for three days. Mom and her new family had taken refuge in the mansion. The defences refused to let anyone else in. They had argued with me that they didn't need a guardian. So I proposed the idea that I stay away from three days to see if they really didn't need one. When I woke up they apologized profusely. They seemed upset with the amount of wealth I possessed as a guardian. They tried to fight with the weapons they possessed but it didn't help them. They tried to use the guardian's weapons but they had to give up a portion of their life which infuriated them.
I am met with hostility for my occupation and sometimes I wish they would accept their ordinary life and move on with their life. The milk turned black so I got out and washed off the gunk. Grandma watched as the last of the residue fell to the floor and burnt itself to ashes. I came out and chose a black dress with laces trims. I tied my hair into a bun. I held it in place with a silver hairpin. It had emeralds studded to form a snake. I wore a perfume called burnt rose. Grandma liked the perfume very so I gave her the bottle. She was pleased. The doorbell rang and mom was ushered in. I made the introduction and mom was staring in silence. She wanted to refuse but I showed her using the mirror on the ground floor. She watched it all and cried. She and mom hugged each other and mom was pleased to see grandma.
The gargoyles were screeching. I told mom stay here. They are trying to ward something away. I came out to see a bald wizard trying to mumble some sort of spell to open the gates. I told the gargoyles to crank it to eleven. He fell down began to cough up blood. Grandma snuck a peek. She recognised him immediately. His name was Rufus. He has tried to get his hands of the grimore several times over. He failed each time. She wanted to know who opened their mouth told him the grimore was here. He said that Erebus told him. He needs that book to free Morgana and company. He wants to be someone who is feared by all. I pulled out the sword and cut off his head. It rolled down the street and I didn't care where it ended up. I heard a low rumble. It was Atticus.
Atticus was kind enough to retrieve it in exchange for his eyeballs. I agreed and he happily ran to find the head. I escorted them back in and we ate dinner. Mom was upset that grandma was leaving. I proposed that she go with her and come back a few days later. She agreed and they both left with their hands clasped. I walked away feeling good about reunion. I changed into my pyjamas. I was practicing hurling when Tiberius came. He placed the locket around my neck and he could see my real face. He was mesmerized. I winked at him and he laughed merrily. I picked up a shuriken and threw them perfectly. It struck dead center. Grandma and mom walked in. They stared at the dart board before broaching the question.
While they applauded my results they questioned why I needed the practice. I explained that some of the weapons I have must be thrown in order to reach maximum lethality. These are plain but the weapons were charmed so they will inflict fatality. I picked up an enchanted shuriken and threw it as an example. They watched as it multiplied and shredded the dart board to very thin strips. I picked up a screwdriver and Tiberius started laughing, "Still a hit and miss with that I see" I took a deep breath and threw it. It hit dead center and embedded itself in. I received a round of applause. Mom was curious why I had to throw a screwdriver till I showed her a weapon resembling one. She watched as it detonated on contact and obliterated the dartboard and the log. Grandma laughed as she gave a round of applause.
She wanted to know who it was used against. I explained they are for the Handi. Her breath actually froze. Those were deadly and annoying creatures in all the known realms. The worst that ever lived so they were imprisoned for life. They like to come out once every few weeks and this comes in handy. They stared as the portal opened to let some loose. They looked dishelved. Their skin was pitch black with thorns poking out of their legs. Their eyes were blood red. Their hair was a mess. They wore loincloths. Their teeth were whiter in comparison. Their bodies expelled a strange energy. They charged forward and I threw the charmed shuriken. They multiplied as they charged forward. A few blinked out as the rest were obliterated. Grandma threw fireballs at the ones who popped back in. Tiberius tried to slash them with his sword but it didn't do any good. One jumped into mom like she was a bodysuit.
Grandma screamed in anger. She levitated her and I used a rings to form a glove to pull it out. Grandma burned him to ashes and she summoned her army to fight off the rest. The ones who survived chose to run. Only to be herded back to the dartboard. Mom threw a knife and watched as it pierced several before embedding itself in a tree. I gave mom a thumbs up as I picked up an axe. I swung at the last one and he dodged it only to be consumed by flames. The army was sent back and grandma gave me a approving nod. Mom gasped, "I see why you practice. They are relentless." I shrugged, "They were the lower class of their kind. You haven't met the Ifreet. I am told they are the worst. Apparently they can electricute you or give your seizures or rip you to pieces."
Grandma stared at us and she gave her ultimatum. They better not come here again if they wish to live. I grinned, "This section of the property was purchased because they come out from that area. This was to spare civilian casualties. Since we practice hurling the weapons are already here" grandma took my hand and checked the rings. There were two on each digit. A few had cravings like snakes, dragons and unicorns. The rest were rings carved from gemstones themselves. They had Draconian symbols carved on the inside. She stared for a second longer, "The skeleton king gave you the rings of Power. This is most unusual. But it saved your mother. So I am grateful" I asked her, "Did you find out who told that wizard about the grimore?" She nodded her head, "Desdemon was reprimanded for her loose lips. She won't be mentioning it ever again."