Nadia's resolve II

"Daddy, wake up!... It's morning!" Mildred had a wonderful smile on her innocent face as she rushed into her father's room and jumped into bed to wake him up.

Morris chuckled as he opened his eyes. "Alright, I'm up, I'm up. Naughty child."

Mildred giggled as she tried to prank Morris but the latter was quicker as he grabbed her and pulled her into a tight embrace.

"You rascal, waking your dad up so aggressively aye."

"Mommy told me to do so."

"Hoh, well I'll teach you a lesson first." Morris remarked before he began to tickle the young child.

Laughing at the top of her lungs, Mildred tried to run away but alas, she was too weak.

As she played with her father, her mother, Matilda came to the door with a spoon.

"Oh my goodness, I sent you to wake your dad not mess around with him." She remarked while facepalming.

Mildred giggled. "It's Daddy's fault, he was tickling me."

"Absolutely false!" Morris shot back jokingly.

"Oh gosh, alright, that's enough you two, breakfast is ready, quickly come and take it before it gets cold."

"Yay, breakfast." Mildred rejoiced before pausing to ask. "What's for breakfast, Mommy?"

Matilda bent her neck for a good look at her mischievous daughter before sighing. "Pancakes."

"Yay, pancakes!" Mildred raised her hands in celebration before turning to Morris. "Daddy, did you hear that?... We are having pancakes."

Morris nodded while stroking his chin in a scholarly manner. "Indeed we are."

Then with a mischievous grin, he added. "Race you to the table."

"No!"

Without hesitation, Mildred leaped out of her father's embrace and rushed out the door to the dinner table as fast as her tiny legs could take her.

Morris chuckled. "Little rascal."

"You spoil her way too much." Matilda remarked.

"I owe her." Morris said as he revealed a solemn expression as he recalled the incident from a few nights ago.

"After all, I gave her quite a scare the last time."

Matilda sighed. "You shouldn't blame yourself. You only did what a good man with a good heart would have done."

"I know." Morris muttered as he got up from his bed. "Well then, I guess I should…"

"Daddy!"

Mildred's alarmed voice rang out, shocking both Matilda and Morris.

Both quickly ran to the dinner table to find two Royal Blue officers waiting for them with Mildred already in their custody.

Morris grew alarmed but didn't show it as he stepped forward.

"What is the meaning of this?"

The taller of the two officer's replied. "Mr. Morris, we would need for you to follow us to the station, now."

"What do you mean?... My family has done now wrong so why are you arresting us?"

"Please do not resist arrest, even we don't know why we are doing this but if you force us… we will not hesitate to do what we were ordered to do."

Morris revealed a complicated expression but open seeing Mildred's scared look, he spoke up.

"... Please, leave the child and take only me."

"Mr. Morris…"

"Please… I'll do anything. Mildred doesn't have any issues, just let her stay with her mother."

The officers exchanged eye contact before the shorter one pushed the girl forward.

"Thank you." Morris remarked as he reached out to grab Mildred.

Crouching to her eye level, he said. "Okay, Millie, I'll be going out for a while okay."

"But why?" Mildred asked.

Morris smiled wryly. "Don't worry, I'll be back soon okay."

"Are the bad officers going to take Daddy away from me?"

"Not at all. Don't worry, nothing like that would happen. Just stay with mommy for now okay. Promise you won't bother mommy."

"Will you come back quickly if I don't?"

"Of course." Morris nodded before raising his pinkie. "So pinky promise?"

Mildred's gaze alternated between Morris's eyes and his pinky before she finally reached out and locked fingers with him.

"Pinky promise."

Revealing a smile, Morris hugged Mildred before handing her over to Matilda after which he left silently with the officers.

That day, the western district saw the arrest of over 50 of its inhabitants.

It wasn't long before protests erupted once again.

***

Night time soon arrived with the Lightbringer gone and the Nighteye replacing it in the night sky.

With most asleep, in the basement of the Sanders manor, Nadia prepared for a ritual.

Candles illuminated the room as a peculiar smell wafted about.

Seated before an intricately drawn magic circle with the design of a monster with goat horns and a skull like face at its center, Nadia muttered something incoherent while slowly bobbing her head back and forth.

Her eyes were closed and she was seated in a lotus position while dressed in a thin satin dress.

With her grimoire before her, she continued repeating the words for quite some time before opening her eyes.

Taking a deep breath, she took out a bowl filled with mixed spices and with slow movements, gently poured the spices into the center of the circle.

"With this as my offering." Nadia remarked as she pulled out a knife and cut her palm before allowing her blood trickle down.

Then, she continued. "And my blood as a point of contact, I, Nadia Khan, of the family of Ali Khan, summon into the mortal plane, the daughter of Lilith, the deceitful One, The Greatest sin… Vessina, the Devil of Pride!"

Despite being closed off, a strong wind blew in the basement, causing a bit of a ruckus but Nadia remained poised as she allowed her blood to fall on the magic circle.

Then taking a moment to breathe, she muttered something more incoherent after which she entered a trance and at that moment, the magic circle lit up.

Glowing a bright red, the blood dried up and the spices poured at the center were wiped clean after which female voices were heard coming from every direction.

Some laughed, others cried and some others hurled insults.

However, Nadia didn't react as she waited patiently.

And soon enough, her efforts paid off as a circular gate with whirling red light appeared.