The Masan Mansion

"I didn't realize your idea of fun was going home." Melina said as the trio walked up to a huge brick mansion, similar looking to where she lived.

Alice stared at her, opening the large iron gates. "It's not like we have anything else to do. Malls are boring at this time, anything illegal is out of the question and we can't walk around in our uniforms. Or go out with Michael trusting us with you."

Alice smirked at the last part and Melina cringed. Not telling Alice the first time that Michael was her bodyguard was a huge mistake. She found out from Michael instead and had been teasing Melina about it ever since.

"Also, chilling is a nice way of fun." Antonio added. "Not everything has to be reckless or crazy. I think we've all had enough for one day."

"That sounds incredibly mature for you two." Melina muttered.

"Way to judge people, Melina." Alice winced as if hurt. "You know that we're more than troublemakers."

As she said those words, the front door opened, a middle-aged version of Alice standing in the doorway with her arms crossed over her chest. Melina felt a chill go through her as the woman stared at the trio.

"Mind explaining what this is Alice Masan." The woman glared. "You better have not gotten suspended again."

"Hello mother. It's nice to see you. And I didn't get suspended, I got injured." Alice raised her bandaged hand. "It's training day and because I'm useless with an injury, we got sent home."

"You got injured?" The woman raised an eyebrow, not believing a word.

"Yeah, I learnt Rana wings are as soft as they are deadly." Alice muttered.

"Rana wings?" Alice's mother said, turning to Melina suddenly. "Your wings aren't poisonous?"

"No…" Melina replied, still feeling scared of the powerful aura the woman was releasing.

As she replied however, the aura swiftly disappeared as Alice's mother smiled. "Too bad. Anyway, it's nice to meet you, Melina Rana. I'm Diana Masan, head of the Masan clan and mother to that devil."

She gave a pointed look at Alice, who rolled her eyes back, before holding out a hand to Melina. Melina took it, not sure what to say. The woman had done a 180, her personality changing faster than a snap of fingers.

"Um…nice to meet you ma'am…" Melina murmured, finally finding her voice.

"Ah manners. Alice, you should learn." Diana smiled. "Well, I've got some work, so I'll be leaving you three now. Enjoy yourselves and don't cause trouble for your Naana Alice."

With those words she left the trio at the door, heading to a black car parked near the gates. Getting into the back, the car started and drove off, disappearing into the city.

"Let's go in." Alice said, breaking the silence. "I want to introduce you to my Naana."

"Um…sure." Melina replied.

They then went inside, Melina seeing that the house was as luxurious as hers, just with red instead of purple. It made Melina wonder what the Masan family did, making her realize she knew very little about the other clans.

"Alice what does your family do?" Melina asked, too curious to hold it in.

"Finally curious about that." Alice looked at Melina before leading her through a hallway. "Well, have you heard of the Black Lion Group?"

The name sounded familiar for some reason, making Melina think for a second. "Wait, isn't that the biggest private security company in the country?! Don't tell me…"

"The Masan clan owns and runs the Black Lion Group." Antonio responded. "And the security services are just a front. The real business is in hitmen and assassins. It's probably why Michael trusted you with us. No safer place than the home of the Black Lion Group's CEO. Especially, when most hitmen are under her control."

Melina suddenly felt very glad her father and Alice's mother were quite close and on good terms. After meeting the woman, she didn't want to imagine her as an enemy. And to learn what she was running as the head…

"Of course, mother has some side gigs with the Tasha clan. Mostly with illegal fighting in some of their clubs." Alice continued, opening a door.

"Clubs?" Melina wondered aloud as the trio entered a very modern looking kitchen.

"Yeah. The Tasha clan owns most of the clubs in the country." Antonio said. He then turned to the elderly lady kneading dough on a marble island. "Hello Naana."

"Antonio, so nice to see you again dear." The woman smiled, the wrinkles around her eyes and mouth deepening. "And Alice, who is this?"

"Oh, this is Melina Rana. A friend from school." Alice answered as she gave the smaller woman a side hug. "Melina, my grandmother, my Naana."

"Nice to meet you ma'am." Melina said.

"It's nice to meet you too." Alice's grandmother grinned. "Looks like you take after your mother. She was quite the beauty."

"Um…thanks." Melina murmured, not sure how exactly to reply.

Melina wasn't going to deny that her mother was beautiful, because from the pictures she had seen of her mother, she knew that her mother was beautiful. It was just that her mother wasn't brought up much in conversations and well, Melina didn't know the woman like she felt she should have.

Sensing the awkward air, Alice's grandmother exclaimed, "You three must be hungry. I made some pasta earlier. Why not take some and go upstairs."

"Are you kicking us out, Naana?" Antonio joked.

"Yes. You and Alice will just eat everything if I let you stay." The woman replied. "Now hurry up and leave before I do kick you out."

She pointed at a huge pot sitting on the stove, silently telling them to help themselves. The cousins didn't hesitate, each grabbing a plate of pasta with a tomato sauce and bits of meat in it.

Alice then handed Melina a plate before she quickly dished up a second, grabbing forks too. She turned back to her Naana and gave her a peck on her cheek.

"Thanks Naana." Alice said with Antonio joining in.

"Thank you." Melina added, loving the smell of the dish in her hands.

The plate was warm in her hands, the smell of a tomato, rosemary, thyme and beef hit her nose as steam from the plate rose, making her mouth water. It was a comforting food, something that reminded Melina of home.

"No worries kiddos. Now move along. Leave this old lady to enjoy making this pie in peace." Naana replied, waving the trio out.

"Alright. We're leaving." Alice then herded everyone out and led them to her room.

As they walked upstairs to Alice's room, Melina asked, "Um…Are you sure your Naana won't need help."

"Stop worrying." Alice muttered. "If you offer help, you're just going to get an earful. Naana may look elderly and frail looking, but she's still got demon blood in her. She's as strong as an ox. Plus, if she wanted help, she would have asked."

"Okay…"

"So, Melina, have you watched X series yet?" Alice asked.

Melina shook her head. X series was a popular new series that had come out two months ago but life had made Melina focused on other things. Like her foster parents' death and the aftermath.

"Alright then, we're watching it." Alice grinned madly, scaring Melina a little.

"The fangirl has come out." Antonio smirked. "I suggest you run before she sinks her teeth into her."

"Shut up, Antonio. You like the series too."

Melina smiled, starting to feel at ease and relaxed, letting the emotions which had come up with the thought of her foster parents' death disappear.

***

Melina stretched her arms as the credits began rolling on the TV screen in Alice's room. They had just finished the tenth episode and Melina was starting to understand why the two enjoyed the series.

The series was fun and let her forget about everything that had happened in the last month. She wanted to continue doing mundane things like this, but looking out the window to see it was late afternoon, Melina knew her time was up.

Michael had messaged her earlier, saying he was going to come to the Masan mansion after his soccer practice which ended at four. She would then go back into the world of supernatural and have to deal with everything that came with it.

Melina sighed, a little tired with everything. She loved her new found family and having an amazing power, but all the craziness that came with it made her forget about how nice mundane things were.

"You didn't like that?" Antonio asked, misunderstanding her sigh.

Melina shook her head. "No, it was nice. I probably will have to go home soon, that's all."

"Wanna sleepover and binge the rest then?" Alice smiled.

"I don't think today is the best day to do that." Melina replied. "I've already ditched school. It'll look bad if I do that on top of it."

"Guess the good girl was going to come out eventually." Alice smirked.

The sound of a knock on the door interrupted Melina's reply as a middle aged woman opened the door and said with a blank look on her face, "Alice, you have a guest downstairs."

"Alright, I'm on my way." Alice responded quickly, the woman leaving as she answered. Alice then turned to Melina. "Guess Michael's here to pick you up."

"Probably." Melina picked up her empty plate and stood up. "I guess I'll be going then."

The other two stood up too, Alice taking the plate from Melina's hand. "We'll walk you down and I'll make sure to tell Naans that you enjoyed her food."

"Please do."

Alice nodded and the trio made their way downstairs, to find that Alice's guest was indeed Michael, waiting by the front door for Melina. Melina quickly said her goodbyes before Michael and her left the mansion, making their way home by foot.