I opened my eyes and slowly sat up in my bed, looking over at James in his bed across the room. I let a small smile grace my lips at his small form curled up on the bed. I picked up my phone and groaned. I was late again, and I definitely knew the culprits this time.
I stood up and ran down the stairs, trying to at least get a small amount of food in my system before lessons were supposed to start.
"Amelia?" I heard behind me and turned to face Momma as she stood in the doorway of the kitchen. Her dark hair was thrown over her shoulder and her eyes were watching me carefully. "What are you doing up, baby girl?"
"I have lessons in like five minutes, Momma," I quickly replied, grabbing the toast in my mouth and starting back up the stairs, racing to get dressed.
"Amelia, dontcha remember what today is?" Momma responded to me and trailed up the stairs and I watched the groggy girls both leave their room and head towards their shared bathroom.
"It's Tuesday, Momma."
"Baby girl, it's Christmas Day."
I froze and released the tension in my body. Christmas, the only day I ever got a break from being glared at like I'm a freak. I sighed and walked back towards my shared room with James.
"I'm going back to sleep then, Momma. Wake me when the food is finished," I said, and walked back into my room, shutting the door and hearing the woman chuckle before going back to her own room. I heard a ping from my phone and walked over to stop the sound, looking over to make sure that James is still asleep before opening.
[Momma's Food Bitches]
To you, Main Bitch, Druggy, Side Hoe, Food Mama, Godfather, Mafioso
Druggy: Merry Christmas, whores!
Main Bitch: It's literally 3am, stfu
Side Hoe: Be nice, #1, cuz #2 is here and will take you down
Food Mama: Can we all just be nice?
You: Bitches, I just wanna sleep. Lemme sleep.
Godfather: You whores do realize it's actually 7, right?
You: and it's Christmas
You: so gtfo
Mafioso: I got the gifts for the whores like you asked, boss
Main Bitch: DO I READ THAT A CERTAIN GUY HAS GIFTS FOR HIS HOES?
Side Hoe: can i be the main now?
Food Mama: Why are you so LOUD?
Silence entered our group chat after that and I let out a small giggle and sat up. No way I was going back to bed now.
"Amie?" I heard and looked to James' bed where he was sitting up. His last spell had him weak and he had been out for days now, and I was careful not to wake him when I knew he needed all the rest he could get.
I walked over to his bed and pressed my cool lips to his forehead and pulled the thirteen-year-old boy into my body, trying to give him warmth I knew I didn't have. "Good morning, squirt."
"How long this time?" he asked and I gently pulled back from him and sat on the edge of his bed.
"About three days, but your color is back," I said, trying to brighten the mood. James sighed and I flinched back.
"I don't want my color back, I just want this to be over!" I felt a pang of pity hit me in the heart. This had been affecting him since he was four and no one had any answers as to what was wrong with him. Undine and Lapis hadn't made this much easier. They were the biological babies of the family we lived in, and they were complete and utter bitches to us.
"I know, James, but no doctors seem to know a way to cure you. I'm really trying to help you, but I can't help you if you don't let me in," I said and watched the boy curl up into a ball. Silence surrounded us and I let out a sigh. From the silence, my phone started to ring again and I noticed how James didn't make any move to ask about it, he just stayed still and silent.
I walked over to my phone and opened it up, looking at the texts that seemed to continue to flow in.
[Momma's Food Bitches]
To you, Main Bitch, Druggy, Side Hoe, Food Mama, Godfather, Mafioso
Godfather: Listen up, my whores. You girls all have a job today.
Main Bitch: but it's Christmas!!!
Mafioso: of course you would
Godfather: No complaining, and you get to have free food.
Food Mama: DO I READ THE WORDS FREE FOOD?!
Druggy: I'm in, whatever it is
Side Hoe: What kinda job we talkin?
Godfather: Seduction and robbery
You: Sounds like a job for the Bitch and the Hoe
Mafioso: That's fair.
Godfather: Luce, you're on seduction of the main boss
Main Bitch: Roger that
Godfather: Nova, you have the son and any guards in your way
Side Hoe: Yes, sir
Godfather: Zara, you're on food duty, make sure to slip in some poison to the boss and son
Food Mama: Always with the food
Godfather: Sahara, you have drug infiltration and robbery of the best stuff
Druggy: Aye
Godfather: Imanuel, you and Amelia will be our assassins and will take out all the targets, understood?
Mafioso: K
You: Understood, Mr. Asshat
Godfather: Watch your mouth.
I sighed and walked towards my closet, pulling out my black jumpsuit and a pair of black combat boots, smiling at the combo before grabbing a jacket and baggy jeans to slip on over it.
"Are you leaving again, Amie?" James asked, sitting up in bed. I walked over and tussled his hair.
"I need the money for your treatment, buddy. Momma knows what I'm doing and she knows Papa doesn't make enough for it. I'll be back soon, okay?"
"Just make sure you come back in one piece, okay?"
I smirked at his words and walked into the bathroom, slipping on the clothes before adding the black makeup that I was known to wear in missions. I walked back to the closet and pulled out some of my weapons before placing them on my belt and walking towards the door.
"No promises, squirt."
"Look at the little princess, leaving again, Amelia?" I heard and turned towards the small figure of Undine. She was shorter than me, yet she was also the oldest of the household. She was nineteen and still thought she owned the world.
"Yep, to get away from your ass, Undine," I said, coldness lacing my words before making my way to the door.
"Since guard detail is off today, maybe I should pay a little visit to Jamiepoo-" I didn't let her finish before shoving her into the wall. The animalistic growl worked its way up my throat and made the room seem to shake. I felt my fangs pop out and watched how Undine started to cringe down in fear. I felt the arms wrap around my waist and I relaxed, instantly being hit with his scent as he pulled me out of the house and towards the car.