It was a quiet, peaceful day in Anna-Maria's small home, spent together with her daughters.
A soft smile rested on Anna-Maria's lips as she gently combed through Esther's blonde hair, careful and tender with every stroke.
"Mommy."
"What is it, Esther?" Anna-Maria asked softly.
Esther tilted her head a little. "Why do strangers come to see us so often?"
It was something she had noticed more than once.
From time to time, a Witch or a Blooded Son would come to their home and ask to speak with Anna-Maria alone. Whenever that happened, Anna-Maria would always tell her daughters to hide and not come out again until the visitors had left.
Esther did not truly understand what it meant.
But Airam and Hermione did.
"They want to separate us, so Mother keeps refusing them," Hermione answered with a shrug, only briefly lifting her eyes from the book in her lap.
"I—Is that true?" Esther asked, looking up at her mother.
Anna-Maria let out a quiet little chuckle.
