Daddies’ Little Assassin (Femme Fatale Freakshow)

2. The Invite

Chapter two

The Invite

T he night air was cool again, but I didn't feel it, thanks to my fluffy fur. My heart was still racing from the adrenaline of the kill. I had to give it to the warlock—his revelation had thrown me for a loop. But I couldn't afford to dwell on it now. I needed to get home, get clean, and then... figure out what to do next.

The streets were quiet as I ran, my bunny feet making no sound on the pavement as I stuck to the shadows. My apartment was only a few miles away, but in my shifted form, after the long night, it might as well be in another city. My legs ached, and my brain felt foggy, and I couldn't think straight anymore. All I could focus on was the idea of a long, hot bubble bath. Bubbles... mmmm. A night in my new teddy bear pyjamas and a cuddle with Mr Big, my Groot stuffy. Mr Big never judged me for being weird or awkward. He also never left me.

By the time I reached my apartment, my limbs were screaming for a rest. Sneaking to the box in the alley behind the building where I hid a spare set of clothes, I let the shift run over my body. I quickly donned the tracksuit before jogging into the front door as if I went on midnight runs often.

No one noticed my bare feet... mostly because there was no one to notice it, but I've found over the years it's these little details that normally slip everyone's notice. I opt for the stairs, taking them two at a time, too eager to get into my little haven. When I finally reached my door, I let out a small sigh of relief. Home.

Fumbling with my keys, I pushed the door open and immediately noticed the envelope lying on the floor inside. It was thick and fancy-looking.

"What now?" I wondered to myself, picking it up as I kicked the door closed behind me.

The envelope was black, sealed with a bright red wax stamp. My stomach flipped as I slowly unsealed the envelope. My heartbeat in my ears as I slipped out the beautifully embossed card. The lettering was written in a swirling red script.

“Consume the invitation?” I muttered, raising an eyebrow. “Of course. Because normal guilds just make you sign a contract. But no... not this one.”

I flipped the card over, searching for any other instructions, but that was it. If I wanted in, I had to eat the invite. I sighed, tossing the card on the kitchen counter as I headed for the fridge.

It's not like this was the weirdest thing I'd done. After all, I was an assassin. But still. Who comes up with these ideas?

I grab a carton of milk and start pulling ingredients for pancakes from the cupboard. If I had to eat the invitation, I might as well enjoy it. Breakfast for dinner was a favourite of mine, and pancakes were the perfect vehicle for this kind of nonsense. Shredding the invite into tiny pieces, I folded them into the batter, watching as the red script dissolved into the mix. The smell of frying pancakes soon filled the air, and I felt a little spark of excitement despite my fatigue. This was exactly what I needed to get my head off what Jas had told me.

I didn't like dwelling in sadness, choosing to focus on the happier things in my life.

After a while, I had a stack of golden, fluffy pancakes in front of me. I drizzled syrup on top and dug in, each bite reminded me that life could be weird, but at least I had this.

Pancakes for dinner. The world might be full of curses and shady warlocks, but if a girl could have breakfast for dinner... there was still hope.

By the time I finished, I felt the familiar hum of magic settling over me. Guess that meant the invite was officially accepted.

"Well that's one way to get inducted," I muttered, wiping my mouth and heading for the bathroom.

Soon the tub was filled with hot water, and buckets and buckets for bubbles to make my heart feel just a smidge better. The scent of lavender and vanilla filled the room, and I let out a deep breath as I sank into the water. My body ached, but the heat soon worked its magic, relaxing my muscles and soothing the tension from the night's events.

As I soaked, I couldn't help but replay the warlock's words in my head. A curse. A Lucky Foot. It sounded insane, but there was a part of me that couldn't shake the truth of it. Was that why every relationship I'd ever had fell apart? Why I, could never find someone to stick around, no matter how hard I tried?

Is that why my mom gave me up?

I slid deeper into the water, blowing bubbles across the surface. "I'm not cursed," I whispered to myself. "I'm just... unlucky."

But the words felt hollow, even to my ears. And there was only one way to find out if it was true or not.

I had to find a witch. Someone who could break this supposed curse once and for all. I wasn't sure where to start, but I knew one thing; I couldn't live like this anymore.

Once the bubbles started to fade and the water turned lukewarm, I stepped out, wrapping myself in a soft towel. Pulling on my teddy bear pyjamas, I padded into my bedroom, where Mr Big was waiting on the pillow. I grabbed him, snuggling him close as I crawled into bed.

Before I turned out the light, I reached for the book on my nightstand. Exactly what a Little needed after a long, hard day. A bedtime story. Something soft, sweet, and far removed from the insanity of my real life. As I read, I couldn't help but let my mind wander.

Was love really impossible for me? Or had I just been chasing what I was never meant to have? Maybe, if I could break the curse, things would be different. Maybe there was still hope.

I closed the book and hugged Mr Big tighter. Tomorrow, I'd start my search for the witch. But tonight, I'd let myself dream. Dream of love, of connection, of something more than just the pancakes and a stuffy to keep me company.

"Goodnight, Mr Big," I whispered, turning off the light. "Here's hoping tomorrow is better."

And with that, I drifted off to sleep, dreaming of a future that, for once, didn't seem so far out of reach.