Chapter 155: The Silent Sacrifice
After picking up Daisy, Destiny, and the others from Martha’s house, they all headed straight down to the basement to shower and bathe Destiny. As Daphne was about to head down with them, Dennis caught her by the arm.
"Daphne, can we talk for a minute?" Dennis asked.
"What is it, dear?" Daphne asked.
"Come with me for a second; let’s just go to the garage," Dennis answered.
Seeing the serious look on Dennis’s face, Daphne didn’t argue; she simply nodded, and they went into the garage. After closing and locking the door, Dennis stood in front of Daphne.
"Um... what’s going on, dear... do you want to... you know?" Daphne asked, clutching her chest.
"It’s not that... there’s something I need to show you," Dennis answered.
Dennis immediately showed the two clips on his smartphone to Daphne. As she watched them, her face transformed from cheerful to a ghostly pale white. She slowly turned to look at Dennis, whose expression remained relaxed and calm.
"Um... that... this... this recording," Daphne stammered.
"From Sami. I can see it," Dennis replied.
"Thud," Daphne collapsed onto a chair, looking down in total silence. Dennis then crouched in front of her and took both of her hands in his. Daphne looked up at him.
"Relax, I’m not mad at you. In fact, I’m grateful you kept it a secret," Dennis said with a smile.
"Um... yeah... thank you, dear... thank you," Daphne said, looking so relieved her eyes began to well up.
"What matters now is that we have to slowly teach Destiny about her powers once she starts to understand. And we must never tell her about this incident. I don’t want her feeling guilty for doing something she didn’t even comprehend. And... only the two of us and Sami know about this. You understand what I mean, right?" Dennis asked.
"I understand, but what actually happened today?" Daphne asked.
"You know what that black shadow did, right?" Dennis asked.
"It killed those three men who came here, at the park, right? Does it really have anything to do with us?" Daphne asked.
Dennis told Daphne about the police visit that morning while everyone was at Martha’s house. He explained that Chad had tried to drag them into it by saying something to the officers to get them to come to the house.
"That’s really all it was, but the problem is... we got lucky this time. Next time, we might not. You get what I’m saying?" Dennis asked.
"Yes... I understand. I’ll keep a constant eye on Destiny," Daphne answered.
"That’s exactly what I wanted to say. Don’t worry, this stays our little secret... oh, and Sami’s. Don’t forget him," Dennis replied.
"I get it, dear, I get it... I’m protecting Destiny and... sometimes when she lets something out, I swallow it. So, yeah... my body is a little thicker than the others, hehe," Daphne said, touching her stomach and chest.
"Ah... not really. You actually look sexier than ever. But so that’s why your body changed... you’ve sacrificed so much for Destiny. Just how many things has she done?" Dennis replied, squeezing Daphne’s hand.
Daphne went into detail about the things Destiny had accidentally done, like how she’d suddenly produce a fireball with a cheerful smile, and Daphne would immediately swallow it. Destiny had no idea she possessed extraordinary power and thought it was all normal; until she could understand, she had to be constantly watched, and that was exactly what Daphne had been doing all this time. Hearing Daphne’s story—the one no one else knew—Dennis stood up and pulled her into a hug.
"Thank you," Dennis said.
"I’m doing it for our child, dear," Daphne replied.
"But looking at the bright side... you’re thicker than the others, sexier, and... how do I put it... it makes Dad believe that you really were the one who gave birth to Destiny," Dennis replied.
"Huh... is that so? Do you want me to keep pretending that I was actually the one who gave birth to her?" Daphne asked.
"Of course... even though there are side effects," Dennis answered.
"And what are the side effects?" Daphne asked, confused.
"Dad and Mom keep asking when I’m going to get the others pregnant, too, haha," Dennis answered.
"Oh... I see... hmm... but you haven’t actually gotten me pregnant yet either, dear... you want to?" Daphne asked, starting to unbutton her shirt as a seductive look took over her face.
"Uh... you know I have a weakness for that face, right?" Dennis asked.
"I know... that’s why... come on... while it’s just the two of us," Daphne answered.
Without a second thought, the two of them dove into a passionate kiss. Dennis started taking off his shirt and then began helping Daphne with her buttons, his hand reaching in to squeeze her breast. Neither of them broke the kiss until they heard a "giggle."
Immediately, they pulled apart and looked to the side. Their eyes went wide when they saw Daisy, Diana, Dahlia—who was holding Destiny—Donna, Deborah, and Dulcia standing at the now-open garage door. Six of them had their arms folded over their chests and were pouting, with the exception of Dahlia who was busy with the baby. Dennis stood up and turned around instantly, while Daphne rushed to button her shirt back up.
"Um... hi?" Dennis asked as he put his shirt back on.
"Great... we were wondering where you and Daphne went... turns out you’re in here, honey... having a good time all by yourselves without us," Daisy answered irritably.
"It’s not what it looks like... right, Daphne? We were just talking," Dennis said.
"Yeah, exactly, hahaha," said Daphne, standing up while still fumbling with the buttons on her shirt.
"Hey... you missed a buttonhole," Dulcia noted, pointing at Daphne’s chest.
Daphne glanced down and saw it was true; she had skipped a hole, causing her shirt to sit crooked. She quickly undid them to fix the mistake.
"So... you’re still sticking with the ’just talking’ story?" Diana asked.
"Well, answer us," Donna added.
"Sigh... fine. At first, I just wanted to talk to her, and then one thing led to another. That’s how it happened," Dennis replied, giving in.
"Okay... but if you’re in the mood, it should be all of us... why just Daphne?" Deborah asked.
"It’s not like that. She just happened to be the one I caught as she was coming down last," Dennis answered.
"Are you really that hungry for it? But thinking about it... we actually have been fasting since the day before we came here," Donna said, pondering.
"Exactly, that’s why... if I’m being honest... I’m only human, after all... so yeah, I just wanted to," Dennis said. "Aaah... this is so embarrassing... but I hope they buy it," Dennis muttered in his head.
"Hmm... is that so," Daisy, Diana, Donna, Deborah, and Dulcia muttered, lost in thought.
"Forget it, let’s not talk about this anymore. Let’s go to the living room before Mom and Dad get home, or they’ll start getting suspicious," Daphne said.
"Yeah... she’s right. Besides, Destiny looks like she’s getting sleepy," added Dahlia, who was still holding the baby.
"Alright then, everyone, let’s head back inside," Dennis suggested.
Finally, they returned to the living room and laid Destiny down in the crib. After settling the baby, Daisy suddenly turned to Dennis.
"Honey, in the training room, time stands still, right?" Daisy asked.
"Yeah... why?" Dennis asked, confused, though he could more or less guess where this was heading.
"That’s right, let’s just use that," Diana said.
"Yeah... let’s go," Dahlia urged.
"Huh... what are you guys up to?" Dennis asked, pretending to be clueless.
"You said you wanted to earlier," Daisy, Diana, Dahlia, Donna, Deborah, Dulcia, and Daphne replied in unison.
"Sigh... all right," Dennis said.
"Yay!" the others cheered enthusiastically.
In the end, Dennis opened his dimensional training room. Of course, once inside, they weren’t training; instead, they let out everything they had been holding back for the past few days until they were completely satisfied, since time didn’t pass in there at all.
An hour later, William parked his car in the driveway, and he and Elenor walked up to the porch. William opened the front door and stepped inside with Elenor.
"We’re home... Whoa, what’s wrong, son?" William asked.
He saw Dennis slumped weakly at the dining table. His cheeks looked hollow, and he appeared completely drained. He looked up at William.
"Oh... you’re back, Dad," Dennis said, forcing a smile.
"Yeah... what happened to you?" William asked.
"Nothing... just exhausted from training," Dennis answered.
"Oh, I see. Alright, I’m heading in," William replied, walking past Dennis while still eyeing him suspiciously.
"Where are Destiny and the others?" Elenor asked.
"In the living room," Dennis answered shortly, pointing back with his thumb.
"Alright. If you’re that tired, just go sleep in the basement," Elenor replied.
"Yeah, Mom, don’t worry about it," Dennis replied with another forced smile.
Meanwhile, as they walked further in, both William and Elenor were shocked to see the seven versions of Daisy sitting in the living room looking completely refreshed, even though they were a bit sweaty and their chests were heaving as they caught their breath. William and Elenor glanced at Destiny, who was still asleep in her crib, and then turned back to look at Dennis, who was now face-down on the dining table.
"I think you should stop asking for so many grandkids," William whispered to Elenor.
"Hey... why me? You wanted them just as much," Elenor shot back, not having it.
"Okay... okay... let’s not get into it. Come on, let’s head up," William suggested.
After the two of them went upstairs, Dennis lifted his head and glanced back before collapsing onto the table once more.
"Crazy... eight hours non-stop... this is going to be the death of me," Dennis said in his head.
[But the secret is safe now, isn’t it, Master? This is what they call a sacrifice.]
"Shut up... I’m exhausted," Dennis replied in his head.
