Chapter 8. Bacon.
The weekend came in the blink of an eye. It was Saturday morning and the Vane house was filled with the smell of sizzling eggs and bacon. Silas loved routines like this: Making his family’s favorite breakfast and watching them gather at the dining table, half asleep with their hair sticking out in all directions. It made them more cute.
Ever since he lost his edge as a hunter and decided to focus on family, Silas had taken it upon himself to become a master chef. Because the food in dungeons was...well, shit. Literally sometimes. Well monster shit tasted pretty good but he digressed.
He was the first one up, of course. His internal clock was precise to the nanosecond, spatial magic was weird that way. So he hummed a tune from an ancient—two decade old—rock band as he cracked eggs into the hot pan. The bacon was already perfectly crispy, golden-brown with just the right amount of chewiness.
Elizabeth stumbled into the kitchen next, still in her silk nightgown, her silver hair a mess and eyes barely open.
“Bacon?” she asked sleepily as she reached for a slice, not even bothering with a plate.
He chuckled, “At least wait for me to put it on your plate Liz.”
She waved him off and took a bite. Chewing with a content look on her face before grabbing a mug and pouring herself some coffee from the pot.
Kathy came in after, rubbing her eyes.
Adorable, he thought.
As if reading his mind, she scowled and muttered, “Stop looking at me like that.”
Silas held back a laugh and turned his attention to the eggs. Victoria was the last to join them, already dressed and looking as put together as ever. She gave him a kiss on the cheek before sitting down next to her sister.
The table was filled with food, and as they ate in silence, Silas felt a sense of peace wash over him. This was how it was everyday when they were small. Before Kathy started her rebellious phase and before Vic became more reserved and obsessed with being perfect.
“Papa,” Victoria broke the silence, her soft voice filling the room, “Kathy and I are going out with some friends today to hang out and do some shopping.”
He raised an eyebrow and looked between his daughters.
Katherine avoided his gaze, munching on scrambled eggs before saying, “Yeah. It’s just a girls day out. No boys or anything.”
That was an interesting detail to add.
Elizabeth’s eyes lit up and she clasped her hands together, “How lovely. Maybe I should tag along? We haven’t had a mother-daughter shopping trip in ages!”
“No.” Both girls said in unison. Kathy cleared her throat. “I mean, it’s just going to be classmates from school, we don’t want you to feel left out mom.”
Elizabeth put her hand on her heart dramatically, “You girls never invite me to hang out anymore. I feel so old...”
Silas smiled at his wife’s theatrics and patted her head. “Don’t worry honey, I’ll make you feel young later tonight,” he winked.
Her cheeks turned pink and she swatted his hand away, “Hush now.”
“Dad...” Kathy groaned in embarrassment. “Can you not say those things at breakfast? Some of us are trying to eat here.”
Smirking, Silas went to the stove and grabbed another plate. On it he placed some chocolate chip pancakes he made for her. Katherine’s favorite.
“But I made you these specially. You should be nicer to your old man,” he paused. He wasn’t an old man.
“To your dad I mean.”
Rolling her eyes, she took a bite of the pancake and as much as she wanted to keep her grumpy attitude, her face softened at the taste of the sweet treat.
Victoria stood up from her chair. Cleanly grabbing her plate, she made her way to the sink and began washing it. “Thank you for breakfast Papa, I’ll be in my room getting ready.”
Kathy finished her pancakes and did the same, giving their mom a quick hug before leaving the kitchen.
“My hug? Don't I get one too?” Silas held his arms open for his daughter but Katherine just flipped him the bird as she walked away.
Elizabeth burst out laughing. “Kat really loves giving you a hard time doesn’t she?”
He sighed and wrapped an arm around his wife’s waist, pulling her close. The smell of bacon still lingered in the air along with vanilla.
“She will grow out of it,” he said, not sounding convinced himself.
Giving a nod, she rested her head on his shoulder.
“Maybe when she has a child—” She didn’t get to finish her sentence because a piece of bacon flew into her mouth as if it had been teleported there. Which it had.
Chewing on the meat, she giggled at his antics. “Someday I am going to be a grandma. You won’t be able to stop me honey.”
He held her tighter. His kids having kids? It was an unsettling thought. No. That would only happen when he died and that wasn’t happening any time soon unless death itself came for him in person and even then he had a few tricks up his sleeve.
In the living room, on the couch, Silas was watching some tv. His wife laid with her head in his lap, scrolling through her phone and showing him funny memes from time to time. His program was interrupted by the news of the Hunter Association.
The news anchor talked about a new dungeon that appeared near the city and how there were already multiple casualties, the S-rank hunters were called to deal with it.
Silas turned off the TV with a scowl.
Elizabeth pursed her lips, “Are you thinking of going to help out?” She already knew the answer.
He leaned back, looking up at the ceiling. Maybe he could pop in and take care of that dungeon real quick? That wouldn’t be a problem.
Heels clicked on the wooden floor as the twins came down the stairs. They were both dressed casually for a day out, Kathy with ripped jeans and a band t-shirt. Vic in a simple summer dress with white sneakers.
They looked perfect.
Victoria had a small smile on her face as she approached them. “Mom, Dad, we are going to head out now. We should be back before dinner.” She glanced at Kathy who nodded her head in agreement.
Before Silas could get up and offer them a ride, they quickly said their goodbyes and headed out the door, closing it behind them before he could even respond.
Monster or daughters?
He leaned back into the couch. The dungeon would still be there and it wasn’t like the world would fall apart if he didn’t intervene right away.
“You’re letting them go just like that?” Elizabeth asked with a playful smirk.
Stretching his arms, he pulled his wife on top of him, making her squeal in surprise. Her silver locks fell around his face as she giggled.
“I’ll give them five minute to have their freedom. Then I’m going to follow them and make sure they are safe.” He winked at his wife.
She shook her head but didn’t argue. Instead she kissed him. “You are hopeless but I love you for it.”
With one more kiss to his cheek, Elizabeth got off him and switched the channel. She turned to him and motioned to the kitchen. Her eyes were saying ‘go get my snacks’
“Alright, I get it. You’re in charge of the tv now,” He chuckled, standing up and teleporting directly into the kitchen.
Snacks in hand, Silas returned to the couch. He gave a bowl of popcorn to Liz and a can of soda for her. They settled back into their cozy positions, the morning light streaming in through the windows.
But as soon as five minutes were up, he vanished.