After the bread had finished baking, Poros the Brushpyre had jumped out of the oven and shook off the ash and soot once again. If this becomes a running trend, I'll need to clean the oven and stove more thoroughly. Poros would probably appreciate a clean work environment to...burn in. Evidently, seeing highly dangerous and deadly creatures used for mundane tasks like this does things to one's psyche.
I was about to go get the dishes as to serve dinner, but my father put up a hand to stop me. He then made a circling gesture with his hand directed at Selena, who was currently a shadow on a wall facing the oven. Selena's shadowy form crawled across the floor towards the cupboard where the dishes were stored; at the same time, Magni finished chopping up the vegetables, so he moved to the cupboard the Shadowodah was heading to and opened the doors.
Using the same trick she used on the bread, Selena moved all the dishes and utensils from their place in the cupboard to the table. She did this again for the stew, the vegetables and the bread, perfectly arranging the table. It was still creepy to watch, but less so the second time around. On the plus side, all the food looked delicious.
The pickled vegetables was cut into even pieces and arranged delicately, the stew smelled amazing and had fresh venison and potatoes in it and the bread was baked golden brown. Either my dad or his monsters were very good cooks. Speaking of, after they had finished their jobs, both Poros and Selena returned to their drajules, while Magni took one of the pieces of bread and some jam from the cupboards. "He likes sweets", my father quipped. Magni then grabbed a plate from the cupboard and moved to a corner of the kitchen to eat in peace.
After everything was in its place, my mother quickly left the room before we had sat down to eat. Curious at my mother's behavior, I was about to ask what had happened until I heard the distinct cry of my baby siblings, Oren and Jasmine, which was then quickly being soothed as my mother walked back into the room with him, Aura walking by her feet and another passenger was on her shoulder.
Riding my mother's shoulders was yet another a majimonster, but this one looked...unsettling. It was a living ragdoll with button eyes and patchwork here and there that appeared to be soaking wet; what made it unsettling were the rusty needles and scissors poking in and out of it. Strangely enough, it looked rather familiar to me.
"Thanks for notifying me Ellie", my mother said towards the doll while soothing my brother and sister. The doll nodded, acknowledging my mother's gratitude.
As I continued to stare at the doll, it suddenly dawned on me where I had seen it.
"Hey Mom..."
"Yes dear"?
"Is that...the same doll I had when I was younger?", I asked not entirely sure what answer I wanted.
"Hmm? Oh you mean the Effigy! Well...yes? Ellie here helped me keep an eye on you when you were a baby. Say hi Ellie", my mother said as she prompted Ellie.
The Effigy, Ellie, proceeded to stare at me for a bit and then raise a single, soaking arm at me. I waved at the strange doll and watched as she her put her hand down and go back to watching my baby brother and sister.
My mother played with Oren and Jasmine for a few minutes and then placed him in a crib we kept out here in the main area to keep watch of him when we were busy and returned to the table. Ellie then took over to watch over Oren and Jasmine and gently rocked their crib.
In the span of an hour, I watched a team of monsters prepare dinner and a creepy doll take care of my baby brother.... I can officially throw the idea of having a normal life right outside the window.