I'm sure you've done your best. Both you and Darwin saved Valeria from a family that made her suffer. You can't be expected to be perfect at everything you do. Just try not to make the same mistakes again and again.
{Thanks.}
Now, while Titus promised to give us some space, we shouldn't stay here for too long. Navi, do you know where Titus took Melody and the girls?
{They went back to the penthouse suite.}
"Can you walk? You are probably going to get another lecture from Melody and perhaps even Navi but staying here will only push those lectures back."
Come to think of it, are you here yet, Navi?
{I'm with Melody. I relayed your conversation with Valeria to her, sorry.}
I don't mind. This isn't something I wanted to keep from her. I don't know how Valeria feels about having her personal life shared though.
{She has bigger problems.}
Valeria shakily gets up and follows me back to the hotel. We take the elevator to the highest floor and enter the penthouse suite. Melody and Navi are sitting around the kitchen island with a cup of tea in front of each of them.
I can't see the girls or Titus but I hear noises from the TV-room.
{They are playing video games with Titus while eating ice cream. He is beating both of them by miles but occasionally holds back to let them win a round or two. He's doing a very good job at distracting them.}
Well, at least he is a quality entertainer.
I steer my steps towards the kitchen and Valeria still follows. Melody slowly turns her head and I'm not sure what that emotion on her face means. It's been a long time since I have last been unable to tell what she is feeling.
"So, we had a talk and-"
Melody storms past me and before I can say another word a resounding slap echoes through the room. I simply close my mouth and stay out of this.
"Do not ever endanger my daughters like that again!"
{I did not think she had that in her…}
The instincts of a mother, truly terrifying. Melody usually wouldn't hurt a fly but for her to act out violently… I guess the shock of what could have happened got to her.
Valeria looks petrified by a mixture of guilt and shock. Seems she too wasn't expecting to get slapped across the face by my usually ever so gentle wife. However, based on the difference in stats between them, Valeria took no real damage from that. There's not even a red that could prove the slap ever happened.
A few seconds pass and I already start to contemplate how to dispel the awkward silence that ensues.
Suddenly, Melody lunges at Valeria and hugs her.
"I'm sorry for to hear what happened with your sister. If you need a shoulder to cry on, I'm here for you now, and I'll be there in the future."
And boy does Valeria take her up on that offer. The once cold and prideful vampire breaks down into tears like a young child. It's as if a dam has broken and a flood of sorrow that accumulated for decades rushes out of her. She weeps and weeps into Melody's shoulder and it does not look like this will be over soon.
Two things, Navi. Firstly, Melody had better be getting therapist fees for this. Secondly, we should probably give them some space.
Navi nods perfunctorily, seeming very occupied with what she must be perceiving in Valeria's mind. However, as I walk towards the TV-room, Navi does follow me.
The scene in the TV-room is that of a heated battle. Quinn is button mashing a controller into oblivion while Cassidy is eating ice cream with a defeated expression.
Titus is laid back into a bean bag, looking relaxed while pressing buttons at a much lower rate than Quinn. Despite his slower playing style, Titus is beating Quinn. Her character explodes into a firework of colors and Quinn cringes as she switches places with Cassidy.
"Guy! Glad you are back. These two are trying to exhaust me to death here by continuing to switch places and forcing me to keep playing. Help a friend out and take over for a few turns."
I don't answer as I quickly dodge a spoon flying my way.
"Don't you dare help him! We are so close to beating him! If you want to play, switch with us!"
"Girls… I'm not sure how to say this but I think you are fighting a losing battle."
""We know!""
Well, at least they aren't thinking about what happened with Valeria. Still, what now?
{Once Melody is done, I'll bring Valeria back first, then I'll be back to fetch you and your family.}
Fetch?
{I'll transport you back to VR-dungeons HQ with space magic. I wouldn't want you to get into anymore trouble at the teleportation station.}
You can do that?
{Usually it requires a fair amount of paperwork but since Titus owns this place and we own the company headquarters, we can legally do direct transfers.}
"Dad, why are you and sister Navi just standing there?"
Seems we've been found out. I walk into the room and sit down next to Quinn while Navi steals the bean bag from Titus and leaves him torn between getting it back and continuing to wail on Cassidy. He eventually decides to keep playing and Navi is left victoriously sprawling on her prize.
It's almost this entire crisis didn't happen.
Twenty minutes pass and Melody enters the room. Navi nods at her and quickly leaves.
Seeing that the girls are starting to lose all hope playing against Titus, I suggest that we start packing. By the time we are done packing all our stuff, Navi is back and pretends to spontaneously offer to take us back with her.
We of course accept and get transported back to my workplace. I really hoped that I wouldn't end up here during my vacation.
Oh well, onwards to our house!