Zakis sat behind a massive, ornate desk in his private bureau. The room was dimly lit, casting long shadows on the dark wood paneling that lined the walls. Various artifacts and ancient relics filled glass cases around the room—each one with its own story, a remnant of battles fought and lost. A large window behind his desk overlooked the sprawling city, its lights twinkling like stars. His massive chair, designed to accommodate his height and tail, creaked as he leaned back slightly. The only sound was the quiet hum of machinery from his mask, which gave the space a cool, mechanical ambiance.
Suddenly, a knock broke the silence.
"Yes, Laura?" Zakis said without looking up, his voice calm and measured.
A soft, melodic chuckle followed as the door opened, revealing Laura, who leaned against the frame with a playful smirk. "Already knew it was me?"
Zakis finally glanced up, a faint glint in his glowing eyes. "You have a certain... energy. Hard to miss." He gestured for her to come in, his tone relaxed but authoritative.
Shenan chuckled softly, but her smile faded slightly as she spoke, "You know you have to tell her, right… about us… and them."
A heavy silence settled between them. Zakis looked at his wife, his expression unreadable. His fist clenched tightly as he responded, his voice low. "...Easier said than done
Zakis : You know how my damn parents are...they just here to kill...
He looks down the floor "And her siblings...."
Suddenly a dark vision of his past came to him making him jump slightly.
His claws slowly clenched into the desk, a strange dark aura came to him. "if I see one other bastard touching her I'm gonna-"
Shenan suddenly caress his hand.
Her soft caress steadied Zakis, her voice calm yet firm. "I promise you, Zakis... she will be fine."
Her words, though quiet, held a certainty that pierced through the storm of emotions brewing inside him. Zakis looked up, his anger still simmering beneath the surface, but Shenan's gaze was unwavering, filled with a quiet strength. For a moment, the tension in his body loosened, and the weight of his clenched fist slowly eased under her touch.
Zakis's mind wandered, even as Shenan's touch calmed him. He thought about his parents—cold, ruthless beings, machines in every sense of the word. They were born and bred to destroy, and no matter how much time had passed, they remained the same, void of any warmth or mercy. They only knew one thing: kill or be killed.
And then... there were the others. His siblings. Each of them twisted in their own way. Zakis clenched his jaw, the memories surfacing again. Their battles for power, the way they always hovered over him, ready to pounce at any sign of weakness. How could he ever bring Aekira into that world?
His claws dug deeper into the wood, the pain from his memories gnawing at him. They would never care about her—just like they never cared about him. They only cared about what she could do... or how she could be used.
"I hope you right..."