The next morning was surprisingly peaceful.
For the first ti in what felt like forever, nobody was fighting vampires, chasing monsters, investigating ancient scientists, or getting thrown through buildings.
They were simply hungry.
Very hungry.
Liam was actually the first one awake. He walked out of the bedroom wearing a loose black shirt and a pair of gray sweatpants. His hair was slightly ssy and he looked more relaxed than he had in days.
The hotel suite was quiet.
For exactly three seconds.
Then he heard voices.
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Absolutely yes."
Liam imdiately sighed.
He already knew who it was.
Following the voices, he entered the kitchen area and found Lana and Ann standing face to face.
Neither looked angry.
The problem was that both looked extrely determined.
Lana was wearing an oversized white shirt that reached halfway down her thighs while Ann wore a loose hoodie and shorts.
Both had their arms crossed.
Both looked stubborn.
"What now?" Liam asked.
Lana imdiately pointed at Ann.
"She wants to cook pancakes."
Ann pointed right back.
"Because normal people eat pancakes."
"We need real food."
"We need breakfast."
"We need food."
"We need breakfast food."
Liam blinked.
Then looked at the clock.
It was nearly 9.
He slowly turned toward Ann.
"Technically she’s right."
Ann gasped dramatically.
"You betrayed ."
Liam frowned.
"I literally supported Lana."
"Exactly."
Lana imdiately burst out laughing.
Ann looked genuinely offended.
"I ca all this way to visit you and this is how I’m treated."
Liam rubbed his forehead.
Five minutes.
He had been awake for five minutes.
Already exhausted.
anwhile Lana opened one of the grocery bags she had bought earlier.
Vegetables.
at.
Eggs.
Rice.
Spices.
Enough food to feed an army.
Ann stared into the bag.
Then stared at Lana.
Then back at the bag.
"Were you preparing for the apocalypse?"
"Maybe."
"Why do we have enough onions to make a village cry?"
"Because onions are important."
Ann looked unconvinced.
Liam anwhile was staring at the food like a starving man looking at treasure.
His stomach growled.
Loudly.
The two girls imdiately turned toward him.
Neither spoke.
They just stared.
Liam looked away.
"I didn’t hear anything."
Ann burst into laughter.
"Your stomach just threatened us."
Lana nodded seriously.
"I think it challenged us to a duel."
Liam groaned.
"Can we please eat before I die?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Because we haven’t decided what we’re cooking."
Liam looked ready to cry.
Twenty minutes later they finally reached an agreent.
Rice.
Fried vegetables.
Grilled chicken.
Egg sauce.
And so pancakes because Ann refused to lose completely.
The peace treaty had been signed.
Now ca the cooking.
Or at least the attempt.
Lana imdiately took command.
"Ann, vegetables."
"Okay."
"Liam."
"Yes."
"Move."
"What?"
"You’re standing where I need to stand."
Liam moved.
Thirty seconds later.
"Liam."
"Now what?"
"Pass the salt."
He handed it over.
A minute later.
"Liam."
"What?"
"Water."
He handed her water.
Another minute.
"Liam."
"What now?"
"Spoon."
Liam narrowed his eyes.
"I feel like unpaid labor."
"You are unpaid labor."
Ann nodded.
"Very important distinction."
Liam looked genuinely offended.
"I can cook."
The kitchen beca silent.
Both girls slowly turned toward him.
Then they laughed.
Hard.
Very hard.
Ann nearly dropped a tomato.
Lana had to lean against the counter.
Liam stared at them.
"What’s funny?"
Ann wiped tears from her eyes.
"You."
"I can cook."
"Sure."
"I can."
Lana smiled.
"Okay."
"Okay what?"
"Show us."
Liam imdiately walked toward the stove.
Confidence radiated from him.
He grabbed a frying pan.
Placed it down.
Grabbed so oil.
Poured.
Then kept pouring.
Then kept pouring.
Ann stared.
Lana stared.
The pan now looked like a swimming pool.
Liam finally stopped.
Silence.
"Why is there enough oil to launch a naval fleet?" Ann asked.
Lana couldn’t even speak.
She was laughing too hard.
Liam looked down.
Paused.
Then quietly poured so back.
The laughter sohow beca worse.
At this point he had completely lost all credibility.
So he returned to carrying things.
A role he apparently excelled at.
The kitchen slowly beca livelier.
Vegetables were chopped.
Rice was washed.
Chicken was seasoned.
The sll of spices soon filled the entire suite.
It actually felt normal.
Comfortable.
Nobody talked about Cain.
Nobody talked about vampires.
Nobody talked about death.
Just food.
And nonsense.
At one point Ann was cutting vegetables while Lana prepared the chicken.
Liam walked behind Lana and casually wrapped an arm around her waist.
She smiled without looking up.
"Need sothing?"
"No."
"Then why are you here?"
"You look nice."
"Hmmm."
He kissed her cheek.
Then stole a small piece of seasoned chicken.
Lana imdiately smacked his hand.
"Thief."
"It was quality inspection."
"You failed."
Liam grinned.
Unfortunately Ann saw this.
And Ann never ignored opportunities.
She imdiately folded her arms.
"Oh."
Liam looked over.
"Oh what?"
"Nothing."
"Ann."
"Nothing."
The smile on her face said otherwise.
Liam sighed.
Then walked over.
Ann tried looking away dramatically.
Failed.
Liam leaned down and kissed her forehead.
"There."
Ann smiled imdiately.
"Good."
Lana rolled her eyes.
"Children."
"You started it."
"I did not."
"You absolutely did."
The argunt restarted.
Liam sat down at the counter and simply watched.
Honestly it was entertaining.
The girls argued while cooking.
Cooked while arguing.
And sohow managed not to burn anything.
A talent Liam deeply respected.
The sll eventually beca incredible.
Rice stead softly.
Chicken sizzled.
Vegetables crackled inside the pan.
Even Liam had stopped talking.
That was how hungry he was.
Ann noticed.
"He’s gone quiet."
Lana looked over.
"Oh wow."
"That’s serious."
"Very serious."
Liam pointed at the food.
"When."
"Soon."
"You said that ten minutes ago."
"And?"
"I’ve suffered."
"No you haven’t."
"My ancestors have suffered."
Ann nearly dropped her bowl laughing.
Lana had to turn away because she was laughing too.
Liam looked deeply offended.
"I am starving."
"You had snacks yesterday."
"That was yesterday."
"You sound like a dying man."
"I am a dying man."
Lana finally walked over carrying a spoon.
She scooped up a small piece of chicken.
Then held it in front of him.
Liam imdiately opened his mouth.
She pulled it away.
"No."
His eyes widened.
Ann burst into hysterical laughter.
Liam looked betrayed.
Completely betrayed.
Lana finally fed him.
He chewed.
Paused.
Then pointed dramatically.
"See."
"See what?"
"I chose correctly."
"You didn’t cook it."
"But I approved it."
"You tasted one piece."
"Leadership."
At this point both girls were laughing so hard they had to stop cooking for a mont.
The kitchen was a complete ss.
Vegetables everywhere.
Open containers.
Dirty bowls.
Spices scattered across the counter.
But sohow nobody cared.
For the first ti in a long ti they felt like ordinary people.
Not fighters.
Not monsters.
Not survivors.
Just three people making lunch together while teasing each other endlessly.
And honestly, Liam wouldn’t have traded that mont for anything.
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