Chapter 488: An Æther Egg & BandBands
’To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.
All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.’ - 1 Corinthians 12:7-11
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Tristan shuts a bedroom door behind him and walks down the hallway.
At the end of the hall everyone in the home(except Peyton) is sitting around the large dining room table.
Baba Yaga is still standing on the chair, holding her pets. She smiles at the man of the home once he returns to the group.
Tristan: "Okay, Peyton is passed out in your room, Jay. So he won’t be babbling out here anymore."
The nervous housemate nods.
Tristan sits down next to Stephanie, and Timothea takes a seat on his lap, while she is eating crackers.
The largest of the bunch doesn’t accompany the other three children who’ve been used as translators for the witch.
They all watch as their gift giving guest drops her hen and it squawks while flapping to the floor. It clucks and pecks beneath her feet, unable to find food.
Ichythis takes a hit from her cigarette as she watches the glowing necklace.
Ichythis(thinking): *To use the innocence of children against their own loved ones, in order to successfully get us to accept her gifts.*
The rainbow scaled serpent slithers out a forked tongue to quietly communicate with the children.
Then their eyes widen in amazement, enough to show a reflection of the green gem necklace around the chicken’s neck as it glows brighter.
*POP!*
A large white, sparkling egg, not like the one laid from a chicken, but instead the size of an ostrich’s, pops into existence underneath the equally surprised hen.
Each lime green eyed little girl gives out a gasp and Petra steps forward, picking up the mystical life container. Her slightly taller sisters lean over her shoulders and admire the gift from Baba Yaga together.
Stephanie gets up from her seat but doesn’t get closer to the egg in their possession.
Stephanie: "Girls, don’t touch it!"
Petra turns around and holds out the present to show everyone else.
Petra: "She says this ’Æther Egg’ is very special!"
Ichythis: "Oh yea?
What is it an egg of, exactly?"
Never having seen an egg before, Isfet is even more weirded out by the sight of the common breakfast food.
Isfet(thinking): *That’s an egg?!
So that’s what Edom would cook for me in the morning.*
The snake relays a message via tongue flicker.
Petra: "She says that’s what makes it so special!
Whatever pet hatches from here, will depend on the ’meh-da-physcall’ energy that has been produced around it!"
Ichythis(thinking): *’... Metaphysical Energy that has been around it’? So even she doesn’t know what will pop out of that thing?*
Because of her monotonous tone, it is difficult to catch Isfet’s verbal sarcasm.
Isfet: "Hopefully that means those other two will get al-."
Talking too soon, being impatient and confrontational as usual, Jamie and Pauline forcibly try taking the sparkling egg for a chance to hold their important gift.
Jamie: "Let me hold it!"
Pauline: "No, me first, me first!"
Watching the immediate negative energy being displayed by the bickering siblings, Baba Yaga smirks, her own pet chicken managing to flap back into her arms.
Tristan and Ichythis notice the slight grin and finally, they manage to determine exactly what this woman has been planning.
Tristan(thinking): *This 2nd Generation DæMon must know Stephanie’s sisters don’t get along, and when they do, they are getting in trouble.
If they’re constantly generating negativity around that thing, what the Hell will hatch from it.*
Ichythis(thinking): *Assuming she’s not lying, and she doesn’t actually know what is inside, what would come out of that egg if it were surrounded by dysfunction caused by those rambunctious kids?*
Stephanie: "Girls!"
The shout makes Jamie and Pauline give up their attempts.
The egg in her tight clutch, Petra squirms out from the ambush and the most responsible quadruplet looks at her ’identical’ sisters.
Petra: "You two don’t know how to get along, so I’ll have to be the one to take it away when you two eventually fight!"
Taking a bit of offense to the declaration, both Jamie and Pauline shoot her a look of distain.
The three sisters stare daggers at one another, and it isn’t until Stephanie steps in between them to break up the tension.
Stephanie: "She’s right."
Both Jamie and Pauline see a disappointed Steph looking down on them. The two sheepishly look at the ground, unable to stare her back in the eye.
Stephanie: "Until you two learn how to get along, and treat one another with respect, instead of instant hostility, you aren’t allowed to be around that egg."
Showing her first ever example of strict, parent-like reprimanding in front of everyone, even Tristan is surprised by the sudden tone shift in his beloved wife-to-be.
Stephanie: "For now, you two and Timothea go brush your teeth, and then head directly to bed.
Tomorrow will be your chances to prove you’re responsible enough to hold that egg."
Complying without any hesitation, Timothea hops off of Tristan’s lap as she finishes the last of her crackers, and subtly waddles past her pouting sisters.
Jamie: "But Stephie!"
Pauline tries to get the support from the man she sees as more as an older brother.
Pauline: "Tritty, tell her to let me hold it, pleeeease!"
Tristan looks at the original decision maker and Stephanie doesn’t turn to look at him, but she keeps her back turned to him.
Tristan: "Sorry, Pauline.
I love you all like my own little sisters, but when it comes to your well-being, unless she asks for my input, it is Stephanie who gets the final call."
After hearing his response, tense Stephanie’s shoulders relax in relief, and the grumbling of two dissatisfied girls shuffle down the hall.
With new precious property cradled in her arms, Petra smiles at the magical mystery egg.
Stephanie crouches at eye level with her sister and holds out her hand.
Compliant, Petra hands the gift over and her lime green haired sister is surprised by the realism of the visually fake egg.
The snake wrapped around Baba Yaga shows it’s tongue.
Petra: "That lady says in addition to the physical outcome of our new pet, its cooperation will only be with those who contribute towards the egg’s growth.
Everyone we want the pet to be friendly with should be close by until it is born."
Ichythis(thinking): *So not only is that thing molded by metaphysical energy, but it will be more submissive to whoever that energy comes from when it pops out.
Meaning if those chaotic sisters are kept away from that egg, they won’t have a safe relationship with the family monster.*
Now realizing the bind her family has been put into, Stephanie subtly regrets allowing the gift.
Stephanie: "Wh-What happens if one of you breaks, or loses that egg?"
The snake flicks it’s tongue.
Petra: "We can’t."
Taken back by the simple answer, Stephanie and Tristan’s hearts skip a beat.
Petra: "She says along with the outer shell being indestructible, if there is nobody within 20 yards of the egg, it will reappear next to whoever has put in the most effort towards growing it."
Stephanie looks at the shell in her possession and then back at Petra, then she hands it back over to the young girl.
Stephanie: "Are you sure you can take care of that egg, Pae-Pae?"
Petra(nods): "You can trust me, Stephie!
I’ll make sure it gets plenty of love and attention.
I’ll also try to keep it around Jamie and Pauline when they’re getting along, but as far away from them as possible when they’re fighting."
Stephanie: "Promise?"
Petra: "I promise."
The older sister smiles at her enthusiasm and willingness to carryout the project. Stephanie stands back upright and pats Petra on the top of her head.
However, when she does, Tristan is the first to notice something around his fiance’s finger
Tristan: "Steph, what is that on your hand?"
Everyone else eventually notices the gold ring around her middle finger and an alarmed Stephanie takes it off with no effort.
Suddenly Isfet looks at her own hand, and she too has a golden ring matching the one in Steph’s grasp.
Isfet: "What the-?"
Ichythis turns around, sees her pal inspecting the simple jewelry, and then to her own surprise, an identical metal band is around her middle finger as well.
Ichythis: "When did we get these?!"
Astonishing everyone at the table, they all have been secretly given rings by the stealthy 2nd Generation DæMon.
The snake around Baba Yaga relays a message to the only child left in the room.
Petra: "Ms. Witch said she gave you all those ’Band Bands’ at the same time the Æther Egg appeared.
Being more focused on the obvious, none of you noticed what she had manifested on your hands."
Tristan is examining his own gift for anything suspicious.
Tristan: "But what are they for?
Are they a sign of friendship?"
Petra: "She said those rings aren’t the most useful of Seiõr blessed accessories, but they will get hot and glow whenever another person from this house is in trouble.
Those rings are a lot more easily disposable, if you don’t feel comfortable keeping them."
Ichythis(thinking): *How considerate of her.*
Stephanie: "Okay Pae-Pae.
Go brush your teeth and head off to bed."
Petra nods with a cute smile and runs up to the witch who gave them the surprises.
Petra: "Thank you, Ms. Witch, and I hope you come back to see the animal we created as a family!"
Baba Yaga finally steps down from her chair, and tussles the thankful girl’s hair, and the snake gives the translator a thankful cheek tickling kiss.
The ecstatic little girl tightly holds the Æther Egg to her chest, skipping out of the room and down the hall. The adults are the only ones left in the dining room.
Satisfied with the results of their meeting, Baba Yaga turns, slightly bows as a thanks towards Stephanie, and without a single word the awkward, nonsocial witch walks out the door. Closing it shut behind her.
