Freedom indeed. I laughed hollowly as I raised my glass and clinked it off hers. The word had a myriad of meanings, and I was sure that what she was referencing was vastly different from what I was thinking. My life had been a fight for freedom its entire wake, and serving the Old Gods would not have been something I regarded as potentially not being free. Instead I had lived through practical slavery with Morté, when he had stripped me of the final vestiges of my power some four thousand years into my indenture with him, and now I was in a vaguely constructive working agreement with Morningstar, my darling brother. Yet, still I drank, enjoying the fact I still had say over what I did and the fact I could be here. That was freedom enough, for now and I looked at the fifteen year old, considering of how good this night was becoming.

One thing was slightly concerning me.

“Fifteen …” I said. “Is that the age of majority for your kind? Do you mature sooner than most?” I mean, I could not talk. I had been mature, which basic common sense, the moment I stepped from Khaos.

KC took a sip of the wine as she moaned softly with appreciation for the sweet, spicy taste. “I came into all this-“ she gestured to her body, “almost three years ago, I won’t change much more. I mean if you don’t count the fact that I can change my appearance.” She shrugged, a small giggle left her lips. “Does my [i]age[\i] bother you for some reason?”

I was only bothered if she was not mature enough to understand what she would be doing. Consent was a major part of anything for me - whether that be intercourse or a conversation about the deeper meanings of the universe.

“When you're as old as I am,” I said, “age always needs to be considered,” and I eyed her carefully, knowing what she knew now. She knew the secret of my identity and being, a I wondered what might happen to this daughter of a Thayneslayer possessed by this newfound ken.

“So. Succubus,” I said. “How does that work? Do drain life energy or anything?”

“Interested are we?” She smirked before taking another sip of her wine, her intense gaze never left mine. “When I turn eighteen I will reach a point in life that will allow me to feed off others sexual desires. For right now I just do it for the pure pleasure of myself.” She winked playfully at me.

Interested? She had been the one flirting with me. But maybe that was just her species - built with an innate personality that could not help but be progressive towards the attentions of others. I sat up slightly and looked right at her.

“The answer is, are you flirting because you cannot help it, or are you legitimately interested in an ageless man you barely know nothing of … that or you're a plant by my brother.” I looked her over as I thought of it. It would not be beyond Morningstar to do this.

For the first time I witnessed her frown, it creased her face in such a way that it made her look wiser then she already was. “I didn’t know you had a brother, but to answer your very crude question; I know when I am flirting, yes at times it comes natural but this was all me. As for being interested in you, I wouldn’t have wasted my time exploding some thug if I hadn’t been interested from the start. I know enough about you, Charon, more than I can say about my own father.” Her eyes narrowed slightly as the frown still sat upon her lips.

Clearly she was upset. The whole situation made me pause and consider as I set down my glass. Firmly, I looked at her in the eye. “I meant no offense. I apologise. Only, I wanted to ascertain if … well. I'm complicated. You should be aware that there is a … woman I see.” It was the best way I could think to describe Regina in the circumstances. We were not monogamous - I had determined that to come this far.

“Oh and I am interested also,” I finished quickly.