Chapter Text
It was early when the first rays of sunlight streamed through the cottage window, casting a warm glow on the family all snuggled up in the oversized cozy bed. Not a single ounce of that glow reached strange's eyes though because Kasper the Devon Rex cat was fully flopped across her face, purring and hypnotizing Strange into a deep sleep with his powers of ASMR.
Noticing Strange's unnatural stillness, longfurby Thursday Plurbonym Boyporridge and Shpynxcat Khoshekh both raised an eyelid and nodded at one another. Under the cover of Kasper's distraction, they both slipped out of bed. Thursday was hungry for souls. Khoshekh just liked to watch the world burn.
They tiptoed from the bedroom as Strange slept peacefully on under the weight of Kasper's soothing purrs, but just before they made it free and clear, a bleary-eyed Girlgruel noticed their movements.
"Where're you going?" she asked.
"Shhhh" shushed Thursday, but it was too late.Girlgruel's query had caught the attention of Kasper, who decided to wander over and give Girlgruel a friendly lick. Strange in turn then, released from the powerful spell of cAtSMR awoke with a start. Seeing the boys frozen mid-sneak, she immediately knew that something was up.
"Boys, what are you up to?" she asked suspiciously.
"Nothing!" insisted Thursday.
"Just wanted to surprise you with breakfast in bed," Khoshekh said smoothly."
Strange raised an eyebrow.
"Honest," promised Thursday.
Not quite believing them, but also sure they wouldn't try anything too nefarious knowing she was awake, Strange let this pass.
"Fine," she said, "but not plain blood again. There's no B vitamins in it, so make sure you throw in some Count Chokula."
"Yes Strange," the two said in unison and wandered dejectedly towards the kitchen.
Strange started scrolling through her tumblr dash from bed as Kasper and Girlgruel began playfully wrestling. Girlgruel's long form was enough to wrap around Kasper several times over, so it wasn't long before Girlgruel had him in a full-body-lock. Much more effective than a headlock.
"Girlgruel," Strange warned, "don't murder your brother."
"Awww mom, we're just having fun." Girlgruel whined.
"How fun does Kasper think it is?" Strange asked. The only responser from Kasper were a few desparate gasps.
"Ok ok fine," Girlgruel said reluctantly under the weight of her mother's stare as she released Kasper from her grasp. Kasper huffed and shook himself off before regally hopping down to the floor and following his brothers off to the kitchen.
"Remember Girlgruel,"Strange lectured kindly, "this family is all on the same team. Save your more vicious impulses for the fight against the vampires deary."
"Ok mom," Girlgruel moaned in a very teenager way. Knowing her mom was correct, but hating that she had to admit it. Strange ran her hand through Girlgruel's long soft fur as she thought to herself just how quickly they grow up. It felt like just yesterday when she had inducted the newborn Girlgruel into a life of crime, and now here she was being a moody teenager. Strange finally got up and threw on her black housecloak before heading out to check on breakfast.
As the boys rustled around in the kitchen, Strange stretched and let out a yawn. She knew that today would be the first day of their Vampire hunting expedition on the nearby island, and she wanted to make sure everyone was well-fed and energized before they set out. She expected little more than the bare basics from her chaos boys, which is why she'd felt the need to remind them about their vitamins. A balanced breakfast is important for vampire hunting after all.
As she neared the kitchen she was surprised to realize that instead of the basic breakfast of blood and count chokula, Koshekh and Thursday were really making something special. As she entered the kitchen, the delicious aroma of sizzling blood sausage and scrambled eggs filled her nostrils. Thursday and Khoshekh were both cooking up a storm, Thursday had whipped the eggs to perfection with his psychic powers while Khoshekh used his biscuit making skills to knead out just the right consistency of blood sausage.
"Wow, this smells amazing," Strange said, impressed.
"We thought we'd surprise you," Thursday said with a grin, flipping the eggs in the pan.
"Well, you definitely did that. You boys are getting better and better at cooking," Strange said, ruffling Thursday's short downy fur.
Kasper had even joined in on the preparations and was setting the table out in the herb garden, complete with a bouquet of Wolfsbane and garlic as a centerpiece. By the time Girlgruel had put in all her piercings and joined them, there was a picture perfect breakfast waiting.
As the family sat down to eat, they discussed their plans for the day.
"Alright kiddos," she said between bites. "I know we're all less susceptible to vampire venom than many of the normal humans around here, but that doesn't mean we're invincible."
"Aww mom," complained Thursday. "just lemme atem, I crave the taste of their dark dark souls."
"I know you do Thursday," Strange replied patiently. "that's exactly why we haven't been soul hunting in so long. But you still have to be careful."Thursday huffed and rolled his eyes, but didn't argue.
"What could they do to us mom?" asked Kasper, wide-eyed and mouth full of egg.
"Don't talk with your mouth full deary," Strange said.
"Oh right sorry," Kasper said, turning to spit the half chewed egg into the garden.
Unfortunately it was exactly then that Harriet Porber walked into the garden.
"Kasper!" Strange scolded. "What have I told you about spitting egg on our guests?"
"Not to do it unless they're evil," mumbled Kasper embarrassedly.
"Perfectly alright," Harriet said to smooth it all over. "I've had egg on my face for worse reasons." She then pulled out her pet rat Scabs to use his fur as a towel. "All better!" she said cheerily once her face was clean again.
"Where are my manners," Stange apologized. "Please do sit down! I'll go grab you a plate, Khoshekh and Thursday made the blood pudding and egg, do try some."
"Oh don't bother yourself Strange," Harriet said graciously. "I've already eaten. I will however have a glass of that lovely blood if you don't mind."
"Naturally, naturally," Strange said while pouring a glass for her favorite neighbor.
"So tonights the night huh?" she said cheerily as she pulled up a sixth chair and looked around the bright overgrown herb garden. The mismatch of the cheerful tone with the very serious undertaking finally sobered the kids up in a way that an hour's worth of serious lecturing from Strange never could have. Harriet stared into the eyes of Khoshek then Thursday then Kasper then Girlgruel, and each squirmed internally as they remembered what the vampires had done to her family. The long painful deaths from burst bladders and internal poisonings and the lucky few simply torn to shreds. "I'd come with of course," added Harriet. "I wish I could. I owe Jokie Rower a personal revenge after all." Again they all reflected on what had happened to Harriet's sisters at Jokie Rower's hands and teeth. "Unfortunately I know that my blood lends Jokie Rower more strength. I am too susceptible to the whiles of the vampire, so that's why I'm counting on all of you to revenge my sisters' deaths."
This night's mission was a reconnoissance mission above all else, though they also hoped to defeat at least a few vampires while there. The monsters thought they were impervious to attack over on vampire island, but they didn't know about Thursday's psychic powers. Or about any other powers this family may have still hidden within them.
"We'll have to be strategic and careful," Strange reminded everyone, "We don't reveal our position or put Jokie Rower on guard before we're ready to strike."
"She's going down though," Khoschekh asserted. "Don't worry Harriet, we've got a secret weapon."
"Yeah, your breath!" laughed Girlgruel.
This broke the tension and brought on a round of laughter from all of them. Sure they were walking into certain danger later together, and sure Jokie Rower was almost certainly surrounded by a powerful coven of followers protecting her. But when they were all together, nothing seemed impossible.
The family finished their breakfast, feeling energized and ready for the adventure that lay ahead. Harriet said goodbye and Strange walked her to the garden gate, lending her a moment of comfort before promising that she would be avenged.
The day progressed and the children got in a round of last minute training in vampire fighting. They napped the afternoon away in order to be fresh and ready to go on their nighttime adventures. As they gathered their weapons and supplies, Strange couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in her children. They were all unique and powerful in their own ways, and together they were a force to be reckoned with.
"Alright, let's do this," Strange said, leading the way out of the cottage and towards their long kayak that would take the family of long furies and naked cats over to vampire island.
The family finished their breakfast, feeling energized and ready for the adventure that lay ahead. As they gathered their weapons and supplies, Strange couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in her children. They were all unique and powerful in their own ways, and together they were a force to be reckoned with.
"Alright, let's do this," Strange said, leading the way out of the cottage and towards the vampire island.