The Devil And The Maid.

The compound was quiet.

Everyone had finally succumbed to the exhaustion from the chaos of the past days. Even the girls had left earlier that morning for Poland, their mission already underway. Asher and Issca, now reunited, had departed with Rose. The house was unusually calm.

The gang had one last task before they left—they were going to train Nora. She could fight, no doubt about that. But there were techniques they wanted to sharpen, moves only their crew could teach. Zayan, still recovering, was asleep longer than usual. He needed the rest.

Upstairs, his sisters had finished packing. Down the hall, Donomie leaned against the door frame and looked at Creise.

"You're not going alone," he said with a grin, stepping closer. "I'm with you on this."

He kissed her cheek softly, and she smiled back.

The sun was climbing when Zayan finally made his way to the train grounds. He sat near the open windows, the wind brushing through his hair as he took in the sight.

Nora was already there.

She sat cross-legged on the floor, wearing his loose shorts and vest—her usual carefree style—but Zayan had ordered new suits for her. Custom-made. Bulletproof. Just in case.

Her hair was tied back in a high ponytail, and before her lay a carefully arranged collection of her weapons. She examined them with quiet pride, completely focused.

Donomie and Zayan's sisters stood off to the side, observing.

"All right, we're ready," Russo said as the rest of the gang lined up.

Nora stayed where she was, still admiring her gear. The gang began to demonstrate—combat moves, advanced techniques, weapon handling. But Nora watched with a faint smile on her lips.

"She's seen these before," Zayan murmured.

"I've seen all those moves," Nora said aloud.

"Seriously?" Atreus turned to her, surprised.

"Yep. Z's been doing them for years," she replied coolly.

Azara stepped forward. "Okay, but can you use weapons?"

Nora nodded, confident.

Kian scoffed. "No, you can't," he said with that same smug look that made everyone want to punch him.

"I beg your fucking pardon?" Nora said, turning her head toward him slowly.

Everyone tensed. Kian was known to get under people's skin fast.

"You heard me," he said. "You can't use weapons. You're all talk—just for show."

A little puddle of water formed behind Nora, but something glinted inside it—something sharp.

Kian kept talking, unaware. "You need some serious training. Maybe someone should fix that ego—"

"How about Nora fucking fixes you instead?" she snapped.

With that, she dipped her hand into the puddle and drew out a shimmering water sword.

In one fluid motion, she sprang up, used Eryx's shoulder as leverage, and SLASHED Kian across the nose. He stumbled back—but she wasn't done.

She spun and kicked him in the face. He went down.

The others moved, but Nora was already ahead of them.

Both hands on Azara's back, she spring-kicked Russo and Vincenzo to the ground.

She rammed her forehead against Kaiza, making him crumple to his knees.

She dropped Sachi and Xandria with a single sweeping kick.

Valencia and Dabira caught a powerful back-kick.

Resia and Eryx were elbowed so hard they hit the ground together.

Nora then snatched a staff, pressed the top—it extended.

She spun it faster than the eye could follow, a blur of steel and water, then hurled it at Eryx, sending him flat to the floor.

The gang was stunned.

Only Russo was still standing.

Nora appeared behind him like a ghost.

"Peekaboo," she whispered—then SCORPION-KICKED him.

He dropped, groaning in pain.

Zayan had filmed the entire thing from his seat. He sent the video straight to the family group chat.

The replies came in fast:

🤣🤣🤣

💀💀💀

"Get rekt."

"Who gave Nora those hands???"

"That was fun," Nora said cheerfully, clapping the dust off her hands.

She spun around and screamed, "Z!!!! DID YOU SEE THAT?!"

Zayan blew her a kiss. "Yes I did, love."

His sisters stood in stunned silence. Even Donomie muttered, "…Woah."

Later, as they packed up, Nora loaded her weapons and her designer gun into her case.

She spotted a vulture trying to snatch a rabbit in the distance. Calmly, she aimed and fired—dead shot. The vulture dropped.

She skipped back into the house, humming.

Meira stepped outside just in time to see the entire gang rolling on the ground in pain.

She burst out laughing.

"The Almighty Black Scar Lord got beaten by Nora!" she cackled, pointing at Kian and doubling over.

That night, the bags were already on their way to the airport.

They were taking a night flight to Poland.

Before they left, Nora saw the twins. She hugged them tight and kissed their foreheads.

Zayan cradled Seraphina and kissed her chubby cheeks. He'd made his will long ago—everything was to be shared equally between the twins. Even before they were born, he had prepared for everything.

Alex would be staying behind to watch over them.

Nora never took her eyes off them as they drove to the airport.

In the car, she rested her head on Zayan's shoulder, silent and steady.

Their destination?

Kraków, Poland.

And the mission was only just beginning.