Rachel was still staring at the scene downstairs when Daniel looked up and noticed her standing on the staircase. A smile appeared on his face. "Oh, you're awake."
Before Rachel could say anything, Daniel disappeared from the chair.
The glowing Lasso of Truth remained wrapped around empty air for a brief moment before falling onto the cushion. A ripple passed through the air, and Daniel appeared directly in front of her.
Startled, Rachel instinctively took a step backward, nearly stumbling on the stairs. Daniel immediately raised both hands. "Relax. I'm not going to hurt you."
Rachel remained tense. She couldn't forget what she had seen in the alley — the man standing before her had killed two people without the slightest hesitation. "...Who are you?"
Daniel smiled helplessly. "That sounds like a simple question, but the answer is actually complicated."
He thought for a moment before deciding not to overwhelm her.
"So let's start with the easy part. My name is Daniel Haken." He turned slightly and gestured toward the living room. "And these are my family."
The six women all looked toward Rachel. Diana gave a polite nod.
Tamara smiled warmly. Even Evelyn and Elizabeth, who had been busy interrogating Daniel a moment ago, greeted her with small nods. Rachel awkwardly returned the greeting.
At that exact moment, a loud growl echoed through the hallway.
Grrrr...
Rachel instantly froze. Daniel chuckled. "It sounds like your stomach has better timing than either of us."
Rachel lowered her head in embarrassment. "...I haven't eaten since yesterday."
"Then the introductions can wait." Daniel turned toward the kitchen. "Art. Ronnie. Can you prepare breakfast?"
"Right away, Boss!" came immediately from inside the kitchen, followed almost at the same time by another voice: "We'll have it ready in a few minutes."
Daniel nodded before looking back at Rachel. "Whatever questions you have, I'll answer them. But people think better on a full stomach. So let's eat first."
***
Everyone gathered around the dining table for breakfast. Rachel quietly focused on her plate — judging by the speed she was eating, it had clearly been a while since she'd had a proper meal.
Daniel sat across from her. The other six women, however, barely touched their breakfast. Instead, they kept looking at Rachel... then at Daniel. The silence gradually became awkward.
Daniel finally set down his fork and sighed. "I think you should give the girl some time to eat. She's been through a lot, and I can assure all of you that nothing is happening between us."
Diana looked at him skeptically. "Really?"
Over the past few months, Daniel had somehow become a magnet for women — no matter where he went, another one seemed to appear, so everyone had learned to be suspicious whenever he brought someone home.
Daniel nodded. "Yes." He decided to ignore everyone's doubtful expressions and turned toward Rachel instead.
"Since we're all here, introductions are probably overdue." He gestured around the table. "Rachel, this is Diana, Evelyn, Elizabeth, Tamara, Sylvia, and Mera."
Rachel politely nodded to each of them before looking back at Daniel. Her eyes swept across the table once more. "So..." She hesitated. "Are they your sisters?"
Daniel had just taken another bite. The question caught him completely off guard.
He immediately choked on his food and reached for his glass of water, coughing several times before catching his breath.
The sight made several of the women smile.
Elizabeth calmly placed her cup back onto its saucer. "No. You can consider everyone here, except Mera, to be Daniel's wives." She casually pointed toward Mera. "Her situation is... still undecided."
Rachel slowly turned her head toward Daniel. Then at the five women. Then back at Daniel. A look of obvious disgust appeared on her face.
"...Why are you looking at me like that?" Daniel asked.
Rachel shook her head. "I suddenly understand why they had you tied to a chair."
Daniel sighed. "No... you don't." He leaned back. "You can think whatever you want about me, but that isn't important right now. What matters is you."
Rachel frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Do you see another version of yourself? Someone who looks like you but is cruel, keeps talking about death, and shows up in your dreams? A mean Bitch."
Evelyn immediately looked at him. "Language, Dan."
Daniel shrugged. "What? That's the most accurate description."
Rachel's face stiffened. "...How do you know that?"
"I don't know everything about your situation. I just know enough to recognize it. And I know I can help you deal with it."
Rachel didn't even hesitate before asking the question that had haunted her for years. "So... you know who my father is?"
Daniel nodded. "Yes. Your father isn't human. He's an interdimensional demon. That's where your powers come from."
Rachel stared at him. "...A what?"
"An interdimensional demon. That's the simplest way to explain it."
*****
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