Aunt Vanessa?

Jessica groaned, irritated at the interruption. Sienna’s expression didn’t change, calm, collected, like the perfect little wife she believed she was. She turned around, excusing herself as she made her way towards the door.

Nate, on the other hand, felt a cold chill trickle down his spine.

“Hello?” The voice cut through the house, cheerful, unaware and deeply out of place.

Nate ran to the front door.

He barely had time to brace before arms wrapped around him.

“There’s my handsome nephew,” came the voice again, light and familiar, like nothing in the world had changed. “God, you’ve gotten taller. Where’s your mom hiding?”

Aunt Vanessa was Cassandra’s sister.

Nate’s body tensed like a pulled wire.

Before he could answer, heels clicked across the floor behind them. Sienna stepped forward with that practiced grace, hands folded over her apron, chin lifted like a debutante awaiting praise.

“I’m right here, sweetheart. How have you been, Vinnie?”

Vanessa blinked. Turning towards her niece standing in between her and the door.

The confusion didn’t show immediately. First the slight pull in her brows. Then the smile faded.

“I’m… sorry?” she said, confused.

“It’s me,” Sienna said sweetly, “Cassandra??”

Vanessa’s smile twitched at the corners. “Oh. Cute.” She let out a little laugh, glancing at Nate like she was waiting for a punchline. “Is this, like… some inside joke? I didn’t know you had clothes like that as well Sienna”

Before he could respond, a blonde blur flounced into view.

Jessica threw her arms around Nate’s neck, her ass swinging. “Naaatey! You’re being rude. Who’s this hag?”

Vanessa recoiled like she’d been slapped. “Excuse me?”

Jessica blinked, then giggled. “You look mad. Are you mad? Are you jealous?”

Nate acted quickly, his hand landing on her hip as he turned to look at her. “Jess, hey. Why don’t you go try on something cuter for me? Maybe something in pink. Then I’ll take you somewhere?”

Her eyes lit up. “Ooh~ okay, okay! I’ll be back and you better watch me bedazzle you!”

She scampered off, giggling to herself like a child.

Nate turned to Sienna. “Sweetheart, think you could make us some lunch?”

The way her eyes sparkled at that, like he’d handed her roses and a ring. “Of course, darling. I’ll make it just the way you like it.”

She closed the distance between them and kissed his cheek, her lips lingering too long, and vanished into the kitchen with a soft hum.

Leaving just Nathan and his confused aunt alone in the room.

Vanessa stood frozen, staring after the women like she’d just walked onto the wrong movie set.

“What the hell is going on in this house?” she exclaimed.

Nate exhaled, slow. He rubbed the back of his neck, trying to collect scattered thoughts. “It’s... complicated.”

“Try me.”

“There’s this… thing. A demon. Her name’s Selene.” His voice was distant. “She’s taken over mom’s body. Changed people.”

Vanessa said nothing. But her face twisted in slow, horrified comprehension.

“She’s not pretending. Sienna believes she’s mom and for some fucked up reason thinks I’m her husband. Same with Jessica, she used to be our neighbor, Margaret. Now she’s a teenage bimbo with the emotional range of a rubber band.”

Nate’s voice cracked then. “They’re not acting. They’ve been rewritten.”

“And you?” she asked, quietly. “Where do you fit into this little... freakshow?”

He looked at her, suddenly tired. “I think I’m the reason it’s all still going. I’m the prize. The puppetmaster’s favorite toy. I don’t get to quit. I just have to... choose how to survive it.”

Vanessa stepped back, the weight of it pressing in on her. Her eyes darted around the house, tracking sounds. A clatter of pans in the kitchen. A giggle from down the hall. The air itself felt different now than it usually did at her sister’s place.

“Aunt Vanessa,” he said softly, “If you leave now, you might stay you. I don’t want her to get to you.”

She met his eyes. And what he saw in hers wasn’t resolve. It was doubt. And yet he saw some courage. She was the adult in the situation, she had to take charge.

And sure enough, he heard Selene’s voice slide into his skull.

“Oh, Nate. She’s perfect. So much to reshape. I wonder what I can give you this time?”

He closed his eyes. He wanted to believe that he was just imagining her voice in his head due to all the stress.

Jessica huffed as she pulled her top on, on the way out of the house.

“Ugh! Who stocked these closets? Everything’s so basic! I’m gonna head back to my place and grab some proper outfits. Don’t go anywhere, Natey” She winked, stuck out her tongue, and bounced out the front door...

Vanessa watched her go, jaw slack. “She used to be… Margaret, you said? I think I did see her once last year, god it’s unbelievable.”

Nate nodded as he walked over to the dinner table and sat down where he kept his laptop.