Meeting "Yumi"

I helped Mother clean the floor and the last remaining pieces of the broken mug. Despite the state I was in, it didn't feel right to let her clean everything herself. After a quick shower and a change of clothes, she led me to the living room. She sat on the couch next to me, resting her head on her fist and crossing her legs.

"So, tell me, how did this happen? How did you get this wonderful blessing?" Mother asked, smiling and looking at me with curiosity.

I always had a hard time reading her, but from the way she acted, she did seem truly interested in hearing about me. Although, hearing her talk about the skinwalker curse as a blessing was making me slightly uncomfortable. I was still struggling with my new nature, it was hard to consider it as such.

I didn't see any reason to lie so I spoke. "Well, I... I've been working as a bartender these last two years. Almost two months ago, I was returning home after one of my shifts and saw a... woman being harassed by two drunk guys."

"And, knowing you, you bravely saved her, hmm?" Mother commented, giggling.

"Y-yeah... I escorted her back to her flat, learning that her name was Dahlia, and that's when I discovered she was a skinwalker. To... thank me for saving her, she turned me into one."

"Oh, interesting. Did you see her again after this?"

I nodded. "I have... Once the next morning, where she explained what being a skinwalker meant... She was being supportive, but I... I was having a mental breakdown realising that my life as myself would be over, and I was so afraid of Claire's reaction. As such, we didn't leave on good terms that day."

"But the way you phrased it, you saw each other again, I assume?"

I looked away, blushing slightly. "That day, I also crossed paths with... my ex-girlfriend, Sarah."

Mother's eyes lit up after hearing that. "Oh~?"

"I broke up with her when Claire joined me, to take care of her. But we were still in good terms. After seeing the depressing state I was in, she invited me to hang out for the evening and I... lost control and skinned her."

She gave me an amused smirk. "Becoming a person you love; it must have been such a rush, am I right?"

My blush intensified as I nodded shyly. "I-it was, yes... I met with Dahlia again the next day, as Sarah was a professor at the local college, and Dahlia a student there. We spoke more, but it didn't really end all that well either, even if she truly cared about my well-being. I restored Sarah during the evening and tried to return to a normal life for a while, doing my best to forget about all of that..."

"And that's when this hunter you mentioned found you, I imagine?" Mother asked, her tone becoming colder again.

I did notice it. Based on her tone and body language, I had the feeling she really disliked hunters.

I sighed. "Yeah... You've... met some before?"

She snickered disdainfully. "I have yes. I am not particularly fond of them."

That seems like quite the understatement... I thought, not wanting to voice my opinion.

I didn't know what happened to cause such hatred, but I wasn't feeling like prying any further for the time being.

"This hunter, what do you know about her? How was she like?"

"I don't know much. Her name is Aurora, apparently, and I always saw her wearing gothish and punkish outfits. She had long straight dark hair and icey blue eyes."

"Anything else?" Mother questioned.

I shook my head. "No. That's all I know."

"I see..." Mother sighed, almost disappointed. "Anyway, you came back here hoping to keep your identity a while longer?" She then asked, her tone becoming slightly warmer again.

"That's my plan, yeah." I nodded. "I... wanted to borrow some money from Father to help Claire short term while looking for a job here."

"Why bother with that?"

"Huh? What do you mean, why?" I asked back, confused.

She gestured at me. "My child, you're no longer human, why keep acting like one? You have no need to 'look for a job', you can just take the job you want. Find a lawyer to become, since I remember you thinking about pursuing that career before. Or experiment and try being a nurse, an athlete, a musician... We are free to be whoever we want and do whatever we want."

I clenched my fists. "I know, I just... I just want to keep being there for Claire... I'm not ready to give up my identity yet..."

"And some say I'm overprotective... Maybe you inherited that from me." I heard her mutter in an amused tone.

Before I could ask for her to explain what she meant, the doorbell rang.

"Ah, here they are~" Mother exclaimed. "Edward, come."

I nodded and followed her to the front door. After opening the gate, I could see an Asian-looking woman with shoulder-length purple hair approaching, accompanied by an older woman, with flowing black hair and pale skin. The older woman seemed a similar age to Mother, in her early or mid forties, and was wearing a pencil skirt with dark blue pantyhose, a camisole, and leather high-heeled boots. The Asian girl must have been around mine or Claire's age. I assumed she was this Yumi Mother mentioned earlier. She was dressed extravagantly, wearing a black lolita dress and platform Mary Janes with fishnet pantyhose.

"Hi Patricia, thanks for inviting me. And is that your son?" Yumi asked, smiling flirtatiously at me. "You're even more handsome than what I've been told, hmm~?"

I blushed, avoiding her gaze. She was really cute, she exuded this Japanese charm a lot of otakus most likely loved. And her style didn't leave me indifferent, I had to admit. My reaction amused both Yumi and Mother.

"You don't have to keep the act, Minh. Let's talk about this in private." Mother whispered.

Yumi, or I guess Minh, immediately shifted, surprised for a brief instant before walking in, followed by the other woman who stayed silent so far. She spotted Father's hollow skin still laying on the floor near the entrance and went closer.

"Oh, that's an interesting sight. You told Edward the truth about us, Aga?" She chuckled.

"Aga?" I repeated.

"Diminutive of Agnieszka. My original name." Mother explained before grinning at Minh. "And about your question, Minh, it's even better than that~ Edward has been blessed~!"

Minh didn't expect this, astonished. "You blessed him?"

"No, another skinwalker did. I was so excited to see him try to skin me, I couldn't believe it~" She exclaimed, far too happy of my attempt at borrowing her current life, apparently.

"It's been a long while since I last saw you so enthusiastic, Aga~" Minh giggled before approaching me and offering me a handshake. "Congratulations for becoming one of us, Edward~ I am Minh, or Yumi with this face, it's a pleasure to finally talk to you properly~"

I shook her hand, somewhat confused. "Properly?"

"We've seen each other a few times before, before you left the city. But you wouldn't know, I was looking quite different~"

"What?"

I met another skinwalker in my past without being aware... How many have I met? Were Minh and Mother the only ones? Or did I cross paths with other members of their coven? It was scaring me a little.

"Don't start making him uncomfortable, Minh. Anyway, this is the one you brought with you?" Mother asked while examining the older woman, who still hasn't said a word. "What's your name? I don't remember seeing you before."

The woman bowed. "I am Irene, I recently came to serve Master Minh. It's a pleasure to meet you, Mistress Aga."

Master Minh, Mistress Aga?

Minh caressed Irene's cheek with her fingers. "She's a fairly new acquisition, I haven't shown her to the rest yet. But she's already so wonderfully skilled in bed despite having been straight before~"

I felt shy hearing Minh talk so casually about sex. But this situation felt strange. Irene seemed far too obedient, and this talk about being the newest 'acquisition' was uncomfortable.

Irene blushed, embarrassed. "Master... I still have a lot to learn to satisfy you properly."

"Hmm, she is quite good-looking, but maybe a bit too old for Edward." Mother then gave me a teasing smirk. "Although, you did want to wear me, so maybe you wouldn't mind a more... mature skin, hmm~?"

"You... want me to wear her?" I asked, surprised.

"You're in clear need of a skin, and she's a great one to wear~" Minh declared. "Irene is an architect, you see. Fairly wealthy and with a comfortable life as a divorcee living alone. And she's also quite hot, don't you think~?"

Irene smiled. "You honor me, Master. I was nothing special before you found me."

I looked away, my cheeks reddening more. I couldn't deny Irene being a beautiful woman for her age, and this talk about me wearing her was awakening my skinwalker side and these desires I tried to repress after leaving Rowana's skin.

"Irene, Edward is one of your masters too, now, so serve him well." Minh said, pointing at me.

Irene came closer and smiled lovingly at me. "I am pleased to be at your service, Master Edward."

"W-wait, what's all this talk about masters and mistresses?" I finally asked.

"Irene is an absolutely loyal servant I made for my enjoyment." Minh explained, grinning. "She used to be a stuck-up religious cunt who disowned her own son for being gay. And you know, if there's one thing the two of us have in common, Edward, it's that we both despise bullies. So I took things into my own hands and used my abilities to make her a lot... nicer~"

I had a hard time believing that. "H-how?"

"Did the skinwalker who blessed you say anything about evolutions?" Mother questioned.

"Evolutions? I... I don't think so?"

I couldn't remember any mention of evolutions from my few discussions with Dahlia.

"With deep, overwhelming desires, we skinwalkers are able to evolve and reach new heights, gaining new abilities unique to us." Minh continued. "Mine allows me to... reprogram someone, if you will. I can reach the core of their soul, their deepest memories and the foundations of their personality, and manipulate them as I wish. As such, I can turn even the most prideful and disgusting assholes into absolutely obedient servants, like Irene here~"

This explanation sent shivers down my spine. The ability to completely brainwash anyone, and she was talking about it so casually? It was terrifying. I was so grateful she wasn't my enemy, and I didn't plan to do anything to change the status quo. From what she said, she apparently used her abilities on bad people, so it was a bit reassuring at least.

"Is there something wrong, Master?" Irene asked me.

"P-please call me Edward." I awkwardly replied.

Minh took my hand and pulled me behind her. "Come on, let's get you comfortably suited up, shall we~? We can talk more once you feel better. Irene, follow us."

As Minh was dragging me somewhere, I gave a quick glance at Mother, who was laughing quietly at the sight, waving at me.

She's really enjoying this situation, isn't she...?