Chapter 82 CHAPTER 82
The Invitation
The morning in that quiet Japanese suburb unfolded like a painting, mist still clung to the trimmed hedges, birdsong floated over the tiled roofs, and the sun painted the horizon in pale gold. It was the sort of morning where everything seemed neat, orderly, and calm. But calm was never truly the language of the Langfords.
Ares stepped out of the grand mansion with a box of neatly packed snacks in one hand and a cream colored envelope in the other. His children darted around him—Jamal, Kamal, Beauty, and Pretty—each one full of bubbling energy despite the early hour. Julian trailed beside him, hands in pockets, his casual gait betraying none of the curiosity that shimmered in his eyes.
“Slow down, you four,” Ares called, his voice carrying the tone of authority even wrapped in affection. “We are guests, not a parade.”
The kids paused, though Jamal and Kamal were already in the middle of a playful shove. Beauty tugged on Pretty’s hand, whispering a reminder their father had drilled into them: manners first, excitement later.
The family crossed the short distance down the street until the looming gates of the nun’s mansion appeared before them. Even in daylight, the property looked imposing—tall walls, steel gates, and a stillness that made the place feel detached from the rest of the lively neighborhood.
Julian whistled low. “She keeps it locked up like Fort Knox. Either she’s hiding treasure or skeletons.”
“Or she’s simply private,” Ares replied flatly, though his eyes lingered on the heavy gate. “She’s a sister…” Even him did not believe what he just said.
The intercom glowed faintly at the side. Ares pressed the bell. The chime echoed faintly inside the mansion. For a moment there was silence, the kind that stretched too long, until finally the gate clicked softly and swung open with slow, deliberate movement.
The nun appeared.
Dressed in her flowing habit, her entire face still veiled, she stood in the doorway of her house at the end of the paved drive. Not a word passed her lips. Her hands, gloved in black, folded loosely before her.
Ares cleared his throat, lifting the box slightly as though the gesture itself could soften his presence. “Good morning, sister. Forgive the intrusion. We thought we’d come by to say hello properly. We brought some snacks for you.”
Julian stepped forward with a grin, flashing the envelope. “And an invitation. This weekend, we’re celebrating the kids’ eighth birthday. A little party at our place, lots of cake, music. We thought—it’s only neighborly to invite you.”
The children all chorused a bright “Please come!” in their own ways. Jamal and Kamal shouted, half laughing; Beauty gave a dramatic little bow; Pretty waved her hand shyly, her eyes wide.
For a long moment, the nun simply stood there, her silence pressing against them like another wall. Ares felt the awkwardness stretch, even the children shifted uneasily. Then, slowly, she reached out one hand, took the envelope, and nodded once.
She accepted the snacks the same way, without speaking, only a small incline of the head. Then she turned, stepped back into her mansion, and closed the door firmly behind her. The latch clicked. Silence.
Julian was the first to exhale. “Well,” he muttered, straightening his jacket. “That was… warm.”
The kids giggled, their nervous energy spilling out now that the tense silence was over.
“Come on,” Ares said, gesturing for them to walk back. “She accepted. That’s more than I expected.”
As they made their way down the driveway toward the street, Julian leaned close to Ares, his lips quirking into a mischievous smirk.
“You know,” Julian murmured in a tone meant only for Ares’s ear, “the idea of fucking a mysterious nun turns me on.”
Ares shot him a look, caught between irritation and amusement. “You’re insane.”
“Maybe,” Julian said with a low laugh, straightening as the children skipped ahead. “But don’t tell me you’re not the least bit curious what’s under all that cloth.”
Ares shook his head, fighting a smile he refused to let fully form. The morning air was crisp, the children’s laughter echoing as they darted toward the safety of their home. Behind them, the nun’s mansion loomed quiet and impenetrable, its secrets locked away…for now.
“May the Lord forgive you and cleanse your heart.” Ares finally said.
Julian almost laughed. “You too! Pretentious fellow…”