After two peaceful, restorative weeks, the vacation finally came to its end.
Jojo, Freya, and Leah stood on the porch of the farmhouse in the morning mist, suitcases by their feet,
Watching the sun rise over the quiet countryside one last time.
Jojo stretched and looked toward Freya and Leah.
"Time to head back to Forks. We've had our break."
Freya nodded, adjusting her bag.
Nod~
"Back to work. Back to reality."
Just then, Lorrine walked up with her daughter, hand-in-hand, both looking refreshed and lighter than they had in weeks.
She smiled at Jojo.
"So… Am I one of you guys?"
Jojo grinned.
"You're one of us now. Forks await."
Lorrine nodded gratefully.
"Then we'll come with you. It's time to start over. My daughter deserves that."
Her little girl clung to her mother's side, but she looked curiously at Jojo and whispered,
"Will there be cartoons in Forks?"
Jojo laughed.
"Plenty."
Leah volunteered to accompany the old caretaker, who had remained at Lorrine's house, back to her residence to help with final packing.
Since Lorrine wanted to leave nothing behind, Leah and the caretaker worked quickly and efficiently, boxing up everything important —
photos, personal keepsakes, and documents.
The house, once filled with dread and shadows, now felt like just an old shell ready to be left behind.
"____"
Leah kept a close eye, making sure no remnant of evil spirits came back to cause any trouble.
Lorrine did one final walk-through, quietly whispering goodbye to the place that had nearly taken her soul.
With everything loaded and secured, they shut the door for the last time.
Meanwhile,
Jojo arranged their route and contacted the DMC base in Forks to prepare for their return, letting them know a new member and her child would be joining them.
Forks...
Jojo's Mansion...
A black car rolled to a smooth halt in front of his mansion—
An elegant yet fortified estate nestled among towering pines.
The air was crisp, and the smell of rain lingered, typical of Forks.
Jojo stepped out first and unlocked the front door with a click.
Click~
As soon as it opened, a soft mechanical chime greeted them.
"Welcome home, Sir. I've maintained the property in optimal conditions."
The voice was calm and soothing—Sara,
the AI assistant integrated into the mansion's systems, greeted her master like a dutiful caretaker.
"Thanks, Sara. Good to be back,"
Jojo replied with a smirk, stepping aside to let the others enter.
Lorrine stepped in slowly, her daughter Judy clinging to her hand—
until she caught sight of the mansion, which looked stunning.
With a gleeful squeal, Judy bolted forward.
"Whoa! This place is huge!"
She gasped, rushing toward the game room, where a giant screen flickered softly. This was where Jojo, Kang, and Alex usually played games.
Lorrine chuckled nervously but still looked around with a mixture of awe and caution.
Jojo noticed.
"Overwhelming?"
He asked.
She nodded.
"It's a lot to take in. Not just the house. Everything… since Bathsheba."
Jojo gestured for her to follow him into the lounge, where Freya and Leah were already settling in.
As they sat, Jojo began explaining—
calm, patient, and clear.
He told her who he really was—
not just a wanderer or exorcist, but the founder of the DMC (Demonic Management Council), a discreet organisation that monitors and neutralises supernatural threats.
He outlined how DMC agents work, specialising in cases that involve spirits, curses, dark entities… and more.
He introduced Freya and Leah again—
Freya, a powerful witch, is currently one charge of managing the affairs of DMC and researcher.
Leah, a shape shifter from the Quileute tribe she acts as an assistant for Freya.
She is also a stealth and combat expert.
"And then there's Jenny,"
He added, tapping a message on his phone.
"She's my assistant. Very efficient. I asked her to find a school for Judy for her studies here."
Lorrine was quiet for a moment.
"____"
Then she asked carefully,
"And these… things. Vampires, werewolves, skinwalkers. They're all real?"
Jojo gave a firm nod.
Nod~
"Very real. Forks are… A place where cold ones and the Quileute tribe were staying."
"Who were currently the members of DMC, acts as a protector of Forks from external threats that will disturb the peace of Forks."
"That's why we're stationed here. That's also why you'll need training—and awareness."
Lorrine sat back, visibly stunned.
Her entire worldview had shifted in the span of days.
"It's like stepping through a door into another world I never knew existed,"
She whispered.
Jojo met her gaze, serious.
"You're in it now. But don't worry. You've got us."
Meanwhile, Judy's laughter echoed from upstairs as she ran back down the hall, waving a remote."Mom! Mom! I like this place."
Everyone chuckled softly, the tension briefly lifting.
Chuckle~
Just as Jojo finished explaining the basics to Lorrine, and she was still processing the enormity of the supernatural world,
The quiet atmosphere was disrupted by the gentle clicking of high heels approaching from near the door.
Jenny, Jojo's ever-efficient assistant, appeared at the entrance of the lounge, her expression composed.
"You're finally back. About time,"
She muttered with relief.
Finally, she could relax since Freya is back.
Before Jojo could respond, another presence entered.
Inadu—
quiet but with an aura that made the room feel instantly heavier—
strode in.
Her dark hair swayed with each step, her eyes locked onto Jojo.
Without a word, she walked straight up to him and hugged him tightly, her arms wrapped firmly around his torso.
She looked up, a deep pout on her lips, radiating a very clear message:
"You left me. Again."
Jojo raised an eyebrow but gave her a warm, apologetic smile.
"I didn't mean to be gone that long. We had unfinished business with a witch."
Whoosh~
Before anyone could react, a sudden whoosh of air swept through the room—
And two blurs slammed into Jojo from the sides.
"Jojo!"
"You idiot, you didn't even call! When you decided to come back."
Alice and Rosalie had arrived.
Rosalie clung to him like a vine, her sculpted face pressed into his shoulder.
Alice, equally dramatic, latched onto him from the other side, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist.
Between them, it looked like Jojo was being squished by two overenthusiastic vampires.
"We missed you like crazy!"
Alice said with a grin.
Grin~
"And Forks was so boring without you,"
Rosalie added with a huff.
Jojo groaned slightly under their weight.
"You all really need to warn me before doing this…"
Lorrine blinked.
"Vampires?"
She asked Freya in a half-whisper.
Freya nodded, sipping her tea.
Nod~
"The clingy kind, yeah."
Meanwhile, Judy peeked in from the hallway and gasped.
"Wow! Mom, are they superheroes or something?"
Jojo just gave her a sideways glance and smirked.
Smirk~
"Something like that, kiddo."
As the group settled into the comfortable surroundings of Jojo's mansion, the humour and chaos finally began to die down.
Inadu had finally released her pouty grip on Jojo,
Jenny had gone back to her tablet, muttering about scheduling nightmares,
And Judy was gleefully exploring the massive living room with childlike wonder.
Amidst the chatter,
Rosalie leaned against the arm of the couch, arms crossed, and a deep frown etched on her face.
Her usual confidence was tinged with frustration.
Sigh~
"Honestly, it's exhausting."
She began, looking between Jojo and Freya.
"Edward has been... paranoid lately. More than usual. As we suspected."
Jojo raised a brow.
"____"
"Define 'more than usual.' The guy broods for a living."
Rosalie let out a sharp breath.
"He got into a fight with Jacob last week."
Freya turned her head.
"Fight? What happened?"
"Well... Edward being Edward."
Rosalie said bitterly.
"Jacob has been trying to help her—especially with the pregnancy. You know he's... calmer now. Trying to be supportive. And also as the only childhood friend she has."
Alice chimed in, her voice more hesitant.
"But Edward sees it differently. He thinks Jacob being around is a threat. He's convinced he'll steal Bella away or worse, expose everything to the wrong people."
Jojo leaned forward, expression more serious.
"____"
"That's not good. If Edward spirals and does something reckless..."
Rosalie nodded.
Nod~
"Exactly. We're doing everything we can to keep an eye on him, but... Jojo, if he goes too far and the Volturi catch wind of a hybrid child—"
Alice added quietly,
"It could bring disaster. Especially now that Aro's been sniffing around for 'anomalies.'"
Jojo frowned, glancing at Freya, then Leah.
"Alright. Let's not wait for him to mess up. We'll pay them a visit tomorrow. And I'll have Jenny pull the medical file Bella handed over. If anything seems unstable, we might need to put extra protections in place... or intervene."
Lorrine, listening from the side, furrowed her brow.
"Volturi? Hybrid child? Just how deep does this rabbit hole go?"
Jojo just gave her a wry smirk.
Smirk~
"You've only seen the first layer, Lorraine. Welcome to Forks."
As Judy sat cross-legged on the grand velvet couch, utterly glued to the cartoon channel, clutching a bowl of popcorn half her size,
she barely noticed when her mother, Lorraine, kissed her head and whispered,
"Stay inside, sweetheart. I'll be back soon."
Judy only gave a distracted nod, eyes wide at the adventures unfolding on-screen.
Meanwhile,
Lorraine walked briskly beside Freya and Leah,
who were weaving through the thick forest path with the grace of people who had done it hundreds of times.
Freya, calm and collected as ever, walked slightly ahead, while Leah scanned their surroundings even as she answered Lorraine's questions.
"So… vampires, werewolves, demons, and now Ghost Rider, the form Jojo is used in is called?"
Lorraine asked, half in awe and half trying to convince herself she wasn't dreaming.
"And you're telling me Forks is… headquarters?"
Leah chuckled lightly.
Chuckle~
"Yeah... You will soon see."
Freya added without looking back,
"It's quiet. Misty. And deep into the woods. People tend to mind their business here. Perfect cover."
Lorraine hesitated before asking,
"And Jojo? He really is… someone responsible for punishing sinners?"
Leah nodded.
Nod~
"The latest host, yeah. But he's not like the old legends. He's… got more control. And a team. Us."
They soon reached a concealed entrance covered in vines and moss, a warded illusion that shimmered slightly when Freya touched it.
With a quiet incantation, the path opened into a descending stairwell lined with glowing glyphs and faint, humming runes.
Jojo's Mansion...
Back at the mansion, Jojo was having quite a different kind of adventure.
In the comfort of his private lounge,
Alice was perched on the armrest of his chair, draping her arm dramatically over his shoulder while playfully complaining about his long absence.
Rosalie, sitting with her legs elegantly crossed, smirked as Jojo massaged her shoulders, earning a satisfied sigh.
Sigh~
"You owe us at least a month of spoiling."
Rosalie teased.
"Even though we gave Freya permission to go on a vacation with you... We need it, and let us watch Edward drag everyone into drama alone without you."
Alice giggled.
Giggle~
"He did save a family from a vengeful witch spirit. That almost makes up for it."
And then there was Inadu, leaning casually against the doorframe, arms crossed, a subtle grin on her lips—
But her eyes were sharp and focused on Jojo.
There was a new boldness in her posture, a quiet defiance that came from knowing she had a place now and wasn't afraid to stake her claim.
"You looked good with the flames. When you saved me."
She said softly, stepping in closer.
"But I like you better like this. Warm. Touchable."
Jojo smirked, voice low.
Smirk~
"Didn't know you missed me that much."
Inadu leaned in, whispering,
"You'll know tonight."
Alice fake-gasped and threw a cushion at her.
"Hey! Boldness tax! Pay in popcorn!"
"____"
Jojo blinked in disbelief as Inadu's bold whisper echoed in his ears,
Smooch~ Smooch~
followed by the sudden playful yet possessive love bites from Alice and Rosalie,
both pouting like they had caught him red-handed with secrets they weren't in on.
"First, Freya... now Inadu… what kind of secret club is this?"
He muttered under his breath, rubbing his neck while glaring at them halfheartedly.
Alice stuck her tongue out.
Rosalie smirked.
Smirk~
"Oh, we talk, Jojo. Girls' night is dangerous,"
She winked.
Before he could process any further chaos, his phone buzzed loudly on the coffee table.
Ring~ Ring~
"____"
The name blinking on the screen made his brow rise.
Incoming Video Call: Hope Mikaelson
Jojo sighed, swiped the green button, and held the phone up.
Sigh~
The screen lit up with Hope's excited face filling the camera, with wide eyes.
"JOJO! YOU REALLY went on vacation with Aunt Freya and didn't tell me?!"
She shouted loud enough to make Jojo wince.
In the background,
Klaus Mikaelson was seated with his arms crossed,
his glare practically a promise of death.
Jojo raised an amused brow at him.
"Good evening to you, too, Klaus."
Jojo said calmly.
"Nice to see you haven't set my farmhouse on fire."
Klaus growled.
"You took my sister on a vacation, then took her to fight a ghost? While my daughter dreams of you."
Before Jojo could answer, Hayley leaned into the frame, grinning widely.
"He's the guy who got Freya to smile and sleep eight hours in a row. Leave him alone, Klaus."
Klaus scowled harder, his face turned darker.
"____"
If he had known his sister would make a move on Jojo, he would swear he would not have permitted Freya to go to his farmhouse.
Hope giggled, pointing at her dad.
Giggle~ "He's just mad you bonded with Aunt Freya faster than he ever did with his siblings. That, and…"
she trailed off dramatically with a pout and an accusatory look,
"… She apparently talks about you a lot now. Especially with my mother this morning."
Jojo coughed awkwardly.
"That's—uh—new information."
Inadu leaned into the camera from behind Jojo and waved.
"Hi, Hope. How are your days at school?"
Hope lit up, clearly interested.
"Well... Jojo became a huge topic in our school."
Jojo slowly lowered the phone, staring at all the women in his life now casually forming an alliance—
possibly against him.
"What did I get myself into?"
He muttered.
**********************************************************************************************************************************************************
(Author's POV)
(A/N):
Thanks for reading the chapter!
Please give a review and power stone!!!