11

***Bastet POV:***

As Jason and I get ready for our day none of us spoke. I know what we did was wrong, but it felt so good. I put on a tomato color bodycon spaghetti strap dress with black sneakers just in case I have to run. Looking in the mirror I tried to fix my hair the best way I could I don't need anyone thinking Jason and I had sex.

I sent a mass text telling everyone they should be on their way to their assigned place. He looks sexy as fuck in his bleach-wash ripped jeans with a white polo shirt. Shaking the thought out of my head I make my way to the hair salon. Deciding to get a blowout and trim. The hairstylist I had was very talkative, which is great.

"I've never seen you here before honey. Where are you from?", the stylist asked.
"I am from New York. I am here for my honeymoon", I say with a smile.
"Some tell me why you pick to come to our little town?", the stylist asked.
"Less hustle and bustle. It seems like all other places would be filled with tourists. I like small towns. You find the best people", I said with a smile.
"Well, you pick one hell of a time to come here", she said clipping my ends.
"Is that so, why?", I asked hoping she spill the beans.
"Between me and you there have been a lot of women that have gone missing", she whispers in my ear not wanting other people to hear her tell me.
"Really, does the police know what happened to them?", I asked pretending to be shocked.
"No, they all disappeared at nighttime without a trace. The Sheriff's wife said that he tried to track their phones, but they have been off since the girls disappeared", she said as she continues to blow out my hair.
"Did the girls know each other?", I asked.
"It's a small town and everyone knows everyone. But none of them hung out with each other", she continues to whisper. I guess talking about the missing girls is taboo in the town.
"Do you know that last place there were seen? I don’t want to go to that place and end up getting snatched as well?”, I said faking being afraid.
"Yeah, all was last seen at the town pharmacy", that is interesting. I will have John look into that.
"The town pharmacy really?", I am shocked what can be at the town pharmacy?
"Yeah, according to the pharmacist the women were his last customers of the day they were taken", she says as she sprays oil sheen on my hair.

I pay her and tip her well. Once I am done at the hair salon I thought about the information I was told. Why is so special about the city pharmacy? Deciding to go and investigate entering the pharmacy I notice there are no cameras outside, which is stupid.

The register looks up to date. I am sure John can get the receipts to see what they brought. Maybe something they bought the rogues smelled it. There are cameras in each aisle and behind the checkout section. Looking through the gift section of the pharmacy I buy shot glasses for dad. I see a bench nearby and decide to text john to tell him to get the info.

*Me: I just left the hair salon, apparently all of the women that went missing were last seen at the pharmacy.
John: The pharmacy, that is odd. I scanned it last night there were no odd heat indicators in or around it.
Me: There are cameras inside the pharmacy. One in each aisle and behind the checkout area. I need you to hack into the security system and view the cameras as well as hack the financial transactions at the register.
John: Are there cameras outside? Did you see any that didn’t work? Or even old ones?
Me: Unfortunately, no, I need all the information by the time we all have our video conference.
John: I thought about it and maybe the owner(s) of the pharmacy might be in on the abductions.
Me: It is possible. Anything else?
John: Nothing besides I miss you.
Me: I miss you more, see ya later.*

***Abrams POV:***

While Bastet is out on her mission, I am stuck having a meeting with the Council. I can't believe in the 21 century they are still acting like sexist pigs. How dare they require my daughter to get married in order to take over? I raised her to be a leader and a warrior, questioning her ability to lead is like questioning how I raised her.
I know Bastet knows whom she wants to marry so this meeting is pointless. My daughter will marry whom she wants not whom others want her to marry. Yes, McKee will be the best choice. But if she doesn't love him there is no point in living in a love-less marriage since divorce is not something that is allowed.

"We will voice on whom Bastet will marry", said Dan. He wants my daughter to marry his woman-beating ass son. Over my dead body shit, Bastet will kill him if he put his hands on her.
"Gentlemen, we will not be voting on whom my daughter will marry. She already has someone on her mind", I say trying not to go off on them.
"Whom does she want to marry?", Ail asked.
"That is for her to disclose once he asks for her hand and I grant him permission", I say hoping this will end the meeting, but no they always want more. The thought of a woman in power scares all of them.
"We have one more requirement regarding Bastet marriage", Rosario the Council leader said.
"And what is that", I rub my face in frustration.
"We require that a Matrimonial Regime be signed", Rosario.
"WHAT! WHY, WHY WOULD BY DAUGHTER BE REQUIRED TO SIGN ONE!", I lose my shit. How fucking dare, they.
"We are worried about a civil war Abrams. Do you remember how close we came to one when you said you will have no more children and that Bastet is your heir", Sulvia said.
"That's because those members are sexist fucking pigs", I say pissed off.
"There has always been a descendant of a Van Helsing as the head of the association. Unfortunately, you and Bastet are the only ones left. Since you refuse to have more children the line will stop with her if she doesn't bare any heirs", Ail said.
"And what makes you think that she won't have any heirs", I so want to punch someone in the face.
"That's the point of the Matrimonial Regime. Just in case she won't or can't bear heirs. The matrimonial will grant her widower husband the right to run the association", Rosario said. He is her godfather, so I know if he is in agreeance, he thinks it's best for the association and Bastet.
"For example, if she marries her second or her third and dies before having an heir, her second or her third will run the association. It's a win-win for everyone", Rico said. His ass has been silent this whole time. I don't know why he is sitting there acting as if he agrees with all of this, he was one of the ones who damn near started a civil war.
"The Matrimonial Regime will guarantee that there will be no civil if Bastet dies without any heirs. All of us of the Council will sign it as witnesses as well as you", Sulvia said.
"I cannot make her sign it. But I will talk to her about it", say as I dismiss them all.

For the first time in my life, I am afraid of how my daughter will react. She has the disposition of her mother but anger like me. I know if she refuses to sign the document there is a strong possibility of a civil war. And if she chooses John which I know she will, and sign the document there is also a possibility of a civil war. I am dreading this conversation to come once she gets back.