Chapter 57

Dining Room, Beaufont Residence, West Hollywood, California, United States

For a long moment, Gen simply stared at the strange food in front of her, not sure how to eat it and definitely not certain if she felt like it. The scraping of utensils on plates around the Beaufont table ground to a screeching silent halt. That's exactly when Gen realized that all of her relatives were looking straight at her from around the table.

Bringing her gaze up, Gen found Liv, Clark, and Sophia all regarding her with different expressions. Clark, per usual, seemed concerned. Sophia was offering a sensitive expression. And Liv, well, she appeared somewhat amused by Gen's melancholy demeanor.

Liv pointed to the plate of noodles in yellow sauce sitting in front of Gen. "It's called comfort food. It's supposed to make you feel better. But the way it works is that you have to put it in your mouth hole first. Even though it's the modern age, we haven't invented food consumption through osmosis yet or smell-o-vision or any other means."

Gen pursed her lips, glancing at Sophia for help. "What is she talking about?"

Sophia chuckled, waving dismissively at her sister beside her. "Liv is being…well, Liv. But she's just trying to help. You're not eating and it might help if you tried. Maybe you want some of the chicken fried steak or mashed potatoes and gravy or rolls instead of the mac-and-cheese. They are all good at filling your stomach and making you feel better."

Gen sighed, wishing that she hadn't brought her problems to her family and then grateful that they cared so much to try and make her feel better. "Thanks, but I'm just not hungry."

"I'm sure that eating will help," Clark offered. "Maybe there's something else I can prepare that will make you feel better."

Gen shook her head. "I don't think so. I'm in real trouble and it looks like I'm never going to get a case or work for the Rogue Riders. I just can't imagine eating after realizing that I've blown my chances in this world when my life here has just started."

Liv reached for one of the fresh baked rolls in a bowl in the center of the table. "Because your boss told you that you're in trouble and on probation."

"Well, yeah, he's really angry at me and told me that I've created a ton of problems for him," Gen answered.

A laugh burst from Liv's mouth. "Then it sounds like so far you're perfectly on track for being a successful Beaufont."

Gen blinked. "Wait…what?"

"She's right," Clark said, the voice of reason when it came to the group. He pointed at Liv. "She nearly got kicked out of the House of Fourteen as a warrior when she started. The councilors really didn't like her rebellious attitude and brazen way of doing things."

"Because I can sniff out corruption like a hound dog," Liv said, taking a bite of her roll and winking at Gen.

"It's true," Clark said, quite seriously. "She unearthed all the lies and deceit that others couldn't see, fixing a huge fraudulent system related to magic that had been hurting the world at large. But on the way to doing that, well, Liv was almost terminated from her role several times."

Liv nodded proudly, like this was quite the honor. She then pointed at Sophia. "And my little sister here was kicked out of the Dragon Elite when she first started. What did you do when that happened, sis?"

Sophia flushed red. "I went rogue and took down a huge corrupt magitech operation, making the Dragon Elite wake up to the problems of the modern era." She then pointed at Clark. "And our brother, well, he's constantly digging up laws, histories and facts that upend the world the council knew. It's our jobs as Beaufonts to shake things up. We upset the status quo. If you almost got fired, then it only means you're doing something right."

Gen pushed back in her chair, feeling strangely better and then a new heaviness settled on her shoulders. "So I'm supposed to break Dwayne's rules? I'm supposed to go off on my own?"

Clark leaned forward, patting the table between them. "You're supposed to follow the truth and protect this world. Unfortunately, that usually puts targets on our backs. But as Beaufonts, we've learned to accept that our fate is one as guardians over justice." He glanced up, smiling fondly at his sisters. "We've often said it is a destiny we inherited from our ancestors. Where some might see it as a curse because we never get a break, we've always seen it as an honor. We're Beaufonts. We were created to move this world forward while shepherding what is right."

"And we wouldn't have it any other way because it's who we are," Sophia said, putting her hand out too, next to her brother's on the table.

"And we share the burden, because we all do it, as a family," Liv said, extending her own hand, putting it next to her siblings.

Gen glanced at the three hands, the connection to her family. To her past. To her present. To her future. They were like her and they made everything that she had to do next possible.

With a smile of devotion, Gen reached out, placing her hand next to the other three. In unison, all the fingers of the Beaufonts wound together, joining in a grasp, one hand on top of another.

Then all of them looked around at each other, a connectedness in their gazes.

"We've got your back, Gen," Liv said, giving her a meaningful expression. "Do what you think is right and we will support you. You're never alone."

"Never," Clark agreed. "Familia Est Sempiternum."

"Familia Est Sempiternum," all the women at the table echoed in unison.

It was then that Gen felt a bond to this family unlike she'd ever felt to any other before. She was really meant for this world. She just had to find her place in it.