They arrived back to the house half an hour later. There had been no conversation between them other than a few comments about their day and what was needed to be done upon their return. He helped her carry the several bags up to her room and left her alone to sort everything out.
Once done, she came back downstairs to find him in the kitchen. The smell of grilled meat and spices tickled her nose. She hadn't realized how hungry she was until the smell hit her. All they had today were the breakfast sandwiches and a few sweets at the pier carnival.
He didn't say a word as he filled two plates of grub and lay them down at the table. She joined him at her usual seat.
"This smells delicious, beloved," she said as she looked down. She'd never seen a dish like this before, though it was very simple. It was a bunch of minced meat covered in cheese on top of… some sort of bread as thin as a disk.
"They're tacos," he told her after noticing the look in her eyes. "They're very quick and simple to make. It's a little late to be making something heavier."
"No, this is good," she shook her head. She smiled at him as she picked up one of the bundles and brought it to her mouth, making sure not a single piece was wasted. She hummed with glee at the flavors. It was a little salty but she still appreciated what he made.
"Do you want anything to drink?" he asked after taking a few bites himself. He looked at the fridge. He was going to get something himself regardless of her answer.
"I'll get it!" she offered and stood before him. She moved to the fridge. "What would you like?"
"Coke," he said and then blinked after realizing something. "It's the red can on the top shelf. Coca-Cola."
She knew what it was. She toured around the country for some time. She was familiar with a lot of lingo humans used.
She came back to the table with a glass of coke and two glasses of water. He glanced at the soda and water placed in front of him.
"You didn't drink any water all day," she mentioned as she took her seat and sipped from her own glass of water. "The only thing I saw you drink was that cup of coffee in the morning. It's not healthy to go so long without anything."
"Huh," was all he said as he took his glass and gulped it down. He placed the empty glass at the center of the table and went back to his meal. He sipped on his soda at a gradual pace.
He finished his meal before her. He plucked a napkin from the center of the table and cleaned his hands. She didn't eat as fast as him but picked up the pace so to not make him wait. Something was making him impatient.
"…You're acting strangely normal," he commented.
"Strangely normal? Beloved, those are two different words."
"Hmm," he shrugged. "You were quiet the entire ride home."
"You didn't seem like you wanted to talk," she told him, which was true. They left the scene in a hurry and drove off. She thought they were going to drive just as hastily but he abided the rules of the road. Most of his attention was focused on his driving. He didn't adjust the radio even during commercial breaks— he had grumbled about those earlier in the day.
"You're not bothered by anything at all?" his brows furrowed.
She lowered the last piece of her meal back onto the plate. Her head lowered as she answered, "I was a little scared. There were so many of them and for a moment I wasn't sure if I'd be able to protect you from all of them. But… you really surprised me. Then again, you were the one who saved me from that other vampire the other night.
"Everything turned out fine in the end, right?" she lifted her head and gave him a smile. "You were really amazing. I thought you looked cool, beloved."
He didn't react to her words or her praise. His expression never changed as he stared at her. Observing her. Searching for something she couldn't understand.
"You should be safe from most things," he began, leaning back into his chair. "When you leave, if anyone causes you trouble that's more than your own powers can manage, just announce your name. Those ghouls should be spreading the word."
Her heart lurched at what he said.
"When I… leave?" her voice was small and unsure. She must have misheard him.
"When you leave," he nodded at his clarification. His eyes shifted as he noted her reaction. "How long did you plan on staying here?"
"Forever and ever," she said hurriedly. "With you. You're my mate."
His scowl furrowed further. He shut his eyes and gave a long breath through his nose. "Lillian, I don't know how things are done on your side, but I'm human. When we want to be with someone, we don't just latch onto them like a... Look, human relationships are first built upon consent. After that comes understanding and trust.
"I don't know you. And I don't trust you. I've spent the past few days trying to figure out whether you're trying to use me or if you're being honest. Both are just as likely to be as true as the other from what I've learned about you."
"I would never!" she gasped in horror. She leaned across the table and grabbed onto his hand resting on the surface. "Beloved, I love you very much. I've never tried to abuse you. M-Maybe I was a little selfish with the shopping today. But I've decided I want to spend my time with you. What can I do to earn your trust?"
If he had ever before, he didn't try to hide it from her this time. His eyes changed into a pair of red and blue orbs as soon as her hands touched his. They glowed dimly with some sort of innate power coursing through him. The touch of his skin became electric.
His eyes were searching through hers once. And this time, she knew for sure it was more than reading her facial expression. She knew he was penetrating through her mind and looking for something deeper. She could feel something invade her.
She met his gaze. She wouldn't hide anything from him. Not from the one she decided to be her first mate.
He blinked, his scowl furrowing into one of confusion, "I'm… your first?"
She had been right. He had been searching through her mind.
"Yes," she said, gripping his hand a little tighter.
"There were literally no other candidates other than me to be your first… mate?" his eyes narrowed this time. "Honestly. None of the men or boys you hitchhiked with? No one who might have helped you before?"
"Not one of them showed me the amount of compassion and kindness you did," she said softly. "They always looked at me with a hunger. They always wanted something from me. It didn't matter about their gender or sexuality. But you? You treated me with respect as though I were your equal. No one has ever treated me like that… Not even my family."
She wouldn't hide anything from him if he searched deeper into the meaning. But he didn't. The invading force she felt was no longer present. However, his eyes remained red and blue.
He looked away, unable to bear the look in her eyes. This much she could read into his troubled expression. His other hand tapped against the table in a rhythm. She held onto his first with baited breath. Her heart was hammering against her chest and she was sure he could feel it.
"What do you want from me, Lillian?" he asked in a low voice. He had lost all the confidence he had before. All that remained was bitterness. "What exactly does it mean to be your… mate?"
His eyes flicked over to his held hand. She didn't let go even at the silent request. Instead, she shifted her grip to something more tender and loving. He didn't pull his hand away as he watched her closely.
"I am a kitsune," she began. "For us, we find someone to mate with us either to produce offspring or to fulfill our carnal desires. But a mate is always special to us. They're more than a fling. They are a treasure we keep to our hearts to the very last of our breath. Though a kitsune might have multiple mates throughout their lives, each one will always be as special as the other. And even if I do leave, if you ever call upon me or are in need of help, I will drop everything no matter how disastrous the consequences and come to you."
She didn't look away from him. She had hidden away one vital piece of information from him. She didn't want to tell him what being her first mate meant. But, if he used that psychic technique of his on her, she wouldn't hide it. She would tell him in person if she must.
She held it because she didn't want it to sway his judgment of her.
Though his eyes searched her, he never entered her mind again.
"Goddamn you and your culture," he muttered but didn't put any malice into it. He shut his eyes as he thought. When he opened them again, his eyes were a soft brown.
"Two weeks," he told her. "That's as much time as I will need to guarantee your protection from all things in the city. You're welcome to stay here until then. I strongly suggest you use that time to try and convince me. Just know I'm going to be treating you the exact same as I have been. But I won't purposely reject your advances unless I disagree with them for personal reasons."
Her eyes lit up. "Yes! I will make sure to win you over! You'll be swooning over me before you know it, beloved! Ufufufu!"
She nearly drooled with the amount of ideas she had to seduce him. This would be the only time she would thank Iris for their… sisterly bonding.
"Since you never asked, my name is Chase," he pulled his hand free. "Use it from now on."
The sharp tone and look in his eyes made her stop giggling. It felt like this was her first sleight against him. She didn't ask for his name… because she had always known it.
"Another thing," his eyes traveled down her torso and back up to her eyes. "The one thing I like best in a woman is her charm. Sex appeal is nice and all, but I find it very bland if that's all there is about you."
Those words felt like an arrow through her heart. She lurched forward in pain.
"Now, I'm going to go upstairs and take a shower," he said as he stood up from his seat. He gathered both their plates and moved them to the sink. "We can talk about the rest later. Good night, Lillian."
"W-Wait!" she stood quickly from her seat before he was about to exit the kitchen. "I have one selfish request!"
He stopped to stare at her. He was listening.
She put her fingers together, puckered her lips, and looked at him through her fangs. It was her legendary puppy dog… erm… kit fox stare. "Beloved— I mean, Chase, can we sleep together? I promise to be good."
His brows fell into a flat line. His left brow twitched.
"…So long as those tails don't try to molest me like this morning," he grumbled before turning and heading up the stairs.
She realized something. He was susceptible to her pouty face.
She would abuse this for as much as she could.
In the meantime, Lillian threw her fist over her head and leapt up into the air, striking a pose of her first victory. Only a few more and she knew she would be able to do the dance of the two-backed beast with her beloved.
0-0-0
Upstairs, with the showering running, Chase stood and stared at the mirror. All expression was gone from his face as he stared at the figure in front of him. A thousand thoughts swam through his head. Hours of private conversation with himself in his inner world only took a few seconds in this reality.
His vessel returned to animation. Life breathed back into it.
"What the fuck did I get myself into?!" he growled as he threw his head back and tugged on his hair.
0-0-0
She awoke early in the morning once she realized the thing in her arms wasn't her mate. There was no warmth to it. When she opened her eyes, the thing she had been cuddling against had become a pillow. Based by how much of her own warmth had been transferred to it… she would have to guess her mate had been out of bed for too long.
She lifted her head and looked at the window. The world outside was gray with a few hues of orange. It was daybreak. If he was following his usual habits, he would be sitting at the front porch watching the sunrise.
How can he get out of bed so early in the morning? She wanted to curl over and go back to sleep.
But…
She hugged the pillow a little tighter while her lips pressed into a thin line. As much as she wanted to go back to sleep, this was her chance. She needed to use every available opportunity to seduce her mate. There was a time limit and she swore to give it her all.
Thus, with a little begrudging, she rolled off the bed and headed downstairs. A quick peak through the front window confirmed her beloved was sitting at the porch. She didn't join him.
Instead, she washed herself by the kitchen sink and began to make breakfast. There were more than enough ingredients in the fridge for what she wanted. And, by mimicking the actions she witnessed whenever he did it, she had been able to work the coffee maker.
"Good morning, be— Chase," she sang after hearing him walk down the hallway, pretending she didn't hitch. "Breakfast is almost done."
"Good morning, Lillian," he greeted back. It was a neutral tone, she noticed. He hadn't put the same amount of emotion as she had. He hadn't accepted her. "Thank you for making breakfast… and coffee? Did you have problems figuring out the piece of junk?"
While things were settling on the stove, her tail extended to pull out a mug out of one of the cabinets. Her other tail poured coffee into it and she placed it onto the counter. She turned her head over her shoulder and gave him a warm smile.
"I just did what you did," she answered. "It seemed simple enough. Water, replace the filter, four scoops, and hold the button until it beeps."
He watched her tails move back to their original position. His face remained a blank as his eyes flicked back to the coffee maker and then to the mug. He thanked her once more as he picked up the mug and took a few sips. After that, he went to the table, turned on the television, and flipped open the newspaper he brought in.
It didn't take long for her to finish. She placed an omelet in front of him. He looked at it curiously before folding up the newspaper. He didn't tuck it away; he merely folded it to keep reading with one hand.
"Thank you," he said once again, this time full of appreciation instead of politeness. It made her beam. "Are you not hungry?"
She sat in her usual spot, at the chair around the corner at his right. It was so she could rub her leg against his and chalk it off as an innocent accident. "Not at the moment. I'm still running on Florida time, to be honest."
"That doesn't make sense," his brows furrowed. "Florida is three hours ahead of us. It's the awkward time between too late for breakfast and too early for lunch. What time do you typically eat?"
"You mean brunch time?" she tilted her head.
"Brunch is at eleven. It's still too early for that."
"Not true," she argued back and wagged a finger. "Brunch is the portmanteau of breakfast and lunch. It originated in England in the late 19th Century and became popular in the United States in the 1930s. Quoted by Wikipedia-sensei."
"…Generally served between from 11am up to 3pm and regularly has some form of alcoholic drink," his brows fell into a flat line. "Also quoted by Mr. Wikipedia… Wait."
He looked away and blinked. He hadn't realized she had just broken through the fourth wall and brought him with her.
Her grin spread from ear to ear. The fact that he could break through the fourth wall meant they were totally compatible with each other. A regular human wouldn't be able to do it on their own and often times it would take considerable amounts of time being mated to a kitsune to reach this level. Only a few days with her and he was starting to show signs.
He grumbled something incoherent as he stabbed into the omelet and took a bite. It looked like he was pouting over making some sort of mistake but didn't say anything further about it.
"So…" she cupped her hands together and leaned forward. Her tails swayed behind her with eagerness. "How is it?"
"A lot of veggies," he commented as he looked down at his food. She didn't know whether to take it as a compliment or critique. She chose the former since he took another bite.
"I figured with all the junk food we had yesterday I should make something healthy," she told him. The omelet she made had one whole egg, two egg whites, some cheddar, and a blend of vegetables like mushrooms, spinach, grilled onions, and bell peppers. Oh. And a pinch of salt.
He continued to eat without any further comments. His eyes flicked between reading his newspaper to watching the morning news on the television. He changed to another news station once commercials ran on the prior.
She watched him. Not because she enjoyed it… well, primarily anyways. He was kinda cute with the way he munched. And she didn't want to break his focus with the way he was going back and forth between reading and watching. Really, she didn't say a word because she wasn't sure how to approach him with what she wanted.
"Beloved," she began, deciding for the direct approach. "Do you mind if I ask you a few things?"
"Go for it," he put down the newspaper and slid it away. He looked at her, "Just know I might not give you a full explanation depending on what it is."
"…You really don't trust me?" her heart sank.
"I don't know you," he said in a simple tone. "I know next to nothing about kitsune culture and habits to get a point of reference for you. I don't know whether what you're saying is true and you're really in love with me or if you're trying to use me for something. I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt and letting you stay here, but that doesn't mean I fully trust you. Until I have a reason for doing so, I will be keeping most of my secrets to myself. What I can tell you are things you can find out on your own."
Humans… really weren't that different from kitsune after all. At least when it came to things like trust. Kitsune politics were all about charming the other party into lowering their guard and then backstabbing them. It was a constant game whether they could trust the stranger who suddenly wanted to get on their good graces.
It was another reason why she ran away.
But a mate was different. When a kitsune openly declared they wanted another as their mate, they meant it with every fiber of their being. They surrendered their guard for the other.
However… Chase wasn't a kitsune. He as human. He thought differently.
Which is why she knew she needed to be patient. She will oblige him and warm her way into him. She will earn his trust.
"I understand," she said, although she didn't fully understand. "Then… do you mind if I ask about you? Did you lie when you said you were a regular human?"
His fingers traced the rim of the coffee mug, debating whether to take a drink or not. He chose to answer her instead, "I said I was as human as the next. It isn't a lie. What I am and what I can do are both things a regular human can acquire on their own."
He put up a hand before she was about to ask her next question, "Do you know what an Acolyte is?"
"You mean… like a priest?" she guessed.
He looked away in thought, "I suppose, in a sense. They're a specific type of humans who inherited special powers by a god they call the Daydream. They have the power to manipulate life energy— that they call Aura— and to be able to manipulate a certain affinity dependent on their birth. They also have superior ocular senses compared to the average human, like the ability to see through blinding light or abysmal darkness."
He stopped to either let this soak in or wait for her next question.
"Beloved… Chase…" she pouted at him. "Getting the blessings of a god doesn't sound like something a normal human can accomplish. The gods are finicky like that."
"The gods are a bunch of assholes and horny fucks," he agreed with a nod— though that wasn't what she said. "I'm not exactly an Acolyte. It's better to say I'm someone who can do the exact same things as them. They mainly call me an Accuser— someone who made a deal with their devil and/or spat in the face of the Daydream. I haven't done either, just to let you know. They just don't like me."
"How do you do that?" she blinked at him.
"Just by existing," he answered curtly. "They don't take too well with some mundane born outside their inbreeding circle getting the same powers bestowed by their god."
"No, not that," she waved a hand. "I've been trying to say and-or properly for the past couple decades. You got it perfectly!"
He stared at her, his brows furrowing further. "And/or?"
"That!" she leaned forward and pointed a finger. "No matter what I try, all I can do is get and-or rather than—"
"Stop," he put up a hand. His voice was low and full of warning. It made her freeze. "Lillian… maybe you can chalk it off as a joke to cope, but I would appreciate it if you stop poking holes at it. That wall is there for a reason."
She blinked. Her mouth fell open as her tails stiffened. "B-Beloved… you mean you can break through the fourth—"
"That wall is there for a reason," he repeated with the exact same tone. He then sighed and grumbled, "I'm going to pretend this never happened. Please go back to what we were doing before."
She was astounded. He knew about the existence of the fourth wall and could break it whenever he wanted? Why wasn't he using this to his advantage?! If he knew about the existence then he could make contact with the author and potentially learn about scenes he wasn't in! The possibilities were endless! He might be able to avoid a bad ending!
But she knew he was getting upset. She couldn't understand why but she wasn't willing to ruin her chances with him so early on. She decided the past few paragraphs didn't exist."
"If you're not an Acolyte… but have their powers…" she tried to sum things up but drew in a blank. "Then what are you?"
He considered the question briefly, "I tell people I'm an Acolyte. I see it more as a title than a species. To answer your question… I was born a regular human who became an Acolyte. I won't be telling you how anytime soon."
"Are Acolytes aware of the supernatural?" she asked next.
"They are but generally only get involved with the dark forces of their devil," he answered with clinical detachment. "They involve themselves with mostly making sure the mundane remain ignorant and leave the rest of the supernatural alone. More like… they avoid every other faction like a plague. The only reason why I get involved is because the supernatural causes a lot of problems around my home and I'm not affiliated with the main Acolyte faction, the Observatory. Fuck those guys."
He growled that last part while sipping on his coffee.
"I've never heard of an Acolyte," she admitted, tilting her head and tapping on her chin. "I wonder if Kotohime has… Are there any other Acolytes here?"
"…Yes," was all he said. He had no intention of elaborating.
"You said Acolytes had the ability over life energy and… affinities? What are those?"
"Aura is your basic bitch life energy produced by, well, living," he waved a hand. "Every time you move, when you breathe, when your heart beats— these are the things that produce Aura. Technically, any human has the ability to manipulate Aura. It takes them years of hard dedication to do it, though. Usually you see grand masters of any martial arts being able to do some funky stuff. What makes Acolytes so special is the ability to access and harness it on a whim. Without brutal training."
He demonstrated by flicking two fingers her way. She felt a pressure brush across her face and blow a few strands of hair. It wasn't wind. It felt like… electric velvet.
"Acolytes use Aura to manipulate a certain affinity," he went on. "Elements and concepts, really. You have your basic Roman four elements— fire, water, earth, and wind. Then you have some uncommon ones like lightning, sound, and blood. And then you have the ultra-rare ones like time and space. So far, there are over fifty registered affinities with new ones being discovered as humanity's grasp on the sciences further. For example, some kid on the east coast was discovered to have an affinity that deals with machinery and computers."
He paused again to let this all soak in.
She had to blink and think about it. Just amazing. These Acolytes sounded so much like kitsune. While her breed didn't have more than fifty elements— which was already a tantalizing number just thinking about— there was still a good enough variety. And their manipulation with Aura wasn't that different from what she could do with youki. In fact, the two energy sources might be on in the same; merely named differently due to the cultural differences.
"What kind of affinities do you have?" she asked.
He didn't answer right away, thinking over whether he should tell her or not. "Flame and Frost."
"So you have control over fire and ice?"
His brows furrowed again. Not in agitation but in perplexity. "I've no idea why the Observatory has it officially listed as Flame. But there is a particular reason why the other affinity is labeled as Frost instead of 'ice'."
He didn't explain any further so she decided to move on.
"If you can do these things then how come you used a gun against those vampires?" she asked with honest curiosity. "If you could shoot fireballs and icicles out of your hands, couldn't you have done that instead of needing to resort to firearms?"
He didn't answer. This time he looked away and took a drink out of his coffee. It was a pretty long drink… especially when she knew he had finished it in his last gulp.
A trail of sweat ran through the back of her head. She guessed despite all his bravado and how foreboding this topic had been, her beloved wasn't really as impressive with his powers as she was led to believe. Or Acolytes in general weren't as powerful as kitsune, hence why he needed to use a gun to fight against the supernatural.
He was embarrassed by his weakness. She wouldn't rub on such a sore spot.
"Oh!" she snapped a finger as she recalled something else. "What about your eyes? Does changing your eye color have anything to do with being an Acolyte?"
"Yes," he turned back to her, eager to answer this question instead of his previous debacle. "You can tell who is an Acolyte based by their exotic eye color. You can also determine what affinity they have based on the color alone. Since I have Flame and Frost, my eyes are red and blue."
"But… isn't ice normally white? Or clear?"
"That's only because they still have air trapped inside them. True ice is blue because it doesn't have any contaminants in it."
She nodded at the explanation.
"Any other concerns you might have?" he asked as he finished his omelet.
"Just… one," she shifted in her seat. "Are Acolytes… also psychic?"
He took another moment to consider this question, "You're referring to last night. Not in the traditional sense are they psychic. I can't hear thoughts or move objects with my mind. However… Acolytes are a lot closer to being ESPers than anything else. All of our powers are determined by the state of our mind.
"When I said Acolytes have superior ocular senses, I meant it in every use of the term. Not only can they see the visible world clearer than most others, they can also see what is normally invisible. It varies from each person. Some can see colors of other spectrums, some can see spirits and elementals, and some can see the microscopic world. Now, those are the rarest and most talented of Acolytes. Most just have perfect eyesight according to the average human and the more uncommon have slightly better visual accuracy.
"But if you apply Aura to our eyes… we are able to enhance our sight as well as affect the mentality of the individual we are looking at. We can manipulate their senses, persuade them to do things they normally wouldn't, and, like what I did last night, can even get glimpses of what they're thinking of."
How… frightening. Really, the gap between an Acolyte and a kitsune was becoming less evident.
She wondered for a moment if, maybe, Inari-sama, the god of kitsune, was the same god of the Acolytes, this Daydream.
She wouldn't be surprised. Inari-sama has been known to be a trickster. He could have masqueraded as a human and had an affair with a mortal woman, thus giving birth to these Acolytes. It would explain why their abilities were so similar to a kitsune's.
She sat there and reviewed everything she heard from him. Meanwhile, he left her in peace to take his things to the sink and clean the kitchen. She would have offered to have done so but her mind was lost in the lecture.
Her beloved was truly something special. She didn't know humans could have had supernatural abilities. It was like being in an actual manga! Though… she hadn't seen him do anything special other than change his eye color and read her mind.
"There's a sweatshirt in the closet in the closet," he said suddenly as he continued to scrub. "Do you mind putting it on and then getting the door? We have a guest."
She blinked and snapped out of her thoughts. She smiled up at him, "Aw, beloved, you don't want anyone else to see me like this? That's awfully sweet of you."
She went to bed in a pink negligee with a low cut. There weren't any bottoms as she slept in her panties.
He gave her a sideways glance. There was that troubled expression again. He had no idea how to retort and decided to go back to the dishes.
She giggled as she got out of her seat to comply. She retrieved the dark blue zip-up from the closet and closed it only up to her bust. She also made an effort to hide her ears and tails.
She walked towards the door, wondering when the 'guest' had arrived. She didn't hear a knock and there wasn't a ring from the doorbell. She must have been so engrossed with her thoughts to have heard it. Only the tantalizing voice of her mate snapped her back into reality.
When she opened the door, her survival instincts kicked in.
"Hello there," smiled a very cute girl at the doorstep. She couldn't be any older than a human preteen with blonde hair pulled back by a large red bow, skin as white and perfect as marble, and a pair of eyes as blue as the sparkling ocean. She was dressed in a red blouse with some of the buttons undone to flash her modest bust and a frilly white skirt. And there was the fact the girl sat in a wheelchair and clutching onto a gift basket, having to climb the steps of the porch to reach the door somehow.
What bothered Lillian the most was… the girl's presence. This little girl wasn't human. There was a sort of pressure coming off of her that affected Lillian's extra senses. It was like she was being suffocated. It felt like she could reach out and pull back a layer of blood from the aura surrounding this girl.
"How do you do?" the girl continued, giving a friendly smile. She was aware of the impression she was making but continued to be cordial and polite. "My name is Claudia. Is the man of the house home? I'd like to speak with him, if it's okay with you."
Claudia. She knew that name from her beloved. So this was Claudia des Angelica, a vampire and ruling queen of Los Angeles.
The amount of pressure radiating off of her was on an unworldly league compared to the vampire that had tried to hunt Lillian before.
"I'm in here," the voice of her mate echoed through the doorway. "Cleaning the kitchen. You can come in."
"Well then," Claudia leaned to the side and pulled the brake on her chair. "If you will please excuse me. Huhp!"
Lillian took a few steps back as the girl leapt out of her chair and into the house. With complete disregard to her, the vampire headed deeper into the house with the basket in her hands.
Chase came around the corner before she entered the dining area. Claudia was a few inches shorter than him due to her apparent physical age. She looked up at him, her smile beaming as she breathed him in. Her eyes looked at him up and down.
"Chase…" she breathed out with a sigh. "Can I give you a hug?"
Lillian tensed. Her heartrate began to escalate.
Her mate gave the vampire a troubled expression. He was in conflict with himself. But then, with a look of reluctance, he sighed and spread his arms out.
The girl placed the basket down by the stairway before leaping into his arms. She wrapped herself around his waist and pressed her face into his shoulder. He, in return, put his hands at her back and patted her gently.
"Get away from him!" Lillian shouted in a panic.
The two stopped and broke apart to look at her. They did, however, remain close to another.
"Lillian," her beloved looked at her calmly as though there was nothing wrong. "Can you close the door? You're letting a draft in."
"Oh, yes, sure," Lillian mumbled as she did as she was told. "I'm sorry about— THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEANT!"
She slammed the door shut before marching up to the two of them. Towards Claudia in particular, who was watching her with an amused look.
But as she got closer to the thing… the pressure around her was becoming toxic. Lillian started to sweat. She instead circled around the girl until she was behind her beloved, stepped up to his back, and pulled on his shirt. It took a couple of tugs for him to get the idea and move along with her. She pulled him a couple feet away from the monster.
Claudia had a smirk of someone who was trying their hardest to not laugh.
"Lillian…" Chase craned his head to give her a look over his shoulder.
"Beloved," Lillian cut him off. "She's dangerous. I don't want you anywhere near her. I don't like the way she's looking at you. It looks like she wants to suck you dry."
Claudia's smirk fell as she squeaked. Suddenly, her face turned as bright as a tomato. She averted her gaze to the floor as she fiddled with her fingers.
"S-S-Suck him dry?!" she stuttered. "I-I-I would n-never! N-Not that there's anything wrong with you Chase. Your blood is delicious! It's better than any orgasm I've ever— WHAT ARE YOU MAKING ME SAY?!"
Claudia turned her back to them as she covered her face in her hands. If life were a manga, steam would be blowing out of her ears.
Lillian blinked. Seeing such a potent vampire act like such an innocent girl nearly shattered any impression she first had of the thing. Almost.
"Lillian," her beloved turned slightly to pry her hands off his shirt. "The trick is to be nice and friendly to the thing in the room that's capable of ripping your heart out. I'm well aware of how dangerous Claudia can be. In other words, don't poke the bear."
"…I'm not a bear," Claudia pouted like a cute little girl when she turned around. Her face was still a blushing mess but she had calmed down enough to look at him. Albeit, she couldn't look at him in the eye.
"This is Claudia des Angelica," Chase gestured to the girl. "One of the queens of the city and a Progenitor-class vampire. Claudia, this is Lillian Pnéṿma. A runaway kitsune."
Lillian continued to hide behind her beloved.
"So this is Lillian…" Claudia muttered with a thoughtful tone.
"…News spreads fast," Chase remarked.
"Faster than fire," she chirped back, regaining her smile now that her embarrassment was behind her. She picked up the gift basket and offered it to him, "Here, this is for you. It's your welcome home care package! I've had that thing for a while now and kept adding things whenever I thought of something. I hope you like it!"
He took it and examined the contents. His brows shot up as his eyes lit up with intrigue and an almost childish excitement. He didn't react any further. He moved to place it down on the kitchen counter; Lilian always being near him to shield herself from Claudia while the vampire moved herself to a seat at the table.
"The latest Star Wars… plus tickets for Rogue One?" he began to pull things out of the bundle. "There's a Deadpool movie? Some 52 comics. Huh, Killers made another album. And… what's this? Dungeons and Dragons seventh edition—"
"Live it, love it, learn it!" Claudia pointed at him with a fierce look in her eyes.
He had a troubled expression as he stared at the thick book in his hands. He placed it back in the basket. There were other things she gave him but he didn't check them out. Perhaps at another time. For now, he approached the table and pulled out a seat. He sat directly across of Claudia.
And Lillian took it as her Inari-given right to sit on his lap. She sat sideways so she could wrap her arms around his neck and press herself against him. At the same time, she made sure to never look away from the vampire.
Claudia pressed her cheeks into her palms while propping her elbows onto the table. She had an amused smirk as though she were watching a TV drama. Chase, on the other hand, had his arms spread out and his scowl hard enough to leave his brows in a straight line. He growled while scratching at the top of his head. His other hand went to support Lillian's back.
"So this is what I've been up to lately," he said as though it explained an entire novel's worth.
"Yes, I've noticed," Claudia began with her smirk shifting. She was still amused as she took in the sight of Lillian on top of him. But there was something more beneath it. "You made a mess, did you know? They found a body three days ago with a bullet wound through the chest. Autopsy says the bullet was lodged after the man's death. The actual cause of death is unclear. But there are signs of organ decay, indicating the man has been dead for quite some time while something was preserving the skin and muscles.
"In other words, someone shot a vampire and successfully killed it. With a standard 9mm bullet. There's only one person I know who can do that.
"Also found on the crime scene were traces of blood. Both belonging to the victim as well as something else. Testing with the police shows it belonging to fox blood. Another test from the College of Ilyvander shows it belonging to a celestial kitsune."
Lillian squeezed her mate tighter. He grunted by her strength.
Claudia continued, "A similar body was found last night. One bullet wound, this time in the back of the hand. Autopsy should be done by now but let's not pretend; it was a ghoul. All footage of the assumed time of death have failed due to camera malfunction. But a black 1988 Chevy Corvette was the first to be seen speeding away once camera footage started rolling again. The same car parked across the street."
At some point, her smirk had fallen. Her lips had thinned to one of worry while her brows were furrowed like a mother about to scold their child.
"It's not a big mess but still…" she gave a light sigh and then began to pout. "You're lucky I caught wind of this. The police would have been at your doorstep if I didn't do damage control. Why would you risk yourself like that?"
"Because it got you to stop spying on me," he answered dryly. "Claudia, please, you've known I've been back in town for weeks."
His retort made her pout further, puffing out her cheeks. "That's not nice. If you knew then why didn't you call me?"
"I could ask you the same thing," he countered.
"Because you were making such an effort to remain hidden! Carly didn't know you were back until you two ran into each other! I thought you were trying to do something. But now that everything's quiet down… you haven't made an effort to reach me. I really missed you, you know…?"
For a moment, Lillian almost wanted to pat the girl on the head. She looked so saddened.
"What did you need where a phone call wasn't enough?" Claudia grumbled.
"Did you find anything out about the vampires who attacked Lillian?" he asked.
Lillian perked up. For the first time she looked away from the vampire to exchange a look at her mate. He gave her a quick glance before going back to Claudia. His eyes were focused and full of intent. It was a hardened look of someone taking something with absolute seriousness.
It was kinda hot. Her beloved was so manly.
Now if only she could figure out a way to have him look at her this way. Preferably on the bed.
"Lillian," Claudia's attention turned towards her. Her voice was gentle but also professional. "Do you mind if I ask you about the night you were attacked? How did you run into that particular vampire?"
Lillian frowned. She didn't like remembering the night. But she complied, "I had just arrived into town. I had gotten a bus from Arizona. I didn't get to take in the sights. Nearly an hour I got off, I felt the eyes of someone watching me. I tried to lose them but they kept following me. I wasn't paying attention to my surroundings at the time— I found myself in an area without people. And that's when the… thing showed itself."
She rested her head between her mate's shoulder and neck.
"And that's when Chase came dashing to your rescue," Claudia finished the story. "Like a gallant hero coming to slay the dragon and save the princess!"
"Bite me," Chase snapped at her.
Claudia looked at him. Her eyes slowly traveled down from his eyes until landing on his neck. They widened while her face blushed up a storm.
"D-Don't say those kinds of things!" Claudia looked away with her face covered behind her hands.
"Ditto," Chase's remark was blunt. And then he added, "Without the stuttering."
"…Beloved, I'm going to get jealous if you keep flirting with her," Lillian said. She was starting to lose her fear for the vampire. It was turning into anger. She was starting to hate this little girl.
"Good," he told her. "Considering I've known her longer and have had a chance to trust her, I'd sooner date Claudia than be your mate. Maybe you should take notes and learn from this."
Lillian… actually thought about it. It might be a good idea. Live reconnaissance! She could learn everything about her enemy while improving her chances at seducing her mate! Two birds with one stone!
Thus, she reached a hand between her breasts and pulled out a notepad and pen from her Dimensional Storage Space. She flipped open to a fresh sheet and was ready to start.
Her beloved was glancing between the things in her hands and then to her cleavage. Back and forth. His scowl was lined with confusion.
Claudia too scowled. But this time in jealousy. Her eyes were laser-focused on Lillian's bust.
"…I feel like I shouldn't ask," Chase muttered. "So, back to my question?"
"Hmm?" Claudia looked up at him. "Oh, right, that. Well… whether I do or don't have that kind of information is for my own discretion. I can't give any sort of information to a civilian."
"Uh, Lillian is the victim," Chase frowned. "I think that qualifies in letting her know."
"I was referring to you," Claudia cupped her hands together and placed them on the table. "You are no longer my Grave Keeper. So until my investigation is concluded, any information will be withheld. However… should you choose to make another contract with me—"
"No," both he and Lillian said at the same time. He put a finger to her lips without looking away from Claudia.
"…You didn't even let me finish," Claudia pouted. It fell as her look hardened, "You do realize if you continue to act without my authority I will have to treat it as vigilantism, right?"
"I prefer to think of it as self-defense," Chase shook his head. "Both cases had blood suckers threatening to kill us. I reacted appropriately to save our lives."
"That may be the case this time," Claudia's voice shifted to match her expression. "But you're not the type of person to sit around and wait for someone to come for revenge. Chase, come be my Grave Keeper again. I can help you."
"Coralynne asked me to stay out of it," Chase huffed.
"Carly did?" Claudia blinked.
"She wants me to try and live a normal life," he snorted this time. "Oh. I told her I would ask you. Is there any way you can get me enrolled in school again?"
"…She really asked that of you?" Claudia was the one to huff this time, annoyed. "I'll have your uniform delivered tomorrow. Do you want to start first thing on Monday or…?"
"I'm fine with Monday," he shrugged. "One more thing. Do you know where my mother is?"
"Mexico, on vacation."
"For the past three weeks?" he scoffed. "Well… that explains why the place has gone to shit. Any idea when she'll be back?"
Claudia hummed as she thought about it, "I'm not sure. She hasn't purchased any flight tickets to return yet. It can't be any longer than another week. She has to return to work at some point or lose her job."
In other words… another week of alone time with Lillian and her mate. Perfect!
"Is there anything else you need at the moment?" Claudia asked.
"Past your bedtime or something?" Chase said with sarcasm as he glanced at the kitchen window.
"I'd like to get some work done before I take a nap, thank you," Claudia wagged a finger at him. "If that's all, do you mind walking me outside? It was nice meeting you, Lillian. I wish you the best of luck trying to win him over."
"…Thank you," Lillian said back curtly.
Chase nudged for Lillian to move. She sulked a little and didn't budge at first. She only did when he looked at her. She had made herself comfortable in his lap. The warmth against his chest would have lulled her to sleep if there wasn't such a dangerous monster in the room.
"Wait here," he told her as he and Claudia went towards the door.
"But—"
"Wait here," he repeated.
Lillian crossed her arms and huffed. Her eyes traced every movement of Claudia's, making sure the vampire wouldn't take a nibble out of her mate.
They exited the house; Chase shutting the door behind him. He didn't intend on just showing her to the door. He meant to walk her off the property altogether.
Lillian's face was pressed against the glass window of the front room faster than anyone could blink.
0-0-0
"She's very lovely," Claudia admitted. "Even for kitsune standards. You're very lucky, Chase. How is it that you wind up with all these cute girls falling into your arms? Do they just fall out of the sky or something?"
She sat in her wheelchair as Chase pushed her down the concrete walkway through his yard. He opened the iron gate for her and pushed her out onto the sidewalk.
"Is that what it looks like to you?" he snorted in poor taste. "Give it a week. She'll find out about me and run away screaming like everyone else."
She frowned at him. "Chase… neither Carly nor I have run away."
"Neither of you are trying to sleep with me," he pointed out. "Let alone get bonded into some mating ritual equal to matrimony. I know she's a good girl. And I know she means well. But… I don't want to waste her time."
"But you're giving her false hope by letting her stay with you," Claudia summed up. "You don't intend on becoming her mate at all, do you? You really think you're not worth her time?"
"Are we really having this discussion?" he growled.
She opened her mouth, ready to scold him. But she shut it. A lecture wasn't what he needed. Nor was it something he would accept. She knew what would get through his skull and harsh words would only have the adverse effect.
"Chase, what happened with Serene happened before you were gone. You've had time. I understand if you're still hurting. But please don't drag that girl down with you. It's not fair to her."
He was silent and as still as a statue. He held on to the handles at the back of her chair. She waited patiently for him to come out of his shell and give her a reply.
"I gave her two weeks to convince me," he said.
Her frown didn't shift. "Two weeks is hardly enough time to make someone fall in love."
"I didn't say she had to make me love her," he said as he went around the chair to face her. "I'm using human standards here. I'm letting her stay until I know for sure she's safe. After that… I'll decide if I want to take the next step."
…Lillian Pnéṿma chose both the best and worst mate on the planet.
"I suppose it's none of my business," Claudia admitted when he wouldn't budge on the subject. "What is my business is what you're planning to do regarding her circumstances. I'm really upset with you. I was waiting for you to have a special reunion. But this was how you made me meet you? No parties or game nights. Just pure, bloody work."
He crouched so they were closer to eye level. His brows fell into a flat line.
"I'm going to be looking the other way this one time," she told him, making sure her voice was firm and inarguable. "But this is the only time. You protect that girl and do nothing else. When those two weeks are up, I don't want to see you working behind my back. I expect you to give me a call or there will be hell to pay."
"Don't you know?" he grumbled sourly. "I'm retired. I'm not allowed to do anything a mundane wouldn't."
"If Coralynne Stradt believes the best thing you need is peace and quiet then I dare question her judgment as a fellow queen of this city," Claudia shook her head. "Chase, you're not the type of person who can sit still for long periods of time. You're always looking for something to do.
"But… fine. I won't push on the matter. When you get bored of going to school and doing your homework… I'll have a few jobs waiting for you. It doesn't have to be as my Grave Keeper either."
It got a brow raised from him.
She worried for him. She made this promise for him to help him cope. Peace and quiet. She would have laughed if it didn't infuriate her so much. Maybe Coralynne could go back to a mundane life after her own adventure, but Chase was different.
"Warehouse D-17 in the Port of Los Angeles," she told him. "Start there."
"You're… helping me," he half-asked and half-contemplated.
"I'm minimalizing damages," she corrected. "Word has already spread about the Pnéṿma girl my Not Grave Keeper is protecting. It's cowed most who know you by reputation as well as my enemies, but there is another affiliation who has disregarded my warnings entirely. A stray cat has warned me a group of kitsune she and I have been having trouble with have reacted to this name.
"If you take care of them, and make sure they stay quiet for some time, I might be willing to set up an appointment with you and this stray cat."
He squatted there and stared at her, thinking quietly to himself. She knew what he was thinking about and why he wasn't asking any questions. Why would he want to meet with this person? Because it was a potential lead to future jobs requiring his talents. It was something that would keep him occupied once the dust settled.
She was right. He couldn't sit still for very long. He was already thinking about what to do after he solved Lillian's problem.
"Now, Chase," Claudia pressed her voice. "I gave you something. Tell me, how much trouble is that girl really in?"
He blinked slowly, his mind coming back to reality as he looked at her. "More trouble than she wants me to know. And more than she believes she's in. Something annoying is on its way to the city. And if I get rid of that… something much bigger will be right behind it. At least, that's what the World is telling me. I don't know the specifics."
She nearly gulped. The coming future wasn't going to be boring, that's for sure.
"Well… hopefully Lillian will get to stay with us a little longer," Claudia let out a few chortles of light laughter. "Maybe I'll teach her how to play DnD!"
"Yeah, uh, I don't think that's going to happen."
"What?" she gasped. "Why?!"
"Claudia, you're way too hardcore. Your mods are sadistic, you demand everyone stays in character or are killed off in game immediately, and your dungeons are just unfair."
"But that's how you're supposed to play!"
"Not for filthy casuals like me. And especially not for a newbie like Lillian."
"…You're just mad because you keep dying," she sulked.
"Bite me."
Her face flushed. Those words triggered her to flash towards his neck and at the thick vein pulsing with his blood. The memory of what his blood tasted like and how it made her feel sank her into a fantasy. She visualized the two of them together, bonding with something that felt greater than sex.
The corner of his mouth twitched.
She scowled at him. She knew the signs of when he was smiling. Mocking her!
She scooted a little closer, still glaring at him, and reached for his hand.
"Ohm!"
And then she bit into it. This will show him to tease her! Her canines digging into the meet and her tongue tasting… such rich, succulent, smooth, electrifying blood.
Oh fucking hell yes.
Her face relaxed as she let the ichor dance along her tongue. A moan escaped her. Her lips sucked on his hand, trying to squeeze out more from it. Nothing else mattered in this moment. She forgot why she was biting him in the first place.
"GET OFF OF HIM!"
And then her bliss was taken away from her. She saw Lillian flash out of the house like a bolt of red lightning and pull Chase away from her. Claudia was only slightly agitated her source of pleasure was taken away. But she had tasted just enough for her to have her body float in euphoria.
"I really missed you, Chase," she giggled. "I love you so much."
Lillian let out some sort of guttural howl of outrage.
"Yeah, yeah," Chase said as he clamped a hand over Lillian's mouth. "Tell me again once you've come down."
The moment didn't last long. Just as brief as she had her drink was just as quick for the most annoying of headaches to come banging on her head. It completely knocked her out of her bliss and into a world of pain.
"Glad to have you back with us," she heard Chase and his tone of sarcastic amusement. "Now, how much did you miss me?"
The pain was slightly suppressed by a wave of embarrassment. Though she was drugged out of her mind with his blood, she had been fully conscious of everything. She remembered what she just said.
"…I'm going now," she said in a low voice, her head bowed to hide her burning face.
She gripped the rims of her wheels, turn the seat around, and pushed herself away.
0-0-0
"I don't like her," Lillian huffed. She crossed her arms as she watched the little vampire run, erm, roll away.
"You don't say," sarcasm oozed out his voice as he gave her a dull glance. "Do tell."
"I mean it!" she turned to him and took his hand. She gave it a good look. Blood continued to drip from the bite marks. It showed no signs of stopping. "Look what she did. It needs to be treated right away. She didn't infect you, did she? You're not going to turn into a vampire or suddenly get pulled into a compulsion?"
"You don't have to like her," he told her as if it would ease her mind. It didn't. "Just know she is the one who, indirectly anyways, paid for your clothes. I wouldn't have this house without her, come to think about it."
Lillian looked around the vicinity. There were no witnesses. She brought out her ears and tails so she could channel her youki through her tails. She wasn't the best healer and only knew the bare essentials. But she could heal a wound like this.
He watched her work, bringing the tip of her tail towards his hand. A faint glow of golden light illuminated where it touched the wound.
In a few seconds, the wound was gone. The blood on his skin would have to be washed off on his own.
"Thank you," he said casually, as if it were a small gesture of good will. "Come on, let's go back inside. It's kinda chilly… especially when you're still wearing that."
She was still in her nightclothes with the upper half of her body covered by a half-closed jacket. Normally, this would be the opportune chance to tease him or to flaunt her assets. But she was too miffed with the vampire taking away what was rightfully hers.
Instead, Lillian wrapped her arms around one of his and squeezed tightly for warmth. He looked at her but didn't comment. They walked back towards the house together.
"You know," Lillian sulked, "when you said she was your boss, I was imagining a really old looking lady with wrinkly and saggy skin. I didn't expect someone so… fresh. Beloved… I hope you're not secretly a lolicon. I can't compete against that."
"Yeah, I don't know what that is," he said bluntly. "Please stop using terms that's not defined in the English language. And Claudia is several times older than I am. But in terms of Progenitor years… she's exactly the age she appears to be. She's literally the youngest of her class."
"…I still don't feel comfortable knowing you two are so close," she grumbled back.
"That's because we have history," he commented. "Forget about her for today. Today, I'm going to educate you on the greatness that is Star Wars. I doubt we'll get to the latest movie by sundown but we have to start somewhere. After that, I'm going to have to leave you alone to head on out for work."
Lillian tensed. She stopped walking, effectively making her mate stop in the process. "Work? Please don't tell me you will be with that vampire any longer, beloved."
"I will be stepping out to secure your safety in the city," he assured. "I planned on doing this with or without Claudia's support."
"Then let me come with you," she demanded.
"No," he said in a flat voice that made her wince. Upon seeing her reaction, he closed his eyes to relent. He opened them again and explained, "Lillian, I'm going to be moving around a lot. I can't spend all my time with you. And while I'm sure you're capable of handling yourself… let's be frank. You're a serious distraction."
He said this last part while eyeing her bust. Her breasts were hardly contained by the zipper lining of the jacket.
His reaction just about made her day. It almost made up the amount of flirting he did with the vampire girl.
"I understand," Lillian uttered with delight… but something held her back from giving her full support. "But, Chase, you're not going to be doing anything dangerous, are you?"
They reached the door. He held it open for her. She stepped inside and he made a noise in the back of his throat that may or may not be laughter. She couldn't tell since he wasn't smiling.
"Those vampires last night are more dangerous than what I'll be facing. I'm going out to gather information and making sure nothing else will attack you. It's mostly boring stuff with lots of talking."
She stepped inside the house as he closed the door.
Little did she know he looked behind him, staring across the street and onto the rooftops of the adjacent house. There, sitting on the rooftops, was a kudagitsume— a fox spirit used for relaying messages between households. For this instance, it had been spying on the house harboring Lillian Pnéṿma.
Chase stared back at it. Something shifted in his eyes. The spirit nearly dispersed and broke apart into nothingness by the glare alone had it not been for the message to its master.
I'm coming to kill you, so said the single glance from a prime killer.