Chapter 4

You know that feeling of waking up from a nap and being more tired than when you started? That was exactly my feeling as my consciousness slowly reactivated. I instinctively put a hand up to my neck to touch a bandage wrapped around it, feeling two pencil sized holes behind the gauze.

It's like a damn vampire bite….

Standing and looking around, it was near dark, and I was in a spacious iron cage at the edge of the forest. I was at some kind of captured village, man and monster alike setting up campfires and preparing game to roast. Many similar cages held paladins and villagers, mostly male. Shit. Seems like I've been taken prisoner by some kind of-

*pant pant pant*

I slowly craned my head in horror to see a small girl barely reaching up to my stomach clutching the cage bars. She was dressed way too scantily for someone her age, hot and heavy puffs of air assaulted my face as she stared at me with pure…..hunger. Two moon-like disks covered in a thin coat of fur rested atop her head, a drooling mouth revealing oversized incisors. A hairless rodent's tail wagged furiously behind her. The rotating swirls in her large irises and heavily flushed face formed a way too detailed ahegao expression boring into me.

I instinctively jumped back to the edge of the cage in a panic. Even if it was animated and inhumanly pretty, A face should not be able to contort like that. It's uncanny valley vibes were fuckin creepy.

"Shaula! Get away from him right now!" That signature 'SPLRTT' echoed through the air again as something struck the mouse-girl in the back, yanking her backwards. A slight glint and the girl was suddenly cut loose, backflipping to a perfect five star landing.

"Aw c'mon Lesley! I wasn't gonna do anything to him!" Her helium-like voice squeaked. The tip of her tail was curled around a large curved dagger which was promptly sheathed.

"Riiight, that's what ya said the last three times ya tried to fuck the slaves!"

Walking-, or crawling up to Shaula was her. The arachnid bore an expression of frustration on her multi-eyed face, crossed arms pushing up her considerable bust. Lavender stained gauze wrapped around both her shoulder and cheek, the constant scratching indicated it wasn't pleasant.

The mouse-girl puffed her cheeks out in a cute pout. "You just don't get it anymore, you've forgotten the thrill of chasing a fresh man ever since you married!"

"I don't need to chase a man for love anymore." The drider retorted. "Now I only do it for money and to make other monsters happy."

"Then make me happy and let me claim him! You know how long I've been waiting for a special man!"

"No! We already told you this man is our most valuable catch! I will have absolutely zero of your bullshit this time, Catfeed!"

"What did you call me?!" Shaula scowled, unsheathing two daggers with a shick, her tail pulling out a third.

"You heard me right, Catfeed." the Redneck repeated venomously, angling her abdomen under herself.

"I am this close to cutting off your massive tits, Webby!"

"And I am this close to slicing your little tail and mice ears off, Vermin!"

Shit was about to go down. It didn't take a genius to figure out those two Mamono were about to duke it out. The rodent acted first, leaping towards the drider at incredible speeds. Lesley countered by instantly firing a glob of webbing at her. However Shaula tucked to a ball mid air and let the glob soar right under, slamming into the bars of my cage.

Now a spinning ball of knives, Shaula barreled through the air attempting a downward slash. The arachne reacted by shooting two of her spider legs up and blocking the mouse's daggers. Through the clang of metal and chitin, Shaula initiated a dirty surprise attack, attempting to slash Lesley with her tail-dagger. The latter acted fast and ducked, counter attacking with a leg slam right to the mouse-loli's gut. Shaula was sent careening back, doing that perfect acrobatics touchdown in front of me.

Lesley's scowl became outright demonic as she felt her left twin tail. "You cut my hair you bitch!" one was indeed notably shorter than the other, a patch of silver hair now littering the ground.

"You're lucky I only sliced that and not one of your creepy-ass insect eyes." Shaula sneered, though she was clutching her belly in obvious pain.

The Spider let audibly gnashed her teeth like nails on a chalkboard. They were about to lunge at eachother again when an annoyingly southern masculine voice interrupted.

"Now now ladies, stop getting in such a hissy fit over somethin' so trivial!"

Walking between the two was a lean man with the air of an older fellow. His outfit was a stereotypical cowboy outfit, boot spurs and all, though instead of the classic brown leather he donned a sharp purple and black scheme. Intricate web patterns decorated his vest, matching his fancy cowboy's hat. Something strange however was two protrusions sticking out the front of it. I couldn't see his face under the brim, only a large cigar puffing rings of smoke.

"But Daley-honey, she cut my beautiful hair up!" Lesley whined. Jeez, their overly southern drawls were really getting on my nerves.

"Shhh, it'll grow back sweetie." The cowboy comforted the drider and cupped her face. "Your hair will be back in silky smooth condition in no time." He slipped his tongue inside her mouth, causing me to cringe in disgust and Shaula in envy.

"Besides, if that lil' rodent actually harmed you in any way…." He gave Shaula an emotionless stare, all light devoid from his eyes.

"I would've gutted and chopped off her tail myself."

"-Urp." The mouse let out a small yelp before regaining her composure. "Oh please, what can you do huh? Nothing I can't handle."

"Don't underestimate my skills, missy. I lasso wild Demon Realm Rhinos as a side job so I doubt it'd be hard to rope a midget like you."

Shaula scowled silently and stuck her tongue out at the cattleman as he slowly walked towards me.

"Now let's see your big catch Leslsey! I wonder if he's as special as you say!" He excitedly announced over the clinking of his spurs. Stopping at front of my cage, The rancher flicked up his cowboy hat and eyed me with a stupid shit eating grin.

Seeing his face, he was actually a pretty handsome guy. Almost an exact carbon copy of Kenny Ackerman. His jawline was strong and lined with a well trimmed stubble, my expectation of crooked yellow teeth betrayed by big pearly whites. His nose was perfectly sculpted and just the right size for punching. Bright green eyes shined with joy, sizing me up like I was a prized breeding stud.

Now that I got a good look at him, something was….different. It was hard to tell in the dark, but his skin wasn't the usual hue of a human's. More a pale red. Something was swaying behind his back which I realized to be a spaded devil's tail, the protrusions from his hat curved bull horns.

This man was an Incubus.

"This is it? The supposed 'Drifter' you caught honey?" His tone of voice was one of mock disappointment, making my hands twitch in anger. "He don't look like much, with that reed body he'd pass out five seconds inta fuckin! And with that shade of skin? Hoooh boy, you're lucky that Mamono ain't picky with their lovers."

Fuckin hell, this dickcheese was stuck in the eighteen-sixties, racist views and all.

"You'd be surprised, rascal put up more of a fight than I expected for a runt that scrawny." Lesley remarked coldly, glaring daggers at me.

"Hmm, maybe he makes up for lankiness in smarts." said the rancher before turning back to me. "Ay there, the name's Dale, But you can just call me the Warden. Nice to meetcha!" That same shit eating grin grew even wider. "I'd shake your hand, but seems like you're not able to fit it through those bars, huh?" Dale chuckled. "What's your name boy?"

I just glared at the stupid 'Warden', balling my fists in response. The urge to wipe that annoying smile off his punchable face was increasing every second.

"Aw C'mon, don't be like that!" Dale threw his hands up to emphasize his point, puffing a big cloud of smoke in my face. "If you're nice to me I'll be nice to you, that's my policy." I still glared silently, refusing to answer the prick.

"Well, your name doesn't matter that much in the grand scheme of things anyway." His shift in posture projected a glossy reflection, a scarlet red behind back lined with silver pegs.

This bastard had my guitar.

"Hey….that's mine!" my voice quickly rose in volume, slightly surprising the incubus. "That thing you got on your back, that's mine!"

"Hooh-hooh, not so stoic now are ya? You mean this funky banjo thingamajig you had?" He slid the instrument around his back into playing position, plucking the E string absentmindedly. Looking closer I saw my skullcandy headphones wrapped around his neck with my phone and balisong stuffed in his belt.

"Yeah, give it back! My other stuff too!" I lurched forward clenching the bars with my hands. Those things were important to me, the guitar especially. It was a gift and precious memento to jamming with my Dad and Gramps.

The Cowboy's sneer grew ever wider. "I'd say sorry, but to be frank I'm not sorry at all! This banjo's mine now boy!"

"It's not a fucking banjo you Clint Eastwood wannabe." I growled. "It's an Ibanez Roadstar ii. You don't even understand half the mechanics of it."

"Woah there, better watch your mouth. Remember my policy? Besides, Tameedo Tomooda. Looks close enough to a banjo and plays close enough to a banjo so it's a banjo."

"Uh, honey?" Lesley softly pitched in. "I think ya mean Tomayto Tomahto..."

"Not now sweetie."

"Yes dear…."

Dale looked back at me. "Anyways, you..." He paused for emphasis. "are our ticket to becomin' stupid fuckin' rich! You look smart, so you've probably figured out what we are, right?" I didn't respond, but knew full well the answer.

"We're slavers! The Incubus exclaimed with jazz hands. "That terms a lil' extreme for our line of work though. We don't sell slaves with the intention of labor, but rather as fuck toys!"

Both Lesley and Shaula shot him a stink eye, causing him to correct himself.

"Sorry, as husbands." Dale leaned forward like a sleazy conman trying to sell a defunct product. "Yknow, you should be grateful for what we're doin' here. We take men from their boring, loveless lives and give them one of eternal pleasure and belongin'! They always resist at first, but I've visited some of my previous catches and they could not be happier."

The second rate Michael Rooker started pacing around my cage as he continued. "On top of that, you're a very special kind of man, If we could call you that, one that most monsters would literally kill for. Some high ranking Echidna or Baphomet would pay a very hefty price for ya." Dale's grin twisted to an outright slasher smile as he continued. "Or even better, one of the Demon Lord's daughters."

I tensed at the last bit.

"Ah, that gotcher attention, huh? Druella's been lookin' for a husband to match her status for centuries, and you may just be her match."

Not Druella. Anything but Druella. She was the one responsible for demolishing Lescatie, corrupting thousands of people into shells of their former selves. It was a hideous way to live, corrupted into mating and mating like an animal without any regard to one's values.

"But before that, I wanna settle some stuff with you first." He gestured to Shaula. "Let him outta the cage."

Lesley stepped forward to interject. "Wait Daley-honey, we should at least restrain him-"

"No no, it's fine. He's smart enough to know attemptin' to escape or throw hands ain't gonna work."

His face finally dropped that shitfaced grin as he glared at me with absolute seriousness. "And if he does try, he'll learn that the hard way."

Shaula grabbed the keys with her tail and unlocked the door. I stepped out with folded arms and walked towards the Incubus, Lesley and Shaula both brandishing their weapons to keep me in check.

Now Dale and I were face to face, glaring into each other's eyes.

"Show me your teeth."

"...What?" Why the hell would he want me to-

Dale's hand suddenly shot forward and tightly clasped my jaw, forcing my lips open. It was an excruciating vise clamp, I feared if he pressed any harder he'd break my jaw.

"Teeth are nice and straight, pretty white too." Dale stated flatly. He finally let go of my jaw which I immediately cradled. "You got a rare skin tone too, while it looks like absolute Kobold-shit a lot of Mamono are into that. I'll be able to jack up the price to make up for your reed body."

Being measured up like an exotic animal filled me with anger next to none. It was like a mutt forced to wear a muzzle.

"One last thing before I leave you be." Without warning a fist collided into my gut, forcing the wind out my lungs and making me double over in agony.

"Daley, stop! you know he's valuable!" Lesley started skittering towards us before Dale halted her with a broad swipe of his arm.

"NO! He's gotta bear the consequences of his actions, no matter how valuable!" He kneeled down to me, his voice a tranquil fury. "You know why I just socked ya in the gut right now?" He stood up and kicked me in the stomach. "It's cause you shot my wife. Not just once,"

Another kick.

"But twice."

Now he continually beat me, my lungs unable to suck in air. My mind went numb with each boot slam. The pain doubled with every hit, myself coughing out bile.

"Idon't give two shits whether you're a Serf or Chief-Goddamned Order Hero, NOBODY, HURTS, MY, WIFE!" the cattleman bellowed between kicks.

Giving me one last kick he finally relented and picked me up by my hair. "The only thing keepin' me from squashin' your balls in is that you'll need em later." Dale snarled, his rage barely kept in check. He dragged me by my hair and roughly threw me back in the cage, slamming my body against the bars.

The Incubus turned back to his two frightened subordinates. "Tell the rest we'll set out at the crack of dawn, we gotta haul ass if we wanna make it to the Enreches de Mari on time. And Lesley,"

He walked up to the slightly shaken Drider and pulled her into a close embrace. "Sorry you had to see that sweetie. I'll make sure to tend to you all night, anything you want."

"Why…thank you honey. I'm lookin' forward to it." Lesley's apprehensiveness dispersed as she gave Dale a quick peck before scurrying off to complete her duty.

I was alone, battered, caged like a circus animal ready to be sold off. No thoughts came to mind on ways to escape, but I couldn't simply accept the fact I was going to become a slave either. My conscience tore itself apart over its conflicting feelings as my subconscious slowly took over, passing out from fatigue and injury.

*THUMP!*

"Pssst, hey! Wake up!"

"Wha...?" I groggily responded to the loud whisper. Putting my glasses on my face, I rubbed my eyes to observe the noise's source.

An armless cloaked figure wearing a sharp cavalier hat was crouching next to my cage, her voice soft and feminine. I couldn't see her face that well from the lack of light, but her bright blue eyes stood out like gems in the dark.

"I'm here to save you, c'mon!" the voice urgently whispered.

"Really?" I quickly stood in excitement, but then my senses kicked in. This sounded much too good to be true. Last night taught me that trusting random strangers, especially women in this world was a very bad idea.

I folded my arms harboring a dubious look. "How do I know you're not a monster who'll assault me the second I step out?"

"You don't, you'll just have to trust me."

"Sorry, but last time I trusted a stranger I was almost raped. You'll have to prove it to me somehow."

The figure sighed and resigned to my terms. "Fine, I'll prove it to you Mr. Cynical." A sudden slash broke the padlock, followed by the door opening and her stepping inside, backing me into a corner. In a blur of movement the figure easily took me hostage, one arm around my waist while the other cradled my head. My cheeks grew uncomfortably hot from her warm body and soft curves pressing up against me.

She smells so nice-FUCK! It's over! No fucking way I'm escaping this time!

"Don't even think about screaming." The figure whispered. Her hold was gentle but firm, I couldn't break free even if I tried. Her grip just had that unspoken power that you don't defy. The woman moved her face next to mine, breathing on my neck.

"I could force you to the ground right now. Strip you of all your clothes. Have my way with you. And you'd be powerless to stop it." A hot blow of air gently assaulted my eardrum, prompting a shiver.

"But I'm not going to."

The figure pulled back as I let out a sigh of relief, panting from the petrifying experience.

"Yknow…." I whispered between breaths. "That was still basically molesting me."

"Oh please, it was to prove a point!" the girl scoffed in annoyance. "Besides, I didn't touch your special place so it doesn't count."

"I beg to differ." I retorted.

Now that she wasn't covered by her cloak I could see her full figure. The woman was dressed in a dapper Victorian blouse with frills and ribbons, hugging her slim midriff and cutting very low to expose her mid-sized chest. The reason I thought her as initially armless was because her 'cloak' was actually a coat worn like a cape, resembling every One Piece character. A tight mini-skirt did little to cover her long ivory thighs, tapering down to ornate shin guards. Lifting her cavalier hat revealed a supernatural face of beauty, short golden hair just past her chin highlighting the large, foxy eyes piercing into me. Glossy lips slightly parted before curling into a shrewd yet sexy grin, a cute fang poking out.

So she was definitely a monstergirl, probably a Dhampir. Her sex appeal was through the roof and face far too pretty to be human. Then again, all faces in this anime world were impossibly attractive….that's not important right now!

Her sly smirk quirked to one of confusion. "Wait a sec."

Without warning she snatched my dirty hand with both her dainty ones, giving it a long sniff.

"The fuck're you doing?!" I jerked my hand away from the olfactophile, thoroughly creeped out at her display.

"Uahh, sorry about that." The perv chuckled quietly while rubbing the back of her head. "I tend to act on impulse sometimes. It's just you don't have a scent."

"You didn't deduce that earlier when you were right next to me?"

"Oh yeah. Good point."

Great. She was an airhead, despite her foxy looks. At least she showed she didn't plan to rape me, but you could still never be too careful...

"Ugh, Whatever." I rolled my eyes. "Let's get out of here then. I have some things I wanna grab first though."

"Is your name Murnax by any chance?"

Now that made me do a double take. I never mentioned my name, how the hell did she know? Was Murnax some kind of common name in this world? Or worse, could it be that I was somehow already a wanted man two days into-

"Hello….?" The girl linked her arms behind her back to lean forward and tilt her head at me. Damn, if that wasn't adorable then-stop getting distracted damnit!

"Ra-, right. Murnax is my name. How did you know though?"

"Goes by Murnax, no discernable scent, cherry blossoms..." The Mamono glanced me over, holding her chin in thought.

"What?" I implored, unable to discern her mumbling.

"You're the guy I've been looking fo-Erp." Her voice raised in excitement before quieting down again.

"What do you mean by that?"

"I'll explain later. Let's get these other guys out of their cages first."

For Chief God's sake lady you don't just say ambiguous phrases just to blueball people like that! That bullshit only happens in terrible fiction novels!

I sighed once again, giving up and following her out of the cage.

"I'm Whice by the way. Whice Wintergem."

"Nice to meet you Whice…." I whispered. "By the way, there was a mouse-girl guarding me with the keys, what'd you do with her?

"Don't worry, I tied her up. She's not going any-"

*BRRRRRRR!*

The loud blare of a blow horn interrupted her, causing us to both jump in surprise. On the roof of a nearby cabin was Shaula with a massive horn dancing giddily as she stuck her tongue out at us. I blankly stared at her before craning my head to my liberator.

"Whice."

"Yeah?"

"Didn't you say you tied her up?"

"Yeahh..."

"Then why is she on the roof blowing a big ass horn?"

"Haah….kinda forgot that mice can chew through anything, sorry..." She knocked her fist against her head and winked at me in a cutesy manner.

Goddamnit Whice.

"Ah whatever, they would've gone full alert anyway once they found you were missing. Let's kick some slaver-ass!"

Whice tossed me the keys unexpectedly and bolted for the cages, a wide adrenaline junkie smile plastered on her face. I tilted my head back and pinched the bridge of my nose, exhaling out my nostrils.

"Fuck my life…."