Chapter 4: Opening Act (4)

"So how long do you think it will take before you're ready? Not to rush you or anything but I think the Devils occupying that place are getting...antsy."

"Integration of the rather aptly named Demon's Tears is no easy feat, Harris. Especially when one must do so over a rather significant expanse of terrain while remaining undetected. Do I wish to know in what manner they are becoming 'antsy'?"

"Probably not. Sorry to interrupt."

Giving Merlin a quick glance from where she was crouching over a rather lethal looking flower with bright red petals and yellow stem that practically reeked danger he instead turned to Gastofield proper, letting the magus ply her craft, palm pressed into the dirt parallel to the flower as she tirelessly continued her duty.

"Honestly, is there some kind of competition to be as unlikable as possible occurring without my knowledge?"

The Devils had apparently grown bored of simply raping their two supernatural captives, instead arranging them back to back through the use of enchanted manacles that they could control autonomously, backs arched and limbs splayed wide.

And inbetween them was a rather plain and brutal instrument, a double-sided dildo with oversized bulges for both rear entrances, both women maneuvered so that they were lined up perfectly-

-and synchronized expressions of dismay and discomfort escaped them as they were slammed backwards onto the instruments, Harris unable to help but be grimly impressed as neither so much as cried out, even though he could see how the objects poked and slightly bulged against their navels, the Devils laughing and cheering the whole while.

He noticed that he was tapping his finger incessantly against his arm, a nervous expression that he forcefully halted in favor of taking a calming breath.

He wasn't going to achieve anything by uselessly working himself up into a frenzy...he'd be doing more for the captives within by holding his temper than he would senselessly charging in.

More to keep his mind off of things than it was an immediate interest (more of a delayed one, really) he turned once again to Merlin, asking, "So how did your manifestation work, exactly? I know my thoughts of you and my sponsor's power were what made it possible but other than that I know almost nothing about how it actually feels or works."

Still continuing her work the pale-haired woman smiled happily, remarking, "All I know myself is that the Merlin you were thinking of was offered the chance to come to your side, to have parts of her personality altered and certain priorities overwritten so as to better serve your desires. Beyond that the mechanics of how it was achieved are as alien to me as they are to you, since I had long believed I was forever confined to Avalon, bar certain exceptions."

Harris felt his lips downturn slightly, carefully asking, "Isn't that strange? Or potentially even scary? I know if I was suddenly yanked across the multiverse, had my personality overridden to cater to someone's whims and fantasies I'd be a little weirded out."

The unfairly beautiful woman merely sent him a coy smirk, teasingly responding, "Then it is a convenient thing that one of your desires was for me to not be alarmed by these changes and to actually quite enjoy them, isn't it~?"

Harris settled for shaking his head.

"If you say so...I still think it sounds a bit shady."

Flipping her stunning hair and arching her back so that her hips were at a slight angle the lovely lady flirtingly mused, "Are you saying you wouldn't desire me at all? Harris, I'm quite offended!"

Now chuckling himself he snapped back to business as she released a quiet breath, affixing him with a grin as she trilled, "All finished~! You may begin at your leisure, I will follow up as need be."

The young man didn't waste another moment, immediately leaping into action as he raced towards the fortress, shifting once again into his insect form and slipping past the wards just like last time, making his way to the Scale Mauler pen with mounting bloodlust that - were he still in his human form - would have had him grinning like a madman.

This time there was a Devil patrolling the cages, barbed whip in hand while he carefully refilled water troughs with what was no doubt a pitifully small amount of liquid, the predators eyeing the man with no shortage of lethal hatred as their stares were met with a confident and arrogant smirk-

-which promptly turned into a confused frown as a shadow fell over the attendant, turning around to see what had caused the disturbance...only to utter a brief shriek as a newly formed Scale Mauler quite literally bit him in half, Harris inwardly smirking as the taste of blood, bone and flesh pleased the creature he was morphed into more primitive brain.

It certainly got the other three monster's attention, scarred muzzles flaring as they picked up the scent of blood and viscera, taking deep whiffs of the intoxicating aroma as the shapeshifted male went about unlocking the cages.

While they had been well designed to keep the creatures locked inside they hadn't been created with the intent to keep one of them from unlocking it from the outside, a combination of primate problem solving and predatory strength shattering the chains and unlatching the bars, each of the three creatures snorting and growling as they challengingly stared at the one who freed them, Harris understanding perfectly well that they weren't going to follow him just like that...which was fine.

He had a different plan in mind.

Turning on his heel the male turned tail and ran, instincts taking hold of the other three as they gave chase, snuffling and hissing as the male felt mounting elation at how well this plan of his was going...and it was only going to get better from here on out.

Bursting out from the interior of the fortress Harris didn't waste the beautiful opportunity that presented itself, opening his jaws wide and biting down on the nearest Devil he could find, leaving behind a spraying torso that collapsed to the ground without further ceremony, the transformed male tossing the rest of the mangled corpse towards the pursuing Scale Maulers, inwardly grinning at the stunned reactions of the rest of the assembled Devils, staring gormlessly at his sudden charge.

Not that their response meant much to the pursuing Scale Maulers, crimson liquid splashing across their muzzles as they inhaled the intoxicating scent of their previous captor's bodily fluids, feral eyes landing on the assembled dozens.

The second seemed to stretch for much longer than it actually did, the predators remembering each and every time the smaller creatures had beaten or starved them, confined them to tiny and demeaning pens...and with roars of fury that sent chills down even Harris' spine the trio of Maulers sprinted past him, primitive brains dismissing him in favor of the far more enticing prey beyond.

The shapshifted male smirked at the carnage that began to ensue, of the Devils desperately rising to their feet and grabbing or manifesting weapons...only for the first six to be ripped to sheds with lethal precision, the Maulers ignoring the restrained and worn down Humans or captives in favor of the far stronger and active Devils...an interesting quirk to the creatures that he'd learned when absorbing the beast's essence, that Scale Maulers tended to ignore weaker and less mobile targets in favor of what they perceived as the strongest prey, something that made them quite attractive to Devils in the first place.

Mounts of war were much more effective when they were actually excited to take down the bigger targets.

But for all their strengths they couldn't fly, all but nine of the ravaged Devils taking to the air-

-and Merlin made her move, almost a hundred of the Demon's Tears flowers rapidly sprouting from the ground and blowing their pollens into the air, Harris quickly leaping free of the encroaching cloud as everyone else in the immediate vicinity went down hard, coughing and choking on the drifting material as their eyes wept uncontrollably, spit and drool leaking from nostrils and mouths.

He felt kind of bad for the humans and captives that had to suffer through the action - their various states of restraint and other factors no doubt making it all the worse - but the odds were a bit too lopsided for him and Merlin to take on when they were as weak as they currently were.

The best part was that the Scale Maulers were only mildly inconvenienced by the Demon's Tears, if anything they became even more enraged and bloodthirsty, dismembering and slaughtering the stunned and crippled Devils at an impressive pace that reduced their numbers at a healthy pace.

Eventually ten or so of the garrison managed to get their bearings, concentrating their energies and magic on the marauding beasts and targeting their more vulnerable underbellies or eyes with blades of wind, spikes of rock or just simple blasts of raw power as they took to the skies after putting down the rampaging creatures, alighting upon Gastofield's wall where they hacked and coughed, trying to regain their bearings-

-Harris didn't give them the opportunity, leaping down from his spot higher up and flattening two of the Devils with his greater bulk, smirking at the crunch of bones beneath his current form's weight.

Three more went down in quick succession, panic and terror warring with discipline as the last five tried to organize some kind of effective defense against him, magic barriers or sharpened blades being raised...and Merlin made her appearance, pilfered blade slicing through gaps in their armor and dropping two of the Devils before they could so much as blink, the last three caught between a rock and a lovely place as death closed in on either side.

Not surprisingly they decided discretion was the better part of valor, attempting to make a run for it as they leapt into the air. Two didn't make it, Harris managing to snag one in his jaws and apply enough pressure to snap the body like a twig, a perfect throw from Merlin sending her blade into a gap in her target's armor, sending him crashing to the ground below with a sliver of flesh barely keeping his head attached to the rest of the body.

Quickly shifting into one of his faster insect forms Harris took to the air, rapidly gaining on the fleeing Devil before adopting his larger chitinous form, serrated legs slashing inwards-

-and cleanly slipped past the devil's visor, ripped into his eye sockets and promptly made bloody ribbons of the brain as Harris jerked his body's appendages around.

The corpse fell without a sound more coherent than a wet gurgle, heavily impacting the ground far below with a loose flopping of limbs.

"And that's game, Merlin will have finished off any survivors that maybe hid inside the fortress by now."

Winging back towards the fortress his conclusion was vindicated as Merlin exited the interior of Gastofield, dragging a single, bloody body behind her as she used some kind of basic wind magecraft to push away the remaining clouds of Demon's Tears, the captives and humans slowly managing to cough their systems clear of the irritant as Harris landed next to his partner, turning into his human form with a roll of his shoulders and satisfied smile.

"Now that was a clean operation if ever I've seen one. How you holding up, Merlin?"

"Oh~? Worried about little old me? Is that a smidgen of doubt I hear in your voice about my capabilities, dear Harris?"

Catching the teasing for what it was he nipped at her pointed ear and prompted a giggle from her as they moved towards freeing the various prisoners.

"Funny. C'mon, let's do what we can for these people and figure out what's next for the plan."

Giving a wry look to one of Akito's talismans Harris gazed around the courtyard, cleaned of most of the carnage and blood as the freed prisoners huddled into various groups, warily staring at him and each other as the male idly reflected that he probably should have asked the adorable young lad how to make use of the things properly, Merlin busy looking over the four supernatural that had suffered far more brutally than the Olmec people and had more important things to do than run translation duty.

Instead he dropped a bag of glazed nuts at the collection of Olmec men and women's feet, reaching into the sack of appropriated snacks and tossing one into his mouth, making a show of chewing and savoring the treat-

-only to double over and began retching and spitting out chunks of snack, the group unleashing what was no doubt a litany of curses and shouts...except that he rose up to his full height a second later, teasing grin on his lips while he wriggled his fingers in a playful motion.

While they did not look amused at his antics they got the message, that the things were safe to eat and not some kind of trick. That little bit of diplomacy over and done with he strode over to where Merlin was just finishing up her examination of the Angel, the winged female giving him a cursory examination with tired and bagged eyes...but that was about the extent of her exhaustion, mannerisms still strong despite the trying ordeal she had just been through as she remarked, "I do not mind translating for you if it is required. While your attempt at sign language and information conveyance was serviceable enough I doubt it will be effective all of the time."

Giving her a raised eyebrow as he dropped into a crouch nearby Harris inquired, "You seem pretty eager to get up and at em' despite everything you just went through. You can take it easy, you know."

A wry smile pulled at the woman's lips, tone dry as she remarked, "I can sleep when we are not in the middle of an enemy encampment that may see reinforcements arrive at any time."

Inclining his head in agreement he gave Merlin a questioning look, the magus responding with a distracted tone, "The sooner we convene and come up with a plan of action the better. No one is in immediate danger of dying and she has a point."

"Right. I'll go and get everyone else, bring them back here. Think you can hold down the fort while I'm gone?"

Giving him a confident smirk she teased, "Think you can find your way there and back without becoming lost?"

"Yikes, some goodbye that is."

Flashing each other playful grins Harris shifted into his insect body and flew away at a rapid pace, already thinking of how they were going to complete the next step of their little adventure.

The reunion between Weave-Maker, Silent-Walking and Morning-Breeze with the rest of their people was quite the heartfelt affair, Weave-Maker even embracing one of the battered men as Harris guided Akito and Charles towards the now mostly recovered supernatural, all of them giving him guarded or curious looks.

Fresh translation talisman courtesy of Akito attached to the back of his head the young man stated, "I imagine you're all wondering what this whole deal was about but the reality is that time's short. Do any of you have ways to call for transport back home, provided reaching this place is at all possible?"

That raised more than a few eyebrows, the Fallen Angel wearily rising to his feet as he rubbed at the scabbed over welts on his palms where nails had been rammed through them.

"I'll find my own way back."

Without further comment he began to walk towards the walls of Gastofield, pausing only to glance at Harris and calmly enunciate, "Even if it's appreciated I have no intention of offering you any kind of compensation, young man. Do not expect the Grigori to tender you assistance or gifts, wanton charity is not our way or something we tend believe in."

While the Angel and Valkyrie seemed to bristle at that Harris merely shrugged, sending the midnight-winged man a cheery smile as he replied, "No worries, if it helps you can just think of the save as a happy coincidence due to my own ambitions. Though if we cross paths in the future you can offer me a drink, consider it payment for services rendered if that sets your proclaimed nonexistent conscience at ease."

The Fallen blinked, lips briefly quirking in a grin before he flew away without another word, the Werewolf also rising on steady legs as he grumbled, "I too shall make my own way. One serves the pack, not the other way around."

Unlike the Fallen the Werewolf sent Harris a narrowed look, eventually shrugging before holding out a hand, stating, "You and your mate, should you come across pack Grey Knife, will have your scent remembered and honored...to an extent."

Accepting the gesture for what it was and understanding the implication Harris ripped off a bit of his shirt and sliced open a small gash in his flesh with Merlin's pilfered sword, drenching the article with his blood while the pale-haired magus settled for growing a flower from the ground before handing it off to the wolfman, a means of verification for the rest of his companions.

"We'll keep that in mind. Safe journeys, I'd hate to run across your pack in the future only to find out you got poached yet again."

A snort left the male, tone low and dangerous as he mused, "They will not find it so easy to chain me once more…"

A final nod and the man took off at a steady pace, easily ascending the walls and heading off in a seemingly arbitrary direction, Harris unable and unwilling to do much more than wish him luck.

The Underworld was a pretty dangerous place to navigate...but then again maybe a canine's sense of smell would make things easier.

"What about you two? Think you'll be able to find your own way back?"

The Valkyrie shook her head, stating, "You saved me from a fate arguably worse than mere death. I will stay until you or the allfather wish me to do otherwise."

The Angel was next, turning to the crowd of Olmec people as she hesitantly asked, "What of them?"

Scratching his cheek Harris bluntly replied, "Not sure yet. Obviously I have to get them back home but hopefully they know of a way to get back themselves, because quite frankly I'm clueless."

"Then as a favor to you allow my kin and I to guide them home."

At the male's raised eyebrow the winged woman offered a small, tired smile.

"It is the least I can do. And the saving of innocents is never a crime."

Chuckling to himself Harris mused, "Well on that matter it seems we're in complete agreement."

A more serious expression appeared on the woman's features, tone cautionary as she stated, "Whatever decision is made it had best be done within the span of four days. The Devils garrisoned here were due a visit by the Satan Beelzebub at that time and were quite happy to inform me that - should I survive those days - he would no doubt take a personal interest in breaking both my body and spirit."

A wryly amused quirk to her lips appeared.

"Who would have thought it was them that would be dead and broken long before me?"

Harris didn't reply, instead lost in thought before a predatory grin graced his features.

"Oh~? Is there a special kind of twisted brilliance stewing in your head, Harris?"

Smirking at Merlin's playful comment he distantly responded, "Oh, you could say that...just thinking that maybe I should say hello to the big cheese, that's all. I'm sure Beelzebub will have all sorts of questions about what happened here."

Three days came and went, Gastofield an odd mix of rushed activity and plentiful downtime as preparations to leave were made and expanded upon, the outpost's teleportation array hijacked and calibrated while idle hours were consumed with an odd sort of tension between the Olmec and everyone else, each group largely sticking to their own while Harris alternated between them.

But the time had come for everyone to make their departures, no sign of that clearer than the trio of armored yet lovely figures descending from the sky at great speed before landing athletically in the middle of Gastofield's courtyard, scanning it with sharp eyes as their comrade eagerly strode to meet them.

"Valkyries?"

Nodding at Charles' observation Harris explained, "It was going to be too much of a pain in the ass to reconfigure this places teleportation array after each use so Helena and Akito will be getting picked up by physical representatives while Telenia takes the Olmec to their best guess approximation of home. You made up your mind yet?"

The vampire shifted on his feet, awkwardly muttering, "I'm...still undecided."

"Well, you've still got a few hours to go so don't feel too rushed."

Leaping down into the courtyard as Helena directed two of her comrades to perform a final inspection on the teleportation array Merlin was looking over the assumed leader sent him a curious expression.

"When we received a sudden message from one we thought lost to us it was assumed to be a trap."

She tilted her head, helm and armor adorned with raven feathers shifting slightly with the motion.

"Imagine our surprise when we find only good news when such a resource is scarce enough even on the pleasant days."

Helena smiled - now garbed in her own retrieved armor - as she inclined her head, stating, "Should you find yourself in Asgard at some point in the future, Harris Xavier, do not hesitate to ask for Helena Magnhild. I shall ensure that your generosity and actions today do not go unanswered."

"Thanks, that might be a check I just happen to cash one of these days."

While his phrasing obviously threw them off a bit they nonetheless nodded, the two other Valkyries also returning with Merlin hot on their heels, happily skipping along as the four Asgardians prepared to take to the sky, Helena bowing her head one last time before they shot off, magic circles propelling them quickly and silently.

"Alright, that's one down...now it's just the last two."

Right on schedule of roughly an hour later two robed and armored figures descended, raven wings adorning their backs as the avian figures of Tengu landed roughly within the confines of Gastofield, far more wary and cautious than the composed Valkyries had been...but that came to a swift end as Akito shot forward, happily shouting, "Dai, Rio!"

Apparently scarcely able to believe the sight of the Kitsune boy rushing towards them the Tengu remained frozen for a few seconds before quickly advancing, ensuring the youth was unharmed before turning to face Harris and Charles as they drew close, not quite threatening in their body language but clearly wary.

"Guess this is where we part ways for now, huh kid?"

Ears drooping slightly at that the male replied, "I...I guess so."

Abruptly straightening his back and meeting the pair's gazes head on the Yokai bowed low - something that caused the Tengu to stiffen, Harris noted with interest - before intoning, "You have my deepest thanks for your actions. In the spirit of what the others have done should you visit our lands you will be welcomed with open arms, this I swear."

Withdrawing what looked like an ornamental hair comb from his sleeve the Kitsune handed it off to Harris, turning to Charles as both youths awkwardly stared at the other...and the fox boy broke it first by glomping the other into a hug, muttering, "You come visit sometimes too, Charles."

Blushing at the action but returning it just as quickly the Vampire settled for a brief nod, Harris grinning at the sight.

Being what he imagined was roughly the same age and tossed into adversarial circumstances it was no small wonder that the duo had quickly formed a bond that transcended race and creed.

"Fast friends indeed."

There was little fanfare after that, the boy riding on the shoulders of one of the tengu as they left without a further word, leaving only the Olmec and Telenia still within the confines of the fortress...and the Angel was clearly gearing up to help guide them to wherever home may be.

"You have everything you need, Telenia?"

Said angel sent him a grateful smile, replying, "We do. And while these people do not seem the most trusting of those with pale skin and wings sprouting from their shoulders…"

The woman shrugged, sad expression on her flawless features as she stated, "Given all that has happened, who can blame them? One should just be happy that they trust me to deposit them as close to home as possible and leave it at that."

Harris settled for a nod, saying, "Then I'll see them before you all head off. Here's hoping that you get a safe journey home, Telenia."

The winged female bowed her head slightly, responding, "It is now my turn to offer you a favor, to be welcomed among Heaven as thanks for what you have done here today."

He raised an eyebrow, remarking, "I also freed a Fallen, Werwolf, Yokai and Valkyrie. Doesn't that make me a heathen?"

An amused chuckle left Telenia, voice joking as she stated, "I believe an exception will be made. Until we meet again, Harris."

The Angel went to stand by the teleport circle without further comment, the male approaching the gathered Olmec people as Weave-Maker stared at him with an inscrutable expression, silence spreading between them like an errant fart.

"...You have proven to be a strange one, shapeshifter. But you freed us of the Olmec and now provide us a road home."

They all made a strange gesture with their arms and hands that he didn't recognize before the man who he assumed was Weave-Maker's husband or lover said, "Should you find yourself among the lands of the Olmec...listen to the winds, they will guide and protect you, lead you to us if that is what you seek."

Nodding in - mostly - understanding of the statement Harris settled for a parting comment of, "Then I hope to see you in good health should the time come. Safe travels. And watch out for pale skins that wear metal helmets six hundred years down the road, those guys are bad news."

"...Your words are quite strange, shapeshifter."

There wasn't much fanfare or further goodbyes after that, the gathered people stepping into the teleportation array and being whisked off into the ether at Telenia's command, leaving only he, Merlin and Charles behind.

Both turned to face the Vampire boy, who seemed uneasy and unsure of himself now that he was on his own.

"Well? Think you have a chance of making it home? Or is that a no go?"

Merlin sent the boy a comforting smile, stating, "If you doubt your chances of being welcomed back into the fold you are more than welcome to stay with us...after all, we're quite interesting people~!"

A brief smile played across his lips, the bloodsucker quietly intoning, "If...if it's really alright with all of you then...yes, I don't think I can go home yet."

Harris grinned, ruffling the youth's hair as he squeaked in surprise, Merlin glomping him in an affectionate hug as she teased, "Then welcome to our little group, Charles~! If at any time we act too crazy then you're more than welcome to ask for a ride home...wherever that is."

A shaky and emotional nod was their only response, the magus and shapeshifter sharing a brief glance that perfectly conveyed their inner thoughts.

Once the Vampire had settled down for the day and they had a moment to themselves they were going to have a long, real talk for the first time since she had been manifested.