It's finally here! Sorry about the longer-than-usual wait. Got a little busy though the week, I am majorly stressed about the end of school coming up here soon, and I was also a little stumped on how to carry the chapter forward at points. Of course, it doesn't help that another chapter is once again longer than I expected. I don't know how my writing developed for me to feel like I need to consistently write up to 10K words, but here I am.
Thank you for the patience and giving me a chance to get everything out there. Additionally, I am happy to see the story grow a little more. I didn't realize how little stories of Helluva Boss existed on Fanfiction, so I am pleased with the attention something like this has received. It keeps the fire burning within me to continued going on even when it becomes a little hard.
Enough of that shit, time to get to Guest Reviews:
ReadingBeta (Guest): In other words, he will need to learn how to demolish his opponents like IMP does. If there's anything that can get out of a jam in Hell, it's being a badass. Then hopefully that can get to lemons much quicker. Update soon.
Response: That was the point of him training. I wanted to at least get something down showing that he is trying to grow in terms of melee combat. That beats him being suddenly and unexplainably good with a sword. So, yes, he will be able to kick some ass in the future. That doesn't mean he won't run into his fair bit of trouble, though. As for lemons, they will come where they fit most naturally.
QqWhatsUp (Guest): I'm not gonna dvelve too deep into this but Just throwing it out there - as far as "isekai-like" stories of dropping an OC character into another story/fandom goes, this is pretty up there. Of course there are still tropes here that you can't really move away from, lile Loona/Kyle, but at the same time I like that this fic doesn't feel like... I dunno, this does not make me feel like the story will drop on it's knees to suck Kyle's metaphorical dick saying how cool and good he is, you know? I like that. Throw on top of that the fact that THE ENTIRE cast has enough room to breathe and shine and the story goes from "good compared to its competitors" to "ayyy, dat's pretty good!" in terms of enjoyment, and I like that.
Like, you have NO idea how much I'm tired of stories where someone just drops their character into HB/Harry Potter/Naruto/whateverthefuck other fandom and goes "AnD ThEN MY oC GOt Op anD hAD SEx WiTH alL tHE HoT CHikZ", it's a concept that is so shallow it's not even a puddle - it's a stain on the couch, and not even an inoffensive one, like from someone spilling their tea, but from puke or some other shit-
I'm getting ahead of myself.
So. Bottom line - I like that despite the story clearly focusing on Kyle we... Just have everyone else from I.M.P. doing their thing, yknow? Like, I love that we have M&M in there and they have SCENES in there, some funny some not, and they can just coexist with Kyle, not attached to be his harem buddies but like, around, you know? M&M is my fav part of the show and seeing them in these types of fics they are wither some throwaways people or a part of some weird NTR bullshit and-
... God the standards for these sorts of stories are so low, I'm so sorry this is turning into a god damn tangent, I'm gonna stop ...
Bottom line - your writing is good enough to make a grumpy grump grump like me enjoy it despite in being in the nieche that I don't like. That's something to be proud of, trust me.
Response: A lot to get through here. I guess I will just tackle it in order.
First, I am happy to hear that you think my story ranks higher than the average when it comes to the odd 'human in another world'. I do my best to make it enjoyable, and not just a story where the main character is just OP with no growth. That is fucking boring, and you don't connect well with them. Yes, I can't escape the pairings like this, but in some ways it allows the character to sink a little better into the world from my POV. That is probably my main reason for that, and people seem to enjoy reading the heartfelt stuff more than the action. I respect that, and I enjoy writing it.
This story does focus on the OC, but I am not going to deconstruct the universe around for him. He will struggle, be hated by some, and won't be the point of envy that everyone aspires to be. I want him to be HUMAN, and that means making him a little fucked up and balanced to the world. He will be built up to where he still has to work to get to his goals, and it is probably pretty obvious what goal that is at this point. Well, at least for now.
The OC won't have all the sex with the chicks nor will he attract everyone. Once again, that would be stupid and I am against power harems. As a particular note, I am going to say that Verosika will very likely be added to the main pairing. I wasn't entirely bought by it, but a strong majority of people in the audience have requested it. That wasn't the sealing factor. What made me okay with it was that everyone who has had some sort of hand in helping me here have either been onboard with the idea, or have outright requested it. With good character development coming out of it, I accepted. None of this is to say how badass the OC is, but rather it is an opportunity to develop Loona, Verosika, and the OC together. Other than those three, I won't be adding at all to that pairing. It sends more of a wrong message after that.
I.M.P. will continue to do its thing, and I only wish to develop the characters along. I have no desire to mess with M&M (chapters with their relationship development will come, but I am still thinking stuff up), Octavia, Stella, and etc. Each character is strongest as their own agent, especially M&M (love them, too). That means I WILL NOT do any cuckolding to Moxxie (which is what I believe you were implying) since that would severely hurt what I am trying to do here. So, do not worry on that front.
Thank you for the kind, thought-provoking review. I do my best to give something that everyone can enjoy, and it can be a battle sometimes. I don't intend for my work to be shit in standards by becoming some weird power fantasy. I hope you enjoy the future content that is to come.
Guest #1: Will kyle also fight against a goetia king powerful as Baal?
Response: The inclusion of other Goetias are definitely going to happen in the future, and that most definitely includes someone like Baal. Will Kyle fight him specifically, I don't really have an answer at this point. I am still getting ideas for stuff like that, but it seems like it will be way in the future. Thank you for asking something like that, though.
Moxxido (Guest): I'm the one that needs the Grimore book so thank you for it.
Now I can incite a insurrection in IMP City. Anyway, I'm guessing Loona will get kidnap soon and Kyle will have to mount a rescue to rescue her.
Response: No problem... XD
As for your guess on what happens here, you are just going to have to find out. I will just say that the chapter conveys what I want it to.
Guest #2: The plot continues to thicken! However, toppling Gluttony's overlord is going to take some major preparations!
I'm already imagining who Loona is going to meet up with. Keep up the good work!
Response: It definitely does. Gluttony is up first, but that doesn't mean it is coming soon. The OC has a lot of growth to go through before he is ready to face her and whatever trouble she may bring. As for who Loona is meeting up with, shouldn't be much of a surprise. You might be right, or not. I wouldn't be surprised if you figure it out. Thank you!
Tyler045 (Guest): Great chapter nice work
Response: Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!
Guest #3 (Connection with one from Chapter 6?):
Chapter 6: Kyle, you stay on Verosika's good side, I have an idea whose name is going to replace Blitzo's on her heart tattoo.
This Chapter: Even though I would support Kyle having a harem (particularly with Loona and Verosika), I'm just a member of the audience throwing out suggestions. You are the writer, and we're just along for the ride!
Response: Hmm, good point? I think Kyle's attention isn't entirely on Verosika at this moment. I know what I am planning to write in the future, so I guess you are going to have to wait and see what Verosika does to repay him. And no, it won't be sexual.
As for this chapter, I have already expressed willingness to undertake the trio pairing. I don't think 'harem' reflects it well, since that feels male-centric. I would want there to be attraction and reasoning between each partner. Kyle to Loona, Loona to Verosika, Verosika to Kyle, and in the other order as well. So, you are a little late in requesting that. Good news is that it is probably going to happen. How else is Kyle going to easily get to Asmodeus! :D
...
That is it for Guest Reviews. Now onto the Chapter!
Chapter 12: A Change of Views
POV: 3rd Person
It was another completely ordinary day in Hell. There were many demons around with intentions to do bad things as they had always done. As for some others, they were just trying to live another day as they had always done. Seeing as Hell wasn't a free place to live, many demons had to pick up some sort of job to just get by in the shittiest apartments. That meant working on the weekend for many of them.
However, two Hellhounds, Loona and Vortex, found themselves looking around one of the various shops that the Pride Ring had to offer. The one that they browsed seemed to have a great assortment of neat things to purchase, from jewelry to paintings to books. It was one of the cheaper places to purchase things without the quality being shotty. Even though this wasn't Greed, it seemed like that sin was rather widespread throughout all the rings.
While he looked at some jewelry with a close eye, Vortex spoke to Loona, "Hey, have you found anything that my girl would like for her birthday?"
Loona commented back, "It would help to know what she is like. I know that you asked me to hang out to help you with this, but not all of us girls are the same. She could be into freaky shit for all I know."
This caused a small chuckle from Vortex before he said back, "She is completely normal compared to others. She does have a knack for throwing some crazy parties, but I want to get something that would mean more to her. Maybe some jewelry?"
Loona rolled her eyes at the idea, "Yeah, that isn't exactly new. Why didn't you think about taking her out somewhere for dinner? That would have been less complicated than this." Loona finished saying this while she looked over at the shark-like demon running the store. He gave the two of them a stink eye but mostly eyed her. She growled over to him, but that didn't stop his staring.
Vortex had already thought of that, and he responded, "I thought about it, but places like Ozzie's would have been too expensive and required time to be on the list. Less expensive places, well, don't accept our kind unless we are in better company."
This got a scowl from Loona who knew this herself. 'Better company' would be anyone that wasn't exclusively Hellhounds. Even though there were places in Gluttony, the home ring of the Hellhounds, they were some of the most expensive places in Hell. Their food and alcohol selection was said to be nearly addictive to those who manage to get a taste. Its price seemed to match that description, meaning no Hellhounds ever went there.
Loona grumbled out just loud enough for Vortex to pick up, "Yeah, I thought that would be your answer…"
In her own thinking, Loona noticed how she was having an easier time talking to the male Hellhound when compared to Spring Break in the human world. The pressure to impress and seduce was no longer there like before. Now, she truly felt like she was on even ground when she would say something back to him. It felt more natural now, and while he didn't say anything, she knew that Tex noticed the change. Being a friend felt good to them both.
On a similar note, that meant that Loona wasn't jealous of his girlfriend either, not that she had much of an opportunity to be. Her lust when she found out about Tex's girl stopped in its tracks, and she was left disappointed at that point. Now, so much time had passed. Other than noting the change, Loona focused back on her search to help this helpless male impress his mate.
Vortex seemed to perk up, "What about sometime like this?"
Loona gazed over at what he was holding to see a rather unimpressive-looking bracelet. Loona's gaze dropped to show her feelings about it, "Yeah, I don't see that going over well. Keep looking over there."
With some defeat, Vortex let out a sigh. He looked back at Loona with a small smile, "Heh, I guess I get you… I didn't think this would have been that hard." Loona tiredly rubbed at her face after saying this. This didn't go unnoticed by the other Hellhound.
Vortex asked her, "You doing okay over there, girl? You are looking a little tired under the eyes."
Loona looked over at him with some level of surprise and confusion, "Huh? Oh! Ye-yes! It has just been a bit of a long week. Just doing some weapons training along with Kyle since he has been wanting to practice. I am just not used to doing something like that every day."
This was met with a smirk, "I get it. What is the human doing today, anyways?"
The question from Tex caused Loona's look to drop into a bit of a sourer one. A feeling of jealousy slowly swirled in her stomach while she responded with more bite than she anticipated, "He is off doing his own thing today. Trying to find out where his ex-girlfriend ended up and stuff like that." Vortex raised one of his brows at this response, and Loona soon became red-faced in embarrassment at her reaction. She then added, "Oh! I meant that he is just trying to find her after she died and well, ended up here."
"Hmm…" Vortex didn't seem like he was going to respond beyond that, but then his expression became a friendlier one, "I wish him luck with that. Being a human and all doesn't change how I feel about him. He is a cool guy."
This made Loona beam at him, "I am sure he would be happy to hear that, Tex…" Loona was wondering where that earlier response from her had come from, but she decided to ignore it for now. She commented back, "I think we should get back to searching for a gift for your girlfriend."
Tex chuckled, "Right you are."
While the two began to search through the items a little more closely, the small bell at the door sounded as someone else entered the shop. The first person to look over was the shark behind the counter. His reaction to the new guest was immediate. His posture improved while a deep, sharp-toothy grin replaced his disdainful frown toward the Hellhounds.
The next one to look over was Vortex after he noticed the shark demons change. He let out a small doggish yelp from seeing who it was. His surprise wasn't even hidden as he stared with wide eyes. He didn't expect to see her here of all places, especially while he was off.
Finally, Loona turned around and instantly felt her fur stand on end. Standing at the entrance was none other than Verosika Mayday. She was wearing a similar outfit that Loona had seen her in before completing with the same circular shades with the pink heart imprinted in the lens. Every part of Loona's being was in 'fangirl' mode by being in the presence of a demon with such high fame in Hell, especially Verosika.
Loona managed to stutter out, "V-Verosika Mayday!"
The Succubus peeled off her sunglasses and allowed her vibrant pink eyes to look around the shop. She took a minor interest in the items while she slowly walked through the room. The shark quickly scurried over to Verosika while putting on his best 'businessman bravado' to suck her in for a big, juicy sale.
He cleared his throat before saying, "Welcome to my shop, Miss! Just let me know if there is anything-"
Verosika continued to walk by him without giving him as much as a glance. She put up her hand to quiet him before saying, "I am not interested in anything that you are peddling."
While this should have dissuaded the sales demon, he didn't seem entirely saddened. Instead, he just remained quiet before heading into the back of his store. This left the Succubus with the two Hellhounds. The one employed by Verosika was confused by why she was here at the very least.\
Vortex spoke in the most polite, upbeat tone that he could manage, "What are you doing here? I had the day off, and I thought you said that you wouldn't need me."
The Succubus brushed off his questions, "Is it wrong for me to take interest in what my Hellhound is up to?" Vortex was confused by what she was saying before the Succubus's eyes finally met Loona's. The female Hellhound found herself feeling smaller than Verosika despite being of similar height. Verosika continued, "Plus when I heard that you were going to keep Blitzo's little Hellhound as company, how could I resist showing up."
It finally dawned on Tex what the real reason behind his boss's interruption during his time off. He remained silent despite his discovery while Verosika slowly and seductively walked over to Loona. Her eyes didn't blink while she gazed over Loona with interest.
Verosika scanned over the younger Hellhound before saying, "I don't believe I had a chance to officially meet you. So, you are my worthless shit stain of an ex-boyfriend's Hellhound. Loona, was it?"
Loona felt her voice nervously come out, "Y-Yeah." She then tried playing it cooler in front of the celebrity, "I mean, yeah, it is."
The longer she was in her presence, the more Loona could feel the uncomfortable feeling grow within her. She didn't have the racket of Blitzo arguing with Verosika, Kyle to lean on, or Moxxie and Millie to focus on. Loona was standing in front of an idol, and she was alone.
It only appeared to be like this until Vortex was able to sweep in and take the attention of his employer away from her. He asked, "Did you need me for something?"
Verosika seemed to be someone who was currently formulating a plan in her head. When she finally figured out what she wanted to say, she smiled at her bodyguard, "Now that you mention it, I saw a nice little coffee shop a few blocks from here. I wanted to go in, but…" Verosika flipped her hair before saying, "there were far too many degenerates gawking at my 'assets'." Verosika then accentuated her tits.
Vortex then seemed to understand where this might be going. He folded his arms before asking, "Are you wanting me to go with you there, then?"
Verosika shook her head, "Do you think you could go there and pick me up a drink from there? I have already walked all this way, and my feet are killing me."
Despite being slightly irritated on the inside, Tex managed to only release a long sigh. He didn't want to leave the shop where he was searching for a gift for his girl. He didn't care to walk down the street, either. Still, duty called, and he knew that there wasn't any choice for him. He gave a gruff response, "If it has to be done…" He then looked over to Loona, "Hey, girl. Did you want to-"
Verosika cut him off, "Blitzo's hound can keep me company right here. She can take good care of me while you are gone. Besides, there are a few things that we can talk about to pass the time while we wait on you."
A low growl could be heard from the usually even-tempered Vortex. He knew that Verosika was here for a reason, and he now knew that it had everything to do with Loona. Like many times before, it simply wasn't his business to get into her business. He wasn't paid enough, after all. However, there was a level of irritation when it began to affect him.
With a happier look, he looked over to Loona, "Is there anything I can get you, Loona?"
Loona was nervous, and it showed a little. She shook her head at him, "N-No. I'm good, Tex."
The male Hellhound moved to leave but looked back over his shoulder one last time at his boss and friend. He didn't say anything and left quickly after. This left Verosika and Loona alone since the shark demon had yet to return from the back of the shop.
Loona rubbed her arm uncertainly before asking, "Why did you want to talk to me?"
Verosika smiled before she smoothly said, "There are a few things that pique my interest about you."
This came as a surprise to the Hellhound. She didn't expect to stand out to the Succubus in any sort of way, just like the time before. So, she asked, "Such as?"
Verosika seemed completely different in demeanor compared to Loona. She seemed so calm and nonchalant in conversing while the usually quick-tempered Hellhound was starstruck. Verosika finally responded, "I am wondering how you ended up where you are. You are my limp-dicked ex's Hellhound, and you help him with his cute little business. That isn't even me bringing up how you managed to befriend some random human that is stuck in Hell."
The euphoria of talking to one of Loona's favorite musical artists started to slowly disappear at this point. There was excitement, but Verosika's verbal interest in Kyle made Loona defensive. There was even a feeling that this meeting wasn't as coincidental as she initially thought. Perhaps that was why Loona could smell that Tex was giving off signals of being on edge earlier.
Loona was in the process of saying something until the shopkeeper from earlier returned from his backroom. He looked at Loona before saying, "I-I believe I might have something for your friend. If you would please follow me into the back…"
This was the friendliest that the shark had been to her up to this point. Instead of thinking too much about it, Loona assumed that he was just nervous about Verosika being in the room. Loona also noted that he was sweating quite a bit, and she also connected this with Verosika.
The Succubus was the one to respond for them both, "Let's see it."
Verosika then began to walk to where the backroom was located. Loona found herself somewhat taken aback by how the Verosika seemed to take charge despite not exactly knowing what she was going to be shown. It was as if she felt like she owned the very store she was walking through. Loona had not really met any demons that acted like this.
Without making any sound in agreement, Loona followed Verosika before making her way through the dark hallway to the back room. She could hardly make out anything in the space, but she could see Verosika's heels on the floor and the shark behind her. That was enough.
Verosika then stopped before moving to the side. Her eyes practically glowed back at Loona, and an impatient look was present on her face as she was now waiting. Loona looked back while the shark nervously stepped around the two to get into the backroom. He was practically shaking at this point, and this made Loona go on edge a little bit. Things did not seem right.
The shark demon looked back before saying, "A-Aren't you two c-coming back here?"
Verosika was about to walk in there before a scent different from all of them caught Loona's nose. She grabbed onto Verosika's shoulder to the confusion of the Succubus. Loona warned her, "Don't. I can sense that something is up."
Before she could make any other move, Loona was faced with a much larger demon before she was thrown back hard into the wall. Pain sprawled through her body as she could feel that she cracked through the wall. Loona then fell to the ground in a daze. Everything had happened so quickly, and she didn't have time to respond.
Loona felt her consciousness slowly slipping away while she laid on the ground. She could see the shadows of other figures surrounding her form. To her side, one of the larger demons grabbed onto Verosika while the Succubus thrashed in his arms. She used her heel to stomp on his foot causing him to muffle out a scream. He smacked her on the head, and she slumped to the ground next to Loona.
Loona heard the yell from the shopkeeper, "Look what you did to my wall!"
A detached male voice responded, "You are getting compensated more than enough! Now that we have the target, what do we do with the other one?"
Loona's vision was darkening, but she managed to catch more talking. The shopkeeper responded, "She seems to know him as well. She could be important."
The was a pause before a response, "Bring her, too. We can use them both…"
Loona's vision completely darkened, and she didn't hear another thing. She didn't even feel her body being plucked off the ground and dragged somewhere else. The question was whether they were after her or Verosika. How did this happen?
A Couple of Hours Later…
Loona's head was killing her beyond a simple hangover. Her eyes fluttered open slowly while she got a grasp of consciousness once again. She found herself strewn across a concrete floor that was dimly lit by a single light coming in through the bars. Wait, bars…
Slowly, Loona picked herself up from the ground to find that she was in a caged area similar to what she lived at the Hellhound adoption shelter. It wasn't too cramped of a space, and it even fit with a single bed and even a chair. On the bed was the familiar form of an already awake Verosika. She looked completely miserable while she stared up at the ceiling.
While she continued to rub her head, Loona asked, "What happened?"
Verosika spat back, "What does it fucking look like? We are sitting in a cage." She then got up from the bed before she narrowed her gaze at Loona. She then said, "I thought you hounds had a better sense of danger. Simply pathetic."
Barely even awake at this point, Loona had figured out what happened to them. They were jumped by a bunch of goons, and that asshole of a shark probably paid off to lure them in. Not only that, but Loona was no longer enamored with Verosika. Her instant pointing of fingers pissed off the Hellhound.
Loona growled out, "What the fuck is that supposed to mean?"
Verosika folded her arms with an irritated look, "Could you not tell that it was a trap before we were attacked? Could you not use your brutish strength to fight back? It is because of you that I am now stuck in this cage to be ransomed off to some lowlife!" The Succubus pointed her sharp-nailed finger at the Hellhound in an accusatory manner.
Loona took a threatening step forward. Her idolization of Verosika came crashing down immediately as the Succubus showed some of her true colors. Loona seethed out, "Watch yourself. I won't hesitate to rip you a new one."
This caused Verosika to look back mockingly, "Really? I very much doubt that. Now, be a good mutt and keep that temper under control. I know that your kind has an especially difficult time following simple commands like that."
Loona shot back whilst baring her teeth, "Oh, yeah?! We should have no problem getting out since your kind jumps on any disease-ridden dick. There should be more than enough for you to completely smother yourself in cu-"
It was back in Verosika's court before Loona even finished her words, "My, my, you have a lot of bark. I shouldn't be surprised since you are Blitzo's little dog." Loona clenched her jaw shut while she held back an outburst. It wasn't until the lust demon continued that the Hellhound snapped, "What's the matter? Can't think of anything else clever to say? This is why you are at the bottom of Hell's hierarchy. You are all a bunch of animals."
Loona kicked the single chair so hard that it exploded once it hit the wall. Her rage-filled eyes stared out at the space the chair once was while she took deep breaths. At this point, she would have preferred to deal with Moxxie's insufferable lecturing than deal with Verosika at this point.
A yell came out from the hall, "Shut it in there!"
Verosika screamed back, "Do you know who I am?! You can't keep me locked up here!"
The voice yelled back, "I don't care! Shut it before I make you!"
It appeared as if Verosika was about to snap back with something clever, but Loona grabbed onto the Succubus's shoulder. The anger on her face was replaced by one of conviction and seriousness. Loona said, "We can't spend our time here arguing, and that means with me or them. Got it?!" Verosika folded her arms in an irritated way. However, she didn't say anything back. Loona continued in a quieter voice, "Good. Now, how do we get out of here?"
Verosika scoffed, "No cell service, so it isn't like we can call anyone to help us. It isn't like any of my group would be that helpful. Their skills involve using their hands for other things besides breaking down bars and fighting. Vortex would be better, but he is better at intimidating."
Loona checked her phone to see that Verosika was indeed correct. There was no service, and that meant that they were likely on their own. Loona muttered to herself, "Shit…"
To the side, Verosika was still venting some of her frustrations, "On your side, our options would be even worse. Blitzo would rather run off and abandon the two of us since he is a sad, little freak who always managed to let me down!" Verosika's voice seemed to get louder while her anger increased. Loona knew there was a beef between the two. Of course, that was obvious from the day at the beach as well. For her to still get this angry… It must have been really bad.
Verosika calmed down and then said, "Those other two don't seem like they would do shit without Blitzo's consent. That leaves the human, Kyle. I'm sorry, but I don't think he is sticking his neck out for either of us."
This caught Loona's attention before she asked in a stark manner, "And why's that?"
Verosika explained, "Oh, please. At first, I thought that he was an interesting demon. Sure, he might still be interesting, but he is interesting to me in a different way than before. Like every human, he would have done something to end up here as a Sinner. I know how depraved they all are deep down, and he isn't different. I have met enough to know that."
Loona got a little more upset, "If I remember correctly, didn't he save you and your little group from having to suck a ton of pig dick when you were caught at the beach. Well, that is at least what Blitz was yelling at him about. That isn't something he would exaggerate. He didn't have to do any of that, you know?"
Verosika mockingly flicked her hair before stating, "Whatever. He was probably just looking to get a favor in return or something. It was probably the first time he was around a famous demon. No human can resist induced sexual feelings from a Succubus."
Loona growled out, "It is such a waste of time arguing with you about this. He is different from all the Sinners I've had the displeasure of meeting. He has treated me differently than anyone else has."
A knowing smirk found its way onto Verosika's lips, "It seems that little human has gotten you wrapped around his little finger. You might think he is special, but he will remain like the rest to me."
Verosika had spoken in a sort of tone that seemed to resonate in Loona's ear. It took her a couple of seconds of silence to finally piece together the small undertone that she was hearing. It was jealousy. Loona responded with a question, "Then why did interrupt Tex and me earlier? You were looking for something, and it wasn't me."
This caused Verosika to freeze for a moment. She didn't expect that kind of response from the Hellhound. The question seemed direct and collected. The Succubus had imagined that the Hellhound would have thrown another tantrum. Verosika could even feel her face grow a little hot around the cheeks, but she wasn't going to show that to Loona.
Verosika said, "None of them are going to help up. The best thing we can do is sit and wait to see what our captors want with me. Greedy fuckers probably just want a little payday."
None of that sat well with Loona. It could have been the influence of Blitzo, or maybe of the rest of I.M.P., but sitting around like a damn damsel in distress wasn't her style. She was going to get out of there. Loona spoke, "We need to get out of here. None of our colleagues and friends can find us. That doesn't mean I am going to sit on my ass staring at the wall."
"What can you possibly do? You don't seem even close to capable enough compared to Tex, and I don't see him thinking of a way out of here."
Loona was going to argue back, but then light talking managed to catch her ear. From what she could tell, it was a guarding rotation for the two of them. She couldn't put faces with the voices, but she could barely hear what they were saying:
Guard 2, "No fucking way! You are telling me that Verosika Mayday is in there?!"
Guard 1, "Yep, but don't get distracted by her. We are going to be leaving this shithole any moment for the Gluttony Ring. Having her is just icing on the cake. Remember, our main priority is-"
Before Loona could hear any more, Verosika was talking again, "Are you going to answer me? You aren't hard of hearing, are you?"
Loona growled out, "Shut it! I am trying to hear what they are saying."
The Hellhound listened in once again, but it was futile. The two outside of the room were done talking. All that she could hear now was the footsteps of the first guard walking away from them. Loona mumbled, "Fuck…"
Verosika seemed interested, "Are you going to share what you are so pissed off about now?"
Loona offhandedly said after a sigh, "If you didn't interrupt me, I probably would know why we are here. All I know is that one of them is a fan of yours."
This seemed to bring some pride to Verosika. She responded with, "Who isn't nowadays? The only demons who don't know my name are sad losers. Everyone wants a piece of me."
Something clicked in Loona's mind after Verosika said that. Everyone wants a piece of me. That resonated in Loona's mind while a plan was formulated in her mind. To get out of here, she needed to get the guard's attention and get him in the cage. To do that, she would need some good bait…
Loona folded her arms while a smirk formed on her lips. She looked over to Verosika and this seemed to perplex the Succubus. Loona said, "Everyone wants a piece of you, huh? You mind doing a small thing for me then?"
This didn't sit well with Verosika, "What?"
"Seduce the guard."
It seemed like Verosika took great offense to the idea, "What?! I am not going to act as some floozy just for your entertainment!"
Loona responded matter-of-factly, "You are doing it so that we can get out of her, dumbass. You can lure the guard in here, and then we can overpower him and make our escape. We need his attention, and who better to get it than the celebrity he seems to like." Verosika was about to respond, and Loona cut her off with one more thought, "It is our only choice seeing as no one else will come for us."
There was anger from Verosika's own words being used against her. She then hissed out, "Fine." She then walked up to the bars while looking at Loona through the side of her eyes. She finally made it to the bars, grabbed onto one of them, and spoke with a sultry voice, "Hey, guard. Do you mind coming in here?"
Loona pinched the bridge of her nose while saying to herself, "Are you fucking kidding me? You are going to just ask him?"
Verosika glared back as she managed to hear the Hellhound while a response rang out, "S-S-Sorry. No can do, M-Ms. Mayday. I was told not to t-talk to you." His voice was anxious from the sounds of it.
As expected, this didn't dissuade Verosika in any sort of way. She continued, "Come on. It is boring in here. What do you expect when you leave me with a Hellhound? I am sure you will do more than enough to soothe my boredom." Loona growled out, but she wasn't that ticked off by the comment. Anything said to get that guy in here, she was willing to put up with it.
There wasn't a response for a second, and neither Verosika nor Loona knew if she had any effect. Then, a shadowed form started to come around a corner until a shorter, skinny shark demon looked into the room. He seemed nervous since he was now ignoring commands from superiors. He began to say, "W-W-What?"
Seeing as he was now interested in the bait, Verosika began to kick it up a notch. She needed to hook this guy. She began to do a little seductive dance while she played with the bars. She said, "Come on, tough guy. Don't you want to have a little fun? I promise that I don't bite…" She then smirked before saying, "Much."
He slowly began to approach the bars before he said, "I-I don't think that is a good idea."
"Oh? So, you are a little nervous." Verosika pressed her chest against the bars which allowed her breasts to push through the open gaps. The shark loudly swallowed from this, and Verosika continued, "You are still watching over us, and you can keep an eye on my hound here, so she doesn't do any funny business."
"I-I-"
Verosika pulled back, "Well, the option remains open. I would just love to pass the time with a little harmless fun."
After that sentence, both captives could tell that there was an immediate change in his demeanor. They knew that Verosika's words had hooked him while he backpedaled for the key. He spoke, "O-Okay, but your Hellhound goes into the opposite corner and looks to the wall."
Verosika licked her lips, "Self-conscious, I see."
The guard said nothing as he tried to keep himself from chickening out. He grabbed the key and continuously held onto his pistol while he worked on getting the lock opened. His gaze was fixed on Loona for a moment as he waited for her to comply. Verosika also looked over when she noticed that she hadn't moved from her position.
Loona rolled her eyes before she turned around and walked over to the opposing wall. The shark spoke over, "I am watching you, over there."
The only response he got was a loud snarl while he slowly opened the gate. He barely got into the space before Verosika's soft hands were all over him in an alluring way. The shark was timid initially as he had no way of knowing how to respond to her immediate advances. Verosika kept it rather loose between them while she tried to take his attention away from Loona and focused on her. It didn't seem to be working.
It seemed like something clicked within his head as his actions immediately became bolder. To the surprise of Verosika, his own hands then began to wander a little more than she was comfortable with, despite being the one to initiate this. Verosika was about to protest his hands groping around her body, but his mouth connected with hers in a messy kiss.
Verosika looked over with pleading eyes to Loona. The Hellhound saw this and growled while trying to make a move away from the wall. This action caused the shark demon to raise his weapon at her while he continued to do what he was doing. Loona put up her hands in a disarming manner while she looked over with a pissed expression. Things had failed catastrophically.
Verosika was pushed back into the cage while the shark's roaming hand continued to feel up her body. It moved from her legs up to her ass, which was given a hard squeeze. Verosika closed her eyes while she tried to turn away, but his mouth never parted with her own. Soon, she found his hands began to wander upward until he gave one of her breasts a grip.
It was then that she acted out of impulse. Her claws slashed at his face causing him to barely move away from her. The surprise on his face was quickly replaced by a look of fury. He forced her into the cage once again before yelling, "What the fu-"
He didn't even get to finish his sentence before Loona bounded across the room and thrust his face against the bars. A sickening crunch radiated from the shark while several teeth clattered against the ground. He didn't even get to respond before Loona turned him over and mauled him. The blood was quick to pool beneath the two of them as she used her claws and teeth to rip him apart. His screams were soon muffled by the fluids he choked on giving satisfaction to the two girls.
Once the screaming ceased, Loona slowly got off his body while she tried to clean herself up. The shark's black blood was easy to see on her white fur, and even some of it continued to drip down from her hands and mouth. She couldn't help but comment in disgust, "Ugh. This is going to be a bitch to clean off."
The whimpering from the other captive captured Loona's ears. Soon, she looked over to Verosika to see that she was in a sorry state. Tears threatened to leave her eyes while she hugged her knees. Loona's annoyance turned to one of worry. She asked, "Woah. Are you okay? The bastard is dead." She kicked him in the foot to elicit a limp response from the corpse. She said, "See."
Verosika finally exploded while glaring with hatred at Loona, "Why did you make me do that?!"
Loona backed up a little at the sudden outburst. She put up her hands before saying, "Hey, it was the only thing I could think up to get us out of here." She began to dig around the corpse and found the keys to the cage. Additionally, she grabbed the pistol and a few magazines. There was also a knife on his body. Loona continued, "It seemed to have worked out well enough."
This seemed to only make Verosika even more furious. However, her voice was contained as she continued to speak with fury, "And that makes everything he did to me alright?" Loona's ears lowered a little as she began to listen. Verosika then let out a harsh sigh before saying, "You are like everyone else. You think that us demons from the Lust Ring are all nymphomaniacs. Because of where we come from, we must love sex no matter how we receive it because that is just how we are, that we are incapable of love." Verosika sharpened the word 'daddy'. She let out a hallow laugh before adding, "Everyone thinks that, especially your fucking daddy when he decided to runoff leaving me to pay for the hotel room before he stole my car and ran three rings to Wrath while max my credit cards on shitty horse-riding lessons."
A tear sneakily made its way down Verosika's cheek. She continued to glare, "I was just another tool for him to pleasure himself from. It didn't matter how much I… how much I…" The last words refused to make it beyond her lips while they quivered in rage.
Loona remained motionless while she processed the little information, she learned from Verosika. It was obvious to the Hellhound that she used the Succubus in a shitty way. Also, she learned a little about Blitzo's relationship with Verosika. It was obvious to her that there were actually feelings that she once held for him. Now, it was just anger. She had loved him despite what Blitzo had told her.
Anger began to replace Loona's features when she began to see a problem. She took a threatening step toward the Succubus, "What about me?!"
This confused Verosika. She looked back with an incredulous look, "What?"
Loone pointed out, "You keep talking about how your kind isn't anything like the rumors, but you also talk shit about mine. You keep treating me and Tex like we are nothing but dirt beneath your little heels. You think that we need to be controlled because we are no better than beasts. You believe that we are ruled by instincts. Well, I'm fucking sorry that I wasn't born into such high esteem like you!" Loona visibly seethed. Her teeth were now showing before she said, "That isn't even including the shit you spouted about my friend!"
Both Verosika and Loona had a stare-down. Neither wavered as they began to process what each of them had said to the other. It wasn't until they got a look at their surroundings before their faces relaxed. They found themselves reflecting on their words and actions. Loona saw that she should have thought of a different way to get the guard in the cage, while Verosika realized that her frustrations and animosity toward Blitzo had gotten the better of her, and she had taken it out on Loona. Neither one of them was in the right, but neither one of them wanted to be the first to admit fault.
Finally, Loona bit her tongue begrudgingly before she turned to Verosika. She said, "Look, I am not going to pretend what happened was okay. It was a shitty plan, and it only happened because I looked at you like everyone in Hell would, like some dick-crazed popstar." Verosika's gaze narrowed at Loona. This caused the Hellhound to hurry up with what she wanted to say next, "I guess that I am, well, I guess that I am sorry for all of that. I have no excuses for how I treated you."
Loona was surprised by the words that had left her mouth. While it wasn't the most well-said, an apology like that was completely foreign to her. She didn't think she would go through her life making a single, heartfelt apology, but here she was. She couldn't have imagined herself doing something like this a few months ago, before Kyle.
A small smile formed on her lips when she thought about him. Shit was messed up here, but she was managing as well as she could. A part of her knew that he probably would have come up with a better plan. Loona didn't even realize that she was speaking that last part, "Satan knows that Kyle would have come up with a better plan…"
"You really think highly of him, don't you?" It appeared as if this had caught the attention of the Succubus. Loona looked over with surprise before Verosika clarified by stating, "The human, he means a lot to you."
Loona nodded, "He is different from anyone I have ever known. He is the first non-Hellhound that doesn't treat me like some beast. Even Blitz, with his constant annoying of me, doesn't quite do that. I couldn't care less that he is a human anymore. He is my best friend."
Loona couldn't quite tell, but Verosika had this kind of experience with the human. It wasn't the demon part that quite got to her. Instead, she thought about the actions that he took for her during Spring Break. She hadn't been treated like that in quite some time, and she didn't think a human of all things would be the one to treat her like that. It warmed her up thinking about it.
She finally expressed, "Yeah, I guess he is different in a good way." Her attention became a little more serious as she felt like it was her turn to share, "You Hellhounds aren't that different, after all. I guess I shouldn't have said all those mean things about you. I guess I can be a real bitch."
Well, there wasn't really a 'sorry' in there, but it was probably the best that Verosika was going to do. That was something that Loona was going to have to live with. Seeing as they were still in the cage, they were a long way from freedom. That meant the two still had work to do, and other things to focus on.
With a quick nod, Loona fumbled around to look for something she took off the dead guy. She said, "We can deal with all this touchy-feely shit later. We still need to get out of here. That means we are going to have to kick some kidnapper ass." She finally found it before she handed over the small blade to the Succubus. Verosika looked at it with wide eyes before Loona resumed, "I can't take all of them on by myself. I know you don't have much experience in killing, but can you do it now? I need you."
Verosika barely hesitated before she gave a brief nod. Loona smirked before she used the keys to open the door to the cage. Step one of the escape was complete. They still had a lot to deal with. Loona stated, "Good. Let's get going."
A few moments later…
The duo had managed to slip through a few of the hallways and darkness. They had managed to stay out of sight for the entire escape, and they had yet to be discovered in terms of not being in their cell. Loona wanted to get as far through this place as she possibly could without arousing suspicion. When they made it to a large, open space with a lot of containers, she was finally able to figure out that they were in some warehouse. Other than that, she had no clue where they were.
It was here that they had made it as far as they could make without running into any of the guards. In the room had to be six to eight of them gathered around a table playing some cards. They weren't even aware that their prisoners had escaped not too long ago. For whatever reason, their escape didn't seem plausible to them.
Loona and Verosika moved quietly around the room until they managed to get behind a wooden container. The chatter was hard to make out as it echoed off the far-away surfaces in the room. Loona motioned for Verosika to keep quiet and stay low, she then gazed over their cover to see that there was an exit on the other side of the room. Sadly, there wasn't a really good way for them to make it there without being seen by their captors.
After ducking back down, Loona looked at Verosika with a displeased expression. Verosika asked, "What?"
Loona began to check the amount of ammo she carried before saying, "We are going to have to fight our way out of here."
A bit of color drained from Verosika's face as she thought of alternatives, "What about finding another way out of here?"
Loona shook her head, "We don't have time for that. They don't know that we are gone, and that might not last."
Verosika said, "Must we handle this so dramatically? I get that those little Imps you hang seem to resort to such measures, but do we-"
Loona placed her hand on Verosika's shoulder in a comforting manner. Things had seemingly warmed up between the two of them since Verosika didn't even spend time insulting Moxxie, Millie, or even Blitzo. This was noticed by Loona. She wanted to calm down the Succubus.
"Look, I get that this shit can be a bit scary. If I could think of another way out of here, I would do that. Sure, I.M.P. might be the reason that I am fine with doing this. That doesn't change the fact that I need you here with me to help. Do you think you can do that?"
Verosika let out a few stressful breaths. She wasn't used to fighting random demons. She was used to going to parties, performing on stage, and taking advantage of the best that Hell had to offer. Being thrust into this situation was completely new to her. It was terrifying. However, she couldn't shrink away from it now. She was relying on this Hellhound, and she needed to help her if she had any chance of escaping.
Finally, Verosika nodded. Loona smirked, "Good. Then, let's kick some ass."
Loona didn't even spend another thought before she peered back over the crates. She didn't spend any time aiming the pistol before pulling the trigger multiple times. The gun rang out loudly for the two of them. On the other end, the first few bullets managed to impact a few of the demons, putting an end to their existence. The ones who were not hit were put into a panic.
It took a moment before gunfire was returned, and Loona was forced back into cover. The ammo in her pistol was exhausted, and she was forced to seek her cover once again. Verosika was handling the situation a little worse as she curled up with the knife that Loona gave her earlier in her clutches. There wasn't much that she could do in a gunfight.
Loona turned around and glanced at her. She managed to restrain the stress in her voice, "Watch my back. We don't want one of them sneaking up on us."
The Succubus nodded shakily before Loona continued to gaze out whenever she could. The gunfire from the sharks seemed to be more persistent than that from the Hellhound. It seemed like they had an endless supply of bullets. Still, Loona managed to shoot a few times here and there. Sometimes they would hit, and that would be another one of them down for the count. This went on for a few minutes.
Unbeknownst to the two, one of the sharks had a different tactic in mind. He slowly went from cover to cover with the hope of sneaking up on the two. While the others in his group didn't seem concerned with the worth of their captives, he was still looking forward to the massive payday that their client had offered. That meant he couldn't simply kill them.
He was finally behind the last cover to his destination, but he had to wait for the current volley of fire to end before he could take the two on. A large, toothy grin appeared on his face while he stalked the two. One of them was rather nervous, and the other more capable of them was distracted by his buddies. This was going to be far too easy.
He finally got his moment, and he sprinted out of his cover and rushed the two. Verosika noticed him quickly approaching but froze up from the terror of his larger form rushing her. Loona's ear flicked around, and she turned around to shoot him. However, she didn't even get a chance to do anything before the gun to knocked away. His fist then impacted her head putting her into a daze.
That was when the guy looked over to Verosika with a smile before he jumped on her. This was when Verosika began to struggle against his hold, but he was stronger than she was. It felt like things were going to carry on similarly like they had when she was in the cage earlier. He was free to inflict his will upon her, and she felt hopeless.
Something seemed to click in her mind. Verosika looked at him with vehemence before thinking, 'No, things won't be the same this time.'
Her grasp on the knife tightened before she plunged it directly into his gut. He let out a surprised grunt before looking down at the blade rooted into his stomach. He grunted once again as the blade was pulled out resulting in blood dripping from the wound. His grip on her didn't decrease, so Verosika thrust it forward once again causing him to yelp out.
She continued this action many times, repeatedly. It could have been easily a dozen or two that she stabbed it into him. His grunts turned to ones that sounded more like cries. Tears formed in his eyes as he rolled off Verosika, and onto the ground where his blood would form around him.
Verosika, now coated in some of his blood, seemed to be a little different from before. She was no longer quivering in fear. Instead, a fire burned in her eyes. The relief in her built up once she realized that she wouldn't be a victim anymore. Then, she looked over to Loona, and the fire died down to be replaced with worry.
She rushed over to Loona, who picked herself slowly off the ground. She rubbed her head while letting out some whimpers. Verosika asked, "Loona! Are you okay?"
Loona nodded slowly, "Yeah, I should be good." She managed to look around at Verosika's blood-covered form. She then saw the corpse on the ground not that far away. She added with an impressed inflection, "Seems like you dealt with him easily enough."
Verosika was about to respond, but the clicking of empty weapons interrupted the two. This was the moment the two had been waiting for. This was no longer a fight with guns. It was going to be a little more of an even fight from this point on.
The sound of unsheathing knives and footsteps spread from the other side of their cover. They approached slowly, and Loona listened for the best moment to attack. It was a small thing that she had picked up on when she watched Millie training Kyle. Picking when her battles took place and controlling the pace. That was how they were going to win.
Suddenly, Loona leaped from her cover and mauled the closest shark within her reach. It didn't take long before her teeth tore through his throat. Blood sprayed from the wound, and the demon's only reaction to this sudden attack was shock and panic.
To the side, the other guy whipped around to deal with Loona, but he was stabbed in the side by a charging Verosika. Her form wasn't exactly that good, and her grip on the knife faltered when it got stuck in his ribs. He roared out in pain before turning to Verosika with a vengeful expression. He took a few steps toward the retreating Succubus but didn't make it any further before Loona pounced on him.
It was a surprise to the two of them to find out that this was the last of their abductors. This meant that there was finally time to get some much-needed information. Loona was going to be slow in doing this. She asked, "Alright, motherfucker. Why did you abduct us?"
Verosika added, "What did you want from me?"
The shark spat back in anger, "Fuck you, bimbos!"
Loona didn't even hesitate in twisting the knife that was in his side. He held back his yells while Loona waited for a response. She asked, "Still, nothing? Fine." She then pulled the knife out before sticking it into his shoulder up to the hilt. He let out a cry before Loona asked, "You mind saying something now?"
He spoke in a panic since he was done with the minimal torture, "W-We weren't ever after you! We only wanted the Hellhound!"
Verosika's eyes shot wide open while Loona recoiled in surprise. What could they possibly want from her? No… there was someone behind all of this. Someone paid them to get her. So, Loona tightened her grip on the knife before growling out, "Why?! Who hired you?!"
Fear filled the demon's eyes, and it wasn't because of her. He shook his head before saying, "I don't care what you do with me. I am not saying another word."
Loona didn't even spend another second thinking over her next actions. She pulled the knife out and swiftly cut the guy's throat wide open. He only let out a small, surprised yelp before he went completely quiet. Loona slowly stood up before she allowed the tension in her body to relax a little. All of this had finally come to an end. They were free to finally leave.
Verosika asked critically, "You didn't even want to try and get something else out of him? He was probably lying, you know?"
After shaking her head, Loona said, "I don't think so. He seemed scared shitless, and it wasn't because of me." Loona then looked around at the mess one last time before saying, "Let's get out of here. I doubt the fuckers who paid these assholes are going to wait around while we escape."
With that, the two walked toward the exit and opened the door to be greeted by the darkened atmosphere of another night on the Pride Ring. They must have been gone for hours. It didn't seem like they were that far away from where they had been initially taken from.
Loona then fumbled through her pockets to look at her phone. The service down here was still shit, but at least she had a bar of connection. With a sigh, she searched through her contacts until 'Blitzo' was present on her screen. Knowing that he was probably worried about her, she was about to call him. However, she thought it over before she scrolled down to Kyle's contact. She didn't even hesitate before pressing the 'call' button.
Later…
Loona and Verosika had already walked a distance away from their prison. The two had received a few looks from other demons out on the streets, but they were swiftly ignored after that. It was Hell, after all. Instead, they decided to rest for a moment with one another before their little groups arrived.
It didn't take long for the erratically driven van that Loona was so familiar with rounded a corner. Surprisingly, another vehicle was following closely behind it. Based on Verosika's perking up, it was one that she was familiar with. A few moments later, Loona was greeted by a concerned Kyle and Blitzo while Tex exited the other vehicle with Verosika's posse. Right on the sidewalk was where they decided to have their little scene. The loudest, and most emotional of the group wasn't anyone on Verosika's side. Instead, it was Blitzo.
He beamed at Loona, "Look at you! I am so proud of you, Loony! Covered in blood, killing some randos, I would have almost thought that you were ready to join us more during assignments." His emotions then became one of disappointment, "Actually, I am a little disappointed that you allowed any of this to happen. You should be more careful when I am not around, especially around that Hellhound and WHORE!" He yelled the last part while looking over to Verosika. All she did was give him the finger while her group glared at the Imp. Blitzo ignored them before folding his arms and saying, "So, no 'good girl' to you."
Loona responded with an emotionless stare and even voice, "Great. I really care about that."
It seemed like Blitzo was holding a front, and it immediately crumbled the moment he looked back at his disinterested adopted daughter. He then brought her into a tight hug, "Oh, who am I kidding? You did so great, Loony! I am so proud of you! So, good girl!"
Loona growled out at the affection he was showing her. Despite everything that had happened today, this was probably her least favorite moment. A little part of her did enjoy knowing the fact that he cared for her. However, he always treated her like some puppy that was in danger of constantly getting hurt. That pissed her off.
Blitzo then pulled away before saying, "Now, I am going to give M&M a call to let them know that we found you. Millie was bothering the hell out of me about it." The little knowledge gave Loona the smallest of smiles before Blitzo continued, "Besides, I have no desire to be in the same place as that bitch. Rookie, watch her."
With a momentary glance over to Verosika, Loona watched how she interacted with Tex. From what she could see, the larger Hellhound was rather shameful for allowing her to get nabbed. He carried a pretty unusual sadness, but the circumstances were equally so. The difference was how Verosika seemed to talk to him. Her demeanor toward her bodyguard was completely different from before. She didn't seem as authoritative over him, and her voice carried a little more warmth despite Loona not being able to hear the conversation. Tex and her posse seemed to have noticed the difference in their stunned expressions. It appeared to Loona that their little time together had brought some changes.
"It looks like you had quite the day." Loona swiftly looked over at the human beside her. Kyle's eyes scanned over the blood-covered fur and darker-stained clothing. He looked over at her with a reserved sort of concern. He asked, "Are you doing alright?"
Loona brushed off the question, "It isn't that big of a deal. It is going to take the longest shower to get all this shit out of my-"
Without much of a warning, Kyle brought Loona into a tight hug. Loona was surprised by the action and was even more so that he didn't seem bothered by the disgusting state that her fur was in. However, it seemed like just the type of comfort that she could use in her exhaustive state. He didn't even break from her when he said, "I am sorry that I couldn't be there to help you. Vortex called Blitz and me when he couldn't find you or Verosika. We dealt with that shopkeeper, but he wouldn't give up anything on where you were taken."
Loona tried to separate from him after ample time of hugging as her cheeks became encased in warmth, but he seemed to hold on a little tighter. This shocked Loona since she didn't realize that her disappearance would have such an affect on him. He always seemed to be reserved in showing deep emotion, but he was doing so right now. He continued with a shakier voice, "I know that you can take care of yourself, but I still worried about what happened to you. I couldn't imagine have imagined what I would do if something were to happen to you."
Loona managed to pull away enough to get a good look at his face. He wasn't at risk of letting out a few tears, but he was definitely distressed by the evidence of everything else. Her eyes were wide at this response. She wasn't used to anyone ever caring like that, and it filled her chest with an addictively reinvigorating feeling. She could only utter out, "Thank you for caring about me."
A warm smile spread across Kyle's lips before he brought her into the hug once again. After a few seconds, Loona separated from him and felt awkward with the emotions spiraling within her mind and body. She decided to respond by focusing the discussion elsewhere to distract herself from her own emotions, "Still, It wasn't anything that Verosika and I couldn't handle. For a demon like her, she managed to do well enough. She even saved my ass. Stabbed the dude to death."
He responded with a surprised look, "Really? She doesn't seem like the type that would do something like that."
Loona looked over at Verosika, who seemed to dismiss her little group back to their car. She began to approach the two of them now. Loona responded to Kyle, "Yeah, well the bitch has some fight in her. She surprised me."
Verosika finally made it to the two before she said, "What? Not going to check up on me? I went through the same thing that she did." While the words were flirtatious sounding, they weren't nearly as sexually charged as before from their first encounters.
Kyle let out an amused huff before he approached her and placed his hand on her shoulder in a comforting way. He said, "Loona told me that you did your part and even saved her, so thank you. I am also happy to hear that you are okay. If you ever need anything, don't be afraid to reach out to me. I owe you that much for what you did for Loona."
The confidence that Verosika had been oozing out moments before had evaporated and was replaced with a feeling of confusion. She wasn't confused entirely by his actions, but rather by his bluntness. She always loved being appreciated and adored by her fans, but she felt different from this. A warm, cozy feeling overcame her before she managed to say, "Wow. I didn't expect that… Thanks."
"No problem." Kyle pulled away and noticed that the atmosphere between the three of them had gone completely quiet. Because of this, he decided to give the two some space, "Well, you seemed to have come over here for a reason. I am going to leave you two to it."
Kyle began to walk away, and Loona became curious as to what Verosika wanted to say. She didn't have to wait long before the Succubus broke the worry by saying, "That guy is more interesting than any human I have ever seen."
Loona looked around at him before saying, "Definitely. Wait, didn't you earlier say that-"
Verosika rolled her eyes playfully, "Yeah, I remember what I said about him. I was just being a bitch because I was stuck in a cage. It reminded me of rehab all over again." Verosika's smile broadened, "Also, you better lock that down before some other girl gets a chance to." Loona panicked a little before she made a move to rebuke, but she never even got an opportunity. Verosika added, "I can see it all over your face, so don't even. Just letting you know."
Loona's eyes connected with Verosika's for a few seconds as a knowing look was shared between the two. The Hellhound's eyes narrowed at the challenge, but she didn't say anything that might sour the mood since that didn't seem to be the intent behind Verosika's words. Loona alternatively folded her arms before apprehensively asking, "Was that all you wanted to say?"
"Nope." Verosika took a step closer before she held out a small piece of paper. Loona took it and instantly recognized it to be a phone number. The Succubus said, "I just wanted to give you that as a parting gift. Don't worry if that feckless boss of yours takes that away from you, I will be following you on Sinstagram. While that human is interesting, you shouldn't cut yourself short. You are definitely the most impressive Hellhound I have ever met. After everything, I am happy that I got this chance with you."
Loona looked at the number before saying, "I-I-"
Verosika grabbed onto Loona's hands before saying, "Don't treat me like some idol. You can consider us friends now." Loona blushed at the contact before Verosika added, "Next time, let's get together for some shopping. That would beat being covered in this."
Loona blinked a few times and nodded before saying calmly and calmly, "Yeah, yeah. That would be cool with me." Despite her success in hiding her true emotions, she was freaking out on the inside. Sure, after everything, Loona views Verosika differently than she had earlier. She was still a freaking pop star, and that wasn't anything to blink at.
With that, Verosika departed from Loona before saying, "Talk to you later. It is time for me to get out of here."
Verosika began to walk away before Loona said, "Yeah… Umm, bye." A smile from the pop star was returned before she got into her vehicle. They then drove away quickly, and Loona was left alone on the sidewalk.
Today had been a complete mess, but Loona was pleased by how things had turned out. With a positive spin on things, Loona had managed to blow off some steam and gain a new friend. Things were rapidly changing for her. She wouldn't even say that she had a friend a few months ago, but now she had at least three. It isn't anything big, but it was a world of difference to someone like her. All of this because of a human dropping into the office one day.
Then, there was the more troublesome part of the day. Loona then began to ponder the kidnapping itself. Why did they go after her of all demons? She was just another Hellhound. Were they hired by someone who wanted to get even with Blitzo? There were a lot of demons out there that were probably pissed off at the Imp. No, that didn't fit. Maybe it was about the book they used to get to the human world? Again, that didn't feel right. Why go after them now?
Her thoughts then turned to Kyle. Knowledge of a human in Hell was rather new still, and not everyone was happy with it, especially those at the top. Instead of having an opportunity to think about it more, Loona was interrupted by Blitzo's yelling, "Let's get on the road, Loony Toony! We have shit to do, and heads to roll tomorrow!"
Loona let out a displeased growl before she turned around and walked to the van. She wasn't going to get the answers she wanted from sitting around. Maybe it would be best to bring this up Kyle, and much to her future annoyance, probably with Blitzo as well. Yeah, that was probably a good idea. However, all of that could happen later. She could use a little break after everything.
Well, that is it.
BEFORE YOU GO, IMPORTANT NOTE: Semester is wrapping up for me. Despite retaining a high GPA though through the first 3 semesters, this semester has gone shit. I hate my classes. Despite this, I have an obligation to see it through to the end and pass my classes. After it, I am graduating with my Master's and will forever be done with school (job next, yay...). That means I won't have my attention entirely on the story these coming weeks. I will still write when I can, though.
On top of that, I also want to let you all know that I am taking a personal trip overseas for a couple weeks from mid-May to the beginning of June. With all of that, there is a likely chance that Chapter 13 doesn't come out until June. That is a long time to wait, and I want to let you all know so you don't think I am abandoning the story. Even if Chapter 13 gets released before then, that means Chapter 14 will take a while. I will still be open to respond to Reviews/PMs from account-holders. Just a note to all of you.
As for the next couple chapters, they will be a 2-parter. Once again focusing on Kyle, and what he has to deal with. Everything is planned out for them. I hope it will be enjoyable for you all. As for the Harvest Moon Chapter (which I know a lot of you are anticipating) is happening for Chapter 15 and 16. Yes, it will also be a 2-parter as I hope to expand that content drastically. It has an intriguing opportunity to take advantage of, and I don't want to miss it. That is all I will say about that.
If you are enjoying the story, I implore you to favorite, follow, and/or review for the story. I very much enjoy hearing and seeing all that good stuff from you guys. I am always happy to answer questions as well. I am good at responding to named reviews, too. I have not release date for the next chapter, you will just have to wait and see.
Now, if anyone is interested, I am going to leave the discord channel code available to any of you. I usually ask for small details, and some ideas are discussed with others on what I should do with the story. You can even just chat with others in it. I don't really fucking care, it is available to you below if you want in.
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INVITE CODE: 8RT9hC5Aau
That is all I have to give!
Until Next Time,
Forsvaret-Komandir