Chapter 64: Sunday Candy
The sun rose on another beautiful Sunday morning in Huntsville. The air was cool and the atmosphere calm with many either using the day of rest to…well, rest. Others of deep religious doctrine were getting ready for a another day of worship in their local church.
For the head of the Bizzell household, it was the former. He lay in bed snoozing peacefully after yesterday's shopping trip followed by a wonderful dinner with his homestays and Cheryl. Naturally, he was exhausted afterwards and decided to sleep since it was one of those days he "needed" to. He lay under the comforter, his t-shirt and underwear lying on the floor bed. He stirred a bit hearing the birds outside chirping unconsciously moving his hand.
He feels a pleasantly warm and soft material, almost like a shag carpet before transitioning to smooth, firm but springy sensation against his pal. Breathy, low sigh could be heard, but not from his mouth, before his curious hand happened upon a firm, round slightly squishy form prompting him to instinctively squeeze it.
"~Ahh~", came a familiar moan.
Caleb's eyes flutter open, met by the beautiful amber eyes of his half-asleep, fully naked werewolf girlfriend snuggled up to him.
"Morning, Chief." Lyca said, giving him a smile with a light blush on her face.
Caleb gives smiles back, "Mornin, Fuzzy."
"Heh, I see you're energetic this morning.", Lyca remarks with a lustful smirk.
It was then Caleb realized his right hand had drifted to where it was gently squeezing the She-wolf's shapely toned ass cheek, making her bite lip in anticipation.
"Huh, I even guess 'unconscious me' wanted to appreciate these lovely thighs of yours. At least he has good taste.", Caleb remarks, giving her a gentle squeeze, prompting a soft moan from the She-wolf.
"Oh? If HE likes my thighs, what part of me do YOU like?", Lyca spoke with upturned eyes, pressing her body to his bare chest, her perky A-cups mushing against him as her tail thumps the bed.
"Hmm, kinda hard to pick, but aside these hips…this ass…these abs…these muscle…these lips…", he spoke caressing his hand up her body, tracing every inch as she shudders at his touch before he lays his finger on her forehead then her heart, "This mind and this heart. Everything that's makes up you"
"Chief, you're so sweet." Lyca coos as she nuzzled his chest.
Caleb then reaches for his phone and brings the screen to his face, "Hm, 6:10 huh? A bit earlier than usual."
"You have anything planned for us today?"
"Not really, it is Sunday so I'm hoping we can all just relax today. It is the last day I'll be with y'all until my service is up."
Lyca gives a saddened canine whimper, hugging him tighter, "I know…"
"Yeah, so let's all enjoy today, ok?", He affirms, kissing the top of her head while gently massaging her right ear much to her delight, "Anything special you want for breakfast?"
"Hmm…I'm not really too picky. Everything you make for us is yummy, I'm fine with whatever, so long as there's meat.", She replies moving her hand along his firm chest, then moves her legs over his lower half hooking around his left leg with her knee gently against his groin, "Besides, we've got at least an hour, right?"
"Alright then, so how does some sausage sound?", Caleb whispers in her ear as he feels her fur running against hid inner thigh, her knee repeatedly bumping his ball sack as his manhood stiffens from the sensation. The She-wolf grins, showing her teeth, getting the scent of her mates arousal.
"~Sounds yummy.~" Lyca spoke in a seductive and predator tone, guiding her soft but firm paw-padded palms down his body, her amber eyes locked onto his chocolate brown.
…Lemons…
Caleb softly groans as she takes hold of his hot, rock-hard manhood proceeding to gently stroke him. Lyca licks her lips enjoying seeing her partner in such bliss at her actions as her tail thumbs against the bed excitedly.
"Ngh, hey, have you gotten better at this or what?", Caleb utters, his breath becoming heated.
"Cami's been teaching me. She says it's important I show you great pleasure so that any other girl will seem inferior by comparison."
"Not ngh sure how I feel about that. Though…I'm not surprised she'd say that. As if I'd ever want another kobold in the first place.", Caleb grunted, not
"So you don't want anyone else to join our pack?", Lyca asks innocently, pumping him faster and little harder as he grits his teeth.
Caleb endured the pleasure before answering, "I…not really sure how to answer that. I don't plan to but nghh…I can say even if I do, none of you would be inferior to anyone! We are one big family after all."
"Hehe, I knew you'd say something like that, Chief.", Lyca giggles moving downwards to his hardened member, staring at it as precum lubricated her paw-pads. The lewd, fleshy sounds of her hands motions coupled with the strong, masculine musky spurred her lust further as she moves in closer, "But I like it…when you're really honest about what you feel."
Lyca swirling her heated tongue around his head before taking his dick halfway in her mouth. She bobs her head at a consistent rhythm as Caleb grips the sheet at the pleasurable sensation assaulting his loins. He could feel her hot, moist tongue swirling around his cock along with a suction pressure with every motion of her lips up his shaft. As if sensing his climax, the She-wolf instinctively increases her pace as Caleb grabs her head bucks his hips with her pace.
With one last thrust, he buries his cock down her throat releasing his load as the She-wolf's eyes roll upwards at the feeling of his hot essence. She audibly gulps all of it down before sliding off his cock, her amber eyes glowing brightly and body radiating a faint yellow aura for a moment. She licks what remnants of his seed from her lip and smiles at the oddly sweet taste.
"Hehe, you taste a lot sweeter lately, Chief. I noticed it last night too.", Lyca remarks with, what looked like little hearts, in her eyes but could've been Caleb's imagination.
"Been…eating a more fruits before bed and in general. It tends to make male semen taste better so thought y'all would appreciate it.", Caleb replies, coming down from his euphoria
"I sure do. Before, it was kinda…odd-tasting but tolerable. Now I really like it!"
"Good to know."
"I'm surprised you came as much as you did just now. Seeing as how we did it last night. You're already hard again too", Lyca replies, gesturing, a bit excitedly, at his re-hardening cock.
"That I don't know. Guess my body is too damn honest. Though, could also be a side effect of my now nearly sleepless lifestyle. I'll call it a benefit for my own mental health."
"~I'd definitely call it a benefit.~", Lyca huskily remarks, straddling his waist looming right over his hardened cock, "Ready, to keep going, Chief?"
Caleb stops her, grabbing her hips, "Wait, don't we need that spermicide oil just in case…you know."
"Didn't you already use some last night? I can still smell it on you."
"Yeah, but…hang on it might still be working. Let's see, she says it lasts 24hrs…think we conked out close to like past midnight…so we should be good another 13 hours give or take. Damn, I had to do some post nut clarity math."
"Soooo we can keep going? We're good?", Lyca wantingly questions while impatiently grinding her hips against his lap. Her drooling womanhood scraping against his hardened shaft as her breath grew more heated by the second.
"Heh, yep! Get in there baby.", Caleb encouraged, squeezing her thighs, rubbing them as he helps line her up.
Feeling his head spreading her lower lips, Lyca plops herself down burying his cock into her womb as she lets out a lengthy moan that Caleb could swear sounded like a female dog in heat. She shakes her hips panting and moaning with hot breath and grinding against his cock enjoying every subtle jolt it sent through her spine, making her tail twitch erratically. She proceeded to ride his cock with unbridled lust, her hips crashing against his, bouncing with a wild yet precise rhythm making sure to savor every second it the experience. She looks down at him, he tongue out still panting, with deep love in her heart before leaning down kissing him deeply which he gladly reciprocated.
"Ngh, you're more affectionate ahh than usual today.", Caleb grunted, clenching his teeth while moving his hand up and down caressing and gently squeezing her firm body then giving her butt a little spank inciting a canine yelp of pleasure out of her.
"Hahhhh I just…really wanna enjoy today.", Lyca moaned, picking up her pace while trying to take him in deeper.
"Ahh then…lemme pull my weight then."
Caleb grabs her hips then raises up, to Lyca's confusion as she's placed on her back against the bed. She looks up at Caleb, seeing him holding her thighs and spreading her legs, she smiles in anticipation at what she figured he was doing.
He thrusts back inside her as she throws her head back against the pillow, clutching the comforter tightly to bare the intense pleasure as she moans loudly, "HAAA! Fuck yes, Chief!"
He repeatedly thrusted, hitting her favorite spots while holding her furry, wolf legs by the joints. He quickens as her hot, pulsating walks of flesh tightens around him attempting to wring out every bit of desire within him. Caleb grits his teeth at the pleasant tightness, his pace speeding up as the She-wolf's pleasured yips and moans fill the room. With one final thrust, he buries himself deep in her core filling her up to the brim with hot essence. He could feel her legs lock around him as her entire body and tails spasms at the intense pleasure.
The pair take a moment to catch their breath before looking deeply into each other's eyes, loving smiles. No words were needed as they embraced with a tender kiss.
…Lemon Danish…
After his and Lyca's morning embrace, the pair immediately took a shower together and changed their clothes.
He was now in the kitchen, wearing great sweatpants and DBZ Gogeta t-shirt with a blue apron, whipping up some eggs and making Lyca's favorite cinnamon protein pancake batter preparing today's breakfast. A pot of cheddar grits could also be seen cooking atop the oven as well and some of Mirabelle's favorite blueberry muffins were being heated inside the oven. There was even plenty of diced chicken breast in a bowl of chipotle ready to be cooked for Camilla's favorite meal.
He intended to make today's breakfast a little special for them.
He moves over to the cabinet by the fridge and starts looking through his assortment of spices, "Hm, where'd I put that red chili powder at?"
At that moment, Mirabelle could be seen stealthily approaching him, using her 'silent clop' ability to move within making noise against the tiles. Her hands reached out as her purple eyes glow menacingly narrowed on his butt while she gave a predatory smirk. She lunges for him only, to her surprise, he teleports away.
"Gotcha!", Caleb stated as he digs both hand into her large human-like horse rear eliciting a gasp from the Nightmare. She looks back seeing him with a toothy grin, "Nice try, Moon pie, but I know your moves now."
Mirabelle, taking that as a challenge, replies with a mischievous grin, "Is that right, Dear?"
She then quickly teleports behind him and slaps him on the butt, making her yelp while lurch in forward.
"Oh, now you're gonna get it.", Caleb retaliates, teleporting on top of her back and starts tickling her sides.
"AH! HAHAHAHAHA! N-Noo stoHAHA!", Mirabelle laughed uncontrollably, bucking slightly before teleporting both of them to her bedroom. She shakes him off, making him fall to his back onto her large floor mattress. Taking a second to make sure he was fine, she then counterattacks, lunging to tickle him, "You're in for it now!"
"No I'm not!", Caleb stated before teleporting behind her, making her faceplant on the bed, before opening the door running out. Mirabelle puffs her cheeks in frustration then teleports in a purple flash.
As he was going down the hall, the Centaur woman appears right in front of him. Unable to stop quick enough, he faceplants right between her ample chest before she hugs him tightly, pinning his arms so he can't tickle her.
"Got you now! You can't evade me cheeky little prum! I was the princess of tag in my clan!", Mirabelle triumphantly stated while mushing her chest to smother him a little.
"Well, I consider myself the king of this house.", Caleb quips looking up at her with a toothy smirk before gently but firmly biting her tender flesh.
Mirabelle's eyes shot open while eliciting a startled gasp before quickly flushing red, "HAAA?! Ohhh. ~Oooohh my, Dear~"
"Hehe, you like that? You want me to eat you right here?", Caleb whispers huskily as Mirabelle quivers with excitement.
"~Not if I eat you first.~"
"I thought you couldn't eat meat besides a little fish?", Caleb teased.
"I'm an herbivore with food, carnivorous with you, Dear.", Mirabelle replies, grinding her front hips against him, "Plus, I'm a bit hungry after allowing Lyca to have you all night."
"Oh really? Feel like I should make up for it?", He remarks pressing himself against a bit letting her feel his arousal.
"In that case, how about ju make it up to me as well?"
The pair flinches at the voice of their Elder Devil roommate. They look to see her levitating above them, still in her sleepwear surrounded in light blue aura, in a lying down position with a devilish smirk.
"Ah! Good morning, Camilla. I…didn't notice you were up there. Why are you floating?", Mirabelle spoke with a slightly embarrassed grin releasing Caleb.
"Morning, Camilla. Did we…wake you up? Sorry about that.", Caleb apologies.
"It is alright, I was already going to clean myself anyway. Though, ju both are quite lively this morning.", Camilla coyly replies, levitating to a standing position back to the floor.
"That's certainly one way to put it.", Mirabelle lightly giggles, playfully bumping Caleb's shoulder as he chuckles as well. She then catches whiff of a strange odor, "Do either of you smell something burning?"
"SHIT! The frying pan!", Caleb stated in panic before teleporting away as Camilla shakes her head.
"I'm going to shower. Hopefully our kitchen is still intact by the time I am finished."
"Couldn't you just repair everything with a spell anyway?", Mirabelle questions.
"Well, jes, but what would he learn from that?", The Elder Devil spoke as she shrugs and walks away.
In the kitchen, Caleb takes the already oiled and smoking frying pan off the burner before dumping all the whisked eggs inside causing it to loudly sizzle as he stirs it up.
"Phew, just barely made it too. Good thing I used olive oil this time."
"Fortunate indeed. I remember the first time I tried making eggs for you, all I could find was butter.", Mirabelle reminisces, watching him tossing the scrambled eggs.
"Plus, you put the eye way too high. Did not know it was possible to burn the black off a skillet."
"That was certainly one from the rubbish bin, wasn't it?", Mirabelle remarks a bit somberly.
"Yeah, but I appreciate the thought.", Caleb assured tilting her head up then planting a soft kiss on his lips making her smile before he returns to cooking, "Besides, you HAVE gotten a lot better since then…with cooking I mean. Please, stir that up for me baby?"
"Yes. I'm still nowhere near yours, Camilla's, or even Ein's level though. I suppose it comes with the territory of living most of one's life sheltered from the world outside your clan. Knowing a lot of things about it but never getting to experience anything.", Mirabelle says while stirring the pot of grits with a pensive expression.
"Well, I'm at least glad you decided to step out of your comfort zone. Believe me, I know how hard that feels. The unknown is scary."
"It is…but I now know it can also be incredibly life changing and fun.", Mirabelle sweetly remarks with a blissful smile.
"You're right.", Caleb nods in agreement, scooping the large mound of scrambled eggs in a mixing bowl off to the side then oiling the pan for the chicken. He then grabs an onion preparing to dice it up before noticing Mirabelle snickering, "What?"
"Onions have layers.", Mirabelle uttered in an exaggerated Shrek voice.
Caleb rolls his eyes, "Oh my God. I still can't believe y'all really binged all four movies while we were gone yesterday."
"Three.", Mirabelle corrects.
"Uh, no, pretty sure there's fou–"
"I will not acknowledge its existence! You can't make me.", Mirabelle cuts him off, still visibly peeved by the fourth movie's plot.
"Damn, giving it the adopted middle child treatment huh? Can't say it's not ENTIRELY warranted but still.", Caleb replies forming a small barrier around his hand and shaping it into a sharp edge blade using it to chop the onion.
Mirabelle stares in amazement before saying, "Goodness, Dear, you've certainly gotten xtra(very good) at using the barrier technique."
"Eh, I've just been experimenting. Check this out.", Caleb replies changing the purple barrier shape around two fingers creating scissors blades then shifting to a set of sharp claws then clenching his fist, making a large hammer before reshaping it to a gauntlet with hard knuckles, "That's just a few I was working on. There's more I'm fine tuning."
"You amaze me, Dear. Taking a simple technique of my people used for defense and using it like this.", Mirabelle expressed proudly.
"Thanks Moon pie, that means a whole lot coming from my wife/teacher."
"In that case, you receive TWO gold stars!", She jokingly stated, doing a double peace sign as he shakes his head in disbelief at her cuteness adding the chicken to the hot skillet.
"Oooh, chicken!", Lyca happily stated getting their attention. They see the She-wolf in her usual camo crop top and jean shorts combo with a large blue towel slung on her shoulder, "All clean! Is everything almost ready, Chief?"
"Just about. Need to finish preparing a couple more things. You two can go ahead and set the table."
"Ok. Can you give me a hand Mira?"
"Of course, excuse me, Dear. I need to scooch past here.", Mirabelle says maneuvering around him, pinching his butt with a cheeky smirk as she does so making him jump. Caleb shoots her a scowl as she grins innocently.
At that moment, the front door opens and in walks Drei getting their attention. She was carrying a small black speaker in her hand.
"Morning, Drei! What's that?", Lyca stated noticing the black object in her hand as Mirabelle peers over the counter curiously.
Drei was about to answer before hearing a knock at the door prompting a sigh out of her as she turns on the speaker raising it up high, "I apologize in advance."
The song 'All Star' starts playing on high volume as Zwei comically flings open the door as the 'SomeBODY-lyric' proceeds to dance her way inside while singing along with the song.
"Y'all enjoyed those movies more than I thought.", Caleb remarks raising an eyebrow and flipping pancakes as Smash Mouth plays in his house.
"It's a fantastic trilogy!", Zwei stated while dancing.
"There's four movies though!"
"A fantastic TRILOGY!", Zwei emphasized as Mirabelle nods in agreement.
"Damn, still I love the fourth one huh? I guess I shouldn't be surprised by that. How long has she been going at it with the song anyway?", Caleb says just loud enough over the music as Lyca starts dancing along with Zwei but not knowing the lyrics.
"Since last night!", Ein stated walking inside massaging the bridge of her nose and eyes, "She didn't even LISTEN to the full song the first ten times! She just kept bursting through all the doors at the beginning of the song!"
"Never noticed how many doors we have if you include closets. But why wouldn't you? She certainly did.", Drei says, gesturing to her sister gyrating with Lyca before turning off the speaker.
"Aww, why'd you stop it?", Zwei asks in disappointment.
"Because it keeps on playing and it won't stop playing.", Drei plainly remarks, giving the speaker to Ein who promptly breaks it in half with just her fingers.
"Hah! Whatever! I got a back up speaker you'll never find!"
"You mean the one under your mattress next to your favorite toy?", Drei comments, warranting a surprised look from Ein and Caleb.
"Ah! How do you know–When did even–DAMMIIIIIIT!", Zwei expressed, blushing heavily, and crying to the ceiling.
"Hahaha! Girl bailed on both questions then fell off a cliff!", Caleb chuckles to Zwei's embarrassment.
"You have a favorite toy, Zwei? Can I play with it?!", Lyca asked with an excited look on her face.
Zwei, upon hearing that, was stunned as she blushed harder imagining Lyca playing with her toy.
"Better make sure you clean first if that's the case.", Drei comments.
"STOP!", Ein stated.
"What? This is ZWEI'S room we're talking about."
"Ok! It's way too early to be giving each other a fit. Breakfast is almost finished. You and your sisters did y'all rounds?", Caleb asks, deciding to change the subject.
"Oh, yes sir. The perimeter is secure, nothing out of the ordinary.", Ein says, graciously bowing then asking, "Are you cooking by yourself today? Would you like me to assist?"
"Thanks, but I'm good. Like I said, I'm almost finished.", Caleb assured as Mirabelle teleports out of the kitchen with a small stack of plates and some utensils to set the table
"Are…you sure? We did a lot of shopping yesterday. You shouldn't overwork yourself.", Ein says in concern as her sisters look to him as well.
"I'm good, Ein, believe me. I just feel like cooking for y'all today. You guys are more than welcome to join us."
Ein looks to her sister who shrug choosing to believe.
"Well, I never turn away free food. At least if I know it won't kill me and Zwei didn't make it", Drei comments while Lyca and Mirabelle were in the dining room setting the table for everyone.
"Oh COME on, my rice balls weren't THAT bad.", Zwei replies, slightly offended.
"They were a declaration of war against the concept of food."
"Damn! That bad?", Caleb remarks.
"Pfft, she's exaggerating. She just has a sensitive palate.", Zwei scoffs creating a miniature cyclone, levitating herself over the couch to her usual spot. She grabs the remote and flips on the TV as Drei leaps over the couch into a seated position.
Ein then walks into the kitchen going to one of the cabinets as Caleb takes notice.
"Uh, pretty sure I just said I didn't need help."
"I know but the least I can do is make tea for everyone. Plus, I am curious what this citrus green tea you picked yesterday tastes like.", Ein says, showing the box.
"It's one of Moon pie's favorites for a reason. Sure, go ahead. I'm done using this burner anyway. Kettle's down there.", Caleb says gesturing to the lower, finishing the large serving of pan sauteed chicken.
"Right."
Ein squats down and pulls out an electric kettle then fills it with water. As it's heating, she glances at Caleb, still feeling a bit awkward around him.
"So…how are you feeling, sir?"
"About as well as I can be. Why?"
"It's just that today…well…", Ein tries to find the right words phrase it so to not upset him.
"Yeah, I know. You don't have to say it.", Caleb stops her as he flips over a pancake, "Look, I just wanna get through today. I wanna enjoy the day in peace…with all y'all…ok?"
Ein looks at him quizzically for a moment then, with a small grin, replies, "Ok. Have…anything special planned?"
"Not really. I kinda just wanna stay home and do…pretty much whatever. Not up to being around strangers too much today."
"I guess that's understandable.", Ein responds, as the water in the kettle quickly heats up.
"By the way, you heard from Cheryl this morning?"
"Not yet. She did send a text last night after she arrived home. She really enjoyed herself yesterday. Also that our cooking was, and I quote, Amaze-balls."
"Hehe, yeah, with you, me, Camilla cooking it's to be expected. You can call us the Cooking Trinity.", Caleb jokes.
"Hehe, guess I'm a part of TWO trinities now", Ein lightly giggles in amusement before a thought occurs to her, "Hey, um…"
"Yeah?"
"I…", Ein says as her cheeks flush at the thought of what happened with them the day before.
She had been debating whether or not she NEEDS to bring it up at all. It was only a mere accident, yet, she didn't know how or what, but she felt something had awakened inside her.
"Ein? You good?", Caleb asks in concern.
"I…Y-You know what? It's nothing.", She brushes off, adding a couple tea bags into the kettle.
Um…Ok. If you say so.", He shrugs finishing up the pancake stacks then carefully picking them up while maintaining his balance to place them on the counter, "Alright, done with thes–OH SHIT!", he utters while accidentally tripping, sending the pancake stack flying.
Ein, reacting on instinct, moves with lightning precision, grabbing him before he could hit the floor. As Zwei and Drei turn to see several flapjacks flying towards them, they all stop in midair glowing with light blue energy along with the large serving plate.
"Caramba(Good grief), seems I was right not to stay in too long.", Camilla spoke approaching fully dressed with a black towel wrapped around her head and a blue magic seal floating beside her. The pancakes all reassemble into a neat stack on the plate before sitting on the counter.
"Nice! 10 outta 10 save!", Zwei stated with a toothy grin.
"Haa, thank you, Ms. Sartana.", Ein acknowledges warmly.
"Of course.", Camilla removing her towel, letting her hair flow down then shooting look at Ein, "Now, can ju stop smothering mi amor?"
Ein blinks before looking down, seeing, to her shock and embarrassment, she was hugging a squirming Caleb tightly burying his face in her ample chest. She blushes heavily eliciting a surprised weasel screech.
"AH! S-Sorry!", She stated immediately releasing him as he sharply inhaled, catching his breath.
"Haaaa! You're…I mean, it's fine. I'm fine.", Caleb replies, a bit flustered as he tries to compose himself, "Thanks, Camilla."
"Jes, just try to be more careful, never know what ju will fall into.", Camilla lightly scolds, glancing at a fidgeting Ein blushing in embarrassment, then pulls him into a hug
.
.
.
.
.
Caleb and the girl enjoyed a pleasant breakfast together chatting and simply enjoying each other's company. An hour passed since then and, after cleaning and putting away the dishes, the group split off into different areas of the house.
Lyca was in her room running on her treadmill as part of her usual workout routine. Caleb, Mirabelle, and Camilla were in the dining room reading and discussing the Arifureta volume together. Zwei and Ein could be seen playing Tekken 7. Well, more like Zwei bullying Ein with Tekken 7 as, to her sister's growing frustration, she keeps getting put in a corner and beaten severely. Drei could be seen outside, on the roof, lying down and reading a book while listening for any oddities coming near the home.
Suddenly, her ear twitches, catching the sound of a vehicle. She looks down, closing her book, seeing a dark blue vehicle pulling into the driveway. She raises up and skillfully leaps down.
…
"STOP THAT!", Ein shouted gritting her teeth and gripping her controller tensely as her sister, once again, had her character in the corner spamming the same move.
"I'm literally using one hand to kick your butt.", Zwei taunts, holding her controller with one hand, feet propped up, mashing the same buttons in sequence.
In just a couple more button presses, Ein's character was down and out, prompting as frustrated weasel growl from the losing sister.
"Sis, I love you but you are ASS at this game!", Zwei teases with a chuckle.
"Give me a break! This game barely makes any sense. The stories all over the place and some these characters are ridiculous. One of them is a LITERAL bear!"
"Hey! Don't sleep on my guy, Kuma! He'll bite your fuckin' face off then sit on you! In fact–", Zwei stated but was cut off by the front door opening.
…
"You know the craziest part about this is he REALLY should seen that coming.", Caleb remarks with his copy of open on their current chapter.
"To be frank, Hajime did give him clear warning. That duke was just too pompous to head it.", Mirabelle gives her input, sipping her tea.
"He deserved to die either way. If ju don't wish to die, why FIGHT someone far stronger?", Camilla remarks plainly, leaning back in her chair, leg crossed.
"More like the guy saw the writing on the wall…but it was in Latin.", Caleb quips prompting a chuckle from Mirabelle, nearly snorting her tea.
"HA! Good one, Senor!", Camilla remarks sipping her tea as well.
At that moment, Drei walks in and goes up to Caleb, "Hey, you're uncle's here."
Caleb and the girls look to her with mixed reactions.
"Ah. You're uncle is here? How splendid. It's been a while.", Mirabelle happily stated.
"Not the word I'd use exactly. I almost forgot what day it was. Did you let him in?", Caleb bemoans, already knowing exactly why his uncle came. Camilla folds her arms with a reserved expression.
"He's your uncle. Why WOULDN'T I let him in.", Drei replies eyeing him.
Caleb feels a pang of guilt at his words, "Ok, fair enough. Excuse me?"
He gets up and walks out of the dining room with Mirabelle following then, reluctantly, Camilla. They walk into the living room to find Andrew Jr. sitting on the couch with Ein and Zwei laughing with them.
"THERE HE IS!", he heartily stated with open arms smiling yr his youngest nephew and his homestays.
"Hey, uncle Junior.", Caleb puts on a smile as Camilla takes a seat at the counter.
"Hi there nephew! Hey Baby Girl! Hey Sartana!"
"Buenos", Camilla casually replied.
"Good morning! It's so nice to see you again!", Mirabelle happily going over and hugging the older human man.
"You too Baby Girl! Where Pup at? I hadn't seen her since I came in.", He happily chuckled, petting the top of her head.
"She's probably still working out.", Zwei answers as Drei pulls herself up over the couch, "I can go get her if you w–"
"UNCLE JUNIOR!", Lyca excitedly shouts as she comes running into the living room, leaping over the couch and gently tackling the old man in a hug, "I knew that was your voice!", She stated nuzzling him with canine yips, her tail wagging furiously, as Junior chuckles heartily petting her head.
'Huh, never thought I could be jealous of an old guy.', Zwei thought to herself.
"SO, uncle Junior, what uhh brings you here this Sunday morning ?", Caleb says, already knowing the answer but asks in a respectful tone.
"I would be telling you to bring your butt over to church!", Junior stated firmly as Caleb lightly sighs in exasperation at his assumption proven right, "But that ain't why I'm here though."
Caleb gives him an inquisitive look as did Camilla and the others.
"I wanted to see if y'all wanted to come to this revival. My church is hosting it in the park today for all the ICEP host families to promote species acceptance. I had sent you a voicemail nephew a few days ago, you didn't get it?"
"No…no I didn't.", Caleb replies unsure of who even still LISTENS to voicemails.
"Well, that's why I dropped since you weren't paying attention. I already know you going on that business trip of yours after today so it can't be time right?"
Caleb pauses, as the others look at him with mixed reactions, musing at the cover story he gave his uncle so he wouldn't worry. He honestly made it up last minute and just ran with it since.
"What kind of event is this exactly?", Ein inquires, changing the subject.
"It's meant to bring humans and liminals in our community closer. We're living in crazy times, you know. Folks treating and killing people like animals and everyone on edge. It'd be good to show the liminals around here that they're welcome here. We already got a few host families to show up. I'd love for y'all to join in.", Junior explained as the girls give mixed reactions.
"That's…nice and all, uncle Junior, but I really didn't plan on going out today.", Caleb replies, feeling uneasy.
"Aww, no, come on now nephew. A young man like you shouldn't be cooped up in the house all day. Don't you want these girls to experience how we worship in the South?"
Camilla gets an uneasy feeling, not liking the idea of being surrounded by followers of Angel faith.
"I'm not 'cooped up', I just don't feel like socializing today. You know I'm…not that much of a church kind of person. Besides, believe me when I say, we have more than enough of Christianity in Alabama. You can't go into a gas station without seeing it. It's honestly part of the problem why so many are suffering.", Caleb remarks a bit coldly to Mirabelle's surprise.
Junior gives him an incredulous look, "And that's exactly why we need to change. You think it's right for Pup, Baby Girl and the others not to experience what being a Christian is REALLY all about? It ain't right, and you know it ain't."
Mirabelle and the others look to him in surprise musing at the idea.
"Sure, but what about Camilla?", Caleb as the Elder Devil looks to him inquisitively, "You can't expect me to bring her there just to be ridiculed and harassed for even EXISTING near church folks. I won't do it."
"You don't need to worry about that. Our members already know about her."
"What?!", "Que?!", Caleb and Camilla stated incredulously.
"It's OK! I explained everything and they're fine with her. In fact, she's not the ONLY Devil that's going to be there. We got at least a few others.", Junior assures them, then looks to Camilla, "I promise, you are more than welcome. All of you are. Come on, join us and hear the word. You never know what you may get something out of it. Might be something you NEED to hear this week."
Caleb pauses in thought, remembering his mother saying those exact words as Mirabelle and the others considered it.
"Are there Angels there?", Camilla asks in slight disdain, "If so, then I would rather stay here."
"No, not that I know of. Haven't had any join and I didn't see any hosts with some. I know y'all don't get along with each other so that's probably for the best."
"That's putting it lightly. Ju will be shocked to learn they are NOTHING like how your species portray in that book of yours. Do not forget ONE nearly killed Senor!", Camilla spoke in indignation as Junior was taken along with Caleb.
"I didn't forget…believe me I didn't forget. I STILL think about that and what happened with those Russian folks!", Junior stated fervently, clenching his fist as Caleb felt an aching in his chest, "Haaa, I'm not gonna force y'all to go, I just want to give y'all the chance to come and experience acceptance no matter who or what you are that my faith preaches. What christians SHOULD be showing to you all." Junior said with deep conviction that Mirabelle could help but feel moved by it as she glances at her dear waiting for his response
"I…I don't know about that. Sorry.", Caleb replies, looking away as Mirabelle gives a disappointed look.
Junior sighs in disappointment then turns to leave, "Alright, well that's all I wanted to say. In case you change your mind, the door is always open. See y'all later."
Uncle Junior exits the home walking back to his car. Caleb starts to reach out about to say something but quickly withdraws out of shame.
"Dear...I…I think we should go.", Mirabelle says, much to his and the other's surprise.
"Me too, Chief!", Lyca agrees.
"Ju both cannot be serious!", Camilla stated in disbelief.
"Unfortunately, they are, I know that look in their eyes by now.", Caleb bemoans.
"Come on, Chief, I'm sure it'll be as fun as Uncle Junior says. I definitely want to see what a Christian sar-man is."
"Trust me, you're not missing much. It's just a bunch of black folk praying, kneeling, singing, and a guy on stage talking like he's about 'rebuke the devil this and bible says that' while lookin' like he about to have a stroke for 45 minutes. It's not for me.", Caleb replies, doing an exaggerated preacher voice.
"That's not how your uncle described it.", Mirabelle points out.
"Either way, it's always the same everywhere, Señora. No matter what, humans of that wretched faith see my kind as nothing more than beasts that bring nothing but evil wherever we go. We're the enemy to them as Señor said, I'd rather not have anything to do with them," Camilla joined in, remaining firm.
"But…But he says you're welcome there, Cami, there's even other Devils there, so you won't be alone."
"Foolish clods if ju ask me. Let them find the hard way what those worshippers truly think of them," Camilla coldly remarked as Mirabelle looked to her and Caleb in disappointment.
"Personally, I believe it would be good to join in the activity," Ein said, giving her input.
"Ju too? Seriously?!"
"Let me guess, you guys agree with my uncle too, right?" Caleb asked, already knowing the answer.
"I mean, EIN spoke, not me, but he does have a point. It's kinda unfair you NOT showing your homestays an aspect of your culture because of your personal hang-ups. Lycs and the others deserve to see the positives of the Christian religion. Plus, gotta admit, I'm a little curious too," Zwei explained.
"Our father was a bit of a Christian. Not the Bible thumping kind but he taught us a little about the faith," Drei added.
"I'm curious as well, Dear. Honestly, I've always had a bit of a fascination with how Christianity shares a few similarities with the teachings of Oneiori and do want to learn more," Mirabelle brought up.
"I'd like to know more about it too! I have heard about human religion in the past after I left my pack but I've never experienced it before."
"What's werewolf religion like anyway? You guys are like spiritual one-with-Mother-Earth or something?" Zwei asked.
"No, we don't have any deities to worship. Actually, now that I think about, we…don't really pray to anything in particular," Lyca spoke introspectively then beamed, "Oh, well! Maybe today I can try praying to who or whatever Christians believe in."
"Trust me, there's way better things to do in your time, Fuzzy."
"Come now, Dear, please don't be like this."
"Ms. Marequine is right. There's nothing wrong with showing them a human religion. Think of it as another one of your 'field trips'. Plus, there will be plenty of other hosts along with your neighbors there, sir. I'm sure they'll be happy to see you," Ein pointed out.
"Ein, I'm an asocial introvert. I've lived on this block for more than four years and I barely know half the people around here. I doubt THEY even know who I am," Caleb shot back, not convinced.
"Well this could be a chance to get know them," Zwei tossed in her two cents.
"ENOUGH! All of ju!" Camilla snapped, her patience already waning, "If Señor does not wish to go, then we must respect that. Frankly, I perfectly understand why he does not wish to associate with their lot!"
"Oh? So you're gonna lump his uncle, his only family, in there with them?" Drei said as Caleb's eyes widened in slight anger while Camilla was taken aback, feeling offended.
"JU…That is NOT at all what I meant and ju know it! Do not try to make me the villain here!" Camilla expressed angrily.
"I'm not doing anything but pointing out the flaws in your logic."
"What did ju say to me?! Who do ju thi–"
"STOP!" Caleb shouted, stopping the Elder Devil and startling a few of them. They could see him simmering from the outburst.
"Dear?" Mirabelle softly uttered, sensing his anguish.
"Look, I don't wanna go, period. OK? I never even understood the point of church anyway. Listening to some self-appointed 'Man of God' who drives a Benz preach about the same vapid outdated rhetoric just in a different skin, shaking hands with people I don't care about or care about me for real, or my favorite part, the tithing of cash people give for no DAMN reason and offers nothing of value because money's supposed to be beneath God anyway, so they say! So, no, I don't go to church! I don't pray, I don't read the Bible, I'm not into any of that. It's done me no good. I figure I'm definitely not getting into heaven anyway, might as well treat Sunday as the same as another day and NOTHING more!" Caleb ranted and raved before resting against the counter, facing away from them, hiding the pain in his eyes.
He then felt a pair of slender arms wrap around him into a hug and turned his head to see Mirabelle with saddened eyes.
"Please don't be upset, not today," she spoke, hugging him tighter, "I-If you don't want to go, then we won't."
"Mira's right. It's…not really that big a deal. Right, Cami?" Lyca spoke, forcing a smile, then looked to the Elder Devil.
Camilla's anger subsided, quickly replaced by regret as she looked away with a humdrum expression.
Drei then approached Mirabelle, patting her on the lower body to get her attention, "Move aside, please."
Mirabelle gave her a curious look, as did Caleb, before complying to the request. The wind weasel propelled herself up by a swirling whirlwind onto a chair, standing eye-to-eye with Caleb.
"Listen, it's fine if you think religion is pointless and stupid, it's your life. That doesn't give you the right to make the assessment for others like your uncle. He reached out to YOU because he wanted to spend time with and the others and you just push him away? Not to mention lying to him about the real reason you're leaving home for a while."
Caleb was taken aback by her statement, then, "That's…that was for the best. I don't want him getting involved in this, not him or Vanessa."
"If you wanna protect them, that's fine, but you don't need to close yourself off from them! They are still your family, right? You love them, right? Treat them like it!" Drei bluntly said.
"Drei!" Ein admonished.
"No, no, she's got a point, sis," Zwei agreed.
"I know, but there's a better way to say it!"
"Well, you know Drei, unrelentingly honest," Zwei shrugged, "Plus, you gotta agree, Boss. Your uncle's right. It's not right for you to deprive Lycs and Twilight Sparkle the right to experience this country's most prominent religion."
Caleb cast his gaze downwards, realizing that there was a lot of truth to their words then looked to Mirabelle and the others, seeing their concerned and saddened expressions. Why did he always have to do this?
"One day around your uncle's church friends won't kill you, especially since he won't see you for WEEKS after today. If you won't do it for yourself, do it for him and them," Drei said, taking a seat with her back to the counter.
Caleb looked to her then at Mirabelle and the others again, who appeared to await his answer. He then remembered his uncle's disappointed look on his face and didn't want to leave him feeling that way. He took a deep breath and let out a heavy sigh.
…
A few blocks from the house at Creekwood Park, church members from Morning Star Missionary Baptist could be seen in the center of the park close to a large fountain and a few yards from a playground where children were playing. People, whether church members or curious park goers looking to join, were socializing, playing games, and enjoying the food prepared by the choir members. Deacons and some of the youth from the church were setting up audio equipment and instruments on a decently sized stage.
Among them, several liminals and their host families could be seen enjoying themselves and intermingling with the church members, some more than others.
"Oh, well, it's great to meet you, sweety, I'm Loretta. You been here long?" a dark-skinned human woman said with a wide smile, shaking the hand of a tall black bear-type liminal female.
"Kinda. I've been living with my honey for about three months now. I came with him to one of the sermons and, well, I told him I wanted to join, so here we are," the woman said, pulling her male human host close as he sheepishly grinned, nodding in confirmation.
"That's wonderful! Y'all can talk to Deacon Eddie, he can get you squared away. Help yourselves to peach cobbler while y'all at it."
"Cool. Appreciate it, ma'am," the host said, taking his homestay by her large bearlike hand and walking together.
Loretta watched the pair leave hand in hand and saw the genuine happy expression before grinning to herself, nodding in approval.
"Loretta!" a masculine voice called out to her.
She looked to see Andrew Jr. along with two human male and three female church members approach her.
"Hey there, Andrew! How you been doing?" Loretta jubilantly greeted before hugging the older man who happily returned it.
"Haha! Doing just fine. I was wondering where you were, I didn't see you when the van dropped the choir off."
"I just got here a while ago. I was just going around helping some of the hosts here. We sure got a lot more liminals than I expected! Some of 'em talking about joining after this. It's wonderful!"
"Oh, that's real good! Yeah. That's what I like to hear," Junior heartily said.
"Yeah! I even see that most of them joined before of their hosts. Guessing they're trying to make them happy," Loretta pointed out as the group looked around, seeing a few liminal and human couples having fun, even being openly romantic. Nothing too risque but their behavior towards each other suggested something beyond friendship.
"Lord have mercy…what is happening to this world?" a female member spoke in slight revulsion, "They really need to do that here?"
"Stop all that, Mary! They ain't doing nothing wrong," Loretta said with an annoyed look on her face.
"She is right, a little bit. The world changed a whole lot in just seven years. I can't tell if it for better or worse with everything going on," one of the male church members spoke, "Still, I don't have much of a problem if they join the church. If they wanna learn about the Lord, that's a good thing. How the Lord feels about them doing…well, that's just up to him. I got no say in other people's lives."
"I ain't complaining either, Luther. Shoot, considering how some of these fine liminal women out here lookin', I say he's ok with it!" the other male member said with a smirk.
"Hush yo mouth, Rufus! Yo nasty ass," Mary said.
"All I'm saying is, it's about time we got to show these liminals that God's love is for everyone and not as a way to act superior or justify discrimination," Rufus said with a hint of disgust in his voice.
"Amen to that!" Junior said wholeheartedly.
"Real question is, are they deserving of that love?" Mary bitterly muttered, noticing the two short Devil liminals happily playing cornhole with their hosts.
"Mary, you're gonna stop that today. We are out here to enjoy ourselves! Don't you go running your mouth or I will have you removed from the choir. We don't need the negativity around here," Loretta threatened.
"What did I even do?! You're ju–"
"Alright, alright! That's enough of that!" Junior firmly stated, making both women go silent, "We've got a lot to do so keep that mess to yourselves. Show these hosts and their liminals a great time."
"Speakin' of, didn't you leave a while ago to get your nephew and his homestays?" Rufus asked.
"Yeah…I tried to talk to him but he wouldn't budge," Junior replied with a sigh.
"Isn't that the one who was involved with that mess that happened on the fourth of July with those Devils?! Aw, it's a shame he couldn't make it. I bet the other hosts would've loved to meet him."
"That's the first good news I've heard today," Mary muttered to herself.
"Mary!", Loretta chides her church member then looks to Junior, "Don't listen to her Andrew, at least you tried."
"I know…still…", Junior spoke his tone become sullen. He truly wanted Caleb to come. He'd been planning a little surprise for him that he'd been setting up for a while, but now it was going to be wasted.
"Yeah, don't worry about it. You know how these young folks can be sometimes. He'll come around eventu—"
"UNCLE JUNIIOORRRR!"
The group was caught off guard by a loud cry. Before they could fully process anything, a black furred werewolf-type Kobold girl comes running up to them, arms open and tackles the old man in a tight hug, almost knocking him down. Loretta and the others were surprised to see the black She-wolf playfully nuzzling their church members like an energetic husky.
"Whoa now! Pup?!", Junior stated in surprise as Lyca happily nuzzles his chest, tail wagging happily, "What are you doing here?!"
"We came out to see you! We're going to do Christian stuff!", Lyca happily stated much to the confusion of Loretta and the others.
"She say what now?", Rufus raises an eyebrow.
"And what do you mean 'we'?", Loretta asks.
"Ms. Kessler! Please don't just bolt off! And don't tackle the elders like that, their bodies aren't as sturdy as yours.", Scolds the voice of Ein getting their attention.
Junior looks, to his surprise, to see Caleb along with the rest of his homestays, even Camilla, who wore a disinterested and conscientious expression approaching the group. Loretta and the others look at them with mixed reactions, taking special notice of the purple centaur and Elder Devil. Mary backs away a little in shock at the Devil, who was much taller and much more fierce-looking than the ones already here.
"Hey, Uncle Junior…I'm here.", Caleb spoke plainly, hardly engaged but tried not to let it show.
"Hello!", Mirabelle meekly smiles and waves.
"Caleb! You done showed up! I guess you changed your mind huh?", Junior happily stated approaching his family member.
"Yeah, I mean I kinda had to. My homestays need exposure to the…best side of Christians right?", Caleb replies forcing his enthusiasm with a smile.
"Now you get it! I'm glad you changed your mind after all, nephew.", Junior says in relief before pulling Caleb into a tight hug patting his pack. It was then Caleb's smile became a bit more genuinely hugging him back. He then releases Caleb, "Come on I want y'all to meet my church folks here! Everyone, this my nephew, Caleb. These are his houseguest he's taking care of right now!"
"I am quite pleased to meet you all. My name is Mirabelle Marequine.", Mirabelle greets while doing a polite curtsy with her cloak as Loretta and the men were impressed and surprised by her British accent and regal demeanor. Caleb gives her a look knowing her better.
"Ooh! I like this one already. She's sweet.", Loretta expressed.
"I'm Lyca Kessler!", Lyca happily introduced herself going to Luther excitedly shaking the man's hands making him.
"N-Nice to meet you too. Don't break my arms now."
"Ah! Sorry."
"My name is Ein Zyklon. These are my sisters Zwei and Drei.", Ein graciously bows as her sisters do the same towards the elderly humans out of respect.
"Sisters? They look like they could be your children! I bet y'all get that alot though.", Rufus jokingly stated going up to Ein shaking her hand, "Hey there, I'm Rufus."
"Nice to meet you. Not typically, no, but I suppose one could–"
"Don't even finish that sentence, sis. Sir, I'll politely ask you NOT to feed into my sister's ego. Unlike her body, we prefer to keep it a bit malnourished.", Zwei replies much to Ein's surprise.
"What's that supposed to mean?!"
"I'll leave up to interpretation.", Zwei replies, arms behind her head in a reclining pose.
"I'm guessing you are the youngest one. We got the big sister, the Medium sister, and the Itty Bitty sister. Mind if I call you Little Bit?", Rufus heartily stated, slightly bending to talk to Drei like the child he THINKS she is.
"Firstly, lǎorén(old man), we're all the same age, 22.", Drei plainly informs, much to Rufus and the other church members surprise, "Second, never talk to a short person like that. Child or otherwise. Third, no, I would prefer you didn't call me that. Just Drei."
"Oh."
"Yeah, yeah now you looking real foolish now, huh Rufus?", Loretta berates as Luther and Mary agreed.
"I didn't know! It's hard to tell with some these liminals ages are!"
Caleb shakes his head with a sigh as the others keep talking then notices Camilla sullen expression. He perfectly understood her and felt guilty she had to do this.
"Well, it's a pleasure to meet all of you!", Loretta enthusiastically states, then notices the tall Devil secluding off to the side with an annoyed scowl. She then approaches her, getting the Devil's and Mary's attention, "I'm sorry, I guess I missed you sweety. What's your name?"
Camilla gives her a disinterested look as Mary eyes her suspiciously and Caleb and the other look to her ready to intervene. Luckily, they didn't need to.
"Camilla. Ju may call me Camilla. That's it.", The Elder Devil replies, folding her arms folded in displeasure.
"Well it's nice to meet you Camilla. I'm Loretta.", She says, offering her hand to the Elder Devil who remains on guard. Mary looks at them with unease.
Camilla looks to her hand for a moment, then looks to Ein, who nods in approval, then Caleb nods to her as well. She lowly sighs and gingerly clasps the older dark toned human woman's hand, "Hola."
Mary looks between them incredulously, shaking her head as she turns and walks away.
"Mary? Where are you going?", Rufus calls to her but she ignores him much to the others dismay.
Camilla scoffs in disgust, having been proven right about not coming here.
"What's her problem?", Caleb spoke with discontent.
"Ignore her. She's just got a chip on her shoulder.", Loretta insisted.
'She's about to have a foot in her ass.', both Caleb and Junior thought simultaneously.
"Y'all are ALL more than welcome here.", Loretta assures looking the Elder Devil in the eyes.
Camilla was slightly taken aback, seeing no ill-intent or revulsion in her eyes before wordlessly nodding, accepting her offer.
"Alright now, Loretta, we gotta get going. The choir should be ready right about now.", Luther informs the others.
"Oh! You right, yeah we definitely gotta go.", Loretty agrees before looking to Caleb's group, "Y'all enjoy yourselves. We've got plenty of games and a whole lot of soul food over there! Andrew show them where the fellowship area is."
As they leave, Junior looks to Caleb and the others gesturing to them to follow.
"What does she mean by 'fellowship area'?", Mirabelle curiously inquires.
"At 2, we have service with everyone around over there where the stage and all the chairs are at.", Junior answers, "In the meantime, y'all can get to know some of the church members and the host families here."
'Great, socializing and church. The TWO things I didn't feel like doing today.', Caleb bitterly thought to himself but chose to hold his peace for his uncle and the girls.
"Alright so where should we start?" Caleb asked his uncle, wanting to get it over with.
….
Over half an hour passed since the group arrived. In that time, Junior managed to get Caleb and the others acquainted with more members of the church, including some of the new liminal ones that joined along with their hosts. All the while, Junior appeared slightly concerned about something as he kept looking around trying to find someone even subtly taking out his phone checking it.
When done, the older man decided to leave Caleb and the girls to enjoy themselves while he takes care of some business with his fellow members. Apparently he, along with the other deacons, were doing a special performance for the current and non-members before the actual sermon.
At one point, the group split off with everyone doing their own thing. Lyca got caught up with a few other Kobolds tossing a frisbee around and Zwei, once again, was roped into being a living skeet shooter for the energetic Kobolds.
All the while, Camilla noticed some of the humans in the park intentionally avoiding her and could hear their derogatory remarks about felt her anger growing by the second and needed to cool off.
"Ok, so, what do you girls wanna do now?", Caleb inquires.
"Hmm, I've been wanting to try that 'soul food' your uncle's friend recommended. I wonder if it's truly good for one's soul.", Mirabelle cheekily spoke.
"Not good for your arteries, that's for sure.", Caleb remarks.
"Sooo eat enough of it everyday and you'll release your soul? Hence the name, SOUL food?", Drei comments.
"More or less. Either way, fine by me. Beats engaging with total strangers amirite Camilla?", Caleb smirks looking to the Elder Devil but found she was no longer with them, "Camilla? Camilla?!"
"Where'd she go?", Ein stated, starting to worry.
"Uhh, she's right over there by the picnic tables.", Drei casually points out to the Elder Devil sitting alone at one of the stone tables alone.
"What is she doing? Hold on, I'll go get her."
"No, no, Ein it's alright. Let me talk to her. You guys and Moon pie go on ahead.", Caleb interjects.
Mirabelle and Ein look at each other, deciding to trust him.
"Right then, Dear. Come along now ladies."
"Since when are we your entourage?", Drei raises an eyebrow following the purple centaur.
Caleb takes a deep breath and exhales before walking in the opposite direction.
Camilla sat at the picnic area alone at one of the stone tables decompressing before noticing two human females approaching the picnic area. The second they notice the Elder Devil eyeing them they immediately turn and walk away. She scoffs at their behavior resting her head to her chin with a scowl on her face.
"This seat taken?", Caleb spoke getting her attention, "How are you feeling?"
"Haaa, about what ju would expect Senor?", Camilla replies in a cold tone.
"Yeah, that's about right.", Caleb says taking a seat next to her, "Listen, I'm sorry for making you come here."
"Ju didn't make me do anything, Senor. Do not get things twisted. I came on mi own. Otherwise, ju will be upset all day for not fulfilling your uncle's request."
"So I did make you come. Is that what you're saying?"
"No. I am saying I did not want to be responsible for ju having regret for what ju said to your uncle! You're only here because of him, correct?"
Caleb looks at her a bit offended, "Camilla, I don't like what you're implying here. I didn't want to come either, you know that! I "
"Ju are NOT listening I…arghh! I just didn't want our last day together not be surrounded by fucking ANGEL faith followers!", Camilla stated slamming her fist against the stone table, fissure it a little, "This is supposed to be a day of bliss for US! And it was ruined!"
Caleb looks to her, calming down a little before replying, "Camilla…ok. This was on me. I'm so–"
"DO NOT say ju are sorry, Senor. Not everything is YOUR fault! If ju wish to spend time with your real family then… I should just respect that. If this is what ju want, I have no right to interfere."
Caleb was surprised by her statement before scooting closer, starting to get to the root of the issue, "What do you my real family? You saying you're not a part of it? What, because we don't share blood or that we're different species? That doesn't matter, Camilla."
"How can it not?", Camilla despondently asks.
"I said so, that's why not. I accept you and everything about you. So does uncle Junior. You're a part of this family because we say so. Don't ever think your opinion doesn't matter because it matters a whole lot to me.", Caleb affirms taking her hand as the Elder Devil looks to him in surprise, her heart pounding.
"Heh…because ju say so huh?", She muses at the idea with a small grin.
"That's right! I run this shit! What I say goes! Hell yeah!", Caleb stated in a deep, manly voice banging his chest not caring about the random people looking at him crazy.
"Pfft, hahahaha!", Camilla chuckles at his forced display of masculinity.
"Yeahhh, there's that smile I love so much."
"Ju are an ass."
"Yours is better.", Caleb lowly remarks just for her to hear prompting her to gently but firmly dap him upside the head getting a chuckle out of him now, "Hehe, yeah, so…it may not be as planned but we can at least try to enjoy ourselves."
"Jes, but that is easier said than done. Even now I can feel their scornful eyes on me.", Camilla replies, noticing some people looking at her as they passed with either fear or disdain.
"Fuck'em. Let's not let ANYONE ruin our day. Besides, Junior was telling the truth when he said there were other devils here so it's not like their eyes are JUST on you."
"Those are not Devils, Senor, they are Imps. Low-level Chaos-Born with only basic charm magic, spells, and are just slightly stronger than most humans. I imagine they're only here because they're the LEAST 'dangerous' Chaos-Born around. That or others of mi gente just aren't dumb enough to come here."
"Still, it's better than being the only Chaos-Born here, right?", Caleb points out.
"I suppose. I also have not sensed the presence of any filthy Angels since we've arrived."
Caleb could sense the disdain in her voice, "Yeah, just gotta deal with regular annoying religious folks today. We can make it through, I believe in us."
"Aren't ju uncommonly optimistic."
"I'm more of a cautious optimist."
"Dear! Camilla!", Mirabelle calls to pair getting their attention as she gallops towards them, with Drei and Ein following. All of them carrying a plate with food on it, "You both simply must try MUST these! They're positively scrumptious!"
"Are those fried green tomatoes? Cool, you really like'em, huh?", Caleb replies, amused at his girlfriend nodding while happily munching on the crispy tomatoes. Her greater number of taste buds were able to distinguish subtle flavors from them.
"Mmmm, they've got these little chicken wings over there too and they're really good.", Ein remarks, happily eating the chicken as Drei didn't the same, not even bothering to make a remark, just enjoying the food.
"Damn, those do look and smell good as hell. Wanna join me for some soul food, Jelly Bean?", Caleb says looking at Camilla.
"Huhu, only if ju promise not to embarrass me too much with your weirdness."
"...I make no such promises. Maybe to you but probably not to myself.", Caleb replies, earning a chuckle from the Elder Devil as Mirabelle looks at them with a smile.
The group leaves the picnic area heading to grab some food while chatting on the way there. On the way, they were stopped by a couple of new church members who wanted a few pictures with Mirabelle since they'd never seen a purple Centaur before to which she meekly obliges.
"Hey! Excuse me!", A male voice called out to the group.
Caleb and the girls look to see two different host families with two male hosts and their liminal students. The first family consisted of two female Imps, the other had a Jiangshi.
"Yeah? Can I help you?", Caleb inquires, facing the two men as Camila and the others observe them with mixed expressions,
"You're Caleb Bizzell, right? The guy from the 4th of July incident?", The host man with the Imps asks as they look at Caleb with intrigue.
"Oh my God…", Caleb facepalms, not wanting to deal with any of this today then sighs heavily, "Yes, that's me."
"Holy shit! We got the legend here today.", The other host with the Jiangshi stated before offering his hand, "It's great to meet you sir, i'm Daniel. This is Ms. Quan Lai''
"You can call me, Josh, this is Kizzi and Jaz.", The other host introduced himself and his two Imp students as they happily greeted him.
"Hiya! You're way cuter in person", Jaz, the imp with pigtails stated, her hips and tail swaying alluringly as did Kizzie with lust in her eye.
Mirabelle and Camilla sensed the hunger in her tone and instinctively huddled a bit closer to him.
"Uh, thank you? It's…nice to meet you all.", Caleb forces, shaking their hands trying to be polite as Camilla wraps her arm around his in a display of ownership glaring threateningly at the overly friendly Imps and especially didn't like how the Jiangshi was staring at him, "Easy, it's ok."
"She's real protective of you huh?", Josh jokes as Camilla shoots him a vicious glare, "Is she one of the Devils you saved that night?"
"I wouldn't put it like that, more like she saved me. Anyway, it was nice to meet y'all. We're kinda hungry right now so…", Caleb half answers the question while trying to get out of the conversation.
"Oh, in that case, why don't we join you? Is that ok, Dan?", The Jiangshi asks her host.
"Sure. How about it man? Plus, I'm sure the other hosts would love to meet you too."
"Ms. Loretta told us you were here so we HAD to meet you.", The Jiangshi remarks looking him up and
"Wait, she did what?!", Ein stated, now taking a quick look around, seeing a few other humans and liminal's eyes on them, realizing the secrecy of them being here is gone.
"For fuck's sake…", Caleb pinched the bridge of his nose, "Thank you but NO thank you! I just want to spend time with my students today! That's it!" Caleb nearly yelled as his frustrations was reaching a boiling point.
"I'm sorry but we're going to have to ask you all not to mention Mr. Bizzell's involvement with that incident." Ein says, as she and Drei jump into the conversation flashing their MON badges, intimidating the hosts a little while distracting them from Caleb.
"O-Oh, you guys are MON agents?", Josh says taken aback.
"Yes and it's for his protection that you not mention his involvement at all.", Ein reaffirms as Drei looks back at Caleb gesturing for them to leave.
"Come on.", Caleb spoke loud enough for Mirabelle and Camilla to hear.
"I mean, officer, a LOT of people know about it so…it's not like we have that much control over what people do with that info.", Daniel points out before Ein immediately corrects him as Caleb and the girls sneak away.
They were already putting some distance between them and the hosts, letting the Zyklons deal with them. That is until…
"WELL, I JUST HAD TO SEE IT TO BELIEVE IT!", Shouted a feminine Greek accent, a figure stomps their large hoof hard onto the ground.
The familiar voice caught Caleb's and the girl's attention, stopping them in their tracks. They look to the right, Caleb and Mirabelle's eyes widening in pure shock as Camilla could feel her lover tense up.
"You've gotta be fucking kidding me", Caleb remarks in frustration.
Standing before them was the centaur, Aurelia, wearing a modified Greek-style silver saying dress with a dark red sash tied on her waist. The black garp adorning her lower body features a golden shield with an ancient Greek image of Chiron in the center. Her long blonde hair was also tied back in a large bun as she carried real twin daggers at her hips.
Sidenote: Under Alabama Knife law, it is not illegal to openly carry knives in public so long as they don't exceed 11.5 inches.
"A-Aurelia?! W-What are you doing here?", Mirabelle stated in surprise backing away as Camilla looks to her in concern.
"Tch, just hearing my name out of that wretched mouth of yours is already irritating me. I could ask why HEATHENS like you and that man are here!? This supposed to be a HOLY gathering.", Aurelia spoke with disdain towards them, her face crossed in a deep scowl upon seeing the faces of the two that humiliated her.
"Why? Why today of all days?", Caleb bemoans to himself shaking his head.
"Senor, who is this disrespectful, loudmouth punta? Do ju know her?", Camilla calmly but venomously says glaring daggers at the centaur woman who glares back.
"Yes, unfortunately. THIS is…damn, what was it again? Ariel? Amelia?"
"AURELIA, you plebeian!"
"That's it! This is the rude ass centaur that was harassing me and Moon pie that one time.", Caleb enthusiastically stated before shifting to a cold tone.
"Mr. Bizzell! Is everything alright?", Ein stated as she and Drei hastily rushed to their side. Immediately, Drei takes notice of the familiar large breasted centaur.
"Oh good, it's you again. His little midget friend.", Aurelia scoffs upon seeing Drei, "I would seem you've expanded your band of filthy heathens since we last dueled, wench."
Mirabelle recoils stepping behind Caleb to hide face, proving difficult since she was a bit taller than him.
"I swear to Discord, If ju do shut that FUCKING mouth of yours. I will tear ju limb from limb then burn them to ash.", Camilla stated cracking her fist as black light crackled and pulsated around her arm, prompting the centaur to step back clenching the handles of her daggers.
Ein quickly step in front to hold her back, "No, Ms. Camilla, what did we talk about when someone approaches us with harsh words?"
Camilla scoffs before sighing lowly and half-heartedly repeating, "When cannot hurt me can consequences can. I know but…hahh FUCK!"
"What do you want with us anyway?!", Caleb stated, getting irritated.
"I was merely investigating if the rumor among the other hosts was true. Apparently, my host was also curious about the matter so, like the diligent knight I am, I investigated on his behalf."
"Y-You managed to find a host after all?", Mirabelle asks, a bit surprised.
"THAT'S RIGHT, Heathen! I, Aurelia Vasiliki Lambos, eldest daughter of the 1st Cavalry under the doctrine of Chiron, have obtained a worthy master! He is kinder, stronger, smarter, handsomer, and MUCH more noble than your PITIFUL excuse for a master! I was right to keep searching!", Aurelia very proudly stated, shouting it loud enough for Day passersby to hear, as Mirabelle and Camilla glared at her for flagrantly insulting their lover.
"Aurelia! There you are!", Called a male voice, getting the centaur's attention.
"Ah! Here is my beloved master now!", Aurelia stated, gesturing to a human man jogging towards them. Caleb pauses, his eyes widen in surprise upon seeing the very familiar face approaching.
He was slightly taller than Caleb with a leaner build, light brown skin and wavy, styled black hair, noticeable Asianic features, and brown eyes. He was dressed in black jeans with matching Air Forces and a silver-white long sleeve shirt. As he approaches, he notices Caleb.
"Christian?!", Caleb blurted out as the girls looked at him confused.
Aurelia's host, apparently named 'Christian', smirks widely.
"Been a long time, Caleb."
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WN
I don't have anything clever to say or life events to report I'm just surprised by the cliffhanger too. Hope you enjoyed the chapter! Peace Fam! Play the outro!
'My Mind' by ProducedbyMelv plays in the background.