Chapter 80: Heartstrings
…Meanwhile…
As everyone in the Chaos Faction was leaving the community center, most stuck around a little longer to chat a little more or discuss plans for the week.
Hana and Mars could be seen happily chatting with each other. The former showing off pictures of her pet turtle, Rohan, wearing cut little hats she handmade for him. The red haired witch proceeds to gush over the cuteness.
"Thank you so much for having us, Deary. It was quite an interesting experience.", Venus politely remarks to Scarlett.
"Yeah, well, I promise it isn't always like this.", Scarlett replies, apologetically.
"Yeah, it's normally muuuch crazier.", Hana remarks, hands on her hips as Scarlett shoots an incredulous look at her.
"Und hornier.", Heidi chimes in, gesturing to the group of Pyrows surrounding both witches, Ceres and Asteria, cooing at how cute they were while pinching their cheeks.
"C-Can you all please stop?", Ceres requested in embarrassment as two of the Pyrow happily nuzzled each side of her face.
"Awww, why would we do that? Not everyday a group of adorable little Loli dolls come into our midst.", Toakala sweetly remarks, mushing her large breasts against Asteria, smothering her as she gasps in shock and embarrassment from the extremely pleasant, almost ensnaring, heat radiating off her body, "Huhuhu, having fun in there little one? Are my pillows that nice?"
"Blasphemy! Unhand me foul breasted heretic! You apostates of unripened fruit!", Asteria stated with a deep blush, trying to wriggle free, involuntarily grinding against the female Pyrow making her chuckle in delight.
"Huhuhu, you witches sure are a lively bunch. Why don't you two scrumptious babies come back to our place and live with us…forever?", One of the Pyrow cooed happily as the others closed around the frightened witch pair like thirsty hyenas, smiling lewd as the air seemed to grow hotter.
"Lady Venus!", "Lady Venus!", both witches cried out, trembling and holding each other. At that moment, a large blue magic seal appears below them as the Pyrow female tackle them in a group hug, only to find both witches swapped out with two small scarecrows, much to their confusion.
"Ehh? What are these things? Where'd our pint-sized cream puffs go?", Toakala whined while holding the stuffed ragdolls, causing its head to burst into flames.
The blue magic seal appears beside Venus and Scarlett as both witches emerge from the seal, still clinging to each other and whimpering.
"T-Thank you, lady Venus…", Ceres whimpered, still frightened.
"Wow! How did you do that? I never read of teleportation that can be done so quickly like that." Hana said amazed
"Well it's just something I learned from a dear friend Deary."
"Oh Chaos, I'm SO sorry about them! I promise I'll scold them later about!", Scarlett apologized.
"Eheeheehee! It's alright, young one. There's no harm done to my girls. Besides, at least we now know what we can expect in the next meeting.", Venus chuckles heartily as Ceres and Asteria flinched at her words, softly groaning at the notion of coming back.
Scarlett gives her a surprised look, "W-What? You're serious? T-Thank you! Can't wait to have you again.", she smiles, shaking the witch's hand, who happily reciprocates.
"Ja. I certainly hope you and your fellow witches bring more of your delicious fruits.", Heidi happily remarks, still tasting the peaches she had earlier.
"I second that."
Scarlett and the others look to see Amara approaching the group. Ceres and Asteria immediately take cover behind Venus.
"Oh, did you enjoy our coven's home-grown delicacies as well, Ms. Cerberjack?", Venus casually ask, looking right up at the imposing Hellhound, unperturbed.
"They were pretty damn good, if that's what you're trying to say. And that's coming from a hypercarnivore like me.", Amara expressed with a toothy grin.
"I'm glad you enjoyed it, Deary. My girls spent hours picking out the freshest even when they CLEARLY could have used the ones I showed them.", Venus remarks with a smile, looking at Mars and the witches behind her. All three witches blush in slight embarrassment.
"Yeah, these kids are something else sometimes. Takes a special kind of woman to keep them in check.", Amara remarks, glancing at her own kids who were busy goofing around with the Beelzebubs, chasing and swatting as the bug women evaded them.
"That and a bit a love-filled discipline doesn't hurt.", Venus emphasized, conjuring a long, slender stick repeatedly patting it in her palm as Scarlett and the others, especially Mars, flinch, "Still, they're all my girls, nothing I wouldn't do for them.", she admitted in a humble tone.
"I know that's real. Hahahaha, I like you! I think we'll get along alright, Venus!", Amara heartily chuckles.
"Likewise! Maybe sometime you can drop by our coven. I can brew up my famous peach belladonna tea with peach pie.", Venus offers.
"Sounds nice! I'll take ya up on that."
Scarlett looks between the two happy to see them getting along, choosing to let them be before going to see about the others.
Further away in the corner of the room, Tubala sat with six other devils observing everything, scoffing in disgust at the hellhound and witch leaders chatting, finding it impossible to accept that, on top of the leadership being an incompetent mess, she'll now have to deal with witch filth. It made her sick watching members of her proud race intermingling with ill-bred scum.
"Tch, look at them. A couple of apples and suddenly they just welcome these wand waving freaks in here.", One of the blue-skinned greater devils spat.
"I saw you enjoying a couple of their peaches though.", Another, fairer-skinned, greater devil points out with a raised eyebrow.
"Shut up! I was just curious. Shit wasn't even that good!", she lied.
"What do you think, Tubala?...Tubala?", Asked the fair-skinned greater devil noticing the black haired devil woman ignoring her, staring intently at Venus.
She analyzed the little witches' earlier rebuttals, noticing something odd that stood out to her. Despite, begrudgingly, admitting she made some valid points, something about the way she spoke of the human male seemed…slightly defensive. That, along with the fruits. A gesture of goodwill following a terrible incident? A kind of 'honey before the hammer' situation? She knew it couldn't be just a mere coincidence. They were hiding something.
….
"Soooo uh… it's nice to meet you Gala and Nova, right?" Jocelyn said, trying to make small talk with both witches, "What uh…what are you girls into?"
"Well, I like oreo cookies and I LOVE tall, strong guys with goatees. If he's wearing a black turtleneck, that's a plus!" Nova said with a toothy grin as she got blush on her face.
"Are you attracted to Bond villains?", Sylvia inquires curiously.
"Ooh, I LOVE Oreos!", Sharon jumps in with little stars in her eyes, tail swaying, "What's your favorite flavor?"
"Halloween!", Nova happily answered.
"That's…NOT a flav–", Jocelyn, confused, was about to point out but was cut off.
"Really? I haven't tried that one yet! Is it yummy?!", Sharon interjects, squatting down to eye level with the witch.
"Only one of the best!", Nova wholeheartedly confirms.
"I imagine it must taste like either pumpkins or the essence of fear.", Sylvia remarks, ponderously.
"What the hell does the 'essence of fear' taste like?", Jocelyn skeptically asks, looking at her friend crazy.
"Halloween probably!", Sharon happily stated as Nova wholeheartedly agrees.
Jocelyn lowly sighs then looks to Gala, "So, what about you, are you a weirdo too?"
"Pfft, of course not. I'm the most normal person in my friend group.", Gala assured proudly then pulls out a small digital camera, "Hey, wanna see pictures of my boyfriend? Well, he doesn't KNOW he's my friend yet but we're basically kinda dating. The butt pics are for my eyes though, hehehe.", Gala happily expressed with a lewd grin scrolling through the camera like a creepy old man.
"Every day Discord tests the limits of my sanity.", Jocelyn coldly utters, looking off in the distance.
….
At the same time that was going on, Kaiya could be seen among her sisters, hanging around chatting and messing around with Beelzebubs and the few Pyrows—one of which was Tristan's sex friend—as they waited for their mother. She was a bit disappointed in not getting to see Caleb today but understood he had work to do. She'd probably be wasting his time anyway with her problems.
"Welp, wasichana(girls), imma head out. I'll see you y'all later.", Tristan casually says to them, walking away with a phone in hand, getting a few of his cousin's attention.
"And where you headed that's so damn important?", Kehema sassily remarks.
"Yeah, I was hoping you could spend the night at my place, Trist baby.", one of the pyrow added in a sultry tone, prompting eye rolls from Jannali and her sisters.
"Yeah, my bad but I made other plans. You know how it is.", he shrugs.
"With who? Don't tell me you're still seeing that wererabbit mchumba(slut). You know how Ma feels about her. Still pissed about what her skittish ass did to her porcelain lord Cerberus figure.", Jannali points out, remembering her mother's angry barking and the wererabbit running for her life.
"Of course not, she's still in counseling. I'm just taking some 'me-time', no what I'm sayin'? Don't wait up.", Tristan says while quickly leaving the room before they could probe him for more information.
"Hey, at least text us how long you'll be gone so Ma doesn't lock you out again!", Krea called out to him, "Asshole."
"Can do!", he stated before the door closes.
"That little…he's definitely meeting up with someone!", Kehema stated getting her sister's, especially Kaiya's, attention.
"Wanna follow him?", Jehmena suggests.
"No, DON'T follow him. I don't need you all causing trouble, especially for me. Besides, it's probably good Tristan has a hobby ASIDE from banging every shameless slut within 200 meters.", Kreã quickly interjected.
"I'm standing right here you know.", The pyrow female remarks, a bit insulted, "If you have something to say then say it on my face."
"You mean, say it TO your face, right?", Alkina asks, eyebrow raised.
"~I know what I said~.", The Pyrow saucily replied as the other Hellhound look at her with annoyance.
"ANYWAY, when have WE ever caused trouble?!", Jannali questions her sister, a bit offended.
"You want a list?! If so, we'd be here all day! But how about we start with the chicken tender incident?!", Kreã stated in slight irritation.
"Oh, heeere we go again! You just won't let that go!", Jannali replies, rolling her eyes as the others jump in.
As they argue, Kaiya looks back at the door Tristan walked through, remembering him typing on his phone during the meeting. He was clearly talking to someone and, if it wasn't another female, it had to be…him, right?
At the same time, Tubala, using her attuned hearing, was focused on their conversation the second she saw the male hellhound leaving, already figuring out who he was going to meet. She then turns to the tall, blue skinned greater devil.
"You, Minerva, right?"
"Uh, yeah? Is there something up Tu–"
"Come, let's talk.", Tubala gets up, walking away from the group as the blue devil woman quickly follows behind her, leaving the others confused.
"Where are they off too?", Beyla spoke, walking up to the group as she noticed the pair leaving. Right as the blue lesser devil was about to give an answer, Beyla cuts her off, "Y'know what? Don't care. Who's up for burgers?!", the manticore stated, surprising the others who, again, looked at each other even more confused.
…. Later that even…
The sun was beginning to set in the distance, painting the entire complex in sunset orange light as many liminals and I.A security staff could be seen going about their business or enjoying themselves with some activities and browsing stores collections.
Tristan could be seen among the other students happily carrying on, humming to himself and ignoring the stares from a few liminals that eyed him cautiously. Nothing new, just comes with the territory of rumors surrounding his species…and maybe his less than stellar reputation on full moon night with some of the females didn't help.
He didn't really care about any of that though. He had other plans today.
"Hey! Sup chommie!", the male hellhound called out, seeing his new dark-skinned human friend, Caleb, and his little green haired fox girl bodyguard/sidekick, Drei.
Both were waiting in front of a music store called 'The Bard's Nest' with Caleb holding a brown paper bag in his arm.
"Sup man? Y'all just getting out of the Chaos meeting thing?", Caleb inquires.
"Yeah, so I kept ya waiting. It was the whole thing with some brand new members getting settled in and other…less new people aren't too happy about it. It's a mess.", Tristan shrugged, disinterested in the devil and witch affairs.
"It's no big deal, we've only been here a few minutes. Anyway, here, this from the assignment today.", Caleb said, handing Tristan the bag as a female greater devil with blue skin and black hair casually walks past him into the store.
"For real? Thanks chommie!"
"Yeah, it's a philly cheese steak sandwich. Would have been JUST steak but added the cheese to deter this one from trying to sneak a piece.", Caleb gestures at Drei.
"While I respect your cunning use of my species' vulnerability to dairy, I also hate you for it.", Drei comments, casually flipping him off.
"Alright, come on chommie! Let me show you this cool section they added.", Tristan happily gestures for him to follow to which Caleb does while Drei stays as close to him as possible.
Unbeknownst to them, a feminine figure was watching them close by with her lupine ears poking out from her black hoodie, reddish black tail swaying, while hiding behind the wall of the building. She removes her hood with a surprised look in her eyes, barely visible past her long black bangs. It was Kaiya.
'What am I doing? How could I just leave without telling Mama and the others? I-I should just go home. I-It's not like…like…', Kaiya chastises herself, thinking it was a mistake to sneak away from her pack and tail her cousin all because she wanted to see…him. She didn't understand or even comprehend the reason but she knew she had to. Despite that, she had no idea how to approach him or what to talk about, 'Hmm…m-maybe I'll just…say hi. Yeah just say and…then go back home before Mama and the others know I'm gone. Yeah…', she thought as two female lizardmen walk by raising an eyebrow and muttering 'weirdo' under their breaths.
Inside the store was a treasure trove of various musical instruments from string to percussion all hanging on display ready to be sold. There were also large collections of CD albums and vinyl records of various bands and artists of different genres from country to rap. The entire store smelled of sweet incense emitted from the several metal burners hanging above, creating a welcoming atmosphere that put the customer at ease. In the far back, there were various incense, scented candles, and sages to be sold and burned. The proprietor of the establishment could be seen atop her large wooden perch in the forefront of the store behind the checkout counter.
The strum of their loot guitar reaches the ears of several liminals stopping to listen to the sweet, enrapturing melodies.
"~I wanna know. Have you ever seen the rain? Coming down on a sunny day~", Sang a tall dark-skinned harpy woman with vibrant orange and red Autumn colored wings, purple satin crop top over her large D-cups and matching skirts that hugged her plump thighs with were large, thick auburn colored avian talons. She played a loot guitar with an Arabic design and used her opposable thumb to strum melodies to enrapture the ears of the five liminal students watching in amazement. A Ghandarva.
As she finishes the last chord, she quickly greeted by a round of applause from her customers and two female wood elf employees working the registers.
"Amazing as always, Ms. Lyrica!", A weremouse lady expressed.
"Your renditions are always the best!", a female Halfling compliments.
"Ms. Lyrica is so hot, bruh. And that voice is like silk stroking my eardrums.", A male werecat expressed, tail flailing in excitement.
"Weird metaphor but yeah I agree man.", said a male moleman.
The Ghandarva, named Ms. Lyrica, takes a slight bow before inhaling the sweet, delicious fragrance of incense and hormones from her customers. She enjoyed making her customers happy, relaxed, even aroused since their bodies released odors of different flavors, depending on the species. Biologically, her species can actually taste and, in some cases, sustain themselves off pleasant odors in the surroundings. She smiles in euphoric bliss at their delicious bodily scents.
'Delicious. So delicious. The scent of admiration, so creamy. The scent of love, so sweet. The scent of arousal, so lemony-sweet. It's all so good…yet I wonder if there's an odor out there I've yet to taste.', Ms. Lyrica thought, removing herself from her perch graciously greeting the customers while assisting here and there with minor issues.
While that was going on Caleb and Tristan could be seen by the bass guitars talking, the latter seated down on a stool happily enjoying the sandwich, tail wagging with a blissful smile.
"Unholy shit dawg, this is the best sandwich I EVER tasted!", Tristan expressed with a toothy grin.
"Yep. Exactly my reaction.", Caleb cheekily agreed.
"So, wait wait wait, so they were actually SERVING cat paws?! Like ACTUAL cats bro?"
"Afraid so, yeah. Don't get me started on the opossoms. Pretty sure I'm gonna need a rabies shot or three.", Caleb remarks, still remembering the animals hissing at him in the cages.
"Nah, eating just the paws is craaaazy. Not much meat on those! Do they have to remove the retractable claws too?", Tristan questions.
"Plus they'd likely be too chewy, I'm assuming, due to the paw pads but also quite boney.", Drei added, sitting with a little brown pipa, strumming the Chinese lute instrument.
"Oh, bones aren't a problem. These jaws are designed to chew bone like bubblegum, baby.", Tristan emphatically spoke, showing off his large, sharp canines, "I just think it's barely worth it. Why not just eat the whole cat?! Wasted meat."
"I…think you're both missing the big picture here…", Caleb remarks plainly.
"Nah, I get it. Never judge a book by it's cover right? Even though the place seems horrible, at first glance, it's actually capable of creating amazing food that can make anyone happy, right?"
Caleb pauses a moment in thought, seeing the Hellhound's genuine expression, then responds, "Not…quite what I was getting at but , yeah, you're right."
"It's kinda weird seeing CD albums like this. I thought only retail places like Walmart still carried physical albums.", Drei spoke, looking through some of the albums on display.
"Yeah, the store owner is a connoisseur of music. She believes CDs have way better sound quality than streaming services and that free music markets is killing the art form", Tristan casually replies, "Then again, she also said I had a delicious 'post full moon' scent so…"
Caleb looks at him strangely before turning his attention back to the CDs, "Ok, not gonna touch that. Actually, I'm seeing a lot of albums with liminals on the front covers."
"Oh yeah, there's been plenty of bands popping up recently. Like these guys chommie!", Tristan happily replied, finishing his sandwich, presenting an album with five male Hellhounds on the cover in menacing poses and the name 'Uncivil' in crimson red.
"Huh, a hellhound heavy metal band. Surprising but oddly fitting."
"Wanna listen to one of my favorite songs they made?", Tristan expresses going over to a test station that had a headphone dock with a continuously rotating armature and display screen, filled with a collection of various CDs, like a more modern jukebox. He selects the album and chooses the song on the screen 'Find your own way'.
"Sure."
Caleb puts on the headphones, as the heavy metal music begins with a strong, aggressive guitar riffs before a smooth baseline accompanies it. The shockingly powerful vocals from the singers and energetic beat soon got him bopping his head to the rhythm, even if he couldn't understand a word they were saying.
"Wow, they're actually really good. Those vocals reach into your soul.", Caleb remarks, removing one of the headphones.
"Right? I discovered these guys some time a while back. They toured my homeland last year. Most of the songs are inspired by some of my species' old folktales and ghost stories. Like 'Mwimbaji wa Kifo' or 'The Death Howler'", Tristan points out, enthusiastically.
"Oh, so they mix traditional with modern elements. Cool."
"Yeah, in fact, you'd be surprised how many of those stories involved other liminals my ancestors mistook for monsters. Devils, like Scarlett and them, we called them 'Pembe Popo Lady' winged women that snatched up bad pups. Our old folks were really creative with that one.", Tristan lightly chuckles in amusement.
"Wait, you mean even liminals have their own monster stories?", Caleb replies curiously.
"Well duh, it was part of how we understood things back then and how we taught others. Not like we had any knowledge of what Devils, Humans, or even Karmaitachi were back then so hearsay was just common knowledge."
"He's got a point. I remember growing with stories warning and teaching about bunyip, oni, dragons, and even humans. What they were? Why should they be avoided? How to fight them? It just comes with the culture.", Drei points out, emphasizing her words with each strum of the lute.
"Yeah, I think I understand what you mean."
"I always enjoyed listening to those old stories as a pup, chommie. Hearing them in this style is next level, like it's…evolved. Know what I mean?"
"Yeah, I feel ya. Though, I don't really know much about Hellhound culture but I can understand how it feels seeing your culture evolving with time; especially music.", Caleb admitted with a small grin as Tristan looked at him curiously and smiled.
"Really? What kind of music are you into?"
"Eh, my playlist is pretty diverse. If there's a song I like, I add it to my collection, regardless of genre. That being said, I do enjoy 70s and 80s music, early 2000s and 2010s rap. Oh and Kendrick Lamar.", Caleb explained.
"Who's Kendrick Lamar?", Tristan inquires.
"Short answer, a fucking genius. Detailed answer? Well, it's harder to summarize his work. You kinda have to experience it yourself. And as luck would have it…", Caleb replies, typing on the screen finding the album he was looking for as the machine whirred in background selecting the CD then beginning to the song 'Rich Spirit', "Hear, put these on, and don't just listen, lose yourself in it."
Tristan takes the headphones, adjusts them to rest comfortably in his ears. He's taken aback at the soothing melody followed by the artist's rapid lyrical brilliance. He starts bobbing his head to the beat, a smile forming. He then looks at Caleb, who was now wearing the other pair of headphones and smiles back.
"You see what I'm sayin' man?"
"Yooo, where's this guy been whole life?", Tristan expressed, getting more and more into the song.
"Ugh, bitch I'm attractive, can't fuck with you no more, I'm fastin'...", Caleb softly sang, bopping to the rhythm with Tristan.
Drei observed the two enjoying themselves, feeling more like a babysitter than a bodyguard right now. Still, you used this opportunity to deal with the overly-curious individual that she minutes ago followed them.
Further away, said overly-curious individual, Kaiya, was hiding behind a rack of country music CDs listening in on Caleb and Tristan's conversation.
'He and Tristan really are getting along. I…shouldn't bother them. I'd just make things awkward.', she thought, trying to convince herself but the longer she watched him and his smiling face, the harder it became to budge from her spot.
"Enjoying the view?"
"Whaa, Samahani(I'm sorry)?!", Kaiya yipped, instinctively jumping back before seeing the short green haired weasel girl behind her, "Y-You?"
"Yeah, it's me. Is being easily startled part of your genepool or something? Follow up, what are you even doing?", Drei questions hands on her hips.
"I…umm…h-he didn't go to the meeting today so…"
"He's not obligated to attend and he has work to do. I asked, "What are you doing?"
Kaiya pauses a moment seeing the weasel girl's unamused, cold gaze shifting in embarrassment as she tries to collect herself, "I-I just…wanted to say 'Hi' to him and…", she trails, cringing at how ridiculous she sounded.
Drei raises an eyebrow, already decided she wasn't a threat, just indecisive, "Then go say 'Hi'. What's the problem? He's right there."
"H-He's busy though…"
"Doing what? Butchering an entire art form of his own culture?", Drei contests, gesturing at Caleb and Tristan casually trying to, poorly, sing the lyrics moving with the beats, "Besides, it's not like you're a complete stranger to him."
Kaiya looks at her in surprise as the memory of that evening on the balcony flashed in her mind.
As that was going on, a tall blue skinned devil woman could be seen several meters away from Caleb and Tristan pretending to check out guitars. She glares at the carefree human male with vicious scorn.
…Earlier…
"I want you to follow that male mutt. I believe he'll lead you to that Caleb Bizzell bastard. You, Minerva, are going to kill him.", Tubala spoke, making sure no one else was listening.
"W-Why me?"
"Are you questioning me right now? Surely you haven't forgotten the reason you're all free. You'll do it BECAUSE I said so.", Tubala emphasized, getting right up into the blue woman's face, intimidating her into submission.
"Y-Yes, of course, Tubala.", Minerva sheepishly spoke, her gaze shifted away from the wavy black haired devil.
"Good. Oh, and make it look like an accident.", Tubala says, walking away to rejoin the others, as Minerva looks down in thought.
…Present…
Minerva grits her teeth, plucking the string of each guitar one-by-one, appearing to test the chords as she draws closer to Caleb's position. She knew if she failed, Tubala would likely beat her up at best and at worst…. She readied a red magic seal at her finger tip, charging up a tiny red energy ball and aiming for one the metal burner just above his head.
As she charges, wanting to make the blast hot enough to destroy the chain link, she was about to fire when suddenly, Tristan's phone starts ringing which he quickly answers.
"Ah? Auntie? What's up–eh?...Hey, whoa, what do you mean?", He said in a worried tone, removing the headphones catching Caleb's attention.
"Hey, everything alright?", Caleb asks curiously, removing the headphones and stepping away from underneath the metal burner much to Minerva's frustration.
"She said Kaiya's gone missing."
"Wait, what?!", Caleb ask growing more concerned.
"No she isn't. She's right here.", Drei spoke, getting their attention, as they look to her surprise to see the hellhound in question standing beside her with a timid demeanor.
"Kaiya?", Tristan remarks a bit surprised to see her.
"She wants to talk to you about something. I didn't ask what.", Drei plainly says, looking at Caleb much to the Hellhound's shock.
"You…wanted to talk?", Caleb inquires.
"Y-Yeah…"
Tristan looks at his cousin quickly guessing why she was there and smirks knowingly. Suddenly, the voice of his aunt yelling over the phone catches his attention.
"Auntie? Yeah, sorry for the bad signal. Anyway, Kaiya's right here with us. Leave without telling y'all?", Tristan repeats looking over at his cousin with a raised eyebrow, prompting her to hand her head in shame knowing she caused them to worry. He sighs softly the says, "Yeah, my bad, I asked her to come with me and Caleb. She asked me to call and let you know but…I forgot, my fault."
Kaiya jerks her head up looking at him in surprise.
"Yeah, yeah, I know. I'm sorry. Yeah, I'll get her back safe. Love y–", Tristan tries to get out but the phone hangs up, "Haaa, welp I got an ass whoopin' waiting when I get home.", he says in a slightly deadpan tone as Kaiya looks away feeling guilty.
"Damn, sorry man."
"Eh, not my first rodeo. I've fucked around and found out so much back home my ass can legally be classified as roadmap for 'where-not to fuck around'", Tristan slyly remarks patting his bottom, "Plus, it's for a good cause. Not everyday my little cousin decides to hang out with the cool kids. In exchange for a favor later on, that is. Right, Kai?", Tristan cheekily remarks, walking over and wrapping his around her shoulder.
Kaiya sighs, knowing it was too good to be true, "Right."
"Alright, so now it's a party of four!", Tristan stated emphatically, pulling Caleb and Kaiya close by the shoulders, startling them both.
"Uh, yeah I guess so, heh.", Caleb remarks, forcing out a chuckle, rubbing the back of his head to look at Kaiya as she sheepishly blushes.
"It's actually more of a daycare from my perspective.", Drei comments.
The group continues about their business as Minerva in the background silently curses, deciding to change up her tactics.
…. Meanwhile….
A few blocks away at a Ramen shop called 'Hai-Rollers', where an Orthrus pair, kobold-type liminals with a hive mind, could be seen working. One had light brown hair and blue eyes the other light pink and green eyes. Both spoke and moved in perfect harmony while serving bowls of ramen and tea to Scarlett and her friends who were seated at the counter.
"There you go. I hope you all enjoy.", Both Kobolds spoke with a polite bow in person in unison and the same voice as Hana, Sharon, and Sylvia looked at their bowls in amazement.
"Thank you.", "Arigato!"
"A toast to today and to our new Chaos from the Fantina Coven!", Hana stated, raising her chopsticks.
"Gotta say, I was kinda expecting things to go a whole lot worse, especially how Maria and Tubala's groups reacted last week.", Jocelyn pointed out.
"True, I was expecting much more name calling and possible hair pulling. Luckily, that was not the case.", Heidi remarks.
"Still, it's clear we have a ways to go if we're going to diffuse the tension in the group.", Scarlett points out as the others agreed.
Hana quickly slurps up her noodles humming blissfully, "Haaa, cooked to perfection. The gyoniku and daikon are so tender they're practically melting in my mouth and the noodles are nice and springy. The texture of kikuragi mushroom really compliment the rich, daring flavor of the broth. All it culminating into a culinary jamboree in my mouth.", she emphatically expressed, chopsticks firmly in hand
"I love the way the white swirly things crunch in my mouth.", Sharon happily chimes in, holding a plastic fork.
"Well, that's two five star reviews. One made with two stars worth of effort.", Jocelyn casually remarks, taking a bite of noodles using her fork.
"Hey! What are you two doing using forks to eat RAMEN?! Eat the way it's meant to be!", Hana chastises, presenting her with chopsticks.
"What's the big deal? These noodles are gonna end up in my mouth either way.", Sylvia remarks using her own form to scoop up a whole load of noodles then shoving it in her mouth.
"Uhh, phrasing?", Heidi raises an eyebrow, using her chopsticks as best she could.
"It's not about that, Sylvia! Ramen isn't just about eating where I come from. It's an ART!" Hana insisted
"If 'art' is short for arthritis from YEARS of eating with two thin wooden sticks, then I'll stick to the plebian way of eating. I need my hands for work. Last thing I need are unsatisfied customers.", Jocelyn replies, stabbing her fork into a little shrimp and eating it.
"Also phrasing?", Heidi raises another eyebrow.
Hana sighs in defeat noticing Scarlett trying her best to eat with the chopsticks but the food keeps slipping prompting her to swear under her breath before getting frustrated.
"Fuck it! I'm a plebian too. Fork please ", Scarlett gives up, putting the chopsticks down.
"Here you go, miss.", the light haired Kobolds hands her a fork as the other spoke the same while stirring a pot.
"Do not worry, Hana. I'll always be your Chopstick Sister.", Heidi leans back in her chair smiling before snapping her chopsticks at her playfully prompting Hana to return the gesture.
"By the way, Scar, meant to ask why you were late getting to the meeting today?", Sylvia curiously inquires.
Scarlett stops eating her veggie ramen, placing the fork down in the bowl, "I…told you I had to help get Venus and her coven members permits. Also…"
"Also? There's more?", Sharon asks.
"Haaa, I bumped into Ms. Octavia on my way to the office. I talked with her about the position at the salon and…"
"And? Is she gonna hire you?", Jocelyn asks, hoping to hear a 'yes'.
"She…said because of my record and recent volatile events I was involved in…she can't hire me. Not right now at least.", Scarlett informs in a hollow tone as she stirs noodles around in her bowl prompting fits of disbelief and anger from the girls.
"Whaaaat? You can't be serious!", Hana expressed sadly.
"That is such bullshit!", Sylvia stated, agitated.
"You didn't even do anything! It was those filthy, fucking angels causing the trouble.
Jocelyn slams her fist against the wooden counter, startling them as she raises up, "Of all the–wait until I get in that office tomorrow! I'll give that over bloated, calamari boneless bitch a piece of my mind and BOTH of these hands!"
"Jocelyn. Please, it's ok…"
"No, it ISN'T!", Jocelyn cuts her off with a serious look, "You aren't the only one with shitty skeletons in their closet! What happened back then…it's not YOUR fault! You couldn't have known that asshole was involved in–"
"Jocelyn!", Scarlett loudly cuts her off, startling them and the Orthrus pair. Hana and the others noticed her angry but sorrowful expression before she takes a deep breath to calm herself, "I said, it's ok. I don't need more reminders of my mistakes. And don't go getting yourself fired for my sake. Ok?"
Jocelyn expression softens a bit, realizing should would definitely be doing more harm than good. She sighs before taking her seat then looks to her friend, "What are you planning to do now?"
"Only thing I can do, try again. There's plenty of places looking to hire. I'm bound to find something in this place.", Scarlett assures, forcing a grin, not wanting them to worry, "Besides, I still have those weekly student benefits so it's not all bad."
"Yeah, but…", Sharon utters in uncertainty.
"No 'buts', I'm sure she'll will find something eventually. After all, our Scar is a fighter", Hana spoke, giving an assuring smile while gently patting her back.
Scarlett gives a surprised look then smiles back, "Thank you, Hana."
"Hehe, yeah if there's one thing, you're definitely no quitter.", Sharon added with a goofy smirk, "Oh, maybe Sylvia and I can put in a good word with our boss. Hope your fine cleaning up leftover arachne webs."
"Also, hope you like modeling. She loves testing out her risque collection that even Victoria Secret isn't ready for. Her words not mine.", Sylvia joins the conversation holding up her phone to show photos of her and Sharon posing in VERY saucy lingerie; making Hana and Heidi blush sheepishly
"I…think I'll pass. Thanks."
"Excuse me, miss?", the Orthrus spoke in perfect unison, getting their attention, "I couldn't help but overhear your trouble, what with being only a few meters away from you. I have a friend that's great with matching students like you with jobs in this facility. Surely they can help regardless of questionable background. I can give you their number, if you want.", the Orthrus offered as the brown haired grabbed a pen and paper.
"Really?"
"Yes, just give them a call and answer some questions. Hell, they helped me get this position.", The Orthrus shrugs with a smile in perfect unison.
"Wow, thank you.", Scarlett smiles.
"No problem."
"Yeah, thanks, and I gotta you guys are the twinest…twins I've ever seen. You like completely in sync.", Sharon acknowledged as Jocelyn and Scarlett look at her dubiously.
"Sharon, for Chaos' sake…", Heidi remarks.
"We're not twins. She is me and I am her. We are two bodies but one mind.", The Orthrus explained as they looked at her curiously.
"Whoa, freaky. So you…know what the others are thinking and feeling at all times?", Jocelyn inquires.
"Correct. I also feel and experience whatever happens to my other half."
"Oooh, imagine how productive I could be if there were two of me.", Heidi ponders, grinning at the possibilities
"Sounds awful to me. I can barely cope with stress by myself. I can't imagine how having DOUBLE the stress over everything would feel.", Jocelyn remarks, less enthused at the idea.
"Wait! So if you can feel everything the other can, does that mean–", Sylvia asks but was quickly interrupted by the Orthrus presenting a light pink card with writing on it, "Eh? What's this for?"
"The answer to one of the seven common questions on your mind I get asked ALL the time.", the Orthrus spoke as both Kobold girls wore a sour expression.
"Yes, I get hungry whenever my other half does. Yes, I taste whatever my other half eats or drinks? Yes, I go to the bathroom at the same time as my other half! Yes, I feel pleasure of all kinds as my other half! Yes, I sleep and feel as much fatigue as my other half. Yes, I feel pain from my other half. Yes, I die if my other half dies?", Sylvia reads off the card becoming increasingly disturbed.
"Yes, I hope that answers your question."
"It did and DEFINITELY glad I don't have a mind twin or whatever.", Jocelyn remarks.
"NOT. Twins."
"Wait, there's one question you didn't answer though.", Sharon jumps in, "If you perform connalingus on your other half is that considered gay sex, masturbation, or incest?", she asks as Scarlett and the others look to her incredulously.
The orthrus stares at her blankly in utter disbelief and disgust.
"Follow up question, do you have any desserts that don't sound like Japanese pharmacists?", Sylvia inquires earning an annoyed scowl from Hana, "What? Mochi sounds like the name of a creepy dude that works at a Rite Aid."
"Mo Chi and no bitches. HA!", Jocelyn jokingly quips as
"You're proud of that?", Scarlett raises an eyebrow at her silver haired friend.
"Came out of my mouth, it's staying out."
"Ha, phrasing!", Heidi chimes in.
"I feel like I need to take a painkiller.", The Orthrus utters, rubbing both their heads in unison.
"Wait, would only one of you take it or bo–?", Sharon asks but was cut off.
"YES!", She shouted at her in unison.
'I guess two minds really aren't better than one.', Scarlett thought seeing her friends frustrate the kobold pair, helping her forget her worries for a little while.
In the back of her mind though, she knew she needed to start making some progress in her life, even just a little. She got to set a good example for the others. she NEEDS to.
….
While that was going on, Caleb's group could still be seen in the music store browsing.
'That's a big ass drum.', Drei thought staring at the tall bongo drums where a dark elf woman with a large rear in black yoga pants stood.
Kaiya stood next to Caleb looking through some albums while Tristan could be seen further away enjoying Kendrick Lamar, wanting to give his cousin a little privacy and Drei well Caleb wasn't quite sure where she was but she should be keeping eye out for trouble and not trying to plunder something from here. The whole time she was mostly quiet as she listened to Caleb talking about whatever artist of an album he recognized. At the same time, he was patiently giving her time to collect herself while trying to put her at ease.
"You know, I never really liked Gucci Mane all that much.", Caleb remarks, trying to make small talk.
"R-Really?"
"Yeah, I don't know. His songs used to go hard when he first started but now they just don't have that…fire it used to. I think he's trying too hard to keep up with this younger generation that honestly CAN'T rap.", Caleb replies with slight disdain.
"Oh."
"So, what about you? What kind of music do you like?"
"I…don't really have any in particular I like…", Kaiya replies plainly, while avoiding looking at him.
Caleb could sense her reserved attitude and realized small talk wasn't going to be enough for her. She was clearly closing herself off yet, the second she finds him, she closes herself off. He didn't understand but this circumstance felt oddly familiar.
Caleb softly sighs, "So…are you ready to talk?"
Kaiya clasps her hands together, unsure of just how to begin as her mind raced with different variations of what she wanted to say and how he'd react.
"If it was about me not going to the meeting, I was busy with an assignment that…REALLY required my attention. I'm sure you might have been disappointed Sorry but it is what it is.", Caleb spoke as she looks to him, sending the sincerity in his words.
At that moment, her mind finally became clearer.
"I…I just wanted to thank you!", Kaiya blurted out, catching him off guard.
"Thank me? For what?"
"F-For what you said a-at my house…on the balcony."
Caleb looks at her curiously, "Oh, that? Um, you're welcome. Honestly, you seemed like you needed to get some things off your chest, we both did, and…that's that. I'm glad I could help."
"You did. You really did. It's always been difficult for me to talk about…these with anyone, even my family but…with you…", Kaiya emphasized, moving her large paws underneath her long bang resting atop her eyes.
"I didn't do anything special, you know. You were troubled and I just listened. Heh, but I guess sometimes that's more than enough, right?", Caleb replied, thinking of the time he confessed his past to Mirabelle and the relief he felt. Maybe it was the same for this girl.
"Y-Yeah. So, um, that's all I wanted to say. I won't bother you anymore."
"I didn't say you were bothering me.", Caleb quickly interjected.
Kaiya looks at him in surprise, "W-What?"
"Believe me, you'd know if I was bothered by your presence. Nervousness and subtlety are like oil and water for me, they don't mix. About a week ago I was ducking behind cars from y'all like a owe rent.", Caleb casually replies.
Kaiya envisions him comedically diving behind a vehicle every time he sees one of her sisters and couldn't hold back her snorting chuckles.
"Heyyy, there's a smile. That's good enough proof I'm not bothered by you, right?", Caleb jokingly replies with a smirk.
"Yeah.", Kaiya agrees looking at him a moment then grinning to herself with flushed cheek, "...Pop."
"Hm?"
"I…really like pop music.", Kaiya says with a small grin.
"Oh nice! Are you a fan of anyone in particular? Elton John? Prince? Beyonce'? Oh, lemme guess, Michael Jackson, right?", Caleb ecstatically says while taking out his phone.
"M-My uncle sometimes plays Michael Jackson music on the big TV at home. I really like the song that goes… um 'I'm bad, really really bad'", she tries to awkwardly sing the lyrics, "Or something like that, I think. That was weird. I'm really sorry"
"Nono you're good. I got it.", Caleb assuringly spoke, proceeding to play the song 'Bad by MJ' on his phone, rocking his head and shoulders to the beat with a smile, "Yeahhh. That's the king baby."
Kaiya smiles back lightly giggling at how silly he looked then starts rocking her head as well.
Both oblivious to the greater devil, Minerva, skulking around the other side of the album rack, pretending to search for an album while conjuring a small red magic seal to slash into his neck.
'Not quite an accident, but with the hellhound right next to him it'll seem like slashed his neck with those claws of her. That outta creates enough confusion, right?', She thought, trying to line herself up with him.
As they were jamming and Minerva prepared to launch her attack, Ms. Lyrica who assisting a customer with choosing a violin along with signing up for one of her Saturday classes before her ears caught the unmistakable sound of low quality music.
"Excuse me, ma'am. I'll be right back.", Lyrica says with a sweet smile, quickly morphing into a furious scowl the second she walks away as her taloned feet audibly click the floor.
She follows the source of the horrendous noise and finds a human and a black Kobold behind a CD rack listening, even dancing, to the noise from a cell phone of all things. As much as she would have gladly snatched the phone and smashed it against the wall, she needed to remain professional.
'Yes, just move over a little to the left.' Minerva thought have gotten time of their movement down as she was about to throw her saw only for Lyrica get in and block her shot.
"Excuse me, sir?! Madame?!", Lyrica announced herself, getting both of their attention. Minerva cancels her attack trying to avoid any witnesses, much to her frustration.
Caleb turns off the video, "Yes ma'am?"
"I'm afraid the use of cellular devices for non-emergencies is prohibited in this store.", Lyrica politely spoke, gesturing with her wing to a hanging sign that had silhouettes of a phone, laptop, and tablet emitting musical notes all with big red wings forming an 'X' through it all.
'Already now move on.'
"Is that what the sign means? Oh the wings are a cross shape, I didn't get that.", Caleb admitted as Kaiya tilts her head at the confusing design.
"There was some miscommunication in the design process. Either way, I'll kindly ask you to…to…"
At that moment, she stops in her tracks, catching a whiff of a powerful scent much different from any other around her. It has a musky yet exquisitely sweet aroma and tasted of crisp, aged sweet wine that felt almost intoxicating. And it was coming from…him.
"Um, if it's that big of an issue I guess we can leave. Didn't see anything I wanted any–", Caleb replies with a shrug but was interrupted by the harpy stepping closer to him. The strong aroma like high quality perfume worn by wealthy women emitting quickly filling his and Kaiya's senses.
"Nonsense! I just wanted you to put your phone away, that's all.", She spoke in a sing songy tone, "I simply don't enjoy music played on these new age devices. It's all superficial, lacking any substance, and sometimes downright atrocious to hear. You get me?"
'Ok NOW move aside.'
"Yeah, I get what you mean. I heard PLENTY of songs from SoundCloud rappers that make me wish I was deaf.", Caleb replies as Kaiya looks at him curiously unsure what a 'sound cloud' was.
"Now, CDs and Vinyl, hard formats are an exception for their ability to mostly capture the magic and sound quality of a song. However, nothing on this earth can ever compare to the authentic, demiurgic, and utterly raw emotion of music by real instruments.", Lyrica proudly spoke, slinging her lute from her back to her front before strumming a light tune. That single tune resonated around Caleb and Kaiya as they felt a strange tingling ripple through every muscle in their body, "You say none of these harmonious instruments caught your attention, sir? Why don't I assist you? I'm certain these hands can…~hit all the right chords with the right tool~.", Lyrica steps closer to him, taking his hand into a harpy wing, her silky smooth voice tantalizing his eardrums and sweet bodily filling his nostrils. Her luscious, full lips parted, twinkling chestnut eyes fixated on his own, ample braless D-cup cleavage in full view as she takes in more of his delicious scent, made more potent by his arousal. She needed more.
Kaiya looks between them becoming flustered and awkward seeing her so close to him. Whatsmore, seeing another female so close to him made her strangely anxious, even a little angry.
'WILL YOU JUST MOVE ALREADY YOU MUSIC OBSESSED FAT CHICKEN WHORE!' Minerva her patience at it's limit with bitch still blocking her shot.
"I…really appreciate it but imma pass. I was honestly just browsing.", Caleb casually replies, removing his hand and stepping back much to Lyrica's confusion, "Let's go, Kaiya."
"Ah. O-Ok."
Lyrica, not wanting to give up a specimen like him so easily, smirks to herself upon realizing the perfect way to draw out more of his delicious fragrance.
"Ahhhh, I understand now. You're on a date and don't want to embarrass yourself from lack of skill with instruments!",
Caleb and Kaiya look at her blankly a moment before the weight of what she said hits them like a cinder block to the face.
"EHHHHHHH?!", Kaiya shrieks, blushing feverishly.
"Whoa whoa whoa hold up now, don't jump to weird conclusions! We're just friends…acquaintances? Whatever! We're not–"
"Haha! No need to be shy, you two! Don't worry, I'm neither a snitch nor a slouch when it comes to love so don't worry about me saying anything to ICEP. In fact, I have the perfect rendition for two fledgling love birds like yourselves.", Lyrica happily replies, readying her lute, tuning it to the right chords.
"Ma'am that REALLY isn't necessary. We're not like that. Tell her Kaiy–wha?", Caleb gasps seeing the female hound nervously and cutely shuffling with a very flustered expression, "Oh come on!"
'Nonono! Dammit STAY STILL! I HAD A PERFECT SHOT! FUCK!' Minerva thought, feeling more anxious she can't afford to fail Tubula or… she needs to kill him before he leaves this store.
"Hello."
Minerva flinches hearing a voice next to her, then turns her head, surprised to see his little green haired cat girl that's with him.
"Let me guess, you another stalker?", Drei casually inquires to the tall devil woman who stands shocked, sweating nervously at being caught, "Well, whatever, that threshold is already filled by the hellhound so…I'll advise you only once to leave and never bother him again, if you value your life.", Drei casually threatens, partially extending her wrist scythes.
Minerva curses under her breath at being discovered. She knew killing him without any witnesses was out of the question now but, at the same time, leaving now and telling Tubala she failed might as well be killing herself. She knew he was right there, her spell was charged in her palm, and there's no way his little friend could move fast enough. If she's taken in by security, so be it, it's better than the alternative.
"Fuck it. IT'S DO OR DIE!", Minerva shouted, raising her arm fire of her spell as Drei moved to subdue her.
At that moment, Lyrica bodily radiates a sunset orange aura as she loudly strums a sweet melody on her lute making the sound reverate all around the store. Minerva stops in her tracks, canceling the spell, Drei ceases her movement with widened eyes as they, along with everyone else in the store feels calming soothing bliss through every nerve in their body that heard it. That is, except for anyone, like Tristan jamming to Kendrick Lamar with noise canceling earphones.
"Oh goddness, she's doing it again.", One of the female elf employees spoke in dread, using the last of their willpower to frantically trying to grab the ear plugs they keep on them.
Lyrica begins to play a familiar tune on her lute, sending even more waves of soothing bliss throughout the store. She sensually sways her hips, wings shimmering with every subtle movement as each strike of the chords sent wave after wave bombarding Caleb, Kaiya and the other customers' senses. Every bit of hostility and inhibition slowly melting.
'~Swaying room as the music starts, strangers making the most of the dark, two by two their bodies become one~', Lyrica sang her rendition of 'Crazy for you'. Her ethereal voice flowing a winding river carrying with it the essence of pure, unfiltered love that permeated the eardrums of all those within proximity. All the customers, male and female, regardless of feeling their hearts melting and their inner desires released on the first person that meets their gaze.
'Ngh, W-What the…is this chi in the air? It's so thick and warm. ', Drei thought, feeling her body becoming unresponsive. Similar to when Mirabelle used her power but not nearly as strong but just strong enough to overwhelm her senses. She quickly realizes the chi was traveling through sound waves and takes a couple napkins from Jovi's restaurant, stuffing them in her ears, "I have to get him out of here before–OOF!"
Before Drei could finish, she gets tackled into a very tight hug by the greater devil.
"Ugh, release me! Release me right now! I dislike physical contact, ESPECIALLY from strangers!", Drei demanded squirming to get free but found her arm restrained to her sides by the devil woman's superior strength. Times like this she could REALLY use Ein's massive assets, her powerful firearms.
"I think…I love you.", Minerva utter, face blushing red as she stares longingly at the weasel girl even mushing her breasts into her petite chest.
"Haaa, goddammit.", Drei sighed plainly.
While that was happening, Lyrica kept up the momentum, noticing other customers affectionately coupling up, hugging, nuzzling and even kissing much to the embarrassment of her staff.
"Yeahhh that beat is fuckin' fire!", Tristan expressed, his ears filled with the sound of Kendrick Lamar, oblivious to the scene around him.
"~The feeling in my chest, I'm crazy for you. Crazy for you. Ba ba ba ba baaaa~", Lyrica sang with her eyes closed, immersing herself. The aroma of their now unrestrained love in her customer's hearts released delicious pheromones enthralled her and, in turn, caused her body great joy and released its own overwhelming aroma.
Caleb looks around profoundly confused seeing the customers all just embracing and even making out…out in the open. He also felt a slight headache from Lyrica's singing, despite it, objectively being very good. The perfume-like scent grew stronger, practically burning through his nostrils.
"What in the hell is going on around here? Hey you seein–", Caleb stops himself when Kaiya suddenly hugs him, pressing her ample chest to his arm. He notices her tail wagging, flushed cheeks, and lightly panting. His cheeks flush, feeling the warmth of her body, "W-What are you doing?"
"It's hot…", she utters through a heated breath, staring into his eye while he stared back at her bangs covering her eyes, "My heart…it feels hot…please…make it stop…", She asked, not in a lustful, but pleading tone; unable to understand or control her emotions that were being forced out all at once.
Nevertheless, Caleb could sense the very familiar desperation in her tone and resolved to help.
…
"~Ohhh you're so cute my little lime kitten.~", Minerva lovingly spoke, nuzzling and smooching Drei as her devil tail happily swayed. The entire time the weasel girl was recoiling in disgust.
"I'm a weasel and if you don't release me right now I'm GOING to bite you.", Drei threatens.
"~Ohh, you're such a cute angry kitty.~"
"Ok. *CHOMP*", Drei utters before sinking her small but very sharp incisors into the devil woman's shoulder.
"YEEEOOOWWWOOOaahhhhhhhh. ~oh fuck!~", she howls in pain transitioning into a pleasured moan holding her tighter much to Drei's surprise, "~Got any more kitty?~"
"Let me go!", Drei shouted in frustration at her captor being a closet masochist.
…
'I never wanted anyone like this, it's so brand new! I FEEL IT IN MY CHEST…', Lyrica continued to sing, sending another wave of symphonic bliss prompting another headache jolt from Caleb. Lyrica notices his expression of worry for the hellhound and, while still singing, is puzzled by his behavior.
Sure, she could still taste his aroma but it hasn't increased in potency at all. Her charm songs have always been effective in tugging at her customer's heart strings. Why is he seemingly unfazed?
'I'll just have to kick it up a notch! LET ME HEAR YOUR HEART SING!', Lyrica thought, playing her lute with greater and increasing her mana output, bombarding everyone that heard it, increasing their lovey-dovey behavior much to her employees' frustration as they try to maintain any semblance of modesty.
Caleb's headache also grows stronger in magnitude prompting him to face with a look of irritation.
At that moment, Lyrica watches, to her shock as purple aura began emanating behind his head, taking an almost ghostly visage. It then quickly takes the shape of a woman's face with menacing purple eyes as Lyrica's singing voice grows softer and starts to miss a few chords. The apparition stares at her before opening its glowing purple mouth letting a loud, monstrous screech prompting horrifying images of her dead and decomposing corpse flash through her mind.
"CAN YOU PLEASE STOP THAT DAMN SINGING?!", Caleb shouted loudly in irritation as Lyrica let out a shriek, stumbling back, knocking over a couple of tall drums before fainting on the floor. At that moment, everyone in the store released from the musical charm as they regained their bearings.
Minerva, feeling the effects wearing off, loosens her grip on the Karmaitachi, who wasted no time slipping out of her grasp, letting her face plant on the floor.
Kaiya was also coming out of her stupor as the heat in her chest settled.
"Haaa, you feeling better?", Caleb asks her with a sigh.
Kaiya looks at him in slight ass then nods, "Y-Yes."
"Hey, chommie, there y'all are!", Tristan calls out going up to them, "Yo what happened around here? Why Is everyone suddenly half-naked? This a new dress code like that 'no shirt no shoes' thing or something?", He theorized as they looked surprised at the half-naked, confused impromptu couples around them.
"Nnnghh, oh good, you're not all touchy feeling. Let's get the hell out of here.", Drei says, vigorously cleaning lipstick off her cheeks with wet wipes.
"What happened to you?", Caleb asks, raising an eyebrow.
"I don't wanna talk about it. What happened to her?", Drei questions gesturing to the tall, quivering harpy inching further away from them. Tristan looks to the shop curiously seeing her oddly frightened expression.
"No idea, but let's get outta here before she starts singing again.", Caleb says in annoyance, taking Kaiya by the hand, much to her surprise, rushing out of the store.
"Aww but I was gonna buy that Kendrick guy's album.", Tristan whined as he and Drei quickly caught up behind him.
"It's fine. His albums are way cheaper online. I also have a copy at home."
"Wait, seriously?!", Tristan stated as their voices grew distant as Lyrica lay on the floor unconscious with her employees trying desperately to wake her.
"Ms. Lyrica? Please, get a hold of yourself!", one the elf women pleaded as the Ghandarva woman muttered nonsensical gibberish.
"I'll get a medic over! I'll get a medic over!", the other elf woman stated, dialing the phone.
"What happened to me? Why am I on the floor?! Why does my neck hurt?! WHY AM I BLEEDING?!", Minerva expressed, touching her bleeding bite wound catching both elve's attention.
"Get TWO medics!"
….
After leaving the music shop, trying to forget the weird parts of their experience, the group decided to kill some more time by checking out a couple shops. One of which happened to be a card game shop that sold a variety of board games, DND kits, maps, and dice, and various trading card games, including Yu-Gi-Oh. It was here Caleb learned about Tristan's interest in the card game after watching a little of GX anime. He just never got around to learning the game but assumed it worked JUST like the anime.
It was at that moment, Caleb knew, he had to educate him.
All the while, Kaiya decided to learn to play as well, finding it interesting. Not just because of the game itself, she admired how passionate and ecstatic Caleb's voice sounded. His eyes, those soft chocolate brown full of patience and kindness so sweet it threatened to send her into another fit of anaphylactic shock if she looked too long. Tristan especially enjoyed his open energy, even his funny quips between Drei about his "nerd knowledge" made her feel at ease around him.
They left the shop, Tristan now owning his own deck of Yu-Gi-Oh cards to match Caleb's so the latter can continue teaching and eventually playing together. They decided to grab some food at a nearby stand run by a male Triclops selling Swedish meatballs. The group was now seated at some nearby benches enjoying their food.
"Mmm, yooo these are HELLA good!", Tristan hums in delight, "Hey, what do humans call it when somethin's really good? Truckin'?"
"You mean bussin'?", Caleb corrects.
"That's it! These balls are bussin'! WOW, that sounded better in my head!", Tristan recoils as Caleb and both girls side eyed him.
"Ayo?! You wanna walk that back bruh?", Caleb smiles slyly, joking with him.
"Allll the way back! Like, when I was pup or something."
"You mean before the balls dropped?", Drei sarcastically asks, still eating the meatballs, as Caleb and Tristan howl in surprise and chuckling at her involvement in their nonsense. Kaiya softly chuckles with a smile, enjoying her meatballs. Caleb notices her laugh sounded a bit like a hyena but a little softer and cuter.
"Heh, you have a cute laugh.", He thought out loud, then quickly realizes what he said upon seeing her flinch in surprise dropping the meatball halfway to her mouth.
"W-W-What?", Kaiya stutters, cheeks flushed in embarrassment.
"I mean–"
"Haha! I see you noticed chommie! Ol'Kaiya here inherited my mom's laugh!", Tristan stated with a chuckle, gesturing presentively at Kaiya, adding to her embarrassment, "The weird part is I laugh kinda like auntie Amara but, you know, more manly. She and mom joke about our swapped laughs sometimes."
"Huh, you…don't say?"
"Guess you guys inherited a lot from your parents too huh?", Caleb replies with a small grin.
"Yep! For the most part, but we've still got our awesome quirks. Ain't that right, Kaiya?", Tristan says with a wide grin towards his cousin, unaware of the context of his words.
Kaiya stops eating, removing her fork from her lips, then looks down at her meatballs pensively, "I…guess so…", he utters, her voice low and morose which Caleb quickly picks up.
"Hm? Kai, you o–", Tristan spoke, a bit concerned by her tone.
"I'm out of meat balls.", Drei cuts him off, showing him her empty tray.
"What? Then go get some more, stand's right over there.", Tristan gestures down the block.
"I'm broke and it looks like your tray's empty too."
"Huh? No it–huh?!", Tristan looks down at his now empty tray, swearing he had six left. He was unaware of the weasel girl snatching his balls away, holding them behind her back in a small plastic storage bag, "What the Chaos?"
"Let's go before he sells out.", Drei tugs him by the pant leg, urging him to follow, which Tristan admittedly thought was cute.
"Ok, be right back guys."
As they walk away, Drei glances back at Caleb and Kaiya a moment in thought. She wasn't a hundred percent sure why but she felt the atmosphere suddenly growing heavy around the pair.
'Don't say anything stupid.', She thought, directing her silent will at Caleb.
The man in question looks at the female hellhound seated a couple feet apart from him, silently staring down at her food. He could tell what was on her mind after what Tristan said.
"Hey…you know he didn't mean it like that, right?"
Kaiya lets out a soft sigh, "I know but…it's just…", she trails, her words once again caught in her throat.
"You don't like being reminded about your eyes. Am I close?"
Kaiya's mouth went agape for a moment before simply nodding in confirmation.
"You know, it doesn't change anything. How they feel about you I mean. Red eyes, blue eyes, purple eyes, it doesn't matter because they're YOURS, and they love you.", Caleb assures.
"I know but…sometimes I can't help but think 'what if I was born normal like my sisters'? I've always been a weird little misfit pup. I just…want to be normal.", Kaiya spoke in slight frustration near the end, balling her fist tightly and accidentally snapping her fork in half, adding to her frustration. Suddenly, Caleb hands her another plastic fork still in the wrapper, much to her confusion and surprise.
"I always ask for a spare, you never know."
Kaiya looks at him curiously then accepts, "Thank you."
"Anyway, I don't know if you realized this but…there's no such thing as 'normal'."
"W-What are you talking about?"
"Human? Hellhound? Any species for that matter. All of them are unique but not the same. This world is full of weirdos just look at my species. Hell, look at me."
"But…you seem normal, maybe you don't quite smell like most humans but still.", Kaiya admitted, secretly enjoying his scent.
"Trust me, I'm not…but I'm getting used to it.", Caleb replies, discreetly conjuring tiny sharp barriers and slicing some meatballs in half, "Weird IS the new normal but, at the end of the day, I'm still me. As long as I know that, I'll be alright. You will too."
Kaiya stares at him in wonderment, touching her eyes under her black bangs, "Weird is…normal."
"Yep, and like I said last time, those 'weird' eyes of yours are beautiful.", Caleb emphasized, making a picture frame gesture around her face with his hands.
Her cheeks flushed darker, feeling her heart racing at the compliment, tail thumping the bench. Her mind raced as she tried to process how to respond to him.
"D-Does that mean you–", She blurted out leaning closer towards him, inadvertently knocking her tray of meatballs to the ground much to her dismay, "Ah nooooo.", she whined, seeing her food splattered on the ground.
"That's unfortunate. Here.", Caleb says, scoots the rest of his meatballs over to her side.
"W-What? Are y-you sure?", Kaiya questions, not wanting to take pity on her.
"It's fine, they're just meatballs. Besides, you look…kinda cute eating them. Like a mastiff puppy. N-Not to sound insulting or anything.", Caleb assured, not wanting the comparison to upset her.
Kaiya looks at him in surprise, letting the comparison set in. Despite how ridiculous it sounded, the slight shame of being pitied over something that's her own fault, she couldn't help the smile forming on her face nor the chuckles escaping her lips.
"Hahahaha. I get it because of my hair. Hahaha.", Kaiya chuckles sweetly.
As Caleb watches the hellhound girl laughing at his, honestly, bad joke, he couldn't help being reminded of that one day out that changed everything in his life at that moment. Her smile is so identical to his Moon Pie's on that day. He couldn't help smiling and laughing with her, feeling a familiar warmth in his chest.
...Later…
Caleb and Drei could now be seen pulling up to the parking spot of their living unit. They needed to get to Caleb's assignment in the morning so they had to depart from Kaiya and Tristan. Likewise, Tristan had to get Kaiya back home before Amara starts to worry. As they left, wishing them a pleasant evening, Caleb could've sworn he saw Kaiya frowning but figured he was imagining it.
As he and Drei got out of car, he notices Scarlett descending from above with her wings extended and glowing with faint white mana, landing in front of her door, before the flight spell vanishes completely. She lets out a lethargic sigh looking for her keys.
"Hey.", Caleb greets her, getting her attention.
Scarlett pauses a second upon noticing him, "Hey."
"You just got back too huh?"
"Y-Yeah…", she replies plainly, glancing away.
At that moment, Drei immediately snatched the keys from Caleb's palm, much to surprise and annoyance.
"If you're going to stand there and chat, then I will go inside. I have to change out of these clothes. They reek of meat and masochism.", Drei plainly spoke, unlocking the door and walking inside.
"Meat and masochism?", Scarlett questions, raising an eyebrow at him.
"Today's been a long day.", Caleb replied, arms folded in a tired voice, "Know what I mean?"
Scarlett sighs, "Oddly enough, I do. I'm a
guessing your endurance was tested today as well?"
Upon saying that, images of everything from Carmine brutally murdering a chicken to the impromptu love concert from the lute playing harpy lady.
"Yes, in more ways than one. So, how'd the Chaos meeting go?"
"Better than expected but…there is still a lot of work to be done. Events as of late aren't making that any easier.", Scarlett shamefully admits, thinking of Tubala and the others' prejudice towards Venus and her coven.
"Well, at least you're making some progress."
"Maybe…but I doubt it'll be enough. I need to be better…for everyone.", Scarlett resolves, clutching her key in hand.
"Nothing wrong with that, just try not to push yourself too hard or put too much on yourself. Hana and the others are helping you too, right?"
Scarlett looks at him in surprise, "They are but…they have their own futures to think about. I can't put too much responsibility on them. Besides, the faction was my idea so–"
"So what?", Caleb interjects much to her confusion, "You formed it together and they're your friends, right? They care about you, right?"
Scarlett pauses for a second, "Right."
"So let them help, anyway they can. Trust me, trying to control everything so everyone except you is happy, that's not gonna work. It's exhausting. Sometimes 'being better' just means…letting go of the reins. Let people your loved ones show you the way.", Caleb says with a supportive smile.
Scarlett stares at him, cheeks flushing, as she looks away from him in thought.
"Just food for thought. Anyway, I'm getting some rest, and no offense, but you look like you need it too.", Caleb replies as Scarlett blushes harder with a slightly embarrassed scowl.
"D-Do you ever think before you talk?", She questions, arms folded trying to keep up her stern demeanor.
"All the time. Unfortunately, I still have trouble choosing the right words, so, sorry if my mouth upset you.", Caleb half-jokingly replies, noticing her expression softens a lot more, "Ok, goodnight Scarlett."
"W-Wait.", Scarlett nearly yelled, partially reaching her hand to him.
"Yeah?"
"I…", Scarlett hesitates, feeling her heart and body pulsating more with every inch she drew closer. Fearing what would happen if she got any closer, she bit her tongue and responded with a simple yet sufficeable, "Thank you, that's all…"
"Heh, anytime.", he responded with a smile before going into his unit.
The door audibly closed as Scarlett stood there and sighed in disappointment, mostly directed at herself.
She then clutches her chest, feeling her heart aching and not understanding why. Images of Caleb and Kaiya on the balcony that night and him smiling at her moments replay in her mind. She clenches her fist in frustration before flinging the door open, not wanting to stand outside all night, then closes it shut. All the while, a few more strands of her hair change snow white.
…Elsewhere…
On the other side of the facility, several blocks away from the Angel congregation, the street was lit by street lamps and several stores run by liminals. Some were completely original, like a candy store filled with slime based treats, and other name brand stores like a GameStop run by a few male orcs. Several liminals, many of the nocturnal variety, could be seen frequenting these establishments as I.A. night security staff patrolled the areas.
It was here a lone human man, wearing regular clothes but had an I.A. identification card attached to a black strap on his right arm, was taking a stroll down the evening street to clear his head.
It was Nick, the 'big brother' of Mars.
After the events at the restaurant, where Johnny, supposedly, tried poisoning one of the hellhounds, he and the others were immediately detained for three whole days for questioning. Despite telling them all he knew about Johnny, they continued to pressure and pressure him into confessing to any motives that even HE didn't understand. Their association with the Malones certainly wasn't doing them any favors.
Eventually, when he wasn't useful they just let him and the others go but even stricter limitations on their 'employment' at I.A. They had to wear their ID cards on their arms at all times for I.A. security to track them anywhere they go and their living units were monitored 24/7 by these weird little fairies in tiny I.A. suits.
As for Johnny, they were keeping him in a holding cell for now and running some kind psychological evaluation on him.
Honestly, the whole thing didn't make a lick of sense to him. There's no way Johnny is capable of something like that. The man writes romance poems for his wife, Callista. He's a liberal arts major for God sake! It just didn't make sense no matter how much he thought about it.
Still, the one thing he wanted most was just to see his sweet little Mars again. He hoped going out for fresh air would give him a modicum of peace yet, seeing the smiling faces of the people around him who didn't have a care in the world only reminded him how dull and hollow his life was before meeting Mars. He truly wanted to enjoy this kind of nightlife with her without being judged.
'Haaa, but right now, I'd be happy to see her at all. ' Nick thought to himself, sighing lethargically as he kept walking.
He soon found himself walking across a large bridge, dimly lit by street lamps on either end, with a river running through. The shimmering waters by the surrounding light. The soothing sound of running waters from below along with the distant sounds of people gave the area a relaxing ambience.
It was then he noticed, figure standing near the edge of the bridge. He could make out more details and saw a woman wearing white Romanesque dress that stopped at her Roman-style leather boots. She had long golden blonde hair tied into a short, braided tail. She was tall with a shapely figure, fairly wide hips, and perky D-cup breasts. The most noticeable features to Nick though were her large white angel wings and small, golden glowing halo above her head.
As he quietly drew closer, he could see she was staring down at the rushing waters in deep contemplation. Her blue eyes were cold and lifeless and a small frown.
The voices of her uncle Baliel, Nepheli, her in-laws, and her so-called fiancee replaying endlessly in her mind to the point she couldn't hear her thoughts anymore. Only the voices of others whims, desires, and meaningless praises filled her mind and she wanted it to stop. She looks down at the rushing waters, tears rolling down her cheeks, wondering if it was deep enough to drown out the noise.
"Hey there.", Nick greeted, startling the angel woman out of her thoughts.
She turns to see, to slight relief and great weariness, that it was just another human. No doubt about pore vapid praise and reverence unto her like so many others of his kind. Nevertheless, keeping to the teachings that have been beaten into her since birth and smiles for the human.
"Good evening.", She greets in sweetest voice she could muster.
"I guess Weeping Angels do exist." Nick casually spoke as he looked toward the water with a small smile.
"What? What are you talking about?", she questions, thrown off completely by what the human, until she realizes she didn't wipe her tears from her face.
The realization that a human saw her, an angel, in such an unsightly, shameful way caused her to panic. She, like all her kind, are supposed to be PERFECT in their eyes but now he's seen her in this state.
"N-No no no, t-this means nothing! Absolutely nothing! I-It's just allergies! I promise! P-Please believe me!", She frantically stated, almost begging, fearing whatever punishment her uncle would give her if he found out her transgression.
"Hey hey! Take it easy, it was just a little joke. You seemed like you needed a little laugh.", Nick assures her but it doesn't calm her in the slightest.
"No! I'm fine! I'm perfectly happy! See?", She desperately assured him, pointing at her toothy smile. Her eyes betrayed her facade.
"Hey now, if that were the case, you wouldn't be in gloomy place like this, same as me.", He morosely spoke, looking down at the flowing as the angel woman visibly started to panic, fear filling her eyes. At that moment, Nick reaches into her pocket and hand her a small pack of napkins, "Here. They're hypoallergenic. It should help."
The angel woman was taken aback in surprise, nervously looking at him and the napkins before cautiously accepting.
"T-Thank you. W-Why though?"
"Because, like Venus would say, big brothers should always be prepared when they're…little sisters are sad.", Nick answered, hesitating near the end.
"Big brothers? Venus? I-I don't understand."
"You don't have to. I'm just talking myself a little their. Either way that advice of her's came in handy. Oh, right, I'm Nicholas by the way but you can call me 'Nick'", Nick introduced himself, giving a warm smile and offering a handshake.
The angel woman stares at him in amazement at his genuine expression of kindness. Her hand shook for second as she reach towards his before she lightly grabs it, immediately she felt a warmth spreading throughout every inch of her body. Her blue eyes stared back into his light gray, her heart racing in excitement as she realized he was looking at HER–not just what she is. She couldn't remember the last time she felt this…good.
"You may call me, Ophelia.", She says while giving him a genuinely smile for the first time in a long time before it grows unsettlingly wider with pure adoration. She knew she wanted, no, NEEDED more of this.
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Sup fam! Happy New Year to everyone of my delightful followers. Welp, first chapter of 2024 and we're just getting started cooking! Big thanks to my beta readers and my boy Sandshrewmaster. I hope you'll stick to see what we're serving up this year.
Now, a few things. First, I hope your holidays this year were memorable and fun. If not, don't worry there's always next year. Second, quick update and thank you to my followers in their support of my burglary situation. Also, warrants are out, they have the identities of the fuckboys that stole my stuff and are currently looking for them. So I kinda have to be patient and wait for updates, sucks but it is what it is. Third, part of my new years resolution this time is to read more books. My goal is 25 books by the end of the year. Wish me luck.
Anyway that's about it, huh your parents, drink water, get sleep, don't ask an Orthrus their sex life, and I'll see y'all soon. PEACE FAM!