Note: The events of this chapter take place shortly after the events of Chapter 3.
Kikimora had kept her head low after her defeat at the hands of the Hexside students. For the last few days, she had kept to herself in the forests of the Isles, her only companion being her Abomatron, Roka.
Kikimora had heard word that Belos had finally been killed in the wake of the Titan's reawakening. She had a good idea of who had been a primary factor in his death...
It was one of the few times she would actually admit that human did her a favor. Belos was bent on killing everyone on the Isles (Including her), even if that meant taking them down with him.
As she trudged through the trees, she reached a clearing on a cliff. Kikimora looked out into the distance to see Bonesborough. From the looks of it, construction had begun rather recently, but still had gotten a lot done in such a short time.
The biped demon sighed before moving over to her Abomatron, and accessed a storage unit on the side of the left fist. She pulled out her old disguise she had used back at Hexside. There were a couple tears in the fabric and the wig was ruffled, but it would have to do.
She really needed something in town and couldn't risk being recognized by anyone she wronged.
"Miki" managed to slink past most of the people working on the town construction, and into the pub. She sighed in relief at the familiar scent of Apple Blood in the air. A drink would definitely help after all she'd been through.
"Thank Titan this place survived the Collector's reign." Kikimora remarked as she walked over to the bar, and climbed onto a stool.
"Hey there white hair, what can I get you?" The bartender asked, leaning on the bar counter and glancing at Kikimora.
"One shot of the hardest Apple Blood you got. Leave the bottle." Kikimora answered using her disguised voice, slapping down a few gold snails on the counter.
The bartender nodded before taking the snails, and turning around to get the bottle.
Kikimora began to delve into thought as she was given her first shot glass. What was next for her anyway? She had attempted to gain power at Hexside, that worked for a while... Until the human and her friends got in the way like usual.
Kikimora REALLY wanted to get back at them somehow, but she also wanted power and something to lead... She just didn't know how it was possible. But oh... Did she want them all to pay for-
"Pretty deep in thought there, aren't you?"
Kikimora was brought back to reality by a voice, that she couldn't help but find familiar...
She turned to see a red biped demon, much like herself, sitting next to her. The demon had black hair, goggles, and a dark brown coat with a bandoleer across her chest.
"Frankly, I haven't seen anyone hold that much Apple Blood in one sitting since my days as a rustler in the Palm Stings.." The biped demon remarked, chuckling.
Kikimora then noticed, that she had absentmindedly downed over half the bottle while she was lost in thought.
"Oh... You're from Palm Stings?" Kikimora asked, keeping her voice disguised.
"Yeah, I was raised their for a good portion of my life... Name's Valera." The demon introduced herself.
Kikimora's eyes widened under her goggles. Valera? She knew that name!
"V-Valera?!" Kikimora exclaimed, almost letting her real voice slip out from how taken aback she was.
"Yes... Do I know you?" Valera asked back, feeling as if she also knew her from somewhere.
Kikimora glanced around to make sure nobody was looking... Before leaning in and lifting her goggles slightly.
"It's me! Kikimora! We were friends when we were kids!" Kikimora claimed quietly, using her normal voice.
Valera's eyes widened in realization.
"Kiki?! Oh my Titan, it's been years!" She exclaimed, not being able to keep a smile from spreading onto her face.
Kikimora quickly shushed her old friend.
"Val, keep it down! I'm trying to keep a low profile here..." Kikimora told her quietly.
"Well... How about we go somewhere else to talk then?" Valera suggested, which Kikimora seemed to consider.
"Good idea. Let's go... Bring that bottle." She told Valera.
The biped demon nodded, and grabbed the bottle before hopping off the stool to follow "Miki" out of the pub.
"So, what have you been up to recently? Last I heard is you got accepted into the Emperor's Coven... You know, before it all went to shit." Valera asked her old friend as they both sat on the cliff-side overlooking Bonesborough.
"Well, I ended up defecting during the Day of Unity... And managed to hide out in Hexside while the Collector's reign was going on." Kikimora explained.
"Oh! I heard about that..." Valera remarked, "Also, Miki? Seriously? That's the best fake name you could come up with?" she teased.
"Shut it. I was under a lot of stress and was pretty much winging it." Kikimora defended, crossing her arms.
"Sure, whatever you say..." Valera chuckled, "So, what are you going to do now? I mean the Isles are no longer under any Coven's complete control... It's like it's back to the Savage Ages."
"I know that, and I want to take advantage of that!" Kikimora exclaimed.
"What, are you going to start a new Coven from scratch or something?" Valera asked, half-jokingly.
Kikimora's eyes lit up, "That's EXACTLY what we're going to do!" she proclaimed.
Valera was taken aback, "Wait... We?" she questioned.
"Yes! Come on Val... We were best friends when we were younger, just think of the power we can both get if we work together!" Kikimora told her.
Valera considered it for a moment. She did lov- like Kikimora, and seeing as they had been friends for years... She did trust her.
"Well... Even if we were to do it. Where would we even start? It's not like you're the most popular person around here considering your previous loyalty to the Emperor." Valera replied.
Kikimora sighed. Valera was right, a lot of- MOST of the people in the Boiling Isles would love to see her behind bars or worse. She shuddered at the thought of a very likely execution involving her.
"We'd need to be rather careful about how we do it... Maybe if we gather resources and become stronger in the shadows, we can just declare our leadership of the Isles once our Coven becomes powerful and has enough followers." Kikimora suggested.
"If we're going to do that approach, we'd need a hideout..." Valera said, before smirking. "Luckily, I think I know just the place."
Valera moved some of the moss and vines covering the large rock aside, revealing a large tunnel that led into a cave.
"How did you come across this place?" Kikimora asked as they went inside, with her piloting her Abomatron.
"Back during the start of Belos' rule, It used to be a place where those 'loyal' to the Emperor's Coven would hide their Palismen and smuggle them around safely across the Isles." Valera explained, "Eventually it was abandoned, and I found it a few years ago."
Kikimora was surprised. Huh, so that's why so many of the early Coven Scouts didn't have any Palismen to offer Belos.
They finally reached the main chamber of the cave. It was quite large, and looked like it could fit a lot of people and supplies.
"So nobody else knows about this place?" She asked, to which Valera nodded. "Excellent, this place will be perfect then."
"We'll need supplies and food though... And recruit the first few members." Valera remarked.
"That's a good point Val." Kikimora replied, "We need supplies first off. How about you head into town and get us some?"
Valera nodded, "I can do that. What will you be doing?" she inquired.
"Oh, I have a feeling I know where we can find some willing recruits for the Coven." Kikimora smirked.
Kikimora knew a lot of people had managed to hide from the Collector's wrath after the Day of Unity. Hexside was not the only safe haven in the Isles during that time.
As she ventured through the caves on her Abomatron, she finally spotted what she was looking for: A small group of Coven Scouts, still hiding out down here in the dark caves, huddled by a small fire.
"Greetings!" Kikimora called out to them, to which the Scouts pulled out weapons to defend themselves.
Kikimora put her hands up, "I mean you no harm... I was just seeing if there were any survivors down here." she explained.
The Scouts seemed to accept the explanation, and put their weapons down slightly. That's when one of them recognized Kikimora's voice.
"Kikimora? You survived the Day of Unity?" One of the Scouts asked, taken aback.
"Yes, I did. And the fact you're surprised at that is a little insulting." Kikimora deadpanned.
"How goes things on the surface? Is it safe to come up?" Another Scout inquired.
"Oh yes, it's completely safe now! The Collector is gone, and so is Belos." Kikimora answered as she slid off the side of Roka.
The Coven Scouts all breathed a sigh of relief, some cheering in happiness. "But wait... If Belos is gone, who's leading the Isles now?" One of the Scouts pointed out.
"Yeah, that's a good point. Does this mean we're leaderless... AND Covenless?" Another Scout asked.
"You could come join my new Coven... We're looking to return order to the Boiling Isles, and we need members in order to do so." Kikimora offered. She held back a smirk, knowing this was going exactly how she wanted it to go.
The Scouts murmured amongst each other for a few moments, before one of them turned to Kikimora. "What are you offering us in exchange?" he asked.
"A place to stay, the chance to bring order back to the Isles, and safety against those on the Isles who might want vengeance against you for your past actions." Kikimora listed off, "Should I go on?"
"No, no... I think we'll accept. We don't have much of a choice anyways." One of the Scouts remarked, and Kikimora smiled.
"Excellent. Follow me, I'll lead you out of these caves." Kikimora told them, getting back on her Abomatron.
They all began to walk out, before Kikimora paused. She pointed to two of the Coven scouts with her Abomaton's hand.
"You two stay here. Try and find other groups in these caves, and convince them to join up with us as well." Kikimora ordered, to which the two Scouts nodded and walked back further into the cave.
Kikimora smirked. Oh, this was going to be TOO easy...
Valera loaded the last of her supplies onto a wagon, and climbed on. But as she did, she heard a couple voices talking behind her.
"I heard the Coven heads are getting together for a meeting soon..." One witch remarked.
"Yeah, something about a new leader I think." Another witch added.
Valera's eyes widened slightly. A new leader?
That wouldn't be good if the Coven they were making was going to go anywhere. Valera noted that she would have to tell Kiki about it when she got back to the hideout, and began to drive off.
She soon reached the hideout, and drove the wagon down the tunnel into the main chamber. Valera noticed multiple Coven Scouts were walking around, their masks now having been removed.
It was a little weird to see with how used to seeing their masks on Valera was.
Kikimora approached her, "Ah! You're back, and you got the supplies! Well done!" she told Valera.
Valera chuckled, before remembering what she had heard. "Oh right, Kiki... We might have a problem." Valera told her
"What problem?" Kikimora asked with a hint of worry in her tone. She swore to Titan if it was those brats again...
"Apparently the Coven heads are getting together and there's talk of a possible new leader being put into place." Valera explained... To which Kikimora sighed in relief.
"Oh thank Titan, you actually had me worried there for a second." Kikimora said.
"Kiki! I'm serious! They're-" Valera began, but was cut off by Kikimora.
"The day those Coven leaders agree on something without killing each other, is the day everyone says Belos wasn't THAT insane." Kikimora chuckled.
She found even the idea of the Coven heads agreeing on something humorous. The only reason any of them were actually loyal to Belos was because being loyal gave them power, as little as it was.
"We have... NOTHING to worry about Val." Kikimora finished.
"Well, if you say so..." Valera replied, unsure. "Speaking of Covens, what's even the name of the Coven we're making?"
Kikimora clicked her tongue. She hadn't really thought of a name for it yet.
The Demon Coven? Nah, that singled only one race out. She wanted complete control of the entirety of the Isles' populace. Kikimora's Coven? No, too narcissistic.
Then it happened, the perfect name finally hit her.
"The Mercenary Coven! That's what we are!" Kikimora declared.
"Hm, I like it!" Valera agreed.
Kikimora and Valera both grinned. Now that they had an official name, they had only one goal in mind at the moment...
...Expansion of their new Coven.