Flug landed on the floor of his computer room roughly. He sighed. At the very least, Melanie was safe and would be fine with 505.
Flug got up, walked over to his desk, and contemplated how he would go about this whole Sadie business.
Should Flug tell the girls? They would probably feel better if he was more honest, but he also worried knowing about the auction would only make them frantic.
Black Hat had every means to separate the girls. It was obviously part of his greater plan for his new ward. Flug couldn't read his jefe's mind, but he could follow his train of thought to an extent.
Perhaps Black Hat thought that by taking everything Melanie knew away, she would have no choice but to turn to evil. Even if, in the short term, it meant she would hate everyone around her and be extremely obstinate, she would be away from every good influence, and thus, more vulnerable.
That was clearly what Black Hat wanted for his newly adopted child. It was Flug's job as his right-hand man to facilitate that. He couldn't get in the way so he couldn't help the girls.
However, Flug could still make the situation easier to get through. He had that much respect for them, at least.
Flug took a deep breath. The girls deserved the truth. He just needed to find a way to break it to them as gently as possible.
The first one Flug would break it to was Sadie. Then it would be Melanie.
Flug would do that after he fulfilled Black Hat's request.
About an hour or so later, Sadie was out of her bed but back in her cage once again. She was pacing back and forth on her feet for once. Being alone with no update on Melanie was aggravating and annoying.
Finally, the girl stopped pacing and growled, "Argh! Let me outta here, ya gobshites! Oh…"
Suddenly, the door to the room slid open and Flug entered.
Sadie hovered in the air and literally flew across her cell to look at Flug, "Finally! Where the heck is Melanie?!"
Flug nervously looked askance, "Melanie is being taken to her room. Black Hat spent some time with her, and it seems he knocked her out for a nap. I see you're feeling better."
"Yeah, doc, I have healing powers. Remember?" Sadie quipped. "Now, tell me. When will I see Melanie again?"
"I don't know," Flug admitted. "But I'm here to talk to you about something important. You're going to be auctioned off on our website."
Sadie paused as her mouth hung open, "Sold off? What do you mean? You mean, like a slave?"
"I'm sorry," Flug nodded. "Your parents will get the option to buy you and so will the Nunjas. You might get your freedom that way."
Sadie landed and curled up on the ground.
"And if I don't?" she asked.
"Then you'll be bought by any villain who wants to adopt you as their child or use you as their minion," Flug answered plainly. "It depends on who the highest bidder is…"
Suddenly, Flug heard sobbing. He looked up to see Sadie trembling and crying with her face on top of her knees.
The evil doctor had caused enough misery in his life to be hardened to it by now.
Nevertheless, Flug still walked over to the cell and sat down on the floor right next to where Sadie was sitting on the other side of the wall.
A few hours later, Sadie was calm and laying on the floor unemotionally while Flug did some work on his watch and a laptop without leaving his spot on the floor.
Suddenly, an alarm went off. It was to one of the cameras hovering over the ocean.
Flug switched his laptop to the camera's live feed to check out what was going on.
Flug gasped.
The camera spotted a yuki-onna flying above the water. It was Lucy in her full yokai form. She had long flowing black hair and icy white skin and was clad in a white kimono. Snow clouds followed behind her as she flew above the water with the help of the icy winter winds.
Immediately, speaking up over the radio, Flug reached out to Black Hat and Lord Reaper, "My lords, sensors say a new lifeform is approaching the island. It's Lucy."
"What?" Sadie asked, perking up.
"I'll be back later," Flug said to Sadie before rushing to his feet and dashing to the elevator.
The temperature around the island dropped dramatically almost immediately. Ice and storm clouds surrounded the yuki-onna as she flew over the beach and the citizens of Black Hat Island, bringing snow and ice wherever she flew.
Flug made it to the lobby floor and ran into 505.
The evil scientist was visibly shivering and 505 grunted in concern.
"Hey, 505?" asked Flug. "Can you turn up the heater? Burr, it's so cold."
505 nodded and headed over to the heater while Flug headed upstairs to Black Hat's Office.
Quickly outside, a snowstorm was brewing. It was almost impossible to see anything outside.
Inside Black Hat's Office, Flug and Lord Reaper began to get concerned.
"Black Hat, are you sure we have this under control?" Lord Reaper asked.
All Black Hat did was lean back in his chair and smile, "Oh, yes. I have been waiting for this moment for YEARS! Don't tell me you're worried over a bit of snow."
"I'm worried over what the snow is for," Lord Reaper said. "How much power does this woman have? Is this an attack?"
Just then, Lucy appeared on the sidewalk in front of the house, walking to the manor in her white kimono with her black hair flowing freely in the wind.
"Hardly," Black Hat said, looking out the window. "I figured you'd find this expected since you find so much meaning in these blood ties."
"I suppose so," Lord Reaper conceded, while watching Lucy walk closer to the house. "I know I'd cause a fuss to save Melanie."
"Flug, get Demencia and both of you escort the woman to my office," Black Hat ordered.
"Yes, Jefe!" Flug replied with a salute before rushing away.
Outside about five minutes later, Lucy reached the gate, turned into an icy mist, phased through, and reassembled on the other side where Flug and Demencia were waiting.
Flug stood there shivering in the heavy clothes he managed to throw on before rushing outside.
"Hello, miss," Flug muttered out between shudders.
Lucy bowed her head slightly, looked at Flug sternly, and said, "So, you're one of the monsters tormenting my girls?"
"I-I'd hardly call it torment," Flug stammered defensively. "Lord Black Hat is waiting for you inside."
Meanwhile, Dementia was staring daggers at her.
"You'll die before you get anywhere near mi amorcito!" shrieked the lizard woman.
Lucy rolled her eyes, "The only interest I have in that man is in getting my girls back."
Flug straightened out his coat and assumed his cold, professional demeanor.
"Greetings, Lucy," Flug said formally. "I'm sure you knew this day was coming for a long time. How about you step inside?"
Lucy scoffed, "Can't even talk to me himself after 20 years?"
Demencia spoke up, "You think you're special enough to look down on my lord?!"
"After what he's put me, my girls, and the universe through, I have every right to look down on him," said Lucy, walking past them to get inside.
Angry, Demencia growled.
Her fists shook before she took her frustration to the gate, punching it.
"Well, screw her too!" cried Demencia, following behind Lucy and Flug as the gate swung open with a dent in it.
The moment Lucy stepped inside the weather immediately returned to normal and she took on her human form again.
Flug breathed a sigh of relief and tapped a command in his watch to turn the air conditioning back on.
505 trotted in offering hot chocolate on a tray.
Lucy smiled at the bear.
"You, you're 505, right?" Lucy asked, taking her hot chocolate. "My girls have told me about you. Thank you for being such a source of happiness. Don't let anyone change that."
Flug and Demencia each took a cup and headed up the stairs.
505 smiled and saluted playfully as he tucked the tray beneath his arm. He then gestured for her to go up the stairs.
Lucy nodded and walked up the stairs slowly as 505 followed behind her.
The group waited outside the office to drink their beverages before heading in.
Lucy waited for Demencia and Flug to both drink their hot chocolates before she drank her own. Once she saw that the drinks were safe, she drank hers down eagerly, knowing it was the last bit of happiness she could possibly ever have.
Once they were all done drinking, 505 happily took the cups and walked away.
Lucy took a deep breath. It was time for her to face the pain she had been avoiding.
"Hey, Dem? Can you go check on the girls?" asked Flug.
"Yeah, nerd," said Demencia before she hopped on the ceiling and scampered away.
"Will I be allowed to see them?" Lucy asked.
"That is likely," Flug said, pushing the door open and showing Black Hat who was sitting at his desk grinning.
Lucy froze where she stood. She felt the memories of her past nightmares and her past encounters crawling on her back. Nevertheless, she stepped forward to face the man of her nightmares.
"Risking yourself for two brats?" Black Hat asked amusedly. "After all this time, it's such a pitiful end."
"You have no right to torture two girls for my actions," asserted Lucy. "I'm sorry if you can't see that people have their own ways to live."
"Oh, no," Black Hat replied. "I know that. I just don't care."
Lucy scoffed, "As expected, you haven't changed a bit. Those girls are my little sisters. They're my family in the Lord and through bond. They're some of the only family I have left thanks to you, Black Hat-sama. I'll do anything to set them free."
"Pathetic," Black Hat insulted. "But very well, I do have an offer."
"Yes?" asked Lucy. "What is your offer?"
"Sit down first, dear," Black Hat gestured at the chair across from him.
Lucy smiled, turned into a mist, and reappeared on the chair across from Black Hat.
"Show off," Lord Reaper muttered.
"So, what are your terms, Black Hat?" asked Lucy.
"Your submission," answered Black Hat.
Lucy scoffed, "I expected as much, but what exactly does that entail?"
"You remaining here until I purge your mind of the idiocy you call righteousness," Black Hat replied.
Lucy paused for a moment fearfully but pushed on, "And my girls? What do you offer me in return?"
"You'll have my guarantee that the girls will remain unharmed," Black Hat explained. "I never did plan on killing someone as valuable as Melanie in the first place. Now that I've made her my ward and apprentice, I never plan to lose her. I was thinking about killing the shapeshifter. But since sparing it will get you to cooperate, I can forego that pleasure."
"But what will you do with them instead?!" exclaimed Lucy. "Will you let them go?! As untrustworthy as you are, you did mention releasing them and I know that legally at least you're a demon god that doesn't go back on his word."
Unfazed, Black Hat replied, "As far as legality goes, you won't get far with Melanie. As I said before, I don't plan on parting with her. Legally, I can't. Her parents have allowed me to adopt her as her legal guardian. Legally, she is my ward and practically my daughter. But for the other, let's say I'll sell her to someone guaranteed to take good care of her."
"How about her parents?" Lucy asked with a raised eyebrow. "Who would raise Sadie better? And what would you know about raising young girls? Or Melanie for that matter? I ran away from you and your institutions for a reason."
Black Hat scoffed, "You would be wise to doubt such a gross thing from me. I suppose that is why the Reaper is here. Regardless of your feelings towards him, he is extremely sentimental towards her. It's disgusting."
"I'm more worried about that with Sadie. Your customers aren't savory people," Lucy said before turning to Lord Reaper. "Melanie has told me much about you. She resents you but she knows you care. You shouldn't have let Black Hat take custody. She had more faith in you than you deserved."
"How dare you…!" Lord Reaper yelled in a semi-demonic voice.
"What's done is done!" Black Hat interrupted. "Melanie is going to stay here where I will raise her as my ward."
"And Sadie?" Lucy demanded. "You're still going to sell her to any unsavory person who gives you the most amount of money? What is my incentive for staying if I get nothing?"
Black Hat seemed displeased, staring straight into her.
"Her parents will suffice," conceded Black Hat. "Although I wouldn't bet on me delivering her to the Nun-ja."
"So, you will let Sadie return to her parents if I remain here?" asked Lucy.
"Perhaps," Black Hat replied vaguely.
"Forgive me if I have no intention of believing your mere words," Lucy retorted sarcastically.
"The bidding is currently tied between her parents and another villainess seeking a companion for her granddaughter," Flug said, gesturing to his tablet.
"Are there any others?" Lord Reaper asked with a malicious smile.
"Plenty of other unsavory characters who would like to use Sadie for...uh...unspeakable things," Flug said nervously.
Lucy's eyes flashed in panic, and she gave Black Hat a nasty glare.
Black Hat raised a brow, glancing at Lucy.
"No," the demon said. "I will keep to our deal, despite what would be more entertaining. The shapeshifter will not be given to those individuals."
Black Hat conjured up a contract and laid it down.
Lucy read over the contract and said, "If I sign this, Sadie will be allowed to return to her parents and never be forced to deal with you again, but in return, I have to return to the Black Hat Organization. Am I understanding this correctly?"
"You are correct," Black Hat answered. "And if you violate it, I'll reap her essence across the globe."
"So, it's decided," said Lucy with a sigh. "But understand when I sign this, I still can't give you my soul. That belongs to God, and I couldn't give it to you if I wanted to."
"I'm waiting," Black Hat pressed.
Lucy sighed, gripped the pen, and with a tear in the corner of her eye, signed the contract.
Lightning crackled in the sky with sleet and hail pouring down.
"Welcome back, dear," Black Hat said with a grin.
"The feeling isn't mutual," Lucy returned sassily. "Now, where are my girls?"
Black Hat grinned widely as the lightning struck again and the room darkened.
When the darkness lifted, Melanie fell into the office through a portal on the floor that had appeared outside her bathroom as she walked out.
"What's going on?!" Melanie cried as she summoned her wings and landed on the floor beside Lucy. "Lucy?!"
"Doctor, go get the other," Black Hat ordered. "I'll let these two catch up."
"Yes, jefe," Flug replied, bowing his head before he left the room.
Lucy smiled sadly, "Hello, Melanie."
"Sensei!" Melanie cried as she ran into her friend's arms.
"I'm so sorry I couldn't come sooner," Lucy apologized.
"Lucy, why are you in Black Hat's office?" Melanie asked directly. "Please tell me you didn't just do what I think you did."
Lucy gave a sad nod with a smile to accompany it and said, "It was the only way to save Sadie. I had no other choice."
"Oh, sure you did," Black Hat added cruelly. "Only for once you made the smart choice."
"SHUT UP!" Melanie shrieked at Black Hat much to his chagrin.
"I wouldn't forget your place, little girl," Black Hat growled making a shadowy force wrap around the teen girl's neck.
Melanie shook violently under his grip as he lifted her off the ground.
Lucy tried to stop him, but Lord Reaper held her back.
Black Hat glared at the frightened creature in his grip and smiled wickedly. After a few seconds, he released her from his power, cacking wildly all the while.
Melanie fell to the ground and coughed for a moment before regaining her breath. When she looked up, Black Hat was about an inch from her face.
"What have we learned?" the demon asked.
Melanie scooted backward in shock and remained silent.
Since she didn't respond, Black Hat decided to repeat his question more forcefully.
The demon grew in size, planting his claws on either side of Melanie on the ground. He leaned in, effectively pinning her without touching her.
In a deepened voice and red eye, Black Hat uttered, "WHAT! Have we learned?!"
Melanie gulped, took a deep breath, and replied meekly, "Don't tell you to shut up?"
"It's a start," conceded Black Hat, backing away instantly.
Lord Reaper let Lucy go and she snarled, "And you allowed that creature to gain full custody of your granddaughter?"
"It was the best thing for her," Lord Reaper said.
Lucy ran to Melanie, helped her get up, and asked, "Do you really believe that?"
Lord Reaper looked at Black Hat for backup.
"Better than her ending up like you now, isn't it?" Black Hat replied cruelly.
Just then, the door opened with Demencia hanging on it. Flug came in with Sadie.
Sadie looked exhausted, but she could stand on her own two feet.
"Lucy!" Sadie cried as she ran into Lucy's arms along with Melanie. "Lucy, the doctor said you have traded yourself for me! Tell me that isn't true!"
"It is," Lucy said. "But Melanie and I are staying here. You're going home to your family."
"No! Not after all you've been through, this isn't right!" Sadie cried.
"Who cares," Black Hat interjected.
Melanie and Lucy both gave Black Hat nasty glares, but he paid more attention to Melanie's.
"I would say goodbye to your friend while you can," Black Hat said coldly to his grandniece. "I can't guarantee you'll see her again."
Melanie began tearing up and held Sadie in a hug that she reciprocated.
"When are her parents coming?" Lucy asked.
"I'll be talking to Flug about that soon," informed Black Hat.
"Speaking of time, it's starting to get late, Melanie," Flug said hesitantly. "And we should really be thinking about…"
"NO!" Melanie interrupted. "I am not going to eat dinner and get ready for bed right now! I can't!"
"Of course not," Lord Reaper added calmly. "We will be having a celebratory feast. You can't go to sleep until that is over."
"Joy," Melanie replied sarcastically.
"Reaper, before dinner, I'd like for you to join me for a discussion with Flug," requested Black Hat.
"Yes, Lord Black Hat," Lord Reaper said with a bow.
"And what about us? Will we get to be a part of this discussion?" asked Lucy.
Black Hat laughed heartily as if he had just heard a joke, "Of course not!"
"So, what are we supposed to do?" asked Lucy.
"I'm sure Demencia can get you acquainted with your new home," suggested Flug.
"What?! But I don't want to babysit," Demencia complained.
"Do it, Demencia!" Black Hat snapped.
"Yes, mi bon bon!" Demencia squealed. "Where do you want me to take them?"
"The girls can go to Melanie's room. Lucy can go to the guest room or wherever," Black Hat waved off. "You're both adults. Figure it out!"
"Let's go to your room, Melanie," Lucy said, ushering the girls out before Demencia could say anything.
"Hey, wait up!" Demencia cried, hopping after them.
When the ladies had left, Lord Reaper said, "Alright, Black Hat, what did you want to discuss without the ladies present?"
Black Hat flashed his signature smirk and said, "Flug?"
"Yes, sir?" Flug asked nervously.
"You said that a villainess grandmother was seeking a friend for her granddaughter, correct?" asked Black Hat.
"Yes, sir," Flug said, pulling up the villainess's information on the tablet.
"I believe her search is over," informed Black Hat coldly.
"Yes, jefe," Flug said a bit sadly.
"Wait," Lord Reaper said. "Didn't you just agree to return the shapeshifter to her parents?"
"I did. But if something was to happen to her after I gave her back, how could I be held accountable?" Black Hat chuckled.
"I don't follow," Lord Reaper said, crossing his arms.
"Say, I do return her to her parents. And some being, other than me, took her afterward. It wouldn't be my fault. Would it?" Black Hat quipped.
"No, I suppose not, but why?" Lord Reaper asked. "The fairy girl has served her purpose. She's kept Melanie in control and brought over Kasumi Yamaguchi. Turning her over to her parents seems like the most logical solution. We have no more use for her."
"Precisely," Black Hat answered. "It'll be a painful turnaround for her and her family. Consider it my final 'gift' to her and her grieving old parents."
"So, you're sending the girl back to her parents just for her to be kidnapped by the villainous grandmother when they're not looking?" Lord Reaper asked.
"Yes," replied Black Hat concisely.
"How is that a gift for anyone?" Lord Reaper asked.
"Tell me why I have to explain sarcasm to you," Black Hat said pointedly.
"Not for her, I mean for you," Lord Reaper explained. "The girl is just one more hostage you have to keep in mind. Not to mention the headache that will come once you tell Melanie and Lucy. I suppose you're doing it to keep them in line, but it seems to be unnecessary to me. You have them now. Your worry about keeping them in line should be over."
Black Hat glanced at the Reaper, then looked away. "Perhaps. I'll consider it."
"Meaning you've already made up your mind and you're going through with it anyway?" Lord Reaper asked.
"I will if you press your luck too much," Black Hat retorted.
"Glad you could see from my point of view for once," Lord Reaper said.
"So, Black Hat, which buyer do I say yes to?" Flug asked.
"Collect the payment from her parents," ordered Black Hat.
"Yes, jefe," Flug said, clicking the necessary buttons.
"Now, it is time for our feast!" Lord Reaper declared. "We're all a family again! You, Kasumi, Melanie, and I! I know you'll want to update your photographs, but for tonight, we should celebrate. Wine for everyone! Even you, Flug!"
Lord Reaper poured a glass of wine and handed it to Flug.
"Oh, thanks," Flug said, accepting the glass.
"Now, time to prepare our feast…" Lord Reaper said happily.