UPDATE 15 October 2024: corrected the year. I caught myself typing X793 AGAIN and its confusing! :")

- ML

Chapter Nine: February, Part Two

February 8, X792

Kyôka Kyôka Kyôka Kyôka Kyôka

Sayla Sayla Sayla Sayla Sayla

Minerva Minerva Minerva Minerva Minerva

AngelicAngelic Angelic Angelic Angelic

Tempesta Tempesta TempestaTempesta Tempesta

Lamy Jackal Lamy Jackal Lamy Jackal

Jackal LamyJackal Lamy

Kyôka Kyôka KyôkaKyôkaKyôka

Sayla.

Kyôka's handwriting is improving everyday, I'm so proud of her!

A fresh load of prisoners have come. I think they are transported by carriage, as I've yet to hear about a truck from anybody. Unfortunately, we were unconscious when we were transported. I believe they were too. Sometime in the night, they repopulated the second floor. Regardless, the human unit remained sealed off. I met some nice people among the new faces. I cannot tell what type of demons they could be, though.

One of a beautiful young mother named Izumi. She had a tiny infant, poor things. Her husband Wendell is a handsome fellow too. He did not seem so distraught about imprisonment. I wonder if he's been in a place like this before.

Another few folks caught my eyes as well. A docile female elf named Elfine. Her name sounds as real as a rock painted gold. She reminded me of Mollison, one who also hid parts of herself. Oh, how I miss her too. Mollison and Elfine could have been friends. I would like to use my curse with her, if she likes women too.

I met Connor, Vanessa, Naomi, and Bird. Just Bird. None of these people are very important to me, but we need information to aid in our escape. Bird has agreed to teach me Demonic languages, including the one Jackal once wrote in. Potemelian is what they call it. It seems Earthland has traces of a presence in this land too.

12:00 p.m.

Do you remember when it was said that touching the walls was dangerous? Deadly, if you would. Well, someone decided to test their luck today. I am here with Jackal and Kyôka on a bench in the courtyard. Lamy and Tempesta are sitting together near a certain alley. She is in his lap, reading a book. I am glad she finally noticed that book. Not that I'll tell any of you. ;3

A few other prisoners smoked fouling smelling cigarettes by the wall of the human unit. Darkness of the Qora sunlight was quite beautiful here. To me, it looked like the light of a dark candle in an empty space. Tempesta also wrote another note. He slipped it inside the book just this morning. I read it, of course. Jackal actually pasted the notes on a fresh page somewhere in the middle of the book. Tempesta doesn't know yet. He has no interest in perceived empty pages. Oh, did I mention this book has 200 pages? I write smaller now, so I won't fill it up too quickly :)

Anyway, here is what the note said:

'There is moonlight and silver clouds in my starry black skies.'

I have a feeling Jackal will never stop collecting those little notes. He treats them as gifts from a deity itself. Kyǒka is happy for them. Sayla is too. Minerva is... catatonic at times. I try to read her thoughts all the time so that I can write about her experiences. I veer into her emotions and feel so numb... Her mind is a cloud blocking the real world from her fragile mind. My heart feels for her, truly. But in this state of blissful nothingness between her ears, she seems content.

Minerva pat Jackal's head. He hissed lightly, but grinned sheepishly. But when Sayla slapped her palm between his ears, he nearly raked his nails across her cheek. The others had a good laugh at his "kittiful" instincts, hehe!

"I can't do this anymore!" an unnamed prisoner shrieked. "This is the third fucking transfer!"

"Don't do it, Connor! Please, we have to be strong!" his beloved begged him. But he did not see reason. Suddenly, two guards shot up from their posts, intent on restraining the male on the floor. The male dashed for the wall he was near; he was an agile creature, hopping right over the guards in black gear. I watched as the male collided head first with the wall. At first, he fell backwards, blood leaking from his nose. His snout was purple from the fluids dripping. Then, a spark was ignited. My ears were assaulted by the screams of pain, and the lightning coursing through his veins. I felt the shock when I veered a little too close. I nearly broke the ball point of this pen.

His clothing and hair caught flame as the intense burning split his flesh and charred his insides. It was like watching a roast over a hellfire. His screams left my ears as he took his final breath. The whole ordeal lasted only a few seconds, but the horrible sight and odor made it feel so much longer.

"CONNOR, NO!" a female cried in grief. She too ran at the wall, devastated by the loss of her beloved. Connor six-billion-999,999,987 and Vanessa six-billion-999,999,986... sadly, my drawing is horrible. Only their names, numbers, the date, and time of death will carry their memory now.

The guards of course had to drag the burned corpses away. We all watched silently. I can hear Jackal's thoughts. I think I'll veer deeper. I must learn more about their old lives. Curiosity is such a morbid feeling.

'This smell... of a pointless life ending. I almost forgot what burned bodies smelled

Is that how you felt back then, when you were constantly in the crossfire?

'We've probably all let you be hurt or killed. We've all taken lives for granted, or just took them.'

Lamy's horrible laughter rang in his ears, which twitched.

'Fa! Fahaha! Can she be anymore pathetic?'

'Let's kill her quick.'

'Where's the fun in that?'

It was fun, being so bad...

Jackal looked down at his palms. His fingertips were darker from the long gloves he wore that day. Black scarf with white trims. Very comfortable pants Lucy definitely ruined before he was wiped out.

EEYAAAA . . . AAAA...

Jackal's ears flattened as his expression tensed. My hand writes rapidly across every line as I look at him. His right eye held so much shame and sadness. He was watching his own memories through someone else's eyes as he grabbed Lamy's weird little face, then 'bwoom—'

"Earthland to Jackal!"

The feline demon jolted in his spot, staring wide eyed at Lamy. That shameful expression turned to his upper lip twitching with disgust. Lamy was a little taken aback, grasping his shoulder.

"Are you alright?" she asked. He immediately shoved her away, got up from his seat, then stormed off toward his cell. Lamy fell into Tempesta.

"What just happened?" the brown skinned demon asked his girlfriend. She looked up at him with worry.

"I have no idea. He kind of looked mad at me."

"He killed you," I commented. "I watched him blow your head to bits." Lamy's expression turned to shock, then realization as she gasped.

"I, I should go to him," she said urgently, hurrying back toward the courtyard gates. I knew Lamy watched my pen as I spoke. Note to self: write something nice for him, she thought as she jogged down the hall, passing the cafeteria.

"No running!" a guard barked at her. She slowed to power walking. She couldn't help but run to the cell once it came into view.

Lamy pushed the door open, peeping in, still panting slightly from her walk. She paused, holding her cut tongue. Jackal sat on his knees in bed, curled up with his face buried in his two pillows. He sat up, hair falling over his shoulders and face. The feline demon turned his gaze to Lamy, glaring. Lamy took a cautious step forward, reaching out to him.

"Hey, Jackal. Talk to me. What's going on?" she asked softly.

"One more move and I'll kill you," he growled. Lamy froze, her ears flattening.

"I, I am not afraid of you," Lamy denied, clenching her fists at her sides. I know she is shaking, I can feel myself shaking just veering in. Jackal sat up fully, stretching as he combed his hair back. The indifference in his good eye was kind of creepy. Lamy's stomach buzzed with butterflies. She knew he was still himself, but something was off. Tempesta came into his cell at that moment. He got in front of Lamy, frowning.

"Jackal, what's the matter?"

"I think, that triggered him," Lamy said feebly. She grabbed the back of Tempesta's cropped shirt, staying close to him. Tempesta noticed her demeanor, then looked back at his boyfriend. Jackal had gotten up from his bed, glaring at Tempesta now.

"You're protecting that brat?" he questioned. Tempesta raised a brow in confusion.

"Yes, I am. J, we're just—"

"Don't be stupid, you only worry about your own asses!" Jackal spat.

"Jackal, this isn't like you," Tempesta replied worriedly.

"This is me, T!" he retorted, hands on his chest with emphasis. "It's the rest of you that are acting weird."

Tempesta ignored his attitude, pulling the feline into a hug. Jackal scowled with disgust, clawing Tempesta's arms and ribs. The white haired male let him go, cringing in pain. The wounds were deep, spilling blood all over his pants. They began to close, of course.

"Don't touch me, you fucking faggot!" he snarled, slashing his claws across Tempesta's face. Lamy threw herself around Jackal.

"Stop it, Jackal! Please!" she pleaded. I knew guards were still watching or listening, but they didn't care.

Kyôka couldn't tend to them. She and Sayla were too busy searching for Minerva. The ex-human managed to sneak away. I've never seen them in such a frenzy before.. (•_•)

"Get off me!" Jackal hissed angrily and grabbed her hair, causing her to yelp in pain. The blonde cackled as she backed into the wall, staring in disbelief. Tempesta proceeded to punch the feline demon square in the jaw. He fell onto Tempesta's bed from the power behind his punch. The white haired demon pinned Jackal down, using his lower body to firmly straddle him in place. The feline forgot how much stronger he was. The blonde thrashed his now bushy tail to and fro, struggling to fight back. His screams echoed through the halls just outside.

"YOU FUCKER! LEMME GO! I HATE YOU I HATE YOU!" he cursed at Tempesta as blood sputtered with every syllable.

"You aren't going anywhere, Jackal!" the white haired male shouted at him. The brown skinned male nearly lost his grip when Jackal just barely managed to push back again his arms. But the struggle was futile. Jackal's hissing, thrashing, kicking, and screaming persisted for several minutes.

Lamy sat on the floor, covering her rabbit ears as she wept. Her scalp still ached for a few moments, but witnessing her boyfriend in distress was stressing her out. Jackal's meltdown was soon reduced to exhausted panting, tears streaming from his right eye. Tempesta tried his best to keep his expression cold and hard, but he relented as Jackal began to cry.

"I... hate you, I hate... you," he whimpered, squinting his right eye shut.

Tempesta closed his left eye for a moment, furrowing his brows. With his left thumb, he wiped Jackal's tears and blood with part of his sheet. The broken skin inside the blonde's mouth and slight bruising had already healed. With this other hand, he brushed Jackal's messy hair away from his face. He still sat on Jackal with all his weight in case he lashed out again.

Lamy looked up at them. She hesitantly stood up, hands against her chest as she approached.

"D-did he pass out?" Lamy asked.

"No," Tempesta answered. "It's okay, he's just tired."

The blonde said nothing. He looked at Lamy as she climbed on the bed next to them, sitting down. She smiled sadly, stroking his head.

"I'm sorry," Jackal murmured. Lamy shook her head.

"It's okay, I promise."

"I... almost forgot I killed you," he whispered, his pitch a little higher as his lip quivered. "I made you cry..."

"I forgive you, Jackal," she assured him, kissing his forehead. "We all did a lot of awful things back then."

"You don't have to carry the guilt alone, J," Tempesta said. Jackal sighed, closing his eye.

"I... I don't know what came over me," he professed. "I didn't really feel, like, in my body. I just, I said whatever felt hurtful..."

"I know that feeling," Lamy said, still petting his hair. "That's why I barely talked for a while."

"We've really been through some shit," the blonde murmured, chuckling wryly. "I might never fully like myself."

"Well, we love you no matter what," Tempesta smiled softly, leaning down to kiss his lips. Jackal cupped his face with one hand, then the white haired demon pulled away. Lamy entwined her fingers with his other hand, then kissed him as well.

"You don't have to like yourself if it's too hard, we'll do that for you," Lamy . Jackal nodded, squeezing her hand.

"Well, someone has to be the moon in your sky," he expressed, softening his gaze.

"Pfft-!" Tempesta suppressed his laughter. Jackal blushed.

"What? You wrote it first!"

"We should go look for the others," Lamy snickered, getting up from the bed. Tempests helped Jackal stand.

"Why? Is something wrong?"

"I think Angelic just told me to head to the boiler room," Lamy replied, scratching her head. "She said something spilled."

"What? The guards can take care of that," Jackal grumbled. Lamy grabbed his arm.

"No, she spoke to me with that weird urgency, so it must be important."

The boiler room in question is also one of the many places in this prison where folks like to be together in secret. You know what I mean, you're no idiot. However, that is not what I saw this time. I only told them water spilled so they would make haste. And... now.

Jackal collided with Sayla as they both turned around a corner at the same time. Sayla grunted, rubbing her sore chin.

"Ah, ow! What's the rush?" Sayla asked.

"Where's Minerva? Did you find her?" Lamy questioned, out of breath again.

"N-no, we're still looking," Sayla frowned. "Kyôka went to check the boiler room for me."

"We should go too, Angelic said something spilled, or whatever," Tempesta said. Sayla's eyes widened in shock.

"Her water? It's too early!" she exclaimed, taking off again. Jackal, Lamy, and Tempesta kept close. Lamy rammed herself into a guard in their path, bouncing off the armored giant of a creature. She skidded to the floor. The guard grabbed her arm aggressively.

"Stop. Fucking. Running!" he snarked, then shoved her arm back. Jackal hissed at the guard. He snickered at the feline demon.

"Take a walk, kitty cat," he taunted. Jackal took a step forward, clenching his fists, but Tempesta grabbed his wrist, dragging him along as they briskly walked toward a door to the stairs.

Inmates and guards had the freedom to go to the boiler room. Sure, prisoners could dig a hole to escape, but the moment the walls were cracked by any blunt force, the guards would know. And so, escape is virtually still impossible from below.

Sayla ran downstairs, careful not to skip a step and tumble down a flight. Jackal followed, then Lamy with Tempesta in the rear.

"Jackal, come with me. Tempesta and Lamy, take the right," Sayla ordered before hurrying down the left hallway. Lamy was pulled along by Tempesta.

"Minerva!" he called out to the ex-Human female.

Jackal felt panic rising in his head. He dreaded the idea of someone trying to hurt her again, like those... that incident. He wouldn't let it happen again. He wasn't a coward now. Suddenly, his foot slipped forward. He squeaked in pain as he was forced into the splits just to keep from falling in whatever liquid he stepped in. He looked at the floor, noticing the familiar dark red blood. Sayla grabbed his arm, pulling up.

"Come on," she said urgently. "Over here, Lamy! Tempesta!"

Lamy nearly ran into Tempesta as he skidded to the halt, turning back around. Eventually, Kyôka returned to the boiler room, joining her guildmates. The blood was a trail of random splotches, but nothing too heavy.

It led to a corner deep in the basement. Jackal froze, smelling the blood stronger. Lamy looked up at him worriedly. He simply stared ahead, shaking uncontrollably.

Not again... not again!

Sayla stepped toward the figure in the corner. She covered her mouth in shock. The others had no idea what to say or do. Minerva sat in the corner, cradling something coated in blood. The thing seemed to breathe, but otherwise made no sound. Organs sat on the floor in a small heap beside her: small intestines, two kidneys, a liver, a pancreas, stomach, spleen, and other organs I forget the names of. Her the incision began just under her breast line, down to the bottom of her uterus.

Minerva looked up at the group with a wry smile. She cradled what appeared to be a nearly developed newborn. Jackal stumbled backwards, feeling the bile threatening to rise. He briskly walked back around the corner. He paused, looking at me. I am sitting at the bottom of the stairs. Jackal swallowed hard, eye bulging with a sickening stare.

"Stay strong, blonde."

Lamy got down on her knees in front of Minerva.

"M-Minerva, what's this?" she asked, her voice shaken.

"Everything... has a seam," the ex-Human whispered. "I finally found his." She cradled the infant in one arm, pointing to her lower belly. All of her belly area was gutted of its organs, as expected. Her womb was stretched to the natural size of a late stage pregnancy. The placenta still sat in its place, pumping life into the silent infant. But what confused Lamy was the lack of bleeding. It reeked of blood and raw flesh, but the blood clung to Minerva's insides. Sayla was next to back away, queasy from the gruesome details. Even Kyôka was lost for words.

Minerva sat back against the wall, placing her unborn child inside the uterus. With a slight brush of her finger, the reproductive organ was sealed shut. Sayla gagged, turning away to compose herself. Lamy held a blank stare at the organs on the floor. They seemed to shift and float towards their owner, tumbling into her body like squishy Tetris pieces. Even the blood began to flow again, encasing the organs. Minerva continued to slowly trace her index claw down her belly until her skin was fully sealed. No scarring, no blood, nothing.

The group were utterly silent. The smell of blood was gone, including the mess. Jackal peeked around the corner, tail between his legs.

"W-wha... what j-just happened?" Sayla sputtered. Minerva looked at them, puzzled.

"It's... my power."

"Oh... oh my god, your curse power!" Kyôka exclaimed. She got on her knees, grabbing Minerva's hands. "You unlocked your curse power! Sayla, she's okay!" the bird demon grinned. Sayla was not so eager to smile.

"What the fuck was that?!" Jackal snapped. "You scared me half to death!" Minerva frowned sadly. Jackal's ears flattened.

"I-I uh, I'm sorry. I thought you were hurt," he murmured. Tempesta knelt in front of Minerva as well, shouldering his way between Lamy and Kyôka.

"How does it work, exactly?" he asked. Minerva reached out with her pinky claw. She brushed his shirt, slicing through it like butter. And as she moved her claw in the opposite direction, the threads came back together. There was not a single stitch loose. Lamy inhaled sharply as Minerva sliced her own neck with the brush of a finger. Once again, there was no blood. The liquids simply hovered under her flesh. She "zipped" the area shut. No scarring.

"T-that's horrifying and cool," Sayla whispered.

Jackal remained by the corner, still trying to calm his nerves.

"What is it called?" Kyôka asked.

"Nemean Curse," Minerva rasped. "I can cut anything. The pipes, the walls, flesh, anything."

"I don't have my curse yet," Lamy pouted.

"Me neither," Jackal said flatly.

"Mhm," Tempests nodded. Kyôka looked at her girlfriend. The hornless demon got the rest of their stares. Sayla sighed, holding her palms out. Jezebel's Scowl peeked its black eyes open. The runes also formed. Kyôka blushed lightly, a natural physical response to the curse.

"Your demon eyes," Lamy whispered in awe. Tempesta took one hand, inspecting it. He turned it over. The rest of her hand looked the same, other wise.

"Jezebel's Scowl. I can control the physical and emotional urges of anyone who bleeds or salivates on my hands."

Tempesta immediately dropped her hand. Sayla chuckled.

"Don't worry, you're safe," she assured him. I've sort of experimented on Kyôka—"

"Hey, a little privacy!"

"We hear it often," Minerva deadpanned. Kyôka blushed redder. Jackal snickered.

"Hehehe, you're blushing!"

"Oh, be quiet you scaredy cat!" the bird demon snapped at him. Sayla grasped her shoulder, causing the green haired female to freeze up. Her expression showed fear of some kind.

"Kyôka's old curse enabled her to increase one's pain sensitivity and absorb their power as her own. Jezebel's Scowl increases emotional and sexual sensitivity. Fear, arousal, anger, all for me. But that's all I'm capable of." She removed her hand as the runes vanished. Kyôka sighed in relief.

"The target can still think freely even when I take over their physical and emotional sensations. It's just harder to resist what I might do to them."

"So basically, a succubus," Tempesta guessed. Sayla nodded with light smile.

"Yes, a nice, selfless succubus."

"That's so cool," Minerva squealed quietly, smiling brightly. Lamy helped the ex-Human stand up. Minerva "zipped" her shirt back to normal. They had not noticed the shirt for obvious reasons. Jackal nearly gagged again just imagining the rest of her "zipping" earlier.

"How long have you known this, Sayla?" Lamy asked.

"Seven days," she replied.

"Seriously? Why didn't you tell us sooner?" Jackal chimed in.

"I wanted to wait until one of you also discovered your power as well."

"And then, there were four," Jackal muttered, glancing at Tempesta, Lamy, and Kyôka. Kyôka scoffed.

"Don't be foolish, Jackal. I will claim third place before you know it," she glared.

"Oh, buddy. You're not the big boss anymore. I'll definitely get mine before you," Jackal smirked widely.

"Not if I can help it." Tempesta ruffled Jackal's hair. "And clean your mess, it stinks down here."

"I was going to!" the blonde frowned. "Minerva, you can't tell anyone else, got it?"

"Not even Izumi?" she murmured.

"Nobody. None of them! Trust me," Jackal replied.

"Angelic?" her voice was merely a sad whisper then. I chuckled to myself.

"She led us here, so she's okay," Lamy grinned. Minerva sighed in relief. "Also, Jackal. Your mess."

"I know, I know!"

3:40 p.m.

Sayla.

That couple will be remembered by someone, I hope. There was nothing offered at lunch time, oddly enough. Connor and Vanessa. The air no longer smelled like charred corpses, but the dark marks on the ground were the remaining proof of their sudden deaths. Jackal spent nearly an hour cleaning the floor. I learned about his mental shift earlier today. I have heard of a Jackal-Hyde personality type, as written in a small comic book called "Mistress Jackal and Madam Hyde." The same woman with a very contrasting personality triggered by something she sees or hears. Jackal is who she really is. I believe Hyde is the monster she becomes to protect her Jackal.

I will not diagnose my guildmate or claim insanity on his behalf. As long as this never happens again, I will know for sure I am simply overthinking.

February 9, X792

As always, I feel like my body isn't mine and everyone is giving me weird looks. I'm pissed off and I don't know why. I can't stand the fucking laughter, the casual mingling, their stupid smiles. idk what's wrong with me anymore. One minute I'm a crying bitch. The next I'm suicidal, homicidal, all the ugly I can be. Awesome for Minerva and Sayla. But also fuck them.

(scribbled over: So help me Angelic I'll pummel your little face if we're still stuck here in May!!!)

Fuck my life. April can't come fast enough. Will I miraculously get a power boost like a proper fucking wizard or finally die a nobody also like a wizard?! Angelic is a stubborn little fuck, won't tell us shit!!

7:14p.m.

'Gratitude and patience will take you much farther than bottled frustration.'

Minerva was first to find a note from Angelic under her pillow. The ex-Human female chuckled wryly, turning over in her bed. She looked up at the ceiling. The Black Qora quarter moon hung in the sky. For a black moon, it certainly brightened the room for Minerva. It was pitch dark, in reality. But she could clearly see everything in the darkest corners.

Nothing in particular was on her mind, as usual. The ex-Human slowly shifted her body to the edge of the bed, using the bars of the head board to hoist herself up. With a groan, she stood. Her belly was a lot heavier now. The female could barely run, jump, or just get out of bed without struggling.

Minerva peeked out into the hallway, expecting Sayla or Kyôka at her door. However, the entire hall was deserted.

"Back in your cell, seven-two!" a guard ordered. The female immediately went back inside, shutting the door. She gulped, her stomach churning with fear.

I'm alone. Where is everyone? she thought with worry. She climbed on her bed, then stood on the bed, peering through her window. She screamed, staggering backward and falling off the bed. She instantly curled herself up, falling on her back. She wheezed, panting heavily.

Outside, there were about a dozen creatures in the courtyard. Only one of them stood. Blood splattered their shirt and pants. Even his slippers were filthy with dirt and blood. He was more muscular than any of the creatures lying at his feet. His ginger hair had been buzzed at some point.

At the moment Minerva stood to look outside, his jade green eyes looked in her direction. His eyes looked murderous, a frightening sight to the ex-Human.

Minerva remained on the floor, sobbing from the pain of her fall. Her belly was okay, but her back ached and her head was spinning.

"S-Sayla... Kyôka..." she whimpered. Suddenly, her body began to feel warm, like floating on a cloud. She closed her eyes, her breaths slower and more leveled. Jezebel's Scowl, she realized. Her body definitely still hurt, but in her mind, she was safe. Whatever happened outside was far, far away.