Primko Primo:
Rare times Lucifer came out with Corbin and Hephzibah to move around the pride ring. Acrobatic skill the two threw in with magical means was fast. Moving form through buildings after leaving the hotel always changed. A sidewards leap there and a somersault through a window or off the rooftop. Bouncing off a dumpster to the hood of a parked car. Kickflip here and springing off or on a back stoop was one lunch pads. Left their hearts pounding and would have ended this day near Cannibal town.
Didn't even leave the hotel's balcony when Lucifer made a comment about Michael's appearance. Playful banter led to all out brawl between the brothers. Corbin and Hephzibah witnessing Lucifer screech while getting tackled. Had them laughing before witnessing the real fight. Led the two play one found if rock- paper- scissors on who would break them up. How Corbin lost watched Lucifer bite Micheal before he whistled. Inhuman tone drew Charlie to the balcony when the fight stopped.
"Do I want to know?" Charlie loudly asked, looking over her father and their guest.
"No!" Bruised Micheal and Lucifer answered.
"I'll get a first aid kit and ice," Hephzibah stepped away, "Be back in a second."
Micheal couldn't sleep one night when he found out a sinner shared two of his talents. Out of his room he wondered to find Hephzibah along the way. She was sitting out on the balcony with her leopard beside her. She wore a lace up high waisted, mini length, lace up, pleats, lantern sleeves hoodie dress. Came in a black with drawstring hood and apple blossom print on the skirt. She wore these thigh length stockings and his slippers. Her hair was in a loose braid and styled into a bun. As she sat in the center of the balcony just staring outward. When he stepped out he heard the sounds of saxophone from lower floors.
"That's my uncle," Her voice startled Micheal, "He plays at night in the parlor."
"By himself?" Micheal stood there listening.
"He's repairing the bar area after one of Baxter's inventions blew up," Se further explained, "He doesn't use power tools and works in peace."
"Where does he get the wood?" Micheal further wondered.
"Didn't your niece inform you?" She reminded him.
He went wide eyed when he recalled Charlie telling him about nephilim descended sinners. Lived among the unfortunate souls forever living as trees. How they tended to the ones damaged by blades of exorcists. His lips tightly pressed together when he just stood there. Stuck between joining her or following the playing to find the player. To have his choice made for him when the leopard walked toward him. Got close enough to crush up against him when he was head butted.
"Seems I'll be joining you." He welcomed the leopard's nuzzling.
"Good," Hephzibah replied, "Come sit and let's listen."
A half and foot away from him took a seat in a Half Cross/Half Knees Up position. View of the pride ring at night and semi- quiet was pleasant when he looked upon it. Sounds of gunfire or screeching tires could be heard every few minutes.
"Can't sleep." One asked the other.
"Jinx." Hephzibah spoke first.
She had to explain it was a game Angel Dust started a few days ago. Corbin was visiting around the time Angel Dust came back from a gig. Spoke at the same time and Angel Dust jinxed Corbin. Only way out was to buy him a drink of his choice.
"What do you drink?" She asked.
"Scotch." He wondered what she was doing.
Leopard disappeared for a second then reappeared with a bottle from Husk's bar. Setting two glasses down alongside the bottle.
"Sorry for the lack of ice," She poured him a glass, "Neat ok with you?"
"I am fine," He picked up the glass, "Care to share why you're awake?"
"You first?" She sipped her drink, "Being I don't understand why an angel of your rank would be bothered."
Sensation he always got from her unlike others when they tend to lie to him. Tad refreshing since she was always honest with him. Like now when she openly wondered about his lack of sleep.
"Ingrained habit." He stared at his glass.
"This have to do with Uncle Luci?" She asked, "Being that you threw him through a solid wall out of anger."
Recalling when Lucifer was caught going through Micheal's briefcase. Having him thrown out of his room wasn't a pleasant scene. Elanye had to get Zon to drag Lucifer back to his mansion. Charlie had to get Wywave to come in to do extra work. Joan was stuck reviewing what was picked through.
"I don't think you're ready to hear what I have to say." He forgot she wasn't an average teenager.
"I am a 300 year old empath," She hated reminding him, "Really?"
"You sure?" He found himself becoming lax around her.
"As long as you don't throw me through a wall," She held her glass half to her lips, "Deal?"
He lightly sighed as he put down the glass to not crash it into his hands. As he started his tale with his eyes on liquid inside with raised arm. She stayed quiet and listened to his tale for those passing hours. Faced stayed neutral the whole time with her blinking. Sometimes her eyes widened or she cried. When he was almost down he had her leopard lay against him.
"You have an overgrown cat." He heard her leopard pur.
"Who does a sucky job being a guard." She yelled at her leopard.
Who currently was enjoying having an area behind an ear scratched by Micheal. She sipped her drink once more before laying the glass down.
"Do you not like my aunt Elanye?" Her question turns Micheal's head, "I know I am sounding insecure about it to an archangel."
"Her talk sounds really noble to me. She is a character who shows that she is intelligent when she speaks, as every dialogue she says was carefully chosen," He spoke of traits he noticed about her, "What I heard about her for Charlie, she pulled Lucifer back together and seems supportive."
"…" Hephzibah's turn to be speedless.
Somehow amused Micheal to point start to laugh with his drink completely forgotten. Reason why he was unable to sleep disappeared. His eyelids were slowly closing and limbs felt heavy. Yawning from her leopard was enough to tell anyone time for bed. Micheal found himself with her and her leopard as his escort. After the scotch and glasses were returned. To his assigned bedroom on the personal rooms floor.
"Um…" Micheal thought he'd ask, "Would you like to join me for a run sometime? 'Cause you and your cousin know hell better than me."
"Ok." She answered right away, "Want to sleep with my leopard tonight? You don't have to worry about harming him since most are scared of him."
"Thank you." Micheal found her leopard nuzzling him again.
Somehow the kinda company beside him was welcoming when he called it a night. Agreeing with his earlier statement that her leopard was an overgrown cat.
8*8
Corbin created a unique makeup compact case that held eye shadow that he perfected from Wywave's recipe. Six years he spent gathering materials from the 7 rings through visits. Pieces of hellspawn beats with gemstone dust that was exposed to magic. He mixed together to create a magical means with a transformation effect.
"Stop staring," He felt Hephzibah staring holes into him, "Your worst then Niffty."
"It's not fair," She openly whined, "I am way older than you and you already created your first magical item."
"Which you're making a big stick about it." He couldn't believe they were related.
She ended up sticking her tongue at him long enough for the hotel's newest resident. To make a coughing noise I'm gaining their attention over the reception desk. Corbin ended up turning to find the lure on his head.
"Hello Mr. Baxter," Hephzibah greeted the angler fish demon, "Having fun settling in?"
"I still do not feel safe with you on staff." He pointed them out.
"Didn't our aunt explain this to you?" Corbin asked him, "Our nephilim and mermaid blood don't make us a threat."
When Baxter was introduced to the hotel residents and staff after he came to check in. He strongly worded he didn't want to be left alone with Bloodmarch family members. Making known he didn't trust them nor did he want to work with them.
"Under protest," Baxter looked at the two of them, "Is there someone else I may speak with?"
"Niffty or Alastor?" Hephzibah offered.
The way he froze up when he had to choose between one eyed housekeeper who stares, or a cannibalistic Facility manager. Which he has been trying his best to avoid since he was given a tour and shown a room.
"Who do I see about having the power in my room increased?" He sighed looking at the two over.
"That would be our uncle," Corbin spoke of Wywave, "We'll pass your request over to Vaggie since he isn't scheduled to come in until the evening."
"I demand to see him in person," Baxter didn't like what they said, "Where may I find him?"
"Woods of the Suicides," Corbin stated, "Need diecrtions?"
"Who in their right mind calls that place home?" Baxter couldn't believe the rumors were true.
"We do," Hephzibah stared at him, "Our family takes care of the trees no thanks to past Exterminations. Ok, now I am offended."
She ended up using the excuse to take an early lunch break before resorting to hexing Baxter to feel better. Got her wishing Corbin good luck in putting up before she disappeared in a puff of smoke.
"She always this temperamental?" Baxter asked Corbin.
"You speak with little disregard for others," Corbin addressed the way Baxter spoke, "You don't have to be a empath to see that."
"I forgot you could do that." Baxter recalled.
Charlie and Vaggie warned Baxter that they now had empaths on staff and everyone needed to watch what they said. Which almost everyone took to heart after learning what Elanye and Wywave could do. Just who seemed to forgot that small detail was standing before Corbin.
"Now I feel insulted," Corbin now knew how Hephzibah felt, "Now my day."
"Not your day?" Baxter asked so loudly Corbin felt his ears ring, "I come down here looking for a simple request to be fulfilled. I am stuck with mere children behind the reception area."
"Correction, Hephzibah is over 300 years old since she died during witch trails held in Unite Kingdom," Corbin wanted to laugh, "I kinda mature for a 22 year old soul attending college."
"…" Baxter opened his mouth, but fell silent.
"Feeling kinda dumb now?" Corbin asked him.
Hmph he got from Baxter turning away from him and making his way back to his room didn't really brother Corbin. Since he ended up reaching out to side of desk that a coiled Cornelius, lay next to a hidden desk bell.
"Now I am glad he hasn't met you," Corbin stroked his snake, "Fact I am going to hear about by bad performance from Alastor is going to be worth it."
He knew taking this part time job was a risk since he was working under an Overlord with rules, on how to conduct himself. Which he was going to hear later when Baxter complained about to Alastor about Hephzibah and him. Needing to thank his aunt for getting to help with Charlie's cause.
8*8
Goleon watched how possessive an angel could get when visited the rumored hotel with Corbin. When Corbin's cousin went over to see weekly newsprint delivery. That usual Demon flirted before getting the bill from him. Was blocked by a pair of rather large wings not belonging to Uncle Luci. Instead belonged to Micheal as he stood a little too close to Hephzibah.
"This …." Goleon asked Corbon.
" … Normal?" Corbin finished his sentence, "Be happy you're not here for book club or activity day."
"Activity day?" Goleon didn't understand.
"One of Charlie's group bonding exercises that Alastor and Uncle Luci took to extreme once" Corbin explained, "How those two could play trust fall for a week … "
"..wow." Goleon couldn't believe it.
Hephzibah was left to watch the delivery demon from behind Micheal's wing. Didn't bother her since she was reminded of Zon's wings.
"I may have a leopard as a familiar," Her hand hovered over the closest feathers, "My favorite animal always been bulldogs."
Micheal found his tongue caught in his throat from honesty was behind her answer. Way she slowly turned toward him behind her, had his retracting his wings. Freezing in place while on the verge of stumbling backwards. When Charlie announced breakfast was ready for everyone. Happily greeted Corbin's guest before directing them to the dining room. Taking attention away from Micheal and Hephzibah standing face to face.