Chapter 78: Health Inspectors
After their unique dinner party experience at Amara's house, Caleb, Drei, Scarlett, and the others soon had to leave as her children and Tristan saw them off with plates of leftover meat; Scarlett was the only one to not take it. During this time, he noticed Kaiya appeared a bit disappointed to see him leave but he gives her a smile, assuring they'll meet again soon. That made the short, chubby Hellhound smile back at him to Amara's surprise as her sisters began playfully teasing her.
As the group continued back to their apartments, Scarlett and the others used their flight magic while Caleb, who was aerially challenged, relegated to taking I.A. taxi service with Drei. Sure, he could try teleporting the way but he was still training his body and mind to handle the strain of longer distances without Mirabelle's support of astral energy. That and didn't want to draw…ANY MORE attention to himself in a short period of time. Nevertheless, he and Drei arrived home a good twenty minutes after Scarlett and the other's and the two decided to relax for the rest of the evening.
…Next door…
In Scarlett's unit, the shower could be heard running in the bathroom as steam wafted through the partially cracked open door. The hot water poured down the young devil's body, cascading cascading past her folded in black wing. Her hands pressed against the white tiled walls of the shower, opaque shower doors fogging, as she held her head underneath the flowing water while her soaking wet red lock hung low obscuring most of her face..
She sighs lethargically, trying to clear her mind. Between the possibility of a true enemy among them that wants to sabotage or even hurt Chaos-born and the exhausting party at Amara's place, she hasn't had any breathing room. She needed this after the long day she's had with so much to process. It was a bit overwhelming. Her mind drifts to Venus and the witches, still worried about how they'd be received by the others, especially considering what she and Hana know concerning that human man. A part of her honestly wanted to blame the Angels as one of their plots but they had no real proof. Not yet at least. Then there was…Caleb. She never got any answers out of him. She wanted to ask him when he returned home but…she thought the talk he and Kaiya had together.
'How long will that last?! When he returns to his true nature, and he WILL, then he'll show us what we already know about them! That when it comes down to it, they will ALWAYS pick themselves!'
Tubala's words echoed in her thoughts, contradicting everything she knew from her own experiences with males of his kind. She wanted to believe he was truly different, yet there was still so much she didn't know about him, so much he seems to want to keep hidden. At the same time, she understood the feeling. There was so much about herself she wanted to stay hidden from the others. So much she didn't know about herself, her clan, who her real pare—
Scarlett gasps sensing where her train of thought was heading once again and stops herself. Asking was in vain. She knew she'd never find answers. Nobody could tell…not even her…and the Angels took her away. The only link to a past she had. She was alone with no answers. She sadly thought as her hands limply slid down the tiles, inadvertently pushing down the handle of the shower and causing cold water to bombard her hot body.
Her eyes shot open, memories of her tormentors, Bill(Fat Bastard) and MacGregor(Gangster Reynold), hosing her and the others down outside the hideout. Their bodies stripped naked as the torrent of high pressure cold water struck them and the sound of the men's boisterous laughing still fresh in her mind. She shudders remembering the fat human turning the hose solely on her, flinging squirts of dish cheap body wash at her, as she desperately tries to shield her face barely able to breathe and eye burning from the soapy suds.
'Hahaha! Imma get you nice and clean baby! We gonna have some more fun later!', His voice loudly chuckles in her mind, bombarding her as she remembers him pinning her down under his weight.
"Stop!", Scarlett cries out, forcefully shuts off the running water, nearly tearing the handle out of the wall. Her hand and the rest of her body trembles, heart racing fast enough that it could burst right out her chest cavity. Her breath erratic and labored and throat tight as if something…or someone was pressing down on her, restricting her airway. She crouches down on the floor of the tub, cradling her knees to her chest then begins taking deep, even breaths like her IA registered therapist advised her. She found herself beginning to calm down, blocking more and more of those memories out of her mind. Scarlett clenches her forehead still feeling her hands trembling but tries to ignore it as she runs her hands white ceiling in deep contemplation..
"Discord…", she plaintively mutters before taking a couple more deep breaths to steady her nerves.
Moments later, she steps out of the shower, then summons a large blue magic seal above her head. It quickly pulls off every last drop of water and sweat off her naked form from toe to horn collecting it into one large rippling sphere which she then lets it splash into the tub. She wipes the steam from the mirror, forcing herself to look at her face. A deep anguish greeted the young devil to her disappointment.
"Haaa, come on, keep it together. The faction still needs you. You can't…you can't hold the others back. You have to be fine.", Scarlett says, trying to convince herself by looking at her reflection in her crimson eyes, "Even when they're gone…you will be…fine.", she assures herself, combing her fingers through her now dry hair.
She then notices, to her mild surprise, a single strand of snow white hair among her crimson red locks immediately singling it out to make sure it was real. She quickly plucks it out to examine it a little.
"Tch, gray hair? You've gotta be kidding…", Scarlett scoffs before tossing the strand in the trash, chalking it up to stress and physical proof that she needed to be better.
She walks out the bathroom preparing to put on her undergarments and turn in for the night as, unbeknownst to her, another strand of white hair grew right back in the place of the old one.
...Monday…
The rest of the weekend passed quietly without much of anything of significance happening. It was now a fresh start of a new week and many in the facility were carrying on with their usual business of work, classes, and various recreational activities.
At this time, Caleb and Drei could be seen driving in his car to the next assignment.
Drei yawns as the vehicle comes to a halt at a red light, a trio of green scaled lamia slithering on by the crosswalk, chatting away.
"Somebody's still sleepy.", Caleb teases, "Having too much fun on your little experiments?"
"If you're referring to extraction process of residual fire obsidian powder from hellhound fur, then yes. I managed to collect a good 750 milligrams.", Drei casually replies.
"Honestly, I'm just glad you're done boiling that stuff. Never thought HOT wet dog fur would smell worse than regular wet dog. Think I spent half of yesterday trying to knock the scent outta the house!"
"No one ever said procuring ingredients didn't have cruel and unusual drawbacks. Surely, the experience at the last assignment taught you that."
"Please don't mention that, it's bad enough I didn't need to sleep all weekend so I was basically forced to endure it all night.", Caleb bitterly remarks as the lamia's serpentine tails fully clear the crosswalk.
"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Light's green.", Drei comments gesturing to the traffic prompting Caleb to continue.
"I just hope this one isn't gonna make me want to bash my head against a wall. Hopefully I don't have to… relieve anyone of anything."
"Unless it's money taking up space in their wallet or decent materials, I doubt it. You looked over the information right?"
"Yeah, it was basically an…inspection request for some kind restaurant nearby. Have to make sure they're following some regulations after setting up shop. Why don't they just get other staff to do it? I don't know.", Caleb complained
"If I had to guess, it could be because a staff member tried to poison a resident here. That's got to put the other businesses a bit on edge on just who to trust.", Drei casually replies.
"Yeah, that was fucked up.", Caleb admitted, taking a right turn as directed by the GPS, "So they put someone who just got here with no real connection with anyone here in charge and therefore nothing to gain."
"If it works on TV it's gotta work in real life, right?" Drei sarcastically added.
"Yeah and my life is goddamn Discovery channel.", Caleb remarks bitterly, "At least Moon pie and the others are getting a break from it."
"How are they anyway? I heard you on the phone with them yesterday."
"They're fine. Cheryl apparently took them to the movies Saturday. Sounds like they had a blast, even Camilla was having a really good time. Cheryl said she found a video game she ACTUALLY really likes, believe it or not. Kinda wish I was there to see that historic moment."
"Feeling homesick?"
"A little but it's necessary. I'm just glad Moon pie and the others are enjoying themselves even when I'm not there. I want them to be happy and live for themselves sometimes."
"You make it sound like it's that simple."
"Maybe not but…it's better than the alternative. Nothing wrong with having fun.", Caleb shrugs.
"I guess. You certainly seemed to be having with the Hellhounds you were oh so terrified of until two days ago. Then again, I guess that's the power Dr. Pepper for you.",
"Look, first it wasn't just because they were hellhounds that I was nervous around them. You already know my history. Second, leave DDP out of this. Third, they…honestly aren't that bad. They seem…genuine, you know?"
Drei looks to him curiously then looks out the window, "Well, as long you're not ducking them anymore. You and the guy hound seem to be hitting it off."
"You mean, Tristan? Yeah he's pretty cool. I'm…actually gonna meet up with him later after that Chaos faction meeting of theirs.", Caleb admitted.
"Wow, you REALLY hit it off. Then again it makes sense considering he seems to share similar nerd interests.", Drei remarks in a matter-of-fact tone.
"Yeah, maybe one day I'll find something you and I can enjoy together.", Caleb teased back.
"I doubt it. Only thing we have in common is our need for oxygen, food, and not being troubled with problems beyond our control.", Drei casually dismisses.
"Yeesh, tell me how you REALLY feel."
"I thought I had been.", Drei remarks, genuinely puzzled at whether or not she was being clear enough.
"Ugh, I can never figure out what goes through that head of yours. I mean…I probably could because of Moon pie's power but not without consent."
"How polite but still stay away from my head or I will cut you with my experimental fire obsidian salve I'm testing out that gives the sensation of being burned by three thousand degree flames.", Drei casually warns.
"Jesus! Is that what you were testing yesterday?!"
"Among other potential uses."
"Yeah, I definitely wasn't planning to for multiple reasons with that now included."
"At least you're learning.", Drei remarks.
Caleb shakes his head continuing on to their destination, passing by an IA security vehicle patrolling the area.
…Elsewhere…
At the Hellhound's building, Amara and her children could be seen going about their daily routine. They enjoyed a hearty protein-rich breakfast made by Amara and Kreã and now several could be seen in their home gym working it off. The sight of plump toned posteriors and muscular thighs in tight fitting spandex running a heavy duty treadmills and toned rock-abs six packs and large biceps covered in sweat as they lifted weights could make even the most devout gym-goer jealous or happy, probably both. The sister could be heard grunting and growling or teasing each other as they proudly flexed on each other.
In the shower next door, more chatter and chuckles could be heard among other sisters, steam covering the air.
Kaiya stood in front of the mirror panting from own workout dressed in dark blue shorts and matching sports bra, panting and covered in sweat. She was dragged into doing these workouts after breakfast every morning. It wasn't that she disliked it that much, she just got easily discouraged trying to keep up with the others. Watching her bigger sister's toned, muscular forms as hellhounds were meant to be in action. Then there was her.
She squeezed her chubby sides looking at herself in the body-sized mirror, frowning in disappointment.
Though arms and legs looked sturdy and strong and her abs were somewhat visible, she'd still be considered "fat" by most hellhound standards. A fact she was painfully aware of and even when she was pup.
'Beautiful.', That word and that awestruck expression on his face replays in her mind, 'You ARE loved. Never forget that.'
Kaiya clutches her hand to her chest, feeling a sudden tightness and heart race as her cheek flushed a darker. She'd been feeling like this since that evening, she couldn't stop thinking about him.
"Kaiya Finya(Kaiya Squeeze)!", Jannali happily shouted in her native tongue coming up from behind. She wore only a gray body towel wrapped around her steaming, curvaceous figures while squeezing a startling Kaiya into a tight hug while mushing her breasts against her head. She smiles nuzzling her sister, "Hahaha! Caught ya slippin' Kai!"
"J-Jan?! S-Stop it! You're all sweaty still!", Kaiya whined, feeling her big sister grinding her firm, heavy body against her.
"Ah come on. We're family, we have the same germs and smells anyway.", Jannali remarks, before resting her chin atop Kaiya's head, "Besides, you've been staring at that mirror for like five minutes. Somebody had to snap you out of it."
"O-Oh, s-sorry…", Kaiya apologized, realizing how weird she must've been looking.
"Nah, I get it. When you look good, you can't help admiring it.", Jannali remarks proceeding to pose and flaunting her muscular, sexy body as Kaiya inches out of her way, "Mirror mirror on the wall, who's got the best gains of all?", Jannali asks proudly.
"Gains in what, msichana(girl)?", Alkina haughtily asks sauntering up to her, fully naked and partially dry with large biceps and toned rock-abs on full display, "I know you ain't talkin' bout them sausages arms of yours.", she teases much to Jannali's annoyance.
"Least my ass ain't shaped like bucket.", Jannali teases back.
"Least my tits are bigger than yours.", Alkina emphasized, pushing up her H-cups breasts with dark black nipples with her paws as Kaiya awkwardly looked between them..
"Bitch, what are you talking about?!", Jannali rips off her towel showing her large, glistening breasts and toned, shapely body, "My tits are F's for Fantastic! Tell her, Kai!"
"Eh?! I-I um–", Kaiya stutters, caught off guard.
"Girl, the only 'F's you got is in math!", Jimena stated, as she and Lowanna walked up to them, fully naked and carrying garbage bags of shedded fur. Their G-cup breasts bouncing with every stride and their muscular, hourglass shapes on full display, "At this point, I'm guessing all your arithmetic genes went into your chest.", she jokingly remarked prompting a few chuckles as Kaiya slinks away while they're distracted.
"Bitch, I know you ain't talkin' with those damn window blind tiddies you got.", Jannali retorts, prompting a fit of laughter from her other sisters as Kaiya slips quietly on her red and black hoodie and black shorts. Her sisters growing more muffled and unintelligible as her thoughts begin to take over and her body goes into 'auto-pilot' as she called it.
She quietly leaves the gyms heading towards her room, planning to relax until she and her sisters had to go to their GED class today. At the same time, she sighs lethargically realizing she'd also have to go to that Chaos-Born born meeting later as well.
In all honesty, she wished she could skip it and stay home. Not that didn't like Scarlett and her friends, she just found some the others like the Pyrows and Beezlebubs mentally draining and generally uncomfortable to be around; one for lack of respect for personal space the other are just plain obnoxiously loud with gross habits. Still, her mom had final say when it came to attending the meeting, among other things so long as they were in the pack.
"Hey! Settle down now!"
Kaiya stops in her tracks, the very large door to her mother's room was cracked open. She quietly peers inside to see her mother sitting the edge of her California king bed with a laptop in front of her and a TV screen projecting a Zoom call. Kaiya's eyes widen seeing a familiar older looking male hellhound, her father, on the large TV screen. His hair was a mess and he had dark rings around his eyes along with tiny bite marks here and there.
Around him were nine small, rambunctious hellhound children. They were her younger sisters and three brothers and Amara's second litter. All clambering and yipping excitedly, tails wagging to greet their mother.
"Habari mama(Hi Mama)!", one of her little daughters greeted, getting really close to the screen as the others pup happily chime in.
"Hiiiii babbies!", Amara happily chimes back, her large tail wagging.
"Mama, let me show this thing I learned how to do from my teacher!"
"Mama, over here! Look what I drew!"
"Come on, get down from there!", Amara's husband stated picking up his daughter from the screen, sighing lethargically, "Pole Upe' (Sorry), love, things have been a bit hectic around here. Even with Nakama, Trevor, and their kids checking in. They really miss their Mama. Hang on. SIT DOWN OVER THERE!", He barked as some of the kids could be heard thumping, barking in the background.
"HEY! Y'all listen to your daddy! Don't make me book the next flight so I come down there and whoop all y'all tails! You know I will!", Amara barked at her rambunctious pups making most of them to calm down, "Shoot, I leave for a measly two months and these kids forget how to act."
"Thanks, honey. They've actually been fairly well-behaved in that new integrated school ICEP established here. It's when they get out when they act up.", Amara's husband informs.
"Oh yeah! How are they doing?", Amara asks, genuinely curious, as is Kaiya.
"Pretty well, they're getting along with some of the human kids and other liminal children. Teachers seem to like them too.", he happily assures
"That's great to hear, honey!"
Kaiya couldn't help smiling as well, glad to her younger siblings are doing fine.
"So, how are our grown up pups? They settling into life in the states?"
"They're doing good…for the most part. Some of them seem like they'll be ready to leave the pack soon and strike it on their own. Not so sure about Tristan though, he just seems content to bum around and playing games with the non-hellhound trollops on full moon nights.", Amara expressed in disappointment.
"Well, you and Nakama the ones that allowed him to go with you all. ", Amara husband replied, "At least things seem to be going well on your end too."
Amara pauses a moment, "Actually, we…had a really close call with one of our pups a few nights ago.", Amara says in a morose tone which her husband quickly picks up on.
"Kids, go play outside, Mama and daddy need to talk.", Amara 's husband told their smaller children as some of them whined, wanting to talk with her more, but did as told. When they were all gone he gave her a serious expression, "What happened?"
"Can you believe some human scumbag tried to poison Kaiya?", Amara bitterly spoke as Kaiya tenses up.
"WHAT?!", Amara's husband shouted in anger and disbelief, "Where is she now?! Is she ok?!"
"Yes, she's ok now, honey. Thank Cerberus. Believe it or not she was actually saved by another human male, named 'Caleb Bizzell'.", Amara informs, hoping to ease his worries.
"A-Ah, is that right? Well that's good. Nice to know there's humans as reliable as Trevor over there.", Amara's husband visibly calms down while Kaiya looks at her father with intrigue.
"He is indeed an interesting and nice young male. We even had him and the devils at that Chaos faction club I told you about."
"How is Kaiya now?", Amara's father asks as Kaiya herself listens intently.
"She was at breakfast and she went up to the gym with the others. She's doing OK in that GED program thing but…", Amara trails in thought, "Ever since that incident I can't stop thinking, if I never gave my root beer to her then…"
Kaiya's eyes widen in surprise, seeing the regretful expression on her mother's face.
"Honey, you couldn't have possibly known anything like that would happen. Besides, Kaiya's fine now, isn't that what matters?"
"Yeah NOW but…I just feel it's a sign. Maybe she's not ready to be on her own yet. Not the way she is right now.", Amara admits to her husband.
"Honey, is this because of her…unique condition?", Amara's husband asked as Kaiya's body tenses up.
"No, and you know I hate that word 'condition'. It sounds like there's something wrong with her and there's NOTHING wrong with ANY of my pups! No matter what anyone here and back home says!", Amara vehemently stated, clenching her fists at some bitter memories.
"Amara…I know how you feel, she's my daughter too. I also know she's not a pup anymore, she's a grown woman now just like the others. She deserves to be able to stand on her own feet and go her own way someday no different than us at that age.", Amara's husband replies in a calming tone.
"... I'm just worried about her. That she is my youngest of my first litter. My little blue eyed baby.", Amara admits with a sad but understanding look.
"Mine too, honey. There's still plenty of time though. Believe in her, she may even surprise you." Amara husband told her giving her comforting smile
"Y-You're right. Thank you, honey. So, how's that air head of a sister of mine doing?", Amara replies, wiping her eyes and putting on a smile as she could be seen by Kaiya who quietly walking away from the room with a head angled down in thought.
She arrives at her room and immediately pushes open the door to her dimly lit bedroom, the only light from a partially shut curtain. Inside was a standard queen bed, large desk with computer monitor setup, and a small bookshelf full of her favorite dark fantasy books and various history novels. She shuffles over to her bed then flops down onto her back, staring up at the ceiling.
Her mother's words reverberated in mind. Reminding her of all the grief she and the rest of their pack suffered at home. Not just the envy and ill-will garnished from other hellhound pack due to her family's territorial wealth but because she was born a freak. She remembered the looks other females would give her parents who birthed such an abomination in their first litter; yet her mother and father always wore a proud smile in spite of it all.
'I need to be stronger…for them. I-I NEED to be better! They believe in me but…but no matter what I do I just can't keep up. Not with my sisters or even with the other students. I can't change anything. I'm just hurting Mama and Papa more because I'm just…" Kaiya thought despairingly as the dark clouds quickly overtake her thoughts. A part of her reminded of her experience at the restaurant that even, contemplating why she had to keep living like this, 'Why do I have to be this way? Why do I have to be so pathetic? Why can't I just be a normal hellhound?!', she lightly whimpered, clenching her teeth as her hand rested over her accursed tear-stained eyes.
'Be the hellhound YOU want to be. You. Are. Loved! Remember that.', Caleb's words rang in her head as she gasps, eyes shot open in surprise, staring at the ceiling.
Kaiya could still remember the look in his eyes when he told her that. It was one that was very familiar to her whenever she felt like an outcast among her kind. The mixture of sorrow and loneliness but…kindness and understanding in his voice she never thought could come from anyone except her mother.
At the same time, she felt…a connection with him, like kindred spirits that have suffered similar pain in life. His firm but gentle hands against her face gave her an indescribable comfort. In that moment, she felt as though she found someone that could TRULY understand her. Thinking about it made her cheeks flush and her heart race in excitement; she's never felt anything like this.
"I…I hope he'll be at today's meeting. I…I need to see him again.", Kaiya spoke to herself, pushing the side of her hair away, letting her blue flames spew out her sapphire eye.
….Back to Caleb…
The vehicle pulls to the curb as Caleb sets it in park in front of a what appeared to be some kind of restaurant called 'Hooligans'. A decent sized establishment with a yellow roof and sign.
"Welp, I guess this is the place.", Caleb acknowledges looking at his GPS then at the restaurant to double check.
"I think this is within 'angel territory' as I keep hearing.", Drei remarks.
"What makes you say that?"
Drei casually points to an octagonal white and yellow sign with a black angel silhouette shape and the words 'Angels Roaming Area'.
"Ah, fantastic.", Caleb sarcastically remarks, not wanting to deal with them right now, before stepping out the car "Alright, let's hurry up and get this over with."
They proceed to the restaurant and, the second Caleb opens the door, they are greeted by the scent of sausage and bacon as thick smoke hangs above the ceiling. They step inside, making the bell on the door jingle, noticing the large red counter with nine red stools aligning it. There were several booths and tables lining the perimeter of the establishment with a few liminals, two female Grizzlies(Brown bear types), a female lizardman, and a tall male werewolf, seated and enjoying their food. Some of it was typical eggs, sausage, and pancakes covered in honey but Caleb noticed some large portion of meat he had never seen before, not even at Amara house a couple days ago. They also noticed the floor had a sticky almost viscous consistency.
"Huh, kinda reminds me of Waffle House.", Caleb casually spoke while looking around in intrigue.
"So i'm guessing the sticky, disgusting sensation assaulting my feet is just part of the experience then?", Drei remarks raising her foot off the sticky floor. It was especially noticeable for the young Karmaitachi since her flat sandals put the soles of her feet closer to the ground. Needless to say, the gross, sticky sensation sent an uncomfortable tingle starting from toes up to her head.
"Pretty much.", Caleb shrugged before hearing the sound of some hard dropping to the floor, "What the hell?"
At that moment, the large white door on the other side of the counter burst open and a very tall, seven and a half feet, female minotaur came storming out. She had black neck length spiky hair with blonde at the top, dark tan skin, a muscular physique with tight abs, large biceps and thighs, and wide hips. Her legs were that of a cow with brown fur and large black hooves. She had long brown cow tail, cow ears, and horns adorning her head. She wore ripped blue overalls that exposed her muscular back and cutoff at the thighs and suspenders restrained her massive H-cup breasts. She had noticeable slash scars on her forearms and one diagonally across her face and lips.
"I DON'T GIVE A DAMN! FIGURE IT OUT! That's what I pay you for ain't it?!", She shouted at the top of her lungs, startling Caleb and a getting other patrons attention.
"I'M PAID BY I.A. DIRECT DEPOSIT! SHUT THE FUCK UP BITCH!", another voice retorted from the back.
"YEAH! Well good luck when I submit that damn employee performance review!"
"I don't care! Do some damn work for once, fatass!"
The female Minotaur clenches her fist growling at that last comment then notices Caleb and Drei standing there quietly. She takes a deep breath and exhales before turning to them with a smile.
"Hey there! Welcome to Hooligans! What can I get for you?", she greeted.
****ASSIGNMENT 2: MINOTAUR****
"Well, we're not actually custome–", Caleb informs
"Whaddya got good?", Drei interrupts, looking up at the menu..
"Are you fuckin' serious?"
"I'd say just everything, baby girl! Our menu features the FRESHEST of meats for the hungry carnivore on the go! Not like those half pint HUSSIES at that steakhouse place across town!", The minotaur woman bitterly spoke with a dark expression before shifting back to a wide smile, unnerving Caleb a little, "Anyway, we've got hamburgers, we've got cheeseburger, we have hot dogs, we have chicken sandwiches, we have roast chickens, we have charbroil steaks, we have barbecue ribs, we have grilled goat liver, we have roasted sheep intestines, we have deep fried alligator tails, we have rotisserie possums, we have fried squirrels, we have roasted deer heads—", she listed off as Caleb gradually grew more and more unsettled and Drei also raised an eyebrow at the, mostly out of intrigue, before interrupting.
"Wait, wait wait wait, hold up, what?!"
"OOHH! I almost forgot! We ARE having a special today on barbecued cat paws.", She happily informs them.
"Whu–ahh CAT PAWS?!", Caleb stated, flabbergasted and disgusted.
"Yessiree, you heard right! 'Meowww' cat paws!", The female minotaur does a cute impression of a cat with her fists as the paws.
Caleb and Drei look at her processing what she just told them with mixed expressions.
"Ok, where do I even begin, that's…not necessary, ma'am. We're NOT here as customers, we're here on assignment from I.A. director to ensure you're adhering to their business health and safety codes. They haven't been able to send anyone over in a while. A long while apparently.", Caleb informs in a skeptical tone, positive SOMEONE wasn't doing their job considering their menu.
"Oh! So you guys are like health inspectors?", the minotauress asks, becoming worried.
"Uhh more like TEMPORARY inspectors. I just wanna be sure you are at least following the health and food safety protocols.", Caleb informs trying his best to at least give them the benefit of the doubt.
"Well, I can assure you, mister…"
"Bizzell. Caleb Bizzell."
"Wait, Caleb Bababsel?", The minotauress spoke, eyes widening in surprise.
"It's BIZZELL!", Caleb corrected in irritation making minotauress flinch.
"O-Oh, sorry, anyway you're the guy everyone's talking about that saved that hellhound right? Same guy from the fourth of July incident?!"
"Yep, that's…me alright.", Caleb halfheartedly replied.
"Amazing! I didn't know I had a little celebrity here!", The minotauress stated in admiration, getting the attention of the other customers much to Caleb's worry, who wanted to keep as a low a profile as possible.
"Listen um Miss…"
"You can call me 'Chloe' though my ACTUAL name is Jovi Taura. My coordinator suggested it as my 'temporary identity' until I've settled in this country enough."
"Well, I'm just gonna call you by your actual name if that's fine with you.", Caleb affirms, not liking the idea of changing their identity just to fit in.
"Certainly.", Jovi happily replies, her bovine tail swaying happily.
"Ms. Taura, I have a job to conduct so I gotta ask. Are you guys…REALLY serving all that to customers?"
"Damn skippy! We pride ourselves on delivering a diverse course for our patrons at a reasonable price. Certainly more diverse than those HUSSIES on the other side of the complex with their fake ass accents and bathroom stalls with doors on them!", Jovi bitterly spoke about her rivals.
"Who needs privacy when you have barbecued cat paws?", Drei comments.
"Exactly! In fact, how about a show of good faith? You two can order anything you want! It's on the house.", Jovi offered with a wink.
"Are you trying to bribe me with food so I'll go easier on you guys?", Caleb raises a suspicious eyebrow.
"W-Whaaaat? Nooo, just trying to do the whole Southern hospitality thing, you know?", Jovi nervously assured.
"Can I have a chicken sandwich?", Drei asks as Caleb gives her an incredulous look, "What? You know I don't turn away a free meal."
"Excellent choice! What about you mister? You look like a chicken sandwich kinda guy.", Jovi says, not fully understanding what she implied.
"First of all, don't you stereotype me!", Caleb stated, a little offended prompting a worried look from Jovi, before he calms himself, "Second…fine, just one sandwich and we're continuing with this inspection."
"Of course sir! I assure I didn't mean no offense by that earlier comment. Now you want that grilled or crispy?"
"Crispy.", "Crispy", Caleb and Drei spoke simultaneously to each other's surprise.
"Gotcha! I'll have my cook prepare you some fresh chicken sandwiches!", Jovi smiles reassuringly before casually opening the door to the kitchen behind, "I NEED TWO CRISPY COLONEL PATTIES ON TWO SLICES EACH!", she shouted to her cook in a less polite tone, unnerving Caleb a little before turning to them with a smile, "Should just be a few minutes."
Caleb sighed relentingly before a thought suddenly crossed his mind as looks around the establishment, "Hey? When you say the food here is fresh, what exactly does mean? Like, it's organic or—"
He's suddenly interrupted as loud banging and clambering from falling pot and pans along with sounds of a struggle could be heard in the back getting their attention.
"What the hell is she—OH!", Jovi opens the door to the kitchen, only for a large white hen to come flying at her face, forcing her to duck.
Caleb steps backwards as the large white fowl charges towards him. Drei protectively blocks it's path, extending both scythes to slash the animal. At that moment, a human-like woman with sharp teeth, vicious red eyes and blood red markings on her arms quickly emerges from the kitchen doors, leaping over the counter with the glint of a large butcher knife in hand and wearing a white blood-stained apron. A ghoul.
"YOU'RE NOT GETTING AWAY FROM ME!", she shouted, tackling the white feathered fowl to the floor as it violently struggled beneath her. She rolls and tussles with the animal trying to hold it steady as pecks and scratches at her face, "THAT ALL YOU GOT YOU DELICIOUS FEATHERY BITCH!?"
"WHAT THE HELL?!", Caleb shouted in pure shock as Drei appeared almost as surprised while fighting the instinct to steal the prey from the ghoul woman.
Feathers fly around as the humanoid woman punches and slaps the bird, even body slamming it against the floor while a few customers, even Jovi, cheered her on. Caleb looks around profoundly confused and disturbed.
The ghoul woman grabs the birds neck and pins it to the counter as it flails while she brandishes the large butcher knife with a sadistic, menacing grin.
"Hehehehe! Gotcha now, bitch! HIYAHH!"she shouted, bringing the blade down and severing the animals neck, making Caleb flinch. She lets out a triumphant shout then grabs the twitching soon-to-be lifeless chicken and it's head and sighs in content, "Haaa, not bad for a young blood.", She says before licking the blood from the chicken's severed head.
Caleb stood stunned silent at the humanoid woman with strange blood red markings, tan skin, silver haired cut to neck length with half her head bald. She had a fairly attractive slim but quite muscular figure, black AC/DC tank top that exposed her midriff with black and red tattoos on her stomach, neck and arms similar to ones human gang affiliated convicts would have. Black ripped jeans with matching high top boots. Her right eyes had a black eye patch with a wicked vertical scar going down through her cheek, lip and chin. She casually wipes the blood from her black on her apron. The best way Caleb could describe her was someone who looks like they just got off of a 15 year prison sentence on parole yesterday. He then tenses as she struts past him.
"I have you taken care of it, big man.", She says with a nonchalant smirk, patting his shoulder leaving a bloody hand-print on his shirt, he picked the worst day to wear white, before continuing back to the kitchen to prepare their food.
"I think I just witnessed a murder.", Caleb uttered, still trying to process what just happened.
"Where I come from, we call THAT Wednesday dinner.", Drei remarks, gesturing at the blood and feathers still on the floor.
"Sorry bout that folks, can I get y'all something to drink in the meantime?", Jovi offered wiping the blood from the counter with a towel, "Soda machines broke but we got pink lemonade!", She says grabbing a pitching of pink lemonade that was dark enough to look like blood.
"NO!", Caleb stated, startling her before collecting himself, "I mean, that's fine. Matter of fact, I'm good on the chicken sandwich entirely."
"A-Are you sure about that? That's one of our plumpest chickens.", Jovi asks in disappointment.
"Yeah, I just—"
"Hey, goddamit! If he doesn't want it, give it to me. I'll eat it with my cat paws!", one of the Grizzly women stated tossing a tiny feline limb in her mouth, devouring it.
"He's still getting it, just put it right next to mine." Drei interjected,
"Drei, can you please not…" Caleb sais rubbing his forehead before realization pops in his head, "Wait, y'all aren't back there chopping up cats, are you?!"
Jovi pauses, getting a nervous sweat, "Uhhh, well you see—"
She's quickly interrupted by the loud sound of plates crashing in back accompanied by a cat screeching hysterically, surprising Caleb.
"AND WHERE THE HELL YOU GOING?! GET YOUR DELICIOUS PUSSY ASS BACK HERE!", shouted the ghoul woman from the back. A second later, a gunshot goes off startling Caleb, and Drei a little.
Jovi awkwardly looks back with a smile at him, "S-So, where are we on that pink lemonade?"
Caleb looks at her wide eyed, shocked and horrified for a moment before responding, "I'll be right back."
He pivots on his heel and hurries out of the establishment as fast as he could as Drei turns to go after him.
"Couple of colonel crisps! Nice and–", the female ghoul stated while bursting through the door carrying a brown paper bag. She also had a cigarette in her mouth and noticed the human was missing, "Hey, where'd your friend go? His sandwich is ready."
"That was…fast? Anyway he stepped out, so I'll take it.", Drei offered.
"Alright, shit."
Drei takes the bag and immediately opens it, surprised to find both sandwiches neatly wrapped without even a spec of blood and smelling delicious, "Impressive.", she says taking one out to unwrap it.
"Ohh, this can't be goooood.", Jovi bemoaned slumping with her elbows against the counter.
"Eh? What's the matter with you? You worried about that guy or something?"
"That GUY is I.A.'s health inspector right now and he's here to evaluate us!", Jovi clarified as the ghoul's eyes widened in shock.
"What?! And you pick NOW to tell me that?! Fuck!", The ghoul woman stated, facepalming realizing the display she put on moments ago.
"I didn't you MAKE come out here and go berserk on the food IN FRONT of him! Dammit, he's probably going to tell I.A. business resource department about this and get us shutdown!", Jovi despaired as Drei sniffs the sandwich, seeing it looked appetizing enough. She then takes a bite.
"I mean, if the problem is him talking to them…he'll just have to disappear then until we can buy ourselves time.", The female ghoul produces a large butcher blade holding it to her tongue with a malevolent, fiendish expression.
"NOT FUNNY!"
"I'M NOT LOSING THIS GIG, JOV!"
"M-Miss! She doesn't mean that! I swear…miss?", Jovi asked Drei, noticing her expression and stiff body.
Outside, Caleb could be seen on the phone near his car, pacing around with his phone to his ear and the information packet resting on the hood.
"No no no, you listen to me! I don't care if he's in a therapy session or whatever, you're his secretary right? I need you to pass a message on to him that they need to shut this place down immediately! Up in here fighting a damn chicken like Mike! Inspection is over! I seen all I need! Get somebody down here, to shut this shit down!", Caleb ranted and raved as a couple female harpies watch him curiously across the street, "Grrr, fine! Get me in touch with their representative. I'll file the report right now!", Caleb relents in irritation as he's put on hold, forced to listen to crappy, repetitive classical music.
"Hey.", Drei called out to him, getting his attention. She then tosses a wrapped sandwich at him. He reflexively catches it looking at in in confusion.
"What's this?!"
"It's your chicken sandwich. Try it, I already had mine.", Drei plainly responds.
"Hell no! I'm eating anything from this place."
"Didn't you hear me? I just said I ATE mine. I never lie when it comes to food. If it's shit, I'll tell you as much. Try it."
Caleb looks to her incredulously, "Are you out of your mind? Just because–"
"If you're are going to get this place closed without even seeing the kitchen, then at least sample the food; especially if it's free and made on THEIR time for your consideration." Drei interrupts, looking up with a slightly stern gaze.
Caleb quickly realized she wasn't going to let him throw it away. He looked at the wrapped sandwich, sighed heavily as he aggressively unwrapped the sandwich before hesitating even though it looked and smelled fine before glancing at Drei.
"Just one bite.", She urges with the same neutral expression.
Caleb shakes his head, fully expected to get food poisoning, before quickly a bite out of the sandwich.
At that moment, instead of tasting something truly horrible, his eyes shot wide open as a spark of rich flavor filled his mouth, smothering every taste bud and firing every neural passageway in his head. The meat was juicy yet firm, seemingly melting in his mouth. The skin had the right consistency of crispy with a satisfying little crunch and a perfect balance of spice and sweetness. Caleb's mouth tingles, feeling as though a deep longing has been fulfilled, reminded of a much, much simpler time as a child wholeheartedly enjoying his mother's cooking without a care in the world and unburdened by the stresses of adulthood.
He stares blankly as a single tear rolls down his cheek before quickly taking another bite and another, before he realizes he already finished it leaving only the wrapper to his slight disappointment.
"So?"
"That…that was the best chicken sandwich I ever had in my entire life.", Caleb admitted, almost not believing what he was saying.
" My thoughts exactly. You have no idea the amount of restraint it took for me NOT to eat it on my way outside.", Drei remarks.
"And you're telling me THIS came from there?!", Caleb expresses pointing at the restaurant, "Damn…this place really is like Waffle House."
"Still wanna finish that phone call?", Drei points to his phone.
'Hello? Hello, Mr. Bizzell?', came the voice on the phone, prompting him to put it to his ear, 'I received a message from Bitchface's office, wishing to make a final report on the assignment?'
Caleb thought for a moment, "No. Kindly tell her to disregard that last message.", he replies before hanging up the phone and looks to Drei and sighs, "Come on."
Inside, Jovi could be seen pacing behind the counter, frantically trying to plan her next move.
"Can ya stop pacing around like a crackhead? You're making me even more anxious over here.", The ghoul woman gruffly spoke in annoyance while mopping up the blood and feathers.
"YOU'RE anxious?! I'm one about to lose my dream over here! I don't wanna go back to getting milked for money! I want an honest living!", Jovi emphasized, holding her breasts up in irritation.
"At least you have something else to fall back on! Gahh, it's gonna suck trying to find a new job."
"Hey, if you need the cash sweetheart, I got a job for ya for this full moon coming up", A male werewolf customer smugly replies sitting with he legs visibly open.
The ghoul woman knees the mop, snapping the wooden handle and creating two sharp shivs.
"How about I shove this JOB up YOUR moon assh–", The ghoul woman threatens as Jovi tries to stop her. Both were interrupted by the bell from the door as they see Caleb and Drei re-enter, "Shit! Uh…"
"H-Hello, Mr. Ba…Be–fuck! Uhhh, Bizzell!", Jovi frantically corrects herself, "Y-you…she wasn't gonna–"
"It's fine." Caleb interrupts her, not putting her at ease at all before looking at the ghoul woman, "What's your name?"
The ghoul woman looks at him suspiciously with slight anger, "Tch, it's Carmine Agnës. Why? Gonna report me and get me kicked outta here?"
"Surprisingly, no. I just wanted to tell you…that was THE best chicken sandwich I ever had in my life. You, Ms. Agnës, have a gift. One with very questionable methods but a hell of a gift.", Caleb told her honestly, looking her dead in the eyes.
Carmine and Jovi look at him stunned and surprised.
"It's true. He ate it all, even licked his fingers.", Drei comments.
"Hearsay.", Caleb rebuts.
"S-So what? You came to tell me that after reporting us?!", Carmine stated angrily bearing her sharp teeth.
"Actually, he didn't report you at all.", Drei out much to the Minotaur and Ghoul's surprise.
"What?! W-Why?"
"Simple, she's a great cook and your customer service skills are good. I think this has potential with a few…adjustments and optimization.", Caleb replies.
"Stop with the fancy talk and give it to us straight will ya?", Carmine demanded becoming annoyed.
"Alright fine, I was just sent here to inspect this place and leave. But you know what, to hell with that. If reporting to them honestly means throwing a small business with potential down the gutter then fuck'em.", Caleb stated plainly as Carmine eyes widen surprised, "I'll give them a report alright but it's gonna say y'all are following everything to code. I have until Friday to get the report in, so let's make that report legit."
Jovi's eyes widen in surprise and happiness then leaps over the counter, landing on her hooves with a loud bump before scooping Caleb off his feet, to his shock.
"Thank you! Thank you so much, Mr. Babble!"
"It's Biz–MMPHH!", Caleb blurts out before she buries his face in her mountainous breast while hugging close to Carmine's surprise.
"You have no idea what this means to me! Thank you thank you thank you!", Jovi rocks side to side burying him deeper in her flesh prison as he squirms trying to get free himself. Drei watches with a neutral expression of contemplation and deep seeded regrets.
"Lucky son of a bitch.", The werewolf male bitterly spoke with an envious scowl.
Jovi suddenly feels something tugging at her pants leg then looks down at Drei.
"Hate to interrupt but you realize humans need air right?"
"Bahhh put me down!", Caleb demanded, poking his head out from her breasts while gasping for air.
"Ah! S-sorry, I got carried away.", Jovi quickly releases him on his feet before rubbing the back of her head.
"You just about carried him to the river stix.", Carmine remarks.
"Not yet. Also, don't thank me yet.", Caleb says in a serious tone as both women look at him curiously, "I'm still following everything in the inspection guide. Let's start with the kitchen.", he ate as Carmine and Jovi's eyes widened, becoming nervous.
Moments later, Carmine could be seen holding the door open for Caleb and Drei.
"Yeah, so, this is where I cook and everything. Nothin' that out of the ordinary.", Carmine casually spoke, as they stepped inside. Caleb's jaw drop with utter shock and horror while Drei's eye widen also taken aback.
All around them were dark dry blood stains on the walls and floors, noticeably garbage scattered about, large metal pots visibly boiling on the stovetop with what appeared to be goat legs, hoof and all, sticking out. Pans heating up little severed and declawed feline paws. A rotisserie oven could be seen running with freshly skinned, marinated, and seasoned opossums and squirrels. There were splints of skinned and cannulated pig and deer carcasses strung up next to the oven. A large wooden butcher's table could be seen with large, bloody butcher knives, a cleaver and meat tenderizer and what looked like a skinned deer head. Various animal parts hanging on hooks including the now plucked and gutted chicken from earlier with both breast sections missing used for their sandwiches. It looks less like a cooking and more the basement of a psychotic serial killer.
"Looks like we have a lot of work ahead of us." Drei says in a deadpan tone, hardly believing anyone could have worse cleaning habits than Zwei.
"We?!" Caleb asked incredulously, looking at the weasel girl then notices Jovi looking at him worried before shaking his head a sigh, "Ok. This is gonna be a long day."
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…WN…
HAPPY THANKSGIVING FAM! I hope everyone's day is filled with food, family and fan service galore, not necessarily in that order. Originally wanted to make this one 16k words long but time constraints on a project at work kept me bogged down to get everything for the client out on time and finish the chapter in my spare time. Things didn't work out that way unfortunately. So, I did what I normally do in such a predicament, and split the chapter into it's own stand alone. Should be done with the other before the end of the month, hopefully.
Hope you guys enjoyed it, be sure to let me know what you thought of it because I am thankful for any feedback. You may not know but YOU help me grow as a writer. Yes, you, sitting there eating turkey and potato salad, you're my inspiration.
Welp, that's about it. Don't forget to hug and be thankful for your parents, drink water(hydration is important), get plenty of sleep, be THANKFUL you're not that chicken, and I'll see y'all later. Peace FAM!