Daily Life of Monster Girls in Alabama

by GoatManofAnime

It's time for a MonMusu fanfiction that takes place in sweet home Alabama, nuff said.

94. Mission Improbable Part 2

Chapter 87: Mission Improbable Part 2

…Meanwhile…

Back at the courtyard, couples forming 'full moon' pairs could be seen walking about making flirtatious remarks and generally enjoying themselves. While somewhat sweet in its own liberal-arts-college-campus sort of way, it served as an uncomfortable reminder of how alone Kaiya was right now.

It's been over half an hour since he went to get a drink and she was starting to worry for his well-being.

'I hope nothing happened to him. Maybe I should go look for him. But what if he comes back while I'm gone? Should I leave a note? What if he's in danger? What if he was kidnapped?! What if he's being held hostage in exchange for a part of his family's territory?! No, that's silly, they don't even mine fire obsidian in this state, I think. Ohhh, what should I do? Am I a good mate if I wait or go look?', Kaiya overthought, her mind and hellhound instincts conjuring different scenarios for why Caleb could be taking so long. Most of which were to avoid the real question of 'Did he ditch me?'.

Kaiya shakes that question from her mind, refusing to believe it for even a microinstant. She saw who he was on their last date and he isn't the type to abandon anyone.

'Still, what could be keeping him–'

"Hey there, hot sexy dog mama!", an unfamiliar male voice startled her into turning around. She met with the toothy grin of a literal monkey man, leaning over the bench.

"W-W-What the? M-May I help you?" Kaiya asked completely off guard by the unfamiliar male.

"Oh you most certainly can! I noticed a sweet little puppy down here all gloomy and Ionely. I just couldn't bear the sight of it! I just said to myself 'Jakks, go see about that poor sexy puppy and keep her company'. Really? Should I! 'Of course you should!' ", Jakks said in dramatic fashion, putting on a show.

"D-Do you talk to yourself all the time or…?"

"So! This seat taken sweet cheeks?"

"I-I it is, actually, my boyfr–"

"Sweet! Don't mind if I do!", Jakks, not listening at all, somersaults over the bench, landing in a 'cool guy' pose hoping she'd be impressed. Oblivious to the cracking made by Kaiya gripping the wood fiber in anger at another male sitting in her mate's spot, "So, what's your name?"

"It's Kaiya, can you please not sit ther–"

"That's a cute name. Can I call ya, 'Kai' for short? Oh, how about 'Kai Bar'? Break me off a piece of that 'Kit Kai Bar! Hoohoohoo!", Jakks jokingly sang, chuckling at his own joke.

"WHAT! N-"

"Alright so, Kai Bar, what do you say, since you're in need of some company, I can give it to you…and more.", he emphasized, getting uncomfortably close prompting Kaiya to back away.

"What…in Cerberus name are talking about?!"

"There's a full moon coming soon and I'd like you to be coming with me in my room.", Jakks furrows his eyebrows rapidly and Kaiya frowns in disgust as the wood she is gripping starts cracking apart more.

"No. Please, leave! Now.", Kaiya spoke with a growl, heat radiating from her body. The blue flames of her eyes intensify causing demonic blue orbs seemingly burn through her bangs. Her instincts told her to tear this male to shreds but tried her best to restrain herself.

"Oh? Are you worried you won't be able to handle all of me? Don't worry, I have got a couple other girls coming too so we'll ALL be coming together.", Jakks remarks, scooting closer to laying a hand on her thigh, squeezing it slightly.

Kaiya, feeling violated in every sense, rips off a piece of the bench, now at her limit and about to knock shove it down the disrespectful male's throat when another, more familiar voice chimed in.

"Unwanted sexual advances out in the open in an ICEP facility? That's a pink stamp, I'm sure.", Drei spoke, startling the monkey man.

"Eh?! Whaddya mean, I'm just shooting my shot with a baddie for the full moon like everyone else."

"Well, she's CLEARLY not interested.", Drei plainly stated as the Monkey man removed his hand.

"Ohhh, I get it. You're just jealous because you're feeling left out." Jakks said with an absurd amount of confidence as Kaiya sneered in revulsion, "It's OK any girl can hop on this banana. You ARE legal right?"

"I can legally have you deported from this country, preferably in a wooden box.", Drei replies, presenting her MON badge as the monkey man's confident smile drops.

"Wait! You're MON?! You barely reach up to my waist!", Jakks tactlessly replies, checking her height then smirks in realization, "Actually, you might be the perfect height for–"

"I'm gonna stop you right there, George of the Jungle, before I decide to add five pink stamps for defying an ICEP official and because I can.", Drei threatened.

"No, wait! I've already got two!"

"Keep talking. I'll also add solicitation and bribery on top. Good luck holding a job or finding a host ever."

"Ok, geez! I wasn't into her that much anyway. She's too chubby for my liking.", The Kakuen male replies as Kaiya softly growls at him, making him flinch. He quickly then turns and walks g away sulking, until he sees the were rabbit girl in the distance from his last full moon romp and his smile returns prepared to lay down the charm, "Jakks back baby."

Kaiya sighs in relief, dropping a ripped off and heavily burned piece of the bench to the ground, "Thank you, I don't know what I would have done to him if he tried anything further."

"No problem. Guys like that are the reason chlorine was invented."

"Because they look like bacteria?"

"No, it's to throw chlorine in their eyes.", Drei corrects.

"Still effective, I guess. Have you seen Caleb?"

"He…stepped away for a minute but he'll be back soon.", Drei plainly answered, keeping it as vague as possible.

"Where did he go?", Kaiya curiously inquired.

"That's a secret."

"W-Why is it a secret?"

"It wouldn't be a secret if I gave out hints now would it?"

Kaiya looks at her skeptically, feeling something was off, "Why would he just leave if he said he was coming right back?"

"Take my word for it. It's a surprise. I can't tell you but he will be back soon.", Drei assured.

Kaiya looks at her doubtfully, sensing no falsehood in the weasels words, yet her instincts tell her something was definitely wrong, "Why didn't you go too then? Aren't you…his bodyguard? Why wouldn't you go with him? You don't seem like the type of woman to 'take others word for it'. Unless…something did happen?", Kaiya prys further, choosing her words carefully, trying to make her slip up.

Drei raises an eyebrow, realizing this girl was a lot sharper than she appears. Even if she couldn't see them past her bangs, she could feel the hellhounds piercing gaze. Mere affirmations and deflecting the answers further would only increase her suspicions. Still, she couldn't risk the hellhound attempting anything rash for her unofficial mate. A distraction was needed in this situation but what?

"Ms. Zyklon!", Scarlett calls out, getting their attention as she approaches the pair with Jocelyn in tow, "Oh good, you're still here."

"Oh good, your eyes work.", Drei sarcastically remarks but seizes the opportunity, "Something you need?"

"Yes, actually, I wanted to see if…wait, where's Caleb?"

"That's what I want to—", Kaiya interjects but was interrupted.

"Wait, you guys were hanging out with Caleb today?! Like, together?", Jocelyn curiously inquires, glancing between Kaiya and Scarlett.

"It actually started out with just the two of them having breakfast together. Then going out for a morning stroll.", Drei deliberately shifts the conversation making Scarlett flush in embarrassment and Kaiya tense up at the mention of it.

"Wait, what?!", Jocelyn looks at Scarlett who folds her arms.

"I-It's was just breakfast and a talk. That's it!"

"Ohhh, so just because your neighbors now, you decided to sneak some quality time together behind our backs huh? I see your game, Scar.", Jocelyn teased with a knowing grin and a little tinge of jealousy.

Scarlett cheeks flush pink, "W-We were just having a conversation!"

"Well, that's how it always starts. First talking, then whispering, and pretty soon touching…", Jocelyn teasingly remarks as Kaiya tenses up more and Scarlett heart skips a beat, remembering the wing massage, "Actually where has he wandered off to anyway?"

"That's what I want to know!" Kaiya stated, starting to lose patience, looking right at Drei.

"He'll be back soon. He had to take care of something. ANYWAY, what is it you two need?", Drei quickly deflects the question.

"Oh, right! You remember that…special lotion you gave me before the full moon night that one time? Well, would you happen to have any more?" Scarlett ask Drei as she raises her eyebrow at the question.

"Can you please….wait, what?", Kaiya looks at the weasel, surprised that such a thing exists.

"If I do, what of it?"

"It's just…another full moon's coming up and the stuff you have works so well and—"

"We're not taking those crappy pills I.A. gives us and there's no way I'm doing it with a Simian Shithead or an Orc with a underwear fetish!", Jocelyn interjects in irritation as Kaiya and Drei look at her curiously.

"Yeah, basically that…", Scarlett confirms.

Drei looks at them a moment, sensing they were being genuine about their need. It wasn't some kind of ploy to uncover her recipe, "Hmm…understandable."

"W-Wait, you…you can make lotion that protects against the full moon?!", Kaiya inquired in surprise, a bit too loudly for Drei's liking as a few liminals nearby turn their attention to the group.

"What?! No! What are you talking about? If you need lube that bad there is a Dollar store down the block!", Drei spoke, loud enough for others around them to hear.

Drei then gestures to girls to come in closer to her, which they obliged.

"Keep your voices down, please! Never know if jealous ears are listening. Also, it's more of a salve and, yes, it works very well as Red Hot Chili Pepper over here says.", Drei remarks gesturing to Scarlett, who pouts not appreciating the nickname, "If I were to make it for you both, what would I get out of it? Talent isn't free you know."

Scarlett and Jocelyn exchange looks for a moment then nod in understanding.

"Ok, how much do you want for it? I can transfer you—", Jocelyn asks, taking out her wallet and student debit card.

"I don't want your money, especially the kind they pay you here.", Drei interjects, much to their confusion, "I'm already paid by ICEP but I could use some help with better quality food during our stay here. I love pizza and pancakes as much as the next girl but nothing beats fresh, unprocessed meat but also doesn't stretch Caleb's or my budget. From what I hear, students receive 35% off on all groceries from every outlet, correct? "

"Uhh, yeah! Definitely, even though I'm working I still get that benefit. We can work something out! Right, Scarlett?", Jocelyn happily affirms, looking to her red-head friend.

"Uh, y-yeah sure."

"Excellent. You give me what I need, I'll have a fresh batch ready by tomorrow morning.", Drei assures as both devils nod in satisfaction.

"W-Wait a second! Can you please stop ignoring me?! Where is Cal–", Kaiya stated, becoming irritated by the karmaitachi avoidance but was swiftly interrupted by said karmaitachi hopping up on the bench, getting close to her face.

Drei gestures her to lean her ear down and Kaiya, reluctantly, does so.

"Of course, the full moon salve isn't the only thing in my repertoire. Let's just say I have something that lets newly formed mates go at it raw without consequence for 12 hours straight. And a certain someone is getting what I need to make it happen.", Drei whispered in the hellhound's ear, making it obvious who she's referring to.

Kaiya eyes widen and jaw goes slightly agape as her imagination wonders, 'R-Raw? No consequences? S-So…we don't need to hold back?!', the hellhound thought, imagining herself and Caleb in the rawest positions she could conjure up. Her legs locked around his waist, his nails digging in her as his hips into her rear with primal lust, the moaning cries unfettered bliss drown out all other sounds! Her face flushing darker as blue flames wafts from her skull before exploding with an azure blue mushroom cloud. She slumps her limp body becoming a stuttering, hungrily drooling mess against the bench as smoke wafts from her lust-fried brain.

Scarlett and Jocelyn look to her in concern, unsure of what to do or even make of the scene.

"Damn, what did you say to her?", Jocelyn inquires.

"Only what she needed to hear, give her a minute to cool off. Now, let's get to work on my shopping list. First up, chicken. Lots of chicken.", Drei urges the pair.

"As much as we want…", Kaiya mutters softly with a lewd grin, excited for when her mate returns.

…Elsewhere…

While all that was going on, Sterling could be seen passing through the meet and greet area for the various potential host families trying to get back to his vehicle. After doing damage control for their now escaped Phoenix, he completely forgot about the facility's monthly event.

The curbs were now lined with over a dozen vehicles from families looking to bring in their first liminal houseguest. From what he understood, this was the facility's way of thinning the amount of students to keep from exceeding a certain quota and ensuring new home stays were being put in the records. It also helped families really meet the students in person in an open and friendly environment to ensure they're compatible. If so, it meant new human caretakers to see to all the liminals needs while helping to grow ICEP as a business. Sure, nearly forty percent of students end up back in I.A. facilities after human families either can't handle the financial and emotional responsibility of housing a liminal, cultural differences creating hostility in the household, or other…less family-friendly reasons, but at least the streamlined process has improved considerably over the years.

Well, for the most part.

"Say heyyy everyone! This is my new homestay, Almira! She's gonna be living me and my husband!", A human woman ecstatically stated, streaming herself and a slightly embarrassed Melusine, both draconic wings pressed in uncomfortably by both humans.

'Oh look, another couple with too much money on their hands trying to flex on their neighbors. I give it a week before they're begging for a more 'manageable' houseguest.', Sterling thought with an eye roll having experience more than his share of host applicants way in over their heads. He felt bad for the agent responsible for their move-in.

"Carolyn! Emelia, sweetheart. Is…that really you?", spoke a human woman's voice, getting Sterling attention.

He sees a group of five humans, pairs pairs of adults and a young girl, around seven, standing around a large plant-type liminal. Specifically, an Alraune but what stood out to Sterling was that, instead of just one female main body in a large flower there were two. He instantly recognized it a the rare variant called a Liliraune. He'd read reports from the botanical gardens on it but never really got the chance to see it himself. The group was seated at an outdoor table near a tea shop away from the crowd for a little privacy. The Liliraune, rooted in a large pot attached to a wagon, were joined by a young man in his twenties wearing the uniform of the botanical garden workers. What purpose could they be out in the open like this?

"Yeah, mom, it's me…well, US.", Emelia says gesturing between her and Carolyn who appeared nervous, "I'm…sure you have…SEVERAL questions but—"

"ICEP…they gave us the general rundown on the circumstance…honestly I almost didn't believe them but…I guess it wasn't all bullshit.", Emelia's father says, looking at her in astonishment and uncertainty before his wife slaps his arm, reminding him their youngest daughter was there too.

Emelia and Carolyn glance away awkwardly, already feeling the tension in the area.

"Honestly…I was just glad to hear you were ok.", Carolyn mother spoke, getting her daughter's attention who was surprised to see her mom in tears, "We were so worried when you disappeared! I thought something terrible had happened!"

"Mom…", Carolyn uttered, feeling tears welling in her eyes, "Something did happen…I'm…we're not human anymore…", she expression, her voice cracking as Emelia looks to her sadly.

"I don't care!", her mother expressed, lunging up from the table proceeding to hug Carolyn, to her shock, not even caring about the nectar' splashing on her clothes, "You're still our baby girl!"

"That's right, Pumpkin.", her father agreed with a warm grin.

"We feel the same way, Eme. You're still our daughter, no matter what you look like!", Emelia mother stated taking her daughters hands supportive as her father, stoic man he is, nods in assurance.

"I love you too, Eme! Even if you are a flower!", Emelia's younger sister stated, hugging the base of the flower which both plant girls felt, cooing at the sensation and smiling warmly with tears streaming down.

As the scene played out, Sterling could help but smile in relief. The report he had read on those two was a unique case to say the least. Mana corruption was still a relatively new rare and phenomenon but for two people to undergo the transition from human to liminal simultaneously was truly remarkable. Still, the physical effects and challenges of the transition from human to liminal are just the beginning. Those affected will have many psychological and societal challenges to overcome along with fear-based stigmas and misinformation attached to mana corruption.

"By the way, I don't think we ever got your name, young man?", Emelia's fathers asks the garden employee.

"Oh, it's Timothy. Timothy Green, sir. I was assigned as their personal caretaker and nectar extractionist.", he politely informed as both girls looked at him with a grin.

"Is that right? Then we appreciate you seeing after our girls for so long.", Carolyn's mother remarked as the father raised a curious eyebrow.

"Well, actually I just took the place of another guy who was looking after them before me just recently. I think his name was Caleb something.", Timothy remarks ponderously as Sterling turns a curious ear to the conversation upon hearing that name.

"He's right mom. Honestly…it's kinda because of him helping us that we're able to see you guys now. We weren't in the best mental state at the time and…he showed us this new life was worth a try.", Carolyn fondly answered.

"Yeah, plus because of him, we're basically set for life financially because of this nectar so we can even help you guys out.", Emelia wholeheartedly added, scooping the sweet-smelling viscous fluid in hand.

"Really?! That's amazing!", Emelia's mother happily stated, joined by Carolyn's mother.

Sterling, having heard enough, proceeds to his vehicle close by. At the same time, making a mental note to give Mr. Bizzell a little praise later.

He then takes out his phone, seeing a few messages related to possible Pheonix sightings. The most recent being a sky camera recording the Phoenix in a territorial battle against an unidentified dragon liminal. He could hardly make out any features due to the camera's poor visual quality but it tells it was very powerful being able to toss around a Phoenix; even an inexperienced one.

"Haaa, perfect. Yet another headache to deal with. What the fuck is going on in this state lately?", Sterling tiredly thought, pulling from the sidewalk to leave the facility. He then turns on the small tracker obtained from Dr. Graham.

'And now the hunt begins.', Sterling thought to himself. At the same time, his mind turned to Fantina and how things were at the coven, 'I should have Clawthorne let her know I'll be home late tonight.'

As he drove away, Carolyn and Emelia continued to chat with their parents.

"Hey, you mentioned something about 'nectar extraction'?", Emelia's father inquired, getting their attention, "How exactly do you go about doing that?"

Carolyn and Emelia immediately tense up, green cheeks flushing red in embarrassment, sensing both their fathers suspicious gazes on their 'caretaker'.

"Oh, um, it's fairly simple reall—"

"And not that important right now! Hey, why don't we introduce you to our friends at the garden?!", Carolyn interjects, wanting to avoid a very, VERY awkward conversation.

…Back at the Congregation…

After the ordeal in the bathhouse, Caleb eventually took refuge in a nearby storage room filled with preserved fruits, grains, and herbal extracts. He sat on a brown crate looking at his hand, and the rest of his body for that matter, flickering in and out of visibility as he tried to regain control.

"Ok, calm down, focus. Focus. Think visibility. I wanna be seen. Visibility. Visibility. Visibility.", Caleb softly repeated to himself, breathing gently to relax. His body gradually rematerialized back into existence as the aura around it dissipates.

At least most of his body. He noticed, to his surprise, part of his lower body from waist to knee remained camouflaged; creating the illusion of his torso floating above his kneeless legs. He concentrates harder as his groin area quickly returns to normal much to his relief.

He quickly examined his body from head to toe, ensuring everything was in place.

"Ok, ok good. Now…let's try this.", Caleb takes a deep breath, closing his eyes, imagining himself becoming completely undetectable to anyone.

Completely invisible, like a GHOST.

He opens his eyes again to find himself completely camouflaged against, light ripping off his body to where it seemed to dissolve into the shelves and jars around him. He clenches his fists, dissipating the effect as his visibility returns and prompting a triumphant smile and soft chuckle at getting some control over this newfound power.

"Heh, hello game changer." Caleb excitedly remarks, finally getting a break in this horrible building. He opens the door of the pantry, peeking outside. The coast was clear, "Ok, let's try finding that Enocha girl. Ghost."

He spoke, camouflaging his entire body to near perfect invisibility then carefully stepping out of the room quietly shutting the door. He then focuses the silencing technique on his feet so they make no sound as he moves quickly down the hallway. It seemed he could use both abilities simultaneously, much to his delight. Now he can't be seen or heard by the angels.

'Heh, so long as I don't run into anyone I can basically sneak around better than the CIA. Call my ass the 'Un-Holy Ghost!', Caleb proudly thought, hastily moving through the large hallway then taking a right through another corridor, searching for Enocha, grimacing in annoyance. Why were there so many corridors in this damn place?!

…

While that was going, Enocha could be seen standing inside her bedroom, stone in hand, with a very confused expression. The one who needed to stone was now nowhere to be seen.

"W-WHAT IN HEAVEN'S NAAAAME?!", Enocha loudly, clutching the sides of her head in frustration and confusion. She began frantically searching every corner of the room for her human 'guest', "Where did he go? Where are you? Where are you hiding?! Come on, this isn't FUNNY!"

Immediate dread shoots through her senses as she realizes her worst fears were coming to light.

'Oh no, don't tell me he's loose in the congregation now. What if someone finds him before me? Why would he even LEAVE my room at all?! WAhhhhhh!', Enocha frantically rubs her head, groaning in frustration and dread then subconsciously starts counting prime numbers, '1-3-5-7-11-13-17-19-23-'

Feeling herself calming down a bit, she steeled her resolve and stuffs the rock in her pocket, then skids out her room before slamming the door shut. She unfurls her wings and takes off down the hallway determined to find him before anyone else, 'Mister. Please be somewhere safe! I'll find you! Don't worry, I'll FIND you!'

…

While that was going on, in a large, open grassy space surrounded by white Romanesque columns, well-crafted steps and white marble statues of biblical angels placed around the area, Helga and the other angels and cherubs were gathered.

"Listen! We're NOT making this up! There's some kind of creature loose in the building.", Helga firmly stated as Muriel nods fervently in agreement.

"Come now, Helga, that's impossible. The holy barrier surrounding this congregation isn't letting a single non-angelic being into this domain. Why, I once witnessed a crow run smack dab into it before slowly sliding down to the ground. It was quite comical actually.", Samuel replies, grinning in amusement at the memory.

"Wait but I saw a white dove pass through once no problem.", Maalik remarks, a bit confused.

"Well, yes, it's a symbol of peace and purity. Of course, they're allowed."

"I'm…not sure how to feel about that."

"Listen! Whatever it is, it most certainly isn't a DOVE!"

"Really? Did you guys see it?", Camael curiously chimes in.

"N-No, b-but we definitely heard a strange cry it made. It was like…like…", Muriel spoke trying to find the right words.

"Like a dying moose or a shrieking imp getting their tail cut off with a blade, sir!", the female cherub stated as the male tried to calm her.

"That's…oddly specific.", Uriel remarks, eyebrows raised.

"But not inaccurate!", Muriel affirms.

"And if THAT'S not enough proof for you, take a look at this." Helga gestures to the male cherub who nods before presenting a white cloth to the group, stained with vibrant splotches of red liquid, "That's the blood our Cherub servants cleaned up. It formed a trail leading from those 'Gauntlet Stairs' you were so proud of, likely sustained a bad injury."

"Injury?! That's impossible.", Raphael affirms, sounding offended, "Traps we made are imbued with strong healing power. Even if you do get injured, it heals faster than it's made. Still hurts but where's the fun if it didn't?"

"Shoot yeah! Pain is life's greatest motivator to try harder and not get hit!", Camael wholeheartedly agreed, fist bumping the large angel.

"You're both missing the POINT here!", Muriel stated.

"And a few brain cells…", Helga muttered.

"Whatever it was, it was still clearly injured!"

"Yeah? I mean, the blessing protects angelic beings like us from real harm. We're not crazy."

"What if whatever it is ISN'T an angel like us?", Helga questions, prompting surprised expressions from the others.

"T-They're not like us?", Muriel thought out loud, becoming worried.

"They're not like us.", Maalik pondered.

"They're not like us…yet they managed to survive our gauntlet? Awesome!", Camael excitedly expressed, earning a few dubious stares.

"It must be nice having a skull so hollow. No weight on your shoulders at all.", Helga comments in slight annoyance.

"Hey! What's that supposed to mean?!"

"Please, can we focus?! There's something dangerous loose in our congregation and it's probably gotten Enocha too!", Muriel stated, catching the attention of the other angels and Cherubs.

"Wait, what?!", Uriel jumps up to his feet, surprising the others, "My future little sister's in danger?!"

"W-We don't know, sir, but…", the female cherub chimes in, her voice shaking with fear, "I heard screams from her room earlier. She answered me the first time but when I tried to check on her the second time…she disappeared! T-Then something tried to trap me inside her room and…and…"

Uriel and the other angels wear mixed expressions of shock, confusion and realization. The fact one of their own may be in grave danger because of an unknown enemy was very concerning. Uriel himself was especially worried for the safety of his bethroth's younger sister.

"Ah, I see we aren't the only ones who encountered something weird and scary today."

The group turns to see Barbie and Callen, now fully dressed, approaching the group with three female Cherubs fearfully clinging to him.

"Encountered? A-Are you saying y-you've seen it?! Where?!", Muriel inquires.

"Believe it or not it was in the communal bath upstairs! Barbie and the rest of us barely made it out alive! These little ones have been terrified since it happened.", Callen stated, noting the three female Cherub clinging to him, pressing themselves against his firm muscles with blissful expressions feeling completely safe.

"No way! What kind of wicked creature attacks you in the middle of a Buddy Bath?!", Raphael stated, utterly appalled as Helga and Muriel look at him strangely.

"I know right?!", Callen joined in with similar energy as the male and other female cherub tried pulling the others off him.

"Whatever it was, it had ghastly purple eyes that bore straight into your being. A translucent, hunched bipedal form like a feral ghoul. And that awful, awful raspy vocalizations it made like a vicious dog ready to attack and chomp off your wings!", Barbie stated in grandiose, unsettling fashion disturbing a few of her fellow angels—especially Muriel—and annoying others, "Indeed, it's truly…terrifying."

"T-This is scary! W-What if it's an evil ghost that hid in one the human visits who came today?! W-What if it possesses one of us?! What if…what if turns us into a Fallen?!", Muriel loudly expressed, the idea shocking the others.

"Muriel, don't say such things! That'd never happen to us! Barbie, knock it off! You're scary Muriel half to death here.", Helga harshly reprimanded, clearly having enough of her antics.

"Hey, it's a scary possibility. Is our adversary an evil spirit with a mission to corrupt the pure souls of this congregation?! Or, is it something else entirely? But, I know one thing it definitely is…", Barbie casually replies, reaching her cleavage, dramatically whipping out a large magnifying glass, "IT'S A MYSTERY! One we've been ordained to solve by my friends!", she enthusiastically spoke, earning curious and exasperated stares.

"A…mystery?", Maalik inquires, tilting his head.

"You mean like how it's a mystery you're able to wake up on time for breakfast but NOT for morning worship to The Father?", Samuel snarkily remarks.

"No, I mean the mystery of the 'ghost' invading the sanctity of the Father's house. Don't you think it's our responsibility as His children to expose the fiends identity and meddle in whatever nefarious plots they're scheming?! Don't you wanna be a holy mystery solver?"

"I feel like you're trying to push an agenda.", Helga sarcastically remarks.

"I admit…she does have a point. It's best we catch this evil spirit or whatever it is ourselves. It survived out gauntlet so it must be tough, right?!", Camael stated, getting excited.

"I'm SO in! Let's find ourselves an evil spirit!", Raphael heartily stated.

"As incorrigible as she is, I also must agree–oh, goodness that feels strange to say—with Barbie in making an effort to track this vile fiend down at once and rescue our comrades.", Samuel admitted, on board with stopping whatever threat plague them.

"Fantastic! Time to solve the mystery of the 'Bathhouse Boohaw'!", Barbie stated, posing with her magnify glass.

"We're NOT calling it that.", Helga chimes in.

"Oh, what about 'Purple Eyed Poltergeist'?", Callen suggested.

"We're NOT naming this thing!"

"Ah, come on, every mystery villain has a name to go by! At least until we've done enough meddling, chased them around a bit, trapped them and uncovered their true identity!", Barbie firmly stated.

"Where are you getting this all from?"

"Documented research.", Barbie waves off much to her annoyance.

"Excuse me? You mentioned Enocha went missing but what about her older sister Ophelia?", Maalik inquires to the Cherub, catching the attention of Uriel and a few others.

"I'm…not sure honestly…"

"I actually saw her earlier before the humans arrived. She appeared to be enjoying a stroll through town.", the male cherub chimes in.

"Oh, good. At least she's safe.", Uriel sighs in relief.

"Yeah, but…why did she leave the—AH!", Muriel was about to question before Barbie grabs her by the collar, dragging her away along with Maalik, who seemingly resigned to his fate.

"No time to waste! Muriel, we're gonna need yours and Maalik's big brains and low self-esteem for all the boring parts.", Barbie chuckles, dragging them away followed by Callen and Uriel.

"D-Do you have to drag me?!"

Helga pinches the bridge of her nose in annoyance, hardly believing the things rich nobles do to entertain themselves.

"WOOO! We're coming for you 'Bathhouse Boohaw'!", Raphael cheered, joined by Camael and the Cherubs.

"We're NOT calling it that!"

…Elsewhere…

After enjoying their time among the witches in the Fantina Coven, Clawthorne could be seen driving through the facility, going through the 'Meet and Greet' area noticing a IA employee in yellow vest directing the traffic flow. Despite many of them remaining distrustful of her, Clawthorne seemed to have a few friends among them thanks to sharing a Wood Elven harvesting technique passed down among her tribe. Though, inadvertently making her the new rival of one of that Asteria witch girl and her honeydew melon patch. Still, they were the tastiest melons she ever had. Maybe next time she'll bring a peace offering of homemade jam from the whole woven basket of elderberries in the backseat the others gifted her.

Next to her, however, Fantina had an impatient look on her face, wanting to reach their new destination as quickly as possible. She'd been anxious since they heard the news.

…Flashback to earlier…

"Moon is WHERE?! Doing what?!" Fantina loudly inquires of Venus, startling the other witches in the orchard.

"She went to her therapy session.", Venus repeated a bit confused, "I thought that was clear enough."

"B-But why? I mean…if she needed to talk to anyone, YOU'RE here and so are the others.", She says gesturing to Venus and the other witches, who all, including Mars, look away shamefully choosing to refocus on gathering apples.

"Fantina, we DID try talking with her, supporting, always there for her, reaching out but…no matter what she didn't reach back. She couldn't.", Venus informs her as the other witches silently agreed, "Her scars were very deep. Deeper than even my spells couldn't fully reach. However, since she's been going to him she has been truly opening up again. The other day I saw her laughing at one of Gala's jokes and almost no one does that."

"Hey!", Gala remarks, puffing her cheeks in displeasure while levitating on her broom picking red apples, prompting a light chuckle from the others.

"Sweetie, that's just the truth." Venus said to Gala who then pouted.

Fantina pauses looking down in thought, trying to process all she'd missed since becoming an ICEP student. She felt guilty for all that she had put her coven through and even now couldn't truly be there for them.

Venus lays a hand on the baphomet's shoulder.

"Madame, you're blaming yourself for what happened to her but…if anyone's at fault it would be me for not protecting her from that…beast.", Venus spat in revulsion before shifting her tone, "Moon is on her own road to recovery. She no longer stays in her house all day and seeing her smile again is all that matters. We need to give her all our support."

Fantina thinks to herself for a moment, realizing that maybe it was best for Moon and sighs, "Well, at least ICEP got someone competent to help her."

"Oh, no, the Director of this facility is the one who got her into the service; even made it available for others in our coven if needed with few taking the offer."

"Is…that right? Well, who did he get as her therapist?"

"Oh, that would be Director Beechfauz, himself dear.", Venus casually replies.

Fantina pauses, taking a moment to process what she just heard, "Huh?"

"She's really taken a liking to him. He's been a very good influence for her."

"...Huhhhhh?!", Fantina expressed emitting a surprised goat wail.

…Flashback ends…

After that, the baphomet rushed out of the coven, dragging Clawthorne away from the witches with her and refusing to elaborate further.

'And I really wanted to try that Mercury girl raspberry tarts.', Clawethorne thought, bemoaning her cut time with those delightful witches.

"Come on! How much longer until we get that guy's office?", Fantina inquires impatiently.

"We have to follow traffic flow so maybe five or ten minutes?"

"Tch, stupid wannabe host families and shoddy street design. Can't we take a different route or something? I'll walk there myself if I must!"

"PLEASE, don't. I can understand you're a bit anxious but—"

"Anxious doesn't even begin to describe it! For someone like that, in a position like his to just spontaneously take an interest in one of MY girls? No. There's something fishy going on. I don't trust him alone with a hopeless romantic like Moon.", Fantina cuts her off as images of Moon's previous abusive partner flash before her and wanting to prevent it repeating.

"You don't…honestly believe Director Beechfauz is engaging in unprofessional activities with a liminal patient do you? I haven't met him in person but Agent Sterling and others in our department regard him with high esteem."

"You never know who men truly are until they're sure no one's looking.", Fantina coldly replies.

Clawthorne glances at her with concern before putting on the brakes stopping, behind a large white truck with a lamia riding in the back who then waves at Clawthorne.

Clawthorne waves back then turns to Fantina, "Look I… I can't say I know what you been through… or the pain and sacrifices you made but…I want–"

"What the?! Is that…", Fantina interrupts her, pressing her face against the glass, seeing a familiar black witch through the crowd.

Upon closer inspection, she could see Moon smiling, seated at a picnic table with a human man as he laughed. Fantina eye twitches in disbelief before getting out of the vehicle, to Clawthorne shock.

"M-Ms. Fantina! Where are you going?!",

"Oh that bald bastard! When I get my paws on him!", Fantina ignoring, pushing towards them.

"What!? Fantina you can't! He's the director! Gha! Noi'valóne vie(Give me a break in Wood Elf)", Clawethorne expressed, quickly getting out of the vehicle. She skillfully leaps over the hood of the vehicle while flashing her MON badge to the driver behind her, "Sorry, official ICEP business!"

'If it means protecting Moon this time, then yes!', Fantina thought, skillfully dodging and weaving around the people around her. At one point, getting to the stone wall separating the area with a tall female Grizzly blocking the way as she took photos with her new human male host.

Fantina leaps up, effortlessly climbing the walls with only her hooves before somersaulting over it entirely. She bounced off a large arachne's hard abdomen, who glances around in confusion before resuming her talk with her human.

As Moon and Director Beechfauz are chatting and enjoying their meal, Fantina lands right beside them, hands on her hips with an intense scowl.

"Ahem!", Fantina loudly uttered, getting their attention, prompting Moon's smile to immediately vanish, now replaced with shock. She noticed the fried fish, baked beans, collard greens, and black berries muffins on the table, "Havin' a nice lunch together?"

"M-Madame F-Fantina!?", Moon expressed, fearful as she glanced between her coven leader and the director.

"Ahh, so you're the famous Fantina Coven leader! So nice to finally meet you, I'm Benjamin Beechfauz, the Director around these parts.", He welcomingly greets, letting his South Carolina accent take over, offering his hand to her.

Fantina narrows her eyes at him, refusing to shake his hand and asks, "I will skip straight to the point why I'm here. I hear you've been seeing one of MY girls for 'therapy sessions'?"

Moon tenses up becoming worried and nervous for the older man's safety.

"That's right ma'am." he said confidently as he see her judgemental stare getting idea what going on here

"And there's NO one else who can do it? It HAS to be you?", Fantina challenges, folding her arms in clear disdain.

"Oh, that. Yeah I can see why that would seem strange—"

"Yeah a little bit!", Fantina affirmed.

"And I did suggest for Ms. Moon to be matched with another, more available therapist but she claims to prefer my approach. She's making exceptional progress."

"Is that right? That's why you took time out of your busy schedule to bring her out for a lunch date?", Fantina skeptically asks.

"Well…that's actually a funny story–"

"Uh-huh, it always is. Let's just get a couple things straight here, Director!", Fantina cuts him off, get right up close to him, "Regardless of the deal I have with ICEP, my coven is STILL my coven and I won't have it's autonomy stripped away like you do with every other race here!", Fantina firmly stated, catching the attention of a few liminals and humans in the area as Beechfauz appeared a little confused but let her go on.

At that same moment, Clawthorne arrived on the scene, politely pushing past the slightly annoyed Grizzly female and her host blocking the entrance. She frantically glances around before noticing, to her horror, Fantina berating the director.

"Ms. Fantina!", Clawthorne shouted, rushing over, only to trip over a long brown snake tale belonging to a surprised Echnida female, face planting in the ground.

"Hey, Elf, watch where you're walkin'! I'm coilin' here!", the Echnida berated, winding her lower body at a table with a human male.

"Owie…", Clawthorne weakly utters, her butt in the air as she picked herself up rubbing her bruised forehead. A couple of human males discreetly snap a few pics of her sexy rear.

"And another thing!", Fantina continued her verbal assault, "I don't know what you THINK you're doing with one of my girls but it ends now! She's suffered enough because of shit guys like you! I won't let another one of you take advantage of her! You scumbags think you can just do whatever you want with my girls and I WON'T stand for–"

"YOU'RE WRONG!", Moon shouted, raising from the table, cutting off the baphomet and drawing attention from strangers. The black-haired witch then protectively puts herself between the director and Fantina to both their surprise, "You're wrong, Madame Fantina! Mr. Beechfauz is a very kind and patient man! He's been nothing but supportive towards me since I met him! He even put himself at risk to protect me today! I WON'T let you compare him to that bastard KEITH!"

Fantina was taken aback by her declaration, "Moon, do…do you even know what you're saying?"

"Do you?! You talk as if you really know what we've been through! Even now, you're almost never around so don't talk like you know everything!", Moon shot back, glaring intensely at her leader.

Fantina stares back at the young witch in pure shock, unable to respond to the accusation due to underlying truth within. It was like a dagger had just sliced at her heart. The cut made even deeper upon seeing the Witch's eyes well up with tears.

"Ms. Fantina!", Clawthorne shouted, rushing to the baphomet's side then politely kneeling towards the Director who noticed even more eyes on them, "Director Beechfauz, I'm so SO sorry for her behavior! She was way out of line! She had no right to make such wild accusations towards you!"

Fantina over at the blonde elf protestating herself as if she was some unruly, disrespectful child. It was equally infuriating and humiliating to say the least.

Suddenly, Beechfauz rises up from his seat, getting their attention. He takes a deep breath and, to everyone's surprise, takes a bow, "Aaannd scene! Great rehearsal girls! Fantina your performance was brilliant as always!"

Fantina, Clawthorne and Moon look at him in profound confusion.

"Wait, that was an act? For like a play or something?", muttered a random human to another.

"Why pick a place like this to practice? So weird.", another person spoke.

"Mommy, what was that?", said a curious little girl, pulling her mother's hand.

It was then Clawthorne and Fantina realized what he was doing upon noticing so many eyes and even a few smartphones directed at them, recording their interaction. They both sweat dropped and had badly messed up.

"O-Oh! T-Thank you, sir! We always try our best! In every scene of our screenplay that's definitely, a hundred percent, in the works!", Clawthorne stated, trying her best to play along.

"Nobody cares, asshole!", shouted the Echnida female from earlier.

Fantina wears a somber expression then look at Moon who glances away ashamed. Beechfauz then kneels down with an whispered.

"Let's all talk somewhere more private."

After their 'performance', the four of them stepped away from the picnic area behind one of the buildings close by.

"We can't thank you enough for that quick thinking sir!", Clawthorne bowed her head.

"No problem. People always like drama until they realize it's all fake. It's likely it won't end up online but just to be safe I'll make a couple calls when I get back to the office.", Beechfauz assured then looks at Fantina and Moon, both wearing awkward expressions, "That was very dangerous what you did Ms. Fantina."

Fantina clenches her shoulders tighter, "You don't think I realize that? I was…just trying to keep her safe! I failed her once already!"

Moon looks to her coven leader with tearful eyes, understanding why she reacted so badly.

"Ms. Fantina, I understand your many concerns and they're…mostly justified after hearing what that man did to her.", Beechfauz expressed, get on one knee out of respect, "But you have nothing to worry about. I only wish to help Ms. Moon through this terrible period in her life. She deserves to be happy and to choose her path in life regardless of their past. No different than any other liminal in this facility INCLUDING your coven…and you."

Fantina looks at him in surprise then glances at Moon who appears just as moved by his words. He then raises up, dusting his pants off.

"Now then, if you'll excuse me I still have a good twenty minutes left for lunch. Ms. Moon, you're still welcome to join unless you wish to return to your coven early."

Moon smiles at him but then looks to Fantina expectantly for her approval. The baphomet pauses then gestures for the witch to proceed prompting an ecstatic nod from Moon.

"Oh, but Ms. Fantina? I'll only ask you once to NEVER pull a stunt that reckless again. I might give you leeway this time but others on the board are looking for ANY reason to alter or even rescind the current deal agent Sterling worked to put through for you and your coven. This isn't a threat. It's a reminder that the position you're in is a precarious one. Be more mindful."

Fantina goes silent, gripping her fists in frustration but unclenching them relenting how badly she almost messed up.

"She…WE will. This will never happen again. I can assure you.", Clawthorne emphasized, turning a sharp gaze at Fantina who doesn't flinch but sighs in shame, knowing she was getting an earful later.

"Good. You ladies enjoy the rest of your day.", Beechfauz casually spoke as Moon happily walked close beside him.

"She mentioned…you protected her!", Fantina stated, getting their attention, "Who was it that attacked her?"

Beechfauz pauses a moment then looks to Moon who nods, "This stays between us but…it was an angel named Baliel. They'll be dealt with though, I assure you."

"...Ok. That's all I wanted to know.", Fantina plainly responded as Clawthorne looked at her curiously.

Beechfauz and Moon proceed onwards to enjoy the rest of their time together leaving Fantina to quietly ponder the true meaning of her actions.

Clawethorne looks at the baphomet, seeing the pained expression in her gaze and tries to reach out.

"ATTENTION! ATTENTION! THIS IS CLARA FROM ContracANTS! WHOEVER'S THE OWNER OF A VACATED BLACK SUBARU FORESTER, YOU'RE VEHICLE HAS BEEN CARRIED BY MY SQUAD TO PARKING LOT B-7 TO AVOID STALLING TRAFFIC! PLEASE COME CHECK WITH ME FOR DIRECTIONS! THANK YOU!", A female Giant Ant announced over megaphone.

"What the?! Ahhh! Tar'aváné cül narjéle sevù!"

"That isn't close is it?" Fantina assumed since the elf was cursing in her native language, earning any annoyed scowl which was all the answer she needed

.

…Back to Caleb…

After going through room after room, corridor after corridor, trying to find his way to Enocha, Caleb was about at his limit from navigating this Lazarus Trap of a building. Fortunately, at one point, he managed to sneak into an elevator right before it closed. He didn't trust ANY of the staircases at that point.

As he rode the elevator down to the first floor, he sighed in relief letting his camouflage down trying to enjoy the momentary respite.

'Dammit, there has to be a way for me to find her. Even with this new skill I somehow unlocked, I'm still at risk of getting caught when I'm out in open like this. Gotta be some way to get to her without advertising myself to the others', Caleb thought to himself, pondering his current situation. He then notices the elevator stop, prompting a lethargic sigh, 'Haa, maybe I can find a place to–'

"You don't think it's still up there, right?!", Came the panicked voice of Callen, startling Caleb into instinctively reactivating his camouflage and backing up against the wall, as the door opens wide for him and Uriel.

'YOU GOTTA BE FUCKIN KIDDING ME!', Caleb internally screamed, seeing both angel men standing before him.

"Only one way to find out! Oops...", Uriel stated as they step inside,mistakenly tapping the third floor button then corrects himself tapping the fourth floor, prompting the doors to close, "Sorry, hit the wrong button."

"It's ok."

Caleb hugged his back against the wall, careful not to make any sound or sudden move to alert them as they ascended. Fortunately, in spite of their large wings taking up a considerable amount of width space, the elevator was large enough for them to not bump him. This fact did nothing to ease his stress at all though. Why did they have to get on this particular elevator?

'It's fine, I'll…just have to wait until they get off. For now just don't move, don't make a sound Caleb. It's fine.', He told himself, trying to remain as calm as possible.

"Goodness, I really hope Enocha is ok.", Uriel expressed, catching Caleb and Callen's immediate attention, "I don't know how I'd be able to face Ophelia when I couldn't protect her only sister."

"Let's stay positive. We don't really know if the Bathhouse Boohaw actually got to her or not.", Callen replies, trying to cheer him up.

'Bathhouse WHO haw?!', Caleb internally questioned, very confused by what he was talking about.

"Maybe you're right, still…I… the last thing I want is for Ophelia to be upset when she gets back from her stroll"

"Yeah…she's been…going on a lot of those lately, hasn't she?"

"Has she? It doesn't feel like it.", Uriel ponderously spoke.

"I mean, she definitely isn't around as much. And when she is, she seems to be acting a bit strange lately."

"Strange? How so?"

"I mean, she hardly ever joins us for breakfast or dinner, she doesn't speak to Helga or Muriel as much, and earlier one of the cherubs said they overheard her and Enocha arguing this morning.", Callen informs as Uriel looks at him incredulously, "Did something happen? You are her betrothed so…thought you might know…"

'Betrothed?', Caleb curiously thought, looking at the angel.

Uriel thought for a moment, "Well, we did have a conversation with my parents recently. It went…about as pleasant as it usually goes…maybe she's worried about letting them down?" Uriel suggested but not really certain.

"I can understand. She and Enocha aren't exactly of noble status. It must be difficult for angels of lower status to join together in union of high ranking nobles. Especially considering her and Enocha's circumstances. You know everyone is going to have their objections."

"I don't like looking at it that way. So what if their parents made some mistakes? Why should that make our union together a topic of debate?!", Uriel stated venting a little then sighs as Caleb looks at him curiously, "I really like Ophelia. I don't care about her family's plebeian status. Isn't that enough?"

"If only it were, Uri. You know how stubborn parents can be, especially when it comes to the bloodline. Nobody wants 'inferior' blood in their gene pool.", Callen plainly replies.

"They're NOT…she and her sister are good angels. Why should their blood decide how others look at them?"

"Again, I wish it were that easy. It's just the way things are. Can't undo a two thousand years of tradition; they simply need to learn to live with it." she said shrugging her shoulders

'Spoken like a true ignorant bitch…', Caleb thought, rolling his eyes.

"Haaa, I guess but…it's just so…ridiculous!", Uriel punches the wall, slightly denting it, as his wings unfurl and smack Caleb's chest, making him flinch.

The strange sensation alerts the young angel.

"What is it?", Callen inquires.

"I don't know, I felt…a disturbance.", Uriel remarks, turning his attention to the wall behind him, unknowingly facing Caleb's eyeline.

Caleb tenses up, heart racing and sweat building on his forehead. It was taking everything in him to keep up his camouflage as the angel man stared him down, examining him like an unidentifiable specimen.

'Open open OPEN YOU GODDAMN DOOR!', He desperately shouted in his head, staring intently at the door. All the while, Uriel slowly reached his hand to touch where he was standing as Callen watched on silently, clenching his fist in anticipation.

Suddenly, they heard the titular ding of the elevator as the doors opened, catching their attention. The second it opened giving a good view outside, Caleb quickly teleported out while still camouflaged then stealthily teleported again further away out of sight.

"Did you hear something?!", Callen stated, glancing around, even peeking out the elevator door, only seeing a potted plant and chair.

Uriel glances at him then touches the wall, feeling nothing there but the wall. He raises an eyebrow, "Hmm…no."

Further away, sensing no one nearby, Caleb dispels his camouflage, taking a moment to breathe.

"I swear if I don't have a heart attack in this place it'll be a miracle." Caleb bitterly muttered, wanting to leave this labyrinth of assholes already, "Where the hell am I now?"

Caleb looks around noticing several large sky blue lockers, dark blue metal benches with blue and white tiled floors. Obviously some kind of locker room. There was even an arrow sign reading 'communal showers' which made him frown in exasperation.

Not wanting a repeat of the bathhouse, he continued through the area trying to find a way out before he heard a noise that sounded like metal banging against metal, repeatedly. He curiously follows the noise as it gradually grows louder leading to a dark brown door.

He cautiously walks, peeks inside then immediately greeted by the sight of a large gymnasium, filled with a variety of exercise equipment as it quietly shuts behind him. Specifically, ones geared towards humanoid and winged liminals to strengthen their wings and improve flying skills. However, what really drew Caleb's attention and left him stunned silent was the source of the banging sound.

"Come on! You can do it, Master Baliel!", Nepheli encouraged, cheering on the large who was in the middle of completing an overhead deadlift set.

That 'set' was actually two massive plates each at both ends. They were roughly the same diameter of Caleb's vertical height and each plate weighed five hundred pounds. The warrior angel was lifting them with perfect form.

"RRRAHHHH!", Baliel grunted loudly like a feral neanderthal as his massive muscles bulged through his tight blue spandex, veins visible through certain parts of his skin. Even his wings seemed to be bulging with muscular definition. His WINGS!

'Oh, HELL NO!', Caleb expressed internally, quietly closing the door.

"Excellent! Five more, milord!", Nepheli cheered.

In the locker room, Caleb was pacing around, his mind racing and body trembling in terror.

"No no no no no, you've gotta be fucking kidding! Of all the angels I could run into, it had to be HIM!? Dammit. There has to be another way through.", Caleb quietly fumed, not wanting to risk the elevators again for now and he definitely won't be using any more stairs here. However, he remembers catching a glimpse of an exit door in the farthest end of this gymnasium. He would teleport but he could feel his body still in its cool down. It's unlikely he would make it halfway with his current energy, "Shit, guess I don't have much choice."

As the burly angel wrapped his last set with the Valkyrie urging him on, they were oblivious to the locker room doom gently creeping open. Caleb, silencing his footsteps, quietly tiptoed out and gently closed the door before activating his 'ghost' camouflage.

"Almost there! Push it! PUSH IT!"

"RAGHHH!", Baliel roared, triumphantly raising the weights above his head then dropping them to the floor. The loud bang was like a wrecking ball smashing against a building ringing Caleb's ears as vibrations traveled up his body.

Baliel, dripping with sweat, takes a moment to catch his breath as he wipes his bearded face with an irritated expression. Caleb tenses up a bit, noticing him look right in his direction. Could he somehow see him past his camouflage?!

"Excellent set, Milord! You managed to break your record by ten today!", Nepheli praised, presenting him with a large white towel which he immediately grabbed, wiping his face.

"Hnngh, that's the only thing I could've broken today. Who does that human 'director' think he is?", Baliel growled, rotating his shoulders to ease the tension, gripping the towel tightly.

"Well, say, he's the 'director', milord. He is responsible for the well-being of the other species in these lands."

"Hmph, even the ones that have no business being here at all! How blind does a human have to be to realize that all the problems in these all tie back to those filthy devil ilk and the rest of their chaos-rooted legions. Their mere presence spills out corruption, tainting every other species around them! All of them, galavanting about forming unholy, iniquitous unions under the night of the Lord's Moon. It's every bit as sickening as the humans that allow it!", Baliel vented aloud, stomping about, reviling at the memory of the interspecies couples he witnessed on the way back to the congregation. It made his stomach turn.

As he was tirading, Caleb stealthily snuck around the treadmills and other cardio equipment, doing his best to ignore the Arcangel's words entirely. At the end of the day, they were the meaningless drawls of an idiot with too much free time.

"Bah! I shouldn't even be surprised that a fool like that human would allow such when HE himself is clearly swayed by that filthy Majin's influence!"

"Oh, you mean the 'Witch', Milord? Pardon, I was raised among the Emphraim nobles. They always referred to them as such.", Nepheli remarks as Baliel scowls and grunts at her, "Not that there's anything wrong with the Empereon way, milord. Still, that witch was quite audacious, albeit foolish, to draw her magic against someone of your caliber."

"I should've crushed her into paste in front of that director of her's. Ripping weeds like her out of the Father's garden is our duty. Why should I, a proud warrior, bend the knee to a lowly human?!", Baliel bitterly stated grabbing a large plastic water container, "It is their kind that are made to bend the knee to all ANGELS. Bask in our glory as the true children of the Father!"

"Tch…", Caleb sneer under his breath, catching the sharp ear of the angel.

"What was that?!"

Caleb tenses up covering his mouth, while remaining perfectly still and crouching down. All the while the archangel scans the area for anything suspicious.

"Hm? I didn't hear anything, milord. Are you sure it's not that 'tennaitis' condition I read about?", Nepheli remarks, effortlessly picking up the huge weighted plates and hanging each on their racks.

"I keep telling you 'NO'! And stop reading those human articles on the internet! They'll rot your mind with their absurd nonsense of sexual spectrums, religious freedom, and…Starbucks. Pumpkin in coffee is an AFFRONT TO GOD!", Baliel loudly growled, clenching his fist in agitation as Nepheli sighs with a shrug, regretting giving him a pumpkin spice once.

At the same time, Caleb quietly sneaks towards the exit door, not bothering to question his outburst.

"Well, the others seemed to enjoy it, Milord, especially Ophelia and Enocha."

"Bah! Don't even get me started on those two!", Baliel retorts before guzzling down water, some spilling on his chest, walking over in Caleb's direction making him tense up and heart race. The huge angel goes over and plops down on a machine to help improve wing muscle strength, "I wonder what misdemeanor I committed to be saddled with caring for my foolish sister's brood. With any luck, Ophelia will be married off to that silver spoon brat and clear out our family debt. As for the other one…I'm not even sure. That girl just isn't right in the head. I can barely even talk to her half the time. She must get it from that worthless father of hers. I swear my sister should have stopped at ONE mistake.", He bitterly stated as he hooks the weights to his wings, proceeding to furl and unfurl them to move the heavy weights as they repeatedly clang together.

Caleb couldn't help looking at the man with slight disgust before continuing. It was none of his business.

"Enocha just…requires a special touch, milord. I'm sure with time you two will bond. As for Ophelia, I'm certain everything will be fine.", Nepheli encouraged.

"Rrrgh, yes…in spite of that humiliation she brought unto herself and this congregation. How could she let herself be bested by a filthy greater devil? And on top of that be saved by HUMAN law enforcement!"

"From what I heard it wasn't exactly a fair fight, not that you'd expect DEVILS to fight with honor, but still. It doesn't help that it was both her's and Helga's first REAL combat with devils, milord."

"Tch, excuses! That's the entire point of their combat training! I swear, this new generation is soft! Soft and careless! Back in my day, I'd have slain those two devils and the rest of their clan within HOURS! I could do it right now if not for the humans and their ridiculous laws. As if wretched Chaos-born deserve such luxury. The only good devil is one with a blade in its heart", Baliel bitterly spoke.

Caleb pauses a moment, thinking of his time he spent with Scarlett, their conversations, them joking around, serious her laugh, then thought of her friends all being their usual lively selves. A bunch of sweet girls that have been through so much but still trying to smile everyday. It was that reason, he felt utterly sick to his stomach with anger listening to the man speak. His clenched fist rippled with purple aura as he crawled his way to the exit.

Baliel, letting the weights drops again after finishing up his set, allows Nepheli to remove the fastens from his wings as he leans forward with elbows to his knees in malign contemplation.

"I could have killed them all that day…if not for that human man."

Caleb pauses in shock, glancing back at the angel with a nervous sweat building up.

"Human man?...Oh right! The one that apparently stood up to you. What was his name? Caleb Babyseal?", Nepheli pondered out loud, oblivious to the now irritated invisible human wondering if she even TRIED to remember.

"As if it matters! What does matter is that look he gave me. Those eyes trembling with fear yet possessing the spirit willing to defy an angel of MY caliber. Seeing such unwavering resolve in a lowly human…makes my blood boil. Sheep should never defy their shepherds.", Baliel spoke in utter disgust as Caleb tried to ignore his words, "I still remember his repugnant odor. He smelled just like one of those wretched Chaos-born. I wonder…could his motivation have been protecting one of those devils…because he's their mate?", He theorized prompting a sharp side glare from Caleb.

"If what you say is true…do we try save him from their corruption or-"

"Save him? He's already beyond saving from what I saw that day. No, he deserves righteous death just like the devil whore he beds.", Baliel viciously spat before a wicked grin forms, "I'd love nothing more than to be the one to slay her and display her horns on my mantle among the others."

Further away, Caleb clenches his fists tightly as purple aura enraptures them like a veil before changing to a miasma black. Seething with anger, he bears his teeth as they become notably sharper and the whites of his eyes blacken over. How dare this man threaten his Camilla like that? Judge them as if their relationship is some kind of abomination? Even worse, talk about as if she were some animal to be shot and put on some stupid mantle as some sick achievement. It made him physically sick to breathe the same air as this so-called angel. The fact that people all over the world see him and other angels as just and good fills him with absolute rage.

'It would be so simple to rid the world of this murdering racist fuck…all it would take is one blast to back his head.', Caleb coldly thought, demonic black eyes glowing with bright purple pupils, charging a small purplish-black ball of fire-like mana in his palm.

Baliel suddenly smells the air, eyes widening as he quickly stands to his feet, startling Nepheli and surprising Caleb into dispelling the attack.

"Ah! What is it, milord?"

Baliel sniffs around, "I smell something…"

Nepheli sniffs as well, only smelling his body odor due to close proximity, "Hmm, shall I grab the deodorant, milord?"

"Not me, you simpleton! It smells…devilish.", Baliel practically growled as he formed light energy in his fists.

Caleb eyes widened in horror before noticing the exit just barely twenty meters away, just within his range. He quickly teleports, quietly hurrying out of the room through the door.

At that exact moment Baliel releases the energy, it spreads out in a pulse of golden mana covering the entire area and everything from the walls to any living organism. The golden mana spreads over Caleb's body causing a painful burning sensation as if someone just dumped acid all over him. He recoils as even his skin started to form goosebumps and his muscles twitched and spasmed.

"INTRUDER!", Baliel bellowed loudly, his heavy footsteps pounding like a massive beast charging.

Adrenaline kicking in, Caleb quickly teleports farther down a long hallway and begins running to try and escape his pursuer.

"NEPHELI! GET ME MY CLOTHES! I WILL PERSONALLY DEAL WITH THIS CHAOS FILTH." Baliel said finding this as a perfect opportunity as Nepheli nodded, rushing to gather his clothes.

Caleb pants violently, heart racing as he frantically searches for another way out. What's up with the lack of doors in this hallway? It was like something straight out of Shining, right down to the psycho killer chasing him.

Right at that moment, a while door swings open, almost matching the color of the wall save for a silver knob, catching Caleb by surprise; even more so when a figure emerges from the entryway.

"Look out! Ah!", they expressed, but Caleb couldn't react in time as he crashes right into them, even bumping their heads together.

"Uhhhhgh, W-What…? ", he groaned holding his head before noticing a familiar face of the angel, Enocha, pinned underneath him, "Ah! It's you!"

Her legs were spread with his knee up her dress and a hand clutching her small firm breast, making him flush in surprise.

"Owchie…eh? Ah! Mister?! I found you!", She expressed, surprised before noticing him on top of her, "W-Why are you on top of me?"

Before he could awkwardly answer, they a thunderous roar that permeated through the wall, causing them to vibrate.

"I KNOW YOU'RE IN HERE!"

Caleb and Enocha immediately go pale in the face before the human grabs her pulling into the open doorway, closing it.

Right at the moment, Baliel rounds the corner with a large golden warhammer at the ready. Next to him, Nepheli brandishes a metal knight's sword and large crusader shield glowing with golden mana.

"Where are they?!", Baliel shouted, his voice reverberating down the hall as he marched down intensely scanning the area. He and Nepheli then hear a shrill yelping sound.

"Did you hear that, Milord?", Nepheli inquires, readying herself for battle.

Baliel ignores her, focusing on the doorknob sticking out slightly.

Seconds later, He kicks down the door, sending it flying off its hinges over the guardrails of the stairs along with chunks of the wall. The hulking angel warrior squeezes through the entryway looking like a creature straight out of vivid night terror.

"Watch the halls.", He commanded the Valkyrie.

"Understood…", Nepheli complied, not pleased at seeing the damages to their home.

His menacing blue eyes cutting through the dimly lit area and clutching his large glowing hammer. He scans the area, peering over the railing down the flights of stairs, listening for something. Anything at all while sniffing around catching that devilish.

All the while, completely oblivious to the human and angel pair, cowering in the corner as both were almost completely invisible. He didn't want to take his chances with stairs and at the last moment, grabbed Enocha holding her close as his camouflage cloak covered her body too. He held her close, covering her mouth with his hand, feeling her entire body trembling from wing to toe. At the same time, he tried to remain calm, focusing his energy to hide their presence as much as possible.

Baliel lowly grumbled standing at the top of the staircase, searching for any sign of his prey.

Caleb's heart raced, sweating a little while restraining the urge to even swallow too loud as angel girl his lap trembles harder, barely able to control her breathing. She clenches her eyes tightly, silently praying they wouldn't be found, inadvertently pressing her firm rear hard into his groin making the human utter a tiny grunt.

Baliel whips his head to the side, catching the faint sound, and now focusing intently on the corner. Caleb clenches his teeth, trying to stifle any noise he could as the warrior's heavy footsteps drew closer to their hiding spot. He debated teleporting back to the hallway but didn't want to risk running into that Nepheli lady. He held the terrified Enocha close as the hulking angel drew closer, hammer at the ready, staring at the seemingly empty corner. Seemingly.

"Lord Baliel!", Came a shrill, child-like voice. The warrior angel whips around to see a female Cherub fluttering up the stairs with a frightful expression, "We need your assistance! It's an emergency!"

"An emergency?! How bad are we talking?", Nepheli stated in surprise.

"Everyone's in a panic and Barbie's the sensible one!"

"By the Father…", Nepheli expressed in utter shock then looks to Baliel expectantly.

"A-Also, what happened to the door…?", The Cherub inquires pointing at the heavy damaged entryway.

Baliel scoffs, glancing one last time at the corner, before turning and walking past Nepheli out the entrance, "Nevermind that! Gather everyone and have them arm themselves for battle. We have a pest to hunt down and EXTERMINATE!"

"Understood, Milord!", Nepheli stated, obediently saluted, then looked to the cherub, "You heard him!"

"Yes ma'am!", the Cherub girl saluted, quickly diving back down stairs as Nepheli left to catch up to Baliel.

When he was absolutely sure they were alone, Caleb dispels the camouflage sighing in relief as did Enocha.

"Haaa…that was so close…", He expressed before looking at his flickering hands, "Ok, so I can make others go Ghost too but it eats up more energy. Good to know. I thought he would've caught us for sure."

"I think I peed a little…", Enocha shamefully expressed as Caleb recoils in disgust, "Uncle is always so scary when he's like that."

"Ok, ignoring you…relieving yourself on me, PLEASE tell me you got that stupid stone!" Caleb whisper-yelled at her.

Enocha snaps from her thoughts before quickly taking it out, "Y-Yes! But…why are you here?! Why did you leave my room? What have you been doin–ah!", she bombarded him only for Caleb to immediately snatch the stone from her.

"Look, I don't have time or the literal energy to explain the angelic HELL I've been through. Can you please just get me to the nearest window so I can finally leave?"

Enocha raises up to her feet to face him, "Window? These are meant to be used at the MAIN entrance. I don't know if they are even compatible with that power of yours."

"I will take my chances. Better than risk going to another level in this place so are you gonna help me get there or not?", Caleb firmly inquires.

Enocha looks at him realizing she didn't have many options at the moment and nods, "Listen I will help you but it won't be safe use window if stone doesn't let through a window then Lord Baliel will then know exactly where you are now that he aware your in the building so your safest bet to escape is go out front door. Unless you wish to face him in battle?" Enocha said hoping he would listen.

Caleb takes a deep breath and releases it in annoyed acceptance "Fine."

"Alright then let's go." She then turns towards the stairs to descend and quickly notices Caleb's very hesitant even wary expression, "What's wrong?"

"Are there…NO other elevators or something around here? Last staircase I descended was a fuckin' death trap made by a psycho."

"Hey! You promised no cursing.", Enocha stated puffing her cheeks in displeasure but understood his concerns, "Also, sorry about that. Those stairs were a project by Raphael and Camael. These are safe though! On the Father's word.", she wholeheartedly assured.

Caleb looks at her skeptically, sensing the honesty in her tone and knowing he can't afford to waste time, "Fine."

He takes a step down, seeing if anything happens, and sighs in relief before noticing her smiling with a 'see?' expression. They quickly but cautiously descend the rest of the stairs.

…Elsewhere…

After their encounter with the Director and Moon, Fantina and Clawthorne could be seen walking through the complex towards the parking area.

"I can't believe this! MY car got towed…well, more like CARRIED AWAY and now we need to go to the parking area three blocks away! All because YOU couldn't wait five minutes for me to park! It's going to take at least a half-hour to even leave the facility with so much traffic today." Clawthorne vented, clearly displeased as Fantina silently walked beside her in deep.

'Do you?! You talk as if you really know what we've been through! Even now, you're almost never around so don't talk like you know everything!' the words of Moon echoed in the Baphomet woman's mind alongside the image of her beloved witch's tearful expression.

Her thoughts turn to Venus and the other witches. How happy they appeared talking about exploring the various programs at the facility. She'd spent so long protecting them from the danger of the outside world. A world that doesn't understand or accept them. Was that not enough either? Has she really just been stifling them?

How could she, the guardian of the coven, make one of her witches shed tears? Has she truly been neglecting them? She'd been doing all she could for them; give them the best lives they deserved. Has she been wrong this whole time? Was she EVER truly there for them when it mattered most?

" ?" Clawthorne snapped at the baphomet, "Are you even listening?!"

"W-What?"

"I said, you realize how insanely lucky you were. If that were ANYONE else you'd have been done. Not just you, but Agent Sterling as well!", Clawethorne berated as Fantina looks at her surprised, "You realize how close you were to ruining the deal he has with ICEP? Are you TRYING to lose what freedom you have?!"

Fantina doesn't respond, only looks down in realization. Her thoughts going to Sterling and all he's done for her and the coven. What she did today was a slap in the face. Is this really how she repays him?

"What? Don't have anything to say? No clever comeback involving my ears or anything? Which by the way aren't even that long compared to those snooty, stuck-up High Elves from Eìnheräe!"

"...No. You're right…", Fantina shamefully admitted, stopping in her tracks, eyes averted, "I messed up today…just like I've been doing for four years now. Like how I did that day I ran from…I always get like this. So angry… I end up ruining…", She utters, voice cracking and trembling trying her best to remain firm.

Clawthorne looks at her sensing the remorse in the baphomet's voice and couldn't help feeling a bit guilty for berating her. With a sigh, she then kneels down to her level, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder to Fantina's surprise.

"Listen, Fantina…I understand you feel a very deep bond with those young women. It's natural you'd be very protective of them and want only what's best for each of them. Believe me, I get it…but you CAN'T act on your emotions like that. Things are different. You're not among unsavory company anymore and you may end up doing far more harm than good. So please…for yours and everyone's sake do as the human youth say and 'chill out'."

Fantina pauses a moment, staring back at the elf woman then averting her gaze away in shame and contemplation.

"WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU IDIOTS TALKING ABOUT?!", A human man shouted, getting their attention.

They look to see a human family screaming at a few ICEP personnel, that appeared exasperated by the family's lack of civility already.

"FIRST YOU DENY US OUR GOD-GIVEN RIGHT TO BRING AN ANGEL INTO OUR LOVING FAMILY! THEN YOU CHOOSE TO DO NOTHING AFTER MY SON WAS ATTACKED BY A FUCKING DEVIL?!", He shouted to to of his lungs, drawing attention towards them, as a few other host families tried to ignore them.

"Sir, we assure you, we're having our other associates look into your son's testimony. We'll find and deal with that student immediately.", the male werefox IA worker affirms as the human man glares at him in disgust.

"Officer, wait, my son said she DIDN'T attack them! It was just an accident.", a human woman says, trying to clear up the misunderstanding.

"We don't wanna hear another word outta you, Tiffany! How dare you side with those fuckin' demon?!", the man's wife shouted, getting up in the other woman's face before her husband pulls her back "I can't even believe we considered you friends!"

"You're no better than that black motherfucker and his devil bitch that attacked my mother! People like you are the reason this whole fuckin' world going straight to HELL!", He berated the woman as her son held onto her, clenching jeans in fear.

"Sir, that's enough! If you're refusing to cooperate, then we'll have to ask you and your family to leave the facility!", a human female IA worker warned much to their surprise.

"LEAVE?! For what?! Telling it like it is?! You got some nerve lady!"

"SIR! This is your last warning!", The werefox male warned, putting himself between the man and his female coworker.

"And what fuck you gonna do ya fuckin dog?! Just cuz they put you animals in suits don't give you power over me! You ain't shit but a dog on ICEP leash!", the man spat, trying to rile the worker up as the kobold bared his teeth emitting a low growl. His partner does her best to hold him back.

Fantina and Clawthorne watched the scene unfold with varying degrees of curiosity. One familiar with these types of people, having seen plenty of loud-mouthed, opinionated humans with skewed perceptions on liminals. The other genuinely disappointed to see a fully grown adult, by human standards, behaving so uncouth and immature.

"Enough!", the human female, pulling her partner away, glares daggers at the man while her hand drifted over her taser and sidearm, "Please leave the facility right now or else I WILL be authorized to force you AND your family to leave and issue a lifetime ban."

They stared each other down for a moment before the man relented.

"You know what? That's fine! If this is the type of place you are running with all these demons and witches and shit running around!", He shouted as Fantina shoots a glare at him.

"We'll just go to the IA in Chattanooga! Heard they got angels up there too AND devils aren't allowed! Come on kids, we're leaving.", the woman shouted back at the agent, gesturing to her husband who takes his son by the hand, teenage daughter at her side as the group walks away.

Tiffany sighs lethargically before turning to the IA workers,"I am so SO sorry for that!"

"It's fine, ma'am. We're just…doing our job and that sometimes includes trash duty. We'll take your witness testimony into the investigation as well.", The IA human woman assured while placing a hand on her obviously miffed–evident by him glaring as the family left–werefox partner, calming him slightly.

"Oh good! I'd hate for an innocent person to be charged for no reason.", Tiffany sighed, patting her son's head, assuring all was fine.

"Hm, well it's good to see not all humans are as immature as those other reprobates.", Clawthorne cheekily remarks with a smirk.

Fantina plaintively looks at the group silently before getting a jolt, running through her nerves sensing a faint but strong surge of mana. She glanced around for the source before her eyes finally landed on, to her surprise, Tiffany and her son.

The Baphomet walk towards the pair catching Clawthorne's attention.

"Huh, Fantina? Where are you going?"

Ignoring her, Fantina focuses her mana just enough to not trigger the collar into her eyes as they glow brighter red. Everything and everyone around her turns semi-infrared, the human bodies shapes glowing yellowish-white to represent their spirit energy while liminal bodies were either reddish-orange to other darker colors, representing their mana.

'Wait is that…what I think it is?' Fantina thought, focusing intently on the Peabody family. Shocked to see the rippling black chainlike mass, latching itself around their bodies like a leech. She could sense the unbridled malice from both of them and knew they were in danger.

"Ok, thank you so much.", Tiffany politely thanks the IA workers who go off to take care of their business. She looks down at her son with a smile, "Hey, I'm proud of you sweetheart. You did a good thing."

"Ok, mom."

She smiles at her son, "Why don't we see if we can find any Ogres to be our houseguest?"

"Like Shrek?", The boy smiled.

"Maybe, let's find out."

"Excuse me?", Fantina spoke, getting their attention as they looked at her curiously, "Sorry to interrupt your Shrek adventure but I'd like to introduce myself. I'm Fantina."

"O-Oh! Nice to meet you, Ms. Fantina! I'm Tiffany Peabody and this is my son Sherman."

"Wow, are you a ram?!", Sherman stated excitedly.

Fantina raises an eyebrow at the boy and shrugs, "...Kinda."

"Miss Fantina, what are you doing? I am so sorry." Clawthorne said, not wanting her to get in more trouble. Fantina ignored her for a second focusing intently on the mother and son.

"It's no trouble at all. I have my own child who's the curious type too."

Clawthorne blinks comically at the comment and quickly tries to salvage Fantina's dignity, "Oh, she's actually not a chil–"

"Clawthorne a word.", Fantina interjects, ignoring their exchange, then signs elf to lower her ear .

Clawthorne raises an eyebrow but obliges as Fantina whispered something in her ear. It had to have been important as the mother and son watch the elf woman's apologetic expression morph to utter shock and confusion then fear.

"Is…everything ok?"

"Y-Yes! We just need a minute of your time to take care of something?", Clawethorne assuredly spoke, putting on a smile.

"Um, what exactly do you need?"

"Could I see you and your son's hands? It's a special custom where I'm from and meeting someone" Fantina lied, offering her paws to each as Clawethorne nodded in agreement.

"I… guess so." Tiffany said, still a bit confused by what's going on but chooses to trust them. Mainly due to the elf woman's sweet demeanor.

The mother and son do as requested, placing their hands in the Baphomet's soft paws.

"It's really soft." her son giggled from the sensation of the furry paw.

Fantina sent a little of her mana into them, just enough to cause a ripple effect breaking and weakening the bonds of the chains as they started to break apart. Behind her, Clawethorne was quietly muttering in her native tongue a wood elven incantation as added protection as light green energy ripples around their bodies. Within seconds, the black chainlike mass is dispelled completely from their bodies and released as it then comes into contact with the light barrier Clawthorne made which deludes its potency as it vanishes into the air.

"They we are. Thank you and enjoy yourselves with the Shrek ogres, bye-bye.", Fantina expressed with a smile, releasing them and walking away as Clawethorne quickly followed.

The mother and son are left confused but also felt strangely warm inside by the interaction.

Clawthorne catches up to Fantina who was now standing further away from the crowd with a ponderous expression.

"Hey…back there just now…was that–?"

"A death curse. Yes.", Fantina plainly answered, clenching her fist.

Clawthorne felt a surge of dread and anger shoot through her, "B-But why?! Who would do such a terrible thing to that woman and child?!"

"From what I could sense, it was Chaos-born mana…a Greater Devil, in fact."

"A-Are you sure?"

"Listen, I've worked around a number of Chaos-born both in ICEP…and the Malones. I can differentiate them fairly easily. Plus, she said her son was there during the encounter with Devil by those HeeHaws were babbling about. Obviously, the one they encountered was a total asshole."

"W-We need to inform the Director and IA security immediately. We can't let someone so dangerous wander the facility!", Clawethorne stated, frantically going into her pocket for her phone.

"Wait!", Fantina stops her, grabbing the elf's hand and taking her phone.

"What are you doing?!"

"Not. Here.", Fantina firmly spoke, noting the several people around them going about their business, "Make the call anonymous, the last thing we need is a panic. Plus, don't forget, MY coven is associated with Chaos-born club RAN by Devils."

Clawthorne looks at her in realization, putting all the pieces together, before nodding in understanding. Fantina hands her back her phone.

"One more thing, that HeeHaws family….they said their son encountered that Devil as well…I couldn't check before they left but…it's possible that Devil put the same curse on him too."

Clawthorne's eyes widened in shock and horror, clenching her phone tightly before walking away to make the call. Hopefully, stop that family from leaving in time.

Fantina follows her, making sure the elf didn't say anything that might bring more suspicion upon her coven. It was the least she could do for them.

…Meanwhile…

Back at the congregation, all of the residents were in a panic over the mysterious intruder wandering about their domain. Helga and the rest of her angel kin along with several wary and frightened Cherub servants were all gathered in a meeting hall.

Samuel stood at the end of the table, near Michael's seat and stated, "Thank you for gathering everyone. Status reports on your progress. Helga?"

"We covered much of the Eastern sector of the congregation and we retraced our living quarters as well. No sign of it.", She answered bitterly as Muriel pats her arm to comfort her.

"Understood. Raphael? Camael?"

"We checked all over the Western area. No trace of it in the dining hall.", Camael answered.

"Or the second gym Lord Baliel allows us to use", Raphael added.

"Or in the sauna IN said gym."

"Or the kitchen. We did walk in on a couple Cherub preparing some AMAZING Filet mignon so we had to make sure the BooHaw wasn't there. Thanks again, Ms. Julie.", Raphael says, earning a few incredulously looks from Helga and the others.

"You very much, sir.", the female Cherubs giggled as two others smiled happily at the compliment.

"Also, there's no sign of the BooHaw in the library and in the art gallery. Though, I DID see a lovely new Matisse painting among the collection.", Maalik added, somewhat, to the conversation.

"Oh! Is it the one with the black cat and the fish bowl?", Muriel asks, lighting up a bit as Helga looks at them both incredulously.

"Yes! As a matter of fact, I believe it's recreation of the original 1953—"

"Thank you, Maalik!", Samuel stated, stopping his compatriots from going on another of his art monologues.

"Ok, has ANYONE checked anywhere besides their favorite places?", Helga inquires, becoming annoyed.

"I have!", Barbie proudly stated, standing up posing with one foot planted in the chair. She wore a brown tweed jacket, pants, fake round glasses, and a detective hat similar to Sherlock Holmes. She even carried a comically large magnifying glass, holding it to her eye while pretending to smoke from a pipe. Helga looks at her with dread, "After doing an investigation of the bathhouse and checking out the young Cherub's testimony, I discovered a rather interesting clue in Enocha's room. Behold!"

The angel woman stated slapping a small plastic storage bag with little black hairs inside.

"What is…? Is that…hair?", Maalik inquires.

"Correct, my academic fellow, short black hair to be precise. Now, last I checked everyone here has yellow hair as our Father's holy rays."

"What…does that mean?", Muriel inquires nervously.

"Elementary my dear, the Bathhouse Boohaw…is shedding. And if it's shedding, it's aging. Gentlemen and women, we're dealing with the ghost of an elderly weirdo that hates BATHS!", Barbie theorized.

"What?!", Helga stated incredulously.

"Wait, wait wait that doesn't add up. How can a GHOST age?", Raphael inquires, unconvinced.

"That cannot POSSIBLY be your only reason to doubt her claim.", Samuel remarks.

"Hmm, ok, new theory. Considering it's black hair that was left behind…it's possible the 'Bathhouse Boohaw' is a creature PRETENDING to be a ghost. Since it hates BATHS as well, it must be a truly savage creature. Like a Ghoul or an Oriental."

"How would a Ghoul or…Oriental even get past the barrier?", Maalik inquires.

Barbie thought for a moment and shrugs, "Teleporter?"

"Telepor–WHAT?! How did you even come to that conclusion?!", Helga stated incredulously.

"I mean, you mentioned earlier you heard and sensed something weird that it just disappeared. Maybe it teleported away? Can ghouls do that? Maybe if they were part ghost I guess."

"You've some RIDICULOUS hogwash before Barbie but that's got to be in your personal top ten! Why are NONE of you taking this seriously?! We have an unknown intruder AND Enocha is STILL missing!"

"I don't see you attempting to solve the mystery. You don't even have the right hat!", Barbie emphasized to the detective hat with her halo floating above it, "All you have are those dumb pink beanies Muriel knits for you.", she stated as Muriel pouts sadly.

"I LIKE beanies and STOP GOING IN OUR ROOMS!"

"ENOUGH!", Samuel shouted, getting their attention, "Listen, perhaps it's possible we could have been wrong and there is no one actually here? What if it was just a bunch of coincidences?!"

"How would you explain SAID coincidences?", Barbie challenged, blowing bubbles out her pipe.

"I can't. That's WHY it's all coincidental. We live in one of the most fortified areas in the facility. It's highly unlikely anyone, ghost, ghoul, Oriental, whatever could sneak inside with none of us noticing. Maybe, with all the guests visiting and training as of late, our imaginations got the better of us."

"Imagination? So, it's just in our heads or something? Even Uriel's elevator thing?", Callen inquires gesturing to his friend.

"Elevator thing?", Helga inquires.

"I thought…someone or something was in the elevator with us but…there was nothing when I touched the wall."

"He was already on edge so his nerves were probably getting better of him.", Samuel proposed.

"What about Enocha then?", Uriel curiously asks.

"Come now, it isn't the first time that girl has wandered off then returned later. For all we know, she is already back in her room. Besides, if there were TRULY someone that managed to bypass the barrier, wouldn't Lord Baliel or Seraphim Menora notice their presence by now?" Samuel confided as the others looked between each other muttering in agreement. None of them denying that fact.

"I…suppose you're right…", Muriel admitted softly with a ponderous expression.

"I KNOW I'm right. Now let's drop this 'Bathhouse Boohaw' nonsense because there is NO intruder.", Samuel assures as the others gradually consider the possibility. Barbie sighed in disappointment as she removes her detective hat.

At that moment, the doors of the room are smashed open by a large muscular foot, alarming the others as Baliel comes marching through with a serious scowl on his face. Nepheli comes in behind him shaking her head.

"Milord, please stop destroying the doors. This is the third one today."

"No time for knocking! So THIS is where you lot have been! Arm yourselves with your heavenly weapons and search every corner of these halls! We have an intruder! One that REEKS of Chaos-born filth!", Baliel commanded, earning shocked expressions from the other angels.

"No way…", Helga expressed.

"Aha! I KNEW the BooHaw was real! Eat it, Samuel!", Barbie proudly stated, pointing a jeering grin at the posh angelic man who grimaced in discontent.

"Wait! Have you encountered the 'Bathhouse Boohaw' as well, Lord Baliel?!", Uriel chimed in.

Baliel looks at him with a dubious and confused sneer, "...WHAT?!"

"I believe he said 'Bathhouse Boo–", Nepheli repeats but he cuts her off.

"I HEARD him. I'm just in no mood for whatever foolish they're up to in here. Now, ALL of you! Ready yourselves to battle! We're hunting a filthy Chaos rat."

"Understood, Lord Baliel!", Samuel stood up straight, saluting, "Well, you heard him! Get going at once!"

"Yeah, if Lord Baliel says it's real then it MUST be. Round two of the hunt begins!", Baliel cheered as he and Camael ran out the door, dragging Maalik behind them.

"The mystery of the 'Bathhouse Boohaw' continues! This time I'm certain we'll get to the bottom of this! Or my name isn't Detective Barbie Tenenbaum!", Barbie stated, holding the magnifying glass to her blue eye enlarging it and frightening Muriel a bit before joining the crusade with the others.

Helga gives an exasperated sigh, "Everyday the Father tests my virtue to not strangle her with her own hair."

…Elsewhere…

While all of that is going on, Caleb and Enocha could be seen skulking about trying to get to the front entrance after descending the stairs. On the way repeatedly ducking, hiding, and using camouflage to avoid detection from the Cherubs.

"How much farther from this gate entrance?", Caleb quietly asks, sneaking around the Eastern corridor past the library.

"Not much further, we just need to–"

"Hey! I heard something up ahead!", a male voice stated, catching their attention.

Not hesitating, Caleb grabs Enocha, inciting a startled squeak, and pulls her close while covering her mouth before activating his camouflage. They duck behind one of the large pillars as three angel men–Raphael, Camael, and Maalik–could be seen running towards them.

"You see anything?", Camael asks, looking around, ready to draw his weapon.

"No…I could've sworn I heard something though.", Raphael says as Caleb and Enocha's heart races.

"It couldn't have gotten far. I doubt 'BooHaw' will last very long now the entire congregation is looking for it."

"Yep! Plus, every exit is being guarded by members of Nepheli's Valkyrie squad. Only way that 'Boohaw' is getting out is in pieces! I hope I find it so I can test out a new heavenly weapon.", Camael excitedly spoke, conjuring a large pair of knuckles shaped like bear claws, "I call'em the Ursa Rippers!"

Caleb sweat drops hearing the sound of those claws scraping together.

"Personally, I'd prefer if it's body is intact. I'd love to study it.", Maalik points out.

"Heh, sure we'll try not to rough it up too much. Come on, let's check for it down that hall!", Raphael runs ahead as the others follow.

Caleb deactivates the camouflage as Enocha steps away, catching her breath.

"A little warning before you manhandle me. I almost couldn't breathe!"

"I'M the one who's not gonna be breathing! You hear what they said?! They're blocking up all the exits looking for me! And what the hell's a damn 'BooHaw'?!", Caleb quietly screams.

"I don't know! Listen, it's fine. It's fine! We can't walk out normally but we CAN use the balcony above the entrance. You can teleport down then walk out with the stone. Foolproof!", Enocha assured, putting on a slightly strained smile.

Caleb touches his forehead, not having other options, "Haaa, fine, fine whatever let's just go."

"Stay close."

"Right."

The pair proceed further ahead, keeping their eyes and ears open to avoid getting spotted. Soon, they arrived at the top of an extravagant staircase connected to a ballroom-like entrance with golden railings, white marble floors, beautifully crafted chandelier hanging from the ceiling, and several portraits of archangels representing the seven heavenly virtues. Everything was of contemporary Roman design with a blue, gold and white circular marble mural of Jesus Christ. Below the center stairs was a huge brown door with a woman in full silver armor, steely expression, white hair, and angelic wings guarding it and carrying a silver lance and shield. Connected to it were two curved side stairs leading to an outdoor balcony and lining tall stained glass windows with white roller shades; each pulled down.

Caleb makes a gesture to stay close and—using his technique to their silence footsteps—ascends the staircase while careful not alerting the Valkyrie downstairs. They make their way to the balcony as the silking white curtains flapped loosely in breeze letting in the warm sunlight and smell of fresh air.

Caleb smiles in relief that was he almost free of this madhouse. Enocha, however, was curious as to why the balcony doors, usually locked, were left wide open.

"Come on, let's go.", Caleb hurries ahead, keeping his voice.

"Hey wait a minute.", Enocha just grabs his shirt as they both step into full view of the outside.

To their immense shock, they found one of the angels, Muriel, standing with her back to them; eyes closed in meditation and taking in the fresh air to calm herself. Enocha inadvertently utters and small audible gasp, breaking the angel's concentration. Caleb teleports out of sight just as Muriel whips around, subsequently, making Enocha clumsily stumble and fall to her knees.

At the same time, the Zionite stone goes rolling out of her pocket onto the balcony past Muriel's feet and falling over the edge.

'NOOO!', 'NOOO!', Caleb and Enocha scream internally with comically horrified expressions.

"W-Who there?! I'm arm–", Muriel frightfully stated, conjuring a golden bishop staff. She then notices the familiar face before her, "E-Enocha?"

Enocha realizing she's been spotted decides to play along, "H-Hello…there, Muriel. Fancy seeing you–Ah!"

Muriel cuts her off by quickly hugging the shorter angel tightly, "You're ok! Where have you been this whole time?! We thought for sure the Bathhouse BooHaw had gotten you!"

"Uh, Bathhouse what? I don't…know what you're talking about. I've been…around and doing stuff heheheh…",, Enocha awkwardly giggled, trying not to appear nervous as the invisible human quietly bemoans the loss of the stone while also annoyed by the angel's babbling.

"There's a dangerous intruder in our congregation! Lord Baliel is calling up arms against it. Who knows it wants…or who it wants? What if it touches us and our bodies become corrupted and indecent? My mum told me all it takes is one impure touch to take away our ordination. I don't wanna be indecent!", Muriel whined like a small child as Caleb beats his fist against his forehead in exasperation.

"I-I don't think you will. Besides…I don't think it's an intruder. Maybe it's just…afraid and wants to go home…"

Muriel looks at her curiously, " W-What are you say—"

The angel woman stops mid-sentence, catching a whiff of that strange scent from earlier. She steps forward, following the aroma as Enocha gives a ponderous stare.

"I-Is something wrong?"

"This smell…I smelled it earlier in your sister's room…"

Caleb listens with a questioning expression, sniffing his hand and not smelling anything.

At that moment, Muriel steps through the balcony doors, sniffing around with her eyes closed, making him tense at the presence of the angel a mere five feet away. Enocha glanced nervously between Muriel and the wall Caleb was hiding.

"Hmm *sniff sniff* it smells…oddly…", Muriel mutters softly, her senses tantalized and now turned towards Caleb who tries to inch further away, smelling the oddly pleasant scent that made her cheeks rosy.

Caleb quietly backs away and was about to teleport to the farthest end of the stairs when he suddenly bumps his elbow against one of the white rollers on the window. It immediately draws up revealing a stained glass, alerting them both, and the rainbow-like patterns reflecting off the colored glass rebounded on Caleb's camouflaged body. His entire form ripples with a kaleidoscope of vibrant colored mass like a Christmas tree.

Muriel stares in a mix of shock, amazement, and horror at the humanoid figure before her. The figure stares back at her with bright purple eyes full of dread causing a pit to form in her stomach as she raises a trembling finger, "T-T-T-The BOO–"

"MURIEL, I can explain!", Enocha stated, cutting her off, making Muriel whip around in confusion. Subsequently, alerting the Valkyrie downstairs.

Seizing his chance, Caleb teleports and grabs Muriel, much to the angel's shock swiftly puts her into a sleeping choke hold to keep from revealing his presence. Muriel struggles to get free and hoarsely gasps for air, thrashing and flailing to get free. The firm, strong forearms of her assailant were nearly translucent and rippled in the light like a python. She spreads her wings a flapping propelling them and knocking Caleb against the wall, trying to shake him off and release her but instead makes him tighten his grip, trying to cut off her blood flow. All the while, Enocha hysterically tries to get him to stop, not wanting him to hurt her, and fears drawing attention.

Unbeknownst to him, his arms begin to emit pulses of purple aura into the angel's head. She quickly stops struggling, feeling her body becoming heavy, her eyes growing tired, and any fear she had at the moment replaced by a comforting warmth and pleasant other emotions. Similar to when her father would hold her as a child.

"I'm sorry…", Caleb regretfully whispers in the angel's ear, laying her down limp body to the floor before despondently looks down at the unconscious angel then to Enocha who stares at what he had done in pure shock.

"Who goes there?!", a commanding female voice shouted from below, alerting the pair.

Caleb, frantically glancing around, notices a rounded blue door behind them along the windows, quickly grabs Enocha's hand and teleports with her, throwing it open and drags her along.

"Muriel? MURIEL!? Someone help! Commander Nepheli! Lord Baliel!", the pair heard the valkyrie loudly wail as the pair continued to run down yet another long corridor with arching blue stained glass windows of Jesus comforting lambs.

"Come on!", Caleb stated, pulling Enocha ahead of him, "Open the door!"

Enocha, reluctantly, obeys running ahead and propelling herself forward with a flap of the wings, throwing the door open for him. He slides inside as she slams the door shut, locking it.

"Haa…haa…ok, we should be safe."

Caleb pants before looking around realizing they were, fittingly, in a miniature church with a small child-sized podium and large blue square throw pillow. There were blue banners with artwork of small angels tending to farm animals, particularly lambs and sheep. An ivory carved altar of Saint Simon Peter feeding a lamb and three cherubs by his side.

"What is this? A kindergarten prayer closet?"

"It's one of the cherub chapels. I locked the door so no one'll come in. They'll think someone's praying. Now then…", Enocha plainly answered before slapping him hard on the arm.

"Ah! What the hell?!"

"WHY DID YOU DO THAT?! YOU COULD HAVE KILLED HER!"

"I DIDN'T…I didn't kill. I just knocked her out and keep your voice down."

"Ohh! This room is soundproof! It doesn't matter how loud we scream! Anything we say is between us and the Father!"

Caleb looks at her in realization, "Oh. Well in that case…"

He then slaps her arm right back, startling her.

"Ow! You HIT me!"

"You hit ME first! You think I'm just gonna take it?! These hands don't discriminate, little girl!", Caleb waves his fists in front of her tauntingly, "But forget that, let's talk about your butterfinger-havin' ass losing my ONE ticket out of this fuckin place!"

"I-I didn't mean to! I wanted to warn about the balcony but you wouldn't listen! Now you might've hurt Muriel and she's been so nice to me!"

"I wouldn't have had to if you didn't fuck up by LOSING the stone. God, what did I expect? You're just as incompetent as every other Halo Haver in this glorified Roman senate-lookin' circus."

"You're so MEAN! Humans aren't supposed to talk to us this way! You truly are influenced by those wretched devils–"

"I don't wanna hear it! I don't wanna FUCKIN' hear that shit right now, OK?!", Caleb cuts her off immediately, clearly irritated, "I've heard enough of that for a lifetime in one day. You angels think you're all righteous, good, and holy but you're NOT! You can be just as cruel and heartless. I know because I've experienced it…ALL OVER! Stop pretending like you're anything CLOSE to how you want my species to see you! Don't forget, I was perfectly happy this morning before YOU came along! NEITHER of us would be going through ANY of this if not for YOU!", Caleb vented, pointing down at her.

"I KNOW THAT!", Enocha cried out, holding her head down and visibly trembling as her voice cracks, "I know that already. It's ALL my fault! Is that what you want to hear!? I ruin everything JUST like how I ruined my family!"

Her words immediately catch Caleb off guard as he sees tears flowing down her face. Her wings drooped down in display of submission and misery as her halo began to glow dimly like a dying lightbulb.

"If I wasn't around, if I wasn't a weirdo, mom wouldn't have been burdened so much. We wouldn't have to sell the dignity of OUR congregation to the upper elites. My sister wouldn't have to go through such tribulations from her fiancé's parents!" she sobbed harder, her tears now staining her robes, "You know why I ventured into devil territory after my sister? I just…I just wanted to spend time with her again! She's been acting strangely and avoiding everyone lately, especially me. I just wanted us to have fun for one day and not worry about engagements, or smiling for human followers, or Uncle Baliel. I just…wanted my big sister back–ahhhhhhhh!", she started sobbing louder as tears streamed from her eyes.

Caleb looks at the crying angel girl before him, feeling a pit in his chest, as whatever anger and frustration he had felt was trivial. This girl's been trying her best to correct her mistakes all day. He then remembered how badly her own uncle talked about her. What good does it do him to put her down even more? Why was he comparing her so much to…THAT Fallen bitch from before?

"Haaa…Ok, Ok…I'm sorry. It's alright", Caleb goes up to her and gently lays a hand on her shoulder, attempting to console her..

Enocha lightly gasps, looking up to see his warm brown staring back with genuine concern. Not even hesitating, she threw herself at him, burying her face in his chest while clinging to him as he could only stand in sheer surprise, holding his arms apart.. He could feel her short trembling form against him as she wailed her muffled cries into his ever dampening shirt. Hesitating, he cautiously brings his arms closer, laying them atop her very soft yet sturdy wings. Her short frame was almost swallowed up by his embrace. She was warm and smelled almost like french vanilla and her delicate finger, clearly never done physical labor a day in her life, clung to him like the claws of a kitten. He could feel her soft, B-cups press against him but he chose to ignore it and let her have this moment.

"I'm sorry for…going off on you like that…I know you're trying your best. ", Caleb assuringly spoke, gently petting her blonde head causing her to croon from his gentle touch.

"Sniff…I'm always trying…it's just never enough…", she whimpered, sniffling as her tears kept flowing.

"Want my advice? Stop trying to please everyone but yourself. That's an express pass to an unhappy life.", Caleb encouraged as she looks up at him, "If your sister's in-laws can't accept you or your sister then cut them out of your lives for both your sakes."

"I-It's…not that simple. We have our family's debts to pay."

"Then find another way to pay. One that doesn't involve you giving up everything you love. You might think you have few options…but there's always another way. Sometimes where you least expect it.", He encouraged with a smile

Enocha's eyes widened, staring at him in surprise as a warm sensation in her chest grew. His words reached something deep inside her, a tingle that made her feel a heavy burden was being lifted away. The look in his eyes, unlike that of human followers of her faith, looked at her with genuine care FOR her and not what she is. How is it that a human who consorts with devils could show such care and kindness?

"I…I don't know about that but…I think I can believe it coming from you.", Enocha responds with a small grin, nuzzling his chest and taking in his comforting scent.

Caleb awkwardly smiles back, patting her head, "That uh…good to hear. Ahem, so…I guess we should plan out our next move. I don't suppose we could go back and try finding the stone?"

"Hmm, maybe but I I'm not sure—"

At that moment, they hear a knock from the door alerting them both.

"Ohhh, shit. I thought you said nobody would disturb us?"

"They wouldn't. Everyone knows it's bad manners to interrupt time in here. The only ones who ARE allowed to do that are–", Enocha pauses in realization.

"Yeah? Are?!"

"Don't worry, I'll take care of it! You just hide!"

Caleb glances around at the small room with small furniture, "Where?"

"I don't know!"

Caleb groans in annoyance before quickly curling into a ball in the corner and activating his camouflage.

Enocha takes a deep breath, softly counting a few prime numbers, to calm herself before gently opening the door, "Y-Yes? I haven't fi–"

She stops mid-sentence as her eyes widen to see Michael standing in the doorway with a skeptical expression.

"Hello, Enocha."

"L-Lord Michael! You're back already!", She expressed, throwing the door open and immediately hugging the tall angel man. In the background, Caleb gave an incredulous gaze towards him. Has it REALLY been an hour since he arrived?!

"Yes, I am back Enocha. I've come back from an exhausting morning to this congregation in utter disarray over an 'intruder' the others are calling a 'Bathhouse BooHaw'.", he expressed in discontent.

"H-How did you find u–me?"

"I asked Menora to lend me her power in finding this intruder. Her 'many-eyes' detected your heavenly aura in this room…along with another unfamiliar aura…", Michael says, shooting a look at the corner making Caleb tense up, "I know you're there. Reveal thyself at once!", He commanded, conjuring a golden sword.

"Lord Michael, please wait! Let me explain!", Enocha stated, throwing her arms up protectively.

"It's alright, Enocha.", Caleb spoke, standing up before dispelling the camouflage, hands up in surrender, "I revealed myself…"

Michael's eyes widened in surprise at seeing the familiar face, withdrawing his weapon, "Mr. Bizzell? Wait…you're the BooHaw?"

"Apparently.", Caleb rolls his eyes.

Enocha glances between them, not expecting this type of reaction, "Wait, what? You…you two know each other?!"

"Wouldn't say that but–"

"Lord Michael!", one of the valkyrie's shouted from down the corridor, prompting Michael to spreading his wings slight, blocking anyone from seeing the human, "Did you find the intruder?!"

"N-No! It was merely a Cherub. They just brought one of the lambs from the stables into the altar!"

"Ugh, not again? Thank you, milord!"

As the valkyrie leaves, Michael then turns his attention back to Caleb.

"It's not safe here. Let's discuss this in my private quarters.", Michael suggests, forming a golden seal beneath each of them.

They all vanish in a flash of golden light.

…Elsewhere…

Fantina and Clawthorne could be seen pulling through IA checkout line at the South entryway with Kobold security personnel sniffing for any 'liminal goods' leaving the facility. All the while, the elf woman was incredibly anxious and worried after giving her report earlier. Not long afterwards, she received word the family departed the facility right before making the report. However, they assured they would reach out to them.

"Thank you for your cooperation, agent. You both have a nice day.", The male kobold formally stated.

"You too.", Clawthorne says before driving out of the facility. She couldn't take her mind off the family, fearing the worst.

"Hey. I'm going to need to focus. The last thing I need is you driving on edge.", Fantina advised.

"How can I NOT be?! What if we're too late?! What if someone else we didn't notice was also cursed by that devil?", Clawthorne stated, gripping the steering wheel tightly, "We…we should go back. We need to find that devil and arrest her!"

"Instinctively, I agree with you but logically that'd only cause more trouble. We have no idea WHICH devil cast it or if it's really only one doing it so."

"You can use that technique of yours to find them and—"

"That spell only identifies the TYPE of mana by species, I sense individuals. Not unless they're dumb enough to cast that EXACT spell right as I have it active. If you start a manhunt, it'll only make them harder to find. Let IA security handle it. The only advantage they have is that Devil doesn't KNOW they're being hunted.", Fantina cuts her off, understanding her frustration but wanting to play it smart; mostly for the sake of her coven.

Clawthorne pouts in displeasure at not being able to help more, "So…by any chance do you know when it may activate? The curse, I mean." Clawthorne asked, hopeful for any possible good news.

"It depends on the trigger. Could be a timer, could be set to activate when the caster senses their mana is a certain distance away. If they had set a timer I would have noticed. I'm just assuming they placed the exact same curse on that Sherman kid as the did the other. It is likely based on distance but the range is dependent on the mental fortitude of the caster. I've heard of some seasoned mana users able to activate spells from more than 50 miles away."

"F-Fifty?!", Clawthorne expressed in surprise, nearly drifting out of her lane as she hastily corrects.

"Calm down! That curse wasn't THAT powerful. With luck, the devil had second thoughts won't activate it and it'll lose it's effect when they get a sizable distance away from her."

"O-Oh, is that right? That's a relief."

"Yeah…", Fantina glances seeing the elf woman's relieved expression, choosing not to worry her further by mentioning a curse like that can still be potent if the caster concentrates their energy on maintaining the link. But, come on, she thought. No one is deranged or petty enough to go THAT far over a human child right? Right?

…Back to the congregation…

Inside of Michael's extravagant yet somehow modest bedroom. A simple king-sized bed, large bookshelf, hardwood brown polished floors directly contrasting the typical marble seen throughout many of the rooms, very few decorations and a large walk-in closet. Surprisingly minimalist for an angel of his position. He sat on the on the white bed bench listening to Enocha's explanation.

"And that's what happened, Milord. It was by complete accident Mr. Bizzell was brought with me. I'm so sorry again, by the way.", Enocha sincerely expressed towards the human.

"Accepted but still upset about it.", Caleb remarks plainly.

"I see, a rather unfortunate circumstances. Allow me express my apologies as well and i'd be happy to send you back where you came from.", Michael assured as the pair look at him surprised.

"You can do that, milord?"

"Of course. Surely you didn't believe my technique only worked one way?"

"Something tells me you weren't pretty clear on the details to begin with.", Caleb skeptically spoke, arms folded as Michael shifted his eyes awkwardly, "Uh huh, please just send me away from this place."

"Right! Allow me a moment to construct my heavenly arte.", Michael replies, conjuring a golden ring with tiny white holy symbols floating around it.

"Please hurry. Time is of the essence."

"Don't rush Lord Michael like that. I understand you're eager to leave but you should still be courteous around the leader of our congregation.", Enocha lightly chastises the human for his lack of decorum when in the presence of a high ranking angel.

"Courteous my ass! You realize what I've been through with the folks in this place? All while bearing with the pompous, ignorant, and downright crazy as hell company you surround yourself with."

"Ah, so you've met the others of the congregation. I admit many of them are…unique individuals but they are good souls.", Michael assured, continuing works on the spell.

"Even that Baliel guy?", Caleb contested raising an eyebrow as Enocha looks at him curiously. The brawny angel man's threats towards him and his girlfriend making his blood boil.

Michael pauses a moment before continuing his work, "He's a…special, old-fashioned sort, I'm afraid. It's to be expected considering his former occupation as a warrior specifically trained to eradicate devil clans and other Chaos-born."

"I could care less about his past honestly, so long as he stays the hell away from me and my family."

"Understandable. I suppose your stance hasn't changed then."

"Nope.", Caleb obstinately folds his arms as Michael lets out a small sigh.

Enocha looks between them, already sensing tension between the two men, "I'm apologize for interrupting but what do you mean by his 'stance hasn't changed', Lord Michael."

Michael and Caleb are instantly struck with realization, having gotten too engrossed in conversation to filter risky information.

"Shit…"

"Hey! We agreed on no cursing! And what did you MEAN by that, milord? You make it sound like you both…", Enocha inquires, starting to piece it all together as Michael shifted an uncertain gaze away.

Caleb sighs, "You gonna tell her or should I?"

"No…no, it's only right it come from me."

"T-Tell me…what?", Enocha glances between them, becoming uneasy.

"Not long ago, I had an audience with Mr. Bizzell about the current state of affairs between our congregation and the various Chaos-born in this facility. I…requested his assistance in creating a semblance of peace between our kinds."

Enocha is taken aback by his statement, hardly able to process a seemingly ludicrous idea. Peace between angels and devils? Would such a thing even be possible or let alone sustainable?

"I understand it's a lot to take in and you may consider me mad or brand me a traitor for saying this but…don't you believe the ceaseless bloodshed and bitterness between us and the Chaos-born has gone on long enough?", Michael tiredly asks, looking off listlessly towards the closet.

"I…milord, what you're saying is just…I mean, we've been fighting each other for as long as I've been aware of. Our purpose is to stamp out all evil, corruption and injustice that devils spread, right? They're being of pure evil, hedonism, and incivility so…it's the right thing to do, right?"

"Have you ever even talked to a devil?", Caleb asks sounding serious and appalled, surprising her, "I mean, REALLY talked to one? Tried to understand what their lives are like? What they do or don't like? You'd be surprised what they'd have to say."

Enocha pauses, thinking to herself and trying to comprehend what she was hearing.

"Either way, I told him no and his way of going about it wouldn't work. Trust me."

"It's why I needed an unbiased perspective!", Michael stated, raising to his feet and approaching him, "You've experienced it today at how easily influenced the younger angels of my congregation are. They are a powder keg in the making with Baliel as the orchestrator. I do my best to reign him in but, as second consul, we're obligated to share power. I just don't want to see another angel generation continue this ceaseless, meaningless war."

Caleb looks at him with intrigue sensing he truly desired peace or at least an end to a conflict started so, SO long ago. He then looks to Enocha who appears deeply in thought, understandably uncertain and conflicted by how she's supposed to feel.

"It's done.", Michael says releasing the conjured golden structure letting it levitate in place then unfold into several overlapping and rotating rings with a glowing ball in the center, "Touch the Eye of Providence while thinking of your destination."

"Ok.", Caleb nods then looks to Enocha who appears to want to say something but couldn't find the words, "You know, compared to the other weirdos in this place…you're alright, Enocha. I appreciate your help.", he said with a small but a warm grin.

Enocha was taken aback, feeling a warmth in her chest again then smiles back, "I-I'm glad everything worked out."

Caleb nods to her then Michael before touching the glowing orb. At that moment, the rings encircles his body from head to toe as golden energy radiates around him. He then vanished with a flash of golden light leaving the two angels alone.

Enocha dispiritedly reaches out a bit to where the human original stood with a somewhat desolate and disappointed expression.

Michael then places a hand on her shoulder, getting her attention. The serious gaze in his blue eyes immediately told her what they needed to do to which she nodded.

His eyes shine brightly as a strange golden symbol resembling a pattern of several small eyes encircling a ring.

'Menora. It's time.', Michael spoke directly into the mind of the seraphim on the other side of the door.

'Understood, Milord!', the seraphim telepathically responded.

The three of them vanish with a flash of golden light and reappear in an area of the building where Baliel and the rest of the angels, save for Helga and Muriel, were getting ready to hunt down the intruder. They all immediately turn to them with a mix of surprise and contention, mainly from Baliel.

"Lord Michael! Miss Menora! And…Enocha?! You're ok!", Uriel expressed joyfully, immediately going up to his future sister-in-law shaking both hands who awkwardly smiled.

"Since she's safe, I presume you've encountered the 'BooHaw'?", Samuel inquired.

"I did, yes."

"Really?! Did you find it?! Please tell me you got pictures! I need it for my evidence folder!", Barbie excited stated, still in her detective attire prompting an eyebrow raise from Arcangel

"Enough of this foolishness! Where is it, Michael?!", Baliel demands, gripping his golden hammer tightly, "Where is that foul, filth that dared plague our halls and harm out kin?! We'll deliver JUSTICE upon with our instruments of the Father!", He vehemently and viciously stated.

"There's no need. I've already taken care of our 'visitor'. They will never wander these halls or cause mischief ever again.", Michael calmly replies as Baliel and the others look at him curiously, "Isn't that right, Menora?"

"That's correct, milord! Even now, I see no trace of the enemy anywhere within our congregation.", Menora confirms, projecting several small golden eye-shaped magic seals around her.

"Wait, it's already been slain? Was it at least a tough fight?", Raphael asks as he and Camael lower their weapons, disappointed at missing the battle.

"You could…say that."

"What even was it?!", Callen inquires as the others look at Michael expectantly, especially Baliel.

"...It was merely a lost soul that I had to guide to where it belonged. A restless soul filled with an unquenchable darkness seeking relief from its suffering.", Michael poetically replies as the others look at him with amazement; except Baliel who glares at him incredulously.

"Whoa…so it WAS an evil ghost after all! Case closed, good everyone, especially me!", Barbie proudly stated, puffing her ample chest out earning some dubious stares.

"ABSURD! What about when it attacked Muriel?! That vile creature put one of our own in the infirmary. You can't tell me it deserves RELIEF!", Baliel spat, getting up in Michael's face who barely even reacts.

"Actually, Lord Baliel, Muriel's fine.", Helga says, approaching the group, having returned from the infirmary with Muriel by her side, "She just woke up minutes ago. She said she saw the ghost."

Michael and Enocha's eyes widened in surprise as the others look at them with intrigue.

"Really?! What did it look like?! Did you get a picture?!", Barbie enthusiastically stated getting uncomfortably close to her face, prompting Helga to shove her away.

"N-No? All I remember is feeling scared one moment then I saw a beautiful figure shimmering with a rainbow of colors. Then it wrap it's strong but loving arms around me and I felt so safe I fell asleep. When I woke up I felt strangely at peace. I still remember its sweet, gentle voice saying 'i'm sorry'.", Muriel whimsically spoke cupping her cheeks with a warm grin at the memory. The others look at her with mixed expressions.

"Well that doesn't sound very evil to me.", Uriel expressed.

"In any case, we no longer have to worry about this 'BooHaw'. You should all rest easy now.", Michael added as the other angels looked at him, most voicing their agreement, believing in their leader's word.

"Welp, you heard Lord Michael everyone. The case of the 'Bathhouse Boohaw' is closed!", Barbie proudly stated, taking off her detective hat putting the pipe to her mouth. Helga and a couple others roll their eyes at her before quickly dispersing.

"What is this?! It's NOT over until we confirm that creature has faced the divine wrath!", Baliel shouted, wanting to incite them into fighting to no avail.

"It's all over now, Baliel.", Michael casually assured as the burly angel whips around, "Then are no more 'enemies' here."

Baliel glares at the man, irritated by his cocky smile and somewhat condescending tone, clenching his fist tightly making his knuckles go white. He wanted nothing more than to knock that smug look away.

"Come, Milord.", Nepheli urges, taking his hand and pulling him away from Michael and wanting to avoid an altercation.

Baliel grimaces, looking down at Enocha who smiles nervously at and scoffs, choosing to let the valkyrie lead him away.

"There will always be enemies of our kind.", He grimly spoke, walking away.

Michael sighs lethargically then turns to seraphim Menora, "I appreciate your efforts."

"A pleasure as always, Milord. Ahem, now…about my gift?"

"Ah yes! Here you are.", Michael replies, conjuring a golden seal in his palm making a small cheesecake platter with assorted flavors appear. One of several gifts he received from the ICEP executives, "Don't forget, what you saw–"

"Is OUR business! Got it!", Menora completed his sentence, smiling widely, blushing happily graciously accepting the gift, hips shimmying, "Cheesecake Hallelujah!"

The seraphim vanished in a flash of golden light back to Michael's quarters to enjoy her treat.

"How did she know they gave me a cheesecake?", Michael pondered out loud, scratching his head.

Enocha shifts a slightly nervous gaze away before her mind quickly turns to Caleb, wondering if he made it back safely.

"Enocha…what we discussed earlier. It stays in my quarters."

Enocha looks at him, meeting his sharp blue gaze and seriousness in his tone, "I…understand, milord."

Michael nods with a smile and turns away, his large wing whipping behind him like a cape as Enocha goes to join the others.

In her mind, despite ultimately not finding out anything about what her sister has been up to, she's walking out of this experience with a newer perspective she hadn't considered.

All because of one slightly rude and foul-mouthed yet kind human…

'Caleb…just what are you…?', Enocha curiously thought, clenching her hand to her chest; not noticing one of her wings changing onyx black.

…Meanwhile…

Drei and the girls could all be seen sitting at a stone picnic table area among a few other students that didn't want to get caught up in the Pyrows growing army of fans and human visitors.

"Ok so…factoring in any client tips and a recent monthly incentive bonus I got for Ms. Akke…that should be enough to cover this…incredibly specific shopping list of yours.", Jocelyn says, writing on a notebook having finished calculating the cost of Drei's shopping list.

"I prefer to call it 'thorough'."

"How long will it take to make that 'special' cream or whatever again? I just wanna make sure we're getting our money's worth.", Jocelyn inquires, placing a hand on Scarlett's shoulder making her grin sheepishly.

"Trust me, it's worth far more than that. All you have to do is have the goods at our door and I'll have yours."

"Can you not make it sound like we're up to something shady?", Scarlett chimes in before her ears heard a small, unhinged giggle and sees Kaiya next to her. The hellhound girl rested her head to her hand with a blushing wide grin, lightly giggling while in her own world, "Ok, seriously, WHAT did you say to her? She's been like this for over half an hour. I think she's sick."

"Lovesick maybe.", Drei muttered under her breath before responding, "She's fine. It's not like–"

"Hey! There you guys are!", called out a familiar, getting their attention and snapping the hellhound from her thoughts as her tail starts wagging excitedly. They all turn to see Caleb approaching their table.

"Oh, hi Caleb!", Jocelyn happily greeted.

"Hey, Jocelyn."

"Where have you been? You've been gone for an hour! I almost thought something happened!", Scarlett stated, before getting a good look at him, seeing his clothes damp with sweat, "Are you alright? You look like you just ran an obstacle course."

"Something like that. I was…taking care of a few things. I've been running all over the place. Sorry for not telling you before leaving.", Caleb explained apologetically as Kaiya lights up even more, unintentionally confirming Drei's earlier explanation.

"That's fine, hun. Why don't you join us and take a load off? Or on…your call.", Jocelyn offered, scooting and making room right next to her as Scarlett shot a dubious glare.

"Actually, I'm…gonna head back to my apartment and rest up. I just came to get Drei."

Scarlett looks at him incredulously, hardly believing he was just going to bail on her now after disappearing an hour.

"Awww, but you just came back. I wanted to hang out with you too.", Jocelyn complained, cutely puffing her cheeks out in displeasure.

"Sorry, hopefully next time. Right now I'm exhausted.", he replies as Drei walks over to his side.

"That's fine. I'm only playing around, hun.", Jocelyn jokes with a grin.

"Caleb!", Kaiya stated, jumping up from the table, getting his and the others, "Before you leave I um…I was wondering if…I could spend the weekend at your apartment?!"

Scarlett and Jocelyn look at the hellhound girl in genuine shock by her sudden audacious question.

Caleb looks at her a moment as she eagerly anticipates his answer before shrugging, "Sure. I don't see why not."

His answer shook both devil women at the table as the hellhound smile widens and her tail wagging with such ferocity that it creates an updraft blowing off a human man's hat revealing his bald head to the female mothman who then bursts out laughing.

"Ajabu(Fantastic)! I'll go let Mama know! Do you want me to bring anything? Oh wait, no, I guess you already have everything we need. Drei said so, hehe. Oh, sorry, I'm just a little excited. I'll…um see you tomorrow?"

Caleb raises an eyebrow at Drei who then nods, he rolls his eyes choosing to go along with it, "Yeah, see you tomorrow."

"Ok!", Kaiya responds, smile plastered on her face before looking to Scarlett and Jocelyn, almost forgetting they existed, "I'll…see you guys at the next meeting I guess, hehe."

"See ya, Kai.", Jocelyn responds as Scarlett shifts her gaze away.

Kaiya nods before walking away, waving to Caleb to one last time before hurrying along with extra pep in her step.

"Guess I'll…see ya when ya get back, Scarlett. We can…hang out again another time.", Caleb smiles, trying to salvage the already awkward situation,

"Sure, whatever.", she dismissively spoke, clearly irritated which didn't surprise him.

Caleb, wanted to say something to apologize but feels Drei tugging on his pant, gesturing for him to drop it. He relents and bids both devil women good rest of the day.

"Haaa, and now she's pissed at me."

"At least you didn't outright ditch either of them. Speaking of, great work surviving your first solo mission. Huzzah.", Drei praised, throwing little salt packets at him, to his confusion, "Sorry, I forgot to make confetti."

"You aren't wrong when you say survive that place was a death trap. They literally had a staircase gauntlet with some petty Dark Souls ass trap at the end."

"Sounds like a training course my mother would make." Drei said as as she thought some traps her mother would set to punish them if they let their guard down once reach the end of a course.

"I believe you. I just wanna that experience behind. I'm not leaving my room for REST of the day. Gotta rest up for my weekend date now, apparently.", Caleb remarks before thought occurs to him, "Damn, I didn't even buy groceries yet. Hope we got enough food."

"No need to worry about that. I got us covered while covering your ass.", Drei assured.

Caleb raises an eyebrow skeptically, "What did you do?"

"I'll tell you when we get home. Then you can tell how you survived that place", Drei casually responds.

"Fine by me."

Further away, Scarlett watched the human male leaves with a slightly disappointed expression.

"Wow, I didn't expect Kaiya of all people to be so bold. Spending a Full Moon weekend together?", Jocelyn expressed, impressed and a little jealous.

"Yep.", Scarlett halfheartedly responds.

"I just know those two are going to have fun!"

"Yep."

"A LOT of fun!"

"Uh huh…", Scarlett uttered, becoming more annoyed.

"Loud, intimate, rough, possibly dehydrating fun."

"I get it!"

"Alright. Sooo…you might wanna stay somewhere you'll be able to get some sleep, right? My couch is available if you need it, girl. Plus, my neighbors just moved after becoming houseguests to a Presbyterian family.", Jocelyn offered, trying to spare her the headache.

"I'll be fine. I found some of those noise canceling earbuds the humans wear."

"Ok, cool. Actually, once I drop off that Drei girl's stuff, I wonder if they'd let me join in their session.", Jocelyn thought out loud, startling Scarlett into blushing heavily.

"DON'T EVEN–"

At that moment, Scarlett is interrupted by her phone ringing and quickly answers it.

"Hello, what is it? Yes.", Scarlett listens to the person talk as her annoyed expression quickly shifts to surprise and intrigue, "Really? Y-Yeah! I can make it in! Monday at 8 a.m. got it! Thank you, ma'am!", Scarlett hangs up with a smile on her face.

"Good news?"

"I just got a job! They want me to come in next Monday!"

Jocelyn smiles widely before hugging her redhead friend who enthusiastically hugs back, "That's great, Hun! I KNEW you'd find something eventually."

"I'm so happy right now.", Scarlett expressed, her tail wriggling in excitement before realization hits, "Wait, but the Chaos Faction meeting is that day…"

"Scar, it's fine, don't worry. We can handle that, you take care of your own business.", Jocelyn assured.

"Are…you sure?"

"Of course! It's about time we stopped having you do everything anyway. The faction is ALL our responsibility. We got this, Kay?"

Scarlett eyes widened and smiles in relief, nodding in acceptance, then looking at her phone with a smile. Finally, it felt like things were starting to go well for her. Now she can begin moving forward with everyone else.

… Elsewhere…

Approximately 20 miles from Interspecies Affairs, two Alabama state trooper squad cars and paramedics were on the scene of an accident involving a silver Chevrolet trailblazer and two other vehicles. Broken glass and shards of metal litter the highway as vehicles were heavily damaged and its passengers either stood near the roadside or were attended to by paramedics for injuries. The Chevrolet, apparently the cause of the accident, lay in the grass heavily damaged after crashing and flipping over the side of the road multiple times.

Two state troopers in black uniform approached the heavily damaged vehicle, checking to see if anyone survived. Many of the windows had been smashed out in the crash, giving a near perfect view inside.

What both men saw was something straight out of a horror movie. A family of four—a husband, wife, a teenage girl and young boy—lying completely motionless and multiple injuries deep cuts from visibly broken bones most likely caused by crash. However, what stood out to them was the black tar-like substance spewing out from their mouths, eyes, and ears. The eyes were especially haunting with every spec of white sclera completely blackened creating vacant dark as their faces were contorted in a mix of extreme fear and agony.

"Jesus…what the hell could've caused this?", one of the troopers asked his partner.

"I have no idea. Another Gluttony fang overdose, maybe?"

"There's no purple veins though, Serge. Plus…there's a couple kids here. What could've done this?", the trooper solemnly expressed, stepping closer to have a better look.

"I'm contacting ICEP right now, they can send a specialist out for this kind of thing. Lord knows dealing with Exorcist shit isn't in my resume.", The Sergeant remarks as the other trooper draws closer, laying a hand on the driver's side door to examine the male driver, "Get away from there, Lieutenant."

The lieutenant flinches, turning to his partner, only to be surprised when the supposedly dead body of the male driver grabs his arm in a vice-like grip.

"GAHH! SERGE!", The lieutenant cries out thrashing and trying to pull away as the barely-clinging-to-life driver emits a horrendous incomprehensible, gasping noise trying to mouth out words but all came out with black bile. His blackened out eyes like dark lumps of coal spew out the mysterious liquid like black tears.

Finally, with one last strong pull, the lieutenant is able to free himself, stumbling backwards as the sound of tearing flesh and bone rang in his ears. The sergeant, visibly shook, goes to his lieutenant's side standing over him with a horrified expression. The man takes a few deep breaths to calm himself but is quickly shocked and revolted to the severed arm of the man still tightly gripping his arm. The torn end spewed out black liquid and radiated a malignant miasma that caused even the grass below to wilt and die when touched by liquid.

The lieutenant lets out a terrified shriek, prying the arm off and frantically scooting as far away as possible before the sergeant helps him up. All the while, the black liquid from the severed arm pools causing the grass to decay as thick black miasma radiates in the area.

"Quarantine this area, NOW! We need ICEP's assistance in handling this mess!", The Sergeant ordered.

"U-Understood!"

As the lieutenant scrambles to the rest of their squad to inform them, the sergeant looks on at the horrific sight before him unsure of just what was happening.

Unbeknownst to any of them, miles away a black wavy haired demonic was perched atop her balcony sighing in relief and satisfaction. It was the highest point where she should focus her mana, keeping the curse's link strong.

"Huhuhu, boys should never become men.", she maliciously giggled before remembering sensing the other curse link being severed. She had no idea by who but she knew one thing for certain, "They're going to pay for interrupting my work. They will pay dearly."

With a wave of her large black wings, she vanished retreating back into her living unit intending to enjoy the rest of her day.

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WN

*Looks up reading* "You raggedy bitch."

Oh, sorry, I mean…SUP FAM? It's been a hot minute since we last spoke and…A LOT has happened lately both in my personal and work life. I guess a part of me is still hasn't recovered mentally after getting fired from my dream job and not sure if I ever will. Still, I have to keep on keeping on, keep advancing in my career and keep looking for new opportunities. That's what life is right? We just keep moving forward.

As for my stories, I still have much to tell, not just here, but in a new one I've been working on for a while now. This one is more of a Pokemon story. I've seen others make their own expansive universe so figured, why not give it a shot? I hope to have the first couple chapters up soon, check it out when you get the chance.

Also, be sure to let me know what you think of THIS chapter. This story in general and how it's progressing. I welcome ALL feedback here as long as it's constructive, fair, and/or funny. Hell I'll even accept roasts. It's your choice.

Anyway, that's all for now be sure to hug your parents, drink water, get some sleep, hope y'all caught that Kendrick reference, sing HALLELUJAH for cheesecake, and I'll see y'all next time. Peace Fam!