#so its just shoulder devil (me) but as a fully sized human

[pokotho]

rb for more votes?

[bestiesenpai]

Inamorata - Sukuna

You have no idea how much I like this idea lol ya know the meme ‘i got a boyfriend, yeah he kills people he’s crazy’ this is exactly what went through my head with this. Femme reader, I went for a...Sukuna is his own person and not attached to Itadori kind of thing? Like just a stand-alone demon. I had probably way too much fun writing this and would be down to write more for this concept

Content warnings: killing/murder/homicide choose your preferred noun, a little yandere?, size difference and Sukuna is in his four armed form, uhmm there’s a knife(main use to cut open readers palm in the beginning) and also licking blood from said wound, violence/gore at the end

Apparently there was a demon on the loose. From what you’d read on online forums and heard through the whispers of older people on the train, there was a foreboding presence terrorizing the city, preying on the weak and helpless and hoping to take over the world.

There were blurry photos and horrible sketches of what the creature supposedly looked like and the form it took, but none of them seemed to match up. The tattoos on the face and body were always off, the amount of muscle and the stature of the creature were all different depending on who you went to.

Which is why you decided, against all better judgement, to go looking for him. All the stories you’d heard about the demon, the kind of creature it was centuries ago in its prime, had intrigued you. With the mystique and terror surrounding this demon, you’d be a fool not to try and get a peek for yourself.

At first you’d tried a summoning circle, clearing a large space in your bedroom and drawing intricate patterns on the floor in hopes of his arrival. That method quickly turned futile as no demon ever came - but now you probably had a few ghosts watching you sleep at night.

The second method was to try and make a pact with the devil himself, slicing open your palm and dripping blood onto the pages of old scriptures. Attempting to sell your soul had worked even less than the first method and all you had to show for it was a bandage around your hand for two weeks.

“I’ll definitely see him now.” You mumbled to yourself, walking straight to where the demon was seen most: the red light district. Walking past bright neon signs and nearly naked women in shop windows, you took a peek into every alleyway you came across.

“Hey pretty lady, what’re you looking for?” A rough, scratchy voice sounded behind you as you walked past the umpteenth alleyway of the night.

“What do you think?” Not looking over your shoulder, you kept walking. The voice, while sounding absolutely disgusting, didn’t belong to a demon and therefore not worth your time.

“I think you’re looking for trouble.” Curling his fingers around your arm, the man you were trying to ignore snatched you back, making you stumble and fall into his chest. The nasty scent of body odor and cigarettes was wafting off the man, making you worry that his stench would cling to you for days.

“Not the kind you’re talking about.” Pushing away from him, you furiously wiped off your clothes. Looking this man in the face irritated you, he was wasting his time and you knew exactly what his intentions were.

“Don’t play so hard to get!” Forcing a less than charming smile on his face, the man made the move to grab you again.

“Don’t touch me!” Slapping his hands away, you took generous steps back from him. “You’re getting in the way of my search.”

“Search?” Quirking a brow at you, the man took a moment to think before his brows rose in surprise. “You’re looking for Sukuna, aren’t you?”

“That’s his name?” You’d never heard his name before, only seeing some people refer to him as a four armed creature from hell.

“Yup, and I’ve seen him a couple times.” Crossing his arms over his chest, the man smirked triumphantly. “You could say he and I have a kind of friendly relationship.”

“Do you now?” Your eyes trailed up from the man to the dark alleyway behind him where two glowing red eyes emerged.

“Oh yeah, Sukuna’s a great guy! Even offered to give me a position in his little army.” The more he spoke the brighter the eyes got and the fuzzy outline of a gigantic body was starting to take shape.

“His little army?” Slowly taking steps back as the figure came forward, you barely had time to react before the man was snatched up by two giant hands and yanked backwards. Lifting him into the air, it wasn’t long before a mouth with gleaming sharp teeth opened up and swallowed him whole.

As the eyes drew their attention back to you, a nervous laugh left your chest that you couldn’t force to stop. Every step you took back was now accompanied by a step forward from the creature until it fully left the alleyway and you saw exactly what you were dealing with.

Right in front of you, in full form and glory, was the demon you’d been searching for. The scrawling black tattoos along his entire body, the four arms, pink hair, second set of eyes and his impossibly muscular physique - all of it was exactly like you’d been hoping for.

“Hello, pretty little thing.” His voice boomed despite being relatively quiet, a slight echo to the deep timbre. It was almost melodic in a way, somehow soothing your racing heart just slightly.

“S-sukuna?” You squeaked out, back meeting the brick wall of a building.

“That would be me.” Chuckling as he stopped a few feet from you, Sukuna crossed his secondary arms and looked down upon you. The sheer height and width of his body easily dwarfed yours, your head only barely reaching his ribcage.

Your eyes couldn’t stay in one place as you looked at Sukuna. There was too much to take in and you could feel yourself quickly becoming overwhelmed trying to commit every detail to memory.

“You’re…” Licking your lips nervously, you could only meet his eyes for a moment before settling on the mark on his forehead. “You’re wearing womens clothes.” Tied around his waist and hanging off his legs was indeed a womens kimono, a surprising pristine white shade.

“That’s what you decide to say at our first meeting?” An echoing laugh bellowed from him and Sukuna shook his head, running one hand through his hair.

“I-I’m sorry it’s just...they never mentioned it online.” It felt a little silly to be explaining yourself to him when at any moment Sukuna could eat you like he did that man and you would have no way of stopping him.

“Little thing, I have a question for you.” Fixing you with a suddenly sharp stare, Sukuna lowered his brow and bent down, placing two arms above your head and two at your side, trapping you in against the wall with no possible outs.

“Yes?” Pinching your eyes closed, you held your breath as you waited for the inevitable bite of his teeth around.

“Are you scared?” Sukuna whispered, his breath fanning out over the top of your head.

“Yes.” It would be a lie to say no and you had nothing to lose by telling the truth. Sukuna’s eyes bore into you, the weight of his stare physically making your back bow.

“What did you think of me eating that man just now? Was that terrifying for you?”

“No.” Sukuna took a pause at your answer and although you couldn’t see it, his brow furrowed for a fraction of a second.

“What did you feel then? Surely you must have thought it was horrible.”

“N-not really.” Slowly cracking one eye open, you looked up at Sukuna, almost breaking your neck from having to stare directly above you. “I was actually quite happy you did that. He was getting on my nerves.”

The barking laugh that left Sukuna’s mouth made you flinch and throw your hands in the air. It was so loud it seemed to vibrate your entire body and a few windows on the building behind you shook from the force.

“You’re telling me you liked me killing that guy?” Grabbing you by the collar of your shirt, Sukuna held you up in the air, eye level to him. You nodded, pitifully kicking your legs out to try and get back to solid ground. “Aren’t you a messed up little thing?” Still laughing, Sukuna took a proper once over of your body. “Pretty, but messed up.”

“P-please let me go!” You whimpered, hands desperately clutching Sukuna’s to try and not fall out of your clothes and onto the ground.

“What’s wrong? Don’t like how I hold you?” Shaking you for good effect, Sukuna smirked wildly at your scared little squeaks. “Tell me your name.”

“It’s (Y/N)!” Shouting into the air, you felt relief flood into you as Sukuna finally lowered you back to the ground and his hands released you.

“(Y/N)?” Sounding it out on his tongue, Sukuna shrugged to himself. “I like ‘little thing’ better.”

“I’m only little compared to you.” Fixing your clothes, you tried to regain your breath and stop your body from shaking so violently.

“So, what’s a creature like you doing out so late at night here? It’s not safe for a human like you to roam around these parts.”

“I was looking for you.”

“Me? You were looking for me?” Sukuna snorted, waving his hand dismissively at you. “A human like you looking for me? I’ve really seen it all.”

“It’s true!” Pulling out your phone, you quickly showed him all the data you’d compiled on him. “I’ve been looking for you everywhere, Sukuna! I did a summoning circle, I’ve looked in hundreds of online forums - I even tried to make a deal with the devil!” Showing him the mark that was still healing on your palm, the fear that was in your body was slowly trickling out and being replaced with- hope? Excitement? It was hard to say, but as Sukuna grasped your hand between two fingers and looked at your palm, it would be wrong to say it was a negative emotion you felt.

“You really did all that for me?” His voice was much softer now but it still sounded like he was mocking you. Smoothing the pad of one finger across your palm, he felt the ridges of your palm and the wound.

“I did. I find you really fascinating and I- I just wanted to learn more about you.” You faltered when he looked at you, a fierce heat overtaking your cheeks at admitting out loud that you’d been looking for a demon because you found him interesting.

“Are you perhaps interested in me?” A smirk tugged one side of Sukuna’s lip up and he chuckled when your expression only grew more flustered. “Oh little thing, you’re more messed up than I thought.”

“Will you tell me more about yourself? Please?” The words tumbled out of your mouth desperately as you let Sukuna stretch out your arm and grasp your hand more firmly. He didn’t answer you or even acknowledge that you’d spoken, instead grazing the tip of one long sharp nail along the line of the cut.

“I find myself liking you more and more, why is that?” Sukuna’s tone sounded like he was addressing himself as he spoke aloud, turning your hand every which way as he kept scraping his nail against your palm. “Were you my lover in the past, back when I reigned as the ruler of this whole land?”

Racking your brain to try and remember any information on Sukuna potentially having a lover, you were ripped back to reality when Sukuna dug his nail into your skin, reopening the cut and making blood flow freely.

“Ow!” You couldn’t yank your arm out of his grasp and you watched in mild horror as Sukuna lowered himself to your hand, letting his tongue hang out of his mouth and drag across your skin. His tongue quickly became coated in dark red blood, his saliva starting to mingle with your blood.

“You taste so familiar, you must have been mine.” Lapping up your blood now, Sukuna didn’t stop until he could tell you were starting to get weak from blood loss. The lower half of his face was now covered in red, smeared across his skin like paint.

“Sukuna, that’s gross.” The mumble slipped from your delirious mind, making him laugh as he waved a hand over the cut and made it go away. Slipping your hand from his grasp it was like there had never been a mark there in the first place.

“A human telling me what’s gross?” Licking his face clean, Sukuna grinned down at you. The longer he looked at you the longer memories of a past you returned to his mind. The irresistible draw he felt to come to you tonight had been the same one that called to him centuries ago, making you the center of his otherwise cruel and empty world.

Placing two hands on the wall behind you, Sukuna leaned over you once more, this time grasping your chin and turning your face up to him. The saliva that had mixed with your blood had also given you new memories of the past as well, and as you looked at Sukuna you remembered all the things the two of you had done together.

“So, my pet, what shall we do first?”

Sukuna ended up carrying you home, having you tucked inside his kimono as he leaped on rooftops across the city. Opening your bedroom window, Sukuna shoved his body through, having to make himself slightly smaller to fit inside the house.

“Are you uh, hungry?” Standing awkwardly in the middle of your bedroom as Sukuna sat on your bed, you weren’t quite sure what to do now.

“I could eat.” Laying fully back on your bed, it creaked and groaned as Sukuna rested his weight on it. The thought of offering to take him to the kitchen came and went quickly in your head; just getting him into your room was a hard enough task.

Fixing him and yourself a quick meal, as soon as you were done eating Sukuna picked you up and rested you on his abdomen. Even after shrinking himself down your legs were still stretched as wide as possible in hopes of wrapping around his waist.

“As the memories of you return, I realize how much I’ve missed you, my pretty little thing.” Petting down your back, Sukuna looked at you fondly. Propped up on two of his arms, he could stare directly at your tiny body sitting atop him.

“What kind of memories do you have?” So far, the only thing you could seem to recall were memories of a more sexual nature. One’s of you and Sukuna wrapped up in each other's arms, both of his cocks stuffed inside you as you begged to cum.

“I remember giving you the world, whatever you wanted was yours for the taking.” The look in Sukunas eyes was surprisingly soft and you could feel the love coming out from him.

“Whatever I wanted?” Repeating the words, your mouth hung open slightly at all the possible things you could get.

“The world may exist to serve me, but I exist to serve you.” Fully sitting up, Sukuna held you against him as he leaned down, lips grazing your forehead. “What do you want, (Y/N)? I can get you anything in the world, I can do anything in the world.”

“Kill for me.” The whisper that left your lips was almost too quiet for even yourself to hear. But Sukuna nodded, having heard you perfectly. Your words made his body thrum with excitement and his nerves were on edge.

“Kill for you?” He repeated, kissing you on the forehead. The fingers that held you closely dug into your sides and if Sukuna wasn’t careful he could crush you completely.

“You love me, don’t you?” There was just the slightest hint of worry in your voice. What if you were overestimating your power over Sukuna? He could say no or even kill you himself.

“You have no idea what the things my love for you will do.”

Although it pained him to do so, Sukuna left you once the sun began to rise. He had other things to attend to, temples that worshipped him as a god to visit. Promising to see you once dusk began to settle over the sky, Sukuna leapt from your window and into the horizon.

“You came back.” Even though he swore up and down he’d come back, it still shocked you to see him back on your bed once it hit a certain time of night.

“Of course I did.” Sukuna almost seemed hurt you would question him. Holding out a hand, as soon as you grasped one of his fingers he pulled you to him and nestled your body into his side. “Did you do what I asked?”

“The list is in my pocket.” Before leaving, Sukuna had told you to make a list of all the people you wanted him to kill for you. The list had started out short, just a few people that had hurt you that you couldn’t let go of, and then it grew to others, politicians and corrupt people in the media.

“Quite impressive, little thing.” Reading over the list, Sukuna stood up. “Shall we go then?”

“Go whe-” As Sukuna threw open your bedroom window you were met with a strong gust of wind. “Sukuna, where are we going?” You asked him over the wind in your ears. Putting his upper arms into the sleeves of his kimono, he made sure you were nestled safely inside.

“We’re going to take care of the first person on your list.” Wrapping an arm around you, Sukuna jumped out of the window. Though this wasn’t your first time in this position, you hadn’t been fully cognizant when Sukuna took you home last night. Now, with a head clear and no lack of blood to distract you, you could see the lights of the city clearly as they whipped past you.

“It’s beautiful.” Carefully leaning forward, you gazed at the downtown area with all the flashing lights and swerving cars.

“If you say so.” Patting your hip, Sukuna pulled you back, resting your weight fully on his arm and clothes. He wouldn’t admit it, and despite knowing he would catch you in a millisecond, Sukuna didn’t want you to fall out and fall to the ground.

Coming upon the first persons house, he settled you on the ground outside. You were in a tightly knit residential area standing directly under a streetlight, with rows of houses that all looked similar. In a flash, Sukuna had broken into the house and grabbed the person you were after.

“This them?” With a tight grip on their ankle, Sukuna shook them side to side.

“Mhmm.” You didn’t need to look to know he’d gotten the right person, just the feeling you had around them was enough to confirm it.

“W-what’s going on here?!” They screamed, blood pooling in their head the longer they hung upside down.

“Don’t speak.” Sukuna barked, shaking them once again. “You don’t speak to her, or at all.” The person screamed again, a high pitched sound that quickly got shut off as Sukuna swung their body and smacked them against the ground. “I thought I told you to be quiet.”

For a moment you thought they’d died from how hard Sukuna hit them against the ground, but a small whimper and breathless gasps sounded from where their face was crushed against the pavement.

“Do you know why I’m here?” You whispered, standing over their motionless body. Rolling over onto their back, they shook their head and started to stammer. “If you can’t answer my question I don’t want you to make a sound.” Pressing your foot onto their throat, you flinched when their hands came up to try and claw you away.

“Don’t touch her.” Instantly pinning their arms down, Sukuna glowered. “How would you like me to do it?”

“Let me think.” Staring down into their glassy eyes, a million options went through your mind. Sukuna’s power was limitless, there was nothing he couldn’t do. If you asked him to throw their body into outer space, he would do it in a heartbeat. “Rip them limb from limb. You can eat them if you’d like.”

“As you wish.” A sick grin curled Sukuna’s lip and he drug their body across the ground until they were directly underneath him.

“(Y/N) wait! W-wait please!” Their shrill cries fell on deaf ears, and the sound of the first limb being torn off their body was something you could get used to. “Oh- oh my god, my leg!”

“God I wish you’d shut up.” You kept your eyes on the person's face, refusing to look at where blood squirted generously from their now missing extremity.

“Allow me.” With the swipe of one claw Sukuna gouged out their throat. Hot, bright red blood spilled out onto the pavement, pooling and almost making it to where you stood. Throwing one leg into his mouth, Sukuna used a non-bloody hand to lift you up and place you onto a brick wall.

“Thank you.” Giving him a gentle smile, you now had a front row seat to Sukuna ripping apart this person's body and slowly devouring them. There was a mess of blood coating Sukuna’s skin, far more blood than when he had drunk yours.

As you watched Sukuna eat this person, a sense of satisfaction washed over you. It felt good to get justice in your own way for how this person wronged you. After being told to let it go, try and move and let time heal the wound, you could finally get closure the way you wanted.

“All done?” You asked once the last piece of their body was consumed. Standing up to his full height, Sukuna still looked down at you. The blood on his skin began to sizzle off, evaporating into the air and leaving the pungent smile of iron behind.

“Have I made you happy?” He responded, cupping your face and lightly squishing your cheeks. Smiling proudly, a warm flush washed over your face the longer you and Sukuna looked at each other.

“Yes, very.” Nuzzling into his palm and kissing it, you let out a breathless laugh as Sukuna did the same.

“I’m happy to please you.” Kissing you on the top of the head, Sukuna pulled out the list and crossed out the first name. “Shall we go to the others now?”

[sylverstorms]

Mother Miranda x Lawyer!Oc ----Tilted Scales

Hello guys :) This is another commission I wrote for the amazing, wonderful @saltwatereulogies

Your support has been insane, I can't thank you enough. Hope you enjoy the story ❣

Three days.

That is how long you've been in the village, after years of studying abroad, before everything turns to shit.

As you slowly blink focus back into your eyes, you try to clear the haze from your mind. It feels as though you've collided with a truck. Your body hurts, your wrists protest in their iron cuffs, stuck to the wall as they are, having supported your weight while you were unconscious.

Desperately, you try to recollect the events that led you here...

A grey sky. A bleak day. One moment you were making coffee for your mother, excited to be able to sit down with her in the mornings again... and the next you heard the echo of screams.

Overcome by adrenaline, you bolted out of your house, only to witness a scene straight from a nightmare; humanoid monsters ripping villagers apart, cries and blood and animalistic growls all blending together into one mad mix.

And before you could even warn your mother...

Damn it all, what the fuck happened!

You suddenly struggle against your bonds, hard enough to rattle your whole frame. Your wrists burn from the grind against metal, but you don't care–

“Stop that. It is pointless and you will only injure yourself.” A cold voice, strangely familiar, says from far to your right.

You peer deep into the shadows, searching for the only other person in the empty room... until you see her. A mask advances on you, gold and shaped like a crow's visage, then wings folded into a cloak come into view.

You would be a fool to not recognize her. The local saint. The village's prophet. The very 'saint' your mother prayed to, for your safe return, all these years. Mother Miranda.

The sound of her heels bounces off the walls until she comes to stand directly in front of you. Looking past the openings of her mask now, you realize....

This isn't possible.

She hasn't aged a day. Not a single day, since you left the village. The years should show around her deadly blue eyes, somewhere, and yet they don't.

“I see you remember me...” she says, while you're still trying to find your voice. “Miss Warren.”

“What is going on? Mother Miranda, what happened to the village?!” you demand.

Her expression shows nothing. “The village is in need of... renovation.” she speaks, even, regal. “Repopulation, even.”

You stare at her with wide eyes.

“Now, don't give me that look. You would not be here if you weren't of the ones I chose to keep.” she continues. “You see, from now on, every single person in my domain will make themselves useful in some way, or they will be replaced. And you... you have been abroad studying law for a while now, yes?”

“I... yes.” you reply, still not fully having wrapped your mind around your situation.

“Excellent. What I need from you is simple. You will make the village independent from the state’s taxes as a religious organization... and you will keep foreign investors out from that point onward.”

What... what part of that is simple?!

“Do that for me and in return I guarantee your mother and you will go back to your house safe and sound. You will have no shortage of Lei for as long as you live, Miss Warren.” Miranda promises.

But it is not the sweet part of the deal your mind stays glued to. “And if...” you gulp. “If I can't work around the law to do that...?”

Miranda blinks slowly at you, like you shouldn't even ask such a basic question. Like the answer is obvious.

“Well. Then I have no further use for either of you.”

It is in this moment that it dawns on you.

This woman is no angel and no saint.

She is a devil.

-

-

You spend countless sleepless nights pouring over every single paragraph, every little opening or ambiguity in the law you can use to free the village of taxes.

To keep your mother in the dark about this, you work in the office Mother Miranda has provided for you, in her very stronghold.

Although technically it's her home, you don't see her nearly as much as you initially thought. She is gone throughout the day and returns late at night, not even sparing you a glance before heading for her chambers, at the upper sections of the building.

The days she does come into your office to inquire on your progress are few and far-between, your conversations always short and cold.

This evening is different.

“How is your work coming along, Miss Warren?” the prophetess asks with her aggravatingly nice accent, seating herself like a queen on the chair in front of your desk.

Your eyes are tired, but you force them on hers, through the mask obscuring her face. “I think I've got it. I'll be sending the necessary papers tomorrow and the answer shouldn't take longer than a month.”

“Very good.” she nods, a miniscule curve to her lips.

Icy eyes then drop to the wine in the whiskey glass at the corner of the desk. You think she will make a comment about drinking at work, but instead she says;

“Pour me a glass, will you?”

You will your hands steady as you comply, then carefully slide her drink over.

Miranda takes her mask with claw-shrouded fingers... and soundnessly sets it on the wooden surface. Then she pushes the veil at her hair back, shaking long, platinum locks free.

You do a double take you hope she doesn't notice. Because what the actual fuck.

You didn't think her hair was that long, or that straight, or that it would fall over her shoulders like she's staring in a shampoo ad. You didn't think her lips were shaped like a cupid's bow or that her skin was this flawless and radiant.

The helplessly lesbian part of you could begrudgingly admit she was beautiful before... but now you arrive to the painful realization she's drop-dead gorgeous.

“So. I've heard you won cases others would describe as impossible.” she begins.

“Nothing's impossible. You just need to know where to look.” you reply. Law is your comfort zone and she is not that far above you here. “But how do you know that?”

“I have my sources.”

"Nobody truly leaves this village, huh.”

“Not without my consent, no. But I knew you'd come back.” At your slight frown, she elaborates, “You would never leave your mother behind.”

She's right. There was a whole world of opportunities waiting for you out there and yet... here you are.

“Good work, so far. You can take the next two days off. Your eyes could use the rest, Miss Warren.” Miranda speaks, finishing her wine.

“Sarah.” you say. 'Miss Warren' is for clients and she is your boss.

Miranda's lips give a slight quirk that may or may not be a trick of the light.

“I know.” she replies and exits the room, long hair billowing behind her back.

-

-

The taxes were only the first challenge. Now that the village is free of them, investors are flying in circles around it like vultures over meat.

In the meantime, Miranda comes to talk to you more frequently.

Lately, it seems she has more free time. You wish that was a good thing, but...

“So... are you like... going to stay here?” You ask after reading the same sentence five times to make sense of it, because her gaze on you is distracting as fuck.

“I'm not getting in the way of your work.” she says. You want to argue she is, but can't quite do that in a way that won't get you killed.

“I'm simply not used to working with company. Isn't this boring for you?”

“No, actually. I find it interesting, even though science is my field of expertise.” she answers. “And the way you take notes is… amusing.”

You try not to blush as you look down at your notebook, filled with different colored markers and post-it squares with tiny stick figures pointing to the more important paragraphs. You have been doing this for so long to sort out information you didn't even realize you were keeping it up in her presence.

“What is this supposed to be?” she asks with a small smile, the first of its kind you've seen.

To your horror, her clawed pointer aims at a particularly silly doodle, barely the size of a pencil's eraser.

“A... bird.” you grimace like you've been stabbed.

“Ah, of course.” Miranda holds back a chuckle but you can tell she's dying to make a comment.

Studying becomes hell for the rest of the time she's there with you, those sharp eyes picking apart every little move you make. At the same time, though, the hours you spend with her make you realize...

She's not a saint, though she may look like one. She's not completely a devil, either, even if she may act as one, at times.

She's human.

-

-

Miranda shares nothing about herself when you chat, but she seems to like it when you speak about your time abroad and all the things that left an impression on you there.

Your conversation over wine is cut short, however, when you receive a call from a number you learned means nothing but trouble, lately.

“Sorry, I have to take this.” you tell her.

The one calling you is none other than this month's rival lawyer, trying to dispute your claim over the land for his own boss. He's lost to you before, so it's also personal, but you are confident you have cornered them good with the latest papers you sent them...

And you are proven correct, when, a few seconds later, he is all faux polite on the other line, resorting to offering you money for you to withdraw your arguments.

Miranda comes to stand next to you, listening in to what he's saying.

The problem with that is, the second her arm brushes yours and you catch a whiff of her perfume –which always lingers in your office long after she's left— youare the one who stops listening to him.

Your attention flies to other things, like the inches she has on you, the exact color of her pale blonde hair, the little glint of victory in her stunning eyes.

Oh, no. God, no...

You know what this is, the feeling in the pit of your stomach. Alarm bells go off in the back of your head, as though your own mind is telling your body how foolish it's being.

There isn't a worse thing you can do to yourself than be attracted to Miranda.

-

-

Over time, familiarity with the prophetess brings higher levels of difficulty into your 'try to ignore your crush on her' game.

Miranda joins your side and leans over your shoulder, sometimes, to peer down at what you're doing. You don't move and don't breathe until she's within a safe distance again.

Then there are the wayward 'reward' touches, when you turn another investor away from the village. She may pat your back or leave her hand on your shoulder, or even scratch your nape with her claws as a job well done.

You hope your poker face hides the fact you feel her touch on you for far longer than you should, after she's gone.

Tonight, the situation is the toughest it's ever been for you.

There is a rainstorm going on outside; the waterdrops are tapping against the windows of your office as though they're trying to break it. Miranda has pulled her chair next to you so you can talk easier, without having to shout over the cacophony.

“And basically the judge's decision was that—”

You are interrupted by a blinding flash of lighting, during which your mind lets you know the stronghold is easily the tallest structure in it's vicinity—

When thunder cracks down the sky and strikes the building, you nearly scream. Your body tenses and you jump; but Miranda's hands come to your biceps and hold you steady, against herself and your desk.

Another flash comes before you really have time to think about your proximity. She covers your ears with her palms before the thunderclap can send you into overdrive again.

“You are with me and you're scared of a little thunder?” she teases when things quiet down and your heartbeat eases.

It's true; Miranda is the more terrifying force of nature. At the same time, however...

You feel oddly safe to be this close to her.

“Well... I'm not scared right now...” you quietly admit.

Her pointer comes underneath your chin and lifts it so you are looking straight into her hypnotic blue eyes. How is this color even real...

“And why is that?” Miranda asks, her wings coming around you both. They're curtains of black, cutting out some of the storm's sounds.

You want nothing more in this moment than to run your fingers through each individual feather.

You lick your lips. That's...not a question you can answer if you want the balance in your arrangement with her to remain.

Perhaps, though, the scales have tilted for you long ago. You just haven't been brave enough to admit it.

You have the courage to face it now when she leans down and covers your lips with hers, warm in a manner you never imagined she could be.

Her wings pull tighter around you and your mouths slide more firmly together. Lipbalm and creamy lipstick mix, tongues brush, tasting of wine. You are shaking so bad on the inside from how much you want this, more of this, the rumbling of the thunder be damned.

Miranda's palm cups your flaming cheek when she pulls back, perfectly composed and staring at you with a little smirk in place.

You dare to turn a little, lay a tiny kiss on the inside of her wrist, beyond her rings and accessories.

You aren't very fond of storms, but...

You willingly walk right into the eye of this one.

[theneverfinishedstory]

6. Six-Shooter

(Whoops I am several days behind in yeehugust )

Mirage collapsed in a heap. Gasping in for air, she tried to keep from dry-heaving or worse, actually throwing up the corn mush she ate for breakfast. Breakfast that was only maybe three hours ago when the sun hadn’t even gotten up. Shakily holding herself up on her elbows, she heard the patient footsteps of one of her mentors behind her. Her leg shot out just as the person came close. 

“Gods damn it,” Ransom swore. He barely caught himself from falling into the dirt next to her. Mirage rolled her head back to look at him, grinning.

Even though the sun was barely peeking over the horizon, Ransom wore his beaten cowboy hat. His white hair was shaved close on the sides with the longer unruly pieces stuck out under the hat across his forehead. Even with the shade from the brim, Mirage saw white eyes looking down at her. Like other members in their branch of the Shifting Sands caravan, he wore a marigold colored bandana around his neck. On it was the broken hourglass symbol. Tiny grains of sand spilled from the shatter and pooled around the glass. Ransom’s shirt underneath was buttoned up to the top, his sleeves were unrolled and firmly buttoned at the wrist, and his pants went down to the heels of his boots. Being a drow in the desert sun was a life of avoiding it. Mirage hadn’t heard him complain about it yet though. 

“I came down here to tell you your form is all wrong. You aren’t nearly as quiet as you think you are and I think I could outrun you even if you had a head start,” Ransom said, his drawl quiet in the early morning. 

Mirage dropped to the ground and rolled on her back. She scrunched her nose up, angry at the dark blue early morning clouds for no particular reason. 

 “Well, whaddya expect? I had to do a buncha push ups and then a buncha pullups and then run down that stupid hill and jump around on boulders” she huffed. “And I know I’m doing better than last week. I heard you almost say it yesterday!”

“When?”

“When you thought I was asleep and you were talkin’ to Arabella.”

Ransom made a noise of disapproval. He offered a hand to her anyway. Mirage counted to three before grabbing it and pushing off the ground. Even though the ends of her hair tended to drift up and away like smoke, sweat on the other hand, glistened on her forehead. She used the back of her arm to wipe some off. 

She smirked, “So that makes me think I’m doing better then you’re tellin’ me. You’re just mad I tripped ya.”

Ransom walked off, Mirage trailing behind him. The last week or so had been a blur for Mirage. She hadn’t been the only person the Caravan chose to train. A few others had been picked up across the desert and each Caravan branch leader got one to train. Mirage had been chosen by Arabella McClain, an impressive tiefling woman. Ransom Jericho was her second and in charge of running Mirage ragged. Every day there were countless exercises building stamina, strength, and flexibility. While Mirage had never been very out of shape she had never been this in shape either. She was seeing changes to her body and even felt like there were a few in her mind too. Everything seemed a bit sharper and her reflexes felt more natural then they ever. What she really wanted was the thing Arabella and Ransom kept calling ki. With that, the possibilities were endless. 

Skipping behind Ransom, Mirage leaned a little closer, asking, “Since I’m gettin’ better, are ya gonna show me the cool gun trick?”

Ransom snorted. “What cool gun trick? We don’t use guns, Mirage. Rule number seven.”

“C’mon, Ace was telling me all about it. The six-shooter test!” Mirage said. 

Ransom stopped in his tracks. He turned his head towards Mirage. “He did, did he?” 

“Yep.”

“Did he tell you what that was?”

“No,” Mirage said. Seeing the hard stare Ransom was giving, she took half a step back. “But he said you think I might be ready.”

“Did he?”

Mirage felt unease burn inside of her. Before she responded, Ransom started off in the direction of camp. Mirage had to run to keep to pace. At the camp, breakfast for the full fledged members had just started. Most of them had a tin plate with some reheated corn mush on it. A human man had a spoonful halfway to his mouth when Ransom hoisted the man out of his seat. The corn mush plate fell in the dust. 

“Ransom, what in the Nine Hells-” he started. 

Ignoring the outburst, Ransom called over his shoulder, “Arabella, I’m gonna need that gun.”

Scrapes of spoons on tin stopped. Grumbled conversations halted. Arabella, holding a cup of hot coffee in her hands, raised an eyebrow. 

“Why?”

“Six-shooter test.”

Arabella lowered her coffee mug. “Oh?”

“And Ace here is gonna lead it.”

“I am?” he repeated. 

Ransom let go of Ace’s shirt and went over to Arabella. She dug into her pocket and pulled out a bundle of rags. Inside the bundle, was a small silver key. Ransom took it and went over to Arabella’s pack. After taking a few bundles, he got to a small case. The key went in easily like it was a lock that wasn’t used very often. Inside was a simple six-shooter gun. He loaded it as he stood back up. Looking at Ace, Ransom motioned with it to an open space between clusters of sage bushes. 

“Mirage, you too.” Ransom ordered. 

At that, Arabella stood, yet she made no move to stop her second. Ace looked at her, eyes shining with hope. When Ace didn’t move, she said, “You heard him.”

The uneasy feeling in Mirage’s stomach was growing to be the size of a boulder. Her mouth always got her in trouble. Typically, she could get out of it. But this seemed like she was stuck in a dust devil with no way out. She walked over to the empty space, Ace, Ransom, and Arabella following. The other members remained seated but their eyes were glued to the scene unfolding. 

“Mirage, go on down there. Maybe about thirty paces or so,” Ransom said. 

She did as he commanded, but didn’t turn her back, instead walking backwards, too scared to take her eyes off of him.

 “Ace, since you said I thought Mirage was ready for the six-shooter, I guess I’ll have to agree with you,” Ransom said

He clicked the safety off and handed the gun over to Ace, who had only gotten paler with each second. 

“Since you’ve been training with her day after day after all,” Ransom said as Ace took the gun.

 “Now Mirage,” Ransom called over “What you have to do is dodge and deflect the six bullets Ace’s gonna shoot at you. Now this is pretty close range so you’ll have to be quick on your feet. And, of course, if you mess up, a real bullet’s gonna be in your chest. Keep that in mind.”

He clapped Ace on the shoulder. “Ready when you are, Ace.”

Mirage tensed and fought to control her heart rate. The way Ace had talked last night, he made it sound like it was a gun trick, not a gun test. This was not something she felt remotely ready for. Barely evening her breath out, Mirage widened her stance and raised her fists, trying to focus on the gun in Ace’s hand. But the seconds dragged on. Ace raised then dropped the gun a few times before fully aiming it at Mirage. Now the seconds turned into a full minute. Nothing happened. The gun remained pointed at Mirage, Ace’s finger twitching at the trigger. Arabella, her lips pursed the entire time, put her hand on Ransom’s shoulder. With that, Ransom grabbed the gun away from Ace and in a quick follow-up, punched him straight on the jaw. Ace stumbled to the side, almost falling over. 

Grabbing at his jaw, Ace choked out, “Ransom, it was a joke is all! Stupid joke! I just wanted to ruffle her feathers a bit!”

“Don’t you dare lie to someone using my name,” Ransom growled.

“ ‘M sorry, Ransom. Won’t happen again.” Ace said. He rubbed his jaw more as he straightened up. “Just thought-”

“That pretending I thought she was ready for something and fillin’ her head with big ideas would be funny? Or have you forgotten that this training is the most important thing we got going for us out here. And if we don’t train our recruits right they end up dead? Or have you forgotten that?” Ransom looked like he was ready to swing again.

Arabella whistled a short high pitch whistle. “Alright Jericho. Bring it in.”

Ransom clenched his fist but eventually stepped back next to Arabella. Arabella took the gun from him and started to unload it. Each bullet made a clink in her pocket. 

“Ace, take a walk to the stream and dunk your head in. Maybe the chill will clear your head of any more stupidity with our recruit,” Arabella said. “Ransom, go in the opposite direction and beat something up. Neither of you come back till you’re sane again.”

Ace nodded, turning on his heel and headed for the stream half a mile away. Ransom said something in hushed Undercommon before walking back towards the camp. He didn’t stop there, instead he walked past back towards the training grounds. Mirage stood at the other end of the impromptu shooting range slowly lowering her fists. 

Arabella walked over to her. Once close enough, she asked, “You okay, Eolian?”

“ ‘Bout shit my pants, but now that’s done with,” Mirage let out. She looked towards Ransom’s retreating back. “Did I mess up? I didn’t know it was such a big deal, honest. I woulda never brought it up! I thought it was some sorta cool move or something!”

“You didn’t mess up. Ace’s stupid,” Arabella said. “Six-shooter is an old Caravan test that I’m not fond of and don’t really like using. Neither does Ransom. And Ace should know better than saying Ransom recommended it.”

“Did something happen?”

Arabella looked down. “I won’t give you the details. That’s Ransom’s story. But someone close to him didn’t make it through the six-shooter years ago. Since then, he’s pushed against its use. But Caravan hasn’t banned it yet, so it’s still in rotation.”

Mirage glanced at the empty pistol. “So I’ll have to do that?”

Arabella moved the gun out of sight. “Not until Ransom thinks you’re ready.”

“When will that be?” 

“Never, maybe.”

[that-scouse-wizard]

David Willows MK 2

A/N: Just an updated version of David’s profile, complete with a few changes and a more in-depth description of certain characteristics. Hope you guys enjoy and if you’d like your MC to be friends with him, message me and let’s chat about it.

Some more things to note:

-Merula is not the mole.

-I’m using the female version of Rowan as David’s best friend because to hell with game restrictions. Also, she survives, at least... David’s Rowan does.

-Drastic alteration to the Quidditch storyline. Skye is in David’s year and a Gryffindor. Orion, Murphy and Erika are two years above David and are in Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin respectively. Also including Andre and Charlie while introducing Oliver Wood and Lee Jordan.

-It goes without saying but spoilers for my ideas. Some are kept deliberately vague and some aren’t covered entirely more so because I intend to write about it someday. Let me know what you guys think of those that are given though. 

-------------

General Information

Name: David Owen Willows (Formerly David Owen Hall, changed to mother’s maiden name in 1982).

Gender: Male

Age: 11-18 (1984-91), 19-25 (1992-98)

DOB: 30/03/1973

Species: Human

Blood status: Half-blood

Sexuality: Straight

Alignment: Chaotic Good

Ethnicity: White-British 

Nationality: English (maternal side of family is Irish, paternal grandmother is Scottish, paternal grandfather and father are English).

Residence: Liverpool/ Lancaster (during his Hogwarts years and depending upon who he’s staying with).

Wimborne (during his career as a pro Quidditch player)

Hogsmeade (final place of residence after becoming Charms professor)

Myers Briggs Personality Type: ENFP, The Campaigner

Character summary: Though he may come across as stand-offish at first, David Willows is a friend as loyal as he is bull-headed. A student of Erika Rath, he became known as Hound on the Quidditch pitch for his relentless pursuit of opposing players. A skill in duelling and the muggle martial art of muay thai (also a pair of knuckledusters) ensures David is a formidable opponent with or without magic.

Personality:

Aggressive: While he tries to reign in his anger, David is known to have a short temper when it comes to certain taunts. Chief amongst them, comparing him to Jacob. In his early years he was even willing to physically fight much older students despite the clear difference in both size and strength.

Aloof: For all of his first year and a good portion of his second year, David isn’t the one to initiate a friendship (except for Chiara but that was when there was no one else to really talk to while spending a night in the Hospital Wing due to the Devil’s Snare incident). However, while undergoing his first time as a quidditch player, he’s taught by Penny how to be a bit more social at pre and post-match parties.

Artistic: David was taught by his mother Rue to draw in greyscale sketches, something he improves on during his time throughout Hogwarts. In the midst of Jacob’s disappearance, his parent’s divorce and especially the stress that comes at Hogwarts, drawing provided an escape for him. His favourite things to draw are people and creatures.

Competitive: This aspect of David tends to come out the most when it comes to sport. With Erika as his mentor, he nurtures a healthy sense of competition as well as a determination to best the other houses and put Hufflepuff on top when it comes to quidditch.

Courageous: Largely as a result of his loyalty, David is willing to throw himself headlong into danger. The Sorting Hat didn’t nearly put him in Gryffindor for no reason.

Determined: When David sets his mind to a goal, he wants to accomplish it to the best of his abilities. In the case of finding Jacob however, it led to a sort of tunnel-vision, one that was finally broken when Chauncy and Philip succumb to injuries sustained under the sleepwalking curse.

Empathetic: Throughout his years at Hogwarts, David starts to empathise with people in his life. Even in the case of Merula, he sees how lonely she must really be and tries to reach out to her on numerous occasions. If he doesn’t fully understand it, he’d like you to share your feelings with him, at your own behest of course.

Loyal: In spite of a prickly exterior at first, once you win David’s loyalty, he’ll return it ten-fold. The type of friend who would take a bullet for you.  

Snarky: David has a sharp tongue, preferably he tries to shut down an argument with his wits. Only going for duelling when he feels it necessary. That being said, he isn’t shy about getting petty in a verbal spar, for example his response to Merula when first being taunted about Jacob supposedly teaming up with Voldemort: “At least that’s just a rumour, can’t say the same about your parents.”

Stubborn: A self-described ‘stubborn git’, David is quite notorious for not budging from his position once he thinks he has all the facts he needs. If he’s being especially difficult, just get Merula.

Appearance

Face Claim: Dave Franco (as an adult at least).

Voice Claim: Paul McCartney.

Game appearance: 

Physique: Athletic, broad shouldered and fairly bulky as a result of weight training with Erika.

Hair Colour: Dark Brown

Hair style: Chin-length (1st-2nd year), crew cut (3rd-4th year), short but long enough to slick back (5th year-present).

Eye colour: Dark brown.

Height: 5′11″ (as of 6th year)

Weight: Approx 80kg (when fully grown)

Scarring: A few small ones sustained during duels and the occasional mishap in quidditch, mostly on his upper body with a few on his legs. Sustains a burn scar on the left side of his waist during the battle with R.

Body modifications: Get’s the phrase “You’ll never walk alone.” tattooed on his right bicep at eighteen. Later gets a ram skull tattoo on his upper back just between the shoulder blades at age twenty. Finally, gets a shepherd crook just below the ram skull tattoo at age twenty-one.

Inventory: His wand, a pair of knuckledusters, a sketchbook, a pencil case containing stationary.

Fashion: He trusts Andre’s advice on what looks good on him though knows what works for him and what doesn’t. Partly influenced by his musical tastes (mainly punk, and rock and roll), has a love of leather jackets and slightly ripped jeans.

Background/ History:

Pre-Hogwarts:

-David was born in Liverpool, living in the suburb of Allerton. One of his favourite things to do was play football with Jacob and his dad.

-His mum would teach him to draw, most often on rainy days.

-Close to both of his parents as a result but it all changed when Jacob disappeared. He knew Jacob and his parents had arguments after being expelled but hadn’t heard any of it on account of the use of a muffling charm. Furthermore, Rue and Matthew were driven apart, Matthew blaming Jacob’s change in attitude and eventual disappearance on magic in its entirety.

-Sometime after Jacob disappeared and when the general shitshow stirred up by the Daily Prophet had died down, it was settled that Rue and Matthew would divorce. Given that David would go to Hogwarts as well, they thought it would be best for David to take Willows as his surname, hopefully not being recognised as Jacob Hall’s brother.

-This was fruitless, Rita Skeeter caught wind of the proceedings and sensationalised them, exposing the name change in the process. The stress and grief caused both parents to distance themselves from David in some way. Rue threw herself into work and became even more strict with David’s freedom while Matthew just left.

-David however, was fighting his own battles, it became known at his muggle school about Jacob going missing as well as his parents divorcing. This caused him to become quite reclusive from his classmates and would lash out at anyone who said a bad word towards him, especially if it concerned his family drama. He lost any friends he did have and refused to make any more.

During Hogwarts

-Year 1: He first meets Rowan, even being introduced to her younger brother, Alder (basically male Rowan). 

David, Rowan, Tonks, Diego, Chiara and Penny first begin to form what becomes known as the Hufflesquad. 

Also befriends Ben and Charlie.

Angelica Cole takes him under her wing despite not being in the same house and even shows David a group of trolls she’s been tending to in preparation for her apprenticeship in training security trolls.

Meets the Booths during the Christmas break and despite a rocky start, begins to develop a positive relationship with them even coming to an understanding with his dad.

During one of his expeditions with Angelica, he’s confronted by Needle, an acromantula that previously belonged to Jacob. 

Finally stands up to his mum properly, resulting in him staying with the Booths for the summer in Lancaster.

-Year 2: David meets those who are involved in the Quidditch scene at Hogwarts, including Erika Rath, who he briefly develops a crush on until he’s let down gently at the end of Year 2.

He duels Merula for a second time, winning once more, which makes her cry albeit in private. This then results in having his first encounter with Barnaby Lee, who confronts David about upsetting Merula. David tries to get past but Barnaby wraps his hands around David’s throat. Not actually choking him mind, more to get his attention. David panics as it reminds him of the Devil’s Snare that wrapped around his throat and lashes out at Barnaby.

David puts Barnaby in the hospital wing, much to the anger of Liz Tuttle.

The last Quidditch match for the House Cup between Hufflepuff and Slytherin is interrupted by the spread of the cursed ice. Ultimately resulting in Gryffindor’s victory in the cup for that year. 

Rue comes back, mentioning how Corey Hayden (David’s American cousin in this AU) would like to transfer to Hogwarts.

Year 3: Amelia comes to Hogwarts as a first year and gets sorted into Hufflepuff. Similarly, Alder starts at Hogwarts and is sorted into Ravenclaw. 

Amelia brings Dusty, her cat, along with her. However, Dusty goes missing shortly after arriving at the castle.

Later, in a COMC class, Barnaby mentions that he found a cat matching Dusty’s description. Initially, David is very suspicious to the extent of threatening Barnaby if he harmed Dusty in any way. Barnaby refutes this and returns Dusty to him unharmed, causing David to apologise for both for the accusation and the events that happened last year. Eventually, he even befriends Barnaby.

In a similar vein, when tending to some of his creatures on the reserve, he bumps into Liz and winds up introducing her to Needle. The two get a friendship going, David admiring Liz’s passion for creatures and Liz appreciating David for not finding her weird when she rambles about animals. To the extent that they go out on a few dates.

Close to the end of the year, he rants at Merula. Effectively asking the question of why she seems to hate him. Yet despite the rant he closes off with how he understands Merula, he’s been that lonely kid lashing out at the world and it’s not fun. Despite her reluctance to admit it, Merula knows David is right.

He gets the chance to verbally unload on Rita Skeeter for the articles she wrote about his family when she comes to the school looking to interview an interesting student. Later, several of his friends plus Merula of all people step in to put Skeeter in her place when she successfully provokes him into a fit of rage to make him look bad. The situation is eventually diffused by McGonagall.

Year 4: 

Corey officially transfers to Hogwarts from Ilvermorny after exchanging letters with David throughout third year.

Though David wasn’t particularly close to them, Chauncy and Philip (two of his dormmates alongside Diego) succumb to injuries sustained when they were attacked by a red cap under the Sleepwalking curse. When he learns the truth of what attacked them, David slays the creature.

David starts to realise he has a crush on Merula after assisting her in casting Expecto Patronum. Later in the year, he takes her out on a date to Hogsmeade, gets her a songbook for Christmas and even takes her out to the Celestial Ball.

Merula’s parents are freed from Azkaban by R, her mother even meeting Merula in secret throughout the year. During one of their meet-ups, she has a hunch Merula is starting to develop a crush on David (something which is true but not something she would admit it at the time). 

In order to eliminate this apparent threat to her family’s blood purity, she asks Merula to bring him to her in the Forbidden Forest under the guise of allowing the two of them to join R like she has. Instead, she subdues David with Petrificus Totalus, attempting to convince Merula to leave him, that David isn’t worth it.

Merula sides with David even though it pains her initially. David stays with her over the summer, where they try to figure out... whatever the hell their relationship is at the moment.

Year 5: Throughout this year he dates Merula in secret until Valentine’s Day. It’s here that she confesses she’s ready to have their relationship out in the open.

One of the most major event for David is Rakepick’s betrayal, he had actually grown fond of her as a mentor. Being stabbed in the back wasn’t a good thing for him.

The second is Jacob leaving immediately after David finds him. It’s hurtful and David becomes a bit reclusive for a while. Finally, he’s comforted by Bill, Orion and Erika, the older sibling figures in his life.

Year 6: Jacob returns, under the watchful eye of Alastor Moody, acting as the DADA  teacher for that year. Naturally, there’s tension between the brothers, which eventually resolves.

Jacob does join David for the Christmas break, where he gets along well with the Booths and reunites with his parents.

As well as this, R attempts to come after Amelia, resulting in the death of Alder Khanna. As well as being a devastating loss, it causes a rough patch in David and Rowan’s relationship when in her grief she winds up shouting “I wish I’d never met you, David Willows!” She only realises what she just said when the words leave her mouth but regardless, it causes a fracture within David’s larger circle of friends.

Eventually, the time comes for when David, Jacob and their allies take on the vaults like they had always dreamed of. Together, they face off against the guardian of the Sunken vault, an Ammit (based on the creature of Ancient Egyptian Mythology). Eventually the beast is defeated and they claim the treasure of the vaults, what seems to be the base of a necklace.

In a celebration at the Three Broomsticks, R attacks and murders Jacob. This sends David spiralling into grief, hitting his truly lowest point. He worked so hard, he rebuilt his family at home and forged a new one at Hogwarts, all the while hoping Jacob would be able to join them. And what was it all for? Nothing.

Before the school year is up... he snaps his wand and runs away from Hogwarts. Not to Liverpool, not to Lancaster, just anywhere but there. It will keep his friends and family safe or so he reasons. Deep down though, he thinks it’s cowardly.

During this time, he finds his way to Glasgow and starts sleeping rough on the streets all the while battling with grief, anger and self loathing. This goes on for two months before Moody tracks him down, apparating him to a secluded area of the Scottish countryside, kicks his arse and talks him down. Taking him to Grimmauld Place afterwards with the intention of formulating a plan to take the fight to R. 

Where he finds most of his remaining friends waiting for him. At first he staunchly refuses their help, feeling he’s already put enough people in danger. Yet they refuse to leave.

This is actually the moment where the Circle of Khanna is formed, this time named for Alder. Reconciling with Rowan after a serious heart-to-heart.

Year 7: ...Let’s just say R is going to regret setting David Willows on the warpath.

R’s destruction becomes widely regarded news, however David allows Moody to take the credit for it. Frankly, by this point he’s sick of any attachment to the Cabal and just wants to play Quidditch.

He’s able to pass his NEWTS and win the Quidditch cup for Hufflepuff one last time, resulting in him being offered the position as beater on the Wimborne Wasps.

Post-Hogwarts:

David and Merula work things out, moving in together. Though it’s odd with David still keeping at his Quidditch training and Merula now working for Gringotts as a curse-breaker. After winning the British and Irish League for the Wasps in 1993, he proposes to Merula which she accepts.

In 1994, they have a wedding in the summer time with Rowan being David’s best woman. They did plan on having kids until Cedric’s murder at the hands of Voldemort. With Quidditch cancelled and Merula being affiliated to Gringotts, both are approached to work for the Order. 

Though initially very hesitant, David agrees. Eliminating Death Eaters, rescuing their hostages and even fighting in the Battle of Hogwarts.

He returns to the Quidditch scene when it starts up again in 1999, helping the Wasps win the cup three more times. 1999 is also the year in which Merula and David have their first kid, Robin. After the latest victory in 2002 he discovers Merula is pregnant again, and his retirement from Quidditch is looming on the horizon. He’s convinced by Judith Harris (@judediangelo75) to teach for a few weeks over the summer at KC’s (@kc-needs-coffee) quidditch summer camp.  It’s here that he develops a love for teaching. Getting in touch with professor Flitwick to work as his assistant before becoming the Charms professor. 

In early 2003, he welcomes his son Nicholas into the world.

Family

Matthew Hall (father): 

Face Claim: Ben Miller

A stern but fair man and CIMA-qualified accountant originally from Yorkshire, Matthew met David’s biological mother Rue when he was on a business trip to Dublin in 1956. Encountering her in a quiet pub being told “I’ve dealt with a real dragon today” when he asked if she was okay on account of how tired she looked. Matthew took it as a joke but Rue was being entirely serious. They struck up a friendship and began dating, eventually getting married in 1961 and having Jacob in 1964. 

initially, he was fascinated by the existence of the wizarding world but soon came to fear it after Jacob’s disappearance. Divorcing Rue afterwards and cutting off contact from David aside from agreeing to send child maintenance. However, after being chewed out by his girlfriend Lyra, he all but begs David to come visit him in Lancaster over Christmas in 1984. 

The reason being that Amelia’s magical abilities finally began to manifest, which became a cause of conflict between David and Matthew, largely from David thinking that was the only reason he was invited. Eventually, they come to an understanding and try to work on improving their relationship.

Rue Willows (mother): 

Face Claim: Fiona O’Carroll

A dragonologist from Dublin in the employ of the Dragon Research and Restraint Bureau. Though she was strict, she was generally attentive towards David, being the one who taught him to draw.

After Jacob’s disappearance however, she became very withdrawn and austere. It was her way of opting for a ‘tough love’ approach, thinking she had been too soft and in her misguidance tried to control David’s life. Even then, she still grieved, frequently getting into arguments with David about his behaviour at school, bringing up Jacob when David tried to make her proud of him and other such things. 

During the start of the summer break between first and second year, David finally stands up to her properly. The words that get through to her are the following, “That stranger’s name is Lyra and she’s been a better mum to me in the weeks I’ve known her than you have for me in years.” and “I love you too mum... but I don’t know if I like you anymore.”

She does a lot of soul searching after that, staying with relatives in America for a year before coming back and promising to do better with her and David’s relationship.

Lyra Booth (nee Robinson) (step-mother):

Face Claim: Ruth Wilson

A muggle and CIMA-qualified accountant originally from London, left widowed in 1980 after her first husband, Peter died in a car accident. She met Matthew when working at an accounting firm in Lancaster shortly after his divorce from Rue. After a couple months of knowing each other, the two began dating, Lyra introduced him to her children, who he hit it off well with.

She knew he had a son who he sent child maintenance to but it wasn’t revealed until Amelia accidentally made a plant pot explode in a fit of frustration that Lyra learned the truth. Consequently... she blew up at Matthew for as good as abandoning as his son. Insisting on inviting him around for Christmas.

While David was prickly when he first came around, he eventually warmed up to her and the rest of the Booths, being a positive maternal influence on him.

Jacob Hall (brother) (deceased):

Face Claim: Tom Holland

David’s only biological sibling, a gifted though trouble-making student, first became interested in the cursed vaults during his first year when he was informed about the legend by seventh year Patricia Rakepick. In his sixth year, he stood up for fellow Gryffindor Angelica Cole when she was being bullied (at the time she was a first year).

His investigation into the vaults would put him into conflict with the mysterious cult known as R. A conflict that would put his family in danger and even cost him his life.

Alex Booth (step-brother):

Face Claim: Jody Latham

The eldest of the Booth siblings, Alex is a highly protective big brother and was worried upon realising his little sister was going to be part of a world none of them had any knowledge about. He tried to make David feel welcome despite the younger boy’s hostility.

When David attempted to run away during his first stay with the Booths, Alex caught him in the act and made a deal, get past him and he wouldn’t tell anyone he’d left. Though David was tenacious, Alex stopped him every time even pointing out the flaws in David’s technique if he tried to physically fight Alex. After David finally gave up, Alex didn’t breathe a word of his run away attempt to anyone. David would take up Alex’s offer to teach him muay thai during his first visit.

Sarah Booth (step-sister):

Face Claim: Emilia Clarke

The middle child of the Booth siblings and also the least welcoming, Sarah was most vocally against Amelia being part of the wizarding world. She treated David coldly at first, going on a grouse hunting trip with her friends the day after he arrived to stay with them for Christmas.

However, at some point, she caught him reading an old copy of a Shooting Times magazine and after some persuasion by Alex, took David clay pigeon shooting. Becoming quite impressed, and even a little endeared from how quickly he picked up shooting.

Amelia Booth (step-sister):

Face Claim: Maisie Williams

A muggleborn witch and the youngest of the Booth siblings, Amelia was surprised to realise she possessed magical abilities. Though was even more shocked to learn Matthew already knew about it.

When she was five years old, she was involved in the car accident that killed her father. Resulting in her being scarred with a gash on the right side of her forehead, a similar one on her left cheek and a larger one that cuts across from shoulder to her chest. Though she repressed the memory, she did indeed see her father die, thus Thestrals are visible to her. Another thing the accident did was give her motorphobia, though can tolerate it as long as she’s A) In control of the vehicle and B) It’s not motorised.

However, she does have a love of cycling, she was taught to do so by her dad before he died. Similarly, gymnastics helped her get some of her confidence back after the accident and still keeps up with it. A love of plants and animals prompts her to excel in Herbology and Potions, then later COMC.

Allegiances

Hogwarts House: Hufflepuff

Affiliations: The Circle of Khanna, The Wimborne Wasps, The Order of the Phoenix, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Professions: Beater for the Wimborne Wasps (1991-95)

Agent of the Order of the Phoenix (1995 - 98)

Resumes position as beater for the Wasps (1999-2003)

Charms Assistant Teacher (2003 - 05)

Charms Teacher (2005 - present)

Hogwarts Information

Class Proficiencies:

Astronomy: E

Charms: O

DADA: O

Herbology: E

History of Magic: A

Potions: A

Transfiguration: E

Electives:

Care of Magical Creatures: A

Muggle Studies: O

Quidditch:

Hufflepuff Beater (1985 - 91)

Hufflepuff Captain (after Orion graduates) (1989 - 91)

Extra Curricular:

Duelling Club (Becomes known as one of the best duellers in Hogwarts)

Art Club

Football Club (Founder)

Apparition Class (in 1991)

Favourite Professors:

Professor Sprout, his head of house and someone he feels he can go to if he needs advice. One of several people who warned him about being careful with Patricia Rakepick.

Professor Mcgonagall, his Transfiguration teacher and head of Jacob’s house when he was at Hogwarts. Though they disagree entirely on him tackling the vaults, he always pays attention in her lessons as while she’s often stern she can be a great teacher.

Professor Flitwick, as his Charms teacher, David always found Flitwick to be respectable. David especially respects Flitwick for teaching him Expelliarmus, even after he was honest in what he intended to do with it (i.e. use it in a duel against Merula). Also came for Flitwick’s help in developing Cometa.

Least Favourite Professors:

Professor Binns: Finds his droning entirely too boring and really only passed History of Magic thanks to Rowan.

Every other professor he’s either neutral on (Snape and Trelwany) or he likes but aren’t his favourites (Kettleburn).

Best Canon friends:

Rowan Khanna

Diego Caplan

Nymphadora Tonks

Penny Haywood

Chiara Lobosca

(David plus the above five make up the original members of the Hufflesquad)

Bill Weasley

Charlie Weasley

Erika Rath

Orion Amari

Badeea Ali

Barnaby Lee

Liz Tuttle

Love interest:

Erika Rath (crush)

Nymphadora Tonks (first kiss)

Liz Tuttle (dated briefly in third year but broke things off fairly amicably when they realised they were developing crushes on other people).

Merula Snyde (began dating in fourth year, later marries David in 1994)

Best MC friends:

Judith Harris (@judediangelo75): The closest of his MC friends, David and Judith first get acquainted by being pushed into friendship... somewhat subtly by Penny Haywood. Both of them catch on when Penny mentions they should try out for the Quidditch team. Both of them still go for it, bonding over a shared love of martial arts and proving they have the potential to be fearsome beaters.

Throughout their time at Hogwarts, David and Judith would demonstrate a fierce loyalty to each other, being as close as siblings. David even becoming godfather to her children, Bakari and Kendrick.

Cato Reese (@catohphm): David was first introduced to Cato by Penny. The two find themselves sharing very similar values, having a great love their friends and absolute ruthlessness towards their enemies.

Like anyone involved in the Quidditch scene at Hogwarts, David has a bit of a rivalry with him. Tending to trash talk him (though with no real weight behind it), Cato understands that David doesn’t mean it.

Katriona Cassiopea (KC) (@kc-needs-coffee): The two of them are sports fanatics, they could talk to each other for hours about Quidditch. While David definitely knows more about footy, he’s eager to learn about any sport, such as baseball which KC is highly knowledgeable about.

KC would be one of the first to jump at the football matches David organises during his time at Hogwarts. 

Lizzie Jameson (@lifeofkaze​): Like David, Lizzie is an avid fan of LFC. Even meeting up at some point with their respective partners to watch a footy match at Anfield, where Liverpool were playing. 

On the quidditch pitch, Lizzie is a chaser and knows she can count on David to keep the bludgers off her back.

If any of your MCs would want to be friends with David, let me know!

Rivals:

Merula Snyde (For most of his time at Hogwarts).

During Quidditch: Erika Rath, Skye Parkin, Andre Egwu, Charlie Weasley, Angelica Cole, Oliver Wood, Cato Reese and Katriona Cassiopea.

Enemies:

R (including Patricia Rakepick, Fenrir Greyback and Peter Pettigrew).

The Snyde family (minus Merula)

Voldemort

Death Eaters

Magical Abilities

1st Wand: Blackthorn, unicorn hair core, ten and a quarter inches, slightly springy and flexible. Snaps it in half shortly just before the end of sixth year, citing, “What kind of warrior can’t even protect his own brother?”

Blackthorn, which is a very unusual wand wood, has the reputation, in my view very well-merited, of being best suited to a warrior.

Unicorn hair generally produces the most consistent magic, and is least subject to fluctuations and blockages. Wands with unicorn cores are generally the most difficult to turn to the Dark Arts. They are the most faithful of all wands, and usually remain strongly attached to their first owner, irrespective of whether he or she was an accomplished witch or wizard. Minor disadvantages of unicorn hair are that they do not make the most powerful wands (although the wand wood may compensate) and that they are prone to melancholy if seriously mishandled, meaning that the hair may ‘die’ and need replacing.

2nd Wand: English Oak, Dragon Heartstring core, twelve and a half inches, unbending.

A wand for the good times and bad, this is a friend as loyal as the wizard who deserves it. Wands of English Oak demand partners of strength, courage and fidelity. Obtained from Garrick Ollivander while being accompanied by Alastor Moody.

As a rule, dragon heartstrings produce wands with the most power, and which are capable of the most flamboyant spells. Dragon  wands tend to learn more quickly than other types. While they can change allegiance if won from their original master, they always bond strongly with the current owner. The dragon wand tends to be easiest to turn to the Dark Arts, though it will not incline that way of its own accord. It is also the most prone of the three cores to accidents, being somewhat temperamental.  

Animagus form: A ram, specifically of a Dalesbred Sheep. Rams symbolise determination, initiative and leadership, factors that are put to the test more than once during his time at Hogwarts.

Misc magical abilities: Legilimens, Rue informs him of potentially inheriting her legilimens ability between third year and fourth year when he tells her of his delve into the Vault of Fear. David prefers not using it on people, rather using it to see through the eyes of animals as his great grandfather Reuben used to do.

Occlumency: Snape, at Dumbledore’s behest begins teaching David the art of Occlumency in fifth year.

Non-verbal magic: David began learning the non-verbal use of magic in fifth year thanks to professor Flitwick. Becoming highly skilled in it by his seventh year.

Spell creation: Assists in the creation of Stella Cascadia alongside Badeea Ali. Given how dangerous the vaults could be, he begins to work on another spell inspired by Stella Cascadia alongside several of his friends, Cometa, the comet jinx.

Boggart Form: Initially, Jacob as a death eater after hearing about the rumours of him taking Voldemort’s side.

From year four onwards, himself as a dark wizard as he worries about the path the vaults will set him on.

Riddikulus Form: Death eater Jacob’s mask turns into a pie that promptly splats him in the face.

Later, his dark wizard self in the uniform of Everton Football Club with a blue clown nose and wig to match. Since he’s a Liverpool Football Club supporter, seeing himself in one his rival team’s colours as a clown is hilarious to him.

Amortentia (what do they smell like?): A sea breeze and heather.

Amortentia (what do they smell?): Freshly mown grass and clear air after a rainfall.

Patronus: African wild dog, a symbol of his loyalty and relentless pursuit of his goals.

Patronus memory: -Attending the LFC vs Nottingham Forest semi final match of the Football League Cup at Anfield on the 12th February 1980 with his dad and Jacob. They drew 1-1 and LFC didn’t get through to the final but David was still happy to be there with both them.

Mirror of Erised: Jacob being back, alongside all of his friends and family. All of them are safe and well.

Specialised/ favourite spells: 

Cometa, a spell that David creates in sixth year with the help of Badeea Ali, Rowan Khanna, Merula Snyde, Diego Caplan and professor Flitwick. Inspired by Stella Cascadia, and using some principles from the Ice Jinx, the spell initially creates cricket ball-sized pieces of ice that explode into a mist when they impact against something. This makes it especially useful for blinding or disorienting a target. Later they develop the more-powerful Cometa Maxima in seventh year. Its main limitations are maintaining eye contact directed at the target (as is the case for all jinxes) and its general range is quite short (about twenty five feet) due to the “comet” (really a mix of ice, dust and gases) disintegrating quite quickly.

Protego Diabolica, A spell taught to him by Felix Rosier in sixth year, nothing says “Get away from my friends!” Like a massive wall of blue flame that incinerates enemies and leaves allies unharmed.

Expelliarmus, the Disarming charm taught to David by Professor Flitwick in first year is one of his go-to spells when duelling.

Protego, learned in order to protect himself from spells and other projectiles.

Healing spells: Largely taught to him by Chiara throughout their time at Hogwarts, healing spells have come in handy more than once when he needs to preserve his own or his friend’s lives.

Expecto Patronum, though niche, a spell that can get rid of a dementor is nothing to scoff at. Plus it’s a sentimental reminder of his friendship with Tonks.

Incendio, good as a fire-starter and a duelling spell, also reminds him of a time when Merula stood up to Rita Skeeter for him by burning her camera.

Misc Information

-David is a huge supporter of Liverpool Football Club (LFC), so much so one of his casuals is a club uniform.

-As well as Needle, David has other creatures on the reserve, Lucky (Knarl), Clop (Porlock), Bonita (fairy), Mori (thestral), and Chen (Chinese fireball).

[bunny-wk-fanfic]

Hey I am glad you are doing okay, I was worried for you. I would like to request a Kagome and Dante (Devil May Cry). Maybe Dante thinks he needs to save Kagome from some demons, but Kagome got it covered with her abilities? I love when Kagome kicks ass. Stay safe.

Been a long time since I’ve done anything DMC wise, hope this still entertains you.

Leaning against the tree, he could honestly say he was enjoying the show. How could he not? It appealed to every part of him.

The job he had taken had been slightly restricting in that it brought him to Tokyo, a sudden increase in missing young women and high school girls had become a cause for concern. Especially since there were no ‘normal’ explanations behind the disappearances. So when he had been asked, he took the job.

Arms crossing over his chest, he smirked when the petite figure easily took down a brute at least three times her size, wincing in male sympathy when she brought her knee up sharply between his legs only to give him a quick kick in the head. He bet those heels gave an extra sting to the sudden blow.

If he didn’t know half the women in his life, he would question how this woman was able to do half the stunts she was pulling off in those heels. But damn, if they and her pants didn’t make her legs seem endless, the pants being skin tight also didn’t leave much to the imagination. Though he did wonder how her breezy little top didn’t shift or reveal anything so far.

He tensed when the ugliest of the bunch launched itself at the woman, it’s intent to outright kill rather than kidnap as had been obvious in the beginning. Hands reaching for his guns, he barely drew them when the woman spun, arms out and a quick burst of bright light filled the area. The creature’s screech quickly ended to echo eerily in the air as a pile of ash landed at the woman’s feet.

“What the fuck are you?” the ‘brains’ of the group cried out, quick to scramble away from the woman when she turned back to face them.

Face set in an upset scowl, the woman scoffed. “If you have to ask that, then you’re about a 100 years too young to think you can take me on.” her stance shifted ever so subtly, a stance he was familiar with, it spoke of experience in fighting. Not that he doubted she couldn’t, if what with the past 15 minutes were anything to go by.

Shivering, he felt the lingering traces of that ‘light’ it was the oddest sensation he had ever felt from a human, and he was sure she was completely human as he sensed nothing demonic from her.

“So, I’m giving you this chance and this chance only.” fingers flexed  at her sides, gaze locked on the leader of the group.

“Oh yeah? To what?” said leader scoffed, wiping a small trail of blood from his chin.

“To release the women you’ve already stolen, if they’re still in your possession, and you’ll have the ability to walk away alive.” a brow ticked when the group snickered and laughed at her proposition.

He would have taken it, knowing when to cut his losses. What the woman was offering was more than gracious, he would have simply beat the information out of them, and depending on their answers, may or may not of let them live. It would depend on his mood upon learning the truth.

“I’ll enjoy breaking you personally.” the leader smirked. “First one to get her, I’ll let them have my seconds.”

Tensing at the words, he slowly withdrew his weapons, fully intent on getting rid of the muscle and maiming the leader. He wouldn’t need the use of certain parts of his anatomy to reveal where the women were, which was hopefully holed up somewhere alive.

“Trust me woman, you’ll be a sloppy mess when I’m done with you.” he made a show of licking his fangs, cracking his knuckles to draw attention to his claws.

With a flick of her wrist, her hair was tossed over her shoulder. “How juvenile.” and just like that, she was taking them on single-handedly. Her moves were graceful, using the bare minimum of energy, in fact, she used her enemies energy against them. It was actually sort of seductive, though not in the way Trish fought, but it had its appeal. There was nothing hotter than seeing a woman kicking ass in his personal opinion, so he was content to watch. That was, until he saw one of them sneaking up on her from behind, and he finally saw fit to step in.

Drawing his weapons, a shot rang through the air causing all to turn and face him.

“And who the fuck are you?” the leader spat, snarling at this point and losing control of his human appearance.

“Just someone out for a night stroll and saw this attractive woman in a spot of trouble, so I thought to lend a helping hand.” he used Ivory to give a mock salute, grinning at the last three as he had just taken out one of the brutes.

The leader lifted his nose into the air, making it obvious he was actually scenting the air. “Helping hand my ass! You’re trying to pouch our target!”

A snort from the woman drew their gaze to her. “...like that was going to happen.”

“I gotta agree with her, looks like you were getting your asses handed to ya.” he smirked, being sure to wink at the woman when he stopped next to her. His smirk grew at her obvious confusion.

“No bitch-!” before he could complete his comment, the leader gagged when a fist landed a solid hit in his throat. Hands scrambling at the now bruised flesh, he chocked and attempted to direct the two next to him. They appeared to have some form of intelligence, if their immediate jump into action was anything to go on.

“By the Kami, he complains a lot.” the woman slipped next to him, easily keeping up to his own fighting style.

“Well you did say he was young, and brats do enjoy pitching fits when they don’t get their way.” smirk still in place, he observed the smaller brute eye him, though their gaze would shoot to the woman that was easily handling the larger of the two with some trepidation.

There was a soft snort from behind. “Speaking from personal experience?” if it weren’t for the teasing tone in her voice, he was sure she was taking verbal shots at him.

“The likes of which you wouldn’t believe, Honey.” stepping back, he folded his arms over his chest when he saw that the two brutes decided to take on the bigger threat. A woman as tall as 5’5’’, he was sure at least a couple of inches were due to her shoes.

“Honey? I wasn’t aware that we were on close terms.” with a wave of her hand, a shimmering barrier popped up around them, leaving her time to turn and face him, blue eyes shining in the dim light from the distant lamp.

“Would you prefer babe? Sexy? Gorgeous?” with a slight waggle of his brows, he chuckled at her scoff and eye roll.

“...red clad, silver haired jerks… I’m surrounded by them…” her mumbled words were curious, but he didn’t get a chance to ask what she meant as she pulled out a cell phone, making him wonder where she kept it hidden. Any attempt to find a pocket had her snapping her fingers. “Oi! You want to keep those pretty eyes in your head?”

Leaning down to be closer to her height, his smirk grew when a cute blush colored her cheeks. “You think I got pretty eyes?”

She didn’t deign to answer him, instead choosing to talk to the person on the other end of her call. “Yeah, found the one responsible, he’s here with two others. Just track the GPS from this call.”

Realizing that his attempted catch was actually bait, the leader croaked out in an attempt to call the others into leaving. No sooner had they turned their backs to flee, did the barrier shift to encase them instead.

“Nifty trick. How are you doing that?” a low hiss escaped him when he wrapped his knuckles against the semi-solid surface of the barrier a few time. It stung a lot more than he thought it would!

“I thought with you being half demon, you would know what a holy person is capable of.” her cell phone was mysteriously tucked away again. Where, he had no idea though he seriously wanted to know.

“Honey, I’ve met my fair share of ‘holy’ people,” he made a show of eyeing her from top to bottom. She was attractive. Long black hair, that now looked wild from fighting these demons, framed her delicate face that housed her surprisingly vivid blue eyes, surprising in her obvious Asian features, and plump lips. She was slim, though there was subtle definition that spoke of a more active lifestyle than most women. It wasn’t as defined as Lady, but it was there. “And let me tell you, I’ve never seen a nun dress like you do.”

“I’m not a nun. I’m a miko; shrine maiden, shameness, holy warrior. Take your pick.” at his low whistle, a brow rose in silent question.

“A miko? Didn’t think any were still around. You're my first.” he stroked his chin, attempting to recall having met another like her.

Head canted to the side, she rolled her eyes. “...bet that doesn’t pass your lips often…”

Grinning at hearing the words, once again leaning down closer to her level. “Honey, you’ll need to buy me a drink and dinner before asking about my lips and their possible activities.”

Blue eyes narrowed on him, not in anger, but in contemplation. Her nose quickly wrinkled as her lips pinched. Soon she flinched back as she shook her head, as if attempting to shake off some thought, groaning only for it to end in a whine.

“You okay there, Honey?” he was honestly amused by her expressions. Trish, due to her nature, was poor at expressing herself save for extreme moments. As for Lady, she also seemed to have a set of emotions that she was willing to publicly display, everything else were kept private. But this woman, now that the three were contained, was easily expressing her thoughts and emotions.

“Please, shut up. With your words and appearance, my mind went down a forbidden path.” she quickly pinched the bridge of her nose, once again muttering under her breath.

“Miko, your ability to attract riff-raff with little effort never ceases to entertain me.” the voice drew their attention to an approaching male.

Dante whistled lowly at the amount of power this male carried with ease. The male was obviously not human, demon of some kind, wore a business suit that was tailored to his size. Despite his apparent Japanese appearance, he was tall, standing perhaps at his own height.

“Does that include you, Sesshoumaru? Remember, you came to me in the end, not the other way around.” there was a tilt to her lips, a teasing tone to her words.

A brow was merely raised as the now identified male stopped next to her, golden eyes slowly closing when he seemed to realize that her words must have held some truth. Dante blinked when those eyes turned to him. “...I’ve heard of you, son of Sparda.”

“Same, son of the General.” smirking at the slight narrowing of those golden eyes, he turned his attention back to the Miko when Sesshoumaru approached the three contained males. “He always this excitable?”

“You don’t know the half of it.” her attention was more focused on her acquaintance and the three males, waiting for a signal from Sesshoumaru. The moment she had it, the barrier was down and the three were being escorted by more of Sesshoumaru’s agents.

While he was happy that the threat was taken care of, the reason he took on this job was an attempt to find those that went missing. “What about the missing women and girls?”

“They will reveal where they are.” Sesshoumaru spoke up, pulling out a wallet as he approached them. “One way or another. I believe this was the amount this ‘job’ offered you in finding the females.”

Dante didn’t accept the money, though it was tempting. “Why give me this?”

“Allow the families to keep their money, they will need it upon the conclusion of learning the truth of what happened to their females. This paltry amount is of little consequence to me.” the money was once again offered.

Going over the words, Dante figured it was true. Learning that demons were real would be traumatizing for those women and girls, the medical bills for any injuries they suffered was also going to add up. “Alright. Guess I can take you out to dinner now, Honey!”

“We never agreed to any such thing. Nor am I interested in learning of your illicit affairs.” offering a mock salute, she spun about and began walking away, no doubt home being her destination at this hour.

“Miko.” the single utterance had the woman freezing, shoulders hunching as she turned to toss a stink eye at the stoic male, it darkened at seeing his smirk.

“Fine!” the words were growled through clenched teeth. “Come along, Oh great son of Sparda! I shall direct you to where you can receive the best accommodations in payment to seeing to the return of our missing women folk!”

Snickering under his breath, it became outright laughter when her ire was quickly directed at him. It didn’t stop him from make his way to her side, following her out of the park and to where said accommodations were no doubt going to be. “Honey, you’re a sure spit fire, I’m gonna enjoy getting to know you.”

“Don’t, you’re free to leave at your earliest convenience.” she was practically stomping along the pavement, grumbling under her breath about brats and the males in her life. “I already babysit one silver haired idiot with a fondness for red, I don’t need another in my life.” she gave him a quick look over, brows pinched. “Do you always use guns? Or do you have other weapons?”

“I have a sword, why?” he was honestly curious, wondering why what weapons he used had to do with their current conversation.

“Great. No doubt you’ll meet each other sooner rather than later and start a fricken pissing contest about who has the bigger sword.” she started mumbling again, her anger causing tiny sparks to fly from her.

Dante was honestly entertained, and so glad that this job didn’t go as planned. Normally when things didn’t go as planned, the shit hit the fan leaving him with more work to do. “Well, size is great and all, but it’s useless without technique.” smirking at the look she tossed him, it was downright venomous, and she looked ready to spit fire, he relaxed as they continued on. “But don’t worry about that, Honey, you still have to buy me that drink first.” tossing a wink at her, he laughed as she sputtered for any sort of come back.

[zenithlux]

Tendrils of Regret - Part 6

Read the story on AO3 here!

Thank you for all the support <3. It means the world to me.

While it took a few days for your mood to fully improve, sleeping beside little Shadow certainly helped. And you were surprised to find that even Vergil was a bit more pleasant. You made sure to leave Shadow with him from time to time as you “conveniently” had something else to do. Then you’d leave for a bit, usually reading by yourself or something equally as important. And whenever you came back, you’d always find Shadow sleeping in Vergil’s lap. Once, you’d even caught him playing with the cat, but he’d tossed the toy aside the second he noticed you and went back to reading, stubborn as ever. 

But you didn’t mind. You found it… endearing. And you had to admit, it was refreshing to not be angry at him all the time. Not that he completely avoided doing something to annoy you. You supposed that would never change, and you were more than capable of turning it on him just as quickly. But everyone else had noticed that the animosity between you two had dissipated somewhat after you brought Shadow home. You still barely talked, but at least it was a comfortable silence instead of a painful refusal to acknowledge each other’s existence.

But today was a strange day. For the first time in as long as you could remember, everyone in Devil May Cry was all together, wandering toward the middle of Red Grave on a call about a demon infestation. You hadn’t seen much yet, nor had you sensed anything under the earth. Trish and Lady had been muttering back and forth about something, probably annoyed that they’d had to come out for nothing. Vergil led the way, with Dante sauntering behind. 

“I’m sure we’ll find something,” He said. “I doubt a client would have called just to mess with us.”

“Haven’t seen anything yet,” Lady said with a yawn. “You got anything, Rose?”

“Afraid not,” You said. “But maybe that’s a good thing.” You pressed your hand along the ground again, feeling for the roots. The streets of Red Grave had been torn up in the incident, and many plants had begun to grow through the holes in the concrete. There were also a lot of demon plants buried deep in the soil, but none of them would emerge without your provocation. Without the tree or you to fuel them, they were worthless and wilting. But you felt no unusual gaps beyond what you’d expect, and no signs of plant demons that simply hadn’t shown themselves. “I doubt I’d sense anything before the brothers.”

“Probably true,” Lady said. “It was worth checking.”

Vergil stopped suddenly. Dante knocked into him, earning a summoned sword to the shoulder. A month ago, such a random act of violence would have startled you. Now, you realized that Dante either felt no paint or didn’t care in the slightest. “What is it, Verge?” He said. “I don’t feel a thing.”

“Then you’re not trying hard enough,” Vergil said. 

“Or maybe I’m not as in tune with the demon world as you.”

Vergil said nothing after that, but you noticed how his hand moved almost protectively to Yamato. Did he sense something? Vergil wasn’t the type of person to lie about such a thing. You’d learned over the course of your time together that he preferred brutal honesty to white lies, and you’d often been on the receiving end of such thoughts. And maybe Dante was right. You didn’t know too much about the tree, but if Vergil’s other half had raised it… then maybe…

Pay attention, my little vine, V had once said to you in a situation eerily similar to this one. Some demons can hide themselves in plain sight, even from those who should know they are there. And he’d been right then too, as you quickly found demons that had managed to transform into objects on the streets and a strange suit of armor that came careening off the roof.

The roof. 

You stopped in your tracks, eyes drifting upward. You wouldn’t sense anything on the buildings unless the plants themselves were up there. Surely Vergil and Dante would have thought of such a thing already, but none of you had made the effort to actually check. Maybe from there, you could see something you couldn’t from down here? It was a possibility. So, without telling anyone - you’d catch up to them anyway - you moved toward a set of flowers budding beside a building. You knelt down, wrapping your hand around one. You willed it to grow and it did, expanding into a flower the size of a small seat. You plopped down on it, drawing the roots upward. It moved quicker than you expected, but you hopped onto the roof with relative ease. 

To your surprise, there were some plants on top, but they looked strange. They were like flowers, black and white petals with yellow stems. But the bulbous roots reminded you of the demon you’d killed forever ago. You knelt by one, feeling for its roots. But it didn’t have any. The plant just existed as if…

Oh. 

You stood up, looking to the other rooftops. There were hundreds of these plants spread out before you like egg sacs clinging to buildings. Some were bigger than others, reaching up to your knees while some only came up to your ankle. But they were most certainly demonic, you just weren’t sure how far their reach was. 

You jumped as Vergil appeared in front of you. “Stop doing that,” You wheezed, grabbing at your heart. 

He looked around, lips tightening as you assumed he made the same connection as you. “They don’t smell like anything,” He said. “They don’t even feel like demons.”

“They’re not normal plants,” You said. “They’re not grounded in soil, they're just… there, somehow growing through the concrete.” 

Vergil frowned, teleporting to the next building where more plants waited. You summoned your own small bridge, joining him on the other side. “They have to be demons, right?”

“It’s possible these were left behind by the tree, but didn’t manifest until now.”

“This place is usually a dead zone,” You said. “So Lady, Trish and I had no reason to be out here. Wouldn’t have even seen them.”

Suddenly, a pod nearby cracked. You both spun toward it with Vergil stepping in front of you. You might have thought the gesture nice if you weren’t staring at the plant falling apart. The center burst, and dozens of hand sized spiders with flowers for heads emerged. You took a long step back, but the other flowers around you began to crack. “Vergil…”

You gasped he appeared behind you, quite literally dragging you right off the roof. You landed in his arms but it still jarred your neck to an uncomfortable degree. “Ow.”

“Summon your plants,” He said as he quite nearly dropped you. “Dante!” 

“Way ahead of you!” His brother’s voice called back, but you couldn’t see the other three. Loud screeches echoed in all directions as spiders began spilling off the rooftops. You summoned every plant you could, slamming at them with vines and roots of all shapes and sizes, but there were hundreds of the things skittering down from the rooftops including some that were as big as you. 

You barely felt Vergil grab your wrist as he yanked you away from the onslaught. You stumbled at first, but found your footing and took off with him, summoning whatever you could with each step. The plants drove the spiders back, but most were used as climbing tools to reach the ground quicker. In another second, Vergil grabbed you and leapt an impossible height, back onto one of the buildings. He dropped you, but you didn’t have the time to be angry as he unsheathed Yamato and sliced all the demons around you in one go. You saw Dante and the girls down on the street, tearing through whatever they could. But the waves of spiders descended upon them in droves. It was a horrifying sight, one you knew would plague your nightmares if you all got of here alive. 

A quiet cackle echoed in your mind. The vine constricted around your heart, shooting pain through your limbs. You grabbed at it, flinching away from the edge as your vision blurred. “What is it?” Vergil said. 

“I don’t…” You paused, trying to remember where you’d felt this feeling before. Once with him, but not because of him. At least, that’s what you could remember. No, it was something else. Something driving the vine into a frenzy. Something like…

“Another sister,” You whispered. “Or a relative of some kind.”

“What?” Vergil said. 

“I felt like this with that plant demon the other day,” You said. “I thought it was just because you were there… but maybe it was because of her…” You stepped up to the edge of the building again, searching for any large demon possible. But even cleared, your fallible human vision didn’t reach all that far. You summoned enough plants to hop to the next rooftop, stabbing through the few bulbs that had yet to break open. You spread your own vines as fast as possible, killing the horde of spiders inside. Vergil followed suit, slicing the other three plants to a fine dust. 

“You think something else is here?”

“They must be under someone’s control,” You said. “Why else would they have all broken out now?”

“Lots of reasons,” Vergil said. 

“But if someone is controlling them, then maybe finding that person will stop them.”

“Or it will do absolutely nothing.”

“Well unless you’ve got a few flamethrowers hiding under your jacket I don’t think we have many other options.” You moved to the next building, killing the single plant there. The others had already broken open, but the spiders were all focused on pouring out over the ground. You found that odd. Shouldn’t they be reacting to you? Or Vergil at the very least? Were they that intent on killing Dante? Or was there something about you distracting them?

“If the demon’s another sister, then maybe the spiders are ignoring me,” You mumbled, more to yourself than Vergil. 

Of course, he heard you anyway. “It doesn’t explain why they haven’t attacked me.”

“Yes it does,” You said, your tone a bit sour. “If she’s someone else that pledged her allegiance to you.” You moved to the next building, summoning plants wherever you went. You had a whole network of many bridges as you jumped past Dante and the others. They were handling themselves just fine, though Lady had this horrified disgusted look on her face that you could deeply relate to. “Hold on,” you whispered, not wanting to attract any unwanted attention. Vergil was moving close behind, using your makeshift pathways rather than teleporting around himself. You wondered why that was a conscious choice, but shook the thought off. Now was not the time to be questioning someone you never understood anyway. 

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, you found what you thought you were looking for. A giant hole in the ground that some spiders were coming out of.  You wrinkled your nose at the thought of entering such a thing, but you’d come too far to back out now. You could practically feel the vine tugging at you, but you couldn’t tell if it was excitement to see whoever was down there, or some kind of defensive mechanism warning you to run away. And you could just send Vergil in there alone - that was probably the smarter move- but the spiders had avoided you until now… maybe their controller would talk to you too. 

You gently lowered yourself off the building, pulling back all of the plants you’d used to traverse the rooftops. You felt your energy replenish in a heartbeat. Vergil hopped down beside you and the spiders ran around you both. You glanced at him, but he was already moving toward the hole. “Stay here,” He said. 

Your legs stopped mid-step, rooting you to the spot. “You’re joking right?” You said. “You’re just going to leave me here, powerless to fight anything, as you go down into the hole that I found?”

He glanced back at you. “I never said you couldn’t fight.”

“You still suck at this,” You said, gesturing to your legs. “Stay here? Really?”

He glared at you. “Move.”

You stumbled forward, caught off guard by the sudden feeling in your legs again. “I’m going with you.”

“And if I say no?”

“You won’t,” You said. “Besides, how do you know the spiders won’t just chase you if you abandon me?”

“It was your theory that whatever is down there is on my side.”

“Or it's on mine and you’re just lucky,” you said as you crossed your arms. “Now are we going to keep arguing or are you going to take me down there?”

His glare intensified, but, to his credit, he did move to pick you up. “Foolish woman,” He muttered as you wrapped your arms around his neck and peered into the hole you were about to plummet into. 

“Stubborn half-demon,” You said lamely. It was quite possibly the worst response you could have come up with, but it was all you could think of in the heat of the moment. And Vergil’s dramatic eye-roll told you it hadn’t landed well. “What are you waiting for?” you snapped. “Just ju-”

You couldn’t stop the scream of surprise when he did what you asked, dropping into the hole with little fanfare. You pressed your face into his chest, imagining all the ways you might break to pieces at the bottom of this drop. But as the fall continued, you heard the unfurling of something above you. Something like…

Wings? 

You jerked your head up to meet Vergil’s gaze. And you might have dwelled on the fact that he’d been staring at you that whole time more if a pair of beautiful, bright blue wings weren’t stretched out behind him, glowing in the dark. They flapped once, slowing your fall to a gentle glide. For once, his smirk remained longer than a few seconds. “Surprised?” He said. 

“Your demon form has wings?”

“Of course.”

You scowled at him. “That’s not a given trait of demons last time I checked.”

He landed with a quiet thud, but you barely even felt it. The wings vanished, likely summoned by some crazy demon magic. He sat you down this time - generous of him - and gazed up into a dark tunnel. You yelped as you felt spiders skitter past you, but they were few and far between. Thank whomever for small favors as you think you might have died from a heart attack had they been as plentiful in here as they were up top. “So how far does it…” You trailed off as you realized his eyes were glowing a brilliant blue, much brighter than his usual, silver-blue irises. 

“Stay close,” He said, a command you didn’t mind following for once, as he moved forward through the tunnel.  And while you couldn’t see your hand in front of your face, the world felt strange. While you normally sensed the plants under your feet, this time you could feel them everywhere. Underneath you. Over your head. On both sides. You tested the waters, running your hand along the wall. You felt plants emerge at your fingers, but jumped when Vergil grabbed your hand. “Don’t do that.”

“I was just testing it out,” You said. 

“And bring the whole tunnel down on us?”

“I’m more careful than that,” You huffed. “Ye of so little-” He stopped you again with a hand on your shoulder, cutting the conversation short. That’s when you realized there was a light at the end of the tunnel. “Is it a demon?” You whispered. 

“Yes,” Vergil said. 

“So I was right?”

He glared at you again, but it was much softer than usual. Odd. “It seems so.”

You both moved forward as the light expanded. Soon, you found yourself in a pit at the end of the tunnel with rays of sun seeping through small holes in the ceiling. A massive spider was in the center of the room. You gasped as it turned toward you noticing there was a human form embedded on its stomach. At first, you thought it might be someone else like you. Someone sealed away in a demon. But then the human’s eyes shot open and a wicked smile crossed her face. “Well, well,” She said. “I thought I sensed my cousin… never expected it would be you.”

“I’ve heard that before,” You said. 

“So you killed Belladonna?” The spider said. “Good riddance. She always was a nuisance.” The spider took numerous steps forward, beady eyes jumping between yourself and Vergil. “Are you here to kill me, Demon King?”

“Yes,” Vergil said simply. 

“Unfortunate,” The demon said. “I had hoped we could…"

You jumped as Vergil disappeared. A second later, the demon screeched as demonic blood squirted in all directions. The demon collapsed before your eyes, dead. Vergil reappeared beside you, clicking Yamato closed as usual. The spiders around you fell from the ceiling, collapsing all around you. “Well that’s… anticlimactic.”

“No point in letting the thing talk,” He said. “We need to return to the surface.” 

Then, the spiders began to move. 

You lurched backward as they filled the doorway, all of them turning on you. Vergil killed the ones he could, and you pulled on the roots nearby. But they were numerous, as if all the spiders from the surface had come to avenge their master.

Suddenly, you felt it. A spike of demonic energy that washed over you like a waterfall. In another second, Vergil was gone, replaced by a massive, blue demon. You swore the vine in your chest shrieked in response as you stumbled away. No. A voice whispered. Was it your own? You weren’t sure. You were frozen in terror as the demon tore through the spiders, incinerating them with strike after strike. “No,” You whispered as the power bore down on your chest. You recognized it. It was the demon that had sealed you away. It was back. Back to seal you away again. 

No. No. No. No.

You held your head, panic overcoming you. What was happening? That was Vergil, right? He wouldn’t hurt you. He couldn’t hurt you. He was in control. 

… Right?

“My little vine…”

Your head jerked upright as the blue demon stood before you. His voice was low and distorted, but you could almost hear Vergil - no, you could almost hear V - behind it. You scrambled backward. “Don’t be afraid.”

“Afraid?” You said. “How? You’re…” You trailed off as he knelt before you, claws reaching out to gently stroke your face. Your heart slowed at the touch. The vine uncoiled, confused just as much as you. “You’re the…”

His demonic form dissipated and Vergil returned. His hand didn’t move, but you did feel his thumb stroke your cheek. It was then that you realized you were crying. “It’s alright,” He whispered. “I’m here.”

You didn’t know why that comforted you, but you found yourself leaning into his hand. This had happened once before with V. You’d been in a panic after a demon almost killed you, and he’d joined you just like this. Hand on your cheek, wiping away your tears with a quiet promise. I’m here. 

“You remember,” You whispered. 

Vergil said nothing, but he didn’t need to.

[jksangelic]

defanged (m)

↳ rating: M

↳ genre: smut, fluff, werewolf!au, a/b/o au, pwp

↳ pairing: mates werewolf!reader x werewolf/alpha!hoseok

↳ warnings: explicit sexual content, dom themes, breathplay, knotting, rough play, impregnation kink, overall general ”werewolf” smut themes, personality change, probably an uncomfortable amount of squishy mate talk

↳ summary:  hoseok is an easy mate—as such that there are moments you question if he’s just human. so when his sudden spike of aggression emerges, you do your best to keep this unknown man at bay. or, alternatively: young alpha hoseok has started teething and he’s being a bratty puppy about it.

↳ note: ok so if you were with me a few months ago you would know that this is actually a collab fic with a couple other writers but life happens and here we are now *cowboy emoji*. this is really important to me bc they’re such *clench fist* great people and i’m happy i received such an opportunity to collab with them (’: pls make sure to rb/like/visit our collab masterlist if you want to be in-the-know of when they post their parts!

also i wanted to play around with the humorous sides of what werewolves might go thru (-: so, like, short attention spans and hating loud noises and typical big dog stuff. with the teething, just imagine that their growth stages are prolonged because they’re, idk, maybe immortal or something lol

(i…… i’m not used to writing fantasy can u tell)

((gif isn’t mine + his side profile ;-;))

↳ words: 9k+

You could hear every miniscule thread snap and unwind from themselves, a simple task such as painting your nails becoming less relaxing than it should be.

“Hobi,” you mumble once. You swipe down your thumb again, carmine red smoothing over brightly and with utmost delicacy. He doesn’t listen, another squeaking grind of his teeth against the material of his sweatshirt followed by a snapsnap.

“Hobi,” you say a little louder, flinching from annoyance and staining your cuticle with the polish. You curse your discontents, waiting for him to look at you but only meeting a turned neck and eyes still glued to his phone, an I’m listening portrayed by his demeanor but not really meaning it.

He chews hard on the neckline, a solid rip completely tearing several inches down his chest, eyes widening and attention finally caught when his chest is exposed hilariously.

“Hoseok!” you yell, slamming the closed bottle onto the coffee table and meeting his startled eyes, “I just bought that for you!”

He hopes to play it off and shrugs as you swipe it from his teeth, untwined fibers poking out sadly. You smooth your thumbs over the poor fabric, the third victim of his recent gnashing problem.

“Why do you keep doing this?” you ask sadly, a little more bummed about the beautiful sweatshirt than you should be.

He responds simply, “My gums itch.”

You roll your eyes at his childlike excuse, the full-sized man sitting cross-legged and distractedly in his corner of the couch with his phone paused on some game with horrendously annoying music. Was he really your alpha?

“Why don’t you do us some good and go hunting.” You offer, a lame excuse to get Hoseok out of your hair for a bit. It’s what you deserve. He rolls over with a harrumph, shoulder now bare from the growing tear in his clothing. It made you giggle slightly.

“I’m in pain and you’re laughing at me,” he deadpans, body static-still and stubborn more than ever.

Your breath fans his skin as you slither next to him, “I’m sorry, baby. Are you really hurting? Why don’t you go to the dentist?”

Hoseok pouts, taptaptapping away at his screen instead of looking at you, “I don’t want to go to the dentist. They just itch.” Even now, he licks over the burning sensation of his gums, clenching and grinding his teeth to ease the feeling in any way. You can hear the collisions of his canines, your own tingling uncomfortably from the sound.

You shake your head. “Maybe you’re teething,” you suggest in all seriousness. It wasn’t impossible; your kind’s lifespan certainly placing such life stages at seemingly unusual times. In any case, it would simply mean his canines were most likely growing longer and stronger.

He scoffs as if you’ve insulted him, “I’m well over my teething days, Y/N. They just itc—"

“Say that one more time and I’ll neuter you,” you huff. When he lacks a kinder response, you push yourself off the couch to tidy your bedroom instead. He clearly wasn’t in the mood to have a serious conversation with you at the moment, and despite its rarity, you could use your space.

Your mate was in no way irritable; in fact, Hoseok was one of the sunniest alpha’s you’ve ever encountered. His kindness differentiated him from others, bearing his mark (and one day, hopefully, his pups) certainly deeming you quite lucky. He was a soft lover above all, never making you feel as a subordinate or anything of the like.

Perhaps it’s why you two were clashing heads recently, his personality completely contradictory from his true self. Never does he ignore you, let alone snap at you.

Folding your clothes (and purposefully leaving his items in a pile on his side of the bed in spite), you exhale heavily and leave for the living room once again, disregarding your now smeared manicure.

Hoseok beams at the shoe aisle, producing more light than whatever was already lit in the store. Due to his “issue”, stopping by the mall was a given. Two more of his shirts and even one of your necklaces mangled and chewed up like he was the Tasmanian Devil.

Petting his hair fondly, you give him a nuzzle to his cheek, “I’ll be in the next store over, puppy. Come meet me when you’re done.” He nods happily, wide-frame glasses bobbing atop his pretty nose.

You beeline for the department store in hopes of purchasing a few extra things for yourself before Hoseok sniffs you out. It’s immediate heaven when you sift through the dresses, picking a few out and dangling them happily on your fingers before bouncing from rack to rack. By the time you reach the dressing rooms, your arm aches from the pile you’ve accumulated.

“Hey there, you can go ahead and take that first stall right there,” a man directs, tall and intimidating and rather fucking handsome, you think. “My name’s Jaebum. Let me know if you need anything and I’ll go grab it for you.”

You bat your lashes and mouth a Thanks before waltzing into your room, appreciating his kindness perhaps a little too much. Despite your complex and absolute relationship status, it didn’t hurt to peek at what’s on display. It was only right!

You try on more than what you even remembered picking out, velvets and satins and the softest of cottons all hugging you warmly with every piece, a bittersweet happiness when everything seemed to fit you perfectly. The last dress, though, is your only hiccup. Material skin-tight and ending just a little above your ankles; you harrumph. Almost a perfect streak.

Dress still on (at least it zipped), you peek through the door and spot handsome Bum at the front. “Psst, um, do you mind getting me a couple more sizes in this? I think it was near the wall to the right.”

He grins and nods, almost grateful of the fact that you asked him to do so. Why was he even in this section? Should it concern you?

You watch as he leaves, back muscles showcased quite lavishly in his pristinely pressed suit.

Should it be more concerning that it didn’t?

You take a moment to look at the dress once more, smoothing over the velvet that bunched snugly at your waist and checking out your own ass. The fabric might rip if you sneeze too hard but you look pretty damn splendid.

“Found a few more and got you another color as well,” Jaebum says upon return. You almost snap your neck away from the mirror, hoping he didn’t see you ogling your bum. What a speedy fellow.

You politely open the door wider and reach for the hangers, “Thank you, I appreciate it.”

Jaebum doesn’t fully hand it to you though, briefly but noticeably skimming over your body, “I think that size is cute on you too. You have a really beautiful figure.”

Maybe it should concern you. You chuckle awkwardly and look elsewhere. Please just give me my dresses, you almost say, now self-conscious in your skin.

“It’s even better when she’s naked. I would know,” Hoseok near growls, appearing out of thin air. He swipes the hangers from behind Jaebum, who is surprised beyond all comprehension of the word, and pushes you back into the room. You’ve never seen him look so enraged, face serious and twitching as if he would shift at any given moment.

“Th-There aren’t allowed to be more than one person in a—,” Jaebum nervously starts from the other side before the door is slammed on his nose.

You didn’t even see Jaebum’s reaction, nor do you ponder it when Hoseok drops your beautiful dresses and thrusts your back against the mirror with his hand to your neck, deliberately making you yelp loud enough for others to hear. You recoil as he bares his fangs, sharp and taunting, threatening to devour you whole and you know this isn’t your Hobi.

He doesn’t get the chance for whatever else he had in store when pure vehemence engulfs you, daring to stand your ground with a low guttural snarl and shoving him off. Your strength is nothing to snicker at, his shoulders nearly hitting the other wall despite his stature.

“What’s wrong with you?” you didn’t even care if everyone in the damn store could hear you, “Don’t you dare touch me!”

Regret instantly arises in his eyes, his hands reaching out to comfort you in any way but hesitant in the warning. He would rather die than hurt you, he was sorry, he was so sorry.

Your body can feel his sorrow and want, itching to touch him in any way but you push it down. The little she-wolf in you whimpers as you struggle out of the dress and leave him alone in the stall, begging for you to go back and forgive him.

Jaebum stands, bewildered, outside of the rooms. He sure did rue the moment he ever made advances on you. Not a word is spoken as you pass by and exit the store.

It doesn’t make it any easier when Hoseok follows you closely. “Baby, I’m sorry. Please.”

“You were going to shift because of some stupid sales clerk! You could’ve gotten us in some deep shit with the order,” you scold, “We’re going home. Right now.” This was a double-edged sword, you didn’t even get to purchase anything. Though your mood is far too foul to continue.

“But I didn’t! No one saw anything. I just lost my cool for a second, I promise. I know better.” Even Hoseok strains to keep up your pace, car already in view and goddamn you walk fast.

“Do you? Are you seriously justifying your actions? You need to uphold your responsibilities, Hoseok. You’re not new to this.” He finds that he despises when you lecture him this way, gums and skin and everything prickly and he wish he could gnaw on something right about now.

It was odd to tell him these things, taking into consideration that his role is considerably higher than yours and that he hardly ever faults as an alpha. If there wasn’t something going on biologically, what else could it be?

He’s obviously straining to keep his composure now, jaw slacked and knuckles cracking in his fist, “How am I supposed to do that now? It won’t happen again. It’s over.”

“Then what about your shitty mood swings? We don’t argue, Hoseok. You’re not mean, you’re not easily agitated, and you’re not a fucking paper  shredder. Neither are you aggressive to your own mate,” you throw in his face, unsurprised when he cowers again at the thought. It’s like the man was on his period.

Now that you recall, the last time you’ve ever seen him so angry at you is when you watched Endgame without him, and that should say enough. This was just all so new and unbecoming of someone with his level of reputation.

“You know I didn’t mean to do that. I never want to hurt you…” he leads as you beat him to the driver’s side of the car, watching him over the hood for him to finish his sentence, “I’m just—”

“You what, Hoseok?”

He jostles the door handle a few times, a rep of unsettling clacks making him uneasy.  

“Can you unlock the car?”

“You what?” you say a little louder, entirely avoiding his question.

“Goddammit,” he hisses, “Just let me in and we can talk about it when we get home.” You scan his face in search of anything. For the truth. For him to own up to what it is. What you get is nothing.

So you smile, “No.”

He stands cluelessly as you unlock your door and hop in, starting the car with a satisfying roll and opening his window just enough to see his addled facial expression.

“What are you doing?” he deadpans.

“If you won’t admit it then you obviously don’t take me seriously, and if you won’t take me seriously then I’ll take my car home by myself. So, toodles!”

He smirks nervously, slender fingers sifting through his hair, “Y/N, c’mon. Just let me in.” He’s even more staggered when you start reversing out of your spot. Eyes widening hilariously, he cusses under his breath as he walks cautiously towards the door.

“Have a fun run, baby. Better get home soon,” you feign pity, “looks like it’s going to start raining pretty soon.”

“We live an hour away!”

You drive down the row, turning on your signal just in case someone needed to know. Shucks, you were such a good driver, even in the parking lot.

Hoseok thinks otherwise, anger and panic so vivid that you can feel it from this distance. Walking Time Bomb even begins to jog, not willing to risk your bluff.

“Okay! Okay, I admit it. I may be going through something…” his wavering voice trickles into your head. “You’re right.’

You let him catch up to you, eyes shifty and fingers fiddling. “Hi, darling. Can you say that one more time? In person?” His chest puffs.

“I already said it once,” he begs.

Was his pride this important? Did the strangled mutt deep down change your Hoseok for the worst? An impatient car behind you honks and you shrug.

“You’re making people wait. I’m going to leave.”

“Jesus fucking—okay. I think I’m teething. Or something involving my dental state. It’s making me fucking grumpy and it’s painful and I want to punch a fucking wall because it’s stupid that this phase is so late.” You unlock his door mid-sentence, his body falling into his seat before he continues to blabber on.

“Oh, little puppy,” you slide your sunglasses from atop your head down to the bridge of your nose, “Don’t be so sensitive. ‘S like a human adult getting braces.”

The week passes by agonizingly slow. And that wasn't necessarily because Hoseok bitched and complained, throwing temper tantrums when the remote had fallen between the couch cushions or throwing his pants stormily when they would catch on his ankles and make him hobble about like a disabled chicken.

Or maybe it was because of that.

You dare to creak the door to his den (pun intended), having locked himself in such confinement to work through the paperwork that's been piling on his mahogany desk for days. He looks worn around the eyes, long brown hair pushed back with his fake reading glasses. You knock three times as if he couldn't already sense your presence. When he looks at you through his lashes, he nods for you to proceed.

"Hi, baby. How's the work going?" you ask with a honey-dipped edge.

He shrugs, "A lot of affairs from other packs that I have to go over. I should be done soon."

You slink behind his office chair and wrap your arms around his shoulders, "Mm, why don't you take a break and have a nice little bath with me?" He doesn't budge one inch, straightening out a stack of papers before stapling them neatly and tucking them into one of his drawers.

"I need to finish this. I've been pushing it back until the last minute."

Rolling him out a bit, you slide onto his lap and rest on his chest. Your touch always lulls a serene sensitivity from his skin, a natural effect that only you are capable of. But his muscles remain taut. Bones stiff and budging none whatsoever. Stuttering, you try again, "You've been working for hours. I'm lonely. Just an hour--,"

"Y/N. I'm warning you. Get off."

She-wolf unconsciously warns you to stand down upon this statement. Was he being serious? He's warning you? You search his blank face, waiting for him to crack a smile or lift you up and attack you with kisses. When he doesn't, you test the waters.

Your nails scratch the bare skin under his shirt, "H-Hoseokie, we haven't had sex in so long," you whine. Invading his space, however, only sets him off more.

He growls, deep and meant to be menacing. It takes brutal force to push yourself to move, a weight halting your ministrations. His word, no matter how rare it be, was your law. Do you dare defy that?

You unbutton his pants the same time he threatens, "Continue any further and see what happens." He's breathier than normal and that gives you some satisfaction. He was your mate, after all. Eternal fulfillment was your duty.

The feeling of his heavy and growing bulge, nestling in the crook of his thigh, is a success all in its own. You purr and rub your legs together, licking at Hoseok's neck lovingly and waiting for him to give in. "Hobi, you're already--ah!"

Your view spins as Hoseok scruffs you to his desk, cold wood pressed to your cheek and wrists somehow pinned behind you. Yiping in fear, you struggle in his harsh imprisonment.

"You don't fucking listen," he complains, voice balancing on the line between speaking and yelling.

"Hoseok! L-Let me g-go--," you start before he grinds himself into your ass, boner prominent and angry as it prods. He replaces the hand to your neck with his mouth, laving and suckling all the way down your shoulder.

"Can't do that. I warned you and you disobeyed me. You disobey your alpha, Y/N?"

"No, I'm sorry--," you squeak before your dress is thrown over your back and a sharp slap comes down onto your ass.

You don’t believe the sound that comes out of your throat, pressing your thighs together and wiggling the pain away. “J-Jung Hoseok! What is—” Another slap, harder than the first.

The nerves tingle all the way down to your toes as your eyes roll back. You moan once more, unsolicited and without restraint. Hoseok is content with your reaction, not expecting you to squirm so nicely because of your punishment.

"You like this, don't you? I can smell you leaking like some submissive whore," he snarls with an edge of disappointment. You're beyond mortified of how he speaks to you, although not inclined to deny his words. Not when he spanks you once more, with such force that a scream is rewarded and your back arches in euphoric pain.

"Hoseok, no more, please. I'll--I'll cum if you keep, ugh," you blabber over yourself. He thinks you look prettily pathetic drooling on his desk, so close to spilling over the edge from being physically humiliated.

"Tch, so weak," he comments before releasing your wrist and letting you collapse to the floor. "Are you done?" The question both turns you on and pisses you off, emotions swirling into something self-destructive.

Crawling on the carpet and up his leg, you nuzzle into his bulge, "But I still didn't get what I want." You don’t even ponder where this behavior is coming from; slinking out of you like a dog with its tail between its legs. Perhaps his own change of manner influenced one in you.

He could laugh at how easy you were being, wondering when he ever mated with someone who acts like such a sexually-obsessed brat. "Oh?" he prompts, "So you think you get to make the calls here?"

Licking the hem of his boxers in response, he doesn't feel pleased with your lack of words. You perk up when he shuffles his cock out from the confines of his layers. It’s almost instinctual, not wasting any time to pepper kisses and kitten licks to his tip. God, he even smells amazing. You don't care if you look ridiculous, feverish with your actions like he'd take away your precious treat if you weren't cautious.

He snickers at you, petting your hair with an unexpectedly soft touch. Your heart-shaped irises peer up, knowing he loves your eye contact when you suck him off. Watching the blush spread on his face means that you must be doing your job correctly. Besides, not even the Big Bad Wolf can deny when he feels his pleasure.

He almost can’t stand the self-righteousness that oozes off you. If you thought you were in control, you were dead-wrong. "You want my cock that bad, huh, baby?" your love bunches as much of your hair as he can with his fist, "Then fucking take it."

Then his girthy dick shoves to the back of your throat without warning, hips to your nose and thrustingthrustingthrusting as far as he can.

You'd sputter if your mouth wasn't so full, eyes overflowing with tears and throat constricting in hopes that he'll let you go. When he doesn't and continues to grind himself down your mouth, you dig your nails into his thighs and whine on his persistent cock. It doesn’t matter, the digging crescents in his thighs rousing him even further and even hoping those pretty nails of yours leave marks for him. He’d accept no less.

Hoseok thrusts twice more before pulling you off and watching you cough maniacally. The tears that gathered were now running down your face, accompanied with your saliva that leaks from your chin and onto the floor.

You couldn't breathe, you couldn't ask him to stop, and you loved it.

He cocks a brow as you struggle to catch up, "We'll stop here. You're obviously not made for this."

Pitiful is the only word he can use to describe how quickly you paw and beg for him, desperately wrapping your fingers around the base of his member and pumping him just the way he likes it, "No! I can take it, please use me." Your unstable hand massages the cum-saliva mix as well as it can, a small victory celebrated when he bucks into you.

"Mm," his thumb wipes a stray tear from your lip, "You're so beautiful when you cry. Will you sit on the desk for me?"

You don't hesitate to obey, being careful to hop up when your bum is so sore but otherwise eager for him to touch you again. When he places himself between your legs, your body hums.

"I'm... I'm not well, Y/N. I don't want to hurt you," he says, voicing his first concern after what's already happened. With his brows knit in concern and his slender fingers rubbing calmly at your sides, it's almost as if the Hoseok you know has returned. The Hobi that makes your pancakes just a little overcooked like you prefer. Who makes you a blanket nest when you’re feeling down. And will gladly give up his last bite of anything to watch you munch happily even after you’ve finished your own portion.

In some way, this was your same Hobi. Maybe not so sweet and innocent but more on the receiving end. Spending his days tending to you out of pure love and pleasure to see you bloom; it was just your turn to return the favor.

So you kiss him with fervor and mold your chest to his, feeling the scorching heat that emanates from him. He must seriously be straining himself, you think. His canines graze your lips and you know he's trying his best to hold back; to not completely obliterate you.

"I want to help you," you whisper against his mouth. You implore him and he doesn’t hesitate to take your offer.

You extend your legs as he rushes to pull down your thong, throwing it to the side, and embracing you with another kiss, all tongue and pants. Some of his documents get ruffled under your steadying hands and he shoves them off altogether, a rain of really important paper littering the room. He comes in a little too excitedly, slamming a drawer closed with his thigh and even scooting his desk across the floor.

“God fucking dammit,” he swears, your chuckles covering his wet lips. “I’m… a mess… not thinking straight. Need to cum inside you.”

You purr when his head rubs against your sex, an electric sensation tearing through you. “Want you to knot me,” you whisper. A mistake in its own because he’s practically moaning into your mouth when you say such things.

“Yeah, baby? Want your cunt pumped full? Hm?” he asks into your jaw, all the while spreading your legs as far as they can split with his strong hands. His hips begin to circle like he’s stalling as long as possible and that rouses you up in a way.

You nod with sultry eyes and chant, “Yes. Yes, yes.” By the second yes does he all but slam into you, your final confirmation his endgame.

Hoseok was truly blessed in size, something no mere human could ever match. His length alone would make you double over in ecstasy if he allowed you the space to. Squeezing around him only makes him fuck you deeper, both wanting and needing more of each other than you already have. You were made for him, and him you.

You whimper as he pulls out, his head tantalizing your g-spot before ramming back inside and forcing an angelic cry. “H-Hoseokie… Please, your pups. I want to have your pups”

The sounds of his hips against your skin with your moans and the subtle creak of his desk is almost humorous, you were fucking like dogs. Even more so when he pushes you flat against the wood by the front of your throat, his thumb tucked gently on an airway as your tongue flops out in simple bliss.

“Don’t say that if you don’t mean it,” he snarls with a particularly evil drill to your core that curls your toes. “Nothing to me would be more satisfying than to breed you.”

Your throat constricts and you cough, your tiny hands tugging at his fingers while barely being able to pry his grip. You can’t resist moaning through clenched teeth still, even when the prettiest wine red pours into his irises. Hoseok holds back incredibly well, despite having shifting eyes, his total control never fails to astonish you. It was years worth of training and you thank the stars that it was useful in a time where you were literally stuffed with his cock.

“And you’re so willing; so obedient now. You like when I fuck you like this. Just want that beautiful pussy bred until you’re spilling, right?” he chuckles with means to humiliate when your eyes flutter and drool spills from your swollen lips, “What a mate.”

You tighten, an embarrassing amount of arousal spilling and sticking to your love. He doesn’t mind one bit, rather, losing composure for a brief moment, “Ugh, so good.”

His hand suddenly withdraws from your tender neck and you sputter an attempt to catch your breath, a fleeting moment before he wraps his arms under your knees and prompts you to hang onto him when he stands. How quickly he’s able to switch positions is hot in itself, but the thought is also lost when you sink down even further on his dick.

“Oh, oh my god,” you wail pathetically, wrapping yourself around him and trying to lift your trembling body to ease how full you feel, even for just a moment.

“Hm? I thought you wanted this, baby. Wanted my complete, unforgiving love for you. Isn’t that why you walked into my office?” he smirks similarly to how you imagine the devil would. His hands find leverage against the closest wall, also shoving you against it and resuming his pace into you.

This, to whichever persona was hiding deep down in Hoseok, was divine. Incredible. You would die for this man even without the bond. He was literally screwing you braindead.

He pants, warm and sweaty and shirt somehow unbuttoned halfway down (when did you do that?), “I thought you wanted my knot? Not anymore?”

Your pupils blow out as you shake your head, you were so close.

“Ah, then I’ll knot you. I’ll knot you but you have to beg,” he says with a wink. Bastard.

“Please, please knot me, baby. Breed me and let me have your pups,” you sob, “Fill me up until I can’t take it anymore, Alpha, please—”

He jabs incessantly until you’re entirely maxed out, sloppy smacks echoing out further than the den and his growls emanating when you drag your sharp nails down his back, the fabric tearing under your fingers. Hoseok grinds his full length into you, reaching beyond the end of your walls.

“S-Stay,” he orders. He slows as the base of his cock swells and even though you asked for it, it’s always a little uncomfortable. You can’t even fathom how it feels for your mate, his sudden groans and the absolute necessity to lave at your neck only scraping at the surface of any real indication.

Hoseok told you once that it was similar to both being overstimulated and having a sudden spike of energy, which could explain his touchiness. It was cute though, and kinda hot.

Nestled deep inside, you can subtly feel the ropes of semen beginning to pool. You rest your head over his shoulder, buzzing from the intensity of it all and watching as the walls move and shift into the ones of your bedroom.

Hoseok’s hoarse voice surprises you, “Fuck, I’m so dizzy.”

The bed is a heavenly difference from the den’s desk and wall, your heart pounding a little too hardly when he places one of his pillows lengthwise under your back for extra squish. He was so cute.

But then he collapses on you.

“Oof—I’ve never seen you like that before. My ass hurts,” you state dreamily.

“Oh, love. Are you okay? Did I hurt you?” he asks seriously, lifting his head to study your face in case you lie. The red dissipated long before, his deep brown eyes twinkling down at you like they always do.

“You were a little rough,” you feign, pouting and pushing around his face with paw-folded fists. He thinks you look like an idiot, a cute idiot.

“I’m sorryyyy,” he whines, burying his face into your chest and wiggling around like a fish. His knot moves with him and you wince.

“Hoseok, stay still.”

Being showered in a sudden attack of kisses is what he responds with, not even aware of the task at hand and fake crying, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I don’t ever want to hurt you—I—oh no.”

You yipe as semen sloshes down your leg, shoving your palm into Hobi’s (who is undoubtedly back to his usual self) cheek and trying your best to not panic.

“Goddammit, Jung Hoseok! Stay still!”

beep boop hope you liked, leave some feedback if you did!

[thebladeblaster]

Pokémon: the Vanguard Descends The Movie: Celebi Lost In Time (Part 4)

“W-we are not s-scared of you!”, the taller one stuttered.

“W-we h-have more than just us h-here!”, the shorter one stuttered.

They suddenly squealed when they had blades to their throats. Aichi held Alfred to the taller one and Ahmes did to the smaller one. Gancelot noted the strange black Poké balls that the rare hunters carried and quickly destroyed them with the staff. The rest of his Pokémon faced the altered Pokémon in battle positions in case they attacked. To their surprise the Pokémon turned back to normal instantly and were free again after the mysterious Poké balls were destroyed. The other rare hunters sweated nervously as the Pokémon then looked very angry at the rare hunters and attacked them.

“Who sent you here?”, Aichi asked.

“W-we’ll never t-tell you! W-we’d rather d-die!”, the taller one replied.

“That can be arranged.”, Alfred said menacingly, hoping to scare them into revealing their secrets.

“O-okay! Okay! We were sent b-“, the shorter one was about to confess.

“S-shut up! Are you insane? Y-you can’t betray the master!”, the taller one interrupted.

“I-I would rather b-be sent to the shadow r-realm than permanently die!”, the shorter one replied.

“A-are you stupid?! T-the shadow realm is w-worse than the d-distortion world and Hell c-combined!”, the taller one replied.

Aichi raised his eyebrow having no idea what the two were talking about.

“Shadow realm…”, Alfred whispered in confusion.

“W-we were sent by-“, the shorter one was cut off again as a watery bullet shot through his chest.

Gancelot jumped distracted by the Pokémon fighting the rare hunters and launched his staff at the source of the shot. Suddenly from where the staff collided a Intellion was visible, which fainted. He then shot a focus blast revealing another.

“Golisopod?! Golisopod?! Golisopod?! Golisopod?! (Woah, how did you know they were there?!)”, Llew questioned.

“Lucario. Lucario. Lucario.Lucario. Lucario. Lucario.Lucario. Lucario. Lucario.Lucario. Lucario. Lucario.Lucario. Lucario. Lucario. (I could sense their aura. Unfortunately I was distracted by the multitude of auras around us so I couldn’t stop them before the attack.)”, Gancelot explained.

“Haxorus. (It’s okay.)”, Soul Saver assured.

“Somebody get a doctor quick!”, Aichi yelled, as he stood over the injured cloaked man.

Nurses from the Pokémon center rushed over to heal the people and Pokémon. The uninjured cloaked man was captured by the Kakusa government who likely wanted answers from him. People were sent to repair the damage caused by the rare hunters. He would be contacted if anymore rare hunters show up.

“Why didn’t you use absolute lock?”, Shuka asked, causing Aichi to raise an eyebrow in confusion.

“What’s absolute lock?”, Aichi asked, as Shuka gasped in shock.

“Uh...it’s your move. How do you not know your own signature move?!”, Shuka questioned awkwardly.

Aichi blinked in confusion.

“I have never heard of that move in my life.”, Aichi replied awkwardly as Shuka face palmed.

“Well...we didn’t even know about any of this stuff till a month ago.”, Emi chuckled awkwardly.

“You know you like...point your finger then... you like...yell ‘absolute lock’.”, Shuka tried to explain.

Aichi looked at his pointer finger and tried to do what she said. He pointed out his finger and focused some of his power.

“Absolute lock!”, Aichi called out.

They all sweat dropped as a massive beam of energy poured out of his finger which he quickly turned to the sky. The clouds in the path were split. Bits of smoke came off of Aichi’s pointer finger. Emi gawked a bit, still not used to her brother being so powerful.

“Is that it?”, Aichi asked.

“Lycanroc. Lycanroc. Lycanroc. Lycanroc. (Nah. Aichi, I think you used spirit gun…)”, Wingal replied.

“N-no...it’s kinda hard to explain since I don’t fully get how it works myself, but it's like...binds things. You know it makes it so something can’t move.”, Shuka explained.

“That makes a lot more sense and sounds pretty useful. I’ll have to figure that out somehow.”, Aichi replied awkwardly as he sweat dropped.

“Gallade. Gallade. Gallade. Gallade. Gallade ...(Good thing you aimed it towards the sky…)”, Ahmes commented.

At night…

Shizuka let Shuka stay with them and she borrowed Emi’s old pajamas. The pajamas we’re a pink onzee. She sat down onto the floor.

“What are you doing down there Shuka? You can sleep in my bed with me.”, Emi said, motioning Shuka to come over.

“There’s no way I could do that…”, Shuka replied, with an embarrassed blush looking down.

Emi was completely oblivious as to why. She looked over to her pillow and grinned. She threw a pillow square at Shuka’s face.

“Don’t be so stiff Shuka! Your a guest here it’s perfectly fine.”, Emi replied as she grinned at Shuka.

Shuka took the pillow off her holding it and pouted at Emi.

“What wanna pillow fight?”, Emi asked as she held up her other pillow.

“Your on!”, Shuka replied.

Emi got off the bed and they hit each other with the pillows. As they did Emi giggled and Shuka ended up joining in.

Later…

Emi had gotten tuckered out from their pillow fight and was now asleep. Shuka blushed a bit nervously as she laid next to Emi under the covers. She looked up to the ceiling having a hard time sleeping.

“I can’t believe they just let me stay here. Mrs. Sendou is really nice. This world is so strange...Having pillow fights. Soba. Going to a normal school. To think Emi and 00-I mean Aichi are able to have a semi-normal life like this...”, Shuka thought as she rubbed her eyes.

She ended up getting out of the bed. She rubbed her eyes and wandered around a bit.

“Maybe something to drink would help.”, Shuka thought.

As she walked around she noticed a very small balcony, like closet size. The light of the moon that creeped from it drew her attention to it. She walked over to the balcony. She looked up at the moon which looked beautiful tonight.

“It’s pretty isn’t it?”, Shuka jumped as she looked over noticing Aichi leaning on the railing to her left.

“Oh, sorry I didn’t mean to scare you.”, Aichi apologized.

“What are you doing up?”, Shuka asked.

“...Just a hard time sleeping. How about you?”, Aichi replied, Shuka looked down as he mentioned that.

“Sorry about before. This is just...all weird to me.”, Shuka replied.

Aichi frowned, noticing how gloomy Shuka looked.

“It isn’t your fault. I’ve...had a hard time sleeping for awhile. Ever since I started to find out about everything. It just keeps me up at night sometimes...thinking about...what if.”, Aichi replied.

“...For what it’s worth your nothing like the 003v I knew. That’s a good thing. You seem much more human.”, Shuka replied as Aichi raised his eyebrow in confusion.

“Human?”, Aichi questioned.

“The 003v I knew was a complete monster. No a devil in a human form. He had no compassion, empathy, fear, or conscience. A complete sociopath in the few hours I’ve known you have shown more humanity than I’ve ever seen from him.”, Shuka explained.

“Even still though...it’s hard not to think about him whenever I look at him...dang it! He’s not the same person, Shuka! (Sigh) This will take some getting used to...it’s not fair to judge him on the actions of a different version of him.”, Shuka thought.

Aichi smiled, seeming a bit reassured by Shuka’s words. However...he briefly frowned.

“I might not be the 003v she knows but...he isn’t completely gone.”, Aichi thought, he quickly returned his smile so Shuka didn’t notice anything amiss.

The next day...

It was Saturday, Emi and Shuka went back to going around town with their guard up from the previous attack. And Aichi...was trying to figure out absolute lock. He kept trying over and over again only to become very exhausted. He sat down as sweat ran down his face.

“We’ll probably have to try it another time. Especially if what the rare hunters said is true.”, Alfred said as Aichi fanned himself and pulled his turtleneck collar back.

“Y-yeah...that’s probably for the be-“, Aichi was saying before he fainted from exhaustion.

Alfred sweat dropped seeing just how far he had pushed himself.

“Now how to get him up without possession...I’ll just get the others.”, Alfred said.

Oracle town…

“Gahhh!!!”, a trainer screamed dramatically as his Incineroar was knocked out by Kushinada.

Misaki sweat dropped at the dramatics. She had her hands on her waist.

“Man, first that hellish quiz now this! This gym is impossible!”, the trainer complained.

“No, it’s not. It's hard but it’s possible.”, Misaki replied with a sigh.

The trainer sniffled.

“Ah, whatever I don’t need this stupid challenge anyway!”, the trainer replied as Misaki’s eye twitched.

Misaki just sighed as the kid ran out after recalling his Pokémon.

“You know after Team Asteroid threatened the region I thought trainers would get more serious about the gym challenge...”, Misaki thought.

Misaki lounged in her chair and pulled up her phone as she waited for the next challenger. She scrolled through the news section. Assista Eevee walked in and jumped into her lap. She petted Assista Eeveee as it cuddled up to her.

“Looks like things in Kanto and Johto are getting a little better with Kai there, but still bad overall. If I didn’t have the responsibility of the gym I’d…(sigh) From what I’m reading it really sounds like another person like Aichi is leading the invasion…”, Misaki thought.

She noticed how Assista Eevee suddenly stiffened looking to the exit warily.

“What’s wrong?”, Misaki questioned.

Assista Eevee jumped off her lap and motioned her to follow with its tail. Misaki followed Assista Eevee to outside to see Pokémon going berserk. Misaki gasped in shock wondering what’s going on. Misaki threw out the rest of her Pokémon.

“Stop them and try to save anyone being attacked. I’m going to see what’s causing this.”, Misaki commanded as her Pokémon nodded.

Assista Eevee jumped onto her shoulder wanting to go with her. Misaki went off as they all split up. As she looked up into the air she noticed an unknown type of Poké ball flying through the sky. Assista Eevee looked at the balls warily, sending something ominous about them and shot a wave of psychic energy at them, destroying them. Misaki followed where the mysterious Poké balls were coming from and came across some cloaked men; rare hunters. She looked down noticing the trainer from before on the ground in tears. She glared at the rare hunters.

“What do you think you're doing?”, Misaki questioned.

“Ah, so you’ve appeared Tokura Misaki. We’ve heard you gave Team Asteroid a lot of trouble when they invaded this region.”, a cloaked man said.

“What’s it to you?”, Misaki questioned.

“We are the rare hunters. You could say we’re business partners with Team Asteroid.”, the cloaked man replied.

“Is that so?”, Misaki questioned menacingly.

In another part of Oracle town, Shin flew on top of Valkriyan shooting lightning down on the berserking Pokémon. Many of the people kept inside to avoid the danger.

“Go, giant automation of the distant past Valkriyan! Use thunderbolt again!”, Shin ordered.

The hooded man threw out one of the mysterious Poké balls revealing a Incineroar. It was covered in a purple aura and it’s eyes glowed red. It grinned sinisterly and raised its claws.

“Incineroar!”, the trainer cried out.

“Wait...that can’t be...that...that’s the same Incineroar he had?!”, Misaki gasped in shock.

“It is indeed that’s one of the many powers of these special Poké balls. After we defeat you we will be taking all your Pokémon.”, the cloaked man said.

“Not if I have anything to say about it! Assista Eevee use dazzling gleam!”, Misaki ordered.

“Incineroar use darkest lariat!”, the cloaked man ordered.

Assista Eevee was narrowly able to dodge the swing filled with dark type energy. It quickly released the pink light as quickly as it could, but it couldn’t stop the second swing. Assista Eevee gasped in pain as it was hit repeatedly by the dark type’s blows.

“Don’t do this Incineroar!”, the trainer cried out.

“Whatever they did to that Incineroar made it way stronger than before.”, Misaki thought.

Misaki sweated nervously before looking over to see her Gardevior Sakuya come up.

“I will not fail! Not again!”, Misaki thought as she activated her mega bracelet.

Sakuya became mega Gardevior and quickly caught Assista Eevee as it fell. Incineroar quickly launched itself and Sakuya who emitted more fairy light at it. It was slightly pushed back by the light, but stubbornly clawed forward to Sakuya.

“Sakuya use focus blast!”, Misaki ordered.

Sakuya held out one hand and shot a wave of energy at Incineroar pushing it back. Assista Eevee leap out Sakuya’s arms and broke Incineroar’s block allowing the blast to engulf it. The Incinerator fell to its knee and struggled up.

“P-please stop this Incineroar! Don’t you r-remember our dream! We were going to become strong enough to protect Tachikaze town!”, the trainer pleaded.

The Incineroar twitched a bit at what it heard.

“Please Incineroar!”, the trainer begged.

“It’s pointless kid!”, one of the cloaked men said.

“No, it's not pointless! The bond between a trainer and their Pokémon can be a strong thing!”, Misaki replied as Assista Eevee struggled up despite its wounds.

“You really believe that childish nonsense?”, another cloaked man questioned.

“Perhaps we should show you why such things are meaningless.”, another cloaked man said as he raised a Poké ball.

Before he could however, Valkriyan threw a punch and the powerful air pressure from the punch sent the rare hunters flying back, knocking them out. The Incineroar doubled over damaged and clutching its head. It grunted in pain, tossing and turning.

“You can do it Incineroar!”, the trainer said.

Eventually it stopped. The aura around it disappeared and it’s eyes went back to normal. The mysterious Poké ball that previously contained it sparked before exploding.

“Whatever these things are people have to know.”, Misaki said as she looked at the broken Poké ball.

The trainer hugged his Incinerator while sobbing.

“T-thank you! S-Sorry about b-before!”, the trainer said.

“It’s nothing, you're like 10. 10 year olds have temper tantrums all the time.”, Misaki replied, before she grabbed her phone to make a call.

At Palesville…

Kamui slumped still saddened that he couldn’t take on the elite four yet. He had gotten all his gym badges too. Kamui laid his head on the table he sat at outside.

“I hope Reijj and Eiji got those presents…”, Kamui mumbled.

He suddenly jumped when he heard screaming. He was beyond surprised when a bunch of ‘wild’ Pokémon started flooded the streets and started attacking people. Kamui quickly threw out his Pokémon. He then mega evolved Kaiser and Buster.

“Kaiser use blizzard! Buster, Mr.Invincible use close combat! Shout use hammer arm! Hatred Chaos use shadow ball! Tough boy use mega horn!”, Kamui ordered.

[dragonrajafanfiction]

Dragon Dancer Chapter 17: A Most Grievous Revelation

I walked around the giant serpent's body to enter the cavern, careful not to tread in it's blood with my bare feet.  Lukas's words hit home. He'd seen how strong I was and drew conclusions that were too close to a secret I wanted to keep hidden. 

I was a direct descendant of a dragon.

Previous Chapter

Go back to the Beginning

Here, on my own, with no one around, I would not have to hide that fact. This massive cave was just like the one under the sea of Japan, built for massive intelligent creatures. My tiny form was like a grain of sand in a cathedral. The entire hill had been hollowed out.

I no longer tried to block the voices in my head. I listened closely as they spoke to me in the dragon tongue. They were like the moans of someone talking in their sleep -- Fragments of sentences, each one independent of what came before or after. What was a common thread was the feeling of distress.

I opened my eyes. The space, dark to human eyes, was bright as day in my dragon's sight. Creatures infected by the dragon's influence slithered and crawled on the walls. They hissed and snarled and snapped at me. Their eyes glowed in the dark. They bared their sharp teeth. 

 But they were servitors.  

I raised my chin and opened my mouth. "Go away."

The cave went abruptly silent. I walked right past them, looking down at them under my eyelashes. They couldn't meet my eyes, cringing away from me.

At the end of the cave, I saw it. The dragon that was talking in its sleep.

It was surrounded by machines and computers that were still running. A gigantic apparatus held it suspended in the air over a chasm.

I walked as close as I could, standing at the edge of the cliff. I said what I always did before dragons.

"Eternal Cycle." I said in clear draconic.

"Unity In All Things." The song I heard in the tower in Japan came to mind and I began to sing the words.

"Self-sufficiency."

The dragon's sleep talk went silent. It's spiritual presence filled my mind.

"Ouroboros…?" An after-image of the sleeping beast separated itself from its limp body. "What wakes you?"

"The return of the Light King." I said. I settled on to the stone floor dangling my legs over the edge.

"Chaos… Destruction… Madness…" Its voice drifted in and out of my mind.

"Then why wake him?" I asked.

"No… not Light King…. The Abomination…"

"A Hybrid…? Do you know their name?" I tilted my head.

"Wishes to be a dragon…"

"Who does…? Show me!"

The ghostly after image continued to it's incoherent mumbling. "Disgusting.. sacrilege… The Light King… may he die…" The sound ended in a gutteral moan and vibrated painfully through my skull.

The after-image dissolved. I got the feeling that the last of the dragon's spirit had left the cave.

I sat in reverent silence, mulling the words in my head. How could a human become a dragon? I was dwarfed by this beast. My father was ten times his size!

I gathered my feet under me and moved to the computers. I tried to see if they were still connected to the internet.

They were not. I stared into my reflection. My eyes were burning yellow.

The sun was coming up sending light into the cave entrance. Carrion birds were finding the dragon serpent's body. They were tearing chunks out of it. I could sense the dragon's blood entering their bodies, corrupting them.

I stayed in the cave, eyes closed, comfortable in the presence of the dragon corpse, spending time with that inhuman side of myself. I could feel my own body reacting, twisting towards it, like a flower turned to the sun. The serpent's blood soaking my clothes was not helping matters. I wasn't afraid of turning servitor any more. If I felt it got to be too much, I used the ability granted to me by my father to suppress it. The closer I got to the dragon’s side the more I understood what I was told about blood purity, a speaking spirit and spiritual visions.

My body was human, my mind and soul were a whole other matter. This dragon spirit did not recognize me as human or hybrid. He called me by my name. He knew where I was from. Is there any wonder then that no human name ever felt right? It was only when a dragon called that I felt like myself.

I waited for a good stretch of time, looking down into the chasm. I sang the simple dragon melody, seven notes to fit the seven syllables of each word. I imagined myself as a winged ivory serpent curved in on myself, pursuing my own tail. I reached up to my dragon’s scale. “Self-Sufficiency…”

I felt a familiar presence. I’m no longer alone here. I lifted my head, eyes wide. I mentally questioned who it was and immediately received a reply from the visitor’s spirit.

The figures coming toward me were far away, small and swallowed by the light in the entrance of the cave. But I wasn't relying on my ordinary sight.

It was his spirit that I felt. I lifted myself to my feet, squinting to see. As the recognition became more solid, joy rose in my heart like a sun.

It was Johann. I could tell by his tall silhouette. It was Lu and Caesar and Nono. They were here. They were all here!

As soon as he saw me, Lu rushed forward and locked me into a crushing hug. My fingers curled against his back. I buried my face into the fold of his jacket.

"Lu! Mind the cliff!" Nono scolded him.

"Is it really you?" He pulled back to look at my face.

I could only give him a tearful nod.

"But how? How did you survive!" His big brown eyes filled with happy tears that ran down his face. He was a little mess, sniffling like that!

I opened my mouth to answer but then stopped, my smile fading. 

I couldn’t tell him.

"You have a lot of explaining to do, young lady." Caesar approached me next, his tone a mock scolding. He took my hand examining my fingers. “You didn’t turn servitor after all. Mingfei… I think we all owe you an apology.”

I shook my head. “No, it… its fine. Don’t regret what happened. It turned out alright in the end.” I tried to pull my hand out of his but he held on.

“Explain.” 

“I found another door. That’s how I ended up here.”

Nono who had been standing there in astonishment, came to my rescue, slapping his hand away. “Are you really going to interrogate now?” She put her hand on her hip, “Well, I’m happy I don’t have to regret recruiting you, Miss No-name.”

"How did you know to come here?" I wiped my tears away.

"We monitor signs of draconic activity. With an earthquake this strong in an area not prone to them, we were sent to investigate." He was looking up at the massive dragon corpse.

"Even now you’re so expressionless?" Nono said with a knowing grin. She turned to me. "Johann didn't believe you survived. He got really emotional about it. Don't let his facade fool you." 

I looked over at him, he was only half looking at me and but after a moment he turned to me. “I shouldn’t have doubted you.”

"And I shouldn't have survived… to be honest. I got lucky"

“Why didn’t you come back to Cassell?”

“There was no way to communicate.” I said, surprising myself with how easily I could tell a half-truth. “Besides, it worked out. I was able to save some children who were being experimented on. Someone’s trying to revive the Light King and turn Hybrids into dragons.”

Shifting the focus of the conversation, I looked up at the big dragon corpse. “The earthquake revealed the entrance to this cave.”

I told myself to stop talking even though I wanted to spill my guts right then and there. I didn't like how fast Lukas picked up that there was something different about me. I didn't like how I was treated like an object and even hunted for who I was and what I could do.

Fortunately, this seemed to satisfy Caesar, “We’ll contact Schneider to secure the site.” 

Caesar turned to Johann. “Mind catching her up?”

The two exchanged glances and unspoken words.

Johann came to me. “Let’s go outside.”

It was a warm and humid day. I had to hold my nose against the stench of the dragonkin serpent. “Ugh…”

“Did you do that?” He asked. 

“I had help. In fact I should probably get back to them and let them know you’re here.” I looked up at him. “So… I’ve must have missed a lot.”

Once we were some distance away, we stopped under a large tree. I sighed.

Johann’s expression was completely unreadable, schooled into that doe-like blank look,  but he was watching me intently.  “How long have you been here?”

“I lost track of time, to be honest.”

“It’s been nearly six months.” He answered me. "Cassell College Japan Division. They broke away from us. Hydra is what they call themselves now. They accused us of working with the Devil Clan, after they found records of you in their possession."

My gaze shifted around trying to think of a plausible story. Failing to do so, I simply said, “I see.”

“You’re not going to explain?” He turned to more fully face me.

I turned away from him. “It’s hard to explain. I’d rather not. But the truth is, I didn’t like how they were being treated. I wanted to find a cure for them, so I rescued a few of the children so they wouldn’t die.” I sighed. “Sorry I made you worry…”

“I don’t worry about the dead.” He said, “I just… miss them.”

“I missed you too.” I chewed my lip, chest tightening with anxiety. “Did you hear about someone named Ruri?”

He looked at me in mild surprise. “Oh. So you’ve met.”

“Yeah, he was the one who helped me get the kids out. Please tell me he’s not dead.”

“He’s not.” 

“Thank goodness… that’s a weight off. I owe him everything for making this possible. I would have been gutted if it cost him his life.” I walked over to sit next to the tree trunk.

Johann settled next to me, eying the entrance to the cave. I tapped his shoulder. “Hey, am I going to be in trouble?”

“You weren’t in full control of yourself when all this got started. You barely had an opportunity to start classes. They might keep a tight rein on you from now on, but I wouldn’t expect any punishment.” He sat quietly for another second. “But you’ll need to speak with Anjou.”

I twined my fingers together, guilt rising. “He wasn’t responsible. What happened to me, had to happen.”

He turned to me, his golden eyes staring straight into mine. “Is that what you really believe?”

“When I say 'it had to happen', what I mean is… I just have to keep looking forward. Try to make things better in the future. If I hadn’t been on that mission, you would have failed in it. Don’t blame Anjou.”

He kept staring at me after that. 

“I remember. Our conversation in Japan. You were upset at him.” Did he not remember?

He let out a breath and looked away.

“Hey…” I reached up to tap his shoulder again. “I was there for a reason, remember?”

“That’s why I wanted to save the kids. When I found out in Japan what happened to unstable hybrids there, I couldn’t just let that continue. They deserve a happy childhood, just like I had.”

“I’m not sure if Cassell will take them but Robbie and Mom are used to dealing with difficult cases and don’t turn away anyone so long as they’re not like… a total sex offender or something.”

Johann let out a little breath and dropped his eyes. “Cassell will take them.”

I pursed my lips to one side. “Cassell is a College. It’s not for little kids.”

“There’s no alternative.”

I huffed. “No alternative?”

“The house where you used to live is gone. It burned down.”  His eyes flickered with emotion behind them. “Robbie and Mom are dead. So are all the children.”

I inhaled sharply, the words piercing me straight through. I stared, flash frozen, unable to move, unable to breathe or think.  Johann forced himself to look at me. I could tell because of the tension in his shoulders, his hands curling against the ground.

Breathing returned in little huffs. Something inside said that I should do something, say something. Ask a question. What? How? Why? Was he serious? He was always serious.

I needed to stand up, walk away, get away. Johann reached out and grabbed my arm.

“I can walk.” Anger flared at him pulling away. He didn’t let me go.  I looked at him up and down. Who did he think he was?

“Meixiu…”

“What?” I said, eyes glittering with tears of anger.

“That was the name I wanted to give you. I’ve called you that… ever since.”

Even though I had said I would accept any name he gave me, in his moment, it set me on edge. At this moment, I wanted nothing more to be called Babydoll, the nonsense name that Robbie gave me.

The tears spilled over.  Johann quickly moved to support me. Sinking me back to the floor, I whimpered. “Was there a funeral?” Convulsing breaths came in uncontrollable waves.

“Yes.” He replied.

“I didn’t get to go…” The moan cascaded, taking me with it in an avalanche. 

I was sorry.

Sorry that I left them at the start. Sorry that I couldn’t control myself. I didn’t call enough. I was sorry that I thought that maybe, just maybe, I could make the world a better place. When in the end, everything I did was wrong. Everything I thought, wrong. 

And it cost them their lives.

Grief constricted like a serpent, pulled me down in its current and only let me breathe after I had no more air left to cry with. The loud, prolonged, mournful apologies echoed, howling like ghosts in the empty field, out the open air. But the people who needed to hear them never would. 

It went on so long，I got scared that it would last forever. I couldn't stop until every drop of strength was wrung out, until breathing hurt, until I didn't have it in me to move at all. And even then, it was like acid in my stomach, searing from the inside out.

Spent, I leaned against his shoulder, one hand resting on the hilt of his blade. If only he had used it against me from the start.

I watched him slowly take my hand off it, looking at me.  “We’ve all been here. Don’t worry. We won’t leave you alone.”

He didn’t cry with me. His sadness was more like a deep shadow in his eyes. When he said he’d been here. I believed him.

We settled into an agonizingly long wait. My hand would reflexively tighten against his arm when I felt the tears coming or when the pain too strong to hide. If I hurt him, he showed no sign of it bothering him, something I appreciated.

Hollowed out, my restless spirit searched desperately for something to do, for something to say. It circled the inside of my mind: Through memories of home, through my actions, second guessing everything from then until the present. In the present, there was nothing to do but wait and in the future… I couldn’t even bear to think about it.

Finally, my spirit concluded that there was nothing I could do. My mind relaxes, settling into a sad stillness. 

“What time is it?”

Johann checked his phone. “It’ll still be a couple hours before our transport arrives.”

“Do you have any signal?” 

“Yes.”

“...can we listen to some music?”

“Sure… what?”

“Every Time We Say Goodbye… Ella Fitzgerald.”

Next Chapter

author’s note:  美秀 Pronounced may-show

[little-lily-w]

The swim

Summary: a sleepwaking event gets Reader to the lands of Hell.

Warnings: Oh, God where to start? Rape, scary stuff, blood, knife-play, anal sex, oral sex (male-receiving), life-threats, mentions of murder, degradation, JUST please don´t read if you are triggered easily, please don´t. Stay safe.

Notes: Pennywise is not dressed as the clown (I couldn´t do it lol) and he doesn´t modify his face, he looks like the pic above. 

Words: 3k 

Plip plop, plip plop.  The drops from the non-well turned off tap of the bathroom sink have you rolling from side to side on bed. The heat of summer time doesn´t help either, and despite the rain outside that´s supposed to bring some cooler temperature, sheets are wrinkled like a ball at your feet while your nightgown absorbs the slight sweat of your body. But you are, in a way, asleep; it´s just that it´s not as deep as you´d like to rest but not fully awaken to be conscious of your annoying environment.

-          Y/N – a warm whisper calls from the distance. Your feet reach the floor and then your legs do the rest of the work to make your sleepwalking being to stand up – Wouldn´t it be nice to swim, Y/N?

You make your way to the bathroom, its squeaking door suffocating the words. Like if you have some kind of corporal memory or recognition of the familiar space, your hands go for the tap to turn it off.  No more drops.  You turn to the exit again.  

-          Why don´t you come swim with me?

Still barefoot, you walk to the frontal door and get out of the house, your shoulders now being hit by the rain due to the non protective thin straps of your nightgown which in a second gets completely wet and wasted. It´s a good thing that the heat of the pavement has been washed off or otherwise you would wake up with severe burnings on your soles.

-          Little, little Y/N… - the voice chants like a melody – Come swim with me.

A small paper boat touches your toes and as a survivor of the rain, it continues the same path your walk in front of you like a guide to the drain. Stopping in the middle of the empty street, you lean down to face the dark mouth where the boat and some of the water get drowned. Darkness.

A second later, a pair of white painted hands appears in the shadows, fortunately or not, not enough to scare you and wake you up.

-          Is this yours? – the fingers show you the boat like a magic trick – If you get closer I can show you more. Come, little Y/N, so you can swim with me. Don´t worry, we all float here.

Curiosity makes you crawl to the dark, half of your body entering the drain as the white hands grab your torso to help you slide in completely. Now you are being hold by the arms of something. Or someone.  And carried to the deepest lands of hell.

--

- Wake up, wake up – a high pitched tone of voice echoes around the space. You blink a few times and move your head to the side, your cheek touching a moist bland surface. Mud?

-What…? Where am I?

Once you sit down, you are able to look around. The place seems like a grey walled room, with rubble everywhere and a water level that you know could reach your ankles if you stand up.

- Oh, God no. Hello? Hello?!

- Mary had a little lamb, little lamb, little lamb

but the lamb was a bit dumb

and it just went down...

Now the lamb may better run, better run, better run

before it gets to squirm and cry

BECAUSE OF THE CLOWN.

With widened horrified pupils, you watch the dancing silhouette coming out from the shadows and turn into a disturbing man´s face covered with a messy white and red make-up that is supposed to imitate the shape you could find in a circus clown but as if it´s been attacked by the rain. Two honey yellow eyes completely out of focus and shining under the black hair that falls a bit on the white-stained forehead.

-          Shall I sing again?

Panting, you crawl backwards till finally you reach a wall and your terrified brain understands that you have to stand up, which you rapidly do and it allows you to run.  Looking everywhere, you spot a passage and went straight to it, the water causing you to slow your movements as scared squeaking rats are heard with every four or five footsteps you make. But soon you reach a bifurcation and the maniac laughs behind you force you to make a decision.

Left.

You only walk half way the new corridor till the poor light becomes drown in the dark again and you are not longer able to watch backwards. Panicked, your hands grope the dirty wall to attempt to continue moving forwards but you don´t have a single idea of where you are. While your agitated sobs fill the space, a sudden flash of lightning strikes in front of you and clearly shows three old wooden doors with different bloody letters carved on them.

Not scary at all // Scary // Very scary.

-          I´m coming to you…! It´s time to float…!

With a sweaty hand, you pull the handle from the first door. A tiny little white sheep appears in front of you emanating a sweet bleat.

-          What? – but you don´t have time to ask. You make a step forwards determined to enter the room and at the same second, the animal transforms into a humane-shaped wolf with such a loud roaring that you slam the door close screaming. The second one is no better option. An enormous red balloon, almost like the size of a piñata, bursts in front of you, revealing a zombie-like woman that could have attacked you if you hadn´t closed the door as terrified as you  did with the first one.

-          Float, float, float – the crazy man keeps taunting you each time nearer and nearer.

You open the last door with a yell, ready to meet whatever monster it has inside but, to your surprise, you find a blonde man seated on the floor with tape over his mouth. You are about to close it, thinking the same thing with the sheep would happen now but the man starts making noises through his nose sounding like he needs help and soon you realize that his arms are tied behind his back as he struggles to get free.

-          Oh, okay, okay… - you try to shush him as you take off the tape.

-          Please, please untie me – he begs with desperate light blue eyes.

-          I can´t! – you shout at him.

-          Please, please, I won´t hurt you!

Hesitant and trembling, you touch one of his arms and immediately go backwards, scared of a brutal reaction. But he keeps struggling to free his arms so you take a deep breath and finally help him get rid of the ropes.

-          Thank you – he says standing up.

-          Who are you? What´s that?

-          I don´t know. He is crazy. I´m Michael.

-          Y/N

-I can hear you…! – the man keeps chanting now at the bifurcation.

You turn around to watch the corridor knowing he will appear in it in a second.

-          We have to get out of here –you say, almost breathless.

-          Yes, you have – a demonic voice sounds behind you and makes you turn just to find the angelic man transformed into what seems the face of the Devil, his turquoise iris have shrunken around the pupils, leaving them as two big black balls from where blue and purple veins are born like thin lines that cover his entire face.

-          No… no! – you turn around again and start running but soon you are stopped by the clown man in front of you. No point in going backwards. Michael is cutting your only exit way.

-          Dumber little lamb than I thought. She really believed that – the clown laughs.

-          Please… who are you? What are you? What do you want? – you sob, looking at the hunters at both of your sides.

-          The question here is what we are going to do with you. You are our guest, sweetie. Maybe, just maybe, if you are good, you won´t end up like the others.

-          Others? What others? – and as soon as you ask that, you look down at your feet touching something solid. A skull passes by floating.

-          We all float here.

Despite the scream that burns your lungs, Michael lifts your body and you start kicking the air while the two of them carry you to the grey place again.  Once there, the blonde man throws you to the ground, but unluckily this time, it´s a part with concrete floor and you hiss in pain.

-          Looks like we are gonna have a trouble-maker one. No time for that – the other man says and takes out a knife from his pocket.

-          Wait, Pennywise – Michael stops him pushing his chest – I think she has changed her mind about being a bratty slut.  Isn´t that right, sweetheart?

You nod eagerly, still trying to crawl backwards but again you reach a wall. The two men (or demons) get down on your level and Michael holds both of your arms behind your back while Pennywise swings the knife mockingly in the air at you.

-Easy now – Michael whispers in your ear hearing your pants.

The clown puts the knife under one of your straps as you watch the sharp edge close to your neck and with one pull, it´s undone. He does the same with your other one to then grab a hold of the bottom of your nightgown to cut it open in half, revealing your naked body underneath it.

-          Please…, please don´t hurt me – you say in a miserable plead but the sharp point of the knife scratches slightly your stomach at the enthusiastic gaze of Pennywise. Suddenly, you feel a light cut at the side of your waist – No, no… - and another cut on the other side. You start to squirm in vain against Michael´s grip but the clown goes to the beginning of your thigh and slides the knife all the way down to your knee earning a loud pained scream from you – PLEASE STOP!  - It´s then when you feel the mouth of the blonde guy suctioning the exposed skin of your neck, delighted at your suffering. Pennywise goes again for your other thigh causing you to yell in horror one more time – PLEASE DON´T! PLEASE STOP! – He is about to make a cut under your belly button but Michael does a sign for him to stop.

-          You are gonna be a good little girl, aren´t you?

-          Please stop – you whisper in response at Michael.

-          AREN´T YOU? – Michael insists with a warning tone that freezes you.

-          Yes – you answer and gulp.

-          Good, turn around.

He releases your arms and you do as you are told. Michael takes his cock out of his trousers and grabs your neck to bring you closer to his face.

-          If you bite me, you are dead. Do you understand?

-          I do – you bite your lip as the tears fall down your cheeks.

-          Now, now, don´t be so sad, darling – he says wiping them off with his forearm – This should be a treat. Good girls know how to be grateful.

-          Thank y… - but before you can finish your faked gratitude, Michael pushes your head down to bury his cock in your throat, a loud gag echoing along the space. Your palms push his thighs uselessly trying to take it out but of course he is stronger and it´s not after he sees how your stomach jumps in a threatening puke that he lets you cough and take a deep breath. Back again on his cock.

Pennywise is sharing the same sadism, playing with knife that dances along your skin, enjoying your scared muffled sobs which reverberate against Michael´s skin and makes him groan in pleasure. Suddenly, you feel a hard spank against your bare ass and the blonde man pulls your head up, saliva falling from your mouth, connected to his thick shaft.

-          That wasn´t teeth that I felt, was it?

-          No, no – you hurry to reply, petrified. He slaps your face

-          Focus.

He pushes you down again and moves your head up and down like a personal toy with no regards to your choking or your lack of oxygen every time he stays still buried past your uvula.

Pennywise continue smacking your cheeks, red handprints with remains of white make up appear on them very soon at his brutal strength. And although you wish this torture to end, you don´t have a single idea yet of what they can be up to.

-What a pretty little lamb you are after all – you hear the clown saying as he slides two fingers along your slit – But she is dry as a complete waist.

-Poor baby – Michael taunts you and scratches lightly your spine sending a shiver down it while he keeps ravaging your mouth.

- We are gonna have to fix that – Pennywise collects some of the blood that’s dripping down your leg on his fingertips and pushes inside your exposed hole; the moment he does so, you tense up but he doesn´t seem to care since he starts thrusting his fingers back and forth.

You push Michael´s thighs with more strength and you are able to let his dick out but before you can beg, he brings his palm to your neck, squeezing hard.

-          Don´t worry. He knows what he is doing. And your body does too. Want it or not, but it´ll happen – and he is right because soon the clown gathers enough wetness to consider your pussy proper to enjoy. Pennywise occupies no time in entering you, a suffocated gasp leaves your mouth. And while you feel the stretching in your walls, Michael releases just a little bit the pressure on your windpipe for you to stay alive and spits on your tongue – Keep that mouth open. The blonde man stands up for you to get on all fours and fucks your throat again, this time faster, but stops to take his cock out, watching how your mouth close unconsciously  - I said open! – another slap to your face and he goes right back in, destroying your throat for a few seconds and once again moving out of your lips, this time you resist the urge to close them – Good girl – he says and continues the sequence for his amusement.

After a few more thrusts, Pennywise sinks his nails on the flesh of your hips, holding himself back to not cum and causing you to scream. He pulls out and Michael does the same, moving also to the side while his fingers travel dangerously along your back and end in a loud smack to one of your buttocks.

-          What a nice little thing we have here – he says licking his lips and you shudder.

Pennywise moves to the side to allow him space and Michael covers his fingers in saliva, pushing the index past your asshole. Aware of what he plans on doing with you, you try to crawl away but he grabs you with a painful fist on your hair to stop your silly movements. When the middle finger is inside too, your legs shake weak but your mind is fully conscious and unable to escape their desires. Michael stretches your rectum enough to create space for his dick but not enough to make it easier to you. Once the tip of his spit-covered cock gets inside, you start whining in pain and the dark-haired man leans down in front of you to move the knife close to your  neck. You squeeze your eyes shut but with a savage pull to your hair from Michael, you are forced to open them again.

The member moves inside of you like you don´t have any pain receptors at all, going deep inside till it´s completely buried in your ass and coming back for his pelvis to swing and slam right back into you.

-          Ah, the slut is so fucking tight in here – Michael says hissing to Pennywise, who is entirely focused on keeping you still with the sharp lethal threat against your skin, and at the man´s comment, he starts jerking in front of your sobbing puffy face – If we let her live, maybe you can enjoy this too tomorrow. What do you think, sweetheart? Do you deserve to live? Have you been a good whore?

-          Please – you plead in a whisper, too scare to say anything.

-          I can´t hear you – Michael insists.

-          Yes, please, please don´t kill me! – you beg, Michael´s thickness filling you so much that you think you are going to burst.

-          Then show us how good of a slut you are. Beg for our cum.

-          Please, please, I want your cum.

-          Say it fucking louder – Pennywise demands pressing the edge hurtfully against your skin.

-          Please I want your cum, please!

The clown groans and grabs your jaw with thumbs that sink in your cheeks and the moment your mouth is open, you feel his warm liquid on your tongue. After swallowing it, Michael cums too inside your ass holding your hips with a bruising grip to keep you still right where he wants you till the last drop is emptied. Once he pulls out, he joins Pennywise who is still holding the knife against your jugular. You are crying and worn out like a mess, having being feasted by these two monsters like you were the last meal they could have and yet you don´t know if you are going to survive the night.

-          Please…, I´ve done everything you wanted. Please let me go.

-          Let you go? – Michael mocks you – Oh, sweetheart, that won´t be a possibility. But, our nature is so generous that we are not going to kill you. Get some rest. You´ll need it for tomorrow.

Pennywise releases your neck, putting the weapon back into his pocket and taking out the wrinkled paper boat.

-          Smile a little, would you? You´ll have to be entertaining here slut or we are gonna get bored. Here, why don´t you start practicing with this? – he puts the boat on top of your head as a hat and slaps your face twice with a fake “cheering you up” motion – We´ll make you float again sooner than you expect.

[hananario-oh]

Soulless soul mates- felix volturi.

So was feeling the mood for a little fanfic but couldn't find one that hit the spot. So I made one 😁 enjoy! Also. It might get a little dark.

The flames of the fire danced high. Much higher than they needed to be. Not that they were needed at all. The bitter cold of the winter night air didn't compare to the coldness of our skin, nor did the scorching heat of the fire warm us. Long gone were the days it was needed for either of us.

That was the problem. I felt bitter and angry, once again the rage started to build.

They had no right! HE had no right!

It should have been my choice. No one should have been allowed to make that call, to say how my life would end or continue. Especially not like this.

I looked at my hands in my lap. The darkness of the night was deep, any and all moonlight blocked by the mountain side and the trees. The fire though big did nothing but light the immediate area. Shadows cast around me and the smoke went higher still. Yet unnaturally so, I saw everything. In details hard to imagine.

Every line in my skin. Every dent and scare. Every finger print with marks intertwined so little I never would have known they were there. Nothing escaped my sight, a world of billions upon billions of tiny details to take in and yet, I couldn't bring myself to focus. To even truly take it in and marvel in it.

The thirst stopped me.

God. The thirst!

Even now the burning ebbed and flowed, scratching and crawling inside my throat like a trapped cat. In the middle of nowhere my body ached to search for a cure.

Blood.

The fibres of my body nearly jumped excitedly at the thought of it yet my mind screamed. Disgusted and horrified with the monster my body had become. A battle I was never willing to be a part of was raging on inside of me. Making me question and fight each moment and movement I took.

My hands clenched, a wave of desire falling on me. Strong and demanding it felt like it took my breath away, if I had need to take one.

The feeling in my throat grew stronger, unimaginably so. It did not go unnoticed.

Felix straightened where he sat on the other side of the fire. Through the flames I could see him. His face pale but eyes red as blood. For obvious reasons.

I drew in an unneeded breath to help fight the next wave of desire brought on by making the connection to blood. Even the thought was enough to double the thirst. It was burning! Stabbing and growing! God!

In the background of feelings I felt the ripping sting of my own nails dig into my trousers, going through and gouging out skin. Nothing, compared to the thirst though. Nothing would ever compare. I just had to fight it.

"Stop! Your hurting yourself! For the love of whatever god is real just give in and drink the blood!"

Fighting the wave of desire to follow that order and end this, I opened my eyes. Not even aware I had shut them. He stood, hands clenched like mine but in anger and disparity. The already terrifyingly stern look he wore on his face had become murderous. His size only adding to the intimidating stance he projected towards me. Perhaps if I were weaker. It would have been enough to break me fully. But no. I had a fight to win, it was all I had left to fight for. I wasn't letting them take this choice from me like the others.

"No."

Though the pain left my teeth clenched, there was a smidgen of pride at how defiant I had sounded. More than I had expected of myself.

More than he had expected too. The defiance not sitting well, felix snapped.

His yell caught me off guard, the loudness of it sending a shock wave of sound throughout the forest. Birds that would normally be nested at night took flight. The whirlwind of sounds attacking my ears. In the far distance, deer scattered. A whole heard. Each one letting off a thunderstorm of hoofs hitting ground. Heart beats racing... Blood.

But not the blood I need.

Looking up, I caught the moment felix kicked, sending the log he had been sitting on before flying back into the tree's. Snow from on top fell, a glorious sight to watch in detail.

The burn dimmed. A rare moment of manageability a welcome relief. Felix stood like a god. Angry and strong. The flames in front of him while the snow fell behind, it went well with his unnatural beauty. Like some scene from the bible. A truly stunning sight yet my brain stumbled. Caught between desire for how handsome he was and shock. The connection between him and the devil had been made before but now the image matched. Now it felt real.

He ran a hand through his hair, recently cut short, leaving it ruffled.

"Drink." His voice now no more than a whisper still reached me loudly. This hearing change was yet another nightmare I hated that they had counted as a blessing.

Shaking my head. The scratching started to build again. I wanted to scream in annoyance.

"No."

Felix threw his had back. The muscles tense in his neck as he tried to keep his temper. Something he wasn't well known to even try.

"Drink. You can't go on like this. Drink it!"

The tension in his body was clear. This was a man who used his strength to get what he wanted. To be faced with a problem that brutal force could not fix, still normally ended in brutal force. I was pushing boundaries with him he hadn't had to face in his vampire life.

"N-no."

Another wave hit me, melting my strength and breaking my voice. I suppose I knew I would not be able to appear strong for long, but the defense I built felt damaged.

Weakness had been shown.

And it had been caught.

"Damn it, Amelia! You can't win this! You can't fight this! All you do is grow yourself weak and anger the masters!"

He gestured with his hand towards the city. Towards the bastards he held in such high regard that had both ended and ruined my life all in the name of a so called gift that I never even had in the end.

I had no doubt that if it was not for the so called soul mate that stood so angrily in front of me I would have met my second and very final ending not long after I woke to this nightmare. Perhaps I would have preferred it.

I shook my head, feeling tired and angry and weak and thirsty and everything else that was swirling in the mix of vile emotions. Its not like he got this. He enjoyed being this monster. He didn't even try to fight it.

"Felix, you don't understand. I-"

"NO! You, don't understand! From the moment we met this was it. This, is what you had coming. I won't let you die. I won't let you leave me, nor will the rest of the volturi. This is the only option you have so please, stop fighting it! Because this," he said pointing to the bodies of the dead animals I cast aside after drinking their blood in hopes of getting rid of the burn, "this won't work. It won't make it go away. It will keep you going but day after day that burn will be there! And this," he pointed to the path of broken and fallen trees I had taken down while blinded by the burn. A mistake even I admit. "this cannot go on! People will notice this Amelia and it's my job to make sure that vampires that do this disappear and I can't let that happen. So drink and come with me. This ends now!"

I shook my head in defiance. I knew he had valid points. I was making a mess and the burn wouldn't go, but I knew there were people out there, like me, that didnt want to kill people. That saw those who did as monsters. That fought the burn and got used to it. I could do it if I didn't have them holding me back. I had to.

"No. I refuse to. End of."

I had made it this far. Sixty something days. I could do it.

From Felixs' side the tension eased, only to be replaced with something else. Regret.

For a stupid but blissful moment, I thought he understood. That he knew I was never a person for this world, for this life and this sin. It really was a stupid moment.

"Then we do this the hard way."

My shoulders tensed. In the distance I heard the one voice I had really grown to hate. The high and mighty brat like attitude of Jane followed with it.

"Pitty. I was enjoying watching her break."

Before I could stand and make a break for it there were strong powerful arms trapping me. Wrapped around me like snakes, it was all I could do but thrash my legs about and yell.

"Let me go! Why the hell are you doing this to me! LET GO!"

Looking up, Demetri stared ahead to Felix, avoiding my pleading eyes. It was true I had attempted to make friends with him before I ran. My hopes were to have someone level headed and smart on my side to understand that I had a choice, to help the others understand. Yet here we were, he was helping them take that choice away. I could hardly handle the level of frustration that caused inside of me.

"STOP! WHATEVER YOU'RE DOING STO-"

The words got stuck in my throat, caught up in the burn that suddenly sprung to life. I could hear it, feel it, taste it! In the distance, getting closer. The erratic rhythmic thump thump. The flow of the thick liquid inside veins. The rapid breathing of fear. They stunk of it. A human. My meal.

The hard way.

No. No they can't!

"Don't do this! Stop! Felix stop this! Please!"

The burn was wild. I could taste the scent of the blood my body was so desperately craving. I could hear it and God if I so much as looked I bet I could see it. My fingers digged into Demetri's arms. I was sure he felt it but not once did he show any signs.

I knew he would be near, I figured he tracked me, but never did I think he would do this. Be a part of it. I really couldn't trust any of them.

My head was almost spinning by the time they'd brought them near. The blood flowing in their veins sounded like a river. Violently flowing to the sound of a beating heart. Closing my eyes did little to help but I couldn't look at them. I couldn't see the fear in their eyes. I knew it. Only so long ago the same fear was in my eyes as I thought I was meeting the same fate.

Yet the thirst made me want to. Made me want to be the monster they said I was.

"Felix pl-please! Stop. Please! Why won't you just leave me alone!"

I shook my head, despite my thirst I locked onto Felixs eyes. He couldn't do this. He had to see what he was doing to me. This wasn't love. This wasn't soul mates. If he loved me the way he claimed he couldn't stand by and let this happen!

"Felix please! Stop this! Please! FELIX!" I felt a tear slide down my cheek. I didn't even know I was still capable of such acts. He watched the tear fall, a frown in place of the smile I once thought I could eventually come to love. His eyes drifted to mine but he averted them quickly, head shaking as he looked away.

"I am sorry Amelia, you have to drink."

In front of me, Jane blocked my view of him. Her eyes looked as bored and mundane as normal. Like this was nothing but an annoying task that blocked her fun. Like she didn't secretly find pleasure in this like I knew she did. The bitch loved this and I knew it, she was even more sick and twisted than her brother! Her hand shot up in a silencing motion, as if I would listen to her.

"Enough! We've given you more than enough chances to accept our way of life and you seem insistent to avoid it. Know this Amelia, you have been shown more kindness and patience than I will ever understand from Master Aro, yet you defy even the simpler orders given. That patience has worn thin. Master Caius has ordered that an end be put to it tonight and so tonight it shall. Enjoy your meal. He smells delicious."

Before I could even protest or fight, the warmth and softness of skin was forced over my mouth. Instantly and despite my fight, the last shreds of my will power crumbled.

In a moment that I will never forgive myself for I took in the scent. The copper like sweetness of it danced down my throat, both igniting and partially soothing the ache, making my body lunge towards it.

It felt like liquid gold, water on fire and rest from a good sleep all at the same time. Instantly sore muscles felt better. The entire blanket of problems that accompanied the thirst was gone. I could feel it flow, quickly at first but then slower, weaker and colder. Eventually I had to draw it out. No longer did it flow freely.

I tried and tried to pull as much out as I could. It wasn't enough but the burn was gone. Eventually there was no more and my eyes opened. I hadn't even closed them knowingly, the bliss of relief doing so in the moment.

The moment which was no over.

Demetri was gone. So too alec if he had been here. Backing away Jane grinned like the cat that got the cream.

"Master Caius will be pleased."

And then gone too was Jane.

Left was only myself and Felix. The body of the dead man I had ended rested in my lap. My arms shakily lowered him to the flow away from me. My eyes couldn't leave his neck. The bite mark so clear that it almost over shadowed the tattoo. But I saw.

Manda and Bethan Daddy's little girls

I stood and turned away. There was a horrible numbness I had never felt before. I was a monster now. I was as bad as them. I had enjoyed it.

As if he hadn't made it worse enough, Felix placed his hand around my waste. Like it brought comfort and enjoyment. As if he deserved it.

"It had to be done. Next time will be easier. I promise. Just let me help you-"

In an instant I was at the ege of the tree's, away from him. He'd been expecting it, but the look of hurt on his face showed he didn't like it.

"No, that bastard has had his fun now. The games over. There won't be a next time. I will never forgive you for this. For anything you did. You don't deserve a mate, so don't come looking for one in me!"

I saw his hand reach for me but I was gone.

If he was smart, he wouldn't come after me. Either way, I had the Cullens to find. If they thought I would give up now, they were dead wrong.

[spookyspaghettisundae]

The Death of Me

Drifting in and out of consciousness, time melted into meaninglessness. Whenever the veil of darkness parted as his eyelids opened, that icy gaze greeted him, time and time again.

Her eerie white eyes with those tiny blue irises pierced his soul every time. He emptied his mind, knowing she could discern his thoughts if she wanted to. Her voice reached him like tender caresses while his mind drifted in between slumber and periods of waking, as she spoke with the pilot, Morgan. He could not make out the words, only a calm tone.

Whether it had been hours or days, it took Dirk an eternity to recover. A tingling sensation returned to his appendages and he wiggled his fingers, finding that feeling had returned to them. He clenched them into a fist and splayed them again, marveling at the wonder of having a fully functional body again.

After having been nearly rent apart in a space battle that split their vessel in half, suffocated while helplessly drifting through the stars, and a short stint of direct exposure to the void of space itself, he still found himself alive despite the odds. Every time, this damned silver-haired witch had brought him back.

He blinked and rubbed his eyes. Groaned. Took in his surroundings, registering a pitch-black residue of unknown fluids staining the walls and floor around him. He sat in a round chair in the back of the transporter’s cockpit, behind the two pilot seats in which the two women sat in front of him.

The witch held onto her chair’s headrest and sat on a leg, sideways in her seat, peering back at him.

Always with that icy gaze, that expressionless mien upon her pale skin and its myriads of tiny scars. The only other expression he knew from her was one of an arrogant smirk, an air of self-importance and sadistic glee. That same smirk played around the corners of her lips once she had observed him stirring for long enough.

He leaned forward and groaned again, feeling discomfort and pain throughout his entire back and rump.

“Good, you are finally awake,” she said.

Morgan, the pilot, pried her attention from the control console and looked over her shoulder to shoot a glance and a timid smile back at Dirk. She opened her mouth as if wanting to say something, but closed it again and gave him a short nod instead.

“How long was I—”

“You would not like the answer to that,” Kjalla told him.

He frowned and rubbed his lower back while saying, “Humor me.”

“No, let us just get your mind set on your next task, knight,” Kjalla countered without ever letting that smirk fade from her face.

Her arm—still wrapped in dirty yellow rags fashioned from her old prison overall—stretched out and pointed to the front window of the cockpit. Following her gesture, Dirk blinked to clear the blurring from his eyes like a newborn beginning to see for its first time.

Once the fog had cleared from his vision, he narrowed his eyes as he looked upon a purple planet with vast landmasses.

“Alright,” he sighed. “What am I looking at here?”

“One of the uncharted worlds out here on the fringe. This planet contains vast reserves of Astra crystal that we need for the hyperdrive. Being just our luck, the atmosphere is not breathable, and I am still recovering.”

Only now did Dirk notice that the witch’s other leg was not bare as usual, but wrapped in bandages that had bled through and turned a brackish brown. An unfriendly reminder from their encounter with the horrid creatures she had named the voidspawn.

Dirk narrowed his eyes and asked, “You can bring me back from the brink of death but cannot heal yourself?”

“No.”

“That makes no sense.”

Morgan shot a glance at each of her companions in the cockpit, but then focused on setting course towards the planet’s atmosphere.

“Not to you, perhaps. Did the knights only teach you how to fight and fear magic? Wait, do not answer that,” Kjalla said.

Dirk wanted to speak up anyway, but chortled instead. “Let me guess—I’m heading out alone to obtain some of those lousy crystals.”

The smirk vanished from Kjalla’s face and she nodded, replying, “Why, yes, yes indeed. You are perhaps not the simpleton and brute I thought you to be, eh? Yes, you need to do this. Wear your armor—”

“I fixed it,” Morgan said without looking back. Her fingers adroitly managed the vessel controls as she corrected the transporter’s course.

Swirling clouds drifted in beautiful patterns upon the planet’s surface, growing in size within the cockpit window as their distance to the world shrank with each passing second.

“What if I need you to rescue me again?

Dirk’s eyes remained trained on the fascinating vista. Strange spines of mountains came into sight, piercing the masses of clouds.

“For a fourth time? You are on your own—this time,” she said.

He got up and pressed the door’s button with his knuckles, balling his hand into a fist and unclenching it again. He recalled moments in between his bouts of unconsciousness during which he had lost all feeling and control of his digits. The door from the cockpit slid open with a hissing sound and he stepped outside, swallowing a glib remark to the situation.

During the minutes that followed, he climbed into his powered armor and ran diagnostics checks to confirm Morgan’s claims of having repaired it. She was a prodigy at flying this old rust-bucket of a transporter and seemed to have some sort of background in engineering, but he did not yet trust her with knowing her way around the hyper-specialized combat gear of the Golden Knights.

As he tested the suit’s mobility and took some tentative steps before mounting the helmet and fully entombing himself within the towering mechanized armor, he reminded himself that him being in this situation was entirely of his own doing. He had liberated the witch from her prison in order to exact his revenge on King Shahan.

He raised the hand cannon mounted on his armor’s right arm and peered down its analog iron sights. Joints whirred and hydraulics hissed. The smell of oil and burnt plastic hung heavy in the air.

And ever since freeing the witch from her two-thousand year sentence—the single only creature in this entire Sea of Stars that he thought could give him a realistic chance at taking down the cruel god-king—he had done nothing but escape. Escape from one near-death situation while stumbling into the next, all the while struggling to keep up while following the lead of this heartless silver-haired sorceress.

Speaking of the devil, the sound of the inner door to the airlock chamber hissing as it opened alerted him to her presence. He did his damnedest to clear his mind so she could not read his thoughts. Over the course of the past weeks of their journey together, she had probed his mind so often that he had numbed to these mental invasions, incapable of distinguishing between when she was doing so or not.

Before he turned to her and still straining to blot out his thoughts, he focused on the unsettling sound of her bare soles tapping lightly against the cold steel floors. She audibly limped.

“Calm your mind, I am not reading your thoughts,” she said.

As he finally turned, she greeted him with her uncanny smirk. It faltered when she put weight on her injured leg and winced, causing her to lean against the wall behind her and shift her weight.

He lowered the hand cannon and stared her in the eyes.

“Why do you insist on wearing so little? You make me feel cold just looking at you.”

That question fully wiped the smirk from her face.

“You really are not the brightest star in the sea if you cannot put two and two together,” she said. She glared at him. That icy gaze that chilled him to the bone drilled right into his mind. “For one, I am not human. For another, the world I was born upon was so far from light that my kind evolved differently from yours.”

He had nothing to say, but clamped his jaw shut, halting himself from hurling insults at the witch.

“I am far more adapted to cold environments than what you would find tolerable. Truth be told, it is so unbearably hot in your preferred environments that I would rather wear nothing at all. Yet I share your species’ same code and principles of decency when it comes to covering up reproductive organs. So here I am, sweating the life out of me by putting up with your ideal temperatures. And you are bothered by how little I wear?”

Dirk rolled his jaw before setting it again and his brow furrowed. He grunted and this time, for the first time in a long while, he smirked himself. Then he picked up the suit’s helmet and mounted it on his head. The clamps engaged and mechanical parts whirred as it locked into place.

When he spoke next, the speakers on his helmet distorted Dirk’s voice with a metallic echo, “No matter how skimpy, we need to get you some proper clothing, instead of those ratty old prison rags.” Turning to the other end of the airlock, he added, “Remind me why Morgan’s not joining me, either?”

“I am not risking her life out there,” said Kjalla.

“Right,” Dirk said. “Good to know I am the expendable one.”

She shook her head, but he could not see it.

The motion tracking sensor display on the inside of his helmet registered the witch leaving the airlock and shutting the inner door behind herself. He stared out the tiny round window of the exit and watched the alien grounds of this planet drawing closer. He was beginning to feel the mildly nauseating effect of the pull of natural gravity setting in while the artificial gravity generated by their vessel gradually diminished.

After completing a sharp arcing motion, the transporter set down with considerable momentum and caused him to sway, even with the powered armor balancing out such violent motion. He pushed the airlock’s door button with the tip of his hand cannon and awaited the doors to swing open fully. He picked up the magnetic crate by its handle with which he would transport the Astra crystals.

The landing ramp glided down and made contact with a surface littered with pinkish gravel and rocks. Bizarre plant-like growths covered in spikes and spiraling in shape curled up as if they had a mind of their own, as if they were shying away from the invading vessel’s metal.

The immense weight of the powered armor caused Dirk’s footsteps to thunder as he descended down the ramp and onto this alien planet’s surface. Unfamiliar rocks crunched underneath the suit’s heavy boots and he took a moment to let the built-in systems perform environmental scans. According to the readings, the atmosphere here was so toxic that it could kill him in a matter of a minute if he was directly exposed to it.

He exhaled sharply and set out.

The radio crackled inside his helmet and Morgan’s distorted voice told him, “Sending you the coordinates of the crystal reservoir.”

“Copy that,” Dirk said. “Overlay the coordinates onto the planetary map scan.”

“Affirmative,” his suit’s integrated computer responded in its monotone genderless voice.

He studied the on-screen map and marched ahead, following the ideal path projected on-screen. After only a minute of trudging across the rocks and marveling at the strange plants around him moving like tentacles, he arrived at the edge of a narrow ravine. Silvery liquid meandered at the bottom of it, reflecting the purple light of this world’s odd atmosphere and bathing the depths of the small canyon in a glow that somehow made put Dirk’s mind at ease.

His target was down there somewhere. The lights flickered and flashed on his display, crunching numbers and updating location data.

He stepped off the edge of the cliff and engaged the jump jets. Bursts of blue light exploded from the exhaust ports on his suit during his downwards glide. He came to a slow hovering halt before setting down on stable ground at the bottom of the ravine. There, he stood by the silvery liquid. Its surface showed distorted reflections of everything—including his own black-armored apparition—like a molten mirror, captivating his attention and fascinating him for the length of several breaths. Only when he realized how uncomfortably warm it was getting inside his armor did he snap out of it. He looked up and down the ravine and decided it might be a bad idea to immerse himself in that silvery liquid. The computer scans warned him of critical danger inherent in such exposure.

The map data guided him into a nearby cave.

He saw a crystal growing from the rocks right in the mouth of the cave’s entrance and plucked it from the stone itself. His system scanned the sharp-looking crystalline shape and returned a negative, identifying its Astra concentration as too low for consumption. He dropped it and continued on.

His radio crackled, but no communication came in. The flashlights built into the suit flared up and illuminated the pitch-black path before him. Dirk was all alone with the sound of his own breathing, and beginning to feel claustrophobic in his mighty powered armor, as the cave’s tunnel twisted and turned and seemed to get tighter and narrower the more he descended deeper into this strange planet’s earth.

The ground underneath his armored feet crunched—but in a different way from the gravel up until now. Were it not for the gyros and servos of his armor balancing his every movement out with inhuman precision, he would have stumbled as he twisted and turned while walking, trying to get a good look at the ground below. He peered down and the computer confirmed his suspicion.

Bones. A whole mess of bones, cracking and splitting under the half ton of weight exerted by his armor in this planet’s gravity. What made the hair stand back up on the back of Dirk’s neck, though, was how humanoid the bones looked. Far too small to be of his own species, and neither exo-skeletal like familiar insectoids, nor resembling the carapaces of certain aquatic forms typical to the core worlds.

The data scrolling across his display assessed the age of these bones to be thousands of years old but found no match to known species.

His heartbeat raced and he advanced with more caution. The flashlights cast a more menacing shadow once he raised his hand cannon in front of him, expecting to encounter hostile life forms.

Dirk almost jumped out of his own skin when the radio crackled once more. No transmission, just static and white noise followed.

“Morgan, can you read me?”

Nothing.

Then, after the next few steps forward, the monotone voice from his computer said, “Uplink connection lost.”

“Yeah, thanks. I figured that out myself, you good-for-nothing heap of—”

He choked on his words and stopped dead in his tracks. He had reached a huge cavern. A single beam of purple light rained down from a crack far up in the cavern’s ceiling, illuminating the place and revealing an ocean of bones littering its grounds, enough light that he could switch off his flashlights. In the midst of this alien boneyard, exactly where the natural light shone upon, stood a large monolithic stone, surrounded by crystalline outgrowths.

His scanners pinged those crystals as the ones from the planetary scan, but his attention was rapt by the strange standing stone. Dirk approached it, engrossed by its mirroring surface, even more reflective than the silvery liquid flowing through the ravine outside this cave.

The sickening crunching of the bones that erupted from each step he took towards the monolith might as well have been a million clicks away. He lowered the cannon to his side and came within an arm’s length of the monolith, looking it up and down in awe, and marveled at the perfect reflection of his pitch-black armor with its gilded lines, standing there in this strangely soothing purple light.

It was hypnotic.

His display flashed with the objective to collect the Astra crystals, but he had no eyes for that. His breathing turned shallow and slow, but he had no ears for that. Something was inside that stone, within the reflection, but he had no sense for that.

Something that yearned to trade places. Something that reached out, finding a malleable mind, one accustomed to mental contact. One that was numbed to thought probes. Blood trickled from Dirk’s nostrils as the entity transcended mental contact, and entered his mind, wrenching the pathways open once they rebelled and threatened to close down and cut the connection. Something dark, and vicious.

But Dirk was long gone at that point, pushed down into the recesses of his mind. Lost in memories of his dead family, his murdered friends, and mired in guilt. The entity found a deep well of seething rage, boiling up and thirsting for vengeance upon the Star Kingdom’s golden ruler. A shadow of obsession cloaked the real world around Dirk.

It was time to leave, the entity thought. It quickly merged with Dirk’s memories and knew what to do.

Where to go.

It even took time to chip chunks of the crystalline growths from the monolith’s base, filling the metal crate Dirk had brought along. Carefully piling the native Astra crystals into it, one by one. It would need to follow through with the human’s objective to pass as him. Thought by thought, memory by memory, it gradually unraveled his entire being to learn of his current situation and how it could escape this planet.

Arriving by the silver river outside the cave, it fully understood how to operate the suit Dirk wore. The entity engaged the armor’s jump jets and glided upwards through the air until it landed on the cliff’s edge where Dirk had descended.

Thousands of years in captivity left the entity standing there, staring up in awe and admiring the roiling clouds in the purple sky.

And the stars.

That beautiful Sea of Stars, now within reach once again.

Finally free.

The radio crackled within the helmet, and Morgan’s voice spoke, “Dirk? Took you long enough.” After a pause, “Hello?”

The armor’s head jerked around as the entity looked to the landed transporter, nestled atop a natural outcropping of jagged stone. The entity marched there, returning in Dirk’s body to and armor to the alien vessel.

“I got the crystals,” it replied in Dirk’s voice, on its way. It found his manner of speaking with ease. What a simple, pliable mind. “Feel free to fire up the engines. Can’t wait to get off this barren rock.”

It ascended the ramp and closed the airlock behind itself.

It explored the winding pathways of its vessel’s inane mind and found his habits. It felt the body’s discomfort in the heat of the armor, but decided to keep the helmet on for maximum protection. It assessed the biggest threat to its existence, and found the mental image of Kjalla.

A sleek and simple form, a humanoid female of a stark white complexion, covered in scars, with silver hair. A hint of sexual tension that this “Dirk” felt when looking at her. And an icy gaze that stared right through you, mirroring how she could probe this pathetic vessel’s mind.

Alarmed by the last thought and the threat that it posed, the entity powered up the hand cannon to maximum charge, careless of whether or not that would cause significant damage to the spacecraft it now rode in. It felt the vessel lift off, hurtling towards the stars.

Elation filled it, mixing in with murderous intent. Then it spiraled into terror as it felt another entity entering its shared mind. First tugging at the frayed edges of Dirk’s memories and pulling with more fervor as it grasped at unknown desires, grasping upon the entity’s sinister presence. The entity raised its defenses, shielding the human’s mind from the mental invader.

The exit from the airlock hissed as it opened and the entity stared directly through Dirk’s eyes and the powered armor’s visor at that silver-haired witch.

The entity pointed the hand cannon at her, but she stood there, wide-legged, buckling under her own weight as her injured knee failed to carry her. She bared her teeth at Dirk—or rather, at the thing that had hijacked his body. And Dirk’s body trembled all over, and both armor and body refused to follow the entity’s mental orders. The hand cannon glowed, but the weapon failed to fire, fizzling and emitting sparks.

Dirk’s body screamed, but it was the entity’s anger erupting from it like an exploding volcano. Every blood vessel in Dirk’s eyes exploded and blinded him momentarily. He coughed up blood, splattering the inside of his helmet’s visor with the bodily fluid and obscuring both his own vision and that of the entity. For the man fought against the entity, now fighting back and struggling for the upper hand. And he sensed a third presence, pinning the entity down, allowing him to take control again. He unlocked the helmet and removed it from his head, stumbling around and smashing into a corridor wall.

The entity refused to relinquish control. It needed to be free. The Sea of Stars had not been so close for all this time, within such close reach. Not for the past two thousand years. This horrible injustice had to be rectified. Surely, they had to understand.

But the witch felt no sympathy, saw no reflection of herself in this being. Although a thirst for revenge drove her just like it did the silly human the entity now inhabited, the entity could not merge with her being, it could not trade places nor travel to her mind. Her revenge was a cold, seething darkness, like the void between the stars. Something born from a cruelty so hateful and ancient and maddening that it forced even this devious entity to cower in fear.

A mental wildfire surged through Dirk’s mind, searing memories and setting thoughts ablaze. He screamed in agony and gripped his head so hard that the mechanized fingers of his suit threatened to crack his own skull.

Kjalla crumpled into a heap on the floor, collapsing where she had stood. Her chest heaved with labored breaths and blood seeped from the bandages on her leg.

Dirk let go of his head, trying to establish his whereabouts and understand how he had gotten here. The memories flooded back to him, arriving in a jumble and requiring him to piece all the splintered fragments back together. He saw reflections of his own thirst for vengeance in the entity’s memories, still echoing in his mind. He now also retained shreds of alien memories, not his own, and he needed to distinguish them from his own.

The witch had purged the entity from Dirk. Destroyed it. Finishing something that a lost civilization had never managed to accomplish, all those centuries ago.

The metal joints of his hissed as he crawled over to the sorceress and looked her up and down. He coughed up more blood into the hollow of his armored hand and blinked to clear his vision, but it remained blurry. She was covered in a sheen of sweat and her body trembled.

Dirk cringed when the throbbing in his skull caught up with him. He felt like throwing up, like he had been smashed against a concrete wall in a vehicle crash. Everything hurt and he saw blood upon the back of his armored hand after wiping under his nose with it.

“I need your healing. Again,” he said through gritted teeth, wondering how much blood he had lost—and was still losing.

“You will be the death of me,” she whispered at the tail end of a pained groan.

With the strength of the powered armor, he picked her up as if she weighed nothing. He sighed again and then carried her towards the storage cells where they had stored their scavenged supplies.

He had nothing to say to that. But he would not let her die. Not after all of this. Fate was cruel, but fate was proving him right, it seemed. He would not allow her to die, now. Not if he could prevent it somehow.

And not until he had his revenge.

—Submitted by Wratts

[elementsofemotion]

Chapter 1: The Forest Prince

Birds chirped in greeting to the morning sun as it lazily climbed its way up into the eastern sky, it's brilliant rays peeking through the tall oaks and only coming to a stop when its light was scattered about the forest floor.

Deep within the forest, at its very center and towering above the rest, stood the Great Tree, home of the Nature Goddess. The forest was her kingdom, and she loved it as much as it loved her. Though the tree was mostly hollowed out as living quarters, it still lived and flourished beautifully thanks to the Goddess’ power. It was the landmark of the Eternal Forest.

It was at the top of this landmark that a tiny nature sprite flew out from the leaves. Sprites were a common resident of the Eternal Forest, along with the other realms, as helpers of mana regulation. Their bodies were almost humanoid, though more rounded and undefined with nubby, slender legs and tiny hands. Their faces were almost reptile like, also rounded and with soft features that made their large eyes stand out. The humans often called them fairies, though it wasn’t a term the sprites were fond of.

The nature sprite’s translucent wings were multiple shades of orange and pink, arranged in a pattern reminiscent of a monarch butterfly. His skin was a deep emerald green, with darker green markings adorning his arms, legs, and nubs that continued into the antennae on the top of his head. His tail was long and slender, with leaf-like extremities that eventually ended into a pink lily.

The sprite paused in midair, quickly taking in his surroundings before quickly dropping down to the forest floor, like a falcon diving down onto its prey.

Down among the tangled roots of the great oak was the person he was looking for. The boy was considered extremely young for a spirit, only existing in the world for a mere 120 or so years, as opposed to those who had lived for millenia. On the outskirts of the long reaching roots, his home was in a shallow burrow. Moss and giant flowers gave him excellent bedding to sleep on, with the roots above him providing adequate protection from the elements.

The boy slept soundly, curled up into a tight ball in the center of a particularly large flower. Though he was down below the roots, light still reached him in plentiful amounts, dotting the area around him with the warm, yellow sunshine. Six magnificent wings- black with white tips on the right side, white with black on the left- covered him like a blanket, protecting him in a warm shell from the outside world. His feathers shifted ever so slightly with each breath.

He had messy, rosey-brown hair with a small, nubby set of black horns sprouting up from it. Black and silver Headphones covered his ears, the band carefully pushed behind his horns in an attempt to make it stay in place. He wore an unusual looking army green jacket with white fur trim, over-sized for his small frame. His undershirt was white, and black ripped-up pants were tucked into black and white converse boots. As if to match his horns, a devil-like tail was curled up around him as he rested.

The sprite landed hard on top of the boy’s folded wings with little regard to his feathers. He didn’t stir even as the sprite began to jump up and down, his weight barely noticeable.

“Caelian!” He called, sliding down the boy’s wings and landing down on the floor near his head. “Caelian! Wake up! Come on, you lazy bird!”

Caelian’s wings shuddered, before they slowly opened up around him, revealing the small boy they were protecting. He blinked his azure blue eyes groggily, not bothering to stifle his yawn as his wings neatly folded against his back and he lifted his head.

“What is it, Nathaniel?” He asked, his usually soft voice slightly hoarse from sleep.

The Sprite flitted up from the root he was standing on to the top of Caelian’s head, plopping down into a sitting position in one swift motion.

“Gaia wants to see you!”

“Oh, really?” He let out another yawn. “That’s all?”

“Yeah, she- HEY,” Nathaniel let out a shriek as Calian plopped his head back into the soft patch of moss he had been using as a pillow, causing the sprite to roll off into the roots. He let out puffs of annoyance as he climbed back up, dramatically slapping his tiny hands on top of the large root as he pulled himself up without his wings for assistance.

“Okay wise guy, no. You’ve had ENOUGH sleep, it’s time to WAKE. UP,” He emphasized the last two words as he pushed against Caelian’s face, earning little reaction.

“It’s warm out- and I’m tired- Let me sleep, Gaia won’t mind.”

“Oh yes, I’m sure Gaia will appreciate her disciple not taking his job seriously. Not like she needs anyone to help monitor the barrier and take care of the forest denizens.”

Caelian cracked open an eye.

“Poor Gaia, having someone so young and lazy as a disciple. Surely, her work is cut out for her,” Nathaniel sighed dramatically as he turned away from Caelian, shrugging his hands and shoulders. “So busy regulating the forest’s mana, y’know, so the realm doesn’t fall apart- but I suppose she’ll just have to somehow deal with everything herself since her disciple can’t even do his job. I mean, for anyone else it would be a great honor to serve as the right hand to one of the Gods, but hey, if you’re tired, go back to dreamland.”

Caelian had fully opened his eyes while Nathaniel spoke, giving the sprite a very blank look. Beside him, a soft green light began to dimly glow, growing in intensity over the span of several seconds. A moment later, a lantern materialized, the intense light quickly pulled into a sphere that floated inside of the lightly tinted glass. Vines and flowers sprung to life, twisting and turning around the lantern’s exterior as they appeared from seemingly nowhere. Finally, the light inside of the lantern dimmed again, leaving it enveloped in a sparkling green aura.

Caelian pushed himself up into a sitting position. He gave himself a light shake, stretching out his wings slightly and ruffling his feathers.

“I do take it seriously,” he said. “It is an honor to serve Gaia.”

“Then up!” Nathaniel huffed. “Up, up, up!”

He didn’t wait for Nathaniel as he climbed up and out of the tangled roots, though the sprite hardly needed him to wait, as he quickly flitted up through the roots much faster than he ever could. Nathaniel waited, hovering patiently in the air as Caelian climbed out into the beams of sunlight. He momentarily squinted against the increased amount of light, before stretching out his wings to their full length, unable to do so back in the confined space.

“Great! Let’s go!” Nathaniel darted upwards towards the hollow he had descended out of, only to pause a moment later and look back down at Caelian, who hadn’t moved. He wore a blank expression on his face as Nathaniel smugly called down to him.

“Come on! Make your wings useful for something!”

“You know I can’t, Nath,” Caelian said as the sprite zipped back down, stopping a foot in front of his face.

“Man,” Nathaniel stuck out his tongue. “Six wings and you can’t even fly. What's the point of having them? Can’t you just learn already?”

“I’ve tried, it doesn’t work.”

“Oh come on! I can fly with just two wings! Six wings has to be like, super easy!”

“I can’t, Nath,” Caelian repeated.

“Sure you can! Just flap them a few times and fwoosh, you’re flying!”

Nathaniel hung in the air, his arms raised up in exaggeration as Caelian stared quietly at him. After a few moments of silence Nathaniel sighed, mimicking a sitting position in the air as he rested his elbow on his knee and his chin on his hand. “Man, teasing you is no fun. You never get riled up.”

“Isn’t that a good thing?” He asked.

“It's no fun,” Nathaniel sighed. “You’re so boring when you have Nyxidae out. Whatever, let's go the long way.”

Caelian glanced over to the green lantern that hung in the air beside him as Nathaniel flew away. Nyxidae was the name of the elemental within the lantern: The green light that hummed softly within the glass. The elemental was also what would influence his current personality and emotions.

He set off to follow Nathaniel to the base of the giant tree. Surrounding it, blending into the wood seamlessly as if naturally formed, was a staircase that twisted around the entire circumference of the trunk, leading all the way up to the top. It was quite the trek, and one Caelian was familiar with.

Nathaniel waited as Caelian took the first few steps up the stairs, before flying off far ahead of him, only to stop and wait again for the boy to catch up.

Caelian still vividly remembered when he was younger and unable to feel anything. It was assumed he was born without any sort of emotion, if such a thing were even possible. It wasn’t for certain if he was born that way or if something else had occurred to cause the loss of emotion, as he really had no memory of his early childhood. It wasn’t until Gaia found him wandering lost in the forest and took him under her wing that he received a gift of four elementals that allowed him to finally experience emotion. To feel something. To finally experience being alive.

Back when he felt nothing, he never could understand that he was missing something the others had. The smiling, laughing- He couldn’t understand what made people do such strange things. Until Reimos, his Fire Elemental, showed him that same feeling of happiness. It was then he understood. Gaia had given him what was possibly the greatest gifts he could have ever asked for, and he hoped to never have to revert into the lifeless, blank slate he used to be.

Nyxidae was the name of his Nature Elemental. The feelings she embodied were things such as Tranquility, Hope, and Peace. She also enabled him to feel a strong sense of duty for his position as Gaia’s disciple.

It was a while later that Caelian finally reached the top of the winding stairs. At some point during the trek, Nathaniel had gotten tired and decided to take a rest on top of his head. The staircase ended into the treetop, where a large platform was laid out underneath the canopy of leaves. Woven branches made a solid footing for Caelian to step onto. In the center of the canopy sat Gaia, a being several times larger than Caelian or any other person.

Her long brown hair flowed gently down along her body, brushing against her glowing tanned skin that had flowing vines and leaves growing along it. Beautiful white wings sprouted from her back, gently fanning themselves in the air. Atop her head two magnificent antlers rose, their bases hidden by the flowers weaved into her hair.

She appeared to be resting against an enormous ball of moss, her eyes closed and her breathing light. It wasn’t until Caelian stepped closer to her that she slowly opened her eyes with a smile.

“Good morning, Caelian” Her voice reverberated throughout the room. It was a soft, soothing voice that gave the feeling of safety and comfort, like a gentle breeze among the leaves.

In response, Caelian quickly dropped into a deep bow, causing Nathaniel to let out a squeak and grab onto his horns to prevent himself from falling off.

“Good morning, Gaia.”

He remained bowed until he glanced up at the sound of Gaia setting her hand down in front of him, her palm facing upward.

“Come, now. I’ve told you that you don’t need to be so formal with me.”

Caelian gave her an unsure look as he straightened back up, Nathaniel letting out a sigh of relief before quickly removing himself from Caelian’s head and flitting off somewhere out of sight.

“Come. It’s fine.”

Caelian gently clambered up onto her hand, fitting neatly into her palm. He sat with his hands resting in front of him, steadying himself as Gaia slowly raised her hand up, stopping when Caelian was close to her freckled face. Her sky blue eyes gazed at him lovingly as she lifted her other hand, using a single finger to gently stroke the top of his head.

“There you are,” She hummed as Caelian leaned into the finger that was now gently stroking the side of his face. “Are you only allowing Nyxidae out? You should just be yourself, Caelian. Don’t worry about appearing diligent in front of me.”

With that, three more lights began to shine around Caelian, before growing in intensity and materializing into lanterns, just as his first one had. Blue, Red, and Yellow colored elementals- Water, Fire and Celestial-were added alongside his green nature sprite, each with their own unique aura and decorations.

“There, isn’t that much better?” She laughed as Caelian was now making a sound reminiscent of a purr as he pushed himself into the fingers that were stroking him. His tail wagged excitedly behind him, and the feathers on his wings were puffed up to look twice their size.

“My silly little sprout, you don’t need to force yourself to one elemental at a time. They're designed to all work in tandem with each other.”

“I want to be a good disciple,” Caelian said, his cheek pressed against Gaia’s fingertip. “Only Nyxidae really helps with that.”

“You are a good Disciple, Caelian,” Gaia smiled. “Besides that, you’re my darling little sprout, and I’d never wish for you to limit your emotions like that. Now, tell me, what have you been up to since I last asked for you?”

“Um, I’ve been checking the borders of the realm every day like you’ve asked me to,” Caelian said as he placed his hands against Gaia’s thumb. “Your barrier still feels strong- nothing should be able to get in and… So… Um- What are we keeping out, again?”

“There’s just been some rumors floating around and I want to take precaution. It’s nothing for you to worry about, dear.”

“Yeah, but...”

Gaia stroked Caelian’s head again. “What about the forest? Everything seems normal?” She asked, trying to steer the conversation away from the barrier.

“Oh! Yeah, everything seems fine… I played with some deer the other day!”

“Oh?” Gaia grinned. “Did you, now? What did you play?”

“The headbutt game!”

“I see, is that what the cut on your cheek is from?” She mused, gently rubbing his cheek with her pinky finger. “Well, did you win?”

“Nope!”

Gaia laughed. “Perhaps next time, then. But please be careful, I don’t want you to get too hurt.”

“It’s okay, the deer are nice! They wouldn’t hurt me.”

“I’m sure they wouldn’t,” She smiled. “Now, what about the forest denizens? Have they had any problems recently?”

Gaia’s expression fell into a soft frown as Caelian grew quiet and looked away from her.

“Caelian...”

“I don’t like talking to them.” He said.

“I understand, Caelian. But as my disciple, it’s part of your job to assist them with any problems they can’t handle by themselves.”

“But they never even tell me if they need help with anything. I don’t see the point. Nathaniel always asks me if I feel upset when they call me things, but… Hey, Gaia, what does that mean? To be upset?”

Gaia gently stroked Caelian’s head and let out a soft sigh. “Oh, Caelian… it’s better if you don’t feel that way. Just think of it as… not liking something.”

“But isn’t it strange?” Caelian frowned. “I thought you granted me the ability to feel all of the emotions?”

“There’s some I’m not able to give you. But they’re all negative emotions, so perhaps it's for the better.”

“But… How can some emotions be bad? Emotions are linked to the elements, so… are… are there bad spirits as well?”

“I’ll explain it all to you someday, my little sprout,” Gaia said softly. “For now, I want you to go to the town and try talking to the villagers. Can you do that for me, please?”

“Yeah.. I can try,” Caelian said as Gaia lowered her hand back to the ground.

“Don’t be afraid to put your foot down if they disrespect you, Caelian,” Gaia said in a gentle voice as Caelian climbed out of her hand. “I understand you’ve ended up caught up in the middle of the dispute of who they think I should have chosen. But the decision was mine and mine alone, and I have chosen you to be my disciple.”

“Why did you choose me, anyways?” Caelian asked as he stared up at her. “Everyone says I’m… unqualified.”

Gaia slowly lowered her head down to Caelian’s level, resting her chin on her hands as her eyes met his.

“It’s true that you’re young, Caelian. I don’t doubt there are others that feel they would have been more qualified for the position. However,” She lifted her head enough to release one hand, using it to gently stroke the top of Caelian’s head with a fingertip. “I sense great things from you. I firmly believe you’ll grow into something amazing.”

Caelian seemed pleased with this answer, letting out a purr as his feathers ruffled up.

“Now, go ahead and run along,” Gaia urged with a smile. “Come back and see me when you’ve finished checking in on them.”

“Okay!” Caelian said before turning and running back across the root platform and towards the shining light of the sun.

Nathaniel, who had been waiting for Caelian outside, turned to see him just as he exited the canopy.

“Oh good, there you are. Did Gaia- Hey- Hey Cae- CAELIAN WAIT PLEASE NO NOT TODAY DON’T-”

Nathaniel’s screaming was ignored as Caelian kept running to the edge of the platform and jumped off, doing a forward flip as he tumbled out of view.

He grinned as the wind ripped past him, tussling his hair and making the tail of his coat flap violently. His wings remained firmly pinned against his back, his feathers ruffling fiercely from the wind. The wind urged them to open, to catch the wing between his feathers and soar. But he knew better.

He took a moment to admire the forest during his long fall, since it was only from high up in the sky that you could really take in the vastness of the forest. As he grew closer to the ground, he turned himself so that he was facing upright with his legs neatly tucked underneath him.

The blue lantern’s light that followed behind began to grow in intensity until water shot out of the lantern, spiraling and wrapping itself around Caelian. It formed a sphere around him, encapsulating him in a giant bubble.

As it hit the ground, the water rippled heavily as it absorbed the shock of the fall and bounced back up into the air a few feet. Caelian was thrown around inside for a bit as the bubble continued to bounce from the kinetic energy, before finally settling into a soft roll along the ground.

The bubble of water burst just as Nathaniel made his way down to where Caelian was sitting, sighing as he looked at the now drenched boy.

“Seriously?” He asked.

“It’s quicker,” Caelian said nonchalantly as he stood up, shaking some of the water from his clothing.

“Thanks, Iaestia.”

The blue lantern, whose light had now dimmed back to normal, made a satisfying chiming noise as it circled around Caelian.

“You’re going to get hurt one of these days,” Nathaniel sighed. “It’s good that you trust in your elementals to protect you, but… Jeez, I never realized how terrifying someone that doesn’t experience fear can be.”

Caelian shrugged. “I still don’t know what you mean by that.”

“Yeah, yeah, I know,” Nathaniel grumbled as he landed on the ground, folding his arms as he glowered up at Caelian. “You don’t feel afraid so you don’t stop and think about the possible consequences of your actions.”

When Caelian only gave him a confused look, Nathaniel let out another sigh. “Well, whatever. Gaia asked you to go to the village, right?”

“Yeah… You’ll come with me, right?”

“Of course,” Nathaniel huffed. “Someone needs to be there to get angry when they all start being assholes to you.”

Caelian tapped his fingertips together as Nathaniel darted back up into the air. “It feels weird, though- I know they’re being rude and not saying nice things to me, but… I don’t really feel anything from it.”

“I mean, it doesn’t make you feel good , does it?”

Caelian paused before slowly shaking his head. “No… I don’t feel happy from it… or comforted, or anything else… The only thing I really feel is when the children throw rocks at me. It uh, hurts... in a physical sense, I mean.”

“Don’t worry, if we see those brats again I’m sending a blast of nature magic their way, kids or not.”

“Don’t hurt them, Nathaniel,” Caelian frowned. “They’re just kids.”

“Kids that throw rocks,” Nathaniel snorted. “Whatever, fine. Let’s just get going.”

Nathaniel flew ahead again, albeit this time at a much slower pace. Caelian took a moment to try and shake more of the water off, before following Nathaniel off into the overgrown forest.

[moderndaymiserypodcast]

The Night of the Escape by Alex Kelly

“Did you hear that?” Keith turned around to face his cohorts, enabling him to fully present his mockingly shocked face.

           “Man don’t do that, I’m trying to stay chill.” Jake, oversized navy hoodie slumping with his shoulders out of tired annoyance. He didn’t really hate Keith’s jokes, it was a reprieve from the eerie place they were walking around in but read the room.

           “I know neither of you are actually paying attention, but there was the sound of something knocking against wood.” Victor said, matter of factly.

“Knocking against wood, eh? Doesn’t sound too bad to me” Keith smirked at Victor, expectantly, an eager dog waiting for their owner to make the slightest sign of approval. It never came. Keith rolled his eyes, turned back, and they continued into the living room. They had just entered the house, via the front door and tight entryway, but it was already clear the people who took care of this place didn’t believe in swiffers. The house’s style was as if someone collected newspapers as a job. Stacks filled the floor and gave way to dated, Victorian style furniture.  

Jake held Victor's sister’s camera, panning around the floor and walls to capture the detail. This was his fifth time recording for the guys and one could say he was still getting the hang of it. He wasn’t a professional cinematographer yet so the shakiness added to the realism they were all looking for. Victor researched the facts, directed, and led them through investigations. He was the one who introduced the other two to the world of paranormal mysteries earlier in the semester and Keith was the brains -if you can call it that- who saw the potential in a YouTube series of three college friends investigating ghosts. Enough people are jumping on this bandwagon, why shouldn’t they? Victor thought it would give his research an outlet, and although he’d never admit this, getting to discover a ghost or some paranormal entity with video proof made him excited to get up in the morning. These three boys just happened to attend Fairfield together and were only a twenty-one-minute drive to the Warren Occult Museum, they’d be poor ghost hunters if they didn’t investigate this.

“I was simply mentioning that we should be alert. Jake, you’re recording, yes?” Victor looked at Jake who nodded, intent on not making any sounds.

           Keith, not known for giving up the last word, replied, “Victor, we’re surrounded by a forest, inside a big old house with a shit ton of windows, and there’s a breeze. Everything is making the sound of something knocking against wood.”

           The living room had an open hallway entrance in the back, it glowed red. They naturally gravitated towards it, assuming the destination. The hallway was crammed with large paintings and terrifying sketches of screaming faces and messy, haunted houses. Several reddish-orange light bulbs were attached to the upper part of the wall, an attempt to dress the place up that ended up making everything look stained with fresh blood.

Victor led the way, already in the zone, “Donna was this nursing student who got the doll from her mom as a gift-”

Keith popped in, “That’s a weird gift-”

“-anyways, it started to move around when no one looked. Donna and her roommate started finding strange notes on the ground that they couldn’t explain. When the doll’s hands had what looked like blood on them-”

“-the doll...had blood on them,” Keith said in between laughing.

Victor gave a terse look, “So they called a medium who said that the spirit of a 7-year old girl found her home in the doll, her name was Annabelle.  Touched, Donna let her stay in the doll. However,” Victor turned and stared into the camera, “what some might not know, is that demons can supposedly appear as small children to seem unassuming and garner trust from mortals.”

“Mortals? Vic!”

“I’m just trying to get the info out.” Jake remained silent while the two bickered. Victor continued, “and one of Donna’s friends, Lou, had supposedly gotten scratches from the doll. They got in touch with a priest who connected them with Ed and Lorraine Warren, who confirmed the doll was being controlled by a demonic spirit, not a ghost, who was looking for a human host and had the capacity to kill.”

This time, Keith stayed quiet with Jake. Jake kept the camera on Victor as they crept slowly through the hallway.

“The Warrens noticed the doll was dangerous to drive with and brought it home to try to exercise it. The first priest to insult the doll immediately found himself in a car crash later that day, which led to a series of car collisions with people who mocked the doll.”

Keith finally spoke, “So, what I’m hearing, is that I shouldn’t make fun of Annabelle?”

Jake swung the camera back and forth from him to Victor. Vic replied, “I can’t control what you say but if you do say something I don’t agree with, we’re driving back separately. We’re about to enter the room.

The hallway spit them out into the room that they had broken in to see. They wouldn’t have broken in normally, they’re not stupid, but the place has been closed for two years and if they didn’t explore it, the place might get torn down and replaced with a parking lot in mere months. Seizing the opportunity and already getting this far, the three of them walked inside. This was the artifact room, the place that held the world’s most dangerous and historically supernatural items. A vampire coffin stood upright on one wall, right next to one of probably fifteen demonic masks that looked like they were probably made of coarse, gritty material and hair.

Victor continued to talk, which Jake was thankful for, “That right there is ‘The Shadow Doll’ that you can make attack people if you try. There’s a doll from the New England Witch Trials, and again don’t touch anything, we’re not here to disturb, only communicate.  And here…here’s Annabelle. You see the box she’s kept in? The Devil tarot card was stapled to the wood by Ed Warren, he also soaked the wood in holy water cause that’s what had kept her at bay.” Victor took out a vial of holy water and gave it a brief shake to demonstrate he brought it for emergencies. “We’ll be right back.”

Jake pointed the camera towards Annabelle and Keith and Victor set up two candles on either side of the doll’s box. Annabelle was kept in an arcade-game sized wooden frame with dusty glass windows. The red light washed over everything, and that included the raggedy-ann doll with large, black, empty button eyes. It’s hair was casually tossed around its head and it sat in the middle of the wooden bottom like it was waiting to be served tea, not attempt a murder. The entire case was taller than them and it gave it an edge of intimidation, despite the doll’s small size. A devil’s trap was carved into the floorboards beneath the case and painted in thick black acrylic directly above. Lots of stone chains and sigils surrounded the case, assumedly for extra protection. They lit the candles and the room somehow gets more unnerving with two flickering lights. Victor’s face remained stone-cold with focused intent but there was an eager hopefulness in his eyes. Keith still had one eyebrow raised and arms crossed.

Victor started, “Hello. We’ve placed two candles on either side of you. If you would like to communicate, turn off the candle to your right.”

They waited.

Victor continued, “If you are upset at our presence, turn off the candle to your right.”

Flickering.

The left candle flame danced, and then the candle on the right went out.

Jake spoke, “Uh. Guys did you see that?”

           Keith looked at him, “Of course we did, the wind unlit our candles because that’s how small fires work.”

           Victor held up a hand to stop Keith, “I’m going to continue. We do not want to upset you, we just want to talk. Do you feel trapped here?”

The flame returned to the candle. Everyone stopped breathing.

Everything just stopped.

           “Do you want to kill us?” Keith broke the silence.

Victor instantly turned on him, “What would compel you to say something like that? I know you don’t take this seriously but come on.”

“Guys,” Jake mentioned. Both the candles were out, “Should we leave?”

The candle on the right fell to the floor. Both Jake and Victor jumped. Keith would refuse that he jumped. Jake looked at Victor for their next move. He nodded in silent agreement that their time here was complete. Victor said to Keith, “Jake has to wake up early, let’s call it,” he looked at the camera, “That was our interaction, and the most recent conversation, with Annabelle.”

           Quiet again, Victor deftly picked up the candles and returned them to his back. His eyes straight ahead, lost in thought. Keith resumed looking around the room at the other strange objects. Jake stopped recording. The three of them started down the hallway but halfway through, a loud sound of breaking glass stopped them all in their tracks.

           Jake stuttered, “Oh my god I’m so sorry, I bumped into one of the picture frames with the camera bag, I’m so so sorry.” He dropped to the ground and began sweeping up the shards with a rag.

           “Jesus, you almost had me going! That was hilarious. How long did you have that planned?” Keith asked.

           “It wasn’t a prank! I’m really sorry!”

           “It’s okay,” Victor said, “This place is closed so I don’t think you’ll be in trouble-”

The house creaked again. They sighed.

           Victor continued, “You finish cleaning, I forgot to get a picture I wanted. Once second.” Before either could refuse, Victor was gone. Keith’s attention span had fallen to zero and Jake hurriedly swept the glass as much as he could, only receiving minor scrapes and major shame.

           At least two minutes had passed, Keith was playing an app game on his phone, and Jake was ready to not be there anymore. Another two minutes. Keith and Jake made eye contact.

           “Do you think-”

           “-It has been a while” They started at the same time. Keith carried on, “let’s go grab our lovable ghost-nut, I want to go home and you still have class.”

           They returned to the room, walking confidently but their stomachs were not quite so calm. Returning to the room wasn’t any easier than the first time for Jake, and Keith went directly to Annabelle’s case. Strangely, the side pane of glass to the case was broken and the doll, as well as Victor, were gone.

           Jake’s eyes had widened to golf balls, “What the fuck-what the fuck-Keith where the fuck is Victor?!”

           “Relax, Victor knows this was a useless trip and a dull episode, start recording, he’s clearly pranking us. I’m just surprised he broke the glass, that’s commitment.”

           Jake was shaking his head. His heart was pounding. He turned on the camera and started panning over the scene. Footsteps on the wood behind him sounded and grew closer…”AHH!” Jake yelped in alarm as a totally fine, undisturbed Victor emerged from another doorway.

           “Oh? Didn’t mean to startle you.”

           Keith smiled, “Su-ure you didn’t and I’m sure this just happened randomly.”

           “What do you- WHAT?!” They hadn’t heard Victor’s voice raise above indoor-level, “Where’s the doll Keith? What did you do?”            “Nice try man, I’m not falling for it, ‘Oh let’s go drive to the Warren's house, the doll that inspired all those movies lives there, oh? The dolls gone? Oh my pearls!’” Keith’s mocking Victor voice wasn’t half-bad.

           “This isn’t a prank, not everything is a joke. You messing with the doll and breaking property isn’t a joke either. We’re going to look for the doll and one way or another, it’ll show up. Maybe on its own, maybe you’ll suddenly find it. I have my body cam on me, I’m going to scope out the box, you two spread out to the hallway and the living room. Keep yelling out to each other to stay together.” Victor was dead serious. Also perturbed that Keith wasn’t.

           “Fine! Fine, we’ll entertain this thing for you, that’s how good of a friend I am.” Keith walked away and Jake stared at Victor who gave him an intense look, and then he followed Keith.

           The two now walked down the hall again.

           Victor shouted, “Here.”

           Jake shouted, “Here.”

           Keith was playing an app game.

           Victor shouted, “Keith?”

           Keith tuned in, “Yes, I’m here teacher.”

           They returned to the living room, Jake still recording, and scanned the room, looking under couches and tables and behind piles of newspaper.

           A few minutes had passed and Jake’s camera battery was running low.

           Jake shouted, “Here - guys the camera’s almost dead.”

           Keith responded, “Here. I’m good to go.”

           Victor didn’t respond.

           They waited, still nothing.

           Keith turned to Jake, “Oh man let’s go back to the room and see what our maestro of tension has cooked up next.” Jake grimaced, and the two returned to the room for a third time. They walked in, both shouting for Victor more. Keith said, “Alright Victor, you are the master of pranks, the prank master, and you got Jake really good with this, but don’t you think it’s time for us to go back to the dorms?” Still no response.

           Jake rounded a corner of shelves and faced the Annabelle case. His eyes caught a shine on the ground, a watch. He was relieved for a split second when it wasn’t the doll on the ground, waiting for him, but the relief drained from his body, replaced with an overwhelming amount of dread and numbness. He stared. Victor could not stare back because his body lay lifeless on the ground, arm with watch splayed outward, perhaps trying to grab onto something for purchase before…

           Keith noticed Jake unmoving and walked over, the color leaving his face immediately, “He planned this, right?” No response. “He got blood packets and he was tired of me shitting on his ghost shit and this is him getting back at me?” No response. Keith crouched down and moved Victor’s head, his eyes starkly open and tongue lolling out of his mouth. “Fuck!” Keith jumped backwards. Jake somehow mustered the courage to shakily reach down and close his eyelids. Nothing could be done about his torso, Victor’s shirt had been torn to shreds to reveal several long claw marks through his body. Blood was starting to pool wider around the floor. “We gotta go Jake, we gotta get out of here and get the police.”

           “...Police?”            “Yeah fucking police, someone’s in this house fucking with us and just murdered our friend.” Keith was whispering now. He grabbed Jake’s arm and the two began running out. They ran past the New England doll, they ran down the hallway, pictures still screaming at them, a few bits of glass still on the ground, they ran to the entry room and Keith reached for the doorknob. It didn’t give. “What the fuck?”

           But there wasn’t time for Jake to answer, he turned around and Annabelle the doll was laying in the center of the living room, facing the ceiling. “Keith, break the door.” Jake did not give commands, but Keith listened and took a step back and kicked the door down. It took two kicks. They ran out and started running down the long driveway, surrounded by tall dead wild grass. They parked on the side of the street but they still had a ways to go. They were both running as fast as they could but the camera was heavy for Jake. He started to slow.

           “No no no, Jake we can’t slow down, here give me the camera.” Jake panted heavily, a smaller frame, and figured that Keith would be alright taking on the extra load. Jake hazarded a glance behind him and sure enough the doll lay in the middle of the distance they had just run.

           “Keep running.” Jake said. They ran for their life through the biting cold Connecticut night, not a breeze in the air. They finally reached the car and Keith put the camera on the hood of the car and began fishing for his car keys. It was taking longer than either of them wanted.

           “Oh come on. Here!” Keith found them and unlocked the car, they were inside faster than they thought possible, camera thrown in too. They started to drive down the street fast. The car shook and then it shook again, bigger, but there were no potholes on the road. “What did Victor say about people driving away? He said something, I just didn’t pay attention!”

           “He said people who mocked them usually die in a car crash once they leave the place.”

           “Oh that’s perfect! Did Victor say anything about killing it? Or keeping it trapped again?”

           “He...he-”

           “-come on!”

           “He had the vial of holy water on him, we didn’t grab it we’d have to go back.”  

           “Fuck that! I’m not letting a doll stop us.” He pushed his foot down harder on the pedal and the car sped down the street faster, shaking continuing.

           Jake chimed in, “I’ve heard, and Victor talked about this too, burning it could work.”

           “Burning it! Okay when we get to the dorms we’ll use the lighter, you still have it on you?”

           “Yeah.” After a minute, the shaking stopped all at once. They continued to fly street by street, no one out here in this empty farmland.

Jake turned to look out the rear window, and he wished he just hadn’t looked, yet again. Jake had no stomach for scary nonsense, he only came with Victor and Keith cause they were his friends and looked out for him. Now Victor was gone. The doll was in the middle of the backseat, black eyes and permanent smile staring back.

“Jake? Jake you okay?”

“Uh, Annabelle is in the...backseat.”

“WHAT.” The car slightly swerved at Keith’s shock but then he maintained. “Can you throw it out the window?!”

“It’ll just keep following us home,” Jake said under his breath.

“What was that, Jake?”

“Nothing. Give me a second.” Jake unbuckled his seatbelt and climbed into the back seat.

“I don’t think that’s the best idea!” Keith yelled.

“I’m going to fix it. Just keep driving, and don’t look back.”

“Okay?!”

“Thanks.”            “Are you thanking the doll?”            “Thanks for making me less scared.” And with that, Jake grabbed the doll with one arm and the other opened the back-right door. He leaped out, the doll held tightly to his body, and together they flung out of the car.

“JAKE, WHAT THE HELL!” Breaking the rule, he looked backwards and saw the lump of Jake on the black top, already getting smaller in the distance with the speed of the car, and then the lump set ablaze. The fire grew and grew until it was taller than the trees. The fire wasn’t just yellow, it was a deep red like the light in the room.

Keith cannot recount how he got home that night, he doesn’t remember.

August 14, 2020, 3 AM. Annabelle escapes the Warren house. Due to sensitivity and the lone survivor’s firm request, the boy's presence there that night was taken out of the official document.

[cybersynthrocket-blog]

Unfinished with no direction

Looking down the barrel of his gun he realized he hadn't shot anyone in a long time. Well, anyone worth shooting anyway. There's two kinds of killing. When you put a bullet in a man, or woman in some cases, you either planned on that kill or it was just in the matter of convenience. From Phoenix till now every living thing that had crossed into his sights has either been animal to preserve his own life or human for the same reason. The occasional drunken bar fight that was turned out to the streets. A misunderstanding where compromise was not an answer. Always there was a crowd drawn to see who would live and who would die. He hasn't died yet. He never considered himself a lucky man, rather he always had his wits about him. He thought about what he was going to do before he did it. Like now, he was thinking about blowing a hole the size of a large orange through the head of Viktor Strauss.

It would be easy with this gun. It packed a mean punch, but throughout the years his hands have mastered the kick, and provided an accuracy that very few have been able to match. The same goes for the gun's twin, still holstered below his left armpit. Very few have seen this twin but they who have don't see anymore, so tales of it have not been told.

He drew air through the cigar he balanced in the crook of his mouth, feeling the hot smoke flow down his throat into his lungs, mixing with the air and being expelled through his nose into the face of the kneeling Viktor. Viktor coughed, closing his sunken eyes to avoid the burning of the smoke, but said nothing. He knew why he was on his knees with a gun pointed right at his face. He wasn't sorry either. In fact there was a hint of a smile on his thin lips slightly stretching the scar that ran down from his left eye to the corner of his mouth. He was an ugly bastard.

"I'm going to kill you Viktor you know that right?" The gunman said; it wasn't a question. It would have been stupid to have asked that. Rather it was a fact to be heard by the angels that record everything.

"I guess it's inevitable. You managed to follow me this far. I guess I deserve it for being so....short sighted" Viktor chuckled now no longer hiding that ugly smile. "I underestimated you. Had I known you were this clever, I would have prepared a magnificent escape, like I did in Phoenix-"

The gun sounded and Viktor's right shoulder disintegrated. Viktor screamed and fell on his face, clutching the hole where his arm used to be with his left hand. He wasn't smiling now.

"You bastard! If you're going to kill me then kill me and be done with it" Viktor spat "I've nothing to say to you and you've nothing to ask so just end me, Crow!"

The gunman, called Crow by Viktor, drew another breath through his cigar. Kneeling down and placing the end of his gun right between the eyes of Victor he said

"That was for Phoenix. You'll never speak of that place again. Goodbye Viktor, may the devils and Lucifer himself eat your bones clean and spit them into the ever burning fires of hell." Keeping the gun planted on Viktor's face he began to stand up, twisting away from his prey. He squeezed the trigger with his index finger, activating the lever that pulled the hammer back and the spring that sent it flying, making contact with the center of the .45 caliber bullet. Sparks and then fire expanded gases in the casing, driving the bullet free of its shell, through the barrel of the revolver, spinning on the grooves before boring a hole through the scull of Victor. It exited, still whole, from the back of his head, blowing away brain and scull and hair and blood, decorating the ground behind them.

Fully standing now, he noticed the people that had been watching, halfway out of doors or on balconies. Small boys with big eyes and toy guns looked at him with awe, their mothers having failed to keep them indoors. The whole town had been holding its breath it seemed, but now that the excitement was over life resumed as usual, although whoever's path led them near the gunman they avoided eye contact and stayed at least two arms lengths away.

As if on cue, sirens sounded and got louder as the police cruiser made its way to him. It was an older model, barely getting three feet of lift. The vertical thrusters had been sabotaged by adolescent vandalism throughout the years and the rust was more apparent then the faded New Mexico Police badge painted on its sides and hood. Unlike in bigger newer cities, this was not automated; there were cops inside.

When it reached him, instead of touching down the driver window opened just a crack and a voice said "killing will cost you here. And you should know the law about gunpowder projectiles. But if you leave without anymore killing you can forget the ticket. Just give us your name and your gun and be gone"

The air held a static as the citizens started to spectate this new confrontation. Although he didn't look at them, he knew all eyes were fixated his way, like children watching a puppeteer. Fingering the chamber release on his revolver and flicking his wrist slightly he replaced the still hot empty shell with a new bullet. In one fluid motion he used his index finger as a axis and spun the revolver into the holster that crossed from his waist to upper thigh. His other hand reached into his breast pocket and pulled out a neatly folded paper. Unfolding it he said

"What's written on this paper states my profession as a bounty hunter. I claim this body and anything that belonged to it. That includes dollar land and debt. I keep the dollar. I won't give you my gun as it's been filed as my tool for my trade. As for a name you can have this: Crow"

Eyes that were wide with anticipation widened more and hushed and whispered "Crow", "did he say Crow?" fluttered like dying butterflies through the town. The gunman threw a flat disk about the size of a quarter on Victor, pressed a button on his wristband and the corpse began to levitate until it became level with his waist, then it hung in place. Looking at the police cruiser he tipped his hat goodbye with a sincere "sorry about the mess"