KillamriX88

Royal Rumble!

@AtomicNut@Gentlemanvaultboy@Hammerman

---

"Ah, well this may be a training exercise, but as I'm sure you heard, it involves plenty of fighting. So no worries there," Vernon said to her. "We do need a third person or no matter what Rurik decides, we'll be disqualified. You'll join us won't you?"

"Well see I don't like training or fighting all that much," Rurik said. Ironic for someone whose unofficial nickname was 'King of the Ring' in a certain circle. OK, so deep down he didn't hate fighting, but in this case it sounded like a huge pain in the ass. Teams? Vernon? He really wanted to pass on all that.

"Really? Not what I've heard." Vernon smirked at him knowingly.

"Well you must have heard wrong," Rurik sighed. Well, really it was debatable but Christine didn't need to hear about it! "Ugh, whatever. Fine. If Christine is in then... whatever. Just for today." He crossed his now thoroughly twisted arms.

"Excellent. There's a few strange rules, but basically one of us is the princess, aka the leader, but cannot fight. Then there is a defender and an attacker," Vernon explained for Rurik who had missed the earlier explanation. "Since I've drawn us together and Christine would prefer a more active role, I suppose I'll be leader."

"Sure thing, princess," Rurik rolled his eyes, earning a scowl from Vernon. He'd walked right into that one. "I'll... play defense I guess," he decided after a few moments of thinking. Christine was usually more stationary, but her powers could wreak havoc on offense just as well as on defense. Rurik figured, however, that defense was probably that role that would allow him to do the least amount of work... And if Christine wanted to fight, well, "That leaves attacking for you, if that's all right," he said to Christine. Of course none of it mattered if Christine didn't want to participate.

And if she backed out, well, that wasn't his fault and with any luck Vernon would keep his damn mouth shut. And then he could get the hell away from this mess.

But his luck had been pretty awful lately...

Royal Rumble!

@AtomicNut@Gentlemanvaultboy@Hammerman

---

“Nice try, Vernon… but people outside school aren’t allowed. This is only for Mephisto students.” Suzume had said.

And so Vernon, glaring at his two cronies, was at a loss as to what he could do...

"Gah, if you idiots had just shown up in proper uniforms!" He was already busted, what did it matter if anyone heard his now foiled plans.

"S-sorry boss..."

"Hi." All three jumped at Annabelle's sudden interruption. He hadn't even seen her walk over. He'd seen her arrive with Gabrielle and some other poor student they'd abducted to be their third, but...

"What do you want?" Vernon frowned.

"Couldn't help but to overhear your problem. I have a suggestion," she said. "Sounds you need to grab yourself a new teammate."

"Yes, I'll just go pluck a few from the nearest classroom like you did," Vernon rolled his eyes. "It's not that easy!"

"True. That only works because we're special," Belle admitted. "But I had someone more specific in mind. You see, we have a lovely visitor in the form of the esteemed Christine. Go grab her boyfriend Rurik, and things just might fall into place for you."

"You... want me to grab that lazy idiot?" Vernon raised an eyebrow. "Even if I wanted to, why would he help me?"

"So short sighted! I already laid it out for you, put the pieces together!" Belle scoffed and shook her head. "Don't you think Christine would be delighted for him to show up to training?"

"I don't really ca-" And finally it clicked. If he got Rurik, Christine might switch from observer to participant. Rurik might want to just slack off and leave, but maybe he'd be inclined to stick around because of Christine! "Well, it's worth a try. You two! Go fetch Rurik!"

"On it!" the female of the pair nodded.

"Be right back!" the second saluted. The two ran off... only to return ten seconds later. "What does he look like?"

Vernon pinched the bridge of his nose. Somehow he'd totally forgotten about that. Belle meanwhile looked about ready to fall over laughing. She managed to stay on her feet, stumbling over to the two dunces and giving them a description and even places to look for him.

Vernon could only hope that this time they wouldn't somehow fuck it up. But he should have know better.

When they came back, they indeed had found Rurik. Except they seemed to have basically dragged him there by force, with his hands bound behind his back and everything. He looked less than pleased to be there.

Vernon's jaw dropped as Anabelle fell into hysterics in the background. He almost began admonishing his cohorts, but then just shut his mouth and sighed. He'd just let this one happen.

"Hey boss, we found him!" they announced... and then...

POP!

The ropes binding Rurik's hands together burst apart and he then lifted his hands, one to the side of each of the idiots' faces. BLAM! And the two were blasted away, flying off until they crashed into the first solid object they came across.

Vernon glanced at the two crumpled heaps that had been his lackeys. ". . . they really deserved that," he muttered to himself. Maybe once they slept off the headaches they'd be smarter. Unlikely, though.

"So... I take it you're behind all this?" Rurik said, slipping his hands into his pockets. Strangely, the jacket he almost always wore was in tatters, being held together by half a dozen patches, but still frayed around the edges. Well, strange to anyone who hadn't seen his scuffle with Thobias.

"Well, I-"

"Sorry... what was your name again?" Rurik blinked.

". . . excuse me?" Vernon had to do a double take. Was this guy serious? "We're both on the council!"

"And?"

"Vernon!" said boy barked.

"Right, so, Vernon," Rurik said. "The fuck?"

Vernon took a breath, taking the moment recompose himself, "Well you see, Rurik, we have a little training session about to start he- Hey! Don't walk away from me while I'm talking!" So much for composing himself.

"Not interested!" Rurik shouted over his shoulder, still making his way to the exit.

"And here I thought you liked a challenge," Vernon called after him.

"You got the wrong guy."

"Not even when there are stakes to be had?" That got Rurik to stop, even if just for a moment. He turned to look at Vernon, who simply pointed in Christine's direction.

"Really...?" Rurik grumbled. "How do you eve-" And that was when he noticed Annabelle, who gave him a sly wink. "That... utter... bitch!"

"So what do you say? Go along nicely and we'll keep your little habit under wraps," Vernon didn't mince words.

Rurik had to think about it for a moment, but then he just shrugged and turned again to leave anyway. He could talk all he wanted. Rurik would just deal with the aftermath later, and he had a feeling it wouldn't be nearly so dramatic as Vernon hoped.

"Oh Christine!" Vernon called out, causing Rurik to flinch. OK, so maybe he was a little anxious. "Rurik here can't seem to decide if he wants to join us for training or not. Care to weigh in? You do have so much more influence over him than I."

Rurik spun around to face Vernon once more, now struggling to keep his face neutral.

"I'm gonna fuckin' kill him..."

Royal Rumble!

@AtomicNut

---

"I'm home!" Wolf called out as he stepped into his house. "Dad... why is the door gone?" It was later in the day now, but even in the fading light it was hard to miss an entire part of the house having been removed.

"Welcome back, son. Indeed, some things transpired while you were out," his father strode into the main room. "I'll-"

While his father spoke, Wolf's gaze wandered over to his mother's portrait. He saw the graffiti upon it. For a moment the rest of the world faded away, becoming muffled and colorless. All that he could really hear was a dull roaring in his ears, broken up occasionally only by his own accelerating heartbeat. Something clawed at the back of his mind, trying to unbury itself, and his vision began to blur- no, the room seemed to be shaking.

And then it stopped.

His father pulled the portrait from the wall, turning it over and removing the painting from the frame and rolling it up.

"Huh, what are y-"

"You're right, Wolfram. There's no point in leaving it up in its current state," the man said. "I'll have to get a suitable replacement. I don't know that it can be repaired."

"So, uh..." Wolf shook his head, feeling like he'd just been suddenly woken up from a deep sleep. He realized his palms hurt and looked down to see he'd nearly torn them open from clenching his fists so hard. "What happened, exactly?"

"There was a break-in of a sort. Your girl and a friend of hers came here seeking shelter, but I was out at the time. The assailants followed them in and apparently decided to add vandalism to their list of crimes," his father explained.

"What?!" Wolf pulled out his phone. He'd received a message earlier, but hadn't been in a position to read it. Indeed it was from Vera. He didn't even bother reading it. "Is she OK?!"

"For the most part, yes. I got them both back to Victor's safely."

"I-I need to-"

"Yes, of course. Go," Guntram urged him and Wolf wasted no time, turning on his heel and dashing back out of the house.

. . .

Vera stepped outside, having finally received a response from Wolf. She saw him walking over to her nervously.

"Y-you're OK!" Wolf was relieved to see it with his own eyes, but there was still that sinking feeling in his chest. He knew better than to expect a happy reunion.

"No thanks to you. But yes, I'm in one piece," she told him, crossing her arms.

"Umm-"

"I can't keep doing this, Wolf!" Her brow furrowed as she gave him a harsh glare. "It's your job to protect her, not mine. I can't even do anything anyway! You need to be there!"

"Wh-"

"She's practically a prisoner here! She can't leave without some fucking creepy ass doll trying to drag her off somewhere! If she needs to go somewhere, then you show up! Got it?!" Vera commanded.

"Well, that's why I-"

"What good is your stupid training if you're not even around to use it!" she snapped. "Whatever you're doing, you cut it short and move your ass over here! I'm sick of being in the firing line to cover for you!" She stomped over to him and jabbed him in the chest with her index finger. "GOT IT!?"

"Y... yes..." He nodded, feeling his body tremble.

"You need to fix this! This isn't over when the job is. Just because whatever stupid plan William has is done, doesn't mean the people trying to kidnap her will be! So I suggest you get rid of them sooner rather than later!"

"I... don't know. How would I even do that?" He agreed, to be fair. Andras was a friend, not just a job. He'd have loved to get rid of the problem, but short of murder... how?

"Well I suggest you figure that out." Vera seemed ready to leave it at that and just walk away, but Wolf grabbed her wrist.

"Vera... I... I'm sorry."

She quickly pulled away, seeming offended that he'd dare touch her, "You should be." She took another few steps away and then stopped. "So what had you so busy?"

Wolf flinched. This wasn't going to help his case, ". . . one of William's stupid plans."

The silence that followed said a lot.

"I see," Vera finally spoke. "And?"

"There was an old building filled with bloodthirsty, mutated animals..." He explained. It sounded especially ridiculous saying it out loud, but the truth was what it was.

"Well, you survived. So good for you." Vera still wouldn't even look at him.

"Yeah... I guess." Wolf lifted a hand to his ribs, where the giant horse creature had kicked him. He felt like mentioning how close he'd come to not surviving wouldn't even phase Vera. Part of him was scared to find out if he was right. A big part of him, apparently.

He couldn't bring himself to speak up.

"Goodnight," Vera said, dismissively of course, and all Wolf could do was watch her walk back into the house. He knew he was free to follow her. No one would stop him. Most would even welcome him.

"Good... night..."

But instead he just wandered over to a nearby stone wall and slide down to sit against it. Speaking of getting kicked by a giant, fire-breathing horse, running there had actually hurt quite a bit. After Vera's dressing down, he wondered if maybe he deserved it...

Royal Rumble!

Featuring: Vera, Andras, and more...

---

Part 1

Vera entered the Blackgate household a little later in the day. They had a day off from dealing with William, so Vera had gotten a day off from babysitting Andras. Recent events in mind, she supposed she really didn’t mind the girl’s company… but almost nothing was enjoyable for two weeks straight, and she wasn’t sure she liked Andras that much.

So, the previous night, she’d let herself go home, figuring she’d pick things up the next afternoon. She ran into Anna first, and asked if Andras was up yet. The kid just shrugged. Useless.

Well, the demon who only pretended to be a demon in a house filled with demons tended to sleep later, so she was probably still sleeping. It was hit-or-miss at this time of day. She knocked on the guest room door, and got no response. She carefully opened the door and saw a small lump laying in the bed Andras was using.

It was eerily still and not quite right in shape. She stared for a moment, thinking her eyes might be messing with her. Nope, still not right. Tip-toeing over, she gently poked Andras’s very, very soft shoulder.

“You little shit…” Vera snarled and whipped the sheets off. Pillows. “SERIOUSLY!?” she screeched. It meant only one thing. No one pulled a stunt like this unless they were sneaking around behind people's’ backs! She’d gone off on her own.

She, who was being hunted by killer doll people, had gone off on her own! For all she knew, even Seth could be out for revenge! He was a bit of a coward, so that was less likely, but the point was that Andras had enemies.

She quickly pulled out her phone, swiping through the screens almost but certainly not frantically until she found Andras’s number. She’d just had to be cute and put her under World’s Worst Demon instead of taking advantage of the fact that both her real and fake name began with an “A”.

Andras’s phone vibrated in her bag. Without thinking, Andras had already begun to answer it. “This is-”

‘Wait. I was supposed to be sneaking out.’ Andras froze mid-greeting. ‘I can’t be just answering my phone like this! I’m an idiot!’

Very quickly changing her voice to an impression of a gruff store manager, Andras continued. “Joe’s Meat Shop. Whatchyu want.”

Vera was surprised, but only for a moment, by the voice that answered. However, if the brat honestly thought Vera hadn’t noticed her almost answer it in her own voice, she was sadly mistaken.

“Oh, hi, yes. I’ll have a ham and cheese sandwich with a side of WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU, DAMMIT?! What kind of idiot runs off alone when people are trying to kidnap them?!” Vera’s harsh yell would have peaked out the phone’s mic. “I better know where I’m going in five seconds or so help me!”

Andras almost dropped her phone from the sudden yelling. “I-I was just heading out to the library… You know, a friendly neighborhood library…” Andras said weakly, and added, “D-Did you want any books?”

“Sure,” Vera said curtly as she attempted to compose herself and immediately headed back out. “How about a book on knot tying, so I can tie you down! Or maybe one on welding so I can put you in a cage! I just… What the hell were you thinking!?” She pinched the bridge of her nose. “L-look, just stay put, in a crowd, and keep talking to me so I know no one’s grabbed you! I’m on my way…” She didn’t even want to think of what Wolf would do if he found out Andras got taken on her watch. It would be humiliating! Her, Vera Goh, being scolded by Wolf of all people!

“I-I don’t think there are any welding books at the library, Vera…” Andras muttered. “Though, there probably are knot tying books. I don’t really want to go back in, though, I was just being nice and offering…”

Vera didn’t bother resisting the urge to sigh tiredly, but soon enough she was able to hang up the phone. Andras had probably just picked the library because she was a nerd who liked libraries, but Vera had allowed it since it wasn’t too terribly far from the Blackgate household. She quickly stormed over to Andras and grabbed her face in one hand, squishing her cheeks. She turned her head this way and that, looking her over as if she’d just pulled her out of a burning car and not just had her run off to… read.

Once she was done giving Andras the world’s most disapproving look, she let go and let out a long breath.

“Well I suppose you’re still in one piece and not in some creepy dollmaker’s dungeon, so that’s… something,” Vera crossed her arms.

Andras let out a low chuckle, crossing her arms. “A demon like me would never be caught by something as mundane as a dollmaker. Your fears were clearly misplaced.”

“Really, even if it’s a demon whose dolls can shoot lasers?” Vera scowled. “They almost got you last time! Twice!” She held up two fingers for emphasis. “Do you know how much shit I’d have to deal with if they actually got you? I can’t believe you’d be so selfish as to just run off!” And the old familiar bubbling anger began to rise up. The same one that happened every time someone didn’t just quietly fall in line and listen. She clenched her teeth and for a moment was just silent. “And besides… I still owe you a night out that doesn’t get crashed by drug dealing exes.”

‘Ah. I knew I screwed up, but I guess she was taking this really seriously…’ Andras felt a little embarrassed. However, she was also interested by Vera’s last comment. ‘Maybe…’

Andras leaned forward, close to Vera, with an innocent-as-possible smile. “Oh, so you were worried about me, huh?” Andras always wondered what Vera would do if she tried this.

Vera’s eyes snapped wide at the suggestion but then she squinted and her mouth scrunched into a tight frown. The girl was just asking for it now!

SQUISH!

Vera soon once more had Andras’s face trapped, this time sandwiched between both her palms, mercilessly squishing her cheeks and giving her a fish-face.

“Oh who the hell would be worried by a delusional little shit like you!” Vera growled, still tormenting the girl as she spoke. “I-... I wouldn’t… GRR!” She’d never been much for lying, but… Why the hell did she even have to worry about lying? She was just some burden Wolf had dropped in her lap! At least…

She finally let go once she figured Andras had had enough, “If you’re done being a pest, I should be bringing you back! I’m not exactly a bodyguard you know! I can’t protect you from those things!” She felt a pang in her chest at the words. It was just an obvious fact, but…

‘Ah, so that’s what happens when I do that.’ Andras thought, as she gingerly touched her cheeks. However, Vera’s response overall OTHER than the physical attack was… ‘Well, it wasn’t technically positive, but I feel happy about it, somehow.’ Andras mused to herself.

Andras eventually managed to work a smile back onto her face, after some effort. “Don’t worry. We’re not that far from the house, and I’ve got some responses to anyone who wants to get in between us.” Andras confidently flashed the pentagram on the back of her hand, as if to show proof of her magical enhancement. After a moment, Andras spoke up again in a lower voice, “That being said, I’ve been considering carrying that divine spear of mine around nowadays. You didn’t happen to bring it with you, did you?” Andras’s eye looked Vera up and down.

“Yeah, it’s right here in my purse,” Vera spoke deadpan. “Obviously I was too busy trying to find you to worry about remembering something like that!” She then clamped her mouth shut. That had been a bit more straightforward than she’d liked. And in hindsight, as weird as walking into town with a golden spear would have been, it would have been a nice safety cushion. “Let’s just go…” She grabbed Andras’s wrist, ready to literally drag her back.

Andras followed along with Vera’s guiding grip. If Andras was feeling more reckless, she might have tried to poke fun at Vera’s apparent concern, but she didn’t want her cheeks to be assaulted any further. “I was going to head home right now anyway!” Andras huffed.

Part 2

The dolls came to a halt as Adam motioned for the remaining dolls to stop in their tracks, Fegin had not yet departed with Celine and something had caught his attention up ahead.

"What's the matter big brother~?" Eve asked in a curious manner, trying to be polite yet at the same time condescending.

"I am about to find out.... follow me, all of you." Adam beckoned the three other dolls to follow, with Eve joining right behind him, followed in turn by Celine with Fegin guarding the rear.

Up ahead Adam then saw a familiar sight. The girl whom master Galbrek had wanted to get. She was out there with someone and on their own. It would have baffled Adam, would he had known the meaning of the word. "It's the girl the master wants. Andras. Change of plans. We are going to capture her, show your loyalty to master Galbrek and aid. He will surely reward us all well."

Celine looked troubled, nothing was going as she wanted. She still had the number that Celestine had given to him. But she had no phone to call with, neither could she see any phone booth. Even if she would have seen one, would she had been able to get there and live long enough to make the actual call. Then the possibility of once again falling under Celestine's hands. Stuck in between two different evils as far as she saw it.

She petted the rat she carried with her, now being the only one she could really trust would not be out to kill her. For now though she had to go with the other dolls, if the chance would present itself she had to run. Adam nodded his head to Fegin and Eve. "You two.. move up and draw their attention and keep them from spotting the rest of us. They've seen us before but not you two."

"Wiieoow... that's kinda smart. What would I know? I am just a jester." Fegin tipped an imaginary hat to Adam before moving forwards with Eve. Leaving Adam and Celine behind a corner, where the two could later flank the two girls.

"Good someday! What a fancy meetin' and greetin' a pair of fair ladies out here. Don't you agree, Eve'y dear?" Fegin gave Andras and Vera an overly ambiguous bowing motion.

"Very so~" Eve licked her artificial lips.

"Oh no! Dread and doom, I am left in such a gloom. This lady here be Andras the brave, the powerful, the attractive! How could I not see this being so?"

"My brother is a little bit on the flamboyant side. Do forgive him~" Eve stepped closer towards the two young women, biting her lower lip as it was starting to curl up into a smile.

"Autographs! Oh goodness me, please grace us with your fine mark on a humble piece of paper! To be donated to help all the poor orphans!" Fegin placed his hand on his chest and dramatized believably how sad it was. While those two dolls were busy with their own thing, Adam and Celine had snuck around a building and have arrived to the sides of the two young women. Giving them a good flanking position.

It didn’t take more than two seconds for Vera’s blood to run cold. Andras being famous enough for people to want her autograph? For a second, it had been laughable. Then she realized that the odds were against them that this was in any way innocent. It probably helped that she’d pretty much been in panic mode since she’d realized Andras had run off.

“Sorry, you probably have the wrong person. We’re very busy, please excuse us,” she spoke hastily, her hand clamping down on Andras’s wrist like a vice to the point of being painful. She needed to get the message across and hope the girl was actually paying attention for once.

“Ow ow!” Andras winced. Even she could tell that Vera had very quickly changed her tone with these newcomers confronting them. As much as Andras DID want to give out an autograph, she felt it necessary to stick with Vera’s lead - Especially after all the worry she caused already.

Andras’s lack of excitement over an autograph gave Vera the slightest bit of relief. She quickly turned away from the two and hurried off in a new direction with Andras in tow. They had the smallest window of safety right now -- witnesses. In a city where every other person could potentially spew flames, kidnappings in broad daylight were dangerous. But that safety was limited. If they stuck around, the crowds would eventually disperse or their enemies would have time to come up with a plan, their pray just sitting and waiting for them to figure things out.

But the only two safe havens that Vera could potentially reach sat in private neighborhoods, with plenty of empty streets. Head deeper into the city, and there would be empty alleyways to be dragged into. No, there was no easy way out of this.

Vera tugged Andras closer and leaned toward her ear, “Get that angel of yours ready, now!” she whispered. They were bound to run out of luck, and probably sooner than she’d like. They were gonna need a buffer.

As the two young women had begun to move so did the two dolls which had approached them, the first to act was Eve who energized her whip as she'd put it into her hand, flinging it out aiming to latch around Andras throat, seeking to hold her back and apply pain from the energy surging through it. While the hula hoop carrying jester doll jumped up into the air using his ring as a helping tool to make the jump, he flew over the two girls and landed on his feet. Not flawlessly but decently.

"'Fraid we cannot let you pass without meeting our benefactor." The jester offered a playful smile as the ring he held unto began to light up in purple energy. "Willingly or not you will come with us."

Adam and Celine had also moved forwards, Adam had shot dark shards of energy right in front of Vera, seeking to stop their advance forwards while Celine had moved further up. "Stop! Two of my siblings have died because of you.. don't make more die. Surrender..." Celine said in a grave tone of voice.

It had to have been more instinct and reflexes than anything else. As Vera had pulled Andras in, she’d turned her head and out of the corner of her eye…

“Shit!” She pushed Andras’s head down just before the whip reached her, but cried out as the whip instead raked across her shoulder. She had to bite her lip against the pain, and could do nothing more as the dolls surrounded them. “I don’t care if all of you die, you fucking monster!” Vera shouted at the doll. “You’re trying to kidnap people!”

Now she could only hope Andras could do something again...

“Vera!” Andras shouted as Vera saved her from the whip. Andras heard Vera’s cry of pain. Calling her cards to her hand, she quickly analyzed the situation.

‘I’ve got to create an opening, and get my angel over here too…’ Choosing a card in her hand, she took a breath and cast it. Throwing the pinpoint of light directly towards Eve, it burst into a shadowy substance that wrapped around her arm, manifesting itself as a heavy ball and chain.

Andras had instructed the angel to look for her signs of casting from above, so she hoped that it would have seen her at this point. “Let’s go, Vera!” Andras grabbed Vera and started running, hoping that the weakening enchantment would let them get past the doll.

Eve blinked, the girl had ducked away from her whip and instead slashed the other over the shoulder. She readied her whip once more but stopped as she saw a bright light, which then turned into a shadowy substance. She was creeped out, what was this?

It attached itself to her and suddenly she felt a deep push through her entire form,, her legs broke by the ankles, then she was thrown down at full force, her arm first and then the rest of her body. She was pressed against the ground and felt her body begin to press in on itself, she gritted her teeth before screaming out in terror. "Ahhhh-! Help... me... please.."

She felt her body beginning to form cracks over it, artificial tears filling up in her eyes as she closed them tightly, then a sound in the air as her arm was torn apart. she waited for the crack that wound break her body into pieces, but it did not come. The hula hoop ring sliced over her arm up by her shoulder and severed the link with the dark spell.

Leaving her face down against the ground but no longer pressing against it. The entirety of the spell had caused the dolls to freeze for a moment, until Fegin had sprung into action to aid his fellow doll. Quickly moving up to lift her up in her broken state.

Celine stood still, not patting the rat in her possession nor aiding. She felt fear. True fear. Was this what their creator wanted to obtain? Such a horrible power. Adam looked to his fellow dolls before he gritted his teeth together. "We are-"

Fegin interfered and threw Eve's battered body into Celine's hands. "You know what to do." He winked before he flipped backwards. "Let's go Adam." He nodded towards the young women. Something about the jester bothered Adam, but he could not pinpoint what it was. The two began to chase after Andras and Vera.

Vera swallowed hard against the pained sounds as they ran off. She hadn’t seen that one coming. Somehow she felt a little guilty for saying she was OK with all of them dying now. It was easy to say until they started begging. However, those thoughts were left behind almost as soon as they’d entered her mind. She had bigger problems to worry about.

She quickly directed Andras which way to run. They needed to go to the closes safe-haven, and they needed to not run in a straight line and be found too quickly again. That said, there were only so many twists and turns they could take without just wasting time or going the complete wrong way.

They reached a house that Andras wouldn’t recognize. In fact, Andras likely would have been quite lost for some time now. Vera stumbled through the arched gateway of the house and through the courtyard. It had never felt quite so long before, just trying to reach the door before they were capture.

A raven, perched on the tall, stone walls began screeching its fool head off, as if angrily shouting at the two girls. Somehow this amplified the feeling Vera had in her spine, as if a knife was just hovering there the whole time.

She grabbed the door and pulled. Nothing. It held fast.

“LOCKED?!” Vera’s heart sank. If the door was locked, that meant no one was home. “Fuck, fuck, fuck.” She dug in her purse and pulled out a key. The door mercifully opened quickly enough and she shoved Andras inside before following and locking it behind them.

But it was just a door. It was just a house. Without anyone home, it was nothing so special.

Part 3

“Dammit, Guntram…” Vera panted, clutching at her shoulder. “Shit, that means Wolf isn’t here either!” She just sort of stumbled deeper into the room. It was a large room, with numerous portraits hanging from the walls, some with little tables on the floor beneath, holding some sort of artifact that might have belonged to them. The rest of the floor was empty. No furniture to sit at, and the tables that were there were too full to hold one’s belongings.

Most noteworthy was one portrait, larger than the rest, of a woman. Below it, its table might as well have been a shrine. On the wall beneath the portrait was a sword in a glass case. There seemed nothing there that could help them all that much, unless they suddenly learned how to use one of the various, antique weapons lying about.

“Oh!” Andras stared at the portrait, only managing that much in between gasps of air. After some time, she finally managed to speak up further. “W-Where are we, exactly? And who is this?” Andras gestured to the painting. Rearranging her cards, she quickly added, “How valuable is this house to you?”

“It’s Wolf’s house. Don’t get too excited, because that one is his mother. He doesn’t talk about her much… and judging by the shrine, I assume she’s dead.” Vera frowned. Her next question was a tad concerning. “Err, less than our lives, but considering Wolf’s dead mother has a shrine in here, I’m pretty sure his father might kill you if you mess it up.” Not to mention she didn’t like the odds of them standing and fighting. It had worked out last time, but that only left that at Andras with a 50% win rate against these things.

“OK, I… I have an idea. It’s stupid but it might save us…” Vera swallowed hard. “How lucky do you feel?”

Andras briefly thought over the previous events. Weighing getting free ice cream against being attacked by dolls, she figured… “Can I answer that after you tell me your plan?”

Adam had forcefully made his way after the two girls, keeping them within sight but out of reach. Some bystanders had decided to give chase after the tall doll in order to apprehend him but the doll had other plans, thus toppled over a few neatly placed fruit-stands causing a large ruckus in an alley. The other doll, Fegin on the other hand, had jumped up unto the nearby roofs and ran after the girls in that way. Less hindered but a bit more risky if one didn’t watch ones steps well. Both of the dolls ultimately saw the girls enter a house and close the door behind them.

Adam looked up as he heard a slight ‘beep’ sound. The jester-like doll had jumped up on top of a lamp post and used that as a viewing platform, placing one hand above his eyes and the other holding unto his hula hoop ring.

“Fun fun. Looks like the missuses decided to enter the house. Should we be proper unwanted guests or?” Fegin turned to look down to Adam who was partly dirty from tomatoes and various fruits that had gotten in his path.

“I will look for another entrance or window and enter through it. You take the main door, clown.”
“Horrible! Simply horrible! I am so unappreciated for my particular set of talents, have you ever seen any jester like me before, Adam?” The doll smiled as he jumped down to inspect the house closer.

“Yes.” Adam answered. “Our master redecorated his face after some ill placed words.”

“Oh that’s not good at all! Not good at all! So why not quit? Send in your leave application to our holy benefactor!” Fegin did a jump forwards to look at the main door, like a curious cat looking over an area it should totally not be in.

“Watch your mouth or I will make you pay for it. I will not allow anyone to betray master G-” Adam paused and remembered something his master had told him. That William person was able to find out things which had been said by others, revealing his master’s name in a place like this would be disastrous for him.

“Enter.” Adam simply said as he walked around to look for another door or neatly placed window to break into.

Fegin on the other hand went up to the main door, felt the handle and turned it down. Locked. “Oh dang, why must it always be locked. Why can’t they just leave all doors open. It’s not like they don’t want visitors right Adam? Adam? Oh… right.” He coughed gently into his hand before knocking on the door.

Vera jumped at the knock at the door. How… polite. She carefully inched over to it to look who was there. Guntram had a number of friends, all good fighters. Maybe it was someone who could help. But one glance revealed it to be one of the freakish dolls. Seriously, why the jester appearance? They were already inherently disturbing enough.

“Forget it, let’s just go!” Vera rushed back over to Andras, leading her through the house to a side entrance. It was another courtyard, only reachable through the house. This one also had a gateway, but it led back behind the house. All that was back there was forest and a small mountain, barely more than an oversized hill. “So… um… this could be my worst idea ever, but… I don’t suppose I can just ask you to trust me?” she said to Andras. She had no idea what was out there, just that Wolf had told her that it was the one thing she had to listen to him about. Never, ever go into the woods behind the house.

It was dangerous.

Andras looked over into the woods. ‘Maybe she knows something I don’t… This doesn’t seem like ‘worst idea ever’ material.’

Fegin had waited but none had answered the door, he tapped his beeping boots against the ground. “Just rotten luck is all, typically typic.” He tilted his head from side to side. “Oh well!” Before he raised the hula hoop ring above his head and made four slicing motions around the door edges, then poking at it with his free hand, causing it to fall in. “Roomservice!” He peeked around but saw none but was met with a painting of a knight or so it appeared. Something had to be done about that, she didn’t look right at all.

Fegin fetched a color pen from his pocket, where had he found it? Who knows. Perhaps his master would not find his. Fegin jumped up on a dresser or table, whichever was closest to it and then began his work. Adding a mustache and chin beard was just what it needed. He gave his masterpiece a look before putting the pen back and resuming his search, finding a second entry point. “Oho? Sneaky little rabbits.” He clapped his hand on his chest.

On the other end of the house, Adam had seen the two girls exit through some inner courtyard of the building. He watched them for a bit before giving chase, making his presence discreet if he could. Moving from trees to bushes to rocks, whatever was about to give him cover.

On the other hand, this was no time for idle discussions. Andras nodded, and said plainly, “I trust you.” Partially to reassure her, and partially to potentially give another signal for her angel, Andras manifested her cards at the ready. “Let’s go.”

Vera took a deep breath, hoping Andras wouldn’t regret that. She led Andras into the woods. There was a path, about three people wide, cut into the landscape. Tall walls of earth and roots surrounded it, ending just above their heads. It was as if they were walking beneath the forest, rather than through it.

The trail stretched on longer than one might have expected, leading toward the hill’s peak. However, before they even reached much of an incline, there was a rustling in the forest. Vera came to a dead halt, motioning for Andras to do the same.

She’d expected perhaps the danger was at the destination, or that it was just a lie to keep her away. Was there actually something out here? There was a bit of a slope cut into the side of the path ahead, and the rustling became crashing as a furry shape tumbled down it and onto the path ahead. It was a small dog? No… a wolf?

It was a baby wolf. The actual animal, of course.

It righted itself and then planted its feet, lowering itself and growling as viciously as a wolf pup could. It had the strangest eyes...

“You’ve… got to be kidding me…” Vera stared at it. There was something familiar about it, but that was important. This wasn’t helpful. What would it do, bite at their ankles and make them into a chew toy? But then the one or two nature documentaries she’d seen as a kid came back to her. Where there was a baby, there was a parent not far off.

Something landed behind them. There was a softness to it, but also a weight. Like a massive object landing upon a cushion. The two girls would feel breath on the back of their necks.

Vera felt herself begin to shake and she slowly turned around. It was white, with only occasional patches of grey mottling its coarse fur. There was something wrong about it: its eyes seemed to burn, one of its monstrous eyes even having two pupils, and its teeth barely fit in its mouth. Most horrifying was the fact that its shoulders were up to Vera’s chest. It just completely dwarfed poor Andras. It turned its muzzle up, mere centimeters from Vera’s face.

It bared its fangs, a low growl coming from it that could be felt through the ground below them.

“P-please… w-we aren’t here to trespass…” She knew next to nothing about these creatures, save that she’d been told they existed. She just wish she’d been told they were the reason this forest was dangerous! She knew they were smart, but could they understand her? Judging by the fact that it was still growling at her, she had reason to doubt this.

It sniffed at her, and then it turned to sniff at Andras. Terror turned to horror as its mouth began to gape open, growling turning to a vicious snarl.

“No!” Vera stuck her arm out, barring its path to the girl. “I-I’m here to protect her!” The wolf’s gaze snapped back to Vera, the fury clear in its eyes. It barked at her, and took a step forward, as if to ask how dare she confront it.

Vera felt her legs give and she shrunk down to her knees, the beast staring down at her…

“P-please…”

Andras was taken aback. ‘She’s going to such a length?! Amazing…’ Vera had some serious courage, to stand up to something like that despite everything.

Adam had stalked the girls through the wilderness, getting all manner of moss, branches and thorns over his artificial body and clothing. But nothing was going to stop him from completing the mission which was going to bring him closer to his master. The thing he needed to do.

The girls had been stopped further ahead by some form of beast. Adam believed it was known as a wolf. Master Galbrek had allowed Darla to watch some form of documentary regarding it. But it didn’t matter much to Adam, it was now both aiding and obstructing him. It was keeping the girls still but potentially harming Andras which he sought to capture. If she would be deeply wounded or killed then his master would not forgive him. Thus the creature had to be-

He suddenly felt something on his shoulder, a quick yet firm thing, like a paw of some great beast. Adam turned to look at what it was. That damn clown. Fegin had caught up with him somehow.

“Found ya. Ya really should train on sneaking, I saw you from far away…” He said in a hushed voice, then looked ahead to the two girls. “Now that’s a problem.”

Adam gave Fegin an annoyed look and then said in a serious tone. “Yes. I shall take it out…”

The tall doll stood up and stepped forwards, raising his both hands to unleash a barrage of dark purple shards of magic towards the fur clad beast. Fegin at the same moment let out a slight noise and began to run forwards trying to get to Andras and Vera, his steps now causing beeping sounds. “Outta! Heya fancy meeting you out ‘ere, ‘fraid we got a schedule to pass so mind to tag along?” Fegin gave a smirk with a slightly carefree look to his face, despite the really bad situation they were in.

The wolf’s ears suddenly perked up and turned. This was followed by the whole beast suddenly throwing itself aside and skidding to a stop a few feet away. A second later shards of energy struck the ground where it had stood.

This was followed by… beeping? What? Oh, the damn creepy clown doll.

The wolf was already mad, but then… it inhaled. Its nostrils suddenly flared and it gave two more quick sniffs of the air. In an instant, its lips pulled back and thick ropes of drool began to leak from its mouth. Its eyes had gone wide and it let out a ferocious roar like no proper wolf should have ever been able to.

Vera had seemed to set it on edge and Andras’s presence had seemed to upset it. But now, something about these intruders had sent it into a mad rage. It seemed any moment now it would-

Beep. Beep-beep-beep.

Everything screeched to a halt as the dolls shoes began rapidly beeping… as the wolf pup had latched on and begun chewing at them. Apparently the beeping had gotten its attention.

The painted doll had peeked down to his boots at the sight of a wolf pup chewing on his flawless boots. He made a pouty face and quickly leaned down to pick it up with his free hand before whistling over to it’s apparent parent. “Yohoo! Who's a good pup? Oh you are! Who's a bad bitch? You are!” Fegin went from looking at the pup to it’s mother, whistling to get the attention of the mother before starting to run with the pup in hand. His boots beeping along his fast stride.

Adam’s attention went to Fegin for a moment and watched what the big wolf like creature would do, he was prepared to use another barrage of dark energy shards. Right now his power was far greater than it had been before, if these would hit it would hurt it. The power master Galbrek have bestowed to him, his most loyal and determined servant. A sense of pride filled him.

If Fegin could lead the beast away he would have the opening he needed to subdue the girls or so he thought. They seemed to be out of tricks. This is for you, Lord Galbrek

Adam prepared himself for what would come.

Vera couldn’t imagine that running off with a something like that wolf’s baby could ever be a good idea, but the gravity of the situation soon became apparent when the wolf bolted after him. At the speed it took off, it would catch up quickly, but that still left them wide open to the other doll. But, if it was just one, maybe Andras would be OK. If only she was actually a factor in this fight, then they’d definitely win… but as it was, she was about as useful as a screen door on a submarine.

One of the dolls distracted the wolf, leaving it between the two of them and a single doll. Of course, that was hardly a fair evaluation, considering that it was a Demon Lady of Despair versus a mere doll. Andras laughed to herself lightly, a card rising from her hand and glowing white. “Knight of Rath, hear my voice, and break the lines of darkness!” Her summon chant materialized her spell. From the card burst an armored knight, mounted upon a horse.

“Clear our path!” Andras commanded, and the knight charged towards Adam, holding its sword in a reversed grip.

Adam kept his both hands raised and as the knight materialized from Andras’ summoning, he changed his target to it. A knight who would try break the lines of darkness as her chant went. The tall doll narrowed his eyes and focused.

“This is for the one whom I respect and love, the one whom gave me a new life as a homunculus! This is for Lord Galbrek!” He unleashed his barrage of purple shards of magic towards the approaching knight.

A distance away Fegin was running and cutting down any tree close to him using his hula hoop ring, causing it to fall behind him to hinder or possibly fall over the large beast, buying a bit of time until he finally took a leap up on a tree stump and up unto a large branch on a tree, a fair distance from the ground, still with the pup in his other hand. “Oof. That was… stressful. Bad dog. Stay. Stay.”

He looked briefly at the pup, making sure the bigger creature saw it. All he had to do now was to buy a bit of time for Adam to get out of there with the target.

The wolf eventually wised up, breaking off from following directly behind. One of the trees had come close to crushing it, right when it had been inches from tearing Fegin in half. Again, it was moments away, snarling and flying through the air just as Fegin leapt, its fur brushing the heels of his boots as it sailed past.

It turned back, circling the tree once and then stopping. It reared its head back and howled. It was a low, droning howl, one befitting its twisted appearance. The whole forest seemed to tremble. The pup in Fegin's arms squirmed and joined in chorus, though not as deafeningly loud.

The issue that may have presented itself to Fegin was when the chorus was joined by something a little bigger. Two more howls echoed through the forest in response to the first. Then… the wolf charged off, out of sight.

For a moment.

The next thing Fegin knew it stormed back onto the scene, jumping, rebounding off a tree, and then up toward his branch, jaws clamping down on the branch. It was only a question of what would occur first, the branch snapping off the tree, or Fegin being shaken loose.

Adam’s attack may have hurt a lesser knight, but Andras’s summon was specifically trained to endure attacks while charging. The shards clashed against the paladin’s armor, but his horse continued galloping forward, and it bore down upon Adam. The paladin swiftly struck at the doll with his sword as it passed him, slashing the doll with his sword. Rearing around, the paladin turned back to face his opponent after his charge.

Andras grabbed Vera’s wrist, which was the opposite of what was usual so far. “Vera. The doll’s wounded, and the other one ran off. Now’s our chance to run!”

“Wh- Huh?!” Vera was all for getting far away from the dolls, but somehow going farther down the path just seemed… almost as bad. Her fears were founded, but not before the path began to wind up the hill, leaving them quite deep into the old forest.

They rounded a corner to see another giant wolf sitting there. This one had long, dark, stringy fur that left its eyes almost completely hidden and gave the impression it had a beard. And, whereas the first wolf looked like it might have just had birth defects, this one was clearly not normal. It had two rows of short horns sticking out of the fur on its head.

It sat there, like a guardian monolith, halting their advance. Just like the first, the forest’s silence was soon broken by a low rumbling as it began to growl. And then another, white like the first, but without the spots to mar its fur. It also seemed a bit smaller, perhaps younger, but this ones fangs were so long they stuck out when its mouth was closed. They were trapped between the two.

The shaggy one stood, stalking toward them as the second circled, as if they were trying to herd the girls out of the forest. It was merely a question of if they could safely turn their backs without being set upon… and how patient the wolves were.

And if it was even safe to head back yet.

Andras gripped Vera’s hand. “D-Do you have a plan?” She said, her voice shaking with fear.

“W-w-walk backwards… don’t make any sudden moves… and hope they aren’t hungry…” Vera really hadn’t thought things through this far ahead. Mutant wolves hadn’t been part of her plan. They were bred for a purpose, and killing them wasn’t it, but that didn’t mean they weren’t still vicious and plenty able to do so.

Their harrowing, uneasy retreat went on for about a minute. The longest minute of Vera’s life. It seemed it might work, that showing they would leave the forest was enough to keep the wolves from attacking.

But then their path was blocked off. The first wolf was back, seeming to have reclaimed the pup from the clownish doll. They could no longer advance in any direction. They hadn’t exactly been able to finish, err, negotiating with the first wolf either, and no doubt it was in a truly foul mood.

Then, an oddly familiar noise. The screeching caws of a raven as a large, black bird soared past, unusually low. It seemed to distract the wolves, and then a high pitched whistle rang through the forest.

And suddenly, just like that, they backed off. All three with pup in tow, albeit with noticeable reluctance, loped off into the forest.

“OK…” Vera said breathlessly, on the verge of hyperventilating. “J-just go! Go!” she urged and took advantage of the sudden clear path.

Halfway back, the man Vera had been looking for in the first place greeted them, though it wasn’t with a smile.

“Vera!? My goodness, what are you girls doing out here!? You could have been killed!” His face was taught and his lips pressed tightly together. “Well, judging by the fact that my door is in pieces, you must have had a reason. Come, it’s safe enough now. You can explain inside…”

Adam had quickly dashed to the side and moved past the knight, withdrawing from the area. The cut the knight had made was causing his dark purple power to begin to leak out, he placed one hand over the wound as if to prevent it from leaking out as much.

Gritting his teeth but realizing this battle was lost, he began to run off, dashing behind a couple of trees and making his way back the same way he came. Hearing some noises in the distance, likely more of those beasts and possibly the knight following him. He didn't stay to find out but ran as fast as he could. Taking advantage in his inhuman physique, that he never gets tired. He could make it if he kept running with the advantage he currently had. Fegin had to find his own way out.

The jester had just managed to raise his hula hoop ring above his head when the large beast lunged for the branch he stood on, grappling unto a partly decapitated branch a little bit further up, before he decided it was time to move, he pulled himself up on the partly decapitated branch and took a leap to another tree, with a branch further down, before sliding down the tree, holding unto the wolf pup in one hand and then flinging it like a flying bowling ball towards the larger one.

That would distract it for a bit he thought, and ran quickly, slicing down a few trees along his way, causing them to fall down to obscure his path.

He was faster than Adam, tougher and more endurable. He flung himself acrobatically over some of the trees which fell to the sides or in front of him due to his cutting, most fell backwards though.

While he might had been able to kill such a creature he pondered on the morals of doing so. They were likely only defending their home and they were not part of the mission they had accepted. Even so he couldn't lower his guard until he was fully out of the forest.

Andras sat in the house, still shaken up considerably. ‘This is not helping my fear of dogs at all…’ She stuck close to Vera, as if leaving her would suddenly cause the wolves to come back.

Clearing her throat, Andras eventually spoke up to introduce herself. “H-Hello… My name is And- Er… Alexandria Sova. Me and Vera had been… Well…” Andras trailed off, not sure what to say exactly. Given the situation, even something like using her demon name seemed rash. Andras shot a look at Vera as if to ask for her to explain it for her.

Vera took a deep breath and explained the situation to Guntram, allowing him to bandage her shoulder while she did so. She was getting sick of being hurt because of the whole Andras situation, but she couldn’t find it in herself to blame the girl. She couldn’t even say she and Andras were even. Andras had pretty much come to her own rescue in the end.

“So… it is most likely the work of this… Galbrek?” Guntram sighed. “Children these days.”

“I… can’t swear that he’s the master these dolls keep talking about, but I don’t think him being there the first time is a coincidence,” Vera told him.

“Hm. A lack of evidence then. Well, I suggest you lie low for a bit. Rash action has been the cause of most of this grief, I imagine,” he spoke, leading the girls back to the main room. He suddenly whistled loudly, the same whistle that had warded off the wolves before.

He stood, staring at the defiled portrait of Wolf’s mother -- his wife.

“And yet… I don’t think I’ll be staying silent.” His arms were folded behind his back, but Vera could see his knuckles turning white. “There is a line.”

The sound of hard nails on a wooden floor echoed into the room.

“Yes, come in. You may as well see what they did to her,” Guntram said, but it was unclear to who. And then the white wolf with the odd eye walked in, just barely able to fit its broad shoulders through the doorways. Vera scurried back at the sight of it, clinging fearfully to Andras. “Have you calmed down then?” Guntram asked the wolf.

The beast wandered over and sat, almost politely, before the defiled portrait. It stared at it, as if transfixed in reverence.

“No need to be so afraid girls, he won’t harm you while I’m here. They know to be on their best behavior in this house,” he told them.

Andras instinctively edged away from the newcomer. No amount of reassurance would not have her on edge after what she had experienced previously. Now that most of the danger had passed, she had lost her adrenaline kick. Pressing up against Vera, she inched away from the wolf. “N-Not scared at all, sir.” Andras managed to mumble. “What exactly are… They?” She gestured toward it.

“What? You’ve never seen a wolf before?” Guntram raised an eyebrow. There was a silent pause and Vera just smiled nervously, assuming it was some sort of attempt at humor. “Right, I suppose this isn’t the time for levity.” He sighed and turned to face them directly. “Well, the ancient evil may have been driven back, and the great lines of defenses rendered mostly unnecessary, the veil was left… thin in some places.

While remnants still occasionally leak into this world, they are rarely any real threat. In the world we live in now, even school children can push them back. However, the host of demons may also take advantage of these weaknesses. The gods in all their power are not omniscient, there is evil that can shield itself from their gaze.” It seemed he was going to give them the long version.

“Now, there are those who hunt demons. My wife… her family fought alongside wolves. In time, their lineage grew so engorged on their blood and corruption that they… changed.” He gestured to the example before them, and then to the portrait. “The monster that lays slain in that picture is what happens when instead of gaining a hunger for that corruption, it takes over. It was as much her job to slay them as it was to raise them.” He shook his head and then looked at Vera. “That side of them is why they’re so well suited for the job, but it also makes them incredibly dangerous. I imagine the only reason he didn’t attack you immediately is because you spend so much time around us, he probably felt he recognized you. Still, if he hadn’t let out that war cry, I might not have returned in time.”

Vera wondered if something in that story explained why the wolf had reacted so violently to the presence of the dolls…

“Well, umm, Andras has been staying with the Blackgates for safekeeping… Do you think you could get us there?” Vera asked.

“Ah, yes, Wolfram told me as much. Hard to find a place safer than that.” He looked away for a moment. “This house should have been just as safe. You have my apologies that I wasn’t here,” he told them. “So yes, I will happily escort you back.”

The great wolf looked over its shoulder at him.

“I assure you, I will deal with this.” It continued to stare. “No, I’m afraid I cannot bring you with me.” It lowered its head, whatever spell the portrait had seemingly cast over it now broken. It then trudged off, presumably back to the forest.

Andras let out a sigh of relief, now that the wolf had gone. She also realized how much she was pressing against Vera, and quickly scooted away without looking at her. “I don’t think… I’ll take a trip to the library alone again. I’m sorry, Vera.” Andras stood up after some thought. “I’ve also got something to attend to, right now…”

‘The knight I summoned, and the angel… I almost forgot about them.’ She walked back outside. ‘Agh, how am I going to keep the knight around?! The angel at least can fly and stay out of people’s view.’ Andras scratched her head.

Summoning her cards and having them hover around her, she provided a beacon of light for her summons to congregate towards. Andras didn’t have to wait long before the knight emerged from the forest path. She began to instruct the knight for what to do. “Okay, I’m going to lead you to the Vigilante’s base, and hopefully you can stay there and help out anyone who has a job… Ah. Stay here until I come back for you.”

The angel that Andras had summoned had finally found her. Turning to the angel, Andras took a bit of a scolding tone, wagging her finger at the heavenly being. “You need to follow me more closely next time! I know I said to stay high up to keep suspicion away, but you’ve got to be able to track me. Stick around more from now on, and if anyone sees you, evade them before circling back to where I am. And keep an eye out for my cards!” Andras emphasized her point by having her cards do a quick spin around her. “Stay close when me and Vera return home. I’m not sure when I’ll leave the house next time, but I’ll give a signal when I do.”

With that, Andras dismissed the angel with a wave of her hand. ‘Okay, we’ll have to stop at the Vigilante headquarters again… Hopefully it’ll be fine.’ She thought as she walked back into the house.

“Now that I’ve sorted that out…” Andras trailed off.

‘I hope he wasn’t watching me out there… He could probably see me talking with an angel from any of the windows in the house!’ Andras hadn’t considered that somebody probably would be watching her consult with her summons.

Guntram raised an eyebrow at the sight of the girl conversing with her… things. He clearly had been caught off guard by Andras’s capabilities.

“You… have an interesting friend,” he said to Vera. “She seems to be scolding an angel. Never thought I’d say that.”

“I don’t think she knows you can see her. Do me a favor and pretend like you didn’t,” Vera requested with a sigh..

“What’s this? Considering other people’s feelings? How unusually nice of you,” Guntram smirked.

“Wh-!?” Vera puffed her cheeks out. “I can be nice! I’m always nice to you!” she insisted.

“No, you’re polite. There’s a difference.” Those few words and the lack of hesitation behind them shut her down instantly. Well of course she was polite to him, he was the kind of person who demanded respect just by existing, like Victor, who she not so coincidentally was also very “polite” with.

And thus their exchange ended just as Andras walked back into the room.

“All set then?” the man asked Andras, not giving any indications that he had or had not seen anything.

“Well, it might be necessary to stop at the Vigilante’s base to-” Andras caught herself from saying something about the knight she summoned,’ “-report that Vera’s job is going well!” Andras gave a warm smile towards Vera. “Isn’t it?”

Vera was silent a moment. Andras was making it real hard to be so considerate.

“Well, it’s more like I’m doing Wolf’s job for him while he’s busy,” she let a little venom creep into her voice. If Wolf had actually been around today, none of this would have been a problem! “Great’s probably a strong word, but last I checked you and William haven’t been flayed alive, so sure. Everything is peachy.”

“I see. Well, I’d be a terrible father if I didn’t know where my son did business, so I’m quite aware of where that is. Not too terrible of a detour I suppose.” He gave Vera a sly wink as he continued to play along, causing her to grimace slightly.

“Let’s get going then. My shoulder hurts and I’m tired.”

And so go they did. Vera wasn’t sure how the hell Andras hid an entire horse with mounted knight on the way back, but she did it. Well, they could make out the clip-clop of hooves on pavement in the distance, but they just acted like they couldn’t.

Vera figured that Andras had earned the right to keep her pride fully intact.

Finally, some time later, Andras’s torture was ended as they stopped by the Vigilante outpost and then Guntram later bid them farewell after a short chat with Victor. Vera found it strange that he didn’t mention anything about the portrait or the break-in, but perhaps he wanted to deal with it on his own.

Epilogue

It was at this point Vera took advantage of the ability to get Andras alone.

“We need to talk… I’m acting like your babysitter, but you’re the one who can actually fight,” Vera told her. “A little awkward, don’t you think?”

Andras fidgeted in her seat a little. “W-Well, it’s just the nature of the job, isn’t it? Technically, at least…”

“Andras, you know I’m not really a Vigilante. I just follow around my boyfriend because watching him get mauled by a rabid raccoon is hilarious.” Usually the little odd jobs they did were so boring she could pass out on her feet, but sometimes… “Point is, it’s not my job. The other point is that all I can do is try to keep you out of trouble. The second trouble finds you, there’s not much I can do…” She absentmindedly rubbed at her aching shoulder. “And if they’re bold enough to go for you in broad daylight with witnesses, there’s even less I can do. You have to be more careful.”

She was silent for a moment, looking down at her feet, “I don’t need you on my conscience.”

Andras was taken a little off guard, but she felt that everything that had happened today had definitely proven Vera right. Getting herself in trouble meant problems for everyone else… Especially for Vera, who wasn’t even technically on the job. Andras sniffled a little. ‘I’ve put her through a lot today… All for some books?!’

Andras suddenly hugged Vera. “I’m sooooorry!!” Andras cried. “I wasn’t thinking at all and I screwed everything up…”

Vera flinched at the sudden hug. She was never gonna be used to that. All she could do was awkwardly pat her on the head. Eventually though she decided she wanted her personal space back and pried the girl off. Most people wouldn’t even make it to eventually, so Andras was lucky.

“You really did,” Vera said bluntly. “But… the most important part of screwing up is what you do to make it right. I figure you did OK.” Vera almost managed a full smile to punctuate her words. “You know, I said by the end of this we might be ‘besties’. Keep impressing me and you might actually make it that long.” She didn’t let Andras get a word in though. In true Vera fashion, she dropped the bomb and then went to make her escape. She booped Andras on the nose to keep her off guard and then stood.

“Anyway, Wolf wasn’t around when I needed him, so I figure he’s earned himself a long, angry text.. Or maybe I should be passive-aggressive and make him sweat… Hmmm,” she mused to herself as she walked out of the room.

‘Did… Did she just boop my nose...?’ Andras thought. Stunned for a moment, she began to lean backwards until she plopped onto the guest room’s bed. ‘I should be mad, but…’ Andras yawned. ‘We might be besties, so… Maybe it’s not all bad.’ With that as her last thought, Andras fell into a long nap.

---

@Crowvette@Dezuel@AtomicNut

Royal Rumble!

---

@AtomicNut@6slyboy6@Gentlemanvaultboy

---

It was time for the training to begin. This kind of training wasn't exactly common at Mephisto's, at least as far as Vernon knew. It was as if someone wanted them to actually try this time. Well, being better at hurting people was always useful in his line of work.

He stood near the entrance, seemingly waiting for someone. Two people walked onto the school grounds, looking so stereotypically delinquent that one might have instinctually hidden one's lunch money. One was a boy in torn jeans with his hair spiked up with far too much gel, and the other a girl who actually had a cough-mask on but certainly wasn't sick. Vernon did not acknowledge their presence, and one could have been forgiven for thinking they weren't who he was waiting for.

"Uhhh... boss?" the girl spoke, tapping him on the shoulder. She flinched as Vernon's hand shot up, holding up a finger. Wait.

"Eyy, come on. You know better than to interrupt him!" the boy said next.

"Yeah, but how am I supposed to know!?" the girl groaned. Finally Vernon actually looked at them.

"What the hell are you two wearing?" By comparison, Vernon's hair was combed, he was wearing slacks, and he had on a button up shirt. Untucked, but still.

"You said to blend in!" the girl responded. "It's a school for bad kids right?"

Vernon pinched the bridge of his nose, "You..."

The boy raised an eyebrow, "Boss-?"

"IDIOTS!" He simultaneously karate chopped both of them in the forehead. "I expected you to mug some freshmen and steal their uniforms! I told you the school has a uniform!" Vernon was missing the coat, but the rest was indeed... mostly up to code. .

"B-but what kind of rebellious punk actually wears one of those?!" the girl whined, rubbing her forehead. Meanwhile his friends had clearly gone with some romanticized rebel fantasy

"Whatever! Let's go..." It was a bit late now, so he had no choice but to present the two morons as the members of his team...

---

. . .A Week Later. . .

@Dezuel@Letter Bee

Somehow still intact after training under the woman, Vernon received a whole new kettle of fish to deal with. A message from William, his own, personal, never ending well of trouble. He wondered if he'd ever grow weary of William's habit for sticking his nose where it may or may not belong.

Currently, though, it was just another chapter in the feud between William and Galbrek.

"Well, not the world's worst idea, William, but it lacks imagination," Vernon spoke to himself after reading the message. "I'll show you how a proper criminal deals with this kind of thing." It took him a bit of sneaking around, but after a few hours he was ready, with a few fail-safes in place. He made sure to respond to William, a short message, telling him that he was under no circumstances to attend the meeting as Galbrek had asked.

Quite frankly, Vernon didn't trust William to not somehow get himself into an even bigger mess. He wasn't sure if it was naivety or just an overabundance of good will towards humanity, but William had it in spades.

No, instead, Vernon arrived, sitting upon the marked bench. Well, rather he was reclining and seemed to be taking a nap. Obviously it was a trap of some sort, but hopefully it would end with him having a pleasant chat with his overeager classmate.

Royal Rumble!

@AtomicNut @Gentlemanvaultboy @Dezuel @rawkhawk64

---

"Dammit!" Vernon shouted when Vittorio distracted Bak. He'd been so close! 'Of course, that half-dead idiot can go around screaming about his vengeance, but when I want a little he can't even be bothered to take five seconds to read the mood!' Vernon ranted mentally, though his frustration was clear as day on his face. 'If William wasn't trying to save him I'd just kill him myself and save everyone the trouble!'

Answering Vittorio's question wouldn't do him any good and besides, he had bigger things to worry about. It now seemed the "Fallen One" was being pitted against him. Vernon wasn't so keen on fighting him anymore. The math was simple: Vernon had lost to Wolf, and Wolf hadn't exactly been able to beat the Fallen One. The odds weren't in Vernon's favor. But they weren't completely against him.

He'd been able to observe the aforementioned fight with Wolf. He knew the Fallen One was deceptively strong and liked to fight dirty. Also, they were clearly at least a little bit drained after scuffling with the gym teacher. One glance could tell you how much of a struggle that fight, however brief, must have been.

Vernon set his bottle aside and unzipped his cooler. He pulled out a popsicle and stuck it in his mouth... before viciously biting into it, pretty much eating the whole thing in one go.

"Well... I guess this is it then," Vernon gave a strained grin and dropped the cooler. He hadn't exactly been planning for this. He would need to stop his opponent's movements and then lock them down entirely, and he'd need to do it quickly. "Allow me to cast the first stone." And with that he unceremoniously flicked the popsicle stick at the Fallen One's chest, still sticky with saliva and melted popsicle. This was followed by an ice-ball aimed right at their forehead.

Royal Rumble!

@AtomicNut @Gentlemanvaultboy

---

Four days ago...

It had taken a day or two after the "Fallen One" had made the threat for Vernon to both think of an appropriate countermeasure... and then to gather the requisite courage to act it out. He strode into his father's office and fell into one of his chairs.

"Father," Vernon greeted the man. "How are things?"

"Shouldn't you know? You really should keep up on matter pertaining to the family," the man's gruff, weathered voice came back.

"I could have been asking about you."

"And I'd give you the same answer," the man finally met Vernon's eyes. "I am the family."

"Fair enough." Vernon conceded with a shrug. If the family was doing well, his father was, and vice-versa. He could be dying of the flu and still be an optimist, so long as the family was doing well. He'd probably survive too.

"Been meaning to speak to you. You ordered a shot to be taken in the middle of the city. Risky business, better have been worth it," the man once again lifted his eyes. Vernon swallowed. Oh good, already he was met with disapproval... this wasn't going to help things.

"I needed to slow down an enemy. Cousin should have covered his tracks well enough, so we need not worry," Vernon replied. "That... somewhat leads me to why I'm here."

"That so?" His father set the busywork before his aside and folded his hand across the lavish desk before him. "Go on then."

"You recall that cop, Alexander?" Vernon began.

"The junior officer, yes. He's looked into you once or twice. What about him?"

"I'm screwing his little brother." Well, no need to mince words after all.

". . . excuse me?" The man blinked rapidly, processing the words and probably attempting to suppress the accompanying mental images. "Are you... working on something?"

"Sorry, not a huge fan of the man. That was more crass than necessary. I should say I'm dating him."

"I. . . Are you serious?"

"Oh, the relationship is quite serious, thank you for asking."

The big man pinched the bridge of his nose, "Not what I was asking, though I suppose that answers my question regardless." He took a deep breath. "Why?"

"He's a funny little guy, what can I say. Couldn't stop myself." Vernon grinned. He smiled both at the thought of William and the humor of watching his father squirm. Also the try and quell the fear. Mostly that, actually. He'd be sweating bullets if his blood didn't run so cold.

"And you tell me this... why?" his father raised his voice, sounding quite aggravated.

"Preemptive action. Better you hear if from me rather than someone else," Vernon told him.

"I see. And what are you hoping the results of this conversation will be?" His father seemed more calm now, but that only meant the gears of reprisal could turn more quickly.

"Nothing. Precisely nothing. Someone else comes to you with this, you think I'm keeping secrets and harming the family, and so you act accordingly. Me? Well, then there's nothing for you to worry about. I have it all under control." If only, but that could be remedied long before his father had to lift a hand. Hopefully.

"I've had a lot of people tell me they had everything under control. Most of them are dead now," his father glowered, eyes burning holes right through Vernon. "You're my son, but blood only gets you so far. Don't disappoint me."

"Of course-"

"You're in bed arm's length from the police, Vernon. The second I even have an inkling you're going to harm the family, I will bring true all those fears you were hoping to side-step, understood?" And Vernon could feel the whole room tremble. His throat grew tight.

"Yes... father." Suddenly it was very hard to breathe. His father was an older man, but there was a reason he headed the family. His gut had long gone soft, but he had big hands with knuckles like knots on a tree. He shuddered to think of how many men those hands had choked the life out of.

"Good." And suddenly the air of dread cleared the room. "Might as well go tell your mother then. I'm sure she'll be overjoyed to hear you've finally found someone..." he let out long breath.

"Oh. Right." Vernon sighed as well. Of course she would be. This was gonna be a long day.

Present - One week after The Park...

Vernon walked through the courtyard at school. He was trying to be vigilant. William's biggest obsession and greatest enemy attended the school, after all. It may pay dividends to be alert. So far it hadn't, but anything could happen.

He had a soft cooler slung over his shoulder like a messenger bag and a half-gallon bottle in his hand filled more with ice than water. He needed to stay cool to function so he liked to be well equipped. It was at that moment that a flier pretty much fell into his hand.

"Training? Hm, that could be interest-"

Clang!

Vernon raised an eyebrow as suddenly someone swung off a light-pole to avoid falling to their death. Followed by the gym teacher. What?

That... that mask.

W. H. A. T?

Vernon's eye began rapidly twitching. Fallen One. Right there.

"Miss Maskono, do you require fire support?" He shook his head, coming back to reality at the sound of Bak Tsarevna's arrival on the scene. Perfect.

"Ah! Miss Tsarevna, it's good you're here! I know this masked fiend, they assaulted me and some friends not long ago, I assure you, fire support would be just lovely right now." And then he lifted his hands and staring icily at the "Fallen One." "I'll help." He spoke with just as much coldness.

'I told you I'd remember that, you little bitch!' he growled inside his head.

Royal Rumble!

@AtomicNut

---

Wolf woke up after a slightly tumultuous night of sleep. He couldn't even recall his dreams int he slightest, if he'd had any. He just knew he didn't feel all that rested or relaxed. The previous days events told him something: things were about to break from their holding pattern. No longer would each day resemble the last.

He wasn't ready -- that needed to change.

He could only think of one good way to remedy his situation. He needed to go home and start over. Go back to basics.

Once he was certain that Andras could stay in the safety of the Blackgate household, he excused himself... but not before once again thanking Meredith for what must have been the third and fourth times for helping him. As he walked home, it gave him some time to think. He couldn't say for sure, and he didn't really want to think about it, but hadn't Meredith effectively saved his life? Sure it could be argued he'd have made it to a hospital with time to spare, but he hadn't gone to a hospital, he'd gone to her. And she'd come through.

If that was the case, he truly owed her... but what could he offer? After all, owing her or not, as her friend of years there wasn't much he wouldn't do for her to begin with. There had to be something, but it would have to wait for now.

Similar to the Blackgate household, his home wasn't exactly just a normal house. There was a tall wall with an arch. The arch held a large, iron gate, though right now it was open. One had to then walk across a courtyard before finally reaching the front door. The courtyard was mostly bare dirt, but it was smooth and well-maintained, with pave-stones and benches bordering it.

The property was shaped like a 90 degree corner, as there was a second courtyard to the side of the house, but that one was even larger. However, he wouldn't be visiting that one just yet. He walked inside, and made his way to his father's study, finding the man inside. He sat in an old, cushy recliner that was aimed toward the door, as if he'd been waiting. He set a book aside before speaking.

"Wolfram, you didn't come home last night. I expected you back quite soon after your little trip with Vera. I was worried," he said. He folded his hands, looking at Wolf pensively. Wolf winced, realizing he'd failed to call home and tell his father anything. "I can see by the look in your eyes, you're quite troubled." He tilted his head. "Very much so indeed. Tell me, Wolfram, what transpired last night?"

And so Wolf told his father everything he could, concluding with the fact that he needed help. He wasn't strong enough.

"Well..." His father seemed caught off guard by the exposition onslaught, taking a moment to process it. "I confess I think anyone would be troubled by that." He then looked at Wolf, dead serious. "But if you're going to be a part of this, you can't let that get to you. Your powers may be driven by emotion, but you can't be. The moment you're not the one in control of the fight is the moment you become most vulnerable."

Those words were nothing new. He'd heard them over and over. And over.

"I... I know, father."

"I know you do, but I've seen you stray more and more. So, it's good you've come to me. There's much to be done and perhaps now you will have the motivation necessary to correct the course you've been on." He stood up, grabbing a sheathed sword from a nearby desk. "Are you ready?"

"Umm, n-now?" Wolf glanced down at his stomach.

"What? Don't tell me you skipped breakfast!" And Wolf could only hang his head in embarrassment. "Well good! You won't cramp up, then!"

Yeah... good. When was the last time he'd eaten again?

---

Prologue

One Week Later

Prologue

“Been having fun? You look like crap,” Vera said absentmindedly to Wolf as they walked down the street together. She was speaking to him, but was otherwise totally absorbed in her phone. After their night at the Blackgate household, Wolf had gone home to train with his father.

That had left Vera on Andras duty. A role she had begrudgingly accepted since with Wolf busy, she’d had nothing much else to do. A fact that was slowly eating away at her. If only something could break the monotony. Well, there was one thing, but it was the one thing Wolf would challenge her on.

She didn’t so much care that it bothered him, but she prided herself on not being petty and going behind people’s backs. Thus, it was too much trouble. Then again, her nerves were getting frayed.

If only something-

“Oh my goodness. Vera Goh!” A voice reached her ears. Like a well trained dog, her heart did a little jump and she instinctively smiled. But then she bit the inside of her cheek and forced her face to return to a neutral frown. “It’s been too long.”

Now under control, Vera let herself smirk, “Not long enough.” She looked up, pocketing her phone and acknowledging him. “Seth.” She could see Wolf in her peripheral vision, just totally lost.

“Ah, so it’s like that then,” Seth said, but he seemed to shrug it off. He was a tall guy, his hair slicked back. He dressed somewhat stylishly, but overall it was a loose, causal look. “So, this really is the new guy then, is he? Come on Vera, you can do better than this.”

“Funny, I remember thinking the same thing right before I broke up with you,” Vera shot back, not missing a beat. Seth actually made a show of taking a step back, as if her words had held physical impact.

“Just as fiery as ever I see,” he grinned, still not seeming all that perturbed. “We should really catch up, Vera.”

“We really shouldn’t,” Vera’s expression turned indifferent once more. Trading snipes had been fun, but she was done with Seth.

“Oh, but we have so much unfinished business.” He spoke with more emphasis now, stepping forward to punctuate his sentence.

“I don't think we do. Come on,” she motioned with her head for Wolf to follow as she began walking.

“Vera.” Seth grabbed her arm to stop her.

“Don’t.” Wolf immediately bristled. Seth had just gone and crossed a line.

“You heard him.” Vera just stared Seth down. He finally relented, letting go and holding his hands up in surrender.

“All right, all right,” Seth sighed. “Calm down little guy, you pout when you get upset. Not a good look.” He shot Vera a look that plainly said ‘Really? This guy?’ And then brushed past them.

“So, umm, who-?” Wolf blinked in confusion once Seth was gone.

“Oh him? Come on, you were there when I dumped him.” Vera smiled slyly.

“S-so he was the one-”

“Before you, yes. Now let’s go, I want new shoes.” She gave him a not so gentle push to resume their journey.

Part 1

At The Blackgate Household

Andras chewed her cereal slowly. Despite it being late in the afternoon at this point, she had only been awake for an hour or so. Of course, such is the price to pay for being a demon of the night.

Or at least, that’s what she would have said, but as she took another spoonful she thought about how she was surrounded by actual demons this time. It was a very good source of information about demons, but it was also not the best situation to be in for someone who went around calling herself a Demon Lady of Despair.

‘I’ll have to redouble my efforts. I know much more about what demons are like now!’ Andras nodded to herself as she read the back of her cereal box. She spotted two differences between the two pictures on the back. She studied it intently, trying to find the remaining four.

Andras would perhaps have been distracted by the sound of the household’s front door opening and closing, followed by the apparently angry clicking and clacking of heels across the hardwood floor and then the kitchen tiles.

It was Vera, of course. Much to Mona’s dismay, Vera had practically moved in along with Andras. Vera was hardly necessary, Andras needed protection, yes, but that was what Victor was for. Vera was just sort of there to observe and make sure no one did anything stupid.

That was unfortunately a highly probable event considering the residents.

Vera had a few shopping bags slung over her arms. She hadn’t stopped at just shoes in the end, though she was indeed wearing a new pair of heels with cute little bows on them. She’d felt the need for something cute to calm her down. It hadn’t worked.

No, she needed something else. And now, looking at Andras, she had an idea. Well, OK, she’d had the idea a while ago.

“Hey, Denim Lady, got any plans tonight?” Vera dropped her bags on the floor and dragged a chair over next to Andras and took a seat, crossing her legs, propping up an elbow and leaning in close. “Who am I kidding, no you don’t. Go out with me tonight.”

Before Andras could respond indignantly about her name being incorrectly said, she stopped for a moment. ‘Go out?! Like-’ Andras caught herself. ‘We’re friends… I’m sure she means as friends. What am I even thinking?’ Andras considered her errant thoughts may be due to bunking with actual demons. She couldn’t see if that was a bad or good thing yet.

“I was planning on…” She scratched her head for a moment. Nothing was coming to her head, not that she expected anything anyway. Most of the last week was resting and conferring with William. “Hanging out with you, Vera!” Andras gave a smile. Andras had started thinking that acting saccharinely friendly around Vera gave good results… Sometimes.

“Sure you were.” Vera shook her head, but whatever. That’s what she wanted anyway. She’d see just how much of a creature of the night Andras really was. “Good, then we need to dress you. I refuse to be associated with a girl who looks like a boy because of her poor fashion sense.” She got back up and began rifling through the bags. She began pulling out little pieces of cloth.

Andras would soon realize that the tiny pieces of cloth were meant to be clothing. There was no way they could cover everything.

“I don’t really understand the boy part of that, but… What is this all?” Andras twirled a piece around her finger, not sure exactly what it was supposed to be. “Demonic garb? Like the girls around here talk about?”

“No, it’s modern fashion. It’ll make you cute… Well, cuter. I think you have potential.” Vera winked at her. “Anyway, I got extra. Take a look through it. I’ll be back in a minute.” She grabbed a few pieces for herself and walked off to the guest room to change.

When she returned, she still clicked and clacked, but her heels were about twice as high as before and looked like they could kill someone. Her skirt was so short it was only just barely long enough to cover what was necessary, but she still had on shorts underneath, though the emphasis was on short. Her top was like a t-shirt, but it left her shoulders and collarbone exposed, as well as her midriff. The back of her top had many slats cut in it, as if she wasn’t already showing off enough skin. The only thing missing was it being low cut, but then it probably would have just fallen clean off.

“How do I look?” Vera asked but then turned her attention back to Andras. “Did you come up with anything good?”

Andras had a few different articles of clothing in her hands. A miniskirt was around her neck, and her expression was that of utter confusion. “How did you take this and wear it like that?!” Andras leaned forward, eyes growing wide. “Is that your power?! To wear impossible clothing?!”

Vera’s jaw just hung open when she was able to take stock of what Andras had done.

“I-it’s just a skirt. You pull it up like a pair of pants, except easier because there are no legs!” Vera snapped, totally astonished at Andras’s incompetence. “Ugh!” She stomped over to Andras, pulled her to her feet, and then in a flash dropped down, effectively pantsing Andras and then ripping the skirt off of her head and pushing it into her hands. “You were already wearing a skirt! Just replace it with this one!” She then grabbed a stringy, strappy, lime green tank-top and threw that at Andras as well. “And here’s your top, now go change!” And finally, shoved her toward the guest bedroom before witnesses could see her pantsless state.

Andras looked at the miniskirt in her hands. It was a skirt. Her eyes narrowed. Vera called it a skirt. Her eyes narrowed further. Andras had recently come to dislike skirts. Thus, Andras disliked the thing in her hands. She stood there, disliking the skirt for some time.

A sharp knock on the door (maybe closer to a pound, really) made her realize that she was supposed to at least try to put the clothing on. It was for a friend. A friend. Even if it meant wearing a skirt.

After pulling on her skirt, she grudgingly removed her hoodie as well. Andras was concerned about this color scheme Vera had given her, but she didn’t have any room to argue. Argument with Vera wasn’t… good. She felt exposed wearing something with so much skin showing. She hadn’t dealt with anything that didn’t cover her shoulders for at least a year now.

Meekly opening the door, Andras looked around for Vera. “I have some complaints about this clothing…” Andras mumbled, not really wanting to be heard for fear of what may come afterward.

Vera let out a little squeak when Andras finally showed herself, and then clapped happily. “I’m a genius!” She approved. The swirly little skirt was cuter than her own, though less provocative, but it suited Andras’s more meager frame. The bright tank top was more casual, but still showy. It was like looking at a whole other person now that Andras was finally out from under her hoodie.

She grabbed Andras’s shoulders and pulled her in, “Muah! Muah!” She kissed one cheek, then the other. “OK, now try this!” She might be getting into this a bit too much, now wanting to play dress with using all the new things she’d bought on Andras. That said, she was dating Wolf. She was used to hearing little mumbled complaints. Perhaps this was not just her messing around but a tiny apology for being so forceful with the girl.

This could be argued, because she came back with something that perhaps Andras would appreciate a little more. Shorts, and very short ones at that, and a top that had longer sleeves, going to the elbow. The sleeves were more like a crisscross of fabric, with holes going all the way down, but at least they were sleeves. That said, the top barely went half-way down the waist. You win some you lose some, or so they say. The shorts also had chains dangling from the belt for some added flash.

“Go go go, I wanna see!” And not giving her any time to protest, Andras was once more shoved into the room.

Andras was glad that the new shirt had sleeves. And the other part seemed to not be a skirt… It was still far to short. As she put on the shorts, she could feel the slightest draft on her legs.

She cracked the door and peeked at Vera. “Vera! I’ve worn underwear that cover more than these shorts!” Andras’s usual demonic prose had broke under the new experience of Vera’s clothing choices. In the back of her mind Andras knew a demon would never talk about her underwear. But this was a dire situation.

“Oh please, what are you wearing, granny panties? Your butt isn’t even showing… right?” Vera dragged the girl and spun her around to look at her. “Nope, they fit, you’re good!” And once more she gave Andras a forced about face. “Very good.” Vera smirked. “I do know my stuff! We’ll have to get you new shoes on the way. Can’t have you wearing mine. That’s gross and they need to fit right anyway.”

Part 2

Vera let Andras pick from a store on the end, with the girl choosing heeled knee-high boots, though with Vera making sure she picked a pair that didn’t clash with her outfit. Boots weren’t what she would have gone with personally, but she wanted to keep the girl from backing out on her, and so she got her way.

And thus, with the sun now slowly sinking down over the horizon, they reached their destination, now appropriately dolled up, much to Vera’s approval. That said, they’d ended up in a somewhat seedy neighborhood. The streets weren’t as clean and the usage of neon lights seemed to increase proportionally with the grime.

They were at a dingy little nightclub that Vera had visited once in the past, and honestly she was surprised it was still there. They often changed ownership and thus name, but this was almost exactly as she recalled it. Good. She needed this. She needed to let loose and blow off steam.

She suddenly linked arms with Andras and took her up to the door and the bouncer who blocked their way.

“Working here now, huh?” Vera apparently knew the man. They had a tendency to bounce, pun not intended, from club to club. “What’d you do, beat up the wrong guest?” She snarked. She then pulled Andras closer still. “She’s with me.”

The man just rolled his eyes and waved them inside. The inside resembled the outside, just louder. The music was bassy and seemed to largely be remixed rock songs rather than typical electronic music lacking vocals.

There were a few sitting areas scattered around the edge, most sporting torn, flattened cushions held together with dreams and duct tape. Then, there was the main floor filled with people dancing. Dancing might have been too kind a way to put it, considering the gross disregard of personal space and lack of grace.

Vera took a deep breath, “It’s good to be home.”

Andras felt the need to cover her ears. The music was so loud in here. It didn’t feel like it was coming from any one direction, it was like she was somehow always in the center of it. She knew deep down that covering her ears would be pointless, because she’d need to use her hands sometime. But she felt the need to. “W-What are we going to do here?” Andras asked, her voice drowned out by the music. Trying again, she tapped on Vera’s shoulder, and almost shouted, “What are we going to do in this place anyway?!”

Vera reached inside the small purse she had slung over her shoulder and then stepped up to Andras. She reached up, taking both of the girl’s hands and gently, almost sensually pulling them away from her ears.

“Shhhh, just let it wash over you…” Plop! And suddenly Andras felt something pushed into her ears. Ear plugs? Vera did the same for herself. “Just kidding, no amount of partying is worth my hearing and the following headache.” She looked directly at Andras as she spoke, letting the girl read her lips. “I’ve been at this a while and seen way too many people end up with tinnitus.”

She then grinned, like a hungry shark in her element, once more taking Andras’s hands. “And what we’re going to do… is teach you to dance. The fun way.” And so Andras was dragged to the dance floor, first at arms length, but then a sharp tug that practically had her pressed right up against Vera.

“You’re not claustrophobic are you?” Again, Vera was looking right into her eyes, close enough for them to feel each other’s breath.

Andras let out a squeak of surprise. She had gathered what Vera’s idea of “dancing” was, but she didn’t expect to be thrust into it so quickly. “I-I’m not! I don’t think so, at least…” Andras definitely was uncomfortable, but it wasn’t due to any kind of phobia. She couldn’t keep up eye contact with Vera; something about it was embarrassing her. Andras turned her head. “I’ve never danced before, so, I don’t know if we should be doing this…” Andras gave a weak excuse to try and weasel out of the situation.

“I figured, but that’s why I’m teaching you, now isn’t it?” Vera felt a bit of pity. She’d been in Andras’s position once. Overwhelmed by lights, sounds, smells, and people. But then she’d gotten used to it. Addicted to it. Surrounded and hemmed in by people and yet undeniably free. The constant yearning for more was liberating as it steadily dragged her out of her comfort zone.

It had taught her that one’s “comfort zone” was just a self-inflicted prison that locked away everything life had to offer.

“Relax, just feel the music and follow my lead.” Vera stroked Andras’s cheek with the back of her hand in an attempt to comfort her. She also positioned herself so that she stood between Andras and the bulk of the crowd, letting the overwhelmed girl focus on her rather than the mass of strangers that threatened to swallow them.

Maybe it was all too much, maybe she was really here for her own selfish desires. Maybe she’d only brought Andras along as an excuse. But still, part of her really did think she was helping Andras, even if it was just a side-effect of her own hedonistic desires.

Andras realized quickly that things were best if she just kept her eyes forward. She had to keep up with Vera’s danci- strange movements, and her desire to look at the ground or the walls made it impossible to keep up with her. ‘L-Like some kind of basilisk. Wait, that’s the opposite of the situation right now. I can’t even remember my mythical-’ Andras stumbled slightly, bumping into her dance partner. She took a quick glance at the crowd, and the lights and the entire club. ‘Should I really be thinking about mythical creatures right now anyway?’ That thought crossed her mind briefly.

Andras wasn’t really sure of herself, even when she settled into a rhythm with Vera. Personally, the music was slightly off of what she’d listen to normally… And played way too loud, of course. The earplugs helped with that, at the very least. Andras was slightly fascinated with Vera, however. She seemed less… annoyed than she was… all the time. ‘I guess this is what she likes to do?’ Andras pondered.

Andras stumbled again slightly. Though her boots only had a small heel to them, she wasn’t quite familiar with them enough to not have a hard time keeping up. “H-How do you do this all the time…” Andras wondered aloud, her breathing elevated from the dancing.

“Hm?” Vera almost seemed in a trance like state until Andras pulled her out of it. “It’s easy now. That tension you feel, you have to let go of it. What you’re feeling is your desires pulling against all those dumb shackles you put on them. I’m not saying go out and steal a TV, but I am saying that in here, you need to just stop caring. Stop assuming anyone really cares. Just let it all bleed out of you and let what’s deep inside tell you what to do.”

A devious look slipped onto Vera’s face, “I mean, once you’re really used to it, and you get used to people, you can even just go grab a stranger and dance. Watch.” She pulled away from Andras and slid back into some other girl, pressing herself back-to-back with her. “They don’t mind!” She raised her voice so Andras could at least kind of hear her. “Do you honey?” she reached up over her shoulder to cup the girls cheek, but then grinned and just smacked her ass.

“Hey!- Oh my gosh, Vera?!” The girl went from confused to overjoyed, flinging herself at Vera.

“OK, I cheated, I know this one.” Vera admitted. That said, to be fair, long before the girl had recognized Vera, she’d seemed perfectly fine with Vera’s dancing up against her and even touching her face. So maybe she’d been telling the truth.

“Come on, you and your cute little friend follow me, we have a little spot in the corner!” The girl took Vera and Andras’s hands and pulled her over to a large corner shaped sofa next to a glass table that once upon a time had probably been transparent but now was decidedly opaque. Vera was soon excitedly bantering away with the girl and a few of her friends. For a moment, almost seeming to forget about Andras.

Then, things got a bit awkward. Perhaps it wasn’t a surprise, but soon little pills were being passed around, and white sweaty with runny makeup and generally disheveled appearances, none of the girls actually seemed sick. Once could only guess what the true natures of the pills were, but some already seemed dazed, manic, or just had far-away looks on their faces.

Soon enough, a pill had made its way into Andras’s hand. Vera had one too, and she popped it into her mouth. But then, a second later when no eyes were on Andras, Vera’s hand shot out and swiped the pill from her hands, shoving it into her waistband. Vera winked at her, and faked a cough, and hid the one she’d pretended to take as well…

Andras tried to keep her cool, her stomach sinking for a moment. Putting aside her stint as a demon (which she had at this point due to everything around her), she was definitely too afraid of what could happen to try it. She knew that she was with a different crowd than she was used to… But whatever was being passed around wouldn’t have been good anyway. She nodded to Vera in a silent expression of gratitude. ‘I-I knew she was good at heart!’ Andras secretly rejoiced.

And then, about fifteen minutes later… the rush had faded. The blur the night had become was suddenly at a screeching halt. The girl that had recognized Vera had just gone and passed out. Some of the others were in a similar state or had wandered off to who knows where to do who knew what.

Vera sat there, a blank expression on her face despite being perfectly sober. She broke out of it only momentarily to tilt the unconscious girl’s head slightly so she wouldn’t choke if she happened to vomit.

And then her face just fell into her hands. A bit ago she’d seemed downright blissful. Now she just seemed… defeated, somehow.

Even Andras, who was out of her element, had noticed the shift. Keeping a respectful distance, she leaned slightly in towards Vera. “Um… Are you alright, Vera?” She asked as softly as she could while still being heard. Thinking quickly, Andras added, “And uh. Thanks for saving me before.” Andras awkwardly motioned to her open palm, to call back to a few minutes earlier.

“I didn’t want to spit it out…” Vera finally said, voice shaky. “I didn’t want to save you. I wanted to get high with you… or just take yours for myself. Either would be better than this. Just numb surrounded by a bunch of zombies.” She glanced at the people who hadn’t shown so much restraint.

Andras swallowed. “Numb? But… You were having a lot of fun before, right?” She recalled it all. “P-Plus, can’t we have fun without, well, drugs?” Andras had trouble saying that last part. She could hear the anti-drug commercial theme music playing in the distance. She felt distinctly uncool, from both her own definition and what she assumed Vera’s definition to be.

“I was having fun, because I was following my rules!” Vera snapped. “And now I’ve stepped right back into my shackles!” She leaned back into the couch, arms crossed, finger tapping away with such impatience it was practically a blur.

Then, suddenly, a pair of hands came down on Vera’s shoulders. Vera tilted her head back, actually looking hopeful, perhaps it was someone who could drag her out of the slump she’d fallen right back into.

Again. The little back-flip in her heart, the almost relieved, joyful parting of her lips before they firmly pressed back together in a thin line. Fucking Seth.

Was he stalking her now?

“Vera, Vera, Vera,” he spoke. “You look suspiciously unfulfilled. Don’t tell me they left you out,” he asked her. His fingers slid across her bare shoulders as he stepped around the couch.

“What can I say. They only had the cheap shit. Doesn’t do anything for me anymore,” she told him. It was her usual sass, yet somehow it felt subdued. Weak.

The bite was missing.

He slid down next to her, arm draped around her, forcing himself down between her and Andras. He pulled out something, not all that dissimilar from what had been passed around before.

“Then how about something a little better.” He chuckled at something. “I can tell you want it. It’s in your eyes.” Suspiciously, Vera didn’t have a comeback this time. He held it up in front of his lips and then leaned in toward her.

Vera was sure he did see something in her eyes. She could feel the pull toward what he held and... The next thing she knew they were face-to-face. She reached up and grabbed his hand, pulling it away, but then she leaned even closer to him, lips parted slightly and barely more than a hair’s breadth from his.

She let out a breath slowly, “Fuck you, Seth,” she hissed and pushed him off of her. She had one rule. If she was done with Wolf, if she wanted someone else, she’d make damn sure Wolf knew about it beforehand. “Andras,” in the heat of the moment, she just threw out the girl’s fake name. “Get up. We’re leaving.”

“Oh are you?” This time Seth sounded quite impatient. “I told you, we have unfinished business. I was TRYING to be nice about it!”

“And I said we don’t!” Vera didn’t sound in control anymore the way she just shouted at him, a hint if panic and desperation in her voice.

“I don’t care what you say, facts are facts. Or have you forgotten that little break you and your little boy toy took from each other. Came running back to me right quick you did,” Seth told her, a sinister gleam in his eyes. “Got real deep in things too. And you made quite a mess when you left.”

“Fuck off, Seth! That’s not fa-”

“And my my, how many memories you left me with to share.” Seth had pulled out his phone and was swiping through it. “Particularly fond of this one.” He held it up, displaying a picture of him and Vera hanging all over each other. Vera looked out of her mind with bliss, her skin glistening, but her eyes sort of glassy and unfocused. “Went right back to the way things were! Best week of our lives, wasn’t it!?” Seth grinned madly, one hand gripping the back of the sofa like a talon. His whole body was tense, as if he were a predator ready to pounce.

“I said we’re leaving!” Vera, looking more vulnerable than ever, actually sounded ready to cry. She grabbed Andras and hurried them out of the nightclub, just picking a direction once they were outside and walking…

Part 3

“Vera! What’s the matter, Vera?!” Andras followed and grabbed her friend’s hand, trying to stop her. “I don’t know what all of that was, but I’ve never seen you like this!”

“Nothing! Forget you saw anything!” Vera made to pull away from Andras, but suddenly couldn’t find the strength. Her whole body felt like rubber and she was trembling terribly.

Andras was taken aback for a moment. Almost everyone knew Vera as, well, Vera. Synonymous with at least one swear word. But this was something different entirely.

‘Vera needs a friend right now!’ Andras knew it. Andras didn’t want to see Vera trembling like that. Andras quickly embraced Vera, hugging her tightly.

“Vera, I can’t forget something like that! Can’t I help you somehow?” Andras said, sniffling a little. She can’t imagine how Vera must feel if her normal act broke down the way it did.

Vera for the second time found herself being embraced by Andras. This time, however, it was out of pity. It made it much harder to swallow. She didn’t want to be pitied. If she was being given pity, it meant she was weak. And that meant she wasn’t in control.

“I don’t want help,” Vera forced her way out of Andras’s arms. “I just want to be left alone!” That wasn’t quite right. “I… I don’t want to see him ever again.”

Andras’s arms stayed up, even after Vera broke away from her. She thought for a moment, and spoke up again, “Then… Let’s get out of here and go somewhere else. You know of other places, right? Let’s forget about him!”

“Yeah… all right.” She had an idea. A place that’d make her feel better whether she liked it or not. Her idea was short lived as two men she unfortunately recognized stepped out of the club. She turned around and saw another man stepping out of a nearby alleyway. “Andras, listen carefully. Stay right behind me…” she told her.

She reached a hand into her purse and began steadily walking down the street, toward the solitary man, making sure Andras had listened to her.

As expected, the man blocked her path, with the other two coming up behind them.

“Decided to piss him off, eh?” he said to her, just sounding tired.

“It’s my specialty,” Vera said and then suddenly pulled a cylinder out of her purse. With the click of a button an orange cloud spurted out into the man’s face. He let out a cry of pain and stumbled back. Then, with a flick of her wrist the cylinder extended into a baton and she cracked it against the back of his knee. “Go!” she shouted to Andras and broke into a run.

Andras didn’t really have time to react to the situation. But she trusted Vera enough to know that it was time to run. Andras had a brief moment of admiration at Vera’s moves, but that was fairly short lived as Andras ran after Vera. “W-Where are we going, Vera? Who was that?!”

“No time, talk later!” Vera insisted. She’d just had to pick stilettos, hadn’t she? She’d be lucky if she didn’t break her ankle, but more likely the shoes would snap. Somehow, neither came to pass and by carefully picking which twists and turns to take through the streets, they managed to shake their pursuers.

They found themselves in a small park. And a park mercifully meant benches to sit down on and catch their breath.

“Fuck…” Vera muttered once they were sitting. “I fucked it all up. Tonight is miserable. You’re miserable aren’t you?” She couldn’t even look at Andras.

Andras panted, holding her hands at her sides. “I’m not… Miserable…” She took a few more moments to catch her breath. “I’m amazed! I wasn’t aware you had such skills, Vera! You totally took that guy out!” Andras looked away, a little embarrassed. “It’s been so different from what I’m used to, Vera. But it’s not miserable… Because you’re a good friend.” Andras moved closer to Vera on the bench.

Vera stared at Andras, mouth open, but words didn’t come out. She just couldn’t comprehend this girl. She called herself a demon, a being of despair, and yet there was an undeniable purity to her. No one was truly pure or innocent, but compared to herself? She might as well have been fresh fallen snow.

Somehow being called a good friend hurt. She couldn’t even laugh it off. She just slowly looked away from her. For once, she was just truly out of things to say.

Andras cast a sideways glance towards Vera. ‘S-She’s quiet. I hope I didn’t say anything wrong… I can’t just ask why she’s quiet!’ Andras wasn’t sure what to do now.

“Did you really think you could just run away?” A voice echoed out, seeming to come from nowhere. It didn’t sound quite natural either. “We’re in my element now, after all. Sun’s gone. Or did you forget, Vera?”

From beneath one of the trees in the park, the ground seemed to grow a tumor, turning into a mass of shadows that melted away to leave someone standing before them. Seth. So much for Vera’s wish to never see him again.

And Vera could only stare, the fight long gone from her.

“You really hurt me, you know that? You’re with me, then him, then me, and then him again. You just can’t make up your mind, can you?” He let out a wry laugh. “I get it. I’m just too much for you. You want to be the one in charge, and that little peon just goes right along with you.” He took a deep breath. “You act like you want this life, but every time you delve just a little to deep, you end up getting scared and running off. You can’t keep up.”

That was the thing about Seth. He’d been born with dark powers, from some shadowy god. He’d always acted so fatalistic, like he was fated for the life he’d ended up in. Lying, thieving, and all manner of unsavory activities. He’d just let it become his identity. He’d acted like he’d embraced the darkness inside him and mastered it.

“You’re wrong…” Vera spoke quietly. “I was with him… because he came to me. I went back to you because he walked away. And then he came back. He made up my mind for me.” She looked up at him. “So you just shut your mouth.” She stood and marched over to him. “You’re so weak. You think you were dealt some dark hand you’ve made the most of? That’s nothing compared to what he’d been dealt and he’s still the same person. And you… you just let yourself get swallowed.” And finally Vera’s gaze regained the hard, scorching stare that burned through people. “See? I told you. I knew I could do bett-”

CRACK!

The sound echoed through the otherwise empty park as Seth’s hand same across Vera’s face.

“I’m done. You left me hanging, Vera. One way or another, you’re going to pay me back and I assure you, no amount of your family’s money will cut it,” he seethed. Black veins surged around his eyes, the shadows around him seeming to gain a life of their own as he stood over the fallen Vera.

“Stop right now!” Andras shot up, and her cards were summoned to her hand instantly. The seven pinpoints of light fanned out. “Get away from her. I won’t let you hurt Vera!”

“Run along, why don’t you. I don’t think you’re in a position to let me do anything or not.” He looked at her like she was an afterthought. An afterthought he had no qualms about crushing if she didn’t leave.

Andras’s eye narrowed, and she grabbed one of her cards. “You’re rather confident, challenging a demon.” She threw the card into the ground, and whispered a summoning chant. “Flamekin avenger… Come to me from the ashes of Lorwyn!”

The card burst into flames, and within the burst came a strange being. Wearing a gnarled wooden mask, it was a being of pure flame. It illuminated the park around it with its brilliant fire. It wielded two swords that seemed to turn red with its own heat.

Andras leveled her hand on Seth. “Protect Vera!”

The flamekin elemental dashed forward with incredible speed, its twin swords slashing at Seth.

“What?!” Seth clearly hadn't expected that. He tried to wrap the shadows around him, but as the creature closed in, they just seemed to dissolved. “Dammit!” He jumped back toward a tree, tendrils of shadow snaking out to draw him away, vanishing much the same way he’d appeared.

“Careful…” Vera said, pushing herself up to a kneeling position. “He can pop up anywhere.”

“Quite!” And suddenly, from the now stark shadow cast by the park bench behind Andras, he reappeared, vaulting over it to kick at Andras.

Andras was taken off guard, and despite her best effort at dodging she couldn’t quite evade the kick. Andras’s breath was knocked out of her for a moment, and she stumbled back, but managed to catch herself before she fell over. She reached for her cards. ‘I can’t take any chances. I’ve gotta end this quick!’ In a flash, her fiery elemental lashed out towards Seth, and at the same time she readied to summon.

“Custodian of Serra’s Realm! Banish the darkness!” Two cards streaked into the sky, and with a flash of light Andras summoned an angel. Its wings stretched out, spanning across the moon, and it brandished a gleaming sword that caught the moonlight.

For a moment, Seth was both in awe of the Angel, and horrified as it became far too difficult to manifest a proper shadow. These thoughts became secondary as the fire elemental assaulted him, leaving him scorched, bleeding, and desperately trying to crawl away.

Who the hell was this girl? Where was she getting these creatures from!? He needed to find a proper shadow! Any shadow!

The fire elemental held up a sword to keep striking, but Andras motioned to stop. “Make sure he doesn’t get away.” Her two summons surrounded Seth. Andras, on the other hand, walked to Vera. “You’re okay, right?” Andras extended a hand to Vera.

“Yeah…” Vera had to fish around for Andras’s hand for a moment, her eyes locked on the angelic being that had been summoned. Andras… could do that? She had been vaguely aware that she had cards which could summon things, but not of the full extent.

She’d completely nullified Seth’s abilities in seconds. Maybe it was just luck that Andras had possessed those cards, but it was nothing but impressive at the end of the day that it was still something she was capable of.

“One second…” Vera stepped away, going over to Seth. “So, now what?”

“G-get these things away from me!” he half-demanded half-pleaded.

“Say it, then.”

“Wh-”

“Do we have any unfinished business?” Vera glowered down at him. His face twisted up in rage, but then he glanced at the glowing swords around him. “Well?”

“No…” he spoke under his breath.

“What was that?”

“We have no unfinished business! Now let me go!” he spat out.

“Good. Just keep in mind that she’s not even the scariest person I keep around.” She then glanced back at Andras. “Maybe close competition for my favorite, though.”

She then knelt down next to him and pulled his phone from his pocket.

“What are you-”

“I just realized something. Why this has been so very hard for you,” she spoke with a false sympathy in her voice. An exaggerated crooning. She grabbed his hand to use his fingerprint and unlocked the phone. “I left you with all those painful memories right?” And then all sympathy was gone. “Delete… delete… delete...” she said coldly. Picture after picture until it was all gone. “There. The cord’s cut.” And with that she unceremoniously dropped the phone next to him. “All right, let the idiot go.”

‘For favorite?!’ Andras did a double take. She tried to keep her cool, considering she just subdued Vera’s attacker, but she wanted to squeal with excitement. She managed to contain it all somehow.

Andras motioned for the flamekin and angel to stand down. She watched Seth stalk off into the shadows. “That being all said… I think I may have gone overboard with my summoning.” She regarded the angel and flaming swordsman before them. “But we’re both okay, so it’s fine, right?” She looked at Vera, smiling a little.

“Yeah… after that I’d say I’m pretty OK.” Vera smiled back. She wasn’t in a blissful trance and she was being snarky. She was none of the things she’d been throughout the day before. She just looked… at peace. “But yeah we’re gonna attract a lot of attention if we walk back with those things around. Can you… put them away, or?” Slowly, that look of peace faded -- but it had been there.

Andras scratched her chin. “Well… Not particularly. The angel can hide out in the sky, but… Hm. I think I know a place for now. We’ll need to take a little detour.” Andras gestured to the angel, who took off into the sky with a flush of her wings.

Andras knew of a place to let the flamekin stay. She left him with the Vigilantes’s base of operations. She figured later on she could handle out what to do with him; She knew he was definitely a good fighter.

Epilogue

With Andras’s “pets” stowed away safely, one could hope, it was time to call it a night and head home. Well, it wasn’t really home for either of them, but for now the Blackgate household was where they were staying. As they reached the front door, Vera stopped Andras.

“Look… uhh… you really helped me out tonight, OK?” she told her. “So…” Genuine gratitude wasn’t something she expressed often. It felt awkward to say the least. And to some goofy nerd who called herself a demon no less. “Y-y-you use some sort of mana… contract… thing, right?”

“Vera!” Andras cried with excitement. “You’re saying that you’d be okay with it?!” Andras took Vera’s hand, almost bouncing with excitement.

Vera pulled her head back a bit. Okay with it? “Does… it hurt? Am I on the hook for anything? Should I not be OK with it?” Was this a bigger decision than she’d thought?

Andras hugged Vera tightly, squeezing her. “It doesn’t hurt! I just didn’t want to try to pressure you into it. It has to be real friendship!” Andras sniffled once more, holding back tears of joy.

“. . .” Real… friendship? “O. . .K. . .” Was she sure she was a demon? “So are you gonna do it, or what? How’s this work?”

Andras giggled a little. “It’s already done- I mean, we’ve gotta hug for a little longer.”

It was done by hugging. Because of course it was. “You are literally the second worst demon I’ve ever met.” Vera smirked. “Fine.” She was fully aware that Andras was lying to her, but... “By the way, as far as anyone else is concerned, tonight never happened…” She glanced about, just to be sure no one was watching... and decided that she was not a woman of half-measures. She hugged the “demon,” who sucked at being a demon, back properly.

---

Part 1

The sounds of fist meeting flesh and bone were not enough to rouse Rurik. He simply lay reclined atop a short, concrete wall, eyes closed. It had been a good twenty minutes into the usual 1-hour slug-fest that was being hosted. There was a group of dissidents, many, but not all, from Mephisto’s who enjoyed beating the tar out of each other.

For the moment, the sounds of fighting subsided. The latest match had drawn to a close. The winner being… who gave a shit, he was sleepy.

“All right, who’s next?” the organizer asked.

“I’ll go,” a newcomer spoke. Rurik didn’t recognize his voice, but he sounded… green.

“Good good, the newbie. Should be interesting… uhhh-”

“I wanna fight him!”

“Yeah, good luck with that. Pretty sure he’s asleep.”

“Then wake him up!”

Rurik cracked an eye open, “you talkin’ to me?”

“Damn straight! I’ve heard about you!” The green kid, head with buzzed short hair and an almost hilariously stereotypical punk look, stepped closer, pointing at him. “You’ve got a name around here. I want it.” The kid was literally wearing a leather vest with nothing underneath it. He was trying to hard to be tough.

“Sure. I now dub thee Sir Rurik the Second. Have fun.” Rurik shut his eyes again.

“Don’t mess with me!”

“I told you, kid, good luck with that-”

“Fine, fine. Be that way.” Rurik sighed and rolled off the wall, landing with something resembling grace on both feet. “Let’s get this over with then.” Normally he ignored random challenges, but today was different. Because… it just was, he supposed. This kid wasn’t even trying to steal Christine like a good fifty-percent of the people who called him out.

“Well all right then. King of the Ring stepping up early today,” the organizer grinned and chuckled. “Or rather, he’s stepping up at all.”

Rurik walked to the ring, garnering the attention of all those in attendance. Rurik was known for his unusually high win-ratio, when he bothered to participate, so they all wanted to see this.

“When I beat you, I’m gonna have the reputation around here! I’m going straight to the top!” Green smirked.

“I’m sure,” Rurik yawned. “Come on then, I’m getting bored already!”

“Well, let’s not have that! BEGIN!” The organizer called.

The kid charged at Rurik, but Rurik just leaned aside. His leg shot up like it was spring loaded, and his knee hammered the kid in the gut. Green stumbled back and collapsed to all fours, the fight being knocked right out of him. To be fair, it was hard to keep it up when you couldn’t breathe.

Rurik just walked over and stepped on the back of his head, pinning him, “Please. Don’t get up.” He then leaned over, close to his ear. “People like you shouldn’t get cocky.” And with that, he increased the pressure, grinding the kid’s head into the ground.

Tap-tap! And finally, yet within near record time, Green tapped out.

“Well, that was barely even worth watching.” The organizer shrugged. Everyone else was similarly disappointed, but not surprised. Some newbie had challenged Rurik and lost. It had gone just about how they’d expected, if perhaps a bit more suddenly than they’d thought.

Rurik returned to his wall, once more closing his eyes, but it seemed he’d have no peace.

“King of the Ring, eh? Shouldn’t that be reserved for the strong and undefeated?” It was a female voice. He opened his eyes, momentarily startled to see another pair staring down at him. It seemed someone else was perched upon his wall.

Her. Having fought so many people, Rurik had a vague idea of the power ranking in the school. Clara was at the top, of course. Then there was Gilliam. A newcomer, but nigh unstoppable. And then there were those who participated in the fights. Rurik had earned his title for a reason. He’d been dragged into an unusually large number of battles and won most of them. But there were three who could beat him. They were the three strongest of the school in most people’s eyes, but most didn’t count Clara, and many didn’t know about Gilliam.

Then again, maybe they could beat Gilliam. Well, maybe she could anyway.

She had dyed green hair to match her eyes, cut shorter on the sides, and had a myriad of piercings. Unlike the newbie, her appearance seemed to suit her. And he knew full well she wasn’t trying too hard. She’d absolutely destroyed him, and of all the people he’d fought, she was the one he most wanted to avoid fighting ever again.

Her powers were chemical in nature. She could poison others, or make herself stronger. Much, much stronger. She wasn’t the strongest of the three, she’d probably fall in the middle, but she was just miserable to deal with. The strongest didn’t really participate in fights much anymore. No one wanted to face him.

He’d shown up to the fighting ring once, likely just to dispel any rumors that Rurik could beat him. Other than that, he was quiet and no one knew much about him. Rurik couldn’t even say for sure what his powers were, but the fight hadn’t lasted long…

“What? Jealous, Anna?” Rurik asked her, deadpan.

“Jealous of you? Never. Just let me know when you want that rematch, hm? I’m getting bored of tormenting all these weaklings.” She smiled darkly.

“Cool. I’ll check my schedule.” The way he said it made it quite clear he would be doing no such thing.

“I’ll give you one thing, Rurik. You don’t scare easily. Quite the attractive trait.” And then suddenly she blew a puff of air in his face, causing him to flinch and pull away quickly. “Whoops! Guess I was wrong about that!”

“Bitch…” Rurik muttered under his breath. “If you want a challenge, why not Caleb?”

“Oh no, I could never,” she placed a hand over her heart, looking shocked he would suggest such a thing. “I can’t get in the way of you two’s little romance, now can I?”

Caleb, number three. He had dumpstered Rurik twice. The only one of the three Rurik had actually had a rematch with. He seemed to target Rurik, and he definitely had his eyes on Christine. Not a unique trait, but he was one of the few who could actually try and muscle in on Rurik. It would have been cathartic to see him choke, literally, against Annabelle.

“Of course you can’t,” Rurik narrowed his eyes. He slid off the wall and shoved his hands in his pockets. It was time to go.

“Going somewhere Rurik?” Thobias walked up to the others, his arms swung out on both sides in surprise. “I thought you were king of the arena, or something. I thought it meant you’d watch all these scrubs beat each other up."

Thobias took a quick glance around, his hypersensitive pupils quickly assessing the gathered rabble. Most of them were low tier wannabes from Mephisto, but he spotted a few who looked like though opponents. Of course, one of them was Rurik.

Oh good, it was Thobias. Rurik really wasn’t sure how to feel about this. He was pretty sure Thobias didn’t like him, and while Rurik had no strong feelings one way or the other, he wasn’t exactly happy to see him. They’d worked together well enough under pressure, but there was no such pressure bringing them together anymore.

“Anywhere but here,” Rurik replied. “But don’t worry, Mr. Taxi. Your services won’t be required.”

Thobias laughed at the notion, sarcasm hinted in the way he laughed. He didn’t like being thought of as only someone who can help them move around. After all, that was the only reason he came here after all.

“Oh, I’ll never give services to you again, puke boy.” Oh yes, he remembered that. He looked around, his eyes looking for the attention of the crowd. “Yeah, Mr King here threw up cause he couldn’t handle his teleportation.” He laughed again, but with much more joy this time. “Christine handled it better than him.”

Rurik frowned. Obviously, the crowd had found that hilarious. They were the sort that just loved seeing people take a fall of any sort.

“You know, it’s a good thing I don’t have feelings. That might have embarrassed me,” Rurik sighed. It was a mild annoyance at worst, but it changed nothing. They could laugh all they wanted, but that was about all they could do. Of course he had to grimace slightly when he saw the catty look Annabelle was shooting him. She could do something… “So did you come here just to tell stories? I didn’t think you associated with us lowly thugs.”

“Shows how much you really know.” Thobias walked up to Rurik, unfazed by the crowd staring at him. He had that “I won this place” attitude on his posture. And really, he knew that nobody could hurt him here. Not unless they were super fast.

“You might think I’m just some pretty boy, but your countryside brain couldn’t possibly see the shades of grey.” There wasn’t much to be known about Rurik since he rarely talks, but Christine did provide some relevant information. “So, what do you say potato peeler? Wanna go for a round of tussle, or you going to weasel out of this one as well?”

He’d just had to go and bring up the past, hadn’t he?

“Sorry, sorry. You misunderstood me,” Rurik almost sounded genuine. Almost. “I’d never suggest you were pretty.” And with that, he made to just walk away. He got about two steps though before something inside began pulling at him. He took a deep breath, hoping it would go away.

It didn’t.

“Fine. If that’s what you want.”

“Ohoho!! Two in a row! Clear the arena boys, this might be interesting after all!” The organizer suddenly chimed in.

Thobias had a big smile on his face as he walked up the the arena. The excitement of the crowd riled him up as well, and he felt really energetic. Maybe he should meddle with some low tier thugs like these more often.

“Just so we’re clear Rurik, there’s no hard feelings between us.” He took up his position opposite of him. “But making you fight is better for both of us. Speaking of which, let’s fight for a prize, eh?”

He looked around the crowd, knowing that many had already tried and failed to win a “prize” from Rurik. He saw their faces get excited; maybe a new champion rises today? But Thobias only grin, shaking his head gently.

“If you beat me, I’ll owe you beer, boyo.” Well, there went enthusiasm of the crowd. “But!” Thobias raised his hand to get the attention of the others again. “If I beat you, I want your famous prize. Christine, such a lovely girl. Really deserves better.”

Rurik’s face sort of lost all expression for a moment, and then he just sighed. "She probably does, but really? You too? I’m disappointed. You’re just like all the rest.” He cracked his neck. “Fine by me.”

BLAM! And then he immediately raised his hand and fired. The second he’d agreed to fight he’d started storing energy, saving up for as powerful a blast he could manage without losing stability.

The bolt flew quick, the sneaky surprise attack reminiscent of old timey cowboys quick-drawing their revolvers. Thobias’s ear picked up the sound as soon as Rurik launched the bolt, his eye trying to guess the trajectory. The world crawled to near halt in his eyes, but however he calculated, he wouldn’t be fast enough to dodge the bolt by leaning out of it’s way. With the equivalent of a mental shrug, he dropped the idea of leaning away like some ninja, and instead teleported away - only a few feet to the side, just enough to avoid the projectile.

“Ouch, Rurik! I expected more sportsmanship from the king. But now I see what kind of a ruler you are.”

The projectile, with Thobias out of the way, zipped into the crowd. One or two had had the presence of mind to get clear once it was obvious what Rurik was planning to do… but one unlucky fool was blasted back over a foot and was left writhing on the pavement until someone could drag him to safety.

Oh well, Rurik had never liked that guy anyway.

“Oh, uhhh, let the fight begin?” The organizer shrugged, feeling a bit miffed, but mostly just amused. It was always nice to see his fighters in a bad mood. The fights were more interesting that way.

“Forget where you are, Thobias?” Rurik just narrowed his eyes and fired again. At this point that crowd made sure to stand only behind Rurik, now realizing how bad the crossfire was going to be today.

Rurik had stored up plenty of energy now, and he was drawing out more with every second. He wanted every bolt to hurt as much as possible if they managed to land.

“Pssh.” This bolt was energetic too; clearly Rurik had stored his energy. But he could only maintain this output for so long. But Thobias? He teleported out of the way yet again, hands in his pockets as he looked at Rurik unfazed. “You’ve already tried this. I could do this all day, and you’ll never catch me.”

There was no response from Rurik this time. He instead spread out three fingers and fired a bolt from each, the first right at Thobias, and the others, fired a half-second later, to each side. Each only had about a third the power of the others, but he figured a spread shot might give him more luck. Maybe he’d jump right into one, but something told him he wasn’t that lucky.

Rurik’s attempt at tricking him was a little more than a show trick to Thobias. He figured he’d teleport closer to Rurik, dodging the bullet that way, but by spreading his shots he made them much weaker. And slower. Thobias instead decided to lean out of the way of the first one, watching as the shimmering bolt just missed him, while the other two flew around him harmlessly. “Hit a sore spot, did I? So you also agree you don’t deserve Christine, gotcha.”

Rurik knew this wasn’t going to work. He’d had a feeling, but now facing Thobias directly, he was sure of it. He honestly wasn’t sure he could ever hit Thobias. But he also knew that Thobias would have a hard time hitting back, and even if he did, he didn’t know that Thobias could hit all that hard… at least not compared to a lot of his past opponents. This might just end up being a wash…

Rurik instead just casually began walking toward Thobias, fists not even raised.

“So, since you chose your terms, you think you do?” Rurik asked him, now standing just shy of arms length from Thobias.

Thobias shrugged his shoulders, his eyes clashing Rurik. “I have my reasons to challenge you for it.” Thobias backed up to the edge of the arena, feet planted firmly where the crowd was standing before Rurik started firing off bolts. “You know, I have the impression we got to meet each other on wrong terms, back in the motel.”

With that, Thobias teleported across the arena, now standing where Rurik started out, essentially switching places. “But truly, you and I aren’t so different.”

Rurik sighed and turned around, shoulders sagging like just that one motion was more effort than it was worth, “You and I aren’t so different,” Rurik spoke in a mocking tone. “Really? That old cliche?”

And then he just sat down, resting his face on his palm, “Whatever. When you decide to actually fight, let me know.” If it wasn’t for the fact that Thobias might actually do it, he probably would have even shut his eyes.

“Oh, you are way too confident.” Within the second, Thobias shook his head and then disappeared. Before Rurik could react he was right behind him, kicking the back of his head with his knee. Then just as quickly as he came, he teleported right back to where he was before. “Don’t slack off kiddo, you’re not on the farm.”

Again with the farmer boy jokes. Rurik’s head had been knocked forward by the strike, though at least it hadn’t hurt too much. His hand which had been holding his face fell to his side to hold his balance. When he lifted his face again, he actually looked rather aggravated. An expression that basically dared Thobias to try it again.

It was gonna take a bit more than that to make Rurik move.

“I now see why they say you are mode of stone. You sit on your ass all day.” He looked around, waving his hand for the crowd to focus. “As the unmovable object, I’ll show you who wins the debate.” With a snap of his fingers (only for the show), a portal appeared right under Rurik, swallowing him whole.

In a flash, you could see Rurik appear some 10 feet above the ground through the other end of the portal.

Rurik suddenly felt a horrible sinking sensation. That… utter… bastard. Of course he’d used a portal. Why wouldn’t he? And then Rurik was falling. Fortunately, his hand had already been aimed down.

It was almost funny in a way, Rurik landed in the exact same pose he’d started, still sitting down. There had also been a strange lack of impact from his touchdown. Rurik took one deep breath to calm his stomach, and then slowly lifted his middle finger at Thobias.

He’d learned a bit ago that his shield could save him from falls. Every action had a reaction, but if he just negated the reaction, well, then it didn’t hurt much at all.

That said, Rurik did decide to stand up. Knowing Thobias, the next portal would just lead to another portal…

“So you can move after all.” Thobias noted with a small smile on his face, his gaze locked on Rurik. “I suggest you make your move, or you’ll be the king of boredom and not the arena.”

“Hm…” Rurik had to think carefully. Between his ability to run and his portals, Thobias could stop any attack he saw coming. So, maybe he’d just let him see it coming. Thobias was clearly very comfortable. Comfort brought its own sort of laziness -- confidence.

The old parking lot they stood it was in a terrible state of disrepair. It was easy for him to rip out a few loose chunks of pavement. What hadn’t cracked naturally had long since been torn free by the fighting.

Rurik empowered the chunks and launched one at Thobias like a missile. It’d hurt a lot more than a regular bolt if it hit. Once he saw Thobias move, he was ready to fire the next one as well to try and catch him. And once more, the crowd ran away, Thobias having once more put them in the way of harm…

But Thobias was just about done dodging Rurik’s ranged attacks. He’d never hit him, and melee wasn’t a plausible thing. Thobias lacked the ability to do great damage. But Rurik didn’t, and that was just what Thobias hoped for.

He focused on the rock, waiting for it to get as close as possible...and then Thobias opened another portal. He was now smiling at the crowd gathered behind Rurik, while his opponent saw their own back. With a projectile going straight for them.

Rurik, quite frankly, was lucky. He’d actually considered that option. He didn’t have a lot of time to react, but react he did. The chunk of pavement exploded… pitifully. Like a party popper. A full strength one would have hit him anyway because he was sure the portal would have eaten it and saved Thobias, so he just sort of let that one go, leaving a big cloud of dust in the air for a second.

A few stray pebbles still pelted Rurik’s back, but it was better than being slammed or blown up.

And with that, Rurik crossed his arms.

“Neat trick, but I’m starting to get used to them,” Rurik said, sounding a bit bored.

“Pffft, you haven’t seen the tip of it.” Fine, if Rurik refused to fight, then he’d try his own methods. Sure, he could throw him in a portal or two again, but where was the fun in that. So instead, he cancelled the portal, now facing Rurik face to face.

“Been a long time since I dabbled with others from school. Don’t you ever wonder why you can rarely see me at school? Or maybe that never crossed your brain for that exact reason?” He looked around, hoping to get an effect from the crowd. Truly, he only rarely attended classes and even if he did he was gone before the others. “Do you wanna know?”

“Well, maybe I haven’t seen anything, Thobias,” Rurik said as Thobias tried to build up the hype. “But you haven’t seen… everything.” He’d have liked to be a bit more showy about it, but with Thobias’s reaction time, he couldn’t afford to tip him off.

Though, in hindsight, it might have been troubling that Rurik’s hands were empty. The ground at Thobias’s feet went up in a column of dust and debris as it exploded. He hadn’t been about to throw more stuff through the portal at himself, so he’d let the other chunk of pavement just gently land itself in front of the portal… and now the portal was gone.

Maybe Thobias should’ve been more careful. Indeed, he got cocky and forgot what Rurik could do. But it’s still terribly rude not to listen. The explosion nearly caught him off guard. Anyone else would’ve been encased by the blast before they could react, but not him.

The explosion sent a shock-wave through his body, sending debris upwards. Thobias teleported away milliseconds after the blast, but it still hit him. The pellets of concrete still showered the area where he used to be, few feet away from where he was now. A small scar ran along his face, bleeding gently. “Well, would you look at that. Maybe you aren’t the simple farm boy I thought you for.” This time he didn’t try to act up. No more surprises from Rurik.

“Haven’t been a farm boy for a while,” Rurik spoke coldly, narrowing his eyes. He then tapped his own cheek, the same spot where Thobias was injured. “You’re leaking.”

Thobias smeared the blood away with his hand, aware of the scar. He backed up a bit, to avoid any surprises. “You know, Katherine would be overjoyed if I beat you up here. Christine, not so much. Which brings me to my point.”

“You are disturbing things you really shouldn’t. I’ve said this already back in the motel: you’re dealing with the wrong people.” Gone was the playful boy; in his place was left the serious face of Thobias, eyeing Rurik like his prey.

“Well, since neither of those two are here, I’m free to speak my mind. I don’t care. Kath can go die in a fire. It’s just a shame she’d probably get a nice tan instead,” Rurik finally let true hostility show on his face. “You see, I’m not the problem. Everything was just fine until Katherine decided to lose her shit. She’s the problem, and if you’re gonna butt in, then so are you. So, and I’ll say this nice and clear so you know exactly where I stand. Fucking eat me.”

“Oh but yes, you ARE the problem. You just don’t know about it.” Thobias charged forward at Rurik, his fist raised for a punch. A feet away, Thobias teleport behind Rurik, the impact connecting without much reaction from the opponent. Then he proceeded to teleport away, a big smile on his face. “Before you came along, the Abigail family was peaceful. Just what I needed.”

“And how is that my problem?!” Rurik didn’t even care for strategy anymore. He threw up both arms and unloaded all of his stored up energy in a barrage of bolts that would have battered down anyone else.

“You ruin the harmony with your sloppiness.” Thobias ran along the side of the arena, dodging some of the bolts before teleport over to the other side of Rurik, delivering a punch. Then as he reacted, he teleported into his blind spot and punched him, again. And again. “Just like how sloppy your defense is.”

After the first few punches, Rurik realized he wasn’t going to stop this time. He tensed up, trying to defend his head with his arms, but Thobias seemed to be everywhere at once. This was why he hated people. This was why he had long since stopped caring. This was what happened. Every time. Life handed you something, and then something or someone else came along and ruined it all and beat you down -- sometimes literally.

He’d had a happy life, and then it was torn away. He’d tried to fill the void with friends, but then they’d gotten dumb and arrested. Again, torn away. He’d almost tried again with Bak, but then she’d turned on him. Finally, Christine. Someone so different. Someone just so borderline oblivious that there was a sort of peace to being around her. And now here was Thobias, trying to ruin this too.

And then, deep down, something felt like it broke. A great cavity, that for years had eaten and eaten until it was just so full… that it burst. Eyes that had been clenched shut against the abuse Thobias was dishing out snapped open.

He screamed. “GO AWAY!”

Thobias would have felt his fist connect with something, but far too soon, as if striking a great wall around Rurik. Perhaps he, with his heightened sense would have soon realized exactly what was happening before it happened.

As Rurik’s voice rang out, so too did an explosion. A nova of destruction and chaos. The whole ring was swallowed up and turned back to bare dirt, but it wasn’t done yet. A few in the crowd had time to dive for cover, but it made little difference. They were thrown back and scattered like toys during a child’s tantrum.

As for Thobias, well, this time someone managed to get him. Get him real good. Thobias was sure that he’d get blown all the way back to hell, and he really, REALLY wished he wasn’t here at the moment. He closed his eyes to brace for the explosion, having nowhere to teleport inside the ring.

But there was nothing. He opened his eyes to the aftermath of the explosion, the world faded of colors and blurry. He himself felt a slight nausea as he looked around the grey arena, surprised to find himself standing. Am I dead or something? He definitely, didn’t feel dead, but who knows nowadays. He looked around the arena quickly, trying to find his body (in case he WAS dead), but he noted with relief that he wasn’t.

“Not yet kiddo, but it was pretty close.” A voice echoed through his mind, but he didn’t know who it was, or where it came from. Before he could react, his vision shimmered, and things seemed to scatter into pieces as an ever intensifying rumble ringed his ears...

And then, for a moment -- just silence.

“Hoo boy! Why didn’t you do that when you fought me- BLUH!” Annbelle’s head popped up over the concrete wall, a wall now cracked and half fallen, only to receive a bolt right to her forehead. “. . . rude.”

Rurik stood there, veins popped and throbbing, arm outstretched toward where he’d just fired. He panted, amid the ruin, his own jacket in tatters, unable to fully avoid his own attack. “Go… to hell… Thobias… I’m done.” He didn’t care about the fight anymore. If Thobias wanted to call it his victory, he could go right ahead. And so he made to leave.

Thobias opened his eyes, and he found himself standing right where he was before; but everything was back to normal again.Apart from a painful migraine and serious nausea. He quickly tapped himself over to make sure he was okay, and found that he was surprisingly unscathed. Then he spotted Rurik limping away from the arena. Did it mean he won? But he didn’t come here to do that! There had to be a way to remedy this.

“Oy, Rurik, stop!” He approached the limping boy, his head still dizzy.

“You have five seconds,” Rurik stopped and looked at Thobias, if only to take the moment to catch his breath.

Thobias had to fight against throwing up as he opened his mouth to speak up. “I promised a beer if you won. I don’t know about you, but I’d go for a cold one now.”

“. . . what?” Rurik was confused. He was pretty sure Thobias had won, not that it made a difference to Rurik, and he was also pretty sure they hated each other. “So go drink, what does it have to do with me?”

“I-uhh-” Thobias opened his mouth but all that came out was his breakfast, splattered all over the floor. He really didn’t feel that good after...whatever it was that just happened to him. “Let’s call it Pyrrhic victory. Plus, I never intended to win. I was surprised you would trade Christine for a beer.” He tried to laugh, but it was just too painful. But he was determined to speak with Rurik.

Rurik had to bite his lip. He wanted to laugh. The irony of the tables turning, and Thobias being the one to hurl was almost too much. He he had to take a second.

“Oh please, you think Rurik is undefeated?” Annabelle pulled herself back up, leaning against the wall. “He’s broken up with her a bunch of times. Just gets right back together with her and pisses the other guy off. But it’s their fault for not being more specific I guess.”

“No one asked you, Anna…” Rurik glowered at her.

“And? Do something about it, I dare you,” she grinned and Rurik just pursed his lips.

“Well it’s like she says. Christine is her own person anyway, I can wager her all I want, not like it’s gonna matter.” Rurik shrugged. “Dumbasses keep thinking that it’ll mean something if they beat me.”

“I know too well, actually.” Thobias shrug, and straightened himself up, stepping away from the mess he made. “Might make a difference for me though. That’s the reason I came here for after all.”

Then he shot an angry glance at Anna, knowing full and well that they had practically nothing in common. “I fail to see how this concerns you anyway. You just get the kicks out of Rurik wagering Christine.”

“Can you blame me? Half the school wants Christine. You could make a weekly show out of the drama!” She cackled.

“Go. Away. Anna,” Rurik grumbled tiredly.

“Fine fine…” She waved them off and finally slunk away.

“So wait, did you actually want Christine or not?” Rurik asked Thobias.

Thobias laughed up in actual joy as he heard the question, but the serious face Rurik made stopped him halfway through. He cleared his throat and walked up to Rurik. “I don’t know who’s dumber: me for coming here, or you for thinking I wanted Christine.”

He shook his head, hoping to get the dizziness out of it. “Well, you couldn’t know. So, no, I didn’t come here to get Christine. You said it yourself: she is her own person.”

Rurik might have been more annoyed at Thobias if he wasn’t used to everyone at that school being just as much as or even more of an asshole. And if nothing else, him finally making it crystal clear that he wasn’t yet another rival for Christine helped him get over it.

“So then what did you want?” Rurik asked. Once the fight had ended, he’s gotten suspicions that there was more to it, and with the false motivations officially dispelled, he had to ask.

“Well, isn’t that what beer is for?” Thobias asked with a genuinely serious face. “Come before I change my mind. You’ll know either way, but I suggest you accept the offer. Doubt Anna would invite you for a round.”

“Yeah, sure, whatever.” Rurik shrugged. He might as well go along with this, though for now he just wanted answers.

Part 2

Several minutes of awkwardly silent walking later

Nobody said a bar needs to look clean or safe, as long as they serve beer there. Before long, Thobias walked out with two bottles of cheap beer and handed one to Rurik.

Rurik wasn’t much of a drinker, so once he was handed the beer, he just sipped it slowly to be polite.

“All right, I’m here. Start talking,” he said, a little impatient. He’d been consumed with dislike for the other boy less than half an hour ago, so there was still some tension between them.

“Ey, stop with the killing glare.” Thobias looked over at Rurik, leaning against the wall of the building. He took a long sip from his beer, and sighed contently. “You should really know some things.”

Thobias tapped the neck of his bottle while he thought for a second. “Let’s see… I’ll start with the basics. It’s been, what, a year since you and Christine are together?” He took another long sip from his drink. “I’m fully aware how many times you’ve wagered her in these tournaments. I’ve actually been here a few times, watch you fight.” Thobias chuckled, shaking his head gently. “Why do you even accept? Just tell them to fuck off, not like Christine will date any of those losers?” He had to fight back the urge to say “yet she somehow dates you” to Rurik. The beer helped.

So Thobias was watching him. He wasn’t sure if that was more annoying or creepy to find out.

“Normally I do,” Rurik said. “But some of them are more stubborn. I beat their asses to make them stop annoying me more than anything. One fight beats a month of pestering,” he explained to Thobias. “And sometimes I get bored. Your point?”

“Say, why did you accept my challenge then? Got bored?”

“. . . reasons.” Rurik narrowed his eyes. He still wasn’t entirely sure himself. Something about Thobias’s taunting had somehow gotten to him, he supposed. The way he’d brought up his farm heritage. He never really talked about the past, he had no reason to. So most people didn’t use it against him. Christine knew, it had come up, and… “. . . dammit, Christine. . .” he mumbled to himself.

“Got you with the farm boy, didn’t I?” Thobias looked at Rurik, watching his facial expressions with his heightened senses. He knew EXACTLY, what made him react. “Well, you might wonder why I know that. Wanna ask, or should I tell?”

“You know Christine’s family. Christine knows. It’s not that hard to figure out…” Rurik rolled his eyes. “Of course she wouldn’t think any harm of telling people that.”

“Yeah, I know the Abigails well. Knew em since I was a toddler.” He figured he might as well tell Rurik. After all, it won’t change things if he knows. “Thing is tho, you really made a ruckus. You’re familiar with Kath, no need to introduce her.”

“Too familiar, yes.” Violently so. “Hmph. Not my problem she’s obsessed with her sister. I never did anything to her.” He said that, but she’d kinda made it his problem by trying to kill him. At least it sure felt like she wasn’t gonna stop beating him until it was too late. “She’s crazy.”

“Well, I say you are crazy one.” Thobias watched in amusement as Rurik’s face changed as he thought of Katherine. “You wouldn’t know the first thing about rich families, but don’t worry, I’m here to help you out.”

“You… want to… help me?” Rurik said it slowly, still trying to process it as the words came out. “Why?”

“For a long time time I loathed the idea of ever forgiving you.” Thobias took a long sip from the beer. He needed the alcohol to get through this conversation. “You barged into my life without knowing it, and you done fucked up so royally it questions your origins.”

To avoid showing his tension Thobias shrug, hoping it would help him ease up. “You really couldn’t know, but me and Kath were together for probably a good two years by the time you met Christine. And I really thought 'hey, maybe this’ll be not like the other jerks.' And you aren’t but you are sure as hell dumb.” He laughed, shaking his head in denial. Some things stay bitter forever.

“That’s neat and all, but you didn’t answer my question,” Rurik told him. He hadn’t asked for Thobias’s life story, and he really didn’t much care for what he’d supposedly done to the other guy. He made it a point to keep to himself, so whatever Thobias was getting at must have been roundabout as hell. “So?”

“Maybe you should care a bit more about what others think. Being a tough cookie is cute and all, but if Kath gets you, you’ll wish you listened to me.”

“Anyways, since you are clearly not in the mood to learn anything, I’ll make it quick.” Thobias sighed and downed the last of his beer, throwing the empty bottle across the street, smashing it on a brick wall. “Kath’s rightfully angry at you for playing with her family’s name whenever you wager Christine in a fight. To her, she’s the only family, and I don’t see why she wouldn’t be upset at you.”

Thobias wasn’t about to give Rurik some life lecture, even if he wanted to. The sooner the issue gets resolved the better. “If you don’t want to get sent to the hospital anytime soon, then live by this advice: stop with the wagers. I don’t care if they don’t change anything in your eyes, it’s not your pride that matters here.”

“Yeah, well that’s great and all, but you know damn well until I leave this school people are still going to come at me over her,” Rurik responded. Probably not too many, he’d beaten most of them into submission at this point. But was that really the problem? Katherine had gotten wind of the whole thing and upset over it? From the very first time he’d made that wager, he’d never once intended to follow through on it. The only reason he’d even “broken up with” Christine was because he thought it’d be funny to do it and then “get back together” just to watch the other guy get mad.

After that, it had been a little joke between him and Christine and, as far as he could tell, it didn’t bother her. She wasn’t even fully aware of what was going on, to his knowledge, just that he occasionally made bets with her on the line. In a roundabout way, he almost looked at it like a complement, as it said something what with just how many people wanted her.

But that also meant he had no reason to keep making the wagers if he wasn't going to follow through anyway. And besides, it wasn’t like they’d been his idea in the first place. If it’d save him some trouble, then fine.

“Ugh, whatever. Fine, I’ll stop. I’m still going to break their legs if they try to fight me, though,” Rurik finally relented.

“Hey, don’t whatever me kid.” He leaned forward and snapped his fingers in front of Rurik, pointing at him with his index finger. “I’m doing you a big favor, whether you see it or not. You won’t have peace till you settle this business with Kath. Don’t tell me you never once had to abandon the idea of going to the Abigail mansion because of her.”

Thobias wanted a lot of things to go right, and he only had Rurik to rely on for them to work. It wasn’t the prettiest of outlooks, but he had certainly met worse prospectors. Plus, nobody else could’ve did what he needed, so there wasn’t much of a choice. He still held grudge, but he knew overcoming that was the way forward.

“You break as many legs as you want, but I don’t want to hear anymore from Christine, no matter what Anna taunts you with.” He told Rurik, dead serious. “I’ll make some arrangements, so you stay tight, got it?”

“Arrangements?” Rurik just looked exasperated at this point. “Why do I get the feeling I’m not going to like this?”

“Because you won’t.” Thobias pushed himself away from the wall and patted Rurik’s shoulders. “It was great talking to you kid.” Then he walked past him, the quiet sound of the portal opening disturbing the silence. Before he entered he stopped and looked back, a bored expression on his face “Oh, and don’t tell anyone about our chat. Especially not Christine. Believe me, I’ll know.” With that said, he walked through his portal that looked like it led to another part of town, and then it closed once he was through.

To be honest, that just made it so Rurik’s first instinct was to go find Christine that very moment and immediately do the exact opposite, but the first fight with Thobias had been tedious enough, so he put those thoughts to rest. No, instead he’d just go back to doing things exactly the way he had been before -- minus the wagers, he supposed.

He wondered if that would result in more or less fights.

He took one last sip of his still almost full beer and then set it aside with a frown, “Christine… why is everyone you know so awful?”

@Hammerman @Gentlemanvaultboy

Royal Rumble!

NPC Badasses for Mephistos (Strongest to "Weakest" in order)

#1 (AKA not Jotaro, I swear)

Name: Gabriel Brekke
Age: 18
Grade: Mephisto's Third year

My Hider

Bio: A quiet, reserved student. Hardly shy, and has a very intense aura, and is known to scare people off with a look. He has a reputation for being the strongest student at Mephisto's, second only to Clara... (most people don't count Gilliam for lack of knowledge). To attest to this, when Rurik was beginning to earn a reputation for being strong around Mephisto's, he decided to dispel that... and beat him in less than a minute. This speaks to an underlying pride this he is willing to stomp on people to maintain.

He is a big guy, seeming well trained physically and more than capable in a fist-fight. He perfectly embodies tall, dark, and mysterious.

He is on the student council, but strangely has a worse attendance rate similar to Rurik's, probably seeing it as beneath him, though if he's told it's especially important... he might show up.

Powers: Most people are not fully aware of his capabilities, as they are subtle unless he goes all out.
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Astral Guardian: He can project an aspect of his soul to fight for him, either consciously or autonomously. When fighting on its own, it is very quick to react to danger, but fights on sheer, dumb instinct, lacking much creativity, and will not stray far from him. When guided, it can go about 100 feet from him and does whatever he wishes. It is a little slower once it starts approaching maximum range.
Double Strike: He can project his guardian at rapid speeds to strike an enemy and then draw himself to it to follow up in rapid succession. Can also be used simply for rapid movement. Loses effectiveness at longer ranges.
Enshroud: He uses his guardian to simply enhance all of his physical attributes, but loses its ability to defend him from harm. However, the trade-off seems worth it as the power increase is rather dramatic. This effect briefly activates every time he uses double-strike, at the moment he meets up with his guardian.
Sever Soul: He can break his link to the guardian, granting it full autonomy for three minutes before it fades away. He can do this multiple times, granting him two severed guardians and one still connected to him. After that, the process becomes painful and dangerous... though in theory he could go farther.

#2

Name: Annabelle Belleza
Age: 17
Grade: Mephisto's Second Year

My Hider

Bio: She quickly made a name for herself, jumping in head first once she found out there was a street fighting ring around Mephistos. She is currently undefeated. No one has even come close, though she has made sure to steer clear of Gabriele. She makes it quite clear that she is not on his level, which seems to have spared her an official beating, while also retaining her undefeated title. She is energetic and selfish, unable to care less for others feelings. She's the kind of person who will wait til' she's done laughing before she even thinks about helping you with that broken leg... that she probably gave you. Seems to have a mild obsession with teasing Rurik, perhaps because he's the only one to have ever properly challenged her.

Powers:
Toxic Girl: Many of the glands in her body have been replaced or re-purposed and now secrete various toxins. These toxins are body dangerous to others, and beneficial to her, in many cases taking on the function of what they replaced in addition to their other properties. This also gives her a very strange, but highly resilient biology. Her poisons have three states: Liquid, gel, and gas, though all start as a liquid when excreted, but one can quickly become the other.
Reinforcing Venom: She can flood her own body with the toxins, granting her superhuman strength, resilience, and regeneration. She becomes nigh unstoppable unless she takes an absurd amount of damage all at once, or until she just runs out of toxins. In this state, her blood is highly toxic to others, as this only works on her modified biology.
Paralytic Venom: She effectively sweats a poison that sticks to opponents on contact, seeping into their skin or evaporating into gas after some time for them to inhale. This leads to dizziness, nausea, and, in high concentrations, full paralysis. The more she uses this, the faster she runs out of toxins to reinforce herself. It takes a little prep time, but she can also exhale a thick cloud of this venom.

Burning Touch: Her most dangerous venom that she is "nice" enough not to use most of the time. It takes great effort from her, but she can highly concentrate her toxins into an acid-like substance. She herself is mostly immune to it, but it is extremely painful to others and can even damage normally resilient materials like stone and metal. If she makes it strong enough to more quickly eat through such strong materials, then even she can't stay in contact for too long.

#3

Name: Caleb Carner [Still have a personal use for this one, will "unlock" him later if that's OK]
Age: 18
Grade: Mephisto's Third Year

My Hider

Bio: Rurik's arch nemesis. Definitely has a big thing for Christine, though he's hardly unique in that. What is unique about him is that unlike most others, he actually can kick Rurik's ass, and thus the asses of any other suitors who might get in his way. He is generally more refined than many of the thuggish students who attend Mephistos, but he is one-hundred percent up his own ass and has a massive superiority-complex. Is rather upset he's not on the student council...

Powers: TBR

Note: Yes, they are all connected to Rurik in some way in their bios because I came up with them as a part of his backstory at Mephistos... but now they're up for use in general.

Goldi

Name: Goldi Locksly
Age: 16
Grade: Mephisto's First Year

Appearance

Bio: A timid girl who only ended up at Mephistos because of her brother. Has a strange relationship with Gabriel. Is a prime target for bullying, but oddly enough no one seems to bother her.

Powers:
Core:
Troisours:
She can summon teddy bears. Generally speaking they are mundane, aside from being almost sinfully soft and fluffy. No bears on the market can match what she makes. She can make these bears permanent, but it uses up a bit of power and thus takes longer for her to recover. That said, it makes gift giving easy for her... as long as the person likes bears. She can cheat and put the bears in costumes. Also a myriad of props and accessories. They can be anywhere from handheld size, all the way up to a towering 11 feet tall.

When not making permanent bears, thus cutting them off from her abilities, she can have three summoned bears.

1. Ourson:
She summons a bear that can be no smaller than 1 foot tall, and no greater than 3, that has the strange property of drawing people to it. This can be resisted, but once in contact, the victim feels the overwhelming urge to cuddle it and protect it. If Goldi is holding the bear at the time, this protective urge will spread to her as well. This can also be resisted, but it many magnitudes stronger than the original draw.

2. Pereours:
She summons a bear that can be anywhere from 6 to 8 feet tall. Its weight more than quadruples and it gains a strong, defensive property, basically becoming a wall. Dangerous if dropped on a person.

3. Ours de la Mere
A bear from 6 to the maximum 11 feet tall. This bear triples in weight and can move. This bear can be very aggressive, and take advantage of any props given, though they will usually be blunt, and often just hard plastic... but at that size, does it really matter? Can only use this once a day and tends to be lightheaded for a long time afterward.

Also gives deadly amazing hugs.

Royal Rumble!

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Rurik Alexeev

@Hammerman @6slyboy6 @Gentlemanvaultboy @RoflsMazoy

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Rurik began to come back reality as Clara and the others were freed from the burning trap above them.

"Cool, so we're leaving now then?" he pushed himself back to his feet. However, the look Clara gave him told him that they wouldn't be taking the fast way, at least not in front of witnesses. He just shrugged and began looking for the way out of the floor they were on, hoping that the door wasn't buried.

"Hey!" He was stopped before he got far as Cassius intercepted him.

"Look, we worked together once, that doesn't make us friends." Rurik sighed, trying to brush the kid off.

"That's not it!" Cassius insisted, grabbing Rurik's shoulder. Rurik stared at Cassius's hand, and then lifted his gaze to meet Cassius's. Cassius got the hint and quickly let go. "I just wanted to say... you're dating my best friend's sister, so be careful OK."

"Careful?" Rurik raised an eyebrow.

"You know, watch it, all right?" Cassius crossed his arms.

"Really?" Rurik straightened up a bit so that he was now looking down at slightly shorter Cassius. "And what drove you to say all this?" To Cassius's credit, he didn't seem all that intimidated.

"Well like I said, it's my best fri-"

"No no, you told me to watch it. Watch what? What makes you think you need to say something to me?" Rurik narrowed his eyes.

"Well, you know, you're... uhh..." How to say this tactfully?

"I'm what? Come on. Out with it," he sounded quite like an adult trying to get the truth out of a guilty toddler.

"I mean, you do go to... that school..."

"So it's stereotyping then," Rurik said, causing Cassius to wince. There really hadn't been a good way to put it in the end. "I'm the bad guy, so obviously I must be planning to do awful, awful things to her." He rolled his eyes. "You know, by that logic, Christine's just as bad." And then just smirked in amusement, grabbing Cassius's face and patting him on the cheek. "Relax, we are talking about Christine after all. She can take care of herself." He let go and took a step to walk away, but then turned back to Cassius. "Oh, and while we're talking about Christine."

Suddenly Rurik's expression turned... dark, "Did you enjoy the view?"

Cassius had a brief moment of confusion before it hit him and he swallowed hard, breaking into a nervous sweat. That wasn't fair! It wasn't his fault she'd pulled up her coat! Just the memory caused him to clench his eyes shut. "N-n-n-no! I didn't-" But when he opened his eyes, Rurik was already walking away, hands casually shoved into his pockets.

"It's been real, dude. Let's do it again sometime never, huh?" And with that, Rurik finally found the doorway out. Cassius, wound up as he was, flinched badly as Rurik kicked the door clean off its hinges. "Come on Christine, we're done here!"

Cassius meanwhile took a deep breath to gather his wits. Normally he was god at it, but he just couldn't read that guy! "No wonder Kath hates him..."

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Wolfram

@Crowvette

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Wolf fell into bed and shut his eyes. He didn't even bother doing more than taking his shoes, socks, and jacket off. For the moment, he even stayed atop the sheets. Within seconds he felt his head swimming as sleep clawed at him. He'd just gotten back from a plane ride, followed by multiple fights, followed by being hit by a car, followed by one more fight.

Exhaustion might no longer have been a strong enough word.

But he knew he couldn't take more than this one night to rest. It was time to go back and buckle down. He was in the middle of something serious now and he had to be ready...

. . .

. . .

Plop!

A few moments into Andras's worrying and something would have landed on her bed next to her. A phone that still glowed with life. 43% to be exact. Enough for at least 3-4 hours, depending what she used it for. It must have come from Wolf, but by the time she could have even looked up to thank him, he already looked like he'd passed out...