by J. J. Egosi
Alexa didn’t share their sentiments. Her focus was elsewhere, reserving her interest for something worth her while.
Ursula looked at her. “Hey, aren’t you excited about the bags too?
Alexa scoffed. “Not even a little.”
“You could at least show some gratitude.” Isabella bitterly said.
“It’s fine. She’s just being bitchy because she likes nothing from this dimension,” said Julianna.
“That’s not it.” Alexa sneered.
“Then, what is it?” Julianna asked.
“Did you have to make them the same colors as our hair?” Alexa inquired.
“Why, do you not like it? I thought they’d be easier to identify that way.” Julianna explained, surprised by Alexa’s opinion.
“You don’t think it’s strange? I mean, it’s bad enough we’re using such outdated technology, but to color coordinate on top of that? Seems a bit much. A little childish if you ask me,” Alexa said.
“Tell me what you think,” Julianna said with a dim eyed glare.
Ursula said, “Oh, come on! They’re super adorable. I bet you’ll come to love it,” nudging her shoulder.
“Doubtful,” Alexa said before she turned away from the group.
“I’ve been meaning to ask; these enchantments, I mean…” Isabella began.
“Yes?” Julianna replied, looking up from the bag she was working on.
“I hate to be rude, but couldn’t you put these enchantments on any bag? Why go through the trouble of making new ones?” she asked.
“It’s because only a certain material is compatible with the enchantments. None of our current knapsacks will work, so these will have to do,” Julianna replied, tightening the seams on Alexa’s bag.
“That’s a leather outline, right?” Isabella felt her fingers across the smooth strips across the bag. “Won’t that get damaged by the rain or snow?”
Julianna smiled. “It’s a magic bag. Equipped to combat any outside resistance. Not even a sword could pierce through one of these.”
“A sword? Really? That’s so cool. Alexa, how could you say this is lame and shitty?” Ursula said, standing over the table with an innocently expectant smile.
You called my bags lame and shitty?” Julianna asked, looking at them all with a downhearted glare.
Alexa rolled her eyes, placed her palm on her forehead, and shook her head. “Damn it, Ursula! I told you that in secrecy.”
“Whoops, sorry. You should have let me have the last slice of smoked beef last night.” Ursula pulled on her lower eyelid with her finger mockingly.
“No one gets in the way of my food and you know that!” Alexa responded.
“You girls certainly have an interesting dynamic going on,” Isabella said, laughing. “I’m glad to see you’re getting along.”
“I wouldn’t go that far.” Alexa crossed her arms and looked away. She peeked back and forth in Ursula’s direction before forming a smile. “But, I suppose things could be worse.”
“Yeah, I could have gone hungry!” Ursula said with a gasp.
“Shut up.” Alexa nudged her with a smile.
“And done!” Julianna said, finishing the last stitch on the bag. “Perhaps now that it’s finished, a certain stuck up queen will change her tune.”
“Super cute! Alexa, if you don’t want it, can I have it?” Ursula asked, holding her bag in the air.
Alexa snatched it from her hands. “No, it’s mine.” She clasped it and looked away in embarrassment.
Julianna looked over at her with a smug expression. “So, you do like the bag, don’t you?
“No, they’re fucking stupid. I just don’t like sharing with Ursula. That’s all,” Alexa claimed, blushing.
“Just say you like the bag. Otherwise, I’ll have to give it to Ursula. Or even worse, Michael!” Julianna said, grinning.
Alexa’s eyes widened. “You wouldn’t!”
“I’m an assassin. I can make anything happen.” Julianna reached for the bag. Just before she could, Alexa quickly turned away, guarding the bag against her.
“Fine, I like it,” Alexa admitted.
“I’m sorry. What was that?” Julianna said, looking over her shoulder.
“I said the bag’s great, alright? It’s efficient and fashionable,” Alexa assertively replied to the group.
“Good. Now, hand it over so I can enchant it for you,” said Julianna. Alexa reluctantly did as she requested.
“Hey, speak of the angel; where is he, anyway?” Isabella asked.
Alexa added, “We should be planning team maneuvers to combat the threat of the demon king and his legion. Where the hell is he?”
“It’s only nine, so he’s probably still sleeping,” Julianna replied before enchanting Alexa’s bag.
“That’ll be the third morning in a row he’s missed sword training lessons, correct?” Ursula asked.
“Yes…” Julianna said, regretfully.
“What a bum.” Alexa rolled her eyes and sighed.
“Maybe he’d like a bag, too. Perhaps a gift from a pretty girl will motivate him,” Isabella said, grinning as she eyed Julianna.
“Flattery won’t work for you,” said Julianna.
“As if. I was talking about me delivering the bag. I’ll see what he’s doing.” Isabella walked over to his tent.
“Be careful. A man that age could be doing some very questionable things at this hour,” Alexa stated, looking over at his tent.
“Like what?” Ursula asked.
“Like playing with himself,” Julianna replied with a mischievous grin.
“What? Why would he do that when he has us?” Ursula asked, flabbergasted.
“Who can say? He’s always been reserved about his feelings,” Isabella said, sighing.
“Maybe he needs a confidence boost,” Ursula replied, heading towards his tent.
“Sorry, but satisfying a man’s ego is not my problem. If he doesn’t realize what he’s got, that’s his problem,” said Alexa.
“How charming. I’m sure when Michael decides on who to marry, he will keep you in mind,” Julianna said, sarcastically.
Alexa replied, “I should hope so. I’m the oldest, tallest, smartest, richest, and best looking. Even a nitwit like him would know I’m the obvious choice.”
“Hey, guys!” Isabella shouted in their direction from outside his tent. “Come Look!”
“Why, what’s wrong?” Julianna asked as she and Alexa rushed towards his tent to join the others.
“I swear. That man needs so much coddling,” Alexa said, shaking her head.
“I’m sorry. Wasn’t it you who cried in his arms after he beat you?” Julianna said.
“It was a fucking tie, damn it!” said Alexa, her face reddening.
They peeked in Michael’s tent and found him lying half-naked in a scatter of empty beer and liquor bottles, reeking of alcohol.
“Disgusting!” Alexa said.
“I knew he was a drinker, but I didn’t know it was this bad,” said Julianna.
“Wow…that is a lot of drinking. No wonder he can’t get up past noon!” Ursula said, amazed at the sheer quantity of bottles in his tent.
“Where does he even get the money? He has no job and we don’t give him any,” Julianna said.
“He probably pickpockets. Dirty thief!” said Alexa, kicking him in the side. The other girls looked at her in shock.
“Why would you assume that?” Isabella asked with a nervous glance.
“You rule over a land long enough, you can distinguish the crooks from the mere peasants,” Alexa insisted.
“You shouldn’t kick him over an accusation, though!” Ursula shouted.
“I told you I’m good for the money. Now, I’ll get to it when I get to it!” Michael said, tossing and turning.
He creaked his eyes open, feeling an ache in his stomach. He looked around the tent and found the girls looking down at him. They were mortified and dumbfounded, according to the looks on their faces. He took a
deep breath, realizing he was no longer dreaming.
“Oh, it’s just you guys. I swear, these past nights, all my dreams have been about either me drinking or being chased by weird monsters. Sometimes both,” he said, recalling a dream of himself being intoxicated while being chased by demonic clowns.
“Well, maybe if you eased up on your liquor consumption”—
Michael ignored Alexa and instead looked around the tent, glancing at the countless bottles around him.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Let me clean this up.”
The bottles clanked as Michael pushed them into the corner. It was as if the movement stirred up the pungent smell. He dusted off the dirt collected under them for the girls to take a seat whenever they wanted to.
Alexa looked at him, lost for words. “You are a curious one, aren’t you?”
“Hey, apologize for kicking him!” Julianna said, punching Alexa in the arm.
“I’m sorry I woke you up before noon. I’m a total bitch for that,” Alexa replied, filled to the brim with sarcasm and devoid of empathy.
“That was you?” Michael rubbed the sore spot on his stomach. “In that case, would you mind sitting outside? For reasons.”
Isabella smirked. “You just got rejected.”
“Shut it!” Alexa shouted.
She took a deep breath, struggling to regain her composure before staring back at Michael. “Jokes aside.”
“How was kicking me a joke?” Michael asked.
“You should know it’s inappropriate to sleep in and booze like this. It’s bad for your health,” Alexa said.
Michael stared blankly at her. “Oh, no worries. My health isn’t that important to me. Thanks for your concern, though. I’ve been thinking of maybe cutting back since money’s so tight. People watching out for pickpockets and all.”
Michael stood up and kissed her cheek. Alexa looked at him, confused as he made his way out of the tent.
“What the hell was that? I hurt you and you thank me?” Alexa placed her hand on his shoulder.
“Oh, don’t get me wrong, I’m still kind of mad about that, but you can make it up to me by buying me beers for the next month. How does that sound?” said Michael.
Alexa looked at him in silence. Not by choice, but because she could muster any words in response. Her eyebrows twitched aggressively.
“If I can be serious for just one moment, there’s something problematic about what you just said,” Isabella said to Michael.
“Yeah. You really don’t care about your health?” Ursula’s voice broke as she asked with a frown.
“Not really. I sort of just go with the motions. Always have. Given my track record, if I were to get sick or die, I’d probably deserve it,” Michael said, nonchalantly.
“That’s horrible!” Isabella scowled, then smacked her hand against his cheek. “How can you say such a thing?”
The other girls weren’t too pleased with him either, but the look on his face told them he just couldn’t see why.
“If you’re that concerned about my drinking, I’ll try to quit. But not before I cash in on that deal with Alexa, first.” He gave her a friendly pat on the head. She snapped and bent his fingers back.
“We’re trying to tell you something important, you jackass!”
“She’s right. And it’s not just your drinking,” said Isabella.
“Your attitude, your sleeping habits, your memory... Don’t you care about any of this?” Julianna asked.
An indifferent Michael wandered off and rummaged under his pillow to find a whiskey bottle. “What about it all?” Michael replied, guzzling down the whisky.
“Michael, where were you born?” Isabella asked with a dissatisfied look on her face.
“No clue,” Michael said, fleeting a look up at her before returning to his drink.
“And when were you born?” Isabella asked.
“Who cares? I’m twenty. I know that much,” he replied before finishing his bottle.
“Michael, do you know anything about your past at all?” Isabella pressed on.
Michael tossed the bottle to the side. “What are you getting at here?”
“I think the reason your memory is so bad might have something to do with your drinking,” said Isabella. The other girls nodded in agreement.
“Wait, hold on. You’re saying I can’t remember my days as an archangel because of a couple of bottles of beer?” Michael was both surprised and offended by the accusation.
Isabella sighed. “Look, recovering memories from a past life would be difficult for anyone, but downing all this liquor can’t be making this any easier. I think you need to quit.”
“And you all feel this way?” Michael looking around the tent, seeing the sincerity in everyone’s eyes.
“Sorry, but you’re only hurting yourself,” said Julianna.
“She’s right. Plus, you stink!” Ursula added, covering her nose from the stench of whiskey.
“I know I give you a hard time every once in a while.” Alexa stared into his eyes with a warm gaze that left him shaking. “I do that out of love, believe it or not.”
“That’s a little difficult to believe, considering you didn’t save me any dinner last night,” said Michael, rolling his eyes.
“Tough decisions needed to be made.” Alexa took a deep breath. “Not the point. What we’re trying to say is we love you, Michael, and we want the best for you. Please take care of yourself because you matter to us. All of us.” The girls looked at him with expressions of swelling concern.
Michael looked around, overwhelmed with disbelief. “I matter that much to you?”
“Of course you do! We love you. Just like she said,” said Ursula.
“And we’ll help you uncover your memories once we deal with the titans and the Legion of Morningstar,” said Alexa.
Right, Michael thought. I’ve been drinking so much lately, I’ve completely forgotten to tell them I met Lucifer in that dream.
The memory of Lucifer sitting in his chamber with the crow mask on faded in and out of his jaded mind like shuffled fragments. It took all his strength to stay focused.
Maybe I have a problem, he thought, looking down with remorse.
“Michael?” Isabella tapped his shoulder to assure he was alright amidst his shivering.
Tears rolled down his face. “Alright. I’ll try. Any suggestions on where to start?”
“Yeah, start by cleaning your tent. I’ve seen pigpens that smell better than this,” Ursula said, trying not to gag.
“Got it!” Michael gathered the bottles and filled them in a garbage bag, then took them outside. “Now, what?”
Julianna took a deep breath before speaking. “I know of a potions shop nearby. They might have something that can help you quit and recover your memories.”
“You’re not talking about that place in Ruksmounth, are you?” Isabella groaned.
“I know they aren’t very friendly towards demons, but it’s the only place you can pick up a potion of this caliber on such short notice.”
“Alright, then.” Isabella sighed.
“I suppose that works for me,” Michael began. “How much is it going to be, though? I don’t exactly have a ton of cash to my name.”
“That’s fine. We’ll cover the costs, as long as we see improvement,” said Isabella. The other girls nodded.
“Really?” Michael’s face lit up with elation. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Julianna smiled. The rest of the girls nodded and mirrored her smile.
“Then, it’s settled. Potions shop, here we come!” Ursula said, raising her fist in the air.
The girls nodded in agreement before they returned to their tent to get dressed for the journey. Meanwhile, Michael scampered to the first pieces of clothing he could find and tossed them on with a smile plastered on his face.
I can’t believe they’d go this far to help me. Michael remembered the days of the townspeople ridiculing him. He still very much felt it. But
with his companions, the sorrow was a lot less.
I need to do my best to clean up my act. Michael stared at the bags of bottles in his tent. Not just for myself, but for them.
Michael tied the laces on his boots and prepared his sword by his side. He closed the zipper on his way out of the tent, leaving behind garbage bags filled with bottles, a pile of his other clothes, his sleeping bag, and a lingering shadow.
The human figure of the shadow peered through the walls of the tent with red eyes, grinning maliciously under the beak of a crow mask.
After around an hour of traveling through the woods, Michael and his friends reached Ruksmounth, a quaint village in the Light Realm with modest architecture and an intimate population of working artisans.
As they continued to walk its dirt tattered streets in search of the potion shop, Michael noticed many passersby looking at him with disgust, some whispering among themselves and looking the other way, and some even running from him.
“Hey, what’s the deal with all these people? Is this my doing?” Michael asked.
“Don’t worry about them. Those guys are probably just jealous. Not often does a man gets to be around even one girl like us, let alone four,” said Julianna.
“Yeah, can’t say I blame them. I’d be pretty jealous, too. Not sure if I’d make such lecherous eye contact, though,” Michael said, as he noticed all the men looking at the girls with depraved glares.
“You’re telling me. It’s like they’re undressing us with their eyes,” Ursula said, shivering with disdain as she clung tightly to Michael and Alexa.
“Just ignore them,” Alexa replied.
“Are you sure you’re all fine out here, though? Some of these people look super creepy…and dangerous,” said Michael, gulping at the towering and hairy men who seemed to be closer rather than further.
“He makes a good point. I warned you of this place. They’re probably eyeing us for the slaughter. Perhaps even burn us at the stake,” said Isabella.
“Burn us?” Ursula’s eyes widened.
“That’s a gross exaggeration,” Julianna insisted. “We’ll all be fine, so long as we stick together and focus on the task at hand.”
“Hey, is that the shop?” Ursula said, pointing at a nearby sign.
“Wow, what tipped you off? The potions out front or the sign that fucking says potion shop?” Alexa said, annoyed.