Kitten lowered her head and closed her eyes, her lips flinching with a frown as she held in her whimper. Doku watched as the demon struggled to hide her fear then lowered her head and tilted it to look up at Kitten’s face from below.
“You’re still afraid. I can see it.”
“How can I not be?” Kitten quietly replied. “If she does get her body back, what’s going to happen to me? This is so cruel. I was just born, I just got this life, and now it’s being taken away from me.”
“It’s not being taken away,” Doku corrected with a shake of her head. “Triska said you could return to her mind, you’ll still exist inside her.”
“Trapped in the back of her head,” Kitten sulked. “Is that the only fate I can choose over death?”
“There’s no telling what the future holds for any of us. Only that if you choose death there is nothing more ahead of you.” Kitten slowly glanced up to Doku as the harpy smiled gently at her. “You can still live, I’m sure you and Triska can find a way to coexist. I don’t fully understand how you both came to share the same body as you have, but I do believe you can live together if you would only try.”
“You really believe that?”
“I do.”
“And you really believe that I won’t try to kill you once you put us back in our bodies?” Kitten asked skeptically. “With you gone they won’t be able to overpower me like they can in here. Why is it you trust me at all?”
“Because I don’t believe in anyone being an absolute evil in this world. You may be a demon, and you may have done some bad things in your life, but you can still change your ways. I have faith you can be a good soul if you would only try.”
“You don’t know me,” Kitten said shaking her head. “You don’t know the kind of person I am.”
“Do you know yourself?” Doku asked, getting a puzzled look from the demon. “I see a frightened girl who only wants to live, that doesn’t mean you’re a bad soul. Maybe I’m seeing incorrectly, perhaps when you awaken you’ll strike me down before I can blink. But I believe I am seeing correctly, that you’re not the demon everyone and yourself thinks you are. I suppose it’s all up to you to show us the kind of person you really are, Kitten.”
Kitten looked down in thought to that as Doku stepped back and turned her head around at everyone.
“Well then, this has been… a very unique display for us all,” Doku reasoned with a weak smile and shrug. “I think we all learned much about one another, though I feel I have more questions I’d like to ask you all later. But for now this a good time for us to return to the real world. Um, please don’t fight again when we go back, alright? I really don’t like violence.”
“You’re sending her back too?” Alyssa questioned while pointing to Kitten.
“She can’t be trusted,” Specca said shaking her head. “She’ll try to kill you to keep you from bringing her spirit out in the open again where it’s vulnerable.”
“She’ll be mean again,” Pip whined as she ducked down into Kroanette’s bosom.
“Again, why aren’t we killing her now when we have the chance?” Clover demanded while smacking her fist into her palm.
“Because it appears Triska’s spirit isn’t without merit,” Doku complimented with a smile at the teen. “She’s offering a chance for Kitten to live despite what has transpired between you all. A very noble act indeed.”
“No wonder her spirit is so big,” Cilia curiously mentioned. “She’s so nice and protective of her friends. Her spirit might even be stronger than yours, Doku.”
“I honestly wouldn’t be surprised, Cilia.”
Kitten glanced around at the girls and saw them all glaring at her still then to Daniel as he watched her carefully along with Triska.
“This is your last chance, Kitten,” Daniel warned her. “Show us whether or not a demon can have a heart.”
“Don’t make me regret not killing you,” Triska added before looking away.
Kitten slowly nodded and lowered her head while the other girls watched her with growing concern and doubt. Doku fluttered her wings out at her sides and slowly knelt down while lowering her head. Everyone watched as she remained perfectly still with Cilia again falling into a trance on her shoulder. Daniel turned to Triska and smiled gently at her, seeing the same smile on her face back towards him as they kept their focus on each other. Slowly their vision began to blur before they lost consciousness, their spirits along with the rest of the group fading away from the ethereal plane. Doku watched as they all vanished then smiled softly and let out an amused murmur.
“Such remarkable spirits in these people,” she commended before she and her fairy friend vanished as well.
Chapter 6
Deal with a Demon
In the world of Eden there existed certain monster classes that had a more dark and menacing birthright than their fellow lustful sisters. Some were Darker Ones, others spawned of nearly similar evil and cruel origins, all feared among more than just humans by their presence alone. They were considered demons, creatures born from the pits of hell itself. Their strength was always intimidating, their magical powers terrifying, and their intentions most foul as all the classes that bore such a title were. They could almost never be trusted, as their inner nature was far more lustful and wicked than most.
As such, a deal with a demon should only be made as a last resort.
*****
Daniel slowly opened his eyes, his vision returning with the blue sky above coming into focus. Sitting up he looked around to seeing the girls all nearby regaining consciousness and awakening from their unique trip.
“That was… weird,” Alyssa commented as she sat up and rubbed her eyes.
“I never knew such a magical art existed,” Specca mentioned as she adjusted her glasses and picked some grass out of her shirt.
Squeak rubbed one eye and squeaked something before jumping a bit then looking down with a frown as she realized she was only able to speak in her normal tongue again.
“That was very different,” Kroanette said as she slowly sat up and looked around at seeing the world in normal color again.
Pip fluttered up into the air with a tiny yawn while Falla and Luna sat up and rubbed their heads as they regained their senses from the surreal dream. Clover grunted and shook her head before looking over towards Kitten, the cambion still asleep and lying on the ground with her wings and tail remaining motionless.
“So what happens now?” Clover asked as she got to her feet and drew out an arrow from her quiver, holding it in her bow while keeping a sharp eye on the demon.
Everyone got to their feet and watched Kitten carefully while Doku slowly sat up and stretched out her wings.
“What’s going to happen to Triska?” Luna nervously questioned as Daniel and Clover approached Kitten.
“Either that demon gives Triska back her body, or we’ll return to that spirit place where we just were and beat the crap out of her,” Alyssa cursed with clenched fists.
“Please don’t fight again,” Doku insisted as she stood up and patted down her clothing with her wings. She then looked around at the ground curiously. “Cilia? Where are you?”
“I’m right here,” Cilia said as her head popped up from between her breasts.
Doku smiled down at her friend before they looked over towards Kitten as Daniel and Clover stood over her.
“Triska?” Daniel carefully asked as he knelt down and nudged the girl’s wing. “Triska? Are you alright now?”
“Triska’s… not here,” Kitten softly replied as she lifted herself up onto her hands and knees. She looked up with a deep breath then opened her eyes to show they were glowing just like before. “At least… not yet.”
“Give Triska back her body, Kitten,” Daniel ordered as the group except for Doku and Cilia glared at her. “That was the deal she made with you.”
“I know,” Kitten said as she slowly sat down on her legs and looked down with worried eyes. She glanced over toward
s Doku and remained silent, with Clover then drawing her arrow on the demon with a sharp eye.
“Make a move for her and you’re dead,” Clover threatened.
“You couldn’t strike me down with those stupid arrows even if you wanted to,” Kitten derided with a roll of her eyes before looking down again. “Besides, I have no intention of harming her. If I did kill her my master wouldn’t forgive me, and I’m… I’m far enough away from his favor that I don’t want to fall any further.”
She looked to her hands with a distant gaze as she considered her options of what to do next, a small blue wisp of fiery light rolling around her palm and fingers briefly as she felt her magic clearly again.
“I could kill all of you girls and be the only one left near my master, but… he wouldn’t want me still. He would hate me forever, he may already. I can’t live with his anger towards me, that I’m not capable of being a good servant to him.”
“So what are you going to do now?” Doku asked as she stepped closer. “If you are not going to rely on violence, what is your next plan?”
“I’m going to do the only thing I can. I’m going to drop all my resistance to Triska, offer everything to her in hopes she can take her body back somehow.”
“Then do it already!” Alyssa snapped.
Kitten sighed then glanced to Daniel with remorse as he watched her carefully.
“If she does come back… if she takes over completely again… don’t let me die in the process. Please, master.” Daniel looked at her with a slight amount of wonder as she held out a hand towards him. “I’m bound to you. My heart is yours, so please don’t break it. I’m so afraid that if she comes back I’ll never wake up again, that I’ll never see you again, that my life will be over. Don’t let me fade away, that’s all I ask of you.”
After a pause Daniel slowly reached out and took hold of her hand. Kitten lowered her head and closed her eyes while Daniel held onto her with a solemn expression.
“Just give me back my mate, Kitten,” he requested. “We’ll think about what we’re going to do with you after, but for now I want Triska back. If you can bring her back to me, then maybe I can forgive you for what you’ve done.”
“I understand, master,” Kitten whimpered, her hand slowly letting go of his and dropping down. “I am sorry, even if you don’t believe me.”
“We don’t believe you,” Clover flatly retorted as she kept her arrow aimed at the demon’s head.
Kitten took a calm breath then looked ahead, seeing in her mind Triska kneeling down in front of her and watching the demon with a close eye.
‘Alright, Triska. You can have your body back. Just remember what you promised. Don’t let me die in that head of yours.’
“I’ll do what I can,” Triska replied in her mind. “That’s more than you deserve.”
Kitten nodded then lowered her head and closed her eyes, her body relaxing as she dropped all her defenses and let her mind drift away to the best of her ability.
‘I won’t fight you, Triska. My master has made it clear, he wants you. Take your body back.’
Everyone watched as Kitten remained silent and motionless on her knees, her expression being peaceful while her breathing became quiet. Inside her mind Kitten could sense Triska close to her, a strange feeling of the teen’s presence as it slowly drew its way across her body from behind. A few minutes passed as Kitten waited for herself to either fade away entirely or to be confined inside her own head by Triska’s will taking over. The sensation of the teen’s presence remained in a standstill as it had stopped after spreading across her back and shoulders.
‘Not to rush you here, but I am trying to give you your body back. So if you could hurry up and take it we could get on with our lives, be they fleeting or not.’
“Shut up, I’m trying here. This is strange for me too, alright?”
‘I can feel you behind me, I know you’re there. Why did you stop?’
“I can’t go any further. I’m trying to move your hands right now but they’re not responding. It’s like… I can’t fit any more of me in my body. It’s suffocating me to press further on.”
‘You’re already in here, we both are.’
“I don’t know how else to explain it! I’m trying to take my body back but it’s not letting me! It’s like I’m stuck this far in doing so!”
“Well?” Daniel asked as he and the girls watched Kitten carefully. “Is Triska coming back yet?”
“She’s trying,” Kitten replied while keeping her head lowered and eyes closed. “She says she’s stuck, she can’t take control of my body.”
“Well then help her!” Specca demanded. “Bring her back to us right now!”
“I’m trying!” Kitten snapped at her. “I’m not resisting her at all, I’m trying to offer everything I am to her, what else can I do here?”
“Think of something,” Falla sternly ordered while Luna watched Kitten worriedly from beside her. “Give her back to us however you can.”
Kitten strained herself to bring Triska’s consciousness to the front of her mind, ordering her body to relinquish control back to the human side of her. She could feel Triska’s presence behind her, almost as if the teen was trying to push forward and enter her body, yet it wasn’t proceeding any further.
‘Triska, I’m doing all I can here. What’s the holdup?’
“Shut up already! I’m trying to get back in my body, but this isn’t easy!”
“Is Triska coming back yet?” Pip asked as she landed down on Alyssa’s hat.
“Just give us a minute here,” Kitten snapped while keeping her eyes shut.
“What if she can’t come back?” Luna nervously wondered.
“Don’t give up hope,” Kroanette urged while watching Kitten closely. “Triska’s still alive, we know that much for certain. Surely she can come back to us from this.”
“What’s the holdup here?” Clover demanded with growing impatience.
“Shut up already!” Kitten yelled at her. “I’m doing everything I can, alright? She’s the one that’s not taking back her body. C’mon, Triska! I’m handing it over to you on a fucking silver platter here, do something!”
“Please calm yourself,” Doku gently insisted.
“I am calm!”
“No, you’re not. You’re still anxious and tense. Please try to calm down.”
Kitten growled in frustration and held her hands to her head, a few deep breaths being made before she scoffed and looked down and away with growing ire.
“Would you quit dragging this on?” she bitterly snapped. “I’m trying to give you back control, so do something already.”
“Kitten, please,” Doku pleaded as she walked closer and knelt down in front of her.
“What? I’m doing all I can here, this isn’t easy for me either you know!”
Doku rested a wing on her shoulder and shook her head slowly with a worried smile.
“You’re still afraid, I can tell. I believe part of you is not allowing Triska back out of fear.”
“Quit acting like you know me so well,” Kitten scoffed as she knocked away the harpy’s wing. “I said I would give back this body to Triska to please my master, didn’t I? So that’s what I’m doing!”
“Why must you be so angry?” Doku asked with genuine concern. “Please, you’re only making things more difficult for yourself.”
“Stop lecturing me, stop acting so fucking nice towards me. You don’t know anything about me!”
Doku leaned forward and hugged the demon close with her wings, taking Kitten aback as she jumped a bit and stared over her shoulder with surprise as the harpy smiled and held her tenderly.
“Let it all go, Kitten,” Doku softly implored. “Your fear, your anger, your doubt, just let it all go. You have nothing to fear. Triska promised to let you live inside her mind, you need to have faith in her. There’s no need to be cold and bitter to the world, you’re going to be just fine.”
“What the fuck are you doing
?” Kitten growled as she shut her eyes and clenched her fists.
“I’m letting you know it’s okay,” Doku assured as she leaned back and smiled at her. “You’re surrounded by those who have loving and caring spirits, and they’ve agreed to give you a chance at life with them. You’re going to be alright.”
“How do you know?” Kitten grumbled as she lowered her head. “You don’t know what’s going to happen to me, or if they’ll try to be rid of me once Triska returns.”
“I trust them. Triska could have killed you, but she chose to spare your life. You need to trust that she won’t let you go.”
“Easier said than done.”
“Trusting others isn’t always easy,” Doku reasoned as she shrugged a little. “However I trust she won’t betray you. Like she said she had every right to be mad at you for all the bad things you’ve done, and yet she still spared your life. If she wanted to she could have killed your spirit, she could have rid herself of you entirely. But she didn’t. You have to see that she is placing her own trust in you by keeping you with her. Can’t you do the same with her?”
Kitten looked at her with wonder then down as Doku stood up and backed away towards the rest of the group.
“Her spirit truly is remarkable,” Doku mentioned with a curious smile. “She not only chose to save the life of a demon that took over her body but is actually willing to allow it to continue living within her.”
“But why?” Kitten asked looking to the side, seeing in her mind Triska kneeling next to her with a solemn expression on her face. “Why did you let me live? Why are you letting me exist within you still?”
“Um, who’s she talking to?” Luna asked confusedly.
“I believe she’s talking out loud to Triska,” Specca reasoned with a curious eye.
“Why did you spare me?” Kitten asked again. “If I am able to survive you taking control of your body again, then I’ll be inside your head still. You’ll be harboring a demon’s soul inside of you. Why would you accept that?”
“Don’t get me wrong,” Triska said holding a hand up. “I’m still very pissed at you for everything you did. Frankly I think you got off too easy from your beating. But…”
Chronicles of Eden - Act VII Page 17