“What in Eden’s name?” Triska gasped. “Those monsters are huge…”
“Lamias,” Kitten carefully spoke. “Clover never mentioned she saw these things here.”
“You know about them?”
“They’re demon eaters, Triska,” Kitten said, her voice almost wavering slightly as she forced a stern expression towards the two giants. “They’re from the darkest pits of Eden, and they have a real taste for demons from hell.”
“Demons… like succubi.”
“Oh, this night keeps getting better and better,” Kitten grumbled as she started taking slow steps towards the guards. The lamias moved closer as they hissed at her, their eyes staring so deeply into Kitten’s that even Triska could tell they were staring at her the same way Snapper looks at her food.
“What brings you here, little lamb?” one of the lamias snidely asked, leaning down close to Kitten with a devilish smile. “I wasn’t expecting to see such a delicious looking cutie come by here tonight.”
“Are you lost by chance, dear?” the other hissed as she circled around behind Kitten. “This is not a good neighborhood in which to lose your way. No, not at all.”
“Calam sent us,” Kitten said, with the guards showing curious looks with raised eyebrows. “This jinx here was attacked by a fluugher. A Violet Princess.”
“Oh nooooo,” a lamia cooed with a mean smirk. “The poor little kitty cat. That sounds just dreadful.”
“Calam sent you, did she?” the other wondered, running her finger along Kitten’s wing that quickly flinched away. “Interesting. Is that really why this tasty looking beauty has come here to meet us? Is that so?”
“We were told to come see someone named Doc,” Kitten carefully replied, with the lamias then showing more curiosity towards her. “Heard she could help this cat before she gets torn apart from the inside. Apparently she’s a miracle worker of sorts. So, did we hear correctly? Are you going to let us in so we can visit this Doc person, or am I going to have to cut you snakes apart and tear apart that city brick by brick to find this mystery doctor and get an answer from her myself?”
The lamias narrowed their eyes at her, with Kitten tensing up as she got ready to take off into the air as fast as she could. After a pause the guards glanced to each other with smirks before heavily sliding around Kitten back towards the gate.
“You’ve got some spunk for a little winged rat,” one hissed with a sly smile back at Kitten.
“Call me a winged rat one more time,” Kitten threatened with narrowed eyes. “I fucking dare you, you filthy snake.”
“Don’t push your luck, little morsel,” the other lamia hissed. “I’ve eaten many succubi in my long life, most of which were more arrogant and foolish than you. If you want to live to save your dear little pet, then you will watch who you’re threatening around here. Am I clear?”
“Just open the goddamned gate and show me where this Doc is. This cat doesn’t have long, you know?”
The lamias chuckled as they grabbed large rings on the doors, the two monsters then using their great strength to pull open the swinging gates that made heavy rumbling noises as they scraped across the worn dirt. Kitten watched as the city came into view behind them with its smooth stone streets, eerily glowing streetlamps, tightly packed buildings, and darkened alleyways that she could easily guess had more than rats and trash residing in them. The lamias smiled shrewdly at Kitten while eyeing her over as if they were still contemplating eating the demon before one leaned around the gate into the city grounds.
“We need an escort out here for a traveler. She needs to see Doc right away.”
Kitten remained on guard as the lamia motioned for someone on the other side of the wall to approach them. After a pause the lamia pulled back and smiled knowingly at Kitten with a raised eyebrow.
“She’ll guide you to where you wish to go,” the guard hissed with a twitch of her eyebrow. “Stay close to her, and be on your best behavior.”
“Yes,” the other lamia chuckled as everyone turned to see a lone ant girl walking out from the gate towards Kitten. The woman was clad in a black tunic and skirt, had long dark hair that reached her black abdomen, had a large pickaxe fastened to her back with a chain strap, and had a coiled chain-link whip on her hip. Kitten eyed over the ant girl who merely showed a dull stare at her before glancing up to the lamia who finished her snickering.
“Diago here will take good care of you. Go on inside, and, welcome. Welcome to Stonegate, friend.”
Chapter 6
City of Charlatans
In the world of Eden there were just some things that were so obviously dangerous or frightening that nobody would dare try to prove otherwise. This especially rang true for monsters who were widely considered to be the ultimate evil in Eden. Granted, there were some who were only moderately threatening or even pushovers when it came to fighting, but there were also many more who were so outspoken with their heinous actions and conduct that it didn’t take a sharp mind to think, “Hey, I should keep as far away from that thing as I can.”
However, what if that was what the monster wanted all along?
*****
The walk through the streets of Stonegate was as uncomfortable and unnerving as expected for both Triska and Kitten. Following behind their silent escort Kitten carefully kept a sharp eye on her surroundings while inside her mind Triska was growing just as anxious if not more so from what they were seeing and also not being in control in the slightest right now. Diago hardly made eye-contact with the demon behind her, the ant girl not having squeaked a single word to them since they entered the city while at the same time appearing to be rather distant and unapproachable in any regard. To her it may have been just another night in Stonegate, but to the travelers behind her it was something far more unsettling.
The streets were cluttered and in poor condition, as expected being a home for many unpleasant creatures of lust and ferocity, and the alleys between the tightly packed buildings were in far less adequate upkeep, what with the piles of rubbish and foul smells coming from nearly all of them as Kitten passed by. The locals were still up and about at night, with goblins, trolls, gremlins, and other shady looking figures seen in passing streets and public squares. A few arachne were teasing a goblin they had strung up like a mannequin, a troll was getting into a shoving match with her sister before the two crashed through a bench next to a passed out gremlin with a liquor bottle held in hand, and a witch in dark violet and bright yellow attire was selling some very disturbing and oddly green colored elixirs from her parked carriage while having a creepy smile to match.
Not only that, but Kitten also noticed a few nekos strolling about, the monsters displaying black furry ears and long dark feline tails, most of which having vibrant red hair or shades of purple locks atop their heads, while their eyes were all the same eerie golden color. Nearly all the monsters seen in the city were clothed in dreary dresses or bland outfits, with only a few gremlins walking around nearly or completely naked, however all of them gave off the same animalistic aura to them as any who matched Kitten’s gaze showed a dark gleam in their eyes.
‘I suppose it’s to be expected that this place would have plenty of murderers and delinquents residing within these walls, none of this is too surprising in the least. Though it only makes me question why in Eden we would receive a message from Kroanette asking my master to come visit her here.’
“I’m starting to believe this was all a trick more and more the further we step into this horrible place. I don’t see anything around here that could possibly validate Calam’s claims about this place being a sanctuary of any sort.”
Kitten kept a close watch on her surroundings as Diago led them towards an unknown destination. It was more than apparent they were currently traveling through the market district of Stonegate, evidenced by various shops and taverns lining the street they were on. Most of which were still open for business at such a late hour, though they weren’t all selling traditional novel
ties or wares that Triska had seen in Ashwood.
“This was a mistake, wasn’t it?” Triska feared.
‘It’s not looking promising as of yet,’ Kitten solemnly agreed as her eyes traipsed across the particular goods a store had on display in its front window. Chained up like animals behind the glass were several men of mostly good-looking stature and builds while nearly all of them appeared rather dead inside by the empty looks in their eyes. With their hands shackled above and their legs chained to iron bars running across the floor they weren’t able to move far from their spots nor could they yell or shout given they had ball-gags in their mouths, which were literally the only things they had to wear in any sense as they stood on display for prospective buyers.
“Oh my god,” Triska softly said in dismay. Kitten averted her eyes to spare her counterpart the horrible image, however it served no good as the next shop they passed had slightly different merchandise on display yet were heart-wrenching all the same. The neighboring vendor had little girls and boys presented in its shop window, the human children wearing tattered rags and thick steel collars around their necks which kept them chained to nearby holders on the wall behind them. The youngsters looked about as depressed and broken as one would expect given their situation, with their saddened eyes merely following Kitten passing by as she tried her best to force a firm expression.
“This isn’t a sanctuary,” Triska cursed. “It’s a city of the damned! This isn’t at all what Calam mentioned we would find here! Those poor men… and even children, they have children on display like they’re nothing but produce! This is insane! How heartless are these monsters?”
Kitten slowly shook her head before looking away entirely, her eyes going over the various blacksmithing and tailoring storefronts on the other side of the street before coming across yet another human trafficking vendor with more captive men prominently on display in its windows.
“There must be dozens… no, maybe even hundreds of people held prisoner here. This is too much, we can’t just do nothing while they treat these poor people like this. We have to do something, we have to-”
‘Save them all?’ Kitten dryly interrupted. ‘Should I go around town and hack apart the shopkeepers so as to boldly rescue all these unfortunate souls? Is that what you’re thinking?’
“If you won’t then I will! Let me out so I can show those fucking monsters they can’t treat people like this! For fuck’s sake, there are children in some of these stores! What the hell do monsters want with children anyway? Don’t answer that, I don’t even want to know! Just… just… just let me out right now so I can-”
‘Kill Star,’ Kitten solemnly finished. She heard Triska falling silent in her mind then continued. ‘Or have you forgotten about the jinx in my arms right now that is going to die horribly unless this mystery doctor miraculously cures her? Make no mistake, Triska, I’m certain my master would applaud me rescuing all these unlucky people from a dreadful life of slavery, however there is the matter at hand regarding his cat who is about to die from a fluugher sprouting out of her innards. For now we can do nothing to help these humans, not unless we want to seal Star’s fate.’
“But… but…”
‘Right now we have to play by their rules and let their doctor take care of Star. After the cat is all better, then we can rip apart any monsters that get in our way of freeing those humans. I’m sorry, Triska, but until Star is cured we cannot do anything more here.’
“…those poor humans. They’re being treated like prime cut meat from a butcher. Those men… and the children too… what kind of sick place is this anyway?”
‘Somewhere that even my master would surely agree is inhabited by creatures deserving of the title monster.’
“And our guide, Diago. She’s acting like this is all normal, like this is how things are supposed to be. She doesn’t care at all, does she? We passed by so many shops selling human slaves of all ages, and that ant girl couldn’t give two shits about what’s going to happen to them at all!”
Kitten turned her eyes towards Diago, the ant girl still leading the way with not a squeak being made or even a fleeting glance back towards the travelers. After a while of prolonged silence between them and the constant fretting and agonizing of her counterpart in her mind over the dire fate of the humans they had passed, Kitten slowly breathed out in discontent before snidely speaking up to her guide.
“You know, I always heard terrible things about this place. Mostly about the lowlifes who live here like cockroaches and give all of us sexy sinners a bad name. I already expected the place to be a dump and have nothing in it but the worst of rejects that Eden has to offer, though I didn’t know degenerates like you stooped as low as to pawn off children like commodities for some simple gold. That’s a little… pathetic, if you ask me.”
Diago’s antennae twitched slightly however she offered no response, the ant girl still walking forward with her pickaxe swaying slightly on her back.
“Calam seemed like such a nice person too,” Kitten continued with a raised eyebrow. “Hard to believe this is where she hails from. I won’t lie, the men you have on display in all their shame and defeat certainly do look appetizing, I’m sure they’re a constant hot sell in this town. But, really? Children? Isn’t that a little sad for such a revered and dignified city such as this to be peddling? No?”
Again there was no answer from Diago, with Kitten now showing a bitter smile towards her as she was getting a little annoyed with the constant cold shoulder.
“Not even a laugh or snarky grin from the one who fucks kids?” Kitten scoffed. “C’mon, be honest. How many of those little boys have you raped today alone, bitch?”
Now that got a response from Diago quite quickly, as the ant girl promptly spun around and backhanded Kitten with her steel plated glove. After a moment to take in what happened Kitten turned her glaring eyes towards Diago who was returning the look with such burning intensity that it was clear she was not at all happy with the demon’s remark.
“So you’re not deaf after all,” Kitten spat out. “What’s wrong? Did I pluck a nerve just now? Can’t imagine why, what with your hometown openly selling not only grown men for customers to do whatever they want with, but also children. Am I correct in understanding this, or is there a nuance I’m not aware of that makes it okay for you to rape little boys and girls?”
Diago stepped closer and grabbed Kitten by the throat, lifting her up and slamming her into the wall next to an alley while continuing to burn her scowl deep into Kitten’s eyes. Although she wasn’t able to be choked by the strong woman, and not for a lack of trying as it was easily felt that Diago was indeed attempting to crush her windpipe, Kitten showed similar disgust towards the ant girl while holding Star securely against her chest.
“If you want to argue with me against my claims that you’re a sick bitch in the face of the blatant evidence we just saw, then I’ll kindly ask you only once to wait until your doctor has tended to this cat’s ailment. After that we can discuss at length what kind of monster you and all those who reside within these walls really are. Or if you prefer, make just one more mistake in my presence, and I’ll drop you faster than this cat will fall from my arms should I let go.”
Diago bared her teeth as she appeared more than ready to test her luck by pushing the demon further right then and there, something Kitten narrowed her eyes at from seeing while her tail got ready to whip around and grab hold of the ant girl. Instead, her tail quickly ensnared the arm of someone who tried to grab and pull away her sword by its sheath. A loud cry was heard as both Kitten and Diago turned to see who was sneaking behind them in the shadows of the alley.
“Let go, you stupid whore!” a girl shouted as she weakly tried to pull free while also gripping the demon’s scabbard more tightly.
“Well it’s about time,” Kitten smirked. “I was wondering when the gutter rats would be trying to steal from me. Unlike what I saw earlier, this is something I readily expected when visiting your
lovely home.”
“Screw you! Let go! Get your filthy tail off me! Let go, you ugly bitch!”
“Alright, that’s enough playing nice,” Kitten scowled. She quickly bashed her head against Diago’s, knocking the ant girl back with a painful cringe, before she held Star close with one hand and used the other to reach back into the shadows and grab hold of her mystery thief. Yanking the culprit out from behind her she held the robber up with one hand while her tail straightened out her scabbard and belt.
“Hey, let me go!” her assailant cried out. “Help! Help! Diago, help me! Diago! Do something, would you?”
Diago shook off the hit and blinked a few times before turning to glare daggers at Kitten, the ant girl then jumping in surprise as she saw who the demon was holding.
In the grip of Kitten appeared to be a young girl. She had brown straps wrapped around her feet and ankles, a short leather miniskirt worn over tight-fitting black pants that went down to above her knees, and a black and red shaded shirt which had one long sleeve going down her left arm while the right was completely bare. Her long red hair was tied up in a fluffy ponytail, the bangs dropping down and mostly covering her right eye, while atop her head were furry black cat ears that matched the long dark furred feline tail she had. Her one visible eye was yellow with a sharpened iris, while the rest of her face was concealed by her hair and a dark bandanna she had covering her mouth, the mask having crudely drawn fangs and sharpened teeth across it.
“Let me go, you stupid bitch!” the girl screamed, kicking Kitten again and again while doing nothing but annoy the demon further. “Goddammit, put me down! Put me down right now or else! Diago! Get over here and beat her up! Hurry, what are you waiting for?”
Chronicles of Eden - Season II - Act II Page 17