“Oh god,” Kroanette quietly said. “Clover. You do, don’t you?”
“You love Daniel too?” Specca exclaimed while grabbing her hair. “B-B-But you can’t possibly- I mean there’s no way- you hate him! You hate everything!”
“Clover?” Pip wondered as she fluttered in front of the elf. “Do you love Daniel?”
Clover closed her eyes and slowly breathed out, then looked to Daniel with remorse and slowly shook her head.
“I… I just… and you…”
“You love him,” Triska realized in disbelief. “You love Daniel, don’t you?”
“I didn’t want to,” Clover whined. “I didn’t want to fall for him. I never did. It’s not fair. Humans aren’t supposed to care about monsters like he does. They’re not supposed to be kind or any of that shit towards us. But you… why the fuck do you have to be so goddamned nice to us? Why? Why, Dan?”
“Clover,” Daniel started before Clover screamed and yanked on her pigtails.
“You’ve ruined everything for me, Dan! How am I supposed to do what elves do now? How am I supposed to let a man hate-fuck me to get pregnant now? How can I, when you’re so fucking nice and caring to monsters like us, when you’re obviously way better of a choice than any of those assholes out there? Dammit! I don’t know how to… I can’t… but you… I just…”
Everyone watched the elf struggling to speak between heavy breaths, her sobs becoming strained with her frustrated grunts as she apparently broke down right then and there with her emotions.
“Dammit, how could I not fall in love with you?” she cried out at him with teary eyes. “You’re brokering peace with monster races and actually succeeding, you fought off a succubus and a witch all to protect your mates, all of which are monsters by the way, and you’re so fucking nice to me even though I’ve been the biggest bitch in the entire world to you! Can you blame me for falling in love for you? Fuck, you’re like the most perfect guy in all of Eden, what girl wouldn’t want to be with you?”
Daniel and the girls stared at the elf in surprise as she screamed and dropped to her knees sobbing. As she did Cindy was looking back and forth between Daniel and all those that apparently really liked him with growing curiosity.
“You like this guy that much?” she wondered.
“Yes I do!” Clover shrieked at her, with Cindy screaming in fright and quickly running behind Daniel for protection. “There, I admit it! Are you all happy now? I love Dan! I love him! He’s everything any fucking girl could possibly dream of! I want to be his mate! I want to have a daughter with him! I want to be with him! So you’d better take responsibility, Dan! You made me feel this way, you stole my heart, so you’d better fucking take care of it or else I’ll beat the living shit out of you!”
Daniel failed to form any words in his mouth, the stunned expression on his face showing how he was certainly unprepared for such a declaration from Clover in the least.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Triska groaned. “Now she’s in love with Daniel?”
“You just had to open your mouth, Alyssa,” Specca scolded the witch.
“I was just speaking figuratively!” Alyssa defended. “I honestly didn’t think Clover would fall for him too! Who would have?”
“I never should have said anything,” Doku sobbed. “I’ve created such a mess for everyone.”
“We’re not sharing Daniel with her!” Falla cried out pointing to Clover. “Hell no!”
“You really love Daniel, Clover?” Luna curiously asked.
“Of course I fucking do!” Clover shouted at her with teary eyes.
“This is getting out of hand,” Kroanette fretted while holding a hand to her head.
“Everyone’s falling in love with him,” Specca feared.
“What do we do now?” Pip asked flying in circles.
“Someone get Star and Cindy out of here before they fall for him too!” Alyssa shouted, with Star backing up shaking her head with her hands held up defensively.
Squeak squeaked loudly in distress and pointed to Clover then to Doku while shaking her head. Triska gripped her sword’s handle while growling heavily, struggling not to scream or unsheathe her blade as she felt her patience running dangerously low from both Doku and Clover declaring their love for Daniel.
“Enough!” Daniel shouted out. Everyone turned to him as silence filled the hall, except for a whimpering sound coming from behind him. Looking back he saw Cindy trembling while hiding her face in his back, her hands holding onto his waist while she appeared to be crying with eyes shut tight.
“Cindy?” he gently asked.
“What’s wrong with her?” Kroanette questioned.
“Is she crying?” Pip worried.
“Everyone’s so loud and scary,” Cindy sniveled. “Please stop. Please. I’m scared. I don’t like loud noises.”
Daniel slowly turned his gaze down to Cindy’s hand that was holding onto him, taking a moment to gently take hold of it with his to which she quickly held tightly in fear. All the girls fell quiet and looked around at each other, tension in the air being just as potent as the aroma of the food that was still waiting for them at the table.
“I’m sorry, Cindy,” Daniel quietly apologized. “This wasn’t what I had in mind with inviting you to eat with us.”
Looking back he saw Cindy clinging to him for protection, the girl’s fearful whimpers echoing in the hall as it became apparent she was really scared from everything happening around her. Turning his eyes down to Doku he watched the harpy holding onto his chest, her wings being kept around his waist as she apparently didn’t want to let him go in the least. And turning his gaze around at the other girls he saw all of them showing uncomfortable expressions as they exchanged worried glances with one another.
“I’m sorry,” Doku pleaded. “I didn’t want to cause so much trouble for you all.”
“I’m sorry for everything,” Clover begged, much to everyone’s surprise. “Please, believe me, Dan.”
Daniel felt at a loss for words, being torn between so many conflicts at once that he wasn’t sure where to begin. Between Doku’s confession, Clover admitting her feelings, the other girls’ growing anxiety from both, and Cindy who was only being frightened and confused with everything around her, he didn’t know what issue to start solving first. Before he could make a decision however another surprise came to them from behind.
“My, my, my,” two voices suddenly said from the archway. Quickly turning around all the girls and Daniel saw the familiar newcomers walking into the dining hall with perfectly symmetrical steps.
“Apoch. Astreal,” Daniel said as they watched the twin witches entering the hall while gazing around at the impressive spread set out on the table as well as the large group of monsters near Daniel.
“Seems as though you’re having quite the party today,” the sisters spoke in unison before stopping and glancing to Daniel with identical smirks on their faces.
“Mind if we join you?”
Chapter 4
To Fight For
In the world of Eden it was sometimes necessary to fight to be with those that were important to you. To show that they were valued, cared for, and desired, one would have to stand against a great obstacle, face a dangerous foe, or even confront a lustful monster or two in order to save them. In a way they were like a prize to be won, earned in fact, by showing them and the world how much they were worth. The greater the desire to have these treasured souls, the more determined the fighter would become to prevail. As it was true with many things in Eden, this held especially strong when it came to chasing after beautiful girls.
If you really wanted them, then you would fight with your all to have them.
*****
Seated at the dining table with tension still very heated in the air Apoch and Astreal were casually filling their plates with calm smiles on their faces. The twin witches merely gestured to whatever it was they desired to eat and magically levitated the food through the air
and onto their dishes. Of course they appeared to be focusing more on the desserts than anything else, with Astreal gathering a large amount of cookies while Apoch fancied only the pudding as her meal.
“Such a lovely spread,” Astreal commented summoning a roll into her hand. She held it out for a knife to float into the air and start cutting it for her while she curiously beheld all the food before her. “And I do admire the little details with the presentation as well. Mr. Daniel, did you do all this for these girls? I’m surprised you even knew how to make a proper meal, haha.”
“Well-” Daniel started before Apoch giggled and cut him off.
“It does all look delightful,” she agreed before taking a bite of the pudding. “Mmm! This is very good! So very sweet and prepared at a perfect temperature. Mr. Daniel, I had no idea you actually had a talent for cooking.”
“Actually-”
“And these cookies are so tasty,” Astreal commended as she ate one of the snacks. “You’re going to have to give me your recipe before we leave, and I won’t take no for an answer. I simply must share these with Ms. Charlotte.”
“I’m glad you like them, but-”
“Do you by chance have any tea?” Apoch asked, gently swirling her juice around with a questioning eye at it. “Or perhaps something with a bit more of a kick than this? I think wine would go terrifically with this pudding.”
“Um, I’m not sure if we have-”
“If that’s the case I would like some as well,” Astreal mentioned with another bite of a cookie. “It’s been quite a while since we’ve taken a break from work and relaxed like this. You don’t mind, do you, Mr. Daniel?”
“Well, you see-”
“Don’t trouble yourself with getting up,” Apoch insisted as she hopped out of her seat. “I’ll go get it. You just stay right where you are.”
“Not like you have a choice in the matter, right?” Astreal quipped before she started laughing. Apoch did as well while making her way around the table, with the girls in his harem who were seated with full plates of food all watching the same thing they were without bothering with their meals just yet.
“No, I don’t suppose I do,” Daniel sighed as he sat in his chair with Cindy on his lap. The sand wraith was straddling him while appearing to cling to him like a nervous toddler, keeping her arms around his neck and her face buried in his shoulder. Not only was she obviously keeping him from eating even if he so desired to, but he found it nearly impossible to budge the wraith as her body was rigid like stone.
“Mr. Daniel, if I may ask a question without seeming rude,” Astreal mused leaning back in her seat. “Is there any particular reason why you have a sand wraith sitting on your lap?”
“You are aware of what she is, aren’t you?” Apoch wondered while browsing the pantries in the kitchen.
“Yes, we know what she is,” Daniel answered while gently rubbing Cindy’s back. “When we first met her she tried to eat Specca whole. We’re all very aware of what kind of monster she is.”
“Yet you’re now tenderly holding her at the dining table,” Astreal commented. “And, oddly enough, she’s not eating you. She has her arms around you and could swallow you up into her being right now if she wanted, but for some reason she’s not. How very interesting.”
“No, this is interesting,” Apoch squealed as she held up a dark purple bottle of wine with a triumphant face.
“Is that what I think it is?” Astreal eagerly asked.
“Yes, Exilium,” Apoch giggled as she quickly trotted over to Daniel’s side. “Mr. Daniel, have you ever had this before? I dare say it’ll make for quite a show to have you drinking this, I do wonder how much you can handle before you pass out, haha!”
“What?” he confusedly replied. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Where did you even get that from anyway?”
Turning his head over as much as he could he spotted a cupboard that was apparently broken open with its door and the padlock it had on its latch being snapped off rather forcibly. Inside there were more bottles stored within fine crimson silk covered holders.
“Did you just break into that cabinet?” Daniel asked nervously.
“Maybe,” Apoch giggled with a shrug.
“Are we supposed to be touching that stuff? We assumed since it was locked away it belonged to Twilight.”
“It does belong to our master,” Apoch agreed with a nod. “I forgot where the key was hidden though, so I just improvised. Besides you just have to try it. Don’t worry, it’s alright. Master won’t be upset for us using just one bottle today.”
“Um, I’m not sure about-”
“You’re not sure?” Astreal mocked. “Mr. Daniel, we are offering you and all your friends a taste of something that so very few in this world have the honor of trying. Exilium is a very rare and special brand of wine, so rare in fact that most of what you have in that cupboard is all that exists in the world. Don’t be so ungrateful to refuse such a gift.”
“Mr. Daniel, Mr. Daniel, Mr. Daniel,” Apoch tiredly sighed as she walked around to the other side of his chair. “Honestly, we’re trying to be friendly here with you, the least you could do is stop acting like such a boring lump of meat. You intrigued Ms. Charlotte with your words, you have our master’s faith that you will be her savior, so please do show us more than you are now as to what kind of man you really are. We’re trying to be friendlier with you after all.”
“I’m sorry,” Daniel apologized. “I know you’re trying to be nice, and I do appreciate it. It’s just we’re dealing with a few… issues at the moment. I’m afraid we’re not really in much of a partying mood right now.”
Apoch popped the cork off the bottle and took a small whiff of the aroma within before taking his water glass, tossing out the contents behind her shoulder onto the floor, then poured the sparkling violet liquid into the cup.
“Mr. Daniel,” she spoke distantly as she gently swirled the wine around in the glass. “What is it you could possibly be dealing with right now to cause you such discomfort? I honestly don’t see what you have to be complaining about in the least.”
“You’re on a mighty quest to bring about peace to this world, are you not?” Astreal mused. “You have the support of a few monster rulers and the attention of our alpha in that regard. You’re being so kind as to help with the liberation of our imprisoned master. And I dare say you can’t possibly be lonely or unsatisfied with so many sexual partners sitting around you.”
“They are not sexual partners for him!” Triska yelled slamming her fists onto the table.
“They’re not his mates or lovers,” Specca snapped glancing to the side of the table. “And one of them in particular is just barely what we could consider a friend.”
“Oh, you mean them?” Apoch questioned as all eyes turned to three girls who were sitting away from the group in silence. Doku, Clover, and Star were watching them with troubled frowns, with the harpy having her head lowered in shame, Clover resting hers against her hand while glancing to Daniel, and Star who was quietly eating an apple next to them.
“And neither is she,” Alyssa said pointing to Cindy. “She’s just being stubborn and clinging to our man again. Would you get off him already? He can’t even eat his lunch like that.”
“Odd,” Apoch commented while turning her eyes back down to the wine. “I could have sworn I heard two of those girls crying out words of love and desire towards Mr. Daniel earlier. Are you saying he does not care for them at all?”
“I must say I’m a bit curious,” Astreal commented with a raised eyebrow at Daniel. “It seems so many girls become infatuated with you so easily. I do hope you have no lustful intentions such as charming our dear master to become yours as well.”
“Of course not!” Daniel pleaded waving his hands around in front of him. “I’ve never been trying to charm anyone! Honest!”
Apoch nodded slowly then turned her attention to Cindy, the sand wraith watching her nervously while still holding tightly on
to Daniel.
“Why aren’t you eating him?”
Cindy remained quiet as the witch walked up to her.
“I’m very curious as to why a sand wraith isn’t eating him or anyone else here for that matter. Tell me, has he charmed you as well?”
“Charmed?” Cindy asked. “What does that mean?”
“Oh, you can speak. How nice. So then please answer my question, why is it you’re clinging to Mr. Daniel like your life depended on it instead of devouring him whole like a sand wraith typically would?”
Cindy murmured her answer while burying her face in Daniel’s shoulder again, pressing her body closer to his and shaking her head a little while Apoch giggled at seeing her response.
“Seems she’s quite fond of you, for whatever the reason,” Apoch said with a shrug. “And shy too. How very strange. A sand wraith who won’t eat those around her. You must have really made her swoon, Mr. Daniel. Tell me, are we in danger being around you? Are you going to make us fall for you next?”
“What?” Daniel exclaimed.
“Oh dear,” Astreal worried with a feigned gasp. “Mr. Daniel, are you planning on having us for dessert?”
“What?” Daniel yelled out in surprise again.
Apoch and Astreal laughed as the raven haired witch set the bottle of wine down and held the glass she poured up to Daniel.
“I’m only kidding, Mr. Daniel. You’re hardly my type. Here, have a drink.”
“No, thank you.”
“Drink it,” Apoch firmly insisted.
Cindy peeked to the side and watched Daniel slowly reaching out to take the glass, an uneasy frown on his face while Apoch giggled and waved him on to drink the liquid. Looking around and seeing all the girls watching him with concern he then took a slow breath before taking a small gulp of the wine. Almost immediately he lurched and held the glass away as he coughed heavily.
“Daniel?” Triska asked quickly standing up.
Act IX Page 11