Act IX

by Alexander Gordon

  “Lelu, it’s alright,” Max grunted as he struggled to pry the centaur off him. “You don’t have to-”

  Lelu then pulled Max into a kiss, the boy staring with wide eyes as she wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him close. They remained still for a while, with Lelu feeling her heart bursting with emotion while Max was shocked she was actually kissing him. After it finally ended Lelu wavered a little while trying to catch her breath, seeming to become suddenly dazed with everything hitting her at once.

  “Thank you so much, Max. This is all… this is…”

  “Lelu?” he asked as the girl stumbled a bit.

  “Don’t… don’t let me go, Max,” she softly pleaded before falling forward, taking them both to the ground with a thump.

  “Lelu? Hey, are you alright?” he asked, seeing the girl lying on top of him with her face next to his on the grass. She weakly held onto him while trying to open her eyes, her world slowly fading as she saw Max watching her with concern.

  “Don’t let… me go, Max. Please…” Lelu breathed out before fainting.

  Max watched as the centaur lost consciousness then slowly scooted back so he could sit up. Resting her head on his lap he saw the girl sleeping quietly while her hand held onto his leg even in her dreams. Looking up at the tree with Jessa’s name carved into it Max wondered what had really compelled him to go through the trouble of digging a grave for the centaur’s remains. The choices of it being out of fear his sisters would question what had happened once they returned or maybe it was because he felt bad for Lelu and genuinely wanted to do something nice for her. He then held a hand to his mouth, thinking about the kiss he had gotten from the girl.

  “My first kiss, and it was from a centaur.”

  Sitting under the shade in the moonlight Max held the sleeping centaur beside her mother’s grave. Lying next to him was the knife he used earlier, easily within reach and sharp enough to slit the centaur’s throat. He knew if his sisters were there they would have killed Lelu long before this point, they would have done so without listening to a word from the young girl. Looking down to the one that trusted him, relied on him, and treasured him so much, he began to question what he knew about monsters. They were all known to be lustful, evil, deceiving creatures that raped and killed humans the world over. One was even responsible for the death of his parents, taking so much from him and his sisters with only the cruelest of intentions. But the one sleeping in his lap was different, she wasn’t anything like what he knew monsters to be. She was kind, gentle, and a little confused in the head. Yet she wasn’t one that Max wanted to kill with that knife, or have her be killed at all. Quite the opposite in fact.

  “Lelu,” he quietly said, slowly brushing a hand along her hair. With a sigh he shook his head, a small smile forming on his face as he let the girl rest.

  “You really are a handful, friend.”

  *****

  Under the night sky a group of travelers had gathered around a campfire in a valley set between two rocky bluffs. Their horse was finally getting some much needed rest in a bedding of soft grass and flowers, being fast asleep and recovering from a very hectic and tiring trek through an underground digging site. Seated on pews made of magically summoned and fashioned roots Daniel and the many ladies that accompanied him on his journey were taking this time to rest after a very eventful day, to enjoy the fresh air now that they were outside again, and also have some questions answered as there were quite a few of them piling up.

  “Why is there a swarm with us?” Falla cried out, herself along with Luna hiding behind Daniel and peeking over his shoulder with fright.

  “There are still swarm around us?” Specca screamed looking around frantically. “And we took one of their babies? Why in Eden did we do that?”

  “What were you girls doing with Doku in there?” Alyssa asked while rubbing her sore rear. “She looks a little… out of it.”

  “What?” Doku wearily said, turning her head towards the witch while she wavered in her seat. “Did you say something, Kroanette?”

  “I’m sitting over here,” Kroanette said shaking her head, being seated on the other side of the campfire. “Doku, are you alright?”

  “Why are you sitting over there, Cindy?” Daniel asked looking past the group towards a small wooded area.

  “Fire bad,” Cindy whined while sitting far away from the group with Snapper in her arms. The young swarm was still snarling and kicking about, although doing so much less now as she appeared to finally be growing tired.

  Squeak squeaked and waved her hands about as she tried to explain something to Falla, being just as hard to understand as Star who was meowing with similar indecipherable gestures.

  “Pip? You alright?” Clover asked the tiny fairy sitting on her shoulder. Pip was hugging her head while watching Snapper with a nervous eye.

  “The teeth are coming to get me. Protect me, please.”

  Daniel sighed as all the girls kept talking, screaming, squeaking, meowing, and whining, his gaze going around the obvious tension and confusion that was taking hold of his family. Everyone except for Kitten who wasn’t with the group at the moment, although her not being present wasn’t making anyone feel better. Lowering his head with hands held over his face he took a few calming breaths, knowing that if he didn’t straighten this out soon nobody would be getting any rest that night.

  “Alright, that’s enough. I said that’s enough!” he called out, with all the girls falling silent and turning to him. Thinking about how to solve these questions and obvious concerns his mates were having Daniel took a moment to choose where to start first. And seeing as how it honestly didn’t matter he figured he would start with someone who was separated from their group.

  “Cindy, please come over here and join us,” he said towards the wraith.

  “But, fire-”

  “You’re not going to get burned. I promise. The fire is only to give us light and warmth while we’re out here, we’re not going to hurt you with it. You’re safe with us. Please come sit over here, and bring your friend too.”

  “But, Daniel,” Falla nervously fretted.

  Daniel held the sisters’ hands, both of them quickly sitting down on either side of him and holding his arms close, while the group watched Cindy slowly stand up and walk towards them. As she did both she and Snapper looked to the fire with unease, the young swarm then snuggling closer to Cindy and hiding her face in her bosom.

  “She doesn’t like fire either,” Cindy emphasized with a troubled frown at the swarm.

  “Why is there a swarm here?” Specca asked while carefully observing Snapper.

  “I found her,” Cindy said while taking a seat next to Daniel and the butterfly sisters. “Actually, she found me. She was all alone in that dark cave, the poor thing.”

  “Reiko missed her when taking the souls of all the other swarm,” Daniel explained. “She apparently woke up from Cindy playing nearby and… well, here she is.”

  “Her name is Snapper,” Cindy declared holding up the swarm, the little monster snapping her teeth and snarling at the group who all watched with unease. “I called her that because she snaps a lot. That’s how we met actually. She snapped my foot. And then my boobs. And then my face. She likes snapping people with her teeth.”

  “Fascinating story,” Specca spoke up with a troubled smile. “However, I don’t think it answers the question as to why she’s here with us right now.”

  “We’re keeping her,” Daniel answered with a shrug.

  “WHAT?” Specca, Luna, and Falla cried out. Doku merely wavered a little in her seat, whether she was hearing the conversation or not was anyone’s guess. Although her attention on the matter wasn’t the focus with anyone as much as the news about a ravenous swarm now joining the group’s adventure.

  “I don’t wanna get eaten in my sleep!” Luna whined as she started to cry.

  “Daniel, please tell me this is some sort of joke,” Specca whimpered.

  “We’r
e keeping that thing with us?” Falla shouted pointing to Snapper.

  “Thing?” Kitten sharply questioned. The group looked up to see the cambion sitting on a tree branch while scowling down at Falla. In her hand a lifeless fox was held by the tail, its head dangling from a broken neck. The demon hopped off and landed down behind Star, her eyes locked onto Falla as she slowly started walking around the group towards her.

  “The nerve you have,” Kitten scorned. “Calling that little baby a thing. I should wring your neck and feed you to her from hearing such cold words towards a child, and I would if you weren’t my master’s property.”

  “You don’t see the contradiction in your statement, do you?” Kroanette mentioned with a raised eyebrow.

  “That’s a swarm!” Falla cried out pointing to Snapper repeatedly.

  “And her name is Snapper,” Kitten remarked, standing before the butterfly girl with a cold glare at her. “You lying, deceitful, manipulative, wretched little whore. That’s what giant butterflies are, right? Nothing but petty, conniving rats who trick and rape their prey like scandalous little witches.”

  “Daggers thrown,” Alyssa flatly said.

  “Hey, my sister and I aren’t-” Falla started before Kitten held a finger to her face.

  “Yes you are, that’s how the world sees you. Don’t you remember? My master is the one trying to fix that little image problem you have, trying to show the world that you sneaky little bitches aren’t like that at all. Ring any bells?”

  Kitten scoffed and walked around the sisters and Daniel, eyeing Falla with discontent before glancing to Specca.

  “Even you nixies are known to be dangerous and menacing, a threat to humans who you’ll charm and drag down into the deepest seas to keep as your slaves and breeders. You’re no better than the two-faced butterflies or the loutish elves.”

  “Okay,” Clover muttered. “I know she’s trying to defend Snapper here, but does she have to drag us all through the mud to do it?”

  “My point that you stupid girls aren’t seeing is that Snapper here isn’t any different from you,” Kitten derided at all the girls. “Why do you think my master’s allowing her to stay with you? Why do you think I’m allowing her to stay here? He’s trying to prove not all monsters are bad, remember? He believes there can be a heart in that little child, that she isn’t some bloodthirsty Darker One like you all treat her as. He’s willing to give monsters a chance to redeem themselves, to reveal who they truly are on the inside, just like he did with all of you. He treats us all like normal girls, because that’s how he sees us. Normal girls. Not things.”

  “But-” Falla started before Kitten pointed to her.

  “Watch your tongue, lest I rip it out and give it to Snapper as a chew toy. My master has faith that there’s a kindhearted girl even in the likes of a swarm, and if anyone can bring out such a side to a monster like her it would be him. If you really are his property then you would believe in him also, you fucking cunt.”

  “Okay, that’s enough,” Daniel ordered holding out a hand. “Kitten, I appreciate you defending Snapper, but you are being way too harsh with my mates.”

  “Hey, this isn’t just me talking,” Kitten defended holding her hands up. “Triska agrees with me too. She’s all onboard with you wanting to help Snapper be a good girl, and so am I. We’re on your side in this.”

  “Triska said all that about us?” Alyssa questioned skeptically.

  “I paraphrased where necessary,” Kitten mentioned with a shrug. “Just trying to get the point across to you.”

  “Triska’s here?” Cindy asked looking around. “Where is she? I haven’t heard her yelling, I don’t think she’s anywhere near here.”

  “You may not hear her yelling,” Kitten sighed. “Anyway, my master was kind enough not to leave the swarm alone in that cave where she surely would have died. He believes there’s hope for her, and if that’s his will then so be it. She will join us for as long as he deems fit.”

  “Are you sure about this, Daniel?” Specca nervously asked. “We all know what swarm are, they’re nothing like the rest of us. They’re feral monsters who only live to eat and rape, that’s literally all they do. Do you honestly believe this young swarm can turn out any differently? That there’s even the remote possibility of adding swarm to our list of possible allies in this world?”

  Daniel motioned Cindy to come closer, the wraith showing a curious face as she stood up and walked over. He then gently reached out and took Snapper from her arms, the monster turning to him with a gurgle and wide smile while her wings buzzed behind her. Luna, Falla, and Specca gasped as Daniel cradled the monster and gently held her hand.

  “Daniel-” Specca started to scream before Kitten held out a hand to silence her. Everyone watched as Daniel slowly stood up and gently bobbed the swarm in his arm, the little monster clicking her teeth and watching him with her hungry smile, and doing nothing more. All the girls witnessed to their amazement Snapper gurgling and even giggling as Daniel coddled her like an infant, his smile being the same warm, friendly one he had worn so many times with them before.

  “I don’t… believe it,” Specca gasped.

  “She’s not biting you,” Falla marveled.

  “Is she… laughing?” Luna wondered.

  “She is,” Daniel agreed with a nod. “She’s happy, Luna. I’m not going to hide it, she did bite me at first. It’s probably her nature to try and eat everything she sees. But she isn’t heartless, she isn’t mindless, and she isn’t… well, okay, she is sort of dangerous, but still. She may be a swarm, but she’s still a baby. She hasn’t turned into a bad monster yet, there’s still innocence within her.”

  “Daniel,” Specca breathed out as she moved closer, eyes staring in disbelief at seeing a swarm watching Daniel with small purrs and clicks. “You… you… you befriended a swarm.”

  “Is that even possible?” Falla asked in shock.

  “Those monsters can be good? Really?” Luna asked worriedly.

  “I think they can be, Luna,” Daniel answered. “And we have Kitten to thank for that revelation.”

  “Kitten?” Specca repeated as all eyes turned to the cambion who was smugly grinning at them.

  “When we first saw Snapper I too was hesitant about believing a swarm could ever show a heart. I was ready to write them off as evils in the world, a completely hypocritical solution coming from me. Even with Cindy becoming attached to her I wasn’t ready to trust a swarm. But Kitten reminded me why we’re out here.”

  “She did?” Luna and Falla wondered.

  “She challenged my belief,” Daniel said looking to the cambion with a proud smile. “Threw it right back in my face and made me realize I wasn’t being fair to Snapper. She was so defensive of the child, almost like she was her mother.”

  “You have to admit she’s a cutie,” Kitten reasoned with a smirk at the swarm that slowly turned into a dull smile. “A cutie that will bite you whenever she feels like it, but a cutie nonetheless.”

  “So I gave Snapper a chance,” Daniel continued. “She bit me, of course. She likes to bite, I suppose you can’t really blame her though. That’s what swarm do after all. But I still gave her a chance and reached out to her, and to my surprise she took my hand.”

  “Daniel,” Specca softly said, all eyes then seeing Snapper gently pawing at Daniel’s vest with quiet murmurs. The swarm appeared to have completely settled down in his arms, acting like a loving puppy more than a ravenous monster.

  “She’s calmed down,” Alyssa marveled. “I never would have believed a swarm could behave that way.”

  “Me neither,” Daniel admitted with a shrug. “But it turns out they’re not as horrible as we think. At least, they don’t have to be. Honestly, I don’t know if we can really change the minds of all swarm in the world to be our friends. I think the ones that grew up learning to rape and kill with their kin are likely not going to listen to us before they try to kill us. But that’s not the reason I’m bringing Sna
pper with us.”

  “Why are you bringing her with us then?” Falla asked.

  “I just couldn’t let a young child die alone in that cave,” Daniel reasoned. “At the very least, we can be a family for Snapper and give her a chance at a new life. Who knows, maybe she could help convince people that not all monsters are bad. Maybe she could make a difference someday.”

  “Does this mean Snapper is a good girl?” Luna wondered.

  Daniel smiled gently down at the swarm, the little monster lightly pawing at his chest before she crawled up against him and cawed with a wide smile. The group smiled in awe at seeing the swarm tapping his chest and buzzing her wings as she tried speaking to him.

  “I think she is a good girl, Luna,” Daniel humbly admitted.

  Snapper clicked her teeth a few times and lightly screeched before she promptly chomped down on his shoulder, the group jumping with wide eyes while Daniel forced the smile on his face to remain while he struggled to hold in his scream. Silence befell the camp except for the crackling of the fire and the snarling of young Snapper.

  “I also think she’s hungry,” Daniel mentioned through his teeth.

  “Daniel, are you alright?” Kroanette asked with hands held over her mouth.

  “Oh yeah,” Daniel shakily agreed. “I’m fine. But we should probably feed this little one. She is a growing girl after all.”

  He carefully pried the young swarm off him, her energy appearing to have been rekindled as she once again snarled and snapped repeatedly while waving her claws around. Daniel took a few breaths to calm himself and recover from the sudden bite then chuckled a little at the monster.

  “Every monster has their way of living, so we can’t condemn her for being compelled by her inner nature. We have to be understanding of our differences and learn to accept them.”

  “She bit you though,” Specca worried.

  “She bit all of us,” Alyssa mentioned rubbing her rear. “She’s named Snapper for a reason. But I think Daniel’s right. There’s a chance we could raise Snapper to be… not as wild as most swarm. A small chance, but a chance all the same.”