“Sounds fair to me,” Triska reasoned with a shrug. “Let’s give it a try and see how it goes. We’ve all enjoyed sharing him with each other; it might not be so bad sharing him with those girls as well.”
“Are you all seriously considering this?” Alyssa asked with disbelief.
All the girls looked to each other then to Daniel while he slowly glanced around at them with the growing realization that he was indeed living the definition of having a harem.
“I suppose it’s up to the harem king,” Triska mused with a smirk as the girls stepped forward towards the group again. “It is his choice who to take as his mate after all.”
“Please don’t start calling me that,” Daniel weakly pleaded.
Alyssa growled and glanced to Specca with frustration, seeing the nixie watching Daniel with a timid smile with a slowly waving tail, then looked to Triska, the teen crossing her arms and waiting to hear what Daniel would choose to do. She then looked over to Squeak who kept her eyes on Daniel with a sultry smile, then to Kroanette who nodded at him with hope of his approval for her idea, then to Pip who was still sleeping soundly in Triska’s bosom, then finally to Falla and Luna as they exchanged curious glances and thought about the arrangement as well.
“So, we can stay with Daniel still?” Luna asked hopefully. “That’ll be alright?”
“If that’s what he wants, yes,” Specca answered with a nod.
“Could we hug him?” Falla asked timidly.
“I see no harm in that,” Triska answered.
“Kiss him?” Luna questioned while holding up a finger.
“I suppose…” Specca said glancing away.
“Blow him?” Falla asked with a coy smile at Daniel.
“No,” Triska and Specca flatly answered.
Falla and Luna looked to each other with determined expressions and nodded before turning to the girls again.
“Deal,” they agreed together.
Alyssa grumbled and looked down while shutting her eyes, her hand clenching tightly on her staff before she slowly glanced around at seeing everyone now watching her. She then looked to Daniel with a pout before walking up to him and resting her hand on his chest.
“Do you really like them that much, Daniel?”
Daniel looked to Falla and Luna, seeing both girls watching him with hopeful eyes. Falla showed her usual sly smirk and batted her eyelashes while Luna showed a deranged smile with wide eyes for a moment before having a gentle expression on her face as she timidly waved to him. He then looked over to Pip as the fairy purred softly in her sleep while gently caressing Triska’s breasts, with Triska glancing down to her with a slight shudder. Daniel’s eyes then rested on Kroanette, seeing the centaur slowly bowing to him while smiling hopefully of his approval. All the girls watched as he eyed each one of them before looking down to Alyssa.
“I do,” he admitted, with his mates smiling curiously at him except for Alyssa while the other girls hopped a bit with excitement, before he knelt down and shook his head with a worried smile at the witch which caused concern with the others. “But I do also agree that you girls, the ones I’ve given my heart out to, come first. And if something isn’t right with any of you, it isn’t right with me.”
All eyes rested on Alyssa as she looked down and away while lightly kicking the dirt with her foot.
“So the final say is up to you, Alyssa,” Daniel reasoned. “After all I can’t say no to you, I can’t afford to lose you or your love. So, what should I do?”
Alyssa glanced to Kroanette with annoyance then to Pip before turning to Falla and Luna, both of the butterfly girls watching her with nervous eyes as everyone waited for her answer. After a moment she then turned to Daniel with a worried frown.
“They’re not going to replace me, are they?” she timidly asked.
“Nobody could ever replace you, Alyssa,” Daniel assured with a kind smile. “You’re my one and only perfect little witch. Nothing in all of Eden will ever take me away from you. I’m always going to be yours.”
A faint smile came across her lips before she looked down and closed her eyes. With a heavy sigh she then glanced to Falla and Luna with a dull expression.
“I’m still not sold on the idea of sharing you two with Daniel,” she answered, with Falla and Luna showing growing despair from those words before Alyssa turned her back to them and crossed her arms. “But it seems everyone else including Daniel is alright with that idea. So I’ll tolerate you being a little closer to Daniel on two conditions.”
“What are they?” Luna asked worriedly.
“Name it,” Falla dared.
Alyssa turned around and pointed to them accusingly with a stern expression.
“You two need to help Daniel convince the monarch of his beliefs, we’re not taking no for an answer from her. And secondly you two better help with Daniel learning to use his magic. If having more love around will help him control it better then I suppose you could be useful.”
“Okay,” Luna eagerly agreed.
“We can do that,” Falla approved as well.
Alyssa grumbled glanced to Kroanette as the centaur watched her with a nervous smile now.
“You’d better help us convince the centaurs of this region to side with Daniel,” Alyssa warned. “And if you really do love Daniel then you’d better help with his magic training as well.”
“It would be a great honor to help him in any way I could,” Kroanette assured to Daniel with a warm smile. Alyssa glanced to Pip and shook her head slowly then looked away with a dull expression.
“Fine, then I guess you all can stay and-”
“JOY OF JOYS!” Luna screamed with a twisted smile before she tackled Daniel to the ground in a kiss, her wings fluttering wildly as the other girls watched with surprise. Daniel’s arms and legs flailed about underneath the girl before she leaned back and smiled down at him with both love and insanity in her eyes.
“I’M DANIEL’S MATE NOW TOO! HAHAHAHAHAHA!” she laughed manically before Triska and Squeak yanked her off of him. She then quickly embraced Squeak in a hug while still laughing over her shoulder. “I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH! I’M SO HAPPY RIGHT NOW! HAHAHAHAHAHA!”
“What is wrong with her?” Triska asked while Squeak stared straight ahead with wide eyes before everyone watched Falla now kissing Daniel on the ground, the girl lying next to him while holding his head with her hands. After the kiss ended Falla leaned back and smiled with wonder down at the stunned face of Daniel.
“Thank you, Daniel,” she gently said, with Daniel then watching her curiously as she slowly caressed his cheek. “We’re all yours, so you’d better take care of us now too.”
Daniel blinked then looked over to seeing Squeak pulling Luna off of her, the butterfly still laughing wildly while her wings fluttered quickly behind her. His eyes went from them over to Triska as she was watching Luna with a raised eyebrow, Specca who was looking down at Daniel with a curious smile, Alyssa who was glancing up with an impatient huff, Kroanette who was watching Daniel closely with a coy smile, then back to Falla as the butterfly showed a knowing smirk at him. He then chuckled weakly before his hand held hers securely.
“I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
Chapter 13
Heart of a Darker One
Among all the monsters that roamed Eden none were as feared or dangerous as the legendary Darker Ones. Monsters wielding the most powerful of magics or greatest of strengths, these unique and extremely rare beings were as much a threat to mankind as they were to their lesser sisters of Eden. Many were cruel and sadistic, some were wild like animals, and others were such a mystery that so very few lived to tell much about them. However, even with the world labeling them as the most evil and chaotic of all, even though the very name Darker One instilled fear in the souls of many, there was a hidden truth to these monsters that almost nobody could believe should they be told it.
Sometimes even a Darker One could have the heart of an angel.
*****
Within a shady and gloomy forest a few witches were walking together along a rope bridge that was suspended high above the foggy marsh below, the three little casters giggling with each other as they made their way towards a large old tree that had been hollowed out and made into a tavern for local monsters. Standing at the door was a witch with a black hat, ragged blue cloak, and a staff which had a large glowing yellow shard adorning the top, the single guard eyeing over the three newcomers with a small scowl before waving them in with one hand. The three witches gave a simple nod to the guard before entering, walking inside the spacious pub which had tables and chairs set all around the circular room while a few small windows let some sunlight in to accompany the many lanterns that were hung from the rafters above. The new arrivals walked past other monsters who had stopped in for a drink or to converse with one another, paying them all no mind as they hopped up onto the stools of the bar where another witch was making drinks for the patrons. She waved her wand around and manifested a few clear glasses before some bottles flew over from her stockpile behind and poured colorful liquids into them for her. The three newcomers looked over the selection of refreshments to order while another figure walked into the saloon. The guard outside merely glanced back to Tabitha with a scoff before the door closed while the neko made her way towards the bar with a dull expression on her face and her swords sheathed behind her.
“Tabitha, honey!” the bartender called out with a wink. “I haven’t seen you in forever, how have you been?”
“Not so good,” Tabitha growled as she walked up and sat at the bar, with the three other witches glancing to her with raised eyebrows as the neko rested her elbows on the counter and held her head with a low meow.
“Aw, honey,” the bartender said with a frown. “What’s gotten my little kitty so flustered?”
“Last job did not go as planned,” Tabitha sighed. “My target died by unforeseen complications and to make it worse I lost my bonus I collected during the mission.”
“Oh, baby,” the bartender cooed before fixing up a glowing yellow drink for her. “Here, it’s on the house.”
“Thanks, Serle,” Tabitha said before taking a small sip. “I was so close to getting a big payout and then it all falls apart. Some amateurs got in my way and ruined everything.”
“Came out empty-handed, huh?”
“Well, mostly. I got something by mistake, though I have no idea what it is. Not sure if it’s even worth anything to be honest.”
The bartender looked at her curiously then over toward the doorway before she jumped a bit with surprise. The other three witches at the counter looked over then jumped with gasps before quickly hopping down then kneeling with humble bows towards something. Tabitha glanced around at them then turned to see two witches walking into the tavern, both then making their way towards the bar side by side in perfectly symmetrical steps with each other.
“Ms. Serle,” Apoch and Astreal said while approaching the witches with their staves held up at their sides.
“Oh my,” Serle said waving a hand to fan herself with a curious smile. “Apoch, Astreal, what brings you two to my little hole in the forest?”
“We are here on behalf of our alpha,” the twins replied in unison.
“Charlotte,” Serle breathed out before she quickly tried to control herself and keep her composure. “Well, whatever can I do for my grace?”
“We are spreading word that Ms. Charlotte is after some very important artifacts,” Apoch said as the two walked up to the bar and sat on the stools, with the three other witches timidly backing up from them.
“And there is also a human which is strictly off-limits to all,” Astreal added with a stern tone.
“Oh dear,” Serle said worriedly. “I do have some humans I’ve been playing with at home, I do hope I haven’t touched what is hers, I’m sorry if I have.”
“Relax, you couldn’t hold the human in question prisoner even if you wished to,” Apoch said with a wave of the hand. “He has proven to be very resilient to the powers of witches and thus has captured Ms. Charlotte’s attention.”
“However if you or any of our sisters do come across him,” Astreal mentioned glancing to the three others to the side. “You are not to touch a hair on his head. Understand?”
“We would never touch one of our alpha’s toys,” one of the witches insisted with a nervous smile.
“How may we be of assistance to my grace?” another asked. “I’ll do anything she wishes.”
“What is it she is searching for in this world?” the third questioned. “I’ll find it right away for her.”
Apoch and Astreal brought out two scrolls and waved their hands to have them float up and pin themselves to the wall above the bar, with the witches looking to them curiously while Tabitha was more focused on sulking and eyeing her drink with a quiet growl.
“There is a picture of the human,” Apoch said pointing to an inked picture of Daemon. “He is a very skilled swordsman and sorcerer, and is hereby the property of Ms. Charlotte to all witches in Eden.”
“Rawr,” Serle purred while eyeing the drawn picture with a curious eye. “He looks feisty.”
“And there is a picture of the artifact Ms. Charlotte seeks,” Astreal said pointing to an inked picture of a fragment of Eden. The witches all looked at it carefully while Tabitha sighed and glanced away from them. “It is a special relic, of which there are eight of in Eden. To any that bring those fragments to either us or Ms. Charlotte shall be rewarded greatly.”
“What is that?” Serle asked tilting her head in question.
“Something that belongs to our grace,” Astreal answered with a stern tone at her. “Never mind what it is or does. If you find it or know where one is summon for us immediately.”
“They belong to Ms. Charlotte,” Apoch informed them. “To any that try to keep them from her will answer to us.”
The other witches looked up to the picture of the fragment with wonder as the twins tapped their fingers on the counter in unison, with Serle then looking to them with a nervous smile as the two sisters were eyeing her with dull expressions.
“You haven’t offered us a drink yet,” they both stated in unison.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” Serle quickly apologized before fixing up two glowing purple drinks for them. “Here, Ornate Passion, just as you two like. On the house of course.”
“Thank you,” both sisters said before drinking the beverages together. They set the glasses down with a single clink then glanced around at seeing other monsters inside the saloon going about their own business still, most dressed in cloaks and cowls while some were practically naked. “Wasn’t this once a witch-only tavern?”
“It was, but I’m making more now serving the local monsters of the forest,” Serle reasoned with a shrug. “It’s not so bad, Betti outside keeps the less reputable ones out of my place. She has a way with dealing with the ruffians.”
A loud boom of thunder and a crackle of lightning were heard outside, with a painful scream of a woman while the lanterns above swayed about slightly from the sudden explosion. The cackling of a witch outside the door prompted Serle to giggle as she started wiping the counter with a rag.
“See?” she said before humming casually to herself.
“Indeed,” Apoch and Astreal said before standing up together. “Well then we must be on our way. Do let us know if you spot either the swordsman or the artifacts.”
“Of course. Have a great day, my ladies,” Serle bid with a small bow. The other three witches quickly bowed as well before Apoch and Astreal started walking across the room towards the door.
“Hold it, you two,” Tabitha called out.
The twins stopped and kept looking ahead for a moment before slowly glancing back to Tabitha, with the other witches also looking to her curiously as she was staring up at the picture of the artifact on the wall. Slowly she looked back to twins and raised an eyebrow at them while raising her drink to take another sip.
> “You want that thing?”
Apoch and Astreal turned and started walking towards her, keeping a sharp eye on the neko as she took another drink before she looked up at the picture again.
“Yes, we do,” they both answered carefully.
“How much for it?”
“Are you seeking a job to find them for us?” Astreal inquired.
“I already found one,” Tabitha answered with a smirk, with the twins briefly glancing to each other before watching the neko skeptically.
“Really? Where is it then?” Apoch carefully asked. “I see nothing with you but your little swords.”
“I keep all my valuables hidden away, can’t be too safe in this world after all.”
“If this is some sort of trick you will be sorry,” Astreal warned. “We are not playing around with this matter.”
“Neither am I,” Tabitha replied as she stood up and crossed her arms before them. “I got one of those things, came across it on my last job. No idea what it is or what it does, and frankly I don’t care. The only thing I care about is do you have the gold for it?”
Apoch and Astreal glanced to each other then smirked at the neko while cocking their heads to the side.
“Present your claim,” Apoch requested. “And then you shall be rewarded.”
“Nice try,” Tabitha chuckled. “I don’t trust witches as far as I can throw them.”
“Thanks a lot, dear,” Serle pouted.
“I’m a business woman,” Tabitha purred with a slick grin on her face. “If your leader wants it so badly then I want to see what she promises in return for it first.”
“If this is some ruse then you will not live long to regret it,” Apoch said softly yet harshly.
Chronicles of Eden - Act V Page 41