#oh yea the hands are supposed to look like Leviathan's teeth :^)

[fluffsnake]

𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝖒𝖆𝖜𝖘 𝖔𝖋 𝖆𝖑𝖑 𝖜𝖆𝖎𝖙 𝖚𝖕𝖔𝖓 𝕿𝖍𝖊𝖊, 𝕺 𝕷𝖔𝖗𝖉, 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝕿𝖍𝖔𝖚 𝖌𝖎𝖛𝖊𝖘𝖙 𝖙𝖍𝖊𝖒 𝖙𝖍𝖊𝖎𝖗 𝖒𝖊𝖆𝖙 𝖎𝖓 𝖉𝖚𝖊 𝖘𝖊𝖆𝖘𝖔𝖓

Here's the artwork I made for the @horrornaturalevent Hunting & Haunting fanzine <3 Happy Halloween!

[poorvioletdraws]

Tom vs. The Underworld

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9

10. New Girl

By the time Indigo reached the arcade, Tartarus, the old demon owner, Campé, just opened up for business by unlocking the front entrance. Indigo won’t be going in yet however; they always wait out front for everyone to show up before entering. 

Indigo was always first to arrive, although technically her and George were usually the first since they live in the same neighborhood and walk there together. But he always goes inside of the coffee shop next door to read instead of waiting outside, knowing full well how long some of their friends take to show up.

Punctuality was always important to Indigo, which stems mainly from her nosy personality most likely. She always wanted to know what was going on and didn’t want to miss a chance for the latest news or gossip. Especially after the abrupt end to their night last night, Indigo wanted to know if news was circulating of Tom’s appearance at the show and if others were talking about him. She couldn’t believe how crazy everything got just for the fact that the Prince of the Underworld was there. Tom and his family weren't anything like what those rudeboys thought so how dare they spread rumors about their friend like that. She hoped that that’ll be the last time they would have to deal with such a situation. 

While Indigo continued to think over the troubles from last night, she was soon focused on someone running towards her from down the street. 

“Indigo!” Raya shrieked to her as she hastily approached.

“Whoa, you’re actually early for once? What’s--” Indigo started to say.

“Indigo, Indigo! I need to talk to you so bad!” Raya spat out in a panic while rushing to her friend and completely latching onto her arms as if she were salvation itself. She proceeded to gush incessantly, “OMD, OMD, I don’t even know how to feel right now! I thought I would be fine because when I went to sleep I was fine--ecstatic really to the point of not being able to almost sleep--BUT when I woke up I just couldn’t stop thinking about it, and now I’m SO nervous to even see him, like how do we even act towards each other now?! Are we together together or technically not yet not yet!” She gripped her hoodie and pulled it over her face as she continued, “Eeegh, I can’t believe this happened! I mean I wanted this to happen and it did!” She waved her arms in the air as if cheering to an imaginary game-winning move. She then hugged onto Indigo before finishing her hyperactive ranting, “This is like the first time EVER where I wanted something to happen so badly and it actually did!”

Indigo blinked a few times, still trying to process what Raya had told her. She freed herself from the other girl’s grasp, cupped her shoulders, and nudged her back so she could look her directly in the eyes as she said, “Whoa, whoa, whoa, you need to chillax, girl. I have never heard you freak out like this before. What exactly is going on? What actually happened?”

Raya closed her eyes and took a deep breath to calm herself. She then opened them and told the other girl in one relief-filled gasp, “Tom asked me out on a date.”

Indigo’s eyes widened as she dropped her hands from her friend’s side. She was startled at first but then grew a huge grin and shrieked excitedly, “OMD, that is wicked, girl! Congrats, it’s what you wanted right--”

“Ugghh, I know, I know!” Raya gripped her hooded head again and collapsed it into Indigo’s chest for asylum.

Indigo was confused and asked the her, “So…? What’s the big deal? I for one am SUPER jealous. You have a date with THE Prince of the Underworld, what could you even be freaking out about?”

“That’s it!” Raya whined while shooting her head up to meet Indigo’s gaze. “He says being a prince doesn’t matter, but what if he thinks I’m boring since I’m just a city girl--I mean, his last girlfriend was a princess after all! What if he thinks I’m not as special…”

Indigo furrowed her eyebrows at how overdramatic her friend was being (which is saying something coming from Indigo’s--Queen of the Drama Queens’--perspective). She gave a sigh and held onto her friend as she assured her, “Look, Raya. We both know Tom isn’t like that--he isn’t shallow and he isn’t a tool--he treats us all as equals to him. He obviously already likes you or he wouldn’t have asked you out on a date. And how clueless can you be if you don’t see the connection you two have; you both get along and always have fun together. Yea it’s a date, but this is just like hanging out like you both have already done before, except this time it will be way more… intimate.” Indigo seemed to smirk mischievously.

“Ugh, but that’s the part I’m freaking out about too. I’ve never been on a date before, how am I suppose to act?! And it isn’t until tomorrow night. How am I suppose to act toward him TODAY?!” Raya groaned.

“Um, like yourself, duh.” Indigo answered with a reassuring smile, causing her friend to look up at her and realize how right she was.

Raya thought it over and returned the other girl’s smile with one of her own. “You make it sound so easy, you know.”

“Well, I am an expert at this sort of thing so you were right to come seek out my wise advice!” Indigo said as she wrapped an arm around Raya’s shoulders. Both girls continued to giggle together as they waited for the rest of their friends to show up.

-

 I stepped out onto one of our castle’s balcony that hung low enough so I could pet Little Lord Fool-Leroy goodbye before jetting off with my flames to Chernabog City. Raya said to be there when it opens before I left her at her house last night and I should definitely make it there right on time. My parents weren’t home last night so I wasn’t able to ask them about what those demons and monsters were saying about all that stuff. Hopefully they will be back later this evening and haven’t gone on one of their long trips away because I really wanted to know what that all was about, especially the abductions... 

I had just made it passed the suburbs and into the beginnings of the demon city when I heard blood curdling screams from below. I quickly stopped in midair and searched behind me, wondering if that wasn’t just my imagination. It penetrated through the air like knife to butter considering how loud it already was this early in the morning. Someone else must’ve heard that too, right?!

The screaming started again, confirming its existence of whatever was in distress. I couldn’t just ignore it; I had to know what it was. So I descended to the height of some of the lower rooftops of the buildings and spied for some sort of sign in the alleys below. From what it sounded like, it came from right around--

“AIIIEEEE!” the scream was definitely in the alley I was now looking down in. It was dark but I could make out something wriggling around--something big!

I landed below and could see a large red serpent-like beast screeching towards three dead-ended individuals before it. Two of the demons were cowering together in a tight hug against the walls that blocked any kind of escape while the other stood in front of them facing the creature with arms spread out--was she protecting them?

The leviathan opened it’s drooling jaws to reveal its sharp teeth as it screeched again and moved in towards its victims. I definitely need to act now before they are harmed!

“Nuh-Uh, not today!” I shouted loud enough to gain its attention. The creature turned its head toward me just at the right moment for a blast of fire to engulf it with enough force that sent it into the air. I unleashed a little more--not too much like back in the Musty Mountain--just enough to shoot the creature away over the rooftop and out of the area.

During my unloading of my wave of fire, it lit up the alley up for me to witness the two demons that had been huddled together run past me in a panic and leave their friend behind. Not even a thank you for saving them or anything?! 

I turned off my flames and sighed. Were creatures like that really roaming around the city? Would it return? I’ve never even seen anything like it before, yet it looked like one of those beasts that live in the Lake of Fire I’ve seen stitched into the tapestries in the castle… But why would it be all the way out here?

However, before I could think anymore about that leviathan, the other victim from the attack finally stepped up to me, though with enough distance that presumed some caution. She wasn’t a demon due to her having no horns on her head and she looked to be around my age. She was a dark purple monster wearing white boots, denim jeans and a shirt with a moon orbiting a planet on it. Her eyes were hidden behind the thick lenses of her glasses but her eyebrows and mouth were turned up in a way as if she was confused over my sudden heroic deed. 

“Are you alright?” I asked her.

“Hm?” Was her reply. 

And that was all, followed by nothing but silence...

Now I was equally confused by her response. Maybe she didn’t understand my question? So I clarified for her, “That… thing… It didn’t hurt you did it?” “...” She didn’t answer me.

I itched the back of my head, trying to make sense of her demeanor. She seemed ok physically, but mentally? I’m not so sure. “Well, I hope you’re alright, you might want to report that attack to the Furies.” I said while checking my compact phone for the time. Realizing I was going to be late, I tried to tell her, “Oh! I gotta go now--”

“Who are you..?” She interrupted me with a very curious tone as the light from bits of fire that still clung to the walls around us hit her glasses just right to give her a rather eerily and ominous presence against the backdrop of the dark alleyway behind her.

“Oh, I’m…” I hesitated for a moment, remembering last night and how some of the inhabitants of Chernabog City feel about my family. Would I receive the same negative response from telling her who I am? Should I lie? … No, what good would hiding my identity do? How some of the people of the city feel is lied to already and I need to stop that misconception.  

So I looked at the female monster and confidently told her, “I’m Tom Lucitor.”

She quietly hummed to herself. “Hm…”

Silence again...

… Alright, this is just getting weird. At least she isn’t enraged over my presence but I don’t think I have anymore time for this. “Sorry, I’m in a hurry and I have to go now.” I said while running off down the alleyway, “See ya!”

Unbeknownst to me, the mysterious female monster slowly walked out of the alley to watch me depart down the sidewalk. She quietly pondered to herself,  “Lucitor... Could it be…?  Tom was actually the last to arrive at Tartarus thanks to that incident in the alley. However, as he ran up to meet his group, he felt really nostalgic seeing them all standing there at the entrance together. It reminded him of meeting up with Star and all her friends back on Earth, but this time these were friends all his own.

  Everyone was glad to see Tom show up as they each greeted him. Blair excitedly jumped up and down as Kraven nodded and George raised his coffee mug. Tiras gave him one of his friendly pats and commended him on following their plan for when situations like last night happen. And then Tom came to Raya.

“H-Hey, Raya.” Tom blushed as he greeted her.

“H-Hi, Tom.” Raya replied, equally bashful.

“Hey, here’s a suggestion, let’s all go in and have some fun since we know everyone avoided capture from last night!” Indigo interrupted the both of them before they made it awkward between each other. She wrapped her arms into each one of theirs to guide them toward the entrance and muttered to herself, “Seriously, you two and your dorkiness is perfect for each other.”

“What was that?” Tom and Raya said in unison.

“Exactly.” Indigo sighed with a smile. 

The group of friends finally entered the arcade while a figure waited observantly from a rooftop overhead.

Inside the arcade, everyone seemed to act as if they were not just the catalyst to an anarchist brawl less than 12 hours ago. Kraven and George headed for a booth while Tiras was challenged by Blair to a game in a different part of the arcade. They really didn’t bring up the argument at all, but Tom was somewhat relieved they didn’t. He wanted to talk to his parents first before letting his friends know of any developments.

Tom was able to take Raya aside to tell her how excited he was for tomorrow. He also wanted to talk to Tiras about something important too so he promised to catch up with her later as she went off with Indigo to play Dance Dance Revoltion together. They’ll have enough time to spend together tomorrow either way. 

Tom found Tiras over in the game table area of the arcade with Blair. Since they were finishing up a game of Foosball, Tom decided to wait patiently before talking to him.

“Haha! That’s game again!” Tiras boasted after winning a third time against his friend.

Blair puffed out zir cheeks in frustration with the losing streak ze was having. “Hmph. I’m done, rather play DDR with Raya and Indigo anyway.” Ze huffed as ze stuck zir tongue out at him.

And with that, Blair created a shadow and hopped into it--en route to the other side of the arcade where the video games were most likely.

“When you’re ready for another whompin’, come find me, haha!” Tiras gloated before zir shadow dematerialized. 

Tom finally approached him and said, “Dude, can we talk for a sec?” 

“Sure, play me though, I’m on a roll.” The other teen beamed pridefully while setting the ball up ready to serve. As they began, Tiras asked him, “So what’s up? Still stressing over last night?”

“Nah… Not that, well sorta actually…” Tom responded while easily knocking the ball passed Tiras’ offensive and defensive line and into the goal, scoring the first point.

Tiras watched dumbfounded and Tom’s smooth skill but shook himself out of it. He set the ball up and they started to go at it again. He told him, “Hey, you know we got your back. We wouldn’t let those rudeboys lay even a finger on ya. They are just on that bullhonkey all those tinfoils be spewing lately. They’re just scared of mewmans or whatever. Don’t pay it no mind.”

“Yea, I’m not really worrying about that right now. It’s just… Well… I’m not sure how you’ll take this but…” Tom began to mumble while still maneuvering the ball through Tiras’s player figures yet again and scoring another point. 

“Huh?!” Tiras yelped surprised and seemed to get serious now as he set the ball back up to serve. “Well, we’re buds, right?” He said, “I can take anything you tell me, so go on and spill. What’s bothering you?”

Tom inhaled deeply while keeping his focus on the Foosball table. He finally revealed, “I asked Raya out on a date.”

Tiras darted his head up from the sudden news with a shocked expression covering his face, completely leaving his team vulnerable as Tom scored another point on him.

Tom removed his hands from the playing rods and rested them on the game table as he continued further, “You see… I really like her… Probably before we all started hanging out together… I don’t know if she might want to be my girlfriend after all of this--I hope she does… But, I think--well, I know--you seem to kind of like her too, and you’ve known her way longer than I have... So that’s why I wanted to be up front with you and tell you because your feelings matter to me too. We started off kind of on the wrong foot but I really value our friendship and I hope you won’t be mad with me...”

“Mad?!” Tiras spat out but then began to laugh, causing Tom to finally look up to him with some peculiarity. He then sat the ball up again before explaining, “Tom, I’m happy for you--about time!”

Both boys began to play again but Tom asked, “Ok, I’m confused… Didn’t you have a crush on Raya? It was rather obvious from when we first met.”

“Yea I did…” Tiras said it with a little despondence as it was his turn to take his hands off the rod and stare down at the game table. He looked back up to Tom with a half smile of reassurance and told him, “But I realized it is more like a sibling kind of like. I just want to protect her and make sure she doesn’t get hurt. And even though we haven’t known you that long, it is the same way I feel about you too. We aren’t just friends or bandmates, we are like a family.”

Tiras looked up to Tom with a wide grin, causing Tom to do the same in return. Both boys returned to playing Foosball.

“You don’t know how happy I am to hear you say this to me, I’m glad we are all cool now. You really are like the brother I never had.” Tom praised him.

“Yea, yea… Well, wish I really was your brother to have a mom as hot--” Tiras began to say but then Tom shot a disapproving glance his way. He laughed it off after seeing how Tom would react if he finished that sentence, “Haha, just kidding, man. Haha.”

Tom playfully rolled his eyes and brought the conversation back on task, “Anyway, I’m so stoked for tomorrow, I can’t believe we are going to go out on a date!”

“Duuuude, I’m so proud of you--you finally got that courage to ask her! The way it was looking I was about to ask her for you, haha!” Tiras congratulated his friend, “Where are you guys going to go?”

Tom scored another point on Tiras before answering him, “Well you see, I’m not familiar with Chernabog City so… I don’t really know, heh…”

“What?!” Tiras gasped loud enough for the whole arcade to hear. -

After playing for a bit longer at Tartarus, the group of friends finally emerged back out onto the city sidewalk to discuss what they should do now. Tom was even able to get some great suggestions from Tiras of where to take Raya tomorrow since he was lacking in knowledge of the city. If he were still able to use portals, it would probably be an easy decision for him.

“I’m in the mood for a change of scenery for lunch. Let’s all go eat at Grimdonald’s. We haven’t been there in a while.” Indigo proposed their favorite burger place as their next destination.

“That’s a no for me. I’m pretty low on funds and we stayed here longer than I thought we would playing all those rounds of flamethrower tag.” Tiras denounced that idea.

“I crave a more nutritious sustenance momentarily.” George concurred with him.

“Hey, you guys wanna come back to the castle instead? If my Mom’s home now then she can probably fix us up something.” Tom suggested.

Kraven seemed to perk up at the mention of going back to Lucitor Castle and feasting on all of the delicious food Tom’s mother makes.

“Well, that’s one for the Queen’s great cooking! I second it, just to be in the presence of the Queen, hehe!” Blair agreed after noticing Kraven’s interest in the idea.

“No lies detected.” Tiras nodded smugly in Tom’s direction.

Tom groaned. “Maybe I shouldn’t have suggested this.”

Raya nudged Tom’s side happily, “What are you trying to say? That the Queen isn’t worth such admiration for her beauty?”

“Not you too, Raya.” Tom held his hands to his cheeks and faked a horrified expression.

Everyone began to laugh.

“To the castle, yea!” Blair cheered.

As they all continued to chatter and tease Tom a bit more, a figure from the rooftop above was also cheering over what was heard from the group below.

“Yes, yes, yes, teehee! I knew it wasn’t a coincidence! He is THE Tom Lucitor, Prince of the Underworld! This is an absolutely, astronomically out-of-this-world find!” The purple female monster from early had been observing Tom and his friends from up above a building rooftop and was ecstatic to confirm who he was.

“The stars are definitely in my favor for having him happen upon my capture of those two back in that alley! Wait ‘til the Boss hears about this, he might even make me, Astrobell, second in command for this find! Teehee Heehee Twaahaa Haahaa!” Her uncontrollable giggle turned into a fit of maniacal laughter. 

Suddenly, the leviathan creature that had been blasted off from before lifted its own head to reveal itself from the underside of the ledge. Astrobell proceeded to hop on its back and it slithered her away; down and through the darkness of the alleys as her cover until she was outside of the city to inform her Boss of this new change of plans.