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tiktokonaclock · 3 months ago

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The Siren and the Demon Chapter 12

Zenet looked at the device in her hand.

“I-I don’t know. Haven’t seen it.” She exhaled. “Maybe- maybe you left it in the car?”

“No. I put it down after I came in. It must be somewhere in the house.”

Zenet cursed under her breath as she tucked the phone into her waist and covered it with her shirt. Why couldn’t women’s clothes have proper pockets?

She finally opened the door and swiftly walked out of the bathroom, praying god to keep the phone from falling.

“I can call it. Is it in the silent mode?”

“No.” Gill followed her as she quickly walked back to the kitchen, pretending like she was looking for her own phone.

Zenet looked around after walking in. “I left mine in the bathroom.” She finally said. “I’ll be back in a second.”

She rushed iin the corridor towards the bathroom, her heart beating in her chest. She took Gill’s phone in her hand and threw it on the bed. Thankfully, the bedroom was right across the bathroom she used.

She walked back in the corridor, her own phone in her hand. Gill’s phone started ringing in the bedroom. He walked past her and took it from the bed. Zenet walked back into the kitchen, blowing out her breath to calm her nerves down.

“I don’t remember taking my phone to the bedroom at all.” Gill expressed casually as he took two plates out of the cupboard.

“You must be getting old.” Zeent leaned on the wall and crossed her arms with a smirk.

“Very funny, Zenet.” He pointed at the dinner table. “Sit down. Time to eat.”

It was a close call. A very close call. But she had pulled it off.

What if she hadn’t? What if he saw his phone in her hand?

She focused on what was ahead of her instead of dwelling on what-ifs.

“How do you like the soup?” Gill asked.

“It’s great!” Zenet’s eyes turned to her bowl, then back at Gill. “You outdid yourself this time.”

“With your help.”

“Nah. All I did was to chop some vegetables.” She shoved her finger. “And myself.”

“Does that still hurt?”

“Not really.” She filled her spoon with the hot liquid and swallowed it. A mischievous grin appeared on her face. “I think I can smell the blood in the soup.”

“Oh my. Are you turning into a shark now, Zenet?”

Zenet let out a small laugh. “Just a tiny baby shark.”

“Careful. That’s how it begins. First, you start to smell the blood in the water. Next thing you know… You are circling the waters.” He leaned forward. “Hunting your prey.”

She leaned forward as well, with a smile on her lips. “Spooky.”

“Yeah.”

Zenet looked away. She tried to imagine herself as a “shark”. A politician who beats her rivals down, and becomes an important figure in the political arena. A young woman of power and influence. She was not able to picture it.

She returned to her soup. “You know…” she said, partly to change the subject. “I think being able to cook well is a privilege.”

“What do you mean?”

“People always assume that those who can’t cook are richer. Oh, I can’t even make an omlette. Y’know. But if you cook well, that means you have a kitchen, the ingredients, and the time. And I think that means you have it good.”

Gill shook his head. “Interesting point of view.”

“Right? People tend to take a lot of things for granted.”

“The catering in the orphanage was not very good, I am assuming?”

Zenet chuckled knowingly as her eyes turned to her bowl. “Not very good is an understatement.” Her smile faded away as she turned her spoon into the soup. “Mom used to cook well.” She murmured, her voice much lower. “Whenever she was sober enough to cook.”

“You remember her?”

“Of course.” She looked up at him right in the eyes. “Do you get any news from her?

“No.”

“Do you at least know where she lives?”

“No. I am not sure if she is even alive to be honest.”

How easy it was for him to lie without even batting an eye. She would not have suspected anything if she hadn’t seen the address in the vault.

She chose not to force it any further.

Gill got up, taking his bowl. “I think I will go for seconds. Do you want some more?”

“No. I am good.”

Gill reached for his phone to check the time. What he saw on the screen made him freeze.

“Zenet, there is dried blood here?”

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

Her stomach flipped upside down, her vision got dark for a second. It felt like a thousand needles were poing into her brain.

She could not even turn around to look at his face. When she finally did, he shot a glare towards her. Like he was ready to dive right into a fight.

Fuck. Think fast. Fuck.

“I must have smudged it when I brought it to you.”

“But you didn't bring it to me.”

She made a smacking sound with her mouth. “No. You remember it wrong. I was closer to the bedroom. Because I had left my phone in the bathroom. So I took it. Brought it to you. You took it from me in the hall. Don't you remember?1

His face remained emotionless for a second, making Zenet’s heart skip a beat.

“You did?” he finally asked. His tone was free from any blaming.

“Yeah.”

“Wow. I am getting old, am I not?”

Zenet let out an emotionless laugh, doing her best to mask her nervousness. “Maybe.”

She took a long look around when she first walked onto the balcony of the great mansion. Everything in this house radiated a sense of wealth and power. The wealth and power Gill built for himself far away from the orphanage he left her in. This balcony was no different. It was bigger than the room she had shared with three other girls in the orphanage.

She hated it. She hated him for it.

That space was Gill’s favorite in the whole house, a perfectly cozy spot to spend time in.

Gill stood still, watching Zenet as she studied the decoration in detail.

He realized that her fingers were glancing at the side as she walked as if she wanted to feel the house on her fingertips. He allowed her time to take it in, to finish the thought. When she finally wore the sweatshirt she was holding in her hand and sat down on the one-person swing, he took the mugs and walked into the balcony.

“Thanks.” Zenet murmured when Gill offered her the mug. He comfortably settled into the armchair across the swing.

“You like this spot,” Gill said, more as a statement than a question.

Zenet scratched between Rocco’s ears, who had been lying peacefully under her feet.

“Yeah. I do.” She smiled widely. She looked up. “I have always wanted one of these swings. Whenever I saw these in the store I used to think; where do they even fit in?”

“Yes. You need a… wide space to fit these in.”

“Yeah.” She murmured. She looked away as she felt the air thicken with the questions they wanted to ask each other but could not.

She checked her phone when she heard the notification. “Oh no.”

“What is it? What happened?”

“They wrote a patrol duty to me for tomorrow night!” She whined.

“So I suggest you go to bed early tonight. I got the guest room on the second floor prepared for you.”

Guest room. “Thanks.”

Her eyes moved back to the view and for a second, just a split second, she allowed herself to imagine this as a regular evening in her life. That the guest room was her room. That this house was her home.

She drank the remaining coffee in her mug. Then she leaned down, kissed Rocco on top of his head, and got on her feet.

“Good night, father.”

She walked back into the house and left Gill alone in the balcony to finish his coffee on his own. In the remaining hours of the night, he would fill his glass with much stronger liquids, watch the serene view, and think.

Zenet sat on the edge of the twin sized bed.

Every single room in the god damn house was incredible. Even the guest room. And for some reason, that made her extremely angry.

She felt an odd satisfaction when she sent the address to the emperor’s phone. The house Gill ordered a pizza to in the middle of the night; it had to be important, right? In one way r another. Something had to be up with that address.

“Hello your majesty-” Delete.

“As per your command-” Delete.

“To whom it may concer-” DELETE.

Everything she wrote sounded either rude or weird. She thought of Gill’s tone in the messages he wrote to the emperor as her fingers danced around the keyboard once again.

“Good evening your majesty. I found something that you might find useful. Do you recognize this address? Gill ordered a pizza to this address at midnight a few days ago.”

She was about to close the tab when she noticed that he got online.

Online. Typing. As if he had been waiting over the phone for some time.

“That’s Kazarina’s home address!”

Zenet lifted her head. She looked up at Contestir.

“Bingo.”

Ren was lighting the oil lamp when Zenet walked in. She froze for a split second. They had been avoiding each other ever since they lost rest of their friends one by one. Besides the time Zenet asked for Ren’s help, and the time Ren refused to help her, they had not spoken much.

Zenet wanted to be there for him. And wanted him to be there for her as well. There was not a third person who could completely understand what they had been going through in the whole Empire of Gundalia.

But Gundalians did not do friendship, she knew.

“Hey.” She acknowledged him dryly as she walked further into the small room soldiers use during their patrol duty. She put her bag on the table and started to take her belongings out.

“Hey.” Ren narrowed his eyes to avoid her gaze.

She put her bomber jacket on after taking it out of her bag. It was given as a part of the Gundalian soldiers’ uniforms, and it was Zenet’s favorite piece by far. It had Gundalia’s amblem on the shoulders and the bustline. It was made of high-quality leather.

“Did they give you the walike-talkies?” She asked.

“Yes.” He handed her one of the radiophones and put the other one in his pocket.

For the first time since she came in, her expression softened and a smile, although small, appeared on her face. She took her walkie-talkie to her mouth.

“Testing. One. Two. Can your hear me? Over.”

Ren grinned. He took his own device. “Positive. Can you hear me?”

“Positive.” She shook her head. “At least we can let each other know if the shit goes down.”

Ren glanced at the clock. He had a feeling that it was going to be a long night.

Ren and Zenet walked side by side. The oil lamp Ren was holding dimly lit the hallway as their footsteps echoed in the stillness.

It had been uneventful so far. Zenet felt the need to break the ice, as she often did.

“So, what’s on your mind?” She asked, glancing at Ren.

Ren looked away as his jaw tightened. “I don’t want to be here.” he admitted, his voice in a whisper.

“You wanna go back to the brawlers?”

Marucho’s watery eyes appeared on Ren’s mind. “I really don’t know.” He ran his hand through his hair.

“I… I feel trapped. Barodius promised things would get easier. He told me he was going to explain me all I need to know about Linehalt’s powers but- I am not sure if he actually knows anything about it.”

“But we are fighting for something important.” She opposed softly. “It’s bigger than you or me, or Barodius. It’s Gundalia’s future. This isn’t about him at all. I hate the way he handles things around here but-”

“I didn’t sign up for this, Zenet.”

“Neither did I. But you need to understand what’s really going on, Ren. It’s not all shits and giggles out there.” Her thumb showed the window they were passing by. “Gundalia’s fighting to survive, Ren. Literally. People are starving.”

“But Barodius-”

“Barodius has no other choice. He is barely keeping this place from falling apart.” She narrowed her voice. “If things don’t change, it is going to go downhill from here. Walk outside for a day an you will see it. Crime, violance, desperation. Because people can’t afford to live anymore.”

“But it is not Neitha’s fault that we are so fucked up.”

“Neitha’s the worst part! They have the Sacred Orb, for fuck’s sake. They could fix it all with a wave of their hand. And it is not like they would lose anything by helping us, Ren. That magic could fix everything- the economy, the food shortage, the street violence. And what do they do? Nothing. They sit in their pretty cities instead while we rot!” She took a deep breath, her voice softening. “We are Gundalians, Ren. Our people, our future- It comes first. Always.”

Ren exhaled. Things were getting more and more complicated for him with each second passing by. “How are we going to build Gundalia’s future if we are not in it, Zenet? We are just pawns on the board. Like the others were.”

Talking about Sid, Jesse and Lena still made their souls hurt, which was why they had been avoiding using their names. Zenet fliched.

“Kazarina killed them.” Ren continued. “And for what? Failing some mission? They didn’t deserve that.”

“I know.” Her shoulders fell off. “At least Mason could get out.”

“He was lucky.”

They walked in silence for a while. Then, Ren spoke up again, his voice filled with anxiety. “What do you think will happen to us if we mess up?”

“We might end up like them. Or we might find a cheat code.”

“I don’t think I can do this anymore, Zenet. Not after everything I have seen, everything that happened to them.

“I get it, Ren. I do. But I can’t just walk away. I have things I can’t just leave behind.” Even though I was left behind by them.

“But how much longer can we keep going on like this?” Ren asked the question she had been asking herself.

“I don’t know.” She whispered into the cold, empty hallway. “I guess we’ll find out.”

Zenet smiled bitterly as they walked back into the room to spend their rest time. “Do you remember the time Jesse made me transform into Kazarina to fool you guys? Man, even Sid was terrified.”

Ren glanced at Zenet, smirking at the memory. "Yeah, Sid almost lost it. You really had him convinced for a second there. I wasn't sure what was happening at first either." He took his hand on his cheek dramatically. “I was like- what is she doing here? In the Interspace? In our control room? Are we gonna die?”

"You should have seen your faces though. It was spectacular to watch!” Zenet chuckled softly, though her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. “But... it was also weird, you know? Being her. I felt so... powerful. I did not feel like the orphanage leftover anymore. But I also felt trapped in her skin."

Ren raised an eyebrow, sensing the shift in her tone. "Trapped? How so?"

She sighed, her gaze drifting off. "I don’t know. It was like wearing Kazarina’s face gave me a glimpse of what it’s like to have that kind of control, but at the same time, I hated it. It’s like... people fear her, but no one really sees her, you know?"

Ren nodded, thoughtful. "Yeah, I get it. But you are not her, though. You're different."

"Am I though?" Zenet muttered. She took her shark plushie out of her bag. Ren laughed softly, pointing at it with questioning eyes.

“I don’t have a pillow small enough to fit in my bag, and I still want to have something soft for my head.” Zenet explained as she offered it to him. “Do you want to use it?”

“No, I am good.” He crossed his arms and leaned back into his chair. “Your ability is kind of scary you know?”

“Scary? Scary how?”

“I mean- a person could walk into the room, talk to you. And you might even tell them your secrets. But that person is not the person you think they are. Like they are wearing a mask. It’s scary. It’s like the Capgras syndrome, but actually real. I find it way scarier than hypnotizing.”

“I never thought of it that way.” Zenet admitted. “You might be right.”

She checked the time. “I will take another tour around the halls.” She said. “I suggest you try to take a nap. I will wake you up when it’s your turn.” She took a few snacks out of her bag: a pack of crackers, a protein bar, a can of cold coffee and a bottle of water. “You can have these snacks if you want. You sure you don’t want the shark?”

He sent her a warm smile. “I am. Thank you Zenet.”

“Anytime.”

Zenet wished she could wear her headphones during patrol duty. She didn't like being left alone with the thoughts in her head. The dark and lonely corridors were giving her way too much space to not be consumed by her thoughts. She wanted to play her rock music. Loudly. But instead she listened to her own footsteps, as the oil lamp flickered in her hand.

Then, a door slided open and Master Nurzak came out.

"You're up early." She stated, watching her tone as much as she can to avoid sounding rude. "Can't you sleep?

"Zenet." Nurzak said, as the young girl took a few steps towards him. “I believe I could ask same of you."

"I am on patrol duty."

"Of course." He smiled. "I have always admired the loyalty you have shown to the throne.It is the have It is youth like you that give me hope.”

He turned his back to her and kept on walking. Then he stopped to glance back at her over his Shoulder. "Hope that the future of Gundalia will be better than we ever dream."

She could not talk or even breathe untill he completely walked away, leaving her on her own.

Hope... Future of Gundalia....

These were dangerous words.

The plan. The time must've come.

She took the radiophone on her mouth. "Ren! Wake up! It's can emergency!”

No answer. She started to run.

"Ren!" She shouted again as she burst into the room. "Wake up!

"What?! What!" Ren woke up with a gasp. “Zenet! Are you okay?"

She paused for a second. "Yes, but... There will be a coup tonight!”

"What?! Where did you get the information?“

"Uh... A reliable source.” She shook her hand up and down to create is a sense of emergency. "Come on. We need to hurry.”

He got up as they rushed to the cabinet together. They took out the guns and started to put them together, loading the extra ammunition.

"What do we do?" Ren asked in panic.

"We need to alert someone Superior.”

She grabbed her phone and called someone. "D-Master Gill!"

Ren heard some a murmuring from Gill's side.

"It's happening. Yes. Please come to the palace immid rately. Un-Should I alert anyone else or- you will? Okay. Goodbye.”

Ren didn't question how she had Gill's number saved.

"Which way did he go?" He asked.

"He - he went towards the east side. To the temple.”

Ren loaded the gun and wore it on his waist. He handed her the other one with an encouraging look on his eyes.

“Let's go.”

Nurzak's footsteps echoed on the temple.

The temple looked lonely, as if no one had set a foot in it for years. He turned his head up to look at the previous emperor's portrait: He looked regal, his posture radiating power. His hands were put together on the sword he was holding.

Nurzak opened the passage to the Secret route.

The two teenagers were out of breath from running through the halls of the Gundalian palace.

Zenet held Ren's elbow to stop him from just walking into the temple.

"No! It might be dangerous!”

Ren looked into Zenet's eyes with piercing gaze, searching. “Zenet? Did you know about this beforehand?”

Zenet's yellow eyes flickered. “I had heard some rumors.”

Ren did not seem too convinced. "Where did you hear them from?"

She needed to think of a convincing lie, as she often did. But her brain had Stopped working on that moment.

They both flinched when they heard the clapping sound coming behind them. They turned their heads to see the emperor, slowly applauding.

“I must congratulate you two.” He said with a grin. "You realized what was going on far before anything actually happened. Well done.”

"Y-your majesty. Zenet gulped. "Did Master Gill inform you about-“

“That's why I am here."

"Then, you will allow us to evacuate you, to a safe spot, right?" Ren asked.

Barodius laughed. "Aren't you two adorable?" He walked past them towards the temple. His finger showed them a secret spot, perfect for the two to hide. "You two will hide and watch. Do not interfere.”

He walked into the temple before anyone could oppose.

Ren and Zenet dropped on their knees as they observed the temple. If it wasn't this serious, Zenet could have enjoyed this. And also would have joked about not having Popcorn.

“You think you can hide this from me, Nurzak?"

"You are like a fly to garbage…”

“No matter how mighty the empire, or how powerful the leader, sanctity of the sacred and must not be Violated. To any who ignore this, suffering will follow. Do you remember? Those Words that your father spoke?"

Ren was probably hearing this speech for the first time, but Zenet had watched it a thousand times, on the small television the orphanage had in the common room.

A smile creeped on Barodius' face. "Of course I remember. How can I I forget when my father resited that speech morning, noon and night? He was a supercitious old fool but to his credit, he knew how to recruite a Loyal following."

He replied, pointing at Nurzak with his last sentence.

“His followers believed in him....”

“Of course they did!" Barodius snapped. Because he poisioned their minds by preaching the same supercitions that he believed in! It's easy to rule when fear is your motivator!"

Zenet was not old enough to understand anything about politics during the previous emperor's reign. But from what she heard, The sounded like a cult leader.

She imagined the emperor as a prince, sitting side by side with her father. They would probably bet her age then, or maybe slightly older. She could see Barodius rolling his eyes, and Gill crossing his arms on his chest as they share a knowing look.

Everyone is dumb except us.

“All those memories are like a rotting Stench to me!" Barodius moved his hand forward, as if he was reaching out for the future. "Now, it's time to Clear the air. My father is no longer emperor. That title belongs to me.”

"Emperor Barodius, I am going to tell you one more time, you would be wise to hear my warning.” Nurzak sounded like a father trying to discipline his son.

"And if I decline? What are you going to do, Nurzak? Are you going to sneak up to Neitha and use that thing in your pocket? To turn the orb against me?”

"What?!"

“The Switch code. I know all about it. It has been handed down through my family for generations after all! I told you, you cannot hide anything from me!"

Ren looked at Zenet. "The switch what now?"

Zenet sighed as she put her hands up in a surrendering manner. " I don't know, man.”

The bells ringed out. It was breaking dawn. A new day had begun.

Hundreds of soldiers, dressed in the same uniform as Ren cand Zenet teleported into the temple, their traditional spears all charged up.

Zenet's hand automatically went to her waist. She felt the gun secured. They were allowed to carry guns only during the patrol duty. And even though she was more familiar with the spear, the gun gave her a sense of security.

She realized Kazarina, standing between the soldiers with a smirk.

"So, it is a new day in Gundalia.” She chirped.

Zenet's eyes opened wide. It all made sense now.

"It's a setup!" She whispered.

"What?”

"It's a setup!” She exclaimed, not loud enough to let them hear. She took out her phone once again.

This time, Ren could hear the other line. "Zenet, I have just arrived." Gill said upon answering her call.

"It's a fucking setup!" Zenet repeated.

Ren didn't even think of getting shocked by the sudden cursing. And appearently, neither did Gill. "What do you mean?!" He asked.

"This is not a real coup! They are tricking Master Nurzak!”

"Just find somewhere safe and stay put untill it's safe. " Gill said and hung up.

"Zenet, how do you know it's a setup?" Ren asked.

Zenet looked at Kazarina as she made the troops attack Nurzak instead of Barodius.

“Did you think I would betray the emperor to follow an old man?” She asked. with a wicked laugh.

“Instinct." Zenet murmured. The Instinct of a shark.

She turned her head to see Gill running towards them. They shared a look.

Zenet's eyes scanned the environment once again to take in the amount of destruction. The beautiful temple, which was one of the few places in Gundalia that's actually nice, was now in rubble. Smoke arose from various spots, painting pattems on the polluted air until it dissolved.

She and Ren had been there sitting on the floor side by side for quite some fime now. They had hunched their backs and put their elbows on their knees. They did not look so different from the wreakage that surrendered them.

"He's dead." Zenet murmured. "I had spoken to him in the morning, and now he doesn't exist.”

Ren turned to her, his expression blank. He pointed at her phone with his head. "What does it say on the news?”

Zenet unlocked her phone and checked. the news. "Neithian strikes on the Capitol City kills 38. The palace remains silent."

She put the phone down and turned to him.

Ren Sighed." Does anyone actually. believe this?"

"They will believe whatever media Tells them to.”

"How can Neithia attack us when they can't even protect themselves yet?"

"No one's gonna question that." Zenet pointed at the rubble. "They will service the news that Nurzak died on the Strike and voila. His hands are clean.”

Ren left out another sigh and got on his feet. “I am going to bed." He said, leaving Zenet was alone in the wreckage.

“I admire the old prune's spirit. Thinking he could stage a rebellion... Clearly, he underestimated your loyalty. Especially you, dear Kazarina.”

So it was dear Kazarina now.

Apparently she was back on his good graces.

She sent an arrogant smile and Gill, who seemed conflicted.

"There has been a lot of sneaky behavior around here lately, wouldn't you say so, Gill?" Barodius asked with a cheeky tone.

Kazarina must have thought Barodius was merely teasing Gill, for which Gill was greateful. If he had told her about Gill's small trip to the throne room earlier, he would need to say goodbye to ever having sex with her.

Even though he would never admit, not even to himself, Gill felt a deep regret for it. He didn't know what got into him that made him want to throw Kazarina under the bus like that.

He liked having sex with her, and strangely, he liked the things that came with it.

He liked talking to her; over late-night pizza, or coffee, or more intimate pillow talk. He liked spending time next to her, even when they were both busy with different things. Sometimes feeling her presence next to him felt enough.

Maybe these things were scaring him. Maybe he was scared of how vulnerable and exposed the felt when he pulled her to his lap and looked up to her the way a believer would look at the magnificent sculpture of a goddess: Through the eyes of a worshipper. In absolute devotion.

Love was a weakness. And if this actually was love, Gill hated being weak.

He caught her eye. The same alluring look appeared on her lilac eyes with a smug smile.

See, I was right. You were wrong.

"I- suppose...”

" I extend my thanks to you, Kazarina.” Barodius repeated.

“No thanks are necessary." Kazarina narrowed her head in a fake humbleness. "Everything I do was for the glory of you and Gundalia.”

"That pleases me."

She looked back up, right at Gill.

They shared another look.

Zenet was getting used to having conversations with the emperor. Barodius could say it from her behaviour, which got more comfortable.

“I first saw the cape. It had blue foundation stains on it. But it was not enough evidence to verify anything. So I got into his phone to look for more clues. And found this."

Her hands met in front of her. "I know that it is forbidden for the members of the Twelve Orders to have any sort of romantic or sexual relationships between them, so I thought you'd like to know this.”

"Indeed.” Baradius leaned back at his chair.

“Do you know why we have that rule?”

"No. But I have a guess.”

“Do tell."

"It is to stop them from getting too close to each other. Because if they are too close they might come together to conspire against the monarch."

Precisely.

"Do you think they might try to do that?"

"I don't See why not. Some species of sharks like to hunt in packs.”

“Then, you will need to take precautions?"

"Yes. Kazarina might have proven her loyalty today but her opinion might as well change in the future. And I need to be ready for it."

"What are you going to do?"

"I do have a plan in mind. And I will need your help to put it into action."

"Of course, your majesty. Anything you need."

Anything I need, huh? Even if I need you to get yar hands dirty?"

Zenet hesitated for just a split Second before answering.

"Yes.”

He smirked. "Sit down." He said. “How do you have your coffee?”

#bakugan #bakugan gundalian invaders #gill #kazarina #emperor barodius #gill x kazarina #the siren and the demon #jesse glenn #lena isis #zenet surrow #witnessing the birth of a baby shark #we got into her political views in this one #may god have mercy on Kazarina and Gill because Zenet won’t

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selineram3421 · 10 months ago

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*is now craving sushi* Dang. 🍣

Other Worldly

Part 2

Part 1

Alastor X Shy Reader

Warnings ⚠

⚠ selectively mute reader, food mentions-seaweed, song lyrics Drift Away-Trillian ⚠

Alastor took the mer up to their hotel room, the halls empty as he made another water pun, which earned him a fin slap to the face.

"I could drop you, you know?", he said but continued to carry them towards the bathtub.

Setting them down gently, he made sure to get a towel and put it somewhere within reach for them to take when their legs returned.

"There you are dear!", he said before standing up straight. "I'll leave you here now. Don't try to get up too soon, you'll just flop right over!", he laughed and turned to leave.

"Wait.", they spoke softly.

Like an exciting rush, he felt chills run down his back as his body followed the command.

"Don't tell anyone about what you saw..", they paused. "Or what you heard from me. Please."

As soon as they were finished, the 'spell' had broken and he was able to move again. Glancing over his shoulder, the Radio Demon snapped his fingers and his coat was clear of the water spots they had left on him.

"Very well.", he said and began closing the bathroom door. "This will stay our little secret~", he placed a finger over his lips before shutting the door.

He stood there for a moment, hearing the mer let out a sigh before the water turned on.

Satisfied with his findings, the deer demon left their hotel room, making sure to lock the door before closing it.

As he made his way to his radio tower, he thought of ways to get the aquatic demon to sing around him.

I should ease their worries somehow.. He thought. I wonder if there is a way to lure a siren.

You hated the transition of your legs returning.

Every time, you felt like your tail was being torn apart. Your scales felt like needles piercing into you when they sunk back into your skin. The webbing on your fingers was the only thing that didn't hurt much, but your hands would cramp a few times the day after.

This is annoying. You thought as you dried yourself completely after taking a bath.

Next was the hard part.

Grabbing the edge of the tub, you slowly stood up. Your feet feeling like you walked many miles without rest, aching as you stepped onto the tile floor.

It hurt.

Step by step, it felt like you were walking on glass, thorns, or hot coal as you made your way into your room to get dressed.

As soon as you could, you dropped onto your bed with a whine, staying there for a moment before crawling under the covers. After turning off the lamp on the nightstand, you hoped that the red dressed demon wouldn't say anything of what he saw.

Yes, you told him a command but the other half was a plea.

Let's not worry about it. He did say it would be our secret. You thought before going to sleep.

The next day was a little odd.

After getting breakfast, the smiling demon began talking to you like you were old friends.

It confused you.

What did he have to gain from talking to a quiet person? There was nothing you could say without hypnotizing him.

It was simple.

All he had to do was get them used to him and they'd be comfortable enough to let their guard down.

What better way to do it other than talking?

Food.

Throughout a few weeks, the Radio Demon experimented with all kinds of food. Taking notice of their expressions and the amount of food that they left on their plate. Later, he noticed that they enjoyed snacking on seaweed.

He wasn't sure where they had got it from, but it was something that he made sure was kept stocked in the kitchen and at the bar.

"The fuck? Why seaweed?", Husker grumbled.

"One of our guests enjoys it and the Princess ordered a surplus of the snack.", Alastor said as he watched the cat demon put the box under the bar counter.

Of course, it didn't really work out like he wanted. They were still quiet, still just out of reach, wary of him and his every action.

So he tried a different tactic.

Continuing to talk to them in open spaces but once they left, he hid in the shadows and observed them.

And then it happened.

It was exactly what he was waiting for.

Though he was hiding within the shadows of a dark theater room, he still was able to catch them, to listen to them sing.

Dark brown wood and red velvet from the room had made the area darker than it really was, but they still managed to find a ledge to sit on. They started off with soft hums before a real note came out from their lips.

"Here in the garden

Let's play a game

I'll show you how it's done

Here in the garden

Stand very still

This will be so much fun"

Like before, he felt the pull in his chest, the daze their voice submerged his mind into.

"And then she smiled

That's what I'm after

A smile in her eyes

The sound of her laughter

Happy to listen

Happy to play

Happily watching her drift away"

His shadows held him back from crawling out of the darkness. Something he was quite grateful for as he didn't want to disturb their singing.

"You keep on turning pages, for people who don't care

People who don't care about you

And still it takes you ages, to see that no one's there

See that no one's there

Everyone's gone on with out you.."

Such a peculiar thing. To feel what they felt through their song, waves of sadness brushing against his mind.

"And aren't I the fool to have

Happily listened

Happy to stay

Happy to watch her drift

Drift

Drift...away."

They finished their song and sighed, wearing a frown.

Something Alastor couldn't just stand by for.

"You have such a lovely voice.", the deer demon spoke up.

They let out a noise of surprise and stood quickly , looking around the room like a frightened animal.

"It's a shame you hide it.", he continued.

He could hear how quick their breathing became as they backed away towards the nearest exit. Before the mer could touch the door, the Radio Demon came out of the shadows behind them and took their wrist.

They gasped and froze, not daring to look at him as he held them close.

Now is his grasp, he hummed in content and put a finger under their chin, lifting it up so they could look him in the eye.

His smile grew wider once they made eye contact.

"Let's make a deal~"

I did not have sushi but I did get to eat seaweed.

~Seline, the person.

Part 3

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