Strays: A Romantic Fantasy Adventure

Zero had dreaded every moment of the night from the time he took his first step into the succubus’ house. He couldn’t even look at her, the nerves in his chest threatening to spill forth if he so much as raised his head. He was uncomfortable around the woman, the way she spoke and flagrantly dismissed the women while trying to manipulate the men. She was harsh and abrasive, only caring about herself. She reminded him of the fox at the den, the man who had spoken to Ivy in a crude way. Both that man and this woman were different, but they were also the same in the way that they viewed others as objects rather than people. A means to an end.

The last thing the devil wanted was for this woman to be in his dreams, poking around to her heart’s desire, possibly ignoring what had been asked of her, and it had been difficult falling asleep knowing that she would be there. But when he finally did, there was no difference from any other night. It was the same light. The same warmth. The same dance. It was quiet and peaceful. It was everything.

And in the morning when they had not yet returned, Ivy had pressed her skin to his, bidding farewell to the night and greeting the day. They had opened their eyes but for the first time, she didn’t pull away. Her face was warm but only slightly so, a soft blush, no longer intensely burning the way it had every other time before.

She had begun to accept the flame.

Make it a part of her.

She was so beautiful.

How he loved her.

He could finally ask for more.

“What are you little girl?”

Ivy yelped and fell backwards away from Zero as he continued to lay there, her heart pounding like a rabbits in fear. Her head whipped towards the woman who had been leaning against the wall watching them, her chocolate eyes cold and accusing. “What?” the girl squeaked, the warmth quickly fading, unease setting in.

“What are you?” Mahala stepped towards the bed, closing in on her target. “I could only see his dream for a moment before I couldn’t anymore. What did you do? How did you send me away?”

Ivy was just as confused as she was nervous, unable to understand what the woman was talking about or why she seemed so angry. “I didn’t do anything.”

“You wouldn’t let me stay. You took away the light. The warmth. How did you do that?”

“I… I don’t know.”

“You do!” Mahala accused, what semblance of control she had over maintaining a cool demeanor starting to slip, the desperation to regain what she had lost clouding her mind. “You know exactly how you did it! I had it! It was mine, and you took it from me. I want it back. Give it back!”

The tears began to swell as the girl’s lip quivered. “I don’t have anything.”

“This is not normal. You are not normal. What is wrong with you?”

“Nothing’s wrong with her,” Zero’s voice was quiet, soft, as he watched the woman intently, having not moved during her tirade. But though he was calm, the same feeling he had in the den had returned, and he could feel that same heat building quickly.

Rising and expanding.

It was like fire.

Engulfing everything.

Setting the world ablaze.

Searching for a way out.

The woman glared down at him with a snarl. “I am not talking to you, devil!” She froze, her eyes unable to leave his as they stared at each other, crimson against brown. Her head shifted away slightly, struggling with the movement, but she couldn’t break her gaze from his. “I do not like your look,” her voice small but attempting to be combative before slipping into pleading. “Make it stop.”

Ivy looked between the two, not seeing anything alarming with Zero but the discomfort from the succubus was obvious. “Are you okay?” she asked the woman, concerned with the sudden change in behavior. “Is something wrong?”

It was like she couldn’t hear the girl though, drowning in the crimson that watched her. The blood. The flames. “Please… stop,” she managed to whisper the further she plummeted into their endless depths.

“Will you stop?” he asked.

“Yes,” Mahala agreed meekly. “I will be nice. But only to her. Not the fox. Not the angel.”

Zero blinked, severing the hold. “That’s fine.”

The woman inhaled deeply, the air cooling her burning lungs, and quickly glanced away. “Get up,” she sneered, her bitterness returning, as she spun on her heels and rushed to the door. “The job is done. You can get out of my house now.” She stalked across the next room to the occupied chair and kicked the sleeping angel’s leg. “You two. Get up and get out!”

Ren jerked awake, cruelly torn away from a pleasant dream. “What did you find?” The question was rushed while he blinked, trying to gain his bearings as Sakura removed herself from his lap and onto the floor.

“You know very well what I found!” she snapped, her hands clenching tightly, nails digging deeply into her palms. “Don’t play coy with me!”

The demon stretched her arms above her head, yawning while meandering to the other end of the room. “I tried to be considerate and warn you. I told you you’d regret it. But no, no, no. You thought you knew better than me.” She looked back at Mahala with a cocky grin. “And how did that work out for you? As fulfilling as you thought it’d be?”

The succubus was seething, completely fed up with all four of them, barely able to contain her fury. The fox had been the first to set her on edge with her unwelcomed return after having left the district in near shambles during her first visit years before. The red-haired woman had been a thorn in her side then, unwilling to take no for an answer or leave well enough alone, loud and violent, causing issues with clients that would lead to dwindling business that continued for months after her departure.

Then there was the little girl, so doe-eyed and precious, acting sweet and naive all while having the nerve to prevent the succubus from entering the devil’s dreams, keeping her from seeing the light and basking in its warmth. Stealing away the small taste of pure bliss she had been teased with.

And the devil, despite his initial distress and hesitance, turned out to be not nearly as meek as she had first suspected. She didn’t how he had done it, only that whatever it was behind his gaze had completely consumed her, crushing her soul and devouring her sanity until she agreed with his terms.

But none of them compared to the angel, his handsome face and charismatic smile a veil concealing the vileness within. How foolish she had been, unable to see how the man had dissected her every word and expression, digging into her psyche and manipulating her while making her believe she had the upper hand. Never had the succubus been so humiliated, rejected, slowly picked apart and discarded without mercy.

“That man…” Mahala glowered at the angel who smiled his sweet, deceiving smile at her, further poking at the wound he had created. “He lured me with his promises from this room, this house, this town, and into the forest. He sat me down in the dark and built a fire before picking up a stick and whittling away at it. He prattled on and on, spewing nothing but pretty lies as I watched that stick go from the length of my arm to as small as my palm. When he was finished, he stood and brought it to me. Placed it right in my hand. And do you know what it was?”

Sakura grabbed all four bags and her glaive, ready to make her escape while biting back her laughter. “Something stupid, no doubt.”

“It was a fox!” the woman erupted, all of her pent-up abashment and frustration exploding from her. “That man is worse than you! A monster! I want him out! All of you! Go! Now!”

The demon howled at Mahala’s misfortune as she quickly gathered Zero and Ivy and ushered from the room and out the front door.

“Why are you being like this?” Ren followed behind the group, walking backwards, trying to reason with the furious woman who stalked after him. “I thought we had a nice time. I made you a gift. I don’t do that for just anyone.”

“I didn’t want your gift!” the succubus hissed. “You promised me some of your life force in exchange for leaving the devil be. You led me on! Wasted my time! My energy!”

“That… that was not my intention.”

“And what exactly was your intention?!”

He considered it for a moment. “Okay, you’re right. It was my intention. But the fox was cute, right? Much better than my shitty life force. And let’s be honest, you only showed up because you were pissed that Ivy wouldn’t let you into Zero’s dreams. I was nothing more than a consolation prize to you since she wouldn’t let you have his life force. And how do you think that makes me feel? Being second choice? It hurts!”

“Out!” she screamed, the last bit of self-control dissipating as she grabbed at the closest thing to her, a glass oil lamp on a side table. She threw it at the man, the lamp narrowly missing him and shattering against the wall. He scampered away, quickly making his exit before anything else could be thrown and she grabbed the door. “Don’t ever come back!” And slammed it closed behind them.

“Well, that was all pointless,” Sakura complained as they turned from the home and walked down the street. “All that gold wasted for nothing.”

Ren smiled, finding the silver lining in the situation. “That’s not true. We learned that whatever Ivy is, succubi hate them.”

The demon rolled her eyes. “No, they hate you.”

“Sorry, Little One.” He ignored the ornery woman as he smoothed the girl’s hair empathically. “Succubi hate you. But I still love you.”

Tears welled in Ivy’s eyes as her bottom lip puckered. “I don’t even know what I did wrong. She was so mad at me.”

“You didn’t do anything wrong. That woman is a fucking psychopath.” The vixen wrapped her arm around the upset girl and kissed her forehead.

“There’s definitely something off about her,” Ren agreed. “I wouldn’t worry about it though. Not our problem. How about we go get Zero what he needs, and you can pick out a new dress. Whatever one you want.”

“Really?! Okay!” The girl’s bright smile returned, tears drying instantly. “Where are we going to go after that?”

Sakura considered it. It had been so long since they didn’t have an actual destination that it was difficult to decide. Like when you have too many options on a menu. What do you choose? “North?” Was the first thing out of her mouth. “I suppose it’s as good a direction as any.”