"
A grey-haired, crooked-nose, red-skinned demon leered out from his cart, watching as they passed through the city's main entry point. "
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The cart slowed to a halt as Biltrix peered out of the cart, looking around the empty road. His eyes quickly locked on the first guard in sight.
"
The guard jolted. Although hesitant, he nervously approached the cart, recognizing the demon. "
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The guard juggled a badge in his hands and looked at it curiously. "
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Biltrix, clenched his fist. "
********
Donovan with a faint Charla by his side, shimmied past the groups of demons, trafficking past market stalls and stands with an abundance of food and a tense seriousness. "S-stay close." he said, hushed, Trying to ignore the increasing tension in air.
Donovan pushed past the last crowd of demons, setting eyes on their inn. "We're finally back." He thought.
Donovan opened the door, finding it surprisingly vacant aside from Falaz and Bjorn, who spoke to each other. They ceased their conversation, immediately shifted a tense their gaze Donovan's and Charla's direction.
"H-hey, Bjorn." Donovan greeted. "What's going on?"
Bjorn huffed. "There's a lockdown going on in the city. Apparently, all of the councilmen's next of kin were assassinated and hung like trophies in the city's castle."
Donovan's thoughts immediately flashed to the spectacle he and Charla had witnessed much earlier the day before. He grew more serious.
"It sounds like we might be stuck here longer than anticipated."
"We'll be stuck for months." Bjorn corrected. A hint of angst lace his voice as his mind seemed to drift off.
"Cyrus did warn me about leaving here as soon as possible. It can't be that he's connected in all this, would he?" Donovan wondered. He glanced at Charla seeing become more relieved and somewhat confused. "I guess it can't be help now. But... Hmmm..."
Donovan glance back at Bjorn, curious. "Hey, Bjorn, You wouldn't happen to know where Kalika would be by chance, would you?"
Bjorn grimaced. "About that…"
********
Zelak and Kalika dashed through the city streets with a panic gripping Zelak. Annoyed. Kalika glanced at Zelak, seeing him become pale, muttering to himself.
"
"Why don't you just use your clairvoyance?"
Zelak clenched his teeth, and a deep pain overtook him entirely as he desperately snaked out his words. "I only have a few years left. I-if I use it now, I could… I want to at least see my children safe! I can't thank you enough for helping-"
"Don't get me wrong, I'm only doing this to pay you back for helping with my magic, that all."
"O-of course! Th-thank you. Th-thank you."
"Is he really scared?" Kalika glanced at Zelak, puzzled.
"This way, champion! If she's up north, she's probably looking for somewhere safe, so she'll hide somewhere around the castles pillar!"
"And how would you know that?" she questioned.
"When our women are with children, they always look for somewhere safe and quiet to bear them. I-I fear she might be close and that happens sh-she could..."
"Does she really mean that much to you?"
"Of course she does! And our children, too! My children are the only future my people have left, and I have to ensure they live on when I'm gone." Zelak's voice trembled. With a growing determination, he sprinted ahead of Kalika. "W-we should split up and cover more ground! I'll look for her by the castles base!"
"Hey, wait!" Kalika reached out, but could only watch on as Zelak ventured ahead. "Tch! What did I get myself into? I seriously don't understand these demons!"
"I might as well take higher ground to search for this woman." Kalika turned her attention to the flat roofs above and, with great ease, jumped and parkoured from barrels to the stall tops, eventually reaching the roofs above. She jumped from roof to roof and scanned the ground below, spotting nothing aside from a few unsuspecting guards and demon residents attempting to return home.
"Somewhere safe and quiet, huh?" Kalika halted at the edge of the roof, scanning the city's landscape. Ahead of her, beyond the outlines of stone buildings and towers, was the castle, built into the pit's pillar.
"[Looking for something? Or someone?]"
Kalika narrowed her eyes. "I'm looking for Zelak's so-called mate. You know where she is, don't you?"
"[I do. The poor woman is hiding in an alley, shaking in fear. And by the looks of it, she's in deep pain.]"
"And you couldn't have told me sooner!" Kalika's eyes darted around for Zelak. "No! I should've called Zorbian sooner to get this stupid drama over with!"
"[But then we wouldn't be alone.]"
Kalika became still. "So you want something from me. Is that it?"
"[One of the councilmen arbitrarily enacted a new city order. An unexpected development, subtly influenced by my brother, most likely.]"
Kalika growled in annoyance. "And why does that matter!?"
"[It sets forth a chain of events prematurely. Cassell is trying to keep us apart. He weaves his tale and manipulates the feeble-minded even as we speak. Changing and restructuring things as he pleases. He wants to keep you trapped, Kalika.]"
A subtle gasp escaped Kalika's lips. With a clenched jaw and stiffened shoulder, she glares more harshly at the city.
"[Within the hour, the guards will be issued their orders to kill on sight any demons not going home. And by tomorrow, the streets will be swarming with guards searching through homes and interrogating the demons that live in this city, including the inns. I wonder what will happen if they discover that human companion of yours.]"
"So what do you want me to do?"
"[It's simple. You have to turn yourself in.]"
"Turn myself in?" Kalika grimaced at the idea.
"[If they catch the culprit, they'll cease their home searches and any killings they would otherwise do. Of course, this won't stop the city from locking down, but it brings you and my followers one step closer to me. And you, even closer to your freedom.]"
"So you want me to commit to this stupid plan of yours. If that's the case, fine. As long as it brings me one step closer to escaping this dream, I don't really care."
"[Good. You can find the women in an alley by the northern bridge.]"
"Northern bridge?"
"[It's by the city walls to the north, behind the castle. But you might want to be fast. I don't think she'll be long for this world.]"
"Tch! And where's Zelak?"
"[I'll send one of my followers to him. But if you truly want to help him, you should get to his mate now. As we speak, guards are looking for her, and if they find her, she and her children are as good as dead.]"
"Grr! This is so annoying!"
Kalika darted forward, vaulting from building to building and over the deserted alleyways. Zorbian's voice continued to echo in her mind, playfully taunting her about the limited time she had.
Regardless of his mischievous comments, she raced on, dashing past square chimneys and climbing walls.
Kalika quickly approached one of the many towers that littered the landscape. With a calm focus, she unsheathed her dagger and jumped. Barely brushing past the side of the tower, she nosedived, then stabbed into it, swinging across into the city's lower layer.
Air whipped around her, and the cityscape rose in her vision. Her eyes were fixed in a single direction as the lights dimmed from above.
Approaching the ground, she conjured and stabbed into the nearby stone building and lunged and dashed across several sets of roofs.
She leapt, climbed, and landed hard. Maneuvering through the city's roofs as she brushed past stalls, alleys, the increasingly hostile guards as silently as possible.
Within minutes, Kalika finally reached the towering tan wall that surrounded the city. Practically out of breath, she stood, taking moment to herself as she scanned the area around. "Where is this woman?" Kalika questioned exhaustively.
"[Look left. Then keep heading that direction.]"
"Hm?" Kalika turned to see the massive cave pillar. Within a multitube of different holes were noticeable, reminiscent of the ones outside the Swampish settlement of Bona.
Growing serious, she descended the roof and headed toward the holes.
To Kalika's surprise, the roads were eerily silent with cracks and broken stone scattered throughout. Even some showed significant wear and tear from what looks to be neglect, with some not even having any doors at all. It was as if the very district of the city was abandoned entirely, with no life to speak of.
Suddenly, a cry of pain erupted. Recognizing the voice, Kalika raced on to find the source, eventually stumbling upon Bretta, sitting at the wall of an alley.
"Finally!" Kalika approached. "
Kalika froze and noticed a widening puddle beneath her feet, leading from Bretta.
Seconds later, a blood-curdling cry erupted from Bretta again. Tears welled in her eyes as she clearly bore with unbearable pain. Her eyes slowly drifted to Kalika, who stood in absolute shock.
"
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Hearing the guards, Kalika grimaced and, with clenched teeth, bolted at Bretta.
"
Two of the guards looked around the area, scanning the broken streets and alleys.
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"" The guard shuffled past some rubble, peering between the buildings. "
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Kalika sat with Bretta on top of her as she held her tight with her hand clasping Bretta's mouth. She peered around the corner of the dark alley and watched as the two guards finally departed. All the while Bretta fought hard against the, inking out her screams into Kalika's palm.
Seeing that the coast was finally clear, Kalika exhaled a sigh of relief. "That was close.'
Another wave of muffled cries grew louder.
"D…Damn it! Wh-what am I supposed to do with her!?"
A slushing sound broke through Kalika's thoughts, and the stomach she felt shrank. Kalika could only watch, speechless as something audibly wet hit the ground. "D-did she-"
Beretta's stomach shrank again. Followed by a second sloshing of something fleshy hitting the ground. Seconds later, the cries were heard.
Kalika trembled, unsure what to do. "Yo- You can't be s-serious."
Slowly, Kalika, with trembling hands, separated herself from Bretta, who was attempting to recover from the ordeal.
With Bretta off, Kalika quickly distanced herself and watched as Bretta continued to breathe with her gaze locked on the two blue, squirming babies. Unexpectedly, the two babies flipped onto their stomachs and began crawling toward Bretta.
"
With open arms, she allowed the babies to crawl onto her, cooing as they did. A smile tugged at Bretta's face, proud of the firm grip that surprised even her. She embraced the two babies in her arms, hugging them. "
The lights of her eyes quickly dimmed. And her body slumped. And her blue skin began to sag.
"Did she…. die?"
The brief, eerie silence that hung in the air soon turned to a sudden gnawing. As she moved to get a better look at the two babies, she was shocked to see the two gnawing and eating away at Bretta, slowly tearing pieces of her skin and eating it.
Sickened by the sight, Kalika quickly turned to leave, only to find Zelak standing with a hooded succubus.
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Without hesitation, the succubus woman tore the children from Bretta's remains with cries erupting from the two as they were bundled.
Kalika, watched on, shuddering. "It's disgusting." She said aloud. "Th-they're monsters!"
"That's how our kin is born," Zelak calmly explained. He mustered up the strength and took Bretta's remains in his arms. "After birth, our women die… and they become sustenance for them. but try to avoid that now-a-days."
"A-and that's normal!?" Kalika quickly sneered to herself. "Why am I asking!? I-it's not like any of this is real!"
"As far as I know, only humans and succubus are the only ones that remain unaffected by this. But if we can, I prefer we talk about this later...." Zelak turned, leaving along with the succubus. He quickly stopped and glanced back, noticing Kalika lack of movement. "Aren't you coming?"
"No. I refuse." Kalika's eyes shifted, as if listening to something. "I've had enough of this stupid dream and I don't want to stay here any longer than I have to. So, consider this the last favor to a demon like you."
Kalika turned and entered deeper into the alley.
"Wait, where are you going!?"
"I'm leaving this stupid dream. Give Donovan and Bjorn my regards. or don't. I don't care."
"
Zelak became silent, watching as Kalika disappeared into the darkness. "
********
Lyra sat calmly at her table filled with foods of all kinds. She snacked on black, berry-shaped nuts, biting into each one with an audible crunch.
She watched as a polled and tailless demon slowly finished his meal.
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Cyrus, placed the cloth back o the table, with stern and determined eyes. "