"What have you found?"
Kuroferuru, Black Goat of Devil Mud, leader of the section of the Sabbath that bore her name, turned and bowed her head to the White Lilim. Druella stepped to the side of the Baphomet, eyes focused on ornate mirror large enough to reflect both their images. At the moment, though, the mirror showed something far and away from the room covered in magical runes and glyphs the two found themselves in.
Namely, the figure of the first male monster to exist since her mother came into power.
And how he was currently fighting off four harpies with a stick.
Literally.
The harpies would circle around the man, baskets clutched within their hands and eyes filled with a longing for a companion. He would stand there with a branch he snapped off a tree in his hand. He had spent some prior seconds clearing it of anything that could seriously damage someone's body, and began using it to keep the girls back. Whenever one would try to get close, his stick would flash out and hit them on the head. This would usually discourage them from getting closer.
If it didn't, he would poke them in their solar plexus as well.
Kuroferuru winced as one harpy was given a particularly hard hit to the side of her head. However, a smile remained on her face as she replied to her lady, "I've found this great specimen. The First Male Monster in the world. And he...looks...scrumptious! The way he fights off all those inferior tall girls with those useless lumps of fat on their chest. I can just tell he likes little ones better."
One hand went to her cheek while the other went some place lower. She spoke through her moaning, "Oh, he'd make a wonderful Onii-chan~."
Druella smiled at the Baphomet's actions. She leaned forward, tail flicking through the air behind her, "Yes. Mother and Father would be glad to see that their dream can be made a reality. However, I am not talking about him. Where is she?"
The Black Goat she sent a quizzical look at Druella, "Hmm? What? Not impressed by the fact that living proof your parents' dream is a possibility is standing right there?"
"It is not that, Kuroferuru," Druella shook her head, "I care just as much for Mother and Father's ultimate goal as the rest of my sisters. But I am less concerned about him, for I know his ultimate fate is to be made into a husband by a Mamono."
"You really think so?"
Druella chuckled, "I know so. It is the only sensible outcome for him after all. He maybe a warrior undead, but even he has his limits. He will meet his match, be brought low, and experience the pleasures of being with a Mamono. Then he will be taken to Mother and she will accomplish her goal. That's all there is to it. His companion, on the other hand, is one I'm not so sure about. Now...show me."
Kuroferuru waved her free hand through the air. The image in the mirror shifted to reveal a spot deeper in the forest. There Druella saw the person that had occupied her thoughts for days now.
The Hunter.
The "human", as the reports still weren't sure if that's what she really was, had left her mark on her forces even before she reached Pran. The tale of an entire battalion of Mamono being killed in the night by itself would make people talk. The fact that it was done in such a brutal manner made it into an urban legend. The "Blood Soaked Flower Field" they called it, for all the white lilies in the field had been painted red with Mamono blood. Even now there were still whispers among her forces of how if they went out during a full moon, a shadowy figure would appear and rip them to shreds.
At first, she thought the stories were just that. Stories. She figured the murder was just a particularly bloodthirsty Hero who managed to pull it off. Stranger things had happened when dealing with Heroes.
Then the reports came in of an entire pack of Werewolves being killed somewhere near Pran. One that had two Heroes, one recently monsterized, among them. And the states the werewolf corpses were in had a noticeable similarity to those from the Blood Soaked Flower Field.
It was at that point she began to investigate. Which didn't turn up anything. There were no survivors from the pack, save the human Hero who was now firmly within Order Territory by now. There was no way she could get someone in there without putting one of her more experienced Mamono at serious risk. So, she settled for simply waiting to hear something. Someone who killed Mamono in such a brutal way was bound to attract trouble. And news of that trouble would make it back to her.
It was then that the Dark Mage showed up at her door and told her about her. The one who had done all of this. The one who managed to scare a Dark Mage simply by being in the same general area. The one strong enough to defeat a Dhampir in a one on one fight.
And, as Druella told her fellow Mamono about this person, the title eventually stuck. Everyone called her "The Hunter". A title similar to "A Hero" but far more sinister. For this Hunter had no qualms about killing their kind.
But her prowess in battle isn't what truly interested the White Lilim. She had faced numerous warriors throughout her years as a Warlord. Many of them had been powerful warriors, skilled combatants, or self-proclaimed masters of the arcane. But it mattered not to her. For all who dared face her fell to their knees and drowned in the pleasure she offered them. Not even the great Wilmarina could stand to fight when she walked into the room.
No...what interested her was what the Dark Mage said about this "Hunter".
That she was a woman...with the ability to absorb and destroy Mana.
The woman in question was sitting on a fallen log, her usual hat and bandana were gone, revealing her neck length hair and wonderful features. Druella smiled at seeing the woman "let her hair down"...but that soon disappeared when she saw what the Reaper did next.
The woman grabbed the longest part of her hair in one hand. Then she lifted it up, moved a blade below the locks, then let go. The moment the red follicles fell onto the large curved blade she slashed upward. Thousands of bright red locks of hair fell to the forest floor. Then the woman put her hat back on to hide what she had done.
"Now why would you do that?" Druella let out a sad sigh as she stepped towards the mirror. She gently placed the fingers of her right hand against the glass, right over the Reaper's face, "You had such beautiful hair. Crimson as a the burning horizon, yet elegant like a maiden's wedding dress. Why would you go and cut it like that? What is holding you back from being the beauty you were meant to be?"
Her face took on a "caring" expression was she run her hand up and down the mirror, making sure it never left the Hunter's body, "Oh, I know what's wrong. You're letting her inhibitions hold you back? Behind that tough exterior is just a girl who wants to be loved. Who wants to have someone hold her tight, take off her clothes, and show her what it means to be a woman. Something you can't ever do as long as you're human."
The Hunter got up from her seat and knelt with her arms out wide. Two children leapt into her embrace, a rabbit carried in the little boy's arms. Druella stepped back with a smile on her face, "But don't worry, Little Hunter. When we finally meet, I swear I'll set you free. But first..."
She turned to the Baphomet, who was currently on the ground with her ass in the air. She kept moaning and panting even as she looked up into the eyes of her leader, "Yes...Lady Lilim?"
"Do you have any Living Dolls with you? I would like to send a gift that I'm certain the little girl will love," Druella said, smirking as the devilish idea crossed her mind.
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"But why can't we keep it?" Horace whined up to Selina.
"Because wild rabbits make for poor pets, are very big responsibilities, and require more food than we currently have," Selina explained with a calm yet serious tone of voice. She had told them to release the rabbit they caught back into the wild. She was currently walking back to where she had left Koga. Above them the sun had began to dip below the horizon, the orange hue of evening filling the sky.
"We'd take care of it!" Horace continued to protest. This died when Selina gave him a flat, unamused stare. He huffed and looked away from the Huntress, but didn't brook further argument.
Selina nodded to the boy then turned to Gloria. The girl simply looked up at the Huntress and asked in a quiet, worried tone, "Will the bunny be alright out here?"
"Of course. This is its home. Why wouldn't it be alright?" she asked the young girl.
Gloria looked down at the ground, "It was alone. It's scary being alone. Scary and not safe."
Her body trembled as she spoke, moving closer to the Huntress for comfort. Selina frowned but spoke with the same tone, "I'm certain its family is somewhere nearby. It will likely return to them and find a burrow to sleep in for the night."
The rest of the journey was silent...until they stepped out of the forest and beheld the Ochimusha.
Specifically, the forms of four harpies writhing around near his feet. A single broken branch was held in his right hand. A branch that looked suspiciously similar to the bruises on the harpies' bodies. Koga looked up and nodded to them as they approached, "Hello, Good Hunter. As you can see, the issue has been taken care of."
He waved at the bodies around him. Selina spoke slowly, "I can see that. What exactly happened?"
"They asked me to marry them. I told them no. They didn't take that for an answer. So, I tore this branch off the tree and fought them with it to ensure they didn't perish."
The Huntress narrowed her eyes at the undead. Then she looked at the writhing, groaning forms of the harpies. She sighed then placed both of her children on the ground. She patted their heads before walking over to two of the harpies.
"Considering you are responsible for their state, I assume you will not refuse helping me carry them back to Pran to get them medical attention?" Selina said as she picked up two of the harpies and slung them over her shoulders.
Koga shrugged, "Not at all, Good Hunter."
He tossed the broken branch away, knelt down, and slung the remaining harpies over his shoulders, "Shall we go?"
"Yes. Follow me, Gloria, Horace. Do not wander," she said back to her children. They nodded and did as they were told.
As they walked one of the harpies, more conscious than her sisters, lifted one of her winged arms up to rub Koga's chin. She chirped at him, "So strong. We'll make amazing babies."
Koga grimaced at the sound of her voice. He jerked his chin away from her wing, eyes focusing on the town in the distance.
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Day 2
Early Morning
Micheal, former apprentice to Brigid Montgomery, now sole proprietor of his business in Pran, looked down at his ment-his desk. His face was ash as he stared at the ledgers and documents that detailed numerous exchanges with the Viper Gang that tormented the slums. Along with a journal that detailed all of the girls he had forced into performing...activities with him.
The Guard Captain, leather armor dark as the slowly disappearing night outside covering his frame, whistled at the sight. He leaned forward, the guard of his broadsword glinting in the candle light, "That's certainly more than I expected. Guess he wanted to have plenty of evidence to offer in case he was ever caught."
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The cat on his shoulder purred in agreement. Behind him stood ten of the Pran City Guards. All were fitted with similar medium-quality leather armor, with five wielding halberds and the others crossbows. They stood ready for their Captain's next order with not a single one lacking in discipline.
"This...this is...I never knew," Micheal almost whispered. He placed a hand on his head and almost fell back into the seat that was now his. He rubbed at his head, eyes looking between the Captain and the papers on the table, "I knew that my...that Montgomery wasn't an...upright individual. I knew that he did bad things in his spare time."
Felix raised an eyebrow, "Really? And you didn't come to the Guard about this why?"
"How would I know that you believe me? Or even care?" Micheal said bluntly, "The things that I knew were relatively minor. He charged higher than average rent for people in the slums, that he spent that money on himself rather than improving the lives of those of the people who count on him for shelter, and that he was just a rather unpleasant person to be around. Not to mention I had no proof that he did something particularly worthy of being thrown in a dungeon."
Micheal shook his head, "No. While I didn't like what he did, I had no way to make him face any kind of punishment that would stick. But this...I had no idea about any of this. To think that he would commit acts so...heinous. So evil. Right under my nose!"
Micheal's hand gripped the edge of the desk tight. Felix noticed and raised an eyebrow, "Hmm...guess this means you're glad his dead now?"
The former apprentice's eyes widened in shock. He shook his head, "No! No! Of course not! I mean...he was a horrible person but...but I could never wish him death. I would never wish death on anyone. Even someone as bad as him."
"Huh. You've got a kind soul, kid. Certain you're in the right profession?"
"I assure you, Guard Captain, that despite the rather poor reputation we mercantile types have, we are very much still capable of being moral human beings. It is just unfortunate that so many refuse to do so," Micheal says while adjusting his glasses. Then his head hit the table with a thunk, "Or at least, I would say that. If I wasn't working under a man who would continuously bring vulnerable young women into his office and perform...vulgar acts with them while I none the wiser."
Felix tilted his head at the young man. Then he shrugged, "At least you regret it. That's better than most people. Now, as much as I would love to continue watch you feel sorry for yourself, me and my men came here to get evidence that your boss really was working with the Vipers. And see if there was anything we could use to get an advantage. If you can't help with that, then we're wasting our time."
Felix got up from his seat. He held up his index finger and circled it through the air. His guards began to file out of the room, him following along.
"You're going after the Vipers, right?"
Felix stopped on the door's landing. He looked over his shoulder at the young man, "Why? If you're gonna say you want to come with, then I'm gonna have to pass. No offense, kid, but you don't strike me as the fighting type."
"That I am not, Captain," Micheal lifted his head, a glint in his eye and determined expression on his face, "But I am the new owner of this business. Someone who the Vipers will want to talk to, so that they may secure their power base."
Felix raised an eyebrow, "What are you suggesting, kid?"
"I'm suggesting that, rather than walk into a Viper's Territory," Micheal said while pushing his glasses up on his nose. His lens flashed as he spoke, "I help you bring them out into the open."
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Morning
"It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Tina," Selina shook the now awoken woman's hand. Her bandana and hat were off, allow her to meet the woman's violet eyes with her own.
Tina released the Huntress' hand and nodded, "I should be saying that to you, Lady Cynthia. From what Felix has told me, we both owe you a debt that I'm not sure we could repay in this lifetime."
She waved a hand to the man in question at her side. Felix was sitting on the side of her bed, face bright and happy as he looked between Tina and the Huntress. He leaned forward and rested his head on Tina's shoulder. He spoke in a voice filled with elation and happiness, "I'm just so glad you're back, darling. I was so worried."
Tina rolled her eyes but placed a hand on her fiance's cheek, "Of course you were. I would feel the same way if I were in your position."
She lifted his face up and kissed him on his lips, "Thank you for not giving up on me, my love."
"I wouldn't ever leave you," he responded, placing his hand around hers. The two of them gazed into each others eyes, smiles on their faces as they enjoyed each others company.
Selina coughed into her hand to get their attention. The two turned to her, a blush coming over Tina's face as she realized what had happened. Felix spoke up, "Oh! Forgive me, Lady Cynthia. I didn't mean to-"
"It's fine, it's fine," Selina waved a hand dismissively, taking note that the two's hands were still together. She folded her own hands over each other while staring at the couple, "So, has Felix told you about your current circumstances, Tina?"
The girl in question nodded. Her expression fell as she looked down at her lap, "Yes. It's...it's a lot of take in. To be honest, I can hardly remember anything after I was...turned. All I can recall is being held down by that succubus. She did something to me. Then everything went dark and...I can recall no more than that."
Tina shook her head and looked at the Huntress apologetically, "I'm sorry. If I could remember anything else I would tell you. But-"
"It is alright. I am simply happy that you are back to normal," the Huntress waved away the woman's concerns. Tina smiled at the Huntress' kindness. She and Felix shared a happy look that made pride swell in the Huntress chest. For the first time in a long time, she managed to bring people together rather than rend them apart.
She felt a pang of guilt stab into her heart as she thought back to Luca and Fransica. She looked down to hide the sudden frown on her face, "With the pleasantries out of the way, I believe there is something important we must discuss. What will the two of you do now?"
Felix grimaced at the Huntress' words, while Tina smiled, "Oh, that's simple. We'll head north towards my family's estates. I'm sure my mother would...oh...right."
Her elated expression disappeared as soon as it came. In its place was a frown that matched her lover's. She looked down at the bed again, "Oh, that's right. We're fugitives now. I...I can't go home anymore."
"Tina," Felix leaned over and hugged his wife to be. Tina returned it, tears gathering at the corner of her eyes. She started to sob which pushed Felix to respond, "I...I'm sorry. But...But I promise. I won't let it end here. We'll...we'll figure something out. This I swear."
"Felix," Tina's voice shook with barely contained sadness. She rubbed her face into Felix's chest as he patted her back.
Selina remained silent. She simply let the two have their moment. When they separated, Felix wiping away Tina's tears, she spoke again, "As I have told Felix, the two of you are welcome to stay as long as you need to. You may sleep in my rooms, eat my food, drink my water, and more. My home is your home for as long as you wish it to be."
The two human's eyes widened in shock. Then they both bowed their heads and thanked Selina for her generosity.
"You have my word, the moment we get back on our feet, we will be out of your hair," Felix said to the Huntress. Tina nodded her head in agreement with her husband to be.
Selina nodded then stood up from her seat on the edge of the bed, "Then it is settled. If the two of you would excuse me."
"Oh, yes. I'll be going now, honey," Felix got up and let go of Tina's hand. His wife watched in confusion as he began to follow the Huntress out of the room.
Selina stopped at the door and turned to regard Felix with confusion, "What are you doing?"
Felix met Selina's confused gaze with one of his own, "What do you mean? Aren't you going to lead me to my room?"
"We're already in your room, are we not?"
"No. This is Tina's room."
"And yours."
The two stared each other down.
Then Felix turned to look at Tina. Tina stared him down with an equally confused expression.
Seconds ticked by.
Then Felix's face turned the brightest shade of red. He turned back to Selina, speaking in a panic, "No! No! No! I-I-I can't sl-sl-sleep in the same bed as my fiance!"
Selina didn't lose her confused expression, "Why not? Are you not lovers and soon to be married?"
"Yes!"
"Then what is the issue?"
"The-The teachings of the Order say that you shouldn't lay with your fiance! It is improper, it could cause bad luck during the wedding, and...and..."
"And you are no longer apart of the Order, correct?"
Felix tensed up at the Huntress' words. Both he and Tina gave the woman their undivided attention. Selina shrugged, "The way I see it, those are rules set in place by the Order. Which has made it clear that by simply consorting with a Mamono, and being turned into one against your will, neither of you are under its protection nor purview anymore."
"But...but the Chief God-" Tina began.
"Is a deity you can still worship and follow," Selina interrupted, "But these rules come from an organization that wishes you dead. Thus, should you really care that much about them?"
Both former Order adherents began to hum and ha at the words. When they began to mutter to themselves, Selina spoke again, "And besides, Felix, while you have never told me I would assume that you had relations with her while she was a Mamono. Or would I be wrong?"
Tina's face quickly grew as red as Felix's was, "F-Felix?"
The man in question turned towards his wife to be. His mouth felt dry as he tried to think of what to say. Looking between both Tina and Selina, he eventually settled with looking at his shuffling feet.
"W-w-w-well...k-k-kind of?" the nervousness in his voice was clear as he spoke, "We-we-we didn't actually ha-ha-have...intercourse. But...but she did use her mouth for...things."
A loud whump brought both Felix and Selina's gaze to the bed. There they saw that Tina was hiding her head in her pillow. A muffled embarrassed whine escaped her as she shook her head.
"Well then, there you are. You have already broken their rules in one way. No need to worry about the others. Have a wonderful day together you two."
"Lady Cynthia! Wait!" but Felix was too late to stop the woman from leaving the room.
His shoulder slumped as he sighed in defeat. Then he turned and walked back to Tina's side. He placed a hand on her shoulder and let out a nervous laugh, "It's...It's alright, honey. It wasn't really you. It was...uh...just the corruption making you do it. I...I didn't even really enjoy it or anything. I only went through with it cause-"
"W-at-ad."
Felix paused in his rambling. He turned to Tina and asked, "What was that, honey?"
Slowly, the girl pulled her face from the pillow and looked up at Felix. Her cheeks were a deep crimson color. Her purple hair framed her emerald eyes as they stared in Felix's. Within he could find embarrassment, shame, and...lust?
"Was...was it that bad?"
"Was...what are you talk-"
"What...what I did...to you...when I was transformed," her voice became clearer as she lifted head out of the pillow, "Was it that bad?"
Felix was taken aback. His mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water as he tried to make sense of what Tina was saying. The woman in question looked him up and down, "Cause...while it was a Mamono...it was still me. So, if you say it was bad then I-"
"NO!" Felix swiftly shouted, hands going to Tina's shoulders, "NO! That's not it at all! I'm...I'm sure you would be great at it! Better than you were when you were transformed!"
Tina placed one of her hands on Felix's right arm. She pulled it away so that she could nuzzle her head into it, "Do you really mean it?"
"Of course!" Felix said with a smile, "I knoOOOHH!"
Felix gasped as he felt something...touch him.
Below the waist.
Mouth agape in surprise, he looked up to see Tina with a nervous but determined expression on her face, "Then...can I...can I do it now?"
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"Stay by me until we get to the tailor's. Alright?" Selina said as she locked the door to the manor. Horace and Gloria nodded as they took her hands in their own. She smiled and turned to walk into Pran...but stopped when she noticed Koga standing in her yard.
He stood in front of an uncut log standing on the flat surface of a stone. His blazing eyes glared at the wood for a moment. Then there was the flash of steel, followed by the click of guard hitting sheathe. A second later, a large diagonal cut appeared in the log showing that it had been split clean in half.
Koga let out a sigh as the top of the log slid off the bottom and hit the ground. When he spotted the Huntress with her children, he nodded to her, "Ah, you are leaving. Then I shall hold down the fort."
Selina frowned at the undead warrior. She told Horace and Gloria to wait for her at the exit to her property. While reluctant to be apart from her, the siblings did as they were told. When they were at the edge of her yard, the Huntress walked over to Koga. She stopped a few feet from the undead and spoke, "Are you restless, Koga?"
Koga tilted his head in confusion, "I do not believe I understand, Good Hunter. What do you mean by 'restless'?"
"Do you wish to go out and fight?"
Koga tensed up at the Huntress' words. It was a few moments before he shook his head in a completely unconvincing manner. The shakiness in his voice didn't help matters, "N-No. That isn't the case, Good Hunter. I was merely cutting some wood in case you planned to start a fire. That is all."
Selina was silent for a few moments. Then she sighed and shook her head, "Koga...I am not your Lord nor your Master."
"Good Hunter, I-"
The Huntress held up a hand to silence him. When he went quiet she continued, "As I stated back in the Dream, you are not my servant. You are your own person and have your own will. If you wish to do something, you do not have to wait for me to give you permission for it."
"I...I am aware of that, Good Hunter. But...but I wish to be of use to you. It is...It is the only way I know, that allows me to show my gratitude for freeing me from that...that prison," Koga's teeth clenched as he remembered the feeling of being Kogero.
"I understand. And that is all well and good," Selina didn't budge from her position, "However, if showing me gratitude would shackle you to me. If it would lead to you being unable to do as you will, then I do not wish to have your gratitude."
"Good Hunter!" Koga wasn't sure whether to feel relieved or shocked at the Huntress' words.
They made him feel confused and frustrated. Wasn't that his purpose in life? To defend her? To serve her as a loyal retainer from here on out? Why would she tell him to not do so? What was he missing by-
His train of thought ground to a halt.
Three full minutes later, he finally understood what she was saying.
And it made his respect and loyalty for the Huntress grow ever more.
Emotion left his face as he stood up and looked the Huntress in the eye, "Very well then. Good Hunter, I wish to go to the Guard Captain and see if he could make use of my skills. I will likely be gone for sometime, but I promise I will return stronger and more capable than before."
Selina smiled, "Thank you for telling me, Koga. I wish you luck on your trip. All I ask is that you try to temper your blade. Remember what I said about innocence and vengeance."
"I will. Thank you for the advice, Good Hunter," Koga bowed deeply to the Huntress, tilting his head down to show her reverence. The Huntress returned it then moved to walk with her children.
Once she was out of sight, Koga stood up and began to walk towards the Guards' Barracks.
His sword arm twitched as the excitement.