Xera
“He’s not on the balcony!” Ranva said as she rushed in with worry covering her face. Each one of us was searching the apartment up and down for Donny. The first thing we noticed when we came back was Donnys belongings scattered around the living room, and then his bags all left hastily opened… And then, we found the note. “I Left F...”
*DING*
“All of my cars are still in the garage, he didn't take any of them.” Vermilia walked through the clutter and sat on the sofa, her annoyance apparent..
“And of course, the receptionist had no idea whom I was talking about. He apparently only works night shift, and has neither seen nor heard of a “Donny”.” Luna had walked in behind her, and sat next to her, her manicured nails tapping hastily on her phone. “And no taxis have been dispatched near the penthouse tonight…”
“It’s because you three idiots were laughing at him!!! That’s why he left!!!”
Ranva was reasonably upset, more so than we were. But it was understandable, she had taken a liking to him, just like the rest of us. Even Vermilia, as coy as she likes to be, was the first one to rush to the elevator to check the garage for him after reading the note. Even though it's only been a day, Donny had a lot of potential in all the things we wanted. Even though it was too soon to make any final judgements, he was only earning more of our favor.
“I’m telling you, he got attacked! Just look at how trashed everything is! And there are signs of burning and smoke in his room! I don't care what you say Luna, laptops don't just ‘explode’!” Ranva might actually have a point, I’ve never heard of laptops exploding before either… Not to mention the people trying to ambush Donny that Ranva took care of earlier today, that was only there in the end because of us…
“Alright dears, that is enough! He is a grown man capable of his own decisions. Perhaps he was dissatisfied with his duties and simply left. He wouldn't be the first, and he certainly won't be the last, to leave our employment without a word… Oh, fine! I suppose I can search for him on social media.”
Vermilia spoke the same coolness that was always in her voice, but I could see past that. She was agitated, her foot constantly tapping and her stinger tail flicking back and forth with irritation. As she began to scroll through various apps, Luna chimed in.
“Can we maybe call Neon Magic? They’re his friends. Maybe they know something and w–“
“By the void!”
We all stopped dead in our tracks. Something that can make our diva stare in shock like this was rare. I quickly followed her gaze to her phone and I can see what shocked her. She had found Donny’s account, and it was clear that the account has not been used in years, and it was clear why.
“DIE FUCKER.”
“POWERLESS BASTARD!”
“WE DON’T NEED A DAMN GRAY IN OUR CLASS”
There were hundreds of death threats, hate comments, vicious words… Quite a few from around 13 years ago. But there were also a whole barrage of fresh posts, around the time of the interview.
“I know where you live!”
“You have an issue with demons?! No problem, lets meet up so I can clear those things!”
“INFINITY L00p rules motherfucker! How dare you insult them.”
This was awful, just knowing that someone would have to deal with this for so many years. We can sometimes be a bit cruel, but only ever to people who deserve it. I had always known that people discriminated against the powerless, as many found it unnatural to not have any such power in this world. I could even admit that it was far worse than being a Fallen Celestial… Truthfully I am ashamed, As until Donny, I also thought of them as inferior… But I was wrong.
“T-t-this is fine! It’s an old account… He is fine… Right?!” Luna had a sort of fear apparent on the edge of her voice, and even Vermilia began to show signs of worry in her expression. I was starting to panic when Ranva began screaming.
“OI!!! FELIX WAKE THE FUCK UP!!!”
“W-w-what? Ranva? By the void it's 7 am here… Can’t it wait–”
“NO, DAMMIT! Listen! Donny is missing!”
Chris’s voice could be heard in the background, with the same sleep induced laze weighing down his voice.
“Donny is kissing? GJ my man… *snooreee*”
After another relaxed response, and before Ranva could even respond, what was probably the most shocking event of tonight occurred. Vermilia rapidly stood up, rushed over to Ranva and, in a rage, took her phone and screamed into it so loudly that all three of us winced.
“YOU INSUFFERABLE LITTLE SHIT! HE IS MISSING! M-I-S-S-I-N-G! NOW WAKE UP OR BY THE FORGOTTEN SEALS THAT HOLD THE VOID I WILL TORTURE YOU TO DEATH MYSELF!!!”
The sound of crashing and a few Holy shit!’s could be heard from the other line. After a few seconds, Felix finally spoke, now sobered from sleep and very worried..
“Wait, wait, wait! OK, explain everything… “
****************
“Ah shit… He’s really sensitive when it comes to his clothes. We fought over it once and it almost cost us our friendship…”
“I’ll check some social accounts.” Felix Chimed in.
“We already checked Felix, but the account was inactive.” I was now holding Ranvas phone with Vermilia sitting next to me, while Luna and Ranva both went to check his apartment. Vermilia clicked her tongue at another answering machine, just to dial again trying to get in touch with another of Donny’s friends. It was Chris that responded, as Felix busied himself on the other side of the call. “You were checking the wrong places. You need to check game voice channels and forums. He could’ve gone to a net cafe since his laptop’s broken… Actually, if he was the one trying to fix it, I totally believe it exploded. Shit, that was probably the last straw.
“But to pick up and leave like that! “ Vermilia was clearly now bordering between worried and angry, and luckily for Donny, the worried part was winning... for now. Felix piped up in a half hearted response.
“Uh… Donny’s been in a bad place. For the past few years, if I’m being honest. But he’d never admit it or ask for help when he’s in trouble… Maybe… Uh… You see–”
“Spit it out!” Felix was quiet for a good few seconds, clearly undecided if he wanted to give an answer to Vermilia. But Chris was the one who finally answered in a annoyed voice
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“Donny probably hates the idea of working for you and didn’t want to say anything– it’s classic Donny! Don’t be surprised if we don’t tell you anything once we find out where he is! If he left, he probably left for a reason– And my boy comes before any hoe!” Vermilia growled in such a menacing and dark way that made even my spine shiver. “*Gulp* I-I-I mean, l-let’s just check what happened first ma’am!”
That… That is possible. Like Vermilia said before, Donny certainly isn't the first person to pack up and leave at a moment's notice. We know we are difficult… But I really thought he liked the idea of working for us… Was I wrong? I know that honestly, I was worried deep down that he really did just leave…
“Stupid little shit! Making all of us worried like this! When I get my hands on him…” Vermilia could bark as much as she wanted, but it had been a long time since someone got her such a simple yet fitting present. And that put him in her good graces, she had taken a liking to him just as we had.
“AH!!! I think I found him! Oh… Shit.”
Felix was elated…! Until he wasn't. Oh no, did something happen!?
“Oh shit!... GGWP my friend… you’re gonna die!’
Both me and Vermilia were ready to scream to just tell us what happened! But Felix cut in before we could, worry in his tone.
“Ummm… Xera, can we talk privately?”
I cocked an eyebrow as both Vermilia and I were confused, but I still took the phone and took it off speaker.
“The speaker is off Felix, what happened?”
“Welllllll…. I know where he is… And let me start by saying he’s fine.”
“Bring out the coffin dance!”
“Shut it Chris… Just… Just please keep an open mind… OK?”
Then Felix finally told me where he was… and its a good thing he asked me to turn off the speaker too… Because I'm not going to tell Vermilia anything, I'm going to go and kill him personally!
**************
I couldn't believe my eyes…
“A nymph, one of peace's proponents,
never flights but seduces opponents,
Their violence she quell,
as if using a spell,
you should see her material components.”
Actually, it was my ears that I couldn't believe, probably because they were bleeding. The girls and I have all hosted talent show events before, and each one of us has heard such terrible singing that it would make you lose hope in humanity… But this… This beat all of it.
There he was! Donny was standing in the middle of a stage in a bar. In one hand was a mug of some drink, while the other hand was holding a microphone. He tortured these poor souls with his singing, while taking more sips of his drink. That is until he took a long swig from his drink, dropped the tankard, and began to sing even louder… Please, by the void, no.
“I'm a BAAAAARD!
It's not so HAAAAARD!
My jingling shoes can leave quite the bruise!
I'm a BAAAAARD!
I'm a BAAAAARD!
I fling death through the air with the slightest of cares!
Is it your CAAARD?.... HAR, HAR!"
And the whole bar yelled “ HAR, HAR!!!” Are they actually enjoying this?! What the hell is going on here!?! My face must have shown my confusion, as a waitress approached me with a pitiful look, if not a little condescending. “No offense honey, but you look like somebody who doesn’t belong here. There’s a night-club a few streets down that’ll suit you just right.”
I was a little stunned by her comment. She was about two heads shorter than me with a pudgy build and a round nose. Her only redeeming qualities were her luscious brown hair and her assets. I know I was dressed more for work, coming straight here after we just had a meeting with Ozeth. But a simple mini skirt with blue knee high boots, paired with a sleeveless white shirt and fall jacket was nothing compared to our usual wear. This isn't even in season anymore. But after a few moments of silence from me, I responded casually.
“What is this place?“
“Oh this is The Dirty Mug.” She said as she pointed around… What are these decorations? Is that the head of a giant stuffed lizard? “Basically, a bar for nerds and geeks. And like I said, no offense–” Offense is taken, but I’m not here for this. “–But you really don’t look the type to belong here. I don't think you'd enjoy yourself here.” Before I could snap back regarding her obviously fake sweet attitude that actually meant for me to leave, Donny spoke those damned words again.
“How about another SONG! OH, AND, BARTENDER! ANOTHER ROUND FOR EVERYBODY!!!”
“HAR, HAR!”
He motioned a circle around the entire bar with his finger. My eye twitched as I could feel absolute dread just imagining him singing again.
“NO! Donny please don’t!!!’
But people again yelled HAR, HAR as they continued to encourage him to sing… Is everybody here tone-deaf! Or am I in some kind of Void pocket!?!
“Oh, you know Donny? Sorry then, and welcome!” Her tone changed instantly, but not before she gave me one more look up and down, like she was inspecting me. What is her problem?!
“I came to pick him up… How much did he drink?”
“Hahahah! Good thing you came actually! The owner was already starting to worry about sending them home. They really overdid it, and Donny definitely had too many goblin snots!”
Goblin Snots?! What in the name of the void are Goblin Snots!? Wait, is that… Tolgan and Rocco!? Rocco was sprawled out on the floor knocked out, while Tolgan was dancing on a table, holding two girls on his shoulders… I don't even know how many times I’ve said this tonight, but, what the hell is going on here?!!! The waitress read my expression as she chuckled “Yeah! The second Donny started to buy everyone drinks, the whole bar started to go crazy!”
“Oh… Really?”
“Mhm! Some three guys approached their table, clearly looking for trouble since they weren’t from here. I think they followed ‘em.” I could feel the rage bubbling in my veins, until she pointed to the other side of the bar and my anger turned into shock. What I assumed to be the few who remained from trying to ambush him from his apartment, were now tied to a wall. They all had apples tied against their mouths and on top of their heads, with tears streaming down their faces and faces redder than the apples.They were surrounded by arrows embedded into the wall, and before I could ask about it, someone approached them from nearby. The patron, clearly drunk, fired an arrow that narrowly missed one of their… groins… by a hair's breadth. After the shot planted straight underneath the man, he went limp by passing out, and the patron screamed. “SHIT! I missed the apple! I need more drinks!”
My mouth bobbed open like a fish’s as I was trying to understand the scene in front of me, but the waitress just chuckled again. “Then he started yelling “I have a quest! Whoever takes care of these ruffians gets free drinks all night… Actually, the whole bar gets free drinks!” Never get between geeks and their drinks, ends badly. That’s why I recommended for you to leave, since we’ve already had an incident with outsiders today.”
She spoke so casually, as if this was normal here, but before I could respond to her–
“XERA! IS THAT YOU?!!!”
Donny was looking at me with a wide eyed look, before squinting at me from the distance. And then, everybody in the bar turned around, all staring in complete silence.
“IT IS YOU! HAIL MY PRINCESS! YOU CAME!!!”
Princess! WHAT?!
“Behold brave adventurers! The fairest damsel in the lands! She has decided to grace all of us with her beauty and elegance! The most beautiful of them all!!! Oh! And for all of you getting funny ideas, BACK OFF!!! SHE’S MINE!!!
Fairest damsel? The most beautiful of them all?! “MINE”!?! My face was burning red as Donny continued giving compliments like never before. It got infinitely worse when the entire drunken bar fell out of their seats, bowing down and chanting “ALL HAIL PRINCESS XERA! THE MOST BEAUTIFUL OF ALL!!! HAR, HAR!!!”
The waitress laughed in glee as she walked around me and grabbed me by both shoulders, pushing me towards Donny and the stage. “Let’s go princess, your prince awaits!”
This… This was probably the most embarrassing moment of my life. Bur, I was honestly enjoying it a bit deep down, I was actually smiling a little… until that smile melted into absolute dread again as Donny took another sip and brought the microphone to his mouth.
“She’s clearly shy! SO LET'S SING A SONG TO BOOST HER COURAGE!!!”
“HAR, HAR!!!”
In the name of all the forgotten seals that hold the Void in bay… Lighting strike me now.