Zoe waited. And waited. And waited.

Andric was brooding by the fire. Really, that was the best way Zoe could described it. Brooding. Every other time she glanced over at him, he had changed to a different position. Leaned back and staring up at the rafters. Arms crossed. Sitting forward with both hands on his knees. Sitting forward with one hand on his knee and the other on his chin.

She didn’t know, of course, but she didn’t get the impression that he was upset or worried. He just seemed really concentrated on something. Honestly, she felt like it could be something super important or it could be a random fixation on something totally obscure. Even though she had only known him for a little over a day now, she wouldn’t put it past him.

For her part, Zoe had warmed up considerably since they had arrived in the tavern. She had joined Andric by the fire initially, but now she was actually a bit too warm. She still wanted her soup, though.

It had been almost an hour. Yes, supposedly the barkeep was having to make it from scratch, but an hour? Really? Sighing, Zoe put her head down in her arms, which were crossed on the countertop. She wasn’t even hungry either.

Ever since she had arrived, she hadn’t felt the need to eat. She wasn’t sure yet if it was something to do with being awakened or if it was because she was a demon. She should probably ask Andric that. Would he be annoyed if she interrupted him from whatever he was thinking about?

Groaning, Zoe decided she would wait until after she had her soup. Also, where was Lily? Zoe had expected that the other woman would join them just a few minutes later, but again, it had been almost an hour. Was she more upset than Zoe expected?

Something clunked down on the table before her. Looking up, Zoe saw the barkeep looking down at her. He snorted. “Your soup, Mademoiselle.” Zoe squinted. That wasn’t actually French…

What the hell was up with all these alien language analogs?

In any case, she didn’t think about it for very long. Smiling, she sat up and stretched. The barkeep slid her a rough, unpolished spoon, and she took it gratefully. “I can’t thank you enough,” she said as she dipped it into the steaming bowl. The liquid was a deep red, and numerous chunks of bizarre vegetables floated within. She also saw something that looked like meat, and there were even noodles!

She had to guess that these were vegetables that they didn’t have back on Earth. Also, the red color was weird, but it didn’t look unappetizing.

As she raised her first spoonful, the barkeep chuckled. “Don’t thank me, thank him.”

“Is that soupe de légumes et de sang?!”

“Aye aye, Monsieur.”

Zoe cried out in despair as Andric deftly snatched the spoon from her fingers. It hadn’t even been a struggle — he had somehow just slipped it out with a single quick motion. Zoe watched on in shock and horror as her precious soup slid down the alchemist’s greedy throat. She was so stunned that she didn’t even move to stop him.

Andric beamed. “This is the best thing this entire region has to offer.”

The barkeep muttered and shook his head. “For what you paid, it very well should be.”

As Andric greedily shoved the spoon back into her bowl, Zoe finally reacted. She attempted to snatch the spoon back out of his hand, but Andric was once again faster. Flicking the spoon up and away, he opened his mouth.

In total amazement, Zoe watched as a globule of steaming red liquid arced between them and splashed right into his open mouth. At the same time, he caught the spoon with his other hand. Swallowing, Andric grinned.

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

Zoe glared. “Give me that.”

Rolling his eyes, Andric handed over the spoon. Zoe punched his shoulder — lightly — and stuck it back into the bowl as her friend turned his back to sulk.

“Hey beautiful. I know something that could warm you up better than that soup.”

Startled, Zoe flinched and dropped her spoon. Turning around, she faced the seedy looking man next to her. Honestly, she had to admit he was genuinely handsome, with a well trimmed beard, a square jaw, and glorious, sandy blonde hair. Unfortunately for him, he still looked seedy. Handsome and seedy.

She hadn’t seen him come in. Glaring, she activated {Manasight}.

Gold and brown. Shit. He was awakened. Zoe analyzed him.

{Earth Shaker - 9}

Oh. Zoe calmed down. She hadn’t realized how tense she had gotten, and she breathed a sigh of relief. We can totally take him.

“What’s the matter beautiful? You look like you’re getting a little… worked up.”

Turning to face him with her full body, Zoe squinted. He squinted back. She shook her head slightly. It was really an instinctive motion, not something she intended to communicate. She was just — to put it simply — incredulous. She had been hit on plenty of times in her old life, but never quite like this.

Yeah, there were catcalls and dumbass pickup lines, but the sheer… brazen immaturity on display before her was downright shocking.

Honestly, most of the guys who had asked her out were nice enough about it, and she typically turned them down politely but quickly. But this tool?

“Does that ever work?”

“What?”

She shook her head again. “You’re handsome enough, but I can’t imagine opening your mouth does you any favors.” Zoe regretted saying that immediately, but she wasn’t trying to be mean. Even if he was a tool. At this point, she was genuinely curious. In a sort of scientific way. Like he was a theory-defying specimen.

“Oh, you think I’m handsome?”

And then he reached for her hair.

Zoe slapped him. Or rather, punched him. She hadn’t even consciously intended to use {Physical Enhancement}. But she had — reflexively — and her hand came away with blood.

The asshole clutched his busted nose. “Bitch!”

Standing up and shoving the stool back, he lunged for her.

It was who was Andric was faster.

Steaming hot crimson liquid poured over the man’s head and down his face. Bits of meat and vegetables stuck to his hair. Coughing and sputtering, he stared. Zoe stared back in shock and horror.

“My soup!”

Realizing the imminent danger, the asshole tried to duck, but Zoe’s boiling rage carried her to a new level of combat potential.

{You have earned a new perk: Righteous Ire!}

{You have been grievously wronged. Two wrongs might not make a right, but revenge is a pretty good motivator. Your rage grants you greatly increased offensive capabilities.}

The kick sent the asshole flying backwards through a table. Technically, Zoe had {Kinetic Strike} to thank, but she wasn’t really paying attention to her system at the moment. The man groaned, clutching his stomach.

She quickly looked around. It was still just the four of them, and Andric appeared to be counting out several of the weird little porcelain coins he had used earlier to the barkeep. From her brief glance, it looked like they were negotiating a price.

“That should definitely cover the coming damage,” she half heard Andric say as she returned her attention to her prey.

Scooting backward, the asshole suddenly froze. And then he paled. “Red eyes!” He shouted frantically, pointing at her with a shaking arm. “Demon!”

Zoe groaned. This was just what she needed — of course they had forgotten that the eye drops would wear off. But perhaps she could use it to her advantage.

Striding forwards, she leaned down as he backed up against the wall. Lifting the shivering man by the tunic collar, she grinned. She tried to show as many teeth as she could. “I would say welcome to hell, asshole,” she whispered, “but you’d be wishing you were there instead when I’m done with you.”

He gulped.

The door blasted open.

Whirling around, Zoe caught a snowball to the face. Lily cackled. And then she immediately sobered. Her mouth fell open, and then she glanced over at Andric. The alchemist shrugged.

“What the fuck is this?” Lily stomped forward, and Zoe cringed. “I leave you two alone for what, three quarters of an hour? And you manage to get into a fight?”

Sighing, Zoe dropped the asshole, who had since gone limp. “Sorry, mom.”

Lily stomped her foot. Zoe fought back the urge to giggle. It looked so petulant coming from such a petit, small woman. Lily glared. Zoe took deep breaths through her nose. Don’t laugh. Don’t fucking laugh.

Finally, the ice mage relented and glanced over to the barkeep. “Have they paid you yet?”

“No.”

“Yes, Andric said.”

The barkeep muttered a curse. Lily simply shook her head in disappointment. “Come on you two, there’s a ferry here early, and it’s leaving in five minutes.”

“Thank the heavens,” Andric muttered, and then the other two started walking towards the door, Lily practically dragging Zoe by the hand. “Wait, what about my soup?” There had to be more soup. The barkeep had to make a whole fresh pot, after all.

“You’ve been very bad,” Lily chided her. “So no soup for you.”