Loren emerged from the back room, fully transformed into her battle-ready maid persona. She now wore a fitted black and silver maid dress, exuding a gothic elegance mixed with a practical, combat-ready aesthetic. The dress hugged her slender frame, accentuating her curves, while layered black lace trimmed the sleeves and hem, giving her a delicate yet dangerous appearance. Metal plates were subtly sewn into her outfit at key points—shoulders, chest, and forearms—for added protection, though the material remained flexible.

Around her waist was a belt lined with small vials filled with glowing liquids—potions, poisons, and a fancy-looking wand. Strapped to her thighs were sleek machine guns, the barrels barely visible under the hem of her skirt. She had a fancy-looking broom strapped to her back. But what really completed the look was the wig. She pulled it on effortlessly, and her entire appearance shifted.

The once long, straight blond hair was now a deep, earthy brown with streaks of green, falling into wild waves. Her new hair reached mid-back, giving her the untamed appearance of a druid. Canine ears protruded from the top of her head, twitching slightly, and a wolf-like tail swayed behind her. Her once soft, icy blue eyes now glowed faintly in the dim light, transformed into a striking golden hue with slit pupils, further enhancing her lycanthropic illusion.

Kaelen took a moment to admire her new look. The transformation was stunning. Loren turned to Kaelen, her voice firm. “When we’re out in public, call me Maenad,” she instructed, her expression serious.

Kaelen nodded in understanding, checking the time. It was already 8:30 PM, and he wasted no time heading for the exit. “Let’s get going,” he said.

Outside, Kaelen’s sleek Audi waited, the half-elf valet standing by the door, handing over his keys as they approached. They both slid into the car, the engine purring to life as Kaelen pulled out of Valerian’s estate and made his way toward Zeke’s Convenience Store.

As they drove, the streets were noticeably chaotic. The RPD had blocked off one of the main blocks, directing traffic away. Fortunately, it wasn’t the route Kaelen needed to take, but he couldn’t help but slow down as he caught sight of what was causing the commotion.

In the distance, Delphinus, the legendary pink space dolphin, hovered above the park. Its ethereal body shimmered under the city lights, trails of stardust floating behind it as it weaved through the air with unnatural grace. But Delphinus wasn’t alone. Kaelen spotted Aquila, an alien from Mars who bore a striking resemblance to an eagle. Aquila’s body was massive, with metallic, bronze-like feathers that crackled with electricity. His wingspan stretched wide, and each flap of his wings sent sparks of lightning cascading through the air. His head was sharp, with glowing blue eyes, and his body was surrounded by small orbs of electrical energy that seemed to dance around him.

They weren’t just soaring through the skies for fun, though. Kaelen noticed their adversary—a monstrous creature locked in battle with the two. Warptor. Warptor resembled an Atrociraptor, its body heavily mutated with jagged crystals jutting out of its back, arms, and legs. The crystals sparkled ominously, and each one seemed to pulse with a deadly energy. His eyes were a glowing crimson. Warptor was known for his ability to teleport, and even as Kaelen watched, the creature blinked in and out of existence, dodging Aquila’s lightning strikes and Delphinus’s psychic blasts. Each time Warptor teleported, he left a trail of crystalline dust in the air. His most terrifying power, however, was his ability to launch his crystals at supersonic speeds, causing devastating explosions on impact. A few stray crystals had already embedded themselves into nearby buildings, shattering windows and blowing chunks of stone into the street.

Warptor, despite his monstrous appearance, was known as a wealthy businessman—a time traveler from a forgotten era who had somehow flourished in modern times. He even had a family, though his obsession with fighting Delphinus and Aquila bordered on the insane. Whenever they appeared, he would inevitably challenge them to battle.

As the battle raged on, Kaelen shook his head, focusing back on the road as police directed traffic around the chaos. Loren, seated beside him, looked out the window and commented, “Delphinus is beautiful, I’ll admit. But I’d rather side with Warptor. At least he’s not some alien.”

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Kaelen gave a noncommittal grunt in response, not keen on debating alien politics. Soon enough, they arrived at Zeke’s Convenience Store. The small shop stood on the corner of Mordor and 9th. Zeke himself stood behind the cashier desk, waiting. The Tiefling’s crimson skin contrasted against the maroon polo shirt he wore. Piercing yellow eyes, with slit pupils, flickered over to Kaelen as he entered. Zeke’s muscular frame filled the small space behind the counter.

Without a word, Zeke nodded toward the back office, gesturing for Kaelen to follow. Inside the office, Zeke handed Kaelen a name tag. “Man the cashier while I finish up some paperwork and grab dinner,” Zeke said curtly before walking out.

Kaelen pinned on the name tag and moved toward the front of the store, while Loren unstrapped the broom from her back and started sweeping the floor in long, fluid motions. As she worked, Kaelen noticed just how well her new outfit fit the role. Even in her disguise as a druid lycanthrope, she performed her duties with an almost unnatural grace.

The doorbell chimed as Elara walked into the store. The Tiefling woman was hard to miss. She wore an outfit that screamed punk rebellion—tight black leather pants covered in chains and zippers, a black tank top with a skull graphic, and a torn-up leather jacket draped over her shoulders. Her red skin glistened under the fluorescent lights, and her horns, painted black with silver tips, curled menacingly over her long, purple hair. Her eyes, blue as midnight, scanned the store with an unimpressed glare.

She pointed at Loren with a smirk. “Did this convenience store always have a maid working here?”

Before Kaelen could answer, Loren stopped sweeping and looked up. “I don’t work for this store,” she said coolly. “I’m in service to Kaelen.”

Elara raised an eyebrow, suspicion creeping into her voice. “I know Red Dot doesn’t do maids. Always claimed they’re a security risk. So where’d you get her?”

Kaelen sighed, leaning against the counter. “All you need to know is I’ve got a maid now. Deal with it, or this won’t work.”

Elara threw her hands up in surrender. “Fine, fine,” she muttered, still eyeing Loren warily. “I got your text about the heist. Are we really hitting Bankhands Casino tonight? And can your maid handle herself?”

Kaelen glanced at Loren, then back at Elara. “Yeah, Don Cappo’s organizing this hit, so it’s happening. Even if Maenad can’t fight, she can be our lookout. If anything goes shady, she’ll spot it.”

Before Elara could respond, the door chimed again, and Jason strolled in, flanked by his crew Bolt, Patch, Glitch, and Surge in their civvies.

Jason looked effortlessly stylish in his casual outfit. He wore a fitted leather jacket over a crisp white shirt, paired with dark jeans and polished boots. His arm was casually draped around Glitch’s shoulder, a confident smirk on his face.

Jason walked up to Kaelen, handing him some cash. “Pump gas for my Lamborghini Estoque, will you?”

He flashed a grin, grabbing a pack of cigarillos off the shelf. “You ready for tonight, lil bro?”

Kaelen stuffed the cash into the register, his gaze cool and measured as Jason lit up. The smoke curled lazily from his lips, his sharp blue eyes flickering toward Loren. She was still rearranging the shelves with meticulous precision, her focus unnerving.

Jason exhaled a cloud of smoke, his eyes glinting with amusement. “So… what’s with the maid? You’re not usually the type to hire staff.”

Kaelen didn’t flinch. “She’s useful. That’s all you need to know.”

Jason raised an eyebrow, clearly entertained by his brother’s tight-lipped response. “Useful, huh?” He studied Loren for a moment longer, as if trying to see through her calm exterior. “She doesn’t look like she’s just here to sweep floors.”

Kaelen’s patience was wearing thin. “She’s part of the crew for tonight. End of story.”

Jason took one last drag of his cigarillo and stubbed it out on the edge of the counter, letting the silence hang between them for a moment. Then, with a shrug, he relented. “Alright, alright. I’ll let it go. Just making sure you aren’t taking in strays you can’t handle.” He smirked, turning toward the door where his crew waited.

Kaelen nodded once, then glanced at the clock. Time was running short. He turned to Jason, his tone sharpening. “Let’s run through the plan. We hit the east entrance of Bankhands. Don Cappo’s men will handle the guards. Elara, you clear the path. I’ll take out the security systems. And you—” he fixed his gaze on Jason “—stick to the plan. No improvising.”

As they gathered their things and prepared to leave, Loren quietly slid up beside Kaelen. Her voice was low, almost inaudible to anyone but him. “Your brother likes to push, doesn’t he?”

Kaelen gave a small nod, watching Jason and his team file out of the store. “He always does. But don’t let him get under your skin. We’ve got bigger things to worry about.”

Loren’s tail flicked, and she offered a subtle smile, her predatory aura momentarily softening. “Don’t worry. I can handle it.”

Zeke returned to the front, his yellow eyes gleaming under the dark horns curling from his forehead. “Lock up when you go. I’m heading out,” he said, his voice low and gravelly.

Kaelen gave a quick nod as Zeke disappeared into the night.