I should have talked to Anne, but I didn’t know what to say, what to talk about exactly, I just knew that we should talk. Instead I read about parliamentary shit, mind numbing details on history and procedure. I tried a book on theology that Anne got for herself but I couldn’t follow it, even with her trying to explain it to me. It was nice hearing her talk about something she was passionate about, I didn’t need to understand to enjoy it. I told myself we would talk in the morning, but I’d forgotten I had to get up early to go back to the Military Academy to accept the job and ask about where to get a holster.

When I was invited the stares weren’t so bad, but now I hated it, they made me like an intruder at the Academy. I didn’t want to disrupt the professor’s class, but the succubus in uniform was far too interesting for the students to ignore. The professor had to yell at them to get them to focus. The contrast between how this new class saw me as some strange anomaly and how the professor walked over and greeted me like an old friend was unsettling.

When I asked about the holster he refused to tell me where to buy one. Turns out the revolver I had was standard issue for officers so he had plenty of hip holsters for it and he insisted I take one. He did the same when he found out I had no ammunition for it, forcing me to take more bullets than I could ever use. It made me uncomfortable, but what could I do, and it was nice to actually shoot my revolver. Nothing else to do as I had to wait for the class to finish before the professor could take me to sign whatever I needed to. It wasn’t a terribly accurate gun, though I suspect a lot of that was me. With how gas vented there wasn’t a good way for me to hold it steady with both hands, and it had enough of a kick to it that I couldn’t keep a good cluster. When I rested it on something it was better, but it didn’t really matter. I was happy to find that I was still quick on the draw, and I could get all five shots out quick, which is what this was for, someone close, who needed to die quickly.

The paperwork wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. I had an “operations lead” who would tell me what to do in greater detail, there was nothing in the papers here about it. I couldn’t tell anyone, except Anne, about anything related to the project. To my surprise the King wasn’t listed as an exception in the non-disclosure clause. I wasn’t sure if it was because he wasn’t excluded, or if I was to assume I could tell him. Whatever the answer, I figured it was best not to say anything about it. I was to be paid immediately after each session, and could quit whenever I wanted. I signed the papers quickly, they were short enough that I was confident there was no trick. The professor gave me more paperwork, signed by him and others I didn’t recognize, that explained I had clearance for project 187, which disappointed me, I had hoped it would have a better name.

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“6th day, three days from now, she’ll pick you up from the hotel. Do your best to remember the way, you’ll be expected to make your way on your own after that.”

“Okay,” I smiled at him, mostly fake, but it seemed the right thing to do, “thanks professor.”

“Please, Yideg, there is no need for titles, we’re equals.”

I nodded, not expecting that to be the first time I heard a human say that.

Anne was more nervous than I was. I really didn’t see how I could fuck up a meeting with Ezrylliil and her group of succubi. Of course I was excited but it was clear I wasn’t going to be like them, that I wasn’t going to fit in properly. It had been bothering me for a while, but facing it now I was okay. They were successful, I was a lucky soldier, and that was fine, they knew that, and I could be myself around them. Or maybe I was nervous and it would hit after, that happened a lot to me.

“You need to ask them about seeing a doctor, or whatever the demon equivalent is.” Anne said as she brushed out wrinkles on my suit jacket that I couldn’t see.

“I know, I will.”

“You can blame your girlfriend if you want, just make sure you ask.”

“Why would I blame you?”

“I know you don’t like admitting that you need help, to keep up your tough persona.”

“I don’t have a persona, I am tough.”

She rolled her eyes at me, “I’m being serious.”

“So am I”. I winked at her. “Really Anne, I’ll be fine.”

“It’s such a big moment for you though.” Her voice wavered and I hugged her without thinking.

“Don’t cry my love.” I felt her head shake “no” against my chest.

“They’re happy tears, one of us has to feel things.”

“Anne, I –”

“I know, I don’t mean that.”

I stood there with her in my arms until it was time for me to get picked up by Ezrylliil.