AN: This chapter was supposed to be an intermission chapter detailing Morrigan's first meeting with Roland, some time skips that tell of their journeys together...but i decided not to. maybe someday, but not now. Would have been perfect given the last chapter but i still dont have everything worked out. I even had two different versions. But oh well. As i said, someday, just not now.
Not too much happening in this chapter but as i said i will be trying to increase the pace from now one by using some more dialogue and other stuff. i wont be going through every step of what is happening like how i did before. also, more chapters coming iin the next few days so i am alright with how this one turned out.
I will edit this later. As always. Remember to rate and leave any comment you like. I will leave, at the bottom of the chapter, some footnotes or whatever. If you see this symbol * by a sentence or something then you can later, after you are done reading the chapter, look at the bottom of the chapter to see what i wrote that has to do with that sentence. So, yeah, if you see this * then look at the bottom of the chapter.
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A few hours later Roland decided it was time they got ready to go.
Morrigan felt both irked and regretful at that, really, but said nothing about it. She would have liked continuing for a few hours longer but even so she was more than satisfied enough. Her husband truly had skill in the art of pleasure-making. It was one of his greater talents, she knew. Though the ways in which he perfected those talents made her irritated.
Morrigan told him to take a shower first. They did need to clean themselves before returning. Though they could easily cleanse themselves with a simple spell most people, including them, preferred washing with water.
He nodded easily then rose from the bed and went down the hall towards the bathroom. She waited a few moments, waited until she heard the water running.
She then followed him inside the shower. The white-tiled room was large, with plenty of space to spare and enough for several people. A drain was on the floor, a shower head on the wall and a bath to the other side.
"What are you doing?" He asked as she stepped into the room with him, watching the drops of water fall upon her exposed flesh when she came next to him.
"Taking a shower." She smiled, her eyes bright and full of wickedness.
"Oh? Is that all?"
"You sound almost disappointed, dearest. Were you expecting something else, perhaps?"
"Is it not you expecting something?"
"Well, you aren't wrong..."
She leaned against him and wrapped her arms around his neck. Her hair was damp from the water, her skin warm to the touch due to it's heat.
Roland sighed. " We really shouldn't, you know."
"Why not?"
"Aren't we supposed to be washing up so we can leave?"
"Yes. But we're in the shower. We'll get the sweat washed off just standing here. If it's in here, it'll be killing two birds with one egg."
Her strange words made him pause.
Roland had to think for a second until he got her meaning. "Stone, Morrigan"
She frowned. "What?"
"Two birds, one stone. "
Morrigan frowned. " Whatever." She then coughed once, slightly embarrassed. Expressions were never exactly her strong suit. " But i'm right, you know. Just a few minutes..."
"Those minutes could easily turn into hours If we aren't careful..."
"I won't complain if so." She spoke honestly. "But I know you won't let that happen, unfortunately. Or do you mean to say that you are not confident in your ability to control yourself anymore?"
"Against an enchantress of your level I have to admit that I dont even want to control myself." He stopped. "And yeah, maybe I do find the action a bit difficult."
" Ah, what a bad wife I am, making things hard for my dear husband." She laughed lightly. She glanced down. "Speaking of hard things..."
She had, for sometime, felt a certain hot, hard object poking into her.
"Hey, eyes up here." Roland smirked, unabashed. What need was there to feel shy after all they had done? Besides, it was simply a biological phenomenon resulting from the appearance the sweet temptation in front of him. How could he help not getting like this?
" Sorry, dear, it's just that you seem pained. Perhaps I should help relieve some of your agony. Is that not one of a wife's duties?"
" Don't worry, i'm a big boy. I think I can handle a bit of pain."
"No, that isn't good." She stated. " It isn't alright to endure such a thing."
"Says the one causing it..."
"Am I?" She brought her face close and whispered into his ear. "That means I have take responsibility and take care of it, right?"
Whatever response he would have made was gone the instant their lips touched.
Morrigan's body felt even more sensative with the water running down her body, the kiss serving only to heighten this sensativity.
Roland felt similar. He was sure the kiss did nothing to ease the hard-on that came unbidden. It had been a while since he got so turned on to this extent from a mere locking of lips. Even given the current situation he wouldn't react so strongly unless they were either already in bed fooling around or the woman was kneeling in front of him.
She pulled back a bit, looking at him with a cross-eyed look.
"Are you thinking of other women?"
"What? Of course not." He denied it easily.
"No, don't get all shy. Come, be honest. What, were you comparing me to them?"
"Not really. There isn't anything to compare. They can't hold a candle to you."
"What do you mean, "not really"? So you were thinking of others then?" She pouted.
"...I feel whatever I say will be used against me.
"I would never do so." Morrigan shook her head, sending off a few droplets of water. "But this can't go on."
"What can't go on?"
"Those whores." She sneered. "It seems that I must burn them from your mind. "
"That sounds like it might hurt." Roland observed.
"Nothing of the sort. I can promise you'll enjoy every second of it. As will I."
She said nothing more as she once again planted a kiss on him.
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They arrived back at their room after another half hour of play. Morrigan wasn't wrong when she made her previous assertion. She hadn't ever really done that with him in their previous life. It was...different. But she felt that it was definitely not a bad thing.
Hmm...she might develope complex. Why? Well... Her husband--she loved using the word at every chance she got--didn't seem all too affected by it...Actually, that wasn't right. He certainly was affected by it, enjoying it as much as she. Rather, he felt almost used to it?
Once again she felt that he was too experienced in such things. It irritated her, but there was nothing she could do about it. Thinking of other women embracing him truly was an unpleasant thought that Morrigan found she simply couldn't get out of her head. Hence, a complex.
Or maybe she shouldn't be complaining. It annoyed her, thinking of it, but she was the one reaping the benefits. Not those other women.
When they walked back Morrigan had wondered if she was begining to be a bit too possessive of him in her thoughts.
...No, that was ridiculous.
Besides, even if it were true, any woman would feel the same in her position. Right?
They opened the door.
The inside was similar to the room they were just in, all but for one thing: It was a mess.
"..,What happened in here?"
"Oh, that?" Morrigan glanced at the darkly lit room. "Grace and Fenris were playing. They caused a bit of a mess."
"Fenris?" Roland raised a brow.
"Yeah, she found me and Grace not long after you left. When those kids and their parents were here Grace, Fenris, that Charlotte girl and for some reason that Reina all hung out in here. It was generally just the three goofing around, resulting in...this" She gestured to the room as a whole.
Why was it that everytime she spoke that red haired girl's name Morrigan felt a sour taste in her mouth? Must be because her first impression of the girl was ruined when she so rudely walked in on them...
"I see."
"Don't worry about the mess for now, let's go to bed. I am a bit tired. Hm...Grace might be asleep on our bed. I know this place has more rooms than what we actually asked for."
That would obviously be the case. The receptionist who recognized her would of course not simply give them normal rooms.
"Oh, and I had left Fenris to watch Grace. Those two have a good relationship so it wasn't a difficult choice. I don;t know where that woman has gotten to but she will be here somewhere. Probably sleeping like the dead."
" Huh." Roland let out a short reply.
That Fenris was here somewhere?
He thought that was a bit odd. She should be with her father or mother, shouldn't she? But instead she prefers to stay here? Hm.
Although since she had a close friendship with Grace he supposed it wasn't too weird for her to be sleeping here. He couldn't see her anywhere at a simple glance so she must be in animal form resting somewhere. Maybe under one of the pieces of furniture. Which made it fine. As long as she was in animal form then he wasn't too concerned with her being here.
...He wondered if he should be getting used to having her over. Since she and Grace had that kind of relationship how should he treat the woman? She wasn't exactly a friend of his but wasn't some stranger either. She was, however, the daughter of a friend.
THat kind of person, what would you call it?
He liked the woman well enough, she seemed very likable. If a bit tiresome at times.
Whatever.
He wouldn't label it.
Roland yawned suddenly.
Stange. He wouldn't usually feel so tired so quickly. He felt kind of cold, too.
" Come on, let's go to bed." Morrigan smiled a bit at seeing his action, thinking nothing of it.
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Grace was indeed in the bed when they entered the room. There was little light, illuminated only by what was streaming in from the window due to the lights outside.
The bed was large, more than enough for three or four people.
Grace lay curled up in the blankets, her sleeping face bringing a slight smile to Roland's face.
He looked at saw the little fox sleeping by the little girl's face. Roland frowned. It was troublesome thinking of it only as the "little fox". Had Grace named it yet?
"This girl, she truly must have been tired. Look at her, sleeping so soundly. I doubt she would wake even if the ship hit a mountain." Morrigan gazed affectionately at her daughter, idlly stroking the girl's hair as she sat at her side.
"She did run all over the place, after all."
"Indeed. She doesn't usually tire so easily, you know. I think she was more trying too hard to make the best of things. "
"That's not really a bad thing, though. And yeah, she does seem quite an energetic fellow." He nodded.
"...Well, let's get some rest." Morrigan began undressing a bit and then snapped her fingers, summoning a black white nightgown comprised of silk.
Then she proceeded to carefully crawl under the covers beside Grace. Despite her words regarding the depth of the girl's sleep she seemed to still take care not to do anything that might wake her.
Roland, however, remained unmoved. He simply stared at them, his body taut and a little unsure of what to do.
"What's wrong?" Morrigan asked him. Something was definitely off, she knew.
"...Nothing." He muttered. "I'm fine. "
"Then why aren't you coming over?" Morrigan looked at him.
"..." He wasn't sure.
It felt wrong, somehow. Him and Morrigan's relationship, which could be said to me more sexual than anything at the moment, was still in it's early stages. Having sex was inconsequential, it was something they both enjoyed and that alone wouldn't change that fact that they still couldn't be said to be a normal couple by any means.
Although that was only from Roland's point of view. Morrigan wasn't even considering that because to her this was merely a matter of course.
Roland felt this momentary hesitation was as to be expect given everything. He supposed that when you got down to it something of this level was not a matter to worry much about.
So he chose to ignore that little feeling of wrongness, undressed, and then took a spot to the other side of Grace
Normally he never entered a deep rest, there was always a part of his that was wary of his surroundings for one reason of another.
But in this case he found that it was one of the rare ocassions he truly felt at ease during sleep.
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Roland woke up first, feeling rays of golden light upon his face coming in from the exposed window to the side of him. Grace still rested, her arms winding around Morrigan's own while the little fox sat on the pillow and nestled between their heads.
He was careful to not make a sound as he got up and proceeded to walk into the living room.
The place looked...neater. Someone must have been cleaning a bit. As he looked around, he found out who. There, laying on a large, red couch, was Fenris.
He didn't see her last night but she must have been somewhere around here in her feline form. He still didn't quite understand why the girl didn't just get her own place of stay with one of her parents, though. But it didn't really matter, he had no real complainst about it.
Though it was only for a short time she did live with him and the others in the dormitory Loki provided.
But all that aside, there was a problem. Which was, she wasn't in her cat form as she usually was.
And since she had that problem that she told him of when they first met, this meant she was naked. Quite a troublesome defect, to be sure. She lived so long and yet still hadn't mastered the ability? Maybe there was a reason he didn;t know of, but this was a bit much wasn't it?
Sghing, he went over and took out a blanket from his Treasury. He was once again pleased at the convenience the space brought him. He stored many things inside and probably wouldn't ever want to live without it. It truly was convenient to have.
Roland was about to cover the girl when she opened her eyes and made a sudden movement, catching him off-guard.
She seemed to still be in a half-asleep state and unaware of her actions. But this girl...she was fast. Absuredly so.
In just a moment she growled low in her throat and jumped at him, her hands outstretched while her fingers grew what seemes to be razor-sharp nails extending around a full inch past her fingertips.
She was going for his throat, he knew. Roland could feel the bloodlust emanating from her every pore, her hair rising slightly in anger. Or, no.
This didn't exactly seem like anger. Rather, it was something like fear. An involuntary reaction, a fight or flight response.
In any case, her hands were nearly about to tear into him before he caught her hand. The force behind the attack, though, was monsterous to an insane degree. He was even forced back a few steps.
Yet it was too crude of a strike, lacking real skill and simply a show of brute strength. She was moving by puure instinct, nothing more.
Roland wasn't sure what was wrong with her, what she was dreaming of that might have made her do this or even if a dream had anthing to do with it at all.
Of course, he didn't want to hurt her. He also didn't want her to hurt herself.
So he used her own force against her and, while his hand was wrapped around her wrist, twirled her around until her back was to his chest. One of her arms were behind her as well, the one he held onto. Her other was still free, but not for long.
He grabbed her other hand as it reached for his eyes, ready to claw them out. He took her hand in his own and forced it to her side. She struggled against him violently, beathing rough and almsot seeming to hiss at him. But no matter what she did she was unable to escape from him.
"Fenris, calm down. You need to wake up." He called into her ear gently, calmly so as to not startle or provoke her further. " I don't know what you're scared of. " He told her. This reaction was completely like that of a cornered animal. Fear and anger mixing together, attacking for all it's worth in a desperate attempt. " But you're safe here. Now, wake up!" He insisted.
Her entire body stiffened suddenly, soon her struggled weakened and then ceased altogether. She went limp, her head falling forward. She looked as if she had passed out. Roland was forced to support her or she would fall to the floor in a crumpled heap.
Roland was dismayed as he saw what state she was in. " ...Did she pass out...? " He muttered.
But this was a needless worry, for she abruptly started struggling again.
"What--No, who's--? Dammit...Let me go!" She fought, speaking viciously.
"Hold up, it's just me." Roland tried to reassure her.
She paused. "...Roland?" She asked.
"Quite."
"You...What..." The woman appeared confused, her tone a bit weak and full of a lack of understanding.
"Don't worry. You just appear to have a penchant for attacking people in your sleep." He smiled faintly.
"Huh? I attacked you?" She raised her voice a bit as she said that. "No, that's not right. I don't ..."
"Ah...it's okay. But it seemed you had a bad dream. That's probably what made you so edgy just now. What did you...?"
Fenris said nothing, staying quiet.
"...I see." He said. If she didn;t want to talk about it then he wouldn't force her. But this was a bit concerning. How often did this happen?
She must have known what he was thinking because she spoke again. " Just so you know, this doesn't normally happen."
"Oh? You must not like me very much then. "
"No, that's not what I..."
He laughed. "It' s okay, I understand. Besides, better that this happened with me rather than Grace or anyone else. That strike wouldn't have been something most can just shrug off."
"I would never hurt Grace." She asserted firmly, almost angrily.
"I believe you. But it seems you are not always in control of your actions." He shrugged.
"Don't worry, boss, I won't let this happen around her. And maybe you're right. Maybe I just don't like you." She offered a shrug of her own.
"Good to know."
"Also, one more thing."
"Yes?"
"Can you let me go? I should think that I won't be runing wild anymore. Or is it that you're currently enthralled by my unparalled level of beauty and can't bear to part with me now that i'm in your hands?" Her tone was mild.
For a while now he had grasped onto her rather tightly. She could feel the warmth of him surrounding her, the strength in his arms as he held her in place. It was a pretty new experience, to be honest. She couldn't remember ever being in such a position with any male. None she had met were able to do so. That one man whom she had bitten the hand off of, even, was not able to accomplish this.
Roland snorted and let her go. " Quite an arrogant one, aren't you?" She was very reminiscent of Mercury right now, judging from what he had seen of the older woman.
Fenris glanced at him, using her hands to hide her breasts. Then, thinking more about it, she just chose to let it go. He had seen her like this a few time before so it really didn't matter much if he saw once more. She didn't care much about showing her body in the first place. Only when she was alone, though.
Come to think of it, that one morning when she was outside his door and saw Morrigan walking out of his room Fenris had also been naked at that time as well but hadn't really hid anything. To do so now didn't make much sense, really.
And with him it was already too late so what use was there in being shy? But she would still cover herself. It wouldn't do to be like this all the time in front of him. She didn't want that either. He might get the wrong idea if she did.
She saw the blanket by his feet and quickly bent down to get it. Then she addressed him once more, wrapping the blanket around her body. "Arrogant? Please. I have a line of suitors who would love it if I simply looked at them twice. You should thank your lucky stars you get to see such a lovely sight. And I know what you're thinking. Don't compare me to that vulgar incarnation of lust." She glared coldly.
Roland shook his head, a small smile slowly beginning to form on his lips. "You know, Fenris, I'm thinking that talking to you will never be boring."
" Likewise. You, too, don't seem to be a boring person. You get ten points for that, you know."
"Points?" He raised a brow.
"Indeed. You can get a total of 100 points. Currently you have 25."
"What happens when I get to 100?" He asked, wondering when he had acquired the other 15 points.
" I will pat you on the head and say "good job~". A sort of service, you see. Are you not thrilled? Keep it up."
"No thank you. "
"Your loss."
They had just finished talking when they heard footsteps behind them.
Roland looked and found that Morrigan had entered the room, looking them over and appearing a bit unpleased at what she saw. She sighed and looked forlorn. "Ah, husband, how cruel. I leave you unattended for a few minutes and you're already flirting with another girl while I sleep."
Roland was indignant. " Oh ye of little faith, do you truly mistrust I, your husband, to that degree?
Fenris also joined in. "Morrigan, your words are too much. You know me. Would I be such an easy woman? As if. This man may have been restraining me with his arms and whispering sweet nothings into my ear just moments ago, but would such things work against yours truly? It is good you come to handle him. I was just about to throttle him for his insolence."
Morrigan stared at them blankly, then shifted her gaze to Roland. "...Dearest, what is she talking about?"
"Oh, nothing. She was just trying to kill me. But no worries, I fended her off easily." He replied calmly.
"No no, I don't care about that, she couldn't kill you anyway. But seeing as how the girl is currently as naked as a newborm baby and covered only by a thin piece of fabric, I have to ask: Did you truly do as she said just now? If so, did you like it? Think carefully about your answer."
"...."
Roland spent the better part of an hour making such banter with the two beauties. Fenris went on like how she did, seeming to be the type to find joy in watching the world burn. Morrigan was little better.
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Had it been anyone else facing the two women Roland currently was he felt that not one of them would have been able to handle themselves against them as well as he had.
The two were a truly troublesome pair to deal with.
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A few hours later Roland heard a knock at the door and found Lilith, along with Reina and Charlotte, standing outside his room.
" Char?" Grace peeked her eyes out from behind Roland and smiled happily as she noticed Charlotte.
"Grace~!" Charlotte smiled, a tad sleepily, and moved with towards her with a sort of languidness that somehow reminded Roland of a sloth. This girl, she always seemed tired. Or only half-awake. As if she had little energy to expend. Maybe that was inherent...
Roland graciously allowed the girl through and directed his attention to the other two.
"She dragged us along." Lilith explained apologetically.
"That's fine. Make yourselves at home." Roland waved them in.
"Pardon the intrusion..." Reina's voice was a little weak, tired. She seemed very withdrawn too. As she came in the girl hadn't looked at him at all, and avoided him like a plague. The latter was understndable given their situation, but the first was a bit odd for her...
"Oh?" Fenris, sitting on the couch as if she owned the place, glanced at the girls curiously. Particularly Reina. "Sister, you're starting to look like death. And trust me, I've seen him before. That is not a look you want. You're lucky you're so cute or else you would already be mistaken for a corpse. Didn't get much slep last night I take it? No, seems worse than that...Maybe you had a bad dream?"
Lilith looked at the woman curiously. She hadn't ever seen this woman before.* Who was she? She seemed a bit familiar with them...
Roland, catching the look, wondered. Had the two ever seen Fenris in this form? No, likely not. Or of course not.Fenris staying to live with him and the kids was under the condition she stay in her cat form, after all. Them not recognizing her was no surprise.
As the Fenris made her commentary, Reina, not bothering to wonder who the woman talking so familiarily to her was for the moment, flinched at the word "dream" and sent a fierce glare at Roland.
He stared back, not understanding her reaction.
"Ah...I was wondering who it was. So it's you two. No, three counting the girl." Morrigan sat on a chair near the window, sipping coffee from a porcelain cup. Her voice was cool, without inflection. It seemed that the arrival of the three made her more like her usual cold self.
Fenris might have been an exception since she knew her well and Grace was close to her. But the other three, especially Lilith and Reina, were strangers to her.
" Come now, Morrigan. They're not bad, you know. You'll probably be seeing them a lot in the days to come so I do hope you don't remain so unwelcoming." Roland said to her.
"Do you mean to say that they're going to be showing up at our doorstep often then? Great. "She replied drily.
Morrigan disliked mortals. Not hate like how she did before being force into mortality once more and later meeting her husband, but still an inherent negative bias still lingered in her heart.
"Don't be fooled. " Roland told the girls, not minding Morrigan's words. "Underneath that cold exterior exists the warm heart of a loving mother and wife. She just doesn't show it often. She truly is a dishonest person."
At this Morrigan snorted in derision, unamused.
" Getting back to my question...Reina, are you alright? You do seem a bit under the weather."
Lilith sighed. "That's what I've been saying but she doesn't listen."
Reina frowned seerely at them. "I'm fine. Nothing's wrong. Shut up..." Her tone said she was sick of having to keep saying everything was okay
"Hmm...should I check you over then? Who knows, maybe something is affecting your health. A disease of some sort? Come here, let me..." Roland, being a bit close to her, whispered into her ear. He wouldn't really have a need to touch her simply to see if there was anything wrong. it would have been more accurate, but that was all.
"What do you care? This is your fault anyway, you and her..." Reina muttered.
"What do you--?" He got cut off.
"As if you don't know!" She hissed miserably, low enough so that only he heard her. "Doing all those s-shameless things! Even when I thought it was ove,r you two, in the damn shower kept on--!" The girl's hands tightened at her sides and her eyes had a slight sparkle in them, as if she were about to cry over some percieved injustice.
Roland remembered the conversation they had in the cave yesterday and was shocked. He almsot fel like he would cough blood.
"Don't tell me..."He hesitated. "Reina, last night, could it be that you...?" He couldn't seem to finish the sentence.
"...I ...saw...everything! I hate this. Ah, you two, why? Just why? At least turn the lights off... All those vulgar things...like animals...No, worse...All those cries and moans...Hands, roaming everywhere...No, I don;t want to remember...Forget, just forget...Yes, forget all of it, find my happy place...Ah.."
She seemed to have broken down and soon began talking to herself in a hushed tones.
"...I'm sorry...?" Roland could offer no other words of comfort.
Reina broke of, then looked at him in the eyes for the first time. Her gaze slowly traveled down, then she looked away again, her face red, muttering even more. Going, "...It's burned into my mind. So much clearer than the other times...How did she, they, not feel pained? Utterly shameless, all of them...These two especially. No, forget...happy place, happy place...it's not working..."
Roland felt incedibly awkward
Morrigan watched the exchange out of he corner of her eye.
Those two, why did they seem so distraught suddenly? What were they talking about Should she listen in? No, that would be rude, and he would know even if she did.
That girl's face was so red, though. What did he whisper to her?
...Everything about that scene bothered her...
"Reina?" Lilith looked at her sister, worried. She kept on saying something under her breath and the coloration of her face made her seem sick, feverish. She had always been a weak girl. Lilith grew concerned at seeing her sister's strange behaviour.
"She's fine. Just...let her sit down for a bit." Roland suggested.
"Right..." Taking her sister's arm, Lilith directed her to a seat beside Fenris. The goddess had long since changed into a set of woman's clothes, provided by Morrigan. Which was just a buttoned-up blue blouse and black skirt, really.
" Well, if you will all excuse me I have an appointment to catch." Roland walked back to the door.
"Daddy, where're you going?" Grace, despite having been up to now talking intently with Charlotte, noticed the instant he moved to leave.
"Yes, dearest, where are you going?"Morrigan cut a glance towards him.
"I'm going to check on the boys, then I'll have to track down Loki. Must be around here somewhere."
"Daddy, I want to go!" Grace proclaimed, standing up.
"What, you're going to leave Charlotte here? Didn't she come to see you?" Roland looked at the girl in question.
"..." Grace was unsure of what to do when faced with that question.
Charlotte smiled at Roland easily. "Don't worry, I don;t mind waiting here~" She yawned suddenly. "I woke up early today so I think I could use a bit of rest."
Grace's eyes sparkled. "Really? Alright! Oh, and daddy, we won't be gone long right?"
"...I guess I can bring you back after an hour If we don't find him. "
Fenris stretched her arms. "Take me with you. I'm sure I can sniff that lecher out."
"Sounds good."
"Wait, so are we just going to stay here then?" Lilith asked. "Reina, Charlotte, are you guys really fine with that? What would we even do here by ourselves?"
"..." Reina didn't answer, looking away.
"...Sleep?" Charlotte replied for them both.
"Char..." Lilith sighed. "That's just...No, nevermind." The girl was always like this, at least for the most part.
"Oh? Fear not, my pets, I will endeavor to be a good host and keep you all entertained." Morrigan spoke flatly, making if very difficult what actual thoughts she had on the matter.
"Pets, she says..." Lilith murmured quietly.
"So we're all good then? Alright, come. Follow me!" Fenris took Grace's hand and walked out the door.
After glancing at the others and giving Morrigan a meaningful look Roland also took his leave, closing the door behind him.
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"...They're not here."
He referred, of course, to the boys Saren and James. He checked both rooms but they were nowhere to be found.
"Looks that way." Fenris shrugged, uncaring.
"Daddy, did they go out for a walk, do you think?"
"No, I don't believe that would just walk out without letting me know. They should have been here last night. Wait...Mephisto was here too, checking up on them. I did put them in his care...and he did seem to take a bit of a liking to the boys, just a bit...maybe he took them?"
Fenris knew where this conversation was going.
"...Am I going to have to look for them too? This is too much, I didn't sign up for that."
" You're the one who wanted to come along." Roland reminded.
"...Fine. " She sighed. How annoying. Well from what she saw the boys weren't bad. She supposed she could help out.
"Daddy, are we going out now then?"
"Yeah, let's go."
"Wait." Fenris stopped them. "I'm tired. Since I have to do something I didn't originally plan for you have to pay up. That said, I want you to hold me."
"...What?"
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Ten minutes later, outside.
"...You're heavy. You need to lose weight, Fenris."
This earned him claws to the head*. It hurt a bit.
"Daddy, you shouldn't say that. Sister Fenris is cute!"
To clarify, Fenris was currently in her cat form. On top of Roland's head, her arms outstretched to the front so that they hung by his eyes. It made it a bit difficult to see.
Fenris enjoyed her current resting spot. Power leaked out of Roland, and it was like a constant delicious treat for her. It was different from her father, Aries, Mephisto or anyone else she met previously. This was dense, like a physical thing. This sort of energy didn't leak out from them, but it did Roland. Maybe he simply couldn't control his power very well and so it be came like this, she didn't know
Either way, she was the one who reaped the benefits. Actually, though, there was no "taste", per se, but it was still "yummy". Hmm...how to explain...
Is she had to say, it was more of a "smell"? No, a bit different. But close enough? Yes. This "smell" was good. Tasty. Filling. But she could only eat it when she was really close to him because otherwise it would be too thin to devour and would dissipate quickly.
She wondered idly what he would taste like...No, wait. That made her sound like her mother, Mercury.
It was not meant in a sexual way, of course. But more in a literal one. Which might be just as bad, if not worse. That isn't to say she would eat him. But she was sure his blood would be pretty amazing. That's what she meant.
"Whether she is cute or not is besides the point, though. Well, I can't say she isn't though."
"Do you like cats, daddy?"
"Yeah. Always have. My mother does too, I recall..."
Grace stopped, staring at him. "Your...Mother?"
Roland realized what he said only at that moment. "Ah...yeah."
His mother in this life was still well. He had not seen her often in recent times. He spent the majority of his time in other worlds within the Lower Planes while he had her stay in the Higher Planes. Those girls were with her too, taking care of her. The ones that he had acquired from his time as the "god" of that one cult.
They hadn't a place to go after that whole debacle so he took them in. They were probably all doing alright. Nothing would be able to harm any of them in the place he put them, not while he was the one who ruled it.
He did once recently think he should go meet his mother some time soon. After all this was over. He did miss her, if he was honest. That woman was very understanding and full of love. A perfect mother. He owed her much.
He smiled a bit, knowing that if she had known he thought that he "owed her" then he would have probably gotten himself a light pinch on the arm and a sad, disappointed look from her.
"Daddy, you have a mother?"
"Of course I do. Everyone does."
A lie. He had no birth parents. Never did, probably. Or maybe he did, once. How he first came into existence was a mystery he would likely never solve.
"I..want to meet her! My grandmother..." Her voice went small, wistful.
Grace had a certain light in her eyes just then
"...Meet her, huh. Yeah. That's a good idea. I'm sure she'll love you. But we're going to have to wait for a while before that happens, alright?"
He inwardly despaired a bit. If he brought home both a daughter and a wife to meet her...a daughter as old as Grace especially...how would she react?
This wasn't a normal situation...
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Following Fenris' nose, the three came to a stop at a rather shady looking building where there were currently no other people in sight.
It was near a dark corner of the city. Roland had never been to this part of the place before. Last time he was aboard the ship he and the others kept a low profile and just enjoyed themselves.
The building in question was red. No, more like, it was illuminated in shades of red and pink and other warm colors. And smelled faintly sweet. He caught whiff of various types of perfumes as well.
This place...it could only be that sort of spot.
A succubus den. He could feel the demonic energy around the place, enticing, calling him forth. It was annoying. Whispers in him mind that begging him to go closer.
"Daddy...I don't like this place."
"Neither do I." A succubus den, a place where a group of succubi gather to entice men inside and feast upon their life force. A much smaller version of their settlements. Places like this usually didn't contain more than a dozen or two dozen succubi. A number that wasn't all too dangerous to people with as much life force as Roland did but regular people would be in trouble if they all chose to take a bite. Especially if those people didn't actively cultivate their power to higher levels.
Simply being near this place gave off a small draining effect towards males. It was negligible to Roland but against most others it would definitely be felt much clearer.
Atop his head Fenris let out a slight hiss. She stood up and stretch for a bit, then climbed down onto his shoulders. Roland picked her up in his arms and let her down onto the floor, though the effort was unneeded.
He used a spell to manipulate the ground beneath their feet and created four walls around her for some privacy. A few minutes later he let it down and Fenirs, in human form, came out wearing the same blouse and skirt she wore previously.
"Their scents led here, I'm sure of it. Mephisto's energy pattern is kind of faint too. This entire city is bathed in Apollo's own energy so it's hard to track him unless he was activiely using his powers. But his smell is all over this place. The boys are, of course, with him."
"Daddy, are we going inside?"
"Yeah. Afraid so."
"Daddy...this place...it has those lewd creatures inside, doesn't it?"
"Succubi? Yes. Why?"
" Mommy said that those people are harlots that are our mortal enemies."
Roland was surprised, as was Fenris. " Why would she say that?"
"I'm not sure...but she once let slip a strange story. Or more of a complaint. Something about you, daddy, and one of them. I don't remember much, it was when i was really small and mommy didn't like talking about you much. However, she always told me that they were all shameless and vulgar women, a group of homewreckers. I still don't know what that means." Grace looked away from him and cast a bright-eyed glance at the building. "She really doesn't like them, daddy. She said that if I ever meet one I should give her a smack."
Roland and Fenris looked at each other.
Roland could guess at what Morrigan probably meant. Maybe a sucubus came onto him during his past life together with her. Most likely that was the case. Which would explain the seeming extreme dislike Grace said her mother had for them. And also why Morrigan would use the word "homewrecker" specifically.
"Grace, my dear, what are you planning?" Fenris asked cautiously. This girl...she wasn't weak. No, she was actually pretty damn strong when she got serious. Also, her morals were a bit skewed. Morrigan's own ways rubbed off on the girl. If Grace was schemeing something...
It could get messy. Her mother was a death goddess. Fenris wouldn't be surprised if Grace was a bit number to things like killing. Though Fenris had no evidence this was the case.
"Nothing, sister Fenris. But..." She hesitated. "Mommy said--"
"Grace, don't. No attacking unprovoked." Roland told her firmly.
"I know that, daddy. But mommy--"
"No."
"But, those lewd women--"
"Might not be bad." Succubi do what they do to live and grow strong. Some of them took it too far and liked to kill, but not all were like that. He told Grace as such.
"...I see. I understand, daddy. I won't do anything. "
"Good."
"Grace, hold my hand. " Fenris took her hand as soon as the words left her mouth.
"Well, let's go. I would love hearing what the hell that guy has to say about bringing the boys here." Roland muttered.
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To be clear, a succubus den was by no means a brothel. Brothels have no place in the territories that a god like Apollo directly control. In fact, brothels were mainly unneeded now. Similar things existed, though.
Places where men or women sought pleasure. But actual sex, physical contact, was not practiced in those types of establishments. Through the use of certain spells that affect the mind or body one can attain the same sort of pleasure without having real sex.
Roland had once been dragged by Loki and Sol to such a place. He sat on a bed, inside a small room. Then a woman came in, placed a hand over him. Next thing he knew he entered a lucid dreaming state where he was with two women who proceeded to provide certain sevices.
That was all.
He didn't really take a liking to it since he wasn't able to completely immerse himself in the experience like others could. He preferred the real thing.
All that said, this place was similar. A sucubus den had succubi would would temp men into entering but once inside the succubi would only take things as far as a kiss, a contact that was the best way to drain the life force from their victims. The men would experience complete ecstacy, though, so it wasn't all doom and gloom.
But later they would likely find themselves left on the street with a massive headache. Maybe robbed. A tragic downside to be sure.
The building was brightly lit. The inside held a giant lobby and a diamond chandelier hanging over it all. This place seemed much nicer from within. He saw to the side a series of hallways, the other side a flight of stairs.
The succubi probably lived on the higher levels. They liked to travel either alone of in pairs. Any higher than that was a bit more rare. Only buildings like these or the places they hold settlements at contained so many succubi in one area.
"I smell them. Upstairs. Also, there are other scents up there as well. A lot of them. None of this level, though."
"You think they're being drained?" Roland wondered aloud.
"Mephisto can handle himself. Succubi are the natural predators of men but that guy is too damn loyal to that wife of his and too damn powerful to be taken down with only a few dozen succubi. It would require at least a hundred to make him really waver. Assuming that a Matriarch isn't here he should be fine."
Matriarchs. Leaders. One of the olderst and most powerful caste of the succubi race. He remembered that William Vasilius kid. A vampire.
Vampires had existences similar to Matriarchs. Originals. They're a myth-like existence that rarely make any appearance. Beings who are, to them, considered royalty and therefor those containing their bloodline are treated as nobility among their kind. Roland had never met one, though he would love to fight one. His hands itched when he thought of it.
Matriarchs are a bit similar to those Originals in that they are extremely dangerous to the extent that they could pose a threat to even gods if they aren't careful. But more common. A bit.
What's more, Matriarchs grow more powerful when they are surrounded by other succubi. Incubi have Patriarchs. That Asmodeus, if he remembered right, could be considered a Patriarch even though he isn't of the incubi race. Simply because of the type of Authority he wields, the type of power he commands.
But enough about that.
" Meaning that neither he nor the boys should be in any real danger. If the boys were in trouble then he wouldn't just do nothing about it. Really, what are they doing here..."
"Daddy..."
Grace's worried voice broke him from his thoughts.
"Yes?"
"What is it?"
Roland and Fenris asked in turn.
" Listen."
As soon as she said that the both of them heard a very faint, masculine yell.
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AN:
*So i can't recall if Lilith, Reina, Saren or James know Fenris when she is in human form. I may have mentioned they found out, i cant remember. At the very least i cant recall any of them talking to Fenris in her human form before. so im pretty sure they don;t know about her in that regard. I will assume that they dont know her human self until someone says otherwise, cause i myself cant remember.
* I also cant remember if Fenris is capable of talking like a human as an animal. If anyone remembers if she can talk as a human when in animal form, i would appreciate it if you let me know. It could be that she can do so, but doesnt know how. Similar to how she hasnt mastered her transformations, the reason why her clothes end up gone when she changes back into a human form. I am going to assume she can't talk, but if i find out otherwise i might edit some more dialogue into this later