"Toni, can you recall when we first met?" Cheryl asked, a smile in her voice.
Toni didn't move from her position, her head resting on her arms as she slowly opened her eyes. "What made you suddenly think of that?" She asked.
Cheryl flipped her tail under the water, the red scales looking like fire under the small waves. "I'm curious. I can remember the moment we met like it was yesterday, but the question is, can you remember?
The succubus flicked her long, black tail slowly. The sun was hot on her pale skin and her wings were itching from the island heat. "We've been on this Earth for many, many years. Is such a meeting so important? We're friends now, so our meeting doesn't mean much."
The siren pouted, turning to face the succubus. "That's not true! The two of us meeting may not have been the brightest, but it was a moment I'll never forget! It was the moment that changed fate itself!"
Toni rolled her eyes. "Aren't you a little too old to be caring about something as ridiculous as fate? It doesn't exist."
Cheryl stared openly at the demon, her expression hard. "What would you call us meeting then?"
"A coincidence. A very bloody one, at that." Toni responded easily, meeting the siren's expression with a raised brow. "You aren't going to change my mind."
Cheryl sighed, waving a hand. "Whatever. Do you remember or not?"
Toni closed her eyes, silent for a moment as she allowed her mind to recall the memory from so long ago. "Of course I do. I could never forget."
Cheryl let out a small laugh, the sound playful. "Oh really? How do you remember us meeting?"
The succubus inhaled the sand and the water before letting it slip away into her subconscious, fading away slowly...
Surrounding the ocean was a huge city, a huge city that was burning to ashes. Rocks covered in flames crashed to the Earth below, scattering humans in every direction as the fire only grew in size.
The succubus watched silently as people screamed and tried to hide for cover, her eyes closed. If she closed her eyes long enough, she could drown everything and everyone around her.
Until a single voice reached her.
"H-Help me! Please, help me!" The voice screamed.
Turning her head, the succubus tried to figure out where the voice was coming from. Judging by the distance, it was coming from the waterside. The demon wasn't sure why she was so drawn to the voice, but found herself flying over to the water, the sky filled with nothing but smoke.
Soon, she spotted what looked to be a woman, her body hunched over the sand. The succubus noticed her wild red hair, then the flaming-red tail that splashed weakly in the water. The mermaid continued to wail, the sound hollowing and heartbreaking.
The succubus approached the woman, not bothering to hide her demonic features. "Are you alright?" She asked, knowing it was a stupid question in a situation like this.
The mermaid sniffled, her eyes the color of red wine. "M-My people... they're all gone. I can't find them anywhere. The world is falling apart, and I'm the only one left... what do I do? Where do I go?"
The succubus tilted her head, drawn to the beauty that was this gorgeous creature. The Earth was being burned down to smithereens, but all the demon could focus on was the mermaid's large tears and the sweet voice that escaped as she cried.
"P-Please..." The mermaid whispered; her eyes desperate as she took the succubus's hand in her wet ones. "Please, save me, miss. I don't want to be alone anymore".
The succubus hated humans and other creatures alike. She distanced herself for hundreds of years and only showed herself in order to feed. She had no friends or family to speak of, whatsoever, and she preferred to keep it that way.
But in that moment, after so many years of being alone, the succubus reached out and took the mermaid's hand. She held the mermaid close as she flew her to another land where there would be no more suffering, a place of only happiness.
It was the least she could do for such a sad creature.
They flew for a long time, until they were in a place with warmer temperature and the water was cleaner. The succubus gently placed the mermaid in the water and avoided eye contact.
"Here, you'll be safe here." The succubus said.
The mermaid wiped the last of her tears, smiling softly as she nodded. "Thank you so much. I wouldn't have survived if it wasn't for you."
The succubus was silent. Then, she spread her wings, getting ready to fly off.
"Wait!" The mermaid cried, her eyes desperate. "Please! Tell me your name before you go."
The succubus looked into those bright orbs, ignoring the will to stay silent. "Toni."
"Toni." The mermaid whispered the name like the most tender of arias. "My name is Cheryl. I hope we can be friends for a very, very long time."
For the first time, the succubus felt the warmth of the sun on her skin and the gentle sounds of the breeze around her.
Perhaps she was growing a soft side.
"I won't ever forget that day, even if it was surrounded by tragedy." Cheryl sighed, her smile soft as she looked at the water.
"We've had better days since then." Toni moved to sit up, folding her wings. "Our meeting was just the beginning. Nothing to get misty-eyed over."
Cheryl waved her hand. "Perhaps not to you, but to me, meeting you was the best thing that could've ever happened to me. I would've died if you weren't there, and after that day, you would come by to visit me. Those visits brought me so much happiness, words can't even begin to convey it.
The succubus looked at her friend, smiling softly. "I suppose that may be true. I guess I'm stuck with you for who-knows how long."
"Don't pretend you're not in love with me, bat girl." Cheryl laughed, the bell-like sound already Toni's favorite sound in the world.
"The same goes for you, fish face." Toni shot back, leaning in to place the softest of kisses on the siren's lips.
When the kiss was slowly reciprocated and deepened Toni truly felt what humans felt whenever they were happy.
Blessed.
