Bular x oc: Red Eyes

part 5: Hello Again

The afternoon sun cast long shadows across Arcadia Oaks as Kai walked alongside Jim and Toby. The trio had just finished another day at school, their backpacks heavy with homework and, in Jim's case, a certain magical amulet. As they approached Jim's street, Kai couldn't help but notice the slight bulge in Jim's bag where the amulet rested.

"Well, this is my stop," Jim announced, gesturing towards his house. "See you guys tomorrow?"

Toby nodded enthusiastically. "You bet, Jimbo! Don't forget we have that history test coming up."

Jim groaned, "Thanks for the reminder, Tobes."

Kai smiled, her human disguise perfectly masking her true nature. "I'm sure you'll do fine, Jim. Mr. Strickler's tests aren't usually that bad."

As Jim headed towards his house, Toby turned to Kai with a friendly wave. "See ya, Kai!"

Kai returned the wave and watched as Toby pedaled away on his bike. Once both boys were out of sight, she turned and walked down the road for a moment before cutting into the forest. The sounds of the town faded away, replaced by the rustling of leaves and chirping of birds.

As she walked deeper into the woods, Kai began humming a tune from one of the educational videos Mr. Strickler had shown in class that day. The melody was catchy, and it helped her focus as she navigated the uneven forest floor.

After a few minutes of walking, Kai came upon a small clearing. In the center sat a large, moss-covered rock that seemed to invite rest. With a sigh, she plopped herself down onto the rock, finally allowing her human disguise to slide off her body like water.

The forest fell silent. Even the birds and insects stopped their chatter, sensing the presence of a predator. Kai's true form was revealed: a lithe, demonic figure with pointed ears and multiple eyes. Her skin shimmered with an otherworldly quality, and wisps of red smoke curled around her fingertips.

Subtly, Kai scanned her surroundings. Her multiple eyes flicked in different directions, catching every movement - from the snapping of distant branches to the gentle sway of leaves in the breeze. Her senses, far sharper than any human's, were on high alert.

The sound of heavy footsteps broke through the eerie silence. Without hesitation, Kai slipped off the rock and crouched behind a rotten tree trunk. Red smoke began to emanate from her palms, circling her head like a halo.

As the footsteps drew closer, voices became audible. Kai's eyes widened as two trolls entered the clearing. The first was a massive, grey-skinned troll with a mane of green fur running down his back. He looked like a Krubera, though Kai knew they rarely ventured above ground. Beside him walked a smaller, blue-skinned troll with four arms and six eyes. The blue troll was animatedly lecturing his companion about something that made Kai's ears perk up - a human Trollhunter.

'Human Trollhunter?' Kai's mind raced back to Jim and the strange amulet she'd glimpsed in his backpack. Could it be...?

Eager to hear more, Kai carefully climbed into the branches of a nearby tree. However, her eagerness got the better of her, and the branch she stood on snapped with a loud crack.

Thinking quickly, Kai swung herself onto a thicker branch, but it was too late. Both trolls looked up, their eyes locking onto her form. A tense silence fell over the clearing as recognition dawned on the blue troll's face. He took a slow step backward, his expression a mix of fear and awe.

Kai, realizing her cover was blown, decided to make a dramatic exit. She stood up on the branch and flashed a mischievous smile before falling backwards. Her body dissolved into red smoke, which spiraled upward through the tree branches before streaking towards the dim lights of Arcadia Oaks.

After a brief flight, Kai reformed her body on the roof of the local museum. She peered down at a small side door, just in time to see a goblin scurry inside before closing it behind him. Curiosity piqued, Kai prepared to investigate further when a twig snapped behind her.

Whirling around, Kai barely managed to dodge the enormous sword that came swinging towards her head. She leapt backward, her eyes widening as she recognized her attacker - the dark troll from the bridge, Bular.

A smile crept onto Kai's face as adrenaline coursed through her body. This was the kind of excitement she craved. As Bular swung his sword down again, Kai surprised him by jumping onto the blade itself. The sudden shift in weight caught the troll off guard, causing him to stumble forward.

Seizing the opportunity, Kai summoned her smoke. The red wisps wrapped around Bular's wrists and neck, yanking him onto his back. In a flash, Kai was standing on his chest, watching his struggles with a sadistic grin.

Bular growled, flexing his massive claws against the smoky bonds. "Free me, Fleshling," he snarled, "and I will grant you a quick death."

Kai's response was to stomp her foot hard on his chest. The troll lunged forward with a roar, but Kai merely chuckled and tightened her grip. The smoke constricted around Bular's neck and arms, forcing him back down.

"Stupid Fleshbag!" Bular bellowed. "I am the son of Gunmar the Black! Release me at once!"

Kai crouched down, her face inches from Bular's. "Hmm, for a Gumm-Gumm prince, you can't gauge your opponents very well, can you?" she teased, her voice dripping with mock sweetness.

As Bular glared into Kai's eyes, he noticed her human disguise beginning to waver. Her ears elongated to points, and six additional eyes opened on the left side of her face. The sharp, cat-like pupils of these new eyes darted around before focusing intently on Bular.

The troll felt an unfamiliar sensation creeping through him - fear. This creature before him was unlike anything he'd encountered. Despite her slight frame, there was an aura of power and danger that even he couldn't ignore.

"I take it you've never seen a demon before, right?" Kai's voice snapped Bular out of his thoughts.

"No," he growled, "but it won't stop me from killing you, you frail Fleshling."

Something in Kai's demeanor shifted. The playful glint in her eyes hardened into a cold, dangerous shine. She stood up, her smoke transforming into crystalline platforms beneath her feet.

With a wave of her hand, the smoke holding Bular lifted him to a kneeling position, his head forced back. When Kai spoke again, her voice was unnervingly calm, a stark contrast to the rage reflected in her eyes.

"Do not underestimate me, Bular," she said, her words sharp as knives. "Not everyone parades their power around for the world to see."

Bular's eyes widened in shock and - though he'd never admit it - fear. In that moment, he realized he had gravely misjudged this strange creature.

With a smirk, Kai dispelled the smoke binding Bular. Before the troll could react, she vanished in a swirl of red mist, her laughter echoing through the night air.

As the last wisps of smoke dissipated, Bular was left alone on the museum roof, shaken and unsettled. For the first time in centuries, he found himself questioning whether he truly understood the world he sought to conquer.

In the shadows of Arcadia Oaks, a new player had entered the game - one that neither Trollhunter nor Gumm-Gumm was prepared for.