𝕋𝕙𝕖 H𝕖𝕝𝕝'𝕤 𝕄𝕚𝕣𝕣𝕠𝕣

Chapter 15. An Egg's Way of Cracking

Tapping claws and hooves against the forever clean and reflective stone of the living room didn't suffice for her boredom. Looking back she should have left a letter instead of some music records when her funeral came along. Running all that time didn't seem to do much aside from speeding up to her death.

The echoed ringing of the bell tolling brought a shiver down her back. A rude reminder that she truly died.

It was peaceful, to say the least here in Hell, or at least where she currently stays. Having a destiny relative was nice to have that way she could spend her time ebbing away without danger.

A lingering thought dug itself from the back of her mind. What is it like to have friends here in hell? Is it the same as having friends when alive?

"No, it isn't"

For a moment Gem's voice startled her thinking she may have said her thoughts out loud. Peering her head up relieved to see that her aunt had been talking to one of the mirrors in the hall.

Watching as the Mirror Demon groaned, swaying a hand over the mirror, discontinuing her conversation with whoever.

Surprisingly she never felt genuine fear from her aunt. A pretty demon such as her normally isn't seen much less as independent as she perceives herself to be.

She heard her aunt sigh and turned to face her with those gleaming eyes and reflective hair. She dared to ask what it was that made her so stressed.

"I am not stressed. It just so happens that a friend of mine wishes to see me since it's been too long since we last saw each other" Gem explained, playing with the belt of her white dress. "He is setting up a tea party for us so you'll need to be wearing something more appealing as he happens to be more old-fashioned."

"More old-fashioned than you perhaps?" Niece questioned a teasing smile upon her dark lips as her tail swished.

"Wear something that covers your neck and shoulders at least" Gem rolled her eyes making her way to her room.

—

"You do not have to adjust my shirt, it's fine," Niece groaned irritatedly watching the mirror behind Gem levitate towards them as she adjusted her loose mesh sleeve blouse that was gray with floral red and green flowers as well as a gray petite coat to match. It appears she didn't notice her lack of footwear and wasn't about to say anything about it either.

"We are going to be the first friend I ever made when first arriving and I am not about to be teased for having my Niece dressed like a slob that I see so many people dress now," Gem asserted, taking a look over and giving a nod of approval when satisfied.

The mirror's surface reflected with a soft echoed chime allowing for their passage through.

Going through a mirror for the first time could be described as going into the freezer aisle for fruits and dairy only without the air being blown on you.

Seeing a bunch of eggs jumping at the legs of her aunt was bewildering to see. Much less hearing Gem laugh as she tries to navigate around the Egg Boi's who keep asking if she brought them anything sweet.

Surveying around it was like something out of Frankenstein's laboratory. Millions of jars on shelves of wood and metal are floating in mysterious green ooze. Unusual devices of miscellaneous doohickies and gadgets laid amongst tables haphazardly.

Watching awkwardly Niece raised her hand to speak only to be disrupted when an obnoxiously nasally voice with a lisp announced itself. "My friend Gem! How wonderful to see you!"

Crossing her arms with an amusing smile Gem tilted her head upwards. "Nice to see you are doing well Sir Pentious."

Cobra-like body of a million eyes with skin like a tailor's suit and hat. "It's alwaays a pleasure for you maa Deaare" Pentious hissed curling an arm around Gem and leading her to another part of his laboratory.

"Hey wait!" Niece exclaimed

"Hm? Oh right" Gem acknowledged turning to introduce the little Imp "Pentious meet my newly added agenda: My Niece."

The heterochromatic-eyed Imp didn't take too kindly to that phrasing, pouting out her bottom lip and squinting her eyes in teenaged annoyance.

Pentious slithered around the Niece taking an inquisitive look for himself occasionally glancing back at Gem. "I can't seem to find any similarities."

'No shit'

Gem chortled, placing a hand on her hip. Using the help of her two fangs she whistled for the Egg Boi's attention to cease what they were doing and pay attention. "Your boss and I will be in conversation. I expect good behavior given I have brought my Niece along so do give her the house tour won't you?"

"Hey! Hold on!" Niece protested too late as the doors closed leaving her in the room with millions of eggs each with an identifiable number written on them. "... Like metal?"

—

Gem smiled at Petnious as they sat on his green-leathered Victorian-style couch. She observed his living room finding small details that he added before her admiration was stopped when he asked her a question.

"Sorry didn't hear you," She apologized taking a sip of tea that Pentious graciously offered.

"I asked: Since when do you havee a Neice?" Pentious questioned, raising a skeptical eyebrow at the Mirror Demon sitting across.

Gem smiled sheepishly twirling a piece of her hair with her right index finger "She is from that side of the family. From my understanding, she only recently died and had been living in the Pride Ring for a short while until finding me."

"Peculiar. How do you know if she is who she sayss she is?" Pentious hummed, taking a quick sip of his tea, abandoning caution for the temperature that burned his throat and caused a cough.

"Oh relax, Pentious" Gem dismissed, crossing her legs to be more comfortable "If there is one thing that I've learned from my time being here, as well as the Lust Ring, is that you simply don't ask the most obvious of questions unless all other options are no longer accessible."

Pentious, having recovered, played with the silver spoon bathing in his teacup before humming once more "And what if this one turns out like the last?"

A harsh crack formed in Gem's teacup, but no tea split. Her sclera turned yellow emphasizing the white of her iris and reflective details within "I keep her on a very close leash. There is no way, shape, or form for which she will end up like he did."

Understanding the weight that his words brought an undeniable crack within his friends' demeanor. He vouched to apologize if not the building didn't shake as a loud boom came from the laboratory.

Both hurriedly ran inside coming upon a scene of smoke and scrambled egg guts along with the mischievous Neice hanging above with by her tail clutching an egg to her chest like a toy giving a cheeky grin.

"My intrusive thoughts won me over... also can you help me down? My hands are full."