Akumi: Redemption

Spirits and Secrets

James Anthony Carmichael sat on the couch in the apartment he temporarily shared with two young women. For now, he was alone; Akumi was out chasing a bounty, and Liv was busy with her day job. Taking a long, contemplative drag from his cigar, James's thoughts wandered back to his old world 1898 New Austin, a harsh land of dust, gunpowder, and lawless men. It was a place where survival meant having a quick hand and a sharper mind, where danger was always a familiar shadow just around the corner.

Compared to that, the Hexrealms were an entirely different kind of dangerous a chaotic mess of magic, monsters, and things that defied explanation. Out here, danger wasn't just gunfights and outlaws; it was creatures out of tall tales and landscapes that could shift beneath your feet. But as wild as it all seemed, it still felt oddly safer than the world he came from. At least here, the threats felt like they had a twisted kind of purpose, unlike the senseless violence and bleak survival of the West.

His brooding thoughts were interrupted by the buzz of his phone. A text message flashed on the screen it was from Demonkiss. She had a lucrative opportunity for him.

She asked him to meet her at her shop. James, curious about what kind of money-making opportunity Demonkiss had in mind, accepted her invitation. He stubbed out his cigar, picked up his dual LeMat revolvers, and left the apartment, stepping into the bustling streets of Spug City. As he walked down the block, he wore the aura-constricting necklace he'd bought from Demonkiss. The usual non-humans that would approach him now ignored him, just as he wanted. He was enjoying a peaceful stroll without getting attacked by something for once. James never liked attention; it always made him uncomfortable when people gave him too much of it. Whenever it became overwhelming, he'd find an excuse to leave.

James arrived at Demonkiss's shop after a short walk. The front door was open, but there was no one at the counter. As he began to wonder where she was, Demonkiss's voice called out.

"I'm in the back, James. Come here I have a proposition for you, and it's very lucrative. I won't bite... much," she said lustfully.

Something deep in his gut warned James he'd probably regret this meeting. But the thought of payment overrode his sense of self-preservation. He walked behind the counter and entered the back area where she worked. The space was cluttered with her knickknacks and mystical items, each more bizarre than the last. Demonkiss stood in the middle, possibly taking inventory. She looked up with a big, amorous smile, her glowing yellow eyes locking onto his. She sauntered toward him with a lustful strut, her curvy waist and thick hips swaying with every step enough to mesmerize any man, and James was no exception.

His eyes were practically glued to her figure. The short, stewed cherry-red dress with cape sleeves left little to the imagination, barely covering her backside.

"Hey there, sharpshooter, step into my office. We got a few things to discuss," Demonkiss said, guiding James by the arm to a door on the far side of the room.

James let out an audible gulp as she led him into her private office. He wasn't sure what she wanted, but it was clear he was about to find out. Demonkiss's office was a curious mix of business savvy and mystical themes dark, polished wood furniture contrasted with glowing runes, jars of strange herbs, and arcane symbols scattered across the walls. Somehow, the contrasting elements blended seamlessly, creating a space that felt both alluring and dangerous.

Demonkiss gestured for him to sit on a nearby sofa. As James sank into it, he found it surprisingly soft and comfortable, a welcome change from the rough wooden chairs he was used to back in New Austin. Demonkiss sat down right next to him, her eyes still fixed on him, filled with a mix of mischief and intent.

"I'm glad you could make it, James," she said, her voice low and smooth, practically dripping with seduction. "I've got a very... sensitive problem that I just know you can handle for me."