The Pleasures of Hell

Chapter 02.032

~~Mia~~

"No!"

"Yes."

"No!"

"Yes."

Mia glared up at Julisa as she jumped into the tetrad's path.

"No!"

Julisa glared down at her, leaned down, and brought her face within inches of Mia's. Unlike Livian, she didn't have any hair, but the quartet of big black horns filled the role, almost like a giant evil crown. Fitting.

"If we're going on this journey together, I will not have a cannam at my heels, little soul."

"Well then, you don't have to come! Romakus and Livian and the others will be plenty. We don't want an army with us, anyway."

With a long, heavy snarl, Julisa snapped her tail behind her and dug her talons into the stony ground.

"I have put too much of my life into the Damall's goals, unmarked. I will do what I must, to ensure we succeed."

"Well that—"

Julisa reached out with one of her many hands, and pushed Mia aside. Ass to the ground, Mia squeaked as she borderline bounced, but jumped back to her feet in an instant and dashed for her egg.

Julisa got her claws on it at the same time Vinicius got to his feet. She moved for the exit, but Vin was already there; he hadn't moved to stop her from getting the egg, but had gone for the exit from the get go. Smart.

"Vin, if she hurts that egg, kill her!"

Julisa, eyes wide with some mix of rage and surprise, stared down at Mia as she held the egg with one arm, leaving three arms free to flex their claws.

"You can't kill me. Romakus will bring every demon in the mountain down on you if you so much as hurt me."

Mia scrunched up her nose, and clutched her necklace, Vin's leash. Not with any sort of malice, but because she had to grab something to show the evil bitch that she was serious.

"I don't believe you. Romakus knows I'm important, and he knows Vin will be a valuable ally." She stomped her foot. "Let the egg go!"

"No."

Vin laughed. Not a big, dramatic, fun laugh. A quiet, dark, rumbling chuckle. He stepped toward the tetrad, crouching slightly, arms spread, and readied a pounce. Except he couldn't pounce her, not without potentially destroying the egg.

Julisa's eyes flickered between Vin and the egg, and she slowly dragged her claws across it. A hostage.

There was more going on here than the egg. Julisa was a mean bitch, the sort who enjoyed bullying people, but that wasn't exactly uncommon among demons. Something Mia was doing was drawing the demon's attention though, to the point every time Julisa looked her way, she either had on a mean scowl, or a hungry grin, like she was planning to do something to her. She probably was planning things, many things, some violent, some sexual, some both, knowing demons. But what the fuck was it about Mia that had this woman so damn hostile?

Mia followed the woman's eyes to Vin. Lightbulb moment.

Before she could say anything, Julisa put the egg down, and marched up to Vin, challenging him to stop her. He didn't, checking with Mia, and Mia stared after the naked demon's back as the tetrad waited for permission to leave without ever looking back at her. It didn't come, so she pushed Vin aside, and Vin let her pass. He looked confused, too.

This couldn't go on. Mia stomped after Julisa, walk turning into a jog as the damn woman and her long legs covered ground much more easily than Mia could. Tall people sucked.