AuthorSME
patreon
TO Rewrite: B2 — 28. Glorified Guard Dragon
🕑 Added 2024-06-04 22:26:40 +0000 UTCPoV:
1. Selvaria (Our Loyal Sea Dragon Guard Lizard!)
--------------------
Selvaria floated on the surface of the storming ocean, dully staring at the ghostly ship sinking into the waves, its tattered sails burning with orange flames. Its ethereal crew shrieked their rage at her, some floating out to confront her as the restless waves settled into a lull.
She would have vaporized them with [Ion Cutter], but a flurry of gunfire hit them from the dissipating mist. A red-and-pink-themed galleon cut through the waves, raining hell down on the pitiful ghosts. Half of the men and women onboard roared their victory, while the other half frantically ran up and down its deck, fixing the damage done to the vessel.
[Level Up - Level 13]
[2 Stat Point Added; 2 Available]
[Kaiju Size Increase: 32 meters tall]
Her glowing, aquamarine eyes fixated on the spectral blaze while stretching out. Why did it have to be a ghost ship that literally tried to take a bite out of my tail? Not like it was that strong…but nothing really is whenever I get serious. How did this happen again? Right…her.
Selvaria shifted her massive form in the calming ocean, still partially submerged, observing the commotion aboard Cahira’s ship. Behind her, Selvaria was happy to see the cruise ship, with its crew, still untouched; she did the job Rachel gave her well.
The red-headed pirate lady sailing up to her with a big grin and thumbs up had totally made this her problem. There was the promise of food, though.
Cahira’s second-in-command shouted orders to the men and women aboard, scurrying to repair the damaged deck. The seasoned pirate captain hopped off of her ship as it neared, her vessel disappearing in a burst of blue flames.
Thick ginger braid flying up in her fall and showing off a flashy grin, the Legend of Grace O’Malley landed in a much smaller rowboard that materialized below her.
“Ms. Suspicious,” Selvaria greeted with a blunt nod, her scales shimmering as she transformed into her human form and eyed the package in Cahira’s hands. “You’re more skilled than I thought you’d be.”
“Aye, Selv,” Cahira grinned, her illuminated, light brown eyes twinkling with mischief. “Ye did a fine job out there, love. ’Twas quite the sight, havin’ a sea monster on me side! By the way, I love the scaled look ye have goin’ for ye; it really fits ye. I’d say I ain’t never seen a finer lass of the sea!”
Selvaria glanced down at her polished scales, forming patterns on part of her body from her neck, bust, and lower half to provide modest cover. “Yeah, I know I’m pretty, but you’re just saying that to butter me up, Pirate Lady. I saved your butt. You promised me food. What’s this…don’t think my stomach is this small,” she grumbled as the pirate winked and presented the package.
“And a fine ass I do have, I must say!” Cahira laughed, peeling back the cloth. “This doesn’t happen to be my gift, lassy. No, this be the reward from my Feat [Plunder Treasure].”
Her eyes widened upon seeing two intricately designed mills, one for salt and one for pepper. Selvaria’s mouth started to salivate at the sight of the spices; she loved old table products like this.
“Infinite salt and pepper mills,” Cahira explained with a weak chuckle, pulling up on her crop top and smelling a tad nervous. “A, eh, strange reward, but useful! Ye can season yer food forever. What do ya say? It do be your part of the reward since ye did most of the heavy liftin’. I got more food if ye don’t like ‘em.”
“What?! No, they’re amazing!” Selvaria softly breathed, looking at the two fancy antique items as if they were holy relics. “Give them to me when we get back on the ship. No funny business?”
“Aye, aye!” Cahira defended, placing the items back in the cloth bag. “I only cheated at that card game once.”
“We only played once!” she huffed, making the ginger strain a laugh.
“Sure. Sure. I’m a pirate! Ye got good instincts, love. Quite the team we make, eh? Never thought I’d be workin’ with a pretty sea monster. I could use someone like you on the crew. What do ye—ahhh!”
Selvaria grabbed the edge of the boat, her tail launching them toward the cruise ship as it began to leave them behind. “I could have done it on my own. But you…weren’t so bad, I guess,” she admitted, not unkindly. “What happened to all the men on your ship?”
Rebalancing herself, Cahira waved a hand dismissively. “They’re a part of me abilities as a Legend. Off to the internal shipyard from my Legend Quest. Would’ve been easier if ye joined force from the start, eh? I’ve got plenty of goodies aboard me lovely Lady Luck.”
Considering the pirate’s offer, Selvaria had flashbacks of all the anime and shows about pirates she’d seen. There were good pirates, and she may be the dubious kind, but she seemed okay. In fact, maybe Rachel would like her. The totally wrecked hopping vampire lady who exited earlier was most definitely not a friend, nor the other pirates that showed up to pick her up. They left fast, though.
“No dice, lady…but maybe you could join our company. We’re rich, ya know, and wait, you’re from Ireland, right?”
Cahira’s eyes sparkled at the mention of wealth, making Selvaria internally curse. Why had that been the first thing out of her mouth? Besides, it was more like Scarlet was the loaded one. She partly wanted to work with Rachel and the military because she was scared she’d eat her mom’s savings into oblivion with how much food she required. The cruise ship stores were already a quarter gone, but she was full! Well…mostly full. Fighting ghost ships burned calories.
Her internal reverie was interrupted by the pirate. “Aye, I’m always up for hire! Take me aboard. Looks like we’ve got some new guests anyway,” she mumbled, pulling out a spyglass and staring off to the side. “New fog rollin’ in off the portside, love. Thick and ominous like… What’s the play?”
She stopped by the ladder for Cahira to climb up, glancing in the direction Cahira pointed. “It’s probably Dracula. Ugh. One thing after another—and do you have to shake your butt like that while climbing?”
Cahira smirked and glanced down at her with the spray of the nighttime waves lapping against the hull of the ship. “I’m a woman of the sea, lassy, and when yer born of the sea, you’re blessed with a certain sway to yer hips. It’s a mark of pride among the sea lovers; nothin’ to be ashamed of!”
“Sure…”
“Aye, do ye think vampires drink or smoke?” she nonchalantly yelled down over the waves. “I didn’t bring any blood bags, so that could be trouble. Do ye have a plan?”
Selvaria followed after the pirate. “If they cause trouble, blow them up with my electricity, ice, or water breath—maybe a combination of the three,” she shrugged. “Depends on my mood, really. Maybe I’ll eat them…I’m still hungry. Ah! Don’t break!” she gasped, feeling the rails start to bend as she put her full weight on the bottom rung.
Cahira laughed, hanging off of the ladder with one hand to see her spray out jets of water from her mouth to reduce her weight, shrinking in size until she felt safe enough to go up.
“You’re one funny sea dragon, Selv! A frighteningly fun one, for sure! Vampires, pirates, and a sea monster on the open sea. What a tale!”
Smiling a little at her joking vibes, Selvaria followed her up to the deck. The nervous crew that Elizabeth had hired was waiting on the deck. They seemed to have spotted the approaching mists.
“More ghost ships?” Captain Nemo asked. “This was not what I anticipated when my ship was acquired by Ms. Báthory.”
“Nay, my fellow seamen!” Cahira roared, summoning a bottle of rum to take a healthy swig and pass it to the nearby woman, who took it and brought it to her lips to calm her nerves. “Our next foe comes with fangs and has an appetite for blood! Have heart; we have Selvaria the Sea Dragon on our side. To your battle stations! Grab the booze, and prepare for combat!”
Selvaria sighed and lowered the peppy redhead’s hand. “We were expecting them, Ms. Suspicious. This is Countess Elizabeth Báthory’s cruise ship, and you’re still my prisoner.”
“Ooh! Kinky. I don’t know who that is…but here! I have handcuffs if you want to lock me up,” the woman laughed as if life was a joke, producing the iron cuffs with a rosy grin and shaking her head. “Luck of the Irish, indeed.”
Unable to take the woman seriously, Selvaria shook her head with a hearty chuckle. “What are you even after…oh, my mills.”
“Right here, love!” The ginger brushed her braid over her shoulder, putting away the cuffs in blue flames and producing her reward. “I can’t give ye any promises. Hehe. I’ve got the devil on me shoulder, after all. Don’t mind me. I’m just here fer adventure, some fun, and maybe…a few bootie calls,” she giggled, licking her red lips and glancing at the nervous crew. “Oh, come on, don’t be shy; I’m not picky.”
Selvaria’s face dulled, and she held out her empty hand. “Where are those handcuffs?”
“Here!” Cahira cheered.
“No. Longer chain ones. Like…three-meter ones.”
“Oooh. Mhm. Mhm… Let’s see… Something like these?”
Producing the shackles with an innocent smile, she asked, “Do I get a room?”
“You get shackled to a dragon.”
Cahira didn’t seem that depressed by the idea while snapping it on her wrist as Selvaria did the same. “Not me worst daydream! So long as I’ve got booze, I’m along for the ride. Bring the bloodsuckers! Mmm. Do you think any of them are good with their tongue?”
Selvaria shot her a light glare.
“Just curious!”
As the fog thickened, a dark silhouette emerged as the fantasy boat pulled alongside their massive cruise ship. Dracula’s tall, imposing figure stepped out of the soup, both regal and terrifying, with sharp features, piercing red eyes, and a flowing black cape. He held his hands behind his back, his expression unreadable.
“Greetings, Selvaria the Leviathan. I followed your previous battle closely… Quite impressive. I’d expect nothing less from a Kaiju-class Mythickin.”
“I’m here, too!” Cahira cheered, pink-faced with her third empty bottle of rum in hand. “Aren’t you tall, dark, and—hicc! Goods I’ve got…no, I’ve got goods. Cigars, booze…no, I’m running out booze,” she mumbled, peering at what looked to be a cargo ledger she materialized from blue flames. “Uh…do vampires like papaya—authentic Cuban papaya?"
Selvaria met his stare without flinching. “She’s not with us.”
“The chains gave that away.”
“Hey! I’m a respectable lass,” Cahira balked. “Hicc! Life’s just been…rough, with the whole Ireland thing, and what’s up with the Cuban military chasing me off? I bought everything legally…maybe it wasn’t obtained legally, but I bought it legally! Illegally-legally…hicc! I see six pretty ladies.”
“Three,” Selvaria corrected, feeling slightly embarrassed at the drunk pirate’s antics. Dracula’s wives materialized next to him, each stunning in their own right; they stood like specters at his side, one raven-haired, another platinum-blonde, and the last with fiery-red curls that matched Cahira’s. “I’m guessing you’re here for Selene? She’s off in her room…2nd deck, second hallway to your left, fifth door.”
Dracula’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Aleera,” he commanded, and the fiery-haired wife stepped forward, her expression a mixture of irritation and duty. “We are on a schedule.”
“Good,” Selvaria stated in the tense atmosphere, the crew shivering in the legendary vampires’ presence as the redhead flickered into mist. Her powerful tail flicked to the side, creating a sharp gust that blasted the mist away. “If you cause trouble…I’ll have to eat you. So be good bats and don’t cause trouble.”
The man’s lips lifted a tad while observing her, the atmosphere becoming dense as the shadows deepened, darkening even Selvaria’s sharp vision. “I wouldn’t dream of causing trouble for Countess Báthory. I shall collect what is mine, and I will be on my way.”
Not budging, Selvaria flashed her sharp fangs, her tongue sliding over their glossy surface. “Good.” Her tail flicked out again, this time passing straight through the deck’s steel, creating a loud screeching sound. Cahira gulped, big brown eyes fixated on the hole with everyone else before looking at her.
Several tense seconds went by. “…I did not mean to do that…but you get the point! You’ll be fine waiting on your boat because this ship is protected by this…very sharp and dangerous tail,” she proclaimed.
Dracula’s small smile didn’t falter, and a few more seconds later, he gave her a formal bow, a humored chuckle shaking the air. “Very well. No one of interest is here, in any case. Verona, check on Aleera.”
“Yes, My Lord,” the mysterious raven-haired wife said, giving them a curtsy before dispersing into the fog. “Have a lovely cruise, Lady Lizard.”
Selvaria’s nose twitched with slight agitation as the vampires disappeared. “The nerve…”
Cahira burst into laughter. “Three cheers for Selv-lizard, the vampire slayer!”
No one joined her shouts as the redhead sallied over to her. “Alright, now let’s party the deck, lads! Hicc!”
Selvaria allowed herself to be guided into the dining hall by the loud pirate. Unfortunately, her troubles didn’t end there. Dracula’s wives seemed to be cats with their claws out as the night went on. Dracula appeared to stay on his ship to keep away from the trouble that Selvaria heard throughout the hours they were on the boat. It was as if chaos incarnate had targeted them.
Selene, apparently, didn’t have Scarlet’s dad’s corpse. Selvaria had totally forgotten about that part due to the ghost pirate ship attack, and it didn’t help having a drunken pirate woman attached to her wrist, flirting with anything that walked on two legs…and a random cat that appeared at one point? At least he was snuggly.
After some chaos between the wives and Selene, Dracula’s ship pulled away as daybreak came. Selvaria dragged Cahira around the deck for a time. Locking her onto the railing on their fifth round, she dived into the ocean and carefully scanned the ocean. Not finding any approaching threats for at least several hours’ distance, she went back to pick up her prisoner.
The sun was just beginning to rise, casting a warm, golden glow across the deck of the cruise ship. Selvaria released the appropriate amount of water, the waves rising and falling around her. Climbing up the wall to stare out at the calm waves, she sighed and dropped next to the chuffed pirate.
The day was a stark contrast to the whirlwind that was Selene and the vampire wives the night before. She was more trouble than Dracula probably thought. Cahira looked like a saint compared to the obsessive sixteen-year-old. It helped make Selvaria more accepting of the ginger Irish woman.
Cahira took a swig from a bottle of rum, noticeably less drunk than earlier but still holding onto that carefree pirate spirit. She bobbed her body to the song playing over the speakers; yeah, the pirate was still trouble…but she could also be sweet and understanding. They were alone now, the cruise ship’s crew going about their jobs or sleeping.
Selvaria stared out at the horizon, her expression dull and somewhat forlorn. The silence between them stretched on, filled only by the gentle lapping of the waves against the ship’s hull.
“Aye, Selv,” Cahira began, breaking the heavy atmosphere, “ye look like ye got a storm brewin’ inside ye, lass. What’s on yer mind?”
Another sigh passed through Selvaria’s lips, her gaze unwavering from the ocean. “Just…thinking. Everyone else seems to be off doing exciting things, and here I am…guarding a boat…and heathen. I feel like I’m just…existing.”
“Heathen, am I?” Cahira chuckled, nudging her with her elbow. “A mighty sea monster like yerself, feelin’ lonely, huh? Now that’s a tale. Ye ever tried drinkin’ yer troubles away? Works for me!”
Selvaria shook her head, thinking back to all the trouble she’d been to her mom. It was hard being a burden on someone you loved, but she’d felt invincible growing up. Now, she saw how much trouble she’d been with her brain healed.
“I’ve never drunk anything before. I know I’m of age, but…I just never had the opportunity, I guess you could say. Does it really work? I mean…I have super high resistances. Like…the best.”
A mischievous grin spread across Cahira’s face. “Well, love, there’s a first time for everythin’. And don’t you worry about that…I’ve got some special stuff from me Legend Quest for the strong-bellied, if ya get me. I bet the mighty Leviathan couldn’t drink me under the table.”
Selvaria huffed, turning to look at the redhead with a hint of challenge in her glowing aquamarine irises. “I could totally beat you. You got hammered off normal stuff.”
“Did I now,” she winked, holding out a scary-looking pink bottle with a playful glint in her eye, “or is that what I wanted ye to think? Put yer tail on it, or do ye got a weak belly.”
“Hah. That’s a joke… Even if it was poison…I’m so immune.”
Selvaria hesitated for a moment before taking the bottle. She eyed it warily, then took a tentative sip, wincing at the strong taste. It was fruity and sweet, though. Cahira laughed heartily, clapping her on the back, being careful of her spikes.
“That’s the spirit! Now, keep goin’. We’ve got a long day ahead of us, guardin’ this beauty of a ship…filled with games and fun! Ain’t no better way to start it than with a bit of spirit, eh?”
Selvaria took another sip, more confident this time, then another one, and before she knew it, she’d reached the bottom. The warmth of the alcohol spread through her, dulling the edges of her loneliness. She handed the bottle back to Cahira, who summoned another one out of blue flames with a wicked grin, took a swig, and passed it over.
“Oh, I think we’ll become great friends, love. Ya just gotta give a lass a chance.”
Feeling a little better, Selvaria giggled, enjoying a slightly more bitter flavor that this one left on her tongue and throat. “You know…this isn’t so bad.”
Cahira got up and held out a hand. “Not like I can help ye up, but would ye care to dance away the sorrows? As budding friends of the sea, of course! There’s plenty more where that came from. Ye might just find that life’s a bit more bearable with a good drink in hand and a bit of company ta pass the time.”
Selvaria nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. For the first time in a while, she felt a bit of the weight lift off her shoulders. Maybe this pirate wasn’t so bad after all.
As the sun continued to rise, casting a beautiful array of colors across the sky, the redhead shared with her bottle after bottle, and after a while, everything started to blur together. Her laughter mingled with the pirates on their path through the games on the cruise, and at some point, Selvaria lost track of the time.
Blurry eyes peeling open, she wiped away the drool running out of her mouth with a low groan. At some point, she’d taken out Chocolate, her moose plushie, to snuggle with from her waterproof backpack. She didn’t feel any pain or a headache, but things were a bit too bright for a second. She heard rustling within the room she was in, and glanced to the right.
Stretching out on her bed, the redhead threw her legs over the mattress and grinned down at her with the bright sun shining through the cabin windows. “Mornin’, sunshine! Do ye sleep on the floor often, love? I would have offered ye a spot next to me if ye would have asked…or, hehe, joined ye on the planks! Aww.”
Selvaria threw her legs up in the air, her tail rising, and threw them down to push herself up and snatched the bottle that appeared in the pirate’s hand. “No alcohol in the morning! What…even happened last night—yesterday? Oh no, I didn’t check if there were any threats!”
“I need me mornin’ toothpaste,” Cahira complained with a light pout that broke into laughter. “We filled it last night, and ye did yer dutiful checks. We patrolled the sea as co-captains! Captain Sea Lassy with her chocolate moose first-mate, and Captain Fatass, the licentious whore of the high seas who cannot be saved!”
“You’re…haha. Really?” Selvaria’s shoulders slumped as she peered into the bottle to see it filled with toothpaste. “We really did fill it with toothpaste.”
“Don’t worry. I got another one,” she winked, summoning a second…only this one was rum. “Mmm! Nothing like a good shot of toothpaste in the mornin’ to get yer blood runnin’.”
“Liar.”
“I do be that from time to time, but only to brighten me friends’ spirits when the spirits aren’t workin’. What do ya say we raid yer lil’ hare friend’s party?”
Her elf-like ears raised at the news as the redhead went to the mirror to fix herself up, adjusting her green underwear and wiggling into her tight leather pants. Selvaria fixed her makeshift bed and put away her sleeping items while pepping up.
“You can get into Elizabeth’s Legend Quest?”
“Aye, love. Who do ye think I be?” she asked with a half-smile while combing out her hair. “Hmm. Maybe we should take a shower before going, hmm? Yikes, we do be smellin’ like the bottom of a bottle. It’s best to be clean when meetin’ royalty, ya know?”
Selvaria felt her heartbeat rising; maybe this dubious pirate lady could be more than a lecherous party fiend. Wait…no, this was all so she could be a lecherous party fiend! Plus, she had the sneaking suspicion that all the alcohol she’d brought to sell was no longer available to sell…because of both of them. Cahira was the queen of alcoholism, and she’d snared her into her web.
“You’re…a bad influence.”
“The worst!” Cahira snickered, turning left and right to admire her figure. “The Oscillation was the best thing that ever did happen to me… Plus, I get to meet fun lasses and lads. Yer a good dancer for the weight, by the way.”
Slipping on her crop top, the Legend threw her arms over her head and stretched out. “Love! Seriously,” the redhead chortled, giving her a peace sign. “Say what you want, but I adore the vibes. You’re a lot more fun when drunk than you know.”
Lips falling open, Selvaria’s left eye creased. “I…was actually drunk… Wait, why can’t I remember parts of last night, like…at all? What did you slip me in those pink bottles?!”
“Slip you? Darlin’?” The ginger flipped around and gave her an innocent smile. “You were the one that said you could outdrink a lassy that’s based on a pirate queen because ye were the ‘mighty leviathan,’ so I had to act a little drunk to bait you into it! You’re so fun. Look! You even found buried treasure underwater…”
Selvaria bolted up as a crusty treasure chest materialized out of blue flames. “I did what?!”
“Spanish gold! All yours, of course…except for the quarter I won in our bet! Hehe. There wouldn’t be any fancy dresses I could pilfer around this luxury cruise, would there be?”
Totally lost on what she should do, and torn with the prospect of going into the Legend Quest with Rachel, she tried to reason her way into it.
“I guess…we can just peek in on them, right? I, uh…you can get us back out, right?”
Cahira’s devious features softened, and she held up her thumb. “Pirates do be needin’ an escape route after their plunders, me fine-tailed sea creature. I, eh, I also be wantin’ to talk to yer lil’ fairy friend.” She became more melancholy, holding her elbow and glancing to the side. “Ireland do be needin’ her help, and if ye are lookin’ to offer yer services, then I’d be hard-pressed not ta join the cause.” She looked up with a sincere smile. “After all, it do be me home.”
Selvaria felt like crying as pieces of their solemn conversations last night filtered through the fog. She’d done something good! Cahira had escaped Ireland using her [Plunder] Feat. She could get them past the barrier, and she was passionate about her homeland.
“Okay! Let’s do it, fatbutt.”
Cahira gave her a two-fingered salute. “Not so fast, snail-tail, we’ve got to pretty up for the ball. Care to raid some closets with me? I bet that bratty vampire teen left behind some stuff.”
“You’re on!”
Heart singing, Selvaria chatted with the pirate, getting to know the woman more. As they continued, she could hear a lot of darker emotions hiding beneath the pretty redhead’s surface-level persona—pride and guilt. There were deeper layers to Cahira than she showed, and Selvaria could resonate with that, as well.
Sure, she projected this wholesome, invincible kaiju monster on the outside, but deep down…there were decades of scars on her heart. In a way, she believed it was all those cuts that had made her turn into this invulnerable sea dragon…to protect herself. Finally, she was finding real friends, though… At least, she hoped she was.
She released enough water to wear one of Selene’s abandoned black dresses—most of her stuff was gothic, and standing in the same place she’d seen Elizabeth open the portal, she pointed the spot out to Cahira.
“There.”
Cahira did a final check on her self-adjusted dress, having parts cut out to fit her proportions and more revealing style, the redhead grinned. “Aye, I got a few pistols and knives tucked up me skirt, so let’s crash this masquerade!”
“What skirt?” Selvaria dully asked, eyeing the pirate’s thigh-length ‘mini-skirt’ after cutting much of the fabric away. To be fair, she was taller than Selene.
“We work with what we got, love, and I do have a shape a young lass would envy. Let the operation begin!” Raising a hand, blue flames flickered from her hand and into the air, revealing a rose-themed cutlass. She adjusted her pirate hat and slashed the air, screaming, “Charge!”
Sapphire flames cut through space, and the bloody portal opened. They charged through it, entering a colossal hallway. Right ahead of them was a stunned 13-year-old girl: Cássia, only…she looked a little different than when Selvaria had first seen her.
[Level Up - Level 14]
[1 Stat Point Added; 3 Available]
[1 Feat Extension Added; 1 Available]
[Kaiju Size Increase: 35 meters tall]
A stillness came over the hall of teenage girls engaged in what Selvaria would have described as a tea party. The atmosphere grew more and more tense as she looked left and right. Tables filled with sweets and various tea blends, a formal orchestra in the corner, and maids all over the place.
Cahira’s loud voice died down, raised sword faltering a little. “Wrong…party? Eep!”
Blood snaked up from the floor to bind the bewildered pirate as the portal collapsed behind them. When the pool faded, a narrow-eyed, very intimidating mother came into view, who even chilled Selvaria’s bones.
“One invited…and one uninvited guest. Whatever should I do?” Her liquidy-ruby irises darted to one of the stoic maids that materialized by her side out of shadows. “String her up.”
“Wait, wait!” Selvaria choked, suddenly starting to get worried; Selene had said Rachel was kicking butt, though. “We’re just…here to join Rachel. Is she here?”
“Selv?”
Her eyes widened, darting to the deep male voice in the background. “Anthony! Uh, where is Rachel? I just came to, umm, check on everyone… What happened?!”
“She’s waiting for Scarlet to wake up… Uh, Countess, she’s…”
“Yes, I am aware of who Selvaria is… It is this brigand who should not be on my boat. What are you doing on my cruise ship, Legend of Grace O’Malley?”
Cahira strained a smile, totally cocooned in blood, being pulled toward Elizabeth. “Just…here for the party, milady.”
An evil gleam sparkled in the dangerous mother’s eye. “Then you can join as the entertainment.”
“Selv, help!”
It took a bit to sort things out, and Cahira did do a bit of hanging upside down in the air, but eventually, they got things figured out. The redhead refused to leave her side for a time after her private talk with the Countess of Blood and was on her best behavior.
She was thrilled when spotting their new—and adorable—hellhound puppies. Although, it sucked she missed the goddess meetup. Persephone sounded amazing. Nia had gotten her a really beautiful flower crown that she wore whenever she could over the next few days, as well.
Rachel seemed too busy to really chat, doing a lot of stuff inside her Soul Expanse—apparently what their internal world was called. And as the days passed, she went in and out, happy to learn that everything was resolved and she’d done what she needed to, protecting their way back to Earth. In addition, she started gaining a lot of levels, which was awesome!
Once Scarlet woke up, they’d be on their way back to Miami. Saint Barbara also informed them that they’d kicked Dracula out, so that was big. Soon, the Montana Crystal would be their objective, and she was ready to show her stuff. Cahira was now telling everyone about her crazy adventures, most of which Selvaria had heard the previous night.
One weird thing she’d heard from Anthony was that Selene had died. Obviously, that wasn’t the case because Dracula picked her up. She’d have to bring that up with Rachel when they talked about stuff. Aurora was gone, which was a plus, and she was glad no one seemed to be talking about the weird vampire lady; Cahira was trouble enough for her.
She giggled on the inside while slipping into the bloody sea around the floating barony to explore. Next time, I won’t just be the guard dog. I can’t wait to see what everyone says when they see how big I am now; I’m turning into a real kaiju! Maybe...I should get a size changing Feat because it's already a pain being so big sometimes already...weight, too.
-----------------
