User blog:ExdeathsBagel/I found your secret... (WWYD by GNAL.LUI-DJ)

WWYD by GNAL.LUI-DJ: http://monstergirlencyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/Thread:810472

Tears sting my eyes as I look through video after video, begging that it wasn’t true, yet each video ended the same, her numerous partners content in both carnal satisfaction and their new body as an abominable Incubus.

A hand rests on my shoulder, and a patient silence blankets the room.

“I’m sorry. A year’s worth of work, wasted.” I say glumly.

“Hey, it’s not your fault. You did all that you could.”

I look over my shoulder, and see my beloved Dhampir, Mariah leaning over me and staring at the monitor with a grin.

She lets out a low whistle, “Check out the package on that guy; a poor girl would get impaled on that.”

“Maybe it’s not too late. Maybe I can still convince April to change her ways, to stop making Incubi.”

I feel Mariah grab my shoulders and spin my chair around to face her. She looks deep into my eyes, her expression serious. “Thomas, you did all that you could. You know how this works: the moment they start making Incubi is the moment they’ve got to go.”

“But I-”

“Yes, you changed one years ago. And you know what? That was a miracle, and I’m proud of you for that. I admire you for reducing the land of Incubi, all without drawing blood.”

Her expression softens and turns grim, “Believe me, I take no pleasure in killing Succubi either, but you need to pull out weeds by the root.”

We embrace and I tighten my hold around her, “This is hard.”

“I know, but I’ve seen what happens when Incubi run wild, and don’t forget that you were nearly one.”

“And then you saved me.” I say with a smile, knowing where this tale was going.

“And you had the audacity to say we should spare her. Claiming she saw the error of her ways.” Mariah smiled and gave me a light punch to the shoulder.

“It worked didn’t it?” I say rubbing my shoulder.

<p class="MsoNormal">“And I’ve admire you for trying with every one we’ve ran into since.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“And that admire you for having the strength to do the dirtiest of work when I can’t.”

<p class="MsoNormal">Mariah sighs, noticing the tone in my voice, “Hey, you’ve got a gentle heart, don’t put yourself down.” She cups my face, “It’s a heart I don’t want you to loose, please, while I love you for joining the fight without hesitation, always leave the killing to me.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“I just worry about you.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Don’t. I’ve got the heart for it. You know, if it weren’t for you, I probably would’ve ended up a cruel Vampire, just like my mother.” She walks to the window, our swords and satchels containing numerous demon slaying equipment up against the wall near the bed, and stares at the setting sun before turning to me, her smile lighting up the room as white hair shimmers in the light.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Thomas, thank you for sticking with me through all this. You’ve could’ve easily taken your new chance at life and just lived a normal one. Instead, you followed me, a stranger, taking contract after contract to hunt Vampires and Succubi.”

<p class="MsoNormal">I trip over my words as I try to express my gratitude, much to Mariah’s delight, “No, don’t say anything. I know you’re a man of few words. A man of action.” She walks back up to me and straddles me, “You know the hunt will be on tonight when she returns.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Yes.” I say, no hint of sorrow in my voice.

<p class="MsoNormal">She smiles and puts her hands on my shoulders, “You’re really tense, we can’t have you like that when we’re fighting a Succubus, and I still need to make sure you’re protected from her charms.” She kisses me, “I think I have a way to kill two birds with one stone.”

<p class="MsoNormal">The full moon envelops the room as we lie in bed, holding each other close.

<p class="MsoNormal">“You know, for just making sure I was protected, you really enjoyed that.”

<p class="MsoNormal">Mariah tiredly punches me in the shoulder, “I haven’t made love with you in a year, what did you think was going to happen? And don’t tell me you didn’t enjoy it.” Her tone suddenly takes a serious turn, “You really enjoyed it too, like really enjoyed it.” She looks down at me, “She hasn’t charmed you already has she?”

<p class="MsoNormal">I look away, a blush on my face.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Thomas, be honest with me. It might not be too late for you if you just be honest.” Mariah says worryingly.

<p class="MsoNormal">Still looking away from her, I speak, “It’s nothing like that. I just…hadn’t laid with April since we went steady.”

<p class="MsoNormal">Her eyes went wide, “Wait, what? All whole year and you hadn’t bed her?”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Nope, was too worried about being charmed or transformed. Hell, I couldn’t even deal with it alone, Succubi are like sharks with a drop of blood in the water with that.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“So you for a whole year…you didn’t-” She couldn’t even finish her sentence before bursting out laughing, “Holy shit no wonder! That’s the type of abstinence even a Valkyrie would call too strict.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“It’s not funny.” I say softly.

<p class="MsoNormal">“It’s hilarious! Man I should do that with you, not for a year obviously, but maybe a week.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Mariah.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“I’m kidding, I’m kidding.” She lays back down and embraces me, “Thank you for being so honorable to me.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Of course, I love you after all, and every time she tried her charms I just thought about you.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“How romantic.” Mariah said sarcastically, then chuckled, “Well, if she wasn’t suspicious then, I bet she is now. She could probably hear you from down the street.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“She could probably hear you from the airport.” I playfully shot back.

<p class="MsoNormal">“I can hear you both just fine.”

<p class="MsoNormal">We both shoot up, though Mariah puts a hand on my chest to keep me down. Leaning against the open door was the Succubus April, with an unreadable expression on her face.

<p class="MsoNormal">“How long have you-”

<p class="MsoNormal">April interrupted me, “Long enough. I knew I smelled something the moment I came in, and you two were too busy pillow talking to notice.”

<p class="MsoNormal">She glares at Mariah, who meets her glare with equal intensity. “I don’t know who you are, but I was tempted to bury my sword in your back the moment I walked in.”

<p class="MsoNormal">She then glares at me, causing a shiver to go down my spine. “And I’ve got half a mind to castrate you for this.”

<p class="MsoNormal">She punched the wall, leaving a crack, “One year. One. Year. No sex, little intimacy, and you get him to waste himself on you! The only reason I’m not tearing you apart is because I’m curious as to who you are. Who the hell are you to get him to cheat on me?!”

<p class="MsoNormal">“The name’s Mariah,” Mariah says as she gets out of the bed, “And who are you to accuse me of cheating when you’ve been doing it for months?” She motions to the laptop on the desk.

<p class="MsoNormal">April glances at it and scoffs, “Thomas, you married a Succubus, what did you expect? Besides, you were never intimate with me.” She looks up and down Mariah, “Can’t see why you’d choose a human though, she’s nothing impressive.”

<p class="MsoNormal">Mariah tenses for a moment, but then suddenly relaxes, a grin spreads across her face, “Yeah, I’m human alright!” She says as she charges her, fist ready to swing.

<p class="MsoNormal">April stands there, unmoving, a smirk on her face as April comes at her with a face. I can’t see her expression as Mariah’s fist meets her nose and sends her careening through the wall, but judging from Mariah’s grin, it was a sight to behold.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Half-human!” Mariah shouts.

<p class="MsoNormal">April lays on the wooden floor for a moment, raising her hand to her face before raising herself up from the feet to a standing position. A trickle of blood runs down her nose.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Half-human? That makes you a…Dhampir right? Talk about a step down. Thomas, why would you sleep with a Dhampir and not a full demon?” April says walking to me.

<p class="MsoNormal">Mariah blocks her path, “He had no intentions on sleeping with you, we’ve been hunting demons for years now! You’re just another beast that needs to be put do-”

<p class="MsoNormal">April grabs Mariah by her hair with one hand and throws her behind her. Without even touching the ground Mariah breaks though the wooden guard rails next to the stairs and meets the wall with a sickening crack before disappearing from view with a heart wrenching tumbling noise down the remaining stairs as paintings that decorate the walls fall.

<p class="MsoNormal">“I’ll let you speak for yourself, Thomas.” April says as she moves to the edge of the bed. She smirks, “Are you really here to hunt me down?”

<p class="MsoNormal">I take a deep breath, “Yes.” I say.

<p class="MsoNormal">She chuckles, “For what? The cheating? This is one hell of a way to punish a little infidelity.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“No, it’s not that. It because you’re making Incubi.”

<p class="MsoNormal">April cocks her head, “Oh I see, another one of those demon hunters are you? Trying to prevent the spread of the Demon Realm? Well you sure take your sweet ass time.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Because all you have to do is stop.” I say, “You can have as many men as you want, but we’re just here put an end to the Incubi. Men aren’t meant to have demonic energy flowing through them, they’re a danger to everything this world holds dear! At least with mamonos you have enough wits when giving into lust to establish a society, but Incubus lack that.”

<p class="MsoNormal">I look into her eyes, “Please, I don’t want to hurt you.” I plead. Even if our relationship was a cover to try and get her to stop making Incubi, I couldn’t deny that I at least saw her as a friend.

<p class="MsoNormal">However, that feeling wasn’t shared in her eyes. She chuckled, “Hurt me? Sweetie you couldn’t hurt a fly if you wanted too. Now,” she pushed me back down on the bed with a single hand, “I think you just aren’t giving Incubi a chance. Maybe if you were one, you’d enjoy it.”

<p class="MsoNormal">Before she can straddle me two splinters and blooded arms shoot up from beneath her, grabbing her legs and pulling her down with them. I remain paralyzed as a struggle begins to echo from below before Mariah’s shouts at me from the first floor.

<p class="MsoNormal">“What are you waiting for?! Come down and help!”

<p class="MsoNormal">The desperation in her voice breaks me from my paralysis as I take her sword and mine as I bolt down the stairs. Reaching the bottom I hear the sounds clashing in the kitchen, and inside I see April has summoned her sword, slicing through pan after pan Mariah raises to vainly to defend herself.

<p class="MsoNormal">I toss Mariah her sword like a javelin, April ducks as the sword flies over her and impales itself on the wall, which Mariah effortlessly pulls out and charges at April, taking their fight back to the living room. Splinters still rain from the hole above as Mariah and April’s swords cross, and while Mariah’s spirit remains ever determined, it’s clear the Succubus has the upper hand in strength.

<p class="MsoNormal">And I simply stand there. Normally when battling Vampires or Succubi, I can jump with little hesitation, especially when Mariah was on the ropes. But now I am frozen like never before.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Thomas!” Mariah snaps to me, her body leaning back as April pushes her blade forward. “Don’t just stand there! We have a duty to fufill! Help me put down this beast!”

<p class="MsoNormal">April laughs, “How many of our kind have you slaughtered, Mariah?! How many of our kind have you sent to the underworld?! Because don’t worry, I’m sure they’ll be very happy to see you!”

<p class="MsoNormal">Mariah’s knees buckle, “Thomas!”

<p class="MsoNormal">Tears sting my eyes as I charge at April, who quickly kicks away Mariah and meets my sword with hers. If a Dhampir like Mariah struggled in a deadlock, it was a miracle my sword wasn’t knocked out my hands as I met hers. My arms went numb as she simply looked at me, amused, holding her sword with one hand.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Just stop this April! Stop making Incubi and we’ll leave you alone!”

<p class="MsoNormal">A spark ignites in her eyes, and grin spreads across her face, “Stop making Incubi? Now why would I do that? You should see what they can do!” With a single kick to the groin my vision flashes and I collapse, hurting especially since I had nothing but bare skin to protect me.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Damn you! How dare you lay a finger on him!” Mariah says as she slowly gets up.

<p class="MsoNormal">“You’re upset with me for hitting this coward? Unbelievable. Don’t worry, he’ll live, jewels intact. I need those after all for the transformation. Speaking of which,” April snapped her fingers, and a dark purple void opened a few feet behind Mariah, “Want to see what he’s going to become?”

<p class="MsoNormal">As the four figures shambled out of the purple void, my pain is quickly replaced with repulsion. I don’t think I’ll ever get over seeing an Incubi, though this time a screen was not protecting my senses from the four that arrived to assault them.

<p class="MsoNormal">On hooved feet they stepped on the wooden floor, with the legs of horses covered in fur that was either black, brown, or purple depending on the one being seen. And that was as merciful as they were to one’s perception. For a sickening smell quickly permeated the room and April and I nearly gagged, it reeked of the familiarity of intimacy but also something unidentifiable and terrible to the soul. From the torso up these being had the silhouette of man with the exception of leathery wings that folded neatly behind the back, almost invisible, long fingers, and skin that could not keep a consistent color.

<p class="MsoNormal">Much like the body the face too changed color rapidly, but unlike the body, three blobs circled the face constantly, and frightfully without eyes they still somehow turned their heads to me. The overall skin color changed to match mine, and the blobs ceased their rotation to form my face.

<p class="MsoNormal">Their expressions blank, almost like porcelain, as their bodies quickly followed suit and matched the appearance of mine. From the torso up, with the exception of otherwise hidden wings and elongated fingers, what stood before me were four abominable mockeries of me and humankind.

<p class="MsoNormal">A sudden snap from April’s fingers filled the room and made me realize rather chillingly that the creatures were completely silent otherwise.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Good Incubi, you took his form rather quickly. Now, please show this Dhampir Mariah how a true man loves his wife!”

<p class="MsoNormal">The Incubi turned their heads to sound of April’s voice, having no true eyes to see where she motioned them. Instead, they opened their mouths, though opened might not be the best word to describe it, as with a face that is truly blank, it was more so skin was stretched and torn. But what came out was not something artificial, but rather a long, pink tongue, human only in appearance yet monstrous in its length.

<p class="MsoNormal">Upon tasting Mariah, without word, screech, grunt, or even breath they shambled, the only noise giving them away was their hooves on the floor. Mariah back away quickly, and thankfully too, for the most terrible thing of Incubi revealed themselves to us.

<p class="MsoNormal">From in-between their legs, exiting seemingly from where a gut should be, though Incubi need not even eat, was a long, pure pink, dripping member, almost an arm in length. Mariah, even in her years of experience, shouted in terror and she scrambled back. It a scream I had never heard from her before, one that brought me out of my trance, and one that brought me to my feet and amidst my pain charged and drive my sword in one the creatures back.

<p class="MsoNormal">It sunk in with slight resistance, the body was almost like clay or syrup. The other three continued their approach without stopping, but the one I had impaled had its tongue shoot up over it head and flip its tip to me.

<p class="MsoNormal">With only the whooshing of air as its noise I was batted away with one of its arms as it turned to me, it member retreating back inside it with a sickening slurping sound. It moved quickly and before I could react, elongated fingers wrapped themselves around my throat, and staring into me was that dreadful porcelain-esque replica of my face.

<p class="MsoNormal">I grabbed the tip of my sword and despite the bleeding of my fingers, I shook it, hoping the pain would make it let go of me. But these things seemed to feel no pain, and all my troubles only tightened its grip around my neck.

<p class="MsoNormal">In one last effort, I gave it a kick in between the legs, and much to my relief it let go, scampering back. I moved quickly, closing and giving it another kick, this time harder. The beast stumbled back and fell, unable to spread its wings in retreat. With another kick it fell to its stomach and curled up into a ball. I pulled out my sword from it and drove it into its lower back. The beast tensed on impact, but then relaxed, as the first signs of blood pulled from beneath it.

<p class="MsoNormal">I pulled out my blade once more to see Mariah had figured out the same some time ago. Two of the beast laid spread legged, oozing blood from in-between them. With an upward swing, the last one stiffened and fell.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Are you alright?” I ask as I quickly approach her.

<p class="MsoNormal">Mariah seems to relax as she sees me, “Yeah, you? I saw you getting strangled by one of those…things.” She suddenly drops her sword and hugs me.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Mariah? Are you okay?”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Thomas, I just killed things that looked just like you. How do you think I feel? I don’t want to see you ever become like that.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Then don’t worry.” Mariah stiffens as her grip suddenly tightens. From over her shoulder I see April, and feel something sharp poke me in the stomach.

<p class="MsoNormal">I struggle to break free of Mariah’s grasp, all the while staring into her eyes that were full of confusion and panic.

<p class="MsoNormal">I finally broke free and stumbled back, and from Mariah’s stomach stuck out April’s sword. With a sharp tug April pulled her sword back, and Mariah collapsed to the floor, spitting out blood.

<p class="MsoNormal">“You won’t live to see him transform.” April says, looking down at Mariah, her face expressionless. “As for you, Thomas,” she began, but I didn’t hear her. I was focused on Mariah.

<p class="MsoNormal">She was turning pale fast as blood pooled from beneath her, her eyes were filled with tears and slowly losing their glimmer. Lacking the strength to speak, she could only mouth a single word: run.

<p class="MsoNormal">Suddenly April stepped into view, bending down over me, “Got that, Thomas?”

<p class="MsoNormal">I gripped my sword as rage and desperation enveloped me, and with a roar I buried my sword into April’s stomach. I did not see her expression, for as soon as she stumbled back, tripping over Mariah, I crawled to Mariah.

<p class="MsoNormal">“What are you waiting for? Run.” She said in shaky breaths.

<p class="MsoNormal">I shook my head, “No. I’m getting you out of here too.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Thomas, even if you did that, I’d die soon. Please, just run.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“It’s a shame.” April said through gritted teeth as she got up, my sword still in her stomach.

<p class="MsoNormal">I turned pale, “H-how? That sword is imbued with silver, it should be able to hurt demons.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Oh believe me,” April gripped the sword, “It fucking hurts!” She yelled as she pulled it out.

<p class="MsoNormal">She fell next to a pool of an Incubus’ blood and quickly began to lap it up. Suddenly the wound in stomach began to close.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Men’s spirit energy can be used for much.” She said as she gulped down the last of its blood, “Food, pleasure, revitalization. An Incubi are filled to the brim with it.” April placed a hand where the hole in stomach once was, now healed, but scarred, “Just that pool of blood saved me from an otherwise fatal wound. Now imagine an army of these beast, fighting and fucking alongside fellow demons. This world would be ours! Pitiful hunters like you would be dead where you stood!”

<p class="MsoNormal">An idea flashed in my head, I turned to Mariah, who looked like she was on the verge of losing consciousness, “Mariah, drink by blood.” I say, holding out my wrist.

<p class="MsoNormal">Even in her state her tone still carried the sound of repulsion, “Thomas, are you insane? With the amount of blood I’d need I could kill you. Even if you were to live, in that state I wouldn’t be able to control myself and-”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Dammit Mariah just do it! If you don’t we’re both going to die and-”

<p class="MsoNormal">With sudden surge of strength Mariah latched onto my shoulders, her head close to my neck, her voice in my ear, “I fucking hate you.”

<p class="MsoNormal">With a sudden sting Mariah latched into my neck and began to drink, being a Dhampir, she had the capability to do so, but unlike her vampiric predecessor, it brought her no pleasure in doing so. I felt myself becoming cold and light-headed, and she let me go with a gag, but the spirit energy from my blood was already at work. From a hissing noise, the wound in her stomach as closing, and in blurred vision, I could see April looking down at us in shock.

<p class="MsoNormal">“No!” She shouted and moved forward, sword raised.

<p class="MsoNormal">But Mariah let out a scream I had never heard from her, one that purely animalistic in nature. It was the last sound to grace my ears as my blurred vision granted me one last image of Mariah turning and lunging at April. Then darkness overtook me, and I let out a quick prayer, that Mariah would live.

<p class="MsoNormal">Blinding lights were the first thing to accompany my eyes when I awoke, followed by the sound of beeping machinery. Yet both of them, even in their invasive nature, were overtaken by a warm, gentle hand on mine. I turned my head weakly to see Mariah, dressed, and with a loving smile on her face.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Don’t ever have me do that again.” She said softly.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Are you okay?” I asked

<p class="MsoNormal">“Better than you.” She said with a smirk.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Did you-”

<p class="MsoNormal">“We’re still here aren’t we?” She smiled. “Don’t worry, the payment from the contract more than covers for this. Apparently the client forgot to warn us this Succubus was a pretty powerful one.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Did you tell him we fought naked for a bonus?”

<p class="MsoNormal">She chuckled, “No. But upon telling me about that very important detail, I convinced him to pay extra, otherwise I’d do to him what we did to the four Incubi we fought.”

<p class="MsoNormal">Mariah then leaned over the bed, and as hugged me as best she could.

<p class="MsoNormal">“So, how did you do it?” I asked.

<p class="MsoNormal">“It’s all kind of a blur, after drinking your blood,” She gagged, “It was like my body had a mind of its own. The only thing on my mind was that I had to protect you. But,” her hand squeezed mine, “I didn’t see you as you, it was purely primal in nature. In that state, you were just a source of spirit energy and pleasure for me. So I’ll say it again: never, ever, make me do that again. You’re so much more to me than that.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“I won’t.” I say, squeezing her hand back. While she returned a smile, she soon looked away. “What’s wrong?”

<p class="MsoNormal">Mariah continued to look away.

<p class="MsoNormal">“You did get her, didn’t you?” I asked worryingly.

<p class="MsoNormal">“We’re still here, aren’t we?” Mariah repeated.

<p class="MsoNormal">I heard the beeping on my heart monitor go faster, “Mariah.”

<p class="MsoNormal">The door to the room suddenly opened, and April stepped through. My chest began to hurt as the monitor began to beep faster.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Thomas. Calm down, it’s okay.” Mariah said repeatedly, her touch managed to calm me down, if only slightly. “Good, no alarms triggered. We kinda need the privacy.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“What’s happening?” I asked.

<p class="MsoNormal">Mariah smiled, “I thought you’d be prouder of me, I did what you did.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“What do you mean?”

<p class="MsoNormal">“She spared me,” April said. “Most of me, anyway.” She moved a piece of her hair, showing her left ear was missing, the sign of a successful hunt.

<p class="MsoNormal">“How? I thought you said you couldn’t control yourself?” I asked Mariah.

<p class="MsoNormal">“I couldn’t.” She said, “She just hid from me until it wore off, and believe me I wanted her dead even then.” She glared at April, who shrunk under her gaze.

<p class="MsoNormal">“So why didn’t you?”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Because my thoughts were still on you.” Mariah said, “I thought about what you would do if in my shoes.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“I was in a pretty bad place after she recovered her senses. I-I began to plead for my life.” April said softly. “In that moment, on the brink of death, I realized how selfish and destructive I was, and want to change.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Hate to break it to you, but you’re not about to be some sort of beacon of community service.” Mariah said. “We know a place where your kind can hide out; those who really are certain they want to turn their life around, but given your new disfigurement, you’ll need to stay there. The best you’ll be able to do is just donate to whatever organization you wish. Given your big pockets I doubt that’ll be an issue.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“You know it’s just a myth that Succubus are loaded right?” April shot.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Right, it’s not like many organizations site the place as their biggest donors. Don’t worry, they don’t know where it is, hell, most people don’t, it’s protected by some powerful illusionary magic.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Maybe it’s because most humans are naturally selfish and greedy that even demons are more charitable than they are.” April snared.

<p class="MsoNormal">Mariah chuckled, “Good one. You’re one to talk about being selfish and greedy, your big plan was to have your kind take over the world and turn it into a never ending fuck-fest.” Mariah shot back.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Enough.” I say. I look to April, “Trust me, this is a fine place. April and I go there regularly to stock up on supplies, and few town nearby are welcoming, so you can help there. It’s not like some sort of prison, like Mariah says.” Mariah looked away.

<p class="MsoNormal">“How will I find it?” April asked.

<p class="MsoNormal">Mariah handed her a map, “See that blank patch in between those towns? Most people see it a swampy forest and just ignore it, but there will be an old man a little ways in, if you tell him the phrase written on the map, he’ll let you in.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“It’s quite a way away.” April said.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Well, you can fly. Be grateful our client only asked for an ear and not a wing, some do.” Mariah said.

<p class="MsoNormal">April looked at the map before tucking it away and turned to the exit. She turned to us. “Thomas, Mariah, thank you.” She then turned and walked away, leaving me and Mariah alone again.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Thank you Mariah.” I say, “You didn’t have to spare her.”

<p class="MsoNormal">Mariah was silent for a moment, “No, I think I did. Sparing her felt good, and I don’t have the normal heaviness like I do when I kill one.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“So you’re going to become a big softy like me?” I smirked.

<p class="MsoNormal">She playfully punched me in the shoulder, “Not a chance, you softness nearly got us killed. If anything, I think you need to double up on your training for the next contract.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Next contract?”

<p class="MsoNormal">Mariah quickly pulled a sheet of paper, and I couldn’t help but sigh, “Mariah can’t we take a break after what just happened.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Oh no, you should really read this one.” Mariah said, thrusting the paper in my face.

<p class="MsoNormal">Begrudgingly, I took it and with hesitating eyes, I began to read it.

<p class="MsoNormal">‘Just kidding, I love you.’ Signed Mariah.

<p class="MsoNormal">Before I could react Mariah pulled me in a tight hug and whispered in my ear, “I think our payment can last us a week tops, and I’m going to spend every moment with you, my love.”