Innocent Devil’s Harem Ch. 121 (BOOK 9) (Patreon)

April 22, 2023

UPDATE: In case you missed it, I made a post about the game and Pre-Registration. The story is like a combination of Innocent Devil's Harem and Combat Healer (with a unique premise).

Please take the time to read it.

NOTE: As I said last chapter, hopefully the story will be taking directions you didn't expect.

Also, there is a small recap (barely 500 words), so don't complain because this is a LONG chapter (it's almost 9,000 words).

<< Chapter 120 | Ch 1 (Book 1) | Ch 16 (Book 2) | Ch 31 (Book 3) | Ch 46 (Book 4) | Ch 61 (Book 5) | Ch 76 (Book 6) | Ch 91 (Book 7) | Ch 106 (Book 8)

- CHAPTER 121: Argument -

The last twenty-four hours had been a whirlwind of unexpected events, everything from meeting my biological father, to meeting another succubus, to saving the day at the funeral banquet when I discovered a curse, one designed to kill supernatural entities, only to turn right around and be forced to kill the very person who had likely been the target of that curse.

But then, there was what I’d discovered about myself.

Who I really was, and how that truth related to three of my women. As well as what that truth might mean for my past, present, and future. A truth I wanted to keep hidden from most others, but one I knew I would have to divulge to my allies.

I had no idea if I had former alliances just waiting to be discovered, but I did know I was already forming new alliances with those I felt like I could count on.

Starting with my brother Joseph.

Only a fourth incubus, unlike me, he was also the same guy raised by my adoptive parents, prior to being forced out of the house at the age of eighteen, once I was dropped on their doorstep. The same guy who was likewise upset by their untimely death, and who attended their funeral in solemn grief.

And the same guy who had one of his women taken advantage of at that funeral, an event that nearly devastated their entire small family.

It was part of why I wanted to form the alliance with him.

Not just for his sake, or even for mine.

But also for the sake of the woman wronged.

The same woman who I had only recently discovered might not actually be ‘with’ my brother in the way I assumed. Someone who was his friend only. Both Rachel, as well as her lesbian girlfriend, Laura, the latter of whom was also Joseph’s oldest and most trusted friend.

Finding out that my brother had a kink for lesbians, partly because he had hoped it would prevent them from being compelled, caused everything to ultimately make sense about their situation. But it was still odd to think that even the other lesbian couple living with him, Sarah and Emily, who were at least willing to have sex with him, spent more time in the bedroom with the youngest woman in their house, Jamie, than they did with Joseph.

It was definitely not a relationship like my own, where all my women actually wanted to be with me, both romantically and sexually.

But I ultimately knew why he’d taken that route.

He was a man who had multiple casual girlfriends on the side, but kept those relationships distant from his home life, to avoid the pain that would be caused by one of our older brothers swooping in and stealing those women.

Granted, I was sure that it would be just as painful to have it happen to the women who were his friends.

Enough so that he jumped at the offer for me to give all of them the gift of immunity.

For them all to become something ‘more’ than what they’d been as a human.

And to ultimately have the strength to never be taken advantage of again.

However, things definitely had taken a dark turn shortly after the oldest of them woke up, the forty-five-year-old woman having transformed into an Oni demon, having almost maroon rosy skin, white hair, as well as gold and black eyes.

Her transformation itself wasn’t the problem.

It was the unexpected pain in her leg. A pain she tried to keep me from seeing, despite the obvious discomfort it was causing her.

After getting down on my knees next to a very concerned Rachel, who was still transformed, her skin dark gray, her hair pitch-black, her eyes black and vivid green, I tugged off Laura’s shoe to reveal the source of her increasing agony.

Serenity and Natalie, both standing close by, gasped at the sight, ignoring Joseph’s unconscious form on the other end of the couch as they stepped closer to see the grisly sight.

One of a curse that was rapidly spreading.

A curse that blackened Laura’s otherwise rosy foot, and threatened to kill her.

Rachel sounded panicked.

“Laura!” she gasped in horror.

I quickly reached down and tried to tug the delicate silver ring off, but to no avail.

It wouldn’t budge!

“What the fuck?” I said in alarm, watching as the black veins actively began growing up her ankle.

“Get it off!” Rachel pleaded, clearly panicked to see such a sight on the woman she loved. “Please, get it off!”

“It won’t come off!” I replied seriously, trying to tug harder, causing Laura to cry out in pain again, her hand firm on my shoulder as she continued to try to push me away. Almost as if she didn’t want me to help, despite visibly being scared herself.

Rachel immediately reached down, and tried to tug it off too, grabbing Laura’s rosy ankle as she pulled.

Laura screamed this time, shoving Rachel away entirely, leaving the latter looking shocked as she fell back on her ass, her leather pants creaking from the movement.

Feeling just completely confused by what was even going on, an urgent voice unexpectedly spoke up in my head.

Delilah, of all people.

I could feel her shame and guilt.

‘Oh my God. Oh my God, I am so sorry.’

I was shocked. ‘Delilah? What is it? An artifact you made?’

‘God, please don’t hate me. Please. I’m so sorry.’

‘Delilah!’ I thought in disbelief. ‘Just tell me how to get it off!’

‘You can’t get it off! Fuck, I’m sorry! Only the person who put it on her can get it off!’

My stomach became a ball of lead.

I felt like I was going to be sick.

I focused up at Laura’s pained expression, knowing what I had to do.

But first, I needed to make sure I fully understood what I was dealing with.

‘Tell me what you know,’ I thought seriously, even as the decaying skin began climbing fully up her ankle now, the midnight veins climbing almost up to her knee. ‘Don’t apologize, don’t waste time. Just tell me the facts.’

‘It’s a slave ring. My own design. John wanted me to create for him something that would make his compulsion more powerful and more long-term. Demanded I do it. Wouldn’t take no for an answer. Took me nearly four hundred years to create the first one, and even then I didn’t admit to him I succeeded for a long time, until he got too impatient. Fuck, I’m sorry, but there’s nothing we can do. Even if you cut the toe off, the curse will keep spreading. There’s no stopping it from killing her.’

Such a comment irritated me.

Because I couldn’t accept being told that there was nothing I could do.

I’d apparently spent most of my former life learning to break curses.

And this one would yield to my will, all the same.

‘You apparently don’t know me very well,’ I retorted, causing Delilah to mentally wince at that, truly feeling horrible about the situation.

But she’d lived in a world where her own safety depended on remaining ‘useful,’ and otherwise doing as she was asked. Same as Elizabeth, who likewise survived in a world where all other women were used and abused, her own well-being dependent on her being useful enough to avoid becoming just another victim.

I focused up at Laura, feeling highly irritated, perhaps even a bit pissed, though not necessarily directed at any particular person.

More like I was just pissed in general, that this kind of thing happened to begin with.

But that anger also made me decisive.

My tone was hard, even as I mentally reached out for the ‘resistant presence’ that I could sense coming from the older woman, fully intending on forcing it.

Forcing a bond to form between us, even though she was resistant.

My tone was hard. “Laura, I’m going to save you, whether you want me to or not. I’m not going to let this curse kill you. Sorry, but I’m making this decision for you.”

Her gold eyes widened in horror as she sensed me tugging on her very soul, but it was already too late.

Her aura was easy for me to see once I really focused on it, and the moment I could assign a word to it, I knew she may never forgive me for this.

But the alternative was her dying.

So she’d just have to deal with it…

Even though her core aura was Independence.

I used the same spell I’d used to free Delilah, a defensive spell of my own making that would only work if I felt a sense of ownership over the person in question.

My tone was hard as I filled my words with magic, holding my hand over her decaying foot, even as I fully forced a bond to form between us, the lights in the entire house beginning to flicker. “Protect, what is MINE. Shield, what is MINE. Defend the rights, of what is MINE. INVOKE, what is MINE. Independence.”

The effect was anticlimactic.

The ring quietly cracked into three pieces and fell off her black toe.

And despite what Delilah said about nothing stopping the curse once it had started, her rosy skin began to regenerate, her black toes slowly regaining their new maroon color.

Just like that, Laura was healing.

Because I’d given her my blood and made her like me.

And also just like that, she immediately started freaking out.

As if she was having a panic attack, now that she was freed from the slave ring.

She screamed, yelling at the top of her lungs, reaching up to cover her red face with both hands, even as she lifted her other leg up and tried to kick me as hard as she could, twisting around on the couch at the same time as if she was having a seizure.

I braced myself for the kick, her strength being no more than that of an average woman right now, not even causing me to lose my balance.

“Laura!” Rachel yelled, nearly jumping on top of her as she tried to calm her down. “It’s okay! He saved you! You’re okay!”

Laura went from hyperventilating to hysterically sobbing, trying to push Rachel away at first with one arm, before finally giving up as she just cried into the couch, the two women squished on the two cushions next to the unconscious Joseph, Laura’s white hair against his hip.

I could feel a whirlwind of devastating emotions coming from her, but one of them irritated me.

Anger.

She was angry at me.

To the point of feeling hatred toward me.

And for a brief second, it made me regret saving her, causing me to abruptly stand up and start walking away, not even knowing where I was going, but just wanting to get away from her hatred coursing through this new bond I’d formed.

Natalie abruptly jumped in front of me and wrapped her arms around my neck, conforming her thin body to me as she mashed her lips against mine, pulsing waves of love, affection, tenderness, appreciation, and devotion completely washing away everything else.

Filling my world and pulling me into something else entirely.

A paradise of her own making.

My tense body felt like it was melting as Serenity came up behind me and wrapped her arms around us both, doubling the love and appreciation.

Just like that, I was okay.

In this moment, they were my world, and I was okay.

It didn’t matter what this woman thought.

I did a good thing in saving her, and didn’t need her appreciation.

However, as I took a deep breath through my nose, my lips still locked with Natalie’s, her warmth radiating into my face, I realized I did need more information.

Because this ‘slave ring’ thing sounded like a pretty big deal.

Or rather, a pretty big problem.

Just the fact that it even existed was a huge problem.

I tried to keep my mental tone reassuring, not wanting my black-haired succubus to think I was angry at her.

‘Delilah, I realize you did what you had to do in order to keep yourself safe. I’m not angry at you for the things you created. Shoot, I’m guessing that collar that almost killed you was your own making too, wasn’t it?’

‘Umm, yes.’ Her mental tone was extremely somber. ‘Baby, I’m really sorry. Seriously, I’m so sorry.’

‘Don’t apologize. I’m not mad at you. Just tell me the facts. How many rings exist? And why did it only affect her now? If my father put it on her, then shouldn’t it have affected her sooner, since he’s dead?’

‘I’ve never tested what would happen if the incubus who put it on ended up dying. I mean, I created it for an immortal man. And I created it to be used on humans, not demons. If I had to guess, the transformation she underwent triggered the curse. One that normally only gets triggered if the wearer somehow starts resisting the effect of the compulsion.’

‘Is it possible that someone else put the ring on her?’

‘Probably not. It was most likely John who did it, probably to keep an eye on Joseph, and she was probably bound to obey the commands he gave her, even after he died. The effect of an artifact isn’t dependent on whether or not anyone except the host is living, the host being Laura in this case. Like, if I were to die, as the creator, the artifact would still work. And just because John died, doesn’t mean it would stop working. She would still be forced to obey whatever commands he gave her.’

‘And how many are there? And does the user have to be an incubus?’

‘I created it to enhance the compulsion of an incubus, but it also works if a succubus uses it.’ Her mind was somber. ‘Trying it out myself was how I knew I’d succeeded. And when I first admitted I succeeded, I lied to him and told him it took decades just to create one. Because I didn’t want to create more. Thankfully, he believed me, since I usually don’t lie to him. In the last thousand years or so, I’ve created I think about twenty. John’s a selfish man, so I doubt he shared them with anyone. Which means, any woman wearing one no doubt had it placed there by him. A few are normal rings to be worn on the hand, but most are toe rings, since it’s less noticeable.’

I took a deep breath.

It could be worse.

But now I had to decide if tracking these rings down would be worth it or not. Because on the one hand, there were probably a ton of magical artifacts out there that were too dangerous to leave alone, but I also couldn’t go treasure hunting for them all. However, on the other hand, if anyone else figured out how to use even just one of these rings, it could end up being a nightmare.

Because my women were now immune to compulsion from an incubus, but they probably weren’t immune to a slave ring! Possibly even more so when they were in their human form.

I mean, fuck!

For all I knew, Laura might have remained under its influence if not for her initial forced transformation turning her biologically into a demon.

And if someone put a new ring on her now, it might work if she was in her human form.

Shit.

Just the idea of one of them somehow ending up under someone else’s control really pissed me off. And yeah, I could probably break it like I’d done this one, but I had to be aware they were even wearing it first. And my third-eye hadn’t picked up on this artifact at all. So if someone put a ring on one of my women, and demanded they not transform to avoid triggering the curse, I might never know.

‘For what it’s worth,’ Delilah continued somberly. ‘No one besides John should have known about them, and I have an idea of where half of them probably are, given that Laura had one on.’

I realized what she meant.

That my biological father must have put a ring on at least one woman associated with each son, likely whichever woman was closest to that son, just as a way to keep track of them. Which also likely meant that he had intended on putting one on Serenity the previous day. Perhaps he would have asked to see her alone for a few minutes, not long enough to make me concerned that he was taking advantage of her, but long enough to compel her into wearing the ring and then giving her commands to…

To what?

Report in regularly?

That alone made me wonder what exactly the commands or obligations were, that these women had been given.

I decided to ask, but not directly.

Laura was still crying, but not ‘panic crying’ anymore.

And her hatred had subsided a lot.

But…I still didn’t want to ask her directly.

I spoke to the one trying to comfort her instead, currently laying practically on top of the older rose-colored woman.

“Rachel, can you please ask her what she was forced to do?”

Her head popped up to look at me, her green and black eyes focused on me in shock. “W-What do you mean?”

I sighed, realizing she had no idea what had all just been discussed silently. “That ring. It wasn’t just hurting her. It’s called a slave ring, and the man who probably put it on her is the same man I killed last night. Our father was controlling her, at least to some extent.”

Rachel looked like she was about to pass out. “No,” she whispered, only to turn her attention to Laura, who was still hiding her face with both maroon hands. “Laura, please no. Please tell me he didn’t…” Her voice trailed off.

She whimpered at that, only shifting her head back and forth a little.

“Laura, please,” Rachel begged. “Please talk to me.”

“N-Not here,” she finally whimpered. “N-Not around them.”

I sighed, even as Rachel grimaced.

She then looked around for a second, focusing toward the window. “The SUV?” she wondered. “Will you talk to me in there?”

She didn’t respond, but I could sense the hope of relief through our bond, knowing that the idea of being able to get away from everyone else was enticing to her. And after a few long seconds, she began shifting her weight.

“Let’s go,” Laura whispered.

Rachel seemed shocked. “I don’t want to leave. We can’t leave. We can’t drive around, looking like this.”

“Just to the SUV,” she managed, keeping one hand up to cover her eyes, shielding her gold gaze from me, as if she were afraid I was going to compel her.

Despite the fact that making her immune was the whole point.

I didn’t say anything, instead just moving out of the way as she led Rachel by the wrist, almost as if she was still leading someone who was blind, her rosy fingers a sharp contrast to her companion’s dark gray skin.

Rachel gave me an apologetic look as she followed her out the door, the two of them then hurrying to the SUV.

I’d given Rachel the key earlier, which she pulled out of her pocket and used to start the vehicle to get the air conditioning going, before joining Laura in the backseat, the two of them sounding like they were huddling together now, neither saying anything as they embraced.

Laura began sniffling again, but seemed controlled.

They of course had no idea that Serenity, Natalie, and I could all hear them just fine, thanks to our sensitive hearing, but there was no way in hell I was planning on admitting that to them right now. Partially because I wanted to know what Laura had to say, but also because she hadn’t even bothered asking if the SUV would be far enough to give them privacy.

She had just assumed.

It was obvious that the older woman cared about Rachel though, because her entire demeanor seemed different, now that they were alone.

“I’m so sorry,” Laura finally whispered.

“You have no reason to be sorry,” Rachel responded seriously. “But please tell me what he made you do. And why didn’t you tell me?”

“I couldn’t tell anyone,” she snapped, bitterness in her tone.

“Laura, I’m so sorry.”

“No, please forgive me,” she said sincerely with a sniffle. “You’ve been through far worse.”

“So he didn’t…” Her voice trailed off.

“No. Thankfully,” she retorted, bitterness again in her tone. “He only made me call him every few months, to give him an update.”

“About what?”

She sighed heavily. “About Joseph. About our home life. About who he was dating. And about anything he wanted to know, really. When he first put that filthy ring on me, he told me I had to answer any questions he asked. And that I had to share with him anything I thought he might want to know. He also told me that I had to keep my emotions under control, and that I wasn’t allowed to tell anyone about the ring, or about his requests.”

“Laura, I am so, so sorry.”

“Me too,” she said in a bitter tone.

“But everything else was you, right? It’s still been you all this time, right? With us? I mean, you’ve had that ring on for how long? Ten or eleven years? Since before I met you, at least.”

Laura took a deep breath. “Yeah. It was still me. I mostly was able to make my own decisions. I just had this big secret that I couldn’t tell anyone, and it’s been eating me alive all this time. Knowing that he could make me do anything, even harm those I love most, has been eating me alive.”

“But you’re free now, right?”

She didn’t respond.

“Laura,” Rachel said pleadingly.

“What?!” she snapped, raising her voice. “You think I should be thankful?! I’ve just switched out one abuser for another! He…he…he did something to me! I can feel him even now! Fuck, I bet he doesn’t even need to look me in the eyes to make me do whatever he wants.”

Rachel took a deep breath, seeming to switch subjects. “Laura, I almost killed you while you were asleep.”

That drew her up short.

“W…What?” she whispered, her tone suddenly concerned.

“I almost killed everyone,” she clarified. “I was…dreaming…having a nightmare. I wanted revenge. I wanted justice. I’m pretty certain I was going to blow up the entire city.”

“H-How?” she managed. “Are you really able to do something like that now?”

“I guess so,” she whispered. “But he stopped me. He saved me. And he saved you. Both then, and just now.” She sighed heavily. “I don’t know if you’re right about the control thing or not. I don’t know if he can compel us or not, but I also trust him. He’s given us no reason not to trust him.”

Laura didn’t respond.

“Did he make you accept his offer?”

“What?” Laura said in surprise.

“You obviously got an injection of his blood. Did he make you do that? Or was it your decision?”

She sighed heavily. “I asked them to do it.”

“Why? If you don’t trust him, then why?”

She took another deep breath. “Because I saw a way out. He was offering immunity from compulsion, something I finally began to believe might truly be real, and for the first time in over a decade, I saw a potential way for me to escape that cursed ring. Especially when I realized that their filthy father was dead, and yet I was still under his control. I just desperately wanted a way out.”

“And you did, right? It’s gone now. You’re free.”

She didn’t respond.

Rachel sighed. “I just don’t understand why you’re angry at him. He said he was going to do what needed to be done to save you. And yeah, he didn’t give you a choice, but would you have decided differently? Because that ring was hurting you. And he made it sound like it was going to kill you.”

The older woman sighed heavily, not responding.

“Laura,” Rachel pleaded.

“I just don’t like this,” she admitted. “I don’t like being able to feel him. I mean, we don’t know this kid! He’s a complete stranger! And for all we know, everything he has said could be an elaborate lie.”

“I know he’s young, but he said he was reincarnated, remember? He’s older than he seems.”

Laura scoffed. “If that’s even true.”

“Even if it’s not, he’s clearly very powerful.”

“And that’s what scares me,” she said seriously. “He’s even more powerful than their father was. And now we have this weird connection, whether I like it or not.”

Rachel sighed heavily.

Laura continued. “And I don’t like that Joseph is going to change too. I don’t want him to have that kind of power.” She scoffed. “And yeah, maybe he won’t be able to use his compulsion on us, but what about the other girls he dates? Because his filthy brothers act like they can’t help it half the time. Like that asshole who took advantage of you. Trying to tell Joseph that he thought you were willing, playing dumb like he didn’t know what he was doing.”

Rachel took a deep breath. “Yeah, he knew what he was doing.”

Her tone sounded apologetic now. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to bring it up.”

Rachel sighed, only to take another deep breath. “Honestly? Kind of feels like…doesn’t matter anymore.”

“What do you mean?” Laura said in surprise.

“I feel like I have a new body. That this is a new me. Feels like the old me is gone.” She sighed. “That asshole violated my old body, but he can’t, and won’t ever violate this one. I’ll kill him if he ever tries.”

“I might kill him even if he doesn’t.”

“You can’t,” Rachel said seriously.

“Why?” Laura said in surprise.

“I promised I wouldn’t. No revenge.”

She scoffed. “To who? Him? That boy? Sounds like he’s already controlling you.”

“It’s a small price to pay to have my eyesight back,” Rachel said seriously. “Honestly, I probably would do anything he wanted for this kind of gift. He offered us a miracle.”

“Please don’t say that,” Laura said seriously. “That really bothers me.”

“Why?”

She scoffed. “Well, what if he demands you leave me? What if he breaks us up?”

“I don’t think he would.”

“Okay, and what if he demands to sleep with you?”

Rachel didn’t respond, but clearly made a face that implied her answer.

Laura’s tone sounded betrayed. “Are you serious? Please tell me you’re not serious?”

“I would never leave you.”

“But he’s a man!”

Rachel sighed heavily. “Laura, I never claimed to only like women. You and Joseph just assumed that.”

Laura sounded stunned. “You mean, all this time?”

“All this time, I’ve only been with one person. You.”

“Yeah, but…” Laura paused. “I don’t understand.”

“I’ve been…waiting…”

“For what?” Laura said in disbelief.

“For the one.”

Her tone was full of bitterness. “What in the hell is that supposed to mean? The one?! There’s no such thing as the one!”

“There is for me,” Rachel said almost somberly. “I’ve been waiting all my life. It’s why I’ve never been with any other man. And honestly, the only reason I decided to date was because I thought maybe it was just my imagination. The older I got, the more I felt like maybe it was just all in my head. At least, I did…until now.”

“Fuck! What are you saying? Don’t tell me you think it’s him!”

Rachel didn’t respond.

Laura sounded even more bitter. “Fuck! So what, are you breaking up with me?!”

Rachel sounded irritated now. “Shit Laura! Stop it! No! I’m not breaking up with you! Stop acting like this!”

“Acting like what?!” Laura snapped. “Like I fucking love you to death, and don’t want to lose you, and that it breaks my heart that you might leave me for this bastard?”

“I’m not leaving you for anyone!”

“Except you just admitted you’d do anything he wanted for this gift!”

“And you wouldn’t, Laura? Seriously? You would have denied the offer for freedom? Even if he wanted to sleep with you? He just saved your fucking life, for heaven’s sake! And he gave me my eyesight back! Fuck, Laura, at least show some appreciation!”

She didn’t respond.

Rachel continued. “And he’s got almost a dozen women, so he doesn’t need us anyway!”

“As if that ever stopped any of them,” Laura scoffed.

Rachel took a deep breath. “Okay fine, that was a stupid point. But my other point wasn’t stupid. So can we just stop? I don’t like arguing with you like this.”

Her tone was bitter. “Yeah, well we haven’t argued only because I’ve had a fucking ring on my foot that kept me from arguing with anyone!”

“Laura,” Rachel whispered somberly.

She took a shaky breath. “Sorry.”

“No, I’m sorry.”

“Me too,” Laura agreed.

Rachel didn’t respond, and it was quiet for a long few seconds, until finally the sound of them kissing reached my ears. Followed by sniffling and more kissing, the two of them clearly wrapping their arms and legs around each other.

After several minutes, Rachel broke the kiss, her tone somber.

“Is that really why we never fight?”

Laura sighed. “No.”

“Promise?”

She took a deep breath. “Yeah, that’s not the reason. Honestly, there have only been a few times when the ring kept my emotions bottled up over the last decade, and it was never related to you.”

“Who?”

“Jamie a couple of times. Joseph once or twice.” She groaned. “Sarah and Emily nearly a dozen times.”

Rachel giggled at that, and then they were kissing again.

For several minutes.

Laura abruptly pulled away again. “Please don’t let him take you away from me.”

Rachel sighed heavily. “I’m not saying he will.”

“But what if he does?”

“Laura, you can still have me too.”

She sighed heavily at that. “But then you’ll be with him. Not me. I’ll basically just be your side-chick.”

“Well, maybe that’s all he wants. Is for me to be a side-chick for him. If he even wants anything.”

“But is that what you want?”

“Laura, I don’t know what I want. I barely know the guy.”

“Yeah, but you said you thought he was ‘the one,’ or whatever bullshit nonsense that is.”

Rachel scoffed. “I never said I was going to tell him. Honestly, he’d probably freak out if he knew I thought that. I mean, he’s only eighteen. He’s still in high school!”

“Always knew you were a cougar,” Laura unexpectedly teased.

“Uh!” Rachel exclaimed. “Pot calling the kettle black, mom,” she retorted.

Laura laughed, sounding a little less tense, taking a slow deep breath. “I wish we could really be alone right now.”

“We are alone.”

“You know what I mean. Truly by ourselves. Away from all of them.”

Rachel sighed. “Well, that sounds like the plan though. Once we can turn back to normal, we can go home.”

Laura scoffed. “If he lets us.”

“And why wouldn’t he?” Rachel asked seriously. “Come on, Laura. He’s given you no reason not to trust him. And he’s gone out of his way to help us. He didn’t have to offer this gift to any of us. What do I have to say to get you to see that?”

Laura sighed heavily. “I see it,” she finally admitted. “I’m just afraid this is going to turn out badly. That he broke that ring on my toe, but that he’s just going to replace it with his own ring. His own control. One way or another.”

“Okay, well what can we do about it, if he does?”

Laura didn’t respond.

Rachel continued. “I mean, why be afraid of something that might not even happen? Because if it turns out that he’s going to try controlling us, then there’s nothing we can do about it anyway, and honestly I’d rather be in this situation under his control, than be blind again. And at least I feel confident he’d be able to protect me too.”

She didn’t respond.

Rachel continued. “I mean, what about you? Would you rather have that ring on your foot? Or would you rather have his collar around your neck, but with this new body?”

Laura let out a heavy sigh. “Fine.”

“I’m just saying.”

“I get it,” Laura retorted.

“Please don’t be like that.”

“I’m not trying to be like anything. I’m admitting you have a good point. He’s clearly very powerful, and we can’t do anything about it, if he turns out to be an abusive asshole. Might as well just accept that this is our fate now. Whatever he decides.”

“Let’s at least give him a chance. I think that’s fair. He’s been nothing but good to us so far.”

Laura simply sighed in response.

“I love you,” Rachel said sincerely.

Laura responded with a loud kiss, which turned into even more kissing.

And more kissing.

To the point that it became pretty clear they were done talking.

Now they were just passionately making-out.

At this point, I was glad they’d figured things out, but now I just had to make my own decision.

Whether or not we would tell them that we’d heard their entire conversation.

Because eventually, they would find out.

Once their own senses grew stronger.

And I wasn’t sure if Laura would be more angry if she found out now, or if she found out later.

I supposed it was better to just rip the bandage off.

By the time they decided to come back inside, Laura agreeing to apologize for how she’d acted, Serenity, Natalie, and I were all sitting in the kitchen, with me at the furthest end, so that I would be facing them when they stepped into the kitchen. Joseph was still passed out on the couch, and of course the three women upstairs were unconscious too.

Rachel was the one who opened the front door hesitantly, asking if they could come back inside.

Serenity said they were of course more than welcome, her tone a bit reserved.

In the meantime, I was resting my forehead on one hand, hiding my eyes, elbow on the table, intending on looking more embarrassed and ashamed than I actually felt. It was definitely an intentional performance, but one I felt like was necessary, to try to prevent Laura from blowing up again.

Surprisingly, she was the one to speak up when the two of them stopped just inside the kitchen after closing the front door.

“W-What’s wrong?” she asked hesitantly, looking at each of us in turn. “Is everyone else okay? Did something happen?”

Of course, she could pick up that we were acting like it was something ‘more’ than her little blowup, clearly concerned about Joseph and the other women.

Serenity sighed heavily. “Everyone is fine. But we should probably tell you a little more about the changes you’ve experienced. And changes you will experience in the upcoming week.”

They both were visibly confused by that, Rachel deciding to speak up.

“Something bad?”

Natalie chimed in. “Nah, it’s actually really cool, but…” Her voice trailed off.

“Your eyesight is going to improve,” Serenity continued. “You’ll both be able to see further and better than ever before. Way better than a normal person.”

Now they were both really confused, neither having put two-and-two together yet.

Until Rachel’s green and black eyes finally widened in alarm as she focused on me, still covering my face. She then urgently looked at Laura, even as realization finally crossed her own expression, her gold and black eyes widening in shock.

“Yeah,” Natalie said with a grimace. “Hearing too.”

Surprisingly, rather than getting pissed, Laura just reached up with one hand to cover her own eyes, her rosy face looking mortified. As if her decision to apologize for her behavior, also made her feel defeated, in the sense that there was nothing she could do to prevent from whatever was going to happen, and now feeling ashamed that she might have offended me.

Rachel put her arm around the older woman’s shoulders, looking embarrassed and almost ashamed now herself.

“You know,” Natalie continued. “Our bond is different than yours. You can feel him, right? Maybe catch a glimpse of his emotions? But we can hear each other’s thoughts.”

Both women focused up at her in shock, Laura dropping her hand.

Serenity nodded, still sounding somber. “All this time, conversation has been happening amongst us, including with quite a few who aren’t even here physically. It’s a very intimate bond, and makes it impossible for us to be deceitful with each other. We all know Kai through-and-through, because, if we desire to, then we can hear his every thought. He hides nothing from us, just as we hide nothing from him.”

Rachel finally responded. “You can really read each other’s minds?”

Natalie gestured with her hand toward Serenity. “It’s a bit more complicated than that. I am specifically bonded with Kai and his girlfriend from high school. I can see into her head directly, and she can see into mine. Whereas, with Serenity, I can know what she’s thinking by checking on Kai’s mind. Assuming he’s focused on her thoughts.”

“And my bond with him is similar,” Serenity agreed. “I can see directly into one other person’s mind. It’s a bond that happens in pairs. Or, more specifically, a pair of women, bonded uniquely with him.”

Laura and Rachel exchanged a surprised glance, only for Rachel to speak up, focusing on me with my eyes still covered.

“And is that something we could have? Me and Laura?” she whispered. “With him?”

Serenity spoke up on my behalf. “Honestly, we don’t know for sure if the two of you would be compatible like that, and I’m not sure Laura would consider trying, since becoming this intimate with the mind involves becoming intimate physically too.”

Laura grimaced at that, lowering her gold gaze.

Serenity continued. “Something that he isn’t wanting, or trying, to force on either of you,” she emphasized. “Once you both can look normal again, you can go back home. You have no obligations to any of us, other than keeping this a secret, and of course an obligation to never do anything that would bring danger into our lives.”

Rachel focused on Laura again, who was still focused on the floor now, her gold eyes tight.

Natalie sighed. “But yeah, if you really wanted to be confident you could trust him, that would be one way. To be able to see all of his unfiltered thoughts whenever you wanted. However, that’s not really why we’re bringing it up.”

Both women finally focused on her again, even as Serenity continued.

“We’re bringing it up because, while we understand your concerns, him sharing his blood with you automatically brings certain implications. One of those being a loss of privacy, to some extent, but also brings protection.”

“W-What do you mean?” Laura finally asked seriously.

Serenity inclined her chin. “We heard your conversation in the SUV, and while I’m sure that’s embarrassing for you both, us being able to hear you that well means that we would have known if something was wrong.”

“And it’s the same with this bond,” Natalie agreed. “It might bother you that he can know where you are, but it shouldn’t. Because if someone kidnaps either of you, then you better believe that all of us are going to show up wherever you’ve been taken, and rescue you.”

“Or if you just feel panicked or scared,” Serenity added. “He’s going to feel that too, and know something is wrong.” She sighed. “I understand that trust will take time, and I understand if you never want to be closer to the rest of our family. But you are still family now. Both of you. With his blood, we’ve invited you to be a part of our family, and we will protect both of you, just like we would do for each other.”

Natalie gestured toward them this time. “Being in this family can mean less privacy for everyone, just from the heightened senses alone, but with that lack of privacy does come a greater sense of trust.”

Being again reminded that we’d overheard their conversation caused both of them to grimace, each of them having an arm wrapped around the other, their physical proportions being so similar to Serenity and Michelle that, looking only at their bodies with my eyes partially covered, I might have thought it were them.

I finally decided to look up with a heavy sigh, Rachel looking especially embarrassed as she met my gaze briefly, only to avert it, even as Laura met my gaze with a somber expression.

The older woman spoke up hesitantly. “I’m…sorry,” she managed. “Thank you for getting that ring off my foot.”

I simply nodded. “You’re welcome.”

Laura sighed heavily, looking down again. “Can you just tell us how it’s going to be? I think not knowing is the hardest part at this point.”

I took a deep breath, my tone even. “How it’s going to be, is that I’m going to acknowledge that you are both individual people, with your own wants and desires, and that if I ever want to have any kind of friendship with either of you, then I should respect you both, and the decisions you decide to make.” I paused when Laura closed her eyes, tears unexpectedly slipping down her rosy cheeks, her aura radiating regret, likely regret for what she said in the vehicle. My tone was even more gentle. “And I’m going to acknowledge that you both have preexisting relationships, prior to meeting me, and that you would feel most comfortable continuing in those relationships, rather than starting anything with someone you both barely know.” I sighed when Laura sniffled, my voice quiet. “As I told Rachel earlier, this was a gift. A true gift, with no strings attached.”

Rachel wrapped her other arm around the older woman and pulled her in for a hug when she sniffled again.

I continued. “I’m sorry for what that man did to you. The man I apparently chose to be my biological father. But he’s gone now, and I am not him. You are free to do what you want. Even if what you want is to never speak to me again, that’s perfectly fine. Just don’t expose this secret, or otherwise put us in danger.”

Rachel abruptly spoke up. “Well, and not be with anyone else, right?”

I sighed. “If you think that you might want to be with me romantically one day, even as just a possibility, then yes. Because if either of you got with another man, then I wouldn’t want to be in that kind of relationship with you. Which isn’t meant to be a control thing,” I quickly added, before Laura could respond negatively to that, even though she probably wouldn’t consider getting with another man anyway. “But just like how either of you can decide you don’t want to be romantically involved with me, it is likewise within my right to decide I don’t want to be with either of you. And honestly, that was never the plan to begin with.”

Rachel grimaced at that.

I took a deep breath. “And Rachel, there is no reason why I wouldn’t want you, at this time. You are more than desirable, so there’s no reason to feel self-conscious.”

Despite her dark gray skin, I could tell she was blushing at that.

I frowned, realizing that the implications of their conversation meant we’d sort of crossed a bridge I was planning on avoiding for now.

The whole possibility of ‘me and Rachel’ getting together.

Which meant, I should probably be honest with her sooner, rather than later, about what I did remember.

I sighed. “I suppose if that’s something that does potentially interest you, even if it’s not what you want right now, then there is something I need to tell you. Specifically, something I remembered earlier, when I had to prevent you from blowing up.”

Both of their eyes widened that, Rachel’s tone stunned. “Remembered?”

I nodded. “I don’t know all the details, and would rather wait to tell you once I know for sure, but it’s probably best if you know now. Honestly, I was going to wait at first, but I’ve changed my mind.” I took a deep breath. “Rachel, I’m pretty sure you exist, because of me. Because I was trying to create a new body for myself, and was thus experimenting with genetics and such. You’re the first of three experiments, with my current body being the third.”

A mixture of confusion and dread crossed her expression, coursing through this bond I shared with her.

I continued anyway, knowing the more I explained, and the quicker, the better. “I don’t have specific memories, but I can recall some of the facts. Compared to ancient civilizations, the modern foster care system in this country is more than sufficient to give a child everything they need to be successful in life. Or at least, that’s what I thought. It was me who arranged for a loving family to adopt you, when you were four years old, because I realized you needed more than a foster mom and dad who were only doing it for the money. You needed a real mom and dad, or at least something close to it, ideally a couple who had already raised kids once before, so that they weren’t figuring the whole parenting thing out for the first time with you. They were obviously older, but not so old I would have anticipated them passing away when they did.” I grimaced as she just stared at me shell-shocked. “I thought I left you in good hands. You would have been twelve years old when I finally left it to fate to guide your life, and I was born when you were thirteen. The same year your adoptive father passed away, and for that I’m honestly sorry.”

Her face scrunched up, tears beginning to slip down her cheeks.

Laura was trembling slightly as she held onto her, while Rachel was just frozen stiff as she began silently crying.

I continued. “This new body of mine isn’t genetically related to you in any way. I’m confident of that. But the woman who brought me into this world…was named Eve.”

Her teary green and black eyes widened in shock.

“I don’t know if it’s the same person, but I suspect that it is. And I also think I know why she couldn’t raise you.”

Rachel’s voiced sounded hoarse. “W-Why?” she barely managed.

“Because she’s cursed. I think with a dangerous curse, that would have endangered your life. I’m pretty sure you’ve never had a real biological father like most, and your mother was only able to give you the gift of life, and nothing more. It would have been unsafe for you, if she hadn’t put you in the system. And I waited until you were twelve years old, once I was confident your life was healthy and stable, before I left things up to fate. It’s part of the reason for our age difference, and I’m honestly sorry that the mom and dad I left you with ended up dying prematurely.” I grimaced. “It’s unfortunately a pain I now also share, since I lost both of my parents around the same age. Part of me feels like it shouldn’t hurt so much, knowing now who I used to be, but it still does.”

She simply nodded with a pained expression, closing her eyes and sniffling as tears streamed down her dark gray cheeks, her pale lips trembling slightly.

I didn’t say anything else for a long few minutes, just letting both women come to terms with what I was saying, knowing from my bond that neither of them felt negatively about what I was telling them, but both felt extremely somber.

When Rachel finally started to wipe her eyes, trying to collect herself after letting her tears flow silently for a while, I decided to speak up again.

“Your feelings…” I began hesitantly, only to stop briefly when she focused up at me. “Well, they aren’t your imagination. There is ‘a one’ who you’ve been waiting for, and that person is me. You can still choose to do whatever you want,” I clarified when Laura grimaced. “But the spell I used to stop you. The spell I used to save you from hurting everyone you care about…were the words that the first man spoke to the first woman.”

Laura focused on me in surprise. “Flesh of my flesh, bone of my bone?” she wondered in confusion, but clearly being aware of what she thought I was referencing.

Given that their entire family apparently attended church regularly, I wasn’t shocked at all.

I nodded. “Yes. I believe that Rachel wasn’t just my first experiment, but also a woman I created to be my partner in life. She had to come first, so that I could ensure she was safe as she grew up, and only once she was old enough to take care of herself to some extent, did I finally create a body for myself as well.”

Laura grimaced, turning her head away entirely.

“But,” I continued. “Even if that last part is really true, everything else I said still stands. My blood was a true gift, no strings attached. I have no desire to make either of you do anything that you don’t want to do. All I want is for both of you to just be happy.”

“Really?” Rachel whispered hopefully.

I felt confident in what she wanted deep down, knowing it was my intentions themselves that she was asking about. Because it made her feel affectionate toward me, knowing that the thing I wanted most, was just for her to be happy.

“Really,” I agreed, focusing on Laura. “So, with that all said…can we at least be friends?”

Laura made a noise that sounded like a mixture between a scoff, sob, and laugh, as if she couldn’t believe I was asking such a thing, only to give me an apologetic look.

She then took a deep breath, seeming to gather herself, her tone coming out more confident than I was expecting, addressing me as if she was trying to put an emphasis on our current age gap.

Her tone was firm, almost chastising. “Yes, young man. As difficult as it is to believe all this, I think friendship is the least we can offer. And…” Her confidence slipped, and she glanced away. “And maybe more…one day. Maybe.”

“Sounds good,” I said simply, intentionally trying not to sound overly eager. “Friendship is more than enough for now. And I’m sorry for earlier.”

Laura sighed heavily, shaking her head. “No, I’m sorry. You did what you had to do to save me, and for that I am very thankful. Please forgive me for seeming unappreciative. And for kicking you.”

“I might have liked it,” I said playfully.

She looked at me in shock, and then rolled her gold eyes. “Whether your story is true or not, you’re clearly a horny eighteen-year-old boy either way.”

Natalie laughed at that, changing the subject. “So, either of you hungry? I decided to open up an Italian restaurant right here in the kitchen. Chef’s treat. All you can eat pasta, on the house.”

Rachel chuckled, visibly relaxing some.

“Only problem is,” Natalie continued in a mock serious tone. “The service is horrible. So free food, but you have to fill your own plate.”

Laura finally laughed this time, causing Natalie to grin widely.

And I smiled as well, feeling like maybe everything would really be okay between me and this brunette MILF.

After exchanging a smile with each other, both women walked over to grab a plate and fill it with warm spaghetti. Followed by sitting down with us about a minute later, and having their first meal…

With their new family.

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