SSV3 Chapter 24 (Patreon)

“Make the back higher.” Emma circled the shifting mass of amethyst that I was modifying.

I’d made the basic shape already, but now I was melting off smaller sections and then shifting the bubble of gas to a new area. When it was where I wanted it, I’d charge it with electricity to have it reform.

The cat-like super was excitedly watching her throne being built. She kept circling the growing mass of crystal, her head bouncing around all the edges and causing her ruby red hair to swish around behind her.

Her face warped under the different facets as she got close enough that her nose touched. Emma’s lithe body was on the prowl, and she would not settle for anything except perfection.

“You don’t have to get so close.” Melody commented from the bed. She sat there with her legs crossed and her silver hair twirling around her finger. My purple elf was keeping close, lest I forget about our date.

“Yes, I do. It has to be perfect.” Emma caressed the gemstone throne.

The three of us were the only ones in the bedroom at the moment.

Stella had ferried Beatrix off so she could go home. Obsidian, Wells, and Angelina went to work. Knowing that I was going to be using the last of the ‘gem juice’ that Angelina had made, they were going to work on what other gemstones Angelina could help produce that could help boost Emma.

I wasn’t sure where Mona had wandered off to, but as I thought about it, I felt her rooting around in my mind. She seemed to be enjoying my confusion.

I pushed the love struck fool aside and focused back on the task at hand. “Emma, are you coming with us tonight?”

“Am I going to ruin the gig that got me a gorgeous ten million dollar suit made of gems? No, no, I am not.” Emma looked up from her purple reflection. “Even if you can make me more, the tailor was the one who somehow made emeralds into threads.” Her voice spoke with sheer awe. Of course, that’s what would impress her the most.

“I see where your loyalty is.” I teased her in return.

She wiggled her butt a little as she nearly purred at me. “Encrust me in gems. Then maybe we can talk.”

I gestured wildly at the literal throne I was making her.

“That’s different. You are making this so we don’t get in trouble.” Emma went back to studying her throne for any defect she wanted me to fix.

If she’d wanted to join, Emma would have found a way, so I assumed she didn’t have any interest in going as Emma tried to talk her way out of it. Clearly she didn’t really have an interest in going out with Melody and I.

That or she was just being a lazy kitten.

I continued to work on her throne. “What type of work did you want for the next project?”

Emma hesitated for a moment before pulling up her left sleeve and showing off her Nine Lives. Emeralds provided her with healing, but like all of her gem-based powers, they were short-lived. The nine emeralds that were each about the size of an eyeball had provided enough juice to get her back from the edge of death multiple times.

“I’d like to see if you can’t make a lattice of diamond to replace the gold in this. I’m hoping it will protect the emeralds even more, and therefore, my life.” Emma had a rare expression of vulnerability.

She failed to mention that the diamond would let her harden her body, too.

And I struggled to say no when she opened herself up like that. “Of course. That’ll be tricky, because with two stones touching like that, you risk impurities as they try to grow off the wrong matrix. But I think I’m up for the task of making borders to protect both of them.”

Emma let out a breath. “Can you make the same sort of clasp?” She showed it to me, even though I already knew what it was. “It’s worked well for me so far.”

“Complicated, but I think so. Why not just have me fuse it together on your arm?” I asked her.

She paused, her emerald-green eyes growing wide as she held out her arm. “Yes. Do that. Then shower me with more pretty gems.”

Melody laughed. “Kitty Cat, you want too many shiny things. Maybe the rest of us would like a diamond ring first.” As soon as she said it, she slapped a hand over her mouth. “Fuck. Forget that.”

“No. It’s fine.” I sighed and shifted my focus to the throne. “Stella already pushed for marriage.”

“And you didn’t run for the hills? That’s a good sign.” Melody spoke quietly, like she was beckoning a wild animal back into its cave.

“I told her she’d get to marry me first. No other promises.” I once against focused back on the throne, hoping the conversation could just die off.

They shared a silent conversation as they glanced back and forth to each other.

In my peripheral vision, I caught Emma shaking her head, trying to tell Melody no to something. I held my breath a little, hoping Melody would take the hint.

“What about an engagement ring?” Melody spoke up, and I saw Emma cringe. “Not marriage, but just the promise of one in the eventual future?” Melody hesitated and looked like she was ready to jump off the bed and tackle me if I tried to run.

“Not a bad idea.” I tried to keep my cool, but the conversation was stressing me out. I cared for Melody, but I’d gone through a lot of changes. Marriage was a hell of a step. I wanted just a little time to enjoy everything as it was at that moment.

The nightstand next to the bed blew up into sawdust, and anything that had been inside of it was now nothing but a gooey mess.

Emma cleared her throat. “Anyways. Maybe we will stop there.” She glared at Melody. “We are all just happy that you are here in the manor and that you are still in therapy with Angelina.”

“Yeah.” Melody looked nervously at the slowly settling cloud of sawdust. “Forget I even mentioned it. It isn’t a big deal.”

I sighed. “It is, though, or you wouldn’t be pushing, and Stella wouldn’t have asked on the date. All of you have come here and committed to me and this harem, but I haven’t given you a firm commitment beyond threatening to kill anyone who shared my secret.”

“Your secret was a huge level of trust.” Melody blurted out. “We’d never go anywhere after knowing it, and if something happened, we’d never, even under torture, tell anyone.”

“That’s his point.” Emma said, finally pulling her eyes away from the amethyst throne. “He’s saying that he feels like he needs to give a similar level of commitment. We never really did anything like that before, but we lived in the moment.”

I grumbled under my breath as Emma hit the nail on the head.

“What was that?” Emma narrowed her eyes.

“Most of the gems in your Nine Lives were a gift from me. I’d like to think I did a lot to ensure you were around for me for a long time.” I spoke up. There had been a time when I was younger that I was completely enamored with Emma, and she knew that.

Those years were filled with a different sort of affection, one in which she taught me many things, even if we never committed.

“Yes, I suppose they are.” She came around the amethyst and pressed my head in between her breasts before she started purring. “But that was a younger Miles. I want you to give me something someday that says I’m yours. Maybe a nice diamond studded collar?” She finished by licking my ear.

I became hard in an instant, forgetting the conversation at the moment.

“Damn. What did you say?” Melody asked from the bed as she leaned close. “Because he clearly thought it was hot.” Her eyes drifted down to the bulge in my pants.

“Nothing.” I waved it away. “We are going to finish up the throne and head out. Is that what you are wearing to the club?” I gestured at her t-shirt and shorts.

“Oh no. Obby took me shopping. I have this lovely dark leather corset we bought.” She replied.

“A corset?” I still didn’t understand why corsets were so associated with villainy. It could be that leather was tougher to protect the skin it covered? Or maybe the sexy figure was more intimidating?

But I was always up for walking around with Melody in a leather corset.

“Yeah. It’s black and purple.” She ran her hands from her breast down to her hips, accentuating her curves and she leaned back on the bed.

“Go put it on and we can head out after you are ready.” I replied, my voice a little deeper at the thought of her in the corset.

“What about you?” Melody hopped off the bed and turned to me.

I snapped my fingers and was suddenly shrouded in my darkness. “Tada! Now, go.”

Emma laughed as Melody jumped into action, nearly diving into the closet. “She’s been excited to go out with you as Void.”

“It isn’t that big of a deal.”

Emma only rolled her eyes in response, as if I was being overly thick. “It’s a huge deal. You are the mysterious Void. But also because by doing this you are treating her like a villain. You’ll have a great time. It will be like when we used to go out and celebrate after a score.” Emma bounced her brows suggestively.

We both knew exactly how we liked to celebrate. There was really only one thing that could make the tension of a high stakes mission explode into the genuine pleasure of victory.

“Got it. Be my full bad self for her tonight.” I was also curious just how far down the path of villainy Melody had gone. I had a feeling she’d put on a show for me when we were out, wanting to flaunt a little of her new status.

“Yes. Be bad, very bad. She wants to be with Void, not Miles tonight. Don’t disappoint her.” Emma couldn’t hold back a smile, showing off her slightly exaggerated canines. “If someone wants to pick a fight with her tonight. She’ll lean on you, not because she’s weak, but because she wants to see you in action. Shock and awe, Miles. Shock and awe. Be that protective, intense man for her.”

I nodded, looking off towards the closet where Melody had disappeared.

She’d mentioned she was close to getting an offer from Daeva, and I wanted Void to go along as well. Being villains together might help make that happen if we really got some attention that evening.

“Emma, can you help zip me up?” Melody called out.

Emma gave me a finger wave as she got up to help Melody.

I looked down. I realized even though I was shrouded in darkness, I should probably dress up for Melody if she was going to so much work. Maybe something a little classier.

Getting up, I went to my own closet and slipped on something I hadn’t worn in a while. Thankfully, it still fit.

Stepping back out of the closet, I found Melody already waiting for me. She had on a tight black corset with a purple V down the center and a pair of skin-tight pants that had a little glitter in them, like she was trying to match my Void outfit.

“You look wonderful.” Melody was having trouble picking her jaw up off the floor. “What about being Void?”

“Maybe I can dial it back tonight.” I snapped my fingers, and my hands and head were wrapped in the normal twilight darkness. But my outfit was still visible.

I’d chosen a black suit and shirt, paired with a red tie dark enough that blood wouldn’t stain it. It was an outfit from my past villainous streak.

Melody’s lips twitched up into a smile, and she held out her arm for me.

“Yummy.” Emma commented as she licked her lips.

She seemed to be holding back from pouncing on me to give Melody respect. “Have fun, and eliminate any threats!” Emma called after us as I took Melody's arm and walked out of the house.

Good luck, my fated. I look forward to my date next weekend. Mona asserted her own needs. But she wasn’t being pushy, which was progress given she was the most possessive of all of them.

Thank you.

Once again, I wondered where she was and what she was up to, but it would have to wait. I looked down at the beauty walking alongside me, her sparkly pants clinging tightly to her rear as she strutted alongside me.

“Hold on a minute, I invited another guest.” Melody blushed a little, but moments later, Obsidian popped out of the house in a similar outfit to Melody. But instead of a purple V, she had a sheer one, showing off just the barest edge of her nipples.

“Hope you don’t mind another? I’m dying to see Void in action.” Obsidian admitted, sliding up on my other side.

Something about being sandwiched between the two ladies dressed to kill made me feel bigger, and more than a little bad.

I wrapped all of us in a bubble and shot off through the city. The need to show off took over me, and while suppressing the kinetic force inside the bubble, I launched us faster and faster.

Moving at intense speeds, we were at the club across town in less than thirty seconds.

“Show off.” Melody playfully batted at my arm, but her hand lingered, feeling my bicep.

“Maybe I’m feeling like showing off tonight.” I teased her as we both landed just outside the line at the club.

The bouncer took one look at Melody and Obsidian, flinching a little. Clearly, they’d left an opinion. But when the bouncer’s eyes took me in, she went as pale as a ghost. “V-v-Void?” The bouncer stammered and straight up shoved the guy about to enter to the side. “Please, this way.”

“Hey, watch it. Do you know who I am?” The punk who she’d shoved blustered at the bouncer. But the bouncer just ignored them.

Deciding to make my presence more known, I pinched my fingers together.

To the naked eye, it would be like the man disappeared. But what I’d really done was condense him down into a tiny bead that I rolled along the ground towards the nearest manhole.

“Poor soul. Didn’t stand a chance.” Obsidian shook her head in pity for the dead fool.

The bouncer became weak in the knees and pressed herself up against the wall for me to pass.

I’d tried to keep it clean and simple. Shock and awe in that moment would cause more panic and trouble than I wanted to deal with so early in the night.

Melody pressed herself up against me, her soft purple breasts inviting over the top of her corset. “My man.”

“Our man.” Obsidian echoed, her pale skin attracting much of my attention in the darkness. Based on her smile, she knew how enticing she looked.

The bouncer had caught their statements as we’d passed by, and I was sure the criminal underworld across the city would hear it before night’s end.

“You two are just two troublemakers.” I shook my head ruefully. “Anyone I should meet while we are out?”

Melody wrinkled her nose. “Most of the frequent fliers in this sort of scene aren’t really worth saving.”

“Who said anything about saving?” There was a dark edge to my tone. “I’m coming out with you as Void. Anyone, and I mean anyone, who has given you trouble this week could disappear just like that.” I snapped my fingers.

“I can handle anyone myself.” Melody puffed her chest out.

“There’s this one lady. Strong and very well connected. She’s tried to put some pressure on Melody one of the nights.” Obsidian came through for me with a target. “They work for Mickey.”

“Oh, tell me more.” I grinned, but they wouldn’t be able to see it under my Void mask. I had to admit, going a little villain tonight to make sure I got an invitation into Daeva’s city was going to be fun.