De'Vas Chronicles Book 5: Chapter 6

Ash stepped through his personal portal, emerging in Selena’s office in District 208. The first thing that greeted him was the large painting of her family castle back on Vas. The one that now belonged to her uncle, whom Cleo had worked to establish trade relations with for the council.

There were several other pictures on the wall that Ash examined as he made his way to the office door. One caught his eye, and he knew it was from a few months ago when all of them went to the beach, Selena and Haylee both in bikinis, eating ice cream under an umbrella. Another one was of Selena and Naomi, an arm around each other in a hug, smiling and holding red plastic cups, with Lilly photo bombing them in the background. He figured that one was taken at one of Lily’s notorious slumber parties.

The picture on her desk, though, was taken at the council’s ball, held not long after Ash became a council member. He was dressed in a black suit and tie, while Selena wore a violet dress that matched her eyes. He had his own copy of this photo hanging on the wall in his office.

As soon as he opened the door and stepped out, he found a kobold maid waiting for him. The three-foot-tall lizard woman curtsied to him.

“Mr. Grayson, Lady Selena asked me to escort you to the living room. She is just finishing getting ready and will be down momentarily.”

Ash nodded.

“Lead the way.”

Once in the living room, he took a spot on the couch that had a view of the staircase that led to the second floor, where Selena’s room was. The maid asked if he would like refreshments while he waited, but he politely declined. They were going out to eat after all, and he didn’t want to spoil his appetite.

He only waited about ten minutes before Selena walked down the stairs wearing blue jeans and a flannel top. The whole look gave her a very country vibe, but Selena pulled it off. He stood from the couch and approached her.

“You look stunning,” Ash said.

Selena’s eyes ran up and down him as she entered the living room.

“You as well.”

He picked at his shirt.

“It’s something Eva set out for me,” he stated, then glanced back at what Selena wore. “Oh, we match.”

He doubted that it was a coincidence.

Selena’s lips curved in a smirk as she looped her arm through his. “I’ll need to tell her thank you.”

Ash narrowed his eyes.

“Eva knew what you were wearing tonight. Are all you girls in a messaging group or something?” he asked.

She leaned forward and kissed him.

“That wasn’t an answer,” Ash stated as they broke apart.

Selena shrugged.

“Of course we are, you’re a busy man. The women in your life need to coordinate and communicate so we can help each other and ensure an equal amount of time with you,” she replied before shifting topics. “Are you ready to leave?”

Ash hummed in thought.

“Almost. I think I’d like another kiss before we leave.”

Selena smiled and obliged his request. “Now, let’s get to the vehicle.”

Outside the house, a Frankenstein car waited, its kobold driver wearing goggles. Ash opened the car door for Selena, and soon both of them were in the backseat. Instantly, Ash put his arm around Selena, not as a display of affection, but to keep both of them from flying out of the car. This monstrosity of a vehicle lacked seatbelts and shock absorbers. The only thing that made the ride more comfortable than his time riding in a wagon on Vas was the fact that the seats were at least padded.

The tires peeled out as the car left Selena’s house. After they passed the wall surrounding her estate, District 208 opened up before them. Ash’s mother had done much to help District 114 grow, but that was nothing compared to what she had done for District 208. After the death of Selena’s father, her district had struggled. His mother worked hard to help it recover once he became a council member, shifting much of her resources to repair the district’s damaged economy and slowing the exodus of residents. There were still rough areas within District 208, but it was clear to anyone that things were improving.

It didn’t take long for them to arrive at The Warrior, especially given the breakneck speed the kobold drove at. Ash was sure the small lizard man only believed the car would move if he floored it.

Bo, Jacklyn, and Ella were waiting for them outside the restaurant as they pulled up. Bo was wearing a nice jacket, but Ash could still see the hints of the novelty T-shirt under it. Jacklyn was in a colorful blouse, while Ella wore a t-shirt and jeans combo that fit her tomboy aesthetic.

The girls rushed over to Selena, greeting her with hugs. While Ash went up to Bo, grasping the orc’s hand and shaking it.

“How you been?” Ash asked.

Bo smiled.

“Pretty good. Still settling in to life here in District 208. Not much of an orc community here, though.”

It hadn’t taken Bo long, after Ash’s mother made herself at home in District 114, for the orc and Jacklyn to move in with Ella. Though Ash figured it had more to do with their time in District 208 helping Ella than with his mother.

“Hit me up if you’re free this weekend, and we’ll go to the Twins for a beer, my treat. I’m sure Mander would like to see you,” Ash offered.

Bo thought for a moment and grinned.

“Saturday is karaoke night at the Twins!”

Ash groaned.

“I offer to buy you beer and you threaten to torture my eardrums?” he protested, only to see Bo roll his eyes at the response.

“It’s only torture if you’re the one singing,” Bo replied before taking a smug pose.“I’ll have you know I’ve been booked to perform for a wedding. My music career is starting to take off.”

Turning Ash raised an eyebrow at Jacklyn, who confirmed with a nod that Bo wasn’t joking.

“We think they’re hiring him to clear out the reception,” she replied, looking at her boyfriend with a playful smile as her cat tail swished mischievously.

Bo mocked a wound at his girlfriend’s words. “It’s an elven wedding. There won’t be a reception.”

Jacklyn patted Bo on the arm.

“I’m just playing. We are very proud of you, dear,” she said, leaning up to kiss him on the cheek.

Ash smacked Bo on the shoulder.

“Congrats. Seriously, that’s awesome news.”

Bo grinned and was about to say something when Ella stepped forward and started pushing him toward the door of the restaurant. Selena hooked her arm through Ash’s as he watched the five-foot-four desert elf herd the seven-foot-tall orc.

“Okay, I’m starving, and we have a table reserved,” Ella said as she opened the door. “You boys can pick on each other inside.”

They settled in at the restaurant, ordered their food, and started to visit while they waited for the waitress to return. The girls led their own conversation, while Bo and Ash nursed their beers, trading stories and jabs at each other.

It seemed like almost no time at all had passed before the waitress returned with the food. Ash had ordered his usual, the Fang Burger, while Selena went with a seafood dish. He was pretty sure the fish came from District 114, given the trade relations between their districts and the fact that District 208 was landlocked. As they ate, the topic of why Bo and Jacklyn moved to District 208 came up.

“I’m telling you, it was an assassination attempt!” Bo said defiantly.

Jacklyn and Ella laughed.

“It wasn’t an assassination attempt,” Jacklyn said. “You bought a discount ice cream maker that just so happened to be made by Grayson Industries. Vivian didn’t place it there.”

Ash shook his head and looked at Jacklyn.

“Seriously? You two moved out of District 114 because an ice cream maker caught fire? You know how many times Bo started a kitchen fire from cooking while I was living with him?”

Jacklyn rolled her eyes.

“It wasn’t even a fire. The motor of the ice cream maker burned out and started smoking. Bo freaked out, saying that Vivian was trying to kill him. I relented and moved to District 208 just for some peace and quiet,” her feline tail flicked in agitation.

Ash laughed.

“Man, Mom’s not trying to kill you.”

Bo pointed a finger at Ash.

“You didn’t see the body in the elevator,” he said, then shivered. “I still have nightmares.”

Ash was about to harass his best friend more when he heard someone in the restaurant shout, their voice panicked.

“Quick! Turn the TV up!”

More voices started to echo around the restaurant. Jacklyn’s feline ears twitched, and her face turned pale.

“Oh, no…” she said.

Before Bo or Ash could say anything, the TV volume increased, and he heard the reporter.

“Paranormals and mages have just attacked the WillCo Research and Wellness center here in San Juan. This does not appear to be a rift event, as several individuals are armed with firearms and magical weapons. There—”

He heard the sound of gunfire, then an explosion. Ash quickly turned to the TV hanging over the bar. The screen showed a burning security van before zooming in on a harpy perched on top of the office building, a large rifle in her arms. When it zoomed back out, it showed an old orc wearing what looked like SWAT armor holding two battle axes as he guarded the gate into the building. Multiple bodies of security guards surrounding him, all hacked to bloody pieces.

Outside the gates, more security guards wearing WillCo insignias on their vests opened fire on him, but he didn’t move from the gate. Instead, his wounds healed as he took a sip from a silver flask, then he grabbed a handful of intestines from one of the bodies.

“Is he cannibalizing the corpse?” the reporter exclaimed as the camera zoomed in on the orc gorging himself.

The Flask of the Starved King.

The restaurant was in an uproar. Some were yelling at the TV, others were crying. Ash felt Selena grip his arm tightly as she stared at the TV. Jacklyn was doing the same to Bo, who stared at it with his jaw hanging open. Ella, though, was yelling.

“You dumbass! You’ll ruin everything for us!” she shouted, tears in her eyes. She even threw her drink at the orc on the screen. Others soon joined in, and soon the screen was covered in food and soda, blocking what was happening. Ash could still hear the gunfire, the shouting, and the panicked screams of people.

He stood from the table, trying to move to another part of the bar to see if there was a TV that wasn’t barraged by food from the restaurant’s patrons. Selena followed him.

“Ash?” she asked, grabbing his hand.

He looked back to see the fear in her eyes.

“It’s Hitomi,” he said. “Hitomi is behind this.”

Before he could say or do anything more, his phone started ringing. He already knew who it was. He already knew the council would call an emergency meeting.