Blood & Chlorophyll Ch. 08

Alicia nervously paced back and forth in her room, the space filled with the vibrant oranges of the setting sun. A pile of clothes sat in the corner, remnants of her pre-Change body, and the pile was growing larger with each passing minute. A full-length mirror hung from the closet doors, and she walked past it to grab another dress. She held it to her body, looking in the mirror, and scowled in dissatisfaction. Another addition to the pile.

“C’mon Alicia, it’s not like this is a date, right? You’re just talking with a possible delver. With Katrina. At a fancy café.” In the mirror, she caught her face turning dark green at the thought.

Turning back to the closet, she pulled out a breezy, blue sundress. Again, she held it in front of her and checked the mirror, and again she scowled. She wasn’t actually looking for something to wear, clothing still felt terrible against her skin, but instead inspiration for whatever outfit she would end up growing for herself.

Her closet only held one last item, one that caught her by surprise: her prom dress. Looking at it brought back vivid memories of her senior year of high school, specifically her senior prom. Until the Change, that dance had easily been the most transformative night of her life. It was weird, thinking back on her wild high school years; in many ways, the Change had made everything simpler, easier. Sure, she’d just realized how lonely her life had become, but she also wasn’t dealing with angry exes or mean girl drama.

Of course, gossiping cheerleaders never threatened to end her life. Now she was facing down the Key Dungeon, trying desperately to hold onto her peaceful life in the suburbs.

Which is why we need to talk to this Mage Knight. C’mon, Alicia, focus!

She examined her prom dress again. It was far too formal to emulate tonight, but as she looked at its tight bodice and its black velvet accents, an idea formed in her head. She wouldn’t emulate it exactly, it was far too formal, but what about a dress that embraced its darker aesthetic?

Facing the mirror once more, Alicia envisioned what she wanted. Around her waist, a collection of bark began growing, the wood nearly pitch black. It crept higher and higher until it almost resembled a corset, complete with a healthy amount of cleavage. Underneath, a collection of large hibiscus leaves sprouted, cascading over one another to form a light, comfortable skirt that laid flat against her thighs. The leaves were a deep purple, complimenting the black bark around her chest, and she spun around briefly to see how everything looked. After a quick frown, she shortened the length of her skirt by a few inches, deciding she wanted to show off a bit more leg.

The length now perfect, she moved her eyes to her exposed arms and shoulder. She created a series of incredibly thin vines that matched the purple hibiscus leaves, letting them snake back and forth around her chest and her neck. When she finished, it almost looked like she was wearing a lace mesh, and she finished the look by growing a large, pink hibiscus flower just underneath her left shoulder. The added asymmetry was just what the outfit needed, and she found herself laughing with excitement.

She was essentially wearing a slightly fancier sundress, but looking at herself made her realize how much she missed dressing up. She was so enamored with her look she almost didn’t care whether or not this meeting with Tabitha went well. Almost.

With her outfit now ready, Alicia put together everything she needed for the night. She created a pocket for her phone, double-checked that her old credit cards were still active, and texted Katrina.

Alicia: Let me know when you’re here!

With nothing else to do, Alicia decided to wait downstairs. She thought about how foreign her own house seemed as she wandered around her living room. She was so used to spending her time outside, it had been years since she’d seen any room other than her bedroom.

She looked down the entry hallway, her eyes coming to rest on a large box that had been delivered earlier today. It hadn’t been cheap, especially since she paid so much extra for next-day delivery, but she was happy it had gotten here in time. The biggest question would be if she could summon the nerve to tell Katrina about it.

Katrina: Just arrived! Ready when you are :)

Tucking her phone into her pocket, Alicia took a deep breath and left through the front door. Katrina definitely seemed surprised by this, as she had been waiting by Alicia’s Heart Tree. The sound of the front door closing drew her attention, however, and she turned to look at the Dryad.

“Alicia, hey! Didn’t think you’d be using the front door, or I would have knocked!” Katrina said, floating closer before softly landing in front of Alicia. Once they were face to face, the Vampire pocketed her phone as well. “Honestly, I don’t know the best way to get your attention. Can you even hear the doorbell if you’re— oh, wow, Alicia.”

Katrina had finally noticed the Dryad’s outfit, and Alicia could practically feel her eyes roaming every leaf and flower. “I-is it too much?”

“No, Alicia, you… you look incredible. Like… wow.”

Alicia felt herself blushing again, and quickly averted her eyes down, away from Katrina. She noticed that the Vampire was much more casually dressed, though she’d definitely put in effort to appear more presentable than usual. Alicia had begun noticing that Katrina’s go-to outfit seemed to be jeans, a tank top, and some kind of jacket or sweater on top. Tonight, however, she was wearing black cigarette pants and simple black pumps. Her deep, red blouse was made of satin, with thin straps that left her chest, and her ample cleavage, exposed. A silver necklace rested just above her sternum, with a teardrop ruby hanging off it, and she rounded out the outfit with a simple, black jacket that helped define her silhouette.

She’d also put on some makeup, her eyeliner perfectly showing off her bright red eyes, which made Alicia jealous that she couldn’t tolerate makeup anymore. Both girls looked at each other in silence a moment before Alicia found the courage to speak up again.

“W-well you look amazing too! I mean, you always do, but especially tonight.” Alicia laughed nervously.

“I’m not gonna lie, I think this Tabitha person might have suggested this place just to get a free, fancy meal,” Katrina said. She pulled up her GPS on her phone, gestured for Alicia to follow, and they started walking.

“Why’s that?”

“She seemed incredibly skeptical, which makes sense. Samir said that every Guild in the city is constantly trying to recruit her, so I’ll bet she’s tired of people asking. Still, if this is the only way to get a conversation with her, I think it’s worth it. Plus, neither of us eat, so it’s not like we’ll have a huge bill.”

“Maybe a frustrated waiter, though. I’ll bet restaurants aren’t fond of Races that don’t eat.” Alicia stepped further ahead, leading Katrina through some of the more convoluted paths she’d created over the years. “You really think walking is the best way to get there?”

“I think it’s the only way, honestly. If time were of the essence, I could probably pick you up and fly there, but I have a feeling that would be as bad as the train ride.”

“Ugh, completely untethered from all ground? I’m shuddering just thinking about it.” Alicia did, however, suddenly picture herself in Katrina’s arms, and once again tried to hide her blushing face.

“I should also start conserving my Mana. I might end up being our only Healer at this rate.”

“Mage Knights don’t have healing?”

“I mean, they’re certainly not known for it. Every Mage Knight I’ve heard of specs for damage, but I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s some niche Subclass that gives them minor healing abilities. That Class is wild.”

“What’s so strong about them? I’ve never really followed System stuff like that.”

“Long story short? Their abilities can manifest in thousands of different ways, and they have incredible flexibility to pick what they specialize in. They get powerful offensive spells, but also lots of supportive spellcasting, and they can also hold their own with just a weapon. Normally, you get to be good at either spellcasting or physical combat, but they can do both at the same time.”

“That explains why you were so excited back at camp. I’ll try not to embarrass you too much,” Alicia said, jokingly prodding Katrina with her elbow.

“Please, if anything, I’m more worried about myself. I don’t know how crowded this place is going to be, and I’ll likely be focusing on keeping myself under control. I brought one of my rations, but even then…”

Alicia could see Katrina’s optimism fading somewhat and decided to change the topic towards something more light-hearted. “Oh! Do you want to see something funny?”

Katrina seemed to snap out of whatever train of thought she’d been on and looked at Alicia. “Sure!”

The Dryad pulled out her phone, which was inside a small wallet, and tucked it back in her pocket after grabbing a small business card. “So, back at Camp, when everyone was crowding us, I got a bunch of business cards for all the different Guilds. They all want us to call them so we can partner up, I guess.”

“Not surprised. Not only does finding a Key earn you prestige, but unlocking a Dungeon floor normally comes with a decent pile of loot.”

“So, I was looking through all the cards, and there’s one that I think someone gave me as a joke. Take a look!” Alicia handed over the business card, eager to see Katrina laugh at how silly the fake Guild was. Oddly enough, she chuckled a little, but didn’t seem all that surprised.

“Oh, that’s a real Guild,” Katrina said, giving the card back.

“What?!”

“Yup. Second biggest in Chicago, actually.”

Alicia stepped in front of Katrina, stopping them both. “Hold on. You’re telling me that the second biggest Guild in Chicago, the third biggest city in the Country… is named Delvin’ Doggos?!”

“Yeah, they’re pretty silly.” Katrina nudged Alicia, and they both started walking again.

“How? That’s ridiculous!”

“The guy that founded it, Frederick Hodge, is a canine Beastkin. He happens to look exactly like a Shiba inu, and founded the Guild as a joke one night after getting drunk with his friends. However, around the same time, people started realizing that Ashes To Ashes was 95% Human, with no interest in opening up membership. Everyone with a Race needed somewhere to go, then happened to find a Guild run by a Beastkin. According to Fred, he woke up one day to find hundreds of applications and decided to quit his day job to give delving a serious shot.”

Alicia lost herself to a fit of laughter for several moments. “Wow, that’s amazing! If we strike out here, would they be a decent Guild to sell our Dungeon rights to?”

“They wouldn’t be the worst, but they certainly have their share of flashy abilities. They also like to position themselves as the opposite of Ashes To Ashes; they’re less serious, more optimistic, welcoming of all Races, and eager to give everyone a shot. However, they can be a bit sloppy at times, which is what stops them from overtaking Ashes To Ashes in the rankings.”

“Gosh, there’s so much going on in the delving scene. I have no idea how you keep up with it all!”

“Well, other than you, I don’t really have a social life. I work, I come home, I sleep. Rinse and repeat.”

“Okay, hypothetical question. How hard is it to start a Guild? I imagine it’s pretty easy if that Fred guy was able to do it as a joke.”

“Just starting a Guild? Super easy. The problem is trying to do anything with it. Once a Guild hits more than a few members, you have to start contending with all the laws Chicago passed to make delving safer. You have to buy delving insurance, go through a series of certifications, and there are extra hoops to jump through depending on all the Class Features at play in your Guild. The bigger an organization gets, the more paperwork you have to deal with.”

“Oof, that sounds like Chicago. Still, I work for the government, I’m used to all that paperwork. If we ever start a Guild, I’ll take care of all the boring stuff.”

Katrina looked over, surprised at Alicia’s suggestion. “I thought you didn’t care for delving. Aren’t we just doing this to keep the Guilds away from your Heart Tree?”

“Well, yeah, but what if I end up loving it? Plus, I’ve got to give you a reason to keep hanging out with me, don’t I?”

“Please, you’re all the reason I need.” Katrina only seemed to realize exactly what she’d said a moment after the words left her mouth. Her eyes went wide, and she started blushing profusely. “A-as in, like… y’know, you’re fun to be around. Even apart from all the Dungeon stuff.”

Both girls started laughing, eventually changing topics as they continued walking. After the first twenty minutes, Alicia felt the connection with her Heart Tree starting to thin, and looped her arm around Katrina’s to lean on her for support. She hadn’t even asked, it felt like something that came naturally, and Katrina didn’t bat an eye either. By the time they arrived at the café, they’d been walking for close to an hour, and Alicia was shocked at how fast the time had gone.

The café itself was beautiful. It had a dark, romantic aesthetic with plenty of red curtains decorating the walls and windows. Warm candlelight coated the dining area in a soft, intimate glow, though Alicia couldn’t tell if the fire was real or not. As they approached the front counter, a small Faun gentleman smiled at them.

He had short, brown hair that blended seamlessly into a layer of soft fur. His upturned, black nose twitched as they approached, which made Alicia thankful that she’d given herself a thorough bath in her stream earlier today. Atop his head were a set of horns, branching off in several different directions, and at the end of each segment sat bright green ribbons. He was wearing a simple suit jacket over a white button-up, and his smile seemed to light up the foyer as he spoke.

“Welcome to Café Laurent, ladies. Table for two?” the Faun asked.

“We actually have a reservation, it should be under Tabitha,” Alicia said.

“Ah, Ms. Kithkin’s guests! Yes, I can show you to your table, though she’s not yet arrived.”

“Not a problem, and thank you!” Alicia pulled out her wallet, handing the Faun her credit card. “This will be for the table, by the way.”

“Of course! If the lovely couple would follow me.”

Alicia just now realized that she still had her arm linked with Katrina’s. “Oh, it’s not like that, we’re just friends!” Her eyes met Katrina’s, and both girls blushed slightly.

The Faun briefly stopped, looking at them both. It almost seemed like he knew more than he was letting on, his eyes suspiciously darting between the Dryad and the Vampire, but he didn’t say anything more on the topic. He led them through the restaurant, and Alicia noticed that his lower half wasn’t human. His legs were covered in thick fur, their joints seemed built differently than human legs, and he had hooves instead of feet. He seemed incredibly nimble, weaving through tables without any effort, and eventually they found themselves in a secluded booth near the back.

“A table for the… lovely friends. Ms. Kithkin should be here shortly,” the Faun said, his smile soft and genuine.

As the girls slid into their seats, and their host left them alone, they turned to each other in confusion. “Okay, this is a little weird, right?” Alicia asked.

“They seem to be incredibly familiar with Tabitha. You think she’s like, super rich or something? Maybe that’s why she doesn’t want to delve, she doesn’t need the money,” Katrina said, shuffling in her seat to try and get comfortable.

“Ooh maybe she signed up because she wanted excitement! Her comfortable life is getting drab, she does nothing but attend galas and museum dedications,” Alicia said, smirking. Her voice took on a refined affect as she impersonated the person she thought they might be meeting tonight.

They both began laughing at the thought, but their revelry was cut short when someone spoke up next to them.

“What’s so funny? Did I miss a joke?” the voice said.

Looking over, Alicia saw a tall Beastkin standing next to the table. She looked exactly like an arctic fox, with snow white fur and delicate, triangular ears atop her head. Small dashes of light gray fur highlighted her sharp nose and her bright, blue eyes. Her pants were as white as her fur, clinging tightly to her shapely, muscular legs. Her shirt was a mix of blue and gold accents, loose and billowy with open sleeves that floated down her arms. She gracefully pulled out a chair opposite them and sat down, smiling at them both.

“N-nothing really, we were just killing time. You’re Tabitha Kithkin, I presume?” Katrina asked.

“The one and only!”

“I must say, Tabitha, this restaurant is gorgeous, and the staff seem to be quite familiar with you. Do you come here often?”

Tabitha grabbed a napkin, spreading it across her lap as she listened to Katrina speak. Alicia couldn’t help but notice that the Fox girl seemed to be sizing them up, her eyes quickly darting over them. She couldn’t be certain, but she swore Tabitha’s gaze lingered for longer than it needed to on Katrina’s prominent cleavage. “I’m definitely a regular. The food here is amazing, and whenever fans win dates with me, I bring them here.”

“I’m sorry, fans?” Alicia asked.

Tabitha seemed surprised. “Oh, you don’t— never mind, I assumed you were more familiar with my… chosen profession. No matter, I understand we’re not here to talk about that anyways. I’m curious what makes you think you can convince me to delve when every other Guild in the American Midwest has tried, and failed, countless times.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to order first? We’re in no rush,” Katrina said. Alicia took the opportunity to look around the room and noticed that they had a fair amount of space between them and the other patrons. Katrina didn’t seem to be stressing about staying in control, and that was likely why.

“Eager to try the food, right? God, it’s amazing, you’re going to love it,” Tabitha said, flagging down a waiter.

“We’re actually not going to be eating tonight, our Races can’t really handle food,” Alicia said.

“Well, shoot, then why did you agree to meet in a restaurant? Now I feel rude for making the suggestion.”

Katrina spoke up next. “Just trying to make a good first impression, that’s all. Like I mentioned in my email, this matter is… sensitive, and I figured buying you dinner might be the only way to catch a few minutes of your time.”

“You’re a shrewd negotiator, Katrina, I respect that. Though, I seem to have forgotten my manners, who’s your girlfriend here?”

Alicia’s hand had, somehow, found its way to Katrina’s arm again, and she quickly pulled it back. “N-no, we’re not… we’re just friends. I’m Alicia!” She held out her hand, which Tabitha grabbed and lightly shook.

“Friends?” Tabitha looked at them both again, then shrugged “Sure, if you say so.”

At this point, the waiter arrived and interrupted the conversation. Tabitha ordered a large cut of steak, along with a bottle of wine. The waiter turned to Katrina next. “And for you, ma’am? We have several bottles of pig’s blood, though other animals might be available if you wish.”

Katrina seemed genuinely shocked by his offer, and took a moment to think of a response. “N-no, I can’t handle animal blood.”

“Ah, would you like me to check if we have any Human?” the waiter asked.

“That’s… that’s an option?” Katrina asked, swallowing nervously.

“Absolutely! Let me ask the kitchen, I’ll see what we have available.” The waiter nodded softly, then walked away from the table.

Alicia leaned close to Katrina. “Why would they have Human blood? I thought everything was being rationed out?”

“They can only ration out what gets donated to them. There’s nothing stopping people from donating blood to private companies instead, especially if they’re getting paid for it. Getting a license to sell blood costs a lot of time and money, so places that offer it always charge a ridiculous price. There’s no way we can afford any, even if they have some.”

As Katrina looked at Alicia, there was an obvious look of defeat in her eyes. Alicia wanted desperately to help Katrina out, but she had no idea how much human blood might cost. After learning the true nature of the Key Dungeon, she’d looked through her finances to see what state they were in, and had been surprised to find a sizable amount of savings. Still, after remembering the expensive purchase that now sat in her front hallway, she was pretty sure she didn’t have the money for fancy human blood.

Tabitha cleared her throat, quickly bringing the attention back towards herself. “Well, we’ve ordered. I’m ready to hear your pitch.”

Katrina looked over to Alicia, silently asking if she wanted to share the details. The Dyrad hesitated for a moment, then nodded and began to speak. “We found the Key Dungeon. It’s much further away from the city than normal, and because we discovered it, we get exclusive rights to it for three weeks. However, we’re not delvers.”

“So you sell the rights off, happens all the time,” Tabitha said.

“It’s not that easy. I’m a Dryad, which means my life is tied to my Heart Tree. If it’s damaged, I could very easily die. The Dungeon is underground, and when it opened up, huge sections of my roots were exposed. If a fight breaks out, and people get careless with their abilities…”

“Ah, I see your problem. Need to keep Tarkowski as far away as possible. The other Guilds aren’t as bad though, why not them?” Tabitha asked.

“I can’t risk it. I don’t know any of them, and I won’t feel comfortable unless I’m down there myself. Even if they mean well, all it takes is one mistake, one second where they’re forced to choose between their lives or mine.”

Tabitha went silent for a moment, her eyes doing their best to stare into Alicia’s soul. She leaned back, interlacing her fingers as she picked her next words. “Just the two of you? What Classes are you working with?”

Katrina spoke up this time. “I’m a Bard, Path of Magic, though I have regen buffs instead of stat buffs. Alicia is a Bulwark.”

“So you’ve got a Tank, and some limited heals. If I join, you get a damage class. Not a terrible team comp.” At this point, the waiter returned. Before he could speak up, however, Tabitha gestured for him to come closer, and she whispered something into his ear. He nodded briefly, then left without a word. “Still, only three of us? Not very encouraging.”

“I’ve met with several other candidates, and all of them have turned me down. Well, one was interested, but he’s a Mermaid, so he has no way to travel outside of water.”

“Can I be forward for a moment?” Tabitha locked eyes with Katrina, her gaze intense. Kat nodded, and Tabitha continued speaking. “You’re a Vampire. How do I know I can trust you? It’s plain as day that the blood shortage is making your life difficult. What happens if we’re down in the Dungeon, and I get hurt?”

“I can handle myself,” Katrina said, her voice tense. “Plus, Alicia helps. She doesn’t have blood, and knows how to keep me distracted if things get hectic.”

“Of course, because you’re such good friends,” Tabitha said, chuckling to herself. “Look, I’ve got a confession to make. I like to push people’s buttons, I love figuring out what makes everyone tick, and it means I’m great at my job. Tell me, Katrina; have you ever considered being a cam girl? You’ve certainly got the body for it.”

The question surprised both Katrina and Alicia. Kat began coughing, and thankfully her lack of a drink spared the table a spit take. Alicia, on the other hand, began blushing profusely at the thought of the Vampire slowly taking off her clothes, doing everything she could to seduce whoever might be watching.

“What? No!” Katrina said. “I have nothing but respect for sex workers, and I’m legitimately thrilled everything is legal now, but I’m far too shy for something like that. Should I assume that’s your line of work?”

“It is! I happen to love what I do, and I completely understand where you’re coming from. Now, cards on the table, I registered as a Delver because I had a very wealthy patron that wanted me to. He paid for everything, even bought me some equipment, and he frequently asked me to roleplay as a lost Delver, trapped and alone, in need of a big strong man to come rescue me. Although, sometimes the monsters got me, and that’s when the really fun toys would come out… but I digress, I’m losing my train of thought. What I mean to say is that I enjoy my work, and delving puts me at risk of serious injury, if not worse. The rewards of delving never seemed worth it, in my opinion, but… you’re not in this for the money. You need to save a life, and that’s a wonderfully romantic idea.” As Tabitha spoke, it almost seemed like she was speaking to herself as much as Katrina.

“What do you want?” Alicia asked. “Assurances? Money?”

“Honestly, what I treasure most is novelty. I can’t deny, delving would be something new, a change of pace. I wonder…” Tabitha paused again, tapping the side of her snout as she thought to herself. “Alright, I’ll help on one condition. You do something for me in exchange.”

Katrina seemed suspicious, but clearly wanted to accept the offer. “Like what?”

“Hm… I don’t know yet. I’ve got a few ideas floating around, but I don’t know which would be more fun. If you’re willing to give me a blank check, I’ll join your little adventuring party.”

“Is this blank check from me, or Alicia?” Katrina asked.

“Both. A favor from each of you, to be discussed later.” A devious grin appeared on Tabitha’s face, and she eagerly looked between both girls.

“I’ll do it,” Alicia said. “No price is too high.”

With a heavy sigh, Katrina spoke up next. “I guess I’m in as well. A blank check from each of us.”

Tabitha clapped her hands together, beaming in exuberance. “Perfect! Oh, this is so exciting! Just in time too, looks like the food is here.”

Katrina pulled her hands off the table, watching as the waiter set down a plate of food in front of Tabitha. He also had three glasses, one of which landed in front of each girl. He filled Alicia’s glass with water, and Tabitha’s with wine. He then reached for another bottle, one that looked quite different from the wine, and poured a drink for Katrina. She nervously reached for the glass, bringing it close and smelling it.

“Tabitha, this is… what did you tell them? We can’t afford this,” Katrina said.

“It’s on me, love. After all, we need to toast in celebration, don’t we?”

Katrina hesitated. “I-I don’t… normally drink in public…”

Tabitha said nothing this time. She held her glass up, her expectations obvious, and simply stared at the Vampire. Katrina looked back to Alicia, who reached out and squeezed her arm gently in reassurance.

“C’mon Kat, it’ll be okay. I’m here with you,” Alicia said softly.

With one final sigh, Katrina raised her glass, and all three girls toasted to their new partnership. Tabitha happily downed about half her glass, while Alicia set her water down and sank her fingers inside the glass. Small roots pushed out from her fingertips, eagerly absorbing the water, and she looked to Katrina next.

The Vampire brought the glass of blood to her lips and began to drink. Alicia watched the blood pour into her mouth, cascading over her beautiful lips, and wondered again what they might feel like on her skin. As Katrina drank, her skin seemed to glow with newfound strength and vitality. Her eyes were closed in appreciation, and Alicia swore she heard Katrina’s breath quicken as she finished the glass. She lowered the glass slightly, opening her eyes, and Alicia couldn’t help but stare at the deep, glowing irises that she saw. Before setting the glass down, Katrina slowly licked the edge of the glass, eagerly searching for the last few drops. Alicia’s eyes were glued to Katrina’s tongue the whole time.

“Now that,” Tabitha said, “was hot. If that’s how you drink blood, I can only imagine how you’d look doing other things…”

Katrina immediately snapped out of her moment of bliss, blushing intensely at Tabitha’s innuendo. “I, um… thanks for the glass, Tabitha. It’s been years since I’ve had that much at once.”

“Believe me, the pleasure was all mine,” the Fox girl said. “Now, I’d love to hear more about what’s going on, why don’t you tell me everything while I dig in.”

—

When the group finally left Café Laurent an hour later, Katrina happily led the trio outside. Alicia seemed to be in good spirits, but Katrina could tell that being inside had been draining her stamina. The Dryad started leaning on her again, and just like the last few times, Katrina was surprised at how natural it felt.

“So, you both have my number,” Tabitha said, “keep me updated on what our next steps are going to be.”

Katrina nodded and spoke up first. “Absolutely! We’ll hammer out the details and let you know.”

“It was wonderful meeting you, Tabitha,” Alicia said, holding out her hand. “I really appreciate you doing this, it means the world.”

Tabitha bypassed the request for a handshake entirely instead grabbing Alicia’s wrist and pulling her in for a full-bodied hug. She squeezed the Dryad tight, then leaned down and whispered something, but Katrina couldn’t catch the details. When Alicia pulled away from the hug, she looked at the Fox girl with a strange look on her face, then briefly nodded.

“Shall we head out, Alicia? It’ll be a long walk home, and it’s already late.” Katrina held out her arm, and warmth filled her body when Alicia began leaning on her again. “Thanks for everything, Tabitha. You’re a real lifesaver, I promise you won’t regret this!”

“Night you two! Don’t stay up too late!” Tabitha chuckled to herself before heading out, leaving Katrina and Alicia alone once more.

“You got your Mage Knight, Kat!” Alicia smiled up at Katrina as they started walking home.

“I really did, didn’t I? That girl really is something. She’s super nice, but she’s also got this… I don’t how to describe it. Intensity?”

“She did say she likes to push people’s buttons. Though, she seemed much more interested in you than in me.”

“I think I’d rather be you in that situation. She asked me to be a cam girl, can you believe it? The thought of exposing myself like that, to hundreds of people? No thank you.”

“She seems to enjoy it, at least.” Alicia briefly rested her head on Katrina’s shoulder.

“And I’m more than happy for her, but that’s just not my life. Even if the System gave me nineteen Charisma and a massive rack.”

Both girls started laughing at Katrina’s lewd comment, and the conversation died down for a while. Katrina was just happy to have more time with Alicia, and she was thrilled that the restaurant had required such a long walk. The suburbs had no crowds to trigger her instincts, and she was able to just relax and enjoy the company. Almost ten minutes had passed before Katrina thought of something else to say.

“Your dress really is gorgeous, by the way. How do you come up with ideas about which clothes to grow?"

“Honestly? I raided my closet looking at all my old clothes. Eventually I found my old prom dress, and it inspired me to make this.”

“Wow, prom. That’s something I haven’t thought about in ages. High school seems like a million years ago, doesn’t it?”

“How old are you, actually?” Alicia asked.

“Twenty-seven. How about you?”

“Um, twenty-four? I’m not entirely sure, being a Dryad kinda messes with my sense of time.”

“Well, we should look up your birthday, and maybe it’ll give me an excuse to get you something nice once we get our first batch of Dungeon loot.”

Katrina caught Alicia blushing, and they both smiled at each other. “That’s… you don’t have to do that…”

“It’s no bother, really! Anyways, I’m curious, how was your prom? I never even went to mine.”

“Oh, that’s a long story, I don’t know.”

“C’mon Alicia, you think being all mysterious is going to make me less interested? We’ve got at least a half hour before we get you back home, and I’m all ears.”

“Well… if you insist.” Alicia pushed some hair behind her ear, then continued talking. “My senior prom was, honestly, a huge mess. In the weeks leading up to it, I’d been dating this track star. He was sweet, attentive, and he had a flair for the dramatic. He actually asked me to prom by stealing his dad’s pickup truck and driving a giant banner through our high school parking lot.”

Katrina laughed at the image. “Wow, that’s impressive. Lucky you!”

“I mean, I guess? We hadn’t been going out for very long, I was still figuring out if I actually liked him that much. My best friend at the time, Aiya, didn’t like him at all. She actually had a habit of disliking every guy I dated, and I never fully understood why. We used to spend all our free time together, playing games, roaming around our neighborhood, just getting into trouble left and right. We always had each other’s backs, and that’s why I always thought it was weird that she seemed to hate my choice in partners.”

Alicia shivered briefly, a cold breeze had just picked up, and she wasn’t wearing much. Katrina quickly pulled off her jacket, then wrapped it around Alicia and pulled her close before she continued her story.

“So, it’s prom night, everyone is super excited, all my friends are comparing dresses and bragging about what their partners got them except for Aiya. She’d been single for pretty much all of high school, which had been yet another mystery I couldn’t crack. Every time I asked her, she would say something vague about ‘waiting for the right person’. Once we all get to the dance, which was at this fancy hotel the school rented, all the usual stuff happens. There’s music, underage drinking that the teachers weren’t able to stop, and high schoolers being far too comfortable with each other on the dance floor. The DJ had just finished playing whatever the hit song that year was, and things quiet down. A soft, intimate song starts playing, and my boyfriend pulls me close so we can dance. It was nice, I was leaning on his shoulder, but after a minute, I look up and see Aiya staring at me. She looks like she’s on the verge of tears, and that’s when everything clicked. Always being single, always hating my boyfriends, spending all our time together… I finally realized that she had a huge crush on me. She ran out, tears ruining her makeup, and I could feel my heart breaking at the sight of it all. Without even knowing it, I’d fallen for her at some point too.”

“So what happened?” Katrina was utterly engrossed, eager to hear the story to its end.

“I pushed my boyfriend to the side and ran after her. I was in heels, but she wasn’t, so it took forever to catch up. By the time I found her, I was completely out of breath, and she looked at me like I was crazy. She tried to make up some stupid excuse about what she was actually mad about, but I wasn’t having it. I told her how I felt, and we finally kissed once we realized we’d been in love for years. We ran away from the dance, and lost our virginities to each other that night.”

Katrina could feel herself welling up, she had completely lost herself in the story. “Are you sure this wasn’t a Lifetime movie? Alicia, that’s so romantic! What happened to Aiya?”

“Y’know, life. We moved in together after high school, and for a while everything was fantastic. But, after a while, we started to grow apart. I don’t really know what happened, it was like I woke up one day and realized my best friend had become a stranger. We wanted different things out of life, I guess, and that was that. We broke up, I never saw her again.”

A small tear formed in the corner of Alicia’s eye, and Katrina reached up to brush it away. “I’m so sorry to hear that, Alicia. I appreciate you sharing that all with me, though.” The girls hugged, then continued walking. Katrina couldn’t think of what else to say, so they walked in silence until they found their way back to Primrose Acres. Katrina could tell that Alicia no longer needed the support, she’d stopped leaning on Katrina nearly ten minutes ago, but the girls were still holding on to each other.

As they approached Alicia’s house, Katrina kept struggling to think of something to say. “Well… here we are. You should probably get some sleep.”

“It is pretty late, isn’t it?” Alicia pulled her hands away from Katrina’s arm, and she seemed to be deep in thought over something. The Dryad continued walking, and when she laid a hand on her front door handle, she paused. “Actually, before I do… I, um… I got something for you.”

“You what? Seriously?” Katrina moved closer, waiting just outside Alicia’s house with her. “You know you don’t owe me anything, Alicia.”

“No, I wanted to! C’mon, let me show you!” The Dryad grabbed Katrina’s hand, holding it tight before she opened the door and ran inside. Their grip on each other quickly severed when Katrina approached the threshold, an intense sense of unease filling her body and preventing her from entering. “Kat? Oh, right! I’m so sorry! Katrina, I formally invite you into my house.”

Katrina sighed with relief, then stepped into the house. “Thanks, Alicia. Though, there’s no need to be so formal about it.” The girls laughed briefly, but Alicia soon turned her efforts to a large box that sat a few feet past the front door.

“Okay, this is it, but I haven’t officially opened it yet. Can you help me move it onto the couch?”

“Alicia, this is huge! What on earth did you do?”

“C’mon, you’ll see soon enough, just get over here!”

Working together, the girls were able to move the box to the couch in the living room. Katrina took charge of opening it, her nails supernaturally tough and able to cut through most of the tape. After a few minutes of tossing cardboard and styrofoam aside, she finally saw what was inside: a beautiful, hard shell guitar case. It was made of sleek, polished wood, and had been stained to be a deep, rich red.

“Alicia, this is beautiful! Though, as much as I hate to say it, I don’t know if my guitar will fit. It seems like it’s been built for a different model.”

Katrina looked over at Alicia, who didn’t seem at all dismayed as she responded. “Go ahead and open it!”

“You… you didn’t, did you?” Katrina asked. Alicia refused to elaborate, so Katrina undid the clasps on the guitar case and opened it. Inside the case sat a brand-new guitar. Its nylon strings were fresh and taut, the wood had been immaculately molded into the perfect shape, and the tuning pegs had been polished to a mirror shine. Curiously, this guitar was shaped differently than hers; it still appeared to be a classical model, but it was more compact.

“I know you don’t play like, rock music, so I found a model that should work for what you like playing! It’s actually meant for Bards that are Delvers, and it’s been enchanted to be extra durable. After we got in that fight with the zombie, I realized that your guitar would be really easy to break in a fight.”

“Alicia, I…” Katrina couldn’t find the strength to speak. She couldn’t remember the last time anyone had done something so nice for her, yet her thoughts kept returning to one thing. “I don’t deserve this, Alicia. We just met, and—”

“Oh, shut up!” Alicia said, cutting Katrina off. “I’m sick of hearing about how I shouldn’t trust you, and how you’re not a good person! We haven’t even known each other a week, Katrina, and yet you’ve done everything in your power to help me with this stupid dungeon! You could have sold me out to the Guilds, you could have abandoned me in the city and claimed the whole thing for yourself! But instead, you guide me through Dungeon Camp, you help me keep the Guilds away, and you put yourself through Hell and back just to make sure I get home safe every night! When do you get a turn, Katrina? Why can’t you just accept that I want to see you happy?”

Alicia moved closer, her finger jabbing into Katrina’s sternum to accentuate her point. Surprised by the sudden outburst, Katrina grabbed her hand and held on tight while she waited for the Dryad to finish.

“Well? C’mon Kat, say something!”

“Alicia…” Katrina said, stepping closer. She looked deep into Alicia’s eyes, the ambient moonlight in the room reflecting off her beautiful, green irises, and suddenly there was only one thing she wanted to do. “Can I kiss you?”

The Dryad’s eyes went wide with shock. In a flash, all her anger completely vanished, and she threw herself forward, her arms wrapping around Katrina’s shoulders. Their lips met, and both girls sighed in relief as they melted against each other. Alicia’s hands pushed through Katrina’s hair, holding her head as they continued kissing, and Katrina in turn pulled Alicia closer, holding her waist tight. Kissing Alicia was everything Katrina had ever imagined and then some. Her lips were soft and delicate, and her breathing grew heavy as they continued exploring each other.

It took a few minutes for the initial excitement to fade, and Katrina finally found the strength to speak up. “…Wow.” Her hands moved to Alicia’s face, caressing her cheeks before cradling them softly. Their foreheads met, and she could hear Alicia breathing heavily.

“Kat, I… I’ve been wanting to do that since the moment I first saw you.” Alicia suddenly pulled away, her eyes wide again. “Wait! What about that girl on your phone?”

“What? You mean the ginger girl?”

“Yes! I saw her when you gave me the flashlight, and I was scared she was like, your girlfriend or something!”

The girls stared at each other for a moment before Katrina burst out laughing. “Alicia, that’s me. That’s what I looked like before the Change!” She continued laughing, and eventually Alicia joined in as well. She fell forward, burying her face in Katrina’s shoulder as she kept laughing.

“Oh my god, that’s so embarrassing… I was so scared to make a move! I kept thinking, like, there’s no way someone this gorgeous doesn’t have a girlfriend already!”

“Even though I kept telling you about my lack of a social life?”

“I don’t know! It all seems so silly now!”

Another fit of giggles infected them, and it took another few minutes for them to calm down. When Katrina spoke again, it was through a careful smile. “The guitar is amazing. You’re amazing. I don’t know if I can convince myself that I deserve you, but… I’ll do my best to try.”

Alicia looked up into Katrina’s eyes, her soft green hands reaching to push a lock of hair back. Her hand lingered, and Katrina closed her eyes before nuzzling into Alicia’s palm. “Why are you so sure you’re a bad person, Kat?” Alicia asked.

The Vampire grew stiff again, the question reaching deep into the heart of all her fears. “The Change, it… I…” She couldn’t bring herself to keep talking.

“Look, I know this is hard. I’m not going to force you to tell me anything but… I want to know. I want to be a part of your life, Kat, the good and the bad. If you don’t want to talk about it tonight, I get it.”

Katrina took a deep breath, though she could feel herself shaking at the thought of recounting her first year after the Change. “No, you deserve to know. If we want to make this work, you should know who I am, and… and what I’ve done.”

“Are you sure?” Alicia asked.

Katrina took the Dryad’s hands in hers, looked her deep in the eyes, and nodded. “I’m sure. I’ll tell you what happened when I Changed.”

—

"Nyx!"

Hi, Alicia.

"Nyx! Nyx! Nyx!"

You seem to be, uh, a little excited.

"AAAH!!"

Easy now, no need to jump around that much.

"Did you see?! We KISSED! Oh, it was so wonderful! Her lips were so soft, and she held my face after, and—"

I did see that, actually. I'm glad it's working out!

"She's even going to tell me about her Change finally, but what if it's sad? God, I don't know if I'm ready to hear about how hard it was..."

Well, there's no need to think about that now. Did she give you a song for this chapter?

"Oh! She did! It's, um, Leeb... no, Libe, hold on... Liebeslied by Johann Kaspar Mertz. Gosh, why did I never learn a second language? Anyways, she said this piece is one of her favorites to play when she's feeling romantic, so, y'know.. perfect chapter for it! She does this adorable thing where she closes her eyes while she plays, and like, silently sings along with the music, if that makes sense? Like, if you watch her lips, they're moving in time with the melody, even though there's no words, I don't know how else to describe it."

Wow, she really said all that about herself?

"Well... no... that might have been me. Wait! You're sassing me! She said you've been getting sassy!"

Drat, busted.

"Just give them the link, jerk. Oh, and... don't tell her I said this, but... thanks."

You two go have fun! As for the rest of you, here's that link.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98coM3dVIHs

Until next time! Nyx <3