Demoness 2 - Chapter 92 - Parties (Patreon)

Elania’s reflexes kicked in as a teenaged darkwalker leaped at her, its claws outstretched and fangs bared.

She caught the feline mid-air, its fur bristling against her skin as it thrashed in her grip. The darkwalker snarled and snapped, trying to sink its teeth into her flesh. The effort was futile.

A flicker of recognition sparked. It was the cub. The memory of slaying its parents flashed through her thoughts. She’d fed him a chunk of ralfot out of guilt.

Elania’s grip remained firm, but she reached out to stroke the cat, her fingers running through its coarse fur in a soothing motion. The darkwalker’s struggles intensified, its ire palpable as it tried to twist away from her touch.

“Enough,” Elania commanded, her voice stern yet calm. She locked eyes with the darkwalker, her golden irises gleaming with an otherworldly intensity. “I am the alpha here, and you will behave.”

She set the darkwalker down, releasing her hold on its scruff. He backed away, a low rumbling in its throat. Elania responded with a growl of her own, a primal sound that reverberated through the air.

The darkwalker’s ears flattened against its skull, and it tucked its tail between its legs. With a whimper, it turned and scampered away between people’s legs, knocking some of them over as it fled.

Elania nodded as it found an abandoned corner of the chamber partially hidden by a shadow.

“Uhm,” Yolani mumbled, taken aback by the exchange.

“I need to look around,” Elania said.

Yolani nodded.

Rising into the air, Elania’s hair billowed in the wind. She reached out and ran her fingers through it. Crimson red locks entwined with golden ones. What she needed was a nice hair dye that blocked magic color changes.

Her natural black that didn’t change every other day would be a pleasant change.

The Mushroohums still brandished their spears, their fungal faces contorted with confusion and anger as they threatened the guards.

The din of humanity filled the chamber, a cacophony of voices expressing their bewilderment and fear.

Her enforced [Truce] was dissipating.

She flew over to the mushroom people. With a wave of her hand, she sent out a pulse of energy, her words resonating through the minds of all present, bypassing the need for spores to communicate with the Mushroohums.

“Calm yourselves,” she commanded.

The Mushroohums turned toward her, most of them lowering their spears. Their hostility was replaced by a mix of awe and trepidation as they gazed up at her.

“The world you knew was ending,” Elania continued. “I brought you here to save you from that fate.”

She paused, letting her words sink in as she studied them.

“If you are upset with my actions, if you cannot accept the reality of your situation, then you are free to end your existence here and now,” Elania declared, her tone devoid of emotion. “But know that I offer you a chance at a new life, a fresh start in a world that is not doomed to oblivion.”

Elania’s gaze snapped to the prince Mushroohum as he stepped forward, flanked by his guards.

In a swift motion, he hurled a spear directly at her, its sharp tip glinting in the dim light.

Elania’s eyes narrowed, and with a mere thought, she engulfed the group in a blaze of searing flames. The spear disintegrated mid-flight, and the Prince and his followers crumbled to ash, their last screams echoing through the chamber.

She turned her attention back to the remaining inhabitants, her voice resonating with a chilling calm. “Let this serve as a reminder. Attacking me is tantamount to embracing death. I offer you aid, but the choice is yours to make.”

Slowly, the Mushroohums retreated to their own group, their hostility tempered by the display of Elania’s power.

The guards and Ironfist mercenaries moved to create a buffer between the civilians and the fungal beings, a fragile armistice settling over the chamber.

Elania’s attention snapped away from the Mushroohums as a piercing screech filled the air.

The sound of frantic chickens reached her ears, and she quickly spotted Tessa, huddled beneath a writhing mass of demonic poultry.

The cannibal-elf demoness hissed and growled, her wild eyes fixed on a group of guards who had their spears drawn and pointed at her.

In a flash, Elania was there, raising a hand. A golden dome materializing around the chickens and the irate demon, effectively shielding them from the guards’ weapons.

“Stay back!” Elania yelled, her voice commanding and urgent. “Don’t do anything!”

Startled by Elania’s sudden appearance, the guards hesitated for a moment before reluctantly lowering their spears and taking a step back from the golden dome.

With the immediate threat averted, Elania slipped into the bubble shield, her presence causing the chickens to flutter and squawk in agitation.

Tessa’s eyes narrowed as she hissed at Elania, her demeanor growing more erratic and hostile. The demonic chickens, sensing their mistress’s distress, ruffled their feathers and clucked menacingly.

Elania took a deep breath, her mind racing as she considered her options.

She knew she had to work fast to prevent the situation from escalating further.

As she opened her mouth to speak, Tessa erupted into a wild, raving fit, her words incoherent and her movements frenzied.

Well, reasoning with her wasn’t going to work. She raised her hand at the other demons.

“Sleep,” she ordered, her voice infused with an otherworldly authority.

Tessa’s resistance was palpable, her eyes widening as she fought against the command… but her demonic willpower was no match for Elania’s still overflowing [Divinity].

Within seconds, Tessa and the demonic chickens collapsed, their bodies going limp as they succumbed to the enforced slumber.

Elania’s chest heaved as she panted, the exertion of using her abilities taking its toll. The sleep wouldn’t last forever, but for now, the dome would keep them confined and prevent any further chaos.

Elania jumped back into the air, looking through the chamber for any more fires to put out. When she didn’t spot any, she returned to Yolani.

“Any idea on where we are?” Elania mused, her brow furrowed.

Yolani’s hand gently tugged at Elania’s arm. “You need to see something,” the artificer urged, her emerald green eyes alight with a sense of urgency.

Elania raised an eyebrow but allowed herself to be led away, following Yolani’s lead. The thong of survivors parted to let them through.

Their destination was a side room, and for a second Elania felt her cheeks heat as her thoughts worked overdrive. No kisses appeared, but the balcony almost made up for the disappointment.

A vast expanse of white clouds stretched out as far as the eye could see, punctured by towering spires that pierced through the fluffy veil. The buildings glowed with ethereal light, and their surfaces were adorned with intricate designs that pulsed with energy.

Realization dawned on Elania as she took in the breathtaking view. “We’re on a floating island,” she breathed, her voice tinged with wonder.

Yolani nodded, a smile playing at her lips. “Not just any floating island. We’re on the flying city itself!”

Elania leaned against the balcony railing, her eyes drinking in every detail of the extraordinary landscape.

The air hummed with the sound of spinning wind turbines, their blades catching the light and casting shimmering reflections across the clouds.

Flashing lights danced along the spires, a mesmerizing display of advanced artifice that left Elania spellbound.

As they stood side by side, Yolani slipped an arm around Elania’s back, a gesture of comfort and shared amazement. Elania leaned into the touch, savoring the warmth of Yolani’s presence amidst the surreal surroundings.

“You’ll fit right in here,” Elania murmured.

Their moment of tranquility was shattered by the sound of shouts and alarms echoing from the chamber behind them. Elania and Yolani exchanged a look, their expressions shifting from awe to concern.

“I was starting to think the welcome party wasn’t coming,” Elania quipped.