worried. Cobera waved at her shedding partner and energetically said “Bye Lerosss,” as the door closed.
It was always uplifting seeing Cobera, her pureness seemed to cleanse him and made him feel much better. It was unusual for Cobera to be so romantic, he wondered if she was finally starting to take an interest into him. Being the ruler of the underworld had women (and men) of all species after him and not just for his title…
Leros now seeked Lilica, the curt Petlan that tends the palace gardens all day. Lilica was very upfront and had difficulty in expressing her real feelings, she acted mean as a result and steered most of the other palace residents away from her.
While walking down the spiral staircase and across the lobby, Leros thought of how to scold Lilica. Calling others names is never nice, even in a joking way it depends who is on the receiving end. Cobera easily gets upset; Lilica should know this but still offended her.
The garden seemed as massive as ever as Leros entered the unusually tranquil setting, not befitting of the underworld’s image. The beautiful plants and neat lawn was a testament to how much Lilica cared for the place. The towering fence at the back was incredibly belittling but didn’t seem to impact Lilica as she moved from plant to plant and watered them elegantly.
“What?” Lilica snapped as Leros approached her.
“What indeed,” Leros retorted.
Lilica merely ignored him and continued with her work.
“So I saw Cobera earlier...”
Lilica didn’t respond and continued watering the beautiful plants.
“…she told me something interesting…”
The pink petals acting as Lilica’s dress reddened slightly, it was clear she was frustrated.
“…she told me you said she was ‘gross’ when she approached you for help.”
Lilica was faltering in her attempt to ignore Leros and grew redder and redder like a tomato.
“Is this true?”
There was silence at this time, Lilica had stopped watering her plants and stood still like a statue. The artificial breeze hit the garden and swayed all the lovely flowers and grass as Leros awaited an answer.
“I… it is…” Lilica finally said.
Leros was annoyed before but now he’d heard it from Lilica he was angry. One of the few rules he enforced in the palace was respect. Lilica didn’t have a shred of this and routinely had correctional visits from him. Whether out of spite, fun, or a need for attention, Lilica had once again disappointed Leros.
Leros took a step forwards and started to speak “Lilica-”
“Don’t!” She shouted and hardened her beet red petals defensively, inflating them in an intimidating fashion.
Leros had never hurt any of the women in the dark palace and he never intended to. He was quite taken aback by Lilica’s outburst but understood immediately. She looked vulnerable and upset, it was clear she regretted her words towards Cobera. Whether out of fear or uncertainty, she resisted Leros’s advance on her, even though she knew he wouldn’t touch her.
“Just… be sure to apologise to her ok, and try to be nicer.”
Leros turned around and walked off, back into the lobby. He didn’t turn around as to not cause any unnecessary intimidation, even if it was cold. He’d said what he needed to and Lilica had received his message.
Dealing with Lilica was exhausting; it wasn’t in Leros’s nature to be assertive or authoritative. He liked watching Lilica in her natural environment, where she was elegant, bouncy, and at peace. For some reason she always snapped at him but was occasionally nicer to others. Leros sighed, If only she was honest.
The next order of business was to have a word with Mimi about inserting useless information into susceptible minds. Leros was always hesitant about entering Mimi’s room, there would be no way of knowing when he’d come out as it never ended in just a visit.
“Mimi, are you there?” Leros knocked on her door.
“Come in my dear,” a seductive voice responded.
Leros entered the dim room and once again checked the door so nobody else slipped in. Mimi was in the corner of the room writing notes beside a lamp. Many strange tools littered the place, some were for magic and alchemy and others were for… different pastimes.
“Cobera finally said it then?” Mimi said with a grin on her face while she still worked.
“Ye- what?”
“It seems you didn’t get it my dear, always looking straight ahead... or at my breasts mmm.”
“I don’t always- ahem.” Leros cleared his throat, this was just like Mimi to get him emotional and riled up so that she could swoop in and take him in his vulnerable state.
Leros walked up next to her chair and queried her on what she meant by only looking “straight ahead.”
“She’s at that age Leros, she asked me for advice and so I gave it,” Mimi said as she put her pen down and turned around.
“Really?” Leros was skeptical.
“Really,” she answered.
Mimi may be mischievous but the other girls looked up to her and it wasn’t in her nature to blatantly lie. Her sparkling purple eyes were locked onto Leros’s and he had to look away as to not be charmed by the gorgeous woman. He spoke again to distract himself.
“So she was serious about… that?”
Mimi stood up now and caressed Leros’s turned cheek.
“You keep asking, and I’ll keep answering the same.”
With a slight push with her other hand; Mimi said “Maybe I should show you what she wanted to… clear things up hmmhmmhmm.”
Leros was being pushed towards her dark and foreboding bed against his will. There was no telling what she did to the other girls on this large pleasure surface but her intentions with him were clear. Before Leros knew it he was half laid on the bed with Mimi standing over him.
Her large purple wings stretched wide in an effort to cut off her target’s retreat, and her sharp dagger-like tail swung about dangerously in excitement, anticipating the next event.
Leros kept his composure during this tempting scene.
“Mimi I should probably-”
To halt his words, Mimi brought her lips firmly down on his. There was no escape now, the devils kiss had caught him; he was under her spell of seduction whether he liked it or not. All Leros’s thoughts turned to Mimi now, the past and future had been forgotten and only this moment existed…
The heat of Mimi’s room was sweltering and the energy was boundless as the inevitable happened. It was never just a visit with Mimi; Leros had confirmed that once again today and left the room exhausted yet thrilled at the same time. Leros’s mind was still numb from Mimi’s spell but it had started to wear off.
“She’s a devil,” Leros thought to himself happily.
The more pressing matter at hand what Cobera’s feelings, he had never advanced that far with her before and would have hurt her feelings when he dismissed her honest question. He’d have to apologise.
Leros turned back to the room that was Mimi’s and placed his palm on the door as usual. His thoughts of Cobera powered the magic in the air; the Dark Palace had heard the call. With a flash of light erupting from the doorframe, Cobera’s room now stood before Leros.
Knock, knock.
“C-come in,” Cobera answered rapidly.
Upon entering, Leros saw a heart-warming sight. Cobera was sat on her long soft bed with Lilica; they appeared to be playing a handheld video game together and evidence of unused cartridges were dumped on the nearby bedside table, probably when they were deciding what to play.
“Humph I didn’t think you’d be back,” Lilica said in her usual tone, she seemed to have calmed down since Leros saw her last.
Leros ignored the comment and asked them what they were playing. Apparently it was a role-playing-card-game where monsters and other enemies needed to be fought by the player and their deck of collected allies.
“Are you winning?” Leros inquired.
“Humph of course
,” Lilica flipped her hair as she spoke, jostling the bud on top and adding to the statement.
“Lilica gave me a sssuper rare card!” Cobera exaggerated loudly like she’d been bursting to say it.
“That’s nice of her,” Leros smiled at Lilica.
Lilica’s petals grew bright pink at the comment; there was no hiding her emotions as a Petlan.
“Bathroom…” Cobera suddenly said and slithered off into the on suite door.
Leros was now alone with Lilica.
“How does she- you know what, nevermind…” Lilica quickly retracted her question, realising she didn’t want the answer.
Leros chuckled and sat on the bed next to her. She shifted uncomfortably and unravelled her root entwined legs to place them on the sandy floor.
“Thank you,” Leros whispered into her ear.
Lilica for the first time today looked at him. Her rounded face looked confused; she didn’t seem to know what to say. Leros embraced this moment as it wasn’t often Lilica paid him any attention or looked as pretty as she did now. Her petals were flushed pink no doubt from embarrassment but also curiously violet, however Leros had no idea what that colour symbolised.
After staring at each-others face for a moment; Lilica quickly turned her head and scooped up the handheld gaming device with one of her wayward vines. She began playing to distract herself from her feelings as if denouncing them.
“Back.” Cobera came slithering into the room and onto the bed.
Leros was now awkwardly sat between Cobera and Lilica as they played their game. He prayed for a distraction as he couldn’t talk to Cobera with Lilica here and certainly didn’t want to ask