Shifter Hunter

by Dante Steel

  Gary shrugged. “I didn’t want to ruin the moment,” he said. “I’m sorry.”

  “Aw, did the sight of boobies distract you?” Olivia asked, pouting.

  “Can you blame me?” he asked.

  She winked at Elena and Nicoletta. “No,” she said as she stared at Yuna.

  Was it just Gary, or was Olivia trying to undress Yuna with her eyes?

  Shut up, Gary. Don’t mess this up. Don’t look into it. Everything is great. If it hadn’t been for Yuna, you would’ve had it all. You would’ve finally made love to Olivia. You would’ve made love to them all at once. It would’ve been amazing. It would’ve been glorious.

  “It seems like Samuel August might be here after all.”

  “In Shifter War?” Elena asked, disappointed.

  “How does this keep happening?” Nicoletta asked.

  “Don’t blame her,” Olivia said defensively. “She’s trying to help.”

  “I am,” Yuna assured them, “but that isn’t all. It appears Smaug is tampering with the game.”

  “Again? He did that with the dragons in the first game,” Nicoletta said.

  “And in the second issue, too,” Elena said.

  “What exactly is he doing this time?” Olivia asked.

  “Probably getting all of the shifters on his side,” Elena said glumly.

  “Actually—” Yuna started.

  “I know!” Elena said excitedly. “Is it possible for us to do that? To recruit the shifters? Man, if I could ride a sabre-toothed tiger, my life would be complete!”

  “And here I thought loving me might fill that spot in your life,” Gary deadpanned.

  “Not quite.” Elena smiled, though, and she blushed slightly. As much as she was a tough girl from NY, she had a heart of gold. He loved that she had metal powers to protect and strengthen her body because that heart of hers needed to be preserved.

  “I don’t know,” Yuna said. “I can see if that is possible, especially since that is not what Samuel is doing.”

  “What is the scum of the RPG world up to now?” Olivia asked.

  “He cursed a village,” Gary said. “NPC shifters can no longer shift.”

  Nicoletta grimaced and shook her head. “That makes zero sense to me. Why would he bother with NPCs?”

  “I worried about them becoming sentient,” Gary admitted.

  “Is that possible?” Olivia asked Yuna.

  “I do not believe so, and there is nothing to suggest that to be the case.”

  “Not yet you mean,” Elena clarified, and Yuna nodded.

  Gary rubbed his chin. “Yuna, maybe you can see about getting us power upgrades? To make things more fair, more equally balanced?”

  “Yes, of course.”

  Gary waited for her to do something, for something to happen, but there was nothing to suggest he had additional powers.

  “Uh… when?” he asked.

  “Oh, you have to become superheroes to get them.”

  “Are you joking?” Elena asked, some of her NY temper shining through. “When we first came to Vampire War, we discovered our powers were enhanced. So far, I haven’t noticed anything, but that’s fine, whatever. But seriously, the stakes have changed.”

  Nicoletta tapped Elena’s shoulder. “Hey, remember, we haven’t fully explored what we should have gained after becoming superheroes in Vampire War, so at least there’s that.”

  “True.” Yuna nodded. “Your powers should have been automatically enhanced. You can all try to determine what those newfound powers are.”

  “What are you going to do?” Gary asked.

  “I will do my level best to determine if Samuel August truly is here.” Yuna nodded to them each in turn and walked over to the rooftop access door. She left without another word, although she did glance backward, not at Olivia but at Gary.

  Feeling stupid for being caught staring, he nodded to her. She smiled and closed the door behind her.

  “You did do something new with your power against Smaug, though, didn’t you?” Olivia asked.

  “Me?” Nicoletta asked, pointing at herself. At Olivia’s nod, she frowned. “You know, I think you’re right. That fight was such a blur.”

  “You sent out fire from your hands,” Gary pointed out.

  “Ah, yeah. I did.” Nicoletta’s eyes opened. “And you, Gary, you were able to break stuff apart. The rocks or sand, you exploded them.”

  Gary nodded. “I haven’t tried to do that again,” he admitted.

  Elena's entire arms had already been turned metal. She examined her legs and shook her head. "I'm not more metallic than before I was a superhero a second time," she said glumly.

  “Don’t worry,” Olivia said. “I’m not sure there’s a way for my power to be enhanced more than it already is either. But you, there’s hope yet. Maybe you’re strong enough that you can pick up Gary and his enormous ego.”

  “Hey,” he protested.

  “With your teeth,” Nicoletta added.

  “Around his cock.” Olivia burst out laughing.

  “Can I try?” Elena asked Gary.

  He covered himself. “Your teeth are not allowed anywhere near my crowned jewels.”

  They all laughed, and Gary grinned. This was how he wanted things to be always. Them talking and laughing. Them getting along. Them being happy and carefree.

  Why couldn’t this be their normal forever?

  Because it’s an illusion. This isn’t real. It’s just a game.

  Gary cleared his throat. “We can head over to that tree there. I’ll grab some plates from the tavern and try to shatter them. Nicoletta—”

  “I can burn the tree with fire from my hands.” She beamed.

  “You’re psychotic,” he said.

  Olivia laughed long and hard. “I think you that word does not mean what you think it means.”

  Gary narrowed his eyes and then realized his mistake. “Er, ah, pyromaniac. That’s what I meant.”

  “Because those words are remotely similar,” Elena said.

  “You, too?” He acted wounded.

  Nicoletta rolled her eyes. “Maybe he’s right. Maybe I’m both.”

  “Girl, you are crazy if you want to be with us all.” Olivia sauntered over and knocked her hip into Nicoletta’s. They giggled.

  Gary grinned. “I was going to have Elena try to lift the tree first. Then you can burn it. As for you…” He eyed Olivia.

  She shrugged. “I doubt there’s anything else I can do.” Her gloomy frown only lasted a second. “I can ask Yuna. If anyone knows, she would.”

  He did his best not to scowl. “Or you can leave her to do her work and try to figure it out with us.”

  “Oh, I wouldn’t dream of bothering Yuna now. She’s so smart, though. I doubt it’ll take her long to figure this whole Smaug thing out.”

  “I hope you’re right. Ready to head out, ladies?” Gary asked.

  The girls all nodded, and Olivia locked arms with the other two. The lot of them giggling, Olivia flew them toward the tree.

  Gary rushed through the door, sneaked into the kitchen, and grabbed a stack of plates. He was out of there before anyone could notice him. Once he was outside, he flew toward the tree. The girls were just landing. Clearly, they weren’t in a rush.

  Olivia turned to Gary. “Want me to hold the plates for you?”

  “Ah, no,” he said. “I don’t want the shards to cut into you.”

  “One, it won’t kill me. I can take a potion. Two, why not?”

  “I just said why!”

  Elena sauntered over to the tree. “Stop arguing, you two, and watch this!”

  She squatted, wrapped her arms around the trunk, and grunted and groaned.

  Gary winced. Maybe he shouldn’t have suggested this. The tree was massive. Her arms didn’t even make it halfway around the trunk.

  But then, slowly, roots appeared, the tree inched higher, and Elena lifted the tree. Although she didn't completely lift it all the way out, it remained
an impressive feat.

  “That was amazing!” Olivia gushed.

  “Nicely done.” Nicoletta nodded and jerked her head to the side. “If you’ll clear out of the way…”

  Elena dropped the tree back in place and sauntered away, holding her arms up like Rocky. “Yo, Gary! I did it!”

  “You did. I’m proud of you.”

  She rushed over and hugged him and Olivia at the same time.

  “My turn,” Nicoletta said, a slight edge to her voice. She held out her hands.

  No fire. Not even a spark.

  For several silent minutes, nothing happened. Finally, she dropped her arms to her sides.

  “I can’t do it again,” she said, frustrated.

  Gary handed the plates to Olivia and crossed over to Nicoletta. “Hey,” he said quietly. “I don’t want you to be upset over this.”

  “I don’t need a pep talk. I need my fire!”

  “You still have your fire. The blast that you had against Smaug had been insane. Maybe it was generated because of fear or anger.”

  “Or hatred.” She opened her palm. A small bit of fire hovered above her hand, but it was nothing like the massive fire blow she had dealt Smaug.

  “When you need that fire, you’ll have it. I’m sure of it.”

  “How can you be so optimistic?”

  “Easy. I believe in you.”

  “You believe in me and my ability to create fire.” She smirked. “You do realize how crazy that makes you sound, right?”

  “You create all kinds of fire and passion.” He grinned and rubbed her cheek.

  She shoved his hand aside and laughed. “Not that kind of passion.”

  “But it’s the best kind.”

  “Hmm. Maybe.”

  “Maybe? There’s no maybe about it.” Gary stepped closer to her. He so badly wanted to kiss her.

  But she turned aside. “I don’t know about that.”

  “Why not?” He had a feeling they might not be talking about the same thing anymore. A quick glance over his shoulder revealed that the other two ladies were whispering to each other.

  “I’m confused,” Nicoletta whispered. “I know I was playing the game a lot even before I entered it, but sleeping here, eating here… making love here… Everything is so different. It’s taking longer to get used to than I expected.”

  “If you aren’t comfortable being in the game, then you shouldn’t be out there fighting,” he said firmly.

  "I'm not a scaredy-cat!"

  “I never said you were, but, man, I’d love to see you in skin-tight leather.”

  She slapped his shoulder.

  He grinned. “Ouch.”

  “Oh, stop. That didn’t hurt, and you know it.”

  “In all seriousness, please. Don’t fight unless you’re feeling confident, okay? Promise me.”

  “Why? Because of Smaug?”

  “No. Well, yes and no. The shifters are insanely powerful here. Their level is on par with ours.”

  “Yuna fought with you and survived,” Nicoletta said. “If she can do it at such a low level, so can I.”

  "She's suped-up because of special privileges or something like that."

  “Of course,” Nicoletta muttered.

  “Don’t worry about her.”

  Nicoletta smiled at him, a slow, lopsided grin that teased him. “Don’t you worry about me. I can handle myself. I promise.”

  “I know you can, but this is different now. Like you said, you’re in the game.”

  “The stakes are higher. I know. I understand that. Trust me. I won’t take any unnecessary risks, but if Smaug is back, I’m not going to run and hide.”

  “I wouldn’t expect you to.”

  “I won’t run off and try to take him down by myself either,” she said, peering around him at Elena.

  “She was emotional at the time.”

  Elena had a rough go of it. After she had come inside the game, she had learned that her mother had died. Since they remained trapped in the game, she hadn’t been able to make it to the funeral. That had killed her, almost literally since she had tried to find and attack Smaug by herself. Of course, they hadn’t allowed that and raced to catch up.

  That was when they thought they had defeated him for the last time. How long was Smaug going to be an issue?

  “We’ll get him,” Gary said.

  “Damn straight.” Nicoletta grinned. “We can handle anything that comes our way.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Olivia sauntered over, hips swaying. “You two done talking in secret?” she asked.

  Gary eyed her. “What were you and Elena talking about?”

  “Nothing important.”

  “So a secret then.”

  “No, nothing important. You don’t need to worry about it.” Olivia waved his curiosity aside. “I have a great idea.”

  “I don’t know if I like the sound of this,” Nicoletta said.

  “You didn’t even hear my idea,” Olivia whined.

  “What is it?” Gary asked to humor her.

  She clapped her hands and jumped up and down. Her boobs jiggled. “We need to train right? That tree wasn’t a bad idea and—”

  “What about my plates?” Gary interrupted.

  “Plates? Please. I thought up something better.” She paused dramatically. “I think we should train against each other.”

  “That’s a terrible idea,” Nicoletta said.

  “What are you talking about? It’s a brilliant idea!”

  Elena approached. She clearly knew all about Olivia’s idea. Since she wasn’t objecting, he supposed she approved.

  But Gary didn’t. At least not for Nicoletta, especially not immediately after what they had just talked about.

  He grimaced and rubbed the back of his neck. “Olivia, I don’t think—”

  “I don’t want to,” Nicoletta said flatly.

  “Why not?” Olivia asked. “You might not be able to have that mega fire blast at your beck and call… yet. Maybe through training, you’ll be able to use it whenever you want to! Like against Smaug. You know he’s back. We can’t ever have things go our way.”

  “I don’t know,” Gary said. Things definitely seemed to have gone his way. Then again, his balls ached. They had to be bright blue by now.

  Nicoletta closed her hand into a tight fist. “I don’t think we should be trying to kill each other,” she said.

  “The point isn’t to kill each other. Duh.” Olivia looked positively exasperated. “We train. Practice. If we can simulate a real battle, maybe you will be able to have that blast. Wouldn’t that be a great tool in your arsenal?”

  Nicoletta said nothing.

  “Oh. I get it.” Olivia nodded several times. “You’re worried.”

  “Maybe a little,” Nicoletta admitted. “You aren’t in the game. You don’t know what it’s like. Every battle, even training is life or death.”

  “Right. Yeah, I get it.”

  “You understand?” Nicoletta sounded so relieved.

  “I understand all right. I understand that you’re a coward.”

  Gary groaned, but he doubted any of the girls heard him because Nicoletta said, “I’m all for it,” at the same time.

  He shook his head. “Nicoletta, be reasonable.”

  “I need to train. She’s right.”

  “But you’re the one who’s right. This isn’t a good idea!”

  “So you aren’t going to train with us?” Olivia asked.

  “I have my plates,” Gary said stubbornly.

  “Go ahead. Go and play by yourself.” Olivia shooed him to the side.

  Desperate, Gary turned to Elena. “Can’t you convince her this is insanity?”

  Elena shrugged. “Practice might be a good idea. We need to stay sharp and hone our skills.”

  “But to fight each other just seems so ridiculous. It’s absurd! What if something happens to you?”

  “It won’t.”

  “You can’t know that for
certain!”

  “Gary, you need to leave this area,” Olivia called.

  He faced Nicoletta. She swallowed hard and avoided his gaze, so he turned toward Olivia. The flier seemed every bit as determined as ever to train.

  “Are you sure you don’t want to train with us?” Elena called.

  “You’re on your own,” he said.

  Gary shook his head at their foolishness and marched away. He grabbed the plates from off a rock and muttered to himself. For all of a single minute, he kept his back to them, but eventually, he had to turn around.

  The women were fighting, but it wasn’t anything hardcore. If anything, it was kind of erotic to watch Oliva fly all around. Whenever she jerked or took a corner tightly, her boobs bounced, making the show even more fun.

  No, Gary, not a show. They’re training in a way. You need to train, too.

  He tossed a plate into the air. As gravity caused the plate to come crashing down, Gary tried to connect with the particles inside of the plate so he could break it apart.

  Instead, the plate smashed against the ground hard enough to crack.

  Damn it.

  He tried again, this time telekinetically holding the plate in place. But Nicoletta shrieked as Olivia pulled her up into the air. Her hair flew all around her, and her heart-shaped face was flushed.

  Gary readjusted himself.

  He really needed to concentrate on something other than the girls. The plates. Yes.

  Again, Gary did his best to shatter the plate, but he couldn’t focus. Whenever he tried, one of the girls would laugh or yell, and he had to see what was happening. Finally, he gave up and put the plates back on that rock.

  Now, it seemed as if the fighting was in earnest. The girls were battling each other. Elena jumped up and grabbed onto one of Olivia’s wings. Olivia grunted and jerked away, causing Elena to fly a little, enough that when she crashed back down to the earth, the ground shook slightly.

  Nicoletta threw some fireballs at each of them and came dangerously close to burning Elena. The girl partially made of metal stomped over to her, dodging more fireballs, and went to grab Nicoletta.

  By the throat.

  Nicoletta gripped Elena’s wrists. Her hands turned bright red, and so did Elena’s arms.

  Olivia caused the rock the plates had been on to fly into the air. The plates all fell off and crashed, cracking. So much for his using them to train.