“Well, now we know what precedes the attacks,” Alburet commented as he threw the first spell. Bob’s Fire Blast followed his by a split second as the imp started casting on the Worm, following Alburet’s lead.
“Free him, please,” Deirdre called out, emotion heavy in her voice. She knew she would have ended up in the worm, if not for Captain Roberto shoving her away.
The Immature Sand Worm began to retract back into the sand as those that could continued to hack at it and a steady barrage of spells hit it. Fluff jumped free of the creature as the mouth on top of it opened. Landing, she spun back towards it just in time catch Roberto as he came hurtling out of the open maw. She grabbed him, and they both tumbled to the sand.
A cheer went up from the surrounding people as Roberto was freed. The worm thrashed about, slamming into those in melee range and knocking several people off their feet. Dull pink blood ran freely from the wounds covering the Worm. A shrill, warbling whine came from its open mouth as more spells of all varieties slammed into it. Then it began to fall towards a group of people still near it. People dove away, trying to get out of the way of the massive corpse.
Karen went into a backflip, somersaulting clear of the danger area. Two of the guards stumbled and fell as everyone scrambled to try to get out of the way. Tiny stepped up between them, bringing his shield up over his head. He braced himself as the Worm crashed down onto them.
“Tiny!” Bob screamed as everyone watched the mob bury the two guards and Tiny.
Karen, who was closest and still on her feet, rushed forward. As her hand touched the Immature Sand Worm, it vanished, revealing Tiny down on his knees with his shield still above his head. The two guards were covering their heads on either side of Tiny. As the shadow over them vanished, the guards looked up in surprise to see they’d been sheltered by the Destroyer. Tiny let his battered shield drop to his side before he slumped to the sand.
“That was heavy,” Tiny rumbled from where he lay.
Bob snorted a cry as he hopped forward, climbing up Tiny’s body to stare him in the face. “You had me worried, dummy.”
“Sorry, Bob. I knew master would want them saved,” Tiny replied before he sat up.
“You are right,” Alburet added as he came over and helped Tiny to his feet, dislodging Bob, who dropped to the ground. “I’m happy to see you survived that impact.” He silently cast Demonic Vitality, helping bring Tiny to full health a little faster.
“We be glad ya survived,” Kitten added as she hugged Tiny.
“Aye,” Stacia agreed with Kitten.
Roberto came over with the others behind him, “Thank you for saving my men from that corpse, Tiny. We seem to be healed and ready to travel again.”
Picking up his shield, Tiny grunted, “I am ready.”
“Thank you,” one of the guards Tiny had saved spoke up, even though he couldn’t seem to meet Tiny’s gaze. “I appreciate it. Never thought I would owe an Infernal for saving my life.”
“Me neither,” the other one added, stepping forward with his hand outthrust. “Thank you, Tiny.”
Tiny’s lips peeled back, showing his sharp teeth as he took the hand, pumping it twice vigorously. “It is okay, you can save master later and we will be even.”
The guard looked to Alburet, then back to Tiny, “Deal.”
“Yeah, um, same here,” the first guard added with a small cough.
“Good. Now that everyone is ready,” Roberto added, breaking the moment. “Banthor, we’re good to go,” he called out, and the raid began to move again.
“Good to know that falling worms can hurt people,” Karen said after a few minutes.
“Fluff,” Stacia started, “I be noticin’ a vast difference in ya in combat. When ya go to attack, ya throw aside all fear. Ya did so when we first fought, but over the last few days it be even more pronounced.”
Fluff nodded once as she averted her gaze, “I feel freer now. Ever since I started getting help, I’ve felt more aggressive in combat.” She paused as her mouth opened and closed twice, trying to find the right words. As she began to speak again, she looked up and met Stacia’s eyes, “As if chains are falling away from me, giving me more freedom to act.”
“Aye,” Stacia smiled softly as she gave Fluff a one-armed hug. “Tha’ be good to hear. We will free ya in time.”
“You really got into it,” Alburet added. “You were beautiful as you went into battle.”
Fluffball went pink at the compliment. Karen glanced at Alburet before she slid over to Fluffball, one arm slipping around Fluff’s waist, “You were! The way you fearlessly leapt onto the worm made me want to snuggle up to you after the fight was over.”
Fluff’s arm snaked around Karen’s waist for a brief moment, falling away almost as quickly. “Really?”
“Oh, yes,” Karen said, taking Fluff’s arm gently and putting it back around her own waist. “How did you like my backflip?”
“I don’t think I could have done that,” Fluff’s cheeks kept their deep pink color, but she left her arm around Karen’s waist as they started walking again.
Stacia leaned her head against Alburet as they walked behind the pair. “See? She be improvin’.”
“Thanks to you and Lilith,” Alburet agreed, a small smile tugging at his lips, as he watched his two friends walking before him. “Well done, dear heart, but I think you already got a reward this morning.”
Stacia giggled softly, “Mayhap. Mayhap though, ya would like to spoil me a bit more later.”
Chuckling Alburet slapped her ass as he leaned in to whisper for her ears alone, “Voracious sex demon.”
“Aye, and ya love me for it.”
The rest of the day followed a similar pattern, with groups of skeletons interspersed with Immature Sand Worms. Four other Worms attacked the raid, each of them attacking a different Alpha Company group. Everyone learned to recognize the slight tremor signaling an attack, and most people were able to avoid being swallowed, though DrBone did get swallowed during one attack. He was dead before they could free him and had to be resurrected.
By the time camp was set that evening, all of the Alpha Company members had gained another three levels each, at least. Alburet handed the gear collected throughout the day off to Gerald so he could hand out the jewelry to the guild and sell the other items to the guards and mercenaries. Alburet did grab two different two-handed weapons for later, since his gloves would let him use them right away. As people settled in for the night, a crowd grew around Gerald. Alburet was glad that Gerald had joined the guild, as he didn’t want to deal with that kind of thing.
Alburet
Half-Blood Infernal Summoner
Level 38
Strength: 81 (76)
Agility: 81 (76)
Constitution: 30
Intelligence: 146 (116)
Wisdom: 377 (232)
Charisma: 111 (76)
Health: 2,200
Mana: 5,670
Spells:
Demon Skin- Rank 4
Demonic Retribution- Rank 4
Summon Lesser Imp
Fire Blast- Rank 4
Sap Strength- Rank 4
Demonic Haze- Rank 3
Summon Destroyer
Demonic Vitality- Rank 3
Fire Burst- Rank 3
Summon Succubus
Abilities:
Personal Spells
Flame Weapon
Copy
Infernal Upgrade: (Succubus- Ally)
(3 Upgrades to be selected)
Racial Abilities:
Cast spells without verbal components
Physical damage reduction 25%
Magical damage reduction 10%
Influence emotions
Fire resistance 50%
Reputation gains at half value
Chapter Eight
After dismissing his minions, Alburet sat around the fire with the others enjoying the meal. He felt his muscles relax as he did, he hadn’t realized just how tens
e he’d been during the day. The fights didn’t come that often, but when you never knew when one would come, it meant having to be ready all the time.
“Tonight, we will be lookin’ into one of Fluff’s memories again,” Stacia informed him as they got up.
“Is it going to be bad?” Alburet asked as they went towards the tent.
“Aye,” Stacia whispered softly. “She will nay like this one, it’s a very painful memory.”
Chewing his lip, Alburet followed her into the tent. His eyes tracked to where Karen and Fluff sat on a bedroll, already in their pajamas. He felt a lump in his throat as he looked at Fluff, who sat with her back to him.
“Finally, you two were taking forever to eat,” Karen told them as she put down the cards she had been holding. “Are we going to do another of Fluff’s memories tonight?”
“Aye,” Stacia answered as she began to strip. As she took off her top she looked over at Fluff. “Iffin she be ready for it. Fluff, this will nay be a pleasant memory at all. Are ya sure ya want to do this?”
Fluffball glanced at Stacia, “I know there are going to be really bad ones. If you, Karen, and Al are with me, it will be okay.”
Slipping on her pajamas Stacia nodded, “As ya wish, me friend.”
Alburet wondered if he really could help in this as he gazed at Fluff with worried eyes. What if the memory set her back, he wondered. As he mulled over the internal question he began to strip off his clothes without thought.
“See, I told you he looked yummy,” Karen’s voice whispered.
Blinking as her voice jarred him from his thoughts, Alburet looked up to find the three women watching him. Stacia smiled at him with acceptance, Karen wore an approving smirk, and finally Fluff who stared with wide eyes, her cheeks only faintly dusted pink. “Errr…”
“It be too late to be embarrassed now, Asthore,” Stacia told him. “Just get ya pajamas on and come join us.”
“Right,” Alburet coughed as he looked for his pajamas. He spotted them at the far end of the tent next to his bag. He frowned, not recalling putting his stuff over there as he walked to it. He heard Karen whispering something, but couldn’t make out the words. He did his best to ignore it as he grabbed his pajamas, putting them on quickly.
“Well, the show is over for tonight,” Karen sighed with a satisfied air.
“You moved my stuff, didn’t you Karen?” Alburet asked as he turned back to face them.
Shaking her head Karen replied to him, “Nope.”
“I admit, it be me tha’ did it,” Stacia told him with an innocent expression. “Ya changed in tha’ corner the other night. I thought ya would again tonight.”
Brow furrowing, he gazed at Stacia, noting the faint humor in her eyes and lips. “Uh huh. Not buying that excuse.”
“Does it bother you?” Fluffball asked. “They’ve seen you before, is it me being here that makes you uncomfortable?” Fluff pulled her knees up to her chest as she asked.
Seeing her worried expression, Alburet shook his head. “I just don’t want you to be uncomfortable, Fluff. You are doing better, we can all see that, but I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”
Hands tightening around her legs, she took a moment to get the words out. “Excluding me makes me feel not wanted.”
Mouth opening as understanding dawned on him, Alburet almost facepalmed. Having been told for years she was ugly and unwanted would have made her sensitive to being treated as such. “Fluff, if you’re okay with me being naked then I’m fine with you being here. I don’t mind you seeing me like that, I just don’t want to hurt you. Okay?”
Her head raised from her knees, her eyes damp. “You mean it?”
He walked over to her, kneeling down to look her in the eye, “Yes. I’m sorry if I made you think otherwise.” He hugged her gently, “Really sorry.”
Her hands went around him tentatively, “Okay.”
“Aye, now that ya will nay be actin’ like a prude, it will help.” Stacia added as she wrapped him up into a group hug from behind, pushing him more firmly into Fluff.
“Besides, she’s seen you in less than your underwear already,” Karen added as she hugged Fluff from behind, squeezing Fluff and Alburet even more tightly together.
Head snapping up Alburet found Karen grinning at him, “What?”
Fluff went deep red, squirming slightly in the hug. “Umm… that is…”
“Shh,” Stacia whispered gently touching Fluff around Alburet. “It be okay to admit it, Fluff. He will nay scold ya or think less of ya.”
Alburet tried to turn, only to discover he was too tightly pinned, “What are you all talking about?”
“The day you woke up with Karen in your bed…” Fluff trailed off as she took a deep breath. “I saw you three.”
Alburet went rigid, as his face heated to match Fluff’s deep red color. The memory of that morning, along with the new information that Fluff had watched them caused him to go rigid again, but in a completely different way. He became acutely aware of the fact he was pressed against Fluff. Coughing. he tried to put distance between him and her. Stacia and Karen were able to hold him easily, though, since he didn’t have his armor on, keeping him right where he was. “Ladies, please let me go.”
Fluff’s face had gone from worried to puzzled to a look of wonder. “He… he…”
“Aye, he liked the idea, did he nay? I told ya he would nay reject ya for havin’ done so. He even seems to have liked the thought.”
“Does it scare you, Fluff?” Karen whispered to her, loud enough for everyone to hear. “The fact that he finds you attractive?”
Gulping Fluff shook her head, “No. I just… I’m not ready… I mean, I…”
Alburet was frozen in place, thoughts thrown into complete confusion. Stacia giggled softly, “It be okay, Fluff. He nay be ready either, well, in the way I be meanin’ anyway. He still has nay accepted tha’ lovin’ more than one person be okay. I be workin’ with him on it, but when ya be ready, ya tell me and we will see what can be arranged, aye?”
Nodding once, swallowing loudly, Fluff agreed, “Okay, Stacia.”
“If you want to start with something different first, I’ll be here, too,” Karen whispered softly to Fluff.
Another gulp and nod, accompanied by a small purr, “Really?”
“Oh, yes, beautiful,” Karen reassured her. “Tonight might not be the best time, though. Tonight, we will be with you for a difficult memory.”
“Aye. Speakin’ of, we should be getting’ started,” Stacia added as she broke the hug.
“Fine,” Karen mock pouted as she also released the hug.
Alburet, feeling himself freed from the embrace, quickly put a few inches of room between himself and Fluff. Once he was able to reengage his brain, he looked up to find Fluff still red but looking at him without fear.
“Thank you,” Fluff said softly to him before she slipped into her bedroll.
“Aye. Ya can talk later, Asthore,” Stacia told him as she knelt next to Fluff. “It be time for her to face a truth.”
Alburet gazed down at Fluff, his mind a jumbled mess. He had so many conflicting emotions and thoughts over what had just happened. As he tried to get his mind settled, Karen took the spot on the far side of Stacia as Stacia began to sing.
“We be ready,” Stacia intoned softly, having put Fluff into the sleep stage. “Ya be ready to help her, me love?”
Blinking twice, Alburet focused on what he could. Fluff wanted his help here and now. “I hope so,” he replied as he laid one hand on Stacia’s shoulder and the other on Fluff’s head.
Once they were ready, Stacia began the framiliar song to pull them all into Fluff’s memory.
Alburet found himself in the same room they had seen before. Julia, now a late teen or young adult, sat on her bed. Standing in front of her was a female police officer with a look of pity on her face. “Your name is Julia Petrov, correct?” The officer’s voice held sympathy as she spoke to Julia.
; “Yes,” Julia hid her face with her hair. “Is Poppa going to be okay? He told me never to use the phone, but he looked like he needed help.”
“Before we get to that, I need to contact another of your family members. Where is you mom?” The officer asked stalling for time.
“Momma, she died when I was really young. Poppa raised me by himself.” Julia’s voice trembled.
“Do you remember her name?”
“Momma,” Julia replied.
Eyes rolling, the officer let out a small sigh, “So you don’t recall her given name, then?”
Playing For Keeps (Alpha World Book 4) Page 8
