Ashore
Along the shores of the Lorian coast, Khimi gazes down at his hands, his fingers curling around the empty leather pouch. The same pouch he had clung to with all his might during the violent swim, fighting the merciless waves to keep it from slipping away. Now, it’s nothing but a soggy, useless scrap, its contents long surrendered to the depths of the sea. Before him, the fire crackles, its flames wild and unpredictable, mirroring his mood—flaring and breaking with the occasional bite of rain or the sharp gust of wind. He crumples the pouch in his grip, eyes flicking up to Lumi. Since they had finally broken through the surf, Lumi had bolted from the water, desperate to reach out to their companions with magick. Despite his repeated failures, he hadn’t stopped trying, often shouting and sobbing at the sea as if willing it to bend to his will.
Khimi’s jaw tightens. Without hesitation, he hurls the pouch into the fire. The wet leather hisses, resisting the flames at first, stubbornly clinging to its dampness, until it finally surrenders to the heat and begins to burn. The only things he managed to hold onto, aside from Lumi, were Rashid’s shamshir and a spare tunic.
The air is colder than he expected. The chill creeps in, and as the night falls, he watches his breath puff into the evening air like smoke from the fire itself.
For hours, Khimi had tried—unsuccessfully—to pull Lumi away from the coast, urging him to seek food and shelter. But Lumi wouldn’t budge. He pleaded, begged, and insisted they stay put, hoping the others might find them. Despite Khimi’s best efforts, Lumi’s exhaustion-fueled stubbornness had proved far stronger than anything Khimi had anticipated.
With a long, heavy sigh, Khimi collapses onto the sand beside the fire, the smoke stinging his eyes as he tries to orient himself, imagining where they might have ended up, based on his meager understanding of the currents. The flora is familiar, but there’s nothing edible to be found. The fauna is equally strange—wolves howl in the distance, while unnervingly large crabs skulk along the beach, chittering. If I get hungry enough… He snorts, eyes flicking to the crabs. I guess I’ll eat a damn crab. He’d caught crabs back on the Emerald Coast in his youth, but these? These monsters are several times the size, their claws capable of snapping bones, not just leaving bruises and scrapes.
Lumi prays before the fire, his legs tucked beneath him, whispering hurried words to his gods. Khimi isn’t sure if he’s in conversation or if he’s pleading with himself, but there is a fire in Lumi’s eyes. He’s going to pass out if he keeps this up. His head dips forward into the sand, prostrating himself before the flames, tears streaming down his face.
“Sâye,” Khimi mutters, watching Lumi’s tail flick anxiously in front of him. “Please.”
Lumi straightens, his head turning sharply to glance over his shoulder. His eyes are filled with raw emotion, brimming with tears. “No,” he growls stubbornly. “We’re not leaving until I know they’re alive.”
Khimi’s jaw tightens as he places his chin on his knees. “Lumi,” he says softly. “We have to move on… we need water. We need food. Shelter. If it rains, we’ll be exposed, cold, and wet.”
“Khimi!” Lumi snaps, pushing his feet out in front of him, frustration bubbling to the surface. “We’re already cold and wet—what difference does it make?”
“Fucking hells,” Khimi mutters, frustration leaking through as he presses his hand into the gritty sand. “Lumi, do you really think they’re still waiting on some beach for us to rescue them? Do you think they wouldn’t head straight to the first town they could find? Where’s your fucking head?”
Lumi stands abruptly, his body tense with emotion, his gaze locking on Khimi. The fire behind him rages, casting his silhouette in shadow. His lips form a thin line of anger. “Khimi… this is my fault. This was my idea… what if Mido and Augustus… w-what if Ennui died?”
“What of it?” Khimi’s voice is sharp, unyielding. He licks his cracked lips, his throat dry and irritated from the lack of water. “They knew there were risks. We all did,” he adds coldly.
“H-how can you say that?” Lumi whispers, his eyes softening, turning into deep pools of uncertainty. “I thought you cared about Ennui and Augustus…” His voice falters. “You’re upset…”
Khimi pushes himself to his feet, standing over Lumi, his anger barely contained. “You’re damn right I’m upset, Lumi,” he spits, his eyes hard with frustration. “What did you think was going to happen? We’re lucky to be alive. Do you think anyone else had even a chance of surviving that? I used every ounce of magick I had just to get us here—do you think anyone else can do what I can?”
“We haven’t seen any bodies wash up though—”
“Lumi!” Khimi growls, grabbing Lumi’s wrist in a tight grip. “There’s an endless coastline they could wash up on, or they could’ve sunk to the bottom of the sea. Listen to me,” he says, his voice now steady but commanding. “We’re leaving here. We’re going to head along the coastline until we find a town.”
“But… I just want to know—”
“Stop it!” Khimi shouts, his hands gripping Lumi’s shoulders, shaking him slightly. “We need to focus on us right now. We need water.”
Lumi’s eyes brim with unshed tears as he hangs his head forward, his rounded ears twitching as Khimi shakes him gently. “Just tell me they’re all going to be okay.”
“I won’t lie to you,” Khimi replies softly, pulling Lumi close against him. His fingers sift through the back of Lumi’s hair, gritty with sand. “But we can hope they’re alright, and we need to take care of ourselves.”
Lumi presses his cheek against Khimi’s damp shirt, arms slipping around his waist. “Mido and Augustus only came because of Saint Nina… if something happened to them… it’ll be my fault.”
“It’s not,” Khimi murmurs, his voice a quiet comfort as he holds Lumi, pulling him closer.
Lumi’s body emanates the same warmth Khimi has grown used to since their time together—a soft, radiant glow that seems to pulse from within, leaving him warm to the touch. Little sun, the name he had heard Lilith call Lumi repeatedly during her stay. Khimi places a soft kiss between Lumi’s ears, his cracked lips snagging on the soft strands before he pulls away.
“Can we get a move on then?” Khimi asks, glancing up at the stars. “We really do need water…”
Lumi clicks his tongue and shifts his feet through the sand. “If we can find a basin, I can purify it. But it needs to be a pond or a puddle—something still. Are you sure you don’t want to stay on the beach a bit longer?”
“No,” Khimi mutters as the cold air surges through him, chilling his bones. As he steps further away from the fire, the fog of his breath becomes more obvious. “Put the jacket on, Lumi. You’ll freeze,” he insists as he grabs his kaftan and begins to pull his arms through the sleeves.
Lumi grumbles, picking up the fur-lined jacket. “It’s too big… and it’s still wet.”
Khimi turns to face him. “Put it on,” he demands, eyeing him up and down. “You don’t even have boots, for fuck’s sake.”
Lumi wriggles his toes in the sand. “It’s not that cold,” he protests, pulling the jacket on. The dark leather swallows his form, falling just short of his ankles. “I look ridiculous.”
Khimi snorts, forcing a smile. “Would you rather freeze?”
“No,” Lumi insists as he shrugs the shoulders of the jacket further up his body. “It’s fine… it’s just hideous.”
Khimi grabs a branch from the fire and holds it above his head like a makeshift torch. “Come on,” he insists. “We’ll find a puddle to make freshwater or something along the way.”
“We don’t even know where we’re going,” Lumi mutters, following Khimi and grabbing another torch from the fire. “We’re just… wandering the beach?”
Khimi rolls his eyes as he strides toward the treeline, Lumi trailing behind him. “It’s not like the Desert Cities here… it could snow any day.”
“Snow?”
“Never mind,” Khimi sighs, trudging through the wet sand and into the dirt. “It’s… frozen rain. No one’s ever told you about snow? How the north is blanketed in fields of white?”
Lumi races to catch up. “I’ve seen it in paintings… and one of the Lorian girls at the temple mentioned it.”
“It’s cold and miserable,” Khimi says with a half-smile. “I’ve never been to the north myself. But there was a mage who made snow to entertain in the Desert Cities… It’s so cold, it feels prickly and hot at the same time.”
Khimi pauses and casts one last glance toward the beach. The fire he had built earlier continues to roar, flames reaching hungrily toward the sky, devouring the last remnants of driftwood he had gathered. His hopes for the others had been fleeting, his mind replaying their final moments on the ship. When they surfaced from the water after being swept from the ship, Ennui had given him a knowing look before letting them both go. Khimi’s fingers tighten on the makeshift torch. You better be alive, Ennui.
Through the cold night, Khimi walks along the edge of the forest and across the grassy plains, the silence of the land broken only by his own footsteps and the distant crash of waves. His stomach churns with hunger, and his lips feel like cracked earth. In the Desert Cities, water had always been the most crucial necessity. He almost laughs bitterly at the thought of it being any different here. The sea stretches endlessly to the east, and yet, Khimi feels thirstier than ever.
After several hours, Lumi’s pace begins to slow, his feet dragging through the damp earth. He shivers, pulling the oversized jacket tighter around himself. Khimi stops and glances back, his torch long extinguished. Lumi lingers behind him, a flickering orb of flame hovering above his palm.
“Lumi?” Khimi whispers, casting a glance over his shoulder.
Lumi stands still, the flickering light from his flame dancing around them. “Khimi, I’m tired…”
“Just a little longer,” Khimi grumbles as he turns back. “I can carry you if you’re too tired,” he offers, his voice softening.
“N-no, it’s okay… I promise–”
Before Lumi can finish, Khimi crosses the distance between them in a few quick steps, squatting down and urging Lumi onto his shoulders without a word. “Just a little longer,” he murmurs as Lumi’s thighs settle across the back of his neck.
Lumi ignites the flame again and holds it above Khimi’s head as they continue through the grassy field and muddy paths. “I could’ve walked…” he protests weakly.
Khimi remains silent as they push forward, weaving through trails, fields, and the thickening forest. The sea crashes against the coast, the rhythmic roar of the waves echoing through the trees. The winds of the storm still linger, ruffling the tips of the towering pines, bending them as if they might break. Lumi’s light dims and flickers, and his body starts to slump over Khimi’s shoulders. With ease, Khimi adjusts, lowering Lumi gently onto his back, his head resting on his shoulder.
As the first light of dawn begins to creep over the horizon, the sun’s rays break through the thick gray clouds and spill across the field. Khimi closes his eyes, feeling the warmth of the sunlight against his skin and the soft, steady breath of Lumi over his shoulder. Just a little longer, he thinks, adjusting Lumi’s weight as he continues on.
The muddy footpath widens and meets a larger road, its surface marked by wagon tracks and large, messy puddles. Khimi remembers Lumi’s words about purifying water. He wonders just how desperate he must be to drink from a puddle, but his parched throat urges him forward. As he looks down, his reflection ripples in the murky water, and he catches a glimpse of Lumi’s face, his cheeks pressed softly against Khimi’s shoulder, arm awkwardly extended ahead of him.
Driven by nagging thirst, Khimi pushes forward until he hears the unmistakable sound of flowing water. He pushes through the brush and into a small clearing. Budding ferns, unfurling in the early morning light, surround a small creek, the water flowing over smooth stones before pooling into a crystal-clear pond. Finally, Khimi thinks, his heart lifting as he kneels by the edge. He cups his hands to gather the water, bringing it to his nose. A faint metallic scent lingers, but the water is clean. Crisp, cool water fills his mouth, quenching his thirst like a long-overdue relief. He shakes Lumi awake and gently eases him down from his shoulders.
Lumi groans, his eyes squinting as he looks around at the verdant meadow. He rubs his eyes sleepily. “Where are we?”
Khimi ignores Lumi’s words, cupping both hands into the water and drinking deeply before turning to face him. “Along the Lorian Sea,” he says, his voice raspy. “There are wagon tracks on the road, probably a few days old, but it’s hard to tell with the weather. There’s likely a farm or village up ahead.”
“You’re gonna get sick if you drink like that…” Lumi cautiously approaches the water, cupping his hands and bringing it to his lips. “Khimi…” he whispers, his voice soft and uncertain. “Everyone… they’re gonna be okay.”
Khimi’s brow furrows as he watches Lumi, his own skepticism rising. “Don’t be so sure—”
“They are!” Lumi insists, his voice firm, and finishes the drink before clearing his throat. He lifts his eyes to the towering pines surrounding them. “I can feel them… they’re gonna be alright.”
Khimi purses his lips, mulling over Lumi’s unwavering optimism. It’s a trait unlike anyone he’s ever known. Yet, doubt gnaws at him as he remembers Ennui’s last nod, and the terrifying surge of waves that nearly claimed them. “Did the gods tell you this?” he asks, his gaze fixed on the water in his hands.
Lumi glances at him from the corner of his eyes. “No… I just know,” he replies, offering a hopeful smile.
Khimi manages a smile of his own, though it’s filled with uncertainty. “Well, since you’re a diviner now, do you know which way’s quickest to town?”
Lumi purses his lips in thought as he squats closer to the edge of the water, the cold mud squelching between his toes. “Mmm, I dunno… you’re the navigator,” he says as his ears twitch at a sound. He stands abruptly and turns toward the road. “I hear something… from the north.” He tilts his head, eyes closing as he listens intently. “Horses, I think…”
Khimi takes another drink from the water, flicking his hands dry before rushing back toward the road. “Hurry up,” he calls over his shoulder to Lumi.
Lumi drinks quickly, hurrying to follow him. “What’re you doing?” he shouts as he catches up, breaking through the brush onto the road.
“Fetching us a ride,” Khimi replies with a grin, brushing sand and grit from his jacket.
A horse approaches from the north with a single rider at a full gallop. All too quickly, Khimi realizes even if he wants to call out and stop the rider, there would be no safe way to stop them without an accident. Fuck. Lumi rushes beside him as the dappled stallion rushes past, the rider, covered from head to toe in heavy clothing, tilts his head in their direction but does not halt his pace. Mud and dirt sling behind them, kicking high into the sky from the horse’s pace.
Lumi smacks his lips thoughtfully. “Well… I guess we’ll be walking.”
Khimi looks down at Lumi’s feet, caked in mud up to his ankles. He sighs, kneeling beside him. “C’mon,” he says, gently lifting Lumi’s feet from the muck. “You shouldn’t be walking in the wet without boots.”
“N-no, really,” Lumi protests, his voice laced with uncertainty. “I don’t mind walking.” But even as he says it, he climbs onto Khimi’s back with a hesitant look.
Khimi scoffs, adjusting Lumi’s weight as he stands. “We’re lucky we washed up somewhere close to civilization,” he mutters, grunting as he shifts Lumi higher on his back. “Maybe we’ll find somewhere by the end of the day.”
Lumi leans over his shoulder, whispering into his ear, “Khimi, can I put my feet into your kaftan?” His voice is tinged with desperation. “My toes are cold.”
Khimi blinks slowly, processing the request. “What?” he asks, a bit startled. Then he shakes his head, reaching for the pockets. “Sure,” he mutters, grimacing as he helps guide Lumi’s muddy feet into the deep folds of his kaftan.
Lumi wraps his arms around Khimi’s neck, holding on tightly. He smiles softly, a hint of amusement in his voice. “I don’t think anyone’s stopping for us now… we look like some creature that crawled out of the sea.”
“Hells, you’re probably right,” Khimi chuckles, feeling Lumi’s feet shift and pull against the fabric.
Hours after, Khimi had carried Lumi along the muddy path until his arms had begun to grow sore. The path seems to widen the further north they travel and as the midday sun pushes through the parted clouds, Khimi pauses along the side of the road to rest. Among the high stalks of grass, they soak in the sun, resting their eyes. Lumi pulls himself beside Khimi and tucks his feet between them. Together, their heat makes the chill in the air slightly more bearable. Khimi rolls onto his side, brushing his fingers gently along Lumi’s side, surprised by the warmth radiating through his clothing. How is he so warm? His hand travels along the curve of Lumi’s body, and soft purrs rise within him, his chest tightening with an unfamiliar tenderness.
Khimi chokes softly, breaking the moment as his gaze falls on Lumi’s bare feet. “How the hells am I going to buy you boots without any coin?” he whispers to the boy beside him, frustration and fondness blending in his voice.
Hermon’s Well
The next morning, as dawn breaks, Khimi and Lumi rise and continue their trek through the biting cold. After hours of walking, the distant sight of buildings becomes a welcome relief. Lumi, eager and full of energy, hurries ahead, running as quickly as his tired legs can carry him. His feathery hair flops in the wind, and his tail swings behind him. Khimi chuckles, shaking his head as he watches Lumi’s excited whoops and laughter. How can you be so happy?
A weathered signpost, taken by rot, displays the name of the town: Hermon’s Well. As they approach the outskirts, Khimi’s attention is immediately drawn to the palisade walls surrounding the town. Wooden guard towers rise at the entrance, and a small gate allows only one wagon through at a time. The town’s name is unfamiliar to him, but he’s relieved to have stumbled upon civilization. Guards, armed with longbows—far longer than those Khimi’s seen in the Desert Cities—stand watch from the top of the wooden towers. Lumi waves up at one of the guards with a wide grin as he heads toward the entrance. Khimi, however, keeps a cautious hand on Lumi’s shoulder, noting the pinched expressions on the guards’ faces.
“Where do you think you’re headed?” a gruff-looking man wearing a wool cap calls down from above, his voice deep and suspicious.
“We’re just—” Lumi starts to answer, but Khimi quickly clamps a hand over his mouth, flashing a warm smile up at the guards.
“We’re just passing through,” Khimi says smoothly. “Heading to Cochon and looking for shelter for the night.”
Lumi’s eyes widen in disbelief, and he grumbles through Khimi’s hand, but the guard’s attention shifts.
“You can enter,” the second guard, younger and more curious, calls down. His arms are crossed, and he eyes them with suspicion. “But where do you hail from? Your clothing is unusual… and the feline,” he adds, eyeing Lumi’s bare feet, “has nothing on his feet.”
“I’m an—”
Khimi’s face pinches angrily as his hand tightens back over Lumi’s mouth. He’d dealt with situations like this before—the more far-fetched or curious the story, the less amicable the reception would be in a place like this.
“From the south!” Khimi calls out, forcing a smile. “Around the Isles. My friend lost his boots in deep mud some distance back. Chance there’s a cobbler or tanner here?”
The broody-faced guard leans forward, mustering a crooked smile. “There are a few folks who work leather in Hermon’s Well… but most people work the salt fields to the north. If you’ve got coin, you can stay at the inn. Valentina owns it—”
“You might not find a room, though,” the youthful guard interrupts, climbing down the ladder into the interior of the palisade. As he crosses through the threshold, he adds, “A few other travelers have taken up most of the rooms.” He pauses, looking them over. “Your friend alright?” he asks, nodding toward Lumi.
Lumi’s face is flushed with frustration, his teeth teasing Khimi’s palm.
“He’s fine,” Khimi grumbles, “just a bit worked up after the journey.”
Finally, wriggling his mouth from Khimi’s hand, Lumi blurts, “Is there a devilkin? Two men? What about—”
“He’s just so exhausted,” Khimi quickly interjects, lifting his hand back over Lumi’s mouth.
The guard on top of the palisade, dark circles under his eyes, clears his throat. “I want to hear what he has to say. He’s piqued my interest.”
Khimi groans and releases his grip, whispering into Lumi’s ear, “Don’t say too much.”
“Was there a devilkin and two guys that came through? A canis? Or a Lorian with reddish hair?!” Lumi asks excitedly, his hands moving rapidly.
The youthful guard whistles, glancing up at the broody guard. “Well, a devilkin did come through… she’s still at the inn. We almost didn’t let her in, but she made a convincing argument and flashed some impressive names. Who are we to turn down someone related to a consul?”
Lumi purses his lips and murmurs, “That isn’t Ennui.”
Khimi scoffs and hides his smile, he had heard all manner of lies from Ennui before. That is definitely her. “Might I ask what she looked like?” he asks, stepping closer to the youthful guard.
“Pale as snow, eyes like fire. Horns pitch as night… and a tail, long as a whip,” the guard says, mimicking the devilkin’s appearance with his hands. “She looked a bit deranged when she first arrived, but cleaned up nice. Looks like a proper lady now.”
Khimi raises his brow at the guard’s words. Proper lady? Maybe it isn’t Ennui. “And nothing about the others?”
The brooding guard leans down over the railing, narrowing his eyes. “How do you know so much about who’s in Hermon’s Well?”
“So the others are here too?!” Lumi shouts with excitement.
“Just the devilkin,” the broody guard shouts back. “The inn’s filled with travelers headed south from Cochon… something happened.”
“Something?” the youthful guard mocks. “By ‘something,’ he means vampires,” he mumbles, eyeing Khimi and Lumi. “So color us surprised when you say you’re headed to Cochon.”
Khimi pats Lumi’s head, his fingers combing through the feathery strands of hair. “It’s just a stop along the way… one of many,” he says with a nonchalant shrug.
“Vampires?” Lumi’s ears twitch as he looks between Khimi and the guards. “I’ve only just heard about them recently… I always thought… it was just a story.”
The youthful guard sighs heavily and motions for them to enter the town. “Well, if you don’t know about vampires, then you’re definitely going to need shelter. Hermon’s Well can keep you safe. The town’s praetor is kind… a bit eccentric, but he’s been here a while. He cares about everyone’s well-being. We’re fortunate, really.”
Beyond the palisade walls, the town spreads out in a hodgepodge of buildings, each one more mismatched than the last. The center of the town boasts grand structures, their opulence out of place against the humble, scattered cottages that cling to the outskirts. At the very center of the town, an ancient well stands partially covered with wooden planks. Children scurry about, drawing water into buckets with ropes. Khimi frowns as he watches them. Being this close to the sea, that well should be filled with saltwater, he thinks as he follows the guard toward the inn.
The inn stands before them, its porch curving gracefully around the building, offering a place to rest and relax. Despite the inviting purpose of the porch, the dark stone bricks and slate roof exude a cold, unwelcoming air. Only the soft glow spilling from the rectangular windows softens the place’s austere appearance. However, what truly makes the inn feel unsettling is the devilkin lounging against one of the wooden columns, casually watching them approach. Ennui. Her fiery eyes glint from behind the strands of her long, dark hair, and the red flax gown she wears accentuates her fierce, feminine beauty. It clings to her form, emphasizing her long, lean frame, while black boots rise to her ankles, unlike her usual mid-calf boots. As her gaze flicks over the newcomers, her lips curl into a forced smile, though her eyes betray her annoyance.
“Ennui!” Lumi shouts, already sprinting across the commons with open arms, a grin stretching across his face.
The youthful guard looks at Khimi, confusion painting his features. “Ennui?”
Khimi suppresses a grin and gives the guard a casual, reassuring nod. “It’s a nickname. You know… just something the two of them came up with.”
The guard watches Khimi closely, his skepticism evident. “Where did you say you were from again?”
“The Golden Isles,” Khimi lies smoothly, offering the guard a sidelong glance.
The guard chokes, eyeing Khimi’s shamshir before looking him up and down. “Just don’t cause any trouble, alright?”
“We’ll be good,” Khimi promises, his usual charming mask slipping into place as he steps forward.
Lumi is already wrapped around Ennui like an enthusiastic leech. his legs wrapped around her waist and arms pulling her tightly to him, pressing against her side. Her half-hearted attempts to pry him off are met with little success. Slowly, her scowl softens as she meets Khimi’s gaze, and she gently taps Lumi’s head with the flat of her palms.
“Get off, Lumi,” Ennui sighs, lowering her hands as though defeated. “I don’t have a cock for you to suck… go back to your meat stick,” she mutters, her lips curving into a sly smile as she glances at Khimi.
“It seems he’s grown quite fond of you,” Khimi remarks, casually leaning against the wooden column. “He’s cried day and night about you… worried you’d died.”
“I’m too fuckin’ mean to die,” Ennui replies without missing a beat. “Besides…” Her tone shifts, softening as she places a hand on the back of Lumi’s head. “I did promise you,” she whispers, her gaze locked with Khimi’s.
Khimi raises an eyebrow, a coy smile tugging at his lips. “Was it a promise?” he asks, his voice teasing, as Lumi nudges his head beneath her arm.
Ennui rolls her eyes and pushes Lumi off her like an annoying pest. “It was. I believe I promised to protect your precious…” Her voice trails off as her eyes flicker back to Lumi.
Lumi looks up at her sheepishly, a bashful smile on his lips. “I got mud all over your… dress,” he mutters. “Did you happen to see Mido or Augustus?”
“Egg?” Ennui croaks. “No… but I pray he’s better at swimming than he is at fighting,” she says, chuckling to herself before stifling her laughter. “I’m sure they’re fine. They’re big boys.”
Khimi steps closer to Ennui, pulling her into an unexpected embrace. Ennui’s eyes widen in surprise. “I’m glad you made it,” he murmurs softly, his breath catching as her horn brushes against his ear.
Ennui’s tail flicks in irritation, but there’s a hint of softness in her voice as she responds, “I admit, I was surprised to wake up at all… but enough of that. We’re alive. Let’s get you both something to eat. You look disgusting.”
Khimi grins, his gaze flicking to Lumi, who’s aimlessly wandering the porch. “Well, we haven’t bathed in weeks. Unless you count the Lorian sea,” he quips.
Lumi wrinkles his nose, peering inside the inn. “It smells…” He tilts his head up, sniffing the air. “Pork and cabbage?”
Ennui rolls her eyes and pushes past Lumi into the building, her voice carrying over her shoulder. “The cook’s pretty good. Everything she makes is divine.”
The inside of the inn is surprisingly tidy. Several tables in the room are filled with patrons. The crowd looks up from their tables and glances at them without breaking the conversation. Even though Khimi had never been overly fond of pork, his hunger is intense enough to cause his mouth to salivate. The pungent smell of the boiling cabbage is almost welcome.
Khimi leans in, lowering his voice as he nudges Ennui. “You met any vampires around here?” he asks, trying to sound casual.
Ennui purses her lips in thought. “I don’t think so, but they can walk among us undetected. The only reason those idiots let you two through the gate is probably because you look like foreigners and strays. Maybe they took pity on you.”
“Pity?” Khimi laughs, amusement flickering in his eyes. “Do I look pitiable?”
Ennui chuckles, guiding Lumi through the inn. “You both do, yes. I’ve rarely seen you look so haggard. Though Lumi always looks like he’s tumbled down a dune.”
Lumi squawks in protest. “What?”
Khimi laughs under his breath, following her into the kitchen. No one seems bothered by their presence. The lupo chef gives them a brief glance before returning to her work with a cleaver. A younger lupo, dough in hand, smiles at them, but quickly returns to her task.
Ennui grabs a wooden bowl from the cupboard and ladles a heaping scoop of brothy cabbage from a cauldron. The two cooks in the room do not look up from their work and seemingly ignore Ennui altogether. Hells did she do to be allowed in the kitchen? She laughs as she hands the two of them bowls and encourages them to follow her back into her room.
At the end of the hall, Ennui forces a door open to an uncomfortably small room. She stands in the hallway waiting for them both to enter. The wall hosts wooden floors and wood-paneled walls. A bed that barely looks large enough for Lumi to lay comfortably. The bedding looks to be made of a coarse, itchy fabric, and Khimi can find no sign of Ennui’s belongings in the room.
“You’re sleeping in a closet?” Khimi whispers as he brings a spoon of the broth to his lips.
Ennui’s laughter fills the room, she covers her mouth to stop herself from laughing. “No, no… the inn only has a few rooms. This closet is for you and Lumi.”
Lumi shrugs and slides onto the bed with his bowl of pork and cabbage nearly splashing over the edges. “Looks fine to me,” he mumbles before he brings the edge of the wooden bowl to his lips and slurps at the broth.
“Can we switch?” Khimi jokes, but Ennui only shakes her head.
“No, but you can both use my bath. Since you’re so disgusting. One at a time, though.”
Khimi follows Lumi’s example, bringing his own bowl to his lips and slurping the contents down. “Thank you… for everything.”
“It’s good to see you humbled.” Ennui chuckles and steps back through the threshold into the hallway. “I’ll be upstairs when you’re ready for a bath.”
Lumi raises his bowl with a grin. “Thanks!” he calls after her, though the door shuts before she can respond.
The room falls into darkness. Khimi gulps the last of the broth and moves beside Lumi. His hand instinctively brushes through Lumi’s hair, the motion tender, despite the shadows surrounding them. Lumi’s gaze never leaves him, and in an instant, the bowl slips from his hands, crashing to the ground. Lumi’s lips press against his, the weight of Lumi’s body settles over his waist. Khimi almost stops him, but he feels his fingers, so warm, so comforting, pushing into the waist of his trousers. A shiver trembles through his body at Lumi’s touch, thawing the cold in an instant. Unable to restrain himself, he forces his tongue into Lumi’s mouth and sucks on his lips.
The door creaks open and light from the hall floods the room, Khimi looks beyond Lumi to see Ennui’s silhouette in the doorway.
“Oh, fucking hells—Lumi, a word?” Ennui groans before slamming the door shut with a piercing bang.
Lumi sighs and sidles off of Khimi’s lap. “Don’t. Go. Anywhere!” he instructs, giddy laughter breaking from his lips.
Khimi sighs in the darkness and sprawls across the narrow width of the bed, his legs dangling off the side, feet still planted on the ground. The light enters the room, only to quickly vanish with Lumi’s exit. The weight of their journey finally hits him and he closes his heavy eyes.
***
Khimi groans in his sleep, dreams of traveling far off lands with Lumi are disturbed by a sudden warmth and weight against his body. Familiar hot breath caresses his cheek, but he’s still far too exhausted to open his eyes. Lumi’s fingernails scrape across his skin, across his chest, gripping, groping, sinking into the meat of his chest. The room has gained a chill, but Lumi is so, so warm, like a furnace meant for him. It’s all too easy for him to give in. The shirt slides over his head with ease, Lumi’s fingers working it over his body with deft fingers. Khimi participates, but only enough.
“Let me take care of you,” Lumi whispers, his lips just against Khimi’s ear. “You’re always takin’ care of me.”
The soft jingle of Lumi’s tail ring echoes through the room as he moves, but Khimi can barely hold his eyes open long enough to glimpse Lumi’s silhouette in the darkness. Instinctively, he reaches for Lumi’s ass, cupping the soft cheek, feeling along the curves. His fingers glide beneath the tail and move down to his entrance, teasing a finger over the smooth, hot skin. It’s wet, eager, and it clenches onto him with hunger.
Khimi can barely form the words through the fog of exhaustion. “Y-you’re prepared?”
Lumi kisses the corner of Khimi’s lips. “Ennui didn’t want me to… get hurt. She said… she knows what’s in your trousers.”
Khimi almost laughs, but it shifts into a groan at Lumi’s touch. Lumi’s hands glide along his chest and down to his abdomen, rolling the coarse hairs between his fingers.
“How considerate of her,” Khimi manages after another groan.
“Just rest,” Lumi whispers as his hand teasingly rubs him through the fabric of his trousers, working the length of his shaft.
Khimi shifts against the wall, the bed groaning beneath their weight as he allows Lumi his freedom. Had this been any other time, he would already be balls deep inside the boy. But he can barely stay cognizant. Carrying Lumi through the night, being unable to sleep through most of the previous night, he can hardly muster the energy to speak.
“I’ll keep you warm, Khimi,” Lumi whispers tauntingly, his tail swaying behind him. His lips trail down to Khimi’s nipples, and he bites hard with his fangs, his teeth sinking into the bulk of his muscles. After he suckles intensely on the hardened bud, he pulls back and wipes his lips of saliva. “I am the Saint of Flames, after all.”
The pain does not bother Khimi, but Lumi’s words do. His cock is already threatening to rip through his trousers, tenting the fabric taut.
“You’re supposed to light a fire in my heart… not my cock,” Khimi challenges, his voice weak with sleep.
“I can do both,” Lumi teases, his fingers dipping into the waist of Khimi’s trousers. His fingers linger, caressing the coarse hair at the root of Khimi’s cock. “I missed him.”
He pushes the fabric down Khimi’s thighs with his feet, letting them pool on the floor at Khimi’s boots. Khimi’s cock leaps forward with a firm, but springy bounce, flushing flat against Khimi’s stomach. Lumi moves his body down and astride Khimi’s body, allowing Khimi’s cock to tap against his asscheeks with its steely rigidness. A low moan escapes his lips, his fangs flashing in the darkness.
“It always surprises me,” Lumi murmurs, “how I can manage to fit such a beast inside me. It’s just… so thick and…hard.” His voice trails as he continues to squirm along Khimi’s body. He slips between his legs and positions himself on the floor. With a reverent touch, he takes hold of Khimi’s length with both hands and breathes against it. “Delicious.”
From the impossibly heavy balls, Lumi’s tongue licks in a long stripe all the way to the covered tip, a clear trail of saliva left in his tongue’s wake. Propping himself up between Khimi’s legs, he kisses along the thick veins at the side, tasting every bit. Each kiss is long and adoring as he sucks against him, his tongue undulating just between his lips.
Khimi holds back groans of pleasure, gritting out curses. He pulls at the itchy fabric beneath him. No matter how often this happens, how often he is faced with Lumi’s insatiable lust, it’s always a battle of restraint. He can almost imagine the warmth of Lumi’s insides, his cock sheathed nice and tight. He wants it desperately, and his hips give a tired buck.
“L-Lumi,” Khimi mumbles.
Lumi shushes him softly, his coarse tongue teasing along his shaft. The boy’s hand tightens above his balls, pulling down on the sack with slight pressure. Cupping them then gently, he jostles them with both hands. His tongue snakes its way to the tip, where he laps over the leaking slit, sucking at the drooling pre.
Khimi’s breath is heavy already, he can feel his mind breaking under Lumi’s advances. Despite their time together on Ole Lucky, there had only been a handful of times they managed to find privacy. Those few moments were quick, and often interrupted. But Khimi knew that eventually that lack of intimacy might break Lumi, and here, now, it’s manifesting.
“Oh, Khimi,” Lumi whispers, his cheek pressed against his cock, rubbing his lips against the shaft. “I-I missed you.”
Khimi laughs to himself. I’ve always been here, he almost says, not knowing if Lumi was referring to his dick or himself.
Lumi takes Khimi’s shaft in both hands, giving him a few hearty pumps between his small hands, coaxing a dollop of precum onto his tongue. He places the tip against his lips, prickly tongue swirling over the head, lapping up the slick with a primal hunger. He dives beneath the foreskin, pushing against it, the skin pulls taut over the flared tip. His tongue swirls, each pass sending the skin tightening in a ring. It doesn’t take long before Khimi feels himself teetering on orgasm, but he tilts his head back and covers his eyes, wanting to make this last. He grits out Lumi’s name in the darkness, his face pinched in pleasure.
The air seems to stagnate with humidity, the salty scent of his desire mingling with the brine that clings to his flesh and the musk of travel. Lumi’s lips finally envelope Khimi’s throbbing length. Khimi’s eyes roll back into his head; his teeth grind together. The sheer pleasure overwhelms every sense. A fervid heat courses through him; his skin glistens, damp with sweat.
Lumi’s tongue makes self-indulgent licks. It curls and strokes, like a slowly unfurling flower, seeking out the most sensitive spots. He moans and hums in pleasure, the vibrations making Khimi shiver.
Lumi’s lips begin to stretch around the head, his eyes fluttering open, reflecting light like a nocturnal predator. Even in the darkness, he can imagine Lumi’s full lips wrapped around him, the way his tongue dances around the head, it’s almost too much to bear. He arches his back, lifting his hips off the bed slightly, as if willing Lumi to take more of him into his mouth.
Lumi, seeming to sense Khimi’s desire, obliges eagerly. His throat opens wide, and he slowly begins to lower himself, swallowing more and more of Khimi’s cock, bit by bit. Khimi’s breath hitches as he feels the desirable, wet heat of Lumi’s mouth around him. Lumi’s head bobs up and down as he places one hand on Khimi’s hip, the other grasping the base of his cock. He uses his grip and his lips to create a tight, pleasurable suction, pulling Khimi’s shaft in and out as he sucks and swallows.
Lumi releases a series of low and eager whimpers, his body shaking abruptly. His throat tightens with a soft, inviting embrace. The saliva and the slickness of his throat creates a slippery path for Khimi’s cock to slide in and out, and Khimi responds instinctively. He thrusts gently, matching the rhythm of Lumi’s bobbing head. Lumi’s eagerness is overwhelming. Khimi can feel it, his orgasm building in his core. His foot begins its incessant tapping against the floor, a telling sign he’s near the edge.
Lumi’s drags the cock from his mouth, precum and saliva cascade down the length of it. Panting, Lumi’s tongue slides up the shaft, lapping the fluid back into his mouth. Khimi’s moans grow louder, the ebb and flow of his hips growing more erratic. Sweat beads his skin, and he feels like he’s on the edge, about to fall into the abyss of pleasure.
I can’t—he grabs Lumi’s head, his fingers splaying through the feathery strands of his hair. “Lumi,” he gasps, his voice hoarse with desire. “Quit playing.”
Lumi doesn’t skip a beat. He swallows him down, his mouth moving, his throat constricting around the aching shaft. The sensation pushes Khimi over the edge. He arches his back, his hips bucking wildly as he thrusts deeper into Lumi’s willing throat. Lumi’s lips are wet and warm, his tongue sliding along Khimi’s length, teasing and sucking as if he wants to draw out every bit of essence from him. Khimi can feel his orgasm surging forth.
Then it breaks. It crashes over him in a fiery wave. His body convulses, his muscles jerking and throbbing with force. With a final gasp, he erupts in Lumi’s mouth, his cum spurting forth in a hot, salty torrent. Lumi sucks at him greedily, swallowing Khimi’s seed in hungry gulps as it fills his belly. His lips and tongue never falter, milking Khimi’s cock through his orgasm. As the last few jets of cum escape from the throbbing length, Lumi gently draws back. Khimi’s cock slips from between his lips, the last drops of cum dribbling from his chin and down his bare chest. He doesn’t stop his ministrations, he continues to lick and suck, his lips shining with the evidence of their tryst.
After a moment passes, Lumi lifts his head, wiping the remaining cum from his chin with the back of his hand. He licks his lips, eyes glinting mischievously as he beams up at Khimi. “Now… let me ride you,” he whispers seductively, his voice still tinged with desire.
Khimi’s eyes widen at Lumi’s words, his breathing still ragged from what might have possibly been the most intense orgasm he’s experienced in months. Lumi crawls up Khimi’s body, his movements slow and deliberate. Khimi’s hands roam over Lumi’s muscles, tracing the lines of his features. Each touch is a caress, a kiss, a promise of more to come. Finally, Lumi reaches his destination and sits astride Khimi, leaning down to capture his lips in a deep, passionate kiss. His tail shakes behind him, brushing against Khimi’s spent cock.
“C’mon, Khimi,” he teases as he pulls back from their kiss, their lips still brushing. “Don’t you wanna fuck me?” His tongue drags over Khimi’s lips in a long lick, the scent of his seed fills is nostrils.
Khimi’s lips push back against Lumi’s with a violent urgency, his fingers threading into the boy’s blond locks. The taste of his own seed is fresh on Lumi’s tongue, but he doesn’t care. Lumi is right—he wants to fuck him, he wants to feel his cock sheathed in his ass. Feel the warmth of his insides hugging him tight. His cock grows more rigid by the second until it’s painfully swollen. There is no time to catch his breath, there wouldn’t be, not with Lumi like this.
Lumi reaches down between them, taking hold of Khimi’s shaft. He guides it back, until it stands firm against his ass. With slow, gentle motions, he tests Khimi’s rigidity with a preemptive roll of his hips. The hot length slides between Lumi’s asscheeks, growing slick with oil—not that it needs it, it’s already sinfully slick.
Khimi pulls back from their kiss, his lips still against Lumi’s cheek. “You need to come,” he whispers, reaching for Lumi’s arousal in the dark.
As Khimi’s fingers reach between Lumi’s legs, he feels the slick of Lumi’s cum coating his fingers. “I did,” Lumi whispers.
Khimi releases a snort of disbelief. “When?”
“When I was tasting you,” Lumi admits in a whisper, his lips pressing back to Khimi’s.
Their tongues dart out to taste one another, while Lumi positions himself above Khimi’s throbbing length. Khimi gazes into each Lumi’s eyes in the dark, noting the raw, animalistic desire still burning within them. His fingers trace Lumi’s hips, his skin beading with sweat and burning with a feverish heat. He feels a sudden, overwhelming need to be inside his boy, to possess him completely.
Lumi lowers himself, slow and steady. Khimi glides into the overbearing heat, feeling Lumi’s inner muscles seizing around his girth. Pleasure washes over him as Lumi’s ass sits flush with his lap. Something passes Lumi’s lips, a giddy squeal or a laugh of pleasure, but Khimi can’t be sure, he’s enraptured with the wet heat embracing his cock.
Khimi moans deeply, his hands gripping Lumi’s hips. Lumi’s warm, tight insides surround him, clutching like a vice. Lumi leans forward, their lips meeting again, his tongue slides between Khimi’s lips. Lumi shifts his hips, grinding up and down on the length of him, their bodies moving in unison. Khimi’s muscles flex and ripple as he moves. Lumi’s tail wraps around Khimi’s thigh as if to hold on. He pulls back from their kiss, his hands resting behind him on Khimi’s thighs.
Khimi’s cock throbs inside of Lumi, pulsating with each throb of his heart. Lumi moans deep in his throat, his lust-glazed eyes rolling back in the heat of pleasure.
Khimi grips Lumi’s hips tighter, and draws his feet up to the edge of the bed. His trousers cling to ankles, but it’s an annoyance he’ll have to suffer through. his thrusts becoming more erratic, his breath becoming ragged. Lumi’s cock, still leaking cum, bounces and jumps against Khimi’s stomach, the foreskin pulling back and forth over the sensitive head. Lumi’s head lulls from shoulder to shoulder, his neck tilting back, exposing his delicate neck, still adorned with Nina’s choker.
Khimi can hardly see Lumi’s silhouette, but it’s enough for him to imagine how debauched he must look. His thrusts become more frantic as he paints the image of him in his mind, his body trembling with the need to release his own seed into Lumi’s warmth. Lumi lets out a guttural moan, his hips bucking wildly, his tail whipping back and forth, brushing through the sweat on Khimi’s thighs.
“Gods, you feel so good,” Khimi groans, watching the reflective glint of Lumi’s eyes.
Lumi’s mouth opens in a flash of bright teeth. Unable to speak, he only whimpers. His fingers brushing along his swelling abdomen, pressing against Khimi’s cock inside.
“You like that, huh?” Khimi grits out, “my cock in your belly?”
Lumi only pants and shifts his body, nodding desperately.
Khimi can feel Lumi gripping him harder, pulling him deeper into him. He presses his thumbs into Lumi’s waist, holding Lumi still as he begins to move in earnest. His cock drags through Lumi, the full length nearly sliding from his sopping hole before plunging back in with sloppy squelches.
Panting, Lumi stutters Khimi’s name, his skin rippling as Khimi pumps his hips. His eyes flutter shut, and he throws his head back, letting out a whimpering cry. A stream of hot cum spurts across Khimi’s chest. His tail rattles, then slaps against Khimi’s thigh. Khimi knows he’s close. Lumi’s ass clenches around his shaft like a vice, the velvety walls gripping and squeezing as if he’s preparing to milk him.
Khimi’s jaw clenches, teeth grinding together like a predator about to tear into its prey. His hips piston forward, driving his thick, veiny cock into Lumi’s tight, quivering hole with a force that he knows will leave the boy raw. The slick, obscene sound of flesh slapping against flesh echoes in the room. Lumi’s breath hitches, a high-pitched whine escaping his swollen lips as his back arches, his entire body trembling. His cock, already slick and glistening with cum, twitches violently before erupting in a second gush of creamy seed. It splatters across Khimi’s sweat-slicked abdomen, painting the dark curls above his groin with sticky streaks of white.
Perhaps it’s the ambrosial scent of Lumi’s cum, but at that moment, Khimi’s control shatters. His cock throbs and twitches, his body tenses. With a sound that is equally a grunt and growl, he comes hard, his hot, sticky cum surging deep into Lumi’s ass. Lumi seems to spiral into a delirious ecstasy. His eyes roll back, his mouth falling open in a silent scream that quickly dissolves into a fit of breathless giggles.
Khimi’s thumbs dig into the soft flesh of Lumi’s hips, circling and massaging the faint bruises he left. Sweat trickles down their intertwined bodies. Lumi’s tail, a sleek, sinuous appendage that seems to have a mind of its own, twitches and writhes in the air before coiling back around Khimi’s muscular thigh. The tip of it flicks teasingly against the sensitive skin behind Khimi’s knee.
“Fiend,” Khimi murmurs, his fingers lightly brushing against Lumi’s side.
In the darkness, Lumi appears to fix him with an intense gaze, licking his lips before guiding Khimi’s hand to his swollen belly where his cock lies. “Feel this,” he whispers seducingly, “and then tell me you don’t want to fuck me again.” His seductive gaze remains locked on Khimi’s.
Khimi maintains eye contact, carefully tracing the shape of his own cock enveloped within. “I want to fuck you again,” he growls, his voice deep and rough.
Lumi’s fangs catch the light as he softly utters, “Maah-e-man.”
I’ve created something worse than a demon.