Repercussions
The walk back to the tavern is quiet. The silence only serves to dredge up dark thoughts lurking in the back of his mind. Lumi would give his life for me… and I raise my voice at him. Hells is wrong with me? Along the back alley, outside the tavern, Khimi halts, leaning against the building while he relieves himself. The tavern door opens, spilling laughter. The cervi from earlier stumbles drunkenly along the alleyway, bracing himself up against the wall a short distance from Khimi.
The cervi lifts his head, his bangs covering his eyes. “Oh, it’s the big man!” he teases, his voice mocking.
Khimi closes his eyes while he tucks himself back into his trousers. “Just go about your business,” he mutters, willing himself to remain calm.
The cervi grins drunkenly. His stream splashes against the side of the building and over his boots. “Envious?” he asks, making a show of himself to Khimi.
Khimi smirks. “Surprised you can please anything with something so small,” he mutters, stepping opposite the alley to pass him.
The cervi shrugs, turning back to the wall. “It must be easy to please a boy,” he taunts. “I heard they’re like that down there… in Dolmas. They keep sex slaves. Perverts like yourself, training them for—”
Any calm Khimi had, leaves his body. Rage floods him, unrelenting, unforgiving. His hand knots into the cervi’s russet hair and twists. The horns smash against the wooden post in front of him. They clatter against the building with every blow, the tips snap, drawing pained cries from the man.
“Stop—”
His pleas do not reach Khimi, the horns creak at the pressure, fissure spiderwebbing through them. The cervi screams as Khimi rips his head away from the wall, only to smash it against the wooden post again. The horns crack, the sound unnerving.
With his face pressed against the wooden post, the cervi laughs and sobs. “Can’t stand to hear the t-truth, eh? Sick bastard—”
Khimi yanks him around to meet his eyes. His lips peel back in a snarl. The months of suffering rumors, listening to the harsh whispers and sideways glances have finally pushed him over the edge. The man quivers, his horns barely cling by fibrous strands. Piss stains the front of his trousers.
The man works up the courage finally to speak. His lip quivers, a welt swelling beneath his eye. “Is it… ‘cause he’s a beastkin?” He chuckles, snot dripping from his nose. “Or is it because he’s a—”
Khimi’s fist smashes into his face. The cervi crumples against the wooden wall and collapses into the snow. Khimi follows him onto the ground, dropping to his knees over him. Blow after blow, he releases his rage. The crunch of the man’s nose fills the alley, but he does not stop. The fuck is wrong with people? His knuckles split open on the man’s teeth. He peels back and crouches over him. The man does not move. The cervi’s swollen eyes flutter open and closed, his shattered nose leaking blood and snot over his jacket.
Khimi grips his collar, bringing his broken face a short breath from his own. The man barely manages to breathe, strangled wheezes slipping through his ruined nose.
“The aslan,” Khimi whispers, his tone like ice. “Is mine.”
The cervi slumps against the wall. He falls, half-buried in the snow. A thick gulp works its way down his throat. He nods in acknowledgment but remains still.
Khimi takes a step back, wiping the bloody knuckles on the bottom of his parka. With a final sigh, he scans the alley before returning to the tavern entrance. The bard’s music grows louder in his ears—the soft sigh of a viol. Warmth wraps around him as he steps inside. He waits at the door, searching the sea of patrons for those who had been with the cervi. A drunk crowd pushes past him on their way out, and Khimi weaves through them on his way to the stairs.
The tops of his knuckles are still bleeding. The fabric of his pocket soaks up the blood, darkening the inner linings. Outside their room, he stands, lifting his bloody hand against the wood. No response. He better have stayed in the room. Khimi presses against the door. It takes some effort, but he forces it open.
The room is small but not unseemly. A single bed rests against the wall, a cupboard beside it. A candle still burns from earlier, its wax nearly spent. Their belongings are scattered along the floor by the bed. A collection of their things is nestled along the floor by the bed. Lumi lies there, his head at the foot of the bed, a thin pillow beneath him. He turns onto his side, casting his gaze at the wall. Whenever Khimi spoke to him in a harsher tone, Lumi would express himself with defiant anger. Khimi exhales, shutting the door behind him. The lock falls in place with a slow click.
“You were being a jerk,” Lumi mumbles, his lips pressed into the pillow.
Khimi does not say a word, his eyes follow the lines of Lumi’s body. The linen undershirt hangs loosely over his form, his ass exposed to the cool air, his tail sweeps beneath the waist of his shirt. The arch of his body is seductive; he imagines how perfect he is when naked. He grabs Lumi’s wrapped foot and tugs him towards himself.
“What’re you doing!?” Lumi grumbles, rolling onto his back.
Khimi maintains his silence, slowly unrolling the fabric from around Lumi’s ankle. Lumi chuckles at Khimi’s touch, but raises an inquisitive brow. Khimi’s arousal mounts, his cock nodding through his trousers.
“What happened?” Lumi whispers, gaze settling on the back of Khimi’s hand. “Khimi… ?”
Khimi runs a hand along the length of Lumi’s leg and between his thighs. He dips his head beneath Lumi’s shirt and takes in his scent, pressing his nose against the light curls at Lumi’s groin. Maybe I am beastkin after all. Lumi’s scent is thick, and he indulges in it with another whiff, a smirk on his lips.
The neediness in Lumi’s expression grows, his eyes big as saucers. “You gonna suck me or what?” Lumi asks, rolling his eyes impatiently.
Khimi scoffs. “Brat.” He sits back and rips the parka off as swiftly as he can, his numb fingers stumbling over the clasps.
“You… don’t need to listen to people like that,” Lumi offers, undressing him with his eyes.
“Do you think I am so fragile?” Khimi whispers. The parka falls behind him as he removes the linen shirt beneath.
Lumi slides his foot along Khimi’s thigh, then traces a line up to his abdomen. “I don’t think you’re fragile at all. I just don’t want you to listen to people like that… ever.”
The shirt slips from Khimi’s arms into a pile between them. “People will always say things. It’s just words.”
Lumi slips off his shirt over his head and tosses it onto the floor in a heap. He sways his hips back and forth, teasing Khimi with the movement of his tail. “Oh come on, words don’t give you bloody knuckles,” he quips with a smirk.
Khimi reaches forward and grips Lumi’s waist, gently pushing him onto his back. In the warm light of a nearby candle, he takes in the sight of the naked form beneath him. His fingers trace over Lumi’s chest, pausing on a nipple to twist and squeeze. The bud peaks at his touch as he rolls it with callused fingers. He meets Lumi’s gaze. “Doesn’t mean he didn’t deserve to have his ass beat now, does it?”
He watches Lumi rub his knees together and notices the intensity in his narrowed eyes. “Did you at least spare his life?” Lumi questions in a whisper, but his expression shows a sudden understanding. He reaches up and intertwines his fingers at the nape of Khimi’s neck. “Never mind, it doesn’t matter!”
Khimi’s grin exudes confidence. “Don’t worry about it. Just sit still and I’ll fuck you till you can’t walk.”
Lumi’s eyes widen at his words, their lips colliding in a desperate, hungry kiss. He’d forgive me for anything. Khimi frantically pulls at the waistband of his trousers, tearing them down his legs with fervent urgency. His length springs free, drooling with anticipation as he positions himself between Lumi’s open thighs. With every movement, Lumi’s lips frantically mimic his own, their bodies moving together perfectly in yearning. Khimi’s elbows dig into the mattress as he pushes forward, the slick, swollen head nudges against Lumi’s tight entrance with each tremor of his hips. As their moans and whimpers mingle in the air, Khimi can feel the heat building in his core, driving him to more insistently, until finally he sinks into Lumi, breaching the muscles.
Lumi’s brow pinches tight, a pained expression tears across his face, accompanied by begging pleas. Khimi’s hands slide beneath Lumi, his hips grinding back and forth with slow and eager movements. Unable to wait any longer, he drives into him deeper. A pained moan echoes through the room, tears roll down Lumi’s cheeks. Khimi holds him tight, pushing into him, relishing the way the soft flesh hugs his thick cock. Lumi tries to hold their kiss, but he turns his cheek, his breathing labored as he whines. He cries out, pain clear on his face. His nails scrape along the nape of Khimi’s neck, desperate to hold on until he can no longer. His hands fall to his side, fingers twisting into the blanket. Khimi doesn’t relent, he begins pounding into him with more force. His lips linger at the top of Lumi’s head, pressing kiss after kiss into the feathery strands. His focus shifts, his gaze dropping between their bodies, watching his cock drive into Lumi, disappearing into the boy’s tight ass.
Lumi’s throat tightens, a throaty cry slipping from his lips. He fights to pull himself closer to the foot of the bed, fingers still ripping into the blankets. His head falls back over the edge, his hair swaying in rhythm Khimi’s thrusts. The room fills with passionate sounds—wet smacks of flesh against flesh and Lumi’s needy moans. He tries to stifle his cries, pressing his hand firmly over his trembling lips. His body thrums with pleasure, lost in the heat of the moment.
Khimi’s hand shoots forward, wrenching Lumi’s wrist and tossing it aside. “Let them hear you,” he snarls, his voice strained with lust. “I want them to hear you.” He does. He wants everyone in the tavern to hear—the sound of their lovemaking, the union that only he will ever have with Lumi.
Lumi grips the frame of the bed, his voice quivers with his cries. Khimi’s fingers tighten into Lumi’s waist. He sits back on the balls of his feet, his eyes glued to the vision before him. The boy’s ass clenches, gripping his cock like a vice. The boy’s so needy for him, his entrance drags against his shaft with every backswing. The sight is filthy, but watching his cock, glistening from Lumi’s warm insides, drives him mad.
“Gods, you’re needy,” Khimi breathes, face flushed with desire. Beads of sweat run down his forehead as continues to stare. “You’re holdin’ tight, kitten.”
Lumi’s lips are parted, his eyes hooded with pleasure. He arches his back and moves with Khimi’s rhythm. His arms flex as he clings to the frame of the bed. “Y-you’re just too big!” he whimpers, his voice wavering.
“Did you know when we met that it was going to be like this?” Khimi teases, ramming into him with force. He grips the base of his cock, dragging himself in and out with shallow thrusts, pushing in all the places that make Lumi whimper. “Did you know, we’d fuck like animals?”
Lumi growls and tries to sit up on his elbows. “We are animals!”
“You know what I mean,” Khimi grumbles, bucking his hips and filling Lumi with the entirety of his length.
Khimi’s tongue trails over his lips as he watches his cock bulging in Lumi’s abdomen. Each powerful movement is visible against Lumi’s quivering stomach. Lumi gasps, his body writhing kicking against the sheets, lost to the sensation. But Khimi is relentless, he takes hold of Lumi’s ankle and lifts it until his foot rests on his heaving chest. With a primal growl, he presses his lips into the soft arm, simultaneously driving himself deeper into him with a forceful jerk of his hips. The sounds of their efforts only grow louder and more debauched as Khimi dominates Lumi without mercy.
Lumi moans, his cock pulsing against his stomach, yearning for release. Khimi’s kisses trail along the arch, drawing gentle laughter from Lumi, mixed then with the moans of pleasure when Khimi sinks deeper into his ass. Khimi’s tongue laps against the softer skin and meets Lumi’s eyes.
“F-fuck me harder,” Lumi breaths, unable to resist his urges. “Please…”
Khimi drops Lumi’s leg, allowing it to rest at his side. His hands drift along Lumi’s body. They glide beneath his back and rest at his shoulders. With his body completely over Lumi, he plunges into him more vigorously; the wet squelches fill his ears. Sweat begins to form across their bodies despite the cold.
Khimi’s lips press between Lumi’s ears before Lumi drops his head back over the edge of the bed again. “Too much for you?” he teases, his teeth nipping at his ear.
Lumi, almost unable to form words, finally manages to bring his head back up. “Move back,” he instructs.
Khimi shifts back on the bed, pulling Lumi towards him with a primal hunger. His cock, hard and pulsing, glistens from the wet of Lumi’s body. Then, without waiting, he enters again. A deep, longing sigh slips from his lips. Lumi’s insides clench around him. It’s too much. He returns to his position, anchoring himself. “Lumi,” he murmurs, the sensation of his tail gently brushing against his heavy sack adding to his pleasure. “I want to fill you… so much,” he whispers, his lips caressing Lumi’s cheek with every word.
“Then let me feel it,” Lumi says in a silky whisper. “Y-you know what I want.”
Khimi gnaws on the edge of the rounded ear, the coarse fur brushes against his lip. “You,” he starts, “want to feel me come in you? Don’t you?”
Lumi writhes his hips, clenching harder. “Y-yeah,” he breathes, rolling his hips again. “Y-you already know that—”
Khimi bites hard into his ear, his fingers dig into Lumi’s shoulders. “You like it… when my cock pumps in you,” he rasps, relishing the power and control. “When the heat starts to fill you.”
Lumi’s face grows flush, his toes curling in pleasure as his ankles lock behind Khimi. His damp hair sticks to his forehead. “Y-yeah. T-that’s my favorite part. It feels…”
Khimi’s balls slap against Lumi’s ass, each clap, wet and vulgar. He pushes his forehead against Lumi as he buries himself. Lumi mewls with every forceful push, his face turned to the wall. Edging near climax, Khimi staggers forward, bringing his lips into Lumi’s hair. The muscles in his thighs ache from his exertions. The heat of their efforts fogs the window nearby.
“Come in me,” Lumi whispers, his fingertips sweeping over Khimi’s chest. “I know you wanna.”
Khimi’s body tenses. His shaft bobs, thick and pulsing, the heavy vein throbbing through the length. The soft, velvety walls of Lumi’s body clench and release around him, urging him on. With a heavy grunt, Khimi stills deep, feeling the tightness enveloping him completely. A rush of pleasure courses through his body. His efforts are messy and passionate, leaving trails of cum gushing from around his buried cock. But their eagerness doesn’t wane, and they continue to move, their bodies still connected. Khimi cups Lumi’s face in his palms, looking deeply into Lumi’s eyes with adoration.
“Again,” Lumi whispers. “You can go again.”
Khimi sits back, holding Lumi’s waist. His thumbs pressed together at the tips. “Can’t get enough, can you?” he taunts, steadily regaining his breath.
Lumi’s muscles flex and strain as his body shifts back and forth, putting on a tantalizing show. Beads of sweat glisten on his brow as he arches his back, the slick cock nearly slipping from his hole before filling him again. His tongue darts out, tracing over his pink lips seductively. “I can feel it,” Lumi breathes out, “you’re not finished yet. You’re a bull, remember?” The words are filled with challenge.
“Only part,” Khimi corrects, watching the lust-filled show with an amused grin.
“Nah,” Lumi insists, his lithe body rocking methodically. “You’re my bull,” he teases. “My heavenly bull.”
Khimi remains on his knees, mesmerized by the way Lumi hungrily takes in every inch of him. His skin glistens with sweat, smoothly gliding between his thighs. A trail of warm cum drips down Lumi’s tail as he presses himself closer to Khimi. A satisfied smirk curves Khimi’s lips as he reminisces about their first times together, remembering how eager Lumi was to clean off any traces from his fur. But now, Lumi eagerly embraces every aspect of their intimacy, even with his tail slick and coated with his seed. Khimi tilts his head back, a mix of post-orgasmic ache and delight pulsing through him as Lumi tempts and teases him with skillful movements.
“You’ve got cum on your tail,” Khimi mutters, leaning back on his palms.
Lumi’s eyes roll into the back of his head, bliss clear on his face. “I-it’s fine…” he murmurs, his voice trailing as his ass slaps against Khimi’s groin. “You’re cock… gods!”
Khimi lifts his hips against Lumi’s, watching his cock press into him. “Tell me about my cock.”
Lumi’s head tilts back, his arms shake from supporting his own weight. “We were made for each other,” he moans. “I don’t even need to t-touch myself,” he adds, his voice hitching. “I can come from your cock forever.”
His arousal flops limp before Khimi’s eyes, leaking from its tip and into the thin bed of pubescent hair. He reaches out to grasp it but stops himself. Lumi’s body shudders against him, the comforting tightness of his insides squeezing upon him. “How many times now?” he taunts, grasping Lumi’s leg and kneading the muscles.
Lumi only pauses momentarily before he continues, his ragged breathing catches. “Do-doesn’t matter. I-it always feels good… you always feel good.”
“Do you want me to take over?” Khimi whispers, hoping he can.
Lumi releases a heavy breath and allows his body to fall against the cushioned bed. “F-fine,” he breathes, his tail flailing back and forth. His ass resting atop Khimi’s thighs.
Khimi sits forward, sitting on the balls of his feet again. Lumi lifts his leg up against Khimi’s body. “You’re obedient today.”
Lumi sighs, his leg tensing as Khimi presses his weight against it. “Y-you just have something I want,” he pants.
Khimi snaps his hips forward, holding himself firmly inside. His hand runs along the length of Lumi’s leg, curving over to his curled toes. “Really?” he asks tauntingly, pushing down on the joint of his toe.
“What are you—”
A faint crack sounds through the room, and Khimi smiles at Lumi before he places a kiss at the top of his foot. “What could I have that you wanted so badly?”
Lumi covers his flushed face as Khimi drives into him, slow and forceful. “I was hoping we’d get to spend the night together,” he grumbles. “We haven’t had much time…”
“I’m here now,” Khimi whispers.
Lumi brings a handful of the blanket into his mouth, shielding his moans. Khimi leans in, the weight of his thrusts forced deeper. The moans grow louder with his efforts, his damp hair dripping over Lumi’s body. The bed creaks from Khimi’s pounding as Lumi’s whip-like tail thumps against the bed.
“K-Khimi,” Lumi breathes through the blanket. “I’d do anything for you.”
Khimi perks up, his attention breaking. “I know,” he replies. Their eyes meet, his heart pumps thunderously through his chest. The soft aetherial eyes look up at him, filled with hope.
Lumi reaches for Khimi’s hand, his fingertips brush over the bloodied knuckles. “When I see your eyes… I feel like there is something I want to live for.”
Khimi can’t help but smirk. “I don’t need to see your eyes to remember that I have something to live for.”
Lumi’s cheeks flush, his head tilts to the side to hide his expression. “Don’t ever put yourself in danger without me,” he whispers.
“Fine,” Khimi replies, his hips pressed flat against Lumi.
Deep into the night, their efforts continue. The light filtering through the window signals Khimi to finally come to a halt. Lumi lies naked on the bed, barely able to keep his eyelids open after the exhaustive hours. He rolls onto his side beside Khimi and embraces him from behind. The low purrs vibrate against Khimi, easing him to sleep.
“I meant it,” Lumi whispers at Khimi’s back. “I can’t live without you.”
Khimi closes his eyes, listening.
***
A day’s peaceful rest does much to ease their aches and pains. Their bodies are folded together on the small bed, intertwined comfortably. Khimi’s lips brush along the back of Lumi’s neck, his arms coiled around him. Just above Lumi’s shoulder, he places a kiss on the familiar beauty mark. He rolls Lumi onto his stomach, his breath warm passes over his back as he trails gentle kisses along the boy’s spine.
Lumi yawns, folding his arms under his head. His tail flicks against Khimi with every kiss along his body. The bit of light that has pierced the sky has faded, leaving them in the dark of the room. Outside the sanctuary of their room, the tavern is packed with patrons who shout bawdy jokes, and scream profanity. The night’s entertainment is much less skilled than the last. The musician’s songs taper off mid-verse, his lyrics often failing to stay in tune with his instrument. Between the shouting and jeers, sleep has become difficult.
“Wanna go again?” Lumi breaths, exhaling with much of Khimi’s weight on his back.
Though Khimi can’t deny his desire to feel the warmth of Lumi’s insides again, he forces the thought from his mind. “I’d love to… but we should eat.”
Lumi hums thoughtfully. “I’m not hungry.”
Khimi rolls his eyes and presses a kiss to Lumi’s golden choker. “You need to eat something substantial.”
“I ate plenty,” Lumi teases, laughing at Khimi’s touch. “We can relax… sleep a bit more.”
“Because you really want to sleep,” Khimi mocks. The circular bite marks along Lumi’s shoulders are raised, purple bruises marking the lines of his teeth.
Lumi’s tail rattles, his ears fold. “I’ve slept a lot… I’ve slept so much on this whole journey. On the boat from Sidi… I think I slept the entire time. Then everything else just felt fake. Like it never even happened.”
“Surreal,” Khimi whispers. His teeth skim along the nape of Lumi’s neck. “Let’s get something to eat.”
Lumi exhales and presses his face into the thin mattress. “Fine. I don’t think I can walk anyway,” he mumbles, annoyed.
Khimi pushes himself up from the bed, his fingers trailing down the length of Lumi’s tail. Near the coarse tip, he gives it a hearty tug, drawing a yelp from Lumi. “You’re fine.”
“Really, Khimi—” Lumi’s words are cut short as Khimi’s open palm slaps his plump ass. He squeezes the cheeks together and covers them with his hands. Lips pursed in an indignant pout, he rolls onto his side. “Now I’m not getting up!”
Khimi dresses in from the mound of clothes from the ground, tossing Lumi’s woolen parka aside. “Fine,” he responds, slipping his arms through the sleeves. “I might just stay down there and drink all night.”
Lumi gives him a look of reproach. “And leave me starving?”
“Thought you weren’t hungry.”
A pillow sails across the room with deadly accuracy, striking Khimi square in the forehead. Laughing, he dodges the second one and flees the room. It thuds against the door behind him. The sounds of the tavern roar through the hallway. A drunken man embraces a woman against the wall, whispering sweet nothings in her ear. Khimi smirks at the woman, who gives an amused smile in return.
From the upper floor, Khimi peers across the tavern, scanning for familiar faces. In the center, he spots Augustus, surrounded by a rowdy group of patrons. His ale sloshes onto the floor as he flails about, his spastic movements met with cheers from the crowd. What has he gotten himself into? Listening in, Khimi catches fragments of their journey from Sidi—many details exaggerated, with the occasional outright lie. Not far from Augustus sits Mido, his expression heavy with shame.
Scanning the bar for any sign of Ennui, Khimi is surprised to find the cervi from the other night. The man’s face is swollen, his head is covered in a thick skullcap which clings to the stumps of his horns. He nurses a warm cider, the steam curling over his face. The woman who had accompanied him the night before sits across from him, holding his hand as they speak in hushed tones.
Without a word, Ennui sidles up to him and leans against the rail. The lengthy tail brushes against the back of Khimi’s calf. “Little boy,” she whispers, her hand muffling her speech. “Next time you decide to take your anger out on a man… finish the job.”
Khimi raises his eyebrow. “I haven’t the slightest clue what you’re talking about.”
“Ohh!” Ennui sasses, “you didn’t nearly beat that man within a smidgen of his life?”
Khimi exhales and shrugs. “I haven’t a clue what you’re talking about.” He continues his search, refusing to meet her gaze.
Ennui grasps his chin and turns him to face her. “Listen to me. Things like that… they come back for you. The man has probably done enough in his life to deserve death. Next time, don’t spare that final blow. Just follow through. Now you left him a gelded man, likely to hunt you down for shaming him—cervi are like that, you know? Horns are a sign of their—”
“Did you distrust me so much that you were forced to spy on me?” Khimi interrupts, then clicks of his tongue.“If you were so concerned, you could have done the deed yourself.”
Ennui growls and shoves his face back. “I can’t keep burying bodies for you… but I very well may have to.”
“Keep burying bodies?” Khimi questions, scoffing as he leans further over the railing.
“I was going to cut his godsdamn throat the moment I saw who he was. He was covered in snow, I thought he was dead. But someone else got to him before I did. One of the patrons… I would have killed them both. But you know how it is. That would have been a bit messy.”
“He’s not going to do anything. He knows he fucked up.”
Ennui snickers, her tail cracks through the air behind her. “Khimi, he’s a man. He’s full of pride and stupidity.”
Khimi narrows his eyes. “Is that how you see me?”
“You’re full of pride but lack the stupid—most of the time anyway.” She brushes past him and takes the stairs down. “I’d be surprised if he didn’t try to kill you. Or have you killed. Or start something the second he sees you.”
“Don’t be so pessimistic.”
At the bottom of the stairs, Augustus pushes his way through the crowd towards them, shouting to the crowd about his travel companions. The musician’s lyre strums, a song begins in the man’s uneven tone. Khimi raises a hand to the crowd, acknowledging them, while he pushes to the bar with Ennui.
They wait together, watching the tavern grow busier by the moment. The bell at the door chimes again and again as more people enter. Augustus, aided by his drunken ramblings, grows ever more popular. A cook brings them wooden bowls of creamy soup—diced potatoes, salted pork, onions, carrots, and clams in rich cream. Khimi licks his lips and takes his bowl with him.
The bell at the door chimes again, and Khimi glances back at the sound. Three devilkin enter the tavern, their bodies concealed beneath dark robes, their faces obscured by ornate masks. The musician stops abruptly, the crowd turns to the door. Augustus’ yapping continues without any awareness, oblivious of the new patrons. Ennui and Mido look at one another with a tense expression. Her fingertips itch at the hilt of her dagger.
The man in the corner rises from his chair and points his finger at Khimi. Wishing he had his shamshir at his side, Khimi lowers the bowls of soup onto the stairs. The three robed figures cross the room to the base of the stairs and look up at him. Their dark eyes gleam through the masks. Jet, opal, and emerald. They motion to Khimi without so much as a word, beckoning him to follow them.
Khimi obeys. Outside, snow falls over muddy streets. Warm light from the tavern spills into the night. He crosses his arms, fighting the need to shiver from the cold. The patrons line up against the windows, pressed against the glass. Augustus’ face is mushed tight against the cloudy glass.
The robed figures turn to Khimi, the red underbelly of the center figure’s cloak flashes before his eyes. He does not flinch but holds his ground. A scroll is presented before him, the devilkin unravels its contents and reads aloud in a nasally voice. The events of the previous night are read aloud to him—the breaking of the horns, along with the severity of the beating. The door chimes behind him, and Ennui steps from the tavern, lingering in the shade of the door.
The man continues, his voice muffled by the mask. “Do you deny these allegations?”
“No,” Khimi admits. “I believe you summed it up fairly well. What is my punishment?”
The emerald-eyed devilkin steps forward. “You made an attempt on a citizen of Rennes. We have the right to punish you as we see fit.”
“The man spoke out of turn, men have done less for treatment much worse,” Khimi mumbles, his leg trembling in the cold.
“You’re a foreigner here, we can’t just let people like you come in here and do whatever they like, can we?” The emerald-eyed devilkin asks, her voice smooth as silk.
Ennui steps up behind him, placing a hand on his shoulder. “You’re not in your homeland anymore,” she murmurs. “You can’t just drop your name and expect people to bend to your will. It won’t work here.”
“I never intended to,” Khimi mutters. “The man is still alive—”
“Khimi,” Ennui snaps, “Just… stop talking.”
The three devilkin nod their heads at Ennui. Through the slits in their masks, Khimi can see the mouths of the devilkin thin. Ennui offers an exaggerated bow in response. A sigh leaves her lips as she flips her hair back and looks between the three.
“What is his punishment?” she asks, an edge of annoyance in her voice. “All he did was put a man in his place. Well deserved, might I add.”
The man at the head of the group looks up from the snow. “There are rules in place to ensure these types of things don’t happen here. One mustn’t lay a finger on the other unless they wish to receive an equal or worse punishment. You understand—”
“Sadly, he never had horns for you to tear off,” Ennui interrupts, eyes narrowing. “But I see that doesn’t matter, does it?”
The three devilkin look among one another before turning back to Ennui. “May we ask who you serve, sister?”
“The world is unkind to people like us,” Ennui whispers in return. “Though I am under the impression we all serve the same.”
Khimi had always known that Ennui’s gifts came from a darker lineage. Though he never pressed her on the subject, he anticipated she served a devil, as many devilkin are wont to do.
“And how will you prove yourself? If you are a daughter of Samael, surely you bear a mark?” The emerald-eyed woman asks. “Samael’s sigil is branded onto us, marking us as his children.”
Ennui smirks. She pulls a pouch from her belt, plucks a single coin, and tosses it across the distance. “Give it a good whiff. Tell me it doesn’t reek of the hells.”
The man brings the golden coin under his mask, then glances up at Ennui. “A simple parlor trick.”
“I assure you, Samael has never had a more faithful child. I’ve brought him into this world more than once. My gifts are immense. Shall I call upon his hounds?”
“Without blood?”
“I can acquire blood. Unless one of you is willing?”
“Enough of this farce,” the third figure growls. “Give us a name.”
“There is power in a name,” Ennui murmurs.
The emerald-eyed woman strides forward and snatches the coin from her companion. “Give us your name!”
Khimi shifts on his feet, stepping up beside Ennui. “I’m sure you’ve got this covered,” he chimes under his breath.
“Ennui,” she grumbles. Her fingers flex, itching for the dagger.
The three exchange glances and whispers. The man speaks up. “The name is not unknown to us… Ennui.”
“Be that as it may,” the emerald-eyed woman continues, “we cannot tolerate this behavior within the confines of our city. Our ruling is absolute… as is Samael’s. Our code here in Rennes requires his sacrifice.”
“Impossible,” Ennui growls. “I’ll call Samael here and now. Or perhaps we should all pay a visit to Nyx?”
The masked man chuckles. “Sister, you’d call upon our father for a petty mortal?”
“My bond with this fool is greater than any child of Samael,” Ennui counters, “so I would suggest showing some leniency in your decision.”
The bell chimes again. Mido and Augustus appear at the side of the building. Augustus is supported by Mido, barely able to hold himself up, hollers a cheer and raises his pewter mug.
The man sighs before he releases a fierce growl. “Fine, I want all of you out of our city before first light.”
“There is no light in this damn land.” Ennui performs a mocking curtsy, then smiles. “We’ll be out of your hair soon… don’t worry those pretty little masked faces of yours.”
Khimi whispers, “This won’t sit well with that cervi.”
Ennui holds her hand out, waiting for the coin. The masked man reluctantly pushes it directly into her palm. “What of the cervi?” she asks the man.
“He’ll be upset he didn’t get his justice… but we’ll handle it.”
“And if he raises his voice in protest that the good devilkin that watch over Rennes are being unfair… ?”
The sound of his teeth gnashing together is audible in the darkness. “We’ll handle it if we must. Now, pack your shit and leave before we change our minds.”
The three devilkin turn into the street and vanish into the dark. The crowded windows of the tavern clear as people return to their drinks. Augustus leans against Mido and releases another whooping cheer, breaking the tense silence.
“You heard the man, Khimi… better get to packing,” Ennui says, her nose wrinkling with anger. “Couldn’t just… kill them next time, eh?” she asks, pressing her fingers against her forehead.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Khimi grumbles, following behind back into the tavern.
“Is everything alright?” Mido asks, watching him carefully.
Khimi sighs and allows himself to finally shiver. “We’re leaving.”
“Now?!” Augustus shouts, drunkenly stumbling into the tavern. “Can’t we wait a day or two?”
Mido’s tail swings behind him, wagging beneath his jacket. “Wouldn’t have anything to do with that hornless stag, would it?”
Ennui rounds on him, her patience gone. “If you’re looking for a fight, now isn’t the time. Grab your things and meet out front.”
“Care to explain w-what happened?” Augustus inquires, placing a hand on Khimi’s shoulder. “You can tell us.”
“Later.” Khimi grabs the bowls of now cold soup and hurries up the stairs.