Crimson and Furs 2

Chapter Two: Meeting

Daniel climbed the wall and silently opened the window, falling into the room with a small thud. He was actually sneaking into the room because he didn't want his mum to discover he was always roaming about in the night, doing some kind of vigilante work when he was supposed to be thinking about how to go to school. As a 16-year old kid who was very intelligent, his future would be bleak if he just dropped out of school like that.

But then it wasn't his fault that he wasn't going to school. After the incident with School of Abyss, Crimson High School had been shut down instantly. The police didn't tell the public that the principal was actually a member of this secret organization which worshipped Abyss, the most terrifying evil existence Daniel had ever come across. Rather they spun a tale that Miss Pinmaker worked with the School of Abyss which was a terrorist organization to disturb the peace of Crimson Springs. They even went on to highlight several cases of missing children, making the public fully believe them.

Daniel knew that people like Felicia Dwayne, his ex and her father knew about the truth. He couldn't help but wonder how they were handling the situation right now. Would the viscounts come together to enact some sort of rule?

Daniel shrugged off the thought about the School of Abyss, knowing that the organization had been dissolved. After all, Mistress had been killed by Angel Michael and Angel Uriel who were possessing Mr. Stark, his father and Jackson, a close friend of his.

He was about to sneak to his bed when he saw two dots of red lights glaring at him from the darkness. He would have been given the fright of his light but he didn't even shudder. Lycanthropes were known for their fearlessness.

"Caroline?" it was after some moments he realized that the dots of red lights were actually Caroline's eyes. She was seated on the bed, staring at Daniel who had just sneaked into the room.

"Sneaking to the room like that," she said. "I ought to tell your mum this secret. I can't keep on pretending to be you."

Beside Caroline was a large humanlike bulge and a small portable speaker. Seeing that Daniel had already returned, she removed the blanket from the bulge. Two pillows were revealed, causing Daniel to chuckle awkwardly.

He went to sit on the bed as he said, "Come on. It's just a small favour from you. After all, you're my pet."

"No wonder," Caroline rolled her eyes. After some moments she said, "I'm so hungry. I feel like eating more meat."

"..."

Daniel was immediately rendered speechless. The meat Caroline was talking about referred to living creatures. After becoming a Path one, Zombie of the Horror Cursed type, Caroline's appetite had suddenly undergone a terrifying transformation. She no longer had her grace and ate living creatures, creating a bloody scene.

This made Daniel to he cautious and not dare let Caroline go hungry for a second. This was because he was worried the golden furred cat would suddenly lose her rationality due to hunger and become a real Zombie she was.

Actually Daniel was already very happy that Caroline could control herself. She wasn't as bloodlust as other Zombies who were always bloodthirsty. Horrors were always like that and he could testify with Bloody Mary, another Horror living within him.

"What bad thoughts are you having about me?" he soon heard a familiar voice. The voice was actually sweet and melodious but his entire body froze after hearing it.

"Me?" he chuckled nervously as he scratched his head. "I wasn't having any bad thoughts. I swear."

Suddenly there was a thick stench of blood as a figure materialized in front of him. She was wearing a bloody dress and had her red eyes fixed on Daniel. Her hair was very red and it was unknown whether it was as a result of the blood she was drenched in or the natural colour. She was known other than Bloody Mary, a very powerful Path four, Specter of the Horror Cursed type who was crushing on Daniel. She even took the initiative to live in him so that he wouldn't have any nasty idea of cheating on her.

Thus Daniel's relationship with his girlfriend, Selene became a little tricky. They couldn't become very romantic as they were always watching their backs for Bloody Mary who had a strange temper. It wouldn't be surprising if she appeared one day and killed the both of them so that Daniel would be with her forever.

Seeing Bloody Mary appear, Caroline suddenly forgot about food and lay down like an obedient cat, her eyes not daring to linger on Bloody Mary for more than two seconds. The glowing redness in her eyes dimmed significantly.

Bloody Mary observed Daniel for some time before saying, "Any time you start swearing when faced with a question is when you're actually guilty."

"..."

Daniel didn't know how to respond and almost choked on his own saliva. He had been caught redhanded. He didn't want to provoke the Specter so he didn't deny.

Bloody Mary soon carried the shivering cat and placed her in her laps, stroking the golden fur, "She looks so fluffy...and edible."

"..."

Caroline was rendered speechless and couldn't help but turn to look at Daniel helplessly. She couldn't help but wonder why her life had turned out to be so miserable. She was very hungry but here was someone talking about eating her!

"Uh...You don't need to say that Bloody Mary," Daniel said with the warmest smile ever. "Caroline is my pet and I...cherish her so much."

He wanted to say 'love', but he didn't want to provoke the Specter who was scrutinizing him like a piece of art.

"I was talking about her soul," Bloody Mary said. "It wouldn't hurt adding her soul to the hundreds of souls I've already absorbed."

Miss, please stop saying things like this, Daniel mumbled inwardly. You'll end up scaring the poor cat to death.

Actually Daniel would have said this out if it were anybody seated with him but again, he didn't want to provoke the Specter.

"Huh? Why is it shivering?" Bloody Mary asked in confusion. "It's not cold. Besides I believe Zombies are resistant to cold."

"She likes you," Daniel said. He wanted to teach Caroline a lesson for threatening to report to his mum that he had been sneaking out of the house.

Hearing this Bloody Mary couldn't help but hug the cat, causing Caroline to roll her eyes to the back as if she was dead. The Specter didn't notice this because she was holding Caroline to her chest but Daniel saw it clearly. After all he had night vision.

Then Bloody Mary frowned, "Why are you always surrounded my lovely females?"

"What do you mean?" Daniel suddenly shifted his butt. The bed didn't seem so soft again.

"So many females love you," Bloody Mary explained as she sized up Daniel with a dark expression. "Caroline likes you—"

"She's my pet," Daniel immediately defended himself. He didn't want to be killed by Bloody Mary because he and his pet liked each other.

"You should get a male one," Bloody Mary said. "She's mine now."

"..."

Caroline's eyes flared open as she stared at Daniel pitifully. You see what you've caused...

"Also," Bloody Mary continued. "This woman seems to like you. She's very beautiful and a great cook—"

"She's my mum," Daniel interrupted again.

But Bloody Mary was relentless, "What about the noble human girl?"

"She's my ex," Daniel would have rolled his eyes if it were anyone. Bloody Mary was actually talking about Felicia Dwayne who was now Orpheus Rodolfo's girlfriend.

"What about Selene, the Crimsone?" Bloody Mary asked, her expression becoming twisted like that of a murderer.

"She's my girl—" Daniel almost said the truth and couldn't help but swallow hard.

"She's your what?" Bloody Mary asked, her murderous intent which she had been concealing since gradually erupting.

Daniel didn't know how to respond and was shuddering. Luckily he heard a ringing and turned to look at a spot of his bed. His smartphone was lying there, its screen already lit up. Daniel immediately went to pick up the phone without looking at Bloody Mary.

Daniel checked the caller ID and saw that it was Crying God. He immediately answered the call, "Hello?"

Unfortunately it was a video call and Crying God could see the situation at the other end. His blue eyes squinted as a mischievous smile appeared on his face after seeing Bloody Mary. Obviously he wasn't afraid of the Specter since they were both Path four Cursed. He was a Path four, Combat Magician who couldn't be underestimated. Coupled with his intelligence as a Wizard, Bloody Mary would find it difficult to fight him with his combat magic. Even if he couldn't defeat her, he would be able to escape successfully.

Please don't say something stupid, Daniel prayed inwardly. He even called Cassio's[1] name several times so that the young Supreme being who was dreaming their existence would have mercy upon him.

"You're really lucky to have two girlfriends!" Crying God was smiling like a spoilt really brat he was. He looked nothing like a powerful Path four Cursed and was very carefree.

Seeing this, Daniel couldn't help but have the urge to spank this Wizard. He didn't know why Wizards always had the tendencies of provoking others. He then remembered Smith and became sober.

Smith was a Path three, Stage Magician of the Wizard Cursed type who had died in the battle to prevent the descent of Abyss last year. He used to be a Special Cop responsible for investigating him. This Wizard and Special Cop had saved him once when he had entered into the sewer, coming across a ritual to Abyss. Back then he was really terrified and would have died if not for Smith.

"Two girlfriends?" Bloody Mary asked Crying God who was the other end.

"Huh? You don't know?" Crying God had forgotten why he had called and was ready for a gossip.

"Apart from me I don't know who else he would be bold to take as his girlfriend," Bloody Mary said as she sized up Daniel again. "And I don't know where he would get that boldness."

"Erm...Crying God," Daniel wanted to stir the conversation back to the reason Crying God called him late in the night but Bloody Mary was already glaring at him.

"Have you heard of a harem?" Crying God asked.

"No," Bloody Mary replied. She had died decades ago so she didn't know much about terms the people of this generation used.

"A harem is..." Crying God began explaining what a harem was to Bloody Mary, causing Daniel's facial muscles to twitch uncontrollably. He only used a minute to explain the term to Bloody Mary but it felt like eternity to Daniel.

In the end Bloody Mary turned to Cassio and asked, "Who else is part of your harem?"

"..."

Daniel became speechless. He couldn't help but clench his fists, wanting to strangle Crying God to death.

"Have you suddenly become deaf?" Bloody Mary asked. Terrifying shrieks were now echoing around her and Daniel knew they belonged to the souls of her victims.

"I don't know what you guys are talking about," Daniel replied. And this was the only thing he could say to defend himself at that moment.

"You better not know," Bloody Mary threatened. "Because if I discover that you're cultivating a harem..."

"I'm not!" Daniel waved his hands. He didn't even know when he yelled. Knowing his mistake, he forced out a smile.

Soon Bloody Mary calmed down, making Daniel heave a sigh of relief. He couldn't help but glare at Crying God at the screen, To hell with your harem!

[1] Cassio: His full name is Cassio Damien Hastle and he's a very powerful existence who dreamed up this world as explained in book one.