Becoming Monsters: in the Mirror

Because you knew the last line of chapter 5 was in vain. This is still a noncanonical fanfiction to the Becoming Monsters series, by Ai Loves, setting used with permission. All canonical and mechanical errors are my own. The yarrb is the creation of FelisRandomis, used with permission.

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Chapter 6: What We Must Do

I awoke that morning to an unfamiliar sensation. An empty bed. Neither Lucy nor I were exactly morning people, but the nature of my work schedule meant I had woken up first almost every day for the last three years. I glanced in the bathroom, not seeing her, and got very curious. Just a bit worried, too. I hadn't heard a struggle, but given all that had happened that didn't necessarily mean anything.

I heard a soft sound from the living room, one I could not readily identify. Unknowns could not be good, not here. Not where I was most familiar with everything. Thieves? Possibly, but whatever happened to Lucy and Whitney? My sword was in the equipment closet, so that was out. I grabbed my baton from the bedside table and flicked it to full length, the familiar click of it locking into place comforting. With a deep breath, I turned the knob and burst into the living room, ready to do violence on whatever I found.

What I found was my wife, head thoroughly between Whitney's thighs, tongue

all

the way in her, doing things she normally charges four figures for and only for repeat customers. Whitney, for her part, was incoherent with lust, moaning softly and twitching as my wife drove her rapidly towards the peaks of pleasure. It was, apparently, my turn to walk in on my spouse and Whitney involved in an orgasm. I decided rapidly that I would not, in fact, slam her against the far wall. It was probably the hottest thing I had ever seen, if I was being honest. Since the only audience was me, I was being honest.

I recognized the movements, the desperation from my wife, and I kicked myself for not noticing it last night. She had gotten distracted. More than forty-eight hours ago, she had told me she was under 70%. We had spent the entire day together yesterday, including a fight, and she had

pounced

me as soon as she could shove me onto a bed, leading to me feeding on her. Her Hunger was zilched or close to it, she was feral-Feeding. As I heard Whitney crest over into full orgasm, I could see her abundant aura and Lucy's depleted one snap into balance. Both were now a hair under half as my wife fed.

That was the moment Lucy regained composure, stumbling backwards as though she had been slapped. She looked behind herself and spotted me, baton extended and other baton extended. "How long have you been standing there watching?" She was breathing hard. So was I, for that matter.

"Not long, maybe thirty seconds. Enough to get the point." She looked at my point, pointedly, an expression of mixed lust, annoyance, and sheepishness on her face. Not one I got to see often.

Still laying on the cot, completely spread out, Whitney spoke up in a slightly dazed manner. "Is she like this all the time? Best wake-up of my life."

"Nope, once she got to know me well it only got better. Pretty sure she didn't mean to do that, though."

"She accidentally licked my cervix?"

"She was starving, and just took the first available target for her Hunger. That was you, she can't feed on me no matter what we try. Don't expect this very often. Now put on some clothes, we'll do the same, and then we can grab some breakfast."

Breakfast was quiet. Lucy wasn't particularly ashamed of what she had done, it happens, but she wasn't exactly meeting anyone's eyes either. Embarrassed for not planning, I think. Still, other details to go over. "Alright, well, this morning's events cemented a few details about what I can do now. I've been seeing an aura around you two, probably will around other Demonics as well."

"That sounds useful." Lucy seemed grateful for the off-ramp.

"Still need to test it, but what I can confirm is that it shows me at least roughly the state of your Hungers. Better fed, stronger aura. I should have been able to see this coming."

"So, what, I need to drag you two out to the nearest park and duke it out for a while?" Whitney didn't seem particularly sad about this.

"Nah, that won't quite work. When Lucy fed on you, your aura weakened. It's all the same energy for us. I can hold a lot more than you two can, but between us it's zero-sum. We have to get it from outside the group." I paused to breathe and take a couple bites of my cereal. "Still leaves us in a bit of a pickle. We can host you here for a while, but we aren't exactly rich, either in dollars or Hunger. Whitney, you need to help bring both into this as soon as you can, or the whole thing flies apart. I know you don't have a phone or your IDs yet, but we can help. You mentioned doing some Delver contracting, before?"

"Yeah, though not so easy without a full license."

"Your temporary will be enough to get some work. Just be careful, you know first-hand one of the hazards we've been finding. You can use the basic stuff we have here until you get your own gear. We'll get you on the phone plan today, it should last you until the law can do its thing." She nodded to acknowledge. "Lucy, you and I have a bit of breathing room thanks to the recent windfalls. Attacks are ramping up, and it's not just monsters anymore. Authorities aren't going to catch up in time to make a difference, we need to put out contacts and get info. Also need to stock up again on consumables, use the materials we've been building up. We get even half of the rate of attacks from this last week, and I'm done coding. After we get Whitney onto our charter and get her a phone, we head down to the Guild Hall to put out that we're taking contracts."

Her head snapped up. "Back that up. You want to get Shield Against Shadows started again? Where did that come from?"

"Necessity. We are not ready to do this every day, and we need to

get

ready. That will let us. I was going to talk about it with you this morning, but we got distracted." She blushed again. "I'll let my job contacts know, I need you to take at least one last shift at the Red Lights this evening and tell the ladies there to keep an ear to the ground. Heck, offer a special or something if someone comes with info about all of this. I need you topped off, too." She nodded grimly.

"I'm assuming you're going to do the same if today's errands get done quickly?" I nodded as well. "Alright. First part together, then we split up to hit everything after we get the phone and Guild thing done." We got together some basic armaments. Lucy had reinforced padding, I had mail and a small shield. Whitney took the axe, I had the sword, Lucy grabbed both batons on her belt.

This time around, I didn't bother pretending otherwise. I brought a couple slices of ham with me as we stepped outside, heard the "yarrb?" two steps later, and tossed my fuzzy new friend the snack. It chirped happily, blue eyes lit with adoration, and after it finished it followed us to the bus stop, chittering happily. Rubbed up against our legs, then trotted off, its mottled coloring making it nearly invisible after twenty feet or so.

"Any particular reason why you keep feeding that? We can't really accept another stray into our home right now."

"Hey!"

"Lucy, it's alone and far from home. And cute." Lucy seemed to accept it. Whitney was still trying to figure out if that was a compliment or an insult when the bus arrived.

First stop: Tactical Mobility Phones. The Wide Access Phone might not be strictly necessary for someone within human bounds, but given that she had a habit of jumping into the middle of things we needed something...

rugged

. Not enough to shell out for the Field Access model, but still.

Plus, there were transformations still going on, and no way to know if they would stop any time soon. Better safe than sorry.

It was a much, much longer trip to get to the Guild Hall. Technically south of Seattle proper, five years ago it was an open field used by various groups throughout the year. Role-players, reenactors, history buffs, foam weapon enthusiasts, and others who would keep the old skills alive for fun and passion. When the Change struck, the heavily-interwoven groups figured out fast that they were the ones holding much of the skill that just became relevant in the new world again. They figured out almost immediately to teach each other what was needed, grouped up at need, bought the field from the farm that once owned it, and built the start of what we would be visiting.

When the Seattle Dungeon was found, its main gate was near the camp. It seemed meant to be.

I was a mix of excited and apprehensive as we approached the series of semi-permanent tents and permanent wooden buildings. I hadn't been there in two years, not since the last of my guild mates left for greener pastures and I decided to try to make a living doing something other than throwing borrowed spells around. That I still ended up doing a decent amount of that anyway was irrelevant, but the fact that I was doing a

lot

of that recently very much was a factor of my return.

The three of us got off the bus and went straight to one of the smaller wooden buildings. The administrative hall. Three clerks and a bunch of guild rolls, that was it. The nearest one, a Workshop Elf snacking on some jelly beans, remembered my wife and I, and got our guild roll promptly. "Says here your bylaws require at least a plurality of current members to approve new members."

"This is true. There are two current members, my wife and I. We both attest to approval of our newest member, Whitney Cunningham. Presented is her interim License, as we await her card."

"Let me guess, East Office? Yeah, that tracks." He munched on another sugary handful. "Alright.

Whitney Cunningham, Berserker, has been added to your guild roll. You are still under ten members... significantly... so maintenance dues continue to fall in Lesser Guild status." I did my best to hide my reaction to being called "lesser." It still stung.

"Anything I need to know? Just got here from California."

"Just two things. Shield Against Shadow is registered as primarily surface hunters, so you always need to be aware of local rules topside when operating that way. Second, you must never attempt to enter a random portal if found."

"Random portal?"

The Elf glared at me. "Jay, I remember you being more responsible than this."

I grimaced. "Sorry, been a wild few days. Heard about the Vrock attack by the hospital? Lucy and I handled that, and two other attacks besides."

"Alright, fair. Whitney, every Dungeon is unique, but ours has a trait that is wilder than most. It spawns magical gates that can let out monsters in the city. Thing is, they don't stay open for any predictable or significant amount of time. If you enter them more than five seconds after they open, you risk them closing and locking you in a random piece of the Labyrinth... or cutting you in half if you're not all the way through it."

Whitney blanched, her feathers flaring. "Got it! Thank you."

"Don't mention it. Welcome to the camp."

We had stepped outside and barely turned towards the equipment forges when a booming voice sounded out. "That can't be Jeremiah Kithkin at the camp! And without stopping by to say hi to his old guildmate!"

I turned to the sound. Perhaps twenty feet away from us was a ten-foot tall, green-skinned, reeking, broadly muscled, long-tusked, heavily armored troll. Ryan Daniels. My guild's old main tank, who took point to keep big nasties away from people like my wife and I while we put them down. Also wanted to steal Lucy from me for most of the time I was dating her and the entirety of our engagement, which is both why I always kept a fire attack on tap and why I wasn't sad to see him leave Shield. Went to do actual Delver work.

"Just got to camp and got a lot to do. Aren't you supposed to be down in the Labyrinth? Lots of face-punching other people don't want to take."

His face went from maliciously jolly to enraged, fast. It had been a long point of contention between us that I had said it was all he was good for... and that he had not proven me wrong at any point. "Between Guilds right now. You best watch yourself, little man. I know you ain't been keeping up, I could squash you like the little parasite you are."

"I never forgot how flammable you were. Neither did Lucy. I don't want to renew the memory here, we're under peace bond at camp and I respect my Rolls more than I want to disrespect you personally." There was an audience gathering. I was in a rather unfamiliar position, that being that they were actually likely to take my side if push came to shove. Also meant that I couldn't Scan for current information, half a dozen of them would spot it instantly and note the breach of the bond.

Ryan knew it, too, just like he knew that in any fair fight I'd almost never win. And that I didn't let fair fights happen if I could help it. Ultimately, he didn't want Guild trouble. "Best get back to your crappy little apartment. This ain't your place any more." He turned and lumbered off. The crowd dispersed, having gotten their entertainment with the exchange of words.

"Y'all really hate each other, don't you?"

I nearly jumped out of my skin. Behind me was another familiar face. Human this time, her skin pallid where it showed from her black leather armor. Leah, the most dangerous assassin in camp. She let me see her. Must want to talk.

"You could say that. It's personal."

"Always is with him. Still, nice burn." She grinned at her own pun. "You Guilded yet? Way Ryan tells it, your old one fell apart. Got some people in mine who could use a needle to the ego now and then."

"Happy to provide the needle, but I am still Guilded. Just added one to my own, truth be told."

"Pity." Sounded like she really regretted it. I'd take the compliment.

"Before you go, mind doing me a favor?"

"You know how dangerous that question is around me, yes?" Her eyes betrayed some curiosity.

"Of course, but I think this is worth it. Surface attacks are on the rise, and I've been dealing with some wonky long-term curses for the hospital. If you have anything that needs a topside team, can you drop me a line? About to put up a standby posting about it."

"You have me curious, Jeremiah. I'll keep it in mind." She vanished. Freaking assassin, short-ranged teleportation meant I didn't get a chance to get a read on her. Probably intentional.

I looked back at the others. "We'd best get to the Hall. That took more time than I wanted." They nodded, neither wanting to speak about this particular incident. It cost us two Silver and three minutes of our time to post a standby contact ad in case anyone needed our particular skillsets... with a note that we were not active, so only basic gear.

Wasn't expecting many bites, but it couldn't hurt.

Last stop before heading back was the armorer's. When it turned out that a decent zweihander would cost more than we could readily afford, we just grabbed turkey legs for lunch and went back to the bus. Whitney could use the axe until we got some savings going.

Now equipped with a phone, Whitney found a law office that was willing to do some work that was not QUITE pro bono, but close enough. We split up, Lucy and I heading to the Red Lights as we called other professional contacts.

The back rooms of the Red Light Rooms were a surprisingly clean and friendly place. About a third of the people there did this full time, either for themselves or as part of someone else's team (and saying the word "pimp" was a fast way to be ejected with bruises). There were hugs from workers who knew us, this was an odd and open bunch but we were friends. News that this would likely be our last or close to our last time here was met with tears. News that we wanted to stay in contact to help defend against rising attacks was met with cheers.

They agreed to help with the information. I called it the Pillow Talk Alerts, which had the parents in the group laughing fairly hard. Not sure why.

I only got one customer that day, but she stood out. I could see her Aura despite being apparently human, and on entering our lobby she recognized me immediately. I could practically smell the arousal on her as she walked right up, bold as you want, and paid me for an hour of my time. It was then that I realized who I was talking to, her vaguely Asian features having changed for this visit. As soon as I had her alone, though, I knew her. The door closed behind us, I pulled her back to me, planting a nibbling kiss at her neck and focusing on the lust she was feeling. She lost control shortly, and the foxy Kitsune form of Nurse Johnson emerged like a butterfly from a chrysalis. Her face elongated and tails emerged as golden fur covered her.

She was an utter, whimpering mess. When I shoved her down onto the bed and dove between her thighs, my tongue found her already soaked and on a hair trigger. Her first orgasm took her less than a minute later. I barely remembered to cast my safety Sterilization as she wordlessly rolled over and offered herself to me. I took her like an animal, over and over, and she came for me more times than I could count.

Fifty minutes of that and she was splayed out on the bed, barely twitching. I had more than earned my pay and my feeding, though I had to say No to acquiring her it was with some small bit of regret. I did confirm that I could acquire someone after initial rejection, though, since I came three times myself (both she and I were thanking my new Endurance score). She readily agreed to add my new requests to her information gathering, and nearly came again when I whispered into her ear afterwards that I would let her know the next time I was available. The last ten minutes were needed for her to recover enough to walk wobblingly back to her car.

A coder friend texted me some time later, as we were cleaning up to head home. He had heard there was trouble in the area we lived in and wanted to make sure we were okay. I reassured him that we were fine, it would take a monster with magic equipment to stop my family. He sent back laughter. I was feeling moderately proud of myself, and Lucy was topped off after a couple of human buddies thought they'd be able to overwhelm her with pleasure. Thought.

Two stops before home, Whitney got on the same bus. Her meeting had gone, if not perfectly, then at least decently. The legal team would ask for payment if she got access to her old life's assets again, but understood that she couldn't pay otherwise. Helped motivate them.

Our light mood vanished instantly as we got off at our stop, one sound letting us know something was very wrong. The yarrb was growling, high and intense, a note of near-panic in its voice. Without a word, all three of us took off at a sprint, weapons drawn. On the street in front of our home we found it, facing down a horror.

The threat was significantly taller than me, likely a dozen feet. Covered in mossy gray-green reptilian scales that looked like they were dripping with slime. Its eyes were slitted, it's hands clawed... and it was holding a glowing curved sword that looked small in its grip. Must have been more than four feet of metal, though. Layered over its scales was an armored mesh of some kind. A Hezrou demon, and one that was well-equipped.

One of these days, I'll learn to not tempt fate.

The worst part about it was the smell. Even from fifty feet, it was vile. The smell was like the essence of spoiled milk had taken a bath in rancid olives, then ripened in the sun for a week. It stared at us and pointed a clawed hand at me. My vision exploded in stars, like being inside a kaleidoscope, and though it passed it was all I could do to keep to my feet. I felt like a giant had just flattened me with a hammer.