Walking into the small living room, Hiyori was surprised that it was not really any different from her own home's layout. The walls were similarly old, faded, and in great need of repainting. Same with the hardwood floor, but at least it could be covered with a different, mismatched set of rugs… at least, that is what Sheby did. Not much else was there that would clutter the small, tiny home, only a few cupboards and a wide couch covered with a multitude of blankets. What really surprised Hiyori was the fact it did not even smell bad, considering the occupant's origin. The air was relatively clean and free of the smell of decay or death that she was expecting from a demon's lair.
Looking around, Sheby clearly was watching TV, cozied up on the couch before they arrived, as the big, blocky, old machine was the sole light source inside. Focusing on it, Hiyori immediately recognized the rerun of an old show that she used to watch as a kid. Seeing the towering mechas fighting against each other in space immediately washed her away with deep nostalgia, almost sitting down on the round carpet before the TV stand, reverting back to a kid once again.
"Wait a little…" Sheby grumbled, walking forward with her hooves, clip-clopping loudly on the floor where no carpet covered it. She headed straight to the TV stand, put a VHS into her player, and started a recording. "You are going to make me miss multiple episodes, for sure..."
Watching the demon in the light of the TV, Hiyori finally came back to her senses and had a chance to have a good look at her. Her legs were completely that of a goat's, right up to her waist. They were covered in a light-brown, rough, short coat of fur, covering every part, ending just below her navel. After that, her body turned into that of a human's, with similarly brown-colored, smooth skin. She had standard, human arms and torso, wearing only a black sports bra, holding up her pretty big, teardrop-shaped breasts.
"Tsk…" she flinched as she clicked her tongue, with an unmistakable tinge of jealousy laced in it. This drew a proud smile onto Sheby's face as she turned around, facing her, letting the TV's light outline her curves even better.
She had a young-looking, beautiful, and exotic face. Her round eyes, with their goat-like pupils, were much more charming instead of frightening. Not to mention her black, slightly curly hair running down to her shoulders and from under them, the two small, tiny horns growing out from her forehead. They surrounded her like some fancy headdress, holding up some strands of her hair, which just added to her otherworldly attractiveness.
"What's up, shorty? First time seeing a purebread demon?" she asked proudly, placing her hands on her waist and trying to look down on Hiyori, yet they were at the exact same height.
"It is purebred. Not bread." Hiyori corrected her in a flat tone, not backing down. Instead, she maintained eye contact throughout the exchange of words, wanting to prove she was not a pushover.
"..." Sheby's expression changed in an instant. She turned more serious from her provocative gaze, stomping on the carpet with one leg, just like a goat, ready to headbutt her. This quickly made Hiyori step back by reflex, realizing she wasn't dealing with a human... For a moment, she forgot what kind of being was before her, reacting to her provocation with her own.
"She is under my protection, Sheby." Everlong stepped up, holding Hiyori's shoulders with two hands as the goat woman looked up at her face.
"You are in my home now!" the demon yelled back, but Everlong just looked into her eyes, forming a small smile. Hiyori could see the demon shudder before finally backing down and completely changing the topic with a nonchalant smile. "Tea?"
"Not now," he shook his head once. "But thanks!" He continued and reached into his pocket, pulling out their zip bag, which contained the finger with some hair next to it.
"You came prepared, huh?" Sheby tilted her head but held back from reaching out for it. "I need to hear the full story before I make a decision, though!"
"Sure." Everlong agreed as he sat down on the couch, pulling Hiyori next to him. "Tell her." he patted her hand.
"Khm…" Hiyori flinched that it would be her to do so. After she scratched her throat, regaining her calmness. She felt completely safe now, especially after seeing that it looked like Everlong held authority over Sheby. It took around half an hour to tell Sheby everything, alongside her previous experiences and the things she came to know after meeting with Everlong.
"Hmmm…" the demon hummed as she leaned back after listening to her story silently. "Let me guess! You brought her to me so I can confirm the poser's background?"
"Poser?" Hiyori gawked, not expecting a name-calling like that.
"Most purebreds are proud beings," Everlong answered, his eyes still looking into Sheby's. "Plus, those who live in our world tend to pick up some unwanted mannerisms."
"Look who's talking!" Sheby scoffed, blowing hot air through her nose. "So… I can help you, but let's talk about my payment first!" she muttered as she leaned closer toward Hiyori, driving her demonic gaze into hers. "She is deeply tied to it by now…"
"I know. Don't worry about that." Everlong raised his hand, stopping her from leaning too close. "She was led to me."
"Oh!" Sheby flinched, pulling back immediately as if she just heard Hiyori had lepers.
"...?" In turn, Hiyori turned her head, looking back up at Everlong and then at Shelby. She now had multiple questions swirling in her mind but decided to sit on them for now.
"So I won't get a bite out of her then?" the demon asked disappointedly after staying silent for a few seconds.
"Nope!" Everlong shook his head. "That is out of the question. She remains intact. As I said, you help us; you get to eat the poser! But she remains whole." He put his hand on Hiyori's head, his voice turning commanding at the end.
“Tsk… okay, okay… I can manage that! No collateral, I got it!" Sheby moaned, throwing her hands upwards along with a long sigh. "Give me the address of the school, and meet me there on the day of the Beaver Moon."
"On the 30th?" Everlong hummed, raising his eyebrows, "That is still weeks away."
"So?" Sheby asked with a smirk. "You want a perfect ritual or not?"
"Hmm… first tell us if we even got the right one." He argued.
"You want my help? Pay me for it! I want—" Sheby reached out with one hand, feeling herself in control. She was getting more and more confident now, seeing that he needed her help and not the other way around, her demonic side showing more than her human disguise.
"Here is your payment," Everlong answered with an exceptionally icy voice, grabbing onto her wrist.
What Hiyori saw next made her eyes widen to double their sizes. Everlong's fingers held onto Sheby's skin like clamps as he started to strengthen his grip, drawing out an animalistic cry from her throat. She was squirming, quickly dropping everything to the floor, scratching at Everlong's hand holding onto hers. She was visibly afraid and panicked. Hiyori could hear bones slowly cracking and watched as Sheby's skin started to discolor where Everlong was gripping it, pushing the blood to the opposite sides like Moses parting the Red Sea.
"Joke, joke! It was a joke! This hurts! Please!" Sheby pleaded in a child-like voice, unable to pry his fingers from her wrist.
"Don't. Fuck. With. Me." Everlong leaned closer, pulling Sheby's face right to his, as their noses touched, rubbing against each other. Her goat-like eyes now reflected Everlong's steely gaze as she could see herself in it. "Or I'll send you back to hell in two pieces. Don't mistake my kindness for weakness for you to exploit... Got it?"
"Yes! Yes! Got it! 100%! 1000%! It was a joke, okay?! Just a joke!"
"Good!" Everlong smiled suddenly, letting her free.
Sheby immediately pulled back her hand, crawling to the other end of the couch, blowing on it with tears in her eyes, trembling, watching the deep marks of his fingerprints on her skin that would still be there after a month.
"Damn you… I can see why he still wants you, after all that you pulled…" she murmured, sniffing like a hurt youngster while Hiyori just gulped, trying not to look too excited.
Sheby now did not even dare to look at Everlong. She just picked back up the zip bag, took out the hair, and placed it on her tongue, gulping it down with closed eyes. Hiyori wanted to ask something, but her detective just put his finger on her lips, signaling to stay silent. They waited for multiple, long minutes before the goat-woman reopened her eyes.
"You got the right person. She has picked the camp of Leviathan after transforming."
"Envy, huh?" Everlong muttered while he scratched his chin. "Thought so."
"I'll get everything ready; just don't be late," Sheby sighed, looking much more tired, her forehead constantly creasing.
"Sure!" Everlong said while standing up, fixing his clothes, and nodding towards Hiyori that it was time to go. Heading towards the door, Sheby did not follow them; she just crawled to the other end of her couch and looked after Everlong from there.
"Hey!" she shouted at him as they reached the front door. "Don't want to stay the night?"
"I'm more into the shaved ones!" he answered, without looking back and leaving with Hiyori and her chuckles following him in tow.
