Chapter 8 : Morning

Mica kept her eyes lowered as she stared down at the plate of scrambled eggs that had been set down on the table in front of her. While sitting right across from her, and clenching her jaw in obvious anger, Kianna was openly glaring at the clearly uncomfortable looking shinoccubus.
The next morning had found them, along with Anton and Fiona, all sitting together at the kitchen table and in the process of eating breakfast. Fiona and Kianna were in their normal seats while Mica currently sat next to Anton on the opposite side from them.
The dark elves were no longer dressed in their dominatrix garb but were now wearing the comfortable cloth shorts and tank tops that they had slept in. Fiona wore a yellow colored top with white shorts while Kianna was in a matching set that was a light pink in color. Anton was similarly dressed in a pair of dark green boxer shorts and a black t-shirt.
Mica on the other hand was not quite so comfortable. Clad in nothing but her thin panties, bondage gear and a scarf which was still wrapped around her chest, she couldn't help but to feel as though she had been left far more naked than dressed. Her arms were still held bound by the Bolero straight-jacket, and the belt that had kept her wings trapped inside her body was still buckled around her shoulders. Her blindfold and gag had thankfully been removed once she had been led upstairs and placed in her seat, but the harness that would hold her gag in place was still wrapped tightly around her head.
Surprisingly, her bare legs had been left unbound, though her now cramping tail was still wrapped tightly around her waist with its bladed spade still safely locked away.
“...Is everything alright over there, Kianna?” asked Anton as he read through the news on his laptop.
“No, it's not!” exclaimed Kianna as she scowled at Mica and pointed her ears straight back “Why is she sitting on that side with you!?”
Mica quickly glanced up at the dark elf before immediately dropping her eyes back down to the table.
“Because I don't know how safe it would be to sit her over there, next to either of you two.” said Anton in a matter-of-factual tone “And by safe, I mean that for all three of you...”
Kianna huffed as she tightened her eyes in annoyance. Her expression softened and became wicked looking as her eyes began to glow with a faint red light.
Mica stiffened as she felt the air around her begin to thicken and become heavy. Glancing back up at the dark elf, she gulped audibly as she was greeted with a sinister looking smile.
“...Uh, um, hey.” whimpered the kiochi as she tilted her head and looked up at Anton “Can I just go back to my cage? Please!?”
Anton glanced at her before looking at her untouched plate.
“Not until you eat something.” he said as he shifted his eyes back to his laptop “You'll make yourself sick if you go too long without anything in your system.”
Grimacing in sorrow, Mica brought her eyes back to her plate as she hunched herself down onto her shoulders.
The glow in Kianna's irises began to brighten until she noticed that Anton's eyes had become focused on her from over the top of his laptop. Registering his obvious “Stop it!” look, she froze immediately before dropping her aura and sheepishly looking down at her own plate.
Breathing a sigh of relief as the aura faded from around her, Mica eyed her plate of eggs for a moment before grimacing again.
“So, how am I supposed to eat this?” she whined as she shifted about in her straight-jacket “I can't even use my fork.”
“Well of course you can't...” muttered Anton as he clicked about on his laptop “Did you really think you were going to be allowed to have a sharp item like that?”
Mica gave him a sideways glare before turning back to her eggs.
“So what am I supposed to do then!?” she cried as she struggled against the thick belt that held her arms in place.
“Hm... Well, I guess you'll just have to do the only thing you can do, and dive in face first...” mumbled Anton in an absent tone “Or, alternatively, you might try to convince one of the dark elves to help you.”
Kianna's face immediately lit up with a smile as she leaned over the table.
“Oh! I'd be so happy to help you!” she cooed as Mica nervously cringed back and away from her.
“No, it's okay, I got it.” declared Fiona as she quickly picked up her half eaten plate and got up from her seat.
Making her way around the table, she set her plate down next to Mica's before taking the chair from the end of the table and moving it closer to the shinoccubus.
Anton and Kianna both blinked in surprise and looked at each other as Fiona sat down and began to diligently feed Mica while still eating her own food.
“...Um, what?” questioned Kianna “...What are you doing?”
“What?” said Fiona as she offered Mica one of her sausage links “I'm feeding Mica?”
Eyes going wide in excitement, Mica snatched the offered sausage and quickly devoured it before sheepishly glancing up at Anton as if to make sure that what she had just done was okay.
“Okay? Why are you being nice to her all of a sudden?” asked Kianna as she tilted her head and cocked one her ears in a curious manner.
“I'm not. But she needs to eat. And I know you wouldn't be able to help yourself.” explained Fiona as she raised a forkful of eggs for Mica “All you're going to do is try to choke her the whole time. Or stab her with her fork. You'd just end up hurting her, and then leaving her hungry. ...Right!?”
Kianna's expression soured as she huffed in affront and glared at Mica. Glancing over to Anton, she shared a look of surprise at this unexpected event with him before he grinned, shrugged and went back to reading the news on his laptop. Huffing again, Kianna focused back on eating her own food while continuing to cast darting glares at Mica.
When he was finished with his meal, Anton slid his plate to the side and was startled when Fiona reached over to pick it up.
Without a word she set the empty plate on a stack with her own as well as Mica's and Kianna's. She then took the stack to the sink where she began to wash them all.
Dumbfounded, both Anton and Kianna stared blankly at her while a confused Mica looked back and forth between the three of them.
“...Huh. Well this is a nice change of pace.” mumbled Anton as he leaned back in his seat “...Thank you, Fiona.”
“Oh! Of course, Master! Anytime!” cried Fiona in a cheerful tone as she looked back over her shoulder and nodded to him.
Kianna's mouth full open in surprise as she and Anton both looked at each other again.
“What's going on!?” mouthed Anton as he raised his hand to indicate Fiona.
Kianna shrugged and shook her head as they both turned from each other to the kiochi. Unnerved by the sudden attention, Mica nervously shook her head as well as she looked back and forth between them.
As Anton and Kianna went back to gawking at Fiona, the solemn shinoccubus began to chew on her lower lip as she took the opportunity to covertly shift her hips back and forth in her seat.
While trying to move as little as possible, Mica worked to scratch an itch on one of the coils of her tail by rubbing it against the bars that made up the backrest of the chair she was sitting in.
She couldn't help but to jump in a quickly dissolving panic when Anton's phone suddenly began to ring in his pocket.
“...Oh, well it's about time.” mumbled Anton with a grin as he pulled out his phone and glanced at the name on the screen “Looks like somebody's finally feeling brave again...”
Turning away from him, Mica made an effort to pretend she wasn't there as Anton tapped on the answer button and pressed the phone to his ear.
“Well, good morning, Issac.” said Anton in a cheery tone that seemed to be laced with a threatening undercurrent “It's so good to finally hear from you. I've been leaving you so many messages. Yet I haven't heard anything back from you in so long now, that I was starting to worry that something, terrible, might have happened to you...”
Watching as Anton's face became stoic, Kianna couldn't help but to shift her ears forward a bit as she tried to listen in on whoever was frantically talking on the other side of the line.
“...Okay. Let me stop you for just a second.” said Anton as he stared forward at nothing and narrowed his eyes “Is all this actually going somewhere? Or are you just wasting my time again?”
Anton tilted his head thoughtfully as the voice on the phone became even louder and more excited sounding.
“...Mm hm. I know it. I don't see how that has anything to do with me though?” he said as he looked down at his laptop “...Right. ...The big one in Halliburton? ...You're there right now? ...Well, it's good to know where you are. ...Because it makes it easier to find you. ...Because I want to find you. ...Oh, I guarantee I would have found you already, if I hadn't been, busy, these last few weeks. ...That's nice. I'm glad to hear you've been busy as well. Speaking of which, was there a point to this phone call? ...Mm hm. ...Right. ...You found it!? Really!? ...Are you serious? ...And you're sure it's the real deal? You've seen it? ...Holding it. Okay! Wonderful! Have them...! ...Excuse me!? ...They wouldn't dare! ...Are you serious!?”
Anton's back went straight as his jaw set and he forcefully closed the laptop in front of him.
“They already know who it belongs to! It was reported missing!” he declared as he stood up from his chair and picked up his laptop “Give me a minute! I need to get to my office and then I'll be right there! ...No, just stay right there! I'll only be a minute! And Issac, I swear if this is a joke! ...You, you're sure? ...Fine! Find them! And tell whoever is charge that I'll be right there!”
Anton shook his head in frustration as he pressed the end call button on the phone and turned to the watching dark elves and kiochi.
“...I need to take care of something real quick. I'll be right back.” he said as he looked directly at Kianna with a frown on his face “Can I trust you two to not hurt Mica while I'm gone?”
“What!? No!” cried Mica as her eyes went wide in panic “You can't leave me here with them! They'll kill me!”
Anton ignored her completely as he looked from one dark elf to another.
“Oh, yes! We'll take good care of her for you!” cried Kianna as she nodded eagerly and gave the panicked kiochi a sideways grin “She'll be just fine...”
“Of course we'll watch her for you, Master.” said Fiona “And don't worry. I promise, I'll make sure that she stays safe, and that Kianna doesn't hurt her.”
“...Right. ...Okay. ...Good!” said Anton as he cocked an eyebrow at the smiling dark elf.
Taking a few steps backwards he gave Kianna another pointed look before turning and quickly leaving the room.
After a few moments of stillness, Fiona went back to the dishes as Kianna slowly turned to the kiochi and gave her a wicked looking smile. Feeling the air around her immediately thicken, Mica made a small sound as she cringed away from the vicious looking dark elf.
“So then, Mee-cah...” cooed Kianna as she began to rub her hands together “Which one of your horns would you like me to file down first?”
“Ah, no!” whimpered Mica as she frantically shook her head.
“C'mon, Kianna. Will you just leave her alone.” chastised Fiona without turning away from the dishes.
Narrowing her eyes in annoyance, Kianna dropped her aura as she turned to her sister.
“Okay. For real. What's going on with you?” asked Kianna as she tossed a piece of toast crust at Mica's head “Your acting weird. And it's creeping me out!”
Sighing through her nose, Fiona hung her head as she rested her palms on the counter-top and leaned over the sink.
“...Don't play stupid, Kianna.” she said quietly “You know what this is...”
“...I don't know what you're talking about.” said Kianna “...And don't call me stupid.”
“Shut up!” muttered Fiona as a sob cracked her voice “You know exactly what I'm talking about!”
“No, I don't. ...I have no idea what you're talking about.” mumbled Kianna as she looked down at the table in front of her.
Groaning in frustration, Fiona turned around at the sink and wrapped her arms around herself as she glared at her sister.
“I don't want to be sold, Kianna!” she cried out as she gripped herself tightly.
Kianna started to breathe heavily through her nose as she continued to stare down at the table.
“He wouldn't do that!” she declared through her clenched teeth “We heard him wrong! He would never really do that!”
“Oh, c'mon! You heard him as clearly as I did!” cried Fiona as her ears lowered themselves down and her eyes welled with tears born of fear “It was clear as day!”
“No! We didn't hear him right!” cried Kianna as she finally looked at her sister with panic in her own eyes “It was a mistake! It was just a mistake!”
“Oh please!” sobbed Fiona “You know how much he thinks I'm stubborn and stupid! For real! The first chance he gets to sell me and he would have took it! You heard him! If things didn't go to shit then I'd be gone right now! And you know it! ...And it's gonna happen again!”
“No! He wouldn't... He just wouldn't!” sobbed Kianna as tears began to build in her eyes as well “He wouldn't do that to you! He wouldn't do that to us!”
The dark elves stared at each other as they both fought to hold back their panic.
“Kianna...” whispered Fiona as heavy tears rolled down her cheeks “I don't wanna be a good deal!”
Without another word, Kianna exploded out of her seat and rushed across the kitchen to her sister. Neither dark elf could hold back their tears as they frantically wrapped their arms around each other and embraced tightly.
“I don't wanna go! I don't wanna go!” cried Fiona as she buried her eyes in the crook of her sister's neck “I'll be good! I promise! I'm sorry!”
“Stop it!” cried Kianna as her hold on her sister became desperate “Just stop it!”
Fiona whimpered a mumbled apology as she hung in her sister's arms.
“He won't do it! He won't do it!” chanted Kianna as she squeezed Fiona as tightly as she could “I know him! He won't do it! I don't believe it!”
“I have to be good! I have to!” exclaimed Fiona “I don't wanna go! Please! You have to help me!”
“I will! I swear! I swear!” cried Kianna “I won't let you go! We can fix this! Okay! We're gonna fix this! I promise!”
Fiona moaned thankfully as she clung to her sister and began to tremble uncontrollably.
“It's gonna be okay, Fiona... It's gonna be okay...” soothed Kianna as she began to rub her sister's back “It's gonna be okay...”
Without even fully realizing what she was doing, Kianna began to slowly expand her aura outwards around herself until she was able to fully engulf Fiona with her presence. Moving on an almost instinctual level, she unknowingly filled her aura with a calming essence as she worked to comfort her clinging sister.
Surprised by the sudden warmth that now flowed around her, Fiona gasped softly before letting her own aura spread out to mingle with her sister's.
Registering Fiona's presence now surrounding her, Kianna eased back on the defensive nature of her aura and allowed her sister's warmth to reach her as well.
The two dark elves began to mew quietly as they now embraced each other both physically and magically. As the essence of their combined auras seeped deeper into their beings, both Fiona and Kianna couldn't help but to feel of sense of both comfort and, surprisingly, empowerment. Recognizing that they truly stood together, they eased back just enough out of their embrace to gaze at each other.
Standing face to face, the two dark elves went completely still for several long moments as they each stared deeply into the others now faintly glowing eyes.
“...What, is this?” whispered Fiona as she tentatively reached her hand up and cupped her sister's cheek “...It's like, I can, ...hear you? ...Like, I can, I can...”
“Feel you...” finished Kianna as she smiled softly “Oh, Fiona... You really are a sadistic monster...”
Folding her ears down in embarrassment, Fiona chuckled softly as she leaned forwards to press her forehead against her sister's.
“Yeah... And you're not...” she whispered “What are you doing, Kianna? ...This isn't right, this isn't like you. You don't even like this, this, anger. ...It feels so wrong!”
Resting her forehead against her sister's, Kianna let her eyelids fall shut as she sighed in fatigue.
“I know... But I need it though...” she grumbled “I have to fight... It's the only way to, to... to keep you both safe...”
Fiona wrapped her arms back around her now sobbing sister and held her tightly.
“No...” she breathed “No, Kianna... You can't do this... You can't hurt yourself like this... You can't, it's not right... It's not what you want.”
“But I have to!” sobbed Kianna “You need me, you both need me!”
“...Yeah.” soothed Fiona “Yeah, we do. We need you... Which is why I can't let you hurt yourself like this... We can't, we can't lose you like this...”
Moaning through a heavy sob, Kianna buried her face against her sister's shoulder.
“This isn't you, Kianna... You're not a killer... Not really...” breathed Fiona “So just stop it... This shits only going to hurt you. Just let it go. That's what you really want, right? You don't want to hold on to it like this... You just, want to let this anger go...”
“But I can't...” whined Kianna “I need it!”
“No, you don't!” claimed Fiona as she shook her head “Just stop it... Let us deal with it, okay. Let us be angry... Let us deal with her. Let us deal with all of them!”
“...But, I need to help you!” sobbed Kianna.
“You, are you kidding!? You already do, Kianna!” smiled Fiona “More than you'll ever know...”
Tightening her hold, Fiona held her sniveling sister as she let as much of her power flow into her aura as she could. Feeling the comforting warmth eclipse her sorrows, Kianna returned the gesture in kind as she filled her own aura as well.
Though the now combined auras were still invisible to the eyes, both of the sisters knew that they were large enough together to easily fill the entire room around them. Standing huddled in the center of their swirling cloud of essence, they continued their efforts to comfort each other for some time until as one, they opened their eyes wide and both went completely still.
Another presence had begun to pull on their auras.
They could feel it, the very moment it happened they both knew. Tiny, feeble claws were feverishly clinging to the warmth that now flowed through the very air itself. They could tell right away that the presence was frantically gripping at their auras as hard as it could and whatever it was, it was not about to let go.
“...Fiona? ...What is this?” whispered Kianna as she stared blankly out the kitchen window “...What's going on?”
“...It's, um, it's!” stammered Fiona as she blinked and softly shook her head “Kianna... I think you need to look at this...”
Moving slowly, Kianna twisted around in her sister's arms until she was facing the same direction. Her eyes went wide as she took in the sight before her.
“...Oh.” she breathed as she blinked in surprise and her ears pointed themselves straight upwards “...It's her.”
Mica's large, fiendish eyes were wide and probing as she stared directly at the dark elves. Her slitted pupils had dilated to the point that they now appeared as perfectly round, obsidian discs with a thin ring of bright, emerald green surrounding them.
Although her eyes had certainly become captivating, this was not what had surprised the dark elves.
That would instead be the fact that filling the air all around the shinoccubus, was the visible haze of a swirling maelstrom of pink and green auras that seemed to be flowing right into the cubi's being.
“...What, the fuck?” whispered Fiona as she tightened her eyes in question “...What is she doing?”
“...I have no idea?” answered Kianna in a hushed tone.
Having apparently decided to attempt an escape, the kiochi was no longer sitting in her seat but was now standing between the table and the archway that led out of the room. Looking as if she had been frozen in mid-motion, she stood completely still and silent as she seemed to be intently studying the sisters standing before her.
Though they were clear as day to the dark elves, Mica herself did not seem to actually be aware of the auras surrounding her as she had no reaction to their presence.
“...Wait? Cubi absorb energy. Like during sex.” reasoned Kianna as she creased her brow in question “Maybe that's what she's doing now?”
“...So then, wait? Is this little bitch eating us right now!?” questioned Fiona as she pointed her ears straight upwards.
“Maybe? I don't know?” said Kianna “...But we should probably not let her if she is!”
“Right!” stated Fiona “Also... Is she trying to run away!?”
Seemingly just realizing that the dark elves were now looking right at her, Mica turned away from them and went to bolt out of the room but stopped short as a glowing pink ring suddenly winked into existence around her.
“And where do you think you're going!?” mocked Kianna as she smirked at the now frozen kiochi.
Too afraid to move with the ring now surrounding her, Mica's eyes darted back and forth across its length before she slowly turned around to look back at the dark elves.
Unnerved by the prospect of having their energy drained by the kiochi, both Fiona and Kianna pulled on their auras and brought them back in around themselves. The instant they did this however, a surprised gasp escaped from them as their chests tightened and became heavy.
A bit of Mica's essence had begun to flow back as well.
It was nothing but a thin thread, as benign as a faint taste in the air, and yet it was still jarring enough to make both of the dark elves immediately pause as they instantly sensed that this essence carried with it a silent cry, a soundless, voiceless, desperate call, for help.
“Wha... Whoa, whoa, whoa!” muttered Fiona as her eyes went wide “What the fuck was that!?”
“...That, that was?” stammered Kianna as she she blinked in question.
“Did she just do that! ...Or did we do that!?” asked Fiona.
“...I don't know?” said Kianna.
For some time, all three women remained silent and still until without a word, Kianna stepped away from her sister and approached the kiochi.
Upon noticing that Kianna was now coming towards her, Mica immediately began to panic.
“No! No! Wait! Wait!” she cried as she planted her feet against the tiled floor and began to push backwards against the ring in a desperate bid to get away from the approaching dark elf “I'll won't run! Just wait! Just wait!”
The dark elf stopped just in front of the frightened kiochi and looked down at her with a face that was completely devoid of emotion.
Mica kept her eyes locked to Kianna's as she raised her foot slightly off the floor and readied her leg so as to be able to defend herself with a kick if necessary.
If Kianna noticed this action at all, she showed no sign to it as she continued to stare in silence.
Unnerved by the stoic dark elf, Mica hunched down into her shoulders as Kianna narrowed her eyes at her.
“...Fiona, let's try doing that again.” said Kianna as she spoke over her shoulder “I want to make sure that wasn't something Mica did.”
“Wait, what? What did I do!?” questioned Mica “I didn't do anything!”
“That's what I'm going to make sure of.” said Kianna as a series of thin chains erupted out of her ring and quickly wrapped up the panicked kiochi.
“Yeah. Good idea.” said Fiona as she made her way over to stand next to her sister.
“Hold on!” cried Mica as she planted both feet back against the floor and frantically tried to wiggle herself free “Stop! Stop! Don't touch me!”
Ignoring her, the two dark elves spread their auras back outwards and engulfed the kiochi in their embrace.
The terrified kiochi could offer no resistance against the calming warmth that was again flowing around her. And as the growing sense of comfort began to lightly permeate into her being, she couldn't help but to tentatively look back up at the dark elves. The very moment she did this, all the tension in her entire body loosened as her mind suddenly went blank.
Fiona and Kianna's ruby-colored eyes were faintly aglow and were absolutely captivating as they gazed down at her. Lost in the shimmering red lights now, Mica did nothing as she felt the essence of her own aura being concentrated in the air around her as it was seemingly drawn out of her being by the wills of the dark elves.
Functioning at an almost mechanical level now, Fiona and Kianna released themselves to their instincts and willingly pulled the kiochi's essence deep into their own beings. As they did this, they were again given a faint, tantalizing glimpse of the person Mica actually was. This was still just the tiniest of tastes though, little more than an impression, but it was still enough to make both of the dark elves eyes widen, as to them, this was a most deliciously exquisite flavor, and it instantly made them hunger for more.
Now seeing for herself the predatory beings that Fiona and Kianna truly were, Mica began to panic.
“...Wait, what!?” she breathed as she struggled to keep her emotions under control “Wha, what are you doing to me!? What is this!? Why are you doing this!? Stop! Stop! What are you-!?”
Helpless to do anything more than gaze up at the two taller women, Mica blinked and whimpered nervously as without a word the dark elves each brought a hand upwards to cup the sides of her face. Her tentative whimpering grew in pitch as she felt a new, even softer warmth begin to seep deep into her being from where the dark elves were now caressing her cheeks, and to her panic, she could distinctly feel more of herself now flowing outwards through their touch.
With their connection fully made, the dark elves could now truly feel the kiochi in the upmost intimate of ways, completely raw and unfiltered. And as their awareness spread throughout her being, and reached down to her very core, they began to fully understand Mica on a deeper, more fundamental level. With nothing now between them and the very soul of the shinoccubi, they could feel every shred of who Mica's really was. They could feel her fears, her doubts, pride, determination, lust, will, longing, love, goals, and above all of this, they could feel a deep sea of confusion that was laced with a lingering sense of abandonment, and raw loneliness.
They knew, and could immediately recognize, that there was something very wrong with Mica.
That could feel, that she was in pain.
It was as though a part of her was missing. Or, more accurately, that she was missing, as though she herself should be a part of something bigger. A connection of some sort, not broken, but instead having never been formed in the first place, was glaringly absent from her psyche. And without this grounding link to give her a direction, or purpose, Mica was left to flounder in a confused, aimless haze.
Searching for this lost connection, finding her missing piece, and finally completing herself by becoming a part of something bigger than she could ever be on her own, was in all actuality the ultimate force behind the desperate drive that clouded Mica's mind, affected her judgment and carried her forward.
None of this was anything that Mica herself consciously understood in anyway, hence her confusion.
She didn't actually comprehend that a part of her was missing, and had no idea that the pain she felt was due to the lack of this connection.
All she knew, was that she was not supposed to be alone.
And as all of this information slowly made its way back to them, both Fiona's and Kianna's chests began to tighten painfully in guilt. As unlike Mica, they did understand exactly what was wrong.
They knew, all too well, the pain and desperation that such loneliness could so easily generate, as they, themselves, had lived through such heartache before.
And not only did they recognize this pain for what it was, but they also realized, that if they choose to, they could actually take this pain away.
They knew, immediately, linked to her as they were, that with the ease of flipping on a switch, they could trigger something in the kiochi, that there was something there inside her that was meant to be activated... something that was waiting to be activated...
There was something there, that wanted to be activated.
They knew, that with a single, simple act, they could give this kiochi a twisted, unnatural version of the connection she so desperately wanted...
They knew, that right now at this very moment, they could make Mica theirs... Forever.
“We have to stop this!” cried Kianna as she lifted her hand away from the kiochi “This isn't right!”
“Holy shit!” hissed Fiona as she pulled her hand back to herself and grabbed at the sides of her head “Dammit, Kianna! We were inside her, her, head! ...What the fuck did we just do!?”
“...I! ...W-we!?” stammered Kianna as she shook her head “...I, don't know!?”
“Fuck, fuck, fuck!” repeated Fiona as she stepped back and away from Mica “Dammit all to Hell! Kianna! ...This stupid bitch is just like us!”
Stumbling backwards until she could lean against the counter-top, Fiona kept her hands clamped to the sides of her skull as she frantically shook her head and dropped her aura.
Moving to follow after her sister, Kianna stopped short and quickly turned back to Mica.
The kiochi's eyes were wide with fearful confusion as she looked back and forth from one dark elf to the other.
“...Wha? ...What did you do to me?” she whispered as panicked tears formed in her eyes.
“W-we? ...Nothing.” said Kianna as she blinked in uncertainty “...I don't think, we did anything?”
Startled, Mica jumped when in the next instant both the chains and the glowing ring that were encircling her all vanished in the blink of an eye.
Pulling her aura back to herself, Kianna shivered as she broke the last bit of connection she had to the kiochi.
Devoid of the dark elves presence now, and struck by the sudden sense of isolation, Mica froze for a second before an intense feeling of loss began to overwhelm her. Unable to fully comprehend what was happening, she hunched down into her shoulders as she fought back against a rising wave of panic.
“...Why!? S-stop!” wailed the kiochi as her tears seemed to literally explode from her eyes “No more! Don't! I, why!? ...Somebody! Help me! Why, why won't anybody help me!?”
Dropping down to her haunches, Mica sat huddled with her knees drawn up to her chest as she continued to cry out in anguish.
Fiona's jaw was clenched tightly as she started to turn away from the crying kiochi. Mica's next statements however, caused her to stop mid-motion.
“I don't want this! I don't want to be here! I didn't even want to come here!” cried Mica “I didn't want any of this! I just... I just... I just wanted to be one of them! ...Why can't I be one of them?”
Fiona's face went slack as she slowly looked back at the trembling kiochi. Her chest became heavier and heavier as she couldn't help but to feel the weight of a familiar pain.
“...Fuck.” she whispered softly to herself as she wrapped her arms around her middle “Yeah... I know, Mica... I know, what that feels like...”
“I don't want any of this... I don't want any of this...” repeated Mica over and over as she continued to softly sob “I don't want any of this...”
The two dark elves both remained silent and still as they listened. After some time, the shinoccubus began to become quieter and quieter until finally, only faint whimpers could be heard coming from her huddled form.
Turning to her sister, Kianna found Fiona had her eyes clamped shut as she stood slightly slumped to her side. With her ears hanging limp and an expression of anguish clear on her face, it was easy enough to tell that she was feeling sympathetic to the crying kiochi.
Giving in to her own sense of compassion, Kianna took a deep breath, balled her fists and stepped back up to Mica before stopping just in front of her.
Realizing that someone was now standing over her, Mica tentatively brought her gaze upwards and blinked in surprise as she took in the pained expression on Kianna's face.
Heart sinking at the sight of Mica's tear stricken condition, Kianna grimaced for a moment before her face softened.
“...Argh! ...Just, c'mere!” she mumbled as her eyes grew heavy with sympathy “Stop crying...”
Confused, Mica's eyes widened to their fullest as she felt the comforting warmth of the dark elf's aura suddenly wash back over her.
Reaching down, Kianna used both hands to take hold of the leather straitjacket that crisscrossed Mica's shoulders and, while lifting her upwards, gently coaxed the kiochi back up on to her feet.
Too afraid to neither speak nor move, Mica became compliant and kept her eyes on the floor as she was made to stand before the taller female.
“...Argh. ...Poor, stupid creature.” sighed Kianna as she let her hands rest on Mica's trembling shoulders “...Just, hold on for a minute. Okay!”
Kianna gave Mica's shoulders a quick, reassuring squeeze before turning away from her and moving over to her sister.
“...Fiona.” whispered Kianna as she laid her hand on her sister's shoulder “What should we do now?”
Blinking open her eyes, Fiona sighed softly as she shook her head.
“I don't know, Kianna!” she grumbled “...I have no fucking idea!”
Kianna went to speak but stopped short as her ears twitched and then shot straight upwards. Looking back over her shoulder, she found that the faint sound she had picked up on was actually Mica, who had apparently decided to follow after her.
Rather than take the opportunity to try and make another escape attempt, the clearly confused, as well as terrified looking kiochi had instead chosen to move closer to the dark elves, and was now standing right beside them with her eyes still on the floor.
Chest tightening at what this could possibly mean, Kianna went to speak but stopped short as Mica sobbed loudly through her clogged nose. Staring at the pitiful looking being for a moment, Kianna sighed heavily before turning around to fully face her.
“...C'mon, idiot.” she whispered softly as she hooked a finger under one of the straitjacket's leather straps and pulled Mica closer “And, quit crying...”
Mica didn't resist in any way as Kianna towed her across the room and stood her next to the kitchen sink. She shivered uncontrollably as the dark elf dropped her aura and let its comforting warmth fade away with it.
Moving quickly, Kianna took a washcloth from a drawer and ran it beneath a stream of warm water before turning back to the shinoccubus.
Still keeping her eyes lowered, Mica held herself still as Kianna gently swabbed away at her eyes and cheeks with the soft cloth. Once she was satisfied, Kianna placed the rag over Mica's nose and prompted her to blow before turning back to the sink and commencing to rinse out the washcloth.
Staying still for another moment, Mica shivered again as she took in a deep breath through her now cleared nose.
“...Um, what are doing?” she breathed as she meekly looked up at the dark elf “...Why are you being nice to me?”
Kianna was quiet for a moment before she spoke.
“Honestly, I don't really know...” she sighed softly “I guess, I'm just doing whatever I want to do...”
Mica stared at her for a moment before dropping her eyes back to the floor.
“...Oh, okay then.” she whimpered as she grimaced in unease “...So, are you still going to hurt me!? Or no?”
Frowning, Kianna gave her a sideways glare as she rung out the washcloth.
“Well. That depends.” she said as she turned to stand facing the shinoccubus and narrowed her eyes down at her “Do you still want to kill me!?”
“...What? No. I'm not going to kill you. I was never going to kill you. I hate you. More than anybody. ...But I'm not going to kill you.” grumbled Mica as she shook her head “I was supposed to help you...”
Surprised by her bluntness, Kianna raised an eyebrow as she tilted her head and cocked one of her ears in a curious manner.
“Wait, what do you mean you were supposed to help me?” she asked “When were you ever trying to help me?”
“When I was trying to kill the guy who had you tied up.” explained Mica “They told me to kill him, but not you. They said that you were his prisoners, and that I needed to make sure that you stayed safe. So I thought I was helping you...”
Kianna was still for a moment as she absorbed what Mica had said.
“...Huh.” she mused as she rolled her head and let it tilt to the opposite side “So, you actually thought you were like, what? Saving the day?”
“...Yeah, I guess.” grumbled Mica “But then you got pissed at me, and you laughed at me. And then you wanted to kill me, and even fucking tortured me! Argh! I still really hate you for that!”
“Right.” nodded Kianna “But you don't actually want to kill me though? Even though you hate me?”
“...I mean, I do. I would totally love to kill you... But I won't...” sighed Mica “Don't get the wrong idea though, I wouldn't mind seeing you die. I'm just not going to do it myself.”
“Why not?” asked Kianna as creased her brow in question.
“...I don't know?” grumbled Mica as she shrugged her shoulders “...I think it's cause I'm not supposed to, I guess? So I'm just not going to.”
“...Huh, really? ...Well that's pretty convenient!” said Kianna as she grinned down at the now annoyed looking kiochi “Looks like following orders really is in your blood... You're just a born minion, aren't you!?”
“Shut up!” muttered Mica as she let her shoulders slump “...Fuck you. ...I hate you.”
“Right...” nodded Kianna as a thoughtful expression spread across her face “So, does this mean that you still want to kill my Master? Since killing him was also part of your orders?”
Mica blinked as a uneasy expression immediately spread across her face.
“Mica...” drawled Kianna as she narrowed her eyes “You better answer me!”
“...Well it's not like I wouldn't be doing you a favor!” exclaimed Mica after a short hesitation “In fact! If we team up, we could even-! Ow!”
The kiochi was stopped short as Kianna brought her hand down and chopped her on the head between her horns.
“Bad Mica! Bad girl! Bad!” said Kianna as she bopped the kiochi again and again.
“Okay! Okay! I get it!” cried Mica as she hunched down into her shoulders “...Fuck that fucker though! I hate him even more than I hate you!”
“Why? You shouldn't. He's trying to help you.” said Kianna as she planted her balled fists on her hips “You really should be more thankful to him!”
“Thankful!? Are you serious!?” exclaimed Mica “What the Hell would I ever be thankful to him for!?”
“For trying to help you!” repeated Kianna “Even if he is only doing it for your parents sake, he's still trying to help you! And you're lucky he is! Because if anybody can figure this stupid shit out, it's him! He's really smart, and powerful! You have no idea! He's amazing!”
“...How can you even say any of that!?” snapped Mica “This guy doesn't want to help me! He wants to turn me into a fucking nightlight! And 2 seconds ago you 2 were just crying because he's going to take your sister away and sell her! And you're really calling him amazing!? What's wrong with you!? This guy is a monster!”
Kianna was silent for a moment as she stared down the glaring kiochi.
“...We don't know any of that for sure. He never said he was really gonna do any of that!” she declared as she looked down at the floor and crossed her arms over her middle “And I don't believe he'll really do any of it. ...I just don't! ...I trust him!”
“...You trust him!? Seriously!?” mocked Mica as she eyed the dark elf with frustration “After all this crap you can really still say that!?”
“Yes!” said Kianna as she brought her eyes back up to lock with the kiochi's “Yes I can! I don't know what he was talking about with your Dad, but I know he won't sell Fiona! I know he won't! ...I do trust him! And I always will!”
It was Mica's turn to stare in silence for a moment before sighing in fatigue.
“...Yeah, well. Maybe you do. And maybe you think you can.” she stated as she gave the dark elf an exasperated and questioning look “But can I? Cause I doubt it! Seriously! He hates me! And you know he hates me! ...And he's going to tear me apart and set me on fire! And you know he is! ...Right!?”
“Y-you...” stammered Kianna as she blinked in uncertainty.
“...Well!? Do you really think he'll do it!?” whimpered Mica “...Just tell me! Tell me if you think he'll really do it!”
Her eyes going wide, Kianna said nothing as she slowly looked away.
“Ah! You see!” cried Mica through her clenched teeth as she started trembling “I don't want to be a flame in a jar, Kianna! ...What am I gonna do!?”
Looking off to the side and staring at nothing, Kianna stayed silent as Mica let her own eyes fall to the floor in defeat.
“...Well.” spoke Fiona from where she was still leaning against the counter-top behind Mica “What would you do, if we just, let you go?”
Turning to her the instant she spoke, both Kianna and Mica went wide eyed as they gazed at the solemn looking dark elf.
“What!?” chirped Mica “Are you serious!?”
“Maybe.” shrugged Fiona as she looked across the kitchen and towards the backdoor “Just answer the question. What, would you do. If we let you go... Right now. What would you do?”
Mica and Kianna glanced at each other before looking back at Fiona.
“...Well!?” demanded Fiona as she stood motionless.
“I! ...I would, run! I'd run away! I'd leave!” exclaimed Mica.
“You'd leave...” nodded Fiona as she kept her eyes on the backdoor “So you wouldn't come back in the middle of the night and try to kill us in our sleep?”
“No.” said Mica in a matter-of-factual tone.
“Do you swear to that!?” said Fiona as she let her gaze fall to the shinoccubus and stared directly into her eyes “You're not going to turn around and just come right back!?”
“No!” repeated Mica “Why the Hell would I ever do that!?”
“Vengeance.” said Kianna “You were beaten, embarrassed and even tortured. You really wouldn't want to get revenge for any of that?”
“What, and risk it all happening again!? Hell no!” exclaimed Mica as she frantically shook her head “I don't care about getting vengeance on you! Fuck you! I never want to see you again! And I definitely don't want to be trapped in a jar! I, I just want to go home!”
“So then you'll leave. And you'll never come back.” said Fiona as she stepped away from the counter and stood in front of Mica “And we'll never, ever see you again! ...Right!?”
Mica stared up at her for a moment before she spoke.
“Listen. This has been the worst day of my entire life.” she said in a hushed tone “Why would I ever want to come back here and live through all this again!?”
With a thin grin spreading across her face, Fiona nodded before looking up at Kianna.
“He said we couldn't kill her. And he said we couldn't hurt her.” she stated as she stared into her sister's eyes “But he never once said we couldn't let her go!”
“...Fiona. This is crazy! We can't do this!” exclaimed Kianna as she slowly shook her head “We have no idea what he might do!”
“No. We do know what he's gonna do. We know exactly what he's gonna do.” said Fiona as she tightened her eyes “We've seen the jars, Kianna. We know it's real. And we know he'll do it to her.”
Kianna's expression was torn as she looked down at Mica, it became anguished as she watched the kiochi nervously look back and forth between her and her sister.
“...Fiona. We can't do this.” she whined as she lowered her ears in unease “He'll be so furious!”
“Yeah. Well, he'll just be pissed at me!” said Fiona with a shrug “It's all my idea after all. And he's just gonna sell me anyways... So who gives a shit! Let him be pissed!”
“No, he's not, Fiona! Him and Leopold are fighting, they're not going to make any deals!” exclaimed Kianna “And besides, he never said he was going to do it! And-!”
“Oh, c'mon, Kianna! Even if it isn't Leopold it's gonna be somebody!” interrupted Fiona “We both heard him! Very first time someone made him an offer and he was already willing to make a deal! It's gonna happen... It's just going to...”
Kianna's eyes immediately welled with tears as the anguish on her face deepened in intensity.
“...At least with this, we can help Mica.” said Fiona as she looked away from her sister by dropping her eyes to the floor “Besides, if you think about it... This is actually the best thing we could do.”
“What do you mean?” asked Kianna.
“Think about it. He won't kill her, and even he doesn't think he can save her. So all he's gonna do is get more and more pissed off at her.” explained Fiona “She's going to end up in a jar if she stays here. There's no doubt about that. But maybe, if she goes and talks with her family, they can figure something out. And if she just disappears from here. He won't have to deal with her anymore. She'll just be gone. And she'll at least have a chance. So then everybody wins! Well, except me, I guess...”
“What? No! Fiona! It'll be both of us!” declared Kianna as she stepped around Mica and rushed to Fiona “It'll be my fault too! He can't just blame it all on you!”
Fiona's face softened as Kianna hugged her tightly.
“...And besides.” said Kianna as their embrace ended “You might be right. And maybe if we explain it to him the right way. Maybe he'll agree!”
“Wha? Oh Hell no! He's gonna be pissed no matter what we say.” muttered Fiona as she shook her head “But it doesn't matter anyway. We can't let him put Mica in a jar. She, doesn't deserve that...”
“...No, she really doesn't.” sighed Kianna “She's such an idiot! ...But that's it, she's just stupid. She's not really evil... Okay! Okay, let's do it! Let's help her!”
“Good! Finally! C'mon then!” cried Fiona “We gotta be quick with this! She's gotta get out of here before he gets back!”
Dumbfounded by the unexpected turn of events, Mica stiffened in surprise as both of the dark elves immediately turned around, grabbed a hold of her and began to frantically unbuckle the straitjacket that was wrapped around her torso.
“Wait, what!” she cried as Kianna untied the scarf wrapped around her chest so she could reach the buckles behind it “What are you doing!?”
“What?” questioned Fiona as she gave her a perplexed look “We're letting you go? We just talked about this.”
“But... Why!?” cried Mica as the straitjacket began to loosen from around her “This is crazy! This is stupid! Why are you doing this!?”
“...Are you serious!?” exclaimed Fiona as she pointed her ears straight back behind her head “Were you not just crying because nobody was going to help you!? And now you're bitching because we are!? Just shut up and let us work, okay!”
“But! ...I! I don't get this!” exclaimed Mica as her arms were freed from the belt around her middle “Why are you helping me now!?”
“...Just, because!” exclaimed Fiona “Because we want to, okay! Seriously! Just shut up! Get out of here! And don't ever come back! Okay!”
“Argh! I can't get your tail out!” cried Kianna as she frantically pulled on the unrelenting leather “There's a lock on this belt that I can't get off! Mica, you'll have to find a way to cut the belt off later.”
“I don't know how to get this ring thing off your neck either...” muttered Fiona “You'll just have to cut that off too.”
Giving up on the items that they couldn't remove, Fiona and Kianna each instead focused on unbuckling one of the round bondage mittens that Mica's hands had been locked into.
Still in a state of slight shock, Mica stayed quiet and went more or less limp as she was tussled back and forth by the dark elves. Before she could even fully register what was happening the straitjacket was being pulled away from her body and she was suddenly left almost completely free.
As the realization that she could now move freely again reached her conscious mind, the kiochi immediately jumped away from the dark elves before turning back around and falling into a defensive stance as she faced them.
The three women all went still as they stared at each other. After a long moment of silence, the tension suddenly fell away as Mica let out a relieved breath and stood up straight.
“...Uh, so? How do you feel?” asked Kianna as she watched Mica slowly flex her fingers and open and close her fists “Pretty stiff?”
“...Kinda. It's not bad though.” replied Mica in a mumbling tone “...I guess.”
“Well that's just great to hear!” cried Fiona as she snagged Mica's scarf out of Kianna's hands “Here! It's time to go! You can keep playing with your fingers once you get out of here.”
As her eyes landed on the scarf, Mica seemed to realize that her chest was once again exposed as she instinctively moved to cover herself.
“It's so cute that you're modest.” laughed Fiona as she shoved the scarf into Mica's hands “Hurry up and get that on. Unless you'd rather go running around mostly naked!”
Mica looked down at the scarf for a moment before wrapping it around her chest and quickly tying it off at her side.
“...Thank you.” she said as she looked from one dark elf to the other “...Why did you do this?”
“Ugh! Will you just say you're an idiot and that you're sorry!” said Fiona as she pointed at the door “And then get out!”
Mica looked at the door and then back at the dark elves.
Frustrated by her lack of movement, Fiona groaned in annoyance and started towards her.
“Gods alive! You really are an idiot!” she exclaimed as she grabbed the kiochi by the arm and began to drag her towards the door “Stop being so stupid, Mica! Just get outta here while you still can!”
“You have to hurry!” said Kianna as she rushed past them and opened the door “Just go as fast as you can!”
Mica began to shake her head as she was dragged through the door and out into the backyard.
“You got your little home portal thingy still hidden out there, right?” said Fiona as she flung Mica forward and towards where she had been hiding out past the treeline the day before “Use it. Go home. Figure your shit out.”
Stumbling a bit before catching her balance, Mica's eyes fell on a gate that led out of the backyard proper and out into the larger property beyond. After staring at the gate for a moment she quickly turned around to face the dark elves.
“Look. Your family is probably going to attack you or something.” said Fiona in a matter-of-factual tone “So be ready for that. Seriously. Okay!”
“Be careful, Mica. Be very careful.” said Kianna “And, good luck. I guess.”
Mica's eyes went wide as she took a hesitant backwards step towards the gate.
“...Wait. This isn't right. You shouldn't have done this.” she whispered as she reversed the step she had taken “What's going to happen to you now? What are you going to do?”
“I'm going to get pissed off if you don't get the fuck out of here!” exclaimed Fiona as she went to shove the kiochi away “Now go, dammit!”
“Just go!” cried Kianna as she grabbed her sister by the arm and pulled her back “We'll be fine! Don't worry about us!”
Fiona went to fight but stopped immediately when Kianna pulled her into a tight hug.
“We'll be fine. ...Okay, we'll be fine.” sobbed Kianna as she started to drag her clinging sister back towards the kitchen door “We're going to be okay. So just go! And don't ever come back!”
“Just go! ...Just go!” screamed Fiona as she too began to sob while holding tightly on to her sister and letting herself be led back towards the door “...You stupid little idiot! ...Get the fuck out of here!”
Standing rooted in place, Mica tentatively shook her head as she watched the dark elves disappear back into the house. She continued to hesitate as she listened to the murmur of their soft crying as it filtered its way out of the still open door. Unable to stand the sounds of their turmoil any longer, she steeled her resolve and turned to run towards the gate. Scrabbling a bit with the gate's latches she was finally able to throw it open and, with a small cry of triumph, she darted out into true freedom.

Making her way across the wooded terrain as fast as she could while barefoot, Mica quickly put several acres between herself and the house behind her. As she moved further away, she couldn't help but to feel a heavy-weighted tightness forming deep within her chest. She tried her best to ignore this growing handicap but as she crested a small hill, the tightness reached such an intensity that she could barely even breathe around it.
Standing atop the hill, Mica balled her hands into fists and grit her clenched teeth as she told herself over and over that she hated those dark elves. Both of them. More than anything. They were evil, arrogant beings. They had hurt her, tortured her, both physically and mentally. They had ripped away her dignity and humiliated her. They made her feel tiny and helpless. Why would she ever care about them? Why would she ever want to do anything for them? They deserved what was coming to them. Everything that was coming to them. She hated them. She hated them so much that she wanted to scream at them, and so, without even making the conscious decision to do so, she turned back towards the way she had come and began to scream out in anger.
“I! Hate! You!” she bellowed out at the very top of her lungs.
From the tree branches around and above her several startled birds suddenly took flight, and as they fluttered away a new silence filled the air.
Breathing heavily through her clenched teeth, Mica seethed in anger as she stared back towards the house she had suffered so much in.
“...Argh! No!” she growled in frustration “They have to hear it! They need to hear it!”
Her resolve set, the kiochi launched herself into a full run and raced back the way she had come.
Crossing the distance at an even faster pace than before, Mica barreled through the gate in the fence with a single stride and quickly made her way across the yard. She couldn't help but to smile wickedly as her eyes became locked onto the still open kitchen door.
Coming to a full stop in the doorway, she marched into the kitchen and began to blink in the dimmed light. As her slitted eyes adjusted themselves to the lack of bright sunlight, she stopped short as she finally caught sight of the dark elves.
Fiona and Kianna laid huddled together on the floor as they pressed themselves against the cabinets below the sink. They were both crying softly as they desperately clutched each other as tightly as they could. With their eyes held firmly shut and their ears hanging limp from the sides of their heads, neither of them seemed to have any idea that the kiochi had returned.
Her smile fading at the sight of them, Mica stood completely still as she stared down at the pitiful looking creatures.
Standing there, watching them as they were, she still felt every ounce of the hatred she had before. And yet, even as she could see them suffering right in front of her, the weight in her chest was still there, and with every breath, it continued to grow.
This was wrong. She knew this was wrong. Why? Why would these two do this to themselves? Why out of nowhere would they suddenly do this, and for no reason!? They hated her! And she hated them! So, why!?
Why, did they do this...
Why would they ever do this?
Why? ...Why!?
Why did they help her...
Why did they sacrifice themselves to save her...
Why...
This was wrong.
This should have never happened. It should have never been this way. She should have helped them. If she had done what she was supposed to do, this would have never happened.
This... This was her fault...
If she had just completed her stupid mission, then none of this...
Her mission.
All other thoughts instantly left Mica's mind as the weight in her chest fell away and a new resolve took shape within her.
With a grim, focused determination now swelling out of her very core, she slowly turned her head towards the counter-top and stopped as her eyes landed on a slanted wooden holder.
Her wicked smile spread itself back across her face as she took a step towards the counter and reached out her hand.
“This isn't over yet...” she whispered excitedly to herself as she gleefully wrapped her trembling fingers around the handle of a kitchen knife.