The next morning, the starlet was predictably gone by the time I woke up. It was pretty much how I guessed things would go. She was now pregnant, so she did not need to deal with me anymore. As for getting samples, I just asked. Being forced to jerk off in a cup was so common for men in this world, that it wasn’t that weird. I simply told them that I was doing research. That part they did find odd, that a man wanted to do something like study things, but releasing seed didn’t bother them at all.

I had collected over fifty samples, which were now in a box covered with preservation runes, keeping the contents fertile. This was one of my backups, and the one I considered after Cornelia pushed me into a corner. I didn’t want to produce any more children on my own, so delivered dud seed. The women still ended up getting pregnant, and that was all that mattered to them. Would they eventually realize that I wasn’t the true father? Maybe, eventually, but that would be many years from now when the children were old enough that it was clear we looked nothing alike. Even then, some might never realize it.

I left the room and checked in the kitchen. It seemed like Cornelia had restocked the supplies when I wasn’t looking and had included easier foods that didn’t involve cooking. At least, they were things I was able to prepare myself. It looked like her time as a cook had ended the second I had put her in her place. Then again, I had no one to blame but myself for forcing her to end her deception so quickly.

I could hear Cornelia in the shower, so I started preparing a cup of coffee while I made some toast. I had barely sat down and taken a sip when there was a knock on the door. One thing I had to give Cornelia’s place. It was never boring. I walked over to the door and opened it. On the other side was a familiar police officer.

“Grace?” I looked the cute police officer up and down while she smiled at me. “What are you doing here?”

“After last night, I was ordered to start visiting you daily. I’m to keep a watch on you… on top of your bodyguards.”

I glanced at the two bodyguards who were at the door. It was the two I wasn’t familiar with. I had no clue where Sylph and Brianna were. It wasn’t like I had their schedule on me. Still, neither woman looked pleased to have the police officer there. She was stepping on their toes and was suggesting they couldn’t be trusted to keep me safe.

“I see, then, come in.” I let her into the apartment just as the toast finished. “Coffee?”

“Ah… no, I don’t drink stuff like that,” she responded, remaining standing even as I sat down at the table.

“Suit yourself.” I pulled the toast out, buttered and jammed it, and then took a bite.

At this point, the door opened and Cornelia appeared from the bathroom. She was wearing a towel around her body, but the way she was holding herself told me it was intended as eye-candy for me. I decided to leer at her anyway, just as she chose to ignore it.

“Officer, as I told the detective, this is hardly necessary,” she immediately said, seemingly knowing the reason that Grace was here already.

“I’m sorry, Anne, I’m just following orders.”

“It’s Cornelia!” She spoke, her eyes flashing angrily.

“Ah!” Grace made a noise of surprise. “I’m sorry, it’s just, the detective always calls you-“

“What she calls me is none of your business,” Cornelia snapped. “It’s Cornelia.”

“Y-yes… sorry, Cornelia.”

Cornelia didn’t respond, turning around and going back to her room. Grace gave a deflated look, clearly unhappy that she had made the other woman angry. I shrugged to myself, taking a bite of my toast and a sip of the coffee before putting it down and standing up. I pulled a coin out of my pocket and casually slipped it under my plate, and then started to walk away.

“Where are you going?” Grace asked alertly.

“To the bathroom. Since Cornelia’s done, I’d like the get cleaned up,” I responded. “Should you be joining me?”

Her face turned red, and she looked away. “Go do what you need to do.”

I didn’t mean to be snippy at her, but I had already felt the pinch of my freedom recently, and her presence just felt like another chain on what I could do. The only thing I liked about her presence was that Cornelia didn’t like her being there, but that still wasn’t enough that I was happy with the situation. I entered the bathroom and started the shower.

I brushed my teeth and shaved, but before getting into the running shower, I heard Cornelia leave her room and head to the kitchen area, I hastily scribbled a magical rune and triggered it. A moment later, I could hear what was going on in the kitchen, that coin acting as a bug.

“Clyburn is in the shower?” She asked.

“He is,” Grace replied.

“We won’t be going out today, so your presence isn’t truly necessary,” she said, her voice sounding a bit aggressive. “He will have a woman come tonight. She’s already been vetted, but you’re welcome to strip search her all you want.”

“You don’t like me very much, do you?”

“I don’t know you.”

“Weren’t you interested in being in law enforcement once?” Grace asked.

“How did you know that?” Cornelia demanded.

“I looked you up. Don’t look at me like that! I was tasked with watching over Clyburn. It’d be irresponsible if I didn’t check the records on everyone around him, especially if someone is targeting him!”

“You should forget what you read.”

“The boys used to have a name for you, right? One of the unattainable beauties. The Shy Queen, they called you.”

“I wasn’t shy, I had a nervous tick around men. I couldn’t talk to them without breaking out in a rash.”

“You seem fine now.”

“Things change.”

“Like the day of WRATH?”

“Are you trying to make a point, officer?” Cornelia’s voice was seething with anger now.

I was only slightly surprised. I had never met the Shy Queen during my stay at Amaryllis. I had experiences with all of the other Queens. That was the name of the virgin beauties who had yet to be broken in by a man. My sister was one, and Dia was another. The Shy Queen’s name was supposedly Anne. The detective and officers had called her that, but it hadn’t clicked. I figured it was just a nickname, and besides, there were plenty of Anne’s in this world to assume she was one of them.

“I’m just wondering why you chose Clyburn. Considering what had happened, you of all people would have a reason to want to hurt him.”

“Is the police department accusing me of something?”

“Detective Roxanne doesn’t believe you’re involved, and she’s the lead on the case. However, some feel like she might be letting her personal feelings for you get in the way of things. You were her girlfriend once, correct?”

“That information is none of your business.”

“I’m just giving you a warning. Clyburn is an important man, and if you’re intentionally putting his life in danger…”

“How dare you…”

Beep.

“All officers, code red, another male, 10-54.” A buzzing came over the radio. “The address is as follows…”

“Another murder?” Grace hissed after they finished giving the address. “Officer Grace, reporting in, do you need me?”

“You’re on the Clyburn watch, right?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Under no circumstances are you to leave his watch. This order comes directly from the Lieutenant.”

“Why is that?”

“The suspect has already been caught.”

“They found the person killing men?” Cornelia’s voice seemed filled with surprise and relief.

“Are you sure?”

“We have a confession.”  

“They have? Who?” Grace demanded.

“Hannah Bonholdt.”

Without even a second to think, I ripped apart the rune, ending the audio link, and then began to create a new, much larger one. It took me five minutes to draw it. By the time I was finished, there was a light knock on the door.

“Clyburn? Are you doing okay in there?” Cornelia’s voice came through, seemingly filled with doubt.

“Cornelia…” I spoke back, pressing my hand against the door. “You’ve been working hard for me, and I’ve given you nothing but trouble. I understand that now. Sorry I couldn’t be the man you needed me to be. I’m sorry, but I can only be the man I am.”

“Clyburn!” Cornelia shouted, her voice now shaking.

I lifted the sheet of paper and created a fire. The runes started to burn red, taking out the paper, but the drawing itself remained in midair as if the black and red ash refused to move from its spot in space. Meanwhile, I muttered out some equations to help visualize them in my mind.

“Move out of the way!” Grace’s voice called from the other side of the door.

There was a thud, and the door started splintering. I snapped my fingers. The last thing I saw was Cornelia pushing her way through as the bathroom faded into a bright light. When the light darkened again, I started walking. I was panting at this point, the magic I had just used being extremely draining. As for how far I was, I was just outside the entrance of the apartments, where I had casually dropped another coin into some bushes two days prior.

They had to know that transportation was short-ranged, so if they looked hard enough, they’d be able to find me. Thus, I moved quickly. I turned a corner, coming face to face with a woman. She was standing at her car, her keys raised to unlock it. She gasped when her eyes landed on me.

“A-a man?” Her eyes fell to my naked chest, and the towel I was wearing. “A naked man!”

I grabbed her and kissed her. She didn’t resist at all. Rather, her hands went to my chest, and she started to feel my body. I grabbed her keys and then unlocked the door to her car. I broke off our kiss. She was panting with flushed cheeks.

“I need your car,” I said. “And a pair of clothing.”

“I want your baby,” she breathed back.

“Then help me.”

Looking around both ways, she quickly ushered me into her car, and the pair of us drove away from the apartment. I got in the back seat and kept low, concerned that the cops may be looking for me. Well, at least one officer was looking for me, and it might quickly become more.

“I’m against the MPA…” The woman suddenly said. “I voted against it. I liked men the way they were.”

She was an older woman, about the same age as my mom. If it was the old world, it was likely she’d never been able to have a kid. She wasn’t an ugly woman by any means, few in this world were. However, she had a sort of soccer mom appeal to her. She was just missing the mom part.

“If you have my baby, the government will just take it away from you,” I said after a moment.

“Not true! Um… there are ways to get around the law, I looked.” She blushed. “If you have the baby outside of the country, and then return with the baby. I mean, the benefits aren’t as good, but since the baby isn’t technically an Amaryllis native and they can’t prove the baby wasn’t made through proper laws of another country, well… at least, that’s what I’ve heard.”

“Okay, but we got to be quick. I have somewhere I need to be.”

“Right, okay. I will hurry.”

We ended up parking in a secluded ally. She came into the back of the car, took off her pants and panties, and then climbed into the car to straddled me. She got on top and began to ride me roughly. I concentrated on cumming, and after five minutes of her panting and bouncing up and down on me in her rocking car, I finally came inside her pussy. She came too, although I hadn’t tried to do anything special for her.

As for whether she was pregnant with my child or not, I decided to leave it up to fate. After what I had done the previous night, it might seem strange that I’d creampie this anonymous woman, but my mind wasn’t on that at all. I had priorities I was thinking about, and those priorities were my sister. After I was done, she handed me the clothing she had in her trunk. I guess it was her gym clothing. It was very baggy on me and naturally fit for a woman, but it was good enough. If I was lucky, maybe people who saw me would think I was a woman.

“You were wonderful,” she said, a happy and content expression on her face as she drove me to the address I gave her.

She pulled up at the location and looked at me with somewhat wanting eyes. It was a look I was familiar with. It was a desire to bond with someone, to form a close and long-lasting relationship. It was something denied to all women from this world, but deep inside, they all wished they could have it. I sighed, leaned over, and grabbed her chin, and then kissed her softly.

“You’re my woman from now on.” I turned and opened the door.

“Wait! I didn’t even give you my name!”

I shut the door and walked away. I couldn’t afford to get her name right now. It would be just one more person to care about. It was one person too many, and right now, I had to concentrate on the one who needed me the most.

The building where the murder took place was a secure apartment complex just like my own. I didn’t go where the cops went. Instead, I entered the building next to it, which was less secure. I walked up the stairway, all the way to the top of the building. I came out onto the roof, which was lower than the building the cops were in front of. Glancing around carefully, I found an open window. It was a third-story window, so the drop wouldn’t be pleasant, and if I tried something funny to get across, it wouldn’t be that hard to see me.

I pulled out another one of my special coins, which I was starting to use up at an alarming rate, and then flicked it across the divide between the two buildings and through the open window. I then got low and started to draw another rune. After taking a breath, I touched it and did an instant transport into the apartment. When I tried to stand up, I ended up stumbling and landing on the nearby bed. Two instant transports in so short of a time was far more mana than I was used to spending.

A creak in the floor caused me to look up and see a woman standing there. She had a shocked expression on her face. I reached out a grabbed her, pulling her into a kiss. A second later, her knee went up between my legs. I let out a cry as I dropped down to my knees.

“Shit…” I cursed as the woman let out a scream and ran away.

I guess that maneuver didn’t work on every woman. I didn’t want to just assume she was some kind of lipstick lesbian, but the kneeprint on my balls prevented me from thinking highly of her. I managed to get to my feet and shove my way out her front door. While limping, I pushed my way through an exit sign which led into the stairway. Remembering that the apartment was up, I headed that direction as I heard police filing into the hallway from where the woman had screamed.

I headed up to the fourth floor, and when I reached the hallway with police tape, I moved like I was taking a race. When I pushed past, I entered a small apartment. I could instantly smell blood. As for the police, there were none here. Either they had already done all of their police work, or they had all run down to the floor below in response to the scream. Either way, I found myself alone for a moment.

Only now that I was in the apartment did I start to feel silly. I had this feeling like if I just managed to make it here, then everything would be okay. Yet, it had taken nearly twenty minutes from when I heard them on the radio to now. Of course, Hannah would have been led away by now. I slowly walked into the bathroom as the pain in my groin finally became bearable. This was where the murder had happened. I could see blood all over the place. It was part of the walls and the floor.

“You’re still looking for her, huh?” A voice caused me to spin around, and immediately, my hackles were up.

“Ash!” I hissed, taking a step back.

“Shhhh…” She said quietly. “The baby’s sleeping.”

It was at that moment I noticed that she was carrying a small bundle in her arms. My eyes became transfixed on it, and I took a few steps toward her. The baby looked to be a few months old. It appeared perfectly human. Seeing the dangerous woman before me with such an innocent creature in her arms, left me feeling strange.

“He’s yours, you know?”

“A demon male…” My body shook.

A single demon male could mean the destruction of this entire world. He would spread his seed, and every baby he had would become another demon.

She shook her head. “He’s not. Against all common sense, he’s not.”

“Okay…”

She looked up, the once violent expression on her face looked somewhat sad. “You don’t believe me, do you?”

“Why are you going around killing men?”

I had seen what she and Rebecca were capable of. Trust was so far in the other direction that it might as well have not existed at all. It wasn’t trust; it was an inherent fear.

“Would you believe that it isn’t me?” She asked, grinning at me.

“You knew Rigor personally. You were there in that pool shed. Now you’re here.” I didn’t even mention the cryptic warning from Charlie.

“Rigor is dead?” Her eyes flashed with surprise that seemed almost authentic.

“You pulled me into that shed!”

“I wanted to speak with you, I didn’t know there was a body in there.”

“Liar.”

“Shadows are dumb… and I don’t have as much control of them as I used to. That kind of magic… I guess I’m no longer built for it. That was an accident. That’s why, this time, I came in person.”

“What are you doing back in town?”

“What are you?” She asked back, causing me to blink.

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“You have the power of a demon lord. There was no reason you needed to stay in Amaryllis. There was no reason you needed to subject yourself to this ridiculous MPA treatment. Your magical theory is decades above their own, but because you’re a man, they won’t even listen. You could rule this world if you wanted to. You even have Matahari at your beck and call. Yet, here you are, getting bullied around by a broken dyke and the police. You are capable of so much more than you let yourself be.”

“Rule the world? You do sound like a demon.” I snorted.

She let out a small sigh, and then glanced to her side. “They’re taking Hannah to the station right now. Once she’s in custody, you’ll never be able to talk to her.”

I shook for a second and then reached out to grab her. However, when she glanced back at me, my hands dropped. I was still scared to touch her. As for the baby, I deliberately didn’t look at it. I couldn’t look at it. If this was a demon, and it would end this world, then the world would end. I couldn’t bring myself to hurt it. That was something I had already decided.

“Don’t look at me so pitifully.” She sighed. “I’m not lying to you. Clyburn. This is your human baby, and while I may not be the Ash you remember, I am not the demon you think I am. I came to be with you because I love you.”

I couldn’t stop my face from turning incredulous at those words. “Love?”

She smiled back. “The police are coming. You must leave.”

I could hear footsteps coming back down the hallway now. I glanced back at Ash.

“I don’t know if I can trust you,” I admitted hesitantly.

“Then… I guess I’ll just have to earn it.” She raised her hand, and it was then I noticed she had an intricate rune drawn on a piece of paper in her hand.

As soon as she raised it, she started to feed power into it. A moment later, I felt the familiar feel of teleportation. This one was different though, It wasn’t anchored to some kind of item like my coins. She was sending me somewhere, and I had no clue where. A moment later, I had disappeared from the room. By the time the cops walked back into the murder scene, it was empty.