The play had been going on for a while, I was actually enjoying it, a fact that my girlfriend was happy to see. It was a simple play but the characters and actors who played them made it so enjoyable to watch. Plus, I could actually see the players on the stage this time. Hayli was constantly mentioning factoids about the play and the playwright and criticizing the actors, especially a certain actress who appeared during the last act as a twist villain- Ilyah. It was impressive just how much she was hamming it up as the main characters evil birth mother.

The play ended and the actors took a bow, and then went out to listen to the praises of the audience. One horned clone of Hayli yelled at us to come meet her backstage. Hayli drug me through a door that read "Actors Only/No Public Access" and through a dimly lit hallway and into another less dimly lit hallway and through a door that read "Actors".

A few of the other actors gave us a look when Hayli burst down the door but stopped when Ilyah ran over, and the cousins hugged each other in greeting.

"You were amazing Ilyah."

"Aw, thanks, mini-me. And what did the new guest of honor at the Finalization Ceremony think?"

"It was fine. Been better if Hayli wasn't roasting you and the show the entire time."

"Hayli. Really?"

Hayli shrugged, "Can't help it, Il."

Ilyah shook her head, "Speaking of that, how is Aunt Starla?"

"Fine, last I checked."

"Good. Good. And how are you? Are you prepared for tonight, lovebirds?"

"No, I'm being forced to become a slave to my former best friends under threat of death. Don't think anyone can be prepared for that." I replied.

Hayli stood closer to me, "Yeah, I'm cool."

Ilyah looked intently at her, "I mean the whole ritual is a bit sensual."

"I'll be fine. I'm not that jealous. Besides, end of the night Terra will be between my legs and not hers."

"Hayli!" I yelled at her.

Ilyah started cackling, "Terra, it's fine. Not like the girls here haven't heard worse from me."

"T-That's not the point."

"So, Hayli. You need to actually dress this one up for the party. Like the way you usually dressed yourself up."

"I have a dress all ready for her."

"For her or for you?"

"Both."

I coughed, "Are you coming?"

"Of course, all of Quaza's besties are. And Nox. Deities it will be fun to see what she looks like dressed in something that isn't armor."

We said our goodbyes to Ilyah and went back out on the town, deciding to just walk around and chat. We soon arrived at the park and just enjoyed the space, unlike how it was last time when I was busy trying to not bolt away from Quaza. The park was mostly empty, only a few city guards standing around looking for criminals to beat up for littering or something. The fact they were all fully armored, helmet and all was surprising. Seemed like a good way to pass out. 

"Olli, any clue what she's planning?" Hayli asked kicking a pebble on the path ahead of us.

"None. Can't say I enjoy having her clearly doing something on the island, but not really a way for us to stop her."

"We could sneak to the corridor and use it to warn everyone."

"Do you know how to activate and aim a corridor?"

"No. But if I mess up it can't be that bad."

"Olli tested a small one she found and got a rat stuck in a wall."

"We just leave them to their fate?"

"Whatever Olli has planned probably benefits her, and since she's the niece of a very wealthy trader, war wouldn't help her, so killing our friends is not something to worry about."

"I mean there's stuff a trader can accomplish via war."

"Yes, but if all the supply lines are overtaken by militaries?"

"I hate rich people."

We left the park, walking the very sparsely populated streets. It was nice to be able to not worry about being liable to be crushed by people as Hayli and I walked. I gripped onto her hand, locking arms with her as we strolled. The city was dead, waiting for the ceremony tonight to re-emerge and fill the streets. It was like a sort of religious holiday to them meaning humans and the rich who were probably going to be at the castle were the majority of the few individuals we passed by. Soon we arrived at the cafe. We went in and ordered, sitting at a weirdly tall, little table in the corner. Hayli tore into her tuna fish on rye sandwich while I sipped on my tea.

I watched the door as the humons Olli was with yesterday at the lunch. They waited at the counter for a few minutes while the unihorned owner stepped into the back and then came back with a few heavy looking sacks, which the two took and left with, leaving an obscene number of coins on the counter. 

I returned back to the bagel I had ordered, tearing it apart as I ate it. Hayli was into her third little sandwich. Her speed at devouring food would never cease to amaze me. As for me, I was slow to eat anything around Hayli as I was either looking at her or thinking about some unrelated and often inconsequential things. 

"Terr-Terr, let's go back to the room after this. We should rest up before tonight."

"Good idea."

"Plus I need time to get us ready."

"I can get myself ready."

"Can you braid your hair into princess braids?"

"No."

"Then I'll be getting you ready, babe."

I gave that win to my girlfriend.

"So, have you ever been in Demon Territory before?"

Hayli shook her head, "No. Ilyah came to visit me, the closest I ever came was when I visited Nuecontre." (Nuecontre was a small country that was independent from the main bodies of both Humans and Demons. It was a democracy or republic or whatever and was probably the one place where all races were treated somewhat equally under the law- dependent on who the ruling party was. It was mostly used for negotiating between the lands and hammering out treaties after wars and more recently after Hero and Candidate prophecies resolved.)

"Why does Ilyah live over here?"

"Her mom is a demon. I mean she has horns, Terra."

"Oh, yeah. She does. So, are you also half-demon?"

Hayli's pupils grew round for a millisecond before returning to their familiar oblong shape. "Her humon mom is the one I'm related to."

"Got it. What exactly are you going to be doing while I get stuffed into a stage to be shown off during the ritual."

"Drinking and glaring at the stage."

"Go easy."

"I will, I want to be sober for what we do after. Just wondering, how are you at dancing?"

"I can follow someone's lead but every time I was made to lead at one of the Hero Parties I was shit."

"That does track. Save me the second dance, please."

"Second?"

"No way that friend of yours will pass up having you be her first dance."

We returned to the hotel room where Hayli forced us into a shower to get washed up before she first spent time doing her own hair and makeup while I dripped water onto the floor before stuffing my ass into the chair and slowly showing me everything that went into doing me up to a level that would be appropriate for a guest at an event at the level of the Finalization Ceremony.

After finishing my hair, I helped Hayli into her dress, which save for getting her tail through the hole. I was a bit harder for her to help into my dress, since Hayli had bought a dress that was beautiful but really tight on me. Hayli told me it was the style, but it was probably more that she liked how it looked on me, judging from the way she was constantly looking me up and down. I can't say I didn't enjoy her doing it, though if anyone else did I would probably be worried about them since Hayli would be around.

It was hard to sit so close to Hayli as we waited to be picked by Quaza, mostly because my gay brain wanted to kiss her every time, I even glanced at her. It was unfair how beautiful she was. Hayli barked at me the one time I tried, since she wanted our makeup to stay fresh for at least until after the ritual, then we could mess it up- preferably, she said, when we kissed during the first dance. I loved her, so much. I never would have imagined myself ever being as red around someone before Hayli. Then again, I don't think I expected to find anyone to be with, especially in the duchy. I guess that me never did find anyone, if I could even call that me. 

I really hoped it would be a smooth night, for whatever that meant. I mean the last time I was at a big party that Quaza, Ilyah, and I guess Hayli as well, wasn't a fun one, unless you're into being eaten alive- at which point I'd ask you to never talk to me again if you are. Mostly though I was worried about having something to eat. Fancy parties were often full of food that looked nice but tasted like shit. 

Hayli swung her legs as she sat on the edge of the bed, ruffling her skirt as she did so. "I'm bored so, let's do that question game."

"You wouldn't be bored if you didn't want to get ready an hour or so before Quaza said she'd pick us up."

Hayli rolled her eyes at me and flattened her ears back. After watching me profusely apologize in a panic, she grinned mischievously and asked, "Besides Quaza, how many people did you have serious crushes on before me?"

"Six. You?"

"Eight. Was one of them Rica?"

"No. I thought I did but I think it was about my jealousy of her being able to be strong and yet still feminine."

"Yeah, her face is quite delicate for how big her muscles are."

"So, no one else at the Island caught your fancy?"

"You know I wouldn't, after all- I am loyal to you. Anyways, the night before last. When we did it. How was it?"

"Perfect, fucking perfect. And exhausting."

"Sorry, it was my first time, and I might have gone a bit overboard."

"I didn't say it was a bad thing."

"Any requests for after the party?"

"Right, um, next time you make me... um go between the legs and do that... choke me with it."

"Kinky, girl huh? Fine, your beautiful partner will when we get back in the morning." She grinned at me and gripped my hand. I really hated her for making the wait even more awkward than it already was.

It was a relief when Quaza knocked on the door to take us to the party.