Once Amelia and Michael had gone to bed, Lizzy and Kate had moved out to the far end of the garden, to a bench under an old willow.

“I didn’t think I would get used to not sleeping this fast.” Lizzy looked up at the starry sky. “But at the same time, I learned to enjoy naps and not dread them.”

“You dreaded naps?”

“Not the nap itself, just why I needed them. Sometimes they helped, often they didn’t… Now they are just making me feel a little more relaxed. Funny, I don’t get tired anymore but after something big I still feel more rested once I have slept a little.”

“Yea, that’s pretty much my experience with sleep now too. I don’t know if it’s a Nightmare thing, but I feel even more rested if I sleep in the arms of someone I feel safe with. It’s like I can really let go for a bit.”

“Makes sense. I haven’t tried much in terms of intimacy. I suppose my powers scare me a bit.”

“You get used to them, just keep reminding yourself that no demon will ever judge you for being who and what you are. You are normal to them.”

“I’m not even normal to myself yet.” Lizzy giggled. “But I appreciate your confidence in me. I should really ask Joro or Az for some cuddles. Just any contact to get used to it.”

“A good plan. I am here for hugging and stuff too, if you want that.”

“I might take you up on that. Could I also bother you to show me a few spots in a Hell? I haven’t gotten around to travelling much.”

“Now or later?”

“Uhm… we can teleport, maybe take me to one nice place now.”

“What sort of place?”

“Something where we can relax a bit.”

“Hm… I think I know where to take you.”

 

Kate had brought Lizzy to the upper reaches of the abyss.

“That is one big hole.” Lizzy peered over the railing.

“Oh yes and I am told there are massive caves down there. And cats, hold on.” Kate conjured a bowl of various meat bits and set it on the ground beside herself. “With a little luck we get to see one.”

“A cat?”

“A special cat!”

“This cat. With tentacles?” Lizzy gestured towards the approaching abyssal cat.

“With tentacles. Go ahead little one, the food’s for you.”

The cat seemed to think for a moment but eventually decided that entertaining the demons was a fair price for food. It rubbed against Lizzy and Kate and went on to dig into the meat bits.

“I never thought that cats would still be so cute if you just add fuzzy tentacles to them.”

“They are just the best.”

“As is this entire place. Besides the large hole, this is pretty cozy.”

“A potential home maybe?”

“Hm… no, the big hole isn’t my thing.”

“Fair enough. I wanted a little more cute forests around my home and I got one just up the hill behind my house.”

“I have never thought about what I want around my home. Definitely close to some sort of village but besides that? I have no idea. A little river, some nice forests, maybe a nice meadow?”

“You should ask someone to show you around a few places that fit your needs.”

“Good idea. Hey, Kate?”

“Yes?”

“Want to show me around a few places that fit my needs?”

Kate laughed. “Yes, but my knowledge of Hell isn’t even close to complete. I might have to ask around if someone knows a spot I would miss.”

“We don’t have to check everywhere in one day, we have time. I would still love for you to be my guide.”

“And I will gladly show you around. That’s going to be fun.”

Lizzy knelt down beside the abyssal cat. “It will be great.” She held out her hand for the cat to sniff, which it did. “Can I pet this cutey?”

Kate nodded. “We have successfully bribed her, she will accept being pet and potentially enjoy it.”

“Good.” Lizzy gently ran her hand along the back of the cat, who responded by sitting down and putting her tentacles around the young reaper’s arm. “Aww.” Lizzy kept petting.

 

After a fun night at the abyss, and once the cute cat had wandered off, Lizzy had returned to the border world to prepare breakfast for Amelia and Michael while Kate was back at the library, back to attend to her own ‘human’ life.

Saturdays were never the most eventful days. Most humans came to the library to do some sort of work during the afternoon on a weekday or just to relax and read in the evenings. Saturday morning was not a time most people considered a trip up here.

Still, Adelina was here for breakfast and to enjoy some reading time with her friends.

The vampire and her Nightmare friend sat outside on the balcony of the library restaurant, reading in the spring breeze. The two were joined by Rin, who was playing with two local earth cats.

“Kate, with so many cats around these days, do you ever think we need some cat-specific facilities? Like a cat room.” Adelina looked up from her novel

“If we get to go in there and hang out with the cats, absolutely. Maybe have a little hidden corner where they can be at peace. We should bring that up with the others.”

“Huh, I didn’t expect you to agree so quickly.”

“Why? We have multiple Hell cats and several locals hanging out here. Why not provide something for them? They bring us a lot of joy after all.”

“That was my line of thought too, I just didn’t expect you to agree to changes to the library so quickly.”

“If they’re good changes, I don’t see a problem.” Kate conjured a piece of paper and jotted down a few words before teleporting it away.

Moments later, Apollyon arrived. “You asked for my presence.”

“I did, yes. Hi.”

“Hello to both of you.”

“Hey.” Adelina did a little wave.

“So, Polly, Adelina had the idea for a cat room and I was thinking that, since we are moving stuff around anyway for the new office, we could put in a cat room connected to out here and the restaurant.”

“Hm. This cat room is supposed to be a space to hang out with cats and for them to have a place to meet and play or sleep?”

“Pretty much, yes.”

“An interesting idea. I will check the logistical feasibility momentarily. Is there anything else you need from me?”

“I mean, you can stick around a little bit and just hang out with us. But no, I just wanted to make sure we got to planning Adelina’s cat room soon enough.”

“I will return in a few moments to hang out.” Apollyon teleported away.

“Well, I’m optimistic about it.”

Adelina smiled. “Seems like Apollyon is too.”

“Oh yes, she just wants to confirm it before agreeing to anything.”

“That’s reasonable.”

Apollyon teleported back to the balcony. “Conference room four is in the correct location to access the restaurant and the balcony. I will ask the others for their approval and ask our favourite architects if they can draft up plans.”

“First Kate is enthusiastic enough to call you, now you are all aboard the cat train. Did something happen that I missed that made everyone crazy about cats?”

“We merely spent more time with cats recently. It reinvigorated our appreciation of them.”

“As good a reason as any.”

“Indeed.” Apollyon teleported a chair from inside the restaurant to the balcony and sat down. “Just look at them. There is a joy in life they know that we need to learn from.”

“So careless and free. Yea, there is something to learn there, especially when it comes to dealing with immortality.”

“Not careless but mindful of what to care about and how. Those we befriended obviously care about us. There is a positivity in their care and overall life that I find enviable. Your idea of giving them a space where we can interact with them on their terms is wonderful. I will make use of that room often.”

“I’m glad I could come up with something to improve the library just a little bit.” Adelina looked a little proud.

“Your presence alone is an improvement.”