There were whispers in Clyde's dreams that night . Someone asking for the invitation, someone sleeping at the edge of the dreams . The voice almost sounded familiar, but recognition always fled .

Sponsored Content

"You stubborn fool . It is only a matter of time before you let me in . "

Clyde's eyes snapped awake .

Wednesday . Week 2 . Year 1

The alarm shut off the moment he sat up . He let the shower water fall on him longer and his electric toothbrush spin just a bit more . A somewhat sluggish start to the morning . Someone knocked on the door as he finished his breakfast .

Harumi, Alice, and Natalia smiled and greeted him . Harumi was expected . After the prior night of not eating dinner with her—the patrols ended late—the pink-haired girl was probably p.i.s.sed . No visible anger showed on her face, but that made it worse .

The other two did surprise him . Especially the annoying kid . He made sure to glare at the witch before allowing them all in .

"You're all early," he said . "What's up?"

"We've got a problem," Alice said .

"Another one to add to my ever-growing bucket," Clyde said . "What now?"

Natalia snooped into Clyde's fridge and opened his cabinets .

"Your pantry sucks . And you call yourself a man? Pathetic . "

"Why you bi…" Clyde bit off his next words and forced himself to ignore the brat, but she hopped on his back . "f.u.c.king h.e.l.l—go away, witchling . "

"Witchling?" Natalia cooed in his ear . "I have you know I'm one of the best in my covenant . And my true form has bigger b.o.o.bies than even her . " She pointed at Harumi . "Mister, you, Pervy-monster . "

"I'll give you a candy bar if you be good, little girl," he said, hiding his evil girl .

Sponsored Content

"Little girl? I'm older than you! But candy sounds nice . "

Alice gave Clyde a look that held two meanings . The first was for him to focus . The second, revealed that she wanted candy too .

Harumi raised an eyebrow . Clyde gave her a sad smile . She returned it with a look of sympathy . He tried to pull the kid off his back, even shake, but she held on as if for her life .

"So what's the problem?" Clyde said as he pulled out multiple chocolate bars for his guests .

"Tear has a taken a huge interest in you," Alice said . Harumi stood up .

"What? Is it because he's the Stone?" she said .

Alice nodded .

"I love my cousin, but there are lines that cannot be crossed . And one of the biggest is targeting my Clyde . I brought Natalia to see if she can ward you or something . "

"The succubus must be d.a.m.ned strong," Clyde said . "Is she as strong as you?"

"She's stronger than me," Alice admitted, putting a pit into the young man's guts . These were the words of his nightmares . He always kept a notion in his head that with his last summon, he'd be able to get out of anything .

"s.h.i.+t," Clyde said . "What does she want?"

"I'm not sure," Alice said . "The twinkles in her eyes were a bit much for a simple craving of life energy . "

"You'd never been the one to sugarcoat things, Princess," Natalia said, walking over to the demoness . "She thinks she's found him . A man capable of wedding her kind . And she wants to screw his brains out . "

Alice frowned . Harumi flushed with indignance but said nothing . Clyde hid is emotions behind a stony face, hoping to mostly fool Harumi .

"She's a fool . "

Natalia laughed as she pushed a finger into the demoness's cheek .

"Highness what about the time you said you'd abandon everything and marry Cly—"

Sponsored Content

Alice quickly covered her mouth, blus.h.i.+ng furiously .

"Silly girl just blabs her mouth whenever she wants . Eat your candy . " She shoved the chocolate bar into Natalia's mouth . The loli ate wordlessly, but with a gleam in her eyes, set on Alice .

"When do you plan to start warding him?" Harumi asked .

"It's going to have to wait until after cla.s.ses," Clyde said . "As long as we do this before I go to bed tonight, we'll be fine . "

The airflow suddenly fluttered, just a bit . Clyde's body moved before he knew it, dodging Natalia .

"Do I look like a pony, little girl," he said .

"I wanna go to your school," she whined .

"Alice is she really older than ten?" he said . Harumi stifled a laugh .

Alice, looking weary, simply sagged in her seat .

"Are you okay?" Clyde said .

"Lord Hades is trying to make her Life-mate to some rival demon lord to form a pact," Natalia blabbed . "She spends most of time fighting off his plans . "

Clyde and Harumi looked at her .

"Life mate?" Clyde said . A tinge of…something formed deep within him .

"All demonesses know it means s.e.x slave!" Natalia said .

"Stop blabbing," Alice snarled . "I'm no one's slave . " She started to raise a hand as if to use the force on the kid but sagged back into her seat . Very protective of her, Clyde noticed .

He met her eyes .

"It is something you want to talk about?"

Sponsored Content

The demoness folded her arms .

"It isn't anything I can't handle . My father has no power over me . "

She glared at Natalia—the kid seemed eager to tell it all .

"If you say so," Clyde said . "You know who to find if you need to vent . "

His eyes caught the clock . "Harumi, we've got to go . Alice you know the drill . Just make sure," He shoved a finger at the loli's forehead . "That doesn't burn down the place . "

Natalia almost bit his finger, but Clyde pulled it back in time, grinning . She stuck out her tongue .

[Your relations.h.i.+p with Natalia has changed from--]

Clyde cut off the prompt . System, you're taking this too far, Clyde thought, don't make me call the robo-cops . He almost wished it would reply to him .

The duo waved Alice off then started for the academy, speed-walking . Clouds gathered across the sky, promising a storm . The sidewalks and crosswalks weren't as crowded as usual, to the young man's relief . The cool day signified the start of autumn . Or this dimension's equivalent .

As they pa.s.sed through the school gates, a group of students stood to the side, watching, Sazuki leading with glares .

"Why the h.e.l.l is she looking at people like that?" Clyde said . "Is she supposed to be intimidating?"

"She's pouting," Harumi said . "Probably ticked off the dean again and got placed there . "

Chika, Toru, Kitome and Seth showed up to meet them like usual . Chika anime-dove into Clyde's arms, easily evading Harumi's attempt to block her .

"Will never stop loving these strong arms," she said .

"Get moving to cla.s.s . " Sazuki separated Chika from Clyde . The silver-haired girl swatted the hand away, glare very dark .

"Don't treat us like children," she said with a sniff . "A lower grade such as yourself should know her place . " Chika walked off, leaving everyone else with their mouths agape . Sazuki's face was a mix of rage and embarra.s.sment .

"I can get you some cold water for that burn," Seth said then followed Chika . Kitome laughed, turning around to go .

Clyde decided not to waste any pity, even if she was just doing her job . Harumi walked with him .

Toru shook his head .

"Sorry Sazuk—"

"Get moving," she said coldly . "No blocking the way . "

"And that's why no one likes you . " Toru stormed forward, only sparing a brief nod at Clyde and Harumi before marching to cla.s.s .

Now that, Clyde knew was a little far, not that he had any time to care . He wasn't anyone's problem solver . However, there was a time and place to be a d.i.c.k and Toru somewhat got it wrong .

"Pretty glad you're not like your old friend," Clyde said to Harumi .

"She wasn't always like that," the young woman seemed to say absent-mindedly . Harumi suddenly stopped . Clyde did too, turning to look at her . She was texting someone vigorously .

"Is something wrong?" he said .

The worried look in her eyes alarmed him .

"Sazuki, you idiot!" Harumi took off running, back toward the entrance . Clyde followed, curious .

When they arrived back to the scene, the duo saw the student council president beaten and bloodied, picking herself up from the ground . Another girl was unconscious next to her, worse .

Harumi looked furious .

Sponsored Content