Chapter 6: Opportunities

"Holy crap, they actually sell these?" Theo nearly spoke too loud, while staring at the life sized Lamia plushie bearing Marci's resemblance. Apparently, being the first Lamia combatant, even if it was just a one time thing for fun, earned her a special promotion. The limited run of her stuffed plushie was already nearly sold out.

Of course it wasn't completely accurate. It was hard for them to get the proportions correct, and not waste material. The serpentine tail wasn't as long as it should've been, but there was extra stuffing around the chest to make up for it.

Theo sighed, turning from the awkward display, and marching over to the corner where concessions were sold. Snacks, candies, and beverages were arrayed. It was here that he met the one who messaged him only minutes ago.

"Why meet here?" Theo asked Victor Sanchez, a fellow junior grade student who just so happened to be putting together his own expedition, if rumors were to be believed.

Victor looked over to him, seemingly annoyed. "I mean, I could've invited you to some sketchy office, and swivel around in a leather chair while petting a cat, but in truth, I was too lazy."

"But why here?" Theo groaned.

Victor brushed back his short blonde hair, scratching at his temple, while considering his answer. "Because I wanted to buy something, and I have to be places after this. So why not?"

"Sorry, just curious," Theo decided not to pry, not wanting to be rude.

Victor cleared his throat, settling on buying a carbonated soda. "So you really want to go out in the badlands, venture into the vortex."

"Yes," Theo's answer was swift.

Victor noticed that. "Why?" He asked.

"I want to know what's out there."

"Theres nothing out there," Victor groaned, "nothing worth finding, anyway."

Theo noted that, but wouldn't be deterred, "I beg to differ."

"And just how would you know?" Victor raised a brow.

"Just feel it," Theo grinned.

Victor wasn't amused. He turned around, and started to walk away. Theo followed him, but couldn't get a word out of him until Victor picked up a body pillow sleeve bearing the likeness of…himself?

Theo's eyes froze. Holy shit, Victor has a damn body pillow? He was actually a contestant? Why the hell is he buying his own damn merchandise?

"Have you even spoken to anyone who's been out there?" Victor asked, not even bothering to talk about the wrapped parcel.

Theo was thoroughly confused. "Several…also, what are you doing?"

"And you still want to go out there?"

Theo sighed, "like I said."

"Why?"

Theo's fingers twitched, he desperately wanted to know why Victor was buying his own body pillow! Does he like sleeping with himself? What kind of kink is that?

"I already told you," Theo could barely keep his agitation back.

Victor turned aside, bringing the ridiculous item to the front counter. "All you've told me is that you're a fool."

"I know all about the weather." That was an understatement. Theo had spent the past year reviewing expedition logs, and consulting with professors who had researched the dramatic climate.

"The weather is just the start." Victor seemed even more annoyed.

"What do you—"

"Look, I don't have time to describe to you why your an idiot, so just…" Victor paused, as if noticing something.

"Why did you even text me? And why are you buying a weird pillow sleeve of yourself?" Theo stammered.

"Because I wanted to see if you were worth considering. But no, you have no idea what your getting into, so no."

This guy. Why is he ignoring the obvious question? Theo resisted the urge to punch him. "What do I have to do to prove myself? And you didn't answer my second question!"

"I don't know…" Victor brushed his complaints aside, placing the sleeve on the counter and watching the teller ring it up. "Look I've been asked to find people who are gutsy enough to accompany a smaller, more discreet, expedition." Victor pulled out his wallet to pay nearly a hundred clits for the gift shop item. "Still within school guidelines, but its not open for everyone to apply. Its invite only. The people we're looking for are those who, not only have survival skills, but actually have a good reason to go. Your reason is, I want to see what's out there. Well, that's not good enough."

"What are you—"

"Just trust me kid, its not worth it," Victor smiled at the cashier, and picked up the plastic bag she gave him. "I should never have messaged you in the first place. I heard about how you've been rejected multiple times for other expeditions, and I figured you were desperate for clits. Maybe you had a sick parent at home, or something like that."

"So what, you're only looking for desperate people?" Theo scoffed.

"Desperate people get shit done, bored entitled brats get people killed." Victor carried the plastic bag over his shoulder, sparking Theo's curiosity once again.

"Can you please just tell me why you bought that!" Theo's frustration had reached a boiling point.

"It's for my girlfriend, she likes this kinda stuff," Victor finally relented.

Theo gawked at that, "she likes life size pillows of her boyfriend? When she's got the real thing."

"It's for nights I'm not with her, plus its nude when you turn it inside out. I can't wait to see the look on her face when she finds out."

Wait, are all the pillow sleeves like that? Theo wondered, looking over at the other selections on display. The tall brunette fighter, who just so happened to be last years champion, drew his eye. He had run into her a few times on campus, and never got the impression he deserved to walk in her shadow, let alone try and talk to her. Her ample tear drop shaped breasts strained underneath her boxing uniform, and plenty of underboob was showing. Theo suddenly wished he had the extra clits to spare.

"So who is she?" Theo tried to ignore his rampant hormones, enquiring about Victors girlfriend wasn't the best way to do that, but at least it got his mind away from the sexual explicit merchandise.

"A vampire," Victor put it bluntly.

"What?"

"Does that frighten you?" Victor chuckled.

"I mean, I haven't met any vampire students." It was no secret that there were a few attending the university, but as to how many, Theo hadn't a clue.

He knew that, on paper, Vampires looked and acted exactly like humans. They were probably the smallest minority in Voxsturm, with their low birth rates. Still, a fairly high number of them, something like twelve percent, were attuned to magic, at least according to his sociology professors. If that was true, that would make them the most magically attuned species on the planet.

"Oh you have, or at the very least, they've met you. There a lot more…discrete than everyone else," Victor chuckled to himself. "They like to play games when introducing themselves, but only if you interest them."

"Do they drink blood?" Theo knew the tales had to be true.

"Only a little," Victor admitted. "And yes they eat, and drink normal food too. foreign blood helps them digest it."

"Interesting?" He would have to enquire about that to his professors. Theo's mind ran wild with speculation. He wondered if perhaps it was some kind of species trait, maybe they evolved with a defect in their digestive tracts, requiring them to consume a donors blood to make up for whatever enzyme was lacking? Maybe that was a side effect, or part of the cost, to having a higher magical affinity?

The pair were at the entrance to the gift shop when Victor decided to let something else off his chest. "What's even more interesting is the venom they secret when they bite you. It makes the sex feel incredible."

"Great," Theo rolled his eyes.

As the two of them walked outside, they could hear an outburst coming from nearby. Theo looked over, noticing a Redever girl staring back at him, her pink face now a burnt red color. Next to her was another girl, who seemed to notice Victor, and shot him a wave.

"Oh hey Laura! I thought I heard you over there." Victor rushed over, and the vampire jumped to accept his embrace.

Theo looked back where the other girl had been standing just moments ago, but the Redever was long gone.