Between The Lines.

"It is nice... being back whole... again."

"Indeed Taci darling, I'm legit tired of having you as a talking decoration on my desk for the past few days!...who would've thought that you're going to talk for hours nonstop about video games!"

"I haven't told... you yet about...that mobile game...I played the...other day Jihi!"

"Please don't! I'm not Yurei, I don't have his patience...oh! And speaking of that troublemaker, look! he's regaining consciousness!"

As Yurei laid comfortably on the sofa by the wall, he kept on hearing familiar voices speak to each other, it pulled him from his beauty slumber and made him slowly open his eyes.

He squinted them slightly as the light hit him hard, "Ughhh...where am i?!" Yurei Asked while shielding his vision.

"Hello my Love...welcome back."

"TACI?...TACITO!!" Yurei got up so quickly as he realized who was the person approaching him, he was so happy to see his mate in one piece that he stood up in such hurry despite his dizziness, he ran towards Tacito wrapping his arms around him.

"Oh god, I really missed you!"

"Me too Yurei...Ned and Jasper...said that you...have being infected... because of-!"

"It doesn't matter, nothing matters now, it's not your fault anyways."

"Thank you for...understanding...Yurei." Tacito replied giving Yurei a quick kiss on the lips.

"Well how wonderful darlings! the cat and the rabbit reunited together at last!

NOW LEAVE ME BE! And please take your mushy mushy romance outside my office, I have work to do." Jihi spoke with a sign of annoyance, the cloaked mage was a bit puzzled when Yurei approached their desk instead.

The chestnut-haired young man instantly bowed to Jihi, surprising them "Nani?! what was that for?"

"Thank you for your help, even though I haven't been so kind to you Jihi." Yurei said bowing again, "I'm sorry for all the trouble I caused you so far."

"Apology accepted Yurei darling... actually I should apologize too." Jihi replied.

"Is it about how we parted ways the first time? it's okay Jihi, you didn't need me for the book's restoration and I took it way too seriously, I actually avoided coming back here most of the time. because I was embarrassed of the idea of apologizing for my behavior."

"Not only that...I have many things to apologize to you about, I'm sorry for abandoning you, Yurei...it wasn't really my choice darling."

"Huh? you didn't abandon me? I mean you made me an immortal, gave me a healing bracelet and it's thanks to your business that I got to be with Tacito all this time... firing me didn't feel much like an abandonment with all of those benefits that I got."

"Ned was right, you're too confident in yourself, just like Mallory was." Jihi replied chuckling to themselves, their last statement caused Both Yurei and Tacito to glance at each other.

It was the first time any of them heard Jihi mention Mallory.

"Oh right Umm...since we haven't...been around Ned....Yurei doesn't know... that Mallory exists...here." Tacito spoke-up, "Really? what is she doing now?" Yurei replied with a question.

"Detective work apparently...I met her...in the hospital...I was so...surprised when I...saw her...lucky for me...I didn't go... through with what...I was doing...I mean kidnapping...Lu." Tacito said, he was so shaken by Mallory's unexpected arrival that day, he immediately handed her Lucius.

"Hmm I see...wait! BTW, how did I get unpossessed?" Yurei asked, "You just remembered to ask about that darling?"

"Jihi's office is... protected against any...mind control enchantment." Tacito spoke giving him the answer, "That's why I... came here myself."

"Speaking of that boo, how the hell did you end up here anyway?"

"Sit down and... I'll explain it... to you."

"All I wanted was some peace and quiet, ugh." An annoyed Jihi murmured underneath their breaths.

... Meanwhile...

" Very interesting! this substance is wonderful and horrible at the same time! I think I might know what it is!" Socorro spoke enthusiastically as she examined the sample Matilda brought her, " it appears like a liquid or like a lotion but it's very much alive!"

" You mean this is a creature and not a substance?!" Matilda asked, despite how small the room was, she kept her distance from Socorro.

Matilda was terrified of getting near that black substance again, while Socorro took a look at it bare handed.

The two women Were in Muriel's house, it turned out that Socorro slept over so many times there, or so she explained to Matilda, so Muriel gave her all the codes and keys she needed to unlock the house and any room within it, including the secret one hidden in the library.

Socorro told Matilda that this room is where she could truly Act like the witch she is, " yes! it is a creature, it could be an animal too." Socorro replied, she swayed her hands to which a book came flying all the way to her, Landing gracefully at the table in front of her.

Fascinated and curious, Matilda got a tiny bit closer to sneak a peek at the name of the thick book, "Criaturas Infernales." she read the Spanish name between her lips, she then read the paper notes stuck on the book's cover right under the title, that says 'hellish creatures' in English.

Socorro placed the sample away carefully, then fluttered her fingers causing the book to opened itself and for the pages to flip on their own until she stopped them.

" Aha! El parecido del demonio!" Socorro said reading the name of the creature illustrated in the page, " English please Coconut?" Matilda asked.

"Fine! 'El parecido del demonio' means 'the demon's Lookalike' it's in Spanish."

"Already a dark beginning, are all spells in Spanish?"

" No, there's spells in all languages, even English! which is what I mostly use...I often translate lots of books in my free time, my favorite languages in spells are Spanish, Arabic, Mandarin and Southern Quechua."

"I didn't recognize the last language, where is it from?" Matilda asked curiously, "Quechua? it's the most widely spoken indigenous language in the Americas.

There isn't much written works in the field when it comes the Quechua, but I learned a lot from speaking to the Natives! most spells in this language are healing, spiritual connection and cleansing spells, very beautiful and helpful indeed." Socorro replied.

"Meanwhile Spanish and English, hitting us with dark spells left and right...we need to watch out for the 'ish' languages." Matilda said joking, "You have seen nothing yet, I'm sure You must've never seen the work of an Arabic dark mage yet, They're absolute Tyrants in the field!

The language's Majestic and poetic nature, makes anything said in Arabic whether good or bad, sounds like it came out of a Cautionary tale...do you know that they have more letters in their alphabet than most languages? "

"That sounds crazy? Can you speak any of these languages Coconut?"

" I do, I learned Spanish, English as I grew up at home, then taught myself Korean for exorcism... but after gaining enough knowledge about magic, I managed to cast a permanent spell that makes me able to speak and understand any language I wanted by spending some time around native speakers...I used to travel with my Nana Alot."

"Oh my god that sounds AWESOME! can you cast it on me?"

" The spell should be self inflicted, but I might be able to make you a temporary charm that will do the same Job in a way, I'm good at crafting wooden objects."

"Really? Thanks!"

"No problem!...heh? According to the book, if you came in a Small contact with this creature, like a drop fell on you during a struggle, it would temporary block any healing magic attempt, because this thing will absorb the mana for itself.

So if you get injured after or during contact, you won't be able to use magic to heal yourself untill you get rid of the 'Lookalike' completely...

Anyone who will try to heal you, would be drained out of their mana to the point of loosing their consciousness, since that thing absorbs their energy.

it's like a giant parasite, and it's called 'the demon's lookalike' because it gives off the generic appearance that the host got possessed." Socorro replied flipping more pages in a rapid manner.

"That explains hella lot! what else does it say? the book I mean?" Matilda asked,

"You'll be back to normal after this creature exists your body, and if you did get possessed by it the first time, you're most likely to get infected a second time, although the more times you get possessed, the less the creature will control you.

However, this creature has the ability to alter the body of its host...and any small alteration might heal with Time, but sometimes they can be permanent, so you need to avoid long exposure."

"Does this thing likes to possessed certain people?"

"This creature itself falls under the Mind control category, according to the book, its favorite types of victims to control is basically anyone whose health isn't in perfect shape.

it's says here in red, to watch out especially for people suffering from any external wounds and pregnant people, because their cases attracts the creature even more!

I'm not keeping this thing here! no-way I'm letting this creature near Muriel!" Socorro spoke grabbing the sample, she handed it back to a hesitant Matilda.

"What are you doing?"

"Give this back to Ned, tell him that if he wishes for me to make more research, he should invite me over...I will prioritize Muriel's wellbeing over anything else, so I Will not be doing this here." Socorro said walking outside the room.

"Oh-Okay! As you wish coconut."

...Some Time Later...

"Oh Neddie! hello!"

"Hi Muri! why are you still in the office? it's late!

Wait, is it my fault? Because I had to borrow Coco from you today?"

"Sort of... Actually, Thorn is coming to pick me up, we are heading for dinner in few... did you come here just to say hi?"

"Truth, I need a favor." Ned said handing him a file.

Muriel's eyes went wide open "Tacito? the boy who looks like Thorn?"

"Yes, tomorrow is his birthday, and before you judge him which I'm sure you wouldn't, cuz you're really sweet... the dude lived a tragic life and barely has any good memories, so I wanted to change it even for a day... I'm not really good with parties and stuff, I mean both him and I are introverts who hates socializing."

"So you thought that if anyone can make his Day, it would be me."

"Yeah! Muriel you know how to get people to have fun at parties without being a nuisance, besides...I think he'll appreciate the gesture more if it came from you." Ned spoke smiling at the confused Muriel, "You still owe me lots of explaining, but for the meantime I will trust you... consider it done then, but where exactly." Muriel replied,

"At My house, his boyfriend Yurei was staying there with me while Tacito was away these days...I bet Yurei will want to help you, you guys resemble each other in a way."

"You are Acting strange lately, are you sure you are not the pregnant one in this room?"

"Haha! NO! Who's gonna get me pregnant?"

"I am surprised how well you are behaving, when your mate is away...I feel lost and horny when Thorn is not nearby."

"Experience darling! I have years worth of experience." Ned spoke turning his face to see the person who walked-in on them.

"Ned! how's is going my guy!" Thorn spoke smiling big at the two omegas, "Since your Gangstalicious boyfriend is here, I might as well leave." Ned said walking away, giving Thorn a fist bump on his way out.