Lurking Danger

"Chisana, could you get away from the window? You're blindfolded, but still..."

Suriza slipped her tail around the Chisana, pulling her back.

"Suriza... something is wrong. Deep in the dungeon, I feel something inside. It's ignoring me, but it's aware."

Suriza crossed her arms and rolled her eyes. Reaching out, she pulled Chisana into her arms and faced her towards herself.

"If you're certain, we need to get down there. I'm going to carry you through town, I'm faster."

With a quick nod, Chisana was lifted into the Gigas Lamia's arms. Though she still resembled a young girl, to some extent, Suriza's Gigas trait helped her body stay quite large. Chisana, on the other hand, was quite small. Her body had grown, yet she still resembled a child rather than even a pre-teen.

"Please be quick. I can tell that the humans aren't aware of us, but that will change after this."

Suriza slithered her way through the building, almost busting the door down as she sped through the town. All around, the two girls could hear a few men hollering to hunt them down.

"Chisana, keep your head close to my chest. Can't let your eyes get any worse."

Chisana craned her neck, hugging Suriza tight. Quickly moving in a serpentine maneuver, Suriza began to evade multiple arrows and magical blasts. Eventually, they made it inside the dungeon. Suriza was finally able to place Chisana down, but she could feel the damage done.

"Let's go, Chisana. You lead the way, darkness is better suited for you. I like swamps... and Mina."

Wincing as they made their way forward, Suriza began to pant. The pain from her back and tail had begun to get to her.

"Chisana, I don't think I can keep going at this rate. You may need to send-"

"Shut up. I know you're in pain... just give me a moment."

Turning back, Chisana held out her hands. A pink mist began to gather, enveloping the injured lamia and lifting her from the ground.

"Clouds? Chisana?"

"Dream Magic. This cloud is able to help you relax, so try to keep awake. I can bring you along like this, but I can't use it in sunlight."

Chisana began to run, her little legs carrying her faster than usual. Her wings were to small to fly, so she could only sprint now. Every now and then, she would wave her hand behind her. This would refresh the cloud that Suriza was resting on.

-

"Mina, everything in here..."

"I expected as much."

Melody was shaking her head and rubbing her eyes.

"There shouldn't be monsters from outside in here! Especially ones that don't have cores. They wouldn't even see this place as safe, nor would they ignore the entirety of the town!"

They had just cleared the fourth room, leaving only the boss. At this point, they could only expect a new creature to be waiting inside.

"Melody, just keep your faith in me. The last one was tough, but Mountain Trolls are made that way. If we get lucky, maybe the boss is still the boss. Not some mystical badass beast."

Reaching for the door, Mina suddenly heard a voice from behind her.

"Mina! Mina!"

Her hand had already reached the door, pushing on it slightly as she turned back to see Chisana sprinting towards her, the small demon red from exhaustion. Behind her was an injured Suriza, causing Mina's eyes to flash red... but she fell to the ground. Her eyes closed slowly as sleep began to soothe her.

"M-Mina! Everyone?!"

All around Chisana, her friends had begun to collapse. Every last one embraced by a deep pink cloud.

"So much for keeping faith in her. She didn't even last... hold on."

A thin hand reached from within the confines of the door. It touched Mina, pulling her hair from her face. One eye was still open, fully red.

"What... have you... done?!"

Mina's eye nearly closed, but a soft pink cloud flew into the deep pink one. The clouds began to push against one another, but Chisana's magic was unable to win. In the end, Mina's eye closed.

"Hmph. You know Dream Magic, do you?"

The door began to open a little wider, showing a beautiful woman with long cascading black hair that trailed behind her, resting on the pink clouds that put everyone to sleep.

"A young succubus... interesting. Why the blindfold?"

Without even speaking, Chisana pulled the white band from her eyes. The pair were a soft blue, though they were heavily unfocused.

"Ah. You're permanently blind. How did you make it here?"

Chisana sighed out, her hands clenched tight.

"Wake them."

Her voice was pained, her feeling of uselessness growing.

"Oh dear, I don't think so. I want to see the kinds of dreams these people have! What fun would it be to just let them go? Especially this Mina... she intrigues me. Maybe I'll make her my pet? Fufufu."

Chisana lunged, tackling the succubus. Unable to do more, the girl was thrown into the room that the succubus was waiting inside of.

"Don't pester me girl. I'd rather not hurt kin, but don't make the first sight these girls see your disembodied head."

Purple eyes glared down at Chisana, the little demon unable to get to her feet already.

The succubus looked up, her eyes gleaming mischievously.

"So one of them is protected by someone incredibly high up... huh? Guess I won't hurt her, not that I want to. My barrier can keep them out for say, three hours?"

She gave a condescending wink towards Chisana, who had finally gotten to her feet. One wing was crushed while a gash had appeared on her face.

"Lady Kat... forgive me for not being able to help Mina!"

Tears began to slide down her cheeks. She wiped at them, still glaring at the succubus.

"Chisana... can you hear me?"

Her eyes sparked, giving the voice enough confirmation.

"Don't respond. I can see what happened in there. This succubus, she's a variant. Not incredibly rare, but she's strong. I can send you some strength, so please try to fight her! I can't get down there right now, but if she's weakened... maybe it'll take less than three hours?"

Chisana nodded, the succubus having turned her back on the smaller girl.

"Good. I'll throw some of essence of a powerful Goddess that works for me to you! She's all for your growth, so this'll be permanent! Don't falter and fight for Mina!"

A massive beam of purple and pink light suddenly enveloped Chisana. She almost shrieked, but the pain faded as well as the injuries she had sustained. Her voice broke free, now more mature.

"For Mina, anything. This bitch is already dead... fufu."

--

Thank you,

JScott, croix and Tech!