Selora walked home with the leather-bound book Orrameth had given her, clutched tightly to her chest. The sun was setting as she walked, casting long shadows along the pavement.
Shadows that matched the gloomy thoughts in her mind.
She had spent the past few hours trying to process what happened, as well as why Orrameth would want her to take his position, but nothing came to mind.
Could she trust him? Was he on her side? Or was this a trap to take her out because she dared to contest for his position?
Would taking his 'help' be folly or wisdom?
But then again… She never knew that he was alive. He ought to know that. So why would he try to punish her for this?
Selora froze when the hairs on Isabel's skin prickled with warning, and Selora couldn't help but sigh at the instant annoyance she felt.
She was being watched. Again.
"Oh, for fuck's sake!" She groaned, and a system notification popped up in front of her.
[Warning: Stalker Detected]
Threat Level: 20%
New Mission: Evade Stalker
Reward: Temporary Safety
"Great."
Selora sighed as she walked on. She saw a crowd of people ahead, and she knew they were her shot at escaping whoever was watching her.
She didn't need to do much, she just had to lose whoever the stalker was. And if their threat level was 20%, they weren't too much to be worried about. Right?
She just had to get the stalker off her back, and she knew just how to do so.
Moving closer to the crowd, she gave the command in her mind.
'Activate Phantom Lure'
Her system's soft voice responded.
[Phantom Lure Activated.Cost: 15 Mana]
[Mana Balance: 135/150]
[You have 8 seconds, Selora]
Selora felt soft spasms flow through her like gentle waves of electricity as she walked. Soon, it felt like something ripped away from her, and when she looked up, she saw herself walking ahead… Same hair, same build, same clothes and height… Same everything.
Her clone.
That was her distraction, and she had just eight seconds to utilise it. Without wasting time, she ducked into one of the alleys, took off her jacket, and tied her hair up into a messy bun. It wasn't the best disguise, but it was all she could think of.
Taking out all her money from the jacket, she dropped it to the ground and shoved her money into the little cross shoulder bag she had on.
With Orrameth's book still in hand, she slipped back into the crowd, shoulders squared, face unreadable as she seamlessly blended in with the rest of the people. Her dress clung to her figure like a second skin… A man passing by almost tripped, causing Selora to smirk.
It was good to know that even when she wasn't trying, she still had men right where she wanted them. By their throats.
Just then, another pop-up appeared on her system's crimson translucent screen before her.
[Conractulations. Danger Averted]
Safety: 95%
Mission: Evade stalker
Status: Successful
Reward: Temporary Safety.
"I really need to figure out who is watching me. And why."
She muttered under her breath as she wove through the people, making her way back home.
[Frist, you should eat. You're a few minutes away from collapsing]
****
It was night now.
The traffic and humans who moved slowly, like all life was drained out of them, contributed to Selora's late arrival home.
But she didn't have to worry about an interrogation. Thanks to the command she had sunk into Mira's subconscious, there would be no questioning or irritation tonight.
She reached into the flower pot beside the door, pulled out the spare key and unlocked the door. She groaned in exhaustion as she stepped into the house.
Despite's her systems constant warnings she didn't stop to get something to eat all day. She feared her stalker might find her if she made any unnecessary stops.
That wasn't good for Isabel though. If she was going to utilise this human body well enough, she had to keep it healthy.
And part of doing that, was eating properly.
"Isabel! Welcome home, dear." Mira's soft voice spoke, and Selora looked up.
She saw the busty woman coming out of the kitchen with an apron on, and for a second, Selora wondered why this woman passed none of her curvaceous features to Isabel.
Mira got to Selora and pulled her into a hug. Causing Selora to roll her eyes. This woman dotted so much over her daughter.
"Did you have a good day?" Mira questioned as she pulled away, and Selora took a deep breath before nodding and making to walk away.
"Yeah… It was… Quite a day." She responded, and Mira smiled.
"I'm cooking dinner. I'll call you down soon." She informed, and just then, Selora saw Luke from the corner of her eye.
He was perched silently on one of the sofas with a throw pillow pressed against his crotch. Selora knew what he was hiding. She had cursed him to always be like that each time he saw her.
A smirk split her face when she saw the shameful, embarrassed shade his face had taken.
Sure, she would set him free… eventually. But not now. The fun was still fresh, and there was no way he had learned his lesson yet.
"I'll go freshen up. Call me when dinner's ready." She then announced.
It wasn't a request. It was an order. An easy, simple one. The kind you wouldn't usually realise was an order.
She walked up the stairs to her room, and she couldn't wipe the smirk off her face.
Something about seeing Luke suffering like that pleased her. It indeed was a perfect relief from the kind of hectic day she had.
She had just gotten to her room and was about to open the door when she froze.
It wasn't Isabel's body giving warnings now.
No.
This time it was different.
It was her senses that were going haywire.
There was someone in her room. Not just someone…
It was another demon.
She could smell them… Sense them… Feel them.
And sure enough, whoever was behind the door could sense her too.
She heard the movement in the room stop, and instead of bolting, she grabbed the door knob.
Isabel began to stir in panic, but since when did Selora care about Isabel's fears?
Whatever was in the room felt different. Sure, it was an intruder…
But it didn't feel like an enemy. And that was exact why she pressed on.
She pushed the door open and froze at who she saw standing in the middle of the room.
Ox blood coloured skin, indigo colored hair that flowed down to her waist, and golden eyes that burned like pits of hell.
"Hello, sister…"