“Well, she has many pockets in every outfit she owns, and she doesn’t only carry weapons, either.”

“Did you look through my jacket?”

“Yeah. Seriously, how did you get all that stuff? Huh. That is the exact question I asked her when I found out.”

“I never reveal my secrets. It helps for people to assume you’re an adult. So, how’d she do it?”

“It also helps to be a demon.”

“I’m a demon!”

“You are?”

“Yeah, according to my doctor, I’m an incubus.”

“That explains so much.” Natsumi paused. “Not all of it, but at least half of it. Wait, aren’t incubi male?”

“No, they’re usually more dominant. The terms ‘incubus’ and ‘succubus’ aren’t gender-specific. They’re role specific. Incubi are tops, succubi are bottoms.”

When they arrived home, Imya unlocked the front door and held it open. As she entered the house, Penny ran forward and hugged her. “My parents told me that I could stay another night here if I wanted, as long as there’s an adult here.”

“I can technically count as an adult, right? I mean, I’ve done things people do not usually do until they’re like, twenty. Probably because it’s illegal to ‘do it’ under the age of consent. But the law can’t stop me… Wait, the age of consent in Russia is sixteen, so I’m old enough. What’s the age of consent here?”

“Sixteen, still.”

“Oh. Okay.”

Natsumi sighed, “I’m all right with that, but Imya, please, close your damn door when that happens.”

“Oh. Whoopsie.”

Natsumi sighed, “You’re so immature.”

Callie nodded. “Would it kill you to close your door when you’re sleeping with Penny? Or… ‘pleasuring yourself’?”

Imya rolled her eyes. “‘Thanks’ for the lecture.”

Natsumi sighed, “I’m trying to teach you how to be a decent human being. And what made you think that black bedding was a good idea?”

“It was on sale!”

“It’s no longer black!”

“I can do what I want!”

“Do you want to burn? Because Callie can arrange that.”

“No thanks. Savasina’s a pyromaniac and I can’t cook very well. I already get burned all the time without you two here.”

Savasina yelled from upstairs, “I burn you once and I’m suddenly a pyromaniac?”

“You threw a burning candle at me!”

“You’re one to talk! Fire arouses you!”

“I think it’s pretty; pretty things arouse me! There’s a difference!”

Callie shouted, “Everyone, stop!”

Everyone went silent. Breathing heavily, Callie sighed, “I’m sorry. But I had to. We were all arguing over Imya’s choices.”

“That is true. But as she said, she can still do what she wants.”

“Yeah. She just doesn’t make the best decisions.”

Jack came into the room. Imya gestured towards the door and demanded, “Leave.”

“You’re not the boss of me.”

Imya pulled a gun out of her jacket. “Now.”

Jack backed away. “Message received.”

Penny shook her head and sighed, “I’m going to go take a shower.” When she passed Imya, she whispered, “Join me.”

They headed upstairs as Jack left. Natsumi sighed, “One day, Imya’s going to get Penny pregnant.”

“Oh, unmistakably.”

“How long have they known each other?”

“Not long, presumably.”

Natsumi and Callie sat in silence for a few minutes. Eventually, Callie turned towards Natsumi. “I’m worried about Imya.”

Imya wandered downstairs with Penny in her arms.

Natsumi sighed, “Me too. I mean, she’s going to have to choose one girl to date, and I do not think it’s going to end well.”

Imya grinned and chuckled, “I won’t have to choose if I’m a polyamorist.”

Natsumi sighed, “I’d rip Imya’s finger off, but I’m honestly scared of her.”

Callie whispered, “Are you scared of what she’d do to you? Or the finger you tore off?”

“Both.”

Callie nodded. “Imya’s deranged. Tell me I’m wrong.”

“Why would I say that you’re wrong when I agree with you?” Natsumi shuddered. “She’s going to tear Itsuki apart.”

Imya shrugged. “If I’m going to tear anyone apart, it’s going to be me.” She lowered a few bandages wrapped around her neck, which Natsumi didn’t know were there. She had a thin scar across her throat, which was bleeding steadily.

Natsumi gasped, “You slit your throat? And it’s still bleeding?”

Imya nodded. “Sure, Jack is evil, Sarayu is a she-devil, Ezume is probably plotting to kill Callie-”

Callie paused. “Wait, what?”

Imya continued, “But the one I hate most in this world is myself. I’m a murderer, a pervert, a player. I haven’t even accepted the fact that I’m immortal, because I still fall asleep each night hoping that I never wake up.” She looked down. “I show affection to everyone I like and everyone that likes me so I could maybe prevent them from feeling the way about themselves that I feel about myself.”

Penny gasped and hugged Imya. “I-I had no idea. But please, promise me you’ll stop trying to commit suicide. I love you.”

“I-I’ll do it for you, Penny.” Imya picked Penny up and kissed her slowly. “I love you, too.”

Natsumi asked, “Does she know about Itsuki?”

Penny nodded. “Imya told me about her. Itsuki’s so lucky.” She put her hand on Imya’s chest. “I think I can manage to share Imya with another girl or two. But I draw the line at more than five other girls unless I get along well with them.”