This is a work of FICTION, made by and for adults 18+. The following chapter includes crude language (shit). Reader discretion is advised.

As the snowfall faded, a warm ray of light shone through the window of the high tower, but it didn’t bother the small woman in a black robe and golden sash curled up on a cushion. Comfortably resting in the wooden hallway, Cherry scratched her white hair and perky ears before they twitched.

‘Hey, Cherry?’ Citrus’ deep voice thought. ‘Do you hear that?’

She mumbled and curled more. ‘Not yet…’

‘But I hear something!’

Her tail wagged. ‘I can feel it!” Berry’s sweet voice chimed. ‘Lucy is talking!’

Cherry grumbled, “Well, I’m not ready…”

‘She’s getting upset, though!’ Berry insisted.

“But it’s hardly day—”

Citrus shouted, ‘It’s past NOON!’

“Just a little longer…”

‘Cherry!’ Citrus insisted.

‘Cherry, please!’ Berry pushed.

‘Cherry!’

The chorus continued until Lucy yelled, “WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU LOST IT!!!” Snapped from her slumber, Cherry rushed down the hall. “It’s RAPA!! Either you know where it is, or EVERYONE does!”

‘That doesn’t sound good,’ Cherry thought.

‘Yeah, NO SHIT!’ Citrus berated. ‘I thought you’d sleep through the whole call!’

“Hey!” She pressed against the door of Lucy’s office. ‘It’s not my fault we’re never included.’

‘That doesn’t mean we can’t keep trying, though.’

‘I know, Berry.’

“Alright, I’ll be there shortly. Maintain your position until I get there.” Hearing footsteps, Cherry backed away just before the door opened. Hiding her frustration, the petite albino woman with long, straight hair in matching robes—save for her dark glasses—emerged from the unlit room. “You’re not coming, Cherry.”

“But we can help!” She hastily followed as a floating scroll of dark parchment hovered behind. “I promise, we can—!”

“This isn’t your fight!” Without glancing back, Lucy continued to the wide elevator. “You’re too young to be risking your life. This is our mess.” The door opened and Cherry reluctantly stepped in after her. “Asmodeus will look after you while I’m away.”

“I’m not a child anymore!”

‘And Asmodeus isn’t our mother!’ Citrus corrected.

Berry tried to insist, ‘She is, thou—’

‘Just because she and Lucy raised us doesn’t make them our parents.’

“Just,” Cherry stopped them before imploring, “just let us help! This is our world too!”

“We’re not discussing this right now.” The floor fell as their heart sank. “I have a calamity to avert, and I don’t need to worry about protecting you.”

“Right,” she resigned.

‘Great,’ Citrus gruffed, ‘more coddling. I’m sure she doesn’t give Astarot this kind of babying.’

‘Astarot is—’

‘We’re older!! And where have they been the last year anyway?!’

‘Well…’

“Is,” Cherry wondered for them, “Astarot going to—”

“No,” Lucy shushed, “your brother isn’t coming either.” The doors opened and Cherry was pushed into their living room. “Your mother will be here soon.” Before they could protest, her blackened wings emerged and enveloped Lucy while she vanished in a dark haze.

‘Great,’ Citrus groaned, ‘left out again.’

‘I’m sure she means well. We just—’

‘Don’t say “be patient,” Berry.’

‘Well…’

Cherry signed before plopping on a sofa. “Let’s face it; we got left behind. Again.”