D.E.M.O.N.S: Getting Summoned Weekly isn't so Bad

Chapter 605: Lily’s Leaving!

Lilyʼs Perspective moments after Kat disappeared.

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Lily let out a long sigh as she stared at the spot Kat had vanished from. There was no sign of the pentagram now that Kat was gone and Lily felt herself a little sad about that fact. Kat was simply gone and there was no sign sheʼd even left.

*Stop being so depressed Lily. Sheʼs gone on journeys before and now that youʼre dating she has all the more reason to come back. Perk up, you or Vivian will start mocking you for staring at the floor.* Lily sighed and straightened up, listening to her internal commentary. Saying the words, even in her mind, helped them become more real. Still, she didnʼt expect Kat disappearing to hurt quite so much. So she took a seat back at the table and started to sip on her drink to not look like she was lost in her head.

*Seriously why does this hurt so much? Itʼs nowhere near as bad as when Stella ripped out my heart of course so I can say Iʼve been through worse but this isnʼt as easy as it was before. Why though? How much has really changed? Kat would have done anything for me before, just as she would now. The fact that she gives me kisses now really shouldnʼt make this so different.*

Of course, that didnʼt change the reality of the situation. Even knowing that she would soon be able to go with Kat in the future didnʼt really help at the moment. It did however help pinpoint the problem. *I feel like Iʼve been left behind? What? Why do I feel like Iʼve been left behind? Sheʼs not even doing anything dangerous! Sheʼs just going for some training. Would I feel like this if she was just going down to the local dojo for martial arts training instead?*

Lily tried to ignore the small part of her mind that confirmed that she would in fact still feel left behind if that happened, especially if Kat didnʼt invite her along. Lily found herself a little annoyed with that part because Kat had warned her and had also planned it so it would be while she was getting her race changed.

*Demons, can you set that up by the way?*

Acknowledged. Acquaintance Lily wishes for Race Change to Memphis Beastkin in exchange for one Favour Token belonging to User Kat. Confirm?

*Yes*

Acknowledged. Final Warning. Change will be permanent and once confirmed this final time unavoidable. D.E.M.O.N.S will chase Acquaintance Lily down to the ends of existence to fulfill terms. Confirm?

*Yes.*

Lily braced herself for the transport… but nothing happened. When she opened her eyes again, she saw more text and felt a little silly.

Acknowledged. Subject Lily please schedule time for procedure. Procedure requires at least twelve hoursʼ notice.

*Ha. Haha. Woops. Um… can you schedule it for ten… er… ten thirty tomorrow? And can I ask for Nira to be involved?*

Acknowledged.

Lily looked at the burning ʼacknowledgedʼ by itself. For some reason she could feel the finality radiating from the word. Something in her soul told her that the choice had been made and it could never truly be unmade. Perhaps she could change her race again in the future, but that would be a separate matter. Soon she would no longer be human and there was nothing she could do to stop it.

*At least I spent weeks thinking about this. There isnʼt any sense of regret which is also nice. Itʼs strange that I can feel the finality in that damned word. I wonder if thatʼs in my head or a real phenomenon. The fact that it connects to my mind makes that question a bit blurrier. If itʼs just projecting the thought to my mind how real is it this finality?*

”So, are you going to stay here the night or head back home?” asked Vivian suddenly snapping Lily out of her thoughts. When she looked around, she also saw that at some point the table had been cleared and a slight dusting of red crawled onto her face.

”Sorry, I would have helped clean up if youʼd told me” said Lily.

”Itʼs fine, Callisto wouldnʼt have let you help anyway,” said Vivian waving off Lilyʼs concern, ”but you didnʼt answer my question. Are you staying here?”

”Um… I mean…” Lily stopped talking to take a look outside and saw that it was already quite late and the sun had long set. At the same time it wasnʼt like her home was far away.

”Youʼre free to stay here you know? I bet Kat wouldnʼt mind if you use her bed. Sheʼs not around to take up space,” said Vivian with a cheeky grin.

Lily wanted to dismiss the idea immediately. It was a silly idea, she could just go home. But… the more she tried to convince herself it wasnʼt a good idea, the better it seemed. Kat did have the better bed after all, it was newer but not so new as to be uncomfortable from disuse. It was a better mattress to begin with, and of course, it smelled like Kat, something Lily couldnʼt deny was the largest draw.

Still, it seemed wildly inappropriate to stay the night for that reason alone. Lily turned her gaze away from Vivian hoping that would help remove the idea from her mind but, when she turned to Sylvie, a second idea wormed its way into her mind.

*Hmm. I know Kat shares with Sylvie occasionally when sheʼs around… maybe thatʼs something I should do? It would give us both company for a night. Iʼm not Kat but perhaps she can still be a proper little sister for me. Plus I wonʼt be tempted to do anything weird if Sylvie is around.*

Catching Sylvieʼs eye Lily lifted one eyebrow and tried to ask what she thought with just a glance. Sylvie, being the smart cookie she was, understood the hidden question and took a few moments to turn it over in her own mind before nodding at Lily.

Turning back to Vivian Lily steeled herself. ”Iʼll stay the night and then see my parents in the morning”

Vivian looked between the two girls who now had smiles on their faces but didnʼt say anything else. She just stood up, patted them both on the head and made her way to her office. With that done Sylvie and Lily headed off for a shower, and then later hopped into bed. Sylvie was going to sleep a bit early but that was fine. For Lily it was quite early but she wanted to make sure she was awake in time to visit her parents before she left… and get back to Vivianʼs house just in case she returned in the place she was summoned.

As she was getting ready to sleep, she found another message from D.E.M.O.N.S

Subject Lily is to be notified that prior to the operation Subject is not to consume any more food or any liquid other than water.

Well… I guess I donʼt need to have breakfast. Giving Sylvie a quick hug she hopped out of bed and headed for Callistoʼs room to let her know. Once that was done she tucked herself in and wrapped her arms around Sylvie before trying to go to sleep. It took a while, but Lily made sure to keep herself relaxed and her eyes closed, not wanting to risk waking Sylvie or staying up too late.

When she awoke, it was already nine oʼclock so she quickly had a basic shower and got into her old clothes from yesterday before heading home. She greeted her mother as she headed for her room and changed into her least favourite outfit, an old one that had been used for yard work quite a few times and was originally her motherʼs, though they no longer fit the older woman.

When Lily made it to the lounge room where Evaline had the ironing board set up she waved and Evaline responded with a flat sounding, ”I see you stayed over at Katʼs. Was it really so hard to not crawl into her bed just days after asking her out?”

Lily blushed furiously. ”Itʼs not like that Mum!”

”Oh, and if I was to ask Kat, who canʼt lie, if you slept with her yesterday?” asked Evaline with a slight grin.

Lily, realising the unintentional opportunity Evaline had provided, ”Would easily be able to say no. Kat left on a Contract late yesterday after dinner. I stayed over, and I did sleep in her bed, but Kat was not in it at the time.”

Evaline narrowed her eyes at that. ”Hmmm, I see. And what are you doing now?”

”Well…” said Lilly awkwardly, ”I thought Iʼd visit before getting sent in for that race change?”

Evaline paused the iron above the dress she was working on before carefully setting it to the side. ”Thatʼs today?” Evalineʼs voice was a slight growl.

”Um… yes?” whispered Lily.

”Why am I just now being informed?” asked Evaline heavily.

”Ah… because… it was mostly just decided yesterday after Kat was called away?” Lily said but didnʼt sound convincing. That was likely because sheʼd planned on it happening today or at least some time soon anyway.