Home for Horny Monsters Ch. 094

"What's your favorite part so far?" Emily squeezed in next to Yuki and laid her head on the kitsune's shoulder.

Yuki said nothing, willing the memory to pass. After all, with so many to choose from, why this one? Why not the last few days with Mike, or even something fun from her childhood? There were so many things she would rather go through than to see her former lover one last time.

Had the experience been the same way for Velvet? What had her regrets been like? Or maybe her passing had been peaceful instead. Perhaps the Universe only chose to be cruel on occasion.

At the thought of Velvet, she pictured Mike and he appeared before her, resting on the windowsill with his knees pulled to his chin. He had only known the Arachne for a few days, and her death had nearly broken him. Would Yuki's own death do the same, pushing him over the edge into madness?

"You made me a promise." Mike said. "If I ever lose control, you would be there to stop me."

"Mike, I..." She looked at Emily, who took no notice of the man who would one day take her place in Yuki's heart. "I don't know if I can. I'm dying. All of this, it's just my brain going through the motions."

He just stared at her for several seconds, his eyes glowing like fireflies. Emily was frozen in place, as if waiting for the proper response.

"So what is your favorite line?" he asked, breaking the silence. "I'm curious."

Yuki contemplated Mike for several moments, then allowed the memory to continue. "My favorite is the one about believing in the impossible. The six impossible things before breakfast quote," she answered, her eyes turning toward Emily.

"And have you?" Emily asked. "Believed six impossible things before breakfast?"

"Well, if we aren't counting this as breakfast," she held up the tea. "Then perhaps. Let's see. There's a beautiful woman who loves me despite my faults."

"That's one." Emily grinned.

"We use magic trees to jump across the globe." Yuki held up a second finger. "Oh, and I get to live in a magical house."

"That's three, but I don't know if any of these count." Emily tousled Yuki's hair, then rubbed at the soft spot between her ears. "You're just stating facts, not beliefs."

"Well here's a fact for you. When I finish my tea, I'm going to--" The memory paused once more as Yuki's attention wandered over to Mike. Those firefly eyes of his flickered wildly.

"I think it's a wonderful quote," he said. "It's hopeful."

"Yes, but...hmm." She squeezed herself away from Emily, who was now motionless. "I don't know that I've ever truly believed in anything until I met you. Well, not right away, but...you grew on me."

"That's very kind of you to say," he replied. The room was starting to dim now, Yuki's mind falling apart. Emily had already faded from view.

"Wait," she cried. "I have something to tell you before you go."

Mike said nothing, his firefly eyes slowly becoming the sole illumination in the room.

"I believe that you can be forgiven, as long as you put in the work. And even if you can't, then maybe it's possible to forgive yourself."

"That's one." He held up a finger.

"I also believe that it's possible to love again. That one seems so impossible, but it's true. Because I love you, Mike. I love everyone I live with, but I love you most of all."

"Two." He held up another finger. The room flickered, the furniture melting into the darkness.

"I believe in you. Maybe that sounds silly, but I know that you'll be okay, once I'm...I'm..." She couldn't bear to say the words out loud, not while he sat there contemplating her. "You're going to do great things, even without me."

"Maybe." He held up a third finger. "You're halfway there. What else do you have for me?"

"I believe in...in..." She felt it now, deep in her chest. It was a rumbling sensation that made her entire body buzz. Was the divinity finally pulling her apart?

It was ironic that what would finally do her in was a substance that her body could have contained someday. In a few hundred years, she probably could have absorbed most of the golden light that Freyja had lost without blinking an eye.

Wait. There was something there to cling to...yes!

"I believe in me," she told him, forcing that rumbling sensation into the ground at her feet. "I'm the same kitsune who once brought Death into the world using paint, paper, and a lot of magic over a little bit of time. I've come too far not to believe in who I am, and see what I'm capable of."

Mike smiled and held up a fourth finger. Had the room gotten brighter?

"And I believe that I don't have to die here, not if I don't want to!" She held out her hands, the golden light coalescing in her fingertips. Instead of trying to contain it or cast it away, she dragged it through the air, smearing it across the corners of her mind like the paint she used for her cards. "Because though things may seem hopeless, this is what my body was made for! You yourself wove this power into me before, and it didn't kill me then! The divinity killing me now is just magic I haven't found a use for!"

He held up a fifth finger. "This is your last one," he told her, his smile stretching wide like the Cheshire cat as the golden light radiating from her body made the rest of him fade from view. "Make it a good one."

Yuki's eyes snapped open, and she commanded the ice and snow beneath her feet to carry her tarot cards back into her hands. As they swirled toward her en masse, dextrous fingers snatched the pair she required from the air and held them pinched between her fingers as she rose, the storm suddenly going still. Grýla in all her forms quickly recovered, charging at her through the rubble.

"My name is Yuki Radley." She poured the golden light into the card in her left hand, the Moon. In her right hand, an equal amount of divinity poured into the Wheel of Fortune. "And I'm about to take a page out of my boyfriend's playbook and hope I get really lucky."

Before Grýla could reach her, she cast the Moon into the sky and slammed the Wheel of Fortune into the ground. The snow and ice melted away from her as lines of radiant power formed at her feet, then shot into the sky where an illusory moon had appeared. All of the Grýlas were forced to shield their eyes as the divinity swirled around Yuki and connected with beams of light from the moon.

"I once thought I knew what it meant to believe in six impossible things before breakfast," Yuki shouted, the fiery magic tearing through her veins as her remaining tarot cards were vaporized by moonlight. "But do you know what it takes to be a true believer? Faith! Faith in those we love, and in ourselves!"

"Food shouldn't talk this much!" One of the Grýlas replied.

"And I once swore I would lay my life down for a man, a good man, possibly the best one I've ever met. Do you know what? That is absolutely what I'm going to do!" She held her hands up to the moon, now so bright she couldn't look directly at it.

Take my years from me, she commanded. The moon obeyed.

All magic had a price, and the divinity burned away months, years, and then decades of her lifespan. It came with no experience, no new revelations about magic, but Yuki didn't care. What she needed now was to survive, to return to the man she loved. The Moon was capable of driving that change, of bringing out her inner fox.

The Wheel of Fortune was there to ensure she survived the process.

The golden light coalesced around her, swirling behind her body to form into a fourth tail. The fire raging inside her core was unquenchable, so she gritted her teeth and waited for the fifth tail to form as well.

The moon burst into a column of light, raining flecks of fragmented divinity onto the ground. Yuki ignored them, taking a deep breath into a body that had been altered. The fire in her veins was gone, replaced with the familiar sensation of her own magic.

"I already came up with five impossible things," she said, holding up a hand with outstretched fingers. Frost hovered in the air around it, her mind connecting with the ice and snow in a manner that felt like an extension of her body. She no longer simply commanded the cold--it obeyed her because it wanted to. "But I need one more."

The Grýlas howled, and they all charged at her. Yuki held up her other hand and extended her middle finger in defiance.

"I believe that you don't have to be cold-hearted to become one with the ice." She took a deep breath and exhaled a wave of frost that obscured her from view, then leapt away before she could be grabbed. Her features shifted, lines forming across her vision as power ripped through her body. She grew larger, transforming into a massive five-tailed fox demon roughly ten feet tall at the shoulder.

Yuki pounced, slamming one Grýla into the ground.

"Wha--" It was the cock-eyed Grýla, and her bad eye struggled to look straight up at Yuki as the fox demon snarled at her.

Looks like you're the one that just hasn't been chewed yet, Yuki said telepathically, then bit cock-eyed Grýla's head off and spat it out. Thin streamers of golden light clung to her muzzle and she licked them away, power flooding her body as Grýla's body crumbled to stone. The others cried out in rage, but the kitsune no longer feared them. For though they were many, they weren't able to believe in the impossible like she could.

The ice and snow rumbled in her presence as if excited to see her. She howled in excitement, then led her attackers away from Santa's home, golden flames lingering in her heavy pawprints. They gave chase, howling insults and flinging stones as she scaled a nearby building and jumped across the rooftops. The storm clung to her like a second skin, hindering visibility for her pursuers.

The Grýlas followed her in a winding path through the North Pole, and the further she got from Santa's house, the stranger the buildings looked. It was like they had been slightly stretched and distorted, the limited light reflecting incorrectly off of their surfaces. Up ahead, she felt a surge of magical energy. At first, she was going to head in a different direction, but the scent of magic was familiar.

Freyja!

Yuki ran toward the scent, vaulted over the top of a building, then barreled through a pair of Grýlas who turned to look at her in surprise. Dozens of Grýlas had cornered the goddess, who was hovering in the air and sending massive shards of ice out in every direction. Beneath Freyja, a group of spectral warriors were in the middle of fighting the Yulecat, who howled in fury as it stamped out a warrior from another age. Nearby buildings had been toppled, and the Grýlas were throwing chunks of stone the size of cars at the defenders.

Freyja glared at Yuki, raising a hand and sending a barrage of ice at the kitsune. With just a thought, Yuki redirected the attack, forcing the ice to spike outward into their attackers. Recognition and relief lit like a fire in Freyja's eyes as Yuki turned her back just long enough for the goddess to grab hold of her fur.

"Run!" Freyja cried. "Before the reindeer come back!"

Puzzled, Yuki looked over her shoulder long enough to watch five fiery bundles of light circle above the spirits. The twisted reindeer slammed down into the spirits, scattering them like bowling pins. They were like bottled lightning that had broken free, destroying spirit and Grýlas alike.

"The Krampus is here," Freyja shouted over Yuki's personal storm. "We have to get back to Mike!"

What about Grýla? asked Yuki.

"If the Krampus beats Mike, this is all over!" Freyja turned around on Yuki's back and sent out rays of golden light. One of them vaporized a Grýla with extra long legs. Divinity shot through the air and coalesced around Freyja's arms. "There are too many of them, but only one of him!"

Yuki slid to a stop, then bolted down a narrow alleyway. The shadows reached for her, fingers hooking in her fur just enough that she could feel them. Her heart was pounding in her chest as she turned back toward Santa's home, hoping that she could get there in time. Her pursuers shrieked in fury as Yuki intensified the storm, blinding them with whirling snow.

Somehow, through the howling winds, she heard the ringing of silver bells from up above.

"Are you okay?" Lily asked.

Mike turned to look at the succubus, rubbing his chest. It was a sensation similar to heartburn, like someone had tried to pull his heart out through his sternum. He coughed a couple times, then let out a belch that tasted like copper.

"Yeah, I think so." The pain subsided as quickly as it had come. His magic cycled across his body, as if trying to chase down whatever had ailed him. That had been weird. "How is Holly?"

The elf had curled up on the side of the couch, hugging a pillow to her chest. He wasn't sure if she was asleep or just taking a moment.

Lily shrugged. "As good as can be expected. We talked for a bit, there's a lot for her to figure out. So what's going to happen once the Krampus gets here? You gonna hug it out with him?"

Mike smirked. "Not unless you do it first."

"Oh, I'll have something for him." Lily stood and paced the room, her tail swishing behind her. She paused at the door to the basement where the North Pole was. "But being real for a moment: don't let him through here, correct?"

"Yeah. If he gets down there, then all the bad stuff happens." Mike didn't like how exposed he felt, and he was more than a little worried that Yuki had vanished. And what was taking Freyja so long? "Once he's here, I just need some time to examine his soul. I think I can fold the Krampus back inside, and let Santa come back out."

A shrieking sound filled the air, much like a jet coming in for a landing. There was a loud thud from outside, followed by the sound of cackling. Holly looked up from her pillow, her features pale.

"Holly. Hide." Mike watched as the elf made a run for it, disappearing into the house. Up above, the roof creaked as someone walked across it, occasionally stomping their feet.

"Yeah, yeah, you fucker. We hear you." Mike moved closer to the basement door and summoned his magic. It swirled through his body, eager to obey his commands.

Snow and ice slid off the roof, and something heavy landed outside the front door. Mike half expected the Krampus to knock, but was unsurprised when a massive foot kicked the door off its hinges, sending it crashing across the floor.

The Krampus walked into the room, hunched over and cackling in glee. He rubbed his hands together, making Mike think of a massive fly contemplating the turd it was about to consume. Krampus licked his chapped lips and looked up to make eye contact with Mike.

"Daddy's home! And he is--" The Krampus was interrupted by the heavy wooden table that crashed into his face, knocking him to the ground. The furniture had collided with him so hard that it exploded, the doorway now filled with splinters.

Stunned, Mike turned his attention to Lily, who had thrown the table. Her arms had turned black and red from the elbow down, as if her body was made of molten rock. The red highlights in her hair had turned into flames that crawled across her body, flickering along the top of her helper hat.

"Nobody likes a diva," she said, then wrapped her tail around a nearby end table and flung it toward the Krampus. It smashed into him, but he raised an arm this time and took the impact with a chuckle.

"And who are you supposed to be?" he asked, his twisted features turning toward the succubus. "Because you're definitely on the naughty list."

Lily pointed to her hat. "I'm Santa's Official Helper, here to put the ho in his ho ho ho. Did the local mall fire you for eating meth or was it for biting children?" She splayed her hands wide and grinned. The humor in those lips did not extend to her eyes.

"You're so charming." The Krampus was ready for Lily's attack, dodging to the side as she lashed out with fingers that had become razor blades. The two of them danced around the room, slashing at each other while Mike kept away from them. He couldn't intervene directly, but it gave him time to inspect the Krampus' soul with his third eye or whatever he should call it.

It was a massive black fractal wrapped around golden gears of light. Just the sight of it shifting around made him nauseous, and an intense pain filled his sinuses. The Krampus turned to face him, his pulled features leering.

Gasping, Mike shut his eyes and looked away, the front of his face now wet from a sudden nosebleed.

"You dare to look into infinity?" The Krampus laughed. "Your simple mind can't handle--erk!"

Mike opened his eyes to see that Lily had climbed onto the Krampus' back and sunk her talons into his shoulders. The two of them wrestled like feral cats, breaking furniture in the process.

"Romeo, run!" Lily put the Krampus in a headlock, but the eldritch being warped in place, his whole body shifting until his arms were now around her shoulders. "I can't hold him, he--"

Lily cried out in agony as the Krampus wrapped his massive hands around her horns and pushed his thumbs into her forehead as if trying to halve an apple. Lily's tail whipped around, stabbing the Krampus numerous times to no avail.

His first instinct was to run to her, to attack the Krampus, to do anything to pull him off of her. But he knew that to do so would be suicide, as the Krampus was clearly stronger than Lily.

"So what'll it be, Caretaker?" The Krampus howled with glee as he lifted Lily in the air, her legs kicking. "Once I crack this chestnut open, I'm going through that door. The question is, will you still be in my way?"

Mike took a deep breath, his magic revving up inside him. His plan to swap the Krampus for Santa had been grounded in logic, but just looking at their combined soul had made him sick. Trying again right now would be a terrible idea. He needed more time to think, or perhaps a way to distract the Krampus long enough that he could try again.

He had a flash of insight. The plan was terrible, disgusting, and absolutely unexpected. It was perfect.

"I think," he began, a grin breaking across his face, "That you should have worn your white pants." Mike held out his hands and willed his magic to emerge and do the one thing it was best at.

The Krampus lowered Lily, cocking his head to one side in puzzlement. "What is that supposed to--"

Purple and blue electricity surged out of Mike's hand, interspersed with golden beams of radiance, then crossed the room as a bolt of lightning. It connected with the Krampus, transferring sexual energy in quantities Mike himself feared. Using his newfound command of magic, he grabbed the stray streamers that peeled off of the Krampus and formed them into tight loops that connected back to Santa's evil half. The magic that left the demon now cycled right back into him.

The Krampus groaned and dropped Lily, who rolled away. Clutching his abdomen, the demon made a gasping sound and came in his pants.

"What manner of--" the Krampus gasped, then fell to his knees as a second orgasm hit. The feedback loop intensified, the spirals tightening around his body. The floor beneath the Krampus was already wet and sticky, as if someone had spilled a gallon of paint.

"That's right, asshole." Mike could feel his strength waning as the magic left him. Without being part of the process, he wasn't refueling his own reserves and he had other things to do. "You either die the villain, or live long enough to become a spooge fountain."

Lily actually laughed so hard that she snorted.

"You fool, I, urgh..." The Krampus was crawling toward them now, gasping for air, then slipped in his own cum and fell face down on the floor. He landed with a splat, sticky strands hanging from his body. The whole room smelled like burnt marshmallow.