Chapter 25
Chapter Twenty-Five
Atlas
Kassie needed rest before tomorrow's tournament, but instead she was glued to her screen, engrossed in a deceptively adorable game that featured more violence than its pastel aesthetic suggested.
First, there was a field of pink and blue flowers, their petals swaying in a digital breeze while playful songs sung in the background.
Cartoon rabbits with oversized eyes, and playful, pranced through the meadow, leaving sparkles behind them.
The pastel scene nearly lulled me to sleep, and for a precious moment, I was able to press my snout against the warm curve where Kassie's neck met her shoulder.
I inhaled her scent while I encircled her waist with my lower set of arms.
My claws flexed against her skin, then retracted immediately as shame washed over me. The urge to claim her was strong, but I needed to let her focus.
Her scent filled my antennae. She was oblivious to how close I was to losing control. I released more pheromones involuntarily, then cursed myself for it. She deserved better than this monster I had forgotten was a side of me, yet I couldn't stop my body's betrayal even as I despised it.
Kassie kept her eyes on the screen, mercifully unaware I could just take a bite of her.
There was an explosion on the screen.
And chaos.
And… there was so much blood.
I hope I didn’t kill humans before I became sane because I found it very disturbing.
Later that night, thankfully, I was graced with resting my dick inside her body. She called this cockwarming. I didn’t care what she called it, but if that was the only way I could stay close to her, I would take what I could get.
I never grew soft, and while she slept, I would end up gyrating my hips softly only to come into her again. I tried to keep my groans of pleasure to a minimum, but even she was moaning in her sleep, grasping onto the fur around my neck.
By Night, I was a terrible male for her. Kassie was so beautiful and thoughtful. I think she realized how hard it was for me to give up time with her, so she could do her job. I knew it was important, but I swore to Night, I would find this TeaBagTitan and dispose of him after the game.
After I took a picture with my phone, I sent it to the mayor. Anything suspicious, even when a person has a special interest in another person in the town, must be reported. I would take care of this male myself, but I wouldn’t know the first place to look.
I knew who might help. Wild Slendermen still roamed the forests beyond town limits, untamed and hungry for information. They would track this TeaBagTitan for me, whispering his location through the trees.
I would not tolerate anyone talking ill of my female.
My wings had disappeared from sight as they faded away from around Kassie.
The sun barely peeked through the window.
Kassie was still asleep, her breaths deep and even.
I carefully extracted myself from her, trying not to wake her.
She muttered something incoherent and rolled over, hugging a pillow to her chest. I felt a pang of envy towards that pillow, but I had things to do.
As I finally rolled off the bed, satisfied with myself for not waking her. I tripped over a pillow and fell face-first on the floor.
Well, fuck. That noise would have woken the whole house.
I knew I was only meant for flying, none of this land stuff.
I stood up quickly to check on Kassie, but she hadn’t moved a muscle.
I brushed myself off, then snatched my clothes from the chair and dressed quickly.
My phone buzzed in my jeans pocket. The mayor had responded with only a thumbs-up emoji and a tree.
Typical. His cryptic messages always left me with more questions than answers.
Still, I needed to ensure this TeaBagTitan wouldn't become a problem for Kassie anymore.
I slipped out of the room, leaving Kassie to her dreams. I hoped they were good ones, filled with flowers and frolicking animals, Mothman sex…
Downstairs, I found Harlow already up and about, nursing a cup of coffee. She looked up as I entered the kitchen, her eyes soft. "Morning, Atlas," she said. "Sleep well?"
I shrugged, not sure how to answer that. I was horny, ready to claim my match, and I had yet to tell Kassie about any of that. "Kassie's still asleep," I said, avoiding her question.
She nodded. "She needs her rest. Big day today." She paused, then added, "You're good for her, you know. She's always been so focused on her games, it's nice to see her have something... someone... else in her life."
I felt a warmth spread through me at her words. I liked Harlow, as quirky as she was. She treated me like a person, not a monster. But I still wasn't sure how to respond to her, so I just nodded and mumbled, "Thanks."
After a quick breakfast, I slipped out of the house and into the woods. I needed to find the Slenderman, and I had a feeling I knew where to look. He liked the dark, the dense foliage, the silence.
Which was odd because I think he liked Harlow, and she was the opposite of that.
The forest was alive with morning sounds, birds chirping, leaves rustling. I moved quietly, my feet barely disturbing the undergrowth.
It didn't take long to find what I was looking for. A tall, thin figure stood among the trees, its body swaying slightly, like a sapling in the wind. His suit was black, his tie red, his face... blank. I approached and chirped in greeting.
“We have a problem,” the mayor said.
I tilted my head in confusion. “Could you not find the human?”
A sound like branches scraping against glass emanated from where his mouth should be. "Oh, I located your human quite easily. He's practically in our backyard."
I scratched the top of my head. “That close? That’s strange. Kassie plays games with gamers all over the world. Is it a coincidence he is this close to here? Where is he then?”
The mayor's hand transformed before my eyes, fingers elongating into razor-sharp talons.
He examined them with clinical detachment, turning his palm upward as if studying a curious specimen.
"The fox shifter walks among us," he said, voice like dry leaves scraping stone. "He has been here all along."
I jerked backward, wings snapping open with a sound like canvas catching wind. "Tell me his location. Is he hunting for Kassie? Because if that's his game,"—my voice dropped to a chittering growl—"then I'll consider it a direct threat. And I will eliminate it."
The mayor's head rotated sideways with a sound like dry twigs breaking.
A seam split his blank face, revealing rows of needle-like teeth that clicked together like a bear trap.
"The fox has been living among us for months now," he said, voice hollow with something that might have been shame. "I failed to detect him."
I felt my eyes dim. The mayor missing something?
Impossible. This was the being who tracked every creature's comings and goings, who maintained perfect records of humans versus monsters down to the last decimal point.
I'd bet my wings he even knew about the rut I was fighting.
Nothing escaped him. The guy could probably smell the come dripping in my pants.
“How did you—”
The mayor's blank face contorted with rage.
"That picture triggered my memory. This fox has enchanted himself with a forget-me-not spell.
Without photographic evidence, his face slips from memory like smoke.
I've encountered him before, even talked with him.
" He made a sound like grinding stone. "Fox shifters possess magic to make up for their small form. Their patron deities bestow abilities that make them... quite powerful in many ways.”
I scratched between my antennae. “Like?”
“The power of seduction for one.”
I screeched angrily.
The mayor's voice lowered to a hiss. "Fox shifters possess.
.. anatomical flexibility... designed to entice potential sexual encounters.
While he could transform completely in the wilderness, he'd never risk revealing his true nature within town limits.
Most concerning, is his dream manipulation.
During my nightly surveillance sweeps, when I count our monster population versus those dwelling in the forest, he remained invisible.
He was able to cloak his presence even from my sight. "
My wings flapped behind me. “He can override your power?”
The mayor hissed. “It appears so. He can hide from me.”
No wonder the Slenderman was pissy.
I shifted uncomfortably, trying to make room in my suddenly too-tight pants.
Comforting the mayor seemed impossible—what did you offer a being whose face splits open to reveal rows of needle-teeth?
A hug seemed out of the question. One wrong move and those teeth might slice through my antennae, leaving me with that weird chemical smell that would linger for weeks.
No thanks.
The mayor tilted his head to the other side, his arms hanging from side to side. “Think any harder, and the fluff around your neck might fall off. What do you want, Atlas?”
I cleared my throat and smoothed down the fluff around my neck. "So, uh, even the great mayor missed a shifter sneaking around town? That's gotta be rough, especially when your whole thing is keeping tabs on everyone."
The mayor growled.
“I wondered if you might need a hug?” I spread my wings and all my arms wide.
Why did I offer that? Why?
Because you are awkward as fuck.
He stood up, his mouth dropped open. “Excuse me?”
“A hug, it is what the humans do?”
The mayor dragged a palm down his featureless face, the sound like sandpaper on wood.
"Either your mating urges have scrambled what little brain you possess, or you've been drinking too much from the falls.
" His voice dropped to a hiss. "Leave. Now.
Keep your phone charged. Should I detect the fox, you'll be the first to know.
" He leaned closer, blank face somehow conveying menace.
"The fox can't hide from you or me any longer. His enchantment fails since we have seen his face other than his true self.”
I nodded and hummed. “So, no hug, then?”
“Get out!” he roared, the birds flying away from the tops of the trees.
I tumbled backward, landing hard on my rear. Wincing, I pushed myself up and rubbed at the tender spot. Thank goodness for my less-than-athletic backside—at least I had some natural padding for moments like these.
I huffed in annoyance, watching the Slenderman wipe his hands down his face, again. He was truly upset, and I couldn’t understand why. We all made mistakes, Kassie has told me so a thousand times.
That was what made her like me so much; she’s told me so. It made me feel more lifelike, more real.
My antennae twitched, and before I turned to walk away, I stepped toward him as he leaned against the tree, his shoulders hunched over, looking defeated. “You know,” I began, and his head hung over deeper. “You could go get a hug from Harlow. She looks like she could use a hug.”
He turned around and looked down at me.
“Yeah,” I nodded. “She was sitting in the kitchen just now. Talking about how lucky I was. Maybe she needs a hug, too.”
I turned away, adjusting myself with a grimace.
Nothing more I could do for the Slenderman.
My body burned with the need to return to Kassie.
Every second away from her sent waves of discomfort pulsing through me, an ache so intense it felt like my insides were being slowly carved out with a dull blade.
If I didn't get back to her soon, I'd be nothing but a twitching heap of exoskeleton and regret.