33. Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Three
Cody
Cody gave Morgan some privacy to talk with her brother, and headed across the hall to check on Nyrah and Yana.
He knocked on the door, and Yana let him in.
Nyrah was there, still tied to the bed. She silently looked over at him with her big red eyes.
Something about the color and intensity of the way she looked at him was unsettling.
Her tail swished a few times as she watched him grab the desk chair and bring it over to her side of the bed, while Yana took a seat at the end of the bed.
Cody glanced at the nightstand, where he had left Knife, before he turned back to Nyrah.
“How are you feeling?” he asked her.
“My body appears to be completely healed.”
He decided to leave it at that, for now. “Has Knife spoken to you yet?”
“He has.”
Cody felt an overwhelming sense of relief wash through him, knowing that the transfer had properly taken hold and Knife wasn’t completely gone. He still lived on, inside of Nyrah.
“Is he being…nice?” Cody asked, unsure what exactly Knife might be saying to her. She tried to kill Morgan. He left Cody and was stuck inside of her now. Knife couldn't be all that happy about the situation.
“He’s been very nice. And understanding,” Nyrah said, to Cody’s surprise. “We have made a deal.”
“A deal?”
Yana inched forward on the bed. When he looked over at her she shrugged, as if this was clearly news to her, too.
“He told me you have feelings for me,” Nyrah said quietly.
“He what now? Knife…” God, Cody really wanted to talk to Knife right now. What the fuck was he trying to pull?
“And he saw Temica. The way she…talked to me. Made me feel things. Made me feel like…I had to do something, or I would lose both you and Yana forever.”
“When?” Yana asked. “When did Temica talk to you?”
“While you were out in the woods,” Nyrah said to Yana. “She said you would leave me. She said you would find your own man, unless I could convince Cody to love both of us, and in order to do that, I needed to get rid of Morgan.”
“Fucking hell…” Cody rubbed his aching temples and tried to make sense of everything. If Nyrah was telling the truth, Temica was more to blame than anyone. Which checked out, since he already knew she was a cunt-faced whore and all that.
“Temica needs to die,” Yana said. She crawled up to be right next to Nyrah. “I would never leave you. She was telling lies!”
Nyrah looked over at her friend. “I know that now. I know she was lying to me. I won’t…” Nyrah swallowed, looking like she was holding back tears. “I won’t listen to her ever again. I won’t hurt anyone.”
“Where is she now?” Yana asked. “Gloating in her stupid gift shop?”
“I don’t know. Probably?”
Cody did not like to think about the ‘meal’ she must have gleaned from of the chaos created when Nyrah and Morgan had their showdown.
It was a little eerie that she hadn’t shown her face to rub it in, but he wasn’t about to go seek her out.
Besides, she wasn’t a Resident, so he wouldn’t be able to look her up on his Map.
Yana’s eyes met Cody’s. “Any ideas on how we kill her?”
“No.” He felt exhausted merely thinking about having to take another life, even if it was some menacing, evil demon-goddess who was fucking with his life.
“I don’t think we have enough information to take her on.
Temica claims she’s a goddess, but Knife says she might not be, but she’s still powerful.
I still think our best bet is for me to finish this stupid game. ”
“Then we will do that,” Yana said. “And if it doesn’t work, we will figure out a way to slaughter her and damn her soul for all eternity.”
Cody cocked his head, studying the elven-orc girl. “Remind me not to get on your bad side, Yana.”
She smirked, a bit of pink coloring her mint-green cheeks.
[Congratulations! You have completed your second Friendship Level with Resident Yana Rose! Only three more to go until Romance is Unlocked!]
He didn’t think his remark was all that funny, but apparently Yana thought it was funny enough—assuming that making her laugh was the key to her Friendship Levels. He looked up at her: “I got a notification saying I reached my second Friendship Level with you.”
“Really?” both girls said together.
“Yep. But also: I agree with the plan. We try to end the game, and if it doesn't work, then we have to try and defeat Temica.” But he remembered that Nyrah hadn’t explained the whole ‘deal with Knife’ thing. “Nyrah, what were you saying before about Knife? About making a deal?”
“He said he would…help me convince you that you should accept all of us. Love all of us.”
Cody didn’t particularly love that answer. “Of course he did.”
“Does no part of you want that? Want me? Because Knife said you cared about me.”
He studied her as she looked right back at him with those big red eyes, unabashedly.
There was no doubt in his mind that she was pretty.
Beautiful, even, especially when she was in her natural nekofae form with the iridescent wings and the fluffy cat ears and tail.
He also couldn’t deny he liked her curves and the way her breasts were stretching the thin fabric of her tank top, nearly spilling out of it.
And it was almost flattering to have someone this obsessed with him, but only if it didn’t inadvertently put Morgan in danger.
Cody sighed, angry at himself for even admitting that he found her attractive. “You just tried to murder my girlfriend.”
“It was Temica’s fault!” Yana shouted.
“But the kernel was already there,” Cody pointed out, waving his hand at Nyrah. “You wanted me, so you wanted Morgan gone.”
“I won’t try to hurt her again!” Nyrah said quickly. “Besides, I didn’t know…I didn’t know what she was until I touched her, and now…I don’t think I can hurt her, even if I still wanted to.”
“You’re going to need to explain that a bit better,” Cody said. “That was cryptic as fuck.”
“She’s like you. She has a Golden Heart. You’re meant to be together.” He felt that was pretty astonishing for Nyrah to say, but then she continued: “But it doesn’t mean you’re not meant to also be with me, the Heartseer—and Yana.” But okay, that part sounded more like the usual Nyrah.
“Morgan has a Golden Heart?” Cody asked.
But it made sense, really. She was the most loving, caring person he had ever met.
The way she helped with Gracie and Doug, and the way she was acting this morning, distraught over defending herself and hurting Nyrah.
Even if he didn’t understand all this Heartseer mumbo-jumbo, it felt like Morgan having a Golden Heart made all the sense in the world.
Nyrah smiled softly. “And as a Heartseer I can only find love with someone with a Golden Heart, so…perhaps that means I’m meant to be with both of you. And Yana.”
“Well, that’s a big change of heart from less than twenty-four hours ago,” Cody pointed out.
“I’m not exactly happy about it. I was very surprised that Morgan has a Golden Heart. I had no idea. I’m still processing everything myself. But it gives me…hope.”
She turned back to Cody, a desperate look in her eyes, as if she were pleading for one tiny scrap of affection from him. He looked away. “Finish explaining the deal you made with Knife. What do you have to do for him?”
“I need to go out into the woods so he can visit his ‘mushroom wife’. I’m not sure what that means. But it does mean you’d need to untie me. At least for a little bit of the day. I promise to be good.”
“You agreed to take him out into the woods every day?” Cody glared at Knife, where he sat quietly on the nightstand.
Nyrah gave Cody a solemn nod. “I’ll let you tie me back up when I’m done with my walk. You can tie me up anytime you want.”
He did his best to ignore the way her voice got all husky, laced with innuendo.
“Well, you’re not going to go walking in the forest alone. I’ll go with you.” Her face brightened up after he said that. “And I’ll untie you now and leave you untied. But you’re under room arrest. Do you know what that means? Unless I say so, you stay in this room.”
“Yes, Cody Hampshire. Anything for you.”
He sighed and grabbed Knife, so he could quickly cut the ropes around her wrists instead of fiddling around with the hastily tied knots.
Tone it down a tad, remember? None of that extra submissive stuff, came Knife’s gruff voice. He’s totally into it, but you have to properly win him over first.
Cody froze and looked down at Knife in his hand. Did you just…?
Cody?
Knife?
Holy shit, I can still talk to you? Knife asked, sounding just as excited as Cody felt.
What is happening? came Nyrah’s voice, inside Cody’s head, just like Knife.
Cody locked eyes with Nyrah, feeling just as confused as she looked, her eyes gone extra wide. Cody put Knife back down and tried to talk to him again, but he felt empty. He picked Knife back up. Knife?
Yeah, so clearly we can still talk if you’re touching me, Knife said. That’s kind of cool, eh?
Did you not know this was a thing? Cody asked.
Never stuck around a previous host long enough to find out.
This feels nice, Nyrah said through their mind-link, and she smiled serenely at him. You’re in my head. I like the way it feels when you’re inside of me.
Cody heard Knife chuckling.
Knock it off, Cody said.
“What’s happening?" Yana asked. “I thought you were going to cut her bindings?”
“Oh, right.” Cody got his bearings and carefully cut through the ropes, freeing Nyrah. “I can, um…still talk to Knife if I’m holding him,” he quickly explained.
Nyrah sat up, rubbing her wrists and fluttering her wings. What do we do now? Do you want to keep Knife with you?
Cody looked down at Knife. No. He’s yours now. Besides, I used to get killer headaches if I tried to leave him somewhere. I tried it a few times, in the beginning. But he’s attached to you now, so you should keep him in your Inventory.
“Is something happening or not…?” Yana asked, looking between Nyrah and Cody.
“We are talking inside our minds with the knife,” Nyrah said to Yana, then turned back to Cody: “I could pass him back to you? Do the same thing you did to me?”
Yana furrowed her brow, but did not comment.
Whoa, no! Knife said. No stabbing Cody! I have no idea if I can return to a previous host and stabbing my best friend in the heart to test that out is not something I am okay with.
Hmmm. Yes. If you’re unsure it would work, then I’m also not okay with that, Nyrah said.
“Take him.” Cody handed over Knife. “Put him in your Inventory. Keep him safe.”
Knife disappeared from Nyrah’s hand as she sent him into her Inventory. “I’ll keep him safe. I promise.” She blinked a few times, as if listening. “He says he’d like me to do my part of the deal now. May I go for a walk?”
“Not right now. I need to go check on Morgan. And Knife and I need to have a chat again sometime soon.” Because he really needed to talk about this whole deal Knife had made with Nyrah, and the fact that he was telling Nyrah he was into her.
Nyrah tilted her head, as if listening. “Knife says he’ll be waiting for your upcoming chat.”
“Great.” Cody left the girls and crossed the hallway, stepping back into his own room. He looked over at Morgan sitting on the bed, phone in hand. “How’d it go with Doug?”
She gave him a small smile, but her dark blue eyes still held that same haunted look she’d had all morning. “Fine. I told him I’m sick and need a few days off. I don’t think he believed me, but…” She shrugged. “How is Nyrah?”
Cody sat on the bed next to her, putting his arm around her waist. She let out a long breath as she rested her head on his shoulder. “She’s okay, all things considered.”
He filled her in on his conversation with Nyrah and Yana, telling her about Temica preying on Nyrah, and the revelation that he could still talk to Knife.
“So, that’s it? That goddess woman goaded her into it?” Morgan asked.
“Yes. I believe Nyrah’s story.”
“So, what happens now? Are they staying here with us?”
“For now,” Cody said. “They have nowhere else to go. I think it’s best if we keep them close. I still need to work my way through their Friendship Levels.”
“Friendship Levels?”
“Do you remember that video game we used to play, Fields of Hope Valley Island Farm Adventure?”
“Yes. I always thought it had a weirdly long title.”
“So, the game I’m in now is kind of like that. I need to do little tasks, give gifts and stuff, so I can level up all my ‘friends’ in town. My current plan is to one-hundred percent the game in the hopes that once I’m done, Temica will leave.”
“Really? Who are your ‘friends’?”
“Doris, William, Lexi, Marigold, Bob…Doug. Haven’t figured out Doug yet. Or Marigold. Nyrah and Yana are on the list, too. And Gracie. And you.”
“Me? I’m one of your ‘friends’?”
Cody gave her a squeeze. “You’re more than my friend, you’re one of my Romance Options.”
As soon as he said it, he realized he had slipped up.
“One of your Romance Options? So, it’s like Fields of Hope Valley Island Farm Adventure in that way, too? You can romance and marry more than one of the townsfolk?”
“Yeah. But I mean, I don’t plan on romancing anyone but you.”
“But the game has given you other options. Who? Is it Lexi? Marigold?”
He could feel his face cloud over, even though he was trying not to show any emotion. Morgan definitely noticed.
“It’s Nyrah, isn’t it?” she asked, her body going tense. “She’s your other Romance Option?”
“Nyrah and Yana. But it doesn’t necessarily mean anything. They’re just ‘options’. And I’ve already picked you.”
He could feel her body relax against his, so she clearly liked his answer.
“Let’s not worry about the game stuff right now,” he said. “I think you should take it easy and let me know if you need anything, okay?”
“Okay. I want cuddles. That’s what I need.”
“I can definitely give you cuddles. I can give you cuddles the entire rest of the day.”
Morgan lay back down on her pillows, and Cody became her big spoon, holding her nice and close.
Cody Hampshire Player Stats
Friendship Moments: Gracie: 2/5, Lexi: 1/5, Bob: 1/5, Nyrah: 4/5, Yana 2/5
Full Friendship: Doris, William
Romance Moments: Morgan: 7/10
Relationship Status: Lots and Lots of Cuddles