First Demonic Dragon

Chapter 1168: Zheng’s Big Debut

Odie waddled down the staircase with her eyes still half lidded shut.

Two full days of reading and she still was not fully caught up on her family’s lore.

It was, more than likely, one of her worst decisions to date because she already knew what it would do to her energy tomorrow.

She pondered the possibility of her staying home and catching up on her missed sleep before immediately dismissing the idea.

Odie liked school, but even if she didn’t, going was never a choice for her.

Lailah / Ayaana were real sticklers about education. Just shy of getting cancer or having one of her limbs chopped off, there was almost nothing that Odie could do to convince her mothers to let her stay home tomorrow.

Odie drifted around the house like a ghost. She was so tired that she hadn’t even realized that she wasn’t waking.

Her shadow had formed a large, monstrous hand and carried her through the house.

She arrived in the living room, surprising all of her parents with her strange method of transportation.

’Hello…’

Odie’s shadow placed her over all three of her parents’ laps. She lay face down on Zahara’s thick thighs and let out a contented sigh at their pillow-like texture.

“…Long night?” Zahara ran her fingers through her daughter’s curls sweetly.

Odessa nodded weakly. ’Reading… so much reading…’

The wives immediately looked towards their husband, who, after the early morning’s events, was already on the hot seat.

How was I supposed to know that she would care this much about our history?? His eyes seemed to say.

Neither of his wives looked like they were fully convinced.

Zahara repositioned her daughter’s face so that she wouldn’t suffocate.

“I could tell you to go back to bed, but I know you won’t.”

’Sleeping during the day feels icky..’

To say such a thing to the faces of three very old dragons was basically a hate crime, but they let it go because they loved their daughter.

“Well, there’s food in the fridge. We would make you something, but we’re expecting guests at any moment now.”

Odie opened her eyes a bit wider than before.

This was the first time she realized that her parents were dressed. And not in human clothes, but godly ones.

They were also far larger than she was used to. Probably over seven feet tall.

Her father’s skin was as black as the rug under their sofa, and his hair was so long that it fell all the way down his back like thick bundles of red wool.

He wore an open robe and ceremonial skirt that were a regal black and burgundy color. With his chest exposed, she could see the fist-sized ruby sitting atop his sternum. As well as the sea of white markings swirling around it.

All three of his eyes were trained on her with their usual mix of pride and fondness. But for some reason, the depth of his gaze seemed leagues deeper than normal.

’…I haven’t gotten to this part of the book yet.’

“You will.”

Odessa smiled at her father. He found himself smiling back.

Zahara leaned down and kissed her daughter on her forehead and cheek.

“Why don’t you stay home tomorrow? Be a little icky and catch up on your rest.”

Odie stiffened. ’Is that okay…?’

“You’re a straight-A student who hasn’t missed a day since you were in the third grade. I think we can make an exception just this once.”

Odessa looked towards Ayaana and found her smiling at her sweetly.

“It’s your decision.”

Odie couldn’t believe it.

“Well just do our own little review session at home when you have the energy for it.”

Odie found the situation more believable now.

Lailah was a loving mother and as sweet as cherry pie. But her motto was ’My kids can be whatever they want, they just can’t be dumb.’

Perhaps that was why Odie grew to like school so much. It was infinitely easier than being tutored by their mother.

After a bit more chatting, the three ancient beings turned their heads toward the doorway.

Sometimes, Odie thought it would be a little bit cool to have super heightened senses.

Then she remembered that she went to a human high school full of puberty-brimming teenagers and was immediately grateful she didn’t have the power.

Ayaana turned back to Odie and smiled at her.

“Time’s up. We need you to head upstairs for a while, okay?”

Odie suddenly sat up, not understanding. ’Why..? Who’s here anyway?’

“Just some people who we’d prefer not to see our beautiful little girl. They’re not worthy of the privilege.”

’Aww, stop it..!’ Odie swung her feet and giggled, unaccustomed to the praise.

Ayaana patted her on her thigh and helped her stand up.

“It shouldn’t be too long, but we’ll have Camazotz bring you something to eat just in case.”

’Okay, okay, I’m going…’

Odessa wandered out of the room and back up the stairs as her parents had said.

Once they heard the door to her room close, the three of them stood up at once and moved toward the front door.

Opening it, they found a parade of deities standing outside their home with impatient looks.

“You all certainly took your time answering.” Nergal curled his muzzle into a snarl.

Abaddon, Ayaana, and Zahara were already regretting this. It was just like Yog-Sothoth to leave the most annoying gods behind for them to deal with.

–

The backyard had seen a small overhaul. The basketball court and pool had been moved to make room for a long, cylindrical table for all of the gods to sit at.

Twelve beautiful dragon maids stood off to the side in straight rows. They offered the gods kind, reassuring smiles that put their crabby moods at ease.

Zheng was already outside waiting.

His snowy white skin glistened under the midday sun. His scales reflected the light off him and made him appear to have a refined holy aura.

The golden mask that covered his face gave him an air of mystery. The gods immediately became interested and assumed him to be hiding an immense beauty.

With his hair falling all the way below his knees and his black and gold robes, he looked like a figure that could command the respect of immortals.

His introduction was less than friendly.

“Some of you know me. Some of you don’t. We can skip the introductions until after we’ve solved our current crisis. Take your seats and let’s-”

“I thought they were joking when I heard. But this is laughable! The man-toy of the nature dragon is our new Judicator? Asherah’s grief and old age have made her senile.”

The grass in the backyard slowly began to wilt.

At the same time, the temperature began to rise from a modest 60 degrees to a blistering 90. It was December.

A large red giant of a god sauntered forward. With only one eye brimming with malice and a mouth full of ravenous teeth, Balor was a hazard for anyone whom he came across. Especially those whom he didn’t respect.

Destruction gods, without exception, will always try to test the waters with those who are supposedly above them.

Even dying once before had done nothing to temper Balor’s unsavory personality.

Lugh, the very god who had slain him, was not here to make the dark being behave. Therefore, Zheng was an easy target.

Ayaana started to respond with her own brand of venom when Zahara discreetly took her hand.

She brought a finger to her full, pink lips in a shushing gesture and offered her lover a wink.

Ayaana didn’t understand, but she was mesmerized and thus did not take action.

Meanwhile, Balor stomped forward; turning more and more of the grass into dry, brittle remains that disintegrated when stepped on.

“The nerve of you, summoning me on a day when my mood runs most afoul. I should dry out your insides and strip you of your flesh to make a tasty little twink jerky! You are-”

Balor suddenly fell over before his words even finished traveling through the air.

His head was no longer atop his head. A thick, black blood watered the very grass he had just dried out.

The gods hastily took steps back.

When they looked at Abaddon to see if he was the culprit, they found him typing away on his phone. (Checking football scores)

Everyone turned towards Zheng and gasped at the sight.

His mask removed, a spatter of blood ran from his mouth down to his chest.

Zheng’s beautiful, feminine face did nothing to make him appear any less horrific.

He appeared to be chewing on something judging by the lump that passed down his throat. No one needed to ask what it was, as there was no food on the table.

Zheng put his mask back on and returned his agitated gaze towards the assembled gods.

“As I was saying… sit down, shut the fuck up, and allow me to figure out a way to save your worthless lives.”

–

Upstairs, Odie was sitting at her desk, poking around a fried egg.

A deeply contemplative look formed on her face as she thought about the supposed meeting that was going on downstairs.

Her parents had never had meetings at home before. Nor did they really have new people over.

Silently, Odessa wondered if maybe some of the people downstairs would be ones she had already read about.

Once she had that thought, her curiosity reached a fever pitch.

’It… probably won’t hurt to take just one little peep, right?’