Chapter 181 – Losers in Paradise

Lilyth

It took both of us to figure it out, but we eventually managed to make a campfire at the beach. While Persephone was busy sulking by it, I went to track down some dinner for her. It took me a while, but I did manage to catch another terilla. However, once I brought it back, we discovered another problem - neither of us knew how to actually prepare wild game.

‘What was it you said about me using less savoury means of getting food?’ I asked, giving her a pointed look.

She averted my gaze.

‘We’ll figure it out. I just hope you have a strong stomach.’

After a LOT of trial and error, we managed to get enough of a hind leg onto a spit for Persephone to eat.

As it cooked, I told her to go wash up in the stream. We were conducting mad food science naked, so that we wouldn't get our clothes covered in blood, and thus we both needed a bath. I then went when she was eating, though judging by the expression on her face it wasn't very good.

When I was back, I found her lying on her back and looking at the stars.

‘I missed that sight when I was trapped, you know. I guess I will have plenty of time to catch up now that we are stuck here.’

‘Is this island uninhabited?’ I asked.

‘No. But the people here are unlikely to offer us a trip back to Andermon. At least not for free. It is quite a distance away.’

‘Where exactly are we?’

‘An island about five hundred kilometres east of Ror-Bhyk.’

‘That’s… shockingly not terrible.’

Then she delivered the bad news.

‘It is part of an archipelago of about four hundred islands.'

So most maritime trade will be local.

‘That’s worse.’

‘Yes. Part of my temptation possibilities list was reaching out to you once you realised how hopeless your situation was.’

‘That’s an interesting one to be sure,’ I admitted. ‘Not sure how I would have reacted to this one. Not that I would be able to hold up my end of the bargain.’

‘I’m so sorry,’ Persephone repeated.

I waved her apology away.

‘We are in this together now.’

I was confused why I was taking the whole mess in such a stride, but it was probably because by that point this being trapped on an island with an evil sorceress constituted a ”somewhat awful Tuesday”. You know… the kind you have to spend the whole day cleaning up the mess from Monday while having your calendar full of “should have been an e-mail” meetings.

I decided to move the discussion back to the main subject:

‘How did you know about this Island in the first place?’

‘Before confronting you I checked a few places I knew Zalikh was growing before my imprisonment. Most have had all the plants destroyed. This one didn't.’

‘I… see. I imagine airborne Zalikh exposure works slower on baseline humans?’

‘Depends on the power. I am fairly powerful so it took minutes. So brief scouting trips were fine.’

‘Still, we have a vestige of a plan,’ I smiled sadly. ‘Find whoever is running this place and then work, fight or whore ourselves into getting a ship home.’

‘Seems like it,’ Persephone agreed, sounding completely dejected.

‘Keep your chin up,’ I said, trying to cheer her up. ‘I have been on this godsforsaken planet for what two months and have yet to see a single thing go as fucking planned. For me or people tied to me. Welcome to the glorious world of the “Met Lilyth” curse.’

‘I think this is more a case of “Met Persephone” curse,’ she smiled sourly. ‘As you know, I haven't exactly had a great success rate.’

‘What can I say?’ I smiled back at her. ‘You are a fuck-up, ‘Phone. But… so am I. And with our powers of failure combined, I feel sorry for the world.’

‘I think we will be able to spare Dwynveia that terrible fate,’ a familiar rasp came out from the direction of the sea.

We turned towards the source and saw Phosi emerging from beneath the waves and walking onto the beach.

‘See?’ I laughed to Persephone who was staring at Phosi, trembling.

The Sconryoll got to her in two bounds and leaned over her. Persephone began crawling back, but Phosi was not having it and, semi-dissolving into liquid, formed a ring of acid around the Sorceress.

‘Not so tough now, eh bitch?’ she rasped.

‘Phosi!’ I shouted. ‘Stop!’

The monster looked at me with clear hate in her eyes.

‘You dare stand between me and my prey, morsel?’

Resolve began to flee me under her gaze, but I steeled myself and said:

‘Yes. Yes, I do.’

‘Why? She is the reason you are here. She attacked us. She killed Kirsee.’

I desperately sought an argument I could use to convince an angry and hungry sea monster.

‘Because you too were given a chance to improve,’ I finally said, reminding the Sconryoll of her deal with the gods. ‘To fight against your nature. I am offering her the same chance. Redemption.’

Phosi looked down at Persephone again and stared at her for a moment. Her expression momentarily went vacant, which was a telltale sign of consulting with her patron.

Finally, with clear hesitation, she reformed into her land form.

‘Very well,’ she spat. ‘Nyx is open to letting this bitch try to atone for her actions BUT left the final decision as to her fate to me. I will stay her execution, under a few conditions. First, after I let the others know where you two are I will be joining you as a chaperone. Second, if I ever see you try ANYTHING I don’t like, morsel, you are done. You may have had an advantage over me in Ror-Bhyk, but here… you are just another mortal. Meaning you are my bitch. Third, this is for you, Lilyth - I will be watching you, too. Remember the promise I made to you on Julbar. If I discover that the reason for your willingness to try to fix her is… carnal in nature you and she will die. Understood?’

We looked at each other with ‘Phone and we nodded.

‘Good. I will be back in a few days. Do behave.’

Phosi turned to leave but I stopped her and asked:

‘Could you not tell Malika about her?’

That piqued the Sconryoll’s interest.

‘Why?’ she rasped, so I explained what Persephone told me about her.

Phosi’s grin got wider and wider with every word.

‘That answers several questions I had. Thank you, morsels.’

She then looked at the sorceress and said:

‘You might yet be useful. Very well. I shall keep this away from Malika. Anything else?’

‘How did you find us?’

The answer to that question was simple. While exploring the seas Phosi did come across a few islands with Zalikh growing on them. Doubtlessly there were more, but she figured she might as well check them out. She then saw our fire.

‘Last question: Aren’t you afraid Zalikh will hurt you?’

‘No. I am actually made of acid. It doesn’t work on me.’

With that, we said our goodbyes and, after Phosi was gone, I helped Persephone get up. I saw there were small acid burns on her skin and outfit. The girl looked like she had had enough for the day, so I took off my suit jacket, hung it over her shoulders and sat her by the fire.

I then moved to the other side of it and lay down on the sand, my hands crossed down beneath my head.

‘Thank you,’ I heard her mutter, as she wrapped herself in my jacket and lay down on her side.

Caeileera

I was not sure what was the biggest shock: that Phosi managed to find Lilyth or that the stupid furball somehow befriended Persephone.

‘Like, seriously… what the fuck?’ I asked.

‘I mean, they are both trapped on that island, it seems,’ Savri said. ‘Adversity makes strange bedfellows and all that.’

‘I have warned them specifically against becoming bedfellows,’ Phosi rasped.

‘Um… thank you?’ Aki said. ‘I guess? I personally trust Lilyth. She has never shown any interest in sleeping around.’

I shook my head.

‘I do too… but we won't get there for a few months most like, and that's a lot of time for… things to develop. Being alone with a woman you have to overcome troubles with… people will people.’

‘Shit,’ Aki spat. ‘Haven’t considered that.’

‘Don’t worry,’ I said. ‘Also… as much as I hate to say it, I think we really should give Lilyth a “stranded on an island” pass.’

Aki looked at me as if I were the one to hang her adoptive father.

‘You gave me one for Ren,’ I said. ‘And the point is not to give her permission to fuck around. It is more a “the circumstances are what they are, so we shouldn't hold it against her if it does happen” thing.’

‘I don’t like it,’ Aki cried. ‘I really don’t. But… you are right.’

‘I am not telling them that,’ Phosi rasped.

‘And you shouldn't,’ Ren said. ‘As Caei said… the situation is hard enough for her. So, best to show some… leniency.’

‘Very well,’ Phosi rasped. ‘She is your wife. And, hopefully, my presence will keep the two of them straight.’

‘Hopefully,’ Aki said and gave us a weak smile.

‘What do we do with the bitch afterwards though?’ Phosi asked. 'She is dangerous.'

‘Let’s see,’ Deirdee muttered. ‘I tried to murder Lilyth, Caei and Aki. Twice. Rennie is a former crime lord and, oh yes, you are a man-eating vengeful spirit. I really don’t think we get to judge.’

‘You would be horrified if you saw half the things I did while part of the Fourth,’ Sav added. ‘Like it or not, this outfit is all about second chances and redemption and Persephone could be a powerful ally. And, remember, she wiped the floor with us when we last fought her. If she were actually serious, we would be ALL dead. She also gave us valuable information.’

‘About my mom,’ she whispered.

‘Assuming she wasn't lying.’ I said.

‘She wasn’t,’ Phosi rasped. ‘At least not by much. There were legends about Malika when I was growing up. Fairly old ones too. And well… you all saw during that meeting. She knew who Persephone was immediately.’

That she did.

‘What is she doing here, though?’ Deirdee asked.

We all pointed at Aki.

‘Though it is possible that her initial objective changed after she fell in love with the Viscount,’ my blue-haired light bug said.

‘I don’t think Sav’s mom is a threat,’ I said. ‘But it is best to… be careful with regards to Persephone and her. We don’t want our potential new ally smeared on the streets of Ror-Bhyk.’

And with that, it was decided. Operation: Rescue Lilyth was a go.