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Sucking the Lollipop

“Do you want to suck my lollipop?”

Adam opened his mouth.

“Fufufufufu! Good boy!”

“Nmmph!?”

Bubblegum. Iris' lollipop had a bubblegum flavor. It filled Adam's mouth and danced on his tongue, while his eyes closed shut and faced flinched. With it, there was the taste of... something else. That 'something else' was Iris' taste. And it tasted good.

“Keep sucking,” she whispered her tone this odd mixture of a dominating command, with regal sensuality.

Regardless, Adam did as he was told and kept sucking. He sucked down her spit. He sucked down his own spit. He sucked down on the candy. All as he sweated, and curled, and bawled in fear of the impossible acts that just happened. His world – his sensible world – no longer had logic to cling to.

And it was only getting worse.

“Okay... open your eyes,” Iris ordered.

He was still mortified by what he would see, still struggling to parse this new world he now existed in. But, regardless, he did as he was told and opened his eyes. There before him was Iris, still sporting those horns and tail, and still leering down upon him with her hellfire eyes. One hand sat on her hip, while the other hand twirled some hair around her finger, all while she looked down upon him in a slightly dismissive manner. But saying not a word, she stepped aside, revealing..

“What in God's name...?”

“Fufufufu! God? He's not here...”

And Adam agreed.

The school. What happened to the school!? Gone was Osmond Academy as he knew it. Replacing it was something... deranged. The building which typically stood at four or five stores tall, was now twenty stories high, having been stretched and warped in an inhuman manner! It looked less like a tangible building, and more like a fantastic painting!

But it wasn't just the building that was stretched; everything seemed utterly bizarre! Benches and banisters were gnarled and barbed like the vines of a rose, the bushes too were adorned in a variety of deadly and otherworldly looking plants, the trees had faces carved into their trunks, and around everything there was this sinister, dark, purple miasma. It wafted above the ground and danced in the atmosphere, having completely replaced the fog that was here just moments before.

No... all of Osmond Academy had been replaced by this demonic visage of what the school should be.

“Ggh...! I-Iris,” said Adam as he reached up and grabbed her, holding upon his classmate as his eyes swept around to scan their surroundings, “Where... where are we!? Wh-what is going on!?”

“This is Daemonium, Adam,” she answered, “Or... more accurately, it is a pocket of Daemonium.”

“A pocket of... wh-what!? D-Daemonium!? L-like in demons!?” he replied as he looked up at her, his face frantic.

“It would seem as if someone has brought a piece of Daemonium into your realm,” Iris explained, “This is what originally attracted me to Osmond Academy in the first place. When I arrived in your world, I felt areas such as this call out to me. I came here first in order to investigate. Someone has been performing demonic rituals at the academy, and a few others around the city. Those phantoes were guard dogs put in place to protect the academy from others, such as myself. They attacked you because they – like I – can tell that you are aware of their presence. Normally, they'd leave you be.”

“W-WHAT!?” Adam responded, his face frantic as he looked up at her, “Demonic rituals!? P-phantoes!? Iris...!? What are you talking about!? This... this doesn't make any sense! And... and...” he stopped for a moment, thinking about her words, “You... you... arrived in my world? What do you mean by that?”

“You asked for answers, and I'm giving them to you,” she replied as she looked him in his face, an annoyed pout on her lips, “It's not my fault if you can't handle it. Adam... you are a medium. That's why you have been suffering headaches around me. You can feel my presence when I'm around. It's also why you could see the phantoes, and why they perceived you as a threat.”

“Okay... okay... okay okay okay,” he pulled back, “Whoa... just... just let me try and get this straight. This place where we're in... this place that I can now see... it's a pocket of Daemonium, that's what you said, right? And I can see it... feel it... wh-whatever, because I'm a... medium!? Mediums exist!? I thought they were... no, no, no... no... wait... let me... let me focus... ahem... like you said, this is a pocket of Daemonium, and I'm a medium... and... and... wait...” he looked at her, “You said this is a pocket of Daemonium... you're clearly familiar with this and...” his eyes quivered, “You have horns... and a tail... and those eyes and... and... you said you came from a different world...” he started walking backwards, “I-Iris... wh... what are you?”

“Fufufufufu...”

Her taunting giggles had the opposite affect on Adam. They made his blood turn cold and his eyes grow wide, while his entire body quaked with an indescribable fear. This girl – his classmate – was not human. Yes, that's obvious from the horns, and the tail, and the eyes, but this went beyond all of that. With talks of mediums and Daemonium, Adam realized that his classmate was a..

“You're smart, Adam,” Iris said, her tail slithering over to gently tease his chin, “Go ahead... say what's on those cute little lips of yours.”

“Are... are you a demon?”

Iris smirked.

“Isn't it obvious?” she answered, “You stand before Princess Iris Violetta Mordredus from the land of Mordredus. From this moment on, I demand your unconditional worship, praise, and loyalty.”

Iris' words made Adam's eyes quake again. She wasn't just a demon... but a princess from a far off land? If she said this to him yesterday, he would have thought her crazy. But after everything that just happened, all he could do was lean against the wall behind him in shear disbelief.

Adam clutched his head, struggling to make sense of the world he now lived in. Not only did demons exist, not only was he nearly killed by a group of them, but his classmate was a demon princess, and he was a medium. What the hell; did his life suddenly become some fantastic story? Because it sure as hell did not feel fantastic!

Closing his eyes, he felt his heart rate spike as his anxieties began to build. Discomfort, fear; it all mixed together with him, causing his blood pressure to spike even further. The world as he new it was... no longer normal.

But Iris was there.

Placing her hands upon his shoulders, she guided him in until his head was resting against her chest. The embrace was soft, her smell like that of flowers, and her beating heart had this gentle tone. With every passing second, Adam felt his anxieties begin to melt away, relaxing him. All the while, Iris placed her hands to the back of his head, nuzzling him more against her bust.

“You poor, poor boy,” she whispered, “You're like a lost puppy. You just need help.”

“Mmm... Iris...” he replied as he pulled his head back, “I... I'm... I'm so... confused...” he shook his head, “This is... this is nothing like I thought it would be. What... what is even happening?”

“Hmm...”

Iris' tail straightened up and her head turned. Gazing towards the distance, she saw the shadows of... something else begin to encroach upon them. And it wasn't just one, but many. This conversation needed to be cut short.

“Come on. Let's go,” Iris said.

“But wait-- whoa!?”

She didn't give him any chance to respond as her hand quickly scooped him up into her arm. Gripping tightly upon Iris, Adam's eyes darted around their surroundings as they started running through the warped school. Mouth agape, he too could see the shaded figures of these strange creatures in the distance. They quivered through the purple miasma which surrounded them, not unlike the phantoes from before. However, these things seemed... bigger. But they were too far away to get a good look at them, and getting even farther as Iris rushed through the school.

As they ran through the academy, more and more of its strange transformations became obvious. Like how some trees were longer and gnarled like thick vines, even with their faces, or how certain areas of the academy were now floating. FLOATING! What the hell is going on!?

But nothing was as wild as the gate.

Ssskkkrrrrrrrrkkk!!!

Iris slid to a stop and Adam looked forward. The opulent golden gates of Osmond Academy were gone, having been replaced with a gnarled black gate, one that stood at a story tall, and, oh yeah, had a face on it! Eyes which glowed with this green flame, teeth stretched out in a vicious snarl, and even hands that stretched from the stone wall beside it.

“GRRRAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRLLLL!!!”

Its roar too was twisted and sinister, sounding like a beast whose voice had been distorted with metallic sounds. And there was so much force behind its bellow that it caused Iris and Adam's clothes and hair to flutter. The blond flinched and fixed his glasses, but his classmate held out her hand.

“I'm coming through,” Iris announced as--

Gleeeeaaaaaaam!

Fwwwsshh!

Her axe reappeared in her palm.

“GRRAAAARRRRRNNN!!!”

But the demonic gate was not deterred. Raising its thick arm, it swung at Iris with enough force to flatten the two of them, but she quickly leaped out of the way. Tall and amazonian though she may be, the demon princess moved with graceful leaps and sonic speed. They landed a few yards away, with Adam babbling nonsensically. But Iris – retaining a serious and determined face – gripped her axe tightly, then leaped the gate before them.

SHWING!!!

It may have appeared insurmountable to Adam, but to her, it was nothing more than paperweight.

With one slash, her axe easily tore the gate in twain, forcing it open and freeing them from the twisted Osmond Academy. Her axe vanished soon after in a brilliant show of light, and the two ran through it.

Escaping through to the other side, Adam clinched upon Iris as he stared over her shoulder, watching Osmond Academy move further and further away. It was still twisted and warped like a deranged representation of what the school should be, but everything else was so... normal; as if they weren't sitting next to a demon's realm!

But once they made it a safe distance away, Iris came to a halt and turned around, staring at the so-called daemonium pocket with a glare of annoyance. What was it doing here, and who summoned all of these monsters? She had an idea, But first...

“Adam? Are you okay?” Iris asked as she looked down upon the pale-faced boy in her arm.

He laid there, mouth agape, lollipop hanging on his lips, while his wide eyes stared upon the towering princess who held him. This was happening, right? He wasn't having some weird, strange dream about the new girl at school? She was actually holding him, with horns and a tail, after saving him from demons, and revealing herself as being a demon?

WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!?

“You appear scared, Adam,” Iris said sarcastically, “Is something wrong?”

“How can you be so casual!? Of course something is wrong! You're a demon! Demons exist! And not demons like alcoholism, or drugs! And not even demons like the indescribable! But you are an actual... physical...” he reached up, placing his hands on her horns where he realized how strong and firm they were, “Tangible...” then he looked her in the eyes, “Demon...”

“Tch... you mortals. Always so quick to fall when your worldview is shaken,” Iris remarked.

For as warped as his reality was now, Adam still took the time to marvel at his classmate... err... demon princess. Touching her horns, stroking them, feeling their texture, and then brushing his finger on their fine point. If he pushed even slightly too hard, he'd actually draw blood.

Iris was a demon. Iris was an honest to God demon.

“What... what are you doing here?” Adam asked, causing her to cock her head.

“Remember what I said earlier today?” she asked back, before scoffing dismissively, “No... of course not. You're still probably focused on me fighting the phantoes, and the fact that I'm a demon. I'll explain it to you slowly and keep it concise, less your little head explode. I'm here looking for a man. His name is Urien Shroud.”

“That... right... that's what you said earlier in the school infirmary,” Adam muttered, “Urien Shroud... you... you think... n-no... you thought I knew someone named Urien Shroud. But... but I don't... wait...” he looked over her shoulder towards the still warped school, “Is... is that Urien Shroud guy the one who made the school look like... that?”

“I believe so,” Iris answered, only to shake her head, “Though I am not completely sure. When I arrived in your world, I did so outside of Amber Meadows. I've spent a few weeks here gathering my bearings, where I've discovered that your school is one of several places that contain pockets of Daemonium. However, these pockets only appear at night. The only being capable of creating these pockets, are demons of incredible, magical power. Unless your city contains more demons that I am unaware of, I have reason to believe that Shroud is responsible for these pockets.”

“But... but how would you know for sure?” he asked.

“Because I followed him here,” she replied, “My brother and our ally followed him to his hideout. There he escaped through a portal into your realm. I chose to follow him alone,” she then clinched her fists, “But as of late, my search for Shroud has come up... empty. It's almost like he vanished the moment he went through the portal, though I'm sure it opened up in the same place.”

“No... no... this... this is...” Adam began nudging away from Iris, working himself out of her gasp so that he could stand on his wobbly feet, “I-Iris, this is too crazy... too insane! Why... why are you telling me all of this? Why... why did you even call me here?”

“Isn't it obvious?” she replied, “I've decided to conscript you into the Royal Mordredus Army. While I am here looking for the fugitive Shroud, you will aid me.”

“WHAT!? Why me!?”

“Remember?” she tapped his head, “You are a medium. You're aware of otherworldly phenomena. You've no doubt always been aware of it, you just didn't realize it, or you attempted to rationalize it as nothing more than your imagination. However, I have now opened your eyes. You're welcome.”

“Then close them!” he said as he took the lollipop from his mouth, “I don't want my eyes open! I don't want any of this! Your demonic problems are your demonic problems! They have nothing to do with me! Nothing to...” he walked backwards and closed his eyes, “They have nothing to do with me, Iris! I...”

He kept his eyes closed, hoping – praying – that things would go back to normal; that things would make sense. But when his eyes opened, his gaze fell upon Iris, who smiled at him in a devilishly sensual manner. Her hellfire eyes pierced through the night air, her tail slithered on the ground, and her pompous chest hovered right above his face. Try, try with all his might, even Adam could feel his abrasiveness start to fade.

“What do you want from me?” he asked.

“Your aid,” she answered, “I've been in this world for several weeks now, but I'm no closer to finding Shroud now than I am when I arrived. But you know Amber Meadows. You've lived here far longer than I have. With your knowledge on the land, I'm sure I will discover my target sooner rather than later. Besides...” she reached up and clutched his head, her thumb brushing against his cheek, “I find you intriguing. A medium like you? Fufufufufufu! You have some secrets in your family, even if you don't know them.”

“I...” he pulled away and averted her eyes, “I... Iris... I am not the person who can help you. I'm just... some teenager. I go to school! I'm thinking about colleges! I'm... I'm no medium! I know numbers and math... science! Not magic and monsters! I don't even play DnD! I...!” he palmed his head, “This is too much... this is too crazy.”

“Fufufufufufu! I get it!” Iris replied, much to his surprise, “You need sleep, Adam. You need to come to terms with all that's happened. You remind me of knights who are heading off to their first major battle. They are always so skittish, like you are now.”

“I...”

Iris was right. He did need to sleep this off. He needed to sleep all of this off. Even if Iris left him alone, how would he go on with the rest of his life now knowing that demons are real? He's met one – he knows one – and he just watched her fight off monsters like this was a video game. There's no ignoring this!

There were still so many questions he wanted to ask, but the stress of the situation made him pale and tired. His bed would sound nice right now. Assuming of course he actually could sleep.

Saying not a word, Adam turned away from Iris and began walking off, heading towards the bus stop in the distance. In his mind he was attempting to come to terms with this new reality, blocking him from his surroundings... and the powerful gaze his classmate was giving him.

Iris was grinning.

…

Adam did not get much sleep that night.

Demons exist. Demons exist. Demons exist.

This thought repeated in his head ad naseum during his bus ride home, it repeated in his head when he 'sneaked' his way back inside his house, and it repeated in his head when he laid in his mattress. Sweat pouring down his form, the young man laid in his bed, pale in the face as he continued to replay in his mind the events of that night. If only he had enough wherewithal to ignore Iris' texts and stay at home. If he did, then maybe his world would have remained normal.

But it wasn't normal anymore. Unless he was fortunate enough to suffer some memory lost, the events of tonight would stay with him forever.

Maybe he should stay home from school tomorrow. While he didn't want to miss out on two days of school, he figured he could miss several before it began to affect his academics. Besides, he did pass out in the middle of class; no one would think ill of him if he decided to rest through Tuesday. However, if he did stay at home, that meant he'd be forced to contend with this new reality regardless.

Why... why oh why did he leave his home!? He should have stayed ignorant.

Before he knew it, sunlight was cascading upon him through his window. Flinching and groaning in pain, Adam tried to ignore it in hopes of getting some sleep, but to no avail. Outside his bedroom he could hear footsteps; his mother was moving about to get started on her morning workout. But before she left her home to do so...

Knock... knock... knock...

“Adam?” came Eve's voice, causing him to rise up, “Are you okay in there?”

“I'm... fine, Mom... I'm fine,” he answered.

The door opened, revealing his mother who looked down upon him in a concerned manner. The face she wore pained him, making Adam fear he was some burden to his mother and his family as a whole. He knew this wasn't true, but when she looked at him with a face like that, he just couldn't help but to...

“You're pale, Adam,” said Eve as she approached her son, “Are you sure you're fine.”

“I...”

He thought about telling her what happened... but of course, he immediately vetoed doing something so monumentally stupid. Like, there are hundreds of ways that could go terrible, the least of which making him seem crazy! No, it was best to tell a half truth, saying,

“I... didn't get much sleep last night.”

“Was it because of your fall?” she asked, to which he turned away and nodded.

“Y-yeah...”

“Do... do you think you need to see a doctor?”

“N-no. I'm fine, don't do that!” he said as he shook his head, “Just um... just... uh... can I stay home today? I think I'll be fine Wednesday.”

“Are you sure? I can call our physician; it won't take long.”

“I'm sure, Mom. I don't want you wasting money for a non-issue.”

“Adam...”

Reaching her hand out, Eve placed it upon her son's cheek, checking his warmth. On one hand, it felt belittling. He was eighteen, not eight. On the other hand, he knew he couldn't tell her the truth of what was bothering him. Things were better this way.

Beep! Beep! Beep!

“Ah...”

Eve pulled back and raised her wrist. Resting on it was her smart watch, telling her it was time to start her morning jog. Nodding, she pulled away and looked at her son, who smiled at her in a reassuring manner. The smile didn't work on her, nor did it work on himself, but what else could she do? If Adam didn't want to see a doctor, she'd trust him for now. Maybe staying at home would do him good.

“Okay, Adam. I'll come back for you when breakfast is ready,” Eve said as she exited his room, “Try and get some sleep.”

“I will, Mom,” he answered... and then the door closed, “Ugh...”

Falling back in his bed, he groaned to himself, regretting the fact that he lied to his mother's face like that. He so desperately wanted to tell her the truth, tell her what was really going on, but no one would believe something so fantastic. So he laid there and stuffed his head beneath his pillow, hoping this would lull him to sleep.

But outside as his mother left their home, the cool autumn air began to stir. Placing her headphones into her ears, she walked down their porch and came to the sidewalk, ready to start her morning the way she always does. But before she could take even one step.

“Good morning, ma'am!”

A voice rang from behind.

Straightening up, Eve turned around where her eyes fell upon a girl in the Osmond Academy uniform. A tall girl in the Osmond Academy uniform. A tall girl with purple hair. And most striking of all, that purple hair appeared to be 100% natural.

“Um... uh... h-hello?” said Eve in confusion as this girl approached her. Like, wow, she was so tall. Taller than her, despite appearing to be decades younger! She may even be as tall as her husband, “Do I... um... know you?”

“Fufufufufu! No, you don't, but I know your son,” said the girl as she stood before her, “Your name is Evelyn, right? Evelyn Winchester? Your Adam's mother, right?”

“Y-yes... I am... and you are?”

“I'm Adam's classmate, Iris Mordredus, and there's information I'd like to share with you. May we please talk?”

…

“Just make space, Frankie!”

“I'm moving things as fast as I can, Eve! Just... nngh! Move out of the way!”

“I'm over here! Don't worry! Just move the couch and...! Ah! We have to make so much space!”

What was going on down there?

Eyes opening, Adam stared up to the ceiling of his bedroom, a confused look on his lips. Downstairs he could hear his parents shuffling about, moving things. Weren't they supposed to be having breakfast soon? He didn't smell anything.

Shaking his head, he got up from his bed and stumbled to his feet, where he wobbled over to his door. Opening it up, he came to the hall, where he saw the door to the bathroom was opened, and leaning out of it was--

“Alice? Something wrong?” Adam asked of his pajama-clad sister, who looked over at him with a toothbrush in her mouth.

“I don't know,” she muttered as she looked back at him, “Mommy and Daddy are working downstairs though. I think they're moving things around?” she shrugged her shoulder, “Something's going on...”

Raising an eyebrow, Adam headed downstairs, where he confirmed Alice's claims. Their parents were moving things around to make space. The couch pushed aside, some chairs too, and even the coffee table had been slid near the wall. But why?

“What's going on?” Adam asked as he looked at his parents, who both stopped to stare at him.

“Ah! Good morning, Adam!” said his mother who came over to placed her hands on his shoulders, “Are you okay? Did you sleep well? You were really pale earlier, but you're looking a little better now. Is everything okay?”

“I... I'm fine,” he answered, “But uh...” he looked past her to his father, “Mom... Dad...? What's going on?”

“Oh... riiiiight, heh... we didn't tell you,” said Frankie, much to Adam's further confusion, “Though... it really slipped our minds too. I nearly forgot we even agreed to this.”

“Agreed to... what? What are you talking about?” Adam asked, his eyes sweeping between his parents, “Did... did something happen? Is something happening?”

“Oh... right, right! I guess we should explain,” said Eve, who was absolutely brimming with excitement, “Adam! We've decided to house a foreign student! We're going to be taking care of them for the time being! Ah! I can't believe your father and I totally forgot about this, but there's no going back now, isn't it, Frankie?”

“I suppose but...” he rubbed the side of his head, “I swear... I don't remember signing any paperwork.”

While his parents began moving things around, Adam stood there, his eyes wide and mouth agape as he replayed their words in his head. They decided to house a foreign student!? When the hell was this!? They've never even hinted at wanting to do such a thing! And what student could that be!?

As if he needed to think about it for more than two seconds! But, no, no, he needed to confirm things; he needed to be 100% sure that the person he was thinking about, and the person his parents were speaking of, were indeed the same person. So he walked up to them, causing them to stop and look over when he said,

“M-Mom?”

“Yes, Adam? Are you okay? You're... looking even paler than before...” she said in a worried manner.

“I... I... I think I'm fine,” he said as he clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth, “Umm... uhh... I uh... I... I need to know something... I... um...” he swept his eyes from his mother to his father, “This student that we're housing – the one who will be living with us... is her name... Iris?”

“Yes! Yes she is!” said Eve gleefully, her expression beaming while Adam's heart plummeted into his stomach, “I met with Miss Mordredus earlier during my morning jog! She caught me off guard and reminded me that we're supposed to be housing her for the rest of the semester! She's such a kind girl; I'm happy she didn't get mad at me forgetting!”

Iris... caught his mother... and 'reminded' her that they were going to house her for the rest of the semester? Iris – the girl he now knew was a demon – was going to live with them?

Adam walked backwards on wobbling feet, his eyes widening as his hands clutched his chest. His heart... his poor, thumping heart! It was racing at sonic speeds, causing his blood pressure to spike to a dangerous degree.

What was Iris doing? Why was she doing this? Had she done something to her parents to make them act this way? And...!

“Nngghh...!”

“A-Adam...? Is something wrong?” said his father, seeing his distress as she clutched his head.

His head... his head hurt! Like an axe was being split through his skull! He took a step back... and then another... and then another, only stopping as he fell back upon the stairs. Still clutching his head, he groaned audibly in pain... while these 'Thumps...!' began echoing. They were coming closer... and closer...

Thump...! Thump...! Thump...! Thump...!

And then the door...

Knock! Knock! Knock!

“Oh! Oh! There she is!” said Eve as she walked to the door, “I'll get it!”

Adam looked up, his eyes somewhat strained as he stared at the doorway. His mother – brimming with excitement – unlocked and opened the door. And on the other end... was...

“Iris...”

“Good morning, Winchesters!” the demon princess announced as she entered the home, an arrogant smile on her pompous lips, “I apologize for my tardiness. I was moving my... things.”

That word. 'Things'. It rolled off of Iris' tongue, while her red eyes cut across the living room to fall on Adam. He couldn't believe his eyes as he came face to face with his classmate, while she looked down upon him most of all. The others were ants; he was a puppy. Her puppy. It was only now that he was beginning to realize this.

“Nice to meet you, Miss Mordredus,” said Frankie as he stood between Iris and her son, completely unaware of the gazes they were giving one another.

“It's nice to meet you too, Mr. Winchester,” she said as she shook his hand. And quite the firm handshake as well; the power Iris had in her grip was better than many men Frankie knew. His eyes actually grew wide as he briefly looked down at their handshake, then back up to her smirking face.

“Nice grip... strong grip too,” said Frankie as he pulled his hand back, “Hey! Alice! Come downstairs and say hi to Iris! She's gonna be staying with us until the end of the semester!”

“Coming!” her voice rang from upstairs.

Quickly bolting downstairs, the ten-year-old darted past her brother (who was still freaking out at the base of the stairs, mind you) and came rushing up to stand before Iris. There she came to a halt, her head turned up to stare at the girl who towered above not only her mother and brother, but her father as well. But it wasn't the height which attracted Alice the most, no... it was her...

“I really like your horns...”

Iris' head cocked to one side, while both Frankie and Eve looked at their daughter in a confused manner. Their gazes then returned to Iris.

“Horns...?” said Frankie.

“Oh! Hahahaha! S-sorry, Miss Mordredus, Alice doesn't mean anything by it!” said Eve as she shook her head, “She's a very hyperactive child with an equally as active imagination! Please don't feel insulted by it!”

“No, no... fufufufufufu! It's alright,” Iris said with a smirk as she looked Alice in her eyes.

“Hey, Adam!” called Frankie, “You too! C'mon and welcome your classmate to our home!”

But when everyone looked at Adam, his eyes were three-times as large. Looking across the room towards Iris, he read the devilish smirk on her face as her red eyes glowed. Just being in her presence sent a quake through his body and he stood up. But he didn't approach her, no, he started walking backwards up the stairs... before turning around completely to rush back to his bedroom.

“Oh... dear...” said Eve, her tone one of concern... before quickly brightening up again to save face, “S-sorry about that, Miss Mordredus. Adam's been... a bit under the weather, lately. He doesn't mean any disrespect, I-I promise!”

“Fufufufu... none taken,” Iris said with a shake of her head, “And, please... call me Iris.”

Upstairs in his room, Adam quickly dove into his bed and pulled his pillow over his head, surrounding himself in darkness So desperately he wanted to drown out the world; to wake up again on Monday morning as if everything that happened was nothing more than a bizarre dream. But of course, he knew better. Of course he knew that life as he knew it was over.

Keeping his head down, Adam struggled to retain his thoughts, while downstairs he could hear his parents talk with Iris. Then they moved, with his father no doubt helping his classmate take her things inside, while his mother went to make breakfast. Everyone was acting like this was normal! How was Iris doing this? Why was Iris doing this?

These questions and more all swarmed around his head, and they only stopped when he began hearing footsteps. Heavy and strong, they climbed up the stairs, then started walking down the hall; step, by powerful step. And then they stopped.

Right at his door...

Eeeeaaaaaarrrrk!

He didn't even need to turn over to see who it was. But he did anyway.

Adam pulled his head from his pillow and looks at the door, his eyes falling on Iris. His purple-haired classmate stood at the door frame, her arms leaning on it while her red eyes glowed bright enough to dominate her face. Her horns had returned, her tail too, reminding him of last night's events. All the while she approached him; step... by step... by step...

“Adam...”

She stood before him; this towering woman of amazonian power. From her pompous chest up to her face, he could not look anywhere but at her. Not too hard, since she utterly dominated his vision. Like yesterday, Iris had this flawless ability to make him feel so lesser. He wanted to roar at her, to yell at her, and he even felt the courage to do so. But just as quickly as it befell him, it evaporated.

“Iris...” he whispered back through gritted teeth, “What are you doing here? What do you want from me?”

But she didn't answer. Instead she turned away from Adam, and walked over towards his computer. Bending over, her tail sprung up, giving him a glimpse of her panties from beneath her skirt. Why, oh, why was she doing this? Blushing, he looked away and gritted his teeth, embarrassed and annoyed by how she so casually toyed with him.

“This is... a... computer, right?” Iris asked as she looked over her shoulder towards him, a smile on her face, “This world is filled with such wondrous thing...” using her tail, she pulled over his desk's chair and sat in it, “This is far different from Mordredus. It's far different from anything I've ever experienced.”

“Iiiirrriiiiissss...!” Adam growled through gritted teeth, “What do you want? And what did you do to my family?”

“Your family?” Iris repeated as she stared at the door, “Absolutely nothing.”

“Nothing!? As if! They... they acted like this was all planned! They shouldn't even know who you are, let alone believe that they should house you while you're here!” he shook his head, “Go look for that Shroud guy somewhere else! Leave my family out of it!”

“I will leave your family out of it,” Iris replied as she placed her hand on her chest, “But you are different. Remember what I said last night? I've conscripted you into the Royal Mordredus Army. You are going to aid me.”

“I... what!? I never agreed to such a thing!”

“It doesn't matter,” she replied, “You're mine now. Don't fight it... even you can feel it.”

“Why me? Because I'm a medium!? I didn't even know I was a medium until you came into my life!”

“And you're not the only one...” Iris remarked as she tapped her cheek with her finger, a smirk adorning her lips.

“Wh... what? What are you talking about?”

“Your parents are as ignorant to me as everyone else is. You want to know why everyone seems to accept me? Fufufufufu! It's because of my regal majesty! When a being of my power and abilities appear before you mortals, your brains, no... your lowly spirits force themselves to accept me, less their fragile worldview is shattered. That's why everyone – including your parents – accept me as being a foreign student. It's easier that way. However, people with a strong sixth sense – such as you – are able to realize something is off. You noticed I was a demon; it's why you suffered headaches. But your sister...”

“My sis...? Alice!?” he launched up from his bed and stood before Iris, “What have you done to Alice!?”

“Absolutely nothing,” the demon princess replied without even flinching, “Tell me, what purpose would I have to bother her? She's only a child. Fufufufufu! And yet... Alice was able to see my horns. Such a kind girl; she complimented me on them.”

“How can this be!? You must have done something to her!” he shouted as he pointed his finger at Iris... but yet again, she didn't even budge.

“Remember what I said, Adam? Or have you so quickly forgotten? You're a medium. Clearly, your sister is one too. Perhaps even stronger than you if she so easily saw my horns, despite the fact that I'm hiding them from you mortals.”

“I don't get it! What do you want from me, Iris!? What can I possibly give you that you can't get from somewhere else!? I watched you cleave through those monsters like they were nothing, but you laser-focus on me? Why!?”

“Because – and I hate to admit this – I need your help,” she replied, “This planet called Earth... it is unlike Mordredus in every which way. The skies are not red, but blue, monsters do not wait to strike you at all corners, the rich are ignorant yet no less power hungry, and thousands more things that I find myself struggling to grasp. I admit...” she leaned over on his chair, “I've been capable of handling myself thus far, but it would be far easier for me to gain an ally who's lived in this world since birth, than to mindlessly stumble around in search of Shroud. That is why I need your help. You know more about Amber Meadows than I do. You would make exploring around that much easier.”

“I... I... I...” he clutched and then shook his head, “You've been here for weeks, right? That's what you said? But you've clearly gotten enough information to get through Amber Meadows! You're in Osmond Academy, you have clothes, and... in... in fact, how did you get all of this stuff?”

“Fufufufufu! Easy... I'm a succubus.”

Adam flinched, his cheeks turning red.

“You're a... what?”

“I'm. A. Succubus,” she said more thoroughly, her eyes glowing a soft red as her lips curled into a smirk, “When I first appeared in your realm, I spent that time catching my bearings. Surprisingly, there are quite a large number of people who wouldn't mind sleeping with a strange girl they don't know, especially if their breasts are as big as mine. Throw in a few rich businessmen, and you have access to many things.”

“You... you slept around?”

Iris leered at him.

“Do you think me some common whore?” she snarled, “I did not sleep around, I fed off of them. I was lost in this world, and I needed information. By sleeping with them, I could see through their memories, and gain a quick understanding of Earth. Terrible name, by the way; who names their planet dirt?”

“You're... a succubus...? And... you've been messing with the minds of everyone except for me...?” Adam muttered, “This... what have you done?”

“Nothing,” Iris answered, “You make it seem like I'm on a rampage; utterly dominating and crushing the minds of you pitiful mortals. I am not. I have no need to do so... though I admit...” a smirk appeared on her lips, “I enjoy doing it every now and then.”

“Iris, I... I...”

Every time he looked at her – every time she spoke – Adam realized just how screwed he was. Iris wasn't just some classmate from some mysterious land, nor was she just a demon. She was something more. Something so, so much more. How she so easily cleaved through monsters while carrying him around, and how she so easily coerced her way into his life, showed him that he wasn't talking with just a mere being. This demon – this monster – was going to get his aid, whether he wanted to give it to her or not.

Looking away, Adam gritted his teeth in some last, vain attempt at showing defiance. But he heard Iris move, getting up from his chair as she walked over towards him. Stiffening further, he closed his eyes and tried to ignore her, but her overwhelming presence began to loom above him.

And then she placed her hands on his shoulders.

And then she climbed atop him.

Eyes splitting open, Adam felt himself being pushed into his bed as Iris mounted him. Her big, strong, amazonian body began to straddle his hips, showing the stark contrast in size they had. She was so mighty, so divine, while all he could do was look up at her with all the courage of a defiant puppy.

But even the most unruliest of hounds can be tamed.

Smirking down upon him, Iris licked her lips while her hands came over to undo the buttons of her blouse. Each one made Adam's heart race faster and faster as he struggled to look anywhere but at the demoness undressing before him. He didn't want to give in; he didn't want to give her this power! But come on! How was he supposed to fight back against her when Iris was revealing her large... full... glorious... breasts.

The largest breasts he'd ever seen. Breasts so big, they almost came off as impossible. But of course they were possible... she's a demon.

“Keep looking...” Iris whispered, her sultry tone like the sweetest of music as it poured into his ears.

Whether he wanted to or not, Adam obeyed and looked straight towards her breasts. The animal-print bra she wore must have been infused with some sort of magic to contain the bust it had within. It glistened in the morning light through his window, and it raised up and down with her every breath. Gritting his teeth more, he tried one last time to look away, but Iris' pulled her hands over and clutched his face.

“Fufufufufufufufu! You're trying so hard to be defiant. On some level, I expect that,” Iris whispered as she drew his gaze back towards her face... and then towards her bust, “But... all beings must learn their place sooner or later. Puppies cannot overthrow queens.”

And then...

Plap!

Iris pulled his head into her bust!

Like last night when she hugged him, the embrace was warm and inviting. Iris' body smelled like flowers, and the beating of her heart helped to further quell him. Instinctively, Adam reached out and hugged her close, further delving his head between her chest as he sucked in her powerful scent. It drugged him... pacified him... all as he breathed it in more and more.

But he knew this was wrong. He knew this was all wrong. Even if Iris didn't tell him she was a demon, the quaking he felt in his head would have told him all he needed to know. She was bad news, both to him and his health, and he wouldn't be safe until she was far, far away. No matter how undeniably sexy, alluring, and enthralling she was.

“Ghh... I-Iris...” Adam mumbled as he pulled his head from her chest, looking up at her in a submissive manner, “What do you want from me? I'll do anything, just... don't hurt my family.”

“Fufufufufu~ I'm not going to hurt you family,” Iris replied as she clutched his face, “My duty here is to find Shroud, and that is all. I have no interests in Earth, or Amber Meadows, or even the Winchesters. All I want is Shroud...” and then her eyes glowed, as her teeth grew clinched, “He will suffer for his betrayal of our family!!!”

The face she made... the horrible... monstrous... terrifying face. All last night, Iris was cool and casual as she cleaved through the demons that attacked them. But now – when mentioning that Urien Shroud guy – her expression twisted into this visage of pure malice. Adam didn't know who he was, but if he was bad enough to make Iris this angry, he could tell how important this mission was to her.

But she did not remain angry for long, and eventually took in a deep breath. Relaxing herself, Iris put a confident smile back on her lips as she looked down upon Adam, her red eyes glowing softly.

“Do not worry, Adam. I am a gracious princess: I know well the importance of praise for my most ardent of servants,” Iris reassured... though with her tone and power, it came off more like a ruler trying to reassure a pawn.

Adam couldn't believe he was accepting this, but what choice did he have? Iris had enough power to level the entire neighborhood, maybe even more! And even if she didn't, she's already proven herself capable of – and willing to – brainwashing others to some degree.

He hated this. He hated how powerless he was. But there was nothing he could do about it.

“Adam?”

“Yes...?”

“Give me your hand...”

Confused, he did as he was told and lifted his hand before Iris. Grabbing it, she placed his hand between her big ones, and gently clutched it. He felt his heart begin to race as the demon princess rubbed, then prodded, then outright groped his hand. Her fingers – graceful yet strong – deftly swirled and danced around his fingers and palm, tracing it in such a way that – while not outwardly erotic – certainly had his body heating up like a furnace. Adam even began to pant, up until Iris brought his palm up to her cheek.

Instinctively, he clutched it.

“Get all the rest you need, Adam,” she said, her lips in a seductive smirk, and her eyes glowing a sensual red, “I'll be back for you when school is up.”

“S-school? Why... why even bother going to school? Just to waste time? There's nothing there it can teach you that you need to know!”

“Ah... so naive of you,” Iris said with a wink, “Did you forget already that I am a princess? I have spent many, many hours learning academia under the tutelage of the most gifted minds of Daemonium. Putting it lightly, spending time in class is a cinch to me. Besides... this world is such a curious one; I wish to learn all there is I can before my inevitable return home.”

“So... what? It's just... fun to you?”

“Fufufufufufu! Precisely!”

Adam didn't know what was stranger; the fact that Iris so gleefully wanted to learn about Earth, or the fact that she found the prospect of learning fun. Like... who thinks learning in a classroom is 'fun'? Truly, she is a demon.

“Aaaadaaaaaam! Iiiiiirrriiiiiiissss!” Eve's voice called form downstairs, “Breakfast is ready!”

“Ooh! I wonder if your mother cooks half as good as the royal chef does,” Iris remarked as she swung her leg over to it on the side of his bed.

“Wait, Iris... before you go...” Adam mumbled as he closed his eyes in a thoughtful manner, “There... there are questions I want to ask you. Questions that I need to know if I'm going to help you find this Shroud guy.”

Iris smirked.

“Of course, Adam,” she replied whilst shooting him a sideways glance, “All the answers you could possibly need, I'll give you... once I return from school, that is. So, please, don't be afraid to compile a list if you need to. A smart boy like you must know the importance of clarity! Fufufufufu!”

With her remarkable laughter filling the air, Adam watched as Iris exited his bedroom, leaving him all alone. With all that had happened thus far and last night, is it any surprise that he wasn't very hungry? Still, he'd eat breakfast, knowing that if he didn't, he'd only make his family worry more.

But before he left his bedroom, Adam walked over towards his desk where his phone laid. Picking it up, he opened up his notepad. Putting it lightly, he had a few questions for the demon princess just downstairs.

…

Everyday he opened the gates. He was always the first person to arrive at the academy, and always the last person to leave. So expected was his visage, that it was often a joke among the community that he didn't just work at the academy, he lived at the academy. Not made any better since most people have rarely seen him outside of these walls.

The sight of his long coat imbued everyone – faculty member and student alike – with a sense of warmth and even adoration. He was respected... beloved. But right now, he was confused.

The gates had been split clean open.

The cool autumn wind blew along his body, causing his brown trench coat to billow slightly. He was an older man – someone in his fifties no less – with brown hair turning gray, gaunt cheek bones, tired brown eyes... and a stout, chiseled physique.

Standing before the gates of Osmond Academy, his wide eyes drank in the image of the cleanly sliced gates, wondering just... what the hell? How was this possible? Who... what did this? It wasn't like a car slammed through it! This was impossible... otherworldly.

His hand gently stroked upon the split gate, marveling at the amazing precision one would need to perform such an act. It reminded him of scenes in a samurai movie... but, no, this was... something else. Straightening up, the aged man slowly entered the campus grounds, his head swiveling around to scan the area. And he felt something...

Or – more accurately – he felt a lack of something.

The man walked in deeper and deeper, alarmed... bewildered... worried. His guards... his phantoes... they were almost all gone. The beings he put in place to protect the school – to protect his master's plan – had been slain. The land was disturbed. The ones he had been warned about have finally arrived.

He needed to move quickly.

…

Sitting at home all by himself with his thoughts, was not the pleasant experience he hoped it would be. He spent much of his hours tangling with the fact that, yes, demons – and other paranormal apparitions – exist. This wasn't some fairytale, some story, not even some sickness-induced hallucination. No, this was real, and he experienced it first hand! Almost everything he knew – everything he thought he knew – was a lie. Putting it lightly...

Adam really should have gone to school today.

An expression of shear bewilderment and lost sat on his face as he laid on his bed. Staring despondently to the ceiling overhead, he struggled to quantify everything he now knew. If Iris, then, what, aliens too? Why stop at aliens? If demons, then angels, and if angels, then God? Gods? Were there multiple? What was right, and what was wrong? What exists beyond what he can perceive with his senses?

Above all else, why him? What cosmic joke is it that he was the one who got entangled in all of this? And it's not even a cool ability too! It's not like super strength, or flight, or whatever! He's just a medium, a power that most people don't believe, and other people think you should be locked in an asylum for!

Ugh... why...?

This all went well beyond Adam's head, but in the end, he realized it was best to just accept it. The truth was in his face, and it would do him no good to try and deny what was blatantly obvious. Besides, Iris was here looking for some Urien Shroud guy, right? If he just helped her find him, she'd be out of his life, and he'd be free to return to some modicum of normalcy.

As if anything 'normal' could be gleamed from this.

Eeeaaaarrrk! Clak!

Adam's eyes leered in. The house door had opened and closed. At this time of day, that meant Alice had come home. Getting up from his bed, the blond boy begrudgingly exited his room and came downstairs. He was right, by the way, bouncing inside the house--

“Hey! Adam!”

“Hey, Alice...”

Was his little dynamo of a sister, one whose body blitzed around at sonic speeds. She always had boundless energy within her. However, it wasn't just Alice who walked in, for entering their home behind her was...

“I... Iris...?”

“Fufufufufu! Hello, Adam...”

She stood at the doorway; this towering woman with luscious purple hair, tanned skin, and hellfire eyes. Grinning at him, she trapped Adam in her powerful gaze, who could only shiver in place. Before he could speak however, Alice came running back up to his classmate, latching upon her hand as she said,

“Princess Iris picked me up from school!” his sister explained, which confused Adam.

Osmond Academy did get out of school at the same time that Alice's school got out, however, it's impossible for Iris to have gotten to her sister's school and picked her up, then bring her home on time! Why? Because Osmond Academy and Dodson Elementary school – where Alice went to – were on opposite sides of Amber Meadows! And with how big Amber Meadows is, that's saying something! The only way Iris could have taken Alice home was if she drove there. But even then, there's no way to drive from the academy, to the elementary school, and then to their home, and all for his sister to arrive on time!

No... no! He needed to remind himself that Iris is not human. She is capable of amazing things; he's seen it with his own two eyes!

“Ghhh... A-Alice...!”

“Hm? Adam, is everything okay?” he sister asked as she looked up at him.

“I'm... I'm fine! But you... you need to go and do your homework, okay? So...” he gestured up the stairs, “Go and do your homework!”

“Ugggghh...! Fiiiinnnneeee!” groaned the child in annoyance as she started walking towards the stairs... only to stop and face Iris, a smile on her lips, “I really like your hair, Princess Iris!”

“Fufufufufu! I like your hair too, Alice,” Iris replied, making the girl giggle as she rushed upstairs, while Adam could only look at his classmate in a confused manner.

“Princess? You told her you were a princess?” he asked, to which Iris giggled.

“Remember what I told you this morning? Your sister's a medium too,” she replied, “She can see my horns and my tail. I admit...” she smirked at him, “I wasn't trying my best to hide them. Most mortals can't see them, but she can. Even you seem blind to them until I fully reveal myself.”

“That... nngh! L-look, whatever happens between you and I, that's just it; between you and I!” he claimed, “Leave my sister out of your crusade, Iris! She's only ten! She has nothing to do with this!”

But Iris didn't answer him, not with words, anyway. No, she looked at him, her head cocked to one side as she wore a face of curiosity... before a more lurid grin appeared on her lips. Walking towards him, her hips swayed as a purple aura appeared around her body, revealing her long and thick tail, as well as her dangerous horns. Coupled with that aura which continued to resonate from her form, Adam started to shake in place.

“I...?” was all the blond could eek out, only to be silenced when Iris placed her hand on his cheek.

“Such a courageous boy you are, Adam,” Iris remarked, “Standing up to me of all people to protect your sister. I respect it. It's easy to be terrified by a being of my caliber... even if its wise to be cautious.”

“I... I am cautious...” he muttered... before averting his eyes from her domineering glare, “But... I'm not just... gonna let you hurt my family. Even if I can't do anything about it!”

“Fufufufufufufufu~! I really... really appreciate your honesty,” Iris whispered, her hand stroking along his cheek and face like she was appraising a priceless artifact. Such touches sent shivers down Adam's spine, one he could barely contain. It took everything in his power to not buckle right then and there, “I promise you, Adam, no harm shall befall your family. Not from me, and I will do everything in my power to assure that no others will do them ill either.”

“Nngh... wh... what's a promise to a demon?” Adam asked, garnering a saucy smirk from Iris' lips.

“What's a promise to a princess?” she retorted.

“It... doesn't mean much to a civilian like me, I'd argue,” he answered, “Politicians aren't exactly trusted in my world...”

“Oh, I've noticed,” Iris said as she pulled back, some teasing chuckles leaving her lips, “I've only been here a short while, but you mortals call me a demon with the people you have ruling! Ohohohohoho!”

“People we have ruling... ah...” he shook his head, “Listen, Iris, I've been thinking a lot about what we have going on here. But before we get starting, there's some things I want to square away... and there's a person I believe we can talk to who will help me understand what's going on. Besides that, I still have questions I want to ask you.”

“Then ask away, Adam,” Iris said as she sauntered past him, her hips still swaying, “But first things first, I must check the bedroom I will be staying in.”

“The bedroom...? Oh... right...” he palmed his head, “Aaah... you'll be staying there... I can't believe it...” he started following behind her, “In fact, why are you staying here? Why bother with any of this? You said it yourself, you can brainwash people. Just stay in a penthouse or something.”

“Oh, I did,” Iris said as she flashed him a smile over her shoulder, “But this is far more fun, wouldn't you agree? In a penthouse, I am alone. But here in your house, I get to torture you. Besides, you will find space to be of no concern to me.”

“Yeah, I bet... wait... torture me?”

Iris didn't answer, instead laughing it all while his mind ran with a myriad of thoughts. None of them were good.

He looked up at her, his face one of bewilderment, while Iris approached the room at the back left of the hall... the room directly opposite of his bedroom. The upstairs was nothing but bedrooms, being the master bedroom at the back, his bedroom, Alice's bedroom which sat opposite of the bathroom, and an extra bedroom which was nothing but extra space. Actually, it's more accurate to call it storage space with how much junk was inside of it.

Or usually inside of it.

Upon Iris' arrival, his parents cleared out the room thanks to her mental suggestion, putting the extra junk in the room elsewhere. Now the room was empty, lacking nothing but the basic enmities such as a simple bed, a drawer, a desk, and the luggage his classmate brought with her this morning. It wasn't even all that big, especially for a towering amazon of Iris' caliber.

But the demon princess didn't seem to mind. Nodding in a pleased manner, she approached the simple mattress in the simple of the room, and dropped her backpack right in the middle of it. Then she raised her fingers, where Adam watched this purple energy cackle and quake.

“Iris, what are you do--” SNAP! “Ah!?”

Adam flinched and pulled back, while this mystical pulse traveled through the air. The very foundation of Iris' room began to ebb and flow, quivering like hot air above a stove. Shaking... throbbing... pulsating... almost breathing, all his classmate stood in the center, erect and unbothered. Eyes wide, the blond moved his mouth to speak, but the room before him suddenly began to expand.

Its walls grew in size and space, increasing a distance that was impossible. What was once a modest bedroom suddenly became a grand chamber fit for royalty! And not just in shape, but in style as well! The simple wood panel floors and plaster walls, were replaced with opulent marble that was black in color, with royal red carpets sitting on the floors, and gilded drapery hanging from the windows. The style too shifted, becoming Gothic in nature and architecture. Arched walls, a curved, domed ceiling, and these elegant, pointed spires, were just some of the unique attributes Adam was gazing upon.

And the bed – the bed! This big, soft, comfortable bed sat to the center-back of the bedroom. Not only did its purple blankets look so incredibly comfortable, not only was its mattress so soft that one could sink into it, but it was also the largest bed he had ever seen! Bigger than his parents bed! Bigger than his entire room in fact! Like... ridiculously big! The bed even had a frame which extended to the air, with elegant violet curtains hanging off it, casting the mattress in shadows.

His mouth agape and eyes wide, Adam stumbled into the bedroom, completely flabbergasted by what he witnessed. He wouldn't believe any of this was real, had he not seen it with his own eyes! Iris transformed this basic-looking bedroom, into a bedroom fit for a queen... or a princess!

“How did you...?” he muttered, causing Iris to look over at him with a smirk on her lips.

“Fufufufufufu! Impressed, Adam?” she asked, “Do be sure to pick your jaw up from off the floor.”

“I don't get it...” he replied as he came to her bed, pressing into it where his fingers sank, “How did... how did you do this? Is this real?”

“Does it not feel real?” she asked back, making him twitch.

“Yeah... I guess... that is a stupid question,” Adam muttered as he gripped at her bed, “How is this possible, Iris? This... our home... like...” he looked at her, his eyebrow raised, “How did you do this?”

“Still questioning my ability, Adam? Such a thickheaded human you are.”

“I... I just--”

“WOOOOOOWWWWWWW!!!”

The cry came from the doorway, causing both Iris and Adam to turn and face the entrance to her bedroom. Standing there, her eyes wide and mouth agape, was Alice. The brunette dynamo was noticeably stunned, sharing a face of equal awe of her brother as she walked into the room. Around and around she spun, drinking in the décor of Iris' bedroom, before finally falling into her mattress.

“Mmmph! Ooooh! So soft!” she muttered as she looked up in awe, “Oh... this bed is amaaaaaaazzzziinnnnngggg...”

“What... what will we tell my parents if they see this?” Adam asked, to which Iris shook her head.

“Nothing,” she answered, “They won't see it as a royal bedchamber, just like how they don't see nor feel me as being anything out of the ordinary. Their minds will fix everything for them. To them... fufufufu... they'll just see a regular bedroom.”

“Ah... right...” he tapped his head, “That is your power, isn't it? Hhh...”

Palming his face, Adam groaned into it. Every time Iris did anything, he was reminded of how minor he was before her. She was this great, powerful, overwhelming being, and he had no choice but to accept it. It was like standing next to a volcano. Sure, they say it's dormant, but you know that if it erupts, you, everything you know, and everyone you love, will vanish in an instant.

Just thinking about it made Adam look Iris in the eye, causing her to do likewise. She could read the fear within him, the uncertainty... and that made her smile. Such a devilish, sinister smile. She knew of the silent fear he wallowed in, and she reveled in it. But she never said anything. Heh... she just enjoyed it.

Adam had no choice but to accept it. He kept needing to remind himself of this fact.

“Okay,” he muttered as he straightened up, “Iris... there... there is someone who I'd like you to meet... someone who can hopefully explain this whole... medium nonsense to me. And then, maybe, we can figure out how to find that Urien Shroud guy...”

“Fufufufufu! Then lead the way, Adam,” Iris replied, causing Adam to turn to her door.

“Ah! W-wait! Princess Iris!” Alice cried as she hopped up from her bed, running up to the demon to cling upon her hand, “You... you didn't finish telling me your story!”

“Oh... fufufufufu! You're right, I didn't, little one,” she replied whilst placing her hand on Alice's cheek and chin, rubbing it gently, “I'll continue telling you my story when your brother and I return. Fufufufufu! Think of it like your... bedtime story.”

“Bedtime story... aaaah! I have to wait until then...!” Alice bemoaned, before dropping her head, “Ooookaaaaaaay... but...” she leered at Adam, “Where are you two going...?”

“We're gonna go talk to Grandpa...” he answered... and Alice immediately turned pale.

“Ooooooooooh... n-never mind... the story can wait,” she muttered.

Now it was Iris' turn to be confused.

“Did I... miss something?” she asked whilst following Adam out of her bedroom.

“Let's just say that our grandfather is a bit... eccentric,” the blond answered in a begrudged manner, before shaking his head, “You'll see when we get there. Come on, we'll need to take a bus to get there. Unless...” he raised an eyebrow, “You wouldn't happen to have some teleportation magic, would you?”

“Fufufufufufu! I'm afraid not, Adam,” Iris answered, “Warping small distances is possible, but large distances – including areas I don't know the location of – is a bit different.”

“Uhhh... but you can expand a bedroom to be far larger than it looks? What sense does that make?” Adam replied, which only made Iris giggle all the more.

“Oh, you poor, poor mortals. You don't understand the finer things, do you? Perhaps one of these days I'll teach you. You are a genius, after all.”

Her calling him a 'genius' did not sit well with Adam. So much so that he scoffed, and then looked away. But instead of speaking to the demon princess, he just dismissively groaned, before leading the way. Iris followed.

…

Amber Meadows was a city with two sides. The city half of course, with its silver buildings and modern visuals, easily taking a majority of the peninsula that it inhabits. Everything you could ever want can be found in the city, whether it be malls and arcades, or more quiet areas like its parks or the riverfront.

On the other side of the city – across Lancelot Bridge which goes over Nimue River – there lays its more rustic side. This half of Amber Meadows is recognized most for Osmond Academy, which is the city's pride and joy. But there were also dozens of farmlands, most abandoned and forgotten, but there were still more than a few farms still active.

But in an area as rural as this, expect a lot – and I do mean a lot – of churches.

A dusty brick path laid beneath their feet, half obscured with fallen leaves and overgrown vines. To their left were trees: a forest of unexplored wilderness that seemed as vast as a sea. On the other end laid endless fields that were dotted with a wide variety of flowers and weeds. The air here was crisp, free of the smog a city would create, and the plains offered a near endless view of their surroundings. Putting it lightly... it was beautiful.

Iris looked over, her red eyes staring at their surroundings as the soft autumn wind rustled her slightly. Never more did the name Amber Meadows make sense to her. Such a pristine place... far different from the Gothic metropolis that is her home of Mordredus. And yet, this land was no less rich with history. Sure, demons and kings may not call this land home, but many people have in the past.

“Iris...?” whispered Adam, snapping her gaze over towards him, “This way...”

“Fufufufufu... you seem tense, Adam,” she replied as she started walking with him, “This grandfather of yours... why do you and Alice seem so put off by him?”

“'Seem' so put off?” he muttered, “Hah... our grandfather is... bit of a coot. But...” he shrugged his shoulders, “He's our grandfather, and he knows a lot about this place. If anyone knows about me being a medium, it'll be him. Let's keep going...”

Iris nodded and continued following along, watching as Adam's expression shifted. At first he was abrasive, not wanting to come visit his grandfather, but knowing he had no choice. But then he looked over towards the towering girl at his side, reading the coy smirk on her lips, and the glow of her red eyes.

Why was she so big? He barely came up to her chest in height, which meant he was always – always – at eye-level with her busty breasts. And since she was wearing her school uniform in such a lax manner, that meant he got a plunging view of her cleavage. And Iris... had a lot of cleavage.

Adam gritted his teeth and looked away, but the sound of Iris' footsteps grew closer. When he looked over, her chest was only a few inches away from his face, causing him to turn red and gasp. That sound – though slight – was more than enough to make Iris laugh in her boisterous and regal tone, which made Adam further groan in embarrassment.

“Why are you doing this?” he asked through gritted teeth.

“Remember, Adam? I'm a succubus,” she answered whilst calming her laughter down, “Using my body to toy with others is practically baked into my instincts.”

“You're a succubus, but...” he looked around towards her back, “You have that big tail like a lizard...”

“A... lizard?” Iris replied, visibly insulted by his statement. That garnered a curious and even fearful look from Adam, worried that he said something to earn her ire. Considering her power, that's not good.

“Is... something... wrong with that...?” he asked, to which Iris took in a deep breath.

“Haaaaaah... you do not call a dragon, a lizard,” she answered, “It is a great insult. If I had not been so kind, I would have immolated you on the spot.”

“I... you're a... dragon...?” he replied, “But... y... you said you were a succubus... which... which one are you?”

“Oh, you ignorant mortals,” Iris remarked with a roll of her eyes, “Always so confused by things that go beyond your head. Indeed, I am a succubus... but I am also a dragon... and a minotaur.”

“WHAT!?”

“Putting it lightly,” said Iris as she reached over, her hand stroking his cheek and chin in a sensual manner, “We daemons are a... hyper-fertile race. Cross-breeding in such a way is easy for the likes of us. The Mordredus family lineage is one based in dragons. My father is a dragon, my grandfather was a dragon, and so on and so forth since our kingdom's founding. On the other hand, my mother is a minotaur, and my grandmother was a succubus.”

“So you're... just a dangerous combination of powerful demons...?” Adam asked in a matter-of-fact manner. Iris nodded.

“I'm sure there's more in my bloodline somewhere. Our family has been – and assuredly always will be – a very... ahem... active kingdom.”

That word, 'active', brought quite a few thoughts to Adam's face. He looked away, blushing in an embarrassed manner. With Iris' big, voluptuous body, and her lewd laced words, he couldn't stop his mind from racing. He then realized that this was exactly what she wanted. Iris didn't just toy with him for the hell of it; she reveled in the embarrassment and discomfort she forced him through.

Was this her demonic blood playing, or was this just her personality? Nothing about Iris seemed outwardly malicious, outside of her incredible abilities and attributes.

Or was he fooling himself? She is a demon; they're known for being tricksters. Crap... these were not thoughts he wanted at the moment. He needed to clear his mind of them.

“Iris... I... have a few questions I want to ask you,” Adam muttered... only to shake his head, “Actually, I have a lot of questions to ask you. But...” he shook his head, “I... I don't... I...” he stammered momentarily, “Okay! So... you're a demon... a daemon... or whatever! Like... um...” he raised an eyebrow, “Why are you here?”

“Have you already forgotten all that's happened, Adam?” Iris asked, “I'm here looking for a man named Urien Shroud.”

“I know that but... I don't get why you're the one who has to find him,” he retorted, “You said you're a princess, right? A future ruler of that land you hail from... Mordredus, right? Why would a princess leave her kingdom – leave her realm – to find a man? Even a dangerous one. Wouldn't... wouldn't it be wiser to send a knight or a bounty hunter than to send your ruler.”

“Haaaah... I suppose... this comes down to a difference of customs between our realms,” Iris explained, “Hmm... and I haven't been so forthcoming with my information... only forceful. So...” she nodded, “I will explain. Power. Conquest. Glory. These are the three virtues that govern Mordredus. Where I'm from, war and conquest aren't just expected of a future ruler, it's demanded. We must be strong, and we must show that strength to others.”

Adam raised an eyebrow at her words. Power... conquest... and glory? A future ruler is required to be strong, required to be a conqueror. Sure, Iris was a princess by birth, but she still needed to fight in order to claim that honor... at least, that's what he got from her words. Considering what he witnessed when he watched her fight, she was doing her kingdom proud.

“Is that why you're here?” Adam asked, “This is... what? Like some prerequisite to become queen in the future?”

“Not exactly,” Iris replied, “While it is imperative for a future ruler to show strength before their peons, that's not entirely why this mission is so important. Haaaah... Urien Shroud... the man I'm chasing...” she shook her head, “He was very important to me and my family. Urien was my instructor, as well as the instructor of my older twin brother, Draygon.”

“B-brother...? Twin? You have a twin brother?” Adam said whilst stepping back, his mouth agape, “Wh-where is he? Is he here too?”

“Fufufufu... no... Draygon's not here. And it's for the better of Earth that he is not,” Iris answered, “I highly doubt my brother would have been so cordial in his search for Shroud.”

“Why...? Is your brother...? What... evil?”

Iris looked at him, a devilish smirk adorning her lips.

“Fufufufufu... do you think I'm not evil?” she asked back, making him flinch.

“I... I uh...” he shook his head, “I-ignore what I said... but... if your brother is older than you, why is he not here? Or... what? Is he not as strong as you?”

“Fufufufu... oh... if only that were the case,” Iris said dismissively, “I would say that – outside of my parents – my brother is the strongest being I have ever known. He has abilities and skill well beyond his years. What he lacks is wisdom... and – admittedly – maturity. With how angry Draygon was when Shroud made his escape, I know he would have razed the land in search of him if he were to come.”

“Your brother has anger issues?”

“Not without reason,” Iris answered, “Like I said, Urien Shroud was our instructor... our teacher. While we had many, he in particular was close to the royal family, and close to my brother. We learned many things from him, as he was a wise man, a powerful warlock, and a close friend. He... was these things...”

“Why did he betray you all then?” Adam asked, to which Iris shrugged her shoulders.

“Even that, we do not know. Shroud was a very intelligent man, and very rarely let others know what was in his hand. Fufu... when I describe it like that, it seems as if his betrayal was inevitable... and we didn't see it coming. Still... his treachery was no less painful, and no less enraging.”

“What did he do?”

“Within the royal library of Mordredus, there are an endless array of books. They range from fun, fictional tales, to historical accounts detailing our kingdom's birth. There are also many books containing arcane information, such as powerful spells, and even forbidden works that we are too fearful to share with others. Our royal librarian is a wise man, and meticulously overlooks the books within our library. Nothing is ever out of order, and he keeps it that way. But until recently, he realized some books were missing. Very important books. Very powerful books. What started was a manhunt. We scoured through our castle, and then through every inch of the capital city in search of these books. We tortured so many in search of these tomes, killed so many servants and civilians. And every step of the way, Shroud was there, lending his aid... when in reality, he was deflecting our search in other directions.”

“Then... how did you figure out it was him?”

“Fufufufu... as embarrassing as it is to admit, we did not figure it out. Shroud's deception was discovered by a servant of his, who discovered the books within his estate. When we were made aware of this, we quickly rushed to his home... but – somehow – he already realized we were on to him. Shroud made his escape, and hid from us for months on end. It was not until our spies learned of his location, that my brother, our friend Duchess Ragnelle, and I, were sent to apprehend him. Though... my brother barely needed any goading to join in the search. Even if my father forbade him from going, he would have hunted Shroud down himself. He was very close to him, so Shroud's betrayal hurt him most of all.”

“Was it all... necessary?” Adam asked, “Shroud... he stole books... was it really necessary to send a prince, a princess, and a duchess to apprehend him?”

Iris looked at him flatly.

“These are not normal books, Adam,” she said, her voice so stern and strong that it instantly got her point across, “What confuses us, is why he stole the books in the first place, and what he plans on doing with them. He was trusted and loved by the family. So close in fact, that he already had complete access to our library. So for him to steal the books and run away from us, it means he plans on doing something dangerous with those books. Once we learned of his location, we chased him down with the specific goal of capturing him alive. We needed to know what he was planning, and if he was working with others. However, we were expected. Shroud may not be as powerful as my brother and I, but will not deny his intelligence. When we arrived, he was already planning his escape.”

“His escape... and that's how he made it to Earth?”

“Yes. He was tearing open a vortex between realms, and used monsters to slow us down as he did so. By the time we got through his minions, he had already stepped through the vortex. Duchess Ragnelle was able to stop it from closing completely, but the difficulty of it required that someone went through, and did so quickly.”

“And that person was you...”

Iris nodded.

“Mordredus requires a ruler. Both my brother and I could not go. And since Draygon is the next in line to take the throne, the only obvious choice was myself. Still... I knew Draygon could not go. He was emotional, and easily goaded by Shroud when we came to detain him. If my brother were to be here, there's no telling what he would have done in order to locate Shroud. Knowing this, I convinced him to let me go through. However, when I arrived, Shroud was nowhere to be seen. I was stuck on the outskirts of Amber Meadows, with very little indication on what to do next. For the past several weeks, I've been gaining as much information as I can on this world.”

“That's when you learned of the energies surrounding the academy...”

“Not just the academy,” Iris replied, causing him to jolt, “But there are other places too.”

“Right... you... you did say that last night,” Adam muttered as he took a thoughtful pose, “Wait a second... you said you went into the vortex to our world right after that Shroud guy did, right? But... you've been wondering around earth for a few weeks, and haven't run into him. Tell me, is it possible for Shroud to affect the school to the degree that he did, in such a short amount of time?”

“I don't believe so,” Iris replied, “It's one thing if only a few phantoes were hounding the school, but you saw the academy twist as it did. Like I said, that's a pocket of Daemonium. That means the grounds are seeped with demonic energies. It would be easy to transform them outright, but to do so only at night? That's significantly harder. It would take a warlock years to create such a thing, and even longer for it to maintain itself.”

“Do you think Shroud's capable of doing such a thing?”

“Of course he is. He is a powerful warlock, remember? But I find it hard to believe he was able to create these pockets in a short amount of time.”

“Hmmm... Iris... how difficult is it to travel between realms?”

“Very difficult,” she answered, “It requires an immense amount of power to perform such a thing. Tearing through realms isn't like opening a door; it's manipulating the very fabric of reality as we know it. Remember what I did in your bedroom? It's like that, but far, far more difficult.”

“Could Shroud tear through realms before?”

“Not that I'm aware of. I figured he learned it via the books he stole. When we chased him, we found him in a location noted for inter-dimensional travel in the past. Still, for him to perform such a thing... it could not be easy. He was struggling to open the gate, even by the time of our arrival.”

“Hmmm...”

“Why are you so thoughtful?”

“I'm... just trying to understand this Shroud guy's thought process,” Adam answered, “If traveling between realms is so difficult, why would he use such an extreme method to escape you? That'll be like if I tried escaping to the moon in order to outrun the police. Theoretically, they'll be unable to catch me... but that's just too extreme.”

“What are you getting at, Adam?”

“What I'm trying to say is...” he dropped his hands and looked at Iris, “Maybe Shroud wasn't trying to escape custody... well... not exactly. I think... I think that maybe he was aiming specifically to come to Earth. I think he wants to be here.”

Iris stopped and thought about Adam's words. She hadn't come to such a conclusion, though it made the most sense. If he really wanted to escape, he could have easily ran off to a neighboring kingdom and performed his research there. She knows a few demon lords who would love to have such a powerful warlock on their side. But if he wanted to be here – wanted to be on Earth – then that... creates more questions than it does answer. The biggest being...

Why?

“Iris... we're here...”

“Hm?”

Snapped from her thoughts, Iris looked ahead to where Adam stood. Behind him was a massive farm... a dusty farm. A mostly abandoned farm. Gilded wheat stood tall from the ground, being high enough to come to Iris' bosom, and drown out Adam completely. However, it didn't look like the crops were being tended to at all. It was all wild and haphazard, creating a hodgepodge of greenery that was almost impossible to see through.

At the back was a two story house, one that looked to be at least three decades old... maybe even older. Its wood surface was warn, it was chipping and cracking at certain areas, and this unmistakable melancholic aura wafted around in the air around it. Even Adam's face grew a bit longer, only for him to dismissively scoff, annoyed that he was feeling so emotional about this place.

“Here. You may not be able to see it, but there's a path here you can take.”

“You really don't like this place,” Iris remarked as she followed behind Adam towards the house.

“Oh... what gave it away? My smile?” he replied sarcastically, “Remember what I said before? My grandfather's a bit of a coot. He's been living in this barn for decades, even though we've tried moving him out. We offered to let him live with us, but no. My Dad tried to get him to stay at an old folks home but... pffft! Yeah right; he's not going there. So instead, he stays here, aaaallll alone.”

“All alone? Where's your grandmother?” Iris asked, to which Adam chuckled and shook his head.

“Uh... our Grandma lives in a city called Oceanside, clear across the country,” he replied, “My grandparents got divorced before even I was born. And uh... I really can't blame my grandmother...” he blushed in embarrassment, his eyes glancing away, “My grandfather's kind of a... a...”

“A... what?”

“A... ya'know what...?” Adam smirked at Iris while his eyes cut up and down her body, “You'll see...”

Iris flinched and pulled back, confused by his words... yet curious. He meanwhile came up to the front door of the house, his hand reaching into his pockets to pull out a key. Opening the door to the home, he stepped inside where the dusty air was almost choking. Again, Iris was stunned by this, but Adam remained indifferent. Admittedly... he was used to this.

“Grandpa! It's me, Adam!” he called, “Where are you?”

His call was met with silence, causing him to give an annoyed groan. Walking through the sparse living room of the home, he looked around in search of his grandparent, while Iris took a few moments to scan the building.

The world of Earth was a curious one to her. Instead of magic, they relied on technology to advance their lives, and owned many things to help them. Phones were like magic mirrors, cars were like chariots, and TVs were... well... there was nothing like TVs in Daemonium!

But this home... this old, dusty home... it seemed almost indifferent to the world outside its walls. It was sad... lonely... old... forgotten. Not to mention so brittle; if Iris so much as coughed, she feared she'd blow the building down with her strength!

Adam however continued pushing on, stepping through the dimly lit building in search of the light switch. Once he flipped it on and bright light to the room, he could only groan at the absence of his grandfather. He had to be somewhere around here. How did Adam know? Because there were a few cans of half drunken beer resting around; his grandfather's telltale sign.

“Grandpa! Grandpa!” he shouted, “Grandpa where are--”

“I'm here, I'm here!” a voice came ringing from the kitchen's doorway.

Both Iris and Adam turned, their eyes falling on... the backside of a man. He was wearing black slacks and a white shirt, both of which looked dusty and wrinkled, like he'd been rolling around in some of the dry dirt outside of his home. A very likely occurrence, in all honesty.

But then the man turned, revealing himself.

For someone in his mid 60s, he still had this strong, stout appearance to him. A tall man, he easily loomed over Adam, sharing a similar height to his father, Frankie. In fact, they also shared similar eyes, and had a similar shape of the head. Hell, if you could just throw wrinkles on Frankie's face, turn his brown hair gray, and slap a pointed beard on his chin, you'd get a similar profile to this man's.

But this man appeared to be a bit tired... a bit dazed... and maaaayyyyybeeeeee a bit buzzed. Why? Because he stumbled forward on wobbly feet, this stupid grin on his face as he locked his eyes on his grandson. And all Adam could do was step back, cringing at his grandfather's mannerisms as she came up... and up... and up... then said--

“AAADDAAAAAMM!!!”

Grab!

“Gah!? G-Grandpa!?” he cried, though his burly grandfather wouldn't release him.

“How's it goin', boyo!? You're lookin' a little bit taller than I last saw ya! Where's ya sister at? Is she here? And uh... uh... uh...” he turned over, facing Iris, “Uuuh...” and his eyes grew wide, “And... um... uh... uhh... y... you do realize that you're hangin' out with a demon, right?”

“Wh... what?”

Adam stepped back as his grandfather released him, then watched as he stood up right. Even when standing tall like this, Iris was still at equal height with his stout grandfather. She was also smirking in this coy and cool manner, while the old man before her let his jaw drop in shear awe.

“Grandpa...?” Adam muttered, “You... you can see... Iris...?”

“I can see her?” he replied as he stepped back, “If it wasn't for the buzz I'm nursin' right now, I'm sure she'd be splittin' my head open. My sixth sense is goin' crazy around her!”

“Impressive,” Iris remarked as she rubbed her chin, flashing Adam's grandfather a smirk, “Tell me, what is the name of the man before me now.”

“Uuuhhh... um... Richard...? Richard Winchester,” he answered, “So tell me... is the world outside currently goin' through Armageddon? Or did my grandson here start gettin' into the occult, and accidentally summoned you.”

“No no... no Armageddon, and no occult summonings either,” Iris replied, “I'm just here for... a mission. That is all.”

“Uh-huh...” replied the old man – Richard – as he looked at Iris in an incredulous manner, “I see...”

“What...? No, wait, wait, wait! Grandpa!” Adam snapped as he looked up at his grandfather, “You... you can see that she's a demon!? L-like me?”

“Well... of course... it ain't like she's tryin' to hide it all too well,” Richard answered, “She's probably cast a blanket on others. Made them see her as a normal person and all that jazz; certain, powerful demons can do that with ease. Still, even if I wasn't a medium...” he looked Iris up and down, “I'm sure this long purple hair and her being taller than a basketball player, would raise some red flags in my head.”

“You'd be surprised,” Iris remarked, garnering a few nods from Richard.

“No, wait, again! I'm sorry, I have to double-back here,” said Adam with a wave of his hand, “Grandpa... you're a medium!? And you never told us this!?”

“Now why the hell would I do that? Your father's already thinkin' about shovin' my ass into an old-folk's home! Tellin' him that I can see spirits and shit would only make him do it quicker! And let's face it, Adam, I ain't gettin' any younger.”

“I-- nmmph!”

Groaning into the palm of his hand, all Adam could do was nod. His grandfather was right; if he did tell them he was a medium, they would have had him put into an asylum years ago.

“Okay... fine... so you're a medium... I'm a medium too, and even Alice can see spirits,” Adam said aloud, making Mathew flinch.

“Alice is a medium too?” Richard muttered, “Haaaah... guess I can't be too surprised. It typically happens like this.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Haaah... just sit down, Adam. This is gonna take a moment,” Richard said... before looking at Iris where he pulled back, “You can uh... sit down too if ya like, little missy. Um... what's your name again?”

“Iris. Iris Mordredus,” she replied with a smile, causing Richard's eyes to bulge.

“Ah... shit... a Mordredian too? You really know how to pick'em, Adam.”

“I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON!!!”

Nevertheless, he sat down on the chair behind him, while Richard sat down on the couch opposite of his grandson, and Iris sat down between the two. For a few moments, no one said anything. Adam was understandably tense, Iris was smirking in a domineering manner, while Richard took a few moments to gather his thoughts.

“Grandpa...” the blond muttered, making his grandfather's eyes open.

“Adam, boyo... it's true; you're a medium,” he stated, “But it's more than that. You, and your sister, and our family as a whole, have this power within us. It's thinned over the centuries, but as far back as our great ancestor, William Winchester, we've been able to see spirits. Ya'see, all those stories I've told ya ain't lies; you come from a long family of priests and pastors... exorcists too. It used to be that everyone in the Winchester family could see ghosts and whatnot, but as the world changed, that power got diluted. After a while, the ability to see spirits started skippin' a generation or two. It's why I have it, you have it, and apparently Alice has it...”

“But why my Dad doesn't have it,” Adam muttered as realization dawned on him, before palming his head, “Ugggh... just my luck that I get roped up in all of this nonsense...”

“Alright... I've told you everything I know... so...” Richard's eyes slid over to Iris, “Umm... mind me asking who you are, and what yer doin' in our plane of existence if it's not the end of days?”

“Oh, me? Fufufufufufu... I'm a princess,” Iris answered... which only made sweat drop down his brow, “And I'm here looking for a man who betrayed my kingdom. He's a very dangerous man as well, one who no doubt has been scheming something... problematic since his arrival.”

“Ah... that's... nice then... huh...” Richard muttered, nodding up and down as he struggled to parse together this information, “Well... with ya bein' a demon 'n all...” he smirked, “Wanna fuck?”

“GRANDPA!?!?”

“OHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHO~!”

Adam's face turned beet red, and he palmed his face, while Iris' boisterous laughter filled the air around them. His grandfather was a rather... salacious man. Ironic, since he's been taking care of churches in this area as of late. It seems the whole 'sweating like a whore in church' idiom doesn't work on him.

“Aaah... are you sure that's a good idea,” Iris said as she relaxed from her laughter, “I'd quite honestly kill you.”

“Eh... I can imagine worse ways to go,” Richard remarked, garnering snickers from Iris... and an annoyed glare from Adam.

“Let's go...” he muttered.

“Oh Adam, I really like your grandfather.”

“I bet you do...” he replied, “Let's... just get out of here. We have to figure out what that Shroud guy is doing with the academy. The sooner you get your traitor, the sooner you can go back home to Mordredus, and the sooner my life can return to some semblance of normalcy.”

“I'm afraid that ship has long since sailed, boyo,” said Richard as he stood up, “Once ya start seein' spirits, the only thing that can make 'em go away...” he grabbed a nearby flask, “Is a bottle of spirits,” taking a swing, he then stood there, took in a deep breath, and released it, “If ya need any help managing that though, come talk to me sometime,” he looked at his grandson, “You forget... I was your age once in my life.”

“I...”

Adam cut himself off and looked down. His grandfather was right; even if everything went smoothly and Iris was gone by the end of the week, his life was changed forever. How could he ever think of things normally when he knew things like demons exists? And with demons, there are angels. And with angels, there are gods. Now more than ever, he was so... insignificant in the grand scheme of things.

As if he didn't have enough to worry about.

“Yeah... um... thanks... Grandpa...” he muttered as he stepped back, “See ya later...”

Richard nodded, watching as Adam exited his home. Iris lingered momentarily, before flashing the old man a wink... even blowing him a parting kiss. Oh... that's nice! Would she kill him? Uh... yes. Would he mind? Surprisingly not!

Ah... still...

Richard remained standing, not budging an inch until both Iris and Adam left his home. Then he took a swig of his alcohol... and another... and one more. Okay... enough of that.

There was something he needed to do...

End of Part 2