Days with the demon queen
Chapter 35: Welcome to the 12th

Chapter 35: Welcome to the 12th

Lily and Ronnie came to a door at the end of the passage. When Lily opened it, they found a massive gym space below them with different kind of training materials and walls that looked tough enough to withstand a heavy explosion.

"I see you two made it here, I was just about to come get you" Cynthia said, walking up to them with Josh behind her.

"we’re done with Mr. Carpenter" Lily said.

"Commander Carpenter, or chief. You’re on his squad now. Welcome to the 12th. Like what you see?" Cynthia asked, with a confident smile.

"It doesn’t look so bad" Lily admitted.

"Is he okay?" Cynthia whispered to Lily.

"He’s— processing" Lily responded.

Josh noticed Ronnie’s silence but he knew better than trying to get anything out of him when he was that quiet. So he let him be.

Zeke and Dylan entered the gym from another entrance on the opposite end. They looked up to spot the people standing at the bannisters by the staircase.

"Guys! It’s so nice to see you again! I knew you’d come aboard, haha!" Zeke expressed with a wide smile on his face.

"You’re being too loud, Zeke" Dylan voiced. Zeke then gave him a loud pat on the back.

"Oh come on, aren’t you just glad to see the people you almost died with?" Zeke asked, patting him on the back again.

"I’m sleepy, later" Dylan responded sluggishly, he ignored Zeke’s excitement and walked through another door at the side of the gym.

"aw man, you’re always a vibe kill. You know that?" Zeke expressed.

"And, the noisy one returns" Cynthia said, she let out a sigh.

"Is he usually this loud?" Lily asked.

"You have no idea" Cynthia responded.

Zeke walked up the stairs case to meet the bunch.

"Lilith, Joe and Raymond, my people!" Zeke exclaimed, tapping each of them on the shoulder.

"I do not recall giving you permission to call me by my name. Call me Lilian. Oh and, don’t touch me" Lily said sternly.

"It’s um— Josh, not Joe" Josh corrected nervously.

Ronnie stayed quiet, he looked spaced out.

"You lot are no fun" Zeke responded.

"Zeke, mission report?" Cynthia asked, holding open her hand in front of him.

"Too much paperwork. Ugh" Zeke groaned.

"Zeke" Cynthia called out, her brows were curved into an arch.

Zeke exhaled in an exhausted fashion.

"Give me a minute" he stated, walking away.

"Well, he’s more of a bumbling idiot than I remember. Although I was too busy getting my life essence drained away to notice idiocy" Lily said.

"He was different that day, we usually are when we’re in work mode. Despite how we might look or behave off duty" Cynthia spoke.

"Cynthia, can I ask something? When do we start training?" Josh voiced.

"Tomorrow, training and duty starts tomorrow" Cynthia responded.

"Training and duty? do we not get some weeks or months of training before going into the field?" Josh asked in a concerned tone.

"There are general classes for the first year recruits from time to time. Combined squad lectures but for the 12th, we learn by experience, on the field" Cynthia explained.

Josh smiled and nodded anxiously.

"I have to make sure Zeke files his mission report. I’ll see you later, Joshua" she gave him a smile and walked away.

Lily witnessed the scene and smiled.

"I think she might be taking a liking to you, Joshua" Lily shoved him lightly with her elbow.

"Ron said the same thing. What I think is that people are crazy" Josh muttered with his teeth pressed against each other.

"Speaking of Ronald—" Lily said.

"I’m going home. The stuff about demons was overwhelming but this, this is insane stuff" Ronnie interrupted.

"You finally stopped brooding, did you? Let’s go then" Lily responded.

"I’m guessing we take the elevator back to the cafe we came from?" Josh asked.

"I think so" Lily answered.

The three left the gym and went on to the elevator. Josh’s guess was correct and they ended up back at the cafe in town. Lily bid Josh goodbye for the day and started to walking through town with Ronnie who stayed quiet.

The silence started to get to Lily as she occasionally stole a glance at Ronnie.

"Ronald Carpenter, we have to talk" she broke the silence.

"What about? How I’m a freak and how I have the craziest family tree?" Ronnie asked after a few seconds.

They had gotten to the outskirts of town and were passing through the deserted road, their home was just a few minutes away.

"I don’t care about any of those. Freak? Angel? Human? You’re still you, Ronald" Lily said. He stopped walking.

"I don’t know, Lily. I thought I was prepared to hear something really tragic. This is not what I had in mind" He explained in a tone that was almost quiet.

"I wish there was something I could say to make you feel better, Ronald. If there’s one thing I know for sure, you aren’t a freaky" Lily assured.

"It’s freak, not freaky" he couldn’t help but let out a laugh.

"you look better when you’re happy. Being mopey doesn’t suit you" she said.

"You said you wanted to talk to me about something?" He asked.

She went quiet, staring into his eyes. She wore an expression on her face that was hard to read.

"It’s— nothing. It’s all fine. We should get home" she spoke, walking away.

"Lily wait," he called out. Lily halted.

"I’m sorry for being such an idiot today" Ronnie expressed. Lily kept her silence, he walked up to her and held her hand.

"You were rude, you were controlling, you were mean as you humans call it. Why would you treat me like that? Today was a reminder that I’m not your friend, I’m just a woman who happens to be in a slave contract with you" Lily expressed, looking away from Ronnie.

"I’m— I’m sorry. Lilith, I was afraid. The thought of you being in danger—" Ronnie explained.

"I know, you’re scared because you want to protect me. If anything happens to me, it happens to you too. We’re tied, but still" She said, wearing a pained expression.

"That’s not it" he replied.

"So you’re saying you didn’t treat me like that?" She asked.

"No, I’m saying that I’m not overprotective because we’re tied" he stated.

"Then why?! Say it" Lily asked in a frustrated tone. Her heart beat rapidly in her chest.

"Because I like you, Lilith. I like you but you’re the demon queen and I’m just me!" Ronnie proclaimed.

Lilith stared in his eyes intently. They went quiet. She closed her eyes, leaned in and kissed Ronnie softly. He was dumbfounded.

"If that’s what this thing I feel is, then I like you, Ronald Carpenter and I don’t care what you are. I accept you, just like you accepted me" She whispered by his ear.