OOC: Collab with KoL
A day earlier...
The bell rang, announcing the beginning of the class. The door opened and admitted the teacher, who remained standing at her table. “Sit down students! Today we have a special occasion! Please let me introduce you to our new transfer student!” she said, waving her hand towards the still open door.
For a while nothing happened. And then the personification of jet lag walked in. The woman was something else - she was lacking the school uniform, suggesting - along with her state of being - that she only just got to Japan. Even if she had one though, it would do pathetic little to make her blend in with the others. Not only was she half a head taller than anyone else in the class, but her snowy hair and pale skin made her stick out like a sore thumb among the asian population.
As she walked to stand next to the teacher as she was instructed, she let out a massive yawn. As she turned around, some of the students in the front rows winced when they saw her bloodshot ice blue eyes. “Please, introduce yourself.” the teacher nudged her verbally. Giving the class a lookover and a downright degrading pout, Katja fought not to roll her eyes. She already identified the creepy losers among the male population and the jealous hens among the females just from the looks on their faces. “Orlova. Please take good care of me or whatever…” the foreigner said in an exasperated russian accent.
The teacher apparently wasn’t ready for something like that, and so was most of the class who just had their image of the beauty sent to them from heaven shattered and replaced by the Ice Queen currently in front of them. “Oh my my! You must have had a really long trip, Katja Fyodorovna!” The teacher said, trying to finish introducing her but only earning herself a death stare from the new student. “Umm, why don’t you sit next to… Beherit-san over there!”
Katja merely shrugged. She wasn’t here to make friends. Walking to her assigned place she set her bag down, took off her fur jacket and set it over the chair before sitting down. The teacher then proceeded to ramble about organizational stuff Katja was happy to half sleep through. She did take note of her surroundings though. To her front and back were two girls who were apparently intimidated by her, to her left was a creep that didn’t stop ogling her. She turned to him with a leveled look and did the cutting throat motion - that finally got him facing the blackboard - and made the girl behind her go as pale as the russian. The one to her right though was somewhat intriguing. Tits over there seemed at the very least unfazed by Katja’s inert to hostile attitude. Maybe one person in this room wasn’t a common peasant. Her face was curved by the faintest of smirks before she returned to not paying attention.
As the class was dismissed, most avoided Katja with a large berth, something she was happy with. The teacher called for her on her way out though. “Orlova-San? In this school, it is mandatory to join a club, so do not forget to join one until the end of the week! I hear the drama club might be looking for volunteers and you seem to do well in front of the crowd, why don’t you try talking to them?”
As soon as she was out of the classroom, Katja rolled her eyes. She couldn’t fake a smile if her life depended on it, the only thing she could do in a drama club is accounting, or maybe some of the more evil roles. Well, maybe that wasn’t so bad. She went to look at who was the club’s president…
...and found out she was Just to her side, but already left. “That moron of a teacher?! Couldn’t she open her mouth before she left?!” she verbally spat out loud.
Inside the classroom, the teacher was hiding under the desk.
Katja didn’t have any luck finding Tits the drama club prez in the short timespan she cared to look, and finding the club itself was equally as uninviting. Deciding to ask another day since she had until the end of the week, the russian headed to the town to find their new apartment.
After getting settled in, she gone out to just go on a stroll. Ever since her father died, her mother has been a sad withering husk consumed by grief. Katja used to love her mom, but now… she lost all respect for the woman. Even being in the same room was getting her both angry and wanting to commit suicide herself.
Anger. That was starting to be the only thing she known. At her father for dying. At her mother for quitting and abandoning her when she needed her most. At the assholes who were responsible for this. At herself for being too small a person to prevent it or do something about it now.
At the bunny eared girl she just nearly bumped into. Before she could snap at her though, she was handed a pamphlet with a strange picture on it. Oh, this superstitious bullshit. Wonderfull.
The walk did little to ease her mind, so the russian locked herself in her room. It looked a bit spartan - a plain bed, desk, closet and a shelf with a small armory - her precious collection. She dreamt of sinking some of those blades into the hearts of the mafia thugs that burned down their store. And seethed that dreaming about it would be all she would ever be able to do about it. No. Even if she had to damn her soul, she would make them pay eventually. Let the devil take her for all she cared anymore!
Katja’s head snapped up. She fished around her pocket and pulled out the crumpled piece of paper. The girl was radiating embarrassment for even considering this, but… what did she had to lose? Along with the other emotion, she was also radiating pure, unadulterated vengeance. Devil, demon, whatever the heck came through, it better be up to the task, because she wanted sinners punished!
Setting the pamphlet on the ground and muttering the words the small tutorial on the back said to, she waited sheepishly if something would happen.
Once Katja performed the brief ritual described in the 'Devil Summoning' pamphlet, a gold-colored magic circle sprang from the slip of paper, on it's center there was a sigil matching the one in the pamphlet. A blinding light flooded the room forcing her to cover her eyes briefly. Once she could look again, Katja saw two beings standing before her.
One of them was the same bunny girl that gave the pamphlet to her, and the other no one than the Drama Club President. The big chested girl looked to Katja and smiled as she said "Oh my, aren't you the student who transferred today? I never thought that someone like you would to make a contract with a Devil." Faye giggled, before continuing "Tell me, what can I do for you?"
Katja was standing there for a few seconds, completely speechless. Her eyes remained locked with the blue of the apparent devil, one that looked a hell lot better than the legends said. She did something she didn’t think would ever happened. Katja smiled, of all things. “Either you’re the next James cameron, or the real deal. Either way… interesting.”
”Why not both?” Faye replied with a witty smile in her lips.
Once the ‘oh look, shiny’ effect worn off though, the full implications of the situation finally hit home and cold sweat appeared on the back of the russian’s head. For a second she thought about what to do, before returning to her usual cool. Motioning to the small sofa in the corner of the room, she looked to her guests: “Something I can get you? There will be a bit of a story to tell beforehand..” she offered with a warning in advance.
Faye sat at the sofa with Sheryl over her lap, familiar had reverted to the form of a small bunny sometime in the middle of her introduction and now remained staring quietly at Katja. ”Well, I’m the one supposed to fulfill your demands here, but if you would be so kind, I’d like a bit of tea. As for your story, you can take all the time that you need. I’m the Drama Club President for a reason, you know?”
“It’d be rude of me not to offer since you made the time for me, wouldn’t it?” Katja smirked and vanished through the door. SHe wasn’t sure whether to make two or three cups given the bunny girl turned into an actual bunny - Katja was still wrapping her head around what she got herself into - but she eventually returned with two, since she could carry that in one go.
Setting the drinks on the small table and taking the chair opposite the sofa, She first took a sip of her own, collecting her thoughts. “As you no doubt noticed, I’m not from around here.” she started, figuring taking it from the beginning was best. “My family comes from Murmansk. We used to own a busy store in the docks. I won’t bore you with the details, but that far up north, things work a bit differently. The supplies are harder to come by, most coming by sea. And as with everything, the local mob has the real control of everything.”
“Long story short, my dad refused to give in to their demands. They wanted protection money he couldn’t give.” she paused here, taking a breath. The memory was still fresh and the wound opened all too easily. “So, one night, a few thugs came to the store and set it on fire. With my dad in it.” the girl continued. A few tears gathered at the corners of her eyes, but they never spilled.
“I want them dead!” She barked suddenly, her voice one of cold fury. “Those personally responsible, and the one who gave the order. They took all of my family - hell, my life. I don’t have anything to lose here, so ask of me what you want, as long as they get what is coming for them.” she said, her eyes narrowed in a piercing gaze
How many times has it been that she heard that story? This was the first thought that came to Faye’s head as she sipped the tea quietly while listening to Katja. Once the russian girl finished her tale, Faye set the cup down and looked in her contractor’s eyes before saying ”Usually, I would deny such a request. I don’t deal with assassinations, you see? That’s not my style.” Before the russian could shot her another death glare, Faye continued ”But, I might open an exception as long as you’re willing to compensate me in the right way.”
Faye stopped again, it wasn’t like she was trying to be dramatic, but more like she was trying to warn the other girl of the consequences of such a request. Other devils could simply grant her this wish and in exchange damn her soul to an eternity of slavery at the deepest pits of the Underworld, but Faye wasn’t the type who like to exploit humans that’s why she never accepted any contract that demanded such a high payback. Nevertheless, this case seemed to be special, as the Evil Piece she had with her in her pocket showed.
After a moment of silence, Faye resumed her speech ”You see, the payment for something like this is quite harsh, specially if you’re doing it out of revenge. If I wished to, I could damn you to an eternity of slave labor at the darkest reaches of Hell, right besides the ones that wronged you, are you sure that you’re willing to pay such a compensation?”
Inside, Katja had to chuckle. Who would have thought dealing with the devil would be a business deal? Right up her alley. Still, she kept her expression serious. “I said no such thing.” she smirked from behind her teacup, “I said I want them dead. By what means is entirely your problem. If you don’t want to stain your own hands with blood, leak their schedule to an opposing family of mobsters and let them do the rest for what I care.” she negotiated, hoping to get herself a slightly better position despite being content with what Faye was implying.
Going over the devil girl’s words in her mind, Katja spotted another thing. “I told you I’m willing to pay the necessary price, if you wish so. The question is: What is it that I can give you that is making you hesitate?” she inquired. This was a fun game.
”Ahh… I knew this wouldn’t end well, if possible I’d liked to avoid such an outcome. If I let her alone some other devil might come and do something much worse to her.” Faye sighed as she gave up on trying to change the girl’s mind. Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, you can’t save others with your own kindness.
The young devil put on her kindest smile as she spoke with Katja next ”I understand you, Ktaja. I’ll do what you ask of me, but the price will be you.” Faye said as she produced a small chess piece, a Knight, that glowed with golden light, from within her skirt’s pocket and showed it to Katja.
”This is called an Evil Piece. With it’s power I can even bring the recently deceased back to life and full health, there’s just one condition, though. Whoever has this piece set inside of them by me, will become a devil and is obliged to follow me as a member of my family for the rest of eternity. Now, I guess that you can understand why I’d like you to not press this contract forward.” Faye paused again to see if Ktaja was following her line of thought.
”However, since I can see that you won’t give in, I have to follow the proper protocol and perform my part before demanding the compensation. So, tell me where is it that these people that you want dead are? But let me tell you one thing first. I won’t kill an innocent even under Lucifer’s orders, do you understand that?” Faye got back to her feet and at the same time Sheryl jumped from her lap and became a bunny girl again, ready to teleport them to wherever they would need to go.
Katja listened carefully as Faye explained her part of the bargain. “Are you sure you’re not the next James Cameron? You sound more like a monk than a devil.” the russian grinned cheekily. She stood up and walked across the room, watching her collection in thought. “Still, you’re doing a pathetic job trying to save my soul. Not only are you doing me a favor, but you’re offering… A reason to exist really. Since dad died, all food tastes the same. I wake up at nights screaming, drenched in cold sweat, seeing the store burn over and over again. My mother is drinking herself to death. Me? I already feel dead. And you expect me to say no?”
“I’m asking the lives of two that killed my dad, and one that ordered them to. Innocence has nothing to do with them.” she reassured, “They’re back in Murmansk, so pack some warm clothes. I don’t have names, but the security camera footage was salvaged.” she said, shaking the mouse of her computer to wake it up and finding the file, pausing it where two faces were distinct. “The third… get these two to speak. If you can’t… you know what, forget the third then. I still want what you offer.” she said, giving Faye an honest smile.
”What did you expect, I’m not a servant of He, after all” Faye said, while gesturing towards the sky, taking extreme care to not mention God’s name, as she knows the consequences for it very well.
”I’ll do it, then, welcome to the Beherit family, Katja. Just one more thing, meet us at the club room tomorrow, I’m going to need more people for the next play. I just hope that you like Romeo and Juliet.” Faye said before Sheryl teleported the three of them to their destination and the rest, like they say, is history…
Present day…
Shit shit shit! Katja cursed in her mind as she sprinted along the hallway. First day to a new job and she was already running late. True, it was the newly acquired wings that made her freak out so much that were the cause, but still, it wouldn’t make the greatest first impression.
As she neared the clubroom, she dared to check her watch. Huh. Five minutes to spare, how..? Then she remembered. Faye made her one of her knights - an evil piece that granted her increased speed. Whistling in admiration, she paused to collect herself and fix her hair that got messed up during the mad dash. Knocking lightly to announce herself, she took a breath and entered…
...To find evidence that her watch was a piece of old garbage that she shouldn’t rely on, seeing as the meeting was already in progress. Pouting, she took the accessory off of her left hand and held it between her thumb and index fingers as if it was a piece of radioactive waste before unceremoniously dumping it in the garbage bin. “Sorry!” she whispered sheepishly and took a free seat, her eyes darting around the room and taking in it’s occupants.
Yesterday, she would have been amazed. Today, after finding out that devils were as real as it got, finding a hellhound and a nine tailed fox was a lot less impressive, even though they did catch her eye for a moment. The atmosphere in the room seemed to be rather friendly, albeit the expected hierarchy could be felt. She was having a hard time adjusting to the fact that she was easily one of the tallest people around - the Japanese just didn’t grow to such a height. Heck, she get she had a bit even on the tallest guy in the room. All the more reason to be furious about the fact that just about any girl in the room beat her in terms of chest circumference.
This… bites... she thought, inwardly cursing her genes.
