KazAlkemi

Chicago After Hours

---

---

Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

---

---

Location: Nic&Ren's Apartment – Chicago, IL
Skills: Sorcery

---

---

When Nic released Cassi, the aura she had wrapped around him dissipated. She watched him walk upstairs, a few tears falling down her face as she watched him go. She couldn’t place why, but the situation reminded her of the day she lost her grandmother.

Cassi turned when she heard Ren say her name. She wiped the tears from her face and walked over to Ren. She knelt down and pushed the glass of water into his hands.

”Can you tell me what the deal was, Ren? What did he promise you, what did you have to give?”

Nic needed a moment, and Cassi wanted to make sure Nic wasn’t going to lose his father in nine years.

---

---

Avery Zain

---

---

Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

Avery wrapped an arm around Kimiko’s shoulders and kissed the top of her head. There were several things he wanted to say, but none of them were appropriate. Instead, Avery concentrated on finishing his sandwich.

---

---

Caden

---

---

Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

”It’s alright, Kiki. For tonight and maybe in a couple of days, I think I can keep you blocked out enough not to receive anything from you unless you are injured or anything life-threatening like that. Of course, other intense emotions might leak through, but I’ll keep that dampened as much as possible. I think we should start practising tomorrow, though,” he said.

Caden walked around and sat down next to Nero. He rested a hand on their knee, rubbing his thumb, and watched them. ”As for the other thing. We keep unlocking more of Nero’s past, including their time in Hell. Today, I think someone from their past came looking, but we are still figuring it out.” Caden looked at Kiki and Avery. ”Nero managed to get most of their things out of Hell, including a series of texts that might have the answers we are looking for. We need your help looking through everything,” Caden revealed.

Chicago After Hours

---

---

Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

---

---

Location: Nic&Ren's Apartment – Chicago, IL
Skills: Sorcery

---

---

”I didn’t know who he was! He said he could help.” Tears streamed down Ren’s face as he looked at his son. ”We were going camping to figure out how to tell you, but then I ran into this man when I was buying supplies…”

Cassiopeia looked up at Nic, feeling his anger thread through her because of the bond she was sharing with him. She pressed her head into his chest, taking steadying breaths to keep them both calm.

She knew Nic had a temper; she had seen it in her shop, and when she stood over his mother's dead body. Cass was no stranger to anger. It was fire and passion, and sometimes, it could focus you. It could give you drive and purpose.

Cass slid her hands up Nic’s back, her hands resting over his shoulders, and she moved her head back to look up at Nic again; to monitor him.

”I wanted to help. I wanted to do something because there was nothing I could do for Kiki.”

---

---

Caden

---

---

Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

Caden smiled at Nero and squeezed their shoulder before he looked across at Avery. Kimiko wasn’t happy, but she had always been quick to anger about most things, and Caden seemed to be the target lately.

Avery met Caden’s stare and sighed. ”I already explained it to her, but,” he shrugged and looked at Kimiko.

”If you’re bonded to Avery, you’ve seen your own bonds. I’m certain there’s one for me as I have one for you. But, because Avery and I are pack, you are now pack. So what I mean is not only have our bonds gotten stronger, but so has the pack bond. When the three of us shift, we’ll be able to communicate mind-to-mind. When we’re human, we’re more hyperaware of each other and our emotions. So, we have to practice blocking each other out. Avery and I have established our blocks to each other well, but well, you are new to this.”

---

---

Avery Zain

---

---

Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

”It’s not a criticism,” Avery added, worried Kimiko might take everything Caden was saying the wrong way. ”Remember how it felt when the bond first snapped into place for us? How overwhelming it was? Learning to block each other helps to keep that from happening. If we didn’t block, we would constantly be run by what we or our pack members were feeling. Blocking gives us a sense of ourselves back.”

Chicago After Hours

---

---

Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

---

---

Location: Nic&Ren's Apartment – Chicago, IL
Skills: Sorcery

---

---

Whatever Cassi had been thinking, it was nowhere near what Nic revealed to her. She looked between Ren and Nic before she closed the distance to wrap her arms around Nic and hold him close. She inhaled his scent, finding comfort in it even though Nic’s life had just been thrown another curveball. When Cassi exhaled, a sort of glow enveloped her but also Nic. She mingled her aura with his in an effort to comfort him.

Cassi understood Nic needed to feel his feelings and react to the news however he needed to, but she wanted Nic to understand how loved he was.

”I’m so sorry,” she whispered. Cassi kept her focus on Nic, even with Ren making a demon deal poked at the back of her mind. Everything that went with a demon deal…Cass knew Ren wasn’t free of this. And she had no idea how she was going to break this deal. It all depended on what Ren said. If they were lucky, Li dying before her time meant the deal was null in void.

---

---

Avery Zain

---

---

Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

Avery chuckled, kissed Kimiko’s cheek again, and released her. The other two approached, and Avery took Kimiko’s hand to pull her back into the house. He led her to the living room to take up a seat to wait for Nero and Caden.

---

---

Caden

---

---

Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

”Traditionally speaking, dragons mostly pick shifters to bond with. Our power sets meld better, but maybe you’ll meet my dragon sooner rather than later in his full form,” Caden said while he escorted Nero into the house.

He locked the door and set the code behind him before walking to the living room. Caden pulled his jacket off and tossed it onto a corner of the couch.

”So, easy news first, and please don’t freak out Kiki, but now that I am in the room with the two of you, I can feel the bond more strongly. So, we should plan some sessions on blocking each other out.”

Chicago After Hours

---

---

Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

---

---

Location: Nic&Ren's Apartment – Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

Cassi kept her distance after Ren’s next statement. No, no, no, no. Please no. Cassi met Nic’s eyes, panic clearly in her own.

She set her glass back on the counter, not wanting to show her shaking or drop the thing. If Ren made a deal…It would make sense that a monster from Hell came after them, but it wouldn’t line up with the other kills. Of course, Caden and she hadn’t looked into why the Chimera showed up. Just that it had and how to kill it.

---

---

Avery Zain

---

---

Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

Avery glanced over when he felt Kimiko’s presence next to him. He was half surprised she didn’t completely stand in front of him to block the others from looking at him. He chuckled softly and wrapped his arm around Kimiko’s waist, the water bottle he still held hitting her hip lightly.

When Avery made the comment, he hadn’t been expecting Kimiko’s possessive reaction, but he would be lying if he didn’t say he enjoyed seeing that side of Kimiko. It comforted Avery to know she cared for him as he cared for her.

Avery swallowed his food and kissed Kimiko’s cheek. ”My little fox,” he whispered in her ear, low enough that the others wouldn’t be able to pick up on it.

---

---

Caden

---

---

Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills: Shapeshifting

---

---

The purple in Caden’s eyes took a minute to dissipate before his eyes returned to their normal blue-green shimmering colour. He smiled down at Nero and brushed his fingers through their hair.

”It was…Each dragon has a different power set. Mine is the ability to create barriers. The ones on my land alert me to when outsiders step foot on any of my properties,” he briefly explained before he kissed Nero softly.

Caden didn’t kiss Nero for long, aware of eyes on them, and looked up to Kimiko and Avery.

”I believe we have something to discuss, maybe a couple of things,” Caden noted.

Chicago After Hours

---

---

Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

---

---

Location: Nic&Ren's Apartment – Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

Cassi smiled gratefully at Nic when he translated for her. She turned around and scurried into the kitchen to pour Ren a glass of water. She poured herself some juice and Nic some water as well. She carried the two water glasses to the table, smiling a little from the joy in Ren’s voice when he greeted his son.

Cass turned back to get her glass of juice when Ren’s tone switched, and he apologized to Nic. Cassi frowned and turned, looking at Nic and Ren, wondering what Ren meant by his statement.

---

---

Avery Zain

---

---

Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

Avery rolled his eyes and shook his head at Kimiko’s reaction. He bit into his own sandwich and took a step forward to follow her when his phone vibrated. He stopped to look at it and saw that the security camera had picked up on a car pulling into the driveway. He zoomed in before he relaxed.

”Caden and Nero are back,” he informed Kimiko. Avery redirected his path to the front door and opened it.

---

---

Caden

---

---

Location: Driving – Chicago, IL
Skills: Shapeshifting; Dragon Magic

---

---

”I know…but it doesn’t hurt to be extra cautious,” he whispered, appreciating the comfort Nero provided.

Caden pulled into their driveway, glad it was lit and drove a little faster down to the drive to the house. Once he reached the front of the house, the door opened, and Avery stood there half-dressed and eating a sandwich.

Caden shut the car off and got out. ”To what do I owe the pleasure of seeing this little show?” Caden asked.

Avery grinned cheekily. ”Figured Nero would want to see what a real black man looks like,” he joked, making his pecs dance.

Caden laughed and helped Nero out of the car. Caden kissed their hand before meeting their eyes.

”Give me a minute,” he said. Caden walked away from the house and onto the lawn. He knelt and placed a hand on the ground.

Caden’s eyes shifted and held that strange purple glow from before. Purple mist seemed to pour out of the ground, and hundreds of golden lines shone through the yard. The purple mist flowed from the ground and from Caden as it wrapped around these golden lines. The gold grew in size, and several new strands formed, overlapping the old with the new.

Caden started to speak, his voice low and not his own, as it took on an ethereal cadence, speaking a language no humans had record of. The golden lines seemed to vibrate for a couple of minutes before everything disappeared, and Caden stood.

Chicago After Hours

---

---

Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

---

---

Location: Nic&Ren's Apartment – Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

Cass held onto Nic’s hand with both of hers, feeling nervous for some reason. When they finally came across Ren, she watched him throw his shoe. She swallowed and squeezed Nic’s hand before she let him go.

”Ren? Can I get you some water?”

---

---

Caden

---

---

Location: Driving – Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

”Mmm, are you sure? Sometimes I wonder,” Caden teased Nero. He turned the corner onto their road and slowed to take in the countryside more. His head moved slowly from left to right as he scanned, looking for signs of anyone or anything watching them.

”I could do that, try and bring it up casually. I just have a feeling Nic might think I’m trying to buy him off, even though that’s not why I do it.”

---

---

Avery Zain

---

---

Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

Avery yelped and laughed. ”Damn girl! That stings.” He had to admit, though, he was impressed with how hard she managed to hit him from that angle.

Avery reached the top of the stairs to the main floor before he pulled Kimiko off his shoulder and plopped her onto the ground.

”You can carry your own sandwich then,” he said and handed her one.

Chicago After Hours

---

---

Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

---

---

Location: Nic&Ren's Apartment – Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

Cassiopeia kissed him back as deeply as she could, even with how brief it was. She felt bad for Nic, but she was more concerned for his dad.

”No, I’ll come with you.” She squeezed his hand before adjusting his shirt she wore and her shorts. Thankfully Nic’s shirt was long and baggy enough that she was decently covered despite not wearing a bra.

---

---

Caden

---

---

Location: Driving – Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

”I’ve been around for a long time, my little imp. There isn’t much I don’t have an answer for,” he said.

He mulled over Nero’s suggestion. ”That’s not a bad idea,” he said, thinking it over. Caden wasn’t sure if he would do it, only because he didn’t believe Nic would appreciate it or see it the same way as Caden would want it to mean.

---

---

Avery Zain

---

---

Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

”Hey! Quit wiggling. You’re going to make me spill the water,” he stated as he filled a large water bottle that they could share.

He grabbed the sandwiches once he was done and started to walk out of the kitchen. He carried the water bottle in one hand and the sandwiches in the other. The one with the water bottle rested against Kimiko’s legs. He tapped her butt with the water bottle.

”I can do that, too,” he said in response to her continuing to smack his own butt.

Chicago After Hours

---

---

Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

---

---

Location: Nic&Ren's Apartment – Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

Cassiopeia smirked and hooked her finger into the waistband of Nic's joggers to bring him closer. She found his cocky confidence a turn on in this moment, and it was well deserved.

She was ready to start pulling down his joggers when there was a crash from downstairs. Cassiopeia turned her head to the door then back to Nic.

He moved away from her and she pulled his shirt back on before moving to her backpack. She opened it, ready to grab one of her knives when she heard Ren cursing.

”Is your dad drunk?”

---

---

Caden

---

---

Location: Driving – Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

Caden looked at Nero and smirked. ”I'm fine with it. Leaves me with more money to spoil you,” he said with a grin. ”I've been around for a while. The people who refuse my offers or who blush every time I bring them something more, are the ones I want to look after. I know Nicholas makes decent money, but gifts are generally how I show my appreciation. His refusal doesn't bother me. It just means I have to find some other way to say thank you.”

---

---

Avery Zain

---

---

Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

Kimiko's lack of vocabulary has Avery chuckling.

”Right, dealers choice then.” Avery kissed Kimiko's cheek before he moved his arm and spun Kimiko around by her hips.

Once Kimiko faced Avery he picked her up by her hips and tossed him over his shoulder. He wrapped an arm around her legs and started to put the ingredients he used to make the sandwiches away.

”You're right, it's a lot easier to get things done this way.”

Chicago After Hours

---

---

Caden

---

---

Location: Driving – Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

Caden chuckled. "If Nic can get Cassi here that early in the morning and ready to help, I'll buy him a house," Caden joked and pulled past the Chicago city limits into the countryside.

---

---

Avery Zain

---

---

Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

Avery was finished with the sandwich making but he still had to put everything away. However, when Kimiko let him go, he turned around to look at her.

"Uhh, nuh uh," Avery said and snaked his arm around Kimiko's waist. He pulled her back in, her back flush with his chest. "Now, tell me more about how you want me to pick you up," he said into her ear. "Because I can do it with you standing on the ground like this, or I can flip you in the air first, or I can set you on the counter and make-out with you first until we can't keep our hands off each other and I have to take you upstairs. Or...maybe you want all three at different times..." He mulled the ideas over while he placed kisses along Kimiko's neck.

Chicago After Hours

---

---

Caden

---

---

Location: Driving – Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

Caden smiled, his heart squeezing three times in his chest in recognition of Nero's hand squeezes. Caden loved the subtle way Nero told Caden they loved him like that. Caden pulled Nero's hands to his lips and kissed them several times before squeezing Nero's hand back three times.

"We'll bring everyone in on it tomorrow. Maybe we will be able to find something if we have more pairs of eyes on it," Caden said.

---

---

Avery Zain

---

---

Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

Avery peeked over his shoulder to look at the top of Kimiko's head. "Do you want me to throw you over my shoulder?"

It was easy to catch the hesitant tone in Kimiko's voice, but Avery couldn't help but wonder if that was something he wanted her to do because she was right. It was a move Avery could easily do, but he wasn't sure how Kimiko would respond to being thrown around like that. To be cradled in his arms was one thing, but over his shoulder was completely different.