Ananta laid patiently beside Kasey. But after no movement, she looked at the young girl, whined, then nudged her. After no response, Ananta stepped over Kasey's still form and faced her. Slowly the human girl looked into the pale arctic blue eyes surrounded by black fur. After a moment, Kasey finally lifted her hand and started petting the dog. Ananta's tail wagged as she laid down, nuzzling up to Kasey's chest. Kasey's silent tears rolled down her cheeks as she lost the energy to pet the warm husky in front of her. But Ananta only whined until slowly, Kasey again started to run a hand down its soft coat. Ananta licked a tear on Kasey's cheek before laying its head back down, closing its eyes.
A sob shook Kasey's body again as she hugged the dog tightly, letting the tears get lost in Ananta's black and white coat. Ananta didn't struggle and simply folded her ears back, letting the girl weep in peace.
Shobek looked at the stairs for the fiftieth time and Belasco heavily sighed, "Will you stop starin at the stairs and play the damn game??"
Shobeks head quickly turned back to the FPS game as he was again shot to death. "Sorry..."
Belasco groaned as another player killed him and he turned from the big screen to point his console controller at his friend, "play the game or watch it! Just stop screwin it up!"
Shobek sighed and set his controller down, "maybe I should go check on them...?"
Belasco groaned again and slammed his controller down, "they're just fine! I promise!"
Shobek frowned skeptically, "but I want to check on her.."
Belasco laid his head back on the couch with a look of despair, "Oh my seven realms, I am never gettin a wife if this is what it reduces gamers too." Shobek slowly stood up to sneak away as Belasco grumbled about love, but just after his first step, Belasco grabbed the back of his shirt and pulled him back down onto the couch, "You can't get up unless you be grabbin me a beer, friend."
"Just let me check on Kasey...!"
"Oh for mother above..." Belasco sat up and picked up Shobeks control and shoved it back in Shobeks hands as he grabbed his own. "They're fine! Else Ananta would be howlin by now. So shut up and play the game!"
Shobek begrudgingly pressed the start button, "fine..."
Belasco sighed mentally, a moping dragon is way too much trouble...
The next day came and gone and Belasco peskily kept Shobek away from Kasey's room. The dragon's mood grew worse with each second. The two men were again bickering while Belasco cooked the ungrateful white-haired beast some breakfast.
"I am going in there today whether you like it or not! She hasn't eaten anything and she hasn't left since she ended up in that state! Whether you like it or not, I am going in there!"
Belasco scowled and tossed the plate of pancakes in front of the dragon, "She'll be perfectly fine! And she has left that room! I heard her each time she snuck to the toilet. You just happened to be passed out by that time cause I been druggin your dinner!"
Shobeks mouth fell agape, "you've been drugging me?!!"
Belasco huffed, "only ya dinner! And its for ya own good! Damn baby..."
Shobek looked down at his pancake, scowled, and slowly sniffed a piece he had cut off with his fork.
Belasco scowled, "I said only ya dinner, dumbass!"
Shobek stared at his friend, shrugged, as if to say 'fuck it', and stuck a big piece into his mouth.
Belasco turned back to the pan to flip another pancake as he continued to cook.
Both men froze when they heard a door open, soft footsteps approaching the stairs before pausing. Slowly Kasey took the first step down the stairs before sighing and slowly making her way down. Ananta bounding ahead of her as the dog dashed to its food bowl to choke down each bite. Shobek stared as Kasey finally came into view. His breathing paused then hitched as his eyes watered.
Belasco gave a soft smile to the young girl who looked like a walking corpse, "good morning. would you like a pancake?"
Kasey warily stared at the demon before nodding her head slightly, walking over to sit on a stool beside Shobek at the kitchen bar. Shobek stared at her as if she were a ghost before he finally swallowed his bite of food. His hand slowly reached to touch her cheek before he paused and withdrew. "Did you...sleep well..?"
Kasey slowly turned her head to look at Shobek, her eyes slowly scanning his face before she looked back at the kitchen bar countertop and nodded her head.
"That's good! I hope the bed is to your likin!" Belasco responded before Shobek, setting a plate with two pancakes on it in front of Kasey. A bottle of syrup and a butter case was the next objects he set in front of her.
Shobek shot a glare to Belasco before he turned his gaze back to Kasey, his fear slowly fading as he took note of the soft light that finally returned to her eyes. She wasn't fully over it, but she was better. And that was good enough for now.
Belasco then set a glass of orange juice in front of her and smiled, "In case you don't remembah, I'm the lord of limbo, Belasco! Your humble host for the next while as you grow and get stronger. After all, you want to protect yourself, right?"
Kasey paused from cutting her pancake and looked up at Belasco, slowly nodding her head before turning back to her food.
"Wonderful! I think we should start ya trainin tomorrow so you can live a relatively peaceful life after everythin dies down again. Won't that be nice? To be strong enough to not burden anyone else?"
Shobek sat up straight to argue back but Kasey nodded, her voice raw from disuse, "yes. That sounds good...."
"Wonderful!" Belasco smiled happily, shooting Shobek a small glare. "Now eat up and regain ya strength. Trainin won't be some walk in the park!"
Kasey nodded, I won't be a burden to anyone ever again.....
Shobek ate his food in silence as his mind drew a blank as to what the hell just happened.
The next morning, Kasey instantly felt the regret of agreeing to start her training again. Nightmares had terrorized her all night long and she was feeling the effects of her poor eating habits. Today was going to be difficult.
"Up and at 'em, sweets! Ya promised to start workin again today!" Belasco announced as he strolled into Kasey's room. He tossed some fabric on the bed and smiled, "change into that and we'll get started! And if ya dilly dally, I'll just make Shobek change ya clothes for ya! So get up!"
Shobek crossed his arms as he looked over Kasey, thinking of giving her another day off since it might be too soon to make her do so much work. She might lose motivation. "Maybe we should–"
"Nope! She said she'd start gettin her shit together so she will stop having to rely on everyone else to protect her!" Belasco announced, defusing the argument before it even began. He turned on his heel and tugged on Shobeks shirt for a brief moment before walking out the door, "We'll be waitin outside. Unless... You are going to watch Shobek?"
Shobek sighed and shot a worried glance at Kasey before following Belasco out the door. Slowly but surely, Kasey sat up and grabbed the clothes. She slid out of her pajamas and slid on the black yoga pants and the white zip tank top. Not necessarily what she wanted to wear, but it was all she had at the moment. Slowly walking out of the room and down the stairs, she looked over at Belasco who held out a hair tye for her as he smiled.
"You'll need this too." He handed it to her and then walked out passed his white interior furniture onto his backyard patio. Kasey hesitantly followed as she tied up her hair. Belasco walked to two yoga mats and sat down on one before he gestured for her to sit on the other. Kasey slowly obliged. "Now, today won't be the hardcore trainin that you have faced before! Instead, today you will be focusin on your magic core and mental state! So I will be teachin you how to meditate! This will help draw out your magic and help you control your magic while also increasing its strength."
"I'll be...meditating?" Kasey stared at the mand before her as he nodded and smiled.
"Yup! We will start by focusin on your breathin and will relax your body." Belasco slowly showed Kasey the first pose, the lotus pose. "Now straighten your back a little....perfect! Now I want you to slowly relax your muscles, take slow and deep breathe..In...and... out.."
Kasey took deep breaths, following Belasco's instructions on when to take in a breath and when to let it out. Finally, she got the rhythm down and worked on doing it automatically.
Shobek watched from inside, his arms crossed as he leaned against the window, watching carefully. His eyes glowed purple as he used a bit of his magic to activate his demon vision to watch Kasey's raging aura slowly simmer into a peaceful pulse. "Amazing as always, Belasco..."
The training went on for a few hours, only a few short breaks in between. By the time Belasco let her go back to her room, her body was sore. But she felt more at peace. A little happier. Even if it was just a bit. Maybe training won't be so bad with Belasco....
After a few days of yoga and meditation, Belasco started to teach her how to control her magic. How to feel for core and how to direct the magic. And each day, the tasks just grew harder. Eventually adding martial arts to the training. Defensive and offensive magic. Breathing techniques and moving magic was being drilled into her brain whether she like it or not.
"This is dumb! I quit!!" Kasey screamed at Belasco as she blocked another hard head kick from Belasco.
"I told you! You can quit when you can beat me!" Belasco replied, throwing a few punches Kasey barely managed to dodge.
"That won't ever happen!" Kasey whined, Belasco using the opportunity to sweep out her legs. Kasey fell hard on the ground and looked up pitifully at Belasco as he laughed.
"Not with that attitude!" Belasco smiled and reached a hand down to help Kasey up. Kasey gratefully took his hand and stood up. "Maybe it's time for a short break."
"Maybe..." Kasey replied, flexing her fingers. Belasco turned to walk to his drink when Kasey tried to take advantage of the opportunity and do a roundhouse kick on him. Belasco ducked and spun around, Kasey's foot faltering in surprise. Belasco quickly grabbed one of her arms and pinned it behind her back, his other arm wrapping around her throat.
"How sly of you!" Belasco chuckled. Kasey squirmed against him but eventually gave. Letting her go, Belasco took a step back and walked over to his drink to take a long sip of it. "You remind me of when I was trying to take down Shobek when we first met, you know."
"You fought against Shobek?" Kasey walked over to her drink and took big gulps from it, sighing as the liquid brought her throat much-needed relief.
"Yup. Nearly died too. That was the first and last time I ever fought him." Belasco stared up at the blue sky as he recalled the memory.
"I imagine. I can't ever see him losing." Kasey sighed, glancing at the house where Shobek was. Though he wasn't in sight, she knew he was watching him from somewhere.
Belasco's voice grew dark, "let's hope you never see him lose."
Kasey watched Belasco's dark expression, "Have...you seen him lose...?"
Belasco shot a look to the house before turning back to his drink, "it wasn't a pretty sight. It never is when the most powerful being you know falls to his knees in defeat... it still haunts me to this day..."
"What....happened...?" Kasey set down her drink and listened intently to Belasco, fear pulsing through her blood at the thought of Shobek losing.
Belasco stared at his drink before setting it down and turning back to Kasey with a weak smile, "it's best not to speak of it. It's a bad omen."
And that was that. Kasey couldn't get him to speak any more of the subject. And after multiple questions on the subject, Belasco added another hour of combat training.
Kasey finally flopped onto her bed, still panting from the training, her mind racing with questions about what could've happened. A bad omen, huh?
How strange...