Team Up II

The two demon girls waited patiently as Alice dried her body, finishing her shower. She was wrapped up in a towel as she stood under a cascading stream of warm water. She couldn't help but sigh loudly, enjoying the soothing effect the water gave her.

"Thanks," she said softly. "I'd be lying if I told you I didn't need that. So, what is it you two want me to do exactly? Tell all the people that demons aren't so bad. Even if I were to do it, they wouldn't suddenly begin to see me as trustworthy. It'll take decades before they'd start liking the idea, and that's with decades of the best relationship possible. What I think is gonna happen is that I'll be attacked by anyone on the streets for fraternizing with demons. Yeah, I'm his descendant for sure, but it's been a century since he passed on, you know. None of my parents or grandparents ever carried his legacy. People don't even know who I am yet."

Jasmine sighed. "Whether or not we'd have the kindest relationship with them, I suppose we have to start somewhere." She glanced up at Alice and Eris. "Listen, we have a seriously good shot at this. Those tentacle monsters or whatever they are. I know it might not sound trustworthy to take advantage of a cataclysmic event like this in our favor, but it is genuinely the perfect opportunity to team up and create a new and peaceful world. If things go right, we can eradicate these beasts."

Alice cocked an eyebrow, obviously unconvinced, but didn't comment immediately. She hummed for a while. "We hardly have any information on these monsters. I've already defeated a dozen of them, but none of them had been particularly strong until the bigger ones began emerging. Who knows what will come out in a week or a month?"

"That's why we have to make friends. You. Eris. Me. If there are more demons alive still, we could get them by our side, too. Despite causing so much havoc and being the symbol for collective suffering and deaths, they're generally loyal to whoever rules them."

"And that would be her," Eris chimed in, smirking as she gestured toward Jasmine.

"You... what? Who are you?"

"The demon queen," Jasmine said simply. "I didn't die a century ago. Just got wounded really badly. And yup, were basically supposed to be arch-nemesis, considering our pasts."

Alice scoffed. "As if. Still don't trust you, Demon."

"Yeah, yeah, you've said it a hundred times. Trust has to be earned, but you're in our hands now, so no escaping for a long while. At least not before you learn a little bit about us. Get to know us better," Jasmine chuckled, grabbing Alice's wrist. "Let's have some real fun!"

"Huh? I need to go. People are waiting for me to save them," she explained, pulling herself back.

Eris grasped onto her other arm. "Do you know which places are being attacked? If you wander aimlessly, a monster might reappear here when you're gone. I take it that you don't trust two demons to take care of it?"

"Hmm. Yeah. Fine," she sighed, letting herself get pulled along.

***

"Baking?" Alice frowned, gazing at the ingredients laid out on the kitchen counter. "This is not the 'real' fun you promised."

"Yeah. That's half of the real fun. You'll get the rest," Jasmine giggled. "So, will you help us bake cookies? Maybe put on an apron," she winked, rolling her sleeves up and putting the mitten on.

"I guess I'll join," Alice gave an awkward laugh. "It can't hurt to try, can it?" She grabbed one of the aprons and put it over her head. It was pink. Jasmine gave a thumbs-up as she put her own on. Eris followed suit and started tying her own behind her back, using only the fabric. She squirmed and twisted and adjusted the cloth carefully.

"Really? You two can do better," Alice rolled her eyes playfully, grabbing a ladle, a spatula, a rolling pin, and a small bowl. "Woah."

She started working quickly. She mixed a variety of ingredients in one of the containers, adding one at a time, and kneaded them into a thick paste. While she did, Eris was already humming away as she placed the balls of dough onto the tray. "Hmhmmm," she happily hummed.

"Done," Alice exclaimed proudly, handing the concoction to Jasmine. "Go ahead. Shove that baby into the furnace. I still think we've got some firewood left. Should I fetch a flint? The stones should be on the shelf."

"Yup, have fun," Eris added a bit of extra love, patting the small balls gently and leaving the tray empty.

Alice dashed off, snagging the small flint and returning, rubbing the stone and making a spark. A quick burst, a crackling noise, and some smoke and a little fire began to grow inside the hole in the brick oven.

The wood crackled and burned bright orange as they inserted the cookie trays and shut the door closed. As the flames rose higher and the smell of charred wood permeated the air, Alice relaxed her shoulders and fell into a chair next to Jasmine, crossing her legs.

"See, we aren't so different, are we?" Eris laughed, grabbing her a cup of water. "Let's just cool ourselves for a while until the cookies finish."

"I don't know. I've never really baked before. My maid would usually serve me whatever food was available. If we weren't serving food, then we'd be eating at restaurants."

"It's as if I'm more human than you are," Jasmine chuckled, slapping Alice's back playfully. "Though, I—"

A scream broke the casual banter. A couple of people were running as fast as they could away from something. Alice immediately jumped to her feet and looked to the side. "What's going on there!? Is someone in danger?!" she shouted, trying to look past them.

She saw it on the horizon. "Those monsters again," she snarled. "They're here. But why are they... they seem so coordinated. It's as if they have a formation."

Eris and Jasmine turned, immediately spotting what she meant. They were absolutely right. It looked like a battle-oriented squad. It was composed of those creepy monsters, though different variants and, of course, even bigger ones. Tentacles. Black goo. Their slimy faces had different degrees and shades of red that could probably intimidate someone, like a line of deadlights shining toward a moving target.

"They must have a leader," Eris mused. "Let's go."