Who's A Good HellHound?

The night outside was a full-blown mythological war zone.

Behind them, a Wendigo was getting absolutely wrecked by a Unicorn and a Chimera, the sounds of snarls, screeches, and heavy hoofbeats filling the air. But honestly?

Not their problem anymore.

Kikidori, Haruna, and Coraline walked back into the vampire mansion, its towering iron doors closing behind them with a heavy thud.

Immediately, the air inside felt… off.

Something was here.

Kikidori's predatory instincts flared, his entire body tensing. Haruna felt it, too—her eyes narrowing as she slowly licked her fangs.

Coraline, sitting on Kikidori's shoulder, flattened her ears. "I swear to the Elders, if another goddamn monster is waiting for us—"

Then—

A bark.

Kikidori froze.

Another bark.

Haruna blinked. "…Did I just hear—"

A third bark.

And then—

Something small and fast launched itself from the shadows.

Kikidori barely had time to react before a dog—wait, no—a Cerberus leaped straight at him, three tiny sets of jaws snapping in excitement.

Kikidori caught the thing mid-air, holding it at arm's length. "WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK?!"

It squirmed in his grip, three fluffy heads barking at the same time, tails wagging wildly.

Haruna covered her mouth, her eyes wide with shock. "Oh my Goth."

Coraline, from Kikidori's shoulder, looked beyond done. "No. Absolutely not. We are NOT keeping that thing."

Kikidori stared at the three-headed ball of energy in his hands. The creature had the body of a husky-sized dog—thick black fur, glowing red eyes, and three identical heads, all panting excitedly like a puppy that just met its favorite humans.

The middle head tilted slightly before licking Kikidori's face.

Haruna lost it.

She dropped to her knees, laughing hysterically. "A-A HELLHOUND—A BABY HELLHOUND!"

The Cerberus barked again, wagging so hard that its entire body wiggled in Kikidori's grip.

Kikidori, completely at a loss, slowly lowered it to the ground. The tiny Cerberus immediately rolled onto its back, three heads whining for belly rubs.

"…It's tame," Kikidori muttered.

Haruna, wiping tears from her eyes, grinned. "I think we just got a new pet."

Coraline gasped, offended. "NO. NO MORE PETS."

The Cerberus barked happily, completely ignoring the tiny vampire cat.

Haruna crouched down, scratching behind its three sets of ears. "Who's a good little Guardian of the Underworld? You are! Yes, you are!"

Kikidori sighed, running a hand through his hair. "We can't just keep a hellhound, Haruna."

Haruna ignored him completely, cooing at the Cerberus like it was the cutest thing she had ever seen. "I'm gonna name you Cerby."

Kikidori groaned.

Coraline jumped off Kikidori's shoulder, her fur bristling as she hissed. "You can't just tame the Underworld's most feared beast and name it Cerby."

The tiny Cerberus wagged its tails faster, one of its heads immediately licking Coraline's face.

Coraline let out the most disgusted noise possible. "I AM NOT OKAY WITH THIS."

Kikidori sighed, rubbing his temple. "Fine. It can stay."

Haruna gasped happily. "YAY, A NEW PET!"

Cerby barked excitedly, leaping into her arms.

Coraline, horrified, muttered under her breath. "This house is an actual nightmare."

Kikidori just smirked, shaking his head. "Yeah. And I wouldn't have it any other way."

The End of Chapter 14.