D.E.M.O.N.S: Getting Summoned Weekly isn't so Bad

Chapter 2058: Chapter 2058 Flower Arrangement Part 1

— Kat —

Kat and Lily’s eyes snapped open as they heard the sound of something clinking together. Listening further, they also heard… boiling water and further noise of cutlery. *Is someone making tea?* Kat started to calm down, with Lily following suite… only for their heightened awareness of their hearing to pick up on the fact Hedera was still sleeping. Steel didn’t drink tea.

Kat immediately burst into water and started to make her way as droplets down to the second floor. Lily followed along, teleporting through the shadows to leave the room without opening the door and then letting her soft paw pads keep her steps silent as she made her way to the stairs. Kat was floating over the table, but didn’t want to give whoever it was a clue she was there.

So Lily peaked down into the kitchen and… it was Lin? Lily remained in place, ready to attack if something happened as Kat reformed in front of Lin. “Good evening? Night? Whatever you call it? Why are you here?” asked Kat.

“Ah, I was wondering if you were awake. It was my understanding that you three were mostly sleeping through the day so I cam to speak with you. Though seeing as everyone was asleep I was debating if I should wake you all up or come back later. It’s a time sensitive matter but not one I’d necessarily be broken up over if the matter past,” explained Lin.

“Ah… should I get Hedera and Lily?” asked Kat.

Lin shrugged, “Probably,”

Kat then made her way upstairs to knock on Hedera’s door. She also debated if she wanted to dos the same with her own to pretend Lily was still asleep… but well. *If Lin can somehow get inside without us hearing it, I think it’s best not to play any games.*

[Good point.]

Hedera eventually stumbled out of the room. She was in pyjamas but looked like she’d taken a moment to refresh herself. Which was a touch weird because Kat hadn’t heard any water running. Maybe an artifact to style her hair? Perhaps one that was just in the house? “What’s up Kat? I thought we were sleeping through the night?” asked Hedera.

Kat nodded, “Yeah but Lin showed up in our kitchen.”

“Oh,” intoned Hedera. “I’ll go get changed,” Kat was about to say she was fine as she was. It wasn’t like Hedera wore a skimpy nightgown. Her pyjamas were fairly hardy things that covered her whole body. Hedera however, had already closed the door and started getting changed by the sounds of things.

So Kat just picked Lily up and then headed downstairs. “Tea?” asked Lin. Kat noted that there was a few extra cups laid out, three extra to be exact, plus the one Lin was drinking from. Though Kat wasn’t entirely sure the small teapot had enough liquid for all of those cups.

“I’m good I think?” Kat said uncertainly.

Lin just shrugged and continued to carefully sip on her tea as Hedera came down. Lily hopped up onto the table to sit down and glare at Lin for a bit… before immediately deciding that was a bad idea and hopping up onto Kat’s shoulder to make it seem like she was always intending to do that. Kat rolled her eyes as Lily started to flatten herself around Kat’s neck.

Once Hedera was seated, Lin started to explain. “Alright, so I can confidently say that Appoline was not behind the attack.” Hedera paused, waiting for someone to ask how she knew that. Seeing that nobody was taking the bait, she continued. “It seems one of the reasons my minions didn’t hear about this was a big commotion over at the Fleur house. Seems they’ve been in a state of civil war. Far more serious then I thought.

“One of the sides decided that Appoline was too dangerous. She doesn’t really care for house politics and mostly just does her own thing. That neutrality would normally see her through in quite good standing but someone decided the risk of not recruiting her was too high. Now she’s locked up tight in a basement and they’re using her potions. The attack was part test run, and also part cover. Ideally, nobody was to learn that Appoline had been removed. I’m actually impressed they set things up so quickly,” explained Lin.

“How did they manage to get everything done so quickly? Er, relatively anyway?” asked Kat.

“The original investigation team was delayed in forming due to one of the key members being sick. This was simply bad luck as far as we can tell, but the replacement they pulled in happens to be seeing a mistress on the side. A mistress from the Fleur family. So, she reported back and kicked off this whole thing. I’m not sure how much was pre planned. Those poisonous bulbs you mentioned for example? Not a work of Appoline at all. They are one of the last ditch defences of the Fleur family.

“So the fact that they were let out for this? Some people are NOT happy. It’s how I was able to get so much information. The family is split internally and while nobody wanted to give me quite so much information the arguments are easy to overhear when you know to listen. Anyway, in this case the plants were used because they were enough like Appoline’s work to fool everyone, and perhaps something she contributed to many years ago. It made it all seem like one mad ladies attempt to save her research.”

“Alright,” said Hedera. “That all sounds fine… but why do you want to help her? I was under the impression you didn’t like her?” Kat considered that a good question, and was glad Hedera had asked.

“Oh that’s easy. I may not like her, but it seems to be less and less likely she was the one responsible for Jen’s attack. Possible still, but less likely after all of this.” *Not sure I agree… but I suppose Lin would know better?* “What I’m doing is using this as a chance to save her, get some further credit with the city, and then rub it all in her face. I’m going to play the part of the perfectly helpful and concerned neighbour and she’s going to hate it!” laughed Lin.

“Um… and you think you can keep that up?” asked Kat.

“Of course!” insisted Lin. “I’ll perhaps burst out into laughter at her when it’s particularly funny, but I can hardly be blamed for that. As I said, I’ll be perfectly nice and kind to her until she steps too far over the line. It’ll take a while because I’m sure she’ll be happy to be rescued, so she won’t snap immediately… but I am expected to be poisoned a few times before the year is out.”

“Right…” said Kat slowly as she glanced around. Unsure of what else to say.

Hedera however, did have a major question. “Why not go to the guards with this?”

Lin gave Hedera a deadpan look. “I just informed you the guard force has spies and traitors in it… and you’re wondering why I don’t want to bring it up? There’s also the fact that the poison still hasn’t entirely been dealt with so they still need people on that. Really, it’s just not worth it.”

“And you wouldn’t have any issue with us informing Steel or Ramor about your idea?” asked Hedera.

Lin shrugged, “Those two I’m quite certain are loyal to the crown. I do worry a bit about who they might tell, but if you want to let them know, and then swiftly go on the job right afterwards? I’m not terribly concerned.”

“But wouldn’t you rather not have it leaked as to who saved her?” asked Kat.

Lin laughed, “Ha! The Fleur family aren’t rank amateurs. They’ll be guarding her far too well for you to get through and get her out without getting caught. Granted, that’s mostly because Appoline has no stealth skills without her potions but even still, I wouldn’t expect getting in to be easy.”

“So what are you recommending?” asked Kat with narrowed eyes.

“I’d suggest either a frontal assault, where you tear apart the defences and scare off the defenders, or sneak in and then break your way out. Though you could also split up, have one of you three focus on drawing attention while one or two of the others sneak in to get Appoline out. There are all sorts of options though I really doubt you could manage a completely clean extraction,” said Lin.

“That’s just a list of basically all of our options,” said Kat.

Appoline shrugged, “It really is up to you though. Just because I believe something doesn’t mean it’s true.”

Kat glared at Appoline for a bit. *Why do I feel like she’s baiting me somehow?*

[Probably because she’s baiting you?]

*Yeah but to do what?*

[Honestly I’m not sure of that part. The obvious answer is to just charge in… or maybe it’s not? Her mind is a mystery I don’t really want to investigate.]