Reborn as a Succubus: Time To Live My Best Life!-Chapter 289: Loyalty, Part Forty-Seven

{Melisa}

The streets of Syux always had a different feel at night.

During the day, it was all busy merchants and chattering students. But right now? Spirit crystals flickered atop lampposts and the twin moons refused to show themselves through grey clouds.

Truly the perfect ambiance for murder.

[Well... This is a bit of a predicament, isn't it?] She thought, trying to look appropriately nervous as she followed Koros through the shadows.

She could see him sneaking looks at her every ten steps or so.

[Okay, think,] she told herself as they moved through the quiet streets. [Obviously, I'm not going to help these assholes murder anyone. But what's the play here?]

Ahead of her, Crooked-nose was doing his best impression of a competent lookout, which mostly involved nearly tripping over his own feet every few steps.

[I could just blast them all right now,] she mused, watching him stumble again. [But Aria would probably scold me for that. Agh,] she resisted the urge to groan, [now that I know who tried to burn Javir's house down... I guess the priority should actually be stopping these nim terrorists in general? But... They look so blastable right now... AGH!]

Two more of Koros's goons brought up the rear, probably making sure she didn't try to run.

They weren't really being subtle about it either. Melisa could hear their heavy breathing right next to her ears.

[... I guess I play along. For now, anyway.]

The warehouse district loomed ahead. Even from here, Melisa could hear the sounds of people casually going about their work, not knowing people are about to try to burn them alive.

"Here," Koros whispered, stopping so suddenly that one of his rear goons almost walked into him. "This is the one."

Melisa looked up at their target. It was... well, it was a warehouse. Big, spacious, metal. A sign above the door read "Holloway's Fine Goods."

[Fine Goods? What, was "Generic Warehouse Contents" too spicy?]

"Melanie," Koros turned to her, his eyes glinting in the darkness. "You're up. Show us what you can do."

[... Shit.] She looked away for a moment. [Okay, think fast,] she told herself, her mind racing. [Need to make this look good without actually killing anyone. How do I do that?]

Something came to mind. Not a solution, but something that would help.

"I need to get closer," Melisa said, trying to sound like someone who hadn't spent the last few years learning exactly how far her spells could reach. "The magic... it works better up close."

Koros's eyes narrowed slightly, but he nodded.

His gaze swept the area, probably looking for guards or witnesses or anyone else who might object to a bit of casual terrorism.

She watched as he scanned their surroundings. Soon, he stopped.

"There," he pointed to a shadowy alcove between two buildings. "That spot should give you a clear shot at the loading bay. All the wooden crates should go up like kindling."

[Unfortunately, yeah.]

But, Melisa nodded, moving carefully toward the indicated position. Each step felt like it was bringing her closer to either blowing her cover or killing some innocent people.

The alcove smelled like piss and poor life choices, which felt appropriate given her current situation. As she positioned herself, she could hear movement from inside the warehouse. People working late, completely unaware that a bunch of murderous assholes were about to try to cook them.

[Okay, think. What would Isabella do? No, she'd just try to fuck her way out of this situation. What would Raven do? No, she'd just kill them. What would Armia do? No, she wouldn't have even kept up her cover till this point. Shit!]

The old "what would so and so do" method brought no answers.

But then she spotted something that made her want to kiss whatever idiot had designed this place - a pile of empty barrels next to the loading bay.

[... Is that some sort of oil?]

Her plan came together in her mind immediately. There was a chance this would work, but at the same time, it could end up working a little too well.

"Ready when you are, Melanie," Koros called softly from the shadows. She could practically hear him salivating at the thought of the carnage to come.

[It's all I've got. Hope you guys can run fast!]

Melisa raised her hands, making a show of gathering her power. The spellsign for this spell was simple - even a self-taught nim could probably figure it out - and yet, Koros and his crew seemed surprised.

[Time to give these poor saps a lesson in basic safety protocols.]

"Infernum, propara, frant!" she whispered, letting flame dance on her hand.

[Okay, simple plan,] she thought as the familiar warmth of magic coursed through her. [Hit the oil, workers see fire, workers run away.]

That was the best she had.

The flame shot forward, precise and controlled, hitting exactly where she'd aimed - right at those suspicious barrels. She'd have to deal with Koros being pissy about her "accidentally" not targeting the crates, but that was future Melisa's problem.

... But, unfortunately, current Melisa had bigger issues.

Like the fact that those barrels definitely didn't contain oil.

She flinched.

The explosion lit up the night like someone had just birthed a new sun. Colors Melisa didn't even know existed painted the air - blues and greens and purples all mixed together in a deadly rainbow.

[Oh... fuck.]

The blast knocked her back, the heat singing her eyebrows as rainbow flames consumed everything in their path. Through the inferno, she could see workers running, screaming, their shadows dancing grotesquely in the multi-colored light.

But not all of them made it.

Melisa stared, her jaw on the floor as a few of the workers got caught in that deadly light show.

Strong hands grabbed her shoulders, yanking her away from the scene. Koros's voice was practically giddy in her ear.

"Holy shit, Melanie! That was fucking incredible!"

She couldn't answer. Couldn't tear her eyes away from the few shapes writhing in the flames. Couldn't process the fact that she'd just...

[I killed them.]

"Did you see that?" One of the goons was practically bouncing. "When that guy caught fire? Fucking beautiful!"

Beautiful certainly wasn't the word Melisa would have used. Neither was the string of congratulations the others were throwing her way as they hustled through the streets, putting distance between themselves and the explosion she caused.

"Shame they weren't all inside," Koros said, finally releasing her shoulders once they'd turned enough corners. His eyes were bright with an excitement that made Melisa want to vomit. "But still - that was some impressive work! Never seen anything like it!"

"The colors!" Another goon chimed in. "Like a fucking festival!"

Melisa managed a weak smile, her mind racing.

Those hadn't been normal flames. Normal flames didn't come in cotton candy colors. Normal flames didn't spread that fast.

[What the fuck was in those barrels?]

"Welcome to the family," Koros grinned, clapping her on the back. "After a show like that? You're definitely one of us now."

She forced herself to nod, to smile, to play along while her stomach twisted itself into knots. She had to maintain her cover. Had to keep going. Had to...

Had to figure out how many people she'd just killed.

Later, of course.

Behind them, the night sky still glowed with unnatural colors, like the aurora had decided to come celebrate her first foray into accidental terrorism.

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Melisa just hoped the survivors would be okay.