Chapter 146 - The Misadventures Of Seri And Artie

I yawned in bed and stretched... Ahh. I'm hungry. I guess I should get up.

I stood up and rubbed my eyes as I walked out of my room. I went downstairs to the kitchen. I shouted, "Cooks! I demand my late breakfast. Or early dinner... Whatever time it is. And don't try arguing with me this time. I know where you all live."

I stopped and looked around. The room was dark and quiet. Hmm. I forgot today was a holiday for everyone. Now I got to feed myself somehow? How barbaric.

I walked back to my room and kicked open Mary's door. "Pink hair! I demand you feed me!!!" I added in a calmer tone, "Cookies if you have any."

I looked around her dark room. Hmm. Empty too? I wonder where she went. Usually she tells me like 600 times. Or maybe she did tell me? I forget. Sometimes I just tune her out.

I walked downstairs to Millie's room. I knocked, "Milllieeee! Please feed me."

No response.

I sighed, "Now I got to go out to a restaurant?" I giggled, "Can do."

I changed quickly and skipped out. I rubbed my stomach. Wow. I'm really hungry. Where should I eat? Well wherever I eat, I'm going to have a three course meal.

As I walked into town, I saw Millie. I ran over to her, "Millie! I've been looking for you!"

Millie looked surprised, "Me?" She frowned, "Why do you look like you just woke up?"

I replied without a hint of dignity, "Because I just did." I nudged her arm, "Millie, come eat breakfast with me!"

She smiled warmly, "I'd love to, but I have to run some errands today for my parents. Aren't you going home to visit your parents for the holidays?"

I blinked, "No. Why would I go visit?"

Millie's face twitched, "I feel bad for your parents."

"Eh, I don't. They have Oliver now."

She nodded, then something mischievous flashed through her eyes. She looked up and me with a calm smile, "I guess you're not the only one who isn't going home to visit."

I tilted my head, "Who else isn't going?"

"Well..." She trailed off with a complicated expression, "I'm not sure if I should say..."

I frowned, "Say it."

"Well, I actually saw Mary and Dante walking around together."

I felt as if someone just dropped a brick on me. "...What."

She nodded, "I'm not sure, but they were going around shopping together. They looked pretty happy too."

"Happy?!?" My voice cracked.

She nodded, "Yes. I saw them down that street just a moment ago."

My face twitched, "Mary... And... Dante..."

On a date?!? WHAT THE HELL!? When did this happen?!

Dante wasn't supposed to fall in love with Mary!!! I purposely changed that!

Eek! I mean... I accidentally changed that.

So if I changed it, why are the two of them out shopping with each other? Gasp! Perhaps something happened recently? Did Mary get kidnapped again?! Did Dante save her and as a result he fell in love with her?!

Looks like I have to kill Mary.

No, no. There's no need for drastic measures. Actually, Millie may just have misunderstood something. Yes, there's no reason to panic. I'm sure everything is just fine.

I froze.

I glanced at Millie, then took off running. As she watched me run away, a chilling grin crossed her face. "It's almost too easy."

I ran off and forced myself to stop. Sh*t. If I follow them, I'm going to need a disguise. I ran into a store and shouted, "Quick! Disguise me!"

The store clerks looked at me in confusion. "Uhhh... Okay."

They gave me a makeover and changed my hair. After getting a new outfit which was easier to run around in, I paid them and left. I quickly made my way down the street where Millie had pointed. I found Dante and Mary chatting in the street. I quickly hid behind a horse trough.

As they laughed with each other and flirted openly in the street, I grinded my teeth in anger. "Motherf*ckers. Dating behind my back. I ought to kill you both right now."

"Wow, Seri. That's a bit dark. I think they make a good couple."

I clicked my tongue, "Good couple? There about to be a dead couple here soon."

"Think about it, Mary's airheadedness is perfectly balanced by Dante's clarity."

I sneered, "But Mary's heart is too pure for Dante. She faints at the mere mention of blood. And Dante's drenched in it."

I paused.

Wait. Who am I talking to?

I turned to see Artie hunkered down next to me with a mischievous smile. I fell over in surprise. I would have screamed, but I didn't want my position to be compromised.

Artie chuckled in a low tone, "Why do you look so surprised?"

I gasped and held my heart, "Don't sneak up on people like that!!"

He smirked, "I'm not usually able to sneak up on you. I guess you were too focused on stalking Dante that you didn't even notice me."

I blushed, "And just who is the stalker? How did you find me? Aren't you supposed to be with your family?"

He scratched his cheek, "Well, I was with them in town, but then I saw you going into a store. Then you came out in... That."

I frowned, "What? You don't like it?"

He shook his head, "On the contrary, it suits you so well that I'm astounded. But, you do realize anyone could tell it was you?"

"Rats." I sighed, "Well whatever."

I looked at Artie carefully. He called me a stalker? This little prick is a true stalker.

I smirked at him, "Say... Want to have some fun?"

He smirked back, "Are we going to stalk them?"

I shook my head, "Not stalk. Follow."

He snickered, "Well of course I'm in."

I nodded, "Then let's go."

We kept an eye on Dante and Mary. Unlike when Millie and Dante followed me, Artie and I were actually good at hiding and following them. Even Dante's cat like hearing couldn't help him figure out he was being stalked by the masters.

We were totally ninjas.

I whispered to Artie, "Why do you think they keep going into stores?"

Artie whispered back, "Don't you know? Couples usually go into stores together to buy each other things."

My mouth dropped, "They are already at that stage in their relationship?!"

Artie nodded, "Actually, they might be more than that. Look, they keep walking into jewelry stores."

"Why does it matter that it's a jewelry store?"

He rolled his eyes, "Duh. Don't you realize what it means when a man and a woman go into a jewelry store together?"

I furrowed my brows in thought, "Uhh... It means they want to pawn off their old jewelry?"

He frowned, "No. They must be looking for engagement rings."

"ENGAGEMENT RINGS?!"

"Shhh!"

I whispered, "Engagement rings!?"

He nodded, "Yeah. They must really be looking for the perfect one too. They keep going into different stores."

If I had a handkerchief right now, I would be biting it angrily. Since I didn't, I decided to bite Artie in a fit of rage.

"OW OW OW OW! What are you?! Some kind of rabid dog?!"

I let him go and grinded my teeth in irritation, "No, sorry. I just got a bit angry for a second."

He rubbed his bite wound and whimpered, "I think you made me bleed."

I slapped him quickly on the bite wound causing him to yelp out in pain. "Sh! Look! They are coming back out!"

We followed them closely and noticed they were now at a water fountain by themselves. Normally this place would be bustling with people. However, it just so happened to be vacant.

How coincidental.

It looked like a CGI scene from an otome game. F*ck. Did Mary capture Dante?!

As they talked, Artie whispered. "Is it me, or does this scene look really romantic?"

I whispered back, "It's not just you. But shut up before I bite your arm off."

His face paled. I watched the two with lazer like focus.

Mary blushed.

Dante ran his hands through his hair and looked away.

Mary smiled as she batted her eyes.

The two got closer...

Artie whispered, "I think they're about to kiss."

KISS?! LIKE HELL I WILL ALLOW THAT!

I grabbed a large rock beside me, and chucked it with all my strength and anger. It smacked directly into Mary's forehead.

*Dunk*

Mary blinked, "Oh my." Then she fell backwards and collapsed onto her back.

Dante looked down at Mary's unconscious body and frowned. He instantly turned to the bush that me and Artie were hiding behind. His glare almost caused the bush to freeze over.

Artie whimpered, "SERI! WHAT THE HELL?! YOU'VE KILLED US BOTH!!"

I whispered back, "It's not my fault! It's yours!! You were the one who said they were going to kiss!"

"They totally looked like it though!!! Wait?! How is this my fault!?"

"If you didn't put that thought in my head, I wouldn't have gotten so angry!!!"

Dante came over as me and Artie whispered to each other. He looked over the bush with a fierce expression.

We both looked up in fear. I shrieked, "EEK! Ohhh hey Dante... Me and Artie... We were just..."

"APPRECIATING THE BUSH!" Artie shouted out of fear.

I gave him a disappointed glance. I turned back to Dante and forced a smile, "Yeaaaah. So, you know... It really isn't what it looks like."

He continued to glare with sharp golden eyes. His voice came out cold, "So you two aren't spying on me?"

I gulped, "Okay. It's exactly what it looks like."

Artie wanted to cry, "Seri!"

I quickly spoke, "But it's not our fault! You and Mary were out on a date and getting so lovey-dovey! We had to follow!"

His face twitched, "What."

My mouth went dry at his reaction, "You know... Just now... You were going to kiss Mary."

Suddenly, I was overcome with anger. I spat out, "Don't even try to deny it! I could see you two making googly eyes at each other!"

His glare got fiercer as his eyes bore into mine. I cowered under that domineering glare of his. In the blink of an eye, Dante hoisted me over his shoulder and started stomping away. I screamed as I flailed in his grip.

"ARTIEEEE! SAVE ME!"

Artie stood up in a panic, "What can I do?!"

"I DON'T KNOW! JUST DON'T LET DANTE KILL ME!"

Artie called after me, "Sorry Seri! But there's no way I can help you now! Just make peace with your god and accept your fate!"

"AAAAH! ARTIE! YOU TRAITOR! HE'S GOING TO DRAG ME TO HIS DUNGEON AND CUT OFF MY HEAD!"

Artie nodded, "I'll burn a candle for you!"

I want to cry.

I have to act fast. Dante was the kind of character that when he fell in love, he would slaughter anyone that messed with said love. No matter who they may be. It didn't even matter if it had been an accident. Dante was a ruthless killing machine.

And I'm next!!

AAAAAAH!!!!

What should I do? WHAT SHOULD I DO?!"

As I panicked, I could only think of one thing.

Seri! Use bite attack!

*Chomp!*

I sunk my teeth into his shoulder.

"Ahn~" A strange noise escaped his mouth.

He froze.

I froze.

Artie froze.

I glanced over at Dante's face in curiosity. His ears were quickly turning red, but his face stayed fierce.

I blinked, "Dante... Just now... Was that a moan?"

"..."

Dante threw me off and I landed on the ground with a thud.

"Oof." I looked up at Dante.

That was definitely a moan.

A. Moan.

Does that mean...

"All this time... You've secretly liked being bit?"

"..."

Dante's ears were so red they were practically dripping blood.

My face blushed red in response. I suddenly felt extremely flustered. "So.. When I beat you in the arm wrestling match... And then when I was mad at you..." I gasped, "Was that why you seemed so happy that I left a bite mark?!"

Bullseye.

Dante didn't wait for me to say more. He quickly took off running. I stood up to chase after him, but was held back by Artie.

Artie spoke, "Come on, Seri! Now's our chance to escape! Don't court death!"

I allowed Artie to pull me away. As we ran I had a strange feeling in my chest.

Shouldn't I be horrified?

Why do I have an overwhelming desire to chase after him instead?