Alphonse landed on the building, his red eyes surveying the environment. He wasn't happy with what he discovered.
His mouth twisted with displeasure. He really didn't think he'd be here in this realm. At least not for a thousand years.
The wind was chilly, the moon slowly emerged from behind the dense grey cloud, stretching its shimmering arms to the world.
"Ahh..look who's here. If not my dear boy." A deep voice drawled.
Alphonse did not turn as he replied.
"I saw what you did Benjamin, and I'm here to deliver a warning to you. Don't stand in my way." He warned softly.
His voice was silky and laden with threat.
Benjamin chuckled, a croaky sound that sent leaves shaking. He emerged from the shadow, lazily flicking a lock of blond hair from his face.
"Alphonse Alphonse," he clicked his tongue. "Still as rude as ever I see."
He was a handsome man. Handsome in a way that made the word itself like an insufficient description.
His golden eyes were sharp and narrowed into slits, his blonde hair falling rakishly down his face.
"It's not your place to tell me what I can and can't do." He said slowly.
Being one of the lesser overlord, Benjamin was conniving and full of himself. He was a scheming bastard who cared for nothing except for his own personal gain.
"Stay away from humans and their realm. Do not think I haven't noticed your subtle touch in the air. I only turned a blind eye." Came Alphonse's casual reply.
Suddenly, the air warped around Alphonse, constricting around his throat. A great force seems to press him down, pressing and closing the space unto him.
Benjamin was gifted with air manipulation.
"You don't know what you're doing." Alphonse's voice was strained, his red eyes glimmering like blood.
Benjamin chuckled, a wine glass appearing in his hand.
"You know," he began conversationally, "I've always liked you. Intelligent. Smart with a good fashion sense." He nodded at Alphonse's wristwatch.
"But you're so impulsive! Too full of yourself," he cackled madly. "You think you're all that? Us exiles need to bind together. Work together." He shook his head, a theatrical sigh on his lips.
Suddenly the air turned a few degrees colder, Alphonse lifted a single finger and directed it at him, the air hissed, forming a single thread of whirlwind.
"How.." Benjamin gulped under the pressure pressing down on him. His knees hit the floor with a dull thud, the sound of the glass shattering rented the cold night.
His face purpled from the strain of trying to breathe.
Alphonse flicked invisible lint from his robe and focused his eyes on Benjamin. They shone vivid crimson, the dark edge swallowing his eyes whole.
"You're…you're..gifted..with air?" Benjamin gasped.
"I told you, didn't I? You really don't know what you're doing." Alphonse circled his struggling form with menace.
The air rippled as Alphonse paced around him.
"Humans aren't food for demons, no more than faes and quicksilver." He paused to stare at him.
"Now then, since we're done with the pleasantries and all that. You'll tell me what you've been delivering to the dragon realm, won't you?" Alphonse smiled chillingly, producing a wicked looking knife_curved and sharp_from thin air.
Benjamin muffled cries filled the desolate barrens.
*~*~
They arrived at the shopping mall. Seraphina got down from the car in a whirlwind of satin and silk, her hair bouncing.
She turned to look at them.
"I made a reservation. I booked the whole place so we'll have privacy." She informed.
"That's really thoughtful of you." Veronica said with apparent sarcasm.
"Let's go girls! I can't wait. I'm so excited, omg." She squealed.
Veronica and Seraphina exchanged a glance.
They entered the mall. The largest and most popular one in the country. The glass panel glinted in the golden lights.
Rows and rows of colorful clothes adorned each side.
"Good morning ma'am. We're so pleased to have you here." A portly man bowed deeply. "I'm Manager Ahn."
He saw two female staff in smart uniforms. They also bowed deeply but said nothing.
Seraphina waved a dismissive finger at him.
"Show us the way." She commanded.
No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't stop her tone from becoming condescending. She hates direct communication with people she deemed below her.
Why should she? She was the princess of Huang corporation after all.
The manager led them to the exclusive part of the mall. Snowy white wedding dresses, limited editions and made by top designers in the country.
"This is from the Paradise collection." He pointed to a row of absolutely gorgeous wedding dresses.
"From here," Seraphina points to the elegant rack, "to here. I'll try everything. Then once I've decided on which dress to pick. We can talk about the bridesmaids' dresses." She commanded.
She turned to Karma and Seraphina.
"I'm quite indecisive," she smiled apologetically.
"It's fine!! It's your wedding after all." Veronica said enthusiastically.
She really cannot wait for Seraphina to be off. There were some really cute summer dresses she'd spied on when they were being led in.
She'd like to try some on, never mind the bridesmaid's dress.
Karma turned to leave but stopped suddenly.
"Oh and I hope you don't mind. I invited my friends over." A small smile curved her lips.
Her eyes were gleeful, but her mouth remained soft.
"Sure sure. The more the merrier." Karma replied.
"You guys are a darling." Seraphina called, blowing kisses to them.
When Seraphina was out of sight, Veronica gagged.
"Ugh. I can't stand her. I hope she's not bringing those henbrained friends of hers. They try my patience." She complained.
Karma fervently hopes so. She really wasn't in the mood to play pretend civility with people who had rocks for the brain.
"For my sake and yours, I hope so too." she answered.
The two staff stood to one side, listening to everything that was being said.
Just then,
the door opened and sounds of several heels filled the place.
"Dammit all to hell." Karma said into her palms as she caught a glimpse of the faces of the new arrivals.
Her high school nemesis.