Chapter 114: Visit

Karma sauntered through. Her hips swayed with every step. Angandriel followed a step behind her. He was shirtless and all his muscles were on display. He was perfect eye candy to match her. People parted as she walked through. She stopped ten feet in front of me and looked around.
"Why are these people staring at me?" She snapped her fingers from side to side. People's eyes moved with her hands. "Can they see me? Why can they see me?" Her eyes landed on me.
I shrugged.
She pointed to the nearest man. "You? Can you hear me?"
He nodded quickly.
She narrowed her eyes and leaned close to him, inspecting his face. "Why is that?" She pinched his cheek. The man grimaced but was smart enough not to pull away.
"What have you done, Lanie?" She let the man go and turned back to me.
"My name's not Lanie."
She waved her hand. "Oh, whatever, Lanie, Kira. Just pick one."
"I'm neither."
She heaved a heavy sigh. "Then, just pick something. I'm getting tired of this game."
"I don't think you get tired of games, Karma."
She pointed at me. "Ooh, see. Now I like the way you say my name, like it has some weight, power. Pick a name like that. Karma. Rolls off the tongue. Commands respect. It should be easy."
I leaned my cheek into my hand and sighed. I used to be so afraid of her, but right now, I couldn't be bothered. I was so over all of this. If she was going to smite me, then let her. My life was such a mess. Nothing she could do would make it any worse.
"Now, don't be like that. What happened to the yes ma'am attitude? You were so fun to play with."
Her purple smoke filtered through the room like a haze. People started making eyes at each other, but no one really moved.
"What, no orgy? What have you done to these people?"
"I brought them back to life," I said in a bored tone, still holding my head up with my hand.
Her dark chocolate colored eyes swung towards me. "Now, that is interesting. How did you manage that?"
I gave her a one-sided shrug.
She looked around. "That's it. I see it now." She waved her fingers about. "It's like this golden glow about them. And it all comes back to you. You've commanded their faith, you sneaky little girl. Oh, I bet Miranda is just irking mad."
I lifted my head. "Who's Miranda?"
Karma smiled devilishly. "I see now I've got your attention."
"Who is Miranda?"
Karma spun around to Angandriel. Her fingers slid up his chiseled chest. His blue eyes looked right through me, through everyone. Karma looked back over her shoulder at me. I schooled my expression to be nonchalant. She pouted a lip, then turned around to him and kissed him on the mouth.
The kiss continued for painful minutes. Everyone stared. I stared, but I kept my expression bored. She finally pulled away and looked back at me. Her eyes narrowed ever so slightly.
"What, you don't want your angel back, Nameless?"
"No, he's got Karma cooties all over him. I can just pick another one. Now, did you want something, or did you just come to bother me?"
She narrowed her eyes at me again. She snapped her fingers. She and Angandriel vanished in purple smoke. The haze filling the room slowly faded. Everyone's eyes landed back on me.
"I told you, Karma hates me," I said loud enough for everyone to hear.
After a full ten seconds, Cherry, bless her heart, laughed. A few joined in at first, and then everyone seemed to chuckle a little. It didn't last long, but it did ease the tension in the room.
Cherry strode towards me. "Did you really just say that to Karma, a Force of Nature?" Her voice was so loud in the quiet room.
I shrugged as if it was just the two of us, like no one else was here. "I guess so. The more I react to her prodding, the more she does. If I act like I don't care, then maybe she'll eventually get bored of me and leave me and everyone else around me alone."
"That sounds like a sane idea, but... what if she doesn't stop?"
"The other option is to antagonize her, and she'll definitely not leave me alone."
Cherry finished walking the distance. People were still quiet, listening in on our conversation.
"I guess that is true." Cherry set her hands on the table and leaned towards me. "Alright, fearless leader, what is on the agenda for this evening? Riots? Orgies? Party?"
I could feel everyone watching. It felt like they were holding their breath. It didn't make the decision any easier.
"How is everyone in our territory? Are they panicking?"
Cherry shook her head. "I think they are taking it pretty well. No one is left to terrorize them."
"Is there something we can do that to make them feel better? Maybe unite them, so they aren't afraid of me?"
Cherry looked up and to the side as she thought. "What about a picnic? We could throw a night picnic tomorrow in the park. Invite the community and show off our new leader. What do you say?"
I looked around. Everyone was still watching us. I turned back to Cherry. "What does Liam think? Where is he?"
"On patrol. I can call him back if you wish."
"Well, I think the... night picnic... idea sounds good if you think it will work, but check with Liam. I want to make sure he is on board before we do anything."
"I doubt he will be. If it doesn't involve smashing or bashing, orcs are really into it."
"Well, run it by him anyway. I want him included in all the decisions. He will know how to keep us safe."
Cherry nodded. "Got it, boss. I'm on it. Now... can I bring you something to drink?"
"Definitely."