Chapter 90: Orgy

The noise from the bar seeped in through the closed door. I rubbed at my eyes. I looked at the clock. I had been sitting here almost all day trying to figure this stuff out, but I think I finally had some success. I located an inventory that was separated out by drink and calculated by the bottle. I saw where the current inventory was updated each week. From there, I extrapolated a list and made the order online. I tapped the enter button, and everything was done.
I sat back in the chair. I was tired but finally felt like I accomplished something. It had been a long time since I had been challenged like that. Maybe the last time was when Kira was working through the book trying to figure out runes. I never did find that book again. I needed to get my hands on some more books like that. The internet was not a great source. Maybe there was still a stock in Utah if that home still existed.
The thought of even going outside made my stomach do a flip flop. What if Mr. Kline was out there? What if he was watching me right now? I swung around the room in the office chair. There were no windows. I had forgotten I was underground. I let out a breath. Of course, I was safe. This was probably the best place I could possibly be.
I did the thing I always did when I was scared. The name whispered on my lips inaudibly. "Remi..."
My heart hurt. I had to figure out how to rescue them both. That meant I needed to come up with a plan and face the darkness again. And that meant facing Mr. Kline again. He'd been working with Mila, well whatever was pulling Mila's strings.
I turned my mind to my other problem. Karma. What the hell was I going to do with her? She'd already fucked my life up at every turn. I needed to figure out how to get her on my good side.
I stood and stretched. The bar noise was getting louder. I decided I should probably go and meet some people. I poked my head out the door. My mouth gaped open.
The people in the bar were all over each other, and I don't mean in the violent way, well maybe the orcs. But seriously, there were hands and lips on everyone. Men on men, men on women, women on women, it didn't seem to matter. Cherry stood filling a beer for a man at the counter.
"What's going on?" I asked.
Cherry looked out over the crowd. "I have no idea."
"Is it usually like this?"
She shook her head slowly as she watched. "No." She nodded in the direction of two men kissing. They were big and muscular but holding each other like lovers. "Especially them." She let out a giggle. "Definitely did not expect that."
Across the room, an orc woman was punching Liam in the face. His eyes were dark and lusty like they were the night before. He took her punch in the face then hit her in the ribs. She stepped back and smiled a toothy grin. A bit of jealousy took hold of me, but I reminded myself that what happened last night didn't mean anything.
Cherry giggled brightly. I turned to see her lean over the counter and make out with the patron.
"Cherry?" I asked.
She waved me off.
Something didn't feel right. I focused. The purple smoke of Karma's magic choked the air. The entire bar was clouded in it so thick I could barely see the people through it. I pushed through the couples. Each one was wrapped in a sharp tendril of purple linking the two together. At the center of the floor in a gold and purple throne sat the Force of Nature herself. She had her long brown legs over the side. Her purple dress draped gracefully around them.
"Karma..."
She frowned at the sight of me.
I stepped forward between the crowd. They backed away as they groped at each other, giving us space. I was sure that was Karma's doing. The noise faded like we had stepped out of the room even though they were all still around me. No one else seemed to see her. I dropped to one knee and bent my head.
"Karma, Goddess of a Fate, what an honor for you to bestow a visit on me."
I could feel her eyes looked down on me. I kept my head lowered until she acknowledged me. She took a long time before she spoke.
"I'm not even sure what to call you."
I lifted my eyes slowly. Karma was studying her nails.
"I don't know either."
"It has been months, and you still haven't decided on a name. All that power Juno gave you, and you are just wasting it."
I didn't say anything. I didn't have an answer for her. I didn't even have an answer for myself.
She looked down at me. "Are you having fun filling your father's shoes? They are going to blame you for this, you know." She wiggled her finger, indicating all the couples around me, making out and touching each other.
"Yes, goddess."
"That will be a fun mess for you to clean up." She smiled evilly.
"Yes, goddess."
She dropped her feet to the ground then leaned forward towards me. "Aren't you upset?"
"I will handle it, goddess."
She crossed her arms over her ample bosom. "Angie," she said with a snap of her fingers.
Angie appeared in a puff of purple smoke next to her throne.
My throat tightened. I fought the urge to run into his arms, to feel safe again.
He didn't say anything. He stood there with his hands at his sides. He wore a pair of dark jeans with no shirt. His hair was cut a little shorter and combed back. His face was worn. When he looked at me, the corners of his mouth drew down, and his eyes grew sad.
Karma stood and circled her thrown around to Angandriel. Her finger spread his over his naked chest. She looked down at me. I tried very hard to keep my expression still. A small smile played on her lips.
"Angie." She drew out the word. "I call him that because of you, you know." She turned back to him. "Kiss me," she ordered.
Angandriel dutifully lowered his head and kissed her on the lips. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pushed into him. Her hands moved his hands over her body. I knew she wanted me to look away. I knew she wanted a rise out of me. It was the same with this bar. She wanted me to overreact. Hell, I wanted to react. I wanted to jump and scream at her for messing in people's lives. I wanted to wrench her off Angandriel so fast and knock her on her ass. But she was just like any other bully, just like Mr. Kline.
The best way to fight this was not to fight. She had to be bored of me then she'd leave me alone. The only other way to beat a bully was to join them, and I had no idea what I could do to gain her respect. I didn't have the god power, and I didn't dare try my succubus power on her; that was just asking for trouble. So I stayed on my knee with my head bent and my eyes watching her make out with my angel, well, my former angel.
She pulled back. Her eyes instantly darted to me. I could see the disappointment in her eyes. Her anger flared.
"Oh, that's right. You have a new lover. You replaced your dear Angie. He's out of the picture now, gone and forgotten. Now you have this big oaf."
She flicked her fingers. The crowd parted. My eyes followed her gaze. The orc woman had her legs wrapped around Liam. One of his hands held her ass. The other pawed at her breast. He moved against her in a steady rhythm as she moaned in pleasure, the noise grew louder like she had turned the volume up on a television.
That was okay. It was fine. It was just sex, and it was probably just my power. Liam could have any girl he wanted. Hell, I could have anyone I wanted with this power. I could feel my jaw tighten. I tried to loosen it without her noticing. I brought my eyes back to her slowly. Her eyes sparkled. Damn it.
A smile drew across her lips. "Come on, Angie, I think we're done here for tonight. See you later, Nameless."
She snapped. Karma and Angandriel disappeared. The throne remained. The noise went back to normal, and the people around me moved more normally. The purple haze still hung in the air.