Chapter Text
The mall— or whatever you could call it— was rather busy, and there were demons wandering everywhere you looked. Upon arrival, you had done your best to avoid going in, dragging your feet at the bottom of the carriage while everyone else piled out. But Opera was able to effortlessly move you, and though their grip was gentle, it left no room for you to worm your way out. Before you had been able to try something else, maybe going limp and deadweight, Opera turned to you, voice low as they threatened to throw you over their shoulder once more.
That got you moving.
You felt almost like a child being led into the mall, pouting and glaring at the floor as you faintly heard Iruma and Asmodeus talking, both Opera and Amuryllis chiming in occasionally. There was a pause in the conversation and movement, and you looked up to see Amuryllis standing there with a thoughtful look on her face, her gaze locked on you, as if she were studying you. After a second, she seemed to brighten, turning to the two teens.
"Why don't we meet back up in three hours, hm?" Amuryllis spoke, her voice light and cheerful, "Is that enough time?"
"I believe it is, mother," Asmodeus was barely paying attention to her, already looping his arm through Iruma's, tugging him away from your little group, "Come, Master Iruma! I have the perfect shop for us to start with."
"Wait," Your words were quiet as you watched them wander off, not a care in the world as they spoke, and you tried to step forward, but were stopped by a hand gripping your shoulder. "Wait— shouldn't they— don't they need an adult?"
You turned, seeing it had been Opera who had stopped you from going forward, "Madame Sullivan, both Master Iruma and Master Asmodeus will be alright. They have their hellphones, fully charged, and there are security guards stationed all around the mall."
You felt a hand snake by your own, Amuryllis grabbing your hand into her own as she tugged you lightly, "Come on, my dear! We start our unofficial mommy hang-out today!"
Opera let go of your shoulders as she tugged you along, trailing behind the pair of you, though they were close enough that you could reach them if you needed. You weren't sure what to do, nor were you sure of what you could do between two demons who were determined to bring you out and have you enjoy your day out. Amuryllis' hand was holding onto yours tightly, warm under your palm.
You cleared your throat, feet moving quickly as you tried keeping up with her. "Where are we going?" How she managed to move so quickly in heels, you'd never know.
"Alice doesn't let me dress him up anymore," She said, like it was an explanation, a pout in her voice, "So we're going to get you new clothes, makeup, everything! Oh, I'm so excited!" You concluded that she was using you as a pseudo-dress-up doll for her own amusement, and Opera was along for the ride.
Your closet back in the manor was stuffed to the brim with clothes Sullivan had ordered for you, and you hadn't even touched half of them at this point. There was no point in getting more clothes— damn rich people. It was pointless to try and slow her down, but you tried anyway, "I really don't need more clothes."
She didn't even turn around as she responded, "Nonsense, a woman can always use more clothes."
"I really don't—" You stumbled over your words as she pulled you into a boutique, turning to face you, a smile on her face as she poked the edge of your nose with a long fingernail.
"I know for a fact Lord Sullivan dotes on you, but he does only buy cutesy things. From what I've seen, he seems extremely biased towards pink and lace when it comes to you."
A worker had stepped forward, offering the three of you a polite greeting as Amuryllis tugged you further into the shop. She wasn't wrong; most of the clothes you refused to touch looked too similar to what one would dress a toddler in. Luckily, within the frills and fluff, there were semi-normal clothes that you had stuck to. In the center of the store were plush seats, lounge chairs, and a coffee table where the same worker from earlier set three mugs of tea down, before backing up. Amuryllis let your hand drop, and she turned to you.
"So we're going to let you pick what you want today!" There was a pause, her head tilting slightly as she tapped her chin, "With my input, of course."
You glanced over at Opera, unsure if you were looking for support or a supportive face. They still appeared stoic, though they took a seat, watching the pair of you expectantly. "It's best not to argue with Madame Asmodeus; she's quite stubborn when she's made up her mind."
You couldn't stop the sigh that left you, feeling as if you were deflating slightly under their gazes. You nodded, and Amuryllis lit up, clapping her hands together excitedly. "Wonderful! Now, let's start with the basics."
The next hour passed in a blur. At Amuryllis' words, works began flitting about, bringing her clothes and shoes to inspect. You were ushered towards a changing room before you could even register what was happening, guided behind a curtain as outfits were laid out for you to try on. It felt childish, almost embarrassing, as you went along with it. Every outfit she had picked out, you had to admit, was nice. They all fit you perfectly, maybe a bit too perfectly, and you felt good in them. Every time you'd draw back the curtain to let her and Opera see, they'd clap politely, Amuryllis pairing it with a dramatic gasp on occasion.
"Oh, that's absolutely precious!"
"You do look quite lovely, Madame Sullivan."
You were glad to have the time hidden behind the curtain, even if it was only for a few minutes each time. Your cheeks felt as if they were on fire; the praise from each of them was too much. It didn't stop, no matter how much you tried hiding your face from them, or tried to hurriedly show them the next outfits.
"That color brings out your eyes!"
"I do agree, it seems to suit you best."
You were dizzy by the time she wrapped it up, nearly forgetting the original outfit you had come with. She divided up the clothes, and Opera was quick as they moved towards the check out, handing over a card— Sullivan's card— and accepting the plethora of bags being handed their way. When you tried to offer help, holding a hand out to carry a bag or two, they merely shook their head.
"This day is for you, Madame Sullivan," Their gaze was heavy, the pair of you refusing to break eye contact, "Carrying your bags is the least I wish to do for you."
The words were short and simple, but for some inexplicable reason, you felt heat crawl down your neck, and you looked away, hand dropping to your side as you muttered a quick, "Thank you."
Opera tilted their head, "You don't need to thank me, I want to be of use to you."
Amuryllis, oblivious to the way your face felt flushed, wrapped her arm around yours, "Wonderful! Now, onto the next shop!"
"The next— we're not done?"
She smiled at you, placating and almost childlike, "Of course not, silly. That was just the first shop."
"We've been here over an hour."
"Which means we have a little less than two hours left," She reached her free hand up, gently brushing your hair back from your face, "Cosmetics, skin care, hair care. We have so many other things to look for!"
The feeling of being overwhelmed was different now. You still felt anxious, but in a different way. You didn't feel the need to check over your shoulder or stare at every passing demon, trying to gauge if they were a good demon— wasn't that a description— or a bad one. You could only allow yourself to be dragged into another boutique, your nose being assaulted with the scent of flowers and spices.
"Ah, Lady Asmodeus!" The demon at the front gushed, walking over with their hands clasped, as if in prayer, "It's been far too long."
Amuryllis giggled, "It has been, Zuri. I'm here with a new friend of mine," She squeezed your arm lightly, "Treat her kindly."
Zuri's eyes flickered over towards you, a momentary look of surprise on their face, before it melted, the same smile still present. "Of course! Right this way, madame."
Amuryllis released your arm, and you were ushered into a plush chair. The explanations thrown your way went over your head— makeup, moisturizer, serums, masks. You didn't have room to speak, so you just nodded along, hoping it was at the right times as they spoke. Opera, however, seemed to have been listening intensely, speaking quietly to another worker who would nod, moving items to the checkout until they had finished. Once more, Opera pulled out the card and grabbed hold of the other bags with ease.
You had lost track of what was in what bag as you left, being dragged to another shop right after. Luckily for you, Amuryllis took charge here, and you were able to breathe for a moment. The quiet atmosphere was comforting, and you found yourself gravitating towards Opera, "How much did Sullivan give you?"
They cast you a quick side eye, their tail flickering behind them, "Your father." You winced, right, you were in public. "To answer your question, however, I didn't ask."
"That- that doesn't answer my question."
They shrugged, "It's the only answer I have."
You couldn't help but scoff, turning to watch Amuryllis barking orders at the workers, who moved quickly and quietly, "You and he are more similar than I thought."
"I shall take that as a compliment, Madame Sullivan."
A laugh escaped you before you could stop it, loud and quick, and you shook your head at them. Truth be told, the noise had startled you slightly— but Opera's dry responses were something of a comfort to you now, and occasionally, their words caught you off guard. Your peace was ended quickly, as Amuryllis seemed to have finished with whatever it was you all had come for, and Opera went up to pay. She seemed satisfied, and you wondered if the coy smile was painted onto her lips.
"Alright, I believe that's everything." She mused to herself, head tilted slightly, "Well, for now at least."
The tail end of her sentence didn't escape you, and you felt your body ache in protest. Who knew shopping was so tiring? Rich people were intense if they did this often. Still, as curious, and worried, you were regarding her statement, you chose to stay silent.
Opera shifted their stance, "It's nearly time for us to meet Masters Iruma and Asmodeus."
Amuryllis clapped her hands together, "Oh, why don't we head over that way then? We can rest while we wait," She reached a hand out, patting the top of your head softly, "I'll build your stamina up, don't you worry." She paired her words with a wink, and you sputtered, cheeks red as she began leading the three of you.
"What do you- what do you mean?"
She tossed an innocent look over her shoulder at you, "For shopping, obviously. Now that I have such a pretty doll in my claws, I'm not letting you get away."
The area you all had agreed to meet at wasn't too far from where you all had been, nestled by a fountain with statues of different demons. You'd suspect that they were old demons who had passed, but considering how weird their aging seemed to be, you figured they might just be the ones who founded this mall. Benches circled the fountain, white and pristine. It was rather peaceful when compared to the rest of the bustling mall.
Opera was careful as they lowered the mountain of bags down, though they appeared to do so with ease. "I shall retrieve refreshments for the pair of you while we wait."
"Oh, thank you, dear," Amuryllis beamed, cupping her cheek happily, "A tea for me, please."
Opera nodded before turning their attention towards you, tail swishing behind them as they waited for your response. You swallowed, "Uh, a coffee?"
"Very good." They bowed their head quickly, before turning and disappearing into the flow of demons. You lost sight of them easily, though you weren't sure if that was because of the crowd of others, or if it was due to Opera's ability to disappear and reappear whenever they pleased.
With a sigh, you lowered yourself onto one of the benches, stretching your legs out in front of you as you tried to roll out the slight ache in your muscles. You could hear the conversations flowing around you, though they were muddled and unfocused, and you let your eyes slip shut as you relaxed into the seat.
"See? Shopping can make a world of a difference!" Amuryllis exclaimed, her excited voice startling you slightly, and you glanced her way.
"What?"
She giggled, leaning in close to knock her shoulder against yours, "You were so tense when we got here, I thought you'd pass out before we got our shopping done. But you're far more relaxed now."
Now that she pointed it out, you took note of how you felt, and you felt fine. You had been so distracted by everything she had dragged you to do, you hadn't even realized you had been distracted. You glanced warily at the pile of bags that Opera had sat down, before looking back towards Amuryllis. Her smile was still present, though it was smaller this time, a genuine happiness shining from her as she looked at you.
"I'm glad," Her voice was a bit quieter as she spoke, "Alice told me about what had happened at Walter Park. I don't blame you for being worried about Iruma, any mother would worry about her baby."
"So, you—"
She put a hand up, her movements gentle as she cut you off, "Yes, I was worried about Alice. He's my baby boy, even if he acts like he's too good to play dress up with me anymore. But the thing is— the world's scary, isn't it?"
You nodded slowly— that was the whole reason you had wanted Iruma to be homeschooled, why you had wanted to stay home. This world was terrifying.
"But we learned how to navigate it, hm?" You remained quiet, and she continued, letting her hand drop down to the bench, laying over your own, "We learned how to survive through our mistakes. We learned how to be tough and fierce demonesses through mishaps, and we grew stronger. I don't know what happened to you and little Iruma before you came back to live with your father, but I can tell how much you care about your son and want to protect him."
Did it come off that way? Part of you had been slightly worried that, to an outsider's perspective, you looked crazy, that you looked paranoid and unfit to be a mother.
"Our boys are going to make mistakes; silly ones, stupid ones, all kinds! We can't protect them from everything; we can only be there to support them and hold them." She squeezed your hand under hers, her gaze softening as you looked up to meet her eyes, "From one mother to another, it's hard, but I think we're doing pretty well, hm?"
You chuckled, though it was rather dry, feeling your throat tighten slightly at her words, "I'm trying."
"That's all we can do," She responded easily, "If parenthood were simple, everyone would have kids, including the stupidest of demons." She huffed, "That's why demons like us are parents— we try, and we're competent. Not to mention, we have to pass on our beautiful genes, now don't we?" Her tone turned teasing, and her other hand reached out, cupping your jaw to ensure you kept looking her way.
You felt your cheeks burn at her words, though you couldn't break her hold to turn away. "I don't think beauty has much to do with being a good parent."
"Maybe not," She let go of your jaw, patting your cheek softly before lowering her hand, "But it certainly helps."
You didn't think Iruma looked all that much like you, never mind he wasn't even your biological son, but you kept your mouth shut. Thankfully, Opera seemed to materialize out of the crowd, supporting two cups in their hand as they approached.
"I have returned," They announced, handing Amuryllis her drink, before handing you your own, "Your coffee, Madame Sullivan. It's made just how I make them at the manor."
"Oh," You took a small sip, it was good, though not as good as the homemade cups Opera made you every morning. Still, you smiled, "Thank you, Opera."
Their tail swished behind them, ears twitching for a fraction of a second, before they nodded, "Of course."
They moved back towards the bags, looking as if they were standing guard around them. The sight was almost amusing, though you were slightly worried— would they all fit in the carriage? The silence between the three of you was comfortable, and you happily sipped at your drink, opting to people— demon— watch as you waited for Iruma and Asmodeus to return. Amuryllis was humming quietly to herself, eyes lazily drawing over the crowds and other shops near you. After a moment, she went quiet, and you glanced over to her.
The smile on her face had morphed slightly, looking more akin to a smirk than it did a content smile. "Oh no," Her tone was too light and teasing to be serious, and she turned to look at you, "I almost forgot!"
You held your cup tighter to your chest, "Forgot what?"
"The most important stop for a beautiful demoness," She stood up, turning towards you. At her full height, while you remained seated, she seemed tall and imposing, and you understood why humans back in the human realm fell to a succubus' power so easily.
She set her cup on the bench, reaching down to take yours from your hands, placing it next to hers before grabbing your hands into her own, pulling you to stand with her. You protested weakly, "I thought we were done?"
Amuryllis shook her head, "I had said for now." Damn it, she had. You were hoping she had forgotten.
"Opera," She turned towards Opera, who stood straighter after being addressed, "Would you mind terribly waiting for Alice and Iruma?"
They shook their head, "No problem at all, Madame Asmodeus."
She grinned, "Perfect, now, come along! We need to get you some lingerie before we leave for the day."
Amuryllis tugged you forward, and at her words, your feet felt like lead, "L-Lingerie?" The word came out high-pitched, and you cast a panicked look back at Opera. Why? Were you hoping they saved you, or were you worried they heard?
They most definately had heard, and you watched as the neutral expression shifted slightly, the corners of their mouth pulling up, a small smirk forming on their face as the pair of you made eye contact. The realization that they had not only heard but were enjoying your embarrassment, made the situation worse. They opened their mouth, and for a brief moment, you thought they were going to admonish Amuryllis, stop her before you two got to the shop. Instead, they called out.
"Madame Asmodeus," She paused, though her hold on your hands didn't falter, "I do believe the pale blue from earlier would look good on Madame Sullivan, wouldn't you?"
You were going to kill them. Amuryllis' grin was wild, a feral look in her eyes as she took in Opera's words, "Oh?" Her voice was nearly a purr, "I'll take your suggestions into consideration, Opera." Her steps continued, all but dragging you behind her as you cast Opera one last, scathing look before you lost sight of them, being pulled into the shop of Amuryllis' choosing.