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Five years later…
Snow fell over the busy, brightly lit streets of New York City on Christmas Eve. Taxis blared their horns in frustration as traffic jammed the avenues, and the smell of pollution stung Evie’s nose as she stepped out of a bar. She needed fresh air- something that had become increasingly rare now that human life was recovering after the monster apocalypse.
In short, Rezzoch had been defeated in the grand Battle of the Tower, and she had died in the process of sealing the portal forever. Her body couldn’t withstand the dimensional strain, her cells burning out completely but (by some miracle), the mage Yursl resurrected her inside a makeshift human tent at the baseball stadium. Nowadays, she lived with scars from dimensional lightning etched across her entire body, and strands of white threaded through her hair. When nosy people asked about it, she lie and say she dyed her curls, though her throat always itched with every lie she told.
She and Jack Sullivan’s crew had made peace and now lived together quietly, almost as if she were part of the boy’s monstrous family. Talking about him, Jack and his friends had received honors from the U.S. government for defending the nation, and he had become a heroic figure among the monsters forced to remain in the human dimension.
Ghazt, the general of the undead and his irritating companion, had died in the Forbidden Fortress, and Meathook had returned to his own dimension, leaving Snark behind. She tried to hide it, but she missed both monsters who had been part of her adventures during the apocalypse. She had even considered moving into the middle of a forest while humanity rebuilt the country until she met an intriguing human two years later.
Pamela Robberts had been a sniper and scavenger during the apocalypse, living in rural New Jersey until she noticed the construction of the Tower at the Statue of Liberty. They met during a citizens’ reunion in the newly founded city of Wakefield. Evie rarely felt empathy for people in that place, but Pamela was different. Somehow, they connected through awkward conversations. Maybe it was the woman’s stubborn optimism, or her fascination with RPG games Snark fell in love with her, and now they were together, studying at the same college.
“I was looking for you", Robberts said, wrapping her arms around Rezzoch’s former servant and kissing her neck. Evie let out a low sigh and crossed her arms, glancing sideways at her girlfriend. “I told them we’re leaving. I know you can’t take being here much longer.”
“You read my mind, Pam", Evie said, gripping the railing as they climbed the ice-covered stairs. “I needed some air.”
“I know. That’s why I left you alone. I know you miss your friend Ghazt.”
“I don’t!", the dark-skinned woman replied, then cleared her throat, averting her gaze toward the curb. “Okay, maybe I miss him a little. It’s not like I don’t feel lonely at Christmas while everyone else celebrates with their families.”
“Evie, you know there’s no problem at all with you coming to my house for Christmas,” the brunette said, taking Evie’s hand and sliding her thumb over the scars. “My parents don’t mind. Honestly, they’d be happy to see you. They adore you.”
“Jack made the same offer, but I don’t want to ruin things with my pessimism. It’s better if I stay home.”
“This make me sad, but I won’t pressure you,” Pamela said, kissing her girlfriend’s cheek as she pulled the car keys from her pocket. “I’ll get the car. Can you wait here?”
“I’m not going anywhere,” Evie replied with a crooked smile, tugging her girlfriend closer by the collar. “Don’t take too long, or I’ll freeze.”
“I promise.” Pamela kissed her chapped lips and continued down the sidewalk, a small smile lingering on her face.
Leaning against the cold wall, Evie was waiting for her girlfriend to return with her hands tucked into her coat when she heard a faint sound coming from the dimly lit alley. She turned her head but ignored it, focusing on returning to her apartment to watch Star Wars under her blankets, but the noise happened again and this time it was clearer. It was the meow of some animal, and a small spark of empathy entered Snark's black heart, and she went to investigate.
With the flashlight on her cell phone, she found debris from old blankets, dirty with dirt, trash, and melted ice. The meow was audible now, confirming that it was a cat in the middle of the fabrics that some homeless person had discarded along the way. She picked up a moldy Pringles can and pulled back the blankets, only to recoil when short claws slashed at the air. A small black kitten was shivering from the cold and baring his teeth at Evie, but she knew that this was just its defense against the abuse it had probably suffered.
One of the exceptions the former servant made (besides dating a human girl and putting up with Jack Sullivan's presence) was liking cats. In general, cats were more unfriendly and free to live where they wanted, and Evie wanted that same freedom when she was younger. Now she searches her pockets for a snack to feed the kitten and finds a small packet of crushed cookies.
Okay, this will have to be enough, she thought, pouring a little into her palm and slowly stretching it toward the cat. Suspicious, he approaches and sniffs the crumbs on her cheek, and then Evie feels the animal's rough tongue on her hand. The kitten meows in gratitude, and the human smiles proudly at her actions.
(....)
The cat slept peacefully in Evie’s lap as she wrapped her coat around the animal’s fragile body, gently stroking its furry ear. Pamela was surprised to see her girlfriend holding a stray cat in her arms, wearing a small smile she rarely saw on her face. Evie usually only smiled like that for her and for macabre grimoires about dark magic.
“So… are you going to keep the cat?", the brunette asked, turning the steering wheel toward Evie’s block.
“Yes, I am", Snark said with a sigh, glancing at Pamela with a soft smile. “He’ll be good company in that crappy little apartment. We’re going to be his moms.”
“M-moms?", Pamela stammered, blushing as she focused back on the road. She parked the car in front of Evie’s building and went on. “Sorry, it’s just kind of weird hearing that come from you. You’re not usually so…”
“So what?", Evie asked.
“Cute. That’s ridiculously cute".
“There’s a first time for everything, Pam. Even for that your blushing face you get because of me", Evie lifted her fingers to Robberts’ chin, tracing her jawline with her nails. She smiled when Pamela gasped at the sensitive touch, then pulled away. “We need a name for him. Calling him Ghazt would be weird.”
“It would actually be really weird", Pamela agreed. “I was thinking Salem, suits with him. And it made me think about how much you like witchcraft, so...".
“Then it’s Salem!", the former servant said with another smile, stealing a kiss from her before opening the car door. “Merry Christmas, honey!”
“Merry Christmas to y—", Pamela’s mouth curved into a grin as the words sank in and excitement swelled in her chest. She rolled down the car window and shouted, “WAIT, YOU CALL ME WHAT?".