Rey gasped. "You cannot be here so soon."

  He was staring at the face of the last person he had expected to see here. By all intents and purposes, he had more time before they were supposed to arrive at this dungeon. He planned to come to this dungeon and clear it out before they even got here. Hell, his whole plan had been to be their personal violence Roomba—pre-emptive demon vacuuming. Clear out every danger in their path so far ahead that the others would think Hell was suspiciously empty.

  Did he end up taking a short detour to Terga to pick up a profession? Yes, he did, but he didn't think they would arrive here this quickly. In the back of his mind, he felt the hand of that kid who played with dolls too much, at play here. He did say that he couldn't force people to make a choice, but he could change their environment enough so they would choose a path that would lead them to their predestined fate.

  All that could wait for standing before him was the girl who had occupied his heart and mind for a long, long time. She looked much like how he had left her. Her auburn hair was matted with sweat and demon blood. Her fierce green eyes were staring at Rey like he was some prey, and worst of all, her dimples were hidden. It had been a month since he had seen her smile, and he would burn all of Hell to see those god dammed dimples again.

  The arrow stayed pointed at his head. "Who are you?"

  Just that voice alone was enough to make him melt. It felt like it had been an age since he had heard that voice. He hadn't expected to see her again so soon. The plan was to clear out this dungeon and then rendezvous with the gang.

  Rey smiled at her. "Who else would it be…Kassi?"

  Her eyes widened slightly at that, and she gasped lightly. The arrow lowered, and its silvery glow slowly faded, which was a good thing as it had left an annoying white spot in his vision.

  "You're really here…"

  "In the flesh. You can pinch me if you like," Rey said.

  Her eyes glistened slightly.

  His original plan was to stay away from her, but things had changed. After being away from her for more than a month, and the fact that he now knew what he needed to do to change her fate, plan 'stay away from Kassi' had been hogtied and put on a train track to be chopped into mince meat under a train.

  He raised his arms to hug her, but she slapped him across the face.

  "What the hell, Kassi?" He rubbed his face.

  "That was for leaving."

  Then she enveloped him in a tight hug.

  Rey was shocked for just one moment before he put his arms around her, and for the first time since her passing, he felt content. There was another word he would use, but he wouldn't dare tempt Fate by even thinking about that. He had wanted to do this ever since he had laid eyes on her back in that classroom. But he didn't dare do anything like this, for he was scared that he would cause her death again.

  Seriously, if Fate even flicks one acid droplet in her direction, I'm dropkicking him straight in his prepubescent balls.

  They stayed like that for he didn't know how long. She nestled her head into his chest, and he didn't let go either, but their nice reunion was interrupted by a demon who howled in the distance. Strangely, she still didn't let go of him.

  "You smell like a corpse," Kassandra finally said.

  "Yes, well, that would be all the demon blood I've been bathing in. I heard it does wonders for your skin and is great at keeping demons away. An idea that I stole from you."

  She finally let go of him and frowned. "How…Nevermind. For a second, I had forgotten your future seeing abilities."

  "It's not really seeing the future when you know what's already happened."

  Kassandra frowned. "Huh?"

  Rey really contemplated telling her everything. After all, they were in a dungeon, cut off from the Sovereign of cuckolding and pleasuring one's own mother. He could tell her anything, and Zalathar would not be able to hear anything, but if she slipped up and said something when they were outside, Rey could be in big trouble. He decided to put this one in the back pocket and think on it some more. He still had some time before they faced the boss and exited this dungeon. He had till then.

  "As I told Ajay, the last time we were in a dungeon together—don't worry about the details."

  "Oh, when you had sex with that succubus." She mentioned it so casually that Rey flinched.

  He chuckled nervously. He had told this story so many times when she was around, but seeing her after so long made him trip up. He didn't want to say anything that would make her mad at him, so soon. "That's right…"

  She shook her head. "You're such a terrible liar. I can't believe I didn't catch on sooner. Relax, I've already gotten it out of Ajay that it was him who'd done the deed."

  This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

  Rey's eyes widened. "What? He gave himself up?"

  She snorted. "He didn't give himself up. You did. I figured it out long ago. I didn't want to make a whole scene by exposing you and poor Ajay."

  "Sure, you did, and where is poor Ajay?" Rey asked. "Don't tell me he took his lady love for a tryst in the bushes. Man, this guy sees a dungeon, realizes that no one is watching, so it's time to get his freak on. Did you know he lasted more than ten minutes with a succubus? Kassi, no one, and I mean, absolutely no one lasts that long with a succubus."

  She squinted her eyes. "And how would you know that?"

  "What did I say about details"? Rey replied before quickly changing the topic. "You cleaned up all these demons by yourself? That's impressive."

  "I haven't been just sulking in the corner waiting for you to come back all this time," she retorted.

  "I know you only did that some of the time." He winked. "Ajay told me."

  She flushed. "What?"

  "Aw," Rey caressed her cheek. "I missed you, too, Kassi."

  I've spent enough time playing tug-of-war with my feelings. Spoilers—feelings won.

  "Now, where is the romantic couple?" Rey asked again.

  Kassandra coughed as she blinked away the dreamy eyes, or what Rey thought were dreamy eyes. "We got separated as we were fighting at the last turn. These hedges moved by themselves. The corridors changed, and when I tried to go back the way I had come, they weren't there anymore."

  "Firstly, what the hell, Kassi?" Rey practically cried. "Secondly, getting separated in a piranha plant maze was not a smart move. And third, what the hell, Kassi? You could've been hurt. You should've called me for backup."

  She glowered at him and cocked her head to the side. "And how would I have done that. It's not like I had your number."

  "And whose fault is that. You could've just asked for it."

  She stared at him for a long moment and then shook her head as a slow smile crept up her lips. "Honestly, I'd forgotten how annoying it was to have you around."

  Rey chuckled. "If my plan goes as planned, then I'll be annoying you for a long time, but first, we must save the love birds. Commence operation, save the Italian mamacita."

  Kassandra raised an eyebrow. "And Ajay?"

  "Yes, if we have time, we'll save him too." He looked around and pointed in the direction he hadn't come from. "Let's go this way."

  "I just came from that way."

  "But I didn't. Now, hedge show us the way to our friends." The hedge didn't move. Didn't even so much as shake one leaf. Rey sighed. "Show us the way to the demons that are attacking our friends, and I'll feed you those demons once we get there."

  Now, the hedge shivered and started rearranging itself as the path changed before their very eyes. The straight path that Kassandra had come from turned into a turn. The hedge had positioned itself in such a way that it would get to eat most of the demons that Kassi had killed.

  Rey used Repulsion on all the corpses, sending them flying toward the plants. "Keep us on the right path, and you'll get to eat an even heartier meal." He looked to Kassi. "Before you ask, it was you who had figured this out. I really am not this smart. I just keep stealing your thunder. Now, this way, my lady."

  He extended an arm. She snorted, shook her head, and slipped her arm in his.

  "You could've picked a better spot for an evening walk," she commented.

  "What? You don't like the murderous plants, the rotten demons, and the sulfurous smell?"

  "Well, I have high standards."

  Rey snorted. "Don't I know that"?

  They walked arm in arm, quietly, just enjoying each other's company. He kept glancing at her and passing her a smile, which she returned. If he could, he would make this moment last for an eternity. He had been through too much shit to get here, and he would be content to stay here with her forever. He hoped the same or at least something similar was going through her head. It would definitely make things easier for him. In any case, it would bring them closer faster, and they wouldn't have to waste all this time on courting like last time.

  Since I know what's going to happen, I can expedite that time period.

  Oh, that's nice. Demon Rey said. And then she'll be ours.

  Mine.

  Ours…

  Then Rey laughed along with demon Rey, as even his demon side was as smitten with this girl as he was.

  Their pleasant walk through the murderous plants came to an abrupt halt as they heard the growling and snarling of demons, followed by a girl's grunts, then the ear-splitting thunder.

  "Looks like we've found the sultry Sicilian," Rey said, flourishing a hand. "After you."

  Kassandra shook her head. "Feeding those plants actually worked?"

  Rey shrugged. "You better believe it. As I said, it was you who found out how this place worked. Now, can we kill those demons and bring the Scooby gang back together?"

  She snorted and ran off. "I'll race you."

  Rey chuckled lightly. "Oh, you poor thing."

  He gave her a full five-second head start and still beat her to the turn, but he didn't stop when he got there. He kept going because Filomena was facing a whole contingent of demons by herself.

  Rey fell on the demon's backs like a weed wacker out of control. He lopped off limbs and heads with each swing. He only realized that Kassandra had joined the fight when he saw a demon's head explode from within, with a silvery light.

  Most of the demons were Rank 5. Of all the demons that Rey killed, only one was Rank 6, which meant all others might as well be overgrown grass. A few scythe swings, lightning bolts, and exploding arrows later, the demons were reduced to nothing but limbs. Some still twitched, but they were out of the fight, and Rey figured the plants would appreciate a live meal.

  Filomena huffed, leaning on her sword. She had noticed him during the fighting, but they didn't have the time to talk during the melee.

  "How are...you here?" She asked between gulps of air.

  Rey rested an elbow on Kassandra's shoulder. "Kassi was missing me too much, so I had to come back."

  She yanked her shoulder away, making Rey trip up. "As if. We can talk about his return later. Where is Ajay?"

  "We got separated during the fighting. The hedge closed around us, and I was left facing this lot while he was dealing with the other half."

  "Why does this feel nostalgic?" Rey rubbed his chin and then snapped his fingers. "Oh, it's like that time when the Nestoriel kidnapped Ajay. I'm Fred again!"

  The girls looked at him like he was an idiot.

  "Where did you see him last?" Kassandra asked.

  Filomena pointed to her left. "That way. I can probably blast a hole through that."

  "Yes, and have the whole maze work against us," Rey said. "Wait, just a moment, please."

  He flicked his hand, and all the corpses shot off into the hedge. "Now, show us the way to the demons that are attacking Ajay."

  The hedge began to readjust to Filomena's utter bewilderment. Kassandra quickly brought her up to speed. From how Filomena was speaking, Rey was expecting Ajay to be a few hedges over, but he must've gotten quite far away.

  "Okay, girls, let's quickly go rescue Ajay again." He rolled his eyes. "Before he ends up getting pregnant again, or you know, losing a body part."

  They both stayed put and gaped at him.

  "Oh, did I not mention it before. He's the last person who should be hopping around in this love maze alone. But why, Mr. All-knowing seer? It's because he's supposed to lose his leg in this dungeon."