Chapter Text
Three days pass before anyone hears so much as a peep from Molly or Yasha.
With the autumn semester rapidly coming to a close, school and teaching now take up a tremendous amount of Caleb’s time. Barren Eve arrives in a little over a month, and a week after that the semester ends. Caleb will continually work on his own degree but it’s still a very hectic time. His store has been closed most of the week and while he feels a bit guilty, the bulk of his customers are students busy with their own studies.
Yulisen evening, Caleb receives a text. It’s late and he’s frustrated with apparently hitting another wall in a branch of his research. He nearly misses the buzz of his phone.
Caleb hesitates on the smiley face before deciding to just go with it.
‘It’s a gods-damned text, Widogast. Get over it.’ He shakes his head and chuckles at his own expense. His glasses are set on the desk before Caleb sags back against his chair, sighing and rubbing his eyes. Even with everything going through his head, Molly had been a worry gnawing at his brain. He’s certain the situation is far from over but knowing Molly was ok and coming home put his mind at ease.
After everyone is sufficiently awake and caffeinated, they agree to meet Molly and Yasha around 1 pm. Caleb - as per usual - is early. He pulls into the parking lot at the address Jester gave him to find a small crowd congregating. Molly is speaking to a half-elven man while a half-orc with a handlebar mustache is unhitching a retro-looking caravan from the truck that they are leaning on. Another smaller trailer rests beside Yasha’s truck where she and Jester sit on the tailgate. Jester waves and hops down to meet him.
“Hey!” she chirps, voice contrasting the weary look on her face.
“Guten Morgen Blaubeere,” Caleb wraps an arm around her and gives her a squeeze. He waves to Yasha, who smiles and gives him one back.
“They are from the carnival, ja?” Jester nods and leans in close to whisper.
“That’s Gustav, Molly’s dad. He and Desmond own - well owned - the carnival. And that’s Bosun, but we call him Bo. He was kinda a bouncer like Yasha but he performed now and again too.”
Caleb looks over to see Molly hugging Gustav tightly. He can just barely hear them speaking in a language he can’t comprehend. Bo and Yasha nod to each other solemnly as the half-orc climbs into the driver’s seat.
“See you all in a bit.” Gustav waves to Jester and Caleb as he gets in the truck.
“We’re going to the bar to catch up with them later” Yasha conveys, “You’re welcome to come, if you’d like.” Caleb gives a nod in thanks. He turns to greet Molly, who has just sidled up to the group. Caleb lightly elbows him in the arm which gets a little snort and smile out of the Tiefling, who elbows him back.
Just then, tires skid across gravel as Veth pulls in with Beau, followed by Fjord and Caduceus in the Clay family Volkswagen Bus. Molly beckons them all into their building which, despite the slightly run-down exterior, is remarkably nice inside.
There’s one apartment downstairs with a staircase leading up to a second and third. It doesn’t seem like anyone else lives there. Caleb supposes that Marion may have bought the place and probably at a paltry sum for her considering the proximity to the Outersteads.
They follow Jester into her apartment on the ground floor. Her living area leaves no one without a seat - there’s a big couch, chairs, and even a floral-print beanbag to relax into. Everything is as bright and colorful as the blue Tiefling. The decor does nothing to lift the tense mood and in the brightness of the room, they can see just how exhausted Molly and Yasha are.
Yasha...well, Yasha looks the same as usual. She’s not without the dark makeup and slightly unkempt hair but her normally solemn expression seems detached and buried deep within. Caleb is no stranger to that feeling. Molly has even more purple under his eyes, impressive for an already lavender tiefling. Anything he may have had on his face is either smudged or gone and his horn jewelry has some kind of...substance lingering on it. Both have new scratches and some bandages peeking out from under their clothes.
No one says a word until Beau finally speaks up.
“Dude, what happened to you guys?”
“Gods, where to start?” Molly leans his elbows on his knees and scrubs at his face. Caleb notices the redness of healing cuts on the back of his neck as his hair parts around it, and the thick scars surrounding them. A curious place for scars, the wizard muses. He’s seen the scars on Molly’s neck and clavicle but chose not to comment on them. After all, why would he with the scars of his own?
“Everything was business as usual, even managed to draw in a decent crowd for a rural town. Then middle of the show, some old guy turns into a fucking...zombie...thing! Not many people got seriously hurt at least but…”
They just barely distinguish a crumbled and overgrown ruin through the copse of trees and begin creeping upon it. It’s the first sign of...well, anything on the island. As they approach a still-standing corner, Molly motions upwards and mouths...
‘Give me a boost.’
Yasha braces herself against the stone, cupping her hands to carefully launch Molly up. He catches the wall and hauls himself up into a crouch.
A growl emanates from below and two sets of red eyes meet.
Yasha catches his hand and gives it a squeeze.
“Something...happened to one of our friends. I don't know how or why but he was the one who did it. He took Toya - she’s a little dwarven girl with us - and ran. Turns out he was feeding off of her. So slowly we never had a clue,” Molly squeezes Yasha’s hand tight and stares dejectedly at the floor.
Nergaliid. That’s the name Yasha read from the book that they just happened to have at a tiny bookstore in a small town. He’s heard it before. Why can’t he remember? It was so long ago.
“Yasha!” Molly dives to the ground, rolling behind cover, and glides both scimitars across his nape. His blood crystallizes into shards of ice before it can begin to pour from the wounds. He spots Toya as he looks out from his hiding place and he beckons to the girl, but she’s dirty and frightened, looking back and forth between Kylre and the Tiefling.
“They’re trying to take you away! Sing for us! Stop them!” The Devil Toad growls before taking a massive leap over Molly, landing behind him. He can vaguely hear Toya begin to sing, but it’s drowned out by Yasha’s scream of rage.
Kylre summons imps to his side for protection. One manages to jam its stinger into Molly’s side but he quickly dispatches it, splattering blood onto himself. Kylre’s distracted by something and as the imp bursts into flames, Molly tumbles and slashes open the Nergaliid’s thigh. He then sees the distraction - a lightning bolt bursts forth from Yasha’s sword, frying the other two imps. In her other arm she’s holding an unconscious Toya against her side.
Molly growls and releases a guttural string of curses in Infernal that causes blood to pour from the Devil Toad’s eyes. He slashes into its back as Yasha charges at him from the front. She gouges and tears across his torso, screaming, her skeletal wings ascending from her back. Kylre reels both in pain and fright and attempts to leap away. Molly catches him in the side once again, sending him crashing to the dirt.
It’s all finished as another crack of lightning flies from Yasha’s blade.
“He wouldn't come back with us. We had to track him down and kill him.”
Caleb’s breath catches in his throat and suddenly now he’s leagues away. He’s in forests, towns, cities...skulking and spying. All to track down their enemies. Enemies of the Empire. Caleb’s aware Molly is speaking but can’t make out his words. He finally snaps back and when he finally can focus, Molly’s still staring into the middle distance. He feels a small, warm hand slip into his. Veth gazes up at him, concern welling in her eyes.
“I’m ok.” He mouths and clutches her hand in reassurance. Veth is skeptical but the pair resume listening.
“He just...turned.” Molly sniffs and wipes a tear threatening to fall down his cheek, “We had no explanation for Toya and she was the closest with him. He raised her. She's just a little girl and we had to kill her best friend.”
“M...Molly?”
“I know dear. You’ve been through a bit. There’s been some bad business.”
“What happened?” Toya croaks out.
“A friend turned on us, but it's going to be alright. I'm going to get you home, all right?”
“Wait, where’s Kylre?” She struggles but Molly holds fast. Still, she catches a glance at Yasha trailing behind...Kylre’s head strapped to her back.
There was nothing he could do as he cradled a weeping Toya against his chest.
Molly’s voice cracks and Yasha takes over speaking
“We managed to bail them out, but there's no coming back from this. The circus got blamed and Gustav took the fall. They've disbanded. Gustav and the others are here in Zadash for the time being to get organized and make whatever plans they need to. They just stopped by to drop off some things to us.”
“Ohhh, you mean that gods-awful trailer outside?” Beau remarks. Molly’s head shoots up instantly to glare at her.
“Hey! That’s mine and she’s gorgeous!” Molly’s eyes are puffy and he’s wiping at his face, but he’s now smiling. “She’s just...been sitting for a while.”
“Well I’m interested! I love all those tiny home things.”
“Veth, you’re a Halfling.”
“Ahhh, fuck you, Fjord!”
“I’d probably never fit in it then.” Caduceus chimes in over the noise. “But I would like to see it sometime.”
Yasha jabs Molly in the side.
“C’mon, Lavender. I know you wanna go take a look.” He groans and bumps a horn to her temple affectionately.
“Yeahhh, you’re right.”
Out in the lot, Molly fumbles with the lock. He assures them that it’s just finicky and after some pushing and swearing, the lock clicks open. Caleb illuminates the inside with globules of light and everyone huddles in to have a look.
There are boxes everywhere. Many appear to be newly packed judging by the lack of a cover of dust. However, it could quickly be discerned that the space belongs to Molly. Colorful striped wallpaper adorns the interior and there is furniture and decorations of various styles and colors. A bed is covered with plastic on one end and a small sitting area at the other. It seems that there is also a kitchenette under everything as well.
Jester hops up and down and Beau rolls her eyes.
“Mollyyy! It’ll be so pretty, I never saw the inside, you know.”
“I guessss I can see how it’d look nice without all this shit in it.”
“Well I think it would be nice. We could help you fix it up again.” Fjord interjects and Molly genuinely laughs.
“Ok, ok! One project at a time, guys!” He shifts his gaze to Jester and Yasha. “We have a tattoo shop to open!”
“So what’s in that trailer, Yasha?” Beau asks.
“Oh! Yeah, hold on.”
Yasha unlocks it and rolls out a sleek black sports motorcycle.
“She needs a little work done too but it shouldn’t be too bad.”
“Woah. That’s cool as shit. Never been on a motorcycle.”
“I could take you sometime, if you want.”
“Really!? Uh, yeah that’d be...great.”
Caleb and Molly share a knowing grin.
After about 10 minutes, Caduceus finally speaks up.
“All right, I think Yasha and Molly need to rest.”
There are grumbles but everyone says their goodbyes.
“Beau! You need a ride home?” Veth bellows from her car.
Yasha extends a look toward Beau, who nods.
“Nah, I have some stuff to do.” Jester glares at her. “Oh! Thanks though!”
Molly follows alongside Caleb as he walks to his own car.
“Hey, we’re going to the Song and Supper to see Gustav and the rest of the crew. You should come if you can, I’ll probably end up out on the floor at some point with the girls but uh...it’d be nice to, I dunno, talk more.”
"I can’t stay out too late because I have an early morning tomorrow, but I’d love to. I’d like to meet your family as well."
Caleb swears he sees Molly wince at “family” but seconds later he’s slapped on his usual easy grin. He throws a wink at Caleb.
“Cool, see ya there.”