We reached the outskirts of town and for a moment, I couldn’t find Tama. I turned around to ask Tera and Rylan, but the moment I shifted Tama was standing right in front of me. “There you are! Tama has been here for days!!!” She said looking at me like I had starved her for a month straight.

  I sighed and shook my head before responding “It took us less then ten minutes to get out here, We even ran as fast as we could, Relax Tama!” My tail and ears twitched in irritation, but it was mostly for show. I had started to find Tama’s antics hilarious, her impatience was a minor nuisance at worst.

  Before either of us could continue, a figure blurred past me and I facepalmed as Tera hit her knees bowing to Tama and once again kissing her feet. I almost kicked her as hard as I could. “My dearest empress, I have come to help guide your greatness to wherever you please!”

  Internally I wondered what it had to be like to be as clearly crazy as Tera was. I looked over at Rylan, ignoring Tera’s antics, Tama could handle her for a moment. “So, you and her are a couple?” I asked with a raised eyebrow “I mean, for such a sub of a woman, you’d think she would at least be loyal to you.”

  Rylan just shrugged and said “It’s not like that, I get benefits being with her. Its a bit of a trade off.”

  I raised an eyebrow before asking “Like what?”

  Rylan looked uncomfortable and said “Well, she lets me be around her.”

  My eye twitched and for a moment I thought I might smack the worthless man. But an idea hit me and I grinned slightly.

  I quickly checked behind me just to be sure. “Tama want you to tell Tama how amazing she is!” “Of course my empress Tama! Your wish is my command!”

  I rolled my eye before stepping towards the dullard that was Rylan. “So, Rylan, You into.. short girls at all?” I made a point to move my dress so your panties were visible to him. They actually appeared see through, but they weren’t, a minor illusion.

  I watched his eyes travel down and his face go red, His eye’s dilating at the sight, This was too easy. “You know Rylan, Tama likes you.. maybe if you saved her from the creature you call a girlfriend. You can..” I winked as I said the next part “Get an upgrade!”

  The idea was simplicity itself, Rylan would step up, remove Tera from Tama and get some himself, He would also be much easier to keep down then Tera and far more willing to let Tama explore him. Besides, it was also extremely clear from earlier Tama had a thing for.. larger.. men.

  I shuddered at the image of Tama in bed with a man like Rylan and actually enjoying it. But everyone had a fetish.

  “She..likes..me?” Rylan said, still staring at my panties. Dude was denser then a damn boulder. But that was acceptable, all the easier to keep tabs. “I mean, obviously, why did you think she was staring?” I asked as my tail swayed sexily back and forth.

  On first glance it would look like I was the one trying to seduce him, and too an extent that was true. But all I really had to do was make Tama jealous enough to act. Which should come..

  “Nya! What are you guys doing Saki!” Tama’s voice sounded like she had just been stabbed in the back. Perfect,

  “Ah Tama, I am glad your are here, Rylan was just telling me how much he adores your hair!” I watched in real time as Tama’s face went from normal to pink to red. I held back the amused smile and suppressed my wagging tail. What was I a dog?!

  “Well of course he would compliment her hair! Empress Tama’s hair, much like every inch of her body is perfection!” Tera said matter of factually.

  Tama ignored Tera entirely and had her eyes directly on Rylan. I felt nauseous as those images came back. Somehow Talia’s reference to pig fucking made a lot of sense now.

  “You are of course right Tera, as empress, Tama deserves whatever she wants yes?” I said innocently as I looked over at Tera. “Even if that thing belongs to you?”

  Tera looked at me with suspicion before slowly nodding “Yes, of course, Id give my very life for empress Tama.” Tera’s voice was filled with distrust. She was a very smart woman, but she didn’t have to be smart to hate me. Shame it would do her no good.

  I looked over at Tama, she was actually beginning to drool. It was almost sad to such a cute girl with such a.. eww. But whatever, She had her preferences. “So, since its clear as day to anyone with two eye’s, shouldn’t you give her what she actually wants?” I ask casually.

  Tama, Rylan, and Tera’s faces all drained of color at the same time as they turned to face her. “Saki! That’s not, Tama means, It’s just..” Tama’s nose began to bleed and she vanished, blinking away from the situation.

  Tera’s eyes wandered from Rylan to where Tama had just been as what I just said sunk in. To Tera’s credit, she actually seemed to consider her words carefully before speaking. Not to her credit, was the sheer stupidity of them. “Rylan, I am afraid our relationship has come to an end, as empress Tama desires you, it is only right you submit yourself to her immediately.” She spoke slowly, each word calculated. But in the end it was clear Tera would give away literally anything for her empress. I actually paused, did.. did I underestimate the crazy girls devotion?!

  Tera turned to me, and I saw tears in her eyes. “For empress Tama, I give everything!”

  I stared at her for a second before I scowled. I had had enough, it was clear no amount of mental torture or sacrifice would make this girl see reason. I had one last plan, and thankfully Tama was not here due to fleeing from shame earlier.

  It was something I normally avoided at all cost, and yet in the last week I had done many times. I hated Tera, with a passion. It seems I needed to be honest with her. Not tell her any major secrets, but tell her the truth about Tama and her personality.

  After all, if she is as devoted as she claims and has acted so far, it makes sense she would see reason in acting how Tama would want right? I confess, it was a risky maneuver, but it was one I planned on taking.

  Tera’s eyes were red and she was wiping at them. Rylan had gone over to her to comfort her but she had pushed him away. Now he was just standing a few feet away looking at her sadly like a sick puppy.

  “Look Tera,” I said with a flat tone, causing her to look over at me. “I hate you, and you hate me. That’s pretty obvious correct?”

  She nodded and sniffled “You are a horrible person, a deceitful witch that has done horrible things to people ever since I met you. I don’t know why empress Tama likes or trusts you. I only hope one day she can see you for the monster you are!”

  I actually winced at that, I had known Tera didn’t like me, but for her to outright hate me that much seemed a bit excessive. “Well, She does trust me, and the truth is I trust her. I want to help her, and that’s what I am doing. You don’t have to believe me. But Tama see’s me as her best friend and I am doing everything I can to live up to that.”

  “By doing what you always do? Lying to her and everyone around you?!” She snapped at me, venom dripping from her words. I actually took a step back, I felt like I had just been hit by a brick. Actually, that would have been less painful.

  “I did what was necessary! You don’t understand!” I started to say but Tera cut me off “No one ever does right Saki? Cause you are the smartest person ever right? We are all just puppets to your divine fucking intellect! Well fuck you!”

  I opened my mouth, but try as I might, nothing came out. Despite my hatred for Tera, what she said struck so close to home I.. Grabbing my chest, I felt my vision blur. no.. not now, I need.. erase them all, they aren’t needed. Tears filled my eyes, drowning my vision, things began to go blurry. I felt, weak.

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  My body began to move on its on and terror filled me no. But it was no use, my hands moved up, a purple hue coloring my vision. NO, I felt the voice taking control again. The helplessness, the endlessness. I tried to fight but it was no use, it dragged me deeper into my despair, feeding off my anger and resentment.

  I finally gave up, it didn’t matter anyways. I had tried to do the right thing. This is what happens when Saki tries to do the right thing I thought.

  “Nya! What is Saki doing! You can’t have purple parties without Tama! Purple is Tama’s favorite color!” Her voice cut through the haze, it sliced through the turmoil and pain, the hatred and frustration. The voice spoke again erase.. erase. “No, I will not!” I screamed as I forced back control of my own body.

  Tama’s voice came through again as I regained control of my self “But why not! Tama wants purple party!” I felt myself giggling as I pushed through, Of course she would say that.

  My vision returned to me and I took a deep breath, feeling the air fill my lungs as my body was once again mine. The purple hue around my vision was gone now.

  I sighed in relief just as Tama appeared in front of me looking upset “Aww! Why did Saki remove the amazing purple colors, Tama wants to make colors like that!”

  I couldn’t help myself, I giggled, which turned into laughter. I fell to my knees laughing as I held my stomach before looking up to Tama. “I am so sorry Tama, I can’t control that. Tell you what, when we get back I will throw you an amazing Purple Party!”

  Tama looked down at me with a smile, and for just a moment, I swear I saw something in those eyes. Understanding, trust..love. Then it was gone and Tama was Tama again as she bounced around and asked more questions about the purple party we were planning.

  All I could do was nod as I recovered and thought about how much my life had changed in such a short time after meeting this.. my.. empress.

  I slowly stood to my feet and after a moment looked over to Tera. After what just happened, I realized I didn’t have anything to fear with Tama here. She protected me again, all I had done was fail. No more, I would be a good friend if it killed me.

  Tera wasn’t looking at me, she was happily nodded along to Tama’s insane requests of balloons, and a party pig? Painted.. purple.. I shook my head at the image that flooded my mind and focused. “Tera, We need to talk, Right now.” I said as I looked directly at her, ignoring Tama as she grabbed my shoulder and giggled maniacally about special berries that made things more purple.

  Tera looked at me and her smile faded as our eyes met. “What? Going to try and cause more manipulation? Maybe kill more people for getting in your way?” Tera spoke with a clam tone, but the underlying current hit like a truck.

  But, I felt Tama lean against me and place her head on my shoulder and I felt warmth. “You are right Tera” I said, my voice shaking slightly, as I took Took Tama’s hand. Her grip was strong and she held on to me. “I have been a horrible person, and my outlook isn’t always the best.” My voice quavered slightly but I didn’t stop. “But ever since I met Tama, just like you, I have changed, and I want to believe its for the better. I want Tama to be right in entrusting me as her best friend. I made mistakes, and I won’t pretend otherwise. But you need to understand something, Tama doesn’t like the royalty stuff, she doesn’t like being worshiped, and she really doesn’t like being treated better then others.”

  “Oh, and what makes you the end all be all of what Tama wants!” Tera said with barely contained rage. “You dare pretend like your her best friend when you lie to her face and keep secrets!” I winced at Tera’s words, but Tama spoke.

  “Tama trusts Saki! If she has secrets and lies to me, it must be something Tama doesn’t want to know!” Tama tail swished back and forth and her ears were flattened as she glared at Tera. “Also, Saki is right! Tama hates being bossy and mean, Tama wants to be friends with everyone, You need to stop being mean to Tama’s best friend!”

  Tera Stumbled back, acting like she had now been hit by a brick. Though in fairness, I barely noticed this as I was staring open mouthed at Tama. “Tama, I” “Nya! Tama is busy Saki! Give Tama a moment!”

  Tama stepped forward, leaving me standing there wide eyed in shock. “Also, Tama does not want your fun time or head pats! Tera obviously has been thinking nasty thoughts about Tama and it makes her uncomfortable! Tama has been nice until now, but attacking Saki makes Tama very angry!”

  “empress Tama you don’t..” “NYA” Tama screamed at Tera and saki heard actual rage in her voice. “TAMA IS NOT AN EMPRESS, TAMA IS NOT ROYALTY. TAMA IS TAMA.” The words came out like a wand on auto-cast and I watched as each word seemed to verbally hit Tera like she was getting stabbed by a spear repeatedly.

  “Please.. empr.. Tama” Tera was now actually crying, she fell to her knees her head down to the ground. I winced inwardly, That was a bad move.

  I saw the moment Tama snapped, her rage finally reached a crescendo as she reached for her Katana. For the briefest of moments, I watched, unsure if I should stop her. I hated Tera so much after everything but..

  “Tama Stop!” I spoke before I even considered my words, They came out like a wave. “Thank you for defending me, but killing Tera isn’t the right thing to do, she was right. I have been a horrible person. You have shown so much kindness, let me return the favor. It’s time we were all honest with each other completely.” I took a deep shuddering breath as I spoke my mind, each word was harder then the last. But I had to say it.

  Tama turned to face me, her face clouded with rage and frustration, her pupils tiny pinpricks against an overcast face.

  “Please Tama, Let me fix this. Give me a chance to make things right before you do something you might regret.” I said pleadingly. I felt strange, trying to save the life of the person who had not only tried to kill me twice but was actively hateful towards me. But..

  Slowly, Tama’s face cleared of the rage covering it and she looked at me with an innocent look which shifted to a smile a moment later.

  “Tama trusts Saki to know what to do!” She said, then she simply giggled and said “Tama is going to go hunt something, She will be right back!” and with that, before anyone could speak, Tama had simply vanished again.

  I was the first to break the silence that Tama’s absence left. I laughed again, a deep laugh that made me smile as a tear went down my cheek. I turned to Tera and with a kind smile said quietly “Can we just.. talk this out now?” Tera simply nodded, not making eye contact. I could see the dirt was wet under her with tears and.. had she peed herself?!

  Tera’s literal pant pissing aside, This was important, and I was trying to be better. I walked over and bent over.. yep I could smell it. I used an illusion to mask the smell for both of us and she looked up at me in surprise. The look on her face said it all. Why. I understood, after all, why did I help her? Why was I being nice?

  Tama was literally about to kill Tera, there would have been no bad blood and everything could’ve simply been over. But deep down, I knew there was more to it.

  “That’s a good question” I said “Why, like why do you hate me so much? I doubt you care so much about deceit and lying, and you have shown dislike of me from the moment we met. It’s clearly not related to Beastkin since you are obsessive over Tama.”

  “Why does it matter to you!” Tera snapped at me with a glare, her eyes still filled with tears. I sat patiently and waited. After a few minutes she spoke. “You don’t even remember me do you? I was a child back then, like you. You.. You took everything from me. My family, my friends, You.. you just erased them. I couldn’t even find their bodies.”

  My eyes widened in a mixture of shock and horror as what she said brought back a memory.. the caravan.. but.. “But, there were no survivors, I searched.” I said In almost a daze.

  “And you expected me to what?! Walk out and scream my name to the monster that just killed everyone I ever knew!?” She said, her voice filled with venom.

  I winced as I realized, she hated me for the exact same reason I hated myself. “I.. see” I said quietly. “I understand now why you hate me, and to tell you the truth. I hate myself for what happened that day.” I felt my self loathing coming back, I felt myself start to fall again. But I clenched my hand into a fist and I remembered Tama’s words and actions. I would not fall to the void ever again.

  Tera looked up and me in surprise “You.. hate yourself?” She asked. I nodded and her eyes narrowed “Oh, I get it, your just manipulating me, just like you manip..” I cut her off “No, I am not, I looked her in the eyes and spoke from my heart.

  “The truth is, that day, something in that caravan.. it.. possessed me. It took over my body, It promised me to give me my family back. It lied to me, and on that day, it took another family away. I hate myself every day I look in the mirror Tera. So I am sorry, and I don’t expect your forgiveness, I deserve your hate.” As I spoke tears filled my eyes and I fell to my knees.

  Silence filled the area for a long moment, aside from the uncomfortable shuffling of Rylan in the background. I paid him no mind. I was trying to come to terms with the reality that my horrible mistake had actually been even worse then I had imagined.

  Somehow, no one surviving that would have been the better choice. I could only imagine the pain Tera must have felt. Only to meet me almost six years later and her first impression of me is lying and deceiving everyone around me.

  My eyes blurred as tears filled them, memories came rushing back of that day. I began to shake as I remembered the feeling of helplessness. The horror of realizing it was all a lie, and being used like a puppet to.. to..

  I felt arms wrap around me, I looked up to see Tera, We didn’t make eye contact. Instead, we sat together in near silence and cried.