Little Shop of Whatever

Niko awoke to Mallomor at his side, lying with him on the bed.

"What do you remember about last night?" Mallomor's was phrased as if he already knew the answer.

"Donnatello showed up in my dreams and that's it, I think?"

Mallomor sat up and explained the events of the last chapter to him.

"...and then your spirit electrocuted Donnatello! Best part is that it's the second time you're done it, and you haven't been punished by now!"

Niko did not share Mallo's enthusiasm.

Stunned, he said "Looks like I'll need something to drive away demons."

After breakfast, Niko got his black maneki-neko from his closet.

Mallomor examined it.

"This thing needs to be charged. When's the last time you used it?"

Niko couldn't remember. Granted, his memory sucked.

"I bought it after Otto had a run-in with an incubus."

"Could it have been Donnatello?"

"His eyes were purple, so no..."

Mallomor grabbed his hand. "Your favorite color!"

It was true, but it didn't lighten his spirits.

As Niko searched up the routes to the nearest port town, Mallomor went through his closet.

"Niko, why is there a women's dress here?"

Niko stiffened. "None of your business."

"It's a nice dress. The nautical theme is cute!"

Niko acted as if he wasn't flattered by this.

"Fine, Mallo, can you get out so I can change?"

Mallomor chuckled. "You're hardly worn more than boxers and a tank top or most of my time with you. I think I can handle seeing you nude."

Niko shoved Mallomor out of the room.

When he stepped out, Mallomor was standing there, impatient.

"We're going together, right? I'm tired of being stuck at home."

"I don't think it's a good idea. The place we're going is owned by a very spiritually sensitive woman. She'll know you're a demon almost immediately."

"Really? Even if I look like this?"

Mallomor transformed from a demon to a human with light brown skin and dark hair, wearing a loose dark academia styled outfit.

Niko blinked. "You look handsome, but I don't think it'll help."

"Let's try it anyway. I'm dying to get out of the house!"

Niko knew that Mallomor would have to learn on his own on this one.

The place was called "Morgana's House of Secrets" and had a clean, modern design with enough of an eclectic edge to be fun. There was a prominent purple and gold theme and a young, dark-skinned woman as the receptionist, a senior in high school at the most. She had box braids and wore a green dress.

"Welcome to Morgana's house of secrets, how may I help you today?"

Niko talked first. "Are you one of Morgana's apprentices?"

She shook her head. "I don't need to complicate my life any further.

Hold it, are you Nikolas Estrada?"

Niko chuckled. "I'm famous?"

"Morgana has told me a lot about you! You're worth 20 years of funny anecdotes. Who's that with you?"

Mallomor replied without hesitation. "Marcus. I'm Niko's boyfriend."

"Marcus" and Niko gave each other knowing glances. He continued speaking. "We're here to get this cat charged because Niko here is having demon trouble."

"Morgana's behind curtain number three."

Mallo and Niko approached the curtain, white with pomegranates, and found Morgana sitting in a small room.

Morgana was an arabic woman with long, brown hair and dressed in a flowing, sparkling dress. She was older than Niko, but she still looked 25.

"Long time, no see Niko. Who's your friend?"

She felt some demonic energy leaking off of Marcus, so she pointed her iolite at him. The disguise failed, and Mallomor became a demon again.

Niko glared at Mallomor. "Told you that she'd know."

"I thought I could bide my time with her!"

Morgana pointed the iolite at Niko, and it gave her a vision of a porteguese man o' war.

He was a stormblight all along? Why didn't he ever tell me?

Niko handed the black cat to Morgana.

"Just charge this and we'll get out of your hair. I assure you that I won't bother you again."

"I'd rather you visit more often, but alright. Who's your demon friend?"

Mallomor put his claw on Niko's waist. "We're far more than friends."

Niko jammed his elbow between the beady eyes of his second face. "She doesn't have to know that."

Morgana was stunned silent.

"Yes, yes, I know you're disappointed in me. Just charge up the cat."

Morgana did a ritual to charge the cat's power. It worked so well that Mallomor couldn't even be near it.

He teleported over back to the houseboat, leaving Morgana and Niko alone.

"How'd you two meet?"

Niko adjusted the brim of his hat. "We met when he failed to possess me, but we started our relationship last Sunday."

"That's a turn-around."

"I know, I know."

There was some silence before Morgana spoke next.

"Are you happy together?"

Niko nodded. "He has plans to become a shedim."

"Really? That's great! We could always do with more of them!

I could also do with more visits from you."

Niko turned away. "I thought that you were too busy with other apprencentices."

Morgana laughed. "You've been my only apprentice. And I'm the closest thing you've ever had to a mother. It wouldn't kill you to call once in a while, would it?"

"Don't remind me, please.

I'm going to meet her this winter."

Morgana kept her suspicions to herself. "You might find that you've got more half-siblings. She could've been an adulteress."

Niko sighed. "So she might be even worse?"

"She might. Maybe she regrets leaving you."

"She'd better!"