Chapter 189: Hidden Motives

Zinnia nodded her head and understood the magnitude of the mask more clearly now. Dark magic wasn’t something she ever wanted to mess with and desperately hoped there was a way to cleanse herself of it. Then she realized something, she didn’t know if Tyler’s eternal flame still applied to her or not.

"Tyler, are you ok?!" Sophie asked.

"Yes, I’m fine. My system protected me and my natural phoenix powers allowed me to cleanse it. Thankfully it wasn’t my staff. We need to get that thing maxed out."

"Tyler, does your eternal flame still work on me? How can I be cleansed of the dark magic in my body?" Zinnia asked. "I really need to get back."

"I know you do. Would you like me to keep it activated on you? You are immortal but can still die. I think Asura could cleanse you, so let’s make one quick stop, make sure the ladies are good and you get back."

They all nodded and got near Tyler, who phased to the realm of the Eidolons.

Asura immediately cast a spell none of them recognized and a strange golden stream ran from her hand into all of them.

{Asura’s blessing of protection: Would you like to accept?}

Tyler also received the same notification and they all accepted it. They thanked Asura and they felt a strange sensation working through their bodies. Eventually, they all ended up vomiting all over the clean marble floor. Zinnia had to pull her mask up to avoid ruining it. It was unpleasant and painful for all of them and Kass took out a jug of Esper’s special potion and passed it around after taking a drink.

"Thank you lady Asura...what was that?" Zinnia asked while holding the jug in her hand. She was the last person to take a drink.

"I have given you all protection against dark magic poisoning. Your mask has been poisoning your body and kissing Tyler, who has now also kissed some of his wives which has transferred some of the poison to all of you. It looks like this organization does not value life below its main leadership or wants people to completely flip to the dark magic side. Be careful," Asura said with a kind smile and completely neutral face.

"Thanks your majesty. I owe you one, well, more like I owe you lots," Tyler smirked.

"Continue on your path of the righteous quest and ensure you get to the next step. We will be waiting for when your staff reaches level 10," Bahamut smirked before snapping his fingers, causing Tyler and his women to end up back in his apartment.

"Damn, I had so many questions!" Nyx chuckled. "Oh well. See ya Zinnia, be careful!"

Tyler grabbed Zinnia’s hand and she teleported him inside her new hideout. She opened the wall so he could see where they were. He noticed a specific landmark, which was a run down inn called "Shaggy’s."

He shook his head and laughed at the name.

’Wasn’t me,’ played in Tyler’s head for a second before he came back around.

"Woah, this place is amazing. All these people are out here suffering and you have this...unreal. Wait, what’s with that money over there. Those don’t look like credits." Tyler asked, realizing they looked like more advanced dollar bills from Earth. He saw 5s, 10s, 100s, 1000s, and 10,000s. No presidents, just weird looking green bills with a circle and an O inside it in the center.

"Orion’s currency on other planets. It’s called a bill. Agent Z just gave us $500,000 worth of bills and I need to transfer the rest to credits. Zed and Dak have 20,000 credits for now."

"Well, I’ll leave you to it. Listen, if you can’t make it back tonight, don’t—"

"I will be back in bed with all of you tonight. I think it’s important to your ladies and it’s important to me. I’d rather cuddle up with you and the girls than sleep in this lonely dump. The necrams can’t hack your systems right?"

"No. They are protected by Asura and Bahamut, don’t worry." Tyler smiled. "I’d kiss you, but..."

Zinnia took off her mask and kissed him and pulled his hair while hopping on him and wrapping his legs around him. She slid her tongue in his mouth and they made out for a moment before she felt herself getting a little too horny.

"That was hot. Someone is really good at everything," Tyler smirked. "See you soon babe."

’He’s gone...damn.’ Zinnia thought, quickly assessing her room. She noticed she had a text.

"8 new recruits. All with potential and motivated. Are you still swinging by?" - 67 (35 minutes ago).

’Shit!’

She quickly responded. "Yes, I’ll be over shortly."

*******

Zed was sitting in his office going over the recruit files when his phone vibrated.

"About damn time..." He muttered while reading the message.

He got out of his chair and made his way to the main hang out area. He was impressed with the work Dak had put into making the place look much nicer. There were new beds for the recruits and not shitty cots. Nothing fancy or over-the-top, just nice, clean, matching twin black bedsets with a mattress, sheets and pillows for everyone.

He also noticed there was more food, an area for blood and stored flesh for the vampires and demons as well as healthier food for the elves, humans and werewolves.

Zinnia strolled in, confident as ever and looked at the place.

"Nice work 67. This looks good. New recruits, get your asses over here right fucking now," she demanded.

The group quickly rushed over and some of the other recruits came to join them.

Zinnia used her demon art to fling one back toward their bed. "I said new recruits, not all recruits. Learn to listen."

’She’s even more fierce as a dark purple mask. This is going to be tricky, I really can’t afford to piss her off or I’m going to bail or be killed,’ Zed thought, reminding himself of the stakes.

"Sorry Zinnia!" 55 yelled as the other recruits got away from the new ones.

"So, what are your goals, why did you join?" Zinnia asked assertively.

One person stepped forward, "To use my powers to hand over Tyler but I need help doing it because I can’t do it alone. This group encourages individuality and being strong, so I figured if I could stand out, I could maybe move up and get closer to becoming a black mask."

"What’s your name lady?" Zinnia asked.

Although her arsenal of demon arts was incredibly powerful, the Necram power, the limitless system and the Bahamut and Asura blessings took Zinnia to a new height and she convinced herself she wouldn’t have any more slip ups. She could have charmed her and forced the answer but wanted these things to come naturally."

"74," the woman responded.

"Good, did 69 and 67 get you up to speed, what is the main plan now?"

"To make the slums a better place while encouraging more people to step forward as recruits, I am 76 Zinnia," a taller masked man said confidently.

"Very good. Nice to meet all of you. If you see or notice any problems with 67 or 69, feel free to let me know," she said sternly but kindly before pulling Zed into his office.

"What’s with the urgency?" Zed asked.

"Nothing, just wanted to tell you that you’re doing a good job. I need you to handle things so I can be in other areas. Mojo needs eyes on him, if you know what I mean."

"Yup, totally understand. Why so much trust so soon, though?" Zed asked, wondering why she was trusting him with so much already.

"Well, you did bring forward someone who was going to betray me. I need to know I can rely on you and now the new recruits know to tell me if they have an issue with you. I will be away doing some reconnaissance tonight. If you need me, you have my cell." Zinnia said while turning to walk out.

"Zinnia," Zed said confidently.

"Yes 67?" She turned and looked at him, and his eyes looked at her like he cared deeply.

’Is he into me? Maybe those flirts weren’t just flirts. That guy has to be totally conflicted right now.’

"Be careful. There are a lot of people who will want your job, including Mojo. Agent Z has some strange power. It was really weird how he was right there without either of us noticing."

"I agree. You watch yourself too. You are lucky you have a black mask you trust completely. I need to do some realigning in this network. We need to be able to successfully hand over people to the Necrams and gain power so we can accomplish our true purpose."

"And what’s that?" Zed asked.

"Use your brain. You know what they want." Zinnia said before leaving.

’Tyler. They want Tyler and his wives.’

Zinnia went back to her hideout for a few hours before she realized it was getting late.

’What do I wear? I don’t have pajamas but I have sweats. I guess that will work. Why do I even care?’

Zinnia tossed on something more comfortable and teleported to Tyler’s apartment in his room. Everyone was already in bed watching a movie.

"Mind if I join you?" Zinnia asked with a confident smile.