Job: Don't Talk About It

Lydia found Shad at his usual table and sat down with him. “These timelines are fucking with me. I think I got magic powers from my last client but I also got a fuzzy new pet as well. What actually happened?”

Shad sighed. “Both did, as did everything else. You are rather unique in that regard, so I don't have much information for you. Until your debt is repaid and your bond with the devil is with, you will experience all the possibilities. Only then will the truth set itself in time.”

“Fucking fantastic,” Lydia huffed in her seat. “What’s next for me then?”

Shad slid over the job paper. “An event requires a vocal audience for a participant.”

Lydia noticed the addendum to the job ‘hotties paid extra’ and wondered if that was a red flag. “So, someone is putting on a show and wants people shouting in the crowd?”

“That seems to be the case. Another quick and easy task.” Shad would have been smiling honestly if he hadn't been composed entirely of shadow.

“Do you have any idea how wrong some of those timelines went for those ‘quick and easy’ tasks?” Lydia had unpleasant memories come forward and push others out. “Do you keep an eye on me?”

“I do, and I do. But there are no other tasks that have any less possibility of going wrong, so I choose the ones that are simple and easy, barring unforeseen trouble. I cannot intervene or assist you beyond giving you the job. I hope you understand.” Shad's calm and soothing voice explained.

“Not really, but whatever. Just don't be surprised if I’m late getting back, I guess.” Lydia got up and checked the address.

Shad handed her another paper. “Bus ticket, stop is out front, seventh stop. Should get you there without trouble.”

Lydia took the ticket and headed out, happy that Shad seemed to be doing everything he could to help. Sure enough, she was right where she needed to be at the seventh stop. The only issue was that the old gym was boarded up and abandoned. Last time she went to one was to set her gangbang record of 69 men, but sadly, only 45 showed up and followed the rules. Of course, that was almost too much for her at the time. With her new slime powers, she wondered if she could handle them all and more.

Walking around the gym, she noticed a hulking brute in a suit guarding a pair of doors. One on his left was a locked steel door, while the one on his right was drawn in chalk on the brick wall but rippled with magic runes. Lydia eyed both before talking to the bouncer.

“So, what one do I take for this job?” She showed the paper. “It didn't specify knowing a password.”

The bulky man, who had dark grey skin with tusks coming from his lower jaw, grunted in amusement. “Just knowing there are two doors is the test. You are in the right place, Miss.”

Lydia saw him eyeing her up, and as she did the same, she figured she'd be open to the idea of both seeing more. “Lydia.”

“Miss Lydia.” He smiled and gestured to the magic door.

Lydia walked through the magic door, deciding to drop a bigger hint on the way out. She had to test it with her hand first to make sure she could pass through, but sure enough, after pushing her face through, she was inside the gym. Greeted almost immediately by a man in a tracksuit; he saw her job paper and checked her out; Lydia noticed the fighting cages behind him.

“Damn, you are a hottie. Alright, my fighter is called Marble. When he comes out, cheer; when he fights, cheer; when he wins, go wild. Got it?” He didn't bother making eye contact.

“I still get paid if he doesn't win? Do draws happen?” Lydia asked, trying not to upset the man with any implications.

“This ain't the kind of place that ends in draws. Unless things get interrupted by a raid or whatever. You get paid no matter what, but not until after the fight. Don't need you half-assing it or bailing because you already made bank.” He finally looked at her face.

Lydia smiled and walked towards the stands, adding extra sway to her hips. “When my ass works, it doesn't do it by half measures. I expect that extra hottie bonus.”

He mumbled something in agreement.

Taking a seat, Lydia looked at everyone who seemed to be gathering for the match. It was unlike anything she had seen before. Fighters and viewers who were things other than human, strange outfits and markings, and all sorts of things that made her feel a bit out of place, being entirely normal. It was a peculiar feeling, given how abnormal her goth outfit and appearance had traditionally made her.

When the fights started, she watched in amazement as strange people slugged it out in the cage. When her fighter finally came out, she cheered like she was supposed to. It was crowded and noisy, and she could spot a few others cheering with her. It was likely they were also being paid, but Lydia was the one he noticed when he scanned the crowd. She waved when he did and got a surprised smile in return. It seemed like she might need a black book to write down all the tasty men she spotted. Her fighter, ‘Marble,’ had a physique like an ancient statue, and as he posed for the crowd, her cheers were hardly paid anymore, and she wanted to jump in there with him.

Wrangling her libido back into submission, Lydia watched as the other fighter was announced and came into the cage. His name was…