Chapter 8: The Gang’s All Here

IRO

Iro quickened his pace, trying to keep up with the tall, muscular shark girl who’d just emerged from the pool.

Her long legs and towering height made it a challenge to keep up without breaking into a full-on sprint, especially with the skirt of his maid uniform slowing him down.

The shark girl glanced back at him, a grin spreading across her face. “Looks like you’re getting the hang of the dress. First time wearing one?”

Iro felt his cheeks heat up. He tried to meet her gaze, but her eyes were so…~intense.~ “N-not exactly. But it’s my first time really ~living~ in one.”

She let out a scoffing laugh and continued walking. “You’ll get used to it. We all did.”

~We?~ Iro pondered over that word. So, she was part of the staff and not just a random pool-dwelling shark. ~Wait~…

“SKALLA!!” Two cheerful voices rang out as Iro and the shark girl neared the mansion.

Mika and Airy came flying over the raised patio, cheering loudly as they hurtled toward Skalla.

With a casual air, Skalla caught the pair and tucked them under her arms like footballs. “There’re my favorite girls. How you been?”

Airy giggled and nuzzled against Skalla’s shoulder, while Mika leaned in and started updating Skalla on the latest house happenings.

From what Iro could gather, it was mostly complaints about bad meals and lonely days.

“Welcome home, Miss Skalla,” a smooth voice called from above.

Zeltaria, the red-skinned mistress of the house, was leaning over the stone railing of the patio overlook. They all looked up and responded with respectful greetings.

“Dinner’s almost ready, Skalla. Are you ready to return to service? Or would you like to use the rest of your vacation?”

Skalla chuckled and secured the two girls under her arms before starting up the stairs. “I think these two would be quite ~grateful~ to have me back sooner rather than later. Cerys still avoiding my cookbooks?”

Airy stuck out her tongue and made a “bleh” sound while Mika grumbled under her breath. Zeltaria just laughed and cast one last look down at Iro, still at the base of the stairs.

“She has. Though, from what I’ve seen and tasted, it hasn’t been all that bad. Might even be she brought an entirely delightful treat for me, after all.”

Iro felt his heart pound a little harder as she held his gaze before turning and walking out of view. Seeing Skalla had already reached the top of the stairs, he hurried up after the group.

When he reached the top, he found Zeltaria already gone and the trio of servants nearly at the mansion.

Turning around, Iro took another long look at the vast backyard lawn and shrubbery, the pool, and the long canal that ran from one end of the property to the other, a couple of gondolas in view now, lazily gliding over the waters.

He decided he liked the view after all.

***

Mika and Airy had dragged stools into the kitchen and sat near one wall to watch Skalla, who was wearing an apron over her bikini from before.

She didn’t bother getting dressed? Or maybe she was always in a bikini. Iro thought about Airy having shorter dresses to prevent inhibiting her flying. Maybe Skalla also had a similar concession?

Regardless, she seemed quite comfortable in the kitchen space.

Iro slipped in beside Mika and watched the shark girl moving around the kitchen.

Multiple burners on the stove tops were burning away, meats were sizzling, vegetables were frying, and she still managed to put together salads and sides all the while.

Iro was genuinely impressed. She’d hardly been there a few minutes before he’d gotten there himself.

“Hey, pup! Start setting some plates out for us, yeah? Mika! Get up and help him. Airy? Keep doin’ what you’re doing, baby. You can do no wrong.”

Airy beamed at the cat and dog and wiggled happily on her seat while Mika huffed and helped Iro set the dining table; a plate, glass, and set of silverware for everyone.

Mika spoke up when they were halfway through, “Skalla keeps Airy busy with actually ~helping.~ She tends to cause more harm than good with things like this.”

“So ~that’s~ why she was in her room when Cerys was cooking.” Iro nodded thoughtfully, thinking back to when he’d found the clumsy harpy tangled in her own clothes rack in the nude.

Mika nodded and frowned. “’Fraid so, but she means well, of course. Skalla’s just a little better at keeping her included.”

Iro hummed. “So…what exactly ~does~ she do around here?”

Mika grinned and shrugged. “Helps with bags, does a little cleaning. Dusts the ceiling now and then. Gets the mail…you can ask Zel if it bothers you. They get final say on their own staff, of course.”

“I do indeed get final say on my own staff.”

Mika and Iro spun to find the tall, buxom demoness standing behind them, her arms folded over her chest and smiling faintly at the two.

She was wearing a particularly bold gown that exposed one shoulder, swooped down diagonally over her torso, exposed the opposite hip and leg, and carried on down to cover one entire leg, stopping at the ankle.

It was a richer red than her skin, far deeper and darker in color. The magical part was how it still managed to ~technically~ cover anything, though the amount of exposed side-boob and hip was sinful.

Zeltaria spun slightly, showing off the dress to the pair. “What do we think about this one? I have guests tonight and wish to ~impress~.”

Mika nodded and giggled. “You’re impressing at least two right now. Eh, Iro?” She grinned at the speechless canine, and he nodded breathlessly.

Iro shook his head slightly to clear it and followed Mika’s lead. “It looks lovely, Master Zeltaria.”

The Succubus covered her mouth as she laughed. “Just Zeltaria, Mister Iro. That’s Cerys’s title for me, much longer story than we have time for tonight.

“Thanks, both of you. I’ll keep your approval in mind. I should go catch up with Skalla. It’s been a while since we’ve had a chat. You two keep at it.”

She strolled past them, her hooves echoing on the stone floor.

As she passed Iro, she playfully swatted him with her spaded tail, not even glancing back as he spun around to watch her swaying behind as she headed towards the kitchen.

“Not polite to stare, pup.”

Iro shot a glare at Mika, who was ogling Zeltaria’s ass even more blatantly. “But ~you’re~ staring.”

Mika only broke her gaze when Zeltaria disappeared through the kitchen doors. “Yeah, but I’ve ~earned~ that right. You’ll get there. Now, back to the plates.” She went back to setting the table and Iro followed her lead.

~What on earth does ~that~ mean?~ Iro wondered, mulling over the possibilities as he finished setting the table. He figured he’d find out sooner or later.

***

Iro slid into his seat as Skalla brought out the last of the feast. It was practically a holiday meal with the sheer amount and variety of food.

There were fried meats of all sorts, vegetables in fried, deep fried, and fresh forms, rice, noodles, and even a few spring rolls and rangoons. Iro was overwhelmed by the choices. Everything smelled ~amazing.~

Holly was chatting with Skalla, Aranya was in a quick conversation with Cerys, Airy was humming a tune to herself, and Mika was practically salivating over the food.

“Everyone, a toast, if you will.” Zeltaria’s voice sliced through the hum of conversations. Iro reached for his half-full wine glass, raising it with the rest of the group.

“First, to our new arrival, Mister Iro. I hope you’ll all show him ~the best~ hospitality.” The group murmured words of agreement, cheering briefly, and Holly, seated next to him, gave him a friendly pat on the back.

“Second, to everyone for coming home. We’re all back, and for that I am grateful.” The cheers were a bit louder this time, with smiles exchanged across the table and friendly pats all around.

“And last, but certainly not least, to Skalla for preparing this meal. Dig in!”

A cheer and a toast went up, everyone taking a long sip from their wine glasses before loading their plates with food, leaving plenty still in the serving dishes.

Iro chose a bit of beef and a chicken breast, added some fresh and deep-fried vegetables to his plate, and topped it off with a couple of spring rolls.

The food was clearly Japanese-inspired, and he briefly wondered if that was where Skalla had learned to cook. He figured he’d have to ask her.

Looking around, Iro got a good sense of everyone’s preferences.

Holly seemed to be a meat lover. Her plate was piled high with nothing but meats, which made sense for a zombie.

Mika had a balanced mix, though she seemed to favor fish. Airy was surprisingly enjoying a chicken breast and grinning widely.

Cerys had a larger portion of vegetables, mostly fresh with some stir-fried mixed in.

Aranya was delicately tearing pieces of meat off larger chunks with her long claws, eating small bites at a time as she listened to Skalla’s vacation stories.

Skalla herself seemed to favor fish, unsurprisingly, but also had beef and pork on her plate. Iro guessed she liked meat too.

And last, but certainly not least, Iro noticed Zeltaria’s preference, which seemed to be ~him~.

She was casually eating forkfuls of her salad and diced meats while staring at him, her eyes blinking slowly and her chin resting on the back of one hand, moving only to open and chew food.

Iro shifted uncomfortably in his seat and tried to go back to eating normally, but couldn’t help but sneak glances at Zeltaria, who sometimes would turn to others if they asked a question, but mostly kept her gaze on him.

“Mister Iro? Could you refill everyone’s glasses?” Zel asked, maintaining eye contact.

Iro nodded and stood, slipping out to grab a wine bottle and water pitcher, left out for just this purpose. He opened both and returned to the dining room, refilling glasses with wine or water as requested.

Skalla and Aranya preferred water, Cerys asked Iro to give Airy the same, and the rest took a quarter glass of wine.

Except for Mika, who requested hers be filled to the top. Zel shot a glare at the cat and told Iro a half glass would do, much to Mika’s grumbling.

As Iro moved to Zeltaria, she beckoned him closer with a finger.

Grabbing his collar, she pulled him a bit closer and whispered in his ear, “I’ll need you after my meeting tonight. Keep yourself busy until then, but don’t wear yourself out.”

She let go of his collar and gestured to her glass. “A quarter, please.”

With his fur standing on end, Iro filled Zeltaria’s glass and retreated to the kitchen, panting and desperately trying to calm his arousal. ~What on earth does that mean!?~