She hoped he would. Susan secretly wanted to meet with the mysterious masked member of their group in real life. It would be disappointing if he didn’t come.

  Taken

  Holidays had always been important, but after World War III, their importance had reached new heights. The amount of effort governments around the world put into making their holidays the biggest and best they could was phenomenal. Every time one came around, there would be live shows, TV broadcasts, in-game holiday events, virtual events, and so much more to give the people something festive to celebrate.

  Christmas and the new year were the two most important holidays.

  Aris remembered her father once telling her the real meaning of Christmas, but the knowledge had since been lost to time. She thought it was something about a person who lived a really long time ago. Not that she particularly cared about such things. For her, Christmas was a time to celebrate merely being alive.

  Or it had been.

  Now, it meant something more.

  “Woooooow! Look at all the decorations! Are the images changing? I’m not hallucinating, am I?”

  Aris was in awe as she and Fayte stood outside New York City Town Square Mall. Having come from a small town, she had never seen such a large structure, nor one adorned with so many extravagant Christmas decorations. It looked like someone had turned the entire building into a holographic display that was lit up with various effects. One moment, the walls would be decorated with Christmas trees. The next, fireworks were going off.

  “You’re not hallucinating,” Fayte answered. “Embedded into the building are over one million holographic nodes. During important holidays, those nodes will activate and coat the entire building in holographic decorations to celebrate whatever important holiday is happening at the time.”

  It wasn’t just the building that was decorated with holographic displays. Many holographic signs floated in the air. Each one contained themes that were common with Christmas and New Year’s like Christmas trees, fireworks, candy canes, nut crackers… and like the building, they were constantly changing what they displayed.

  “That. Is. So. Cool!”

  Aris couldn’t see Fayte’s face because she was wearing a veil, but she was certain the other woman was giving her an amused smile. That was the impression she gave off. But Aris didn’t care. It didn’t matter to her if people thought she looked like a hick.

  I mean, they’re technically not wrong.

  The town that Aris came from was way out in the countryside and had no more than around four or five thousand residents. It was a very small place. She would have even said it was confining.

  While Aris admired the holographic decorations, Fayte pushed up the sleeves of her overly large cloak to glance at her watch.

  It was cold outside. Aris’s breath came out in white puffs. Oddly, she didn’t feel cold at all. Had this been before she had gotten Mortems Disease, Aris would have been complaining to the heavens about how cold she was, but now all she felt was a refreshing briskness.

  “Aris. Fayte,” someone suddenly said behind them.

  “Gyaaaaa!”

  Aris screamed and whirled around to find Lilith standing not a meter from them.

  “Jeez, Lilith! Are you trying to give me a… heart… oh…”

  Her complaint died in her throat as she stared at the woman standing before her. Unlike Fayte, who wore baggy clothes to hide all of her features, Lilith did no such thing. The black pants that hugged her hips were tight enough to show off every curve of her bountiful bottom. She wore a long-sleeved black shirt, but it showed off her stomach, which didn’t contain a single ounce of fat. Aris could only stare at the tight abs this woman had. Her outfit was topped off with fingerless black gloves, black boots, and a black jacket.

  Oh… oh my. She’s hot. Aris very nearly licked her lips. And Adam hasn’t been pounding that? Really? Really, really? Why not? I’d tap that ass if I had a cock. What is wrong with him?

  “Damn, you look really sexy,” Aris blurted.

  She covered her mouth when Fayte and Lilith looked at her strangely. She was fortunate they didn’t call her out on her faux pas. As her ears burned a fierce red, Fayte turned back to Lilith.

  “It’s good to see you, Lilith. This is our first time meeting outside of the game, isn’t it?”

  Lilith nodded. “It is.”

  “Now all we’re waiting for is Su… ah. Speak of the devil.”

  A limousine pulled up and the doors automatically opened. A young woman with brown hair, large brown eyes, and bundled up in winter clothes stepped out. Susan looked at them all with a smile.

  “Aris. Fayte. L-Lilith?! Is that you?”

  “Yes. It is a pleasure to see you, Susan,” Lilith said in her usual tone.

  “I didn’t realize you’d be coming…”

  “Is that a problem?”

  “N-no! It’s not a problem at all!”

  Susan waved her hands back and forth as though warding something off. Aris wondered if the others had seen the way Susan looked at Lilith. Had they also noticed the insecurity in the young woman’s eyes? Well, not that she was all that surprised. Lilith was so hot that even Aris felt her confidence waver.

  Though it’s not like she’s the only one…

  Aris glanced at Fayte. The woman might have been decked out in the ugliest outfit she had ever seen, but underneath that baggy exterior was a banging body she would love to seduce into bed.

  “Take care of the young lady,” said the old man driving the limo.

  “We will. I’ll call you when it’s time to pick Su up, Sebas,” Fayte said.

  So his name is Sebas. Is that short for Sebastian? What a typical butler name. Are all butlers named Sebastian?

  The limousine drove off, and Aris, Fayte, Lilith, and Susan entered the mall.

  If the outside was impressive, the inside was even more amazing. Aris could only stare in awe at the many holographic decorations floating in the air. Holographic snowflakes floated from above. Even the floor seemed to have been embedded with holographic nodes. Right now, the floor had been made to look like a winter wonderland, snow as far as the eye could see.

  “Incredible…” Aris breathed softly.

  “Isn’t it?” asked Fayte. “I suppose, I tend to forget how amazing this is because I’ve seen it so often, but seeing your reaction, I have to admit, it’s pretty awe-inspiring to see how much effort went into all this. Anyway, let’s do some Christmas shopping.”

  “Yeah! I want to get Adam something for Christmas!”

  The group went off together, drawing a crowd wherever they went. Aris was used to it by this point. She ignored them, or rather, she didn’t even see them.

  “What do you think Adam would like for Christmas?” asked Fayte.

  “Uh… um… that’s a very good question.”

  “You don’t know?”

  “J-just gimme a minute! I need to think about this!”

  “Well, while Aris is thinking, why don’t we go into some boutiques and see what new clothes are in stock?”

  “Let’s do it!”

  At Fayte’s suggestion, the group traveled to Auspicious Imported. Even Aris knew about this store, or to be more specific, she knew the clothing brand. The Chrysos Family had been well-known clothing makers for generations. Aris used to watch the fashion shows they put on when she was a kid, and she would even wrap herself in various blankets and pretend she was walking across a stage. One time, she had tripped and split her head open on the corner of her parents’ coffee table.

  That had required stitches.

  Auspicious Imported seemed like a modestly sized store. Many different articles of clothing stood on display for their customers’ perusal. Aris had never seen so many different outfits in one place.

  “Good afternoon,” a beautiful lady greeted them with a smile. Her eyes were on Lilith as she spoke, however, making it clear who had attracted her attention. “Welcome to Auspicious Imported. If you need any help, please let me know. I would be happy to assist you.”

  “Uh… are you… talking to me?” Lilith pointed to herself.

  “I am talking to all of you,” the woman said.

  “Really? You’re staring at Lilith awfully hard,” Aris added.

  The woman just smiled. “That’s just your imagination.”

  “Sure…”

  Aris didn’t believe that for one second, but she didn’t feel like arguing. Fayte and Susan were already moving deeper into the store. She and Lilith shared a look before walking quickly to catch up with them.

  The group tried on many different outfits. Fayte was the one who chose most of the clothing. She had a keen eye for fashion, which must have been her noble upbringing at work. Aris couldn’t figure out what was in and what wasn’t. It all looked amazing to her.

  “Aris, try this on.”

  “Okay.”

  Taking the outfit Fayte handed her, Aris went into the unoccupied changing room next to the one Lilith was already inside. The other woman had already been roped into Fayte’s dress-up game. Susan was also inside one of the changing rooms.

  Aris stripped, then began putting on each article. The pants were easy enough to slide up her hips, though they felt a little tight. Her butt felt constricted. However, the top was fine. It was a golden bikini top and a strap that went around the stomach. She rather liked it and wondered if Adam would appreciate it too. An idea came to her as she threw on the red jacket with gold shoulder stripes.

  I think I have the perfect idea for Adam’s Christmas present!

  Feeling quite pleased with herself, Aris stepped out of the changing room. Lilith and Susan were already outside. They couldn’t have looked more different if they tried.

  Susan was adorable in her black mesh shrug with shoulder cutouts, split sleeves, and black metal D-rings. It was the perfect top to go over her leather shirt. Adorning her hips was a lovely pink semi-translucent skirt that showed off what she was wearing underneath—black booty shorts. Knee-high boots with zippers finished the outfit.

  She’s very cute too. Hm hm. I really want to tease Susan right now.

  Lilith’s outfit had decidedly less fabric. It looked like a neon kimono with shoulder cutouts, but it was far shorter than most kimonos. It stopped around mid-stomach and was open to reveal the tube top wrapped around her chest. This outfit seemed to really highlight her stomach, which Aris approved of. That stomach was worthy of taking shots off of. Come to think of it, Aris had only been able to drink once when she snuck into her father’s alcohol stash. The last item of clothing was a pair of kemono cyberpunk boots with glowing soles that changed color with every step.

  “You three look amazing!” Fayte said.

  “Heck yeah, we do!” Aris agreed, placing her hands on her hips as she thrust out her chest.

  “Hmm. I suppose… this doesn’t show as much skin as the stuff you normally put me in,” Susan added.

  Lilith had a completely different opinion. “I’m not sure this is something I should be wearing. These boots are particularly hard to move around in.”

  “But you look great,” Fayte commented. “Fashion is important for a woman. Your style reflects what you stand for.”

  “I’m not sure if there’s anything I stand for, so…”

  “It can boost your confidence and make you feel good.”

  “But I feel perfectly fine.”

  “Ugh! Whatever! Look, stop being so stubborn! You look great!”

  “I-I don’t know…” Lilith murmured.

  Seeing Fayte and Lilith like this, Aris decided to help out. “Adam would like you in those clothes.”

  Lilith perked up. “Really?”

  “Mhhmmm. Really.”

  “Then… maybe I should buy them?”

  “Definitely.”

  Fayte sighed and palmed her face. “That’s what it took to convince you to buy clothes?”

  They bought several different outfits. Fortunately, Adam was not hurting for cash, and Aris had been given access to one of his throwaway accounts for this excursion. She bought hers and Lilith’s clothing. The assassin had protested, but Aris would hear none of it.

  After they were done shopping, Aris asked them to travel to another store, which sold a different sort of clothes. Susan’s face had nearly burst when she saw the store, but Fayte just smiled wryly before following the younger woman inside.

  Time passed and Aris’s stomach soon told her it was time for food. They traveled to the food court, where Aris ordered enough food to feed a family of five. The other three could only gawk as she scarfed down the junk food like it was going out of style.

  “How can you eat so much?” asked Fayte.

  “What do you mean? Doesn’t everyone have a second stomach for junk food?”

  “I’m pretty sure no one has a second stomach for junk food. Also, the phrase you’re looking for is a second stomach for dessert.”

  “Then I have a third stomach—one for junk food.”

  “Sure. Let’s just go with that.”

  Aris had been unable to eat junk food ever since she contracted Mortems Disease. Adam had carefully regulated her diet. She hadn’t minded because she knew he was just looking out for her well-being, and the food he made was delicious, but she had terribly missed the taste of greasy pizza and hamburgers.

  “I wish I could eat that much. Aren’t you worried about gaining weight?” asked Susan.

  “Not at all. Adam will love me even if I gain a few pounds,” Aris proudly declared. Susan could only wryly smile at that.

  Several more hours passed after they finished lunch, and before Aris knew it, the time to leave had come. Susan called Sebas to let him know. Then they traveled outside to wait for the limousine, which pulled up after about fifteen minutes.

  “Strange,” Fayte murmured.

  “What is?” asked Aris.

  “Sebas is normally outside before we even arrive,” she said, then shook her head. “I’m sure it’s nothing.”

  The doors opened, Susan said goodbye to everyone—and became shocked when Aris hugged her—then stepped inside the limo, which closed behind her.

  Aris watched as the limousine pulled away, but her attention was taken from the disappearing vehicle when Lilith tugged on her sleeve.

  “I have something I would like to speak to you about,” the quiet woman said.

  “All right.” Aris turned to Fayte. “Would you mind waiting for a moment, Fayte? Lilith wants to talk to me about something?”

  “Huh?” Fayte’s head snapped up, but then she nodded. “Oh, yeah. Sure. I’ll be right here.”

  Aris and Lilith walked far enough from Fayte to give themselves some privacy. Lilith seemed oddly nervous. It was hard to tell because her expression hadn’t changed, but something about her posture made her seem restless.

  “Is everything okay?” asked Aris.

  Lilith took a deep breath before staring at her with a serious gaze. “Were you serious about forming a harem for Adam? Are you still interested in doing that?”

  Aris blinked. She blinked again. Then she pinched herself.

  “Ow!”

  “What are you doing?”

  “Just checking to make sure I’m not dreaming.”

  “Why would you be dreaming?”

  “Because this seems too good to be true.” Aris laughed before slowly looking at Lilith with the gravitas she believed this conversation warranted. “I still plan on getting Adam a harem. I have every intention of creating a group of women who can keep Adam motivated to live. You were actually the first person I thought of asking to join when I decided on this.”

  “I was?” Lilith’s eyes widened.

  Aris smiled kindly. “I know of your history with Adam. I know what he means to you, and how loyal you are to him. Adam can’t take that next step with you because the guilt he feels about abandoning you eats away at him. That’s why I want to help.”

  “But he never abandoned me. He never abandoned any of us,” Lilith murmured, frowning. The sadness in her eyes made Aris hold her breath.

  Lilith definitely needs to be a part of this. Her dedication alone makes it necessary for her to join Adam’s harem.

  “I’ll contact you when I’m ready to initiate my plan. I need a few days to prepare,” Aris said.

  Lilith nodded. “I can wait. I’ve been waiting for several years already. A few more days won’t make much difference.”

  Aris felt a small thrill as they ended their conversation. She was happy that Lilith had come to her since it made initiating the first step of her “Create a Harem for Adam” plan much easier, but that happiness was short-lived when Fayte called over to them. She looked worried.

  “Hey! You two! We have a problem!” she said.

  “What’s wrong, Fayte?” asked Aris.

  “Susan and I have a shared app that allows us to track each other’s location. Something about the way she left bothered me, so I decided to check the app. It's shut off,” Fayte said.

  Aris shrugged. “Maybe she turned her phone off?”

  Fayte shook her head. “Susan wouldn’t do that. She has never turned her phone off before because her father has requested she leave it on at all times in case of emergencies. Also, just before it shut off, her limo was going in the opposite direction of her house.”

  Aris was about to suggest there might have been an accident or construction work that forced the car to take another route, but she didn’t. If Fayte was telling them this, it meant she had already checked that option. This woman was nothing if not thorough in her research.

  “Do you mean to say that Susan has been kidnapped?” asked Lilith.

  “Yes, and I have no idea who took her,” Fayte said, the worry in her eyes evident.

  La Nouve was a high-end bar located in the ritzier part of New York City. Known by many as the rich district because everything was so expensive, this section of the city was the first to have been rebuilt after World War III.

  Many of New York City’s once-famous skyscrapers had been destroyed during the war. The ones here had been built afterward at the expense of several noble families who rose to prominence after the war’s end. Now, several towering skyscrapers dominated New York City’s skyline, their exteriors awash with holographic projections meant to dazzle the eyes. It was a symbol of the nobility’s wealth.