Offcuts - Pt.1 - Under the Influence (Patreon)

*** Note: "Offcuts" is meant to offer some different perspectives, sort of like alternate camera angles or extended scenes, things that ended up on the editing-room floor rather than in the published story. We'll preface each one with the chapter(s) it refers to, along with any applicable content warnings. ***

*** Club Luna Book 2, Interludes 16 & 17; Tuesday September 28th, 2021 ***

*** content warning: intrusive thoughts; intrusive actions; intrusive emotions; may be disturbing to some readers ***

=::= Cass's PoV =::=

When I heard Kirstie admit she'd been curious I couldn't help joking, "You know what they say about curiosity and cats, right?"

Sure enough that earned me another angry scowl, and the small catgirl's tail started twitching back and forth in irritation again. I knew she'd be upset, I knew I shouldn't be joking about her situation, but I couldn't help it. And that scared me.

It was like I had two different trains of thought in my head at once. One was calm and confident, while the other was shy and anxious. It didn't make sense, I didn't even know it was possible to think two things at the same time or why the calm confident version was being so mean to Kirstie.

Kaylee and the catgirl were talking again but I was only half listening to their conversation as I desperately tried to understand what was going on with me. I wanted to apologize to Kirstie and Kenzie, I wanted to tell Kaylee and Paige everything was ok. I wanted everyone to be friends, I wanted to get along with all of them. 

Instead I found myself just twisting back and forth on the stool next to the desk in the science lab as I watched the two Club Luna girls try and figure out what the small catgirl was all bent out of shape about.

My ex-girlfriend was obviously confused when the demi-human said she was happy with her new body. She was frowning as she asked, "If you're not unhappy with the physical transformation, what is it you're upset about?" 

Kirstie scowled, "She changed my ID, but instead of just updating the information I wanted she changed everything else too! Now according to all my legal documents I'm only seventeen years old! And my drivers license disappeared entirely!"

"Then instead of smoothing things over with work so I wouldn't be questioned when I went back this morning," she added as she glared at me again. "She 'took care' of my work problem by setting it up so I'm a student here instead! Now I don't even have a job! The school thinks I'm supposed to be attending grade eleven classes!"

The catgirl finally shook her head and sighed, "On paper I've become the middle sister, in between Kenzie and Kimmie. My wife hasn't even gotten over my physical transformation yet? And now it looks like she's going to have to go out and find a job, because I don't have any way of proving I'm really forty-eight years old or that I have over two and a half decades of work experience! I can't even legally drive a car anymore!"

I tried to apologize, I wanted to tell her I'd make it up to her one way or another. I wanted to suggest maybe my parents could help somehow. One way or another I knew there had to be a way to fix all this, and I tried to tell her that. I tried to tell all of them. But I couldn't.

Instead of the sincere apology and the offer to help I wanted to say, what actually came out of my mouth was a snide offer, "I can help out with some of those problems too, if you want to make another deal. Maybe you'll be a little more specific this time though? Mind you, it'll probably cost you more than just a favour."

And instead of helping make things better that just made things even worse. Kirstie got more angry with me, she glared again as she stated "Not a chance! You need to fix this Cassandra! Today!"

By that point I was almost in tears, or at least that's how I felt inside. It's like every attempt I made to fix things or at least try and patch things up came out wrong and just made everything that much worse. I had no idea why I was saying that stuff or why I was acting so callous. It wasn't me, except somehow it was. 

I looked at Kaylee and Paige and I could tell from their expressions they were both disappointed or disgusted by my behaviour. The way they were both looking at me, I knew they had to hate me by now. I was positive they were thinking about what to tell Brook and Cerys and Melanie, and after that I wouldn't have any friends at all anymore.

"Cass?" Paige finally asked. She sounded uneasy as she continued, "Who's this 'friend' of yours that has the power to change ID and work and school records like that?"

Kaylee added, "It's Nina isn't it? It'd take something powerful, like a demon or a god, to make all those changes."

I desperately wanted to tell them both that Nina had nothing to do with it. Even if they hated me and never wanted to see me again I couldn't let my sister take the blame for whatever mistakes I was making. 

At the same time I also heard myself thinking how typical it was for Kaylee to immediately blame my sister. I wasn't even surprised, my ex-girlfriend made her bigoted views known loud and clear back in Monora Forest just before my birthday.

Instead of just straight-up calling her out on her prejudice I decided to make her think about it first. I asked, "Do you know what the biggest difference is, between gods and demons? I'll tell you. Demons need consent before they can really mess with you. Gods don't."

"That's why demons form contracts and pacts with people," I continued. "Because without that explicit consent demonic magic is limited. Gods though, they don't have those limitations. They can mess with people any time they like, any way they want. Could be something big and flashy, like smiting annoying mortals that get in their way? Or it could be something subtle and unseen, like gently influencing someone from behind the scenes, planting thoughts and ideas to stir up trouble."

I paused for a moment, but it was pretty clear she still wasn't getting it. So I reminded her, "You're always forgetting that Nina isn't the only demon around here. She had nothing to do with this."

"And you silly kitty," I added as I turned to look at Kirstie again. "You and I formed a verbal contract yesterday. We even shook on it, remember?"

My attention swung back to Kaylee as she commented nervously, "Cass? This doesn't sound like you at all."

I felt my gut lurch again as I tried to tell her she was right. I wanted to apologize, I tried to explain that something was wrong and I didn't know why I was acting this way. I desperately wanted to fix things, and by that point I knew I needed help. I needed Kaylee and Paige to call my parents, or Nina. I tried to ask them, I tried to tell them I needed help, but the words wouldn't come out.

I was practically in tears internally, while on the outside I felt myself smile. "I'm just having a little fun Kaylee. Spreading a little chaos here and there. That never hurt anybody, right?"

My ex-girlfriend's face seemed to go pale at that point, while a worried look settled on Paige's expression. The tall brunette addressed the two demi-humans, "Kenzie, Kirstie, you two need to leave right now. Trust me, you don't want to be involved in this."

I was still smiling as I watched the two scurry from the room with their tails between their legs. Then I swivelled back and forth on my stool as I casually asked the two humans, "So what happens now? Am I the next incident for Club Luna to investigate?"

Paige watched me for another second or two before asking nervously, "Who are you? Are you still Cassandra? Or are you Socha?"

Kaylee's voice wavered as she responded, "That's still Cass. I think she's being influenced though? She just said gods can influence from behind the scenes..."

The redhead babbled on for a bit about her theory while I tuned them both out for a bit. Part of me felt anger as I realized I shouldn't have gloated so much. At the same time another part of me was sick with worry but also felt a glimmer of hope. If Kaylee was right and I was being influenced then maybe the next step was getting help. 

Once again I tried to say as much, that I needed help. Then Paige pulled out her phone and tapped one of her contacts, while Kaylee started tapping out a message on hers. I felt another little flicker of hope, and I tried to tell them to contact my family, that my parents would know what to do.

Except instead of what I meant to say I just snarked at them instead, "I'm pretty sure 911 isn't going to be much use here."

Paige ignored me, and after a second or two she spoke into her phone, "Mrs. Underwood this is Paige Doubek. Something's wrong with Cass, I think Socha's involved."

That sent more mixed feelings through me. More hope, but also annoyance or irritation. Both opposing emotions got stronger as a column of pure white light appeared in the science lab, next to Paige and Kaylee. 

When the light faded to reveal my mum I tried to warn her, to tell her something was wrong with me. Instead I heard myself sarcastically joke, "Oh no, you've told my mum on me. Now I'm going to be grounded."

"You don't sound like the Cass I know. What's happened to you?" my ex-girlfriend asked nervously.

I heard myself snark back at her, "Maybe you just haven't been paying attention to who I really am, Kaylee."

That left me feeling equal parts scared and angry. This mean confident version couldn't be the real me, and I was desperate to let everyone know that. I tried to shout, to scream, internally I was crying in frustration, but I couldn't seem to do anything at all.

Then the lab door swung open and Nina came in, which gave me another boost of hope. I was positive with both my mum and my sister here they'd be able to fix things. 

I made one last desperate attempt to call out to them, to try and tell them something was wrong and I needed help. But like before, the words that came out were completely different. I just shook my head and told them all, "It's over, you've already lost. The only question now is how long it takes to happen."

Mum looked sad as she replied in a firm voice, "Cass I'm sorry. I hope you can forgive us for this."

"Forgive you for what?" I almost laughed. There was nothing anyone could do and they knew it, but I couldn't help goading her on again, "What do you think you're going to do?"

She kept her eyes on me as she addressed my little sister, "Nina?"

With a burst of demonic speed my sister was at my side before I could react. She threw her arms around me as she pulled me into a tight hug, then I felt her demonic magic flare around me. And just as everything went black I felt a surge of both fear and joy, because the one kind of magic my runes didn't shield me from was Nina's.

*** This chapter and the idea behind it was brought to you courtesy of Camille, who commissioned it! ***