Dawn- An age of Darkness

There were certain times when you really, really had to second guess your life choices. Perhaps buying some expensive junk, perhaps spending way too much on coffee or maybe sleeping with a bunny. 

Unfortunately, I'd done all three. 

And now that I was in bed with a bunny in the middle of the night, did I finally regret it. 

It was fine if she was just a bunny. It was fine if she was a hag too. Heck, I was fine sleeping next to any woman, assuming nothing happened. But- buttt, I did not expect to be made a pillow like this!

Yeah, there was no doubt I was enjoying this and feeling like a total scumbag at the same time. But it wasn't like I wasn't trying to get free okay! Because I was trying! Kind off. 

Whenever I tried to get free, she hugged me tighter. 

That would have been fine too. But there was a bigger problem. 

She looked rather young, a bit older than Alisa, maybe sixteen, and had black hair. 

Wait…. Wait, a second! This wasn't my bunny!

What the hell. How the hell had I not noticed before?

I tried my best to get free but- unfortunately, this thing didn't let me go and it was hella strong. 

What the hell indeed. 

'Hey let go!' I tried to talk but my mouth didn't open. It was almost like I was screaming inside rather than actually talking?

I didn't feel even the slightest bit sleepy and yet it felt like my eyes were closed. I could still see the bunny girl hugging me though. I couldn't see anything behind her and I couldn't turn my head. 

It was awfully dark. 

I could only see that beautiful sleeping face: it was like a mixture Brenda's and Sisrael's faces. That sublime… what the hell! Why the hell was I getting enchanted again?

And wasn't their hair color supposed to be golden rather than black? And weren't they both dead?

Wait… black?

Somehow something Dick had said made its way to my mind. 'The hot chick, I was with. You know, red eyes, black here, amazing skin.'

Just remembering Dick's words made me shiver a little. But it did give me the fatal clue.

'This is the spirit, isn't it?' I sighed inwardly. 

I had very good reasons to believe that. And I probably wasn't even awake. After all, I couldn't move my body like I wanted. And I couldn't even turn my head. 

So, instead of trying to break free, I hugged her tight and tried something. 

That something being a kiss. The spirit opened its eyes in shock. 

'Hi.' I smiled and finally broke free. But the moment I did, "AHH!" I woke up screaming. 

Someone turned on the lights. 

"What happened?" It was Alisa. 

I breathed hard. "Nightmare… spirit… girl…" Yeah, it was definitely hard to speak. 

I was sweating like hell. And I was half under the blanket. And not to mention my whole body felt heavy. 

  The bed was kind of drenched. 

"That one?" The half-elf spoke, pointing a finger at my right.

'Wait, what one?' I looked at my right, and apparently, I was still being hugged by a bunny girl. The face was the same. Though half of her hair was pinkish white, the rest of the half was raven black. 

"Wha?"

Okay, okay, this wasn't confusing no. I just felt like banging my head against a wall, that was all. Why couldn't a frigging bunny just remain a bunny?

Sigh. And why did she have to take up Brenda's and Sisrael's looks?

Alisa sighed. "As I feared."

"What!" 

I was definitely a bit pissed as she never said anything before. 

"That rabbit is an undead correct?" The half-elf said. 

I actually asked her name last night but she refused to give me her identity.  It wasn't like I was some stalker. And I was definitely not interested in that chest part of hers… okay?

"That's right but what of it?"

"Generally, when Braskan royal rabbits evolve they evolve by choosing their mate's best preferences."

All eyes were on me apparently. And wait, excuse me? Choosing their mate? HUH!?

"But don't they evolve from babies to adulthood?" Ve rubbed her eyes. 

She actually looked kind of cute in that nightgown. 

"Yes, but in this case, Biteria was already dead, so it's the reverse process. And it should have taken at least a year. If that malicious spirit hadn't shown up that is. Though the spirit's host is Daarc, it's using Biteria as a means to interact with this world, how much it'll succeed will depend on Biteria's resolve," Alisa said, looking a bit dejectedly at me. "I had this hypothesis but I wasn't sure at first."

"Wait, so 17-year-old demi-humans are your preference?" The half-elf said, looking very dejectedly at me.

Oh yeah, I was definitely getting looks. Especially Alisa. She knew Brenda, so I guess this was natural. 

And Biteria was still sleeping peacefully, hugging my arm while I was sitting and staring at glaring eyes. Trying my best not to cry. 

"What, no?" Absolutely not! 

I was definitely more into largeness than flats… ahem! But it was also true I had issues with older women. And wait, didn't I say I liked bunny children more than their parents back in the mountains?

But that was because….

Oh shit….

No wonder. 

"I'm not a pedophile, please believe me."

Everyone just looked at me with questioning eyes. 

'Like seriously, someone just believe me already.'

Alisa sighed. "Let's just get some sleep. We'll sort this tomorrow.'

"Agreed." Ve yawned. 

The lights were turned off and all three of them went back to their beds, ignoring me all the way. 

Me?

Still sitting, flabbergasted. Biteria never really woke up and wouldn't let go either. 

'Wait, didn't that mean, Biteria chose me as- and my pref-? Shit.'

***

It was very hard to fall asleep and when I did, I met that spirit in my dreams. It didn't drain me or do anything crazy, just hugged me.

Unfortunately, I freaked out every time and woke up. 

This went on the whole night and in the morning, I felt like dying. 

"I should just jump off the building and embrace heaven." My eyes were closed and I was practicing some sort of imaginary drama I'd made up. Though the sentiment was definitely there. 

"IN that case I'll personally make you'd go to hell," Alisa whispered. 

Wait, she was already up?

I couldn't keep my eyes open and I couldn't sleep either. 

Arghhghh!

A giggle came from my left followed by a bit of cold air. "Normally I wouldn't do this you know."

I fell asleep. Something warm was beneath my head. The sensation was familiar, very familiar, and yet, unfamiliar at the same time. 

***

I yawned and woke up. 

There was no one in here. But there was plenty of sunlight. Actually, it might have even been too warm. I already started sweating. 

Judging by the sun, it was at least midday. Probably a bit late. 

I yawned again, grabbed my armor and things, headed down.

I had to get fresh first. 

A soldier showed me the way but he couldn't say where my companions were. 

Well, I didn't expect them to wait for me to wake up forever either. So anyway, I finished my stuff, got dressed in my dashing red armor, and headed to the throne room.

The earl and his ministers were too busy talking. They were planning extensively about how things could go wrong and what they'd do if things really did. They didn't seem as tense as the last time though. 

They did say hi to me when I first showed up but soon turned their attention to their talks again. 

I located the dark knight guy. "Do you know where Alisa and the others are?"

"I believe they've headed to the city. Would you like to head out? I'd be happy to accomp-" Yeah, he definitely looked way too happy. 

"Yeah, no thanks. I know my way."

With that said, I headed out.

I got the feeling that the dark knight guy was a bit disappointed though. 

***

The hallway was long and by the time I reached the end, I saw four figures already coming in. 

"Oh, you're up." Alisa greeted me. 

"It would seem that way, yes, and thanks." If it weren't for her, I'd be pretty screwed. I hadn't had any sleep the day before and if the same thing happened last night, yeah, I was damn sure I'd have been screwed. 

She gave me a toothy grin. 

I was actually feeling a lot better thanks to her. She'd probably put a sleeping spell on me. Later, I really had to learn that. At least my sleeping problems would be fixed from now on. 

"So, what were you guys doing out?" I was definitely curious.  Four girls alone in the city… wait, four? I looked very intently at the fourth and she greeted me with a nonchalant smile, without actually making any sounds. "Biteria?"