Chapter 222 222 Financial Matter

Chapter 222 222 Financial Matter

Nexus laid the cup down gently on the table.

"Well," he began softly; "Stick with me, and I promise you, there's going to be a whole lot more of these first time experiences. Just like. . ."

He lifted his hand and twirled his palm in the air- like he was snatching something invisible;

". . .just like this. . ."

He lowered his palm- gradually bringing it closer to her face. A faint glint of metal shimmered inside his closed fist. It glinted off the invasive sun's rays- glistening and shining mysteriously.

Crystal's features contorted in surprise. Her eyes followed his hand- watching in slow motions as Nexus unfolded his fingers- revealing the surprise within.

The pendant's reflection glistened in her dark eyes- bouncing off her irises in streaks of golden flashes. Her mouth opened in awe.

"Here," he said softly; "Take it. . ."

She looked at the beautiful pendant in his hands. It was a locket- but shaped in the form of a diamond. In tiny gold beads, the rope around it connected in series- holding the diamond shaped pendant.

"Go on," he encouraged her; "It's yours,"

Her eyes peeled away from the shimmering jewelry- darting upwards to Nexus' face.

"It's m-m-mine?" she stuttered in unbelief.

"I told you Crystal," he leaned upwards from the table- took a two steps till he was standing behind her- holding the necklace out; "There's going to be a whole lot of first time experiences with me. . ."

He carefully lowered the pendant onto her neck.

Crystal gulped when the cold metal landed on her skin.

Behind her, she heard the soft jingle of the metal lock as Nexus clasped it in place.

"There," he leaned forward- observing it closely on her; "It looks beautiful on you. . .it makes those eyes of yours pop. . ."

The last word was hardly out of his mouth when Selina tore herself away from the chair- hurling herself upwards- in one powerful motion.

In her bra-less gown, both her breasts flung freely- leaping in the air.

With gratitude in her eyes, she threw her hands around Nexus' neck. Jittery with excitement, the succubus stood on her tippy toes- and draw his neck downwards for a kiss. For a brief second, as her lips found his, she understood what Nexus meant earlier on.

It was a kiss born out of passion- not sex driven.

Her lips took his lower lips in hers, and kissed him deeply- letting her appreciation pour into each luscious thud. Cackling with excitement, she pulled away- clutching the pendant in her fingers;

"THANK YOU MY LORD!" she gasped; "Thank you! This is so beautiful! And so expensive!"

She lifted it up from her chest- squinted at it, and darted her eyes back to Nexus. Deep emotion spilled from her eyes, and her words.

"Thank you lord Nexus," she said softly now- lowering her head in respect; "No one's ever given me a gift before. No one."

"Come on, there's no need to thank me," he lifted her chin up; "I should probably be the one thanking you. Your perspective gave me a new insight to this Howard problem. . ."

He wasn't lying about that.

She wasn't even aware that he was actually Ni Yang.

And somehow, she had managed to get him to see things from a different angle entirely.

"Speaking of which," his tone took a more serious note; "That pendant is much more than just a gift. . .it's a two way communication artifact. . .just for the two of us. . ."

A blaze of excitement rippled across her face. Gasping, she placed her hand on her chest;

"A communication artifact?" she echoed in unbelief.

It sounded so fancy! So high end!

Nexus nodded;

"Yeah it is. It still a gift though. But it's also a way for you to reach me wherever you are. So, at every point in time, you know that we're never truly apart. . ."

Okay, Nexus knew he was starting to sound like a douche bag again.

It was the exact same line he had used on his other girl. . .

At this point, he wasn't even trying anymore!

His shoulders slumped, and his eyes softened as he strolled back towards his seat.

'Well,' he thought; 'I'm trying to build a harem. . .and at the same time, plan a war. . .honor is a luxury I can't afford right now. . .'

With a soft thud, he landed into the wooden chair- dragging it forward to resume his meal. Just as his right fork dug into the gravy covered mashed potatoes, the system's metallic voice came echoing in his head;

[STAND BY FOR NEW MISSION UPDATE.]

Nexus' hand froze over the plate.

[BE ADVISED, YOU HAVE BEEN ISSUED A NEW MISSION.]

[OBJECTIVE: ASSIST STACY YORK WITH HER FAMILY'S CURRENT FINANCIAL PROBLEMS.]

His eyes hardened.

[STACY YORK IS YOUR UTMOST PRIORITY.]

[REACH OUT TO HER FIRST BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE LORD FITCH.]

[TIME FRAME: NONE.]

[METHOD: FREE REIGN.]

This time, the system did not wish him goodluck.

Its voice simply disappeared into the void- leaving Nexus stewing in a pool of thoughts.

Despite the platter of sumptuous food steaming before him, Nexus appetite vaporized like snow before the spring sun. Eye lids twitching, his hand tightened on the table as he leaned back in the chair.

The summary of this new mission was- MONEY.

He needed it fast. And he needed it right now.

His jaw clenched- gritting his teeth.

'Guess I gotta go back to that damn hunter's lodge. .'n..0veLbIn

In one swift movement, he heaved himself up from the table.

Aloud, he announced;

"I'll be stepping out a moment Crystal . ."

He grabbed a corn cob from the platter, and walked over to her;

"Don't wait up up this time. I might be gone for a while."

He curled his hand around her slim waist- drew her in, and lowered his mouth to hers for a goodbye kiss.

"Make sure you reach out if anything comes up."

-------------------------------

Once outside, the lush greenery of Selina's estate once arrested his eyes again. Feet rattling along the gravel, he edged his way towards the gate- bypassing the main house itself. Overhead, in the western sky, a flock of white birds hovered in the distance- gliding gaily- in formations of threes and fours.

But Nexus' mind wasn't in all of that.

Not at all.

Right hand on hip, left hand on the reins, he leaned backwards- letting his horse trot out of the estate. As soon as the gates were behind him, Nexus' sharp eyes darted around- looking for any sign of surveillance.

There was none.

He slowly guided his horse- willing it in the direction of a large tree with low hanging branches. As soon as he entered the cool shadow of a broad flowering tree, his fingers clicked against each other. It was a low- soft- clatter of bone against flesh.

When he emerged from the other side- he was five inches taller- wearing a broad hat, and clad in a long flowing dark coat.

Exit Nexus.

Enter Ni Yang.

"System," he said aloud- steering his horse towards town; ". . .contact Stacy York. . ."

[AFIRMATIVE.]

[CONTACTING STACY YORK.]

He held his chin up. . .shoulders gyrating. . .following the motions of the trotting horse beneath–

<Master Ni Yang?> the girl's voice echoed in his ears in soft but- well enunciated words.