Chase spent the night in his room, the sounds of three supernatural beings arguing over snack allocation echoing from the living room. The following morning, he woke up determined to establish order, using the full weight of his ancient authority, however irrelevant it was in this specific domestic setting.
He walked out into the living room. Alex, the Goddess, was nervously sorting through the chip bags, Kaelen was perched elegantly on the arm of the sofa reading a magazine, and Rixsa was meticulously cleaning her gaming monitor.
Chase ignored the comfortable tableau and adopted a stance that conveyed utter non-negotiable finality.
"Attention, little shits," Chase commanded, his voice sharp and carrying the suppressed fury of a man whose weekend privacy had been annihilated. "This is no longer a safe house; it is a permanent residence under my private financial and legal control. We have rules."
"Alex," Chase started, focusing on the Goddess. "Since you sold everything for debt, you are financially dependent on my stock investments. You will assist me in market analysis and logistics. No exceptions. This is not a vacation."
" Alex, and you, Kaelen, will remain within this apartment unless accompanied by me. The only exception is the roof, provided you maintain absolute silence. Your presence here is a secret I cannot afford to leak to OmniCorp. If Lilith Thorne finds out I am harboring enemies of the gods, she will claim my Essence by force."
"Kaelen," he continued, directing his gaze toward the disdainful demon. "Since you find this apartment 'lacking in basic service staff,' you will become the service staff. You are now responsible for the cleaning, organization, and food preparation in this dwelling."
Kaelen scoffed, dropping her magazine. "I am an aristocratic demon of the Tenth Circle! I do not scrub floors!"
"Well, this isn't Hell, the Divine Realm, or one of your other worlds; you have no authority here," Chase said in a mocking tone. "You are a refugee dependent on my charity. You do what I say when I say it," Chase countered, unmoved. "If you fail, you will be performing your service duties outside, in the nude, in the communal hallway. Your choice."
Kaelen's eyes flashed with rage, but she visibly recoiled at the threat of public humiliation, a deep aristocratic fear overriding her pride. "...Fine."
"Rixsa and Alex, you will coordinate with me weekly to ensure my Essence levels remain stable and controlled, keeping them below the overflow threshold on Fridays. This is non-negotiable for all of our survival."
Chase finished, waiting for the expected explosion. Alex merely looked relieved to have a schedule, while Kaelen looked ready to plot his demise.
"Wait, Chase, one adjustment," Rixsa interrupted, folding her arms.
Chase braced himself. "What, Rixsa?"
"Okay, Alex and Kaelen need the second bedroom. It's got a walk-in closet, which Kaelen clearly needs for her aristocratic dresses," Rixsa explained, pointing a thumb at the still-fuming demon. "And you have the massive master bedroom. Since you forced me to stay here, and since your room is quite large, I'm moving my stuff into your room. We can share. It makes Essence regulation easier, and it frees up the guest room for them to live comfortably."
Chase felt his eyes beginning to twitch. "Absolutely not, Rixsa. I will not share my bedroom with a pervert who takes advantage of my unconscious state for 'smut research.'"
"Oh, come on, Warrior! It was one time, and it was scientifically necessary! Plus, think of the spiritual efficiency!" Rixsa argued, leaning closer with an irritatingly smug grin. "It's already set up. I can set up my streaming station right next to your bedside, and the sustained proximity is the most effective way to regulate your flow without having to schedule constant, awkward bathtub sessions."
"I'd rather have awkward bathtub sessions than wake up with your tail around my neck again," Chase retorted.
"But think of the chaos!" Rixsa insisted. "It's practically an executive decision for your stability! And I promise, I won't touch you... unnecessarily."
Chase glared at her, debating the logistics. She was right. The constant, low-level Essence proximity was the safest, most efficient way to maintain his spiritual barrier against Lilith. He hated it, but it was strategically sound.
He let out a defeated groan. "Fine. You get the half of the room farthest from the door. You are to respect my professional privacy, and if I wake up with your tail on my body again, you will be paying for the full cost of a new gaming PC and getting kicked out."
"Deal!" Rixsa cheered, already running toward the guest room to haul her gaming equipment out.
Chase turned back to face the Goddess and the furious aristocratic demon. His apartment was now organized, but the chaos was now contained within the very walls of his master bedroom.
"At least I don't have to buy Essence orbs or special foods to feed you two; you can just absorb it from my body. That makes things simpler," Chase said, summarizing his bleak financial reality.
"I have no intention of touching you, human," Kaelen said with a disgusted look on her face.
"Is that so?" Chase replied, trying not to punt the little brat across the room.
"Yes, it is so. I want Essence orbs or wine; that would be enough for me, human."
Staring at her with a blank expression on his face, Chase then replied, a wide smile appearing. "I have something just for that. Wait just a second."
Staring at him, Alex started to get nervous. "Chase, what are you doing?" she asked, her voice getting shaky.
As Chase walked away, heading to his room, everyone could hear his distinct, low chuckle.
Returning from his room, he had a small, velvet-lined box in his hand with the brand name Essence Harness printed on it. He walked up to Kaelen with a proprietary smile.
"Is that a gift for me?" Kaelen asked curiously, her aristocratic greed momentarily overriding her disdain.
"Yes, it is. Just for you."
"Thank you," she said, smiling happily and walking up to Chase. "I see you know your place."
Opening the box, Chase took out a beautiful black choker with intricate gold engraving on it—a beautiful masterpiece of magical art.
Before Kaelen knew what happened, Chase grabbed her right horn and lifted her slightly off the ground, causing a yelp of surprise, before smoothly placing the choker on her neck.
"You don't want to be touched by a human? That's fine," Chase said, his smile cold and dominant. "As an aristocrat, then you don't have to. You're now a pet."
"What is this?! Get it off me, you—you!" Kaelen screamed, clawing at the choker, but it would not budge. The gold engravings pulsed with a contained energy that defied her strength.
"Chase, what's that?" Rixsa asked, pointing to the choker on Kaelen's neck.
"It's a suppressor," Chase explained, maintaining his grip on the still-struggling Kaelen. "It's used to make transferring Essence between an owner and their unruly pet much simpler and cleaner. It allows me to passively feed her Essence without any direct contact. Consider it the necessary service staff uniform, Kaelen."
Chase released her, and Kaelen dropped to the floor, her aristocratic fury turning into impotent terror as she realized the true, binding nature of the collar. Her status in the apartment had just been permanently demoted.