Page 38 of By Rude Strength

Cass squeaked and all the bubbles in the air popped. “Oh! That, that is literally, heh, my job. Uh.” He stirred even harder, his tail twitching wildly as he added in the cocoa powder to make a chocolatey goop. “I, I would do anything for the people I’m called on to help.”

“Oh yeah?” LA smirked. “Even… snuggling them?”

“What? No. Yes.” Cass stared helplessly. “I have no idea how to answer that.”

LA chuckled. “It’s all right. Is it time to stir that crap in the other crap yet?”

“Yes. That. We should be doing that.” Cass cleared his throat, raising his bowl of goop over the one LA was supposed to be mixing. “Ready?”

“Yup. Go ahead.” LA waited for Cass to pour so he could start stirring. “So, you got a girlfriend waiting for you back in monster land? Maybe a boyfriend?”

Cass squeaked again and spilled some of the chocolatey goop on the counter.

“You all right?” LA tried not to grin, but it was really cute to see Cass so flustered.

“Hmm? Oh yes! Just fine!” Cass quickly grabbed some paper towels to clean up the mess. “You, you just keep stirring.”

“I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable. I was just curious.”

“Oh, well, it’s okay!” Cass grinned. “You, uh, I was, hmm. I was surprised. That’s all.”

“Why?”

“No one’s ever asked me before.” Cass lumbered over to the trash can. “But uh, no, I don’t have anyone waiting for me. If that’s, uh, what you were asking.”

“No?”

“No.” Cass fidgeted and his wings flapped. “I’m, uh, open to any sort of partner, gender doesn’t really matter to me, but other imps, well… Let’s just say I’m not their cup of tea.”

LA frowned. “What does that mean?”

“Do you remember how I told you there were all sorts of imps out there who help mortals?” Cass sighed as he came back over. “Imps of virtue? Well, the truth is that most of them stopped wanting to help a long time ago.”

“Why?”

“Humans aren’t… easy to help.” Cass smiled sadly. “They’re often stubborn, resistant to change, and aren’t willing to accept advice. Many of my kind gave up. And by many, I mean most. And most, well, is all.”

LA frowned. “What about you?”

“I’m the last one,” Cass replied with a little shrug.

“The last?”

“Yes. You wanted to know why you’d never heard of us before. It’s because I’m the last one. Well, the last one still working anyway! There’s still plenty of other imps in my world! But everyone else severed their connections to the items that call us here, shut down all their portals, and uh… Yeah.” He fidgeted with the edge of the counter. “Even though it makes everyone else look at me like I am a joke, I… Well, it didn’t feel right to stop helping.”

LA had never seen Cass look so down, and it was a frighteningly stark contrast to his otherwise disgustingly bubbly personality. It was as if all the light had simply melted right out of him, and LA wasn’t sure what to do.

“Uh, are you okay?” he asked hesitantly.

“Me? Oh yes. Fine. Right as the rain!” Cass forced a smile.

“Uh-huh. You know, you’re not a great liar either.”

Cass turned his nose up and flapped his wings. “I do not know what you mean.”

“Well.” LA set down the bowl and spoon. “I’m glad you didn’t give up.”

“Really?”