“Oh? Where do you think you’re running off to?”

Maya watched the minuscule, half-inch man run across her bedroom floor. “You really think you’ll make it far? That’s adorable!”

Her approach was slow and quiet to those of her size, her bare feet barely making a sound as they walked across the soft carpet. For her fleeing victim, however, the situation was far more terrifying. He continuously tripped over the carpet, its threads constantly wrapping around his bandage-like skin. His size made any ground he made seem an illusion when compared to a single step of his captor. A simple stomp from her was enough to send a minor shock wave through the floor, furthering the fleeing betas faulty steps.

“You know you can’t run forever~” Maya teased, playfully sticking out her tongue. “You recall what happened last time you tried right?”

The beta remembered well his last escape attempt. He was caught almost immediately when he thought his captors' attention was elsewhere. But Maya always knew where he was, as though it were some sick sixth sense of hers. His punishment was being used as Mayas' treat, the blue-haired psychopath sucking on him as though he were a piece of candy for near a full day.

“As though you’d let me forget!” Six shouted, his pace picking up as he continued to run. All his efforts earned him was a chuckle from far above. Looking upwards he saw the sole of Maya's left foot crash down on top of him, the soft flesh conforming around his ‘flesh’ as his captor gently twisted the extremity.

“See?” Maya giggled softly. “Didn’t make it far at all. Couldn’t even get past the door this time.”

The half-inch man had forgotten the number of times he’s tried to escape Maya's clutches over the past three years. Ever since the day she found him again he’s tried to find some means towards freedom. He’s hidden underneath her dresser, underneath her bed. Hidden among the dishes of her kitchen or even among her laundry. yet nothing, no matter how carefully thought out, seemed to work. Maya was smart. Much smarter than him. Six knew that long before she found him at such a pitiable size. During that time he’s lost any use for his real name, only ever being referred to as a number by his captor.

The pressure increased as Maya shifted more of her weight onto the foot that pinned Six.

“Have we learned our lesson again?” Maya asked, balancing herself as she shifted to standing upon only a single leg. “Or am I going to have to do something you’ll regret?”

At first, nothing. It always began with nothing. Six was weighing his options. Both him and Maya knew that no matter how hard she tried Six wouldn’t suffer any fatal injury. Sure he’d be sore beyond belief, but aside from that, he’d be as healthy as ever. That didn’t cause Six to take every single risk he could. Maya couldn’t kill him sure, but she could still put him through hell in the simplest of ways.

With one swift motion, Maya jumped ever so slightly into the air, shifting her left foot for her right as Six was forced to bear the full weight of Maya's body coming down on top of him.

“Well, Six? Are you done acting up? Our did you actually want that lesson?” Maya flexed her blue-painted toes to further emphasize her point.

A few taps from underneath the appendage and Maya knew she had won. Again. Lifting her foot from the floor the faded blue-haired woman was in no way surprised to find her little boy toy glued onto her sole, the force of her descent forcing him to become plastered onto it.

“Oh, that is just precious!” Maya fawned as she tore Six from her foot as though he were nothing more than a sticker. His diminutive stature forced Maya to adopt extreme care when handling her Six, despite his durability. At first, there were...issues. She misjudged her own strength many times, putting Six through a world of hurt as a result. Through trial and error though she’s become quite the expert at handling betas as small as him.

Lifting Six to eye view the minuscule man was given a rather generous view of Maya's clothing and ‘assets’. She certainly liked the colors black and blue, judging by her darkened short shorts and crop top pairing with her faded blue hair. Even her nails were painted to match the blue of her eyes and hair. Six has seen this a hundred times though, his own pink eyes falling onto the same pair of breasts they always did when held from such a height. They were rather hard to miss given Mayas' attire.

Six wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of teasing him, however, quickly covering his eyes to shield himself from the rather wonderful view.

“That isn’t fair!” Maya laughed as she shook the half-inch man between her fingers. “You know I can’t take your hands away. You’re too small for that!”

Maya brought the hand that held Six closer to her chest, the sudden movement cluing the beta in on what his captor had planned. “Or did you wanna have a nice feel around instead of just looking?” Maya dangled the half-inch man over her breasts, the valley of flesh bellow practically inviting anyone in that position. If Six hadn’t known how...active Maya could be when we one as small as him was there he may have taken that offer. But since it was her he was given little in the way of options.

Removing his hand from his Eyes Six was given a view that had likely been the last for many others. Maya, upon seeing her little toy remove his hands, was admittedly a little disappointed. She had hoped that, for once, he’d take her up on that offer at least once. “Oh...you actually didn’t want to. That’s... fine...i suppose.” Maya perked up her breasts with her free arm, giving Six as much of a show as she could. Though she was still disappointed in her little toys lacking a desire for adventure she was at the very least pleased to see his eyes gravitate back towards her chest. Before she knew it Maya was blushing at the thought of someone so small ogling her.

“You’re so lucky I enjoy the feeling of you watching me. I like it almost as much as when you touch me...”

They were fairly average for someone of Maya's height. At five foot nine, they seemed no different than any other woman. Yet to Six, they seemed fit to hold their own gravitational pull.

Perhaps he was exaggerating in that belief, but can anyone really blame him. When one is so small all of the rules change.

Six went to cover his eyes once more but was stopped by a threat from Maya, who seemed that despite her earlier disappointment was greatly enjoying the show she was giving her captive ‘audience’.

“Don’t even think about it.” Maya stated, her breathing pace increasing as the blush upon her cheeks grew a deeper shade of red. “Don’t...even try it. You do and I’m sticking you in my sports bra while I workout again.”

A very real threat only made clearer when Six recalled the times she’s actually done that. And Maya was no simple yoga practitioner either. She was dreadfully skilled at it. So much so in fact that on multiple occasions it felt as though Six would drown from the obscene amounts of sweat despite lacking the ability to do so.

Reluctantly, he pulled his hand away, much to Maya's delight.

Her thoughts were filled with all the things she’s done to her little toy. She wanted, more than anything at that moment, to jump up on her bed with Six in hand and just play with him. Guide his diminutive form throughout her body. Suffocate him underneath her massive frame. Place him upon her tongue and suck him dry.

Maya wanted to feel her little Six's hands crawl upon her body. She wanted to drench him as he crawled within her. So badly did she want him to crawl within her all so she could tighten her snatch around him, grinding him up before allowing him to squirm back up.

But such desires she’d have to repress. Turning on heel Maya placed Six atop her dresser, the beta clearly seeing her still filled with longing and lust. She was holding herself back. More than she normally would. And that terrified him, as he knew what it would ultimately lead to.

“Wait...not again...” Six found his balance weak as Maya opened the drawers, selecting from a range of clothes she wished to choose for her...monthly rounds.

“Maya wait. Let’s about this please!” the half-inch beta pleaded, failing to get his captors' attention as she choose for herself a white button-up and black pants. Barely giving him a glance Maya moved to the drawer beneath the first, opening it to reveal a range of gloves and masks. No one can say she wasn’t organized.

“MAYA!”

Finally, her attention was caught, but not in the manner Six was hoping for.

“Yes yes, I heard you the first time” she admitted. “It’s amazing how someone so small can be so loud. But you’re so cute that I just can’t help but watch you get mad. Ah! I love it!”

Maya returned to her search, picking a pink mask that she showcased to Six. “Think this is good? Not too bright?” she asked holding the mask over her mouth.

Of course, that was far from his concerns, looking at the mask in bewilderment despite the majority of his face being covered by bandages. “You can't be serious, right?”

“Yeah...I don’t like it too” Maya replied, looking at the mask with a semblance of disappointment. “But that’s what I get for mixing my reds and whites...” ultimately she settled for a black mask embroiled with the image of a cat. “Oh, this is cute! I bet you can guess who made this for me~.”

“You know that’s not what I meant” Six insisted. When Maya didn’t respond again he screamed louder, hoping to at least stall her long enough that she’d forget her plans altogether.

“Of course I knew that” Maya confessed, having already chosen a pair of black gloves to match the rest of her attire. “And of course, YOU know that no matter what you say it won’t change what’s going to happen.”

Six was stammering his words, trying to at least convince Maya against going about something so...gruesome. “But do you have to do it every month?” he questioned. “Can’t you just...skip it?”

“Never ask a woman to skip her once a month Six” Maya chuckled. “They’ll just look at you like you’re an idiot.”

“Actually...” Maya pondered on a sudden thought. “Do beta women even go through that? You know? Their once a mo-”

“THAT’S NOT WHAT I MEANT!” Six shouted, once again only causing Maya to chuckle softly.

“And again, I already knew that” Maya reaffirmed, having wanted to anger her little boy toy once more. “Good god Six. You’re way too easy to rile up. It’s adorable really.”

Maya placed her arms upon the top of the drawer, blocking any possible escape root six may have had.

“L-look M-Maya” Six stuttered, practically choking on his own words. “Do me this one favor. Forget about this month's hunt’ alright? You do that and….and...you can do whatever you want with me. You can...eat me! And...anything else?”

Six was quickly losing his train of thought the longer he tried to find a way for Maya to forget what may as well have been a way of life for her. For the past three years, she’s done this. For thirty-six months, without fail, she’s done this. And each time Six was helpless to stop her.

“You’re so cute when you beg~” Maya confessed, a blush visible even with the mask in place. “you really should do it more...makes me wanna eat you up...”

Six took several fearful steps backward before remembering he was effectively trapped.

“You’re forgetting something REALLY important here Six...” Maya began as she rose over her little captive, her blue eyes shining thanks to the shadow she cast over him. “I can already do anything I want to you. The only reason I don’t is that I like you juuuuust enough to hold myself back.”

“Buuuuut there’s a caaaatch~” she sang. “I get a lot of pent-up feelings Six. So much in fact that even if you allow it, you won’t be able to satisfy me. It's gotten so bad that even she know's I need this.”

Maya saw that she had wounded her Six’s pride, a pang of guilt being felt in her gut. “I…that may have been pushing it too far...” she acknowledged. “But...look Six. I already do a lot for you. It’s because of you that I only do this once every month and not every other week.”

This was true. When he was first caught Mayas normal activities became less and less frequent. She was more than content on simply toying with him. But there came times when, much to her own dismay, even Six wasn’t enough to hold back her sinful cravings.

She needed to be let loose. She needed to find ways in which she could enjoy herself completely.

“Don’t be jealous.” Maya cooed as she stroked Six’s back with a gloved finger. “You’ll always be my favorite little Beta. My first one and only. But there are just some things I’m unwilling to get rid of. You understand that...right?”

When she got no answer Maya's petting quickly turned torturous as she slowly pinched the betas head in between her thumb and index finger.

“Right?” she asked again, this time more sternly.

It was a fool's attempt to break free from the hold Maya held upon him. Six’s arms automatically tried to free his head free of the crushing pressure. A vain attempt as he knew he’d never, not in a hundred years, be able to compete with the massive woman's strength.

“R-right!” Six shouted to ensure he was heard. “I understand Maya! Crystal clear!”

Pleased with the betas words Maya released his head, allowing the minuscule man to fall to his knees. Though he hated his condition Six couldn’t deny that it came with its perks. Were it anyone else in that position they’d be dead before even answering the question.

“I’m glad that you do...” Maya said. Still, she couldn’t escape the small feeling of guilt from before. She enjoyed wounding him physically, sometimes even settling for embarrassing him. But to see his pride actually wounded. She didn’t enjoy that as much.

“Look...I’m sorry you don’t agree with how I entertain myself” Maya admitted, taking great care to notice any changes in Six’s behavior. “I’m willing to...do your favor if you’re willing to deal with some changes to it...”

Maya's sudden change of heart was enough to lift Six’s spirits, his head slowly rising to meet her eyes. She was looking away from him, as though she were ashamed. One hand covered her masked mouth whereas the other nervously twirled the edges of her blue hair.

“So you’re willing?” immediately Six’s spirits were lifted, his entire being hoping Maya would for once show mercy.

“I am” Maya confirmed. She brought herself down to face level with the beta, his whole frame being hardly tall enough to reach her lips. “So Six~. Alpha or beta?”

Confusion quickly replaced his uplifted spirits. “What?”

“Alpha, or beta?” Maya asked again. “I’ll pick out someone from one of the two. Only one.”

Just like that, any hope Six had was dashed. Soundly crushed by Maya's words.

“No...no wait. You said you were willing” the Beta reminded.

“Yeah.” Maya clarified as she stood to her full height once more. “And I am. More than willing to compromise. I mean... fuck Six, I’m giving you the option of picking!”

“Of who gets to die!” the minuscule man retorted. “How the hell do you think I can do that!? Picking some random person to die. Someone who probably doesn’t even deserve it!”

“That doesn’t matter” Maya stated simply. “All that matters is that you have to choose. Otherwise, I might just go back on my word.”

Maya leaned forward, casting Six in her shadow once more. “I love you, little guy. I really do. But don’t think for a moment that I'd ever give this up. Really, that's just mean. I’m being very generous Six. So just fucking pick one.”

The Betas thoughts were a whirlwind of emotion, only now Maya was steeling herself to hold an uncaring visage. She’d hold up with her threat for as long as she can, hoping that her little lover caves before she does.

Six’s thoughts feel onto the possible bloodbath that could come from either option. “You want me to pick between-”

“A big, strong alpha like me” Maya interrupted. “Or a beta almost as small as you. I'll even throw a bone a say you can pick a regular human too. Someone who hasn't become a Beta yet and isn't quite an Alpha.”

Six didn’t know Maya was trying to hold out from caving. He was one of the few who could make her do so. She’s managed to outlast him every single time but it was getting harder. He certainly didn’t make it easy.

Luckily for her, she wouldn’t have to hold out forever.

“A Beta” Six finally said. “They...we're...smaller. Easier to hide when you’re done with them.”

“Or bring home.” Maya added with a grin. She exhaled a breath she’d been holding as she waited for Six’s response, relieved that he gave in before she did.

As for the tiny man, he fell silent. He hated this, being forced to give in to Maya's demands. He felt like a coward. A scared, insect that sent others unknowingly to their death.

“Don’t look so glum.” Maya insisted as she pet her little lover's head. “You made a very big choice for someone so small. Oh, I'm so proud of you~.” She retracted her finger when he instinctively pulled back in fear. Though she got what she wanted it came at the price of belittling her Six further.

“Fuck...” for a brief moment Maya was willing to give in despite the decision being made. She knew she shattered Six’s spirits today. Same as every other day they went through this. She hated that this was becoming a regular occurrence with each passing month.

Unfortunately, she couldn’t help herself.

“Look. I won’t bring you with me this time” A rare instance where Maya would give him some peace. Most every other time she’s brought Six along with her, hidden away on some part of her body as she went about hunting down random passerby's.

He hardly looked up at her even after being told this development, responding with a simple “Mhm...”

He just didn’t care at this point.

Maya knew the only way to break him out of his stupor at this exact moment was by denying herself her cravings. That was unfortunately just something she wasn’t willing to do.

“Just...stay put until I get back.” Maya said as she made her way for the door of her bedroom, not even taking into account that without her Six had no method of safe travel. She just needed to leave as quickly as possible before she surrendered.

Even after she had left Six did not move from his spot unaware, or uncaring, of Mayas' departure.

He just sat there, hating himself and his own helplessness.

Though she knew she was supposed to be searching for possible prey Maya simply could not focus. The conversation prior had left her deep in thought as she strolled through the city streets of Los Demonios.

Some metropolis on the west coast of America it’s known for its rather crass nickname as the City of Devils. Fitting for one such as Maya. Of all the devils allowed to walk free in this den of sin, she was perhaps one of the worst of them. Though she was born elsewhere, in some small no-name town, she’s since been forced to migrate to this cesspool when circumstances forced her hand.

That was about three years ago when she had found her beloved Six. Of course, she knew that wasn’t his real name, but both hadn’t used it in so long that it seemed pointless to even remember. But she did. She remembered every detail of her beloved Six. From the year he was born to his former favorite food that he ate she knew everything about him. Even his future goals, which she learned when the two once dated during their college years.

To be twenty-seven, left upon the drawer top of one who nearly killed you. That was certainly not the future he wanted for himself.

Unfortunately, it was the future he was stuck with, and Maya had to remind him of that constantly. He was a beta. A ‘victim’ of an epidemic that swept across the world three years back. On December 25th, 2021 it came to every man, woman, and child's attention just how severe the crisis was. Over the course of a few months millions, if not more, shrunk to various sizes. Some only found themselves a few inches or feet shorter. Others dwindled down to little more than a few inches tall. All were branded Beta. Humans who have diminished and were considered ‘lesser’. They all mostly possessed the same characteristics. White hair, pink or red eyes, and pale skin with stitch-like markings around their body.

Of course, none were certain how the whole epidemic began, none save for Maya, Six, and a few select others. Those who remained of a regular height without ever needing to fear shrinking were branded alphas. Those immune to the whole shrinking epidemic as a whole. Of course, there were still regular people around. Those who had yet to shrink but weren't entirely immune to it. They were getting smaller in numbers though, with each passing year.

Because that was the plan. The plan of the one who orchestrated the very crisis that shook the world. Josephine Minerva. Martyr of the new world and producer of the cure that would return those shrunken to their regular sizes, but only for a short while. It was to ensure only the wealthiest could afford this temporary cure. Maya had put a stop to that, all in search of her little lover. She killed Saint Minerva, putting an end to her dreams. But not for good intentions. Maya was more than eager to live in such a world, but rather than one where only the wealthiest could prosper she ensured that anyone and everyone were capable of becoming a beta.

And for those long three years, with her beloved Six by her side, it was the most fun she’s had in her own twenty-seven years of life. But recently things have grown...complicated between the two.

While it was true that her Six had always voiced against her profession of murder it was only recently that he’s begun to...give up.

Any fight he had early on was dwindling each time he lost one of their arguments.

While Maya still loved him true it was becoming more difficult for her to accept his views.

“Please Six...” Maya pleaded, resting her head upon her hands as she came to a stop. “Please don’t make me break you...don’t make me do that.”

It was well into midnight, hours after she left her home. And still, she hadn’t found herself a victim. How can it be hard to find a small beta? They were everywhere these days. Unfortunately, her mind was preoccupied with her own worries, not focusing on finding any suitable targets. It wasn’t until Maya noticed the brightly lit neon sign of a rather run-down building that she thought to take her search elsewhere.

The sign was of a coiled snake, rising to reach the words, “Rising Python? Is that a joke or something?”

Not really knowing where else to go Maya made the decision of entering the building, quickly finding its rather simple appearance outside to be nothing more than a disguise.

The interior was lucrative, with velvet furniture and neon lights overhead. There were men and women, barely dressed and dancing for the entertainment of others. Some guided others to a back room, where Maya knew they were taking part in more intimate activities.

“A strip club?” Maya muttered, barely aware that one of said establishments staff, a barely dressed woman, was approaching her. It wasn’t until said staff touched her shoulder that Maya turned to face them, grabbing their wrist in the process.

“Ma’am? I’m sorry but...are you lost?” the woman asked, her red eyes keeping close watch of the masked woman’s grip. Though they tried to seem calm they couldn’t help but push aside strands of their white hair away from their eyes. A beta, and apparently one of many.

“I...no” Maya answered, releasing the woman's wrist. “I’m just surprised. Didn’t know there was a club here. Is this place new?”

The Betas expression quickly softened; the potential of having a new client at this establishment was too good to pass up. “Yes, we are in fact. The Rising Python, excuse the name, only opened up last week.”

“Did you now?” Maya mused, her eyes examining the area around her. This member of staff wasn’t the only one of average height. In fact, many of the dancers shared many of the same characteristics held by their kind. Too big for Mayas' goal. She needed someone smaller.

“I see you’re interested!” the woman exclaimed happily. “Luckily we here at the Rising Python are always happy to welcome new patrons.”

“Not quite...” Maya mused, her interest became apparent. “I noticed there’s a certain variety of ‘people’ here. But what I haven’t seen is anyone smaller.”

Immediately the woman's expression of joy turned sour. “Oh, so you’re one of those individuals huh?” she remarked, her voice filled with venom. “That would certainly explain the mask. You know you people give Betas such a bad streak.”

Maya quickly understood where this woman was coming from, removing her mask to show that things weren’t as it seems.

“Calm down” Maya asked, holding her mask in between her fingers. “I’m not one of those Beta haters. I don’t think they’re contagious.” A simple superstition that got many an innocent citizen stepped on. 

“Then why the mask?” the woman asked, her hands on her hips as she didn’t believe Mayas' words.

“It’s...precautionary.” Maya assured. “A friend and I got into an argument recently. We live relatively close by so I didn’t want to run the risk of seeing them...”

An obvious lie. Of course, the friend in question was her Six, who was no doubt still stuck atop the drawer. But it was enough to calm the upset worker, much to Mayas delight.

“So she’s gullible?” she thought. “Good...”

“Well...if that’s all then I’m glad you aren’t one of those haters.” the woman said, now at ease. “So many on these streets that I just assumed you were. That was crass of me. I’m sorry. I hope my outburst doesn’t dissuade you from becoming a patron.”

“Not in the slightest” Maya claimed. “In fact, I’m more than willing. That is if you have someone...”

“Smaller?” the woman said with a chuckle. “Normally we don’t, but one of our own missed their monthly cure so he’s rather small at the moment. Luckily for you, he decided to show up for work for the week. Apparently some people like the small ones.”

“I can imagine...” Maya said with a grin. Deep down she was holding herself back from jumping at this easy opportunity. It would be so simple, finding this beta and snuffing him out. But Maya needed to be careful. A new establishment and a betas death would find her out quicker than she liked. Too risky.

“If I can have myself a session with him then I’d be more than glad to join” Maya explained. Of course, there was hesitation from the larger worker.

“He’s kind of busy at the moment” she revealed. “Though if you’re willing you can wait for him. After paying of course.”

No obstacle for Maya, as she was in no mood to return home anytime soon. Six can manage by himself for a while longer, seemingly needing some alone time.

“That’s fine by me.” Maya nodded. When she was presented with the proper paperwork to have herself become a patron rather than a simple visitor of the establishment she signed using not her own name but one she had forged herself a few months back.

“Dahlia Kraus?” The woman questioned. “You’re German?”

Rather than answer straightforwardly Maya replied in a tone more befitting her guise. “Nur einer väterlicherseits. Only on my fathers' side.”

The woman was more than surprised. She was impressed. Even more so when she saw how much Maya was willing to pay forward to the Rising Python, poor name and all.

“Ma’am that’s...a lot of zeroes” the woman chuckled nervously, unsure of what she was even supposed to do in such a situation.

“I have ways of affording certain luxuries.” Maya claimed. “I hope that it'll be enough to speed up my wait time.

The woman was silent, thinking over what she should do before deciding it best to ask the man who was the cause of the discussion.

Not even five minutes did Maya have to wait before the woman came back with a small, bald man in the palm of her hand.

Six inches, well built, and relatively young. “Not bad at all” Maya thought, her eyes immediately falling to the smaller beta.

“So you’re the lucky woman who’s got my interest?” the man said with far more bravado than his small stature should allow. “I’ll warn you though, I may be small but I’ve got plenty of bite.”

Maya leaned in over the man, grinning the whole while, baring her teeth towards the man. “So do I...”

Ten minutes later Maya found herself comfortably seated within a room befitting the price she paid. Completely red from the floor to the wall to the seat she found herself in. in the very center of the room was a table where dancers no doubt entertained important guests in private.

A curious choice in design.

Below her, the man went to work. He was pinned underneath Mayas' right foot, the blue-haired woman removing her size ten loafer per his request.

“So he’s into that?” Maya thought as she forced herself to relax. “Well, I suppose he can have some sort of enjoyment. Not like he’ll be able to after tonight.”

Soon enough Maya found herself squirming in her seat, trying to keep in place as the man, despite his size, removed her sock and proceeded to pleasure himself upon her sole. The whole situation was...different for Maya. For the whole time she’s had Six he’s never done anything quite like this. His size and condition are one major factor.

To feel such acts take place upon her foot now, to feel someone so beneath her grind himself against the arch. It was different, compared to what she normally did.

And by no means was it unwelcome.

“People are into this?” Maya asked, forcing the six-inch beta to tear away from his job and face her.

“Not into it?” He wondered.

In response, Maya pushed her foot against the beta, the soft skin forcing him against the stand that held the room's table up.

“Not entirely...” Maya admitted, squeezing the man's head briefly with her toes. “So why don’t you convince me?” she squeezed his head tighter, only releasing when it seemed he required air.

The man looked up towards Maya with wonder. She really did have bite, and he wondered if she had more than him.

The beta doubled his efforts, humping Maya's heel when she allowed, licking her toes at her demand, biting them when she chose to play rough. She was dominating every part of his being, yet her mind replaced his image with that of another.

She couldn’t help but wonder, how would it feel if Six were such height, helping himself to such a small part of her body.

He certainly couldn’t relieve his pleasure against her skin, much like the man she toyed with could. He couldn’t lick her toes or bite at her too. But there was something the beta here was missing that Six possessed.

Without warning Maya gripped the man's arm in between her toes, not letting go. The beta believed this little more than Maya toying with him, again continuing his efforts to please her. It wasn’t until the pressure began to increase upon his arm did he start to suspect something was wrong.

“Lady? Your kind of squeezing a bit too hard there...” the beta tried to free his arm from Mayas' right foot, finding his efforts completely useless when she sandwiched him with the left, removing her shoe and sock for his sake.

“What’s the matter little guy~” Maya teased, her cheeks turning rosy and her eyes glazing over. “I thought you liked feet?”

Maya chuckled as the man frantically tried to free himself from his surprisingly soft prison. She wondered just how Six would struggle in such a position, his much smaller body fitting quite nicely with the surrounding flesh.

The man felt his body nearing its limits, as though at any moment he would explode. Yet just when he thought it’d be too much, Maya released him. She looked down upon the shivering man, the incident having clearly terrified him. None of his other patrons were like this. The women he normally pleased were mostly gentle, always on cloud nine thanks to his physique. Yet this woman didn’t care for such things. She was holding herself back, but only just barely.

“Dahlia, was it?” the man stammered, slowly backing away from the blue-haired woman. “We here at the Rising Python, while appreciative of your contribution, have some rules that need to be upheld.”

Maya watched the beta continue to back away, amused that he thought he could even think of leaving. She indulged him, allowing him to near the red curtain that separated the room from the rest of the building.

“Patrons are free to handle betas so long as they take care in handling” the beta continued, uneasy over Maya's growing smile. ‘If you continue to act like this then I’ll have to ask you to leave the pre-”

Before he could finish Maya shot forward from her seat, gripping the man's upper half tightly in her fist.

Her chuckling continued, stifled to keep from turning into full-blown laughter. The beta in her grasp squirmed to break free, unsure as to why Maya had turned so violent. Though, to be entirely honest, he didn’t care to find out the reason, only wishing to escape with his life.

“Did you know...the normal human body can withstand up to four hundred pounds of pressure before giving in?” Maya asked her voice riddled with giggles that fragmented her sentence. “But...you’re not exactly normal...are you?” Maya squeezed the man in her hand, only ceasing when she felt his shoulder dislocate. Before he could scream she placed a finger upon his mouth. “Even think of yelling and we’ll both find out what happens to your wittle body when I squeeze too hard~.”

The beta forced himself quiet, instead being reduced to whimpers that still seemed to aggravate the blue-haired giant.

“W-why?” he asked. “What did I ever do to you?”

Maya continued smiling, her voice coming out as soothing and as quiet as she could manage in her current mental state. “Honestly? Not a thing.” She answered truthfully. “You’re just really unlucky. And I’m in a pretty bad mood. But you wanna know what can help us both?”

The man didn’t reply, only looking up into Maya's manic eyes as she answered her own question.

“I want you to come home with me...” she revealed, much to the betas surprise.

He was ready to voice his protest until Maya placed her thumbnail at the man's throat.

“I wasn’t giving you an option” she told him. “And really, you won’t get the chance to leave once we’re there...”

The man was panicking now, his voice only silenced by Mayas' threatening nail. “But I will admit, you’ve given me some wonderful ideas. Some of which I’d love to try out on someone dear to me. So, for that, you deserve a little reward~.”

She lowered the beta into her loafer, uncaring over his protesting and whimpering. She wasn't sure if he’d survive this. Maya had done this before in the past, and almost half the time the result was...messy. But she was insistent on bringing this one home in one piece.

Once the man was dropped within the shoe he had no time to attempt at an escape as Mayas' foot came down upon him, with no sock to comfort the collision as the blue-haired giant decided against it.

His nose broke immediately, as did several bones once Maya applied too much pressure.

“Shit. Hold up” Maya asked, knowing well enough that the man had no say in the matter. She hoped upon her left foot, ensuring the man was in a more comfortable, less life-threatening, spot within her shoe. “Under my arch should be fine I guess. Just need to make sure I don’t crush half your body...”

Carefully sitting back within her seat Maya put her left loafer back on before leaving the private room and speaking with the beta woman once more.

“So...did you enjoy your first time?” the woman asked with a smile.

“It was fantastic.” Maya assured with a smile of her own. “I’m so glad I decided to stop by tonight! I feel so much better!”

“I’m pleased to hear that ma’am” the hostess said. It wasn’t until she failed to see her fellow employee that she grew suspicious. “But..where is...”

Maya was quick to respond, slowly raising her right leg with a blush. “Well...we had such a good time together that he offered to come home with me. I hope that isn’t too much trouble.”

The woman was more annoyed than surprised. “Of course, he would offer that. The little dude likes his feet. But, just between you and me...” the woman leaned in closely, so as no one but her and Maya would hear. “I think that little pleasure of his is gonna get him hurt.”

Maya didn’t answer, instead chuckling along with the woman when the two realized it was nothing more than a joke.

“But honestly, please be careful with him” the woman asked after composing herself. “There’s plenty of beta haters in Los Demonios. Hate for the two of you to get hurt because of them.”

“Of course!” Maya feigned agreement. “So many sick people in this city, it’s amazing he’s managed this long, and in this profession no less! Rest assured, no one will take him so long as I can help it.”

The woman was pleased with Maya's answer, completely unaware of the torment she was visiting upon her tiny coworker. After a few more pleasantries Maya bid herself farewell, leaving a rather generous tip for the fine establishment as thanks for her enjoyment.

She couldn’t wait to get home and continue with her and her captives little ‘session’. After all, that’s happened today she could hardly keep a smile off her face.

While she still recalled hers and Six’s argument she couldn’t bring herself to care about it now. Right now her attention was solely on the beta in her loafer and ensuring he made it back in one piece.

After that, she couldn’t make any guarantees.

The thoughts of ending it all always came to Six after Maya left for her ‘hunts’. That’s what she liked to call them anyway. He knew better than that though. She was a killer. One more dangerous than most. She had god knows how many bodies to her name, and tonight she was going to add another one to that ever-growing list.

And Six hated it. And he wanted to hate her. But so much more than that he hated himself. He hated that no matter how much he wanted to he couldn’t just end it all here and now. He could throw himself off the top of this dresser and onto the floor below. The carpet wouldn’t stop that kind of impact, especially for someone his height. At half an inch tall a five-foot dresser would be taller than most buildings.

But whereas such a fall would kill others, he’d only suffer the pain of survival. Still, the thought of actually ceasing his suffering was enough to force the small beta from his stupor. Walking towards the edge Six couldn’t help but chuckle over the fact that he was still unable to get over such heights.

“Three years and this still scares me...” he thought before stepping off the edge one leg at a time. The descent was quick. Far quicker than most would think, and before he knew it Six hit the floor with a soft thud. Pain that he was used to shot throughout his body, even as he stood up barely a moment after he fell.

He dusted himself off, his arms practically screaming for him to stop. He surveyed the room, turning his head from left to right despite the creaking within it.

“Could at least stand to decorate your room Maya” Six regarded. True Maya's room was without much in the ways of decorations, the only things of color being her dresser, bed, and desk, all sharing the same shade of red. It was as though some child had begun to color within some art book and gave up halfway.

Even with his legs shaking the beta began to walk, perhaps as a way to clear his mind. Unfortunately, he was confined to his captor's bedroom, Maya having closed the door behind her as she left.

Their conversation was still playing out in Sixs' mind. He wondered why he even bothered trying to get her to change. Why on earth would she give up the one thing she loves almost as much as him.

Murder and mayhem. Torture, both physical and psychological. Did she enjoy watching him beg, and squirm, and plead? Probably. Though she’s been lax towards Six as of a late, though he hardly cared for the reason behind it. She knew he hated her killing. And that was cause enough for him not to care, especially when she refused to listen to him.

By now Six had walked from one end of the room to its center, stopping just at the foot of the bed. He contemplated using the sheets to climb up but decided against it. By the time he reached the top Maya would likely already be home, perhaps with a new toy for the night.

That thought alone caused him to shake, guilt quickly overshadowing any pain he still felt.

It would be a beta, her next victim. Because that was the choice he made.

Someone like him, but not entirely. He need only look at his bandaged limbs to remember that.

“I wonder if hell is better than this?” Six wondered before the sound of Maya's front door caught his attention. Being so small he was bound to hear many things others wouldn’t. Even more likely to do so when Maya's home was little more than a luxurious apartment.

“She’s back already?” Six thought, the unlikely hood that the serial killer was back so soon surprising him. True, betas outnumbered normal humans and alphas, but to find one so quickly? That’d be a record even for her. It wasn’t until a voice rang out that he realized it wasn’t her, though his heart sank all the same.

“Maya?” the voice called out, the sound of a locking door following soon after. “It’s just me. If you have a knife put it down okay?”

Six felt his chest tighten as he heard footsteps look throughout the apartment. “No no no...” he panicked, looking from one side of the bedroom to the next-hoping for some means of hiding. When none presented itself to him returned to face the bed once more, realizing that climbing may be his only means of getting through this.

Wasting no time he clung to a hanging blanket sheet, silently thanking the fact that Maya rarely made her bed.

“You’ve got to be kidding me!” Six huffed as he began his arms, now cursing the fact that he didn’t rest when he should have. “Why is she here!? She should be working on...whatever it is she does.”

“Maya?” the voice grew louder, as did the accompanying footsteps. “You can’t still be asleep, right? Not today anyway.”

Six’s progress was horrendous, the small beta barely able to make it a few inches before exhaustion settled in. He cursed his diminutive stature, just as he always did when he lacked physical strength. His cursing came to an end once the door to the bedroom slowly opened.

“You seriously can’t be in bed can you?” the voice asked, sounding more annoyed than anything. Not long after its source stepped into the room, a woman seemingly in her early thirties. They were considerably taller than Maya. Six foot two perhaps. 

They wore a red turtle neck which contrasted quite well with their black pants. Their black hair was cut short, yet was still long enough to be tied back into a rather messy ponytail. Their skin seemed cold to the touch, as white as death. A mirror to their dead-looking yellow eyes.

The woman immediately noticed Mayas' bed and the state it was in. Though they now knew the apartment's owner was nowhere to be seen they still groaned in annoyance over the fact that they couldn’t do something as simple as making the bed.

“I gave you an apartment Maya” the woman sighed as she practically stomped towards the bed. “The least you can do is make sure it’s clean.”

The woman tore off the sheets, unaware that she was taking a still clinging Six with them.

“I design clothes dammit. I don’t do laundry” she complained

Six was forced to decide between falling to the carpet or being placed within a washer along with the rest of the sheets. It didn’t take long for him to choose as he released his grip and fell to the floor. A much shorter fall than before but one that still hurt all the same.

Sitting up on the carpet he watched as the titanic woman made her way out of the room and towards the laundry, cussing all the way.

“This isn’t good...” Six thought as he made a run for the door. With it open now he hoped he’d be able to find a way of hiding before being caught. “She’s not supposed to be here!”

Unfortunately, the moment he stepped out of the room he was nearly stepped on by a heel far larger than it had any right to be. He was only lucky to find himself beneath its arch, saving him from an otherwise painful experience. He was used to pain, yes, but being stepped on, especially when the one stepping on you was unaware of your existence, was in a league all on its own. To make matters worse, only the bedroom had carpet, so not only was the floor beyond it hard but also cold as well.

“Screw it” the woman groaned, making her way to the living room, and by extension the couch. “Maya can take care of the rest.”

The woman practically tore off her footwear the moment she got comfortable. She massaged her feet, a look of pain clear on her face.

“Guess there’s something to be said about fashion” Six chuckled as he began a leisurely pace away from the woman. Of course, he would. What kind of maniac would think to get closer? He already knew what kind of humiliation would be in store for him should he be found.

And what better way to avoid all that than by hiding in the last place she would check of course. No better place for that than the very laundry room she stepped out of. She’d leave the task of actually cleaning said sheets to Maya.

Six was just about ready to pat himself on the back the moment he stepped through the door only to hear the woman say something he wished she didn’t.

“Though what if Maya has a bad night...” the woman wondered out loud. “It’d be bad if she found out I was here then...fuck it. The things I do for her.”

Six went from patting his back to quickly slapping his face, criticizing himself for even thinking it’d be that easy to hide.

The woman's footsteps quickly became earthquakes as between the time it took for Six to flee from the laundry room she had already stood from the couch, stretched, and was quickly making her way towards him.

Six came to an abrupt stop just as the woman's foot came down in front of him, her monolithic, red-painted toes, relative, inches from him. He’d gotten used to evading other people's feet. Always gotta look at their shadows. Unfortunately, no matter how good he got, there was always one problem he couldn’t prevent.

The sudden gust of wind threw Six forward, directly in the path of her other foot. Quickly standing to his feet he knew he wouldn’t be able to evade this one. So instead, he ran right to where her arch would drop. Minimize the damage done as much as he could.

The impact was sudden and extremely powerful. Six balled up to shrink his already small form as much as he could. The world around him quickly grew dark as he felt the skin of the woman's sole touch his back, conforming to fit around his shape. And just as quickly as it happened, her foot lifted itself off the floor. Six practically heard her sole tear away as she continued on her path, luckily without a little passenger.

It took some time for Six to regain his composure. A full thirty seconds, each a moment he didn’t want to waste. Yet the risk he took prior was enough to shake him to his core. He HATED being on the floor. That’s where things were most dangerous for him.

Finally steeling himself once more Six began a moderately paced jog towards the living room's couch. It wasn’t until he heard the washer within the laundry room turn on that he decided perhaps a full forced run was a better idea. Thankfully, through the fear of being caught in hand or underfoot, he was able to make it underneath the gigantic piece of furniture with time to spare.

“She won’t find me here...” Six tried to calm himself. Luckily for him Maya, while being one to not do her laundry, hated bugs-ironically enough. As such she always made sure to clean beneath any furniture she knew such little critters would hide. Six was moderately sure he’d be safe underneath the couch, even as the woman sat down upon it.

Her wright caused the entire structure to creak ominously, as though it would give way any second. Of course, Six knew it wouldn’t. After all the things Maya’s done on it, to so many unfortunate victims.

Yeah. He knew it would stand.

That still didn’t stop the creaking, it went so far as to annoy the woman on it. She constantly wiggled upon it, all attempts to get comfortable.

“Did this couch come with the apartment?” the woman mused, still trying to find a worthwhile position. “Maybe I can find a way to get rid of this. Shit’s uncomfortable.”

“Good luck trying to” Six remarked with a laugh. “Those stains ain’t ever coming out bitch. Believe me, Maya’s tried.”

It was only after he had made his comment did the movements finally stop, much to the betas confusion.

“Someone...said something.” the woman quickly noticed. “Someone small...Six?”

“Why is it whenever I talk some shit happens!” Six screamed before quickly punching himself in the throat. To be fair, he did feel like he deserved it.

The woman lowered herself to look beneath the couch, slowly doing so the entire time as she felt any sudden movements would cause the shrunken beta to flee. Much like how a rodent would.

And much like a rodent Six froze in fear, the slow but methodical movements of the giant woman keeping him in place as all his mind could do right now decided between fight or flight.

It wasn’t until the woman’s whole face was visible, and her piercing gaze practically bore a hole through the betas chest, did Six finally settle for the one logical answer.

Running like his life depended on it.

“So it was you!” the woman exclaimed in joy. She reached forward in an attempt to grab the beta, cursing when she failed to do so as he jumped between the gap of her fingers just as she brought her whole hand down. “Quick little fucker”

The woman quickly stood upright before practically throwing herself over the couch, landing with both feet planted on either side of Six.

“You know, I never took you for someone dumb enough to run” the woman remarked with a grin. “But I was hoping you’d prove me wrong. I love it when you little things run. Even if it's never far.”

The woman waved her fingers down like a little hello to the cornered beta. “Well go on.” she teased. “Make some little attempt at running away. Try and escape. Go on, I’ll even give you a head start.”

While every fiber of Sixs' being wanted to give in and run he knew the result would just be the same. The only thing that changed would be how he gets there.

“What’s the point Lyza?” he asked, his voice barely reaching her ears. Though she had heard him she couldn’t help but cup her hand around an ear, belittling the beta and forcing him to speak louder.

“You already caught me!” he shouted. “Let’s just get this over with! Please?”

With a shrug, the woman, now known as Lyza, couldn’t help but laugh softly at Six’s compliant nature. “Pretty obedient today.” she thought. “It’s a shame though. He's more fun when he's stubborn.”

Bending down Lyza laid her hand upon the floor, giving Six at least the courtesy of walking onto her waiting palm. It was a simple illusion towards willingness, however. Nothing was willing about what was going to happen next.

“So, how do you want to do this?” Lyza asked as she brought Six to her face. Or rather, to be more specific, her lips.

Lyza looked down on Six with lust-filled eyes, though not quite the same as he’s seen from Maya. With the blue-haired serial killer, there was some semblance of love, twisted though it may be. With Lyza though, it was different. She didn’t lust for him, no. It was something else entirely.

Power perhaps? The word felt right to Six, though it also felt as if it came too short of meeting exactly what she felt.

Whatever it may be he saw it clearly in her eyes.

“Does it matter how we do this?” Six asked, his voice trying to sound annoyed. There was, behind the farce though, that ever clear indication of fear that Lyza craved ever so much.

“Not really” she admitted, her tongue snaking out from between her lips. She was already salivating at the thought of what was to come. But she wanted to have fun first.

Sticking her tongue out she rested the pink behemoth upon her palm, almost landing the whole thing atop Six. The beta saw this coming, taking several precautionary steps backward.

He wanted to turn away from the sight. He always did. But no matter how hard he tried to move his feet let alone his head he just couldn’t turn away.

The scale of it all was too much. It was like looking into the entrance of some giant cave.

A giant, flesh-filled cave with a pink monster so large it could dominate your entire being without even trying. And to think that beast was connected to a vastly superior one.

The exhale of Lyzas breath washed over Six, threatening to throw the beta off her hand. He was covered in little droplets of her saliva, the slick liquid practically clinging to his fabricated skin. It smelled clean at least, bearing the slightest hint of mint. Six closed his eyes as he stepped forward, trying to picture something other than what was obviously in front of him. He imagined he was back at a normal height, attending his first day of college. He recalled how scared he was to start it all. He felt as though his whole life hinged on that one class, even though it was just one of several.

That’s how it was, wasn’t it? Placing all your feelings, all your effort into one thing. Devote your all to that first step forward. Why it was akin to bravery for many to take that first step.

Unfortunately, any bravery Six felt was shattered the moment he placed his foot upon Lyza's tongue. The touch of a positively drenched tongue was the first thing to break his spirit. To make matters worse, Six was small enough to feel every taste bud he stood upon. He knew Lyza was enjoying this by the way her tongue seemed to convulse in delight.

She always wondered how this would go were Six more than simply half an inch. She could certainly have more fun, of that she was certain. The downside of dealing with a beta so small was toying with them as they walked into your mouth. So simple to lose track of them. But it was because of Six that she even kept track of them, to begin with.

Without warning, Lyza lifted her tongue back into her mouth, Six along with it. It wasn’t long until the beta was forced to witness the full, all-encompassing, view of the impossible cavern that was another human being's mouth. To put into words the exact feelings one would feel when experiencing such a thing was not something easily done. Though, to best sum up Six’s experience; It was terrifying.

He was left to the darkness as Lyzas lips had closed the moment her tongue returned to where it had come from, leaving Six to an experience he couldn’t see-thus adding to his terror.

Lyza wondered how many times they’ve done this now. Six? Seven? It hardly mattered. She knew that of all of Six’s fears, this was chief among them. She toyed with the beta as best she could, pinning him to her cheek and roof, coating him in her saliva. He hardly had a taste, if any. He was much too small for that to register. Though what did register was his resistance.

Even after all this time he still fought back? Lyza couldn’t help but laugh, her mouth opening briefly as she threw her head back. The sudden light blinded him, and the sudden shifting of Lyzas head forced the beta into the air, nearly sending him to the back of her throat. Were it not for her tongue catching him then Six was certain he’d be in an all new hell. The only one he’s yet to face thus far.

Saliva was pooling well into every corner of the giant woman's mouth, Six at times sinking under the forming swamp. Had he a mouth he’d likely drown. Had he a nose they’d likely be filled with spit. All he had were his eyes and ears, both of which he shielded in an attempt to block out this entire ordeal.

Lyza expertly swallowed any excess saliva she built up, keeping Six safely out of harm's way by lifting him along with her tongue. “Come one Six” she taunted. “You’re hardly moving anymore. Don’t tell me you gave up already?”

When she got no response she faked a sad sigh. “I don’t think Maya would want a toy that doesn’t work anymore.” she explained, her voice coming out crystal clear despite having someone within it. A result of repeated, and forceful, practice.

“I mean, that is what you are right?” Lyza asked, slightly lifting her head as she did, forcing Six to grip latch on to her tongue. She giggled at the action, content that Six still had some fight in him.

“Or do you think you’re something else?” she continued, not yet finished with the panicking beta. “What else could you possibly be Six?” she feigned a gasp when a thought crossed her mind.

“Maybe you think you’re candy?” she taunted, wiggling her tongue within her mouth to loosen the clinging beta. “A special little candy for me? Is that what you are Six? Just a little treat?”

“No!” she heard him scream. He was clinging harder now. So hard in fact that she was beginning to find it rather irritating.

“Are you sure?” she pressed on. “How can I be so sure when you hardly play with me? It’d be awfully hard to not mistake you for a little sweetie, sweety. Like a tasteless skittle. Is that what you want?”

“No!” Six shouted again.

“Then are you going to play?” Lyza asked, her tone shifting from teasing to downright serious. “Or are we gonna find out what you are?”

“I’ll play!” Six shouted, fully giving in to his fears. “I’m a toy! I’m a toy dammit! Just please, stop!”

Lyza lowered her head, allowing Six some much-needed reprieve. He found himself so exhausted in fact that he didn’t even register Lyza moving to lay back on the couch.

“That’s what I like to hear...” she remarked, now unbothered by the creakiness of the couch as she found something to entertain her as she waited for Maya's return. “Now, make yourself useful and move around a bit more. Stay still too long and I might have to see just how filling you are.”

Though he was exhausted Six didn’t want to test Lyzas claim, and though he knew he held no chance of winning he pushed against the pink leviathan of a tongue as it resumed toying with him.

“Oh, and maybe when your not busy you can clean out my teeth some?” she added. “I had myself dinner on the way here. Caesar salad with anchovy-mustard vinaigrette. The works. Do me a favor and clean out what I probably missed? Thanks~.”

It was some time before she felt the beta begin his work, quickly following as instructed.

Lyza found the whole thing relaxing. She knew she could do this with any other, larger, beta she found. But with Six it felt different. It felt special. She could play rough all she wanted and not worry about his condition.

“Just where you belong Six.”

The night had gained a fairly decent chill that crept up Maya's spine all too nicely. The feeling was only intensified by the repeated movements within her shoes, the struggles of her most recent victim.

Though she enjoyed the sensation she couldn’t deny that perhaps her delight was making her own steps seem a bit odd, at least to any passersby. The streets of Los Demonios were normally empty around this time, especially within what was widely regarded as the slums. With gangs galore and many an offender allowed to walk free, it came as no surprise that any sane citizen would choose to remain indoors once the days came to an end. Though with that said, it proved the perfect spot for her hunts. The slums were home to decently sized betas, along with normal humans still unaffected by the shrinking epidemic. Whenever Maya walked through said streets during the day it was akin to shopping at the grocery, picking out the juiciest fruit.

A shame the nights had grown quiet over the past year. Her choice in entertainment had made her something of an urban legend in the city of devils. A killer that didn’t discriminate between the wealthy or the downtrodden. As such, and because of the ever-increasing numbers of her victims, even the gangs that ruled the streets by day took caution when venturing out at night. Though that was of little concern at the moment. She had all she needed currently, evident by the tickling beneath her sole.

“Better stop that.” Maya warned with a light stomp. “We’ve still got a few hours before dawn. I would hate for you to suffer an early accident, and so far away from your workplace too. It’d be impossible for anyone to find you.” Of course, she knew the beta couldn’t hear her voice, though her stomp did the trick of ceasing his struggles-if only for a moment. Not an hour later did Maya find herself beyond the slums, into the more populated portion of Los Demonios.

The city itself was always a sight to behold. A huge and vibrant metropolis with various cultures mixed into its structure. There was so much of it to explore for the common tourist. From what was locally known as Little Hollywood, a simple imitation of the real thing, to Buchanan heights, the city's largest shopping center. It was all grander than most could possibly imagine. No matter the sights however this was all free game for Maya, each sight being a possible spot for her next hunt. That’s all she saw really. From the various city districts to the countless people that roamed about on their daily business, all she ever saw were mice trapped in a cage they couldn’t see. It was all just so exciting for her. She felt like a wolf among sheep, always waiting for their next meal. She once thought of herself as the only wolf. Until she met someone with many of the same interests as her, just of a more refined, less gruesome, taste.

Another thirty minutes and she stood in front of what was easily the largest building in Los Demonios. Peyton towers, the largest and most luxurious of any other sort of apartment building within the city of demons. Most who spend their entire lives saving up wouldn’t be able to afford even the cheapest room. Luckily for Maya, she had herself a very dear friend. It was a short matter of ringing herself in, though she was offered the complex’s penthouse she instead stuck with something more manageable. The room's just below the very top floor. Great view with just enough living space that it didn’t seem too much or too little. Well as little as luxuries go anyway.

Much to her surprise though Maya didn’t need to open the door to hear her living room television on full blast. Luckily the floor she lived on was barely populated, per her request. As soon as she saw the reason behind the volume however she couldn’t help but smile, seeing who she considered a dear friend passed out on the couch. “Aw...fast asleep.” Maya walked as quietly as possible, still keeping her shoes on so as not to release her little prisoner just yet. It wasn’t until Maya was over Lyzas sleeping face that she ceased her silence.

“Oh miss Vermont~” she sang in a fashion similar to a lullaby. When she got no reaction Maya instead played at her hair, pulling a strand of it to illicit some pain from the sleeping woman. The effect was immediate, Lyza jolting upright in shock.

“W-who the...” she mumbled, still half asleep. When Lyza found Maya smiling towards her she returned one of her own. “Maya. I was wondering when you’d be home. Waited so long for you...” Lyza wrapped her arms around Maya's neck, slowly pulling the younger woman into a kiss.

“I bet you did” Maya chuckled, returning a kiss of her own. “Had I known you were coming over I’d have left a note.”

“No need” Lyza assured as she stretched. “Six has been a wonderful host while you were gone. Very attentive~.” Lyza took notice of Maya's pupils quickly shrinking, her thoughts no doubt wondering what the little beta went through in her absence.

“You know I don’t like sharing him” Maya poutedas she took a seat besides Lyza.

“And you know I love watching him squirm” the older woman retorted.

She reached forward, gently caressing Maya's cheek before pulling her closer. “Maybe even more than I love watching you squirm sweetie~” Maya felt her face growing red, heat focusing in on her cheeks. Other than Six Lyza was the only other person the serial killer had any sort of relationship with. And though they’ve only known each other a for a short while their relationship has turned rather intimate.

Lyza could see the look in Maya's eyes. She wanted more but was refraining from anything other than the kiss prior. Lyza liked that look. It suited the blue-haired woman. “What’s the matter honey?” she teased, stroking Maya's cheek as she did. “You look like you’re going through some things.”

“Can I have Six back?” Maya asked even as Lyza played at her lips with her thumb. Lyza mused on the request, knowing well enough the risk that came were she to tease too long. She knew Mayas ‘profession’. She knew her twisted desires. But that only made things all the sweeter when she held the killer in her embrace. Even now, with Lyzas simple act of playing with Maya's lip having evolved to the latter biting down on the digit, she understood that things could still take a very sudden turn. Maya was obsessed with that little thing. Almost annoyingly so. But it was that same beta that allowed Maya to be so easily kept on a leash.

“Only if you ask nicely~” Lyza explained, all the while using her other hand to guide Maya's own underneath her red turtleneck. Her skin was smooth yet tone. Despite her almost undead impression, Lyza did what she could to keep up with her appearance.

“Please...” Maya whispered. “Can I have him back?”

Lyza guided Maya's hand to her breasts. Though slightly smaller than her own they were still enough to fill their hand, just before having their fingers guided in between them. “Then he’s all yours.” Lyza allowed. True to her word, as Maya continued to grope the older woman she felt the diminutive form of Six try to break free.

The action was quick, any arousal Maya had felt quickly giving way to an almost obsessive desire to keep her possession to herself. Lyza couldn’t hold back her laughter as she watched Maya hold the still disoriented Six close to her own chest, practically suffocating him a second time.

“It’s not funny!” Maya argued. “He hates it when you do that.” 

“So?” Lyza replied, followed by even more chuckles. “You’ve done worse.” 

“That’s different!” Maya tried to explain. “I can do that because he’s my-”

“One and only~” Lyza interrupted. Though she was still amused by Maya's possessiveness she couldn’t deny that she found the one and only idea rather annoying. “I’m wounded...” Lyza feigned pain as she spread herself forward onto the couch. “If he’s your one and only what does that make me? Am I just a fling to you Maya? How shameful.”

Lyza worked up some crocodile tears that seemed to melt away Maya's heart, even causing a mild sense of guilt despite her knowing the women's game. “You know it’s nothing like that.” Maya climbed on top of Lyza, deciding she won’t just be a piece in their game. “We’re you just a fling I’d have to punish you for misbehaving.”

Lyza grew surprised once Maya firmly seized her wrists, Six having been gently placed on the older woman's stomach to allow this. Regardless of how it looked Lyza was hardly afraid. In fact, Maya’s own attempts at foreplay were almost as enjoyable as her own. Though Lyza preferred to be the one on top more often than naught. “Maybe you’d like some punishment?” Maya went on, licking Lyzas cheek as she did.

“I’ll give you some props Maya, you’re getting better at the dom role” Lyza admitted. “But are you sure you want to do it now? Six is kind of in the way.” Maya looked to where she had placed the small Beta, watching as he tried to make his quiet escape. She quickly snatched him up before he could make any sort of distance. A mistake as, with her now free hand, Lyza grabbed onto Maya's hair before pulling her into yet another, more intense kiss. It lasted far longer than the previous two, spanning what could very well have been minutes. All the while Lyza looked to the beta in Maya's grip, his world constantly growing tighter as she gripped her hand tighter- a result of her girlfriends tongue going to work.

“You should be grateful” she thought. “A few hours sooner and you’d be in here, sucked back and forth between us.” Lyza had only moved Six to her chest as she had eventually grown bored with him being in her mouth. Though she quickly found herself bored soon after, falling asleep as a result. What she wouldn’t give to have him back though. She felt as though he would make this moment all the better. Finally, the two women separated, a string of slobber between their lips serving as a reminder of what just happened.

“That’s how you take charge.” Lyza watched as Maya tried, and failed, to compose herself. Her grip around Six was still tight, the likelihood of him being crushed on accident rising considerably. Lyza took this as an opportunity, holding Mayas' hand in her own. “You know, if you want more, we can make this a threesome.” she took Six into her own grasp, raising him between both of their lips. “Who knows? Maybe he might actually enjoy i-”

Maya grit her teeth. That sounded...lovely. In fact, she wanted nothing more than to be with the two she loved most. Her cheeks were turning a deeper shade of crimson at the thought of Six exploring the mountains that were her and Lyzas' bodies, exploring its peaks and...caves. That thought was simply euphoric, being more than enough to get Maya to sweat. But...

"N-no..." Maya stammered, barely able to control herself. "He doesn't want to do that."

Lyza sulked. "Now that's just dull..." Lyza loved Maya, truly. But she was far too lenient with Six. Much more than her other victims. At least those she let Lyza play with when she could. When it came to Six though, the three of them never got to play. Only ever was it Maya and her sweet little Beta. Her one and only. 

So tiresome. 

“Don’t look so glum!” Maya slowly removed her shoe, presenting her latest prey to Lyza as she held him up as though he were some trophy. “We can still have some fun. Just with somebody a tad bit bigger.” Lyzas disappointment was immediately forgotten the moment she laid eyes on this new beta. He had all the telltale marks of a normal one. The stitch-like markings and red eyes. All he lacked was the white hair. And to top it all off he was in a much better condition than Six. Physically anyway.

“Well well, where did you find this stud?” Lyza wondered, playfully poking at the heavily bruised man's torso. “And just what did you put him through?” There wasn’t an ounce of concern in Lyzas voice, instantly getting rid of any notion the beta had of asking for her assistance.

“Found him at some strip club in the slums” Maya explained. “The Rising Python. A new establishment so you wouldn’t have heard of it.”

“Darling, anything worth my notice I hear” Lyza quickly retorted, genuinely offended by Mayas remark. “But do go on with how you ‘acquired’ him. I’d love to know.” Maya went on to explain how she had discovered the strip club totally by accident, and how it used both beta and regular humans as its means of income.

“A strip club that accepts betas?” Lyza tapped her chin in wonder. Only a few years ago did the idea of betas working anywhere seem like a foreign idea. “I take it not everyone’s accepting of this?”

Confirming her suspicions Maya explained how the neighborhood she found the club in was known for its biased against the diminutive humans. Information was acquired thanks to a near average-sized beta hostess. “Really nice girl. Horrible Judge of character though. That reminds me!”

Maya leaned in closer towards Lyza, whispering in her ear.

“You spent how much!?” Lyza shouted, practically having to hold herself back from throwing Maya and the beta off the couch.

Maya raised an arm in defense, laughing as Lyza seemingly tried to strangle her. “It’s a good establishment I swear! It’d be a good investment if you looked into it.” 

“Good investment my ass!” Lyza tried to push Mayas arm away to get to her neck, only finding any attempt to do so easily avoided. “You’re making it up to me, I hope you realize that.” Lyza finally calmed down before slumping back into the couch. “Ten grand...Maya, what would compel you to spend that much? You're too compulsive...”

Maya leaned forward, climbing on top of Lyza once more while balancing the startled beta in her grip. “I know. But admit it, you love that about me.” Lyza couldn’t keep from a smile, pulling in Maya for a hug, rather than a kiss. Both had forgotten about Six and the six-inch beta, the former getting sandwiched between the two giantesses. Were their positions reversed then the six-inch beta wouldn’t survive the pressure.

That didn’t mean his situation was any better. It was luck Maya and Lyza had forgotten Six presence. But for the other beta, they had plans. Plans Six didn’t want to think about.

Lyza stroked Maya's hair as the killer nuzzled against their chest “Promise you’ll treat me right? Even if Six is your ‘one and only’?”

Maya looked into Lyzas eyes in much the same way a puppy would. “Just tell me how you want to be treated and I’ll do it. He may be my one and only but you’re my special someone~.”

Not the answer Lyza wanted. She had to hide more of her disappointment through a fake smile. She hated to acknowledge that she wanted the position of one and only, more than she cared to admit.

Maya spoke up, bringing the six-inch beta towards Lyzas face. “Now...what do you wanna do with...” the blue-haired woman looked at the man in confusion. “Actually, I never got your name did I?” She shrugged off that minor inconvenience. “It’s not like you’ll need it once we’re done with you anyway. That must feel horrible, being reduced to a no-name nobody.”

“It certainly must. Just look at him” Lyza laughed at the man's trembling form. “He’s terrified! You said you found him at a strip club? They should at least hire someone with backbone.”

“I-I-I...” the man stammered, barely able to keep his teeth from chattering in fear.

“I-I-I...I what?” Lyza mocked. “If you’re gonna say something then say it. If not then keep quiet. Good toys don’t speak.” Just as he instructed the beta quickly shut his mouth. Lyza smiled in response. “He’s much more cowardly than Six” she thought. Even if he was larger this beta in particular just wasn’t as fun at tormenting. Now were it Mayas little obsession In his place, that’d be a far different story. At least then there’d be some fight.

“So my dear...What do you want to do?” Lyza asked, turning her attention back to Maya. Once more Maya leaned forward, whispering into Lyzas ear so that the beta was unable to hear what would be in store for him. The moment he saw a sadistic grin etch itself across Lyzas face however he knew that whatever was to come wouldn’t be gentle. “Oh...I like that...” Lyza felt her body heating up at the thought of Maya's idea. “He’d be too big to eat otherwise...”

“Eat!?” the man panicked in Maya's grip, his frantic movements quickly being put to an end with a simple squeeze of the psychopath's grip.

“I thought you were gonna be quiet?” Maya said with a grin of her own. “Good toys don’t speak. Remember?”

No matter the warning the six-inch beta couldn’t calm down, his mind racing through the many horrible things these two women could do to him. “You fucking sadists! Let me go!”

Lyza held the man's head between her thumb and index finger. “I could snap your neck and end it all here and now, that is if you want. Or, you can wait and find out just what we have in store for you. Either way, you’re not going to see a tomorrow.” 

The man was silent, his choices impossible to choose from as they all led to death. Finally, his frustration gave way to anger, clearly heard in his voice. “Are you out of your fucking minds!?”

Lyza didn’t respond negatively to this in the slightest, nor did Maya. In fact, they gladly accepted that as being his answer. “Waiting it is.”

Without warning Maya cupped her other hand over the man's upper half, silencing any screams of protest as she lifted herself off of Lyza, and by extension Six. 

Lyza was first to notice the half-inch beta struggling to move, even taking some satisfaction in his lack of movements. like we forgot someone~” Lyza playfully poked at Six's comical form, making sure that he wasn’t worse for wear. When he barely lifted his arm to swat her finger away she knew he was fine. Or as fine as he’d ever been.

“Holy shit...” Maya mentally reprimanded herself for forgetting about her Six during hers and Lyzas antics. “Are you alright?” When she received a thumbs up she felt her worries at ease, allowing her to return her attention to her captive.

“As for you...” Her grip on the man's body tightened, the thought of what was in store for him exciting her to no end. “I hope you like choclate.”

Lyza waited on the bed, six inch beta in hand and both barely clothed with Lyza herself wearing only her green undergarments. To her left was a plate filled with either marshmallows or strawberries. “You’re taking forever Maya!” the thirty year old woman was growing impatient as she waited. How long does it take someone to make fudge sauce anyway? She knew Maya was decent in the kitchen. Surely this wouldn’t be so time consuming.

“Sorry!” there was rummaging head within the apartments kitchen, followed by the sound of silverware following onto the floor. “Shit!”

More noise which soon gave way to quickly approaching footsteps. “I was waiting for it to cool down some” Maya said as she stepped through the door to her room, revealing that she was wearing as little clothing as Lyza, her garments being black rather than green.

Lyza examined the entirety of Maya’s body, noticing they were still wearing an apron. “An apron, bra and panties” she thought with a smirk. “I almost want her to keep wearing that. Rip it off and just explore that body of hers...” though looking down at the beta in her grasp Lyza couldn’t deny that what they had planned was leagues better. At least for the moment.

Maya laid down besides Lyza, placing the bowl of warm fudge in between them and the plate of treats.

Maya was practically salivating at the treats before her, Lyza was eager to dig in, but the six inch beta remained both confused and terrified.

“So mister no name, we’re going to play a little game” Lyza explained. “You see, Maya hasn’t eaten all day. And I just love sweets. Fudge especially. So that’s why were gonna help ourselves while you swim about.”

The man wasn’t able to register what Lyza had said in time, only grasping the word swim as he was released from the giantesses grip and into the waiting bowl.

“If you can manage to survive by the time we finish the whole bowl” Lyza began before tapping her finger against her chin, trying to think of a suitable prize. “Well...we still won’t let you go. But at least we won’t put you through hell again.” she was blunt when telling the truth, so much so that the beta could only look up at her in fear.

“So...how do you wanna do this Ma-” Lyza was immediately cut off as the blue haired woman reached for a strawberry.

“Dips” she proclaimed, already dipping the fruit into the bowl, pulling up an almost obscene amount of fudge with it but missing the beta entirely. That isn’t to say she had already forgotten about him. She looked at him the entire time, never breaking eye contact as she slowly bit into her glimmering treat. Maya held a cheek in her hand, the sweetness of the strawberry and the rich flavor of the fudge sending chills down her spine. Paired with the terrified look of the beta and she had to force herself against simply scooping the man up and licking him clean.

Lyza chuckled at Mayas overall performance, entertained by the fact they they were already enjoying themselves. Slowly she picked out her treat, a marshmallow far large than the rest. About half the size of the beta.

Unlike Maya, Lyza instead took a quick dab of chocolate rather than a full on scoop. “Don’t waste our treat too quickly dear. We wouldn’t wanna give our little toy any false hope.”

Lyza took the whole treat into her mouth and swallowed it whole with little difficulty. Too further drive in the ease in which she partook of the action she opened her mouth wide, allowing the beta to take in the fact of how something half his height was no longer there.

He tried to back away in fear but found the fudge he moved through made such efforts difficult. He was waist deep in the concoction of various different sweets. It’s rich aroma made him sick to his stomach and the warm heat was sapping his stamina quicker than he hoped.

Maya took notice of this quickly. “Poor little guy~. It must be like walking through mud.” she held back a chuckle. “He could use a little bit of help.”

With the beta distracted by Lyza the six inch beta was unaware of Maya’s fingers dipping beneath the surface until it was too late. The quickly found his ankles, pulling them upward as the rest of the mans body fell face first into the chocolate before finally rising beyond the sweet swamp.

The beta had no clue as to what Maya’s plan was. Even Lyza was confused as to what they had planned. That was until Maya threw the tiny man towards their chest.

Lyza was barely able to catch them, letting the beta fall between her breasts as she feared she would have only swatted him away with her hands and towards the bed sheets.

“Are you crazy!?” Lyza said in surprise. “This bed is a Hypnos spring product! Do you have any idea how expensive those are!?”

She was more upset over Mayas reckless disregard for such luxurious furniture than she was over nearly having their little treat wasted. Maya on the other hand couldn’t stop herself from laughing as she watched the little beta struggle in between Lyzas tits, his form held firmly between them as Lyza crossed her arms in disappointment.

When finally she did notice the betas struggles she grew more annoyed if anything. “Look at that. I’m going to have to take a shower because of you. Not to mention cleaning wash my bra, a vintage from my own line of clothing. I even paid for it myse-”

Once again Lyza was interrupted, Maya placing a marshmallow in her mouth mid rant.

“Then we can take a shower together~.” she reminded. Maya leaned forward, moving the bowl from between the two of them and placing it a safely upon a table besides the bed. “Or I can help clean you here.”

The beta, still struggling to free himself, noticed the sudden lack of dark and the feeling of Mayas breath upon his back. He turned just in time to see her tongue lick away at the sweet sauce covering both him and Lyzas chest.

Lyza would have fallen backwards had Maya not caught her arms. They were blushing thanks to the actions currently transpiring. This was not what the two of them had planned, Yet Lyza wasn’t entirely against this deviation. As a matter of fact, despite almost having a twenty thousand dollar mattress ruined. She was greatly enjoying it.

The beta barely recovered from Mayas previous assault when she licked him again, taking away any fudge she may have missed before. This time she didn’t stop with a simple lick, instead going so far as to wrap her lips around the upper half of his torso. She sucked, hard, almost bringing his whole body into her mouth. She was willing to tuck the rest of him into her salivating maw, only stopping once she realized Lyza was laughing at the mans flailing legs.

Maya seemed to have forgotten the other treats all together, her sights only set on Lyza now. Noticing this Lyza returned with a gaze of longing of her own, placing a hand on both of Mayas cheeks.

Lyza teased Maya’s mouth open with her thumb, eagerly wanting to see the struggling beta within. The poor thing was positively drenched, unable to get a proper hold of his surroundings.

“How’s he taste?” Lyza asked, the feeling of her own mouth beginning to water an all too familiar one.

Maya wasn’t able to answer beyond a simple moan. That was more than enough to prove that she was enjoying the little mans struggles.

Lyza pulled Mayas head closer, eager to share the ‘snack’. “You wanna share him with me?”

Nothing at first, until Maya shook her head. Then she started swallowing the beta, his head being the first thing to descent into her throat. “Don’t be selfish!”

Lyza was forced to act fast, wrapping her lips around the betas still visible legs. Thanks to his size the process of swallowing him was slow for Maya. It took little to no effort to pull him back from her throat.

Maya had to suppress a gag at the extraction, yet this did little to dissuade her as she continued to fight for her meal. Back and forth they sucked the beta, unaware or simply uncaring of the torment he was going through. He felt his legs be bit down on by Lyzas teeth. He was forced to watch Mayas throat quiver in anticipation of its meal, getting closer at moments before he was pulled away.

The two women's tug of way eventually evolved into something more passionate, with Lyza pushing Maya onto the bed, right on top of the plate of treats. Many of the strawberries popped right away, though Lyza was no longer in a proper state of mind to even care.

Maya’s mental state was the more crazed of the two, evident by her attempts to bite down on the betas lower half. Fortunately for him she was able to hold herself back. Unfortunately, it was for all of a few moments before Lyza began to kiss Mayas lips while also holding onto her treat.

The pleasure and bliss Maya felt was comparable to Lyzas, their thoughts of the beta they struggled over being the last thing on either of their minds.

“S-stop!” the beta shouted. Even as he was being tossed and turned and toyed with by these two goddesses of women all he could do was plead. Beg for his life that was so easily forgotten. Neither woman pitied him however, as they had all but forgotten his existence.

The beta felt both of his halves being tugged in two different directions. Their was pain felt in his midsection as teeth bit down onto his torso, though he wasn’t sure who they belonged to. He had been moved around so much the beta wasn't certain of who’s mouth it was that he currently looked within.

The pain upon his torso only grew as the teeth dug deeper into his flesh. “Please!” he begged. “It hurts!”

In that moment, within the mouth of whoever held power over him, all the pain he felt seemed to fade. It felt as though it were a mercy, at least until he realized he felt something more piercing then the pain.

He felt cold. An almost unnatural chill that ran down his entire body, save for his legs. Looking towards his lower half the beta was barely able to scream before any noise he could make was silenced as he was plunged into a waiting throat.

Outside Lyza felt the sudden descent of the duos victim, or to be more specific his top half. She was taken aback by the sudden sensation, the six inch man struggling the entire way up until he landed within her stomach.

“Did I...” she was at a lose for words, surprised by the sudden, and gruesome, turn. The taste of iron was prevalent within her mouth, mixed along with the taste of whatever fudge lingered.

Lyza looked towards Maya only to see they were still upon their back, now chewing what was very clearly the betas lower half. She seemed as though she were in a trance, a dazed state where she was only capable of this one motion.

“Maya...did you...” Lyza stuttered, already know the answer to her forming question. “Please don’t tell me you bit down...”

Maya only focused on chewing, fully aware of the question asked but unable to say anything. Her cheeks had turned rosy and her breathing had picked up.

“She snapped...”Lyza thought. “Maya? Can you hear me?”

First came the chuckling, slow at first but steadily picking up to match her breath. Mayas arms were shaking, having difficulty supporting her wait as she tried to sit upright.

“I...bit him...” Maya giggled as she dug her nails into her cheek. “I bit down...and t-then...slurped!”

She softly laughed at the thought of him struggling now. She was sure, even with her fragmented state of mind, that his upper half was struggling in Lyza. “Did he taste good?” Maya asked, a down right maniacal smile spreading from ear to ear. “Is he crying?”

It was when Lyza seemed to be holding her stomach in pain did Maya begin to regain some semblance of sanity. “Lyza?”

The older woman continued to hold her stomach, as though she were trying to keep down everything she’s eaten in the past day. “The b-bowl...” she muttered. Maya immediately knew what Lyza wanted, handing her the now cold fudge. Regardless of temperature Lyza wasted no time in digging her fingers into the concoction.

She ate enough that once the taste of blood was all gone there was scarcely any fudge remaining. Lyza waited for the urge to vomit to subside, turning to Maya once it finally did.

“What the hell Maya!?” Lyza seemed more annoyed then enraged, yet whichever emotion had it been it was more than enough to tear the blue haired woman away from her sleep into lunacy. “We were supposed to lather him up in sauce before swallowing him! Why did you bite him in half!?”

Maya raised her hands in defense of her actions. “I didn’t mean to! It just happened! He was struggling so much, and we were kissing, I kind of just got…lost in the sauce?”

Lyza wanted to pinch Mayas cheeks for even trying to cover up those actions with such a horrible joke before noticing the mess the two of them made.

“The bed!” crushed strawberries stained the mattress and clung to Mayas back. “This was twenty grand…”

Maya seemed unphased by the state of the bed, even picking a crushed strawberry from her back and popping it in her mouth. Though she wasn’t a fan of the taste of iron she’s steadily grown used to it as she explored her various...tastes.

“I don’t see the issue.” Maya admitted, popping another berry into her mouth. “I can still sleep in it right?”

Lyza grabbed pulled Maya in by her chin quicker than she could react. “It’s. The. Principle.”

Though she was being handled rather harshly Maya couldn’t stop from smiling, enjoying a certain fire within Lyzas eyes.

“Don’t give me that look” the older woman reprimanded, realizing Maya was trying to lure her into further foreplay.

“But we still gotta bath together Lizzy~” Maya teased, gesturing to the several crushed berries. “You got me all dirty. You’ve got to make sure I get every. Possible. Spot.” Maya leaned in so close that she just had to blow into Lyzas ear, the older woman quickly recoiling from the sensation.

“God, you’re a menace when horny! You realize that right?” Lyza had given into Mayas antics, pulling the younger woman into a kiss, one far more brief then the previous. “And don’t call me Lizzy dear. You know I hate that.”

Another few moments as the pair brought their lips together once more, only breaking apart once Lyza got the familiar taste of iron. “Fuck! Hand me a marshmallow!”

Maya continued to watch Lyza pop one eat one marshmallow after the other, trying desperately to get the taste of iron from her mouth. “This is why I prefer betas whole! I hate the taste of blood!”

Lyza continued shoveling the treats until she recalled something the two needed to discuss, given the fate of their most recent victim. “How are we going to explain this to that strip club?”

Though Lyzas mouth was full Maya was able to hear her clearly, shrugging of the problem as though it weren’t even an issue. “Oh that? that’ll be easy.” Maya laid back onto the bed, reaching for a treat of her own only to see that Lyza was greedily hording them for herself. “Apparently that whole areas filled with beta haters” she continued, sighing in contempt over the fact she wasn’t given something to snack on. “That strip club’s probably the only safest place there. wouldn’t be much of a stretch if I said I got mugged, and their little dancer got nabbed.”

Lyza ceased eating, already aware of Mayas plan. “I know where this is headed. You want me to bash something against your head, do you?”

Maya smiled as innocently as she could, recalling the times where they’ve done just that. It was a ploy that usually worked. The times it didn’t were easily covered up by either Maya or Lyza.

Lyza groaned in annoyance, having grown tired of the same plan. “Someday we’re gonna have to try something different you know. This won’t always work.”

“It’s worked so far.’ Maya replied with a shrug. “And besides. If it isn’t broken, then don’t fix it.”

Lyza went for more treats only to see that she had finished them all. Throwing the plate away she laid besides Maya, doing her best to ignore the mess that would otherwise bother her to no end.

“Can we do that after we clean up though?” Lyza asked, wanting to clear up the mess the two of them had made.

“And then we shower together?” Maya added, hoping to continue her fun. “We can even use Six if you want. I’ll be lenient...”

The though of using the half inch beta sent a chill down Lyzas spine. Though they were able to do less physically with him, his durability more than made up for that.

And Lyza couldn’t deny that she enjoyed toying with Mayas one and only.

“Deal...” she leaned in for a kiss only to immediately spit once the taste of iron returned.

“Dammit!”

Lyza sat impatiently in the car seat, waiting for Mayas return as she delivered the horrible news to those who worked at the strip club. And though the thirty year old woman agreed to drive Maya to the club she still couldn’t deny the chills running down her back.

“I hate lower Los Demonios.” she admitted, pulling a cup from the cars holder and taking a longer than necessary chug of coffee. It was barely seven in the morning, Maya wanting to deliver the bad news as quickly as possible. “All this effort for a fucking beta. It’s ridiculous.”

A forced cough from her jean clad leg drew Lyzas attention. Sitting atop her left leg was Six, the half inch beta forced to deal with her complaining as he waited alongside her.

“What? You offended by that?” Lyza asked with a smirk. “Good. You were in my thoughts when I said it.”

Six sad nothing, instead simply looking up towards the towering woman before returning his gaze downward. He was forced to come along. We it up to him Six would still be back at the apartment, asleep or trying to force himself to sleep. Instead he was here, waiting for his captor to fabricate her story over the death of the beta she and Lyza killed during their time of passion.

He would have certainly remained silent had a giant drop of coffee not fallen on his head soaking the upper half of his body as a result. Looking up again he saw that Lyzas index finger was dripping with caffeine, the woman having dipped her finger in her drink to annoy the beta.

“You know you look so pathetic when you mope like that” Lyza said, her smirk turning cold and cruel. She brought her finger down on Sixs head lightly, only applying pressure when she saw his gaze shifting away from her.

“I’d say smile more, but with all those bandages covering your body that’s really not possible for you is it. You’re like the worlds smallest, most depressed mummy Six. It’s honestly kind of sad.”

He knew what she was trying to do. She was trying to belittle him. Again. As though she didn’t do this every week or so. Yesterday wasn’t enough for her apparently. Even after comparing him to a snack. No, Lyza always had to remind Six of just how pathetic he was. Unfortunately for her he always had quite a large bite for someone so small.

“What’s pathetic is how you’re always going out of your way to ridicule me” Six spoke at high enough a volume that Lyza was able to hear him, he smirk turning to a frown as a result. Six tried to push away her finger only to find the effort was entirely pointless. He didn’t possess that kind of strength.

“Yeah I know I’m small and weak. I can hardly do anything for myself because of what happened to me. I hardly need you to remind me of that, But you wanna know something?”

Six pulled himself away from underneath Lyzas finger, staring up as her as he stood to his feet.

“Despite how pathetic I am. Despite how much greater you are then me, I’m still Maya’s ‘one and only. You’re just a fucking fling she decided not to kill. Yet.”

There was a silence between the two as Lyza tried to figure out something to say. For all the terrified betas out there, all so much bigger than Six, he just had to be the one to have a mouth on him.

Lyza could easily exert her power over him. Toss the beta in her cup of coffee. Place him upon her seat and sit on him. All options would have been so easy to execute, yet he still would have gotten the last laugh if she did that in regards to his comment.

“You...you...half inch asshole!”

“Twelve ton cow”

Six barely had the chance to regret saying that as the moment he finished Lyzas hand came down on him with enough force that were it anyone else they’d be little more than a stain.

“Call me cow again Six. See what happens?” Lyza warned. She lifted her hand, half wishing to see the betas broken form. Instead he was still the same shape as always, as if no such damage was done to him at all. No doubt he was in pain, regardless of the lack of injuries. But pain was something he was accustomed to. It was something he could block out, to the point where any logical and sane person would have taken Lyzas warning to heart.

Six however was not like more people. “Oh I’m sorry! Did I offend you? Then pardon me, because I meant PIG!”

Lyza brought her hand down again, this time with enough force that it even stung her. Six saw this as way to predictable a reaction however, quickly jumping in between the spacing of her fingers just as the massive hand came crashing down again.

“Little fucker!” Lyza rubbed the spot she struck, regretting her reaction immediately. She let Six get to her so easily at times. More than most people would. And what was worse, she couldn’t just get rid of him. It’d be her throat on the line if Maya ever found out.

“I may be little but that’s better than being a big cunt like you!” at this point Six couldn’t stop himself from insulting Lyza. It was like he was willingly digging his own grave at this point. And he knew that. Really he just wanted to see how far he could go at this point, before he was finally caught and had to face the repercussions of his words.

Lyza was already at her wits end unfortunately, balling her hand into a fist so hard that it’d be impossible to miss the vein forming on it.

Were he still able to Six would no doubt be sweating nervously over the look on Lyzas face. She was pissed to put it simply. Over more than just the words spoken. Over the fact that this beta could get away with it.

“Is the princess mad?” Six taunted further as he backed away towards Lyzas knees, flipping her off with both hands the entire time he looked at her. “Good!”

Before Lyza could reach out and grab the bad mouthing beta Six stepped off her knee and to the car floor. An understandably dangerous area as it was where Lyzas heel clad feet were, but she’d never rest stomping about. Hers was luxury car, custom made and worth millions. It was not something easily replaced. Six knew this and would gladly exploit this to his own benefit.

That was until her heel stomped next to Six with such force that it not only threw him off of his feet but also left a clear imprint in the floor as a result.

“You’re dead Six!”

Thinking fast the beta sprinted out from under Lyzas heel, the giant quickly bringing the front of her foot down to prevent this. She was too slow however, Six quickly making more distance then she thought and dashing underneath her car seat.

She hastily put her coffee in the cars cup holder before pulling her seat back until she stopped the beta again.

Lyza wasted no time in bending down, grasping Six in her fist before he had the chance to escape.

Lifting the beta to her eyes she stared daggers into him.

“Take back your little comment about calling me a pig” Lyza demanded. She tightened her fist, squeezing Six as a result, all to intimidate the beta. Yet all she got from the half inch man was a chuckle.

“That’s all you can think of Lyza?” though his mouth was covered by the wrappings that made up his synthetic skin it was still clear to the giantess that Six was smiling. “You’d think that after everything I’ve been through I’d be scared of you? Now THAT, is pathetic. Even more than me.”

She wanted to pop him into her mouth. She wanted to throw him out of the cars window. “You’re really fucking lucky you got Maya protecting you. Otherwise I’d actually make a snack out of you.”

It was then she had an idea. One that she knew Six would hate. Perhaps not as much as being tossed about within her mouth, but that would have been predictable.”

“But since you can’t be my snack, you’ll just have to be my seat.”

Six didn’t have time to think. The speed in which he was thrust in between the drivers seat and Lyzas ass barely allowing him to register what was happening. The sudden lack of light though quickly changed that. Soon enough all he could do was look up just in time to see Lyza slowly plant her rear on her prey.

“Enjoy that you little prick.”

Lyza moved her hips back and forth as she rolled Six around her seat, all to punish the beta. He may be unkillable, but she’d be damned if she was gonna let him talk to her in such a way. How someone so small could even think about talking to her in such a manner was mind boggling.

Lyza grabbed her ass, squeezing and pulling at it, before apply more pressure in the seat. “Look at where all your bad mouthing got you Six? Underneath someone who matters. This can be a good lesson for you, so that you can always remember your place.”

Though she felt her taunts and teasing would be sufficient in breaking the beta she couldn’t have been further from the truth. Underneath her ass Six just endured the pressure without even an ounce of worry. Of all the things she could have done this was perhaps the most lax outcome.

“Would have actually been worried if you ate me.” he thought. It almost seemed as if she was running out of ideas. Or ideas that wouldn’t place her on Mayas bad side. Though Lyza would at times take the helm in their relationship she was still well aware of what Maya was capable of. Were she allowed to freely do as she pleased to Six then she’d have likely gotten rid of the beta a long time ago.

At most all she did now was give him a rather suffocating prison, and seeing as Six didn’t need to breath her efforts were ultimately pointless.

He almost wanted to tell Lyza how pointless. A task rather impossible given his current position.

“At least it isn’t hot as hell under here.” Six thought. “Lyza hates the heat almost as much as I do. Keeps the AC cold as a result.”

Trapped in her footwear would have been a more effective punishment than this. At least then he’d regret his choice of words. But all being sat on amounted to minor annoyance for Six.

“You’re losing your edge!” Six shouted, knowing well enough that he wouldn’t be heard by the giantess. Regardless she shifted her weight at just the right moment, adding more pressure to his form as a result. It was enough that he actually began pushing against her ass to give himself more space to move. Unfortunately her jeans were rather form fitting and did little to help in his efforts.

“Okay...maybe this is bad” the slow feeling of regret was making itself known rather quickly and before long his arms gave out as the entirety of Lyzas weight came down on Six.

Though his minuscule form offered little in the way of physical stimulation Lyza did feel Six give in, and rather quickly at that.

She gave her ass a few pats, further humiliation as she was more than certain Six felt the vibrations. “Bet you thought this was simple huh? Maybe not as simple as you thought since I felt you give up pretty quickly bug boy. Maybe you shouldn't overestimate yourself as much then.”

The feelings of angers prior were slowly being replaced by satisfaction, which in turn were quickly dashed as they were replaced with surprise. The window to the cars passenger seat was knocked on, it’s tinted glass just able to show Maya waiting to be let in. Lyza quickly retrieved Six from underneath her, finding the beta stuck to her right cheek.

“Not a word or I swear you’ll regret it.” she warned with a whisper. “You promise not to snitch and I’ll forget about your pig comment. Deal?”

Six was disoriented, hardly able to stand straight thanks to the sudden change of his world again. All he was able to manage were a few mumbled words and a weak thumbs up. “A bit...late...for regrets.”

Taking that as a deal Lyza let Maya in, quickly noticing her red eyes and partially ruined makeup. Add the bruise on her right cheek, courtest of Lyzas infamous backhand, and it was a rather messy display.

“Woah...you good Maya?”

Maya, at first surprised by the comment, touched her eyes and remembered how she ruined her makeup.

“Oh this? Don’t worry about it” She assured as she searched through the cars glove compartment for wet wipes. “I had to sell the idea that we lost their stripper to some beta hate groups here in the slums.  The shiner you gave me really sold it. Also I forced in a few tears, threw in a few whimpers. They just ate it up.”

Lyza paid close attention to Maya as she explained how she lost the clubs worker. Even Six, for as much as he hated the role he played in their death, couldn’t help but listen.

“We got really lucky with this one Lyza. This part of Los Demonios really hates betas. And I mean REALLY hates them. There’s even highschoolers that go about kidnapping some for their own games. Well apparently this isn’t the first time a business has lost one of their workers to those little hate groups. It’s like a gold mine around here Lyza.”

The older woman took notice of her younger partners smile, already knowing that a plan was forming. “Oh I know that look. Whatchu got brewing in that pretty head of yours Maya?”

“Nothing in particular~” Maya leaned forward, placing a hand on Lyzas lap unaware that Six was standing there until he her hand came to rest on top of him. Needless to say he was getting tired of being squished at this point.

“Just realizing that if we wanted to we could pluck up a whole bunch of little betas.

Lyza felt her heart skip a neat at the thought. A crooked smile took shape as she brought Maya closer to admire their little plan. She couldn’t deny that Maya in her current attire was part of the reason she wanted her closer. Her blue hair was died up into a bun. She wore the same red turtle neck Lyza had the night prior, a quite complementary that paired nicely with the older woman's purple turtleneck. Along with that Maya wore jeans that paired well with her ensemble.

It gave her a rather intelligent look, appropriate given her idea.

“And how do you plan on getting such a large amount of playthings, my little bluebird?”

“You’ll have to wait and see” Maya clarified as she tore herself away from Lyzas grasp, completely ruining the moment between the two. “Those are some of the details I need to work out still. But given how so many go missing around here...well it shouldn’t be too difficult.”

Six, nearly rendered flat against Lyzas leg, couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

“W-wai-” He was speaking clearly, only able to stammer on forming words until he cleared his head. Six reached his hand outward, as if trying to grasp Mayas shoulder in order to shake some sense into her. “You can’t b-be serious right? Using this place like a...a...”

“A farm?” Lyza interjected. “A farm where it’s pigs and cows don’t even realize they’re livestock for us yet?”

There was venom in Lyzas words. She knew the idea of hunting down more betas upset Six. Enough so that he’d willingly get into an argument with Maya in regards to it.

It was a far more fitting punishment then the one prior.

“That’s a good analogy Lyza!” Maya acknowledged. She smiled at the thought of god knows how many betas the two of them could keep hidden in the apartment, all unaware of what would be in store for them. Her cheeks were quickly turning red as a result. “God just think of the fun we’d have...”

Six didn’t even want to imagine.

The carnage those two could bring to such a large number of people.

“But what about all those regular sized people?” Lyza asked. “There’s still plenty of regulars that haven’t turned beta yet. Some of them might even be alphas in waiting. What about those people?”

Maya sat in silence, contemplating a question for longer than seemingly necessary. “Those kind of people are getting more scarce with each passing month. The number of betas keeps rising while the number of those still unaffected by the shrinking epidemic lowers. It’s only a matter of time before it’s really only just us alphas and those betas. After that...well I’ll just have settle on betas at that point won’t I?”

Six still couldn’t accept such sudden turns. “But you can’t just...kidnap so many people and think you won’t be caught. It’s absurd!”

Maya lowered herself down closer to Six upon hearing his protests, not to intimidate him like Lyza would but in an effort to console the half inch beta.

“Oh, you’re worried.” she cooed. “Don’t be. There’s a reason why we’ve remained as free as the wind despite...circumstances.”

Maya looked beyond the cars windows, into the slums and the greater city beyond. “There’s a reason why Los Demonios got that name. Why do you think it’s called the city of demons? There’s so much sin here Six. So many horrible people who get away with so many things. Why, it’s perfect for the three of us.”

Six felt his world spinning. He wanted to throw up, even though he lacked the ability to do so. His eyes, looking directly into Mayas, showed fear.

“I know you hate it” Maya a familiar hesitance in the back of her head. Seeing Sixs terrified eyes filled her with the desire to go back on her plan. “But...think of it like this! If we have a lot of betas at home I won’t have to go about hunting for people once a month! that’s a pretty fair trade right?”

It was her attempt to ease Six’s sorrows. An attempt that ultimately failed the longer he thought on the possible horrors.

Maya saw this as clear as day. He wouldn’t accept such an offer. That was plain to see. “I can’t do that. I can’t go through with that.”

Just as it was in their previous arguments Maya felt herself close to caving in, only this time it didn’t look as if Six was going to give in before she did. He was trembling yes, but he stood as tall as he could looking up towards the blue haired killer.

He seemed fit to win between the two of them this time. At least he was, until Lyza chimed in.

“You don’t need to accept it Six” Lyza explained. She noticed Mayas hesitation, and acted before they could make any decisions. She wouldn’t let Six have the final word for the three of them. “Accepting the offer or not won’t change a thing. That’s something you need to understand. This is going to happen whether you approve or not.”

Lyza lowered her hand towards the beta, gently nudging him onto her palm before lifting him up to eye level. This was another process towards belittling him. Taking away his choice all together.

“B-but...i can’t” Six stammered. Lyzas eyes seemed sharper than before. As if they were piercing through his being. It was far different than her angered glares earlier. These exuded a power he could scarcely describe.

“That doesn’t matter.” she said flatly. “Look at it like this. I want this. Maya wants this. The only one who doesn’t, is you.”

Her attention turned to Maya, hoping that the blue haired woman was paying attention. Much to her delight she was. “Tell me Maya, is it fair that only Six gets what he wants? Despite knowing this is something we’d both enjoy?”

Both Six and Lyza could see Maya thinking on an answer. She was struggling between giving in to what she wanted and what Six wanted. She knew he wouldn’t accept her plan. At least not easily. Yet when she saw Lyza looking at her she couldn’t stop from focusing on what she wanted too, and how Six always had to make things difficult for her. She believed herself more than fair with him. More than many other people would be anyway.

“No” Maya said, no longer bearing any hint of hesitance. “It really isn’t.” Her smile returned, along with a more teasing tone. “That’s really selfish of you Six. Have you ever thought about us.”

“I doubt it” Lyza chuckled. She was pleased to see Maya was no longer close to caving in. “All he’s done so far is complain, mope and insult.”

It felt as though the world was against him. With Maya and Lyza together they pretty much took away any opinion he had on the matter. All he could do now was slump his shoulders. The whole time Lyza watched with a smile.

“Come now Six, don’t mope. You look pathetic when you mope. Maybe smile more, I’m sure when can draw one on you.” She poked the betas back in the hopes of getting a reaction from him. When he refused to move she knew she broke him.

“Who knows. Maybe after a few months of this you’ll start to enjoy it” she added. Lyza gently stroked Six’s back with her index finger, showing Maya false affection for her one and only. “Really, you don’t have any other choice.”

Maya could barely contain her excitement, the prospect of so many betas her and Lyza could have to themselves more than she could properly contain. Why, the very thought was causing her to smile from ear to ear. “Now that’s quite the expression.” Lyza noted as she made herself comfortable on the living room couch. “Mind sharing what’s got you in such a good mood?” “As if you don’t already know.” Maya assured.

She took notice of the notepad in Lyzas hand. A notepad that contained a variety of locations the two could explore when searching for possible toys. Lyza chuckled, already aware of what it was that had Maya in such positive spirits. “Of course I do. Just wanted to know what your thoughts were.” Mayas mind went to Six, the half inch beta clearly needing time to himself after such a humiliating defeat.

He was against the two giantesses plan but had little in the way of stopping them. Ever since all three arrived back at Mayas apartment she allowed him to stay locked within her room, away from anything that would upset him further. “He probably hates us right now...” Maya said with a sad chuckle. Resting her head on the couch's armrest all Maya could do was look up towards the ceiling and think.

“He probably does” Lyza admitted, not at all easing Mayas worries. “In fact I won’t put it past him to make another escape attempt. I’d watch out for that if I were you.”

Maya kicked Lyza in the knee slightly, the older woman giggling as she saw Maya stick out her tongue in a taunting manner. “Because that’s definitely something I wanna worry about, right?”

“That’s the thing Maya, you don’t.” Lyza reminded. “Remember what we said, he doesn’t have a choice this time. Were it up to me I would’ve thrown him in a jar. Keep him from running away.”

Maya’s smile fell slightly. “Why are the two of you so...antagonistic?”

Lyza feigned ignorance, answering with only a shrug, until Maya gave her another kick. “I know you heard me Lyza. Come on, spill it. I’m not some idiot who thinks the two people she cares about love each other too. When you two are alone the tension gets so thick you could cut it with a knife.”

Lyza tried her best to ignore Maya, no wanting to divulge in the blue haired woman's curiosity while she worked. But Six’s previous comments still rang through her head. The most prominent of which was how he was Mayas one and only, as much as he hated to say it. All she was was just some fling.

“He has...quite a big mouth for someone so small” Lyza admitted. “And he doesn’t care about the things he says. It’s infuriating.”

Maya chuckled, knowing well that even before becoming a beta her Six had quite the mouth on him. Though back when he was normal sized people were more inclined to knock his lights out. That was, when she wasn’t around anyway. Though she loved him Maya had to admit that her Six was mostly bark, rarely bite. “Some things just never change I suppose.” Maya said with a shrug.

Though Lyza was allowed to continue in her work she couldn’t so much as focus anymore, Six’s commits continuing to repeat in her head. It was enough that, eventually, she snapped her pen in two between her fingers. For the briefest of moments she envisioned that it was the mad mouthing beta that was the one snapped in half.

“Maya, just how is HE your one and only?” Lyza asked, the question refusing to leave until she got an answer. “He’s so...quiet. Vulgar...”

“Weak?” Maya finished, cutting Lyza off. Though not the answer she expected Maya was surprised to see Maya was still smiling, not at all disappointed in her own answer.

Lyza stammered on her words, unsure as to how she should answer. “I mean...yeah.”

Maya sat upright so as to look Lyza directly in her eyes as she spoke. “If I’m being entirely honest, that’s how I found myself attracted to him in the first place. Even before he was a beta he was all those things. Rude, barely talks and hates physical confrontation. Someone no one would miss if they died...”

Maya leaned in closer towards Lyza, as if to drill her point through. “Did you know we went to the same college? Six and I? Five years ago, we were twenty two, both of us. He was the loner. The unapproachable one that everyone avoided...he was a someone too perfect to ignore. Someone I could kill and get away with...”

Maya reminisced on those memories. What she said was true, her intentions back then were to murder her beloved Six. She built a relationship with him. Friendly at first before evolving into the two dating as she teased out her Six’s other emotions. Along the way, as he became warmer, Maya believes that she fell for him-though she’s not too sure when it happened. As the two dated Six’s attitude became kinder, Maya bringing out the best in him as she, despite her plans, did do her best to encourage him.

“I killed him, you know” Maya admitted, her expression turning sad. “Or at least I tried to. As you can probably guess he survived, though he did change. Granted it wasn’t of his own free will.”

Maya laid into Lyza, resting into her arms as she got comfortable. Lyza found the act endearing, even lightly pinching the serial killers cheek playfully. “That’s a woooonderful story Maya. But what does it have to do with Six being your one and only?”

“I’m getting to that.” Maya assured with a playful pinch of her own.

“I honestly though I’d never see him again, even after finding out he survived. I searched a lot of places Lyza. Hospitals mainly, but anywhere that had a record for him I searched.”

Mayas face lit up as she recalled the lead that lead her to her dear Six. “And then, when it still seemed impossible to find him, I did. I found his name. His real name. He was taken to saint Minerva's hospital. He was kept there for nearly two years, far from me but still close to harm.”

“And then you massacred everyone in there” Lyza added. Maya had told her the story of Saint Minerva and her hospital. What kind of woman she really was. How, despite being the one responsible for developing a way to counteract the beta epidemic, she was the reason it existed to begin with. “You killed Minerva, you found Sixs records, and eventually you found Six.”

Maya nodded, events having transpired in that very manner. “You can imagine how I saw such a thing right?”

“Like fate?” Lyza asked. “How, despite everything that happened you still found him again, even if you pretty much did all the work.”

Maya nodded once more.

Lyza lowered her notepad, pondering on all that Maya had said before resting her head in her open palm. “Fuck, I am screwed! No wonder you still keep him around!”

Maya shot up from her position, laughing as she did. “I know it’s childish but Six means a lot to me. When we dated he actually made me feel...good. Happy, outside of killing. Like how you do now.”

“But that’s why he’s your one and only!” Lyza winced. “He was the person to make those feelings known to you. Fuck! Fucker beat me to it!”

Maya couldn’t help but laugh at Lyzas disappointment, the latter apparently seeing the whole thing as a competition that she had lost. Long before she could even participate.

Maya wrapped her arms around Lyza, the taller woman trying to push her away out of spite and irritation.

“If it makes you feel any better” Maya cooed. “He might be my one and only. But you’ll always be my second best~.”

Though she knew Maya was trying to lift her spirits Lyza couldn’t help but feel the title was deeming in a sense, being second place to a beta. “It doesn’t Maya.”

“The how about my larger lover?” Maya tried for an alternative. “Or even my queen. But certainly not a fling.”

Lyza felt her heart skip a beat. She could feel her cheeks glowing red, a color made even more intense thanks to her pale skin.

“Well...queen certainly has a ring to it...”

“Then queen it is” Maya claimed with joy. “And if my queen wants, I can punish Six a bit. For saying your only just a fuck. Will you like that?”

She couldn’t deny that she did. Unfortunately she didn’t have the time to take part in such an activity.

“You’ll have to do that without me darling.” Lyza feigned sadness despite knowing Maya would go through with the betas punishment. “But don’t hurt him too much. He’s your first after all. Gotta show him you love him.”

“I hurt the things I love” Maya wanted to lunge forward and sink her teeth into Lyzas neck, leaving her own little ‘love mark’ in the process. It wouldn’t be the first time. But the older woman held her blue haired lover back long enough for them to cease their flirtatious behavior.

“You’ve proven that plenty of times. Unfortunately, I can’t risk any beauty marks like the one you have one your cheek.” Lyza stroke Mayas cheek, or to be more specific the bruise upon it, and stood from the couch. She retrieved the notepad and handed it to Maya, the latter of whom took notice of the various street names that populated lower Los Demonios.

“You’ll have to do the collecting without me.” Lyza explained. “I have an image I’d like to maintain, and I wouldn’t be caught dead hanging around in those slums.”

“Riiiight” Maya chuckled. “This isn’t just because you don’t wanna waste time looking right?”

Lyza didn’t bother answering, already making her way to the apartment door. “I knew you’d understand Maya. Can always count on you.” Before she could leave all together Lyza turnedaround one final time. “Oh, and make sure to give Six some extra love okay? From me.”

Maya said nothing, instead turning to the closed door of her bedroom. “Six could do with some extra love.”

Inside the room and sitting on top of Mayas bed was Six, unaware and uncaring of what the two women were talking about. At least they left him with the decency of being left alone when asked. Or, at least Maya did. Six had the feeling that were it up to Lyza he’d be stuck in some container.

Probably a jar.

When he heard the living room door close his attention was drawn away from whatever thoughts he was having. He heard footsteps soon after, approaching the bedroom. His primary instinct was to flee. It always was. But logic dictated that it would do him no good. So he forced himself to sit, trying to appear as calm as physically possible. A feat made difficult given his minuscule stature. When Maya opened the door and made her way into the room that desire to run only grew.

Maya didn’t stop walking until she stood directly in front of him, her shadow absolutely engulfing the beta.

“A fucking fling Six? Really?” Maya exclaimed, clearly disappointed that after all this time he reverted back to his vulgar nature. “You know how much Lyza means to me. You had no right to say that.”

At the time he said it Six felt as though he had every right to say it. After what Lyza puts him through. After what Maya puts him through. He felt as if he were to be allowed anything it’d be bad mouthing the two people who constantly make his life the hell it is.

Before Six could say anything though Maya turned her back towards him before sitting besides him, almost sending the beta flying as a result.

“Six, we really need to talk.” Maya noted as she slowly began to remove her shirt.

Though he found himself fixated on the sight at first it wasn’t until Maya laid herself down that he started to understand the gravity of the situation.

“The hell kind of talk involves you undressing!?” Six shouted as he looked away from the rather spectacular sight.

That didn’t stop him from seeing Mayas pants getting tossed away as Maya did away with those as well.

“The fun kind.” Maya explained, the lascivious tone in her voice apparent.

Though he knew he shouldn’t turn around Six just couldn’t help himself. Who could, when faced with such a sight?

And it was a sight he’s seen many times before.

Maya was an attractive woman, of that there was no doubt. She worked hard to maintain her figure, the results of said work on full display for six.

Six tried to fight what at best was instinctual lust. Anyone could fall victim to it, and the beta was no different, his eyes falling right on Mayas sizable breasts. She was quick to take notice, swaying her chest back and forth to further lure Six her way.

“I know you like these babies Six. You used to love fondling them back in college. Tell you what, after our talk you can play with them? How does that sound?” Though she was speaking

Six was hardly able to hear her, his mind completely fixated on the two giant mounds. If he had a mouth still it would be watering. He was so fixated in fact that he hardly notice Mayas approaching hand until it was too late. Without a care she raised him up before dropping the beta upon her soft, bare stomach.

She sat upright slightly, so that she could see Six without disturbing his spot. Though her tone before held a hint of lust her expression clearly betrayed the emotion. She was serious. Dead serious in fact, her eyes seemingly unblinking as she looked at the half inch human.

“But that’s only after our talk.” Maya reminded. An almost playful smirk fixed itself on Mayas lips, her serious expression softening. “But if you wanna try something, I won’t stop you. I did promise Lyza I’d show you some extra love tonight.”

Though she was practically inviting him to explore the vast expanse that was her body Six wouldn’t take the risk. Not yet anyway, when Mayas moods were so quick to change from serious to flirtatious. Who knows what she’d do were he to take that risk.

So, just as Maya hoped, Six sat cross legged on her stomach. His expression seemed almost as serious as her previous one. It sent chills down the giantesses spine knowing that despite their difference in size he was able to give her such a look.

“Alright then Maya. Let’s talk”

"Well? Say what you have to say Maya."

Six sat with legs and arms crossed, his pink eyes looking up towards Mayas gigantic form. She was smiling, enjoying the sight of seeing one so small try to sound as big as possible. 

It was positively adorable to her.

But, for now anyway, she'd have to be serious. Or as serious as one could be when in their undergarments with a half inch human atop their stomach. 

"You and Lyza. I want the two of you to get along." Her voice was stern, as though this were a demand above all else. 

Six didn't waste any time in shooting it down however, already making his way for Mayas side to depart. "Not gonna happen!"

Maya, of course, knew that getting those two to get along was akin to putting shoes on a pig. A stubborn one. But when it came to her Six, the word no was something he rarely got away with.

Before he even had the chance to make it a few feet, relative to him, from where he had sat Mayas hand had cupped over him.

"We're not talking yet Six." The blue haired giantess insisted. "Not until we come to an agreement anyway."

Another agreement. Just what Six needed. And when the last few went SO swimmingly for him. He could already feel a foul taste in his non-existent mouth.

Six poked his head out from between Mayas fingers, the act looking comical to the giantess and forcing her to hide a smile behind her free hand. "Really? An agreement? Because you've been so fair with those?"

"More fair than you." Maya argued. "I understand you don't like what Lyza and I do. I really do. But have you thought about how we feel?"

Six's first thought was how that was her argument. How she could even think that, in any way, they were the victims. No matter how you viewed it, or sugar coated it, or watched it through stained glass, what they did was wrong.

The thought to come after was, as much as he hated to admit it, doubt. The words Lyza had told him. How he didn't have any choice in the matters they decided.

He abruptly threw that thought out of his head and pulled himself free of Mayas fingers. Thankfully she offered no resistance, Sixs tiny movements actually tickling her bare flesh. 

The sound of her giggling only helped to further his efforts, hers and Lyzas attitude over his apparent worth being his key motivation her. He knew he wouldn't be able to talk Maya out of her decision. Not after she was already set on her plans. But at the very least he could help to minimize the damage. 

And he knew just the way to do it.

Free from her fingers Six looked up towards Maya, a brief moment to look at her breasts, and waited for her eyes to fall on him. They were closed now, her hand stifling silent laughter as she tried to keep as serious as possible. When she finally did open her eyes and looked towards Six he did the one thing he knew would get her attention.

He turned his back towards her, and immediately the silent laughter stopped.

"What do you think you're doing?" Maya questioned, the most minor hint of annoyance in her voice. When she didn't get a reply her tone grew more serious. "Stop that."

The silent treatment. The one thing he knew would get her attention during their talks. It was a gamble, each and every time. Rarely did it pay off. When it did though Maya would focus her time on Six, getting back at him instead of looking for would be victims. It was a small sacrifice, but one that gave him so hope. 

Maya began to sit upright, her firm rising and causing Six to tumble downward. Right onto her black panties. 

She looked down on him, her hair acting as a sort of canopy to darken her face and intensify the blue of her eyes. It felt ad if some god were judging Six right now. Right so, a shiver ran down his spin as he turned his back towards Maya again-silently praying that his gamble would work.

"I said stop it." The way she said that. It made Sixs legs weak. 

"Just let this gamble fucking work " he silently prayed. "Please..."

Even when Maya pinned his small frame between her fingers he still remained as silent as he could. Even as he was brought into view of Mayas full face did he remain steadfast. 

"So, you really wanna do this then?" Maya questioned, not even a smile on her face. 

When was the last time he pulled this, she wondered. A few months back perhaps? What did she do then? 

"That's right..." Maya grinned as she placed a finger on her check as she reminisced over what happened last time. "I had to throw you up and into the sink last time. You really wanna go through that again?" 

Maya licked her teeth as emphasis, an act that would have made Six sweat bullets were it not for his bandage like skin. It didn't help that her canines were sharper than most, a fact she loved to point out as she pressed her tongue against them.

When she got no answer her grin faltered slightly. 

"Or maybe I can hide you in one of these cups." Maya gripped her black bra clad breast, groping it as she forced the beta to watch. "I bet you'd love that huh? Used to play with them back when you were normal sized."

When she got no reply once more Maya began grinding her teeth. Six was really going the extra mile to annoy her it would seem. 

"Or maybe~..." Maya brought her free hand towards the straps of her panty, lowering them just enough to give Six an idea of what she had planned. "Maybe you wouldn't mind swimming in my snatch~?"

That elicited a reaction. For a moment she saw Six lose his composure, his tiny eyes and arms looking for a way to escape. His eyes fell on Maya, her lips curled into an almost cat like smile. 

"I'll be honest, I really hope that's the case. Been a solid year since we had a good fucking~."

She could see he was breathing faster now, hyperventilating. Six would do this back when he was normal sized too, when the two of them dated in their college years. It was adorable to see he never really grew out of that. A force of habit for someone who didn't really need to breath. 

"You're cute when you're scared...you know that right?" Maya tapped her cheek as she looked at the squirming beta. "Really just wanna play with you more. Especially when you're being such a little shit..."

Maya pinched Six's diminutive form harder, eliciting a pained grunt from him.

"Didn't like that did we?" Maya teased. "Too bad. Until you decide this little tantrum of yours is over we'll just keep playing like this."

Six found it rather amusing how she called his actions a tantrum. Especially when she was the one trying to break his composure. Maya thought she did too, until Six painfully crossed his arms again, even going as far as to close his eyes to ignore her.

"Six!" She sounded more like an annoyed child now. One that didn't get exactly what they wanted. "Look, I'm not asking a lot from you. Just get along with Lyza. Please?"

It was funny how she still thought that was his reason for being so silent now. For Six it was deeper than that. The fact that he was forced to partake in things he hated, no matter his say in them. Lyza was just one piece of the problem. He wanted Maya to see that. To learn that.

Six opened his eyes slightly, only so that he could say a single word. 

"No"

Maya wanted to bang her head against a wall. Six could, at times, be too frustrating to deal with even for her. 

"Your half an inch tall! How are you this fucking stubborn?!" Maya didn't expect an answer, and when she didn't receive one she dropped Six back onto her stomach as she crossed her own arms in frustration.

For a long while the two of them said nothing to one another, Maya no longer resorting to threats to getting what she wanted. 

Six continued as he did before, waiting for the moment he would be allowed to leave. 

"I know you hate your life..." Maya finally said. "And I know you hate me..."

The beta turned to face her only to find her eyes hidden behind her left hand. She was gritting her teeth, almost as if she were in great pain. "I know you hate me more than you do Lyza. Why wouldn't you...I'm the reason why you're like this."

Maya wasn't snapping, that much was clear to Six. But her breathing was increasing. It was as if she was breaking down. 

"I regretted killing you, you know..." She admitted. "I really did. You were the first person I actually liked. You were someone who made me happy, when the only other thing that did that was a dead body. You were special..."

Tears began to flow from Mayas hand, slow at first that steadily became a stream. It was enough to cause a tinge of guilt to form within Six. 

"And then Lyza came into the picture and i felt that wonderful spark all over again. Why? Why is it so hard to be with the two people I actually care about?"

Six started to scale Mayas stomach, the giantesses flesh providing surprising footing for the half inch man as he moved forward. "Maya...look...i..."

He didn't know what to say. While he wasn't aware of her regret over trying to kill him, putting him in this humiliating position to begin with, she was right about one thing. 

He did hate her. Lyza too. 

So why did he feel sorry?

"Maya, look I'll try and get on Lyza's good side okay? Just...don't cry."

He's actually never seen her cry before. When they dated he was, as embarrassing as it is, the one who tried during movies. Even during the three years he was captured he's yet to see Maya cry.

And for some reason he couldn't explain, he didn't like it. Not in the slightest. 

Her tears kept coming but Maya removed her hand to get a good look at Six. He was standing just below her breasts, the two blobs seeming so big when compared to his minuscule form. Yet that was hardly where her thoughts were.

Maya had lost the taste for punishing him this night, even hesitating when she brought her hand forward to pet him. 

"This is what we'll do Six" the way she spoke was very monotone now. She seemed exhausted now as to how she was only minutes prior.

"I'm going to leave you with Lyza tomorrow. The whole day. During that time I'm gonna be picking out the betas she and I planned on capturing. Is that fine?"

Of course it wasn't. Not in the slightest. Despite that Six couldn't find it in himself to tell her no. Her eyes were red from crying and her voice sounded hoarse. 

"Of course it is Maya."

She didn't buy it. Not one bit. But she was too tired to argue. 

Instead she held her hand towards Six, waiting for the beta to step into it before setting him down on the bed. 

With him safely out of the way Maya laid down herself, turning her back towards the beta. 

"Then if we got nothing more to say I'd very much like to sleep..."

There was no invitation to join her. No appeal to bring him into her embrace. Six was left to do whatever he pleased. 

Something he didn't expect considering recent events. 

"If that's what you want Maya then alright."

No response save for a small shuffle from the giantess. Not a word was spoken. 

Six wasn't sure if Maya was pissed at him but he did know one thing.

This was not how he expected their talk to go.

“Dammit...” no matter how hard Six tried he just couldn't fall asleep. He had been trying to for the past several hours, yet his mind proved to active for such a thing.

His thoughts continued to go towards Maya. Their talk left more of an impression on him then he had realized.

“Fucking...shit”

He hated admitting it but he didn't like the sight of Maya crying. Not in the slightest. Worst still was that he had no idea as to why.

He hated her, she had gotten that right. She has the reason he was stuck at half an inch. If it wasn't for Maya he'd still be a normal human being. He’d still have a life.

Six held his hands to the sides of his head. It hurt. All this thinking made his head hurt.

“But would it be a life worth living?”

He recalled the state he was in around the time he and Maya had begun dating. On the surface things seemed fine, at least to those who didn't know him. Regular, ever day person.

Again, that was only on the surface.

A snore tore the beta from his thoughts. Soft, barely noticeable to someone of regular height. But to a half inch beta it was enough to startle him.

Unlike Six Maya had no trouble falling himself, having found herself rightly exhausted after the twos talk.

Six envied how easily she could sleep despite what had happened. If only he could be more like her in that regard. Done with an argument and sleeping it off as though the entire thing hardly mattered.

“Just like me...” Six held his head as such words stuck to him. For reasons obvious Lyzas words continued to ring throughout his mind. How he didn't have any choice.

“Maybe she’s right...” Six wondered. He doubt his argument with Maya did anything to dissuade her from going out and hunting down suitable other shrunken betas for hers and Lyzas enjoyment. Really, if anything, their fight only helped to encourage her to proceed and find as many as she could. All perhaps in an attempt to spite her one and only.

Her one and only. that name sent so many emotions through Six that he often had trouble discerning them all.

Of course there was disgust, holding a certain hate for it for obvious reasons. To be recognized as someone apparently so close to Maya. Six was grateful that he lacked a mouth, otherwise there were times when he believed he’d have thrown up from being called it so many times.

Yet despite the disgust there was something else. Just beneath all the other emotions there was a faint flicker of one that confused him. It peeked through only briefly when the beta had reminded that no matter how hard she tries hell always be Mayas one and only.

Pride. It was plain for any to see that that was the emotion he felt in that moment. To see her wounded just as she constantly attempted to belittle him. Six wondered how small Lyza felt in that moment.

“Well, it still can’t be any smaller than I am.” he remarked. Looking towards the sleeping form of Maya acted as a powerful reminder of just how small Six was when compared to his apparent competition.

The scale of something so large always did well to remind Six of his supposed place in the world. As Maya and Lyzas property. Though he was successful in wounding Lyzas pride for awhile his was still in no better condition.

Though that didn’t seem to bother him at the moment as he looked onward towards the sleeping giantesses.

It was no different then all the other times Maya’s displayed it for him. But whereas he was doing his best to ignore her hours prior now he had no feeling for such things. They weren’t necessary now that she was asleep. As such Six held no issue in looking as long as he was able.

Horrible killer though she may be Maya still had many assets that worked extremely well for her. And they were all in full display.

“God, what is wrong with me?” Six wondered as he walked closer. Maya was asleep on her back, her whole body spread out and ready to be explored. “Am I really considering this?”

Every inch of Six’s body was telling him that what he had planned was a monumentally bad idea, especially should Maya wake up.

But he couldn’t help but be drawn forward toward the island of a woman. He’d never get tired of this sight.

“Alright…okay Six. Let’s do this.” he was psyching himself up as he made his way towards Mayas left hand. As the closest it would be perfect to begin his ‘climb’. Black painted nails were the first thing he saw and immediately he felt a lump in his throat.

Thinking on it now, this would be the first time he’s ever walked across Mayas body without her knowledge.

“So many first times lately...” Six thought as he took the first step. If he had hair they’d be standing on end right about now. This felt like a bad idea. Like a really bad idea. Six had no way of knowing how Maya would react if she found him like this.

Would she be pissed, or sultry? Both were something the beta would rather avoid.

The skin on Maya’s arm was smooth. It always was. She did take great care in moisturizing. There was a pleasant smell as well which paired nicely with her fair skin. It seemed to glow with what little sun poked through the shaded windows of the bedroom. It helped to remind Six that despite the sleeping giants arm he walked upon it was still well into the day.

It just showed how well Maya could progress despite having their previous argument weigh on her, sleeping with little to no trouble.

“You really are something else Maya.” Six eventually made it to the top of Maya’s arm, walking onto the wider expanse of her body. He couldn’t help but whistle as the first thing he laid his eyes on were her massive breasts. He ceased the moment Maya shifted in her sleep, afraid he had woken her up. When instead she moved the very arm he walked upon and laid it over her stomach did his nerves sooth themselves.

Maya moaned in her sleep, her breathing increasing as her chest rose.

“Please don’t be a wet dream...” That would be a rather harrowing issue should Maya decide to wake up now. Thankfully her breathing settled down, much to Six’s relief.

As her chest feel so too did Six. It was incredible to experience, the rising of falling of the chest through simple, natural actions. It had admittedly distilled an appreciation of the human form for Six. There were so many things fascinating of it.

None more so then the two mounds that beckoned for Six to come closer.

Before, Maya had said that they were some of Six’s favorite things to handle when he was of normal height. And she was right. He would grope them back then, during the twos more intimate moments.

Even now, when they were larger than he was tall, he couldn’t deny that they still looked as captivating as ever. Against every bit of sound judgment Six made his way towards the orbs of pleasure. The closer he got the more he could hear the beating of Mayas heart. It was soothing. So much so that whatever worries Six had prior were steadily melted away.

He couldn’t see her face, not from where he stood. But should he find a good vantage point…

“No.” Six quickly shook those thoughts clear from his head. “Start thinking with some sense, not your dick.” A shame he no longer possessed one.

Despite his will to fight against such thoughts it wasn't long until he was standing in between the valley that was Mayas breasts.

With their size and the little light that spilled into the room combined it made it appear as though Six truly were stuck within a valley, with walls of flesh covered in black cloth.

Maya’s bra of choice made for rather comfortable padding. A definite change in pace when compared to her soft skin.

Six has been here so many times before, yet now felt different. Maya had no knowledge of his presence here. Most times he was at her mercy, but were something to happen here it would be because of her unaware motions. Any and every action would go without the normal care practiced to ensure no real harm came to the beta.

For all her unawareness Maya held more power with Six in this position then any other time prior.

“People tend to forget that...” Six thought. “Real power is the kind that’s mindlessly exerted. There’s no intent behind it. There’s only action. Nothing’s held back.”

In that regard Lyza was more skillful than Maya, and as Six rest a hand upon Mayas right tit did he wonder what it would be like were she awake. Would she let Six enjoy herself, letting her body go about its normal functions without taking part? Or would she toy with Six as she normally did, controlling every aspect of what would happen to him?

The thought excited him and Six found shame in that. “God, look at me. Thinking about how she’d react were she awake when I was so scared only minutes ago. I really am just a pest aren’t I?”

There was no time to feel sorry for himself however as before Six could decide where next to explore Maya had grown uncomfortable in her position, her sleeping shape deciding to move to its side.

This unfortunately had the effect of sandwiching Six between literal tons of boob flesh.

Mayas transition was gentle, her body taking great care as to not ruin her sleep. As such Six found himself in no real danger other then the ever increasing pressure, a miner issue thanks to his rather unbreakable body.

Her body was warm despite her lack of clothing. Another effect of being so small next to someone so large.

Much to both his surprise and luck Six found himself position in just the right spot to have his head peak out from between Mayas tits.

“Wonderful. I’m so lucky.” Sarcasm wouldn’t do him any favors in this position. Six knew that. But even venting a little helped whatever tension he felt.

“So much for exploring though...”

Any attempt at an escape would no doubt cause some sort of irritation for the giantess and would only serve to make the situation worse for him. Though it wasn’t as if he was even able to make such an attempt. For all intents and purposes he was without a doubt trapped, unable to even move his arms.

“At least it’s comfortable...” Maya never had overly large breasts. They’ve always been average in size, only appearing gargantuan thanks to Sixs diminutive stature. Still bigger than Lyzas though.

Six chuckled at that thought. “Yeah, there’s no contest there. Lyza’s almost flat as a board. It’s a wonder I never slide between them when she sticks me there.”

A sudden squeeze increased the pressure Six faced. Maya was moaning again, this time pressing her arms against her breasts, squishing the beta between them as a result.

“Dammit Maya...just what are you dreaming about?”

She was giggling in her sleep, and though he couldn’t see it Six had the feeling that she was smiling.

“Well...whatever it is...” With no place to go Six’s thoughts went back to their prior argument and beyond. He remembered her laugh, back from their college days. Back from when they first met and Maya had just begun to talk with them. Her laugh back then was very much the same as the giggle now. It sounded innocent despite coming from one so dangerous. But Six didn’t see the danger. Not then, and not now.

Why didn’t he see the danger now?

“Whatever you’re dreaming about Maya, I hope it’s nice.” Six felt his own eyes grow heavy. The softness of Mayas breasts was apparently what he needed to feel the effects of sleep take over. And still so early into the day too.

He had to admit, it felt rather nice. Despite what’s happened as of late it seemed as though such things didn’t matter. Not at those moment.

“Just a moment of peace...” It was something Six had admittedly missed for quite some time. It felt like his life was so hectic now. Moving from one scene to the next with little direction or route.

But he supposed that’s how life is generally. You can’t plan for everything. Sometimes you just need to roll with it, regardless of how you feel. And those brief moments of peace are the ones you should cherish the most because you never know when the next will come.

This moment of peace, it was enough to almost make the past few days almost bearable.

Six didn’t wanna be rid of such things so easily. “Alright Maya...you win. I’ll try and get along with Lyza.” Though he knew she couldn’t hear him it was still something he’d try and follow through with.

He didn’t know when he’d be able to feel so peaceful next, so he’d do what he can to at least avoid senseless suffering. There was still the matter of the coming victims, but seeing as they weren’t exactly here yet then it was by no means his concern.

He’ll cross that bridge when he gets there.

Slowly but surely Six was successfully drifting in and out of sleep. His last few moments of consciousness were spent looking up from his positon and towards Maya. From where he was now he could only barely make out the details of Maya’s face. There were still some semblances of dried away tears.

“I’m sorry...” Six was finally falling under, the softness of Maya's flesh doing wonders in pushing the beta towards sleep. “I’m sorry...for making you cry...”

When finally it was certain that Six was well and truly deep in slumber did Maya finally open her eyes.

She looked down at the sleeping beta, a soft smile spreading across her lips. It wasn’t a victorious smile, but more a kind and gentle one. She moved to lay on her back once more, taking great care as to not disturb her Six.

Maya looked at him so lovingly that she couldn’t resist the urge to pet the betas head softly. He was so small, and seemed so fragile in between her breasts. But she knew he was stronger than he thought. Otherwise she wouldn’t have been so hurt by the thought that he’d hate her.

But seeing his regret. Seeing his guilt. It caused her heart to soar. Staying still as he explored her body was one of the harder things she’s done in a long while. She just wanted to take him in her hand and kiss his little body, to feel her entire lips cover it.

“Oh my sweet Six~.” Still Maya had to resist the temptation to scoop up her little beta lover. “You’re so cute when you’re genuine~.”

She heard everything he said. She was more than happy that he regretted hurting her. And happier still to hear that he’d give Lyza a chance.

To her it meant that she still had an opportunity to whittle away his resentment of her and finally make him hers.

Truly hers.

“I know you hate me~.” Maya cooed. She continued to pet the betas head, her immensely gentle touch working to help him relax. “I know you hate Lyza too. But I promise, when everything’s said and done, you’ll love us both.”

Maya felt a chill run down the nape of her neck. Her pupils shrank as her eyes seemed to gloss over. She grinned widely, the canines of her teeth on full display as she smiled at the sleeping beta. Though her touch remained as gentle as before her entire demeanor changed to one of sadistic desire.

“But for your sake you better love me more~.”

“Dull...overdone...disgusting.”

The day proved to be a rather troublesome one for Lyza, who for many hours was forced to look over document after document, one failed attempt at a clothing line after the next made her question the intelligence of the people under her employ and made her wish she could simply fire them for their ineptitude.

But despite their failures, every so often one of them would strike gold. Something she could be proud to display in her line of clothing. Unfortunately those were getting fewer and further in between each unveiling and upon looking at the photo of a particularly painful dress Lyza had to set the folder aside to keep her nerves calm.

“Maybe Maya’s willing to get rid of some regular sized people for me...” she mused. It wouldn’t be the first time, though no matter how many bodies Maya dropped there seemed to be no shortage of idiots in this world or under her management.

Lyza rubbed her temple in frustration. The amount of times she wished her employees to be shrunk and placed before her, all so she could give them a lesson she wouldn’t forget, would be more than she’d care to publicly admit. They weren’t betas. Not yet anyway. Right now Lyza was considering holding her employees pink powdered remedy as ransom just to get something of worth from them.

That powder came along with their paychecks. It prevented anyone of normal height from being turned to betas so long as they continued to take it at timely intervals. Once a month for some, a week for others.

It had a name, but Lyza hardly cared to remember it. All she cared about was how much money it had brought her. She hated the stuff. Tasted like chalk to her. But she knew value when she saw it. When it was unveiled several years back and shown how they could prevent one from shrinking along with granting a beta more respectable height, she knew she had to invest.

Ever since then she’s held a sizable amount of the stuff, and as such always held a sizable amount of staff. It was a good lure.

Unfortunately, no matter how much of the stuff she had it seemed to never bring in anyone with even an iota of talent or sense.

Unable to deal with any other crimes against fashion Lyza stood from her seat once she noticed her mug of coffee was empty.

It was early. Too early to be troubled so much. Yet here she was, only her sixth cup. It’s been that way since the day prior.

Leaving Maya’s apartment Lyza had expected her workday to be uneventful. She believed nothing of importance would rear its head. Oh, how wrong she was. The moment she stepped through her office doors she was bombard with quotas yet to be met, lack of communication between staff and failure upon failure of designs. She hadn’t left the damn building in well over twenty-four hours. Any sleep she got was through resting her head on her desk.

“Fucking idiots...all of them”

At the very least one of them had the bright idea of recommending a coffee maker in her office. Good kid, poor fashion sense. Almost hurt to let him go a few months back.

She needed a break. A vacation. Looking down at the freshly brewed cup of Joe revealed her reflection in the brown liquid.

The shadows around her eyes had gotten worse. To the point where she very much doubted that they’d ever go away. And her skin had taken on a ghastly, ghost-like appearance. A result from being locked up for so long because of work.

“Only thirty-two and already the only thing I’m missing is the gray hair from stress. Oh yes, a vacation would do me wonders right about now...” Lyza cracked her neck as she placed a pink cube within the cup, waiting for it to dissolve before she took a sip.

Her face grimaced at the taste. “Chalky...”

She held her breath as she drank the whole thing in one go. It hardly burned, and even if she did she’d prefer that over the taste.

Lyza had to admit, she was rather envious of Maya’s status as an Alpha. They didn’t have to worry about intakes of the powder or powder-based products. They didn’t have to worry about shrinking if they missed their intake day.

No they were more than fine to live without that worry.

Unlike Lyza. Whereas some had to worry once a month or week Lyza wasn’t afforded that luxury. Ironic when she could afford so much more.

A single day, that was all she had. She needed a daily intake of that damn powder, otherwise she’d be just another useless Beta.

She found the prospect humiliating, to be reduced to such a ridiculous range of sizes. Some were lucky, only gaining the characteristics of bleached hair and red or pink eyes, along with the trademark lines that decorate their bodies. Those rare few managed to retain the majority of their original height, only shrinking a few inches down. Other however were not so lucky.

Lyza feared that she would fall in the latter group, being reduced to such a pitiable state.

The simple though was enough to get her to eat a pink cube by itself, the idea that an extra helping would do anything in preventing such a fate. She knew better though, by the next day she’d have to take another. Then repeat the next day. And then the day after. Again and again if she wanted to remain “normal”.

For the most part she’s been successful in preventing her own shrinking, her desire to avoid it all together being her greatest aid. But her efforts had the unfortunate effect of tiring her almost as much as her work.

Lyza placed her cup down before making her way back to her desk. As soon as she sat down she wanted nothing more than to fall asleep. She’s had well more than enough for the day. She wanted only for it to end. “I’m so tired.”

A ringing from her pants suddenly broke Lyzas sulking, her attention immediately being drawn to her phone. She prayed it wasn’t another business partner of her wishing to know why she and her company have been so quiet in contacting them. Another load of work she was forced to compile beforehand were she to have received such a call.

Lyza smiled as soon as she saw the number of the caller, hoping that there’d finally be news she could look forward to.

“Well hel-lo beautiful~. How nice of you to call. I’m hoping it’s for good reason.”

To even hear Maya’s voice after the day she’s had was enough to lift Lyzas spirits. The idea that the blue haired killer likely had new “toys” for the two of them to use sent said spirit spiraling.

Though just as quickly her spirits had been lifted they were immediately brought down by Mayas request.

“You want me to what?”

Thirty minutes later Maya was standing in front of Lyzas desk as the latter sat and waited as though she were their disgruntled boss.

“Just until tomorrow!” Maya pleaded. “That’ll be more than enough time for me to collect enough people.”

Lyza thought over Mayas request while also making sure to glance down at the half inch beta sitting cross legged on her desk.

“Mm... just enough time for him to give me another Migraine. And you’re certain you can’t take him?”

“Positive.” Maya affirmed. “Think of it like this, I can focus more if Six’s here with you. He won’t get in my way, complain, whine, his usual thing. And after tomorrow we’ll have plenty to play with.”

Maya leaned forward, getting as close to Lyzas face as her desk would allow. “And he promised me he’d at least try to get along with you. Isn’t that right Six?”

The Beta was cast in Mayas shadow as a result of her position. It was to force a proper answer from him but already he knew it wouldn’t be needed. He already made that promise to himself.

“She’s right, I did.” Six answered as he stood up. “Today I’ll do my best not to get on your nerves. Maybe even get on your good side, unlikely as it is.”

Lyza wasn’t convinced but shrugged at the request. “Fine. Too much to do anyway to even care about what he does. So long as he doesn’t get in my way he can stay.”

“Thank you!” Maya threatened to throw everything off of Lyzas desk as she climbed over it to hug the older woman. “I promise he’ll be on his best behavior. Isn’t that right Six?”

A simple thumbs up was his only response.

“Sure he will.” Lyza chuckled. “But don’t you have something to do? Something that doesn’t involve distracting me from MY work?”

May pulled herself away to better distance herself from Lyza. She was right, they still needed to go about collecting. And the longer Maya stayed here the more likely she’d end up being distracted.

“You’re right Lyza. you’re right. And I’ll do that right now, but can you promise me that YOU’LL behave too? If Six is trying then I expect you to as well”

Lyza groaned in annoyance. “Fine. I promise I won’t hurt him.”

“That’s a very malleable claim.” Six chimed in, only to be tapped on his head by Lyzas index finger.

“Good. Good! That’s great!” Maya seemed more excitable than usual. So much so that it was obviously apparent to Lyza. Not until Maya was already making her way for the door, waving Six and Lyza bye before leaving for her own duties.

“Does she seem...giddier to you?” Lyza asked the already sulking Six.

“She’s probably just glad that we’re gonna try to get along.” Six explained. “It’s nothing you need to concern yourself with. Best not to dwell on it.”

Six stayed true to his promise, doing his best not to get in Lyzas way as she resumed her work. But with not much else to both concern and distract her from it she soon found herself annoyed after reviewing even more failures of attempts at design.

It grew to the point where she was forced to tear up a photo for fear that she’d lose her mind if she had to look at another.

*God, does no body have an eye for detail!? Everyone has to rush the finished product; nobody ever cares to take their damn time in making sure it’s at least presentable!”

Her frustration was rather hard to ignore, especially for Six as he had now made it a little game of his to try and piece together the photos she’s torn to shreds.

When he finally did however he couldn’t help but whistle at the disaster in front of him. “Well would you look at this train wreck. Someone really doesn’t care about their job if they gave this for you to review.”

Lyza swatted away the pieces of the photo, not wanting to look at it longer then she needed to. “Don’t even remind me Six. The color looks like a fucking cone, none of the colors match, and it’s so fucking big that even someone my size would get lost in it.”

“Looks like something a struggling celebrity would wear if they were desperate to be noticed again...”

Lyza slumped back into her seat wishing that she could just burn all the failed clothing her company has produced. “It does, and unfortunately it’s one of the better things here. I mean just look at these.”

Lyza threw three different photos of models wearing clothes made by her employees, each one more horrendous then the last. One seemed akin to a giant ice cream cone; another was so transparent that the model may as well have been naked. The last was just a trash bag with hole for the arms and legs for all Lyza could care.

“Terrible. Each and every one is terrible.”

Six looked between each of the pictures, jumbling his words as he tried to find a way to voice his own thoughts as kindly as possible. When that wasn’t possible he instead said what they both knew.

“Nope. Yeah, they’re disasters.”

Lyza held her head in her hands, feeling an urge to cry at the atrocities. “Everyone has that mindset where they think they’ll “revolutionize the industry”. But really they don’t have a clue as to what they’re doing. It’s frustrating.”

Six continued looking over the designs before an idea sparked. “Well the cone has a fairly good color combination, blue and white. And I’m certain I can baaarely see the outline of the transparent outfit. You got a pen?”

Not even wishing to argue Lyza simply complied, holding a pen far larger than Six can hold and gliding it over the photo and where Six directed. The outfit that was barely visible was given an outline for something that was actually presentable. At least more so than the other failures Lyza was given.

“It’s a... suit?”

“The fancy kind.” Six explained. “You can swap over the colors from the cone and onto this one. Can keep the materials around the arms faded though. But everything else you can fill in. Maybe go for a more breathable material when making the whole think. The faded area around the arm would help to keep them cool out in the heat or crowded events.”

Lyza thought on it for a minute, visualizing what Six had in mind before a smile spread across her lips. She was genuinely impressed. “It’s basic as hell, but it’s still leagues better than the other things idiots around the world have made. Not bad at all bug. Got quite the eye, don’t you?”

Six shrugged, unsure of how to take Lyzas compliment. It’s one of the rare few times she’s ever complimented him. “Well...being so small helps one notice the little things I guess.”

The amount of times she’s actually heard that from Beta’s who’ve tried to join her company are more then she cares to remember. She’s seen firsthand that such a claim is only a myth. Stupidity and ineptitude come in all shapes and sizes.

“I don’t buy it.” Lyza admitted as she raised her legs over her desk, right foot over her left. Whether this was simple relaxation or intimidation didn’t matter to Six. He wouldn’t ask for fear of giving her any ideas. The sight of Lyzas gigantic heels only worked to keep his question to himself.

“You ever designed anything Six?” Lyza asked, swaying her right foot back and forth in an almost hypnotizing manner. “You certainly got some potential. Not much, but it’s there.”

It was certainly intimidation now. Six was certain of it. A certainty that only grew once Lyza removed her heels, displaying her bare feet in front of the half inch Beta.

“I fucking swear this lady switches moods like a damn coin!”. Six could only keep to his thoughts as he knew, should he break his promise, Maya would likely hear of it. So instead he kept as calm as one could when faced with feet large enough to cast you in their shadow.

“It’s not something I need to hide.” Six clarified. “Don’t gotta threaten me.”

Maya rested her soles at the edge of her desk, laying her arms on her knees as she eyed Six. “You know I can’t resist threatening you~. But a promise is a promise. Still, I wanna know, do you actually know anything about design?”

“Not design...” Six admitted as he rubbed the back of his head. “I used to take art back in college, and I’ve been thinking a lot about those days recently. Lot of the stuff we used to do back then was analyze dresses, suits, things like that. Personally I never saw the point of it but…”

Six shrugged, having always chalked up the knowledge he retained as useless considering his predicament. It was more a miracle that he remembered anything at all.

“But nothing Six. I won’t say you have a gift or natural talent for it, but you certainly got some common sense. And really, in this day and age, that’s a helluva lot more valuable that talent.”

Six wasn’t certain if Lyza was egging him on but she sounded...genuine. Odd, especially when it was him she was speaking too.

“Alright...who are you and what have you done with Lyza?”

Lyza chuckled at Six’s joke, not even realizing that he was being entirely serious. “Relax Six. It’s just a little bit of praise. It won’t kill you.”

“Coming from you it might.”

Lyza drummed her fingers against her chin, wondering how best she could use this revelation of skills to her advantage.

Perhaps there would be something to bear fruit from this troublesome day after all.

Lyza rested her hand besides Six, requesting the Beta to step upon it. Once he did Maya went about placing more photos on desk, all horrible and all in dire need of revision.

“Think you can help me with a few more?”

The streets were bustling, much to Mayas annoyance. Too many people, too many witnesses. She hated working in broad daylight but also knew the streets would all be empty by night. That fault fell on her. Too many bodies have popped up, some because she didn't properly hide them. It made Lyzas list all but pointless since she couldn’t find a single Beta.

"I’ve gotten sloppy..."

With a sigh she surveyed the area as she walked amongst the crowd of people, none of them wise to the plans her and Lyza had in store.

"It's not like I'd be able to ask anyone..." She thought. "Really they should all be grateful for that kind of opportunity. If they continued to live like this..." Maya watched as people talked and bickered over pointless things. She watched as the homeless were ignored and forgotten. She saw people go about mundane lives for pointless reasons. "Whatever happens to them is pretty much a mercy."

Los Demonios, a beautiful city only on the outside. Walk through its streets and you'll see just how dirty it really was. How else could a killer like her have managed to escape capture for so long?

She saw a businessman on what was no doubt an important call and already knew just where to cut to get him to bleed out. She saw an old elderly couple and knew just how hard she needed to turn their necks to hear the snap.

She knew how to kill and how to do it well. She's killed so many people in so many ways and she'd be the first to admit that it's begun to get repetitive. Not to the point where she'd stop but just enough that she was getting bored.

It was hard to find enjoyment in killing regular sized people now. Her interests continued to fall upon the diminished. Those who were most affected by the epidemic. The Betas.

Low on the social ladder, it didn't matter if they were rich or poor, young, or old, obese or fit. If you were a Beta you were soon to be a victim of criticism. But if you were a Beta and only a few inches tall, then your old life was effectively over. You'd always need to treat yourself with Antilirin, the miraculous pink powder that reverses the effects of shrinking. Doesn't do away with the pale skin and strange lines upon it. Nor did it turn the bleached hair and red eyes of a Beta back to normal. All it did was give someone their height back, but only for a time. Some needed to take it once a month, others once a week. Rarer still were those who took it once a day, like Lyza.

Such a miraculous little drug- concocted by Saint Minerva, the miracle mind behind the "cure". Maya wondered how the world would react if they the beloved martyr Josephine Minerva was behind the epidemic several years ago, or what they would think if they found out Saint Minerva was strangled to death by a certain blue haired killer.

Mayas lips curled upwards into a smile. Back them she had lost herself in the moment and killed what would have potentially been an amazing little toy. The rich ones, the powerful ones, always struggled the best. As though their statuses still held some sort of merit when so small.

Maya almost drooled when recall how she kept a lawyer trapped in her shoes after she took up running thanks to a shrewd commit by Lyza in regard to her weight. Poor little girl suffered through a heat stroke. Must've never been active before in her life.

Another, a CEO, she tossed in her mouth and sucked on him ad though he were candy. Didn't taste like anything sure, Betas never do, but his struggles kept her entertained for hours on end. Even up until the point where she had effectively licked him raw and red.

But those were kind kills, at least in her eyes. The kind of kills where she barely did anything other than exist around them. Fun to recall but dreadfully dull when enacting, especially when you’re as busy as her.

Her favored forms on executions came when her victims refused to settle down, only thrashing around more when she warned them.

And when those warnings went ignored she'd tear off a limb or two to gain the compliance of others. Heads would be crushed with the most minimal of squeezes and she even go so far as to chew any that still had fight alive before presenting their mashed remains to their friends. The expressions that always followed never failed to elicit a laugh from Maya.

Apparently the simple act of reminiscing was enough to force one from between Mayas lips as she noticed the concerned gazes of a few unaware passerby’s.

She waved them off, saying that all she recalled was a funny joke. Just like drones they went back to their daily lives, none even giving the blue haired woman a second thought as to why she laughed in the middle of the sidewalk.

Maya exhaled, the notion that she's failed to capture even a single Beta weighing down heavily on her mind.

"They're hiding particularly well today."

Or at least the little ones were. There were many large Betas about, but those weren't her target. Usually they were our scavenging at night, those who couldn't find a place to live. Again though, even that was starting to become difficult.

Maya was beginning to think this day would probe fruitless, that was until she saw, several yards in front of her, a man almost trip over himself before he started cussing at his feet. He took on large step forward, stepping over the seemingly three-inch beta that nearly cause him to fall over.

They were shaken up by the near death experience apparently, having remained in the same spot up until Maya walked towards them.

Female and young. A teenager perhaps. And judging by their tattered clothes homeless as well. Poor thing must've lost her home or couldn't find her way back to it. The possibility that she was thrown out was also on the table. So many ways this Beta could have ended up here.

Not like it mattered, however. Right now she was exactly where she needed to be.

The young girl was frightened at first upon seeing Maya bend down, offering her an open hand to stand on. But once she saw Mayas smile that fear seemed to melt away.

"Are you alright?"

Mayas blue eyes lulled the Beta into an odd sense of peace, her smile seemed to sooth her spirit. She seemed different from the people who looked at her. They saw her as though she were an insect. But when she looked into Mayas eyes she found that wasn't the case her. Maya saw her as something else.

"I-i'm good..." The Beta answered through a shakey voice. Even as she was lifted into the air she kept her calm.

Maya seemed different when compared to the other citizens of Los Demonios, and that wasn't just cause of her attire. A red button up shirt and black jeans, along with matching dress shoes. Paired with her tied back hair and Maya gave off a professional look while also maintaining to appear kind and considerate.

"I'm so glad to hear that." Maya had already continued her walk, now with a prize in hand.  "You poor little things are always in so much danger. You must be insane to walk about in such a crowded area?"

"Not insane..." The woman corrected. "Starving"

Maya showed genuine concern when she saw just how emaciated they were. Through what little clothing they had Maya could see ribs and bones. A shame as upon looking at the Beta Maya could easily tell that they were very beautiful once.

"Poor dear, you really are starving." Maya pondered for a moment before smiling. "Lucky for you I know an incredible little restaurant that serves an amazing crab bisque."

The teenage Beta quickly found herself salivating at the thought of real food and not the scraps she was usually forced to scavenge for. So lost was she in the thought that she didn't have time to even think about refusing Mayas invitation as the giantess quickly shot that down.

"I won't take no as an answer mind you. You're nothing but skin and bones right now. Why, we just need to do something about that."

Mayas voice was as soothing as can be, filling the Beta with only a sense of security.

"Do you have a name?" Maya asked. "Or should I just call you little thing?"

"I-it's Caroline." The Beta answered. "Caroline Marks."

"Delilah Basque" Maya replied as she extended a finger towards Caroline for them to shake. "It's a pleasure to meet you Caroline. You have a lovely name."

Over an hour later Maya was happily watching as Caroline helped herself to a spoonful of bisque, the three-inch Beta slurping up the large quantity before she was offered more. She didn't refuse, the food being more then she's had in weeks.

"Is it good?" Maya asked with a smile. She truly did enjoy watching as Caroline gorged herself.

"Amazing!" Caroline shouted in between mouthfuls. "Thank you Delilah! Thank you so much!"

As Coraline continued with her meal Maya could only reminisce over how she had acquired her current name. Delilah Basque, the real one, was a cruel woman. Someone from Mayas own childhood in fact. Old, vindictive, and took joy in bringing misfortune upon a young Maya and her family.

Maya smiled as she remembered the last time she saw the old hag. She was older by then, of course. And she had a better understanding of how to dispose of evidence by then.

The old hag's still reported as missing.

"So, what's your story Caroline?" Maya asked, breaking her own train of thought. "Judging by the way you eat I'd imagine you've been on your own for a very long time."

Caroline ceased eating the moment Maya asked. The next second she was shaking, as though the memories that arose in regard to Mayas question terrified her.

"Oh no no, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to!" Maya assured. "I didn't know it was such a sensitive topic for you. I didn't think."

It took Caroline quite a few minutes to calm herself down, the whole while Maya looked on in worry. When finally the Beta looked up at her the blue haired giantess felt her spirits lift.

"I... was thrown out." Caroline revealed. "By my own family. My aunt and uncle."

"Not your parents?" Maya wondered.

"No... they were shrunk too. My dad was two inches, my mother one."

Maya was taken aback by that. The mothers height nearly put her on even footing with Six. Maya couldn't help but wonder if there were some even smaller than her one and only.

"We lived in an apartment complex with my aunt and uncle. They owned the building but we all never really got along."

Maya noticed Caroline tense up again and placed her index finger atop the Betas head, gently moving to her cheek to stroke it. She was calming Caroline and doing an excellent job of it. Any fear of recalling the past melted away just as it had before.

"Once...once my parents and I shrunk my aunt us all gone. She said she didn't want to take care of bugs. My dad's always been a headstrong guy. Nice, but doesn't always think things through. He argued with my aunt for a few minutes before she...she..."

"Took care of him like a bug." Maya finished. She already knew the ending to this story. It's one she's already heard dozens of times.

A slow nod confirmed Mayas suspicions.

"I imagine at that point you and your mother knew it was best to run away right?

Another nod signified another confirmation.

"It's only been us two ever since. We've managed to live for the few months we've on the streets but only barely. My mother's been too weak to leave the bed and I've barely been able to find any real food. At least until i met you..."

Maya felt her heart skip a beat when she heard that. It was adorable to her. "Oh spare me please. It could've been someone else that helped you.

"But you were the only one that did!" Caroline said as she stood up. She crossed her arms, seemingly determined to have what she felt she should heard. "You were the only one who offered a helping hand after all these months. To me that places you leagues above the assholes in this city."

Maya visibly blushed, not having expected any sort of compliments from anyone other than her Six and Lyza. "Oh, you wouldn't say that if you knew me more. But please do go on. I like hearing your praise."

The two continued talking, enjoying each other’s company a great deal and both sharing details about themselves. Their pasts, their hopes and their desired futures. Maya of course saw that it was best to withhold any sensitive information but for the most part she was truthful. And as such she learned a great deal from Caroline as well, including the location of a certain aunt and uncle that cared so little for family. Two people she made certain to see before the days end.

"Caroline I must say you are a sparkling conversationalist!"

"And you Delilah live such an incredible life! You sound like you have an amazing girlfriend."

Maya chuckled at all the luxuries she was afforded thanks to her relationship with Lyza. "She spoils me I know. And I love her for it. It's just..."

"You don't know what to expect from your boyfriend right?" Caroline asked. "I'll be honest the thought of a three-person relationship doesn't seem like the best idea."

"I know!" Maya exasperated. "But I love them both so much! And they're both aware of the situation it's just that I don't think they get along all too well."

"Well how can you be certain?" Caroline asked. "Maybe they just need to find common ground in something?"

Maya recalled back to the recent days. How Six has both insulted and angered Lyza while the latter belittled him. "Yeah that may be a bit difficult..."

Maya bit the nail of her thumb in frustration as Caroline looked on in silent amusement. She felt that all Maya needed was for all three of them to find something they shared interest in. She also believed that this was something Maya needed to understand herself.

"Whatever it is Maya I'm sure they'll come around." Caroline said with a yawn following after. "You're an amazing woman. They'll see how lucky they both are."

Maya saw the young Beta struggle to keep her eyes open. A good meal is likely to do that to one so small. And seeing as the two have enjoyed each other's company for quite some time Maya saw it fit to ready herself to leave.

But not without offering a helping hand.

"Do you have someplace to live?" Maya asked as she placed her palm besides the now extremely calm Caroline. "You said you live with your mother right."

"I did." Caroline confirmed as she found herself yawning again. "Actually, we live in a small community with other Betas. All homeless with barely enough food to share. It's a few blocks away from where we met."

Maya didn't even have time to offer Caroline the choice of being taken there. Already the little Beta was sitting cross legged in her palm with a smile on her face. She trusted Maya completely.

"Bolder now are we? Alright, just show me where I need to go then."

Caroline navigated as though she were on a ship, holding onto Mayas thumb as she guided the giantess. In Mayas other hand was a Styrofoam cup filled with Bisque, the leftovers she hadn’t eaten. She was certain she could use it for something.

Caroline had not trouble relaying the directions Maya needed to find the little Betas home. A task that only took half an hour. It was Mayas first time seeing a Beta settlement and as such she didn’t know what to expect. Needless to say her first viewing of it was rather underwhelming.

It was hidden away, this home of theirs, resting between two buildings so deep in an alleyway that no one was bound to look here. To keep safe from anyone wishing to invite harm upon the minuscule community. And it worked for the most part, at least until now.

It was trash. Literally. They used garbage to not only cloth themselves but also to build makeshift homes. Cardboard boxes seemed the most common but there were also a fair amount of cartons and newspapers being used as homes and tents as well. It was disgusting, enough to make Mayas nose curl. She did have to admit though, they were rather inspiring to have managed for as long as they did.

It was simply amazing how many Betas could be found in the hard-to-reach places. It made Maya realize that she was going about her search wrong. Of course they wouldn’t be out in the open, they’d be hidden away. All it took to find them was the trust of an oh so innocent teenage girl.

“Where’s your mother?” Maya asked the still sitting Beta. There was a crowd forming at her feet, all looking up in awe. “She’s not here is she?”

Caroline looked down to the people at Mayas feet before pointing towards a house right at the very edge of the little settlement. “My mom stays in doors most days. Like I said, she’s usually too weak to walk.”

Maya practically beamed down at the young Beta. She really did make things too easy. She helped to turn a fruitless day into a bountiful one.

“Sweet little Caroline. You truly are a gem.” Maya praised. “Such a sweet soul. A life like this doesn’t deserve someone like you. I hope in your next one you get the kind life you deserve.”

Caroline, while at first was bashful, didn’t quite understand what Maya meant by her last statement. No, whatever thoughts she had were quickly silenced once Maya closed her fingers around the Beta and crushed her before she even had time to realize what was happening.

It was a kind kill. Quick, with the last words being heard were those of genuine praise. Poor little Caroline was too good for this cruel world and as such Maya saw it best to kill her quickly. The blue haired giantess allowed the body to fall from her hand with an oh so tiny tilt of it, letting gravity bring it down on two terrified onlookers within the crowd. Just as the crowd was beginning to disperse Maya brought her foot down on three more, not even offering them the time to resist.

“Anyone tries to run away, and I’ll make my next kill last longer.” she explained with a calmness that almost bordered boredom. When another was beginning to run away a simple step proved her threat as she didn’t outright crush them. Instead Maya dragged the poor soul across the ground, leaving behind a red streak as she did. The Beta proved to be a fighter, trying to crawl out from underneath Mayas shoe even as their skin was torn apart from the constant dragging. It was entertaining, if only for a moment, but soon enough and with one final drag the Beta was little more than another, far messier, streak that proved to be just what Maya needed to instill obedience in the now motionless crowd.

Maya silently counted each and every Beta, wondering if perhaps there were too many.

“Thirty-seven in total...” Maya thought. “Bit too many to carry on me. May have to cull the numbers. It’s a good thing I don’t mind leftovers.”

At that Maya opened the styrofoam cup she’s held on to, a meal for later she’s glad she had brought with her now. By her estimate she believed she could carry six, maybe seven if she forced an extra one in. The rest though she’d have to deal with. They’d likely move should they live; warn others if they came across any.

Maya chugged the whole cup of Bisque, uncaring for whatever crab chunks were in it. They just slid past her throat, each time a lump passed that gave the Betas below an idea of what could happen to them. It seemed an eternity before Maya finally finished, the giantess pulling away the cup as she exhaled a terrifying amount of steam.

“Hot!” Maya breathed heavily as she tried to cool her burning mouth. “Fuckers! I told them I wanted it warm! This isn’t going to sit well later I just know it!”

Maya clutched her stomach and then her throat, the hot soup clearly having left its mark on both. “Oh yeah, that’s gonna start hurting in an hour. I better wrap things up.”

Maya wasted no time in scooping up two Betas, each about two inches. Both female and both screaming as though they were in a contest to see who could tear their vocal cords first. One of their heads was easily popped in between Mayas finger, silencing the other as she understood what would happen if she continued. Even as she was lowered into the still steaming cup she didn’t produce so much as a single decibel.

Two more came after, one three inches while the other was four. These were far more silent then the previous, but they did possess more spirit, trying with all their little might to break free from Mayas grasp. With how they were positioned it was easy for Maya to hold a leg from each in between two fingers from her other hand. Even while holding the cup she had no trouble breaking their legs and inducing shock on them.

“That makes three~” Maya chuckled. Only now was the crowd beginning to disperse once more, the fear from the example made before effectively being replaced by the fear they felt now. Maya was untroubled by this, targeting the biggest Betas to step down on with effort so that the resulting gore would instill more fear in the crowd, and by extension error.

They practically killed each other in their panic, with family and friends trampling over their own kin in an effort to escape. It made Mayas job easier in thinning them out.

She collected another one, lifting the Beta by their leg as they tripped over a far larger one. Maya was almost certain she dislocated the limb as the little thing immediately went limp. Thankfully he was alive and as such he went right into the cup.

“That makes four~”

Another addition, this time trying to hide within what could only have been her cardboard home. The roof was easily torn away and without much fight there was another addition to the collection.

“Five~”

Maya was enjoying herself, even allowing a few to run a considerable distance before jumping right on top of them. She felt like a child again when she did that, playing hopscotch as her parents watched. Only now the game was bloodier.

A Beta tried to run in between her legs. An awful idea really, one that only ended with him being lifted by his head. Fear did what Maya already planned to and immediately knock the poor guy out cold. Maya did like the cowardly ones. They were fun to play with.

“And that makes Six.” Maya looked to see who remained, her own efforts and the efforts of the terrified Betas having killed just about everyone. All that remained was the house at the very end.

Caroline's house, where her mother still was. It’d be cruel to leave someone so frail alone in an abandoned community. She wouldn’t offer as much fun as the rest, but with their size of only a single inch they’d fit in the container no problem.

Unfortunately, as soon as Maya tore away the roof of the cardboard house, they found the frail woman in bed, unmoving and silent. Maya placed a finger on the woman's chest to garnish some kind of reaction but found that it didn’t work. She wasn’t even breathing.

“Weaker then Caroline thought. Poor thing must have passed some time ago...”

It made Maya question just how long Caroline was out scavenging for food before coming across her. With how their mother looked it could have been weeks. Maybe even a few days if they were already weak before.

Maya couldn’t explain it but she felt sad. Horrible even, and that feeling only grew worse once she saw Caroline's crushed body.

“She never really had a home to come back to. At least she died thinking that she did.”

Looking at the cup in her hand Maya forced a smile, trying to cheer herself up at the thought of the fun she and Lyza would have.

It didn’t work and before long Maya held no desire to stay in this now dead settlement.

Maya was so lost in thought that she didn’t even see a Beta crawling away, his lower legs crushed as a result on getting trampled on by two larger individuals as they fled. Both were dead now, crushed by Maya. Unfortunately the crawling Beta was doomed to join them as Maya never even registered that they were beneath her shoe.

Despite the rather audible crunch Maya was still oblivious to what she did. Instead she hoped that Lyza and Six would be able to better her mood once she saw them. That is, if they were getting along.

"And how about these?" Lyza asked as she drew forth more pictures from her desk. "Any of these salvageable?"

Six took one look at the fashion disasters and already had the answer needed. "Not in the slightest."

Lyza rubbed her temples to sooth a quickly forming headache. Six's help, though unexpected, helped to ease much of the towering designers tension. Unfortunately not all of it could be erased as many of her own employees continued to produce one failure after another. Were she to present them to the world they would no doubt be flops in the grandest sense of the word.

"God, why is the world filled with so many idiots these days?" Lyza had ceased with drinking coffee, now moving to rely on red wine she kept hidden around her office for the more stressful days. And today was turning out to be one of them.

Six on the other hand was enjoying himself, as odd as it may seem. Lyza has bothered him less then she ever has before, no doubt as thanks for his contribution to her work load. He's never been one for fashion nor has he really ever had an eye for it. Six only knew what he had learned from art courses. Though it would seem that even his limited talent was still better than the many "professionals" that worked under Lyza.

"Common sense." Six said simply. "It's what everyone lacks. I've always been of the mind that everyone, everywhere is trying to think too big too fast. Nobody takes their time anymore."

Lyza slammed her fist into the desk, an approving grin on her face. Six was beginning to suspect that maybe she's had one too many drinks. "Right!? It takes time to build something great! It can't be done overnight! But so many people don't wanna deal with even an ounce of patience. It's so...so..."

"Frustrating?" Six finished as he sat down on one of the more recent, more bearable, photos. From the looks of things it appeared as though Lyza wasn't going to be able to finish her own sentence. As such, Six did it for her.

"Yes..." Lyza confirmed. "Frustrating...so very frustrating."

Lyza rested her feet upon her desk, not even aware of the effect they had on Six. Shining black heels that towered over the Betas miniscule frame. No matter how many times he was in front of them they always had an intimidating presence. Six has been stepped on a fair amount of times, sometimes even by Lyza. Those times were when she was aware of what she was doing however. When one wasn't aware, leaving their body to do as it pleased, then the story was different. The threat was different. The message was different.

To a Beta so small it may as well be that they didn't even exist to one so large. Daunting and terrifying.

And worse still, Lyza didn't appear to be in the most clear of minds.

Six tried to catch his breath, at least as well as he could with his odd form. "W-well...I’m glad I could be of some help then..."

Lyza clutched her head, doing her best to nurse her growing headache. But through the pain it was clear that she was smiling. When she turned to face Six it wasn't with her usual, condescending face different. "Believe me Six, were it not for you then my day would have been so much worse."

Usually when Lyza smiled at Six it was akin to how an owner would smile at a pet. Most times it was, in a way, demeaning. Other times it was foreboding, like an omen for what was to come as a result of one of her usual games. This time though felt different. It felt genuine. Six wasn't sure if it was the alcohol that affected her feelings, but he felt as if she really did appreciate his help.

It made him feel...good. And he didn't know how to properly process that.

Lyza reached for a drawer, steadying herself in her seat so she wouldn't have to lift her feet off the desk. She was dangerously close to falling from her seat, her mind likely not even considering the poor balance she was in. Six actually had to take a few cautionary steps back as Lyza’s heels constantly repositioned themselves to better help with her search. Luckily nothing bad came from it all and not long after did she pulled out what she was looking for. A large, black box with a golden lock on it.

"I'd ask if you smoke Six. Buuuut..." Lyza pointed out Six's lack of a mouth, causing the Beta to cross his arms in annoyance.

"Really?" He asked. "Insulting me after I helped you?"

Lyza chuckled at her own insult before opening the box and retrieving its contents, a long golden cigarette holder. Hand crafted and in pristine condition. "No need to get defensive Six. Was only a joke."

After fixing herself a smoke Lyza took a long, admittedly exaggerated puff before exhaling across her desk while also making sure to spare Six of the scent. Immediately she felt any lingering tension lessen and her headache dull.

She wasn't an avid smoker, only ever having had experience thanks to her parents; her mother specifically. Already feeling the effects of drinking a few too many cups glasses of wine Lyza saw no reason as to why she shouldn't indulge herself in some savory tobacco. In fact she was more the eager to mix the two to better deal with the day. Normally she would worry about her image and how best to keep it but right now she couldn't bring herself to care.

"The world is full of idiots Six." She reminded with another drag. "And whether you're the size of a bug or a regular human you should never forget that so long as you got a good head on your shoulders then you should never follow in those footsteps."

Six was confused, trying to understand just what it was Lyza was trying to say. He wasn't even sure if she fully knew what she was saying.

"Um...okay?" Yeah. He was lost.

Lyza let out an exasperated sigh, a cloud of smoke shooting from her mouth and blanketing Six. From his perspective it was as if he was being judged by some fiery divine being.

"I'm saying that your smart." Lyza explained as she shook the ashes off of her holder. "And even if you're a pest at that size you still got a good head on your shoulder."

So she was complimenting him. Six...didn't know how to process that as well. Usually when she complimented him it was to say that he was a good toy or otherwise. And while she did call him a best it was followed by her admitting he was intelligent.

Lyza’s yellow eyes looked down on Six, waiting for whatever reaction he would have at her compliment. Nothing but him thinking over her words. She really didn't know what else to expect. Maybe she wanted appreciation returned her way. Give praise receive praise. A selfish yet simple desire.

Instead she got nothing but Six’s confused eyes. It almost made her regret her compliments. She wanted him to say something. To think of something.

Anything really.

"Y-you know those things can kill you right?" Six warned in a rather awkward tone of voice. He was nervous. And confused. So lost in both feelings in fact that he barely had time to move out of the way of more falling ash, only having a little fall on top of his head.

Lyza finished emptying the previous, burnt out contents before fixing herself some more. She was annoyed now, over the fact that Six, despite the big talk she's received from the Beta in the past and his sharp wit aiding her, was still able to break so quickly when something went against his sense of "normal".

"Worry about yourself Six." Lyza ordered in a rather monotone manner. “I’m not an addict. Got a fairly high tolerance to the stuff in fact. Really, I only ever do it when I'm stressed."

She was losing interest in Six. For a brief moment she felt as though she had a connection with him. One that was beyond torment and verbal banter. For a time she believed she could speak with Six as an equal, like she would with Maya, despite his size. But he shut down too quickly because of a single, stupid compliment.

She'd have to find a way of remedying that.

"So... we got any more clothes to fix?" Six asked with a nervous chuckle.

"Hmm?" Lyza was hardly paying attention as she thought of ways she could best break Six's shell. It wasn't until she was asked a second time did she acknowledge the Beta.

"Oh? Oh! The clothes..." Lyza took another puff, this time eliciting a few coughs as a result. "Yes, we still got some work to do. I'm hoping these clothes are my only concern for today but knowing my luck..."

A buzzer on Lyza’s desk drew her attention away from the conversation.

"Ma'am." A voice rang through a speaker. "You have a visitor."

"Of-fucking-course I do." Lyza muttered as she started to pack away the holder. A thought crossed her mind of whether or not she should hide Six away in the box. Ultimately she decided against it, believing the Beta competent enough to hide himself away for her.

"Send them in." Lyza instructed before turning her attention towards Six. "And you. Make yourself scarce."

"And how do you expect me to do that?" Six asked.

"Like this." Lyza, without so much as a second thought, slide her hand towards the Beta and pushed him closer towards the edge. He didn't have a moment to understand what was happening until after he was in free fall. After he collided with the hard marble floor, a painful but familiar experience, he dusted himself off, flipped Lyza the bird, and hid beneath her desk. It was as good a place as any.

Wonderful timing as well, as the moment Six hid away the sound of heels clacking against the floor was heard. Not long after Lyza’s office door flew open.

Six risked looking out from his spot to see who would just barge into Lyza’s office. What he saw was perhaps one of the most gorgeous women he's seen in his life.

Dressed in business attire the woman was of fair height, though not quite as tall as Lyza. Pink hair, obviously dyed, with blue eyes that helped to compliment it. Lush, red lips that Six focused on for far longer than he thought.

She was beautiful, no two ways about it. But there was a certain air around her that Six found… repulsive.

The woman walked to the desk, her open toed heels coming dangerously close to Six as she practically leaned of the structure.

"Just what my day needed..." Lyza said, her tone clearly annoyed. The visitor practically stared daggers into Lyza and she reached into her shirts pocket.

"You're splitting up!?" The woman practically shouted as she slammed a piece of previously folded paper on the desk.

Lyza overlooked the paper with a clear lack of interest, only smirking slightly when she remembered what it was exactly.

Her company, Vermont's Garments, had previously been in a partnership with another, Rosen Accessories. The partnership had persisted for years before Lyza took seat as head of her company, two years ago.

Right after her mother. The previous head, died. And after her death one of the first things Lyza did was figure out how to dissolve the partnership between the two companies. Only recently did she finally make progress.

"You have no right to do that!" The woman shouted again as she stomped her foot like a child throwing a tantrum. The stomp sent Six flying backwards as a resulting gust of wind forced pushed him.

"Can you please keep it down Lynette?" Lyza pleaded. "I have so many issues on my plate right now. How you're going to keep your company afloat is hardly one of them."

Between the two companies Vermont's Garments was the more successful. Rosen Accessories was brought from the ground up thanks to both it and the previous head.

"Mother would never have wanted you separate the businesses." Lynette hissed.

Lyza stood from her seat, glaring down at the shorter woman. "Mother's not here to stop me. She's not here to bail you out this time Lynette. Why mother thought you should run your own company is beyond me. She's the one who practically built it up for you while all you did was "test" out the resulting products." Lyza leaned closely, until she was only inches from Lynette’s face. "Unlike our dear dead mommy I'm not going to spoil you with whatever the hell you want. You already knew my terms."

Lynette stammered on her words, thinking back on to what she was offered. "Giving you ownership of both!? You're insane! Mother gave ME Rosen! Not you! You're only sitting on her seat because nobody else will!"

"That's because nobody fucking wanted it!" Lyza argued back, stomping her own foot as well and sending Six forward with yet another gust of wind. "By the time she died she'd already run out of ideas for anything even remotely new! She was running the company into the ground with outdated, overused thoughts! No one wanted a dying company. I'm the one who brought it back!"

"Some fucking good you've done yeah?" Lynette taunted with a grin. She pointed to Lyza’s office assigned coffee station. More specifically she pointed towards the pink cubes the business woman was forced to take on a daily basis. "Tell me, how do your employees feel knowing that their boss hordes that pink shit for herself?"

Lyza went quiet, her eyes narrowing to slits.

"Do they even know you horde it? Lynette continued. "Do they understand that if anyone's gonna turn into a bug in your company, it'll probably be you?"

"What are you getting at?" Lyza questioned, her previously annoyed tone now turning towards anger.

"What I'm 'getting at' is what your employees would think if they found out their boss was another pathetic Beta in waiting. One somehow more sad then the rest." Lynette crossed her arms in confidence as Lyza seemed to be deep in thought. Normally such a thing wouldn't be an issue. There were plenty of companies run by Betas these. Size doesn't equate to a lack of experience after all. Unfortunately for Lyza she made on crucial error at the beginning of her transition to power.

She labeled herself as an Alpha individual. Someone immune to the effects of shrinking. It was in the early months of the epidemic and the cause of it was still barely understood. Back then nobody wanted to work for a Beta. Lyza did the only sensible thing she could think of back then. She lied.

She labeled herself as an Alpha to ensure her company didn't suffer any losses just as she was beginning. She's taken great lengths to ensure that truth never came out.

It's what made Lyza appreciate Mayas particular skill set so much. That woman was a blessing when it came to silencing loose lips.

Were the truth to come out now, paired with how much powder she'd horde for herself thanks to her condition, it could very well ruin her. And as much as she hated Lynette, Lyza couldn't bring herself to set Mayas sights on her.

"Now while you're thinking about that toss in just how they'd FLOCK to work for a real Alpha." Lynette continued.

Lyza bit her tongue hard enough to draw blood. Lynette had that over her. Despite the elder sisters superior skills it was Lynette who had the natural advantage of being an Alpha. Not having to fear shrinking, and by extension not having to rely on that damned pink powder, offered more opportunities for her than it did for Lyza. And that infuriated her.

Lyza, who has worked nonstop since taking over her mother’s company, despite all her skills and knowledge, wouldn't be able to compete against her younger sister should the truth of her condition come out.

Lynette saw that she had won, through the simple fact that she could expose Lyza.

"Hey, don't worry." Lynette insisted in a manner befitting a mother speaking to a toddler. "I won't tell the world your secret if you keep true to mother wishes."

Lyza hated this. She hated her sister. But she couldn't risk it.

"Let me guess. Just like mother I'll pretty much be taking care of the two companies?" Lyza asked.

Lynette chuckled as she sat upon her sisters desk. "Of course!"

Down below Six was listening closely to the conversation above. It wasn't often he's seen Lyza pushed into a corner so quickly. What's more, he had no idea that Lyza had any siblings. In truth he knew very little of her family other than the fact that they owned one of the world’s most wealthy businesses.

The Vermont name was known worldwide, though it seemed there was trouble brewing behind the scenes for the big-name family.

Six stepped out from the desk as soon as Lynette sat upon it. He wasn't sure where'd he go, but if Lyza were to find herself in a foul mood after this conversation than he had no desire to be her punching bag.

"We got a deal big sis?" Lynette asked in a teasing manner, practically rocking her hips back and forth as she asked.

Lyza didn't have a choice, muttering under breath as she gave her answer. "It's a deal you spoiled brat..."

Not even caring about the insult Lynette retrieved the paper that would have separated hers and her sisters companies. She tore it in two, slowly, before Lyza’s eyes.

"That's all I wanted."

Lynette grabbed Lyza’s chin, pulling the elder sister close again. "No matter how successful you get bitch you'll always need me. Just like you needed mommy and daddy when they were still around. We're in this together whether you like it or not. Understand?"

Lyza said nothing, instead nodding as she pulled away.

"Super!", Lynette clapped her hands in joy. "I knew you'd come around to my way of thinking. Everyone eventually does."

Lynette was in no rush to leave her sisters office though, instead looking over the contents she sat on. The emptied glasses of wine was a clear tell of how tiring the day has been for her sister, and the lingering scent of tobacco was still in the air.

What caught her attention most though was the photos and alterations of several pieces of clothing.

"Oh my my my..." Lynette reached for a single photo before having her hand swatted away by Lyza, the latter scooping them up and organizing them before locking them away in her desk.

"Got something to hide?" Lynette questioned with a smile.

Lyza scoffed at the accusation. "Of course not. But being forced into a partnership really puts a damper on any sort of sharing mood."

Below the desk Six was searching for a better spot to hide, only for Lynette’s feet to come crashing down on both sides of him as she stood from her sisters desk.

"I already saw enough." Lynette revealed. "Simple, like the rest of the stuff you make, but with a little bit of flare. Not bad really. It'd love to meet the person who made these adjustments."

"And how do you know it wasn't me?" Lyza questioned.

Lynette paused for a few moments before bursting out in laughter. "You!? You haven't had a good idea ever since you took over! Too busy to even go back to your old hobbies."

This was very true. In the past Lyza was a rather remarkable designer. A rising star in the business. She made designs that put veteran crafters to shame. But upon taking control of her mother’s business she's had little time to do that. She had to monitor the designs of others while forgetting her own.

"I won't argue with you there..." Lyza admitted. "But I'd be careful if I were you Lynette. That designer you're so interested in is beneath you." Lyza had to stifle a chuckle at her own joke. Her sister was as pompous as they came. Her reaction to learn that it was Six, a Beta smaller than most, that fixed the designs was almost too priceless to pass up. Thankfully for the Beta it was a general rule of thumb that his unique existence be kept secret from the world, and by extension certain pink haired brats.

Between Lynette’s feet Six's whole world was shaking from the sudden descent of the giantess. His ears, or lack thereof, were ringing. His ability to even move was muddled at best and he was only lucky that Lynette wasn't a fidgety woman that moved her feet while standing.

Least he WAS lucky, until the tip of Lynette’s foot came crashing down right behind him. She crossed her legs above, balancing her toes on one while all her weight was focused on the other. From here Six had an all too close view of Lynette’s toes, or what he could see from the open toed footwear.

Being half an inch in height it was no surprise that they were big. Bigger than him. He was used to that sight by now. He's been under both Lyza’s and Mayas feet after all during the times they've toyed with him. Lynette’s were different though. They were bigger and longer; each toe pointed a green so bright that he could see his reflection off of them.

He touched his face upon seeing the bandages that covered them. The only thing that was normal were his eyes. Everything else was barely human. Were it not for his humanoid frame he'd even have his doubts.

Six looked up towards the towering goddess, passed her legs and well-endowed chest. He could barely see her face past that, but he could hear just fine.

The comment Lyza had made. How he was beneath even her sister. Looking back to the reflective nail he couldn't deny even that.

Yet, for all the times he's been insulted by Lyza, called less then human and even referred to as a toy, this one hurt the most.

"And just when I thought we were getting along..."

Up above Lynette stop had a desire to meet the bright mind that aided her sister. "Beneath me or not I still wanna know who caught YOUR eye. You've always been a picky woman, not easily pleased. You'd be a dear and set up a date for us right?"

Of course Lyza had no real desire to do that. Maya would flip a lid if she went through with it. Unfortunately Lyza also knew her sister wouldn't drop it unless she got what she want.

"I'll do what I can." Lyza relented. "No guarantees though."

Lynette pinched Lyza’s cheek, invoking a slight pained yelp from the older woman. "Of course you will. You don't got a choice really."

Those words. Those very same words Lyza had said to Six, stung her deeply. Despite her status and achievements Lyza knew her sister was right. She was wrapped around her finger.

Lynette said nothing as she made her way out, unconsciously leaving behind a sulking Six.

She turned around before leaving though, giving Lyza one final taunt. "Oh and be sure to give your freak girlfriend a big ole smooch from me."

Lynette quickly passed the door before Lyza could even think of a response. When one never came she shrank back into her seat to sulk as well. It wasn't until ten minutes had passed, ample time to allow Lyza to think over what just happened, that she finally remembered Six.

"Alright little guy. You can come out now." Lyza looked underneath her desk only to see Six wasn't there.

She checked under the sole of her heels to make sure she hadn't unintentionally stepped on him. When she found that she hadn't she couldn't help but worry that perhaps her sister had stepped on the Beta instead, taking his stuck frame with her as she left.

The thought was enough to force her from her seat and begin pursuing Lynette, only stopping when she saw that Six was sitting in front of the desk. He was barely moving, sitting cross legged with his head down.

"Sad that my sister left?" Lyza teased. "I get she's quite the looker but really even you can do better than a bitch like her."

Despite the attempt to reignite any conversation the had prior with humor Six remained quiet.

"You're not hurt...are you?" Lyza questioned. Again no response.

Six didn't move until he felt tremors behind him. Turning around he saw that Lyza had gotten onto her knees to get a better look at him. She didn't seem concerned though. Only confused.

"You good?" She asked.

Silence at first until Six finally decided to stand up. He looked up towards Lyza, gradually taking in her details for what really felt like the first time.

Despite Lyza’s tired, almost corpse like appearance, there was a clear resemblance to her sister. In fact, despite circumstances, they were both rather beautiful. Despite that beauty however they both looked down on so many things. With Lynette Six could understand. She was an Alpha. By the natural order she was superior to all else, just like Maya.

Lyza on the other hand, she was a Beta in waiting that demeaned Betas who've already shrunk. It was honestly disappointing. Especially after the two had an admittedly enjoyable time together.

"No... " Six finally answered. "I don't think I am..."

Lyza felt her breath catch in her chest. She wasn't certain as to why but she was hoping Six would have been alright after her sisters visit. In a better mood so the two could continue as they had before. So that she could help him come out of his shell.

Now it felt as though it were best to avoid any sort of discussion all together.

"Is there...anything you need?" Lyza asked, her hands fiddling in surprising nervousness as she did. "I mean I can't really offer you a drink...or food..."

No response for a few solid moments before Six shook his head so lightly that Lyza had to focus to make sure she didn't miss it.

"No. Let's just wait for Maya. Then we can go back to belittling each other."

With the day Lyza's had she'd forgotten about Maya. Her thoughts didn't go to the blue haired murderers task though. Instead they fell on how she might react on seeing Six sulk.

"Right...wait for Maya. W-we can do that..." Lyza had demeaned and belittled Six many times prior. She's seen him depressed, hateful of his life. Hell, she's been the one to incite that feeling on many occasions. But after her sisters visit. After seeing that, for such a small Beta, Six had potential; she really didn't know how to feel about him right now. All she understood was that he needed space right now.

"He heard what I said...didn't he?" Lyza finally realized. Surprisingly enough, after all she's done to him, she felt guilty. "But why...why do I feel like shit?"

Question to remain unanswered for now. All Lyza could hope for right now, as she carried an unresponsive Six back to her desk, was Maya was in a good mood.

In the lower parts of Los Demonios though, as the night gave way to a high hanging moon that rose over an old apartment so out of order it was a wonder it wasn't taken down, Maya wasn't just in a good mood. She was absolutely out of her mind.

Her clothes, once clean and proper, were now splattered in blood and gore. Not her blood of course but rather the blood of anyone in this apartment complex that was unfortunate enough to cross her path. It was smart om her end to have thought of hiding her little container of Betas away, otherwise they'd find themselves caught up in the carnage.

"T-tw...elve" Maya was barely able to speak, her mind addled with various flashing images, each one a previous victim. Maya was a giggling mess, having used a single shard of broken glass to commit the atrocities this night. It was from her first kill tonight that started it all.

Her first real kill. Not on some Beta like before but against a normal sized human. A drunk that looked as though they hadn't worked out in decades. The only real piece of furniture they had in their small rundown apartment was a glass table, which Maya promptly shoved them into when they proved to be too rude for her liking.

Unfortunately that one individual wasn't who she was working for. She killed them all the same, ramming the largest shard of glass she could find into their throat, uncaring that she was cutting into her own skin as a result.

It was one kill, hardly anything to push Maya over the edge. But then the next door she knocked upon proved far less pleasant then the first. And then the next one. Then the next.

So on and so forth until Maya felt her mind slipping after seven increasingly bloody kills. Each murder was turning more gruesome, the blue haired killer taking great lengths to draw each one out.

She didn't even feel the glass cut into her skin anymore. She couldn't hear the cries of her victims at that point either. All she really knew was that she had to move forward until she found who she was looking for.

Her blue eyes were erratic, looking from one wall to the next in quick succession, almost as if Maya was watching something crawl across them at unnatural speeds. She could hear voices, telling her where she needed to go, reminding her of where she was heading and why.

"C...ca...roline..." The young, trusting Beta that had told Maya her sad little story. How her own aunt and uncle killed her father before forcing she and her mother to flee. Even after killing sweet little Caroline Maya made a mental note to visit the two cruel individuals. And so here she was, knee deep in bodies with her mind slipping.

She licked her lips, taking in the taste of blood and iron around them. It was a taste she was all to familiar with.

Maya couldn't remember the last time she's snapped this badly. Really she couldn't remember many things right now. Even the idea of where she was proved abstract to her. She only understood the why's.

In Mayas twisted mind the hallway stretched onward in impossible manners, arching, and folding in ways that shouldn't have been possible. But still she walked forward, the crimson, twisting hall never slowing her down. She could see shadows moving along the walls, her eyes meeting theirs. Each one was the shadow of someone she's killed over her life. Hundreds now, all of various sizes and ages. Some younger than her, some old enough to be her grandparents. Some so kind as to have offered her dinner, some cruel enough to turn her away.

All dead. And she was intent on adding two more to her ever-growing number. The voices reminded her of why she needed to keep moving. She was here with a goal.

Thankfully there was still some little semblance of sanity that accompanied the barrage of voices. A faint whisper that reminded Maya she needed to relax before heading home, otherwise she'd put Lyza and Six in danger.

So easily could that little voice take control back from Mayas ever growing madness. A conscience that was nearly as twisted as the other voices but still acted as the sole voice of reason. Maya would only calm down when her job here was done. She's return home with her many prizes and then things could return to normal.

"Nor...mal?" Maya smiled at the thought. It was such a funny word to her. At no point in her life did she think she was normal. Only ever when she was with Six and Lyza did she feel she came close.

Six, the Beta that knew Mayas darkest aspects. He's seen Maya at her worse. Far more then Lyza ever has. The small voice of reason wondered how the older woman would feel if she saw this part of her lover. The bloody, carnage loving murderer.

Concerns for later. Maya felt herself nearing her goal. As she was lost in thought the world around her flashed forward, time losing its meaning to her fractured mental state. More blood seemed to cover her hands with each flash, signs that as she thought to herself Mayas body continued to kill as if it were on autopilot.

She wasn't sure of how many she's killed now. She only knew that this apartment complex was going to be very quiet at the end of this night.

One final flash and she was standing at the front of a door. The very last one of the complex. Blood red thanks to her state of mind. The numbers of the door were constantly changing, each one quickly shifting to impossible shapes and symbols. Still, this was where Maya needed to be. The only guarantee that this was the apartment belonging to Caroline's aunt and uncle being that they all used to live together.

There was only the forced hush of a man's voice telling the someone or something to be quiet. Were they smart they would have found a way to contact the cops. Unfortunately taking care of the phone lines was the first thing Maya dealt with.

If there was any time for sanity to take hold now would be it. Mayas soft giggles lessened as the voice of reason assumed control again. She'd want a clear mind for what came next.

She looked down om her clothes, frowning at how much of a mess she's made. Looking back towards the rooms she's visited gave Maya an idea of just what she's done. And the very idea caused her to smile.

"What a wonderful day this has turned out to be..." Maya thought as she kicked open the door. The sound of a firearm went off as soon as Maya burst into the room. She ducked to her left, a bullet passing by and cutting her cheek. It was a surprise to her, something she should have expected. At some point doing her massacre she made too much noise. Altered her intended targets of her presence.

Another shot, this time missing her entirely. Maya focused on the one firing on her. A middle-aged man, well-built but sweating profusely as he aimed the poor condition pistol. Tall, but shaking in his steps. A coward that was making life threatening mistakes. He wasn't thinking rationally. If he was he'd know he could overpower Maya. But he wasn't thinking properly, allowing Maya to take advantage.

Another shot, cutting just above Mayas shoulder. He was a poor aim, but still getting closer to his mark. Unfortunately for him that was his last chance. The man desperately tried to properly align his next shot, making it all too clear to Maya where he was next aiming at.

Her head.

Maya ducked underneath his aim just as he fired. She darted forward before the man could react, shard of glass already at his throat before he could regret any ill choices he's made in life.

As Maya plunged the glass into his throat however, even as blood squirted onto her eyes, she saw something behind him. On the floor, shivering and afraid, with the trademark white hair and red eyes of Betas. A woman.

Caroline's Aunt no doubt. The one that forced the poor teenager and her mother to flee.

As the Betas husband fell, choking on his own tears and blood, Maya knelt in front of the cowering Aunt. She didn't care to ask her name, nor did she think she'd even receive one given her horrifying appearance.

Maya grinned down at the woman, taking in her rodent like size. Five inches from the look of it. A wonderful addition to her recent haul.

Irony and karma were some of Mayas favorite things, and both were so pleasantly wrapped within a big sized flesh covered treat. The simple sight of this once cruel aunt was enough to force a few unintentionally chuckles from Maya, her madness making only a brief return.

She was going to enjoy abusing this little Beta. A great, great deal.

The drive home was quiet. Far quieter then Lyza cared for. The few attempts she's tried at conversation with Six were met with silence or barely perceivable words. She wasn't sure if he was depressed, disappointed, or both.

"Actually it's probably both..." Lyza thought. With a sigh she kept her sights to the road. Los Demonios was shockingly quiet in the dead of night. Where other cities were bustling at all hours it was Demonios, the apparent city of demons, that was as quiet as the dead. No one risked coming out at night, not with a killer like Maya on the prowl. 

She's never been caught, and the residents of the city knew that. Her presence within the city and slums left the roads and streets eerily empty. It was just one of the reasons why Lyza was so infatuated with Maya. No one besides her and Six knew who Maya really was. Through her killings she's become something of a modern legend. The kind that inspires fear.

Lyza couldn't help but be reminded of their first meeting. A cold, wet December night. Snow falling for five days straight.

Crimson on the snow. Blood from a slash across Lyza’s neck as she was dragged into an old warehouse. The cut was faded now, it wasn't too deep to begin with. Not a fault on Mayas part though, she had planned to prolong what was originally planned to be a very gruesome murder. 

Lyza blushed at the memory. Maya was so careful in her explanations. Describing where she would cut and how gently she would do it. She had to keep herself from smiling at the time, otherwise she ran the risk of Maya stopping to wonder why Lyza wasn't in the least bit scared. 

"I wonder how she's doing right now..." Lyza asked out loud. Of course she didn't expect a reply from the still sulking Beta. "You know, Maya might appreciate it if you talked."

Six shrugged, remaining seated in the cup holder he was placed in. "Probably"

Lyza gripped the steering wheel more tightly, feeling herself becoming annoyed at the Betas behavior. "Maybe you could perk yourself up? Get excited that we're finally heading home after so much work."

Against only the most minimal of motions was used by Six. "I guess..."

"Get over it already Six!" Lyza screamed mentally. She was trying her best to keep a smile but couldn't keep herself from grinding her teeth in frustration. "Yeah, you heard me belittle you. When haven't you?!"

The two sat in silence for a while longer before Lyza figured out a simple solution to get some movement from Six. Pulling her car to the side of the road Lyza reached down for Six, the Beta aware of her actions but simply uncaring towards them. 

"Let's see if you can keep that stone face Six." Lyza thought.

He offered no resistance when Lyza pinched him in between her fingers, or when she laid him upon the open palm of her left hand. 

It was only when she began to bring her lips closer to him did Lyza finally see some movement from the Beta. Cautionary steps backwards, poorly masked by crossed arms to feign bravery. 

"I want to talk." Lyza explained. She was fully aware that being this close to Six meant he was being spray in mists of her spit when she spoke. "You've been very quiet Six. Too quiet for my liking."

Six wiped away the moisture from his body, knowing that such an effort would be wasted when next the giantess spoke. "Well, I just don't feel like talking."

Six saw the corners of Lyza’s lips rise into a smile. "Well that's a shame my tasty wittle sweetie." Lyza’s tongue inched out from between her lips, licking them and giving the two masses an almost reflective gleam. Six's depression gave way to fear and anxiety the moment he realized what Lyza had planned. "Because a good toy would talk back when i give them simple fucking questions."

Six wanted to back away but found that he had nowhere to run to. Were he to fall it would be right into Lyza’s lap. 

"A piece of candy on the other hand wouldn't so much as utter a word." Lyza allowed a chuckle even if it risked blowing Six off her hand. "Remember our little conversation Six? Over whether you're a piece of candy or a toy? Shall we revisit that particular question?"

Too scared to move Six didn't even give Lyza a response. He just fell onto his backside. 

Lyza on the other hand didn't even wait for a response. Instead she clamped her lips around Six's body, not fully taking him into her mouth but instead keeping him firmly placed between her lips. With her now free hand she pinched his tiny little legs while she sucked on the rest of his body. 

She wouldn't run the risk of swallowing him. Instead she'd instill a little fear to force the Beta into a more talkative mood. 

Six couldn't see anything with Lyza’s mouth completely closed around his body, though he could hear just fine. The squish of a tongue so much larger then him was something he was very familiar with. Every so often the tip would rub against his face as it inched out from between her teeth. 

She hadn't bit down on his miniscule form and had yet to even bring Six fully into her watering mouth. She was toying with him, a course of action that o my worsened his mood. He fell limp, laying on Lyza’s lower lip as she continued to suck on him. 

"Not as much resistance as I hoped." Lyza thought. Her frustration returned and only paved the way for her to take more drastic measures. "Come on Six, just work with me here!"

With her fingers Lyza began to twist Six's leg, spinning his body as she absolutely coated his body in saliva; remnants of when she licked her lips. The act wouldn't hurt him, the Betas body being more durable then even a normal humans. Certainly must have been uncomfortable though, judging by how she was feeling some resistance now.

"Now we're getting somewhere..."

Briefly Lyza opened her mouth, letting what little light the night sky offered flow in. Six's surroundings were illuminated, enough that he could see his surroundings. Granted what more was there to see in a mouth you've been in more times you could count. 

Six couldn't bring himself to stand on such loose footing, a lower lip offered such a soft yet uneven ground to stand on, but he found just enough strength to look back. 

Lyza had lowered the cars vanity mirror to better see the Beta hanging off her lip. She waved with her fingers as soon as she saw Six looking before closing her mouth once more, this time being sure to suck the rest of the Beta in. 

Lyza wasted no time in tasting him. There was no flavor but the feeling of thrashing Six around her mouth was sweet enough. She even threw in a few playful bites so as to coerce some cooperation from him.

Again nothing.

His stubbornness was really infuriating at times. At this point Lyza though it probably would be best to just swallow him. Give him some time to stew over his own self-loathing thoughts before allowing him to... "pass through". While she wouldn't go through with that, the act of reclaiming Six being too much for her, she did see the threat of swallowing as a useful tool.

Lyza pinned Six against the roof of her mouth with her tongue, the great pink beast conforming its mass around the Betas bandaged flesh. Slowly saliva built up in her mouth, to the point where Six was soon submerged in it. 

When Lyza was certain there was hardly even a pocket of air she let go of Six allowing him to float in the gallons of spit. It wasn't like drifting in water. It was heavier for starters, and certainly harder to move. 

Regardless it still flowed easily into Lyzas throat when she gulped ever so slightly. Only enough that Six would understand his situation. Another gulp and he began to fight against the resulting current. 

By no means was he a good swimmer, even when he was normal sized. But anyone can make even a little bit of progress when faced with life or death. His frantic movements caused vibrations in the "water" that tickled the walls of Lyza’s cheeks. It forced a giggle, which in turn forced another gulp. One that nearly sent Six on a rather grim trip.

Lyza quickly got a hold of herself. At only half an inch tall it would be far too easy for her to make a mistake and accidentally swallow Six. 

By now she must have swallowed more than half of the saliva she had built up. Just enough that she could open her mouth again and view Six from her mirror. 

Poor little thing was struggling to stay at the surface. He could barely keep his head up for more then a few seconds before going back down and repeating the process all over again.

"Maybe I should teach him how to swim." Lyza mused on that thought. "No... on second thought it's actually funnier to see him flail."

Another involuntary chuckle followed by yet another gulp. This time it nearly did the trick of dragging Six into her bowels. Lyza felt his little arms latch onto her uvula to prevent that. Silently she thanked the fact that she lacked a gag reflex. 

"Okay, that's enough." Lyza reached into her mouth with two fingers and plucking Six from his spot. But not before she had him witness the rest of the saliva drain into her throat. 

A string of dribble connected the retracting fingers to the mouth, along with a now very shaken Six. 

"Well that fun." Lyza brought Six up to eye level, each one holding a sense of joy at her actions. "So, ready to talk now?"

Six was panting heavily. Though he didn't need to breath that fact didn't stop him from taking in as much air as he could into his artificial lungs. It took some time for his eyes to meet Lyza’s, and though they were filled with more fear now then depression he still said nothing. 

In fact he even had some lingering spirit in him to turn his back towards the gigantic woman, even going so far as to cross his arms. 

Lyza couldn't believe it. The threat of eating him always worked. No matter how stubborn he was before being swallowed alive was one of his key fears. It should have worked. 

"Dammit Six..." Lyza grit her teeth so hard it was a miracle they didn't crack. She wanted to just drop him on the floor and stomp the life out of him. Impossible since he was basically indestructible though. "I belittle you almost daily. We fight almost every time we talk. Yet when you hear me talk little of you to my sister, who I don't even hold in high regards, you get all mopey? GET THE FUCK OVER IT!" 

Her shouts shook the car and ringed into the night. Despite the volume and force of it though, Six stood as he did prior. He moved only his head to look back at Lyza. Even with the difference in size between the two she could see the sadness in them. A kind of defeat. 

"I know this shouldn't bother me." Six agreed. He turned his whole body to face her now. He'd confront Lyza with his whole being. "Especially after all the shit you've done to me in the time we've known each other. Demeaning things only a pet should do. Compared to that one little insult shouldn't even hurt... but..." Six felt his voice catch in his throat. Lyza heard it, even being taken aback by it. Her apparent surprise didn't go unnoticed. "I don't think I can come back from this one." Six admitted. "Not after you treated me like a person."

"Like a person?" Lyza thought. "All I did was compliment him." She had never really given it much thought on how exactly Six viewed his condition. Lyza knew the Beta hated it, especially when you consider the fact that he's among the smallest in size. But even the most minute of Betas still viewed themselves as people.

"So... what? You don't view yourself as person?" Lyza felt her lips twist into a condescending smirk. "I mean, you've always been a pest. Just like the rest of you little bugs."

"No!" Six shouted, much to Lyza’s surprise. "I can't even compare to that! They at least still look like people. They can eat, breath, fuck even shit if they need to! I...i can't do any of that..."

Six looked down to his arms, then to his torso and finally to his legs. With the exception of his eyes he was covered from head to toe in a bandage that acted as his skin. Indestructible and impenetrable With a lifelong guarantee that it'll never come off. In Six's eyes they were the makings of a freak.

"For five years I've been like this..." Six struggled to stand as tall as he could, his legs refusing to stop shaking as he recounted the days he experienced a hell he didn't think was real. 

Saint Minerva, martyr of the new world. Savior of Betas and producer of the miraculous drug that kept mankind stable. It was because of her that Six's original skin was torn from his body and replaced with this synthetic shit. He remembered how his muscular structure, bone structure and organs were all compressed to a miniscule size through the use of science so advantaged he couldn't possibly comprehend how it worked. An experiment that acted as a stepping stone towards the Beta Epidemic that would have put Minerva, along with any that stood alongside her, at the top of the world. 

"I've been a damn bug longer than anyone else in the fucking world Lyza!" Six screamed. Despite his size and volume the giantess seemed scared that he would be heard outside of her car. "And I can't even show my face around anymore. Because in a world of freaks like Betas, no matter how hard I'd try, I’d be a freak even among them."

There it was. The truth. Six's truth. And, despite all Lyza has put Six through in the time she's known him, she felt her heard break upon hearing his story. 

"Six..." Lyza didn't know what to think let alone say. The Betas revelation reminded Lyza of her own current struggles, namely her situation with her sister. No matter how hard she tried to hide it, no matter how much effort she out forward, Lyza was a Beta. She knew it, her sister knew it. If the world knew it...she could very well lose everything. 

Six feel to his back, basking in the warmth of Lyza’s palm. Talking about himself always chilled his body. He never liked talking about his own past or feelings, and that trait was still prominent even at half an inch. He raised his hands to his eyes, an act that caused Lyza some worry.

"Six, are you crying?" The concern was clear in her voice. 

With a such Six dropped his hands to his sides, laughing slowly as he looked up into the eyes of the towering woman. "No... I’m just...I’m just tired. So very tired of everything."

Lyza didn't know what to do. She hadn't expected things to get so personal. 

"I'm must seem so pathetic." Six claimed. His sight shifted to the car roof. Silently he wished to rise past it and into the night sky, away from the world and never to be seen again. "It's been so long sing I've felt like an actual person that a simple compliments gotten me so emotional. It's stupid...right?"

Six didn't expect an answer. He didn't really want one. He just wanted to fade away from this world that's brought him so low. He recalled the talk he had with Maya; days prior over him getting along with Lyza. He agreed to after he witnessed the woman who ruined his life cry, for the first time as far as he's seen. Why did he agree to go along with her request? What was his possible gain from it? Perhaps a chance at feeling human again? To hold those kinds of feelings for someone who didn't deserve them? Probably.

"Pointless..."

Six remembered the pride he felt when Lyza showed appreciation of the aid he offered in her work. To be compared to her employees, still regular sized humans, and was told have what they lacked in common sense. It made him feel good...better then he has in years.

"Pointless..."

Six remembered far back into a time when he was still normal. When the world still made sense. Before he had originally met Maya. Even back then, when he thought his life couldn't possibly get worse, he never knew it actually could.

"Gah! It's all so...so...so pointless."

Six felt his eyes grow watery. He wondered, after all that's been done to his body could he still cry? Well, now's a good a time as any to find out. 

Or it would have been had a giant finger not begun stroking the side of Six's face. 

"It's not pointless Six." Lyza said as she tried to soothe the pained Beta. She had heard enough without little idea in what to do. In the end all she could do was try and calm Six. "Keep on saying it is and I swear I will swallow you. I don't care if Maya kills me for it. Just...stop."

She looked into Six's eyes. Eyes so small that they could only see the world from a dark, dreary corner. She saw herself. She saw what she once had to go through. Perhaps not the exact same pain Six had to experience, but pain nonetheless. The type that shaped her into who she was today. 

Six tried to speak but was immediately shushed. 

"No Six. No more talking." The sternness in Lyza’s voice showed that this was an order and not some request. 

"You're not a freak." She explained. "And you're not a pest. Not after tonight. You're..."

A thought crossed her mind. An idea. Something that could very well be what the Beta needed.

"You're different Six." Lyza continued. "Like Maya. Like me. You're special. Unique. And you've gone long enough without a show of proper respect."

Six was silent, stunned over what Lyza was saying. He wasn't sure if she was genuine or manipulating him into a false sense of security. He still wasn't sure as Lyza gently lowered him onto her lap, allowing him to rest there as she resumed her drive home. She said nothing, instead believing it better to help Six through a show of affection rather than words.

About an hour later Six was sitting on the sofa of not Mayas home but instead Lyzas. It was the first time he's ever been here, and no words could really describe just how luxurious it was. Four whole stories tall, each floor being for a specific purpose. The first floor was of course the living and dining room, and yet even that seemed to be worth more than what people would make in several lifetimes.

The floor furnished with white marble so smooth that it practically allowed someone to glide across it as though it were ice. The furniture, a set of recliner chairs that connected to form one large sofa that faced a flat screen so large it may as well have belonged to the local cinema. 

And it was comfy. So comfy that Six was having difficulty staying awake as he waited for Lyza to return. She had left to get changed out of her work clothes and Six remain as he was. That was nearly forty minutes ago, and the Betas mind was already wandering. He was drifting in and out of sleep because of this damn couch and wasn't exactly certain how much time was passing. 

When next Six opened his eyes after yet another drift in and out of sleep he found that he was cast in a shadow that blocked out the light. When he looked up all Six could see was a red, shorts filled, sky. 

"Mind scooting a bit Six?" Lyza teased. She waved her rear from side to side, showcasing her rather tight-fitting shorts to the Beta. "That is, unless you want me to sit on your lap? I might be tall but I'm surprisingly light~"

When no response was given she brought her ass down closer. That did the trick of getting Six to move.

"Oh no~. Somewhere better look out." Lyza pressed on with her antics. "Don't think I can stop~."

Contrary to what she said Lyza was waiting for Six to run out from underneath her shadow. And when he finally did she slammed down with more force then necessary. 

Six was sent forward as a resulting of the earth, or rather sofa, shaking crash. He tumbled and rolled several times before coming to a stop. Even then he was disoriented by the crash. Lyza on the other hand was laughing loudly at Six's resulting dizziness. 

"Guess it was too much for you to handle huh Six?!" 

When Six finally did regain faculty over his sense he could only look on up towards Lyza in disbelief. Her laugh was different this time, as was her general appearance. No longer in her professional attire she now wore only a black tank top along with the aforementioned red shorts. Her short hair, normally well-kept in her place of work, now was messier then Six had ever seen. 

There were tears forming in her eyes, the kind one would get when they couldn't stop laughing. It was...unsettling to say the least. Especially when all Six has ever heard from Lyza were cruel chuckles or malicious giggles. 

His disbelief wasn't lost on the now calming giantess. She had to wipe the tears from her eyes before she could speak. "What's the matter Six?" She asked. "Not used to seeing me like this?"

A simple shake of Six's head was enough of an answer. 

"Well, it's not an appearance I like to share." Lyza admitted. "Only Mayas ever seen me laid back like this."

With a relaxed smile on her face Lyza stretched her arms upward. Several times they popped, a soft moan escaping Lyzas lips with each one. "Oh god that felt amazing!" She popped her neck a few times after, the stress visibly leaving her body. "Seriously, beats five cups of coffee in a single day."

Lyza sank into her couch as she rested her feet on a glass table across. She was wearing pink slippers, horribly decorated to resemble kittens. 

Were Six able his jaw would have dropped to the floor. He looked up to Lyza again and found her looking his way. 

"This must be surprising right?" She asked. No answer was needed; the Betas silence was enough. "Well, like I said it's nothing something I usually share. But I feel like you deserve it. Especially after everything I've done to you..."

Lyza rubbed her arm as guilt flooded her body. After Six's outbursts in her car, and a brief reflection over how some aspects of his life mirrored hers, she felt awful. A senseless of worthlessness that she could sympathize with. 

"I've been cruel to you..." Lyza acknowledged. "I've...threaten you. Threaded on you. Even threatened to eat you on many occasions." Lyza felt a chill run down her spine as she practically confessed her sins. "I've treated you like every other bug in the world. Every little, worthless waste of space bug that gets in the way."

For a moment Six felt as though this were her intentions. To draw him into a false sense of security before finally forcing him down into a deeper hole of self-loathing. It never came though. 

"But not you Six. You're...different. Unique among those other pests. You deserve better then how I've treated you."

Lyza reached to her side, fishing in between the couch cushions for something. A smile spread across as she pulled out the remote to her TV. It sprang to life and listed movies from every possible station, channel, and time where cinema was a thing.

"That said, I think it's time you finally got why you deserve." Lyza scrolled through the countless movies before stopping under a specific list filled with various sci-fis, kaiju films, and slasher flicks among other things. "Maya's told me a few things of when you two dated. Even mentioned you like monster movies. Good thing too since i find them fun as well, though I've always had a bias for the old-fashioned kaiju films. Loved seeing those rubber suits just flop around. " Her smile her even wider when she found a movie of particular interest. It wasn't something Six remembered. Hell, it might not have even been released in the states. "Oh you're gonna love this Six. The movies completely subbed since only a few copies were released. And I got mine converted to digital~."

Her excitement was... strange. Like watching scenery that betrayed the sense of the mind. 

Lyza shot up from the couch before being over Six. "Before we start the movie I'm gonna get some popcorn. I know you can't eat it, but a movie just isn't relaxing without some."

Six continued to stare as Lyza practically bounced to the kitchen. This complete change in personality hit the Beta like a bullet train. This was a side of Lyza that he didn't know existed. The very same woman who's made it goal of hers to make life hell for six, and she was currently melting down an unhealthy amount of butter in bowel with a microwave. All while she hummed to herself. 

"There had to be some scheme behind this..." Six muttered. This was unprecedented. The sudden acceptance of him. The admittance of cruel deeds. There had to be an edge in this. Some game was being played and he was the toy, the pawn. Of that he was certain. 

That very same certainty though was dashed the moment he saw Lyza pull out a can of whipped cream from her fridge and stick the nozzle in her mouth. He watched dumbfounded as she dispensed the contents of the can into her mouth, only swallowing when she noticed Six staring. 

He's been doing that a lot lately he realized.

She waved innocently at him before returning her attention to the popcorn, can of whipped cream still in hand with the nozzle already in her mouth once more. 

Confusion was the only thing that filled Six's mind. Confusion and uncertainty. The only words that he could even think of to describe his disbelief were.

"What. The. Fuck?"

Maya could hardly contain her laughter as she walked through the dark streets of Los Demonios. Not a soul was within sight which meant the souls in her Styrofoam cup could scream as much as they want. And oh how all six victims screamed their little heads off in a vain attempt to reach the ears of someone who might aid them. Save them from their confinement and take them away from this cruel woman.

But the streets were silent. Maya had made sure of that. All her past kills gave her quite the reputation. Made her an urban legend that forced the fearful to stay home at night. It ensured that nothing could impede her on her way home. Or a home to be precise.

"Surely Lyza wouldn't mind if I dropped by her house." Maya reasoned. "She'd wanna see these precious little things for herself." A kick within her crotch nearly caused her to buckle. Maya's blood-stained face flushed red at the sensation. "Not you though, you little bitch. You're all mine."

More furious kicks sent waves of ecstasy coursing through Mayas' body. She had hoped this certain Beta wasn't dead yet. For a while, after acquiring them they went still after Maya played too rough with them. She had assumed them dead and stuffed them in the front of her panties, to tease out some little bit of stimulation. Lucky her this seventh victim was kicking, figuratively and literally.

In an act of degeneracy, Maya wiggled her pants to her ankles in the middle of the street, uncaring of the fact that even if anyone was nearby they'd be able to see her. Pulling the strap of her black panties forward Maya watched in cruel pleasure as the five-inch Beta pushed against their captors' massive cunt. It was already soaking wet from the recent movement. Maya could only imagine how much pleasure she'd find herself in at the end of the night.

Several times did the Betas legs find themselves inside Maya thanks to their constant kicking. A single clench of her muscles and she could easily crush their bones. But Maya would have to wait before doing anything like that. This individual, in particular, hasn't suffered nearly enough as far as she was concerned.

"Ah~. Having trouble breathing aunty?" Maya teased. The female Beta only responded with a scream of terror as Maya pushed against the front of her panties, pushing the Beta against Mayas' wet vagina. Her body was slick with juices, difficult to pull back. "Good. Don't think you'll be getting off easy after what you did to Caroline and her family. They deserved better than what you did to them."

Caroline, a Beta Maya had both aided and killed, told her their story. How their aunt and uncle kicked them from their home, killing their father in the process and leaving Caroline and her mother to fend for themselves. Maya already killed the uncle, a normal-sized human who didn't know how to fire a gun to save his life. All that was left was the aunt, who Maya had to reframe from killing until later.

But lord was it hard for Maya to resist.

"Keep up all that struggling and I may not be able to hold myself back~. Maya warned through heavy breaths. "Who knows. You may just suffocate in there before long if you keep this up~. Wouldn't that be funny?"

The woman's movements ceased shortly after, for fear of her own life. She wanted to speak, to beg for her life. She never got the chance as Maya let the strap of her panties slap back into place.

"That's what I thought. Better to keep on living a few hours more right?"

As for the rest of her captives though, there were plenty of them to go around.

Certainly, Lyza wouldn't care if Maya helped herself to one.

"When did is at eat?" She wondered. "Must've been a fair amount of time since a had that bisque. Maybe a snack is in order?

After pulling back up her pants Maya opened the lid to the cup that housed the six terrified Betas. They continued to scream, truly wonderful music to Maya's ears.

She'd have to choose carefully here. Maya didn't want to deprive Lyza of any potential enjoyment.

"There was one who passed out way too easily," Maya recalled. "Wouldn't do anyone any good if he passed out in front of Lyza. That would be embarrassing." It didn't take her long to find the Beta in question. Male, just shy of two inches in height. Scrawny, not enough meat in them for a lasting snack. But certainly enough for a quick one. The one factor that threw Maya off of any interest in the Beta was their complete lack of movement. They were frozen stiff.

"I can just tell you were a disappointment even before you shrank." Maya insulted. "I mean, you're not even going to scream? Or flail? Or...anything? Talk about useless." Even as Maya positioned the man over her mouth, her lush lips inches from touching his feet, he refused to move. Instead, tears fell from his face as Maya brought her mouth closer.

"Come on. Give me something to work with here." Maya demanded. Her tongue teased from out between her lips every now and then, licking at the man's legs. "God, you're kind of useless huh?"

"Oh well, woulda been the same result either way." Opening her mouth wide Maya let the Beta fall from her fingers and into her waiting maw. He fell right into the link mass that was her tongue, the pink leviathan barely reacting to his presence.

Slowly the Beta surveyed his surroundings, coming to terms with what was happening.

Years ago James was in the prime of his life. At only 18 years old he was already making more money than people who had worked for decades. He was smart, tech-savvy, being the developer of several addicting mobile games that earned him a rather generous revenue. His success led to the development of quite the ego truthfully. He shut out old friends, treated some people rather harshly, and denounced others because he felt he was more important. But he wasn't a bad person, or at least that's what he used to tell himself.

Ever since becoming a Beta, shrinking down to under two inches during sex with a woman he bribed, it's been trial after trial. From starvation to almost being stepped on. Nothing's ever gone his way since shrinking. He's lucky he wasn't caught by that woman on that fateful night. Hid in her handbag until she left for work the following morning. Were she to have found him then James was certain she'd have killed him in the most demeaning way possible.

Looking back onto it now though, perhaps that would've been mercy when compared to now. Of all the things he's been forced to face before, the situation he was in now was certainly the worst of the lot.

James has never been in a mouth before. At his size, he never really planned on even being close to a regular human. The prospect was too terrifying for him. Yet here he was, standing on the tongue of a woman so large he was hardly able to comprehend the difference between the two of them. Though a sudden shift of Mayas' tongue gave him a rather clear idea.

Right now he was little more than a snack. No, less than one at his size. What could she even gain from eating someone so small hr wondered. Nothing lasting, nothing beneficial. And yet here he was, standing petrified even as saliva fell onto his shoulders.

He wanted to move. He needed to move if he was going to survive even a minute longer. But he couldn't. It was all too much.

He broke down, falling to his knees and silently sobbing.

His tears weren't wasted though. Maya felt them fall onto her tongue. The tiniest taste of salt but it was enough to know that the little Beta, even smaller than an average one, was finally doing something worth her notice. Granted it was crying, and all it did was earn a groan of disgust from Maya, but it was at the very least something.

Carelessly she swished him around her mouth, sucking on him as though he were a piece of candy. The moisture and air from his body were practically ripped from him as a result. James was forced to close his eyes to keep them in their sockets, and even then the immense increase in pressure from the single suck was enough to rupture his eardrums and cause profuse bleeding in the nose.

Another taste that wasn't lost on Maya. Blood. Iron wasn't her favorite flavor, but it was certainly one she's gotten used to. Because of her sucking though James' movements had decreased considerably.

"Better not be dead already..." Maya frowned at the thought. "I knew you were worthless but at least TRY to fight back." Maya pinned the motionless Beta against the roof of her mouth. Feebly he tried to push against it; a pointless effort. The moment she felt him move she was sucking on him again.

James knew it was useless to resist. Against a regular human, a Beta was basically an insect. Granted at least those could defend themselves. Still, irrelevant though it was, he tried and failed to push against the palate he was shoved against. An act he would come to regret.

In the brief time he took to push, James opened his eyes once more, more out of instinct than reason. Once he did though the pressure increased to absurd levels once more as Maya sucked on his minuscule form. His ruptured eardrums were rendered useless now, being completely obliterated by this point. He was without sound now, unable to hear the shifting world that was another human being's mouth. And soon enough he wouldn't be able to see.

It was brief, his glance, but still long enough for the pressure to take effect. The suction force nearly took his eyes clean out of their sockets. Luckily he managed to close them just before that could happen. Unfortunately, they were now beyond any use, the skin surrounding them being damaged along with the tear ducts. His years turned red as a result and any vision he still had was crimson red as well.

A hell he couldn't hear and could now hardly see. That's what this was now. And he had no way to stop it from happening. To lay down and die would be the only logical option as nothing else he could do would have mattered. It was torture feeling so helpless, so broken.

Why, just why did she have to pluck him out of that stupid cup? Why did Caroline have to bring Maya to their settlement? Questions he asked himself as Maya's tongue positioned him onto her molars. While he couldn't see it James could feel the teeth, as they were the only hard structure found in a mouth.

He didn't know if he should flee from his spot or lay still and accept whatever it was his tormentor had in store for him. He hadn't come to a decision even as Maya's teeth came down on him softly, gently grinding him between their hard surfaces. James wasn't certain if he should be grateful or concerned. He just wanted this to end.

Outside Maya was enjoying the sensation of rolling her Beta snack in between her teeth. His size allowed her to fit him comfortably in between them and playfully bite down on his body. She's done this plenty of times with Six and so she knew the proper pressure needed for such an act. And this point she was confident his only use was in being a toy; a momentary distraction from her walk home. He'd hardly be filling for a snack.

"Perhaps I should have picked a bigger one." Thoughts that came just before another kick from Caroline's aunt caught Maya off guard. It went deep in her, the sudden sensation strong enough that Maya was forced to balance herself lest she fell to her knees. While she was in control of that she lost the faculties of her mouth briefly, letting reflex take over.

For James, the end came quickly, though it was anything but painless. The act of being rolled against teeth was painful even to an indestructible Beta like Six. To someone as fragile as James the process was torture and made even more intense thanks to his previous torment. His skin was raw when it happened, spent, and spread across Mayas' molars. The saliva that filled Maya's mouth stung his raw skin. Even the slightest of touches sent fire down his whole being.

At the moment Mayas' teeth clamped down on him he was already on that fine line between life and death. The fire that built up briefly as pain flooded his body died down just as fast when his frame was reduced to mush.

"F-fuck!" Maya spot out the pulped remains of her victim. What had happened was a complete accident. The Beta was meant to last her who walk home. Now he wasn't even recognizable as having once been human. "Dammit!"

More annoyed than furious Maya directed her attention to the struggling aunt, who she quickly plucked from her panties.

"You just cost me a toy you bitch!" At five inches Caroline's aunt fit perfectly in Maya's hand. So perfectly in fact that when Maya squeezed her fist she felt several ribs give in and pop. It wasn't enough to kill the annoying Beta but it certainly put a smile on Maya's face.

"You know what? Forget keeping you to myself." Despite where she had been Maya did not recoil upon licking the woman. She started at her legs, spreading them apart and savoring their womanhood before rising to the rest of their body. When finished Maya clamped her teeth inches from the woman's head. "I'm still a little hungry, and you're far too big to swallow in one go. Lucky for you you're the perfect sharing size."

The woman was about to scream until Maya covered her mouth with her thumb. "Shh shh shh~. Quiet. No screaming, please. I'd hate to have to rip off your teensy little head if you got on my nerves. And you are DANGEROUSLY close to getting on my nerves."

The woman went silent, much to Mayas' delight.

"Good girl. As a reward, I won't shove you back in the front of my panties. Aren't I nice?"

When she got no response Maya squeezed the aunt again resulting in more broken bones.

"Aren't I nice?" She asked again, this time more sternly.

The Beta forced herself to muster out what it was Maya wanted to hear, even if it was through pained sobs. "Y-yes..."

Maya smiled at the response. Oh yes, this certain catch was definitely one enjoyed best with a partner.

"I'm glad you think so."

"Wow, this movie SUCKS." Lyza groaned in humored disgust. Despite its abysmal presentation the movie currently playing was maybe one of the giantesses most cherished. "It's no wonder this was never released in the states." On-screen a giant, purple monster was breathing fire onto a city meant to resemble Tokyo. A typical scene for a classic kaiju film. Only, the fire was poorly edited to the point where it vanished midway, the rubber suit kept on falling apart forcing the actor inside to continuously readjust, and the set behind the fake city was clearly visible along. To top it all off, the boom mic was in the shot. "Wait Six, watch closely, you're gonna love this." On cue the suit's tail came loose, flying into the staff on set and even knocking over a camera. Lyza, despite all the times she's seen the movie, laughed all the same.

Six on the other hand was confused. He's always been the type to analyze movies no matter the category. And while there were plenty of mishaps on screen for this particular movie he still tried all the same. Only he found that he couldn't, being completely lost as to where the movie's plot was headed. Didn't help that it had no subtitles to translate.

"I have no clue what's going." Six confessed. Even with the screen being so large in comparison to him there was still plenty he was missing. "I mean the monster found an orb, or something, and ate it. That's why it turned purple? I think?"

Lyza composed herself when she noticed the Betas confusion. "The orb of power. It had the rest of Komoragon's power. When he ate it he regained it. That's why he's purple."

Six's blank expression said it all. "Who the hell is Komoragon?"

"The monster," Lyza explained with a smile. "Come on Six, it's like you're not even paying attention."

"Well let's excuse the fact that I can't-"

"Jimaku nashi de mimasu ka?" Lyzas' sudden shift in language caught the Beta off guard. "Having a little trouble without subtitles Six?" She was teasing him. She stuck her tongue out to further emphasize that point.

"Didn't know you were multilingual." Six confessed.

The terrain of the sofa shifted as Lyza moved to lay on her side, with Six positioned right in front of her chest.

"I run a multi-billion clothing chain. On the side, I've invested in pharmaceuticals. In the dark I've contributed to Antilirin, that pink powder shit we Betas need to ingest. Is the fact that I know Japanese really all that surprising?"

Six thought on it. "I mean, I guess not? Does it really matter?"

"If you want to follow the movie it is."

Six shrugged. "Eh, it's boring anyway. I prefer CGI anyway."

"Boo. You got no taste for the classics." Lyza lightly flicked Sixs' head, though to him it was more a punch. She meant no harm in it though, having intended for it to be a playful tap.

She would need to learn to lower my handle someone half an inch if she planned to go through with her efforts to treat Six better.

Lyza returned her sight to the Movie, the climax that was perhaps the one decent part of the shop two hundred and fifteen-minute runtime.

Six on the other hand lost interest after some lady began singing to the monster, its orb of power forming from its eyes as energy was pulled away from it.

"Man I could really go for some more popcorn..." Lyza murmured.

"Maybe next time you won't finish the whole bowl before sitting down." Six suggested. "Along with two drinks of diet soda, a hot dog, and half a dill pickle. May as well have just made yourself breakfast with how much you ate so late at night."

"I haven't had a good meal in days though." Lyza responded in a tone that was reminiscent of toddlers. "I've been stuck in that stupid office for days. Can I really be blamed for binging a bit?"

"Normally, no. But that won't stop me from judging."

A growl in Lyzas stomach alerted the two to the realization that she still had room for more.

"God, how do you even stay thin?" Six asked. "Like, do you throw up after clearing out your fridge?"

Though he didn't see it Lyza was blushing. It felt strange to be judged by Six, especially when she had no intentions of returning the favor and belittling him.

"Good genes Six" Lyza responded. "And exercise. Lots and lots of exercise. Mostly yoga...only yoga."

Lyza tried to ignore her stomach for as long as she could but it refused to stop growling.

"Could really go for another bowl..." She said again. "Or maybe a little treat of candy?"

"I'm not letting you suck on me." Six said flatly.

"Party pooper."

A knock at Lyzas front door drew her attention.

"Someone at this time of night?" She wondered. Reaching for her phone she thought about who it could be. If it were some messenger from her sister she was gonna be pissed.

That thought went away the second Maya popped up on the screen of her phone. Covered in dried blood no less.

"She better not stain anything." Lyza grumbled as she pressed a button on her phone, unlocking her door.

"Glad to see you're here," Maya said as she bounced on into the house, closing the door behind her and momentarily looking out to make sure she wasn't followed. "Was hoping you would be, don't think I could've waited until tomorrow."

Lyza paused her movie and sat upright, the sudden weight distributed causing Six to fall into his back.

"Oh? So you got them?" Lyza asked. "Everyone on my list."

A worried smile acted as Lyzas answer, the older woman looking towards her nervous lover. "You did follow the list, right?"

A nervous chuckle, followed by Maya slowly opening the lid to her cup's container.

"Not exactly..."

Maya made her way to the couch, not even aware of Sixs' presence as she sat down right on top of him.

"But I did get plenty of lovely little toys~."

Six has been sat on plenty of times, aware and otherwise. He knew that no matter how hard he struggled he wouldn't be able to get free, especially in his current spot. Directly under Mayas' left was cheek. It felt...rougher? There was something in the back of her pants and currently, he was being pressed right into it. It was big. Certainly bigger than him. And every so often it would squirm.

Back above Lyza looked towards Maya in mild annoyance. "So you ignored the list I gave you?" There were a few people on it that had gotten on the designer's nerves at some point. Amongst them were her own employees. She'd have to let them go now, and that was just another addition to her workload she was hoping to avoid.

Maya was sweating lightly, nervous over her lovers' cold stare.

"I think there's more to it than that." She reasoned. "It was a busy day, never had a chance to even look for any of those names."

"So it's a no then?"

A few moments of silence for Maya nodded. "Yes..."

Lyza sank into her couch, hand over eyes as she soothed her nerves. The index finger of her other hand was furiously tapping against the fabric of the furniture. Never a good sign as far as Maya was concerned.

"But look!" Maya spilled the contents of the cup onto the couch, much to her girlfriends' horror. "I still managed to get plenty of people!"

Thankfully whatever content the cup held before the Betas were placed within was dried up by now. Lyza sighed in relief before looking over the batch of captives. They were all clearly terrified and even had broken limbs to worsen their overall mood. Maya certainly enjoyed herself when capturing them.

This was most apparent in two Betas in particular. Female, both of them. Different sizes, with one being four inches while the other was merely three. Perfect for entertainment, besides their broken legs.

Not many of the others were in a much better condition. Five total, and three, including the two girls, were injured. The last two were terrified beyond reason.

Lyza looked at the small group with a hint of disappointment. Still, she was willing to give her psychotic lover the benefit of the doubt. And like she told Six earlier, she was still rather hungry.

Maya on the other hand looked as though she couldn't wait. Each one of these little Betas was perfect to toy within her eyes. The only concern she had was that the already injured ones would break too quickly.

Bridges to cross in time though. Tonight she already had a special one in mind.

Reaching into her back pocket Maya was oblivious to Lyzas hand reaching for a treat within the group of captives. She already knew which one she wanted. The three-inch Beta. With her broken leg and small size, it was likely she wouldn't put up much of a fight going down.

Though the little female pleaded there was never an exchange of words between the two. Lyza simply pushed the squirming morsel against her lips and sucked them into her watering mouth.

There was a hint of...crab? "Was that what Maya had to eat?" Lyza wondered. "It's faint, but it's not bad. An exquisite combination even."

She tossed the Beta around on her tongue, ignoring their futile efforts at resistance while she savored the taste. The more she worked her tongue against their body the more Lyza was able to taste.

"Bisque and Betas. What a funny little combo." She swallowed without much in the way of effort. The Beta, despite her rather large size, went down rather smoothly. Even with her constant struggling, it didn't present any issue for Lyza. All it really availed to was a slow-moving bulge that disappeared past her collar bone.

Lyza licked her lips, unaware that at some point Maya had started looking at her again, Beta in hand and smile on her face.

"Well looks like I didn't need to tempt you~. She teased. "And I was gonna save some for tomorrow. Guess one won't make a difference though. Still, can't forget about this little nuisance." Maya raised the five-inch Beta to Lyzas face. "This one's an especially cruel person. Kicked out her own family, even killed one of them. Whatever should we do with her?"

Lyza examined the treat in front of her. "Kicked out her own family?" She felt anger flare-up in her chest. "Killed one of them?" It was another reminder of her own familial situation. "Well, we can't have that."

Lyza pinched the woman's head in between her fingers, increasing the pressure but never quite enough to kill her.

"But I'm oh so full now." Lyza remarked. In truth, she still wasn't done. She still felt she had room to spare. She's always had a fast metabolism, and even at her age, it's done wonders for her figure. That said she wasn't one to ignore the long-term effects of overeating, a reason why she exercises when she can alongside Maya.

"What do you suggest my dear?" Lyza leaned forward, nearly onto Maya, unaware of the effect this was having on Six. When Maya backed away from the advance in surprise she unknowingly put even more pressure on Six. Pressure that, even he, was having difficulty dealing with.

Even if he didn't need to he found it difficult to breathe. The feeling of not having air in your lungs, synthetic in his case, was uncomfortable. And right now it was being dragged on. At least he knew how to handle the weight and the heat.

"Wait...heat?" It was slow at first before rising. Maya's body was getting hotter. "Oh, that's not good..."

Maya twirled strands of her hair in between her fingers. She was blushing heavily, her cheeks a deep shade of red, as Lyza was only inches away from her face. "Well, I was gonna offer her as a snack to share, but seeing as you just had one..." Maya went in for a kiss, allowing both to sink away into that brief pleasure before pulling away. "I was thinking we'd just crush the life out of her. How's that sound my queen?"

Lyza wrapped her arms around Maya's neck. "Simply wonderful my dear. But we are NOT ruining my furniture down here."

"Upstairs then?" Maya asked with a cruel grin. "Your little...antiques room?"

"What better place is there?"

The Beta in Maya's grip couldn't find it in herself to scream. She was in complete disbelief. In front of her, risen to massive heights, was Lyza Vermont of Vermont's Garments. Owner of the entire damn thing. And she was associated with this blue-haired psycho? Not even that, they were lovers.

Just what has she been dragged into?

"Before we go though." Maya pointed down to the group of horrified Betas between her and Lyza. "What should we do with them?"

Lyza flashed them all a glare. "They'd do well not to move then. Stay here and enjoy the movie. Move though and we'll make you wish you were dead." Her threat was made clear when she reached down and grabbed an arm of one of the two uninjured Betas. With no effort she pinched down on it, snapping the limb in two.

Maya looked towards the television, groaning in disgust over what Lyza was watching. "Seriously? That movie? It sucks."

"Yeah, I know." Lyza confessed. "But I wanted to watch something with Six before heading to bed. Speaking of which..."

Lyza's focus fell onto Maya's rear, more specifically the spot where Six had been. Maya took notice of this, grinding her ass in place back and forth. "Like what you see?"

"I do, but I'd much rather see Six put from under there."

It didn't take Maya long to realize what Lyza meant. Lifting her butt she saw that her dear Six was stuck, plastered on like a sticker.

"Oh gosh, Six!" Maya plucked her Beta from her rear, laying him gently in Lyza's waiting hand. "I didn't see you there."

Disoriented at first it wasn't long before the Beta was able to take in a full breath of fresh air. Felt good.

"Won't lie, I'm a little jealous Maya." Lyza remarked. "He gets all that ass, and all I get is a kiss. So unfair."

Maya smiled as she took Lyza's hand, helping her off the couch. "Then let's fix that my queen. We'll enjoy the night for as long as our toy lasts."

Lyza placed Six within the group of Betas, his extremely small size noticeable amongst them. "While we're gone it's Six who's in charge. Anyone runs it'll be him who tells us where."

Lyza looked down on Six, her eyes showing genuine kindness when addressing him. "I got faith he'll keep tabs on you all."

Returning her attention back to Maya, Lyza went in for another kiss. This time they went on long enough that by the end of it they were both out of breath. They were showing themselves off to their future victims.

Lyza extended her hand towards the stairs. "After you beautiful."

"What should we call her?" Maya wondered

"Her name maybe?" Lyza replied, waiting on her bed for Maya to put down the Beta so they could begin. "She probably has one."

Maya sneered at the thought. "For someone this horrible? Someone who'd kick their own family away? She doesn't deserve a name."

"Then a number." Lyza groaned as she laid back onto her bed, arms behind her head. "I don't care so long as we can get started. Missing a perfectly horrible movie because of her."

Maya disliked that idea even more than using the woman's actual name. That right was for her victims specifically. To be accurate, those she actually liked. It's been some time since she gave someone a number. As it stood Six was the last one living. Made it so she remembered them even were she to forget their names.

This wretched woman, who would kill her family based on simple superstitions wasn't even a number to Maya. She was less than that. Less than even trash.

"Ohhhh" Maya believed she found the appropriate name. "How about Pest?"

Lyza thought on the name, softly laughing as she recalled the number of times she's referred to Six as that. That was before she found that he had some uses. This woman though...

"Pest sounds almost too fitting dear. It's perfect." Lyza looked towards the Beta in her girlfriend's hand. Surprisingly, despite the time of night it was, she was filled with a surprising amount of energy. Perhaps the thought of tormenting this less than human being was putting her into one of those moods.

Lyzas' glare practically tore a hole through the Beta. Though the glance was simple it was as if the world faded until all they could focus on were those yellow eyes. "So little pest. How do you wanna go?"

The Beta went silent, whatever voice she had caught in her throat. This was wrong. She knew this was wrong. She coughed on whatever words she could manage, and even then it was a meek little "Why?"

The Betas body was turned to face Maya, a crazed and undoubtedly hungry look in their eyes. "Because seeing you little things choose is funny honey~."

The Beta frantically pointed in Lyza's direction. "N-no I meant why is she here?!" The Beta looked confused, unable to accept reality. "That's Lyza Vermont. She...she...she helps Betas. Gives them Antilirin. She hires them. Why is she here?" The Beta turned to fave Maya again. "And why did you kill my husband?! Why did you kidnap me?! I don't even know you! Why would you do this?!"

Rather than answer straight away Maya instead releases her grip on the woman, allowing them to plummet to the floor. And all with the most innocent of smiles on her face.

Their size of five inches prevented any major damage. Or at least it would have, had they not fallen directly on their ankle.

The snap was quick and coupled together with what the Beta had to endure prior it didn't take much for them to begin crawling away in some futile attempt to get away from her tormentors. The duo watched as the woman dragged herself, her pathetic whimpers bringing a smile to both their faces as they watched with sadistic satisfaction. 

Lyza was the first to react, pulling her foot free from the confines of its slipper. Before the woman could get far Lyza pinched their ankle with her toes before dragging them back.

"That's easy to answer. Kinda obvious if you think about it." Lyza said as she raised her foot into the air along with the woman. "I care about the impression I give. The masses just love it when someone like me looks after pests like you. Helps me hide my hobbies. As for why Maya did what she did..."

Maya's smile only grew wider as she saw the shrunken woman dangle upside down. She had to restrain herself, otherwise, she would have gladly grabbed Lyzas leg and bite the little bitch dangling from her foot in half.

"I met your niece." Maya answered. "And she told me a looooot of interesting things over why she was living on the streets. Like how you killed her dad then kicked her and her mother out. Such a sweet girl too...or she was anyway. Terrible judge of character."

Even if she wasn't going to eat the Beta, Maya still gripped Lyza's leg, all while the designer watched in silent curiosity. The blue-haired giantess lifted her lover's foot just high enough to where their prey was forced to look directly into her eyes.

Maya licked her lips in anticipation, giving a clear idea of what she wanted to do. What she wouldn't give to bite their head off right now. 

"Just don't play with her too hard okay?" Lyza cautioned. "My other leg's free as a bird and you're in the perfect chocking position."

Maya wasn't listening though. Her focus was only on the woman she kidnapped. "She told me where you lived. A horrible place for a horrible person. Really, it's your fault I killed so many people..." Maya's eyes were growing more and more manic the longer she looked at the Beta. She felt fit to snap again. "Shame I butchered your hubby though. Woulda forced you two to fuck before killing you both..."

Even Lyza grimaced on hearing that. "While that certainly sounds...interesting. I've got another idea." Without warning Lyza released her hold of the woman, letting gravity drag them downwards again. Only this time she landed in a far softer soft.

Face first into Maya's cleavage. 

Surprised at first Maya quickly found the Betas' struggling somewhat delightful. "Oh, now that feels good..." She doesn't think she's ever killed anyone between her breasts. At least not intentionally. Every so often there would be a few accidents. "Let's see...I've stepped on, eaten, and ripped apart Betas..." A faint memory came to mind. "There was that time in the hospital though. But that was years ago..."

Lyza scooted forward, laying towards Maya as she remained on the bed. "Are you gonna keep her all to yourself?" Lyza pouted. "After it was my dropping her that gave you the idea? So rude of you Maya."

Maya took the hint. With the Beta struggling, she climbed onto the bed as Lyza repositioned herself to be laid on.

"Of course, I'll share my Queen." Maya assured. "It's just a matter of getting comfortable."

Slowly, Maya removed her blood-stained shirt. Her previous actions had left it soaked down to her bra. Even to the point where her skin was stained. All this did was give her a shining coat of dried crimson that worked to excite Lyza to no end.

"Not afraid I'll stain the sheets?" Maya asked, half out of curiosity and half to tease. The blush on Lyzas face though showed that, while she did care for the expenses paid for her furnishing, her current arousal more than outweighed any worry she might have in regards to them.

"They're just sheets."

With that Maya wasted no time in pressing her rather bountiful chest against her lovers, all the while the pressure for the Beta increased.

"God, you're beautiful when you're crimson. You know that Maya?" Lyza was genuine in her affection. Though some blood rubbed off on her, and by extension her several thousand dollar mattress, she cared more for the murderer than her appearance. Lyza played with Maya's hair, pulling at it and taking in the wondrous new highlights. "It even got in your hair dear. The red compliments the blue. It suits you."

"I was hoping you'd like it~ ." Maya leaned in for a kiss. She was caught off guard though when Lyza practically pulled her into it. That's not to say it wasn't enjoyed. In truth, without some hair pulling it just wouldn't be the same.

The Beta was all but forgotten as the two giants made out. Whatever air she had prior was dwindling fast.

She didn't deserve this.

Or rather, she believed she didn't deserve this. This was her stupid nieces' fault. Yeah, that had to be it. If it wasn't for that damned insect then she would have never been found. If it wasn't for her damn brother in law then she'd have never contracted this stupid shrinking disease. She wasn't some bug. She was human. She didn't deserve this.

Always the same type of thoughts from these types of people.

As such, they were her thoughts as her vision slowly began to blur.

"Wa-it...Ma-ya..." Lyza tried to pull away from her lover's kiss but found that Maya was less than willing. No corner of her mouth hadn't been explored by their tongue. Eagerly it was searching for something new.

"M-aya..." Lyza didn't want to have to bite down on their tongue again. The last time Maya found herself unable to roll her R's. Rather than bite down Lyza instead duped her hand around Maya's right tit and squeezed. Hard.

Maya yelped in pain before pulling away. She wasn't upset though. Quite the contrary.

"Are we skipping a few steps tonight?" Maya asked hopefully. Her smile was crooked, her eyes mad. She was crazed right now, there was no doubt about it.

"No, not tonight." Maya's expression did not lighten up in the slightest. "But our little toy. The dear little pest hasn't come up for air. She probably needs some sweetie. Be a dear and fetch her out?"

Like a dog given a command, Maya plucked the woman from her cleavage. They were limp. Out cold but breathing.

That wouldn't do at all.

"Wake her up."

Obediently Maya pinched the woman's left arm, twisting it until it nearly came undone. The woman screamed herself awake, a witness to her mangled limb. The bone was beyond broken. Even the sense of vertigo wasn't enough to turn her away from the sight and pain.

"That's better." Lyza said as she caressed the side of Maya's face. The killer was on cloud nine from the simple touch alone. Sensations in complete overdrive.

Lyza couldn't get enough of the look in those crazed blue eyes. Like a violent sea waiting to flood the world.

"Give her to me." Lyza ordered. And like an obedient pet, Maya obeyed. Kicking and screaming the Beta was handed to another tormentor's hand. Their grip was surprisingly gentle yet expertly tight. "Now...lay here next to me."

No questions to Lyzas' motive. Maya simply crawled to her lover's side, wanting more of whatever her queen had planned.

Lyza said nothing as she placed her index and middle finger on both sides of the Betas head before guiding her across Maya's firm stomach and towards her pants. Immediately the Beta knew what was happening and tried to fight against the inevitable.

"You better hold your breath Pest." Lyza instructed. "Because you won't be getting some air for a while."

Maya understood what was needed of her. She undid the buttons to her pants before sliding them off, her eyes never leaving Lyza's gaze. There was longing in her eyes. And a deep sense of desire. The simple thought was already more than enough to get her wet.

"I wonder if she'll drown before her skull caves in." Lyza was curious over which would happen.

Whatever would happen though wouldn't be delayed. Poor Maya was already flustered. A second longer and she way just burst.

Lyza slipped her hand into her lover's panties, pressing the Betas head against their vagina.

The motions that came after forced Maya to whimper. She was never one to go into a frenzy during such activities. Rather, she was astonishingly timid.

Oh, but the noises she could make if Lyza allowed.

"No" just as quickly as the whimper came it vanished. Lyza's voice was stern, commanding, but came from a smile so gentle it defied sense. "No whimpering. No noise. You won't so much as make a peep, understand? If you do I'll leave you wanting more."

A game of hers. To see how long her lover can go without uttering a single word in such acts of intimacy. Maya was strong-willed, but even she had her limits.

The killer clenched her teeth. With her hands she slipped them underneath Lyza's shirt, digging into the older woman's flesh, leaving wounds that would need to be covered up in the future. All the while her fingers twitched maddeningly.

She loved it. Lyza loved that she could make someone as dangerous as Maya buckle over in pleasure. The pain wasn't in any way a bother to her.

Below, the Beta was going through hell. Lyza's touch had sent Maya's sex into overdrive. When their Pest was pressed into it had already been soaked. Now literal gallons of nectar crashed against their head and they were forced to take the full brunt of it.

They weren't sure how much of it they had swallowed but their stomach certainly felt fuller.

Even worse, the constant motion of the Beta's tormentors' fingers forced their head deeper into Maya. Their bodies involuntary response constantly tightened around the woman's skull, threatening to crush it. Each time though it would let up, as if Maya was fighting against the desire to finish.

That didn't stop the constant flow of cum, unfortunately. Rather, it came out in greater quantities.

Back above, Maya was practically drooling through her teeth as she looked into Lyza's eyes. They were begging for release, tears freely flowing and ruining what little makeup the killer wore. Her whole body was on fire as Maya dug her nails deeper into Lyza's back. Still, they didn't show so much as a sign of pain.

"Please..." Maya begged. That one word was enough to cost her this game. She knew that. She understood that. But she couldn't handle it. It was too much. Lyza was too much. "Please! Please, I can't..." Her breathing had grown extreme, to the point where she was certain steam was coming out of her mouth with every exhale. "My Queen, I can't..."

Lyza caressed her lover's cheek again with her free hand before pulling out her other. With it, she brought Maya's face closer, uncaring of the nectar she left on their cheek. Gently Lyza stuck her thumb into their mouth where they bit down softly.

"Crush that little pest for me." Lyza ordered.

Maya's gentle bite turned fierce as she ground her thighs together. No matter how hard the Beta had fought back at her impressive size her head, along with the rest of her body, gave in to the sudden pressure. Everything broke. Bones fractured and tore through skin, organs, and tissue. They were completely unrecognizable by the end of it all and still Maya continued to grind her thighs together, eager to get out every last drop of life that she could.

She bit down hard on Lyza's finger, to the point where blood was freely flowing from their chin now. Still, her lover didn't so much as react to the pain.

"I can't...I can't...I..." Maya was lost in waves of ecstasy, unable to focus. Her crazed vision faded, as did any sense of cohesion. "I..."

Exhaustion consumed Maya as she slumped against her girlfriend's breasts, their considerably smaller chest being more than enough cushion for her.

"Did an excellent job." Lyza assured. "Though, I would love my thumb back please."

Pulling the extremity back revealed a deep mark that would need to be stitched later. A worry for the morning though. For now, Maya needed her rest.

"Queen...my Queen..." She continued to repeat. Her breathing had steadied, though she still twitched now and then. Must've been too much for her. "You're my Queen..."

"And what would you do for me?" Lyza asked as she stroked the twitching woman's hair.

"Anything..." Maya replied. She didn't need to look at Lyza to know that she was smiling.

"And if I want someone dead?" Lyza asked.

"Then I ask their name." Maya replied.

Obedience. It was a turn-on for Lyza, and on any other day, she would have taken full advantage of it too.

Unfortunately, despite having taken the lead tonight, she was exhausted. She's been working non-stop for days and the only company she's had was Six. While she was still adamant about treating him better the Beta was in no way suitable to sleep with.

He'd probably find himself under her in such a scenario.

Maya whimpered as she clutched Lyza. The ordeal was truly draining.

"Poor baby..." Lyza cooed. "Someone needs their rest now. And really, so do I."

"What about the others?" Maya asked. Though she was spent she still wanted to continue. Lyza had to admit, such determination was adorable. 

"Let Six take care of them." Lyza responded with a yawn. "It's not like they can go anywhere anyway."

Maya cuddled closer into Lyza as the latter wrapped their arms around them. "Hush now my little sweet. Drift away into sleep~." Lyza sang. Maya's breathing slowed down as slumber slowly took her. "Let the night turn into day, and let yesterday fade away~." She kissed the killer gently on her forehead. "And when you wake, it'll be the world on a stake~."

Soft snoring followed shortly after. Lyza would follow Maya in sleep shortly after. For now, though she had to think.

Maya had gotten their toys but now there was a new issue, in regards to Lyza's business. There was still the matter of her sister.

These...antics were a good enough distraction. For a time anyway. Come morning and it'd be another workday, and Lyza still had her sisters required "date" to set up. She wondered if Six would need any convincing.

Like her thumb though that's an issue for the morning. For now, she had Maya, the single most dangerous entity in Los Demonious, sleeping like a child in her embrace. Nothing could ruin that.

"Forgot to mention, Six has a date with my sister."

And just like that Maya woke up, any sense of exhaustion and mania gone from her eyes.

"No, the FUCK he isn't!"

Confusion and fear were no doubt the key emotions the group of Beta's were currently experiencing.

That and pain. A great deal of pain for those with broken limbs. Maya certainly wasn't gentle with some of them.

Six pitied them. Unlike him, whatever activity Maya and Lyza had planned for them would likely end in their deaths. He had no desire to know their names. No real need to. They wouldn't be lasting a month.

"Hey, you!" One of them called out.

Six cursed under breath. The last thing he needed right now was an introduction. He ignored the one calling him over, turning his back towards them.

What Six hadn't expected though was for them to walk towards and force the half-inch Beta to face them. Or rather, to face her.

Female, and only two inches tall. Still massive when compared to Six and he was forced to look up to meet her glare.

She was rather rough for wear. Her grime-covered, shoulder-length, white hair was a mess. Her freckled skin and ragged clothing was tattered and caked in dirt. Still, before becoming a Beta it was clear she used to be quite the attractive woman. She still was actually. "What is it with all the attractive women recently?" Six wondered. Now though, she was starving and terrified. As were the rest of her group.

"You..." The woman stared down at Six. "That was Lyza Vermont, wasn't it? She said you were in charge. Tell us where I am, please."

Six could see that it was fear that guided her to speak whereas the rest of her group cowered. She knew how to take charge. Or at least knew how to push past her fear.

Still, whatever she did likely wouldn't matter in the long run.

"I...it doesn't matter." For a moment he wanted to lie. Tell her he didn't know and avoid any explanations. Rather he settled for the cold truth. "In a few weeks, I'm guessing you'll all be dead."

The woman was relentless though. Maybe some false sense of hope. A strange belief that she could get away. "Please, can you help me?"

This would be a first for Six. Usually, people gave up when he'd tell them they'd likely die. What's more, his size and appearance weren't a deterrent. Despite being wrapped in bandages the woman was talking to him. Granted she was talking down to him but Six realized all the same that he hasn't talked to anyone other than Lyza or Maya. For years in fact.

It felt strange.

"Look, the sooner you accept the fact you'll all probably die the better." Six was stubborn though. Nothing he did would matter. He learned that even before he was shrunken down.

The woman fell to her knees. Even then she was nearly as big as a barn.

"P-please..." She was sobbing now. "I don't want to die. Not like this. Not this size. You have to help me!"

Those were the kind of words he was used to. People unable to accept their impending death. It was sad, sure, but expected. He'd grown quite used to them.

Didn't make him feel any better though.

Seeing such a large being, however, someone who was once fully human no less, get on their knees and beg was certainly a new experience. No one's really done that before. At least not in front of him. Six could only imagine the number of pleas Maya has ignored.

He didn't want to say anything and likely wouldn't have had the woman not grabbed his legs, with only a single hand no less, her pleas repeating in some attempt at salvation.

"Lady...please" Six didn't want to see such a sight. It felt wrong. Especially when he's never seen someone so large beg. "Please stop."

She refused to relent. "No! You have to help! I can't die yet!"

This back and forth argument felt oddly familiar. Six recalled the number of times he and Maya had similar arguments over her murders. He's tried to persuade her to steer away from such activities but always she refused. Each time he caved into her commands.

This situation felt no different. "Fuck..." Six couldn't believe he was doing this. "Fine. I... I'll talk to them. The two keeping you here." Even on her knees, she was still utterly massive when compared to Six. If he wanted he could probably stand on her thighs and still not be able to reach her chin. He probably only came up to her knees now that he thought about it.

No, not even that really. Just below them. It really put into perspective how small he truly was. For such a long time he's only really been able to compare himself to Lyza and Maya. God, he must be as small as a jelly bean to them.

Despite the staggering difference in height though her smile seemed the only thing he could focus on.

The woman's despair quickly turned into joy as she lunged forward, pulling Six into what was perhaps the world's tightest hug. "Thank you!" She shouted in glee. "Thank you thank you THANK YOU!"

Six was glad he couldn't die, otherwise, he's certain his head would have been crushed in the woman's air-tight hug. She greatly underestimated her own strength. So much so that were it anyone else she'd have likely killed them.

It didn't help that she was well endowed too, making it quite hard to breathe. 

She noticed Six's struggling all the same. "Oh! Sorry!" She swiftly released the half-inch Beta, allowing him to breathe. She held him in her hands, waiting for the much smaller Beta to regain his composure. There was a look to her, one of fascination. It was in her eyes. At Six's size, the eyes could say a lot. "It's just...you're so small. I never thought you'd be this small."

Six raised his hand to assure the woman he was fine. "Trust me it's nothing." He's lost count of the number of times he should have suffocated to death. Whether it was underfoot, underwater, or under Maya's rear nothing ever put him down.

A result of being experimented on. He was, for the most part, indestructible.

It was then Six caught on to what she had just said. "Wait, what do you mean thought?"

The woman's smile quickly faded as she grew worried. "It's...nothing. Forget what I said."

As if he could. "Look, if I'm going to help you then you need to tell me what you meant." Six was held up to the woman's face, her size allowing him to be held like some doll.

"It's not important." The woman stated. "Not anymore."

Her face was ridden with regret. She knew something, that much was clear. But it was also obvious she wouldn't say anything, and Six couldn't really force the information out of her.

That is if he wasn't unwilling to offer his aid anyway. Dangling such aid over her head would be enough to loosen anyone's lips.

"Then can you at least tell me your name?" Six asked. The woman tried to avert her gaze, refusing to meet Six's. He realized this would get him nowhere unless he played a little dirty. It's good then that he picked up a few tricks from Lyza. "Look, if you don't tell me your name then I can't say I'll be of much use in keeping you safe."

That got her attention. The fear in the woman's eyes quickly returned at the thought of being left helpless. Or rather, as helpless as one could get when your only hope was a half-inch speck.

"It's...Roxanne." The woman revealed. "Roxanne Foster."

Six sighed, content that he knew this woman's name. It was something at least. 

Roxanne brought her face closer. Her whole head was almost as big as Six's entire body. "And you're name?"

Six stammered. Of course, she'd ask that.

It had been some time since he's used his name. His actual name and not some number. He almost felt like saying it but stopped when thinking about the repercussions. If Maya heard any of the Betas saying his old name then none of Roxanne's group would survive.

"It's Six" the Beta said.

"A number?"

Six simply nodded, not desiring to give the reason as to why he had such an odd name.

"And are you trapped here too Six?" Roxanne asked.

"Wonderful, now I'm being questioned..." Six thought. All he wanted was answers. "A minute ago you were bawling out your eyes begging me to help you. Talk about a personality switch...It's complicated." Six admitted. "I'm not really trapped. More a victim of...love." At least that's how Maya would put it. Even saying it sounded gross.

"Of...love?" Roxanne had some trouble comprehending that. "What's that supposed to mean? You love that horrible woman?"

If Six were able to he'd probably be blushing. Honestly, he wasn't sure of the feelings he had for Maya could even be described as love. After all, it's because of her he's stuck like this. "Mine and Maya's relationship is complicated. I guess it just means we're-"

"No, the FUCK he isn't!"

Maya's voice rang from upstairs, followed by several furious stomps. 

"Fucked..." This wasn't good. Six had hoped they'd keep themselves entertained for the night. They even had a larger than average Beta with them. That should have been more than enough.

To make matters worse the voice was heard by the group, Roxanne included. If Maya saw her holding Six then there's no telling what she'd do.

"You have to go." Six said as sternly as possible. "Back to your group. You have to get away from m-" before he could finish Roxanne brought Six against her chest once more, bringing her fellow Beta into another fearful hug.

It was tighter than before. There was no doubt in Six's head that such strength would have killed normal humans.

"Ow..."

Booming footsteps came down the stairs as Maya stomped into the living room, now only wearing her still blood-stained shirt. She didn't even take the time to button it all the way back up.

Lyza followed behind her, seemingly caught between laughter and worry. "It's just one date, Maya."

"With your sister!" Maya responded. She paced back and forth in the living room, uncaring for the audience she had. "The sister YOU hate! Why would you even agree to that?!"

"Blackmail can work wonders." Lyza admitted. The look on her girlfriend's face though showed that she was in no mood for jokes.

"She wouldn't blackmail you if you just let me-"

"Kill her?" Lyza answered before her lover could finish. "Not gonna happen. Yeah, I don't like her, but that doesn't mean I want her dead. Just off my back."

"So you're letting her go on a date with Six?" Maya questioned. "MY Six? What do you think she'll do when she sees him? I mean, he kind of stands out even among other Betas!"

Maya gestured towards Six, at first unaware of his current position. It was only when she focused on where her one and only was did she see him in the arms of another woman.

"Six?" Maya had trained herself to pick up on the smallest of movements for the sake of her one and only. So that he could never hide from her. Even with another woman's arms wrapped around his body, she could see him clear as day.

HER Six, held in the arms of a woman that wasn't her or Lyza. She felt her blood boil.

"Let go of him." Maya demanded as she lowered herself over a shivering Roxanne. Their grasp over Six tightened until it felt like his head would pop off. Maya brought her face down closer to the sniveling Beta, her eyes filled with jealousy.

Rarely could Maya ever be considered the jealous type. Not even when Lyza toyed with Six without her knowledge. Seeing him in the arms of a stranger though was a sight she hadn't expected to see.

And she didn't like it. Not one bit.

Maya raised her palm over the woman, her shadow casting over them, casting nearly all light out. She didn't mind squishing this Beta if it meant getting Six away from them.

"I said let him go." Maya repeated. Again, nothing came from her order.

"Little fucking slut..."

Maya brought her hand down with the intent to kill, and she certainly would have too had Six not managed to pull his right arm free and extended it outward, pleading for Maya to wait. A second too late and Roxanne would have certainly been reduced to paste.

The sudden force of the wind that overcame the two was powerful enough to nearly throw Roxanne over. She held onto Six as tightly as she could, as if he could save her from Maya.

Lyza stood on the sidelines, unsure of what to do but curious to see how matters would resolve themselves. At least Maya had something to divert her ire away from the previous request.

Lifting Roxanne by her hair Maya brought the two-inch Beta to her eyes. Their wonderous blue able to clearly reflect the horror of Roxanne's face.

"Did you seriously just tell me to stop Six?" Maya questioned, not at all pleased by his defense of another woman.

Six couldn't help but curse his luck. Now he was in the hot seat. And Maya already seemed pissed even before storming down the stairs.

"I...did..." Six confirmed.

"And why the hell would you do that?"

"An excellent question..." And likely one he couldn't answer easily. Roxanne clearly knew something, her choice of words before showing it. Six always thought of himself as rational and seeing the larger Betas actions it was clear to him that something was off. He wanted to find out what it was.

Even if Roxanne was the one in her grasp it was Six who's Maya's focus was currently on. This was a new look from her.

Anger. Or something staggeringly close to it. Such an eventful day. So many firsts for Six.

He can't really recall when Maya's ever been angered by his actions. Even when He was normal, as the two dated in college, she's never been angry towards him. Twisted yes. Extremely twisted. But never angry.

"Six? You gonna tell me why you saved her? Or am I gonna bite her in half?" To emphasize her point Maya clicked her teeth together. Even if her threat was directed towards Roxanne she still only focused on her one and only.

Tears were flowing from Roxanne, falling onto the top of Six's head. Her eyes were shut, her whole being silently prepared for what could happen.

Six had to think of something. Something to appease Maya. Lyza wasn't really providing much help.

"Is she back in the fucking kitchen?!" Six screamed internally upon hearing the sounds of a fridge opening.

"Say something Six." Maya demanded. She brought her free hand close to Roxanne and prepared to flick her in the chest. "Say something or I swear I'll break this bitches ribcage. "It was no coincidence that it was that spot specifically she planned to target. He was being held against it after all.

Finally, a possible solution struck the half-inch man. "You can keep her! As a pet!"

There was a moment of silence from all parties as Roxanne's grip tightened upon hearing this. Not the preferred proposal he imagined. But one of the few that could keep her alive. Thankfully, Maya seemed to ponder the possibility.

"A pet?" Maya tapped her chin as she thought about the proposal. The Beta woman was only two inches tall. Certainly on the shorter spectrum of shrinkers. There were plenty among their group that was bigger, if not broken.

Maya picked up two with her free hand, both females with a broken leg and both bigger than the object of her ire. She remembered these two. They wouldn't stop wriggling so she had to break their limbs. Practically useless now.

They'd make a good example.

"Interesting as far as ideas go Six." Maya admitted. "Especially when coming from you. Never thought you recommend something like that. But tell me..." Maya brought the two Betas into view, her grip tightening on them. "These two are larger than your 'pet'. By all accounts, they should also be sturdier." Effortlessly Maya squeezed the Betas in her hand until they popped under the pressure. They didn't even have a chance to scream as their innards squished between Maya's fingers. "If they couldn't survive that then what use is she?"

Maya rested her head in her bloodied hand, uncaring for the mess upon it. She waited for her beloved's response, certain he didn't have an answer.

And he didn't. Really he didn't expect to manage this long in stalling Roxanne's demise. But he knew he couldn't combat Maya, especially when she was willing to use lives to make a point.

Seeing the Betas silence Maya smirked as she raised Roxanne, along with Six, over her lips, ready to make good on her earlier threat. She didn't manage to get her prey past in between her teeth though when they suddenly shouted in Six's stead.

"I'm smart!" Roxanne shouted when Six failed to give an answer.

Maya was unimpressed. "Okay...and? You'd be surprised over how many big brains I've bashed out. Not all of them were Betas either."

"No, I mean I'm smart in the sense that I can help you!" Roxanne tried to reason. For a moment she looked down toward Six, seemingly deep in contemplation, before shifting her sights towards Lyza who was now standing beside Maya with a can of whipped cream in hand. Their eyes lit upon seeing them. "That's Lyza Vermont right?! I can help her make clothes? I know how to make something that'll make cloth for her! Threads! A machine!"

"That's not gonna cut it I'm afraid." Roxanne yelped as Maya was fully prepared to let this woman fall into her mouth before Lyza cupped her hand over it.

Despite having the nozzle of the can in between her own lips Lyza seemed intrigued over the offer. Swallowing a mouthful of cream the designer crouched in front of the still dangling Beta, clearly interested over the offer that was on the table. "Explain" a simple order. Effective all the same.

Roxanne was trembling, holding back any further tears as she tried to speak. "I...I was a mechanic of sorts, before shrinking. I know how to build things." She explained. "I can come up with a blueprint for fast-paced, automatic, sewing machines. Faster than normal ones and hundreds of times more precise. You can use it to reduce the cost of manual labor."

Lyza's interest was piqued. That's a rather specific skill from a complete stranger. "That's quite the talent there. If it's true that is. How do I know you're not lying?"

"A week!" Roxanne requested. "Just give me a week to come up with the design and I can show you how it works!"

With Lyza's resources, it wouldn't be any real issue to find someone to build a machine, so long as they had the instructions over how to do it. She certainly had the connections for the task.

Lyza looked towards Maya, the killer clearly annoyed that she hasn't eaten this Beta yet. She even felt like chewing on Six because he stood up for this woman.

No matter her feelings, though, Maya knew Lyza was interested in the offer. Pulling her lover's hand away from their mouth Maya pulled the Beta away from her lips.

"I'm not going to hide the fact that I wanna kill you." Maya explained, her voice cold and cruel. "But I know when I'm outvoted. Six wants you alive, and Lyza's seems interested in your offer..." Maya was hesitant to even go through with this. As cruel as she can be towards others it was thanks to Lyza and Six that managed to keep her on a self-imposed leash. So you get one week."

Maya dropped the woman back onto the couch, uncaring that she still had Six in her grasp.

"One week, and if you have nothing worth showing then I'll swallow you alive."

Roxanne gulped upon hearing this. She didn't even take her size into account when offering her services. Things were bound to be more difficult than she would have liked. Worse still, the look in Maya's eyes showed that she still wasn't done with her.

"As for Six..." Maya's glare fell to the still clutched Beta. He dreaded what she had in store for him. Jealousy was not an emotion she knew how to handle.

Rather than punish Six, Maya relaxed as she explained Lyza's intentions. "You've got a date to get ready for."

"With my little sister." Lyza chimed in.

Six felt his throat go dry, which was impressive considering he had no mouth to breathe from.

"I'm sorry...a date?" Six seriously couldn't understand how fast-paced this night had been. First Lyza was being kind to him, then Maya returns with her victims, one of which apparently knew more than the led on, and now this. Today certainly was eventful.

Maya grimaced at the thought. First her Six was in the arms of some other woman, now she was agreeing to let him go on this arranged date. With Lynette of all people. It certainly struck more than a few nerves for her.

Maya knew Lynette didn't much care for her. Fine by her, Maya didn't care for her either. But she knew Lynette's views on Betas. Excessive stalking really does grant a wide arrange of information.

Unlike her sister, Lynette didn't hide her disdain for the diminutive humans. She hired them sure, but she treated them more like pets than anything. And like her sister, Lynette wasn't afraid of stepping on a few if they got on her nerves.

Maya wondered how she'd react upon seeing Six. They'd have to hide his more notable features, but even at his size, that wouldn't be too difficult. The problem lied in whether Lynette would laugh at him or accept him. Whatever she'd do she'd almost certainly embarrass the Beta in some way. It'd be a good punishment for his recent rebellion.

"I'll be right there behind you." Lyza explained in an attempt to ease Six and his surprise. "It's purely professional despite what she told me. She just saw the designs you helped me with and got curious. This whole thing will blow over, I promise."

To say Six was less than ecstatic over the idea would be putting it lightly. Though he's never spoken with her he knew Lynette to be rather unsavory company. The last time Six saw her she nearly stepped on him while in an argument with her sister. Not the best first impressions.

"You're going" Maya said well before Six could even think on arguing against the plan. Just looking at her showed that she was still rather upset with the Beta.

He couldn't help but feel his own frustration rise. He couldn't help the fact that he can't pry away from Roxanne's grasp. Hell, he was still in it. Unable to move unless the woman holding him allowed it.

When he tries to ask her to put him down though Six found that the woman was still utterly fear-stricken, as were the rest of her group. All their eyes fell to the mangled corpses on the couch. Maya's examples of what could happen to them. Specifically Roxanne.

"Don't worry about the little whore" Maya practically cooed as a twisted grin grew on her face. She was grinding her teeth together as she looked down towards Roxanne. "I'll be sure to look after her while you're on your 'date'. I'll make sure she does as promised."

Six felt Roxanne's grip loosen slightly, no doubt as an effect of what Maya said. Six was able to wriggle out of the larger woman's grip, plummeting to the cushion of the couch. It was a soft landing but was quickly turned rough when Roxanne fell to her back as Maya loomed her finger over them.  

Placing her index finger under the woman's chin Maya lifted their head up ever so slightly, taking in their appearance. "Really hope she goes through with those prints" Maya admitted. "It'd be a shame to have to mangle such a cute face..."

Roxanne felt her blood run cold. To be stuck with Maya, without any sort of aid. She was beginning to regret ever opening her mouth.

"So it's decided" Lyza clapped her hands, breaking the tension that had been building. "Six and I will see my sister and this little Beta and Maya will work on the blueprints. After a week will see how things turn out."

Maya didn't offer any complaints. Six and Roxanne wouldn't even be allowed to complain. Any other Beta wouldn't even have their complaints heard. It was all decided.

"Now then..." Seeing Maya still irritated over Roxanne's presence Lyza scooted next to her lover before playfully biting at their ear lobe. Maya felt her anger slowly dissipate as her body heated up. "Can we head back to my room? I'm dreadfully tired honey."

It had been a long day for Lyza, and while she's been amazing at hiding her exhaustion the shadows under her eyes would never go away unless she got proper rest.

"Fine..." Maya gave in quite easily. "I'll admit, I'm quite tired too." Before she and Lyza could depart though, Maya reach down toward Six, scooping the Beta up into her hand. Her expression was still stern when looking at him but she'd be damned if she let that other Beta stay with him. "We ALL need our sleep. The rest of the pests can stay on the couch for all I care."

"They know not to run" Lyza explained as she cast her shadow over the remaining two Betas of Roxanne's group. "We'll kill them slowly if they do."

Nonwords were further spoken. Nothing else needed to be said. With their threat in place, the trio made their way back upstairs. Before leaving though Maya turned around one final time to face Roxanne. She ran her finger under her neck and across her throat, swallowing as she imagined it was that two-inch Beta in there.

She wanted them terrified for the morning. To keep them in line but also capable of making mistakes. An excuse for Maya to take advantage of. She was out for blood now, and everyone knew it.

As she walked away however all Roxanne could think of was Six.

"This is where he's been?!" She thought. Years of searching for Minervas final project before being shrunk and she found him here? In the company of psychopaths?

"What the hell am I supposed to do now?" She wondered.

Whatever happened though she knew she needed to get her hands on Six. Before anyone else did.

"Come on Six. Just wear it." Lyza urged on. Her expression was eager as she pinched between her fingers a rather adorable ensemble of clothes she, painstakingly, put together per Maya's request in the past. Until now Six has never worn them. He's never had a reason. Even then, Lyza was impressed with how they came out.

They were all tailored to the Beta's height. An impressive feat since they were all done by hand.

"I like this one best~" Lyza seemed particularly proud of a red hoodie, paired with a blue shirt and jeans. How she was even able to make something so small was a testament to her skill as a designer. It was almost unnatural, her eye for detail. 

Six hasn't worn anything of such quality in years though. For the entirety of the time he's been shrunk he's been covered in bandages. What's more, he limited himself to wearing only trunks. Toy trunks at that.

Was it humiliating? Yes. But he got used to it quite fast. He had to as Maya, early on in their relationship, didn't possess the skills Lyza did.

It took her ages to find something so small. Even then this current pair seemed a size too large.

"I don't see how it's important though." Six couldn't find a reason to put such clothing on. Lyza seemed to be forgetting the most important factor in all of this. "I mean, they don't really cover up all of this." Six gestured to his wrapped face and body.

Lyza tapped her chin, thinking of a solution. "Could say you're some burn victim?"

"That's dark" Six said.

Lyza shrugged. "It's something. I can make you clothes Six. But a mask to cover up your face? Probably not."

Lyza practically shoved the clothes in Six's face. "Come on, just try them!" She pushed in her desire to see Six try on her clothing. "I've dying to have you try them for months! Was even thinking of forcing you a few weeks ago!"

"Then why haven't I seen them before?" The beta questioned.

Lyza looked away momentarily, a coy smile on her face. "Cause you were more of a little shit during that time. Still, kind of are, but now..." Lyza laid the clothes in front of Six, allowing him the opportunity to choose for himself. "I'm willing to look past it all. Both your mistakes and mine."

Six scratched his head, still unable to come to terms with this change of behavior in Lyza. He felt as though there was a catch to it. That said, he would indulge in the act of getting to finally choose something, even if it was with something as mundane as clothing.

When Six picked the red hoodie Lyza smiled in delight. It really was one of her favored creations currently. And not for outlandish designs but mere simplicity. People tend to forget that the simplest choices were often some of the best.

"I knew you'd like that one." Lyza beamed. "Not too soft?"

Too soft was easily ruined and suffocating. Too hard on the other hand would be too uncomfortable. Thankfully Six found the jacket to be perfect.

"It's great Lyza" Six said with a hint of genuine gratitude. It was only when he put on the garment did he realize he actually missed such simple luxuries. It was difficult to express his emotions, especially to Lyza of all people. He managed, however small it was, a simple nod. "Thank you"

There was a moment of silence between the two. Neither knew what to say. They were still getting used to treating one another with respect. It was strange, especially after over a year of insulting each other.

Thankfully the silence was broken when Maya came striding into the room, Roxanne in hand.

Maya switched from her blood-stained shirt to only wearing one of Lyzas larger t-shirts. Pantless and with hair a mess she looked as though she had just crawled out of bed.

Her expression was sour, and Roxanne's condition seemed dire. Maya was gripping the two-inch beta a tad bit too tightly. They were having difficulty breathing thanks to the tight hold.

"Well, there's my lovely blue-eyed murderer~." Lyza cooed in an attempt to lessen her lover's foul mood. It worked, if only slightly. Maya's expression softened, and the faintest of smiles crept forward. It nearly faded when Roxanne began to squirm.

Without care, Maya threw her onto the couch once she was close enough. "And here's your little inventor. Little miss homewrecker herself." Maya did not attempt to hide her distaste for the Beta. She was hoping they wouldn't move from their spot when Maya took a seat. The towering giant leaped ever so slightly into the air and came crashing down onto the unfortunately vacant seat. Had they stayed as they were then Roxanne would have certainly found herself as a fine paste. The impact, though a simple action from Maya, was enough to send a gust of wind that nearly threw the beta off. The look in the eyes of the towering beings though showed that she hardly cared for her desired victims' safety.

"At least watch where you launch yourself" Lyza asked. "If she doesn't pull through with her promise then you can kill her. For now, just try to be hospitable."

Maya scoffed at the very notion. "I already bathed her." Maya argued. "Even gave her some new clothes."

Where it was Six who had the handmade outfits tailored by Lyza, Roxanne was forced to settle for doll brand dresses. They itched terribly and seemed a size too big. That didn't mean she'd complain to her captors though. At the very least she was treated better than the other captives. Roxanne hadn't seen them at all this day.

Lyza looked over the dress Roxanne wore, taking in every detail. Even with the size difference between the two Lyza knew the design was fair, especially coming from a child's toy. A suit befitting a woman of business. Red and Black. She'd actually pair well with Six now that Lyza thought about it.

"Couldn't have done her hair?" Lyza asked, now noticing the poor state Roxanne's white, shoulder-length, hair was in.

"I-I can do it myself" Roxanne suggested. Though her voice was barely audible, no doubt from a combination of fear and nervousness, she was still heard by the two. Roxanne found it incredible that they could hear something as soft as her voice.

She fell silent all the same when Maya shot her a rather menacing glance. Lyza on the other hand seemed fine with the idea.

"Knock yourself out" she said with a smile. "Keep true to what you said and you're as safe as a guest of mine." It was then the designer got closer to the beta, her yellow eyes seemingly growing brighter as the tone of her voice shifted to a more serious tone. "Fail though and you're all Maya's."

As if to emphasize the threat Maya clicked her teeth together.

Roxanne gulped, understandably afraid of such an outcome.

Lyza shot back up, the menacing tone having left her voice. "Until either of those things happen though, think of yourself as a guest that can't leave. And during your stay, you'll be working on that Lil blueprint of yours. With Maya's help of course."

"Lyza, I think that's forced labor..." Maya remarked.

Of course, Roxanne was against this. But what option did she have in saying otherwise? She could only hope that the blue-haired giantess didn't get in her way.

Looking back to Six Lyza was pleased to see the half-inch Beta was already fully dressed. She briefly caught Maya staring in his direction, no doubt surprised to see him in such attire again. It certainly has been a while.

"Well someone's ready for their..." The word felt wrong on Maya's tongue. Slimy, and barbed. "...Date"

Lyza chuckled at her lover's hesitance. "It won't be horrible. At the very least, I'll be there with Six."

"Minor relief" Maya assured. She had to admit, it was nice seeing them get along. It certainly was time they ceased their constant arguing. She only hoped it would last.

The same can't be said of her and Roxanne though.

"You took your daily dose of Antilirin right?" Maya asked, knowing the condition Lyza was forced to face every day. Without the medication, they'd find themselves possibly shrunk down like almost every other beta.

"I always do" Lyza insisted. Pulling Maya closer to two embraced for a passionate kiss. Six looked away, the possibility of him blushing if he could quite clear. Roxanne looked on in wonder, amazed at the two giants' acts. They cared little for their audience, only caring for each other.

"Then you two have fun" Maya sulked, the thought of Six going on this date still not sitting well with her. Even if she was still rather sore with him over the previous night's actions she wasn't the biggest plan of what was planned. Especially when the one he was meeting was Lyza's sister. A rather crude woman, and that says a lot coming from Maya. When she rested her head on Lyzas soft, warm palm she felt her worries drift away.

"I'll make sure this little minx keeps herself on track." Maya assured.

Six was nervous to go out into the world. Into the real world, outside of houses or cars. It's been too long since he's smelled actual fresh air. So long in fact that he was having second thoughts.

Fortunately, a retreat wasn't an option for him as he was being carried away in the cupped palm of Lyza's hand. Though Maya tried her best to appear disappointed in the beta there was still a hint of worry that even she couldn't hide.

It wasn't until the two left did Maya turn towards Roxanne. They were terrified over what the killer had planned. They were in their clutches, unable to even defend themselves should things go south.

Maya's eyes twitched in irritation. Even seeing Roxanne, someone who got so close to her Six, made her feel as though she could snap. She'd hold it in as best as she could for now. They were no use dead. At least, not yet anyway.

"Let's see what you can do." Maya suggested.

Five minutes later Roxanne was waiting patiently upon the kitchen table for Maya to return. When the giantess finally did come back it was with a pen and paper in one hand and another Beta in the other. Four inches tall, one of the last two survivors.

Maya took notice of Roxannes confusion

"He's here so I don't play with you." She clarified. With her thumb, she playfully poked at the struggling beta. He was a fighter. Of course, he would be given his size. Unfortunately for him, Maya loved that sort of energy.

Placing the paper beside Roxanne Maya waited for the coming instructions, pen at the ready.

Roxanne was surprised. "You're not going to try and stop me?" She had assumed Maya would make this difficult. It was clear she held only content for the beta.

Rather than give them a hard time Maya instead shrugged. "Lyza said to lend you a hand so that's what I'm going to do. I'm petty, sure, but I wouldn't do something that goes against what she wanted. "

Roxanne was more than glad that Lyza allowed her this chance, if only for the chance to survive the goddess before her.

"As for you~" without care or concern Maya tossed the four-inch Beta onto the table before pinning him down with a single finger. "I want you to struggle for me. Okay?"

"Fuck you!" The beta shouted in defiance.

All this did was cause Maya to flick the man on his chin. She held back, of course, otherwise his head would have come clean off. Even then he was still seeing stars afterward, the force of the impact being akin to an uppercut. Maya smiled. She was pleased that he was quite the defiant little pest. "That's the spirit."

Roxanne wasted no time instructing Maya on where to draw and write, taking great care to not annoy her. One wrong move or one mistake and Roxanne was afraid it would cost her an arm and a leg. Literally.

Thankfully, the giantess' attention was split between the forming blueprint and the struggling beta. She was surprisingly adept at multitasking, easily following the orders given to her and toying with her captive. Flicking him around with her fingers and writing down what she was told came to her almost as a sort of second nature.

Her ability to focus on specific things was incredible. Roxanne theorized that Maya developed such a trait from looking after Six, the half-inch beta well below the line of anything a regular-sized human should be capable of understanding.

"Help me!" The man shouted towards Roxanne, having noticed her position was far better than his. Her train of thought was broken as the man yelled for aid. No matter how hard he struggled Maya was his superior in strength. There was no way he could fight back against one so large. Even with help, should it come, would do little to change his situation.

Still, he tried. And Roxanne did her best to ignore his pleas. Even before being captured she rarely talked with any of her fellow betas, if at all. She didn't even know this particular individual's name, and he likely didn't know hers.

Instead of paying him any mind, she continued to help Maya in their work. All was going well actually. Maya's focus wasn't on Roxanne at all.

She was likely looking over the forming schematics. Roxanne promised an automatic sewing machine for Lyza and she was more than keen on meeting that goal. Any rich bastard could purchase one of the more high-end kind, but the one Roxanne would develop would be special. For starters, it would be her design.

It's been ages since she's done anything like this. The last big project she worked on got her into her current humiliating state. In the smallest of ways, she was thankful. While being captive wasn't ideal it was certainly preferable to living on the streets. And it allowed her to work her brain once more.

The details of the design she had in mind confused Maya, as seen in her strained expression. By no means was she a dumb person. Quite the contrary. She wouldn't have been able to keep up otherwise. But looking at what Roxanne had in mind was beyond her.

"This is good." Roxanne thought. She hadn't expected things to go so smoothly. The design was halfway finished. Maya was able to follow instructions despite her apparent confusion. "Maybe I'll survive this after all..."

All good progress until the struggling beta decided to take a rather ill-thought risk.

In desperation, he bit into Maya's palm. Hard. And she didn't so much as react to it, though it was felt.

"I take it you're not the brightest of people are you?" To both betas surprise Maya released the four-inch squirmer. He stood, dazed and confused. He thought he was dead for sure when Maya hardly even reacted to his bite. Instead, she let him go.

She loomed over, eyes closed and smiling. The one thing noticeable being the raised pen.

Then it clicked. "Oh fuck..."

With more speed than necessary Maya thrust the, thankfully, dull pen into the betas chest. It hurt like hell but at worst it would bruise. What was worrying however was how the pen was now rested on his stomach.

"That was very rude of you, biting me for no reason." Maya's thumb came to rest on the pen's clicker, giving her victim an idea of what she had in mind.

Pleading was all they could do as Maya watched over them, her cruel grin almost shining as brightly as her eyes.

"Rude..." the first click forced the tip of the pen into the betas stomach. Even at his size, the pain was intense. He tried to pull it away but found his strength far outmarched by Maya's most minimal of efforts.

Maya moved from the stomach and down to her victim's knees. "Rude..." another click and the tip tore into his right knee, easily piercing the bone. For good measure, she twisted the pen in a bit deeper, all the while her victim yelled in pain.

Next came the arms, or to be specific the shoulders. Just like his knee, the betas left shoulder was just as easily pierced. She dragged him forward by the wound, curious to see if it would grow larger as a result. It didn't but seeing the beta struggle was a fun sight all the same.

"Rude" as she continued torturing the formerly bold beta Maya made sure to see if Roxanne was watching. Though she promised not to harm the small woman Maya was more than fine with giving them an idea of what was in store if they chose to be as defiant as her current prey.

They were, though not as terrified as she had hoped. Rather, Roxanne looked disappointed.

"Not the expression I was looking for?" Maya admitted as she removed the pen's tip from the crying betas shoulder.

Roxanne silently judged the actions she had just witnessed. The man was in pain. And judging by where he was harmed it was clear he wouldn't be recovering from this. At least not through any common medical facility.

A few months ago and she'd be able to fix him up with equipment hundreds of times better than what was available in hospitals. All for the chance to do things right.

"You're going too fast." Roxanne said, surprising Maya.

"Excuse me?" It wasn't the sort of response she was expecting.

Roxanne knelt before the bleeding man, observing the wounds. She knew what it would take to clot up such injuries. She could probably even stitch them up. He's certainly big enough for such treatment. More than half her size.

That would only stop the external damage though, and this man was far beyond that. He was a lost cause. A shame too.

"You're going too fast." Roxanne said again. "You're hardly giving yourself time to enjoy it."

Maya blinked in concussion, caught off guard by Roxanne's words. Was she condoning this?

"I noticed it last night too." Roxanne confessed, sounding more like a disappointed mother. "You're killing your betas too fast without actually taking the time to enjoy it." Shocking Maya even further, Roxanne placed a foot on the beta before her, but not before removing her makeshift shoes. His face dwarfed her feet, but he could do nothing to push it off. His skin felt cold on her bare sole. He wouldn't make it to the end of the day. "If you want to enjoy it then you need to remind them of just how small they are."

That sounded surprisingly close to something Lyza would say.

The man was breathing heavily, the pain he was in too much to bear. As if to make some sort of cruel example of him Roxanne placed her foot onto the man's nose. No matter the size difference between the two her foot was still able to cover the two nostrils completely.

Maya wasn't lying when she said she had bathed Roxanne. Her skin smelled of honey. It was almost pleasant. In better circumstances, it likely would have been.

"Interesting..." Maya hadn't expected a beta to appear so cold, especially towards one of their own. "You clearly have some idea over what you're talking about."

Roxanne didn't even try to hide her knowledge. "I've had some experience. I wasn't always a beta you know."

No, this certainly wasn't something Maya had expected. Though the two had a task to focus on she couldn't deny her curiosity. "So how would YOU do it then?" She asked as she set aside the bloodied pen.

Roxanne pondered the question for a bit. This was what she needed to keep Maya's bloodlust off of her. Who knows what would have happened were she had killed the other beta too quickly.

"You can keep on stabbing him" Roxanne suggested. "If you're boring that is. There's nothing enjoyable there. Stand a beta too many times and they just bleed out everywhere. It's predictable. What I would do is set him down on the floor."

No order was needed. Dangling him by his one good leg Maya set the beta down onto the cold floor, watching with delight as they tried to crawl away. She had to resist stepping on him then and there.

"Now what?" Maya questioned. "If you plan on having me drag him, or pin him underfoot, then I got some sad news for you."

"Roll him around" Roxanne said with a stone-cold expression. "Softly. Like you would an egg."

Maya did as told. Clumsily at first, she felt a bone or two break, before quickly getting the hang of it. She couldn't recall a time when she's actually been gentle with her victims. She always exerted more pressure than they could handle. Now, feeling the beta roll between the cold floor and the warm flesh of her sole, Maya felt as though she had been missing out on something.

"It's like rolling putty around" Maya couldn't help but make that comparison. She felt like she could mold the little human into whatever she wanted "Red, crying putty that, if I press down too hard, will pop." The temptation was certainly there. To just feel this man's flesh give in and have his body conform into hers. All before his frame ruptured and his innards decorated her sole.

It was both an enjoyable thought and feeling, but nothing she hasn't experienced in some form before.

"Now, place your whole foot on him and start dragging." Roxanne seemed more a stern instructor now than a meek little human.

Maya shrugged. Unamused over such a simple request. There was nothing new in that. Or so she thought as she dragged her foot against the floor. A red trail followed soon after, followed by bits of torn skin, and for a brief moment, she thought she killed her source of amusement. When she lifted her foot away however she found that he was still alive. The wounds he had received were greater now, allowing an excess of blood to flow through and stain the floor. Against all odds though he was still kicking.

"Betas are surprisingly resilient." Roxanne revealed. "In both a small state and enlarged one."

"Fascinating..." Maya couldn't recall a moment where she didn't outright kill a beta. She's always tortured them to death, put them through hell before ending them. There were a few she's kept pinned underfoot but she always made sure to mind her steps. She felt it was better to look her victims in the eye as the light in them went out. Now, feeling this beta squirm beneath her, she knew there was something more.

"Now what?" Maya was eager to continue now that she knew betas could handle more than she once thought.

Roxanne smiled, genuinely pleased that she had both improved Maya's mood and her overall survival chances. Indulging in some old habits didn't hurt too.

"Now we get back to finishing my blueprint." She said. Pointing down to the beta Maya was curious over what her fellow torturer had in mind. What hand could he possibly lend in his state?

"It could use a shade of red" Roxanne explained with a sinister smile. She felt her cheeks burning, a result of indulging in old temptations again. Looking down onto the barely alive beta only set a fire in her loins. An issue to deal with later. "That little guy seems to be an excellent source of crimson."

Maya grinned, catching on quickly enough. "Well, then it'd be a shame to let him go to waste."

Lynette staved off her boredom by scrolling through her phone. In almost every news article she read and website she entered she saw talk of people working to ensure beta's safety everywhere.

The very idea caused her to grimace. "How safe can you be when you're hardly a few inches tall?"

She held a disdain for the miniature humans, but it was hidden well enough. At least to the point where no one thought otherwise.

Well, no one important anyway.

But the more she looked the more Lynette had to wonder. Just how much of the world was still changing?

The Beta Epidemic had reached all corners of the globe, and while there were acts to try and prevent a disaster nothing could stop the inevitable change that was bound to come.

"Lyza sure knew where to invest." In the early days of the epidemic, her sister had made the wise choice of buying a share in Antilirin, the medicine that reduces one's shrinking. Made her one hell of a mint.

But what was a poor addition to that plan was announcing to the world that she was an alpha, one of the few who would never shrink.

Lyza was a beta. Lynette figured that out long ago. And, while not as clever as her older sister, Lynette knew an advantage when she saw one.

So when she saw the designs in her sister's office she knew she just had to meet the person who helped make them.

The only issue was she had no idea who they were. "Maybe it's Lyza's freaky girlfriend..."

The thought had crossed her mind. Maya and Lyza had known each other for little more than a year. Yet in that time the two were inseparable. It made Lynette sick.

"Maybe they're a beta" Lynette mused. "Now that would be fun." She could already picture dragging the barely human under her heel, forcing them to do as they wished.

Maybe if they were lucky they'd get on her good side. Lynette wondered if she could even bed them. Anything to hold her older sister under her thumb.

As if on cue, Lynette saw her sister's car pull to the side of the dinner she had chosen. One of the more expensive in Los Demonios, certainly out of the price range of even some of the one percent. Thankfully, she and Lyza could easily afford it.

Judging by the looks on her older sister's face as they left their car it was clear they wanted to get this over and done with.

Lynette took notice of the fact that it was only her sister who exited the vehicle. "So they're a beta" She summarized. "Splendid"

Putting on her best smile Lynette greeted her sister in the one manner she could.

"Glad to see you out of the office, cow." The vein that formed at the top of their brow was well worth the rage-filled glare.

Lyza quickly calmed down, barely even saying a word as she entered the restaurant.

The two women took their seats before ordering their drinks. Both chose wine of the more expensive variety. Expensive enough to pay off the loans of those deeply in debt.

Lynnette wished to allow things to evolve naturally, but she couldn't contain her curiosity.

"I take it you brought your little designer?" She questioned, though already knowing the answer. "Get it? Cause he's a beta right?"

Lyza groaned in annoyance. "Yes, I brought him. Just calm down okay?"

Gently, Lyza reached into her pants pocket before carefully pulling out her closed hand. Resting it on the table she revealed Six, to a very surprised Lynette.

He was small. Smaller than she had expected. And wrapped in what seemed to be bandaged. Not the type of beta she was expecting.

"This is some joke right?"

His clothes were impressive, she'll give him that. But everything else was hardly worth her notice. Even with his body covered head to toe in bandages, Lynette was having trouble believing the beta in front of her was anything special.

"Well, this certainly isn't what I was expecting." She had hoped for someone bigger. Someone she could manipulate more easily. She'd have to work more for somebody she could hardly see and hear.

And the clothes he designed. Did he write those she had seen down himself? "Of course not" she thought. "He looks even more useless than other betas."

Still, there had to be some sort of worth he had if it meant he was under Lyza's employ. His mind most likely. Pointing out the absurdity in existing fashion and instead favoring a more simple design, much like the one whose hand he was on. It was no wonder he managed his way into Lyza's good graces.

But the one drawback was that he was just so SMALL. Lynette couldn't have any fun with this.

Six said something that Lynette couldn't hear. His voice was barely audible to her. Too small to reach her ears.

"Excuse me?" Lynette cupped a hand around her ear, hoping that would help. It didn't.

"He said he isn't what you were expecting, right?" Lyza chimed in. She's had more than enough time to get used to Six's minuscule voice. Both her and Maya. Hearing him now came naturally, and was necessary for him to hold conversations with anyone else.

Of course, Lynette wouldn't let such a talent go to waste. "Well look at you big sis. Design work didn't cut it so now you're a translator. Mother always did say you loved the sound of your voice."

Lyza had to resist throwing her, now arrived, wine in her sister a face. Every moment with her was met with insult after insult. But she had to endure. For at least a few hours.

"Now then little guy..." Lynette leaned onto the table as she looked down towards the beta before her. "What do you do for my sister?"

The following hour consisted of some of the most stressful moments of Six's life. He wouldn't say he's a bad liar, but from Lynette's overall disposition it was clear she was quick on catching any false truths. He had to be careful in what he said around her.

"Where are you from? Where do you live? Why do you wear bandages?"

Questions not easily answered. It was clear she was probing him for any sort of information she could use. Possibly against her sister. She was skilled in discerning fact from fiction, that much seemed evident. 

Thankfully Six had Lyza, the designer more than capable of meeting her sister's questions with quick and aggressive answers.

"Max here has worked with me for a few months now," Lyza said. A fabricated story, of course. She even had a fake name for the beta. "In that time he's proven to be an invaluable asset."

Lynette wasn't ceasing in her relentless questioning, however. Her sister's intervention only prompted them to ask even more. It grew to the point where Six felt as though he was the third wheel now. Even more, he was supposed to be the one who was originally invited.

Just his luck that he was caught between two conflicting women.

At least Lynette was easy on the eyes.

Maya was certainly attractive, as was Lyza. Both had their issues, of course, but beyond that, they were rather easy on the eyes. But compared to Lynette it was no contest.

Her pink hair and green eyes would allure any man or woman. And quickly would their sight fall to the woman's ENORMOUS chest. Positively massive compared to her sisters.

Six had to forcefully turn his head away but he was almost certain he was caught in the act of oogling the titanic tits.

Lynette smiled before puffing out her chest, even more, resting her arms directly underneath to inch the mound towards the beta.

Lyza sighed in exasperation. She should have expected this. Her sister knew how best to use her assets. It was how she was able to make so many lasting relationships with other companies. Wandering eyes were less likely to look towards a contract.

Tapping the table, the act shaking Six as though it were a minor earthquake, was sufficient in helping the beta avert his eyes. Her eyes showed the most minor hints of disappointment. But beyond it, there was an iota of amusement.

"Don't tell me, you're that easy~?" Lyza questioned, somewhat teasing in her inquiry. "Don't let my sister get the better of you, Maxwell. She's just as likely to suck you up rather than suck you off."

Lynette ground her teeth but retained her smile. even then, her anger was clear to Lyza and it brought the older woman some satisfaction. Six found it somewhat amusing, to see them go back in forth in their bickering. 

If only he wasn't the one caught in the middle of it all.

"Don't be like that, Lyza" Lynette feigned pain. "You'll make me sound like some whore."

Lyza sneered at the idea that her sister was anything but. "Aren't you?" The designer recalled the many instances where her sister was able to 'seal' some otherwise impossible deals. '"I'd say you've put out for everyone you've held a contract with. Slept with half of them, and blew the rest from under their own desks. If you ain't a whore then maybe you're just..."

"Don't you dare say slut." Lynette growled.

Rather than be intimidated Lyza just swirled the wine in her glass. "Persuasive, dear. I was going to say persuasive."

The tension was so thick that Six felt as though he could cut it from the air. 

Thankfully, the two were stopped from ripping into each other by a waiter coming to claim their order. Both women ordered steaks, well-done for Lynette and rare for Lyza. And much to Six's relief, the two women sat in silence as they waited for their food.

"Some date this is" Six thought. He found it funny how the two were so easily able to go for each other's throats. He used to think he was the only one who could get under Lyza's skin so completely.

When the food finally did come Lynette showed surprise when she saw Six with nothing to eat.

"Not hungry little guy?" She asked. "Or does my sister not pay you enough to where you can't afford even an appetizer here?"

"I'm not really a food person" the beta replied, having to rely on Lyza to relay what he said.

A smile crept onto Lynette's face when she heard this. An opportunity to not only mess with her sister but also to toy with Six.

"Come now Max, you have to eat something" the goddess of a woman urged on. "Here, why don't you try some of this"

Cutting off the smallest piece of her steak that she could manage Lynette brought the fork that held it closer to Six.

Initially, the beta backed away, originally out of unease before she continued to pressure him on. Then it became out of dread. If she wasn't careful she could likely jab him with the prongs. While it wouldn't pierce his man-made skin it still would hurt terribly. Luckily Lyza thought it best to intervene.

Slamming her fork in front of Six she was able to stop her sister's advance.

"He said he wasn't hungry." Lyza reaffirmed. "Just let Max be."

Not one to give up Lynette instead now reached for her glass of wine. "Nonsense. So far things my little date here hasn't had much of a word in anything we've discussed. He must be bored out of his mind. At the very least he should have a drink right?"

Lynnette brought the glass closer to Six but was once again stopped by her sister who held their hand at bay.

"Just stop" Lyza demanded. "He said he didn't want anything so just leave it."

"Stop being a hardass." Lynette shot back as she tried to wrestle her hand free.

Their struggle was constantly shifting back and forth and Six wasn't sure who'd come out on top. What he did know though was any result would be disastrous.

And so it was when, in their struggle, the glass of wine was thrown from their hands and into the air. The contents spilled forth and would have washed Six away had Lyza not cupped her hands over him. Instead, she took the full contents onto herself as Lynette was miraculously unscathed.

Lyza's face went red with anger, pairing with the glasses contents.

Surprisingly, Lynette showed concern. "Oh gosh...I didn't mean to do that."

Lyza felt as though she'd break her teeth from clenching them too hard. Her anger slowly faded when she remembered Six, however. Retracting her hands she was rather relieved to see that he was unharmed and without a single stain.

"You good?" Lyza asked, unconcerned with her appearance.

Six was astonished over her actions. Not even a week ago would she have let him float away in all that liquid. She was keeping true to her previous claims of treating him better.

"I should be asking you that."

Lyza shook away the wine from her arms. She'd reek of alcohol when she'd get home, but honestly, it could be worse. Judging from the sounds of cameras clicking on the phones of the restaurants diners though, she'd imagine rumors would begin to spread soon after today.

Issues to deal with later. She wondered if she could bribe the manager to gain a copy of the list of patrons. If she could then Maya would have her hands full in the coming weeks.

"I'm fine" Lyza insisted. "Just gonna be a bit sticky when we leave."

"Why don't you go clean yourself up a bit in the restroom?" Lynette suggested though all that did was earn her a glare from her sister.

Luckily for her, Six was in agreement. "You'll be uncomfortable on the road. Just clean yourself up a little and then we can leave."

Lyza was hesitant. "You can't think I'd just leave you here right?" She wasn't willing to trust her sister alone with him. "Were I in your shoes then I wouldn't be so trusting towards Lynette."

The beta insisted, however. Whatever Lyza's sister could dish out he could probably handle. "I'll be fine. Just hurry, please."

Lyza remained reluctant but eventually gave in to Six's request. She cursed her increasing kindness towards him but respected his insistence all the same. But not without giving her sister a warning of course. "Lay one finger on him and I'll bury you alive."

Lynette wasn't even allowed a word out as Lyza stormed off to the restrooms. It was only when they were gone did she smile again.

"Sometimes she's just too easy to predict."

Her shadow cast over Six, Lynette thought to tease the beta. Show a bit of cleavage. Flash him an alluring smile. Wrap him around her fingers. Instead, she found herself pleasantly surprised to see the beta no longer cowering in fear, just as he had before.

Little did she know that Six was still very much afraid. But compared to what he's witnessed of Maya during her 'snaps', much of anything Lynette could do would pale in comparison.

"I take it you feel pretty safe now? Don't feel like you're in danger anymore." She didn't need an answer, and frankly, she wouldn't have heard it anyway.

"I give us five minutes tops before she's done so I'll get right down to the point." Lynette tapped an app on her phone, bringing up a screen displaying an X and checkmark. She then placed the entire thing in front of the beta. Even when compared to a measly phone he couldn't compare. She found it somewhat adorable. Certainly made her request easier. "Would you rather work for me than my sister?"

Six states blankly at the towering woman, not truly grasping what she asked until a few moments after, and even then he was at a loss for words. She was very upfront with her question.

"Now, before you answer I want to tell you the benefits." Lynette pulled the phone back before Six could make his choice.

"I can promise to pay you double whatever my sister currently does. Along with benefits she can't provide, since she doesn't normally hire betas as small as you."

Lynette brought up a picture of a house. Ordinary, plain, but different. Out of place. It wasn't until she changed to another picture did Six see that it was a model of a home, scaled to accommodate those of smaller stature.

"Fully functioning, built for betas twice your size, and completely portable. Homes for the 'diminutively impaired'. They go up for sale later this year, but if you work for me I can provide you with the very first version. A prototype, yes, but still rather comfortable."

Six didn't know what to think. It wasn't the offer that blew his mind, but rather it was the house itself and how it could function. Scaling the basic functions of a home down to such a small size. Something like that didn't seem possible. Though, in a world of people who shrink and a powder that makes them grow, is this too hard for him to believe? After all he's been through?

"It has running water, electricity, and even cable," Lynette added. "But for you, I can throw in a few extra commodities. Say, an entertainment system? A working Flat-screen television? Name your price."

Lynette brought her phone down to Six again, now finally offering him a choice.

Lyza returned from the restroom not long after, her arms clean of any wine. She was surprised to see her sister messing with her phone and Six sitting on the table, probably bored out of his mind. She had expected her sister to not take her threat seriously.

"Looks like you can follow simple instructions," Lyza said as she lowered her hand down towards Six, allowing the beta to walk onto it.

"I told you I had no intention of spilling my drink on you." Lynette reasoned. "Wouldn't be right to go against your wishes."

Lyza wasn't convinced. Each time her sister did something horrible she always played it off as an accident. If there had been the slightest sign of misdeeds having occurred while she was gone then Lyza would have raged then and there. But whatever her sister's game was she was doing an expert job of hiding her intentions.

Eventually, Lyza couldn't care anymore. This day had gone about as well as she expected.

"Whatever. It doesn't matter." Right now Lyza felt as though she needed a strong drink. Preferably one that wasn't spilled on her.

"It does matter!" Lynette protested. Whatever her game was she wasn't letting it go down easily. "Say, what if I paid for both our meals? Will that make things better?"

Lyza groaned in annoyance, wanting nothing more than to leave. "Fine. Pay. I don't care." She squeezed her hand, feeling an urge to punch her sister just to get them to back off. Were it not for Six being held in her palm the Lyza very well might have.

Satisfied, Lynette finally eased off her sister. "And be sure to keep me in touch with lil Maxie here. I'd SO love to hear from him again." She cooed. Lynette blew a kiss towards Six, unaware that he was already spoken for.

Both Lyza and Six wondered how Maya would react to such a display.

Regardless of the affection shown Lyza took that as a sign to leave and as such wasted no time in doing so. Were she in less of a hurry then perhaps Lyza would have seen her sister's smile vanish. Looking at her phone she couldn't help but feel a tinge of joy.

It was so easy to get what she wanted. Dangle in front of people something they wanted and they'd follow you no matter what.

Six was no exception. Even if she didn't know his real name or connection with her sister she knew worth when she saw it. Her whole family possessed that trait. An eye for quality, as he mother once told her.

At first glance, she knew Six wasn't a normal beta. Aside from his smaller than average size she hardly thought to question the bandages that wrapped his body. Odds are she wouldn't have gotten a clear answer.

Thankfully she knew someone who likely would.

Returning to her unfinished steak Lynette mused on how best she could use her newest beta employee.

“Did you see how intense she looked?” Maya was rocking back and forth in Lyza’s bed, enjoying the memory of her lover’s sudden shift in attitude. “God, I love it when she gets serious…so hot…”

Six was forced to hear the constant praise Maya brought up in Lyza’s name. From the glare in their eyes to the tone of her voice. There was no detail the psychopath missed in describing all that she loved about the designer. In the beginning, it was rather adorable. Now though? Six only found it annoying.

“I envy you sometimes, Six. Did you know that?” Maya pictured what it must be like for her first lover. Her many times mentioned one and only. To be so small. To see Lyza and her from so far below their normal perception. To view them as anything other than godly. She couldn’t imagine what he sees on a daily. Were she in his shoes she’d be in constant awe. “You get to look up at two beautiful women constantly. We take care of you. We’d indulge your desire were you to show them. Really, you’re living the life.”

Stuck in the center of Maya’s crossed legs Six had nowhere to walk away to in response to what was being said. How could Maya possibly envy him? When so much of what he lives through is because of her? When it was she who had once tried to kill him? When it was because of her that he now lived at only half an inch tall. Living the life? He only recently was given some sense of freedom in what he chose to do, and even then he was terrified of having it taken away. And that was because of her.

The number of times he’s wanted to tell her that. To blame her. He couldn’t even count them now.  

“There ain’t much to envy…” Six mumbled. And like each time he’s blamed Maya he’s never been able to say how he truly felt.

His voice was so low that even Maya wasn’t able to hear it. And in her current state of mind, it was highly doubtful that she would anyway. She was lost in thought, the very idea of a giant Lyza toying with her more than she could handle. Her fingers were fidgeting, playing at her hair as the thought of the possible domination that could be visited upon her was all she could imagine. She wondered how small she could be, was she a beta before her taller lover. She almost regretted making herself an alpha those couple of years ago. A single pill that rendered her immune to shrinking seemed like a good idea at the time. But it would seem so many avenues of fun were closed off to her.

Her eyes fell on Six, a cruel grin taking shape.

“I suppose there’s more than one way to live out a fantasy”

The legs that surrounded Six rose into the air as Maya laid upon her back. The beta was thrown off guard by the sudden movement as the Titaness forced him to steady his footing for fear of being thrown off the bed. While nothing really was lethal to Six, falling from such a height wouldn’t be painful. It disorienting, the movement he was forced to endure. Difficult to get a grip when Maya continued to roll onto her stomach. Slowly, she crawled forward until her head was directly over her little lover, her blue eyes being the one thing that wasn’t shaded by her shadow.

“Siiiiix~” Maya’s cheeks had turned red. Her pupils had shrunk. She was close to snapping.

Six backed away in worry, only to be reminded of the cliff that was the edge of Lyza’s bed. Already he was weighing the option of jumping if only to avoid whatever it was Maya had planned. “Yes? What is it, Maya?”

“Just play along,” He told himself. “Give her what she wants, and things won’t get out of hand.”

In her current state of mind, there’d be no reasoning with her. Nothing he could say would slow her down or stop her from doing as she pleased with him. Were Lyza here then she’d be able to intervene. Unfortunately, Six did not possess that luxury.

“You’re soooo lucky Six~” Maya rested her head in front of the still fear-stricken beta, tilting it ever so slightly to get a better look at his shaking frame. “You get to be tiny. And small. And safe.”

“Cause I sure fucking feel safe now right!?”

Six weighed his options. There’d be no running to Maya’s sides. Her body took up more space than he could hope to run. She’d catch him in an instant before he even felt like he was beginning to make some ground. Pleading, again, was out of the question. Odds are she’d only hear what she wanted.

As far as he was concerned, he was fucked.

“I guess…” Just play along, that was his plan. Agree with her. Work towards whatever spew she was spilling. After that, if she was distracted, he’d have his chance.

Maya inched closer, her lips being the one thing that drew Six’s attention as she did. They encompassed his whole view. They could dominate his whole world. On several occasions they have.

Maya grinned. “How safe do you feel right now, Six?”

She lunged forward, her mouth suddenly opening wide and threatening to bite down around the beta. Instincts alone forced him to back away, which in turn only forced him off the bed’s ledge. He fell for what felt like an eternity. All the while he looked up towards the smiling, crazed goddess that now wished for nothing more than to play with her “one and only”.

Six ignored the pain that shot throughout his body the moment he made an impact on the floor. The sight of Maya throwing her legs over the bed was more than the push he needed to move. He made a b-line underneath the bed. Just in time too as two feet crashed down with a force to flatten the world.

“Fuck…fuck…” Six knew this would be the first place Maya would look. It was obvious of course. Every beta would hide beneath a bed, he didn’t know why. Maybe it was just instinct that drove smaller creatures to hide in dark spaces. Behind doors, in cupboards, pantries, lockers, and beds.

He looked for a place where he could hide. Despite her appearance, Lyza proved to care little for where she placed discarded clothing. Underneath her bed, there were spots of plenty he could choose from. Discarded socks, old shoes, torn shirts. He wondered how many were actually forgotten. He didn’t have long to think on that though.

By the time Maya began to peer underneath the bed Six was no longer in sight. Fine by her, she enjoyed the hunt more than the actual capture. She could pull the clothing one at a time. Take away Six’s hiding spots. It would be an easier solution to solve his hiding. But that’d be an end to the fun far too quickly. So, she began to crawl into the tight space. Maya would much rather not move the whole bed and the opportunity of growing stuck, thus giving Six a chance to run, was too fun to pass up.

“Siiiix~,” Maya scooted forward as far as she could without crawling over the discarded clothing, and by extension the beta she was in pursuit of. She had to give credit where it was due, he had quite the large amount of options to keep himself concealed. It was smart to keep moving. Someone as small as him wouldn’t want to remain in one place for too long. “Where are you, Six?”

She scanned the area, searching for only the smallest amount of movement. Six was the smallest beta she knew. At only half an inch tall she needed to focus to find him on most days. Were she not paying attention she’d be unable to see let alone hear him. But practice after practice, zoning in on her one and only has become nothing short of second nature. So when she saw the tiniest bit of motion behind a pair of socks she already knew where her prey was.

Rather than catch him then and there, however, she stretched forward until she was certain that Six knew she was there.

“Poor little Six~. So small…so slow…” she licked her lips in anticipation. He must have been petrified to not have taken off running. She wasn’t sure if it was smart or stupid to remain still. The runners she’d always go after first sure, but those who remained still always made for easy targets.

“Did you even try to hide, Six? Or do you just not wanna play today?”

Slowly Maya lifted the sock off the floor, fully expecting a shivering beta. Instead, all there was proved to be nothing more than a bug. An insect. A roach as long as Six was tall.

It surprised Maya. And that surprise only grew when she noticed a speck running from the safety of the bed and into the greater expanse of the bedroom.

Maya wasn’t mad though. Instead, she found herself laughing as she extended an arm toward the fleeing beta.

Six’s risked a gamble. He needed an opening to get away, so when one finally presented itself he did not waste it. He was sure she’d still be able to reach her, and his suspicions were only confirmed when, even when out from underneath the frame of the bed, he fell under the shadow of her hand. It was raised to grasp him. Grab him and bring him to its owner. He needed to be quick. He was in a situation where he could save himself.

He was directly underneath her palm, only a few relative feet away from the base of her fingers. He would have to time this.

“Come to mama, Six!” Maya brought her hand down with a crash, but she felt nothing from her prey. Six waited for her to bring her hand down and then dived forward in between her fingers. The sudden gust of wind that was created thanks to the impact was what he needed to be launched even further away from Maya.

Maya couldn’t contain her astonishment. He’s never tried anything like that before. She was even fairly certain he likely believed it wouldn’t have worked. Six must be as amazed as she was. “Well look at you, Six. You’re actually trying to get away!” Maya laughed at the notion that he could flee. Though he surprised her she still wasn’t done yet. One little once of luck and planning wouldn’t be enough to dissuade her after all.

Six was disoriented, the impact far more than he had originally thought. “Jeezus, I can’t believe that worked…” he felt almost proud of himself before he remembered the predicament he was in. Looking back Six felt the blood in his veins turn cold when he saw Maya pulling herself free from the bed. A task made difficult due to her rather large rear. He couldn’t deny that it was a rather pleasant sight. Just, it was one he couldn’t watch forever. Especially when Maya took notice f his gawking.

“Like what you see?” she asked with a grin. She was stuck between lust and aggression, the desire to catch Six just as strong as her desire to toy with him in more intimate manners. “Well get a good look now. You’ll get a much closer view when I get you.”

That was enough of a prompt for Six to start running again. Unfortunately, it was too little too late as Maya had freed herself from the bed’s constraints. She wasted no time in throwing herself forward, her arms crashing down on both sides of Six, who now found himself with no place to run to. Above, the expression on Maya’s face showed that she was impressed.

“You surprised me back there, Six.” She confessed. “As fucked as it is for me to say this, I expected less from you. You always quit early in our chases, so seeing you actually try to get away was a pleasant change of pace.”

She leaned forward, fully aware of the fear Six likely felt when she was this close. Right now, she was his entire world. And though she remained envious of his size she couldn’t deny that being all he could see had a certain allure to it.

“Since you actually put in the effort I’ll do you a favor. You get to decide where you go.”

Had he the option to pick nothing he most certainly would. Unfortunately, the look in Maya’s eyes showed that he didn’t possess that comfort. But he was tired, and right now he was shaking more out of exhaustion than of full-blown fear. Sure, he was still afraid, but at this moment he’d just run faster than he had in years. All to preserve the iota of the idea that he had the freedom to lose were he to give in to Maya and her temptations.

Lyza had actually given him this sense of freedom. The right to choose again. It started with her when she chose to give Six a chance. She put in the effort to be kind. To be nice. But that effort wasn’t shared; it wasn’t universal. As evident by Maya’s little game. She still saw him as her one and only, yes, but also as a toy she could play with. Something she could abuse in any manner she saw fit when she snapped. Even if she was aware of Lyza’s change of heart, and in some ways even aided to instigate it, she didn’t practice it herself. In Six’s eyes she was still the same killer she’s always been. From their time together when he was normal to when she found him, shrunk, and hidden away in the snow.

But he wondered if Lyza could change then maybe so could Maya. With Lyza, he showed that he had some worth to him. Not much, but enough to earn her respect. So Six wondered, even as Maya loomed over him, what it might be that could change her.

He clasped his hands into fists and steadied himself. He stood stern. He stood tall. As tall as someone half an inch could. But it was still enough for Maya to take notice. She cooed at the sudden display of bravado, actually finding it adorable to an extent.

“Ohhhh, we got a badass here. Look at youuuu~” Maya placed a finger upon her lower lip. She seemed to enjoy this display of bravery. Maybe she planned to find some way of breaking it?

Six wouldn’t let that happen. Not this time. This time he planned to be heard.

“I…” His voice got caught in his throat. Not from fear, though it certainly was there, but from habit. He’s always given in to what Maya wanted, and in a way, his body reacted to that.

Maya tilted her head, curious as to what the beta had to say. Right now she had ample opportunities to scoop him up and have her way with him. But she was curious. She hadn’t seen such courage from Six for quite a long time. It’d be a shame to break it so soon. She’d play along for now.

“Maya…I don’t…” his voice became stuck again. Instincts were forcing him against speaking out. In a manner, keeping him safe.

“I-I-I…What?” Maya mocked. “You don’t what?”

She was so cocky at times. They’ve both been in this situation before and each time she’s always won out over him. Always it was her who had the last say. The final laugh in any matter that concerned the both of them. Six would always cave. He would always give in. And Maya was the one who would always make him suffer because of it.

He was tired of it all. He’s had his moments of weakness around her, but he would never forget what she’s done to him. Regardless of if he’d ever forgive her, he was certain he couldn’t let this continue forever. Change needed to happen if he were to keep some semblance of sanity.

“I…don’t want to play anymore…” he finally murmured.

Maya raised her hand to her ear, having not heard what Six had said. She was too transfixed on just how adorable he looked when trying to act tough. “What was that?”

Six wished he had teeth to grit. He felt that would help steel his nerves. “I…I…I SAID I DON’T WANT TO PLAY ANYMORE!!!”

The sudden volume of his voice dropped both of them off guard. Maya let her arm fall back onto the ground while Six rushed to cover his mouth in shock. That had not come out as intended.

Maya’s mind tried to comprehend Six’s words, as though they didn’t make any sense to her. She knew the words spoken but she didn’t quite grasp their meaning. Until finally it clocked. “You…don’t want to…what?”

Already Six regretted speaking out. He didn’t mean to shout so loudly. He only wished to be heard. Instead, it seemed as if he just pulled at one of Maya’s nerves.

“I didn’t mean it like that..”

Maya rose up, her height increasing as she was no longer crouching over the beta. “But you DID though…you said it.”

“Yes, but that wasn’t my intent-”

“Bullshit!”

Six shit his mouth. Maya’s own volume was leagues louder than his own. It was no contest. Despite her apparent rage, she didn’t appear angry though. Rather, she seemed confused. Conflicted. Still coming to terms with what her one and only had said. Six could see it in her eyes. The two have fought before. Argued. But he’s never shouted as loud as he did then compared to how he had now. Maya had heard him. In more ways than one. And she didn’t know how to handle that.

Her rate of breath quickened to the point where Six was afraid she’d hyperventilate. An iota of sanity seemed to be visible just beyond her fast-paced, wandering eyes. It was stuck just below the surface as Six’s revelation kept May between a line of composure and collapse.

“No…” Maya refused to accept this. No nononono! First the offer from Lynette, and now this? No!”

“What do you mean no?” For a moment Six forgot the difference in size between the two of them. Maya’s own refusal was fit to cause another outburst from him. Luckily he caught himself this time. “Let’s just…relax. For once we can just talk.”

“No!”

“Maya!”

The Titaness shook her head in refusal. “I said no! stop talking! Just shut up!”

Six wouldn’t back down.  He refused to know. Not in determination but for the fact that he’s never seen Maya in such a state before. Even when he was normal she’s never broken quite like…this.

When he stepped closer, she backed away. When he tried to speak up, she covered her ears. Maya was trying her hardest to ignore Six.

“Maya…”

“No!” she clutched her head tighter. “Just please, stop talking!”

Maya shut her eyes. A sharp pain struck her in the side of her head. She felt close to tears. Even when Six did stop speaking she refused to let go of her head. In her mind, she could still hear his voice. And all it did was insult her.

“So much for being your one and only. You can’t even keep me in check!”

“Stop it…”

“Can’t control me. Can’t even control yourself! What are you in control of?!”

“Six…stop…please…”

“If you can’t keep me in check then how long do you think you’ll be able to keep Lyza?”

Maya grit her teeth so hard it was incredible that they didn’t crack under the pressure. Six only watched on in horror as Maya continued to speak to herself. He hadn’t said anything for some time. Even so, she continued to address him as though he had been. He saw the confusion fade away slowly, leaving behind the last expression he wished to see.

Anger.

“You don’t think I’m in control!?”

Six backed away. “I never sa-“

“Shut up” Maya’s voice was stern.

“You don’t think I can control myself?!”

Though he didn’t say that Six had thought it plenty of times before. That said, he didn’t feel like now was the best of times to voice that. “I didn’t…”

“Shut up!”

Six could only focus on her rising anger. It rose even higher, along with her frame, her voice rising to shake the entire room. Six only hoped that Lyza heard the anger in Maya’s voice. Any reason that could have been had between the two was lost. If he believed himself screwed before then there were no words to describe his situation now.

“You think I’ll lose you? Y-you think I’ll lose Lyza?” Maya’s thoughts were a maelstrom, the insults her mind had fabricated working to only boil her blood further.

“I never said-”

“Shut! Your! Mouth!”

Six choked on his voice when Maya reached down at such a speed that he couldn’t even hope to harbor the illusion of escape. He was terrified of what would happen. Once again, after a surprisingly long time, he actually feared for his life. “Maya! Wait! Please, just hear me out!”

“We’re past that point, Six!” Maya narrowed her eyes to slits. “You won’t listen to me. You won’t do something as simple as being fucking quiet! It’s tiring!”

She was off on a tangent. She made no sense, working to make herself the victim here. “You? You think you’re tired?” he shot back. “I’m the one who has to deal with your shit!”

“You have to!” she argued. “That’s the whole point of a relationship!”

“And what relationship is this!?” Six shouted. His own anger couldn’t compare to Maya’s, but it was enough to steel his nerves once more.

The blue-haired giant went quiet. Almost in disbelief. “Ours Six. Our relationship.”

Surprisingly enough, Six laughed even when in the ever-tightening grip. It came out patronizing, humiliating even. And it was directed completely toward Maya. “Our relationship? Are you seriously that daft? We don’t HAVE a relationship. Not a real one. And that’s because of you. You ended that when you stabbed my fucking throat! You ended that when you kidnapped me, kept me locked away from the world, kept me as a toy. Or a fucking pet!”

“You aren’t a pet!” Maya tried to reason, but Six wasn’t even giving her the time of day anymore.

“oh ho hoooo, yes the fuck I am! I’ve only ever been a fucking pet to you, ever since we first met!”

Maya’s boiling blood turned cold. “Six, that’s not true.”

“Yes it is!”  the beta couldn’t stop now. His voice had been heard and he had so much to say. He wouldn’t be quiet anymore. “Maya, I have only ever been a thing to you. Something you could look at and toy with at your own leisure. Even when I could be considered an actual person, that’s always been the case. You look at me and you see…you see…you don’t see me. You don’t see the person that I was. The person that you tried to kill. You see the beta, the toy. Your college obsession.”

“Six, wait, that’s not-” Maya’s anger was quickly subsiding upon seeing this newfound vigor from Six. Her first obsession. Her one and only, who she had searched for even after she felt his blood run dry in between her fingers. He was her one regret. And right now, he was forcing her to face that fact.

“And stop calling me that!” Six huffed with such fury that for the moment he forgot where he was. Who’s hand it was that he was held within. “You know my fucking name! use it!”

Maya let her hand run flat, allowing Six the luxury of standing. She had never seen him so angry before. He’s never fought back so fiercely. It was new to her, and she didn’t like it. It was concerning.

Yes, that was it. She was concerned for Six. He wasn’t quiet, he wasn’t complacent, he wasn’t obedient. Six wasn’t any of those things right now. Despite being so small he tried so hard to be big.

“Okay.” Maya relented. “Okay…let’s just calm down.” Her anger, her madness. Maya found all those fleeting. Her view of her one and only was growing fractured. “We…we’ll talk…” She couldn’t believe it.

She was scared.

Her hands were trembling. Even then, Six didn’t notice it in the slightest. He was in full tunnel vision, only aware of the object of his rage, Maya.

“You don’t get it. I…actually feel like I have something to lose now…I’m actually being given options. Something so small yet a thing I’ve lacked for years, Maya. I can’t even blame Lyza for that. It’s your fault why I don’t even have the most basic of human rights. And the fucked-up thing is she was the one who actually started treating me like a person again. We had a rough start sure. Real rough. But she’s actually putting in that effort. You? You’ve never even tried, despite having known me for years. We argue, we bicker, but I cave and you win. And if I don’t you find some way to make me regret speaking against you.” Six felt his legs grow weak. It feels like he spent so much energy right now, saying much of what he felt needed to be said. “I’m tired, Maya. I’m the one who finds all of this tiring. You said you envy me…well I’d gladly trade my life for yours. Maybe then I’d find some sort of freedom in this life of mine. Fly far away, try to forget everything…”

He looked up to see her reaction, only to chuckle in disbelief when he found that she wasn’t even paying attention to him. Maya wasn’t even looking at him, she was looking…behind.

Where the door was.

Six quickly put two and two together when a new shadow fell over him. “Ah…fuck…”

He turned to see a kneeling Lyza, looking over him before turning her attention towards Maya. Whereas Maya was close to tears, a full breakdown only a few ill-thought words away, Lyza had a knowing expression to her.

“A half-inch Maya certainly is something I wouldn’t mind seeing,” Lyza joked. She realized quickly, however, that it would be a useless attempt. She cleared her throat. “But…I think that’ll have to wait. I came over cause I heard screaming. Looks like I know why now.”

Six wondered how much she had heard. He hoped more than anything this wouldn’t bode ill for him.

Lyza rubbed the nape of her neck, the frustration of this new turn of events already making itself known.

“Dammit…and just when things turned to shit downstairs too.”

Lyza took command of the situation, taking Six into her grasp while also leading Maya downstairs by her wrist. Neither of the two knew what to make of the situation now, both unsure what Lyza had planned.

Truthfully, Lyza didn’t know what to do either. But anything was better than hearing them bicker. When finally they found themselves in the living room once more Lyza wasted no time in instructing Maya to sit on the couch and placing Six next to a, suspiciously, drenched Roxanne. He wouldn’t ask why she was drenched, though the harrowing look upon her face certainly caused concern.

Lyza took her seat across from Maya. The designer gave all three present a stern look that only a mother could deliver. Then she pinched the bridge of her nose. She could practically feel the headache forming. Unfortunately, she was hit with so much information that she simply couldn’t ignore it right now. Were she to, then they might all very well be fucked.

With a clap of her hands, she addressed all three not as a friend, lover, or owner. But rather, as a sort of leader. Their boss in this instance.

“We have a few things we need to talk about.” 

“I don’t like this plan…” Six complained. He sulked as he was held in Lyza’s palm, the designer waiting patiently for Roxanne to get ready.

“I know, Six.” She assured. “But please bear with me. This is the only thing I can think of on such short notice. Besides, Roxanne is smart. She’ll keep you safe.”

Six grimaced at the idea of being in her care. She was one of the reasons why he was stuck as he was. Being half an inch tall, covered in unbreakable bandages, was in part her fault. “I refuse to believe that you see nothing wrong with this.”

Lyza smiled softly and made no attempt to disagree with the beta. She wholeheartedly agreed with him. That said, she saw this as the only path forward. With the information that was revealed to her and the threat they might find themselves in because of it, she felt this was the only option.

“It could be worse. Maya could be the one taking care of you.”

A low groan opposite of Lyza showed that her murderous lover didn’t much care for their comment. Yet they did nothing to rebuke what was said. Instead, they remained underneath a blanket trying their hardest to shut out the world around her. It would be better for her to ignore what was happening. The worst part of this all was how she felt that Lyza was in the right for saying that.

Being forced to hear Six’s feelings put Maya’s own into perspective. She had hurt Six. And for her own amusement no less. Though Roxanne had a hand in his suffering she was the only choice present in looking after him.

“Sorry dear…” Lyza apologized. “But you know as well as I do that you and Six aren’t on the best of terms right now.”

“That’s priceless coming from the woman who ‘owns’ me.” Six sat with his arms crossed, none too pleased with those being Lyza’s own thoughts.

The designer sank into her seat, a look of guilt clear. She had cause to say that. That facts were she provided much of what he and Maya used. Mostly Maya, were she to give it more thought, but that often extended to Six as well as he had a roof over his head per Lyza’s aid. She won’t fool herself and say she didn’t believe the contrary, though she certainly could have worded it better.

“Yes, well, you should blame yourself for mouthing off so much.”

“Excuse me!?”

Lyza felt a chill run down her spine as she looked down at her palm. Six was looking up at her, arms crossed and not at all pleased over what she said.

“Wait…that came out wrong.”

Rather than argue again Six instead sat back down, the prospect of another fight, not something he wished to go through again.

He was tired. As it was there were few people, if any, on his side. Right now all he wanted was some peace and quiet. At the very least Maya gave him that. Lyza on the other hand was nervous over what the future may hold and thus tried sparking up conversations. She kept a calm face, Six will give her that. But it was the motions in her hands that gave her away. Those small movements someone only as small as him could notice. The most minor of twitches. An increase in body temperature. Telltale signs of anxiety. And they only grew more prominent the longer Roxanne took to get ready.

“What is taking her so long?”

“You gave her Antilirin.” Maya reminded as she sat up while still hidden beneath her blanket. Slowly, it fell from her head revealing reddened eyes. A sign that she had been silently sobbing. “She’s been shrunk since the start of the epidemic. Odds are she’s still getting used to being…” she wanted to say normal but one look at Six stopped her dead in her tracks. “big…”

The only indicator that Roxanne was still in there was the sound of the shower. The beta, through years of neglect, no doubt desired a proper cleansing more than anything. She needed to look presentable.

Just a single step into Lyza’s plan. Six may have been the one offered to work for her sister he would still need a caretaker. And Six Lynette knew Maya it only made sense for Roxanne to step up. The beta knew of Lyza’s sister, though the reverse may not have been true. Lynette never cared to meet those she considered hired help. A trait she picked up from their mother. Odds are, Lynette was informed of Josephine Minvera but not of those who worked under her.

That left her vulnerable, were it true. It was a gamble sure, but one that needed to be risked.

“How long does it take someone to get ready?” Six questioned. “She’s been in the restroom for hours.”

“Never underestimate the time a woman needs to look presentable.” Lyza chuckled. “We can’t all just slap a shirt and shorts on and say we’re good to go. It takes time to look good.”

Six was quick to point out the dark circles around Lyza’s eyes, an effect of her constant work. She rarely gave herself time off. These past few days were some of the exceptions she’s allowed herself in a long time.

“I’d be inclined to believe you, if I didn’t know those are probably never going to go away.”

Lyza chuckled. “At least I make these work.”

The shower stopped and immediately their attention was drawn to it. Lyza waited with bated breath as Roxanne finished getting herself clean. She was curious as to how they’d come out. She set aside spare clothes for her, hoping they’d be appropriate for the appearance of a caretaker.

When the door opened any worries Lyza might have had left.

Roxanne, for lack of a better word, looked remarkable. Her skin was not quite as pale as other betas, even lacking the trademark lines that appeared on their bodies after shrinking. Her white hair was split off into twin locks that crossed over her head and fell over her, rather ample, chest. With a golden headband, it was kept in place, steady, and free of the risk of coming undone.

Roxanne’s eyes were her most drawing feature, her shade of crimson being even brighter than most other betas. A red or red-like tinge was to be expected, but their eyes in particular were especially harrowing.

Roxanne seemed to be in a state of confusion. She was uncomfortable, it seemed, to be in actual clothing again. A red long-sleeved shirt with a knee-length dark green office skirt and black heels. As professional as Lyza could make someone appear when they we’re off from the streets. Still, she couldn’t deny the results.

“Well look at you. You clean up nicely.”

Lyza was impressed. She had expected something far messier. Instead, Roxanne surprised her with how she looked.

“You don’t think it’s too much do you?” Roxanne wondered. “It has been some time since I’ve worn clothing quite like this. I wonder if it contrasts with my skin and hair. I never could figure out why a change in appearance was a side effect…”

“No no, you look good.” Lyza assured. Lynette will certainly believe you’re Six’s provider. That is, if she doesn’t recognize you.”

“She won’t. Your sister and I never interacted. I was only placed in this city because of your mother, who also didn’t care to remember me. When she died it made sense that your sister wouldn’t keep tabs on me. Let me die to the danger of the worlds and all that…”

Lyza rose from her seat with Six in hand. She took in every detail she could of Roxanne, determining if she was ready.

“So what you’re saying is, when I had you in my mouth, you lied about knowing my sister?”

A bead of sweat formed on Roxanne’s forehead. Even if she was restored to something comparable to an average height, only a few inches below Lyza’s height of six one, she still found herself fearing for her life.

“It’s not like that, I swear. I knew OF your sister. I knew the connections she had.  It stood to reason that you’d be interested in what I had to say. Nothing more.”

Lyza examined Roxanne for a few moments more before chuckling. “Relax Roxy, I’m only messing around. Even if it was to save your skin, you did well. And I’m certain you’ll do better in taking care of Six.” As a show of trust Lyza extended her hand forward, offering the beta that sat on it. Roxanne was reluctant to take him into her care. The look on his face showed that he did not approve of this. Still, what choice did they have?

Gently she took him, though before she could completely Lyza grabbed Roxanne by her wrist and pulled her in so that she may hear her whisper.

“It goes without saying, but if you fuck this up I’m giving you to Maya. Understood?”

Roxanne nodded in fear. The appropriate and desired response, as the moment she did Lyza released her.

“Wonderful. Now off with you two. You have a bitch to meet with. I’ll order you an uber or something but do please hurry. We wouldn’t want to keep my sister waiting now would we?”

Roxanne needed no further push. After making sure she had everything she needed, a purse, some notes in case she was asked a few questions, and most importantly Six, she was off.

Lyza waited for the two to leave before calling them a cab. A simple text to a company that was close by was all she needed. When that was settled she turned her attention towards Maya, who already seemed fit to cry.

Even if they had nothing to stop it, Maya still hoped that Six wouldn’t go through with all that was happening. And with Roxanne of all people. Someone who she felt was as guilty as her in making his life hell. She couldn’t fathom, couldn’t grasp, why he would go along with her. It was foreign to her mind.

She couldn’t even say she was jealous. Far from it. She felt broken. As though her misdeeds were coming to finally face her. Not her murders but her misdeeds to Six. Her supposed one and only. She didn’t want him to go. She wouldn’t let him go.

Maya quickly stood up to stop Roxanne and Six before it was too late but was stopped by Lyza, the designer placing a knowing hand on her shoulder. Though she wasn’t privy to Maya’s thoughts she understood their intentions.

“Give Six time. If you try and stop him now by force things will only get more difficult. Not just for you and him, but for all of us.”

“But he’s mine!” Maya argued. “He’s been mine since college. I’m the one who found him. Who kept him…safe! I gave him so much!”

“Yes…but you DID kinda kill him” Lyza reminded. The look Maya gave her, one where she actually felt like she was in danger, was enough to make the designer retract her statement.  “Though I guess you had your reasons?”

Maya fell silent, reflecting on just how long she had known Six. All that she’s done to him. All that she’s taken from him. It was all coming back to her now. And she didn’t like it.

“No…no real reason. Just…another one of the ways I hurt him…”

Maya sulked into the couch, a feeling of defeat washing over. “I’ve known Six for nearly a decade. I knew him before he changed. He was…kind. Funny. He had his demons, but they were overshadowed by his better qualities. And I loved him for it.” Maya still remembers the day she took his life. Even now she still doesn’t know why she did it. “Then I took it all away from him. I gutted him, like some fish. God…I really did ruin his life.”

She was shaking. Maya’s breath was quickening. Luckily for her Lyza knew how best to comfort her. Even if this was the most vulnerable the designer had ever seen her lover she knew what to do.

“Maya dear, how long have we been dating?”

Maya tried to remember. “Over a year?”

“Yes, and do you want to know what I’ve learned in that time? About you and Six?”

Maya looked on, hopeful that Lyza had some divine solution to the pain she felt.

“You two are a package deal. You may not always be together, but eventually, you both find each other. It’s how you found him again, despite having lost him. Even at half an inch, he couldn’t hide from you. Now, whether the next time you two see each other is on good terms is entirely up to you. You can go outside, take Six from Lyza and keep him with you for as long as you’re able…”

Maya was already out of her seat ready to follow through with her desire until Lyza gripped her wrist.

“Or you can let him go for now. Let him leave on his own terms. Knowing my sister she’ll provide him and Roxanne with a place to stay. He’ll have his tiny house and she’ll keep a close eye on him. You can keep a tab on him through her.”

“But…” Maya would much rather look after him herself. “I wouldn’t be able to see him.”

“Lyza nodded softly. “No, you wouldn’t.”

The psychopath bit her thumb in frustration. Right now she wanted nothing more than to run outside and snatch what she believed to be was hers by right. She’s known him longest. She’s been with him the longest. Knowing that he wouldn’t be at home after a long day was wounding. And it hurt, even more, knowing that’s what he wanted. But his outbursts before hurt too. They cut deeper than any knife she’s ever used. To the point where she didn’t want to go through it again.

“How long will I have to wait before I can see him again?”

Lyza couldn’t give her a clear answer. The world was silent as Maya waited for her answer. Silent enough that the two could hear the arrival of a car.

Lyza was amazed one got here as quickly as it did. Five-star worthy. Didn’t help her situation though.

“I can’t be sure…” An operation like this wouldn’t yield results overnight. Six was coming from under her “employ”. Under a different name no less. As small and as vulnerable as he is he’d still need time to gain Lynette’s trust. “A few months at a minimum. A year at most. It’ll take some time, Maya.”

There was hesitance in what she wanted to say. Maya already knew she was too late to stop Roxanne from leaving with Six. And odds are it would be some time before she saw him again. The only way she would were this who thing to blow up, but she wouldn’t want to burden Lyza in such away. So she conceded.

“Then…I’ll wait. I’ll give him the space he craves.”

Lyza relaxed, pulling her lover into a much-needed hug. They sank into her embrace, melting away as they needed the comfort more than anything right now. 

“Oh, I know it hurts baby. But just you wait. Time flies faster than you might expect.”

Maya hoped it would. She really did. The prospect of not having her Six nearby, when she knew where was this time, for a whole year was painful to think about.

“Now, let’s just hope they manage to convince my sister.” Lyza was certain they would. But knowing her sister, convincing her wouldn’t be as simple a matter as she hoped.

“Maxy, I was hoping to see you again! I really was!” Lynette was ecstatic it seemed to have Six come through on her offer. Ever since giving him the choice of choosing to work for her she’s waited patiently for his inevitable decision. “I, of course, knew you’d make the smart decision. I took the liberty of preparing a few things for you here and there, I hope you don’t mind.”

Upon Lynette Vermont’s desk was the home she had offered Six. A generable dollhouse when compared to her, but it was practically an estate for him. At least two stories tall yet still small enough to fit on her large desk. Made for those of a stature clearly smaller than regular betas. At least those of an inch. Which meant this was beyond huge still even for him.

“Now, I know it’s a little large. But we can work around that I’m sure. A little bit of remodeling here, a touch up there, and you can have yourself an actual decent living space! I’m sure your…caretaker could lend a hand…”

Roxanne had been silent for much of the conversation. As she had hoped most of the talking was between Six and Lynette. She felt as though were she to breath wrong they’d be found out, and often at times even forgot to altogether. It was the few times she was addressed that she dreaded, hoping that she would be overlooked. Of course, being seen as Six’s caretaker, she expected a question to be asked every so often.

“I’m still getting used to the fact that you need someone to look after you, Max. Back when I saw you that certainly didn’t seem the case. Even had my sister look out for you. Why didn’t I see…I’m sorry, what was your name?”

A cold sweat ran down Roxanne’s neck. “Susan, ma’am. And I’ve known Max for some time now.”

“Right…well, mind explaining why my sister had to do your job for you?”

There was venom in Lynette’s voice. A clear sign that she didn’t expect, nor want, Roxanne here. She was only allowed to stay thanks to Six’s insistence.

“I…was assured that, under your sister’s employ, Max would be cared for. And as I’m sure you know; he was a rather valuable employee. Enough that your sister was able to see to him personally at times.”

 Roxanne felt as though she were in some sort of interrogation. Her one saving grace here was Six, who she hoped would not rat her out as a result of whatever grudge he may hold towards her. Luckily, when Lynette looked his way for any sort of affirmation over what Roxanne said, he assured her that she was telling the truth.

He was keeping true to Lyza’s plan. And it seemed to be enough so far to pull the wool over Lynette’s eyes.

“Well, whatever your reasons then you’re here now. That means I expect you to keep looking after your charge, along with providing him with what he needs. And seeing as you’re…” Lynette motioned towards Roxanne’s hair and eyes, her status as a beta. “Like him, I’d imagine the two of you don’t have the best of living spaces. I can remedy that for you. A nice little motel room for you and him to stay at, per my request of course. You’ll come to learn that I take care of my employees.”

Lynette leaned forward, petting the side of Six’s head with her index finger. “Especially the cute ones.”

Inappropriate behavior aside, Roxanne was surprised. This seemed almost too easy. Before she could voice any questions she might have had, Six spoke up.

“I’d like to thank you, Lynette, for this opportunity. I hope to live up to your expectations.”

“Oh, well aren’t we a sweet little thing?” Lynette cooed. “Trust me, I have a feeling that you will. But for now, I actually need to get back to my work. It never ends for a Vermont you know.”

Lynette waited in silence for Roxanne to take Six back, as any caretaker would. It wasn’t until they had to remind her did the formerly shrunk beta finally act. Not only did she have to look after Six, but she had to carry his home. No easy task as it proved rather heavy. Luckily, from having spent years on the streets, she knew how best to endure the weight.

“Do you need help with that?” Lynette asked with a smile.

Roxanne waved off the possible aid. “No no, I’m fine. I got this.” She wanted to leave as quickly as possible.

“At the very least let me call you a cab. I can hardly imagine you driving here.”

Roxanne could at the very least take that deal. That way she and Six could head out to wherever it was Lynette had in mind for them to stay. She simply hoped they wouldn’t end up in a ditch somewhere, though judging by how they’ve managed so far she’d say that they were still within the green.

At the very least Six made it easy for Roxanne, deciding the best course of action was to allow her to carry the house and not worry about him. To that end, he thought it wise to actually be within the structure, an idea that proved to be very nauseating as at times the giant beta would rock the building back and forth in her effort to keep standing.

Even when the two had left Lynette’s office Roxanne’s struggles didn’t end until she finally found herself someplace to sit. A simple seat beside a window that overlooked the whole of Los Demonios. A view Roxanne hadn’t seen before due to her time being shrunk. On any other day, she’d appreciate the sight. Right now though, she found herself exhausted due to her lifting the small mansion. So when she was finally able to set it down on the floor she collapsed.

An impact that shook Six down to his core. Clearly, Roxanne still needed time to get used to her new height. A fact made more apparent when her heels came crashing down right in front of the miniature building’s front door, effectively trapping Six inside.

He was used to looking up at her, but this was a new sensation. Seeing a beta that was capable of sharing his perspective. Now, she was just another giant who he had to be careful of. Someone else who got the chance to be normal, while he was stuck looking at the soles of gods.

Roxanne noticed where the placement of her foot was and quickly pulled it away. The act alone was fast enough that the gust of wind that came from it was yet another indicator that she didn’t know how to properly act around those smaller than her. The crash that came from her planting her foot down once again told him that things weren’t gonna be as easy for her as Lyza had hoped.

Roxanne scanned the area, making sure nobody was nearby. Aside from the occasional employee, she was certain she was safe. Resting her hand in front of Six she allowed the beta upon her palm, raising it up with far more speed than needed. He was forced flat against her skin by the sudden acceleration, a state that made Roxanne panic.

“Shit! Sorry Six, I’m still getting used to this.” Roxanne extended a finger to help the smaller beta up, only to be caught off guard when he pushed it away.

“I’m fine. I’ll manage. There isn’t much you can apologize for anyway.”

Roxanne immediately knew what he was referring to. Her hand in ruining him and his life.

“Six, I know what I did to you can’t be forgiven. But, for now, anyway, we’re in this together. So at the very least can we try and get along?”

Six laughed. “And how do you propose we do that, hmm? Unless there’s some way for you to fix me then I think it’s best we both just stay out of each other’s way. I get a vacation away from Maya and you get to be normal again. How’s that?”

Roxanne fell silent until a smile etched across her lips. For a moment it’s like Six forgot who she was. Yes, she was one of the people who put him in this situation after all. And of those people, she considered herself one of the brightest, one of the best.

“I mean, if you ask me nicely, I could.”

Six looked back at her in confusion. “Could what?”

Roxanne’s smile grew wider. “Fix you of course. While I wouldn’t be able to grow you back to your original height, maybe only a few inches, I’d be able to get rid of those bandages of yours.”

Six scoffed at the idea. The idea of him even being fixed was one he’d done away with a long time ago. He learned the hard way that as far as betas went he was the only one who couldn’t be fixed. He couldn’t die, he couldn’t be crushed or eaten, or anything else that could happen to one so small. He could only live, in the worst state he could imagine.

“I’m telling the truth here,” Roxanne assured. “I won’t sugar coat it and say it’ll be easy. Far from it in fact. But, I did say I was a one in a billion mind, didn’t I? If there’s anyone in the world that could give a sense of life back to you it’d be me.”

“And why would I believe you?” Six asked with a rising tone of anger. “When, again, you’re one of the reasons I’m like this.”

Roxanne’s smile didn’t fade. In fact, it grew wider as she leaned in closer. Six had to force himself not to look at her lips, old fears bubbling to the surface and whittling away whatever bravado he may have had left. It was astonishingly low right now, thanks to his many outbursts prior. He was still tired and was relieved things were going smoothly. He was almost afraid he pushed Roxanne too far in talking against her now that she was in this state.

Thankfully she meant him no ill will. Rather, she only wished to impart some of her knowledge. “Did you know, Six, that you’re not actually invincible? That those bandages on your body actually have weak points? And a limit to how much punishment you can take? Both in case Minerva needed you back in your original state.”

Six was taken aback by this. “So, you can actually Fix me?”

“It’s like I said, Six. I can’t fix you. Not in the way you hope. But I can at the very least make you seem more human. To the point where you don’t look like a mummy.”

The smaller beta didn’t know what to say. It seemed so far off what he expected, and yet so many things did as of late. He was willing to believe this, if only to give himself a faint glimmer of hope that things could finally get better for him now that he was away from Maya. Now, if what Roxanne said was possible, he could actually maybe live a life worth living. He sat down in silence, his mind heavily considering Roxanne’s offer. It seemed too good to be true. It very well could have been actually. And yet, he was willing to give it a chance.

As the alternative was continuing in what was pretty much only a brief respite from his previous life.

His silence was the only answer Roxanne needed. She wouldn’t force this on him but she felt she already knew what his answer would be.

“As hard as it may be for you to believe, Six, I can sympathize with you. I was one of this world’s greatest minds. I could create technology that would blow away the minds of even the most decorated of scientists. That was taken from me, much like how your life was taken from you.” A flicker of life could be seen behind Roxanne’s eyes as the notion of being able to return to doing what she loved to do was a very real possibility. “Six, you and I have been shrunk longer than anyone else. Now, we actually have the luxury of possibilities again. I propose we share the luxury. Not as friends, I haven’t earned that. But as acquaintances for now. After all, we’re stuck with one another now, at least until we can find something worthy of notice here.”

Roxanne extended a finger once more, this time as a form of a handshake. “So…deal?”

Six didn’t have time to give his response however as, just like Lynette had said, she had called a cab for the two. When their ride had finally arrived, and their new boss had gone through with all she said she’d provide for the two, she pooped her head out from the doors of her office.

“You two are free to go you know? Everything’s in order now, so get some rest when you get home alright? Susan, make sure you bring Maxwell in by seven. If you can’t then try for no later than seven-thirty. He’s going to need to learn the ropes.”

Roxanne gave a forced, lamenting the fact that she’d have to carry Six’s house down to the building’s first floor. It was a building too tall for such an endeavor, being one of the larger structures in Los Demonios. There was an elevator, which unfortunately was broken. She showed no malice towards Six, however. She actually took great care to set him back on the floor and waited patiently for him to get situated within his home. When she was sure he was safe she cursed under her breath, lifting the miniature building with all the strength she could muster.

“Make sure you lift with your legs, Roxy!” Six informed.

Though it was a small bit of advice Roxanne was glad all the same that it came from Six. Even more so knowing that he used her name. It showed that regardless of his choice in the future, he appreciated the offer and the attempt. She wondered if the two could even become friends.

A thought for another day as right now her main focus was on the beta’s home.

“Goodness, they made this thing heavy…” she complained. Were it her who had made it then she was certain she could have improved on many aspects of the design. A project for the future perhaps. A gift for Six, as well as another peace offering.

Regardless of what may happen between the two of them she had high hopes for the future. Something she hasn’t had for quite some time.

“Yes, they just left” Lynette assured through her phone. “I’ll keep a close eye on the beta. Their caretaker’s pretty oblivious, so no real issue from them I’d imagine. Just keep your pretty lil pants on before you pop another blood vessel. You’ve been stressing over finding this particular beta for years, now you actually have time to cut back, relax, and let me handle the dirty work.”

The voice on the other end her phone sounded apprehensive before finally coming to terms with Lynette’s suggestion.  

“That’s better. Now, as we discussed, just give me a year to watch over him while you get everything settled on your end. When all is said and done you’ll have your dream and I’ll have mine. That sound good?”

Once more the voice was in agreement.

“Good boy. The world your aunt wanted will be yours by rights. As for me, I’ll finally be able to put my sister in her proper place.” Lynette envisioned her sister Lyza only a few inches tall. Along with her dear lover, Maya. “At the feet of their superiors. Like the insects they are.” The two of them were too small to stop Lynette as she raised her foot over their bodies, bound and broken from the unstoppable force that was their better. Helpless to prevent the crashing extremity from coming down on top of them, snuffing out two thorns in Lynette’s side that she’s had to deal with for far too long.

Or maybe she’d keep one of them. As a pet and a reminder. Maybe her own sister actually. Lynette could then make her watch as she snuffed the life out of her lover. Slowly and painfully beneath her heel.

Or perhaps she’d keep Maya for herself. Lyza’s better off dead anyway. As cruel as it may seem, as her sister, Lynette would want Lyza’s torment to last longer. For so long she has tried to get away from her mother’s shadow, and my extension Lynette. Oh, how fun it would be to see the look on their face when she realizes there really wasn’t any sort of escape for her. Lyza would always be the black sheep of the family, and like every problem Lynette and her mother had faced, they’d have to weed her out.

Lynette would keep Lyza for a few months. Force her to endure torment after torment. Maybe as her personal boot cleaner. Or her little stress ball. So many uses for one who used to be useless.

Whatever Lynette chose, she’d enjoy it greatly. It was all long overdue anyway.

For the sky was the limit, and nothing it seemed was able to stand in her way. She was done with this shithole of a city. She wanted more. More than the world could possibly provide for her.

So, instead, she'd take the world. 

“7:30 in the morning is way too damn early…” Roxanne huffed.

She was tired, the previous night had not been kind to her. A result of late work that she had imposed upon herself. Oh, what she wouldn’t give for a coffee right now. A cinnamon dolce latte with 5 pumps of cinnamon syrup, topped with sprinkles and whipped cream. The very idea of it was mouth-watering. So much so that she wondered if she was scaring the beta that walked at her feet. Earlier in the morning, she swore she saw a few trembling ones. Five inches, seven inches, three inches, and two inches. Betas of all sizes, walking and working around buildings owned by Rosen accessories. Lynette Vermont’s company. Workers all, like little ants. At least in Roxanne’s eyes.

It was funny in a way. Early in the morning, she must have seemed a starving, drooling beast to these well-dressed worker drones. They must have been terrified when she looked down at them, the moment she realized what was happening. Her crimson eyes shone down like some pair of bloody red moons. Her gigantic black heels, a wall that they couldn’t think to climb.

Even her jacket must have seemed like a cloak with how low it hung on her body. A peach-colored cloak with kitten etched onto the back, but a cloak nonetheless.

Roxanne was amazed they could wear such small clothing in such cold weather. She wondered how many of them came from off the street. Offered by Rosen Accessories, as well as any other corporation with ties to it, for a chance at a better life. If it was a great deal of them then that’d explain why. She could understand that.

After all, it wasn’t even a full year ago that she was in their shoes. But that was then, and this is now.

Now she was large enough that a great many of them could get seriously harmed if she didn’t watch for where she stepped. And she loved it. It felt as though the world she was promised was finally at her feet. Of course, this was an illusion. A farce of the truth. There was still a great many hurdles she’d have to deal with if that dream were to become a reality. And as of this moment, her greatest hurdle was a lack of sleep.

“At least Six gets to sleep in…” Roxanne groaned.  “In his comfy bed, in his warm house, with his cup of joe, and heated breakfast…”

She realized at that moment that she hadn’t had any breakfast either. It was no wonder the lesser betas around her were terrified. She must have seen ready to snatch them up and toss them into her mouth. Swallow them whole or grind their bodies between her teeth.

Roxanne shuddered at the thought. Unlike some people, she wasn’t fond of doing that. Indeed, the idea of even eating a beta was so far absolutely absurd to her. To have them kicking and screaming as they travel down the esophagus before they land in your stomach doing much the same thing. Trying to keep their head above the rising bile and acid. It was a horrible image. One that she was afraid of as, at one point in her life, she feared she’d be in that very position.

But, again, times were different. She was different. Now, she had a home. A life filled with purpose again, and, usually, frequent meals. Plus, her little roommate wasn’t as unforgiving as she had thought. He was compliant. Kind even when he needed to be, able to negotiate rather expertly over better living conditions, not just for him but for Roxanne as well. Thanks to him she’s been offered a fair amount of luxuries that she couldn’t even afford under the employ of Saint Minerva, the woman who once tried to reshape the world.

Roxanne wondered if she should get Six anything after her meeting. His most recent surgery was a success, thanks in part to her delicate hands and great skills. He was almost unrecognizable now thanks to her efforts. No doubt, that’s why he was so kind to her. She held through with her promise. To help “fix” him.

She wondered if it was true kindness he showed her, or just a bargain he felt he should uphold. His attitude certainly improved, a development she was pleased about. Had everything gone poorly with him then Roxanne may not be here now to reminisce about it.  

She shook off such thoughts. She reasoned that, at the very least, Six appreciated what she had done for him. It certainly wasn’t easy. Much of her restless nights were because of him after all. Yet she worked diligently, with little rest other than the occasional nap.

This certainly wasn’t healthy behavior, and she chuckled at the thought.

 “Someone’s in good spirits.” A hand falls on Roxanne’s shoulders. Firm and strong, but not to the point of unbearable. The only thing that was insufferable was the person the hand belonged to. As tall as she was, with lime green eyes and pink hair that fell behind their black business suit. A beauty in the eyes of the world but with a personality more befitting a devil.

Los Demonios believe Lynette to be some sort of saint, like Minvera. Roxanne knew better, as did Six. She was anything but, and her deeper connections to greater forces at play proved it. But she was still their boss, and her smile showed that she was waiting for good news.

“So, how’s my favorite beta doing on his day off”

Roxanne forced herself to chuckle. She’d much rather be in bed too, forgetting about this entire meeting. But it was her job, to give updates on Six’s health. Not just to Lynette but to her other employer as well. At the very least she didn’t have to worry about them today.

“He’s doing better,” Roxanne explained. “He’ll need a few days rest, but aside from that, the operation shouldn’t have left him in too poor a state. Just one in which he can’t do anything too taxing.”

A lie Roxanne wasn’t sure was bought. She’d been lying for nearly a year now, to someone who could end her life with just a phone call. The fact that she was alive now meant that, hopefully, Lynette believed it. That or they were just waiting for the right time to be rid of her. A joke Roxanne liked to tell herself. To calm her nerves.

…Mostly.  

“Poor little guy…” Lynette pouted. “Well, you just tell him he can take all the time he needs. This month’s bound to be slow anyway. Few products need to be tested so you just tell Maxey to take all the time he needs.”

Six’s false name, Maxwell. Another lie for someone who could end them both.

“He’s changed quite a bit,” Roxanne explained. “His recovery is rather extraordinary, if not lengthy. I suppose I have you to thank for that, recommending who I should talk to if it meant helping him.”

“Of course!’ Lynette exclaimed. “I look after my employees, unlike my sister.” And here came the badmouthing. “The poor thing was covered in bandages when I first met him, you know? She never even offered a helping hand. Some people, I swear…”

The smile returned as Lynette turned on her heel, making her way to her office with Roxanne practically being towed by her shoulder.

“But enough talking here, Roxy!  We’re taking up too much room as is.” True words as, upon looking to the floor of the lobby, Roxanne found a great number of betas were walking around the two titans. It was captivating, how they had to adapt to those hundreds of times their scale. Fascinating, even to this day.

“I have a few things that Max might be up to test out,” Lynette explained. “Nothing too taxing, I promise. A few attempts at a miniature automobile that I doubt will even work. Still, doesn’t hurt to try.”

Though her employer was talking Roxanne’s mind was elsewhere. Her eyes were back to the betas scurrying about, going along with their tasks. So many of them could have come from the street. And were that the case then there’s likely more still lost.

She wasn’t in any way sympathetic. No. Rather, she was curious. Because if betas on the street didn’t find work now, odds are they’d find themselves someplace less…desirable.

Roxanne chuckled at the idea. She wondered how her other employer was doing. Today was her anniversary after all. Odds are she was celebrating in her own way.

Oh, the hell others of Roxanne’s kind must be going through currently. If there was one thing she was grateful for, it was to be free of that terror.

Terror, of those who crave it, holds a special kind of flavor. The skin sweats yet a chill is felt in those afraid. Their body shivers but is in flames. A desire to escape the one thing on anyone’s mind when all they were faced with was horror. Unfortunately, as was the case now, escape wasn’t always a possibility. Sometimes, hope was lost.

And when hope was lost those who were terrified no longer screamed. Not even a little squeak. And in Lyza’s opinion that just took away from the fun of toying with the betas upon her bed. There were twelve of them before she and Maya had begun their celebration. Two years now they dated, and so they needed something special. Treats that kicked and shouted when she tossed them into her mouth. They struggled all the way down her throat, even continuing within her stomach as though that would aid their efforts.

It was fun at first. Maya had outdone herself this time. All of their victims were young, the early to mid-twenties from the looks of it. Full of vigor and stamina. But, a flaw of being so young, they were too easily broken. Not their bodies but their minds. They caved too early, just when things were getting good. Over half of them sat in silence, waiting to die. It didn’t matter where Lyza placed them they remained lifeless, void of hope.

Just like the one she held in between her fingers. Four inches, female, and a boy that would drive most men crazy. It was clear by her reaction when she arrived that she was a recently shrunk. Her pleas for mercy were a clear indicator of that. The type that could only come from someone who hadn’t yet realized their old life was gone.

” You can’t do this I’m human!” 

“This is immoral please stop!”

All cries both women had heard before. After a few among her numbers died though she quickly shut up, the weight of the situation finally sinking in. And of all the possible results that was the most boring of them.

“I like it better when they scream…” Lyza stated as she gave the beta a squeeze. Still, she elicited no response. “But looks like this one’s just about done.”

She’d have thrown them clear over her bed, the impact onto the floor likely being fatal, had Maya not grabbed her hand. The blue-haired psychopath was already two betas in, both likely still alive as they were only eaten recently. That said, she was clearly looking for a third.

“If you’re not going to eat her then can I?” Maya asked. “I know how I can make her scream.”

Without even a word of approval, Maya guided Lyza’s fingers in between her lips, sucking the beta off of them while also savoring the taste of her girlfriend. The act elicited a soft coo from Lyza, the designer clearly intrigued over what her lover had planned.

The coo quickly turned into a moan when Maya forced Lyza into an embrace. As it would turn out, the kiss the two shared was just the push the beta needed for her fear to return. She had accepted her death up until that point. Now, forced to endure the passion of two titans, she was placed within a new hell. One that twisted and turned like the tongues she laid upon.

Lyza was gentle, in a way. She bit lightly into the beta’s flesh, making sure not to pierce the skin so as not to fill her mouth with the taste of iron. If anything, the time in her mouth was slow going. Smooth, almost gentle. The complete opposite of Maya who cared little for foul tastes of metal. Whereas Lyza bit into the beta upper half Maya held no restraint in tearing up the lower. To the point where eventually, and inevitably, Lyza began to taste blood and felt the urge to stop. She wouldn’t be able to back away however as Maya quickly grabbed her hair and pulled her in even closer.

The designer regretted slightly having let her hair grow out some in the past year. Maya had kept hers relatively the same at that time, but Lyza had to “try something new”. Now she’s lost count of the times it’s been pulled at.

Maya would not let up. The renewed struggles of the beta were just what she needed. A reminder that today wasn’t just a special day for her and her lover. It was a reminder of the fact that her one and only wasn’t here, enjoying this sensation in place of the bleeding little woman in between their lips. She wondered if he’d enjoy the sight of two barely dressed, beautiful women. Or would he be spiteful, just as he was that day the psychopath couldn’t forget?

She could have finished them off so easily. A simple bite would be all it took to end it. But she held herself back. A trait Maya was honing more and more these days. She was learning restraint to the best of her abilities, though some days proved more difficult than others. Today she was in control of her actions, so when she forced the beta fully into Lyza’s mouth her eyes clearly showed what it was she wanted to see. Not glazed over, a common trait of when she snapped, but lascivious.

Lyza gagged as the beta was thrust into her mouth, an act that only sent them deeper in intensifying the now overwhelming taste of iron. It was horrid, the reason being why she didn’t chew betas up being she abhorred their taste. The sensation of them struggling was better. But she refused to spit them out onto her bed. Not for the sake of Maya, the giddy killer waiting in anticipation. No, to spit out the beta right now would mean blood on her bedsheets. Seamless silk, the sheets on her pillows alone cost seven grand. The one on her bed was several times that. No, she’d rather not ruin them.

She forced herself to swallow, a task made difficult due to the betas size and her reluctance. Even with their wounds, they fought against what was natural for Lyza’s body. They pushed against the back of the designer’s throat, forcing themselves to stay above the looming threat that would damn them to a slow death. A fighter for sure, but one who terribly underestimated the power of body hundreds of times their size. One shift of Lyza’s tongue was all that was needed for the beta’s leg to slip into her throat. And where one went the rest of the body followed soon after.

The angle in which they were pulled in was odd, to say the least, and stopped their descent after only a few moments. They became stuck, Lyza’s sudden coughing a clear sign that something went wrong. Any lust Maya had before was lost upon seeing her lover choke. Now there was only concern as they drastically looked for a water bottle. They had set several aside just in case things went too far. Clear to say they most certainly have. But, in her panic Maya failed to see the blush upon Lyza’s cheeks. A shade of pink on their pale skin that would have been hard to ignore had they been paying attention.

Nothing their significant other was no longer paying attention the designer now pulled at their hair, minor revenge for having theirs tugged at, and made them watch as she forcefully pulled the beta the rest of the way down her esophagus. The tiny girl’s awkward position forced a visible bulge alongside Lyza’s throat. A bulge Maya traced as she watched it fall under their collar bone. 

When the deed was done Lyza gasped for air. The taste was still fresh, even after swallowing the source of it, and she wanted so desperately to spit it out. Instead, much to Maya’s surprise and delight, she swallowed whatever remained within, blood mixing with saliva working to dilute the flavor but only slightly. No doubt it would work to terrify the beta even more, a mixture of her own life fluids mixing with the bile of her stomach, working their way into the wounds Maya had made and digesting her from the inside out. The thought alone was enough to send chills down Lyza’s spine.

Even if she hated the taste she enjoyed the assertion Maya demonstrated. More knowing the fact that Maya’s domineering skills had only grown over the year. There was a certain attraction to it that the designer enjoyed.

Lyza smiled. “Fuuuuuuuck that was hot~” She couldn’t do away with the smile on her face. “I think the poor thing is still writhing~. I wish I could see it…”

Maya was hopeful that she hadn’t ruined their anniversary. The light in Lyza’s eyes, along with the red on her cheeks, was a good sign that she hadn’t.

“Really? You’re not mad?”

“No no, I’m not don’t worry,” Lyza assured. “If anything, you did manage to make her squirm again. Made me work for my last snack. How many is that now by the way? We started off with twelve, right?”

“That’s two for me, four now for you. You sure are a glutton today.”

Lyza chuckled at the comment. Admittedly, she may have been overdoing it. But being up so early in the morning, after a week of work, was enough to leave her with vices unkempt. “Let’s just think of this as my breakfast. So early in the morning that it may as well be.”

Lyza laid into her bed deeply, enjoying how she practically sank into it. Maya followed suit, lying beside her lover, and taking delight in the idea that all around them scurried the remaining betas. They were either broken in mind or too scared to run away. One even found themselves underneath Lyza’s rear when she had gotten comfortable. Maya gave them five minutes before they suffocated. Maybe less if their body broke.

The two held each other close, taking in the warmth of their bodies as all either of them desired to do was spend the day in bed. But, even on this special day of theirs, Lyza had to work. Not with her company luckily, but she had been informed that Roxanne would be meeting with her sister today. Possibly to discuss any changes in Six. An opportunity to learn what Lynette knew of the beta that the designer simply could not ignore.

Maya knew this and was hopeful that this time she could come along. The look on her face said it all. There was longing, a desire to see her one and only. To see Six. A voiceless request that Lyza would have to deny once more.

“Don’t even think about asking.” She warned.

“But Lyza!”

“No. You already know why you can’t.” Per Six’s request, he wanted nothing to do with Maya. For as long as he was under Lynette’s employ he wanted as few interactions with the serial killer as possible. “Six made himself clear that as far as being around you went he wanted nothing of the sort.”

“But it’s almost been a year!” Maya argued. “He forgave Roxanne, why can’t he forgive me!?!”

Maya was desperate. This was painfully obvious to Lyza. Even then, she wouldn’t budge. “He hasn’t forgiven her.” She corrected. “Six’s looking past it. He’s not forgetting what she’s done, nor is he forgiving it. But he also knows that it was Minerva that gave the orders to change him. Roxy was just one of the many hands that had to do the dirty work. What you did…it wasn’t the same thing.”

It hurt to hear that. Especially from someone she loved so much. But she understood where Lyza was coming from.

“I’m the one who chose to hold the knife…” Maya remembered. “And the one who chose to tear out his throat…” Even then she was still hopeful. “But maybe just this once?”

“No”

“Just for today, please? I won’t even touch him I swear.”

“Maya…”

It hurt to see her like this. Lyza didn’t know how to comfort such an obsession. Maya needed to see Six, that much she knew. But the issue lay in the beta that acted as the object of such fixation. She was so wishful that one of them would cave like they used to. But neither did. Neither Six nor Lyza gave in to this desire.

The look of weariness upon Lyza was all the answer Maya needed. The designer didn’t want to discuss this further, not today of all days. Today was meant to be a happy day, and neither of them wished to ruin that.

“I just…miss him…”

“But he doesn’t miss you,” Lyza wished to say. She held her tongue though, as that would only serve to wound Maya even more.

“Maya dear, please understand that what you did is not going to be something he forgives anytime soon. Roxanne is guilty too, yes, but they had a blank slate to work with. You? You knew him before he shrank. Before he was a beta. You broke his trust in the worst possible way. That’s not something you’ll be able to remedy easily, if at all. For now, all you can do is give him the space he wants.”

As much as Maya wanted to though, it hurt. She felt this way before. Back when she first lost her Six. After she had killed him and learned of his survival. She searched and searched, coming across only the smallest of information for the longest time. She had almost given up, believing he had finally left her. The relief and joy she felt when she had found him, even in a changed state, was without comparison. She didn’t want to go through that again.

“Are you going to leave me?” Maya finally asked. She felt as though history was repeating. “Just like Six did? Will you want me gone as well?”

Lyza smiled softly before pulling Maya in closely. She kissed her lover’s forehead as tenderly as she could. She could hardly believe that someone so dangerous, so cold and cruel to the lives of others, could shiver so violently when faced with such a thought.

“Not even if our lives depended on it.”

Lyza held Maya for as long as she needed, only getting up from the bed when she knew the danger had passed for now. As much as she wished to say, now more than before, she needed to see Roxanne quickly. When the window of opportunity presented itself. It was dangerous interacting with either her or Six when they worked for her sister. It put them all at risk.

She had debated on simply calling the former scientist but decided against it. With her sister’s connection that was arguably even more dangerous than seeing them in person.

And besides, she had a gift she wished to give personally to her favorite beta.

It took Lyza no time at all to get ready, having already planned out what she’d wear. A black sweater along with jeans and boots. Nothing special besides a red jacket she designed herself.

“Winter’s getting closer you know?” Lyza stated. “It would probably be smart to dress warmly, Maya.” The killer was unfortunately not listening, her state of sadness leaving her to only toy at the betas still on the bed. Not having received an answer Lyza took drastic measures. With word of warning, she stormed up towards Maya before pulling them into yet another kiss, deeper than the ones before and long enough that there was a severe lack of air. But it worked to pull Maya’s mind away from her depression, and when all that separated the two was a fine line of spittle Lyza whispered into the killer’s ear.

“Keep a few of the betas alive okay? I’ll make us dinner tonight, just for you and me. I know you love live ingredients.”

The blush on Maya’s cheeks was all the designer needed to see to know that she had pulled them back from the brink. A victory she’d have to take in her short time frame.

“I can’t be late though. You mind picking up some of the mess we made?”

“Not at all, so long as I get to help you cook.”

“It’s a deal and a date then.”

One final quick kiss and Lyza was off. She already knew what to get for Roxanne on the way to seeing her. Likely the early morning wouldn’t do them any good.

Once Lyza had left Maya’s demeanor fell again. She gripped at her arm painfully, her nails digging into her skin so fiercely that she drew blood. Her eyes fell upon the betas that were left behind, all so small and weak yet all privy to what had transpired between her and her lover. They saw her weak, and that was cause enough to earn her ire. She smiled cruelly, knowing whatever Lyza had planned wouldn’t compare to what she was going to do with them.

After all, her only rule now was to make sure they survive in time for dinner.

Roxanne sighed as she entered the apartment she and Six shared. The meeting with Lynette was longer than she had hoped and offered little information she could use. She was growing more comfortable around them though, and soon enough her loose lips would spill something of importance. Still, with it being 10:30 now it was far too late to sleep. She’d have to find something to do now, seeing as her schedule was relatively free.

Maybe clean the apartment? The place certainly needed it. It was large. More than enough for three people. To share the space with a beta meant that she had more than enough room to work on any side projects she wished to explore. It’s allowed for much progress over the year, in fields that have had trouble for decades. That was the kind of mind she was. Always thinking, always tinkering. But even then she wouldn’t deny that her favored success was found in Six and his alterations.

She removed her heels and jacket, glad to finally be out of both and in something more breathable and crashed into her sofa before getting comfortable. She just wanted to fall asleep. Roxanne didn’t even need a blanket, the green pullover she wore was all she needed now to keep warm. All around her home were scraps of machinery she had built. Made to make her life easier, along with Six’s. As she pressed into the sole of her nylon-covered foot she regretted the fact that she had yet to make something that’ll make heels more tolerable. Store-bought insoles be damned, they did little to alleviate the pain. Flexing her toes she wondered if Six would be willing to offer her a massage.

He provided some of the best.

As if on cue Roxanne heard the smallest of flushes, from a home only a few feet tall and bolted to the floor of the living room. It was of a larger scale than the previous version. Updated for Six’s new stature. The location wasn’t Roxanne’s first pick, but she could do little to dissuade it. Still, it made for a nice enough footrest, being so close to the couch. A fact she liked to remind her beta roommate constantly.

Roxanne scratched her heel against the roof of the structure, an act that shook the entire thing. It was enough to earn the attention of the smaller buildings’ sole resident. Rather than act in anger, there was instead laughter, and soon enough the structure’s front door opened.

“Someone’s up early on their day off. Special occasion, Six?”

To say the beta was changed would be a massive understatement. It was as though he were an entirely different being. The bandages that had covered all of his body save for his pink eyes had been peeled back in some places, revealing remarkably preserved skin. Much of his body still remained covered, namely around the torso and waist. But his arms, legs, and head were free. Free to view the world in a manner he had not experienced in what felt like an eternity. 

Years of being trapped beneath such wrappings though left their mark. Six now possessed a look of constant weariness, the bags under his eyes more related to stress over his former lifestyle. What’s more, his height, which was once only a meager half an inch, capped at only four. The fact didn’t seem to bother him though. On the contrary, the fact that he could even grow was more than enough for him. Antilirin was administered after much of his bandages were removed. It was always the wrappings that prevented any growth and forced his miniature state, as they were made by Josephine Minerva herself to test how far she could push the beta. The first true success of his kind. After he was freed of the trappings of his living hell Six was able to ingest liquids and solids as easily as any other tiny. From there everything else worked like clockwork. A true masterpiece.

But Roxanne didn’t see that. She saw someone who, despite what she had done, considered Six as a friend. Someone she could trust. It was her hope that those feelings were shared.

Six laughed. “Nothing as far as I know.” The beta was in good spirits. Better than any he’s been in for years. “Just some exercise I suppose. Wasn’t able to do them prior so, kind of just working them in when I can.”

He smiled, and Roxanne loved it. She was able to see his grin whereas before she could only picture it through wrappings. His first few weeks after surgery was difficult. Adjustment to his new appearance was needed, though it did not come as easily as she hoped. Being so long covered, Six often commented how his skin had felt as though it were missing or on fire. When he was cold the sound of his own chattering teeth terrified him. Even a sneeze, something he hadn’t experienced for years, was enough to spook him. He’s come a long way since then though, and Roxanne couldn’t have been prouder.

“Working out huh?” A smile stretched across Roxanne’s face as he placed her foot in front of the still high-spirited beta. “Think I know a workout that’ll really push you if you’re up for the challenge that is.” She flexed her toes for emphasis and Six quickly caught on.

We held his arms behind his back, as though he were deep in thought. “What’s in it for me?”

Roxanne chuckled. This was becoming a dynamic among them. A favor for a favor. She never minded though, feeling as though whatever he asked she owed it to him. It was the least she felt she could do, after having done so much to wrong him.

“I’ll make us some croquettes. Ham and cheese, nothing complicated. I’ve got the ingredients, might as well use them before they go bad. We can watch a movie while we eat. That sounds like a fair trade to you?”

The sudden pressure upon the center of Roxanne’s sole was her answer.

“Deal!” She heard Six shout. Slowly, the pain from before began to fade in both her foot and her body. Roxanne’s shoulders relaxed and she felt herself sink into the sofa. Of all the people she could think of, she’d believe Six to have been one of the last to jump at the chance of giving her a massage. Yet here he was, pressing his whole body into her sole to give her the best he could.

Careful observation showed that he held no such fetishes for his situation, and she’s had plenty of time to observe. He knew an attractive female when he saw one, a point he’s made clear when asked the question. Among that list, Roxanne was flattered to be counted among them, though that was beside the point. The fact was, Six had little to gain in his actions now other than food and a movie. Things Roxanne had already planned.

The only real explanation was that this was a show of gratitude. For having offered him a chance to be normal, at least in today’s terms. That alone was cause enough for Roxanne to believe the two were on great terms. He didn’t argue, he didn’t complain too often. He was compliant so long as Roxanne didn’t push her luck. He acted in a manner he was unable to for so long.

Six was finally becoming his own person again.

A realization that only forced Roxanne’s smile to grow wider.

“You really do give the best massages…”

How bored could one woman possibly become? In such a vast world there were opportunities aplenty that could alleviate any sense of monotony, were one simply willing to search for such remedies.

Yet as she lay in bed, Maya was far from someone who could be entertained by what she considered the mundane. Going out was hardly any fun anymore. Visiting establishments she enjoyed in the past was no longer an option. Her few sources of entertainment were few and far between these days. One of which being her lover, Lyza. Without her, Maya was often left to her own devices, which in turn mostly consisted of sitting around and letting the minutes tick on by.

Even her second favored pass time, the torment and executions of betas and people were beginning to run their course. Was not something she’d give up, easily, it wasn’t as entertaining as she remembered. The blood running down their bodies as she eviscerated them with knives or nails or whatever else she had on hand. The screams they’d elicit when they told her to stop. Their prayers for mercy, their pleading for an end to the pain, fell on uncaring ears. It just wasn’t fun when she was by herself.

And she had no idea why.

Even before she started dating Lyza, murder was a pastime Maya took great pleasure in. It excited her to no end. Regardless of age, social standing, or race, Maya could and would kill anyone. But…

She was finding a hard reason why she should continue.

Even the betas she toyed with now, under the promise that she wouldn’t kill them, did nothing to excite her. They squirmed and cursed just as everyone else did. Nothing new, yet new was something that Maya didn’t need. What she needed was more personal. Something she had, and then lost.

She wondered how Six was doing. Even as she raised a beta to her face, her blue eyes far bigger than their head, she could only envision her dear Six. She knew he had changed. He was far from the same person she last saw, now over a year ago. In none of that time was Maya given the chance, the opportunity, to see him. He was so adamant against any sort of visit from her.

And could she blame him?

“He probably hates your guts”

Maya’s crip on the beta before her tightened like a vice grip. Her fingers practically crushed the poor beta’s ribs as her thoughts assaulted her.

“He probably prefers Roxanne’s company. And why wouldn’t he? From what I heard from Lyza the two of them get along well.”

She hated hearing any stories Lyza had in regard to those two together. They seemed so comfortable in one another’s company. It didn’t just make Maya sick. It made her jealous. Envious of the fact that someone else, someone who she believed was as guilty as her, was cozying up to her one and only.

“I should have killed her when I had the chance.”

Maya now regretted her hesitation back then. A moment of weakness, where she relented in crushed the then four-inch beta under her hand. All because her Six stood out for her. She should have gone through with it.

“No…” she shouldn’t think like that. Regardless of whether or not they knew it at the time, Roxanne was an important individual. Killing her then would have left them in the dark for so many things. Of how Lyza’s sister held dark connections with powerful people. Of how important Six was in reshaping the world to as it was now.

So many things they wouldn’t know were it not for Roxanne. But that certainly didn’t improve Maya’s mood.

The beta in her grasp had stopped moving. Maya wasn’t sure how long she had been squeezing the poor thing, but it was certainly more than it could take. Their body was crumpled up, gore having been forced out the upper half of the betas body. It was amazing that Maya didn’t even notice. Their death must have come slow, and excruciatingly painful. Opening her palm Maya wasn’t surprised to see that there was hardly anything left of the beta’s lower half.

“Well, there goes that promise…” Maya tossed the corpse away from the bed, not wishing to get the sheets any dirtier than they already were. Any more and Lyza would likely throw a fit. “Dammit, and after I was told not to kill anyone.”

Regardless of whether she held herself back or not, Maya always managed to get someone killed. It was what she was good at. The few betas that remained alive, scattered about on the bed, too terrified to flee, knew this well. They’ve last long. A few months now. But none of them harbored the idea that they’d make it out of this alive. They knew that if they were going to die it would be at the hands of the blue-haired titan that held life in so little value.  

“Maybe Lyza won’t be too upset? She always finds herself in a good mood after visiting Six. How lucky she is, to have earned some of his trust over the course of the year.”

Maya grit her teeth.

She hated this. She hated this feeling. Jealousy directed not just at Roxanne but also at Lyza too. Her other lover. It felt so pitiable, that she could even harbor such emotion towards someone she loved so dearly. But she couldn’t help it. There were a lot of things she couldn’t help.

Maya has lost track of the times she’s stood over a sleeping Lyza, knife in hand. How quickly she could end their relationship in the bloodiest way possible. She’s thought carefully about how she’d do it quickly so that there’d be no pain. Then she’d kill Lynette, let the city of Los Demonios tear itself apart from the power vacuum since its biggest player would be gone.

Finally, she’d kill Roxanne. Unlike Lyza, Maya would take her time with her. And she’d enjoy every minute of it. Maybe she’d keep the former beta around for a few months. Maybe a few years. Invite on them the most horrendous miseries she could imagine, before finally killing her.

And then Six would be hers again. All hers. Only hers.

It would be so easy too. Maya’s killed more people than she could count. Enough to fill a graveyard. She never cared how she managed to remain free, not hounded by the authorities as some might imagine. Perhaps the effort of trying to catch her would take too much effort. Perhaps people were just afraid. They had good reason to be, she wouldn’t make any attempt against her life easy.

But even if killing those three was easy, she couldn’t bring herself to do it. Not because she cared for Roxanne or Lynette but because she loved Lyza. And it was the fact that she even considered ending her girlfriend’s life that she hated the most. She end her own before it came to that.

Yet the thought was there. The idea that she could commit to such an act wouldn’t leave her.

“God, what is wrong with me…”

Maya wouldn’t lie and say there was nothing wrong with her. She knew she was plenty messed up. But she liked to think that she kept a good handle on her psyche. She knew who she cared for and who she didn’t. It meant Maya knew who to kill and who not.

But it seemed that line was beginning to blur, and she wasn’t sure how long she could keep herself from doing something she’d regret.

Looking to the betas scattered upon the bed Maya couldn’t bring herself to care for dinner anymore. Even if this was hers and Lyza’s anniversary all she wanted to do right now was sleep. And she could hardly do that with an audience. Not when they could run away while she slept.

Searching for her phone amongst the pillows and sheets, handmade by Roxanne to better keep the conversations between the three women private, she shot her lover a text. 

“Don’t worry about dinner tonight, okay? We can just do takeout. There won’t be enough survivors to cook.”

Lyza read the text that came through and silently prayed that Maya wouldn’t make too much of a mess. The sheets were silk and getting blood out would be all but impossible. Expensive too as her sheets were easily worth several grand. Having to purchase new ones, should Maya leave too much evidence in her actions, wouldn’t be easy. Certainly not as easy as it used to be.

Though still fairly wealthy, there has been a considerable dip in Lyza’s revenue. And she had her sister to thank for that.

All around, Lyza only saw the advancements of Lynette, her younger sibling. Commodities that allowed for a fairer integration of betas into the social system of Los Demonios. It was the beginning of one, yes, but still was cause for worry as even if these changes were just starting to take root it has still cut into Lyza’s company’s profits. By several million last she checked.

Now, a few million was something she could spare. But this early on, with admittedly minor changes having been the cause for losses, was worthy of her worry. This had occurred over the course of a single year. Were it to go on for several more, with bigger and better advancements that focused on the wellbeing of betas, Lyza could very well be in danger.

It was clear that Lynette was trying to run Vermont’s Garments, Lyza’s company, into the ground. Or worse, she was trying to lessen its value and buy it with pocket change.

All Lyza had worked for, raising up a company that was already failing when she took over, was at risk and she refused to lose it all to her sister. Her mother’s favorite.

Now, it was all she could do to put faith in Roxanne and Six, the two having worked under Lynette over the year in the hopes that they could find something useful. Instead, Six had likely benefited Lyza’s sister, as it was usually him who tested out any new beta specific products, the most successful being an actual portable home for the “diminutively challenged”.

That was a *horrible* month from what Lyza can remember. The worst drops yet in sales.

Lyza took a long sip from her cup of coffee, thinking back on how quickly things had changed. Her sister, the slacker of the Vermont family yet still the favored daughter of their mother, was trying to run her into the ground. And no doubt with backing from whatever connections she had.

And instead of acting straight away to ensure, she didn’t lose more than she already has, here Lyza was drinking coffee at some random café being served by some beta waiter whose name she didn’t even care to ask. 

For several minutes now, the beta had stood on her table, silently waiting to take any sort of orders Lyza might have. How he’d even be able to convey said orders to anyone who could actually make, say, a latte was anyone’s guess. It wasn’t anything Lyza had to concern herself with though. All he had to do was stand around and look like he was working. So long as he stayed out of her way then everything was fine.

But damn if he couldn’t say this situation was uncomfortable.

There was no disdain in Lyza’s eyes. No disgust or contempt. There was nothing. She cared nothing for the little man before her. He probably wasn’t even a person to her. Though the beta knew he should make sure everything was to the customers liking he had the sinking feeling that were he to ask he’d regret it.

“God, what a fucking joke.”

The more Lyza thought about how things were unraveling the more she grew to despise her circumstances. She hated the fact that she had to rely on Roxanne and Six. That’s not to say she hated them but having to wait on good news was never a strong suit of hers. She’d much rather do the work herself, get it over and done with fast.

The sooner all of this was over the better after all.

But you can’t rush these sorts of operations. Should you then you’d only invite error. Patience and time, that’s what Lyza needed. The thing is she felt like she was running short on both.

“I know I said I was going to check in on Roxanne and Six, but do I really want to?”

Right now Lyza was fully convinced that it’d just be more of the same. Nothing they could use against Lynette. Nothing that could get them a much-needed foothold against her sister, and whoever else may be backing her. So far any visit has been met with updates on Six’s improving condition, along with new inventions from both Roxanne and Rosen Accessories.

Lyza was in some way grateful for Roxanne’s intellect. It was thanks to her inventions that things have even been manageable. She had finally made the designer the long-promised sewing machines. Far smaller than she had thought, with alterations that went against the blueprints made. The size of thimbles which went on one’s fingers in much the same way. Yet it was filled with various needles that stitched fabric together at a rate much faster than a standard machine, while also allowing for the precision of Lyza’s delicate touch and attention to detail. With it, even the inexperienced could stitch together a piece of clothing at a rate that rivaled an expert.

And were that sort of device to be put in the hands of an expert, the work would be legendary. Such a thing could easily put whole clothing lines out of business, and thus Lyza currently had the sole version. Though were she to patent it, that’d be one hell of a profit.

Roxanne went beyond Lyza’s expectations. She was certainly an asset that proved her worth. It was good that Maya hadn’t killed her, though the killer probably thought otherwise.

Both Six and Roxanne have shown themselves capable, despite their…limitations. Like herself, Roxanne still depended on the consumption of Antilirin, the medication that allowed some betas to grow, to keep from shrinking again. And Six, despite having grown only a few inches, proved a good liar under the employ of Lynette. Apparently, he was well-liked among the other employees. Charisma is as useful a tool as intellect.

She must admit, such charisma was even rubbing off on her in the right way.

Ever since he’s begun living with Roxanne Six has become more lively. Less depressing, as though he were able to finally live for himself. His mood, along with his overall appearance, had improved greatly, And Lyza knew exactly why.

Though she loved Maya, she knew the effect the killer had on Six. It wasn’t healthy. Even if she wouldn’t say it upfront, Six leaving as he did was probably for the best. She only hoped Maya would at some point understand that. Because, whereas Six has grown more lively over the course of the year, the very opposite was true of Maya. While she still showed energy towards the duo’s more intimate acts, anything beyond that was done at a sloth’s pace. 

She just didn’t care. It was disheartening, but to be expected. It felt akin to a form of dependency. Without her “one and only” by her side Maya’s one other form of joy was found only in Lyza. During the times she had to be away from her the murderer likely had nothing to do. Even her killings, which once she enjoyed, were lacking in the excitement they once brought.

“I doubt I can convince Six to see her. Even for a few minutes. If there’s one thing he is, it’s stubborn.”

A quality she liked though and looking back on their previous talks only forced a shade of crimson onto the designer’s cheeks. They bickered and argued like an old married couple at times but could hold an actual conversation in areas they both enjoyed. Over the course of the year, and after several visits, Lyza’s developed more than a soft spot for the beta.

“He’s lucky he’s endearing. Otherwise, I wouldn’t even like him”

She’s developed something akin to a crush.

Minor as far as they went, not as great as her affection for Maya, but still enough to have been of concern when it first became apparent. Most shrunken betas Lyza saw she viewed as lesser. They had their uses, sure, but they were often so weak. And weak of mind. Hopelessly clinging to the belief that they still mattered, wherein the truth was that at any moment they could be snuffed out. Easily, and by anyone whose shoe was bigger than them.

But Six was different. He understood this. He knew his limitations, so instead he focused on developing different strengths. His wits for starters, having picked up a thing or two for Roxanne. His endurance came later, understanding that without his previous wrappings he was no longer as “indestructible” as he used to be. That did little to deter him these days. Despite his stature and past Six stood taller than most regular-sized people.

He had spirit, and Lyza found that alluring. Much in the same way Maya’s own spirit captivated her.

“I knew he had potential.” Lyza reminisced. “He just needed to find it.”

Maybe visiting those two was worth the lack of good news. Perhaps they’d forget their jobs for just a few hours. Enjoy a movie and catch up.

Perhaps, through that, Lyza could warm Six up to the idea of seeing Maya. See if he’d be willing to give it a chance. It was worth a shot.

Just as her mood was slowly improving, a voice drew Lyza away from her thoughts. Small and irritating, it was the very waiter that had remained patiently to tend to Lyza’s needs. For some time now he had been wondering if he should converse with Lyza, ask if everything was to her liking. Prior to finally speaking, however, the scowl upon her face deterred him from any such action. Now that she was apparently calming down he felt like now was the best moment.

“Everything good here, ma’am? Anything you need?”

Moments of silence followed after. Lyza had forgotten about the beta. She was so lost in thought that she assumed he found some way down to the floor. An impossible task as these shrunken waiters usually needed assistance. Hindsight on the part of many establishments, but no one wished to fire a beta. Not when there’d be hell to pay from those who’d jump at the chance to defend them.

Lyza could very well just say everything was fine and leave it at that. Pay the beta no mind and they could both be on their way.

She could do that, but she wouldn’t.

“I suppose there is one thing I need.” Lyza pointed behind the beta, a small of sugar cubes, each half the size of the beta. “My drink’s just a little too bit bland for my taste, and I do enjoy my sweets. If it’s not too much to ask…”

“Not at all, ma’am.” Even if the beta knew Lyza could easily take a cube for herself getting it himself was far better than just standing around. And even if they were half his size they weren’t terribly heavy.

It was only when his back was turned did Lyza’s intentions become clear. The café was practically without customers or security, save for the occasional college student too tired to notice anything that wasn’t their laptop. Even the employees here were dead inside. It was like the owners of the establishment were asking for this to happen.

Lyza’s fingers wrapped around both the beta and the cube he had just lifted.

“Only two inches? Hah! This’ll be easy!”

With the notion of being caught all but an impossibility Lyza tossed the beta into the coffee. It was lukewarm at best, having cooled considerably since she began drinking it. The sole luxury in what was otherwise a horrible situation.

The beta thrashed above the brown liquid, grateful that he knew how to swim. He had little to no time to shout however as, before he even could, Lyza stirred her coffee, making sure to dissolve the cube that was now in it. As she did she made sure to push the beta beneath the waves as often as possible. The less time he had to breathe the better. But she didn’t want to kill him. That would come later.

Even at his size, the beta was a fighter. He clung to the swizzle as best as he could, seeing that it was his best hope at survival, as being caught in a whirlpool of coffee would likely be a death sentence. Efforts that, ultimately, were pointless. Every time he clung on Lyza simply held him underneath the surface of the liquid, pretty much forcing him to let go in search of air. And whenever he came back up the stirring resumed.

It was a pattern that, eventually, got boring.

So, when next the beta breached the surface, Lyza made sure to pour a small bit of vanilla creamer onto his head. Thicker than the coffee, its overly sweet aroma stung his nostrils and eyes. He couldn’t even cough as the sweet liquid fell right into his mouth the moment he tried to catch a breath of air.

Lyza didn't stop until she had managed a pleasant heart shape in the brown liquid. “I suppose that’ll do..." she did like her drinks sweet.

What came next for the beta could only be seen through stained vision. Trying to wipe away the creamer did little to help his sights, though it was probably best he didn’t see what was coming next. He could feel it well enough. Gravity took effect as Lyza raised the cups to her lips, consuming what was effectively gallons of caffeine for the beta. There was nothing he could do to stop his own descent. He was given no chance to save himself as Lyza drank the rest of the contents of her cup in one go.

He didn’t even have time to take in the surroundings of her mouth. Just one quick second and he was taking a dive past her throat into what would be his final destination.

Her stomach. The beta didn't fight back. He didn't need light to know where he was, the gurgles of Lyza's impossibly large organ made it clear. The poor waiter could do nothing but wait for the inevitable end. 

Soon to be turned into nutrients that Lyza couldn’t even consider breakfast.

“At the very least it was fun toying with him. Maybe I should order a breakfast wrap? Haven’t had anything to eat aside from a few…pests.”

Maybe she’ll get something for Six and Roxanne too. Her spirits had improved greatly. So much in fact that she’d think it best to leave a sizable tip. Hopefully, someone who actually worked in the café would take it rather than some random stranger.

After all, it wasn’t like her waiter would be the one to collect. 

Bliss

What Roxanne felt was bliss. Peace. To be pampered by one so small, the four-inch beta at her feet, was a luxury she didn’t think she could partake in. For years she had scavenged and fled from those a hundred times her size. She had heard stories of giants that were spoiled by betas. Used as accessories or as servants. And while Roxanne considered Six neither of those things she finally found herself in a position where she was able to take advantage of her larger size.

The beta pushed into the giant’s stocking-clad foot with all his might, working to edge out any visible pleasure he could from his gigantic caretaker. It was difficult work. Though he could now be seen as a beta on the superior spectrum of size, Roxanne’s foot was still a considerable scope compared to him.  He was still a far size smaller than her foot, which itself was a force of nature all on its own. The heat that radiated off of it was a clear sign that the larger beta had been on her feet for the majority of the day. And the perspiration that came from the cloth covering it showed that she was in constant motion. Six’s arms were soaked only after a few minutes of work. And he couldn’t even consider himself halfway done. Whatever effort he did give though was clearly felt, as Roxanne’s groans were only growing more intense.

“Oh…oh fuuuuuuuuuahahaaaa that feels nice…” Roxanne felt as though she were in heaven. She’d been on her feet for so long that even the smallest of stimulations was without description. Even Six’s small hands were akin to those of a master with how sensitive her soles were. She had to reframe herself from clenching her toes at several intervals. She wouldn’t want to hurt her little friend.

But it sure was difficult to hold herself back. So difficult in fact that at several points she failed to reframe from using her full strength.  Unconsciously, her foot would push forward and into the four-inch beta. He held no illusion that he could force back the appendage, and so took the full brunt of the hit. It didn’t hurt but it certainly was enough to knock him on his ass. Yet, even after that type of humiliation, he wasn’t angry. He just laughed softly to himself and stood back up.

Six reached for Roxanne’s toes, his first touch having an immediate effect as they curled around his hand. It was quick. Too quick for Six to react. And even if he could pull his hand away he’d likely dislocate his arm with how tight the grip was.

He was about to tell Roxanne that she had unwittingly gripped his hand with her toes when her other foot came in from behind, pushing him into the sole of the first with more force than necessary.

“Please, keep going…don’t stop now…” From just having her foot massaged Roxanne felt any tension throughout the rest of her body ease up. It was beyond simple alleviation. “This feels divine.”

The feeling was not mutual for Six. Currently, he was being sandwiched in between Roxanne’s sole and bride of her foot. Her stockings chaffed his skin. So much so that his now previously pale skin was being marked red. No open wounds could be felt, thankfully, though he was more than certain that he was very much bruised.

He found the situation funny. Not even dangerous. A year ago, such abuse would have been more of an annoyance. Now, he actually suffered from it. He had wounds. And it made him laugh. Not from him enjoying it, but from the fact that he could actually experience it again. For over five years he could feel nothing of similar stimulation. Now? This was the closest he’s felt to normal in what may as well have been ages.

He did not scream. Instead, he tapped Roxanne’s sole as lightly as he could without showing that he was in danger. While this did have the desired effect of gaining his caretaker’s attention it also shared the consequence of tickling her. A consequence that quickly made itself known when the pressure increased tenfold. Enough that what came next was audible to Roxanne.

A crack rather than a crunch. Something had popped, and the mere thought of what it could be filled Roxanne with dread. She immediately stopped caring for her massage and allowed Six to drop to the floor as she pulled her feet back in fright.

“Six!” fear filled her. She must have hurt him, surely. A crack that loud. Something must have broken. No. Something must have shattered!

“Six! I’m sorry! Oh god!”

The beta lay on the floor, motionless. Roxanne couldn’t tell if he was breathing or not. She wanted to pick him up but was scared, terrified, that she may have irreparably harmed him. He wasn’t invincible anymore. She forgot she had to be careful. Now, she may have very well killed him!

“Please please PLEASE be alive…” Gently the titaness poked the beta’s motionless body, as to test the waters of if he were still conscious.

Nothing.

“Six…” Her finger rested on the beta’s chest, waiting to feel the rise and fall of his breathing. Again, nothing.

“No…please no…” Conflicting emotions flooded Roxanne as she grew horrified over the prospect of having killed Six. Someone who she considered a friend. There was, of course, the extreme guilt she felt. She grew careless and thus forgot the difference in power between the two.

Then there was worry. Without Six the plan on gaining information from Lynette would fall apart. Lyza would be left with nothing useful. And worst of all, she’d know who to blame.

The designer’s threat did not dissipate over the course of the year. Rather, the fear of it only grew. Without Six there was nothing keeping Lyza from handing Roxanne over to Maya. One bloodied treat for the psychopath.

But even with that growing threat, Roxanne couldn’t take her eyes off of Six’s body. It was her fault that he had gotten hurt. And now it was her fault that he had gotten killed. Lyza’s possible fury didn’t even matter too much now, in the face of having taken the life of someone she actually cared for.

She moved her index finger from Six’s chest to his face, caressing his cheek as well as she could.

“Six… oh Six… I’m so sor-”

And before she could react her finger was bitten by the beta that she had been scared for. He had been playing possum and playing it rather well. He was growing lightheaded from holding his breath though, so when Six saw the chance to make it known that he was alright he took it.

Roxanne pulled her hand back in surprise. The bite didn’t hurt, being more akin to a sting. It was the fact that Six pulled off such a cruel joke that hurt more.

“You…you…” Roxanne was at a loss for words. “You…bastard!” She wasn’t sure if she was mad, relieved, or both. But the emotions were enough that she was still willing to raise her foot overhead, the urge to bring it down on the smaller beta very much there. Even with that sort of threat in front of him, Six did not apologize. He didn’t even beg. He just smiled, holding one limp arm with his hand.

Roxanne saw this and, reluctantly, lowered her foot. In front of Six, sure, a reminder that if she really wanted to hurt him she could do so much worse.

She pulled herself off the couch and knelt in front of the beta, her towering frame only growing the slightest bit shorter. Though there was still some anger in her red eyes it was mostly overtaken by concern. “How badly did I hurt you?”

Six gestured towards his arm. It had come loose from its socket. It hung like a thread of meat.

“It sounded worse than it actually is.” And over the years he’s been through events that could have caused worse. Considering who he was with prior to all this, it could have been much worse. Something like this didn’t bother him one bit. But that did nothing to relieve Roxanne of her worry.

“Look, I know you didn’t mean to…”

“Please, Six, not a word.” Roxanne didn’t want to hear it. Even if he’s suffered worse he still suffered again, by her hands. Or rather…feet. It was rather harrowing, the reminder that she could hurt him so easily. And she wasn’t even trying. That’s how easy it was. That’s how fragile he was now.

She didn’t even want to look at him and be reminded of that fact. “Please, just let me set your arm in place.” She lowered her open palm onto the floor and waited patiently for the beta to step on it.

Six just patted her waiting fingers. “No need to worry about that, I can fix it myself.”

Roxanne was puzzled until the smaller beta grabbed his dislocated shoulder. Confused at first her expression quickly changed the moment she realized what he was doing.

“Nonono Six, don’t even think about it that’s disgusting!”

Without warning the beta forcefully pushed his arm back into its socket. There was a sickening crunch as Six’s arm was put back into place. Roxanne fell back in shock, the force of her nearly landing on her back more than enough to throw Six on his own rear. She looked at the beta in shock, amazed he could even endure something like that.

“You’re insane!” she claimed. “You are actually insane ohmygod!”

“I lived with a serial killer for years.” Six reasoned. “I went through more hell than most people could even dream of. You think I can afford sanity? Hell no.”

“But seriously, that?” Roxanne felt herself close to throwing up. “That was sickening!” How someone could pop their arm back into place, without causing themselves further injury, was unheard of. How much trouble Six must have gone through to even develop that sort of skill was staggering in itself. But the fact that he was comfortable doing it right in front of her was another story. “You couldn’t have done that elsewhere?”

“It wasn’t like you were going to give me much of a chance to go anywhere, with how worried you were.” The beta reasoned. “Besides, it’s fine.”

“It really isn’t.”

“It is, Roxy. I’m fine.”

The larger beta stood up and began pacing around the living room. She was breathing far too quickly for her liking, a result of going through so many emotions so quickly. She felt rage, relief, wonder, and astonishment. “God damn Six, you’re going to give me grey hair and split ends by the end of the year. I should just step on you for that…”

Once more she raised her foot over the beta, who once again didn’t even look worried. She wanted to scare him, just as he scared her. She wiggled her toes for emphasis, the red polish upon her nails clear even through her stockings. No reaction of terror. No fear. Six was well beyond that sort of emotion given what he’s endured. So, Roxanne relented.

“God, and I was worried too.” Roxanne found herself embarrassed over the fact that Six was so easily able to fool her. Slowly though, that embarrassment turned to soft chuckles. And eventually, that turned into full-blown laughter. Adorable mirth with the occasional snort in it.

Even after a minute her laughter didn’t stop. It was so much that Roxanne was forced to fall back onto the sofa to catch herself. A bit too far to the left though and she would have landed right on Six’s house. Thankfully she did eventually manage to compose herself. “You’re a little asshole, you know that?”

Roxanne just sat there, allowing the relief of Six being fine to fill her body as she thought about what to do next. Continuing her massage was out of the way, as she’d now be opposed to the idea for obvious reasons. The most she could do right now was offer aid.  “I suppose I should help with those bruises. Set up a little ice pack for you, to help with any swelling should that occur. But before I do that I think I should make us dinner. As for you…” Roxanne overlooked Six’s sweat-stained shirt. It was her perspiration that covered his body, clinging to it like oil. She grimaced over the possible scent he carried. “You should probably take a shower before you eat.”

“That’s probably for the best.” The smaller beta agreed. Luckily he needed no help with that task. His portable home held a shower for him to use. Per Lynette’s promises.

“And make sure you use cold water.” Roxanne instructed. “It’ll help with the bruises.”

Six offered no sort of resistance to the recommendation. While he kept a brave face, he was actually in a fair amount of pain the longer he stood around. Enough that he could only nod rather than say okay. It was enough for Roxanne luckily, the titan of a woman rising from the couch to make her way to the kitchen. Six imagined he had at least a few hours before the two ate. That’d be plenty of time to rest his body.

Though this life still had its hardships it was far better than the one he had before.

An hour after she had begun cooking, Roxanne still couldn’t get the previous events out of her head. They hung over her like a cloud. While she was still grateful for the fact that Six was fine, or as fine as one could be after taking on tons of weight from a giant foot, the feeling that things could have taken a turn for the worse was not absent. It was still very much here.

She fidgeted with her feet as she relived the memories. Even if it wasn’t her attention, the pressure she placed upon Six helped in releasing the stress of the day. It felt good, the sensation of rolling the small beta between her lowest of extremities. With his whole body, he was able to knead out any building pressure far more effectively than with his arms. It almost made Roxanne eager to do it again.

Almost being the keyword.

She blushed at the thought of how she would do it. Previously, she had asked if Six was up to the task. Next time, she could very easily force him to comfort her soles. She had already shown that she possesses more than enough power to dominate him while still being completely oblivious to the ordeal he was enduring. Oh, the things she could do to him were they both fully aware of one another. It made Roxanne shiver.

She bit her thumb in arousal, only to quickly pull away as she just remembered she had been touching raw ham for hers and Six’s dinner. Ham and cheese croquettes. Roxanne’s favored dish from when she was a child. Not terribly difficult to make, just requiring a fair bit of store-bought ingredients. Mashed potatoes to have the ham mixed into, an abundance of sharp cheddar cheese, and finally parsley. For that extra bit of flavor.

Top off the mix with a little dab of salt and pepper and everything was ready to mix, shape, and fried. Working in the kitchen was almost as fun as working in the lab for the large beta. That thought was enough to make her realize that much of the apartment was a mess, a result of her constantly experimenting with any bit of technology she could.

“I should really clean up after cooking.” The titaness mused. She then smiled softly. “If I’m able then maybe I can convince Six that I’m tired enough for another massage?” She’d be gentler, of course, but it certainly was a tempting idea. Roxanne laughed it off though. Six had gone through enough today and needed a rest. Some food and a relaxing movie were all the two of them needed.

She’d pick what they’d watch this time though. Six always chose some action movie and Roxanne wasn’t going to sit through another one of those.

Midway into shaping the croquettes, a knock came from the door. Loud enough that Roxanne nearly dropped the lump of food she was sculpting. Catching it mid-air, she accidentally crushed the whole thing. Yet another reminder of how often she forgot to hold herself back. Had that been a beta then things would have been much messier.

The knocking continued in rapid succession, giving Roxanne a clear idea as to who was there. Aside from only ever getting one visitor, that one guest always made it their job to make their presence known. Quickly washing off the squished cooking from her hand Roxanne made her way to the door, teeth clenched the entire time as the knocking grew louder.

“Yeah yeah, I heard you the first time!”

Lyza didn’t relent. Even when Roxanne went through the now all too familiar process of opening each of the locks she had placed on her door. By the fifth lock, her hand was beginning to hurt rather fiercely. Yet still, there were a dozen more in place. When finally the door did open she was met with a rather annoyed gaze, courtesy of Roxanne.

“Do you HAVE to do that each time you come here?” the large beta asked in frustration.

“Just making sure you remember to get rid of a few locks, Roxy.” Lyza insisted while shaking her sore hand. “I mean, how many was that? Seventeen? A bit excessive if you ask me.”

Roxanne scoffed, not amused by the designer’s antics. “It’s precautionary. I was shrunk for a reason. I knew too many secrets in regard to the beta epidemic. You don’t think if someone recognized who I was I wouldn’t have a hit on my head by the end of the day.”

Lyza laughed, already picturing one person who’d probably try and kill the former scientist. “Well, I’m sure Maya would jump at the opportunity.” Lyza stepped forward. Though she was only taller by a few inches her presence alone was enough to make it feel as though Roxanne were getting smaller. Before long it seemed as if she was in the designer’s show, awaiting judgment. “That is if she had a reason to do so.” Lyza’s amber eyes met Roxanne’s crimson. Both knew the only reason why Maya hadn’t reached for the scientist’s throat yet was because of her lover. Roxanne still had a great many uses, but if she messed up then she’d be the serial killer’s next plaything. “So, anything you’ve done that would give her a reason. Roxy?”

Roxanne gulped, the fear she felt very real. This was a reminder. Of the threat given to her. A promise of what would happen were she to disappoint Lyza. She was almost too afraid to answer. At least, that was the case until the designer gently placed a hand on her shoulder and smiled. Any sense of dread they exuded prior dissipated.  The shadow Roxanne had found herself cast in had shrunk away until she was once more face to face with someone to who she was relatively similar in height.

She wasn’t small. She wasn’t like every other beta on the street or cowering behind desks from larger beings. Though she knew she still had Maya to fear, at this moment, with Lyza, she had nothing to be scared of.

“Relax Roxy, I’m only joking.” Her grin was genuine, even after the cruel joke. From their reaction, it was clear Roxanne hadn’t taken to it as well as Lyza would have hoped. Sure, she wanted to scare the large beta, but the color from their face practically drained away when she fake threatened them.

Lyza actually would have felt bad if she wasn’t trying to keep herself from laughing.

This did not go unnoticed by Roxanne, as the scientist placed a hand upon her forehead, lightheaded from having her emotions toyed with not once but twice. First from Six and now Lyza. The company of those who she’s chosen to have around her was certainly not the best for her mental health. That said, she wasn’t perfect herself and as such allowed herself a quick laugh too.

“That’s…a relief. Roxanne allowed herself to sigh, having held in her breath the entire time Lyza had been speaking. Remainder fear prevented the scientist from easier breathing. It wasn’t until she exhaled that she was forced to place her hands on her knees to keep herself still. Two cruel jokes in one day were more than her body could apparently take it would seem. “First Six and now you? Oh, well, this is simply wonderful. You do realize that the two of you have a SICK sense of humor, right?”

“Hah! As if you’re any better.” Lyza threw her arm over the still relief-filled beta. For a few moments, she playfully twirled their ashen hair, which was long enough to reach halfway across their back. “I’ve seen how you look at other betas. You don’t see them as people, even if that’s what you try to tell others. I can only imagine how often you think of stepping on them. Crushing them. Maybe even dominating them. Hell, I’m willing to bet, so long as it isn’t Six, you’d gladly kill one.”

Roxanne would not deny that. She couldn’t. Lyza had her figured out there. The reason why she had aided in creating the chemical that makes a beta who they are was due to an age-old sense of superiority. There were few she’d consider her better. Back then, it was Josephine Minerva. Since then, she’s been humbled on several occasions. She was more open to considering others around her as equals. But someone who was so small that they’d fit comfortably under the ball of her foot? Yeah, that was far-fetched for her.

The one exception to this though was Six. He was important to her, not just because she had a hand in his creation but also because she genuinely viewed him as a friend. An ally that would have her back when it was against a wall.

The memory of her wounding him, almost killing the beta, returned, and a cold bead of sweat formed on her brow. She quickly wiped it away, but by then it was already too late. Lyza had noticed the droplet.

Rather than inquire, the designer’s smile grew wider. It became clear by Roxanne’s sudden reaction that something had occurred between the two betas. Surprisingly, she grew amused at the thought.

“Oh? Then again, the year isn’t quite over yet, now is it? Who knows what sort of accidents the two of you might have?”

Roxanne wished to say something. She wanted to at least deny that. If she could help it she’d much rather not hurt Six. Yet when she tried to talk nothing came from her mouth. Once more, she was caught in her doubts. Her voice had caught in her throat. All that she was capable of moments after was a very shaky “R-right…”

Lyza chuckled, before pointing to the scientist’s still food-covered hands. “Want me to help while you talk about it? Helps to vent, you know? And if not, we can discuss other matters. Nothing important, except perhaps…if you two have figured anything out with my sister.” It was best to change subjects now rather than later, as it was becoming clear that Roxanne didn’t have any real desire to talk about what she did. And though Lyza wasn’t aware of the severity of the scientist’s actions, she knew they were enough to make her lose her voice.

That said, she was still hopeful of some progress from the two betas. However, but still expected, Roxanne’s only response was silence. Lyza wasn’t even surprised at this point. Nearly a year and no results. She was considering actually scrapping the whole idea altogether just so that she can do things herself. But, that’d take more time than she had on hand these days. So she pulled her hair back and let her frustration subside. Getting angry wouldn’t solve anything.

She shrugged off the matter entirely. “That’s a shame.”

“You’re not upset?” Roxanne asked.

Lyza thought about how things could devolve but once more threw caution to the wind, She was still concerned, true, but not quite as much as she was earlier. They’ll cross that bridge in time. You can’t rush matters such as this.

“Let’s be honest, we both know what would happen if I was upset.” Lyza reminded with a glare. The same dread from earlier returned, forcing Roxanne to avert her gaze. Thankfully, Lyza relented in her psychological assault and shrugged. “For now let’s just say we’re even. I meant to buy you and Six a veggie wrap. I did but ended up eating them both. You and Six were meant to bring me useful information. But neither you have even found anything of worth. So even. For now anyway”

A strange way to compare what constitutes even, but it wasn’t something Roxanne was going to complain about. Just meant her skin was saved.

“We’ll just wait for something to pop up,” Lyza decided as she rolled up her sleeves, already preparing herself to help Roxanne in the kitchen. “Not like we can do anything other than wait.”

That caught Roxanne’s attention. The fear left her body as a solution began to take shape. A risky but potentially salubrious answer to their problems. Throughout the year, as she’s worked for both Lyza and Lynette she’s also worked on many experiments. Most of which could be considered failures, but there was always a diamond to be found in the rough. Some of which were capable of giving Lyza the much-needed edge she sought.

“Well…we might not have to wait forever,” Roxanne explained. “In fact, if you’re willing to listen, I can tell you what I’ve been cooking on the side.”

Lyza perked up, finally pleased to have been given some of the good news. That in itself was worth talking about as the two prepared the food. 

For all that had to be discussed, lunch was fairly dull. Lyza explained how life had been since Six and Roxanne had begun living together though made sure to keep from involving Maya’s steadily decreasing mental stability. Though the killer made sure to hide it as well as she could Lyza was not one who missed the little details in life. Even more so when it was the life of her lover. Since Six’s departure, it was clear they were hurting, as she had expected. It was clear to all though that things could not remain as they were for long. Six, for all he’s worth, had finally spoken out that day, and his words still weighed heavily on Maya.

Roxanne feigned concern, asking the simple question of if Lyza thought Maya would get better in time. Inquiries only from one hoping to remain in their ‘employers’ good graces. Lyza wasn’t surprised. She knew Roxanne’s feelings towards Maya well enough. They were more afraid of them than they were of her. And just as Roxanne’s feelings towards Maya weren’t surprising neither was Six’s lack of care for his former tormentor’s struggles.

He didn’t view her with hatred, or pity. Not even disdain could be seen in the Beta’s newly visible eyes. There was only a sense of apathy that Lyza felt she was once all too familiar with. Before all this. Before Six and Maya. Buried emotions, or lack thereof, that she’d rather not bring to the surface. To that end, she practically thrust a large chunk of her carefully cut croquettes in front of the 4-inch beta, the piece easily over half his size.

Lyza forced a smile, hoping to at least have a pleasant conversation before divulging Roxanne’s newest, and hopefully successful, plan.

“Hungry?”

While an attempt to at the very least spark a conversation it was also a genuine question.

Though he could now eat, Six often at times forgot the necessity of it. One of the very first things he had to learn to deal with when originally shrunk was hunger. Early on he was despaired to know that he’d never be able to sate it, his lack of a mouth being the key element in helping him to alleviate such pain. Hunger pangs were a constant before long, though he could do nothing to deal with it.

So when he was finally able to eat, the wrapping that covered his mouth finally gone, he was overjoyed by the fact that he could eat again. There was, however, an issue he had not expected.

Going so long without food, it didn’t come as much of a surprise when Six and Roxanne found that he couldn’t operate his Jaw all too well. Though he could eat rather well now, early on into his recovery he nearly damn well bit his tongue off on multiple occasions. Thankfully, Roxanne was nearby each time he ate so as to make sure nothing went wrong. Regardless of aid though, while enjoyable, Six would at times be wary of eating.

Looking at the giant croquette before him, however, he could not deny the allure of such a meal. It smelled good. Really good. Roxanne certainly knew how to work around a kitchen, and with Lyza’s aid, the result was even better than originally planned. With every bite cheese practically oozed from the entrée, still piping hot hit hardly a bother to those as large as the two titans that sat on both sides of Six. The pools of cheese that fell onto the dining table and in front of the beta practically radiated enough heat to act as a bonfire.

Okay, perhaps a little bit of exaggeration on Six’s part but the point still stood. He couldn’t deny that he was hungry.

Gently, he took a bite of the croquette, barely able to make a dent on the breaded surface. Though with the way it was seasoned, even with the absence of the interior contents the mouthful he acquired was still quite flavorful.

For Lyza’s part, she simply watched with a sense of fascination. It wasn’t often she watched a beta eat. In fact, Six was the only one she actually enjoyed watching, as any other beta usually didn’t survive long enough to have a last meal. Mostly they worked to SERVE as a meal. So watching Six eat was rather pleasant. In truth, such simple activities of the beta were becoming a favored pastime of Lyza. She enjoyed watching his little movements. His most minor of actions was a delight to observe, to see how much he has both healed and grown. Both literally and figuratively. Such growth would have been impossible, had he chosen to stay close to Maya. A fact she regretted admitting.

Though, now Lyza could see the appeal that Maya no doubt saw herself. In observing Six, the designer had grown a sort fixation for the beta.

She’s toyed with him before, in the past. However, those interactions were always under less than desirable circumstances. In short, Lyza had it out for the beta. How Maya had affection for both him AND her. Back then she wanted to be rid of the beta as quickly, and as quietly, as possible. Thanks to this unkillable nature, that was fortunately impossible at the time.

Now, the circumstances were different. Their relationship had greatly improved. She treated him well and held a decent amount of respect for one another. What was more, for Lyza anyway, there was a slowly developing feeling of infatuation. Nothing too serious as of yet, though she’s had to hide the occasional blush when Six complimented her appearance. 

This infatuation has developed to the point of her wishing to toy with the Beta once more. She wondered how he’d run were she to raise her foot over him. How he’d squirm were she to place him between her breasts. What uses could she find for him that required a more intimate touch? Her most recent wonder was how he’d taste, and this was in no small part to watching the beta take bites of her food. How would he struggle were she to threaten to swallow him whole? Would he try and stop his descent as he passed through Lyza’s esophagus? Most likely. Being eaten terrified the beta. What Lyza wondered most though is if she’d stop herself from eating him.

She was lost in thought that it was only thanks to Roxanne’s voice that she was able to break free of her apparent trance.

Lyza was more concerned over how she must have looked rather than Six and Roxanne and quickly found that she had been salivating with a quick swipe of her hand across her lips. She blushed in embarrassment, much to Roxanne’s amusement.

“Everything good?” Six wondered, fully aware of the look that was plastered on his friend’s face only moments ago.  He’s seen that hungry look before. It was her eyes. He’d seen it plenty of times on Maya.

Lyza shifted uncomfortably in her seat. “Maybe it is best that Maya took care of those betas at home…” Lyza thought, uneasy over her lack of discipline. “As it were, I’ve been snacking on too much. Getting too used to it.” She felt more like a predator than anything when looking at Six. How easily she could eat him. It would hardly be any effort at all, even at his impressive 4-inch height. She almost felt guilty feeling that way. She’s gotten too used to such actions during her times of intimacy with her girlfriend. “Maya really does bring out the beast in me, doesn’t she?”

Lyza shook her head clear and forced a more composed expression to show that she was fine. She smiled, hoping to put any worries Six might have to rest.

“Couldn’t be better.” Lyza lied.

Six frowned. He didn’t. Still, knowing Lyza, it was smart not to push into the matters. If they were of real concern then she was likely to voice the issue. And currently, they all already had one problem to deal with. Any more and things would just get difficult.

Lyza cleared her throat, both in an attempt to clear out any lingering unease as well as to get Roxanne’s attention, the scientist still happily enjoying her food. With a stuffed face, Roxanne turned toward her confused. It wasn’t until she thought about it for a few moments that she remembered.

“Oh shit, right! My idea!” Roxanne hurriedly swallowed her food before rising from the table so fast that she nearly knocked over the available drinks. Lyza even had to make sure Six didn’t get thrown off the table, gently placing her hand beside him and keeping him safe.

“I’ll be right back!” Roxanne assured before bolting off and leaving Lyza with no chance to ask where she was going. Judging by the noise that came from what Lyza expected to be Roxy’s room, it was clear she was looking for something.

This did leave Lyza in the awkward position of remaining behind with Six, the beta looking up at her as he sat down cross-legged, no doubt still wondering just what was going through her head when she lost herself in thought.

Six looked at Lyza with such intensity, such concentration, that it was all but impossible for her to not eat him up. It could be done so easily. Her hand was still next to him. Just one quick motion and he’d be all hers.

Why did Roxanne have to leave them alone? What point was there in that?

Lyza laughed nervously, cold sweat running down her body as she tried to keep her composure. The fact that she had affection towards the beta, along with her desire to toy with him, only made it harder to keep herself calm. Worst of all though was, without his wrappings, he wasn’t that bad of a looker.

Affection and maliciousness made for a poor combination. One that Lyza regretted admitting she was experiencing.

“So…how you been?” Lyza attempted to divert her attention into an icebreaker. Unfortunately, Six was quick to shoot this attempt down.

“Are you sure you’re fine?” the beta asked, noticing Lyza’s struggles.

“Yup!” Lyza lied again, rubbing her arm across her forehead to do away with the nervous perspiration that had formed. “Just nervous about Roxanne’s idea, that’s all!”

Six grimaced upon hearing that. This was enough to get Lyza’s attention away from temptation. Concern over what could have caused that sort of reaction.

“I take it the two of you have talked about it?” Lyza asked.

Six was silent for a few moments before replying. “A bit, yeah.”

“Well, what is it? Or do you plan on leaving me in the dark?”

Six fell quiet again, longer this time. He was reluctant to answer but knew that it was best he did. Better it come from his mouth than Roxanne’s, as it’d be easier to digest for Lyza.

“We’re…gonna shrink me again.” The beta stated, as though he had already made up his mind well before Lyza had arrived at the duo’s residence.

Lyza didn’t say a word. Instead, her eyes widened upon hearing what Six had said. As though she didn’t quite understand it. Shrinking was not a rare occurrence these days anymore. But for someone like Six to shrink willingly? She imagined he wished to stay at his current height.

That said, there was an iota of curiosity that Lyza felt. She couldn’t deny that the idea intrigued her. More than that actually, it delighted her to hear those words. She was glad Six had regained some semblance of independence with his newfound height, though she’ll admit to missing when she could toy with him at smaller sizes. His struggles then were far more frantic. Desperate.

Again, she felt guilt upon dealing with such thoughts. That didn’t prevent a warming sensation from her loins, however. Nor did it stop her mouth from salivating. The image of Six trying to stay afloat in either area was far too pleasurable for Lyza not to imagine. And without his old invulnerability…

Lyza clenched the fist close to Six as she fought back the temptations, trying her hardest not to give in to them. She’s worked hard to earn his trust and his respect. It’d be an insult to her dignity to do away with all of that.

“So…” Lyza bit her tongue as she continued to restrain herself. “H-how do you plan on doing that?”

Six was lost in thought and as such failed to notice Lyza’s internal conflict, much to her relief. Though she fought against it, it’d be embarrassing beyond all hell if he called her out.

Before Six could answer Roxanne burst into the dining room again, a vial of pink liquid in hand, and answered in his stead.

“With this~” she pretty much sang. “My first variant of altered Antilirin! With this Six will have no trouble sneaking on your sister!”

Lyza looked upon the vial with interest. She was grateful for the distraction, as Roxanne’s return served to turn Six’s inquisitive mind away from her. That in turn allowed her the chance to actually get a hold of herself, collected so as to better understand Roxy’s proposal.

“Wait,” Lyza just realized something. “Did you say sneaking on my sister? I take it this new Antilirin will help in that?” she wouldn’t even ask how it was made. Lyza had made the mistake of asking Roxanne about her many experiments, successful or otherwise. Whole days could be spent as the scientist could easily carry on a one-sided conversation on how many of them operated. And at no moment could Lyza admit to understanding anything she would say.

It was a headache she could avoid if she just went along with things.

Roxanne nodded, almost too enthusiastically, as she presented the container. “That it is Lyza! That it is! An alteration of the current strain of Antilirin, suitable for ingestion same as the first, though capable of working at a far faster rate. Normal Antilirin takes effect in, say, an hour or two. This one though only needs half that time. And the best part? Unlike the normal strain this beauty here-”

“Shrink people rather than grow them, right?” Lyza cut in.

Roxanne looked at her in astonishment.

“Six already explained part of what you two had planned. The two of you had planned on having him shrink down, right? I take it that’s how y’all planned on having him…what was it? Sneaking on my sister?” There wasn’t much else to their idea than that from the looks of it. As poorly thought out as a plan could be. “And do either of you mind telling me how exactly you planned on doing that? What, was Six going to hide in her purse somehow? Or maybe latch onto the heel of one of her favorite stilettos while she walked home?”

Lyza had expected silence. In a way, that’s what she hoped for. Instead, she got something that was arguably worse.

A very uneasy, and unsteady “…Yes” from Roxanne. They rocked back and forth on their feet in nervousness while Lyza rubbed her temples in frustration.

“Roxy, Six, I know the two of you aren’t idiots. Far from it actually. So why would you think this would be the best course of action?” Lyza threw her hands up into the air in defeat as she sank deep into her seat. “Roxanne, aren’t you, like, a genius or something?”

“I’d consider that an understatement, but sure let’s go with that,” Roxanne answered.

“So you can imagine my skepticism when I say I doubt this is the only plan you could have come up with. Both of you actually!” Lyza shot up from her position, pointing a finger towards Six. “Even you! Yeah, you’re not some super genius, Six, but you should know a bad idea when you hear one! What happened to that common sense?”

Six remained quiet as he shook his head. He gently pushed Lyza’s finger to the side.

“It’s not like we didn’t try thinking of anything else” the beta confessed. “In fact, this is the last idea from a list of those that really couldn’t work. We sat for days trying to brainstorm but couldn’t come up with any passable.”

“This? This is passable?” Lyza questioned, refusing to accept that this could have been the last option the two had thought of. “Excuse me for my lack of belief but come on. Really? Really, this is it?”

“Really really,” Six replied. “This is it.”

He saw that Lyza didn’t like this last resort of theirs. Not in the slightest. She was deep in thought, trying to see how this idiotic, plain stupid, plan could possibly work. Yet no matter the angle in which she tried to look at it, nothing could possibly salvage it in her mind. The only real saving grace was Six being shrunken down, though she failed to see how that could be beneficial.

“How small could you get him?” Lyza asked, hoping for something useful.

“At the very least, an inch,” Roxanne answered. “Small enough that he can’t really be noticed through his weight. Unfortunately, through a few test runs, we’ve found that he can’t really go smaller than that. It’d be helpful if he was still half an inch, though for what we have planned it wouldn’t be ideal in the end.”

Lyza inhaled sharply, trying to calm her rising nerves. “And just what was the plan? If you don’t mind me asking?”

Roxanne gulped, once more feeling as though this were a test. As if her life once more hanged on the balance here. Lyza saw this.

“Don’t worry, you’re not at risk here.” She admitted. “I just wanna see if this is as dumb as I think it is.”

That didn’t ease Roxanne’s worries. “Oh, it is. Trust me.”

As idiotic as the idea was, Roxanne and Six had spent some time thinking about how it could even possibly work. How Six could possibly find a way onto Lynette’s person and find some means back to her home. From there it’d be a matter of waiting to see if her lips would possibly loosen from the comfort of her own home. Hopefully, that way she would spill something of value for them when they’ve so far been unsuccessful in finding anything useful while under her employ.

How Six would make it back, in the event that his snooping around proved fruitful, was not something they had thought about, however.

It was a horribly thought out, clearly idiotic, and just plain dumb plan. But it was the only one they got.

“So…you could make a serum that has the opposite effects of regular Antilirin?” Lyza questioned. “But not something like a bug you could place on her shirt? Or a tracker to see if she goes anyplace out of the ordinary? Hell, even a camera in her office? Anything, actually anything, is better than this.”

“Six actually thought about that.” Roxanne clarified. “But if you knew what I knew then you’d understand that something as simple sounding as all those options wouldn’t really be the best of choices.”

“And why is that?” Lyza asked, perplexed.

Roxanne seemed hesitant to answer. Though she knew keeping things from Lyza was dangerous in its own way, as they were the ones who held the leash on May so to speak. On the other hand, however, Roxanne knew just how far Lyza’s sister’s connections could run. Especially if they were the very same connections her mother had.

“I don’t think you still fully understand the weight of the situation we’re all in.” Roxanne explained slowly. “The connections your mother had, the very same ones your sister probably has now, aren’t something you’d wanna trifle with. A looooot of people found themselves under Josephine Minerva. Celebrities, CEOs, national figures, and more. She had funding from so many people, all of whom wanted things only she could provide. A network like that isn’t something you want to mess with.”

Lyza said nothing, though judging from her hardened expression it was evident that she understood the gravity of it all.

Roxanne continued. “That kind of system does a lot of spying. Tracking people, observing them, and learning how best to manipulate their actions towards something more… ‘desirable’. As you can imagine, spying on the people who normally do the spying isn’t something we can’t feasibly do yet. Hell, even making this little batch of Anti-Antilirin was risky, as I had to call in some old favors. Most of the things I make now are from kitchen supplies and cheap hardware. Old laptops and the like. Anything beyond that could put us on that network’s radar. That includes much of the stuff you listed. They’ve got ways for tracking a tracker.”

 “So why send Six!?” Lyza exclaimed, unsure why they’d even come up with such a plan if the situation was so dangerous. “You’d be sending him right into the tiger’s den!”

“It’s... lion’s den actually.” Roxanne corrected.

“I. Don’t. Fucking. Care what it’s called!”  Lyza shouted, forcing Six to cover his ears and Roxanne to back away in fright. She brought her hand down onto the table, hard. Enough that Six was thrown onto his back. “That’s deliberately putting him in an impossible situation! Forget stupid, I don’t fucking think there’s a word to describe just how bad of an idea this all is.”

“But it’s the only one we got!” Six tried to reason. But Lyza wasn’t having any of it.

“Bull. Shit.” Little of the temptations she had felt prior remained. Frustration was the key emotion Lyza had now. Frustration along with worry.  Concern over Six’s safety should things go south. She couldn’t, in good conscience, put him in that sort of danger. Before, she had thought of ways to tease, maybe even abuse the beta. But those could be seen as pleasurable. What Six and Roxanne suggested though?

It was too risky for her liking.

No, there had to be another way. Someone else who could fill that sort of role if need be. Another beta perhaps. Someone who shared their goals. Someone like…

“What about me?” Lyza asked.

Though not known to the wider public, Lyza was a beta. One who’s managed to remain normal years after the initial outbreak of the epidemic. It hasn’t been easy. Most like her, in order to retain their full size, had to take normal Antilirin once every few months. In some more dire cases, twice a month. For Lyza though, her case was even more severe than most.

She needed to take it daily. Once every 24 hours, otherwise, she’d shrink. She wasn’t sure how small she’d get, though, given the rate at which she needed to take that damned medication, Lyza imagined it’d be quite miniscule. Maybe even as small as Six's previous height of half an inch.

Nonetheless, that didn’t stop her from speaking her mind.

“I could do it instead, right? Lynette’s my sister after all. I’d have an easier time getting to her than Six. I could even be at her house when I shrink. A little visit on my part. Come on, that has to be better right?”

Neither Roxanne nor Six said anything. They couldn’t even make contact with Lyza, and the designer knew why. She can’t deny how she must have sounded. She probably seemed crazy in her suggestion. But who else could take that sort of risk? Roxanne was too valuable an asset to lose. And Six…

She wasn’t willing to risk Six. 

“Just…say something.” Lyza pleaded to the still silent duo. “Anything?”

Six was the first to speak up when Roxanne held her tongue. “Fine. I’ll say it then. That’s somehow even dumber than what we had planned before. I already said I’d be the one to shrink.”

“Out of the question.” Lyza quickly shot down Six, though he refused to be quiet.

“Lyza, if you would just listen to me”

“No”

“But, I’ll be fine.”

“You can’t be sure of that.”

“And how do you know I won’t be? If you just let me…”

“I said no, so shut your trap.”

“Just listen…”

“Dammit, Six!”

Lyza slammed her hand onto the table again, her frustration reaching its peak as she pinched her eyes. She was exhausted and had no desire to argue further. “Just, for once, be like every other fucking beta and listen. Was that too much to ask? "I don't need you to stick your neck out like this. I don’t want you to. So…just save it, okay?”

This was a new sight for Six. He’d known Lyza for some time now. Long enough that he’s only ever seen her in charge, always in control of a situation. She could be cold and calculating if need be and was more than able to keep a handle on people, as evident through her relationship with Maya. That in itself was no easy feat. To put it simply, Lyza was not easily broken. 

And though she wasn’t on her knees crying, as her psychotic girlfriend was a year prior, Lyza seemed close to it. She was heavily distraught, unwilling to even consider Six for such a plot.

Even then, the beta did not back down.

“I’m still durable.” Six tried to explain. Instead, Lyza just cupped her head in her hands.

“Ohmygod! Really!? What did I just say!?” Why did Six have to be so stubborn? Even worse, why did Lyza find that respectable?

“I might not be unkillable anymore, but I can still take a beating.” Six continued to explain. “More than any other beta out there. More than you. If anyone has a chance of making it out of Lynette’s home, alive, then it’s likely to be me.”

“And how exactly do you plan on doing that?” She asked. “If you can actually convince me that you know a way out of her house safely then you can consider me convinced. Shit, I’ll even settle for a half-baked method at this point. If you have one that is.”

Of course, Six didn’t have a way to answer that in a manner that Lyza could accept. He couldn’t even think of a lie that could turn her over to his side. Just as he was dead set on doing this, Lyza was set on preventing it.

But why did he want to go through with this awful plan of his? A chance to prove himself? To show that he was capable at his new height? No. Were that the case he’d be against shrinking down to a measly inch. Such a setback after all the progress he’s made. The effort to arrive at this point in his life, gone in half an hour should he go through with this.

He couldn’t really answer why he wanted to do this as much as he did, much in the same way he couldn’t give Lyza the answer she wanted. And she’d see through any lie that he concocted. She was good at that.

So he told her the truth.

Six walked up to Lyza’s hand and saw his face reflected in the giantess' red polished finger.

He had changed so much. More than he had ever hoped. Though some areas of his body were still covered in wrappings, they didn’t bother him. Not like they used to when they covered the entirety of his form. Now, they served as something of a reminder, as well as a trophy. Better than scars, they showed his former struggles and just how far he’s come in only a year. A short, practically infinitesimal amount of time compared to the half-decade of torment he had to endure. He could actually see his hair, his nose, his whole face. Most of all, he could see his smile, genuine and full of confidence.

The very same confidence he’d gladly show Lyza at this moment.

“I’ll wing it.” The beta said, without even the smallest tinge of anxiety in his voice.

He was so sure of himself. So filled with certainty that Lyza found herself almost believing in the beta. It was ridiculous, the thought that Six could pull this off. By himself no less. It’s not like Lyza or Roxanne could offer him a hand if he found himself under Lynette’s foot. No, he’d be completely by himself, at the absolute mercy of a world outside of Lyza’s control.

He’s always been so close for so long that now, with her developing feelings, the thought of him being on his own terrified her. And were her roles replaced with Maya it’d likely terrify her as well. Roxanne though only smiled at the smaller beta’s confidence. How someone so small could remain so sure of themselves was beyond her.

Six was an oddity among his kind, for sure. And that’s beyond his less than fortunate beginnings. How he could grow so much in such a short amount of time was astonishing to Roxanne. He exceeded all her expectations and as such, she was eager to see just how far he could go.

Lyza pinched the bridge of her nose, well beyond wit’s end. And to think lunch had started off rather well. Needless to say, she’s lost her appetite for the meal still on her plate. But, in time her frustration began to take a sudden turn. So overwhelmed with what’s transpired she began to laugh. Softly at first before it steadily rose and was easily felt in Six’s ribs.

Lyza laughed so hard that she could hardly control the tears falling from her eyes. Even as she wiped them away they continued to flow. She felt like a mess with this embarrassing display of hers, but she couldn’t stop herself. And by the end of it all she even felt better.

“God fucking dammit, I can’t believe I’m going through with this.” Lyza still chuckled here and there, but her eyes were always on Six. “I suppose you should count yourself lucky, with how cute you are.”

She was blushing.

“If it’s any consolidation, your idea wouldn’t have worked either, Lyza.” Roxanne chimed in as Six wondered if he had just heard that right.

“I mean, your condition is more aggressive than most, if any other. Certainly, the most volatile I’ve ever seen. Who knows, maybe the variant would have only shrunk you a few centimeters shorter than your normal size. Might not even work at all. Or, and really stretching it here, could have made you grow a few feet.” Roxanne laughed. “Now would that have been a treat?”

While it didn’t much help at all to know that her “sacrifice” would have amounted to nothing, it was too late to back down now. As far as those two were concerned she had already given in.

“Just tell me what I need to do.” Lyza wanted to do this as quickly as possible. The sooner they got what they needed, the better.

“Oh, your part is very simple.” Roxanne assured. “You pretty much don’t even have to do anything.”

Lyza was flooded with relief. Hopefully, things wouldn’t be as bad as she feared.

Unfortunately, those very fears presented themselves the in the evening, as Lyza sat in her office with her cell phone tightly clutched in her hand.

“Simple my damn ass.”  It was simple on paper, sure, but somehow Lyza dreaded this almost as much as leaving Six at her sister’s unaware whims.

“It’s just a phone call.” A now one-inch Six reasoned. He sat comfortably in the designer’s other hand, her open palm making for quite the nice seat. Pleasantly warm. “How hard could it be?”

“Shows what you know.” Lyza shot back with a scoff to follow. “My sister’s and I relationship was never good. Add that to recent events and we’ve as strained a relationship as most Hollywood exes. We aren’t really the type to call each other for shits and giggles.”

Six tried to find a way Lynette would actually need to see her sister. Then it hit him. “Hey, didn’t you and she argue over something a year ago? Back when I helped you with some designs?”

Lyza’s eyes lit up. “Oh? Oh! Yeah, you’re right!” Lyza remembered the argument well enough. “I was trying to end our company’s partnership. Lynette only managed to keep it because she threatened to tell the world I lied about being an alpha. That could work!”

She’d need to come up with a good enough reason to incur her sister’s anger. Though, knowing her, simply changing the details of the partnership would suffice. Details such as the changing cut Rosen Accessories would receive on any Vermont’s Garments purchase. With Lynette’s vanity that’d certainly do it.

“Screw it, I’ll roll with that.” Plan aside, it’s not like Lyza would forgo an opportunity to piss off her sister. 

“What, is she taking the city bus?” Lyza wondered impatiently. She tapped her fingers against her desk, each beat of the digits shaking the small occupant that sat cautiously by Lyza’s side. It wasn’t that far-fetched to think Lynette was taking so long just to simply toy with her sister. If anything, that’s exactly what she was doing. Taking her time despite what Lyza had offered her. It was all the designer could do not to claw at her desk, as she was afraid of losing herself to her steadily rising anger and catching Six underneath her fingers.

She wouldn’t want to put him in any danger at this moment, considering he was the key to this ill-thought plan of his.

“You really thought she’d rush over here?” Six asked, fully having expected Lyza to have seen this coming. “You know how she is; she’s probably taking her sweet time.”

Lyza ceased drumming her fingers and clenched her fist. She shut her eyes for a few moments, wishing for an alternative to what was happening, only to understand that this was the only way she could hope to proceed forward. She understood the stakes, the cost of what would happen if Six was found out. He’d be in danger, as would be the rest of them. But then again, from how Roxanne worded it, they’ve always been in danger. Maya, Six, and Lyza. They’ve always been at the mercy of leaders they didn’t even know about.

But this horrible, nonsensical plan? It may very well be the leverage they all needed to survive this.

That still didn’t serve to ease Lyza’s nerves though.

“You know I still hate all of this, right?” The titanic designer asked though it was clear to see by the look in her amber eyes that any answer was unnecessary. “I really wish you and Roxy had come up with something better. I mean, we still don’t know how the hell you’re supposed to get back.”

Six thought on a solution to that for some time. The easiest, and most preferable, answer to that issue would be to hitch a ride on Lynette’s person again, preferably during another visit to Vermont’s Garments again. Unfortunately, the only reason why she was even coming here now was thanks to Lyza. She was already losing enough as is due to agreeing to this plot. It’s not like she could keep on calling her sister for ‘visits’.

“Give me a week.” Six said, trying his best to sound as confident as possible. “I’m sure I can figure something out. And if push comes to shove you can always come look for me yourself.”

Lyza snickered. “Right, because I’m certainly getting invited to my sister’s house. Little bitch didn’t even want me in a house we shared back when we were kids.” Not the best of memories to think back on, as in her youth Lyza was victim to constant cullying at the hands of her sister. Not because they were bigger or stronger but because Lynette was their mother’s favorite. Anytime Lyza would try to fight back her sister would always go crying to mommy. She could only imagine Lynette’s joy when finally Lyza moved out.