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theangriestpea · 4 years

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In the Shadows : Four

Summary: Jughead Jones, resident werewolf, just wants to protect his family and his pack from the incoming doom of The Red Circle. Sweet Pea and Lily join him to help keep the Southside safe from human tyranny. Meanwhile a demon princess named Myra and succubus named Lavender had a plan to bring on the apocalypse. <ao3> <masterlist> <playlist>

Rating: Mature // Explicit

Pairings: Jughead Jones x OC, Sweet Pea x OC, Kurtz x OC

Warnings: None for this chapter

Word Count: 5.3k+

A/N: Thank you so much for bearing with me. Between being sick and having emotional stress at work, I’ve been unable to write as much as I’d like. Hopefully I can get back into the swing of things this week. This part is mostly necessary filler. Booooo. But hopefully the next one will be more interesting. Likes, comments, and reblogs are all highly appreciated. Ty <3 Graphics made by @southside-vixen and myself

Part Four: Alliance

Jughead approached the freshly bought double-wide trailer at the lot on the end of the street hesitantly. He had talked to Lily at great length the night before, and Sweet Pea as well. He had joined in later and although he was snide at first he quickly became serious when he realized that his home in the middle of the forest was also in danger. His home in which his little girl slept every night. He wouldn’t risk her life for anything, even his if it did leave his ego a little bruised.

They had a strong protection spell they could use, however because the area was so large, they would need at least one more practicing witch to have enough power to sustain it. While the yin and yang witches of the forest knew no other person to enlist in their efforts, Jughead had what might be perceived as a crazy idea.

Something his mother had told him resonated within his mind constantly since their meeting. Pregnant demons were not only dangerous but powerful. Powerful than a regular witch or normal bred demon. They had the power of two inside of them. This is why she told him to stay away from the trailer he was currently walking towards. To avoid it at all costs. And if he saw her head of purple hair to turn and walk in the opposite direction because she was nothing but trouble.

He walked up the stairs, breath caught in his throat as his nerves ran haywire in his chest. His knuckles rapped on the freshly painted door. A tense few minutes paused before it opened, a gold chain stopping the door from opening fully. A hazel eye peered out at him. When she saw who it was, the door shut.

Jughead sighed, thinking she was refusing to talk to him. In reality she was just undoing the lock chain so she could invite him in. She was alone in the house and had grown rather lonely. Plus this wolf was seen with the leader of the Red Circle just a few days ago. She was curious to say the least. He could try to hurt her but it would be very unwise. Lav did not think he looked that stupid.

“Are you the welcoming committee?” She said, a teasing smirk on her pale lips. Her eyes looked incredibly tired and he noticed she was still wearing her pajamas even though it was midday.

He shook his head in response before clearing his throat, “may I come in?” The young Jones looked around to make sure no one was watching him. The coast was clear. This did not go unnoticed by the succubus, but she let him in regardless.

Jughead stepped inside and she closed the door, locking the chain once more before showing him to the living room. She curled up on the recliner while he sat on the old burgundy sofa. “So, little Jones, care to explain yourself?”

He stared at her, surprised that she knew who he was. “That’s right. I know your name. I know your place. I did not come here ill informed.” Myra had told her everything there was to know about the Joneses and their pack. Not that any of it was good dirt or made for interesting gossip, it was just information to keep her protected.

“You’re pregnant.” He stated, his shock disappearing for the time being. “With a hybrid, right?”

Lavender shrugged, “I suppose that is what she is, yes.” Her eyes seemed to pierce through him. She was analyzing him as a potential threat. When she realized that he truly was not there to harm her, she relaxed in the armchair.

“Her father?” Jughead asked, watching as she picked up a cup of tea and drank from it. It smelled like ginger and a blend of citrus fruit. He had to know. It was important for him to know.

And, of course, Lav had no reason not to tell him. It wasn’t some well kept secret. “Her sperm donor ,” the demon corrected, “is out of the picture. But, he was a soulless warlock if you must know.” She chose to use a verb in past tense. Perhaps it was her way of protecting Sweet Pea. Not that she really understood why he needed protecting.

Jug smiled softly, apologetically, as if she cared that she was a single parent. She didn’t. “So you’re a magic user then….”

Lavender was beginning to grow aggravated. She did not understand what any business this was of him or why she trusted him enough to let him in to begin with. “I’m half witch, if you must know. So yes, I’m quite adept at the use of magic.”

He appeared to be relieved. “I know this is a lot to ask, and you don’t know me or anyone else here but….my pack and the rest of the Southside need your help.”

She stared at him, a curious expression crossing her face as she motioned for him to continue. She took another sip of her tea.

“The Red Circle is planning to burn down the forest. My pack and many other supernaturals in Riverdale use that forest as a safe haven during the full moon. Do you know about the Red Circle?” He asked and she simply nodded her head. Jug continued, “The coven that is helping us, they need one more witch to have enough power to use the protection spell. It would save dozens of lives, maybe even hundreds. I will do anything to repay you, even give you my soul if I have to. I just want my family to be safe.”

The succubus cocked her head to the side. No man had offered up his soul to her on a silver platter like that. It was rather amusing. “You knew there was a pregnant demon in your neighborhood and thought that enlisting her help would seal the deal. Weren’t you helping the leader plan the whole thing?”

Jughead took his beanie off long enough to run a hand through his thick dark hair. “I was undercover. They don’t know what I am.”

She pondered his proposal for a moment. Mulling over whether or not she wanted to help him. She had a very distinct feeling that the “coven” he had mentioned were the two witches in the woods. If she helped him then she would have to see him again. Though perhaps that wasn’t that terrible of a thing.

Lavender shrugged her thin shoulders, “I suppose I’ll help you, wolf. But I don’t need your soul. You’re not my type.” She snickered at her own joke. “But I must warn you. If anything happens to me… Well, I’m under the protection of some pretty powerful demons. I can’t ensure your safety if my well being is threatened.”

A smile broke across Jughead’s face and he almost jumped up with joy at her agreeing to help. He was sure she would say no. There was nothing in it for her. He was of no significance. Yet he hoped she would just listen and….she did. His blanketed opinion on demons was starting to change.

“Though perhaps there is something you could help me with in exchange for my help.” Lav said, her index finger lightly tapping the side of the teacup. There was a small, cruel smile on her lips that lit her eyes with mischief.

Jughead felt a sinking feeling in his stomach at the look she was giving him. “Anything.” He said, though his voice shook with a resonance that definitely said maybe not anything . He hoped in vain that she wouldn’t notice it.

“I need a large amount of souls in order to grow my child.” Lav began, finger still tapping rhythmically in beat with the canter of her voice. “While I can harvest a soul without killing, sometimes I simply cannot help myself. I shift and attack. I plan on staying in Riverdale for the next ten or so months. You can imagine what this means.”

He swallowed thickly as he nodded his head. Of course , a large selection of souls for her to feast on would be necessary.

“Relax, I don’t need much.” She said, giggling at his worried countenance. “I just need help with body disposal if the need arises. You already have one serial killer causing you problems, you really don’t need two.”

The wolf relaxed slightly, his pack wasn’t really stranger to hiding bodies. After all, things happen. Accidents happened all the time in the murder capitol of the world. Hell, his father had enough lye hidden away to dissolve half the town if he needed to. “I can do that.” He said finally, “Do you have a cell phone?”

Lav didn’t really have a need for a cell phone. She shrugged after a moment of thought, “I guess I can get one if that makes it easier. Money is easy enough to procure for a demon of my caliber.”

“I’m sure it is.” Jughead mumbled to himself. He could sense her strength but also her youth. Her cockiness could be her downfall if she overextended herself. Though certainly whoever was protecting her would stop anything from happening. He did wonder why she was under such protection. Why did other demons care if she birthed another hybrid? One that was only a quarter demon? True hybrids could be stronger than the average full blooded demon but it still rose a multitude of questions and doubt inside of him. Perhaps that was a line of questioning for another day.

The purple haired demon watched him with a curious gaze. She finally set her cup down and stood. “If that is all, your highness, then I must ask you to leave. I’m due for another meal soon and I must get ready. Though I could hunt in sweatpants, I much prefer not to.”

Jug nodded his head and stood, offering his hand for her to shake to seal their verbal agreement. Lavender took his, teasingly flushed him with lust before letting go. Her curiosity turned to perplexion when she realized he showed absolutely no interest in her. Her will was completely ineffective. This didn’t happen too often, though typically did when she went after a gay man or straight woman. She couldn’t influence people who were genuinely not attracted to her gender.

Lavender had not pegged him as homosexual, but she supposed anything was possible. That or he was on the ace spectrum. Asexuals also had a natural block against her. She couldn’t make them want anything that was against their nature. She had only met this kind of block once before in her twenty years of living as a soul sucker.

“I’ll call on you if I need you, Jughead,” She said, her tone even to hide her uncertainty. Jughead jotted his number down on a scrap of an old receipt in his pocket and handed it to her. Lav thanked him, a habit from her time as a mortal, before showing him to the door.

"Can I get your name?" He asked tentatively, "since you seem to know mine?"

Lav smiled once more, "they call me Lavender."

Jughead looked over her one last time, as if to ask himself if he was really going through aligning himself and his pack with a demon. Of course, he came to the conclusion that he simply had no other choice and left.

Lavender shook her head and stretched her arms out above her before disappearing into her bedroom to change.

Much later that night, when her stomach was full and her appetite gone, Lavender found herself at the wolf bar on the edge of the Southside. Many of the Jones’ pack lingered there and she thought best to get to know the ones she’d be protecting.

She looked extremely out of place as she had been hunting on the Northside. She chose to wear something a bit extravagant. The tight black dress was wearing what was currently her favorite little black get up. A little number by Versace with a deep sweetheart neckline. Shoes were black peep toe stilettos by Louis Vuitton. Although she expected that the mutts prowling the Southside would have no idea of the price point of her outfit. Which was just fine with her.

She also had one of the latest models of cellphones and had contacted Jughead with another request. She wanted a signifier that she was one of his pack now so that she would not get any trouble from them in the open. She explained that if they bothered her then they would be killed by the demoness that watched over her. Jughead replied that he would happily oblige and would meet with her the following day with a new leather jacket. He also told her that if she really wanted to seal the deal then she’d need a tattoo. Lav agreed that she would, but her own artist would do it.

Lav sipped on her Shirley Temple, watching the supernaturals of the Southside drink and smoke and play pool. Some were dancing, a few girls grinding on poles that were mounted on a stage. Interesting.

A woman that smelled heavily of dog and bourbon slipped into the space between Lav and the neighboring barstool. She cocked an eyebrow at her, interested simply due to how close she was. Most people had given her a wide girth of space, not wanting to come near a pregnant demon. It had been a bit annoying since she did come to socialize.

The wolf’s brown eyes were moving languidly up Lavender’s body. “I think you’re lost, princess.” She slurred, having recognized the designer labels with ease. It had been something that Lav was not expecting. Werewolves very rarely had good taste. “That outfit costs more than I make in a month in the ring.”

Dog fighting, or should she say wolf fighting, was very common in low income areas. It was akin to MMA only much more violent. Lav returned the stranger’s gaze and noticed how toned her arms and bare stomach were. She was obviously very fit and judging by the little blemishes to her skin, she was quite good in the ring.

This almost set Lav on high alert. She almost prayed to Myra to get her to come, however she quickly realized that this woman was not here to harm her. She was here because she was attracted to her. That much she found extremely amusing. Still, she was full. She had no need to feed right now. Perhaps she would take a raincheck.

“Can I buy you a drink, puppy?” Lav asked, her voice teasing rather than condescending. “Or maybe some water to sober you up.”

The wolf let out a barking laugh and hopped onto the barstool. She was taller than Lav by a good five inches naturally, though they were probably about equal with her heels on. “You sure can, your highness.”

Lav waved the bartender, a wolf by the name of Hog Eye, over and motioned for the woman to order. She ordered a bourbon and coke. He asked Lav if she wanted a refill and she nodded her head yes with a polite smile.

“Charlie,” She slurred, leaning against the bar heavily with a seductive smirk. “You, princess?”

The demon watched her, wondering what made her want to mess with a succubus while everyone else stood so far away from her. She was unafraid and unabashed. It was a little refreshing, to be honest.

“They call me Lavender.” She repeated the same words she had said to Jughead that morning. Her words were carefully chosen as Lav wanted to iterate that this was not a name she gave herself. It was one that was thrust upon her by her kin. Her human name had long since gone from this world, only to be uttered by Myra when she was in some kind of trouble.

Charlie seemed okay with her word choice, though Lav assumed that was more due to her drunkenness than conscientious thought. “So, you’re here covered in designer clothes for what exactly? That’s not going to attract anyone around here.”

“It attracted you.” Lav countered coyly, a sly smile on her lips that were painted red with lipstick.

A light pink blush spread across her cheeks, one that Charlie pretended was due to the consumption of alcohol and not actual embarrassment. Lavender bit the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing.

Charlie struggled to find a way to counter that. Normally she was quick with a comeback, but the dizziness of her mind made it difficult. “Not for the reason you think.” She said, a bold face lie that was caught onto quickly.

“Oh?” Lav asked, voice laced with a false air of innocence. “What reason would that be?”

Hog Eye placed two drinks in front of them. “You’re in a bar but you’re not drinking alcohol.” She pointed out, “Wearing expensive clothes. You look extremely suspicious. My curiosity is piqued.”

Lav hummed back a small affirmation, “and it has nothing to do with how hot I look tonight?” She asked, that signature devious glint in her blue-green eyes.

The blush darkened, but Charlie chose again not to address it or act at all like she’d be caught. “So, what are you doing here?” She asked, dodging the question.

“I was hoping to run into someone.” Lav answered honestly, stirring her drink with the clear straw that was stuck in it. She couldn’t stop thinking about the witch, no matter how hard she tried. It was starting to drive her a little mad, however she was not about to confess that to anyone.

Earlier when she was hunting, she had willed her hair to return to the way it was when she was born: dirty blonde and pin straight. She didn’t have her piercings or tattoos. However, when she crossed the railroad tracks both her wavy purple hair and body jewelry returned as they were her preferred appearance. She had managed to control herself but she knew this wouldn’t last. The blood bath would start in a few weeks. For now she left men living but without a soul just as she did with Sweet Pea. It didn’t bother her as long as she never saw them again.

Charlie looked around the bar as well, “I was too. He’s not here though.” She sighed softly, obviously just as disappointed as Lavender was though Lav chose not to show it.

They sat in silence for a bit, Charlie drinking more as Lav continued to stir her drink as her thoughts drifted to how she would have to work with Sweet Pea again to keep the Southside safe. It would be an interesting dynamic. He wouldn’t be able to tell she was pregnant yet. Would Jughead break the news to him? She assumed he wouldn’t if she asked him not to, however she really had no reason for him to keep it quiet. After all, anyone with a supernatural sense of smell knew and she certainly couldn’t silence all of them.

“Why don’t you come home with me?” Lav asked simply. “Instead of us both being alone.”

The wolf eyed her suspiciously, looking for some kind of deceit, “so you can kill me?”

“I’m not going to kill you.” Lav said back, a rare genuine smile on her face, “I just want company. I’m pregnant and alone.” And to tell the utmost truth she was scared. She was terrified of the future. How would the world change for all of them when her daughter was born? Would the world be set ablaze? Would all the creatures on Earth perish? The guilt was eating her alive.

“Are you going to feed off me?” Charlie asked, though she acted as if she wouldn’t truly care if Lav did happen to take her soul sometime in the night.

The succubus shook her head, “no. But that doesn’t mean I won’t have a little fun with you first…”

+++

Sweet Pea’s face was stern as he stared at the three card spread in front of him. It was the same as before. He shouldn’t be getting the same three cards over and over, and yet he did. His magic was stronger. He could feel it coursing thickly through his veins. But this. This was not something he wanted to see.

Three of Swords upright for the past. That was clear. The heartbreak and grief he had caused Lily during their brief time as lovers. His cheating on her shortly after she gave birth to Daisy. Him tearing them apart because he simply did not love her in the way she needed him to. A card marked by the emotional pain that they had both suffered.

The Devil upright for the present. Currently he could feel that he has become more and more a shadow of himself. The dark parts peeking out behind the mask he had worked so hard to fortify. His impossible sexual appetite and deviance made clear by sleeping with a succubus and losing his soul to her. He felt pulled to her still. Like he needed her body to be against him again. Her delicate throat in his hand, legs wrapped around him tightly. He was addicted after just one night.

Ten of Swords upright for the future. This was perhaps the most disturbing as this particular card was not a sign of anything good. At least not while it was upright. He would be betrayed and hurt. The ending to whatever this was would be painful and likely tragic. He was bound to lose something more dear to him than his soul and he prayed to his matrons and patrons that it wasn’t Daisy. Begged them to please not take his little girl from him as she was his entire world. The thought brought stubborn angry tears to his eyes.

Lily entered the room after sensing his distress. She quietly padded up to him before kneeling down beside him. Sweet Pea quickly pretended to be rubbing sleep from his eyes when he was actually trying to dispel his tears. It did not fool the mother of his child however. She glanced at the cards and her chest tightened with pain.

“She took your soul, didn’t she?” She asked quietly. The question was more rhetorical because she could feel that his spirit had faded. He’d been more irritable lately, his anger much more explosive than usual. It frightened her to a degree in that she was worried he’d take it out on Daisy somehow. She’d hex him herself if he did that.

Sweet Pea sighed heavily, his broad shoulders slumping forward. “Yes.” He replied in a low voice. “She was sent by Asmodeus to collect it as payment.”

Lily’s eyes hardened, “I told you.” She hissed. “I told you to stop taking from demons. I warned you this would happen. She-” Lily stopped, not wanting to continue because she wasn’t quite that spiteful towards him anymore. She wanted to say that the demon had used him just as he had used her. Now he knew how it felt to be the victim.

He cut his eyes at her, narrow and angry. “I was careful! I gave sacrifices! Offerings!”

“Clearly it wasn’t enough.” Lily replied sourly. “Because now you’re never going to be whole again. She could have killed you and left Daisy without a father. Maybe that would have been better.” She said harshly. Sweet Pea visibly flinched at her words.

Her own angry tears sprang to her eyes, “Now look what you’ve done.” She motioned towards his future care. “I know you’re not good with your minor arcana. Do you know what this means?”

“Yes, Lily!” He snapped, voice raising, “I know what it fucking means!”

Lily stood, not liking the tone he was taking with her one bit. Not since he put himself in this mess and she felt as if he was dragging her in as well. “It better not mean Daisy, Nathaniel. If it does, you will wish that bitch had killed you because I won’t be nearly as quick.”

She twirled around and stormed out of the cottage, needing to get out of the toxic air that was surrounding the both of them. Them screaming at one another was not something she wanted Daisy to hear. The toddler always cried when they fought and often had nightmares that same night when she finally fell asleep. Both felt terribly guilty afterwards.

She didn’t know where she was going as she made her way through the forest. She didn’t know where her new wolfy friend lived, though she had a general idea.

Lily’s furious tears trailed down her face as she entered the Sunnyside Trailer Park some time later. The moon was at its zenith now. The streets were empty as lamp lights flickered on and off due to bad connections that no one had the money to fix.

Something in her gut made her stop. Her ears pricked to try and hear any tiny sound. Leaves rustled in the wind. Branches scratched the sides of the double-wides she was in front of at the end of the side street. Something wasn’t right. Something had her desperately searching for who was watching her, what was watching her. She swallowed a thick ball of anxiety as she turned full circle in an attempt to see her stalker.

It was no avail. She muttered a protection spell under the breath that she knew wouldn’t be very powerful. She was without anything to increase her abilities. She hadn’t prayed or made any offerings lately. And she certainly wasn’t having any sex. All these things made her weaker than she’d like to be right now, alone, out in the open.

Then she saw it. A hulking figure clad in white fur running towards her at full speed. She recognized it as the vargulf that had attacked her on the night of the moon not long ago. She braced herself, uttering a silent prayer as she stood her ground.

He leaped high into the air, front paws landing heavily on her chest. She fell backwards onto the pavement, bright stars glistening in her blackened vision. He was trying to rip out her throat but her spell was narrowly protecting her. She felt her skin bruising from the pressure of his jaws as she screamed out in blind fury.

Lily grappled at the deranged wolf’s head, searching for his eyes to scratch out though it was not of much use. He was determined to make her his next victim and she was suddenly worried that she was the loss that Sweet Pea would suffer.

No, she couldn’t leave her little girl like that. Not in a million years. She yelled again, this time in a dead language to force him off of her. There was a pulse of power and the vargulf was thrown off. Lily quickly sat up, panting heavily as she watched it struggle to stand. Some invisible pressure was on top of it and it was howling in pain.

Did she do that? The spell she just recited shouldn’t have the power to do what was happening. She was trying to repel him, not crush him.

Suddenly a familiar hand was yanking her off the ground and pulling her down the street so urgently that she kept tripping over her own two feet. Only when they were safely inside of a trailer did she become calm enough to realize that it was Jughead.

He raced to the window and peaked out the blinds. The white wolf was gone and nowhere to be found. His trailer was warded against it so it couldn’t possibly get in without an intense amount of magic.

His eyes didn’t leave the window as he began to slowly relax, “Are you okay?” He asked before finally stealing a glance her way. Lily was shaking lightly, looking as if she was about to collapse. Her emotions were getting the better of her and she felt faint. Not just that but she could feel the blood oozing from the back of her head.

She felt incredibly faint and Jug rushed to her side to hold her steady. His parents were still at the Whyte Wyrm working on a plan to figure out the identity of the vargulf while his little sister was sleeping soundly in her bed. How she didn’t wake up to the screams and howls outside, he didn’t know.

He took her into his bedroom and sat her down on the bed before she could hurt herself more by falling down again. He could smell the blood in her hair. “Stay here. He can’t get in here, you’re safe. Let me get something for your head.”

Jughead came back with a damp rag and a bag of ice. He cleaned the back of her head gently before wrapping the ice in a clean cloth and setting it against the wound. Lily winced but relaxed nonetheless. “You probably shouldn’t go to sleep. You may have a concussion.”

Lily sighed as she struggled to keep her eyes open. Her adrenaline was draining from her fast and she was growing more and more tired. Jughead frowned lightly at her, seeing how sleepy she was. “What are you doing out there and at this time of night?”

“I came to find you.” She confessed, tears started to well up into her eyes again. This time they were out of sadness and not out of anger. “I’m worried about Sweet Pea.”

His gaze softened. He didn’t know the full story but he knew Sweet Pea was the father of her child. He also knew that they were no longer together. “How so?” He asked.

Lily let out a shaky breath. “He slept with a succubus the other night and...she took his soul. She meant to kill him but he stopped her.”

He went rigid, blood running cold. “What did she look like?” He asked suddenly.

“Purple hair, lots of piercings, pretty...why?” She asked, eyes almost slipping shut until he shook her back awake.

Jughead knew then. He knew it had to have been Lavender and that Sweet Pea must be the father of her child. It was too big of a coincidence. He wasn’t sure if Lily could handle the news right now. However he feared if he kept it from her then she’d be even more upset with him.

“Lily,” Jughead said gently, rubbing her shoulder lightly. “I have to tell you something and I need you to remain calm.”

She hummed back a nonverbal response, green eyes staring up at him with exhaustion.

“The demon you speak of is...a neighbor of mine.” He continued, watching her tense slightly before relaxing again. “And I’ve asked for her help with the spell.”

Lily tried to pull away from him but he kept his grip on her firm. “You asked a-”

“She’s pregnant.” He cut her off. “Pregnant demons are extremely powerful. She said she’d help. Lily, listen,”

Lily freed herself from him then, eyes wide with surprise. She wanted to pinch herself to make sure she wasn’t dreaming. Maybe she had been pregnant before Sweet Pea? Wouldn’t he have said something? This was impossible, the child couldn’t be his!

“She’s going to help us protect the forest, Lily. Please, the power of four is twice as good as the power of two, right?” He asked with a pleading voice.

She fell silent, wanting to cry again or scream or run home to slap the shit out of Sweet Pea for being such a goddamn idiot. Jughead pulled her into a strong hug. He could see the emotions on her face, smell the despair coming off of her. “It will be okay...I promise.”

Tag List: @the-gargoyle-queen, @southside-vixen, @wayward-river, @princesweetpea, @redhairdontcare732 (comment/ask/message if you want to be added or subscribe to AO3)

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