Becoming Fae

Most of the demons I met mostly looked scared. Being lesser demons, they were little more than sport for the more powerful ones. They were chased, hunted, and tormented. Many were killed just because it was easy. Now, they were far from their homes in the Demon Lands, surrounded by fae who feared and hated them. They were more of a target now than ever before it was a sad sight to see their fear so clearly.

Demons weren’t evil. They were people, just like everyone else, who had lives to live and goals to achieve, just like everyone else. They had friends and families and told terrible jokes while laughing, even as scared as I knew they were. Very few of them looked different than human, choosing to use glamour to hide and hope a shopkeeper in the city would be fooled into selling goods to them. And to avoid the prejudiced outbursts of the other people in the city.

Mal and I had arrived this morning to find a family of foxes being tormented by a group of fae from the city. Three young children, a mother who looked about a half breath from madness and a father begging to be left alone. I landed between them as a fae threw a rock, blocking it with my wing before glaring at them and snapping for them to run along before they did something truly foolish.

The demons were set up in tents, mostly, and a few shacks that had been put together from debris just outside the slums of Royal City. Nothing like a demon invasion to get rich and poor to unify, right?

“This is... Gods, no wonder they have low morale,” I shook my head as Mal lead me through the camp. “Thankfully, the weather has held out fair enough for the most part, but there are people here that don’t need to be in the elements like this.”

“The thing about lesser demons is that they look out for one another for the most part,” he nodded. “Shared plight and all of that kind of forges bonds. The sturdier shelters are given to the ones that need them most, but there’s just not enough. Of anything. Food, water, and firewood are the most pressing concerns at the moment, but there’s also a fair need for medical supplies.”

“There has to be a way to get what we need without resorting to underhanded means and adding fuel to the hatred fire,” I pursed my lips. “I stick out like a sore thumb, or I’d buy what we need myself.”

“And I’m clearly associated with you now,” Mal sighed. “I was able to do a little bit, but I’m getting barred now, too.”

“Judgmental assholes,” I muttered, making Mal chuckle. “Is it possible to send groups to other towns?”

“A lot of the things we need are either perishable or too bulky to transport that kind of distance,” he answered after a second. “But the rest of it... Why didn’t I think of that?”

“The weather will be getting cold soon as well. If we send parties to get supplies elsewhere, they should also look into heavier clothes and shoes. For the love of the gods, get these kids some proper shoes.”

“I should probably apologize to you,” Mal looked at me.

“What for?” I asked, confusion making my head tilt sideways.

“I promised we’d be alone and in our house by now,” he smirked.

“That never would have happened,” I smiled softly. “Not the way they’re drawn to me like this.”

“Still, I don’t like breaking a promise to you,” he made a face.

“It’s not broken. It’s just been... delayed,” I took his hand and laced our fingers together. “Besides, we weren’t very prepared to go running off just yet. But I hope by this time next year, that might be different.”

“Let’s hope,” he smiled and kissed my knuckles.

A scream made us look around. When more joined it, we started running for the source. I saw people running while looking over their shoulders, but not near the ground. They were looking up as they ran.

“Mal,” I pointed to a dark form in the sky far away as I lifted my wings, and he handed me his sword. “Get them to cover.”

“Be careful, Fae,” he nodded before veering off to start directing people towards the city, where it might be safer for them.

I took to the air and flew as quickly as I could, hoping to keep whoever this was from getting much closer. Funny thing was, the way the wings moved changed as I left the ground behind and, as I drew closer, I noticed that this person wasn’t advancing anymore. They were just hovering, waiting for me to arrive.

That’s when I started to notice the glint of armor, the glaring reflection of the morning sun on stupidly white feathers, and the haughty posture, even when flying. My grip tightened on the sword as I got closer and hovered.

“Nice to know I’m not getting ambushed this time, Sparkles,” I called.

“We need to talk,” he called back and gestured to the ground before holding his wings steady and gliding in tight circles.

I debated for a second before growling and tilting my head back and folding my wings, letting my body fall backwards as I twisted. I opened my wings in time to land in front of the Celestial and held my sword point up.

“Drop the weapons,” I demanded, and he unbuckled the belt that held his sword and removed the bow from over his shoulder. “Dagger, too.”

He blinked, looking confused for a second before I tipped the sword towards his feet.

“Oh,” he said and pulled the knife from his boot. “I hardly use it and completely forgot it was there.”

“Talk,” I ordered, lowering the sword.

“I went home,” he said, standing stiffly. “I asked questions that... Honestly, I should have asked a long time ago.”

“Good for you,” I said.

“I... I think there’s corruption in the Spire City. In our government,” he said, looking pained. “And I think you and your family have been used as scapegoats.”

“Shockingly common, actually,” I snorted. “What’s your point?”

“I can’t... I don’t want any part of it, but I don’t have anywhere else to go,” he lowered his head.

“That has to hurt,” I lifted a brow. “Asking an abomination for help? The pride must be in agony right now.”

“I have none left to speak of,” he let his wings droop a little. “At least, there is no room left for it.”

“Good for you,” I nodded. “Hope you don’t mind starving, because things here kind of suck right now.”

“That... That’s it?” he asked, looking at me with wide eyes.

“You’d be shocked to know that when you ask for help, this crazy thing happens called ‘being helped’,” I rolled my eyes then pointed the sword at him again. “But if you cross me or mine, I’ll pluck you like a turkey and stuff my pillow with your feathers.”

“That weapon is ill suited for you,” he commented.

“Tell me something I don’t know,” I snorted, gesturing for him to pick up his own weapons. “There isn’t a weapon I’ve found that actually feels right, though.”

“Your wings are too big,” he said, replacing them quickly. “You have a very large wingspan. That sword is too long for you.”

“A short sword it too short, though,” I shrugged.

“Here,” he pulled his sword and held it out to me, hilt first. “Try this.”

I looked at him for a second before I took it and, even in my left hand, it felt right with a few small swings. It was an odd length and was shockingly lightweight, but very solid and well built, even if it was flashy and ostentatious with its polished steel and excessive amount of gold filigree.

“I wouldn’t mind getting measurements of this,” I nodded and handed it back to him.

“It won’t forge properly with common steel,” he made a face. “Well... Maybe it could, for you.”

“What does that mean?” I asked as we started walking back towards the city.

“It’s too heavy for us to wield properly,” he answered. “Celestials have great striking, but little in the way of weight endurance. Demons are the opposite. I can’t be sure, since I’m not a trainer, but you might have both.”

“Ah, light in the tunnel and that was almost a compliment,” I smirked. “I’m Fae, by the way.”

“Harmondius,” he replied.

“I like Sparkles better,” I laughed.

“I doubt you’d like me calling you Abomination,” he smirked tentatively.

“Honestly, it kind of feels like it fits on some days,” I shrugged. “Others might not take to it so well, though. Oh, I should warn you, you’re going to be in crap camp with a bunch of demons who aren’t dealing well at the moment. Tension is already pretty high so... you know. Try to not be all... hate-speechy.”

“That’s not a word,” he tilted his head.

“Look, these people are already dealing with a lot of terrifying things and are surrounded by people that are making no attempts at hiding how much they hate having them here,” I looked at him hard. “The last thing they need is to add another source to their problems. If you can’t play nice and keep the holier-than-thou under lock and key, you may as well turn around now. I don’t have much of an opinion of you one way or another, so it’ll be easy to send you packing with no guilt on my conscience. These people deserve basic common respect and decency.”

“After my trip home, it’s safe to say everything I thought I knew is in question,” he replied then looked right at me. “I won’t cause trouble where none should be. I promise, I’ll do my best to not be ‘hate-speechy’.”

“I thought that’s not a word?” I teased him.

“I have a feeling this will be a common thing with you,” he chuckled.

“Fae,” Rollie called just before he landed.

“I found a... well, ‘friend’ might be much, but calling him a stray is just mean,” I nodded.

“Do you know who that it?” Harmondius tensed.

“My cousin,” I shrugged.

“That was centuries ago, angel,” Rollie replied, just as tense, eyes locked on Harmondius.

“Backstory gold,” I groaned. “Does this have anything to do with Haddie?”

“Everything,” Rollie nodded. “I’m ashamed to say that I was involved just as deeply, though. It was... a very long time ago.”

“The stories are still fresh,” Harmondius replied.

“Stop it,” I smacked his arm. “Questions, remember? Ask them, but later.”

“He can’t be trusted,” Rollie looked at me like I was nuts.

“I didn’t say I trusted him, but he came here and asked for help,” I said, narrowing my eyes. “There’s not much help to be had at the moment, but his kind is as much my kind as you are.”

“Why do you have to make sense?” he threw up his hands and turned around, walking to the city. “Come on, angel. We’ll find you... something, I guess.”

“Don’t sound so excited about it,” I rolled my eyes as Harmondius followed Rollie. I looked up to see Mal coming down to land beside me.

“Is that the same one that attacked us before?” he asked.

“I believe he attacked me, and yes,” I nodded, handing his sword back to him. “I think he’s beginning his own existential crisis. So, he fits in fine around here.”

“Very funny. Do you think it’s a good idea, putting a Celestial with a bunch of demons?” he asked.

“Probably very ill-advised, but Rollie is right. We can’t trust him and I’m not asking Mom and Dad to put him in the castle with us,” I sighed and rubbed my temples. “He’s going to make the tension around here skyrocket.”

“There are going to be a lot of questions asked. What do you want me to say?” he asked me, pushing my hands aside and taking over the massage.

“Nothing,” I sighed blissfully. “Can you bring everyone together, though? It’ll be easier and less hassle to get everything sorted and dealt with at once.”

“Naz is going to crap himself over this,” he said.

“It’s not his call to make,” I shrugged and opened my eyes. “Do you think this is a mistake?”

“You have good instincts,” he answered.

“Very diplomatic,” I rolled my eyes.

“You want to trust people, but it’s balanced by wariness,” he laughed and kissed me before we started walking back to the tents. “You give everyone a chance to prove who they are, one way or another. It’s a great quality. One I have faith in.”

“One I hope doesn’t come back to bite me in the rear,” I muttered.