Justice for the Fallen

The actual Parlour of Dreams made me stop in my tracks and gape in a mixture of dread and amazement at everything at once. The place was full of demons, witches, sorcerers and everything in between. The stench of dark magic combined with a heavy scent of incense, the sweet waft of perfumes and bitter tones of alcohol in different forms flooded my nostrils. That alone was enough to get my head spinning.

Most demons didn’t even bother to wear glamours here. I could spot many different horns, tails, hoofs, and wings with all possible skin tones. But some individuals looked inconspicuous, so it was hard to say if they were the Fallen, humans who dabbled in dark arts or some merge of the two.

The place was rowdy. Musicians─a pack of demons wearing black leather coats─were playing some loud cacophony assaulting my ears. The quick beat of the drums was trying to orchestrate my pulse. While it was utterly different from angels’ music, and the vocalist was more screaming than singing, it had a certain appeal.

The rest of the main room was complete chaos. Some guests were sitting at the tables trying hard to outshout the general clamour and have a conversation, while others were dancing all over the place, ignoring their surroundings completely and bouncing off unfortunate patrons from time to time, earning a hiss or bared fangs.

Raised platforms were erected in several places, with long metal poles, where the demon girls wearing very scandalous outfits danced. My mouth went suddenly dry. I gulped and quickly looked away as their movements were very… disturbing.

I realised that Sannarah had already moved away, making her way towards the crowded bar. Heeding her warning, I tried to follow, but a clawed hand grabbed my arm, stopping me. I turned and came face to face with the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen.

Her face was all sharp angles with high cheekbones and a pointy chin. Her purple skin gleamed in the candlelight, and silky white hair fell elegantly down to her waist. She was almost as tall as me but very slender with long legs and curves in all the right places. She smiled, showing pearl-white teeth and fluttered her long snowy lashes. Her piercing yellow eyes gazed deep into mine.

“Hello there, Handsome,” she said in a low sultry voice that would raise the pulse of any man. Or woman. “You’re not from around here, are you? I would remember you.”

“I… N-no, not really,” I stuttered, suddenly feeling hot. I tried to look away, but those beautiful eyes were mesmerising, and I was already taken prisoner by their irresistible charm. Everything around me seemed to dim to inconsequential background noise. The only important thing right now was this magnificent creature in front of me, and I would do anything to feel the touch of her velvety skin or taste full, perfectly shaped red lips.

“Oh, you look lost, you poor thing,” she continued, and her hand travelled up my arm, stroking it gently and sending a shiver of pleasure through my body. “How about I’ll show you around, hm? I can think of a few ways you can thank me later.”

Alarm bells started ringing at the back of my mind, but my thoughts were foggy, and I couldn’t focus on anything except those enchanting eyes.

“As you wish,” I mumbled like an idiot before I could stop myself.

She smiled, and even though I was utterly enamoured already, some part of my mind screamed that it was a predatory smile. She leaned close to me, her warm breath tickling my ear. “We’re going to have so much fun.”

My heart raced so fast that it was hard to breathe. The world around me seemed to disappear completely, and I felt like I was falling. It was not scary but exciting.

The goddess took my hand and pulled me to follow, but suddenly a black and red blur collided with her, pushing her away.

The noise and colours flooded my mind again in seconds, and I had to blink several times to reorient myself. It felt as if I was suddenly waking up from a deep dream.

“Hands off him, you leech!” Sannarah snarled, standing protectively in front of me.

The white-haired demon regained her balance and gave her a disgusted look. To my surprise, she no longer looked so irresistible. Her face twisted in an ugly, hateful grimace.

“What’s your problem?!” she shrieked, and her voice lost all the allure.

“He’s with me, so back off!” Sannarah hissed, sounding not unlike a furious cat.

The other demon scoffed. “Since when do you bring pet humans with you?”

“Since it’s none of your business. Back off, or I’ll make you.” A deep, menacing growl came out of her throat, and I could sense something powerful stirred inside her. It was hot and crimson red. The hair on my neck stood on end. Holy Heaven, it was powerful. I could sense it beneath the thin lock she put there, which seemed like a flimsy dam barely holding off the flood.

Just how powerful was she?

Others must have sensed it because all conversations had suddenly hushed, and guests were moving back to keep a safe distance from an unassuming red-skinned demon.

“Fine!” the other Fallen raised her hands placatingly with a dramatic sigh, but it was clear she was a bit rattled by an angry outburst. “You can keep him. He’s not my type anyway.”

“I’m sure that anything that still breathes is your type,” Sannarah mocked.

“The likes of you aren’t.” She turned back to me, putting on a charming smile again. “Come back when you get rid of that leash of yours. You know where to find me.” She blew me a kiss, backing away, and I felt my mind slipping again.

I felt a firm grip on my arm and pinpricks of claws digging into my muscles. It was enough to snap my brain back from a foggy place it wandered again. I shook my head and looked down at Sannarah.

“You are unbelievable,” she grumbled and pulled me toward the side door, though her claws no longer pricked me. “I told you to keep close!”

“I got… distracted.”

She snorted. “Yeah, I noticed. That was Lust Demon.”

“Yes, I might have realised that.”

“Don’t look them in the eyes; otherwise, your brain will turn into mush. That one would chew you up and spit out your broken bones to the gutter.”

“And you saved me once again.” I sighed. “Thank you.”

“Stop thanking me. I’m adding it all to your bill. And it’s piling up. I’ll make sure you pay me back sooner rather than later,” she said and opened the door.

We moved to a long hallway lined with more doors. As we walked forward, the main room’s sounds faded, replaced with something else.

As revulsion rolled over me, I slowed down, and my face flushed. “Are those moans?”

Sannarah shrugged. “Yes. Those are pleasure rooms. Why do you think this place is called Parlour of Dreams? You can make your dreams come true here. All your dreams.”

“Please tell me we are not going to one of those rooms?” I asked, exasperated.

She laughed. “Oh no, you don’t have to worry about your poor innocent soul. We are going to a different kind of sinful pleasure place.”

As we neared the end of the hallway, the clamour of angry shouts and laughter rose again, accompanied by the jingle of coins. Sannarah opened the lone door with a dramatic gesture, and the uproar hit me like a heatwave.

“Welcome to the Gambling Den, Golden Boy!” she announced with a grin.

Sannarah was right; it was a different kind of establishment. Demons and humans alike crowded several tables that hosted games of cards, dice, or other matches I didn’t know. Every few moments, angry or happy shouts erupted in different places, and coins or metal chips exchanged hands.

“There,” Sannarah grabbed my elbow to get my attention and pointed to the table in the far corner, where the familiar-looking demon with bat wings sat hunching down over cards. “Let’s not let him run this time.”

I nodded, and we slowly approached, though there was no need for stealth. The Greed Demon was so focused on his game that he saw nothing except the cards that the croupier was slowly putting on the table.

“That’s two Demons and a Sorcerer on the table,” the Fallen announced after putting down the cards and looking at the three remaining players. “What’s your stakes, gentlemen?”

“I raise,” said the burly, brown-skinned demon with biceps the size of my head, throwing a handful of chips to the centre of the table.

The croupier’s eyes flew over them as he did a quick count and announced in a bored tone. “Raised by fifty shards. Call or fold?”

“I call.” An older man in dark robes pushed his chips towards the big pile.

All eyes at the table turned to the remaining demon. Our suspect bit his lower lip and narrowed his eyes, staring at his cards as if he could turn them into a favourable hand with his will. He raised a shaking hand and pushed most of his chips. “I reraise. Five hundred.”

“You’re bluffing!” the burly demon scoffed, his knuckles turning white.

“Call or fold?” the croupier asked patiently.

“Call!” the demon growled, shoving more of his chips forward.

“I drop,” the old man said, discarding his hand face down.

As interesting as the game seemed, I wanted to grab the Greed Demon and press him for answers, but Sannarah sensed my anguish and just raised a hand, signalling me to wait.

“Final card,” the croupier announced and drew one last card from the deck, putting it face up. “Third Demon. The final set is three Demons and a Sorcerer.”

The burly demon sniggered, clearly pleased with the outcome and pushed all his chips forward. “All in.”

I turned to Greed Demon, but he was no longer anxious. A smug smile brightened his weasel-like face, and he knocked on the table once. “I call.”

“You’re a fool!” the other demon roared and threw his two cards at the table face up. “I have two Sorcerers, so it’s a Dark Pact! Try to beat that, you bugger!”

The Greed Demon grinned. “What a shame, such a good hand! But unfortunately for you, my dear friend, luck is with me today.” He raised his hand theatrically and let the cards fall on the table, revealing a pair of Demons. “I have two Demons, which makes Hell On Earth. I won.”

“What?! That’s impossible! You cheating scumbag!” The brown-skinned stood abruptly, toppling down his chair and grabbing a huge axe hanging at his belt.

A hearty laugh broke the tension before he could charge at his grinning opponent.

The old sorcerer patted his burly companion. “He didn’t cheat. I enchanted the table. You saw yourself. You just got expertly played. Let it go, buddy.”

The demon huffed, turned on his heel and stomped away.

“Yes! You are mine, sweet chips! Come to daddy!” the Greed Demon chirped, gathering all his won shards as if he wanted to embrace them.

Sannarah nodded to me and casually sat on a spare chair beside him. “Hello, Buzran. That’s a nice win.”

The demon’s eyes went wide, and he wanted to jump to his feet, but I put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed it hard enough for him to grimace.

“Are you in a hurry?” I asked in a friendly tone. “Too bad. We have a few questions for you. Answer them swiftly, and you can be on your way.”

“W-what?” he stammered, looking up at me anxiously. “You’ve got the wrong guy. I’m no one important. I know nothing!”

He had every right to be nervous. Greed Demons, in general, were one of the weakest among the Fallen, having a power level barely surpassing the Sloths. Dealing with a Wrath Demon, who was second strongest after a Pride, could be intimidating.

Sannarah smiled charmingly and snapped her fingers in front of his nose. “Focus on me. Yesterday, you gave me a tip-off, remember?”

“A tip-off? N-no, I don’t recall. You must be mistaken,” he stuttered nervously, gathering his chips. “I wasn’t even out yesterday and─” His voice turned into a fearful shriek when a dagger pierced the table right between the fingers of his right hand.

“You missed,” I noticed in a conversational tone.

“No, I didn’t,” she replied, smiling pleasantly. “But next time, I will aim for the hand. It would be better if you remembered something, Buz. I hate wiping the blood off my blade.”

“Oh, yesterday! I remember, yes!” The Greed Demon laughed nervously and hid his hands under the table. “By the way, Sanna? Did I tell you that you look lovely today? Did you do something with your hair?” Sannarah’s hand shot up, and she hit the demon at the back of his head. “Ow!” He hunched, trying to shy away from her, but I tightened my grip, ensuring he stayed in his place.

“Stop blabbering, you idiot. You sent me there for a reason. Who gave you the tip-off?”

“I don’t know.” He shrugged. “It was just some guy.”

I squeezed his shoulder harder, and his face twisted in pain. “I’ll need more details than some guy.”

“A sorcerer. He was a sorcerer,” he blurted. “At first, I didn’t even want to talk to him because he seemed… off.”

Sannarah narrowed her eyes. “Off how?”

“I don’t know. I can’t put my finger on it. The fellow was reeking of dark magic, but he’d done nothing to conceal it. As if he wanted everyone, including humans, to know who he was.”

“But you did take his tip-off anyway,” I noted.

“Well, yes, because he paid me handsomely,” he said, then his eyes brightened, “in gold.”

“Gold?” Sannarah raised her brows. “No one here uses gold coins daily, except nobles and angels.” She looked up at me questioningly, but I only shrugged. It was weird indeed, but I had no knowledge of any business that angels could conduct directly with humans.

“Yes, I couldn’t refuse that offer, you understand, right, Sanna? We’re good, no?”

She looked back at him with a frown. “No, we’re not good, Buz. Tell me exactly what he said.”

The Greed Demon sighed and rubbed his neck. “He told me there will be a guy looking for demons’ assistance, and one of us must go there and deal with him that evening.”

Sannarah crossed her arms. “And you didn’t think it was suspicious at all?”

He shrugged. “You know I can’t think straight when money is involved.”

“You’re not that smart without money either.” She scoffed. “How did he look like?”

“He was human.”

“Yes, we know that.” I tightened my grip again. “More details, please.”

“I don’t know!” Buzran howled. “It was dark, and all mortals look the same, right? He was male, not too tall, not too short, very average; nothing stood out except the dark magic stench.”

Sannarah rubbed her brow. “Gods, you are useless.”

“It was Khaneus,” said the voice nearby, and we all turned to look at the speaker.

The older man in robes was still sitting at the table, counting his chips and drinking ale from a heavy-looking tankard.

“You know him?” I asked, gazing at him. I could sense dark magic on him, but it was subtle. The mortals probably would take him for any regular elder.

“Yes. Khaneus was kicked out of the Witches and Sorcerers Association a couple of weeks ago.

“Why?” Sannarah asked with raised brows.

The sorcerer finished stacking his chips in a neat tower and turned to Sannarah. “Buzran is right. Khaneus is a weird fellow. Unhinged. He is very powerful, and that makes him even more of a liability for us. He’s radical, preaching that instead of hiding in the city’s underbelly, we should seize power and rule over those puny mortals as he called them.”

“And the rest of the sorcerers don’t agree with him?” I asked. I never had much experience with humans dabbling in dark arts. They didn’t interest the Mighty One as their souls were already tainted, so we let them be if they behaved.

The man shrugged and took a long sip from his drink. “Some do, but fortunately, most of us are more prudent. Coming out like that would only aggravate Heaven, and we’d have angels on our back in no time. War is never good for business.”

“Yeah, no one wants holy bastards venturing into our part of the city,” Buzran chirped in, and I had to force myself not to squeeze him harder. “That would be annoying. I’ve already seen Angels of Courage prancing around like they own the place.”

The older man nodded. “Yes, I saw them too. I’m surprised they hadn’t got him yet. It’s been almost two weeks of him running rampant and murdering people, and all they do is trot around in circles asking questions no one wants to answer. It seems as if they don’t want to stop him.”

“That’s absurd!” I said through gritted teeth. “Angels are making sure to keep things peaceful in the city. Why would they let an insane renegade kill innocent mortals?”

“How would I know?” The older man shrugged and downed his ale. “Maybe it’s a political decision. Blame it all on us, or even demons. Or maybe they are just that useless. Anyhow”─he got to his feet and threw all his chips into the leather pouch─“if you have any dealings with him, I wish you luck. But beware, he might be insane, but he is powerful. He won’t go down easily.”

“Thanks for the warning.” Sannarah nodded while the sorcerer moved towards the door. She looked up at me. “I think we have all the information we need now.”

“We still have no idea where to find him, though,” I contradicted.

“Don’t look at me. I have no clue!” Buzran protested before I even opened my mouth to pose the question.

“It’s all right. I have a way to track him down.” Sannarah rose to her feet and hit the Greed Demon again at the back of his head.

“Ow! Why do you keep hitting me?”

“Because it’s your fault I got implicated in this ridiculous thing, you dolt! Next time you give me a false tip-off, I’ll make sure to break some bones, you hear me?”

“Fine, just stop hitting me!” Buzran squeaked, covering his head with his arms.

“You’re lucky I’m in a hurry. Otherwise, we would have an entirely different conversation,” Sannarah scoffed. She tapped me on the arm. “Let him go. He’s useless anyway. Come.”

We left the gambling den and got back to the main room of the Parlour of Dreams. Sannarah was looking around anxiously and seemed in a hurry to get out. I could barely keep up with her. Some drunk demon bumped into me, and before I could regain my balance, I lost her in the crowd. I craned my neck, trying to catch her distinctive red skin in the sea of horns and hair in all possible colours, but it seemed hopeless.

I started to make my way toward the exit hoping to meet her there, when I heard her voice.

“…I was just… you know, hanging out.”

There was something wrong with her tone. It was not confident or sassy as usual─it sounded overly nervous. I quickly scanned the crowd and finally spotted her almost at the door. But she wasn’t alone.

Her shoulders were hunched, and she tried to get away, but an elegant tall demon with dark skin and a white mane held her arm in a tight grip that looked painful. I felt my breath hitched, and my heart started to race. It was the first time Sannarah looked helpless. Even shackled and surrounded by angels, she kept her head high. But now, for some reason, she deflated as if she had no strength left. I hastily made my way toward her.

“We both know you can’t afford any of the services offered here, and you didn’t even buy a drink,” the demon droned harshly. “Did you come here to stir trouble?”

“Of course not! I was leaving, so if you just let go of me….”

“Oh, no, you’re not getting away so easily.” His face twisted in a cruel smile. “Tell me why you are here, or I assume you want to join the girls.”

“Yeah, no thanks to both,” Sannarah said defiantly, regaining some of her spirits and trying to wrench her shoulder from his grasp.

“Oh, but you are already here. I’m sure we can work out some deal to make your soul quota smaller if you work part-time for me.”

“She already said no, so back off,” I said when I finally reached them, giving the demon a firm shove.

He was surprised enough to lose his grip on Sannarah and fell back a few steps. His violet eyes rested on me and his face twisted in hatred.

“How dare you!” he growled with such a menace that all hair on my body stood on end. Before I could brace myself, he was on me already, his clawed hand crushing my windpipe. “Who the Hell are you?”

“Zugrun, leave him! He’s nobody!” Sannarah protested, but he ignored her. I tried to pry his hand away, but his grip was steel. He was stronger than I assumed by the look. A lot stronger.

“Such impertinence will get you killed, boy!” he hissed in my face. He narrowed his eyes. “But you are not human. What are you? Speak, or I’ll break your neck.”