Justice for the Fallen

“I need three more plates of pancakes and two tankards of ale!” I shouted at the kitchen door and wiped the sweat from my brows. The tavern was busy today, especially since it was almost noon, and most workers went on a break and searched for some food and drink to let them replenish their strength and get ready for the remaining shift.

It’s been two years since the devastating battle referred to as the Fall of Gods, and life was slowly settling down. When we finally assessed the damage, it turned out that nearly half of the city had been destroyed. I was surprised by how fast everyone got back to work. In the face of disaster, everyone united. None of us seemed to care if we worked hand in hand with demons, angels, or humans. There were still people trapped in the ruined houses, fires to be put down and lost children that needed food and shelter.

Still, the first months were a struggle. We were in dire need of more basic supplies like food, clean water and shelter. But thanks to angels’ cooperation, we established fast-flowing trade routes on land and in the air to neighbouring towns and cities willing to support us.

“Children’s pancakes!” Mr Booth shouted, bringing me back to the present. His face was red from the heat, and a smudge of flour decorated his nose. He pushed two trays laden with plates into my hands. “They are at the back. Make sure you give this big portion to that skinny kid with a tail. He looks like he needs it.”

I smiled gratefully at him and made my way through the busy main room. When a dark-haired toddler bumped onto my knees, I stopped abruptly, almost dropping my plate.

„Woah, look where you’re going, little one!” I wrapped my tail around the child when he swayed to help him catch his balance. He looked up at me with huge bright eyes and smiled.

“Sa!”

“Kian!” A winded young woman ran up to us and picked up the child, looking at him with a frown. “How many times do I have to tell you not to run into the main room during rush hours? It’s dangerous. You almost tripped Sanna!”

With a giggle, the boy looked at his mother and gave her a big wet kiss on the nose.

“Oh, how can I stay angry at you when you are so cute.” The woman tickled her son, provoking another fit of giggles and looked at me with an apologetic smile. “Sorry for that. Arav promised to be here half an hour ago to watch him, but he’s late. Again.”

“He’s working on rebuilding the aqueducts, no?” I asked while waving my tail just out of the grasp of chubby hands. “It’s hard work, but it would be a huge improvement for the city once done.”

“I know, I know. But Arav only gives Dad more reasons to bicker at how bad a husband he is.” She sighed. “I wish they could just get along.”

“Well, Mr Booth no longer wants to kill him, so I say it’s an improvement.” I grinned and waved goodbye to them.

As I moved towards the side door, my chest got warmer at seeing angels and demons no longer concealing their true forms and chatting casually and enjoying their meals. Some angels, especially those who flew down from Heaven to help rebuild the city, kept to themselves, shying away from humans and demons.

Still, many tables host guests of mixed origins. I smiled as I noticed Buzran trying to impress Amitiel with some fancy card tricks while the angel just rolled her eyes. But a shadow of a smile hinted that she wasn’t that bored after all.

I bumped my hip at the door to open it and got out to the small, secluded area that used to be a garden, but now… well, it was in the making. The plants had barely started growing back, and instead of regular chairs and tables, there were empty kegs and wooden stumps. That didn’t stop people from occupying every free space.

I walked towards the back, where, sitting on a shabby blanket, Anauel patiently explained something to the group of scrawny children.

“Pancakes break!” I announced, kneeling next to them and proceeded to unload the tray.

Children’s faces beamed as they smelled the sweet aroma of freshly fried food.

“And this one is for your tireless teacher.” I handed Anauel a plate and looked at the urchins with knitted brows. “I hope you’re not giving her any trouble, eh?”

“Oh, no, they are real angels,” Anauel said with a wink.

The children giggled and kept munching their pancakes. The sad outcome of the Fall of Gods was far more orphans on the streets that needed to be cared for, so we accepted children with demonic parentage and regular humans. That resulted in seemingly unlikely friendships, making the lives of mixed youngsters a bit more normal. I smiled when I saw Albie running a whispered conversation with a beautiful human girl with blonde pigtails.

When she came to the orphanage, she was still in shock, refusing to eat, drink or even talk to anyone. Surprisingly, Albie, with his odd look and cheeky sense of humour, pulled her back to life and made her slowly open up to others.

“Good, I’ll leave you to it then.” I got back to my feet when a soft rustle of wings and a light breeze wafted at my back. I turned on my heel and almost collided with Melkyal.

“Hey, you,” he said with that adorable smile.

“Ugh, can you stop this ‘falling out of the sky’ routine?” I punched him playfully on the chest.

“I thought you liked me falling from the sky for you?” He raised a brow, his golden eyes gleaming.

“Yeah, but maybe not while I’m at work?”

“You are overdue for a break.” He raised a hand when I wanted to protest. “I checked with Mr Booth already. Better hold on now because I’m kidnapping you.” Melkyal wrapped his arm around my waist, pressing me to his chest and jumped into the air.

I barely suppressed a scream, trying to push its way out of my mouth and hold on to Melkyal for dear life. He just loved sweeping me off my feet like that for some reason. It must be an angel thing. As for me, I never got used to it. Not that I complained, as being held in his strong arms wasn’t a bad feeling.

Not bad at all.

Melkyal landed on the roof of Merchant’s Guild, one of the tallest buildings in the city, and we sat on the ledge, dangling our feet in the air, as we usually did. Melkyal put his arm around me and rested his head on mine with a sigh.

“Tough council meeting?” I asked, gently weaving my fingers through his hair.

After the chaos and devastation, a need for a new government arose, so considering the changed circumstances, the citizens agreed to form a council with an equal number of representatives of demons, angels, humans, and sorcerers to keep the balance and harmony between them all. Melkyal was one of the angels’ representatives, while Zurgrun spoke for demons.

“The worst,” he grumbled, his breath tickling my ear. “Zurgrun is pretending he is a model resident while still conducting all his shady business behind everyone’s back. I can’t do anything if I don’t have decisive proof, but he’s such a snake he makes sure to wipe off all the traces of his involvement.” He clenched his fists. “And he dares to speak about working towards citizens’ safety, while he would sell out his own mother if someone offered enough gold.”

“Hey.” I squeezed his hand, and he relaxed a bit under my touch. “It’s Zurgrun we are talking about. He’s an arsehole, and he always will be. He is smart, though, so outplaying him won’t be easy. And it will take time. But you can do this. I believe in you.”

“It would be easier if you were in the council with him.”

I snorted. “I’m not a politician, and I am not inclined to change that.”

“Why? Everyone knows you can give rousing speeches,” he murmured and nudged my ear with his nose, giving me goosebumps.

“Stop that!” I hissed and pushed his face away. “You are not getting me into that council to sit all day on my butt and argue endlessly about trade tariffs or other pointless things.”

“Fine,” Melkyal agreed with a long-suffering sigh. “How’s work in the pancake shop?”

“Busy, as usual. But I like it. No one called me hellspawn yet this week.”

“That’s an improvement.” He reached to my chin and turned my face to him. His face was serious, and his golden eyes were so full of care that my heart melted. “Are you happy?”

“Yes,” I admitted. “As long as you’re here with me, I couldn’t be happier.” I paused and smirked. “Well, maybe my own pancake shop would make me happier. But we’ll get to that eventually.”

He leaned his forehead on mine. “We will. I love you, Sanna.”

“I love you more,” I murmured and kissed him.

The End