Not What It Seems

I practically sprinted to the tavern after I had finished my rounds. I was eager to see Vudu and my friends. As the tavern came into sight, my speed picked up and I kept my eyes open for the demon that had become a close friend. Was I too eager to see him again? Maybe. But I didn’t care. I genuinely felt comfortable around him and I felt I was able to fully be myself with him. He didn’t care about any flaws I had, and I just wanted to spend time with him more.

I opened the door and let out a few panting breaths as I looked around for him. Usually, by now, he would pop his head around the corner or be sitting at the bar, or even hide behind the door to startle me. Nothing. He wasn’t there?

I wondered if he hadn’t heard me enter and was playing with Lina. Or maybe he was outside with her. I didn’t know. But I knew that Elaine would know if he came in or not.

She walked to the bar from the kitchen and saw me. “Hello, Zeriah. Shall I prepare your usual?”

“Good evening, Elaine. Have you seen Vudu? I thought we agreed to meet here.” I asked as I took a seat.

She shook her head as she began to put together my meal. “He hasn’t been in all day. Maybe he just decided to stay home until it was time to come. Wait here for a bit and I’m certain he will be here soon.”

And so, I waited. In the time I waited, I completed my meal and watched an entire game of Dragon’s Hoard. Something wasn’t right. Vudu would have arrived by then.

Standing from my seat, I went over to Elaine once more. “I’m going to go home and check to see if he’s okay. He wouldn’t do this normally.”

Elaine nodded. “Alright but drag him back here when you find him. He’s supposed to entertain the guests tonight.”

“Elaine,” Erik’s head came in from the kitchen. “Have you seen Lina?”

“I thought she was playing outside with her friends.” Elaine responded. “If she’s not there, check her room.”

After talking to my friend, I walked out of the tavern and made my way home. I was a mixed bag of emotions at the time. I was worried something happened to him. I was angry he didn’t show up. I was excited to see him again. I was a bit of everything when I thought of him.

I entered my home. “Vudu?”

Silence. The place was empty except for a small hedgehog that continued to sleep. A sudden feeling of terror filled my chest. If Vudu wasn’t here, then where was he? I closed my door and began to search through the town. I kept my eyes out for the platinum blond hair that he usually sported in public. Where was he?

Turning a corner, I almost ran into someone. “I’m sorry. I’m in a bit of a rush?”

“And what, pray tell, would that be little Firefly?” The voice asked.

The nickname had me hope, but when I looked up, I didn’t see Vudu. I saw black hair and black eyes devoid of life. He gave me a smirk and stared down at me. Ripper.

I stepped back without hesitation. “Have you by chance seen your brother? He isn’t at home, and he’s not at the tavern... What’s with the bag?”

I just noticed the large bag he was carrying over his shoulder. He glanced at it then back to me. “Supplies. You know, food, potions, all that jazz. And to answer your other question, no I haven’t seen Vudu. But I’m certain he’s around here somewhere.”

I nodded and continued to run through the town in search of Vudu. Something nagged at the back of my head as I searched for him though. Did Vudu ever say that he needed to eat or sleep? I was fairly certain that demons didn’t need the stuff mortals needed. But I couldn’t focus on that. There were more important stuff going on.

“Zeriah!” I recognized the voice as Erik’s. He ran up to me with a frightened and worried expression painted on his features. “Lina’s missing.”

My heart dropped. Desperation began to fill my whole being. I knew that Vudu would be able to find her. But I needed to find him. Conjuring up my magic, I sent a ball of light up into the air and it exploded in bright brilliance. I hoped that would reach Vudu, wherever he was.

I began to keep an eye out for him as I continued to run, but I also searched for a little girl that could have been lost. I felt like I had been running for hours. And I began to tire. But I couldn’t stop.

“Firefly!” The most welcoming sound came to my ears and I edged the forest. Vudu came running out from the trees and came towards me. I ran to him and practically collapsed in his arms. “What’s wrong? I saw your magic.”

My breathing was ragged and tired. “Lina is missing.”

His eyes widened. “Blot.”

“Her parents are searching for her now.” I explained. “But I knew you would be able to find her.”

I suddenly remembered Ripper. And the information clicked. That bag didn’t have supplies in it. He took Lina.

“Ripper has her!” I shouted. “I ran into him while I was searching for you. I saw the bag. He lied and said it was supplies. That has to be her.”

He stared down at me and I watched the bright blue eyes he hid with turn to an angered red. His arms went around me, and he picked me up. His disguise fell and revealed his true form. He leaped into the air and made his way towards the other side of town. As he leapt through the town, people began to see his true form and terrified shrieks followed our progress.

Vudu seemed to know where he was going. He probably was following his brother’s presence. Before long, we were by another forest, in a clearing where Ripper waited for us. He had a smug smile on his lips and his own guise had fallen. He kept a tight grip on Lina’s shoulder, and the poor girl cried for her parents.

“It’s about time you got here. I was getting hungry.” Ripper stated as he looked down at the girl in his grip.

Vudu placed me on my feet, but his eyes never left his brother, a glare was more imminent with the skull design. “Release her, Ripper.”

“Well, I had to get you to do something.” Ripper retorted. “You think I wouldn’t recognize a false trail? You’ve grown too soft Vudu. You are a demon for Xegon’s sake!”

“Let. Lina. Go.” Vudu demanded through gritted teeth.

Ripper let out a laugh, and I noticed that a crowd of people began to gather behind us. “What’s wrong, Vudu? Are you afraid I’m going to break your toy?”

“She is not a toy!” Vudu responded. “She is a living breathing human that is scared and just wants to go home. Now release her before I make you.”

Ripper’s smile fell. “No. I think I’ll just kill her to remind you how weak and useless these non-demons are.”

“Zeriah! Now!” Vudu commanded.

I acted quickly and cast a Holy Barrier between Ripper and Lina. The moment the magic touched him, it burned his flesh and he drew away from the girl. I pulled Lina away from him and brought her to me as Vudu attacked his brother. Lina didn’t hesitate to latch onto me, and I wrapped my arms around her to comfort her. My eyes watched Vudu and Ripper as the battled.

There was a lot of dark magic that I had never seen before. Black flame like magic burned through the grass and began to spread. I had to contain it. Once I saw Eric and Elaine, I took Lina to them and ran back to help Vudu. I cast another Holy Barrier to surround the fight and contain the dark fire. I did this to protect the people and my home. Though they watched in fear, it seemed like they understood that Vudu was fighting to protect them.

“This was between you and me, Ripper.” Vudu’s voice called my attention. “But you went too far when you brought Lina into it.”

Ripper let out a hearty laugh. “Like I said, I had to get you to do something. And if that meant getting you to follow me back to Diab, then so be it. Xegon asks for a Pure Soul, and we are meant to deliver.”

I wished I could help Vudu fight, but all of my concentration was on the barrier. I hoped this would end soon.

“You won’t be taking Zeriah anywhere.” Vudu stated as he threw Ripper into the magic.

He let out a pained grunt and fell to the ground. Pushing himself up, he propped himself up with his knee and looked at both Vudu and I. He let out a few breaths and began to laugh again. A wicked smile came to his lips as his eyes fixated on me.

“Oh,” he said with a disgusting smile. “I won’t be the one taking her anywhere. You will.”

He dashed forward. Vudu moved to intercept him with another attack, but Ripper ducked under his arm and twisted around and ran towards me. The scene felt like it played in slow motion. He pulled out a vile of something and opened it. As I turned to defend myself, he slid by me and threw the contents into my face. The liquid hit my eyes in full force and immediate pain became the main thing I felt.

I let out a cry of agony and dropped to the ground as my hands automatically began to rub the substance from my skin. The pain wouldn’t stop. I heard frantic cries from people as the barrier fell. Vudu shouted something to Ripper in a demonic language and Ripper’s laugh faded into the distance.

Tears fell onto my cheeks as I tried to get the pain to stop. Gentle hands touched my own. They pulled my hands away from my eyes and moved to look over the damage. A sigh and I knew it was Vudu. Something told me he knew what the contents of that vile did.

“Firefly,” his voice was gentle. “Open your eyes.”

I did as he asks, and my heart sank even further. I didn’t see anything. My world was black. I let out a strangled breath as I tried to hold back tears. I failed and fell into Vudu’s chest as I sobbed. His arms went around me and comforted me. He said nothing but was there while I cried over the fact that I was now blind.