Of Light And Shadows

“Wait a minute, you’re telling me that our politicians are Demons?” Evan asked. His eyebrows were so high on his forehead Jia was worried they were going to disappear into his hair. “All of them?”

“Not all,” Lucifer answered. A muscle in his jaw ticked and Jia could tell he was getting annoyed. The others in the room had asked him the same questions at least six times.

“That doesn’t make sense,” Sellik frowned. “What does a Demon want with human politics?”

Lucifer scowled and Jia stepped forwards, putting a hand on his arm and giving him her best ‘I’ve got this’ look. The corner of his lips twitched as he fought a faint smile despite his mood.

“We don’t know why it’s happening. We have some theories but until we meet with the Witches we won’t know more. All of this is just a possibility and if it turns out to be true it could be disastrous for all of us.

“Some major figureheads in the human world are demons but most of the lower level politicians are your average shifters, witches, Lotura and humans.” She paused, looking at the faces in the room to see if they understood.

“Okay then,” Sellik shrugged. She flashed a bright grin, her green hair swishing around her shoulders. “I guess I can be your personal medic for a while. I know how much you tend to get yourself into trouble,” she winked. Jia chuckled.

“I’m in,” Bee said simply.

“Me too, though lord knows why you’re worried about the human world,” Asmodeus shrugged.

“It used to be our home,” Evan answered sharply. “Of course we’re worried.”

“I know, but it isn’t your home anymore.”

“There’s still a chance I might be able to live there,” Evan said, but he sounded more like he was trying to convince himself of that than those around him. Jia felt a twinge of sadness.

“Do you think you’ll be able to stay in control of yourself while we’re there?” Lucifer asked.

“Honestly, I’m not sure. I haven’t been around a human since I turned,” the Vampire mumbled.

“Sure he can,” Sellik piped up. “I’ll make sure of it.”

“You will? How?” Jia’s questions were urgent and eager as she took a step towards the medical attendant.

“I’ve been working on something to help dampen the smell of human blood,” she beamed. “I thought we might as well give Evan the best chance we can if he’s insisting on going back there.”

“You’ve been working on something to help me?” he asked.

“I can’t help but take pity on such a pretty face,” she answered with a wink. His responding grin was wide.

“Does anybody else have any burning questions or can we leave?” Lucifer asked, looking around the room. Nobody spoke so he nodded. “Alright then, let’s go.”

They emerged from the shadow portal between two tall buildings, sheltered from view and from the sunlight. After their last experience in a human world alley both Jia and Evander shuddered. Lucifer put a hand on her arm to show she would be safe with him.

“Let me make myself mundane and we can go,” Sellik said. She raised her hand and pressed two fingers to the inside of her wrist.

A sigil glowed to life beneath her fingertips and Jia watched in fascination as the skin changed from its beautiful pale green to a smooth, rich cafe au lait. The green in her hair deepened to a beautiful copper orange and her slit pupils dilated to look human. Somehow Sellik was dazzling even as a normal human.

“That’s a cool trick,” Jia gasped as the attendant passed Evan something that looked like a black medical mask decorated with a white sigil.

“I learnt it from your boyfriend,” the Demon winked. Lucifer rolled his eyes.

“Show off,” he muttered, but there was a twinkle in his eye. “The Witches will be with Mammon a few blocks from here. We’re looking for Wicker Lane. Try to split up to avoid drawing attention, but stay in sight.” They nodded and followed him out of the mouth of the alley.

As they walked he took Jia’s hand and led her far enough away that they didn’t look like they were with the rest of the group.

“Why couldn’t we shadow walk right there?”

“Wards,” was his response. “They aren’t powerful enough to do lasting damage to me but somebody like you who hasn’t discovered their potential, or Evander who used to be human, could be seriously harmed by them. I brought us to the edge of the ward circle. We have to walk the rest of the way.”

“It feels weird being back here.” She looked at her surroundings and watched people scuttle back and forth across the streets on their way to work or to take their children to school.

They were predominantly human, but here and there she caught a glimpse of a Shifter or sensed the magic of a Witch. She even noticed a few Lotura wandering around.

“Have you seen how everyone is behaving?” Louie asked softly. “Watch them. Everyone is...afraid.”

“Evander and I only disappeared a few weeks ago. It’s only natural that people are still worried. We were stupid to cut down the alley ourselves but we did it anyway.”

They passed a small newsagents with a stack of newspapers outside the door for sale. The headline caught her attention enough that she stopped.

“Or maybe it’s more than that. Look at this.” She pointed to the bold print and frowned. The words seemed to shout at them from the paper.

Breaking news: Vampire attacks on the rise, curfew in effect.

“A curfew? The attacks have never been bad enough to need that,” the Demon murmured almost to himself.

“When I was last here we knew Vampires were a problem but they stayed away from populated places,” Jia breathed, feeling her heart start to thud hard in her chest. “How could it be bad enough to need a curfew in such a short time?”

“I don’t know. We should go meet the Witches. The sooner we know more about what the Demons are doing here, the better. I’ve got a feeling they’re involved somehow.”

“I don’t like this.”

“Neither do I.” He squeezed her fingers gently and started walking. The others paused at the newspaper stack as they drew near before moving on as well.

Evander walked with Sellik while Asmo and Bee walked several paces behind. Evan had his hood up to hide his eyes and the mask covering the lower half of his face.

Jia couldn’t help glancing at the rooftops as they walked the short distance from the alley to the Witches, always scanning for rogue Vampires.

She noticed that everyone else in the street was doing the same, clutching their children and companions tightly as though they feared something would snatch them away.

“Everybody looks so afraid,” she whispered.

“Something here is definitely not right.” Lucifer’s voice was soft and tinged with concern. She looked up to see a ridge between his dark brows as he watched the city go about its day. “This way.”

They’d reached what looked to be a small, out of place cottage on the corner. It was the only shop on the street that had a garden and it was surrounded by a wrought iron fence painted a bright shade of white.

Nightshade hedges lined the garden behind the fence, making Jia raise her eyebrows.

“Is having poisonous plants out on display like this a good idea?” she asked, eyeing the deep purple flowers.

“It’s only poisonous if you eat enough of it. I don’t know about you but I don’t tend to make a habit of eating other people’s decorative plants.” She raised an eyebrow and he winked as he pushed open the ornate gate. They stepped inside and waited for the others to arrive.

“This mask works great,” Evan said, his voice very slightly muffled by the material as he drew near. “I can’t smell anything at all.”

“Hmm,” Sellik frowned. “I’ll have to tweak the sensitivity of the sigil a little.” She peered at the white symbol on his mask, stretching up to look at it closely. “It’s only meant to stop you smelling the people of this world, not remove your sense of smell altogether.”

“It’s a little weird but I can get used to it. Don’t worry about it,” he shrugged.

“Oh honey, I’m a perfectionist. Getting used to it isn’t my style,” she beamed back. Evander chuckled as Bee and Asmodeus appeared at the gate.

“It’s about time you guys showed up,” said a familiar caustic voice. “This world is in a real mess but the Witches won’t talk to me.”

Mammon frowned as he sauntered out of the purple front door and down the path, pushing silvery hair away from his amber eyes.

“They only want to speak with the mighty first born and his mate.” Lucifer raised an eyebrow. “Hey, their words not mine.” Mammon held his hands up with the palms out to ward off any ridiculing.

“The Witches always did have a flare for the dramatic,” Lucifer sighed.

“Wait a minute, am I your mate?” Jia asked. “I thought I was just your girlfriend. Isn’t mate more serious?”

“It is,” Louie nodded. “We can ask while we’re in there. Let’s go. Sellik, Bee, stay out here with Evander in case any wandering Vampires decide to come here. Asmodeus, Mammon, come with us.”

The group split in two and Jia followed the Demon Prince up the porch steps and past the small sign in the window.

“Tia’s Trinkets,” Jia read, smiling despite the situation. “I like it.” Lucifer chuckled quietly as he opened the door and stepped aside to let her pass.

The inside of the cottage was laid out like a real home with a coffee table and plush armchairs in the living room. Shelves lined the walls, adorned with all kinds of books and magical items.

Every other available space was filled with flowers or glowing crystals in all different shades, filling the room with sweetness and multihued light. She peered through a nearby doorway to see a kitchen complete with a cooker and sink. The breakfast bar had been converted to operate as a cash register as well.

“Oh, how quaint,” Asmodeus said, clasping his hands together in delight. “Some of the crystals in this room are simply stunning.”

“Almost as stunning as the Demon of Lust himself,” said a lilting voice from a doorway Jia hadn’t noticed. She turned to see a Witch standing there, beaming at Asmodeus. He grinned and she ran across the room and leapt at him, crashing her mouth against his. Mammon rolled his eyes.

“Get a room,” he muttered.

“I didn’t know Asmo had a girlfriend,” Jia mumbled. The Witch broke off the kiss to laugh. It was a sound like tinkling bells as she threw back her head, her rich red hair swishing around her chin.

“Asmodeus with a girlfriend? Dear me, no. My Demon is far too much for any one woman and forbidden from choosing anyone outside his own realm.” Her red-lipped smile turned coy. “But nothing says we can’t have a little fun while he’s here.”

“If you’ll excuse me,” Asmodeus winked at Lucifer and followed the Witch out of the room. Louie pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed.

“That Demon is going to be the death of me,” he muttered.