Slowly things began to click together. Haymen was eager for me to go to that prison. I didn’t gather any helpful information from Alice but I did obtain something that day, that much I was certain. I wasn’t sure what but I was certain that something else resided in me now. I pressed my hand to my stomach as if I could feel the swell of the demon within me. But it stayed silent not even the faint bickering of something that shouldn’t reside within me.
Despite the ordeal with Gabe following me around and using Angel Kiss on me–Haymen hasn’t yet killed him. Law, treaty, moral, a higher war angel–none of that meant anything to Haymen if he wanted someone dead he would assure that they were dead.
Even my memory of my death and contracts–there was something I had that Haymen wanted and protected and for some reason he was involving outsiders to play. He was watching my steps and playing me as a puppet that much I always knew since our contractual agreement. But I couldn’t help but realize he was brewing and leading this all into something.
I felt someone creep into my room. I fell silent as I listened to them come closer. I washed the last of the shampoo out my hair. The presence was being sneaky and so instead of turning my shower off and offering that person a very painful lesson as to not enter my room, I crept along the white tiles and pushed my back to the wall, waiting beside the door.
The figure seemed to mimic me on the other side. It felt familiar, but I could recognize that something about it had changed. Something seemed off.
“Shit,” I said before jumping out of the way but not in time as a steel blade smashed through the tiles and sliced my arm. I skidded back towards the shower in the middle as Alexa walked in. Her eyes had no pupils and were now black. Veins were protruding from her face and arms as she smiled at me with a doll like presence. Both her arms had shifted to blades. Alexa had been compromised.
“Those who decide to host in a child’s body were always going to die quickly,” the echo of a woman’s cracked voice said pushing through Alexa’s voice box. This Volv was different to those I had met.
“Who are you?” I asked with irritation changing into my succubus form.
“You may call me Gardanor and I am the bringer of your death,” she said with a smile and lunged for me.
I dodged as she swept her arms back and forth, one cut from her steel like blades would scatter my guts to the floor. Water poured over me from the showerhead as I dodged her second blade. I changed into my water demon. The water glittering like specks of air over my gills. I speared my retractable titan nails at her. The escalation of their length split my own fingernails and my hands went bloody and wet.
She dodged my attack coming down on me with her own blades again. I let them graze close to me, grabbing her shoulder with my retracted claws and running against the tiled wall, twisting her behind her back and flinging her across the room. She busted through the tiling and was plunged into the river outside. I lunged outside diving after her in the water.
Her tattoos glowed bright under the surface of the water but this was my domain and I knew that she had no demon that could counter mine in water. I splintered my nails towards her again harpooning her through the stomach. Like a fish on my hook she thrashed around as a pillow of black blood surrounded her.
A disorientation stirred in my mind as I thrashed back and forth. An electrical current streamed up my nails and coursed through my veins. I was shaking and unable to get closer as the current only grew harsher. I could hardly think as my body thrashed back and forth in the water. I released her waiting for a few seconds for the conductor to stop. Damn technology demon.
She darted for the surface of the water. When my limbs could move of my own accord again, I began slowly following her, disoriented but focused. My body just couldn’t keep up. Blood trailed her as she broke through the surface and pulled herself up onto the docks.
Like the hunter I was it didn’t take me long to give chase. The sky was clouded and left us in the dark. Although some passersby pointed at us in aww and celebration. She still held her stomach that was spilling through her hands and smiled. Before I could jump to stop her, she had already begun her killing spree on the humans. Screams echoed throughout the wharf as people quickly realized the fun of our presence was misrepresented.
I shifted into my hellhound and gave chase as she shifted into the only demon that could outrun my hellhound. I ran through the city with my heart pounding through my body. Despite her wound she was outrunning me. Bodies were left in her wake as the green small demon with speed flashed across them, shoving people and splattering them against the buildings. Humans were so weak and she only left a trail behind her.
She was no longer attempting to challenge me, that wound obviously having been just as severe as I had aimed for. She was running for security. And shortly after she received it. I trailed back and forth after losing her scent in the underground sewer. Oddly enough unlike the others who surrounded me in numbers she had confronted me on her own.
I continued walking through the sewerage discovering more bodies than what should be down here. It smelled of demon blood and vomit. The city of Shabeah was definitely increasing in demon acts against the treaty and killing of humans. After an hour of trying to find her again I relinquished my keen nose and climbed back onto the outskirts. I shifted into my cat demon choosing to stick to the rooftops as I ventured back home. Already the bodies that were massacred had numerous scenes on them.
Human police. Media. Haymen’s cleaners. I looked into the distance at one of the wide screens that had recorded footage of myself in hellhound form running after the green demon that killed numerous passersby in her way. Children, men, women–no victim was excluded.
I had only been talking to Alexa, well what remained of Alexa hours before. The Volv that possessed her must have only recently taken over her body and it was rather bold that she decided to attack me prior to even understanding the demons she was contracted to or their abilities.
I hissed in agitation of the footage that had been taken but was charmed by the beauty of my hellhound which begrudged with red eyes. My coat was beautifully black and decorated with scarring and on top of my head, which was something I hadn’t noticed before seemed to be a crown which grew from the skull.
I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion. I had seen paintings of such a magnificent hellhound before. And she was not just any; that hellhound had been mother and alpha to an elite pack. Now that was something I had to look into. There was no denial nor was there confirmation from the hellhound within me. And I wondered who else might recognize the beast for who it truly was and what I had contracted with. I continued my walk on home disregarding the human bodies and squad teams that layered the streets. Someone else would clean it up. They always did. What interested me more, was learning that the heritage of my demons seemed to be either rare or queens in their own right.
Chapter Forty- Gabe
Footage streamed live of the massacre throughout Shabeah and I knew that it would be political hell from here. Included was Vivian’s involvement. She might’ve been giving chase or she might’ve been aiding in the kills but all anyone could see live and being reported was two Guardians slaughtering humans throughout Shabeah. I was perched on the highest building in Shabeah looking over the carnage. I spread my wings out wide letting the rain wash over them.
As soon as Haymen escaped with Determee’ I couldn’t track him. They had teleported somewhere into the Underworld where I couldn’t follow. I considered how I should kill Haymen after he admitted murdering Luke. Haymen would play dirty but I had already gone through my vengeance and lack of control when I came for Vivian the first time. Now, I had to execute things cleverly to actually have his death announced and approved.
Now that the Volv were present I had to consider that as well. If Haymen were to disappear there would be a shift and perhaps breakdown of the treaty when it came to the new Underworld ruler. No matter what happened I had to make sure it wasn’t the Volv that clai
med the throne.
My earpiece began to buzz and I swiped my watch to answer. “Torrin?” I asked, watching the repetitive footage of the big screen in front of me.
“You have to come back. There’s been a situation. One of the soldiers turned on civilians only moments ago. So far the kill count is at thirteen... We think he might be possessed by a Volv,” he said. I watched the monitor of the screen that now focused on the Guardian who was once Alexa. Even in her green slick demon form you could see the deformities of her face already.
“So, they’re making a move on all accounts,” I said, pissed that I had allowed such demons into my own city. “Keep him detained. I’ll be there in ten.”
I swiped my watch to end the call. So, the Volv truly had come back. At least now I had one I could interrogate myself. It seems that Haymen was making sure that there would be no loose ends. Somehow this had his involvement and I was still to discover what Vivian had to do with it. Until I found that out, I had to make sure my own kind was safe and ready to fight. It wouldn’t be too long now until we would go to war.
Chapter Forty-One- Vivian
I stepped out of my second shower and towel dried my hair. I made sure not to wear one around my body as I stepped out and greeted Gabe who is leaning against my bookshelf. The light glow of his wings surrounded him as he stood in the dark.
“Big night?” he asked. I shrugged and looked at him lustfully.
“I wish something ‘bigger’ would find its way to me in the dark instead,” I said with a coy smile.
“You know the kill rate so far up to twenty-three,” he said with a distant tone. But I knew he was pulling away, trying to guard against me. Whatever we had between us was distracting for the both of us. But when I had him so close to me and my bed... well I didn’t want idle chit chat or talk about massacres.
“I don’t deal with the aftermath or politics. I was chasing after the Volv,” I said rubbing over my hair one more time before flinging it onto my bed. “What happened to Determee’?”
“Ask your Master,” he all but gritted. “I came to say goodbye.”
“How courteous of you,” I purred. “But I prefer saying goodbye through action and not words.” I prowled over to him. His eyes were distant as he stared at me and ground his teeth. The white of his knuckles grew tense as he physically held himself back from me.
“Just make sure you stay alive. If not, remember it will hurt me too,” he said tapping on his matching tattoo that linked our angel kiss. I considered him for some time still taking my not so cautious steps towards him. I looked up into the green of his eyes appreciating their majestic sharpness. His holiness crawled along my skin but it was no longer the bile that made me want to vomit. There was something alluring about him, perhaps the raw power that my own enjoyed to feed off. We would never see each other again. A part of me that I wanted to deny so fiercely, reacted poorly to that.
I studied the tattoos that were inked into his skin and saw the small one that linked him and me together. I was so curious as to hear the stories about the other ones.
“Why did you do it?” I asked. I didn’t care for sentiment. We were natural enemies. I felt as I asked him the question, I was asking myself why I jumped in front of him and took the fatal injury myself.
“I was indebted to you. A life for a life. My favor was returned,” he gritted out quickly which made it sound all too rehearsed. There was silence between us as I snaked my hand to trail against his forearm. He didn’t pull back from my touch and the push of his light and my darkness rubbing against one another was electrifying friction.
“But why did you really do it?” I asked locking my eyes with his again.
“I don’t know,” he admitted with hesitation. Suddenly the façade between us seemed very broken. The angel kiss ritual had pulled some shit stunt on us. It would constantly draw us in like this and I was glad to see it go. I wanted him to vanish so I wasn’t undermined by this uncomfortable pull.
“I’ll never be able to turn good,” I said to him without shame. We were on opposite sides of the spectrum. Our eyes might meet, and our bodies might react to one another but we could never fulfill one another. We were opposed in everything we did and stood for.
“It’s what I hate about you the most,” he admitted as he intertwined his fingers with my own. I looked down at our hands that shifted slightly within one another. Every movement was like tiny flecks of lightening on my skin.
“I hate how self-righteous you are,” I said with venom behind my words. He charmed a smile and a chuckle came out.
“Just don’t destroy the world. I hope that we don’t meet again, Vivian, but if we do, I dare say I’ll meet you in war,” he said seriously as he let go of my hand.
“Hopefully between each day we can sneak into one another’s camp and fuck. Slaughter and sex, you’ve just described my greatest fantasy.”
“But that would involve me taking you to bed. Which will never happen,” he said leaning in and kissing me on the forehead. The heat of his kiss seemed to sting and I twisted my face disgusted by the sweet moment.
He chuckled at my expression before stepping back.
“If you ever decide to, you know, hit the dark side and become badass, call me.” I said with a coy smile that only my succubus could produce. His eyes continued to linger on my own and dart over my body with an appraised smile as he turned and flew out of my room.
Hot and flustered once again. Fuck all of these men who wanted to have a bite but nothing more.
*
I walked into my wardrobe surprised to see an electronic box which needed to scan my finger to open. I sighed over the old text and leather-bound books. Although now gone and having tried to kill me, Alexa had left me one parting gift and in the form of text that I liked to read best from. She could’ve simply given me a chip to open in my computer but somehow this felt safer. I closed it again, assuring myself that I would soon read the information she had obtained for me after my request. This would help me piece together some information of the past for both Angel Boy and my master who I haven’t seen since he took his play toy to torture.
I walked over to my own safe slipping on my Trinity necklace. I transported to the place where I had been last standing in the sleek metallic and quiet city. This time I was not greeted by anyone but was given the luxury of walking in silence throughout the streets. It was obvious that housing began outwards and upwards. The buildings were impeccably tall, larger than those in Shabeah.
I made point to walk to the center. Behind it was a castle I was yet to explore. What grabbed my attention in the center that was empty and large was the slick egg like looking throne that was perched on stilts in front of me. I walked towards it assessing it. The open space in front of the throne might’ve been used for leisurely things. Dances, festivals, fights, offerings. Looking around I realized that there was not one speck of dust, no splatter of blood or remains of any life prints. The city was too clean. Curious to see if I might be able to dirty it, I walked over to one of the side shops and entered.
The door opened as a slick white screen for me. There were jars of liquid I have never seen before. Some were bright, others had creatures swimming in them. I took the one that looked closest to some kind of demon blood tapping it and watching gold flakes stir.
I walked back out to the center and looked at the clean floors. I held out the jar of blood and let it slip through my fingertips watching it smash on the ground. Blood splattered everywhere. As soon as the red began to dye the white, the floor beneath it liquefied and enveloped the blood, glass and remains of anything that tarnished the ground. In the blink of an eye nothing remained.
I looked around the city again, so that’s why it looked so clean. Despite it looking like war had found itself here. Somehow it automatically cleaned itself. As if the city had a mind of its own. I looked back to the throne that seemed to call out to me. Behind it was clear water that circulated in the air ornamentally with no vase. It si
mply rolled around, glittering a pale blue.
I walked up to the water tapping it. The water ruptured only for a moment before continuing its course. I looked back to my left to the throne that was stilted high. As soon as I got closer, one small platform rose in front of me. As I stepped on it, another appeared. White steps appeared in front of me as I reached the throne. I looked behind it at the castle.
I could explore that soon. But I was interested to see what the previous ruler might have watched from this very throne. There were only whispers of ghosts here and a barren land outside the wall. I was curious as to what demons had lived here. I twisted and sat on the throne surprised by its comfort. A shudder came over me as I grabbed both edges and rested my hands on the side.
I looked over the center square and further past the sleek buildings and a sun that glistened in the distance. There was nothing but barren land. And yet here, I could sense the power and life roll over me. Like something was whispering to me and something responded from inside.
I charmed a smile as I crossed one leg over the other. Somehow–this city felt like home.
Writing this made me not so scared.
THE SHADOW MINDS JOURNAL
SERIES WILL CONTINUE.
READ ON FOR A SNEAK PEEK OF THE NEXT BOOK.
Chapter One- Haymen
You are cordially invited to the Annual Trevis Games. Please have nominations of five fighters within the week. Accordance to the treaty and entertainment agreement, placement will continue to be held in the city of Celtia governed and overlooked by War Angel, Gabe Christain, within the Coliseum. There will be a total of fifty fighters from ten different ruling regions. Assure that your nomination meets the deadline or you will forfeit your position.
The Shadow Minds Journal, #1 Page 30