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I crouched on the terrace of a small townhouse in a small suburb of Shabeah. I knew it would be a few hours until Haymen’s Guardian, Vivian, awoke since I put her to sleep. I was anticipating Haymen’s attention at any moment and was surprised he hadn’t yet discovered me in his city. Especially when I had swooped down on one of his flashy demon summoners.
Vivian was her name and I knew with a face like that she would’ve enticed Luke very easily. I was so pissed at him for giving into it. I was surprised by her guts to fight against me and even more so that she actually landed a few marks. I looked down at my calf that she sliced open and the puncture wounds to my stomach. Only dry blood remained, not even a mark to remain. It didn’t heal as efficiently as they usually did. Which meant this little Guardian was contracted to some high-class demons. The tattoo across her chest stretched wider than ones I have encountered before. I was curious as to why this Guardian in particular had the strength to even oppose me momentarily.
I wanted to kill her to make a statement to Haymen. A head for a head. But there was a greater purpose of confining her and taking her to the high courts. I wanted Haymen to be held accountable and slowly destroy this empire which he so proudly built. I knew he was up to something. Always have been and always would. This pet Guardian of his was my excuse to unravel that. Then I would dispose of her. I would never forgive someone who killed one of my own. This was personal as much as it was political. I loosened my tightened fist reminding myself to rein in that temper. Luke was my own. I had to make sure to play this correctly. If I lost my temper now, his sacrifice would all be for nothing.
I expect to see Haymen soon. He didn’t like it when his property was taken and I imagine he’d be pissed over this pretty doll of his. It had been a few hundred years since I last saw him and I looked forward to having something of his in my own possession. If she didn’t repulse me so much I might’ve even teased him with her in my clutches. But one thing was certain, I did plan to kill her in front of him. I needed the council’s approval and to serve her justice for the crime she committed. Either Haymen would step out of line from the treaty or I would take an eye for an eye with a public execution. None of it would bring Luke back but I couldn’t stand by and do nothing.
I watched the man in the small townhouse. I found classified information about Vivian’s former life including her previous housing. I needed more information on her so I knew who and what I was dealing with. No secrets that could discourage the high court’s opinion on her justice to be served. Haymen was selective about his Guardians and most already had some status about them. But I had found very little and an average background on her. I was woken up when Lukes body was reported dead. Lacking a cool head, I ported straight to the outskirts of Shabeah and swooped in sniffing her out. I hadn’t even thought to dress appropriately.
The male living in the townhouse was Vivian’s boyfriend five years prior to her rebirth. He still lived in the same complex that they had shared. She was a dog walker and worked part time at a café. Very ordinary and nothing that Haymen would usually go for in all his years. When the lights went out, I swooped in silently to the hinge of one of the open windows that was slightly ajar. Very unguarded for someone who lived in a central city that was run by demons. Especially with a former lover who was now demonic herself.
I opened it and held my wings in tight so my sensitive wings wouldn’t scrape the window. It was pointless, I still barely fit. A golden Labrador ran at me. Before it could bark I eased it telepathically. I could speak with animals, sooth them as a second natured gift. It was a minimal power of mine but one that comforted me at times. It was different in this era from the war horses I had spoken to years ago to now neighborhood hounds. It grimaced low and came over to sniff at me. I held out my hand where it licked and wagged its tail.
“It’s okay,” I said to him quietly. As soon as I patted him I realized that he had smelled Vivian on me and that he was crying for the owner that he had lost long ago. The pooch openly showcased memories to me of her.
“Hey boy,” her voice was sweet and so human. Her crimson hair was pulled up in a ponytail. I could feel that she was fragile. So simply human and happy.
I pulled back to the now and looked at the dog which missed his owner so much. Animals were much like children, so innocent in the sense that they would so openly display their feelings and emotions to one that they trusted. Some were more guarded than others but not this one. He had no reason to be. This dog remembered her to be a good person. I lifted up the tag of his collar and scoffed at the name.
“Lassie!” She yelled out at him in the vision I could see to be the kitchen in the room next to the one I was standing in. She was serving a dish for him.
“Hey you,” the boyfriend pushed away Lassie in playful measure to hug her from behind. Her skin seemed to flush and glow in comparison to its cold demeanor now. “Why don’t I get my meals dished up with such glee?”
“Because the dog has my full heart,” she mused and kissed him.
I was pulled out of the vision. She was telling the truth. This dog had meant everything to her. I didn’t have the heart to tell the dog that she was now a demonic evil bitch. It was best that he thought his owner were dead.
I looked around the dark room which had boxes in it. Very little furniture remained, he was obviously moving. I didn’t bother going into the room where he slept and only inspected the rest of the house. The dog followed me around with curiosity and hope that I would return him to his true owner. An open bin caught my attention which held photos that had been thrown out.
I collected the photo from the top. It was a photo of them happily hugging with Lassie in the front. I realized that she was with child. I don’t even think she knew that she was pregnant. Women had a natural glow to them when they had conceived. For an angel of my age it was easy to see from a mile away. I took the most recent photo of them and placed it inside of my pocket.
Lassie came to me again and brushed himself against me. This time the memory was the demon summoner who watched him from afar through the window. Vivian’s crimson hair covered most of her face as she hunched over in the same spot that I stood before. Memories flooded to me of many nights when she would sit in the same spot. There was no emotion in her face only a distant stare as she watched on. Lassie would bark at her but she always made sure not to be seen by her lover.
“You seem to have verbal-vomit like your master,” I said to Lassie who looked up at me with his tongue hanging out in a smile. “Dear friend, I would like to take something from you. I need it to return to your master,” I said. I pulled out a small knife and Lassie only pulled back his ears. He wasn’t scared of me but weary of what part I guided the blade towards. I cut away apart of his lock. I would never hurt an innocent creature but the demon summoner didn’t know that and I was curious as to whether it would bring a reaction out of her. And if it did I could use it to my advantage. Because emotion was what made people unstable and I had every intention to make her and Haymen to unhinge.
