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Being invisible, I didn’t have to consider being inconspicuous as I walked into the local bookstore that was the entrance to the black market. Usually I would pretend to show interest in books and purchase some. Well, to be more precise, I would end up walking out afterwards with about ten new romance novels to read. I loved reading romance novels both in my human life and in this life. I imagined it had something to do with trying to resonate and understand an emotion that I was no longer capable of.
I walked through the few patrons of the store sweeping past two old-school wooden bookshelves. Most books were electronic and memory transferred these days it was a true delicacy to be able to smell and feel the old material which I had an interest for. Sure, upload one to my mind in seconds. Cool. I was all for efficiency but the old tailored books reminded me of what we came from and the old days we used to live. Not that I had ever lived close to those generations.
I walked to the back of the store shoving someone and laughing as the human male looked back over his shoulder unsure as to what sent his shoulder and books flying. I could get used to this little disappearing act. In the small door on the left was a restroom for customers. I entered and closed the small door behind me. I looked up at the blank white wall focusing to find the panel. The light green glow of one grabbed my attention and I entered the passcode by memory pressing on the panel. Within seconds all nineteen of the tiles lit up and began crumbling away the wall. Rather dramatic considering a slide door would’ve been easier. A guard looked over the entrance, unable to see me like everyone else. Tusks came out of his mouth as he straightened himself and weapons in alarm.
As soon as I stepped into the black haze of the underground market which was in another dimension, I became visible. The black market was always hosted in this dimension. It was a small fraction designated on the land built for illegal deals and trading. My facade dropped and the guard tsked at me speaking in a language that I understood and could translate. He wasn’t one for visual games.
“I knew the haze would burn it away, don’t get yourself all huffed and puffed,” I said slapping him on the shoulder as I walked past. Weak demons couldn’t survive on this planet nor could their magic. The façade was simply to get me here without a trace in case a particular angel tried to follow. Now being here, there was no way Gabe could find me. This was the place and world for demons only. Sometimes I saw a few dark angels but they weren’t exactly welcomed and often found themselves mysteriously not finding the item they were after or being hunted themselves for their wings and feathers which did catch a high price.
Rows of tables on filthy grounds were displayed around me. Most have a tent or shop with their merchandise hidden inside. On my left was the illegal trading of demons and auctions. Most of the time it were women and children that are being sold. I turned a blind eye to it. I wasn’t anyone’s hero. This trading existed far before my own parents were even born and I relied on the resources and items I could obtain here. This was where I had purchased my Trinity necklace. In the world of demons, you were either powerful, weak, or defenseless. The latter two would ultimately cost you your life in either death or eventually slavery of some kind.
I kept a watchful eye on the weapons and jewelry I walked past. Most of the shop fronts were tools, items, and jewelry. What I wanted was further down the rows where the witches manned their stores. They weren’t technically demons and they could either be light or dark. But those who practiced dark arts were definitely welcomed here. A demon was limited at times within their own capability. Depending on how powerful the witch is, she could even control that of a strong demon and become a puppeteer. Most known demon lords have clans of witches serving their houses for as long as time went back. Witches were the initial connection to something ‘other worldly’ for humans. They didn’t take well to the announcement of witches so one could have only imagined what came about when demons started making their activity known. And that’s when the darling Angels swept in. Everything after that led to the human world. Either celebrated or hated. Everyone had claim to the human dimension as well.
The human’s world and people were resourceful. Overpopulated and with rich and equal living atmosphere. The only reason they haven’t been entirely killed was because the Angels prevented it and demons quickly learned of the entertainment and food they supplied. It didn’t take long for the cat to pretend that it let the mouse escape.
Few shady demons approached me and I made sure that my look was so effective that no one would dare speak to me unless invited. I didn’t too often change to demon form at the Black Markets. If anyone were to attack me I’d rather take them by surprise. That and most of the demons I was contracted to were rare. That rarity might be seen as gold coins to some. Not that they would survive if they ever tried to kidnap me but I made sure not to draw too much attention.
The two suns set in the background igniting a purple tone over the horizon. There was nothing but desert and surrounding hills. The thick miasma often had newcomers choking as their body tried to adjust to the pressure.
I looked at the long black lavish coat on my left which was certain to be some kind of pelt of another demon. The slithering shop keeper crept over with a smile. “It’s very nice,” he hissed.
“And it want to be very cheap,” I added. He mocked me with a laugh and my eyebrow rose. For how long would I have to tolerate him? His venom was strong, one of the strongest amongst demons but nothing ever trumped my succubus venom. That alone could kill him or make him awfully sick depending on how powerful he actually was. His tongue poked out at me and he smiled showing me his fangs. I leaned in closer making sure that part of his tent concealed me from others.
“Five gold,” I offered and he scoffed laughing at me. He spat at me and I grabbed his throat pinning him against the table. He slithered out of my grasp in seconds and latched onto my arm. His poison secreted into me as quickly as it took me to turn into my succubus form. It was a tickle. The shift startled him and he slipped back behind his wooden desk.
My tail flicked back and forth as I gave him a seductive smile. I picked up the coat with one claw holding it over my shoulder so passersby’s couldn’t see me in this form.
“I meant four gold and I won’t kill you now for being so disrespectful,” I snarled at him but my voice was honey and seduction. His slimy body wavered with the lustful tone and atmosphere I emitted. I had yet to find someone who could deny my succubus. I have met many demons but her kind was by far the best at seduction and manipulation.
“I’m so sorry to have upset such a beautiful customer,” he began as he coiled in front of me to come closer. There was the mixture of fear and pleasure in his eyes.
I pulled four gold coins out of the small pocket on my breasts and flicked it at him. I wrapped the beast like coat over me and changed back to my usual form. I liked and enjoyed the barter at the markets. He all but gasped from behind me as I walked away and he realized that he had been trumped from both fear and deception.
There were many forms of currency but gold and silver were often accepted in currency conversion no matter what dimension you were from.
Besides my anticipated visit to a certain witch I also made sure to visit one other. I turned into the gross smelling alleyway and to the shabby looking building that was as disgusting as it was daring to participate at any drinking and gambling. One demon was weakly bleeding out in front of the entrance having been robbed and beaten. As well as drunk.
I stepped over him and creaked open the wooden door which did little to hold back the rowdiness inside. It smelled of all disgusting things. I pointed my finger in the air so the bartender behind knew to follow me with one pint. I scanned the room checking if there was any immediate threat. Eyes wandered over me but nothing I couldn’t handle. I located my guy and walked over to take the seat across him in the corner of the already dark lit room.
Heads of different demons were stapled to the wall and smoke misted throughout the room. If you stayed here for too long you would often lose your mind. Most newcomers were victims to the cause. The waitress, a scrappy looking wench who wore no clothes and purposely offers herself and services, brought over my pint. I threw her a silver coin not even daring to touch her in case some disease jumped from her skin and onto my own.
I offered the pint to the hooded demon in front of me. “How goes my favorite customer?” He purred with a beautiful smile. I have never seen his face because his hood has always concealed it. But from the power that radiated from him and the way he spoke, my body definitely would want to mix business and pleasure with him. He waved his hand and the beer soared towards his mouth as he opened it and took a sip. I raised an eyebrow.
“You don’t seriously expect me to touch the glass?” He said with a mocking smile. He did this every time. Always aimlessly flirtatious and I hadn’t yet a guess at what kind of demon he was but he served a purpose. I slid over three gold and like the beer he waved his hands and then the gold was off the table and he accepted his payment.
“A lot of demonic activity is happening everywhere, internationally,” he added before I could protest that I already noticed the increase in Shabeah. I suspected he would’ve done his research and knew who I was. The Guardian tattoos gave away our ruse but if anyone with half a brain used their resources they would see me on various magazines, campaigns, and fashion articles, of all things. I was renowned but isolated to Shabeah. Other guardians might have the luxury to dip into assignments elsewhere but being Haymen’s head guard and enforcer of his city, I wasn’t so lucky.
“I found a few leads to armies building in the demon worlds. Nothing has yet happened but different dimensions and their kings are preparing for something. I tortured a few various species who haven’t yet been advised as to what their mission is and can only tell me the same thing–heightened security and some offerings to the mighty Demon Lord himself.” We both knew he meant Haymen but it wasn’t a name one would say so lightly in a place like this.
“The Angel Council is aware of it and are also preparing their arms in case an attack is made. Again, it’s all precautionary but it makes you question whether it will be like the old war with demons and angels again or if something greater is coming. So, me and a pretty little angel friend talked,” he said shrugging his shoulders with a smile that said they did much more than talk. “Turns out the infamous War Angel, Gabe, who has been following you was asked by his father to focus on Shabeah. Seems like it came in handy in the time that one of his subordinates was murdered and had a connection to you, who is one of the most connected to Haymen.” I wasn’t at all surprised by that; he was here for far more than just investigating his friend’s death personally. He was the War Angel and had strategy written all over him.
He took another vacuumed sip and continued. “So, it adds a further plot twist as to why he Angel Kissed you, who might become his enemy and be on the forefront to the soon to be war unless he has a motive to use that connection between you two for something else.”
I wanted to lunge at him and swipe the smile off his face. I didn’t know how he found out that information. But that was the reason why I relied on his resources so much. I knew better than to question how and why he took interest in it.
He continued. “So then I took particular interest in you, Darling, and did some background research on your heritage,” he paused to see if I wanted him to continue.
“I didn’t ask you to do background checks on me, Sweetheart. I specified your attention to be on the Shadow people,” I gritted between teeth.
“But doesn’t your angel boyfriend prefer to call them the Volv? Look, Darling, you either want my information or not,” he said shrugging his shoulders. A fight broke out behind us and we watched with little interest until the victor was quick to claim his gold pieces by shoving a blade through the others demon’s skull.
The Black Crow was as great an asset as he was a liability, sometimes he was too good at what he did and if he got too close to home then I would have to discard him.
“Turns out your turning despite being a simple dog walker was intentional. The Volv’s interested in you was targeted. You see when I looked back into your birth parents and way, way back into your great, great, great, Aunt, Louana Smith.” My eyes shot up at him. Louana Smith was the woman I had met in my last dream. He charmed a smile and continued. “Turns out she was also targeted by the Volv. They seem to be rather sloppy when they hunt. All bang and guts left behind. Turns out they didn’t get what they wanted out of her. She had a sister who surprisingly wasn’t victim to the Volv and so she continued the bloodline. It changed a few times in name by marriage but then on your birth, the Volv suddenly held interest again. So I continued tracing back from there and let me tell you how difficult that is when you have mixtures of humans and demon children.”
“My heritage is human,” I interrupted ordering another drink.
“Your knowledge is a lie. But it propels so far back that I doubt anyone would’ve noticed. Have you ever heard of the Disdaint demon or clan?” I shook my head. Something about the name rang familiar. All of my demons have knowledge on that name and yet none of them spoke up or offered me that knowledge as if all of a sudden they were shamed into speaking. “An old clan, a very powerful demon race. Well known for their technological advances and control of blue fire but above that they could see and feed off demons without form. In essence, when the war came they were highly valued against the Volv.” The rowdiness continued behind us as demons continued to lose stakes and make large wins. “And guess what, Darling, you have a tinkle of that demon heritage. The Volv made sure to extinguish the race. Including Haymen’s Queen.” The room went silent at the mention of Haymen’s name. I looked over my shoulder with an effective look. They all continued their business but I could feel ears were now on our table.
“I want you to become more accessible to me,” I said sliding over another two pieces of gold. In exchange, one black feather landed on the table in front of me.
“I imagine we will be doing plenty business together Miss Vivian,” he said offering the feather to me. “If you require my services simply call upon me through that. “Despite your shackles that chain you, I advise that you should find allies very quickly.”
“And is that what you are?” I mocked as I took hold of the black feather. It felt heavy and menacing. As if blood had poured over it far too many times and attempted to be washed. I tucked it away in my coat.
“For the right price I can be,” he smiled and then vanished leaving the half empty beer on the table. I stood up and walked out. Our business was now done. On to my next purpose of being here. I couldn’t help but recall the path that Gabe and I walked together when I neared my death. The memory of my contract to Haymen and death began piling a few questions that I could never ask. Did I have a connection to his last Queen, was that why I was protected from even his own wrath? Was he hoping to restore that heritage so he could eliminate the Volv once again?
