Eddie marched towards the beach bar, hoping to get lost in the crowd. She didn’t want to make it easy for Nero to follow her. Perhaps she would be able to find someone else who could take her to wherever the souls of the dead were located, after all there were many other demons here, and if she looked past their assortment of horns, tusks, wings, tails and fangs they seemed quite a friendly group. At least, they were friendly with each other. Nero’s warning from her house about their hatred of witches rung in her ears as she meandered through the crowd.
The bar was charming, open on one side to a wooden veranda and illuminated by bright flames contained in circular orbs floating above the crowd. Music spilled out across the terrace and figures danced together, jostling Eddie as she slipped by. She was shorter than most and pushed unnoticed through the crowd to stop at the end of the bar.
From her vantage point, she could watch everything happening and make a plan on how to convince a demon to take her to the souls. If they were anything like human men, she could try flirting with them, but it had been a long time since she’d attempted anything like that. Not to mention that she was completely soaked and looked more like a drowned rat than a seductress.
“You look like you could do with one of these, sweetheart.”
A smooth voice brought her out of her thoughts. She faced the figure talking to her. He was tall and lithe, with angular features framed by white hair. But what made her stop short were the mismatched eyes staring back at her. One black and one a frosty pale grey. She couldn’t look away. The black iris seemed to swallow his whole eye and as she stared, she swore she saw something move in the darkness held there. Mesmerised, she took a step forward, trying to see clearer.
She was jostled by someone near her and was pushed into the bar, the sharp knock instantly snapping her out of the trance. What had she been thinking? This man probably thought she was crazy now, she’d been staring at his eye in silence for so long. Eddie mentally shook herself and plastered on a smile, feeling rattled. “Sorry, I’m Eddie.”
“Marduk.” He grinned, unbothered by her oddness, and gestured to a shot glass full of amber liquid which he’d slid across the bar to her elbow while she was distracted. After the day she’d had, she could do with a drink and a shot of liquid courage for what she was about to attempt.
“To your good health.” He winked, holding up an identical glass.
“Cheers.” She replied, clinking hers against his.
She downed the spicy liquid in one, feeling heat spreading outwards from her stomach. As it spread, her temperature rose hotter and hotter, until she was so uncomfortable she couldn’t hold it in anymore. She opened her mouth to protest and a giant fireball shot out across the bar.
Marduk ducked just in time, then joined her, releasing his own. It was larger than the previous one and caused the nearest row of people to duck to avoid their hair being singed. Patrons turned to look at the disturbance, then cheered raucously. She giggled and Marduk made an eccentric bow to the crowd. Once he was upright, he winked at her. By the time everyone had turned back to their groups, she noticed that the demon had moved closer.
“Much better. That see-through top was far too distracting.” He looked her up and down and she joined him, astonished that her clothes and boots were now bone dry. She patted her hair, that was dry too! The excitement of seeing magic used as part of everyday life made her feel almost giddy, even if his comment felt off.
He leant against the bar, smiling and watching her. She gave a small smile back, although his intense stare was making the hair on the back of her neck stand on end.
“Thanks, I really needed that. You have no idea the day I’ve had.”
He chuckled, “I can guess, most new souls come here after the worst day of their lives.” It took her a moment to understand what he’d said. When she didn’t reply fast enough, he carried on, “I didn’t mean to offend you darling, but I’m guessing you’re new as I’ve not seen you around before.”
“I just dropped in a few moments ago actually.” Thinking quickly, she asked, “Do you know how to get to the others?”
“Do you want to leave me so quickly?” He pretended to look hurt at her question, putting a hand on his chest. His other arm was leant against the bar and he stroked his fingers in small circles on her arm. Eddie tried not to flinch, she hated strangers touching her and this made her want to slap his hand away.
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Perhaps a little flirting would get her further, since asking outright clearly hadn’t worked. So instead of punching him in the dick and running off, she faked a laugh like it was the funniest thing she’d ever heard.
“You’re so funny, I could do with a strong sexy man like you to lead the way.” She bit her lip, looking him up and down. She was actually cringing from how awful her flirting was, but for whatever reason it worked. He smiled back at her, his sharp teeth flashing in the firelight.
“Perhaps I can be persuaded.” His fingers trailed past her shoulder and he pulled her closer. She shivered, ignoring the burning feeling of unease. She shut the alarm bells going off in her head into a nice sound-proof compartment and told herself that he’d been friendly and helpful so far, which was more than Nero had been.
“I don’t think that’s what I’m here for but thank you. I can always ask someone else, there are plenty of other people in here. Or find them myself.”
“A pretty girl like you shouldn’t be outside all alone.”
Okay, this was too much. Whether he was terrible at flirting or not, the guy was giving her the creeps. She should definitely just give up on this little scheme and find someone else. Before she could make her excuses and leave, a booming voice carried across the space.
“There you are! Sorry I’m late, got held up at the training ground. Those axes don’t clean themselves.”
An enormous blonde viking whose head and shoulders stuck out above the crowd strode directly towards her. The throng parted easily for him with a couple of people shouting out and clapping him on the back, but he didn’t slow down. In seconds he’d sidled up to her and clamped his arm around her shoulders, tucking her into his side and away from Marduk. He faced the other demon, and even Eddie wasn’t oblivious to the obvious squaring off that was happening. “Marduk.”
“Thane.”
“You can go now, thanks for keeping Eddie company for me while she waited.”
“Not a problem at all, we had a lot of fun together.” He winked at Eddie. “I was just offering to help her find the other souls.”
Thane bristled. “Nero’s warned you about coming here before, if he catches you again he won’t be as forgiving this time.”
“From what I’ve heard it’s you who should be banned from bars. Although I doubt many would make it to next month without their main source of income.” Marduk sneered.
Thane’s eyes darkened and as quick as lightning he grabbed Marduk by the front of his tunic with one large, meaty hand and lifted him closer. Marduk scraped at the floor with his toes as he struggled, yet his head was still barely up to Thane’s neck. Any attempts to free himself went ignored, Eddie wasn’t sure if he was doing it to show off or because he genuinely wasn’t exerting himself, but Thanes other arm remained loosely around her shoulders.
“If you’re not out of my sight in three seconds I’ll rip your arm off and beat you with the wet end. That will look like a tickle compared to what Nero will do if he catches you hunting in his city.”
Thane released him with a shove, and Marduk stumbled backwards, catching himself on on the bar. He looked livid, but straightened and hightailed it out of the bar.
As soon as Marduk had disappeared from sight Thane brought his arm back and stepped away, releasing a long breath.
“Are you alright?”
“Yeah, thanks. He was kind of intense.” She looked at him warily. He was so vast that he blocked out a lot of the crowd behind them. His wild face was scarred and weatherbeaten, but he looked at her with concern.
“Sorry about that. I’m not usually violent, but Marduk’s a soul eater, they tend to prey on those with unresolved business, convince them to give up hope of ever passing on. In your case I suppose he couldn’t resist a fresh one.” Her eyes widened in horror and he grimaced. “Didn’t mean to scare you.”
“No, thank you for being honest with me. And for…” She waved her hand, feeling sick. “You know.”
“Don’t mention it. Nero asked me to help find you, I’m glad I got to you when I did.”
“Me too.” She shuddered at the thought of it. What would become of her if Marduk had succeeded? “Wait, did you say Nero sent you to look for me?”
“Yeah, well, I think it’s you he’s looking for.” He ticked off each point on his fingers; “Blonde woman, denim jacket, shortest shorts known to man.” He guffawed. “He seemed really annoyed about the shorts.”
She huffed, pulling them down at the sides. “You can tell Nero that I don’t want his help. I’ll find the souls on my own.”
“He seemed worried about you.”
“I can guarantee that he isn’t.”
Thane scratched his beard. “Well I can take you, I suppose?”
She didn’t feel unsafe around Thane as she had around Marduk, in fact she quite liked his blunt honesty and friendly attitude, but that didn’t mean she wanted him to come with her. If he was helping Nero, then there was a chance he would come along too and she really didn’t want to see him right now. Mind made up, she looked up at Thane and shook her head.
“No thanks, I’ll be fine. Just point me in the right direction.”
Thane sighed, then pointed off towards the back exit of the bar. The array of scars and faded tattoos on his forearms flashed in the firelight. “Alright then. Head that way, when you get to the main road that leads through the city follow that and you’ll find signs for the funicular railway. It'll take you up the mountain. The souls who’re passing on are at the top.” He handed her a tarnished bronze coin, which she pocketed. “For the ticket.”
“Thank you, Thane. I really appreciate it.”
He smiled sadly, nodding. “I hope you find peace.”
Relieved, she started walking, but paused at the door to look back at the mountain of a man stood at the bar looking conflicted. The bartender passed him a tankard, and then she was gone.