An hour passed. V’zul drove through the late-night city. Rain poured down as streetlights illuminated the wet and black road. His windshield wiper kept his vision clear. He turned a corner and arrived at a suburban neighborhood and parked his car in front of a white house.

He turned around, reached into the backseat, and grabbed a yellow umbrella. V’zul opened his door and held the umbrella above his head. Hastily, he walked to his house and unlocked the door entering a well-lit home. Inside the house sat a purple-skinned woman. She was reading through a book.

“Welcome home,” she said softly.

V’zul closed his umbrella and hung it on a coat rack. “Hello again,” he replied. “How’s the night been treating you?”

Katie closed her book and rested her legs on the couch with a smile. “Mines was definitely more exciting than yours.”

V’zul shook his head and walked into the kitchen. He opened the refrigerator and grabbed a bottle of red wine. Katie stood at the doorway, watching him move around the kitchen.

“Hey,” she said, grabbing his attention. “Aren’t you forgetting something?”

He placed his drink on the counter and walked toward her with open arms. She wrapped her arms around his waist and kissed his lips. They enjoyed the moment before he removed his lips and gently pressed his forehead against hers.

“Sorry,” he whispered.

“It’s alright, lover boy.”

V’zul chuckled at her title and kissed her forehead while slowly running his hand through her black and purple dreadlocks. She pulled back while gently dragging the tip of her claws across his cheek.

“There. Now about my drink.”

“Go on,” she said while pointing at his wine glass. “Bring me some too.”

After a few minutes, V’zul sat on the couch next to her and handed Katie a glass of wine. She grabbed it and dumped it all into her mouth.

“Jesus…” V’zul chuckled shaking his head.

“What?”

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

Katie placed her legs on his lap and watched the television.“I’m always going to be the better drinker.”

“Yeah, well,” V’zul replied as he watched the television. “You’re not even human, to begin with, so you’re a damn cheater.”

“Be jealous,” she smirked.

An hour passed and they both fell asleep on each other as their background entertainment quietly played.

----------------------------------------

Daybreak came and sun rays slowly pierced through their window and Katie’s skin began to change upon contact with light. She turned white, and her hair turned blonde. Her hair began to undo the dreads, transforming into long natural hair. Her claws turned into fingers, but her nails remained long and sharp.

V’zul was the first to awaken. He looked up to see his supernatural partner lying on top of him. Drool mixed with wine oozed from her mouth and onto his forehead. He raised his hand and tapped her cheek three times in quick succession. She slowly opened her eyes, revealing golden balls with sharp, vertical pupils.

“Get the hell off of me, will you? You’re drooling on me.”

Katie rolled over and fell onto the floor. Upon her landing, something broke beneath her. She stood up and sat on her knees. Glass shards glistened on the carpet, and some stabbed into her black clothing.

“Oh man,” she said nonchalantly.

V’zul sat up and looked at the glass. “You’re so damn reckless sometimes.”

“Hush,” she said holding her palm in his face. “I don’t wanna hear your criticisms.”

He stood to his feet and walked away to clean himself. After a few minutes, he returned wearing a blue suit.

“I’m going to the police station here in a few minutes.”

Katie stood up and stretched her arms. “I will be going with.”

“We will be leaving in ten.”

V’zul walked to his kitchen to get something to eat. Katie vacuumed up the glass and turned the television off. She placed her index nail on the wall and swiped it across, opening a small, purple portal, and revealing a coat, floating in a purple abyss. She reached inside it and pulled out a black trench coat. V’zul looked over to see what she was doing and raised his right hand.

“You’re not even going to change your clothes?!”

“What?” she looked down at her wine-stained leather and shrugged. “Oh, that. Don’t worry. I’ll just mask the scent. And get rid of these stains real quick.”

He pursed his lips, looked down at the counter, and sighed.

Katie’s clothes suddenly burst into golden flames removing all the wine and scent from her. The fire quickly dissipated, and she put her trench coat on.

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“See,” she said, “It’s all good.”

V’zul’s eyes widened at what he witnessed.

“I’ll be in the car,” she said as her body phased through the wall.

He finished his morning routine and walked to his car. V’zul saw his wife sitting in the driver's seat waiting, patiently for him. He entered through the passenger seat and fastened his seatbelt.

Katie reached into her coat and retrieved a pair of shades. They drove through the city, now, thriving with people. Loud televisions hung off skyscrapers playing advertisements. Horns honking and people talking and laughing could be heard all around her. After a few minutes of driving through the bustling city, they reach a two-story building. Some police cars were parked in front of the station. A larger number could be seen on the side of the building, locked behind a gate.

They entered and were greeted by passing police officers and detectives. They walked into the office, and a man beckoned them to his desk. V’zul gestured for his wife to remain where she was standing. Katie slowly shook her head and followed him.

“Yo! What’s up!” the man said with an eccentric tone. He held out his hand and shook both of theirs. He was a shorter, muscular man with long red hair.

“Hey,” V’zul responded. “How’s it going, Avalon?”

“Same shit. Different day.”

V’zul placed his elbows on the desk. “So, got anything that we can help with today?”

Avalon slammed his hand on the desk and ferociously dragged a folder to him. He opened it and quickly skimmed through all the files. He twitched and thrust his knee at the bottom of his desk, and slammed the bottom of his desk, causing some of the drawers to open and papers to fall out.

“Son of a bitch!” he shouted.

He reached down to grab his papers but suddenly dismissed it and ignored the mess he had made.

“Anyway! Yeah, I got somethin’ for you.”

He pushed a sheet of paper toward them.

“A haunting at 36th street,” V’zul thought out loud.

“Yeah,” Avalon grabbed the papers off the floor and stuffed them back in his drawer. “Some guy came in and was freaking out about it. I told his ass to go to the church for this shit before coming into a damn police station.”

“Did he?” Katie spoke, breaking her silence.

“Well, he told me he did and that they blessed his house. Did that do anything? No. I was about to call you freaky mother…” he stopped and darted his eyes around. “Fuckers. But you both came to me instead. Funny how that works.”

Katie leaned back in her chair and placed her arm on the back of her husband's neck.

V’zul was still reading over the paper ignoring Avalon’s sporadic nature. He stood up and reached out to shake his hand. “It was nice talking to you, bud. We’ll be off now.”

Avalon gripped his hand tightly and shook it violently. “Yeah! Nice talking to you too! And the madam!”

Katie stood alongside her husband and followed him to the office exit.

“You should get your own office at your place!” Avalon shouted. “So people can stop flooding us with problems we can’t handle!”

“We’ll think about it!” Katie shouted back.

They both exited the building and drove off to the address.

They arrived in front of a decrepit cobblestone house. The front lawn had green grass and yellow flowers, along with a cobblestone path in the center, dividing the yard. They walked out of the vehicle and followed the path that led to the stairs of the house.

Katie sped up and placed her hand on V’zul’s shoulder. “Stay here for a second. This place makes me feel uneasy.”

He raised an eyebrow. “What do you have to worry about? You’re the magical one.”

“Of course,” she replied. “But you are the one who isn’t so magical. And I would hate to lose you.”

He placed his hands on his hips and pointed to the entrance. “Go ahead. I’ll trust your instinct.”

Katie walked to the door and knocked. She leaned against the door listening for footsteps. A deep bark from a dog erupted on the other side, following the sound of an older man shouting at it.

“Shut yer damn trap!”

She leaned off the door as the lock jiggled. The door swung open, revealing a frail old man.

He looked at her and squinted his eyes. “The hell do you want?”

“Morning. I’m Katie, and that man over there,” she turned and pointed. “Is my husband, V’zul. We heard you had a supernatural problem.”

The old man licked his lips and pointed at her with a crooked finger. “You both priest or somethin’? Well, your damn blessings and rituals did fuck all. This place is still haunted.”

“No,” she answered. “We’re not priests. We’re a solution to your problem.”

He blinked at her.

“Don’t believe me?”

“No,” the old man replied. “I don’t."

Katie lowered her shades, revealing her eyes. “How about now?”

His eyes widened and he took a step backward.“Jesus! Just what in the hell are you?!”

She raised her shades. “I told you: a solution.”

His eyes widened with fear at the sight of her eyes. He shook in place, his face contorting with fear; he backed away from her, bumping into his massive dog. V'zul approached the doorway and looked at Katie with disapproval.

“Sir,” V’zul said. “May we come in?”

“N-no, you may not! What in god's name is that thing?”

“Sir, she’s here to help you get rid of your problem. My wife means you no harm.”

The dog began to bark much louder than last time. She glared at the dog, causing it to whimper and run to the other side of the house.

“Get that damn demon away from me! I knew the blessing on this house didn’t work for shit!”

V’zul shook his head and stepped into the house. He approached the panicked old man and reached into his suit-pulling out a necklace with a golden cross on the bottom of it.

“No harm, sir. The police sent us to help you with your haunting.”

“Really?” he looked over at her; Katie leaned against his doorway, observing his reaction. “ She’s… she’s not gonna kill me and eat my soul?”

“No!” she shouted. “For the last damn time, we’re here to help your stubborn old ass!”

“Enough, Katie,” V’zul commanded. “I will do the talking from here.”

“Tell me,” the old man spoke. “Is she a demon?”

V’zul shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know. But that doesn’t matter right now. Please, calm yourself and tell us your problem.

The old man moved to his living room and sat on a chair next to a fireplace. V’zul sat across from him, and Katie stood in the doorway.

“Katie,” V’zul spoke. “Show him you truly mean no harm.”

A small sigh escaped her upon hearing his orders. She slowly approached the old man. He shook at her approach and began to break into a cold sweat.

“Look,” she knelt on her right knee. “I am going to do nothing to you. You’re a good man. I have no reason to do you no harm.”

She gently placed her hand on his shoulder and rubbed it. “Now, quit shaking in your pants and use your brain for a minute.”

“Alright!” he shouted. “Okay… I-i get it.

She stood back up and walked to the doorway.

“I’m sorry. I’ve just never seen anyone like that before.”

“I understand,” V’zul said in a compassionate voice.”Now please, tell us your name.”

“Richard. That’s my name.”

“So, Richard. What’s been going on?”

He stayed silent for a moment and looked down. He closed his eyes and cleared his throat. “I think there’s a demon. Or somethin’ .”

“Whatever it is, it’s stubborn,” Katie chimed in.

“It only does its bullshit at night though, never at day.”

“Like what?” V’zul narrowed his eyes.

“Tossing stuff around, scaring me and my dog. That kinda stuff. I think it’s trying to give me a damn heart attack.”

“And have you tried to stay with any relatives or a church?”

Richard closed his eyes and let out a deep breath. “I have no relatives. They’re all gone. As for the church, well, I can only stay there so long, y’know?”

“Alright," V'zul popped his knuckles. this won’t be too hard. We will stay here overnight with you. I will keep you safe.”

“What about her?” Richard pointed at Katie.

“Don’t worry. She will take care of the entity physically.”

V’zul stood up and stretched. “Now, let’s eat something while there’s still light. We have the rest of the day before it comes back.