Zaira was prepping meals for the week. She was taking advantage of Callie’s newfound interest in her stuffie collection. Said little one was on the floor in the living room, playing with the numerous stuffies she had acquired. The Rosses had been more than generous. Zaira cut up the veggies for the chili, soup, and spaghetti sauce she would freeze. Callie had been much more open to trying new foods now that Zaira’s milk had come in. As long as she got her milk first, Callie would try anything. She seemed to really like tomatoes, hence this week’s food selection. She’ll hide the veggies she hadn’t introduced yet in the sauce.

A gasp interrupted the sound of chopping celery, followed by a scream. Zaira felt her ears rattle with its intensity.

The Yulmuth whipped around to see who was in trouble. Hannah was standing by the door, eyes wide, hands over her face. The sound of the knife clattering on the floor echoed in the room.

When the first scream ended Hannah took in a few short breaths before letting out another shorter scream. Zaira could hear Callie crying behind her. Zaira glanced in her direction. The baby was reaching for her mama, but she was still safe in her play area. Zaira turned her attention back to Hannah. The elder human had taken a few steps inside the house, towards the living room, but her eyes remained fixed on Zaira.

Still puzzled, Zaira took another step towards her friend, reaching out to her. Hannah took another step towards the living room. Zaira was about to ask what was wrong, but she spotted her outstretched hand, and her question was answered.

Red skin.

Zaira’s vision blurred. The floor rose to meet her. She was on her knees. It was over. She heard Hannah move away. How long did they have to get out? Where would they go? Calliope, where was she? She needed to find her and get out.

Panic settled in her chest. Zaira scrambled across the floor. Beating Hannah to Callie. When she felt a little body, she took her daughter in her arms. The Yulmuth cocooned herself and Callie in her wings, protecting them against the contempt and blows to come.

Zaira rocked herself and her crying child. Callie's cries lessened as she buried herself in her momma’s chest. She heard footsteps move around them. Hannah was only one old lady. They could escape now - before reinforcements were called. Perhaps they should move to a non-human community? It would be safer for Callie. She could pass as a Yulmuth. Or maybe it was time to come clean as a Borim. Stop living a lie in non-human communities. If she admitted everything to Rushka, could they help her get a lighter sentence? But, no matter what her sentence, Callie would need to find a new home…

Zaira sobbed at the thought. Despite the impending danger, her body was too heavy with conflicting emotions to move towards safety. It was over before it had truly begun, and just because she couldn’t keep a few measly glamour spells up.

“Zaira?”

Her name hit her eardrums harder than the earlier scream.

The demon’s head snapped up. Hannah was still there. Looking at them. No aggression. Hands wringing together, eyes fixated on them.

“What are you still doing here? Don’t you have the cops to call? An angry mob to summon so you can murder us?” She spat out bitterly.

Zaira couldn’t help it. She had lived in fear all her life. A switch had flipped, and panic gave way to anger. She held Callie tighter to her.

Hannah took a step back. She shook her head. She was pale and taking measured breaths.

“What are you?”

“What does it matter? Want to go on a witch hunt for the rest of us?”

Zaira bared her teeth.

They were much sharper than a human’s and they served their purpose as Hannah took a step back.

Zaira took the opportunity to start moving backward towards the rear exit. She watched the wheels in Hannah's mind spin as she slowly inched towards freedom. Her wings brushed against the wall. Zaira reached for the door behind her, eyes steeled on the intruder, muscles tense and ready to launch into flight.

“Wait!”

The tone froze Zaira. She kept her hand on the doorknob. But, despite her better judgment, she waited for - something.

“Can we talk?” The words were merely a whisper. Hannah cleared her throat and straightened herself to stand taller. The next words were spoken by a stern mother to her child. “I know you are ready to bolt out that door. But I don’t want to lose a friend without an explanation. So please, hear me out.”

Zaira frowned. Hannah was pale, she was holding herself tightly, eyes flicking between Zaira and Callie. Defensive but truthful. Friend? A trick perhaps?

“What do you want?” She growled. Callie whimpered and Zaira rubbed her head in an attempt to soothe her.

“To understand what I am seeing,” Hannah spoke softly now, Zaira could see her hands were shaking. The elder human took a couple steps toward them.

“You have no phone?”

“No.”

“And Ryan where is he?”

“At home. Busy with a project.”

Zaira forced herself to sit up straighter. She stretched her stiff muscles, but she made sure she could still open the door at a moment’s notice. She rubbed her sniffling girl’s back.

“You stay right by that door.”

Hannah nodded and backed up to the kitchen door.

“What will it take for me to convince you not to get us killed?”

“You should know by now that I'm not one for violence. I've had more than enough of that. I just need to know, is Callie safe?”

Zaira bared her teeth. It was a logical question, but one that ripped at her heart either way. “I am her mother.”

“And are we safe?”

“In all of my time here was there even a moment where you questioned your safety around me?”

“No.”

Hannah shuffled on her feet. The elder looked around. Zaira tracked her movements as she entered the kitchen. Hannah put on arm on the counter before going down on her knees. Hannah crawled back into sight and shuffled into the most comfortable sitting position she could muster.

They sat there, staring at one another. Even Hanna was at a loss for words. Callie had fallen asleep, exhausted from the danger she could sense but not identify. The baby was tense, fist grasping her mother’s shirt tightly. Zaira’s body still hummed with tension.

“She is not afraid of you?”

“Fear is learned.”

Hannah dipped her head and looked at the sleeping girl. “Wouldn’t she be better off with a human instead of - whatever you are?”

“She’s not human.”

Hannah’s eyes scrutinized the baby in the demon’s arms, looking for any hint that she may not be human. She didn’t seem convinced, her eyes still hard. Zaira couldn’t fault her, this species of witch had been around humans and their sister species for so long and had often bred with them. They were nearly indistinguishable.

“She is a witch and... cross-species adoptions aren’t all that uncommon.”

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Silence settled once more. Hannah looked everywhere but at Zaira. Zaira took the opportunity to properly check on Callie for the first time. Zaira looked down at her sleeping face. It was all scrunched up. She brushed a lock of hair off the little face then ran her finger over the girl’s frown. Down and up, down and up. The little creases lessened and then disappeared.

“So, what do you do for a living?”

“I mostly retrieve people from tight spaces…”

“I’m sorry what?”

Zaira shrugged. “I’m not officially licensed, but sometimes rescue crews can’t get there in time or it’s too hard for them to get through. So Rushka contacts me.” Or Shahar lately.

“That’s not quite what I was expecting.”

Zaira gave her a pinched smile.

“So Rushka is in Search and Rescue?”

“They are on rotation, just like the rest of the angels.” To preserve their sanity, I suppose. Hop from one type of horror to another.

“Like the rest of the…angels?

“Mmm.”

“You are friends… with an angel?”

“Yes.”

“Well – If an angel trusts you so do I.”

“That seems like an oversimplification.”

Hannah drummed her fingers on the hardwood floor. “Perhaps, but, like you said, I’ve never had any reason to doubt you. Well, that’s not true, your work always seemed off. But now.” Hannah closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “Now I am anxious to see what comes next.”

Zaira’s head felt light, she had trouble focusing on the human in front of her.

Just like that?

Hannah was a very odd human.

The last time a human had found out… And it happened everywhere, all the time.

Hannah was a special human. To even consider…

Zaira wiped at her tears.

Hannah gave her a sad smile. She felt the same care Hannah had always had reach her across the room. But it wasn’t quite as all-encompassing. Trust would need to be built again.

“I beg your pardon, but you are a demon, right?”

“I am a… Yulmuth… Which is a species of demon.”

“There are different species of demons?”

Zaira let out a short laugh. “Yes.”

“How many?” Hannah asked, wide-eyed.

“I couldn’t even begin to count them all. Thousands of species of Demona, thousands of Overworlders, and even a few hundred Underworlders.”

“Underworlders?”

“Mmm, Death’s people, as opposed to Our Ruler’s.”

“Our Ruler’s?”

“I don’t know which name he prefers Hannah.” Zaira rubbed at her temple with her free hand. “Hannah… Perhaps we can talk about this another day, but now, I am very tired.”

“Of course.” Hannah pulled herself up using the doorknob. She looked back to Zaira. “There’s a lot to talk about isn’t there?”

Zaira nodded. “You- You won’t send anyone after us?”

“No dear. Your secret is safe with me.”

Hannah joined them at the back door. Zaira looked up to the woman she normally towered over. She felt incredibly small and weak. She remembered her human husband towering over her the day he found out she was part demon. But he had beat her as well and ripped her son from her arms. He threatened to tell their entire village. A treat which he followed up on.

“Please don’t tell anyone.”

“I don’t keep secrets from Ryan.”

“No! Please!” Zaira stood abruptly, forcing Hannah to take a step a step back. She startled Callie who started crying once more. Zaira placed her hand on Hannah’s shoulder and held Callie close with the other. “Ryan will not handle this as well as you.”

“No, he won’t. But I’ll ease him into it. You won’t have to worry about him.”

There was a knock on the door. Zaira threw all her glamours back up before the doorknob started turning.

The door cracked open. “Hannah?” Ryan took a step in and spotted the both of them. They’d taken a step back from one another. “What’s wrong?”

Hannah shook her head. “I’ll explain later.”

“Ok… Um, well. Did you ask Zaira?”

“Ask me what?”

“I need help with a build.” Ryan rubbed the back of his head.

Some life seemed to return to Hannah. “Ha! I told you!”

“Don’t push it, love.” Ryan rolled his eyes and turned to Zaira. “I need an extra set of hands to hold the pieces of the cabinet together.”

“Yes of course.” Zaira jumped to attention. She shifted Callie in her arms. The baby wasn’t crying anymore but she was red in the face and sucking on fingers. Zaira grabbed the diaper bag. She was grateful for the opportunity to pretend the last half hour had not happened. She would gather her thoughts during the task. She glanced at Hannah.

“Thank you, Zaira.” Hannah gave her a tight smile. No doubt she needed to process things as well.

An hour later Zaira had managed to help Ryan assemble the base of the new crystal cabinet that Hannah had ordered. She could see why he had needed help. The instructions seemed to assume some of the pieces would be able to float while you screwed them together. According to Ryan, they had gone to the two antique stores in Nanowin with no luck, though Hannah had bought some more crystal, much to Ryan’s dismay. Hannah had gotten this one shipped to them and had apparently left to fetch Zaira for help to bring the pieces in. Ryan had managed that on his own during their – conversation.

Hannah and Callie were making cookies in the kitchen. In between steps Zaira had spotted Hannah inspecting Callie. She supposed that she was looking for any proof she wasn’t human. She wouldn’t find proof. For now, the only thing different about Callie was her energy signature.

They heard a key in the lock and a knock on the door just before it opened. Zaira froze. Oh, that’s right. Arthur was in Nanowin this week for work and it was Monday. Zaira looked at him from the living room. There was something about the boy that rubbed her the wrong way. She’d only seen him from afar, but her stomach turned every time she saw him. It seems up close wasn’t much better. She wanted to punch him in the face. She pushed the intrusive thought aside when she heard Callie coo at the new face.

“Now who could that be?” Hannah asked Callie.

Hannah scooped Callie out of her highchair and went to greet Arthur at the door.

“Arthur!” Hannah gave him a tight hug and a kiss on the forehead. “How did the meeting go?”

Arthur was about to answer before Hannah threw the next question at him, then another. Hannah’s flurry of questions was unanswerable and Zaira wondered if it was the nervous pent-up energy or if the novelty of Arthur’s visits hadn’t worn off yet.

Zaria saw the man almost physically recoil from the verbal barrage. Zaira was about to step in, to let Hannah know the boy needed to breathe, but Callie beat her to it. The baby started to whine, she was trapped too close between the two adults and started twisting in Hannah’s arms, away from Arthur.

“And who’s this? One of Julian’s kids?”

“No, actually. She’s our neighbor’s.” Ryan pointed to Zaira, whom he was standing next to.

Zaira sent a quick wave his way.

“You haven’t seen Julian lately?” Hannah said as she brought Callie back to her mother.

“No, I told you, mum, we aren’t really close.”

“Oh.”

“Zaira this is Arthur. Arthur, Zaira.” Ryan introduced the two and they shook hands.

“Nice to finally meet you.”

“Likewise.”

They stood back from one another, each looking to the Rosses for help.

“Well, what have you been up to? How’s that business going?” Ryan led his eldest further into the house and into the living room. Hannah followed suit.

Zaira crept her way towards the door. Her foot landed on a squeaky floorboard, drawing Hannah’s attention.

“Oh, don’t be a stranger dear.” Hannah returned to her and took her arm, leading her to the living room. “You are just as much family as Arthur.”

Zaira’s heart skipped a beat. She studied Hannah’s face. There was no lie there. Zaira held back tears as she returned to sit by the abandoned project in the living room. She placed Callie on the floor in front of her to entertain her while the Rosses conversed.

The conversation felt tense, or at least Zaira felt tense. Hannah and Ryan seemed happy to listen to their boy and ask questions. Arthur kept glancing her way. One of the few times she looked over Callie to the couch, Zaira could’ve sworn she had seen Arthur glare at her. But it was so short, she could have imagined it. Arthur was still talking to his father about business analytics.

The sound of the kitchen timer interrupted the flow of conversation.

“Oh, that would be our cookies, Callie!” Hannah clapped towards the baby, “Yay!” and headed into the kitchen.

Zaira took the opportunity and followed Hannah to the stove. She stood nearby, though still a safe distance from the stove as she had the baby in her arms, to watch as Hannah slipped some oven mitts on and took out the cookie tray.

“Did you mean that?”

Zaira barely realized those words had crossed her lips. Hannah reached out and squeezed her shoulder. The elder human gave her a sad smile.

“Yes.” Hannah took shook a finger at her. “But you better be ready for a proper grilling.”

“Of course.” Zaira laughed through the tears as she brushed them away.

“Cookie?”

“Thank you.”

Zaira took the offered cookie and broke a piece. She blew on the little piece and offered it to Callie once she was sure it was cool enough. Callie reached out – and grabbed the hot cookie instead.

Hannah gasped.

Zaira dropped what she was still holding and forced the little hand open so the baby would also drop what she was holding.

Callie started crying.

“Is everything alright?”

Ryan walked into the kitchen.

“She just grabbed a hot cookie,” Zaira explained as she took the cool cloth offered to her by Hannah and sat the baby on the counter by the sink.

Zaira held the cloth on the little hand for a bit. She pulled the cloth away to have a look. The skin wasn’t even red. Had the hand not been covered in cookie crumbs and melted chocolate Zaira would not even know which hand to clean.

Curious.

“She’s ok.” She said to the worried grandparents. “She still wants a cookie though.” Zaira laughed.

Callie was very upset. The little girl was stretching her arms out towards the cooling rack filled to bursting with the delicious lumps of chocolatey sugared flour. Zaira caught her as she leaned too far away from the counter.

“Phew,” Hannah said. She walked over to the cooling tray and held her hand over the cookies to find the coolest one. She broke the outside edge off of it and brought it to Callie where she could not reach any other piece.

Callie took the offering with one hand then the other and shoved the piece in her mouth. Partly chewing on it; partly sucking on it.

“My friend didn’t let his kids eat sweets until they were two,” Arthur said.

He was standing in the doorway between the kitchen and living room, watching the scene.

The mother shrugged. “A little bit once in a while won’t hurt.”

“Exactly,” Hannah cooed as she watched the baby eat.

Zaira picked up the cloth she had used to cool Callie’s hand and used it to clean the modeling clay-like mess on the floor. She rinsed it off and noticed a very different curious thing. There was a bottle of windshield wiper fluid on the counter. Odd. She and Ryan kept those in the garage.

“What’s that doing in here?”

“My bad,” Arthur said. “I meant to ask my dad for help with my car.”

“To replace your windshield wiper fluid?”

“A bit more than that really. On that note, Dad, could you take a look under the hood for me please?”

“Yeah, sure. Why don’t we go now, before supper?”

“Sure.”

Father and son made their way out. Arthur grabbed the bottle of windshield wiper fluid on the way.

“Right.” Hannah bounced. “I got pie dough and pie filling ready to assemble in the fridge. Mind taking that out dear?” Hannah took three cookies and put them on a plate. “I’ll bring these out to our backyard friend.”

The elder went to leave but stopped short of the door. She turned to Zaira and whispered. “When you told me it was a puck-woo-gie. Did you see it?”

“No. I had to do some research. They are solitary creatures, so they certainly won’t be going into town very often, and I’m not about to chase a cryptid in its home territory.”

“They come into town?”

“I mean I’ve never seen one in town.”

“Wouldn’t the press have a field day?”

“Oh. No, no. I meant a non-human town.”

“They have non-human towns?”

“Well, yeah.”

“Oh.”

“Sorry, I shouldn’t assume that you would know that.”

“It’s ok dear. As I said, many questions.”

Hannah headed outside and Zaira pulled out the pie crust and filling.

They filled the two meat pies efficiently and they were in the oven in no time. Zaira breastfed Callie while the pie baked. It took a bit of work to convince Hannah that breastfeeding adopted babies wasn’t just possible for non-humans, but that humans had also developed a hormone therapy to allow it.

Time passed and it wasn’t too long before Hannah called the boys in for dinner. The elder human went to set the table and the demon carved out some of the meat pie for a doggie-bag, upon Hannah’s insistence. Zaira wouldn’t complain. As she sealed the container, she spotted Arthur and Ryan talking by the chopping block. They laughed and Ryan took the plate and slid the cookies onto the ground. They laughed and headed towards the backdoor, plate in hand.

Well, that was rude.

She knew Ryan thought Hannah was overreacting, maybe a little crazy for believing in the cryptid, but he usually respected her wishes. She’d have to remember to tell Hannah to put another plate out. The fey usually reacted badly to botched offerings, she wasn’t sure about pukwudgies.

During dinner Callie mostly played with her pie, occasionally licking off what was on her fingers. Arthur had barely touched his food and kept looking at Callie like he’d never seen a baby before. Arthur seemed to expect her to fling food his way at any moment and he had made sure to sit as far away from the rugrat as possible. They didn’t stay for dessert, though she took a couple cookies to go. Zaira made her excuses, thanked the Rosses, and headed to the door. Arthur looked relieved to see her go.

Hannah followed her onto the porch.

“I’ll tell Ryan as soon as Arthur leaves.”

“Hannah…”

“Don’t worry, we’ll figure it out.”

“Hannah, you don’t understand. The last time a human found out about me, my son died.”

The elder’s eyes went wide, and her mouth opened.

“They killed my boy. They tried to kill me. I know you can’t do anything to me, but Callie?”

“We are not going to hurt Callie,” Hannah whispered. “And we are not going to hurt you.”

“Maybe. Maybe you will let me leave with Callie. But I will end up hurt in any case. You forced me into your life and you made me care and now you will have me leave.”

Hannah’s eyes filled with tears, mirroring her own. “Oh dear.” The elder walked slowly to the demon and gingerly wrapped her arms around her. “Shhh… I’ll try my best to keep the peace.”

Hannah pulled away. “We’ll still be family, you’ll see.”

Zaira sniffled then snorted. “I’m way older than you, you know.”

“Maybe in years.” Hannah gave her a wink. “Goodnight you two.”

“Oh, and Hannah?”

“Mmm?”

“You should take a slice of pie out to your backyard tenant.”