Faith's hand moved with practiced efficiency, drawing a gun from beneath her jacket. The weapon already had a silencer attached, though its bulk suggested additional modifications.

I remained motionless as Faith raised the gun, noting how her aim deliberately avoided me. The creature shuffled closer, its movements jerky and unnatural. The decay-scent grew stronger, making my nose wrinkle.

The gunshots shattered the courtyard's silence - far louder than television or movies had led me to expect. The sound echoed off the brick walls as Faith fired three precise shots.

The creature collapsed, holes smoking in its grey flesh as if the bullets were made of acid. The smell of burning tissue mixed with the earlier decay, creating a nauseating combination.

"You're surprisingly calm," Faith observed, keeping the gun ready but lowered.

"I suppose I am." I studied the smoking corpse with clinical detachment. The creature looked almost human, save for its grey complexion and obvious state of decay.

Faith's eyes narrowed. "This isn't normal. Ghouls shouldn't be active during daylight hours." She took a step toward the body but stopped, her attention snapping back to me. "But that doesn't mean we're done."

Her expression hardened. "What did you do to Liam?"

I weighed my options carefully. The truth seemed absurd - how could I explain that I was Liam, trapped in succubus body?

"I didn't do anything to Liam." I kept my voice steady, meeting Faith's gaze. "I'm looking for him, same as you."

Faith's grip on her gun tightened. "Why? I never saw you when we were together."

"It's complicated." I shifted my weight, buying time to construct my response. "I know him from way back."

"Bullshit." Faith's eyes narrowed to slits. "Liam never mentioned you. Not once."

I shrugged. "Maybe you never asked about his past relationships." The words came easily because they were true - Faith had never shown interest in my romantic history. "As for why I'm looking for him... I need to know what happened."

Faith's expression suddenly changed, anger flashing across her features. "Stop it. Right now."

"Stop what?" The genuine confusion in my voice matched my internal state.

"Whatever you're using to mess with my mind." Her knuckles whitened around the gun's grip. "Just like the first time at the café. Making me trust you, feel comfortable around you."

I did a quick internal check, scanning my mana flow for any unconscious use of succubus charm. Nothing. My supernatural abilities remained dormant.

"I'm not doing anything," I said, spreading my hands to show they were empty. "I don't understand-"

"If you're not doing anything," Faith's voice trembled with tension, "then explain why every instinct I have screams that you're the most dangerous thing I've ever encountered." Her gun remained at her side, but her fingers twitched with readiness. "That I shouldn't relax for even a moment around you."

She shook her head, frustration evident in her expression. "Yet somehow you feel trustworthy. Like I could tell you anything. It's like you're messing with my head."

"I promise, I'm not doing anything." I kept my voice soft, soothing. "Whatever you're feeling, it's coming from your side."

"Even if that's true," Faith's jaw clenched, "it doesn't change what you are. Or rather, what you're not." Her eyes locked onto mine. "You're not human. That fact alone makes you dangerous."

The accusation hung in the air between us. I studied her face, noting the mix of fear and determination in her features. Part of me wanted to laugh at the irony - she was right, of course, but not in the way she imagined.

"What makes you think I'm not human?" I asked carefully, genuinely curious about the reason behind her assertion.

"At first, I didn't catch it," Faith said, her gun still ready at her side. "But watching you more closely... every single movement you make is perfect. Too perfect."

Her eyes tracked my posture, making me suddenly self-conscious. "The way you walk, stand, gesture - it's like watching a dance. Even now, completely still, you look like a photograph composed by a master artist."

I mulled this over. As Liam, I'd moved efficiently and masculine because it felt right. This body's grace was different, yet I still followed its natural flow - fighting it would be as pointless as trying to be graceful in my old form. But Faith's description made me aware of how dramatically my movements must've changed.

"And your looks..." Faith shook her head. "You're beyond beautiful. It's not just good genes or careful maintenance. You look like someone digitally enhanced a supermodel - perfect in a way that shouldn't exist in reality."

I suppressed a sigh. The glamour spell could mask my demonic features, but it couldn't fundamentally alter my appearance. Succubi were designed to be supernaturally attractive, and no glamour could fully hide that fact.

"But there's something else." Faith's voice softened, confusion creeping in. "Something that's been bothering me since we first met. Everything about you feels familiar somehow. The way you talk, your mannerisms, how you react to things..." She frowned. "It all reminds me of Liam, despite you being nothing like Liam."

"I've dealt with my share of supernatural creatures and monsters," Faith said, her voice hardening. "They all mess with human perception in some shape or form, trying to appear more friendly, more harmless. This feels exactly like that."

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"Couldn't it all just be a coincidence?" I asked, testing the waters.

Faith let out a harsh laugh. "Right. And I'm the Queen of England." She gestured at the ghoul's corpse with her free hand. "Look at yourself. A normal person would be shaking, probably throwing up in the corner after seeing this thing. And when I pulled my gun? You didn't even blink. No flinch, no startled jump - nothing."

I glanced at the decaying remains. The ghoul's grey flesh had already started to crumble into ash, its unnaturally long fingers curled into claws even in death.

"Most humans would be freaking out right now," Faith continued. "But you're standing there like we're discussing the weather. Add that to your impossible beauty and movements..." She shook her head. "Too many unique traits together. The odds of you being human are practically zero."

I considered my options. Faith had already made up her mind, and continuing to deny the obvious would only damage what little trust remained between us.

"You're right," I said with a sigh. "I'm not human. At least, not anymore." The truth felt bitter on my tongue. "But that doesn't mean I intend any harm. I genuinely want to find Liam and understand what happened to him."

Faith's internal struggle played across her face - duty warring with instinct. Finally, she lowered her gun and returned it to its holster.

"I'm probably going to regret this," she muttered, "but I'm going to trust you." She fixed me with a stern look. "Before we go any further though, I need to know exactly what you are."

I took a deep breath, weighing my next words carefully. "Fine. I'll tell you what I am - but only if you promise to be equally honest."

Faith's hand twitched near her holster before she nodded. "That's... fair. Though I warn you, some details are classified."

"Just try not to get startled," I said, glancing around the empty courtyard. Finding no witnesses, I let my glamour fade.

Faith's eyes widened as my true form emerged - the horns curving upwards from my temples, my white hair shimmering with otherworldly light, and the bat-like wings unfurling behind me. Her hand moved to her gun but stopped halfway.

"So. A demon." She let out a long breath. "A succubus, specifically, judging by the looks. Well, that explains the impossible beauty and grace." Her professional mask slipped back into place. "Though demons aren't really my department's expertise."

I kept my movements slow and deliberate as I restored my glamour. "And what department would that be?"

"Agency for Occult Regulation. Vampire Control Division, specifically. We mostly handle vampires and their ilk." Faith crossed her arms. "But what would a succubus want with Liam? Unless..." Her face paled. "Don't tell me. Did he sign any contracts? Make any deals?"

"No," I replied firmly. "Liam never signed anything with demons. I can promise you that."

"You sound very certain about that." Faith's eyes narrowed, studying my features with renewed intensity.

"I've known Liam for a very long time," I said carefully, choosing each word with precision. "Very intimately, in fact." The truth rang in my words, even if Faith couldn't understand their full meaning. After all, who could know Liam more intimately than I did, being him?

Faith ran a hand through her hair, processing this revelation. "So, before we dated... you and him..." She let out a long breath. "I never expected that. Liam dating a succubus." A small, almost hysterical laugh escaped her. "Though I guess it explains his endless stamina in bed."

I nearly choked, managing to keep my composure through sheer willpower.

"It's not what you think-" I started, then caught myself. How could I possibly explain this without revealing too much?

"No, no, I get it. Demon lover teaching him all the tricks." She crossed her arms. "Did you two have some kind of arrangement? Or was it more serious?"

The questions made my head spin. Every possible answer felt like stepping into a minefield of complications.

"We shared a deeper connection," I finally managed to say. The irony wasn't lost on me. Faith thought she was talking to Liam's demon ex-lover, not realizing she was actually speaking to Liam. It would have been almost funny if it weren't so complicated.

I cleared my throat, desperate to change the subject. "So, now that you know what I am, perhaps you could tell me more about yourself? Why do you care so much about Liam after breaking up with him? Is your... vampire division involved somehow?"

Faith stood silent for a moment, her fingers drumming against her holster. "It's complicated."

"Try me." I gave her a wry smile. "I'm very good at complicated."

She let out a heavy sigh. "It started as an assignment. The Agency found traces of ancient spell on Liam and I was ordered to monitor him."

My heart skipped a beat. They'd detected something even back then? I kept my face neutral, gesturing for her to continue.

"At first, it was just work. Get close, gather intel, report back. Standard procedure." Faith's professional mask cracked, revealing genuine emotion underneath. "But then I actually got to know him. His dry humor, his brilliant mind, the way his eyes lit up when solving complex problems..."

I felt a strange twist in my chest. Her words painted a picture of myself - of Liam - that I'd almost forgotten.

"I fell in love," Faith admitted quietly. "Really, truly in love. It wasn't part of the mission. It wasn't supposed to happen."

"What changed?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.

"After a year of surveillance, the higher-ups decided whatever spell was it was long gone. They reassigned me to active duty." Faith's shoulders slumped. "I knew my work was dangerous. I'd seen what happened to agents' families when supernatural creatures discovered them. So, I ended it."

"To protect him," I finished.

"Yeah." Faith ran a hand through her hair. "Then he vanished. When evidence of vampiric presence was found at his apartment, I volunteered to monitor the place. Hoped whatever vampire was involved might return."

I raised an eyebrow. "Is that why you were so suspicious when you found me there?"

"Exactly." Faith nodded. "At first, I thought you were the vampire responsible. But then you walked out in broad daylight without any protection or magical signature. It didn't add up."

Faith straightened, returning to business. "We should focus on what matters. Two days ago, our surveillance cameras caught something interesting." She pulled out her phone, showing me a grainy image. "Liam was spotted with a group of vampires near King's Cross."

I stared at the photo, my blood running cold. There I was - or rather, there my original body was - walking with several pale figures in dark clothing.

I studied the grainy photo, my stomach churning. "Do you think he's been turned?"

The question came out steadier than I felt. The implications hit me hard - if my original body had become a vampire, returning to it would mean another complete transformation. From human to succubus, and now potentially to vampire? The thought of spending another four months adjusting to new instincts and cravings made me mentally exhausted.

My fingers traced the space where my horns should be if not for the glamour. Being Lily had become... comfortable. Natural, even. The hunger, the innate grace, the magical abilities - they were all second nature now. Perhaps staying as Lily wouldn't be so terrible.

I shook my head slightly. That was a decision for later, after I actually found my old body.

"It's possible," Faith replied, studying my reaction. "The vampires he was seen with belong to an old bloodline. They're selective about who they turn." She tucked her phone away. "But we won't know for certain until we find him."

"We?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Look, I know working with a demon isn't exactly a standard procedure." Faith crossed her arms. "But you clearly want to find Liam, and right now, I'll take any help I can get." She gestured toward the street. "Our nearest office is ten minutes away. We can pool our resources there, compare notes, brainstorm ideas."

"Is that safe?" I asked carefully. "Won't your colleagues object to a demon walking into their headquarters?"

Faith's lips quirked into a half-smile. "It's not like we don't utilize supernatural help. Two of my work colleagues are vampires and one is a fairy." She shrugged. "What is one more supernatural creature going to change?"