Port city of Ingleport

He was closing in on her. Desperate, Lilith Torrawind put on a final burst of speed, all that her depleted stamina would allow. She had been through too much today to go any faster. She zigzagged around obstructions, hoping to trip her pursuer as her long mane of snow white hair flowed out behind her like a wintery veil. A glance behind told her that instead of leaving him behind he was catching up, his crimson skin sweaty from the exertion. He was fearsome, with two jutting incisors protruding from his lips curving outward nearly reaching the level of his nose. His eyes had deep red irises not uncommon for the Hellborne that seemed to mock her as they briefly met her own. Her gaze returned forward only to widen in shock as her foot snagged on a child’s rocking toy of all things. She fell only managing to brake her fall with a roll that left her on her back just as the figured leapt on her.

No… Lilith thought as she squeezed her eyes shut, bracing herself for what was to come.

“TAG, YOUR IT!” The Hellborne said before laughing and taking off at a run. Lilith sighed. She hated being it. Lilith got to her het surveying her surroundings. Not much had changed since her time here. The Hellway orphanage was still dingy by anyone’s standards, with aging toys and playground equipment rusting over from a decade of neglect. The turf was dry and devoid of any growth extending the entire area as gentle puffs of dust rose at each step as the children made ready to run. Lilith knew full well what this placed lacked, fortunately love wasn’t it.

“All right you guys win,” Lilith said brushing off her baggy gray jumpsuit.

Various cries of disappointment came from all around, as the children left their designated ‘safe spots’ surrounding her. They were a rag tagged bunch, all with various signs of their demonic parentage. Timmy, the boy who just tagged her, was the tallest of the group just a hair shy of her own six foot height. He showed the most signs of his origins with his deep crimson skin, red eyes, and two long horns sticking out of a tuff of black hair on his head. Not to mention his long incisors and prodigious size, despite being only ten. He could almost be taken for a pure demon, if he wasn’t lacking the signature tail. One of his parents was likely a greater demon, but no one would ever know. He was abandoned here just like she was all those years ago. Lilith on the other hand had virtually none of the characteristics of the Hellborne. Slender and pale, she had long silky white hair and yellowish eyes, not unlike a brilliant daffodil. At first they had thought she was a mistake, leaving a child at an orphanage meant for half demons but her two tiny black horns just visible past her hair was all the confirmation anyone needed. She also had the strength and speed of the demonic, more so than anyone she ever met. That didn’t include her nearly an inexhaustible supply of stamina. Except apparently when it comes to running around all morning playing with children. The endless energy of youth was universal, no matter whom your parents are.

“One more time!” A small child cried hugging her leg. She had light red skin and two good size horns sticking out of long auburn hair. Lilith patted her head right between the horns smiling down at the small girl.

“Not today little one,” Lilith said. “I have lots of work today at the docks.” With cries of farewell she left them behind to play. She went inside to talk with the matron. The building was a worn red brick structure that effectively silenced the noise of the children at play. She walked through rooms that could use a thorough cleaning. Perhaps on her next day off she would come here to help with that. Another turn and she exited on to the main hall where an old Hellborne sat in a rocker. Over a hundred years old, the half demon had the look of a middle aged woman minus her demonic given attributes. Homely, she had on a patched blue dress that went well with her pink skin, but clashed with her dark red eyes. Like all Hellborne she had two horns just three inches long on either side of her skull. They were the shortest Lilith had ever seen except her own. Lilith gave a friendly wave as the woman beckoned her over.

“Have fun with the little ones?” The woman said embracing Lilith in a hug so tight it could crush a human’s ribs. Lilith simply returned the strong embrace with one of her own. They released each other slowly walking toward the front doors.

“Hardly,” Lilith scoffed. “The little hell spawns ran me to exhaustion.”

The woman chuckled. “They do that,” then added thoughtfully. “All children do, not just those with a parent from Hell.”

“True enough,” Lilith said also chuckling. She reached into one of her many pockets withdrawing several silver coins. She shoved them into the woman’s hand.

“Oh no, Lilith I can’t…” She began.

“Yes, you can Marith,” Lilith said sternly. “You raised me and all these precious ones with a budget barely enough to feed and clothe them. It’s the least I can do. Besides I’m working a double shift the next few days with the festival of peace starting soon. Skyships will be arriving from both Heaven and Hell. We’ll be swamped.”

“You’re still working the docks then?” Marith said surprised, reluctantly taking the coins. “Then your magic hasn’t blossomed?”

“No,” Lilith said sadly. “I don’t think it ever will.”

Marith nodded sadly. “That seems to be the case. What a shame. Though it isn’t surprising, since your father was probably a half demon.”

“We don’t know that for sure,” Lilith said. “Most Hellborne are infertile. I never heard of one able to bare children from either sex.”

“Yes, it would be rare,” Marith agreed. “But with your faint hellish characteristics it’s the best explanation. I still remember the day your mother showed up; ready to burst at the seams. Never had I seen a woman undergo such a trial. She was nearly incoherent during the entire labor only managing to name you before she died.”

Lilith felt uncomfortable and quickly changed the subject. “Any of the young children showing signs of blossoming magic yet?” All pure demons had demonic magic from birth, with the Hellborne developing the talent during adolescent. Only a miniscule number of the Hellborne had no magic. Everyone agreed that if no magical talent showed by the time a child turned twenty, then it never would. Lilith had just turned twenty was hoping to be a late bloomer. Now she had to face facts, she was a null.

“A few,” Marith said. “Vanir is working with them in the craft shop if you want to swing by.”

Lilith paused a second thinking. “Sure, I have some time before my shift starts.” They detoured away from the front doors walking down a brittle looking hallway with floorboards discolored from age. Each step sent a groaning creak that echoed loudly. Soon they entered a large classroom where a dozen older children were working with Orichalcum infused with the Hell based metal, Talerite. Small pieces of the alloy were arranged on a long bench, each with a single hellrune carved on its surface. The children held the small metal pieces in their hands. They closed their eyes, concentrating attempting to fill the hell metal with magic. A moment later, the hellrunes began to glow a faint red as it absorbed their magic. Lilith went to the far end of the bench picking up a piece of Orichalcum that had so much Talerite in it that it was almost black. The more Talerite in the alloy the easier it was to magically charge it, but also the weaker the power held within. Most agreed that ratio of one in four of Talerite to Orichalcum was the best combination. Less Talerite and fewer Demon or Hellborne could even charge it magically, but it would have vast stores of power. Lilith had heard of a demon who could charge items as low as one in seven. The fee he was charging for such services was astounding. More than Lilith made in a year.

Lilith looked at the metal in her hand closing her eyes as she willed the hellrune carved on its surface to illuminate. It was the simplest of magic, in the easiest of materials. Nothing happened. She sighed she sat it back down on the bench. Quickly a small hand shot out scooping up the metal. A second later the hellrune was glowing fiercely. Lilith smiled down at the small Hellborne girl who powered the metal showing none of the disappointment she felt inside. If only she could have strong magical talent, then she could help the orphanage so much more. She patted the girl between the horns before stepping away from the bench. Together Lilith and Marith left heading to the front door once more.

“Any from the demon’s mage guild come by yet?” Lilith asked. They sought only the most talented of magic users to join their elite ranks. Strong magic users demanded a high price. They ended up spending most of their time magically charging weapons and armor.

“Yes, they were looking at Timmy,” Marith said.

“Timmy!” Lilith exclaimed.

“He didn’t tell you?” Marith said. “He was able to charge a one in five yesterday. Tired him out a lot, but he managed it.”

“A one in five…” Lilith said amazed. What she wouldn’t do to have talent like that.

“I guess he didn’t want to upset you,” Marith said.

“Yeah,” Lilith said defeated. “I guess I’ll just have to get used to being a null, just like a human.”

“You could try working security for a skyship,” Marith offered.

“I might have too. I don’t want to work the docks forever,” Lilith said stopping by the front door.

“Whatever you do child, you always have a home here,” Marith said briefly embracing Lilith again. “Just try to come by more often.” She added releasing her.

“I will,” Lilith promised, exiting her childhood home.

It was a warm summer afternoon and a gust fresh of salty sea air drove the last lingering concerns about her lack of magical ability from Lilith’s mind. She stepped down the rickety steps of the Hellway orphanage as she headed toward town. Lilith was sure to swing around to the side of the building, waving goodbye to the children. They were now running from Timmy, who somehow was it again, as he chased them about the confined yard. They all stopped their game waving back, shouting for her to come back and play with them soon. Lilith promised she would before going off to work.

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The busy streets of Ingleport were a familiar sight. Lilith walked down cobbled streets staying out of the way of horse drawn carriages and the occasional golem driven carriages the wealthier merchants employed. Some argued that golems soon would have all the jobs, but Lilith doubted that very much. While strong and utterly obedient, they couldn’t deal with complex situations. Golems only lasted only two to three years before their power supply were exhausted. Less if the golem worked constantly. The cost to restore a golem was astronomical. Most employers did have one or two to do heavy work, but they were inactive most of the time. The only area that used them was often was mercenary forces, which would rent them out for exorbitant fees. They were a status symbol, nothing more as far as she was concerned.

Soon the familiar dock side came into view as she crested a large hill. Buildings that were constructed with crude but serviceable red bricks lined the water front for all the various businesses that operated on the wharf. Past the buildings was a great view of the ocean and the ships at dock, their sails fluttering in the wind. There were over a dozen vessels currently stationed there with tiny figures disembarking or loading up various goods. With Ingleport being one of the major trading posts between Heaven and Hell, the docks always had a few ships in. Now with the festival of peace a short time away, it would swell to the hundreds. Michael, the dock master, would want her working double shifts thanks to all the increased business. He affectionately called her my cheap little golem. He would want her there until the mess was over. Lilith prepared herself for a long few days as she started down the hill.

“Come on ye lads! Put y’er backs into it!” Michael hoarse voice lashed out like a whip at the five strong men trying to lift an immense crate out of the ship’s cargo hold. The straining and red faced men all looked like they were struggling with a week-long constipation issue. Lilith quickly dashed over grabbing a free corner. She lifted the entire crate over her head as the exhausted men collapsed gratefully. She had just started up the cargo hold steps she heard Michael’s bemused berating of the men.

“Lads what’s wrong with ye? Lettin’ a sweet lass like Lilith do all the hard work.”

“She as strong as a golem boss,” one man complained slumping in exhaustion onto the cargo hold floor. His jumpsuit was plastered to him as he panted heavily. Lilith reached the ship deck before turning back to the men showing no strain from her heavy burden.

“You boys just need some quality protein in your diet,” Lilith said mockingly.

“I got some protein for ye,” one of the men said gripping his crotch.

“I said QUALITY,” Lilith said emphasizing the last word. “What you got down there wouldn’t nourish a rat.” Laughter at the man’s expense rang out as they wearily got to their feet.

“Thanks lass. I thought they might all get d’emselves hernias and want time off,” Michael said in a low voice as she passed by. He was a tough old sea dog with a limp and permanent body odor of the sea. The man was ordinary for someone his advance age. He had a gray beard and a hefty gut that seem to defy physics as he held it aloft. His face was friendly to those that knew and one that grew very red when he drank, which was often.

“No problem boss,” Lilith said as she descended the plank. Everyone got out of her way as she made her way to the horse drawn cart setting the crate down gently next to the others. The cart creaked and for a moment she thought it would collapse under the additional weight. The horse attached to the cart gave her a mournful look as the driver above cracked the whip as they started off. She turned back to the ship as the last of its cargo left the hold. Another down, that was ten already this morning.

“Lilith, go help out on twelve!” Michael shouted above all the noise. “Watch out, they’re be from below!”

Below? Lilith wondered. As she neared the ship the meaning became clear. A skyship from Hell. Skyships didn’t only fly to Heaven, they also could transverse the path to Hell. The ships were powered by huge heaven made diatomaceous crystals allowing for flight among other things. The journey was perilous with pirates roaming near the gateways and then there was the paths themselves. One wrong turn and you could drift forever in the void between the worlds or until engines gave out and the crew suffocated.

Lilith made her way through the crowd toward her next job. She stopped a moment marveling at the skyship. This one wasn’t made on this world; it was clearly a Hell ship. Dark red, it had long chains hanging in various positions on the bow and along masts that clattered ominously in the wind. Aboard, hellfire braziers burned with a black red intensity that drew your gaze in if you looked too closely. Those wandering aboard did their best to ignore the skulls and human bones decorating the banisters. Lilith snorted. Most of it was for show, the peace between the worlds had ended most plights there. Lilith boarded the ship going down into the cargo hold. There two of her fellow dock workers were conversing as they selected various crates from the ship’s hold.

“After the festival I think I’ll spend a week in Hell,” one man said hefting a decent size crate.

“Why not Heaven?” The other man asked choosing a much smaller crate. They walked together passing Lilith as she began searching for the biggest and heaviest cargo.

“Oh sure Heaven has a great view and the food is divine, but Hell has strippers and better ale,” the first man countered heading out of earshot. Lilith was looking over an extremely large crate deciding where best to lift, when a deep raspy voice sounded from above her.

“Oh little flower, you don’t want that one,” the voice said. “Choose something more fitting to your delicate feminine body.”

Lilith crane her head up looking at the source of the voice. It was a demon. This was not some Hellborne, but the pure thing. It was a bright angry red all over with long curled ram’s horns sticking out of a hairless scalp that looked like it could burst into flame if the wind was right. He wore a tight fitting black armor that ended at the knees and elbows that showed off his muscular physique. The demon had biceps bigger than Lilith’s head that he was clearing flexing for her benefit. He leered down at her with bright red eyes and large incisors growing up to its check bones. The demon looked her up and down in a way she was all too familiar with. A fork tongue darted out in her direction appearing to taste the air around her. From the way it’s tail swished behind it, a single tuff of black hair on a thick red cord, it liked what is smelled.

“I had to have two golems bring that down there. A crate of orichalcum, far too heavy for a little thing like you,” the demon said. “Go fetch one of your golems, then you can sit on my lap and tell me your name. I’ll start so you don’t feel intimated. I’m Darthnos captain of this ship, Hellseige.” Not acknowledging the demon, Lilith lifted the crate over her head giving a satisfied smirk at the demon’s look of shock as she started up the stairs.

“Golems?” She snorted. “I don’t need no golems to do my heavy lifting.” She turned her back on the demon she headed down the ramp where another group of horse drawn carriages awaited.

It was a long day, a vast majority of the time was spent on the rather large Hell ship. It had lots of raw materials to unload, most of it too heavy for anyone else. The only issue was fighting off the urge to deck the demon in the balls. He hadn’t stopped pestering her all day.

Lilith was lifting the final crate when she heard him give an angry hiss. Surprised she looked up to see the demon glaring intently at a set of sails which she could see from the hold. Her stomach dropped and a feeling of doom settled over her. The sails were a beautiful blue with ornate gold trim. They rippled in breeze like a field of wheat in a strong wind. A ship from Heaven. Some idiot up there directed a Heaven ship to dock next to a Hell ship. What was wrong with them! Great pains were always taken to keep the factions as far apart as possible. Now here they were side by side. She set the crate back down rushing to the deck. Lilith hoped it wasn’t too late.

Lilith ran to the ship’s bow where she made a sound like an angry cat. The angels must have flown ahead of their ship, for they were already standing toe to toe with the demons, neither side backing down. From their angry posturing a brawl looked inevitable. The demons wouldn’t care one bit about the fact they were outnumbered four to seven. The angels glared at the demons their hate evident. Demons returned the look as their tails swished angrily as they tried in vain to stare down the smaller beings. A hopeless venture. While not as physically imposing as the demons, the angels were no less intimidating with a palpable aura of power surrounding them like a haze. They stood wing tip to wing tip like an immovable wall before an unstoppable force, and it would be the mortals of this world that would pay. Around them a crowd was gathering all watching fascinated as the two opposing force since the beginning of time faced off, instead of doing the intelligent thing and running for the hills.

Lilith leaped on the railing desperately signaling Michael by waving her arms frantically. Michael glanced in her direction following her gestures. He rightly paled and began barking orders once he saw the problem. Lilith leaped from the ship landing near the two groups as angry words were exchanged. She got between them her hands outstretched to each group. It was the first time Lilith got a look at an angel. As one of the Hellborne she tried to avoid them as much as possible, despite over a century of relative peace. They were shorter than the demons but wider of shoulder and looked just as strong as any from Hell. They each had full size wings branching from their shoulders, with pristine white feathers that had a majestic radiance of unknown power. Their hair was silvery bright, like it truly was the metal it so resembled. Each had deep golden skin and bright glowing green eyes contrasted nice with their wings. They all wore white cloaks that showed grayish armor peaking though the seams. Each had sheathed angelic blades at their waists. Most disturbingly, each one had a faint halo of golden light above their heads that one could see if you tilt your head just right.

“Stop it!” Lilith yelled at no group in particular. “All of you back to your ships. I’m speaking on behalf of the port authority.”

“You presume to order us around human?” One angel said, then he looked closer at her sneering in contempt. “You’re not even human just a filthy Hellborne. Daughter of human whore and a pathetic demon take your orders and…” He never got a chance to finish. Darthnos, the demon who been annoying her all day, rose up to his full height kicking the angel who just insulted her in the balls. The angel howled in pain he as clutched his privates dropping to his knees, proving whether angel, demon, or man, no one likes to get kicked in the family jewels.

A corresponding cry of rage and a female angel who was breath taking in her beauty twirled slapping a wing at the nearest demon. The demon went flying through the air. Bereft of wings he landed hard a short distance away crashing into some barrels. People finally came to their senses scattering like mice. Screams, shouts, and curses erupted as both sides, crashed into each other. Distantly Lilith heard the distinctive clomping of heavy feet that meant golems. She only hoped they would get here in time.

The angels with their superior numbers quickly pinned the demons down delivering powerful blows, as if they were trying to tenderize meat with their bare hands. The situation was quickly spiraling out of control. That was when Lilith saw the true danger. The angel who been kicked between the legs, got up, a knife held in one hand, the blade glowing ominously with bluish heavenrunes. Darthnos was left facing him, unarmed but also unconcerned, beckoning the angel on. The angel snarled leaping forward slashing the air before him. Lilith expected to see crimson staining the cobbled road. However, the demon moved with cat like reflexes, catching the angel’s wrist in one hand then punching the knife wielding arm with the other. The angle dropped the weapon as he moved in close overpowering the larger demon. With angelic grace the angel moved behind the demon his arm around his neck, choking him. Lilith rushed forward before the struggling pair. She drew her fist back punching the angel, hard.

Lilith always knew she was strong. As a child she had always been careful not to hurt anyone. Among the Hellborne she had never found her equal. At the docks she was always careful never to fully unleash her strength, afraid she might break something. To her, the world was made of fragile glass. She had had simply assumed that an angel or demon was like wise as strong.

Her fist land with a force equal to a cannon shot. With an explosion of white feathers, like a blunderbuss shooting a pigeon, the angel flew backwards nearly a ship length, tumbling on the ground for several more cart lengths before coming to a rest. Everyone froze; demon and angel alike, utterly shocked at the display of raw strength she just displayed. Lilith looked at the angel, past all the feathers swaying to earth between them, as he lay there unmoving.

“Damn girly,” Darthnos said coughing getting to his knees. “Just how strong are you?”

It was a very good question. She could visualize how she would start her diary entry for this day.

“Dear Diary,

Today I punched an angel…