Enid was poking her half empty ale tankard across the table. She wasn’t quite drunk, but she wasn’t sober either. It had been a month of them in Port Royal and even with the help of the two former guards for Henry Tanner going out to the plantations and into the hill country they had not seen or heard anything about any demonic activity. Enid had been spending more time with Rose as the days passed. But this afternoon Rose was hurriedly trying to finish a commission for some ball or other. Hazel and Helen were still fully committed to the mission, but Enid was starting to doubt herself and her ability to find the demons when actively trying. She had moved on from the dresses and would be better described as slutty pirate at this point, it had made things more interesting because a lot more men were fresher with her which led to a lot more bar brawls. They had died down as word got around, she could best the strongest of men with ease. Boredom was starting to become her worst enemy. She heard a man clearing his throat she looked up. She recognized him as one of Tanner’s men. He looked like he’d healed from the broken collar bone, well mostly. He was dressed presentably, and he had his hands folded in front of him. She held up her finger and lifted her mug.

“Just let me finish my ale then I’ll break some more of your bones so you can go back and look like you tried, alright?”

He stepped back holding up his hands while Enid chugged the rest of her ale and stood up and cracked her knuckles.

“Mr. Tanner respectfully requests the honor of a brief meeting with you ladyship.”

Enid blinked at him.

“Wait you’re not here to drag me there?”

She pouted.

“Nobody wants to fight me anymore. That was half the fun of this shithole.”

“No ma’am, I was asked to be polite and if you refused you refused. Mr. Tanner now understands how valuable you consider your time and how violently you protect your person and has no further wish to endanger himself, his employees, or his family.”

Enid sighed.

“Fine, I was bored anyway.”

Enid motioned him onwards. He kept glancing towards her cautiously.

“What?”

“Ma’am, how do you fight so well?”

“You ever been to the far east?”

He shook his head.

“I studied fighting with an old master there. I could kill you right now with no weapons in at least six different ways with a single strike. Hitting someone where their bones are weak with the proper amount of force will shatter the bone. That is what I did to you.”

“So, you’re not one of those voodoo witches.”

“No just a lot of training on how to end people with my hands.”

He tugged on the collar of his jerkin.

“Don’t worry if I wanted you dead you would have died the night you came to grab me and rape me.”

“Ma’am, I was only following orders.”

“I have used that excuse so many times. I left you alive because I have killed enough people in my lifetime that I didn’t want to add to the list.”

“The list cannot be so long for you…You’re what twenty?”

Enid shrugged.

“If you ever find out how many people I’ve killed it will because you’re about to die. Not a threat just the reality of such a situation.”

“Why are you in Port Royal? You seem like you don’t belong.”

“What is this an interrogation?”

He held up his hands.

“I’m just curious ma’am. Trying to make conversation and you don’t seem like you go for the usually girl stuff.”

“I am in Port Royal because I am here to kill a demon.”

“A what?”

“A monster from the pits of Hell is in this town somewhere and I need to end it. Which is why Marco and his brother have been wandering around everywhere asking if anyone has seen anything strange. I’m starting to think my Intel was bad because I haven’t found shit beside a beautiful woman to have glorious sex with.”

He blushed slightly.

“I like men too; She just knows how to make it sing.”

She smirked at him as he looked uncomfortable.

“Oh, you’re one of those.”

“So how do you even kill a demon?”

“Well, if you’re lucky you have a weapon that will just destroy his ass, or, you have to use something bless by a holy man. Like I have a pistol and ammunition blessed by the pope.”

“Did the church send you?”

Enid laughed.

“Yes, the Pope told a bi-sexual, foulmouthed assassin to come kill a demon in the name of his prudish god. No, I sent me.”

He looked at her again seeming to get more uncomfortable. She pointed at him.

“You think I’m insane. That I hear voices and by all means believe that I’d rather you lot be oblivious to the danger in your midst, makes it easier to use you as bait”

“Well, I am not saying that nothing is out there, I have seen all manner of thing. And to hear the pirates tell it there is a demon ship out there. Comes out of nowhere shoots fire…”

Enid raised an eyebrow.

“I’ve heard of ghost ships, but never demon ships.”

“They say its crewed by the damned. If she catches you, she sinks the ship and drags all the souls with her, the lucky ones become crew the others follow in its wake screaming.”

“Who told you this?”

“I heard down at the tavern more than a few times. The Revenge pulled three sailors out of the water and those sailors swore up and down they were attacked by a demon ship. Ship’s doc found em all dead next day, eyes burned out of their sockets, by their own hands.”

“You know that is the best story I’ve heard in a long time also the closest thing to a demonic manifestation I’ve heard since I’ve been here. If I find out that it is a demon ship, I’ll pay you a finder’s fee.”

“Hey, you know, I’m not working for Mr. Tanner all the time, I’d be happy to ask around for you too, if you’re hiring.”

“Sure, five Spanish doubloons a week.”

“People said you was rich.”

“I may have knocked over a Spanish Galleon or six.”

He looked at her again.

“I am not a saint. Actually, no that’s a lie there is an entire village that thinks I am.”

She laughed. She reached into her pack and offered him five coins.

“There you go, first week’s wages. Anything more you can get me on this demon ship, location of sightings, where they found those sailors. You know what I mean right?”

He nodded. They arrived at the Tanner’s home. He opened the door for her and led her to Henry’s office. The door was open this time the desk was cleaned of blood, and he was looking over a ledger which he closed when he saw her. He motioned to a chair.

“Have a seat, Lady Sarah. Thank you for coming.”

“Should I be worried about getting a fork in my back from Mrs. Tanner?”

He motioned for his goon to leave and close the door.

“She’s…gone to England. The weather here wasn’t agreeing with her.”

“Oh. Well maybe she’ll be in a better temperament there.”

“I hope so. I am guessing you’d like me to get the point.”

“Yes. Please do.”

“I need your help.”

Enid raised an eyebrow.

“I am having cash flow problems; I have this ball coming up and frankly I’m having trouble maintaining control. My men are jokes and people are moving in on my turf.”

“What can I do about all of that?”

“I’m being direct with you, please be direct with me. Most people in this town are scared of you and you’ve only been here a month. You ruined my marriage and my power base in the space of twenty-four hours. You are a criminal mastermind. I do not know why you’re here or you targeted me, you haven’t done anything to fill the power vacuum you caused so I can only assume your designs for Port Royal are more long term, someone paid for to attack me, or you are just a vicious bitch.”

Enid laughed.

“Oh Henry, I just dislike you, and disliked your wife more. You have harassed my agents on multiple occasions, the Red headed Pirate Captain that you’ve tried to shake down on a few occasions? She’s mine. I figured if the five heads I told her to deliver didn’t get the message across I would have to show you that I could crush you so utterly you’d want to die, then maybe you’d back off. Also, I’m a vicious bitch who enjoys watching power-mad women get their comeuppance. Basically, you fucked with the wrong person. I honestly came here to take care of some business for the betterment of everyone here and your wife got in my way.”

“Why didn’t you just kill me?”

“This is why you’re an amateur Henry, you don’t take pleasure in your work. I could have killed you, your entire crew, your wife, your daughters, but then I would have missed the look on your wife’s face when I showed you the truth, see her brought so low…oh I went home and made the best love to my partner. Seeing you crushed when you realized both of your children weren’t yours made me feel better for all the people you’ve used your power to abuse over the years. So, here’s a question for you… Why would I help you?”

“Money? Power? You could marry me, be the most powerful woman in Port Royal.”

“Henry, I have so much money now that I could buy the entire pirate fleet, the island and probably convince the queen to sell me a few forts in the new world, I am the most powerful woman in Port Royal already and you aren’t my type.”

“I could force you too, I know you’re sweet on Roseiland, and what about your two female companions? I could easily imprison them.”

Enid laughed again.

“You would have already grabbed Roseliand but you know her employer who protects her has been here since the Spanish owned the Island. You’re not sure what he is, but you know you have no chance if you anger him. And my companions? Those are my daughters and unlike your spoiled brats each one of them would be able to take out your entire organization themselves. You have no leverage over me. And you’re starting to piss me off again. Do you know what happens to people who piss me off?”

He shook his head.

“There are worse things than death and I can do all of them. So, try again, why should I not start doing them to you right this moment?”

“I… I… will do anything you ask.”

“Now you’re talking. I need help finding something on the Island or near the island, if you agree to help me with that, I’ll be your date to the ball, I’ll help you organize your business dealings. Hell, I might even bend over this desk for you.”

“What could I possibly help you find that you could not find with your resources?”

Enid leaned forward.

“I have four people; You have about a hundred. I lack an information network and well manpower. I’m going to tell you something you might not believe and if you don’t and think I’m crazy fine, we’ll end our talk and I’ll go on about my business.”

“Alright, tell me about it.”

“I am hunting a demon.”

He laughed but then his face straightened up when he noticed she was being serious.

“What are you like… some warrior nun or something?”

“I’m in a homosexual relationship with a woman and I offered to bend over your desk what in that statement makes me sound like a nun? Unless you know a different kind of nun then that.”

He nodded.

“But that’s all religious nonsense.”

“No, no its not. I have killed about a hundred and thirty of them. My math might be off… but it is over a hundred. One or more is here and I am here to kill it. They start small and then suddenly your town is in the ocean because of some apocalyptic scenario they bring about.”

“You’re serious about this.”

“Yes. I could show you scars. Here’s the thing. They hide very well and while I can tell them on sight I have to see them first and the one here is being subtle. Or doing it offshore.”

“Say I believe you either because I’m too desperate not to, or I genuinely think you aren’t crazy, what can I do to stop a demon?”

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

“Nothing, there is literally nothing a normal human can do against one. But you have eyes and ears all over town and the island and on pirate ships. That is what I need. Look Henry, I had no intention of getting in your business when I came to the island to deal with this problem. I was having a good morning, I paid for the shop for a few hours I wanted to shop in peace and then your wife started to yell at me. So, I dressed her down for her behavior and I figured she wouldn’t be stupid enough to come after me I mean I’m rich and powerful how else would I get that shop for the morning, but then your goons showed up, and her lover was so easy to read. I figured it out on the trip here and decided I was tired of her fucking with my business and you empowering her. So, I have no designs on your business, those three incidents that’s all I’ve done so if your business imploding it could be the demon. Maybe it’s trying to become the underworld here, I don’t know. I just know it’s here and it needs to be dead.”

“I still don’t understand why you care?”

“Big game hunting, humans are boring, Demons are a challenge. The thrill of course, and the money.”

He nodded. He offered his hand. Enid took it and shook it.

“You have a deal; I help you track this thing down and you help me reestablish my business.”

Enid smiled and stood up, moving around his desk pulling string to untie her top letting her chest free.

“Shall we consummate our agreement then?”

“What?”

Enid spread her legs rubbing her thighs.

“Sex, Henry, I’m talking about sex. A lot of men on this island have wanted me, and I’ve turned them all down, sometimes violently. If you’re having sex with me, and word were to get out…well it might be more believable that we’re working together.”

He blinked at her. She pulled her top off and slipped her pants down with her underwear and sat naked on his desk her feet on his thighs. She spread his books out on his desk. She could see his pants tightening.

“Do I need to give you instructions or something? You not interested?”

In response he took his hand and grabbed her thighs spreading them a part and buried his face in her sex she gave soft moan and he started licking. He suddenly pulled his pants down and spun her around holding her on the desk. He started pounding her from behind and she shoved the stuff from his desk on the floor making a loud crash. Within seconds the door opened, and his man looked in at the pair having sex and quickly closed the door. Enid laughed. Henry stopped in shock.

“You started; Finish! Don’t leave this half done.”

Henry started again and finally finished. Enid stood up and pulled her underwear and pants on. Henry had fallen back into his chair and was looking at her.

“Was that on purpose?”

“Yes, now you’re having sex with me, your man will gossip, the people he gossips to will gossip and now we’re in bed together.”

He blinked at her.

“You are the most beautiful, dangerous and slightly insane woman I have ever met.”

“You haven’t seen anything yet.”

Enid finished tying off her top and sat back down on his desk legs spread.

“Now to repair the damage your wife has done.”

“What do you mean?”

“Your wife was a huge bitch, in more than one way. She has antagonized a lot of the local women some of whom are married to your men, or your business partners. You need to start mending fences. Have a few dinner parties, be there with your daughters. Admit your wife was a problem and explain you’ve taken care of it with the most aggrieved parties privately. Each will feel special because you singled them out for an apology. It will take a few weeks. You also need to make an example of a few of your men. Investigate, confirm, find out who knew you wife was cheating on you and make it apparent you will abide no disloyalty. You also need to mend some fences with your daughters I know they aren’t your blood but does that matter at this point? To admit they were another mans would be embarrassing and you raised them so far. Your wife, I could tell by their look she has been less then… motherly to them. I commend you for not sending them to England with your wife.”

“Well, they are my daughters, even if…”

“They are your daughters, nothing else matters. Take it from me, if you treat your children with love and respect they will have your back, even if they aren’t your children specifically, they were raised to believe they were your children. Treat them better. Your wife seems to have been abusive. They look like two broken nags. Rarely look up. Never have more than a few mumbled words to say. Your daughters could be your strongest proponents, and once they are of age you can marry them to stabilize relations with other…people in power. With their permission of course. Teach them to be strong women and they will be strong women on your side. They might choose to go their own way but if you raise them as strong independent women, there is a good chance when you need them, they will be there.”

“They seem upset about their mother…”

“That’s because she was their mother. Explain the situation plainly. Tell them your wife was causing problems in town, hurting your business and people and them. Apologize that you didn’t stop her sooner. Tell them that you were not paying enough attention, that as soon as you realized what she was doing that you sent her away. Tell them that you’re here for them and be there for them when they need you. Girls that age have a whole bunch of things going on in their brains. You need to project a strong family image. If you seem in control and loving to your family, your children, then your people will see that you have a sense of honor and duty. You must strike a balance. To far one side you’re a soft easily squished problem in someone’s way, to far the other side you’re a tyrant who needs to be deposed because they think they’re next on the chopping block.”

He nodded, his eyes staring down at her spread thighs. Enid grabbed his chin and adjusted his gaze to her face.

“Do not think with your dick. That’s what got you into this situation in the first place.”

“I’m sorry you’re just so…”

“I know, but you want me for my brains not my body. We’re in business together. Let’s start with that. Sometimes I need more then a woman has to offer. So how about we focus on business and when we’re not busy with that we explore the other part of our relationship.”

“So, dinner parties, talk to my daughters, punish anyone who knew about the affair… What else?”

“Anything you control we need to reinforce that ownership. Shore it up. If a brothel isn’t paying its keep, ensure the owner understands you’re still in control. Also, I will not work with you if the girls in your establishments aren’t protected. Listen to people. If someone says they already paid money, ask when. See if you can catch a pattern. Spy on the businesses that say that and find out who is collecting the money. Don’t run out and beat them watch and listen. Find out who they are working with, build up a list of people, have one of your men jump ship. Make it believable. Fire him publicly. Once they’re inside gather more information. Eventually you’ll have a good picture of who is working against you. Then once you know, end them and their entire organization in one night. It will take patience and you will take a loss to your own business while you do it, but if you crush them suddenly like that it will ensure people know you are not to be trifled with and anyone working against you will be looking over their shoulder afterwards, constantly worried you will come for them next. You lot always play the short game, short term profit, short term gratification… You need to play the long game. Let them scramble while you plot in the shadows.”

He put his hands on her thighs.

“The more you talk the more I want to marry you.”

Enid put her finger on his lips.

“Not going to happen Henry, one you’re still married, and two I’m not planning on staying in Port Royal that long I have other demons to hunt. Focus on business.”

He nodded.

“How do you know all this?”

“Let’s just say I used to work with the law, and these are the kind of tactics they use so they can get as many people at once as they can. The three rules you need to remember here is: Always follow the money. Always try to find someone higher in the organization. And the most important is patience.”

He nodded again staring at her lips this time.

“Your first step is to take your daughters to see Rose and get them dresses for the ball. Let them pick whatever style they want, and whatever style it is they look beautiful.”

“You want me to go dress shopping at a time like this?”

“Yes, I want you to take your daughters dress shopping like you’ve done it for every single ball. If my father wasn’t a rapist psychopath, I would have loved it if he helped me pick out dresses. Own it ignore all the rest of the shit going on and go be there with them. Their mother was probably hypercritical, told them exactly what they would wear, how they would act, how fat they were…and so many other things that you can’t imagine going through as a young girl. Be the opposite. Be accepting, let them choose if they are waffling be patient, or ask Rose for suggestions.”

“It seems like I should be doing something more.”

“Start small. Make your daughters the priority this afternoon. Pay Rose for exclusive use of the shop. Relax. Spend time with your daughters. It is going to be awkward as hell, but you’ll get through it. Rose is good at her job and I’ll have a chat with her.”

“Why can’t you just take them, or come with us?”

“Because, I would be a distraction. This is about you and your girls. This is the first step to building a real relationship. They are eleven and thirteen. You have lost a lot of time they might be standoffish, angry, frustrated, and more, but if you are patient, and you swallow your pride they will soften and eventually they will see their dad and not the man who pays for stuff while ignoring the abuse their mother tossed onto them.”

“You make it sound like… I was some kind of uncaring monster.”

“Henry you were, weren’t you? Those girls don’t know you. They rarely see you.”

He rubbed the back of his neck.

“I suppose you’re right. Fanny put up this wall between me and them. They were hers and I was to deal with the business. I guess it’s because Andrew…”

“Do you want me to fix you so you know they’re your biological daughters? I can do that.”

He shook his head.

“No, I’ve already told them the truth. I thought they deserved to know. I told them I loved them and that no matter what they will always be my daughters.”

“Did you tell them who their father was?”

“No, I just said their mother was unfaithful. I’m not going to tell them I castrated their father and let him bleed to death.”

“Sometimes lying is good, but other times it just ends with them finding out the truth and hating you because you lied to them.”

Henry nodded with a frown.

“It is your call. If you want a relationship like they’re your daughters, you should do this because it’s the right thing to do, but if that’s not enough, if your children look at you with love and respect your people will see that and notice. If your children hate you and disrespect you, they will also see it and take their ques from that.”

He nodded. Enid looked at him. Henry did not look ready for this.

“If you would like I can have a chat with them to soften them up for you.”

“I…well that sounds good.”

“How about I sweeten the deal, if I see smiles on their faces when they leave Roses shop, we’ll have sex again tomorrow and I won’t rush it.”

Enid rubbed her hand on his bulge. He nodded with a smile rubbing her thighs again.

“Good boy. I’ll go find them.”

Enid stood up and leaned forward kissing him on the lips and lingered close for a few seconds before leaving. She found the girls cross stitching in the parlor under the watchful eye of what seemed to be a new nanny. Enid walked in and looked at the Nanny.

“Take a break.”

The woman looked up at her not moving.

“Did you need me to say that in a different language?”

The woman stood up promptly and left. The two girls looked up pausing in their work and their eyes were wide at the sight of Enid. She’d been there when all the drama in the house had started. Enid sat down in the vacated chair.

“Hi Girls. My name is Sarah. I’m working with your father now.”

They both nodded eyes still wide.

“Don’t worry I’m not replacing your Nanny. I am here to talk to you about this whole mess with your mother and your father that came out last month. You don’t know me at all, I’m just the crazy lady who broke your family apart. But I just had a talk with your father. I pointed out that he’s been a really shitty father, I know your mother was not kind to you and he did nothing to stop it. I have told him how wrong his behavior was, explained that you are his children, and he needs to put you first. So, his first step is going to be taking you dress shopping today. He’s new to this sort of thing, and he is probably going to be embarrassed to even walk in there because it’s a woman’s shop. But he is trying. Give him a chance your mother is gone for good; She isn’t coming back, she can’t hurt you anymore. I know there is a whole bunch of complicated mixed-up emotions with that, and you miss her, but I can tell already you’re both doing better. And that will be better with time. Thank you for your time.”

Enid stood up.

“Is father going to marry you now?”

Enid spun and smiled.

“No. No, that is not the kind of relationship we have. I already have my own family with my own children.”

The youngest who had asked nodded and perhaps looked a bit disappointed.

“Hey, look, your father has a good man buried somewhere in him, together we can bring it out. You can show him the way too. He is going to know nothing about dresses, but I told him to take you to see Rose and she does. Just ask his opinion anyway, teach him about the styles that are in, ask him about colors. Now that your mother is gone you can start choosing things for yourselves. You are free.”

Enid waved and walked out. She made her way to the Rose’s shop and walked in. She was hunched over a dress she was making for the ball she had a couple of extra ladies working with her. The Tanner’s annual ball was their biggest time of the year. It was a chance for the unsavory types of Port Royal to feel like wealthy aristocrats. The dresses were not as ornate or as bulky as you’d expect but they were a step above the usual attire.

Enid wrapped her arms around Rose her leaned back against her. Enid gave her a kiss on the cheek.

“Hey beautiful, not working too hard, are you?”

The other women whispered to each other. Enid turned Rose’s head and kissed her full on the lips with tongue then winked at the two other ladies who turned away quickly. Enid massaged Rose’s shoulders gently.

“You look like you need a break, Rose.”

“You know I could use one.”

She looked at the other two ladies.

“Keep at it I’ll be back soon.”

The pair went into the back and as soon the door was closed Rose grabbed Enid and kissed on the lips.

“You drive me insane. Teasing me like that out there. The things they’ll say to people.”

Enid kissed her and kept her arms around her back tightly.

“Rose, everyone knows already.”

Rose blushed.

“But I do need to talk to you, so you aren’t…well so you hear it from me.”

“I had sex with Henry Tanner today.”

Rose pushed her away.

“You what? I thought we…”

“Rose we talked about this, I told you sometimes I need to do things with other people for business. This is one of those times. It was for show, he’s helping me track down my target and I am helping him fix his business.”

“But…”

“Rose, what we have is great, but you know I am not here forever, and when I leave, I will have other sexual relationships and emotional ones, won’t change what we have had, and you will too I hope.”

Rose sat down heavily.

“Why did you even bother telling me? I could have been happy not knowing.”

“Because the only reason I did it was to help him with his business, a lot of people are scared of me, if I’m sleeping with him there is no doubt that I’m working with him. The whole point of it was for people to find out.”

“What about me? Do you know how embarrassing this will be?”

Rose was in tears. Enid wanted to hug her, but decided that if she was in that kind of mood it would likely end up with her punching the offender if it was a man or shoving a woman away.

“I know. That’s why I’m respecting you enough to tell you about it. If we’re done, I understand.”

“How can you say that? If we’re done I understand. Who says that? It’s like you didn’t care about me at all.”

“It’s the exact opposite Rose. I care about you a great deal and I knew it would hurt you. That you were getting very attached to me. If were any other situation, if I were just here living my life, I would never have done this, but my priority has always been and will always been my duty. In this case to do what he asked of me in return for his help I had to let him have sex with me.”

“What? You’re basically just a prostitute.”

Enid shrugged.

“No, but to be honest if his one request to help me was to have sex with me I would do it in heartbeat. You do not understand how dangerous what I do is, and how dangerous it is to Port Royal, and everyone here. Having sex is probably the least of what I would do to stop it.”

“Show me then, show me how dangerous this thing is.”

Enid sighed.

“There were somethings mortal eyes do not need to see.”

“I need to, I need to know why you would betray what we had.”

Enid frowned.

“You will see my true form.”

“I don’t care.”

Enid closed her eyes and pulled Rose towards her kissing her Rose resisted at first but then gave in. Then Enid pulled her into her memory of God telling her of her tasks then to the fight between her and the fire demon in Edmonton, then the one in Rome and finally the one in Italy. Rose fell backwards onto the floor holding her chest she screamed. The sensation of the beatings and the claws must have transferred. The two ladies rushed in and Enid held up her hand.

“She’s fine, she just had a nightmare.”

The hesitated. Enid let her aura of power loose.

“She’s fine, go back to work!”

The scrambled away closing the door quickly. Rose looked up at her with a mix of awe and terror. Enid pulled the aura in.

“You’re…you’re an… angel.”

“Sometimes.”

Enid offered her hand. Rose reached for it then snapped hers back. After looking up and seeing Enid’s kind eyes she took it and squeezed it.

“So much death. So much pain. You’ve almost died so many times fighting them.”

“Yes, and now you know how strong I am. I am not exaggerating, there is one here, it will cause chaos and devastation on a scale you cannot imagine. People including you will suffer. I would do so much more then sleep with Henry Tanner to stop that because I love you, even beyond the fact it’s my duty.”

“I saw your reflection in the giant mirror. You glowed with the light of the sun. I… why are you even spending time with me? You have seen so much, done so much, you are so…”

“Because at first it was fun, then it was comfortable, and now it is love. You know how much I care about you; You don’t even have to guess. But you also know why I need to fight, sleep with Henry, who whoever I need to and eventually why I will need to leave.”

“But what will people say?”

Enid pulled her close.

“Does it matter? Now that you know my truth, does anything they can say make them worth listening too? You won the heart of an actual angel. Can any one of them say that?”

Rose blushed and her breath quickened as Enid kissed her again.

“But…”

“You need to make the choice Rose. I am here with you until I cannot be any longer. You know what the stakes are now. Is that enough for you, or isn’t it?”

Enid put her hand on Rose’s cheek and kissed her and turned to leave. Rose grabbed her shoulder and stopped her.

“It is enough for now. Hold me?”

Enid spun and tugged Rose close her form shifting to her much taller true shape and she wrapped her wings and arms around her. Rose buried her face in her chest with a blissful look on her face. By the time she opened her eyes she was looking at the face she was used to.

“Is that why I feel so safe with you?”

“I don’t know, only you can figure that one out.”

Rose sighed wistfully her hand lingering on Enid’s breast. The bell on the door rang out. Rose looked towards the shop Enid was out of the sun, so her senses were fully acute. She vanished from beside Rose who looked to where she had been with a sigh.