Reports of a “mage duel” in the old church on the city’s south end made their way to Guard Captain Kerra before sunset. By the time the sun had dipped under the horizon, she was on horseback tearing through the streets toward the church, half a guard contingent behind her. Given that, even abandoned, the church had become a battleground, at least one priest would be on the way as well.
Could this be a false alarm? Maybe, but Kerra wasn’t going to let this go. Not after the massacre the previous night. If she didn’t take this seriously, there was a chance that parts of south Gedon would revolt against her guard’s rule. As the Lord of Gedon was, perhaps fittingly, half-Ordian and half-Edathan, siding with the guards could lose him what little favor he had with the Edathan majority of the city.
Really, the whole situation was a powder keg and there was a real chance that tonight could provide a spark.
Dark smoke wisped up out of the side of the church as Kerra approached. Piles of slush had slid off the now-bare roof, and the front door was wide open to a dark interior lit by flickering firelight of a color that made Kerra’s gut twist. A small, cautious crowd had gathered, but from the shuttered windows in nearby buildings it seemed most people had taken to hiding.
“Make way!” Kerra shouted to those in front of the doors.
Startled, perhaps surprised at seeing the guard out here in such force, the crowd nevertheless moved aside and Kerra pulled up to the front door along with her guards. She couldn’t see enough inside to make out anyone, nor did she hear sounds of fighting.
The fires burning, however, had an unnatural crimson glow. Shit, maybe that crazy mercenary was onto something.
“Stay behind me, but at the ready!” Kerra shouted. “There could still be someone—or something—inside.”
The others formed up behind her, one asking “Or something?”
“A demon—and it’s a good thing the Church is on its way,” Kerra said loud enough to be sure the crowd heard. “Those fires are not the result of human magic.”
Her words had the intended effect, and most of the spectators quickly made themselves scarce. With guard presence and Church in the wings, the chance of a panic was low enough to take the gamble to ensure civilians stayed away.
Her guards stood tensely, the seriousness of their situation suddenly clear.
“Follow.” Kerra drew her sword. “Watch all angles and be prepared to fight.”
With those final words, the guards formed up and followed Kerra into the now-ruined church. Immediately, she noticed two figures standing in front of the slumped body of what could only be a greater demon. The pair’s clothes were torn and bloody, but aside from a few tender-looking areas, they looked unhurt. The guard captain recognized them straight away as Gelles Company mercenaries, but she didn’t allow herself to relax just yet.
“Hiya!” the cat-eared one called out. “You’re Guard Captain Kerra, yeah? Remember us?”
Kerra stopped short, her sword hand tensing. “I do, but not your name.”
“Well I’m Taava!” the cat beastfolk gave a bow that ended in a flourish. “Anyway, we’ve been real hard at work tryin ta catch the culprits!”
Around Kerra, her guards moved into formation, wary. “And you’ve had luck?” the guard captain asked.
Behind her, one of her guards tried to direct a civilian away, to no luck. The chatter added an extra layer of anxiety to an already tense situation.
“We have!” the smaller person said excitedly. “I’m Nelys if you don’t remember. Anyway, we found out that the culprit behind the brutal murders was going after people who’d already killed people!”
Guard Captain Kerra had a good idea Taava and the other person—Nel-something?—were trustworthy as they were members of the Gelles Company. She also remembered they had a half-angel with them. That would explain the healing—but it wouldn’t explain where said half angel or their freakishly tall leader, Zarenna, went.
“Really?” Kerra asked, still anxious. This had the potential to be a big lead—a pattern could be used to predict and get ahead of a killer. “And how do you know this?”
“We asked around!” Nelys replied. “Your contact helped us with our investigation, remember?”
Kerra nodded, relieved. They seem to be who they say they are, and not possessed. “Yes, I do. My apologies, but you can never be too sure when dealing with demons.”
“Oh, I totally get that!” Taava said. “Some demons are real jerks!”
Some demons?
“Where’s your leader and your half-angel friend?” Kerra asked.
“Seyari,” Nelys replied. “Seyari’s our fourth and she’s with Zarenna right now—both of them were hurt pretty badly.”
Kerra glanced at the slumped demon once again. Immediately, her eyes went wide and she dropped into a fighting stance. Its chest rose and fell with a slow breath. By Dhias, it was still alive! “Why is the demon still alive?” she asked icily, ready to cut the two in front of her down if they’d been corrupted.
“Boss saved ‘em,” Taava replied, similarly tensing as her hands twitched by the handles of her twin daggers. “They think the demon was just tryin’ ta stop the killin’.”
“Demons don’t act like that,” Kerra hissed. “Stand aside. We’ll finish the job and you two can come quietly. The Church will be here shortly and they can sort out what sort of thing’s got a hold on your minds.”
“Wrath demons don’t do that!” Nelys protested, still in a casual stance despite tight-looking shoulders. They held a hand over a pendant under their shirt and continued, “Wrath demons mess with anger, not anything else—and Zarenna and Seyari would know.”
“Why would they know?” Kerra motioned for the guard to circle the pair. “And we can have this discussion when the demon’s dead. No more stalling. Move aside.”
“Aw, shit,” Taava swore, then whispered. “We tried. Sorry, boss.” To Kerra’s surprise, the beastfolk pulled the sheath strings and let her daggers fall to the floor. “I know when I’m beat.”
Nelys stared at them with a look of betrayal. They looked at the assembled guards and slowly surrendered. Footsteps from further in the church split Kerra’s attention.
“Secure them!” she motioned to two guards, then turned to Nelys and Taava. “Don’t worry—we’ll get you out of this. You three!” She pointed to three guards. “Go check on that noise. The other two should cooperate as well, but retreat if they don’t.”
As the only one in the guard with an enchanted blade, Kerra was the one who stepped forward to finish the demon off. She raised the blade, ignoring shouts from the pulpit. Footsteps thundered toward her and she tuned out their urgency, bringing the blade down on the wounded demon.
A hand caught her wrist mid-swing, and a rush of air accompanied a figure standing beside her. Her remaining guards all hesitated, and she realized why when she looked up.
Zarenna of the Gelles Company, her face slightly battered and her eyes tired, looked down at Kerra almost apologetically. The Guard Captain wrenched her wrist and blade loose, taking a quick step back and bringing the blade up in a defensive stance.
“There’s been a misunderstanding, I think,” Zarenna started. “I can explain, if you’ll let me.”
***
It was a gamble to let go of Guard Captain Kerra’s hand. She eyed me warily, understandably given the still-living demon behind me and two non-demons trying to cover for it.
I must have looked a mess in a rag-made chest covering and charred trousers. Truthfully, my legs had only just healed and without the anger of someone by the door, I wouldn’t have made it in time. That same someone interrupted the silence.
“You!” Jenz shouted, taking the chance in the confusion to come forward. “Did… did you get them?”
I didn’t dare take my eyes off the weapons in front of me to check Joisse. I was hurt and drained enough that a single magicked blade could end my life if I wasn’t careful. “They won’t be killing anyone else without good reason,” I answered truthfully.
Jenz’s face darkened. “Did you kill them?”
Kerra glanced between us, unsure whether she should intervene. Back by the pulpit, I heard Seyari talking to the other guards. Nelys and Taava stood by Kerra and her guards, clearly having surrendered, if Taava’s sheathed daggers by my feet were any indication. It’s not like she doesn’t have half a dozen knives on her still.
I looked Jenz in the eyes. “No.”
“Why not?” he asked pointedly.
“Yes, Zarenna, why not?” Kerra added. “Why would you choose a demon over a human.”
“I—”
“And moreover,” the guard captain continued, “how did you pull that trick just now? I’m not aware that a half-angel could give someone that kind of speed or strength.”
I took a deep breath. “I chose the person who attacked the front of me rather than the person who attacked my back.”
“What?” Kerra snapped.
“Vivan, the mercenary you were having a shouting match with before we met you,” I clarified. “She ambushed me right as I incapacitated Joisse.”
Kerra dared to glance around the room. “What did you do to her?”
“Fought back so I wouldn’t die.”
“Where’s her body, then?” Kerra asked.
“Right there.” I paused to keep my voice level, and pointed at the pulpit. “It’s that pile of bones and ash—see her crossbow next to it?”
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Guard Captain Kerra glanced at Vivian’s remains, then the crossbow, and she tensed. I felt her anger rising, but I left it for now.
I heard a sharp intake of breath from Seyari. She marched forward, flanked by guards that seemed unsure if they should arrest her or protect her. Her gaze was steely and she walked right in between me and Kerra, jabbing a finger into my chest. “You saved the demon?!”
I winced. “They… They said they just wanted to stop the killing, and I really think they meant it.”
I saw Seyari’s hand approach my face faster than my tired reflexes could stop, and far faster than a human’s. My cheek burned, her glowing hand leaving a scorching imprint on my face.
The slap that rang out through the church silenced everyone.
“How could you?!” Seyari shouted, eyes narrow. “You could’ve died! If Vivian didn’t kill you, what’s to say the demon wouldn’t finish the job? What about the future?”
“I…” I stammered.
“You!” Seyari repeated, jabbing a finger right onto my gem, pushing it in. “Are the most optimistic, naïve person on Varra! You want to redeem a wrath demon that we know has been killing people? Are you ready for the consequences if things don’t turn out the way you hope?”
“Sey, I…” the room around us, from the guards watching to Taava and Nelys seemed to shrink away. “I’m sorry; I just…” I had a feeling. I knew as the Sovereign of Wrath that I had a chance, but I couldn’t say that in front of everyone. When I blinked, I felt tears.
I’m not the one who should be crying right now. The thought didn’t stop me from crying, though.
Seyari’s gaze softened, turning into a frown. She seemed to war with herself for a minute before she heaved a sigh and surprised me by pulling me into a hug. “And I wouldn’t have you any other way,” she said softly and I felt her own tears start into the rags covering my chest. “Well, maybe a little less reckless…”
Hesitantly at first, I gave her a two-armed hug back.
“You’re too damn nice for this world, Zarenna. Demon or not. At least you know when to draw a line, but you’d better be ready for what comes next.” Seyari said, looking up at me with wet gold eyes.
“I’ll try—I will.” I pecked Sey on the cheek, uncaring of our audience.
To that, Seyari smiled wickedly. “Good. Make sure you keep protecting your friends, Renna.”
“Is that an order?” I joked.
“Is it, boss?” Seyari asked jokingly.
I shrugged. “I promise I won’t try to redeem the next mindless demonic mass I meet.”
Seyari’s retort was interrupted by a polite, but insistent cough from Guard Captain Kerra. I only now noticed the whole group was staring at us, including some decidedly non-guard witnesses hovering just outside the church entrance.
Seyari whirled and gave the guard captain a death glare. “What?”
“Are you two…” Kerra trailed off under the half-angel’s withering gaze.
“We’re done now,” Seyari replied icily. “So: what?”
“What happened between you and Vivian?” the guard captain asked.
Seyari answered, concisely. “I was barely able to save Nelys and Taava, and I had to pull a trick to get her to think she’d killed us.”
“And she shot me in the back while I was fighting the demon. She gave me no choice but to kill her.”
“And with magic like that,” Kerra whispered, then continued, louder. “Why would Vivian attack you? I hold no sympathy for the woman, but you two were hunting the same target and she didn’t seem like the type to care much about more than making sure they were dead. Was it because you spared the demon?”
I answered honestly. “No. That was after. Vivian tried to kill me because I’m also a demon—and before you try to kill me too, you should know that the Gelles Company also knows, and I’m in their records as a demon. The only reason I’ve kept a human transformation active this long is because you’d have killed Joisse, or maybe all of us, if I didn’t.”
“Joisse?” Kerra asked.
I raised my eyebrows—that was not the first question I’d expected. Is she okay that I’m a demon? I continued my explanation, “The demon of wrath behind me, who Seyari just chewed me out for saving. They wanted to end the fighting—although I think we can both agree their methods were barbaric and may have made things worse.”
“How do you know it wanted something like that?” Kerra snapped.
“They told me. I didn’t understand at first, but I let them talk. I guess more accurately, I could listen because they weren’t able to kill me.”
“You said you’re a demon. How can I believe what you say?” Kerra snapped.
I heard approaching hoofbeats and glanced out at the street. “Check with Gelles Company records. You’ve heard what I have to say and I’m tired of playing degrading games to get people to maybe trust me.”
“I…” Jenz’s whisper would have been lost were it not for the silence that lingered tensely after my last statement. “For what it’s worth, done is done. I talked to Zarenna last night and she seemed an honest sort—demon or no. This damn war keeps taking from us even after…” he choked up for a moment, all eyes on him. “Even after so long. I just want to be done with it, damn the consequences.”
Guards motioned for the man to back up and he did so, head hanging after shooting me one last, complex look. I watched him walk away. I hope he finds peace.
“Do you think this is ‘done with it?’” Kerra gestured around the ruined church, her hand landing with a finger pointing at Joisse.
“They’re under my contract now. They won’t harm anyone without reason.”
“Without reason?” Kerra’s voice cracked.
“I’m a demon of wrath, not a pacifist.”
“How can I tell you’re not bluffing?”
I ended my human transformation, my symbol clearly visible above my hastily-done chest binding. “I can prove this, but I already said I’m not jumping through hoops for you. Believe me or don’t—you have every bit of evidence I’m not lying.”
The guards all took a step back. Now that my nature was visually open, I’d bet the situation just got a lot more real for them. Unfortunately, that was when the church arrived.
“Demon!” someone shouted, a blinding light forming in the doorway. “Everyone! Move!”
Do you really think you can shout that and I won’t listen?
I moved quickly, grabbing Joisse and rolling to one side. Sure enough, a lance of holy magic speared where I just was a moment ago. I came up to swords drawn from the guards. Nelys had slipped free and Taava was also in the process of breaking the hold on her, if the knee she had in her grappler’s groin was any indication.
Seyari, meanwhile, had pulled her sword out and was clashing defensively with Guard Captain Kerra.
Injured and drained as I was, and with an unconscious demon to keep safe, I didn’t like my odds. The people fighting me weren’t truly angry either, confused and frightened—maybe even determined—but they held little fury. Moreover, if I fought the Church and the Gedon city guard here, I could lose everything I’d worked so hard for.
Not to mention the fact the guard really just wanted the same thing I did. Not everyone was going to shoot me in the back after feigning cooperation like Vivian had. Even if it did feel like that sometimes. Did she plan some of this?
“Zarenna Miller!” I shouted instead of trying to fight. “I’m Zarenna Miller of the Gelles Company! You should have been informed I was in the city, either by the company or by High Priest Yevon Styon!”
Someone from the church raised their hand to cease fire. “I’m surprised High Priest Styon would say to ignore a demon—even with the unusual circumstances.” His eyes slid over to Seyari and Kerra.
“Why?!” I half roared.
The man looked taken aback, his eyes widening.
“Well?” I shouted the question. “I fought this demon”—I hefted Joisse for emphasis—"to a standstill. Sure, I killed a human mercenary, but she shot me in the back under the guise of cooperation and nearly killed my friends—plus she’d been going around killing people already. All I did wrong was break a window.”
The church leader stammered, and the guard closed toward me. I called their bluff and stood my ground. They stopped short. Taava and Nelys, meanwhile, stopped wrestling with the guards holding them and watched too. Seyari stood a few paces behind me, hefting Vivian’s crossbow just in case.
“I’m a demon. I get that. But I have proof of my sincerity and you damn well know it.” I jabbed a claw the priest’s way for emphasis.
“W-what of the other demon, then?”
“I placed them under a demonic contract not to hurt anyone without reason. And before you find a way to fault me for that—we are both demons.”
“What if that thing breaks the contract?” the church leader, a priest most likely, asked.
“I’ll kill them myself. But I don’t think they can—or will. They only wanted an end to the killing, though their desires became twisted.”
“But what if they kill someone—”
“I’ll stop them. If I fail, then I’ll kill them myself.”
“What if—”
“The contract of a sovereign demon isn’t so easily broken.”
The priest froze. Everyone else just seemed confused by my words, while I watched the older man’s eyes drift to my symbol and widen upon seeing the gemstone. “Sovereign…” his voice trailed off.
Kerra sensed the mood of the room and drew her guard back. They lowered their weapons, but didn’t sheathe them.
“Wrath,” I stated simply. “Sorry about the church—I have nothing against Dhias himself. If you’ll excuse me, we all need rest, Joisse more than most.”
The priest and his followers looked around the ruined church. “Desecration,” he said simply.
“I felt no presence when I arrived here,” I explained honestly, barely resisting the urge to shrug and ruin my regal image. “Whether that was Joisse’s fault, the fault of whoever led their victim here, or if the place was simply abandoned, I can’t say. I’m sorry it happened—I’ll try not to get ambushed in another church to Dhias.”
The priest glared at me and held a hand up as if waiting to give a signal.
I tensed, watching and flexing the claws of my hands not holding Joisse. I don’t know if I can win a fight right now, let alone while keeping Joisse safe.
“Will the demon show its true colors?” the priest asked aloud. Not in a particularly haughty tone like I’d expected, but rather a challenging one—like he was actually looking for an answer.
“Do you mean ‘will the demon defend herself?’” I hissed. “Because if you think I’m going to just stand here and let you strike me down, you must think people and posts are the same thing.”
The priest glared at me, but his hand stayed upright. Kerra and Seyari still stood squared off and everyone else also tensed, waiting for the fight to resume. The few remaining civilians scattered.
“Well?” I broke the silence, putting my all into faking bravado I didn’t have. “Are you gonna try to put some new holes in me or not? If you give the order to attack, there’s a good chance I can get to you before you take me down. And my friends aren’t nearly so hurt as I am.”
“If I give the order to attack?” the priest asked, and his legitimate surprise, well, surprised me.
“Uh, yeah?” my harsh-toned bravado puttered out and I imagined my voice to sound meeker than it probably did. “You attack me—I defend myself. It’s pretty damn simple.”
“Hmm,” the priest dared to take his eyes off me to look over the crowd of various people.
“Hmm?” I asked, forcing my voice down to a low shout. “Hmm?! Don’t ‘hmm’ me!”
Even some of the priest’s subordinates started to look unsure. The few who weren’t fixated on me with looks of pure hatred, contempt, or both that was.
“You’d actually wait until we attacked, wouldn’t you?” the priest asked.
“Yes. Now can you make a damn decision?”
The priest thought a moment, his eyes staring into mine as if my eyeballs held deep wisdom. “I can.”
Slowly, he lowered his hand. I heard shouts of complaint from the priest and surprise from the guards. I relaxed, but only slightly.
“I’m not going to thank you for not attacking me a second time, you know,” I spat.
“I wouldn’t expect you to, demon,” the priest replied acerbically.
“So what now?”
The priest looked from me to his subordinates, a few of whom looked quite obviously conflicted. “Based on Yevon’s judgment and your display here, I believe we may be able to acquiesce in this instance, but as Guard Captain Kerra and her men were here first, I want to hear what they observed.”
I know Yevon is a high priest, but just how much influence does this guy have? Don’t tell me that weirdo bailed me out of this!
At the priest’s words, I dared to turn away from him and his underlings and locked eyes with Kerra, blue staring into blue.
“She’s telling the truth,” Kerra said carefully. “She’s shown no signs of aggression despite being antagonized far beyond what I would expect I would be able to tolerate.”
I thought back to the shouting match she’d had with Vivian right before we first met. Accurate.
“Then, in this instance, I believe you may carry on with your investigation,” the priest replied. “We will have much work to do at this church to ensure its future sanctity, and I would much prefer it if Miss Miller were to leave the premises.”
I frowned. “Fine, but I slept at an active shrine to Dhias and by morning I had the distinct feeling we’d reached an understanding. Mostly because my skin stopped itching like the air was trying to burn me.”
Several Church members openly gawked or glared at me. I didn’t risk any further “blasphemy” and transformed into my human form before I walked outside carrying Joisse. I really wanted to stay in my natural form, but since I didn’t want to cause a panic, so given the recent demon sightings carrying Joisse around as anything other than human would be a bad idea.
To my surprise, relief, confusion, and potentially even fear at what this might mean about High Priest Yevon, the Church folks just let me go. I’m too tired to process this right now.
Seyari walked up by my side the moment I made it through the ring of guards. “I’d have paid to see looks like those on any one of my old teachers’ faces,” she teased, her tone not quite cordial. “Sorry about not jumping in back there after we had our moment. You looked like you had it handled, and I was already getting enough dirty looks from the priest and his cronies.”
Taava quickly grabbed her daggers and dashed out after Nelys, who stuck their tongue out at the assembled crowd of guards and church folks. Taava did a much more appropriate profane gesture instead.
“Zarenna,” Kerra started before I got too far for normal conversation, her (forced) polite tone giving me enough reason to turn and look her way. “Could you come by my office tomorrow and bring… Joisse? I have some questions to ask both of you.”
“Related to the investigation?” I asked.
“Yes.”
“Sure.” I waved a hand her way. “I’ll stop by tomorrow morning.”