With the temple behind her, she headed home. If not to rest after a particularly draining day, then it was to see if she had anything at home that might help her do something against Judas. She almost wished the streets were less densely populated, but the time was perfect for after-work louches to head home. The grey sky only exasperated this dreary feeling, and the only person Epos could see who didn’t seem to be in a horrible mood was a certain red devil.

“Hey. Hey. Hey. Are you ignoring me? Y’know, back in Hell, if anybody ignored me, I’d have their head by now!” Judas said, grinning a full-toothed grin that would have scared Epos if he wasn’t so small.

She perked an eyebrow. “Have their head? As-, as in behead them?” Judas nodded enthusiastically. “...Were you a king or something?” As far as she knew, none of the holy books recounting what sparse details they knew of the elusive demons held any account of a King of Demons. And even if there was one, the kind of strength it must have contained… It would’ve been far beyond anything this little sparrow could do.

“N-, no!” Judas denied fervently, shaking his head from side to side a bit too hurridly for Epos’ liking. “I’m nowhere near lofty enough for that kinda position!”

She eyed him suspiciously. Maybe she wouldn’t have felt this sceptical if he wasn’t denying it so… incriminatingly. “Sure. Mr King of Hearts.”

He froze in place. But that was okay, because they had now reached her area of residence. The building itself was nothing to look at. Grey, hulking and industrial in feel and design. Two hundred square eyes glared down at the monochrome streets, making Epos somehow feel both deeply observed and wholly ignored. Combined with the swirling grey sky and her general feeling of dread, the world was coloured in a dozen strokes of grey and nothing else.

The only colourful thing in her vision was Judas, who was as red as a ripe strawberry. “Whatcha lookin’ at? See something you like~? Chechecheche!” Colourful did not mean good.

She climbed the few stairs outside of the entrance, tried to control the tremble in her legs, and gave a glance at the board beside the door. “Missing pet rat, return for reward,” “have you seen this cat?”, “take samba lessons now!”, “join the church of Wonders today(Church of Wonders is not liable to any psychological damages that may result from-” She stopped reading at that point. That could all remain. Her heart was beating out of her chest, and she hoped to the Lord that the elevator worked. She couldn’t bear walking up all the stairs.

That could wait for when she entered. She fished a little key out of her pocket, inserted it into the lock and unlocked the door. The second she was about to step inside, she realized reluctantly that Judas hadn’t followed her. “Um, if you don’t come inside, I’ll leave you-,”

“Hey, what’re these squibbles? They seem important. I wanna know.” The little demon pointed at the dozens of notes tacked to the board.

“That? It’s… it’s nothing you need to concern yourself with. H-, human business.”

Judas didn’t budge. “Nah, nah, I think I know what this is.” A witty smirk flashed across his face. “This is runes, innit?” Epos didn’t answer. “Yeah? Like-, like words. But you write them. This is that, isn’t it??” It… wasn’t completely incorrect. “I knew it! Guys down below use them all the time! I never learnt to read ‘em though…”

“Uh… okay. So, um. Come inside. Pretty please?” Epos said, gesturing towards the door. Judas gave her a look, growled, and flew inside.

Though, as weird as it was to admit, Judas was actually correct. Epos had seen her fair share of contract sites, places where the wants of the human (and whatever they wish to give in return) were written in Demonic on the ground, usually in blood of some sort. She wasn’t sure if the whole blood part was entirely needed, but she never did understand how those fanatics thought.

To think there would be a demon who couldn’t read… Judas was a curious fellow in more ways than one.

Well inside, she realized bitterly that her worst fear had been realized. “Hey, Epos, what does this here sign say?” She didn’t answer him. She could read the “out of order” sign perfectly well, thank you very much. She just didn’t want to admit it. Turning towards the stairs, she gave a low groan for the upcoming damage to her constitution. The thirteenth floor. Why hadn’t she at least tried to become a brawler?

Oh well. Nothing to do but get going. It was either that or sleeping on the curb, and although she knew she’d want that by the fifth floor, she couldn’t let herself show weakness.

By the fourth floor, Judas started flying slower to accompany her dwindling speed. “Uh, um. You okay there?”

Panting and wheezing, she gripped the railing with a trembling grip. Her legs felt like overcooked spaghetti, wobbling and stumbling and mere moments away from giving in. She had to continue. Despite how hot she felt, despite how every step was another challenge she didn’t think she could face, despite all this, she carried on. “I-, I-, I’m f-, fine-...”

Judas eyed her warily, pursing his lips. “Uhuh. Okay, sure thing. Listen-,” he floated up to hang right in front of her face, “you say the word, and I possess you. I’ll get you up these stairs in the blink of an eye, promise!”

“N-, no. No w-, way.” She huffed and took another step. “If-, if I let you, wheeze, take over my body, y-, you-, you’ll just… huff huff, taint my d-, divine soul!”

Judas shrugged. “Not sure what that means, but, hey, it’s your physical body.” With that, he crossed his arms, and Epos’ struggle began anew.

She passed out by the sixth floor.

-------

Geez. What a wuss.

Were all humans this weak? Nah, no way. He’d probably just accidentally picked out a really weak human. Maybe first or second circle? Or did humans not do that? Most humans all looked the same, so he wouldn’t be surprised if this one wasn’t any special. ...Then again, the thought that all humans were this weak was kind of a scary one, since that would mean that he’d just contracted himself with someone who couldn’t help him in the least.

Whoopsies. Anyhoo, he couldn’t very well leave her like this. Why, any human could come at any time and make minced meat of her!

Sure, out and about the streets they had seemed like rather devilish creatures, never attacking each other simply for the sake of it. But, as Judas had come to learn, you can’t trust diplomats. Devils who hid their true intentions were far more dangerous than the honest demons who simply attacked when they felt like it.

Judas gritted his sharp teeth. He had to get back to Hell, and that soon. Hanging around here simply wouldn’t work.

He surveyed the scene in front of him. The human had succeeded in stretching herself out over the staircase (as she had called it) and was currently lying on it, arms and legs reaching out, eyes rolled back. Tongue lolling out. Even when knocked out, it seemed her muscles couldn’t sit still, twitching erratically with every breath she took. Yeah, she’d need some help here. Judas was no force to be reckoned with as he was at this moment, but that didn’t mean he was too weak to lift some human girl.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

Hopefully.

With all the grace of a very small imp, he fluttered over to her head, and took a grip on her collar. Jerking at the fabric, he found that she might have been a little bit heavier than anticipated. Either that, or he was weaker than he thought. ...Nah, she’s heavy alright. But not too heavy!

Jerking on the collar, he forced her head off of the stairs. His wings beat like that of a hummingbird, and he had to use all the strength he could muster in his little body to so much as get her off of the ground. Once her torso and head no longer touched the ground (and her limbs flopped helplessly at her sides), he took her up one step. Tock. And another step. Tock. And yet another. Tock tock. Eventually, after way too much time, he reached it. The thirteenth floor. The floor she’d been mumbling about ever since the third floor. And here he was.

Setting her body down, he heaved a sigh of relief, only to panic once more when he heard the tock-tock-tock-tock of a certain body tumbling down the stairs. “-Shit!” He darted at her body, catching her right before the stairs did a turn. He breathed out too quickly. His whole body was trembling. Fatigue. Hadn’t felt that in a fair few years. Either way, now that he knew not to celebrate his victories too early, he dragged her back up, put her down someplace where she wouldn’t fall, and promptly fluttered down beside her, back against her shoulder.

Phew. That had been-,, a lot. Damn this body. If he could just possess her… then, he was sure he could be strong again. Maybe not as strong as he used to be, but hopefully better than this.

...He had to be.

Otherwise, even if he got back to Hell, he wouldn’t be able to change anything.

Silently, he exhaled, closed his eyes, and fell asleep.

-------

When Epos awoke, she did it to the soft snoring of a certain little devil and the dawning realization that she had passed out while trying to climb stairs. Absolutely patheti-,

No, hold that thought. If she passed out in the stairs, how come she was lying on a plain surface? Unless… She peeked an eye open and noticed the plaque above the stairway. “13” it said, in bold letters. Somehow, she’d gotten to the thirteenth floor. But that-, that was impossible! She could never-,

That is, unless someone helped her.

Her eyes and thoughts fell on Judas. He was sleeping softly, snoring rather loudly (considering that he was the size of a harvest-mouse), with his back to her shoulder. Why, it was such a serene sight that she could barely bear to rise into a sitting position. Once she did, the red devil promptly fell, bonked his head on the cement floor, and cursed. The next second, it seemed he forgot all manners, and went straight to biting her, sinking his sharp teeth into her arm. “Ow!”

His eyes cleared up at hearing her soft cry, and he released his toothy grip. “-Huh? Oh, uh. Sorry, reflex.”

Pouting her cheeks out like a chipmunk, she massaged the area he’d bitten. Hm? Hold on. A demon bit her, and… and it hurt. Taking a look at the area he’d bit, it was clearly sporting a bunch of red marks. Nothing too bad, barely even a cat-bite, but… what it tattled made up for it. He could interact with her. Bite her. And if she didn’t climb these stairs… he could touch her.

A demon interacting with the real world without a human medium… Why, it was-, it was unheard of! Her blood ran cold and she stood up. Her legs still trembled, but nowhere near how her heart quivered.

“Huh? Hey, wait up! It was just a bite, don’t act like that!” Judas said, flying up from where he’d been sleeping. Was it her imagination, or did his wings tremble slightly? Not just that, but his general body language seemed to suggest extreme fatigue… Not that she felt any different. All she wanted to do was lie down and sleep for a millenia, but she had classes to attend in the morning. Which in turn meant that she had to eat. What a bother.

With fumbling hands, she fished her keyring out of her pocket. It was rather hefty, even though she only had the necessities. She quickly unlocked the door to her apartment and stepped inside.

She didn’t even need to look to see how Judas had nestled himself in her thick scarf. In a sounder mind, she might have removed him, but at this moment, she really couldn’t do it, even if she sort of wanted to. They were equally tired, and if she herself had been a tiny devil taking a nap in someone’s scarf, she wouldn’t want that person to flick her away either.

Dinner was simple. One of her mission-mates had taught her how to do it with grace and style, but she always felt like she messed it up.

Soufleing an egg. Swirl some boiling water, crack an egg in it. Make it go round and round. Judas watched it, stunned beyond words. But that wasn’t all she’d have for dinner. No, before he could ask her what she was doing, she poured the rest of her boiled water into a bowl, added a pack of instant ramen, let it soften to the point of being overcooked, added the egg, and… and there it was. A simple, nutritious meal that didn’t lack in either protein or calories.

Together with a glass of milk she sat the meal down at her table-for-one, and got eating. Judas floated down to sit in front of her bowl, transfixed.

“So, um,” he began, “whose intestines are these?”

She almost spat out a mouthful of noodles. “N-, nobody’s! What in the world are you suggesting!?”

He scratched his chin. “Uhhhh-huh. Then, why’s it all stretchy and long? Is it… muscle-tissue? Like just really long? I’m not sure what else would be that long, unless you eat hair, which is kinda weird, but I won’t judge.”

She stared at him for a moment, trying desperately to collect her thoughts. “I-, uh. These are noodles. They are not intestines, but merely wheat and egg, shaped into long strings. The egg is an egg. Do you-, have you never eaten anything like this? Or something?...” She thought for a moment before adding a few more words. “And-, and don’t suggest I’d eat meat. I’m a vegetarian, I’d rather not think that what I’m eating is-, is something like that. I’d be too disturbed to eat.”

“So… it’s not human?”

“N-, no.”

“That is… and it’s not demon or angel flesh either?” Epos shook her head fervently. “-Right. That is-, pretty odd? I think? Down in Hell, all there is to eat are other demons, so I guess I never thought that you could just…” his eyebrows scrunched together as he gestured towards the noodles, “eat something that wasn’t demons? Or humans or something?” Epos frowned, and Judas realized what he said might not be the best thing to say to a human. “N-, not that I’d eat a human, of course! That’d be… wack. Probably.”

Epos stared down at her noodles. Rich broth and steam roiled off of it, the upper layer of it already coalescing with the runny egg-yolk to create a thick, aromatic sauce. Yeah, she couldn’t go without this. “-Would you like a taste?”

“A-, a taste? Of… of that?” She nodded. “Oh. Uh. Y’know, when I was just an itty-bitty first circle, I tried eating a rock, and it didn’t taste good. I kind of doubt-,”

She held a noodle up close to him. “Go on, try it. It’s good, I swear.”

He swallowed. “I-, I’m not sure if…”

“Do it.”

“...” He held out his hand, and grabbed a hold of the noodle. Broth coiled around his clawed fingers. He could barely hold a single one, but he had no choice. The way Epos looked at him… If he didn’t at least give it a taste, she’d be mad for sure. Slowly, hesitantly, he brought the warm thing to his mouth, and took a bite.

His eyes lit up.

Epos couldn’t even see the noodle disappear. One moment she was holding it, and the next, it was gone, Judas suddenly sporting a big, round belly. “-Phew! That was good!” Saying so, the little devil patted his stomach, clearly full beyond belief.

“...Good Lord,” Epos mumbled. And, honestly? The words fit the situation very well. A demon able to eat food… remarkable. She was lucky it was such a dimwit or it might’ve posed an actual threat to the temple, or to the world as a whole. As unlikely as it felt. Either way, the little devil didn’t ask for anything more, which didn’t surprise her. Dinner proceeded as normal, and by the time she got up to wash the dishes, Judas had already succumbed to a food-induced coma.

The sky outside had now turned a dark back, stars hidden behind thick, smog-like clouds. As good a time as any to go to sleep. She did have to get up early in the morning.

Judas was still sleeping on her table. She leaned down, and poked his rounded belly. “Wakey wakey,” she said. The little devil slowly turned over, mumbling something about five more aeons. Well, alright. If he wouldn’t wake up, she could at least carry him to someplace more suitable to sleep. She cupped his small body in her hands, carefully making sure she didn’t rouse him too much. He slept soundly.

Once she entered her bedroom, she slowly came to realize the absurdity of the situation. She was holding a demon. In her hands.

And was just about to tuck it in.

The shock of it all almost made her drop Judas, but she was able to stall her hand in the last moment. In turn, the little demonic entity shifted in her grip, turning over to show off the little yellow brand on the back of his right hand. Compared to hers, it was much softer around the edges, but no less simple in design. They were contracted. He gave her strength, she got him to Hell. A trade. Two-sided.

“People who made contracts with demons didn’t live long.”

She bit her lip, and gently placed her scarf on top of her desk, finally putting her little tormentor atop it. It took less than five seconds for Judas to grab a hold of the oversized blanket, turn over, and nestle inside it.

She fished out her keyring again and grabbed one of the smaller ones. Using this key, she unlocked a certain drawer in her desk. She slid it out and grabbed the small, ornate crystal bottle inside. The clear liquid swivelled in a most divine way inside of it. Blessed by a cardinal. The most potent of holy waters. A single drop could exorcise most demons. She popped off the lid. The scent that wafted unwelcome from the bottle was like something cold. If she had a thought for what the coldest of liquids might smell like, this was it.

Steeling her heart, she raised the bottle above the gently snoring demon. Tilted it. Let the liquid move from the bottom to the top, following gravity.

A droplet formed. Right above the demon.

All she had to do was let it fall.

Her hands trembled. The droplet trembled. And fell.

Her heart skipped a beat.

Her other hand shot out and caught the droplet, right before it could hit Judas. Her chest heaved, sweat matted her brow. Could she breathe? Despite her hare-thin breaths, it didn’t feel like any oxygen entered her lungs. They were empty.

She corked the bottle once more, placed it in the drawer, locked it, and went to sleep.

There must have been a better way to do this.