Chapter 3: Maria

It had been three weeks since the heiress Lucia Lincoln's body was found, and the whole world stopped to mourn. Maria heard the news the very day it happened; everyone did. Every news station had been reporting it non-stop; there was only either coverage of the investigation or coverage of that Melissa Tiwary woman in New Paris, who was a story in her own right.

It turned out that one of the benefits of being a blind woman was that it was easier to avoid the news than most. Television screens had little to offer Maria, so when the opportunity to spend her morning somewhere other than her home came, she took it. It was a cold, crisp morning for Maria in her very home of Bethel.

The kind of morning where you could still see the remnants of last night's snowfall scattered on the ground below. It would've normally been too cold for any mortal to withstand, but Maria found herself gathered around a large flame that had grown from the carcass of a deer. It warmed her, more than any normal flame could, and it warmed her companion, a rag wearing grey demon with black horns and black wings who stared intently into the flames as if they were in deep thought.

"Why do you still look into the flames?" Asked Maria.

The demon, with their wretched laugh and coarse voice, spoke to Maria in a quiet, almost singsong tone. One that was soft enough where it carried no menace or wrath.

"Because the flames still speak to me after all these years." The demon paused and gave Maroa a toothless smile. "Your eyes are a wonderful gift, Maria. Have I thanked you today?"

The woman rested her hand on her face and sighed. "You have not."

With a click of a forked tongue, the demon laughed once more. "Well, I thank you! Your kind and I have had our disputes yes, but you seem to be one of the better ones." Said the demon. "A human worth being around every now and then."

It was a weird compliment, but Maria accepted it nonetheless. Even without eyes, she liked the crackling of the fire. It distracted her from the forest around her—the sounds of wolves stomping their paws and crows chirping in the earliest parts of dawn.

"I am glad I am worth having around, but you only have a few more minutes before we have to go back to the city." Said Maria. "We can't be here all day."

The demon grumbled something under its breath and reached into its skull, retrieving the eyes it bought from Maria and placing them under the rags that covered their body.

Underneath their rags, they reached once more, this time retrieving a pair of pitch-black eyes that they inserted into their skull as if they were mere contacts.

"I have seen enough," said the demon. "I need some mystery in my life after all. If I spoil all my surprises, that would be no fun." They say Mirthful as ever. "You have a big day today, Maria. You have been called in, Miss Detective. Hooray. Maybe they'll let you be the eyes and ears of their organization." A pause was held. "Well, maybe just the ears," said the demon with a laugh.

"You're hilarious." Replied Maria with a hearty dose of sarcasm.

"Thank you, I try." Said the demon before reaching out their bony hand to meet Maria's. "Allow me to guide you back to Bethel; the woods are no place for a blind woman."

Maria was not hesitant to take the demon's hand; in fact, she grabbed it tight with all her strength.

"I've put my trust in you, demon, but before you guide me, I have a question." Said Maria

"I'll answer what I can. Although you know I can't answer everything. That's no fun." Said the demon.

"You see the same story in the flames every day. You said yesterday you have seen this day before."

"This feels like a question that I won't answer." The demon says, cutting her off with a wave of its hands.

"Why watch this day again if you already have seen it many times?" Said Maria, raising an eyebrow at her demonic companion.

"I see many things, many times. It is hard to remember it all, and I wanted to refresh myself for what I was about to witness. As part of your promise, I am allowed to do that." Answered the demon.

"That is true." Said Maria. Her promise—the one she made to get her eyes—was something she thought of often. It decided her future and was something she had rebuilt her entire life around.

"Well, that settles it, doesn't it? Let's hurry up and see this day play out. I cannot wait to experience it as it happens, and standing here is no experience at all." Said the demon with a flap of their wings.

Maria nodded her head, and the demon grasped her hand tightly. The demon's wings then began to flap with a great deal of force, making such a loud noise that the calls of the wolves and foxes grew even louder. The demon then elevated off of the ground and carried themselves and Maria through the air.

In a blink of an eye, the demon had traversed through the forest at a pace that was anything but natural. In a moment, the demon came to a standstill, and then a descendant made a smooth landing on a pathway that led into the city of Bethel proper.

The demon soon let go of Maria's hand. "I'm getting too old for that." They said it with a guttural cough.

"For that? You mean to fly?" Asked Maria.

"My wings are tired; may we spend more time on the land than air." Said the demon.

"You want to teach me how to fly?" Asked Maria.

The demon laughed. "I suppose we could make another trade; I already have your eyes, but if you have something else to offer me, I am sure I could spare a wing or two."

"For a wing or two, I could offer a coin or two." Said Maria.

The creature grinned and shook their head. "And I thought I was the funny one. No, friendship is not what I desire; I was hoping more along the line of one's soul."

Maria clasped her hands together and shook her head. She thought to herself briefly. 'If you watch the flames like you claim you do, you would know I would never give you my soul. What do you really want from me, Demon?

Her lips curled at the thought. It was always a waste of time asking the demon for anything; it was always souls and trades with them.

"I had a feeling you would say that." Said Maria. "Anyway, can you take me to the courthouse? On land, we can walk there, but walk fast; we don't have that much time, and they're expecting me."

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Even without their hands intertwined, the demon still led Maria in a sense. While her eyes were gone, her senses remained, and she could tell there were minds all around her.

Some of these minds were weak, and some of them were strong. Maria knew to follow the strongest of them all. The mind of the demon for whom she had sold her eyes.

To one who did not know of her, she had to be a peculiar sight. A woman with skin dark like coal, one who had long hair down her back that was dyed a dark red. A woman with no eyes who, in place of them, wore black bandages that wrapped around her skull. She was dressed casually in jeans and a thick wool coat, and she walked with a cane through a busy crowd as if it were nothing to her. Bethel was bustling as always. People looked at her with confusion, for they could not see the demon who led her, for the demon did not want to be seen.

Maria noticed that it was a calmer day in the town of Bethel; a somber mood hung over it like an umbrella. There was the lingering tinge of death in the air, but the sheer number of people who lived there meant that it was never truly quiet. In this town, one of the many shining stars of the great planet of Eden; skyscrapers pierced the sky above, and crows sat at the edge of windows, squawking at everyone who passed by.

Maria walked for a brief while through the town's complex streets lined by businesses and residences alike until she arrived at a small building. One that had a statue of a blind woman holding a scale in one hand and a broadsword in the other, keeping guard in front of it. It was a white building surrounded by Roman-style columns, and it sat on a hill with a large number of steps to allow one to climb to it and enter. Maria walked up the steps, and her demon followed.

The door was locked, but to the side of it was a keypad. Maria reached into her jeans, retrieved a card, and pressed it onto the pad to scan it. A beeping was heard, and soon enough the doors creaked open for her arrival.

Not long after she stepped inside, she was greeted by a receptionist. A young blonde woman of a fair complexion who smiled at Maria brightly when she entered. It was Lindsey; she had been the receptionist here even before Maria's first day as a detective.

"Maria, it's good to see you!" She said with a wave of her hand. "Welcome, welcome." She said, still waving Maria over. Once Maria was close enough, the fair-skinned woman grew quieter and spoke softly to her. "The Earl of New Paris is here."

Maria's jaw dropped. 'That may be the most powerful person to ever step foot in Bethel." She thought. 'If he's here, it must be important; it would have to be.'

"Lindsey... that's unbelievable. He's here? He didn't bring a representative of his? But why?" Maria questioned rapidly.

"Yep! He's here, and he requested you specifically. Judge Martin is in there with him, but he wants to meet with you." Said Lindsey.

"Do you think this is because of his daughter?" Asked Maria. "With her passing and all, they need all they can get for the investigation."

"No idea! That's all that they told me. They're waiting for you; I'm sure they'll tell you a lot more than they told me." Said Lindsey.

"Well, I suppose I should meet with him then." Said Maria.

"Are you nervous?" Asked Lindsey.

Maria shook her head. She would never let herself be nervous on an investigation; this is what she chose after all. She knew what she was signing up for. "No, I'm ready." Said Maria.

While the two women spoke, the demon was buzzing with excitement. Wings flapping, and their faces turned with an unmistakable glee. It was a rare show of happiness from the creature, one that Maria was wary of.

"Looks like your name has gotten around Maria." Said the demon. "I hope you're up for the task."

Maria ignored the demon, and Lindsey didn't seem to hear them at all. It was always easier to ignore the supernatural in Maria's case; they always wanted to be heard, but she was reluctant to give them the pleasure.

"Well, I am ready to meet with him." Said Maria. "Where are the Earl and the judge, Martin?"

A twinkle could've been seen in Lindsey's eyes when Maria spoke. "You are a breath of fresh air, Maria. The Earl is in the first room to the left. He has not been waiting long, so do not worry."

"Thank you, Lindsey." Said Maria.

Maria walked carefully through the hallway, cane in hand and demon in flight to guide her. She soon came to a large oakwood door that was guarded by two large men armed with rifles. The large men looked at each other and then looked at her before knocking on the door three times. Soon enough, the door was opened by a man inside. It was a black man short in a statue in a judge's robes. He had a coarse voice, one that was clearly weathered from age but still friendly. He welcomed Maria inside.

Maria searched the souls around her; it was the gift she got when she made her trade with the demon. One of the few benefits of selling her eyes. There were four minds in that room. Herself, the demon, the judge, and of course the Earl of New Paris, Alfred Lincoln.

The room itself was simple: four chairs, one long table, gray walls, and a carpet that clearly hadn't been vacuumed in a long while. The ceiling was white with many small holes for ventilation, and the walls were adorned with the painted portraits of judges who had resided here before. Including the most recent, the diminutive Judge Martin.

"Maria, Maria! I am glad you could make it. Allow me to introduce you to the Earl of New Paris. Earl Alfred Lincoln." The judge said, taking a very dramatic and regal bow at the earl.

"Maria, bow before your Earl." Said Martin.

Maria was hesitant, but she bowed nonetheless; it felt like she was doing something out of a TV show or movie. All the pomp and tradition of bowing to a noble was alien to her.

Alfred bowed back to the both of them. He was just as old as Martin was, although something about him gave off an age that wasn't quite there. The sort of fast aging that came with stress and titles—the same kind of titles that gave him the silver emerald-adorned crown that he chose to wear when meeting Maria today.

The Earl, Alfred, was clearly tired, yet he still found the energy to inspect Maria close, eyeing her and examining her. Maria could feel chills moving down her neck. 'What does he want?' She thought.

It was an uneasy feeling; it felt like she was being judged by a man she just met.

"You're the blind woman who reads mind?" Said Alfred, rather bluntly.

Maria smiled awkwardly. "I don't read minds. I-"

Alfred palmed his face and grunted to himself. "Judge Martin. I was told that you have a blind woman who could read minds under your service. Why am I here if she cannot read minds?"

Martin furrowed his brow and gestured vaguely at Maria. "Read isn't the correct terminology. She jumps into minds."

"Jumps into minds? Do tell me what that means." Asked Alfred.

"It means I can access memories and see what people have experienced through their eyes." Answered Maria.

It was often that people questioned her abilities. Rumors of what she could and couldn't do had a way of getting around.

"Yes, that's what I was trying to say. Maria here is one of our finest young detectives. She came to us one evening and explained her gift to us. Ever since she has been crucial to bringing many criminals to justice." Judge Martin said, taking a moment to walk to the side of Maria. "If you need a detective, you have come to the right place."

Maria beamed with pride. It was moments like these that made her feel like her trade with the demon was worth it.

Alfred let out a sigh of relief and took a seat at the table. "That does sound useful. I have done much groundwork on this investigation already and have found three potential suspects. I'm sure you have heard of Lucia Lincoln."

Lucia Lincoln. Unless one was living under a rock, of course they had heard of her; she was one of the famous people in all of Eden. A socialite, a star. Maria never knew her personally, but like many women in Eden, she admired Lucia's style and at times wished she had the funds to emulate it. She couldn't believe it when she heard Lucia had died.

"I have heard of her and what happened, yes." Said Maria.

"That's good; originally I wanted you to read their minds and just tell me who killed my daughter so that I could have them hanged in the center of New Paris for all to see."

There was no contempt or anger in the Earl's voice; every word he said was a matter of fact. "But now you can do something even better for me. I want you to enter their memories. All three of their memories, and I want you to tell me the entire day of how my daughter died. I want to know everyone who was there, every witness who caused this. Who planned this and who burned her the way they did? Can you do that for me?"

Maria was a bit taken aback but was careful not to show it on her face. "I can make sure that whoever committed this crime is brought to justice and is delivered a fair trial with all the appropriate evidence. I can promise nothing more and nothing less."

Alfred smirked. "I could have them hung with no trial with nothing more than my word, but I came here instead. Because I am honorable enough to see to it that the law is carried out properly. With my word you have a warrant, and with my word I grant you the right to carry out my will. I want you to see inside the memories of these criminals."

"I will do just that." Said Maria.

"What is the school of your powers?" The Earl asked.

"Demonic," said Maria.

"Is this demon with us right now?" Asked Alfred.

Sure enough, the demon was still there, floating just above the ground behind Maria's chair. The demon was oddly silent, but its presence was impossible for Maria to ignore.

"They are, but they will not reveal themselves to you. You know most people are a bit more taken aback by the magic of demons. Doesn't exactly make them want to come out." Replied Maria.

The Earl shrugged. "My wife may need some more convincing, but for all I know I have the next Incubus of Eden on my hands. I couldn't turn that down now, could I? What I care about is if your powers work."

"My powers work, but I am no Incubus of Eden. I do not control demons the way he did." Said Maria.

She had heard the stories before—the stories of the most powerful demonic magicians to walk the world. She knew the Incubus of Eden was the most powerful of all of them; some had come to call her a succubus, but that was a title she hoped to avoid. She was no seductress, and honestly, as far as she was concerned, she hadn't done much yet to warrant a nickname.

"In fact, I have only met two demons properly." Maria continued.

"That is no issue. I do not concern myself with the work of demons and aeons. This is a mortal issue after all." Said Alfred before taking a deep breath. "Detective. I have no reason to doubt your powers. Judge Martin here is a man noted for honesty and has no reason to exaggerate your accomplishments. That being said, I am not a man to take chances. My family didn't come to rule over New Paris because they took chances. They did it because they knew the right choices to make. If you can enter minds. Enter mine."

Maria's lips curled at the suggestion. "That is... not ideal." She said. "I have sworn an oath to only enter one's mind when there is due process. I am an officer of the law."

"And I am your Earl commanding you to do as I say. If you want this case, I will need to see an example of what you are capable of." Said Alfred.

Maria bit her little anxiously and then nodded. "So be it. Where shall I go?"

"The last time I saw my daughter. A month ago, tell me every detail and be specific so I know it was you." Said Alfred, smiling now.

"Is there anything more you need to do your duties?" Asked the Earl.

"No," Maria answered. "What you are asking I am perfectly capable of."

As the Earl and Maria spoke, the demon watched on with a blank expression. They chittered and buzzed as the two conversed and showed no desire to go anywhere else. Maria wondered if this conversation is what the demons saw in the flames not so long ago.

"In that case. You may begin. Enter my mind and prove your skills, Detective."

With those words said, Maria took a breath and brought her attention to the Earl's mind. She drew it closer to herself. It was as if a door was open, and suddenly she was in Alfred's mind.