He had no concept of what a border was, nothing more than what a few books said. For him, a border was a human concept, a fabrication of their division and rivalry. It was an idea that was foreign to him, something that he felt all too constrictive.

To be fair, while staring up at the tall wall, he had to admit that it resembled the outposts of the angelic guard, a constant watch over the common folk. The eyes of the humans were set on them as soon as they approached from the road. Under those helmets, the tension in their eyes was all too obvious. While holding their long axes, the border patrol watched their every move as they neared slowly.

Uriel was right to feel apprehensive.

“I don’t think they want me here, Ayako.”

She shushed him, holding onto his back while he led the horse.

“Don’t speak now, Uri. Humans are easy to startle.”

Alexis felt wonder for the big stony landmark, but he knew as well that the guards were not thrilled to see a demon near them. They were standing still, questioning their intentions.

“You said they don’t like foreigners, right?”

Uriel took Alexis’ words as a chance to repeat his opinion, which he had voiced for days now.

“Guys, maybe we should take this as a sign, maybe we should turn back.”

“I said sshh.” Ayako straightened her pose, putting a prideful look on her face. She glared ahead with a smile, looking right at the guards. “These people don’t like to see travelers from our regions, because they have fewer bandits in their country than us. As long as we don’t seem to be native of our country, they won’t give us much trouble.”

“So, they hate our home?”

“They are just sore about all the thieves that crossed the border long ago. Feiren got raided once. Our country is small, and puts less control over its lands, allowing all kinds of trouble to roam. They don’t want that to happen again. They don’t forbid anyone from crossing, but they keep a very close eye.”

“Control freaks, huh?” Alexis made a face, remembering well the angels in his former home. “I think I might be closer to heaven than thought…”

“Don’t worry, Alex. They just watch their borders. These people don’t wander much, not even in their regions. The snowy areas are desolate; only Feiren is full of guards, merchants and patrons.”

They shut up, because they were really close now. As they neared the huge gates, two archers above readied arrows, bows at hand. The two men at the front pulled up their axes, and then pointed at them, yelling warily.

“Halt, in the name of our queen! What brings you here?!”

Uriel tried to be smaller, he really tried. He failed miserably; mounted on the horse, he towered over everyone. Not even his fancy clothes and humble attitude were easing the doubts of the guards. Being a demon was something that always brought trouble. However, he was not the one who seemed to be hurt the most by their distrust; Alexis was there, clutching the reigns of his horse very tightly, glaring at the axes fiercely.

Luckily, Ayako was a woman that had seen world, who knew politics and formalities.

“You may have to excuse the way in which we neared, gentlemen.” Uriel blinked. Ayako had begun to feign the most educated of mannerisms, something he had not seen her do in ages. “I apologize for my two bodyguards here; they are all I found in these regions.”

Alexis shot her a glare, noticing her demeaning tone.

“What did you just-”

She coughed, glaring him down.

“There you go, mouthy as always.” She smiled at the guards, shaking her head pridefully. “I hope to find better henchmen in Feiren. I was all too afraid to bring my dear cart along with only their help. Oh, to travel on horse… I should be deserving of a full entourage.”

The guards lowered their axes a little, seeing that she was the leader of the trio. The demon was leading her horse, but she was in command. They asked, still eyeing Uriel carefully.

“You had to resort to hire a devil? Are bandits that troublesome these days?”

She laughed, batting a hand at them.

“Oh no, Uriel here is the most useful and dedicated of henchmen! I would not doubt to hire him again. I was lucky to meet him, when I was in doubt and lost in those lands. He’s strong and fierce, but only at my command. I know demons are scary and less social sometimes, but he’s the most capable of helpers. It is… the other one who shows less capability. I was afraid bandits would snatch him instead of my valuables, you see.”

Alexis was fuming, but he was preventing himself of blowing off her cover. Uriel shot him an apologetic glance, sensing her tight playful hold behind him.

Her words did ease the tension a lot more. Uriel straightened his pose, and did feign to be the most loyal of servants, only holding the thought of taking her where she needed be. His violet eyes narrowed and glared through the wall, like if he could only see Feiren. His intimidating looks became determined, efficient and strong.

The men seemed to discuss, and Alexis could not avoid noticing that they had stopped talking about Uriel. He heard clearly how they asked if he could be a bandit, but as well how they deemed him far too slim and idle to be capable of trouble in their country. All thanks to her devious manipulation and acting…

The gates opened, not with one last warning.

“You may proceed into our land. Though, fair lady, be assured that we will keep an eye on your demon and lackey.”

Ayako grinned, eyes closed with content. She loved to be called fair, just this once.

“Oh, you wouldn’t need to. We will only cross Feiren and be on our way. I have really important matters to attend, too many regions to visit.”

To their eyes, she looked like a noble, who had dressed less fancily to escape the eye of bandits in southern lands. She had her head high while she got through, carried by a very silent demon, who looked like a walking tower. She was followed by another rider, who looked all less loyal, far too scowling to seem dedicated to her.

When they passed, the gates closed slowly, iron bars sliding down. They rode away, far from the archers and soldiers.

Only when they were far enough did she burst into laughter, loud enough to silence the curses of her lackey.

——————

 

He eyed every corridor.

He crept through like a huge shadow, silent as the night. His towering figure moved into every hall, scouting, watching. His big ears trembled a couple of times, startled by faint sounds.

For days, he had watched, vigilant and wary. He knew they were feigning, plotting against his vows. He promised Ayako he would keep them safe and sound in this manor, yet they would not listen and behave.

He was done being nice.

Every night, he roamed, in his true form. His huge claws would brush the floors, while his body filled the rooms. Attentive, he made sure they did not go out their respective chambers.

But they did, sometimes. He knew, even though he could never catch them in the act. Ayako had taught them well, it seemed.

Slowly, he pushed one door open. He eyed the big bed. There she was, covered in big blankets, her figure hidden. Ariel slept, even though he had sworn he had heard her run through the basement not long ago.

Taking another deep breath, he walked away from the scent of pages, ash and perfume. The scent of a demon was there, all over the blankets.

He walked towards the upper floor, heading for another room.

As well, he pushed the door gently, not wanting to disturb Aurora, who had been far meeker. Of the two she had been the less troublesome, more compliant and afraid.

He smiled with relief, seeing the bulge in the bed, under the blankets. As well, he could smell florae, furry feathers, and the unmistakable scent of earth, all that defined her.

He would’ve walked away… if not for what he saw. His red eyes widened, when he noticed a glint under the blankets. Through the window, the moon shined strongly. With those silver glimmers, what truly lay under the blankets was hinted. A black glint, of something metallic, something that only his intent eyes could have noticed.

He bolted for the bed.

Without doubt, he clawed the blankets away, already knowing that he could not possibly maul Aurora.

Indeed, when he clawed them off, he only scratched a silly puppet, one of those black armors that stood in the manor. Though it was not complete; missing a few limbs, it had been laid in a way that resembled her size. All over it, there were feathers, some hair, and an unwashed shirt. It smelled of her, it made him a fool.

“Girls!”

He ran. How he ran. Again in the basement, he pushed fiercely into Ariel’s room. In a panic, he clawed off the blankets. He panted, eyes wide, staring down at the armor, laid with small trims of nails, some books, and her favorite perfume.

Again, he ran, mouthing nonsense all the way. The fear and dread were obvious in him.

Abiel licked at his own fur, awaken by the panicked whines of a demon. His little black eyes watched while the big cat ran about, talking to himself. He saw him bolt outside, but then come back in, dragging something. The lynx threw down a basket at his feet, letting the huge quantity of dried vegetables and cereal scatter in the room, right before his small paws. While he stared at the food that would last him ages, the devil yelled, running away again.

“I’m leaving, Abiel! There’s more in the pantries, you know where the hole is!”

Abiel had always sneaked his way into the kitchens, unknown to everyone but Alexis and Lykaios. All this food, at his reach, would last him for a long time. Happily, he began to nom on a slice of carrot.

Lykaios ran out into the woods, not without casting a very tiring spell. Wailing, his head shot up while he ran fast, echoing everywhere. Back in the manor, the armors moved. Haunted with a bloody glow, they locked the gates and stood in the most important of places.

Abiel just plopped back to sleep, knowing there would be a lot of tranquility from now on.

Lykaios ran fiercely, knowing he could not be caught with this failure. Far away, his wail echoed deeply into the woods.

Two heard him, and it did not fail to make their hair shot up.

“Crap.”

Their sharp teeth clenched. They slowly exchanged a dreadful look. Aurora commented next, gulping.

“He’s after us.”

“Why does he chase?! He has the manor all for himself and he hates being near us!”

Their eyes held nervousness, but as well, not a single hint of regret.

Ariel growled, overcoming her shock. After she hit the reigns fiercely, their horse ran faster, pulling at the cart. Aurora hid a little between crates of food, tucking her wings closer. Her eyes trailed onto one of her bags, where she had hid something important. She hoped she would not have to let it go, perhaps able to reason with him. She really wished to find him a return one of his past gestures.

The horse ran through the roads, led by their hope. They headed into the unknown, full of wonder and apprehension. They were eager, hopeful, innocent… things that it wanted to rip away.

It slid down a branch. After falling onto the ground, it convulsed, turning from a long stream of roots into a sharp arrange of needles, which lifted its figure like a claw. While growing a sharp maw out of its wooden mauled skin, it breathed again, looking without eyes. It had waited in the distance, for those two to leave their safety. It was its chance now.

Youth… so careless and tender.

Bolting fast like a wasp, the roots stabbed the ground to push it forward. It moved in the shadows, following that cart close, crawling between trees and bushes. Unseen, it chased, finally having them at hand.

For so long, she had waited. Sliced away from her past self, kicked away, her body burned, forgotten under the rubble that fell from a cliff, aching while regaining her forces… it was shameful.

She would grow again with the blood of these two. She would savor their horror and fear, relish in their emotional pain. She would make them regret their useless feelings…

She crept, closer, and closer… determined to murder their children.

——————-

 

“Wow.”

That’s all he managed to say.

Past tall thick guarded walls, the city opened for them. It was nothing like the angelic citadel, there were no traces of the calculated routine his kind knew. No matter how apprehensive this culture was, these were still humans.

His eyes were wide, as he watched every street and corner. At every single inch, someone was walking by, doing business. The streets were loud, full of a crowd, people that did not share the same intentions. Some were wasting time, hanging out by a big tavern that would put the delicate one of the citadel to shame. Some were trading, far more wildly and lividly than any angel would in their small market. There were stalls everywhere, without coordination or pattern, in any space possible. People yelled, either to force their way through or to beckon people to check their produce. The routes of the crowd were not careful and thoughtful either; one man almost collided with his horse as he ventured into the city. All around, there were canals of water, connected by tall bridges, where people pushed through to avoid the small boats that sailed below. The buildings were not as tall as angelic ones, far too simple and undecorated; but they were ample. Every single building had an open gallery, multiple floors that overlapped, and sometimes they would loom over the water. Patches of green decorated the sides of the streets, where the peddlers settled. Not one single group could be analyzed; he couldn’t tell their intentions, or their thoughts. All humans were individuals, not ingrained into a careful mechanism that he had come to know.

Hell, even the guards seemed to have their own personalities. As he passed a bridge, he stared in awe at a guard, who yawned loudly, almost asleep in his post. That man did not pay much mind to Uriel; he did not even dare to sit up to feign he was working.

That would have assured him punishment in angelic land. All these people would be shunned for their demeanor… but they were not. Humans grouped, thrilled with their own freedom.

Ayako leaned on her horse to whisper to him, smiling.

“We’re weird, but in a good way, huh?”

Alexis couldn’t deny he was both perplexed and amazed, envious yet wary.

“So many… you have no sense of personal space, nor concept of diligence.”

Uriel felt a little tense. He eyed the crowd around them, who eyed him back. There was fear in those eyes for him, but as well the hints of their dismissiveness. His presence was soon pushed away in their minds, in every single person that roamed. No one seemed to mind him there, not with her at his side. It would be fine, as long as he did not lift a claw. These people had too many thoughts of their own to be bothered.

“I don’t like the way they look at me.”

Ayako snickered, eyeing an inn ahead.

“Aren’t you used to it already?”

Uriel shook his head, frowning. He detailed, guiding the horse very carefully through the crowds.

“It’s not the same.” He shuddered, passing by a couple of mercenaries that stood by a shady house. “These looks… they are more interested. They look at me like I’m a thug for hire.”

They reached an inn. They dismounted, and when they did, Ayako neared him warmly. She got a hold of his collar, and while setting it right, she spoke gently.

“Oh Uri, you look too pretty to be a simple thuggish brute.” She patted his chest and waved at them to follow inside. “Come on, we’ll call it a day. Tomorrow we’ll check the city and see what we can buy around.”

Uriel coughed and shook his blush away. He looked sideways at Alexis, who was eyeing the old inn with as much trust, which was none.

“I hope they have good rooms.”

“Don’t raise your hopes too high, Uriel. They won’t be anywhere close to ours.”

They both went in with a sigh, already hearing the buzz of the patrons and her loud remarks.

Unknown to them, they had been watched.

Some mercenaries had eyed Uriel, very closely. Sitting at a table in a balcony, a very rich looking man looked down to the inn, surrounded by his thugs. His eyes had a lot of interest, directed right to the demon.

“I’ve heard of demons selling their services before… but I have never seen it with my own eyes.”

Those strong muscles, fierce claws, and fiery eyes… no one would dare bother him with such a right hand under his service. It was an exotic thing, to have a devil bow to your demands.

He took another sip of his wine and then stood while snapping his fingers. With that single gesture, his handymen moved, following him away.

Those were not the only ones who had casted their gazes onto the trio. Whispering, three hooded figures scattered away, into the shadows of the streets.

They had come into a town full of people of every kind, and they were bound to draw attention.