He hated unpredictability, oh so very much. Furthermore, his luck was never the best. When things went wrong, they usually did so fast and all at once. When he was cast into this world, he learned to interpret everything as a bad omen. In that, he had not changed. He had many reasons to maintain that outlook on life.

Orders came indeed, as promised. The officials commanded half of them northwest, while the rest would head to the southern frontlines near the isthmus. His heart skipped a beat when his name was called out at sunrise, for he dreaded being sent away, deemed unworthy of battle.

He expected it, yet it still struck him deep. The official barely eyed him while he dismissed him north, directed to another base. His amber eyes narrowed slowly, and then he glanced sideways at his demon, who did not stand too far off in line.

His name was also called, and the following pause felt eternal. A devil like him would be extremely useful in a fight. He knew how to handle a rifle, could summon fire from thin air, and had a psyche that could counter a tank. A true fighter… all the times he saw him open his claws were engraved in his mind.

They were clear opposites, unequal in strength. Both were aware of that fact, even if one of them regretted thinking so. That was why both flinched when the order was finally given, completely unforeseen and seemingly illogical. Their eyes met incredulously, skeptical of the words they heard.

Both would head north, even if one of them could do more by seeking their enemies. In fact, they could not help but doubt the judgment of their superiors; all novices did. It was true that they selected more demons than humans for the frontlines, but not as many as expected.

Not only the weakest were dismissed, and it was something that made them anxious. When they dismantled the camp and set off, they paid close mind to the whispers, both sides contemplating the whims of the officials.

It did not take long for them to realize that the orders did not come from a captain or lieutenant, but the general herself. Of them all, she kept a very close eye on the ones she commanded back inland, with eerie intent.

When they started their march, she did too. The journey felt even more ominous while hearing the rumble of her armored vehicle, which never drove too far from their lines through the landscape. It would have made strategic sense for her to go back towards the frontlines, yet she intended to supervise their training instead.

Although Alexis kept his distance from all others, he still listened to the murmurs while striding. His inhuman hearing allowed him to note the dread of his comrades. One thing was certain… soldiers like them were expendable, fodder. Whatever they had planned for them, it could not be a rigorous instruction. Surely, that was only what they were told, the truth surely far more malicious.

An official would never reveal their ploys to low soldiers like them, needing to keep their plans concealed until they turned into a command. They expected those new sudden orders, even if they did not know what they would entail.

As they advanced, they saw a few sunrises, yet none made their surroundings seem any less oppressive. Uriel tensed one afternoon, when Itzal came out of the tank they followed, halting their stride untimely. There was a radio in his claw, something that did not forebode good news. Alexis was rightfully afraid when the growl flowed firmly.

“Take your rifles. There’s been another breach.”

The wall was truly vast and grand, but it had been built decades ago when the war was something that the government could avoid. No longer could it stop the efforts of the coalition, which intended to reduce each of its fundaments to dust. With yet another bombing, this time on its western side, they managed to create a new opening with which to evade their blockades. Many refugees had crossed the isthmus into the continent, past the wall. A lot of them were devils… something that their enemies did not wish to let live and fight in the future.

Itzal shouted for them to move and divert their march slightly towards the area where the exiles roamed, because they would be gunned down otherwise. There were a few squads patrolling this region; those soldiers had been supervising the influx of civilians efficiently, but they would need backup. Said plainly, them. No other crew was as close.

This time, both were able to prepare themselves mentally for what was coming. The attack would not be as sudden as the one that struck them in that train, yet it was still haunting to think of. Although they had gained some skill in gunfire, they could not help but look at their firearms doubtfully.

After crossing a small desert, they reached less arid plains. They both felt empty while observing the landscape from some cliffs, because they saw many figures in the distance. Neither could see their expressions, yet the sight reminded them of the last years they spent traversing the continent before settling in that city. There was no hope; all had been lost, and no havens were found.

They were seeing exactly what they suffered, yet inflicted on others, too many. Both would have stood frozen there, in a haunted trance, if not for the stern yells of their comrades. The two flinched when they were pushed forth, forced back into line and their stride.

Their hands clutched tightly their rifles when they reached their destination, feeling small and insignificant. Everyone settled on the crags that oversaw the plains, joined by the other squads. They soon formed a strategical blockade, meant to stop the advances of their foes while undercover.

For two days they waited, eyeing every single figure that walked between the crags to head north, towards safety. Before, while they traveled, their comrades had dared show some levity between them… But no longer. All grew apprehensively somber, expectant.  

Not a single human refugee was allowed to pass their cordon without a brief interrogation or search; any of them could have been a spy. Neither liked how their superiors enforced that further humiliation on the evacuees, because they had already been scorned by their own kin. Demons were never questioned, not once suspected of possible treason.

It was a necessary evil… The flow of civilians was endless, and it did not stop when the rumbling of armored vehicles reached them. All froze when that sound began to echo in the distance, alarmed. However, their haunted stillness did not last.

Soldiers began to yell, beckoning the crowds of civilians with urgency. The slowest ones, mostly elders and children, were afflicted by fear, forced to rush through the plains. Worst of all, the two could barely spare them any sympathy. They needed to focus.

Alexis took a deep breath and leaned over a tall stone, keeping a trembling aim at the horizon. He was seeing many figures through his scope, yet he could only think of the smoke that flowed into view behind the masses.

Uriel kept a much more serene stance than his angel, even if he was as worried. Four big steam tanks were ridding fiercely through the plains, advancing towards the civilians. Judging by the scorched marks on their metallic fronts, they had unleashed fire onto the ones they had come across before they reached this point.

It was not easy to take aim… the sun was setting, stealing what little light there was. Multiple human soldiers snarled when the officials shouted for them to shoot, because they were the ones to miss. Uriel looked sideways subtly, noting how Alexis had not been one of them. His amber eyes were sharper now, narrowed with angry intent.

The angel let out a shaky exhale, trying to brush off the ringing in his ears and the fact that his shot did nothing. His finger tensed over the trigger, hesitating to unleash another bullet with the force of scorching steam. The men around him kept striking the tanks, but they barely made dents on the metal.

With each second, there was less distance between them and their enemies. Their superiors kept shouting at them to shoot… yet Uriel eventually disobeyed. His sharp eyesight caught something dreadful, and he did not doubt to act upon it.

Alexis gasped in surprise when Uriel shouted at him to duck, tackling him down behind the rocks before he could react. A second after, there was a rumble, then a strong blast. Both laid there on the sand, wide-eyed. Smoke was flowing in the air all around them. The smell of blood hit them both, again. They had not gotten used to it by now.

Not too far off from the crags, Dorothea scowled. That shot had not been precise, yet its force leveled the landscape. Their foes shot at the crag where they thought most of them took cover, breaking everything apart. She let go of the binoculars she was using and looked down through the hatch of her tank, glaring at Itzal, who was holding onto its controls.

“Give them some of their own medicine…”

“Right away.”

He was not alone in the tank. Two other devils under his command snarled, to then slam their hands on a mechanism in front of them. In seconds, there was a heated rumble, and then a blinding flash rushed out from the frontal cannon of the vehicle.

They answered fire with fire, magical one. Their shot cut through the plains with rapid intensity as well, to strike one of the approaching tanks intensely. The force of the shot sent it tumbling and rolling back, forcing the other three to brake and stop advancing.

At one of the crags, an angel and demon peeked again, panting. They were thankful that their group was the smallest of them all, because they would have burned alive if they had been targeted. Even Uriel struggled to keep a hold on his rifle, staring at the chaos in disbelief. The comment came, slightly relieved yet scared.

“How the hell-“ Alexis was silent, unable to pay much mind to Uriel’s words while he stared at the shattered remains of the nearby crag. “That was not a steam shot! That was magic!”

Indeed. Neither could believe it, but there was no denying that what they had witnessed was a spell channeled through the mechanisms of a tank. A tank that belonged to the coalition, which was adamant in its hate for devils.

“H-humans…” Alexis exclaimed at last, yelling in shock. “Humans can’t wield magic!”

“They just did!” Uriel gasped, seeing something dreadful, once more. This time he did not need to push Alexis undercover, because he saw too the blaze that began to emanate from one of those cannons. “And again!”

They both ducked and slammed their backs onto the rocks, holding their feeble rifles against their chests. The quiet prayer Alexis let out was silenced by yet another rumbling fiery roar. Again, they were lucky, because it was not aimed in their direction. Another crag was reduced to rubble, with the ones who hid there as well.

“What the absolute fuck?! How have they managed?! I thought I was only hearing stupid speculations! These bastards have really done it?! Do they have some poor devil locked inside those things?!”

Uriel peeked past the rocks with a glare, snarling as he eyed the remains of that fourth tank they managed to take down. As he did so, Dorothea’s commanded another shot, something that made the coalition retreat.

The three hostile tanks steered sideways, dodging by very little the incoming blast. They began to roll away, sliding back towards the horizon. Their objective had been the crowds of refugees, and they had not expected to find a blockade so soon.

The echo of gunfire faded slowly, as did the rumble of those tanks. There would be no more hellish shots, much less feeble ones from their rifles. A chase would be unwise, for those tanks were surely retreating to the breach and the forces that secured it.

Losses had been suffered in this scuffle, but not as many as in others that went on in the frontlines. All began to lower their weapons, a sick silence settling while the smoke dissipated. It was only broken when Dorothea’s voice echoed, channeled through the big speaker on her vehicle.

“Regroup, count the fallen, then set camp behind the crags. Move it.”

The command was cold, but it was to be expected. Condolences or laments had no place in their circumstances. It was something that they despised, but they could only resign to it. Uriel stood to his feet first, lowering a claw for Alexis to take. As their fingers intertwined, he let out a whisper, to answer his last question grimly.

“There were no demons in there, only humans.”

Alexis looked back at the plains, frowning in doubt. Uriel’s violet eyes were sharp, much more worthy of trust than his. There was no trace of lie; he had truly seen the scorched corpses of human soldiers… yet he still could not accept it.

“How?”

His other hand trembled in his pocket, brushing a knife he had been gifted. The runes glowed faintly, brought by the only spell he knew to invoke. No matter how much he asked, there would not be an answer.

Both fell silent, horribly aware of their own breathing. Their superiors wondered those magical capabilities as much as them, if not more. If humans could wield that power, the cooperation between their races was much less remarkable.

As they walked away from the burning rubble around them and headed towards the rest, an ominous sense of dread pierced Alexis. He eyed every man that roamed nearby, sensing a feeling he loathed… doubt.

—————

 

Silence. The familiar static flowed through the air, yet no words were voiced. There had been an exchange of reports, continuous communication… but then the shouts came. They were alarmed at first, then pained. The radiofrequency was now decommissioned.

Ariel moved her claw off the radio, scowling grimly. She leaned back on her seat, without daring to meet Aurora’s gaze. Behind them, Lykaios whispered.

“They are dead, no doubt. Stop thinking otherwise.” Although he was small now, he eyed them both down, pitying their hope. “Pull over, we are near.”

Ariel clenched her teeth in anger, but she did as told. Her claws pulled at the controls, using both force and magic. With a rumble, the engine began to hiss, releasing all the steam in its vat. The wheels below them slowed down, to come to an eventual halt.

Aurora folded her wings even more, because Lykaios did not wait for them to move first. He propped himself on the two seats and slammed his head against the hatch above him, opening it as he began to convulse to transform.

He shook his long black mane to a side as he slid down their small tank. His claws slammed on the sandy ground, outstretching after being constricted for hours. When the other two demons came out of the vehicle, he did not bother looking back at them.

“Come. Take a deep breath…”

They hated how he said that. He began to prowl towards the distance as the sun hid completely in the horizon, his figure bathed in a horrible red hue.

“Do you feel it?”

Ariel did not answer Aurora immediately, even if she knew exactly what she was asking.

“Yes.”

Both had indeed taken a deep breath. The smell of blood reached them… with something else. It was eerily familiar, even if very faint. They did not like that fact, even if it was the reason for their march through the region.

It was quite chilling to know that angels roamed close, somewhere. Multiple sightings had been reported in the province of their city. Not many, but enough. Due to it, a few small squads had set out to scout, be it from the military or the hunting guild.

They had come across a radio frequency yesterday, used by a division and a distant base. Directions were given, a route conveyed; they followed them. The members of that unit seemed to find what they were looking for…

The two followed Lykaios, walking towards the dim light of the twilight. He led them without pause to some secluded cliffs, a few ruins there. His body was shivering, and they knew why. With each step, the scent grew more intense. If he had not pointed it out at first, they would have not sensed it.

They expected it, yet the sight was still grizzly. The two came to a halt by some lone trees, seeing him look down at what laid down a steep slope. There was blood and ashes on the earth.

“The flames were precise and blazing. They only used their blades on one.”

Aurora and Ariel finally approached the ditch, tensing as they did so. Their irises sharpened, even more, taking notice of the five corpses. Three were soldiers, one was a man from the hunting guild… and the fifth was a demon.

“If they had not hired those two, perhaps they would still be alive.” Lykaios commented plainly, showing an eerie indifference for the death he was witnessing. “Angels rarely pay mind to humans; unless they are offended by their existence, of course. Now, even if they did ignore that hunter, it was a given that they would lunge onto that devil.”

By employing those two, they became the hunted. Their prey saw them first, even if one of them sensed their presence somewhere.

“Ahh, so foolish. Senseless.” He leaned his long neck and stared at the burnt corpse of that demon, speculating. “Although barely anything remains, I can tell he was a weakling. Not fit for a fight, much less against such monsters. I wonder if he was coerced into this, or maybe he was just looking for some coin. Insufficient, unfit. If he thought himself a hunter, he was very mistaken, like these humans were.”

Aurora crossed her wings around her chest and admonished his words, glaring at him with clear dislike.

“Lykaios, shut your maw, please.” His stance, his words… all were quite beastly. It denoted hunger and hate. “You creep me out lately.”

His neck moved very subtly, yet with its size, it was enough to allow him to look back at her. He pierced them both with his red eyes, which were narrowed in thought. When his voice echoed again, it sounded more feral.

“I consider that a good thing. Not many things inflict fear in you nowadays.” He turned to face them with apparent lethargy. In reality, they knew that he was simply taking deep breaths and eyeing the sky, to make sure all possible prey was gone. “You are far too human, and it’s a vulnerability that can cost you your lives. There’s a perfect example there in that ditch… Weak, feeble. As more time passes in this world, fewer beings are able to match the brutality of those winged beasts.”

Ariel let out a long sigh, knowing exactly what he wanted to imply with his growled whispers.

“I am not sure if I want to learn to learn your ways, Lykaios.” Her blue eyes hinted apprehension, because she could see how his huge nails were stabbing the earth. “I appreciate my humanity. Besides, she managed well with it.”

“Because that was all that she could achieve, incapable of more.” He loathed shaming her, but he was always honest, no matter if it meant being cold. “You two can be much more. The chance is within your grasp, even if it may not be easy to discern. Dominant demons like me can be counted with a claw, few and far, constantly killed off and superseded by more social devils. We are different, but there’s still potential in you. If you listen, I can teach you how a real devil hunts. Her ways were adequate, but not perfect. You need to go back to your roots… and embrace them. You are nearing death, and you need to play its game to survive.”

They did not like what he did next. With a small hop, he got down into that ditch. He proceeded to brush that dead demon with a claw, not minding how he stained it with blood and ashes. His next words made them cringe.

“Uriel welcomed these instincts once; he was willing to kill. Still, he did have the help of their unnatural bond, I must say.” He retracted his claw and moved it close to his maws, taking in a very faint scent. It had come from a blade, sharpened by a being he wished to track. “These angels have headed southwest. They will surely keep moving, making sure to leave no feathers behind. That won’t help them much; you shall learn how to chase angels to the end of the world, no matter how much they hide.”

Aurora’s claw moved very subtly. She did not only have a bow with her, but something that had been left behind after a reluctant departure. Her nails brushed the golden sword that hanged from her belt, its runes glimmering with the moonlight. Her next whisper was sorrowful, for she remembered what happened the last time she confronted an angel.

“If we find them, what do you expect us to do?”

Ariel eyed her carefully, because she noted that she knew the answer already. Lykaios smiled and chuckled, finding her doubt amusing. He simply turned and began to walk through the dark night, heading back towards their vehicle with one last remark.

“What you set out to accomplish, of course. You wanted to aid this region, prevent death, somehow. It is clear that only one thing will stop those fiends from killing. Something you keep refuting… Nevertheless, I will let you keep part of your humanity until you have no other choice.”

Like a real devil, his figure hid in the shadows. Not even they managed to discern his presence then. If they couldn’t, no angel would. This ambush had happened during the day, left forgotten at dusk. Even those fiends had weaknesses, ones they could overcome.

The two took a reluctant breath, which only reminded them of the nearby blood, accompanied by a scent that beckoned their most feral instincts. They knew Lykaios was right; in the night, while accepting the bestiality he and Uriel had suppressed, they would be able to match the fierceness of those beings.

Before following him, they eyed the ditch one last time. Their hearts resigned to his demand, causing their eyes to sharpen and adapt even more to the darkness. With one last grieving yet hopeful glance, they tensed and marched back.

There was a silent agreement between the two sisters. They would embrace what they were: demons that had come to know both humans and angels. Perhaps they would not be able to halt their claws in the end, but they would still try.

—————

 

There were not as many corpses as expected. He had seen two crags break apart, where many stood, yet there were far too few remains to count.

There were only a couple of physicians in their squad; they did not doubt to head for the medical tents once the skirmish was over, having dealt with wounds and injuries for decades. They could not help but feel perplexity while the wounded were carried in, only a dozen at most.

There had been many more at the other crags. They saw their shadows, part of the units that had been patrolling in the area before their arrival. Those tanks had struck them, reducing their numbers.

They were simply… gone. And they did not realize why until a few hours later. As the moon rose high, all were drained by exhaustion. Even soldiers needed rest. While torches were lit and tents were settled for the night, they discovered the truth.

“What the hell is that?“

Alexis cringed, noticing something while he fastened their tent up. Uriel looked up too due to his exclamation, his violet eyes hinting interest for the sight immediately. Not too far off, there was a campfire; multiple demons were sitting there, gathered around a tall figure that kept waving its claws rhythmically.

“An enchanter?”

Uriel stood up immediately, letting go of a rope, causing Alexis to yelp and scramble to grab it. The angel huffed, preventing the tent from crumbling with his grip. He then yelled at his demon, who was walking towards the fire and those devils.

“Uriel, we need this up! We should get some sleep! God knows when those bastards will shout more orders!”

For once, he was ignored. There were very few things that could distract his demon from being overprotective and thoughtful, magic being one of them. He could not help but walk closer to his kin, who observed that tall demon with keen interest.

“Of course they would fall for it!” The devil waved his very long arms and claws again, twirling his bony nails while more dark gusts tangled around them. “Everyone does!”

Uriel watched in wonder as a humanoid shadow manifested by the campfire, invoked by that devil. It seemed to be made of smoke, dense enough to look like a person from a far distance. The demon moved his claws again, prompting the shadow to extend, creating a rifle in its immaterial arms.

Now it made sense. There were fewer corpses than targets struck, indeed. The units that had been escorting the civilians through the region were really small, but that was something that few knew. An illusion was invoked when they assembled on the crags, to minimalize casualties.

“Where did you learn such spells?”

All devils blinked, including the enchanter. Uriel had spoken and interrupted his bragging assertions, making them all lean to look back at him. Luckily, that demon did not seem offended by his sudden approach. He remained seated and acknowledged his question, clapping his claws to dissolve his mirage.

“Ah, another curious onlooker!” He closed two of his three eyes and puffed out the big scaly crest on his neck, similar to the one of a cobra. “You must not be from these parts, like some of my fine comrades here. If you were, you would have surely heard of my name! Wilton Mason, son of Aisling Mason; apprentice of the fine arts of performance at a young age, great mercenary a couple centuries after. I weaved the spells that my lineage imparted to amuse nobility, in order to convey their potential in battle. As you may have seen today, it is quite effective.”

“For certain.” Uriel smiled, waving one of his own claws. The demons flinched when a small violet flame sparked around his palm, something that few could invoke. “Magic is all ever-shifting and useful.”

“Ah, a fellow spellcaster!” Wilton stood sharply and faced him. He then bowed with a smirk, greeting him by invoking two illusions that mimicked the motion. “It is rare to meet another person that may be as skilled as me! We are not many, after all.”

Uriel ignored the word may, humoring Wilton with his usual politeness.

“I guess that is why you were recruited.”

Wilton stood upright again and clicked his tongue, giving him a jeering stare.

“A common misconception, from far too many here. I enlisted willfully! The authorities outright begged for my aid! You see, when one protects the assets of a noble caste during war, a high bid is required! Demons who do not hold an important position in the pecking order do not have a choice, while I-“

“Huh, good thing humbleness is not your forte, because then your recruiters would have had to pay an extra.”

All froze, hearing that sharp remark. Uriel smiled nervously, recognizing that voice immediately. As well, he was used to its snark. Alexis had managed to finish setting up the tent, it seemed.

Wilton’s crest folded in dislike, seeing Alexis there, crossing his arms at him behind Uriel. His viperine tongue peeked as he retorted, with apparent cordiality.

“Many gain the right to boast, be it by birth or merit. I have attained both.” He leaned his head and winked with the eye on his forehead, taunting him. “Others remain unremarkable their whole life. Now, why don’t you keep walking and join your kin over there? Surely, you guys can exchange great tales of your feats.”

Alexis had lost his sense of self-preservation long ago. If the threat was non-lethal, he no longer felt the urge to back off, all the contrary in fact. Uriel’s tail swayed anxiously when the angel took a step closer, barking back with controlled anger.

“Give those guys a few centuries to grow as old as you, and they will surely be as noisy and brash.”

“Even if they could live for so long, they would still keep falling like flies. Demons are not the most fragile beings, much less in war. Have you taken a look at the wounded?”

“I have, and they certainly can be commended much more than someone who simply has stood behind lines waving his-“

“Alexis…”

That made Alexis shut up, for he noted Uriel’s tone. Sadly, Wilton did not make things better with his next surprised exclamation.

“You know this human imbecile?”

Both human and imbecile were said like insults, so Alexis lost what little regard he had for Uriel’s silent plea.

“What’s that supposed to mean, big mouth?”

Wilton did have a big maw, both figuratively and metaphorically. The answer was a snorted chuckle; he eyed Uriel sideways, ignoring Alexis with condescending amusement.

“Well, I didn’t expect a fellow spellcaster to mingle with a human… Not that I judge, of course.”

Uriel moved a claw just in time, getting a hold of Alexis when he made a move to get closer. His tail tangled around his arms to prevent him from throwing a punch, and all the while, he simply sighed and gave Wilton a fanged smile.

“You do well in that.” His violet eyes narrowed, his affability veiling a very resentful thought. “It would be a shame otherwise. I would surely love to exchange details about our studies.”

“Hmm, true that. One can never learn enough.” He would have sent the blond another backhanded insult, but he saw that he was being held back, so he chose to keep it to himself. “I would still suggest that you-“

Luckily, he was not able to voice how Uriel should stick with his own kin. The argument was over when another figure neared the fire. The demons tensed when a human official stepped close, paper in hand.

“You all, need volunteers.” The commander eyed them all, proceeding to voice something that they disliked. “We require a few scouts. Civilians are traversing the path between crags diligently, but we suspect that some may try to divert their steps to avoid our supervision. They can’t head east to do so, but they may roam west through a group of chasms. A few eyes and rifles in hand would be enough to keep spies from reaching the end of that crossing.”

A couple of demons sighed and tried to stand, knowing their eyes to be sharp and up for the task. However, before they could volunteer, Wilton spoke up, feigning loyal concern to their duties.

“Sir, with utmost respect, me and my comrades here have been supervising the influx of refugees for a long period of time. I believe that a member of the new supporting squad would be more suitable; after all, they don’t hold the records and documents pertaining to the cordon.” He moved one of his very long arms, faking remembrance. “Ah, luck would have it, this human here belongs to that unit!”

You asshole.

Uriel caught fast onto Wilton’s intentions. They were not inherently dangerous, but they were still malicious. And so, he opened his mouth, intending to offer himself instead.

“I am-“

“Yeah, sure. I’ll go.”

That prompted Uriel to blink, hearing Alexis answer so nonchalantly, even if with a slight trace of bitterness.

“What? No, you don’t have to-“

“It’s not a problem. If I manage to shoot down a trespasser there, I’ll have another feat to tell by a fire, hmm?” Alexis looked more softly at Uriel, whispering so low that he was the only devil to hear him. “It’s fine. I will have some time to ponder alone. Scars have been itching. Besides, I need you to write that letter; you have always been more eloquent. I can handle a night spent watching over some solitary chasms.”

“But-“

The official interrupted, having already noted his agreement on the paper he held.

“Good. Thirteen minutes; head to the edge of camp. A vehicle will escort you and a few more to the drop-off, from which you will split to cover more area.”

Uriel raised a claw to try to argue, but the official had turned away already. There were a few snorts from the other devils, something he condemned with a glare and a slam of tail. Nonetheless, Alexis kept his cool, even when Wilton sat and began to ramble nonchalantly.

“Now, with that out of the way, why don’t I tell you guys about the history of those chasms?” Wilton made sure to smirk and glance at Alexis with one of his eyes while he said the next words. “There is a tale shared by the inhabitants of this province, you know? It is said that at night, when the moon looms tall, spirits haunt those gorges. They lurk in those voids, which are as empty as their hearts, looking for what they lost in death.”

Uriel had enough; he pulled at Alexis and led him away, not pleased by how his curious approach had turned out. As they left, Wilton let out one last comment within earshot, trying to amuse his companions.

“Of course, all that is speculation! Only the gullible fall for such fables!”

The two went back to their tent. After a few seconds of tense silence, Uriel tried to say something, but the only thing Alexis did was hand him a blank paper and a quill. Then, he grabbed his backpack and left gruffly, heading out without a further word. Each second that passed made the ache in his chest grow.

The demon stood there, each day feeling a bigger barrier between him and his angel. He wished to cross and erase it, yet dark thoughts kept dragging them apart.

———–

 

The silence was both soothing and oppressing. He sat there, at the edge of a chasm, barely paying mind to the dark paths below. The fissures ran through the landscape like veins, big enough for a person to roam them, not big enough for anyone to inhabit them.

In those shadows, life seemed to find a way. He could not help but ponder how there was lush grass at the bottom of most cracks, sustained by small puddles of water that avoided the scorching sun. Like him, they were hidden, concealed. Few animals would venture into the chasms to consume them. Safe, yet constricted, unable to reach for the distance.

He tried to drown those thoughts by looking back at the crags that stood to the east. Sadly, that only made him ponder how the camp could be attacked again, the only area through which incoming tanks could go inland. Uriel was there, overseeing that many civilians could cross safely in the night.

Due to such grim thoughts and the memory of those blasts, he looked down at the rifle in his hands. If he did indeed spot an intruder in these chasms, it would be an easy shot. He had the high ground, having climbed to stand by a tall edge. From there, he could see three individual paths below, while his presence was shadowed by the dark sky.

Once again, his amber eyes focused on the markings of his gun, which he traced with a finger. With a single press on the metallic trigger, the small container attached to the wooden frame would heat up instantly, to release a burst of steam that would propel a deadly bullet.

The weapon was heavy, as much as the thought of him taking somebody’s life with it. He had shot before, but he had not seen blood pour due to it. Although he had killed once, it had been with a blade.

The memory had haunted him for a very long time, yet he always buried it deep. It was not as easy nowadays. Soon, he would kill again. The question was when, not if.

Perhaps once I’m at that northern base, they will charge me with the maintenance of machinery. With luck, Uriel could stay too. Maybe, just maybe, if he impresses the officials with his cooking, they-

He stopped thinking wishfully, flinching. A silent gasp escaped him, because he heard a small thud. It was distant, but he heard it. And so, he took a more defensive stance without standing up, aiming with his rifle. His amber eyes narrowed and trailed the three paths below, looking urgently for the source of the noise. Luckily, or not, he did not see anyone there. All ever slowly, he decided to lower his gun. He leaned there at the edge, frowning. He was sure that he mistook a drip of water with a step due to his paranoia.

Can’t even trust my own senses. Calm down…

It was not easy to do so. He sat back a little, trying to keep his composure. If there had not been a slight breeze, he would have sworn he heard breathing. There was no avoiding it. His mind recalled what that fool had said by the fire. Although part of him was unnerved by the prospect of wandering spirits, his rationality and pride buried it all away.

The dead can’t escape god’s rule in the afterlife. No spirits roam the world.

Indeed, although he loathed his upbringing, he still remembered and believed the teachings of the priests. He had no reason to doubt the scriptures, not since he saw that orb with his own eyes.

As he debated the verses that spoke of unescapable afterlives for each race, another sound reached him. His eyes opened again, this time more aware. Whatever that rustling was, it was not water or the wind.

Again, he tensed and took aim, knowing for a fact that his mind was not fooling him. His glare was focused, intent. He held his breath coldly as he trailed the three paths, keeping a silent watch for whatever moved and hid in them.

It did not take long. He saw it, a figure. The intruder was advancing carefully and cautiously through one of the fissures, trying to hide between rocks and shadows. Had they chosen any other path, perhaps they would have avoided the sight of his comrades. Sadly, they chose the ones where he kept watch. He regretted that fact.

His finger began to tense over the trigger, his scope set right onto their head. They wore a black hooded coat that concealed their features, similar to the ones that a refugee would wear… but he knew by their stance that they were no civilian.

This will hurt me more, trust me.

The figure halted by a turn, leaning there to peek at the incoming path, unaware that he was taking aim above. He got ready to shoot and take them down, knowing that he could not let them cross the chasms.

Sadly, he was not able to press the trigger. His hand trembled, while his eyes widened. Before he could shoot, the intruder looked back to where they came from, to make sure they were not being followed… and that was when he managed to see their face.

His heart skipped a beat, multiple ones perhaps. A scared gasp escaped him, and the gun fell from his grasp as he stumbled back in alarm. The expression he saw was haunting, the one of a phantom.

It could not be. Spirits were not to roam the world, much less human ones. Although he was terrified, his conviction was strong. His beliefs drowned his fear after a few seconds, allowing him to lean sharply and take his gun again.

He aimed down at the chasm, intending to shoot at what could have only been an illusion… yet he did not see the figure again. After a minute, he lowered his gun in his hold, staring blankly at the emptiness.

It was like if no one had been there at all, yet he was sure he saw it. He sat there under the moonlight, trembling. He prayed to have been prey of a delusion, for the alternative was far too horrifying to accept. The feeling was as cold as ice, much like those eyes had been once.