❛ 𝓉𝑜 𝒽𝑒𝓁𝓁 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒷𝒶𝒸𝓀 ❜

⌜𝓹𝓪𝓻𝓽 𝓯𝓲𝓿𝓮 - 𝓀𝒾𝓈𝓂𝑒𝓉 ⌟

⊟

"So?"

"I persuaded them to let us resolve things, they agreed to give us some time. But your kind won't listen to me. The ball's in your court now."

Lucien cracks his knuckles. "I haven't gotten my hands dirty in a while. Should be fun."

"Be careful."

He laughs airily, "not a chance."

-

Accompanied by relentless rain and rumbling thunder, Lucien crouches upon a rooftop with his wings shrouding his figure and his dark eyes scanning the area below. Rivulets sliding down his velvet skin and clothes clinging to his toned body.

Detecting a demon merging with the shadows he stands up tall, stretching his arms out wide before diving vertically off the edge. The incubus zooms through the darkness that lurks street corners, hooked on the scent of its next victim.

He abruptly halts with his claws digging into a stone wall. Drawn to a familiar aroma it's head snaps to the side. A low growl vibrating in his chest as he bears his teeth. Out of thin air a weight slams into its jaw, knocking it across the floor.

Lucien smirks, storming closer. "Evening, old friend."

-

Stood over the grave with nothing but her thoughts to drown out the silence, Verena stares down at the writing engraved in the quartzite tombstone. Birds abandon the silver-grey sky to take up the branches belonging to nearby trees, singing their sorrows on this solemn morning.

Kissing her hand and pressing it on the monument, she slips her hands back into her coat pockets and saunters back through the graveyard. Suspecting that the person a distance behind is following her, she subtly picks up the pace and throws a curious glance over her shoulder. Finding nothing unordinary she sighs heavily at her irrational mind.

Turning round and sucking in a deep breath due to the unfamiliar face so close to hers, Verena takes a step back to look the woman up and down. She merely smirks, doing the same.

"Verena Arcane," Takal purrs. "The famous little mortal who trespassed into my home."

"I don't want any trouble."

She snickers. "Maybe you should've considered that before taking something that didn't belong to you."

"I didn't take anything, it was a mistake."

In the blink of an eye she spins her Bichuwa dagger in her right hand and holds the blade against Verena's throat. "Intentional or not, I couldn't care less." She leans in closer, "you're still coming with me. I suggest you come quietly."

"I'm going nowhere with you." Verena slips the pepper spray from her pocket and unloads half of the compact bottle. The demon staggers back with clenched eyes, giving her the opportunity to sprint off across the road. To her luck a taxi responds to her desperate waves and brakes to let her climb in the back.

"Just drive! Please just go!"

The driver complies by hastily pulling away from the cemetery. Checking that she isn't being followed, she finally slumps in her seat.