The Shadows Within Us

Emergency Meeting

Key sat cross-legged on the padded cushion of one of the food court's many booths. Eden sat on the adjacent side, twiddling with her fingers nervously. She couldn't help but imagine Osiris searching for her now, and it was only a matter of time before he located the Mall. 

"You can rest easy, sister." The creature, Key soothed. With all of the reinforcements that barricaded the Mall from outsiders, they would surely be safe from a pathetic Incubus like him. Osiris' persistence was the only thing that concerned Key. They weren't sure how long the man would stand guard outside the building. Or what lengths he would go to, in order to find a way inside. This was a safe place, yes, but it wasn't a permanent solution. 

Elliot paced back and forth, his footsteps echoing as they tapped along the dusty, mismatched tile floor. "I mean, we could just kill the bastard." He argued, spinning around and facing the two with his palms held outwards. "We'd be doing the people of Hell a favor." He clenched his hands into fists. The demon's sister sighed in exasperation, sinking lower into the booth. 

"We aren't going to kill him, Ellie." She didn't bother making eye contact, staring off at the abandoned restaurants instead.

"Ohh gimme a freakin' break!" The sibling exclaimed, tangerine orbs widening in disbelief. "You can't seriously believe we'd be in the wrong." He placed a hand against his chest, gritting his teeth when the girl didn't even bother to send him a considerate glance. "Get off your moral high horse EDEN!"

"Alright, alright." Key extended their hands outwards, trying to mediate the sibling's quarrel before it began. "What would the world do without a horrendous salesman like Osiris?" They chided lightly, sarcasm in their tone. "We don't need to kill him. We only need to get him off our trail." The shapeshifter spoke calmly, twirling their finger around a strand of navy-blue hair in thought.

"It would save a lotta steps if we just chopped his head off." Elliot huffed, turning away and folding his arms. Eden's eyes shot over; perplexment clear on her features. Why was he so worked up? He had no idea what she was or had been going through, yet he seemed more aggravated than everybody combined. Maybe it was just the way he handled things, she presumed.  "Where would we even go?" Elliot glanced over his shoulder, only to be met with a mischievous little grin from the creature, Key. 

"What in the sweet cowboy lickin', hennesy drinkin' heck are you plotting?" Elliot squinted hard, his tail flicking inquisitively through the musty air. 

"I think you already know." They folded their hands together atop the somewhat sticky surface of the table, allowing their grin to slowly fall into a more dire visage. While the incubus still seemed as perplexed as ever, Eden had caught onto the unspoken plan—or at least she thought she had. Her stomach swirled with the rising of sporadic butterflies, a mix of emotions. 

"The portal?" She sat up in her seat, bouncing her leg anxiously in the booth. "Do you think it leads to Earth?" Eden pondered the likelihood of such a possibility, unable to resist the growing spark of hope that had ignited within her.

"I believe any portal can lead to Earth." Key rested their palms on the table, staring into their unspoken little sister's expectant cherry orbs with a serious nature. It wouldn't have been their first black hole rendezvous. A multitude of times, the shapeshifter had fled the fiery inferno of Hell, traversing to Earth in search of a host to impersonate. It was their main source of entertainment, after all—not to mention a very hands-on learning experience. 

They consistently sought to understand the perspective of others; to live in varying conditions, from poverty to the white sands of Beverly Hills. Every person had a unique story, and Key sought out the individuals that they felt deserved a bit of karmatic retribution; liars, cheats, and bigots being at the top of the list.