When Twin Flames Unite

Partners in Crime

Ala wearily watched the cat. She had been careful when building a ward. One large circle surrounding the perimeter, a medium one for good measure, and a small one with it right in the center just to be sure. She sat there and waited for the demon to come out. With wide eyes, her attention was fixated on the creature, but all it did was stare back.

It was black all over. A black nose to match black whiskers emerging from black cheeks. Black ears situated on top of a round black head. Bright green eyes were the only distinguishable thing on its sleek body. It was as if a piece of the universe had become sentient. A tiny black void, waiting to pounce on things. If it were not a demon, she would have found it cute.

Patience was running thin, and she began to pace back and forth. Its own wide eye stare tracked her every movement.

She had no idea how long this would last. Wouldn't a demon rush for freedom when trapped?

Perhaps her wards were not strong enough - the pressure from them not enough to coax it out.

Energy flowed through her hands and into the paths she traced on the ground. One by one, they ignited with light. A flash of it rose like a column before settling down.

Her body tensed, waiting for an attack. It pushed its two paws in front of it and stretched its tail high in the air. Shifted its weight to its back legs, and put its nose in the air. A soft trill escaped as it plopped onto the ground.

She raised her hand up to strike a blow. When she raised a hand up to strike, it rolled on its back, exposing its belly. A dangerously inviting look filled its eye.

A trap? But the fluff of its belly seemed warm and inviting. She could not resist.

It was warm and softer than anything she had touched. Its fur smooth as silk. Her hand went up further to caress its chest. A knuckle over its delicate neck. A finger on its tiny chin. It lifted its head, exposing more. When the pads of her fingers rubbed its cheek, low rhythmic vibrations filled its body.

She pulled her hand away, but it wrapped its paws around her to keep it in place.

What kind of power is this?

As if it could read her mind, it let out the tiniest of meows in answer.

Cute.

Lost to its powers, Ala sat in front of it. Not wanting to disturb its sleep in her hand.

They sat there for some time, long enough for Ala's admiration to turn to guilt.

"I apologize. I falsely accused you without proof. I was enchanted by a demon earlier, so I wasn't in my right mind."

The cat turned away; she couldn't bear to face the shame that was rising alone.

"I know, it's no excuse. It's silly, I shouldn't be reacting that way. I'm better than that."

It let out a sigh and somehow, Ala's anger was released.

"It's just that I hate them. So much so that it pains me just to see them, but I can't help but want to help them and make sure they're safe. It is an irrational and confusing experience. I am trapped, stuck in a loop, and I can't break away."

The cat rolled over to face her. A delicately slow blink before it closed both eyes.

"I really don't want to deal with that demon. Not at all. Can't I just be lazy like you?"

Ala lay in the grass, utterly exhausted. She watched the clouds pass by. In them, she saw herself floating away. Weightless and carefree as they were. If only that were true. Everything about her felt heavy. Her arms were too weak to lift, her neck too feeble to hold her head up high, and her feet too sore to walk away.

Perhaps she could get another guardian to deal with it? But that would mean she would have to admit incompetence. And she couldn't stand the thought of them wagging another finger at her. Who were they to judge? They sat easy in heaven, unburdened by anything. All they did was reap the benefits of her labor.

If only she could quit being a guardian. The promise of the phoenix's capture seemed more myth than reality. A silly little game Malacai wanted to play. But there would never be a winner. She would always be trapped, the humans would always hate her, and Malacai would forever be in power.

As this settled in her heart, Ala finally mourned her death. Her grief came out like a song, deep, sorrowful moans mixed with high-pitched wails.

A low, guttural hiss joined the chorus. Up high in the sky, a vulture circled and started to make its descent.

Smoke mixed with the scent of myrrh and the heavy ash of a funeral pyre approached. From it formed a shadow, condensed into the shape of a woman. Silver silk was etched over black velvet, which expanded at the bust and nipped at the waist. Gray skin gave way to long nails sharpened to a point. The silver glittered as her hands curled in anticipation. Eyes that twinkled like stardust matched the glint of the fangs that snapped into a wide smile.

"You called?"

Spinx, a guardian who presided over the journeys in the underworld, was Ala's only friend.

"Happy birthday, girl. I'm so sorry."

She pulled Ala into a tight embrace. Ala relaxed into her touch, her head safely tucked into Spinx's shoulder. She offered her own condolences.

"Lay off the perfume."

"You've smelled the dead. A lady must do the best she can."

They found comfort and safety in each other's arms. Sisters through the storm, they embraced each other's grief. Like a carefully applied salve, their presence covered their wounds. Soothing enough to prevent a scab from forming and protective enough to keep from picking at it. 

The moment was broken by the hastened caw.

Spinx conjured the carrion of an animal too far gone to identify. He gobbled it up and flew away.

"That will never not be creepy," Ala said, wiping her face. 

"So, anything new and remarkable this birthday?" Spinx asked.

"The humans hate me, the guardians say I suck. Everyone cheers. Woo."

A statement from habit that memory.

"Lame," Spinx faked yawning.

The rest of the night faded to a drunken stupor. However, a surprising tidbit peaked through.

"I did have a lovely dream that I met a sexy and ephemeral ghost."

"Oh? Do tell me more."

The feeling of a hand on her lip sent a thrill down her spine.

"There's nothing else to tell. Other than it was vivid."

"So, your type is sexy and ephemeral, noted. Any birthday wishes?" 

Ala mulled over it for a moment then answered, 

"To know what hope feels like."

Spinx's heart stilled. Everything went silent, and she retreated deep inside herself.

Spinx licked her fangs. Her eyes were fixed on the horizon. In her mind's eye the underworld. How the barren wasteland was endless. How the souls trickled down the mountain. Death had become her only company. Intimate with guilt, and regret, her days were spent sucking the last bit of energy and blood out of the human's bodies. Down there, everything has already come to an end. Hope meant there was a future. 

"Maybe you could find the phoneix," Spinx said. A bit of anger and heat rising in her chest at the thought. 

She thought of how the living thrived off the decay. The way a carcass made the ground fertile. How decomposition made way for growth and newness.  How Spinx admired their commitment to breaking down and making themselves simple, so life can begin again. How they brought disgust and disdain to the living, but the phoenix was rejoiced and celebrated.

"Maybe," Ala said dubiously. 

Spinx tried not to let the hope and resentment settle, so she focused on what she could change.

"Can you tell me what's with the influx of souls traveling to the underworld?"