The Divine Demon - Book 1: A New Beginning

3. My Hero

The blue sparks surrounding Riarshi's feet snapped and cracked from wall to wall of the skinny alley like a wild storm.

Palpable static riddled the air and erected goosebumps across the demon's arms, forcing his hairs to stand up on end. The red glow that had drenched the alleyway now shifted to a deep and icy blue, sending a sharp chill down the man's spine.

Surprisingly, the demon's face lit up with unusual excitement. "Ha! No way! You're just like me, kid. I never would have guessed!" He sounded ecstatic, even amused at this turn in events.

Despite the unpleasant negative aura flowing into Riarshi, his eyes were still his normal shade of hazel, the only change being the ominous vertical slit down the center.

The demon rubbed his chin, soaking in this observation. "Hmm... actually, you must be a hybrid. If you were a full demon like me, your eyes would be red."

"I'm nothing like you," Riarshi snapped, not wanting to hear another word from the man's twisted mouth. His usual smooth and calm voice was now rough and full of grit. With each syllable, a blueish-gray steam hissed from the corners of his mouth. He wanted to hurt this man - to make him feel even the slightest bit of despair that he himself felt flowing through his bloodstream.

He wanted to unleash. Without restraint.

The demon placed his hands casually on his hips and rocked on his heels. "Oh, don't give me that, kid. Look at all the hate you have, even I can feel it."

Wanting to probe the boy some more, the demon furrowed his brow and added with a smirk, "What you gonna do, kill me? Wouldn't be very hero-like of you, kid!"

Another cackle rose from deep within the demon's lungs. But before he could release it, a static covered fist planted itself deep into the demon's fleshy stomach, toppling him over.

The demon grabbed the wrist sticking from his stomach and pushed his attacker away with expanding arms, freeing the fist from his hollowed gut.

"Shit," the demon painfully spat out along with a heave of saliva to the ground. He spun on his back foot and expanded his other leg with a twisting roundhouse kick.

Riarshi stood still, maintaining his searing gaze. In what seemed like an instant, his hand flew up and caught the demon's leg mid-kick. His fingers blanched as he gripped around the demon's shin. Slowly tightening his hold, Riarshi didn't hesitate or stop until a loud shatter echoed throughout the alley.

The demon screamed in pain. The red in his eyes flashed along the walls of the alley. Retracting his leg back to its normal length, the demon again displayed his sharp teeth with a wide smile. Although Riarshi had just crushed his leg, and his chest heaved with each breath, the demon seemed rather amused by the sudden change in events.

"Ever since the War, I've had to live in the shadows, rely on stealing and robbery to survive," said the demon, shifting his weight off his broken leg. "I've fought many people before, kid. But never in my life have I fought one of my own kind. And never have I met a demon who wanted to become a Hero. It's pretty ass backward if you ask me, kid. You know damn well that Heroes kill and imprison guys like us. Just because you're a hybrid doesn't mean that they would make an exception if they ever found out."

Riarshi said nothing.

The demon's eyes sparkled. "Ah, I know what it is. I see it right in your eyes. Just because you're taking in the girl's despair doesn't mean your own is masked. Say kid, tell me if I'm right, because I'm dying to know. I bet somewhere in your life a demon hurt you or a loved one, so society taught you, molded you into a bitter prick, bent out on hating us and getting revenge. But come to find out, and because of sick fate, you're one yourself."