The Falling (Book I)

Red

Melanie

Humans called the area around the portal "The Devil's Pocket." The earth was dead and scorched aside from the corpses of massive twin maple trees. Their gnarled branches did not reach toward the sky. Instead, they tangled together to form a twisted archway through which no human dared to pass.

Whenever I could slip away for a few hours, I located the ingress in the dead forest of Hell and went through. Each time, I grew a little bolder, venturing farther from the portal. I needed to pay attention to how long I stayed; my eyesight, already weak for a demon, would fail due to the intense sun.

At my farthest, I discovered a dirt trail and followed it to where the forest ended and a village began. I remained at the edge of the woods, filled with trepidation. I had never walked among humans before and who was to say an angel wouldn't reveal themselves if I got too close? In the end, my feet carried me into the town, my curiosity too much to bear.

Humans were everywhere, the streets bustling and loud. They bumped into one another, some politely apologizing and others sneering. The buildings were simple in design, made of half-timber, wattle and daub, and thatched roofs. A wooden sign with a loaf of bread carved into it caught my eye, and I entered the small shop. I had never eaten human food before. The substitute for bread we had was made from a hardy grain found only in the Third Legion, and I doubted our bread did human bread justice.

The bell over the door tinkled as I stepped through. The bakery smelled of scones, warm and fresh from the oven. Aside from the baker and his family, I was alone inside. I pressed my hands against the glass display, staring hungrily at the rolls and sweets. Inhaling, I wondered if they tasted as good as they smelled.

"Can I help you?"

I looked at the youth behind the counter. He looked bored. Flour flecked his brown hair white.

I shook my head. "I'm just looking."

He balked at my peculiar eyes as I turned to look at the treats again. I expected him to comment, but I supposed he thought better of it. He knew what I was, I'm sure, and likely feared retaliation if he said something. The villagers were regular summoners, some about as godless as they come.

It occurred to me, then, my money held no worth here. I straightened with a heavy sigh and looked at the door.

[You are a demon. You can do whatever you want; never mind these silly creatures.] Rayi's voice reverberated through my brain.

Most demons would slaughter the humans and steal the food. It would not be difficult for me—I might have been small but I was about as strong as a grown human male—but I did hold life to be somewhat valuable. Even human lives. That being said, I was not above breaking human laws.

Straightening, I pointed to the rolls, "I will take a dozen of those."

The boy placed them in a bag for me. I took the bag and headed for the exit.

"Wait! You have to pay for those!" He protested.

I ignored him and rushed out.

"Stop! Thief!"

I pushed through the crowd, some muttering offensively as I nearly bowled them over. I sprinted out of the village and didn't stop until I was back on the path. I looked over my shoulder to make sure no one had followed me before snickering to myself.

Following the trail until I was not far from the portal, I jumped into an oak tree and settled on one of its branches with my goods. I opened the bag with the rolls and took a bite. I closed my eyes in bliss. It had poppy seeds, giving a satisfying crunch. The roll was buttery and melted in my mouth. It was the best food I had eaten. Hell, it was the first thing fresh from the Human World I had ever eaten.