And Ruin Followed Behind Her

Chapter 6-1

Chapter 6

We reappeared in front of an unassuming house on an unassuming street, like my mama’s. It could have been my street or any other street in any other suburb in all the world. Inside, the lights were on and a dozen shadows danced across the room.

“What are we doing here?” I asked.

Aziolith walked toward the house without answering. A dim light flickered in the sky, and for a moment an electric purple dome illuminated the property as he walked through the dome to the other side of it. Once he was through, it disappeared.

“Let’s go. Don’t stop. Just walk straight—don’t stop, no matter what.”

His instructions worried me, but that made me determined to follow them. As I neared the house, though, his warning became clear. The illuminated dome became visible once again, and this time I saw blue and red runes floating throughout it, each of them depicting flames, dragons, or pentagrams. I stopped, fascinated and terrified of what would happen if I took another step.

“I told you not to stop!” Aziolith shouted.

“What’s going to happen to me if I walk through?” I asked.

“Nothing. They are simple wards to keep out humans. Since you have already been to Hell, and pixie blood flows through your veins, there is nothing to be worried about, I don’t think.”

“You don’t think? That’s not very reassuring!”

“Just step back, and then walk forward at full speed. It can sense fear and hesitation. You’ll be fine.”

I looked Aziolith in his yellow, reptilian eyes as he stared at me from the other side of the bubble. The purple glow of the dome danced in his eyeballs.

He wasn’t lying to me, but the timbre of his voice made it clear that he didn’t know what was going to happen if I tried to step through the hexes. However, if I wanted his help, I had no choice but to continue despite my uncertainty.

I took a deep breath and walked forward at a brisk pace. The closer I came to the bubble, the more I wanted to turn away, but I didn’t. I willed myself forward and with one final step the bubble absorbed me. For a moment, the bubble held me back like a rubber band, but then the tension all released at once and flung me through to the other side, unharmed.

Aziolith caught me in his arms and steadied me. “See? I knew you would be okay.”

“And yet, it sounds like you are as surprised as me I made it through.”

Aziolith lifted his hands, palms up. “Fine. I didn’t know for sure. I just thought I knew. This place was made for angels and demons, but once I made it through, I knew you were going to be fine. Or at least I thought so, and look at that, I was right.”

“Oh, that makes me feel loads better.”

Aziolith climbed up the wooden stairs toward the front door. “Well, the other option was to die a horrible death, so I would agree with you. This is better.” He pounded once on the door, then twice, then four times, and finally once again. The door clicked open and Aziolith let himself in.

I followed behind him. Once inside, I found myself surrounded by a dozen demons with spiked horns and red faces, and a cadre of ethereal, androgynous humans, tinged with blue, with long wings protruding out of their backs like eagles.

“This,” Aziolith said, “is what’s called a safe zone. It’s the first of its kind. Think of it like a way station between Heaven and Hell for angels and demons alike.”

A bar was situated along the back of the house. Angels and demons crowded next to each other laughing and drinking as though they weren’t locked in eternal conflict. Long, wooden tables seated more unearthly creatures chugging beer and singing.

“So, Heaven is real?” I asked.

“Well, yeah,” Aziolith said. “In a way, at least. I’m not sure how it works, because I’ve never been there myself, but it’s real. I assure you of that.”

I smiled. It meant that my mother might be there after all. She was right all this time. She led a wonderful life, went to church, prayed to God, and if anybody deserved Heaven, it was her.

“I don’t understand,” I said. “How can we be looking at demons if they’re all contained on the other side of the mystery spots in Hell?”

“Because they’re not. Demons do the Devil’s bidding, and some of them are assigned to Earth for various tasks, like retrieving monsters that escaped Hell and making deals on behalf of Satan—just like some angels are assigned to Earth to fulfill God’s purposes, whatever that may be these days. They’re all errand runners.”

“How though?” I said, taking a seat next to Aziolith at the bar. “How is this place even possible—angels and demons drinking together?”

“The way I hear it,” Aziolith paused to take a dramatic look up and down the bar, “is that is started with a pastry. Right, Frank?”

The burly bartender laughed. “That’s what they say,” he said in a thick, Scottish accent. “They say my father’s grandpappy was eating a muffin and accidentally summoned a demon with a stick of butter.”

“How do you accidentally summon a demon?” I said, chuckling.

“It was a rune he made spreading the butter that brought about the accursed creature. Of course, he didn’t know it was a rune. My grandpappy’s pappy was just hungry. He offered the demon a homemade muffin, and they got to chatting. The muffin must’ve been good, cuz the next night another demon came, and then another, until a couple dozen demons showed up every night.”

“So, it was a demon bar?” I asked.

“For a short spell. Then the angels got into the mix, and well, since then angels and demons come and go as they please. No fighting. No hexing. No yelling. The barriers outside prevent that.”

“And this has been going on for—”

“Oh, be a hundred and fifty years in a couple more. Don’t really know when it started exactly. Nobody knows, but it’s been a while, ya see.”

“All right,” Aziolith cut in. “Do you want to get a history lesson, or do you want to find the girl?”

I knew the right answer, but the truth was I wanted the lesson much more than I wanted to find the girl. “The girl. I guess.”

“All right then,” Aziolith said. “Have you seen Fritz?”

“The imp? Called back to Hell. He owes me money. If I see him again—”

“All right, all right,” Aziolith said, laying his hands out in front of him. “How about Charlie?”

Frank pointed his finger to a long table on the other side of the house, where a shifty-looking imp in a tattered vest sat alone, talking to his own tail. “He’s even worse. Good luck with that.”

“Hey, Charlie!” Aziolith said, walking over to him. The little demon leapt in his skin. He calmed down when he turned and saw Aziolith.

“Oh, thank god. I thought you was a dragon. You sound just like one I used to—” At that moment, Charlie got a look at Aziolith’s eyes and knew he was talking to the very dragon he feared. “Oh crap—”

“You stole something from me, Charlie, back in Hell.”

“I didn’t steal it. I just borrowed it for an eternity or so. You’ll get it back.”

Aziolith sat down on a chair across from the little imp. “Forget it. It’s done. You keep it.”

“Really? You really mean that? Wow, thanks. Cuz honestly, I pawned it in Dis and I dunno how to get it back.”

Aziolith smiled a long, toothy smile at Charlie. “That means you owe me one, and since I need a favor, it works out perfectly.”

“Oh. Is that all our relationship means to you?”

“Yes.”

“Fine, then.” Charlie crossed his arms. “But that hurts though, ya know? It hurts real bad.”

“I’m sure you’ll get over it. Julia, please sit.”

I sat down next to Aziolith. “Who is this?”

“This is the guy who is going to help us find your girl. Isn’t that right, Charlie?”

Charlie nodded. “Yeah, yeah. That’s right. I’m real helpful. I don’t know if I can help, but I can be helpful for sure. You’re looking for a—what was it again? A succubus?”

“A banshee.” Aziolith gave Charlie a long look. “One who lived in Colorado. Turned quite a few little girls.”

“Stubbins, Colorado,” I added.

“You’re being specific there, huh?” Charlie said. “I didn’t think you were gonna be so specific.”

“Do you know the banshee or not?” Aziolith asked with a curt tone.

“Yeah, yeah. Imogen, She’s a crazy one all right. She wants to get back into Hell. Who tries to get back into Hell, ya know? She got out now she wants back in? That’s a crazy broad if you ask me.”

“Where is she going?” I asked. “Why hasn’t she tried to open a portal yet?”

“Oh, she tried. She was in here a couple weeks ago trying to get a ride into Hell for her and that brat she was with.”

“Brat?” I replied. “Was it a little, black girl?”

“That’s the one.”

“So, she’s still alive.”

“Let’s not get our hopes up,” Aziolith said. “All we know is that she was alive a couple of weeks ago.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Charlie nodded furiously. “I’ll bet she’s still alive though, cuz nobody would help her. You can’t just bring a soul with a body into Hell, and nobody was willing to risk being sent back to Hell to help her. A couple demons told her they were gonna let Lucifer know, and if she tried to open a portal...well, she would be up s**t Creek, I’ll tell you what.”

“So where did she go?”

“That information, I’m afraid,” Charlie said, “is gonna cost you.”

“You said you would help me,” Aziolith growled.

“And I helped you as much as that little trinket was worth. You want any more, you’ll have to pay.”

Aziolith’s lips curled up on him. “What is your price?”

“The Mirror of Yilir. I know you have it, and I want it.”

“That is worth more than one little girl,” Aziolith replied, choosing his words slowly.

Charlie shrugged. “Then find her without me, but if you want to know where she went, that’s my price.”

“I’ll be back,” Aziolith slammed his hands on the table and stood.

*