Among Demons : Rebellious Huntress

Chapter10 :Tattoos

*Morgan Evans*

After the meeting was finally over and done with, our new bosses each thanked us for coming in a short speech. They both went on about their ideas and plans for the well-being of the Village and repeatedly praised our hard work too. Then, when they both finished speaking, the pretty black haired Demon woman named Verilla stepped up and offered her services to us. She was apparently a very gifted Sorceress, at least that’s what I gathered from the things she was willing to make and provide for us whenever we take on an assignment.

Then, we were released and thanked once more for showing up.

I hugged a few friends as I headed for the doors, each one quietly asking me if everything was alright, since it seemed like my interview took a bit longer than all of theirs.

I reassured them, of course, and told them that everything was perfectly fine.

Even though I had essentially been given a single opportunity to prove my worth and loyalty, or else I’d no doubt get banned from the Village and marked as a threat. Though, surprisingly, I wasn’t as upset as I thought I would be. Yes, I was irked to have my family’s s**t reputation still following me like a slimy, poisoned shadow. But I hadn’t felt as angry or ashamed as I normally do, which was a little weird for me, and made me wonder why I felt so calm about it all.

I paused by the doors for a second and looked over my shoulder, my eyes quickly finding that delicious hunk of a Shifter that I couldn’t stop myself from flirting with. I tried–fuck, did I try. But once the tense talks about my questionable loyalty were over, I instantly felt my more daring, lusty side rear up and my entire tone and body language changed.

I tried to keep Allie’s words about him looking for his Match firmly in my mind. Tried to remind myself that I couldn’t just pounce on the man like I wanted to. Not when he’s clearly making an effort to find that one rare and special woman meant for him. But I couldn’t stop myself from tossing out that playful tone. I couldn’t stop the naughty thoughts from filling my head, nor could I push away the many X-rated images that flashed through my head either.

He’s just so damn yummy, and I want a taste.

He was currently standing by his brother and the woman Verilla, who appeared to be his brother's girlfriend. Another woman was hanging around them too and looked to be close and comfortable with them. She’d been giving me the occasional stink-eye, but hadn't done or said anything else. Still, her presence around the brothers–Wren especially–was bringing up a familiar, yet unfamiliar feeling in my chest. An emotion that I had never once truly felt towards any man, ever.

A feeling I knew I had no right to feel towards a man I barely met.

‘Knock it off, Mo.’ I chastised myself, shaking my head clear and forcing my legs to move.

Strangely, as I continued to walk away, that weird feeling was still pressing into my chest, causing me to rub it with my palm as I went.

It took me a short while to walk back to Allie’s house, but once I returned, I flopped onto the couch and groaned, feeling suddenly exhausted. But the happy giggling I could hear coming from Allie and Emerys’ room let me know that I wasn’t going to be able to laze around much. So I forced myself back up and made my way to the spare room, stripping out of my uniform and pulling on a comfy blue tank top and my favorite worn sweatpants.

“Morgan!” Allie called out, making me smile as I twisted my hair into a low bun at the nape of my neck before leaving my room.

“I’m here!” I shouted back, beaming at my best friend who was spreading out all manner of papers across her little kitchen island.

“C’mere. C’mere. C’mere!” She bounced, excitement spilling from her in thick waves. “Look at all the applicants that want to work at my little tattoo parlor?”

I walked over and braced myself for a long evening, knowing that Allie’s happy, jumpy energy wasn’t going to wane until she told me absolutely everything.

She went on and on about the blueprints that she had considered, pointing out the things she liked and disliked about them before showing me the one she finally picked. She then showed me the different applications she received as well as the sample work that was quite different from her style of art. We looked over each one and analyzed the type of works she wanted her shop to be known for, wanting to make her place as desired as those that tend to get customers flying in from cities or even states away.

There was one that was great with watercolor style tattoos and had a few pictures and sketches that showed just how skilled she was with blending the right colors so close to each other without bleeding them under the skin and causing a whole different, uglier color to come through in the end. Another artist was talented in more intricate works with tiny, filler designs that most would struggle to make without blotching the lines, making them too thick or overdoing it. Then there was the more realistic artist that could practically print the faces of pets and people onto skin with so much detail that it amazed me.

Allie was more into the steady lines and details that make her art pop and stand out once she adds color to it. Though most of her artwork is just shading and dark lines, everything she made looked amazing, beautiful and perfectly done. She treats each one of her art pieces lovingly, making sure that every line and section of shading is placed precisely so her art comes to life on the skin and holds a deep, precious meaning to the person getting it done.

Just like the ones she etched onto me.

The first of the four tattoos that she did for me was the deep blue little rose that sat behind my left ear. It was a representation of my ancestors and all the good they had done to help the Demons before everything turned to s**t. The blue rose used to be a part of my family's crest when they became known as Guardians, but was quickly discarded once they turned their backs on everything it stood for. So, in honor of the past that used to see my family doing so much good for others, I had the rose tattoo in a place that only those real close to me could see. It was also a little funny for me since my family had yet to notice the little flower behind my ear and I had gotten it a few days before my eighteenth birthday two years ago.

The second one was an old Cherokee proverb that spoke to me after I was discharged from the hospital that same two years ago. It sat over my left rib cage and was framed by a vine of pretty Cherokee roses. It said; ‘Don’t let yesterday use up too much of today.’ And it was a saying that helped me through the following days after I was released from the hospital. Having to live under the same roof as the people that were so ready to weaponize my death, use it as a prop and frame innocent Demons. I practically chanted this saying before bed every night and right as I got up every morning. It kept me from drowning in bitterness, anger and pain. And it motivated me to keep looking ahead and plan things out instead of letting my emotions control my actions.

It was the only thing that provided a resolute strength that I never knew lay within me.

The third tattoo was a beautiful zodiac design that showed the two circling fish that represent the sign I was born under. The Pisces fish were big and sitting on my upper right thigh, which was covered by my uniform today. They were drawn circling each other with ripples of blue water surrounding them and showed one fish with bright green, purple and deep blue scales, while the other one was nothing more than a skeleton with torn fins and an almost glowing pale yellow hue surrounding it. It had been a design that Allie had come up with after I told her that I liked my Zodiac sign, but wasn’t sure if I wanted a tattoo of it. Her sketch amazed me and instantly, I wanted it on me. So, even though both Allie and I had been drinking after sneaking into her fathers whiskey cabinet, we pulled out everything she needed and tried to be as quiet as possible while she etched it directly on me.

Surprisingly, it was beautifully done and didn’t look at all like a tipsy nineteen year old had done it.

The last one I had was added on me not even a month later, and was also done on impulse, thanks to our late night gossip fest. It was done over a large birthmark that I had circling most of my right ankle. I had never been able to make much of the strange blob of darker skin, but that night, after laughing uncontrollably during an ocean documentary we were watching, Allie was struck with an idea. She had taken my ankle, mid giggle fest, and started twisting and turning my foot while I tried to calm the fuzzy tickling that was making me laugh so much. She then asked if I could see the fish that was on my ankle, and I started looking at my birthmark just as seriously as she was. But unlike my friend, who claimed she saw a fish through her glossy, drunk eyes, I saw something else take shape.

“It looks more like a starfish hugging my ankle.” I told her, suddenly bursting into more giggles that nearly knocked me off the couch.

“Holy s**t!” Allie shouted, making me shush her so her parents wouldn’t wake up and scold us for stealing their liquor again. But she kept going, ignoring me. “You’re right!”

She then used a nearby blue pen to trace the starfish directly on my ankle while I continued to laugh, telling her that her fingers and the pen she was using were tickling me.

We were caught by Dolph and Leo that night and scolded before being made to go to bed.

That next morning, after more scolding that made our heads throb, Allie and I were made to clean the whole house and the backyard. We also had to weed the garden that Leo lovingly tended to and were volun-told to help the new neighbors clean up their new home. All as punishment for drinking underage.

Still, after we completed our punishment, Allie went to work designing the big starfish on my ankle, asking me what type I wanted and how much detail I wanted on it.

In the end, she simply traced the outline of it with dark, solid black lines so everyone could see the starfish more clearly. She added some squiggles around the edges to make it more realistic looking, as well as some details along the center of it too. But that was it. I wanted most of my birthmark to still show after she was done with it. I didn’t want to cover it up or alter the way it looked aside from the obvious sea animal that gave it a bit of presence.

No longer would I have a funny looking blob embracing my ankle. I now have a starfish that most people barely notice, since I commonly wear jeans or ankle boots, which hides it from view.

“Have you thought about getting something new?” Allie asked me, smiling as she gathered her papers in a neat stack.

We had finally finished going over all the applications and narrowed down the people that Allie wanted to talk to and interview before hiring. Her energy was no longer as high as it had been hours ago, though a bit of that gleeful glitter was still shining in her ringed eyes.

I sighed, glancing at the separate stack of designs she had shown me.

“I don’t know.” Shrugging, I pursed my lips, considering the idea of another tattoo, yet not sure what I wanted, or where I would have her put it. “I haven’t really thought about it.”

“Let me know if you think of something.” She giggled and shook her head, clearly recalling a memory as her gaze became unfocused. “Or maybe we should take some of my dads whiskey for inspiration, like last time.”

I shook my head and laughed along with her, watching as she stopped her laughter short once she caught sight of her man reaching the bottom of the stairs in his mechanic jumpsuit. She beamed at him and rushed into his arms, making him chuckle before he rubbed his face into the crown of her head, ruffling her hair.

I watched them and held back a sigh, trying not to let the little pit of envy and longing show.

During our long conversation, Allie had told me that she and Emerys had decided to get identical tattoos on their necks sometime soon. They were still deciding what design they were going for, but it was meant to represent something that Shifters used to be able to do, many many centuries ago, but faded through time. Though it’s still mentioned a lot in books and shows, Shifters used to mark their Match with a bite to the neck, showing everyone that they were taken and tied to a Shifter. This bite would then turn into a tattoo-like pattern of swirls that would bind the two together for life.

Her parents were even thinking of doing the same thing too, apparently, which is very sweet. And she had even texted her cousin Atlas to ask if he was interested in getting something like that done with his girlfriend.

Still, I couldn't smother the wishes and day dreams that had always circled my mind.

I had always wished that I could someday find someone that cherished, loved and cared for me just like that. Someone that would see me. Really SEE me, and accept the person I am. Regardless of the negative reputation that was tied to my family. Regardless of the things I have to do in order to protect the people I care about.

Someone that wouldn’t judge, hate or demean my chosen family simply for being Demons.

In fact, I had a pretty depressing history when it came to dating, with every one of my past relationships crashing and burning once I learned of my partners true feelings and thoughts about Demons. I had hated how judgemental, distrustful and down right hateful so many Humans could be towards those that had done nothing to them. And when I tried to date Demon men, I would be the one dumped or ghosted when they found out about my family. I had even had a few Demon men who simply wanted nothing more than a friends-with-benefits situation, which had only lasted a few months before I had to cut them loose.

Sure, s*x is fun and having a stress-free physical relationship without all the drama and emotions that come with being exclusive has worked out for a little while. But I want more than that. I want something real. Something that could literally knock the air out of my lungs from the intensity, scorch my skin with the level of passion and make me believe that I could fly with the level of happiness. Something pure and raw and powerful enough to help me push away or deal with the heavy emotions that torment me whenever I think about my family and the cruel situation I constantly find myself in.

Someone willing to give me a chance and prove that I was more than my last name.