The next morning, a knock roused the individuals inside the Kaufman house: Anne, a woman in her later years, quietly sewing in the corner of the front room, and Emily, who was holding up a line to measure her brother's arm lengths and mumbling incoherent words with pins in her mouth. She furrowed her brow, clearly uncomfortable with how much Henry seemed to have grown since he was away at war. Henry turned his head toward the door, surprised that none of the women seemed to notice or care.
He sighed and rose, Emily impatiently slapping the cloth of her dress in protest. "I wasn't done." She said through gritted teeth, trying not to let the pins drop to the floor.
"Just a moment..." he grinned. Another rapping at the door and Henry opened it with a soft click. A much taller and far more attractive man stood outside the threshold, a wide smile across his face, his crystal blue gaze focused on Henry who couldn't help but shift uncomfortably on his feet. The stranger noticed and chuckled.
"Hello, there," he said cheerfully.
"Uh..." Henry stammered. He squeezed his face to regain his composure and peered back up at the stranger, his back straightening in the same motion. "Yes. Sorry. What can I help you with, sir?"
"So polite," the stranger commented through a grin. "I'm lookin' for someone who is said to be around this area."
Henry felt himself glare without really meaning to. This man's accent was thick with that of the southerners he found himself face to face within battle not even a few months prior. It was then that he noticed the black woman standing just feet behind the stranger. She was wearing plain clothes and a wrap around her hair, her eyes shone like black stones, her skin aglow in a gold shimmer. She, too, had a gentle yet focused smile on her face.
"You're from the south?" Henry blurted out. "You know, slavery ain't really a thing anymore--."
The stranger held up his hand for silence. Henry lifted his head up, bracing himself for whatever was coming.
"She is not my slave," he replied, his smile widening. "She is a family friend that has been with me for many years and she stays with me for her protection. As you can see..."
The stranger motioned for the woman who acknowledged them with a slight nod and a haughty smile that surprised even Henry. "She is a stunning woman. There are many who would do her harm in times such as these. And as for the war...I did not fight."
"How'd you manage that?" Henry asked.
"Let's just say I had more important things to attend to," the stranger said cheerfully. Somehow, this answer was sufficient for Henry as he didn't feel the need to press him further. "Now, as to why I'm here?"
"Oh," Henry shook his head again. "Who is it you're looking for?"
"A young woman named Celeste," the stranger replied.
Without warning, Anne bolted from her chair and moved Henry out of the threshold of the door. This surprised everyone, even the stranger whose disposition first appeared unwavering. She gave him a blank look-over and then glared into his face.
"That girl no longer lives here and we will have nothing to do with anyone who wants her. Now leave my house," she turned on her heels, away from the door and back to her chair in a startlingly calm fashion, almost as if nothing happened. The stranger cocked his eyebrow at the now seated woman. The black woman, however, was looking up and her expression changed to one of almost pure delight but she quickly resumed her focused gaze when Henry turned back to the stranger at the door.
"I'm sorry," Henry managed. "She left this morning."
"Henry, come away from the door!" Anne commanded. Henry simply sighed, shrugged and shut it with a light thud. Just as the stranger turned to the woman, she waved a hand in front of her chest and a shimmering dust was produced midair. It danced its way along the wind and fell upon the windows glass.
Several thuds were heard from inside the house.
"Did you see it?" Laini pointed up and smiled.
"No, but I know it's here," Mihr opened the door and marched upstairs. Laini stood to wait with a hum in her throat as she looked in several directions to make sure nobody played witness to what they were up to. She was clearly amused as she continued to look around the now alarmingly silent property. A tiny knock on the wood at her feet and she cocked her head to the now sleeping bird making whistling sounds as it breathed. She picked it up and placed it higher up; this spell wouldn't last very long and knew the helpless thing would be vulnerable.
"Come, now! Don't put up a fight!" Mihr yelled and Laini could hear him run down the stairs, dragging behind him a grotesque thing struggling to be released from his hands.
"Descendant....!" The thing hissed. Its face was wide, with spikes, and appeared to be missing a jaw. The sinews of its flesh were hanging loosely along a boney frame and held together haphazardly with filthy bandages. Its eyes wide with panic and malice, tongue dripping with a green light that turned to mud upon hitting the ground, it spun its head around in a vain attempt to intimidate Mihr. He only grinned in amusement.
"Spirit of disdain and confusion," Laini smiled. The demon spun its head back to face her, its body sounding of muffled rattling as it trembled in panic. "Cooperate."
"You," it said. It suddenly felt awe on top of the already rising panic in its being. "You are the old one."
"That I am," she smiled and walked a little closer.
"Your reputation precedes you, madam," it replied with some reverence.
"This will sound strange, but we're rather glad to see you," Mihr grinned down at the struggling thing. It stopped and stared up at him, as surprised and confused as a thing like that could be.
A moment went by before it could speak again.
"You're right, angel. That was strange," it managed a reply. "But...I'm assuming you refer to the creatures terrorizing our little slice of the veil?"
"Very astute," Laini said with a hum and leaned in, her expression now inquisitive. "What do you know about them?"
"Oh, nothing, I'm afraid," it admitted. "Except what I see in my brethren. Those with weaker constitutions, or the very young, seem to fall prey to their influences. They never last long, though. They tend to die quite violently; poking around where there ought not to be any poking."
Mihr and Laini exchanged looks. She straightened up, her eyes fixed on the demon.
"We've been fighting the ones we find but their numbers appear to be growing," she huffed.
"Is that why you're looking for the girl?" It asked. Laini's eyes flashed. "I felt something was different with her and she noticed my presence. She couldn't work it out but...you could see it in her face. She was treading carefully even if she wasn't sure why."
Mihr strengthened his grip on the creature.
"But, but... I never tried to harm her or feed from her! That guardian of hers is something else..." It replied in defense. The demon looked up at Mihr sheepishly. "Guardians are magnificent and capable sons of Father. I would never so foolishly tangle with one. No, no."
Laini burst out laughing. Both the demon and Mihr looked at her in surprise as she wiped an eye with her finger.
"Oh, demon. Don't fret," Laini motioned for Mihr to loosen his hold. "Do you know which way the girl went? We really want to find her."
The demon hesitated.
"Are you going to kill me when this is over?"
"No. Not if you give us what we want."
The demon sighed with hesitation.
"She went west this morning. The old crone inside made her leave when it came to light that the girl's husband died in the war."
Laini stopped chuckling, her eyes wandering the length of the house. Her nostrils flared with agitation.
"Laini," Mihr put out a hand. "Calm down."
She peered up at him through her brows, but her gaze softened and she smiled.
"Yes," She said. "Mihr...set the demon free."
"Laini?" Mihr said in protest.
"Mihr."
The conversation was over. He hesitated but did as he was told. The demon found its footing but immediately hunched low to the ground with all fours planted firmly.
"Very interesting," it chuckled before slowly starting to crawl back towards the house, slowly and carefully watching the pair.
"I know it's a thing we do. Hunting behind the veil, destroying and detaining all that threatens us but..." Laini lifted a finger, a trace of malice in her own smile, "we are under no such obligation to save people from what they invite willingly into their lives."
They all looked at the house.
"You're here because of the woman, aren't you?" She added.
"Yes, madam," the demon slinked past her, eyes fixed, waiting to see if she would stand by her word. When he was satisfied that she was not going to harm him it stood a little taller and up at the little bird, Laini had placed atop the banister. It gently stroked its feathers, making it shudder as if a cool breeze caught it. "She killed her husband, having grown weary of his penchant for adventure and drink. She was so angry..."
"Laini..." Mihr tried to protest again but Laini seemed to read his mind.
"Demon," she leered. "If I hear you do anything else outside of what the law allows..."
"I like this world, dear lady," it cackled. "I, too, am very old and I know better than to cross your lot."
With that, it vanished back inside the house and the door shut with a slam. The cold from inside wafted past Laini, both her and Mihr now noticing the presence of other demons and spirits around them. Mihr looked slightly alarmed but Laini simply shrugged and turned away.
He was still protesting to himself when he turned to follow her.
"That young man..." he said.
"He'll be fine, Mihr."
"And the other young lady?" He asked.
"She doesn't share her mother's violent temperament. Yet."
Mihr glanced back at the house and sighed. He was always uncomfortable leaving malignant creatures behind when he knew he could eradicate them.
"Small fish," Laini took him by the hand and led him away. "We have to stay on the front lines where the really nasty creatures are, remember?"
Laini cocked her head up at him, an interested smile crossing her face.
"I'm still an angel. Even after all this time..." he said, clenching his fist. "Turning my back on these creatures...allowing them to run amok."
"Or is it that you're itching for a good fight with something familiar?" Laini smiled wider.
Mihr huffed in disagreement but couldn't help but grin. Their shared expression about the prospect of restoring things back to the way they were; it was a good thought. They both found their eyes looking into the distant trees and hills that lay before them.
To the west. That is where their fledgling was headed.
Now all they had to do was catch up.