"Sal!" Casmir called.
"Please wait" he cried.
But Sal continued walking, his tall and slender figure already disappearing as he passed the bustling Fey creatures of the Capital.
Casmir had to resist the urge to run after him, to leap over the heads of goblins and trolls in order to reach Sal, in order to reassure him that they saw him, that he—Casmir— saw him, more than Sal could ever know.
But Katarina was shaken and Bloom was approaching with a companion of her own, he needed to focus on the issues in front of him rather than the one walking away from him.
"Where's Salome going?" asked Bloom as she reached them.
She'd worn mortal clothes, a black top and mini skirt with boots, the silver bangles gleaming on her right arm and a black backpack swung over her left shoulder.
"He went ahead to conjure a portal" lied Casmir.
Bloom raised an eyebrow but then shrugged and placed a hand on her companion's shoulder.
"Very well then, I was going to introduce him but it seems you two will have to do" she said.
"Casmir, Katarina, this is Melchior, Melchior, these are the twins I told you about"
Melchior gave a small smile and stepped forward.
Casmir observed him for the first time, he was beautiful, but his beauty was peculiar, like the combination of two creatures who were alike but different.
He had pink and blue scales running along his arms and legs, his neck and chest, his sides and shoulders, and there were three thin lines on his neck where gills must have been. He was bare chested, a brown satchel lying across his body and hanging at his side. He looked about fifteen years old but Casmir couldn't entirely be sure, time worked differently in the Fey.
He had bright hair, the colour of melted gold, and bright eyes, the colour of the sea, a mixture of blue's and green's. Casmir could tell from the smile on his face that he was a cheerful lad, he looked innocent as well, like a lion asleep in the midst of his pride, a disaster just waiting to happen if he was ever awakened.
Melchior went to Katarina who smiled politely, shielding her emotions with practiced ease.
"It's nice to meet you" said Katarina.
"The pleasure is all mine" said Melchior, his voice was rich and thick with their accent, he took Katarina's hand and kissed her knuckles.
Katarina simply smiled and drew her hand back slowly.
Melchior smiled knowingly and turned to Casmir, his eyes widened in shock.
"Dear Zeus!" he exclaimed. "Are you a vampire?"
Casmir nodded and Melchior rushed to him and grasped his arm, it was the male way of greeting in the Fey and Casmir gasped softly as they made contact.
Melchior's scaly skin was cold and smooth, it was like holding an arm of small smooth jewels, he looked into the boy's eyes and saw how they sparkled, the blue's and green's almost swirling into one colour. Casmir was suddenly more aware of the boy than he had been before.
"I love vampires, I'm certain we will be the best of friends" said Melchior.
Casmir smiled and nodded, he found Melchior amusing, and unnaturally cheerful.
"Certainly" said Casmir. "I'm assuming you're a siren considering the scales and all"
"Learn not to judge by appearance Casmir, all may not be as it seems" said Melchior, as he released his grasp on Casmir and turned to Bloom who gave him a worried look. "Now let's meet this Salome character, shall we?"
"Wait he's coming with us?" Casmir asked.
Bloom nodded and adjusted the backpack over her shoulder.
"We're soul siblings" she said. "Where one goes, the other must follow, forever and always"
Casmir looked from Melchior to Bloom, they stood close to each other, both their eyes focused on him, just waiting for an argument.
He didn't argue though, and neither did Katarina, and they all advanced forward, moving out of the Capital more swiftly than they'd walked in.
Soon they were at the large sea and waiting for them was a swirling portal of blue light causing gentle ripples in the water and air around it.
Well at least he didn't abandon us, thought Casmir.
"The Mortal World isn't that bad, is it?" Melchior asked, his hands clutched the handle of his satchel tightly. "I've heard things, terrible things"
Casmir smirked, and placed a hand on Melchior's shoulder, the same way Sal had done when he'd been afraid of walking through a different doorway, into a different world.
"Don't worry, every world has it's dark places, the Mortal World is no exception, but we've got you" He looked at Bloom, whose head was held high, but whose eyes spoke a silent fear. "We've got both of you"
"You're one of us now" Katarina said.
Casmir turned to Melchior and held out a hand.
"You ready?" He asked.
Melchior looked at his hand, and then at him, and then he took it.
They walked forward and into the portal, this time Casmir braced himself as he was blinded by the light.
When he'd tumbled out he found himself in front of Katarina's house, the moon was just rising, a curved crescent in the dark starless sky, the streets of Luna Estate were deserted and the light of the portal gave the road a black bluish glow.
Melchior was on top of him, their hands were still clasped, Casmir noticed, tighter than when they'd walked through the portal.
Melchior was panting and looking everywhere until his eyes landed on Casmir, so close and in the darkness of night, they shone.
"You okay?" Casmir asked.
Melchior nodded, and then he rolled off Casmir.
Casmir stood from the floor just as the portal closed and the streets were only lit by streetlights. Katarina and Bloom were rising from the floor and dusting themselves clean, but Katarina was only half invested in her cleaning, she was looking at her house, her eyes filled with concern.
Casmir turned and saw that the lights in Katarina's house were on and the front door was open, a line of light streaming through the crack.
Casmir didn't hesitate to move forward, he was eager to see Sal, eager to apologize.
He walked up the steps, conscious of the rest following behind him, and then he opened the door.
The room was dim and cool, the fireplace glowing only embers, the chandeliers flickering weakly, the candlewax nearly melted to the end.
It was bright enough to see that there was no Sal. Only a wand, a sword and a note with a blue pendant placed over it.
The wand and the pendant Casmir gave to Katarina who was swearing under her breath, he ignored the sword and picked up the note instead.
"I suppose I won't be meeting Salome anytime soon" said Melchior in disappointment.
Casmir flipped open the piece of paper and read the only three words that were written on it.
I am done.
***
Sal walked hastily through Philadelphia's dark streets on his way back home, unexpected rain pattered down in small drops on his head, his hands were stuffed in his pockets and his ears were plugged, the music doing little to push Sal's feelings to the back of his mind.
He felt oddly light, his back naked without Kyrona strapped to it, his neck bare without the Sensory necklace wrapped around it, his boot empty without the wand sticking out of it's leather confinement.
He felt out of place without them, but as the same time he knew he could live without those things, those things were only a part of someone he didn't think he was ready to become, someone he didn't think he'd ever become.
Are your talking about weapons or are you talking about them?, he asked himself.
He didn't answer, instead he made a turn, noticing a few red eyed vampires lurking in the shadows, a man playing with fire over his fingers, a little girl with serpents on her head and dark shades perched on her small nose, holding the hand of her mother who seemed to be perfectly normal.
Sal wished he could stop seeing, he wished his vision would be taken away from him, his knowledge, his power, everything that made him part of this world. This world of beautiful and treacherous things.
He made another turn and that's when he felt the presence of someone behind him. He'd been so lost in thought he hadn't realized he was being followed.
Whoever they were they were good, trained to be silent and deadly. Sal sped up, the Joint wasn't too far from where he was, if he could just get there in time he'd be safe.
The thugs must have noticed him speeding up because soon they followed and another one joined them.
This wasn't just an average street side robbery, this was planned, the only question was, by who?
Sal didn't have time to answer himself, the thugs were gaining on him fast.
He ducked into an alley, wishing he had at least a pen knife in his pocket, he couldn't believe he left a house full of weapons unarmed.
The alley was darker than the streets, lonelier and more eerie, and Sal realized too late that he'd made a wrong decision.
Someone walked into the alley at the other end, a large, familiar silhouette edging closer and closer like a deadly ghost whose unfinished business was to visit vengeance upon its offenders.
Sal could tell who it was even before they stepped into the streetlight shining into the alley.
It was Bobby, he looked less boss like now. A gray hoodie hung tight to his bulky frame and his jeans were a light, faded blue, his hair was a mess, his eyes bloodshot and shooting death and daggers at Sal. The hand Sal had shot was bandaged, his other hand brandished a gun and the hilt of a kitchen knife protruded from the waistband of his jeans.
Sal felt the anger behind Bobby's gaze, the injury of his leftover pride and even before he saw his hand visibly shaking as he tried to hold the gun steady, he felt Bobby's fear.
Behind him, Sal heard the familiar click of guns being cocked and pointed.
"Motherfucker" spat Bobby.
"Hey Bobby, how's the hand, hope it's not too much trouble" said Sal.
A shot was fired behind him and Sal felt his leg give out from under him, maybe that hadn't been the best thing to say, blinding pain raced up his leg as he felt warm blood dampen his trousers, it would heal, but it hurt like hell.
He stifled the pain with a grunt, there was no way he was going to show his discomfort, no way he would give Bobby that satisfaction.
"Not so cocky when you're on your knees, are you freak?" said Bobby as he walked closer.
"I wouldn't know, why don't you tell me?" said Sal.
Another shot rang out and pain shot through Sal's shoulder, warm blood trickled down Sal's side under the fabric of his tshirt, he groaned a little louder suddenly wishing he'd worn Casmir's armour instead of returning it.
Bobby was suddenly right in front of him, the gun in his hand was inches from Sal's forehead, his hand was still shaking, his body still oozing fear.
"Boulder's gonna notice if I'm dead" said Sal.
"Fuck Boulder, I ain't scared of him" said Bobby, the surety in his voice shocked Sal a bit.
"Then why are you so nervous?" Sal asked, half curious, his voice husky with pain.
For the first time Bobby seemed thoughtful, his mind searching for an answer.
"I don't know" he said finally.
He shook his head and steadied himself.
"It won't matter anyway, you seem important to him, once you're out of the picture, he'll be the one on his knees"
And then he pulled the trigger.
Everything seemed to happen in slow motion, the brief wisp of flame, the loud bang as the bullet fired, the burn of Sal's mark on his chest and the slamming of the bullet against Sal's head.
Sal had never been shot in the head before, but he was sure the bullet was supposed to pierce his skull and not burst into iron powder, he was sure the gun itself wasn't supposed to disintegrate into black metallic liquid.
He looked up at Bobby and saw his eyes wide with shock, he was shivering, like he'd seen a ghost.
He took in ragged breaths, pulled out the knife and brought it down in rage and terror, Sal felt the life touch him and immediately Bobby was blown off his feet and into the air, the knife clattering to the floor and turning into sand.
Sal watched as Bobby began to shrivel, his middle aged face wrinkling with pain and age, his hair thinning and graying, his eyes and mouth wide as he slowly dried up, his skin becoming like sand paper, his clothes hanging on his rapidly thinning frame. He gave out a choked cry that would remain in Sal's memory for years to come and finally dropped to the ground with a sickening crunch.
Nothing remained but the dried up corpse of a man that had lived seconds ago.
Sal felt his mark stop burning, heard the sound of guns being dropped and footsteps racing out of the alley.
He got up, suddenly realizing that his wounds had healed, and he ran.
Out of the alley he went, back into the dark streets he raced, he pushed pass people, late night stragglers drunk with liquor, delinquent teenagers spray painting on walls and windows, a transporter here or there with a backpack hanging from their shoulders, their eyes watchful.
He didn't stop running, didn't look back, even as the rain came down heavier and nearly blinded him. He was afraid, afraid that a dried up corpse might somehow be following him as he ran, until he reached his house. He could see the lights on, a quiet beckoning for him to return home, to lay in his bed and to try and forget.
He opened the front door and let himself in, ignoring Lester entangled with a red headed girl on the sofa, he flew up the stairs, pulled his door open and slammed it shut behind him.
"Deep breaths", he whispered even as he breathed, each intake of air a desperate effort.
"Sal?, you okay?" called Lester from behind the door.
No!, he wanted to scream, I just turned a man into a corpse and I don't know how!
Sal knew if he said it Lester would believe him instantly, Lester knew of what he could do, and he would try to help, try to hold him even as he was soaked with rainwater, try to comfort him and tell him it was alright even when he didn't want it, but what if Lester got hurt in the process.
"I'm fine, Lester", managed Sal. "Just go back to your date"
"Are you sure?" asked Lester.
"Yeah, I'm fine, it's been a long day" said Sal.
Sal heard Lester murmur, sigh and a little while after, heard his footsteps receding down the stairs.
Sal sighed in relief, he hated lying to Lester but it was for his own good.
He pulled away from the door and immediately went to take a shower.
The water flowed down Sal's back, rinsing the blood off his body and taking it down the drain, this time it did not feel as though it was washing his worries away, it felt like it was drenching his soul and making it heavier.
When he stepped out of the shower and walked into the room he stood in front of the mirror staring at himself, the mark stark black against his brown skin, he remembered the way it burned, blazing with beautiful blue light, he remembered the horror that followed after such brilliant beauty.
"What am I?" he whispered to himself.
And when no one replied he took the silence and the emptiness as an answer and bent his head.
"You are special, in more ways that one"
Sal raised his head and looked in the mirror, there was someone sitting on his bed, their long legs reflected in the mirror.
Sal turned around and saw who it was.
Man, woman, boy or girl, Sal couldn't tell, the person had a face that couldn't be placed under age nor gender, as if they existed beyond the limits of mortal understanding. They were simply beautiful, unnaturally so, they had skin that was pale and delicate and yet glowed like Gaddiel's throne, shining with internal illumination, they had eyes that were golden like the blazing sun at high noon and the sands of a scorching desert, his hair was as white as bone and yet looked like each strand reflected the light of the moon filtering through the room windows. The wings folded at his back gave the same effect, each feather so bright no winged creature on any plane of existence could possibly compare, the person wore a black shirt and trousers but their feet were bare and shining just as pale as the rest of his skin. Looking at them was like looking at a living breathing star.
But what was a star doing on earth?
"The girl wasn't wrong when she said that" the person said.
Sal took a careful step back.
"Who are you?" He asked.
The person smirked and crossed his legs, leaning back against Sal's bed.
"Hello Salome, I'm Lucifer"
***
Katarina had somehow convinced Casmir to stay despite all his earlier protests. Her reasons were invalid, that they couldn't just go looking for Sal without knowing where to start from, who to got to, but he knew, as he always knew, the real reason.
She wanted him with her, especially now that Sal had left and she continued to blame herself for it.
Not that she was wrong to.
Now Casmir sat on his bed, folding and unfolding the note Sal had left behind. The words still hurt, the fear of finality made his head ache terribly. Of all the things Sal could've said to him this was the one thing he'd hoped he'd never say. He'd hoped that Sal would remain in his life even after they had completed the hunt, he had hoped that they could become more than just partners, more than just friends. But it was never going to happen, he knew it deep within himself, yet he hoped.
Hoping was his mistake.
He moved from his bed and shrugged on a tshirt, the note still in his hands as he walked out of his room and downstairs to the kitchen.
He needed blood, he was hungry for the ecstasy that came with drinking it, the ecstasy that would help him forget.
Downstairs the fireplace still held burning embers that warmed up the living room, the light from the dim fire casting shadows of the furniture on the walls.
Casmir moved to the fireplace and tossed the note into the fire without hesitation, watching as the flames slowly ate away the edges until there was nothing left but ash.
He turned away from the fire and went to the kitchen, he ignored everything else, his eyes focused only on the blood dispenser Katarina had said she owned, he grabbed a wine glass and moved to the dispenser, in no time Casmir had a glass of warm blood in his hand.
He took a sip and relished in the sweet taste of life going down his throat, then came the brief burst of clarity and peace and happiness, suddenly everything didn't seem so bad anymore.
Casmir was about to take another sip when he heard a splash. There was a pool outside, he knew, but who would be swimming this late at night.
He moved to the back door and gently pushed it open.
The crescent moon was overhead now and there was the wink of one or two stars in the sky, Casmir looked to the pool and saw that someone was indeed swimming in it.
He moved forward and saw Melchior in the water, the siren stroked up and down the length of the pool like an athlete, his golden hair flying around. His chest was bare and from his waist down was a beautiful fish tail that gleamed with pink and blue scales.
Melchior hadn't noticed Casmir yet and so he sat down on the chair not far from the pool and waited for Melchior, still gradually sipping his blood as he did.
He didn't realize when he'd closed his eyes, the rhythmic beating of Melchior's stroke coupled with the taste of blood on his tongue made him feel oddly relaxed.
When he eventually opened them they widened in shock as he saw Melchior emerging out of the pool, his body glistening with water, his wet golden hair pushed to the back of his head and his tail separating and becoming two legs.
He was stark naked too and by the gods, he was huge.
"Hello Casmir" said Melchior with a smile.
"Hey Melchior" replied Casmir focusing solely on Melchior's face.
"I saw you from the water, you looked sad and lonely, are you alright?"
"Mhm" said Casmir, his voice pulled tawt like a wire.
"Are you sure?, you don't seem alright"
"Melchior, you're naked"
Melchior looked down, smiled knowingly and grabbed a pair of shorts from a chair nearby.
"I'm sorry, Bloom warned me of you mortals and your sensitivity but I can't quite understand why you prefer less…"
"Nudity?" put in Casmir.
Melchior chuckled as he pulled the shorts up his legs and fastened it at his waist.
"I was going to say freedom" he said with a smile and then sat down at the edge of the pool. "Come, join me"
Casmir hesitated, but then he moved to the pool and sat down beside Melchior, keeping his legs as far away from the water as possible.
"You're a good swimmer" said Casmir.
"Thank you, I'm a little out of practice though, I hardly get to swim back at home" said Melchior.
"Really?, why not?" asked Casmir.
Melchior sighed and combed a hand through his hair before speaking, a clear sign of uncertainty.
"Let's just say I am different, I don't normally fit in with the rest of the sirens"
"I know how that feels" Casmir said. "I am different too"
Melchior turned to face Casmir, his eyes swirling with interest.
"In what way?" he asked.
Casmir shifted uncomfortably and looked away from Melchior, he couldn't possibly start explaining everything, his difference was one people never took well, a difference people rarely accepted.
"In a lot of ways" he said simply.
Melchior must have taken the hint because he didn't ask anymore questions.
"Do you wish at times that you weren't different Melchior?" asked Casmir.
Melchior shook his head and stared out over the pool, the moon was overhead now and his hair reflected the light making it electrum white.
"I do not wish to change who I am, instead I wish for the strength to defend those who are as I am, different" he replied.
Casmir smirked and moved closer to Melchior.
"I can help you" said Casmir. "I could help you be stronger"
Melchior turned to Casmir in wonder.
"You would do that for me?"
Casmir wasn't sure but he thought he'd felt a gentle thump in his chest at Melchior's words, as if those words had made his heart beat again.
"Yeah sure why not" said Casmir.
"Excellent" said Melchior. "And in return I will give you swimming lessons."
Casmir should have probably told Melchior that vampires and water don't go together, but Melchior was smiling, his ocean eyes shining with hope, hope that he could actually make a difference, hope that those considered different would have someone that would protect them.
So Casmir let him have his moment.
***
"Lucifer?, as in the father of evil?" asked Sal, clutching his towel carefully about his waist.
Lucifer sighed and touched his temple like he was having a severe headache.
"Just brilliant, you make one mistake and the entire world starts calling you the father of evil, what happened to emperor Nero, or fucking Hitler" said Lucifer.
Sal didn't know how to answer that, the fact that Lucifer himself was in his room, sitting on his bed like it was a throne, was enough to make him speechless.
"Uh-huh" he said.
Lucifer chuckled, hiding his earlier annoyance in a heartbeat.
"You've grown so much" he said. "I'm sorry I haven't come to see you sooner, it's very hard to leave a place you've been confined to for eternity, but I've made sure my demons watched over you, you've become quite the Phantom"
Phantom.
The ghost is here.
"What did you call me?" asked Sal.
"That's right I nearly forgot, you have no idea who you are, much less what you are, and so you consider yourself to be nothing more than what others tell you to be" said Lucifer. "But don't worry, I'm here to change that, I keep my promises Salome, well sometimes that is"
"Promise?, what promise?" said Sal
"The one I made before you were born, of course I don't expect you to remember, I promised I would be here when you needed help, and so here I am"
Sal felt he should know what Lucifer was talking about but he couldn't quite pin it down, and he definitely couldn't trust Lucifer, he couldn't trust the devil.
"I don't need your help, I'm perfectly fine" said Sal, he tried his best to sound sure, but somehow he couldn't pretend, he couldn't lie.
Lucifer shook his head and scoffed.
"Why do you lie Salome?, you are confused and you know it, so why do you decieve yourself?, I am here to help you even though I know I am not the first person anyone could possibly put their trust in, I am here and I am willing"
Sal walked slowly towards the door, he didn't care that he was in a towel and Lester had a date downstairs, he would run out of his house half naked if he needed to, anything to get away from Lucifer.
"Salome, let me help you" said Lucifer.
"There is no help in hell" replied Sal, his hand already on his door handle.
"Please Salome, I knew your parents, I knew who they really were"
Sal turned the handle, already getting ready to sprint down the stairs.
"Don't you want to know why they call you Nightshade!"
Sal stopped moving, the name had struck a chord in him. They'd been calling him that from the moment he was called, and he'd wondered why.
Now he could find out.
For a second, Sal's mind and heart were at war with each other, the former telling him to run, the latter telling him to trust, at least for a time.
He gulped and moved towards Lucifer, his mark suddenly burning bright blue on his chest.
"I'm choosing to believe you" said Sal.
Lucifer smiled kindly.
"Come with me Salome and I will reveal to you many truths untold"