• Chapter: ONE

    Others

    It had been a week since that day, the day I became a demon. After my first change I had left my town, wandering the roads, desperate to find a new start. The only thing I took with me was my father’s old cape and matching jacket, the only thing left to remember him by. I had killed 13 people when I became a demon. I had no control over my powers, and didn’t know my own strength. I crushed walls without resistance, I leapt houses with ease. Everything was different. I’m still walking now, less than a mile away from Nelan, the nearest city to my old home. I’ve had to pass around Byein Lake and travel across rolling hills the whole way. Byein Lake truly is an amazing sight though. It’s the second largest lake on this continent. It’s water always perfectly gleaming in the light of the sky. It’s color always a calm shade of oceanic blue. There are even a few cherry trees growing around the edge of the lake, lifting any wanderers’ spirits higher with their peach colored petals. But with Byein getting smaller by the hour, and Nelan’s walls coming into sight I began to wonder how life would treat me here. I’ve heard rumors that Nelan half consists of demons, though I believe that this is an exaggeration. I think there is a possibility that there are at least a few like me. As I reached yet another hill the horizon looked promising. I sighed, taking in the wondrous scent from the plants and fresh air. How could a world so beautiful be filled with vile creatures such as the dark blue demon known as Cirr? I wondered to myself. Once over the green hill Nelan was in full view. The twisting dirt road that had lead me miles away from home, now showed a finish line. Brought with me I had 2,300 gold pieces, enough to rent a room at an inn for a considerable amount of days before I got my own job. Though it is selfish of me to wish him upon my old neighbors I hope he stays in my old village and doesn’t come looking for me for revenge. I didn’t want to attract any attention to myself in my new home.

    It was mid-day when I arrived at Nelan. Confident and weary I stepped through the welcoming arch that would soon define my home. The gatekeeper raised an arm to wave.

    “Welcome stranger,” he said in an inviting voice, “What brings you to these parts?”

    “I wish to begin anew. Start a new life here. Tell me, where does the nearest inn happen to be?” I asked.

    “Follow the road and turn on your second right, from there continue until you see a large red and brown building on your left. That would be the inn you’re looking for.”

    “Thank you.” I replied as I marched on forward. As I gazed and tilted my head from left to right I noticed and old looking house painted black. It seemed almost threatening as I passed by it. Further down the road I noticed a few shops that were similar to some of the old familiar ones back home. I passed the first right and kept going as the man had instructed. I kept my wits about me and was constantly looking around, my eyes shifting from crowds of people to the amazing walls of the city. I turned on the next intersection and approached a large red-brown building, which I presumed to be the inn. As I entered I quickly felt warm. The inside walls were painted a vibrant burgundy, with a large beautiful lit chandler hanging from the center of the lobby. Upon the floor was a large oval shaped rug filled with a design of a large golden eagle with a tremendous wingspan.

    When I had finished renting a room I decided to walk around some more, to get my bearings. I discovered a small tavern and realized how thirsty I was, so I walked in. The tavern looked larger from the inside, with its long row of bar stools and six or seven round tables. I saw a man with deep, thick black hair and blue eyes sitting at the table in the far right corner. He wore a short black coat with the right sleeve cut off. The leather shifted and rolled when he moved. His right arm, the one exposed from the cut sleeve, had a peculiar blue mark on it, which I presumed to be a tattoo. It looked like something with claws had torn across his forearm, leaving it scared blue. He stood up and craned his neck to look at me. I looked away, shamed that I had stared for so long, in doing so I noticed the boots he was wearing had some kind of spikes at the bottom of them.

    “You lost?” He said in a soft cold voice. “Follow me.” He stepped through the door of the tavern leaving me standing there. I automatically followed though it took me a few seconds to process what just happened. Why would a total stranger ask me to follow him? I asked myself. After following the strangely scared man halfway across the village we stopped at the black house I had seen earlier. He waved his arm at me without turning around, beckoning me to come in as he opened the black door. I stepped in and felt something about this house. Something familiar, but I couldn’t pinpoint it. “My names Gon,” The man said, “Like yourself, I am also a demon.”

    “How did you-”

    “I can sense it about you. You must be a newly formed demon since you didn’t sense me.” Gon said in a low voice as he closed the door. “Don’t worry you’re safe here. This is where we stay, me and him that is.” Gon said nodding towards a doorway to my left.

    A grey shadowy figure stepped out from the cover of the backroom. His skin was grey, as were his eyes, which seemed angry, sad, and surprised all at the same time. His sleek grey hair was longer than mine, and halfway came down his face. He was dressed in much more covering attire. A large grey coat that almost fell to his ankles fluttered behind him. His grey pants looked worn and were slightly ripped at the bottom, suggesting that he wears them often; he also wore grey and black gloves that matched his belt. Last I saw the tail. Wispy and cat-like his grey tail stuck out from under the coat. “This,” Gon paused as he extended an arm towards the grey figure now standing before me, “is Dekun. He is a half-demon. He is stuck between human and demon, resulting in this form; he has been like this for as long as he can remember. I, also slightly resemble a half-demon.” He said flexing his right arm upward. “This mark is a demonic scar, it’s permanent, and so when I become demon it changes like the rest of me. It becomes larger and spreads across my chest.”

    “Interesting,” I replied, “So the two of you live here?”

    “Yes.” Dekun spoke out for the first time. I noticed his voice sounded as hurt and angry as his eyes looked. “This is the safe haven for demons who come into our town. Some stay for awhile, some are just passing through. Which are you?”

    “I planned on making this village my new home.” I answered confidently.

    “Hmm.” Gon said as he raised an eyebrow. “Besides us I haven’t met a demon willing to settle down somewhere. Never the less, you are welcome to stay here and become part of our little family. It’s better to live with your own kind than end up hurting someone you love later on in life-” Dekun put an arm on Gon’s shoulder stopping him. Although I had already spent a few coins on the room I decided to join them. After all it was just one room, and by staying here I’m both safe and I don’t have to pay to live.

    “Well then,” I said, “I accept your invitation. I will join you.”