by L. L. McNeil
Black smoke lingered near the woman’s ankle, tendrils curling over her booted foot. The only sign that she’d been targeted by a Leech.
‘There you are, demon,’ Seila whispered.
She was about to make her move when the woman turned away, pulled a key from her bag, and entered the apartment block. The man watched her for a moment before getting back into his car and driving off.
Cursing her luck, Seila hurried to the door, but it had closed and locked after the woman had entered the building. Through the door’s small window, she saw her make her way up a flight of stairs, and Seila took to the wing again. Now the drone of the car had disappeared, Seila could just about hear the demon’s voice. It was weak, and she had to concentrate to really hear it at all.
She hoped she wasn’t too late. If the demon had begun to feed, there was no way she’d be able to get to it. It would hide inside the woman, completely taking over, until it had consumed her.
Then her hunt would have been for nothing.
Reaching a balcony on the fourth floor, Seila hovered a short way in front of it. A light came on from inside, illuminating the woman. This was the right apartment.
She was certain.
Summoning her Sieken Blade, Seila braced herself to burst through the glass door, when the woman unlocked it and swung it open. She leaned on the balcony railing with both hands and stared up into the night sky.
And then she saw Seila.
Seila watched her, calculated whether to attack the Soul Eater or flee.
The woman opened her mouth to speak, when tendrils of smoke began to twist along her foot and legs, and Seila knew she couldn’t wait. Ignoring the shock of being seen in the open, she yelled, ‘Demon!’
‘What the hell?’ The woman replied, confused.
Seila shot forward, beating her wings so powerfully that she closed the distance in a heartbeat. She knocked the woman to the ground as she flew into her apartment, and landed heavily in what appeared to be a small lounge. A vase smashed as she landed, chunks of patterned ceramics dotting the carpet. ‘Leave her alone, demon!’ Seila turned to face the woman—and the demon—with her sword raised.
The woman raised her hands, her eyes wide. ‘I’m not a demon! Don’t hurt me!’
‘This one is mine. Not yours! Not sharing!’
Seila grimaced at the hatred in the Soul Eater’s tone and bent her knees, ready to launch forward when the time was right to strike.
‘What are you doing?’ The woman yelled, her voice pitched in fear. She backed up until she was pressed against her kitchen counter, her eyes locked on the sword pointed at her.
Seila’s lip curled. She ignored her, and focussed on her actual target. Tendrils of smoke continued to loop around the woman’s ankle, where the Soul Eater had its hold. ‘I’m going to kill that demon.’
The woman looked around, spinning her entire body. ‘What demon? There’s nothing here?’
Seila raised her free hand, fingers wide, towards the woman. ‘Show yourself, demon!’
‘I refuse!’
A hiss echoed loudly, the Soul Eater staking its claim on the woman’s life. But Seila felt its presence, grabbed it with her mind, and yanked it forward.
‘I REFUSE!’
Seila didn’t let go. Knees bent, heels dug into the apartment’s cream carpet, she pulled harder.
The woman screamed. Smoke burst from her ankle, filling the room with its burning scent, as Seila forced the demon out of her.
Seila took in a deep breath and smiled when she saw the Soul Eater’s true form revealed. The small demon eyed Seila angrily with silver-white eyes. It shivered on the floor, its small body trembling like a newly hatched bird. Its skin was paper thin, mottled brown and grey, every bone showing through. A double row of spines lined its back, and it ran its claws over one another as though unsure what to do with them. Smoke poured from its mouth and nostrils every time it breathed out. ‘This one is mine!’ The demon shrieked, lashing its tail like a cat.
‘That...that…’ The woman pointed with a trembling finger.
‘That is a Soul Eater demon. Better known as a Leech,’ Seila answered, though she kept her eyes on the demon in front of her, sword at the ready. Take your attention off them for even a second and they’d disappear in a puff of smoke. ‘It was going to kill you.’
‘You...you’re part of the Kouzlo, right?’ The woman asked, taking a wary step away from the Leech. She didn’t have far to go in her tiny kitchen, and her back pressed against her fridge. ‘You’ll get rid of it?’
Seila didn’t reply. Firstly, because she’d never heard of the “Kouzlo,” and secondly, because she’d hesitated long enough. Perhaps now, she’d get her reward. She’d killed enough demons, hadn’t she? She had to be close to finding her soul, right?
She lowered the tip of her sword to the demon. It bared its small, pointed teeth at her in reply, and let out another hiss. More smoke poured from its jaws.
Seila exhaled, readying herself for another fight, then lunged forward. The demon hissed again and leapt out of the way, narrowly avoiding the Sieken Blade, which stabbed deep into the carpet. Seila wrinkled her nose as she breathed in the demon’s smoke, the smell burning her throat. ‘Bastard!’
As she twisted around to follow the demon, she cursed again. Fighting on a hilltop with the entire sky above her was one thing. Trying to pin down a famously slippery demon in a tiny apartment was quite something else.
She heard the demon’s laughter rattling around in her head and scowled.
She chased it around the room, slashing at the demon as it leapt and rolled. Seila flipped the coffee table, sending empty glasses flying and papers everywhere. It hid behind the sofa, pressed itself tightly up against the wall, half-hidden under the drapes that had been pushed back from the balcony door.
Seila stabbed her sword down, unable to see it, but hoping to flush it out.
It hissed and screamed, shrieked and cackled, and Seila roared in reply, battle-crazed. The Leech avoided her blade, batted it away a couple of times, then jumped out from behind the sofa in a vortex of smoke.
Soul Eaters weren’t fighters like Toxic Fangs were. Their technique was to confuse and disorientate, then flee when they had a chance. Or, if you were weak, they’d latch on, merge, and feast on your mind.
Seila coughed, backing away and waving her hand in front of her. Damned Leeches.
‘On your left!’
Seila whirled around, sword held up, as the Leech pounced. Without the woman’s warning, it would have caught her. Then she’d have been the Soul Eater’s food—like Amber had almost been.
She grit her teeth, met the demon’s claws with her own blade, held it at bay. It gnashed its teeth, spittle flying as it flailed uselessly against Seila’s sword, front limbs scrabbling to attack her.
‘Not quite fast enough,’ Seila said. She enjoyed the hunt, she enjoyed battle. Perhaps a little too much. ‘Now, you’re mine.’
‘No!’ The demon hissed. It pushed off the sword to jump away from Seila and dodge her attack.
Seila followed, giving it no respite. There wasn’t enough space to fly, but she kept her wings unfurled, spread wide, blocking escapes and forcing the demon into the corners of the apartment where she could more easily end it.
It jumped this way and that, tail lashing, knocking over vases and ornaments, scattering books and doing everything in its power to keep Seila away, hissing all the while. Black smoke plumed from it, hiding it from view as it dodged.
Seila charged forward, Seiken Blade held high. She jumped, blocked its escape with her wings again, and cleaved the sword down in a vertical strike that would end everything.
When she landed, her blade had only cut into smoke.
The demon darted past the debris and raced towards the open balcony door, laughing maniacally.
‘No!’ Seila spat, hurtling after it.
Just as the demon reached the door, the woman slammed it shut in its face. ‘You’re not
escaping so easily!’ Then, apparently unafraid, she darted forward lightning-quick and grabbed it with her bare hands. Her fingers closed around the creature’s right arm, vice-like.
Seila raised her eyebrows in surprise.
The demon shrieked, writhed around, clawed at the woman with its other limbs.
Seila hurried forward, then ground to a halt.
Flames licked down from the woman’s fingers and onto the demon’s skin. It screamed in fright and pain, twisted violently, almost ripping itself apart in its attempt to break free from the fire.
Seila took advantage of the demon’s distraction, and plunged her sword into it. Smoke exploded from the demon’s body, tar-like blood coated her blade, and then it was gone. Seila’s fingers vibrated with the power that poured into her as her Seiken Blade absorbed the blood.
Catching her breath, Seila stared at the woman, who stared at the spot where the demon had been only a few moments before. ‘You’re an Elemental.’ It wasn’t a question. How could it be, when she’d seen the woman conjure fire from nothing.
The woman stared at her hands as though she’d never seen them before. Her fingers trembled. ‘Again…?’ She didn’t seem to have heard Seila.
Seila wondered whether the Soul Eater had begun to feast on her. It would explain her slow movements and apparent confusion. She thought it best to double-check before leaving her alone. ‘You okay? What’s your name?’
The woman looked up slowly, almost dazed, her brow damp with sweat. She blinked. When she met Seila’s eyes, she said, ‘I’m Amber.’
Seila straightened. Amber would be fine, if she was talking. Seila’s swords and wings both disappeared now the demon had been slain. She looked around the room, at the damage caused by their fighting. Slashed carpet, broken vases and glasses, debris everywhere. Although a flicker of guilt passed over her, she was sure Amber could put it right. Having just seen Amber grab a demon, burn it, and still be alive to tell the tale, Seila no longer believed the woman to be another human in distress.
Amber seemed much more practical than the average person.
And Seila had left worse messes before.
Usually she disappeared immediately after slaying a demon. Before the questions started. But Amber had helped her in a hunt, and that was a rarity. So, she decided to oblige her. ‘I’m Seila.’
Amber blinked again. She looked at her hands, watched as the flames along her fingertips flickered and died. Her skin was soft and smooth, no trace of a burn. ‘What...what are you?’
Even if Amber was familiar with demon hunters, she seemed wary of her. Like most people.
Seila sighed. This was part of the reason she worked alone, why she didn’t like to be seen by anyone.
But Amber had helped her catch the demon, and for that, she thought she owed her an honest answer. ‘I’m a Phantom. And I kill demons.’
2
Seila watched as Amber pottered around her tiny kitchen. She’d put the kettle on—because surviving a demon attack apparently warranted a cup of tea—and phoned her brother, who was now on his way over.
Seila hadn’t meant to eavesdrop, but Amber’s apartment was incredibly small, and she couldn’t help but overhear. Funnily enough, Amber hadn’t mentioned her at all. She’d only mentioned the small demon, that it was gone, and that she was fine.
Her brother had insisted on coming over to make sure Amber was okay, which Seila thought was a little excessive.
Amber had put a thin robe on—for comfort, Seila thought, because it wasn’t cold at all—and set about tidying up what mess she could. She cleared away the bigger chunks of glass, picked up the cushions that had been scattered around the room, and righted the vases. The flowers on the floor were plastic, and Amber spent a few minutes straightening them up as much as she could. Amber hummed all the while, keeping her hands busy while the minutes passed in silence.
Never one for small talk, Seila picked up a cushion, but Amber immediately took it from her, muttering something about guests not needing to clear up anything. Seila wasn’t sure she agreed with her logic, considering she’d been the one to make the mess, but Amber appeared happier when she tidied up without Seila’s help. As far as Seila was concerned, it was better than watching Amber peer down at her own hands as though they were something awe-inspiring.
Usually after slaying a demon, Seila would begin looking for the next one straight away. But Amber’s powers intrigued her. She’d seen what Elementals could do, had flown over scorched land and flooded streets left by Fire and Water Elementals. She wasn’t the only demon hunter in the world, after all.
But she’d never actually met one face-to-face.
And she had plenty of energy from the demons she’d slain that night. A short rest somewhere comfortable, where people didn’t ask questions, was a rarity. So Seila wasn’t in any hurry to leave.
‘Damon’ll be here in a few minutes,’ Amber said for the third time. ‘He doesn’t live too far away.’
Seila nodded. She accepted a cup of black tea with a little sugar and continued to observe Amber. She wondered why the Elemental bothered to use a kettle or an oven when surely she had the power to heat things up with her touch alone. Why make things harder for herself?
She wondered why Amber wanted her to meet her brother. Why she didn’t speak of her Elemental abilities. Why she didn’t say anything about grabbing the demon with her bare hands.
Seila wondered all manner of things, but said nothing, and only sipped her tea.
After giving her name and telling her what she was, Amber hadn’t mentioned it again. Hadn’t hit Seila with the usual barrage of questions: Where did her wings and sword come from, and where did they go? Why did her eyes glow crimson when she killed demons? What was a Phantom?
Seila had explained it so many times to so many people that she was sick of her own voice. She didn’t have all the answers, anyway, and was tired of telling people that.
But Amber wasn’t the usual human.
At most, Amber had tutted about the state of Seila’s clothes, and given her the pick of her wardrobe to freshen up after the fight. Seila had agreed because her clothes were little more than rags, torn and bloodied from her numerous fights, and because Amber wasn’t as irritating as most humans were. Which was unsurprising. She was an Elemental, not a human.
Perhaps not a very good one, though, if she’d been attacked by a Soul Eater and hadn’t realised.
Amber paced a lot. She clutched her steaming mug of tea as though her life depended on it, and lingered near the newly reopened balcony door, awaiting her brother’s arrival after their hurried phone call had abruptly ended. She looked at her hands again, as if to make sure they were there, then glanced outside. She pulled her lilac robe tighter around her shoulders.
An owl hooted loudly outside, the only noise in an otherwise quiet night.
When Seila emerged from Amber’s bedroom wearing a black tank top and leggings to match, the clock on the wall beside Amber’s fridge showed the time as nearly 2am. The bottom half of the clock looked like it had melted at some point, the lower numbers blurred almost beyond recognition.
Amber saw Seila stare and followed her gaze. ‘Dali.’
Seila raised an eyebrow. She had no idea what that meant.
Amber let go of her mug with one hand and opened her palm. ‘Wasn’t me, promise. It’s supposed to be like that. That’s how I bought it. Salvador Dali made art like that.’
Seila nodded. She had no idea who Salvador Dali was—didn’t particularly care, if it didn’t pertain to hunting demons—but she understood that Amber hadn’t melted it herself.
That was reassuring.
Even if she wasn’t a very good Elemental, at least she was a well-controlled one.
Amber took a sip from her mug and resumed pacing. When she next glanced out the balcony door, a smile lit her eyes. ‘He’s here.’
Seila looked up at Amber’s announcement.
Amber flicked the kettle back on, then hur
ried over to the door to her apartment, opening it before Damon had even reached the top of the stairs.
When he appeared a few moments later, Seila immediately saw the resemblance between them. Both had auburn hair, though Amber had more brunette in it and Damon had more red, and they both had the same sharp, green eyes, and round jaw. Damon wore an old, coffee-stained grey t-shirt and dark cargo trousers, clearly what he’d thrown together in haste at being woken up in the middle of the night, and his hair desperately needed a brush.
He hugged Amber immediately, rubbed her shoulders, and pressed his forehead against hers. ‘You sure you’re all right?’
Amber nodded and stepped away. ‘I didn’t want to tell you too much over the phone. Didn’t want to scare you.’
Damon shook his head. ‘A phone call at half one in the morning telling me a demon was here is always gonna scare me!’
‘Well, it didn’t hurt me. It’s gone now,’ Amber replied. She looked back out the open balcony door.
Damon glanced around at what was left of the mess in the apartment. Amber had put the books and vases back, but the pictures were still hanging off their nails, and there was still debris and a bit of broken glass on the floor. ‘Looks like a bloody hurricane swept through here!’ He crossed over to the balcony door, pulled it to, but not shut. For a long while, he peered through the gap he’d left. ‘How can you be sure? You know what they’re like. What if it comes back and tries again?’
‘It’s definitely gone. Seila saved me.’
‘Who on earth is Seila?’
Seila lifted her chin. ‘I am.’ She was a little insulted that Damon hadn’t even noticed her, but he was clearly bursting with concern for his sister.
Both siblings faced her. Damon look her up and down, then his eyebrows creased. ‘How did you know?’
Seila tilted her head. ‘Know what?’
