The Magic Of Betrayal

by Britt Andrews

  "Sup, Scorch? Burn anyone up lately? I'm itching for a fight." I pinned him with a stare and he grinned. He was just as sick of a fucker as I was; he wasn't fooling me.

  "Been too long, man. Don't talk about it, makes my fingertips burn," he bantered back, leaning forward in his seat, resting his elbows on his knees, and flicking his fists open to release a flame on each tip of his finger.

  "Don't burn anything, Saige will kill us. Or Gran will," Fischer piped up, sitting down with a bottle of water.

  "Saige is Laura's daughter, yeah? And Gran is her grandmother?" I questioned, piecing together the information from Khol and the little tidbits I was getting from the guys.

  A growl rumbled from the kitchen and I directed my attention to Kaito, who was getting snacks or some shit. The guy was always eating, or preparing shit to eat.

  "Who pissed in his kitty litter?" I asked the room as a whole and Sloane chuckled, "Okay, you guys are wound tighter than a virgin's butthole, what the hell is going on?"

  Cam spoke first, unsurprisingly, seeing as how he was their leader and everything.

  "Saige is ours," he said simply, crossing his arms over his chest.

  "Let's clear the air right now, shall we?" I held my hands out in front of me, "I have no interest in Saige. First of all, I'm here to do a job, and you guys know damn well I'm celibate. Not to mention, I have my eye on a little witch named Goldie. She’s the most beautiful woman in all the realms and that’s where my focus is, aside from this assignment. Second of all, we've been working together for how long now? You know I'd never do any of you dirty, I've always had your backs. Now, let's just focus on completing this mission so we can move on with our lives. I don't want to be here long, I have more... pressing matters."

  Kai sauntered into the living room, moving with a grace that only a cat boy could pull off. "Well, the problem is you haven't met her yet. She's..." He sighed, dropping onto the rug, his legs crossed as he stared off into the distance.

  "Okay, lover boy. I see you've got it bad this time, but for real, I'm not interested. Even if she had fourteen karat gold nipples and a diamond studded vagina, not gonna happen."

  Fischer choked on his drink and Sloane slapped him on the back a few times, everyone seeming to be much more at ease now that they'd hypothetically pissed all over this poor woman in a show of alpha dominance that I could appreciate. I'd do the fucking same to anyone who ever got near Goldie, and I still had her lover to fight. Oh, I couldn't wait for that day. She'd see my physical prowess and fall in love with me so hard.

  "We're actually headed over to her house in about an hour or so, if you wanna come hang out?" Fischer offered, but I shook my head.

  "Thanks, man, but I think I'm going to go get the lay of the land, stretch my legs a bit." I'd jumped the main distance of the trip here, but since the guys didn't know I was a demon, I'd rented a car in Kingstown and drove over from there, but the leg stretching suited my excuse for not wanting to go watch them drool over Khol's daughter.

  And I wanted to go out into town and explore a little, not only was that ingrained in my head from all the training I’d gone through, there was too much energy buzzing through my bones for me to be able to sit still for any length of time. Plus, the sooner this shit was over, the sooner I could find my saucy redheaded warrior woman.

  From what I'd seen so far, this was an odd town. The people who lived here were strange, and that's saying something coming from someone like me. When I'd arrived at the apartment, I felt the stares from across the street, two women dressed like it was tea time with the Mad Hatter were eyeballing me so fucking hard I gave them a wink and pushed my glasses up my nose as they returned the wave, giggling and whispering to each other.

  I was effectively disguised as my earth side alter ego, Johnny Carson. There weren't a ton of demons residing earth side, but it was just safer to have this glamour on the off chance a rogue demon did recognize me. Being the heir to the demon throne was reason enough for a lot of these demons who had a bitter taste in their mouths from my father's rule to try to kill me. Not that they'd succeed, but whatever. I was still sexy as shit in this form.

  Heading to the right out of the apartment, I passed by the magic shop that was named The Mystical Piglet. Interesting name choice, I like it. I'm going to have to check that place out tomorrow, maybe there's some goodies in there I can pick up for my love.

  Up next was a crystal shop that looked quaint and appeared to be more jewelry like than the crystals I’d spotted in the window of the magic shop next door. I’m going to have to check these places out tomorrow, and I had seen a bookstore that was on the opposite side of The Mystical Piglet. I did love some good books. Mainly ones that talked about war and murder, shit like that, although, I had been meaning to pick up The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe ever since I'd googled Aslan when Goldie said she was trying to meet up with him in the wardrobe in the throne room. I admit, I'd felt like an idiot when I realized he wasn't her boyfriend, but a fictional lion. Regardless, I wanted to see why she was trying to meet him.

  Hitting the corner, I took a right and strolled down the mostly vacant sidewalk. This town was cute. A word I rarely used, but it was the best one to describe it. Emerald Lakes had a total European feel that reminded me of a small city center in The Netherlands. Brick businesses pressed up against one another, making use of every square inch of space available. I wonder if Goldie's ever been to Europe, I'd like to fuck her at the top of the Eiffel Tower.

  My body jolted to the side as someone bumped into me. It was my own fault, not having been paying attention with visions of my woman spread eagle for me with Paris as the backdrop.

  "Whoa there, big boy," the guy who ran into me cautioned.

  My eyes widened as I took in his appearance. He had a curly ass mullet that I hadn't seen the likes of since nineteen eighty five and was absolutely rocking a strapless terry cloth romper. By the light of Jupiter's cock, I seriously hoped he tucked his shit into his waistband because otherwise, someone was going to be playing one eyed peek-a-boo as soon as he sat down.

  "Apologies, I wasn't paying attention to where I was walking," I replied, holding out my hand to greet him.

  "Ah yes, I can see the stars in your eyes. Lucky lady... or guy?" He shook his head and smiled, sliding his hand into mine with a firm grip. "I'm Roger. Welcome to Emerald Lakes."

  "Nice to meet you, Roger, but how do you know I'm new here?" I questioned, my eyebrow lifting in question.

  He barked a laugh like I was a dipshit. "Everyone knows everyone here, and I would have remembered seeing such a striking specimen."

  Well, shit.

  "Right, well, thanks for the welcome party. I'm off to explore. See ya around, Roger." I backed away from him before shit got even weirder. I'm a crazy bastard, but something told me that guy could give me a run for my money. The crazy lived in his eyes.

  The wind was picking up and I pushed my hair back off my forehead, but I caught a scent on the air that had me stiffening. All of me. My demon dick included. Gods, I must have really been having withdrawal because I could smell her. My heart ached in my chest as I thought of how badly I wanted to see her again. Following her pretend scent, I stood in front of a grocery store called Dinner Thyme. I chuckled, able to admit to myself it was a good pun.

  There was a bench in front of the store and I figured I might as well take a few moments to survey the townspeople some more, there was much more to them than met the eye. Step one on a new assignment was always to stake out the location and get a feel for the people in the area. Passing by a pastel blue bicycle, I glanced down and saw a white fox snoozing in the wicker basket attached to the handlebars. Hmm, I didn't think that type of animal was common in this realm, or at least in this particular area.

  Sitting down on the wooden bench, I was going to try to bribe the stars to give me what I desired most. It had been a while and I wasn't exactly what one would call a good boy, but I was desperate.

  Oh mighty stars
above, you sent me a beautiful witch to love.

  Now I'm alone, no witch to bone.

  I’m not sure why I’m trying to rhyme, on this bench outside of Dinner Thyme.

  I’ve been a bad boy, but it’s not my fault I love to destroy.

  Please Fate, you sparkly bitch, give me back my Goldie witch.

  Amen.

  Do you say amen after something like that? Seems appropriate. Respectful. Nodding to myself, I felt certain that the universe would hear my plea.

  A clicking sound ended my thoughts and prayers session and I cracked an eyelid just as the white fox hopped out of his basket, following a woman who had hair the exact same shade and style as—

  What the fuck? My eyes dropped down to her ass, and that was literally all the confirmation I needed. Bleeding hearts and stars unite! Standing abruptly, I almost called out to her, but then I remembered that she wouldn't recognize me in this form, and what was she doing in this town of all the stars damned places? Her scent was hitting me like a freight train but there was sadness radiating off of her from the way her shoulders were hunched and her head down.

  Who hurt her? I'd crack their chest like a crab leg and peel their ribs off of their spine one by one, I swear to Saturn... My brow furrowed as she hung a left and walked back toward the way I came. Where are you going, Goldie girl?

  Maintaining my distance, I walked along the opposite side of the street and watched as she stopped in front of The Mystical Piglet, tilting her head back to look up at the dark apartment windows above, the guys would be long gone by now. Stepping behind a large tree, I watched as she held her hand up to the door where it recognized her magical signature and opened.

  Just as I thought she was going to go inside, she whipped her head around and I wondered if she'd felt my presence as keenly as I was aware of hers. Is Goldie hiding something from me? That's not going to fly. Thankfully, I was already in my other form and I didn't want her knowing my true identity, oh no. I needed to see what she was up to here. Sending my powers out in a wave through my body, I made sure that my demon characteristics would be well concealed, even to another demon. My scent would be nothing more than Giorgio Armani.

  A bell chimed when I pushed through the door of the shop, her scent hitting me like a freight train. My nostrils flared, the desire to breathe in as much of that smell as I possibly could was riding me hard. Display shelves were set up to the right and a long wooden bar ran nearly the whole length of the store, with shelves rising to the ceiling and down to rows of drawers.

  Perhaps the most interesting thing was that Lizzo was blasting through surround sound speakers. Not seeing anyone, I made my way around the place, checking out what all was sold here. This was a typical magic shop, but it had more of a homey feel to it. Cozy, welcoming, like the owner had really poured their heart and soul into it.

  Nearing the back, there were strands of beads hanging in the doorway that probably led to the restroom. Since I was standing off to the side, she didn't see me when she walked through them and made her way to the front of the store, clutching a bottle of tequila in her hand.

  Clearing my throat at a pause in the music, she shrieked and swung the bottle in a wide arc, and I thanked the stars I hadn't been standing any closer or she'd have smashed me right in the head.

  "By the moon, you scared the shit out of me!" She held her palm over her heart, her face pale as a sheet of paper. Tilting my head to the side, I took a moment to really look at her face. She was upset, her eyes were a little red, and the parts of her face that weren't white as a ghost looked red, from tears or from washing her face. Why was my little warrior so sad? Was I going to have blood on my hands before the night was through? How is Goldie here before me? Fuck.

  "I'm sorry, I figured you didn't hear me over the music..." I trailed off, gesturing to the bumping bass and the lyrics filled with body positivity and women empowerment.

  Holding up a finger, she turned and walked back to the bar, killing the music with the flick of a button on a receiver that was on display between stacks of books. She put the tequila on the bar top, and gave me her full attention.

  "Sorry, but we're actually not open right now, I was just stopping in before heading home for the night. Needed to, uh, get a drink." She gestured to the tequila, looking slightly embarrassed.

  Unable to look away from her, I held her gaze as I approached the bar and pulled a stool back before sliding onto it, resting my arms on the smooth but worn bar top. "No worries, I'm new in town and I saw the lights on so I figured I'd just pop in and see what the place was like. Do you work here then?" I questioned. I was going to find out the answers to my questions and take advantage of her not knowing who I am.

  "Oh, well, welcome to Emerald Lakes, then. And yeah, you could say I work here. I own this store," she replied with a huff. She was definitely off from something that had happened, her usual sunshine demeanor was nowhere in sight. But how could she own this place? Khol's daughter owned the...

  Oh. Fuck it to hell. Fucking fuck all the fucks.

  "You okay, buddy? Need some water or something?" she asked hesitantly, and I swallowed down my demon that was awake and pissed. Like, big time pissed. He wanted nothing more than for me to flip her over this bar, hogtie her, and give her a lesson on what happened when you lied.

  Not responding, I reached for the liquor and popped the top. Her eyes widened as I lifted the bottle and took a swig. Shit, I'm going to need a lot more than a bottle of tequila to counter the level of fucked my mind had just gotten.

  "I'm good, you just remind me of someone," I rasped, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand.

  Taking the bottle back from me, she grabbed a couple shot glasses and poured us each one.

  "An ex?" she asked, tapping her fingers on the bar.

  "No. We haven't really labeled what we have yet. She's mysterious, and I just found out recently that she lies, too. Not sure where that leaves us," I replied, trying hard to swallow down the snark in my tone.

  "Well, fuck liars, and fuck exes. I know she's not your ex, but I'm saying fuck you to mine." She raised her glass and waited for me to do the same. We clinked glasses and threw our shots back with ease.

  "Is he the reason you were crying?" I bit out and she wiped at her cheeks, as if she could disguise the fact that she'd been crying. It was obvious.

  "Yeah. He's a dick. That's why I had Lizzo blaring, I needed some girl power to lift me up and remind me that I'm worth it. I've tried so hard to get over all of the psychological abuse that I went through for years with him, and I thought I'd been doing so well, but then all it takes is one encounter with him and I'm spiraling." She bit her lip, her eyes welling with tears and I couldn't handle that. Despite the fact that I was still livid with her, it was taking literally every ounce of willpower not to walk out of here right now and find that motherfucker.

  "Feel free to have another drink, sounds like he's a real gem.” I pushed the bottle closer to let her know I was serious before I continued. “So are you seeing anyone else?" I asked, because obviously I was a sick fuck who wanted to hear the words from her mouth.

  After pouring two more shots, she downed one and offered the other to me, but I held my hand up and shook my head no. I needed to keep my head right now, I couldn't get intoxicated around her, I didn't trust myself. No fuckin' way.

  She chuckled, "Yeah, actually. Three guys. Can you believe that?" She tossed her head back and laughed deeply, on the verge of hysteria.

  I didn't know what to say, so I just sat there like an asshole. This really complicated my plans for killing her boyfriend. Damn it all to hell.

  "It's still new, but damn, it's been great. They're all so wonderful, I'm not sure what will happen in the future though, because they're not from here either. They're in town on a long term business assignment. Well, it could be long term, but I guess technically it could end anytime. So who knows where that will leave me at the end?" She sobered at that thought and clearly didn't like the taste
of that reality so she quickly took the third shot.

  "How are you getting home?" I asked quietly.

  "Home? Oh shit! What time is it– oh moon maidens, I'm so rude, I forgot to ask your name. I'm Saige, by the way." She held her hand out for me to shake and I slid mine into hers with zero hesitation, watching the way her eyebrows lifted as our bond sizzled to life between our touch.

  Dropping my hand, I held my watch out for her to see. "Oh hell sticks, I've gotta get home."

  "I'm Johnny. Nice to meet you, Saige." I answered her question as she bustled around the space, distracted.

  "You'll have to come by again when we're open and I can show you more of what I sell here. Damn, I'm going to be in a lot of trouble, my phone is dead." Holding it up, she showed me the black screen before shoving it into her backpack.

  "Let me give you a lift home. It's dark out now and with your ex being in the area, I'd feel better about giving you a ride. I'm parked out front, do you live close?"

  She looked up at me, her big green eyes studying me, trying to determine if I was trustworthy or not.

  "It's just a two minute drive, would you mind? I'd really, really appreciate it! I left my bike at the grocery store, but I'm buzzing enough right now that I wouldn't want to drive it home anyway."

  This woman, I'd never wanted to punish someone as badly as I did her in this moment. She doesn't even know me and she's going to hop in my car? There's a team of fucking assassins living above her magic shop and she's banging seventy five percent of them, hell, probably one hundred percent for all I knew, her ex is out there causing a scene, and she's just going to accept my good guy vibes? I'm not a good guy. I'm a fucking demonic asshole and my hands were itching to slap the hell out of her ass.

  "I'll go start the car. Just come out when you're ready." I had to get some air before I did something unsavory.