Demon's Wish

by Xenia Melzer

  “Data and Spock.” Jon’s voice was firm, if a bit hushed, as if he wasn’t sure if he wanted to be heard.

  “Guys, can we please stop with the Star Trek discussion or do I have to remind you of the great Avengers incident last summer?” Sammy carried a tray full of different beverages to the two tables in front of the counter. After some mumbled sentences that Dre was glad he couldn’t hear clearly, they all sat down on the couches. He made sure to be next to Sammy, casually putting an arm around his shoulders. With two virile werewolves in close proximity, he felt the need to stake his claim. Sammy didn’t seem to mind, so everything was fine.

  “Everybody, this is Dre, my boyfriend. Dre, you’ve already met Mavis and Maribell…and Jon. These are Amber, Emilia, Declan and Troy.” The introduction wasn’t really needed, since Dre had—with the exception of the werewolves—already figured out who was who, but he appreciated the formality. It made everything appear more civilized, which was important when so many different paranormals met.

  Dre nodded at each person. “It’s a pleasure meeting you all. Thank you for having me.”

  Declan grinned broadly. “I have a feeling you’d be here anyway. Nice meeting you. Please don’t go all demon on us.” The words sounded nonchalant, though Dre could feel the underlying tension. He decided to play with open cards.

  “Okay, here’s the deal. Whatever you’ve heard about demons is probably true. Whatever experiences you’ve had with demons, I sincerely apologize for the behavior of my kind. And let me assure you that I’m not here to blow a fuse then go on a rampage. I’m genuinely interested in Sammy, which should be no surprise to you, since you all surely know what a kind, caring and wonderful person he is. As his friends, I want to impress you somewhat badly, because if things work out the way I intend them to, we’re going to see a lot of each other.” He looked around, maintained eye contact with everyone in the group. For a moment, there was silence, until Mavis clapped her hands.

  “Well said, Dre. You get your chance—and not just because you provide some additional eye candy for my sweetheart and me.” Maribell leaned over to give her wife a kiss on the cheek.

  “What? Are we no longer good enough for you?” Troy threw his arms in the air.

  “Whatever makes you think we weren’t talking about you two?” Mavis winked at the two wolves. Declan pressed his hands to his heart as if he were mortally wounded.

  “Where’s the love, Mavis?”

  “Probably died a heroic death, just like Corum.” Sammy grinned. “Notice my subtle attempt at changing the topic?”

  “I thought we were having fun!” Amber grabbed a blueberry muffin from the tray on the Smaug and Drogon table and sniffed it with a dreamy smile. Sammy rolled his eyes.

  “You were arguing about Star Trek and making my boyfriend uncomfortable. How is that fun?”

  “As if you’ve never argued about geek trivia. That Avengers incident was because of your insistence that the Scarlet Witch could have wiped the floor with Thanos.” Amber crossed her arms, causing the countless amulets to jingle.

  A hard glint entered Sammy’s eyes. “I stand by that. If Mantis with her glowing feelers was able to enter Thanos’ mind, the Scarlet Witch should have had a field day with him.”

  “He’s right about that one, Amber. I think all the Avengers and their powers were downplayed in that film.” Troy snatched a chocolate chip muffin off the tray and polished it off with two bites.

  “I still hate that so many of them had to die. That’s just not how a superhero movie is supposed to end.” Jon looked at his lap while speaking.

  “Which brings us back to our initial topic.” Mavis smiled softly. “Heroes die all the time. We’ve seen that with Corum, Hercules, Beowulf, Siegfried and many others. Perhaps it would be interesting to look up at which point exactly mankind stopped killing their heroes and gave them sequels instead.”

  The others nodded. Dre thought about it for a moment. “You’re kind of right, Mavis. Though I do want to point out that the old heroes, like Hercules or Siegfried, have their sequels as well. They’re just packed into one huge tale. Or, in the case of Ulysses, two tales. We see them growing up and eventually dying in battle or by treason. I don’t think that’s too different from how humans treat modern heroes. They just have better CGI now.”

  “Well said, man!” Declan chuckled. “The question is, why do we expect our heroes to be a certain way? Is this something ingrained in the human psyche? Troy and I have found an article about how the need to paint things in black and white played a huge role when heroes were invented.”

  “I imagine things were definitely easier back then in terms of what your mind had to process. The world was a significantly smaller place, where often the village over the next hill seemed outlandish. I can see how people wanted their heroes to be clear-cut. Modern technology has robbed people of that narrow-mindedness, which is probably the reason why so many wish it to come back. It can be scary out there.” Sammy snuggled closer to Dre while saying this, and Dre pressed a kiss on his forehead.

  “I agree, mo grah thu. My father always says life was less complicated when he was young. More violent as well, though, which is the reason he’s glad those times are over. The way humans portray their heroes reflects how they’re coping with reality. I have to admit that I wasn’t overly impressed by Infinity War, but I had a feeling it was some kind of allegory. Humanity is now at a point where heroes are no longer enough to save the people. They have to be active themselves and that frightens them.”

  “You’re right, Dre, though I think it’s not just humans who have to take on a more active role. Change is never easy, and the way some people, namely my father, cling to the old just because it’s familiar is sad and infuriating at the same time.” Emilia took a sip from her coffee.

  “Preserving the old is not always a bad thing, dear, provided it’s only the good parts.” Maribell smiled at Mavis. “Without all those wonderful old spells, my wife and I would just be two helpless grandmas at the mercy of society.”

  Amber snorted. “As if. Nothing about you two is helpless. And I always thought witch magic doesn’t need any spells?”

  “It doesn’t. They just make it easier to focus. And I always liked babbling mysteriously in a foreign language. It’s all about setting the right mood.” Mavis winked and they all started to laugh. Dre found he liked Sammy’s friends a lot. After their initial wariness, they seemed to be accepting him just fine now, a show of trust he was determined not to disappoint.

  The discussion kept meandering around the general concept of the hero and the reasons for the changes for another hour until Amber announced she had to go because of another appointment. At this hour, it was probably one tied to her being a banshee, so nobody asked any questions. Since it was already past ten, the others left with her, after they had decided what book to read next. Since The Chronicles of Corum had sent them in the direction of strange creatures, they agreed to read H. P. Lovecraft’s Cthulu Cycle, along with The Witcher of Salem by Wolfgang Hohlbein. Dre found the idea great, because he knew H. P. Lovecraft had been friends with a demon and gotten many of his ideas for the Cthulu Cycle from her, though he would wait with divulging that piece of information until their next meeting. No need to spoil the fun.

  After Jon was back in his cellar and the others out of the door, Dre lifted Sammy into his arms and carried him upstairs. It was time for bed.

  Chapter Eleven

  “I think I’m going to be sick.” Sammy saw Dre raising his brows at his declaration.

  “I think you’re stealing my line here.” His huge demon boyfriend leaned over the table to press a kiss on Sammy’s forehead. It was Friday, the middle of their two-week dream, and Dre had finally declared Sammy to be ready to meet Barion, Dre’s younger brother. With the time for their visit drawing closer, Sammy got more and more nervous, while his respect for Dre grew exponentially. He was a wreck from the prospect of just meeting one member of Dre’s family. How Dre had m
anaged to face all of Sammy’s friends at once without biting his claws down to little stumps remained a mystery to Sammy.

  “Mo grah thu, see it like this. You’re going to be in a mansion dating back to 1163 in the very area where Vlad Dracul lived and fought the Turks.” Dre pulled Sammy into his lap, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “And I happen to know that Barion has this huge library with hundreds of old books, even though I doubt he has read many of them.”

  Sammy’s eyes lit up at these words. “Hundreds you say?” He bit his lip. “But isn’t it terribly impolite to visit him for his books?”

  “Mo grah thu, you’re a delight.” Dre kissed him deeply, which gave Sammy all kinds of ideas, none of which were feasible since they would be leaving—now, as a quick glance toward the clock told him.

  “I think we have to go now, Dre.” Sammy swallowed hard.

  Dre got up, not bothering to let go of Sammy, which Sammy appreciated greatly. He loved being held by Dre, his strength and warmth giving Sammy a feeling of belonging that he hadn’t felt since he’d lost his parents. His demon boyfriend sliced time and space with one of his lethal claws, and before Sammy could blink twice, they were standing in a stone hall with an impressive vaulted ceiling and a floor obviously made from antique wood. Still snuggled in Dre’s arms, Sammy looked around with huge eyes, drinking in the wonder of the mansion he was now in.

  A polite cough behind Dre had them both turning around. Sammy knew immediately he was looking at a sibling of Dre’s. Apart from the fact that they were supposed to visit his brother, the family resemblance was striking. Barion was blue where Dre was red, but his tattoos were of the same silver hue, he was as tall as Dre and he had similar facial features.

  “Hello, Barion. May I introduce you to Sammy?” Dre put Sammy on his feet while his brother approached them with a broad smile, showing all his gleaming teeth.

  “Hello, Sammy. It’s so good to meet you. I’ve never seen Dre so happy. I’m so glad you’re putting up with him.” Barion grabbed Sammy’s hand and shook it violently.

  “Hello, Barion. Nice to meet you too. And I’m not sure who is putting up with who. Dre is simply perfect.”

  “Aww, young love. You two are so sweet. Come on. Dinner is ready.” Barion hadn’t let go of Sammy’s hand and was now dragging him toward a doorway to the left.

  “You cooked?” Dre didn’t sound impressed, rather frightened if Sammy thought about it.

  “Don’t worry, big bro, I didn’t do it myself. I learned my lesson, though I do want to emphasize that it wasn’t solely my fault. There was something wrong with the recipe.”

  “Barion, we had to burn down the kitchen!”

  “How was I supposed to know that sugar could explode?” Barion sounded defensive, while Dre just rolled his eyes.

  “I have a friend you simply have to meet. Just promise me not to enter a kitchen with her.” Sammy smiled. He loved the playful banter between the brothers.

  “So where did you get the food?” They had reached a dining room with a huge round wooden table and heavy wooden chairs with thick, lime-green upholstery. While Sammy was busy staring at the stag skull that was plastered with what appeared to be emeralds and rubies, Dre turned to his brother.

  “I can’t tell you my sources, big bro. You should know that.”

  “Barion, who made the food? I’m not going to let Sammy eat something when I don’t know where you got it.”

  Barion made a face. “Fine, Mr. Overbearing. I went to Zenobia. Happy now?”

  Sammy saw Dre nodding and used the short silence to ask Barion about the stag skull. “Are those real gems?” He gestured toward the thing on the wall. Barion grinned.

  “Oh yes. I did that myself. I saw this piece by Damian Hirst, the human skull with the diamonds? Are you familiar with it?”

  When Sammy nodded, Barion went on. “When I moved here, I found this bag of emerald and ruby splinters and I thought it would fit perfectly to put them on the stag then hang him in the dining room. Very bohemian.”

  “It is.” Sammy nodded. It wasn’t something he would want to have in his own home, or Dre’s quaint little cottage, come to think of it, but it fit perfectly in this place. “I like the chairs.”

  Barion puffed his chest. “Also my idea. They used to be a boring red, you know—that brocade red that screams set of The Tudors without Jonathan Rhys Meyers as a counterweight to the feeling of moth balls. Don’t get me wrong, I like preserving the old, and I did a really good job with this building, even if I do say so myself, but when the old gets too boring or suffocating, it has to be dragged into the twenty-first century—kicking and screaming if necessary.”

  “Did you just quote Lord Vetinari from Discworld, albeit in a roundabout fashion?” When Sammy saw the confused look on Barion’s face, he had his answer.

  “I told you that Barion isn’t much of a reader. His forte is gaming—and TV series. He’s kind of an addict.” Dre winked at his brother.

  “Hence The Tudors reference.” Sammy grinned. “I have to admit that I’m not an expert in TV series, but I think I know my way around.”

  Barion pulled out one of the lime-green chairs. Sammy sat down and admired the perfectly set table with two different glasses, rows of gleaming cutlery and plates of the finest, pure-white china. “What’s your favorite series then?”

  Sammy thought about it while Dre sat down next to him and Barion vanished through yet another door into what had to be the kitchen. When Barion came back with a bowl of steaming Spaghetti Vongole and a small pot with what seemed to be the same green spread they had had on their first date in Rome, Sammy smiled happily while Dre handed him a piece of fresh ciabatta.

  “So, your favorite series?” Barion poured them water and red wine before he sat down. Sammy started putting some of the spread on his ciabatta.

  “There are a few, actually. My favorite feel-good series is Gilmore Girls.”

  Barion laughed. “I’m with you on that one. You gotta love women who watch an automatic vacuum at the same time in two different places. Something we should try sometime, big bro.”

  Dre made a face. “Is there a deeper meaning to it or is it just the sheer craziness of the idea itself?”

  “Hey, I like that idea.” Sammy glared at Dre. “Don’t go dissing Lorelai and Rory. They rock!”

  “Yeah, Sammy, show Dre who’s boss.” Barion grinned broadly while he took the spaghetti tongs and started serving them. “What other series do you like?”

  “The Big Bang Theory. Sheldon is a riot. Buffy, The Vampire Slayer, but without the season with Glory. That just wasn’t my cup of tea.”

  Barion shook his head. “I loved Buffy through seasons one to four. The rest I only watched because of Spike.”

  “Oh yes, Spike. I remember your strange obsession with him.” Dre chuckled. Barion shot him a nasty look.

  “Spike was great. That British accent paired with that platinum-blond hair and those cheekbones sharp enough to cut glass? I would have loved to get acquainted with him.”

  “You mean you would have loved fucking him through the mattress, little brother.”

  “Details, details.” Barion twirled some spaghetti with his fork. “What else, Sammy? So far, I want to praise you for your good taste.”

  Sammy grinned. “Let’s hope it stays that way. American Gods. I loved the book and I can’t decide who’s sexier, Ian McShane or Ricky Whittle.”

  “Is there something you want to tell me, mo grah thu?” Dre stole a mussel from Sammy’s plate. Sammy grinned and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.

  “Do not worry, my demon in shining red. None of them can hold a candle to you.”

  “That’s all I wanted to hear, mo grah thu.”

  “Bah, could you please stop with the sweetness? I’m trying to keep my meal down.” Barion’s voice was teasing, but when Sammy looked in his direction, he saw the pure longing in the demon’s eyes. His heart hurt for Barion, so he tried to distract him.


  “I’ve told you my favorite series. What are yours?”

  Barion shoved a fork of spaghetti into his mouth and chewed thoughtfully. “I’m a bit of a swing watcher and a sucker for everything fantasy or historical. So Game of Thrones and The Shannara Chronicles are high on my list, as well as Dr. Who. I can’t wait to see what Jodie Whittaker is going to do with the role.”

  “Yes, her taking over the role was quite the surprise.” Sammy nodded and saw Dre rolling his eyes. Dr. Who was so far one of the few things where they didn’t see eye-to-eye. Dre found the series terrible, while Sammy liked it well enough. And what would a relationship be without some friction here and there?

  They finished the delicious meal with easy chatter about TV series, games and actors, and Sammy was getting completely relaxed around Barion. Meeting the family wasn’t as bad as he’d thought.

  “Before we have our dessert, how about I give you a tour of the house? I’m very proud of it.” Barion sounded so eager, and Sammy couldn’t wait. All he had seen so far were the huge dining room and the hall leading to it.

  Since it was closest, they first went into the kitchen, which was an impressive mixture of old and new. Barion had kept the old fireplace, the massive pipes and broad chimney, as well as the brick construction, and had it all equipped with modern appliances. It was beautiful in a very big way, which made Sammy grateful for Dre’s more modest taste. He couldn’t imagine cooking in a kitchen like that. They toured the entire house, with the library coming last, at Dre’s insistence. When they entered the huge two-story room, Sammy knew why. There was no way he would be leaving here anytime soon.

  “Oh my God! It’s beautiful. Can I look around?”

  Barion nodded with an amused twinkle in his eyes. “Of course. Feel free to explore. To give you some time, how about Dre and I go and get dessert while you have fun in here?”

  Sammy looked at him wide-eyed. “You would leave me here alone?”