Page 231 of Evil Hearts

Chapter Two

Skia

W atching Lord Prōto as I tell him about my last soul assignment, I catch the moment his temper rises. “You are telling me three men killed this Jarrod, and you just watched from the shadows?”

“Yes, I did. At first I thought they were humans and I know the law on revealing myself to a human I’m not assigned to end.”

Prōto looks very much like a human with jet black hair and eyes dark as coal. He reminds me of a biker. From his leather pants and half buttoned shirt, to the biker boots he wears. It’s the two-foot long twisted horns and the spiked our-foot long tail that shows he is not, in fact, human. The black feathered wings he rarely shows remain hidden. I have only seen them a handful of times in my long demon life, and I’m the closest demon to him. Yes, he has concubines, but they NEVER see his wings, no one does. They remind him of his angelic life, even now as black as they are, save the tips. They look as if they have been dipped in blood. He despises them.

He raises an eyebrow. “What do you mean… thought ?” He emphasizes the last word. His legs rapidly drop to the floor as he places his feet back on the throne room floor.

How do I explain a feeling? “Their actions and from how they were dressed, I thought them humans, so I stayed hidden. However, when they cost me my kill, I stepped out of the shadows. My anger got the best of me.” Bowing my head in shame, I wait for Lord Prōto to deal out punishment. One rule was given to me and I faithfully follow it. No one sees me. That’s part of why I am a shadow. To ensure my true form is hidden, a ghost you could say.

“Hum, go on.” He reclines back in his throne, crossing his right leg over his knee, careful not to wrinkle his leathers, and sips his blood wine.

Taken aback, it takes a minute for me to tell him more. I’m not sure if it’s out of fear or shock, though. “The moment I spoke, they saw me, and then one attacked me. His hand went through my shadow but… it caused an odd tingling in me I can’t explain. Then there were their auras. It was like looking at pure sunshine and the power I felt. It was not evil or good.”

Lord Prōto stops mid drink. “Can you see my aura, Skia?”

Such an odd question, but when he gets up and walks to me, I notice sunshine, but hazy and muddied. My eyes go wide. “You appear… it’s sunshine, but hazy, as if covered by smog. Your power, not good or evil. It’s as if they are like you, but you are… unique. How can this be, my Lord?”

Lord Prōto grins an evil grin. “Because, child, they are like I was once. They are angels who jumped from heaven. I’m more interested in how you can see us, though?” “What do you mean, my Lord? I can see auras in all creatures and know their type.” I know I’m looking at him like he grew another head, but I’m confused.

He sits back down. “Because Skia, angels don’t have an aura per se. Only fallen ones do, and they don’t show as sunshine, or shouldn’t. Only one who jumps does, and until this moment… I was the only fallen to jump.”

My eyes go wide. “You mean they are like you? But why now? You jumped so long ago… I’m sorry, my Lord, I don’t mean to pry.”

He chuckles with a deep, booming laugh. “It is all good, Skia. Yes, it’s been eons since I jumped. What’s worse is there’s only one place to jump from, and it was destroyed the day I jumped. So how and who these three are… you must find out.”

“As you wish, my Lord, but what if they attack me again? They are powerful. I felt their power when the one swung at me.”

“You’re female, use that to your advantage. Fallen, if not evil, they will hesitate before they harm a female. From what you told me, they are not evil… yet. Now go, you need to feed. See the assignment board for your next meal, and with any luck, they will show up again.”

Bowing, I then leave the throne room and make my way to the naming board to pick my next meal. This board holds a list of humans to be turned or for feeding. For me, I go right to the list of crimes. There… Jones is a pedophile. He has harmed young girls for years and is out on bail.

Looks like it’s time to feed, and maybe catch myself some fallens.