04

The boat docked at the edge of Devil Town with a dull thud, ropes tossed over iron cleats.

The city stretched out before her. Cobblestone streets wound between buildings of red brick and gray stone, some three or four stories tall, others shorter with tiled roofs. The windows had dark wooden frames and weathered green shutters. A few Gothic towers rose here and there, but nothing dramatic. Just the kind you'd see in Ghent or Bruges.

Gas lamps flickered on as evening fell, lighting the main streets where people did their daily shopping. There were markets with canvas awnings, a bakery with the smell of fresh bread, a tavern with laughter spilling from its open door.

Despite its name, Devil Town wasn’t dead. Quite the opposite. The streets were full of movement; people, or what passed for people here, going about their routines. A tall creature with raven wings folded against his back swept the front of his bookshop. A dog-headed demon in an apron kneaded dough through the bakery window. A trio of imps clambered over a statue in the square, laughing in shrill voices. A serpentine woman with scales instead of skin and no legs slithered between customers, carrying a basket of herbs.

It was a city that worked. It had functioning shops, clean streets, and even a flower market. It's just that all the residents happened to be demons who'd decided to live normal lives.

She stepped off the boat, her boots clicking against the worn wood of the dock.

Ain landed beside her, stretching. His violet eyes gleamed with amusement. "Ah, Devil Town. Home sweet home." He turned to Juno, noting her unease with a smirk. "Don’t look so scared. I’ll make sure you don’t end up a snack."

She tried to ignore the way the air felt drier, almost metallic. Her gaze flicked back to the boat, and her brow furrowed.

Gin hadn’t moved.

He still sat near the edge, elbows on his knees, fingers curled tight. He was watching the city, his jaw was locked, and something was wrong in the way he sat. Like he was holding his breath.

Juno took a step back toward the boat. "Aren’t you coming?"

Gin’s eye shifted to her briefly. There was something hollow behind them, a thought he hadn’t voiced. Then came the reply, low and reluctant: “I’m not coming with you.”

Juno’s stomach twisted. "What? Why not?"

His eye darted away, jaw tight. He’d been distant, unreadable, but now there was something else.

“Trust me,” he murmured, finally meeting her gaze. “You’re better off without me.” His eye held hers long enough to make her doubt everything she thought she understood about him. Then he looked away again, like he’d already left. “Stick to the main roads. Don’t talk to anyone unless you have to.”

Her hands curled at her sides. “I don’t get it,” she said. “You handled that demon like it was nothing. And now you’re staying behind?”

It didn’t add up. He didn’t look afraid, but something was definitely keeping him here, and he wasn’t saying what that was.

He didn’t answer right away. His jaw clenched, his eye distant. And when he did speak, the words came flat, like he was building a wall between them brick by brick.

“The deal was to get you here. Nothing more.” he said, his voice flat.

For a second, she almost said something, almost fought back. But whatever was behind his eye stopped her cold. There was no satisfaction in the way he said it. Gin turned away, walking back toward the boat’s cabin. The door creaked shut behind him, the sound far too quiet for the weight it carried.

Juno stood there, staring at the door. The unease she’d felt before now tightened even more. Something was definitely stopping him from stepping onto Devil Town’s soil.

Ain let out a theatrical sigh beside her. "Well, there he goes, being all mysterious again." He flicked his tail, shooting her a playful glance. "Looks like it’s just you and me, Juno. Try not to enjoy it too much."

But Juno didn’t move.

Her feet betrayed her before her mind noticed, carrying her back across the dock, up to the cabin door. She raised her hand and hesitated, knuckles hovering just inches from the wood. The silence inside pressed out like a held breath.

"Gin," she called softly. No answer.

She exhaled, the sound too loud in the quiet. “I don’t know what your deal is, but…” Her fingers brushed the door, lingering. “I appreciate what you did, earlier.” Her voice lowered. “You didn’t have to help me, but you did. You saved me back there… just thought you should know.”

For a moment, she just stood there, caught between hoping he’d say something and knowing he wouldn’t. Then her hand dropped. She turned back, heart tight in her chest.

Ain was waiting where she’d left him, perched on the edge of a low post, tail flicking lazily. He tilted his head, one brow lifted. “That was cute.”

Juno gave him a glare, but it barely held. “Shut up.”

He grinned, hopping down beside her. “Come on, rookie. Before something decides you look edible.”

She followed him, boots tapping against the stone.

Ain moved like he belonged, weaving through the growing crowd without pause. Juno tried to match his pace, tried not to stare. But it was impossible not to.

She saw demons up close now, some stared at her, others seem to want to smell her. However, none of them actually got close.

And that’s when she saw them; a cluster of small, black creatures. They looked like children at first, but then they twitched with movements that didn’t quite belong to flesh, their bodies stitched with gaps and eyes. One stared directly at her with far too many pupils.

Juno swallowed, kept walking, trying not to stare much.

Ain noticed where her gaze had landed. “Those little guys… what do you think they are?”

Juno blinked, pulled from her thoughts. She looked back at the creatures; twitching, lurching things that barely seemed to register the world around them. "I... don’t know," she murmured. “They’ve got too many eyes. And they’re... falling apart. Some look like they’re not even real. Just... soft. It’s like they’re barely even there."

Ain let out a short laugh, low and humorless. “Yeah. That’s what happens when humans lose it. When they die weak, scared, clinging to nothing. They rot into those things. No mind, no soul, just instinct and sadness wrapped in skin."

Juno stared harder at the creatures. The way they shuffled. The vacant way they looked around, like they didn’t even know they were being watched.

“…They were people once?” she asked, her voice small.

Ain glanced sideways at her, one ear twitching. "Mmhmm." He paused, tail flicking with dark amusement. "But hey, could be worse. You could turn into a fish and end up in some human girl's stomach."

The silence that followed was thick. Juno's mouth felt dry, her stomach lurching as she remembered the taste of scales, the moment she'd realized what she'd eaten. "That's... horrifying."

Ain noticed her reaction, and for a split second, his smirk softened. It was subtle but enough to catch her off guard. "I know."

The words lingered between them as they walked on in silence.

“So… these creatures,” she began, her voice low, almost apologetic, as if the question might summon something best left unspoken. “They don’t ever get better? Regain their minds?”

"Pretty much," Ain answered, his voice still carrying that same casual edge. "The stronger ones, though—they were humans too. The more human a demon looks, the stronger and smarter they are." He paused, glancing at her as if testing her reaction.

Juno’s stomach churned. "It’s just... horrifying, to think about. Losing yourself like that. To become a creature, mindless, with no control over your own life. How does someone avoid that?"

Ain turned his gaze to her fully, his violet eyes catching hers with an unsettling intensity. A strange, unnerving smile spread across his feline face, one that didn’t quite reach his eyes. Juno slowed her pace, instinctively taken aback by the shift in his expression.

"Making a pact is an option," he said, the words almost too smooth, too calculated.

Her throat went dry. A tight lump formed in her chest as silence fell between them. Juno’s thoughts raced, a pact? She had made one, yes, but the weight of it now felt different. Before, it had been a means to survival, but now... now it seemed like something she wasn’t fully aware of when she agreed.

Her mind flinched back to that moment. She hadn’t been in the right state of mind then, not fully aware of what it meant, or what he could do with her. What if it was all part of some manipulation? What if she had given him control over her without realizing it?

The doubt gnawed at her insides, tightening her chest as the sense of unease grew.

Ain didn’t press. He just kept walking, letting the silence stretch, as if waiting for her to piece it together on her own.

She wanted to speak, to ask him what exactly the pact meant, what he wanted from her, but the words refused to leave her mouth. Would he even tell her the truth?

Then Ain’s voice cut through her spiraling thoughts, light and casual again.

“Come on,” he said, motioning ahead with a flick of his tail. “Let me show you the sights.” His tone was bright, but there was something in it that didn’t sit right.

He pointed toward a heavy, crooked building with dark red lanterns glowing in its windows. “That’s the Devil’s Tavern. You want a drink, they’ll give you something strong enough to erase your name.”

He turned toward a crumbling archway across the street. “And that? That’s the Infernal Market. You can find anything there. Anything. Just… depends on what you’re willing to trade.”

Juno nodded absentmindedly, her mind still tangled in the mess of Ain’s words about pacts and demons. She tried to focus on the world around her but her thoughts kept drifting back.

She didn’t notice that Ain had stopped until his voice cut in, low and clipped.

“Uh-oh,” he muttered, his violet eyes narrowing as he sniffed the air, his little nose twitching slightly.

Juno snapped back to reality, her heart skipping a beat. She followed his gaze, searching for the cause of his sudden tension. "What’s going on?"

Ain didn’t answer immediately. His tail flicked with a quick, sharp movement, a sign of irritation or maybe even concern. “Something's off.” His eyes shifted, scanning the alleyways and corners of the street.

She took a cautious step closer. “What is it?”

Without another word, Ain slipped into the shadows, blending effortlessly. His voice floated back to her, a low whisper that only she could hear: “Stay close.”

Juno’s pulse quickened as she followed him. Whatever was happening, it was far from the casual sightseeing she’d hoped for. Her thoughts raced, but she forced herself to focus on the present.

“Looks like we’ve got some unwanted attention,” Ain muttered.

The thought of being protected by a cat of all things felt unsettling, but Juno didn’t have time to question it. She instinctively stepped behind him, her heart pounding in her chest as her eyes flicked around. The street seemed deserted, yet an undercurrent of danger crackled in the air. The moment she took a step forward, a group of demons poured from the alley ahead.

They weren’t fully human, Juno could see that clearly. Some were grotesque, misshapen with strange limbs and jagged teeth. But one of them, the one who stepped forward, was disturbingly close to a human. Black horns jugged from his skull, long golden hair tied low, covering pointy elven ears. But the most terrifying part about him wasn't the obvious demon features, but his golden piercing eyes locking on hers, slit pupils dilating slightly as he drank her in.

“Move, kitty,” he sneered, pushing Ain aside with ease before stepping into Juno’s personal space.

Her breath hitched, her mind racing for something, anything, to say. “What do you want?” she demanded, stepping back, but he kept closing the space between them.

The demon’s smirk deepened, revealing sharp fangs. “I could ask you the same thing, human,” he drawled, his clawed hand grabbing her face, tilting it up to meet his gaze. “What’s a little thing like you doing in Devil Town?”

Ain hissed, swiftly standing again, his tail flicking in agitation. “Back off, Sereph. She’s with me.”

Sereph laughed, a low, mocking sound that echoed in her ears. “Oh, is she now? Funny, I didn’t think you had a taste for humans, cat.” She tried to move but he twisted her face sideways, enjoying how malleable she was, his eyes narrowing as he inhaled deeply. “But it’s not just her scent that’s intriguing. She reeks of… Gin.”

There was a twitch in Ain’s tail as he heard Gin’s name.

Juno’s breath caught in her throat. Gin? What? Her gaze shot to Ain, confusion twisting inside her chest. “What do you mean?” she asked, the question slipping out before she could stop it.

Ain’s expression soured, his violet eyes flashing with irritation. He growled, his voice low. “Don’t listen to him.”

Sereph's hand let go of her cheeks, but his piercing gaze never left Juno. “Oh, you really don’t know? That man you were with—he’s not exactly popular around here. In fact, he’s got more enemies than friends. And now, you’re carrying his scent.”

Juno’s thoughts scrambled, but all she could manage to ask was, “Why does it matter?” Her voice trembled despite her attempt to sound calm, her hands clenching into fists at her sides.

Sereph chuckled darkly, his voice laced with contempt. “You’re tangled up with someone dangerous, girl. And now you’re a target.”

Ain’s eyes narrowed. “I would mind your own business if I were you.”

Sereph’s eyes flashed with irritation, his grin turning to something darker. “You think you scare anyone here, kitty?” He scoffed. “I think we would like to have a word with this girl.”

The other demons around them began to move, circling slowly, their eyes never leaving her. She felt her pulse quicken, the sensation of being prey pressing down on her. She swallowed hard, fighting the rising panic in her chest.

Before Juno could react, Sereph’s hand shot out, grabbing her arm with an iron-like grip. His fingers dug into her skin, sending a jolt of panic through her chest. She tried to yank her arm away, but his hold was unyielding, like he had no intention of letting her go.

Ain lunged at Sereph, claws unsheathed, but another demon materialized out of nowhere, slamming into him and sending the cat tumbling to the ground. “Damn it!” Ain hissed, struggling to regain his footing, but the demon had already pinned him down, his weight making it impossible for Ain to escape.

Juno’s heart raced as she watched Ain squirm beneath the demon's grip. She clenched her jaw, her frustration rising. Her eyes darted back to Sereph, her mind frantic as she searched for a way out.

Sereph smirked down at her, enjoying her helplessness. “Oh, and bring the cat with us too,” he sneered, his eyes glinting with amusement. Without hesitation, he motioned for another demon to grab him, and the demon obeyed, reaching down and seizing Ain by the neck. He growled, struggling fiercely, but the demon’s grip was unrelenting, choking off his air.

“Let him go!” Juno shouted, panic creeping into her voice. She twisted in Sereph’s hold, his grip tightened, dragging her along.

The air around her felt suffocating, as if the very streets of Devil Town were closing in. Every step they took into the darkened alleys made her heart pound harder, the weight of fear and helplessness pressing down on her chest. She cursed herself inwardly. This was the last thing she wanted, being dragged through the streets, unable to defend herself or help Ain.

Her gaze shifted back to him, who was being hauled behind her. His violet eyes met hers, filled with a mixture of defiance and concern. He didn’t want her to see him like this, vulnerable and helpless.

But Juno couldn’t ignore the way his eyes burned with determination, even as the demon’s grip squeezed tighter around his neck. She couldn’t afford to let herself break down. She had to stay focused. She couldn’t let this be the end of her story, not after she had defeated death twice already.

"Where are you taking us?" Juno asked, her voice steady despite the storm of panic inside her.

Sereph didn’t answer right away. Instead, he let out a low chuckle, savoring her unease. “You’ll find out soon enough, human.”

After what felt like an eternity, they finally arrived at a dilapidated house on the outskirts of Devil Town. The structure loomed in the darkness. Its windows were boarded up, the edges of the wood splintering, and its walls were covered in thick, creeping vines.

As the demons dragged them inside, a sense of dread slammed into Juno’s chest, settling heavily in her stomach. The interior was no better than the exterior, drenched in shadows and suffocatingly dark. Faint light from a single, flickering bulb barely illuminated the dust-filled air.

They were taken upstairs down a narrow, crooked hallway that groaned underfoot with every step. The floorboards creaked as if they were protesting the weight of the situation. Juno’s breath quickened, but she kept her posture straight, even though she felt like a small, insignificant piece in a game she didn’t understand.

Finally, they reached a room at the back of the house. The door creaked open, revealing a cold, empty space. The room was shrouded in darkness, save for a faint sliver of light filtering through a small window high up on the wall. The walls were cracked and peeling, and the air was thick with dust.

Sereph shoved her inside, sending her stumbling forward. She barely managed to catch herself, her knees threatening to buckle. Her arm throbbed where he had gripped it, but she forced herself to stay standing, ignoring the sting. She rubbed her arm gently, trying to soothe the pain, but her mind was too consumed with the bleak reality of their situation to focus on anything else. Her chest had started to hurt as well.

Sereph’s voice rang out behind her, cold and devoid of any empathy. "Stay here," he ordered, his tone as sharp as a blade. "I’ll be back for you soon enough."

The door slammed shut with a final, echoing thud, leaving her alone in the suffocating darkness. Her heart pounded in her chest, the silence amplifying every sound, the slow, steady beat of her pulse, the distant murmurs of the demons outside.

Juno took a step back, the cold air biting at her skin. What now? Her mind raced, the fear clawing at her throat. She couldn’t think of a way out. She was alone, separated from Ain, and she had no idea what they wanted with her.

She closed her eyes for a brief second, trying to center herself. I can’t break now. I need to stay strong. I need to figure this out. But the questions kept swirling, threatening to overwhelm her.

Her chest hurt slightly, a cruel reminder of how fragile her state was. She felt a cough build up but she managed to control it.

She tried to steady her breathing, but it was hard with every creak and groan of the house surrounding her.

Hours? Minutes? She couldn’t tell how long she had been sitting in that room before she heard the distinct sound of footsteps approaching. The door handle rattled softly, and Juno tensed, her back straightening instinctively.

The door creaked open, and Sereph stepped inside, his eyes gleaming with the same insidious amusement. He didn’t look as though he was in a rush. In fact, he took his time, letting the door swing open slowly as if savoring every moment.

“Ahh,” he sighed, taking a slow step toward her. “Quiet, isn’t it? Almost peaceful. But you don’t feel peaceful, do you?”

Juno said nothing. Her stare didn’t waver, but her body was tense.

Sereph’s smile widened at her silence. He moved closer, every step dragged, hands in his pants pockets. He didn’t need to speak, his presence alone suffocating her in ways she couldn’t explain.

And then, without warning, he leaned in, too close for comfort. His breath was warm against her ear as he inhaled deeply, his sharp eyes glinting in the dim light.

“Mmm...” He murmured softly, as if savoring the scent of her. “You really are something, aren’t you?”

Juno's body stiffened, and she took a step back, but the wall was right there, blocking her retreat. He tilted his head slightly, his smile shifting into something more... predatory.

“Strange,” he said in a voice that sounded almost sweet. “I’ve smelled plenty of humans before. But yours... yours is different. Stronger.” He inhaled again. “It’s almost intoxicating, really.”

Juno couldn’t suppress the shiver that ran down her spine. Her heart pounded in her chest as his words sank in. Stronger? What did he mean?

“What are you talking about?” she demanded, her voice unsteady, but she couldn’t quite hide the tension.

Sereph’s smirk deepened. He leaned in, his face inches from hers. Juno tried to look away, but his fingers caught her jaw, holding her still. His nails, just a little too sharp, pressed against her skin. “You carry something inside you, don’t you?” he continued, tilting his head slightly as if studying her. “Something hidden. Something… delicious.”

Juno tried to push him, but he didn't move. “Get off me,” she growled.

Sereph chuckled, amused by her defiance. "Oh, you’re feisty. That’s good." His thumb traced her bottom lip, slow enough to make her stomach twist. Then, like it was nothing at all, he let her go.

She exhaled sharply, heart pounding in her chest.

Sereph’s smirk didn’t falter. If anything, he looked even more pleased. "Don’t worry," he cooed. "I wouldn’t ruin anything just yet. No, no... I have plans for you."

He turned, strolling toward the door. Just before leaving, he cast her one last look over his shoulder. "I’ll be back soon, little human," he purred. "Try not to miss me."

Then, with a slow creak, the door shut, locking her back in the suffocating darkness. Juno stood frozen, her skin crawling where his fingers had touched. Her breath was uneven, but she forced herself to stay calm.