The sun had begun to sink behind the gray clouds, casting long shadows across the narrow street as Raymond made his way back to the house. His steps were slow, his thoughts tangled somewhere between the past and the faint whisper of unease that had followed him all day.
But then….he froze.
Someone was there.
At first, it was just a silhouette leaning against the far end of the alley, half hidden beneath the dim light. But Raymond's eyes sharpened. That aura… that heavy, suffocating energy—he knew it too well.
Yes, it was him.
A demon.
What was a demon like him doing here? They didn't just lurk among humans unless summoned, or sent. Either to protect a master's descendant… or to kill one.
Raymond's jaw clenched as a cold breeze brushed past him. He took a cautious step backward, his eyes never leaving the figure. The stranger lifted his head slightly, and for a brief moment, their eyes met—burning red and inhuman.
Something inside Raymond twisted.
This wasn't just any demon. This was one of theirs.
_._._
The demon chuckled, his voice slicing through the night like a blade.
"Rai'ven!!… Salve, frater obscurus. (Greetings, dark brother.) So this is how we meet again."
Raymond's jaw tightened.
"I'm Raymond," he snapped. "Don't call me by my demon name. This is the human world. We're not in the underworld."
Nagato's grin widened, cruel and knowing. He tilted his head, shadows swirling at his feet.
"Still pretending to be one of them, I see. How noble."
Raymond ignored the jab, his tone sharpening.
"Why are you here, Nagato? What do you want? Are you with us—or against us?"
The demon raised his palms lazily, feigning innocence.
"Brother… calm down."
His words slithered like smoke. "I'm only here to deliver a message. Something deep. Something intense. And it connects… with the one you're protecting."
At once, Raymond's expression hardened. The warmth of his human disguise faltered as his eyes darkened—an abyss swirling beneath.
"What message?" he demanded.
Nagato's grin faded. He took a step closer, the air turning cold.
"It can't be said here," he whispered, his voice almost reverent. "She's not just anyone, Rai'ven. Her blood calls to the dark. And to the dead."
_ _ _
"Her blood calls to the dark and to the dead."
"What are you talking about? What in the name of Lucifer are you talking about?" Raymond snapped, his voice laced with confusion and anger. At this point, he couldn't understand a word Nagato was saying.
He stopped at the corner of a dimly lit alley, running his fingers through his hair, trying to think straight. His breathing was uneven — half from rage, half from fear. "Could it be true?" he asked himself, his voice low and rough. "No… Amara can't be one of them. She's human. She's mine to protect."
Then a whisper slithered through his thoughts.
"Still doubting, brother?"
Nagato tilted his head slightly, his eyes glowing faintly. "Haven't you wondered why she sees demons even when they make themselves unseen?"
Raymond's jaw tightened. "What do you mean—demons?"
Nagato chuckled lowly, scratching the back of his neck before flashing that wicked yet beautiful grin again, showing off his perfectly defined dentition.
"Oh, come on. Don't play dumb. She saw you at the bar, didn't she?"
Raymond's silence was enough to answer.
"Exactly," Nagato said, stepping forward. "She's not supposed to. Humans can't. But her bloodline… oh, her bloodline is screaming, Rai'ven."
"Don't call me that!" Raymond barked. "It's Raymond. We're not in the underworld…I wouldn't warn you a third time."
"How long have you been lurking around her, Nagato?" Raymond's brows furrowed deeply, his tone sharp and accusing.
"Jeez, calm down," Nagato drawled, raising both hands mockingly. "I wasn't going to hurt her. I've just been... experimenting….taking notes." He replied, still keeping that mocking expression. "Remember when y'all were having your sweet breakfast? When her mood suddenly changed?" His lips curved into a sly smirk. "She sensed my presence… maybe even saw me. How did you not notice, brother?" His laughter dripped with sarcasm.
Raymond's flames roared alive, his aura bursting in fiery waves. "You're crossing the line, Nagato."
Raymond's expression hardened. "I can perceive her fragrance, Nagato. She's close. It's too risky to have such conversations here.
Oh!, relax," Nagato said lazily, though his own eyes flared briefly, their color matching that of a storm. "If I wanted her dead, she'd be gone before your little human heartbeat blinked."
"I'm afraid I might lose it and pick a fight with you. You're getting on my nerves." Raymond glared.
Nagato smiled, the little evening light reflecting on his perfect, wicked but yet beautiful face. "I wish we were alone… I miss our fights."
"Keep talking, and you'll get one."
Nagato chuckled. "Soon, Raven. Very soon. Meet me by one a.m., beyond the mortal veil. You'll get all your answers there."
He smiled again, that same wicked yet beautiful smile that always made Raymond's blood boil. Maybe it was because there was mockery hidden behind it.
Flames sparked within Raymond's eyes, burning brighter with each breath. His hands folded into heavy fists, and bursts of fireballs began to flicker and dance around his palms.
"You think this is funny?" Raymond growled.
"Everything is funny," Nagato replied, his voice smooth and deep. "Especially watching you pretend that girl hasn't awakened something dangerous in your insides."
Before Raymond could utter a word, Nagato vanished, his voice lingering in the air like smoke, leaving Raymond burning with confusion and fury.
Raymond clenched his fists tighter. Fury pulsed through him. "I can't go to the house this way... I need to calm my nerves…" he muttered through gritted teeth.
"URRGHHH!!! NAGATO!!!" he roared, the name echoing in his mind like a storm.
Almost instantly, the sky responded. A loud thunderclap shook the ground, followed by a flash of lightning. The rain poured heavily — soaking him to the bone.
He hated doing this, but this was the only way to calm his rage... under the rain.
_ _ _
The door creaked open, and Raymond stepped in, drenched from head to toe. His dark leather cloak clung heavily to his body, dripping small puddles onto the marble floor. He exhaled, long and tired, and kicked off his boots before hanging the cloak on the old wooden stand by the door. The faint scent of rain and smoke followed him inside.As he stepped inside, Chris looked up from the couch, his face lighting up with concern.
"Bro! Where have you been?" Chris rushed over, his voice full of worry. "You didn't tell me you weren't coming back earlier. You know I don't have your number! You should've called the home line. I was worried sick, and I was bored out of my mind!"
Raymond watched Chris, the little boy he takes as a younger brother as the complaints continued. In his mind, he imagined weaving one of his demon tricks into Chris's thoughts, creating scenarios of fun and laughter that had never happened since that morning when he had walked Amara to work. They'd shared meals, watched TV, worked on projects, and napped together. Just then, he pushed that thought away.
"If Amara isn't completely human, there's so much possibility that Chris isn't too. You shouldn't try using any demon tricks on him stupid". He thought to himself. He let Chris finish his rant, and once the words trailed off, Raymond sighed. "I'm sorry, Chris. I ran into an old friend, and lost track of time. But I'll make it up to you."
Chris raised an eyebrow, teasing. "Oh really? How are you gonna do that? Are you gonna turn back time?"
Raymond smiled and pulled out his phone, typing quickly before showing it to Chris. On the screen, a message popped up: "Your delivery is on its way." Chris's eyes widened as he saw the picture of a PS4.
"No way! Raymond, are you for real?" Chris exclaimed, his excitement bubbling over.
Raymond chuckled. "You know you can never stay mad at me for too long."
Chris grinned, still in awe. "I don't even know how to thank you, bro. This is amazing!"
Raymond just nodded. "Just know that I can do anything for you. Anything for you and Amara and you know that."
Chris paused, pondering the deeper meaning behind Raymond's words, but then he let it go. "Alright, let's celebrate. I'm gonna heat up some pizza, and we'll wait for the game to arrive."
"And I'll get us some cranberry juice," Raymond said with a smile, heading to the living room with three glass cups.
As Chris prepared the pizza, Raymond settled on the sofa, looking at the door, wondering why Amara hasn't shown up yet.
_ _ _
The sky cracked open with a roar, and within seconds the evening turned into a furious downpour — as though the heavens themselves were offended.
Within seconds, Amara was drenched to her skin. She let out a frustrated scream. "Arrrgh! Why now?!" she shouted, glaring up at the sky. "Today of all days, I forgot my umbrella—of course! Just perfect!"
Her words were swallowed by the roar of thunder that followed almost instantly. Lightning streaked across the gray sky, illuminating the empty street in flashes. With a groan, she clutched her bag tighter and ran through the rain, her heels splashing in puddles until she found cover beneath the old bakery at the corner.
The place had long been abandoned. Its faded signboard dangled loosely, creaking as the wind pushed it back and forth. Amara stood at the doorway, dripping wet, breathing hard as she tried to wring the rain from her hair and clothes.
"Cold… wet… broke… and still single," she muttered, shaking her head. "My enemies are definitely working overtime."
A small laugh escaped her lips, but it quickly faded. The air here felt odd—too still, too heavy, like the storm outside had paused around this place. She rubbed her arms for warmth and tried to distract herself by humming, but the sound of her own voice echoed weirdly against the cracked walls.
Inside, the dim light from a flickering bulb painted the room in shades of gold and shadow. The air smelled faintly of wet dust and aged flour. She wrung the water out of her hair and sighed, muttering under her breath, "What a day…"
A deep voice cut through the silence, smooth yet darkly amused.
"Couldn't agree more."