Valeria should have been terrified when the demon left her encased in shadow at the edge of the Obsidian Sea. Shards sprouted all around her, still leaning away as if her touch might shatter them into oblivion. But then she watched as Xorn sped towards the female who’d begun to attack Manor Saffron. She hadn’t expected him to personally uphold his end of the agreement that he’d make sure no harm came to her new home.

Then the armies clashed and the ground beneath her feet trembled. She watched in horror as the demons crashed into one another. Dark blood spurt over scales and golden blades pierced the sky. Some demons who still had their wings grabbed their enemies and took them high into the clouds… and then let them go.

The thuds that hit the ground made Valeria cringe. She’d never seen such violence before. But this was all the proof that she needed that what Xorn had said was true. Not all demons were equal. Two sides fought one another, and be it for territory or for something else, one fought for Xorn, and the other fought for the female who danced with him in shadow and blades.

She couldn’t tell when one or the other won. It was more of a mutual understanding that the battle had come to an end. The female screeched with rage, and then her armies began to break off, leaving gaps of blood and bodies behind.

Xorn’s army also followed suit, moving until they formed a protective circle around Manor Saffron. She didn’t know how they knew of Xorn’s deal, not until she noticed the underlying whispers in the air. She closed her eyes and listened until her soul opened up to the heavy magic that worked its own battles in the unseen realm between this world and the next.

Demons weren’t just physical creatures. They had a presence in the Ether where she’d first encountered the Light, but their world was dark. It wasn’t a bad sort of dark, more like the calming nothingness that came with peace and safety. There was no pain in the heart of shadow. There was only quiet.

“Valeria,” Xorn’s soothing voice said and she snapped her eyes open. The demon gave her a weary smile.

She curled her fingers over her elbows as she took in his slight limp as he approached, the endless slices of dark blood that oozed from new scars over his bare chest. Two daggers hung loosely from his hands, still dripping the result of battle onto the onyx shards that speared mercilessly into his feet.

“We should go,” he said.

She narrowed her eyes. His body was beaten and bruised, but it was his ruby gaze that gleamed with raw emotion that held the most hurt.

“Did that demon mean something to you?” she asked. It was hard for her to believe that demons could be capable of love, but she’d recognize that look in Xorn’s eyes anywhere. It was how her father had looked when he’d had to tell her about her mother’s sacrifices. It was that look when someone loved and failed.

He pressed his lips into a thin line before he spoke. “You are surprised that a demon can love?”

Valeria shifted her weight. “If that was your idea of love, I don’t want to see what you do to someone you hate.”

She’d expected him to retaliate against the comment. Instead, he grinned and offered his hand. His fingers slipped seamlessly into her protective nest of shadow. “Love and hate are lessons for another day. For now, let me show you what the Dark is supposed to look like.”

Intrigued, she took his hand. His grip was strong under her touch. She peered over his shoulder to see his demons still standing sentinel around Manor Saffron. She would do this, learn her place in this world, but then she’d come back and make sure Nile and any like him could find refuge in Manor Saffron.

Xorn’s ruby eyes glimmered. “You are finding your purpose in this world. Good.” He pulled her further into the nest of shadow as a tunnel roiled magic around them. “Come with me, youngling. There is so much for you to learn.”

* * *

Valeria clung to the demon’s hand as he took them through a portal of Darkness. She’d never have imagined to travel the expanse of the world through the power of malice. Nor would she have expected to find comfort in a demon’s touch, but Xorn seemed so confident. She wanted to understand his conviction that there was a better way, that the world could become something great if only demons were guided along the right path.

When they stepped out of the portal, she expected to find more wasteland of the Obsidian Sea. But she gasped with a lush oasis of grass, flowers, and arching trees welcome them. The shards were still there, but reduced and more like broken grains of black sand than the threatening daggers of her homeland.

She stumbled out of the portal and yanked off her leather shoes. She sank her toes into the soft folds of grass and sighed. “It’s beautiful.”

Xorn came to her side and took his hand to his lips and released a sharp whistle. Then flaps of cloth brushed aside, what Valeria had thought to be giant leaves, and people emerged. “Holy Divine,” she breathed as the group rustled from their hidden homes.

Xorn laughed as he limped towards the people. They brightened when they saw him, some creasing their brows with worry and going back into their homes. They emerged with steaming buckets and wet cloths. “The Divine don’t live here,” Xorn said mournfully. “Only what’s left of a broken past.” His gaze found hers, and to her surprise, his eyes were no longer red. Instead his irises glimmered with a soft silver hue as if the peace of this place tempered the magic inside of him. “Come, meet my people.”

Valeria followed in his footsteps and watched with amazement as the people greeted Xorn with open arms. They fussed over him and cleansed his wounds. It didn’t seem to matter to them that his blood was as black as night. Dirtied towels disappeared into tubs of water to be washed by a small river that streamed past the oak trees.

When he was clean, the people resumed their business of preparing the night’s meals in pots over fires. Men cleaned hides on long racks and women wove baskets or chased children into the groves.

Only one woman remained. Her short hair strained against her temples in a pinned up style. The same, empty silver eyes glinted with curiosity as she clasped her hands in front of a simple dress with fine stitches that would have made her mother envious.

“Hello,” the girl said, extending her palms face-up in offering. “My name is Shienne.”

Valeria stared at the girl’s hands until she realized she was supposed to respond. She placed her palms on top of the girl’s and was awarded with a broad smile.

“Valeria,” she said before reclaiming her hands. She appraised the small village and grove. “What is this place?” She spotted Xorn in the distance with children atop his knees. They were laughing and smiling, and the image reminded her of Anark. “It’s not what I expected.

Shienne took Valeria’s hand and guided her into the village. “Xorn takes in outlanders sometimes. He doesn’t have enough magic to protect the entire world, but he’s made this safe haven for the innocent.” Her adoring gaze found the demon and her cheeks flushed. “I don’t know what we’d do without him.”

Valeria frowned. This was all too perfect to be true. “And what does he ask for in return?”

The girl flinched at the question, but shook it off. “Never mind that. Why don’t I show you your room? Xorn’s told us that you’re here to help us. For that, you deserve the very best.”

Valeria narrowed her eyes but followed the girl. She’d question Xorn later when they were alone.

The girl took her past a bustling group that laughed over a game that involved wooden dice. Piles of nuts seemed to be the prize. “Over here,” she offered and pushed aside a large leaf.

A room completed with a wooden bed and plush blankets looked so welcoming after her nights sleeping on hard stone floors and roots of trees.

“Thank you,” Valeria said and went inside.

The girl left her alone, draping the leaf closed behind her. Valeria bit her lip before finding a pot of steaming tea. She poured herself a cup and sipped.

No! the Light hissed the warning in her head with sharp rebuke

The tea on her tongue speared with heat and she spat it out.

“Light?” she asked in a whisper, but there was no reply.

Valeria shook with the sudden urge that something was terribly wrong about this place. She pushed the tea aside and eased onto the bed.

She told herself that the Light was just jealous. It didn’t want her to learn these truths and kindness that the Dark was capable of.

In spite of the unease, she closed her eyes, and drifted off to sleep.

* * *

When she woke, Shienne was quietly washing a new set of warm leathers that looked just about Valeria’s size.

Groggily she eased to the side of the bed and rubbed her eyes. “What’s that?” she asked.

Shienne blinked at her with her silver eyes and grinned. “It’s going to be winter soon. You’ll need warmer clothes than that.” She gave Valeria’s thin leathers a grimace.

Valeria flatted her palms down her favorite outfit. Her father had helped her skin enough rabbit hides to stitch the ensemble together. Her mother had found the strongest of thread to tie together so many small pieces. “We don’t have winter,” she protested. That was one of the few benefits of the Obsidian Sea. It was always a humid heat that was just warm enough to bring a layer of sweat to her hairline.

Shienne gave her a delighted laugh. “Oh dear, you don’t know how far you’ve traveled, do you?” She knelt to the ground that was comprised of fine grains of soil. She marked an “X” near her right knee. “This is the Obsidian Sea and the last human stronghold of Leocivat.” She marked another “X” under her left knee. “And this is Belial’s territory.” She bit her lip. “Or at least, it was. From what Xorn has told us, that area is now yours.” She drew a long line across the ground, going straight until she reached Valeria’s feet. “All of this belongs to Xorn,” she marked a star at the top, “and we’re here.” She sat back onto her heels and grinned. “The other demons don’t like to come here. It gets too cold. That’s why Xorn made this oasis so we’d be able to focus on survival. We gather food and make warm clothes. When winter comes, we’re ready.” She grinned. “I love winter. We never have to worry about demons coming. It’s the best season of all.”

Valeria couldn’t shake the unease that this was all too good to be true. “I asked you yesterday what Xorn requested in exchange for his protection.” She waved a hand to the small room filled with luxuries her family never had the ability to acquire. A silver basin glistened with fresh water. Dried meats enticed her from the low table. “Surely none of this comes for free.”

The girl sighed. “Xorn doesn’t ask much of us. But it’s not my place to say.” She stood and scraped her foot over the primitive map until it returned to a grainy floor. “He’ll be in soon. You can ask him yourself.”

Valeria frowned after Shienne as the girl exited the small hut. Shortly after, Xorn appeared and crouched until he was inside. He smiled his charming smile as he settled himself on the ground. “So, what do you think so far?”

Valeria gripped the winter leathers Shienne had gifted her as she teetered on the edge of the bed. “I sense that none of this comes for free. What do you ask of these people for this kind of protection? How are you even able to stave off the Obsidian Sea?” The only oasis she’d ever seen had been the result of Tree Mother’s influence. The small streams and patches of grassy lands hadn’t been a coincidence. It took power to keep the malice at bay. Power a demon shouldn’t have. A demon should make it grow and spread, not keep it away.

Xorn glanced at the place Shienne had wiped away her map. “You’re too young to understand the trade these people and I have established. I’ll tell you in time.” His gaze found hers, unreadable as a Hallowed’s. “And it won’t matter. If you master your power, you’ll give these people a chance to find refuge in your home rather than mine. It will give them a life I’ve tried and failed to give them. They should be free to be humans. Here, they are more children waiting for my return than they are their own peoples. This isn’t what I want for them.”

Valeria didn’t press Xorn for details. She’d always been able to tell when someone was lying, and she sensed that Xorn told her the truth, would always tell her the truth. “Very well,” she said, standing and unfurling the winter leathers. “Then let’s get started. What’s first.”

Xorn grinned and opened a pouch filled with glistening berries. “First, we eat.”