Ding!
The bell above the café door chimed, a bright, cheerful sound that cut through the morning's quiet hum. Soma, hearing the sound, popped his head out from the kitchen. The air was rich with the smell of brewing coffee and sizzling salmon.
"Kael! I was hoping I'd see you today! Come in!" he called out.
Kael and Lyra walked in, the relief of surviving the night evident in their relaxed posture. Henry and Linda, the neighboring keymakers, were already at their usual table, tucking into a plate of pancakes.
"Who's the lass?" Henry grunted around a mouthful of food.
"Oh, yeah!" Kael said, a proud, happy grin on his face as he put a hand on Lyra's shoulder. "This is my wife, Lyra. Hehe."
"What?!" Soma exclaimed, coming out from behind the counter. "You've been coming here for months, and you're only just now bringing your wife to my café?"
Linda, however, offered a warm, welcoming smile. "My young lady," she said kindly. "It's so glad to finally meet you."
Soma placed a fresh plate of pancakes on Henry and Linda's table. "This month's fixed menu is proving popular," he said, then turned his attention to the new couple. "But if you want something special, for today it's Cedar Planked Salmon. Fresh as always. Your choice."
"This is my first time here," Lyra said, her voice a little shy, "so I'll take the daily special."
"I like that!" Soma declared. "Cedar Planked Salmon it is, for the gorgeous couple!"
"I'll have that too," Kael added.
"Great! The drinks will be on me," Soma said. "And since the boss isn't here, I'll be the one making them, so no complaining!" he added, already heading back toward the kitchen.
The door opened again, and the elf regular, Elian, walked in. His usual calm demeanor was replaced by a broad, relieved smile. "Ayyy! Henry! Kael!"
They greeted each other like old friends who hadn't seen each other in years, a heartfelt warmth passing between them. They spoke in low tones about their gratitude, about the relief of seeing the sun rise, of knowing they were all still there. Soma, juggling both the kitchen and the bar, listened in as their conversation turned to the repeated, sickening crunching sounds from the night before. But the fear quickly gave way to the ease of shared survival, and the conversation turned more personal.
Linda, in her gentle way, turned to the newcomer. "Lyra, dear, why have you only just come here today? We'd love to see you more often."
Lyra let out a small, awkward laugh. "I'm... I'm a nanny," she explained quietly. "For Baron Gassot's children."
The warm, lively vibe in the café instantly turned awkward. The regulars knew what that meant.
"Oh my," Linda said, her smile faltering slightly. "I didn't know that."
"Why is that bad?" Soma asked, oblivious as he brought out their drinks.
Kael let out a chuckle that didn't quite reach his eyes. "It's just... the environment in some of the noble houses... it's not always good for us demons."
"Aahh," Soma said, finally understanding.
Henry, blunt as ever, spoke up in his brash tone. "You've got each other. There's nothing to worry about."
"Don't mind his tone, dear," Linda said, patting Lyra's hand. "Just take the good message."
Lyra looked at the rough dwarf and his kind wife, at the earnest chef, at her husband's friends. She nodded, a small, genuine smile finally reaching her eyes.
…
Zero arrived at the grand, columned entrance of the Evercrest branch of the Royal Library. He walked in, the vast, echoing space a cathedral of knowledge. The librarian at the front desk, a severe-looking woman with a tight bun, looked up at him over her spectacles.
"Excuse me, sir," she said, her voice dripping with officious boredom. "Can you take off your hat for a second?"
Zero complied, removing the veiled hat. The moment his horns were visible, the librarian's face and posture changed. Her boredom was replaced by a look of pure, unadulterated disgust.
"Fucking Fiendscum," she spat, her voice a low, venomous hiss. "What is your kind doing in here?"
Zero was taken aback. "Whoa, okay, that's a new one," he said, trying to keep his composure. "I'm here to read a book, ma'am."
"Go to the side, you Shitspawn," she snarled, not even trying to hide her contempt. "Can't you read?" She pointed a bony finger at a small, crudely painted sign by the main gate. An arrow pointed to the left, with a single, damning word: "DEMONS."
Zero could feel the eyes of the other patrons on him, a mixture of fear, pity, and matching disgust. He put his hat back on, the veil a welcome shield. "Thank you," he said, his voice tight. He walked out the front door, and as he left, he heard her mutter, "Tainted fucks."
He gritted his teeth, a cold, unfamiliar anger coiling in his stomach. 'Alright,' he thought, 'just a small hurdle.'
He walked around to the side of the grand building. It wasn't an entrance. It was a separate, smaller, and far more dilapidated building attached to the main library like a tumor. This was a place even Erwin's encyclopedic memories didn't contain. As Zero stepped inside, he found himself in a small, poorly lit room. There was only one other demon, a young woman huddled in a corner, and a human librarian fast asleep at a small, rickety desk.
Zero's stomach churned. He looked around at the meager selection of books. Most were historical texts, filled with vile, propagandistic descriptions of the 'demonic nature' and the horrors his kind had supposedly brought upon the world. He then saw a large, official-looking plaque in the middle of the room. It bore the royal crest.
By Royal Decree of King Theron Averidane V, in accordance with the Unification Rights Act, all citizens of the URA are granted the right to knowledge. All Royal Libraries shall provide access to their collections. However, to preserve the peace and comfort of all patrons, the law mandates the separation of the demon race in all public facilities. The books within this sanctum may be read by all races in the main hall. The books in the main hall are forbidden to demons.
His blood ran cold. This wasn't just segregation; it was intellectual starvation.
As he scanned the pathetic collection, something caught his eye. A single, thick, leather-bound book with a title written in an alphabet he had never seen before. But as he looked at the strange, flowing script, he realized with a jolt... he could read it.
He reached for the book. As he pulled it from the shelf, the demon girl in the corner spoke up. "Trying to decrypt that one, too?"
Zero looked over at her. "Ah, I just got here."
"Don't bother," she said with a sigh of resignation. "My friends and I have been trying to figure it out for months. It's just gibberish. I think it's just the library's idea of a cruel joke. Giving us a junk book we can't even read." She then gathered her things and left, leaving him alone with the sleeping librarian.
Zero looked back at the book. It wasn't gibberish to him. The title read, 'The First Principles of Abyssal Weaving.'
He looked at the sleeping librarian. An idea formed. He grabbed a random, boring-looking history book from the shelf, then discreetly slipped the mysterious, ancient tome inside his long coat. He walked to the desk and knocked sharply. The librarian jolted awake.
"Can I borrow this book?" Zero asked, holding up the random history text.
The librarian squinted at him, still groggy. "No demon can borrow a book unless a non-demon vouches for them as a witness," he grunted, reciting a rule from memory.
"Too bad, then," Zero said. He placed the history book back on the desk and walked out, the real prize, the mysterious book, still hidden safely inside his coat.
…
A gaping hole was all that was left of the large residential building. It looked as if a giant had taken a bite out of it, the structure splintered into the ground, a ruin of wood and plaster. Morhan Valerius stood at the edge of the scene, her face grim as she keyed her crystal radio.
"Valdi, this is Morhan. Get over here."
A moment later, Valdi's voice crackled back, laced with his usual lack of enthusiasm. "Yes, ma'am?"
"I need a hard blockade on this entire block," she commanded.
"Ooh, a stationary job," Valdi's voice brightened considerably. "My favorite kind."
"You'll be moving the barriers too, Valdi," Morhan added, her voice sharp. "Not just telling the others where to put them."
"Of course, ma'am," he replied, the energy gone from his voice. "Wouldn't want to miss out on the... team-building."
Morhan sighed. She knew he'd do the bare minimum, but it was better than nothing. Just then, a patrol officer approached her.
"Detective," the officer said. "We've talked to the neighbors. It wasn't The Hush. They all still remember the resident who lived here."
"Who is it?" Morhan asked.
"Scato Mus, a male human. Works at the docks."
Morhan looked at the sheer size of the destroyed building. "From a building this big, and he's the only victim?"
The officer nodded. "Yes, ma'am. We checked the tenant roster. The other residents were all, somehow, staying with friends or family last night."
"All of them but Mr. Scato," Morhan muttered, her mind already racing. This was too convenient. "Send patrol units to the addresses of these other residents. I want them all questioned."
The officer nodded and left. Morhan looked back at the ruin, a cold feeling settling in her gut. This had nothing to do with supernatural horrors. This was connected to the gang war that was just beginning to spark.
…
A short while later, Celvise Kaelen arrived. She was dropped off by her husband in their civilian rune-car. She gave him a quick kiss and said goodbye, her professional demeanor snapping into place the moment her feet hit the pavement.
She saw the hastily erected blockade, a few officers struggling to move the heavy barriers into place while Valdi leaned against a wall, eating a bag of dried fruit snacks.
"At least pretend to help, Valdi," one of the officers grunted, straining with a barrier.
"I'm serving in more of an... oversight capacity," Valdi replied calmly, popping another piece of dried apple into his mouth.
"Valdi!" Celvise's voice was sharp as she walked past. "Get your ass back to work."
"Y-yes, ma'am!" he stammered, quickly shoving the snack bag into his pocket and jogging, with a distinct lack of urgency, toward a barrier.
Celvise reached her partner. "Morhan. Sorry I'm late. Any leads?"
"We've run the papers on the victim," Morhan said, handing her a file. "And only victim."
"Only one?" Celvise asked, her eyebrows raising.
"Yes. Thankfully, he was one of the dockworkers who had already gone through the new fingerprinting procedure. The forensics team is working on his personal effects and his rune-car now. Hopefully, we'll get something."
"Isn't it great?" Celvise said with a small, tired smile. "The forensics team isn't just a glorified clean-up crew anymore."
"You can thank our soon-to-be boot for that one," Morhan replied, a hint of grudging respect in her voice.
…
Zero was on his way back from the library, the ancient book a comforting, heavy weight hidden inside his coat. His plan was simple: take the tram home. But as the tram rumbled to a stop several blocks from his destination, an announcement crackled over the internal speaker. "Due to an active crime scene blockade, this is the final stop. All passengers must disembark."
He got off, joining the grumbling crowd. He looked at the street signs and his stomach dropped. 'God damn it,' he thought. 'I'm in the middle of the 'racist block'.' He debated his options. He could turn around and walk the long way back, a journey of over 3 hours. Or he could try to pass through the blockade. 'It's manned by Watchers,' he reasoned. 'At least it should be safe.'
He walked toward the blockade, a simple barrier of wooden horses and rope. He saw Officer Valdi, leaning against one of the barriers, turning people away with a practiced, weary wave.
"Stop," Valdi said as a group of citizens tried to pass. "Sorry for the inconvenience, but we really can't let you in."
They all sighed and turned away. Zero walked up to him. "Officer," he said politely. "I just need to pass through. My home is on the other side of that block."
"Sorry, champ. Can't," Valdi said, not even looking at him. "If I let you in, the others will mob me, which I can't handle. Because of my back."
"Injured on duty?" Zero asked sympathetically.
"No," Valdi said with a deadpan expression. "Woke up on the wrong side of the bed."
Zero was silent for a moment, completely thrown by the absurd honesty. He gave up. He turned and walked towards the neighboring block, the only other route. 'I'm in a veiled hat anyway,' he thought. 'They can't see I'm a demon.'
He started walking. As he turned onto the unfamiliar street, he sensed it. Eyes on him. He walked faster. He saw them then: a group of rough-looking humans, crowded around a crate on the walkway, playing cards. Zero smelled trouble. He chose to cross the road to the other side, giving them a wide berth.
But as he passed, one of the men looked up, his eyes fixating on Zero's hat. "Hey!" he shouted. "Let me see what's under that hat!"
Zero walked faster, his heart starting to pound.
"Hey! Take off the hat!" another one yelled, getting to his feet.
Zero turned. They were all standing now, their card game forgotten, their expressions menacing. He bolted.
They all chased him. "He's tainted! Catch him!" one of them screamed.
Zero ran, his mind a blur of panic as he twisted and turned through the unfamiliar streets. He ducked into an alley, hoping to lose them, and kept running, his lungs burning. He rounded a final corner and was met with a solid brick wall. A dead end.
"Fuck," he breathed.
He heard their footsteps thunder past the mouth of the alley. He pressed himself into the shadows, hoping they'd missed him. But then, one of them looked back. "Hey! He's in here!"
They all swarmed into the alley, their bodies blocking the only exit, their faces a mixture of hatred and cruel excitement.
"Okay, okay," Zero said, holding up his hands in a placating gesture. He took off his hat. "Here. You want the hat? Take it."
"I don't want your ugly hat," the leader sneered. Another one laughed. "Wow, wow. A demon, passing through our block. A brave one, huh?"
Zero sighed, his eyes darting around. The alley was narrow, not enough for three of them to attack him side-by-side. 'But they could come at me two-on-one,' he calculated. 'Manageable.'
He dropped into a low fighting stance. The two gangsters in front didn't hesitate. They dashed toward him. But instead of throwing a punch, one of them grabbed his left horn, yanking his head to the side, while the other grabbed his right. With his head held fast, they both drew back their fists and punched him in the face at the same time.
The world exploded in a flash of pain. Zero was flung backward, his head slamming against the hard brick of the dead-end wall. He slumped to the ground, dazed.
As the gangsters moved in to finish the job, the shadows in the alley suddenly felt much bigger, much deeper. From the darkness on either side of the thugs, two silent figures emerged. Two swift, brutal motions. The heavy hilts of sheathed swords struck each of the two gangsters in the back of the head. They dropped like stones, unconscious before they hit the ground.
**A/N**
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**A/N**