Page 6 of Demons Treasure Warlocks

“Adding pink things to the list of shit I have to research,” he mumbled to Bossy Cat. The orange cat nosed his face, checking Darius carefully. Master Cat growled at the door, his ears back and fur up. Darius trusted his cats to tell him if there was something still out there. Shuddering, he dragged himself to the dark hallway away from any window to get his bearings again.

Thank God the wards on his home were still intact. He’d been worried they had failed while he was off stuck in limbo.

Gingerly, he thought about using his magic to shore up the wards, but with his head throbbing and the fear of failing hanging over him, it would backfire. All he could do now was take painkillers and nap until this went away. It wasn’t even lunchtime, and he was done. The soft comfort of his wide couch called to him. With the pink cryptid possibly watching him through the big picture window, there was no way Darius could relax.

God, he wanted this day to be done and over with.

In the evening, Darius sat in the kitchen recliner, staring at the blank nothingness. The day hadn't gotten much better. Because of the bump on his head, his concentration was shot. The words swam when he tried to read, and nothing held his interest as he worked on being productive. Master and Bossy were stretched out on the rug in front of his chair, napping contentedly, and he was mildly jealous of them. He wanted to be as comfortable and at peace with the world as them.

The soft snores of the cats, and the crackle of the fire, lulled him into a hazy state of half wakefulness. He dozed in his chair like an old man and was only jerked back to awareness by the sight of his former lover coming up the rear deck.

Bale was a giant of a man with stone grey skin and firm muscles. His wings were usually curled around him as a cape when he entered Darius’s home. The ragged edges of his wings gave him a tired look, but when he met Darius’s eyes, no matter how terrible Darius was to him at the time, he lit up. The drudgery of the day melted away, and he was lively and happy. All because of Darius. The idea of being someone’s joy confounded him and had him itching to ruin it. And yet he hadn’t. He revelled in Bale’s joy.

Bossy and Master were awake in seconds and had run to the backdoor where Bale was peering in. They meowed their greetings as Bale waited patiently for Darius. “Can I come in?”

“You never ask, so why now?” Darius grumbled as he returned his chair to its upright position. Bale arched an eyebrow at him as he ventured into the kitchen. “What?”

“Would you like a drink?” Bale asked even as he filled the kettle and set it on the stove. Darius groaned and dropped his head back.

Smirking, Bale moved smoothly around in the kitchen, opening the fridge and cupboards. The cats remained under Bale’s feet, their tails upright with the tips pointing down. It annoyed Darius how much his cats adored Bale. Where was the loyalty?

Having Bale in his home, making himself comfortable with Darius’s tools settled some of his own jagged nerves. Darius hated how relaxed Bale made him feel, but he couldn’t bring himself to kick Bale out. This was right in every way. Goddamn feelings.

Darius ignored the noises in the kitchen and returned to looking out the window. Bale being here was helpful. He could share what happened in the morning, and hopefully Bale would provide some insight.

Bale came to the table with a teapot and two mugs. He also brought over a plate filled with sandwiches. Darius huffed at the food and winced as his stomach growled loudly.

Bale grabbed Darius and pulled him out of the recliner and led him to the table. “I’m not feeding you in your chair. That’s for the elderly.”

“I feel like it.” Darius settled himself on the wooden seat and stared at the feast Bale had created for them. “What’s this?”

“You’re never reasonable when you’re hungry. And I highly doubt you had anything to eat today, other than what Isaac made.” Bale passed him half a sandwich and grabbed one for himself. “You look like you’re in pain. What happened?”

Darius waved away the question as he bit into the ham and cheese sandwich. The room was silent as Bale waited, and Darius ate. Once Darius was done with one half, he swallowed and looked at Bale. “Why are you here?”

“Your home gives me peace…most of the time. What happened, Dare?” Bale was like a dog with a bone, and Darius hated it.

“You smell like you were in a dank place. What did you do? Were you talking to Typhon?” Darius leaned forward and sniffed. The scent of damp and mould surrounded Bale.

“Yes, I went to see Typhon. He’s also a demon, and I thought he’d be able to give me some advice about my physical issues. And your day?” Bale’s eyes burned hard into Darius as he answered Darius’s questions.

“Did he help?” Darius asked tentatively. Bale’s wings were an important part of Bale’s identity, and he knew it killed Bale not being able to fly.

“Yes, a tiny bit. Told me to see the dragon and the trees. So, Darius, I heard you had a visitor today. What the fuck happened?” Bale’s patience was shot, and Darius understood he had to finally come clean.

“Some hot-pink messenger from his holiness came by. She congratulated me on a game well played. She reminded me of a praying mantis for some reason,” Darius admitted grudgingly.

“His holiness? Like Yellow Dick? He’s got a new name now?” Bale wrinkled his nose as he thought. Bale had a way of looking at Darius while they talked that made Darius feel like he was the centre of the universe. Bale truly listened to what Darius said and often had good insight. It was one of the key things that attracted Darius to him. “Why the fuck?”

“Right? It confused me for a sec. I’m assumed it’s about the King. It seems pretty ballsy of the King to approach me so openly. What the hell is he playing?” Darius wondered out loud as he pulled another half sandwich toward him. Bale smiled briefly before eating his own.

“When I see Hakko, I can ask him. He might be able to listen. He’s usually pretty good to bounce ideas off,” Bale suggested.

“I thought so too. Trey’s not so keen on him, but I like him,” Darius said. With the food and tea settling in him, his focus sharpened. He made his way to the backdoor and deck. After being stuck inside for a long time, the urge to feel the crispness of winter on his face came over him.

Stars twinkled in the sky as he took in the cold air. Beyond the ice palisade that Isaac insisted Darius have, he could see small cryptids, both elemental and animal, pacing the wall.

Bale draped a throw over his shoulders and leaned on the deck rail beside him. “What are your thoughts, Dare?”

---