“I’m not interested,” he said as he began to turn away.
A slim hand snatched his wrist. “Your home is calling!” the woman said, releasing him with a hiss when he shot her a caustic glare. “They need you to go home.”
Xander stilled, shoulders rigid before he turned back into the crowd, careful not to nudge the tall troll who was more brawn than brains. They had a tendency to start a fight with anyone, which was why there were anti-violence wards painted onto every wall in the mausoleum.
They constantly pulsated, the patterns darkening when they absorbed any physical or magical violence. With a crowd as big as there was Xander knew the wards wouldn’t stop all fights, a single punch would pass with little repercussions, but if there was a full blown attack the wards would kick in and neutralise both parties until they could be removed from the premises. The guards didn’t care what happened outside the market, as long as no one drew attention to the doorways.
“What was that about?” Axel asked quietly. “She talking about the community?”
Xander just gently shook his head. He didn’t discuss his childhood, or the woman who birthed him, especially somewhere with so many ears. The Spirits were just as heavy down there than they were above, their moans nothing but static compared to the overwhelming shouts of the market. The stronger ones could pass as living, corporeal enough to move small objects while the weaker onescould grow in substance when they had someone to focus on. Xander made sure he made no contact, not wanting to strengthen any of the dead enough that they could solidify their bodies and cause havoc.
“Over here.”
The stall they needed was called‘All Things Hell!’the contents on top of the dark red velvet something you could find in a novelty Halloween store. Axel picked up the horn labelled Daemon, the hardened shell well made, but fake.
“How can I help you guys?” the slim Fae asked when they approached his stall. “I have fresh fish eyeballs, newts and snakes. I’ve also received a shipment of Daemon horns, tails and wings.”
“Wings?” Xander asked, eyebrow raised when the shopkeeper unfolded what was supposed to be a Daemonic wing, except it had no bone structure and the leather was stitched together.
“Yes, only the finest for all your spelling needs.” His smile widened, showing off a row of sharpened silvery teeth. The shopkeeper could be any number of the types under the term Fae, and Xander couldn’t care less which one.
“Do you know what’s interesting,” Axel muttered as he crushed the horn in his hand, it crumbling to dust.
“Hey, what do you think you’re doing?” the Fae hissed.
Axel dropped the remnants to the ground. “That Daemon horns aren’t just made from keratin like other horns, they’re also made from bone. Neither would break like that.”
“They also don’t have tails,” Xander added with a casual shrug. “So it’s impressive that you’re selling them.”
“You don’t know that,” the Fae grunted, “when’s the last time you saw a Daemon?”
Axel began to laugh, and Xander couldn’t help as his lip twitched. Daemons weren’t officially classified as Breed, which was everyone not human, and were so rare they were only recently recognised by The Council. They were once trapped beneath the earth’s crust, where they could only leave if summoned. Well, until recently.
Now The Guardians were working overtime to send the bastards that roamed freely back to hell. It wasn’t really hell, but a realm called The Nether, and it was designed as a prison for the more unethical magic bearers. The gates that kept all the nasties below had broken, and now that it was repaired it was their job to hunt down the Daemons and creatures that had escaped.
“This was a waste of time,” Axel muttered, wiping his hand down his skin-tight shirt.
Xander had to agree, the beast he was forced to share his soul with not picking up any sort of Daemonic energy. He could feel the beast’s presence inside his head, but unlike his brothers, his beast was always silent, happy to just observe.
He guessed it was a bonus considering the stories the other Guardians told about their own beasts, but then again he wasn’t sure if any part of their curse was a bonus.
“You need to pay for what you broke!” the Fae said, his voice raised enough others looked towards the commotion. “You need to…”
“Or what?” Xander interrupted. He had no patience left, and just wanted to get out of there so he could go sit and relax in the dark. “You’re selling fake products, I’m sure the overseers would be interested in that.” He had no idea if the overseers gave a shit about what was sold, probably not considering everything was illegal.
“Hey, hey I don’t want any trouble,” the Fae said, holding his hands out in surrender.
“Come on Xee,” Axel said, pulling against his shoulder. “This guy is a waste.”
A commotion drew their attention, the voices loud enough to break through the general hum.
“Hey, is that…” Axel began, his voice lost amongst the rest as Xander began to move through the crowd before he had even realised, the small female familiar.
Her dark hair was braided, and his beast was fascinated with how it sat perfectly against the centre of her back. It took a minute for her scent to reach him, and as soon as it did Xander felt his face tighten with his usual scowl.
Of courseshewas there.
Chapter3
