Of Blood and Smoke

Chapter 23

TWENTY-THREE

Josiah

It was time for me to make my appearance at the High Court, I couldn’t put it off any longer without my absence becoming an insult. I hadn’t wanted to leave Della, but I’d instructed a few of my men to unobtrusively keep an eye on her, guard her. I knew if I’d asked, she’d object, so I ordered them to do so from a distance and only intervene if necessary. She was nearly as controlling as I.

With my wealth and position she would automatically be a target—for humans and possible others here in the Third Realm. What better way to take me down than by hurting the ones closest to me? Della didn’t have a magic bone in her body that I’d yet detected, which made her especially vulnerable. She couldn’t possibly defend herself appropriately.

It struck me how little I knew of her in some ways. Did she know how to use a gun? A knife? Her addiction to horror movies wasn’t the teacher she thought it was although I appreciated how they turned her on.

I didn’t want to leave, I was thoroughly enjoying her company and discovering the little things that made her tick. Every moment I spent with her, watching a myriad of emotions flicker through her eyes as she took in the world around her, fascinated me. She felt everything, and then compartmentalized it.

She seemed to control the world around her by examining the happenings in her environment and filing them away after evaluation. She had precise ways of behaving around everyone in her life, tailoring to them, and she did it while somehow remaining genuine in her responses. Many people did that naturally, but she did it with extra thought, taking consideration of other’s needs when they could be met rather than engaging in manipulation.

I witnessed her doing it with the swans in the park. Before engaging the large birds, she figured out how to make them most comfortable, so they’d not panic. We’d watched a small child yelling and running toward the birds, sending them into frantic wing-flapping alarm and she’d managed to comfort them.

She’d approached them calmly, avoiding eye contact, and spoke softly to them, using gentle words. I was going to charm them so she could have an enjoyable experience, but she’d surprised me and done it naturally with minimal effort.

Maybe she didn’t need magic because she was magic. Her genuineness seemed miraculous to me when I’d been surrounded by games and subterfuge my entire existence.

At some point, and soon, I’d have to let her know I wasn’t human. So far, she’d accepted my quirks, but I knew that wouldn’t last. As time went on, she would notice more and more things about myself and my lifestyle that were unnatural.

Surprisingly, she hadn’t questioned my eyes beyond an initial “what are you” that I hadn’t yet answered, and she hadn’t pursued.

The more I fell under her spell, the more concerned I became. My behavior wouldn’t be tolerated for long, and I knew there were watchers, beings in the service of the High Court, that specifically reported Third Realm happenings to them for evaluation. They were certain to have a file on my current activities at this point. I was risking everything for a human, including perhaps the human herself someday.

I was sitting in my office at my home in Scarborough, contemplating my concerns when Micha walked in. He closed the door behind him and strolled across my space, eyeing my empty glass. “Refill?” he asked.

Holding the tumbler out, I answered, “Thank you.”

“Beautiful night,” he remarked, handing me the wine and blood mixture I’d been drinking and following my gaze. A full moon reflected off the rippling water of the Hudson River, bordering my property. Placing my glass down, I refilled it, passing the bottle back to my friend afterward.

Micha took a seat in a leather chair, resting an ankle on his knee before sipping his own beverage. “I’ve been hesitating to make any remarks about your behavior.” He took another, slow sip. “I trust you’ll back off my own situation.”

Irritation swelled within me at his flagrant defiance of my authority by questioning me, and I tamped it down. I had no leg to stand on; he was correct. I’d have to back off if I meant to keep Della—which I did. Nothing would dissuade me; I’d found the one I would keep for eternity, despite my unease over the extenuating circumstances and the war within me.

“Even your men are talking.”

I glanced at him quickly. “What do you mean? They know better.”

Lowering my defenses, I allowed the onslaught of atmospheric sensations to flow through me. Regret needled at me, I’d been too distracted as of late, the near entirety of my focus on Onychinus and Della.

The new product my company had created was due to release, and I’d been spending nearly all my time with my woman. Everything else had fallen away.

There was curiosity in the atmosphere, an anxious tone, trepidation. Mild fear. It tensed in the air, waiting to softly shatter. It wasn’t as overwhelming as I expected, but it was there.

I closed myself off. “I will deal with them.” Tossing back the remainder of my drink, I placed the glass down in front of me. I couldn’t wait to drink from Della’s vibrant crimson veins. My cock hardened at just the thought of a single drop delicately coating my tongue.

There was an important conversation to be had, first, as much as I desired to just take her. Perhaps I would do just that, she’d quickly realize resistance was futile. I knew she wouldn’t truly want to turn me down.

Stroking my chin, I asked, “What would you have me do?” While I’d made my own decision, I valued my best friend’s input.

Micha uncrossed his legs and loosened his tie. “What can we do? You know it is not allowed. We can’t procreate with humans and the collective expects heirs. That has never changed. All we can do is create either more demons or more vampires perhaps, through mating. A female human can’t carry a crossbreed.”

What Micha wasn’t saying was that it was an altogether novelty for any human to carry a demon or vampire baby to term. It’d only happened once or twice that I’d heard of. The best mates outside of the demon or vampire species were witches, their magical blood aiding in successful pregnancy.

It was similar to how other vampires were created—a human had to possess magical blood. But demons originated from one sole bloodline versus the various starting lines of blood-bound creatures.

Standing up, I walked around my desk and leaned against it, facing my friend. “I’m leaving for the Court tonight. I may broach the subject, depending on how the meeting goes.”

Micha stayed quiet for several seconds, contemplating my words. “Do not be disappointed. I imagine you’ll be soundly chastised for the mere thought of entertaining any sort of permanency with Della.”

It was expected, no doubt. “I apologize for any harsh words I had toward you. I was unaware what it was like to be bewitched by one of these creatures.” A self-deprecating chuckle left my mouth. “I had no idea.”

While I’d indulged in more than my fair share of human women, never had I been caught up in one’s web to the degree in which I was now. It was unnerving but turning into a beautiful experience.

The harshness of my demonic genes, coupled with the vibrancy of my vampiric genes, worked together to delight in Della’s presence. The coldness and extreme control I’d operated under while attempting not to lose myself in an explosion of sensations and feelings was something every crossbreed such as myself underwent. If one wasn’t careful, it was both homicidal and suicidal if left to roam free and unchecked.

The demon within me demanded I consume souls with reckless abandon while the vampire demanded I drain every precious ounce of blood from any being who dared cross my path. Harsh was my reality.

Both Micha and I were trained at a very early age to master our impulses, as were the other crossbreeds, by the Ancients. Thankfully, my parents exercised wisdom and did not put up a fight when I was taken away for specialized schooling.

At the time, I’d hated to leave them, but in hindsight it was for the best.

My father was a full-blooded demon, and my mother, a vampire. Together they’d miraculously created a crossbreed—me. I knew I would have to visit them once I completed my business with the High Court; it had been a while. Neither of them had ever left the Second Realm during my lifetime, being content to stay home.

“What will you do when you are instructed to cease your relationship?”

Micha’s question pulled me away from my thoughts. I’d always obeyed and enforced orders, never having stepped completely out of line. When necessary, I’d found ways around rules and laws, but I’d never acted with such direct defiance as now.

My compliance was built solidly within me, it was my nature due to my vampire half where loyalty and honor were virtues of the highest order. Those two qualities were the strongest parts of my character, and I suspected it would’ve been so even if I were a full-blooded demon, due to the Court’s training.

My demonic side often bucked against being told what to do but I only allowed the rebellion to trickle through my veins in the smallest amounts.

“I’ll do whatever I have to,” I answered simply. A deep part of me railed against my disobedience and I had to shove it back down. The High Court had given me everything I needed to be the man I was today; the fact couldn’t be dismissed though I tried.

Micha laughed. “Sounds promising.”

I couldn’t help the smirk that crossed my face. “We shall see.”

After Micha and I went over some business matters and he left, I went and laid down on my bed. Sleep wasn’t an absolute necessity for me, nor was it for any creature such as myself. We could last for long periods of time without the need for slumber. Lying in my bed was oftentimes just a matter of getting some physical rest, or as it was right now, mental preparation for departure.

I hadn’t been in the presence of the High Court in a while and although it would be nice to be home, I was not looking forward to it. My intuition was telling me the meeting was regarding Micha’s interest and relationship with a human woman.

If I enforced the ban I’d be a hypocrite, but giving Della up was an impossibility. There was no way I’d be able to do so without eternal regret.

There was much to be done to acclimatize her, such as informing her as to what I was, but I had to make sure she was ready before having that conversation. Forcing her to believe was always an option, but I didn’t want to cause her any more distress than what she would experience after being told.

Not a single human here in the Third Realm knew what I was. I was aware that Mid and Lesser level demons knew of the existence of crossbreeds, and I knew they talked and speculated.

Their lifestyle was different than Micha’s and my own, having found a living indulging in street or organized crime, and other ways that brought them money and power. Our paths didn’t cross very often.

The royal and founding demon families had bases of operation here in the northeast of the United States, as well as Europe and other areas, but they had spread out over the country as of late, moving on to conquer more territories.

There were some vampire clans in northern New England, and a larger one in western Canada that I’d heard of, but I didn’t associate with them. Recently, the angels that’d taken up residence on the west coast had started moving into the area surrounding New York.

Change was afoot, in many ways, and I would have to convince the Ancients of the wisdom of loosening the reins a bit and allowing for even more modernization of thought in all our lifestyles.

My mind wandered back to Della and her new home. I had the feeling I was going to have to deal harshly with her friend, Brett. He appeared unwilling to back down and I’d be more than happy to show him the folly of his ways. I wasn’t concerned about him in the slightest, but I didn’t want Della harassed by the man. When I returned from Court, I’d take a closer look.

Closing my eyes after assessing everything going on, I began visualizing the precise location of where I wanted to enter the Second Realm. With a clear picture in mind, I placed myself there. Often referred to as “transitioning,” the process used to be much smoother for me.

At one time I could blink and relocate myself to any realm with ease rather than deal with the delayed and occasionally rough shifting that befell my kind now. We also used to be able to transition within realms, instead of solely between.

This was what happened when one engaged in disobedience.

The magnitude of my impending defiance shook me when I finally stood in the gardens of the High Court. Quickly, I tried to collect myself, clear my mind. Any aberration in my spirit would alert my superiors and depending on multiple factors, they would not hesitate to imprison me for my crime—even if I had not yet acted upon what my tell-tale aura would indicate I was thinking or feeling.

I began following the path to the main entry, under a muted sky. The realm’s native orange fog drifted in the stratosphere, thicker in the distance than around the palace’s buildings. Lush green grass spread from the sides of the pathway lined with heavily etched and carved onyx park benches. Fragrant Bloodmoon flower blossoms scented the air, their unique liquid pollen dripping delicately from the centers of the buds giving the appearance of bloodletting.

Plucking a bloom, I inhaled its fragrance letting the rich scent fill my senses and allowed the memories to flow.

When I was very young, I’d played in these gardens, chasing the birds and tugging the ends of the tattered cloaks of the park wraiths. Sometimes I’d hide under a bench and yank on a wraith’s hem, disturbing and harassing them for my own entertainment. That went on for a while until my mother was summoned to court and spoken to about the proper behavior for children.

Children were a rarity, and rules were made up on the spot as nobody had considered them for many, many years. The very act of my birth raised my parents’ standing in our society and in the eyes of the court, such was the novelty of a crossbreed being born. I had responsibilities.

It didn’t take long for the palace guards to approach me as I wandered. I tucked the flower into my suit jacket’s upper pocket and was escorted inside.

I felt as if I were marching to my own doom, flanked by the mute and heavily armed soldiers. Their weapons of war were likely coupled with whatever minor magical abilities they might have been gifted with, ready to be utilized should I have second thoughts about keeping my appointment. There was no doubt I could defeat them, but I needed to know what the Ancients wanted from me.

It was quiet outdoors, other than a few people enjoying time in the gardens and with the silent park wraiths drifting about, busy with whatever tasks they’d been assigned. Colorful songbirds fluttered about with flashes of yellow or red feathers as they dipped and dove, lighting on the flowers for sips of crimson nectar.

A few curious gazes were sent my way by those traversing the narrow paths between scattered trees and shrubs. There wasn’t a soul present whom I recognized, and I ignored the probing glances. I wasn’t overly social in general so ignoring the interest was easy. While my escorts would’ve humored me should I have stopped, I thought it best to be as expedient and cooperative as possible.

Due to my extended absence from the Second Realm, I had to go through the check-in process and be searched for weapons and unauthorized magic. The palace and realm kept up with the technology of multiple other realms and I was subjected to biometric scanning in addition to the typical astral search for contraband.

Once the unpleasantness was over, my assigned guards relaxed, and their duties changed to now being subject to my own authority. It was now their job to obey and protect me from interference, from this point forward. I thanked the lovely gentleman behind the desk and proceeded, my security detail in tow, to the conference room.

The man behind the desk was a stark reminder of what happens when one such as me engages in an intimate relationship with a human. He’d been installed after I’d had to take the life of Eliana, the previous receptionist. The golden-haired beauty had been my companion, and I’d held some affection for her, until we’d learned she’d been a spy. She’d been bedding high-level members of other, smaller, courts and selling information, after she’d contracted to be in my service and pledged herself to the High Court. I hadn’t been able to bring myself to dine on her sacrifice, but I did try to make her death as swift as I could.

I could only imagine what they’d have me do to Della, whose crime was capturing my heart and possibly diluting their elite image with her inferior DNA. It was possible they’d strike at me to force my compliance.

The greatest problem was the fact me and Della would never have children, thus lowering rather than increasing their numbers. It was my duty as a crossbreed to do whatever I could to encourage the birth of another so they could be of service. My heart had decided that wasn’t going to happen.

After I calmed my thoughts, I glanced around. The furnishings and decorations in the palace had remained unchanged with the massive gray blocks, intricate black iron work and moldings, and soaring ceilings I lived under for hundreds of years.

As we passed through the front areas and down a cavernous hallway, a few heads turned, and I recognized vampires and demons I hadn’t seen since before I’d taken my exit. We exchanged quick greetings, and I continued on my way.

The atmosphere was thick with menacing air and a sense of decadence, and I let the familiarity cling to me with comfort. I detected no undercurrents that would set me on edge, nothing that indicated I should be wary. My confidence increased, buoying my soul. Perhaps I had feared for nothing? I would be victorious; I was in my element.

We stopped at a set of double doors which then opened without assistance, revealing the opulent meeting room.

The two guards that accompanied me stayed by the entry standing tall and at attention. Looking forward, I took in the space.

The Ancients represented a mixture of races and species, and the five men stood from their seats. Each of the men represented either Crossbreeds, high-level demons including royalty, angels, Lesser demons, or Mid-level demons.

Ezra stood in the center; his blond hair smoothed back from his head to cascade down his back. Anthony and Noah were on his left, and Vernon and Diego to his right. The immense amount of power emanating from the group was formidable and no one knew just how much magic each individual contained. There’d been much speculation over the years, of course, but the secrecy was a matter of self-preservation.

Occasionally, the collective would trade species responsibility in the pursuit of fairness and equity. No one wanted to be stuck with a lower class such as the Lessers for eternity.

Ezra had been assigned to crossbreeds for a very long time, likely due to a combination of our extraordinarily low numbers and his vast knowledge of the scant population. Other than him, it was unclear which man represented which species, currently. There were no outward signs of responsibility, no emblems or jewelry that would denote their wards.

Gossip and rumors stated the men could levitate, turn people to stone, extinguish enemies merely by thinking about it, and cause others to spontaneously combust. No one in their right mind wanted to find out for certain. I had witnessed a criminal being consumed by flame once, from the inside out, at a formal yet private execution. I suspected most of the stories were true, although to what degree, I could not say with confidence.

I was uneager to test the validity of the stories, hence my arrival in front of the revered board upon request.

As was expected, I knelt before my superiors, keeping my gaze downcast. I heard Ezra softly padding across the black marble while I stared at the veins of red jade swirled into the flooring. The swirls appeared as blood, a fitting symbolism for the brute strength of the Second Realm.

His hand touched my right shoulder. “Welcome, Josiah. You may stand and join us.”

He held his hand toward the empty seat on the near side of the long, wide rectangular table. The piece of furniture was crafted of red jade, the color matching that of the floor. The walls of the room were formed of aged oak, painted with a shiny black lacquer designed to appear a perfect match with the marble flooring. The deception was strategically placed as many a protective spell lay within the cellular matter of the wood.

Ezra returned to his seat as I slid into my own and then uniformed low-level demons brought in and served beverages.

“Josiah,” Ezra began, dragging out my name. “You have met with much success, have you not?” He didn’t give me the chance to answer, but it wasn’t necessary. My success was clear through the profitability of my company and my illustrious record of faithful service to the Court. “Are you happy? Joyous?”

“I am, thank you,” I responded before lifting my glass to my lips. Before taking a sip, I scented and examined the contents. While it was highly unlikely I’d be sabotaged, the possibility remained. Suitably reassured, I drank.

“We understand your new product, Onychinus, will be much sought after,” Noah remarked, “due to its effect."

This was what we expected with the drug, that its unique capabilities and effectiveness on human behavior and emotions, coupled with lessened negative outcomes would prove enormously popular. An important side effect for us supernatural creatures was the atmospheric food the released emotions would provide. The more food, especially for demons, the more power and riches there were to be had. Negative frequencies could be more influential, but all were valuable.

“That is what we anticipate. We expect higher-end bars and clubs will find it increases business as well as making life easier for the vampires and demons who have made their home in the Third Realm,” I stated.

The men exchanged glances before Diego spoke. “It has been a while since the unfortunate business with Sem.”

The man was referring to a conspiracy between a demon High Lord, Sem, and a demon God, Julian, that I’d been partially responsible for resolving in the past. I preferred to stay uninvolved with such antics, but Sem had been going against everything I stood for and was putting me at risk with his games. Their ultimate plan was to replace the Ancients with themselves, and I’d exposed the subterfuge and ended Sem myself.

I’d never inquired after Julian other than to know he was gone, another being likely having ended him, and I’d begun a new existence in the Third Realm. None of this was anything I cared to spend much time thinking about. It was in the past; it didn’t matter anymore. Those who deserved death were extinguished.

Vernon spoke up. “While we appreciate your foresight, it should be permanently noted you did not clear your actions with the collective.”

The rustle of paper disturbed the silence as Diego rifled through a stack. “It was recorded,” he said, eyeing me and then busying himself again.

I bristled but kept my mouth shut. I didn’t bother reining in my errant aura, which I knew was flickering, expanding, and displaying my temper.

Ezra chuckled softly. “I believe he felt time was of the essence,” he addressed the men beside him, turning his head to the left and then the right, as he defended my actions. “Had the outcome been different perhaps some of us wouldn’t be here right now.”

He was subtly letting me know I would be the one to have been absent. While I hadn’t been transparent with my ultimate objective of remaining in the Third Realm when I’d left, it had been tolerated due to the fortuitous outcome with Sem and Julian. That coupled with my mostly exemplary history when many became overly ambitious or greedy had ensured I wasn’t dragged back and punished.

“Seeing as Josiah is here regardless of the past, that brings us to the next order of business,” Ezra stated, clapping his hands together and signaling for beverages to be refilled.

Vernon glanced at me, a disdainful glare in his eyes before he schooled his expression and nodded. The conversation paused while waiters approached with lead crystal carafes, efficiently bringing us fresh blood.

“You will be visiting your parents while here in the Second, will you not?” Anthony finally spoke.

I nodded. “If time allows, yes.”

The servers disappeared back into the shadows and Ezra took over again. “It has come to our attention that your companion, Micha, has been entertaining a human woman.”

He leaned back in his seat. “What do you know of this?”

“I haven’t met her, but he has mentioned spending time with a woman.” It would do me no good to deny the truth. Ezra appeared thoughtful for a moment, and then I felt everyone’s eyes on me.

“You are in a position to marry,” Ezra stated, and I held my breath. “We have gathered some candidates whom you will meet with later today. Choose one for Micha as well.”

Deep inside my spirit plunged, my energetic field whipping and snapping into place down in the recesses of my heart. There was no way the creatures before me didn’t sense my anger. They must have known I wanted to throw myself across the table and rip their spines out through their throats. How dare they expect me to betray my closest friend or tear out my own heart? They’d given me no warning and took advantage of my absence as well as my inherent sense of duty.

Anthony cleared his throat. “Your affinity and weakness for the humans has been noted since you removed the female infant,” he remarked pointedly.

I had forgotten about the tiny girl, a female whose father I’d befriended years ago. She’d contained witch’s blood, and her father had been someone who used to deliver intel to me. For the most part, I had no use for humans other than as food and cattle but for some reason I’d grown fond of the man, and in turn saved his child after he and his wife had been murdered. It’d been an impulsive move, and unlike me.

There was also the matter of the woman who’d been employed here, Eliana, as a receptionist. I’d had an intimate relationship with her, as much as I could under the circumstances. She’d sworn her loyalty and fealty to the High Court, and I’d strongly favored the human. I’d been ordered to execute her due to her actions. I did, and publicly, but not without argument behind closed doors as I fought for her pardon, first.

I’d proven myself multiple times and yet not received any grace. And now, it seemed, my past actions had given me the stain of a less-than-ideal reputation I hadn’t realized.

Against my better judgment, I offered an option. “It may be that Micha would prefer to choose his mate himself. May I suggest summoning him to peruse his options?”

“You may not. You are his superior and know what is best for him.” Ezra polished off his drink. “You will select a woman for yourself as well and we will begin the rituals.”

Noah began rolling up the scroll he’d had placed before him before glancing at me. “Neither of you have claimed the women you were entertaining; this should be easy.” He stood up, bowing to his fellow members. “Please excuse me, I have an important matter to attend to.”

I bowed my head, “Thank you.”

Ezra softened his voice just the slightest bit. “This may not be the future you want but it is the future you expect. This concludes our meeting.”

In my attempt to win Della’s love, I hadn’t claimed her, not fully. I’d wanted her to come to me willingly, to beg for me, plead for me, and in my consideration for her feelings I’d only hurt myself. I’d never been so enthralled, never had my heart held captive with more than a fleeting infatuation until her. I couldn’t explain the draw to her, the obsession, either to myself or to another living soul. My whole body had cried out from the moment I first saw her, as if she were the sole reason for my existence. She was my match.

While I craved her physically, I also desired her mentally. This made me more vulnerable, I knew, but I couldn’t stop myself. Very few people were worthy of my care or interest and those who’d ensnared me in that manner were stuck with me for life. I was either all in, or one did not exist. There was no in between.

Would things have been different with the Court if I’d just taken Della? If I’d claimed her on my cock with my teeth planted firmly in her neck? There was no way to know for certain, now.

What was I to do with her? I could keep her as a mistress and as a blood donor, which was a slightly common practice among demons. I’d heard of crossbreeds doing similar but thanks to the vampire blood we contained, more than one devasting war had been waged due to the dishonor of such actions. The women we loved deserved more respect than that.

The idea of brutality to get what I wanted appealed to my lower instincts and my gums started to ache. My dick then began to harden over the brief thought of mass violence and bloodshed.

Shaking myself internally, I brought my attention back to the men who’d just determined my fate and slashed my dreams. “Thank you, your honors, for your time and thoughtful consideration.”

My words rang hollow, and my head buzzed with an agony that resonated all the way down through my chest. Pushing away the insistent gory visuals that kept popping up, I stood, bowed at the waist, and took my leave.