“I'm going tomorrow,” said Aidan, as he and Flame Song sat beside the fire. The children were all asleep, and they were enjoying the rare moment of quiet together.

“Going?” Flame looked at him, and Aidan could see fear behind the question. He wished that fear were unfounded, but he couldn't put it off any longer.

“Yes. Going to find the demon. I've waited more than a year, love. I can't keep putting it off forever. We can't spend the rest of our lives in fear, and it won't be long before the children want to leave the northlands.”

“I know.” Flame looked into the fire and sighed deeply. When she turned back to Aidan there were tears in her eyes. “I just wish... I wish I could come with you. I wish I could do it for you, even.”

“Oh Flame...” Aidan put his arm around her and held her close to his side. “Maybe it's selfish of me, but I'm glad you'll be out of harm's way this time, as much as it would comfort me to have you by my side. We can't both go though. The children...”

“I know,” she said again, a tear spilling down her cheek. “I just... if something happens to you...”

Aidan turned to her and brushed the tear away with gentle tenderness. “Don't cry. I’m not planning on dying, believe me. I intend to deal with this nuisance and come back and live a peaceful happily-ever-after with you.” He wrapped his own arms around her, and folded his wings around as well, encircling them both in soft white feathers. He stroked her hair gently as she blinked the tears out of her eyes. Then he kissed her, telling her without words that he loved her and he always would.

They were silent then as they spoke in a language of gentle kisses of soft caresses, reaffirming their love for each other. Aidan’s kisses moved down to her throat and his lips hovered over the spot at the base of her neck where her pulse pounded close to the surface. A shiver of pleasant anticipation went through Flame Song as Aidan drew his sharp eyeteeth gently, tantalizingly, across her skin. Then she gasped softly as he broke through to taste the salty-sweetness of her blood.

Aidan was enveloped in a rush of sensation. The taste of his wife’s blood was heady, intoxicating, but the taste alone was nothing compared to the feeling as the bond formed between them. Their hearts were linked in an intimate union, and each knew the true depth of the other’s love. There was sadness there, as they faced what might be a long separation, even a final separation, but mostly what passed between them was love, a reaffirmation of the mutual devotion that had grown between them through all they had faced. It had been strengthened by each hardship and trial, and now the feeling was so pure it was almost beyond bearing as it washed over them both.

At length Aidan pulled back, not wanting to take too much. He kissed away the thin trickle of blood that ran from the two little marks he’d made. Flame Song sighed and lay back, resting her head on the cushions that lay scattered in front of the fire. Aidan lay next to her, his arm resting across her stomach, his head tucked under her chin. He closed his eyes and let a deep, dreamless sleep steal over him.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Jordanis gave Aidan a serious look. "You're putting yourself in a great deal of danger, even with that knife."

"I'm sure." Aidan was all too aware of how dangerous this was, but although he was scared stiff his determination still outweighed his fear. "My family can't live like this forever. It's fine now, they're all still fairly young, but it's not going to be long before they're old enough to want to move out, find spouses, start families, and how can they do that if they can't trust strangers, and can't be around other people? I'll wear this thing," he tapped his torc, "for as long as I live. And I'm probably going to live a very, very long time. I can't ask my family to spend all their lives in hiding because of me."

Jordanis nodded. "I understand. All right then. This will only take a few minutes." He lifted his hands, and an expression of intense concentration crossed his face. He said no words, but there was a hazy glow of power that grew slowly around his raised hands. Then it winked out and he lowered them. "It's done. You're behind shields here, but as soon as you step out of this room, you will no longer be warded."

Aidan nodded. He took a deep breath as he got to his feet. He didn't know how closely the demon watched him, though he was fairly certain it still did, but he half expected it to turn up the instant he stepped out the door. But he went out anyway. It had to be done.

Nothing happened when he went out the door. Nothing happened on the way back to his rooms either. He had almost hoped something would, that Asmodeus would turn up in that instant, and he could confront the demon and get it over with. He slept restlessly that day, and when he set out that evening he was nervous.

He was not flying home. He would return there eventually, but his home had wards yet, as did his wife and children. He was trying to find the demon, and going where it couldn't come wouldn't help. Instead he flew almost aimlessly. He thought for a while of going to visit Thomas again, but that was out of the question. The old man wasn't warded at all, and if the demon attacked while Aidan was at his house... No. So he flew in no particular direction through the clear night air. He passed over farmland that night. The farmhouses below sent a flicker of sadness through him. Down there were families, gathered together. And he was not with his family. Probably would not be with them until the demon was dead.

He meandered over farm and forest for more than a week and saw no sign of Asmodeus. Every day when he found somewhere to sleep he expected an attack while he was vulnerable, but every day nothing happened. He had told Flame Song that he would return and check in with her after three months, but he had hoped to have this over and done with within a matter of days. But it seemed that such hopes had been too optimistic.

After two more weeks of nothing at all, he realized that he would have to try something different. The first thing to do was to take a calculated risk. There was a slim chance that he would die, but from what Jordanis had told him there was no chance at all that the demon would get a working torc after his death, so it was worth risking.

He chose his spot carefully. It was far from any town or farm, so nobody would be hurt. Out in the open in an empty meadow so that nothing could sneak up on him. And in the middle of the night, so that he didn't have to worry about sunlight.

Then he pressed the catch at the back of the torc and removed it from his neck.

Nothing happened.

He stood there for perhaps five minutes, then sighed and put it back on. Now what? He's probably not following me around closely, or he'd have noticed that. But there's no way he's given up. So what is he up to?

Aidan sighed again. The demon was probably waiting on ground of his own choosing, where he would have potential allies and Aidan would not. Aidan had hoped to face him in more favorable circumstances, but there was no other option left. He would have to go to a city.

He chose Queensford, simply because it was nearer than Aerievale or Porttown. He arrived at the city walls only an hour or so before dawn. He stopped at the first inn he came to and got a room. He felt keyed up, very aware that the demon or his followers were very possibly somewhere within the city, and might well find and attack him while he slept, but when the sun rose over the horizon he managed to fall asleep anyway.

He was a bit surprised to find himself waking at sundown, with no sign that anything had happened during the day. But when he left his room and went downstairs he found the innkeeper waiting for him with a letter.

“This was left for you, sir,” the man said. Aidan took it cautiously, and opened the folded note. The handwriting was unfamiliar, but seemed to be ordinary ink on ordinary paper. It was an address, followed by “Come tonight” and nothing more.

“Did you see who left it?” asked Aidan.

“Aye. A human man, highborn I'd guess. Well dressed, dark hair, fairly tall. A mage maybe. It was strange though, he had red eyes. Don't see that often.”

“No, no you don't,” said Aidan. So he's here, he thought. Good. Maybe I can end this tonight. He folded the paper and put it in his pocket, then with a deep breath he set out through the torch-lit city streets.

The address proved to be pretty much what he'd expected, an empty warehouse in one of the less savory parts of the city. The broad loading doors were shut, but a smaller door near them stood open, though the room inside was dark. Aidan stepped inside, one hand resting on his blessed dagger, the prick of pain reassuring him as he entered.

At first he thought the cavernous room was empty, but then a ball of blue light flared into life near the center of the room and he saw a figure standing there.

It was not Asmodeus. As Aidan cautiously approached he saw that it was a bearded, middle-aged human wearing mage's robes.

“You must be Aidan,” said the man genially as Aidan stopped a few yards away.

“Where's Asmodeus?”

“Waiting for you. And if you will kindly take two steps forward, I can send you to him,” said the mage.

Aidan hesitated. He was walking into a trap. He knew he was walking into a trap, but what other choice did he have? He tightened his grip on the dagger's hilt, the intensified pain reminding him that trap or no, he had a weapon the demon couldn't possibly anticipate. He stepped forward.

There was a flash of light, and the world dropped out from under his feet. The sensation was familiar, he'd felt it before. The falling, spinning, twisting sensation was the feeling of moving through a portal between worlds. It didn't last long, and only moments later he stood on solid ground again. He looked around and blinked at the scenery. Okay, maybe not so solid.

He was standing on a roughly circular patch of what seemed to be rock. It dropped off on all sides, as though he were standing at the top of a mountain, but the view around him suggested something very different, for floating against a reddish background that might or might not be considered sky were hundreds of chunks of a similar substance. All of them had one flat plane on their otherwise irregular surfaces, but although some were oriented like the space where Aidan stood, others were on the sides or the bottoms of the floating rocks. Thin ribbons of something, perhaps water, wound through the air among the rocks. It was a bewildering landscape, and when Aidan stepped to the edge and looked over, it looked the same below as it did on every other side.

“I guess I'm not in Kansas anymore, Toto,” he said to himself.

“Indeed not.”

Aidan jumped and spun around. Although seconds ago nobody had been there, now the demon Asmodeus, in his all-too-familiar human form, stood a few feet away.

“I give you one last chance, mortal. Give me the torc. I will send you home, and you will never see me again”

“No,” said Aidan.

Asmodeus snarled. “You pathetic creature! Why must you be so stubborn! Do you want me to follow you and harass your family forever? Do you want me to kill you?”

“Not particularly. At this point, demon, what I want is you, dead.”

“I am immortal. Demons can't be killed. Unlike you frail mortal beings.”

Aidan laughed at that. “You are a liar, is what you are. You're no more immortal than I am.” He drew both daggers and advanced on the demon.

Asmodeus pulled a black sword out of thin air. Or perhaps shaped it from his own shadow substance, it was hard to tell. And it didn't matter. Aidan leaped at him, letting the ordinary, right-hand dagger lead, and following it up immediately with the blessed dagger in his left. The demon managed to deflect both blows, but the second whisked past within inches, and Asmodeus flinched, perhaps feeling the dagger's holy power.

“What is that blade?” He backed away as he spoke, his sword held warily in front of him. “You are undead, you can't even touch a weapon that can harm me!”

Aidan just smiled, letting his fangs show, and advanced again. Although he was moving backwards, Asmodeus seemed to be aware of the where the edge of their small circle lay. He shifted sideways as he retreated, circling warily. Aidan struck forward again, and this time the demon parried the holy blade, rather than dodging it. The sword seemed to shatter, and the demon made a peculiar hissing, screeching sound. The demon's sword reformed from scattered shadow fragments, but now Asmodeus was dodging Aidan's blows rather than parrying them. And so it wasn't long before Aidan managed to hit the demon itself. The blessed blade drew a line of fire along the demon's arm, and Asmodeus dropped his sword and screamed, stumbling back away from Aidan, who continued to pursue. The demon's form flickered, dissolving into shadows and partially reforming a dozen times as Aidan advanced. But when he thought he had his opponent pinned against the edge, Asmodeus turned completely to shadow, and went over the edge, almost seeming to pour over like a brief, dark waterfall.

Without hesitation Aidan spread his wings and dived after the falling shadow. But as he plummeted through the air, suddenly there was a horrible jerk and he found he was falling sideways. After a moment of sickening disorientation he realized that no, he was falling down, but “down” was no longer in the same direction. He partially spread his wings, straightening himself and slowing his fall slightly, but the demon had not gone sideways, and looking around as he continued to fall he couldn't see it anywhere. He spread his wings further, gliding, but with another lurch the direction of “down” changed again, and he started tumbling, disoriented as he pinwheeled through the air. He managed to pull out of the spin, and tried to aim for a piece of floating land that seemed to be oriented in the right direction, but before he got there he encountered yet another change in direction, this time a complete one-eighty turn that left him feeling upside-down, and falling once again. He yelped in shock as his fall sent him through one of the flowing ribbons. It did indeed seem to be water, and ice cold water at that, so now he was drenched and chilled as well as dizzy and disoriented.

He clung tightly to the blessed dagger as he once more tried to straighten himself up. He no longer had any sense whatsoever of what direction he'd come from. And then, even though the pull of gravity hadn't changed this time, he was falling again, plummeting straight down as though he had no wings at all. He beat them, trying to slow his fall, but he continued to plummet as though he had done nothing at all. At the same time he realized that although he'd tried to draw breath and yelp at the sudden drop, nothing had happened. There was no breath to draw. He was falling because there was no air, and wings don't work in a vacuum. A sudden stabbing pain lanced through his ears, and he realized that his eardrums must have burst under the sudden pressure change.

This makes no sense! There can't be a patch of vacuum in the middle of a bunch of air! He could still see distant floating islands of rock, and the sky all around was the same dull red. He looked below, in the direction he was falling, and gulped. There were no islands there, just red, featureless and without any sense of distance or scale. It could be thousands of miles of nothing, or it could be a wall just a few feet from impact. He knew he was still falling, although there was no wind rushing past him. Great. I came so close, and now I'm just going to fall forever!

Just as he thought that there was jerking impact, almost like hitting a wall, or like belly-flopping into a pool, and wind was whistling around him again. The red had vanished, and he was falling through gray fog, with a dirty orange glow below him. He spread his wings and pulled up, and then something huge and brilliant loomed up ahead in the fog. He swerved just in time to miss colliding with a massive stone spire. He dodged it, and passed a second and a third, all three smoothed pale granite, obviously part of some building, lit up on a foggy night. He sank down lower and then with a thud he reached the ground, landing on a concrete sidewalk hard enough to leave him feeling shaken, but with no real harm done.

Aidan sank to his knees on the cold concrete and shuddered, gasping in welcome lungfulls of air. There was a sooty chemical taste to it that seemed vaguely familiar, but just then Aidan didn't care about anything other than having air and solid ground once again.

Everything was eerily silent, but that was because of his injured eardrums. As he healed sound gradually returned, and as Aidan gradually calmed enough to pay attention to his surroundings he realized that he was hearing the sounds of a city at night. Not an Arethan city with the clopping of hooves and ringing of distant clock towers, but a city like those of his long-past childhood with the hum of passing cars and the occasional honk from an irate driver.

Feeling more than a little confused, as well as still a bit dizzy, Aidan slowly got to his feet.

“Ah, there you are.”

Aidan groaned at the too-familiar, sardonic voice. He looked around, but saw no sign of the demon. “Show yourself, you coward,” he said.

“I think not,” came the reply. “I must admit that you are full of surprises, Aidan. I had not expected a blessed weapon. You must tell me some time how it is that you can touch it, given what you are. I suppose it is fortunate for me that you fell through the abyss to this other world. Frustrating as it is for me to delay getting what I want, I think I have a good chance of reaching my goal now. Because, you see, as long as you wear that little bauble you are trapped here. You know as well as I that I cannot touch you with my power, but it seems that I can touch the torc itself, if I do not direct the spell at your person. The torc is anchored to this world now. You cannot leave here while you wear it. You cannot go home, Aidan. You cannot see your family ever again, unless you take the torc off. That's all I want, take it off, and I will make you a portal home myself.”

Aidan sighed. “I'm not an idiot. And I know perfectly well that if I take the torc off I'll die.”

“But you took it off before and lived, Aidan. Why would you think such a thing?” The demon was trying to sound friendly, but not doing a very good job of it, in Aidan's opinion.

“Oh shut up. I still had it in my hand, didn't I? I'm not going to give it to you, it doesn't matter what you do. So why don't you come here and fight me. If you're so amazing and powerful and I'm so pathetic, you should win easily, and you can take the cursed thing from my corpse!”

“I am not an idiot either, Aidan.” The demon's voice was cold now. “If you die with it on it becomes just a piece of metal and glass. It is only of worth to me is surrendered while you still live. Otherwise you would have died long since and I would have my desire.”

“Sucks to be you,” muttered Aidan, the continued a bit louder. “I don't want to die, and I don't want you to have it either, so you're straight out of luck, demon.”

“Very well,” the demon's voice began to fade. “Perhaps I will find another way. But I leave the spell on you. Stay here, in this miserable world, and never see your home or family again.” And then it was gone, and Aidan sighed, sinking to the ground.

After a long time he got back to his feet. He didn't feel like trying to fly through the fog, so he simply walked, heading back towards the building he'd nearly hit earlier. The sidewalk he'd landed on led in that direction, flanked by small trees and grass, with whatever was beyond it invisible in the thick fog. Before he'd gone two yards he met a cross-path, and immediately after that his side-walk ended in a black asphalt street. A dim green glow marked what must be a traffic light, and the white stripes of a crosswalk led across to where a red glow, only just recognizable as a stylized hand, marked the far side of the street.

Coincidence, that this is so familiar? Or is this my old home? He wished the fog would lift so that he could get a better look around. But then if this was Earth he might be better off with the gloom. At least this way his wings would be less noticeable. The street was deserted as far as he could see, though that wasn't far, but just because it had been so long since he'd touched anything technological, he pressed the button for the walk symbol. He could see it, though not quite crisply, on the far side, when the red hand changed to the little green person, and a regular chirp told the blind that it was safe to cross. He crossed the street, where he found another sidewalk lined in bushes and trees that dead-ended in a locked gate. A very diffuse glow ahead that loomed above everything suggested the large building was on the other side. With a shrug he spread his wings and flew over the gate. Large buildings might be recognizable, if this were Earth. Perhaps he could confirm it, and even find out what city he was in. Not a terribly large one, from the sound of it, but still, the street had been four lanes across, and huge structures were seldom built in small towns. The path he had followed thus far seemed like it would lead him in front of it, so he continued on. Soon he was standing before a massive, looming facade. A set of stairs led up to a huge, ornate door. The door, and the spires he'd seen earlier made him wonder if this was some cathedral. He climbed the stairs and gingerly touched the door knob, almost expecting it to burn when he touched it, as a cathedral on Aretha might have, but it was just cool metal under his hand. Does that mean that this isn't a cathedral? Or that holy power doesn't hurt me here? Or is it that holy power isn't real here, and there are no gods?

The knob didn't turn when he tried it, the door seemed to be locked. Then he noticed the decoration on the knob. It was an elaborate beehive. He blinked.

A beehive. And there were three spires. I wonder.... He turned and took wing again from the top of the stairs, circling out and up, trying to gain altitude. He was aware of the bright mass of the building beside him, and as he beat his wings and rose he could tell when he reached the level of the spires. He kept on rising until he was as high as the highest central one, then turned in towards it. As it loomed up out of the fog he almost laughed. He passed within inches of the golden, trumpet-blowing angel, then circled around to land again. He knew now where he was.

The Mormon temple. I remember coming here before, at Christmas, to see the lights. I wanted to climb the stairs and try the door then, but my mother wouldn't let me. I remember imagining that it was because the Mormons' God would smite me with lightning if somebody who wasn't one of them touched their temple. I guess he must not be the smiting type. Well, at least I know where I am. On Earth, and not just on Earth, in Utah, in Salt Lake City.

He settled tiredly to the ground again. Earth. And that means I'm the only aerian on the planet. Great. I need to find somewhere to hole up. He peered up at the temple again. He could probably find a spot to hide amid all the architectural elaborations on the roof and spires, but even if he hadn't been smitten for touching the door, it still seemed a bit sacrilegious to settle in for the night on somebody's holy building. Fortunately the downtown area near the temple held plenty of places for someone with wings to hide, and soon he'd found a nearby building with a sheltered alcove on the roof. He could sense that dawn was coming, so he curled up there, exhausted after the night's events, and was soon fast asleep.

When he woke the next night the fog was gone, and the city lay clear below his lofty perch. The temple was a brilliant beacon only a few blocks away, and the mountains rose up, silent and dark, in the distance. He knew there were many things he ought to do. Find a food source, for one. Find a better hiding place, and see if he could get his hands on some pillows or blankets. But there was something else he had to do first. His very first stop was at a newspaper box. He had no quarters to get a paper out, but he could make out the date through the glass. March 22, 2004. I missed the Olympics then, he thought with a smile. All that fuss, and I never got to see them. But obviously time has run differently, or else it should be 2020 or so. Heh. I guess I look about the age I should be, then... He hesitated a bit longer, looking at the headlines, but there were still people out at this hour, so he couldn't linger long. Soon he was aloft again, soaring above the city lights.

The mountains made it easy to know which way to go. They lay to the east, always, running north and south along the backbone of the whole state. He kept them to his right, heading north high above the city. The trip wasn't too long, a few hours was all, during which he had the sky to himself, except for a distant airplane, level with him and headed the other way, going to the airport that lay a few miles south and west of the city proper. I wonder if anybody is picking me up on radar? I'm obviously too small to be a plane, but I'm also obviously too big to be a bird. I hope they just write me off as a UFO and don't try to chase me down. I really don't want to end up caught and studied by somebody.

The night was still new enough that people were awake when he landed on the residential street in Ogden, forty miles north of the city. He'd seen enough maps that finding the house he wanted from the air had been easy. He looked at it, and he sighed softly. Just looking it was obvious that they were no longer here. There was a garden in the front now, that had obviously been well tended for some time, and his mother had a black thumb, plants she tended never grew this well. In a way it was a relief. He hadn't been able to keep from coming, but he wasn't sure what he would have said to his parents if they'd been here. “Hello, I'm your long-lost son, back from a fantasy world where I've aged twenty years even though I look like I'm eighteen, oh and by the way I'm not even remotely human anymore.”

He stared at the door. The windows were lit, somebody was home. It wouldn't be them, but he could ask... though if he found where his parents had moved to, what would he do? He stepped forward slowly. He stood on the doorstep for a long time, then he finally rang the bell.

A middle-aged woman answered it. He kept his wings folded tightly and hoped that in the darkness she wouldn't notice them. “Hello?” she said, obviously puzzled.

“I'm sorry to bother you,” he said, feeling incredibly nervous, “But I'm trying to find what happened to the people who used to live here. I don't suppose you know where they moved to?”

The woman paused, then shook her head. “Our landlord said something about them moving to England, if that's what you want to know, but I don't have an address. I can give you the landlord's number, if you like, he might have their new address.”

England. I can fly from Salt Lake to Ogden, but I don't think I could fly all the way to England. “Thank you, but that's all right. Goodnight.” Aidan stepped backwards carefully, not wanting to turn and show her his wings. She looked a little puzzled, but let the door close, allowing Aidan to turn and walk back to the street more normally. He sighed. England. Just like Mom always wanted but said she could never afford with us kids. Maybe one kid less was enough that they could save up the money. Maybe I did them a favor by vanishing. Or maybe Dad finally got that better job... No way to know, I guess.

He took to the air again, and headed for the nearby mountains. Here something that at least resembled wilderness wasn't far from the city, and he might be able to hunt his dinner. But he decided that once he had fed he would return to the city. Living alone in a wilderness with Flame and the children was bliss. Being utterly alone in a wilderness would be heartbreak. He would stay near civilization, even if he couldn't take part in it. And he wanted to stay near where he had appeared, in case somebody from Aretha somehow tracked him here.

He'd seen mule deer here often enough, though he'd never been fast enough to touch one before now. As it was catching his dinner proved easy enough once he found it, though it took him nearly until dawn to spot one, deer were not exactly scarce, but they were more wary than the deer he'd hunted in Aretha. Once he had fed he found a hollow among the scrub oak of the lower slopes that showed no sign of recent human presence and curled up to sleep out the day. The next night he returned to the city, and began scouting for everything he would need.

Food was surprisingly easy. Temple Square was a tourist attraction, and there were shaggy draft horses that pulled carriages the tourists could ride around in while the drivers pointed out historic landmarks and told stories about the city's past. The horses were stabled within the city itself, though a bit outside of the down town area. All he had to do was fly above them when they returned to their stables for the night for him to find the food source he needed.

A place to stay wasn't hard either. For someone with wings the city was full of useful nooks and crannies where nobody else could disturb him. Unfortunately furnishings for his hideout were much harder to come by. He eventually ended up filching some from an apartment with a carelessly open window. Getting the screen out from the outside was easy enough, his lockpicks served as prying tools. Locks here were more sophisticated than those common on Aretha, he might be able to open cheap locks, but he didn't trust himself to be able to pick any of the better ones, and people paid less attention to their windows anyway. Nobody in this world could fly.

He put the screen back in place when he was done and retreated to his rooftop lair, where the stolen pillows and blanket were very welcome indeed. He might not feel the cold, but soft padding between himself and the hard concrete made things much more comfortable.

With his needs seen to, though, there was nothing more for him to do. He couldn't go and visit the stores and the tourist attractions during daylight, and at night they were closed, even if he could somehow hide his wings. He didn't want to fly too much, otherwise he might increase the risks of being seen on radar. So he was more than a little bored. He spent many hours hashing over possible ways to return home, but even if he hadn't had to worry about the spell Asmodeus has put on the torc he didn't know how he'd manage it. His first trip from Earth to Aretha had been some kind of cosmic accident, and given the relatively small number of people who had come through the same portal he knew he couldn't count on it happening again. So his only choice was to wait and hope that Flame Song would set Jordanis and the other royal mages looking for him.

Meanwhile he was bored out of his mind, and his only entertainment was to watch the people that passed below his lofty rooftop perch.

So it was no surprise that when only a few weeks had passed he noticed what was almost certain a mugging going on below him. Two men had a third backed up against the wall of an alley behind the building. From above that was all he could make out, but his sensitive ears picked up a harsh demand for cash, which was enough for him to be quite certain what was going on. Well, I more or less look the part, he thought to himself with a grin. Wasn't there some comic book hero that had feathered wings? Why not play superhero if I can? He spread his wings and dropped down on the unsuspecting trio in a controlled fall. He landed more or less on top of one attacker, sending the man crashing to the ground. The second man stared at him, wide-eyed.

“Hi,” said Aidan, with a broad, toothy grin. “I think you should probably start running now, don't you?” He drew his right-hand dagger and took a step towards the man, who backed away a step, then turned and ran for it. Aidan laughed. “Now there's a cure for boredom.” He glanced at the downed man, who was quite obviously out cold and not going anywhere, then turned his attention to the person they'd been robbing. The man, or at least Aidan presumed it was a man, stood there gaping at him. Aidan gaped right back, somewhat surprised. The fellow was dressed all in black, from a black mesh long-sleeved shirt with a ragged black t-shirt pulled over it to a black velvet skirt and black boots. He also wore several spiked leather bracelets, a matching spiked collar, and a belt with dangling silver rings all along it. To top off the outfit the guy was wearing exaggerated black eyeliner and had one eyebrow and both ears pierced.

Aidan shook himself and tried not to stare. He's less of a freak than you are, after all. “Er, are you okay?”

“Uh... Yeah. Thanks.”

“Oh good,” said Aidan, smiling without showing his fangs.

The man stared at Aidan a moment longer and then said, “Look, I have to ask. Those are real, aren’t they? I mean the wings. I saw you flying! How is that possible?”

Aidan hesitated a moment, then decided he might as well. “Yeah, they’re real. As for how, well, I’m not exactly human, and I’m not exactly from around here. But the whole story is kind of complicated. And… I have to ask too. Where on earth are you going in that getup?”

“Huh? Oh. To a club, actually.”

“Must be some club!”

“The local goth hang-out,” the man replied.

“In Salt Lake? I didn’t know there was anything like that around here!”

“You’d be surprised, actually. And in a place like this we freaks need somewhere to go where we can relax and be ourselves. Being a freak isn’t easy.”

“I know,” said Aidan softly. I know more than you could possibly know, he thought sadly. Here he was a freak because of his wings, but even home on Aretha there were all too many places where he wasn't welcome because of his vampirism... He repressed a sigh. There was no point dwelling on such depressing thoughts.

There was an uncomfortable silence for a moment, then the man said, “Hey, we haven’t exactly been introduced. I’m Owen. And thanks again for the help. I don’t usually walk to the club, but nobody else in my building was going and I didn't want to pay for a cab. Guess I'll know better next time.”

“Guess so,” said Aidan with a smile. “I’m Aidan, by the way.” He held out his hand, and Owen took it without hesitating.

“Look, Aidan” said Owen, “You want to come with me? If there’s anywhere in this town where you’d fit in, The Sanctuary is it.”

“I…” Aidan hesitated. To go out in public, looking like he did? But maybe if he kept his wings folded people would think it was some kind of outfit, like Owen’s outlandish getup. And he missed human company. Perhaps he could try it just once. People in a goth club didn't seem likely to turn him in to the government for dissection, after all. “All right, I’ll go.”

“Great! It’s just a couple more blocks. We can talk along the way.” They strolled out of the alley. The streets were fairly empty at this time of night, but there were still a few people out. Aidan got some funny looks, but so did Owen. “Don’t mind them,” he said. “They’re just norms. They don’t know how to handle anybody who isn’t just like them.”

Aidan nodded. “Yeah. I suppose I should be used to it by now. Even back home...” he broke off, hit all over again by homesickness.

“Okay, you have got to tell me where you’re from, my friend, and how you got the wings. Not to mention the teeth, which I gather are also real?”

“Yeah, they’re real too. Actually I was born not far from here. But I got a chance to go… somewhere else. Another world. I’m not sure how to describe it. When you go there, it changes you, which is how I got the wings. The fangs... well, that's a longer story, and not a very fun one” He shrugged. “Bad luck seems to follow me, and I got into some pretty serious trouble that left me stranded here. I hope I can go home someday, but I don't know how long it will be.”

“That’s beyond belief,” said Owen, “but I suppose I believe it. I can’t think of any explanation that I’d believe better. How long have you been here?”

“Couple of weeks is all.”

“Where you living?”

Aidan shrugged. “Wherever. I can’t exactly get a job and pay rent looking like this.”

“You’re just camping on the street?”

Aidan grinned. “Not on the street, on the rooftops. You’d be surprised how many places there are where nobody ever goes up on the roof.”

“Neat. If you ever want somewhere better to crash though, look me up. I’ve got a little place and there’s room for two. And…” he gave Aidan a look which the aerian couldn’t read, “I have to ask one more question. You’re too gorgeous to be true, so the answer’s probably not what I want to hear. Are you straight and are you single?”

Aidan blushed. “Er… yeah, I’m straight and I’m married too. Um… sorry.”

Owen shrugged. “I’ll leave you alone then. I just had to ask.” He paused a bit and then said, “Married eh? You look a bit young to be all tied up like that.”

Aidan laughed. “I’m older than I look.”

“How old, if that’s not prying?”

“Not centuries or anything like that. I’m thirty-four.”

“Yeah, you are older than you look. That reminds me of a problem, actually. You probably don’t have ID on you.”

“No.”

“Hmmm… ‘fraid I can’t get you into the upstairs then. You’ll have to go down and hang out with the under twenty-ones. And I can’t buy you a drink either. I was going to, you know, to thank you for saving my wallet and possibly my life back there.”

“Thanks for the thought, but I don’t drink anyway.”

“You’re one of the wise few then, my friend. Ah, and here we are. Sanctuary sweet Sanctuary. Come on.”

It was immediately obvious that the building had once been a church. But now it had a red neon sign in gothic letters and Aidan could feel the bass beat emanating from the place. Owen led the way inside. A doorman was taking money from a short line of people. To the right stairs went up, to the left they descended. “I’m paying for two,” said Owen and presented ID and money to the man. He got his hand stamped, and Aidan, admitting that he didn’t have ID, got a different stamp and a searching glance. “You can’t take the knives inside,” said the man. Aidan blinked. This hadn’t occurred to him, but it should have.

“Can I leave them with you?” he asked.

“Sure.”

“All’s well then,” said Aidan, feeling oddly cheerful, and divested himself of the two obvious daggers at his waist. He felt no need to mention the five other daggers hidden about his person.

Everything was black with mostly dim or reddish lighting. Very gothic indeed, thought Aidan. Heavy industrial music was vibrating the walls in the dance area where the stairs let out, but to the left a doorway offered escape from the deafening beat. Aidan’s sensitive ears felt abused already, so he quickly took the offered relief, going through the door and into a kind of lounge with a pool table, a couch, and an assortment of tables and chairs. A bar, presumable serving only the non-alcoholic, was against the far wall. The place wasn’t crowded, though it was fairly full. The predominant color among the patrons, as with the décor, was black. Aidan gave his own dark blue and black outfit an amused glance. Looks like I’ll fit in fine. And in fact he wasn’t the only one in medieval style clothing either. Nor was he the only one with fangs. One girl sitting on the couch had a pair. I am the only one with wings, but I guess I do blend in here, at least a little.

Owen made a beeline for the couch, grabbing Aidan’s hand and towing the aerian behind him. “Hey Angela,” he said, addressing the fanged girl, “meet Aidan. He just saved my life.”

The girl grinned toothily and got up. She gave Aidan a hug, which he hadn’t expected. Goths were supposed to be melodramatic, depressed, and not into thing like hugging, weren’t they? “Nice fangs,” she said.

“Er, thanks.”

“Where’d you get them? They’re a lot better than the ones I have.”

Aidan blinked. Should he tell her they were real?

“Hey now,” said Owen with a grin, “are you telling me, Angela dear, that yours aren’t the real thing? And here I thought

I knew an exotic vampire!”

“Owen,” scolded the girl.

“Yes?” he said with an expression of exaggerated innocence.

“You’re terrible.”

“Why thank you,” he replied, and curtsied.

“Here, have a seat,” offered Angela, sitting back down on the couch. Aidan gave the couch a look, considered his wings, and perched himself on the arm. Trying to sit down without spreading his wings would just have ended up breaking feathers.

“Wow,” said Angela, brushing her fingers across his wings, “the feathers are so soft. And they look so real.”

Aidan just shrugged. He didn’t know what to say. This wasn’t quite what he’d expected, but though a bit nervous, he realized he was actually enjoying himself. Pretty soon there was a little group gathered around the couch, making introductions, chattering, and just all having a good time.

“Hey,” said Angela suddenly, “my song is on. Do you dance?” she looked at Aidan.

“Sort of,” he replied.

“Then come on.” She got up and headed for the dance floor. Aidan decided to go with the flow and followed. Apparently this song was popular for the floor was full. Aidan took a moment to watch the dancing. It wasn’t like anything he’d seen before. People didn’t dance together, each danced alone. And there didn’t seem to be any set moves, just a sort of way of moving. It was flowing and despite the fast beat, it was actually slow and graceful. “What kind of dancing is that?” asked Aidan, curious.

“I don't think it has a name,” responded Owen, having to speak right next to Aidan’s ear to be heard over the beat.

“It’s easy. You want to try?”

“Sure.” Aidan stepped out onto the floor. It was odd watching the patterns that formed. Everyone moved randomly around and yet they almost never touched. Hands moved in graceful gestures, feet marked a half-time beat, and everyone seemed to flow. Hesitantly Aidan tried to follow the random pattern. Soon he was in the middle of the floor, moving independently and yet as one among the others. The music too was oddly beautiful. This song had a deep hard beat like the industrial music he’d heard earlier, but this song could only be called gothic, for there was a choir singing in a minor key, something almost joyous and yet sad in Latin. He lost himself in the music and was disappointed when at last the song came to an end. Something loud and harsh followed it and he moved off of the dance floor. He returned to the almost deserted couch, perching again on the arm.

Owen turned up again and plopped down on the couch. “You enjoying yourself?”

“Yes, actually. I was a bit nervous at first, but I think you were right. I fit in here as well as I’m going to anywhere on this world.”

“Hey, I owe you big time. Anytime you want to come, I’ll get you in. I’m here every night this place is open.”

“Thanks Owen.”

They left just before the club closed. “I’ll walk you home,” offered Aidan. “It would be a shame if I saved you on the way there only to let you get mugged again on the way back.”

“Come home with me. I’m by myself since my last boyfriend moved out, and I promise I won’t molest you in the night. I never hit on straight guys once I know they’re straight.”

“I don’t know…”

“Is it the gay thing, or the goth thing, or do you just prefer your rooftops?”

“Well…” Aidan considered. “I guess it’s partly that I worry about being exposed to the public eye. What if your landlord sees me and calls the paper or something? And… if I’m being honest I don't know how comfortable I am with the gay thing. Not that I’m putting you down,” he added quickly. “You’re the one living your life, I’m not going to tell you how to. Heck, most everybody, me included, thinks stealing isn’t right, but that doesn’t keep me from being a bit of a klepto. I just can’t help myself sometimes. And boy has that gotten me into trouble. Er. And that's a lousy metaphor, but I'm trying to say that even if it makes me a little uncomfortable, I'm don't think your sex life is my business, really.”

Owen laughed. “So is that a yes or a no then?”

“Ah heck, sure, I’ll stay at your place.”

Owen lived in a five-story apartment block, and to Aidan’s delight (and Owen’s annoyance as the elevator was out) he lived on the top floor. “Here we are,” he said as he opened the door. “It’s not much but it’s home.”

He ushered Aidan inside and locked and bolted the door behind him. “The couch folds out into a bed,” said Owen. “Is that all right for you?”

“Sure. I’m not anywhere near ready to sleep yet though,” he added. “I keep very nocturnal hours.”

“Me too. Up for a game of something then? I play a mean game of Scrabble and there’s an old Playstation around here somewhere.”

“Scrabble… I ought to import that to Aretha.”

“You like Scrabble then? I love it, but these days I’m hard-pressed to find a challenge. None of my friends will play against me because I always win. I’m very good.”

“I’m very rusty. I haven’t played in about twenty years, but back in the day I was a pretty mean player. Sure. I’ll play you a game.”

Aidan lost the first game miserably. He had reverted to speaking English readily enough, but his spelling skills were very rusty. By the time the fourth game finished, however, he had at least closed the gap significantly. They finished the last game when the sky began to lighten. Aidan yawned. “I think it’s time for bed,” he said.

“I’ll second that. Need anything?”

“Nah. Thanks though.”

“You’re welcome. I’d say see you in the morning, only its morning now. See you later.”

Aidan yawned again. Then he divested himself of weaponry and clothes and practically fell into the bed.

He came half awake while the sun was still up to realize that Owen was standing over him going “Oh damn, damn, Aidan don't do this to me, what am I going to do?” in a panicked tone of voice.

Aidan opened his eyes, squinting against the sunlight. “Wha..?”

“You're alive!”

“'Course I’m alive.” He blinked, trying to wake up all the way. His eyes were starting to adjust a bit.

“I got up and I thought I’d leave you alone if you needed more sleep, but after a bit I thought I’d at least check on you and you weren’t breathing!”

“Sorry… I didn’t know you hadn’t figured it out or I would have warned you. I’m a vampire. I’m not supposed to be breathing.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah.” He yawned and blinked sleepily. “Sorry I scared you. I’ll be up in an hour or two, once the sun is down.” And with that he closed his eyes and immediately fell asleep.

When he woke up at sundown Owen was sitting in a chair in the corner and staring at him. Aidan sat up and stretched, spreading his wings as well as his arms. “You know,” said Owen, “it’s just downright eerie watching you sleep. You look dead.”

“Well, technically I am dead,” said Aidan.

Owen shrugged, then grinned. “You also, if you’ll forgive me for saying it, look hot. It really is too bad you’re straight and taken.”

Aidan blushed bright red. “Heh. Well, I guess I can forgive you for admiring the view. Just don’t try and seduce me or anything like that.”

“How about I promise not to seduce you if you promise not to have me for dinner?”

“Fair enough. And speaking of food, I need to go get some. Though not just now. I’m afraid what I need isn’t available at the moment.”

“What do you mean? You do drink blood, don’t you?”

“Yes. But I avoid taking human blood when at all possible. And even here in the city there are other sources. You know the horses that draw those old-fashioned carriages the tourists ride? They’re stabled not too far from here. A person can’t lose very much blood, but a horse can afford to lose quite a bit with no harm done. So I go feed off of them. But they’re still out working at this hour.”

“I see. You know if I told anybody about my new roommate, they wouldn’t believe me. A flying extraterrestrial vampire. Entirely too weird.”

“You going back to the club tonight?”

“Today’s Sunday. It’s not open. They only open three days a week, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. It’s a shame, but considering that it’s totally dead there even on Thursday I don’t blame them.” He shrugged and leaned back in the chair. “Disappointed?”

“The nights get long and lonely. I’d hoped to go back sooner. But I’ll survive.”

“Only four more days, my friend. I’m sure you will.”

Four more days saw Aidan back at The Sanctuary. He found he craved human company more than he’d thought. Even though most of the time he only sat back and watched what the other people were doing, somehow simply being there satisfied his need for companionship.

He found he enjoyed watching people. Just observing the continual drama of who was around who, watching who wore what outlandish outfit, who danced, who sat in the corners, it was endlessly fascinating.

So he noticed the new woman right away. By this time he’d been coming to The Sanctuary for more than a month and knew all the regulars, so he knew she was either new or came very seldom. She was dressed in the customary black, and wearing a leather choker with a spiked heart pendant, so she should have blended in, but somehow she stood out. She didn’t quite belong. He tried to analyze what it was, but it didn’t come to him.

She noticed his gaze and moved in his direction. “Hi,” she said, parking herself on the couch next to where he sat in his usual spot on the arm. “I’m Lucy.”

“Aidan. This your first time here?”

“Yeah.”

“What do you think of it?”

“Pretty wild.”

“I like it here. It’s one of the few places a guy like me can go and not get stared at like some kind of circus show.”

“What do you mean? I mean other than those wings and your teeth you look totally normal. I’d think once you took them off you’d blend right in.”

“Ah but that’s the rub you see. They don’t come off. Wings and teeth both, a permanent deal.”

“Why? If you don’t want to be stared at then why do something like that?”

Aidan just shrugged. He wasn’t about to go telling her all about Aretha and being a real vampire. He didn't go out of his way to lie to people about his oddities here, but telling a stranger his life story didn't seem like a good idea. “They’re part of who I am,” he finally said.

“What do you mean by that?”

He shrugged again. Why was she so curious?

“I really want to know, if you don’t mind telling me,” said Lucy.

“Why are you asking? If you don’t mind telling me.” Aidan grinned.

Lucy looked a bit taken aback. “Curiosity?”

“You say that like a question, not like an answer,” said Aidan. He didn’t really mind the questions, but he had no intention of answering them either. There was something about this Lucy…

“Okay,” she said, her manner suddenly changing, “You want the truth? I’m writing a book. All about the goth and vampire scene. I want to know what’s really behind the vampire myth. I think there’s something. So I’m visiting places like this to interview people like you. The real vampires. I don’t think real vampires are undead, I think they’re just people, ordinary people.”

“Real vampires eh?” Aidan just about laughed. I’m more real than you could ever guess, he thought. “Well, I’d love to oblige, but I’m afraid I value my privacy. I know there’s plenty of other people around here who’d be happy to tell you what you need to know.”

Lucy took the brush-off gracefully enough. “Well thanks anyhow. Sorry to bother you.”

“Hey, no problem. If you ever want to talk without asking my life story, I’m always around here somewhere.”

As he was leaving that night he spotted Lucy walking away from the club. She was walking away from the parking lot too. “Hey! Lucy! Don’t tell me you’re walking home at this hour of the night.”

“Oh hi!” she said. “No, I was just walking to the Trax station. I’ll catch a train from there. They don’t run often at this hour, but there’s still a few.”

“Oh no you’re not. Not alone anyhow. Owen,” he called to his friend, “You going with Mouse?”

“Yeah, I’m headed for the after-party. You going to walk the lady there home?”

“You got it. See you later.”

“Hey,” said Lucy, “I’ve got mace and martial arts training. I can take care of myself. Heck, I’m taller than you are!”

“I’m still not letting you walk there alone. Safety in numbers and all that.”

She held out her hands in a gesture of helplessness. “I guess I’m stuck with you. I should make you answer all my questions in return for letting you come.”

“I doubt the answers would help you any. I’m not the sort of vampire you’re putting in your book,” said Aidan as they strolled down the empty streets.

“What sort of vampire are you then?”

“The questions never stop, do they? All right. I’ll answer that one. I’m a real vampire.” He grinned at her.

“Which is exactly what I’m after,” said Lucy.

“Sure you are,” said Aidan.

“You’re being deliberately confusing,” she accused.

“You bet.”

She shook her head, exasperated. “Will you give me a straight answer just once?”

“I’ve already given you straight answers, you just don’t have the context to understand them. And no, I’m not going to give you the context. You don’t need to know my life story.”

“All right, I’ll leave you alone. We’re almost there, anyhow. See, there’s the station.”

Aidan looked up as she pointed, and although he was normally dexterous enough, the next pavement block in the sidewalk was cracked and tilted quite severely, and being distracted, he tripped. And without even thinking about it he instinctively half-spread his wings to try and regain his balance, nearly hitting Lucy with one of them.

She gasped and stopped in place, staring at him.

“Ah crap,” he said. “Sorry.”

“Those are real!”

Aidan couldn't help but laugh at her shocked expression. “I never said they weren't.”

“But... that's impossible!”

“Guess you must be hallucinating then.”

She shot him a glare. “I'm not. They're real! You have real wings!”

“Yes, and?”

“And... human beings don't have real wings!”

“I never said I was human.”

That silenced Lucy for a moment. She stared at him, then said, “So... what are you then?”

Aidan smiled, just broadly enough to show his fangs. “I already told you that. I'm a vampire.”

That got him another glare. “Vampires don't have wings either.”

“Not here they don't. But I'm not exactly from around here.”

“Where are you from then?”

Unable to resist, Aidan grinned and said, “Well, I was born in Bountiful, about sixty miles from here.”

Her glare intensified. “Bountiful isn't known for winged people. Seriously, where are you from?”

Aidan shrugged. “The name wouldn't mean anything to you. I'm not from Mars, or anything like that. Just... somewhere else.” He sighed then. “Somewhere where I wouldn't be gaped at and treated like a freak just for having wings. Somewhere I miss a great deal. Somewhere I hope to go home to someday.”

“I... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to treat you like a freak.”

He shrugged again and resumed walking. “Don't worry about it. So long as you don't plan on trying to turn me in to the government so they can take me apart to figure out how I work, or something like that, it's okay.”

“Of course not! I wouldn't do that to anybody.”

“Nice to know.” He smiled at her.

They reached the platform and Lucy sat on one of the benches. Aidan considered, then shrugged and half spread his wings so he could sit too. He had tried hard to keep them folded, since it made it obvious that they weren't merely a costume, but that particular cat was already out of the bag here.

Lucy kept looking at him, opening her mouth as though to say something, then stopping and looking away. Eventually Aidan said, “Whatever it is, you might as well ask it.”

“I don't even know where to start asking questions now,” she said. Then she looked along the tracks and added, “And my train is nearly here anyway.”

“Well, I'm at the club every night it's open, if you ever want to talk again.” She already knew his big secret, and it would be nice to have someone he could talk openly with besides Owen. Owen was a nice guy but other than Scrabble the two of them had almost nothing in common.

“I might do that,” said Lucy.

“I'll talk to you later then,” said Aidan as the train pulled up and Lucy got to her feet to board it.

The red-haired woman and the humanoid jackal both stare into the scrying glass. “Do you see any sign of him?” asks the woman.

“There’s nothing. I’m certain this is the place. I can see him going there and then nothing. I need to go there myself and see what happened. In the glass he’s just there one minute and gone the next.”

“But he’s not dead.”

“No. I’d see the body if he’d been killed. He’s just… gone elsewhere.”

“I hope so.”

“Have faith. He’s a survivor. I’m certain he’s still alive. It’s just a matter of finding him.”

The woman stares at the glass and sighs. “I hope you’re right. I truly hope you’re right.”

It was a week later before Aidan saw Lucy again, and as always she was full of questions. “Hi Aidan! How are you doing?”

“Pretty good” he said as she plopped down on the couch. It was a Thursday night and the club as half empty, so the couch was otherwise unoccupied.

“Well, I hope I don’t bother you too much, but I’m still curious. Can I ask at least one or two questions?”

“Ask all you want. I still reserve the right to be evasive and confusing, but I won’t lie to you. I haven’t so far.”

“So when you said you were a real vampire…”

“I’m a real vampire. The fangs weren’t done by my dentist.”

“Wow. What’s it like?”

“What’s being human like? It’s not really that different.”

“But you drink blood.”

“Sure.”

“That has to be different. I mean… well, how do you… uh…”

“How do I get it? If you’re asking do I creep in through bedroom windows to drain young girls dry, no. Even if I were so inclined my wife would never let me hear the end of it. I sneak in through stable doors and take a small donation from horses, generally. It doesn’t have to be human blood.”

“Oh. You’re married? Aren’t you a little young for that? Or no, you’re probably centuries old or something.”

Aidan laughed. “I am a bit older than I look, but not centuries. I’m thirty-four. And yes, I’m married. I got married young. I was barely nineteen at the time. But what about you? What brings you out looking for vampires?”

“I’ve just always been fascinated by them. Ever since I read my first vampire story when I was just a kid. And then I read this book about real vampires, about people who aren’t undead but who do sometimes drink blood, and they get permanent fangs, and run around at night and all this bizarre stuff. I wanted to learn more, so I decided to start locally, find out what I could here in Salt Lake. Once I’ve finished my research here I may go somewhere where I can find a larger vampire community. But you’d be surprised how many of them there are around here. Some of them come to places like this, but most of the ones who are really serious about it meet in private little groups. I’ve actually got an appointment to talk to the leader of a sort of vampire coven later tonight.”

“Is that safe? I mean you’re going to go alone to talk to a guy who most likely really drinks human blood?”

“I think I’ll be okay. You of all people should know that not all vampires are bad people.”

“Yeah, but I didn’t chose to be a vampire. If I had my way I’d still be an ordinary mortal. I’m a bit suspicious of anybody who doesn’t have to live this lifestyle but does anyhow. Drinking blood isn’t always healthy, physically or psychologically speaking.”

“Aidan, this book is my goal, my life’s work. I can’t find out what I need to know just hanging around goth clubs. I need to go speak with this man.”

“Then I’ll go with you.”

“What?”

“I don’t want you to go alone.”

“Who appointed you my bodyguard? Besides, I could probably break you in two myself.”

“Ah, but you forget, I’m a true undead. I’m much, much stronger than I look. And I’m very hard to injure. I’ve been shot, stabbed, burned, and even staked, and I’m still here.”

“If you say so. But why do you want to protect me anyhow? I really can take care of myself. And you hardly know me.”

Aidan shrugged. “I’d like to think of you as a friend. I don’t have very many and it would be a shame for me to lose you before I even get to know you. Now, can I come along?”

“All right, since you insist.”

“So who is this character anyhow?”

“He goes by 'Janus' though is real name is Andrew. I've done a little poking around, and he's some kind of middle management for the local office of an electronics company. That's part of why I really want to talk to him, he has such an ordinary day life, and yet he's the leader of a group of vampires by night. That's exactly the kind of thing I want to explore in my book. I've heard all kinds of crazy rumors about what his group gets up to, including some really wild stuff about black magic. I'm sure most of it isn't true, but being able to see a group vampire ritual isn't a chance to pass up lightly!”

“They invited you to an actual ritual then? When they don't even know you?” Aidan was suspicious. He didn't know if it would work here like it did at home, but blood magic wasn't something he thought well of.

“They said I could come and meet them before the ritual, and if they approve of me, they'll let me see it.”

“I see.” Aidan was suddenly very, very glad that Lucy had agreed to let him come along.

They left the club well before closing and took a taxi across town. Janus was meeting them in his office. Presumably his rituals aren't terribly messy then, thought Aidan, feeling a little bit better about the visit. They were met at the entrance and escorted upstairs in a smooth and silent elevator. Janus himself greeted them at the door of a large conference room. As he ushered them in he gave Aidan a questioning look. “I was given to understand that you would be coming alone,” he said to Lucy.

“I decided to have a friend along, for my own protection. I hope you have no objections?”

“Of course not,” replied the distinguished man with a genteel smile that showed his sharply pointed canines. Aidan gave the man a good looking over. He was tall, in good shape, with dark hair just showing touches of silver at the temples. He was dressed in a neatly tailored suit, his hair was groomed to perfection, and only the fangs themselves gave any hint of his unusual obsessions. And even they weren't terribly large, presumably so that they would be less noticeable in his everyday life.

The “vampire” who’d escorted them thus far was cut from the same mold. Shorter and less handsome, he too was dressed in a dark suit and he too had a set of sharp teeth. That’s just downright creepy, decided Aidan. Blood-sucking businessmen.

“Have a seat,” offered their host. Lucy sat, but Aidan stood behind her chair, not wanting to spread his wings in order to sit. Janus gave him a glance, but said nothing as he sat opposite them. “So, how can I help you?”

“You’re aware of my project?” asked Lucy.

“You are writing a book on modern vampirism, correct?”

“Yes. I want to find out what’s behind this current trend. Vampires are suddenly popular, objects of fascination and even admiration rather than superstitious dread. I want to find out all I can about the people who are today’s vampires. I promise complete confidentiality, of course. I won’t use your name unless you want me to, and I’ll change details of location, appearance and so on so that no one will be able to identify you, if that’s the way you want it.”

“You want my life story, then.”

“Yes. And to see your rituals, if that's possible.”

“And what of your friend here. Will he too keep confidentiality?”

“I have no interest in your story or your rituals,” said Aidan. “I only came because I was concerned for Lucy’s safety. And I have my own reasons for wanting to avoid publicity. I won’t be telling anyone anything I hear from you. It would only draw unwanted attention on myself.”

“Yes,” said Janus, nodding. “I can see that. I admit to a certain curiosity about your nature myself. I could almost believe that those wings of yours are real.”

Aidan remained silent.

“Well,” said Janus, “I have a few more questions about this book of yours, and then I’ll be happy to answer any questions you might have. Firstly, are you working alone on this project, or is it some kind of group effort?”

“It’s just me. The book was my idea and I haven’t actually told anybody else about it, other than a few interviewees like yourself.”

“Ah. Are you a well-known author then, in certain circles, or is this to be your debut?”

“I’ve published a few small stories and an article or two, but this will be my first book. I’m hardly well-known in any circle.”

Janus smiled, and suddenly Aidan had a very bad feeling. “Then it is entirely possible that nobody will ever guess I was the last to see you before you vanished,” he said.

“What?” Lucy jumped to her feet, but Janus’s henchman was blocking the door and he had drawn a gun from a shoulder holster that his tailored suit had hidden. She turned to Janus. “You’re insane! What are you doing?”

“You expressed an interest in seeing our blood rituals. Well, now you are going to have a very intimate look at one of them. After all, it would hardly be appropriate for us to use our own blood in them, would it? I usually find some homeless street bum, but here you were presenting yourself to me so handily, and with nobody who knew where you’d gone. How could I resist?” Turning to the man guarding the door he said, “Shoot the winged freak, we only need one for the ceremony.”

When Aidan heard Janus’s command he spun to face the gunman, ducking as he did to make himself a harder target as he moved toward the armed man. The man, however, was a good shot. Despite Aidan’s sudden movement he still managed to hit him right in the chest. The shot made Aidan stumble, and he went to one knee, the impact writing a soft sound of pain from him, but he was only stunned momentarily. The shooter was already lowering his weapon, thinking his job was done, when Aidan straightened and leaped forward again, moving faster than anything human could have. He had his daggers out now and he was angry. But even enraged as he was he didn’t want to kill, so he hit the man with the pommel leading. The force of the blow was more than enough to drop him in his tracks.

Janus and Lucy were both staring, stunned. “Come on Lucy! Let’s get out of here!” said Aidan urgently.

Lucy quickly shook off her shock and followed the sprinting aerian out the door. Janus too quickly recovered from his surprise. He grabbed a cell phone out of his pocket and Aidan could hear him calling for reinforcements as they pelted down the hall. “We probably shouldn’t take the elevator, let’s find the stairs,” he said. They quickly located the stairwell and soon were dashing down, Aidan leading the way, taking the steps four and five at a time. A door below them banged open and Aidan could hear feet hurrying up the stairs. “Great, they’re ahead of us.” He stopped on the next landing and exited into a hallway. This level seemed to be all offices. At this hour they were deserted, only a few emergency lights illuminating little patches of carpet beneath them. Aidan dashed down the hallway, looking for a second stairwell. He found it, but as soon as he opened the door he could hear ascending footsteps there too.

“We’re trapped,” said Lucy.

“Maybe not,” said Aidan. He turned to the nearest office. The door was locked, but that didn’t stop him. He pulled with all his strength and the lock broke. “Looks like we’re in luck,” he said. The office was a nice, spacious one with a huge floor-to-ceiling window that looked out over the city. They were about four stories up, too high to simply jump, but Aidan had something else in mind. He pushed the desk back out of the way and then turned and kicked the window. It broke with a spectacular shattering of glass. Shards went flying out into the night, glittering as they fell. Aidan turned to Lucy. “The only way out is down.”

She looked out the window, wide-eyed. “I hate heights,” she said.

“No time for that. Grab on, piggy-back style.” She looked at him as if he were insane. She was five or six inches taller then he and somewhat more heavily built as well. “Look,” said Aidan, “I can carry you. We won’t be able to really fly, it’s going to be more of a controlled fall, but I can do it. Now grab on, they’re almost here.”

The sounds of feet and voices in the hall decided her. She put her arms around Aidan’s neck and he didn’t wait for anything more, he simply dived out the window. For a heart-stopping moment they simply plunged down, but then Aidan spread his wings and gradually brought them out of the dive. He beat his wings as hard as he could, trying to gain altitude if possible, but they continued to sink. He heard the whir of a bullet passing by and banked sharply, making Lucy grab tighter and shriek. If he’d needed to breathe he would have been in trouble because she had a death-grip on his neck. He turned and twisted in the air, limited by the weight of Lucy on his back and the necessity of avoiding violent motions that might throw her off. At last they reached the ground. The landing was rough, but they were safely down. Aidan looked back up at the building he’d just left. He could see the broken window and the tiny figures of a few men still standing there. He took Lucy’s arm and hurried her down the street and around the first corner he came to, safely out of sight.

Several more turns and quite a few blocks later they stopped to rest in a park. Lucy collapsed onto a bench, panting hard. Aidan sighed and sat next to her. “You all right?” he asked.

“I think so,” said Lucy. Then she blinked and said, “I should be asking you that! You got shot!”

Aidan looked down ruefully at his perforated and bloodstained shirt. “I’m fine. Unfortunately my only real shirt is now a total loss. You can’t exactly get aerian-cut shirts at Wal-Mart you know.” He peeled the shirt slowly off. Beneath it his skin was bloodied but already the bullet hole had healed completely. He used the ruined shirt to clean the blood off as best he could. “What a mess. Guess it’s a good thing I came along though.”

“That... that psycho! He was going to kill us both. I can’t believe it!”

“Well, at least we got away relatively unscathed.”

“You’re really doing fine?”

“Sure. I lost a little blood is all. No problem.”

“So what now?”

Aidan shrugged. “He might decide to just write us off.”

“We should be so lucky. But I don’t think so. I mean we know his dirty secret now. He kills people, he’s a murderer. He can’t afford to let us go.”

“Are you going to report him to the cops then?”

“I... I don't know. What would I say? 'Gee officer, a psychotic vampire businessman tried to kill me, and then a winged vampire from outer space saved me!' I'd sound like a nutcase. And I don't have any proof about the way he's been killing people, it would be my word against his. Heck, he'd probably sue me for ruining that window.”

Aidan chuckled. “Yeah, probably. But doesn't that mean we're safe, if we couldn't possibly turn him in?”

“Only if he thinks the same way. And he's crazy, who knows what he thinks?”

“Good point. I’ll be fine, I can go back to living on rooftops and he’ll never find me. But I worry about you. He can track you down too easily. Would you have any objection to having a permanent bodyguard?”

“What, you?”

“Sure. You’ve seen how indestructible I am.”

“Yeah, but I do go places during the day too. What about then?”

“I can go out during daylight if I have to. But I think you’re in the most danger after dark anyhow.”

“I don’t know. I don’t want to be a burden on you. I like to take care of my own problems.”

“It’s no burden. I got myself involved in this, and now there’s no backing out as far as I’m concerned. And I’d never forgive myself if that loony got you and I could have prevented it.”

“I guess I’ve got myself a bodyguard then.”

“I should start by escorting you home. Where do you live?”

“South Salt Lake,” said Lucy. “There’s a Trax stop pretty near here where I can catch a train.”

“Let’s go then.”

Lucy had a little apartment in a somewhat dilapidated complex. Inside however it was bright and cozy. “You planning on staying the night?” said Lucy.

“If you don’t mind,” replied Aidan. “It’s much simpler that way.”

“I don’t have a spare bed, just the couch.”

“That’s fine. Oh, I should probably warn you. I’m going to be out cold during daylight unless you really try to wake me, and I don’t breathe when I’m asleep. So don’t panic. I scared the life out of Owen the first day I slept at his place.”

“You seriously don’t breathe?”

“Yep.”

“This I’ll have to see… Well, goodnight. See you tomorrow.”

“Is there any more news?” The woman's expression is concerned, worried even.

“The portal led to another plane,” says the jackal, his own expression serious. “And it's one where it's hard to track things. But I think I have a faint trace of him. He left there again, I'm not sure how. I'm trying to get a sense of where he's gone.”

“You can find him then?”

“Yes, my dear, I can find him. He doesn't quite radiate the unique energy of Aretha as strongly as the shards did, but he still is part of this world. I can find him. It will just take a little time.”

The woman smiles. “Time is something we both have. I'm just glad that he's alive.”

The jackal smiles back. “As am I.”

Over the next several weeks Aidan escorted Lucy everywhere she went after sunset. He followed her on minor errands, braving the publicity of places like Wal-Mart and 7-11, and he went with her to interview her modern vampires. She'd bought him a few spare shirts, which he altered to fit his wings. His sewing skills were decent enough, and he'd altered shirts for his wings before. She also loaned him a trench coat that at least made his wings less obvious, though he looked rather oddly hunchbacked with it on over them.

Somewhat to his surprise there was no trouble from Janus. Maybe he did write us off. He knows that I, at least, can’t afford to go to the police or the papers. But somehow Aidan couldn’t believe that Janus would let them go that easily. Still, as night after night passed without incident Aidan gradually relaxed a little.

Spending that much time together it was inevitable that Aidan and Lucy got to know each other very well. Lucy did get Aidan’s life story, and agreed that he probably wasn’t the kind of vampire she wanted for her book.

“I’m writing about the modern American vampire, people who choose the vampire lifestyle. But you’re more like something out of an old vampire story. One of Count Dracula’s unwilling victims or something.”

Aidan laughed. “Indeed. I have always wondered if there was any truth behind the Dracula story. I know that Dracula himself was a real man, but was he really a vampire? There are literally hundreds of stories and myths that have sprung up around the original book. Do any of them have any truth?”

“Are there any real vampires, I mean ones like you, in this world?” asked Lucy

“I honestly don’t know,” was Aidan’s reply. “It’s possible. Even if there weren’t to begin with, all it would take is one vampire from Aretha or somewhere like it coming here. But travel between the worlds isn't actually that common, as far as I know. I’ve never heard of a vampire from here. But that doesn’t necessarily mean anything.” He shrugged. “How is the book coming anyway?”

“I’ve got some good material. But I’ve got a long way to go. I mean my work here in Utah is only the beginning. The vampire community here is really quite small. Small but interesting.” She looked at Aidan and smiled. “And you’re probably the most interesting person in it. Maybe I’ll write another book about you. I’d have to publish it as a fictional account, but it could be quite a hit. You’ve had a pretty amazing life.” Aidan shrugged, a bit embarrassed and not quite sure what to say. “You’re a pretty amazing person, really,” said Lucy.

Aidan gave Lucy a penetrating look. There was something in the tone of her voice that was setting off warning alarms in his head. Then the sirens really started sounding as Lucy moved a bit closer to him on the couch where they sat and put her hand on his arm, saying, “You’re very lonely, I can see it. But you don’t need to be alone if you don’t want to.”

He gently moved her hand off of his arm. “I know where this is going, and I’m afraid I have to say no, Lucy.”

“Why?” she asked.

“Because I’m married. I can’t betray my wife.”

“She’s in another world. You said yourself that you may never see her again.”

Aidan shook his head. “There are moments when I despair and I think that, but when I’m in my right mind I know better. She’ll come for me. I don’t doubt it. She always has before, through obstacles just as great. She’s never let me down, and I can’t let her down. Even if it takes years, eventually she’ll find me.”

“I admire your faith,” said Lucy softly. “I’m a little bit disappointed too, I’ll admit. But commitment like yours is rare in this world, rare and precious. It’s good that you’re strong enough to stick to it.” She got up and went into her bedroom. Before she closed the door she turned back and said, “I hope this won’t ruin our friendship.”

Aidan smiled. “No. Don’t worry about that. A true friendship is also a rare and precious thing. It would take a lot more than this to ruin it.”

Aidan held onto his faith as week after week passed. He continued to guard Lucy, meeting with her vampires, going to the club, and going out in search of new contacts. He was a bit surprised to find out how much effort went into researching a book like that. Lucy told him that she expected to spend at least a couple of years before she had enough material to begin writing the final draft. “Another few months will see me finished with my work here in Utah,” she told Aidan. “Do you plan on coming with me when I head for San Francisco?”

“I don’t know,” Aidan replied. “I’ll have to see what happens between now and then.” They were again at The Sanctuary, sitting on the couch as usual. It was a Thursday, so there wasn’t much of a crowd. Owen was there, and a few other regulars, but Aidan and Lucy had the couch to themselves. “Who knows, by then I could be back home.”

“We can hope,” said Lucy with a smile.

“Hope springs eternal,” responded Aidan, grinning toothily. He was still homesick, but he was holding on to his faith. He’d never been particularly religious. Faith in God didn’t come easily to him. But faith in his wife was the center of his own personal belief system, such as it was. She had been the one constant in his life, always there for him since the day they’d first met.

“Looks like its time to head for home,” said Lucy. The bass beat from the dance floor had ended, replaced with a corny 80s song. It was the club’s way of gently reminding the patrons that the night was over and it was time to leave. Aidan and Lucy collected their things, she reclaiming her coat, he his daggers. Suitably equipped to venture out onto the darkened city streets, they made their way along the six blocks or so to the Trax station. They had gone perhaps half way when Aidan heard a voice from behind him. A child’s voice. An impossibly familiar voice. “Daddy!”

He turned around to see a familiar red-headed girl running out of the shadows beyond the streetlamp where he stood. “Spark?” he said, almost not believing it. She flung herself at him and he wrapped his arms around her, tears welling up in his eyes. Then he heard other voices, the sound of other feet running. He looked up and saw the two red-headed boys, shorter and taller, sprinting after their sister. “Dart, Flare!” he said, gathering them both into his arms. And toddling after than was little raven-haired Shadowfire. “Shade!” He let go of the others and knelt down to hug the little girl. And then he looked up to see one last person approaching him. With a smile on her face Flame Song stepped out of the darkness. Aidan stood and stared at her for a moment and then they both ran at each other, coming together in a tight embrace. “Oh Flame, I’ve missed you so much!” Aidan said. Tears were streaming down his face as he held his wife close and wrapped his wings around her.

“Why are you here?” he asked when he finally let go of her.

“Jordanis couldn't just pull you back from the other side, he had to send somebody through to bring you back. And the children all missed you so much, we all wanted to come. We could tell the demon wasn't anywhere near here.”

“But the demon told me that I wouldn't be able to pass through a portal, that he'd put some sort of spell on the torc.”

“Jordanis didn't mention any such spell. I suppose it's possible, but it's equally likely that the demon was lying.”

“Lying or not, you're here now.” Aidan took her hands, squeezing them tightly, wanting to just cling to her forever. “Even if I can't go home, I'm not alone anymore.”

“How sweet,” interrupted an unfortunately familiar voice. “Reunited with your long-lost family, I presume? Very convenient for me, I must say.” Aidan spun around to face Janus, who had stepped out from the shadows with a gun in hand.

Aidan felt terror shock through him as Janus aimed the gun at Shadowfire. He tried to move to step between the gunman and he daughter, but Janus snapped “Stop. If you take another step, I shoot.” Aidan froze, his mind spinning as he tried to figure out what to do.

“What do you want?” he asked, trying to keep the fear out of his voice.

“I want what you have. You survived being shot. It would be too much of a coincidence for our little vampire scholar here,” he gestured to Lucy with his free hand, “to be running around with some other sort of invulnerable being. You're a vampire. And you can turn me into one too, can't you?”

Aidan felt a tiny glimmer of hope. If Janus wanted to be a vampire, he would have to let Aidan near him, and he might get a chance to take the gun from him without it going off. “Yes, I can,” said Aidan.

“Very good!” Janus's hand was steady, the gun never wavering from Shadowfire, who stood stock still next to her siblings. All four of them were wide-eyed, and obviously afraid, but not panicked. Littlespark put her hand on Shadowfire's shoulder, and gave Aidan a look of determination. Aidan realized that she was ready to push Shadowfire out of the way, if Aidan could just get close enough to try for Janus's gun. And Flame... he could see her out of the corner of his eye, and when he realized what she was doing, he carefully avoided looking in her direction. From where Janus stood she was partially behind him, and she was shifting. But not shifting shape, she was doing something he'd never seen before, changing the color of her skin and hair from pale cream and vivid orange to more muted, dark colors. She was standing on the very edge of the pool of light the streetlight threw, and hopefully Janus wouldn't notice her gradually fading from view.

“What do you need to do to change me?” asked Janus.

“I have to take your blood,” Aidan replied, “and then you must take mine.”

“You have to take mine first?” Janus sounded suspicious.

“Yes. It doesn't work if the blood you get isn't your own blood type,” Aidan replied. Which he knew wasn't strictly true, but it was close enough, and it might give him the chance he needed.

“I'm not foolish enough to let you that near me,” said Janus. “So it seems I shall have to fall back to my alternative plan. You and your lovely family are going to come with me to somewhere private, where my people can keep an eye on everyone. I had hoped to keep the others of my coven out of this, but it seems they will have to be involved. Fortunately we won't have to go far. So, you are going to walk down the street with me.” He gestured once again, his free hand pointing south, away from the downtown area. The gun remained steadily pointed at Shadowfire.

“All right,” said Aidan. “Come on kids, we're going to just walk down the street.”

They started moving, with Littlespark still holding her sister's shoulder, both still several yards from Aidan. Flame had vanished entirely into the shadows, and Aidan breathed a tiny sigh of relief that Janus didn't seem to have noticed. But it seemed his relief was premature.

“Wait. The woman, where did she go?” Janus glanced around, seeing the children, Aidan, and Lucy. And as soon as his head was turned, there was a roar, and Aidan shouted “Down!” at the children. Everything seemed to happen all at once. Littlespark yanked Shadowfire aside as Flame Song came leaping out of the darkness. The gun went off as her paws, claws unsheathed, hit Janus, and he shrieked as her claws sliced into him and the two of them crashed to the ground. Then her fangs closed over his neck and the shriek was cut off. A moment later Flame rose, muzzle dripping red, while Janus lay still, a huddled pool of black in the streetlight. Aidan dashed to Shadowfire. “Are you all right?”

She clung to him tightly, but she said “I'm okay daddy.”

“I'm okay too,” said Littlespark.

“Oh thank the gods,” Aidan breathed, and hugged them both.

“Wow,” said Firedart. “Is that guy dead?”

Flame licked the blood from her muzzle, then shimmered into human form. “Yes. And that's what he deserved, and worse, for threatening my children.”

Lucy was staring at Flame Song, her mouth open in shock. “You okay?” Aidan asked her.

“Yeah, I'm fine.” She wrenched her gaze away from Flame and glanced at the still form on the sidewalk. “We should get out of here before somebody else comes along, they'd probably call the cops.”

“Indeed.” Aidan looked from Lucy to Flame. “In fact... it looks like I'll be going home now. We don't have to do anything special, we can just go?”

“Yes. I have a charm to signal Jordanis, so we can leave right now if you want.”

Aidan turned back to Lucy. “Will you be all right if I go?”

She smiled. “Well, I don't have to worry about crazy vampire cultists anymore, it seems, and I still have my mace and my self defense training. And it's only a few more blocks to the station. I'll be fine. You've told me how much you miss your home and family, don't let me hold you back from going with them.” She stepped forward and hugged Aidan. “I need to get going to catch my train.” He hugged her back and smiled.

“Goodbye,” said Aidan. “Good luck with your book. Don't go to any more vampire meetings alone.”

Lucy laughed. “I won't. Goodbye.” She waved, then turned and trotted down the street.

Aidan looked after her for a moment. Then he turned back to Flame and smiled. “Let's go home.”

Aidan put his head in his hands and sighed. “I am so tired. So very, very tired. I want this to just be over!”

Jordanis rested his hand on Aidan's shoulder. “With just a little luck it will be soon. Are you ready?”

Aidan slowly got to his feet. He took a deep breath, and touched the hilts of his daggers, feeling reassured by the prickling discomfort of the blessed blade. “Yes, I'm ready.”

“Then I'll send you on your way. Good luck.”

The portal behind him glowed faintly as Aidan set foot on the strange stony ground of the Lower Plane. He stood and looked around for a moment. Jordanis had dropped him on the very largest floating island he could find. This one was large enough that there was actually a sense of a horizon in one direction. He looked out across the nearly level plain before him. One of the ribbons of water poured down onto it and meandered along for a while as a nearly normal stream before pouring over the edge. Other than that it was featureless. But he saw what he had hoped to see, the shadowy shapes of several demons in the distance, looking flat and two-dimensional and strange, like cartoons dropped into a photograph. And then he nearly jumped out of his skin as one came up beside him, from behind the portal. Slitted red eyes regarded him for a moment.

“Hello,” he said.

It let out a screeing sound and scurried rapidly away from him, leaving Aidan blinking, but feeling a little more hopeful. He rehearsed Jordanis's instructions once again.

“The portal is keyed to you, so nobody else can pass through it, demons included. Just don't lose track of it, I don't want to have to retrieve you again. As for how to find the demon you're after, this may not work out, but I have some hope...”

Aidan saw the demon that had fled from him approach another demon in the distance, and the second one turned and started moving rapidly in his direction. He swallowed and held his ground, standing in front of the portal.

The demon stopped a few yards away and said something to him.

“Sorry,” said Aidan, “but I don't speak demon.”

It said something else, and he just shrugged. “I don't suppose anybody here speaks Common Arethan?” He switched languages. “Or English maybe?”

The demon said something else, then turned and scurried away. Aidan shrugged and settled in to wait.

“The thing about demons is that they're not necessarily evil. They're just not the least bit human. I've researched them extensively since you first came to me with your problem. And I've turned up an interesting bit of demon lore. I couldn't find any corroboration for it, but I couldn't find anything that contradicts it either, so I'm hoping it's true.

“Now I know that it's true that most demons actively try to avoid being summoned to this world. They don't like it. And they mostly don't speak our language or have much to do with us if they can help it. This little bit of extra demon lore says that those demons who willingly come to this world, and who willingly have contact with us mortals are regarded by their fellows very much the same way that we might regard demon summoners, as being deviant, and maybe more than a bit crazy. Demons don't fear mortals, we don't give them that hair-on-end feeling that they give us, but they don't like us, and they're going be very unhappy if they notice a human hanging around.”

Aidan had nodded. “I don't get that hair-on-end feeling, but Flame told me about it. And even without it I don't like demons at all, so I don't doubt that they might not like us either.”

Jordanis had chuckled a bit at that. “Indeed. But this means that you may have a little bit of leverage. Tell whatever demons you meet that you won't go back to your world and leave them alone unless they produce Asmodeus for you. Tell them he's been hanging around your world and bothering you. If this is right they'll think of him as some kind of freak when they learn that, and they'll want to do anything they can do to get you to go away. So they may well hand him over to you.”

“Right.”

Now Aidan looked out and saw a swarm of shadows approaching. A dozen or so demons drew near and he swallowed. The couldn't hurt him directly, but they were still a rather intimidating sight as they halted in a semi-circle of shifting shadows a few yards away from him. One moved a bit forward from the others.

“Why are you here, being from the ordered world? You are not welcome.”

“I apologize,” said Aidan. “I wouldn't have come here if I had any choice, but there is a demon who has been coming to my world and harassing me, and I've come here to fight him and make him stop.”

“A demon, gone to your world?” said the spokes-creature. “And do you know his name, mortal being?”

“Asmodeus,” replied Aidan.

There was a hissing, clicking murmuring among the demons at that. “Asmodeus,” said the one. “So. He breaks his probation once again.” The demon hissed something indecipherable, and Aidan got the impression that it was swearing.

“You should go away,” said the demon after a pause.

“No,” said Aidan. “I'm sorry. I don't want to bother you, but I can't go until I've killed Asmodeus. You said he was breaking his probation. Forbidding him to bother me won't make him stop, and he has to stop.”

“Kill him?” The demon hissed something else. “Ordered beings cannot kill demons. Mortals cannot kill demons.”

Aidan drew his left-hand dagger. “I can,” he said.

The demon chittered at him and recoiled. From a safer distance it said, “I see that you can. You are certain you will not leave?”

“Very certain. I can wait a long time. I will wait until he comes, so that I can fight and kill him.”

“Well. It is true that he will not obey our laws nor accept our punishments. He deals with mortals, it is fitting that a mortal should punish him. We will bring him.”

“Thank you,” said Aidan politely, relieved that what Jordanis had told him seemed to be true. Now he only had to fight and win...

It was several nervous hours before the demons returned. Though he noticed that one of them stayed nearby, probably keeping an eye on him, when the others left.

The swarm that approached now was even larger, and more chaotic. It swirled across the ground to settle in front of him, and one shadow figure was shoved forward, amid a chorus of hisses and clicks and snarls from the rest. It hissed back at them, then turned to Aidan.

“You! Go away! I give up, I will leave you alone, I renounce my curse, live in peace!”

“No,” said Aidan. “You had your chance to leave me be. I can't trust you to not try again. And you've gone after my family. I could never trust you after that. I will only trust you when you're dead.”

The demon hissed at him, and struck at him with tentacles of shadow, flailing in frustration. Aidan dodged them easily, the enraged demon was apparently too incoherent with anger to aim his blows well. Then with a howl of frustration the demon took human form. There was a sudden surge of hissing sounds from the circled demons. Asmodeus turned to them and said something that was probably very rude. Aidan laughed and drew his daggers. The prick of pain in his left palm was familiar by now, and almost comforting. The demons formed a wide circle with Aidan, Asmodeus, and the portal in the center.

For a long time the demon simply dodged, trying to evade and avoid Aidan. “You will tire eventually,” Asmodeus said as Aidan pursued him.

“Perhaps,” said Aidan, “but I am not a human being. It will be days before I tire too much to pursue. Face me. I know the sword you have can hurt me. Use it! You've told me often enough how much better demons are than mortals like me. Surely you're so superior that you can strike me down easily enough.”

Asmodeus snarled at him and suddenly threw a dart of shadow-made-solid. It cut a line of painful fire along the top of Aidan's shoulder as he dodged. He hissed in pain and the demon laughed.

Well, two can play at that game, thought Aidan. Though I may only get the one chance if I miss... So he waited, looking for his opportunity. The demon threw more darts at him, and he managed to dodge most of them, though some hit painfully, passing through him like bullets. He wasn't sure if getting one in something normally vital would be fatal to his undead self, but he wasn't sure he wanted to risk it either. After what seemed like an eternity of dodging and weaving he finally got close enough to be confident of his aim. He hefted the blessed dagger, and shot a mental prayer to any deity that might be looking on. Please let this work!

And then he threw it as hard as he could, aimed directly at the center of the demon's chest. It sank home with an audible thunk and Asmodeus screamed, a horrible screeching sound. Aidan wasn't sure what to expect. He'd seen the demon explode once, but now it seemed to be dissolving. The human shape dissolved first into shadows, but the shadows themselves were dissolving, the knife embedded in the center of them radiating a soft golden glow that was slowly melting them away. The screech faded as the shadows vanished and then there was silence and the sound of the knife falling to the dirt with a thud.

Aidan stared. It was over? Just like that? How could it possibly be over so easily? But then... Easily! Ha! More than a decade I've been haunted and hounded. Four times we've stood face to face and fought. And only now, finally, is it dead. No, it wasn't over easily at all, but it is over. Over at last.

He walked over and picked up the dagger. The demons nearest him shied back even further, though all were really too far for him to hit. One cautiously crept a few feet closer. “Do you go now? Please go. Please take that horrible thing with you.”

“I'm going,” said Aidan. “Thank you.” He turned and walked to the portal. He sheathed the dagger and stepped through with a relieved sigh. It was over!

“Aidan!” Flame Song flung herself at him as he emerged from the portal in Jordanis's workroom. He hugged her back, holding her tightly against him. “Did you... is he...?”

“Yes. He's dead. Finally. We can have peace at last,” he said, and hugged her again. She hugged him back, then turned and hugged Jordanis too.

“Thank you!”

The somewhat startled were-jackal hugged her back. “It was my pleasure, really.”

Aidan chuckled, and took Flame's hand once she had released Jordanis. He squeezed gently, and she squeezed back. “And now, finally, we can go home.” Epilogue