Page 15 of Demons of Eden

“I’d disagree,” the demon replies, and I swear he glances at my stomach for a split second before he turns back to Eli. “I expect it to be ready by the end of the week.”

“Uhh…of course, Lord Paimon,” Eli replies, clearly in shock.

The taller demon gives me one last creepily lingering look before striding back out of the store like it was his own idea. Once the door closes behind him, I think we’re all a little confused by the quick turn in events. I stare at the door for a good few seconds, wondering if I somehow imagined it all.

“You know, I’m actually sort of freaked out that he did what I asked,” I say in order to end the awkward silence left in the wake of his departure. Apparently it’s the wrong thing to say, or maybe it was stupid to say anything at all, as it immediately sets the hunter off.

“What the fuck?” Torrin suddenly demands, looking between Eli and me like he’s unsure who he’s madder at before finally settling on Eli first. “Why would you doanythingto help that monster?”

“You must know that I do not have a choice in doing so,” Eli replies stiffly.

“Just tell him you can’t find whatever it is he wants or something then!” Torrin exclaims. He looks minutes, maybe even seconds, from a mental break as he drags a hand through his messy brown hair. “I can’t imagine he wants anything good, so why would you get involved with that, Eli? Do you know howmany crimes he’s wanted for? His name has to be one of the ones right at the top of the council’s list!”

“You don’t understand the full situation. It’s not merely that he is dangerous; he is the current lord of the iracaedi!” Eli insists, clearly distressed. “I cannot refuse him. I may as well end my own life before doing so.”

Torrin takes a deep breath, seemingly attempting to calm himself before asking, “I noticed you referred to him with a title, but fuck. When did he become the new top dog of the iracaedi?”

“When he killed his predecessor. A few months ago, I believe,” Eli answers shakily.

“If he’s wanted, like he’s on the demon lists, why didn’t you do anything?” I question the demon hunter, partially from curiosity and partially to save poor Eli for a minute so he can breathe. Torrin was right. I do like the weird lil’ guy, and I don’t enjoy seeing him getting so upset. Clearly, he wasn’t happy about the situation. It’s hardly his fault if he’s being bossed about by a more powerful demon, especially seeing as he doesn’t come across as the violent type himself.

“Because I’m not suicidal, unlike some,” Torrin replies with a chuckle, one which sounds the tiniest bit unhinged. “You have no idea, Eden. That demon, the one you just sassed right to his face, is a thousand percent a full team job. You’d have to be crazy to try taking him on alone, and even with all three of us, I wouldn’t count on winning.”

“He’s…that bad?”Oh. I screwed up, alright.

“He’s a demon king. They’re about as powerful as demons get. Do you really not know anything about their kind?”

“I mean, until I met Ash, I don’t think I've ever spoken to one before,” I admit with a shrug. “I’ve seen a few from across the room and stuff, but I always kept my distance. I’ve also heard the stories all witches hear growing up, like the tale of the First Demon, but they were never very interesting to me, honestly.I’ve done some more research in the last few days, though, forobvious reasons.”

“Okay,” he concedes. “But you do know there are multiple demon kings, right?” Torrin raises an eyebrow, giving me a look like I’m crazy, which I’d argue is pretty damn unfair. He’s a demon hunter, so obviously he’ll know more about the topic than I will. I make freaking potions for a living!

“There are seven of them, right?” It’s a guess, something about the number ringing a bell. I did vaguely know that there are multiple demon kings, though. The significance of them or what it is they actually do? Not so much.

“Seven great lords for each of the subspecies of demon, plus the supreme ruler who sits above all others,” Eli mumbles, twitching and scratching at his arms like he’s uncomfortable in his skin just thinking about them. “Lord Paimon is the newest King of Wrath, as the humans dubbed their kind.”

Something clicks in my brain.

“Damn it—wait. I know this! It’s like the seven sins from that big human religion, isn’t it? The humans attributed one of them to each of your subspecies after demons started crossing more into our world, right?”

“And the rest of the people here picked it up, no matter how incorrect the beliefs may be. Vampires, shapeshifters, witches, all of you are more familiar with the terms the humans gave to us than those we choose for ourselves.”

“Is it rude for me to ask which one you are?” Because I really want to know. Whichever it is, he’s definitely not the same kind as Lord Piehole.

“Greed,” he answers simply and without hesitating.

“You know, I don’t see it.” I stare at Eli, wearing clothes decades old, chilling in his cute little antique store, and frown. “Why did your subspecies get named for greed?”

“The praeresi feed their vitav on the energy left in objects by their owners. The more valuable the object, the better the source, usually. Many individual praeresum hoard objects and wealth in order to obtain more sources of energy, and the humans saw this base need for survival as a sin of greed. As they saw the need for sexual energy from incubi as a sin of lust and the need for death energy as a sin of wrath,” Eli explains.

“While I’m sure Eden could use the demonology lesson, I think we better get moving before he decides to come back,” Torrin interrupts before I can ask anything else. He steps closer to the demon, clapping a hand on his shoulder in a friendly gesture. “Anyway, I’m sorry, Eli. I shouldn’t have gone off on you, buddy. Pretty sure I was just pissed because I knew there was nothing I could have done alone if he chose to attack us.”

“It is already forgotten. A few harsh words are nothing compared to my debt to you,” the demon replies, seeming to calm significantly at the apology.

“If you’re still happy to help us out, I'll message you the rest of the information we have on Ash. It’s not a lot, though,” Torrin says hopefully as he steps back and places a hand lightly over my mid back. I’m not sure if it’s to be reassuring or if he simply thinks I’m going to need herding back to the car like an errant, misbehaving sheep.

Then again, I did just walk right up to a freaking demon king and provoke him to his face, didn’t I? So maybe his concerns havesomemerit.

“Of course. It was a pleasure meeting your interesting friend,” Eli replies, giving me a small smile. “Even if I’m unable to find anything, I hope you find the demon you’re looking for and that you avoid the ones you aren’t.”

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