When the Lights Went Out #8

Chapter Eight

Demon [dee-muhn]: A humanoid creature with renaissance flair, black lips, pointed ears, and black-lined eyes. They prefer not to be associated with the rest of the realm and consider Passage as a realm of its own, divided into eight smaller realms based on rainbow colors. Their king comes from the human realm.

Using one hand to keep his jeans up, Coyote followed London and the dwarf out of the dimly lit cave on the other side of the mountains. There hadn’t even been enough light for sightseeing. Now, his heavy boots thunked against shiny green subway tiles like those found in a suburban home’s kitchen backsplash.

“This is the Green Road,” London shouted at the dwarf’s retreating backside. “You’ve agreed to only bring me to the Blue Road!”

Braided Beard paused, stroking his meaty finger over Coyote’s belt buckle. “Aye, for proper dues,” he said. “This ’ere trinket is nice but won’t fetch a good price. You get what ye paid fer.” With that, he disappeared into the darkness of the cave.

Coyote placed a comforting hand on the vampire’s broad shoulder and was elated when London didn’t shrug it off. “Maybe they won’t bring the debt collectors to this road,” he said. “So, where are we now?”

“Passage.” London sighed. “The demons’ realm.”

“Realm? I thought this whole place was a realm?”

London paced forward, the heels of his boots clopping like horse hooves. “The demons would rather have their own realm. Any fool could tell you Passage is not a separate realm.”

Trying not to think about what kind of demon they might encounter, Coyote hustled to keep up. His muscles ached. If only this could be applied to his physical education credit. As if anyone would ever believe that he’d been transported to a realm of monsters.

“Stay close and keep quiet,” London instructed. “As soon as we get to the Inner Realm, we’ll transition to the Blue Road.”

If even London was afraid of the Green Road, Coyote couldn’t begin to imagine what was in store for them and what, in turn, made the Blue Road preferable. They plodded along the green tiles in silence. A few people passed by quickly in both directions, but none spared them much mind. They appeared human but with pointed ears, black lips, and black-lined eyes. Their clothes reminded Coyote of a renaissance fair he’d seen on TV once. On either side of the road were grassy knolls and cottages made of wood and stone clustered between. Nothing was overtly frightening here. Perhaps London simply overreacted. Coyote wouldn’t put it past him, based on how poorly he was often treated.

Every few steps, Coyote hiked his jeans higher up his hips. By the time the green tiles transitioned to gray, he’d lost count of how many times he’d done so.

London halted just after the green tiles ended. “This is the Inner Realm. The realm of their king.”

Beyond him, the circular promenade buzzed like a beehive. More renaissance demons flocked from one of the seven roads—two of which were different colors—to a different road across the way. It could’ve been a city park, with benches, fountains, and chirping birds.

“How many of them are there?” Coyote asked, forgetting he ought to be quiet.

London’s response died in a slow hiss. He straightened and adjusted his trench coat before pulling Coyote against his chest. “Lord Cadfael the Fourth,” he said with a dip of his head.

The demon, Cadfael, had shaggy turquoise hair and wore all green. Otherwise, he was just as gray as the rest. “Why are you traipsing through my realm?” he demanded. “You are not allowed to be here.”

“I know. I do apologize,” London said. “The dwarves brought us through the wrong tunnel. They meant to bring us to the Blue Realm.”

“I don’t care what they meant to do.” Cadfael’s voice was loud enough to be heard across a football field. “Your kind aren’t welcome here. You shall answer to the king.”

London’s claws dug into Coyote’s flesh. “What if I promise to never ever do it again?”

“Were that a promise you could keep, I may consider the offer.” Cadfael led the way across the sweeping gray tiles.

Releasing Coyote, London followed closely behind. The other demons parted before Cadfael, making Coyote wonder if they knew he was taking them to the king. The alternative was that this demon was far more important than the rest, which didn’t sit well with him. London glared at him, as if daring him to speak when they were before the king. Coyote’s silence was comparable to London’s promises. He’d say whatever he had to that would make the king let them pass. Thoughts of his mother and his poor treatment of her weighed on him heavily. He was no better than Wyeth the werewolf, the Witch of Rubicon Point, Braided Beard the dwarf, or even Rochester the vampire he’d yet to meet.

Despite that, every step toward home made him dread returning even more, a comfort for London growing in his chest.

These thoughts swirled through his head until they finally reached dead center of this Inner Realm. A flight of steps led to a dais on which a single throne was perched. A man dressed in grays occupied the chair. His face looked human, his ears met at a soft angle, and his lips a shade closer to gray than black. A small black heart marked the cheek below his left eye. A steaming mug of unknown contents was clutched between his hands. The fraction of ten over six was printed on the side of the mug.

Another demon stood off to the side of the throne, arms folded behind his back. His outfit resembled Cadfael’s, but it was gray.

All in all, the pair made quite the strange impression on Coyote. At least the king was appropriately plump as Coyote would expect royalty to be. The situation would’ve been quite comical had he not been trying to keep his pants up and hoping they weren’t about to lose their heads as well.

Cadfael bowed before the king, tugging London by the wrist to force him to do the same. “My liege, this vampire was caught trespassing on the Green Road.”

The king regarded London and Coyote with curious eyes. He lifted the mug to his face, concealing the tilt of his lips. Coyote shifted self-consciously but didn’t dare try to kneel for the continued fear of losing his pants in front of a king.

“You know your kind are not welcome here,” the king said, glowing gray gaze boring into the top of London’s head.

At least this guy didn’t have a personal vendetta against London. Just all vampires. Perhaps that would make this transaction easier.

“I’m aware, King Roy,” London said through clenched teeth.

“Supposedly, he was welcome on the Blue Road,” Cadfael said.

The king’s advisor frowned. “That’s Cordell’s realm. It shouldn’t surprise me that one of the Rejected has subscribed to the bloodsuckers.”

Roy glowered. “I cannot pretend to control any of your brothers, Coda.”

“I’m aware.” Coda nodded toward London. “This one is the laughingstock of Diametric City.”

“Is he?” Mug to his lips, the king’s eyes sparkled at London.

Coyote cleared his throat.

London’s head jerked in his direction, but he hesitated long enough for Coyote to speak.

“Sire, it is true,” Coyote said. “London accidentally grabbed me from the human realm. We’re on our way to return to Earth if you’d only allow us passage.”

Roy slurped from the mug with a sausage-shaped pinkie poised arrogantly. “And what will he do then?”

Take my professor instead.

“Will he continue to hunt the, ah, intended target?” Roy pressed, lowering the mug to his royal lap and resting the base in a meaty palm.

Was it possible that a demon would only accept a true answer as the troll had? Also, the king looked nothing like the demons. He could almost be human. Could that be why he hated the vampires? Coyote took a step forward, spreading his hands—one holding the Fictionary—in mock surrender. The toe of his boot caught on his pant leg. That little bit of resistance caused the disaster. His loose jeans fell, flashing the demon king.

The king and his advisor gasped.

Cadfael leaped to his feet. “How dare you insult our king!”

Coyote flung the Fictionary to the ground in his haste to conceal himself. He yanked his pants up from his ankles, swinging his manhood in London’s face.

The vampire hissed and shot to his feet.

Hand firmly on the waistband of his pants again, Coyote turned back to the king, an apology poised on his tongue. Before he could speak, London threw him over his shoulder. “We need to leave,” he whispered, “now.”

“He also has a forbidden object.” Coda eyed the Fictionary where it had landed.

“Get the book!” Coyote demanded as London’s muscles tensed.

The vampire snatched the book off the ground and fled the king’s presence.

“After them!” Roy boomed.

Both Coda and Cadfael darted after them in hot pursuit. It was lucky for the king—and unlucky for Coyote and London—that his subjects weren’t nearly as overweight as he was. But surely a vampire’s super speed was no match for a couple of demons? At least, the last vampire flick Coyote had seen would suggest so.

The gray landscapes of the Inner Realm passed by quickly. Horror filled Coyote as more demons joined the pursuit. Soon, the gray tiles transitioned to blue. The more blue tiles they traversed, the fewer demons pursued them until they found themselves alone on the Blue Road.

Only then did London stop and return Coyote to his feet. He remained close, their bodies nearly touching. “We won’t have that happen again.” He shoved the Fictionary into Coyote’s arms.

Was that a protective gleam in London’s green eye? Or just a reflection of the brightening gray sunlight?

“London!” a voice rang out around them. A demon dressed in the same shade of blue as the tiles strolled toward them swiftly. “I heard of the insult your cosset lobbed at our king.”

“Save it, Cordell.” London sighed. “Just…do you have a rope by chance?”

Cordell came closer, unhinging his own belt. “I’ll do you one better.” He handed it to London, who secured it about Coyote’s waist. “Just remember this next time you come through.”

London scowled toward the Inner Realm, a crease wrinkling his brow. “If we don’t hurry, there won’t be a next time.”