Stathis crouched out of sight, hidden beneath a faded set of wooden planks. Janaxia and Skotadi were sat opposite each other, both on wrought-iron chairs, the paint faded and peeling, a matching table between them. Dark energy rippled on the table, some eldritch symbol boring a hole into what seemed to be infinite darkness, a mug of tea suspended above it (keeping it there didn’t seem to be part of any lesson as much as to keep Janaxia supplied with tea). Semari was dozing or asleep, sprawled out along a rooftop, arm dangling down, twitching occasionally as she dreamed, or a bug tried to take a bite out of her and she swatted it from the air. Sen was stood close by, discretely out of their vision, but waiting to tend to their needs.

Skotadi’s chain rattled against the table as she moved her fingers, digits warping impossibly. Her nails had acquired colour at some paint, bright red and etched with black glyphs, although they weren’t as well kept as Janaxia’s. The ground beside her crunched and Stathis twisted, trying to keep her balance in the awkward squat without falling over or drawing attention.

It was Pajaran, also hunched over, before leaning back against the wall, making herself comfortable. ‘Which one are you spying on? And why?’

‘Mostly Skotadi. Although Janaxia’s acting weirdly as well.’

‘Are you jealous, Stathis?’

Stathis ducked down, trying to be sure she was out of sight as a corona of dark magic burst outwards, chilling the air. ‘No! It would be nice if Janaxia would actually talk to me, rather than just using her mind-speech all the time, but I’m concerned.’

‘What about? Skotadi doesn’t seem that bad.’ She paused, considering her words. ‘OK, she’s a bit creepy, and I’d be willing to lay money that her family were probably chased out on the wrong end of a bunch of flaming pitchforks, and she’s a bit more than human, but if you can put up with Janaxia, then I’d think you’d be able to put up with her.’

‘I’m pretty sure she’s, well, evil.’

‘Yeah, but so’s Janaxia.’ Pajaran shuddered. ‘She’s pretty much as dark as you can get, even the demons I’ve been near haven’t been as bad as her. Having a creepy student doesn’t seem that bad, and it keeps both of them out of trouble.’

‘I still think she’s suspicious. I’ve not been able to get close enough to properly look, but I think she’s got horns as well. Only small ones, but I think they’re there, hidden in her hair.’

They both poked their heads over the top – Janaxia was now holding up a hand, a ball of dark energy in her palm, before she flicked it into the air, where it shot upwards before fading.

‘Uh, Janaxia’s are pretty large. And look damn sharp!’

They caught the light, the ends looking more like obsidian than bone, the golden jewellery wrapped around them doing little to disguise their gleaming edges.

‘Yeah, they used to be more normal. Well, for horns. But I don’t trust Skotadi. There’s something going on with her.’

‘You sure you’re not just jealous, that Janaxia’s not spending time with you?’

‘She’s still pissed off at me. Which, considering she killed me, seems a bit unfair! Even if I did fuck up by not telling her about me being Iristari. And saving her life several times while letting her think it was an angel. But I don’t know where the hell Skotadi came from!’

‘I guess she was pretty young when her kingdom or whatever was destroyed?’

‘No, I mean more than that. She wasn’t down in the caves, for all that she seems to have persuaded everyone else she was! She just showed up. And I know you can remember her coming down as well, but she didn’t. I was actually there, and we saved Janaxia, and that was it.’ She looked into Pajaran’s eyes, trying to detect any glaze or fuzz, if there were some sign of enchantment. ‘And she keeps avoiding me.’

‘Well, you are a bit intimidating. And if she’s spending time with Janaxia, she’s probably being told that you’re a terrible person. Checking her for horns isn’t going to help either!’

‘I don’t think she noticed me.’

‘If you’re close enough to see horn-stubs, then she probably did, you’re not really built for stealth. All these muscles you’ve got, they make you pretty easy to see! So why are you really spying on her?’

‘I think she might be the demon that was chained up in the cave. I definitely didn’t kill it, Vrintar didn’t, you didn’t, Janaxia and Semari are too lazy to have done it, and I think Parth would have told me? Probably? Those things don’t just die, and that creepy liquid all vanished as well.’

‘I’ve seen some of the locals coming back with treasure, yeah. Doesn’t seem to be cursed, I checked a few bits out just in case. A lot is too old and worn to tell where it’s from. Although there’s no-one to sell it to out here, so I suspect the next ship in is going to get a really good deal on it.’

‘I guess it’s good it’s not all cursed? But that demon still went somewhere.’

‘So, what, you think it’s Skotadi?’

‘Well, you all got memory-whammied, so something’s going on!’

Pajaran squinted at Skotadi again. She flicked her wrist, sending a bolt of energy upwards, looking slightly bored. As she turned her head to look around, Pajaran and Stathis both ducked out of sight.

‘I’ve never seen Janaxia take this much interest in someone she didn’t want to screw! And Skotadi’s too young and not fancy enough for Janaxia to be interested in.’

‘You think she might have been enchanted into training Skotadi?’

‘Maybe? I guess even demons need to learn magic? Or she’s super-lonely? And Janaxia seems to have zero willpower, whenever there’s anything that can charm people she always gets effected. So maybe Skotadi is, uh, trying to learn how to party and things?’

‘I’ve seen Janaxia stop her drinking, so if she wants to relax she should have created an older body, if that is a demon.’ Her eyes went steely-grey for a moment, then she shuddered. ‘Dammit, I can’t feel anything other than Janaxia. Skotadi could be a queen of hell and I couldn’t tell with Janaxia there!’

‘Yeah, there is that. And I don’t think Skotadi likes me, so I can’t really lure her away to properly try and check her out.’

‘Are you sure you’re not just mistaken? Vrintar says that stuff down in the tunnels messes with memory, and you probably got a faceful. And you were drunk from the night before.’

‘I’m telling you, she wasn’t down there! She’s just appeared suddenly, and the demon vanished, so it’s pretty suspicious. She’s either a creepy demon-princess that we should make sure doesn’t end up ruling wherever the hell she’s from again, because I don’t think that would end well, or she’s actually a demon, and that might be worse. So if she stays as Janaxia’s creepy student, we keep an eye on her and see how it goes, if she starts doing anything else, then we figure out a plan fast. Actually, could you get some of the holy water from the boat?’

‘Sure that’s a good idea? Janaxia’s probably human, mostly, maybe, and it has an effect on her, so is pouring it on a kid a good idea? What if it burns her like acid?’

‘Dammit, you’re right, I guess. Bit harsh I guess, if it does hurt her.’

‘I can try and disrupt the magic around them?’

‘I thought about that, but if Janaxia ends up naked again, she’s going to be pissed. And if she’s teaching Skotadi the same magic, it might end up with her naked as well. So let’s not do that.’

‘So what are you actually doing to do?’

‘No damn idea. If Skotadi turns into a demon, then we can deal with that, but if she’s just being friends then it’s a bit hard to object! I could try and use some of my own powers, but I’m not sure what effect that might have, so I don’t really want to risk it. She tends to get weird whenever other people use magic on her.’

‘I’ve made a lot of holy water, so you could make her drink that?’

Stathis sighed. ‘Maybe. It’s a plan, but I’d rather not unless I have to.’

There was a sudden, glacially frosty and deliberate cough from above them. Stathis looked up to see Janaxia staring down at her, hair-lash throbbing balefully, eyes glaring.

‘This seems a rather uncomfortable place to sit.’ Her voice was precisely, bitterly polite as she looked down at them, tattoo passive, but her clothing was reshaping itself into tighter, more rigid shapes, a corset shaping around her body. ‘Could you not find somewhere else to be? Or do you have some justification for skulking in the shadows?’

Stathis looked at Pajaran for support – she just shook her head and raised her hands, not wanting to get involved.

‘Uh, well…’

Janaxia crossed her arms as tight sleeves flowed over them, black gauze shot through with red and silver lines, disconcertingly similar to throbbing veins. The golden band of the collar peaked out from beneath black lace, half-hidden from view. Well? There are many other places you could be, and yet you seem to be skulking around near me. Is there some reason for this? Her eyes pinned Stathis in place, as Pajaran slowly slinked away, escaping out of any possible blast radius.

‘I’m just… concerned about you. And I don’t think I can get that far from you anyway, until I’m back in my body! I’m surprised by how well you get on with Skotadi as well.’

Well, it is nice when someone acknowledges my talent! Something you seem very loathe to do.

Stathis tried not to roll her eyes. ‘You’re a very good wizard, and good to work with. Even if you are a little… worrying sometimes.’ As soon as she said it, she knew it was the wrong thing to see, Janaxia’s eyes narrowing, the lace collar thickening to obscure more of the golden choker.

‘You need not concern yourself with me, Stathis. There is nothing you need to worry yourself with.’ Skotadi was standing close behind her, caught in a momentary pall of shade, a cloud coming in front of the sun. She flicked her hand, a parasol flashing into existence, plunging her into deeper shade. She was smirking, seeming entertained as she watched, standing close behind Janaxia.

Stathis bit back a retort, taking a deep breath and trying to think of the best response, that wouldn’t aggravate Janaxia further. ‘There’s been a lot of strange stuff going on recently, and I just get worried that something’s going to go weird. So if you are feeling strange at all, or if you have any idea what might be going on, then please let me know.’ She slowly stood up and reached out her hand, gently putting it on Janaxia’s shoulder, ignoring the stabbing prickles of energy that spiked at her palm. ‘I was a dick and I should have told you sooner.’ Skotadi was staring at her, eyes unnaturally dark, beads in her hair clicking as the braids shifted about. ‘And we’re going to be stuck together on the boat for quite a while still, so it’s going to be bloody awkward if you spend all your time holed up in your room.’

‘Hmph. That seems scant apology for the frankly despicable way in which you have treated me.’

Hearing her actual voice for once was an improvement, even if she was still upset. ‘When we get somewhere better, I’ll take you out to a proper restaurant, if you want.’ Stathis had to withdraw her hand, more energy prickling at her skin and starting to hurt, stabbing and spiking her hand. As soon as she moved her hand away, warmth started to creep back in, and she tried to wriggle and stretch her fingers without Janaxia noticing. ‘There’s not really anywhere here that’s quite up to your usual standards, is there? Uh, and when I’ve got my body back as well.’

Was it Stathis’ imagination, or did Janaxia’s glacial expression melt, just a little? Her hair was still giving the same, ominous throb, and her tattoo was utterly inert, making it harder to judge her mood.

‘I might accept such an offer, but you are not yet forgiven. Now, Skotadi, shall we continue our lessons?’

The girl gave her own glare at Stathis, and she felt some power brush up against her, a befuddling haze of confusion. She focused and shook it off, Skotadi wincing. So she was trying some sort of enchantment! Not that Janaxia would believe her, but it was a start. As Janaxia walked away, she gave a commanding gesture, Skotadi sighing before following behind. What was that about? Did she dislike being tutored or something? Still, she obeyed, following along behind Janaxia, seeming slightly unsteady in her heels, wobbling slightly as she stepped over the sand, as Janaxia’s hips swayed in a distracting fashion.

Unless you have something else to say, do you not have other places to be?

Stathis was almost tempted to say no – especially as there wasn’t really anywhere else to be on the island but pissing Janaxia off again didn’t seem a very good idea. Feeling like she was slinking away in defeat, she left, heading for the tavern again.