He hadn’t meant to doze and cursed himself when he blinked and realized the moon was long set, changing the quality of the light coming into his tent. Hastily he got up, readjusted the blankets on his sister, and went back out.

Dawn was creeping up on them before he found what he was looking for.

Taiken had wandered far enough away from the complex that he was out of sight. Far enough away that Sheldon began to doubt he’d predicted the right direction. No. Away from the city, away from open places. That was where Taiken would have gone.

He found his Master sitting on the ground, cross legged and bent forward. Covering his face with his claws while resting his elbows on his knees.

In front of him was a long, haphazardly stacked pile of rocks.

“What are you doing here?”

Sheldon stopped walking, keeping a cautious distance from the demon. “It's my job to see to your welfare, Master Taiken.”

I need to know you didn't break.

Taiken laughed. It wasn’t a happy laugh. It was a hysterical, uncontrollable laugh that Sheldon could only helplessly watch as shivers ran down his spine.

Abruptly, making Sheldon jump a step back, the demon screamed.

Taiken jumped to his feet, grabbed a rock nearly the size of his head, and threw it. It landed a good ten feet away and they both stared at it for a long heartbeat.

Moving with slow, deliberate movements, Sheldon picked up the shirt that Taiken had discarded before digging and molding the grave. Well aware of Taiken watching him. Watching with eyes that had slitted to yellow in his inability to keep human features.

“I'm a monster.” To prove it Taiken gave Sheldon a hideous grin, baring a mouthful of jagged fangs.

With a glare of anger Sheldon pointed at the grave. “She was a bitch.” Taking a deep breath he added, “And an idiot.”

The momentary light faded from the demon’s eyes. “She was my mate.” His voice was so quiet that Sheldon had to strain to hear. “It was my job to protect her.”

Sheldon pressed his lips together. Clenching his fists once again but this time in the cloth of the discarded shirt.

“We can argue this all day and we won't agree. Because of her,” he jabbed a finger at the grave again, “you kept the rest of your Contracts at bare minimum. It was your job to protect all of us. Not just her. If you'd kept her in line she would have either respected her boundaries, us and you, or she would have left. Both would have been better outcomes for her and the rest of us. Even you.”

Slowly the demon sat back down and covered his head again.

“What would you have me do?” Taiken’s voice broke with grief.

Torn between exasperation and pity Sheldon sighed and crouched next to the creature. “Stop feeling sorry for yourself and do your job.” Pause. “What happened was Kelly's misjudgment, not yours.”

“I wrote the Contract.”

“And she knew the consequences of breaking it that way.” When there was no response, Sheldon touched the demon’s shoulder. “There was good reason for that clause.”

“Selfish reason.”

“The whole Contract gave her nearly unlimited power over you and everyone else. It’s not unreasonable to ask for fidelity.”

“But-“

Impatient with trying to reason with him, Sheldon cut him off. “Regardless of being right or wrong, it's now done. And we still need you to do your job. Can you pull yourself together that much?”

The demon stiffened under his hand, his breathing becoming strangled gasps.

Sheldon recognized the symptoms. Lita did it when she had nightmares. He did it when he let his mind stray.

A nameless panic rooted in memory.

“I-“ Mumble.

In Taiken’s mind he heard the screams. His mother’s sobs and pleas. His own unanswered pleas and the cruel laughter.

“What?”

“I can’t.” Taiken's voice turned into an inhuman growl, making it difficult to understand the words. He gripped his head harder until the claws ripped into his skin and blood began to drip between his fingers. “I can't do it.”

For an instant Sheldon just looked at the demon. For the first time he suddenly felt he understood that something that had been driving him crazy about his unassertive master.

Taiken spoke truth.

He really couldn't do it.

Something was broken. Something Sheldon couldn't fix.

Taking a deep breath he squeezed the bare shoulder. Felt Taiken wince under the touch.

“Then let me do it.” He was quiet, all the impatience gone with his new insight. “Give me all the authority you once gave Kelly. I'll take care of everything you don't need to be directly involved in. And I'll advise you on the rest.”

A short silence then, attempting to be light, Taiken said, “Really? You want the Mistress Contract?”

Sheldon quietly laughed with him. “Thank you, but I have no interest in being your mistress.”

“Yes. I noticed how you smell around Miss Verona.”

A couple more chuckles then the moment passed and again there was silence.

Finally Taiken sighed and sat up straight, blood still dripping down the sides of his face. He wiped at it. And at some suspiciously clearer liquid from his eyes.

“Very well. I'll let everyone know that from now on Sheldon is in charge.” He stared off at the shimmering of the dome, scattering the brightening dawn in a glow of rainbow colors. “And I'll do as you tell me. When you tell me.”

Uncomfortable, Sheldon stood up. “Only as necessary, sir. I'm not your master. And I’m only trying to help, not take over.”

Taiken's face, now calm and tired, had resumed its human appearance. So when he turned a relieved smile on Sheldon it didn't cause unintended fear.

“I know. And I’m allowing it.”

***

Five Years Later

She’d seen the Circus’s flags. It was just a glimpse. Far away as the edge of the city. But it was enough to be distracting.

She couldn’t afford to be distracted.

With furtive glances at the curtained doorway, she pretended to dust shelves and move closer to the pile of parchments on the desk. They were all new and Lita needed to get a peek at them before she came back.

But, the demoness was likely to notice if Lita’s fading scent had gone straight for the parchments. It was maddening but she had to clean like normal.

It occurred to her that thinking about the Circus was probably a gift, not a curse.

If I’m upset, that'll just hide my scent even better.

So she concentrated as hard as she could on the bubble of anger, resentment, grief… no, she didn’t want to be sad. She wanted to be angry again. Furious and spiteful.

There, that’s better.

That was one part of acting that she’d never thought about. Not until it meant life or death for her to actually feel the way she was trying to act.

Scent was so annoying.

Finally, she reached the stack of parchments. In pretense of straightening the animal skin papers, she flipped through them quickly.

A building project on the edge of the dock. A big one. For housing the boats of rich merchants. Lappers.

An embroidered tapestry. Interesting. Diana Veran didn’t seem the type to enjoy embroidery.

Knives and other weapons. That was more in character.

Plans to raid Randa.

Merchants whose records were to be examined. Family homes to be searched. People to be dragged off for execution or imprisonment… or to the mines.

The individual demons and enforcer divisions that would be going…

It was all there.

Her hand shook a little and for an instant she forgot the anger and anguish she’d been fostering as she pulled the page from the stack. Her heart pounded fiercely with suppressed excitement.

Lita knew documents like this existed but she’d never been able to find out where Diana Veran kept them.

She must’ve brought it up by mistake.

Lita was just glancing at the shelf where the demoness kept her Contract writing things when she heard the jingles.

It was faint. Still down the hallway and barely in earshot.

Heart leaping Lita looked desperately at the shelf again. No time to copy the thing now. Biting her lip she folded the parchment and stuck it down the front of her shirt. Then picked up the rag again to start dusting.

The curtain across the doorway was pushed aside and the demoness stepped in.

Diana Veran.

The creature kept her appearance as spartan as her room. A belt with dagger and pouch, plain blouse and pants, red hair in a single braid. No decorations. No ornaments of any kind.

She barely glanced at Lita as she stalked past the girl and picked up the stack of parchments. Shuffling through them.

Lita felt her stomach clench and she tried to again focus on the Circus.

While the demoness was busy shuffling through parchments Lita moved to the bed. She put aside the rag and started to make the bed from a pile of linens and blankets she’d dumped there earlier.

The demoness abruptly dropped the pile on the stone desk. The pages scattered all across it.

“Have you seen any loose papers around here, human?”

“No, Mistress.”

A cold sweat was beginning to trickle down her back. Fear was winning out. But, she hadn’t lied. No loose papers. So Diana Veran wouldn’t be able to tell.

The demoness grunted and sat down. Leaning her chin in one hand against the desk as she watched Lita.

“Did you deliver my message to the cook?”

“Yes, Mistress.”

“And?”

“She wanted to know if the guests will want stew or roast.”

Diana made a sound that wasn’t quite a grunt. “They are the guests of the Brethren.” Diana’s smile had a bite to it. “Roast.”

“Will you be requiring my services at the meal?”

“Of course. I don’t want some idiot spilling food in my lap. Not like last time.”

Thank you for not thinking I’m an idiot. Despite her fear she managed sarcasm and she bowed her head to hide her expression behind her loosening hair.

She knew she’d given away her sarcasm when the demoness growled. Lita winced and hurried to continue the conversation.

“Are they some of the province lords, Mistress?”

“What have I told you before about asking questions, human?”

Done with making the bed, Lita kept her eyes down as she stood still, folding her hands in front of her. “I only wanted to know how careful I needed to be.”

Diana Veran huffed a small laugh. “Right. They’re human, no need to be careful. Now, tell me what’s got you smelling upset this morning.”

Stubbornly Lita kept her eyes down. “Nothing to bother the Mistress with.”

“The Mistress,” said Diana Veran sarcastically as she stood up, “is much too busy to ask useless questions. Is it Clophas again?”

Lita winced. “Not this time, Mistress.”

“And you wouldn’t tell me even if it were.” Diana sighed and picked up one of the parchments she’d just scanned through and tucked it under her arm. “I’ll be taking breakfast in an hour. Be ready to serve me. And I’ll have a task for you after breakfast. So don’t start any drawn out projects.”

“Yes, Mistress.”

“Good. Now get out.”

Lita looked up, trying not to panic as she watched the demoness turn around and walk to the other end of the room.

“But- I’m not done, Mistress.”

“You are now. Go!”

Reluctantly, the parchment hidden inside her blouse suddenly as heavy as a boulder, Lita glanced back at the demoness before hurrying through the curtain. If she’d been able to stay and watch Diana half turn and smile in satisfaction, she wouldn’t have just been nervous.

She would have petrified.

Nervousness gave way to panic and in a darkened servant’s corridor she stopped. Leaning against the wall she focused on breathing as she stared up at the ceiling.

What am I going to do?

Without pulling it out, she adjusted the parchment so it now stuck into her waistband. It moved uncomfortably against her skin as she forced herself to walk.

First thing, Lita. Don’t panic. You’ll have those red-haired vultures all over you in seconds.

Just keep breathing.