Stathis was wedged up against the wall, Janaxia somehow sprawled across almost the entirety of the small bed, stiff and inflexible whenever Stathis tried to push back, all bony limbs or sharp nails. Had that been a growl? Although her hair was a gentle, dawn-tinted red, and she made a happy sigh when Stathis brushed it away from her slumbering face. Stathis gently kissed her on the forehead, smiling at the happy, barely conscious wriggle that provoked, Janaxia’s breathing coming in soft, regular pulses, slow and drowsy, her tattoo barely moving. One of her arms had snaked around Stathis’ back, nails lightly resting on Stathis’ skin, just above her spine. Stathis stretched against it, using it to scratch an itch, before starting to try and extricate herself from Janaxia’s grip.

How was she so strong when holding onto something, and so weak the rest of the time? It was like wrestling an octopus, except drier and with smoother, softer skin, every attempt to wriggle free resulting in another limb flowing back, a leg hooking between hers in a grapple Semari would have been proud of, twisting around her knees.

Janaxia’s face came forward, her breasts pushing against Stathis’, head burrowing against her shoulder. Stathis gave her a swift kiss, inhaling her slightly spicy, musky scent, taking advantage of a momentary weakness to get an arm free, gently disengaging herself.

It would be too noisy to get fully armoured, but she put her trousers and tunic on before carefully opening the door, being as quiet as possible, brighter sunlight flowing into the room, already later in the day than she had expected.

She hadn’t gotten far down the hallway before Aimodia stepped out of a side-passage, one that was pitch-black, her form snapping into solidity from the shadows. Her skin was bone-white, body still sheathed in the tight suit from last night, a dagger on each hip. She looked Stathis up and done as she smiled, fangs sliding out from behind her lips, then tilted her head to look at Stathis’ neck.

‘She’s a biter then?’

Stathis became aware of a dull throbbing, raising a hand to her neck and feeling sore pin-prick marks, all along her neck, and down her chest, and elsewhere, a blush starting to spread out from her core, her face reddening.

Aimodia smiled. ‘Well, I suppose it has been some time coming. And you have both survived. Which is more than can be said for some of the local architecture.’

‘Shit! What happened? More demons?’

Aimodia gestured to a nearby window, Stathis going to look. Aimodia moved close behind her, footsteps silent on the floor, staying out of the patches of sunlight as much as possible.

It was mid-morning, the sunlight bright and strong. From the window, Stathis could see a temple, the wall covered in murals of warrior-saints, fighting against demons and monsters. Cracks ran up the side of the wall, great rents scarring the painted white surface, chunks of stone and plaster fallen to the street below. At the top was a bell-tower, open-sided, and Stathis could see the bell inside it. The bronze curves, etched with holy symbols, had cracked in half, the metal forever scarred.

‘It broke as it started ringing the dawn. Perhaps the result of certain… passions?’

Stathis’ blush got even stronger. Had that been them? She vaguely remembered hearing the half-toll of a bell, stirring them from their slumber, before they had started pushing together…

‘Perhaps she will settle now? Or at least have less adverse effects on the architecture?’ Aimodia’s knowing smirk made things even worse. ‘I’ve heard similar tales all across the city – several holy relics burst into flame, so it is said. The priests are worried of some great evil, came to destroy the place.’

‘Well, there shouldn’t be that, at least. Not after we dealt with Peresperan.’ She winced. ‘I hope the damage wasn’t too bad?’

‘Fortunately, everyone is on high alert, so I believe there was limited collateral damage, just a little surprised. Oh, and Skotadi seems a little twitchy. I’ve been keeping her away from the squires, lest she get any ideas. Perhaps you should take her aside for something of a… chat? Sooner, rather than later?’ She grinned, baring her fangs. ‘I find myself quite protective of them!’

‘Oh gods, did she do anything?’

‘She’s small enough that she can easily be carried away, despite her protestations. And were I mortal, then her shadowy manifestations may have been more problematic, but I was able to calm her down, despite her being rather disgruntled. But there is a link there, so if you are to engage in any more nocturnal pleasures, you may wish to take precautions of some kind. She was rather distant and somewhat peaky.’

‘Sorry! I didn’t know that would happen. This is all rather new.’

‘Yes, we do seem to be in unique times.’ She turned and walked away. ‘Now, breakfast. As I suspect you will be travelling far and fast, so it may be best to eat while you can? Fortunately, supplies are not that hard to come by, at least if you have gold to spare.’

Her footsteps were still eerily silent, and she stuck to the shadowed side of the hallway as she walked away, Stathis following her.

‘So, how are things with you and Yeros?’

‘More than satisfactory. After so long in the shadows, having a light – any light – is a comfort. And he is pleasurable company – seeing him with a blade, steel shining in the firelight, mmmm. A shame we never met in his prime, but he has gained in other ways! And the boys are callow, but learning. They are starting to get enough experience that soon they can be sent from here. I will miss them, I think, but I hope to hear of their deeds.’

‘And you’ve not, uh, bitten any of them?’

‘Youthful blood is… harsh on my palette. Energetic and frothy, but unsatisfying and empty. No, I prefer the taste of experience, of a life fully lived. And Yeros is certainly that, the blood of the heavens in him. A stinging, satisfying aftertaste. A shame you have been claimed by another, as I imagine you would be similar.’

Stathis rubbed her neck again, feeling the slight throbbing of the love-bites. ‘Still not sure about this “claiming” thing.’

‘Oh? It seems a little late for that. I have seen many pairings, but few that have had such theological implications. And, to judge by the sounds I could, it was pleasurable for you as well.’

Stathis tried not to hunch her shoulders, wanting to shrivel up and not be here.

Aimodia chuckled. ‘Worry not – my hearing is sharper than that of any mortal, so I doubt your colleagues heard anything. But now – food. You must keep your strength up, especially if you are hoping to repeat the performance.’

Stathis felt her blush deepen, as she was lead to a large dining room. Most of the tables were filled, squires serving up food from steaming bowls and tureens, slopping out thick broth and handing out steaming, fresh bread. There was a low thrum of nervous conversation, mostly about the strange events of the night before, Stathis trying not to wince.

Semari was already there, surrounded by the debris of her meal, breadcrumbs on the table. Parth was opposite her, slowly nibbling on a single slice of bread, chewing each mouthful thoroughly. They both looked at her with knowing eyes, Parth turning to Semari and murmuring something that made Semari cackle.

Stathis got some food, thanking the squire, before going to sit next to Semari, slapping her hand down when she tried to grab more bread. Aimodia curtseyed and absented herself, stepping away, fading into the shadows in the corner and vanishing.

They both stared at her, Parth’s amber eyes inquisitive, her mouth smirking slightly as she carefully chewed her bread.

‘The dark and the light.’

‘Yes, I know! I heard about all the stuff that’s been happening. I didn’t realise that would happen, but it sounds as though there wasn’t any major damage.’

‘Dunno about that, sounds like most of the bells in the city cracked. Guess someone didn’t want an early morning? And not like you to sleep in either! She drain you dry?’ Semari chomped her teeth, clacking them loudly as she bit the air, then made a loud slurp-suck noise. ‘Looks like you’ve been nibbled on a bit.’

Stathis moved a hand to her neck, trying to cover the marks, her face prickling with heat now, wanting to duck down and hide in her soup.

‘Did you both rest? We’ve got a long day to go.’

‘Yeah, managed to, like, kip down a bit. So, Janaxia shifted into ultimate sexy god-beast mode?’

‘No, she’s just sleeping in! I’ll eat, then take her some food and drag her out. Parth, can you call for the eagles? We should get back as soon as possible. And we’ve got Armoniki with us as well now, I guess, as well as Skotadi. Where are they?’

‘Skotadi needed some, like, private time. Got a bit hyper. Like a cat with the zoomies! Armoniki thought it was funny. And then they had a fight.’

Stathis groaned. That probably explained some of the wider damage – it couldn’t just be from her and Janaxia! ‘I hope you broke them up?’

‘Nah, took bets. Turns out Skotadi’s a biter. Then black shadows starting going everywhere and stuff got, like, eldritch. Aimodia broke them up with a flaming torch between them. Shame, I still think Armoniki would have had her. They’re smaller, but I reckon they want it more. Getting a bit “something to prove” vibe. Wonder if they’ll, like, grow up suddenly?’

‘I don’t even want to think about what that would mean! Keeping Skotadi out of the booze is bad enough. So other than trying to set them on fire, anything else happen? And what were they fighting about?’

‘Infectious passion. Skotadi… afflicted. Unsure, passion of the night.’ Parth nodded with strange certainty, then smirked and raised a single eyebrow. Stathis felt her blush returning, trying to power through it as Semari spoke.

‘Yeah, don’t think Skotadi’s used to that sort of thing! And then they started hissing at each other, in their weird speech. Don’t think Armoniki likes Janaxia much – said some nasty things about her! And some nice things about you. That’s what set Skotadi off.’

‘Next time, try and break them apart! Don’t let them fight.’

‘Well, it got a bit, like, eldritch. An old sword on the wall, like, burst in flames, but they were black, and then it crumbled into dust.’

‘That’s why you shouldn’t let them fight!’

‘Meh, it’s only natural. They’re, like, siblings or somethings, aren’t they? They’re gonna fight. It’s what they do. Good to let these things out.’

‘Not when it causes anything holy in the area to explode! That’s going to cause a lot of problems if it keeps happening. And if they get really pissed off with each other, they can probably do a lot of damage? I’d rather not find out, personally. Especially if they start biting each other!’

‘Nah, I think that’s just Skotadi. Armoniki’s a bit sneakier, saw them try to go for a gut-punch. Might’ve worked if it hadn’t been for her corset. But Aimodia settled it, think she might have got them drunk.’

‘What!?’

‘What? It’s what you do with kids. Kethys used to give me wormblood. That stuff has a kick, but put me right under!’

Stathis groaned. ‘I’m not sure if those two can even get drunk! Or that it is in any way a good idea. Skotadi especially! They’re not really ready for getting shitfaced drunk yet.’

‘She seemed to know what she was doing. And I don’t think anything has exploded since. Well, other than one of the temple bells at first light, but I think that might have been you. Like, coming with the dawn and stuff?’ Semari smirked at her, making grabby gestures with her hands. ‘Wouldn’t have expected Janaxia to be up that early without, like, some incentive. You managed not to die this time though, so that’s good, I guess?’

‘The light has conquered the darkness?’

‘I don’t really know? Let’s just go for “it was a nice night, now let’s get back to the army and try and save the world” for now. And please don’t spread it around!’

Murmurs came from the other side of the room, everyone turning to look at something. Stathis had to crane her neck to see, looking over everyone to see Janaxia stride in. She was wearing one of her usual dresses, but the rich, deep red was now shot through with gold and azure blue, her hair held back with a golden circlet, a small sun-symbol on her brow.

‘Dunno, don’t think I need to? There might be a few signs there.’

Janaxia saw them, striding imperiously through the temporarily silenced crowd, everyone’s heads turning to watch her as she moved, the squires staring in slack-jawed and unmoving silence. She sat down next to Stathis, sliding onto the bench, pushing herself up close, shoulder-to-shoulder, before gesturing with a hand, mystical energy lifting up a bowl and carrying it over.

‘Good morning everyone. I trust you are all recovered from yesterday’s fracas?’

The background chatter resumed, although at a lower volume now. Semari started to open her mouth, but Stathis glared at her, and she shut it again.

‘I think we’re all good. Parth’s going to call up the eagles, and then we can head back. Do you think that’ll take long, Parth?’

‘The wind whispers far and fast.’

‘Good. The sooner we get back, the better.’

Beneath the table, Janaxia’s hand came to rest on Stathis’ knee, as magical energy lifted the spoon to convey soup into Janaxia’s mouth.

Hmmm. Yes, while it would be nice to rest, then I suppose the sooner this business is over with, the better. And then maybe something of a proper break? ‘Where is Skotadi? I was expecting her to be here as well.’

‘Aimodia took her and Armoniki off last night. They’re probably still sleeping somewhere?’ And hopefully not fighting again! Although there was a holy symbol on the wall that hadn’t burst into flames, which was probably a good sign.

‘Well, time is slipping by.’ The hand lightly squeezed her knee – the touch was nice, but this wasn’t really the time or place! ‘I will call for them, so they know to be ready.’

Stathis shuddered, as a deep throbbing pulse echoed within her brain, as scratchy, twisty unwords sounded. A moment later, a slash of darkness appeared in the air, Skotadi stepping through. Her hair was mussed and tousled, her clothing slightly dishevelled, Stathis not quite sure if it was a deliberate choice, or just that she’d only just woken up, with Armoniki behind her.

She grumbled something at Janaxia.

‘No complaints! It’s time to eat and then we need to leave. There is much to do. And that goes for you as well, Armoniki. You will be of much use. Now eat, as you will both need your strength.’ They tried to complain, but Janaxia’s pester-power was too strong, her dark energy flickering over the pair of them, tidying up their hair and clothing, pulling the front of Skotadi’s dress up, despite her grumbling.

While I tend to these two, perhaps you should go and ready our transportation? That will make things faster. Beneath the table, she gave Stathis’ knee a squeeze, before withdrawing a hand. Semari was looking at her in surprise, even Parth looking a little shocked.

‘You, like, feeling OK?’

‘Perfectly satisfactory. But, as I say, there is much to be done, and little time to do it. And I’m sure you could find something useful to do as well.’ She turned to glare at Semari, green eyes glinting.

‘Uh, sure, I guess…’ She looked at Stathis with visible confusion, Stathis just as bemused by Janaxia’s sudden efficiency and drive.

‘I’ll go get my armour back on, and then I’m good to go. Semari, go find Aimodia and get some food, and then we can head off once Parth gets the eagles back.’

‘Ooo, food! Sounds good. I’ll go stock up. Maybe get some booze as well, gets bloody cold up on those birds!’

Perhaps some thick furs as well, then? I’m sure this place will have some old blankets or suchlike they can part with.

Before Semari could start squabbling or start anything, Stathis rose, grabbing her shoulders and herding her away, Parth trailing behind. As she pushed Semari, she glanced backwards – Janaxia’s clothing was still the same, new, selection of colours. She’d have to try and get her to shift it back before they arrived back, otherwise there would be a lot of awkward questions!