Chapter 122: Sympathy For The Archfiend

Chapter 122: Sympathy For The Archfiend

Cheng looked like a member of a boyband. The one who gets all the attentions from the girls.

He was tall with an athletic build. The most striking thing about him was his face. He was pretty. Not like a girlhis jaw was square and his features were pronouncedjust in a very symmetrical way. Everything balanced really well.

He had no hair on his head or on his face, not even eyebrows. And then there were his crimson eyes.

They didnt glow but they were strikingly red.

Weve been over this a number of times so I wont repeat myself. Im still not.

There was much commotion as Cheng entered as everyone gathered round him, offering greetings and salutations. He was popular, Ill give him that.

I know you said he wasnt a Visitor, I said to Hitokag from the side of my mouth, but you could have mentioned hes human.

He isnt, replied Hitokag.

Cheng parted the crowds with a wave of his hands and walked towards me. If he wasnt human he was doing an excellent impression of one.

Even though he was taller than me and looked stronger, his youthful face was that of a child. Of course, I didnt know how old he really wasperhaps he was an immortal who had maintained this appearance for millenniaand quite possibly his whole appearance was some kind of illusion.

Thank you for accepting my invitation. So you are Colin. His voice was surprisingly deep. Booming. It sounded strange coming out of such a willowy figure.

Yes, I said. You look like youre human.

There was a gasp from the assembled crowd. And when assorted monsters gasp, it isnt like a theatre crowd stunned to find the Inspector was the murderer all along, the sound was like a roomful of snakes who had their tails stepped on at the same time.

Cheng smiled. He was dressed like something out of the Arabian Nights. A large blouse made of thin silk, open to the navel the way Sinbad the Sailor might wear it, and baggy pants that were perhaps three sizes too big for him. His chest was hairless and his stomach was fully abbed-up like hed been working out with a personal trainer to prepare for the European leg of the tour.

True, this form does give that impression. A gift from my mother. I wanted to meet you like this first, so you can see there is more than one side to me. Later you will meet me in a different guise, one that I know makes your kind uncomfortable.

Very reasonable. Later he was going to be some scary monster and he didnt want me to freak out. Two sides meeting and not wanting to give the wrong impression is, after all, a tale as old as time. Both a little scared, neither one prepared, Beauty and the Beast.

Good thing Flossie wasnt here, she probably would have sung him those lyrics.

What is it you want from me? I asked.

There will be time for that later. I find I am better equipped for those sorts of discussions when I am in the right frame of mind. There is much going on here that you are not privy to, but I want you to be fully informed before you take any action. We have been engaged in battle with the humans for longer than any here can remember, but it is a necessary battle. I promised to answer all your questions, and I will, but for now please accept my hospitality and my apologies for the difficulties you faced getting here.

He sounded sincere, but faking sincerity wasnt so hard. Updated from novelbIn.(c)om

I was still standing naked in the middle of a large crowd with just a cloak for protection. I felt somewhat exposed and vulnerable, and not really sure what I was doing there. Couldnt this have waited until I had some pants on.

To show you I intend to hide nothing from you, said Cheng, I wanted you to see who I really am, the good, the bad and the ugly.

I half-expected him to put a cigar in his mouth and pull out a six-shooter.

And what do you want?

Everything.

And to get it youre prepared to do?

Anything.

You could tell it was still himthe visage, even though it was all puffed up and warped like a funhouse mirror, had the same red eyes, even if they were glowing nowbut there was a coldness to him now. The kid had a sensitivity to him, the demon had huge fucking fangs.

There seemed to be some kind of balance between the two forms, which was a good thing as far as I was concerned. Even when one was present, the other was still there, somewhere. It was probably the only reason I wasnt dead.

I understand you want to leave the big questions for later, I said, but can I ask you one thing?

Yes? said Cheng.

I knew I wouldnt like the answer but I felt it was important. What happened to your mother?

She died, said Cheng with some emotion. His voice even cracked a little. I loved her very much, but your people have frail bodies and short lifespans.

She died of old age?

No, my father ate her. They never really got on.

Every time I thought I was starting to understand this world, coming to terms with the differences and similarities, something always came along and kicked me in the bollocks.

Cheng yawned. I wish he hadnt. The teeth went all the way to the back and didnt get any smaller.

Youll have to excuse me, the change always tires me. I will discuss matters further with you at the feast. Dress is informal, but you might want to put on some pants.

I had been so transfixed by the appearance of a demon in front of me that I had let the cloak fall open. I gathered it around me again.

No problem, Ill do that, I said.

He turned and walked away. He was just as terrifying from the back.

Hitokag said there were three forms, and the third was for battle. I couldnt imagine how it was better suited for combat than this one. Hopefully I would never find out.

Once Cheng had departed, everyone got to their feet and the atmosphere in the room relaxed. Well, comparatively.

Shall I return you to your room? asked Hitokag.

Actually, I thought I might take the stairs.

No need, said Hitokag. Before I could protest, he grabbed me and jumped out of the nearest window.

I was now naked, in a cape and flying. Up in the sky, is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, its Supergay.