Chapter 8 Pt. 2- Meet the Demon Lahash

Relic rolled his eyes at the newer guide who still struggled with the aspects of his new existence. "Look, if you are going to get upset about Meridian being with other guys, then I hope you enjoy disappointment. This is Warrick's work. If you want to be mad, be mad at him. You are not a human anymore. I really thought you would be letting go of human male jealousy. We can't interfere according to our own laws. Remember, Caius was cast out for stopping the human boy from his own suicide. Do you want to end up like Caius? Have you not learned a thing since you came to be in Etheria? I do worry, but I also know that right now with the lunatic running our realm, we are very limited in what we can do." Relic's patience with Kieren grew short, right along with his ability to control his own emotions over Meridian and continue to hide it with a cloak of sarcasm.

Ridge always enjoyed putting Relic in his place, but this was one of the rare occasions when he backed up his friend. "He is right. Warrick is the reason for all the trouble we have, and Meridian is like a child in the sense that she doesn't realize that her behavior to some humans is observed as being inappropriate. Not all humans would see it this way. However, if one human were seeking true love, Meridian's behavior more than likely would not lead her to finding real love. Remember she has never been human; she isn't putting these things together."

As the spirit guides hashed out the whys of trying to help Kieren, Talon kept watch at the restaurant. Slaten had slipped outside to peek in the shops in Salem in an attempt to get his mind off the problems they were dealing with. Slaten was missing Janus and the relationship that they were growing before his father locked her up for helping Arianna and Caius break out of Etheria's prison. Pramlee had taken an interest in all the people who were coming in and out of the restaurant. There was still hardly a seat open in the house for any new patrons to come in and sit.

"Having a good time, are you?" Luna asked Pramlee.

"Oh yes! This place is awesome! If I had ever been a human, I would have lived here. This is my kind of crowd!" Pramlee exclaimed giving a lightness to a heavy situation with her beaming smile and big eyes. Pramlee's blue eyes were bright under the lights of the restaurant, and when the overhead lights hit her blue locks, she was bright as the sun. Sill having her old habits of pretending to pick at her black nail polish as she spoke, she carried a mild disconnect to her surroundings.

"How are you doing? I know things must be difficult with Relic, right?" Luna did not appreciate the inquiry, being she was Meridian's best friend.

Luna was not quick to answer; she looked away at Relic who was chatting with Ridge and laughing. Luna smiled as she watched the guide she had been so in love with. "I guess. Yes, it is hard. I know that he is still in love with Meridian. I want to hate her, but I can't. All I feel is sadness for me and pity for her," Luna stared at Meridian who was laughing. Before Pramlee could say another word, Luna took advantage of the situation for a change in the subject.

"Look, they are leaving," Luna pointed out to the group.

Meridian and Tallulah got up from the table to leave with the men who let them take their seats. The guides, Luna and Talon, followed the women out and right into a night club right around the corner from the restaurant.

As everyone filed into the crowded club, the music thumped and could be felt as it vibrated through the human bodies dancing away. It was hard for the human eye to see much but Talon and the rest had no problem keeping up with the women. One of the guys Meridian was getting cozy with took her hand, and they went out on the dance floor and disappeared into the crowd seamlessly. Tallulah went to the bar and struck up a conversation with the bartender while trying to maintain a careful watch on Meridian.

"Always the social butterfly." Relic laughed as he watched Tallulah make friends,

"You should know," Luna smarted off.

Kieren disappeared onto the floor, careful to not lose sight of Meridian. The guy she was getting cozy with left her standing on the dance floor and went to the bar to get her a drink.

"Like she needs anymore," Relic pointed out for everyone to notice.

Kieren was getting nervous as the stranger came back to Meridian with a shot. He stood close to Relic sharing his view and his frustration.

Before the stranger could return to Meridian with a drink, Tallulah took notice that Meridian was momentarily alone. She walked over to her. "Meridian, I am only allowing your social indulgences because we are supposed to be having a good time. Do not make me regret bringing you in here." Tallulah walked off and went back and sat down at the bar. She continued to chat with the bartender that she knew from a previous visit to Salem. As the night progressed, the bar became livelier with more people filing in. Tallulah's view of Meridian, already a challenge, became obstructed no matter what position she took to see how her friend was doing.

The stranger Meridian had gone to the dance floor with made his way back with a shot. "Here drink this!" he urged as he placed a shot right under her nose.

Meridian jerked her head back and put up her hand. "I don't even know your name."

"It's John." He put his arm around Meridian and swayed her to the music, holding her close as he pressed his hips into hers.

Meridian continued to dance with John. "I am not old enough to drink, and besides, I am already in the hot seat with Tallulah."

John did not give much thought to what Meridian said. "She isn't your mother, is she?"

Meridian looked over to where she had last seen Tallulah, and she could no longer see her through the crowd on the dance floor. It was packed with little room for anyone to move let alone dance.

Barely having the room to bring the shot to her lips, Meridian grinned as she brought the shot glass up, quickly sucked the drink back, and continued to dance very close to John. After a couple of songs played through, the pair left the dance floor and went and sat at a table. Meridian now having had a few shots, could barely hold herself up, and John was taking full advantage as he kissed on her neck.

Tallulah shook her head in disappointment, knowing that her prior rounds of talks with Meridian had not accomplished much as she had spotted Meridian making her way over to the table. "Meridian, we are leaving soon. I am giving you five minutes to say your goodbyes and then we are going." Tallulah huffed in a fluster and stomped off back to the bartender to tell her old friend goodbye.

The demons swarmed around the table where Meridian and John were seated, drawing their power from the intrigue as to what was on the horizon. One demon who seemed to set himself apart from the others strode away from the group and made his way to Talon. Commanding and effortless, his swagger was elegant. Careful and deliberate.

"Talon, back in Salem, are you? I see the allure. However, the company you keep is ironic, to say the least. The demon continued to move closer to Talon, his face shown through the dancing lights of the bar. No matter how close the demon positioned himself, his voice remained from within Talon's ears. As though the demon had set up residence within his mind, making any noise he fancied.

Pulsating with every beat of the techno music, he came closer with every blink until, in plain sight, he stood in front of Talon. Toe to toe, the demon insisted on hearing more of his own banter and locked eyes with Talon.

"I see you are with some strange company. Why do you travel with spirit guides?" The demon was not as hot-headed as the other demons Talon had encountered in the past. It seemed to Talon that this demon was more curious than interested in harm. His voice was as smooth as the soft notes of a violin - hypnotic and sleek. He dressed as though he was from another time. Exquisite suiting, the finest leather shoes found in Paris, equipped with a reversible tie, black being his color choice of the moment. With every move, Talon could see hints of red from the underside of his tie as the lights flashed.

"Why do you care?" Talon was defensive, caught off guard. His composure was tight, his arms stiff at his sides, and his face not giving anything away. The only hints toward Talon's demeanor was the heat coming off his skin and his jaw setting tight.

"I know who you are, fallen. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Lahash," the demon said ignoring Talon's defense and maintaining his agenda without waiver.

"Lahash, you are considered a fallen angel?" Talon's question was more of a statement, and it intrigued him as he smiled with every syllable that left Talon's lips.

"I am, or that is what humans believe?" Lahash smiled as he stood with his hands clasped behind his back. His face turned away back to the dance floor watching the humans, with only his profile exposing the slight upturn of his lips.