A quiet night in

Alex and Demon spent the night alone, like many before, and many more to come they were both sure.

Alex was lounging on the bed, propped up against the headboard and pillows. One hand was managing an old tome that he'd borrowed from the guild. It was a record for dragon movements through the spine of the world, and Alex was reading up on their movements for the season. His next destination would be right up against the sharp mountian ranges and to be honest dealing with dragons was among his least favorite things to do. Yes they flew and had magic, but they were every bit as smart as a human could get and they lived much longer making them more cunning and cruel.

Demon was curled up in his lap purring softly as his other hand made small circle motions on her side. Like this you could easily forget that she was one of the most fearsome beings that walked the wilderness of the expanses. Even before becoming tainted with demonic corruption Xenrdomus had been a great sphinx, the natural opponents to dragonkind. Dragon would grow larger and had thick hides, but the sphinx were a species that used mind magic exclusively, and there was no hide on earth thick enough to shield your mind. Even without her previous stores of power Demon could still hear the thoughts of animals and sentient creatures for miles when she wasn't keeping her senses dulled. Many sphinx lived in solitary places because they struggle to deaden the noise that being in crowded places subjected them too.

Apart from the initial horror of the bracelet Demon was now wearing around her neck she had finally found some comfort in being able to relax her focus so as not to go crazy with rage near cities. Even small towns like Willowbridge were enough noise to make Demon irritable, cities were simply out of the question.

But here, tonight, she was shielded from the thoughts of the world. Alex couldn't tell that the rooms were under some sort of magical protection that blocked all sound and thoughts from penetrating the walls, but Demon had noticed which rooms were shielded as she had explored the available parts of the building during the day.

"I like it here." Demon said.

"Maybe we can ask how the spells are woven into the walls."

Demon stretched out as she rose from her leg-cradle, "I like the people here too. They're a bit too nosy, but what they say and think are the same things."

Alex closed the book and leaned his head back, "That's why I come here. Maybe we should visit more often."

"Not too often though. Wouldn't want you to get a comfortable life now would we?"

Alex chuckled, "If you were uncomfortable anywhere how could I be? Two souls, one body remember. That means I feel your pain, and endure your displeasure even when you're giving me the silent treatment."

"So why don't you just agree with me all the time?"

"We can't let me get too comfortable right?"

"Masochist! I'm going to thinks dirty thoughts at you all night when you sleep!"

"Great. I'm looking forward to my dreams now."

"You ass...now I'm not going to."

"So I get undisturbed slumber?" Alex debated adding more retort, but settled for, "Won't be as good but I'll make do."

(Smooooooth. I can hear your thoughts dummy.)

(I know.) Alex grinned at the cat glaring back at him, (Goodnight Demon.)

(Shut up...dork.)