The Devil at Midnight

It was dark and it was more than a little cold as you made your way across the bridge leading to Brahms. There was a heavy fog which the headlights did next to nothing to combat, and every little noise had you on edge.

Despite the danger, or perhaps because of it, you had chosen to go alone. Marcus and Tina had been through a great deal and you knew that they were especially **** whereas you had the ring. It was that cursed artefact on your finger that gave you even the smallest chance of surviving.

That’s if this thing _even shows up. _The way Horace spoke about it, there was a good chance the whole thing would be a waste of time. But the alternative was to let an opportunity go by when lives were at risk.

So you stood in the middle of the bridge, freezing and scared in the middle of the night and waited. You waited for almost an hour, trembling in your coat and looking around nervously. Soon your impatience overrode your concern and you were about to turn heel and go home when you heard a feminine chuckle on the wind behind you.

“What have we here?”

You looked around, saw nothing but fog. Then a light tap on your head, followed by more laughter. It sounded like it was coming from every direction, but you felt hands pat and grope you as though the being was standing right beside you.

“Cut it out,” you growled. “Face me.”

Laughter again. “But I enjoy playing with my food…pity you didn’t bring your mask. I’ve made a collection of them.”

“I’m not one of that group,” you insisted. You lifted your hand and showed off the ring. “I’m trying to stop them!”

There was silence, but you felt a very cold breeze surround you and chill to the bones. The fog seemed to grow a little thicker, almost like smoke. “Lilith’s ring,” the voice whispered. “That must make you a Maywood then, yes?”

“Mike,” you introduced. “Michael Maywood.”

There was another shift, and the fog seemed to clear to your right. Footsteps echoed out and from the mist a figure seemed to emerge and solidify. She looked a little older than you, but not by much. Her skin was pale and her hair very dark, the mist seemed to cling to her as she approached, every step taken with some measure of confidence.

“Lilith’s marked you as her agent,” the woman said by way of greeting. “So you’re at odds with the Incubus and Zicurael’s minions?”

“If you mean the Cult going around wearing weird masks and killing women, then yeah, I’m against them.”

She frowned and studied you for several heartbeats, trying to discern any hint of treachery. Satisfied, she gave a nod. “Very well, then I suppose we ought to talk. You’re the first mortal who has approached that wasn’t seeking conflict with me.”

“I came here because I heard you’re killing the cultists,” you shifted uneasily, “enemy of my enemy and all that…”

“I’ve killed some,” she admitted, “but not enough.”

“Well, I haven’t killed anyone but I’ve been spying on them and I know they have things planned, big things very soon.”

She didn’t look impressed. “They mean to sacrifice another girl this coming Friday, and then do the same ritual on a greater scale in a few weeks when your town celebrates its founding.”

You opened your mouth, closed it. She was well ahead of you. “Fuck, ok, I guess I’m not as connected as you aware…but still, perhaps we could work together? I don’t want people to die, and I’m guessing that don’t either.”

“ Oh,” she laughed, rich pearls that rang out into the night air. “I couldn’t give a fuck about a bunch of humans dying. I just don’t want Incubus, Zicurael, or any of the others getting through into this realm.”

You looked at her again, took note of how dark her eyes seemed in the moonlight. This wasn’t a sorceress or empowered human. There was no artefact about her. Her very being gave off a dark aura.

“What are you?”

She considered for a moment before answering. “You know that humans have consorted with _Those From the Other Sid_e, yes? You understand that deals are made, pacts forged?”

“So I’ve been told, yes.”

“In the spaces where such things happen, sometimes a child can be conceived,” she gestured to herself. “You’re looking at one.”

“So, you’re a hybrid?” That made your head spin. “Wow.”

She rolled her eyes. “I’ve some power, but not nearly as much as I’d like. My forebears have legions of humans working for them, entire bloodlines of sorcerers…” her eyes flicked at you, moving down your entire body as she did some internal calculations. Something caught her interest and she closed the gap between you, sniffing at the air around you like an animal. “Oh, oh you’re something.”

You felt terribly uncomfortable, but you were always very much aware that a half-demon woman was inches away from tearing your head off. “Yeah,” he said carefully, “I got this ring…”

“Never mind the ring,” she said, “ it’s just something to enhance what you already have,” she smelt again. “Lilith’s a real piece of work, her manipulations run deep. You’ve got a deep reserve of magic within you, and I’d say that she’s probably carefully curated your bloodline for that,” she grinned at you, “you’re a prized pooch of great pedigree, Mr Michael Maywood.”

The way she said that made your skin crawl, but it also opened a door of possibilities that made your stomach turn. You had never met your father and the notion that something sinister might have been involved in your conception troubled you deeply.

“I’ve decided that I like you,” the girl proclaimed. “You’ve got a nice face, in a dopey, pathetic puppy kind of way. So how’s this, we form a pact and work together.”

“A pact,” you felt defensive. “I’m not selling my soul or firstborn to you, if that’s what you mean.”

Another pearl of laughter. “No, silly. A marriage pact.”

That left you stunned, your mouth working but no words would come. She rolled her eyes at you gawping expression. “Listen, I’m a bastard offspring of a great being stuck in this realm without any allies. I need to form a house of my own and you’re the best possible option for a consort.”

“I don’t even know your name!” You stared at her. “I…fuck, married? I’m only eighteen!”

“I’ve had so many names, they’re like different pairs of shoes at this point. But currently I’m going by Mandy,” she looked you up and down. “And as for your age, well, we can have a long betrothal if you’d prefer.”

You were still struggling at her-Mandy’s words. “What would that even look like, marriage to you?”

“Well…I wouldn’t be able to harm you, nor you me, so there’s that,” she sighed a little, “I can pass for human if I have to, but I’d need someone to help me establish a network in the human realm. That’s where you’d come in. You could understand the little subtleties, you’d know how to interact with people outside of all,” she gestured about wildly, “…this.”

When she saw your dubious look she pushed on. “With my power and your knowledge of the mortal world we’d form a power base against my kin and dismantle that cult. The _Ones on the Other Side _would remain where they belong, and there’d be harmony. We’d be the ones to hold the power around here, and in time our heirs too,” she grinned at you. “Personally, I think it’s a very good deal for you. So, what do you say?”