2. Valek

valek

. . .

Something has changed. Tonight feels different than the thousands of nights that came before. The air feels heavier, laden with sullen anticipation, as if even the universe senses my dissent. I wander through the shadow-strewn streets of the city, invisible to the mortal eye, yet acutely aware of each heartbeat and shallow breath drawn by sleeping souls around me.

There's a light on in an apartment on the fifth floor of an old brick building. A part of me, that ever-persistent demon instinct, urges me to ascend and fulfill my duty. Yet another part—perhaps a remnant of the angel I once was—steers my feet toward the park nearby, beneath the gnarled arms of an ancient tree and the faint shimmer of the crescent moon.

I sit on a cold bench, the metal stinging against my skin through my ethereal form. My thoughts are chaotic, swarming like dark moths against the light. Why continue this existence? Why inflict pain and steal what is not willingly given? The human soul is not merely a commodity. Why can't I remember what it was to love?

A rustle beside me breaks my reverie. Turning, I see an elderly man, perhaps in his mid-seventies, with amber eyes that reflect the moonlight and pierce the darkness around us. His presence feels like a light in the dark.

"Can't sleep either?" the old man asks with a smile.

His voice startles me. Not because he can see me—I have materialized without realizing it—but because within it lies an echo of something I've long forgotten: warmth.

"No," I say, my voice rough with sadness. "Just thinking."

"About?" The stranger sits beside me, maintaining a respectful distance, which closes as we speak.

"Choices," I answer simply.

We talk then—about everything and nothing. The elderly man speaks of his late wife, their grown children, and his excitement about the coming holidays. "Everyone comes home," the old man says with a laugh.

I listen mostly, offering only vague tidbits about myself when necessary. He doesn't want to hear about me, and I hardly want to hear it myself. As dawn begins to paint the night sky in hues of orange, I realize that this interaction has shifted something within me.

"I should go," the man mutters reluctantly as we stand. "But it was nice talking to someone so… different." His words almost make me smile—he has no idea how different I am.

"Maybe we'll meet again?" Hope in the man's voice tugs unexpectedly at whatever piece of soul remains in me.

"Maybe," I echo as he walks away into the start of a new day.

Tonight, I didn't collect a soul or perform duties expected of my cursed lineage. Instead, I found a glimpse of redemption in an unexpected conversation.

Perhaps what he said is true— everyone comes home.

As I enter the grand hall of Darkborne Castle, my family's ancestral home and the residence of my brother, Vesper, I am immediately greeted by an unusual scent. The calming aroma of rosewater mingles with the familiar odors of brimstone and ash, which always seem to permeate the castle walls. The hall is quieter than I remember, the usual clamor of the court replaced by a soft, melodic humming that emanates from everywhere and nowhere. I take in the feminine touches and Bohemian decor, and my mind travels to dark places, fearing my brother has been usurped as king. But those thoughts quickly vanish when I hear the familiar sound of my brother's voice.

Within seconds, my eyes adjust to the light, and I spot my brother in the back of the room, sitting casually on his throne, one leg flung over the ornate armrest. His relaxed posture looks foreign on him, or at least on the brother I remember. He's surrounded by newly bloomed nightshade flowers, their deadly elegance starkly contrasting his serene smile. As I draw closer, his smile broadens.

"Welcome back, brother," he says, rising from his throne with the grace of smoke rising into a still night. His eyes are brighter than I remember, alight with a sort of peace I'm not accustomed to seeing in them. "It's been far too long."

Vesper is right—my return is long overdue. Fifty years ago, my brother exiled me to the human world, a desolate and unforgiving place that fed the darkness inside me. Every day was a struggle against my nature, constantly battling the temptations and influence of evil lurking around every corner.

As demons, we reside in dark spaces physically and metaphorically, but it's never easy to turn someone into one of our minions. For fifty years, I gathered souls—humans who would serve our legion when their time on earth ended. That part wasn't difficult. I targeted those who were miserable and seeking an easy escape from their wretched lives. It usually didn't take much manipulation for them to willingly join us. Still, they quickly regretted their decision once they realized their new lives were less glamorous than they had envisioned.

After fifty years of watching this vicious cycle repeat itself, I lost all motivation to barter for souls. And that's why Vesper finally called me home. But now that I'm here, nothing has the comforting familiarity I hoped to find.

I take a deep breath before responding, letting my eyes wander the room again. A part of me hoped for some of the chaos I left behind so many years ago, but everything seems perfectly in place. I shift my gaze back to Vesper and remark with a hint of sarcasm, "I see you've renovated since my last visit. Are you having another mid-century crisis?"

Vesper's laughter rings out, an unlikely sound for a demon king. "Absolutely," he responds. "And not just in terms of decoration. Walk with me, Valek. There are many things we need to discuss. I know the new surroundings are a bit off-putting, but it was essential to make my queen comfortable in her new home."

As we stroll through the halls that snake behind the throne room, Vesper speaks of his wife and queen, a celestial nymph who gets her powers from the moon's light. I've never seen him this way. He's obviously smitten, but his following words make me laugh out loud.

"Her name is Selene and she's my fated mate. Can you believe that? I have a mate and she's sheer perfection." He smiles with satisfaction and stares into the distance as if he's thinking of her now.

I interrupt him with a huff, feeling the heat rising in my cheeks. "We don't get mates, big brother," I snap, my voice laced with frustration and longing. "That's reserved for beings better than us. It's far more likely you're infatuated with a nymph, her ethereal beauty clouding your judgment and causing you to rationalize your sudden weakness as an involuntary submission to destiny." A sigh escapes me as the truth sinks in, wistful thoughts of a love that will never be more than a dream.

Anticipation coils tightly in my stomach as I brace myself for the inevitable onslaught of vitriol and rage from Vesper, known for his legendary temper and lack of mercy toward even his family members. But to my surprise, instead of a fiery outburst, I am met with a hearty laugh that unsettles me.

"I'm going to forgive you for that because I know it's coming from a place of loneliness and bitterness. I'd likely share your sentiments if I were you and you were me. But Selene is my mate. I knew it even before I laid eyes on her. She wandered into Nightshade on the night of the full moon, experiencing her first heat and unwittingly searching for me, the only being who could satisfy her need to mate?—"

I cut him off with a scowl, fury visibly rising as my brow furrows. "That is far more information than I needed. If you believe she's your mate, I have no choice but to accept your description. Forgive me for not believing you. I'll give her the proper deference as the new Queen of Darkborne, but your sudden transformation is not enough to convince me."

Vesper nods and a knowing look passes between us. He acknowledges it's a far-fetched concept for me to accept so quickly. "Have you decided where you want to live? The castle is always open to you, but I can sense your discomfort with the new design scheme. Perhaps you would feel more at ease in a home of your own, whether it be here in Nightshade or somewhere else in the kingdom. Your loyalty and dedication to the legion have not gone unnoticed, and I grant you the freedom to choose your residence."

His words should offer me solace and support in this pivotal moment, but I'm immediately suspicious of his motives. I don't care if he's found his fated mate. My brother is not capable of this level of change.

"What's the catch?" I ask, my eyes narrowing with mistrust. I grit my teeth, and my upper lip curls angrily, unable to hide my frustration with him.

This isn't my brother. He's a kinder, gentler version of someone I used to know. But how could he have changed so drastically after thousands of years of loneliness? I can hardly fault him for believing in fate.

"No catch." Vesper feigns innocence, holding his palms out in mock surrender to calm me. "But I would like you to do something for me. I sense you'll need help reacclimating to our new way of life. I want you to check yourself into the wellness sanctuary and retreat run by Odette Black, sister of Queen Isolde," he suggests as we pass by a series of tall, arched doorways veiled in sheer fabric that flows like waterfalls—another new addition to the palace. "Selene is a frequent visitor and has dragged me there occasionally. And I'll admit I was pleasantly surprised. It might help with…your rage."

I attempt to walk away, but my steps falter at that word—rage. It's always been a part of me, as much as my shadow. It can't be washed away by some scented steam and oils. Yet, as I glance at Vesper, there's no mocking glint in his eyes—only genuine concern. He must have anticipated my reaction and still took the chance to speak the words. For the benefit of fraternal camaraderie, I try to listen to his reasons.

"Why would I do something like that?" We pause at a balcony, gazing down at an expansive garden below. "Why do you think I would do something like that?" I inquire, my tone tinged with disbelief. "Are you sincerely asking me to tame my metaphoric demons?"

Vesper looks out over his realm—a kingdom that once thrived on fury and fire—now shimmering under a veil of tranquility. "Selene made me realize that power can be quiet," he says simply. "That solace can be as formidable as any sword or spell."

As we stand there in silence, with only the distant sound of water trickling through some unseen fountain filling the air between us, it occurs to me that perhaps I crave a sliver of the happiness he's found. I may not have a fated mate, but after fifty years of constant seething discontent, I might benefit from a few days of tranquility. Perhaps this is what I seek.

"I'll give it a try," I murmur under my breath, still slightly unconvinced.

"You won't regret it, little brother."