EIGHT (ISELEN POV)

"Come on, this way," I point at a door at the end of the corridor. "There's a narrow staircase behind it that leads to the roof... Be careful..." I whisper pushing Ruby gently so she moves a step back. "You could trip over one of those and fall on the floor."

"What are these crystal balls?" The pretty human asks confused while she follows them with her eyes till the balls vanish rolling downstairs.

"Don't pay attention to them... It's the Goblin King sending messages although he usually prefers to send a white owl."

"The Goblin King?"

"Yes, his name's Jareth, he lives in a castle in the center of a labyrinth and likes to wear very tight pants. We're here, let me help you, it's a sloping roof and you could slip down..." I put my arm around her waist, clenching my jaw when smelling her hair and her blood mixed with the scent from pines and the rain from this morning, this is more difficult than I thought when I accepted Terra's challenge.

I can be a gentle lady if I want and hypnotize any human with my vampire charm but this girl smells too tempting and tests my self-control every minute. Smiling, pulling a chair for her, pouring a glass of juice, holding her jacket and helping her to put it on... All these small tasks become complicated while I try to avert my eyes from her soft neck and it's getting worse, I don't remember feeling like this when I met her but I can't get it out of my mind now. It's been centuries since the last time I felt attracted to such a sweet bite... Well, except for Terra, of course. Werewolves blood is rich, thick, strong like the best liquor and my friend's blood is the finest of them all, distilled over the centuries through a lineage of powerful alphas. I remember I felt drunk after a few sips and a long night of hot sex...

"Sit down here, please." I try to smile kindly but was probably grimacing instead while sweeping from my mind the images of Terra's tattooed body and Ruby's tattooed body together in my bed and their delicious blood and juices on my tongue. I shake my head and decide to take my jacket off even if the night is a little cold, at least it's not raining anymore and the cornice where Ruby has sat down is dry. I flop down next to her and take a look around, focusing on the smell of pines and the wind that plays with my hair, the sun has set but there's enough light to see the treetops.

"The view of the forest is amazing," the human whispers next to me, swinging her legs cautiously. "But it's too high..." Her dogs are running through the garden while Terra is watching them and Maeve and Raven are training again near the swimming pool illuminated by the fairies. Necromancers and witches are sitting on the terrace chairs arguing about staying in the Wind Rose for a week or going back to their homes, the girls are worried since they learnt that demons are wandering around the earth and the boys think they'd all be safer in this house.

"Don't worry, I won't let you fall." Ruby smiles and nods, sighing and turning to take a look at the glass dome.

"What's going to happen now?" she whispers concerned. "We still don't know what I'm doing here or why a stinky demon attacked us and Raven doesn't dare to ask her family about those demons that are escaping from hell. What if the gates open suddenly and all the creatures living in the underworld come here?"

"That would be bad..."

"For humans?" she asks confused.

"For everybody," I answer firmly. "Nature needs balance to bloom: too many demons would mean too much negative energy and the world would turn upside down. Violent storms, erupting volcanoes, earthquakes and tsunamis, fires in forests, droughts on one side of the planet while the other one is covered with ice and snow, pandemics... And concerning demons, not all of them can possess humans' bodies, but they don't need it because their wickedness is contagious if you're in the same room with them... I believe most of your people would go mad, becoming violent and murdering each other."

"An open bar of bad vibes, that's a party I don't want to be invited to... Has anything like that ever happened before?"

"No, as far as I know, well, there've been periods of time when some demons wandered around the earth causing chaos and humans died because of diseases, wars and famines but the gates of hell have never been opened while demons stampeded outside. Don't worry, that won't happen."

"Why are you so sure?" Ruby pouts and I stare at her lips dazzled. "Iselen?" I blink pulling away because I was leaning forward towards her.

"Demons are selfish creatures and only those who have a higher status are powerful enough to dodge surveillance and explore this planet causing lot of trouble. They'll be the ones stopping their mates of lower status if they try to come here to enjoy the wonders of this world, they don't want to share the cake, and would fight among themselves even before the gates are open."

"I hope you're right but, in the meantime, what are we going to do? I can't stay here in the Wind Rose forever. I have a job and a life in Los Angeles." I nod scratching the back of my neck, Ruby's right, she can't stay here or I'll go crazy and will jump on her: I don't want to lose the control I've manage to get and perfect for the last few centuries.

"Let's ask Terra about this," I answer putting my jacket on again. "Hold on to me."

"What? What are you doing? Iselen, no... Noooooooooooooooooooo!"

I land on my feet softly, barely bending my knees despite the extra weight of the human I'm carrying in my arms, her perfume fills my mind, my fangs stick out a little and I try to push her away to be able to step back but she staggers and grabs my jacket again. I realize that Ruby breathes heavily and looks pale while she digs her fingertips into my arms, staring at me horrified; in fact, Maeve, Raven and the other people in the garden are looking at me horrified too while the dogs bark nervously running around the swimming pool. Except for Terra, she's looking at me angrily, she's crossed her arms over her chest and taps with her foot on the terrace stone floor.

"Iselen, you have just jumped from the roof..."

"Mmmm... yes, as usual." I mumble puzzled.

"No, not as usual, you were carrying Ruby in your arms and have scared her to death."

"I understand..." I whisper raising an eyebrow although I still feel confused. "But I warned her, I told her to hug me... Did you think I was going to let you fall?" I look at the human offended while she heaves a sigh and moves a step back finally despite her legs seem a bit weak when she walks towards the wolf.

"I didn't have time to think, Iselen, you just jumped. Next time you should warn me earlier so I can get used to the idea... Forget it, there won't be a next time." Ruby rubs her forehead with her fingers and leans her butt on the stone railing. "I don't like the feeling of going bungee jumping without a rope."

"What? Well, it doesn't matter... I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you..." I lower my head trying to look like an innocent good girl and the human nods while Terra rolls her eyes hard and the druid looks at me perplexed. Okay, I'm not the best actress in this world, I admit it, but Ruby has bought it. "I was thinking that..."

"We need to do something..." The werewolf nods while watching Zara who's pouring a glass of water for the human.

"And get more information..."

"About demons wandering around the earth..."

"Luckily, we have an expert near us..." We both point at the area of the forest beyond the white marble fountain. "We should send him a message because..."

"He'd attack us if we show up unexpectedly... Do you think we can send one of the fairies?" I ask looking at the small creatures fluttering over the swimming pool.

"Good idea, a fairy won't look like a threat to him..."

"He doesn't like werewolves, tho..."

"He hates vampires..."

"Have you noticed that you're finishing each other's sentences?" Ruby asks amused holding the empty glass. "You're so cute together..."

"What are you talking about?" Terra looks at her bewildered before shaking her head.

"Nonsense..." I answer shaking my head too. "I'll arrange an appointment with Elric tomorrow, then."

"Who's Elric?" The human asks and Maeve snorts behind her while walking towards the house followed by Raven, it's starting to rain again and they're going to train in the gym in the basement, probably.

"A hermit wizard that's mad as a hatter, I wouldn't trust his information, if I were you... He's paranoid."

"Oh, come on, Maeve, they guy knows a lot about demons," I growl angrily and taking my jacket off in order to hold it over Ruby's head to protect her from the rain while we all run to the house. I'd take her in my arms and move at vampire speed but don't want to scare her again.

"If you say so... Last time I saw him, he told me that aliens had abducted him to perform scientific experiments with his body but he managed to escape thanks to magic. Apparently, now he's wearing an II World War helmet lined with tinfoil because he believes that it will stop them from finding him. No, I'm not joking..." Ruby looks at Maeve in disbelief and then at me but I shrug and open the living room French door, gesturing at her to walk ahead.

"Well, maybe Elric doesn't know that much about aliens but he knows lot of demons because he used to chase them and kick their asses back to hell. He'll know what's going on for sure."

*****

"Humans are weird, don't you think?" I ask while leaning my back on the wall behind me, watching Raven sitting on a bench and lifting some silver weights following the druid's orders. On the other side of the room, Ruby's running on the treadmill and beads of sweat slip from her forehead, down her cheek and neck heading to her breast covered by a black sports bra... Her tattoos look blurry but the color shines bright under the ceiling lights and they're fascinating. I close my eyes holding back a moan while Terra sighs and leans her shoulder on the wall next to me.

"What's wrong with working out a little?" she asks but keeps her eyes on the human and licks her lips.

"Nothing, that's okay but I don't understand why she's doing it locked up in this room, I think she'd feel better if she runs outside."

"It's raining."

"Yes, you're right. But humans could do something useful instead of running to go to nowhere and lifting weights for no reason. It's a ridiculous waste of energy... She could chop wood, carry downstairs those heavy boxes we keep in the attic to get rid of them finally, knead dough by hand and bake bread, trim bushes in the garden going up and down a ladder..."

"It makes sense... but this is safer and it's cold outside." I nod while we both fix our eyes on the black tight shorts that make the human's perky butt stand out. Ruby stops abruptly, breathing heavily, her hair is a mess but she looks beautiful nonetheless and takes a towel to rub her face and arms... her abdomen and back... A bead of sweat slips down her breast vanishing under the bra and we both tilt our heads to follow its journey attentively, mesmerized when the human bends down to grab a bottle of water.

"Why don't you dare to ask your family about the demons that are escaping from hell?" the human asks giving the bottle to Raven, the brunette girl drops the weight carefully and drinks slowly. "I understand if you don't like to talk to those classmates that used to bully you but your mom should..."

"Demons aren't loving and sweet parents, I'm afraid, and I'm a disappointment for them." Raven shrugs while Maeve gives her a towel looking at her sadly. "They expected their daughter to be... special."

"In what sense?"

"Our blood gets diluted through generations, when half-demons get married among them, human characteristics get stronger and the demonic ones get lost. It's a matter of genetics... But in my case, my two grandmothers got pregnant by two purebred demons and that means mom and dad are real half-demons and very powerful. My aunts and uncles too, of course, and this is the reason why my cousins have big wings and they're strong and fast. My parents had an arranged marriage, they were supposed to be the mightiest couple and would have perfect children..."

"But we're talking about babies, not about breeding horses..." Ruby frowns scrunching her nose and Maeve agrees nodding.

"Yes, well, I told you they expected me to be special... and I was, not the way they had planned. My human side is stronger than the demonic..." Raven shrugs again and drops the towel on the bench. "Nobody can understand the whims of fate."

"I'm sorry, I bet your childhood was hard..."

"I managed to vanish most of the time, blending in with walls, and they forgot that I existed... Being short was a great help," the demon smiles sadly. "Highschool was harder, my family ignored me while my parents raised my younger siblings but I became my classmates' favorite target and teachers encouraged them to bully me. Attacking those who are weak, being a cruel spoiled brat, not showing empathy... it's all part of the demonic nature. I felt relieved when I turned 18 years old and my parents kicked me out of the house..."

"They kicked you out of the house, just like that?" Ruby asks outraged.

"Yes, but I had already met Maeve in an Iris pub and she'd told me everything about this house and her plans to make me stronger."

"In an Irish pub?"

"The burgers were delicious... Once a month, I put a hoodie on to be able to hide my wings and horns and walked in discreetly, sitting down at a small table in a corner and ordered a burger with fries."

"My birthday's on St. Patrick's Day but there're drunk people everywhere and I invite my friends out for some beers the previous Saturday," the druid smiles amused. "Can you picture my surprise when I realized there was a half-demon sitting in a corner with ketchup running down her chin? She didn't look dangerous so I decided to get closer to greet her and talk a little, I don't know, it was an impulse..." Maeve shrugs. "My druid friends say that I feel attracted by the energy of supernatural creatures that are suffering and need help... as long as they're good people."

"I'm happy you found Raven..."

"Me too... What's wrong with you both?" The three girls turn around to look at us while we remain leaned on the wall, ignoring them but with our eyes fixed on the beautiful woman's tattoos... and on her skin, her lips, her breasts...

"Iselen, are you all right?" I blink coming back to reality when Ruby waves her hand in front of my face. "What's wrong with you?"

"Can I try some drops of your blood?" I whisper without thinking and stony silence falls on the gym. The druid and the demon look at me cautiously and Terra gets tensed next to me, waiting for the human's response but Ruby's blushing and running her fingers through her wet hair nervously.

"I'm sweating..." she whispers awkwardly and my guts get tensed when I understand she's not refusing but giving me a lame excuse.

"I don't care," I answer softly listening to her heartbeat accelerating. I can't allow her to get anxious right now... "I won't hurt you, I promise, only a scratch and I'll be able to tell you if you have a fairy of nymph grandmother."

"Ruby, Iselen can keep control, I swear." Terra takes her hand and smiles but the human seems to hesitate. "I'll stay by your side and if you feel uncomfortable or think she's going too far, I'll shove her away from you. I can do that, believe me, I'm very strong."

"Oh yes, the furry plush toy may seem kind but she's broken my bones more than once... And she enjoyed it," I admit nodding and the human rolls her eyes hard.

"Where...?"

"Here, you don't have to do anything... But sit down..." I point at a small couch and Ruby seems to think about it for a minute before nodding and flopping down on a pillow. Terra sits down next to her holding her hand while the druid and demon stare at us quietly. "Excuse me, but..." The wolf frowns confused but lets her hand go so I can take it. "I'm not biting her neck, that's too intimate and... too much of a temptation for me." I look for a spot of clean skin among her wrist tattoos and slide my thumb between a small cross and some colorful letters. "Are you ready?"

"Aren't you going to...?" The human asks confused. "How do you turn the vampire charm on?"

"That's easy," I smile lowering my head but keeping my eyes fixed in her face. "Look at me..." I whisper and she obeys, watching me sticking my tongue out and licking that area of skin slowly, again and again, she gets goose bumps and can't avert her eyes from mines... They're gorgeous, light and bright, I'm not sure if she's the one hypnotizing me, to be honest. My fangs get fully extended and I keep staring at her while scratching her delicate skin carefully. Ruby doesn't flinch because she's not feeling pain and I finally manage to look down and focus on her blood, shinning like a ruby between the tattoos. The scent is amazing and I hold back a moan before leaning forward to lick her flesh greedily for a few seconds till I pull away, falling back on the floor and hiding my face behind my hands.

"Iselen?" Terra asks concerned but I can't answer, I'm too busy tasting her sweetness and clenching my muscles, restraining myself instead on jumping on her and biting her till draining her. "Are you okay?"

"Fuck!" I whisper. "Amazing, oh my God... Delicious... Oh baby, you're the sweetest thing I've ever tried... But you're human, definitely." The wolf and our friends look at me shocked but the pretty lady blushes while I remain on the floor, shaking my head and laughing amused. "I've seen my future, now I know how I'm going to die and it's wonderful."

"What are you talking about, you crazy vampire?" Terra stares at me utterly floored.

"The three of us, in a bed, our bodies naked, one night of wild sex chaining orgasms... and I'll bite her neck, only one sip of pure nectar of the gods... I'll have a heart attack. I'll die as a happy vampire."

"You're totally nuts," Terra throws a pillow but I catch it before it can hit my face, laughing nonstop.