Reia’s lips parted as she sucked in a sharp breath.

She was standing between both Duskwalkers on a small hill just on the edge of the forest, already wearing her skull mask disguise. Orpheus had been forced to carry her on his elbow due to her mask, but said it should be fine this close to the village as the Demons rarely hid in the trees this far into the Veil. The trees were also much taller here, and their lower branches were nowhere near reaching distance to her.

When they were about to break through the trees, he set her down and explained he couldn’t carry her anymore.

She hadn’t cared. She was too excited to see the village from a distance. Not expecting the scene before her, her feet froze as she took it in.

Bright sunshine covered an area at least a mile in diameter. There was a very short walk, a kind of grassy clearing that separated the forest and the village. However, the village itself had trees above it taller than any she’d ever heard of on Earth. Twisting sideways to create a spiral like that of a rose bud, wooden spikes, like thorns, broke through the canopy of trees and jutted towards the sky.

Even from the distance, she could tell those wooden spikes and trees created a perfect shield to keep the sun out inside the village to protect the Demons. They were so tall

that even with the distance between her and it, she knew the trees must be hundreds of metres tall.

“H-how is this possible?” she gasped, staring at the unbelievable scene. She ran forward a step as her eyes widened. “Wait... Is that a castle in the distance?”

While she was pointing in that direction, Orpheus quickly came up beside her and placed his hand on her shoulder.

“You need to stay with us, Reia.” She gave him an apologetic expression, and he turned up to face the castle that was off to the left and some distance behind the Village. “The Demon King is powerful and full of magic. He is stronger than any other creature, except perhaps the Witch Owl. He created this sun barrier for the village, and his castle highlights the centre of the Veil.”

“There’s a Demon King?!” she shouted before she quickly covered her mouth because of the loudness of her yell.

No freaking way!

“Yes. It’s believed that he was the one who broke through the barrier between the land of Demons and Earth and brought them here.” He pointed to the castle. “The portal is in his lands and Demons are free to come and go.”

“But why? Why would he bring them here?”

She couldn’t believe what she was hearing!

The village of, apparently, intellectual Demons had been enough to tell her the world wasn’t what it seemed. But a fucking King of Demons? Now that seemed too farfetched.

“Food,” he answered, and it was so obvious she should have known.

Reia gestured to the village and castle. “How can humans not know about these things, though?”

He tilted his head, leaning lower to be slightly more eye level with her.

“Why should they? Demons don’t treat humans as anything more than meat. Even Mavka don’t normally speak to them. How would they have been told?”

“I don’t know,” she grumbled. “It’s just... Demons have been around for hundreds of years. We knew they arrived on Earth one day and that the world had been peaceful before then, but finding out about why? I just think we should have known about this by now.”

If it wasn’t for the Demons arriving on Earth, things would have progressed. They had just started making mechanical technology before the world had to go into hiding and continue living barbarically. No one could mine freely in the dark, so obtaining ore for guns and copper for the starting development of electricity, had fallen to the side.

All of this was now history.

Reia had always wondered how the world would have turned out if the Demons never came. Those who braved travelling long distances travelled either on foot or by horse-pulled carriages. Houses were made by clay-bricks or wooden timbers while being lit by fireplaces and candles.

Just how different would the world have been if it had been allowed to evolve? If they could have light in their houses made from glass and wires like they’d started to?

“I did not know he had magic like this,” the Mavka said, gesturing to the village while crouching on one hand. “Or that it would look like that.”

Orpheus sighed, placing his hand over his bony face to rub his palm down it.

“Perhaps it was a terrible idea to bring you both here.

Inside is not what you will expect either, and you cannot ask questions like this. You will be overheard and bring unwanted attention.” She could tell he was looking her over to check her disguise. “And you cannot be so loud, Reia.

Your voice is very feminine, very human. You will have to whisper if you wish to speak, and you will have to hide your hands.”

Reia turned her head down to look at her bare palms.

There had been no gloves that would fit her. She reached

inside and clenched the sides of her cloak to hold onto them before pointing and waving her hands inside it.

Okay, that’ll work if I want to point or look at something.

“You both must be careful. Don’t wander away from me, either one of you.” Then he crouched down in front of her.

“You must stay within my cloak at all times. Your disguise will help to hide what you are. You are right, you look like a short Mavka. The amulet you are wearing will not protect you from these Demons unless they touch it directly. They are some of the strongest.” He reached up to cup the side of her neck, touching her skin directly in a comforting gesture.

“But if there is something you want, tell me, and I will procure it for you. Anything, Reia. Ask for however much your heart contents. I have brought enough crystal to trade, and I can carry it all back no matter how large or heavy it is.”

Heat warmed the skin over her cheek bones as a swirl of tenderness fluttered in her belly, like a torrent of butterflies.

She went to rub her cheek against his bony one and accidentally bashed her mask against him.

“Oops, sorry,” she laughed.

He chuckled in return.

“And be careful of making that noise. Demons here are more human than any you have ever met. They also laugh, but not like you. They will notice straight away.”

“Should I just growl all the time, then?”

He chuckled a little louder this time, his jaw opening to allow it to echo. “Perhaps that will make your disguise more convincing.”

After that, they set off to cross over the clearing that surrounded the village.

There were multiple entrances made by narrow gaps between the bases of the trees that were far more daunting up close. The base of each one was at least the size of their home and the yard surrounding it. She knew it would take minutes to walk around each one if she could. The bendy

roots were bigger than her in height to support their large, twisted bodies.

But inside the village? Reia’s eyes nearly fell out of her damn skull.

It was colourful.

Strips of dyed cloth hung from the very centre of where the twisting tree canopy came together like a dull point before bending down and being lifted at the other ends to attach to the sides. Purple, red, blue, and yellow material fluttered.