Author: Maia

It wasn’t too long after Lily graduated from high school that her father had moved them to Sanctuary City for his own work. Apparently there was a school he wanted her to attend there, but there’d be a few months before those classes started… so, Lily decided to try to take up some part time work. Maybe if she could get her foot in the door somewhere, she could move out on her own and not have to rely on her dad so much. That’d be nice.

Though this city was just the same as the last in a lot of ways. People tended to give her a wide berth. But she’d found a few shops that she got along well with, particularly one of the scrap yards that she liked to pick through to find components to play with. Through that connection, she met someone who wanted a courier to deliver orders to customers. Being from a Shadow Tribe wasn’t an issue: actually, the employer wanted someone with magic that let them travel around quickly. After showcasing how Shadow-Step worked, she got the job.

She was feeling pretty good about it. The first week or so went without a hitch, and she’d even racked up a decent amount of tips. It wasn’t enough to live off of by herself, but it was a start.

Unfortunately, Shadow-Step didn’t let her travel directly to her destination. Wherever she Stepped to had to be within line of sight… not to mention, have a shadow she could emerge from. Still, it cut down on travel time significantly, and was still faster and more direct than paying a shipping company to handle deliveries.

But for this reason, she was out in the open from time to time, still. As was the case here: stepping out of an alleyway shadow, then rounding the corner to pick out which shadow she would Step to next. While she was doing this, she heard a man address her:

“Hold it.”

Lily froze. Then turned her head to glance down the street. It was a peacekeeper, a man decked out in anti-magic armor and wearing what appeared to be a high level focus on his right arm. While he approached her, he slid a respirator over his face. Lily shuffled back towards the alley slowly.

“I said hold it. Don’t you dare try to Shadow-Step.”

“U-uhm, wh-what’s.. um…” Lily stammered, shrinking back a little, clutching the strap of her duffel bag.

“What’s in the bag? Put it down and open it. Slowly,” the peacekeeper ordered.

“I-I-I’m a courier, s–“

“Put it down and open it.“

Lily whined, then put the bag down as she was told, and opened the zipper.

“Now step back.”

And she did. And watched as the peacekeeper approached the bag, knelt down, and began to pick through its contents. He let out a grunt.

“You stealing packages?”

“N-no, I-I’m delivering them…!”

“Who’s your employer?” the peacekeeper demanded, looking back up towards her. She noticed him switching the stone in his focus to a Light crystal.

“Th-the mechanic’s shop on third east and fourth south…”

The man grunted again before standing up, then held his hand out towards her. With a flash, ropes of light extended from the focus to wrap around her wrists.

[Blinding Art: BINDING LIGHT]

“Stay right there. I’ll call them to verify.”

Lily grimaced, fidgeting with her hands. Not in an attempt to escape, but… because the light burned. Why’d he have to switch to a Light crystal? There are binding spells in other elements, too. She heard a whisper in her ear while the peacekeeper was occupied with his phone.

“Want me to get you out of here?”

“N-nox… n-no…” she whispered back. “Phil will vouch for me… i-it’ll be fine.”

“Hmmmm. ‘Kay, but I’m keeping an eye on him.”

“Don’t. Do. Anything that could get me in trouble…!” she hissed quietly.

“Ohohoho~ Whatever do you mean~?”

“What’re you whispering about?”

Lily jumped as the Peacekeeper addressed her again. “N-nothing…!”

“Hmph,” he huffed as he dispelled the bindings, letting Lily go. She rubbed her wrists, clicking her tongue at the burn marks they left behind. “Your employer vouched for you. You’re lucky this time.”

He then picked the bag up and tossed it at her, letting her try to catch it. She did, but stumbled back against the wall.

“Um… th-thank you…” Lily mumbled, zipping the bag back up and looping it back around her shoulders.

“You should be more careful Shadow-Stepping around like that. People will think you’re stealing things. Now move along.” The man waved his hand dismissively at her, before turning to resume his patrol.

Lily sighed, clutching the bag to her chest. She fought the urge to quit the job right then and there, then stepped back into the shadows to resume her route. “…r-right…”

Meanwhile, the peacekeeper was calling in the encounter, walking down the sidewalk as he talked.

“She must be new, I didn’t know we had any Shadows living here. Keep an eye out, the job could just be a cover. She could be sneaking packages from the deliveries for all we know. I guess we’ll know for sure if people start reporting missing packages, huh?”

He then felt… ‘something’ wrap around his ankle. And yank back on his leg. He let out a startled shout as he stumbled forward, dropping his phone and landing on his arms.

“What the–!?” He recollected himself and spun around, aiming his focus arm forward. “You little–… !?”

There was nobody there. And nothing there. At least… not that he could see. He could have sworn he saw somebody grinning at him from the corner of his vision, but… there was nothing there, once he had a better look.

“Officer?” his phone was still connected to his call. “Is everything alright?”

He huffed and picked his phone back up, standing up. “Yeah. I think I upset that girl’s Patron. Petty little devils.”

Nox grinned to himself from his hiding place as he watched the officer head off. “Serves you right.”

Eve had lost herself in her thoughts again.

The sound of the nearby woods, the rustling leaves and chirping birds, faded into the background. Her vision blurred and her body relaxed. The old metal bench she sat on – uncomfortable, but serviceable – became just another perch. The one of dozens – perhaps hundreds – she had lost herself on.

In her head, she played back those final moments with her father. He treated her so well. She was rarely allowed to leave the house, but he assured her it was for her own safety. And for his. He made her delicious food, taught her many things about the outside world, and even brought home toys and games… even if she didn’t often interact with those.

Then men in armor stormed the house. They broke the door down, and destroyed whatever they could get their hands on. Equipment. Computers. Books. Everything related to her own existence. Her father told her to hide, but she couldn’t help herself. As the men approached him, she stood between them. Use myself as a shield, she thought. It doesn’t matter if something happens to me, so long as Father survives.

She remembered as the men drew their weapons and aimed at her. And then…

“Hey, miss?”

Eve returned her focus to the world around her. Her gaze drifted upward to spot a human in front of her. A man with tanned skin and dark hair, wearing tattered clothes and carrying a large bag on his back. He was leaned in, an expression on his face that Eve had a difficult time understanding.

“Are you okay?” he continued. “You shouldn’t be out here at night. Monsters roam around these parts, you know.”

Eve glanced around. Oh. It was night, now. The sun was up last she remembered… she must have been sitting here for a while. Indeed, the pleasant sounds of the wind and the birds had been replaced with insects and owls. The old train station she’d perched herself in lined with overgrowth and moss, windows shattered and graffiti on the walls. Night blooms were open now, flowers she hadn’t noticed when she first arrived here.

“Hello, sir,” she replied flatly as her gaze returned to meet his. “I am well. Thank you.”

“Eh?” The man stared in return for only a brief moment before he shook his head and averted his gaze. A reaction all too familiar, but one she didn’t understand. Why did humans refrain from looking at her? “Aw, geeze,” he muttered. “Okay, look, I’m heading home. Why don’t you come with me where it’s safer? I’ll introduce you to my friend. It’ll be better than out here, anyway.”

Eve was quiet for a moment. She felt compelled to agree, if for no other reason than it being something to do.

“Very well,” she spoke finally as she stood up. “Lead the way.”

“Just like that?” The man put his hands on his hips, quirking one eyebrow. “You’re a strange one. My name’s Devan. What’s yours?”

“Eve,” she answered, starting to follow him as he led her along, following the abandoned rail from the Old World, stepping over the wild growth.

“Well. Nice to meet you, Eve,” Devan flashed her a smile.

“Is it?” Eve inquired. “Why?”

“Uh.” Devan paused in his step briefly, before continuing along his well-practiced path. “W-well, I mean… why wouldn’t it be?”

Eve thought about that question for a moment. She didn’t know. All she knew was that humans didn’t typically react so… pleasantly to her presence. They usually scoffed. Or scowled. Or drew weapons.

“I don’t know,” she finally shrugged.

“Hm,” Devan grunted a little. “Well, either way, it’s nice to see a friendly face out here. Where were you headed?”

“I don’t know,” Eve repeated.

“You don’t–” Devan stopped and turned to face her, giving her that same expression she didn’t know what to make of. The one where his eyebrows scrunched together. “So you’re just out here wandering around??”

“Yes.”

Devan sighed, rubbing his forehead. How funny. Father used to do that sometimes. “Oh man.”

He said that sometimes, too.

“Okay, look, the place I stay at is just at the next station. We live in there. You can stay there for a bit while we … figure you out.”

“Very well,” Eve nodded.

From there, she followed him again without another word exchanged between them. The crunch of the gravel beneath her worn shoes, a chilled wind blowing past them occasionally. The path lit by moonlight and the Ley Line. The sights were all the same… just more broken buildings and plants she didn’t recognize. The sounds were more interesting. Chirping. Hooting. Even the quality of the sounds were different. Maybe she should travel at night more often.

“Here we go,” Devan finally spoke again, leading her up a stairway onto yet another train platform.

Eve looked around… the same as the last one. Just different shaped buildings in different places. Actually, she briefly wondered if she’d been here before. It was hard to tell. Though the building they were heading towards seemed different. It was a small shed or shack of some kind. And the plants had been cleared out from around its door.

“…? You live here? It’s small,” Eve commented.

“It — It goes underground,” Devan smiled patiently, his brows furrowing again as he unlocked the door with a small key. The door swung open, revealing an old, concrete stairway that went underground. “See? It’s quite roomy inside.”

“Oh.”

And down they went, the door closing and locking behind them, seemingly on its own. It was dim, but small lights were strung along the ceiling. When they reached the actual structure on the inside, the walls opened up into a spacious room with archways leading off into different sections. Devan put his hands to his mouth and called out:

“I’m home! And I found someone!”

A woman – not quite as pale as Eve, but with hair as dark as Devon’s – emerged from one of the archways, rubbing her hands together and smiling: “Great! Are they any good with magitech? The generator kicked up at me again today.”

“W-well, uh…” Devan stammered as he removed the pack from his back, setting it aside by the entryway. “You see, Erica, I’m, uh…”

“Wait. Wait, wait, wait.” The Erica gestured sternly to Devon to stop him, then approached Eve. She stared Eve in the face for a moment before pulling an expression she did recognize.

Disgust.

“Devon! What the– this isn’t a someone, this is a something!” Erica shouted, gesturing wildly at Eve while facing her companion.

“Wh-what are you–” Devon couldn’t finish.

“This is a Doll, man! We can’t bring this thing in here! What if it goes crazy!? Or steals your soul!? Get it out of here!”

Ah. Yes. This was more like it. She didn’t understand how people could tell that she was different from them. But it always seemed like one good look would set them off. Why? She didn’t know. She looked the same. She’d never hurt anyone. She wasn’t sure if she could even if she wanted to.

The other two began arguing. An argument she found utterly uninteresting, even though it involved her directly. And so, she…

Found herself zoning out once more. Waiting for this conflict to resolve itself.

Officer Hammond, a Peacekeeper for Nehalem City, found himself once again visiting the domain of an Eater who had set up a home in the city outskirts. He stood before the small apartment building, which appeared normal (albeit worn) from the outside. Grumbling, he double-checked his gear:

Pierce-resistant armor: check. Magic focus (Water element): check. Respirator: check. Beacon: check.

He let out a drawn-out sigh before bellowing out as loud as he could:

“EDA! GET OUT HERE!”

He drummed his gloved fingers against his crossed arms as he waited. Soon enough, the door to the building creaked open. Out peeked the creature… appearing as a human woman, anyway.

Eda flashed a grin when she recognized her visitor, then stepped outside and approached the man on the edge of her territory.

“Officer! What a surprise! Inspection isn’t for another two weeks!” She smiled sweetly, tucking her hands behind her back as she stood just inside the open gate. “How can I help you?”

“You know what I’m here for,” Hammoned snapped, presenting a flier and holding it up at arm’s length for Eda to see. “Is this some kind of joke!?”

Eda recognized the flier, which included location information and read:

“Want to stay at the wonderful Megacity without paying Mega prices? Come stay at Eda’s Bed and Breakfast! Get a nice, warm bed and a hot meal! Nightly and weekly rates available! Starting at just 10,000 I.C. per night!”

“Why no, of course not,” Eda smiled. “I’m quite serious about it. I’m integrating into your culture by participating in ‘capitalism!’ I have an asset, and I thought I would rent it for monetary gain. Isn’t that great?”

Hammond rubbed the exposed portion of his face, dropping the hand holding the flier.

“Eda, you can’t–” he stammered, exasperated, “You can’t just do things like this. We need to make sure that people — well, that people, uh…”

Eda’s expression turned more serious.

“…Don’t go missing?” she prodded, leaning towards him slightly. “You sound like you’re afraid I’ll eat my guests.”

“It’s just a precaution…!” Hammond waved his hand slightly in front of him. “We need to know about these things!”

“Officer, when was the last time I ate a human?” Eda grinned, exposing jagged teeth.

“…According to your file, it’s been ten years,” Hammoned answered, leaning away from her.

“Doesn’t that afford me just a teensy bit of trust?” Eda winked, pinching two fingers together.

Hammond stared at her for a moment before tucking the flier away.

“I’d rather you didn’t tempt yourself by inviting people into your… home,” he finally replied. “Look, just — for future reference. Next time you want to do something like this, tell us first. And don’t make me regret letting you do this. We will put you on ice if any of your guests go… ‘missing.'”

Eda’s grin widened, perhaps beyond what a human would be able to accomplish. Perhaps trying to unnerve the officer on purpose, even. It worked.

“Don’t worry!” She lifted one hand in a semi-wave. “I have my hunger well under control! I actually prefer beef over human, now, anyway!”

“That’s… great,” Hammond sighed, turning away. He couldn’t wait to get out of here. “See you in two weeks.”