“Aren’t all demons sharks?” Queen of Jesters laughed.
“Yes, but vampires are among the deadliest.”
It reminded me of the only other time demons had banded together for a major assault—under the chimera’s leadership.
He was long since dead, thanks to my Doppler self, but there was one other individual who could strike such alliances.
“Welp, as much fun as this has been”—Queen of Jesters curtsied dramatically—“I should be taking my leave.”
“A pleasure, always.” King Liberty nodded.
“And an honor to make your acquaintance.” Queen of Jesters shook Gladiatrix’s hand. “I’ve never been fond of the Global Guild, but I suppose some of their members are worth a bit of gratitude.”
“Well, thank you.” Gladiatrix gently shook the vigilante witch’s hand and tipped her head politely.
King Liberty waited for his fellow witch to take her leave before he casually moved in closer to Gladiatrix, leaving very little space between the two.
“Now that she’s gone, we can have a bit of fun,” he said with a bright smile. “I thought perhaps you’d like to see a bit of the town.”
“I’ve seen plenty,” Gladiatrix teased. “I quite literally ran circles around it for the better part of the night.”
“Yes, but you haven’t experienced London. And the city at night is something quite beautiful to behold. Almost as beautiful as you.”
She considered it momentarily. Her time with King Liberty sent a shiver of excitement through her, coursing with a surge of anticipation and a dizzying delirium as she debated.
“You’re cute,” she answered. “But I don’t do DL relationships.”
“Oh? You wish to go public, my sweet?” King Liberty tilted his head, shooting Gladiatrix a minxy smile that made the powerful witch weak in the knees.
I very much understood the struggle of saying no to a sweet man who used his charm in the best and most obnoxious ways.
“I’d gladly hold your hand for all to see.”
“King Liberty might, but I want a man brave enough to hold my hand without his mask.” Gladiatrix’s mind whirled with hisidentity. The name she couldn’t call him hung on her lips, the face only she got to see, and only when no one else was around.
Temptation brought me closer to her thoughts, attempting to learn who King Liberty was underneath the mask, but when Gladiatrix clenched her fists, I backed away. It was doubtful she knew I was here, but given her enhanced senses, I didn’t want to get some lecture on my eavesdropping.
King Liberty frowned, and his mind swirled with the politics surrounding his position. Damn. His thoughts must’ve been rampant with worry since his mind was mostly shielded from my telepathy thanks to the protective wards stitched into his costume.
It was a bizarre thing to have front row seats to their most private conversation and only grasp about a quarter of what was left unsaid between them.
“In order to honor King Liberty and the freedom the people of this nation deserve, I don’t get to be brave or public.” He cast his eyes downward, unable to meet Gladiatrix’s gaze. “You deserve everything. You deserve a man who will give you everything. But I can only give what little is left from carrying the mantle.”
“And sadly, I understand your position.” Gladiatrix kissed King Liberty lightly, savoring the soft press of his lips and the gentle lick of his tongue. “But I can’t give you my heart or feelings or my time if all you can offer is the leftover pieces of King Liberty’s life.”
“Wait, Alicia—”
With that, Gladiatrix vanished in a blurred bolt of speed. Flying or running across the ocean, I could barely track her presence. Her frustrated and heartbroken thoughts echoed in waves before fully dispersing now that she’d left.
Now that Gladiatrix was gone, there was nothing anchoring my manifestation. I floated aimlessly through the streets of London, gaining a crisper sense of the nearby minds now that all the demonic energy had been purged.
I wandered on the edges of the psychic plane where I’d quickly travel back to my core self. There was nothing in London any longer. No demons. No leads. No Celestial Coven.
“…”
Wordless thoughts whispered.
“…”
