8- Because The Tail Has a Mind of Its Own

OZ

Kacia goes rigid the moment the word ‘fae’ leaves my mouth. Not just still, tense. Like a wire pulled too tight. Huh.

“What are you talking about? There’s no fae here. I live alone.” She insists. Her voice is brittle and defensive. A little too quick, a little too specific. Like she’s had that line rehearsed for years. I tilt my head, studying her.

“Relax. I’m not judging. Just need to know if I should be watching out for your fae boyfriend lurking behind the couch. I’d really prefer to keep my magic in one piece.” I clarify. I’m only being partially honest here. I kind of am judging a little bit. Kacia rolls her eyes with a sound of disgust.

“Only one of the Twelve Fae Lords or Ladies can bind magic, and none of them would waste a breath on me, let alone step foot in my house.” She says in a tone that allows for no argument. She’s annoyed now, but underneath the irritation is something else. Shame? No, something more simple. Fear maybe… Whatever it is, she’s trying hard to bury it. I sigh and glance around.

“It doesn’t matter what they would or would not want to do. I can smell fae.” I argue. That gets her. She goes absolutely still. No blinking, no denial. Just that sharp intake of breath. I take a step closer before she can recover, and draw in a deep breath. It’s not a threat. Just confirmation. I already know I’m right. Kacia smells like citrus, sharp and bright. But there’s something else. It’s subtle, but I can smell the sugary scent of fae. It’s not the overwhelming, gag worthy sweetness I remember from meeting the fae. That scent was so sweet it made me think of honey combined with rot. This? This is different. It’s still definitely fae, but it’s not offensive. Blended with her scent, it’s... Oddly good. Sweet honey layered over citrus. And I hate that I don’t hate it.

“You were with a fae. And recently… Their scent’s still fresh.” I murmur. Kacia whirls on me, incredulous.

“I DON’T have a fae lover. And I DON’T know any fae.” She insists. I arch a brow.

“Then explain the scent.” I ask again.

“I’m not lying! I’m not…” Her voice rises, defensive and raw, then she trails off. I didn’t actually accuse her of lying, but from the way her breath stutters, just slightly. She’s definitely hiding something. And she’s TERRIFIED that I’ve noticed. I cross my arms, suppressing a sigh. It’s not my business. I WANT to let it go. I’d like let her keep her secrets. But if a fae lord wants her dead, and she’s got any connection, romantic, accidental, or worse, it matters. It matters more than she realises. She turns away, shoulders rigid, hands clenched at her sides. When she speaks again, her voice is low and threatening.

“If you tell anyone what I’m about to say… I will seriously kill you.” She spins back around to stare me down,  eyes hard. I meet her gaze and nod.

“Okay. I promise.” I agree. A beat passes.

“Now, tell me about the fae.” I demand.

Kacia still looks suspicious. Which is… Odd. Does she not realise we just made another bargain? I promised. I gave my word. And my word is binding. That’s the thing about being a demon. Promises aren’t casual. They're not polite. They stick. I can’t break them, not even if I want to. If I told her secret to someone, anyone, I’d have to stand still and let her kill me for it. Should she choose to. Although honestly I don’t think she would go through with it. But judging by the way she’s still watching me like I might suddenly pull out a megaphone and start announcing her secret, she doesn’t know that. Or maybe she didn’t notice. I suppose if you have the ability to break a promise, you probably aren’t as aware of making them. Or she doesn’t trust me enough to believe it matters. Not that keeping a secret is the only way to reveal it. Loopholes exist. A promise like this one is full of them. Vague terms are dangerous, and frankly, this one barely counts as a leash. Still… I don’t intend to test the limits. I don’t want to betray her. Whatever it is she’s hiding, I already know enough about her to want to protect it. She shifts on the spot, visibly nervous. Then blurts it out all at once, like ripping off a bandage.

“It’s me. I’m the fae. Well… Sort of. I’m only half fae.” She admits nervously. I blink. That… Wasn’t what I was expecting. I glance at her again, really look. Brown eyes. Brown hair. Pale skin, but not impossibly so. She looks human.

“You don’t look fae.” I say bluntly. She gives me a dry look, complete with an eye roll.

“You don’t look like a demon.” She points out. Fair.

“I might not have magic, but I can still disguise myself.” She explains, then she pushes my tail off her lap like it's a blanket she's done with, stands and disappears into the bathroom. I hear a rustle. A click. Water running. A moment later she returns. The transformation is subtle but striking. Her hair is loose now, falling around her shoulders in soft waves, revealing the pointed tips of her ears. Her eyes are different too. They’re now a vibrant, shimmering violet. Not just unusual. Unreal. They suit her, too. Better than the brown ever did.

“My hair’s dyed brown.” She says, stepping back into the room.

“And I wear lenses. Covering the ears is harder, but doable. Braids help.” She explains. The puzzle pieces click into place. Half fae. That’s… Rare. And for Kacia, it’s dangerous. Fae despise half bloods even more than they do humans. They consider them shameful, dirty. A stain on the bloodline. Most halflings don’t survive infancy, they get killed before they’re old enough to fight back. Kacia must’ve been hidden. Protected, somehow. But I know at least one fae knows she exists. That much is certain.

“You pretend to be human?” I ask. She nods, like it’s obvious.

“Of course. Walking around as a half fae is just ASKING to be killed. No one other than my mother knows. Well… Except Mikey. But he wouldn’t tell anyone.” She adds as an afterthought. I’m immediately suspicious.

“Are you sure?” I ask. The glare she gives me is immediate and scalding.

“Positive.” She says firmly. I believe her. Not because I trust this Mikey person, but because of the way she says it. Like it’s not even a question. Like it’s a truth she’d bleed for. I file that away. Because I know what I have to do now. I know how to repay her for saving me. How to make this right and even the scales between us. I’m going to find the fae who wants her dead, and kill him. That should save her and free me. Kacia should be safe for now. The fae who summoned me probably thinks the job is handled. But he’ll figure it out eventually. He’ll notice I’m not following through. And when he does, he’ll send someone else. Someone who won’t hesitate. She won’t see it coming, and I won’t let that happen.

I glance at her, wanting to say something, to warn her, to confess how close I came to being the threat she doesn’t know to fear. But the shame catches in my throat. It’s not the right moment. Maybe it never will be. She barely trusts me as it is, I don’t want to screw things up further. Instead, I change the subject.

“Well, now that we both know that we’re not as human as we look.” I say, voice dry.

“Why don’t you tell me what you were doing in that dump in the middle of the night? And more importantly, why did you save me?” I question. I really want to know more about this strange person. Kacia drops into the armchair I’d abandoned earlier with a soft thump and exhales through her nose.

“I was working. I take bounties to pay the bills. Although that job was more of a favour for Mikey than a proper contract.” She shrugs.

“Still, assuming they’re smart enough to run, I’ll have to track them down again. Last night was meant to be recon. Saving you wasn’t really a part of the plan.” She pauses, then adds.

“But they had fresh blood in the place. I figured there was a chance someone was still alive. So I took a gamble.” She explains then glances at me.

“Guess I was right.” She smiles. I nod.

“I probably only made it because I’m a demon. We don’t die easy.” I add thoughtfully. My tail flicks once, irritation spiking at the memory of how I did get caught. If I hadn’t been freshly summoned, weak and off balance… Well it wouldn’t have even been a fight. Kacia’s eyes flick to the movement of my tail. I flick it again, watching her watch it. Interesting. She’s trying SO hard not to look at the rest of me. I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad one. But she didn’t flinch when I sat next to her. She didn’t push me away, so I guess she’s not totally repulsed by me. Not totally repulsed... Wow. My expectations really have plummeted. Still... Her eyes on me, even if it’s just my tail, feels like a start. A tiny opening. She might be half fae, but she’s nothing like the creature who summoned me. She’s sharp, yes. And I completely believe that she can be dangerous. But she’s also someone I’d like to understand. Someone I’d like to know better. Much better.