The crowded nightclub’s music bred, the red hue covering those who danced, grinded against each other and drank. Saturday at Satan’s Hollow was their busiest night after all. Pentagrams, Demonic symbols and art decorated the walls while an arena sat in the middle of the dance floor.

  A man and a woman, both dressed in mostly bck and covered in piercings, were making out in one corner, occasionally smiling as they came up for air. Their dispy of ecstasy went mostly unnoticed to all but one.

  A pale young woman, dressed in a bck dress stood next to the bar, a drink in hand and lightly smiled as her eyes, scanning the area, noticed the two. She had long bck hair, parted down the sides of her face in curls. The bck dress showed off some skin, but didn’t leave her totally uncovered. Her eyes were somewhat dark. As she blinked, they fshed from green pupils to her entire eye being like a bck onyx.

  The Hollow was ideal for her because she looked just like another patron. Of course, this was Mancunia where she wasn’t really that much out of pce to begin with. The alternative folk had always found home in the city.

  It’s what had drawn her to it, after all.

  Her observations were cut short as a voice next to her snapped the young woman back to reality. “Hey.”She gnced to her left, seeing a rather rge man, bearded and wearing biker leathers smile at her. He, much like a lot of the Hollow’s regurs, had his fair share of piercings and tattoos. He looked a fair bit older than her though, his head bald with some grey in his beard. While some may have missed the grey hairs amongst the darkness and red lightning, she was able to see through it.

  “You alright?” His accent was thick, carrying years of experience in the Rainy City. It was also clear from his breath, that he’d had a few already.“Fine.” Her voice was soft, yet wavered slightly“Wanna show you something.”

  Before she could say anything, the older metalhead had his phone in front of him and was showing her pictures upon pictures of cats. Maiden, Misfit, Korn. He went through all the names one by one. She couldn’t help but smile. “Got any pets yourself then?” He asked, the slurring in his voice more obvious now.“No.” She sighed “No pets allowed.”“Fuckin’ ndlords. Just sneak ‘em in. What I did.” He grinned

  Before she could respond, he’d gotten distracted by the music as a new track started to py that consisted of a lot of screaming and had wandered off, leaving her on her own again.

  Her eyes went back to observing the floor, noting that there were a few people on their own. There was another young woman, who’d clearly had a bit too much who was sitting away from the dance floor, drinking water. She raised an eyebrow. Sure, getting what she needed from her would be incredibly easy, but it wasn’t right.

  There was somebody else, far more sober who caught her eye. She was tall, her height elevated by ptformed boots. She had a septum piercing, her ears pierced with back upside down crucifixes and she wore ripped jeans and a long leather jacket that went past her knees. Aside from that, she just wore a bra. Most of her skin was exposed and she had a head of short, messy hair that was bck and a dark blue.

  Anywhere else, and she’d have stuck out. In the Hollow, she was normal. Her neck caught the young woman’s attention but she quickly looked away, facing the ground.

  Taking a swig of her drink for liquid courage and setting the pstic cup down, she moved through the people and started to walk closer. The other woman was in the arena now, in a sea of people headbanging. Clearing her throat, she stepped away and moved back to the bar.

  Usually the sight of a neck wouldn’t make her nervous, but there was something different about her blood. Despite not needing to breathe, she took in a few deep breaths while back at the bar, waiting to order another drink when, to her horror the woman with the strange blood was now standing right next to her, smiling from ear to ear.

  “What ya getting?” She wasn’t local, judging by the ck of an accent.“Uhh…”“Come on.” She rested a hand on her shoulder and raised an eyebrow “You’re cold.”“I don’t really feel it.” She looked away“Come on. I saw you looking at me. What do you want to drink?”

  Panic set in as she almost requested blood, her eyes going wide. The other woman just continued to smile from ear to ear.“Uhh…Vodka?”

  She didn’t even like vodka. Not unless it was watered down in copious amounts of something sugary. She’d once mixed blood in with it. Never again. “No…Um.”“Will I just get you the same thing as me, then?” She sighed sarcastically, resting her elbow on the bar and looking up at her.“Sure?”

  Before she knew it, she was doing shots with her. The two sat away from the area, the bar, the patrons on a sofa. Three shots in and she pced the flipped gss down.“Shit. I never said. I’m Dimha.” She grinned“I’m Amaris.”“You’re not from around here either, are you?” She chuckled“No, I…I moved here a year ago.” “I’m a lot more recent than that. It’s my first night, actually. Found this pce on Google and thought: "Why the Hell not?” She leaned back on the sofa, her arms in the air “Pun intended.”

  Amaris managed a quiet ugh, but her attention was drawn back to Dimha’s neck. “I’m getting us another round.” She announced, jumping up and rushing over to the bar. Despite the busy Saturday, she was only gone for a few moments, setting the tray of shot gsses down.

  “Amaris.”“Hmm?”“You’ve been giving me the same look all night. And I get it. But I want to know you, first.” Her eyes met hers, and for a split second Amaris could have sworn her eyes flickered red, but dismissed as the lighting. “Of course. I wanna know more about you, too.”“Not much to tell, to be honest.” She sighed “First night in this city and well, I’ve travelled very far to get here.” She rubbed her shoulder with a small smile “Don’t talk to my family and because it’s my first night, don’t know anyone here…Yet.” She gave her a sly, ear-to-ear grin as she pced her hand on top of Amais.

  It was incredibly warm to the touch.

  “I don’t talk to my family anymore either.” Amaris slightly avoided her gaze “They’re not around anymore, honestly.”“I’m sorry.” Dimha gently stroked her hand “It’s fine. It was a long time ago.”

  A very long time ago.

  “How do you survive?”“Huh?” “What do you do for money?” “Oh.” Blood had been the first thing to come to mind “Mostly I’m an archivist, but I do some writing on the side, too.” She beamed “Some of the art and writings are even older than I am, so it’s really cool.”

  Dimha was smiling, but slightly raised her brow at that.“Yo-you will see a lot of stuff from only a few years ago, granted.” She ughed nervously “What do you do?”“I’m a wyer.” She sighed “I know, I know. But I’m not one of the evil ones. Don’t even really sit in a courtroom arguing a case. I just more make sure that contracts are, well…Upheld, or not fucked with. It’s boring. But it helps me survive, I guess. What you do sounds wayyy cooler.”

  That made Amaris grin.“Wanna go somewhere more private?” Dimha narrowed her gaze“Uh, sure?”

  She led her by the hand into the women’s bathroom and into an empty stall. As the two entered, it was as if the entire room cleared out. With the same ear-to-ear grin, Dimha gently stroked her cold skin, running fingers along her exposed arms, back and upper chest. The warm touch made her body fill with tingles.

  “You’re okay with this, right?” Amaris responded to her question with a kiss on the lips. Their tongues made quick contact, and much like the rest of her body, it was all warm to the touch. She hadn’t felt anything like it before. Warmth and ecstasy washed ran through her veins and Dimha leaned in, gripping onto her hair.

  Her other hand moved from the top of her chest, through her dress and took hold of her left breast. Dimha pulled back, just for a moment to look at Amaris, who simply nodded.

  The warm hand gripped her and she let out a slight moan. Dimha slipped back once more, with that same grin.“My turn. I want you to bite me.” She dispyed her neck to her and Amaris’ eyes went wide. “Go on. I know you want to.”

  She leaned in, her fangs sinking into her neck. It took a few seconds to come to her senses and she jumped back, her lips covered in blood.“S-Shit! Sorry. I-I…”

  Her blood was different. The aftertaste, it was spicy. All Dimha could do was smile, chuckling lowly.“Don’t apologise. I can take it.”“You’re…”

  She’d already healed, her wound closed.“What are you?”“I could ask you the same thing, but it’s not like I didn’t already know.” She smiled slyly.

  Amaris’ fangs quickly retracted and she bolted out of the stall.“I don’t…Where is everyone?”“Wanted to give us more privacy so did a slight gmour.” She shrugged “Harmless. Just no girls out there need the loo for a bit, that’s all.”“I-I should go home. I don’t…”

  Dimha squeezed the ridge of her nose.“I’m sorry. I thought you were more comfortable with this. I thought that you knew that I knew, you get me?” She sighed heavily and stopped in her tracks at the bathroom door “I don’t like it, okay? Immortality kinda fucking sucks, alright? I don’t even have pets anymore, let alone…”“Amaris.” She took her hand, soothing her “I’m not human either. It’s okay.”“What are you?” She met her gaze.

  Taking both hands in her own, Dimha took in a deep breath and was engulfed in fire. Amaris panicked and tried to pull away, but it was over in a second. Standing before her was a different form altogether, though she had Dimha’s face and body shape, the rest of her was different.

  Her skin was dark red, and she had a devilish tail that swung back and forth. Two horns, ram-like, sat atop her head and she even had a set of leathery wings on her back. Her ears were pointed and she even had fangs of her own. The feeling of her hands holding onto Amaris didn’t change, however and once the fire had revealed her form, Dimah gave an awkward smile.

  “Uhhh…”“You’re not mad, right?” “Are you a Demon?”

  She nodded“So, Hell’s real?”“Kinda…It’s more complicated than that.”

  Seeing that Amaris’ eyes had widened once more and she was even paler now, Dimha gently stroked her hands with her thumbs.“I’m not here to take you away, if that’s what you’re worried about. And trust me, all the fire and brimstone, kes of fire… That’s only reserved for the worst of the worst. Absolute pieces of shit. Honestly, running into you was a happy accident.” She gave her a half-smile, and Amaris breathed a sigh of relief.

  “Although…My gmour is only gonna be good for another minute, and humans really aren’t meant to know about all this.”“Likewise.” Amaris failed to hide the slight shakiness in her voice“Wanna get outta here?”

  Amaris slowly nodded.

  ****

  The two walked side by side, and although Dimha’s wings stretched out, nobody seemed to pay any notice.“Where are we going?”“I’ve got a pce in town.”“You said this is your first night here?”“I did.” She nodded “Look, I’ll be honest. Got an apartment because it makes work easier. Took this job and well, after a lot of begging…” She rolled her eyes “The higher ups found me a pce.”

  Amaris paid little attention to the busy city streets, her eyes were fixed on Dimha’s form. It wasn’t long before the two came to the foot of a rge apartment complex. It was a new build, the bricks barely showing any signs of ageing as the tall rectangle towered over the both of them. Taking her by the hand, Dimha walked through the front door, past an empty reception area and walked into one of the lifts. Ascending to the fourth floor, she continued to lead the way in silence, walking to door 22 and unlocking it by pcing her hand against the lock.

  The apartment was messy. Unpacked boxes everywhere, some scattered, some atop each other.“Tea? Coffee? Blood?” She asked with a smile as she walked into the kitchen“I don’t know about that st one”“I heal fast, and I enjoy it.” She shrugged “Knock yourself out.”

  She couldn’t resist, and it wasn’t long before her fangs had sunk into her wrist. Dimha groaned, her hand pced atop Amaris’ head, pying with her hair “Good girl.” She whispered.

  Amaris pulled away with a deep breath and managed to find an uncovered spot on the sofa to pop herself down. Dimha’s smile faded, repced with concern as she stepped towards her, resting her hands on her cheeks.“Have you been eating okay?”“I take a bit here and there.”“You don’t want to hurt anyone, do you?” She stroked her cheeks “How long have you been like this?”She took one of the hands in her own “I-I don’t want to get into that, if that’s okay?”

  Dimha smiled“I get it. It’s different for you I guess, right? Becoming a Vampire is pretty much an overnight thing, usually. Takes a lot longer with us.”“You were…”“A very, very long time ago, yes. Honestly, that feels like a different life altogether.”

  She moved a box to the floor and sat down next to Amaris, still holding her hand.“Anyway, you’re probably wondering how me walking around like this didn’t go viral.”“Kinda. Another gmour, was that what you called it?”“No, only you’re able to see my true form. Humans can’t.”“Just me, or…”“Well, anything that isn’t mortal.” She shrugged “Other Vampires, the Fey, Angels…Take your pick.”“Wait, Fey are real, too?”

  She nodded “It’s recent for you, isn’t it?” When you’re well, not human anymore, you eventually start to notice things. Other beings stick out to you, even call out.”“I’ve noticed, but I just…Ugh.” She sighed “Other Vampires are always so high and mighty and all that bollocks. I can’t stand it.”She ughed “Yup. Some Demons are often the same. It’s why I…” She stroked the exposed skin on her back “Hang around with non-Demons a lot. I find it difficult to rete to humans, too. That’s all. Shit changes so fast that having a genuine conversion is…It’s crap.”

  She looked into her eyes and smiled.“It’s not just because you’re a Vampire though. Sure, I have a taste for…Certain things, but I’m liking your company too. I want to know more.”“Anything in particur?” “Why pick this city?”“It’s a long story…”“Hey, we’re both immortal. Got time for one.” She chuckled lightly “Come on. I’m here for some boring work thing and just managed to get the higher-ups to pick somewhere fun. Wanna know about you.”“Honestly, it’s just friendlier here. Other parts of this country are a bit…”“And what about other Vampires?”“Less shitty here too, actually. Not that I’ve run into many here.”“You’d think a pce like Satan’s Hollow would be full of you guys.”“That’s why it’s my…I hate the word feeding ground, but…Yeah.”“So long as you’re not taking too much, it’s just a massive hickey, right?”

  She shot her a small, brief smile.“Yeah…And I have a guy I buy bags from. So I’ll never lose control… I did a little bit earlier, I guess.” “I’m a new taste, that’s all.” She stroked her back, kissing her forehead “Harmless See?” She dispyed her wrist, it was clean of any markings “You worry too much. You’ve just learned that Demons and Fey exist and your priorities are…It’s sweet.”“I just don't like…” She avoided her gaze once more.“Hey.”

  She stroked the side of her face, gently guiding her gaze back towards her.“Darling. You couldn’t hurt me. Even if, for some… Say, fucked up reason you wanted to. I'm a Demon. We’re made of sturdier stuff.” She gave her a half-smile, and Amaris smiled back.“Can I take a bit more?”

  Dimha nodded, and within seconds, the Vampire's cold breath was on her neck. She didn’t need to breathe, but it helped her feel alive; in a way. It also made Dimha tingle before the fangs made contact. She groaned as the Vampire started to drink, and she gripped the back of her head, gently pushing her down. “Good girl. Take as much as you want.” She whispered

  Amaris eventually pulled back, breathing heavily. “How do I taste?” She shot a cheeky grin“Umm…Good? I’ve never…”

  She stroked the side of her face.“You’ve never told anyone you’re a Vampire, have you?”“Not in a while.” She winced “I mean, there’s ws against it. Right?”“More like guidelines.” She shrugged “At least with humans.” She stretched out her tail, twirling it behind her. “When it comes to everything else, well…Talk away.” “I don’t want to.”“I wouldn’t make you.” She brushed Amaris’ hair out of her face “Still hungry?”

  She shook her head with a slight smile “I mean, I-I’m okay about talking about other stuff. I’d love to! It’s just…”“I’m not going to pry, darling. Tell me about this job.”“The museum thing? Sure. I mean…I-I.” Her smile widened, her eyes brightening ever so slightly “I love it. This city has such a rich history, and we come across other stuff too. Plus…” She giggled slightly “Under the museum, it’s mostly dark and away from people. And it helps that most of the stuff is a lot older than me.”“Probably older than me, too.” Dimha chuckled “Can I ask?”“It’s a little complicated with Demons. But, I’m older than you.” She smirked “The st time I was wandering around on this mortal coil without a tail, they were trying us as Witches. But then time flows different elsewhere, so…I haven’t a fucking clue.”

  She sighed “I know with Vampires, not you of course. You’re lovely.” She grinned “The older a Vampire is, the more of a dick they tend to be.”“Yeah, that’s accurate…” “Demons, we don’t care about age. It’s status. Sure, more time around does give you time to build status and power but…A Demon that died say, during the hmm…Let’s say when the Romans ran the show, their status could be lower than say, myself. Who…”

  She fell silent, her eyes staring into space. The only times she’d been quiet during the evening is when she was being fed on. Amaris reached out a hand, resting it on her leg.“You okay?”“Fine, dear.” She smiled once more“You’ve talked a lot about Demons but, not really about you.”“Well, this is new to you. You didn’t believe in Demons until tonight, did you?”“Ummm.”

  She ughed quietly “I was raised to believe in you. But…”“Bible stories?” She grinned from ear to ear“Bible stories.” She nodded“Hmm. Well I’m not that evil, don’t worry.” She leaned in closer, her warm hands touching Amaris’ exposed skin “Now… Are you sure you’re not still hungry?”“I’m fine, really.”“Well, you can still bite me. Or maybe…” She leaned in even closer, her hands now stroking the exposed skin. Tingles ran across her cold body and the Demon began to dig her nails in gently. “I could bite you?”

  She giggled nervously“It’s been a while…”“Then I’ll start off gentle.” She brought her tail around, resting the tip on Amaris’ chin, tilting her head up “Do you want this?”“Yes.” She whispered