Why You Should Never Rescue Stray Demons Chapter 175

**ANGELO**

I carefully straighten the pillows in Sarah and Mikey’s room, making sure each one sits at the perfect angle. The corners line up just so. The fabric looks smooth. I give each pillow one last gentle pat to make sure they’re properly fluffed. Sarah’s been extra busy lately. She and Mikey both have. Between Kacia’s planning meetings and Clarence’s endless paperwork, she’s been helping coordinate the new library rebuild. I can tell she loves it, the way her face lights up when she talks about it. She mentioned that she’s thinking about taking some part time work there once everything’s finished. Not as a librarian, she said, but as someone to help at the information desk, greeting people, guiding them to the right places, helping them with the things that can trip up even the most confident human or supernatural. Technology. Phone calls, online forms, emails… All that confusing human world stuff that Kacia and most of the others just can’t use but still have to navigate. I think she’ll be amazing at it. She’s patient, and kind, and she knows how to make complicated things sound simple. She said she wants to help make the library a place where anyone, human or not, feels like they can belong. She’s even worked out that she can bring the baby with her. There’s going to be a quiet room, tucked away near the back, where she can rest or take breaks. I smile at that thought. I think I might volunteer there too. Not full time, of course. The building will be far too big for me, too many rooms, too much space to clean, and I know I’d get overwhelmed trying to keep up with it all. But visiting sometimes? Helping out when Sarah’s there? That sounds nice. I could tidy the reading nooks, polish the windows, keep things organised. Maybe even help watch the baby while she talks with visitors. I like the idea of helping in a place full of books, light, and people learning things. It sounds peaceful. And after everything that’s happened, I think we could all use a little more peace. I take a step back and look around the room, the sunlight spilling across the freshly made bed, the soft hum of the washing machine down the hall, the faint smell of tea from the kitchen. Everything is quiet. Everything is calm. I smooth one last wrinkle from the blanket and smile to myself. It’s strange, how much joy there can be in something as small as making things neat again, as putting a space back in order. But recently I have also discovered that it’s also just… Such a relief to be able to rest sometimes. To not have to work every second of the day. To be able to choose what work I do, and when, and how much. That freedom still feels new. Fragile, almost. Sometimes I catch myself waiting for someone to bark an order or hand me a list, but it doesn’t come. Here, there’s no pressure, no punishment for slowing down. I can stop, breathe, and nobody minds. And when I do work, people THANK me. That still surprises me. Every time. Sarah and Mikey don’t treat me like an employee. They treat me like… Well, like family. Or at least a very well liked housemate. They laugh with me. Ask my opinion. Include me in plans. They make sure I eat dinner with them instead of alone in the kitchen. And now they’re building me my own space. I’ve never had that before, a place that’s mine. Sarah asked me what colours I liked, said I could choose how to paint my room. The question stunned me more than it should have. So much choice, all at once. I told her I’d have to think about it. And I meant it. How do you decide what colour freedom should be? It’s a little overwhelming, all these new possibilities, but it’s a good kind of overwhelming. The kind that makes my chest ache in a way that isn’t painful, just… Full. I wouldn’t give it up for anything.

Suddenly, there's a firm knock on the front door and I freeze mid step. Sarah and Mikey aren’t home. For a few long seconds, all I can do is stand perfectly still, staring toward the sound. My mind races. They never told me what to do if someone came over while they were out. What if it’s Kacia? Or one of the others? Or a delivery person who’s expecting a signature? They might WANT me to answer. But what if it’s a human, one of their friends or neighbours, someone who doesn’t know about magic? I can’t just open the door and let them see me. I can’t risk that. Another knock. Louder this time. My stomach twists. There’s a peephole on the door, but I’m nowhere near tall enough to use it. I stare up at it hopelessly, standing on my toes for a moment before giving up. I need to see who it is. Moving as quietly as I can, I tiptoe into the living room and creep up to the window beside the door. I unlatch it carefully and push it open just a sliver, just enough to peek outside. A cool breeze brushes my face. And then I see him. A fae. I go perfectly still, barely breathing. He has dark hair, almost black, and he’s dressed in casual human clothes, jeans, a dark shirt, sneakers that look slightly too new. He looks… Normal. Too normal. Almost like something pretending to be normal. But the clothes, the style, it’s familiar. They look a lot like the things Mikey wears. Not something a fae would choose. That means he’s probably one of Kacia’s friends. Maybe even one of the ones who helped her. It’s definitely not her father, someone mentioned that he has that same striking purple hair as Kacia. Maybe it’s the other one. The fae lord. Tarish. My pulse skips. I shouldn’t open the door. It’s unwise. But… I’ve spent so long hiding away. And my contract is gone now. That thought steadies me a little. He might be able to hurt me, but no one can own me again. I take a deep breath, trying to quiet the fluttering in my chest. I can do this. Slowly, I unhook the chain and turn the handle. The door creaks open a few inches.

“Um… hello?” I manage, my voice coming out softer than I intended. The fae’s head lifts immediately, and his expression changes, surprise flickering into something gentler, curious. I grip the edge of the door with both hands, half ready to slam it shut if I have to. The fae clears his throat softly.

“Hello, Angelo. I am Lord Tarish Eryn. It is good to finally meet you.” He says politely. So it IS the fae lord, then. He seems friendly enough, and I know he’s close with Kacia, but still, I find it difficult to trust an unknown fae. I tighten my grip on the doorframe just in case. 

“Sarah and Mikey aren’t home.” I tell him bluntly, hoping he’ll take the hint and go away. He gives a slight nod. 

“I am aware of that. I came here looking for you.” He answers. I tense. 

“What do you want?” I demand, trying, and mostly failing, to hide how nervous I am.

“It has been brought to my attention that you were being mistreated in the human realm for a long time. While your situation certainly seems improved, I came because I wanted to provide you with options.” He says gently. 

“Options?” I echo, frowning. 

“The option to go home, to the fae realm.” He explains gently. 

“It is not always easy being a supernatural creature living among humans. I wanted you to know that, should you choose to, you would be welcome in my home. Or, if you preferred, I could help you find another residence. Kacia has inherited her grandfather’s estate, there are likely dozens of places you might stay if that is what you wanted.” He points out. My jaw drops. Leave? When I’ve only just begun to feel safe here? I shake my head quickly. 

“I have no intention of leaving. I’ll make my home here.” I insist adamantly. The fae lord’s smile is small, but sincere. 

“Kacia told me to expect as much. Still, I wanted to make the offer. You are long-lived, and humans are not. One day you might change your mind. I also wanted to thank you. It is because of the message you sent that Kacia was able to contact Raylah, and through her, me.” He reasons. 

“I didn’t do it for you.” I answer quietly. He shrugs lightly. 

“And yet I benefited. Since you choose to stay here, and because I feel I owe you, I have brought a gift.” He starts. 

“I don’t need anything!” I insist, stepping back slightly.

“That is true, but sometimes gifts aren’t about what you need. Besides, it’s just something I had lying around that I thought might be of use to you.” He explains. He reaches into his coat and pulls out a plain wooden bracelet. I stare at it, confused.

“This bracelet is charmed. It holds a simple glamour, nothing complex, nothing dangerous. If you wear it, humans will be inclined to overlook… Peculiarities. They might notice that you’re smaller than average, or that you look unusual, but they will dismiss it. If you speak to a human directly, it may daze them a little, enough that they won’t question what they saw, and they’ll forget soon after.

“It isn’t useful if you’re trying to form close bonds with humans, but for simple interactions, answering the door, running errands, it should suffice. Of course, it will not affect anyone with magic, or any human who already knows you well. I can craft my own glamours, so I’ve no need for it. But I thought you might.” His head tilts slightly as he finishes, watching me with calm patience. My instinct is to reject it on principle, but… His words make sense. It would make things easier. I could go shopping with Sarah, help her with errands as her pregnancy progresses, without worrying about stares or questions. Almost reluctantly, I reach out and take the charm. Tarish inclines his head deeply. 

“I hope it serves you well.” He says sincerely. I risk a small, polite smile. 

“Thank you.” I say softly. 

“Well, I should be on my way.” He says after a moment, glancing toward the fading light. 

“But I imagine I’ll see you again soon. Sarah mentioned a dinner she’s planning, a birthday celebration for her husband, I believe. I’ve been invited.” He informs me. Ah. Right. That dinner. I give an awkward half wave as he steps off the porch and disappears into the twilight. The air feels still again once he’s gone. That was… Strange. A fae lord, thanking me? Bringing me a gift? I turn the bracelet over in my hands. The wood is smooth and warm, faintly humming with old magic. And I realise something. That offer he made, to leave, to go ‘home,’ it didn’t tempt me at all. Not even for a second. Because this IS my home now. Maybe one day I’ll want to see the fae realm again. But for now? For now, I am exactly where I want to be.