Vasilis

He struck a deal, his soul to bend, To win a war that could not end.

His blade had carved a crimson way, And in the dust his enemies lay, But victory wears a heavy chain – A pact that brings eternal pain.

Each moon that marks his body's frame, Etches deep that sinner's shame, The crescent lights with ghostly gleam, To mock him of his fatal dream.

He treads the line of life and death, Stealing from them their final breath, For none escape his judgment grim, The souls of sin, they answer him.

But still, beneath his devil's might, There lingers shadows of the light. A heart once burned in passion’s flame, Now seeks to free itself from blame.

Yet chained he walks in duty's thrall, Collecting shadows 'fore they fall. And when at last his moon will die, Will he ascend—or still...ask why?

Prologue

---

THE DEMONS DEBT

Vasilis was nine when he first learned the stories. The stories about men with wings. Their wings black like smoke, stretching across the sky, casting long shadows over the earth. They had sharp, predatory gazes – the kind that could pierce your very soul – with fangs to match. Claws too. Some even said their hands were more beast than man, with fingers longer than they should be. These men towered over the helpless. The small. The vulnerable. They took what they wanted without remorse.

His father was sitting in that chair draped in old furs. His body framed by the crackling fire, orange light dancing on the dagger that never left his side. Always attached to his hip, as if it were a piece of him. The one he never went far without. His legs were crossed, posture rigid like a man who hadn’t quite figured out how to relax. His face barely shifted as he looked Vasilis' way. Eyes sharp as hell – icy gray dulled only by the occasional shift of firelight bouncing off them. Shrouded in a misty fog that made them look faraway. Blind, his father says. Unable to provide for the family, his mother says. Vasilis would swear sometimes that his father's blind scowl could slice through bone cleaner than his blade.

He didn’t care. Father was the strongest man he’s ever met, and that still applies thousands of years later. He remembered his father spoke with a dignified air despite his undignified appearance.

"Vasil..." his father's voice was barely a rasp, brittle as if the mere act of speaking cost him more than it should have. His hand, gnarled from years of toil, disappeared into the folds of his thick fur coat. When it reappeared, there was a glint of cold metal—a dagger. Its blade sharp enough to split a man from throat to stomach. He laid it in Vasil's trembling palm with deliberate care. The family emblem was etched into the handle, faint from overuse. Stained with the memories of generations. Blood that never quite washed off.

“This dagger...” His father met his son’s wide gaze. “It took weeks to make, weeks of sweat, of pain... That’s all there ever will be, Vasil. Pain. Pain—and monsters.” He tapped the edge of the blade for emphasis. A speck of his own blood welled from the tip of his finger.

“There are monsters in this world...” His finger hovered over the family crest engraved in the steel. He paused for just a moment. “And some of them...” he sighed, meeting Vasil’s stare again, his pupils blown wide with weariness, "...won’t make any fucking sense at all."

Vasilis nodded, leaning forward on the fur covered floor. Hands tucked between his legs to keep them from reaching out impatiently for the dagger. His mother scorned him for giving a nine year old a dagger, but he hardly listened to her nowadays. Even as young as he was, he learned not a statement worth listening to ever came from her mouth.

Monsters, father called them. Monsters that make no sense.

“It’s important to realize that monsters exist, and they take any form. Whether it is your doubt, your fears, or the person who wishes you dead a” He continues, voice gravelly like the stone roads underneath a wagon. “You will know,”

“How?” Vasilis didn’t mean to interrupt, but he was leaning so far forward he nearly toppled over.

“You just will,” His father mumbles, and Vasilis thought he was crazy for once in his nine year old life. But that doubt faded when his father finally handed him the dagger by the handle. Vasilis took it, gently, turning it this way and that in awe.

“Take good care of it, son. It will be an ally to you.”

A week later, he received news his father was slain while planning the next attack.

As soon as Vasilis could wield a sword, he enlisted to be a soldier. He trained with the other teenage boys, full of boyish rage and vengeance for his father. He’d written down the names of the kingdom in charge of his fathers death. He fought hard in every battle in hopes that he’d be chosen to face them.

He remembered his fathers words clearly. Monsters existed just as evil did, and he would know when it came for him.

But throughout all the monsters he’s met in his life, from royalty full of disdain and soldiers faced with the decision of their death or destroying him, he was never prepared for a monster wearing the devil's grin but speaking an angel's promise.

__

This monster had wings as large as the angels portrayed in paintings, but a smile as accursed as the devil. Wide. Crooked. Teeth sharp like shattered glass, gleaming wet under a thin smear of saliva. That smile, it reeked of sin. The creature’s skin blistered with unnatural heat. It felt alive, radiating searing waves as if the thing was made out of burning stone, some grotesque embodiment of molten fury. Its tail snapped like a whip, jerking behind him in sporadic movements. Malnourished, it was, and it flew.

The wings beat once. Twice.

His stomach coiled, tighter than any physical pain could ever hope to bind him with. An abyss seemed to be forming there, twisting him inside-out. Then and there he knew he was facing a monster. The horror locked his limbs, suspending him as the sound of battle just outside muffled.

But his father couldn’t prepare him for this monster. This massive creature that by all means he should’ve ignored, should’ve turned away and died a death honorably like his father.

But he offered vengeance.

He offered a win to the war against the neighboring kingdom who slaughtered his father mercilessly. A blind man. A day before he’d quit and take Vasilis far away to live a simple life.

Stop it. called the voice in his head. Don’t do it.

His hand reached out. The way the demon hovered, he resembled an angel in those moments. The sun casted light onto his features. Sharp, defined lines running from the angular jaw to the prominent cheekbones. Large wings beating, with a hand outstretched towards him. That smile of his, the fangs in sight that should’ve repulsed him. A demon which made no attempt to hide himself or trick him into believing he was good.

But to Vasilis, he was still an angel.

"Your soul..." the demon's voice rolled out slow, smooth as oiled silk. Each word a coiled threat. His sulfurous breath was so close now, Vasilis could feel the heat radiating from his smirk, like flames licking at his skin.

"To win the war." The demon purred, his jagged grin widening, yellowed teeth barely hidden behind those curled lips. His pupils shrank to thin black slits. Malice gleamed bright in his serpentine gaze. One weathered hand shot out. Too quick to avoid. Before Vasilis could even flinch, it clasped his wrist. The moment contact was made, an icy grip clenched around his heart. Every fucking inch of his being screamed as if it were being torn apart. Fire and ice crashed inside his chest.

Then...his legs buckled, chest heaving like he was a drowning rat clawing at the surface for one gulp of precious air. His pulse hammered a war drum’s frantic beat. He didn’t breathe, he gasped. Every shuddering inhale was poisoned with raw panic. The demon didn’t move – just watched with interest. One crooked brow arched up, lips curved.

And then? Strength. Power. It came rushing through his blood like a heat wave of unholy might, flooding into every part of him. Searing into bone. Blazing hotter than the blacksmith’s furnace at midday. Pain fell away. Agony evaporated ale on the scorched earth. His limbs felt stronger. Faster. The once-weighty sword in his hand now lighter than the wind itself. His father’s dagger now a deadly fang in his grip.

Vasilis stood.

And when he met the demon’s stare again...something hollow burned in his chest.

The demon only smiled. Tilted his horned head sideways. "Now go on." That purring snarl again. "I’ll see you very soon."

Without thought – without hesitation – Vasilis sprinted toward the doors, boots thudding against the ground. The roar of battle was deafening. Metal against metal, screams of the dying drowning out the cavalry on horses. The scent of blood, of flesh torn apart hit him, thick in the air. The world was on fire. Vasilis pushed through the heavy wooden doors, shoving them open wide with a crash that rattled the hinges. His enemies stood beyond. Thousands. Just faceless shadows locked in endless combat.

A sharp inhale filled his lungs. He lifted his sword high above his head – like an avenging angel poised to deliver judgment upon every living soul before him.

Then he launched himself into the fray.

Nothing stood before him. Nothing stopped his fury. He moved, each slash quicker than before, faster than reason could comprehend. Blood sprayed and splattered across the ground like rain. Deep. So deep in hue it shined black in the fading sun.

Strength pumped continuously, his body didn’t tire. He swung his sword and dagger with the might of a lion defending its pride. Of a dragon defending its treasure. Bodies fell, swords rang uselessly against his flesh. For he was no longer mortal at that time. He’d become something in between life here and life beyond.

When the war was over. He was the last one standing.

His head raised to the sun, his hands trembling. Chest rising and falling with each heavy breath. Blood covered him head to toe. But in that moment... he felt a peace unknown to him since the day he’d read the news of his fathers death.

They were dead. The monsters were dead.

But unfortunately, so was he.

Without a hesitation, he felt his heart strike and a numbness in his arm. He dropped his sword but clutched his fathers dagger to his chest as he collapsed. Nauseating dizziness took over his vision, darkness enveloped him, and the last he saw was not the sky. But the demon whom he foolishly promised his soul to in return for vengeance.

“See you later, Vasilis.”

---

"Did you find them yet?" Ini’s whisper cut through the cacophony that crowded the New York sidewalk, his body hovering just above the dirty concrete. Vasilis hated this place, New York as the humans call it. Where good air and nature goes to die. He flipped the page of his newspaper lazily. His golden eyes shimmered faintly under the edge of his sunglasses. Ini floating would’ve been an issue if any normal human could see either of them.

Vasilis didn’t reply. Just kept an eye out on everyone walking. The mortals around them were blissfully ignorant to the danger stalking them. Businessmen barreled down the sidewalks with ties flapping behind them, women with strollers trying to navigate a world too loud for fragile human infants. They were all blind. Ignorant little dots on the map. He’d already met his quota, but what else was there to do when you were dead than your job?

Someone here had committed a grievous crime, and no one knew except the two of them. How ironic, that they walk around believing they were safe when murderers and kidnappers roamed in their wake. If they knew how easy it was to fill his quota just in this piece of land, they’d pack up in their moving ve-hic-kles they call it and go somewhere else.

The crescent symbol on his chest glowed profusely, radiating a warmth that traveled through his veins. Vasilis didn’t react. He closed his newspaper, sat up, and nodded to Ini. The demon hopped out of his midair cruise and made his way towards the alleyway. Vasilis slid his hands into his coat pockets, shoulders hunched against the thrumming press of the crowd around him. He could feel it – that burning warmth in his chest – pulsing steadily guiding him forward.

Not them. Not them. Closer.

There.

A man lounged on the bench like he had all the time in the world, fedora casting a shadow over his face, the rest hidden behind a sleek pair of sunglasses. His suit was sharp, no creases. Perfectly put together. Too perfect. Next to him sat the woman. She wasn't crying. No tears. But the way she hunched forward, her entire frame curled in on itself like she was trying to become as small as possible, told a different story. Her lip trembled ever so slightly, barely noticeable unless you were looking.

Not a couple, not in the romantic way. No soft glances exchanged. No body language that screamed "we had a spat, but we’ll be fine by dinner." No. There was an ugly energy between them. A taut wire. The kind you saw too many times when you were used to walking the darker paths of the world.

Then the flash as their eyes met for a brief second, just enough for the information to flood into Vasilis’ mind. Kidnapper. More than one woman. Domestic violence. Monster in a suit.

Each step purposeful. When he reached them, the man straightened up, bristling. The woman looked away, shrinking further as though she was fading into the cracks of the bench.

The man sneered. "What do you want?"

Vasilis didn’t flinch. His smile was charming, polite even. "Evening, sir. You look rather busy, so I’ll make it quick."

The man’s eyebrow lifted beneath the shadow of his hat, annoyed already.

"We’re a Fortune 5 company hiring the industry’s best. We pay very well, and I’d like to interview you. Privately. See if you’ll make a good fit." Vasilis spoke easily, smoothly.

The man snorted, not amused. He was used to men being scared of him. Used to them bending over backwards to accommodate whatever filth came out of his mouth. "Why the fuck would I be interested in that?"

"Because..." Vasilis dropped his sunglasses down his nose just enough for the golden flash of his irises to show, those molten pools of hypnotic fire that burned through every layer of resistance. The transformation was instant.

The man’s body slackened like a puppet with cut strings. His sneer melted away, leaving a mindless blank stare. His eyelids lowered halfway, caught in that glassy daze. The woman beside him flinched, sensing the shift even if she didn’t understand it. Her knuckles went white as she gripped the edge of the bench, as if holding on for dear life.

“...I shouldn’t have asked.” The man mumbles, before slowly getting up. Moving like a mummy. “Wait here, Darlia..." the man's mumbling had reduced to a disoriented whisper, his steps robotic as they closed the distance toward the waiting alley. Vasilis cast one quick glance over his shoulder, just in time to see Darlia shoot from her seat like a gun had gone off, feet pounding the concrete with sheer terror-fueled adrenaline. Her blonde hair whipped through the wind, trailing behind her like a broken ribbon.

The alley stretched ahead of them. Ini was waiting patiently. It was thanks to Vasilis that they both easily cleared quotas anyway.

"Keep moving." He nudged the now docile kidnapper ahead of him. Not that the man had much of a choice, walking stiff as though every nerve in his body had suddenly fallen asleep. Vasilis couldn't stand the guy's type. The slimy bastards that picked women up like they were products to use, consume, dispose of. The stink of control still wafted from the man, like rot festering under designer cologne. And Vasilis had always hated rot. Especially when it masqueraded behind expensive fabrics.

Ini appeared then, stepping out of the shadows as fluidly as smoke curling from a flame, his face unreadable beneath his sharp brow. He glanced at the man with mild disinterest, already unsheathing a slim blade from its holder.

Before the man could even realize it was directed at him, Vasilis’ free hand gripped the collar of his shirt, forcing his slackened body against the rough brick wall of the alley. The scrape of fabric against concrete was loud in the alley's stillness. The knife’s gleam kissed the side of his neck – just shy of too deep – enough for him to feel it, for that docility in his limbs to twist into primal fear.

“Donovan Hugh. You have committed the grievous sin of kidnapping multiple woman and domestic violence. Anything to say?” Vasilis drawls, clearly unentertained with having to ask. As if he’d forgive any criminal.

The man – Donovan – blinked rapidly, panic blooming across his face. "It – what? I did no such thing!" His voice wavered, desperation seeping into every word like sweat trickling down his temples. He didn’t realize how much more pathetic it made him sound. For a few moments he stood there, as if contemplating. Then he slowly steps towards the man, squatting in front of him indifferently. “If you say so.”

Then he dug his fathers dagger into the mans chest. Once. Twice. He didn’t have to worry about making a mess, humans didn’t see him anymore. Not him or Ini. After he starts collecting this soul, the humans won’t see this man either.

The man barely got a last inhale before his body slumped against the trash. Vasilis didn’t draw this out, he wanted this done so he could get on with the soul collecting. His crescent symbol had stopped burning finally.

Donovan didn’t even get a chance to scream before the blood flooded his lungs. His chest heaved one final time as he took his last, ragged inhale. And then – his body went slack. Deadweight against the dirty, trash-strewn alley floor. Vasilis let out a slow exhale, as though the tedious job was just another chore ticked off a long, mundane list.

The crescent symbol etched on his wrist had stopped burning – its work complete.

Behind him, Ini stirred, his shadowy figure fluttering above the ground, his presence barely disturbing the stillness of the scene. "Shit, Vas –"

His whisper halted as his wide eyes locked onto the end of the alley. Vasilis' sharp instincts reacted in an instant.

And then – there they were.

A human. An actual human, standing at the end of the alleyway. Staring. Staring at them.

But that wasn’t supposed to be possible. No one should be able to see them. Humans couldn’t see Soul Collectors or demons. They shouldn’t be able to witness anything beyond their limited reality. Yet this person – this stranger – was staring right at them.

Vasilis felt a wave of unease ripple through him, foreign and unwelcome.

This wasn’t supposed to happen.