Title: Pay
Prompt: Knotted Yellow Ribbon
Word Count: 393
Rating: PG
Warnings (Non-Con/Dub-Con etc): Demon-related things, mentioned blood
Summary: Nes is not the only daemon Alex knows. In fact, she has an entire book of them; having daemonic connections can sure come in handy.
I sighed as I placed the final item on the ground before snapping the summoning circle shut with a hiss of magic. The yellow ribbon looked out of place among the drying blood, but it was the best thing I had to offer him. Pricking my finger on a tooth—I figured it wouldn't be prudent to pull out a knife in public—I whispered the daemon's name I required.
A monstrous roar echoed through the alley, and the violent winds furthered mimicked the effect of a hurricane as a large figure appeared in the center of the pentagram. After the winds died down and reality reinstated itself around the daemon, this was revealed to be a man atop a rather out of place camel. Not the strangest daemon I've summoned. His face and figure was incredibly effeminate, from his cat-like smile to his luxurious robes of royal blue and white.
You know you're doing it wrong when a man is prettier than you, I groused, even knowing it was pointless to be envious. They always dressed to impress when visiting the mortal realm.
Despite my sour face, I gave him a respectful bow. He inclined his head regally. It couldn't hurt to be polite to one of the daemonic generals.
"As you most likely won't talk normally until I say this," I started, "I command you to speak in your best inside voice." My words were translated by a faint wisp I assumed to be a weaker imp; it hovered about his left ear like a mosquito, and I almost waited for him to swat it away. Unfortunately, he simply conceded before making his own proposition.
"In return for the knowledge I shall grant you, I merely wish for the privilege of a mutual exchange."
"Yeah, sure." I could only hope he wasn't feeling incredibly generous, because I would have to reply in kind. "Whatever you say, Pay." One slender eyebrow arched at my nickname for him, but he didn't protest. It was better than pronouncing his full name loud enough for others to overhear. "I just want to ask you a few questions about one of my client's… competitors. He's been getting fairly greedy."
Bright eyes flashed, and I could have sworn I saw his teeth sharpen as he smiled. His lips were thin and delicate; his fangs, however, were not.
"Please, ask away."
-Dragon
