03• Killian.

How do mortals live without superpowers?

I wondered as I strolled through the frozen cityscape

Humans stood motionless around me. Cars hung suspended in mid-traffic; I'm sure nature would have been more peaceful without humans, and time freezing is one thing I enjoyed doing the most, but of course, I ain't the owner of the universe and have less than ten minutes to call off this peacefulness.

With a snap of my fingers, the peacefulness faded and there was horn and crazy hurry footsteps.

I hate these people. I swore, vanishing amongst their midst and reappearing in the mansion where I live with allies of mine.

"Where have you been?" Emilia asked approaching me. Her black hair, which was common among female demonesses, was styled in braids.

"Settling a debt," I answered.

"It took you long enough," Emilia said, rolling her eyes. "The ferryman wants to see you." She informed me.

"He could tell you whatever it is," I replied, climbing on the grand staircase, its rich, dark mahogany steps gleaming with subtle gold inlays.

"It's seemed pretty serious." My sister responded.

I huffed. "Where's he?" I asked walking over to the hallway.

"Office of course." She answered. "You did something to the humans?"

"I only asked for peace," I replied entering the office of the ferryman.

A wooden high desk on his side with dim, flickering candles with stained glass windows casting colorful light.

I walked over to him as I had my seat without paying respect, and I could feel Emilia's eyes glaring at me for not doing so while she stood behind me.

"You're back." Ferryman Carlos asked. What does he gain from getting this old? Every demon had asked the same thing as everyone would rather remain looking like someone in their 30s, but Carlos was the opposite. Raising his dark eyes at me, his jaw filled with black beards and mustache. He isn't the same age as me; he is just lucky enough to be the ferryman who can control the demons in country A.

"Yeah, what's it? Lia said you wanted to see me?" I asked, crossing my legs and staring at him.

"It's been over a hundred years since I became the ferryman of our legion. And as you of all people know, it had all been peaceful for us," he began.

"You could skip all that, and tell me what's going on. I'm very busy."

"Here's a chart of your existence." Ferryman Carlos swiped over a glowing scroll to me. "I don't have access to it, of course, but I do get a warning whenever things are not right with the scroll."

I raised my eyebrows at him after reading through the content. "I noticed a weakening of my power as well," I replied returning the scroll back to him.

"It will get even weaker if you do not start the game of souls. You need to get prepared to find an advocate to help bring human souls to you. The more mortal souls you bring to me to add to your chart, the more your days on earth will be lengthened."

"I can play the game myself. Why should I need an advocate?" I asked, my gaze still fixated on him.

"Demon shouldn't approach humans for souls. Demons aren't allowed anymore sin. We make mortals do the sinning." Carlos answered.

"So my advocate will be a mortal?" I asked with a slight frown, disgusted already at having a mortal work for me.

I love when mortals are being my slaves, but not working with me to save me. I hate them!

"It's for your own good. Killian." He responded.

"Then I can use some mortals that are in demonic cults controlled by us?"

"You'll need a human that has no idea about who we are. A mortal that is as corrupt and will tempt people into selling their souls for you." Carlos said as he lit up fire from his index finger to the candle that just went off. "Then if they are ready to give their souls to you. You can approach them." He said in conclusion.

"Bullshit." I cussed.

In my two hundred years of living—am I more than two hundred years? Whatever, I lost count a hundred years ago. I have never been tasked with this before. Seeing a human almost every day, especially having close contact.

"I will think about it." I stood up.

"Your time is running up," Carlos said after me as I walked out of his office with Emilia, who had remained silent throughout our conversation, following me.

"I can help you find a mortal that will fasten the process," Emilia mentioned.

"I don't want anybody yet. I will kill whoever you bring to me." I swore with a stern look at her.

"You aren't permitted to kill humans." She scowled and I ignored her as I continued down the hallway.

She had a thing for humans and even wished to be like them in her second life, and I'm sure she's excited she will be permitted to have close contact with humans once I start to work with the so-called advocate.

"The best place to find someone who would do as you say might be a hospital or station. I mean not officers, but criminals in a cell." She stated and I turned to look at her.

"You sure know so much about them, you should have been the one who needed an advocate," I said sarcastically.

"I wish so, but sadly, I'm not as old as you are." She uttered. "And I don't know what you might have viewed from your chart, but I'm sure you don't have until tomorrow night to speed things up and introduce us to this advocate of yours." She chimed in and before I could make any statement, she vanished into thin air.

If I finally introduced the mortal would she be letting them know about her superpowers?

I was about to leave when I felt my stomach grumbling; it wasn't hunger. I told myself as I halted on my steps and then the sudden rush of hotness hit my chest.

Yeah, that's my powers draining.

I hissed at the pain once it finally calmed. No doubt I wouldn't be in search of a cell tonight.