“Sheena” I uttered as tears streamed down my face. 

Hearing that name come out from my own mouth felt… confusing. It felt like I knew her too well but also the other way around at the same time.

“Is that the name of your girl?” I heard a voice of a man that I do not recognize.

I quickly wiped away my tears with my hand before I looked at where the voice came from. I saw a man maybe around his thirties in a pink long sleeved shirt, sitting in a chair beside the bed where I was lying down.

He was reading a newspaper while smoking a cigarette. He was wearing a leather glove in his left hand while the other one was bare. Now that I think of it, I do not recognize the room either.

“What?” The man looked at me intimidatingly.

“Um...” I was trying to take my words out of my mouth but I was at a lost as to what to ask . 

I tried to remember what last happened then the memory about me eating a demon’s raw heart came in. It felt like the tough texture and bitter taste of the organ was still in contact with my tongue. It felt like I was about to vomit that I used my hand to cover my mouth to prevent myself from doing so.

“Are you hurt or something?” The man asked monotonously.

“Yeah... I am sorry, I am alright.” I replied as soon as my urge to vomit left.

“Aren’t you going to ask questions?” 

“I do want to but... I have so many that I do not know where to start...”

“Then start firing already, I don’t have all day.” The man folded the newspaper he was reading then placed it on the table beside him.

“Yes... So where am I?”

“In my house, at the same time office.”

I did not ask another question right away because I was waiting for a more expounded answer from him but then he stared at me coldly as if asking me for the next question.

“So why am I here?”

“I picked you up when I saw you passed out beside a corpse of a demon.”

“What?!” I suddenly jumped out of bed then raised my arms as I got ready for a fight.

He called that thing a demon. One would naturally call it a monster instead, except if he is one as well.

“If I wanted to kill you, you won’t be even standing there.”

He’s right, why did I not think of that? It might still be due to exhaustion due to the recent events. I relaxed my arms and then sat back on the bed.

“You are right. I am sorry for my disrespectful actions.”

“At least hide your demon’s mark if you don’t want any trouble.”

“What? but I had it hidde-“ Then I saw the tattoo like pattern in my hand, the same one the man I killed had. “Yeah, I must have forgotten to wear my gloves after the fight. That was quite careless of me.”

“So any other questions?”

“Is it not possible for you to just tell me all the things that I need to know and not make it like a question and answer type of conversation?”

“Demanding, just ask.”

“How did you find me? Are you following me?”

“I heard there’s a demon in the area. I went to investigate then I felt a demonic presence in the forest. When I came, all I saw was the mess you made.”

“Why did you keep me alive then?”

“Information, it will be my turn to ask after you.”

“So for my last question, who is the king you serve under?”

I was serious when I asked him yet he burst into laughter.

“You did not ask who I am yet you ask who I serve? Bold kid, I like it. Anyway, I’m factionless” The man stood up then went to the door. “It is our turn to ask questions, come downstairs if you are ready.” 

After he left, I was no longer on high alert therefore I felt my body ache. My whole body especially my arms, chin and back hurts a lot. I still have this demon’s mark in my hand to worry about. I unbuttoned my shirt to check if I still have the one on my chest and it was still there. I now have two demon’s mark, this is twisted.

I buttoned my shirt back then went out of the room then downstairs. I became nervous. What information do they want? Are they telling the truth about not serving any king? Do they already know who I am? Which details should I fabricate?

I arrived downstairs and it was in an office like arrangement. I guess this is what he meant when he said it was his house at the same time office. There were four desks, three were occupied.

There were a total of four people. The man I was talking to was sitting on the largest desk at the very back. There was another guy maybe older than me. He has silver hair and scary eyes and was occupying the table besides a white board. 

On the desk at the right of the front door was a beautiful woman with a short hair and a well grown body. Besides the unoccupied table is a couch where a guy in a suit was sleeping with a top hat covering his face while holding a walking stick.

“You can sit there.” The blonde man said as he pointed out the chair in front of his table.

I did what he asked and sat on the chair.

“This is the Tired Eyes Detective Agency, we investigate anything that involves demons. The girl’s Barbara, in charge of entertaining calls and clients. The young man is Keen, he assists me with investigations. The sleeping one’s Gary, he funds the place so we can keep it running. I am Joseph, I boss them around on what to do.” He talked continuously.

“Nice to meet you, I am Cray, a University student.”

Seriously? Tired Eyes as a name for a detective agency? It is like something you would name your establishment if you do not want any customers. Maybe it is a pun for Joseph’s eyes that make him look like he is ready to pass out anytime?

“Introductions done. Keen, take it away.”

  “Sure, Chief.” Keen stood up then flipped the white board that are written with questions related the curse. “We have several questions to ask. Make sure to honestly answer my questions or else I will break your face into pieces.”

Shit, this guy is even scarier than his boss. I looked at Joseph to see his reaction but there was none. Your assistant just threatened me, you should reprimand him as a boss!

“Yes I will.” I replied.

“When did you get your demon’s mark? When I say demon’s mark you should know that I was pointing to the tattoo you got out of nowhere.”

“Around more than half a year ago.”

“Just so you know, demons that have the mark are called major demons. There are also what we refer to as lesser demons which are relatively weaker and do not have a demon’s mark. Are you aware of this?”

“No, I thought every demon has one.”

“You have a demon’s mark. We somehow know the name of the demon that possessed us the moment they did, do you know yours?”

“Yes, I believe the demon in my right hand is named Forcas.” 

I was somehow sure of the name of the mark that I got in my hand. I was answering under the presumption that they do not know about the mark in my chest. With the manner on how I phrased my answer, I avoided committing a lie.

“Okay, what else did you learn when you got your demon’s mark?”

“That the directional king that will remain and those who serve under him will have the power to control the curse; therefore prevents them from going berserk.”

“The raging king of the south, the gentle king of the west, the deceitful king of the east, and the mysterious king of the north. Are you serving a king right now?”

“No.”

“So you are factionless, same as us. Why did you fight a fellow demon then? The factionless won’t get any merit by doing so.”

“A man went berserk and came after me, I had to protect myself.”

“Why won’t you join a king then? A weak brat like you would be in a safer environment if you chose to serve one.”

“I do not want to play any part in this thing they call war.”

“Miss Barbara?” Keen then looked at Barbara who signalled with an ok sign.

“Barbara is a lesser demon with no combat power but have the ability to detect lies.” Joseph interrupted.

There is an ability like that? I am just glad that I was careful with my words back there or else I would be in some deep trouble right now.

“Geez, Jo! You do not have to emphasize the part with no combat power!” Barbara replied while sulking.

“I did not expect a punk like you to be honest. I just verified if all that we know align with what you know. It more or less did. Now, do you have a clue or a hint or any information that might help us to find a way to get rid of this fucking curse except from joining the war?”

“I don’t”

“Done, Chief.” Keen then flipped the white board again then sat on the chair by his desk.

“Although expected, it’s still a dead end.” Joseph uttered then he blew smoke from his cigarette.

“Hey Jo! I thought I told you not to smoke inside the office!” Barbara yelled.

“It will be gone soon.” Joesph responded to Miss Barbara then leaned towards me. “So, what are you thinking right now?” 

“I am actually not sure.”

“The demon’s corpse will be found soon. News will spread and other demons will be scouring the area in search of the one who left the corpse in a miserable state.”

“Hey Chief! Don’t tell me you are planning to recruit him? He’s just a punk!” Keen interrupted.

“It will be no longer safe for you to be alone. I suggest that you stay here with us, we can use the hand.” He completely ignored the other guy.

I looked at Keen and he just sighed, I guess Joseph really is the boss.

“May I ask a question before I decide?”

“Fire away.”

“Why won’t you just work under a king? Why stay factionless?”

“I don’t like to be ordered around. Doing what they want is as good as losing.”

“But what if there is no other way? What if the only way to survive this is being in the winning side of the war?”

“But what if there is?”

He did prove a point. He seemed like a very capable guy despite having a bit of problems with his manners. He was also right about me being in a perilous position if I remained alone. Classes are suspended anyways so I will not need to go near the University for now. 

Although I was quite sceptical that they can achieve anything from their investigations, something unexplainable inside me was more than happy to find out more. It was as if I had a sudden thirst to find a way to remove the demons out of our bodies. Aside from that, joining up with them is the course of action that sounds safest to me right now

  “Cray, do you accept my offer?”

“Do I have a better choice aside from that?”

“No.”

“I am looking forward to work with you then.”

I extended my hand which Joseph my boss grabbed, then we shook hands.

This is the best decision I can see right now, but will it really bring the most favorable future?