My lady?" Steven asked as he tried  to keep his annoyance to a minimum, kissing his teeth as they stood in line.

 "Yes." Excitement clear in Connie's voice as they took a step forward. Getting closer to the food stand.

 "I can travel great distances, in relatively short time."  

"I'm aware." 

"I am capable of choosing the most valuable and delicious ingredients."

"I know."

  "I can make you delectable, scrumptious delicacies from any religion on the planet,  light some candles and put on some light jazz music."

"You are a culinary showman, Steven."

"So why? Why are we eating 'Panda Express'?"

Connie looked back at the disguise demon looking affronted at his unsatisfied tone. "Now, is that anyway to sound towards someone treating you to some good food? Where are your manners?"

"First. Good food? Debatable..It's junk."

Connie scoffed  "You like their Mongolian Steak, I've seen you inhale it."

Steven shrugged, a smirk on his face "Good junk is still junk." He gave her an accusatory glare. "That being said, you said real food...That isn't real food."

"It's edible, it provides nutrients, and it pleases the pallet. Food...Good food."

"It's sustenance at best."

"Tasty sustenance."

"I can think of better, My lady."

Connie had to stop herself shivering at his teasing tone right in her ear. She elbowed the demon in his gut, not enough to hurt but to get her  point across. Didn't stop him from acting as it did causing her to roll her eyes at his foolish over-acting, bending over in faux pain. She couldn't help the smirk on her face.

"Seems you're doing better, Steven."

"Hmm, did I worry you, my lady?" Steven stood with a nonchalant smirk. One that didn't reach his eyes, Connie observed.

"Let's...Let's just get our food and find a seat."

Steven nodded, a quizzical brow raised at Connie's downtrodden tone. 

It would be ten minutes before they obtained their food and got situated by a patio table. The two sat in silence as they ate. There was a street musician playing sax for money. The lights of the city brightened the sidewalks and the populace dwindled down a bit. A time like this would have been considered romantic… Unfortunately that was impossible with Steven occasionally scoping out the area, unaware of Connie's worrying and dissatisfied look. 

"So...Are you gonna tell me?

"Hm?”

Connie glare deepend at his false absentmindedness. “Are you gonna tell me what you found out….What you sensed on that body?”

She saw him stiffen for just a half second but it was enough of an affirmation for her.

Steven chuckled bashfully, scratching the back of his head “What are you talking about, my lady? What makes you think i found-”

“Don’t lie to me, Steven.”

“It’s nothing to worry about.”

“Then you should be able to talk about it.”

“There's nothing to talk about.”

“Then are you so damn serious!”

Steven's eyes widen at the harshness of her voice. “My lady.” He could stare at that blazing glare before he gave her a relaxed smile. Placing his food aside, he reached for her right hand and gave it a gentle kiss. “This demon humbly apologizes, my fiery lady.”

Connie's cheeks glowed at the action, but didn’t take it away. Instead she grasped it.”Dapper demon.” She smirked at the small surprised look on his face,before giving him a slightly pleading look. “Please Steven. Talk with me. We’ve been in difficult situations before...Took on demons and investigated harder cases, right? So what’s standout about this case?”

Steven groaned as he sat back, caressing her hand with his thumb.”Connie...That corpse..The magic that radiated from the corpse...I sensed something too familiar within it.”

“You..you know who attacked the demon?”

“Not exactly, but I do sense familiarity. A fact that, while concerning in of itself, isn't what placed me in a foul mood...It’s the emotions that puts me on edge.”

“The emotions?” 

The curious way she asked that. The way she hung her head slightly to the left. He couldn’t help but think of how lovely his lady was...How she made him feel. Which made him frown a bit..

“Steven?”

Connie's concerned voice shook him back to normal. 

“Sorry, yes the emotions. For such a brutal display...Lust and adoration basically leaked from the magic."

Connie nodded in slight understanding, before speaking cautiously. "Do you feel like it was meant for someone close by?"

"Aye. More than likely, it was an offering to you."

Connie blanched at the suggestion.The thought of getting a dead body as a gift, made her shiver in disgust.

"Who..Why'd you think it would be an offering for me? You were chasing the thing down...Maybe you got some demonic admirer somewhere."

"I doubt it would be me. I'm not well known after all. Though if it were to have an admire…" He smirked, teasingly. "A nice bouquet of orchids, iris and jasmine would have sufficed,wouldn't you agree?"

Connie scoffed. "Glad you're finding jest in this situation…" 

Steven shrugged "Methods aside, I can't  blame them for falling for you. My lady is quite enchanting."

A sarcastic laugh escaped her lips. "The thought of me having a, possibly contracted, psycho stalker...What a riot, and on the off-chance you're right?"

 "Well, now if it is true, I  would never allow such a thing to persist." His voice became rougher and harsher. "If such a person happens to exist and furthermore appeared before you." He turned his gaze towards her, violet eyes locking with black ones. He squeezed her hand in comfort and a promising smile. " I would protect you...Until the end."

There was a warmth in her chest at his words and his mannerisms. Usually, such words would be annoying, making her feel a bit inadequate compared to her partner; as if he was making light of her own strength and ability. The adoring way he looked at her and the reassuring tone, dashed any of those thoughts. She allowed herself a bit of leeway and gave his hand a squeeze back.

"I've never doubted that fact." She finds it surprising, how unsurprised she is at the weight behind her statement.

Steven chuckled as a purplish glow on his cheeks as he took a relaxing breath.

She watched as he seemed to hum with the jazz tune playing on the sax, unaware of the small yet glowing smile on her own face as she did.

"That's better." She purred more to herself than to him, though he did catch it. She shook her head at his piqued look waving him off. She wanted her demon time in the city to end on a high note.

While Steven and Connie were enjoying  their moment of peace, the demon Azurite, was watching patrons of a local night club. She sat in the  highest balcony as she watched the humans dance under an illuminating white ball. Their faces, full of their deepest emotions as they're bodies moved amorously to the beat against one another, tears and sweat, falling down their faces.  

"Cease."

Like clockwork the patrons stopped their movement and looked at the demon who smirked at the tearfully smiling and horrified crow below. With a twisted smile she gave the command.

"Fight to the death." 

She smiled as the patrons attacked. Each either screaming in pain, forgiveness..or as they succumbed to death. Azurite  laughed as she listened and watched, drinking sweet tasting wine. floating with her legs cross. Thirty minutes of senseless bloodshed one stood beaten, bruised and bloody; a young groom-to-be who happened to just tearfully killed his beautiful fiancee via bludgeoning of her head against the counter bar.

He looked up completely brokenhearted and soulless. Azurite smiled gently as she floated to the victor. She hovered as she caressed his bruised cheek. 

"Congrats..You are going to be my new servant and weapon.." Her voice held sinister implications as she licked the blood of his cheek.   lustfully moaning at the taste. She looked at the ball with a sadistic smile 

" pale moonlight test one..success ."