• "Father?"
    My ears catch the voice of a small, shy child creaking open a door.
    "Father why are you still in bed? You know very well that Mother has been downstairs cooking a meal for over an hour now. I'm sure you don't want her to fret over your meal becoming cold again."
    My eyes flash open at the thought of my wife being livid over anything. I sit up from the vast amount of comfortable blankets around me; glancing at the door of the master bedroom. There, standing in the doorway, was a small girl that I could gratefully call my daughter. She had many names given to her, for the reason of living among humans, but here in this household her name was Taél, which literally translates to "teal spray" in the human tongue.
    "Aye aye. I know what would happen after that Taél."
    I climb out from my bed and do a habitual search of everyone's Aura. Nobody I didn't know or recognized was in my house, which is a good thing, but one Aura was out of place…
    "Taél… do you realize your spirits are being talked to again by your brother?"
    A large thump was heard from down the hall, followed by an echo-like laughter and the slamming of a door. A dash of footsteps came down the hall to show a fiery little boy at my door.
    "I AM NOT!"
    This was my son, and like Taél he had many names. So we also go by his Demonic name Khlea. An odd pronunciation with it, which gives my wife trouble when calling him, but it perfectly fits his fiery personality by meaning "passionate flame".
    "Not another word Khlea. Now go help your mother with breakfast."
    Khlea instantly dashes away and down the stairs. "ALRIGHT~! I CALL FOOD PREP~!"
    I glance at Taél as she was left behind from her brother's enthusiasm. She had a sort of glum look on her face that she wasn't quick on the call for food prep.
    I walk up to her and pat the top of her head in a comforting way.
    "Don't worry. You can tease your brother later with your spirits."
    The expression on her face brightens quickly at the thought.
    "As you wish, Father."
    She scurries off down the stairs to do what was told of, leaving me to follow behind.
    "Alright~! MOM MADE WAFFLES!~ Do you see Taél?!" His yelling can be clearly heard as I came to the bottom of the stairs.
    "You're too loud brother of mine. It is, after all, still morning and with your voice you would wake the entire block."
    "Tch. Says you."
    I come off the stairs into the welcome room of our house, a wall-less entrance to the kitchen and dining room. I turn to head down the hallway formed by the stairs to the living room and leave the kids to their work. I halt, however. There in front of me was my wife being busy getting things from the closet.
    "Ah, there's my darling wife."
    She stops what she was doing to look at me with her bright expression.
    "Ah my beloved! It seems you woke up."
    We give a quick, warm embrace and a quick peck on the cheek.
    "You can thank our daughter for being such a good alarm clock then."
    She walks away into the kitchen with a smile, directing the kids on their duties.
    I keep walking into the living room and sit down in a chair. I look forward and motion my hand at the wall in front of me, sending my aura at the wall. It responds and a simple glow begins to build up until it looks to be a blank black screen. The humans in Erocia are highly skilled in their creation of technology and this device is no exception. Soon after a small warm-up images appear and begin to show sound. With the wave of my hand the screen brings up a huge list of things the humans called 'channels' and clicked on news. I begin to relax and try to get a small nap in, for my sleep was prematurely disturbed.
    "Dere's a scawy guy ouwdside."
    That was my daughter, except she had changed her speech pattern so that she sounds more childlike. That only means one thing to me.
    Strangers.
    I quickly scan the auras outside my house. One. Two, no maybe three. Jumping up from my chair I swipe the screen to shut down and walk briskly to the door. As I get to the door I hear a small knock and I yank it open. I glare at the people in front of me, Fire Demons. What sort of business do they have here at my residence?
    "Dey scare me" My daughter cowers behind me, she's really good at acting that much I can say.
    "Who is it? Can they play?" My son, however, tends to not realize things.
    "No son. Now run along and continue with what you were doing. This is important." They scamper back into the kitchen, both a little glad I think that they don't have to be in the room.
    "You are… Sakurei Yuutsu yes?" I turn my attention back onto the demons at my doorstep. They all seem a little nervous to be making a visit here.
    "Yes. I am whom you speak of. What business do you have here?"
    The three demons just glance at each other nervously, giving a hint that I won't like it.
    "Well sir." He pauses, must be the leader of the group. "A recent law has come to pass that was made active today, and we're here on behalf of that."
    I was astounded. A law?! I wasn't notified of the meeting for it?! I narrow my eyes at the three.
    "What. Law. Is it?"
    "It is…" The leader hesitates. "law 2347… sir. You were a part of a debate in it once. It's where a dem-
    "A demon can't be with a human in a marital relationship…." I cut him off, eyes widening and looking back at my wife joyfully cooking waffles. "The price for disobeying is the death of the loved..one…" I place my hand on my head in disbelief. "Why was this accepted?"
    "Well… sir. If I may say before we conduct our business here. We were only missing two votes for the law to not be passed. If only you and your brother had been there…"
    I recompose myself and glare at him in the eye. "I'm sorry but no harm is to come to my wife."
    The demon stiffened, as if he had suddenly gained a bit of stature. "Sir it is the law now and we are here to make sure it is carried out. It dictates that your wife must perish." Now it was a game of intimidation. I let my aura seep out and roll over his and the surrounding block, only a portion for otherwise it would be dangerous.
    "You will NOT harm my wife."
    "Sir whether we want to or not we have to. If you don't comply then you'll be put under trial and your wife will still have been killed."
    "No I won't let this madness happ-" A hand pushed me gently aside, a soft hand that I recognize.
    "It's alright dear. There only needs to be one of us to raise the kids." My wife was giving herself up. Why was she doing that? I've searched this land for 4000 years and never met someone like her and yet…
    "Don't worry sir… we're not all too happy about this either. I'm not sure what's gotten into most Fire demons these days but it's looking pretty grim…"
    I look at my wife in the eyes. I didn't want to see her die, never in my dreams. I wanted her to help me raise the kids to be normal humans. I don't even know where to begin! I try to keep calm about this but I was doing a terrible job at it. My wife embraces me with the warmth of her body.
    "I'll always watch over you and the kids. Never forget that I'll be there."
    With that she turned and walked towards the Fire Demons. "Let us be off and away from the house. I'm afraid this is a site those kids shouldn't see yet."
    Something brushed past my leg as I see Khlea running to one of the demons.
    "Hey! What are you going to do? Does mother have important business?"
    The demon himself looked ready to cry. "Yes kid. She has very important business in a land far away. Here," He goes through a small bag he's been carrying, "take this hammer in memory of her alright?" Khlea accepts the gift and nods his head.
    If he had been watching then his sister must have been also. Looking down I see her there, teary eyed. She always understood a situation before her brother and will probably be speaking with her spirits later for comfort. I pat her head gently, nearly at tears myself, and look back out to Khlea. "Come back in Khlea and finish up breakfast." He looks back to me and gets up.
    "Isn't momma going to eat?" He slowly walks this way while glancing at her.
    "No son. She'll eat on the way."
    "Oh…" He shuffles into the kitchen to finish up the cooling of the waffles.
    Me and Taél, however, watch my dear wife be taken away with silent and obvious tears.