“It’s about time you got here, damn,” Ynda said as Toji walked into the lounge. 

He didn’t even bother to make an excuse, just shrugged and sat down at the table where she, Lukas, and Ava sat. Finn was nearby, as was Chloe. Kayla, the twins, and Havik had all gone to their rooms for the night. Likely, Havik was with the twins strategizing.

Toji reached for the reports Ynda had mentioned earlier, looking them over with a small yawn. “How did Dad get these to us? Courier pigeon?”

“Close,” Lukas said. “Messenger from the Fourth Realm.”

Toji nodded, flipping through the pages. The Fourth Realm of Heaven was known for having some of the most expedient messengers, finding their targets easier than others. The fact they were able to locate Toji’s family on a moving train really wasn’t all that surprising.

“I don’t like this,” he muttered. 

“You still have to take care of it,” Ynda said, leaning back in her seat, a glass of iced coffee in her hand. “That’s your area of expertise, big brother.”

Toji’s fingers twitched on the document he was holding. “I’m not the only one with demon magic, Yin,” he said. 

“I can’t sense shifters,” Finn said. “Their energies are too erratic since they don’t tend to keep the same form for long.”

“These are all anishifs,” Toji said, reading down the lists. “They’re being captured and sold on the black market and those that are able to escape either go feral and attack humans or get put down.” Something in his core flipped. The first Toji had been a shifter but he was a little one, an imp created to be Hawk’s guide and advisor, and Natsu’s protector when he was still a soul. Toji had grown up playing with these demons, developing a kinship with the creatures he couldn’t really explain, either to himself or anyone close to him. As he grew, Nox had him train with them. One of the reasons he was so limber and agile was because of this; he was the one that trained Natsu to move the way he did.

Although the gymnastics and martial arts helped, too.

He crossed his legs and cleared his throat, sitting back in his seat. He looked at Finn. “You grew up with the demons.”

Finn nodded. “They’re fast and very powerful. They’re incredibly useful in a battle, and some of the Devil Kings even keep a few for protection. I’ve used one for executions.”

“Makes sense why they would be a valuable commodity,” Ava said. Toji’s finger twitched but he didn’t look up. “If not for their strength and prowess, then for their blood.”

Toji’s eyes slid to her. They lingered briefly before turning back to the reports. “That’s a valid point, actually. Drinking a shifter’s blood doesn’t make you one, but it can heighten your senses and increase your natural strength and abilities.”

“Scary if used by the wrong person,” Lukas said.

“How many anishifs have been taken?” Finn asked.

Toji looked over the list. “Twelve.” Another flip in his core. Absently, he reached for the spot just under the center of his chest and closed his fingers around his shirt. 

“That’s a lot,” Ynda said. “And no clue why they were all taken?”

Toji shook his head. “Dad said the culprits are drugging them, bringing them here, then sending them everywhere. A couple were seen in Russia, three in China, one in Japan, two in South America, two in Africa, and two in the states.”

“Any near us?” Chloe asked.

“No,” Toji said. “And I’m not sure if that’s a good or a bad thing.”

“Why?” Ava asked. 

Toji sighed and dropped the papers on the table. He ran his hands over his face and through his hair, folding them at the base of his neck. “Because it means it’s going to be a pain in the ass to find them, for one. For two, shifters can generally sense other shifters of every type. Whether they’re friend or foe doesn’t matter, they’ll either attack first and ask questions later, or, they’ll watch you for a little while before making their move.”

“However, if they sense a shifter more powerful than themselves, they tend to stay out of their territory.” Finn handed something to Ava who frowned. 

“What is this?”

“A talisman to ward off dangerous spirits.” Ava glanced over at him and he grinned. “It’s a device used to warn the owner of any impending threats, specifically demons.”

“Specifically shifters.” Toji sat up, his eyes narrowed as he reached for the object. “Let me see that.” Ava handed it to him. He rolled it over in his fingers, inspecting the runes that were etched on the smooth black orb encased in a gold cord that was shaped like an intricate heart. He held it up to the light to read them. “Huh,” he said softly. He looked at Lukas, tossing it to him. 

Lukas did the same thing, holding the item up to the light, turning it so he could read the runes. His brow furrowed and he handed it back to Toji. “Huh.”

“Right?”

Ynda looked between the two men. “Can someone translate idiot-speak?”

Finn smiled. “It’s a line from a song. A really old one, too.” He glanced back at Ava. “It’s nothing bad, I promise.”

Toji handed it back to Ava, his eyes on Chloe. “Didn’t they teach that song in one of our classes?”

“I didn’t see the runes, I couldn’t tell you.” 

Ava handed it over and Chloe inspected it. She gave the same reaction as the other two. “Huh.”

“Right?” Lukas and Toji said.

“Ugh, you’re impossible!” Ynda exclaimed, throwing her hand in the air. “What the hell does it say?”

“If my heart never changed, my form would stay the same.”

Ynda blinked. “Huh…”

“Right?!” Everyone said in unison.

“That song was written over five thousand years ago,” Chloe said. “It’s incredibly sad.” She shook her head.

“What is it about?” Ava asked, looking around the table.

Toji looked at Finn who looked at Lukas. Lukas and Ynda shared the look with Chloe. No one really wanted to answer, not sure how it may affect her.

Ynda took a deep breath. “It’s about a demon that fell in love with an angel.”

“The angel’s parents wouldn’t let the two be together, so they locked her up in a cage,” Chloe said.

“They sent the angel far away so the demon couldn’t find her,” Lukas said.

“The demon went out looking for her throughout every Realm in the known universe,” Finn said.

“Eventually, he began to change into a shifter. A Hellhound,” Toji said.

“The hound ran faster, looking for her but he wasn’t fast enough, so he changed again, becoming a Hellcat,” Ynda said.

“He was faster, but still not fast enough,” Chloe said.

“Until he shifted into a Hellbird,” Lukas said.

“He eventually found the angel, but by then she had already died,” Finn said. “She had cried herself to death.”

“In despair, the demon carved her heart out and ate it, determined she would always be with him,” Toji said. He sighed and leaned forward, folding his hands loosely between his knees under the table. “He kills himself after that, those being the last words he says.”

Ava turned the item over in her fingers. “If my heart never changed, my form would stay the same,” she quoted softly. “That is incredibly sad.”

“There’s not very many of those in existence,” Toji said to Finn. “Where did you drum that one up?”

“It was payment following an execution done for a nobel in the Third Realm,” he said. “He didn’t even know what it was.”

“Lucky you.”

“I guess,” Finn said, taking it back from Ava and putting it in his jeans pocket. 

“Why do you have it with you now?” Ynda asked. “Seems oddly convenient.”

Finn laughed. “I always carry it with me,” he said. “Like I said, I can’t sense shifters. This thing helps. That said,” he looked at Toji, “you’re still able to sense them better than I can. How old a trail can you smell?”

“Three or four days, maybe,” Toji said. “Why, do you have something on your mind?”

“Given this information, I’m thinking maybe it wouldn’t be a bad idea to look for signs of any anishifs in or around the settlements that were attacked,” Finn said, leaning back in his chair. “I’m not saying they’re involved, and in fact they may not be. This could be a totally unrelated thing that your dad wants to pile on your plate just because he can.” He shrugged. “Still, wouldn’t hurt.”

Toji sighed, letting his arms dangle over the sides of his chair as he leaned his head back. “So much for a nice relaxing vacation,” he grumbled. “Thanks, Father!”

Ynda pinched his arm. “Calm down, it’s not like we have to throw all our fun aside for this. My guess is it’s more of a ‘be aware’ kind of thing.” She leaned over and whispered, “He wouldn’t send this information if it wasn’t for a good reason, especially since he said it was meant specifically for you.”

Toji’s eyes went back to the reports. Twelve anishifs, demon shifters of incredible strength and power stolen and brought to the Mortal Realm, and Hero wanted him of all people to be aware of it?

Just what the hell are you trying to tell me, Dad?

-*-