Coughing shook the dusty air, accompanied by grunts and moans. Wu began to drag herself with her elbows toward what remained of the secret passage. Two giant hands grabbed her wrists, and she felt like she was being strenuously pulled out of the rubble block. In front of her, two amber eyes stared at her with an edgy look, obscured by dust and by white, sweaty tufts on his forehead. Kahn freed her from the slugs and helped her return to her feet.

“You didn’t have to.”

He chuckled and let her go, looking grimly at her behind. “Do you think they survived?”

Wu shook her head. “We are all out. There are only corpses and human guards inside. I don’t think a man can escape from such a collapse unharmed.”

The muscular demon nodded with hatred and turned to the exit, waiting for her to precede him. “What now?”

“Now, let’s get out of here.”

How it will depend on what they’re doing outside. 

With determined steps, Wu overtook Kahn and reunited with the others, leading the numerous group to the exit. Her hand was on the wooden trapdoor, bleached by stone dust, and she jumped out, silently flanking herself near a small window to peek outside. Everything was silent.

She gestured to follow her, and two of her team supported her in a quick watch round. The humans were all gathered in front of the theater's remains. They moved confusedly and seemed to be arguing with each other. With a careful look, Wu located the unmistakable red tuft of the boss’s mask. He felt her eyes on him and returned the gesture, giving her a brief nod of consent. The smile on his face disappeared, covered by the cigar.

They were out and ready to go.

Getting free of the human grip was quite challenging for Shaka, especially because he had to deal with Aron and his anger over not running to help Mark, who apparently survived.

Lucky little bastard.

When the building collapsed, he was right under one of the reinforced arches that held the weight of the rubble, but he was still hurt pretty badly. Exhilarating.

After a couple of days, A-Yin could finally return home. When he entered the second layer of pavilions, the refuge resounded with Kahn’s voice. He was laughing and talking friendly with some of the survivors and the old inhabitants of the shelter. They seemed to have already partially acclimated. Typical of the muscular one, he was good at interactions even as a youngling, although A-Yin remembered he was a real hothead.

The scarred demon was in the middle of the square, wearing clean clothes and long sleeves covering his tattooed arms. His hair was gathered in a soft chignon on the back of his head.

Well, he looked like a different person. Soap does make miracles.

He shifted his gaze, staring with his amber eyes at A-Yin’s figure. He blocked a minor demon with one hand and slowly walked towards the newcomer, clearly hostile.

A single, quiet figure sneaking unchallenged into the safest place for demons could be a danger or part of the group, so it’s not bad that he has this reaction. It means he already feels the need to protect the group, but Kahn doesn’t know anyone here, so take it easy, you brat.

When they were close enough, Kahn crossed his muscular arms over his chest and asked, “Who are you? I haven’t seen you before.”

A-Yin let the traveling bag fall on the ground and scratched his chin. His fingers grazed the black scales, and his lips curled in a sardonic grin. No shit! How long have you been here, five whole minutes?

“Kahn, wait!” Wu came out of one of the secondary buildings and crossed the clearing in broad strides, stopping in front of the leader. She bowed slightly, purple hair falling just on her eyes, and two bright green lights pointed with adoration at him. “Welcome back, Sir!”

Kahn stiffened and abandoned his arms along his hips, confused by her obedience, a reaction that really amused A-Yin. So he put a hand on her shoulder and made her straighten back. “Well done, Wu.”

His icy blue eyes moved on the newcomer, and he smiled slyly at him. Then he took a few steps towards him and said, “So you're Kahn. It’s a pleasure to have you with us. I hope they treated you well.”

He noticed that the other’s face just blushed, then shook his head and slightly nodded in the form of respect. “I thank you for helping us. Wu spoke well of you.” The tone changed considerably from the beginning to the end of the sentence, from awkward and rigid to skeptical. This smell, Kahn thought.

The leader stopped one step away from him. They were quite the same height, yet he seemed to overpower the muscular one. Kahn looked at him better. He wore elegant clothes, though covered by a light summer cloak, and the white, decorated shirt had a tear on the right side, stained with blood. “You...” he mumbled. He's that red-haired human I scratched at the auction!

A-Yin showed the sharp canines and stretched his arms, then put an index finger on his round lips with a fluid movement. “I hope you can keep a secret on certain matters, if you know what I mean.” With a powerful hug around his muscular neck, he shook him and chuckled, “I think you’ll be comfortable with us. Wu, look after him. If he needs anything, he can ask you, right?”

“Sure.”

Satisfied with the situation, he let go of the new entry, retrieved his traveling bag from the floor, and then walked to the central pavilion.

Kahn was stunned in his place. The discovery of his shapeshifting abilities destabilized him. It should be a fascinating and unique piece of information that makes him wonder what kind of demon this leader of theirs is. But now his attention had totally slipped somewhere else. A silly grin came across his face. He could spend time with her without making any more idiotic excuses.