16 Chapter 16 Dialmond

Stepping into the room, they saw that it was just an empty room with a large table.

"Have a seat," said Bob, appearing in the shadow of one of the corners. He had his hands clasped together, over his belly.

They quickly found seats, wondering what was about to happen. The only one who didn't look worried, was Argen. He looked like he was ready to sleep, despite dozing almost constantly.

"Do you have a mission we can complete, to pay for our debt?" asked Grey.

"It is not your debt," said Bob.

"They are members of our party, and thus we accept their debt as our own," said Airow.

Guit looked at them in confusion. But didn't say anything. His master had said they would pay for their tab, and that was exactly what was happening.

"This is very interesting to me. I have never seen angels willingly travel and work with demons," said Bob, moving closer to the table, into the light.

Airow and Grey glanced over at Guit and Argen.

"We had suspected that was the case," said Airow, carefully choosing his words.

"Very well. Then the tab is still very low, I normally don't cause a fuss until it grows to over ten gold, so I will refrain from requiring payment for now. I had agreed to allow two of you to have free room and board for the remainder of the year, if you accomplished a task for me, and you were able to. That agreement still stands, but for the other two, you will have to pay for any food and drink they consume, unless you are willing to accomplish another task for me?"

"Wait, does that mean we will get free rooms?" asked Guit.

"I assumed, your angelic companions would allow the two of you to rest in their room, since you are a party," said Bob with a smile.

"The standard room has two beds, and I do not require sleep," said Airow, nodding in agreement.

Guit groaned, because he knew that he would let his master have the other bed, which meant he would be sleeping on the floor. At least it would be in out of the weather.

Grey was busy studying the two demons, deep in thought, but Airow asked, "What do you want us to do?"

"I have a patron who is rather well off. He normally is really good about paying his tab, but with the recent influx of people, he has neglected to do so. I require you to visit him and acquire what he owes me."

"How much does he owe you?" asked Grey.

"Thirty gold," said Bob.

"How was one man able to rack up so much when you don't allow tabs to be over ten?" asked Guit.

"He ordered a banquet and a bottle of wine."

"What's a banquet?" asked Guit excitedly, as his stomach growled.

"Expensive," said Argen, before anyone else could speak up.

Guit immediately shrunk in on himself. Grey shot Argen an appreciative look, but he had closed his eyes again.

"Why do you need to send us? Surely there's enough other people who you could send?" asked Airow.

"True, but none of them can fly," said Bob with a smile.

Only a short while later, the four of them were perched on the roof of Bob's bar.

"I suppose the darkness will hide us from those who would see us flying about during the day," said Grey.

Airow was looking at the two demons who were looking over the city below them. Guit looked nervous, but Argen looked tired.

"In order to fly, you must show your true form," he told them.

Argen just nodded, glancing up at the thickly clouded sky. Not even the moon would give them away this night.

Guit rubbed his hands together, and did a spin. His human features melted away to expose large oversized ears on a bald head. His large eyes glowed a deep gold as his skin melted to a gray color. Large bat-like wings rose from his back, and a long scorpion tail rose up over him.

"A greater imp," said Grey, surprised, taking a step back.

"Not quite," said Airow, perplexed. "His skin and eyes are the wrong color, and his ears aren't as ragged."

"What?" rasped Guit, turning towards Argen.

"It would appear as if you are becoming less demon, and more dailmond," he said, breaking out into a yawn.

"Dialmond?" asked Airow.

"I've never heard of that," said Grey, with a shake of her head.

"You probably haven't. They are very rare. You angels would still kill them on sight, anyways."

"But what am I?" asked Guit, panic plain on his face.

"You are becoming less demonic. It would seem traveling with our new party members is having an effect on you. Dialmond are what demons become, when they begin the long journey to becoming angels. Though I don't ever see that happening with you. The most I ever see you becoming would be your original form, before you were a demon," explained Argen, bored.

"What do you mean, his original form?" blurted out Grey.

"Well, when a demon begins to become less demonic, they become more and more like what they were before they were demons. They lose their evil abilities and eventually become what they were before they became a demon. It's incredibly rare, but has happened before. Dialmonds are those demons that begin the process, and still look demon enough to pass for demons, though elder demons would still be able to tell the truth."

"Angels wouldn't care," said Airow. "Even angels that look angelic, yet have fallen, are kill on sight. Any amount of demon, would still be considered a demon."

"I thought a demon could become an angel," said Grey.

"Oh, they could, but it would be incredibly difficult. After becoming their original self, if they continued to do good deeds, they could become fallen angels instead, and thus start the journey you are on. Though if I'm correct, any fallen angel will never be able to fully become an angel. They become redeemed angels."

Grey looked over at Airow, puzzled. She hadn't heard of that.

"I've heard of redeemed angels. They are the most dangerous. If there is an extremely dangerous foe, they are the ones called on to fight it."

Rubbing her head, she said, "Why does this have to be so confusing? Bob was right. Things really aren't just black and white. There are so many things to take into consideration, I don't know how anyone can keep track of it all."