Chapter 55

"And that's how I got my drinkin' habits," Larkin quipped, the words slightly slurred as he took a sip of the wine in his glass.

"I see. You began at such a young age. I am sure many others share your story," replied the demon sitting across from him. They were both in the church, sitting on pews with a broken one in the middle that they, or more accurately, Larkin, used as a table. Larkin had been talking to the demon for over an hour at this point, and just now he had shared the story of why he started drinking.

Larkin chuckled at the demon's response. "You know, you'd make a great therapist. Are all demons good listeners or something?" His tone was laced with sarcasm.

The demon pondered the question for a moment before responding, "Depends on the demon. However, I suppose all demons do have an exceptional ability to listen, especially to the screams of pain and suffering from sinners enduring their punishments in Hell. So, you could say that all demons are, in a way, good listeners," said the demon matter-of-factly, taking Larkin's question seriously.

"I, uh, was being sarcastic," Larkin said, caught off guard by the demon's serious response.

"I knew; however, I still decided to give you a proper answer," replied the demon, its crimson eyes unblinking. Larkin rubbed his own eyes, a mix of irritation and confusion evident on his face. "You gotta stop doin' that."

The demon tilted its head, its gaze fixed on Larkin. "What should I stop doing to make you more comfortable?" it inquired, its voice tinged with curiosity. Larkin paused, considering his response, before taking another sip of wine. "Well, when I or anyone else is bein' sarcastic or asking rhetorically, then don't actually answer the question, unless someone's being an asshole. Then, do it to shut 'em up," he explained.

The demon nodded thoughtfully, a hint of understanding crossing its features. "I see. I will attempt to do that from now on," it promised earnestly. Larkin then pointed a finger at the demon's new eyes, his voice betraying a hint of discomfort. "Also, if you could actually start blinking, that'd be great," he added with a half-hearted chuckle, attempting to lighten the mood. "'Cause it's kinda creepy talkin' to someone that just ain't blinkin', ya know?"

The demon nodded once more, acknowledging Larkin's request. "I am sorry. My true form lacks eyes, as you know, so I do not know how to properly use these new organs. I will try using them properly from now on," it apologized sincerely. It then closed and opened its eyes slowly, testing the muscles' function, before eventually starting to blink in a more natural manner.

"That's way better. How did ya see without eyes, by the way? It can't be echolocation 'cause you didn't have ears either," asked Larkin, pouring himself another glass of wine.

"It would be fitting to say that I sensed what was around me rather than see. It's hard to explain, but we demons have a different way of perceiving reality than all of you," the demon explained as best as it could.

Larkin shrugged. It's not like he was a scientist or alchemist who wanted to study demons or anything. Right then, a thought entered Larkin's mind as his gaze fell downward. "This is gonna be weird to ask, but how do demons... do it? Or do you even do it? Do demons give birth or what?" he asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.

"If you're asking whether I can mate or not, then in my true form, no. My particular race or species of demons do not mate. We are born from the very foundation and structures of Hell. However, I can mate in this body, as it has all the organs a normal human body would have," the demon clarified, unfazed by Larkin's question.

"So, some demons can mate like us?" Larkin asked, his curiosity piqued. The demon nodded in confirmation. "Yes, most demons engage in mating rituals similar to humans and demi-humans. However, demons like me, born in a manner considered unnatural by many, are rare."

Listening intently, Larkin stroked his beard in contemplation. Another question arose in his mind. "Can demons do it with non-demons, you know, humans or other races?" he asked, his curiosity brimming.

"Yes, we can, although it is highly restricted," the demon responded promptly. Larkin's eyes widened with intrigue. "Why is it restricted?" he probed further.

"The offspring of demons and other races often possess significant power and can be quite dangerous, as their bloodlines are not meant to truly mix. Therefore, unless the parents are capable of properly caring for the child, such unions are generally forbidden."

"But it can happen?" Larkin persisted, his curiosity insatiable.

"Yes, there are several people with demonic blood running in their veins, as they are descendants of demons. Levarick actually had a small amount of demonic blood in him," the demon replied, causing Larkin to nearly spill his wine in surprise. "Wait, you tellin' me that the priest was actually a powerful guy!?" Larkin exclaimed, his eyes widening with disbelief.

The demon shook its head. "Not necessarily. His blood was too thin for it to grant him any demonic energy that could be used in some way other than his looks," it explained, leaving Larkin confused. "Wait, what? Why would demonic energy help with his looks?" he asked.

"Well, that is due to him being a descendant of either a succubus or incubus and a human," the demon elaborated. As Larkin was about to ask more questions, the demon raised its hand. "That's enough questions for now, Larkin. I will soon have to hold a sermon. Do not worry; we can continue our conversation after the fact," the demon assured him.

Larkin sighed, a mix of disappointment and inebriation evident in his demeanor as he rose from the pew, struggling to maintain his balance. "Guess I have to skedaddle then," he muttered, about to make his exit from the church.

"Do you require any assistance in going to your vehicle?" asked the demon. Larkin waved it off with a dismissive gesture. "Nah, I'll manage. Don't want to bother ya more than I already have and will," he joked with a lopsided grin. Glancing back, he caught a glimpse of the demon's attempt at a smile.

"Be careful not to trip on your way back, Larkin. And I enjoyed our conversation," the demon said warmly, its words sincere. Larkin gave a lazy salute in response, before stumbling out of the church, leaving the demon to prepare for the upcoming sermon with a resting smile on its face.