The city was already awake when Danny opened his eyes.

  Engines hummed outside the apartment window, neon signs flickered even in daylight, and somewhere far away a siren wailed before cutting off abruptly. Danny groaned and rolled onto his side, rubbing his face.

  “Already?” he muttered.

  He pushed himself up, the blanket sliding down his torso. Cool air brushed against his skin, and something immediately felt off. Danny looked down.

  “…You’ve gotta be kidding me.”

  No shirt.

  Again.

  He sighed, swung his legs off the bed, and stood up, stretching. His horns scraped lightly against the headboard as he moved. Danny shuffled over to the mirror hanging crookedly on the wall. The glass was cracked down the center, splitting his reflection into uneven pieces.

  Red skin. Golden eyes. Sharp fangs that never quite disappeared. Demon horns curling back from his skull.

  Danny Demon stared back at himself.

  “Still you,” he said quietly.

  He turned away before he could think too hard about it and stepped into the hallway. The apartment was cluttered with half-finished machines, books stacked too high, and wires that probably shouldn’t have been left exposed.

  As he rounded the corner—

  Thump.

  “Oof.”

  Danny bumped into Shawny.

  She stumbled back a step, barely keeping her glass of milk from spilling. Pink skin, pink horns, sweatpants and a bra—clearly not dressed for company yet.

  She looked up at him, unimpressed. “You walk like you’re allergic to paying attention.”

  “Sorry,” Danny said. Then paused. “Morning.”

  Her eyes flicked down his bare chest. “You forget something?”

  Danny glanced down and sighed. “Yeah. Clothing.”

  She smirked and took a sip of milk. “You do this a lot.”

  “I don’t forget,” he said. “I just don’t care until someone points it out.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  She stepped past him, brushing his arm lightly. “Go get dressed before Big B sees you and starts lecturing.”

  “As if he hasn’t already prepared a speech,” Danny muttered.

  He headed down the hall toward the bathroom. Steam drifted out from under the door.

  Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  “Big B?” Danny knocked. “You almost done?”

  The door opened immediately.

  Big B stood there, blue skin spotless, lab coat perfectly buttoned. One eye stared directly at Danny; the other was hidden behind a black eyepatch etched with faint symbols. His horns swept back neatly, just like everything else about him.

  Big B blinked once.

  “…Why are you not wearing a shirt?”

  Danny sighed. “Good morning to you too.”

  Big B stepped aside. “Your shirt is inside. Please put it on.”

  Danny grabbed a dark jacket and pulled it over his shoulders. “Happy?”

  Big B’s visible eye narrowed. “Marginally.”

  The morning passed quickly after that—burnt toast, Shawny teasing Danny, Big B complaining about supplies and budgets. Eventually, the three of them stepped outside and into the city.

  The streets were crowded already. Demons of all kinds moved through the avenues—horns, wings, tails, and glowing eyes everywhere. Neon signs buzzed overhead, reflecting off the pavement.

  Danny shoved his hands into his pockets. “So what’s the plan today?”

  “Errands,” Shawny said.

  “Research,” Big B corrected.

  “Sounds boring,” Danny replied.

  Big B adjusted his coat. “You being bored is preferable to you being injured.”

  Danny smirked. “No promises.”

  They turned onto a wider street when a sharp cry cut through the air.

  Danny stopped walking. “You hear that?”

  Another cry echoed overhead, louder this time.

  Shawny shaded her eyes. “That’s not normal.”

  “A falcon,” Big B said quietly.

  A shadow passed over the street.

  A winged figure descended from above, hovering just over the rooftops. Dark feathers spread wide, eyes locked directly onto Danny. The crowd slowed, whispers spreading quickly.

  The figure’s voice rang out.

  “Are you the one they call Danny Demon?”

  Danny felt every eye turn toward him. He swallowed, then nodded. “Yeah. That’s me. Who are you?”

  The figure tilted his head slightly. “Huh.”

  Then, without another word, he shot upward and vanished into the clouds.

  “…Well that was creepy,” Shawny said.

  “I don’t like that,” Danny muttered.

  They barely took another step.

  The air slammed into Danny like a freight train.

  The winged figure came crashing down from above, ramming Danny into the street. Concrete cracked beneath him.

  “UGHH—damn it!” Danny shouted.

  The attacker flipped back midair. “You think that’s all I got?”

  People screamed and scattered. Danny pushed himself up, teeth bared.

  “You could’ve just said hello,” he snapped.

  The fight exploded across the street.

  Danny swung hard, landing a solid hit. Shawny moved fast, kicking the attacker out of the air. Big B fired a controlled energy pulse that forced the figure back.

  “Stay down!” Shawny shouted.

  The attacker lunged again.

  “Seriously?” Danny growled. “This is getting annoying as hell.”

  With one final coordinated strike, the three of them took him down. Restraints snapped into place around the attacker’s wings and arms.

  Later, deep underground, the investigation room was quiet.

  The mysterious figure sat tied to a chair, glaring at the floor. Danny stood across from him, arms crossed. Shawny leaned against the wall. Big B observed silently.

  Danny took a step forward.

  “Alright,” he said. “One question.”

  The figure looked up.

  Danny’s eyes narrowed.

  “Cut the crap. Who are you?”

  The room went silent.

  And whatever answer came next was only the beginning.