---

Mercury eyed Eddie for a bit, and sighed deeply. ”You know if you want to hide something. It’s better to act casual you know that right?“ He smiled at her, and leaned back in his seat propping his arm on the booth back. He asked for a refill of water as he was parched. He didn’t say anything until the waiter refilled the beverages, and Mercury ordered a rum, and coke.
”Demon’s can give any sort of powers. But, the way they do it is by leaving a part of themselves inside the person's body. Usually something of substance so unless you drank blood, or ate a bit of their flesh your fine sweet cheeks.“ When the rum, and coke came back he gave it to Eddie. Then drank his water slowly sighing in content. ”Leave the pitcher please… Thanks.“ The waiter was all too glad to leave the full pitcher of water on the table.
Mercury looked Eddie in the eyes he could read her pretty easily. Well it’s not like it was hard to begin with. ”Look Eddie, if it’s about your powers. It’s possible they were awaken from a traumatic experience. Powers can sometimes just be a part of a person naturally, dormant. Until something triggers them to awaken.“

---

---

Eddie gulped down the entire rum and coke, her fingers twitching from nervousness. Instantly, it went straight to her head, and she chuckled a bit, watching as everything around her seemed to be a bit distorted. Mercury's masks even looked more playful than the human bone they normally were.

"Hypothetically... If a...demon...," she stopped, stumbling with her own tongue. It would have been much easier for her if he could read minds, then she could just show him what had happened. And then, after him confirming her worst fears, she could get on a plane to Rome and beg the Pope to get it out of her.

"Erm, a thing...thing charged at me, and erm, went in me and...," she clutched onto the table, the room spinning. She was a terrible light-weight. Chugging the rum and coke hadn't been the best idea, but it had seemed that way at the time.

"And it...yeah," Eddie stopped. The alcohol had gone to her head far too quickly, and there wasn't much of a point in her trying anymore to explain the situation.

Maybe he has a mask for mind reading...

---

Unfortunately Mercury didn’t have a mask for mind reading. He could have one of his masks delve into her mind, and see what Eddie wanted to show. But, seeing as she hated the thought of ever wearing one again he didn’t even think of proposing that. ”Drink some water Eddie, before you get dehydrated.“
He was happy to see the food soon came. But, ignored it after hearing something went inside of Eddie. He then asked Warlord if this was true as Eddie, and he had been as one for a short period of time. So if anyone knew it may have been him. But, the knuckle head was so worried about him that he hadn’t been really paying Eddie much attention. ”Dammit… I wish I could see for myself if that were true.“ He was rubbing his chin trying to think of what to do. He cursed deeply, and shook his head before starting to eat thinking a bit of food would help him think. Though the thought he came up with frustrated him to now end. But, there was no way around it.
”I hate the thought of proposing this, I wouldn’t if it wasn’t necessary. But, would you be open to wearing Magi? She’d be able to give me all I need the memory of the event, and peek at your soul.“

---

---

Eddie nodded, the entire world swimming. As far as she was aware, Mercury had just told her about his love of finding Nemo, and that he needed to get more water. When the food arrived, the colors of it almost blurred together, and she wasn't certain as to whether or not the pasta had sauce on it or blood. It could have been either, and she wouldn't have been able to tell the difference.

Suddenly, her brain clicked, as if turning the sound back on. Mercury came through loud and clear. ”I hate the thought of proposing this, I wouldn’t if it wasn’t necessary. But, would you be open to wearing Magi? She’d be able to give me all I need the memory of the event, and peek at your soul.“

"Uh, sure, I...." Eddie stammered. The instant the mask was brought out, she started to hurl, somehow successfully getting it all into a nearby trashcan. "I'll uh...wear the....mask..."

---

Mercury sighed as he watched Eddie hurl. Magi was very reluctant to go on the face of a girl that just hurled. ”Do Magi, and me a favor. Try not to throw up again alright?“ He then handed Eddie Magi being very watchful of her to make sure Eddie didn’t drop Magi or try to break her. Couldn’t really blame him for wanting to make sure nothing bad happened. As Eddie was clearly very intoxicated.

---

---

Eddie nodded, mumbling an apology. Taking the napkin in front of her, she clumsily wiped off her face, wondering if there would ever be an achievement for wearing all of Mercury's masks. Maybe it'd come with some sort of cash prize, if she had any luck.

Eddie took the mask delicately. "I really wish you were plastic..." Eddie practically whimpered. Squeezing her eyes tight as if the mask might kill her, she lowered it onto her face, attempting to think about anything but the fact that some chick's bones were up against her skin.

Unlike with Warlord, Eddie didn't scream this time. She clamped down on her tongue, the drunken haze bringing to mind brief images of that fateful day. The creature. The lights. The feeling as it practically ran her through. The terror. All of it came rushing back to her.

"Can we get her off now?" Eddie asked, her words a bit slurred. She was clinging to the table with a death grip, hoping that this mask wouldn't be nearly as obnoxious as Warlord. She really didn't need another mask telling her what an idiot she was.

---

Don’t worry hun we’re almost done I got enough to give Mercury a clear picture of everything that happened to you. I just gotta take a quick peek at your soul alright? He’s gonna wanna know that too. So gimme a tick alright? Just relax alright, I know it can be hard just please try. After no more than two seconds Eddie felt Magi’s mask slacken, and drop right into Mercury’s hand.

He then looked over at the wait staff, and then returned to his true form before Switching over to Magi. He was quickly pulled into the Eddie’s memories on the day she was six. His pupils dilated into thin slits he got a wave of memories… No feelings, he knew that demon from somewhere. ”I don’t know how to explain this… But, I know that demon. From, another lifetime ago?“ He looked so confused, and then quickly changed masks again back to Sly. To take his human form before the wait staff got suspicious.

---

---

Eddie let out a huge sigh of relief once the mask was off. Hardly noticing Mercury switch forms, Eddie downed a glass of water, her head returning to some balance and order.

”I don’t know how to explain this… But, I know that demon. From, another lifetime ago?“

Eddie bit her lip. "So...Demon....?" she asked, gulping. She scratched at her arm a bit, as if that would be able to remove whatever it was that had tainted her. The possibility that there was something inside her maddened her to no end--she had always told her parents something happened that day. They always insisted it was just a dream, just a nightmare.

"Is there...a thing....inside me?"

---

"Is there...a thing....inside me?"

Mercury debated on telling Eddie, and grew silent for a long time. Trying to think of what to tell Eddie. ”Yes, I’m sorry Eddie but there is indeed something inside of you. Though I can feel we know one another, the demon and I. But, it doesn’t seem hostile towards me for whatever reason. Maybe… I don’t know, we were meant to meet one another.“ He shook his head rubbing his stomach as it was really starting to hurt again. He cringed, and let out a deep hissing noise. Soon trying to eat again, and it seemed to settle the pain down.

---

---

Eddie sat there quietly. She had always loved being able to play with light, to do with it as she pleased. It was part of what made her special. And of course, the name Lucifer was always a joke, a play on words, the ultimate pun. The notion that something dark was inside of her...

It killed her appetite. She twirled the noodles on her fork, yet didn't eat them. Mercury's words were echoing in her mind. According to what he had told her, her life wasn't hers. It was pre-planned, decided by something that had attacked her as a little girl. While she had perked up slightly at Mercury saying it seemed friendly, the amount of alcohol in her system brought her mood down considerably.

I'm going to be dragged to hell... Eddie thought miserably. All because my parents wanted to go to Lizzie Borden's house...

She forced herself to take a bite of her food, yet she could hardly taste it. She tried to look calm and normal, rather than panicked and nervous. For all she knew, the thing was just waiting to kill her at any moment. Perhaps she still wasn't safe, even after passing the statue. Perhaps this was all it.

"Can they see the future?" Eddie asked, after being quiet for a while.

---

”That I’m afraid I do not know.“ Mercury shook his head with a frown. He didn’t know what to tell Eddie to make her feel better. But, nothing about this situation was good. He tapped his hands on the table like a drum. Then sighed deeply. ”Maybe it can? Maybe it saw your future, and wanted to prevent something. Or make something happen. I don’t really know for sure… But, one thing is for sure. Your parents are fucking idiots.“ He’d seen the whole parents wanting to go to Lizzie Borden’s house. But, as he thought about it.
”Maybe they were lured there intentionally to bring you. You’re important, and that means they don’t plan on just offing you. If anything the slaughter with the whole Lizzie Borden was to attract your folks. I think around that time was when I came into creation.“ So clearly Mercury’s, and Eddie’s fates were intertwined. How he didn’t understand or know, and honestly it scared him too.

---

---

Somehow, insulting her parents brought her mood soaring up. She cackled a bit, grinning, and found her appetite return to her. She nibbled on the pasta, keeping the entire ordeal out of her mind--or as best as she could. She'd rationalized her powers before a thousand times. Now, she had an idea about them, some sort of notion.

"Yeah, my parents had a lot of issues," Eddie chuckled. "I think my mom once saw my powers as an opportunity to pay less on the electric bill, but beyond that... They were pretty awful about this entire thing."

I'm not dead. I don't have human bone on my face. This is okay. This is fine, Eddie repeated to herself, sobering up more and more by the minute. Eventually, she'd head back to Lizzie Borden's house. Perhaps she'd get more definitive answers, or maybe, she'd find out something entirely else.

Drawing on all of her courage, Eddie let herself be her own light. She knew that she wasn't a monster. And she sure as hell wasn't going to let a demon kill her without putting up a fight.

"Do you want to split something for dessert?" Eddie offered.

---

Eddie had just said the magic words. To make Mercury relax knowing she was going to be okay. ”God yes that sounds great. Hmm how about gelato? No too cold for right now. The weather here is a heck of a lot colder than Brazil.“ He rubbed his chin as he looked at the dessert menu then handed it over to Eddie. ”You pick, I’ll eat anything, but Gelato right now. Otherwise, I think my head will actually freeze.“

---

---

She chuckled awkwardly, rubbing the back of her neck. "I'm actually craving gelato now...But New York style cheesecake is always good."

She couldn't help but smile at watching Mercury relax, completely absorbed and happy with the desserts. The boy had a serious sweet tooth -- not that she could blame him, however.

"I'm good with whatever-- just order, I'm paying... Since I think all of your money was washed away, and my credit card is waterproof."

Her face light up, and she clapped her hands together. "Almost forgot! Magi is totally my favorite mask of yours. Warlord is such a dick. I'm going to say that again, so Warlord can hear: Warlord is such a dick."

---

"I'm good with whatever-- just order, I'm paying... Since I think all of your money was washed away, and my credit card is waterproof."
Mercury chuckled then pulled out a wallet. ”Always good to plan for the worst case scenario you know? I don’t know who really taught me that, but I just am always planned for it.“ He shrugged a little then looked up at Eddie smiling. ”So why don’t we get two desserts instead? You get the Gelato I’ll get the cheesecake, and then we can share.“
"Almost forgot! Magi is totally my favorite mask of yours. Warlord is such a dick. I'm going to say that again, so Warlord can hear: Warlord is such a dick."
Mercury cringed a little, and laughed as Magi, and Warlord went at it in his mind. ”Warlord says he doesn’t like you either. But, Magi says you’re fabulous and she loves your spunk. Had to say what Warlord wanted, or I’d not be getting a wink of sleep later. So sorry about that.“ He was still laughing as it was hilarious to him how Eddie was getting along with Magi, and Warlord. ”Just be glad you’ve not interacted with Sly. He’s… The silent, and insane stabby type. While Daily never speaks I think Daily is broken to be honest.“ But, as he touched that mask in thought, flashes of memories buzzed through as quickly as they showed they vanished. It made his head feel like it was splitting in half, and he cringed in agony. He set a hand to his head as he started shaking. ”What the fuck was that? That’s never happened before Daily… Just showed me memories of a soldier… I don’t much get it.“ He shook his head repeatedly before calming down.
”Yeah, Daily is most certainly broken.“ He smiled weakly then sighed shutting his eyes for a bit. ”I still want that dessert so don’t worry I’ll be okay in a little bit. Especially when I get something sweet in me… Why in the hell did I just think that was dirty?“

---

---

Eddie snickered, hitting her forehead with her head. It was fortunate she didn't have any food or drink in her mouth. "I'm starting to think you're just hitting puberty, kid."

She couldn't stop snickering, grinning at the almost too innocent creature of darkness sitting across the table from her. Part of her was now considering the possibility that there wasn't anything wrong with her--he was just going batshit crazy because he realized that he had sexual attraction. The possibility soothed her even more, but with his stunned expression about the sex joke he himself made, she couldn't help but giggle.

"You just made a sex joke, of course you're going to think that was dirty," Eddie explained, stifling her laughter.

---

Mercury seemed to blush a little as he looked away rubbing the top of his head. ”I’m in my twenties I doubt I’m just hitting puberty… I think. Then again, I don’t honestly know how my species ages.“ He sighed as he laughed it was embarrassing, but also really funny. He let out a soft cough to clear his throat.
"You just made a sex joke, of course you're going to think that was dirty."
Mercury pointed at himself then shrugged that was sorta his thing telling jokes. So he guessed his jokes were just maturing. ”Well I guess being around you has aged me some. Maybe from all the stress? I’m kidding, you’re a peachy treat Eddie.“ He winked at her as he stuck out his tongue teasing her lightly.

---

---

Her face flashed crimson at his comment. Her hands shook slightly as she refilled her glass of water with the pitcher, and then proceeded to drink the entire thing. Opening her mouth, Eddie changed her mind, repeating the process until she was sufficiently positive that her awkwardness and nervousness had given her away.

"Th-thanks," Eddie said, completely out of water. "Have you ever met anyone else like you? Or um....What did that lady do to you? You seem to be in pain..."

She laughed nervously. Despite confessing her feelings to Mercury, she was still incredibly jittery. She was just a nervous person, after all.

---

Mercury was laughing as Eddie blushed chugging all the water she could get her hands. On then stopped as a surge of pain rippled through his body again, and he heard/felt a cracking sound inside himself. It was throbbing it hurt so bad.
"Have you ever met anyone else like you? Or um....What did that lady do to you? You seem to be in pain..."
Mercury looked up at Eddie with blurred vision, and he shook his head. ”No, I’ve never met anyone like me before. “ Mercury gagged as he held his abdomen bending over slightly as he gasped for breath. ”She stole from me, that device was stealing my life. I don’t know for sure… It’s causing my insides to feel like their splitting open. Like some sort of empty void like hole, and each time I feel this pain. It feels like it’s getting bigger. When I eat I feel a little better, but the relief… It doesn’t last very long.“
He slowly sat up leaning his back against the backrest. He shut his eyes taking deep calming breaths trying to push through the pain. ”I swear when I get my hands on that… Ugh, god this hurts.“ He opened his eyes slowly to look at the wait staff, and then shut his eyes again. ”I just hope whatever this is doesn’t... Turn me into a monster. I’ve read stories, and lore about beings made of shadow. I’m not like them, I refuse to be like them… I am Mercury, I have a name… I have a personality, I’m not empty. Not an empty puppet to be used by some evil wizard.“ He then laughed softly as the pain subsided again, and he relaxed lowering his hand back to his side. ”Because if anyone is stealing the princess from the tower. It's gonna be yours truly.“ He was trying to make light of the stories he'd read.

---

---

Eddie grimaced. "I wish I could shed some light on this for you..." Almost involuntarily, she chuckled at her own awful pun. Pausing, she reached a hand across the table, hoping she could help comfort him somehow.

"For what it's worth, I don't think you're a monster. Able to probably eat me in one second? Yeah, probably. But you aren't bad," Eddie said softly. "I've met bad people, and you aren't one of them."

She stayed there patiently, her hand reaching across the table, waiting for him to open his eyes again. "I mean, if you are going through puberty, could just be growing pains, right?"

Glancing around, the waiter brought over the cheesecake and the gelato. Eddie pushed the desserts towards him, knowing that he loved sweets, and hoping that they'd help to bring some sort of stall to his pain. If even sweets couldn't help him, then she suspected nothing could.