We Live for Love

Saffron examined him with those grey eyes that seemed to scrutinise every facet of his soul. Blitz managed to hold his tongue. The store was empty, and the shutters were down. The *Closed But We’re Still Awesome* sign turned to face Wilton Main street, it was just the two of them. Illuminated through the slats of the shutters by the bizarre hues of the sunset. Making strange and wonderful colours through the swamp gas.

“Of course, I love you, Morgan. I think I always have. There’s no one quite like you, not anywhere in the world. Yet you wash up here with me in Hicksville Mississippi. Then you and your parents make a home for all the music-loving misfit kids in this little town.”

Saffron gestures to the racks of records and promotional popup displays for bands in the darkened of the closed store.

“Myself included. You ask for very little in return. Just my company and I’m being paid for that time. Extremely well.”

Saffron sighs and grasps his hand in hers. Causing Blitz to feel like a static shock, as she caressed the now elevated hairs on the back of his hand.

“You’ve been so patient, waiting for me to be ready, and you’ve tried to understand why I don’t want to date anyone. Now I’m going to tell you that there is someone I want to be with, and you're him.”

He’d waited so long to hear it and here it was.

“Now I’m also going to tell you my deal, my family's history, and why my loving anyone could lead to … problems.”

She continued to clench his hand and look deeply into his eyes. Examining them for any second thoughts or wavering doubts.

“It’s lucky you’re not a smart man, or you’d be on the first plane back to Birmingham.”

She pauses and Blitz feels no need to fill the silence, as he usually would.

“No one else knows this. Maybe Theo has a theory. She has been my friend all my life.”

Saffron tried to pull herself together. This was it, now or never.

“I am a Witch.”

Blitz didn’t laugh or ask why she drove A muscle car and didn't ride a broomstick. He cocked his head to the side slightly and looked both adorable and serious.

“The Famile Dupont have always been Witches. Since way before the old country was an old country. You’ve talked to my Grand-mere Cherise.”

Blitz nods Cherise Dupont was certainly something.

“Well her partner is Lucy Feuer. As in *Lucifer Morningstar*. She organised a boon for you.”

Saffron looked to Blitz’s waist and the Plymouth Hemi Cuda keychain, and distinctive hexagonal Chrysler corporation keys proudly hanging from a clip from his belt loop. The car was already his pride and joy. Despite a little teething trouble.

“Chrissie the demonically challenged Hemi Cuda. Lucy sent her to you via Mr LeBay. To protect you, and your family when occult shit goes down. Because around me and mine, it always inevitably does.”

She took a breath

“So I’m a quarter fallen angel. Genetically speaking. Harleen is also My Mum, through blood and DNA. My Mums created me, in a lab. With some occult help. Cherise wanted to ensure I was like any other Dupont. I’m a Frankenstein-ian genetic construct. World's first test-tube baby. That’s not a turn off is it?”

Blitz shook his head vigorously.

“I didn’t think it would be.”

The corners of her mouth turned up ever so slightly.

“I am nor ever will be *normal*. Being around me. you’ll experience some wonderful things. Things no mortal has ever seen. Being around me comes with baggage though. My family has enemies. many powerful enemies. Waiting, watching, looking for a weakness to be exploited, love is one of them. It’s one of the reasons we’re out in the swamp next door to the world's largest particle accelerator. Cover. No one expects to look for magic in the shadow of science It won’t just be The Loop, Ryksyenergi and talking cats that want to fuck with you. It’ll be rouge demons and cultists, hardcore occult crap. The enemies of what Christians call Hell.”

Blitz nodded along. It turned out Saffron was as unique as he believed her to be, and then some.

“I have one question. Brian Hendrix Morgan, do you think you can handle that?”

No falter or any other sign of doubt in his green eyes. Maybe he was an English simpleton.

Blitz didn’t speak for a few seconds, before he replied, just one word.

“Always.”

Saffron reached over the counter, took him by the tie, pulled him by it across it and kissed him.

As the daylight faded into dusk over the small town in the Mississippi swamps. As the two embraced. Within the gloom of Del’s Doughnuts a stylus was heard to drop on a record and *We Live For Love* by *Pat Benatar* began to play out across the store.

*Your love's contagious, one kiss is dangerous*

*I have more to risk than you to lose*