Archive of Our Own ^beta

From the floor, Rio stared at the woman who bumped into her.

They had just gone to buy a tonic for her voice, which Rio still thinks was a bad idea because seriously Wanda, the doctor literally photoshopped himself into one of their pictures.

Sure, they have their fans but still… That was a bit too much.

Anyway, they had just exited the building when they had encountered them.

A bunch of women…

Very attractive and beautiful women

She could see Hela and Wanda stare at two of them, the blonde one and the redhead respectively, who were stretching, showing off their body, fully aware of the pair of eyes on them. Honestly, her companions were gross.

”Seriously, guys,” Rio was about to mock them when she saw her.

The brown haired beauty…

She was an inch shorter than her but even then, the way she carried herself made Rio feel small. Her light blue eyes shone with the sun’s glow, which seemed to showcase her long hair that flowed freely. She was wearing a white button-up, its sleeves pulled up showcasing lean muscle that were her arms. Her purple pants covered long legs that Rio would never admit to wanting them around her and-

Shit, she was falling and Rio meant that literally because what the hell, she just hit the floor.

She looked up to see why, only to realize that Rio had accidentally bumped into the brunette’s shoulder and she was now looking at her, extending her hand to Rio.

Without thinking, Rio reached to grab it. She kept thinking to herself, is this some sort of K-Drama that her and the others binge watched? 

However, instead of the cliché of ‘person A helps person B up’, the woman removed her hand, choosing to rub the shoulder Rio had bumped into.

Rio frowned, her hand stilling, inches away before the brunette removed hers. Did she just got snubbed?

The woman looked towards her again, frowning. Beside her, the other four women turned to look at her as well. The next moment, the woman spoke in a honey laced voice that Rio would have melted for if not for the words “Be careful.” 

She and her group turned and left, leaving Rio on the floor and her friends in shock.

”Be careful?” Rio exclaimed, watching as the group left the alleyway. The hell did this woman think she was? She turned to her friends who were quickly approaching her.

”By the Goddess, Rio, are you okay?” Wanda asked, crouching down to her level as she picked up the tonics that Rio just realized had fallen as well. To be fair, she was holding them so she should have realized that sooner.

”Girl,” Hela began, before sending a glare at the direction the women left, “who the hell are those women, especially that bitch who bumped into you?”

Rio grabbed Hela’s wrist. “Don’t you dare go up to them and try to fight. We’re in public.”

”And?” Hela growled, before using her other hand to help Rio up. They were now face to face with each other. “They just bumped into you. Screw you being a pop icon, you’re my friend. I can’t let this slide.”

”Don’t forget you too are a pop icon. Starting fights won’t help with your reputation,” Rio reminded, staring down the other green clad woman.

“Screw my reputation, you-

“Uhm guys?” 

The two turned to Wanda, who was staring at them, tonics neatly placed in the box they were in.

”What?”

”Do you hear that?”

Rio tilted her head, listening for whatever Wanda had noticed until she heard it.

”Is that music?” Hela questioned, turning back to the direction the girls had went to.

Rio frowned. That can’t be a coincidence. 

“Let’s check it out.”

———

“They’re a GIRL BAND?” Hela exclaimed, as they stared at the group which were performing for the crowd that had gathered.

Rio frowned. In all her years in the idol industry, she never could have guessed these women would be a girl band. Usually, there would be rumors or leaked pictures or videos in the event a new one debuted and obviously, they were new because she never heard of or seen these ones before.

Why were there none for this one?

Especially the brunette because seriously, the woman had a presence that no one can ignore. Surely there would have been talk about her even as a trainee.

As she looked closer, it was then she saw it.

A shimmer passed through her vision as she briefly saw darkened claws, purple markings, and glowing eyes.

“Demons…” The three of them muttered, looking at each other in unison.

”What are they doing here?” Wanda whispered, staring back at the singing women, who were now posing for the audience.

”Clearly here to steal the souls of these people for Chton.” Hela muttered, her fists clenched.

Sensing the upcoming fight, Rio grabbed Hela’s shoulder.

”Not now,” She gestured around them. “There are too many people.”

”Yeah, which is why we need to eliminate them before they hurt these people.”

”Hate to interrupt but they don’t seem to be hurting anybody,” Wanda pointed towards the demons. They watched as one of them summoned a flower and gave it to a fan, another reached for an item that a fan was clearly trying to grab and handed it to them. They watched baffled as two of them gave ice cream out to the fans.

However, what caught Rio’s attention was the woman from earlier.

She was with a child, a young boy who seemed to be lost. From what she could see, the woman seemed to be consoling the kid and- was she holding his hand? Rio watched as the brunette walked the boy towards a couple who seemed to be his parents. Overjoyed, she saw the mother thank the woman, hugging her boy close to her. She watched as the woman smile and-

Oh.

Oh no.

That smile… Rio wanted so hard to believe the woman who apparently was a demoness was cruel and frigid like she was when she bumped into her without a care in the world and had the audacity to warn her. She really did. 

But that smile… the upturn curve of her lips as if they were the crescent moon, not blinding to look at but equally as mesmerizing as the sun. And oh, could she feel the warmth.

So not a total asshole then…

Rio was so focused on the woman’s lips that she did not notice that the woman was staring at her until she wondered why the woman was now smirking. She looked up only for hazel to meet light blue irises.

And if Rio thought that smile was heavenly? Then those eyes were downright unholy. Rio seemed to be caught in a trance, staring at the cloudless sky that was the woman’s eyes, clear as day and as piercing as a dagger straight to her soul. It made Rio wonder if this was how demons steal souls, by just staring at their target, enticing them to forget they were staring into their jaws of a predator.

And Rio? It felt right to be her prey.

She was caught off guard when Wanda shook her.

”Rio? Rio! Are you okay?” 

She stumbled forward only to be caught by Hela as to prevent her from face planting on the floor a second time.

”Rio? What has gotten in to you?”

Rio shook her head. Turning towards her friends, she saw them staring at her with concern.

”I-“ The words wouldn’t come out of her mouth. How was she supposed to describe what she saw to them.

”May I have your attention, please?”

Rio froze. That voice…

They turned to watch as the demon girl group had gone back to the stage, smiling and posing. In the center was her. Smiling sweetly at everyone, she continued. “That’s all for us today. Come see us on everyone’s favorite live show tomorrow. The Saja Girls love you!”

And with that, they disappeared in a puff of purple smoke, leaving the crowd to their applause and the trio in astonishment.

———

“What the fuck was that?” Hela exclaimed as soon as they got back to their penthouse. Behind her, Wanda and Rio were walking silently.

”A demon girl band…” Wanda frowned, leaning her chin on her fingers in thought. “What do you guys think they want?”

Rio closed her eyes. What would the demons gain from entertaining people?

It was then it clicked. She turned her head so fast, Hela and Wanda noticed and got whiplash.

”The fans!” She exclaimed, stomping towards them.

”What about the fans?” Wanda asked, her emerald eyes looking at Rio quizzically.

”They’re after the fans!”

”They seem to be really nice to the fans.”

”Exactly!” Rio exclaimed. She stomped towards the large glass wall that showcased the rest of the city.

From their vantage point, they could see the whole city and with their power, they could see it.

The Sacred Balance.

The threads that keep Chton sealed below stretched across the horizon, glowing neon green, green as the life magik that powers the souls of the living that powered it. 

Over the centuries, pop stars like them were tasked with defending the living world from demons and gaining the adoration of the masses to power the Sacred Balance through the power of song.

And these demons were now targeting their masses in a different way.

No, not like they usually do by stealing the souls of the fans to power their demon king, oh no.

Their new plan was more indirect.

“They’re trying to weaken the Sacred Balance by stealing our fans!” Rio growled.

These demons… they were more devious than she thought.

And Rio dared not think about the way she almost fell for it too.

”Ugh! Chton is getting more creative with his plans,” Hela said, flopping down on the couch, which Wanda followed too.

”He must be getting desperate if he’s sending demons to masquerade as idols,” Wanda spoke, which was muffled considering her face was facing down towards the cushions.

“What are we supposed to do, then?” Hela turned towards Rio.

Rio frowned. “We do what we do best.”

”Which is?” Wanda looked up.

Rio approached her fellow idols. “We sing to keep our fans and gain more.” With a flick of her wrist, a dagger was summoned into her fingers. She traced the magical metal as she continued. “And send these disgusting demons back to where they belong.”

———

Rio was alone now in her room.

She moved towards her bed, mentally exhausted from the day’s events. Removing her jacket, she stared at her reflection in the mirror right above her bed, particularly her arms.

She stared at the purple skeletal markings that have continued to grow as she grew older. She frowned at them.

Her aunt had promised her that once they were able to strengthen the Sacred Balance enough, these patterns would disappear.

The patterns that reminded her of her true heritage.

She silently traced them, crossing her arms as she did so.

”You are a Vidal, mi hija.” Her aunt would say as she put down her sleeves to cover her marks whenever she caught her tracing her patterns. “When the Sacred Balance is fortified, they will disappear and you will no longer need to hide.”

Hide from her fans. Her friends.

But now there was a new threat that would prevent that.

Rio Vidal will never admit it. Never in her life. Absolutely not. No. Never. Nada. Zilch.

…

Ok maybe she thinks that particular demon that was sent by Chton to steal their fans was hot.

But still…

She remembered those sky blue eyes that stared at her soul, the way she smiled at the boy, that smirk she sent her way when she caught Rio staring.

Rio shook her head.

She was still a demon and a jerk one at that.

She turned away from the mirror, sitting on her bed.

Get your head into the game, Vidal. You have a bunch of demons to kill. Who gives a fuck if one of them is hot?

…

Her but who’s asking?