Demon and the girl…


The demon was sitting against a wall, sat comfortably in the night on the ledge of one of the walls surrounding his castle. He admired the night sky and the full moon, and the shadows whom moved silently- invisible in the dark.

And then his peace was shattered instantly by a piercing scream.

He looked down away from the sky casually to see a shadow running over the landscape below, reeking of fear and exhaustion- the stench of a mortal filled his nostrils. His sharp red eyes looked ahead to her pursuers- and a smile formed in the corner of his mouth.

Hellhounds.
Kanine beasts covered black with three glowing red eyes and long snapping whiskers. Claws with which to tear apart flesh and bone.

The footsteps of her fleeing stopped and were replaced by close panicked breathing.

She could run no further, blocked and trapped by a wall that seemed to span for miles in both directions. She could only run to the left or right for a minute or two at the most before being caught- and eaten alive.

She turned to face the inevitable head on as their snarls drew closer, swallowing fear and blinking away tears.

“Oh dear, you seem to be in a spot of trouble,” a voice laced with sarcasm sighed above her.
She turned in shock and looked up, to see a figure above her, as dark as the night, concealed by it.

“Who- who are you-” she asked with all trembling, her eyes darting from the coming of the beasts that pursued her to the mysterious man above her in desperation.

“Who am I?” contempt now came from the figure whom turned to her in full and glared down at her. “You dare to trespass into my realm and you ask whom I am? Who are you, mortal? Not that it will matter in a few moments anyway,” a grin suddenly spread over his shadowed face as the hellhounds appeared in the distance.

“Please… I didn’t mean to trespass on your land sir,” she pleaded, and his face fell as he looked back down to her again.
Sir?

“Didn’t mean to?” he scoffed. “Aw, you mean you came here completely by accident?” he spat sceptically.
She nodded quickly, turning back to the now approaching beasts that paced in uncertainty at the sight of the demon above her. Her eyes closed tight. “Please…” she whimpered, when a shadow stalked over her and she went to scream- but a hand clamped over her mouth.

“You realise of course,” one of her eyes squinted open first and then in wonder both eyes looked up at the well robed tall man- no- not a man upon closer inspection. Far too perfect- far too impressive- far too strong an aura to be a man, “that I am far more dangerous than any of these beasts- and yet you take your chances with me?” he demanded.

She could not pull her eyes away from his by some force or magic- yet she knew the beasts had stopped in their tracks at the interference of this powerful humanoid. And yet…
She swallowed again in trepidation and nodded feebly as he let go of her mouth.

“What,” he shrilled, his arms trapping her against the wall as his hands slammed against it either side of her- she was sure the wall shook- “makes you think I will tolerate your presence here any more than they to not kill you? Even if I do believe you when you say you came here by accident- which I don’t,” he snarled himself- causing the hounds to let out their own until he growled in superiority, and they drew back meekly.

“Please- I’m sorry I came here- I really didn’t mean to- I was- I was running away…” he lifted a brow as she looked about nervously. “Through the forest near where I- where I used to live- it was so dark I could hardly see- and then… the next thing I knew the forest was gone… and I was here… so I really didn’t mean…”

“Quiet! Stop your blubbering!” the demon snapped, and she jumped in her skin, now holding her chest as it beat fast. “the hellhounds do not come from the mortal world- they could not have chased you into my realm. Therefore- you must have already been in my realm when they gave chase. They smell quite easily human blood… so don’t lie to me, girl. I do not appreciate it," he leant in closer, his eyes burning red.  

“But I’m not- no- I was chased before into the forest which brought me here by something…” her eyes watered again and he drew back… “something much different…” she covered her own mouth and cried at the mere memory. “I’m sorry I came here, without your permission,” to which the demon even calmed, “but I’m not sorry to what… I left behind… by being here. If I came by accident- I’m very… glad…”

The demon stood still.
“Glad?” he spoke. “Glad.” he repeated, looking her over. “And just what were you running from- that seems to frighten you more than these hounds or even I?" he hissed suddenly- her composure at this breaking once more.

She shook her head violently and sank to her knees and cried- burying her face into her hands and then finally fainting.

Before he even knew what he was doing he held out a hand to grasp her shoulder and rest her torso against his legs. He looked down at her again and frowned.

Glad? SHE was glad to trespass into his domain? Of all the impertinent! Well she wouldn’t be glad for very long, his glare hardened, not when she was dead.

A loud grown emitted from beside him and his eyes shot to the side. The hounds spoke their throaty growls to him.

Discourteously.
He frowned- offended.

“Oh, you DEMAND her from me, do you? You INSIST that I give you your meal- the flesh of the one you hunted in my realm?” he began testily, darkening suddenly. “You make commands of me, mongrel?” his eyes slit and he burst with a furiously dark aura.

“You dare speak to me thus! This land- and all those within it- belong to me and revere me. Both this mortal AND you beasts. If I wish NOT to hand her over to you so you may know the price of speaking to me thus and starve another night- I will. If I wish to kill her myself and slaughter every one of you- then I will. If I wish to keep her alive myself and decide what I wish to do to her- and if I choose not to spare half you lives so you may learn to treat me with the proper respect… then that is exactly, what I will do,” he rose a hand with fingers ready to click- and before they could scamper off, half of their pack were instantly decimated.

The rest cried out in pain and scurried off.

The demon’s hand lowered, and then his eyes. They were surrounded by an energy invisible in the blackness around them- and then both he and the girl still fainted against his legs vanished.

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“My lord,” the minion Gibbon crawled submissively, it’s eyes popping out at the sight that befell him. His lord had come back to the castle this time with a… mortal.

His lord’s eyes never met his- but instead of them lingering in the air they kept their hold on the unconscious girl- even as he passed her over.

“M-my lord- what is this? Perhaps a meal for the orocon?” he suggested helpfully, when a sharp cold pair of eyes sliced him from within.

“No,” the demon snapped, “she is a… …. temporary guest,” he decided, after pausing.

The Gibbon blinked. “How? Temporary?” it asked- wondering how this happened; his lord instead took the questions literally, as only one analytical could.

“I don’t know how temporary yet… I haven’t decided. That depends on what the truth is,” he decided.

“Oh- indeed my lord!” the minion chirped obediently. “Oh… but… where should I put her so she doesn’t get eaten?” he asked.

“Hm?” his eyes had actually been lost on her form, breathing quietly in the minion’s arms. “Put her in a cell- no…” he interrupted himself- and the minion stopped dead in his tracks, “in one of the servant’s rooms…” he thought again- his minion staring in awe at his master’s indecision. “A half demon’s quarters,” he finally stated firmly, though the minion believed this the least. “Well?”

“Oh! Yes… my lord. But… umm… are you sure half demon quarters are- well I mean she’s only a- ‘AIEE!’” he squealed, as his throat was gripped by telekinetics, an invisible energy really, but one that was quite sufficiently strangling him.

“Would you like me to find someone else to do my bidding? Someone less questioning? Someone obedient?” he shrilled.
“N-no my lord! I- I will go instantly!!” the Gibbon coughed, and his throat was released.
He then watched his lord disappear into thin air again and let out a sigh of relief.

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At first he thought she had been lying- but when she explained further he knew he had misunderstood. At least about what she had told him so far. She was no doubt telling the truth when she said the hellhounds had not driven her into the realm- and that something else had. To admit this so freely- was possibly a point towards her innocence. Yet she had fainted before she could tell him the whole story- and he had refused her- creating this situation. Now he was left to ponder his own theory.

There was still a high possibility that she had come to his realm seeking refuge. And even if that was not the case- she could still be guilty. It all depended on her. But he was in no rush, after all, to wander into a demon’s realm without their permission- without even an offering- meant to offer oneself. He had all the time in the world. And why did that give him satisfaction?

“My- my lord?” a small voice piped up from beside him bravely.

“What is it?” he demanded, with cruel tone.

“It has been done your superior-ness-!” Gibbon began to chant.
“Get on with it,” he interrupted steely.
“Yes your lordship!!!” the minion gulped. “She will awaken soon I sense, no doubt my lord- what are my orders now sire?”

The demon picked a strand of his own hair and began to twirl the end in his fingers, sitting majestically.
“Hm… food,” he decided, the minion hopping up most excitedly- for such a rare occasion it was in which his master ate.
“Yes my lord! I shall prepare for you a veritable FEAST!” the minion Gibbon began.
“For the girl,” the demon corrected quickly, which was when he was his most dangerous.
“Oh yes, of course,” the minion was meek, going to strut off in disappointment when his master continued.
“Mortal foods though Gibbon… and no scraps. Do you understand?” he demanded. Gibbon fluttered.

“Yes master! Mortal foods should be easy enough to acquire with my connections. Obtaining mortal ’delicacies’ is a cinch- since they aren’t actually that tasteful or expensive on a demon lord’s budget! It is the luxurious splendour I usually prepare your lordship which is difficult to obtain and prepare my lord- but I do so willingly and happily. This… mortal food- should be no problem at-all,” Gibbon chattered flatly.

“At this rate- she will wake and have nothing to eat, minion. Even if I do end up killing her this would make me a rather poor lord, no?” and the demon’s eyes slid down towards the minion and glinted impatience.

“Yes milord!” the minion hopped and scurried off.

“Glad… to be here…” the demon repeated to himself; in confusion and intrigue, and annoyance.

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Food wafted to her nostrils- followed by the sensation of warmth covering her and a set of sleepy thick padded feather pillows beneath her. Silky sheets brushing over her skin were smooth and luxurious.
This was not home.

She then shot up, at the familiar sound of grumbled breathing, remembering all too suddenly and all too well the hellhounds chasing her- and at the sight of what towered over her she nearly fainted again.

Instead, she screamed and darted sideways, crawling away so desperately that she had no sense of direction and fell out of bed backwards. As the huge creature covered in fur with sloped shoulders remained still she crawled backwards on the floor until her back was against the door- trying to be as quiet as possible.
Her shaking hand reached up to grab the door knob, and as it twisted, the lumbering beast turned a full 180 degrees in one step to face her once more. To which she screamed again and threw the door open, crawling back a little again- only to find that her path was obstructed by… something else.

Her back hit something solid in the doorway- and dread spread over her. Terror that she would soon turn to find another monster- when her eyes widened at the figure above.
It was him again.

He mouth opened but no sound came out. For a moment he stared down at her, highly unimpressed by her cowering.
“I-it’s a… bear…” she whispered to him- more to do with the fact that she had lost her voice- and not to do with not wanting the creature to hear.
He rolled his eyes.
Mortals.

“Bugbear,” he spoke- as if to correct her- when another voice startled her and caused her to jump around.
“Yeess… mahsterr?”
Her mouth quivered, and she grabbed up to hold onto the nearest thing in alarm- his leg. But he didn’t seem to notice.
“Did Gibbon choose you to bring food here for the girl?” the demon asked.
“Yeesh mahsterrr…” the bugbear replied- and for the first time she noted- in absolute amazement- that the creature’s long sloping arms were holding a tray. The tray the food wafted from.

“I see. I shall… ‘speak’ to him of this later,” the demon decided, lowering his eyes to the frantically staring girl- whose eyes were bugging out.

Forget the fact that this… ‘bear’ was carrying her breakfast tray- but that it could speak?!?!
The demon smirked at her disbelief- amused by how easily she was startled.

“Carry on with your duties,” the demon was short.
The bugbear groaned another ‘yes master’- and carried on.

It was possible that this was all it could say. It was also entirely possible, as she watched it move again, that this creature was incredibly slow as well as unintelligent. Well- to be fair- it was very intelligent for a bear… but still.

The bugbear then stomped very slowly up to the door.

“Girl,” the demon spoke, as she gaped up at it. She didn’t have to be told twice- which was good. She very quickly stood and stepped aside.
The bugbear turned to her very slowly, and dipped down at the waist with incredible grace and flexibility, now even only waist height still as tall as her. She was now rather fond of this creature, as it rose again.

“Th-thank you,” she bleated quietly, before the creature turned to the demon lord and did the same, finally clumping from the room.

The demon looked back to the girl now to see that she actually smiled after  the creature. Curious. Then he used a single hand to push the door shut- with an unintentionally loud slam.

She jumped and looked up at him, all at once realising she was alone once more with him, in a closed off bedroom.
He stared at her expectantly, a brow raised. She opened her mouth to question one of her many confusions, when she was silenced. It felt as if the very words had been snatched from her mouth before they had a chance to come out. And she knew it was his doing.

“The only thing I want to see you doing with that mouth right now is eat,” he told her curtly, stepping towards her.
Instinctively, she stepped back- and again, and again- until the back of her knees touched the side of her bed and she was forced to sit on it. He was towered over her imperatively, his arms folded still expectantly.
Her eyes drifted to the tray beside her, knowing what he wanted her to do.

Shaking, she took the tray and placed it on her lap. Though the smell of food had awoken her- she now admitted to herself rather painfully that she could not place the smell. It was like nothing she had ever smelled- and she both wondered and dreaded what new kind of demon thrill could be within it.
She took the lid in her fingertips and gently usurped the lid- eyes bulging at what was within the tray.

“This is-” she began- for a moment regaining her voice, and then was interrupted.

“What? Not good enough?” he asked darkly, daring her to say yes.
“No- it’s just- well I’ve never eaten anything this luxurious before,” she replied.
He stared. Mortal food? Luxurious? He supposed to some mortals it would be- but even this? What kind of peasants village did she come from anyway? Not that it mattered to him.
“If you don’t approve, I can always have Gibbon replace it- I’m sure there are some leftovers from what the dogs ate last night,” he prompted, but she only stared still at the food before her.

“No… that’s not what I… … … it looks… delicious…” she actually picked her lips, and her eyes widened. Her stomach made a noise startling to him; and he waited. So, this was ’hunger’. “But why are you-”
“Silence,” he ordered, “I will deal with your transgression as and when I feel like it,” he began.
“But I really didn’t mean-!”
“I said silence!” he shrilled. “I will be the judge of that. You… ‘mortal’,” he was grave all of a sudden. “Whatever you level of guilt or innocence, you entered my realm without my permission, and without so much as even a gift. As such I exercise my right to you this moment on. You now belong to me,” he told her.

She stared up at him, her whole body both still and tingling. “I belong… to you?” she repeated, almost as if in a trance.
His eyes narrowed in impatience. Such slow creatures mortals were. But… he looked again… rather pretty. He cleared his throat and looked away.

“Eat,” he ordered, her eyes at once lowering to the tray on her lap and the fork in her hand that (it seemed) had already obeyed him and picked up the first bite.

She lifted the fork to her lips. Her suspicion was confirmed when, even without her telling it to, her mouth opened a little eagerly and her arm moved- the fork pushing the little bit into it. Her lips closed around the mouthful and she began to gently chew at the juicy treat inside.

As a small droplet of sugar water formed on her bottom lip, a firm cold hand cupped her chin- his hand. He seemed fascinated for a moment, using his thumb to wipe away the sugar and stare at her lips as she swallowed.
“What…” she began, when his hand moved to cover her mouth again.

“If you wandered here purposefully, without giving me the respect I deserve- you will die. If you came by accident and your reasons for which are not to my liking- you will either die- or be tortured for the rest of your miserable life until you are no longer human. If you, however,” he added, a little less grave now, “came to me by accident and your reasons are to my liking, you will not be harmed. Based on my findings I will decide whether you live or die- or whether you are held here comfortably or in pain,” he told her, releasing her mouth.

“So… what about… leaving?” she dared to ask timidly.
He stared hard at this.

“If I decide you aren’t guilty of trespassing… I will decide if you leave,” he told her, releasing her mouth.
She swallowed and looked to her feet.
“So I… won’t have- I mean won’t get home?” she bleated nervously, trying to look away.

“Hm,” he leant in very close and she blushed, “girl,” he said, and she looked up at him again shyly. “Finish your food. When you’re rested and when I feel like it, you will be questioned properly. Until and after then- I advise you to stay in my favour,” he warned.
She watched him watch her- seeming to be waiting for her to say something. “Oh… okay…” she nodded, when he became even closer, now upon her.

“I’m sure,” he whispered almost, his breath tickling her ear, “you meant ’yes my lord‘. am I correct?” he asked.

She nodded quickly and he drew back to watch her again. “Yes… my lord,” she said, making the little effort to smile afterwards.
“Good. Hurry up then,” he ordered finally, looking away from her smile in avoidance to stare at her fork and tray before turning away. “Oh yes, one more thing,” he added, not looking to her this time, “mortal. Do not leave this room without my permission,”
“Oh! Yes my lord,” she nodded quickly.

And with that… he vanished again. This time alone.