The Demon Princess and Her Powerful Alpha

The Lady Melisande

Ardenti   

     Dawn began to glow in the sky, and the beast finally tired enough to cede control to me. I shifted back to my true form ignoring the man at my side and disappearing in a cloud of ash. The wolf inside me whimpered and yelped at the separation from her mate. She'd held delusions of staying by his side, being his Luna, bearing his pups.

    She was as much a fool as him, and they deserved each other. Sadly, for them I would not be so charitable. I would snuff the beast out before she had a chance to weaken me further. She snarled a long-drawn-out sound. I'd had enough of her and built a wall in my mind to block out both her anger and her pain. I couldn't afford her weakness.

    I spent little time on earth, but that did not mean I was clueless. I did stay apprised of the major wicked players in the human realm. One of the most reputable of them happened to be an ancient sorceress named Melisande. She wasn't evil per se, but her magic often twisted toward the dark and gnarled. It was just the sort of thing I needed.

    The destruction of the beast inside me would be no easy task. I couldn't risk asking for help in hell. The weakness of such an act made me wretch at the thought alone. Melisande held no allegiance, least of all to my father. Rumors say they had a fling a few thousand years ago, and she never forgave the rejection. I didn't trust her, but my options were short. She was my best bet.

    I arrived seamlessly, thousands of miles from where I left the alpha. The distance didn't offer enough separation. I still felt his skin on mine. It disturbed me to realize I too craved him. The creature had been scratching at the walls ever since I erected them. I feared given enough time she would smash the barrier and bombard me with her weakness for the alpha.

    The forest I arrived in was darker, and more sinister than the one I left. The sun shone brightly above the trees. Only the faintest bits of dappled light filtered down to the forest floor. Dark magic dwelled happily here. I didn't know the exact location where Melisande lived, but I would sniff her out, even with an advanced cloaking spell. I closed my eyes and focused on her, my demonic fire fueling my search. A small flame burst from my chest, and I followed as the spark led me through the forest.

    The trees here reminded me of apple trees, but they were too tall for that. Summer reined, and yet they bore no leaves and held no fruit. I smiled to myself imagining what wicked fruit grew here, and what havoc it might bring to the one foolish enough to taste it.

    The flame stopped in the middle of an empty clearing. The sun shined on nothing. A less magical being would have seen the space how Melisande intended, empty and a bit eerie. It would have simply made them think they should go back the way they came. The protection spell shimmered in front of my eyes, intense, yet subtle.

    I pushed passed, revealing a comfortable sized wooden house with a full blooming garden surrounding it. The things that grew here were rare spell ingredients. The few flowers there dripped with magic and malice. I sniffed at the air luxuriating in the power. These items emitted an intense aura, but nothing inherently evil, not yet, anyway. I looked it over for a moment. Then a tall figure appeared at the door.

    She stood at about six feet, an inch or two taller than me. Her long and lean form was clad in a sleeveless black gown. It flowed around her, the silk clinging sensually to her beautiful form. Her long black hair sat piled into a crown of braids. Tucked inside them were bits of the foliage surrounding me, no doubt meant to increase her power and protect her. Her golden eyes danced with a touch of fire to them. I could not be sure if magic or her own daring spirit lit them.

    "Princess" She inclined her head as a show of respect. I arched my brow at her, curious as to how she knew who I was. "There is only one beast such as you." She answered my unspoken question and turned from me in a swirl of black silk. She disappeared inside her home. The open door was a clear invitation. I stepped inside, and the protection charm zipped along my skin. I laughed at the intensity of the magic. It reminded me of the touch of a certain alpha.

    She smiled at me knowingly and for the first time I became suspicious. "What do you mean there is only one beast like me? There are many demons, and my father possesses greater power still," My eyes darted around the wood walled room. The decorations were sumptuous, with comfortable couches and chairs placed evenly around the room. It seemed too cheery for a sorceress.

    "I feel her pacing within you. That block you've put up will not last. She is stronger than you believe, your equal in every way." Her tone made it seem like it was obvious, inevitable. Panic clawed inside my throat.

    "Then you know why I've come." I sat myself into one of her plush chairs without invitation.

    "That, I do not." I stared at her hard. "My guess would be a cloaking spell strong enough to hide you from your father." she continued sensing I would not speak.

    "Why would I want that? I am his crowned princess and heir to the realm."

     Her delicate eyebrow arched in true surprise. Her face otherwise remained impassive. "I see. Well then, what do seek, Princess?" 

    I leaned forward losing my composure.  "I wish to be rid of her. I wish to snuff her out of existence." Her carefully calm expression fell.

    "You can't mean your wolf." Her disbelief sounded clear in her tone.

    "I do." 

    Her long fingers drummed against her thigh. Her peach lips pressed together in thought. "I require payment up front. I will use your blood and see what can be done, though I make no promises."

    "I have no blood." I protested.

    She gave me a knowing look. "We both know that isn't true. My weight in hellebore if you will." She gestured to the space beside her. "The good kind." she winked. I waved a dismissive hand and an immense pile of the flowers appeared before us. Unlike the ones that grew on earth, these were so black, they stole the surrounding light. She ran her eyes over it lustfully and reached out to grab one. Her finger tips burned at the contact. "It's fresh, lovely." Her dazzling smile spread across her face. "Come, come."

    I followed her down a wood walled hallway. She stopped in front of a painting that perfectly portrayed her likeness. She pricked her finger on a dagger she pulled from her cleavage, and wiped the blood on her painted face. The painting absorbed the liquid before glowing and conjuring a door in its place.

    She led me through into a room that was clearly meant for potion making. Plants from outside hung drying around the room and a massive cauldron sat in the center. The room was cold stone, unlike the warm wood of the rest of the house. Potion making got rather messy.

    She moved around the room, pinching, grinding and mixing. She waved her hand and a flame lit below the cauldron. The fire danced bright red. "Hell fire?" I asked.

    "What else? Thanks for the hellebore by the way." She flashed me a mischievous grin. She continued moving around the cauldron dropping in different plants. Golden mist rushed from it and blanketed the room. She held her hand out for mine. I placed it in hers with a hint of doubt surfacing.

    She held my hand tight and quickly pulled out the dagger. She put a deep cut in the tip of my finger, and squeezed the blood into the mixture. The golden mist changed to blood-red as I watched, the mist turned to choking smoke. My consciousness faded as I fell to the floor with a painful thud.