Chapter 4: Spirit
2006 Words
::Keriamay's POV::
I'm not sure what was going on, but how could I be sitting and dining with the Lord of demons?
I continued silently eating, watching Drake carefully.
"It's rude to stare at others eat, you know," he munched.
"It's rude you don't use a fork," I added.
"What's a fork?" he reached for his glass of wine.
"Well..." I started, "It's like this utensil with three or four prongs that you use to eat food with, instead of using your hands like a barbarian."
Drake sipped his cup and set it down, he then stared immensely at me. I felt that nervousness return to me. He held his hand in the air and a whirling aura spun with what seemed like black smoke. I witnessed a spectacle of magic forging something and in a flash he gripped onto the creation.
"You mean this?" It was a pitchfork!
"N-not exactly, maybe smaller? Who eats food with a pitchfork?!" I exclaimed.
"Well... demons, of course." he set his wine down. With a snap of his fingers, the pitchfork vanished into thin air.
"How did you do that? Are you some kind of magician?" I had to know.
"You're not gonna ask what demons eat?" he propped his elbow and rested his chin on it.
His gaze was fixated on mine, it felt like a spell that kept me frozen, except he wasn't using magic or whatever tricks he did.
"Do they eat humans?" I offered.
"No, but they do eat their souls," he corrected.
A shock of fear raced through my mind. I remember watching scary movies of demons possessing humans and eating at their souls for contracts.
"Don't get me wrong, they can still kill them," he continued, "They take their feastings as a work of art. The more gruesome, the better the grade, in my opinion."
"That does not make me feel any better." As a matter of fact, I was losing my appetite.
"For someone who is starving, you don't eat much do you?" Drake began to yawn.
I don't know why, but that made me angry, "I don't know if you poisoned it!" only to remember I was eating the piece of bread already.
"If I wanted to kill you, Baphomet and Abbadon could've easily disposed of you." he assured me.
That was a threat! Right?
What's wrong with me? I can't be second guessing his words! He's a demon himself and he's probably trying to fatten me up so he can eat me after.
"I brought you here to ask who are you?" he began to sound serious. He clasped his hands together under his chin and looked intrigued, "What kind of princess are you?"
Princess?
I blinked in disbelief and almost choked on my bread. I let out a nervous laugh.
"The fact you have the jewel of thievery just baffles me."
The typical villain always tells his plot or information beforehand. This should be an opportunity.
"What does it do?"
"That's too dangerous to tell you." he scoffed, knowing that he stumped me.
Shit!
"But I will tell you to give it to me." Drake let out his hand, "Only someone with great power can handle it anyway."
I was not going to give it to him!
::Drake's POV::
Didn't you say that she was dumb? I communicated to Baphoment.
Stupid, not dumb, stupid. He responded back.
She isn't giving me the relic. It's like she is immune to my demands. I began to devise a plan.
She's also been looking at me weird. I added.
Maybe she wants to breed you. Baphomet laughed.
You're an i***t. I sighed and in an instant I could hear Baphomet yelling in pain.
I'm sorry I didn't mean that! he pleaded.
Even I couldn't retrieve it while she was unconscious, my Lord. Abbadon chimed in. It's as if the relic is latched onto her. What should we do? Do you want us to kill her?
And awaken its power? This thing could destroy our whole palace. I declined his idea.
I know that my captains are demons, but they don't think logically. They are birthed and designed to fulfill my duties as I formulate the plans. My little henchmen, if you will.
I'm still sizzling here! Baphomet reminded.
Oh, I then shifted my communications off and, before I did, I heard a sigh of relief from Baphomet, followed by a chuckle from Abbadon mocking him, Breed? Who uses the word breed you imbecile.
Baphomet, as much as he is an i***t, had carried out his duties with prestige results. He was a demon specialized in assassinations. He was able to shape-shift into other demons or humans, but only during the full moon. I enjoy his humor, and torturing him is fun.
Abbadon is my loyal right hand and the general commander of my militia. He doesn't say or do things to receive the treatment that Baphomet does, but he adores chaos and destruction. He would cause mayhem with a smile on his face.
"No." I heard Keriamay say.
"N-no?" I asked with a raised eyebrow,"Do you know you don't have a choice here? I could order Baphomet to kill you."
"Then why haven't you?" she called my bluff.
"Are you questioning my demands?" I grinned to the challenge.
I heard her heart skip a beat. Maybe Baphomet was on to something.
Just kill her already! Baphomet intercommed.
You shut the hell up! I barked.
She just looked at me, "Are you spacing off again?" she had finished her roll.
"Not exactly princess." I blinked and refocused on her.
There was something that I couldn't figure out or put my finger on, this complete stranger knows nothing about this world, yet she possesses the jewel of thievery. The ancient relic that was passed down by Father Time to his elemental daughters, or princesses. It is said that only those of royal blood could withstand its power, but this girl is nothing more than a common human.
Interesting...
"How's about we take this somewhere more private?" I suggested.
Without waiting for her response, I lifted my pointer and placed it in a hush position near my lips. I gently blew, and the surroundings began to cave in. Keriamay was puzzled and was panicking, but before she could say anything, the setting changed.
We were now in my quarters, a devilishly handsome decorated room that oversaw the palace.
"What are you trying to do to me?" I heard her say, "Where am I?"
"We are in my bedroom, things that happen in here don't usually leave out alive." I couldn't help a chuckle.
She began to take a defensive stance in some level 2 martial arts. Her right foot forward and her left behind but in a horizontal position. She lifted her arms with balled fists. I couldn't help but laugh.
"Hahaha what are you doing?" I was amused.
"I don't know what is going on or where I am at, but I'm gonna get some answers, even if it is to beat it out of you." she guaranteed.
"What makes you think you can even touch me little princess? I only demonstrated the basics of my magic. Do you really think you can spar with me?" I asked.
"You like to cheat? That's on you. I will continue to make this a fair fight."
Something she said just made my skin boil, I could feel my wrath beginning to sizzle. I merely strode over to her and grabbed her by the scruff. I lifted her up like a cat would to its young. Her stance was no longer in place, but she was still as fussy as ever.
"Playing fair does not always win you fights." I glared at her, "But let me assure you, I don't mind beating you at your own game. Nothing satisfies me more than having people eat their words." My grip tightened.
In a swift movement I felt the air under my chin become unstable. I avoided it. She tried to kick me in my damn groin! I was forced to back away and release her.
"What's wrong, Lord Drake? I'm just taking your advice!" she lunged forward.
I shifted my body so the stampeding and unstable being could crash into the wall.
"You don't just challenge an opponent who's clearly tiers above your level." I scolded, "I could seriously kill you."
Enough of the games, I grabbed her by her arm and slammed her onto the bed. I heard a mild squeal and felt an unholy amount of shock pulse through me. My arm was blazing with pain, but I wasn't going to admit that to her. It's that damn jewel. It's still protecting her!
I pinned her arms above her head and separated her legs to the side, so she didn't get any ideas. I grinned cockily as I had her under me. Before I could go further, I was struck with a pang of pain. The pain resonated from her eyes, I saw tears trickle down her cheeks and she looked up at me with a sad smile.
"Please kill me." She begged.
I froze in place. This was not supposed to happen like this. I wasn't going to do anything to her. A part of me wanted to see her spirit at its full capacity, but now... she just gives up?
"I don't know if I am already dead..." she sobbed, "Was I judged to go to hell? After everything I went through?"
Oh no, the waterworks.
But she was talking about judgment, as in holy deities or religious beliefs? I couldn't help but stay silent.
"I don't know where my brother is, I should've never gone out too far. Now, I don't know if he even exists in this world. Is he still alive in my own world?" Keriamay muttered.
"What are you talking about?" I whispered, "There is only this world!"
I felt my hands loosen its grip as I realized the information that I was missing. I couldn't read this woman's thoughts. It didn't matter whether demon, monster, human, nor fairy. I haven't been able to read her damn mind this whole time. It's gotta be because of the jewel.
"Are you letting me go?" she slowly sat up as I got off from her.
"Not exactly." I answered, "That jewel is too important for anyone else to have. But..." I looked over to her, "... If you really aren't from here, then where did you come from?"
She stayed silent...
"I- I don't know," she mumbled.
"What do you mean you don't know? You were just talking about your brother and..." I hesitated and stopped myself.
Keriamay's eyes really looked lost. She was confused and I could hear her heartbeat race within her chest.
I turned away, "Whatever," I then used my powers to go back to the dining hall. The woman looked like she had just witnessed another whiplash.
"My bad," I grunted, "force of habit."
She looked down and then slowly reached for a roasted lamb mutton, "Where am I?" she struggled to ask.
"In the realm of demons," I replied.
"It doesn't seem like it," she looked around cautiously.
"Sometimes the most torturous thing you can do to someone is to make it seem like everything is alright," I grinned.
She spoke no further.
I tried to penetrate into her mind. It was like there was a barrier, except it wasn't there. I held back on my strength because I wasn't too sure about what the protection of the jewel would do for her.
The jewel of thievery was created to harvest and control the elements. It is something that was passed down to the royal princesses for millenniums. This jewel overpowered most of my allegiances, it is dangerous. And yet, it chose to show itself. Here. In my own territory.
I felt myself begin to internally seethe.
That traitor!
"I want to go home..." she put down the meat without biting into it.
Home? Where was home?
- Writer
