Demon Empress

Chapter 16 - Her II

Qaen clicked the door quietly shut behind them.

The two men, one human and one demon, simultaneously leaned against the door and sighed in relief. Both had pride and arrogance, and both commanded respect, but the pressure they had felt inside had drained of the energy they needed to uphold their guard against each other.

Qaen huffed out a laugh. “You, too?”

Their gazes met, and a crooked smirk hesitantly graced Ithur’s face. “There is no wonder she doesn’t bother collar you.”

Qaen hesitated, then sighed. “I… I asked her to collar me.”

Ithur’s eyes widened. “You did?”

Qaen laughed in frustration. “Yeah. I spent each day praying to the Two-Faced Mother for death because I had no chance at freedom, but when she offered it to me, I felt like I had to turn it down.”

There was a long pause.

Ithur’s question came hesitantly. “Did Riese really whip you that badly?”

Qaen rolled his eyes. “When did she not?”

A silent question shone in Ithur’s eyes. “But you were beaten to tatters whenever she went at you with a whip. You would struggle to crawl back to your room most nights, let alone walk.”

Qaen leaned heavily against the wall, turning his eyes to the familiar ceiling. “Yeah,” he said. He glanced at Ithur. “She healed me.”

Ithur stared wordlessly. Shock, disbelief and confusion flashed through his cornflower-blue eyes, then thoughtful musing entered. “For healing such a great injury, it doesn’t look like there was any toll on her.”

Qaen thought back to how quickly and easily she had done it, how warm and painless the short process had been. He remembered her glittering, almost-bored eyes swiftly scanning over him when he had gotten up from the bed, and how they had soon lost interest, confirming without any show of surprise or self-congratulations that he was perfectly fine.

He shook himself out of his thoughts. “I’ve made such a powerful master waste her energy in healing me — I should return. I won’t see you off.”

Ithur nodded. “Take care of yourself.”

Qaen watched his leaving figure. ‘Take care of yourself’? He and this demon noble had never been close, but oddly, he felt very appreciative of this unusual greeting today. Letting out a small sigh, he re-entered the room.

Iara was still sitting at her vanity, her dark eyes peering at her own reflection as she gently ran a brush through her platinum-gold hair. Looking at him through the mirror, an easy grin lit her face. “Qaen, come brush my hair.”

Keeping his expression blank, Qaen went over to her and took the brush from her hand. Sweeping her hair over her shoulders and letting it fall behind her over the backrest, he took over the job of running the brush through it. “Aren’t you tired? Master should get some rest.”

Iara shrugged. “I’m not the one who got whipped. You should try avoid doing that again. Being whipped, I mean.”

The casual manner in which she spoke ignited in him a strong urge to punch her. He glared fearlessly. “It’s not like I want to be whipped.”

She nodded. “So, what is the plan?”

Qaen suppressed his irritation and patiently answered. “She had quite a dramatic relationship with the housekeeper for 180 years. He was taken care of by Ithur with me. My understanding is that Riese l’Rasel currently has two lovers — the townhouse stablehand and…”

Seeing him hesitate, Iara pressed: “And?”

Qaen shifted uncomfortably and bent closer to her, his voice lowered. “Commander Arumvel of the Empress’ Tenth Demon Legion.”

A bitter laugh of irony escaped her lips. Could the Silent Empress learn of these kinds of things quarantining herself away in a corner of the Ebony Palace?

Iara turned in the seat to look up at him, peering at his face intently. “In your mind, how do you think El’Iaris l’Rhanar would react if she heard about this? That’s one of her personal Commanders the l’Rasel woman is sleeping with.”

“She is the Empress,” Qaen replied instantly, expressionlessly. “Her Highness’ name isn’t something we can casually throw around in Hell.”

Irritation bloomed in her chest. “Why is it that you’re all so full of faith? She is titled the ‘Silent Empress’ because she hasn’t been around, Qaen. She just hides away in her Ebony Palace.”

Qaen’s eyes coloured with mild surprise. “She installed the train system. Because of her or regardless of her, despite her absence, Hell has gotten better since she won the Bone Crown from Emperor l’Nera and changed out the Demon Legion Commanders. It doesn’t matter if it’s merely a question of timing, a coincidence. The fact that life got slightly better in this very harsh place is enough.”

Iara fell into deep thought.

Qaen resumed brushing her hair, and brushed it until her hair felt as if it was a silky fluid in his hand. He leaned over and set the brush down. “What are you thinking of?”

The absent-minded look melted away, and she smiled tiredly. “I was just thinking that it’s unfortunate that she may not get to stay peacefully in her safe space for much longer.”

“Because of the Commander’s involvement in the affair?”

She closed her eyes. “Partly.”

Feeling a strong pair of arms encircle her body and lift her up, she cracked her eyes slightly open.

Qaen carried her across the room and set her down on a long, velvet seat. It was both long and wide enough for Iara to sleep in comfortably, and Qaen quickly spread the fresh bedding over it. “The mattress is soaked in blood because of my carelessness. You should sleep here tonight.”

She arched her brows at him. “And you?”

“I have a few things to do. When I’m done, I’ll come report and sleep on the ground. I trust that you are able to take care of yourself, should anyone come looking with bad intentions while I’m not here.”

Iara rolled her eyes. “Don’t bother waking me and report in the morning.” She wormed into a comfortable position on the seat. Her final words to him that night were a mumble. “And put the lights out on your way out.”