Demon King: Awakening

Chapter 5

Areana slowly opened her eyes, seeing sunlight streaming through a window to her right. “Miss, how are you feeling?” A cat-like demoness nurse leaned forward to look Areana over. She checked her pulse, pupil dilation, throat and then went around her bed to lift the covers to check her wound.

At first, Areana didn't move. She simply watched as the nurse moved, checking her health. “Where am I?” She croaked.

“You're in the Kingdom of Slamenda.” She informed her with a shaky voice.

“How did I come to be here?” She asked as the nurse adjusted her pillow, trying to make her more comfortable.

“The king himself instructed a demon to bring you here for treatment.” She motioned toward the door where a large batlike demon stood. “Now, how are you feeling?” She asked again, her voice starting to break, as though she were frightened.

“Better, my side hurts and it's difficult to breathe, but better.” She coughed. “Are you alright?” She asked, unable to help but notice how afraid the nurse sounded.

As the nurse wrote something on a chart she spoke, “Yes, of course. We are here to care for you and make sure that you become healthy again.” She said stiffly, clearly afraid of what would happen if her health didn't continue to improve. She cleared her throat and continued to speak, “Please wait a moment, I'll go get the doctor.” She informed her, before scurrying out of the room.

She was left in the silence with a large demon standing near the door staring at her. “What's your name?” She inquired.

At first, he didn't appear that he was going to respond. “Leonard,” was all he responded with.

“It's nice to meet you.” She smiled weakly at him. He remained silent, but he did give her a small smile and a slight bow.

Slowly, the door squeaked open with a hiss coming from whoever was pushing the door. She looked over, curious as to what or who was coming in. A snake-like demoness slithered gracefully in. She had purple scales covering most of her body, a long tail followed after her and long dark purple hair flowed down past her hips. She smiled menacingly as her gaze focused in on Areana. “Leonard, I'll take over. You haven't had a break since we came back from the tavern.” She said sweetly to him as she batted her eyelashes.

“I'm fine to stay.” He grunted, eyeing her.

“If I remember correctly, you were to watch her until his majesty was back inside the castle. You have already completed your task and more.” She smiled. “You are so hardworking.” She batted her eyelashes at him. He rolled his eyes in return, clearly not fooled by her fake sweetness.

“Fine, be that way!” She hissed. “I would like you to leave now. Go out for a walk, get something to eat. I don't care, just leave.” She narrowed her gaze, “Don't make me force you out!” She nearly yelled at him.

He let out a sigh, clearly, she agitated him. “I will be back in a moment. If you have done anything underhanded, I will kill you and I will enjoy it.” He growled at her.

“Yea, yea, whatever.” She said dismissively as she waved him away.

He looked at her, clearly warning her, before leaving the room. She waited a moment, watching the door before she slithered toward Areana's bed. “Who are you?” Areana spoke first.

“My name is Melonica.” She smiled as she slid into the chair next to her bed.

“Why are you in my room?” She questioned, feeling unnerved by her presence.

“I've come to teach you a lesson.” She smiled sinisterly.

Areana raised an eyebrow, curious, “What lesson?”

“You need to learn your place in this palace.” She paused for a moment, “No, not just this palace, but the world. You see, you are weak, you are human and my dear, there is a large difference between us demons and you. Therefore, it would be in your best interest for you to heal and go back to your little human kingdom and leave the king alone.” She hissed, nearing Areana's face with her clawes.

“What are you talking about?” Areana asked, perplexed with what she was trying to say.

She took a deep breath before responding, clearly frustrated by Areana's mere presence. “You see you are a distraction to our king and, to be honest, I think you are some kind of spy. So, I am kindly asking that you leave and soon.” She watched as Areana started to protest, “Please don't go and make me angry. You wouldn't like me angry.” She assured her with a nod of her head, agreeing with her own statement.

Areana really didn't enjoy being spoken to in this manner. She had done nothing to incur this kind of disrespect. She narrowed her own gaze before responding to Melonica, “And what if I wish to stay?”

Melonica laughed, “What human would wish to remain in demon territory? We are killers, vicious, dangerous, hard to kill, and reckless, with not only our own lives but those around us, whether they be human or not.” She explained, clearly trying to sway Areana into leaving.

“I believe that nothing and no one is completely evil. No one deserves to be judged based on the actions of many or another. Therefore, not all demons can be bad. A demon even brought me here to help me when he could have left me to die on the side of the road. Surely that demon is not bad.” She said with as much conviction as she could muster at the moment.

Melonica glared at her, clearly, she had hoped it would be easy to sway her, “I was hoping that you would be reasonable and understand what I am trying to tell you. But it would seem that it is pointless to speak to you.” She paused and smiled to herself. “Well if I am going to be completely honest with you, I am kind of happy that you are this strong-minded on the matter since I prefer my secondary plan over talking.”

“I suggest that you close your eyes and imagine something nice. This will all be over soon.” She began to wrap her hands around Areana's throat, but before she could tighten her grip the door started to open.

Leonard pushed it completely opened and walked in, Melonica quickly pulled her hands away and sat down as though they had merely been talking. “Melonica, I suggest you leave before the doctor arrives.” He warned her.

“Could you go out for just a moment longer?” She asked him nicely. He shook his head, “Fine!” She hissed and slithered back over to the door. She gave him one final glare before leaving the room.

Leonard eyed Areana for a moment, clearly checking for any signs of struggle or harm done to her. When he was satisfied he looked back over to the window. The door soon opened again and Doctor Rataloan came rushing in. “It's good to see that you are awake. I'm Doctor Rataloan.” He informed her before looking over at the cat-like demoness that had followed him back into the room, “Go and inform his majesty that she is awake.” She bowed slightly and then quickly left the room.

The doctor checked her the same as the nurse had done earlier. “You seem to be healing quite nicely. There is no infection that I can see and the wound is a nice color. You should be healed within a few weeks, then we will be able to release you from the hospital.” He said, trying to reassure her and himself as well.

The door opened yet again and the king strode in, “How is she?” He questioned and the doctor repeated himself to the king. “That's good to hear.” He glanced down at her, but did not say a word to her instead he went back to speaking with the doctor, “If there are any more updates on her health, please inform me immediately, day or night.” He instructed.

“Yes, of course, your majesty.” Doctor Rataloan said with a bow. The king then left and he turned back to Areana, “If you feel any discomfort please inform myself or one of the nurses that will be staying with you.” She nodded with understanding. “Please also remain on bed rest. If you move at this point in time, you will tear the stitching, causing more damage to your body, understood?” She nodded again. “Good, I will check in on you again later today.” He gave her a slight bow of respect before leaving the room.

She lay there realizing that Leonard wasn't great company, but he had saved her. She silently thanked him and then they remained in silence for the better part of the day. She never saw him leave, he never took a seat, he simply stood next to the door until sunset. She had thought that he would have some relief, but no other demon came to relieve him. “When do you rest?” She asked, finally breaking the silence.

“I rest when I need to.” he grunted.

“But you have yet to leave the room today.” She observed.

“I have not needed to leave.” He informed her.

She looked at him curiously, “Why are your guarding me?”

“The king seems to like having you around. I do not wish anything to happen to you.” He responded, shortly.

“I am in the palace, in the medical wing. What could happen?” She questioned, smiling.

He remained silent, leaving her to believe that he was finished with the conversation. “You are human. We are demons.” He said simply.

“And?” She encouraged him to continue.

He looked dumbfounded that his previous answer was not clear enough for her, “There are some here, who would prefer you were not here and would be willing to get rid of you even at the cost of their own lives.” He informed her.

She nodded, thoughtfully, “What about you?”

“Me?” he appeared taken aback.

“Yes, you. Do you not feel the same?” she questioned.

“I can't say that I do or do not. I am simply following what my king wants.” He answered.

She smiled, “Then I am happy to have you here. Neutral is good.” She said happily. He gave her a small smile and then appeared to be done with the conversation. She smiled to herself, slowly drifting off to sleep.

There was a tightening around her throat that woke her. She peered up at serpent-shaped green eyes looking down on her. Then came a squeaky scream from the cat-like demoness, who appeared to have just woken up in her chair. “Miss, you can't be in here, it's the king's order!” She stood up and tried to assert herself.

Melonica loosened her grip, but did not remove her hands, “I'll give you two options, you can leave and live or you can stay and die. Your choice.” She hissed at her, narrowing her gaze. “I don't care either way.” She smiled sinisterly.

The nurse froze for a moment in fear before Melonica released one hand from Areana's throat and grasped the nurse's instead. She raised her into the air and repeated her threat once more. The nurse then squeaked out her response, “You can stay. I'll just step out for a moment.” She choked out her response. Melonica smiled happily and then tossed the nurse toward the door. At that moment, Areana was able to look over, her heart sank as she saw an unconscious Leonard slumped against the wall next to the door. He didn't look badly injured, but there was some blood sliding down his forehead.

“How could you hurt him?” She managed to sputter.

Melonica followed her gaze to see who she was referring to. “He'll be fine, demons don't take long to heal.” She waved dismissively. “Now where was I? Oh, yes.” She smiled wryly. She laid her hands around Areana's throat again and began to slowly tighten her grip. Her wounds restrained her from moving too much to be able to fight her off. She tried to focus on her father, praying that she could at least say farewell to him. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying not to cry, but soon she couldn't open them. Her world remained black.

A few moments later she could hear Melonica speaking, “Oh, Areana wake up.” She sang. When Areana didn't stir she bent down, took hold of both her shoulders and started to shake her. Suddenly, her eyes shot open in shock with her breathing labored. She remembered that Melonica had tried to choke her and now she was waking her up again, she was confused.

Melonica laughed manically, “You're confused as to why I brought you back, right?” She smiled sinisterly. “I wanted to do it twice, of course!” She cackled as she once more wrapped her claws around her neck. Areana wrapped her own fingers around Melonica's hands, trying to loosen her grip, but her injury made it impossible for her to gather enough strength to do anything.

Her world quickly began to blacken again. Her arms went limp and her grip on Melonica loosened. Then the door swung open, unfortunately, striking Leonard along the left side of his body. Kobel stormed in, “What do you think you are doing?” He bellowed, quickly approaching Melonica.

“Your majesty, I was just getting rid of this human. She could be a scout sent from the humans to try and find our weaknesses and divulge our secrets to their leader.” She spoke without loosening her grip on Areana.

“Release her. She is my guest and I have made my orders clear. No one is to harm her and if she dies then it will be your head.” He growled. “Now, release her before I relieve you of your hands. Do I make myself clear?” He snarled.

“Very well your majesty.” She quickly removed her hands from her throat and stepped away.

“If I ever catch you so much as in near her room or breathing her name, you will not live. Now, leave!” He commanded.

She sputtered for a moment, “But your majesty she is human. They are not to be trusted.” She tried to protest. In the blink of an eye, he was at her side and throwing her against a nearby wall.

“Did you not understand me? I said leave!” He growled, narrowing his gaze, his eyes shining blood red. “Do not make me repeat myself, again.”

She quickly nodded, shaken from the sudden attack. “My apologies I was out of line.” She whimpered as she left.