Demon King: Awakening

Chapter 7

She awoke to the sound of the door opening and closing. Quickly, she opened her eyes and forced herself to focus on who was entering, fearing a little that it was another demon with disdain for humans. As her eyes focused she saw that it was a nurse, one of the nurses that had been in her room the previous day. Seeing her, she was able to relax a little.

The nurse walked over to her bedside, checked her vitals, took a few notes, and then plopped down in the chair next to her without a word. She glared at Areana with disdain, but when she noticed Areana gazing back, she shifted and looked out the window. Areana too turned to look elsewhere in the room. Time dragged on making her feel as though hours must have passed in the silence when the door finally opened again. This time the doctor that she had seen the previous day, Doctor Rataloan, walked through. “It is good to see you are awake. Are you able to answer a few questions?” He asked as he stepped up and checked her chart.

He then went around to her bedside, lifting the covers, he pulled back her dressing and examined her wound. “You appear to be in pretty good shape.” He smiled over at her.

“Yes, you can, but only if I can ask a few questions first?” She responded to him.

He chuckled, “I suppose it is only fair.”

“What's her name?” She asked, motioning to the nurse slumped down on the chair next to her bed.

He glanced over at the nurse, “Her name is Nurse Chaiun.”

“Nice to meet you.” Nurse Chaiun said shortly, not moving from the chair.

“It's nice to meet you, too. I'm sorry, I didn't ask for your name sooner.” She apologized to her, “However it didn't seem you wanted to speak with me,” she stated.

“There is no need to apologize. Simply focus on your health.” Doctor Rataloan responded for Chaiun. “Now are there any more questions you wish to ask?”

She thought for a moment, before asking, “How long until I am fully recovered?”

“It will take at least eight to fourteen days depending on your body's recovery rate. I believe that if you comply with your bed rest, you should be back on your feet within the next eight days.” He informed her.

“Thank you for all your help.” She smiled sweetly at him, “It must not be easy to take care of a human.” She looked into his eyes, trying to read his expression.

“What do you mean?” He questioned.

“I'm a human and you are demons. It's not exactly normal for us to be helping each other let alone mending wounds.” She placed her hand instinctively to her side.

“This is true.” Doctor Rataloan confirmed, “But you are very different from most of them,” he observed.

“Not everyone hates demons. Some people are simply afraid and strike out in fear, not out of hatred.” She smiled at him.

“This rings true for demons as well. We are not all the same in our beliefs toward humans and our disdain for them. We simply want to stay away from your land. They at times fall prey to their own demonic instincts, wishing to kill for the thrill of the hunt and the feel of blood within their grasps and in their jaws.” As she listened to him, she could tell he was speaking from experience. “Sadly, I used to be one of them, until his young majesty took the throne. He is unlike any other demon I have ever encountered. He has more humanity in himself than most of us have been able to retain from our past selves.”

“How can that be? When he spoke of the throne, he made it sound as though he were groomed for it,” she asked, filled with curiosity.

“He is one of the few that has been born and grown as a demon, however, due to his parents once being human he, in some sense, has a human side to him.” He explained.

She stared at him in disbelief, trying to understand the concept that a child can be born to those who have become demons. She had always been taught that humans become demons, but could not create their own offspring. She decided to leave the thoughts alone for the time being and focus on questions that had been weighing on her since she was a child. “Is it true that you descend from the red demons or were you also once human, like the king's parents?” She inquired. “And if so, does that mean that you turned your backs on God and because you were so cruel and unloving you were changed into a demon? I know some humans have turned from God, but they have not been changed.” She paused for a moment, “Sorry! I didn't mean to call you cruel and unloving!” She quickly tried to backtrack on her own words.

Doctor Rataloan and Nurse Chaiun chuckled, “Let me see, where do I begin?” Doctor Rataloan grabbed a second chair along the side of the room and pulled it over to the side of the bed. “You are very inquisitive for a human. Most don't care how we came to be in this way.” He smiled, at her interest.

“So you were human once!” She exclaimed. Her thoughts as a child had been correct. Her curiosity had not been wrong, she was sure of it.

“Not exactly. I was born into this, just as our king was, but Nurse Chaiun here became one. We are not all the same. My parents were demons and, therefore, I was born to be a demon, simple as that. But Nurse Chaiun here, she not only turned from God, but she came to our land. She is not evil. The fact is that her coming here without faith in God and a darkened heart, is enough to change you. I'm sure Nurse Chaiun could better explain.” He glanced over at her. She appeared uncomfortable with the current conversation, quickly directing her own attention to her fingers on her lap.

However, when she realized that she was still under their gaze, she took a deep breath before speaking, “Yes, I turned away from God. Not because he is not real, we demons, as you are well aware are real and we also know he too is real. We cannot exist without knowing God is real.” She paused, trying to decide whether she wanted to continue you or not.

“Why did you come here, then?” Areana asked, feeling like Nurse Chaiun needed some prompting to continue.

“I turned from him because I felt he never heard me. Why believe, trust and have faith in someone that ignores you. It makes no sense.” She huffed. “I was starving, penniless, and homeless. I prayed every night, down on my knees and every waking moment, I went to church, and even gave the few pennies I could gather to the church, yet where was he!?” She exclaimed, her anger rising. “He did not help me. He did not provide for me. I was faithful. I was a good child, but he left me to die!” She said, standing suddenly, beginning to pace.

“Then one Sunday, when the priest spoke about the demons in this kingdom and how they were sinners who were the worst of the worst. That they had turned from God, becoming demons as their punishment. I didn't think becoming one would be so bad. I was already dying. At least if I were a demon, I would have the power to take what I needed to survive.” She spoke passionately. “So, I did it. As soon as I let go of God and embraced the darkness, crossed the barrier, I was rewarded with power. With that power, I was able to not only survive but prosper. Look at me now, no longer a beggar on the street corner, but a nurse in the palace.” she spoke proudly.

“All you needed to do was darken your heart, turn from God and then cross the barrier,” Areana questioned, intrigued by the process.

“It was simple, indeed.” She smirked. “For most people, if they want to become a demon, the simple act of renouncing God, having a darkened heart, and then crossing the barrier into this kingdom, is enough.” She paused, stepping up to the window in Areana's room that faced toward the human kingdom of Zendora. “However, I had learned that if I were to only do that, then I would become a lower-ranked, a less powerful demon. I didn't want to be a weak demon, there would be no point in choosing this life over the human one.” She said, gazing out the window.

“So, what did you do?” Areana questioned, pushing her to carry on.

“I got information that if I were to gather the blood of a truly innocent person and then drip it over the altar that resides just along the border on the edge of the Black Forest, I could gain more power. So, I did it.” She beamed, pridefully.

The room was quiet for a moment before Areana spoke up again, “Did you kill the person?” She dreaded the answer, but she also understood that kind of sacrifice would be perfect. It would truly be the perfect way to show how darkened one's heart had become.

She continued to look out the window while responding, “Yes, there was no other way to get the amount of blood that was needed. Then after I got it, or rather brought the person, I killed them over the altar, repeated the words written on the stone, and then soon after, I felt the power begin to surge through me. The change hurt, I felt my body ripping apart and bones moving to new places. Within moments, I had changed.” She explained matter-of-factly.

Areana caught her breath, someone had to die for her to take more power. It wasn't the innocent blood that had mattered, it must have been the action of murder itself that mattered more.

“What if you wanted to go back? What if you wanted to be human again?” she queried.

Her question was met with laughter as Nurse Chaiun turned from the window to look back at her, “Why would anyone want to go back to being a weak pathetic human?” She appeared insulted by the very notion of going back to her old life.

“I suppose it is possible, but no one has ever done it?” Doctor Rataloan stepped in to answer.

Areana decided to ask another question, one that had also been on her mind since she was a child, “What's it like being a demon?”

Doctor Rataloan smiled at her curiosity. However, Nurse Chaiun appeared to be growing angrier with every question she asked, appearing agitated by her. “Being a demon means power, but we are not all the same. For example, many here in the castle still have difficulty controlling their demonic instincts and that is why the king has put a death sentence on any who would think to harm you. Many would attack you simply because you are human. Your scent fills the castle, but not a single demon here would dare to disobey the king simply to appease his demonic instincts. It would only mean their own death, instantly.” He paused for a moment.

“Is there a hierarchy like there is in a human kingdom?” She asked, confused as to why demons would listen to anyone if there was no system set in place.

“There is a system, however, we are just like humans, willing to kill and harm those of our own kind to gain more prestige. It is much easier for us to act on these impulses as we do not feel remorse for these actions and very few feel anything at all. Many of us are extremely selfish and lack the ability to love. This too sets us apart from you humans. However, there are rare cases where demons can feel some of these emotions. Very rare though indeed.” He said the last sentence more to himself than to Areana.

“We do, however, understand sadness and, therefore, we understand the pain death causes, but unlike humans, that empathy doesn't stop us. We don't care much at all. Although we who reside here in the Slamenda Kingdom do have more self-control over our urges than those in the Cadorac Kingdom. They are true demons, we are more like half-breeds. They have absolutely no humanity in them, while we have retained some. We have enough self-preservation to know our actions could at the very least harm ourselves. Whereas those demons have no such feelings. As long as they create chaos, they are pleased,” he explained.

She took in all this new information. No one had ever been able to tell her what the real differences were between the two demon kingdoms. Humans lumped them together, acting as though both kingdoms were comprised of the same species, deadly chaotic demons. “Thank you for telling me all of this.” She smiled, truly grateful for his kindness.

“Ah, you have mistaken my words and actions for kindness. They are not. I am simply following orders, nothing more and nothing less. If you were to suddenly lose the king's favor, I would not hesitate to kill you or maybe use you for experimentation. However, at the moment, you have his favor and, therefore, I can do no such thing to you. I would like to give you a warning, it is best to heal quickly and take your leave. There is no telling how long you will be able to hold his favor and survive here.” He smiled, but with his mouth only, his eyes were dark, haunting, and planning something dark within his mind.

She took in his words, her heart aching, she had believed for a few moments that maybe there were demons who still held good somewhere deep in their hearts, but she was apparently wrong. As these thoughts ran through her mind, she began to wonder why Melonica had survived. “But what of Melonica, she tried to kill me. Yet I know he didn't kill her.” She stated.

“She is special. She is much stronger than the average demon and also stands as the right-hand warrior of the king. She is true to her demon nature and will take what she wants without worry of pain caused to others or consequences.” He spoke in a hushed tone as though Melonica were near or somehow would hear his words as he spoke ill of her.

“Then this means that I may truly be killed here one day, simply because of my humanity?” She worried.

“No, I am saying that one day anyone in this room could kill you. I could kill you simply because I am a demon and the feeling of flesh tearing through my fingers brings me great pleasure. That sensation you will never understand as a human.” He smiled nostalgically as he spoke, appearing as though he were reliving a murder from his past. “Now, it's time you rested.” He said as Nurse Chaiun handed him a needle. He slid it into a vein in her arm and injected the substance quickly.

“But what if I wish to remain awake? I have so many more questions I want to ask.” She said, trying to keep her eyes from closing.

“For now, you must rest.” He said simply, starting to turn away from her.

She reached out to grab him, but her arm wouldn't move, she felt so weak. “How long will I sleep for?” She asked as the edges of her vision darkened.

“The better part of the day,” he said over his shoulder.

She forced herself to remain awake, “What of the questions you had for me?” she managed to ask.

“Another time, for now, you need your rest,” he spoke dismissively. He then turned to Nurse Chaiun. “Nurse Chaiun, find me if her vitals change.” He said as he stepped through the door. Nurse Chaiun settled back into the chair next to her bedside as Areana lost her battle, falling into a deep sleep.