Chapter 2- Young Prince~
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After a few blocks I managed to wrestle out of Astaroth's grip, surprisingly enough. I guess he had enough of dragging my sorry ass down the street. He dropped his hand to the side, a quizzical, if not annoyed look on his face.
"What?" He asked, clearly exasperated. His tail twitched angrily behind him and I had to suppress a giggle. I was reminded of my own cat, Yuki, who when threatened, would make herself appear bigger by fluffing up her fur. It was humorous, to say the least. Once my random fit of laughter (in which Astaroth wondered if his spell cured brain damage or not) subsided I set my eyes on the demon, glaring. That's right— I almost forgot how angry I was! He couldn't use his cute tail to get me distracted!
I barked out exactly what was on my mind, all semblance of being calm and level-headed gone from my conscience. But hey, that stuff happens when you are killed, come back from the dead, and are killed again by the same person who brought you back to life. "That's my line! You still haven't explained anything!"
He pointed to the metal bench beside us that had been placed just across from a lamppost. The suburban area was surprisingly quiet and as I took a seat, I noticed that I had no idea where we were. Wonderful. I wouldn't be surprised if my kind, but sometimes over-bearing parents hadn't already contacted the police. I really should give them a call to let them know I'm alive (albeit because of a demon who just watched me die at first)...
Astaroth stood in front of me, crossing his arms with a frown. "I'm only going to say this once, so listen well."
I nodded.
"There are two universes, Assiah and Gehenna. They're like mirrors; one side is the human world, where your species thrives," he said with a hint of contempt, "and then there's Gehenna, the land of what you humans call demons. Blah, blah, blah, demons can only cross over to Assiah by possessing a human body or object. Taking on this form, I've been given the task by Satan, king, lord, god, whatever, of Gehenna to find his son. He's to be the Lord's vessel into Assiah, as normal bodies would burn up and die in minutes, given his power over blue flames."
I furrowed my brows, running a confused hand through my black locks. "Where do I come in? I know you saved me— kind of, and as grateful as I am for that, I don't really want to chase around some kid."
He narrowed his eyes. "I don't think you understand; you have no choice in the matter. If I say stand in front of a speeding train because it will help us find him you'll do it. There is no negotiating."
My retort died in my throat. As much as I wanted to slap him or even run away I knew it would be futile. I was bound to this demon, this 'King of Rot,' and if I wanted to make my life easier, I'd listen to him. Too bad I can't keep my mouth shut for long.
He started speaking again after my silence, taking it as a hint that I would not fight him. "Anyway, I've been able to pinpoint his whereabouts to this area of Japan. When the next school year starts in April I will be attending True Cross Academy, a school my older brother owns. If we're lucky, we'll find the young prince there, given that it is also the headquarters for the Japanese Branch of the Exorcist Order. They'd probably have some information on him as well..."
My eyes widened considerably. And it wasn't just because demons apparently have family ties. "T-true Cross Academy? That's where I'm going! It's run by a demon?"
The white-haired demon nodded. "Yes... while we are not on the best of terms, I still think he'll grant me access to the Academy. Heh, you're going there as well? That'll make things a lot easier. So what, are you rich or somethin'?"
I sighed. "Yes, but that's not how I got into the Academy. While my overall grades are... uh, lower than most, you can also get in if you score high enough on the entrance exam." What I didn't tell him was that I scored a 99— nearly besting our year's prodigy, Yukio Okumura. If my grades hadn't been so shoddy (okay— if I hadn't been so unbearably lazy), I probably would have been the class representative. Shit, there goes my arrogance again. I really did have to stop living up to my nickname.
He let out a cackle. "For a human, you're full of fucking surprises. I heard that the test is similar in difficulty to a college entrance exam. I would have taken it, but my host's pretty rich and his shitty attitude and grades would make it suspicious. Not to say that he isn't a good host— much better than my last when I was in Assiah a couple centuries ago. The guy freaking rotted on me!" He chuckled again, laughing at his own horrible pun.
I did my best to hold in my own laugh. For a centuries old demon king, he certainly had a... unique sense of humor, putting it lightly. I was reminded of his 'human barbecue' line and soon my contained laughs turned to gasps as I let my voice ring out into the night air. At this point he probably thought I had broken. And who knows, it's possible. I mean here I am, talking to some demon king after being killed (twice!) and I'm just laughing like everything's freaking perfect. But, what can I say; it's easier to play the clown than someone who actually cares about things.
He shot me another confused look and for a moment I was worried he'd try to kill me again. Instead, he merely stuffed his hands in his pocket, muttering under his breath before walking away.
"I'll contact you when you're needed. We've got work to do."
"What do you mean you'll 'contact' me?!"
He flashed a crooked grin. "You're intelligent enough, for a human. I'm sure you'll figure it out, Icarus."
And with those parting words, he disappeared, leaving the street in a wave of those little black insects. I really had to remind myself to ask him what those were the next time I saw him. Walking in the opposite direction, I finally found my way back home and into the arms of my angry, worried parents.
It had taken a lot to appease my parents. I couldn't exactly tell them that I met up with a demon king, died, and now found myself immortal. So I did the next best thing. I lied, hard.
"You guys are always so suffocating! I just went to the park and lost track of time, geeze." I pretended to not care even when my mother began to cry, wiping at the tears with her hand.
Shit. That definitely was not the reaction I was looking for. I felt incredibly guilty, but I held my ground, keeping up a brave face. I stared at them, angrily, for what seemed like centuries until my father sighed, running a hand through his salt-and-pepper hair.
"She has a point. We're sorry for not trusting you, but you're our only child, Haruko. We just want to keep you safe."
"You're keeping me in a cage!" I screamed back, letting some of my real emotions bubble to the surface. Yes, play the role of the hormone confused teenager; at least then you can show some semblance of normalcy. My words did the trick.
"Go to bed, Haruko. I don't want to argue about this. I'll let you off with a warning, but if you pull anything like this again, expect the punishment to be severe." My father said, a tiredness seeping into his brown eyes. I felt guilty—again.
"Whatever…" I mumbled back, turning to walk up the stairs. As my foot touched the first step I paused, gripping the handrail tightly.
"Uh… I'm sorry for worrying you two. Goodnight." I rushed up the stairs before I could hear their response. I didn't want to feel even worse about lying and saying such cruel things to them. I know they mean well and it wasn't right to let my anger out on them when they did nothing wrong. I should yell at Astaroth tomorrow, I thought, a smile making its way onto my face. That would teach the demon to keep his claws to himself (as in not stabbing me violently in my chest).
So after getting ready for bed, I looked one last time in the mirror and gasped. My pupils, for a brief second, appeared slanted, like a demon's. You're just imagining things. It's late and you had two near-death experiences in one day. I rationalized, slipping into my bed.
That night, I had a cold, dreamless sleep.
School went fairly well, considering it was the last day. Goodbyes were shared between students while I watched awkwardly, giving a few parting words to some of my 'friends.' I guess it was due to my joking nature, but no one really got close enough to know me. Sure, a lot of the kids knew my name, but I couldn't recall the last time I had been invited to someone's house or went to a party.
Not that it really mattered. Many of my classmates were going to a different private school other than True Cross and even those that were amounted to about a handful. 'Sides, who needed friends when you're enslaved to a demon with a cutesy, arrow-pointed tail?
I heard that. A voice suddenly shot in my head, nearly making me trip down the stairs. Luckily, I caught myself, hands wrapped tightly around the rails. My face had met the last step of this stupid staircase way too many times.
Damnit, I must be going crazy! I said to myself. So I was really in a plushy white cell. Lovely.
You're slightly unhinged, I would say, but I've seen worse. Trust me. The voice was back and this time I recognized it— cue silver-haired demon with a penchant for stabbing people with his claws.
I heard that too.
You were supposed to, I shot back. I just made it back to my last class and now I had to deal with a psychopathic demon in my head. Wow, I totally understood what people meant when they said 'fighting their own demons.' I just wish mine could be killed.
You have no filter, do you? He commented dryly. I snorted, bringing attention to myself in class. I had just laughed after my teacher was telling a story about her friend catching the bubonic plague— whoops!
"I mean that sounds horrible. All the boils and all. That sounds particularly revolting." I tried to appear distraught but I guess it looked more akin to a grimace because my teacher asked if I needed to be excused. I shook my head, flashing a grin.
"Nope, just having some troubles with my head—the demon kind." Why the hell did I say that!? Maybe Astaroth was right, I really have no filter.
The rest of my classmates laughed as the teacher tried to calm them. Which was definitely not going to work, given that it was the last day of the school year. Giving up, my instructor took out her book, letting the class burst into chatter.
I kept my head low, palm pressed against my cheek as I watched the clock.
Say, Ruth, do ya think you could make time go by faster so I don't have to sit here for another thirty minutes? I think I might actually go insane.
Who the Gehenna are you calling Ruth?! As for your question, well… no. That's Samael's domain. The guy whose school we'll be attending.
I rolled my eyes. He really was no help. I decided to not ask him about the 'domain', because I was sure it was only going to make things more confusing. It was bad enough that I had to see those stupid floating green-eyed insects everywhere I went.
They're called coal tar, dumbass. He quipped.
I glared. Sorry for not knowing that— they don't exactly teach demonology in textbooks.
He became suddenly quiet. I shrugged to myself, despite the stares that it gave me. I guess it looked like I was having a conversation with myself, because the second I made eye contact with someone they'd look away, embarrassed.
Well, that could have gone better…
For the next couple of weeks, Astaroth was surprisingly quiet. He didn't contact me through our weird bond thingy and I sure as hell wasn't going to go looking for him myself. I almost hoped that everything that had happened was a dream; except, there were still coal tar everywhere and I nearly got attacked by some undead dog. But that's another story for another time.
As I walked past the same children's park I noticed something that I couldn't believe I hadn't seen before. There was a small monastery, hidden by foliage and a brick wall tall enough to obscure its windows. My legs carried me there almost automatically. Here, I can get help to make Astaroth go away and whatever curse he put on me! I cheered, ready to walk inside. But, something stopped me. Staring up at the cross placed just above the double oak doors, I froze.
This is stupid. Just 'cause he preaches the stuff doesn't mean he actually believes in demons. What if the priest or whatever just laughs at me? I rationalized, already feeling my hand on the doorknob tremble. Deciding I'd just peek around to see if there was anyone there, I opened the door just a crack.
Peering inside, I saw some blue-haired kid and what appeared to be a priest, arguing. The kid yelled something back and the radiator placed in the middle of the church sparked into blue flames for a millisecond, toppling over onto the floor. The group of clergymen laughed it off as the youth sighed, eventually walking out of my line of sight.
Blue flames… now where have I heard of that, I thought, deciding against asking for help. It seemed like the priest had enough trouble keeping his son or whoever in line.
Just as I walked past the church steps I noticed Astaroth on the park swing, grinning widely. I looked around before approaching him. I had been careless the last time I was out alone and it had nearly gotten me killed—twice. I wasn't going to let it happen again.
"What do you want?" I asked, folding my arms.
He pointed to the church. "There's a barrier there strong enough that even I can't break it. But, from what your thoughts told me, I think I know why it's there. Good job, Icarus. You actually found the young prince."
I froze, thinking back to the boy in the church. "You're kidding?! That's the son of Satan? He's like my age and looks as harmless as a fly!"
The demon gave a deep, guttural chuckle. "That's because his true nature has not been awakened. They've sealed his powers somewhere. I'm also tasked to bring out that power." He finished cryptically, standing up from the swing.
"If all goes well, I'll be back in Gehenna in no time, along with the prince."
"Then what about me?"
He pointed a clawed hand towards me. "You'd have served your purpose. You can go back to doing whatever normal, regular humans do. I'm sure that after a time my 'curse' will lift itself from you and you'll be able to die a wonderfully painful death."
"Great, just what I wanted…" I mumbled, already taking my leave. I didn't need to hear the demon spout out a hundred colorful ways for me to die. Taking a parting glance that I thought would be my last of the demon king, I walked ahead, whistling a little tune.
Things were finally going to go back to normal— well, minus the fact that I could now see demons.
Or so I thought.
I had just gotten home from my walk when I felt a pain deep in my chest. I fell to my knees by the front door, gasping for breath. I could hear Astaroth's voice in my head, dark and threatening.
I'll kill you, you damnable priest!
"No…" I managed to whisper out, feeling my consciousness fade. I heard the rushed steps of my parents before the world went completely black.
A/N: Yes, more things will be explained next chap! We'll find out what exactly happened to our dear Icarus XD P.S. I like to give all the demons cutesy/girly nicknames; it's quite fun :P you've got Mephy, Amai-kun, Lucy (Lucifer), and then Ruthy :P
