The Devil and the Assassin
Chapter 1 - The Midnight Feast
WARNING: This chapter has not been beta read; I only proofread this.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Fairy tail, Hiro Mashima does.
Jellal's jaw clenched as he walked through the hallways of the palace, his footsteps heavy and rushed. He stopped in front of a door and knocked on it. A few seconds later, a voice answered. "Yes?"
"It's me, Jellal," he bit out. He could feel the apprehension soaking him. He wasn't a demon tamer for he was an assassin. He killed, not tamed. He could never imagine a demon following him around alive. For a moment, he wondered whether it could last for a few weeks before he lost control and ended its life.
Frowning, he shook the thought away and the doors opened, revealing a woman with dark purple hair and similar brown eyes. She raised her eyebrows in surprise. "What are you doing here?"
Jellal released something which sounded like a grunt and a sigh. "I need your help."
"I hope this is important," she said, stepping aside to let the man in. "The Midnight Feast is only hours away and I have to prepare."
"It's related to that," the bluenette said, sitting down on the edge of her bed. He folded his arms over his chest and sucked in a deep shuddering breath. "Tell me the basics of how to tame a demon, Ultear."
The said woman's eyes widened and she looked around the hallway before closing the door. "Are you crazy?" she whispered loudly, dragging a hand down her face. "You are not fit to be a Demon Tamer, Jellal. You are a killer, not a tamer."
"You think I don't know that?!" he hissed. "But the emperor gave me a mission to tame a demon!"
Ultear's jaw dropped. "Ha?! Has the old man finally lost his mind?"
Jellal rolled his eyes. "He has lost it long ago," he said and sighed, holding his head in his hands. "If I fail, I will be stripped of my rank, of my position, of my power. Do you understand how crucial the situation is?"
"I do." She sounded amused. "Well, we might as well get on with it."
The bluenette sighed in relief. "Thank you."
Ultear smiled slightly before pulling a chair in front of Jellal. She sat down on it and started explaining. "First off, do you know the hierarchy and the levels of demons?" she asked, tilting her head to the side.
The man nodded. "Yes. There's the king, the queen, the princess, the commanders, grand dukes and grand duchesses, the normal dukes and duchesses and the generals. Then there are the familiars. There are the level one demons that have minor demonic abilities and have more experiences with humans. Then there are the level two demons that make great protectors. Level three demons are stronger than the one and two, but not as strong as the four and five which are equivalent to a duke and duchess. Five and six are particularly difficult to deal with, for they are the grand dukes and duchesses but the hardest are the level seven demons who are the royalty."
Ultear grinned widely and said, "That's right. Usually we only tame those below five and nothing more, for the others are harder to tame. That is, unless you have exceptional talent."
"Has someone ever tamed a high leveled demon before?" Jellal asked.
"Yes," the woman said. "Mavis Vermillion, one of the best Demon Tamers in the past, tamed a demon named Zeref, a prince. She succeeded and he succumbed to her demands. He would go on rampage sometimes but she would control him."
"Amazing," Jellal breathed out, his eyes wide and blinking.
Ultear shrugged. "She was merely a teenager when she tamed him. Anyway, taming a demon is easy, but to keep your hold on them is hard. We use these collars to keep them in our hands," she paused to get a black leather collar with metal pressed inside, "This has magic and keeps them at bay. Then we recite the spell to tame them and when they feel that they can no longer fight it, they surrender to us. Then we exchange blood a bit and then it will be bound to you."
"Sounds pretty complicated," Jellal mumbled. "Does that mean I have to know the spell too?"
She nodded. "Of course, otherwise you won't be able to do anything. If they still aren't tamed with that, then we take drastic measures and let them drink this potion." She lifted a vial filled with neon blue liquid and uttered, "Though it's pretty hard to make them drink it."
"Is that all then?" he asked, standing up to leave. "I have to prepare as well."
"Ah, here is the spell," Ultear said, handing him a slip of paper. "It's not that long so it's easy to remember."
"Thank you," he whispered, smiling weakly.
She rubbed the back of her neck. "You're welcome," she mumbled and started pushing him out the door. "Alright, it's time for you to leave. I wish you luck, Jellal."
He grinned over his shoulder. "I wish the same for you."
"Don't die on us, aye?"
"Aye," he said, laughing as the doors behind him shut close. His grin dropped and his face went blank. He couldn't believe he was going to tame a demon when he could just kill it, easy and simple.
With a growl, he turned around and started walking towards his room. He could feel his blood pounding in his ears out of ire, and his body trembled with every step he took. He arrived in his bedroom and he started to prepare for the feast of the demons.
A knock sounded on his door.
"Jellal?"
The said man grunted in response.
"It is time."
He stared out the window and heard a shriek. His lips thinned into a line and he drew the curtains close. "I understand. I'll be down soon."
The guard nodded and Jellal could hear his footsteps growing distant. He buttoned his dress shirt close and took out a leather jacket, sliding his arms in and pulling the hem down. He tied some straps across his torso and secured knives in, liking the way they glinted under the light. He then wore his shoes and grabbed his katana as well. After that, he took the vial Ultear showed him earlier and placed it in his pouch along with the collar for the demon.
He closed his eyes and exhaled softly, listening to his heart pounding. "It's now or never," he whispered. He opened his eyes and exited his room.
In the hallway, other demon tamers and hunters were starting to pile in. There were low murmurs against the tense aura and they all headed towards the entrance of the palace. From where he was, he could spot Ultear's violet hair in the mass of people. He still felt anxious due to the fact that it was his first time taming a demon, but he had no choice for it was the emperor's wishes.
"You alright?" a fellow comrade asked.
He looked at him. "Ah, yes, I'm alright. Why do you ask?"
"I heard rumors that you're going to tame demons. Is that true?" he asked, quirking a brow.
Jellal sighed, nodding his head. "Sadly, it's true."
"Woah, you serious?" the demon hunter asked, blinking widely. When Jellal nodded, he whistled. "Good luck with that, Jellal. But I know you can do it anyway."
"Thank you," the assassin said, smiling widely.
The other man grinned. "Always a pleasure."
They all stopped outside of the palace and waited for further instructions. The night was silent and everyone was edgy with anticipation, a distant scream ringing in the city. There were collective gulps from the crowd of hunters and tamers as a gust of wind blew past them. The clouds then started to cover the moon and he could see shoulders going rigid.
Although this was Jellal's first time participating in the Midnight Feast, he always watched them during the night. He marveled how they could just attack and tame demons with ease, as if it was cooking your meal in the morning. He was still nervous, but maybe he would do well after all.
"Don't let the demon take over, bro," the man from before said, smirking at Jellal. "You got that?"
The bluenette nodded. "Alright. Don't go dying on me too."
"Yes, sir!"
A few moments of silence continued and the bells started ringing, signaling the beginning of the hunt.
The crowd dispersed and Jellal took his time into hiding into the shadows, listening to the snarls and the laughs of the demons. Fire exploded in the streets and the citizens started screaming in terror, the shrill sound sending chills down his spine.
"Humanssss, I want humansss!" a demon hissed nearby. Jellal slitted his eyes and saw that the demon's eyes were glowing green. It was a low level demon and he had no desire to tame it.
The bluenette drew out his katana and slashed it at the demon. It screeched as flames engulfed him and he dissolved into ashes. He breathed heavily and jumped up onto the roofs, running as fast as he could. He scanned the city for higher demons but couldn't find any.
"Hunter!"
He whipped around and saw a level three demon. He narrowed his eyes as it spoke. "Give me your blood."
Jellal's lips twitched into a smirk. "Burn in hell, demon," he spat and pierced his sword through its body.
"You will pay for this, human!"
He grinned. "We'll see." And he ran once more.
He spotted Ultear taming another demon, her body being engulfed brightly in violet light. He growled low in his throat and desperately searched for a duke, or a duchess of that matter. The flames in the streets grew stronger, smoke rising in the air and ashes scattering in the wind. He covered his nose with his jacket and gripped his katana tightly in his hand, his thundering footsteps resounding in the city. Yells and cries surrounded him, making his blood boil. He could recall that night, when he could do nothing but cry and whimper in the corner. The night when—
He gritted his teeth and pushed the memory away. He wanted to kill every one of them but that wasn't his mission. He had to tame a demon, not eradicate them. And although the latter sounded much better, he didn't have much of a choice after all.
"Help me!"
He whipped around to find a little girl cowering in an alley, a low level demon sauntering towards her. His lips tightened into a firm line and he sunk into the shadows, watching its moves. It cackled as it neared the child, a hiss escaping its mouth. "You look delicious, human."
Jellal frowned and held the hilt of his sword, pulling it out. The demon's ears perked and it turned around to face him. "I can smell you, assassin."
The bluenette stepped out of the shadows and unsheathed his weapon, aiming it towards the enemy. "Leave her be."
"As if!" It ran towards him and he moved to the side, stepping on its tail. It screamed out and he drove the knife in its back, the demon dissolving into ashes.
Jellal wrinkled his nose. "Do demons ever think?"
A cry snapped him out of his trance and he looked towards the child. She sobbed uncontrollably, tears streaming down her face. With a sigh, he approached her and crouched down to her level, patting her head. "Everything's going to be alright now. I killed the demon, see?" he said and smiled widely.
"M-My mother," she said shakily. "W-Where is s-she?"
"I'm sorry but I don't know…" Jellal said, frowning. "I have to leave."
"B-But—"
"Do not make a sound and hide in the shadows," he instructed, pushing himself to stand up as he dusted the dirt off the sleeves of his jacket. "If you do that, the demons won't find you."
The child looked like she was about to protest, but then shut her mouth and nodded. Jellal patted her head once more. "Good girl." He jumped up onto the buildings once more and ignored the cries of humans around him. He saved the child for a personal reason, and he had a mission to fulfill. As he neared the city plaza, another round of bells rang.
The second half of the feast was starting, where the higher ranked demons would start to show. Despite of the apprehension coursing in his veins, a grin split his face in excitement.
The screams of humans dying grew louder and louder, his skin crawling as another explosion was heard in the streets. The wind whipped his hair back as he ran, a burst of energy suddenly burning in him. He could pick up demons laughing around him and he readied himself for taming. Ultear advised him to relax his mind and body first before striking on a demon. According to her, it was easier that way.
"Where are those humans?!"
"I need to eat!"
"Humans, come out, come out!
"I can't wait to get my hands on them and gouge their eyes out. Master will be pleased."
Jellal pursed his lips and took out a dagger from one of the straps across his chest. He crouched down and eyed a demon that walked on the street beneath him and raised the weapon, the blade glinting for a split second before he let it fly. It hit the demon's head and it shrieked as it clawed at its head before it dissolved into ashes. He jumped down onto the streets and drew out his sword, impassively staring at a number of demons who turned to glare at him.
He frowned. "Eh? No high leveled demons? How boring," he said and yawned.
"What an arrogant human," one commented, sliding its tongue over its lips. "I cannot wait to feast upon you!"
Jellal arched his eyebrows in amusement. "I have a feeling I've heard those words before," he mumbled under his breath and shrugged. "Ah, whatever, their fates will be the same anyway." He gripped the handle of his katana and spun around to slash it at a demon. Its head fell off and he jumped back before the flames could touch him. Another came at him from behind and he looked over his shoulder. It hissed and snarled at him, its tail waving. He grimaced and stepped aside then held the tail. It grew rigid and he pierced its body with his sword.
As two demons came at him, he slashed his weapon at them, their bodies engulfing in bright flames as soon as the blade drew out their blood. A demon screeched and said, "H-How are you so strong, human?"
"I don't know," he said wryly. "I'm the high assassin of Fiore though."
A demon's eyes widened. "Y-You're the rumored assassin who goes by the name Seraphim?"
Jellal's blank face broke into a grin. "Yes, that's me. Tonight, I was asked to tame a demon. Unfortunately for you, you're not the one I want. Therefore, you can just die." And he sliced half of its body off, its mouth hanging open in a silent scream.
One by one, they rushed towards him. He charged, katana held high, and pulled it down with so much force that the blade struck at multiple demons. He dodged their bodies that burned in flames, killing one demon after another. Black blood dirtied his clothes and he wiped away the smudge of blood on his cheek, sheathing his katana as the demons behind him dissipated into ashes, the fire finally burning out.
He heaved a sigh and rubbed the back of his neck. "Ah, that was fun. Now, I need to look for a worthy demon to tame." He crouched down, ready to jump onto the buildings when a bright red color glowed in the streets. He straightened up and held the hilt of his sword, eyeing the portal wearily.
A woman stepped into the flames.
He rolled his eyes over her. She wore a black dress, the skirt trailing behind her. Bright yellow hair tumbled over her shoulders and a black tail swished behind her, drawing his eyes to the cuffs on her arms. He gulped and met the demon's eyes. Crimson irises stared at him amusedly, her red coated lips lifting in a sly smile. As he trailed his eyes to the demon's pointy ears, he paled, for they were adorned by earrings and jewelry.
She was royalty.
Jellal gripped the hilt of his katana tighter as the demon flipped her hair back, flames licking her skin. She breathed in and the fire rose. Apparently, she controlled them. At the thought of his body being burned into ashes, he shuddered, hating the idea.
"Demon." His voice came out hoarse but firm. The said woman swiveled her head towards him, taking a step and pulling herself out of the fire. She focused her attention to him, her lips in a lazy smile. Her tail was relaxed and was on the ground. She noticed the tattoo on his right cheek and finally met his eyes, her smile growing wider.
Jellal's insides froze, and to his astonishment, his eyes widened. The demon was stunning without a doubt, and he found that absolutely disgusting. Her yellow tresses were laid over her shoulders, and as she grinned, he didn't fail to see the fangs protruding from her upper lip. The mere sight of her walking towards him sent shivers up his spine and he struggled to maintain composure.
"Human," she murmured, her voice a tone that resembled the high note of a piano. "Or should I say, Seraphim." She chuckled and placed her hand on her hips, her eyes slitting.
"You've killed quite a few demons. I'm impressed."
Jellal swallowed the lump in his throat. "They were weak."
The demon raised a brow at him, seemingly amused. "Is that so?" she said and came to a stop just an arm-span away from him. She tilted her head back, staring down at him through long lashes. "I suppose you'll have much more fun with me now, no?" she asked, her fangs glinting under the moonlight as she smiled.
"Perhaps," the bluenette said, licking his chapped lips. He stepped back into a fighting stance, drawing out his katana and pointing it at her. She eyed the blade with sheer delight and she slid a foot back as well, raising her hand towards him.
She grinned. "Come, human."
"With pleasure," Jellal said and slashed his sword at her. She jumped back, the flames roaring behind her as she flicked her finger, a blaze spiraling towards him. He evaded the attack and threw a dagger at her. She bent back as it flew just above her torso, her eyes widening at the newfound enjoyment. She raised her foot and slammed it on the ground, a pillar of fire running towards him. He cursed and pushed his legs off the ground. Now suspended in air, the demon took this as an advantage and sprang at him, claws reaching for him.
She laughed. "You're mine now, Seraphim!"
"That's where you are wrong," Jellal growled, forcing his body to flip as he slammed his feet against her face. She yelped and fell to the ground. He landed safely on the pavement, his breathing growing heavy and his head spinning.
There was no more time to look for another demon. He had to tame her or else he would die.
He looked around his surroundings and jumped onto the buildings. Her eyes followed his movements and ran after him, her face split with a feral grin. The flames behind her rose with every step she took, and Jellal started to feel the heat. He swallowed thickly and dug in his pouch for the collar. As he felt it, he gripped it hard and leaped down onto the streets, the demon joining him as well. He took out a dagger and turned around, slashing at her, watching her tail intently.
Her tail started to lift from the ground and he grasped it, earning a shriek. He pushed her against the floor and buckled the collar around her neck. Her eyes widened and she started trashing beneath him, cursing and screaming. Jellal closed his eyes and held her head.
"You cannot tame me, human!" she shouted, trying to free herself. "I am the demon princess!"
"The higher the level, the better," he muttered and sucked in a deep breath. The demon quivered as they both started glowing in a bright blue light.
"I choose now to bind my soul with this demon, and I call upon the power of the mighty ruler of the skies, to grant me the power to take control over this devil. Any attempts of leaving shall be futile and it shall always return to me."
The demon grew wilder. "Let me go! Let me go!"
"Likewise, it shall help me at my every need and bow to my every whim. It shall submit to me until I renounce our contract or until my last breath."
Her body trembled and the flames around her grew bigger and bigger. "Stop it! Stop it! Stop it!" Blood dripped from her eyes and they rolled to the back of her head.
"With this spell, you are now indeed bound to me and wherever I go, you will follow."
"No!" the demon cried out.
Jellal opened his brown irises. "Exchange!"
Their eyes glowed and black markings appeared on her right arm. She stared at it with frightened eyes and dreaded his next words. "Seal!"
The demon gasped as pain flared in her chest. She arched her back and a scream ripped through her throat. Moments later, Jellal felt the same agony and his cries joined hers, their voices thundering in the city. When it was over, the bluenette huffed and stood up, staring down at the demon as she quivered, his chest heaving in and out breathlessly. He licked his lips and raised his hand, opening up a gate to the demon realm just under her body. He found himself grinning wickedly at her, his eyes wide with victory and malice.
"Leave."
A/N: I really should stick with what I say. I said I'd updated when GMB is finished, but since you guys like this, I felt bad T.T Oh well, we'll work on this with the rest of my stories since it's still summer vacation and I have tons of time! :D Seraphim means a six-winged angel bw (Was it three or six?) and stands in the presence of God. That's the reason why he called himself that, because he despises demons very much.
I hope the fight scenes weren't too shabby or anything. If you guys want to see the tattoo on her arm and how she looks like as a demon, the pictures are on my facebook page :) Anyhow, I hope you guys liked this and if you did and you want the next chapter, leave a review! They give me motivation and I might just update sooner than expected, eh?
Please do dismiss my mistakes and the link to my page, blog and ask fm is on my profile!
"I am the demon princess and I will never be tamed."
Bye! -Anne :D
- Please support/read my other stories: Celebrity Issues, Good Meets Bad, Forgotten Memories, Life's Challenges, Queen of Stars, A Love That Lasts Forever, Fragile and Going Against The Current.