In the Human Realm, there exists the vast amount of clueless creatures that practically crawled all over the surface of their 'Earth'. They thought themselves to be the superior beings in the world, more advanced and intelligent than any other living thing.
How laughable, when they're the ones who have no special abilities of their own. They don't possess the Core that are an essential part of angels and demons, or beings that are in between. It was the Core that gave them life, for the angels and their powers, the heart of what they are.
These so-called superior species cannot even see them even when they're right in front of them, other than the human form that they choose to display in front of humans, if they wanted to. This permits them to pretty much do whatever they want, the Human Realm is a neutral ground, after all.
It is a fortunate thing that most lowly demons are unable to rise up into the Human Realm and most powerful ones choose not to, as there is mostly nothing to gain from the humans other than a brief taste of entertainment.
The souls that end up in the Beneath (i.e. Hell) is a feast enough for them.
Although he could pretty much go unseen among the humans, even with his dark wings and blood-stained face, he'd rather not mix with the mass of inferior creatures.
Kira soared over the dense city below, nose wrinkling in distaste over the stink that it gave out. He headed further north, into the cooler air of a countryside. He went further up, towards a forest largely untouched by humans, circled over a pool of water where above it is a shallow waterfall that came down in cascades. He glided down and landed by the water's edge, where a blanket moss creates a soft, damp carpet beneath his bare feet.
The water was cool and clear, the green, shallow pool framed by thin, sparsely leafed trees that stretched into the distance that seemed to conspire to hide this stream from the world. The curtain of water tumbles down the rocks, creating a soft rumble that calms his restless mind.
Kira unwrapped the chains around his forearms and stripped out of his bloodied clothes, leaving them in a heap on the mossy ground. He fluttered his wings as he stepped into the icy pool, deeper and deeper until the water was level with his stomach. He stepped into the curtain of water, closed his eyes and let it wash away the filth and gore from his hair and body. They churned and bobbed beneath the waterfall. Kira fanned his wings out and the water rained upon them, washing out the blood that had accumulated in his feathers.
He stayed under the cascade for a long while, before he suddenly opened his harsh eyes.
Kira turned to the forest, where the crying of creatures and insects rang out from afar.
He folded his wings towards his back, keeping his body faced towards the mass of rocks as he called out, "I know you're there, demon."
A chuckle was emitted from the depths of the forest, "My, can't you let a man enjoy himself?"
A figure materialized from the trees. The figure was male, he had long, flowing white hair and a pale, chiseled face. His eyes were slanted, touched by a hint of dark red that fades into brown. He wore a black formal dress suit, polished shoes and a pair of gold-framed glasses.
There was a thin smile on his face as he spoke, "Especially when it's the person who set you free, dear Kira."
"It is when you do things like this that makes me question your sexuality, Melanthios," Kira responded blandly as he turned back to the waterfall, closing his eyes as he ran his hands through his soaked hair.
"I like women," Melanthios said, unconcerned by his words, "I just appreciate beautiful things, that's all."
Kira ignored him as he stepped out from the shower and shook himself off briefly.
The white-haired man spotted the pile of clothes on the floor, frowning at how filthy they looked with all the blood on them. Still, he made his way over and gingerly picked up the chain with a finger and thumb.
"You still keep these?"
The red eyes flickered over to Melanthios, which should've chilled the man to the bone. The demon showed no reaction as he peered back.
"It's a reminder," Kira said, the beginnings of a snarl forming in his voice.
Melanthios let them drop onto the clothes and stepped away, "You could've come over, my bathrooms are more hygienic than this. They're also fitted with heaters."
"Whatever," Kira uttered, not thrilled by the thought of going to his house.
"I was thinking of inviting you over to dinner," Melanthios said, smiling, "Sharon is looking forward to seeing you too."
Kira looked up at the irritating smile that the demon is giving him, thinking of about a hundred excuses of not going over.
"Mistral is there," he added as he pointed at the sky, "She has something to tell you about what is going on up there."
"Is it important?"
"Oh absolutely," Melanthios watched as Kira made his way to the mossy bank and reached for his clothes, "It's about the things that will happen on your next attack on the East."
Kira turned towards him, frowning at the intense gaze the demon is sending his way, "By the time we reach, she'll be gone."
"She's still there," Melanthios said, as Kira pulled on his pants, "She'll still be there if you would hurry up."
"Fine," he snapped, pulling on his shirt and rewrapped the chains around his arms.
The reason why Kira would not like to go to Melanthios' house, well, mansion, was not because the demon likes to stare at him and call him things like 'beautiful' or 'wonderful' or 'a truly marvelous and angelic creature' ever since he had encountered him in the second darkest depths of the Beneath.
Nor was his rambling on about art or music or fine dining or his wonderful wife, Sharon, that irks him to no end, although that is already a bad enough reason. With his fraying sanity, there's a lot less things he could take.
No, what is the worst was actually the wife itself.
It wasn't really her fault, it wasn't because she was rude or quiet or annoying in any manner, she couldn't be.
That is because Sharon is truly, utterly, dead.
Yet she, the woman who was reduced to a skeleton, dressed in a pale yellow dress decorated with frills and roses, sat with them at the huge dining table that was never fully utilized, full of candles and flowers and a table cloth that served no other purpose than to decorate it, prepared for no other guests than he, Mistral and any other demon who visits on occasion. But not even the general populace of demons would like to visit him, either.
Kira was served a grilled trout on a silver dish, garnished with lemon, rosemary and a bunch of other herbs and sauces that he didn't bother to learn about.
He simply stared at the fish, while Melanthios rambles on and on about the herbs he had his maid servants grow in his garden, and the numerous flowers and the various designs of marbled water fountains in his immense garden.
A waiter came forward, poured white wine into his glass and stepped away.
Kira made no move to touch it.
"Try it," Melanthios encouraged, "It's a Pinot Grigio, 1891, quite the exquisite cultivation."
Kira ignored him, "She left."
"That she did," Melanthios said, sipping his wine.
"She left before you went to find me."
"Nonsense- mmm, this is good," he set his glass back on the table happily, "Oh no, Sharon, did you get sauce on your dress again? Silly girl."
Kira watched nonchalantly as Melanthios used a napkin to dab at an imaginary stain on the dress, there was a rattle as her skull tipped backwards and dislodged from her spine. It clattered to the carpeted floor and disappeared under the table.
"Whoops, my bad."
The fallen angel decided he had enough as he stood, "I'm leaving."
"No, wait, wait," Melanthios stood, while the maidens stepped forward, "Stop, don't touch her head, I'll do it. Angel, hold up."
"I'm no angel," Kira growled, red eyes flaring as the demon proceeded to block his path.
"Well, won't you stay?" Melanthios implored with a dramatic wave of his hand that clutch at his chest, "I haven't seen much of your radiance lately, it is a plight for me to be without your enchanting beauty."
"Stop wasting my time!" Kira shoved him into the wall.
Melanthios simply laughed, thrilled by the sudden assault.
Kira was ready to murder him when the demon said, "Well, before you go, Mistral had me pass a message to you."
The fallen angel reluctantly lowered his fist as he growled, "What."
"'Judgement is on your trail,'" Melanthios said, "She also added, 'He knows what you're planning to do.'"
Kira stared at him and let out a deranged chuckle, releasing the demon from his hold.
"Judgement is after me," he laughed, his voice raspy as he doubled over, "Judgement? A lowly Judgement? Hahahaha!"
"Mistral seems to think that this Judgement will be a difficult opponent."
"They are all the same," Kira said between his cackles as Melanthios shrugged and went to look for Sharon's skull.
Eventually, the laughter was reduced to wheezes as he lifted his head. "I know just what to do," he smirked, his glowing red eyes filled with dark glee.