The Kaka Princess took the jewel, and the Demon Lord laid his claim to her. By force, he took her, and spirited away to his lands, where he made sure she could not leave. He sealed her deep within his region, away from the sky and the grasslands that she so loved. Her cries were heeded by no one.
He desired the Princess and so he violated her, stealing her innocence and forever marking her as his. At least, that's what many claim, for if a man takes a woman by force, why would he do so if not to ravish her?
Taokaka lowered her head, though she did not cry again. She tried to calm down and collect her thoughts. Home? How could this ever be home? She already missed the vast expanse of grass and sky, and her sister and teacher, and the Warriors of her clan, and her best friends, the Kaka kittens. And most of all, she missed her freedom.
The young princess was painfully aware of the Demon Lord's breath near her ear, and his hands on her shoulders. His proclamation had filled her with fear. No normal bonds could hold her, but Ragna was a powerful demon. How was she to break free of his custody?
"I hate you." she whispered fiercely as she felt his hands caress her shoulders.
"You don't mean that." the Demon Lord whispered back.
"You tricked me and took me from my home! Why should I not hate you meow?"
"I brought you home, Taokaka. And rest assured... I will offer you all the comforts of home. Don't worry your pretty little head about it..." he stated with a faint smile, seeing the sadness and fury mixed in her red eyes as she looked over her shoulder at him.
"You are a horrible man!" she replied hotly, "I do not belong here, in the region of fire and darkness!"
The Demon Lord circled around until he faced her and looked her in the eyes. Searing red and green met heated ruby, and Taokaka found herself unable to look away.
"You have a spirit that is as hot and fiery as this very volcano. Whether you want to admit it or not, you truly belong here... with me." He looked down at her, sounding so damn sure of himself that she wanted to slap him.
"Why would you say that? I am neither willing, nor accepting. It's too dark down here! How do you expect me to live here? There's no water around, and it's too hot!" she exclaimed, firing her questions in rapid succession.
"You'll grow accustomed…" the Demon Lord answered, as cool as ice, "That is, unless you're afraid of a little heat." he added with a smirk. She glared at him, shaking her head defiantly.
"I don't want to grow accustomed! What are you thinking, that I'll become a Demoness nya?"
The young demon lord responded with a wider smirk. She had no idea just how much she was like him deep down. Taokaka's will and attitude was both charming and downright... delicious. Not to mention arousing. He imagined that she would be fierce in bed, and satisfy him in a way that no female ever had. He had no desire for a meek and obedient mate.
She rose to her feet, albeit a little shakily, and licked her dry lips. The heat from the nearby portal was downright oppressing, and the glow from the molten earth seemed too bright for her.
"Once you spend some time here, you'll find this place to be just as beautiful as the Kaka grasslands."
"Never!" she flared, her eyes blazing even more. Why couldn't he see what he was doing? She had thought that he was an honorable demon, wasn't it what the other leaders had said about this former young Demon prince who had the courage to stand up to the tyrannical Terumi? Her legs quivered in agitation as she stared at him. Despite the heat, she was shivering, and not because of any cold, real or perceived.
For a brief moment, the white-haired Demon Lord was moved to pity from her words. She seemed so earnest in her discomfort.
"You'll find that this place has everything you need." He was saddened that she wasn't even trying to enjoy this or giving him a chance to be a good host. If she took the time to fully explore, the young Kaka princess would find this place to be rather comfortable and luxurious.
Though this large chamber was impressive in itself, it was but a small part of his inner sanctum. There was more than enough room for her to move about, and the portal was the only entrance or exit to the rest of the Palace, so she could explore to her heart's desire and be unable to escape.
Taokaka groaned softly, her heart pounding as she shook her head.
"I need the grass and the sky... and my freedom." she whispered. There was a gentle look in the Demon Lord's eyes as he moved closer. His hand gently brushed her cheek, and she turned her face away from his touch.
"And I need you." Ragna replied softly.
"No… you don't. You don't even know me." Taokaka retorted, fighting back tears of anger and panic, "How can you choose someone to be your mate if you do not even know them? You didn't even try to court me. It's dishonorable to kidnap a woman."
The Demon Lord was silent for a moment. He never wanted to be labeled as dishonorable. He quickly rationalized the situation by telling himself that he had no intent or desire to harm her at all. She need not fear rape. She was here as his mate, not his prisoner. And he already knew her well enough.
Taokaka turned her head away, staring ahead at a bunch of crystals growing out of the rock. Hard and shiny, reminding her of the claws that the Warriors of her clan used in their gloves, they glowed with almost the same intensity as the swirling portal behind her. The glow from the lava played on the crystals, causing them to appear even more dazzling and she could not help but be reminded of the way that the sunlight would play on the waves of the grass…
She let out a low sigh, looking down at the ground as she rubbed her arm. Thinking of the grasslands only reminded her of what had happened, and she felt sad despite the beauty of the crystals that would have normally delighted her.
Taokaka turned away from him, distancing herself with a few paces, calming down somewhat. Screaming and arguing with him obviously was no good, so she would have to figure something else out. There had to be a way out of this prison that the prick who had kidnapped her called home.
How could someone stand this heat and near complete darkness? She supposed the Demons and Vampires could take it, but she thought Ragna was smarter than thinking that she would be just fine and dandy here. That bastard didn't even think to ask her permission or court her properly, caging her like an animal and then acting as though it was enough. One could not expect someone of a different region to be happy about being immersed in another region. She could not imagine her captor living happily on the Kaka grasslands.
Taokaka rubbed her arms with her paws and lifted one paw to her neck. She stiffened as she felt the chain, remembering just what it was that had caused her current predicament. She touched the stone that she had placed around her neck for a moment before she pulled the necklace off, spinning around and hurling it at him in a sudden fit of rage. She watched as the chain and stone sailed through the air.
Though he was shocked at her action, he managed to catch it with ease, holding it by the slender chain. The Demon Lord looked at Taokaka, whose eyes seemed to hold the raw might of the volcano in her piercing gaze. Perhaps if he were a human, he would have been immolated on the spot.
"Take that stupid jewel back, and keep it. Give it to someone else!"
"I will not." he said firmly, meeting her gaze with his own as he finished with a tone of finality, "It is yours, and you are mine."
"Why can't you? It's your jewel, and I want nothing to do with it meow!" Her stubborn stare met his in a silent battle of wills. The Kaka princess was so surprisingly stubborn and fierce despite her predicament, that for a brief moment, the Demon Lord actually felt a shiver. This Kaka girl truly was meant for him.
They continued the deadlocked stare for several moments before she spoke again.
"Are you just going to keep staring at me? Are you going to leave me down in your palace forever?"
"That is the plan." Ragna replied dryly, crossing his arms.
She let out a strangled cry, as if someone had suddenly thrust something sharp into her stomach and she spun around, fleeing through the cavern, leaving the chamber. Forever? Forever? It couldn't be! She was practically immortal – an eternity down here... what had she done to deserve such a fate? It just wasn't fair! How could he keep her captive down here for the rest of eternity?
Taokaka did not notice him take after her. The caverns were large enough that she had room to sprint. She used her Kaka speed, frantically zipping through the massive palace. She was looking for a way out, any way out, or even a kind soul that might offer her any assistance, but all she saw were steel-horned, skull-faced guards. They did not seem to notice her, and they did not attempt to stop her either. She tried different doors, but none of them would admit her.
The air here was dry and without a ready source of water, her exertions caused her to become dehydrated. However, she did not notice this in her frantic efforts to find a way out. Kaka Warriors did not die when they became dehydrated, but they did become weak. Any warrior out of their region for too long would become weaker and while this did not mean they could be defeated by lesser enemies, other stronger enemies could easily gain the upper hand over them. Namely, Ragna over her.
Moving with greater speed than before, Taokaka was determined to find a safe haven from the Demon Lord. The strain of running was growing too much as she finally realized she was becoming dehydrated, so she ran down endless corridors. All she wanted to do was return to the Kaka region. There was not one single window to be seen along the rocky walls, and she could not imagine living in such a windowless place! It wasn't natural! The lamps and glowing crystals provided her some light as she dashed around for some water or escape route.
But there was none, and she knew she needed to rest. Climbing up the wall, using her one arm with the still working steel claw to help her get up there, she settled on a large cluster of red crystals. The configuration of crystals was almost like a nest – albeit a rather uncomfortable one. But she was tired, and she did not want him to find her laying down anywhere. She settled down as comfortably as she could given the hardness and angles of the crystal and listened to her own hollow breathing.
She had not realized how much energy she had expended until now. She was by no means in any danger, but she knew she needed to rest before confronting him again. The large clusters hid her from anyone down on the cavern floor, so she figured she was safe, and she hoped for some time to rest and gather her thoughts.
But she had barely closed her eyes when she heard his voice.
"Come down from there…" the Demon Lord said, in a soft voice. She did not peer over the crystals down at him. Instead, she remained silent, keeping out of sight.
"I know you're up there, hiding from me." Ragna stated with a smirk as he drew closer. He could sense her presence. Taokaka maintained her stubborn silence.
"Come down now, or I shall come up there and get you…" he warned, though there was no malice in his tone. She shook her head and used her tired legs to leap, flying higher and perching near the ceiling, hanging onto a smaller cluster of crystals.
"As you wish, my dear..." Ragna said calmly, stepping back and letting his own demonic wings unfurl to their full span. She gasped softly, for it truly was a sight to see them spread open and stretch out.
Before she could move, he had swooped up and snatched her, startling her with his sudden movement. She cried out as she felt his strong arms around her, and she struggled wildly despite her depleted strength, trying to break free as her arms were pinned.
"Let me go meow!"
"Never."
Despite her condition, Taokaka still struggled to escape his grip, cursing him with language that was better suited for drunken sailors than princesses. He said nothing, noticing her weakened state, and understanding why. He was not so cruel as to deprive her of nutrients, but he did not tell her – at least not yet – of the ready sources of water that were to be found within this volcano.
"Where are you taking me?" she whispered hoarsely.
"To a place where you can rest… comfortably." Ragna replied, but she caught a glint in his eyes. She was a virgin, but she was not naive as to what men and women did with each other as she had noticed Warriors court females within her clan. She shook her head weakly.
He caught the look in her eyes, the mixture of fear and exhaustion. The Demon Lord was amazed. Did she think he was honestly going to...? He felt saddened that she thought he might do that. Had he truly frightened her so much? Admittedly, it was tempting, as she was weak, but he did not want her to just lay back weakly as he took her, and it would be more than unfair to both of them. Violating a woman was dishonorable, after all.
"Want... to go home." she murmured, "Please…meow..." She was limp in his arms, deciding it best to conserve her strength. He planted a soft kiss on her forehead, enjoying the delicate taste of her flesh, and inhaling the scent of the grass mixed with a faint feminine aroma.
"You're already home." Ragna replied gently, as if she were his child. She whimpered softly, shaking her head.
"Want... water..." she murmured as he made his way to his luxurious private quarters, where a large bed greeted them. It was like no other bed she had ever seen. It was huge, looking as if it could easily bed ten people or more, and it was not made up in the way that a usual bed was, with pillows at the head of it or a mattress that clearly defined its borders. Scarlet and black blankets and pillows were scattered along it in a comfortable-looking pile, and he lay her down in the middle of it, positioning a pillow under her head with care.
Taokaka did not struggle to get off the bed. She needed to conserve her strength. She would feel so much better if he were to give her water – that would revitalize her in a flash. But there was no way he would do such a thing. Even if he were so inclined, he'd have to go through the portal again. The intense heat would completely overwhelm her.
She let out a soft sigh before she looked up at him pleadingly. Was he going to deny her nutrients and leave her here, weak? That would be just wonderful for him, Taokaka thought darkly. In such a condition, she wouldn't stand a chance of denying him. With her region being so far away and her strength sapped, he could take any liberties he wanted with her. Her fear only increased, but she remained silent. She would not waste energy by shouting. She would wait, and then once the opportunity presented itself, the Demon Lord would receive a painful surprise – most likely a knee in the groin that Litchi taught her if men get too "touchy". That thought buoyed her and steeled her reserve. When that bastard least expects it, I'll...
The Kaka Princess expected him to rip the layers of her Kaka jacket dress from her body, and steeled herself at the thought of him lustfully tearing away the fabric from her tan flesh. At that moment, she honestly expected the worst from him. Indeed, she felt the pile dip a bit as he sat down next to her. He gazed down at her, his face serene as he stroked her braided hair. She shivered, expecting him to ravish her then and there. Her eyes silently pleading, his own eyes glinting with desire.
Her heartbeat quickened as Ragna ran his fingers along her jaw, and she blushed under his intent gaze. She hoped he would be quick so she could attack him soon enough, and she closed her eyes. She imagined he would be rough and searing, like his region, so it surprised her that he would touch her like this.
He had on a sleeveless shirt of red satin edged in gold. The front wasn't closed completely, leaving a narrow but deep v-shaped opening that allowed her to see the ridge where his chest muscles met over his solar plexus. The biceps of his arms were thick even without being flexed or pumped to display their strength. As he leaned in, she caught a whiff of his scent, a undertone of smoke mixed with a dab of a cologne she couldn't identify – it had a spicy note to it – and what was undeniably his natural male odor. The three intertwined together to make a scent that was not at all unpleasant, and one she would actually have deemed enjoyable if she weren't the hostage of the demon who was responsible for the smell that tickled her nose.
Ragna leaned in a bit more, his fingers trailing along her collarbone, marveling at the feel of her skin. How often had he imagined what it would be like to finally touch the woman of his dreams? He paused when he reached the yellow and white fabric of her top, tempted to pull it down and go further as he glanced at the very top of her cleavage, wishing that her robe was less modest so he could see more of her breasts. The shape of her nipples were barely visible under the light material that clad her form, and he wondered if they really were the color of cherries, to complement her perfect tan skin. How tempted he was to see for himself! Resolutely, his hand slid back upwards as he lowered his head to press his lips to her temple, feeling her tremble under his touch.
Without a word, he left her side and went through the door, and it shut behind him. Taokaka was stunned by this. What was he going to do, look for something to chain her to the bed with? She had seen the desire in his eyes, why did he not take her? Had he suspected that she was conserving his strength to attack him when he least expected it? Drawing up a bit of her strength, she pulled to a sitting position, licking her lips as she looked around at the luxurious surroundings. A cluster of crystals grew here and there in the rock, and the large fire pit located in one side of the room provided the illumination, which the crystals mirrored.
There were a couple of comfortable chairs at a low table adorned with gold along the edges, and she imagined this to be where he took his meals. There were also several large chests here and there and she saw other things scattered about – gold, jewels, exquisitely-crafted vessels, robes and expensive fabrics, and other such treasures – like a dragon's lair.
After several moments where her anxiety only increased, the metal doors swung open against the cavern walls, revealing the Demon Lord. But he did not bear chains or anything else to bind her. Instead, what he held was a golden pitcher and goblet.
When he poured some of the contents of the pitcher into the goblet, she was stunned. She had been expecting wine or perhaps some sort of aphrodisiac drug, but water came out. Water that seemed impossibly pure… This sight was so unexpected that all she could do was sit there and stare at the liquid that poured from the golden vessel. Why was he bringing this to her?
Her eyes fixed on the goblet as it approached her lips. Cupping her cheek with his other hand, he touched it to her lips and she took a sip. The water did not only look pure… it was pure. The purest water she ever had, in fact.
"Contrary to what you think, I don't want to harm you." he explained as he tipped the goblet more, allowing her to take in more water. And oh indeed, the water was pure! Even more so than the rain or what issued from mountain springs, and she closed her eyes, letting him slowly tip it, the cool liquid pouring down her throat as he caressed her cheek, feeding her almost as a mother feeding its infant.
She drank down the entire goblet, feeling very much revitalized, and let him feed her a second and then a third goblet. By this time, she was feeling much better. She looked up at him as he set down the goblet before turning back to her, wondering what he would say. He again stroked her cheek before pulling away, memorizing the texture of her skin.
"I know you hate this, but you will grow used to these surroundings in time. You will be mine. This can be a smooth and pleasant experience, or there can be repeats of what just happened out there. And believe me. I do not enjoy seeing you in pain or helpless, like you had been. Consent to this."
She remained silent as he looked down at her before he rose to his feet.
"Struggle or surrender, my Kaka Princess. Two choices. Make the right one, for both of us."
Walking to the door, he stopped just short of it before looking over his shoulder at her.
"Where are you going?" she asked hesitantly as she looked up at him. Keep fighting, or give up. The choice seemed obvious to her, yet at the same time she did not wish to... surrender to her fate so easily.
"I'm going to give you a bit of time and privacy so you can rest. Later, I'll open the doors for you and you can explore the rest of your new home. There will be no one else here in my inner sanctum, so there will be no one to bother you. Of course, I doubt that I need to tell you, do not attempt escape. Only I can navigate through the portal."
"Why would you leave me alone? Aren't you going to take me? I see your desire in your eyes. You had the... perfect opportunity to." she replied frankly.
"I am a demon of honor. I have no desire to subject you to… violation." Ragna replied. To her surprise, he… actually sounded genuine.
"If you're such a demon of honor, then why keep me against my will?" she countered. She had calmed down considerably despite her rejuvenated strength. Her previous lack of energy had snapped her out of her blind anger, and she was processing things much more rationally. Ragna did not miss how civil his interactions with her had suddenly become.
"Because you are my woman." he replied with the same calm tone she had just addressed him in.
"I am not. Never was, and never will be meow. And my sister will be furious when she finds out what you have done."
"Really?" Ragna's smirk was almost challenging as he looked down at her.
"You know who I am – so you know who my sister is. Her wrath will not be merciful when she finds out that you have captured her younger sister."
"And I can assure you my power and wrath is no small thing in itself."
"How would you feel if someone tore you from your home meow?" she fired at him and for a moment, her captor was silent. He briefly touched the scar on his eye before answering his captive.
"I would feel scared, confused and angry. Just as you are right now." he admitted.
"Then let me go, please. Why would you make me feel these things? Isn't there anything I can do to convince you to let me see the sky and the Kaka grasslands?" she pleaded, hoping that this gentle approach would work – her pointed questions had the effect that her screams and struggles had failed to produce.
A part of Ragna so wanted to give into her request, to allow her to revel in her region and her joy. She was right – he would be angry and upset if someone took him from his own region. But he knew that if he were to do so, she would take that chance to run away and find herself a very good place to hide. That was a possibility he would never allow.
The Demon Lord could barely keep from looking into those soft ruby eyes, their silent pleas getting him in his heart. She broke the gaze, looking down. At the moment, she looked like a lost and forlorn little Kaka kitten, her legs folded down loosely, her face turned away from his.
Taokaka felt tears silently make their way out onto her cheeks, and she wiped her face with the back of her hand, the Demon Lord observing all of this.
"Don't be afraid, Taokaka. Here you will have everything you need, including water. I'm not going to deprive you of it. I will cherish you always." the Demon Lord stated softly as he looked down at her. He had not wanted to leave her just before, but he had thought that she might like some time alone to process her thoughts and accept the situation, but he was just as open to talk. He honestly didn't want to keep her in the palace forever – he wanted to show her the beauty of his region, and let her have the frolics she loved so much. But he wouldn't offer her that, not just yet, as long as being parted from her remained a concern.
"Don't look so sad." Ragna said gently as he left the doorway and approached the bed again, though he made no move to touch her. She kept her gaze averted.
Ragna let out a slow exhale before reaching out to wipe the tear from her cheek, only for her to jerk her head away. He rose to his feet, and before she knew it, he was gone.
The palace was silent as the Lord of Demon region walked within its cavernous paths. He often did this when he did not want to sit still in his throne. He wanted the Kaka princess badly, could she not see that? Was he so repulsive to her? His fingers ran along his scar as he bitterly remembered the fight with Terumi and what he had done.
Ragna was aware that he could have approached her differently, but her sister would never have permitted it – the repertoire of her would-be suitors were proof of that. What would his brother and sister have suggested for this situation? Would Jin have been surprised at his feelings for the young Kaka princess? He had never spoken to his brother about the Kaka girl.
Before he could let his thoughts wander further, singing filled the caverns and palace halls as well in the deeper area of the prison where all the Demons of the old order are kept. He was startled for a moment. No one ever sang down here, and this was far too sweet to be Jin's voice. His heart skipped a beat when he realized who it was. Taokaka's voice was so beautiful and sweet, yet sad and filled with longing. His steps froze as he listened to her lament. Her wails had an ethereal quality, and her voice was the most beautiful sound he had ever heard. She truly was a Siren, although she didn't need a song to capture his heart.
He listened for a while before he made his way back to his bedchamber, following her voice. As soon as he entered, she fell silent and quickly looked away. He whispered her name.
A/N: LOL you guys thought that Ragna was going to rape her! XD I'm not THAT cruel.
And one of the ideas "make saya jealous of tao for taking ragna's attention" I'm afraid I can't do that because I'm not a big fan of incest. Sorry to quest. :(
Keep sharing me ideas! :3