Demon woke to a dark, empty room. She slowly rose to rub her eye, and looking around the room. everything was silent and dark. Demon yawned, stretched, and slid out of the bed. A cold chill spread through her body as her bare feet touched the floor. The long black curtains hanging from the window were dancing in the cold chilling wind. Demon had half a mind to turn around and crawl back into her warm bed, but her mind was fully awake and alert. She could not get the young princess's request a few hours earlier….
Flashback;
"I want you to help me break out the two Hoshidan prisoners you fought earlier." the young blond princess asked shyly.
Silence hung in the air as demon's mind went blank. " first off why me and not your loyal dogs?" Demon asked confused. Elsie looked away then shuffled a bit her face scrunched together in deep thought.
"Because…." She trailed off. "Because when I saw you, in the arena, the dungeons, and today fighting. I saw…. defiance, and maybe not in the way you think. I have been watching you, I don't know if it's because you don't care or because you do. Your just…...different I can feel it!
"Don't worry, we won't do it tonight we need to plan this thoroughly.
Demon rubbed her left arm, biting her lip with her fangs. " How am I supposed to break em out when I could never get out in the first place…." Demon whispered. Her mind buzzed with ideas, however, she turned towards the window as a cold breeze lifted the blinds. (I need some fresh air) she thought.
She went over to the dresser and put on a pair of simple brown pants, and a white short sleeved shirt. She found her cloak from her retainer set and then picked up Ganglari and went to the door. She pushed the doorknob only to find it locked, Demon knew she could easily break the door down. However, when she closed her eye she could see a glowing blue flame on the other side. Ever since she was younger Demon could sense other beings around her, they appeared as glowing blue flames in human shape. She could sense animals and people which helped her when she had lost her eye.
Demon grimaced, of course, they would post a guard. She opened her eye and noticed the door was sealed with magic.
(No sense in causing a commotion. I'm sure they put a lot more precautions in this room. Dang, it...looks like I'm still a prisoner. ) Demon turned towards the window, the gears in her head turning.
(Or maybe not..) She walked towards the window and drew back the blinds, metal bars were placed in the window. They seemed to have the same magic as her gauntlets and the door. "aw come on!" she slammed her fist on the bars. "How am I supposed to get out when they have this stupid magic here," she whispered looking around and trying to think of a way out.
"Think Demon! What would Navia say? Or Kubo?" Demon laughed. "Kubo would laugh and be sarcastic with me, and Navia would just shrug and tell me to figure it out. brawn isn't always the answer."
Demon looked at the bars on the window, thinking back on her previous encounters with the sealing magic. (Every time the magic works is when it comes into contact with me. With my skin….wait….) She looked down at her sword drawing it in she placed it in between the bars. "Hope this works.." taking a deep breath she began to push on the cursed blade. It didn't take long before the bars gave way bending enough for Demon to slip through.
Demon gave a silent fist pump into the air at her small victory. Looking Ganglari over it did not look bent into the slightest, (creepy but useful) she sheathed it and slipped through the bars. Standing on the ledge she looked out to see how high she was off the ground. The tower was higher than the castle and most of the other towers. Demon's heart lurched and dropped, she felt her whole body tense. "Ok, nevermind, this might be a bad idea." Demon gripped the bars tightly even if they weakened her power. "Ok, ok, ok, ok, if I want to get out of this tower this is the only way. Come on, let's do this!" Demon turned and drew the blinds back to cover the bars.
Turning back she took a deep breath steeling herself. (All right, focus ..you can do this. All I gotta do is make my nails turn into claws, like when I fight, easy! Question is how? I've never made my body shift by myself..it just happens….wait emotion! Every time it's my emotions! Or my anger really...so I guess I gotta get pumped up or mad) and how the heck am I supposed to do that!" She whisper angrily towards the black sky. Shifting again and trying not to look down, demon tried to think of ways to make her abilities come out.
After what seemed like hours of thinking, but we're probably minutes really, Demon groaned and said. "Ey, you know what? Who cares, Kubo always said just go for it now and regret it later!"
With that she closed her eye and pushed herself off the ledge, and regretted it. she could feel the harsh cold wind beating her face as she fell. Her stomach was doing flips as it was dropping the wind was howling around her.
Demon forced her eye bearly open, the ground was coming in fast and her already pale skin paling further.
She turned her body over from facing the floor to the tower.
Demon's heart was pounding in her ears so her 'plan', if you could even call it that, was working. She looked at her hands and found nothing was happening! "Oh come on! Do something!" She yelled flinging her hands up and down rapidly. As she continued to fall Demon decided she had enough waiting. (I need to do something quick or my short stupid life is over, and I have yet to achieve my promises!)
With great urgency she extended her hands and feet into the stone tower with as much force as she could muster. "This is gonna hurt!" Her fists and toes dug into the stone but she was still sliding quickly down. Demon looked down finding the ground far too close she closed her eyes and hoped for the best.
When nothing came she slowly opened her eye. "I'm alive?" She looked around no one saw her so that was good. She slowly pulled her fist and feet out which were both bloody and bruised the fingernails were grinded down to her fingers as where her toe nails. "Ok I am never EVER trying that again."
Hoping off she gave a heavy grunt and she pulled the cloak over her head.
The streets were empty and doors were sealed, a few lamps hung down the streets. A thin mist hung in the night air, even her normally silent footsteps seemed to thunder at each step.
Demon walked in silence, avoiding guards and exploring various alleyways. She looked at the various colorful signs she passed. "Wish I could read what they say...didn't Kubo say there was a place I should visit if I ever get out of prison?"
"What was it called? Dusk's embrace? Wyvern's nest? Uh, He said it was a nice place with the best food and drink you'll ever taste." Demon smiled at the memory. "Then Navia rolled her eyes and said that all Nohrians ever cooked was meat and drank wine. Then they both argued for hours which country had better food, Navia won in the end but Kubo never wanted to admit it. He started saying random things to win or babbling nonsense, or bringing up things of the distant past."
Demon wandered the Nohrian streets and realised that not a single sign of life had shown itself. The streets were empty and not even animals came scuttling around. She eventually ended up upon an opening in the ground with a river flowing under it. The sides near the opening lifted up out of the water like a walkway.
Demon sighed, "no one's here….it's like a ghost town. Kubo said the streets normally had people running back and forward and people called street vendors would yell at ya. All kinda smells would flow around and noises would fill the air. This is not what I expected, then again it IS late in the night but I at least thought a few people would be around." Demon stood silently near the opening, until a soft noises reached her pointed ears. She could not understand what the noises were, but there were multiple all jumbled together. Demon looked down towards the entrance of the dark opening, they seemed to be coming from there….
She looked up at the sky wondering how long had she been wandering around? "Would it be ok if i did go down there? What if i'm not back when they come to wake me up? I could be punished again, or worse." She fidgeted and scratched her unmasked cheek.. "Who knows maybe it'll be fun" she said and shrugged jumping down and walking into the dark damp cavern, checking her surroundings and staying on guard.
The cave seemed to grow larger with every step she took, the entrance wasn't terribly big but the cave expanded the deeper she went. Almost as if a country laid beneath Nohr.
finally, after walking in thick, inky, darkness a dim light shined in the distance. She walked quickly towards the light, and as she neared it she was able to make out what it was. A small black lamp hung from the wall on a hook, and as she peered further she could see a few more.
Humming to herself she followed the lights, the sound of running water and the quiet padding of her bare feet where the only sound that accompanied her in the darkness. Soon the lights multiplied and Demon found herself at an entrance that looked like a marketplace. People walked in various directions and street vendors yelled their bargains and goods at people passing by.
Demon smiled, "so THIS is where the fun is…" she whispered happily. She stepped into the stream of people taking in the smells, sounds, and sights.
"Maybe that place Kubo talked about is down here instead?" Demon tried to slow down and read the signs, but the crowd kept pushing behind her. (I need to get out of this!) With swift action she made her way to a less crowded road which she then realized….she was lost. Demon had no knowledge of the layout down here and not being able to read did not help.
Suddenly something collided with her, and she stumbled forward. Demon quickly turned around a sharp growl and choice words for the person who bumped them. "Hey!" A voice interrupted her before she could at anything. "Oh, you must forgive me! I did not see you and everyone was moving so quickly!"
The person behind her had familiar light blue hair and smelled of pine.
"L-lady Demon? What on earth are you doing here?" Flora's voice made her cringe.
Demon quickly straightened giving a retort "well, what are you doing here?"
Flora rolled her eyes and shifted a large, neatly folded, pile of clothing in her arms. "I'm here to get supplies for the castle and you milady." Flora said the last word with sarcasm.
Demon grimaced not having a good reply. "Uh, I got hungry." Demon tried to sound convincing but she sounded like she was asking a question instead.
Flora rolled her eyes, "I have half a mind to smack you, but if you help me I may keep silent about this."
"Tch, since when did you have any power over me. Your MY maid I can do whatever I want." Demon shot back with a sneer.
Flora nodded still holding a large neatly piled clothing in her arms. "Yes, that is true however, Lord Garon has also given me, Felicia, and Jakob the duty of watching you and making sure you don't do anything stupid. Like right now for instance, if you were recognised by someone down here they could have killed you or worse!" Demon growled "So all three of ya are spies?"
"Should have known…" she mumbled the last part sadly. (Who in their right mind would actually care for a monster like me, and now an ugly one to boot.)
"Well, I could just kill you an throw ya into the water below." Demon threatened with a small chuckle.
Flora flinched ever so slightly but her face reminds impassive. "I may seem like an ordinary maid, but do not underestimate me." She replied icely.
Demon smirked crouching "well then why don't I kill a spy then?"
With a swift action Demon dashes at flora, an instant later an ice shard flies by her face. She stops, "magic? But you don't have any tomes."
Flora gives a prideful smile, the clothing she had still in a neat pile in front of her. "Your not the only one with supernatural abilities, my sister and I both hail from the ice tribe. We don't need tomes. Ice is in our body and spirit!" She yelled sending a powerful ice wind at Demon. "Heh, that explains your cold body temperatures I thought that was weird." She said more so to herself than Flora.
Demon crouched low then jumped to one of the walls and then bouncing off of it towards flora. The kick sent Flora flying however, she quickly recovered before she hit the wall. She drew out two small daggers while still crouched Demon stayed where she landed, which was were Flora once stood.
Flora decided she would make the first move next coating her daggers in ice she attacked. Her strikes were swift and precise, but Demon had dealt with assassin type fighters in the arena. She knew how they worked, they were glass cannons as Navia once said. Hard to hit but take a ton of damage if hit, and Demon was quick enough already. She dodged each with speed matching, while Flora was precice on her hits she was not so great on the larger picture. Demon drew her blade and blocked Flora's last attack then pushing her off she grabbed her right arm and circled round Flora's back. She then took the knife and stabbed the palm of flora's hand into the wall.
Flora screamed and tried to send another Ice attack but Demon was wiser than before. She hit Flora's stomach with the hilt butt of her blade, then she took flora's left hand in her own grip and just held it there. She placed her other forearm on Flora's neck and shoved her back into the wall. They both stood in silence glaring at each other.
Flora tried in vain to figure a way out, the dagger was painful and deep in her hand. Her left arm wouldn't even budge in Demon's grip. (This woman IS a monster!)
Demon showed no remorse or concern for Flora's pain.
Flora finally sighed "I give." She whispered. Demon growled shoving her arm harder on Flora's neck "what was that? Couldn't hear ya." She taunted. Flora's face went red and she glared daggers at Demon "I said I give you filthy beast!" She yelled acidly.
Demon smirked and let go, causing Flora to fall forward. She reached over and tried to pull the dagger out of her hand. It was in far too deep, Demon noticed this and walked over causing Flora to Inch away. Demon pulled it out with one swift tug flora groaned trying to hold back the yelp.
Demon then tossed it towards her which she caught it with her good hand. "Lord Garon was right! Your not human nor are you a normal gladium! Your, your a monster! a beast! a demon!" She yelled back at Demon with tears in her eyes. Demon gave a mock bow, a smile still plastered on her face. Though she would never tell anyone that those words actually hurt.
"That's the name! Don't wear it out!" She replied with false happiness. Flora gave a cry of frustration, stomped back to the clothes and picked them up best she could with one hand and left.
Demon watched her go, feeling slightly bad for going so hard on her, (so much for winning her over) she sighed. (I always screw things up don't I guys?)
Demon then walked back out to the main square.
There were still a lot of people but not as many as before, so Demon could take her time now. The underground town was nice and even a little warmer feeling than the upper town, or maybe that was because Demon had fought Flora, Demon wandered alone for a little while longer. She got some strange looks and stares and even a few people talking behind her back, but Demon didn't care nothing new there.
Eventually Demon herd a small familiar child like voice calling out into the night. "That sounds like Lady Elise? Why would a princess be down here?"
Demon quickened her pace (maybe I'm just confusing her voice with someone else?) She thought. Demon prided herself in remembering sounds and smells better than images, her eyes may be excellent but she often forgot images and faces quickly.
Demon finally came upon a small cloaked girl next to a flower cart, she was holding a basket of flowers of all colors and giving them to each person that passed by. The voice was definitely similar to princess Elise, but that was impossible.
Demon slowly walked towards the hooded girl she turned and…"Demon!" She was jumped on and hugged tightly by said girl. Demon pulled the girl off, which was her height but maybe an inch taller. Purple eyes met her red and Demon knew immediately who it was. "Princess Elise?" The girl gasped and looked around quickly then she turned to demon and place a finger on her lip. " Shhhhhhhhh are you trying to blow my cover! Don't say my name out loud!" she whispered harshly.
Demon internally groaned removing the finger from her lips. "What are you doing here?" Demon whispered. Elise seemed to relax slightly she gave a small smile "I like to come down here and give flowers to people!" Demon raised an white eyebrow. "You give it to them for free? Also what use would a simple flower be?"
"Flowers bring happiness and Nohr needs some happiness and hope. A lot of people are going through hard times and I can't do much to help. So I give flowers to try to give some happiness to people!" Elise chirped. She suddenly gasped loudly making Demon flinch "what happened to your hands and feet! Hold on a sec!" She turned and ran to the cart getting a staff that was laying against it on the ground. She returned and lifted the staff a faint glow grew from it and in an instant all of Demon's bruises and cuts were healed.
"There! Much better!" She grinned.
"Dang wish I had that in the past." Demon said as she clenched and unclenched her hands. Elise smiled "I'm not that good at healing yet but, I'm trying to get stronger that's why I come down here. Not just to give flowers away but to heal people too! it helps me practice."
Demon scoffed. "So this is your playing grounds?" Elise looked at her weird "playing grounds? What is that? I'm not playing with people I'm helping them. There a lot of folks down here who can't afford a doctor so I help instead. It gives me practice and helps them. a fair trade in my book. I do not toy with lives in my hands!"
Demon frowned lifting her hands up in defeat. "Ok, ok little miss goody two shoes. I get it, your nice unlike me who's the big baddy that kills and hurts people."
"No! I didn't mean it like that Demon! The circumstances you grew up in made you that way. You don't have a choice!" Elise quickly said looking panicked.
Demon laughed "I'm kidding jeez take a joke."
"Besides," Elise looked down and her shoulders sagged. "I'm really weak, my siblings carry heavy burdens and here I am completely oblivious of it all. I don't know how bad Nohr really is, all I do is heal and I've never seen the front lines or how horrible war is. I-i'm scarred. I'm scared to learn what is really going on. I don't want to see who father or my siblings really are or how Nohr is dying, I just want to stay in my own little world! I'm a coward."
Silence hung in the air Demon did not know what to do with this heavy atmosphere so she just stood awkwardly.
"So…. have you given thought to your little plan?" Elise asked changing the subject. Demon frowned "I don't understand why you want to help the enemy? Don't y'all hate them and want to wipe them off the face of the earth an all that?"
Elise shook her head quickly looking disgusted. "No! I don't want that! I hate all this fighting, but then again how did you know that? Did you not grow up...you know…" she trailed off awkwardly.
Demon smirked "yeah but I had a few friends down there that taught me a bit about the world"
"Really!" Elise looked excited. "Who were they? And where are they now!" She asked grabbing Demon's arm.
Demon's smile faded and she bit her lip, "one of em was a Nohrian turncoat by the name of Kubo. The other was a Hoshidan prisoner named Navia. They told me a bunch about their respective countries, often would get into fights about who was right and who was wrong."
"So, they were like your parents?" Elsie asked.
Demon laughed this time. "Yeah, I guess you could say that. I never really knew what Kubo was thinking or if he was serious or joking. He usually joked around and was almost never serious. He was really strong and quick, he had a ton of self confidence and never liked to admit his faults.
But….he was very protective of me and would listen to me when I needed him.
"Wow, he sounds like he was cool. You used past tense does that mean?" Elsie asked.
Demon growled, " don't want to talk about it"
Elise quickly shut her mouth.
"Navia was a mastermind, while Kubo was physical Navia was smart. Her memory was like an iron trap, she was a great magic user. She memorised spells of ancient times and could remember old wars she fought in. Navia told me all about Hoshido how it had a big circle of fire called the sun and you could see it. She told me it was warm and bright. She encouraged me to keep fighting for my freedom. She taught me all about the stars and moon, the constellations. She kept me warm and even gave me a name kinda."
Demon felt her eye water but she blinked rapidly refusing to let them fall. She looked up to the black stone roof above. "Both of em taught me how to survive, and I wouldn't be here if it weren't for em."
Silence hung in the air for awhile, Elise processed the information. "That's amazing, both sound important to you. What was the name Navia gave you?" Demon blushed "it was dumb" she shook her head. "Yeah but a name is better than Demon, that's not a name! If we are going to work together you need a real name!" Elise smiled listening intently. Demon looked away embarrassed (she just wants to get you to trust her. She will use you just like everyone else.) " It was...little dove." She whispered. "Dove" Elsie repeated. "Why a dove? I expected like a Hoshidan name, you know something with a deeper meaning." Elsie looked underwhelmed. Demon chorcled "while Navia was smart she sucked at names, she didn't want to just call me kid. Since I couldn't remember my name she gave me a nickname. Back then I wouldn't hurt a fly or rat. I was rather peace loving and a pacifist, also I was really weak so she gave me the nickname little dove."
Elise nodded "ok, so demon and dove…." She hummed swinging her arms back and forth.
"Is a name that important? I haven't had a name since I was a child and that was a nickname." Demon shrugged.
"Deea! That's your new name from now on!" Elise yelled unfazed.
Demon tried not to groan. "Really? That sounds way too girly and sweet." Elise tilted her head staying silent and staring at Demon.
Demon sighed giving in. "Yeah, sure whatever princess" she replied
"Good! Now that that's settled we need a plan! Those Hoshidan prisoners looked important, especially the ninja so father will torture them soon. We need to get them out and I already have a bit of the plan figured out. Come this way so no one will hear." Elise grabbed Demon, now refered to as Deea, and dragged her away from the cart.
Once they got a safe distance Elise took off her hood revealing her long blond pigtails.
"So here's the deal, my father is holding a...celebration of sorts in two days. It's supposed to be a big deal and while everyone is busy that's when we make our move!"
Deea crossed her arms shaking her head "do you seriously think it will be that easy? Nohr is heavily guarded even when a party is going on! Guards will still be there even if it's a dumb party."
Elise giggled "nope, the guards will be fewer when big parties like this occur more guards are positioned around father and the upper portion of the castle."
"But I'll have to be by lord Garon's side how the heck do I sneak inside the dungeons?"
"ill ask father if I could borrow you!" Elise said happily pointing to herself.
"What? your going to the dungeons?!" Deaa yelled (a princess going to the dungeons? Wouldn't that seem MORE suspicious?)
"Think about it Deea! Everyone is watching you right now cause your new. So you can't do it, but me? Everyone knows I wander off and around. No one cares besides my siblings and retainers so I'm under the radar more than you. They'll think I just want to make a new friends or have my own fun with the new retainer!"
Deea sighed "you got a point there…..what about the guards and your retainers? What are you going to do about that?" Deea asked.
Elise's smile grew "you are going to distract the guards while I get the key and free the prisoners! Then after that there should be a secret exit and BAM! That's it!" She finished striking a pose. Demon rubbed her eye, and sighed. (it's too simple, something or someone is going to catch on. Why am I doing this anyway? If I get caught I'm dead meat, but if I don't Elise could rat me out to her father and siblings. Ugggh either way I'm doomed)
"Well? What do you think? Elise asked leaning towards Deea with curious big purple eyes.
"Fine….it works I guess." Deea sighed
"Hooray!" She yelled jumping and clapping her hands.
She then noticed one of the clocks on the wall her eyes widened. "Oh shoot! We need to get back to the castle! It's almost morning!" She grabbed Deea again and ran. Deea gave up on resisting.