Disclaimer: I don't own Demon Diary, or information from the site /nature/life/Burying_beetle, but all OC characters in this fic.
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Chap 11: "Futures entwined"
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In a cloud of red flames Cinuulk's shop disappeared as two bodies bodies turned over a roasting pit. Their shrieks of agony weren't enough for Krayon.
"After what you did to my wife and children you do not deserve death!"
After minimal torture from one of the lord of Egae's longtime soldiers, they admitted to all recent misfortunes which befell Erutis. Chuckling gleefully Vil admitted how he planned to corrupt the princess as a continuation of Cinuulk's plan; "It's so much more fun when they fight back".
A former student of the famed mage Qinlun, Cinuulk joined with a nearby tea farmer to inflict the travesties. A small, scarcely detectable creature, the Rew beetle, cousin to Nicrophorus, feeds on animals at the bottom of the ocean. Each parcel of tea leaves delivered to Castle Krayon over the past year contained increasing amounts of Rew beetles.
Floating over patches of black powder which once were the offending demons, Krayon departed the melting slum.
After destroying their kitchen, Krayon went to the master bedroom.
"Erutis, my dearest." She lay asleep in the miserable night gown.
Removal of the hexed insects would be easy, magically.
Using a measure of power he bound her body to their bed so she wouldn't harm herself. "I am sorry my love" he whispered with a kiss, beginning the extraction.
As the day their child was torn from her, Erutis' blood curdling scream tore through the walls of the castle.
"Krayon!"
Weeping, he held her, "I'm here my Erutis, I'm here."
Exuding from every pore, black darker than any he ever saw stained her fair skin this time. "It will be over soon"
Throughout the hour of torment Krayon held her, speaking softly of love, and memories of their years together.
As the last of the affliction oozed from her body, clarity returned. Her arms enveloped him tightly.
Lingering teardrops rolled over his cheeks, "How do you feel?"
She smiled, falling into a dreamless sleep.
"The demons who hurt you have perished." When she was well, he would tell of the net of trickery their daughter was caught in.
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"Dromen" still trained with her, and dined with them for the next several days, a remnant of the psychological malady the curse instilled.
Nearing the next moon, Chris walked with Raenef. "Phantasia tells me Erutis improves each day".
"And the meditation is helping Phantasia?" the younger asked.
She continued to be tormented by the belief that she was the reason for the tumultuous time her mother underwent. Her uncle offered to help her learn deep meditation.
"She is calmer, and smiling again."
"I'm glad"
"Right now performing a day long cleansing ritual in the Stone Baths of Rased"
"I thought demons weren't permitted"
"All are welcome in the arms of Rased, Rae you know that, so long as they cause no violence."
"I wasn't worried about Phantasia doing anything wrong."
"I know, but don't worry, she is with a group of second-year female clerics."
Raenef nodded.
"Speaking of young clerics, I hope Nathaniel hasn't broken any of Eclipse's "castle rules"", he chuckled.
"Somehow Eclipse seems to be handling your student's presence around our daughter better than I."
"I'm sure he's threatened him enough to trust that he won't make any foolish decisions." Slapping the young demon lord on the back, "I don't know about you, but I have had enough of these children, they're liable to worry me to death!"
With a sigh Raenef thought of his daughter, "I know how you feel".
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"My dad is going to kill youuu" Luna sang.
Chuckling Nathaniel replied "Which one?"
"The older one, the one who keeps everything in order, the one who will notice all these books missing from the library."
Peering around his bedroom at the stacks of texts he shrugged, "There really aren't many here".
"What will I do if I lose my future husband in a horrendously painful death before I marry him?"
On his bed clad simply in trousers, and silken black chemise they lay together as not permitted.
"You'll likely find a wealthy king with no regard for human life and fall desperately in love with him" he stated smugly, lips brushing against her exposed shoulder.
"Ah, then I suppose we can make whatever decisions we please before your untimely demise", she caressed his bare chest.
He halted her, "Your fathers would do far worse to me if we carry on this way."
How he desired to touch her perfect skin, kiss her body, become one with her... Honor stopped him though, honor, and Rased. After fifteen years in this world he knew love- that for his god, and for his soul-mate.
With incompatible devotion, and love so different than that she felt for her family, Luna knew the one to be her life-partner. After seventeen years in this world, she also knew what her body needed.
Fervently her lips touched every scar, every inch of visible skin on his muscled body.
Delirious, his eyes followed her. He couldn't control his body's reaction, but she seemed undeterred as his hardness pressed against her stomach.
When she began to untie his trousers he regained some control of his sensibilities, "We must not".
Pausing, "Nathaniel... I don't understand".
"I am promised to my god", his heart rate remained fast, "And by honor I cannot do this".
"But I love you. You love me too?"
Kissing her ear, "Of course I do Luna, I love you more than all the world."
"Am I unappealing?" she sat up. Fixing her chemise she recovered her shoulders, then put her arms across her bosom.
"By Rased, there is no creature in all of existence more appealing!"
"I am yours and you are mine, no ceremony is needed to establish that, so why?"
He was at a loss for words. "I am unsure how to explain to you."
Stepping down from his mattress, "Go"
Appearing in her bedroom she lay against the door, pounding a fist to the floor in frustration.
He quickly bathed then dressed, and went to the only one he could speak to about this- his instructor.
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"What did you do to my niece Nathaniel?" Chris questioned with a threatening glare. His voice echoed in the temple.
Amazed, "I swear I did nothing to her High Priest. I-I wanted the same as she, however... I told her I am promised to Rased".
"I believe you. You are both still young, and learning to understand yourselves." He sat on wooden bench "Also, Luna is some moons older than you, though it may not always seem that way."
"What should I do? I cannot return to Castle Raenef- I cannot speak to her, she-she's a princess and I-"
"Breathe child. You live in that castle now, and certainly if you explain to Luna she will remain promised as your future wife."
Disbelieving, Nathaniel looked to Chris.
The high priest sighed, "Come let us pray, Rased will help you find clarity."
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End of chap 11
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Yipes that was something. I've been on both sides of that sort of situation, though mostly Nathaniel's standpoint.
Sometimes it just can't happen. Remember kids if you don't want to/aren't ready, just say "No".