(13th July, 03:00, Waning Gibbous Moon)

Beast and the Beast

Chapter Twenty Nine – Back to Normal

(Please note this story has vast similarities to Beauty and the Beast, yet I claim no ownership over Beauty and the Beast, only my inspiration is stolen from the movie/book.)

x.X.x

Sakai was asleep when she heard the door open; she opened her eyes slowly and saw as a hooded figure entered the room; though she knew it was her companion by the amber glow she could see from under his hood; he had returned.

He walked towards her and spoke. "Are you awake?" He asked as he put his hood down and stared at her; his eyes glowing a bright and potent gold color in the night; she now understood why they were so feared in the mortal world; if she were to see those eyes staring at her while she waking up she would not be in a very healthy condition mentally for quite some time.

She sat up and stared at him, trying to see passed the demonic eyes that made her skin crawl, regardless of how well she knew him already; she wanted to laugh the second she thought that; she didn't know him at least, she knew nothing about him; not even his name. Yet she did feel like she knew him. "Yes; I'm awake." She said as she rubbed her eyes free from the grains that gather in your slumber.

"Did anyone bother you while I was away?" He asked and she opened her mouth to tell him about Diablo; but then decided against it; there was no reason to cause any trouble between the two of them because Diablo was stronger than her companion and Diablo was the brother of Baal; she didn't want him to go make trouble he couldn't backup via strength.

"No, no one bothered me." She said with a smile, she hated to lie about something as stupid and dangerous as this; but it was for his protection; even if she needed protection more than he did at the moment.

"That's good." Baal said as she went to the bed and sat down on the edge. "I need to take you outside of Hell now; you're due to transform in a few hours, right?" He asked and she gave a nod. "Then I'll take you now, you can wait it out in the forest or go to the town to get something to eat as I doubt they'll remember your face as there was no one outside when we left." He said as he put his hand into his pocket and from it he pulled a bag of gold coins. "Take it to purchase what you need from there." He said and she took the bag and stared at him shocked.

"Thank you." Was all she could say as she put the bag of gold on the table next to the bed. "After I transform back I'll come back as well… Sakai?" She asked and he gave a nod.

"Yes, that's the plan and no one will be the wiser." He said as he stood up and she also got out of the bed; taking the bag of gold from the table again.

" Alright, then I'll go right now.." She said and Baal looked at her, a flash of uncertainty tainting the visage of his eyes. He looked as if he wasn't sure whether the plan would work.

"Yes, let's go now." He said, as if he wasn't sure whether the words would last in his mind, as if he said it now he would regret it later and he just wanted to get it over with or he would regret it at a later time.

Sakai stood up and started to head for the door when he spoke again. "I hope this works." He said as he got up, she looked at him and gave a weak smile.

"Since when did you start to care so much?" She asked as she exited the room, leaving Baal in silence as he considered her sentence. She was right.

Since when did he start to care so much? With that thought he went after her to escort her out of Hell.

x.X.x

Diablo was still furious at the way she had spoken to him when he sensed Baal and the girl leaving their room. So he was taking her back to her world now. Hah, what a joke his brother was turning out to be, mortals were soft-soaping him and he was allowing it!

One would've thought the fact that he had a stone embedded in his heart for almost a thousand years would make him hate mortals more and lose his heart, instead he started to like mortals and gained a heart!

Diablo huffed angrily as he stood up, starting to pace the room as he felt an transformation coming and didn't even try to suppress it; he wanted to piss his brother off by causing the ceiling to cave in, either that or a lot of dust again.

x.X.x

Sakai and Baal was outside of Hell and the temple now and a good distance from any demonic activity; Mephisto had been in quite an uproar when he saw Baal was going to release the mortal, only upon explanation on his return would Mephisto let the mortal pass; despite the fact that Baal could've forced passage.

"When you transform you can return, just make sure none of the mortal still lingers on you or they will put two and two together." Baal said and Sakai looked at him in annoyance as she collapsed down on the grass beneath her.

"I'm so sick of this." She muttered as she looked up at him, but his face remained passive. "This hiding and skulking around to survive, perhaps I should do myself a favor and just leave Hell, return to my home and try to live." She said and Baal shifted his weight.

"You can do that, but how will you ever return to being a mortal, I've seen that everything you touch that possesses life dies. Have you considered what will happen if you touch a mortal?" He asked and she was about to argue that she had touched a mortal when she lowered her head, she had not tried to touch one while in her demonic form and the only time when she did touch a mortal was when she took the keys from the innkeeper each time.

"I don't know what will happen." She said hopelessly and Baal said nothing in return, not sure what there was to say in any case. "But wouldn't it be better to live without fear?" She asked and Baal shrugged his shoulders.

"I don't know, but do you truly fear Diablo?" He asked and Sakai looked up at him, her emerald eyes paling at the mention of his name.

"Yes, I fear him because he is dead-set on murdering me, well, this mortal body, and I'm sure he will have no problem murdering my demonic form if given the opportunity." She said and Baal looked at her sternly.

"Then all you can do is believe in the fact that I will prevent him from murdering you." He said and she gave a laugh now, a sort of manically sad laugh. It caused Baal to look at her with concern.

"Protect me from him? What can you do, I've never seen you lift a finger against anyone, all I know is that you're stronger than the average demon and perhaps that gives you a political advantage there in Hell but I'm pretty damn sure you can't defeat Diablo or Baal in a fight." She said in one breath as she continued to look at him.

"You don't even know my name so how can you pretend you know my power?" He asked her and she looked at him for about a minute before replying.

"I don't pretend, I just conclude. And if you'd give me your name I might be able to come to an accurate conclusion." She said and Baal huffed as he turned to leave.

"You have no need to know my name." He said as he was about to walk when she spoke, causing him to stop.

"Then you have no right to tell me I am pretending, I am making all my conclusions based on what I see and hear, which is absolutely zero from your side." She spat out as she crossed her arms, still sitting on the ground, Baal turned around and stared into her eyes.

"Some conclusions can be deadly and I'm not saying that from my side, keep your questions to yourself around other demons." He said and the answer seemed to make her angrier.

'Well I'm not getting any from you, so are you saying I should basically just keep my mouth shut?" She asked and he stared at her a few moments.

"Yes." He said as he turned around again. "We'll continue this when you return, I need to leave." He said and she growled.

"If." She corrected and Baal stopped again.

"Excuse me?" He asked, not fully understand her meaning.

"If I return." She elaborated and Baal breathes in deeply.

"The choice remains yours." He said and then walked away from her, in the direction of the temple again, leaving a frustrated Sakai on the grass.

Once he was out of view she got up and walked deeper into the forest, she might as well take a dip in one of the pools while it was still satisfying to bathe.

x.X.x

Baal had returned to the temple and was sensing a growing unease in him; what if Sakai didn't return? Why did that bother him if she decided to go back to her home and live out her days as a demon, alone; he had given her the free choice of staying or leaving so why was it bothering him?

Despite the unease he headed towards Mephisto. "The explanation does not involve you." He said as he stopped in front of his brother, Mephisto came into view properly and glared down at his brother.

"Why would you release a mortal after bringing her into Hell?" He asked in confusion.

"I thought she had information, I was wrong." He said and Mephisto shook his head.

"You kill them, you don't release them! The woman knows the location of this portal now!" He yelled and Baal grunted.

"Yes, and so does everyone else, this portal is barely sacred or hidden, that is why you're the only one capable of guarding it, so don't throw that garbage at me. You should know very well my intelligence doesn't lie at the bottom like other demons." He said and Mephisto growled as he retreated into the shadows again.

"I have nothing further to discuss, I am disappointed." He said and Baal gave no reply as he stepped through the portal, back into Hell, he would continue with his duties on the far side of Hell until Sakai was due to return.