A fool. A damned fool. That's what he is. Evelynn chewed on her bottom lip, her canines digging into the pastel magenta skin there, leaving grooves that indicated her suspicion. Was he… trying to get them killed? She suggested escape and she most definitely was going to find a way to do so yet he suggested something so out-landish, different, and utterly noble that it made her want to double over and throw up right there.
Honour has only ever gotten someone killed. It's nothing but foolishness and brazen stupidity in her mind.
"You want to fight your way out… fair and square? You're going to cause commotion and bring the guards over, try to knock them out instead of killing them, and escape that way?" The succubus arched her brow, completely disconcerted by his suggestion. She had to admit, she was excited when he suggested overloading the Petricite chains with mana to shatter them. Evelynn had believed that he was going to play smart, to out-trick the guards, but no. This brave, foolish, noble man wanted to play fair. He had looked at her like she was the crazy one for suggesting the idea of murdering the first few guards before taking a hostage to lead them out. Of course, once he exhausted his usage, she would kill him too to keep no witnesses.
"It's not about fighting square. It's about not murdering and maiming those we do not need-" Daelys was cut off sharply by a glare and hiss from Evelynn.
"Of course we need to." She spat, sounding colder than ever. "I don't understand how you humans do things around here but seeing how many I managed to lure in and kill with ease, I'd say my method works better. We are trying to escape, I'm already agreeing to help you, do not make this harder for me."
"As if you can escape on your own you heartless bitch!" Daelys hissed, "You think it's okay to just kill-"
"Tell me, darling, with honesty, do you truly think you can escape by knocking each guard unconscious?" Evelynn pressed her claws to his throat, her unnatural strength finally returning a little now that her body has healed the worst of her injuries; even without magic, she was stronger than any man or woman made of mortal flesh. "Or… do you think it would be easier if you did it my way? These claws can cut through those delicate necks of theirs in moments. Don't worry, love, I'll make sure the kills are quick and clean for your sake. Not at all my taste for a murder but for you, I'll compromise seeing as an extra pair of hands would be useful." Evelynn shrugged, "See, darling? I negotiate and play fair."
Daelys' eyebrows scrunched together at her words as his fingers curled into his palm. "You're mad… It's not about being efficient! It's about… I-" Daelys squeezed his eyes shut. "The Demacian mage hunters lock us up like we are monsters… How can I live with myself knowing that I've become the very thing they believe me, believe my kind, to be?" The young mage stared down into his hands. "I was taken in and locked up when I was sixteen. I was a child yet they locked me up all the same. I never did anything to harm anyone… but it never mattered. I don't want to be a monster like you!"
Evelynn's eyes filled with a bemused glint. She tapped a claw against her lip in thought. "Why not? Wouldn't it be so much more pleasurable if you just killed them all? Just give in to those desires to see them suffer for what they've done to you." Her poisonous words danced in his mind, sickly sweet and tempting.
"I…" Daelys swallowed thickly, "No. I will fight, I will struggle, I will push on but I will not give in to becoming a monster. I will not allow myself to find joy in murder. Vengeance and bloodlust only breed more ruin for this already fractured world."
Evelynn stumbled back a little at his sincerity, the rush of emotions roiling inside of him hit her in a thick wave. It was filled with so much pain and she felt the urge to revel in it but it was also filled with a lot more. There was sorrow, anger, guilt, at least that's what she thought they were. Evelynn wasn't sure; she only knows pain and pleasure inside and out, not much else. She wondered for the briefest moment what human joy was like; her joy only needed a scream and a splash of red.
The succubus was so caught up in her own thoughts that she didn't notice Daelys placing his hand on her shoulder. She flinched but instead of an enraged grip, it was gentle, almost pleading in its touch. Evelynn extended her hand and placed her fingers against his chin, lifting it so that he looked at her. His eyes were glassy and held a defeated, broken look that sent a pleasurable chill down her spine. It was the same look her prey held when she was about to take their life yet this time, the pleasure passed quickly as she honed in on all his other emotions. Then she began to worry. What if he wouldn't be able to pull his weight in their escape?
"What's the matter, darling?" Evelynn forced herself to ask, trying with all her might to make her steely heart attempt to feel even the slightest shred of care for this man.
"I… can't. I don't think I can kill them. I-"
"You… do what you can. I'll do all the killing while you provide cover. It's what I'm good at. It's all I'm good at." Evelynn said with pride like a skilled worker bragging about their profession.
Daelys looked at her slowly, "That's really sad."
Evelynn's sickly sweet expression turned into one of pure rage at this. How dare he insult her! She bared her teeth in a snarl but when she looked the young mage head on, his expression held no mockery. He actually cared? Was he pondering about something she didn't realize? The succubus felt her lips press into a thin, mutinous line at this thought. Her brow twitched a little as her mouth pulled tightly at the corners.
"Sad? Why would I be sad?"
"To live as an object, an embodiment of one thing, and believing that thing defines you must be terrible even if you don't realize it. How much joy do you rob yourself of if one lives like that?" Daelys said quietly, "Once we escape together, perhaps I can help you."
Evelynn scowled now, her breath hissing out of her nose. "Why do you care so much?"
"Can't help it. I've been stuck here for ten years. I feel like I can at least try and make the world a better place. If nobody tries, how will we ever dream of being better?" Daelys replied simply as he began to focus his mana.
Evelynn rolled her eyes as she focused her magic as well. The Petricite chains they wore were all connected and intertwined so they sought to shatter the entire thing instead of working out of their cuffs one by one. "Hush, darling… I don't need to hear all this foolish optimism. The world is a cruel place and that cruelty breeds my happiness."
"I don't think you are happy but I will not push you on this topic for now." Daelys muttered as he winced, the Petricite chains on his wrists seemed to buzz and burn in protest to the overloading of mana within it.
Evelynn's visage turned as sour as fermented honey fruit at his comment but she didn't look fazed as she sped up her process and poured even more mana into the Petricite links. Just when the succubus thought that Daelys' plan was not working, the lightest cracking sound could be heard as a thin, hairline fracture raced across the surface of the white, creamy, petricite stone links. Encouraged by this, the two prisoners forced more mana into the chains. The fractures began to glow a shocking, brilliant blue, a loud bang erupted through the stale, prison air as the chains burst into chunks, scattering across the cold floor.
Evelynn's lips tilted up in a menacing, bloodthirsty, vengeful grin. Her mana gathered in her body like a torrent as it washed through her limbs and sang in her blood. Two, new lashers burst from her back now that her mana was unhindered by those despicable chains. Evelynn looked at the bars of the cell door's window. With her clawed hands and grasped tightly and pulled. She then dug her lashers into the narrow seams lining the top and bottom of the door where it meets the wall. Daelys watched on in utter disbelief as the demon began to pull and yank at the solid, petricite slab, warping it with her physical strength alone.
Evelynn snarled at the stubborn metal and with one, final, brutal yank, she tore the petricite from its hinges like she tears hearts from chests. A loud crash rang through the air as she tossed the door aside.
"Oh… they have no idea how much fun I'm going to have now." An eerie grin pulled at Evelynn's fair features. Daelys swallowed at this; he could already see and smell the red that will paint the floors.