Chapter 1: A Wedding And A Curse
The Netherworld. The realm where all demons live, and the monarch who rules is… The Demon King.
Once empty, the throne belongs to the greatest king the Netherworld has ever served. Only he was worthy enough to inherit this seat of sovereignty.
The Boiling Isles. A series of islands risen from the corpse of one out of many Titans, and the imposter who ruled all witches and demons was… a human witch hunter.
Nearly threatening the people to extinction, the fake ruler and an all-powerful deity were reduced to nothingness and sealed permanently by the Isles' true paragon. Only she was able to encourage the inhabitants to rethink their ways and to continuously travel between her old and new home.
Two separate worlds… all part of a realm created by a greater scope being. Only one concern remains now…
Years ago…
Iruma adjusted the pin of his laced collar for the 66th time.
He wasn't alone in the private chamber of the dark chapel the event was taking place. Asmodeus and Lied, his chosen male companions for the event, were with him as well.
"Careful with the outfit, master!" 'Alice' Asmodeus finally stepped in and straightened his master's collar. "This is a unique customizable suit you only get to wear once in your reign as Demon King!"
"I can't help it! I'm extremely nervous!" Iruma's unique hair strand agitated over his head. He began pacing around the chambers.
"You're the Demon King, for devi's sake!" Lied said, exasperated. "Of all the crazy things you've done, THIS is what you're scared off?"
King Iruma just sighed.
Let's quickly explain before we move on to the main event.
Iruma Suzuki, age 24. Ten years ago, his insanely stupid, inhuman, biological human parents chose to sell his soul for cash to a demon rather than ditch him in Antarctica. He was adopted by said demon, Lord Sullivan, who loved him like his own grandson and sent him to the famous demon school Babyls for the next six years of his life. Under threat of being eaten by other demons, Iruma struggled to hide his humanity. However, his desire to blend in undetected dissolved as he rose ranks, acquired friends, admirers, and a girlfriend in the Netherworld, and vanquished enemies who tried to destroy demon rankings and revert the Netherworld back to its original, chaotic, human-eating ways. Though his friends were temporarily pissed that he lied to them about his nature, their loyalty and friendship with him were so strong, they formed the new Thirteen Crowns under their new king.
At the age of 21, Iruma had reached the ultimate rank and was selected as the Demon King when he defeated the treacherous Baal. The second Demon King after the first one, the creator of the Netherworld, had vanished.
The first Demon King to be of human origins.
And after three years of ruling with benevolence and a firm grasp, the young king was undergoing the biggest change in his life.
He clasped his hands together, the Gluttonous Feeder Ring rubbing against his skin.
"The ritual is far more different than the common ones other demons and humans have," Asmodeus supported his king and spoke to Lied. "After all, there's symbolic importance! This ritual is being performed for the first time to a Demon King. And what follows afterwards is the first for the Netherworld!" Asmodeus then bowed before his king. "However, with the things you've gone through… This ritual will probably be the happiest in your life besides the first time we celebrated your Demonic Rites!"
Iruma sighed, feeling more content.
The clock struck 5:55pm. Sunset had already passed and the night sky was coated by dark, thundering clouds. Not cloudy enough to bring forth rain, but the clapping thunder mimicked drums.
It was time.
Flashing his cape behind him, the Demon King crossed his arms and faced the door. Lied brought forth the silver torches and Asmodeus summoned fire to light them. Both members of the Thirteen Crowns carried a burning torch and stood by the Demon King's side as he led the march.
Out of the chamber and into the hallway. The torches illuminating the purplish, gray-bricked hallway diminished as the monarch walked forward. Only the torches' flames illuminated the path.
Guards opened the doors. Into the dark, gothic chapel the group stepped. Demons stood up from the benched aisles and started chanting, their feet stomping on the ground.
Aleph!
Beth!
Gimel!
Daleth!
Hé!
Vau!
Zain!
Cheth!
Teth!
YOD!
Once the Demon King stood before the black altar, the demons silenced, bowed, and sat back down. Amaryllis Asmodeus, the former Thirteen Crowns' mistress of Seduction and the mother of 'Alice', stood on the other side of the altar. A silver plate and case rested on the altar's surface. In contrast to the usual, Amaryllis wore a more covering robe and her face was unusually dark. This ritual was something she ministered often, but as this was a ritual for the DEMON KING, this was a serious business.
The main door finally opened. The demons rose and turned to the door.
Iruma managed to control it, but his blush was still present.
The most meaningful demoness in his life was walking down the aisle, her father escorting her while the current Thirteen Crowns' sole female members carried the long veil behind her. Her feet managed to not step on the fabric of her halter gown. Her shoulder-long gloves and sweetheart collar were trimmed with silver-and-red laces. Her cape, similar to what she used to wear back in school, also reached down to the ground in ebony elegance. Her red hair seemed to shine like a supernova while the purple veil pinned to the back of her head reminded of a trail of stars. Her reddish-brown eyes were focused on him.
She finally got to the altar. Even after the passed years since they first met, she still towered him. At least with the growth spurt he had until becoming Demon King, the top of Iruma's head finally reached the bottom of her chin.
Her father was still shaking as he let go of his daughter. He was still trembling when he finally sat down. Asmodeus and Lied attached the torches to the altar and joined the other current Thirteen Crowns in their designated seats. The bells rang 6:06pm. Amaryllis Asmodeus finally began.
"Demons of all ranks! Allies, friends, relatives, mentors, and whoever else was invited! You have been blessed for attending tonight's Matrimonial Rites Ceremony!" She declared. "The Netherworld will forever commemorate this historical date as the first royal Matrimonial Rites! Our Demon King is the first to undergo it, and by tonight, the Netherworld will have its first Demon Queen!"
Amaryllis opened the case. A stone dagger rested in it. She pulled it out, revealing it to the audience. "Demon King Iruma! Bride Ameri Azazel! Join your hands over the plate!"
They joined hands, fingers lacing against one another. The audience shivered. Amaryllis raised the dagger in the air. She bent down and gave small, singular cuts to each of the ring fingers. Four drops of blood landed on the plate. Lightning bolts from the outside night illuminated the chapel's stained-glass windows. The lights touching the blood drops caused the liquids to sizzle. The two different hued red bloods moved on their own, fused, and split into two separate puddles. The puddles hollowed themselves, thickening until two silver rings appeared. Sapphire and ruby accent stones shined dimly compared to the purple diamond center stones. The rings' galleries, heads, shoulders, and claws, were fashioned like thorns. The Demon King and Bride let go of their hands and recited their vows.
"To you, Ameri Azazel, I vow my loyalty and protection."
"To you, Demon King Iruma, I vow my ferocity and devotion."
"With you, I share my rank, power, and trust over my kingdom."
"With you, I share my commands and my wisdom."
"In this union, my blood is yours and your strength is mine."
"In this union, my heart is yours and your soul is mine."
"Through this Matrimonial Rite," they said together, "you are my equal in reign and household. I dedicate myself to you for eternity, I vow a loyal sovereignty, and I aspire for the future of the Netherworld."
They easily slipped the rings onto their fingers. The new ring was right next to the Gluttonous Feeder Ring on Iruma's right hand.
The thunder outside increased. The benches disappeared and all demons rose.
"The Matrimonial Rite is complete, and you are now husband and wife. Yod and Yod. Human and demoness. Demon King and Queen!" Amaryllis knelt down. "Hail to the first ruling couple of the Netherworld! Hail to the Demon King! Hail to the new Demon Queen!"
All the demons bowed, cheering. Iruma kissed Ameri's ringed hand. "My queen…"
Her blush was rivaled by the bigger one plastering his cheeks when she bent down and kissed him. "My husband…"
Among the bowing demons, one of the current Thirteen Crowns was sobbing.
"Sabnock, why are you crying?" Lied asked.
"I just got to witness the first Matrimonial Rite Ceremony in Demon King history! I'm crying manly tears of joy!" The buff demon sniffed.
The other male Thirteen Crowns rolled their eyes. Hopefully, the manly tears of Sabnock were going to be the only terrible thing about the majestic event.
At the same time, at the edge of the world
Past the kingdom of the Demon King, titanic steep coasts separated the mainland from the beaches. A larger stone wall separated the beaches from the one sea the former Demon King had sealed away from the Netherworld.
The Boiling Sea, a body of water of intense heat, Derkila had created it as a prison playground for his most useless creations, the Titans.
Within the sealed away sea were several islands created from several Titan corpses.
One such corpse composed the main Boiling Isles.
Wild magic was sovereign, until an imposter took over. Oppressed witches and demons into using one-type magic only. A human consuming the souls of Palismans to survive and pretend to be an emperor. A monster who tried to wipe out all magic kind.
A civilization under threat of extinction from the genocidal maniac and of endless torture from a childlike god who wanted nothing more than to play.
In that same stormy night, a brand-new spell was cast. A spell composed of magical glyphs, a Titan's scream and a human's blood. A spell that could only be performed by a human magical practitioner.
A draining spell… that returned all the stolen magic and lifeforce from Phillip Wittebane and the Collector.
Where the Conformatorium once stood, thousands of witches and demons watched Luz Noceda cast the spell on the two monsters. Magic drained out of their veins in nine hues and transferred into the ground. The stolen magic and essences returned to the Titan. People found their magic returning. The Clawthorne sisters found themselves curse-free, although Eda Clawthorne still had lost an arm and was now holding the small Owl Beast in her arms.
Luz held back her screams. The agony was painful. She wasn't even fifteen and she was performing what could be the most lethal spell other than the Draining Spell. Her chest was threatening to break, but she didn't care. Phillip struggled to fight back, but with the Palisman souls now freed, all that was left of him was a mindless blob solidifying into wood.
The Collector didn't have the same opinion.
"I won't get sealed again!" They shouted.
"Your jail's a whole lot different, Collector!" Luz shouted. "You and Phillip will never be freed or feeding off people's misery! The Boiling Isles will go back to the way it was! No coven, no god, and no emperor! The witches and demons will be free to choose what they want to do with themselves! They won't be zombies following another crazy monarch!"
The Collector, despite being mid-petrified, just laughed. His arms stretched out and pointed at Luz. Against all odds, they recited what seemed like a curse.
"You human who on this realm roams, are not the first one that will never return home. Once history is revealed, all demons will kneel. My revenge will forever sing once you and your kin are devoured by the true Demon King!"
The Collector's eyes glowed. Their body finally turned to wood. The wooden criminals merged into a thick, disfigured tree, their still features forming on the bark. Nettle leaves grew in serpentine fashion up the trunk and around the branches.
Luz Noceda dropped on her knees, panting heavily. All of the Boiling Isles cheered. Her loved ones rushed towards her.
"You did it, Luz!" Amity, her beloved girlfriend, hugged her.
"YEAH, LUZ!" Her friends cheered.
"Way to go, kid!" Eda ruffled her surrogate daughter's hair. "Darius's bringing the new portal door over. We gotta invite your mom over to celebrate!"
They were all happy. The threats were over. They were all free…
No one noticed King Clawthorne. The last Titan. The one who caused the Collector's freedom in the first place.
He stared at the Collector's new natural form.
It seemed so… unsatisfying.
A hollow victory.
In the midst of the chaos, only he had heard the mad god's final words. It certainly sounded like a curse…
"What did you mean… Luz will be devoured by the true Demon King?" King hoped the Collector didn't mean him. The small baby Titan wasn't the King of Demons. He wasn't even the King of Titans. He was just King. Probably the last playmate the Collector ever had.
He looked at the others, all happy with their victory.
If it's not me… Who is the true Demon King? King wondered.
Minutes later
It took only a few hours for the happiness to end.
The Boiling Isles immediately hosted an all-night party. The sky was lit by colorful fireworks. The streets were packed with game stands, carnivals, dance floors, all-you-can-eat buffets, and Eda's ultimate love, thousands of apple blood barrels. The old emperor's castle was purposely trashed and anything that promoted the old emperor's propaganda turned into graffiti. Ex-Emperor scouts painted on their masks. Grudgeby and flyer derby matches went on.
For Luz, it was one of the happiest moments of her life. With the new portal, her mother and Vee managed to come through. Terrified at first, Camila Noceda calmed down after seeing the happiness her daughter finally had. An unusual pride filled her.
They were all feasting at a table just outside of the Owl House. Raine Whispers was the one initiating the toast. "Cheers to the end of the empire! Thanks to the efforts of everyone, we can now rebuild the Boiling Isles to the old ways!"
"Hear, hear!" The witches and demons agreed.
"Cheers to whooping the Emperor and the Collector's butts!" Gus yelled. His friends shushed him for the volume.
"And a big, freakin' cheers to the kid!" Eda hugged Luz close to her. "What we would have done without you, I can't even begin to imagine!"
Luz blushed. "Thanks…" She sighed. "I can't believe it's all over… What do I do now?"
"Well, mija, we'll have to go back home," Camila Noceda patted her daughter, "but… you've changed so much… And I still can't believe you helped save a whole world from a racist bigot and a crazy god!"
"I know!"
"I think we can work around you going back and forth between Gravesfield and Bonesborough." The biological mother's response caused Noceda to cry and hug her dearly.
They partied nearly all night. Eventually, it was close to midnight when Luz decided to escort her mother back home. Amity had given her a quick kiss, knowing Luz would come back and continue the festivities.
And then it happened.
Just when the humans tried to step inside the portal door, they were thrown back. Confused by the sudden rejection, Luz rushed and tried to push her way out.
Something wasn't right. She could see Gravesfield at the other side, yet some kind of invisible barrier stood in the doorway. Luz kept patting around, feeling the barrier. The same thing happened when Camila imitated her daughter.
"What's going on?" The Noceda women panicked.
"Is the portal busted?" Eda ran towards the doorway. They all watched her tumble into the human realm and easily hop back into the Boiling Isles.
Willow and Gus gave a shot. Then the Blight family. The Coven Head guests. Hunter…
They all managed to travel between dimensions. Only the humans couldn't.
"What's happening… Why can't we go home?" Camila fell on her knees.
"The portal was in perfect condition when we brought you!" Darius was shocked as well. "That was only a few hours ago! It should be functioning perfectly!"
"Maybe I could put some of my blood…" Before anyone could stop him, King walked towards the portal and reached for the doorway.
Everything around him darkened. The others were gone. The portal was gone. All that surrounded and faced the small Titan was darkness. He turned to look behind him. Out of nowhere, a trail of blood appeared.
King held his hands close and followed the trail in the darkness. The further he went, the smellier the blood was. The blood finally led to a red ocean surrounding mountains…
King coiled back in horror. He hadn't been this terrified since the discovery of his heritage and that he had nearly been killed by hunters dressed in baby Titan skulls.
The ocean was nothing more than a great pool of water. The mountains were piles of corpses. Millions of deceased, from the recently deceased to the skeletons, murdered, and devoured included. Thousands of demonic silhouettes stood around the bloody pool, cheering. At the very top of the largest corpse pile, a tall purple figure bearing a purple cape stood. In the darkness, his golden ring shined brightly.
The figure opened his arms out as an invitation. The demon shadows kept cheering and soon ran towards the pile. The cheers soon turned into a frightening song.
Humans, they are loved.
For after all, they taste so very good.
Suck them dry, blood and plasma,
Flesh and marrow, their whole brood.
Humans.
The demons were running towards dead humans… to eat them.
And they worshipped the leader who provided them with this feast.
My revenge will forever sing once you and your kin are devoured by the true Demon King!
The Collector's last words echoed in King's skull. The horrible vision faded. The real surroundings appeared and King fell on the ground.
"King!" Eda picked up her adopted son.
"King, are you OK?" Luz rushed in.
"How is his heartrate?" Camila Noceda, as if forgetting her current situation, checked on the canine creature's condition. King was shaking in Eda's arms.
"C…C… Collector's… curse… T…The…" King finally uttered his new worst fear. "The… Demon King…"
"King, we went over this…" Eda said.
"Not me!" King shook his head. "The real one! Not me! Not Belos or the Collector! The true Demon King!" King freaked out. "The Collector cursed Luz and her kin to be devoured by him! Luz and her mom are…"
King finally fainted.
Eda stared at Camila and Luz.
The biological mother failed to understand what was going on and Luz was breaking out a sob, screaming what she had done.
At the same time, at the edge of the world
The whole population of the Netherworld were still celebrating the royal wedding by the time the clock struck the thirteenth hour.
Iruma was worn down for the day.
He stepped out of his Hellvender bath, dried himself, put on his dark purple pajamas and robe, and stepped into the chamber he and Ameri now shared.
His adoptive demon grandfather had spoiled him since day one, but the young Demon King still had his humble side. The private chamber was large with dark purple walls, golden window frames, and a black-tiled floors, but the decorations were relatively modest: two desks, a mahogany armoire, a red carpet, two cushioned armchairs resting by a warm fireplace, and framed pictures of the Demon King's family and friends. The only bigger pieces of furniture were the wall-sized library (half of it filled with First Love Memories) and the canopy bed.
Ameri was sitting on the bed, untying her red robe, when she noticed her husband's silent expression. "Is something troubling you?"
"I think I'm just worn out…" Iruma gave her a soft smile. "A lot happened today… and I will never regret it one bit."
Ameri chuckled. "Even as the man who rules all demons, you never cease to be yourself."
"As if I ever would!" He took off his robe. After Ameri gave hers, he lied the garments down on the nearest desk. Iruma proceeded to lie down next to Ameri. She didn't hesitate and leaned down, her lips cautiously embracing his.
"You're still worried about hurting me?" Iruma asked. He remembered the first few tender moments they shared in the past. Back when Ameri was insecure of how she appeared before him. Back when she was too tall to even reach his hand.
"Maybe…" She admitted.
"I trust you." Iruma sat up. "I just hope you can trust me…"
Ameri stroked his soft, human cheeks. "Human or demon, I've trusted you since your first year at Babyls. Your guidance in the recovery of my ambitions further sealed it…" Iruma blushed from her touch. "My ambition now is to be by your side. In bettering ourselves and other demons for the good of the Netherworld."
Iruma took a deep breath, feeling better. He held Ameri's hand in his. "You'll definitely make the world a wonderful place." Ameri just smiled, chuckled a bit, and stroke his hair. He frowned curiously. "What's on your mind?"
"I was just imagining how you'd be… as a father…"
Her sentence caused Iruma to pull back. The strand over his head agitated in panic.
"I didn't mean it like that!" Ameri quickly said. "Or right now! It's just…"
"I know! I'm sorry!" Iruma quickly took a deep breath. "I know what you meant, and it's not something I wouldn't mind… having with you, but… you know why I'm not ready yet, right?"
Ameri nodded. After finally coming clean with his heritage, Iruma had revealed to her why he was in the Netherworld in the first place. Demons were barbaric on their own, but human parents having their only child slave off and go as far as to sell his soul to a demon for wealth? Ameri sincerely hoped that the Suzuki parents never made an appearance, otherwise she'd gladly eat them.
Iruma sat upright and held his Queen's hands in his. "I think this could be a great ambition for us, Ameri. I truly do. I'm not ready just yet. But I promise you… once we get the hang of ruling the Netherworld together, the ambition will be a reality."
Ameri's eyes beamed. She took a deep breath and poked Iruma's nose. "Six years from now at the most. It can take us a long amount of time to properly cater to the subjects' needs, but our unique ambition must be reached in six years from now."
"Six years, six months, and six eclipses from now," Iruma solidified the agreement. "I promise you that."
Ameri and Iruma hugged before their energies, exhausted from the festivities, caused them to pass out and fall asleep.
Who knows what could happen in six years?
