Genre: Angst/Horror
Rating: PG (this chapter)
Warnings: Shounen-ai (kinda comes with the territory)
Notes relevant to text: Fairly short chapter, flashback in italics.
Notes not as relevant but still important in my opinion: I'm so sorry for taking a ridiculous amount of time to get this written - real life bit me in the butt and insisted I write essays instead of fanfiction. *growls* Schedule is clear now, so updates should resume as normal. Oh yeah, I set up a LJ account for updates. It won't house any chapters, but will inform those who care about what has/hasn't been updated and when/why not. The address is and no, it's not my blog-blog. Even I couldn't make a layout that bad deliberately...*wanders off grumbling* Thanks for waiting - it's not as dark this time! *hugs for reviewers*
"Well, how revoltingly sweet," Krayon crooned in a high-pitched falsetto as he entered the room, polished boots clacking on the marble floor.
Without releasing his hold on Raenef, Eclipse shot the other demon a glare as menacing as was within his technically subservient bounds. Unflustered, the Lord of Egae returned the gesture of welcome with something that was far more teeth than an actual smile. He cast his attention to Erutis, still hanging in mid-air, praying audibly to every god she could lay her tongue to that she'd gone unnoticed. Krayon clucked his tongue disapprovingly.
"This won't do at all. Eclipse, you're really more beast than man! Suspending a lady up in the air like that where anybody could..." a step forward, "let's say..." another step, bringing him just past Eclipse and Raenef as he bent at the waist, "look up her--"
Erutis squeaked in displeasure as Eclipse released her bonds and sent her crashing onto Krayon, knocking both of them to the ground in a jumble of arms and legs and cloaks and hair. Raenef watched mutely, still huddled in his servant's grasp, as Erutis's face morphed from annoyance at being dropped from a not insignificant height into a horrified grimace. If anyone in the castle with no name had ever doubted Erutis's femininity, the glass-shattering shriek she let out as she clambered to her feet and scrambled behind Eclipse erased any remaining illusions they may have possessed.
"Pervert!" she screamed at Krayon, clutching her skirt and forcing it down over her thighs until the fabric threatened to tear. "Keep your gods-damned hands to yourself!"
Adjusting his cloak and stroking a strand of golden hair back into place, Krayon offered her a slightly more genuine smile as he attempted to regain his dignity.
"That," he quipped primly, "was unnecessary."
"The screaming or Eclipse dropping her on your head?" Raenef asked around the tip of his thumb.
Keeping his focus on the beleaguered knight, Krayon occupied the chair by Raenef's bed and eyed the three others with amusement.
"You know, Eclipse, if it wasn't for the charming swordswoman I'd be temped to believe you were running a daycare centre."
Raenef felt the growl building in his tutor's throat as the other demon adjusted his hold from the simple restraint it had begun as to a far more defensive gesture.
"Lord Krayon," the dark-haired demon began, "I am afraid we are in no fit state to receive visitors tonight. In exchange for your leaving us, may we offer you some form of compensation?"
From her position clamped onto his shoulder, Erutis thought she saw Eclipse's eye slide from Krayon to herself and back again. She definitely saw the grin which spread across the Lord of Egae's smooth face as he stroked his chin, and was horrified to recognise the aftereffects of a sleep spell emnating from Raenef as he sat silent and slumped against his servant's chest.
"As a rule, no. But in this instance I believe an exception is in order." Krayon made a beckoning motion with one manicured finger and Erutis began floating away from Eclipse and Raenef, three inches above the floor. She swiped desperately at Eclipse, seeking purchase in hair or robe and not particularly caring if he wound up bald or naked as long as Krayon wasn't...
She landed, sprawled across the demon lord's lap, and managed to squawk out, "Eclipse! I'll get you for this, you bastard!" before she vanished with her demon-shaped armchair.
Eclipse waited for the last vestiges of intense amusement to disappear from his face and the echo of Erutis's empty threat to fade before he stroked Raenef's cheek softly, intent perhaps on conversation or just avoiding being drooled on. When Raenef opened his eyes he kept his gaze trained on his hands, and Eclipse could have sworn his stomach had just ripped itself from his body and dived off the balcony.
"Master Raenef, we need to talk."
The boy remained silent.
Using all his clerical abilities to first determine if the corridor was empty, Chris edged lightly around the corner and prayed to Rased that the blonde fop of a demon lord had found amusement somewhere else. He had been prodded, zapped and threatened beyond what was acceptable for one holding the position of Successor to the High Clericy of Rased, and had come away with the conclusion that not only did Krayon consider his supergenius status a trivial thing, but the demon was both crazy and utterly obsessed with Erutis. He heaved a sigh, disturbing some of the flour that dusted his robe.
Krayon appeared in a blinding flash of light on top of the kitchen bench, this time without the art direction of his sylphs. Chris, for his part, pretended not to notice the demon's entrance on the 'if I can't see it, it's not there' principle. Krayon coughed delicately, though whether it was an attention seeking measure or simply to clear the airbourne flour from his throat was anyone's guess.
"I said, 'ahem.'"
Oh. Attention seeking after all.
"Yes?" Chris answered with some vestige of distraction, unwilling to be rude without backup but equally unwilling to back down from a challenge.
Krayon scowled at him, and the cleric felt the blood drain from his face.
"Tell me what you know about the knight," the demon demanded.
Chris glowered back despite himself. "Her name is Erutis."
"Yes, I know that. Don't push your luck with me, mate."
"I don't know that much about her," the cleric admitted without making eye contact. "Just that she's a sword master and used to be a mercenary. She came here looking to kill Raenef, and that's about all."
Krayon was silent, contemplating the scant information as he drummed his fingers on the benchtop.
"What does she ...like?" he asked almost gingerly.
Chris fought down the impulse to snap back, 'not you, that's for gods-damned sure' with some effort. "Dunno. Food, swords, I guess." A glint of wickedness entered his eyes, and he dared to add, "She thinks Eclipse is something else, too."
The ferocious scowl that slammed over Krayon's face almost made the cleric regret opening his mouth. Almost.
"Not that it's your business, but she can do better," the demon snapped defensively as he slid off the bench and made for the door.
Chris muffled a snort, and Krayon whipped around in a swirl of fine cloth and hair. He was still scowling, and a ball of dark energy crackled dangerously over one extended finger.
"I would not have said that if I were you," he said lightly as he sent the blast to chase the screaming cleric around the castle.
The ball of energy had detonated on a statue Chris had hidden himself behind, blasting it into a powder so fine it was indistinguishable from the cooking-related mess that covered him in splodges. Shaking his head to clear it of the unpleasant memory, Chris blinked and felt his spirits sink as he eyed the unfamiliar corridors.
"Raenef? Erutis? Eclipse? Someone? Where...where am I?"
Endnotes: Better? I wasn't ostensibly mean to anyone in that chapter. ^_^ Thanks for all the lovely comments, Scarbie. I'm glad firstdream!Eclipse managed to scare someone. I liked him best. :) Woo! Candy! *hugs for Atarii* *more hugs for everyone for putting up with my crap*