Chapter Three: Old Friends Not Welcome

"Eclipse," Erutis yelled to be heard over his laughter, "who exactly is at the door? What does he look like?" Erutis was pissed; her intelligence networks had assured her that she had another three months before Erien's lackeys would find her. She had planned to tell Rae, really she had, but with all that business with the former Demon Lord Raenef and then Rae disappearing and having to deal with Demon Lord Fancypants, she hadn't found the time.

Eclipse sat up and glared at the Halfling for daring to command him. But one look from his master and he let it pass. "He informed me that he was but a messenger announcing the arrival of your Demon Lords' second-in-command. The messenger stated that he would arrive in one half hour."

Erutis paled. When Eclipse saw who the second-in-command was, he was going to blow her up, maybe even blow up the castle. She started to creep closer to Raenef. He looked down at her, and that was not a very reassuring look.

"Erutis, who is the envoy? What is his name?" Rae asked, looking very suspicious. His expression said that he wasn't pleased with her for keeping such information from him. It looked to her as if he had pushed their earlier activities to the back of his mind. Speaking of, she hastily slipped her shirt back onto her shoulders and donned her cape.

"Like I said earlier, is there a back way out of here, because the you-know-what is going to hit the fan and I'd rather not be here when it does."

"You are not leaving until you help me solve this situation you have landed yourself and us, in." Rae said with a stern face.

"That's the second time you've said that. Look Rae, it is not my fault, it is not my situation. I never encouraged him. I don't love him, and I especially don't want his lackeys after me, even if it is Crescent." At that moment Erutis realized what she had said and clamped a hand over her mouth and looked toward Eclipse.

He had gone still, like a bow pulled too tight, that was about to break. Then she looked back at Rae, he arched an eyebrow.

"Did you say Crescent?" Eclipse asked in a voice that was so quiet it was lethal. He looked at her with such conviction that she turned her head and nodded. "Did you know he would be coming?" she nodded again. "And you knew what he was to me?" another nod. "Explain."

"Like I said, my dad is a scientist and we lived with the local Demon Lord, Erien. My brothers were already out being demons and fighting in small wars, and my mother was catering to my father, so Crescent practically raised me. He taught me to be a Swordmaster and a scholar. And I grew up under his care. Then Erien convinced my father that I would be a perfect bride for him and my father stupidly agreed, so I ran away. I became a mercenary for a while and then I came here. I knew he was coming for me and I meant to tell you, but the timing never seemed right. You had a lot to deal with and then Demon Lord Fancypants wouldn't leave me alone. And then you and Chris went mad. That's why I was trying to meditate; I wanted to see how far way he was by sensing his magic."

"Eclipse," Rae said in a smooth drawl, "what is he to you?"

"My brother."

Chris was amazed, stunned, stupefied. And that was a lot to be, even for a genius like him. The girl that he liked, who had blossomed so much in such a short period of time, was a half-demon, and betrothed , though unwillingly, to a Demon Lord, and not just any Demon Lord, Erien. One of the most powerful, most conniving, most dangerous of all the Demon Lords.

But what stunned him the most was that Eclipse had a brother, and not just that, but said brother was now at the front door that Chris had just opened.

"Oh, boy, is this going to be a fun week or what?"

If there was one word Erutis could use to describe the atmosphere in the parlor, it was threatening, to her. Here she was, with all these men who wanted something from her.

Crescent stood at the farthest corner from Eclipse, his snow white hair cackling about him like lines of electricity. Crescent wanted her to go back to Erien with him. Erien wanted her no matter what, and she could thank her lucky stars that he hadn't shown up yet.

Raenef wanted to claim her like some prize. Another notch on his bedpost. She wondered what her brothers would think.

Chris wanted to marry her, or so he claimed, but underneath it all, he wanted the same thing Raenef wanted. Funny how she could never think of Rae when thinking about something like that, she always brought up a mental image of his darker side and associated his image with the name of Raenef, but Rae was her cute and cuddly friend, weird.

Then there was Eclipse. Eclipse wanted to kill her, more so than usual. But then Crescent also wanted to kill her, both for the same reason.

She was just lucky that Krayon wasn't here, Goddess knows, he would only complicate the situation.

But here she was, sitting on the arm of Raenef's throne with his arm resting on her thigh, an ever-present warning to neither speak nor move. She looked at Chris, who sat on the other side of Raenef in what was usually Eclipse's seat. But Eclipse was standing as far as he could from Crescent, who was doing the same.

All in all, the atmosphere was very threatening.

"Well," Raenef spoke in harsh tones, directing his voice to Crescent, who turned to look at him. "We seem to have a situation. And situations need solutions, so, what do you propose?"

As Crescent answered he locked eyes with Erutis and didn't break contact, "Erutis was betrothed to my master, the Demon Lord Erien, in the hundred and forty-eighth year of the New Age, two years ago, long before she came to reside in this castle. The agreement was signed by her father, and shortly after, she vanished from our home. Master Erien has diligently been searching for her all that time, to bring his beloved home. I suggest you allow me to take her home where she is loved and needed."

Raenef looked as if he was about to answer when Eclipse spoke up, "Absolutely not."

Crescent glared at his brother, ice blue eyes full of rage, "Explain."

Eclipse seemed to sit up straighter, looked to Raenef, who nodded, and began. "Though the agreement was made when Erutis was sixteen years of age, she is now eighteen and not subject to agreements made by her father without her consent. Furthermore, she already has three suitors, she does not need another. And unless Erien wishes warfare, I do not believe it wise to continue in this asinine venture into a betrothal agreement."

Crescent seemed a bit surprised, and his blue eyes widened. "What suitors?"

Erutis huffed, he didn't have to sound so amazed. It wasn't as if she was a heifer. Lots of guys thought she was hot. A lot of the guys in her guild thought she was pretty hot stuff, then there was of course, Rae, Chris, Fancypants, and Erien, and some of the Swordmasters in the East thought she was great. That's right, Erutis thought, I am one sexy half-demon. So what is he talking about 'What suitors?'

Chris took this opportunity to speak up, "Well, me for one, and if you are wondering I am the Genius of the Temple of Rased, and it's next High Priest. Then there's Rae, who right now probably wants to chew you up and spit you out for threatening Erutis. Then there's"

"Me." Everyone turned toward the serious voice, and to Erutis' surprise, discovered Krayon, who was being uniquely serious for once in his life. "I am her suitor. The first," and at this he looked at Raenef, "and only."

Crescent looked mildly annoyed, "And who, pray tell, are you?"

Krayon executed a perfect anime fall but quickly straitened up and tidied himself. "I am the Demon Lord Krayon the Eighth of Edae, the supreme ruler of the realm of illusion and dream, and the future lover and husband of Erutis the Swordmaster."

Crescent looked as if he was about to burst out laughing. Erutis knew from experience that Crescent and Eclipse didn't show many facial expressions, usually just anger, annoyance, or approval, so seeing him smiling and trying to contain his laughter was a serious surprise.

Authors Note: Please read and review, thank you to all of you who have reviewed. In the next chapter I will address any questions or comments made by the reviewers.