First of all thank you for your reviews and thank you for reading this story. Secondly a warning: this chapter is the one (and maybe the last one) why I rate this story as "M". It has nothing graphic though.

And now on with the story!

Chapter 4: Phoebe

Phoebe still wasn't in the Manor when she opened her eyes again. Instead she was at a party – or so she guessed – but she was still in the Underworld. This time she sighted Cole immediately. He seemed to be about eighteen this time. There were a lot of demons around, all dressed in elegant dresses or suits and some of them in more demonic clothes, namely robes. Raynor was also there, immersed in a conversation with a female-demon. Cole stood behind his mentor: he was still wearing simpler clothes than the others – black trousers and a black shirt but those looked much better than the ones Phoebe saw him wearing the last time. He was scanning the crowd constantly but other than that he was like a statue. Raynor finished the conversation and turned to Cole.

„Don't be so stiff, my boy! This is a party after all and our Ruler will soon arrive. Nobody will venture an attack against me here and now."

„You told me yourself, Master that your enemies are everywhere."

„Yes, Belthazor but these enemies are more cunning than to use violence."

„The more dangerous they are" Cole said quietly.

„Yes, you're right."

Suddenly the lights went out and the quiet music stopped. One of the huge doors opened and a hooded figure walked inside. He was followed by four heavily armed guards. As he went all the demons in his way bowed to him. The Source – the demon couldn't be anybody else – went to the throne that stood in the back of the room. Soon one of the guards approached Raynor.

„Our Liege requires you company, Lord Raynor" he said in a respectful manner.

„You stay here" the senior demon said to Cole and followed the guard.

Phoebe saw that Cole never took his eyes off of his menthor for the whole time. Raynor spoke to the Source for a while than turned and gestured at Cole to come to them. For a moment Phoebe saw something flicker in the young man's eyes – something akin to fear but he obeyed nonetheless. He walked there with steady steps, stopped behind Raynor, bowed his head and stayed that way.

„This is Belhtazor, My Liege. He's my best student."

„Raise!" the Source ordered and Phoebe shivered hearing the raw power in his voice.

Cole looked up and now there was no sign of the former fear in his eyes. The Source studied him for a while.

„You're right, Raynor. I see the potential in him" he said then. With a wave of his clawed hands he dismissed Cole who bowed again and then left. Phoebe though stayed behind to hear what the demons were talking about.

„He still has human emotions" the Source said matter-of-factly.

„I don't think that we will manage to get rid of them completely but his human side has its advantages."

„How so?"

„He's looking for acknowledgement even more than pure demons. His way of thinking is different, he outsmarts both demons and humans. And he's attached to me because of his human soul, this way I can control him and I can be sure that he stays loyal to me and of course to You, My Liege."

„I see. Start giving him more serious tasks and then we'll see."

With that he seemingly finished the conversation and Raynor started to leave but the voice of another demon stopped him.

„Lord Raynor!"

Phoebe only now saw the dark-skinned demon that stood next to the throne. From the respectful nod Phoebe guessed the this demon stood very high in the hiearchy.

„Lord Baran, how can I help you?" Raynor asked.

„I'd like to have a word with you about your new protegee" he said in a voice that made the hair on Phoebe's neck raise.

This Baran was a rather scary-looking demon with his almost black skin that was covered with fur at some places. He was much taller than Raynor and had very impressive muscles. The most frightening were however his eyes that were black at one moment but changed into yellow the next and radiated inhuman intelligence.

„I see now why you spoke so highly of this Belhtazor. It's a nice looking toy."

Phoebe's blood boiled as she heard him speaking about Cole as if he were an object. But the demon continued.

„Give it to me for a night" it wasn't a request more like an order and seeing Raynor's facial expression he knew it as well. „Comrades share everything, don't they?"

„I don't have desires like you, Baran. I've never used the boy like that" Raynor said unwillingly

„What's the matter Raynor? Are those human emotions infecting you as well?" Baran asked teasingly.

„You know that's impossible. But I put a lot of work in Belthazor and I don't want it to go into waste."

„Don't worry, I won't break it I just play a little bit. And consider this: a night with me and his human side might break irreversibly."

The slight smile that appeared on Raynor's face wasn't very promising for Phoebe.

„If you promise that you won't kill him, I'll send him over tomorrow evening."

Baran rubbed his palms together: „I promise."

„Good night, Lord Baran."

„Not as good as the upcoming one" he answered.

Raynor went back to Cole.

„We are leaving" he said immediately.

„Is something wrong, Master?"

„Yes. We have to talk about something but only at home."

Phoebe followed them back home and into Raynor's study.

„After you were introduced to the Source Lord Baran requested me for a talk and..." he trailed off and he seemed really troubled, Phoebe had to admit that he had talent. As a human he could have been an actor. „He would like to meet you tomorrow" he finished.

Cole must have known this Baran as he gulped visibly and paled a little bit.

„But he is..." the young demon stuttered.

„Yes. He's a monster but I can't say no to his request. He's the right-hand man of our Ruler and if he gets angry at us then he can cause unimaginable damage. Do you understand this?"

„Yes, Master..." it was only a whisper.

Raynor put a hand on Cole's shoulder.

„Listen to me, my boy! You have to stay only for one night. Don't show fear and don't scream."

Cole nodded.

„Remember: whatever he does to you take it proudly because this is about dominance. He wants to show us that he is our superior, if you don't break than you show him that this is not true."

Cole nodded again more determined this time.

„Now go and take your rest!"

Cole and Phoebe went back into his small room (it was still the same, Phoebe had seen before) and Cole lied down instantly. Phoebe heard and saw though that he was tossing and turning for hours before he fell into restless sleep.

The next day Phoebe spent with following Cole around. He was doing nothing just wondering around the house obviously nervously. And the evening arrived too quickly and Cole had to start off. He shimmered to a similar building he himself lived in. When he knocked a servant opened the door and looked the visitor up and down.

„Are you Belthazor?" he asked.

„Yes."

„Lord Baran already waits for you, come after me!"

After a short walk they stopped in front of a simple wooden door that the servant opened, urged Cole inside and then closed it after him. The room was empty except a bed, and Baran wasn't there either. Phoebe could see how scared and nervous Cole was, he was pacing back and forth until the door opened. In that moment though he stopped immediately and every emotion disappeared from his face. He stood straight and steady and stood the demon's gaze.

Baran however obviously liked this demonstration of pride and strength because he smiled hungrily.

„I hope your Master prepared you well."

He stepped to his prey and raised Cole's head by the chin and turned it first left then right. He was much taller than Cole and however Cole was neither short nor very thin anymore he looked almost like a boy next to Baran.

„You know, I don't know whether your Lord mentioned it to you, but I have some special desires" with a quick movement he dropped down his robe and under it he was totally naked. His body was like his face, black and partly covered in fur and Phoebe also could see that there were some huge scars on his chest.

Cole winced but then the mask was thrown back into place. Phoebe on the other hand felt sick and if she had been here bodily she would have surely collapsed.

„I see you understand what I'm talking about" he licked his mouth and all of a sudden hit Cole on the side of his head so hard that he fell to the knees.

The demon yanked him up again and pushed him against the stone-wall.

„I'm sure that we will have a lot of fun... or at least I will.."

Phoebe turned and ran out through the door. Once being out of the room she slid to the ground and started to sob. Not just because of what she was sure would soon happen inside. She was upset with herself just as much: the things she told to Cole echod in her mind. …save yourself... you had your choice... I don't want to see you anymore! How could she be so cruel?

She could have never imagined that life in the Underworld was like this. To tell the truth she never thought about demons that much: they were the bad guys, the ones they had to vanquish and that was all. But now she realized that this was a whole different world. A cold, cruel and terrifying world with its own rules.

She pulled her knees to her chest and leant against the door. Even through the thick door she could hear the sounds. Grunting and growling and thuds and once a loud crashing sound. She could only imagine what was going on in there... she simply couldn't go back and watch.

She rememberred what Raynor told: Don't scream! And Cole did as he was told because she knew that all the sounds she heard were coming form the demon. This was probably the worst. He was young and he trusted his Master, he thought that Raynor had no chance that he was sorry to send him here. Did he ever realized how Raynor manipulated him? Phoebe wondered. Maybe she would ask him once about it...

The noises got louder and Phoebe buried her face in her arms and tried to close out the horrible pictures that bombarded her thoughts.

She didn't know how long she was sitting there but once she realized that everything went quiet. It must have been hours since they arrived. Before she could have wondered about it longer the door behind her opened and she had to jump (not as if it could have cause any trouble, it was only instict!).

Cole staggered out and Phoebe was surprised that he could manage even that. He looked like hell: she has never seen anybody so beaten, bruised and bloody. As he stumbled along the corridor he left bloodstains on the wall and through the tears in his shirt she could see deep and long claw-marks on his back. He held his left arm close to his chest and Phoebe thought that it seemed to be broken, just like his shoulder. His face was the worst though, almost unrecognizable, already swollen and bloody from many cuts.

He managed to get to the door where the servant waited for him and let him out. As soon as he stepped outside and the door was closed behind Cole collapsed with a moan. For the third try he managed to stand up again, made two steps and dropped down again. Phoebe wanted to do something, anything to help him but she had no chance. After struggling a little bit further from the house Cole at last shimmered out.

This time though Phoebe didn't shimmer with him, she was surrounded with darkness again and then was falling until she landed on something hard.

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