The Marshal

by Alexander Kerensky

Guns fall silent. A city is burning and I need to escape. I don't think they would show mercy to me if I was to hand myself over. The "Young Marshal" is no more. Rape, genoicide and thousands and thousands of dead. My hands are painted red but I still have single trick up my sleeve... In hindsight I should have just shot myself.

6. Chapter 6

Chapter 6: Thorns Of The White Rose

A hot piece of toast is all that greets my stomach this morning. I managed to sleep a few hours, but the birds outside managed to chirp me out of bed so now I got to get up and put my body to use. As I take bites out of my food I slowly start to think about what I actually want to do. I still need to decide if I want to continue this madness or not.

The hot teas steam into my face, hindering my ability to see. I pull the cup away from my face and wait until I can see again. As I stand next to the counter I slow steps echoing towards me. Forceful, few, and mad. Take a bottle of wine and some dark coffee and place them on a plate with some waffles and jam.

After a few seconds Stella enters, hand on her eyes. She slowly rubs her eyes as she walks. She walks up to the counter, not even bothering to down up. I forcefully cough and she finally down to me.

"What the fuck are you doing."

I simply push the plate into her hands while I take sip of my fruit tea. Her eyes narrow on me, but doesn't say a thing. She just walks past me and sits down. As I finish my breakfast, my ears once again begin to pick up some noise. Cheerful, well rested steps. I listen as I place my plate into the sink along with the now empty cup. I reach over for another cup of coffee with a newspaper.

The tall owl walks in, rubbing his two lower eyes. His eyes imminently widen as he glances at his wife, sitting and eating. I push the newspaper and coffee into his hands and nod towards one of the chairs furthest from Stella. He just looks back Stella and slightly shakes his head.

"Do you have something you want to fucking say?"

Stolas raises his hand with the newspaper, while his feathers shake for a second. He is clearly afraid.

"N-No, of course not."

He walks past her wife who is still eyeing her.

"How's the coffee?"

She finally stops glaring at him and looks at me and than at the coffee. She looks at me once again and opens her beak.

"Terrible. Tastes like you used the water the servants use to wash the dishes."

I give her a shit eating grin.

"I thought you like its special flavour."

She looks back at her coffee and takes another sip.

"If I find out you actually did it I will gut you like every other sensible royal would have."

I walk up to her and place my hands onto the table.

"Do it than… Afraid of the consequences and the shame that it would come with..? Or perhaps, you have to great of a use for me to even think about actually doing it?"

She calmly places her cup onto the table and grabs me by the shirt and pulls me to her level.

"Care to fucking test?"

"Sure."

We glare into the others eye. Once again, her eyes seem more red than usual, almost the exact shade of red that Stolas has. I glance towards him, he is in a half defence half attack mode. He doesn't seem to really sure whether intervene or not. The stupid part of my brain wants to ask her if we gonna kiss or not but that might be a slight over push.

As we have our little staring contest, I can hear steps again. I raise a finger and we both begin to listen. Slowly Stolas also gives up his stance and sits back down, listening. I look at Stella as I slowly for my conclusion.

"Octavia?"

As she hears that she immediately drops me. I land on my legs as I expected this. I walk back to the counter and wait. As I hear the steps echo closer and closer I look at Stolas a final time before Octavia enters. He looks… Depressed now. No, depressed or sad isn't the word for it… Sour, perhaps?

She finally enters. She looks like shit. Washed shit. I hand her some cereal and milk.

"Should have told me not to drink that much. I feel like I have been hit by a truck. Twice."

You can hear a fly hitting the window, that's how silent the room became.

"To be fair, getting wasted and hangover is part of being an adult. Along with taxes, jobs and chronic back pain once you hit 30. Do not ask why it happens, it just happens. You just wake up and you back wants you dead. For the rest of your life. Fun activity."

With a half dead face she takes the bowl of cereal and milk out of my hands and turns around to leave.

"Not gonna stay and eat with us?"

She turns back and looks at her mother and father.

"I rather wrap a pistol around my beak."

With that Stolas stands up and tries to walk over to Octavia.

"Via, please. You know what happened was a horrible accident. Please, listen to us, hear us out. We only want what is the best of you. I know its hard for you to see, but please, believe us. We would never go out of our way to even try to hurt you in any way. We love you."

She surprisingly listens to all that her father has to say, but after he is done with his speech she just glares at him.

"Accidents are things that happen rarely."

With that she drops the bowl of cereal that she was holding onto the ground. The bowl shatters with a thunderous sound. She glares at her father with possibly the most bored expression she could muster.

"This was an accident. What you did and still do isn't."

She pushed the carton of milk into her fathers hand and once again turns to leave. She leaves the kitchen with no fuss or any other attempt by Stolas to talk with her. He just places the milk onto the counter, next to me.

"Great fucking job, Stolas. You really have your way with words. Are you this skilled with talking with that filth you fuck?"

Stella ask as she finishes her breakfast. Stoalas doesn't answer just slumps back into his seat. Now, he really has the depressed look on his face.

"I know it might be a bad time, but her dropping the bowl was intentional."

Neither of them pay much attention to my comment, Stella just throws the plate into the dish, resulting a small part braking off.

"Do you really handle everything with such a force and care?"

She places one of her hand on her hip and with the other points at me, her finger being really close to my remaining eye.

"If you make any comments about how that is why my marriage and friendships are failing I will break your spine like a fucking twig."

I nod to that slowly pulling my head away from her finger and hand.

"Noted, was it that obvious?"

With hate still in her eyes she glares at me until an older servant brings over a letter. The terrified servant stands behind her, not daring to speak. I just reach over and yoink the letter out of her hand. I break the seal on it and take out the paper.

"THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?! IT IS A ROYAL LETTER PATHETIC THINGS LIKE Y-"

I just raise and a hand as I read the letter and surprisingly she shuts up. The paper contains the following.

"Dear Stella Goetia and Stolas Goetia.

In light of recant events surrounding the family both economic and political as well as other high ranking nobles, most notably Sir Urias, and Sir Kangor. Bael, king of the kings the house of Goetia, hereby with this letter officially orders you two show yourself in this event, even if by the human sayin "Even the sky falls down." Not attending this event is of highest treason and it will be marked on your track records. I do not wish to imply that you two are close to receiving some… Reminder as to what happens if you refuse to serve the family, but accidents can and do happen.

We also would welcome the decision to bring your daughter, Octavia along. It would be a most liked change to see her face in such high importance events and gatherings instead of the two of your faces, after all, she is now the age to marry… She is even older than the two of you were when you two got married, so it should be noted that it is about time for her to give a new heir to whatever branch of the family you two decide to give her. Or perhaps finally give in and let someone of high power and orange flames take her hand.

If, for any reason, even if one of you is incapable of coming, bring someone to represent that person, but do note that we are… A bit tired of Stolas. While you, Stella, might actually have a decent reason to not come, we and by the word "we" I wish to refer to all of the family, high ranking demons and most of the filthy overlords of human descent are aware of his idiotic fiddling with the lower class imp.

It is clear that the two of you longer sees your duty as the most important job in your life therefore, if you two are to keep this up we will be limited to the choice of exile. I think you, Stella, know what exile would mean to everyone and whoever you are associated with. This is the reason why we give the two of you this special letter. The last of its kind.

Do Not Disappoint Us Daughter In-Law.

You have fucked around for long enough, son.

With most heartfelt thoughts.

-Paimon

At the bottom of the letter the same exact mark is printed into the paper as the one I have on my hand.

"Oh."

I click my mouth as I look at the paper and once again read it.

"What the fuck is it?"

I hand her the letter. She snatches it out of my hand and begins to read. I can see her eyes moving faster and faster as she reads trough the words. Her eyes widen with each sentence. She finally stops with her eyes at the bottom of the paper. She walks up to Stolas and slams the paper onto the table.

"Read."

She is surprisingly calm. No shouting, unnecessary cursing, just a loud slam and her dagger glares. Stolas reads and reads until he raises his head and throws down the paper.

"You know I'm not going."

He says as he turns his head, away from her glare.

"You are going to. This is not up to debate."

Stolas looks at me.

"Why can't he go?"

Stella turns to look at me, eyes back to the usual reddish pink.

"Can't you read? You MUST attend. Yet you said I can't read while you can't even understand the word mus-."

Stolas slams the table with his hand, hitting the paper in the middle.

"I'M NOT GOING!"

An eery presence enters the air as all three of us remain silent. Stolas breaths heavily as he looks up into Stella's eyes.

"Please… I just don't want to."

Stella looks at her in disgust.

"You really think you are the only one who doesn't want to attend this waste of time? Do you think I want to go to the event while THEY are there?"

She glares at him as he shuns his head and raises his hand from the paper.

"Either grow some balls or kill yourself. I am most satisfied with both."

She gets to his level and looks him in the eyes, barely a few inches from his face.

"Decide. Here and now."

Stolas suddenly pushes Stella away and stands up.

"NO… Never again. It was horrible enough to bear the last two years, I only did it for her. You will need to go alone, but do know that whatever they say or throw at you, make sure they know I was the one who refused to come. Please, I will let all of what would come towards you come to me but… Please, no more."

"Do you really think by not going you are doing her a favour? You are leaving her out of an important choice again. Keep this up and she might agree to my ideas."

I swear, I saw the two of them have some kind of aura around them, like they are about to gut the other. I open one of the drawer's and take out a silver fork. I clank the fork at the counter to break their glaring contest. They glare at me and Stolas uses the chance to leave. I turn to her, seeing how her fist slowly relax.

"He ain't going. You can hit him, you can call him names, you can drop a Tsar bomb on him, he will not go. Honestly, forcing him will be no good. A half good but willing ally is always better than an excellent but resisting partner."

Her eyes once again, red, like his husband's.

"If I have to find that imp and drag him here, half dead for him to do his fucking job than I will. I just need to make a phone call."

"Hohoho, we agreed, no assassination in return for my help."

"This isn't assassination you idiot. Anyway, not like I was that serious."

"Do it then. You will not prevail with that tho. I mean, do you really think you will succeed? You are smart, highly intelligent, you know what to do. If it was this easy you would have done that by now, no?"

Playing a bit to her pride and ego, might end in my favour. Ferdinand ate it like a cake, let's see if she too, eat it like a nice cake…. Hmmm cake.

"Of course, but that prick who I used to enlist to help is a prime example of a useless shit. A half-breed, but clearly his imp part is the dominant considering how he works, talks and acts. He asks for more and only brings failures. Pathetic I say, pathetic. Is there no one around me who isn't a lonely pathetic fuck?"

"Urias? Phoenix? Me? Your parents?"

She opens her mouth to talk but hearing the last part she freezes and her eyes look shallow. The crimson red eyes look a lot more watered up red. Perhaps there is something with her eyes that give away her state of emotions. Would worth to see and maybe read up upon. Until then.

"Apologies… Forgot how last time played out. I can fully understand that you do not want a repeat of that, but even if he goes, they will find another way to talk down upon you, no? Let's handle it, the two of us. I know my stuff here and there and having someone cover your back would be of welcome change I presume."

She slowly shakes her head and once again enters my personal space.

"You talk as if you know something about politics. You think because your parents were alright with them you are any good with them?"

I try to take a step back but the counter hits my back. No where to retreat.

"Would you prefer to go alone?"

She crosses her arms.

"What could you even provide me? You are just a useless eye-catcher. You get the attention of all of hells nobility and they ask me even more if I finally got a fuck-pet."

She grabs me by my neck and pulls me off the ground. The grip is firm, but not strangling type. She bring me close to her face, eyes mix of red and purple.

"As of now I see no reason to even consider that possibility. I think that phone call would be much easier and preferable."

"Would you prefer to cry into your pillow or into my shoulders? I might not understand everything. I might fail sometimes. But if something, I do not judge anyone. Be a faggot or… you. Also, back to the eye-catching thing, rude to say to someone who just recently lost an eye."

She glares into my eye. Glares and glares. I can hear her heavy breaths, but no idea how since she seemingly has no nostrils. To my surprise she doesn't drop me but places me back onto my feet.

"You made a fair argument. Do not make me regret it because I will-"

"Make me have a fate worse than death, yes, yes, aware your highness."

She turns to leave, begins to leave while I only now just realise I had the fork all the time in my hand. I throw it onto the counter.

"Thanks for not dropping me."

I whisper under my breath.

"Your welcome."

For a second I bite my lips, feeling how she, even without turning back, gives the feeling like she is glaring at me. Does she have a fucking third eye at the back of her head?

With that I'm left alone in the kitchen. I lean over the counter and exhale the breath that feels like has been in my lungs since the second that cursed letter has arrived. Speaking off letter… I walk over the table and place the paper back into the envelope. I look around and once I'm sure the air is clear I put the envelope into my chest pocket. This should be of use, if just showing it to my comrades to show what is going on.

As I walk out I can feel something glaring at me. You know the feeling. The stinging, burning feeling. As if a nest of angry bees decided to stab you, but you don't know where it is coming from. I stop and look around for a few seconds. I wait and listen. I begin to hear some whispers and almost silent words.

They soon stop. I begin to walk and they once again begin to be heard. I slower my walk speed and listen. Around 7.35 clock, to me left right now and once I turn, to my right. Two voices, different genders. I stop and turn. I reach towards my back and with a noticeably loud click I unlock my gun holster.

"Come out. If you wish to bring harm upon me, prepare your regrets. If you wish to look me in the eye and speak, you have no reason to hide."

I keep my hand on my gun as I see four red hands walk from the cover of one of the larger plants. Caralus and a female imp. She is the one from before. Caralus turns towards the imp, puts his hand on his own chest and than raises than back into the air and begins to walk away while keeping eye contact and hands up.

"I-I'm sorry for being creepy. I didn't know how to approach you, had to ask."

I chuff and click the holsters button back. I turn to leave but I can feel two hands on my hand.

"I wanted to thank you for helping me. She would have surely done some terrible things if I was forced to stand next to her, maybe even Stolas after she left and he needed to vent his rage. I just wanted to say that… You are a good man. If only a handful of Goetias were like you, the world would be different."

I nod awkwardly not knowing what to say to this. I think I will just ask Stella if she knows when the event will start and either sleep more or shoot some morphine. Maybe both. I try to pull my hand away but she grasps it even more.

"I heard you are going to an event. No offens honey, but going in such clothes or with those that are being washed right now is looked down upon. I'm truly sorry I couldn't provide proper clothes to the event a few days ago."

I wave my free hand around the air a few times.

"I think the last thing the demons will spend time on is examining my clothes. You know, all of this is more eye piercing than even pure gold."

I move my hand across my body and face.

"Yes, yes, but please. Allow me to thank you for doing that."

"No need."

"Please!"

…

"Fine."

The older lady gives me a happy smile and begins or at least tries to pull me towards an unknown location. For a few seconds she tries to pull as hard as she could until she stops and turns back to me.

"D-did I do something wrong, your greatness?"

What? "Greatness?"

"Why did you call me that?"

"W-well, since y-you are so close to the o-other family members it is just logical."

"Stop stuttering, I'm not mad just please don't pull me like I'm some annoying puppy, it is already bad enough that these three do. At least you can't do it. Would loose my mind if all of you guys could."

She lets out a sigh, I assume because of relief and lets go of my hand. I gesture forward and we begin to walk.

"So, Sir, what did you do and see during the war?"

"Killed people, ate, burned down villages, broke all laws of the Copenhagen and Geneva Convention. Saw the usage of lethal gas, the work of the death and work camps, saw on spot executions, forcing at gun point sons to rape their own mothers, fathers their daughters. If it happened I saw it. An easier question would be "What did I not see" but let me tell you one thing. One of the few things that both united us and divided us was the "Alexander decree" It was this easy."

"Alexander decree?"

"Named after Alexander The Great, this law prohibited any capture of people convicted or merely suspected of homosexual activity. Soon after it was, how to say it, published perhaps? Well, does not matter, after it was first made official, a new update to it, about the people of who changed their sexuality was added to. It was less about Joffre having actual reasons, but considering what he heard on that little video, he needed little convincing."

"This sounds… Horrible."

She shuns her head and looks before herself while walking.

"Let us change the subject. Why did you start to work here? Why didn't you leave if you hate this job so much and know its dangers. I mean, I would if not for this."

I show my hand to her.

"Oh, didn't see that. To answer your question, due to no other choices. I'm to old for the classic porn job, my back would kill me if I started working in the usual farms and I didn't want to die as a soldier in a muddy ditch and be buried in a nameless, dark pit."

She looks at it and reaches her hand out to feel it.

"Its really warm, does it hurt?"

"No, but the fact that we have talked and walked through what feels like half of hell and still aren't even close to wherever you're taking me is."

She stops and points at a door.

"Here we are, actually."

We both make a silent eye contact and then look at the door.

"This house is either alive or I have no sense of whereabouts. Tell me this is something you get used or memorise."

"Sorry sugar, you will suffer for a while."

"I already am."

She walks up to the door and opens it. She steps aside and motions for me to go in first. The room is filled to the brim with clothes, hats, expensive jewellery. Even Ferdinand's wardrobe didn't look this expensive. I think.

She takes down some clothes and hands them to me. Void black clothes, similar to what people wore in the 18th and 19th century. Outside really soft, inside really comfortable to the touch and feels warm.

"Aren't hot clothes a bad idea in a place where the average yearly temperature swims between 26 and 28? I mean, the two yearly averages that we managed to take, I'm just trying to draw a conclusion."

She shakes her head.

"They were emergency measures. While it is true hell is well, hot like hell, we do have seasons. How else would we grow our food without parasites and funguses eating them alive from getting used to a single season?"

I put the jacket on and it fits me perfectly. She grabs the lowest point and begins to put golden buttons into the jacket's button holes. She does it rather quickly and efficiently. She finishes with that and turns around. After a few seconds she picks up a dark red gemstone and it is in the form of a square if I see right. The gem is framed in a black and gold frame.

She tries to place the gemstone up to my chest, but seemingly struggles. After a few seconds she gives up and reaches the gemstone out to me. I chuckle a bit and get onto one knee. She is taken a bit back but finally manages to put the gem onto the chest part of the jacket. I stand back up and look into the mirror.

"What is this gem?"

"It is a Painite, Sir. An extremely rare gem found in the human world. A carat can cost up to 60 thousand human dollars."

I turn back to her with a slightly terrified face as I can feel dread creeping up my back.

"You sure I can wear this?"

She just looks at me with a happy smile.

"You have no idea, am I correct?"

I take the monocle off my eye and place into my pocket.

"While I like it, I want to wear glasses, they feel more natural. Also, new gloves since… These are one of old fallen comrades who asked me to return them to her mother but I wore them instead. Do not was them. If they ever return to her I want them to think it still holds their lost child's smell."

With pick the gloves off and throw them to her. She catches them and put them onto a table next to her. She reaches into a wardrobe and takes out a new pair.

"I feel the need to ask, how come you guys have clothes that fit me so perfectly?"

She opens another wardrobe and continues to look for more clothes.

"All three majesties purchased clothings when they were young believing there would be a time they would wear them. Those times never came. Only things they really wear from this room is like three clothes for each and for her highness, a handful of gems and necklaces."

That is… Interesting. It seems like all of them had plans that never came to be true. That is just sad all things considered. Why am I feeling bad for demons again? Fuck me, I'm becoming a pussy.

"So, seeing them wear their event outfits and their home clothes, we are basically done with dresses? If that's the case that is both sad and weird. Why would they only wear their usual clothes?"

"They don't feel like wearing anything else is because after years, those clothes basically became one with them. The only set of clothes they feel "Alive" in, if you may. They know if they are wearing them to at least some level, they are free. Wearing shiny clothes like this remind them that whatever they do they will just be in a place of misery. You know how rich people go to parties or to long trips to escape reality? This is exactly the same with them, just with them wearing their home outfits."

This… Is really depressing. They are prisoners in their own family, in their homes, even in their own body. But not like it matters to me. Sooner or later I will be free and have these three hanged for wasting my time.

"Does the job pay well?"

"Even without the dangers, it is under average. At least it sort of pays for the "Damages caused to properties." so you won't have to pay the full medical treatment. "

I reach into my pocket and take out the silver watch. I toss it to her and she catches it. She looks at it in amazement, her eyes glowing in excitement like a child's.

"The payment for your effort. A friend of mine gave it to me. Well, "friend", we were just guard buddies. It brings me memories that I rather dig six feet deep. Sell it, might get a few bucks."

She opens the watch and looks at it even more.

"Sir, I can't a-"

I put my thumb, index and middle finger together and open and close them together. She looks a bit confused.

"From where I'm from, it means to be silent or to shut up. I will not argue with someone of lower position about what they can accept and can't. This money also includes the safekeeping of the gloves, the help and the new glasses and glove you are gonna bring"

She nods and put the watch away. She reaches into another god damm closet and takes out dark black gloves, almost the same I had but clean and looks somehow even darker. She walks up to me, takes my hand and puts them on.

"No need for that."

I say as she finishes putting them on.

"Stay here."

With that she leaves. I look around and sit down in a fine wooden chair. I gaze around once again, as I do I spot a nice fur hat. I stand back up and look at it. After a some seconds I pick it up and look at it. It if soft, large and feels like it would burn your head off even in Siberian weather. I put it on my head and look into the mirror. It looks ridiculous. I take it off. It will be a perfect gift for Lauri.

With that the woman enters the door. She hands me the glass and I put it on.

"No fucking idea how you did this, but somehow you managed to get the exact strength my eyes need."

"We just took the intact part of your older glasses and adjusted. We had this for a while but since you only asked now, we only gave it now."

"Who is "We"?"

"Servants, guards, cleaners, messengers, anyone who has to put up with Stolas but mostly Stella more than a few days each year. We are seeing a slow and really unsteady progress, but considering all that could have happened with you, we are just glad for any progress. As our agreement says, we help you, you help us."

I nod and hand her the hat.

"Please put this in my room, I don't find this hat very appealing but I know a friend who would."

She takes it and once again leaves. As she closes the door she looks at me a final time.

"Have a good day, honey."

Now what do I do. I could go for a walk or drink something. Perhaps take a smoke break? As I think I can feel a sudden surge of pain through my chest and I begin to cough really hard. It doesn't stop.

I fall into the chair and continue to cough. After what seems like an eternity it stops. I can barely see with my only eye, as water runs down my face. As I get myself back together I can feel like metal taste in my mouth. I take one of my glove off and put my finger in my mouth.

Blood.

Fuck this, what, do I have tuberculosis? Vicissitudes of fate, dragging my every move. Has god not abandoned us, but forsaken me instead? This visage which I put on is slowly falling off, for that I don't know how long I can pretend. Vanity, my foolish vanity, which has costed me so much will cost me more? More than it has already costed me?

As I have my little monologue the door opens. Pink dress, yep already know who it is. As I try to look her in the eyes, I begin to cough again. Not as bad as last time but still terrible. She doesn't acknowledge me, but slowly begins to go trough her clothes. She takes out a black dress and picks up some dark blue jewellery. She takes out her black black gloves with a hint of dark red and in her other hand, an ash grey hand fan.

Literally the same clothes she wore before. I can finally take air into my lungs and see her glaring down at me. She rolls her eyes and reaches into one of her lower pockets. She hands me a tissue. I look up to her and than back to the tissue.

"Gonna fucking take it or you want me to shove it into your eye?"

I reach out and take it. I get rid of the tears and I can finally see normally. As normal as it can be. Her vexation seems to be not as bad as it was a few days ago.

I hand her the tissue back and stand up from my chair and motion for her to sit down. She does and I turn away.

"You want me to leave?"

"I would kill you if you dared to look."

"Expected nothing less, your highness."

From a small, hand bag mirror I can see her rolling her eyes once again. She slowly begins to remove her black belt near her long skirt and after a few seconds she manages to take it off. She places it onto the chair's arm and stands up. With a sudden move she steps out of her long skirt and it falls onto the ground revealing black panties.

I have a second of amazement, it took me all strength in world not to make any reaction because I know I can't outrun her. With another move she gets out of her upper clothes. With that she stands there. She then turns towards a larger mirror and begins to look at herself. She turns her head slightly and places her hands on her bra and breast. Damm, those are some huge tits.

Half expecting them to be stuffed with a lot of cotton to make them look larger.

She kinda jiggles her breasts and looks at them. While still looking down she reaches out to her dress and begins to put her clothes on. I glance away from the small mirror and look at the wardrobe full of expensive clothes. After another minute or so I feel a tap on my shoulder.

"You can turn back now. Come. This event is gonna start soon."

"Now? It isn't even 10am."

She doesn't say a thing, just walks forward. With each of her steps the floor crackles louder and louder.

"You don't have to pretend to like my company. I just need to know what the actually hell is going on. Leading me in the dark will only bite you in the long term, but I think you are more than aware of that. So just… talk to me about what is going on so I can be at least prepared."

She stops and turns only half of her head to look at me. I wait for a bit for her to talk but nothing. She is silent as a dead man. I know if I don' t get to her mind I will not know what is going on until the rest of time.

"If not for me, talk for yourself."

She continues to glare at me until she lets out a sigh.

"This meeting is gonna be a lot more than just a talk. Some things happened in the past few days with Urias and Kangor. Both are one, if not the most important people under the Sin Lords and a few other people and under… Never mind. It does not concern you. Kangor is a smith, who not only ensures we serve this family forever but also is a master of weapon craftsmanship. About Urisa, you know him."

I nod in acknowledgement.

"I know the ways of Kangor, Stolas told me about him. Please, would you elaborate on the people under the Sin Lords?"

She fully turns towards me and places her hand under her chin while she uses her other hand to support that hand.

"You know, you ask way to much from me. It isn't that I would not answer after you patheticly begged me to tell you, but I just don't feel like it. Also, do not talk to Stolas. He is a degenerate idiot."

Bitch I only said "please". I swear I'm gonna commit another war crime on this whore. Guess I just use the usual

"Than I just ask Stolas I gue-"

"DON'T YOU FUCKING LISTEN TO THE USELESS, PATHETIC NO-GOOD BASTARD! I JUST FUCKING TOLD YOU, HOW MUCH OF A RETARD ARE YOU!?"

She screams as she picks me up from the ground and holds me close to her face. I didn't expect this, I repeat I DIDN'T EXPECT THIS.

She looks into my eyes, the usual shit until she closes her eyes and puts me down.

"Let's just fucking go."

I nod. She is either afraid of hitting me and leaving marks on me before such an event or she is trying to change. The first option seems logical, but I would prefer the second if I have a say in it.

She waves her hand before herself and the usual pink-white portal appears. She walks trough and I follow closely.

"Am I allowed to do what I did last time and wander off?"

"Doesn't our little, worthless agreement say that you help me with political work?"

"Doesn't that mean I'm supposed to fuck off since you didn't tell me anything about how you want me to do your political work. From my point, you just want someone to be there on paper while you do the rest. Am I understanding it the wrong way?"

"Ugh, you talk to much, just shut the fuck up and follow me."

"As you wish."

We arrive outside of a LARGE castle. It isn't even a mansion any more, it is a fucking castle.

She turns to me with a look that could kill and leaned slightly close to my ear. She begins to whisper.

"We will need a new name for you?"

"What?"

"How do you think the others will react when you say "Greetings, name is Adam."

"Fine?"

"Do you know who else is called Adam?"

"The father of all the humans according to the Bible?"

"You walk in and have the same name as one of God's highest servant. If you still don't see my point you are a lost cause and I just let you see it for yourself."

"What then? What name did you think about?"

"I don't know, didn't think about that. You should have been the one to think of a name that isn't your real name"

Bitch that is what I did for almost a year and a half. I will fucking gut you one day if you continue to blame me for the shit I didn't even know about.

"Hurry up and say something before I call you something like "Vermin" or anything like th-"

"Magnus!"

She is kinda taken back and looks at me for a second.

"You heard me, did you not? Magnus. Magnus while I'm around them, Adam while I'm around normal people. Does that satisfy your needs?"

She just inelegantly shakes her shoulders and begins to walk towards the entrance of the castle. I look at it once again and begin to move. Gotta follow her like a fucking puppy. Annoying.

As we reach the entry two tall hell hounds stand, filled to the brim with muscles. One good hit could probably send me right into my after life. In this case, to the Limbo.

They glares down at me with piercing, narrowed eyes. One of them slowly growls at me as we continue our staring contest. One of them breaks it and looks up, towards Stella I assume.

"Maggots are not allowed to enter."

"This Maggot is with me."

"Rules are rules. If you have a problem take it up with Bael. He made then."

"I will. While I do so I might as well use your gutless, boneless and lifeless husk as a puppet to amuse myself while I talk. Please, escort me to Bael. I haven't seen his Greatness in a while anyway."

The two hell hounds make eye contact and than one of them looks at me while the other looks back at Stella.

"Fine. But he cannot go to the main gallery. He will need to be somewhere else. We don't care where, but no pest is allowed to go to the high nobles."

The hell hound who was glaring at me walks up to me and begins to put his hands around my trousers and slowly moving his hands up. He reaches the top of my trouser and than takes my pistol out. He looks at it than at me and than at Stella.

She looks at me and than at the gun.

"Problem?"

He growls as he hands me my pistol back. I put it away and they finally let us enter. After a few steps she turns to me and whispers.

"Since when did you have a gun?!"

"Since day one."

"Where the fuck did you get it from?!"

"Connections."

If ever, now I'm happy that I decided to give Isak my pistol, otherwise the outcome would have been severe. Or I would have talked my way out of it. I have a skilful tongue.

We walk in silence as candles are slowly lit across the hallways, even tho the sun is still in the sky. I lean slightly close to her. I try to whisper to her, but since she is a skyscraper compared to me, its a bit hard to do.

"This place makes your place look like a little, toy castle."

She turns to me and brings one of her finger to her neck, then moves it from one end to another. I either shut up she kills me, the usual.

"Don't be so hateful, I meant no harm with the comparison. It is a fine place to live in."

She murmurs as she turns her head forward.

"Would have been finer if he wasn't a useless faggot."

"He did what he could. You can mine with a shovel, but it will break soon. You dig dirt with a pickaxe but it will not be as good. Things and people are good at things and another is good at that. Are you really gonna blame him for being, you know, defective?"

She chuckles as a smile forms on her face. She looks around a bit before speaking again.

"We share the same view then."

"Two years in this wretched war, propaganda and a desperation to live will often lead people to change. For a while I had no problem with people of… Unlucky birth, but once you smell the opportunity it can provide, you swallow your pride and do what gets you the most. Sounds enticing, hm?"

She turns to me, but suddenly turns her back forward. She quickly takes a deep breath and straightens her clothes. She grabs my face with her hands and looks into my eye.

"Not

A

Fucking

Word."

I slowly nod and she lets go of my face. I expected her to rip it off for good measures, but she didn't.

We stop before a large, golden door, guarded by two guards. They look at her and nod. Than they look at me, one of them throwing his tongue out in disgust. They open the door and she walks in, while I slowly follow, making sure I flipped the bird to the one who threw his tongue out. He growls but refrains from attacking.

"Daughter-in-law! How...Pleasant that you decided to show up. I might have cut ties with your family branch, but I hope you know it doesn't mean that I will tolerate you slacking off."

I hear a male voice come from the end of the room. A large bird sits there, with a white… Mask? Whatever, a white mask covering his eyes. Two red eyes shoot out from behind the mask.

"I see you didn't bring… Bring… Em…."

He turns to the imp butler standing next to him.

"Stolas, sir, Stolas."

"Yes, Stolas. Daughter in law, you forgot to bring him. What excuse can you give me… Uh… Ah…"

He once again looks at the butler.

"Stella."

"Yes, of course, Stella. You have failed your duty. It seems like I have to inform your parents of that. Since its most clear that you cannot do your job, I order you to get the fuck out of my si- Ey, who is that?"

He asks as he points a finger at me.

"Magnus, your Excellency, Magnus."

He slowly places a finger under his chin and begins to stroke it.

"Magnus… Magnus… This name rings bells. To many bells."

How would it? I haven't used this name since… Fuckfuckfuckfuck, forgot that I used this name before "The Marshal" became my commonly refereed name. I knew I shouldn't trust sudden urges, if he realises it I will be dead. No, death would be a mercy I wouldn't be granted.

The bird than looks at his butler who just shakes his shoulders.

"What do I even pay you for you… you… Never mind, does not matter. What matters is that you are supposed to be representative of that man who is supposedly my son, but can't be since I don't raise failures. I let you know, you are an ant before a giant and we will not tolerate your presence."

He then points at Stella.

"In the letter, I warned the two of you, did I not?"

Stella than looks at me before looking at the dominant demon.

"But Stolas wo-"

"DID I NOT?!"

"Y-you did."

"THAN?! WHERE THE FUCK IS HE?! YOU SHOULD HAVE WARNED US THAT HE ISN'T COMMING SO WE COULD HAVE GOTTEN TO HIM AND CONVINCE HIM!"

"I tried to con-"

"BUT YOU COULDN'T! YOU ARE WEAK. Your parents are good to be around, I'm amused how they could have raised such a disappointment. If you really wanted him you would have grabbed that pathetic plaything of his by the neck and told him what would happen if he didn't bend the knee! Are. You. This. Stupid? Why am I even asking, of course you are."

He then stands up and begins to walk towards her. Each step makes the room echo. He gets closer to Stella, who, with each step he takes, takes one back.

"I'm sorry Paimon. Yes I'm stupid, I should ha-"

"Yes. You should have. You have made my blood boil. You fail your duties. You bring this vermin to our sacred homes. You failed to keep your little marriage together, we had to intervene and we even lost one of the two contracts of your marriage. I was tolerant. Even us, nobles, make mistakes, I had more than my share, but you…"

Stella finally hits the door and Paimon leans into her face.

"You are one of the most useless, pathetic, hopeless idiot of this family. Fitting that you married someone similar, wouldn't you say? Someone who you deserve, hm?"

She doesn't say a thing just shuns her head down.

"As expected, got nothing to add. Go home, Stella. You are not worth anyone's time except for the few who for so reason keep in touch with you. Even your old allies and friends left you to rot, just like they did to Stolas. Tell me, why should we even allow you to keep your title. We know Stolas doesn't care, that's why I ask you. Tell me. Give me a good reason. ANYTHING THAT YOU ARE HERE."

With no response, He slowly backs away from her and slumps back into his chair. He begins to rub his forehead and than looks at me.

"Take no offence, but I don't think you belong here. Even if I was to allow you to do whatever you wanted, others would not take so kindly to your presence. Last even was a small one compared to this. Most hardliners were at home, licking their now healed wounds. Stay, if you want to, but I bear no responsibility of one of them decides to end you."

He leans slightly forward in his chair.

"How old are you, kid?"

"18."

"So basically a child."

He than looks back to Stella.

"I know I'm no prime example of being a father or caretaker. I don't give to flying fucks who thinks what, but you already know that. My loyalties always laid in the power of Lucifer and the other Sin lords. So when I say, it is a bad idea to bring a child to this, I mean it."

"I'm not a fucking child, with all due respect. I have been in the war since day one."

He puts his other hand to his forehead and begins to once again rub it, this time, with both hands.

"For fuck's sake, child soldiers. Somehow we still almost lost."

I could say I volunteered but he doesn't seem like someone who would care. He takes a deep breath.

"Alright, alright. I calmed down. Its just… The two of you have not been our greatest assets. I do not really care how, but this needs to be fixed. I do not care how. If we have to really go out of our way to assassinate that imp, so be it. Now, since you are here, I'm not gonna actually send you away. I want you to deliver a really important message to him, okay?"

"I

Am

Done

Playing

Fucking

Games."

"He either comes, sends… Sends… Your daughter. Or he can say goodbye to his little toy. He knows well if I want something, it will happen. Sooner or later, if I have to make one of my son a mourner, it's a deal I'm fine with making. I hope he makes a decision and makes it quickly. At the next meeting I will be expecting a clear answer from him. Please, enjoy your stay, but I must inform your parents about… Your failure. No hard feelings, Steslhla."

I hear a loud smack as the butler slowly draws his hand across his face and than looks at him.

"Stella, sir, Stella."

"Yes, Stella. You're allowed to leave. See you at the next event or if I get hungry. Just kidding, those lower idiots aren't worthy to be graced by my presence. Goodbye, Stella."

He snaps his finger and the door opens, hitting one of the hell hounds in the face. He speaks under his breath as we leave.

"And you."

I turn around and look at Paimon.

"Avoid other demons. Some don't hold any anger towards your kind, some, do. I personally don't care, but try not to paint the walls red. My workers are still getting those bits and pieces of those idiots who decided to anger Kangor. Such a waste of fine paint and expensive silk rugs. So do not die, or do so outside. You know, on the cold stone ground."

With that he makes some dismissing hand gestures and snaps his finger, closing the door.

The two of us begin to walk again until we are outside of hearing and seeing range. No one can be seen from here, so no one is coming. She then suddenly stops and hits the wall with her hand.

"That fucking BASTARD!"

She hits the wall, resulting in some cracks on it.

"HOHOHO calm d-"

She hits it again, making an even larger crack. She than relaxes her fist and leans to the wall before collapsing on her knees. I kneel down to her, offering a hand.

"Are you alright?"

She doesn't answer and doesn't even act like she notices my hand.

"I understand, you are mad. You are really angry, but this isn't the best option."

"The fuck would you know?"

"Believe me, I don't look like, but I know a thing or two, as I have seen a thing or two and dealt with a thin-"

"I fucking get it. Shut your useless, maggot mouth already."

I put my hand closer to her, but she slaps it away, finally standing up. I look at her and than at the wall.

"I know you don't like my suggestions, but we could leave. Go home, rest. Drink, eat, all that can be done here can be done at home."

"No."

Was worth a shot. At least she didn't rip my head off.

She looks at me before walking forward.

"Stay behind me. They wouldn't dare to attack you then. Keep close. I will not go out of my way to fetch you from others. Especially not from anyone in the higher ranks. If Bae gets an eye on you, I will not help you. Say your goodbyes then."

"Your to kind, did anyone ever tell you this?"

"No. I don't care what others think."

"Than why do all of this if you are so casual about this. I assume you didn't enjoy that little talk with that guy, am I wrong?"

"Do not entice my anger. I already showed you what happens to those who anger me."

"You try to control them?"

"I said Do Not Entice My Anger. Am I understood?"

"Loud and clear. Lets just go to this meeting?"

"Its not as simple as you want it to look. Urias has been in some troubles because he was laid back during the two years of this conflict and was pretty liberal about what he told and what he kept secret."

She takes a second to breath in some air.

"Kangor… Kangor is our smith, creator and creator of most high magic items. Papers on which Urias ratifies the marriages, pacts and whatnot. He made the Knightmares. Most loyal guards of Lucifer. Those giant knight armoured things with fires connecting their body and the same fire burning in the place of their flames. He made those. Only a handful. Only a few know why only a few were made."

"Are you one of them?"

"I have connections too. Yes."

"Care to explain?"

"No."

"Please?"

"No."

"Pretty please?"

"Fuck off."

"I owe you one."

"The fuck would your little owe worth?"

"Up to your imagination. Anything, basically."

"Fine."

She stops and looks at me. She leans to my level and begins to whisper.

"If this leaves your mouth, you will be killed. Understood?"

"Yes."

"Each Knightmare contains a part of Lucifer's soul. Not just small parts, if he could have, he would have made more. Only what, nine exists? They are as powerful as he is. Well, not really, but they cannot be killed by normal angelic guns, just like him."

Wait, fucking what?! He cannot be killed by Angelic Metal?! The fuck are we supposed to do with him?!

"He is rumoured to be in a weakened state, and in political turmoir. It will take time to re-harvest the soul pieces. Easier to add them than to take them out without causing damage. Even the smallest mistake could shatter it. Kangor is not a man of mistake, but neither is he a man of speed."

"So, Lucifer is just laying at home, unable to do anything like someone with the flue?"

"Exaggeration, but at the core, yes. This is why he is nowhere to be seen. But his Sin Lords are picking up slack for him. From what I heard, even the Lust Lord himself is here. He is a member of the family, but it is most rare for him to come. He is mostly at his disgusting strip club. How can someone so high do so dirty work."

Her face shows clear disgust.

I kinda know who this Lust Lord is. Amodeus? Something like that. He is a man of power, but he seems to enjoy toying and playing than actual hard politics. What a waste of good power, to end up in someone's hand who cannot use it. Perhaps he is similar to Stolas? I need more information on that.

"He has low standards?"

"Yes. He is another pathetic low life fucker, but he fucks those weird jester demons instead of imps. Servants and minions of Mammon. Doesn't make it right tho. What a bastard."

"You have your views on people around here, eh? Is there anyone who you genuinely enjoy the company of?"

"Of course!"

"Care to name them?"

"I don't have to."

"If you say so. Just know that, if you want to cry, you can. But I ain't crying again with you. That was a one-fucking-time thing."

She straightens and begins to walk.

"You do what I order you to do. You know what happens if you refuse my orders, don't you."

"Oh c'mon, you aren't gonna control me with fear. Stella. If you were to feed on my fear you would starve. Like a Ukrainian during the Holodomor. Or a Chinese during the Great Leap Forward. Or like a modern day Ethiop-"

"Shut. The. Fuck. Up."

"How fucking long we have to walk? It feels like an eter- Wait no, I think we are here. I should ask questions like this sooner."

"Don't even think about it. Your voice annoys me."

"Yet you still tolerate me."

"I have no other fucking choice, that's why."

"It would only take a cyanide pill. Perhaps some neuron toxic in my drinks. You are clever, you can find a way to get rid of me. Since the mark, I cannot escape you, can I? Human survival rate isn't high in the past few days, I'm am practically at your mercy, so don't tell me "I have no other choice". I just ask you that you tell me if you want me to kill myself. Got a cyanide pill, can crack it right here if you want."

"Don't you fucking dare."

"You told Stolas to kill himself. I fail to see why I should get different treatment."

"Because you have some fucking use."

"Let's switch the topic. We will have a long talk after this, good?"

She nods and we stop before a huge door. I cannot even give an idea how huge it was. Stella puts her hand out and with no effort opens the door. The room is well light, even tho its morning time. The room was grand. The last little gathering wasn't even the same dimension with this. This was everything the last meeting was, but increased by a thousand time. Minimum a thousand time. It was honestly, even for demon standards, amazing. I do not like these vermin, but they do have a nice and expensive taste.

I look around, most tables are occupied.

"Where are we gonna sit?"

"Just. Follow. Me"

I do as I'm told and follow her. Once again, the cold dagger like stares fill my back immediately. It feels like even those deep in their business are waiting for me to pass them and than immediately begin to glare. A feeling which I would gladly trade away. After some walking we arrive at a set of table, at one of the far ends, right next to a window.. Two seats, in front of each other.

"You really, really sure about this? I don't wish to be that person, but it looks like it was made for couples, not servant and overlord. I think it would be better if I just stood next to you."

She sits and begins to talk quietly

"I have no fucking need of more attention. You will sit the fuck down and eat, talk and drink when I tell you to do so. Do not fucking fail me. This is your test. Last time you went away. Now, you stay and I will see if you are worth my time and effort or not. Sit."

I do as I'm told, not wishing to attract more attention with some fanfare. It feels really awkward to sit before her.

"So, why are we here again?"

"I told you what Urias did. Kangor, Kangor seemed to take some swift action against people who bothered him a bit to much and now people want him to be held accountable. He killed two members of the family with his "God Slayer" sword. He didn't even give them a chance. Just sliced and killed. Honestly."

She leans a bit closer to me.

"These will go nowhere. Family needs them. Its like you trying to challenge, whatever the fuck your king's name was. He had the money needed to finance the war. Without him, you would have collapse. Same here. A family built on pacts cannot function without the paper or the ratifier. This is another one of those waste of time parties."

I begin to whisper to.

"Thought you liked parties. What's wrong with this one?"

"Because people who I dislike are here."

"I thought you hated everyone."

"I'm fucking getting closer and closer to just snapping and gutting you."

"I have time to live until this party is over. You wouldn't kill me here, right?"

"Care to see?"

"No… Wait, a second ago you were protesting against my suicide offer, now you threaten me. Woman. Make up your mind."

"Woman?! I'm a fine lady, you uneducated brute."

"Ye, ye, ye. Where is Urias, Kangor and your brother?"

I feel a strong hand on the right side of my neck.

"Right behind you, friend."

Urias leans over my shoulder and winks at me. He looks at Stella with a shit eating grin.

"You two advance so fast."

"Urias I will fucking kill you"

"Urias I will bitch slap you "

The two of us say basically at the same time. Urias covers his hand as he lets go of my neck.

"As I was saying, no shame in this."

Stella and I look at each other before looking back at Urias.

"How far do you want your head to be up your ass?"

He laughs again.

"You two are perfect for the other."

I take a deep breath.

"With all due respect, go kill yourself. Like, tie a nose around your neck and jump off the chair. Please. Do it."

He slowly shakes his head.

"I'm gonna leave these love bird to each other, I have some asses to kick for spreading information about the way I work."

Stella takes a sip of the wine poured for her by and imp. I get a cup to and one is offered to Urias, who shakes his head, but takes a cup of tea.

"Don't kill anyone, unless that person is yourself."

With that heartfelt message from Stella, he leaves.

"He is annoying, but super friendly. Like a distant uncle."

"I knew him since birth."

"Oh?"

"He is a pact enforcer, maker and ratifier as well a tutor. I studied from him until Andrealphus decided to… Whatever, until that happened and I became the new head. After that, I was given studies and lectures more fitting to someone of high importance. Ever since I only saw him time to him, mostly after the Faggot broke one of the contracts. He was extremely calm about it. Only person to be calm about it."

"So, you knew him for a while, eh?"

"That's what I fucking said a minute ago."

She rips a bottle in the shape of a heart out of one of the butlers plate. She begins to down the green liquid.

"Should you be drinking like that."

She pulls the bottle away from her beak and clears the alcohol droplets with her hand.

"Since I know what is about to come, yes."

"What do you mean "About to come"?"

"It means nothing to you. It only affects me."

"Well, still, tell me. I would like to hear whatever it is that you have to say."

"The fuck is up with you and wanting to know all about me, huh? Do you want to know all so you can form an even worse view about me?"

"Excuse me?"

"I don't have false views nor fake dreams. I know what everyone thinks. I know the rumours going around. I know you made me spill some shit when I was drunk last time, so wait until it goes down and than use out whatever you want to get what you want to know."

"I admit, it was a low blow, but what do you expect from me? If I try to approach you with a question, you deflect it unless I threaten to go to Stolas."

She gives me a murderous glare after I say his name.

"So tell me, what else should I do? I could ask around, yes, but I simply assume if you don't want to say it, then its better kept away from my prying eyes. So tell me, am I to be blamed? I do not go out of my way to learn unnecessary things, but you don't even give me the bare minimum."

"Fine. Fucking ask."

"Alright… What did you study during the time you spend under the guidance of Urias?"

"Medicine. Anatomy. Little politic. Oh yea, how to be a housewife. Nothing I didn't want. I studied what I enjoyed. Healing magic and all. I even had my own healing book. Until… Never mind that."

"This is what I'm saying. I want to ask you something but you don't collaborate."

"I told you MORE than enough, insolent mutt."

"Enough for those who don't care. Sure. Enough for me? Far, far from that."

"What do you mean "Care"."

"Look. I will be honest with you."

I push my glass of wine away from me and put my fingers together.

"I do not hate you. Do not get me wrong. I'm not forgiving you for this."

I point at my fake eye.

"I'm just simply choosing not to enact any vengeance or retaliation even when given the chance. I still dislike you. I still find your actions most… Unspeakable, even by my standards, which are non-existing. But, do know that, I'm not holding a grudge. So, even if given the best offer, I will not lay a dagger in your back or chest. Because, to me, honour, loyalty and fairness are my guiding principles."

She slowly puts the bottle down, seemingly thinking.

"Believe my words or do not. You are no sheep, I don't have to tell you how to form an opinion. All I wanted to say was; I do not like you, but even when giving the choice, I will not betray you. Am I speaking truth? Am I lying?"

Honestly… Even I do not know.

"Up to you to decide. Do what you want with this information. I hope we cleared all important things up."

I pick up my glass and take a sip of my drink. She reaches over for her green drink and begins to once again down it. After a few seconds she puts it down and looks at me.

"Why are you telling me all of this?"

"So that you know what I view you as. As I said, no grudges, but I will not forgive. I head you a warning tho, do not think just because I'm not gonna stab you in the back I will go out of my way to help you. Just like you told me. I think it's most fair that we play like this. Wouldn't you agree?"

She nods.

"Good. I dislike hypocrites. I mean, I dislike quite a lot of things, so it isn't that new."

I reach into my pocket for the cigar case. To my high disappointment, there is only two remaining. I put one of them in my mouth and than lit it.

"Since when do you have those?! Why am I not aware of you having them?"

"Since day one and because you never bothered to know me better. I would have told you if you really cared. I will not bother telling you thinks you will mostly likely react to with annoyance or rage. So, here is your answer. Happy?"

"Watch your fucking tone."

"Can you go ten minutes without being an asshole to be around? I swear, common footsoldiers have more elegance after a long day of battling in the hot desert than you do. Believe me, they are no pretty sight. I know I'm not pleasant to be around, but damm, are you worse than me."

"Fuck you."

"Just drink. You are somehow more bearable while you already downed two bottles of wine and one vodka."

She snarls at me and continues to drink like a madman.

I just smoke and drink while I wait for something to happen. Each puff I take of my cigar I can feel my lungs burn more and more. I can feel air being a bit hard to take in. I put the cigar into and ashtray and begin to slowly cough. She again takes the bottle away from her mouth and looks at me.

"Virgin lungs?"

"I'm half expecting Tuberculosis at this point. All I know is that my lungs aren't in the healthiest state."

"How come, were you a retard and started smoking at age six?"

"No. Was assigned to an artillery battalion."

She puts the empty bottle down and begins to examining me with her eyes.

"Continue."

"We were ordered to shell out canister containing mustard gas. Military position which we couldn't take for a few days, so I and a few other specialists were called in to handle the situation. Easy tasks. I was fine with it since I share the same views about demons as you do about us, humans."

She surprisingly doesn't react. She continues to glare like a stone statue.

"I accepted the position since I knew I would never have to face the gas myself. We begin firing. Canister one. Canister two. Canister three. So on, so on… Canister 18. Canister 19. Canister 20. Canister 20?!"

"Well?"

"That canister got stuck. It received the force needed to explode so… It exploded onto us. Due to mechanical fault, we gassed ourself. The canisters, these weren't small ones. They could gas an entire camp. It didn't. The wind blow to the demons direction. People nearby still got a hit. I was far enough not to die, but I collapsed onto my knees and than fell onto my back. I had a gas mask attached to my chest tho, so I managed to pull it over my face. Wasn't able to fully cover my face tho."

I take a breath.

"What I'm saying is, ever since than, I have had a bit of time taking breaths. I have a bit of a problem talking for a long time, as my chest begins to hurt. Not that big of a deal, but I really hate how time to time my chest hurts. Such an asshole thing to happen to me. I know I'm not a good man, but that gas accident was unnecessary."

"Like you had a say in it."

"Hey, let me mourn my own past and fate, alright? Drink more."

As I say it I begin to feel the table slowly shake. Stronger and stronger. My bottle falls over, spilling blood red wine onto the table and the carpet. I look at Stella who picked up the empty bottle, trying to drink the smallest drops out of it.

"An earthquake?"

"No… The reason I have been drinking."

With a quick movement, she opens the window next to our table and throws out the empty bottle. She than closes it and looks at me.

"If you have any regrets, prepare them."

"I have a terrible feeling about this. I think I should leave."

"You. Fucking. Stay."

"Understood."

The shaking finally gets closer and than stops.

"Stella."

I turn around to see a colourful male peacock. His feathers behind his back are dark and light green, with some blue at the top and a yellow circle at the top. He has a metal cane in his hand.

He glares down at me and I glare up to him. After a few seconds he looks back to Stella.

"Stolas? Octavia?"

"…"

"I know they are not here. Paimon told me. I would have preferred if you had the nerve to call me, but it is clear that I have raised a weak heir. I was already disappointed with my son, now, even my daughter brings shame on my head, you even had the skin on your face to bring this plebeian coward."

He basically pushes me out of seat and sits down. I land on the ground. I stand up, wiping the dust from my clothes.

"What should I do with you… I gave you, oh so many chances. Yet, with each, you didn't do anything notable with. Even tho Andrealphus is a pathetic excuse of a man, he learned his lesson. It only took us one assassination for him to learn his place. Look at him, ever since than he brought nothing bad to our name. While you…"

He motions at my direction.

"Bring this. A vermin. A maggot. A terrible excuse of anything. Even an imp would have been preferable. But no. You wanted to bring this. No matter how fancy you dress this thing. It will remain just as disgusting in the inside. Now. Paimon was clear about what he expected, so was your mother last time. You are pathetic, you know that?"

"Yes."

"A failure."

"Yes…"

"Someone unworthy of the title of "Ars Goetia"."

"No."

"What did you say?"

"I'm worthy of being part of this family."

"Stella, my dear daughter, I gave you more chances to prove that than there are stars on the sky."

"But d-"

Hearing that, the peacock stands up and walks over to her. He glares down at her and than raises his cane.

With a loud thud, Stella us now on the ground covering her head with her hands.. Blood slowly drops from the top of the cane as the father slowly examines it. The entire, grand room falls silent. You could hear flies hitting the windows, people talking outside and the wind blowing. As if this entire house was stopped in time.

"Honestly. It is all my fault. Should have used extreme force from the beginning to teach you where your place is. I admit it. You turning out the way you are is but my fault. Should have never allowed you to do what you want, should have sent you to the royalty school the second you knew how to walk."

He raises the cane again and strikes down. She winces in pain as more blood begins to drop from both her head and from the cane.

"Calm down, my child, this is all for your own good. See it this way, after each pain you receive, you will better remember what not to do. See? This is a really good way of teaching, makes people remember things much easier. Remember, dead weight gets left behind."

He raises the cane above his head, but someone grabs it. He turns around with a furious glare.

As I look, I see something. An orange knight armour is all I see. With a loud creek, it bends the iron cane, making it look like a candy cane.

"Kangor. Do us a favour and fuck off. I'm teaching, if you couldn't tell."

So this is Kangor.

He slowly shakes his head, his face and eyes not showing any emotions. It looked like how a mother cow looks at an upcoming train.

"What are you going to do, kill me?"

He doesn't respond. He slowly raises a finger and points at Stella.

"Oh now, do we have a problem about how we raise our children. I wouldn't talk about how to raise a successor, since you know, you killed your own. So please, fuck off about pre-"

With that a loud crack echoes trough the room. Kangor's fist slowly lets blood flow over it, as they fall onto the ground. The big and might demon, now looks with distress as he touches his face.

"You fucking dare?!"

The orange knight slowly reaches to his back, pulling out a sword. He lets go of it and it slowly floats before him, swiftly gaining a crimson red aura. After a few seconds it is engulfed by blood red flames.

"Let me carve him, MASTER!"

The sword just… Spoke? Why am I even surprised, I have seen talking birds, wolf like dogs and demons. I should really have gotten used to this by now.

"Kangor. You will regret laying a finger on me."

With that, he turns back to Stella, who finally got enough strength to look up to him. His father drops the crocked cane next to her.

"If I brought such a shame to my father and family as you did, I would have killed myself by now."

With that, he leaves, covering his mouth as blood slowly drops. Kangor picks up his sword from the air and places it onto his back. With even louder thuds than Stella's father came, he leaves, while Stella herself still whimpers in pain on the ground. I look at her, kneeling down on the ground in this pathetic state.

I decide to kneel down next to her and offer a hand. It takes her a few seconds to see it, but takes it. She stands up, her white head painted red by blood. When she finally stands up, she still holds onto my hand. As I look around, I see Urias, legs crossed, looking at us, sipping tea. I mouth a "What the fuck dude" to him.

He mouths back to me.

"What do you want from me? I'm not intervening in things that don't effect me. I like you guys, but I will not risk my reputation for her safety."

With that, I lost all respect, but just for a second. Who am I to judge someone for doing the same thing that I did? Luckily she didn't hear or see any of this. Since Urias can read from mouth, I might just ask for his help.

"Can you open us a portal?"

He sips his tea than places his little cup down. He silently claps his hands and a pure black portal appears. I walk into the portal, almost dragging Stella.

"Are you alright?"

As I ask she falls onto her bed, weeping.

How pathetic. How weak, How sad.

I sit down next to this vermin. She continues to weep into her pillow.

"Why do you do this?"

She doesn't even react to my question.

"It's clear that you are hurt by whatever happens during these events. So why bother. No, you cannot use the "family" excuse. This isn't a family, this is a bag of people trying to act like a family while the only thing they share is the bloodline."

She finally turns to me from her pillow, which is painted black by her black eye makeup. As well as red by, you know, blood,

"BECAUSE ITS OUR JOB!"

"Why don't you leave it? It is clearly hurting you. I'm a heartless monster, but even I can tell if someone is hurt by something or not."

She doesn't respond.

"Wait here."

I get up from her bed and walk out. I grab the first servant by the shoulder.

"Wine, clear bandages, hot water with some medicinal alcohol in it, a clear rag, stitches and morphine from my room. Got it?"

The servant nods and quickly leaves. I slope to the wall and look at the ceiling. As I do so I can feel my throat feeling sore. As I slowly rub my throat I hear slowly steps. I glare towards the direction of which it comes from. Tall, slender, figure, four red eyes, yep, Stolas. He walks past, avoiding eye contacts or any form of interaction.

"I wanna apologize."

He stops. He slowly turns towards me, confused.

"For what? You done nothing that you should be apologizing for. You are doing me Lucifer's work, if someone, I should apologize for making you do all my work."

"I wanna apologize… For saying you threw your daughter under the bus."

Silence. The air runs cold, as the two of us look at the other.

"Today… I have seen things which I never saw before. Now, I understand your actions far better. So, I wanna apologize that I claimed what I did. Back then, to me, it seemed like you were an uncaring, weak man who for two decades sorta played the game but now had enough of it. To me… To me, you looked like an idiot. I thought you were an entitled faggot. Apologies for such words, I'm just speaking my mind…"

He sighs.

"It is alright. Please, keep going."

"As I said, today, I saw things which change my views on certain things. Like, my views on you, for example. I seen and heard things. I just wanted to say that, whatever hatred I have towards your kind is something I don't think I will truly ever kill. But as a person, I will slowly try to look at you more preferably. I… Cannot promise anything. "

…

"All I wanted to say is… I'm sorry, I judged you based on something I had no idea about and I will try to look at you in a not so dark light from now on… Or at least that is my plan."

He walks over to me with a half smile on his face.

"You are trying. That's all that matters."

"Trying is one thing. Putting genuine effort into it, is the thing that truly matters. Everyone can claim that they tried to do something. I can claim that I tried to refused to carry out certain orders, but by "Trying" I mean I said no once and when they told me again to do it, just with a bit harsher voice, I bent the knee. If I had placed genuine effort into it, I would have said no again and than again. See the difference it makes?"

His smile slowly disappear.

"I'm not bashing you for your actions, believe it or not. I'm just pointing out the flaw in your logic. As I said, I do not like your kind but I try to hold onto some sense of humanity towards you guys, at least as a person, if nothing else."

His smile slowly reapers, even laughing a bit.

"Why thank you, this is … Nice I think."

"I just ask you that you keep your little joyful nights to a minimum and that, if you must do fuck him, that you keep it at the highest of secrets. Any more pushing and it will break the already thing ice."

"I… can tr- I mean put genuine effort into it."

"Not what I wanted to hear, honestly, but I think this is the best I can get out of you, so I take it even if I'm personally not fully satisfied with the result. So, do what you can."

I once again glare at the ceiling, until I feel a hand on my shoulder. He looks at me before leaning slightly closer to me.

"What happened? What happened at the meeting?"

"Paimon told her that she is a disappointment, also told you that you are not his son since he doesn't raise failures."

He leans slightly even closer.

"Stolas, personal space please?"

With that he laughs a bit, but do leaves my personal space.

"Anyway, he told his father that he didn't bring either you or Octavia, instead bringing a vermin."

I point at myself.

"Than proceeded to beat her half dead with his metal cane. Until the guy named Kangor intervened and hit him in the face."

Stolas slowly looks down, his four eyes lacking pupils so once again, it is hard to tell where he is looking.

"He… Said Kangor shouldn't talk about how to threat children since he killed his own, what did he mean by that?"

Stolas snaps his finger and materialises two chairs. Fuck me, what can't these guys do.

I sit down and he takes out his little book.

"You know my book, yes?"

"Very well."

"Kangor made it."

"So?"

"Kangor has been alive since God made him. He is a fallen angel like Lucifer or… Me."

"Why does this matter?"

"You will see soon. Kangor has fallen along with Lucifer. Back than, five Horseman walked the earth. No idea why you humans claim there is only four, but so be it. These Horseman's; Famine, War, Death, Conquest, Pestilence. They thundered the Earth and Hell. Lucifer needed something to defeat these slaves of God."

He takes a deep breath and puts his book away.

"Kangor had a son. Eathon. He was might, charismatic, strong willed. As much as Kangor hated the idea. They needed to defeat these beasts. Eathon offered his body to Kangor, which Kangor made sacred chains out of. He wept every second while he made them. On the seventh day, he brought the chains before Lucifer."

"Than what?"

"They got the Horseman's into a great trap and slayed their slave riders. Before long, they chained up all five of them and hid them in a secret place, somewhere in Hell. If anyone is on the same level or above Lucifer, it's them. Unlike Lucifer, they were made to be evil, to do harm. Anything that is birth to be something, will always be better than someone who became something. Lucifer became what he is. They were born that way."

He stands up, I do the same and he snaps his finger, making the chairs disappear.

"You humans made a cute effort at overthrowing Lucifer's regime, but you will always fail. If someone could actually end this Lucifer State, that would be them."

"Thanks? Not sure what to do with this information."

I know damm well what to do with this information.

As we finish talking a servant rushes up behind me, silver plate in one hand and with a blue, plastic basin in the other hand. The requested items lay on the silver plate.

"T-the requested items, your majesty."

I take them, the servant bows and leaves. I turn to Stolas.

"Can you believe it? They call me greatness, majesty, highness, excellency… You have nothing to do with this, do you?"

He chuckles a bit nervously.

"I didn't really go out of my way to stop them from calling you this, plus… Uhm… Most of them actually forgot your name so they are kinda improvising. "

"Dumb fucks."

"That is a bit harsh, don't you think?"

"No. Not even a little bit. Not harsher than what my comrades or superiors would say."

"But you aren't in the military anymore, you don't have to act like you are!"

"For the past two years, the military was my home, my comrades, my family and my superiors my parents. I will not abandon what I fought so dearly to protect. I do not know what you did before the war. Did you send succubuses and incibuses to infect our people? Demons to murder innocent civilians? I do not know."

He opens his mouth to speak but I shoot him down with a killing glare.

"And I do not care. If you did, know that your hands are just as bloody as mine or Ferdinand's. Common soldiers, general, Camp runners, highest authority, you share the same responsibility as we do, if not more."

He slowly nods. He shoots his head.

"I'm gonna do some shit. I need to fix up someone. Goodbye, Stolas. See you soon."

With items in hand, I leave Stolas to do what he wishes to do, as I have an important thing to do.

I walk back to Stella's room and enter. As I do I can hear almost silent breaths. I begin to quietly creep over to her bed. She, with blood on hands, head and pillow fallen asleep.

One side of my brain recommends that I take off all breakable things and just drop the silver plate with full force, the other wants me to put the rag into the hot water and slowly wash her head clean. One side is clearly evil, the other is pure. I really wanna teach her a fucking lesson. Not today. She suffered enough, even in my eyes.

I place a hand on one of her shoulder and shake it a bit. She slowly turns towards me and leans up.

"Stay still."

I take my gloves off and place the rag into the water. I look at her, only to realise I have to actually get on my knees and really stretch my bones and muscles to actually reach her head.

I bring it to her head and to my surprise she doesn't rip the rag out of my hand but stay still just like ordered. Water, blood and bloody water slowly drops onto the bed and into the basin. She sometimes closes her eyes, either from pain or from something else.

I put the rag back into the water, painting the water slightly red. I take it out and continue to clean.

"Bath your hands in it. Its just alcohol, worst it can do is hurt your hand a bit of you have some cuts. It will clear it."

With my free hand I grab one of her hands and put it into the little basin. She then places her other hand. She rubs them together and I finish cleaning. I leave the rag in the water and put the basin down. I reach over to the morphine shots.

"Was keeping them for myself… But you need these more than I do. Come, sit down onto the ground."

"Once again, she complies with no words. As if she lost her ability to speak.

I inject the morphine into the area where the damaged area is.

"Seems I was right. It wasn't a break but a cut because of the top of the cane. Good call on my part, if I might say so."

I reach over to the stitches.

"Now would be a good time to really stay still, as this might hurt, maybe."

"This is just waste of time. The wound will be gone in a few hours."

I put the stitches and bandages down.

"Well, this was indeed a big waste of time."

She turns her head stands up.

"I could have cleaned my head, probably faster and better."

"Yet you still allowed me to do it. Also, fuck you."

"Fuck you."

"I got wine. I assume you want to drink."

I hand her the wine and stand up from the bed.

With a single move she rips the wood plug of the mouth of the bottle and takes a large sip.

"I'm gonna go. Some things need to be settled and done. Do what you want, since the day is practically just started. After I'm done I think I'm just gonna fuck around and switch clothes. Don't over do the alcohol, getting to wasted is still a horrible idea."

"Stay."

"Come again?"

"I got nothing to do. Let us talk."

"I told you everything I wanted to tell you. Unless you got to add something to what I told you, I see no reason to stay. If you already forgotten, you aren't in my top favourite people. For obvious reasons."

She smacks the bed with her free hand and I decide its better if I just do as I'm told, again.

"You didn't intervene. Urias didn't act. Andrealphus was much more busy doing whatever."

"Are you really gonna blame me for not playing hero? If he hit me with the same strength and speed as he hit you, I might have just died. By your words, you said it will heal in a few hours, for me, it might have been a scar forever remaining on my head, so apologise if I don't feel like getting that for you."

She surprisingly hands me the bottle. I take a large sip and hand it back to her.

"Not blaming you, expected nothing more from you."

"Once again, fuck you."

"I'm saying the truth. I'm more disappointed with my supposed friends."

"Alright, are we done."

She looks me in the eye as she takes a sip.

"Bring more wine. There is one more thing I want to do."

"Get even more drunk?"

"Just fucking go."

I get up and leave. I grab another servant by the shoulder and ask for two bottle of red and one bottle of white wine. As I stand there, waiting, my ears slowly pick up something. It was the sound of something crunching. A really familiar crunching.

I walk up to one of the windows and look out. As I look and look, I notice a familiar idiot. Octavia found my god damm machine gun which even I didn't know where it was. Now she is trying to shoot. To my surprise she is wearing ear protection.

I begin to walk, trying to find an actually openable window, until I do. With the window open, the sound of the gun becomes a lot more clear. I watch as she miraculously misses most of her shots by either over or under firing.

How the fuck do you even fail to hit something with a machine gun?

The gun finally stops firing as the barrel turns red. The clicking sound can be heard as she tries to fire, but the gun refuses to obey. She takes off the ear protection and begins to look at the gun.

"You are trying to cause a wildfire, kid?"

The second she hears my voice she lets go of the gun and begins to frantically look around. She finally spots me and I give her a half wave.

"Barrel over heated. You need to open the side, use the metal rod provided with the gun and take out the barrel to replace it wild a cold one or simply wait until you know, it doesn't look like its about to explode. Also, where the fuck did you found it?"

She looks at the gun and than back at me.

"Servants brought it in."

"Fair. Now, if you must use gun, do try to hit those targets, okay? Honestly, missing with a bolt-action rifle is understandable. Missing with this, its just… Embarrassing, kid."

"For the last time, I'm not a kid. If someone, you ARE the kid."

I give her a shit eating grin. She just kneels down to the gun and opens the barrel casing.

"Where the fuck is the rod?!"

"A bit to the left."

"Oh."

With that she places the rod into the hole made for that purpose and takes out the barrel.

"Good, but what you gonna replace it with?"

She stops and doesn't move her body. She speeds around with her eyes before stopping at the gun.

"Fuck."

"Fuck indeed."

She is so god damm stupid, it's actually depressing.

As I finish talking, I feel a gentle hit on my side. Ah, the ordered wines. Great timing.

"Don't burn down the house and don't cause any more deaths, alright? You already proved that you are a menace to this society, no reason to prove it any more."

She tries to respond, but I close the window. With her last chance, she gives me the middle finger and I return the favour.

I take the bottles and walk back to her room. I open the door and… All the curtains are drawn down, making the room dark. Only few candles illuminate the room. I look around for Stella, but as if the ground swallowed her, she is nowhere to be seen. I shrug my shoulders, place the wine into her nightstand and turn to leave.

As I turn I'm greeted with a half naked Stella. A bra, panties and some kind of black, silk-like stockings covering her lower legs… Well, legs is way to humanizing, it covered her claws.

I look up and down before trying walk past her.

"Where do you think you are going?!"

"Away from you."

"Do humans really can't take the most obvious signs?!"

"No, I clearly see what you want and I say, no. N o."

"But-"

"No. I told you that I do not hate you but I have a staunch dislike of you. There is no way I'm doing what you want me to do with you. Not this year, not the next decade, not even in the next millennia, understood?"

With that I walk past. She grabs my shoulder.

"You told me you owe me if I told you what I know."

"Are you really, really gonna use that to get me to fuck you? You cannot be that desperate. Just get someone else, I'm no prostitute."

Her grip of my shoulder strengthens.

"For a long, long time I was ordered to do things I didn't want. I had to do things which I regret. For once in my life and maybe for the last time, I'm gonna do something I want. I saw you were glaring at me while I changed, don't tell me you don't want this."

"…"

"Well th-"

"My glares were glares of lust and horniness not of anything more. There is a clear difference between thinking of doing something and actually doing it. Cease your soft words and let just get fucking over with this."

I turn around and walk back to her bed. She follows me and sits down next to me. She looks around a bit, as if she had no idea what to do.

"You have a daughter, how do you not know what to do?"

"I fucked that pathetic excuse of a man like once almost two decades ago, apologies if I don't have a proper clue as to what to do. Just take your fucking clothes off."

I unbutton my dark black clothes and throw them onto the ground. I get off my shoes and place my socks into them. I begin to get out of my trousers, but as I do I can feel her glares.

"Care to not fucking burn a hole into my back? I'm getting out of my clothes as fast as I can."

With that she turns her head and looks away. I throw the rest of my clothes onto the ground and sit back onto the bed.

"Happy?"

She turns her head slightly and looks down for a split second.

"Is that it?"

"Fuck off. You can take it or I can dress back."

"Beggars can't be choosers,"

"My exact thoughts."

She places her hand on her chest as if she was offended.

"You should be glad that you are graced with my most beautiful presence"

"Stella. All it takes for me is to type "Woman with big tits" into my phone, click on pictures and see hotter things. Most likely with even better personality."

"Go fuck yourself."

I reach over to her back and with a single move, open her bra. She quickly puts her hands onto her tits to stop the bra from fully falling off.

"Since I am forced to fuck, I rather fuck you than fuck myself."

She quickly turns her head. I can see some redness through her feathers slowly appear on her face. How the fuck can she blush, I will never know, better not to question things like that any more. Not worth the effort or the time.

I slowly put my hand on her breasts and remove the bra. To my surprise it isn't filled with paper, she actually has massive tits.

"Was expecting paper pieces to fall out."

She finally turns her head back to me and throws me the middle finger. I reach down to her panties. I slowly begin to touch it and rub her vagina through the panties.

"Are you gonna get out of them or will I be forced to rip them off?"

She looks at me before standing up and removing it. I lay down onto the bed and look at her.

"Get to work."

She gives me a death glare but gets into the bed. She reaches under her bed and takes out a colourful plastic container. She opens it and pours some of the jelly inside of it onto her hands.

"Lube?"

She just looks at me with the "Are you stupid?" glare. I take it as a yes.

She rubs her hands together and slowly puts some of the lube onto her breasts. She throws the lube bottle next to my head, almost hitting.

"What the fuck was that for?!"

"Felt like doing it."

"Bitch."

She puts one of her hand onto my chest and slowly walks her fingers from my chest to my lower body. She wraps her fingers around my cock and slowly begins to stroke it. It is acceptable I guess.

I put my hands on her tits and begin to fondle them. She lets out moan a soft moan.

"Enjoying yourself, ey?"

She doesn't respond but slowly moves downwards to my dick. She puts it between her breast and places her hands on the sides of her tits. She opens her beak and sticks her tongue out, beginning to lick my penis while slowly moving her tits.

I simply remain on my back and glare at big red silk curtain tied together at the top of the bed. I finally get to really see this bed closely, it has a canopy as an extension. I assume more against the bugs of this world than to give her privacy, but it might finally serve its other purpose for the first time since it has been made.

Of course, it is a bit hard to act like you aren't drowning in pleasure while you are getting your dick sucked, even if you give your best shot at it. She does her job pretty well, actually surprising she literally had no clue as to what to do. Then it hits me, the feeling of the climax.

It happens. No screaming. No speaking. Nothing. Just silence. I can feel her stopping and the crunching of the bed as she moves back next to me. I turn to her as she reaches over to her nightstand for a tissue and spits into it. She throws it onto the ground and takes out another, cleaning her face.

"Warn me next time."

She says as she finishes cleaning her face and once again throws the tissue onto the ground.

"It honestly feels kinda awkward to tell someone you are about to cum."

She just picks up the white wine from the silver plate and pops it open.

"So, guess we are done. See you later Stella."

I barely finish before my glasses are taken off by her and throw onto the silver plate. She gets into kneeling position, putting one of knees over to the other side of my head and keeping the other on the other side.

"There was no agreement about when we are done. You had your kicks, now my turn."

"Do tell me your weight doesn't scale with your height like it does with us or I will have my whole skull crushed."

She begins to down the wine before finally putting it down and looking at me a final time. While keeping eye contact, she moves one of her hand pulling the crimson red silk cover of the canopy. I was right, it DOES get to see its other use for the first time.

"Do not suffocate. I know first aid, but I will really need to think about your worth if you die here."

"Bitch I told you I have bad lu-"

That's all I get out before she sits down. I consider my options and begin to lick. As I do I can hear barely audible moaning coming from her. As I lick my face becomes more and more wet. I finally put my tongue into her pussy and I hear a lot more loud moan. I begin to move my tongue deeper. She doesn't make another loud moan but the rest of her wails were louder than before. I reach up to her thighs and grope them. She continues to moan like a madman, until she finally gets off my face. She lays down onto her side and begins exhale and inhale in a rapid pace.

"You fucking dying?"

"F-fuck… You…"

She takes her time getting herself together but finally has a breathing that doesn't make me think she is having a heart attack.

"I'm… Gonna go now."

She grunts and reaches over and hands me a tissue. I clear my face and throw the damp tissue onto the ground. I crawl out of the bed and dress back. While I dress back she opens another wine and begins to drink. I turn to her as I her her speak.

"So?"

"So what?"

"Was it really that bad?"

"It was alright."

"Really? You seemed to really enjoy."

"You were the one moaning like a crazed jester. If someone, you were the one who was really, really enjoying this little show."

"Silence. You ruin my mood."

"You just described my whole personality. Anyway, I assume I shouldn't speak of this. Not to anyone, correct?"

"If you are bored of living, talk. Otherwise, be silent as a rotting, dead tree. Most already have some weird ideas about what I do with you, no reason to pour gasoline onto the fire."

"I mean, those "weird ideas" are true now, no?"

"Maybe. Does it matter? People hide things even if they are true. There is no shame in it, say otherwise and you are a fucking idiot. Now leave me be, I need to rest."

I just turn towards the door and walk to it. She calls out to me again.

"Hey."

"What?"

"Well… I'm just… You know? I'm… Sorry."

"For what, you done a lot of shit to me, please specify which action you are sorry for. My eye? Trying to strangle me more than once? Being a constant danger to my well being? I can go on."

"All."

"Uhum, so you done nothing terrible that you should specifically apologies for?"

I can see her silhouette trough the curtains of the bed change. From laying to sitting.

"Fine. I'm sorry for your eye."

"This was neither honest nor good. I have more important matters to do, such as sleeping. See you next time."

"But-"

"No. You have used your favour. We will talk when there is another thing that need attending, doing or the two of us are forced to spend time together. I say it for the last and final time. I do not hate you, but I try to limit how much time I spend with you. My safety comes first, I think it's just logical."

With that I open and Caralus stumbles into the room. I look at him and than towards the door to see what seems to be the full staff off the family cramped up at the door having the most fear fuelled face you can imagine. I glance back to Caralus who is shaking his head really fast.

"Well, what are you waiting for?"

Stella calls out to me from her bed.

"Just thinking."

I grab Caralus by one of his horn and pull him up from the ground carrying him out like an undisciplined child. I close the door and drop him outside.

"You are so god fucking lucking that she pulled down those curtains. Both at the windows and at the bed. You would be so dead if not for those and me."

"H-Highest apologies I just-"

"Were busy listening to us fucking?"

One of the hell hounds raises a hand. I look at him and he nods.

"We were… Interested as to what was happening. You have to understand, she is not someone you just bring to bed. Please, explain how you did it."

"No clue, was not expecting it to begin with. I guess she trusts me? Honestly no fucking idea. She is not someone you can easily understand. I mean, I can see through her, but only if she wants me to see through. Honestly, now I question whether Stolas is also allowing me to see through him or he doesn't know he allows me to see."

Caralus looks around.

"Anyone bet on trust and friendship or something like that."

A few raise their hands.

"Fuck."

Loud sighs echo as people start taking out money and handing it over to those who raised their hands.

"Did you guys really bet?"

"We make bets on you daily. Day one we bet to see if you would live. Day two we bet on how long you remain healthy and so on."

"You guys should really run, because I ask myself if I should just reopen the door and Stella that you guys listened."

Caralus laughs a bit.

"You wouldn't do that."

"…"

"…"

"…"

"… Oh fuck."

With that he turns and runs, shortly followed by the rest scattering. I turn to walk back to my room, but my phone buzzes.

"Still alive?"

"Sup Lauri. Yes, alive, got a nice fur hat for your Saatanan lyöjä ass."

"Would you look at that, the war criminal is speaking Finnish."

"Translator programs have been my greatest ally."

"I did some digging. "

"Your Condors elected a new leader, he wishes to meet you. "

"I will be capable of providing more information soon.

"Also, a few things have been a bit nasty lately."

"Cannot provide more. Do not trust anyone for now. Not even me."

"Bold of you to assume I ever trusted you,"

"Good. Talk to you in person soon."

Alright what the actually fuck in going in and what did I miss?