(16th June, 20:37, Waxing Gibbous Moon)

Beast and the Beast

Chapter Fourteen – Fear itself can't save you

(Please note this story has vast similarities to Beauty and the Beast, yet I claim no ownership over Beauty and the Beast, only my inspiration is stolen from the movie/book.)

Thank you so much to J. JAKE for letting me know I uploaded my Harry Potter Chapter instead of Diablo, I wouldn't even have known! Thanks!

x.X.x

Sakai saw him staring at her, they were like glowing embers burning her with each stare and she felt her breath being knocked away. This was unreal, he was unreal, how could anything so frightening exist? She wanted to run, she wanted to move but she found that she was rooted to the spot out of fear as if her entire figure was frozen over.

As all thought left her she felt Baal grab her and shake her. "Are you crazy woman, I said run not stare!" He yelled and immediately after yelling did he notice her frozen expression, he growled and drew back his hand, swiping it across her face in one smooth motion that caused her backpack to fall from her shoulder and fall to the ground with a soft thud. He watched as his slap settled in and she came back to her full-positive. "Run!" He repeated and she stared at him shocked and then looked at the emerging Diablo, who was staring at her with hatred.

She gave a quick nod and started to run up the stairs, not daring to look back and Baal growled in frustration, he knew his brother would kill her if she was close by when he was fully released from his prison and he might still have a need for her.

Baal walked up to the platform calmly now, seeing that his brother was now on the last few seconds of imprisonment, only his feet were still enslaved.

Baal stopped when he was right in front of Diablo, who was now fully released and shaking himself, as if to get rid of any lingering confines. Once he had shaken himself off he directed his gaze towards Baal, staring at the demon before him with a bit of confusion.

"Who are you?" He asked in a voice that could make children cry. "Why did you protect the demon than reeks of humanity?" He hissed out now and Baal raised his hand to silence him. "Do not silence me demon!" He roared in anger and Baal stared at his brother angrily.

"That is no way to speak to your brother, let alone your superior." Baal said calmly and Diablo fell silent as he examined the demon before him that bore no resemblance to the Baal he knew, though he could smell the power of the demon before him and with that sense all doubt melted away.

"Baal?" He rasped out and Baal nodded. "You released me?" He asked and Baal nodded again as he took a few steps away from Diablo, giving him enough space to get off the platform, that had sealed again, and walk onto the castle floor.

"Yes, the demon you just saw actually did it, she was turned into a demon because of a curse, yet she still had enough humanity in her to release you." He said and Diablo gave a nod as he stretched out, his muscles rippling with every move he made.

"I suppose I owe her thanks then." He said as he looked around the castle. "What's the news of this world?" He asked now and Baal went to sit down on one of the granite benches against the wall as he looked at his little brother.

"I'm not exactly sure; I only escaped my own prison a few days ago, though I must say that I feel the humans have gotten too confident in the time of our absence." He said and Diablo gave a groan as he started to mutate into his human form, slowly getting smaller as his horns, scales and spikes fell of his body and obliterated as it hit the ground.

When it was done Baal looked away. "Brother…" He said in slight shame and Diablo looked down at himself.

"I don't suppose you have extra clothing?" He asked and Baal still adverted his gaze from his brothers exposed body as he stood up and walked towards the fallen backpack of Sakai, suddenly grateful for the slap he gave her as it had caused her to drop it and leave it behind.

He picked it up and walked back to Diablo, he opened the bag and started to go through it, throwing everything onto the ground. He found female clothing, some meat that wasn't so fresh anymore, matches, firelighters and finally he found what he was looking for, her spare cape.

He took it out and gave it to Diablo, tossing the empty backpack on top of its previous contents, he wasn't about to pick it up again; she could do it if it meant so much to her. He heard as Diablo dressed himself and waited patiently for him to finish.

"You can look now." Diablo said with a laugh and Baal looked at him now, he looked more human than most humans when in this form and Baal wished he had acquired the trait of just being able to transform at will into a human and back into a demon; no, he had to wait for his flesh to grow up like some bloody fruit tree.

"What happened to you that you look like this?" Diablo asked as he examined his brother properly for the first time, he hadn't even recognized him when he had seen him for the first time. His brother was a disgrace of his former self, despite his power being the same.

"Being chained to a pillar with fire eating at my flesh really took its toll on me brother." He said as he went to sit down on the bench again, Diablo going to sit next to him.

"I see your flesh is growing back though, how long before it's complete?" He asked and Baal thought for a few seconds.

"I'm not exactly sure, probably a week or more." He said and Diablo looked around at the empty castle.

"I take it you announced you are back?" He asked with a laugh and Baal nodded. "I thought so; this castle wouldn't be empty for any other reason than your return." He mused.

"Yes, though the girl does not know I am Baal." He said and Diablo stared at his brother in shock, why would he not reveal that to her?

"Why does she not know?" He asked and Baal shrugged his shoulders.

"I don't want her to know for some reason, she knows about 'Baal the King of Hell' being back, but she does not know it is I, nor does she know you're my brother. Will you respect it if I asked you to avoid divulging this information to her?" Baal asked as he looked at his brother, waiting for an answer.

After a minute Diablo nodded. "Yes, I will do as you ask, though it's not like you to want to hide your heritage." He said and Baal nodded as he looked around the castle.

"I know, though I prefer that she doesn't know, she isn't a demon after all, not a true one." He said and Diablo stared at his brother with a worried look.

"I know, though what bothers is me that you usually went out of your way to let mortals know who you are." He said and Baal shrugged his shoulders again as he continued to look around the castle, adverting his gaze from the floor to the ceiling.

"Does it really matter why I want this brother?" He asked and Diablo was silent for a few seconds before shaking his head. "Then we will leave it." Baal said as he got up.

"What will happen now, that both of us are free?" Diablo asked and Baal looked at his brother and smirked.

"Prepare the armies brother, we're making war." He said and there was no mistake about the glint in both of their eyes, a glint of desire for battle and blood. They were going to get revenge on the humans for causing them to be imprisoned.