(18th June, 05:33, Full Moon)
Beast and the Beast
Chapter Twenty Three – Explanations Required
(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.)
x.X.x
Diablo and Baal was just about to continue down the stairs when Diablo shot his head into the air. "I smell it, I smell her." He said and Baal inhaled deeply through his nose, his eyes sparking gold with the scent he picked up.
"Yes." He said as they changed their direction to continue following the scent, which was leading into a room at the start of the second floors stairs.
x.X.x
Sakai took a few deep breathes as she continued to slip down the castle wall, not daring to look down as she grabbed onto whatever she could find to keep her clinging to the wall, she just prayed that a demon didn't want passed the side of the castle because he would be greeted by the image of her clinging to the wall.
"Don't let anyone see me, please." She muttered softly as she continued descending down the castle wall; going a bit faster as the idea of someone spotting her being more disturbing than anything.
x.X.x
Diablo and Baal barged into the room her scent led them and immediately the enclosed space greeted them with the scent of a human. "She was in here." Baal said, stating the obvious as he could see his brother boil over in anger; he didn't like knowing he missed her by a hairs length.
"I think Sakai is behind this, why would a human dare move around in the castle like this without help?" Diablo snapped and Baal was about to argue when he remembered his open door; he honestly wasn't sure whether he had left it open or not; but it was possible that Sakai had come to check whether he was asleep before sneaking the mortal upstairs.
But why didn't he smell her? "I don't Diablo; I don't think Sakai is in the castle." He said and Diablo hissed at his brother.
"You're just protecting your pet!" He spat out and Baal had Diablo by his throat in a second, glaring at him with a vicious glint in his eyes.
"I thought I had clarified my reasons with you, accuse me of emotions towards a mortal again and you will regret it brother." He snapped as he tossed Diablo down on the ground, who gave a cough as he held his throat.
"Your aggression towards me is unnatural when I mention her, which is why I'm accusing you brother." Diablo said as he got up. "You will find out the truth soon enough, both of us will; let us commence the search for the human instead of quarreling." He offered as he gestured to the exit of the room; it was obvious to both of them the mortal wasn't in the room anymore.
"Very well." Baal said as he exited the room after giving it a quick scan to make sure she wasn't hiding somewhere behind the furniture. "Let us go." He said as he entered the hallway, followed by Diablo; his neck turning a pinkish tint from the hold Baal had on him.
x.X.x
Sakai felt her feet touch the ground and a massive amount of relief flooded her as she started to set off into the desert of lava known only as Hell; she would need to approach the front of the castle from afar; she couldn't allow them to find her this close to the castle; she was sure there was a demon or two guarding the front so they would notice her.
She would make up any story she could possibly find to save her own behind from the wrath of Baal, Diablo and her Companion if he even knew.
x.X.x
Diablo and Baal had followed the scent to the dungeons but was disappointment to discover she wasn't there either. "I think we're getting old brother." Baal mocked as continued to shovel through the crates in the dungeon incase she was hiding in one of them.
"No, you're wrong brother; this is getting old, having to shuffle around trying to find a mortal like two idiots; if we had pursued her last night like I had suggested this would never have happened; we would've found her. You can blame yourself for this game of cat and mouse." Diablo said angrily as he kicked a crate against the wall; a flurry of fur running from it. "Why are there always rats?" He hissed out as he gave the crate another solid kick, watching as the last of them ran for safety.
Baal ignored him as he made for the stairs again; she wasn't here. Though he knew Diablo was right; it was his fault they were having such trouble finding the girl, if only he had actually listened to his brother they would've had her already.
But something in him had insisted that he wait for an answer from Sakai, he didn't know why but Diablo was also right about him treating her like a pet; or something similar. For God sakes, he was allowing her to sleep in his bed. His bed; she didn't know it but he was Baal; the Lord of Destruction. The demon who hated mortals more than Hate itself and here he was letting a mortal reside within his courtiers willingly.
x.X.x
Sakai was about half a mile from the castle when she felt the transformation occur and immediately she looked down at herself, trying to savor the glory of being mortal for one day; despite the inconvenient place it occurred.
She saw as her human skin flaked off and turned green again and for the first time she noticed her clothing differed from that of her demon ones; she was wearing the clothes she had transformed in the first time, not those she changed into after showering for the first time as a demon.
She watched as the clothing fell from her body and was replaced with her tattered demonic ones and her fingers got longer as the nails sprouted from their green tips until they were that of a reptile again.
With despair she saw as her hair fell to the ground and felt as her incisor teeth elongate to canines; there transformation was almost complete.
x.X.x
Baal was annoyed and Diablo was tearing through the castle like a bloodhound, the smallest fragrance of human he picked up he set after but he never found anything; every trail was a dead end and Baal was starting to wonder where the Hell the human was; how could she just disappear without a trace.
He started to head to the entrance of the castle; to see if there was any report on the girl or Sakai.
x.X.x
Sakai was done transforming and looked down at the ground; lying in a bundle was her other clothing and hair and suddenly it hit her; she had an excuse.
With a new confidence in her survival she started to walk to the entrance of the castle; there was no reason to worry; she had an excuse.
x.X.x
Baal was outside and had learned that they hadn't spotted either of them; making him more annoyed by the second.
"Idiots; can't even locate one measly mortal." He hissed out as he looked towards the side of the castle and that is when he saw her; Sakai. She was walking towards the castle as if she knew of nothing; was it possible? Could she truly know nothing; she was walking towards the demons as if she didn't know they were guarding the place or looking for her.
He saw the demons look at him for an order; he lifted his hand for them to stand their ground as he walked towards Sakai and motioned for her to stop; why was she relaxed? How could she not be involved with everything that had happened! She was missing the whole time!
When he reached her he gestured away from the demons. "Follow me." He said as he started to walk into the open plains of Hell.