(12th July, 19:00, Full Moon)
Beast and the Beast
Chapter Twenty Eight – Consoled by a Demon
(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
Sakai continued to stare at her companion as he had somehow successfully managed to identify her; how he did that she didn't know; she didn't look anything like her demonic self. How had he done it? Could she still deny and play dumb? No; she couldn't, she had lied enough to him.
Baal bent down in front of her fallen figure and took hold of her arm; he saw as her entire body stiffened at the contact; did his promise mean nothing to her? He had said he would not harm her. She seemed so frightened of him; something she had never been before. He ignored her fear and pulled her to her feet and held her there.
"Are you okay?" He asked her and she looked at him with more confusion than before and he didn't know she was doing that; why she was being so skeptical about everything he said or did.
"Why do you care? You hate humans." She said in a whisper and he shrugged his shoulders as he moved her towards the armchair and forced her to sit down; which didn't take much. He went to take a seat on the bed, making sure the two of them were out of view of the hole in the wall; he didn't need screaming people interrupting him.
"You aren't exactly mortal and I have my reasons." He said and she growled suddenly, but instead of the feral sound that he was used to hearing from her if she growled a humanlike hiss escaped her mouth; making him want to laugh despite the circumstances. He could only imagine her pulling that aggressive stance with him while she was mortal; that would be adorable.
"Of course you do, but you'll never tell me, you never tell me anything so why should I tell you anything more than what you already know?" She asked angrily as she was about to stand up but Baal gave her a glare that warned her to stay put; so she lowered herself back down and sat.
"You will tell me because I'm giving you the time to speak, I could just as well have helped Diablo instead of fight him." He said and she lowered her head as she sighed, nodding slowly as she raised her head again, looking him directly in his amber eyes.
"How did you do that? Stop Diablo, he is so powerful." She said and Baal wasn't exactly sure how he could answer that question without giving away who he was; something he had wanted to keep from her from the start and he wasn't about to change that now.
"I'll tell you later." He said as he shifted on the bed uncomfortably as he continued to stare at her; despite her anger and obvious aggression in this situation she still looked frightened and hopeless; as if she didn't know the way out of this one; as if every door she tried for an answer was locked and it made her look beautiful. Baal and Diablo could both appreciate the beauty of mortals as they possessed the form themselves and she was beautiful; maybe that was why Diablo was so obsessed with finding her and seeing her before killing her.
"Always later…" She muttered as she put her head in her hands and shook her head a few times while muttering something that Baal couldn't make out.
"Look at me." Baal insisted and she stopped shaking her head and raised it from her hands to stare into his amber eyes again; she seemed to relax once she noticed it wasn't dark amber, instead it was just its usual gold color; which meant he wasn't angry.
"What now?" She asked as she continued to stare at him; her face pulled into a grimace of confusion and despair; it was obvious she was thinking she would lose her life on some occasion within the next few hours.
Baal shifted on the bed again. "I need an explanation of this human form you still possess, I will go from there." He said and then looked at her more sternly. "No lies Sakai, you've done enough for the both of us." He said and she gave a hopeless nod as she took in a deep breath.
"Every full moon from dusk till dawn I am turned into a human again to see what I've lost and to convince myself to continue working towards it." She said and Baal was piqued by her last statement, he sat upright.
"What do you mean 'work towards it'?" He asked and she sighed; what was the point of hiding anything anymore? She was probably going to die anyway and she might as well go out with a bang called the 'truth'. She looked at him for about a minute before deciding to respond to his question.
"It is possible for me to turn human again, permanently." She said and Baal gasped as he looked at her seriously now; as if he hadn't expected that answer and she didn't know it was a good thing that she had, at least his eyes were still normal.
"How?" Was all he asked as he continued to stare into her; her eyes were an emerald green color that seemed to be dimming by the second with her obvious depression. "Tell me how." He repeated and she lowered her gaze from his once more; she couldn't even look him in the eyes the whole time.
"If I learn to care for someone else other than myself I will become human again; as I start to care I start to turn more human, you've probably noticed slight changes." She muttered and Baal recalled what he had thought about her skin color and nails; he had been right, she did seem human.
"But who?" He asked in astonishment and the second he muttered the question he realized who; but he decided to wait for her answer instead.
"You." She said as she looked away again; as if she was ashamed or frightened of the answer she had just given to him; but he was right, it was him. How could it have been another? She had even tried to protect him from Diablo; which had been unnecessary but said a lot.
"Let's return to the castle." Baal said as he got up and she shot her head up in fear and surprise at his request; but refused to move a bit or rise up like he did. She couldn't go close to the castle now, not with Diablo there and not in her human form, she would be murdered! Her companion wasn't enough to protect her! He might've somehow managed it with Diablo, but she doubted he would be lucky twice.
"No, I can't! They'll kill me! I'm still human!" She protested but Baal just shrugged his shoulders as he walked to her and took hold of her arm, pulling her from the chair with more force than it took to put her in it. She didn't want to move but he did manage to get her to her feet.
"You'll be safe." He insisted, but she shook her head.
"No, I won't be safe! It doesn't help if you start lying to me now you know!" She yelled and Baal grunted as he looked her directly in her eyes and spoke slowly, softly and clearly.
"Trust me." He said and she went quiet as she continued to look into his eyes; was he serious? Would she really be okay and alive with everything in Hell wanting to kill her? Baal had probably heard about her coming to Hell as well and what if he was waiting there? Her companion couldn't protect her from the King of Hell if he was forced to obey him.
She took in a deep breath and sighed; she would do what he asked, she would trust him. "Alright." She muttered and Baal gave a nod as he started to lead her out of the building, hoping there wouldn't be too much commotion in the town.
x.X.x
Diablo was back in Hell, he had tried to find Mephisto, the one who had obviously ratted him out to Baal but his brother was obviously hiding like a coward; then again, it was probably the smart thing to do considering how angry he was at the moment.
He was so close to the mortal! He had seen the fear on her face and where she had pushed him and he had grabbed her was still smothered in her human scent like a plague that demanded he kill her. He couldn't believe she even had the nerve to push him, again! If only she had known who she had tried to save from his blow!
He couldn't wait until Baal got back to the castle with the girl, Baal would probably insist on conducting the interrogation but Diablo would get the kill; there was no way around that. He would murder her the second he got the chance.
She could bet her beautiful behind on that.
x.X.x
Baal was at the portal with a very jittery and paranoid Sakai; every demon in the temple had wanted to attack her and she was just glad that her companion had commanded them to stay back.
"Mephisto?" Baal asked, he could sense his brother but it was obvious he was trying to conceal himself, probably from Diablo.
"Why is there a mortal with you?" Mephisto asked and Baal growled.
"It really doesn't concern you, tell me if Diablo came through here." He said and Mephisto was silent for a few moments, it was obvious he was examining the mortal for any significance that would allow her passage into Hell, when he found none he spoke.
"Yes, he came through here, quite angry and still in his demonic form." He said and Baal nodded as he walked to the portal.
"If he decides to leave again you will inform me immediately." Was his last words as he stepped through the portal and into Hell.
x.X.x
Sakai and Baal arrived in Hell and immediately every demon had their eyes trained on her and she was once again a bundle of nerves as she followed her companion silently, doing her best to trust him despite everything in her screaming at her to run.
She looked towards the ground as they continued to walk towards the castle and soon she felt them stop and heard laughter come from none other than Diablo. "So you actually brought her?" Diablo yelled in glee and Sakai was starting to get nervous; had her companion tricked her into coming here only to hand her over to Diablo?
Her heart started to race at the possibility, but why would he ask, why didn't he just drag her away? He was a demon; he had the strength to do so. She built up the courage to look Diablo in the face and the second she did she regretted it; it held nothing but pure hate and glee; it was as if her blood was already on his hands.
"Yes Diablo, I brought her, though you will excuse us for now." He said as he pulled a devastated Sakai into the castle and towards the stairs. "Just follow me." He whispered to her and she had no choice but to do what he wanted.
When they reached his room he led her inside. "Remain here and please don't try to leave, you'll only get yourself killed." He said and she gave a solemn nod as she went towards the bed, sitting down on it; he looked at her and realized she thought he had tricked her. "I didn't." He said angrily and then left the room.
She looked up and smiled. "I guess I'll see." She said as she put her head in her hands and started to cry the tears she was denied while a demon and hadn't thought would be necessary anytime soon; she had been happy in Hell for the first time since she got here and now it was all ruined!
x.X.x
Baal found that Diablo was still outside, gloating and back to his human form; dressed in another cape once more. Baal stopped next to him and looked at him. "You will not harm the girl, so you can drop the happy act." Baal said and watched the reaction he expected to come from Diablo.
Diablo started to get angry and then stopped and stared at Baal with a look of humor. "You're a real good practical joker, did you know that?" Diablo asked with laugh, but when he saw the serious look on Baal's face he scowled. "You're not serious are you? It's just a human!" He yelled towards Baal; his anger rising again.
"Calm down right now!" Baal snapped at Diablo and Diablo growled angrily as he took in a few deep breathes and tried his best to calm himself; when he finally managed he looked at his brother with hate.
"Why, why not?" Diablo hissed out and Baal uncrossed his arms as he looked at Diablo seriously.
"Because I said so, you don't need to have a reason if I command it." Baal said angrily as he went to stand in front of Diablo, glaring at him with as much anger as he could muster. "This is my castle and I am the ruler of Hell; if you wish to retain your place in my Kingdom you will cease this reckless behavior and control and behave yourself!" Baal yelled as his eyes turned a dangerous and dark amber. "You're acting like a child over nothing!" He finished with a hiss and Diablo was trying his best to calm himself.
When Diablo had regulated his breathing again he stared at Baal. "Hell is not a home when it is ruled by an overpowered fluffball with compassion towards humans." Diablo said as calmly as he could while gritting his teeth. "You are not longer a proper ruler of Hell if this is your way of ruling it." Diablo said as he looked at Baal; whose eyes turned even darker than previously.
"My protection of this human or…Sakai does not make me a bad ruler, I have done more for Hell in four weeks than either of you had done in the years I was absent, you are the one trying to destroy the very castle I'm supposed to call home with your rage and I swear I will put you out with the lesser demons and forbid you to enter the castle if this continues!" Baal snapped as he stared at Diablo angrily.
Diablo on the other hand was doing the best he could to keep his temper in check. "What are you going to do to the human?" Diablo asked calmly; screaming the question probably wouldn't bore a response that he liked.
Baal looked at Diablo and then spoke. "I'll ask her the necessary questions then release her back into her world." He lied and waited for the reaction from Diablo and once more he was right; pure anger radiated from his brother.
"You are such a fool, what stops me from going out and finding her again?" Diablo hissed and Baal smirked at his brother as he uncrossed his arms and let it hang loosely at his sides.
"Not much really, though I can guarantee you that you won't find her." Baal said as he started to walk away from Diablo. "I'll be taking my leave now." Baal said as he went back into the castle; heading back up towards Sakai.
x.X.x
Sakai was in the room, still sitting on the bed; what if Baal came in here now to try and kill her with his brother Diablo? Blood was thicker than water and what could her companion possibly do to protect her if he decided he wanted to kill her. As far as she had gathered Baal was a massive human hater and the mere idea of having a mortal in the castle probably revolted him.
"Oh God." She muttered as she heard the door open and watched as her companion came in, his facial features gave nothing away about her future; which she was sure was grim despite his casual demeanor. She watched as he walked to his throne and sat down on it.
"I have informed Diablo that I'll be questioning you and then releasing you back into the world, alive. Though you will obviously not leave as you'll only return to your demonic form." He said and looked at the confused expression on her face. "I did not tell him who you are Sakai; he only thinks it's a mortal he saw." He said and she gave a sigh of relief.
"Thank God; I didn't want him to know." She said and he gave a knowing nod. "Thank you." She said once more as she looked at him. "Why are you allowing me to stay? You're not particularly fond of humans or me." She said and he gave a laugh.
"Didn't you hear Diablo say it?" He asked and she continued to stare on in confusion. "You're my pet." He said with a laugh as he went for the door again. "I'll be back later, don't leave the room." He said and she nodded in agreement; why would she want to leave the room with every demon out there thinking she was a fitting appetizer? She preferred to be a pet than a snack any day.
x.X.x
Diablo was sitting outside and venting; what gave Baal the right to tell him he was not allowed to exact his revenge on that pathetic human? He had the fullest right to have revenge if he wanted to and he would find the girl the moment he released her back into the mortal world; he would track her down and kill her.
No one, not even his brother had the right to make a fool out of him. Even if he was the King of Hell and the most powerful demon to exist in all of the universe; even if he was a thousand times more powerful than anything that existed on this planet he was not allowed to do that; not to his own brother; and for what? Spite perhaps? Baal had no attachment to the stupid woman sitting in his room right now; he could understand Sakai to a limit; but this mortal?
It was only to spite him! Perhaps he would just go in there and kill her right now! He started to walk into the castle and up the stairs; passed Baal's room to firstly see if he was there. He could smell the woman in there strongly and he almost dashed into the room.
Instead he waited by the stairs and sniffed the air and when he heard the door open he quickly went up to his floor and watched from around the corner; watching as Baal left and went down towards the floor, possibly out of the castle and it wouldn't be to speak with him either; they barely spoke about the same thing twice so he wouldn't need to repeat himself.
Diablo waited a few minutes until he was sure Baal was gone and not coming back anytime soon before he slipped down the stairs and opened the door to his brother's room.
x.X.x
Sakai was sitting on the bed; feeling more relaxed than she did last time she was in the castle and a mortal when she heard the door open. Her companion had just left; why would he be back so soon? She sat upright and watched as the door open; perhaps he forgot something? Not that she had ever seen him take anything out of the room to carry with.
She watched as the cloaked figure entered the room but instead of amber eyes she saw blood red ones staring back at her; she wanted to scream for help but she didn't even know the name of her companion; instead she sucked in her breath and watched as he closed the door behind him.
"Yes, not even he is going to be here to save you now; he has left the castle." Diablo sneered as he removed the hood from his head and continued to stare at her slightly confused and completely frightened face; he preferred the fear above confusion and was pleased it was the dominating emotion.
Sakai took in another deep breath and suddenly got angry; she tried to control it as it wouldn't serve her well in this predicament, but being a cowardly little mortal girl would bear the same result; she'd rather go down biting and screaming.
She stood up and put her hands on her hips and she glared at him. "Why the Hell don't you just leave me alone? The only bloody thing I did to you was stuff you into a closet because you bloody hell wanted to kill me you sadistic bastard!" She snapped and she watched as his eyes grew huge with her aggressive stance towards him.
"Excuse me?" He asked in shock as he watched her emerald eyes darken to that of a putrid potion as she glared at him like he was the vilest thing on the planet.
"You follow me around like a creep because you can't handle the fact that I, a bloody mortal, shoved you into a closet; you're obsessed with the fact that you're not allowed to kill me and now you're trying to sneak around and do it like a little kid who can't get to the cookies while mommy is around!" She spat out as she glared at him; a growl escaping her lips.
Diablo stared at her for a few second before growing angry himself, luckily not angry enough to cause a transformation. "What gives you the right to talk like that to me! Diablo, the Lord of Terror!" He yelled as his red eyes darkened and hers followed suit.
"I give myself the right you bastard, oh and just by the way, you amount up to nothing in my world but a murderer on a power trip!" She ended with a sneer as she crossed her arms now, glaring at him while he was trying desperately to control his temper.
"You want to test that theory?" He snarled out and she huffed as she uncrossed her arms and crossed it again out of annoyance.
"Oh please, like you would kill me now." She said with a laugh. "This isn't how your fantasy went at all was it? You expected to see me cowering on the ground begging for mercy under your power! Guess again buddy, I'm going down with a fight!" She said mockingly and Diablo growled.
How could she talk to him like this? She was nothing but a mortal! A human girl with the mouth of a bloody harpy. She was insulting him and pressing every aggressive button he had on him for what? Amusement or was it just pure stupidity? The worst part is, she was right; there was no way he would get any satisfaction by killing her if she acted like a bulldog towards him.
"Your mother obviously never taught you to hold your tongue." He said angrily and she huffed again as she let her arms drop to her sides.
"Oh drop the formalities Diablo and kill me if you want; you're right, the other guy isn't here to protect me from you so I can't do anything but spew arguments and insults at you." She said, trying to bribe him into trying something he wouldn't, she knew he didn't want to attack or kill her while she was standing her ground; it was a sort of bluff that was too brave to be honest.
Diablo was silent as he considered her proposal, it would take him less than a second to kill her and he had to admit he didn't have enough time to draw it out to try and get fear from her since Baal could be returning any second now; though he didn't want to just take her life like that; not after the way she just spoke to him. It would have to be painful and snapping her neck or tossing her from the window wouldn't cut it.
Without a word he turned around and left the room; closing the door silently behind him as he walked up to his own room; he would have to get her alone for a long period of time where he wouldn't be interrupted and he would have to do it when she was returned to the mortal world.
He would get her; even if it was a month from now; though he didn't like the fact that she had actually won that argument; perhaps he should've given her a smack for goodwill but that would've only resulted in Baal going insane on him for disobeying and he didn't need that right now.
He would wait it out.
x.X.x
Sakai took in a deep breath and she finally started to shake; what the Hell had she just done and won? She had won an argument against Diablo and in turn it had saved her life. So while she stood her ground he wouldn't touch her; that was perfect. She had her own weapon for the time being, or at least until she transformed.
That was probably the most stupid and bravest thing she had done in her entire life; to stand up to him like that and have him just walk away saying nothing; especially with his temper! It was a bloody miracle to say the least!
Now all she could do was wait to transform and forget about it; it seemed her companion would hide her when she did turn into a human again so she was sorted in a way.
And she didn't even know his name.