Just to let all of you know, this is a very mature chapter.
I don't mean to offend anyone, but this story is very dark so if you wish to skip this chapter I shall summarize what happens in this chapter at the bottom.
Enjoy!
A yawn escaped Cain as he watched the men scout around in the darkness like children playing a game of hide and seek. He stretched with lazy motivation as he moved to the back of the group so he could watch each and every one of them. They carried torches and dragged the weak light against the ground trying to find any trace of the creature they were hunting. The demon chuckled as he watched the men move around doing the best they could, but their efforts were only hindering them when their boots drug across the surface therefore covering the tracks instead of finding them. He had to bite his lip to not laugh when one of them yelped in fright because they walked into a bush.
Humans are quite amusing I must admit. I wouldn't mind having a few as pets. Smirking, the demon was about to tap one of the lads on the shoulder to point out the correct path, but the brush of female purring stopped him.
I must speak with you, move away from the mortals unless you wish to blow your disguise.
Cain's features grew somber as he walked back until the torches ceased to see the demon. He then turned and walked a mile away from the men until he spoke aloud.
"Come, Lara."
The wind picked up in the small circle of trees and a dark purple rift opened in the center. The figure of Lara the demoness emerged and she was holding her arm to compress a large crimson wound.
Cain snarled and rushed to her to examine the cut "who has done this?"
With eyes glowing, Lara made her report "I had felt uneasy leaving our estate unprotected so I weaved wards around the perimeter of your pet's house in order to sense intrusion. By doing so, I could return home and I am glad that I did. Cain…" Lara grabbed his arm, looking very serious "we didn't kill all of them. Enough with this mortal, you must return to your throne and protect your territory."
Cain's features were unreadable as he sorted his priorities. How long would it take to deal with the pest? Time passed differently between this realm and his. The human plane ran on a faster paced timeline then his did, so the errand would have to be quick and right now wasn't exactly the best time for him to leave. He closed his eyes and attempted to feel his Mistress, but it was futile. Unless she felt extreme emotion, she was lost in the abyss of the unknown. Now if she was the only other human present he could find her, but with all the interference it was near impossible. It was times like this he found it maddening that she covered her beckon to him and wore that blasted glove.
"I cannot. I am currently working and cannot leave at this time." Cain's expression was torn, "locate the enemy and send message when you have. I will return as soon as possible."
It was Lara's turn to snarl "Cain! Are you daft?! You are a ruler of hell, not a human servant. Your contract is brainwashing you, my lord and I ask that you see reason." Lara grabbed the demon's hand and brought his palm up. The emblem of his contract shined in the dark and she brought the brand to her cheek, looking up at him in desperation. "Please Cain, return with me. You have no need for another woman, I give you my life and body freely."
Cain's eyes softened and he withdrew his hand to replace it at her own that covered the wound. He leaned down and removed her palm in order to lick the affliction. Blood stained his mouth as he cleaned the stained limb and a moan escaped Lara's throat.
"Go back, Lara. I will return as soon as possible." Cain licked his lips as he stood straight once more with his own crimson lens glowing. "I have utmost confidence in your abilities to hold off such weak creatures." He then turned to leave, not wanting the other men noticing his absence. He didn't get far before dark miasma slammed into his back and sent him crashing into a tree.
"If you cannot see reason, I will make you." Lara then sprinted in the direction of the camp.
Ib!
"LARA! I COMMAND YOU TO CEASE THIS NONSENSE! DO YOU WISH TO START A WAR AGAINST ME OVER SUCH FLEETING CONTRACT?!" A screech that consisted of every pitch of the demon's voice chased the fleeing demoness, but she did not falter in her stride.
"I must do what I must, my lord." She cartwheeled in order to dodge the shadow spikes that erupted from the darkness of the woods. She glowered, understanding the terrain would only assist the shadow demon.
"Very well, Lara. I shall not hold back." With that said a wall rose from the ground and the demoness slammed into it unaware of such a ploy. The wall morphed and created a cage pulsing with dark energy. The large shadow manifestation emerged from the trees, shattering the large wooden umbrellas as it moved. The demon's jaw split open in a grin of razors and it leaned in to breathe the scent of the caged demoness. "Back down Lara, or I will not hesitate to consume you."
"I would rather die than watch you play servant any longer. However, I will not make it that easy." She brought her hands up and miasma gathered around her once more, enveloping the demoness. Before Cain could react the sphere around her exploded. The cage dissipated in a cloud of steam and Cain growled in pain of the attack. The salvageable remnants of the dark material formed a splotchy hand due to the singed missing fragments.
Lara grinned and was about to chastise the demon, but the notion was thought of too soon. The other not burned limb snatched her in its grasp and brought the damsel to the jagged filled orifice.
"This ends now, Lara." The jaw extended and demoness screamed.
No… not him… it can't be him… Fear like none other stopped the demon in his tracks. The demon's large eyes moved to stare in the direction of the camp in summoning. Isabel was petrified.
"I shall teach you to remain focused at the task at hand!" An unnatural metal plunged into the demon's hand and he screamed in agony. His shadow like nature shrunk in size as pain crippled his throbbing limb. With fluid motion, the demoness snatched the weapon lodged in Cain's hand and brought the saturated weapon to her lips to lick the blade.
Cain brought his pain twitching eyes up to glare at the demoness and hissed "using such pathetic methods to overpower me, harlot."
"Such malice, my lord. Please insult me further if it helps ease the wound in your pride." Blood stained her chest where she had withdrew the weapon resting within her. Weapons grew inside the women of their race as the species had evolved and it was a feature they were all birthed with. Whether it was natural selection or a modification demons were unaware, but it had protected the females against the overwhelming numbers of the male race.
NO… don't touch me…
Cain's eyes sparked and he launched himself at Lara with murderous intent. The two crashed into several trees and managed to coat the bark with varying amounts of their blood.
Miles away, Lara was lifted into the air by her throat with her own weapon pointed at her chest. A grin framed the demon's features as insanity played a role in his lethal game. He ran the point of the dagger down her arm and made sure spell out the word disobedient in correct human cursive. Blood pooled beneath his feet and he chuckled when he stirred to make the liquid stain the ground under his boots.
"What shall I write on the other, love?" Cain smeared the blood of the knife against her cheek and was shocked when Lara began to cry with a smile on her face.
"I ask that you write servant on the other, my lord. I am so happy you have returned…"
Cain made quick work writing her request and then slammed the weapon into her chest. She coughed blood and the liquid stained his face.
"Then I return this to you and order you to return home until I can punish you further." Cain lifted a hand and again the air split to reveal that purple void. He tossed the bleeding creature into it and closed his eyes as he began to sprint towards the camp.
Through the adrenaline he was not able to understand the importance of why he could no longer feel his lady's fear, but when he opened the tent he believed she resided in the reason presented itself.
Isabel lay sprawled out within covered in blood. Her clothes were shredded and wounds littered the inside of her legs where blood had smeared showing she had fought her attacker. The abused limbs now sagged on the floor, defeated and open.
Cain kneeled down to grab her wrist as terror laced into his thoughts and he found he needed clarification before anything else. His heart sung a song of relief when he felt the faint thrum of her pulse against his fingers. His eyes then searched the rest of her for other signs of wounds.
A gag lay near her mouth and blood coated her lips showing more evidence of her struggle. He reached up and touched her face with his unaffiliated hand to bring her eyes to meet his. The once bright and ferocious violets now had dulled and become apathetic.
"Mistress… I am here." Cain reached to cradle her but stopped when he noticed a collar about her throat. It was connected to a silver chain and he found himself following the metallic links until his eyes landed on the man sitting in the corner smoking.
"I suggest you fuck off, mate." The man said, with a grin. "You married something of mine and I'd hate to kill ya over a broad, but if you insist on taking her back then I'll have t'a." Cain's eyes narrowed as he allowed his lens to examine the key features of the man. He held a knife coated with blood and his pants were loose. That was all the demon required before he smiled.
"Shall we step outside and talk about this?" Cain held his glamour perfectly as he opened the flap to exit the tent. He remained holding it, waiting for the man to follow him.
"If we must" the man crawled over to Isabel to lean down and lick her cheek. "I'll be back, pet." The woman remained still and lifeless and the demon smiled wider as the man exited.
"Where would you like me to kill you?" The man stretched once outside, but gawked as Cain stood there unaffected to his threats, smile still on his face. The dagger rose, aimed at Cain and the man growled "not sure what you're finding so goddamn funny mate, but I'll make quick work of your cocky attitude."
"Oh, I challenge you to do so." Cain brought up his mutilated hand and craned the one working finger in a beckoning motion.
The man barked a laugh "what the devil happened to your hand? Did you coat it in acid? This will be even easier then I had first believed." His foot angled and he launched himself at the awaiting demon.
Cain sighed in pleasure as his glamour ripped from him revealing the swarming shadowlike tentacles streamlining toward the approaching mercenary.
"The hell?!" He went to slam his heels into the ground but each of his limbs was entangled in the dark squirming appendages. Then like a fish, the man was reeled in like prey.
"Yes, hell indeed mortal ant. Come, I shall show you to your new home." Again that purple rift opened and when the man went to scream one of the dark snakes entered his mouth to silence him. "Now now, this is a secret between the two of us and none other." Cain chuckled as he watched the man cry in fear and without further hesitation he entered the void with his prey. The rift shut and wind stirred with none the wiser.
To be continued!
SO, here is the summary. Lara comes to tell Cain that when they eradicated the previous 6th lord's sector, they missed one. She attempts to make Cain return home, but when he refuses because of Isabel she gets mad insane and threatens to kill her. They fight, but Cain is distracted as he feels Isabel's fear from afar. He becomes wounded but is able to subdue Lara and send her back to the planes of hell in order to deal with her later. He then rushes off to help his mistress but finds that her she has been assaulted by the man in the tent. Cain angered leads the man from the tent in order to grab him full demon mode. One entangled, the demon takes him to hell where it is insinuated he will now live in torment with the demon lord.
I always meant for this story to be dark, as that is the genre I enjoy writing so again I apologize if any of this offended you.
See you all next chapter.