"So, what will it be? Will you make the bet to switch bodies? I win you switch; you win you keep your human body."
The world around me sloshed, she cannot be serious. Even this drunk I know I cannot switch bodies with someone else. "Yeah… sure." I sloshed out.
The woman flipped a coin, caught it in both hands and separated them. "Which hand is the coin in?"
"Uh… Left."
She smirked opening her right hand. "Wrong, it was in my right. Deal is a deal."
She held her hand up and a glowing circle formed. Little squiggles of what might be words appeared. She was not kidding. She had some kind of magic and was about to use it on me. I turned but two big bodyguards blocked my exit, hands holding my arms, they turned me around.
I kicked and fought, but it was useless. She placed the ring over my chest, and my mind was hazed. Tears fell down my cheeks. This was a successful business deal, all I wanted was to celebrate a little from all the hard work. We were excelling into the big leagues.
"What are you?" I choked out, drunken state lost.
"A demon." She chuckled as a devious smile grew. "Have fun deary, I made quite a mess." I fell to the floor released by the hands. "It is done boys, toss her through. This new body will be perfect for ruling the human realm. Humans are such easy fools. Too bad I could not eat another before I took this one." She laughed.
I was falling backwards, plummeting hard to a ground I could not see. The wind caught on something, and I was gliding uncontrollably. I looked over my shoulder, black membranous wings were spread wide. A demon, and I had no clue how to be one. I soared in a down angle, this woman meant for me to die.
The ground covered in trees neared. I covered my face bracing for impact. Branches hit my arms and legs before I thudded to the ground, rolling. Opening my eyes, I lift myself off the ground sitting up. That should have killed me, but I was alive. I had cuts and scrapes along my body, a hole in my left wing, and everything hurt.
I moved everything, nothing broken. The scraps and hole in my wing mending themselves. My nails were pastel pink, long and sharp. Long pink hair cascaded down my shoulders. It was real, not a wig. What I thought was a good drag outfit was how she naturally looked.
My clothes were half shredded, not that she wore much to begin with. The important parts still covered. Her name was Lily, and if we switched, then I was now Lily. Who was she? What mess did she create? What life did I now have? It was of no use wondering when I had nothing to go on but a name and a few words.
I looked around my area, trees everywhere. Where do I even go? A shadow crossed the ground, I looked up, a figure flying overhead circling around the hole in the trees. I had taken down several branches while landing. If she was in trouble, I have no doubt they might be always looking for her. To leave this place and become a human, she was deep.
She might have even landed me in the middle off their territory. I stood, making haste to any coverage I could. I crouched in a bush between two trees. Thorns prickled my skin, cutting flesh. I covered my mouth. The tall figure dropped down to where I had been. Hunched over, looking around the area.
His hair was white, and he had a buzz cut. His mouth was covered by a metal mask. Green fur lined his neck and waist like bands, and he had eagle like feet. I am going to die here and now. Something slithered up my leg, and I gasped. Clutching my mouth harder, I closed my eyes.
He said something I did not understand. His voice muffled like Vader through his mask.
Yanked up and dangled from my legs I screamed. "Please don't hurt me!"
Another one landed next to him. He was shorter even with the bird like man's hunched figure. This man was slender, he wore black and purple robes. His violet hair looked nice, but his gaze was enough to have me avert my eyes. They talked back and forth in a language I did not understand.
My stomach turned, bile filling my throat. "I'm going to be sick, please put me down." They kept looking at each other. "Down, please." I pointed; it was too late.
I threw the contentment of my stomach up. Vomit filled my nose and covered my face. I was let down gently vines still around my feet, they crawled up my legs and around my waist, lifting me again. I squeezed vomit out of my nose, but it did nothing for the smell. What were they waiting on?
The violet haired demon approached me. The vines released and I was tied in a rope, a paper attached to the front. His nose crinkled. The bird man picked up the spare end, taking flight. Now where? Were they not going to kill me on the spot? She was in a mess; if she were running, then would she not have a kill on sight order?
Violet hair man pulled out a phone with bat wings. He talked to someone while giving me side glances. I glared back and he crinkled his nose. I stuck my tongue out and he mumbled something. The bird man above me chuckled, talking to him.
The flight was short, soaring past a large building that looked like a castle to a slightly smaller place. A mansion deck in all black sides and roof. Set on the ground, bird man helped me stand. Violet haired man snapped his fingers, icy water drenched me. A shiver down my spine as I whipped my face
Another man came out of the house. Red hair with red foxlike ears. He wore a white dress shirt with a red vest. A brown tail twitched behind him. He spoke and violet man stepped back and behind bird man who waved with smiling eyes. The red head snapped his fingers, and a huge towel surrounded me like a blanket. Rubbing all over, it was gentle, but it was weird.
I tried to move from it, but it followed.
"Stop." I jerked my head away, losing balance I fell to the ground. Violet hair smirked. I stood on my own, shrugging the bird man's hands off.
"Opera, what is going on? Oh, Hi professor Kalego and Shichiro. What are you doing here." He spoke my language. He had blue hair and an innocent smile. This could be my saving grace.
"Hey, you must help me. There has been a mistake. I don't know where I am, who are these people? Please, I beg of you, help me."
The boys' eyes widened. "Opera, who is this."
The red head replied to him. "Okay. I uh, need to talk to Grandpa." He left through the front door.
The two behind me blocked the exit and forced me to follow the red headed demon. A red satin curtain flowed from every large window. A blood red carpet lining the walkway, gold embroidery along its edges. We turned down corridors and eventually a large room.
The young boy was whispering in an older man's ear. The ones behind me stepped back. He wore purple clothes, to what I could comprehend he was a royalty of some kind. Lemon yellow horns protruded from his head. Glasses on the bridge of his nose. His demeanor alone was enough to make my knees shake.
"Please, tell him I mean no harm." The boy looked at me and whispered in the man's ear again. The man snapped his fingers, and grinned. He doated on the child, waving him away.
When he was out of the room his voice bellowed. "You may leave Kalego and Shichiro, I need you to stay."
"Lord Sullivan, it is one of the followers of the six fingers." Violet hair man protested.
"I see. Nonetheless, I see her as no harm in her state. One of her against us three, she would not survive. You can leave." The violet haired man giving one last glance at me, shaking his head.
"Kalego, we could always go and play." The red head spoke.
"No, thanks. I will go." He cowered and left the room.
Bird man turned to Sullivan. "We found her crash landed in the forest. She does not speak our demonic tongue."
I understood everything. This man snapped his fingers, and I understood every word that was spoken.
"I do not know if you can understand me, but this was all a mistake. I…" The ropes snapped off.
"My grandson says you were speaking a human language. Care to explain why you were lurking around in the forest."
"I assure you, not lurking. I was drinking, and this lady." I pointed to myself. "This body was not mine an hour ago. She said let us make a bet to switch bodies. I thought it impossible; I was human. Demons were not real." I cried, tears flowing down. "I don't know." I collapsed. "What do I do?"
"She is not lying or trying to deceive us."
Sullivan rubbed his chin. "Hmm, Lilith crossed over to the human realm to escape. She left this girl as a decoy. My Iruma was right in is observation, he's so smart." He was partly singing all cheerfully.
"Where am I?"
"The Nether world. As of right now you are a wanted woman by us and the six fingers. There is not a place for you to be safe."
"I did not do anything wrong. It was all a mistake, a trick." I sniffled, pulling my legs in.
"No deception." Birdman spoke.
The doors opened and closed. "Grandpa, we should protect her. Demons are not supposed to cross over to the human realm, right? She was swapped and forced back here. It is something that should never have happened. She does not know anything here like me when I arrived." A hand was placed on my shoulder.
I looked up to him. "You were human once too?"
"I am human still."
"Iruma, you are not to tell others this." Sullivan looked mad, but his face fell to doating again.
"Grandpa, you said I can have whatever I wanted. I want to take her under my wing and help her navigate the world we live in."
"I could help, Kalego as well if you allow this." Bird man was Shichiro. So, the mad looking one was Kalego.
"I will do whatever you wish, just do not kill me."
"Opera, what do you think?"
The red heads ears twitched at his name. "Sir, it has never happened here before. If the six fingers find her it could mean her death. We have our own reasons for her execution. If we did this, we would have to change her appearance, and give her a new identity."
Sullivan stood. "That will not be so easy. Her scent will give her away to the six fingers."
"Grandpa, you have to try, don't forget what you did for me when I arrived."
"Iruma, I need you to run along to school now."
Iruma nodded. "Yes grandpa. See you later!" He shouted in a gleeful tone. Waving goodbye, smiling a mile wide. What did he do to get landed here?
"Young lady, please stand and tell me your name."
I stood hands clasped. "Violetta."
"My Iruma has taken a liking to you, and I cannot deny my precious grandson any request." His whole demeanor changed, he was smiling, and not the angry looking demon I had just met. "So now I must ask. Will you, Violetta, become my granddaughter?" He had my hand clasped in his, my eyes widened.
A what? Granddaughter. Is he for real? It was this or what other option. If he did not help me, I would be doomed. Would they drop me off or finish me themselves? I have to say yes, or the alternative might be death.
"Uh, yes. You may call me Viola for short."
"Oh, goodie." He jumped up and down. "Sign here." He has these on tap. I signed the papers.
"What if I said no."
"Then I would have to kill you." His smile did not fade. Was he serious or was he kidding?
"Then I am glad I like it here already."
"Opera." He sang. "Let us get her situated and whip up some potions."
He hummed to himself, and she strolled down the hallway, I followed behind him. He opened the door to an empty room; he snapped his finger and the room transformed in the blink of an eye.
Pink carpet, and curtains. The bed was pastel pink with white ruffles. Frilly pillows with more white ruffles. A vanity of pink and white. I was not a pink person, I cringed at his idea of the perfect granddaughter's room.
"Do you like it?" He asked.
My nose crinkled. "Its… very pink."
"You don't like it."
"It is more than I expected, I just like green. Emerald green to be precise."
"Oh, then here." He snapped his finger, the bright pink room turned to shades of emerald, and like palette colors.
"Oh, now this is perfect." I ran and flopped in the bed. "This bed is so soft."
"Opera, good timing." I leaned up from the bed to look at Sullivan.
"Some of the potions we had in stock. Lady Violetta, the choses are yours to choose how you will look. We cannot change your age, so you are stuck in that aspect."
"Um how old would I be?"
"Lilith was around twenty-five. You know very little, so I can help teach you some things here."
"I plan to put her into the school."
"Lord Sullivan, she is too old to be in school."
"None since."
"Other were only that old because they aged slower."
"Hold up, school? I did my time as a human."
"Yes, but I must ensure my granddaughter has the best education for a demon. Go on, choose how you will look."
School, what in the actual hell is this. I took a breath, on the vanity was a set of vials with names. Green, blue, yellow, and purple hair colors. Same for nails and eyes, but black was added.
I grinned. "It is like building a character. Green hair, that one is happening. Oh, and purple eyes. Should I do green or black nails? There is purple."
"That is up to you my dear, whatever you choose I will make it permanent."
"Um, I will go black, a neutral color. It is not like I cannot paint them, right?" Opera nodded.
I lined the vials up, drinking one at a time. Each one tasted worse than the last. I felt so nauseous afterward. My head was patted, I looked up in the mirror at the new reflection. They had all worked. Sullivan chanted words I did not understand. A light under his hand flashed and my body glowed in and out.
"This will be permanent. You do not have to worry about it wearing off or someone using a potion on you to change you back. Welcome to the Netherworld, Viola. Get some rest for today, Tomorrow Opera will help you with figuring out your rank."
"My rank?"
"Yes, we demons are under a ranking system. Ten is the highest. I am ranked nine, Naberius Kalego, Shichiro Balam is ranked eight. As of now, you have no rank."
"I am being sincere when I say this, but why is it so important?"
"It decides everything from the quality of food you can have to your popularity and wealth. Rank decides your life as a demon."
"Then I thank you for this opportunity to claim a rank for myself."
"You're welcome deary. Just do your best and I will always be proud of you. I must go now; I must enroll you in school and come up with a good back story for you." I nodded. He and opera left the room.
With how crazy this last our had been my last thought was Eli, he was home someone who was not me. What might she do to him? Was he gone forever, never to be with him again? They must be a way to cross if she did so herself. Goal: get strong enough to get back to Eli.