Trust; [Personal]Quest Pt 1 - Preparations.
Ash sported a spiked collar, and Desman a plain red one. Neujmin told them he picked something that would best represent their personalities but wouldn’t tell them what they were meant to represent. Ash decided to dub them as they were, explaining to Desman that he thought that the only defining feature to the human was his bright red hair and otherwise he was pretty plain in their demon master’s eyes. She also explained, loudly, that her’s was spiked because clearly, Neujmin thought she was a prick.
When she asked if she was close, he just smiled a wicked grin that let them both know she was pretty spot on. Or at least he faked it good enough before waving his arm and them off on their own.
If anyone asked, they were to show their tags. She was examining her’s at the moment in the reflection of a random store’s window. ‘Cunt/Bitch.’ was written in her name’s line, which only furthered her theory about this whole thing. It also had Neujmin’s name in the owner’s line and then a series of pictographs that probably was some special code for the citizens of Dis. It was as good as greek to her. A glance at Desman’s just had his name.
“Is this the shop you want to go into?” Desman asked from behind her, after admiring her butt for a bit. She had stuck it out innocently enough… Ash was in normal clothing today, tight booty shorts, long socks under converse brand shoes, and a very loose tee shirt that fell over her shoulder and showed off the lack of bra. By now this human knew she rarely wore such a thing.
“No. Just looking at my tag.” She said honestly, she rotated the collar for comfort despite it unable to be loosened at all.
“What’s it say?” He asked curiously, began to look now at his own. He barely got to read his name before someone from the other side ripped open the curtains that were the background to the display and gave Desman the meanest look before shooing him away like he was some punk ass who was loitering. This made him pull back abruptly and Ash laugh.
He was glad she was enjoying his embarrassment…
“Let’s go.” He said as he ushered her along.
-
Ash stopped in front of several shops, all of them with a display of at least three dresses that ranged from Renaissance fair to prom night. Evening gowns, mermaid, princess cut, ballroom gowns. To make it worse, she couldn’t decide on anything. She was afraid she’d use all their time up just trying to get an idea of what she wanted.
The morality mirrored humanoid turned to her very human companion. “How about you go find something to wear on your own, we can meet up later?” She offered.
Desman hesitated but could see this would take a long while. “Sure.. but I was waiting to see what you picked to pick mine out.”
Ash bit her lip at his explanation, it had been completely logical and an acceptable ‘but’. She had just been trying to save time. Though in reality, they had tons of it. The masquerade party wasn’t until late in the evening. “Then... Maybe we can start with our masks. Should we go find a shop that sells those?”
Desman smiled and nodded happily, then began to lead the way.
-
After browsing yet another dozen stores and vendors with carts, they found a little place with a sign that advertised masks specifically. It was a hanging wooden plaque with the most simple handwriting, and when it swung in the wind it got everyone’s attention. Just past the hidden entrance were purple satin curtains, and a very small room lit with candles. An old woman sat at the only available place, stroking a black and orange cat. It meowed at their arrival and then was patient as its owner watched them look at the many masks on display.
Ash and Desman eventually made their way over to the woman to ask if she had any recommendation, but before they could get a word out a crooked old finger came up and pointed to the more demonic of the two. “If you have no one to share the fruits of your labor at the end of all this, you can not claim to win. Your ambitions are titanic, but I can tell you tie no bows around the company you keep. Prepare for a lonely life where there is no trust for you…”
When she was done, there was a very long pause, full of awkward silence. She almost expected her to point Desman out and give him the same treatment, but she never did. The demon’s eyes shift to the human before they come back to her. By then the old woman’s eyes peeled back to reveal slitted eyes fit for a snake or a cat. It was lime green and it stared deep into her.
Desman decided to clear his throat to break the silence. In a flash, the bright green eyes were on him. “Yes, kind sir? Would you like to purchase a mask from I?”
“Y-Yes Please Ma’am” The way she spoke to Ash had put the poor guy on edge, and those eyes, the way they stared, he definitely wouldn’t want to be here if she had been the one to approach him.
“Of course you do, why else would you be in my shop?” He watched as she attempted a warm smile, her teeth sharp and jagged like a steak knife. “You… You are a good man.” She said, then began to stroke her cat once more. “Truffles here will pick you out the perfect mask.” She promised, then gave the cat a pat on the butt. Surely enough the black and orange cat pulled free of his owner’s arms and began to seek out a single mask for him out of however many hung on the walls and were displayed in the cases.
First, the feline went up, rising higher and higher on the shelves; Truffles even glanced back at Desman specifically every couple of minutes to keep a link with the ideal mask owner. He rose, and then the kitty decided he was too high. The mask for Desman had to be lower. So low that in fact, the cat escaped the sight of everyone in the store for a few moments as they ticked along. A while later the cat carried a mask in its mouth to its owner.
The shopkeeper took it, petting Truffles and praising him with ‘good boys’ and ‘who’s my baby?’ as she did. When the caretaker pulled the mask up she had to clean off the dust, but there was a jester-like pattern one cheek was bright red, the other gold, and clear stones traced the edges of the mask.
It was clearly male, it had a high forehead which can be covered by his hair or Desman’s hair could be pulled back out of his face. “Yes.. yes. Truffles is best judge.” She said, offering it to him with another attempt at a nice smile.
“So… How much is it?” He asked, slowing taking the mask out of her hand before holding it up to his ace.face. As he looked into the mask he’d note a shimmer against the gold lining that was attached to the inside of the bone hard material.
“Nothing. That is your mask.” She said, nodding. The human was amazed by the idea of getting something for free, she had just the words to put his mind at ease though. “Good people get good things.” She hummed and went back to petting the cat which has already climbed back into the weak curl of her arms. “You go now, have great night.”
Desman smiled and nodded, but then turned over to Ash. “But... What about my friend?”
The lime green eyes with slits flick over to the demoness. “No. I have no mask for her. She has plenty of her own.” She warned, cryptically.
Ash did not look amused by all this before she turned to Desman. “Let’s just go, I can just make my own.” She said softly, then began to push him towards the door. Desman tried to argue but had nothing to say so he allowed her to push him out of the odd shop.
-
There was a cafe they’d passed while window shopping, Ash decided to set up shop there. “I guess red and gold is our colors then.” She mentioned, looking at the mask. She can work with that. She could wear pink and gold, which would be fine because one of those colors was her favorite. “If we separate now we can get our clothes in order. Wanna meet back here in about two hours?”
“I guess there really isn’t much time left to do the shopping together… so I guess that’s the plan.” He smiled sheepishly at her, the truth was he wanted to stay with her, but if he couldn’t really disagree with her either.
Ash nodded and then stood which made Desman stand in concern. She made sure the mask was tucked under his arm and then for his sake, she pulled the taller man down so she could kiss him on the cheek. “See you in a couple of hours.” She promised him before leaving him to go off on her own.
Trust; [Personal]Quest Pt 2 - Setting of the Stage.
Desman waited at the door, apparently told to do so by Ash. He tried to argue, especially since he wasn’t able to see her for nearly the whole afternoon. He impatiently stood in his suit and mask, his long red coat picking up the stray puffs of wind, a gold line running along about half a cm away from the trim. The rest of his outfit consisted of equally red pants, a gold button up shirt, and, of course, his mask. The only thing that didn’t fit was his shoes, but he assumed no one would be staring at them, and if they were they wouldn’t look up as they would be to busy staring at their own feet. His choice of outfit probably wasn’t the most formal, but anyone who saw him in it probably wouldn’t have forgotten it in a hurry, not that matters anyway…
’Try not to get any blood on it, maybe we could use it later…’
A sudden chill ran up his spine as he tried to look for who spoke, but when he couldn’t find anyone he just continued waiting...
As guest after guest passed his form distantly, not yet ignoring him but not yet acknowledging him either. They laughed and entertained themselves with closed off conversations while they waited to enter the gate to their last party. Various creatures with horns, not horns, eyes, not eyes, spikes, not spikes, fins, not fins, scales, and not scales walked past him. But he was looking for a unique pair of horns, a gorgeous set of onyx black horns that curved perfectly close to the skull, allowing just enough room for silver rings. Five of them. Split unevenly between two brows.
He wondered for a moment if he should look for the typical wave of black raven feather soft hair that fell perfectly around her head as well, but then guessed she would also be wearing that in a unique way.
It wasn’t the men gawking at the incoming woman of appealing features that caught the male’s attention, as they were silent. But the jealous scoffs and bitter spite that passed through painted lips in whispers caught his attention right away. How did he know who would be on the end of that hate?
Desman looked past his mask’s eye holes and joined the young men to look surprised, his jaw coming down to express his surprise.
Ash’s gown was of pink silk, folded and stitched to perfectly mimic roses bundled together around her legs, or at least the convincing illusion that it did before a smooth layer nearly covered it completely. An eighth of the top layer missing to show of the detailed skirt. What actually was under the princess style skirt no one would know. Except maybe him. There was a beading line that connected the skirt to the sweetheart top. Also babydoll pink in color but shiny silk which folded and clung to her tomboyish form, giving her more defined curves than ever. Around her throat was the collar, but decorated with a string of pink pearls that nearly choked her. The second necklace of intricate gold, ruby, and pink crystal. The pendant looked like pieces of a broken glass heart put together to make a pair of wings. It sat on her bare skin just above the neckline of the corset style top.
As a sailor of the seas Desman was very aware of what this change of winds meant. Something big was blowing into town. Each step the Storm Demon made towards him only instilled the confirmation that it was her. She applied an amount of pressure upon his heart naturally, but in her wake, she pulled along the jealous looks of women and the envious glares of men towards his direction. She smiled behind the half mask that fit between the space of her horns and her brows. “What do you think?” She asked, but it was written all over his face.
‘Y-you look amazing…’ he thought his eyes darting over her attractive features in awe, taking it all in before he realized how dumb and simple that sounded. He could do better than that.
Desman cleared his throat. “You look extravagant as always my lady.” His tone was one of mock-poshness as looped his arm around her tightly. “Shall we go inside?”
-
Ash stood in the arm of the man she came to the party with, next to the blood fountain and the various comical looking cookies and cakes at the snack bar. It looked like your typical homemade party refreshments that your mom torture you with to make for a party that you are pretty sure no one cares what the food looks like. But it's Halloween and a great deal of effort has to be poured into these amateur looking treats. It was anyone’s guess as to what ingredients went into these, or if the fingers were human or demon.
The demoness was contemplating on cannibalism from behind her baby pink fan if only to say she’s tried it while Desman stood watching the people mingle. It would seem the color scheme of his mask worked well into the favored one among the guests. In fact, his companion stood out in her pink than he did in his bright red. There were black dresses, red dresses, and a gathering of many other shades of darkness and blood. He didn’t know why he was so surprised though, considering the thematics of hell falling under the same color wheel.
The styles of the dresses faired between pretty petal-like texture that reminded him of lilies, gorgeous gowns that made him think of old fashion balls, prom dress levels of skirts and tops that gave him unpleasant glimpses back into school, and skimpy little things that made him wonder for another time why Ash chose to wear something that actually covered everything but her back and her arms.
He turned to her, his eyes falling upon the near air-bound raven that was painted into her skin with surgical hands and impossible to wash off ink. He wondered what the story behind it was a thousand times, but has yet to ask. Which he will most likely go on for a long time still without knowing as now was not really the time to talk about body art. It has crossed his mind a time or two to ask about the piercings as well and a multitude of other things about the woman he’s fallen deeply in love with.
Love?
Did he really just think that?
He immediately looked away, his cheeks as red as his mask..
Ash was about to slide her fingers from his hand to partake in the pleasantries of food when a shadow washed over her and the food. She looked over her shoulder at a tall dead looking figure with red eyes set straight on her, his horns pulled out to the side and raised to the sky where they made a peak over his dull red hair that hung to his knees. She found him unappealing and hid her disdain behind a smile that was hidden behind her fan. “Yes?”
“You have an interesting taste in body art.” He said, his voice long and drawn out.
“You mean the bird?”
“Yes.”
“Do you know what they call a group of crows?”
“No.” His dead eyes look at her like she was a cupcake. Accurately covered in pink fluffy frosting.
“Murder.” She said, with a giggle.
His smile turned creepy as he let out a very insane chuckle. “That is humorous.”
“I thought you’d like that.”
“Is it a gang sign then?”
“No.”
“Then why?”
“Because black sheep cannot fly.”
The same creepy chuckle barked from his twisted lips. “Do you have wings?”
“No. Not the traditional kind.”
“Traditional is such a dull word…”
“Isn’t it?”
Desman watched from the corner of her arm, amazed by how quickly she seemed to fit in.
“Indeed.” The man’s eyes turned to the actual food. “What is your favorite?”
“I haven’t tried any, yet. What do you recommend?”
“What I want to take a bite out of is unfortunately not on that table.” He said, a warmth to his voice as his eyes trail across her skin.
“There is a blood fountain, does that not satisfy your needs?” She asked, starting to lazily fan off his gaze.
“It is not blood that I want, no.” His eyes come back to her’s. Or what he could look at as eyes. “Something more.”
“How much more, what about the desired meal is so exciting for you?”
“I want to sink my teeth into a beautiful young woman’s flesh. The supple, firm, yet soft flesh on her breasts are always the most satisfying.”
“Maybe later you can itch that scratch. But tonight I have a date.” She said, motioning the fan to Desman. “He has already laid claim to my breast. Perhaps another night?”
“I’d be delighted..” He said, licking his lips before picking up one of the fingers and heading away.
The human at this point looked over at her, jealousy rising in his chest. “Ash-”
“Desman. By the end of the night, he will be dead.” She said, in the most deadpan voice possible. “And even if that weren’t true, I have no interest in him.” She glanced up at him, her serious face cementing it to be true. He found it impossible at that moment to doubt her. “Now guard me again while I try this food.”
“Do you really think that’s blood?”
“I know it is.” She said, stuffing the fan into her cleavage and grabbing what looked like a cookie. She examined it and sniffed at it but could not figure out what was inside. She decided the best way to get into the middle of it was to take a big bite.
It snapped in her mouth like a normal cookie, and from the instant, it touched her pierce tongue she could have sworn it was nothing but a simple gingersnap cookie. When she looked at the cross-section though she noticed a very obvious fat baked grub in it. As well as half an almond. “Huh.” She said, before finishing it off.
Desman flinched, but she just grabbed another treat, this time what looked like a brownie. When she bit into it she found it to be very moist. In fact, it was filled. Or it so it felt. When she pulled it back to examine the insides an eye stared back at her. Unblinking. It was partially bitten into and it threatened to fall out of the soft dough and onto her dress. What exactly kind of eye it was, they’d never know and she didn’t care. She took another bite of it and after a second one, it was down. Desman could have been sick…
“Please don’t eat the finger..” He begged, his stomach turning.
“Fine.” She promised, then pulled him along to a more savory looking plate. It looked like pieces of chicken or some other bird. She imagined it to be that stupid harpy and immediately snatched up a piece to pop the horderve into her mouth and eat it as madly as she could. For good measure, she asserted herself as the top of the food chain by taking another one. “We should probably take care of business sooner than later.” She said before popping what looked like cheese into her mouth. Instantly she knew it not to be cheese. She swallowed regardless.
“How soon? The party just started.” Desman asked, trying to ignore what it could be that Ash was eating.Trying not to imagine anything but regular chicken and crackers.
“We need to lock the doors. Cut off all exits.” Ash said, popping something that resembled fruit into her mouth.
“That seems a bit excessive.”
“Neujimin wants us to be the only people that walk out of here.”
“What about the cooks? The maids? They didn’t do anything wrong.”
“It doesn’t matter. We are here to make a statement. Not friends.”
Desman was silence as he watched her take another fruit piece. He admitted in his utter silence that he was hungry now, too. But he dared not partake in the snacks. “I’m not sure I can do this..” He said, turning his eyes back on her.
For a moment he saw two Ash’s. One that smiled, and one that glared at him. They spoke at the same time and with the same words, but with different tones and faces. “Desman, don’t you want to be a hero? Even in hell? You heard our Master, these people ruined his life and many others’. You’re going to let them keep doing that?”
Desman was so confused by what he was hearing and seeing that he wasn’t sure what to say. He rubbed his eyes and looked again, and Ash was back to normal. She looked back at him, concerned. “What? Yes... But.”
“But nothing, Desman. This is how we get out of the Underverse. Or do you want to stay here forever?”
He blinked but looked away. “No... I want to get you out of here.” There was a bit of silence before Ash slid her arms around his back, up his shoulders and pulled herself to his level with a gentle smile. He looked down with hot cheeks once more.
“Desman..” She whispered sleepily, leaning in and touching her lips against his. He felt her cold ring and kissed back but she pulled away at any sign of deepening the kiss. He looked disappointed. She laughed cruelly at him but spoke to soothe his pride’s burn. “I just ate, we can finish this later..” She said it without saying it, that she understood he didn’t want to subject himself to what she’d eaten. She then lowered herself back onto the heels she wore. “I’ll take care of set up, just meet me on the dance floor in less than an hour.”
“Okay..” The human said, watching as she slipped out of his grasp once more before vanishing in the sea of crimson and coal.
Desman began to circle the dance floor after only thirty minutes, nothing out of the ordinary appeared to be happening. At least nothing beyond what he imagined was normal for a party full of unsuspecting demons. He watched as couples pulled away and began to make out against the walls. He felt himself swaying with the music and he wondered if Ash would dance with him before the carnage began.
While he wasn't particularly watching, where he was going in his rhythmic ways, Desman ran right into someone. His reflexes reacted without his knowledge as he grabbed both her and the trey she was carrying and most of the hors-d'oeuvres that were planted perfectly spaced on the silver serving instrument.
In his arms, he held a tiny woman stood. In fact, it all looked like a setup for a dance scene the two practiced over and over. She was clearly albino, porcelain skin, ruby red eyes with powder pink sclera. Her frosty white hair pushed back to expose the small horns which curve back behind her ears. He looked deep into the gems of her eyes before she flinched back, expecting something worse than just curiosity from the human.
“Are you okay?” Desman asked, he couldn't’ help himself. His heart was good.
She was still half cowering under his gaze. “Yes, sir.” She stared at the ground and squeezed the edges of her fully frilled maid’s outfit. He noted the grey stockings that crawled up into the skirt.
He laughed nervously. “Sir?” He then lowered the tray to hand to her.
“Yes, sir. You are a guest in master’s festivities.” She said, still looking down. She had no idea he was offering her tray.
“That’s a bit formal for just a guest, isn’t it?” He chuckled, lifting her chin up to look into her eyes again. She hesitated but returned the notion. He smiled. “What’s your name?”
“Esmeralda.” She said, as politely as she could be. “It’s my pleasure.” She said, lifting her skirt, dipping her head, and bowing to him in a curtsy. “Sir.”
Desman smiled back, then gave a very exaggerated bow, bringing the tray back behind him quickly as he did. “De-”
He felt the weight of the serving platter leave his hand before he heard the low tons of it plate hitting the ground repeatedly. The food, all of it, sounded wet as it hit the polished stone floor. Of course, it was none other than the master of the house that was hit by the platter, and now wore half of it on her face.
Desman quickly tried to shield Esmeralda from her wrath by stepping between them. “I’m sorry, Madam, I-”
The portly woman crossed the small space very quickly and snatched the albino’s horn and yanked her closer. “You!” She jerked her around, the human trying to step between them but finding no purchase. “You’ve been nothing but trouble since our master has purchased you! How dare you lollygag about when you’ve been tasked with work!”
“Ma’am, please. It was I who-” He tried to interrupt, holding his hands up defensively for her sake.
The eyes on this woman when she glared at him could turn just about anyone he knew into stone. “What’s this? The mongrel here’s found a friend?” She sounded snotty as she shoved the girl away. “And who are you? I don’t remember inviting a human.”
“Well..” He gulped. ‘Good job Desman, Ash will kill you…’
“Madam Lasuraa, pl-”
The sound of skin against skin echoed into every corner of the house. Silence followed, and Desman could hear the tension hanging in the air after the slap. The demons in the area smelt blood, they wanted to watch Esmeralda's crucifixion. He had to do something…
Before he could act, the younger female rolled into the position of a maid, bowing her head to the older woman. “My most sincere apologies, mistress. I was mingling with the guest instead of doing what was expected of me. Please, I beg for forgiveness, even if I do not deserve it.”
This somehow worked. As the white hair fell toward the floor and curtained her sad eyes, the wealthy demon’s anger melted away. Desman felt the urge to defend her once more but slowly understood there were steps that were necessary. He didn’t like it, but he stayed silent.
“You don’t deserve it.” Lasuraa cried out with the dramatics of a snob. Her purple fat rippling as she smiled and turned to her guest. Then she turned back to the girl. “Now pick up this mess!” The girl flinched under her words. “AND GET BACK TO WORK!” She yelled, a tendril of liquid shadow ripped through reality and grabbed the girl by the throat, choking her Lasuraa willed it to yank her to the ground, face into the fancy creepy snacks. A roar of laughter erupted at Esmeralda’s expense, but she politely took it for a long moment before the tentacle released her and her master’s main pet walked away.
It took another moment longer before Desman could even think about rushing to the girl’s side, the laughter didn’t stop and they grinned down at the poor albino demon as she slowly scooped up the food to pile on her tray. When they were finally bored with her humiliation he was on his knees reaching for the furthest away scraps of food.
Esmeralda gasped, glancing around and then grabbing his wrist. “Sir. You have to stop.” She whispered, making eye contact with him.
“I can’t. It feels like this is my fault.”
“Sir, you are a guest.”
“You got hurt because of me. Please just let me help.” He looked away.
The demoness looked around and then nodded. “Quickly.”
In the next moment, they were walking to the kitchen. He was not allowed in, but he waited patiently at the door. He could hear some clanging, yelling, and finally some whimpering. He wanted nothing but to go in and see what it was, but when she slipped out, he noticed right away. She clutched her hand with a rag, it was already soaking through with violet liquid. Which matched the small bit on her white cheek that spilled out from a small cut.
She couldn’t look at him, but he pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket and dabbed at the wound, ignoring the common sense that explained there were worse things. As soon as he began, she let out a sob, bit her lip, and then hissed as tears rolled down her cheek and into her fresh wound.
Esmeralda turned her back to the party and softly cried in the corner, trying to bear what she could. Whispering to herself. “Soon… Soon I can be rid of this and go home…” Desman approached again. “Stop…” She turned to look at him with her wounded cheek. “Please… I appreciate your concern, but I have to get back to work.”
“S-Sure…” Desman whispered, then pulled his hand back, trying to ignore now the sound of a baby crying in the back of his mind. He wasn’t sure where it was coming from, he just knew it had something to do with the end of tonight. In a daze, he returns to his patrol.
Quest; [Personal]Trust - Part 3 - Ballad of Blood: The Massacre Ball
The most recent song was coming to a slow end, and he glanced around once more. Desman spotted the pink before her bruised colored skin, but then as she entered the dance floor he was immediately drawn to her. Her fan brushed stray hairs away from her smiling masked face.
The human approached the dressed up Storm Demon, walking in a daze this night has put him in. He reached her as a hauntingly dramatic waltz began, the big band in the corner twisting the atmosphere to perfection. Though even Desman had no idea what the woman that was about to be in his arms had done. She dipped politely while lifting her skirt, he acknowledged it with a small bow. Their bodies came forward, her hand over his shoulder and his around her back. The other hands wind together elegantly.
Desman noticed the weight of something in his hand immediately, but she smiled back. “Shh.” She warned him before properly backing up and forcing him to start the dance.
After the forced start, Desman lead. In the back of his mind, he wondered what was in his hand, but every glance towards the intertwined palms showed nothing. Slowly he let it go, that’s when it became most relevant though. In a flash of movement, Ash forced his hands towards the back of a young woman. A second later her pale orange blood arched in the air as they twirled, she gasped.
They were already onto the next victim, a man of regal stance, he dipped her and Ash slashed across his lower back, deep and fast and cutting into the bone. Hot vibrant green blood spilled across the dance floor but Desman was already picking her up and leading her to the next victim of her silent blade. She was tossed out at his arm’s length and her’s additionally. The swirling magic of the fusion already threading them together. He watched as her hand flung into a random man’s chest. The demon stumbled back into the crowd while Desman yanked his date back into his arms. Bringing the unseen blade out of the unsuspecting chest, slathering his bright yellow blood across the crowd as she flicked it perfectly while they came into each other again.
“What is the meaning of this?” He asked sharply as he squeezed her by the wrist this time. She gasped naturally as he handled her roughly but then smirked up at him. “Just doing a job, Des.” She teased, licking her lips. He felt his face fire up once more and tried to continue with the dance. He heard screams begin to erupt from around them, and he watched another arc of brightly colored fluid fly through the air, another girl. Another victim.
He looked up at the last second, twisting his head to try to see her work, but she brought it back to face her and grinned. “Don’t look at anyone but me, Desman.” She said, then began to pull him in closer for another kiss. Before their lips touched, the light exploded from their chest. Filling the room with a rainbow worth of rays.
It caught everyone’s attention. Those who have abandoned the dance floor and were seeking exit but found bolted doors that wouldn’t budge no matter how hard they tugged. Those who clung to their companions in fear of what mystery was going on. And even those who fanned the fainted and tried to stop the bleeding.
All party going guests and hosts looked up towards the center of the room where two lights swirl together before bursting apart, glittering orbs of color falling around one figure. Black Ash stood where two had, smiling a bright grin of delight. “Darlings…” He purred, his outfit a dress much like Ash’s but with Desman’s high collared jacket. “It’s time to die.” In his hand delicately hung the Quil as he waved it around like an orchestra master when he realized the music had some to a holting stop. “Don’t stop the music on my account.” He said, instructing the band to keep playing as he closed the distance. When he was sure they would continue, he turned around, pushing the blade out of sight. “Now… where were we?”
Around him, faces were full of disgust and fear. Above him came voices, frantic and panicked. “There’s no way out!” Echoed several men, upstairs came voluminous bangs as if someone was trying to open a door or window with all their might. It sounded like thunder, it smelt like desperation, fear, and victory...
Black Ash just smiled harder. “Ah yes…” He said, reaching under the full princess ball gown and revved the engine of something dangerous. From his pillow like folds of the dress, he freed the Ultramarine’s Chainsword, Invictus, and cocked a cynical grin. “I was blowing off a bit of steam.” He taunted, then began to laugh in dark humor.
The first swing caught the body of a young an beautiful girl with full lips and small horns in a maids outfit. She stood up and turned around at the last moment, forcing his aim to hit her side instead of her neck. There was a fraction of a moment when recognition of Esmeralda made the fusion hesitate, her desires and hopes for an easy night before being able to return home echoed in the darkness of a faded, fuzzy and distance memory. Her tears and humiliation the only headstone she’d recieve. She would received no mercy from the stronger personality, and a small inner voice choked on his tears as the teeth in the blade bit away fiber after fiber in her tiny body. With her last breath she screamed her enthralling agony before death snatched her away.
Violet blood soared across the dance floor, across the faces of those who watched in horror, just as unable to take their eyes off of her as they had before. No one was laughing.
When the broken body fell, there was a moment of pure white silence. Then all at once, it hit everyone and they screamed with all their lungs before trying to escape the madman in the baby-doll pink dress. He grinned a devil’s smile while the chainsaw laughed in his place. He took a steady step towards a maid who’s been paralyzed by fear, in one swoop her head came off and danced as high as the chandelier.
Scattering like animals wouldn’t save them, with a glance the demonic fusion captured what he needed. He raced the opposite way of the crowd at a twisted gargoyle statue, did a front flip onto the face of the statue, then used especially toned legs launched himself into the crowd, swinging wildly and cutting down several delicate-featured girls, and one lanky man.
He twisted in the air to land on a pillar to do it again, aiming a little higher. He cut off three heads that time and aimed his momentum and ambitions even higher. Up into the open air staircase where he frightened a plumper demon into fainting. A man came between him and her, but the blade on Invictus was too fine. Black Ash did an over the top twirl as he swung the chainsword, the motion taking the torn off torso with him and tossing it over the banister into the crowds below. It was more than big enough to crush one of the guests’ heads into the floor while he soared into the sky past the chandelier and higher into the castle.
-
The crystal chandelier spun slowly on the chain, tilted by the weight of the man on its outer rim. Red Devil’s Quil in his hand yet again, Invictus buried in a pile of bodies. Black Ash was looking at every corner of the place one more time, daring something to move. Shadows rocked across the cotton candy-colored blood coated walls, looking more like a game of paintball exploded in the middle of the gorgeous house. The tagger in Ash made Black Ash proud of the vivid colors that ran down the walls and pooled across the floor.
He leaped from the chandelier and onto the second floor. He walked through each room, collecting his things. He’d lost his Claw in the bathroom, his chainsaw in the hall, his earrings in the eyes of a man, his necklace in the throat of a woman, and his glass slipper in the skull of a prince.
In the silence of death you could hear a pin drop, so when he heard something metal clatter against the floor in a serving room he politely walked over and pushed open the door casually to see the dry red-haired man from before, desperately holding a woman Black Ash didn’t recognize so much as he knew was the owner of the house. Lasuraa whimpered as he choked the life out of her, her eyes bulging from her skull. She was apparently trying to fight for her life, but he held her aloft from the floor in a way that her feet couldn’t find purchase. She flopped heavily against the floor trying to break whatever was cutting off the air supply.
“Come now..” Black Ash’s voice hit a lower octave, full of pity. This scared the man shirtless as he dropped the woman and flung himself to the wall. She gasped and begged for air. “What do you even mean to accomplish by killing her? Last minute revenge?”
“I thought she might be who you are after! If she is dead, you will leave me alone!”
Black Ash had to restrain himself, pulling the fan from his coat pocket and flicking it open to hide his smile at the creep’s misunderstanding. “Darling! You slay me!” He giggled. “Why on earth would I have slaughtered hundreds of people if I was after but one…?”
“YOU ARE AN ASSASSIN SENT HERE TO KILL HER AREN’T YOU?” He screamed, eyes wide, his panic driving him mad.
“If you honestly believe that, you are worse at figuring things out as you are flirting.” He snarked.
“I would nev-” He stopped, looked at the body of the dress and then back into Black Ash’s eyes. “Who are you?”
“I am the champion of destiny... But you can call me Death.” He taunted from behind his fan, before flicking the blade deep into the man’s Adam’s Apple. As the undead colored demon fought vainly against death, feeling the most uncomfortable pulling sensation from the blade in his throat, he watched the man snap the fan back to closed position and walk over to the woman. He looked unamused by her out of breath pleading but waited until she looked up at him. “No thanks, I already have all the power and wealth I could want.” Before he struck her with his remaining glass slipper into the front of her mouth.
Black Ash eventually strung her up using the Claw’s braid and waiting until they were both dead from asphyxiation. When she stopped kicking he dropped her on the floor. Collecting the rope again and tying it to the hip of the dress, he yanked the blade from the man’s dried out throat so that he landed on top of her. He grinned to himself and headed back downstairs.
Defusion was less dramatic as Fusion was, but by the time Black Ash reached the last stair he was back to Desman Black and Ash; The Storm Demon. The human looked around at the confetti colors that stained the walls like an artist’s paint collection exploded due to pressure and heat, he felt an enormous weight of dread and pity settle in his heart. He glanced over at Ash, but she was already in the middle of a wardrobe change. The pink rose themed outfit fell away in shreds of light.
She wore a tight pink floral shirt that only went 3/4ths down her body. Over that a plain grey zip-up hoodie, a black pair of booty shorts, and plain pink sneakers. Her hair come undone and fell around her shoulders. She straightened the jacket and stuffed her hands in its pockets. She glanced over at Desman who just stared for a long time. “Are you going to be alright?” She asked a sense of professionalism in her voice. Maybe if he was paying attention he would have noticed how comfortable with this she was.
“Y-Yeah...” He forced out of his mouth.
“Master probably didn’t expect it to go so fast.. If you want to... We can go out and do something together.” Ash offered.
“N-No… I just… I need a moment to myself.” He said, not even looking up at her.
There was a long silence that hung in the room. It lasted for hours in Desman’s mind, Ash was just contemplating on the consequences of leaving him alone. He could snap.. He could crack… Or he could come out of it just fine. “I’ll hang around town then, we can go back to master in the morning.” She said, sure he’d tell her if he needed her.
The Regrets of a Robot
Desman sat in the darkroom, alone except for the bodies that littered the floor. Desman obviously felt bad for them, but he made his decision before he got here, all he could do now was pay his respects, and so he did.
For what would have seemed like an eternity to an outside watcher, the man just stayed there, back against the wall, silent and unmoving; one could almost mistake him for being one of the newly dead. But eventually he got up, a blank stare covering his face as he moved through the ocean of bodies to the back wall, the silent of the night only amplifying the mood.
He stared at his destination for a few good minutes, summoning a black spray can to write one final message.
And with that he walked solemnly out of the building, locking the door behind him.
The air outside was nippy. It wasn’t an unreasonable amount to manage, but bothersome all the same. It would probably be warmer in a bar, the place he wanted to go that way he could drink himself away unless there was some complication. There was always a complication with him…
But on he walked, Eventually coming to a busier part of the city. Despite the fact he had just murdered a room full of people, nobody bat an eye at him, it was somehow both terrifying and calming. It scared him how easy it was to get away with something like that, but it also meant no one had found out about it, yet.
His eyes were then drawn to a sign; ‘Alexandra’s Bar & Bistro’. That seems like the place he wanted to go, and so inside he went. There was only one thing that Desman could tell was immediately off about this place, well, except for the demons but you got used to them. The biggest thing off about the place was that nobody was sitting at the bar, only the bistro section. Desman thought nothing of it as he approached and planted his bum on a stool, it didn’t take long for the bartender to notice.
“What type of Drink do you want.” He expression was cold and monotone, it made Desman will a little nervous.
“Sc-Screwdriver please.”
“Sure, coming right up.” The man pace was slow and methodical, like he no emotion, though in this place maybe he didn’t.
“Care to buy a lady a drink too?” A stranger’s sweet voice came from behind, prompting Desman to look up.
The mysterious female was tall and pretty, her blond hair covering one of her amber eyes and going all the way down to her calf on her back, and to just under her breasts at the foundation. Her pale white skin was covered in reds pinks and black that had the same color scheme as her fairy-like wings.
“S-Sure.” He said, staring at her for probably a little more than appropriate. “MAKE THAT TWO PLEASE!” The human shouted across the bar, only a minute or two had passed before the bartender came back to give both of them their drinks, Desman didn’t notice how little time had passed through as the two of them were already in conversation.
“So, what are you doing here?” Desman asked, not expecting to see anyone like her in a bar.
“What’s sweet little ol’ me doing in a place like this? Well, the ones that use the whole ‘Underworld’ gimmick are not actually that good with their drinks.” She said bluntly.
“I meant what are you doing in a bar at all…”
“Well you look like never had a single drink in your life, would you tell me why you're at a bar?”
“P-point taken…” he said, glancing in the completely opposite direction to where her eyes were.
The girl was the one who decided to cut through the awkward silence. “Hey, I know the best spot in this building, want to check it out?”
“S-Sure…” Before Desman could even say his second word the fairy was already pulling him, and his drink, away from the bar. It wasn’t till they got halfway up a flight of stairs that he started to question the girl. “Where are we going? Are you sure we’re allowed up here?”
“Of course we are, I’m Alex, the owner of this of this place.” She said pulling him closer to her. “There’s only one thing you need to know when you're in here with me, I’m not so sweet.” She quickly turned around and pushed him into the wall, the surprise making Desman drop the glass, a loud crash echoing throughout the building.
“What was that?” A newbie to the bar asked as he got his drink.
“Probably a rat.” The barkeep said nonchalantly, knowing full well what was happening.
“Now shut up and let me kiss you.” The fairy said, back upstairs and getting her face closer to his. “You're less cute when your talking”.
Storm Demon’s Playground
Ash wandered about for an hour before she settled on a place. A building that had flashing lights announcing it was a pub. A modern beautiful shit hole with blaring music, and a posse of whores trying to get past the bouncer. She slid in while he was too busy staring down at their begging body language.
Ash headed straight to the bar, flopping on a rounded seat next to another humanoid demon. The bartender was a combination of squid and snail, and when he asked her what she wanted she called for coke and rum. She got it, heavy on the rum despite her feelings of it. She liked it and took a long drink before holding her fingers up for two more.
“Slow down there little lady.” A voice came from the man beside her, a grin as charming as her’s. “It’s not wise to drink like that alone.”
She rolled her eyes towards him but tipped the glass back just the same before pushing the empty thing over to the bartender. “What makes you think I am alone?”
“Because if you were my girl I wouldn’t let you walk around without me.” He responded quickly, his eyes moving over her like he was examining a fine art piece.
Ash had just wanted to relax, and it crossed her mind to throw the drink in his face. Instead, however, she realized he was hitting on her. She slowly brought the drink to her lips, freshly made and cold against her mouth. She hesitated for a moment before twisting in her seat and crossing her leg so the upper one was within touching distance. “Alright, you have my attention. Now how do you plan to keep it?” She flashed a grin and took another slow drink.
The incubus raised an eyebrow at her question, but he took advantage of the fact that she seemed interested. Slowly, casually deliberate, he moved his hand to her chin before turning her head so he could stare into her eyes. He seemed to be thinking about her question, the cocky grin on his face making it seem like he was searching for the perfect words to hook her. In reality, eye contact was all he needed to read her heart, perusing through it like an open book. Seeing what she wanted, both casual interests and her deepest desires. Time seemed to freeze for a moment as he invaded her soul, but in reality, only a moment went by before he was finished. A sudden sharp chill radiated through her body, remnants of his icy touch the only evidence of his crime. He released her and leaned back, his smile widening as he finally spoke.
“I think it’s you that should be trying to interest me,” he said confidently, hinting that there was something that he now knew.
Dark and smooth, like her drink. He invaded not only her physical space but her soul. She felt as though something very unique happened indeed but was only unconsciously aware of what he did. Her mind raced as fast as her heart, and a calm smile grew across her blue lips. “Is that so?” Her voice came out confident, her tail flicking behind her anxiously.
“Very much so.” The incubus responded, withdrawing some currency from a pouch and setting it onto the bar. More than enough to pay for both of them. “Just when I thought things weren’t going my way, fate has to step in and show me otherwise.”
He stood up, taking a step so that he was behind her, and then place a hand on each of her shoulders. He squeezed them tight, painfully so, and then leaned into her ear.
“I’ve been having a terrible fucking day,” He started, and despite his voice being barely above a whisper there was an aura of malice clearly heard within it, “Come with me and I’ll take it out on you.”
Ash was casual still, she watched him with caution as he lifted himself from the stool and inched out of her field of vision. She could have twisted her head to follow him even then, but she didn’t think she had to. She waited for less than a nanosecond before she felt his hands’ weight against her shoulders, caressing them painfully - fingers digging into her collarbone and making her tense out of reaction, and bite her lip out of pleasure.
She hadn’t planned on going out and finding a friend with benefits today, but it would be rude not to enjoy her time alone. Especially when he was pushing all the right buttons that haven’t even been teased for some time. He felt her relax in his rough touch before she picked up the last of her drinks, downed it as fast as she could, and then slid out of his grip to twist out of her own seat. Her twirl continued in one smooth motion, landing Ash with her hands on his chest as if she was already begging him to take her home. A small smirk on her face betrayed her feelings about this. “What kind of girl do you think I am?” She teased, toying with his chest.
“You’re a caged raven who longs for release as much as I do right now.” The Incubus spoke with confidence, his hand moving up her body and catching the tag on her collar. It glinted in the dim light of the bar, but he didn’t even glance down at it. “Depending on your actions, we may discuss this release as well,” he said, grinning down at her for a moment before suddenly grabbing the collar in his fist. He gave it a cruel twist and yanked her closer.
“Every day is a roll of the dice, we all take chances. Sometimes they turn out good, other times we get… punished.” he said. He held her like that, choking her and not giving a shit, trying to decide what to do with her. As much as he wanted to just drag her into the alley out back and have his way with her, he felt like their relationship deserved a much better first impression. That just wasn’t possible with trash cans and concrete. With that thought, he pulled a business card out of his pocket and stuffed it into her cleavage before shoving her back onto the stool.
“One hour. If you’re late, I’ll assume you’re not interested.” He said, turning and heading for the exit.
-
Ash’s steps stopped in front of what could be considered an address. She had changed her outfit once more to a more simpler oversized shirt that hung off her shoulder, a pink lacy bra strap exposed and announcing her underwear choice. The shirt itself was a storm grey, her hot pants that cupped her ass so tightly that it was like she wasn't wearing anything at all were black and barely showed her shorts. Her sneakers were simple, her socks long and thick and grey.
She pulled the card out again to compare the reality with her expectations. Then she tossed it behind her with abandonment she was best known for and approached the Incubus’ place of dwelling, her tail high with anticipation.
-
Neujmin looked up from some paperwork in his hands as the door opened, what walked through the door was a sight he expected several hours ago, although with a lot less smugness in her walk. Ash was in torn clothes, bruises in the form of disturbingly bright yellow marks branded her body. The most notable ones were around her throat. There were also breaks in her flesh, caused by any number of things that could be found lying around here in the Underverse. His eyes linger a great deal on her exposed skin as he watched her waltz right in. “Yes?”
“Nothing.” She sang, apparently having a good night despite the shape she was in. She swung her ruined collar on her finger as she moved about the desk. She was very aware that she had his attention. “Just thought you’d like to know at least one of your pets are back.” She announced as she slipped behind his desk and leaned against it with her hip on the hard wooden stack of drawers. She tried to pretend that she didn’t just slam her bruise into a hard surface.
“Where’s Desman?” He asked, running his eyes over her still. She was his to oogle after all. He was very aware of the idea that she’d slept with someone, maybe at the party - maybe afterward - maybe during. He has never reached out to her and taken her bait, but now they were alone in his office. She looked very tempting, broken and weakened, even if he doubts she’d fight him.
The Storm Demon noticed how much of a liking he took to her, but continued as if she didn’t. “Somewhere on the other side of town, doing whatever he pleases. We decided to reward ourselves, knowing you wouldn’t be able to properly do it.”
“Is that why you smell like you were the main course in a brothel.” He snapped lazily, his ruby-colored eyes dancing back up to her’s.
“Are you jealous you weren’t invited?” Ash asked as she slides closer, into his personal space and almost into his lap. Her hands ran up his shoulders, and one leg slid beside his thigh before he stopped her. “I thought you just weren’t interested.” She cooed innocently.
Neujmin stared at her long enough that if it were anyone else they might crumble in fear if it were someone like her precious human. There was a war raging inside of him between power and lust. They had horns locked and were just waiting for the balance to tip. “If you are just checking in, then you may go back to your cell. Unless there was something else that brought you to my chambers?”
A grin snapped to life on her face as he called her out on it. “You can see right through me, can you?” She said, then leaned in, past his face and towards the elongated ear that gave off the illusion that it held up his hat most of the time. Her hands twisted on themselves and she wrinkled up his shirt as she sternly whispered. “I want more on Diablo.”
There was a long bit of silence, but they both understood the heaviness of mentioning that name. “What about him?”
“I want to meet him.” She said without hesitation, without much emotion at all. As he expected from her by this point.
“You going to try to seduce him as well?” His voice growing colder.
She giggled, and pulled back, stroking his sharp jaw. “No, that would be stupid.” She said with a smile. “Besides, I’d much rather take your cock.” Then she smiled harder and lowered her jaw so her eyes were in shadow, there was a faint glow where her eyes were. “How about a trade?”
The balance began to shift, Neujmin swallowed dryly. There was a long silence as he debated on how to proceed. His cold eyes looked back with the same solid look of a statue.
Without warning, he reached up into her ebony hair and grabbed locks of it and yanked her off of him. She cried out in pleasure, he ignored this to stand, turn her around, and then with as much force as he wanted to slam her chest down on his desk. He twisted his thick wrist and got a better grip in her hair before tearing away what was left of her lower layers. As expected she didn’t even bother to wash up after taking the last man’s punishment. He didn’t know why, but it turned him on even more. She began to fight back, both knew it was as much of a lie as her words earlier. He smacked her hard across her bruised cheek. Ash let out a soft moan as his hand quickly fished out his hard-on. “I clearly haven’t been disciplining you properly, now I have to show you who is your ‘daddy’.”
From behind the door, a voice could be heard screaming blissfully, along with several nicknacks falling off the desk and crashing into shattered pieces of passion.
-
When he was done, Neujmin left her on the desk to fall back into the chair. He had peeled away layers for the sake of comfort, now his hairy chest was exposed to the elements, his skin glistening with sweat. His breaths came out in heavy pants, his body feeling weak, and his mind 100% clear. He reached past her as if there wasn’t a body bent over his hellwood desk and pulled open small box that hadn’t been allowed to fall off during their activities. He pulls out one of his cigars and leans back finally, inspecting his work while he preps and lights it.
Neujmin turns so he is facing the wall behind them instead of the heavily breathing woman with her ass still sticking up. He let out a deep breath of smoke. “I’ll let you two work off your debt to me. No tricks. No hidden fees. As long as you do favors for me you will get your freedom. If you can pay it off, I’ll get you in.”
He heard her horns scraping against his desk, he imagined her body pulling free of the position he left her in, papers sticking to her sweat covered and bloody chest since the silence was followed up the rustling of papers. “Is this where you ask me to sign a contract with my blood?”
“That’s wholly unnecessary. For one, it's pretty primitive and you have nothing to lose. Secondly, I have plenty of your blood on my desk to forge a signature, Emma.” He said, twisting just far enough to check on her. She was now sitting on his desk, evidence of their coupling probably spreading across the top of his workspace as they spoke. “But let it be known, you can’t just magic up money and pay it off. Actions are worth more than gold down here.”
“What about sex?” Ash asked bluntly.
“As good as it was, I won’t accept sexual favors as a means of payment. Besides, Desman might get a bit upset.” Neujmin took another drag. “Speaking of which. If he doesn’t show up within a few hours I’ll be forced to send out the dog-catchers.” He tapped the tip of the cigar on the ashtray. “In the meantime, go get cleaned up.”
The bruised colored girl smirks. “Of course, master…” She sang, sliding off his desk and making her way out the door.
“Oh, wait.” He said, rummaging through his desk, pulling out a parchment. “Take this to the nearest guard, your stuff should have already been moved.” He said, scribbling something on paper before handing it to her. “I pulled some strings to get you a better cell.”
[/quote]
Ash sported a spiked collar, and Desman a plain red one. Neujmin told them he picked something that would best represent their personalities but wouldn’t tell them what they were meant to represent. Ash decided to dub them as they were, explaining to Desman that he thought that the only defining feature to the human was his bright red hair and otherwise he was pretty plain in their demon master’s eyes. She also explained, loudly, that her’s was spiked because clearly, Neujmin thought she was a prick.
When she asked if she was close, he just smiled a wicked grin that let them both know she was pretty spot on. Or at least he faked it good enough before waving his arm and them off on their own.
If anyone asked, they were to show their tags. She was examining her’s at the moment in the reflection of a random store’s window. ‘Cunt/Bitch.’ was written in her name’s line, which only furthered her theory about this whole thing. It also had Neujmin’s name in the owner’s line and then a series of pictographs that probably was some special code for the citizens of Dis. It was as good as greek to her. A glance at Desman’s just had his name.
“Is this the shop you want to go into?” Desman asked from behind her, after admiring her butt for a bit. She had stuck it out innocently enough… Ash was in normal clothing today, tight booty shorts, long socks under converse brand shoes, and a very loose tee shirt that fell over her shoulder and showed off the lack of bra. By now this human knew she rarely wore such a thing.
“No. Just looking at my tag.” She said honestly, she rotated the collar for comfort despite it unable to be loosened at all.
“What’s it say?” He asked curiously, began to look now at his own. He barely got to read his name before someone from the other side ripped open the curtains that were the background to the display and gave Desman the meanest look before shooing him away like he was some punk ass who was loitering. This made him pull back abruptly and Ash laugh.
He was glad she was enjoying his embarrassment…
“Let’s go.” He said as he ushered her along.
-
Ash stopped in front of several shops, all of them with a display of at least three dresses that ranged from Renaissance fair to prom night. Evening gowns, mermaid, princess cut, ballroom gowns. To make it worse, she couldn’t decide on anything. She was afraid she’d use all their time up just trying to get an idea of what she wanted.
The morality mirrored humanoid turned to her very human companion. “How about you go find something to wear on your own, we can meet up later?” She offered.
Desman hesitated but could see this would take a long while. “Sure.. but I was waiting to see what you picked to pick mine out.”
Ash bit her lip at his explanation, it had been completely logical and an acceptable ‘but’. She had just been trying to save time. Though in reality, they had tons of it. The masquerade party wasn’t until late in the evening. “Then... Maybe we can start with our masks. Should we go find a shop that sells those?”
Desman smiled and nodded happily, then began to lead the way.
-
After browsing yet another dozen stores and vendors with carts, they found a little place with a sign that advertised masks specifically. It was a hanging wooden plaque with the most simple handwriting, and when it swung in the wind it got everyone’s attention. Just past the hidden entrance were purple satin curtains, and a very small room lit with candles. An old woman sat at the only available place, stroking a black and orange cat. It meowed at their arrival and then was patient as its owner watched them look at the many masks on display.
Ash and Desman eventually made their way over to the woman to ask if she had any recommendation, but before they could get a word out a crooked old finger came up and pointed to the more demonic of the two. “If you have no one to share the fruits of your labor at the end of all this, you can not claim to win. Your ambitions are titanic, but I can tell you tie no bows around the company you keep. Prepare for a lonely life where there is no trust for you…”
When she was done, there was a very long pause, full of awkward silence. She almost expected her to point Desman out and give him the same treatment, but she never did. The demon’s eyes shift to the human before they come back to her. By then the old woman’s eyes peeled back to reveal slitted eyes fit for a snake or a cat. It was lime green and it stared deep into her.
Desman decided to clear his throat to break the silence. In a flash, the bright green eyes were on him. “Yes, kind sir? Would you like to purchase a mask from I?”
“Y-Yes Please Ma’am” The way she spoke to Ash had put the poor guy on edge, and those eyes, the way they stared, he definitely wouldn’t want to be here if she had been the one to approach him.
“Of course you do, why else would you be in my shop?” He watched as she attempted a warm smile, her teeth sharp and jagged like a steak knife. “You… You are a good man.” She said, then began to stroke her cat once more. “Truffles here will pick you out the perfect mask.” She promised, then gave the cat a pat on the butt. Surely enough the black and orange cat pulled free of his owner’s arms and began to seek out a single mask for him out of however many hung on the walls and were displayed in the cases.
First, the feline went up, rising higher and higher on the shelves; Truffles even glanced back at Desman specifically every couple of minutes to keep a link with the ideal mask owner. He rose, and then the kitty decided he was too high. The mask for Desman had to be lower. So low that in fact, the cat escaped the sight of everyone in the store for a few moments as they ticked along. A while later the cat carried a mask in its mouth to its owner.
The shopkeeper took it, petting Truffles and praising him with ‘good boys’ and ‘who’s my baby?’ as she did. When the caretaker pulled the mask up she had to clean off the dust, but there was a jester-like pattern one cheek was bright red, the other gold, and clear stones traced the edges of the mask.
It was clearly male, it had a high forehead which can be covered by his hair or Desman’s hair could be pulled back out of his face. “Yes.. yes. Truffles is best judge.” She said, offering it to him with another attempt at a nice smile.
“So… How much is it?” He asked, slowing taking the mask out of her hand before holding it up to his ace.face. As he looked into the mask he’d note a shimmer against the gold lining that was attached to the inside of the bone hard material.
“Nothing. That is your mask.” She said, nodding. The human was amazed by the idea of getting something for free, she had just the words to put his mind at ease though. “Good people get good things.” She hummed and went back to petting the cat which has already climbed back into the weak curl of her arms. “You go now, have great night.”
Desman smiled and nodded, but then turned over to Ash. “But... What about my friend?”
The lime green eyes with slits flick over to the demoness. “No. I have no mask for her. She has plenty of her own.” She warned, cryptically.
Ash did not look amused by all this before she turned to Desman. “Let’s just go, I can just make my own.” She said softly, then began to push him towards the door. Desman tried to argue but had nothing to say so he allowed her to push him out of the odd shop.
-
There was a cafe they’d passed while window shopping, Ash decided to set up shop there. “I guess red and gold is our colors then.” She mentioned, looking at the mask. She can work with that. She could wear pink and gold, which would be fine because one of those colors was her favorite. “If we separate now we can get our clothes in order. Wanna meet back here in about two hours?”
“I guess there really isn’t much time left to do the shopping together… so I guess that’s the plan.” He smiled sheepishly at her, the truth was he wanted to stay with her, but if he couldn’t really disagree with her either.
Ash nodded and then stood which made Desman stand in concern. She made sure the mask was tucked under his arm and then for his sake, she pulled the taller man down so she could kiss him on the cheek. “See you in a couple of hours.” She promised him before leaving him to go off on her own.
Trust; [Personal]Quest Pt 2 - Setting of the Stage.
Desman waited at the door, apparently told to do so by Ash. He tried to argue, especially since he wasn’t able to see her for nearly the whole afternoon. He impatiently stood in his suit and mask, his long red coat picking up the stray puffs of wind, a gold line running along about half a cm away from the trim. The rest of his outfit consisted of equally red pants, a gold button up shirt, and, of course, his mask. The only thing that didn’t fit was his shoes, but he assumed no one would be staring at them, and if they were they wouldn’t look up as they would be to busy staring at their own feet. His choice of outfit probably wasn’t the most formal, but anyone who saw him in it probably wouldn’t have forgotten it in a hurry, not that matters anyway…
’Try not to get any blood on it, maybe we could use it later…’
A sudden chill ran up his spine as he tried to look for who spoke, but when he couldn’t find anyone he just continued waiting...
As guest after guest passed his form distantly, not yet ignoring him but not yet acknowledging him either. They laughed and entertained themselves with closed off conversations while they waited to enter the gate to their last party. Various creatures with horns, not horns, eyes, not eyes, spikes, not spikes, fins, not fins, scales, and not scales walked past him. But he was looking for a unique pair of horns, a gorgeous set of onyx black horns that curved perfectly close to the skull, allowing just enough room for silver rings. Five of them. Split unevenly between two brows.
He wondered for a moment if he should look for the typical wave of black raven feather soft hair that fell perfectly around her head as well, but then guessed she would also be wearing that in a unique way.
It wasn’t the men gawking at the incoming woman of appealing features that caught the male’s attention, as they were silent. But the jealous scoffs and bitter spite that passed through painted lips in whispers caught his attention right away. How did he know who would be on the end of that hate?
Desman looked past his mask’s eye holes and joined the young men to look surprised, his jaw coming down to express his surprise.
Ash’s gown was of pink silk, folded and stitched to perfectly mimic roses bundled together around her legs, or at least the convincing illusion that it did before a smooth layer nearly covered it completely. An eighth of the top layer missing to show of the detailed skirt. What actually was under the princess style skirt no one would know. Except maybe him. There was a beading line that connected the skirt to the sweetheart top. Also babydoll pink in color but shiny silk which folded and clung to her tomboyish form, giving her more defined curves than ever. Around her throat was the collar, but decorated with a string of pink pearls that nearly choked her. The second necklace of intricate gold, ruby, and pink crystal. The pendant looked like pieces of a broken glass heart put together to make a pair of wings. It sat on her bare skin just above the neckline of the corset style top.
As a sailor of the seas Desman was very aware of what this change of winds meant. Something big was blowing into town. Each step the Storm Demon made towards him only instilled the confirmation that it was her. She applied an amount of pressure upon his heart naturally, but in her wake, she pulled along the jealous looks of women and the envious glares of men towards his direction. She smiled behind the half mask that fit between the space of her horns and her brows. “What do you think?” She asked, but it was written all over his face.
‘Y-you look amazing…’ he thought his eyes darting over her attractive features in awe, taking it all in before he realized how dumb and simple that sounded. He could do better than that.
Desman cleared his throat. “You look extravagant as always my lady.” His tone was one of mock-poshness as looped his arm around her tightly. “Shall we go inside?”
-
Ash stood in the arm of the man she came to the party with, next to the blood fountain and the various comical looking cookies and cakes at the snack bar. It looked like your typical homemade party refreshments that your mom torture you with to make for a party that you are pretty sure no one cares what the food looks like. But it's Halloween and a great deal of effort has to be poured into these amateur looking treats. It was anyone’s guess as to what ingredients went into these, or if the fingers were human or demon.
The demoness was contemplating on cannibalism from behind her baby pink fan if only to say she’s tried it while Desman stood watching the people mingle. It would seem the color scheme of his mask worked well into the favored one among the guests. In fact, his companion stood out in her pink than he did in his bright red. There were black dresses, red dresses, and a gathering of many other shades of darkness and blood. He didn’t know why he was so surprised though, considering the thematics of hell falling under the same color wheel.
The styles of the dresses faired between pretty petal-like texture that reminded him of lilies, gorgeous gowns that made him think of old fashion balls, prom dress levels of skirts and tops that gave him unpleasant glimpses back into school, and skimpy little things that made him wonder for another time why Ash chose to wear something that actually covered everything but her back and her arms.
He turned to her, his eyes falling upon the near air-bound raven that was painted into her skin with surgical hands and impossible to wash off ink. He wondered what the story behind it was a thousand times, but has yet to ask. Which he will most likely go on for a long time still without knowing as now was not really the time to talk about body art. It has crossed his mind a time or two to ask about the piercings as well and a multitude of other things about the woman he’s fallen deeply in love with.
Love?
Did he really just think that?
He immediately looked away, his cheeks as red as his mask..
Ash was about to slide her fingers from his hand to partake in the pleasantries of food when a shadow washed over her and the food. She looked over her shoulder at a tall dead looking figure with red eyes set straight on her, his horns pulled out to the side and raised to the sky where they made a peak over his dull red hair that hung to his knees. She found him unappealing and hid her disdain behind a smile that was hidden behind her fan. “Yes?”
“You have an interesting taste in body art.” He said, his voice long and drawn out.
“You mean the bird?”
“Yes.”
“Do you know what they call a group of crows?”
“No.” His dead eyes look at her like she was a cupcake. Accurately covered in pink fluffy frosting.
“Murder.” She said, with a giggle.
His smile turned creepy as he let out a very insane chuckle. “That is humorous.”
“I thought you’d like that.”
“Is it a gang sign then?”
“No.”
“Then why?”
“Because black sheep cannot fly.”
The same creepy chuckle barked from his twisted lips. “Do you have wings?”
“No. Not the traditional kind.”
“Traditional is such a dull word…”
“Isn’t it?”
Desman watched from the corner of her arm, amazed by how quickly she seemed to fit in.
“Indeed.” The man’s eyes turned to the actual food. “What is your favorite?”
“I haven’t tried any, yet. What do you recommend?”
“What I want to take a bite out of is unfortunately not on that table.” He said, a warmth to his voice as his eyes trail across her skin.
“There is a blood fountain, does that not satisfy your needs?” She asked, starting to lazily fan off his gaze.
“It is not blood that I want, no.” His eyes come back to her’s. Or what he could look at as eyes. “Something more.”
“How much more, what about the desired meal is so exciting for you?”
“I want to sink my teeth into a beautiful young woman’s flesh. The supple, firm, yet soft flesh on her breasts are always the most satisfying.”
“Maybe later you can itch that scratch. But tonight I have a date.” She said, motioning the fan to Desman. “He has already laid claim to my breast. Perhaps another night?”
“I’d be delighted..” He said, licking his lips before picking up one of the fingers and heading away.
The human at this point looked over at her, jealousy rising in his chest. “Ash-”
“Desman. By the end of the night, he will be dead.” She said, in the most deadpan voice possible. “And even if that weren’t true, I have no interest in him.” She glanced up at him, her serious face cementing it to be true. He found it impossible at that moment to doubt her. “Now guard me again while I try this food.”
“Do you really think that’s blood?”
“I know it is.” She said, stuffing the fan into her cleavage and grabbing what looked like a cookie. She examined it and sniffed at it but could not figure out what was inside. She decided the best way to get into the middle of it was to take a big bite.
It snapped in her mouth like a normal cookie, and from the instant, it touched her pierce tongue she could have sworn it was nothing but a simple gingersnap cookie. When she looked at the cross-section though she noticed a very obvious fat baked grub in it. As well as half an almond. “Huh.” She said, before finishing it off.
Desman flinched, but she just grabbed another treat, this time what looked like a brownie. When she bit into it she found it to be very moist. In fact, it was filled. Or it so it felt. When she pulled it back to examine the insides an eye stared back at her. Unblinking. It was partially bitten into and it threatened to fall out of the soft dough and onto her dress. What exactly kind of eye it was, they’d never know and she didn’t care. She took another bite of it and after a second one, it was down. Desman could have been sick…
“Please don’t eat the finger..” He begged, his stomach turning.
“Fine.” She promised, then pulled him along to a more savory looking plate. It looked like pieces of chicken or some other bird. She imagined it to be that stupid harpy and immediately snatched up a piece to pop the horderve into her mouth and eat it as madly as she could. For good measure, she asserted herself as the top of the food chain by taking another one. “We should probably take care of business sooner than later.” She said before popping what looked like cheese into her mouth. Instantly she knew it not to be cheese. She swallowed regardless.
“How soon? The party just started.” Desman asked, trying to ignore what it could be that Ash was eating.Trying not to imagine anything but regular chicken and crackers.
“We need to lock the doors. Cut off all exits.” Ash said, popping something that resembled fruit into her mouth.
“That seems a bit excessive.”
“Neujimin wants us to be the only people that walk out of here.”
“What about the cooks? The maids? They didn’t do anything wrong.”
“It doesn’t matter. We are here to make a statement. Not friends.”
Desman was silence as he watched her take another fruit piece. He admitted in his utter silence that he was hungry now, too. But he dared not partake in the snacks. “I’m not sure I can do this..” He said, turning his eyes back on her.
For a moment he saw two Ash’s. One that smiled, and one that glared at him. They spoke at the same time and with the same words, but with different tones and faces. “Desman, don’t you want to be a hero? Even in hell? You heard our Master, these people ruined his life and many others’. You’re going to let them keep doing that?”
Desman was so confused by what he was hearing and seeing that he wasn’t sure what to say. He rubbed his eyes and looked again, and Ash was back to normal. She looked back at him, concerned. “What? Yes... But.”
“But nothing, Desman. This is how we get out of the Underverse. Or do you want to stay here forever?”
He blinked but looked away. “No... I want to get you out of here.” There was a bit of silence before Ash slid her arms around his back, up his shoulders and pulled herself to his level with a gentle smile. He looked down with hot cheeks once more.
“Desman..” She whispered sleepily, leaning in and touching her lips against his. He felt her cold ring and kissed back but she pulled away at any sign of deepening the kiss. He looked disappointed. She laughed cruelly at him but spoke to soothe his pride’s burn. “I just ate, we can finish this later..” She said it without saying it, that she understood he didn’t want to subject himself to what she’d eaten. She then lowered herself back onto the heels she wore. “I’ll take care of set up, just meet me on the dance floor in less than an hour.”
“Okay..” The human said, watching as she slipped out of his grasp once more before vanishing in the sea of crimson and coal.
Desman began to circle the dance floor after only thirty minutes, nothing out of the ordinary appeared to be happening. At least nothing beyond what he imagined was normal for a party full of unsuspecting demons. He watched as couples pulled away and began to make out against the walls. He felt himself swaying with the music and he wondered if Ash would dance with him before the carnage began.
While he wasn't particularly watching, where he was going in his rhythmic ways, Desman ran right into someone. His reflexes reacted without his knowledge as he grabbed both her and the trey she was carrying and most of the hors-d'oeuvres that were planted perfectly spaced on the silver serving instrument.
In his arms, he held a tiny woman stood. In fact, it all looked like a setup for a dance scene the two practiced over and over. She was clearly albino, porcelain skin, ruby red eyes with powder pink sclera. Her frosty white hair pushed back to expose the small horns which curve back behind her ears. He looked deep into the gems of her eyes before she flinched back, expecting something worse than just curiosity from the human.
“Are you okay?” Desman asked, he couldn't’ help himself. His heart was good.
She was still half cowering under his gaze. “Yes, sir.” She stared at the ground and squeezed the edges of her fully frilled maid’s outfit. He noted the grey stockings that crawled up into the skirt.
He laughed nervously. “Sir?” He then lowered the tray to hand to her.
“Yes, sir. You are a guest in master’s festivities.” She said, still looking down. She had no idea he was offering her tray.
“That’s a bit formal for just a guest, isn’t it?” He chuckled, lifting her chin up to look into her eyes again. She hesitated but returned the notion. He smiled. “What’s your name?”
“Esmeralda.” She said, as politely as she could be. “It’s my pleasure.” She said, lifting her skirt, dipping her head, and bowing to him in a curtsy. “Sir.”
Desman smiled back, then gave a very exaggerated bow, bringing the tray back behind him quickly as he did. “De-”
He felt the weight of the serving platter leave his hand before he heard the low tons of it plate hitting the ground repeatedly. The food, all of it, sounded wet as it hit the polished stone floor. Of course, it was none other than the master of the house that was hit by the platter, and now wore half of it on her face.
Desman quickly tried to shield Esmeralda from her wrath by stepping between them. “I’m sorry, Madam, I-”
The portly woman crossed the small space very quickly and snatched the albino’s horn and yanked her closer. “You!” She jerked her around, the human trying to step between them but finding no purchase. “You’ve been nothing but trouble since our master has purchased you! How dare you lollygag about when you’ve been tasked with work!”
“Ma’am, please. It was I who-” He tried to interrupt, holding his hands up defensively for her sake.
The eyes on this woman when she glared at him could turn just about anyone he knew into stone. “What’s this? The mongrel here’s found a friend?” She sounded snotty as she shoved the girl away. “And who are you? I don’t remember inviting a human.”
“Well..” He gulped. ‘Good job Desman, Ash will kill you…’
“Madam Lasuraa, pl-”
The sound of skin against skin echoed into every corner of the house. Silence followed, and Desman could hear the tension hanging in the air after the slap. The demons in the area smelt blood, they wanted to watch Esmeralda's crucifixion. He had to do something…
Before he could act, the younger female rolled into the position of a maid, bowing her head to the older woman. “My most sincere apologies, mistress. I was mingling with the guest instead of doing what was expected of me. Please, I beg for forgiveness, even if I do not deserve it.”
This somehow worked. As the white hair fell toward the floor and curtained her sad eyes, the wealthy demon’s anger melted away. Desman felt the urge to defend her once more but slowly understood there were steps that were necessary. He didn’t like it, but he stayed silent.
“You don’t deserve it.” Lasuraa cried out with the dramatics of a snob. Her purple fat rippling as she smiled and turned to her guest. Then she turned back to the girl. “Now pick up this mess!” The girl flinched under her words. “AND GET BACK TO WORK!” She yelled, a tendril of liquid shadow ripped through reality and grabbed the girl by the throat, choking her Lasuraa willed it to yank her to the ground, face into the fancy creepy snacks. A roar of laughter erupted at Esmeralda’s expense, but she politely took it for a long moment before the tentacle released her and her master’s main pet walked away.
It took another moment longer before Desman could even think about rushing to the girl’s side, the laughter didn’t stop and they grinned down at the poor albino demon as she slowly scooped up the food to pile on her tray. When they were finally bored with her humiliation he was on his knees reaching for the furthest away scraps of food.
Esmeralda gasped, glancing around and then grabbing his wrist. “Sir. You have to stop.” She whispered, making eye contact with him.
“I can’t. It feels like this is my fault.”
“Sir, you are a guest.”
“You got hurt because of me. Please just let me help.” He looked away.
The demoness looked around and then nodded. “Quickly.”
In the next moment, they were walking to the kitchen. He was not allowed in, but he waited patiently at the door. He could hear some clanging, yelling, and finally some whimpering. He wanted nothing but to go in and see what it was, but when she slipped out, he noticed right away. She clutched her hand with a rag, it was already soaking through with violet liquid. Which matched the small bit on her white cheek that spilled out from a small cut.
She couldn’t look at him, but he pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket and dabbed at the wound, ignoring the common sense that explained there were worse things. As soon as he began, she let out a sob, bit her lip, and then hissed as tears rolled down her cheek and into her fresh wound.
Esmeralda turned her back to the party and softly cried in the corner, trying to bear what she could. Whispering to herself. “Soon… Soon I can be rid of this and go home…” Desman approached again. “Stop…” She turned to look at him with her wounded cheek. “Please… I appreciate your concern, but I have to get back to work.”
“S-Sure…” Desman whispered, then pulled his hand back, trying to ignore now the sound of a baby crying in the back of his mind. He wasn’t sure where it was coming from, he just knew it had something to do with the end of tonight. In a daze, he returns to his patrol.
Quest; [Personal]Trust - Part 3 - Ballad of Blood: The Massacre Ball
The most recent song was coming to a slow end, and he glanced around once more. Desman spotted the pink before her bruised colored skin, but then as she entered the dance floor he was immediately drawn to her. Her fan brushed stray hairs away from her smiling masked face.
The human approached the dressed up Storm Demon, walking in a daze this night has put him in. He reached her as a hauntingly dramatic waltz began, the big band in the corner twisting the atmosphere to perfection. Though even Desman had no idea what the woman that was about to be in his arms had done. She dipped politely while lifting her skirt, he acknowledged it with a small bow. Their bodies came forward, her hand over his shoulder and his around her back. The other hands wind together elegantly.
Desman noticed the weight of something in his hand immediately, but she smiled back. “Shh.” She warned him before properly backing up and forcing him to start the dance.
After the forced start, Desman lead. In the back of his mind, he wondered what was in his hand, but every glance towards the intertwined palms showed nothing. Slowly he let it go, that’s when it became most relevant though. In a flash of movement, Ash forced his hands towards the back of a young woman. A second later her pale orange blood arched in the air as they twirled, she gasped.
They were already onto the next victim, a man of regal stance, he dipped her and Ash slashed across his lower back, deep and fast and cutting into the bone. Hot vibrant green blood spilled across the dance floor but Desman was already picking her up and leading her to the next victim of her silent blade. She was tossed out at his arm’s length and her’s additionally. The swirling magic of the fusion already threading them together. He watched as her hand flung into a random man’s chest. The demon stumbled back into the crowd while Desman yanked his date back into his arms. Bringing the unseen blade out of the unsuspecting chest, slathering his bright yellow blood across the crowd as she flicked it perfectly while they came into each other again.
“What is the meaning of this?” He asked sharply as he squeezed her by the wrist this time. She gasped naturally as he handled her roughly but then smirked up at him. “Just doing a job, Des.” She teased, licking her lips. He felt his face fire up once more and tried to continue with the dance. He heard screams begin to erupt from around them, and he watched another arc of brightly colored fluid fly through the air, another girl. Another victim.
He looked up at the last second, twisting his head to try to see her work, but she brought it back to face her and grinned. “Don’t look at anyone but me, Desman.” She said, then began to pull him in closer for another kiss. Before their lips touched, the light exploded from their chest. Filling the room with a rainbow worth of rays.
It caught everyone’s attention. Those who have abandoned the dance floor and were seeking exit but found bolted doors that wouldn’t budge no matter how hard they tugged. Those who clung to their companions in fear of what mystery was going on. And even those who fanned the fainted and tried to stop the bleeding.
All party going guests and hosts looked up towards the center of the room where two lights swirl together before bursting apart, glittering orbs of color falling around one figure. Black Ash stood where two had, smiling a bright grin of delight. “Darlings…” He purred, his outfit a dress much like Ash’s but with Desman’s high collared jacket. “It’s time to die.” In his hand delicately hung the Quil as he waved it around like an orchestra master when he realized the music had some to a holting stop. “Don’t stop the music on my account.” He said, instructing the band to keep playing as he closed the distance. When he was sure they would continue, he turned around, pushing the blade out of sight. “Now… where were we?”
Around him, faces were full of disgust and fear. Above him came voices, frantic and panicked. “There’s no way out!” Echoed several men, upstairs came voluminous bangs as if someone was trying to open a door or window with all their might. It sounded like thunder, it smelt like desperation, fear, and victory...
Black Ash just smiled harder. “Ah yes…” He said, reaching under the full princess ball gown and revved the engine of something dangerous. From his pillow like folds of the dress, he freed the Ultramarine’s Chainsword, Invictus, and cocked a cynical grin. “I was blowing off a bit of steam.” He taunted, then began to laugh in dark humor.
The first swing caught the body of a young an beautiful girl with full lips and small horns in a maids outfit. She stood up and turned around at the last moment, forcing his aim to hit her side instead of her neck. There was a fraction of a moment when recognition of Esmeralda made the fusion hesitate, her desires and hopes for an easy night before being able to return home echoed in the darkness of a faded, fuzzy and distance memory. Her tears and humiliation the only headstone she’d recieve. She would received no mercy from the stronger personality, and a small inner voice choked on his tears as the teeth in the blade bit away fiber after fiber in her tiny body. With her last breath she screamed her enthralling agony before death snatched her away.
Violet blood soared across the dance floor, across the faces of those who watched in horror, just as unable to take their eyes off of her as they had before. No one was laughing.
When the broken body fell, there was a moment of pure white silence. Then all at once, it hit everyone and they screamed with all their lungs before trying to escape the madman in the baby-doll pink dress. He grinned a devil’s smile while the chainsaw laughed in his place. He took a steady step towards a maid who’s been paralyzed by fear, in one swoop her head came off and danced as high as the chandelier.
Scattering like animals wouldn’t save them, with a glance the demonic fusion captured what he needed. He raced the opposite way of the crowd at a twisted gargoyle statue, did a front flip onto the face of the statue, then used especially toned legs launched himself into the crowd, swinging wildly and cutting down several delicate-featured girls, and one lanky man.
He twisted in the air to land on a pillar to do it again, aiming a little higher. He cut off three heads that time and aimed his momentum and ambitions even higher. Up into the open air staircase where he frightened a plumper demon into fainting. A man came between him and her, but the blade on Invictus was too fine. Black Ash did an over the top twirl as he swung the chainsword, the motion taking the torn off torso with him and tossing it over the banister into the crowds below. It was more than big enough to crush one of the guests’ heads into the floor while he soared into the sky past the chandelier and higher into the castle.
-
The crystal chandelier spun slowly on the chain, tilted by the weight of the man on its outer rim. Red Devil’s Quil in his hand yet again, Invictus buried in a pile of bodies. Black Ash was looking at every corner of the place one more time, daring something to move. Shadows rocked across the cotton candy-colored blood coated walls, looking more like a game of paintball exploded in the middle of the gorgeous house. The tagger in Ash made Black Ash proud of the vivid colors that ran down the walls and pooled across the floor.
He leaped from the chandelier and onto the second floor. He walked through each room, collecting his things. He’d lost his Claw in the bathroom, his chainsaw in the hall, his earrings in the eyes of a man, his necklace in the throat of a woman, and his glass slipper in the skull of a prince.
In the silence of death you could hear a pin drop, so when he heard something metal clatter against the floor in a serving room he politely walked over and pushed open the door casually to see the dry red-haired man from before, desperately holding a woman Black Ash didn’t recognize so much as he knew was the owner of the house. Lasuraa whimpered as he choked the life out of her, her eyes bulging from her skull. She was apparently trying to fight for her life, but he held her aloft from the floor in a way that her feet couldn’t find purchase. She flopped heavily against the floor trying to break whatever was cutting off the air supply.
“Come now..” Black Ash’s voice hit a lower octave, full of pity. This scared the man shirtless as he dropped the woman and flung himself to the wall. She gasped and begged for air. “What do you even mean to accomplish by killing her? Last minute revenge?”
“I thought she might be who you are after! If she is dead, you will leave me alone!”
Black Ash had to restrain himself, pulling the fan from his coat pocket and flicking it open to hide his smile at the creep’s misunderstanding. “Darling! You slay me!” He giggled. “Why on earth would I have slaughtered hundreds of people if I was after but one…?”
“YOU ARE AN ASSASSIN SENT HERE TO KILL HER AREN’T YOU?” He screamed, eyes wide, his panic driving him mad.
“If you honestly believe that, you are worse at figuring things out as you are flirting.” He snarked.
“I would nev-” He stopped, looked at the body of the dress and then back into Black Ash’s eyes. “Who are you?”
“I am the champion of destiny... But you can call me Death.” He taunted from behind his fan, before flicking the blade deep into the man’s Adam’s Apple. As the undead colored demon fought vainly against death, feeling the most uncomfortable pulling sensation from the blade in his throat, he watched the man snap the fan back to closed position and walk over to the woman. He looked unamused by her out of breath pleading but waited until she looked up at him. “No thanks, I already have all the power and wealth I could want.” Before he struck her with his remaining glass slipper into the front of her mouth.
Black Ash eventually strung her up using the Claw’s braid and waiting until they were both dead from asphyxiation. When she stopped kicking he dropped her on the floor. Collecting the rope again and tying it to the hip of the dress, he yanked the blade from the man’s dried out throat so that he landed on top of her. He grinned to himself and headed back downstairs.
Defusion was less dramatic as Fusion was, but by the time Black Ash reached the last stair he was back to Desman Black and Ash; The Storm Demon. The human looked around at the confetti colors that stained the walls like an artist’s paint collection exploded due to pressure and heat, he felt an enormous weight of dread and pity settle in his heart. He glanced over at Ash, but she was already in the middle of a wardrobe change. The pink rose themed outfit fell away in shreds of light.
She wore a tight pink floral shirt that only went 3/4ths down her body. Over that a plain grey zip-up hoodie, a black pair of booty shorts, and plain pink sneakers. Her hair come undone and fell around her shoulders. She straightened the jacket and stuffed her hands in its pockets. She glanced over at Desman who just stared for a long time. “Are you going to be alright?” She asked a sense of professionalism in her voice. Maybe if he was paying attention he would have noticed how comfortable with this she was.
“Y-Yeah...” He forced out of his mouth.
“Master probably didn’t expect it to go so fast.. If you want to... We can go out and do something together.” Ash offered.
“N-No… I just… I need a moment to myself.” He said, not even looking up at her.
There was a long silence that hung in the room. It lasted for hours in Desman’s mind, Ash was just contemplating on the consequences of leaving him alone. He could snap.. He could crack… Or he could come out of it just fine. “I’ll hang around town then, we can go back to master in the morning.” She said, sure he’d tell her if he needed her.
The Regrets of a Robot
Desman sat in the darkroom, alone except for the bodies that littered the floor. Desman obviously felt bad for them, but he made his decision before he got here, all he could do now was pay his respects, and so he did.
For what would have seemed like an eternity to an outside watcher, the man just stayed there, back against the wall, silent and unmoving; one could almost mistake him for being one of the newly dead. But eventually he got up, a blank stare covering his face as he moved through the ocean of bodies to the back wall, the silent of the night only amplifying the mood.
He stared at his destination for a few good minutes, summoning a black spray can to write one final message.
”RIP
~Desman Black~”
~Desman Black~”
And with that he walked solemnly out of the building, locking the door behind him.
The air outside was nippy. It wasn’t an unreasonable amount to manage, but bothersome all the same. It would probably be warmer in a bar, the place he wanted to go that way he could drink himself away unless there was some complication. There was always a complication with him…
But on he walked, Eventually coming to a busier part of the city. Despite the fact he had just murdered a room full of people, nobody bat an eye at him, it was somehow both terrifying and calming. It scared him how easy it was to get away with something like that, but it also meant no one had found out about it, yet.
His eyes were then drawn to a sign; ‘Alexandra’s Bar & Bistro’. That seems like the place he wanted to go, and so inside he went. There was only one thing that Desman could tell was immediately off about this place, well, except for the demons but you got used to them. The biggest thing off about the place was that nobody was sitting at the bar, only the bistro section. Desman thought nothing of it as he approached and planted his bum on a stool, it didn’t take long for the bartender to notice.
“What type of Drink do you want.” He expression was cold and monotone, it made Desman will a little nervous.
“Sc-Screwdriver please.”
“Sure, coming right up.” The man pace was slow and methodical, like he no emotion, though in this place maybe he didn’t.
“Care to buy a lady a drink too?” A stranger’s sweet voice came from behind, prompting Desman to look up.
The mysterious female was tall and pretty, her blond hair covering one of her amber eyes and going all the way down to her calf on her back, and to just under her breasts at the foundation. Her pale white skin was covered in reds pinks and black that had the same color scheme as her fairy-like wings.
Quote:https://i.pinimg.com/736x/75/af/c1/75afc...-fairy.jpg
“S-Sure.” He said, staring at her for probably a little more than appropriate. “MAKE THAT TWO PLEASE!” The human shouted across the bar, only a minute or two had passed before the bartender came back to give both of them their drinks, Desman didn’t notice how little time had passed through as the two of them were already in conversation.
“So, what are you doing here?” Desman asked, not expecting to see anyone like her in a bar.
“What’s sweet little ol’ me doing in a place like this? Well, the ones that use the whole ‘Underworld’ gimmick are not actually that good with their drinks.” She said bluntly.
“I meant what are you doing in a bar at all…”
“Well you look like never had a single drink in your life, would you tell me why you're at a bar?”
“P-point taken…” he said, glancing in the completely opposite direction to where her eyes were.
The girl was the one who decided to cut through the awkward silence. “Hey, I know the best spot in this building, want to check it out?”
“S-Sure…” Before Desman could even say his second word the fairy was already pulling him, and his drink, away from the bar. It wasn’t till they got halfway up a flight of stairs that he started to question the girl. “Where are we going? Are you sure we’re allowed up here?”
“Of course we are, I’m Alex, the owner of this of this place.” She said pulling him closer to her. “There’s only one thing you need to know when you're in here with me, I’m not so sweet.” She quickly turned around and pushed him into the wall, the surprise making Desman drop the glass, a loud crash echoing throughout the building.
“What was that?” A newbie to the bar asked as he got his drink.
“Probably a rat.” The barkeep said nonchalantly, knowing full well what was happening.
“Now shut up and let me kiss you.” The fairy said, back upstairs and getting her face closer to his. “You're less cute when your talking”.
Storm Demon’s Playground
Ash wandered about for an hour before she settled on a place. A building that had flashing lights announcing it was a pub. A modern beautiful shit hole with blaring music, and a posse of whores trying to get past the bouncer. She slid in while he was too busy staring down at their begging body language.
Ash headed straight to the bar, flopping on a rounded seat next to another humanoid demon. The bartender was a combination of squid and snail, and when he asked her what she wanted she called for coke and rum. She got it, heavy on the rum despite her feelings of it. She liked it and took a long drink before holding her fingers up for two more.
“Slow down there little lady.” A voice came from the man beside her, a grin as charming as her’s. “It’s not wise to drink like that alone.”
She rolled her eyes towards him but tipped the glass back just the same before pushing the empty thing over to the bartender. “What makes you think I am alone?”
“Because if you were my girl I wouldn’t let you walk around without me.” He responded quickly, his eyes moving over her like he was examining a fine art piece.
Ash had just wanted to relax, and it crossed her mind to throw the drink in his face. Instead, however, she realized he was hitting on her. She slowly brought the drink to her lips, freshly made and cold against her mouth. She hesitated for a moment before twisting in her seat and crossing her leg so the upper one was within touching distance. “Alright, you have my attention. Now how do you plan to keep it?” She flashed a grin and took another slow drink.
The incubus raised an eyebrow at her question, but he took advantage of the fact that she seemed interested. Slowly, casually deliberate, he moved his hand to her chin before turning her head so he could stare into her eyes. He seemed to be thinking about her question, the cocky grin on his face making it seem like he was searching for the perfect words to hook her. In reality, eye contact was all he needed to read her heart, perusing through it like an open book. Seeing what she wanted, both casual interests and her deepest desires. Time seemed to freeze for a moment as he invaded her soul, but in reality, only a moment went by before he was finished. A sudden sharp chill radiated through her body, remnants of his icy touch the only evidence of his crime. He released her and leaned back, his smile widening as he finally spoke.
“I think it’s you that should be trying to interest me,” he said confidently, hinting that there was something that he now knew.
Dark and smooth, like her drink. He invaded not only her physical space but her soul. She felt as though something very unique happened indeed but was only unconsciously aware of what he did. Her mind raced as fast as her heart, and a calm smile grew across her blue lips. “Is that so?” Her voice came out confident, her tail flicking behind her anxiously.
“Very much so.” The incubus responded, withdrawing some currency from a pouch and setting it onto the bar. More than enough to pay for both of them. “Just when I thought things weren’t going my way, fate has to step in and show me otherwise.”
He stood up, taking a step so that he was behind her, and then place a hand on each of her shoulders. He squeezed them tight, painfully so, and then leaned into her ear.
“I’ve been having a terrible fucking day,” He started, and despite his voice being barely above a whisper there was an aura of malice clearly heard within it, “Come with me and I’ll take it out on you.”
Ash was casual still, she watched him with caution as he lifted himself from the stool and inched out of her field of vision. She could have twisted her head to follow him even then, but she didn’t think she had to. She waited for less than a nanosecond before she felt his hands’ weight against her shoulders, caressing them painfully - fingers digging into her collarbone and making her tense out of reaction, and bite her lip out of pleasure.
She hadn’t planned on going out and finding a friend with benefits today, but it would be rude not to enjoy her time alone. Especially when he was pushing all the right buttons that haven’t even been teased for some time. He felt her relax in his rough touch before she picked up the last of her drinks, downed it as fast as she could, and then slid out of his grip to twist out of her own seat. Her twirl continued in one smooth motion, landing Ash with her hands on his chest as if she was already begging him to take her home. A small smirk on her face betrayed her feelings about this. “What kind of girl do you think I am?” She teased, toying with his chest.
“You’re a caged raven who longs for release as much as I do right now.” The Incubus spoke with confidence, his hand moving up her body and catching the tag on her collar. It glinted in the dim light of the bar, but he didn’t even glance down at it. “Depending on your actions, we may discuss this release as well,” he said, grinning down at her for a moment before suddenly grabbing the collar in his fist. He gave it a cruel twist and yanked her closer.
“Every day is a roll of the dice, we all take chances. Sometimes they turn out good, other times we get… punished.” he said. He held her like that, choking her and not giving a shit, trying to decide what to do with her. As much as he wanted to just drag her into the alley out back and have his way with her, he felt like their relationship deserved a much better first impression. That just wasn’t possible with trash cans and concrete. With that thought, he pulled a business card out of his pocket and stuffed it into her cleavage before shoving her back onto the stool.
“One hour. If you’re late, I’ll assume you’re not interested.” He said, turning and heading for the exit.
-
Ash’s steps stopped in front of what could be considered an address. She had changed her outfit once more to a more simpler oversized shirt that hung off her shoulder, a pink lacy bra strap exposed and announcing her underwear choice. The shirt itself was a storm grey, her hot pants that cupped her ass so tightly that it was like she wasn't wearing anything at all were black and barely showed her shorts. Her sneakers were simple, her socks long and thick and grey.
She pulled the card out again to compare the reality with her expectations. Then she tossed it behind her with abandonment she was best known for and approached the Incubus’ place of dwelling, her tail high with anticipation.
-
Neujmin looked up from some paperwork in his hands as the door opened, what walked through the door was a sight he expected several hours ago, although with a lot less smugness in her walk. Ash was in torn clothes, bruises in the form of disturbingly bright yellow marks branded her body. The most notable ones were around her throat. There were also breaks in her flesh, caused by any number of things that could be found lying around here in the Underverse. His eyes linger a great deal on her exposed skin as he watched her waltz right in. “Yes?”
“Nothing.” She sang, apparently having a good night despite the shape she was in. She swung her ruined collar on her finger as she moved about the desk. She was very aware that she had his attention. “Just thought you’d like to know at least one of your pets are back.” She announced as she slipped behind his desk and leaned against it with her hip on the hard wooden stack of drawers. She tried to pretend that she didn’t just slam her bruise into a hard surface.
“Where’s Desman?” He asked, running his eyes over her still. She was his to oogle after all. He was very aware of the idea that she’d slept with someone, maybe at the party - maybe afterward - maybe during. He has never reached out to her and taken her bait, but now they were alone in his office. She looked very tempting, broken and weakened, even if he doubts she’d fight him.
The Storm Demon noticed how much of a liking he took to her, but continued as if she didn’t. “Somewhere on the other side of town, doing whatever he pleases. We decided to reward ourselves, knowing you wouldn’t be able to properly do it.”
“Is that why you smell like you were the main course in a brothel.” He snapped lazily, his ruby-colored eyes dancing back up to her’s.
“Are you jealous you weren’t invited?” Ash asked as she slides closer, into his personal space and almost into his lap. Her hands ran up his shoulders, and one leg slid beside his thigh before he stopped her. “I thought you just weren’t interested.” She cooed innocently.
Neujmin stared at her long enough that if it were anyone else they might crumble in fear if it were someone like her precious human. There was a war raging inside of him between power and lust. They had horns locked and were just waiting for the balance to tip. “If you are just checking in, then you may go back to your cell. Unless there was something else that brought you to my chambers?”
A grin snapped to life on her face as he called her out on it. “You can see right through me, can you?” She said, then leaned in, past his face and towards the elongated ear that gave off the illusion that it held up his hat most of the time. Her hands twisted on themselves and she wrinkled up his shirt as she sternly whispered. “I want more on Diablo.”
There was a long bit of silence, but they both understood the heaviness of mentioning that name. “What about him?”
“I want to meet him.” She said without hesitation, without much emotion at all. As he expected from her by this point.
“You going to try to seduce him as well?” His voice growing colder.
She giggled, and pulled back, stroking his sharp jaw. “No, that would be stupid.” She said with a smile. “Besides, I’d much rather take your cock.” Then she smiled harder and lowered her jaw so her eyes were in shadow, there was a faint glow where her eyes were. “How about a trade?”
The balance began to shift, Neujmin swallowed dryly. There was a long silence as he debated on how to proceed. His cold eyes looked back with the same solid look of a statue.
Without warning, he reached up into her ebony hair and grabbed locks of it and yanked her off of him. She cried out in pleasure, he ignored this to stand, turn her around, and then with as much force as he wanted to slam her chest down on his desk. He twisted his thick wrist and got a better grip in her hair before tearing away what was left of her lower layers. As expected she didn’t even bother to wash up after taking the last man’s punishment. He didn’t know why, but it turned him on even more. She began to fight back, both knew it was as much of a lie as her words earlier. He smacked her hard across her bruised cheek. Ash let out a soft moan as his hand quickly fished out his hard-on. “I clearly haven’t been disciplining you properly, now I have to show you who is your ‘daddy’.”
From behind the door, a voice could be heard screaming blissfully, along with several nicknacks falling off the desk and crashing into shattered pieces of passion.
-
When he was done, Neujmin left her on the desk to fall back into the chair. He had peeled away layers for the sake of comfort, now his hairy chest was exposed to the elements, his skin glistening with sweat. His breaths came out in heavy pants, his body feeling weak, and his mind 100% clear. He reached past her as if there wasn’t a body bent over his hellwood desk and pulled open small box that hadn’t been allowed to fall off during their activities. He pulls out one of his cigars and leans back finally, inspecting his work while he preps and lights it.
Neujmin turns so he is facing the wall behind them instead of the heavily breathing woman with her ass still sticking up. He let out a deep breath of smoke. “I’ll let you two work off your debt to me. No tricks. No hidden fees. As long as you do favors for me you will get your freedom. If you can pay it off, I’ll get you in.”
He heard her horns scraping against his desk, he imagined her body pulling free of the position he left her in, papers sticking to her sweat covered and bloody chest since the silence was followed up the rustling of papers. “Is this where you ask me to sign a contract with my blood?”
“That’s wholly unnecessary. For one, it's pretty primitive and you have nothing to lose. Secondly, I have plenty of your blood on my desk to forge a signature, Emma.” He said, twisting just far enough to check on her. She was now sitting on his desk, evidence of their coupling probably spreading across the top of his workspace as they spoke. “But let it be known, you can’t just magic up money and pay it off. Actions are worth more than gold down here.”
“What about sex?” Ash asked bluntly.
“As good as it was, I won’t accept sexual favors as a means of payment. Besides, Desman might get a bit upset.” Neujmin took another drag. “Speaking of which. If he doesn’t show up within a few hours I’ll be forced to send out the dog-catchers.” He tapped the tip of the cigar on the ashtray. “In the meantime, go get cleaned up.”
The bruised colored girl smirks. “Of course, master…” She sang, sliding off his desk and making her way out the door.
“Oh, wait.” He said, rummaging through his desk, pulling out a parchment. “Take this to the nearest guard, your stuff should have already been moved.” He said, scribbling something on paper before handing it to her. “I pulled some strings to get you a better cell.”
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Warning: Anything that involves Ash should be rated M. Possibly higher.
Erik Vrell : Ash has a 'love' fourth dimensional shape
Erik Vrell : As in its wide and unfathomable for us mere mortals