8 Chapter 8: The Dinner

Lareia and Jake stood still in front of the door, waiting for the smoke to disperse. Their senses became sharper while their sight is clouded. Blood lingers in the air as they heard a growl of a man, some inches in front of them. Lareia closed her eyes as she scanned the surroundings using her senses. Jake did the same, and they both felt the same thing.

A tremendous being was in front of them, wanting to break free. It sent shivers down their spine, but they remained calm as the smoke faded. Opening their eyes slowly, an unsightly being chained to the wall is looking at them. He tried to lunge forward but the chains stopped him.

The angelic Valor is now half a demon. Half of his face is disfigured, his eyes and pale skin turned pitch black. He still has pointed ears and a bat-like wing grew on his back. He cried tears of blood, black blood.

Lareia saw many transformations like this and remained emotionless, while Jake's face has disgust written all over it. "I know that he is my brother, but I feel like throwing up," Jake whispered, loud enough for Lareia to hear. He covered his mouth using his right hand while the other on his stomach.

Valor turned to Lareia, staring at her intently when he suddenly burst out laughing. "You're still alive! That's good. I will make you suffer before you die! A demon like you can't have a peaceful death!"

"Insane," she said blankly. "You? Make me suffer? Don't make me laugh."

Lareia took out a silver dagger from her back, hidden under her cloth and hair. It has a black rose insignia and thorns rapped on its blade serving as its scabbard. It slowly unfurled and wrapped itself on her left hand. It sucked her blood into the blade, turning silver to pitch black.

"Lareia! What are you doing?!" Jake called to her as she started walking towards Valor.

"Leave and prepare my dinner for me. I can save him, but you need to leave him to me. Will you... follow my orders?" she said without turning to Jake. She examined her dagger intently, an evil smirk crept from her lips as the sparkle in her eyes slowly disappeared.

"Yes, my lady." The sounds of his footsteps disappeared as the door made a clicking sound.

Lareia was still studying her dagger while Valor kept growling at her. Her aura became darker and darker as time passes by, her eyes turning pitch black.

"Who are you, to think that you can make me suffer? A lowly demon possessing a dark elf to take revenge... do you really think you're powerful and worthy enough to do that?" She slowly glided the blade of the dagger across his right cheek. He felt a burning sensation every time it made contact with his skin.

"Does it burn? Hurt? Don't worry, I will make you suffer little by little until you wish you were dead!" Her eyes widened at him, an evil smirk on her face. Out of fear, he started shaking uncontrollably, screaming, and trying to break away from the chains that bind him.

Lareia watched him intently as a burst of loud, evil laughter escaped her delicate lips. Slowly, tears of black blood rolled down from her orbs, but she kept laughing like an insane woman.

After calming down, her eyes turned back to normal and the thorns covered the blade of her dagger. Her tears turned to smoke and she hid her dagger back to its rightful place.

"I'll be back, after my meal, vengeful demon." As she uttered those words, Valor continued to struggle and scream for help. She walked away with a smirk, slowly opening the door. She peeked from the gap, a dark glint in her eyes, before completely closing it.

"What did you do?" Jake asked after the door completely closed. He wore a confused look while leaning on the wall beside the door.

"Just scared the little, middle-class demon inside him. Is my dinner prepared?" She replied with her cold, blank voice.

The low-class demons can influence other creatures, but they can't possess them. The middle-class can posses and have small protection around their necks. While the high-class are exceptionally beautiful, can control others without trying to influence or possess them, and they can use magic as long as the area has mana particles. Some of them are also immune to anti-demon substances like iron, salt, and even holy water.

Jake nodded slowly and a maid led the way to the dining room. As the giant doors slowly opened, the scent of blood greeted them, Lareia's eyes turning pitch black again. With the speed of lightning, she sat on the middle chair and stared at the parts of a human that sat in the table.

Jake only stood at the side, waiting for her to make a move while wearing a worried look. He knew that it must be hard for her, but he doesn't know how to comfort or help her. Lareia contemplated on what part she should eat first. The heart is the best choice since it contains most of the mana of a human being.

Slowly, Lareia took the heart using the fork. It was still beating faintly as she examined it. The scent was very inviting, so she decided to have a taste. Taking a bite, it felt soft as blood came rushing to her mouth, and with her sharp teeth, cutting the stale heart was easy. She felt it beat inside her mouth as she started chewing it slowly. It should taste disgusting, but to her tongue, it tastes like meat; that was an understatement, it tastes better than meat. Human flesh, human heart; it was the second, most delicious thing she has ever tasted.

After consuming the heart, she felt a sudden rush of magic inside her. The red marks slowly healed, and she can feel the power flowing in her veins. Her eyes turned bloody-red as her body transformed into her demon form. A dark aura slowly surrounded her, it gets larger for every second that passes. Her wings suddenly unraveled making strong winds around the room.

Pitch black skin and bat-like wings; sharp, long nails and horns; and bloody-red eyes. It was a terrifying sight that can haunt anyone's nightmares for a long time.

Jake and the maids tried their best not to get flown away, but everyone failed while Jake barely lasted. He used the wall to stop himself from getting flown, creating sharp claw marks on the wall. She was out of control, the tables and chairs tumbled down to the ground, some are even destroyed. The windows shattered while some of the maids lay still on the ground, unsure if they are even alive.

Jake tried to move towards her, but the pressure coming from the power inside her was too great that he barely moved an inch. Suddenly, a flash of lightning came crashing down, making a hole from the roof down to the current floor. It was a big mess, cement was scattered all around, and dust covered their sight. As it slowly dispersed, blinding gold wings and a man with a perfect build can be seen in front of the stunned Lareia.

His eyes and hair were pink, his golden wings shine as bright as the stars, and his body physique shows strength. It was all too familiar to her, making her feel overwhelmed as tears of black blood came rolling down her skin from her orbs that are slowly coming back to normal. Her wings and horns retracted as her pitch black skin turns to pale white.

"Are you calm now, Lareia?" He asked softly, a warm smile plastered in his face.

"Idiot... why are you late...?" she asked weakly, feeling drained because of the sudden rush of power.

Remiel slowly wrapped her in his arms, giving her warmth and comfort. She felt safe in his arms as she leaned on him, her defenses down.

"You will be alright now... I'll always be there, watching and guarding you from the distance," he whispered to her ears. No matter how hard she tries to stay awake, her body disagrees. Her consciousness slowly drifted away, and that was the last words she heard.

"Who are you?" Jake asked when he finally recovered from the shock.

"I'm Remiel, Lareia's lover," he replied blankly, as he carries Lareia in a princess carry style. "Where can I leave her to sleep?"

"You can-- wait! your arms are burning!" Jake said, noticing the smoke coming from his arms.

"Just tell me where her room is."

"Alright, I'll guide you there," Jake replied reluctantly and led the way to Lareia's chamber. He opened the door for Remiel, and he placed Lareia carefully on the soft bed.

"She looked peaceful, no pain, no stress; just peace. If only she can stay like this, she would be happier. I'll try to grant you that, my lady..." he whispered to her then tucked her under the blanket.

He turned to Jake, "We should talk." Jake nodded and they went to the garden.

"I will tell you the situation, but promise me not to tell her that I was the one she saw. Just avoid it by telling her that it was just a dream. I will also grant you three days to prepare to escape this place, can I trust her with you?"

"Of course. I will do anything to help her."

"Then we have a deal."