6 CHAPTER 6

After leaving Asmodalius office Shax heaved a sigh of relief, 'I rather get done with the job than stand in front of His Highness', he hugged himself and shivered once more.

"Are you okay Master? Your complexion is quite pale". The coachman asked opening the carriage door for him.

"I'm completely fine. Let's go." He got on the carriage and the coachman whipped his whip and two howls reverberated in the surroundings. The carriage was pulled by two big wolves instead of horses that were taller than an average human.

It would have been easier to travel via a teleportation circle but Earls like Asmodalius don't have the luxury of it. as it takes a lot of resources and effort to draw a teleportation circle.

Shax has to make a stop at Hell's Bazaar. A teleportation circle was here so demons that were merchants and other mixed beings could trade their goods with each other. Hell's Bazaar was no different than the market in the human realm.

Two teleportation Circles were drawn at the center of the bazaar with four pillars erected on each corner. A small office was situated next to the teleportation circle. They were responsible for collecting the toll fee, controlling traffic, preventing disputes, and many other things.

The teleportation circle was big enough to teleport hundred people at once. Whenever the teleportation circle glowed people with carriages and carts pulled by strange creatures could be seen coming out of it.

A carriage stopped in front of the office and the coachman paid the toll fee according to their destination. the coachman then rode the carriage towards the teleportation circle which was only used for exists.

Shax's mansion was located in the north. Everything was covered in snow which gave the feeling of serenity. The calm and peace were broken when a light shone from the entrance gate of the mansion. A carriage came out of the magic circle and the wolves howled announcing the arrival of the Master of the mansion.

The carriage stopped in front of the main door and Shax came out snow crunched under his feet. The snow was coming down in big heavy flakes which soaked his clothes. He was welcomed by the butlers and maid as he entered the foyer.

"Master, you've returned".

"I'll be in my office. Unless it's urgent do not disturb me".

"Understood".

Upon entering the office, he took his coat off and poured himself a drink, and finished it in one big gulp. He plopped in the chair snapped his fingers. An orb appeared in his hands.

"Come forth". A pale white mist came out of the orb and took the form of the girl.

While pouring himself another drink he asked, "What's your name?".

"Aubrey", it was almost a whisper.

"How old were you when you died?".

"Fif…fifteen".

"Do you remember how you died?"

Shax was only asking this pointless question to see if the girl has retained sanity or gone coocoo. But for her, it was like she was struck by lightning.

'Do you remember how you died? How could I not', she thought. 'Even if I died a thousand times more, I can't forget it'. her body became stiff as a log. She was translucent, to begin with, but the pale expression on her face couldn't be missed. She felt the hands of those men roaming all over her body. The pain from the knife going in and out of her chest rubbing against the bone.

She didn't want to answer that question, she didn't want to remember it that place, those faces, how she was tied up like an animal. But she couldn't help herself. Shax was not asking them casually there was hidden force behind those words that would compel anyone to answer.

"Y…Yes". She was shaking uncontrollably.

He looked at her from head to toe and downed his second drink.

"Despite being half-demon you're very weak. You can't even maintain your body form. We'll have to tie it to an object for now until you become strong enough to maintain it on your own without any external help."

"Object?", she murmured.

"Yes, an object. Because you're not much of a use to us in that form".

'But what should I use', he thought.

He started tapping his fingers on the table in a strange rhythm. He always does that whenever he's thinking. He was thinking about what to use when his gaze landed on his finger and he stopped tapping.

He was wearing a ring on the forefinger of his left hand. it was a white ring with two wolves' heads holding a sphere in the middle that resembled a moon. The ring was gifted to him by one of his ex-lovers.

'It's a good thing I didn't get rid of it', he thought. 'let's use this piece of junk for now'.

He got up and moved towards her while taking his ring off. He stopped right in front of her and held the ring in his palm. She flinched at the close proximity and wanted to move back but her legs felt like lead.

He chanted a spell and a magic circle appeared on top of the ring. The magic circle split into two identical ones. One of it was engraved on the ring and the other engraved itself on her.

She felt a hot searing pain in the middle of her chest and started clawing at it but her hand passed through her chest.

" it will end in a moment", he said indifferently.

As he said that the pain did subside after a few seconds but for her, it felt like hours. She dropped to her knees her breath coming in gasps.

"You can't even endure a little pain from a bounding spell. You really are weak", he sneered. "Hey get up. How long do you plan to stay like that?".

She flinched at the cold harsh tone and got up slowly her legs wobbly.

"Here, take this". He threw the ring at her which she caught flimsily. "Wear this at all times. It will help you with your form".

She nodded and the instant she wore the ring her body started to become solid slowly and was amazed by the process.

Shax snapped his fingers and went to his chair. A knock sounded and a butler entered. He bowed "Yes, Master".

"Harold prepare a room for her she'll be living with us from now on. Also arrange all the basic necessities for her".

"Yes, Master".

"Also tell Burce to come and meet me first thing in the morning". He ordered as he sat down.

"You rest for today we'll discuss the rest in the morning. Furthermore, from today your name is Lily. That's the name I gave you when I bound your soul to the ring. You're not a human anymore so there's no need to use a human name. You may leave now". He shooed her away.

"Understood", Harold looked at the weak girl standing there naked shivering.

'You could have given her something to cover herself up. Poor girl'.

Now that Lily has a solid form, she could feel cold entering her bones. Harold snapped his fingers and a cloak appeared in his hand. he handed it to Lily.

"Cover yourself with this for now and follow me please".

Lily took the cloak from him and covered herself. She was ashamed that she was standing naked in front of them and didn't even realize it.

Harold bowed once more and left the office with her. The mansion was beautiful and huge but Lily didn't have the luxury to ask for a tour. She had many things going on in her mind. After a few turns here and there, they stopped in front of the door that was located at the end of a corridor. The corridor looked dark, cold, and empty but maybe it was like that because it was nighttime.

"This will be your room from now on. There are some spare clothes in the wardrobe you can use for tonight. Tomorrow I will prepare everything for you and send someone to get you fitted for new clothes. If there's anything you need just ring the bell and someone will come to assist you. Goodnight then", he nodded curtly and left.

The room was big, dark, and cold and the only source of light was coming from the window near the bed. She went towards it and peered outside. It was snowing. Light snow began to fall and everything was covered in white.

'its so beautiful like a snow wonderland'.

The snow gave the feeling of serenity and purity. It made the place look so magical but Lily knows that this place was far from magical and it was a wonderland for demons, ghouls, fiends, and whatnot.

She looked around the room and caught sight of a mirror. She took off the cloak and went towards the mirror with the eyes shut tight unsure what the mirror would show her. after contemplating for a while, she opened her eyes ever so slowly.

Lily was stunned at her reflection. The girl who once had hair that looked like rust and brown eyes that sat upon the face filled with freckles was nowhere to be seen instead in her place stood a girl who had pale grey hair that looked almost white shining under the moonlight. A pair of pale gray eyes with a luster, glowing softly in the dark.

She was mesmerized by her own appearance. There were no rope marks or stab marks. All wounds disappeared leaving behind pale, smooth skin. The scars on the body disappeared but the scars on the souls remained.

'I looked more like a ghost than a demon. Shouldn't demons have horns coming out of their heads and sharp teeth from their mouth'. She looked at her back, 'No tail'.

"The change in my appearance must be due to this ring", she looked at her finger which was adorned by a ring. A sphere held by two wolves heads that resembles a moon.

Lily was busy admiring the ring that she forgot she was standing naked which made her shiver. The room gave a feeling of comfort and relaxation but it was not welcoming and warm. She remembered the old butler saying that there were spare clothes that she could use. She opened the wardrobe and found a sleeping gown. The design looked like it was meant for a man but there was not much of a choice.

She climbed on the bed and covered herself with the blanket. It was soft and warm which made her feel sleepy. Inside the orb, there was no need to sleep or eat. But now that she is no longer inside and has a solid body, she couldn't help but feel drowsy.

Everything that has happened till now from finding out she was half-demon and was going to be used as a reaper. All of this took a toll on her mentally and after forming a body physically too. Her eyelids felt heavy and her body even heavier. It drooped and she drowsed.

In the middle of the night, Lily sat up straight screaming her lungs out. She was clutching the blanket and was panting heavily. She had a nightmare where she found herself at that place again. Tied up to an altar those men looking down at her doing the same thing again and again and again. She could feel their hands all over her body. She started clawing at her skin trying to rip it off wherever they touched her.