Chapter Two: A Truce is Met!

Syphron:

Alice fumed across from me, the bruises from her life covering her arms. Long white hair cascaded down her back, her red eyes narrowing. For several years, I was one of her only friends. Tears welled up in her eyes, this dark demonic personality pisses me off. Why couldn't she see me as her friend who she had since middle school? For years, my secret of Halloween Street being my domain was super difficult to protect from her. Every day I wanted to tell her, the smile on her face always stopping me. The wonder of what she would have thought of me is destroyed my heart, preventing me from telling her anything.

"How long has this been your true home?" She queried brokenly, messing with the black silk robe that I lent her. "You could have just told me and I would have stuck by your side. I am pissed that you locked me up, and changed me into a demon. My parents used to lie and beat me all of the time. I doubt my mother is even missing me right now. My father is probably nursing a beer at the local bar. To be honest, I don't think I belong anywhere." Tears streamed down her cheeks, surprised widening her eyes as I clutched her close to my chest. Every ounce of pain exploded from her lips, several wails of agony flooding from her lips. Sighing deeply, this felt so nice. Shoving me off of her, she forgot for a moment that she was mad at me. Tucking a piece of hair behind her ear, she stood to her feet. Crossing her delicate hands, the floorboards creaked as she walked into her bedroom. Broken, she reminded me of a broken doll. Slamming the door shut behind her, my shadow guardians popped up in front of me. Tears swam in my eyes, her smile was gone and it was my fault. God! Why did I have to be like that sometimes? Glass shattered in her room, a steady stream of curse words flooding from her lips. A loud thud sent me into her room, my heart shattering. Broken glass stuck out of her palms, black blood pouring onto the floor. This wasn't the first time she destroyed things to make herself feel better, my mind falling back on all of the times we spent in the scrapyard breaking everything.

"Could you hold me like you used to when we first met?" She pleaded softly, her voice so broken that tears dripped in the tone. "I still hate you, but when you hugged me it felt like old times." Glancing up at me with watery eyes, her walls were broken down for just a minute. Melting into my arms, small gasps of pain poured from her lips as I picked out each individual piece of glass. Smelling her gentle floral scent, a weak smile dimmed her face. This was a good sign, she was trying to fight her initial anger at me.

"Are we okay?" I inquired cautiously, her hand shoving me off. "That is a no." Turning her back, she flipped her hair. Flashing me a polite smile, she shoved me out the door. Slamming the door in my face, her back pressed against the door. Clearing her throat, her sniffles told me that she was not okay. At least she was still talking to me, or I hoped deeply that she was.

"How about a truce?" She offered tiredly, her blood pooling underneath the door. "I will give you a second chance. So let's start over. I am Alice Mallsford, the only child of a broken home. Who are you?" My heart fluttered at the sound of the smile in her voice, my shot not over yet. Leaning against the other side, her instinct was to ignore her feelings. Her golden heart gave herself the permission to let me back in, my fist pumping in the air.

"I am Syphron, a lord of Hell. I was exiled for not wanting to follow orders." I introduced myself, hugging my knees to my chest. "I was sent to live on Earth. They did offer me a way back in, you probably won't like it. I have to get married by the end of this year. While I was on Earth, I sensed you. You were born dead." Curiosity peaked in her voice, the door my hand slid a bit of gauze under the door. Cocking my head, maybe she would say yes.

"What do you mean that I was born dead?" She asked icily, wrapping her hand. "Are you suggesting that I was born a human with a demon in my body?" Stunned, she figured it out in mere seconds. The blood stopped pooling under the door, her laughter twinkled on the other side. What was so funny?

"How did you know?" I questioned in disbelief, a crooked grin on my lips. "You must have read too many of your web novels. You are such a dork." The door opened, my body crashing to the floor. Her beautiful face stared down at me, her long white hair a curtain around her face. Sitting down on the floor, her dainty hands pulled me onto her lap. Messing with my hair, I couldn't believe the next words she uttered.

"I will marry you, but don't expect to do anything with me." She sighed with defeat, kissing my forehead. "You have to earn that." Smiling warmly at me, the initial fight was over. Relief washed over me, her lips pursing together. The top of the robe slid off her shoulder, a bit of her ample breasts showing. Scarlet burned her cheek, a yawn pouring from my lips. Unable to resist, exhaustion won me over. Sweet slumber swept into her arms, the last thing I saw was her tired face.

Jerking awake, she was nowhere to be seen. Leaping to my feet, panic coursed through my mind. Running around, my three shadow children pulled on the hem of my jacket. Dragging me to the front gate, horror widened my eyes. The devil's assistant stood at my gate, the red suit hugging her short chubby body. Her black curls bounced around her head, red eyes glistening under black cat eyes glasses. A black clipboard sat in her hands, the black pen bounced irritably. Sprinting up to them, Alice was holding her own, smiling politely at Miss Gatsworth. Discontent sat in her eyes, her smile hiding the true intention of her game.

"I am here to see if you really plan on marrying Syphron, or if it is just a ruse." She groaned irritably, clearing her throat. "Please tell me you're lying?" A snarl curled on her lips, my dress shirt on her making me a bit hard. Evil laughter exploded from her lips, a psychotic look twinkling in her eyes.

"We are going to get married today." She announced proudly, smirking smugly in her direction. "I am sorry, but do I need your permission? I am under the belief that you are here to serve us if we wed today." My breath hitched at her words, my heart beating out of my chest. Wrapping her arms around mine, her lips pressed against mine sensually. Time stopped, it was just the two of us. Miss Gatsworth huffed and puffed grumpily, a stunned look on my face. Scarlet burned our cheeks, her cold eyes turning towards me.

"Is this true?" She grumbled with disappointment, her disapproval of me rather clear. "If it is, then I have all of the necessary paperwork in my bag." Shifting through her bag, she pulled out an exhausting pile of papers. Of course, this is Hell after all. Pulling her aside, her hands wrapped around the pile of papers. Barely reading the paper, she signed and filled out all of the necessary parts. Sliding them over to me, the worst question escaped my lips.

"Why did you just do this? Do you know what you would imply?" I whispered softly, Miss Gatsworth watching us from a distance. "I don't want to t-" A snarl curled on her lips, her hand wrapping around my wrist. Tilting her head to the right, she smiled back at our babysitter. Guiding my hand to the pen, her eyes narrowed. Clearly her hatred for this woman was more powerful than mine, a chuckle tickling my lips. No wonder, I loved her so much.

"Are you going to sign or what!" She demanded quietly, making sure that she didn't hear us. "This is your chance back in. Take it and we will iron out the rest later. I refuse to let her talk about my friend like that. Get to signing." The harshness of her words ruined the moment, her foot shaking as I finished the last line. Carrying over the papers, she slammed them into her arms. A devilish smile dawned on her face, dropping the pen onto the top.

"You can go now." She ordered icily, shoving her out of the gate. Miss Gatsworth stamped the top with an approval stamp before clicking away. Folding her arms across her chest, the gentle wave she gave was sure to get Gatsworth in a tizzy. Spinning on her heels, she brushed past me. Chasing after her, teardrops crashed to the ground. Refusing to look at me, the next words shattered my heart.

"I gave up my freedom for your status, so I believe a proper thanks is in order." She uttered simply, trying to hide the sadness in her voice. "You win." Walking away, my fingers wrapped around her arm. Clutching her close to my chest, she sobbed into my shoulder. Guilt ate me raw, especially at one of the conditions. All wives were required to get pregnant by six months, or the marriage was null and void. Snapping my fingers, Halloween street was gone, her parents home in front of us. Disgust destroyed my guilt, the brown cape nearly in shambles. Glancing over my shoulders, she turned to run. Dragging her onto the porch, tears flooded from her eyes. There were no cops, nothing. Her grubby father sat in his rotting recliner, his shaggy hair a snarled mess. Empty bottles littered the floor, her mother stumbling in with a needle sticking out of her arm. Collapsing to the ground, the door flew down the moment her foot met the wood. Sprinting over to her mother, she checked her pulse. A reaper lingered in the hallway, both of us knowing her fate, turning back towards her father. A growl rumbled in her throat, the landline breaking the silence.

"You leave her alone!" She shouted shrilly at the reaper, pointing down the hall. "She may be a monster, but she can't go out this way." Fresh tears of mixed emotions flooded from her eyes, the reaper floating towards her. Her body trembled, his bony fingers gripping her arm. The crack of her arm breaking shattered the still air. The reaper climbed on top of her mother, this was not what I intended for her at all. I just wanted her to say goodbye and check up on her mother. Shaking her head, shock widened her eyes. A broken bottle sticking out of her side, her father stumbled around. Turning his attention towards her father, the gas stove turned on. The smell of gas poisoned the air, Alice falling to her knees. Messing with her mother's blonde hair, she shook her body. Pulling a cigarette from his pocket, she cried out for him to stop. Spinning another broken bottle in his palm, placing the cigarette in between his lips.

"You look familiar." He slurred drunkenly, trying to get his steel lighter to work. "I am going to kill you after a quick smoke. Now is your time to run." His briskness reminded me of hers, the lifeless body of her dead mother underneath hers. Clutching her mother close to her ample chest, her bangs hid her eyes. Fat teardrops crashed onto the top of her mother's head, the urge to help her growing in me. What could I do? God! I was horrible in these situations.

"I am so sorry that I wasn't here to save you mom." She wept softly, rocking back and forth. "It was my job to make sure you don't die. I failed! Don't light that lighter, father! Can't you smell the g-" It was too late, the flame meeting the gas. Orange flames erupted, black smoke filling her lungs. Flames devoured his body, my arms scooping her up. Dragging her out, the bony fingers wrapped around her ankle.

"We are married, you bastard." I shouted over the crackling flames, realizing that she would have died today in the fire. "She was on your list, wasn't she? Answer me!" Red eyes flashed up at me, his bones clicking as he stood up. Flames licked his rough wool cloak, dark energy curling off of him.

"The answer is simple, the devil didn't want her to live." He hissed like a snake, patting himself out. "You two were always destined to be together. Do you want the truth? You are the true king of Hell, and not the poser in charge. Since you married her, you are now a low ranking lord of Hell once more. In order to climb up the ranks you have to mingle to improve your standing. I don't think she can do that. Miss Alice, would you like to be the Queen of Hell eventually?" A distance look dimmed her eyes, the tears still crashing to the burning wood of the porch. A wicked grin curled on her lips, her fist clenching.

"Hell yes. I want revenge, and I want it bad. When I ascend to the throne, he will die as he planned for me to. Everyone will be there to watch." She promised darkly, a couple ravens flying onto her shoulder. "I will avenge my parents' death. He will wish he never attempted to kill me. Let's go! Did you hear me! I said l-" Scooping her up in my arms, my fingers snapped. The fire faded to our pumpkin home, blood dripping down her leg.

"You don't have t-" I began, her hand on my arm stopping me. Shock rounded my eyes, her hand slamming into my face. Leaping out of my arm, she ripped the bottle out of her side. Swaying from the blood loss, my arms caught her.

"Thank you." She asserted gently, wiping away her tears. "At least I got to say goodbye. I want to hate you but I can't. Why is that! Is it our stupid bond? I just want to yell at you and run away, but my heart aches every time I think about it. Now I am alone." Spinning her around, holding her close to my chest. Shaking my head, this wasn't going to do. A small piece of me was deceiving her, and it hurt.

"You have to be pregnant in six months in order for this marriage to be valid." I blurted out nervously, her hand cupping my face. "I should have told you when you began to sign the marriage papers." Laughter erupted from her lips, her broken smile alarming me.

"I read that clause, Sy." She admitted sheepishly, kissing my lips lustfully. "I am just not ready yet. Give me four months." My heart fluttered at the sound of her saying my nickname, a tender blush rising to our cheeks. Awkward silence hung between us, her broken arm catching my eyes.

"Okay." I replied lovingly, pressing my lips against hers sweetly. "Take all of the time you mean. I love you Alice." She was mine, and only mine.