Demon slayers and secret powers

"What a pleasure it is to meet you, your highness, Miss Elowyn. We are delighted to finally have you with us,"

Tarquin says joyfully, clapping his black clawed hands together with an edge of delight, his eyes glimmering behind their sockets. For a moment, he looks me up and down, as if only just realising the attire I am dressed in for the first time. His friend, however, does not bother to spare me a glance.

"Is there a reason you are dressed in a wedding dress?" The red demon asks curiously, leaning forward on his toes to get a better look, causing the bangles on his horns to jangle with the movement. Beside me, Valerian's expression darkens, his fingers clacking impatiently against the wooden table.

"Her mother tried to break our bargain. The Queen of Vriryn tried to marry off her daughter to the eldest son of the Kingdom of Ethelia, despite the fact we made an extension on our deal only three weeks prior."

To this, even the dark, brooding demon looks up, his eyes widening slightly. His membranous wings twitch in irritation.

"The demon slayers?" Dreyfus growls, rapping his knuckles against his lap with tense anticipation. The demon at last finally looks at me, looks at me hard, as if attempting to determine the scope of my power- or my weakness. His dark eyes unnerve me, much unlike the bright yellow eyes of his counterpart, or the lulling purple hues of the Devil, Dreyfus' eyes appear jet black, bottomless, as though desiring to suck out your very soul with a single look.

Shivering, I avert my gaze. I suppose this is what I should have expected from the demon lords of the Downside, I was foolish to think otherwise.

Valerian nods slowly to Dreyfus' comment. He gives a strained smile.

"The demon slayers, yes. That women lost her mind years ago, in all honesty, I should have seen it coming."

Swiftly, I jolt my head round to look at him.

"Prince Yariel is a demon slayer?" I ask, flabbergasted, rising from my seat slightly from the shock of it all.

Demon slayers are rare at best- there aren't many kingdoms who practise the art any more, it's a skill long forgotten. Most demons slayers these days are rogues or live in tribal like gatherings, never staying put, moving from place to place to hunt the demons who have escaped the downside- often for a hefty price. But not everyone can be a demon slayer, you see, demon hunters are born with a special 'sight', the ability to see a demon's heart. This can come in very handy, as most demons disguise themselves as mortals if they ever do come to the Upper Realm, so hunting one down can be notoriously difficult for someone without such sight.

They are able to determine whether a demon has good or bad intentions, even some who are more adept with their skill to determine how powerful a demon is, not that it makes any difference. If a demon slayer has been hired to kill a demon, they will do it, regardless of whether that demon has feelings or not.

Its no wonder they are often described as the most ruthless beings in the whole of the Upper Realm.

But for my mother to know that Prince Yariel is a demon slayer… a me a demon…

"Prince Yariel had no intentions of killing you, at least not then. He was utterly prepared to marry you, actually, he thought you were rather pretty, and trusted your mother a great deal," Valerian assures, letting his hand rest over mine, pulling me back down into my seat with a reassuring smile. I give him a sharp look.

"How did you know I was thinking that?"

The two demon lords glance between us, frozen to their seats, like statues as they watch the events unfold. Dreyfus at most seems mildly interested, toying at the knives on his belt with a casual disinterest. Tarquin, however, looks as though he has never seen anything more entertaining in his life.

Cautiously, Valerian lets go of my hand, rubbing his fingers together as he reclines languorously back against his seat.

"I hate to alarm you, chérie, but I am the Devil, and there are countless things I can do which you would not think of in your wildest dreams. One of my roles as ruler and king down here is to dispense judgement and justice- which is made a hell of a lot easier if I can read people's minds. But be aware that there are plenty of demons, my companions here included-" he gestures sweepingly to the two demon lords "-that also have powers such as my own, and do not always use them for the good of the people. Please do not be angry, Princess, it is not my intention to harm you by it."

I pause, letting these words soak in. Ordinarily if someone had told me they were reading my mind without me knowing, I might have flipped out, thrown some fists, and incinerated half the building.

To think, he has been reading my mind for the gods know how long... Such an act seems entirely invasive, and enough to make my skin prickle with a distinct unease. But the Devil- for all his tricks and flamboyantly dangerous threats, seems earnest in his words, so I simmer back down, folding my arms over myself.

I will let it rest, for now.

"Anything else I need to know about you?" I mutter stiffly, giving him a sideways look. Valerian's eyes glitter as he pushes back his dark hair, giving me a not so subtle wink.

"That, Princess, is for you to find out."

On the opposite end of the table, Tarquin snorts loudly.

"Get a fucking room, you two," he cackles, throwing back his head with a roaring laugh. Flames flicker and brighten in their lamps on the walls as he does, his eyes flaring up against the shadows of his face. Briefly, I let myself wonder whether that might have anything to do with his powers that Valerian mentioned. Or maybe it is just one of the many occurrences that I have yet to fathom in this strange new world.

Cackling fit over, Tarquin leans forwards, eyebrows peaked with interest, a sly expression swimming on his face.

"But what of the Princess' mother? She broke the deal- I assume you are going to punish her for it?" Tarquin adds suggestively, twiddling his fingers together. Valerian sighs.

"Yes, but that is a matter for later. Though I have some ideas in mind."