The Demon Lord And His Hero

If the scene outside had been gory, the inside wasn't much better. Chains hung off stone walls where emaciated and naked human figures were bound to. In the centre of the cave, rotting waste and discarded blood stained the ground dark like a path paved to hell; while on the sides, heaps of animal and human bones lined the corners of the cave like a display of how much effort the villagers had expended for the demons.

Artemus took one look at everything and felt his stomach churn with disgust. He could burn his clothes to get rid of the stink that soaked into everything, but there was no way to scrub the phantom smells and the images that would linger in his brain till death erased them. His only consolation was the lives they were going to save tonight. He considered that worth the suffering he was forced to endure.

"Nurhia will be pleased," the hooded man commented as they walked through the wide cavern. "There will be prosperity for you and your children."

"How about I just keep one of these men with me for a while?" The human leader asked. "I'm partial to the beauty with red hair." He leered at Lucien, appreciating the teenager's slender figure.

"One week. I want him back in good condition."

"That's all the time I'll need," he said with satisfaction. "I'll try not to damage him too much." He was already getting turned on from the thoughts of seeing the redhead naked.

The torches inside the cave all suddenly flickered at once as if the fire was trying to put itself out but decided against it at the last moment.

"It's fuckin' windy in here," Sebastian loudly complained though there hadn't been a whisper of wind. When the hooded man turned to stare at them, the mage shivered and made a pitiful face. "I feel cold. I hope the wind doesn't blow so hard again."

"Shut up, Sebastian. Don't you understand how much trouble we're in?" Artemus suddenly snapped at him. "These lunatics want to kill us."

"Is that true? Are you really goin' ta kill us?" Sebastian asked, eyes going wide like he had thought it to be a joke going too far.

The humans behind the group sniggered at what they perceived to be an idiot realising only now that he was going to die.

The cloaked man was silent as he looked at their faces one at a time. He was satisfied with what he saw. They all appeared afraid save for the messy-haired one whose expression he couldn't quite figure out. "If you're merchants, where are your goods?" He asked them but was looking only at Magnus.

"We sold them all. Now we just have money," the fire mage replied in a low voice. The man was staring at him but it was the dark look from Artemus that dampened the wrath which was slowly simmering under his calm facade.

"And where is the money?"

Magnus breathed out a sigh. "I'll get killed whether or not I hand over the money. I'd rather die knowing that I haven't deepened your pockets with my riches." The only reason he hadn't just outright murdered the kidnappers was their need to find the demoness first. If Nurhia was alerted to the deaths of her subordinates then she would run away and start the cycle of horror in another human village.

"Very well," the hooded man said, amusement in his voice. "You'll die last."

Magnus was relieved when Artemus stopped aiming his deadly glare at him. The fire mage regretfully realised that he was never going to grow out of the mentor and student relationship that existed between them.

The group arrived at a cave that was relatively cleaner than the others they'd left behind. But it was an equally disturbing sight to look at because of the enormous black idol that took up half the space in that section of the cave. Nurhia's horrifying image was carved with exquisite detail, allowing its viewers to notice the elements that they hadn't noticed on the smaller idols.

This idol they were looking at had large horns coming out of the head, and two wings spreading out towards the ceiling. Unlike the idols that were carved from wood, this one was carved from onyx.

"Behold, the goddess Nurhia whose beauty and mercy shines down upon us."

The humans knelt before the idol and chanted Nurhia's prayer with devotion.

"Goddess, we've brought you sacrifice! Fill your bowels with their blood, your spirit with their spirit. It is rightfully yours."

"Creepy," Lucien murmured. Nurhia's unholy presence was leaking out of the statue and filling the cave.

"Take your prize and leave," the hooded man told the human who had requested to have Lucien. "It is time for sacrifice."

"Thank you!" Lucien heard the human say before he felt a rough tug on his arm. The redhead refused to budge. He was immovable and too strong for the man.

"Syryn, stop resisting and come with me or you'll die with your friends!" The man hissed at him.

"That's not my name," Lucien replied as he watched the human's eyes begin to close shut like he was going into a trance. The same thing was happening to Artemus, Sebastian, Magnus and the other humans in the room.

"-come- with-" the man folded over and collapsed to the ground.

"Interesting," Lucien said as he looked at his companions who were fighting the demonic influence putting them to sleep. One by one, they dropped to the ground till only Lucien and the hooded man remained standing.

"What a pleasant surprise," the man said with a chuckle. "If I had known that a brother of mine was here-"

"Silence," Lucien coldly interrupted. His humourless red eyes were sparkling with ire when they landed on the demon. "I am an emissary of our mighty Emperor. And you shall address me with the respect accorded to my position." The redhead released his own demonic aura and it was so overwhelming in its intensity that even Lucien himself was affected by it. His eyes glowed crimson, flaring with a hunger that demanded he satisfy immediately.

"I beg your forgiveness!" The hooded man fell to his knees as he cried out fearfully. "My liege, take my life! But if I'm not worthy to be killed by your hands, I will end my despicable self at your command!"

The demonic redhead smiled at the cowering pig. This was how it should be. He deserved nothing less than worship and devotion from the weak demons, weak humans, who dared remain alive before his presence. Lucien then turned around to the statue of Nurhia which was slowly letting out a black miasma.

"Come out little demoness," he said, mouth widening into a terrifying grin. "You've been naughty so I've come with punishment, but I'll be gentle since you're such a lady."

A shrill scream echoed in the cave, bouncing off the walls and echoing in painful disharmony. The demonic goddess was furious.