Bab 17: Chapter 17: A New Prison?
She ran....She ran as fast as she could. Her legs pumped as fast as they could carry her, propelling her through the dense forest. The sound of twigs snapping and leaves rustling filled her ears as she nimbly skipped over fallen branches and dodged around trees. Despite her agility, her breaths came rough and ragged, as if each one was a struggle. Her body ached from fatigue and pain, yet she refused to slow down.
She had clutched her stomach with one hand, her fingers digging into her flesh as she fought to keep the wound from reopening. Blood slicked her arm and dripped onto the ground, leaving a trail behind her. Her Demonic Energy was nearly depleted, and she was now running solely on the last dregs of her Life Force. Every muscle in her body was aching, yet she couldn't slow down.....but unfortunately she was. Her head pounded with every heartbeat, and she could feel her focus slipping. Her vision blurring, making it difficult to see the path ahead
Suddenly, her foot caught on a thick tree root, and she stumbled forward. Her momentum carried her further than she had intended, and she crashed into a tree with a loud thud. A groan escaped her lips as pain shot through her body, but she didn't let it stop her. She struggled to her feet, her muscles protesting every movement. She tried to move forward, but her feet refused to obey her. Frustration and desperation washed over her as she gritted her teeth and started crawling forward
Every movement took almost all of her will, but she refused to stop. As she stumbled forward, she caught a glimpse of something ahead, but she didn't care. She pushed herself harder, not willing to give up even now. Gradually, the image became clearer as she drew closer. It was a pair of feet. Her heart sank, thinking her pursuers had caught up to her at last.
But as she turned her head upwards, a different sight greeted her. It wasn't her pursuers. It wasn't anyone she recognized. The person standing before her was a charming young teenager. His obsidian hair fluttered slightly in the wind, and his expression was impassive as he looked at her briefly before turning his attention to something behind her. His eyes gave nothing away, careless
She was then jolted back to reality by the sound of ruffling behind her. Using all the strength she had left, she passed the boy and dragged herself forward, but no matter how much she tried now, she couldn't do anything. It was already too late
Her breath hitched and her eyes widened in fear as she heard the voice coming from behind her. They were here, they found her
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"There she is!" One of the men that came out of the bushes yelled out as he spotted her, "Over here!"
Three more figures appeared, joining the first to make a group of four. One of them was unmistakably a High-Class. The others were Ultimate Class. All of them seemed to be seething with frustration, but the one who stood out was the strongest of the Ultimate-Class, a middle-aged man with a face that was contorted with rage. His eyes darted around the surrounding as he furtively searched for his target, before it finally fell on to her, looking miserable and pathetic as she lay there sprawled on the floor, covering at him in fear. The man took a step forward, as the look in his eyes became sharper, the fury burning hotter. But before he could take another step, one of his companions seized his arm, stopping him in his tracks. The man whirled around, ready to snap at him, but was interrupted.
"W-wait, Lord," his subordinate stuttered out, his voice barely above a whisper. He shifted uncomfortably under the angry gaze of his master, but he summoned up the courage to point towards a certain someone. Though still pissed off at being interrupted, the man's eyes followed the direction of the pointed finger, and there he saw him....
He looked about a young teenager, with delicate features. It was clear that he would grow up to be a very handsome man. His jet black hair reached up to his shoulders in a silky and wavy flow. His facial features were well-defined, yet not fully matured. He looked like a proper teen in his youth....But then there were the boy's eyes. They were the kind of eyes that shouldn't belong to a child. Apart from its otherworldly appearance, they seemed to emit an aura of cold arrogance, uncaring and aloof. They belonged to an emperor, someone used to looking down on everyone else. It was impossible to ignore the feeling of inferiority that his gaze imparted, the sense that the boy held himself above all others.
The so-called Lord's fury burned even brighter. How dare this mere child look down on him? But as much as he tried to convince himself that it was intentional, he knew deep down that it wasn't. The boy's condescending stare was almost subconscious, as if he wasn't even aware of the effect it had on those around him. And yet, that only made the Lord even angrier
To be deemed unworthy of even being looked down upon was the ultimate insult, and he seethed with impotent rage
Just as he was about to lash out at the arrogant boy, he paused. A sudden movement in the forest caught his eye, and he turned to see another figure emerge from the shadows, slowly and calmly making her way towards them. As she drew closer, the Lord's eyes widened in recognition. He instantly knew who she was, her fame was legendary.....That silver hair....That beautiful appearance....
His irrational emotions immediately bubbled down, and his gaze rapidly turned back to the boy, observing him carefully, scanning every inch of his body.....That was when he spotted it – the infamous sigil of the Barbatos family, engraved on the boy's arm.
He immediately sucked in cold breath as his eyes widened with terror, as he realised what he was about to do. His gaze followed back to the maid, who was now beside the boy. She looked at him with cold, steely eyes, her expression inscrutable. He almost instinctively turned his eyes away from her gaze, feeling a shiver run down his spine. If he had succeeded in his attack, if he had let his anger get the best of him, there was no saying what his fate would be
He immediately gave a light courteous bow, his right hand touching his chest, "Greetings Lord Barbatos, it is my utmost pleasure to finally make your acquaintance"
The man's subordinates, recognizing the gravity of the situation, quickly followed suit and bowed down, albeit deeper than their leader. Lord Naberius, for that was the man's name, straightened up and continued, "I am the Head of the Naberius House."
The boy didn't didn't respond, except just simply look at him. The silence stretched on for a while, with both parties making no move. They were waiting for a response. Lord Naberius awkwardly cleared his throat, unsure of what to do next, he grappled with the uncomfortable pause
Finally, the boy opened his mouth, "Lord Naberius, the pleasure is mine. I am Diablo, of House Barbatos." He finished, though his words were polite, they didn't reach his eyes...they were the same. He didn't bow or do anything either, which was obvious because his status was above, much above. The Naberius House was merely a branch family....but still, he was still a head of house, a bit of decency was expected....but he didn't do anything, not even a single nod, no acknowledgement. The Lord simply clenched his fists behind his back seeing this, but didn't show any other reaction
"May I ask," Diablo continued, his voice carefully measured, "-why Lord Naberius was attempting to cross territories without any prior notice?" His eyes narrowed as he regarded the subordinates before him, scanning them intently. "And that too with subordinates that are far too combat-oriented and strong to be mere servants, and too many to be a simple guard. Forgive me if this seems presumptuous, but this appears to be an...instigation."
Lord Naberius's thoughts cleared away in an instant at his words, as he once again remembered his original purpose. He knew that he had to act quickly, before the situation spiraled out of control. Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to speak in measured, deliberate tones.
"I apologize, my lord, if our actions have given you cause for concern," he said. "But I assure you, this is all a misunderstanding. We have no intention of creating any discord with House Barbatos. We were merely in pursuit of a criminal, a despicable wretch who has committed an unforgivable crime against my house." As he spoke, his gaze flickered to the girl behind Diablo, the anger returning to his eyes, she flinched under his gaze.
He had held back some information, not revealing the crime, not revealing the fact that the Heir of the Naberius House, his son, had died, murdered. They were vulnerable, and he couldn't risk revealing their weakness to the outside world yet. He needed some time
"...I see..." For some reason, Lord Barbatos infront of him seemed to be deep in thought, his face warping in contemplation, but he didn't pay much mind to it
"Alright" Immediately a sense of relief shrouded him when Diablo uttered out this word, "I give you my best wishes in this endeavour of yours, I hope you find this criminal of yours as soon as possible" he ended casually
"Haha, yes, thank yo-..what?" He paused, when he fully processed his words. Confusion warping him. Huh? She is right behind you.....What do you mean 'find'?
Though still a bit baffled by his wording, he didn't mind it much, thinking of it as just an enigmatic quirk of the Lord or just a mistake. He took a step forward, his servants readying to move as well, but just as he shifted his weight onto his front foot, he suddenly jumped back in surprise.
BAM!
The ground where he had just stood erupted in a shower of dirt and splinters, leaving behind a small, deep hole that resembled a miniature crater. The projectile had come from a great distance away, and its trajectory had been so precise that it had pierced through the air without making a sound, until it shattered the earth below. It was like an attack from a ghost
He quickly scanned its trajectory, his eyes catching sight of the glint of sunlight reflecting off a small metal object in the distance. It was a bullet, fired from an unknown location, but it was unmistakably from the Barbatos side. This unprovoked attack infuriated the Head, and just as he was about to voice it out, he was interrupted.
"What is the meaning of this?" Diablo demanded, his voice slicing through the air like a blade. He narrowed his eyes at them, as if it was them that did something, them to blame. The gaze was so intense, that even Lord Naberius doubted himself for a second, thinking if there was something indeed he had done wrong.
"Lord Naberius, I think I did not clarify this properly," He continued, his tone unwavering, "Despite my understanding of your predicament, I have not allowed you or any of your companions to enter the Barbatos territory. As a fellow Devil and Lord, versed in affairs of nobility, I'm sure you can understand. I simply cannot afford to take such risks."
"Please do not be difficult," he added, his voice a warning. "If you take even one step beyond this point, you will cross the border, and I will be deem it as an act of aggression"
Though the explanation was indeed very frustratingly valid, the methods were still kind of extreme. Naberius responded instantly, "But Lord," he voice sharp, his annoyance palpable. "Our criminal is on your territory. We cannot retrieve her if we are not allowed to enter." He emphasised his point with a sharp gesture, hoping to make it clear how absurd the situation was. It was common fucking sense, how the fuck would he retrieve her if he couldn't go in?
Diablo replied to him with a casual yet firm tone, his eyes locked onto the man's as he spoke, the words rolling of his tongue with ease, "Lord Naberius," he began, his voice commanding attention. "As the head of House Barbatos, I can completely assure you that there is no criminal on my territory, I give you my word. I say this in the name of my house, Barbatos"
He froze.....the servants around him froze, for a second he doubted what he just heard. His eyes momentarily traveling to his target, confirming she was indeed there. She looked as confused as he was. A vow on the house was a serious thing. He muttered, slowly, his voice just above a whisper, "But....she's right behind you...." Bewilderment clear in his voice.
A look of 'surprise' etched the boy's face, his lips parting slightly "Oh really?" he said, turning around to look behind him. His eyes surveyed everything, from the distant trees to the vast expanse of the forest. His gaze passed the girl multiple times, yet he didn't show any reaction, and casually looked around. He turned back to Lord Naberius, "Huh, that's strange. I don't see her"
He pivoted his head to address his maid, "Fia, do you see someone?" he asked
The maid simply shook her head in denial, "No, Young master." she replied, "There is no one there. My senses can't detect anyone other than us in the entire territory."
Diablo turned back to face the Naberius, whose mouth was gaping open in disbelief. "There is no one here," he repeated, his voice tinged with a note of finality. "I think you should rest for a while, Lord Naberius. You seem unwell," he added
Lord Naberius's eyes flickered, as he stared at the display, still in disbelief, his voice escaping him, ".....Lord Barbatos....Please take this seriously, I am not in the state of mind for jokes"
"What....? I'm not joking. I am completely serious right now" He said, his voice flat and without inflection, his eyes wide and emotionless. A chill went up his spine as he saw those eyes, but he shook his head as he focused on what he just said, his words simply confusing him more
Finally, he snapped out of it, understanding finally engorging him. He was being made a fool out of, for some reason. The heir of Barbatos seemed to be seeking to oppose him, but he couldn't fathom why. Did he want the girl? He knew nothing about her potential, nothing about her at all, really. Or was he simply a kind person, trying to help a stranger in need? If that was the case, then he wouldn't last long in this world. The kind ones were the first to go out, he knew this very well. But it still didn't match up....It didn't make sense. Yes, she was a rare breed of Nekomata, but would he really go to such lengths, even as far as offending another noble house, just to grab hold of her? Especially considering his own circumstances...It was baffling to say the least, completely out of the blue.
"T-this is preposterous! Lord Barbatos, I am in no mood for games! I demand you hand her over to us right now!" He uttered out loud, as his voice shook
Diablo's eyes narrowed coldly, "Oh? You demand me?"
"I-I mean, she is right behind you Lord..... Please do not be difficult and simply hand her over to us"
Diablo's lips curved into a smirk at Lord Naberius's stammering words. He was enjoying this more than he probably should have. "I see," he said, turning around to look at the girl. She was still there, watching them silently, confusion clear, "And what makes you think that I have her?"
Lord Naberius's eyes widening further in disbelief, "But...you looked at her before....you acknowledged her presence....You're even looking at her right now!" he protested.
Diablo raised an eyebrow, as he turned back to him "Am I?" he said innocently, as if he couldn't remember. "I'm afraid I don't recall. Perhaps you're mistaken, Lord."
Lord Naberius gritted his teeth, feeling his anger rising. He was being played, and he didn't like it one bit. "Enough of this!" he finally exploded, "If you don't hand her over to us right now, I will have no choice but to take her by force!"
Diablo's eyes flashed dangerously. "Is that a threat, Lord?"
"N-no, we will simply take her," he faltered, "We just want her. We would not go above hundred meters in your territory, I promise you that."
"Didn't you hear me?" Diablo sneered. "I said there is no one here. Are you calling me a liar, Lord Naberius?" He shook his head, his expression growing more hostile by the moment. "I even made a vow in the name of my House," he spat. "Are you saying that that means nothing, that my House has no honour? Are you ridiculing my House? Are you tarnishing its name and slandering it? Do you desire to raise a conflict between our Houses?"
Accusations after accusations left his mouth, leaving the Naberius troubled. His teeth gritting against each other in frustration
"....You cannot do this....." A whisper left his mouth, before he continued, much louder this time, "YOU CANNOT DO THIS! You are housing a criminal! She is a Stray Devil, she took the life of her master, of the Heir of the Naberius House, OF MY SON!!"
"....You have my deepest condolences for your loss," Diablo responded, unbothered by the outburst, "I sincerely do hope you find her as soon as possible, but I will not tolerate any disrespect towards me or my House. I hope you understand"
"However, I do advise you to leave now," he continued, his voice calm and measured. "Get some rest, Lord Naberius. Calm your nerves. You are clearly overtaken by emotions at the moment, and the loss is clearly affecting you, enabling you to not see things rationally."
The vein on his temple throbbed visibly, pulsing with anger as if it were a separate entity trying to break free. It looked swollen and ready to burst any second, a stark contrast to the rest of his skin, which was taut with rage. His face was beet-red, and his muscles were so tense that his entire body shook with the effort of holding himself back. The sound of his teeth grinding against each other was audible, a low growl emanating from his throat. He breathed heavily through his nose, and his nostrils flared with every inhale, as if he were trying to draw in as much air as possible to fuel his rage. His eyes turning to Grayfia for a second as he hesitated about a decision
Finally, with a scowl he spoke, "This will not last! Your actions will not be tolerated! There will be consequences!" With that he turned with stride, going back into the forest, his subordinates following close after.
Diablo watched them go, disappearing within the expanse of the woods, long after the common eye couldn't see further. He could hear the faint rustling of leaves and twigs underfoot, but eventually, even that faded away until there was nothing but silence. His head shifted to look at Grayfia, who gave him a faint nod in return. With the confirmation, he finally turned around as his eyes ultimately fell to the source of this dispute that just happened. She was looking back at him, her eyes drooping slightly, but he could still see the confusion in it, the fear.
He took a step forward, and she flinched. With desperation she tried to drag herself backwards, but alas she was too tired. Her hand gave up on her, and she fell onto the earth. It was the final blow, as she finally lost her consciousness. The last thing she remembered seeing was the boy heading towards her.
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After a while:
Diablo looked at her as she lay there lying on the bed, her once pale face now slightly flushed with the color of life. Multiple bandages were wrapped around her, a testimony to the pain she must have endured. Yet, her expression remained peaceful, unlike the first time he saw her. After she had fainted, he had carried her back to the mansion, where Violet's expertise had come in handy. The way she handled the bandages and cleaned the wounds revealed the knowledge of a skilled medic. It was obvious that she knew the normalized methods, the military ways to deal with wounds. They could have used Phoenix Tears, but it was unnecessary. They had a finite amount of it, and she could heal those injuries on her own with time.
He didn't expect her to be here so soon, not at all. Did time pass by that fast? It felt like an instant, he was not expecting this incident until for a while. Well, he didn't know exactly the date or her age when it occured but he figured it would take a while. But it was different....Wasn't she supposed to just simply escape? Why were they pursuers? What happened to Koneko?
His thoughts then ran over to the Naberius House. He wasn't worried about any repercussions. Yes, there would be, but it would mostly be them tattling this to the government. They couldn't do anything personally, they were a weak branch House. It was their word against his. No one would side with a branch family of a once active House of Lucifer anyway, they were under suspicion as the head of Nebiros was still at large. But even as this may be true, Lord Naberius would still be heard. Diablo would likely be called to Lilith for an inquiry....but he already had a plan set up for that.
He had also been honest when he swore the oath in the name of his house, stating that there were no 'criminals' in his territory. As far as he was concerned, the girl lying in front of him was not a criminal in his eyes
He looked at her again, a younger version of her counterpart that he had seen. Kuroka.... She looked around Violet's age. Her figure still hadn't matured yet but she was still gorgeous. Her hair was long and black, with split bangs that framed her delicate face. Sitting atop her head were a pair of black cat ears, twitching ever so slightly with each movement. Her black cat tail sometimes swished back and forth behind her, betraying her feline nature. Before, she had been wearing a tattered, ragged black kimono, but they had since replaced it with a new one. It suited her a lot
A small whimper resounded, breaking him from his thoughts as he looked at her. Her eyelids moving slightly, as her expression looked troubled before finally she opened them. They were hazel-gold, with cat-like pupils. It gave her quite an exotic appearance.
Her gaze wandered around the unfamiliar room, taking in her surroundings. Her lids drooped slightly, still heavy in fatigue, until they finally settled upon his figure. At first, she seemed to freeze, unsure of what to do. Then, in a sudden movement, she tried to sit up, only to be overcome with a sharp pain that made her grimace and clutch her stomach.
"Don't make any sudden movements," he cautioned as he watched her writhe in pain. "The wound on your stomach might open again."
Kuroka's eyes locked onto his, revealing a mixture of distrust, suspicion, and confusion. "What do you want with me? Why am I here?"
"Now, now, questions later. Follow me first" He instructed as turned to look at the grandfather clock in the corner of the room. His expression grew serious as he murmured, "It's almost time..."
Her body tensed up, and her fingers twitched. She remained wary, ready for any sudden movements, as she asked with sharp eyes, "Time for what?"
His eyes met her as he gave her a small smirk, "Time for dinner, of course"
"...Huh?"
...
As they left the bedroom, the air between them grew tense and heavy. The girl walked a few steps behind him, maintaining a fair distance and keeping her guard up. He tried to match her pace and walk beside her, but she kept him at bay with a look of distrust and suspicion. Despite his attempts at conversation, she remained silent. They walked steadily forward, he could feel her sharp gaze, her eyes penetrating the back of his head, momentarily leaving it as she looked at the surroundings, before finally reaching back there again. It was quite amusing for Diablo
After a few more 'tense' moments of walking, they finally reached the grand twin doors of the dining hall
The doors magically opened by themselves, as they closed on it, revealing the luxurious interior of the hall. The room was spacious and elegantly decorated, with a large table in the center adorned with delicious dishes that Grayfia was carefully placing one by one, along with the cutlery.
Violet was already there, seated down on one of the chairs as she affectionately stroked a green emerald jewel, a brooch on her ribbon tie. It was a gift from a certain someone. Diablo had once asked her for the date of her birthday, but she had said she didn't have one, it was unnecessary back then. This was unacceptable to him, as right that instant, he got up to buy a gift for her, deeming that day as her birthday....It was one of the happiest memories she had, the brooch was her most prized possession.
Her attention was drawn to the sound of the door creaking open. She looked up to see who it was, and her eyes immediately brightened up upon seeing the person. She stood up from her chair, causing the table to shake slightly and the cutlery to shift position. Grayfia, who was in the middle of placing a plate down, froze at the sudden movement, a sharp, cold glare falling on Violet, who sensed it, and slowly sat back down again. An annoyed pout on her face
Diablo couldn't help but chuckle at the display. Moments later, they all sat down and began to eat their food. Violet and Grayfia sat on either side of Diablo, and Kuroka was seated a little further away. As he cut into his steak with his knife and fork, he noticed she still hadn't touched the food
"What's wrong? Why aren't you eating?" he asked as he took a bite of his steak, savouring the texture and flavour
"You still haven't answered my questions yet," she replied, her eyes narrowed at him.
"Questions later, I promise I'll answer whatever you want after dinner," he said, wiping his mouth with a napkin. "So, right now, eat," he added, pointing at her plate with his fork.
She furrowed her brows, as she looked at the numerous luxurious delicacies laid out in front of her. She felt a twinge of suspicion as she eyed the dishes, not quite sure what to make of them....but besides that, it was her first time as well, eating food this luxurious. Her life with her mother had been relatively normal, with decent food to eat. But after that, things had taken a dark turn. She clenched her fists tightly as she thought back to the harsh life she had with her former 'master'. Food had been the least of her concerns at the time...
"I'm not hungry" She uttered out loud, before suddenly a soft growl escaped her stomach. She immediately turned her head sideways, away from them, but Diablo could still see the embarrassed red tint on her cheeks.
He chuckled, "Sure...." The red tint became darker hearing his chuckle, "By the way, it isn't poisoned if you're worried about that" he added
She turned her head back to him as she looked at him carefully, gauging him
"Do you really think I need poison to kill you? Or drug you to make you unconscious?" he said, his tone serious. The unsaid proclamation that he could do it any time without them lingered in the air, making her uncomfortable. She knew it was logical and couldn't deny the truth in his words.
Her gaze faltered, and she looked down at her plate, not knowing how to respond.
With slow, tentative hands, she picked up her utensils, her grip tight. He watched as she took a small bite, her movement slow at first, almost hesitant. But as the flavour exploded in her mouth, she couldn't help but eat faster, her hunger getting the best of her. He could see the relief on her face as she savoured every bite, finally able to enjoy a decent meal after years of struggle
Diablo, satisfied, continued on with his own meal. A peaceful atmosphere overcame the dinner table, as everyone patiently ate. Around him, his companions also seemed to be enjoying their food, the clinking of silverware against plates resounded. Finally, after a while, everyone finished. Grayfia started cleaning up, as she picked up all the dishes and put them on a tray. The aroma of the delicious meal still lingered in the air, filling the dining room with a sense of warmth and comfort
He stood up from his seat, his back cracking as he stretched a little, his eyes met the expectant and impatient gaze of the cat girl. Just as he turned to address her, a light tug on his sleeve caught his attention. He turned his head to meet the eyes of Violet, he looked at her curiously, wondering what she wanted
But then, he saw the look in her eyes and immediately understood, "Now? At this time? You want to go now?" he said, baffled. She was asking about horse riding, she hadn't gotten hang of it yet. Diablo had told her he would teach her later. Horse riding wasn't a skill he was originally planning to have, but having got horses, he eventually decided to learn it. Might as well, if you have them in the first place, he figured
She looked up at him pleadingly, her emerald eyes gleaming, he hesitated
"You....promised..." She then uttered out softly, the two words punctuating the silence
CRITICAL DAMAGE!
No one could say no to those eyes, and when she especially said something, which was very rare. Defeated, with a sigh, he gave in, "Alright, wait for me in the stables. I'll come in a while"
A small smile stretched across Violet's lips, her expression brightening at the news. She took off quickly, but not before shooting a neutral glance at Kuroka
Around the same time, Grayfia finished up, her gaze lingered on Diablo which he noticed. He just gave a casual wave in response, a lazy smile on his face.
Appeased? She nodded to him once more, before leaving the room with the cart in hand.
Finally, Diablo turned to Kuroka, who had been waiting patiently. "Go on," he said, indicating that she could speak now.
She wasted no time and immediately asked, "Why am I here?"
"Not asking who I am first?"
"I already know who you are, I was conscious at that time when you introduced yourself to him...." her expression curled up in hate, as she spat out, "To Lord Naberius..." The words coming off as a sneer, "After hearing your name, the rumors around you that were already circulating filled in the rest of the information." She continued
"I see..." Diablo said, his eyes assessing her carefully. "And what about you? What's your name?"
She looked at him hesitantly
"Oh come on, it's rude to not introduce yourself. You know mine, it would only be fair if I knew yours"
"....Kuroka" She said in a whisper, but he heard it nonetheless
"Kuroka, huh.." He repeated, rolling the name around his tongue, "It's a pleasure to meet you Kuroka" He offered a light smile, she just nodded awkwardly in response
"Why are you here, huh..." he repeated her earlier question. "Would the reason 'because I'm a kind person' work?" he asked, his tone tinged with amusement.
Kuroka scoffed, "A kind person...." she repeated mockingly, before lowering her head and muttering in a whisper. "All of you Devils are the same....."
After a while, she quipped sarcastically, "Well if you're such a kind person, why don't you just let me go now?" A hint of desperation there as well
"Sure, you're allowed to go...." She raised her head in surprise, "After you're healed and in top condition, you are free to leave whenever you want. Until then you will stay"
Though the glint in her eyes had dimmed in his words, they were still a bit surprised. She knew she would heal fast, because of her race and Senjutsu but still slower than usual. She had completely dried up her reserves, it would take a while to get back to top form. But still, it would fast, it was baffling if he really meant it, if he really meant to let her go
"What? Surprised?" he said with a smirk, "Did you think I would hold you captive and force you to be a part of my peerage like your previous master?"
She unconsciously scowled at the rough reminder, memories of her previous master flooding back to her. But the surprise was still present. He was right, she had thought he would hold her captive. Was he really planning to let her go so soon? Did he not want her to join his peerage?
"Well.....It is true that I want you in my peerage" She hissed in anger at his words, "But I will not force you" She paused, bewilderment clear. She really didn't know what to make of her situation right now, her supposed 'captor' was a total enigma. She really didn't know what to make of him. Nothing like the rumours she heard.
"What do you want then....?" Her voice came, just above whisper
"What do I want, huh?" He thought to himself, his eyes scanning the room as if searching for an answer. "That's something I myself haven't quite figured out yet. So, for the sake of the conversation, let's just say... I want everything." He said jokingly, but his eyes were uncannily serious. The way he looked at her sent a shiver down her spine.
She took a deep breath, trying to keep her composure. "I still don't understand," she said, her voice betraying her confusion. "Why not keep me here, if you want me in your peerage? Why not force me?"
"Because I don't need someone who doesn't want to be here," he replied simply, his gaze steady on her.
A brief silence plagued the surrounding for a bit, as they stared at each other
"That's it, right?" He said after a while, breaking the silence. "No more questions?" She unconsciously nodded, still unsure of what to make of all of this.
"Very well, now something from me." He continued, his voice low, "Don't try to escape, it's futile. It would just be a hassle, for both you and me. I'm sure you've heard of Grayfia, her senses are far too keen; you would not get far. So let's just make it easy for both of us."
She nodded slowly, her heart beating faster in her chest. She knew all too well the reputation of the Silver Demoness of Ice, feared by most of the Underworld. But she had another way out, a way that would be perfect for just such an occasion...
"Your cat form wouldn't work either, so don't try that as well," he continued, his voice almost amused.
Her eyes widened, it was not a very known fact. Only some of the Youkai knew of it. She was a Nekoshou, the most powerful variant of the Nekomata. Along with some other abilities, they possessed the ability to turn into a cat. This wasn't a much known fact
"Well, that's settled then," he said, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips. "I do hope that during your stay with us, we can get along well. I, for one, am looking forward to it."
He rose from his seat with a fluid grace, his movements smooth and precise. "Well, I assume you remember the path back to the room you were resting in, yeah?" he said, his voice friendly, his tone tinged with a bit of sarcasm, "Get a good sleep now; you'll need your rest. I'll find you in the morning, and we can continue our conversation. I'll give you some more information then. I'll see you later."
With those words, he turned and walked away, leaving the cat girl alone with her thoughts. She watched him go, feeling a mix of confusion and disbelief. She did not understand her current predicament, did not know why she had been taken captive, or what her 'captor's' motives might be. She did not know what to do next.
As she sat there, lost in thought, a voice called out to her from the doorway. She turned to see her captor standing there, his hand still on the door. "Oh, and one more thing," he said. "I would appreciate it if you leave the knife hidden in your sleeve on the table. I have already told Grayfia to pick it up later. Thanks in advance, good night!" With a slight wave, he disappeared from view, leaving her there, stunned.
This was a day she would never forget, that she was sure of....She couldn't help but wonder what the future held for her....
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{{NOTE from Author-san:
- My bad about the later than usual upload, had a test
- Age: Diablo is 11 (Looks like a young teenager though). Violet and Kuroka are both 15
- Some more canon changes in this chap. Also about the cat form thing, I had seen this in so many fanfics so I assumed it was canon, but couldn't find it in the wiki at all. Kuroka can't turn into an actual cat!? Well, I might have not searched hard enough, but regardless, my fic will change it to this. Alright, see ya'll next chap. Welcoming any reviews, questions, suggestions(that makes sense, and fits in what I have planned), or opinions that you may have until now}}
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone