Loves Torture?

Natalie POV

(10 Years Ago)

His words broke through the fog my brain was in. New or not, they could sense his aura if they were official members.

The demon lord cooed, "take a look, teensy assassin."

Around us was an old abandoned building near the fairgrounds. The house was covered in weeds and had many broken windows from kids breaking in for fun. The tornado had taken me three miles away.

Demons had exceptional sight and strength, but not that good. So how? How could he possibly have known I talked to anyone?

Shuffling of feet finally reminded me of Mom's training. I turned my attention back to the threats at hand.

The blonde-haired man had a blank face. His eyes were dull as if he had recently been drained of all the light in his life. Mom had saved many girls who wore the same face. He would be the perfect tool and do precisely what was ordered of him. That demon standing in the background might as well be a puppet.

One surviving by one thin string supporting what little life he buried.

The woman didn't seem too promising either. There was blood in her fingernails and on her porcelain face. My money was on her being the one to beat the living shit out of my Mom.

Absentmindedly, I fingered the ripped paper Trevor had given me. If I could pretend to use the restroom, maybe I could shoot him a quick text…No, there was no way they could fight against a demon lord. Besides, I doubted anyone here would fall for such a simple ploy.

The woman demon dropped my Mom and stepped on her head. She rubbed my Mom's face in the mud giggling to herself.

Sure being an assassin, Mom was shrouded in darkness, but she didn't deserve to suffer. Her life was dedicated to killing behind the scenes for those whose cries and voices were left unheard. Those targeted were monsters beyond redemption. To me, that made her more caring and selfless than others. For that and so many other things, I loved and respected my Mom.

She can't die here.

Silently, I prayed Trevor would get some kind of weird feeling telling him to find us. Maybe with a squad leader and those two, we could all escape!

"I wouldn't count on Trevor coming to rescue you. In fact, I'm saving you from him. You should be very gracious to the great Diana Kitz!" She proudly proclaimed.

Tonight is getting better as it goes on! Everyone knows the Kitz family name. Darren Kitz was one of the three oldest demon lords. Untouchable, unstoppable for over a century.

Diana continued, "I'm okay with you calling him for help, but it'll end badly for you."

"Because you'll kill my Mom?" I hated the quiver in my voice but couldn't stop it.

She twirled on my Mom as if her frail body were a dance stage. "He beds a lot of women. They seldom see the light of day after he fucks them though. Normally he has that girlfriend of his dispose of them. You saw her, the one with black hair?"

I gritted out, "that's his sister!"

"Not by blood." Diana giggled. "That's their game. Pretend to be siblings, so they can lure new prey. I think the girl gets off on watching her man abuse, fuck, and torture unsuspecting girls."

I faltered but covered it up outwardly. This was a trick. Trevor's smile was genuine, and he worked for the DSS. They would never allow someone that messed up in the head in their ranks.

"Why the heartbroken face? Is he your true love or something?"

Don't reveal anything that could be used against you.

Diana pulled back her sleeve. Burn spots and deep, ugly gashes marked several places on her skin. She grimaced as her fingers touched the eggplant-sized bruises near both her elbows.

"Trevor did this after convincing me for the past two months. His girlfriend held me down while he crisped my arms up. I can still hear him whispering, 'you liked my big dick impaling you, right? You came so many times around my huge cock, baby! Let's try stabbing you with this!' And he punctured me with a short blade. I only escaped because his squad leader returned. Told me he'd cut my tongue out if I ratted him out."

Everything in me froze worse than Trevor's tidal waves…could those two really be enemies? No, there's more here; I won't believe it.

Suddenly, my aura felt heavier around me. Purple elemental streaks forced their way in, corrupting my natural green/gray. Trevor loves to torture his women...that's why he said they aren't done with me... NO! These weren't my thoughts.

One of the three demons were manipulating my head. The more I fought back, the thicker the aura grew. It captivated me, wiggling inside until I forgot what was happening. I was in a haze, only able to concentrate on my interaction with my true love and Diana's true-sounding words.

Finding my true love blinded me. Supposedly, Trevor and his sister were with their squad leader and had to hurry back. Yet, he spared time for me. Then that girl came up. She wasn't pleased to see her 'brother' flirting. The two of them were pretty cheesy and relaxed for training too. Had they just tortured Diana, and the demon lord rescued her?

Thinking back, some red specks were on Trevor's jacket near the burned ends…And Diana's wounds were clearly fresh.

My shoulders slumped as something consumed me further. The feeling tugged at the back of my brain until it finished taking root. Just like that, the sickening truth made sense. Those monsters were clever. Working for the DSS was a genius cover. They would get their karma soon, but for now, I had to worry about someone who does sacrifice to protect the weak.

Against my instincts, I raised my voice, "let my mom go!"

"I'm sure your Father will be pleased with me giving you a new toy." The demon lord joked with Diana, completely ignoring me.

"He would be happier if you let me carry a child for you, my Lord." The girl grumbled.

"No, I have the woman who will carry my heir picked out already. She just needs a few more years on her."

The demon lord was targeting a minor? If only Mom was awake. Hearing that would give her a burst of energy. There were no second chances for child predators.

While Diana and the demon lord spoke unconcernedly for the dying life by their feet, I focused on the demon in the background. Maybe he and I could become allies. Slim, but there was a chance he would aid me. We both were clearly unwilling participants in their scheme.

"Teensy assassin," the demon lord called me calmly. "You'll belong to Diana. She will be able to do whatever she pleases with you. I will warn you, she can be a bit…jealous and rather cruel with cute girls." He shrugged.

I squeezed my leg wound once again, keeping all the fear shaking at my core away from my face.

"In return, your Mom will live. If you disagree, I will keep her in a constant weakened state and give her out as a reward for those who please me. Who knows what kind of torture will be done to her? Some people out there are quite vicious, aren't they?" His cruel gray eyes peered into my very being. My blank slate was useless in his presence.

Slowly, I nodded my head.

"Awww, what a good Mommy's girl." Diana chuckled.

A humorous glee entered the demon lord's gray eyes. "You half-demons are so Goddamn easy! I wonder if the same trick will work on my little one. What do you think, lapdog?"

"I'm sure, my Lord." The blonde man in the shadows muttered obediently.

Satisfied, the demon lord backed up and made room for Diana. Her aura almost radiated malicious intent and delight.

Mom's words rang in my clouded head about victims of torture. Many were either acquiescent or mirrored their tormentors. Both were in front of me.

I looked at the 'lapdog' and my soon-to-be hell bringer. I couldn't help but wonder what kind of person they used to be.

"Are you ready, new pet? We have to go home soon. I'm sure Demon Lord Shiuku and his lapdog want to go back to watching that little bitch, right?"

Shiuku?! Darren was a puppy compared to him! Demon Lord Shiuku was why the DSS was founded!

Diana finally stepped off my Mom and retrieved her knife. Right, I was going to have to bare her mark. I agreed to the deal; this was all that was left.

My legs started shaking no matter how hard I squeezed on my injury. One final glance at my Mom and I found the nerve to hold out my arm. I'd do anything to keep her breathing, even if she'd rather die.

Diana made a new shallow cut across my wrist and repeated the process on her own. Blood trickled from her wound into mine.

Agony shot through my entire body. I ripped my shirt by my heart, feeling like it was spreading poison with every beat. The throbbing in my chest worked its way into every vein and artery. Spasming, I fell to my knees. I could feel my eyes going wide as a coughing fit took over. Spit and blood dribbled from my mouth while the mark finished claiming me as Diana's property.

"Stay down there, pet. I like how you look on your knees." Diana giggled. This time she twirled on my back, snapping at least three parts of my spine. I screamed louder as the pain became too much.

I peeked at the demon of little words through the tiny slits I could manage against the pain. He thought no one was watching him, and for a split moment, he let his guard down. I could see the hurt and loneliness all over his features. Some part of him wanted to help. Only the muscle in his cheek twitched as he watched.

When she finally got off, she ordered me to look at her, not the lapdog. I gazed up only to see her pure gleeful expression. Trevor must have caused her to entirely snap. No one should enjoy hurting another so extensively.

"You have such a nice body for such a young little thing. We're going to have so much fun back home!"

Diana spit and then planted my face in the mud. I had no energy to lift it again. The wind picked up again. My wet skin and hair reacted horribly to the cold breezes adding to my misery.

"Kiss my shoes, teensy assassin." She stuck out her glittering stiletto in front of my nose. I wanted to spit on them, but the mark would not allow it. Her demands were absolute.

As my lips kissed the expensive sparkling red stiletto, I pictured myself biting her. I may bear her mark, but my thoughts would remain my own. No matter how I was manipulated or humiliated. I won't let myself break completely, nor will I stop internally fighting. I'll be quiet and hide my powers. My aces will stay hidden. I'll keep my emotions bottled up away from this poor soul, destroyed by Trevor.

At least Diana offered me a small consolation. My true love wouldn't be the one hardening me, the reason my hands would become red.

"Good girl, now lick."