Chapter 3

Devon found it hard to contain his impatience. He asked for Darian, who appeared with him shortly afterwards. He bowed slightly. “My brother.”

“I may have to send you to the human world in the near future. Your skills are needed.”

Darian nodded. "Whenever you ask for it."

"But now, tell me, how does Zant keep up with your hospitality?" Darian smiled slightly at the word hospitality.

Zant was a lowly being, subordinate to Lord Xarfai. The latter sent him to Devon to kill him, but Darian, Devon's personal protection, intercepted him and now held him to his 'hospitality'.

"He confessed everything after I took care of him."

Devon smiled slightly.

"He confirmed, that Xarfai and Beleth conspired against you and he was here on Xarfai's behalf. He didn't last long. Do you want to see him?”

Devon shook his head. "You can proceed with him as you wish, Darian. He's all yours now.”

Darian nodded, grateful to have found a new playmate, as he himself called his victims. Even though he was human, in this world he was known for his cruelty. Darian left Devon to pay another visit to Zant. Zant would no longer exist after that, they both knew that.

Devon called for a servant and ordered him to run a bath. A short time later, he slid into the pool, which measured 6 feet by 7 feet. The red liquid caressed his body and he felt his strength increase. He loved human blood especially when he bathed in it.

Sunbeams woke Liara from her sleep. Still tired, she rolled onto her side and opened her eyes. She was awake with a start. Where was Kyla?

Then she remembered the previous night. With tears in her eyes, she fell back onto the pillow. So it wasn't a dream after all. Kyla was kidnapped by a guy named Devon. Tears streamed down her face and she turned to the side where Kyla used to sleep. Her hand groped in emptiness. Would everything ever be like it used to be?

Kyla opened her eyes. Her body felt rested and strong. She looked around the room and spotted Azamir curled up asleep at her foot end. Now she also saw the small tail, which resembled that of a lizard. The tip banged back and forth. Kyla had to smile it reminded her strongly of a cat. She sat up and when her hand lightly touched Azamir's shoulder, he jumped up immediately.

"Forgive me, mistress! Mistress forgive! Azamir didn't want to be sleeping! Please don't punish Mistress!”

Sadness crept into Kyla's eyes. What could one have done to this poor creature?

"Don't worry Azamir. Everyone needs their sleep. If you are tired, then sleep. You need rest just like me. I'm not mad at you for that.”

Her words came out softly, and Azamir was beginning to like the tone of voice. No one had ever been so nice to him before. His black eyes rested on her. "Mistress not tired?"

Kyla shook her head.

"Amazing," her little friend murmured.

"Why?" Kyla inquired.

“Because when people come into our world, they don't feel good for days.

Despite his choice of words, Kyla understood what he meant.

"I've always recovered quickly."

Azamir got up and checked if she was really alright. When he let go of her hand, a low growl was heard.

His eyes widened. "What are these?"

Kyla gave a short laugh. “I must be hungry.”

“Ah! Azamir bring food!”

“Thank you, that's very kind of you.”

The little one looked down, embarrassed. Kyla couldn't help but like him. She gently stroked his bald head and felt all the scars. Immediately, a feeling of sadness crept over her again.

"Mistress don't be sad! The Azamir doesn't hurt anymore!” He tried a smile, which, considering his looks, was more of a poor success than success. Kyla nodded to him. It was past. And you couldn't change the past. It was only important that she was doing better than Devon.

"Azamir gets some food!", said the little one and shortly afterwards disappeared.

Kyla got out of bed and paced the room. She finally stopped in front of the blood-red curtains. What did it look like outside? She pushed them aside a crack, but before she could see what was outside, a voice made her turn around, startled.

"I wouldn't do that." Devon stood in the doorway, studying her. Kyla realized she was still wearing only her nightgown.

"Ever heard of knocking?" she asked him harshly.

Devon smiled slightly. "I didn't know you had to knock on your own house. You humans have weird ways.”

“You're half one too.” Kyla immediately clapped her hand over her mouth. How did she know?

"Yes that is true." Devon entered and the door closed behind him, as it had before.

"What do you want from me?" Kyla's eyes betrayed her dislike for him.

"I just wanted to see how you were."

"You didn't care how I felt when you brought me here.”

The sarcasm was clear in her voice. Devon had to control himself. In this human body she was vulnerable. He couldn't argue with her like he used to. "You're not human," he replied simply.

"Oh no? Well I think so. I look like one, my blood isn't green, well yours being a bastard probably isn't either. I don't have horns or any other magical ability.”

Devon smiled slightly. “You humans have a funny idea of us. Our blood should be green? What makes you think so? No, it's red, like you humans. And it tastes the same.”

Kyla grimaced in disgust at the idea of drinking blood.

"Bastard."

"I have a name."

"Yes, bastard!"

"Devon."

"Bastard."

Devon sighed. How he would like to wring her neck just to feel her human shell give way under his fingers.

"Where am I?"

"In my palace."

Kyla sighed in exasperation.

"Yeah great. I thought so too, but WHERE IS THAT?"

"Well, you humans call it Hell, we call it Athaerion."

"Ah yeah, okay. And how do I get back?”

“Not at all.”

“It would have been too easy if you had just told me.” They stood there for a while and said nothing. Devon studied her body.

"Do you enjoy staring at me?" Defiantly, Kyla stuck her chin out as if to challenge him.

"Yes. Because I can't understand how you could let yourself be enclosed in a shell."

"I'm not enclosed anywhere except maybe in this room. Which, by the way, is pretty sparsely furnished. I don't even have clothes here."

"We don't value such material things as you humans do." Nevertheless, he did her a favor and with a movement of his hand a closet appeared, the dark wood of which matched the curtains. Reluctantly, Kyla walked up to it and opened the doors.

"You like the dark, is that possible?" She examined the robes. They were all kept in dark colors. Blue, Green, Red, Black. Great, that's what I call a lot of choice, she thought to herself. The door opened hesitantly and Azamir came in with a tray. When he saw Devon and the look that rested on him, he was about to leave.

"Azamir! Nice that you are coming. You're welcome to eat with me, the bastard was about to leave.” She gave Devon a sidelong glance that made him want to kill her immediately. Azamir hesitated in the doorway. He didn't know what to do until Kyla closed the closet doors and walked towards him. She took the tray from him and carried it to the bed. After that, she motioned to Azamir, who complied with her request.

Devon watched her, his eyes getting a faint red tinge. But Kyla wasn't impressed.

"I thought you were leaving? Unfortunately, we don't have enough food for three." She glanced up at him briefly from the tray, a slight smile on her lips and then turned her attention back to the dishes in front of her.

Devon turned without saying anything else. Just before he left the room, Kyla said, "You know, Devon... I have no idea what sick ideas you have in your head, but I'm certainly not one of you. The sooner you realize that, the better for both of us.”

Devon slammed the big door behind him and Azamir jumped involuntarily. "Master Devon very, very angry," the little one replied, nodding.

Kyla found the dishes much more interesting. Everything looked so delicious that she didn't even know where to start tasting.

"Aren't Mistresses afraid of Masters?" Kyla shook her head as she bit into a mace the size of her palm.

"Why should I? If he wanted to kill me, he would have done it long ago Azamir. So I don't need to be afraid of him. Mmm, that's delicious. What's that?” “Dragon.”

Kyla choked on the piece she'd just bitten off. "W-what?" She looked at him with wide eyes.

"Azamir done wrong?"

Kyla thought for a moment. Apparently it was the only thing down here and it tasted like chicken. She shook her head. "No. I've just never eaten a dragon, or part of one.” If she told herself it hard enough, she could imagine it being a chicken.

"We don't all eat dragons. Some dragons are very, very poisonous and bring death. Other dragons live for food.”

Kyla understood what he was saying and aside from the poisonous part, it was the same as chicken. Born to be eaten. To each their own, Kyla thought to herself and continued to nibble on the club. She was just too hungry to be put off by the idea.

When she had eaten some dishes, she didn't try them all because she always asked Azamir beforehand what they consisted of, he took the tray out again and she went to the cupboard.