**** Chapter Sixteen: UGLY BATHROBE

****

Chapter Sixteen: UGLY BATHROBE

“Tattle tale!” I growled at him.

“Aoife!” Demon’s voice slapped me back into silence.

Still clad in his shirt; still clutching his torn pants close to my heart – I looked at him.

He didn’t frown or scowl or pout or say anything else. Instead he rolled his eyes and sighed. Then he walked over to the undamaged side of the closet and opened another wardrobe. It was stacked with towels. From within he pulled out something and tossed it at me. I – uhm – dropped the pants and caught it. It was a bathrobe.

“Don’t touch my clothes again.” He said to me and turned to Azure. “Any news on Salaar?” He stepped out of the ruined closet.

“No. Neither Cy nor Baruk could find him.” Azure trotted after Demon. But before exiting, he turned around to look at me and silently mouthed the words ‘I’m sorry!’

When I glared at him, he touched his earlobes and pouted. I couldn’t help smile at him. He was such a funny man.

After they were out of the closet, I quickly slipped out of Demon’s shirt and donned the bathrobe. It was gray and very plush. And very long. No matter how much I tightened or wrapped it around my body, I felt being drowned into the fluffy fabric. I tiredly looked at the mess I’d created and wondered if I could rummage out a pair of scissors through that. Perhaps I should just go out and ask for one this time. Couldn’t afford to cause any more damage – lest Demon had me thrown out of his castle and then where would I be?

So I sauntered out. I could already hear their voices – Demon’s and Azure’s – discussing something animatedly.

“I don't understand why you need him found?” Azure was saying.

“So he can take her,” Demon replied.

I stopped by the doorway, hiding so I could eavesdrop.

“They have searched everywhere.” Azure said. “There is no trace of him. I think you should stop wasting time and train her yourself – please!”

“I hate this.” Demon sounded annoyed. “Look at this! Have someone clean my room, please.”

“Very well.” Azure sighed. He sounded fatigued and then there were sounds as if someone was leaving. I guessed Azure was.

I wondered who they were talking about. Who in the Realm knew me enough to take me with him? An old friend of my parents’? Perhaps a relative? Or was Demon concocting a new scheme to get rid of me?

I felt hurt. I knew he had his reasons for despising me and I didn't like him either but still.

He is just rude, I told myself and squared my shoulders. I couldn’t waste my tears or my honor or my time for a jerk like him. It was going to be strictly business from now on.

I went into the bedroom and saw him standing by one of the windows, looking out.

Azure was nowhere.

“I’m sorry I wrecked your room.” I said.

He turned away from the window and smiled, resting his back against the naked glass and sunshine. The golden light shining in gave him a halo and he really did look like someone on holiday from heaven.

“Had no idea the robe would be that big for you,” he said.

“It’s okay.” I shrugged carelessly. “Thanks.”

He nodded and turned away from me to look out the window again. This was the time to ask him. He looked kind of mellow. Interrogation might not be futile or fatal.

“Why did you come back?” Hmm – a little tact wouldn’t necessarily kill me. I mean could I be more direct?

“Because I missed you.” His back was still turned to me.

“Bullshit!” I frowned.

He laughed, still not looking at me though. “You’re right. I didn't miss you.”

“Then why?”

He turned and looked at me coolly for a silent moment, leaning against the window again.

“How much do you know about the Scepter of Fire?”

“Depends on how much there is to know,” I said. “All I know is that I need to destroy it before you become human. And I need your help in the matter.”

“That’s good knowledge.” He said. “But not nearly enough.”

“Educate me.” I leaned against the wall behind me. This was getting interesting. He was talking for a change.

“The Scepter is my source of power.” He frowned and looked beyond me. “If anyone wishes to control the Demon King, they will have to get their hands on that

Scepter first, which of course is impossible as long as there is a Demon in Volttus.”

“Why is it impossible?”

“Because planning to get the Scepter means plotting against the Demon King.

That’s treason. And it’s punishable by death in all of Realm. Besides, getting to the

Scepter past Narzul isn’t easy.”

“Narzul?”

“The Fire Dragon. The guardian of the Scepter.”

“Okay.” I was a little confused. “What does this have to do with me?”

“You’re a Syhlain. You can clobber my arse and that of my enemies. I wouldn’t worry about it too much if times were any different but they are not. In less than a month, I’ll be an ordinary mortal and a soft target for all those who’ve hated my guts while I was in power. So I’ll make you an offer. If you help me destroy my enemies now

– before I lose my demon powers – I’ll destroy the Scepter for you in return.”

The offer sounded real good. But his reasoning didn't.

“You left me to regain your powers.” I reminded him. “What happened to that plan?” “Didn’t go too well.” he sighed.

“Why not?”

“Because of you, of course.” He stared at me. “Turns out if a Syhlain is involved in the equation the way you are, a demon can no longer use the portal to Khuzdoh alone. I need you just to see my own Scepter. Some deep mess you got me in!”

“What about me?” I frowned. “I’ll be the one turning into a freaking spirit to haunt everyone!”

“Stay away from me if you’re going to be wearing that while you go a-haunting!” He turned away to stare at his window again.

“Yes.” I smirked. “Your bathrobe is very ugly.”

“I was referring to what’s underneath.” He looked at me.

What the –!

I tightened the hideously big robe and glared at its owner. “I hope you know that I’m trying very hard to be nice to you – not that you deserve it!”

“Then why would you waste your time and mine trying hard to be nice when you can so easily be so bad?” He almost sang out the last words as he suggestively stared at me.

I didn’t know what to say to that. Something about his tone had left me speechless.

“Hello children! What’s happening?” Azure’s loud entrance saved me a reply.

“I’m trying to chat up the new girl.” Demon smiled at him. “She’s awfully noncooperative. And speechless too at the moment.”

“Don’t mess with her, Dee.” Azure wagged a finger at him.

“Oh, come on, Noble Phromaz.” Demon chuckled and looked at me with a teasing smile. “There must be some compensation for wrecking my room.”

And I knew then that he was simply pulling my leg. It was in those aqua eyes – another one of his tricks to shut me up – even if for a moment. Man he was good!

“Go die!” I frowned. “And no I will not wear this or anything that even remotely looks like this to your funeral!”

“Of course not. Who wears bathrobes to funerals?” Azure said and Demon burst out laughing. This was the first time I’d seen him actually enjoy his laughter.

As for me, I had no other choice but to sigh and roll my eyes at them both.