**** Chapter Thirty Seven: THIS MEANS WAR

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Chapter Thirty Seven: THIS MEANS WAR

He stood there at the entrance to the terrace.

“Princess Aoife –” he started to say but stopped and the shock on his face ended his speech.

I felt the very life escape my body as I quickly detached myself from Demon’s embrace and unconsciously stepped toward the wizard. Demon grabbed my hand and pulled me back to stand beside him – his eyes fixed on Nivis’s face.

Nivis shifted nervously in his spot as his gaze darted from Demon’s face to mine and back again. It seemed as if he was trying to recognize Demon but was unable to.

Phew! That was good – while it lasted.

“Princess –” he began to speak again. “You – you can't be with a Richesse soldier. No, no, no. They are beneath you.” Then he turned to Demon and spoke in a rude, commanding tone. “Step away from the Princess! It will best serve you to stay within your limits.”

“Get your Queen.” Demon’s lip curled. “I’d like a few words with her.”

I couldn't help gasping. “What are you doing?” I whispered to Demon urgently. “You want to talk to the Queen? I think you’d better run!”

“You started it,” he said to me coolly. “Now I’ll finish it.”

“This isn’t the time to get even, Demon!”

He smiled roguishly. “Watch and learn, darling.”

“Demon?” Nivis heard my whisper. His voice boomed. “Krâl! It’s the Demon of

Volttus!”

“Don’t scream, Nivis!” I hissed at him. “And how come you didn't recognize him instantly?” Yes Aoife, this was the perfect time to be curious! For heaven’s sake!

“Yes, do tell,” Demon said lazily as he frowned at the startled wizard. “And where are your manners, Nivis?”

To my amazement, no later than Demon had uttered those words that Nivis, quite automatically, bowed to him. Then, perhaps quickly realizing what he was doing, he stood up straight. I could see the tiny beads of sweat glistening on his face.

What was the deal? Shouldn’t Demon be scared of them for being alone on foreign turf? What the heck was Nivis bowing to him for?

Well, Nivis’s yell had done its job. Some Richesse men, who might have been standing close to the terrace, strolled out and gathered behind Nivis to see what was happening. A few of them who saw Nivis bow to Demon followed suit. But one, as he saw us, turned and ran out without wasting another second.

Nivis had barely stood up straight when Aoibheann stormed out to join us. She shot him a fiery look. I reckon she had caught his condemnable act of honoring the enemy.

But she quickly turned her attention to us – to Demon in particular.

“Antinoos, my long lost love!” she cooed. “How nice of you to come and show yourself. It has been so long."

“Yes.” Demon said coolly. “Five centuries to be exact.” If he was feeling furious or devastated or anything at all at seeing Aoibheann after five centuries – it didn't show.

“Good to know I was missed.”

“Oh! More than you’ll ever know.” Aoibheann’s voice, tone and the way she looked at Demon were pure lust. If rapture and passion that melted one’s clothes right off one’s skin could have a physical form – she would be it.

“Endearing.” And Demon couldn't have sounded more bored than if he was forced to stare at a wall. He looked away from her, fixing his gaze on Nivis again.

Aoibheann’s face went ashen. She was an enchantress and an epitome of the very word in every sense of the word. I wouldn’t blame her if she didn't understand how a man – even Demon – could resist her charm. She took a moment to get over the insult and then turned her gaze on me. Her eyes were now orange as fire. She scanned me from head to toe, lip curling.

“I see you’ve been busy,” she said to Demon.

“Very,” Demon said carelessly and then looked at her. “Now be a darling and fetch

Arela. I haven’t got all night.”

“I’m here, Krâl.” A sweet voice echoed from behind the crowd that parted to reveal Queen Arela, very regal in her pale cerulean, very snug and glitzy gown. By her side stood King Isaac Leon who seemed to freeze on site as he looked at Demon.

I saw the entire Ducimus and Richesse armies line up behind Arela. Two versus hundreds weren’t good odds. I wouldn't bet on me either but for some bizarre reason these people were awfully scared of Demon.

Arela took a step forward and smiled at me and yet again, to my amazement, bowed to Demon. I looked at Demon but he looked unaffected. He didn't even acknowledge the courtesy with a tilt of a head or a smile or anything. King Leon, on the other hand, stood rigid as a post. I realized that his lack of a bow was more on account of him being frozen in shock rather than out of insolence to the Demon King.

“You stole my princess, Arela.” Demon’s voice echoed in the hushed atmosphere.

“But you were good to her so I’ll ignore the offence.”

“Krâl is much too gracious!” Arela said humbly. “If I may be allowed to defend my position here –”

“Bore me another time,” Demon interrupted rudely. “Why do I see faces here I don't approve of?”

“Nothing more than a harmless alliance, Krâl,” Arela said.

“You lie.” His tone was icy.

“How dare you!” King Isaac Leon snarled from behind Arela. I actually admired his courage to speak even though he looked positively spooked. “How dare you address the –“

“Shut up Leon,” Demon said, without as much as even a glance toward the king. His gaze remained fixated on Arela and Leon became silent as a rock. I wondered if he was even breathing.

“Perhaps Krâl would be so gracious as to discuss –” Arela began to say but Demon curtly shook his head.

“You misled the Princess into plotting against me. Of course you realize that means war,” he said.

“You’re a falling demon Antinoos.” Aoibheann seemed to have found her voice again. “Perhaps it is you who should be worried about war with the Ducimus – an army who will now be fueled by the power of the Scepter!”

“Except you don’t have the Scepter,” Demon said, “and can’t wield it without Kesung.”

“Oh, we have the Bloodstone. And the Key,” Aoibheann said with a wicked sparkle in her eyes, flaunting a shiny trinket hanging on her belt – the key to Khuzdoh. “It is only the blood we’re lacking.”

“Then what are you waiting for darling? Come and get it,” Demon said and it chilled me to my bones.

I had no clue what he meant but the ominous glow of his eyes scared me. He stared at Aoibheann but neither she nor anybody else dared accept his challenge. And then I saw Nivis twitch in his spot. His gaze was fixed on Demon but I could see his hand creep up to grab the hilt of his diamond dagger.

“This is not good.” I heard myself say. And I stepped away from Demon and in front of Nivis. “Nivis stop it!”

Nivis – the foolish wizard of Ducimus as the world would remember him from that moment onward – gave into the silly urge to grab me. He yanked me toward him and placed his studded dagger against my throat while shouting at Demon to give in or else the Princess will pay.

Demon shot him a fiery look. Just a look. There were no flames leaping out of Demon’s eyes but the edges of Nivis’s pants started to smolder. He turned me loose and I sprang away from him back to where Demon stood.

In an instant, the Ice Sorcerer of Ducimus had caught on fire. His entire body was suspended in midair while he squealed and squirmed. Then, he burnt down to a pile of blue ash, meat and skin and bone and all. Nothing remained except blue ash, his dagger of uncut diamonds, and a lonely medallion sparkling over it.

Demon stepped forward and casually picked up the knife.

“You torched him!” I gasped, barely whispering and still staring at the ash. “Demon!

You torched a man!”

“I’m sorry did you two have plans for tonight?” He turned his attention to the stunned crowd. “Any more shenanigans or do we talk sense? Arela?”

After a few moments as she recomposed herself, Arela spoke. “What is your wish,

Your Highness? We truly do not seek war.”

“You want the Key, don't you?” Leon spoke cautiously. “You want the Key to the

Portal of Khuzdoh.”

“I don't know.” Demon replied lazily, toying with the dagger like a child engrossed with his new favorite toy. “Why do you want the Scepter?”

“We don't my King!” Arela said urgently. “These are mere trinkets collected in a foolish reaction to the news of Krâl’s suspected end of rule. Dear King, you must realize the fears of lesser beings like us in contrast to a powerful mind like yours.” “Hmm,” Demon said and looked at her.

Encouraged by his not so threatening gaze, Arela stepped forward and spoke with renewed energy. “If I may be so bold to suggest – let us retire for the night.” Then she cast a kind glance my way. “The Princess – a delicate soul that she is – is obviously exhausted. Perhaps we can discuss all matters with more clarity of detail in the morning? If Krâl agrees of course.”

“Krâl agrees.” Demon smiled dreamily.