The Demon and the Child

Family Reunion

TW: blood, slight gore and a panic attack

Virgil wasn't sure what had happened. Roman smashed the gem on his necklace and everything went black. It felt like he was being squeezed and rocked around, he couldn't even breathe.

And suddenly it was over, Roman still in his arms as if neither had even moved at all. But they were somewhere different.

Virgil didn't care to look around at his surroundings because Roman had passed out.

"Oh god, Ro," he cried, laying him down and looking at his injuries.

"I wouldn't use that kind of language in my house," a new, nasally voice piped up.

Virgil jumped and turned to see two demons on thrones. His heart was pounding in his chest as he realized he was in some kind of palace.

The first demon wore a black outfit that looked like a cross of a royal one and a jester. He had a gray strip in his hair and a mustache above his lip. His eyes were green and what was supposed to be white in his eyes were black, as well as his horns and claws.

The other demon was slimmer than the first, his skin was dark and he had scales on one half of his face. His eyes were cold and mismatched, one almost human, the other a snake eye. His outfit looked like it came from the 60's, with a bowler hat and black cape.

"Now, what in the name of Hell did you do to my brother," the first one asked.

"I-I didn't do anything!" Virgil argued, tears forming in his eyes again. "You have to help him though! I don't know what to do, I..." He was panicking. His throat was closing up as he looked back down at Roman. He hugged the demon tight as he cried, "Please."

"Hmm, I guess he did finally call in his favor," the demon mused, standing up and walking.

"He is your brother too," the other one said.

"Why did he bring a human here, though?" The demon eyed Virgil. "What's your name?"

"V-Virgil, I-I'm friends with Roman," he answered.

"Is that the name he's going by now? Not very creative, honestly. Don't worry, we'll help his highnesses sorry butt."

"Who are you?" Virgil's voice wavered.

"Why, I'm the Duke! Duke Remus, at your service." He gave a slight bow. "Well, always at a price, of course. Say, what would you give to save Ro-"

"Remus, quit playing around," the other hissed. "You're wasting time, hurry up and deal with your brother. I'll take the human to a spare room, he's clearly important to the Prince."

"Fine! You're so boring." Remus walked closer to Virgil and reached out for Roman.

Virgil flinched and pulled Roman closer, making Remus raise an eyebrow.

"How am I supposed to help him if you're not going to let me?" he asked, unimpressed.

"You-you won't hurt him?" Virgil asked.

"He's my brother and I owe him a favor. Now, let me see him." Virgil slowly let him go and Remus picked him up, pulling the knife out of him with a sneer. Roman's blood was almost black. "I hate these blades."

The other demon appeared next to Virgil, making him jump. "Get up and follow me," he said.

Virgil looked over to Roman as Remus made several bandages and stitches appear before he slowly got up on shaky legs.

"Your hurt," the snaked face demon noted.

Virgil put his hand up to his neck and felt something wet and sticky. He had forgotten about the cut there. "It's fine, could have been worse," he mumbled.