FATE\Deus Decipit

Chapter 67: The Cave

In a Dark Cavern

She struggled against the ropes that bound her, they were wrapped tightly and cut deep into her flesh- an unfortunately familiar feeling. Deep within the bowels of a mountain cave, she stared her captor in the eye.

He(?) had a small stature for a demon, not to mention a surprisingly youthful, androgynous face. His blonde hair wafted into a mane like fire, turning a fitting shade of orange-red near the end, a shade which matched the draconic horns atop his skull, although it couldn't be said if these were natural, or an aspect of his iron-esque helmet. His clothes were red and baggy, but were sure to expose his arms and midriff, both with fine skin and curvature. Despite that almost-teenage appearance, he carried a certain regal air which forced her respect, even after he had tricked her and tied her to a stalagmite.

As said, this was not her first experience being tied up in a cave, and the dryness on the air stood out to her, as if she were in the center of a great furnace rather than the center of a mountain.

He(?) cackled with a certain feminine edge, raising his clawed flingers to his face,

"Hahaha! Wait until Father hears about this! Who would've thought the Buddha's chosen would be so stupid- and that the Great Sage's protection would be so useless! Ah, victory is sweet, but as much as your flesh will be after I roast it over Samadhi's Flame- Hah!"

He(?) doubled over, lost in his own villainous joy. But as he began to recapture his wits, she responded evenly,

"There is no one to blame but me, I fear. I never have heeded the Great Sage's wisdom as much as I should," She sighed, "I suppose you will eat me, then?"

He shook his head, his crooked grin only becoming wider, "Nah- 'course not. You're too damn good for some runt like me. No, I'm gonna feed you to my father, the Ox Demon King, and then he'll finally recognize me as his heir once he conquers all creation with your blood." He smiled especially widely, "You'll be put to good use, bitch- so don't worry so much."

Despite her best efforts, a wry grin snuck its way onto her face, "Oh no, that is no good at all. You have to eat me now."

He cocked his head, "And why's that?"

Her smile grew, though only slightly, "You want to devour me for my immortality, correct? Well, you will need it if you plan to defeat my retainers."

It took all he had not to laugh, "Your retainers!? Really!? What, you mean the monkey, the pig, and the fish?"

"-You forgot the horse."

He blinked audibly, "...Right, as if that'll matter a damn bit. There's no hope for you."

She wasn't sure what he meant, "Of course there is hope. So long as there is life, there is hope."

"Hope doesn't mean shit. You're here because you relied on hope, while I relied on myself. It's the story of life, bitch"

He crouched in front of her, and looked her in the eye, "Nothing happens unless you make it happen. If you had any sense, you'd know that already, instead of always playing the frickin' damsel."

Before she could respond, he flicked her forehead with his claw, and the world went black.

...

Heping opened her eyes- or did she?

No, she surely did. The weight atop her face was not her eyelids, but a cloth- she was blindfolded, and so, whether her eyes were opened or closed, all she could see was an endless plain of black.

Finally realizing her situation, similar realizations came one-by-one to knock at the front of her consciousness with their own woes. There was a dryness and pressure in her mouth, one that stifled her breath and saliva- she was gagged. There was an odd pressure in her skull and on her breasts- she was hung upside-down. There was something like metal cutting uncomfortably into her wrists and ankles- she was bound with chains. Each of these revelations came in turn, and, by the end, panic had risen to meet them, and she struggled in vain, the clanging of those chains informing her of the futility of her resistance.