The Demons Demise

CHAPTER 14: HATE

Anouke's eyes blinked open. He was sitting on the floor, back leant against the chair he usually sat or slept on. He looked over to Lex. He was in a peaceful slumber. His hair and lengthened and was the same color as when he became an Angel. Anouke breathed out with relief. "Ah, you're back..." He said imperceptibly. "I'm glad."

His nails had shrunk back and he was curled up in a ball like a sleeping arctic fox. Anouke thought back to the events of last night.

Higher ranks are powerful... Lex defeated her though. Was that because he was angry? I know I defeated his mother when I was a kid, but that was because of my cursed magic. I don't know... Perhaps she was the same rank as Lex actually... If that was the case, then it'd make sense. But her hand said higher... Lex couldn't beat Kurkoren – or Ariuk – when he was off guard and he's a proper higher-ranked Demon. She must be the same rank as him. He struck when she didn't expect it. Lex was the same when I had 'captured' him, though. He didn't expect it which gave me the upper hand.

Now look at us. Living together without him trying to run away. And he can even genuinely smile now. Though... he didn't ever really apologize for what he did to my brothers. But, it may not really cross his mind. It does mine all of the time, but that's why I'm helping Lex out. So I can accept this reality.

Lex began to move in his sleep, stretching his body on the petit settee. He yawned and lazily opened his eyes, bluish-grey eyes staring into space. He slowly turned his head to the side, feeling outlandishly tired. He sat up and felt like his bones creaked, trying to get him to lie back down. He groaned, pushing up his hands. Lex looked down and saw Anouke sitting on the floor with half-closed eyes. He looked asleep rather than in deep thought.

Lex clicked his fingers. It startled Anouke who was sitting near the crackling fire and he turned to face Lex, dim – almost unseen – shadows flicked across the room, casting a blurry and vague silhouette to flash across the back wall frequently. "Huh?" Anouke said, nearly inaudible.
"You okay?" Lex asked and leant his head a bit to the side. "You looked like you were in your own little world there." He chuckled a little.
"Oh, yeah... I'm fine. I was just relaying the events of last night.

Lex looked down and pushed himself back to lean against the arm of the couch. He lifted his hand over his stomach. He closed it into a fist and then opened it, the creases in his palm moving like an uneven current. I became... a Demon, didn't I? He asked himself questioningly although he already knew the answer.

"I turned back into a Demon." Lex stated and Anouke's eyes slightly widened at the emotionless statement and the blank structure of his face. "Did I hurt you?" He asked. Anouke just shook his head slightly, golden irises flecked with black analogous to the morning sun which trickled through the susceptible window. "No, you didn't. It was that higher-up Demon, Arya."
"That wretched Demon must have impressed Akuma. She was in my rank and you could tell because she wasn't alert. She was just so lost in her hatred and desire and vengeance cast by Akuma to kill you she didn't see me coming. Yet, she was so much stronger than me because she was probably given some more blood from Akuma, making her a higher rank. What I'm guessing is that she said or did something which fascinated him; he gave her more blood so she could challenge the complete higher-ups and to try and get even more of his blood. Then I don't think I would have defeated her."

Anouke looked down in thought. "How do you even impress Akuma? He seems – from what you've told me – full of himself--"
"He is," Lex cut him off, making sure he knew so.
"Yes, I know... But because he seems – or is – so full of himself it's difficult to think he would want Demons powerful like him."
"No, you've got it wrong. The Demons are nowhere near as tough as him. He's only raising a strong army of Demons to do the work for him. He'll either bribe them with more power – which they crave the most – or with fear. That's why they listen to him. He has power over us. He doesn't just threaten us; he acts upon those things he says."