The Sacrificial Bride (Diavolo x Fem!OC)

Chapter 3 - A serious matter

"So... the kingdom of demons, you said?"

"That's right, miss— The kingdom of demons, Devildom."

"Ah, yes, that was what it was called. And you are all... demons."

"...Are you sure she's ready to have this conversation?" Lucifer asked as he leaned closer to Diavolo, speaking in hushed tones so no-one else in the room wouldn't hear the exchange of words. "She still seems quite... rattled." And saying that was putting it mildly; The girl was sitting in an armchair by the coffee table, rigid like a statue. The tea cup and saucer softly clinked against each other as she held them in her shaking hands, still refraining from taking a single sip.

Diavolo considered the question for a moment, his gaze never straying from the trembling figure. "Finding out you were used as a human sacrifice in a demonic ritual can be a lot to take in." Diavolo whispered back. "Hopefully she'll feel better once she's had some food and rest."

"Wait..." Lucifer frowned when his sharp eyes caught something— The girl had a blanket wrapped around her, so he hadn't noticed it before, but the realization hit him when the piece of fabric slipped down from her shoulders. "Is that your shirt she's wearing?"

"Oh, it is, actually."

"Diavolo, I hope you didn't—"

"Of course not, Lucifer!" Diavolo hissed, shooting a quick glance at the human to make sure she hadn't overheard their little exchange. "Barbatos was the one who dressed her up, if that's what you're asking. We couldn't let her wake up in that bloodstained rag she was wearing when I found her, so I lent her a shirt." He muttered under his breath, his expression somewhat embarrassed.

Lucifer let out a small sigh. He was still struggling to process the fact that his Lord and master had dragged a human, half-naked and bloodied, from the human realm into Devildom, but at least he could breathe out a sigh of relief upon hearing Diavolo hadn't done anything... weird.

"Ugh..." Still, Lucifer couldn't help but scoff in displeasure. Seeing this human in Lord Diavolo's clothes was somehow a very unsettling sight. He was about to voice his thoughts on the matter, perhaps suggesting they find more suitable attire for her— something with pants or a skirt, to start with—, but their inconspicuous exchange of words was interrupted when Barbatos turned his attention to them.

"You met Lord Diavolo in the human world." The demon butler explained to the girl, gesturing to Diavolo to take a step forward. "As I explained earlier, he is the prince of Devildom and the future ruler of the kingdom."

"Hello." Diavolo greeted her with a kind smile, slowly taking a step closer— The girl had been scared out of her mind when she saw him the first time in the Devildom, so rushing over to greet her didn't feel like a smart idea. "Lea, wasn't it? How are you feeling?"

"Y-yeah." Lea stammered slightly with her response, seemingly still nervous, but Diavolo's friendly approach seemed to have a reassuring effect on her as she managed to muster up a faint smile. "A bit better, thanks..." The look on her face turned a bit sheepish when she continued, averting her gaze in embarrassment. "Barbatos told me it was you who saved me. I... I'm sorry I screamed when I saw you. And... I should thank you-"

"Oh, don't worry about any of that." Diavolo, who had made his way over to the girl, was quick to reassure her, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. This caused Lea to startle slightly, but she didn't avert from his touch. "You've been through a lot." Diavolo said softly, his voice soothing. "For now, you should get some rest. Once you're ready, we can talk more about what happened and how we can get you back home."

Lea nodded, her eyes welling up with tears as she finally took a sip of the untouched tea. It was a small step, but a sign that she was beginning to regain some composure. With her initial anxiety beginning to ease, the atmosphere in the room lightened slightly. Barbatos watched over the exchange with his ever-calm demeanor, ready to assist in any way as needed.

As Diavolo continued to comfort the girl, Lucifer cleared his throat subtly to catch his attention. "Lord Diavolo—" Lucifer began in a measured tone. "Perhaps it's best if we leave her to rest for now? We can continue our conversation elsewhere."

Diavolo nodded in agreement, removing his hand from Lea's shoulder. "Ah, of course..! You're right, Lucifer. We shouldn't overwhelm her." He turned to the human girl, offering her one more warm smile. "Please have some rest. We'll check on you later."

Lea managed a grateful nod, her emotions still fragile but now tinged with a hint of relief. She watched as the two demons left the room, leaving her in the care of Barbatos.

As Lucifer made his way through the corridors of the castle with Diavolo, his concerns regarding the human girl weighed heavily on his mind, like a foreboding storm cloud in the midst of their already tumultuous situation. Diavolo, who had brushed off his unintentional trip to the human world as a nothing more than a happy little accident, still acted as if there was no care in the world, seeming more than happy playing host to his unexpected tag-along. Lucifer, on the other hand, couldn't help but see nothing but a potential for disaster in the current situation.

This human girl's sole presence in Devildom was enough reason to worry about; The fact that she had been unwittingly bound to Lord Diavolo, the future ruler of Devildom, was something that had to be kept secret no matter what. If word got out, the consequences could be catastrophic..! If worrying about the Devildom's political stability wasn't enough, the curse that bound this human to Diavolo was a mysterious and potent one, and its ramifications were not yet fully understood; This far it appeared to only have an effect on Lea alone, but in the worst case scenario the curse could prove out to have some harmful effects on Diavolo's wellbeing as well.

"So?"

Lucifer, who had been deepened into his somber pondering of the events, was almost startled by Diavolo's voice. Looking to his side, he was met with an intense gaze of the demon prince's pale amber eyes, sparkling with enthusiasm.

"..So..?" Lucifer furrowed his brow in confusion, unsure what Diavolo meant with this vague question.

"So, what do you think?" Diavolo flashed him a wide smile, unable to hide his excitement. "About her, I mean..!" He clarified when Lucifer only gave him a blank stare in return. "She's cute, isn't she?"

"Cute?!" Diavolo's remark was enough to make Lucifer's jaw drop. "This... Lord Diavolo, this is a serious matter we're dealing with here..! A human has been bound to you!" He explained frantically. "If this gets out to the public, it could lead to a scandal! And to even think of all the ways it could be used against you..!" Letting out a deep sigh, Lucifer took a second to calm down before continuing in a more serious tone. "Wouldn't it be for the best if she was returned home?" Diavolo had his heart in its place when he brought this human to Devildom with him, but this act of kindness could possibly have very grave consequences.

"Returned home?" Hearing his friend's suggestion made Diavolo stop by his tracks, the remains of his earlier excitement instantly waning. "While in the human world, a mere 60 feet distance was enough to knock her out— Sending her back alone would be a death sentence!"

Being bound to Diavolo meant that Lea's life was directly tied to his presence, and wandering too far away from him could cause her some serious— even fatal— harm. Thankfully, in Devildom, the curse's effect seemed less severe, and Diavolo had been able to move freely within the castle without it having an impact on Lea's wellbeing.

"I... I understand the gravity of this situation, Lucifer." Diavolo said, his voice now shadowed with a hint of weariness as he finally allowed the severity of the situation to settle upon him. "But Lea, she..." He fell silent for a short moment, his mind returning to the cultists whose actions had brought Lea to this perilous situation. "She's an innocent bystander who was used as a tool in the sickening games of those cultists; They were maybe ready to throw her life away, but I'm not. There has to be some way to undo the bind." He stated, the determination strong in his voice.

Seeing there was no way of changing Diavolo's mind, Lucifer nodded in reluctant agreement. "If that's your decision... Well... We must get right at it, then." The avatar of pride was everything but thrilled with Diavolo's decision, but he was in no position to oppose him. All he could do now was to help him with the difficult task ahead, and keep an eye on the situation. "But we can't afford to let anyone discover her presence here." Lucifer noted the obvious, giving his friend a meaningful look. "Not until we come up with a solid plan, at least."

Diavolo nodded in agreement, and with a shared resolve, they continued down the corridor, their footsteps echoing in the dimness.