The Demon Daughter's Recital

"Grand Overseer, we are so pleased you are joining us tonight," the middle-aged human woman, presumably some sort of administrator, said as she placed herself in front of me.

I heard my bodyguards begin to shuffle behind me, no doubt interpreting the woman's forced interaction as some sort of 'slight.'

She was a thin woman, somewhat mousey, with her eyes amplified by oversized glasses. She wore a number of colorful scarves which bordered on breaking several decency and public order bylaws. In her hands was a clipboard that she held in front of her, her knuckles white. It took a moment, but then I realized that I had met her before.

"Ah, Ms. Pike," I addressed my daughter's music teacher. "I look forward to seeing how my child and the others perform this evening."

The woman nodded. "Your daughter is a bright girl," Ms. Pike said. "She's caught on very quickly. She's been doing very well despite...." She trailed off.

"Despite?" I asked, growling a little. I felt my fur bristle.

"No... nothing, Grand Overseer."

I let myself breathe a moment, forcing my ire to slip by. I had been advised not to attend this event, given my temper and general disdain towards humans. I would not be here but for my daughter, my dear only daughter, who had pleaded that I attend.

We had subjugated them a generation ago. Like we had done dozens of times before, we opened portals to this new dimension and invaded. They fought, fell quickly, and eventually surrendered, as all beings of lesser dimensions eventually did. I had been appointed Grand Overseer of a large swath of territory on this world and had been transferred here with my then pregnant mate.

My daughter, being the strongest of the litter and the only survivor of the infant phase, had grown up here. She hadn't ever known anything else. She had an unhealthy fascination with the humans and their culture, especially their music. I relished the fact that I only had two more cycles of governing here. After that, I could take her back to her home dimension. She could be with her own kind, her own people, away from these demons.

These humans always played submissive, but there was always something there, a rebellious streak that we've been unable to break. The first few years of governance had been peaceful, but it felt like something was brewing. Rebellious and traitorous acts were on the rise, and my patience with these humans was growing thin.

The woman stepped aside and motioned towards a dais. "Please, we've prepared a special seat for you, Grand Overseer. We've made sure to make it comfortable, and it will give you a great view of the recital."

I nodded towards one of my bodyguards who moved towards the dais to inspect it. I could see the nostrils on his boar-like snout sniffing heavily. If the humans had rigged the chair with explosives, my bodyguard's specialized nose would pick it up, even if there was only the faintest trace. The woman looked on nervously.

"No need to worry, Ms. Pike," I said. "Standard procedure to ensure my safety. You understand?"I could smell the fear radiating off of her. Pathetic.