Halfling (editing in process)

Chapter One

She had been out on a little stroll outside the forest on a human's trail for most of the evening. She had never traveled into human villages, mostly from the fear that someone would put a dagger through her heart. By the time she reached the foreboding trees the sun had disappeared behind the horizon. She smiled lightly as she stepped into the cool darkness provided by the trees, her fingers running over the rough bark before she began to walk. Around her small shrubs and plants caressed her legs like a purring feline; something she didn't care for, but tolerated. She didn't care much for her elven side; as she was raised by creatures that tormented her for it for her first few years of life, but as much as she tried, the plants would not leave her alone. She supposed she should have been thankful for them; they had kept her fed and sheltered from storms, but still the annoyance stayed.

Her thoughts were filled with plans for the night after she got her fire set up and her supper cooking. She had recently found a book of spells and rituals and was eager to try them out, she was always finding books and things of that nature within her forest; she supposed they could have been gifts from her father, but didn't have much faith in the idea that the man would put that much thought into her learning.

It was the wandering of her thoughts that prevented her from noting the man coming up behind her. When a hand closed around her shoulder she realized it much too late, and had her back pinned to a tree a moment later, her feet dangling a few inches off the ground. She looked up at him, obvious distaste in her soft features.

"Lucien, what do I owe the honor of you separating your lips from my father's boots?" Her voice dripped with sarcasm, but she didn't move, giving him a sharp glare instead.

The demon snarled, but regained his composure quickly. Ever the faithful lackey, Lucien looked the part of a snake-oil salesman with looks that had caused the downfall of many women's souls. Blond hair that was cut short and carefully spiked in the front provided a soft halo for a strong jaw that accented high cheekbones that gave him the appearance of a carefully sculpted statue. His body was that of a warrior, but the feature that stood out the most was blue eyes that held a predatory look that said, 'I am going to hurt you, and you're going to enjoy every second'. He was used to getting who and what he wanted, but his charm failed to impress her; a sure way to frustrate and anger him.

His other hand rose up to tuck her hair back behind her pointed ear, a soft smirk appearing on his face at the appearance of the imperfection. "Aria, you'll break my heart with such words." His hand moved down in a soft caress before cupping the side of her face.

"Incubi do not possess hearts, and if you did I would have buried a blade in it long ago." She replied, her tone bored, yet layered with underlying venom. "Now, what do you want?"

His fingers tightened against her face, his nails growing into points that jabbed into her skin, but not hard enough to draw blood. "Now now, such big talk for my little halfling; my you've grown ballsy since my last visit haven't you?" His voice was as smooth as velvet and was laced with humor and heat. "If we didn't have better things to do we'd have a nice long chat about respecting those with higher status. You however, are long overdue for a visit to your daddy, he wishes to see you."

An icy chill went down her spine, causing her to shutter and goosebumps to rise on her arms. She had only seen her father a few times before and had never gone down to the Underworld. Sure, she possessed the ability, but had no wish to go down where human souls were tortured and demons roamed doing whatever they wanted. No, she liked the serenity that the forest brought her, and the uncomplicated life of a demon that had no master. She would not go without a fight.

In one swift move she twisted her body, using his arm that still pinned her as leverage to get her legs up. Her kick met him in the stomach, causing him to stumble back and curse at her in the ancient tongue of demons. The moment her feet hit the ground she was off; the plants themselves moving to get out of her way. She thought she had run much farther than she had when searing pain caught her ankle, pulled, and had her kissing the ground. She looked down to find the end of a barbed whip wrapped around her ankle, crimson blood bubbling from the wounds. She reached to try and pull it from her skin when Lucien walked from the trees, jerking it again and causing a fresh spike of pain to go through her as the barbs cut deeper into her skin.

"Nimble little thing aren't you?" He taunted. "Perhaps you'd be able to outrun me if you weren't tainted so much by that eleven blood of yours; it slows you down you know." He let out a soft tsk and moved towards her, gripping the end of the whip tight, daring her to move again.

She needed a distraction; she tucked her hand behind her back as it began to glow a soft green color. She reached down to try and undo the whip again; preparing herself for the repercussions for the action, all while he continued to talk. She cried out when he jerked the whip again; too busy running his mouth to notice the vines rising behind him. He was swallowed by them suddenly, giving her the opportunity to quickly pull the whip from her flesh. She got up with little difficulty, the wounds already starting to heal; she ran. She could hear him cursing and set her teeth into her lip when she felt a blast of heat against her back. The fool is going to burn the whole forest down; she thought bitterly.

She might have gotten away if it hadn't been for the large branch that swung into her stomach. Her yelp was silenced as the breath left her body and she fell back, clutching her stomach and gasping to try and catch her breath. Her attention focused on a tall, chuckling woman as she appeared from outside of her vision. Her hair and almond-shaped eyes were black as ink, her face a soft oval that held the illusion of a delicate woman. The tight leather that hugged every curve as well as the fiendish delight in her eyes betrayed that illusion however. The woman dropped the branch and knelt down beside her; reaching out she caressed the girl's hair.

"Lucien couldn't catch you little halfling?" The mystery woman questioned. "He gets too caught up in his ego, but I'll fix him of that one of these days if his monologues don't get him killed. It's a habit that needs breaking, just like I'm going to break you."

Aria glared and opened her mouth to speak when the woman suddenly gripped her hair and forced their eyes to lock. The anger quickly left Aria's face as agony swept over her features. Her skin was on fire, yet she could see no flame. The woman grinned and shuttered, pleasure dancing in her eyes. Her other hand moved onto the writhing girl's stomach, the small movement sending pain not unlike the thrust of a sword into her. Aria's scream of agony was met by a heated sigh from the woman.

"Payne! For Lucifer's sake can you not control yourself for ten minutes? We need her cognitive damn it; you can get yourself off later." Lucien appeared from the trees looking utterly disheveled; his suit was torn in several places and held what looked to be grass stains; probably from the vines. There were several places in the material that were also singed.

The woman, Payne, pouted at him. "But her flesh is so smooth and untouched; elves always scream the loudest. He doesn't need her that badly. Look at her... Not a mark..." She purred, a lustful hunger dominating her voice.

Lucien rolled his eyes and pulled the woman away, leaving Aria whimpering and gasping on the ground. She looked up at him just in time to see his foot soaring towards her, delivering a hard kick to her temple that made her vision eat away into oblivion.