Gone And Back Again

XIII. That Didn't Go As Planned

He should’ve known. Mortals were wonderful at messing things up. He paced, not quite sure what to do now. He had made sure that he stepped through loopholes to successfully capture his prey, and he had failed. Perfect.

The rules stated he could not actually go and make Satoshi miserable. That wasn’t up to him. The Dark Prince would have to decide that. Or God. Whoever decided to manipulate the child at the time.

However, nothing said he couldn’t talk to him without being in the human world. By conversing through a mirror, which was a home to souls, he was technically not breaking any rules. Also, if Satoshi allowed himself to be taken over or have his energy used temporarily, then Krad was still not breaking rules.

Oh, did Krad love loopholes.

What he couldn’t stand was the fact that he had thought of that while Satoshi was at school. He had slightly broken a rule. Slightly. By causing the mortal’s nightmares and worst memories temporarily be visible to said mortal, Krad had broken a small rule. Without permission, the hex wasn’t allowed to toy with Hiwatari’s mind. However, appearing to Hiwatari was fine, since he was in the reflection of the mirror. Same loophole as the mirror. Since Krad had only shown those memories for a few seconds, Krad was sure no one would make a big deal. He’d probably get his wings burned, lashed at, or something, since they were indeed sensitive.

Unlike most demons, hexes didn’t have tails. Their tails were replaced with feathered wings. Other demons had wings too, but theirs were tattered, and bat-like. Not beautiful at all. Hexes looked like angels, and were incredibly powerful.

Krad’s suspicions were confirmed as a blazing pain pulled him out of his thoughts, and caused him to collapse.

Although he had allowed himself to fall, he stifled a scream. He felt too dignified for something like that. After all, he had screamed enough when he first got to the wretched place he now called home.

“He’s not happy with you.” A sing songy, yet cruel voice came. Her. Again.

“Of course not.” Krad responded through gritted teeth. His wings felt as if they were on fire, but he could feel a distinctive tear. What had she used to strike him? It could be a whip, he had known a couple of the ones they possessed to burn after a lashing, but it felt like the burn spread. Besides, most whips stung.

“You should learn to be patient.” She was practically purring, and Krad was tempted to pull out her vocal cord. If she would just shut up for one minute…

“Patience did not get me away from my lowly position, and patience will not defeat my brother.” He growled. One lash? He could deal with that. Once his wing felt like moving, he would know what she did.

Or not.

Another lash, and another. Krad counted nine, biting his tongue to keep from screaming in agony. He was sure his tongue was bleeding by then, but it didn’t matter. It would heal faster than his wings.

“Obedience training. That’s what you need, Krad.”

“Dogs need obedience training. I am not a dog. I do not need obedience training.  I need power, and a vessel. I need to permanently erase Dark.”

Ten more lashings. Krad was sure he had bitten off the tip of his tongue. It would grow back. He was also sure he heard fire. And the crack of a whip. It didn’t really matter at this point, as long as his screams didn’t slip, he was content. Well, as content as one can be when they fail their mission and are put through incredible pain, but at least he wouldn’t be humiliated.

“You’re worth less than a dog is, as far as I’m concerned. Dogs, at least, understand what they’re told, and do it.”

She seemed to wait until he could speak again, and Krad was sure she knew what he was doing. His hatred for her seemed to never stay at one level, and rage bubbled within him.

“If I did what I was told, I wouldn’t be here.”

“True, you’d be having so much more fun, probably. Too bad for you.”

Twenty more lashes. If he made it another ten without screaming, he would have to reward himself somehow. Perhaps Satoshi would ask him to take on  a physical form in the human world, and lend him some money. Krad was always fond of ice cream, it was one of the few things he had in common with his brother. After spending a year in a fiery home of torture, ice cream sounded good.

After confirming his tongue was in good enough condition to talk, Krad waited for any urge to beg to go away.

“This strategy he and I have been playing is fun enough for me, thank you very much. I don’t care for whatever it is they do way up there.”

Ten more lashes. Not a single scream. He was definitely asking for that ice cream when he could.

“Tch, whatever you say.” She began to walk off, and so Krad stood up to recomposure himself. Just as he managed to straighten himself up, and look as dignified as he could with his wings looking the way they must, she lashed at him again. This time, fifty in succession. This time, a loud scream Krad wasn’t sure was his, but once it was over, his throat was raw.

“Better.” Was her laugh of a response. There from the floor in utter humiliation, Krad planned revenge. First, however, he knew he needed to get back at his brother. That was his priority. Then he could find a way to dispose of her in a most painful, and humiliating way. Some day. Just not at that moment.