My Demon

Leave It Behind - 10

Claudis was beyond troubled by the statements, but this is how it was.

The demon lords were responsible for the deaths of my parents.

"When Ryu was kidnapped, I thought they had found out that  the Alkade line was still alive. I knew they were going to some day and I became stronger so that I could take them out."

I searched his eyes.

"When I was forbidden to go find him and bring him home, I betrayed all of Illuminara just to save Ryu. He was my brother, my responsibility. You saved him, but I paid the price and I was stabbed through and exiled because of it."

None of Claudis' arguments could change the cold hard facts of the past.

"You know why, so don't pretend you forgot"

Claudis has given no reasonable explanation for his protectiveness of me.

It could be love or the promise he made to Ryu, but I get the feeling it was guilt.

Claudis refused to look away from me and I kept focused on his silence. "Who told you about that tree?"

Claudis seemed unsettled that I knew about it.

I noticed the surprise in the tone of his voice and I reacted accordingly.

"Shouldn't I be the one asking that?" I shot him a glance. "Why would you visit my grave? I hate you, not to mention your personality in general irritates me"

I pulled my hand from the tree and I let it linger a brief moment before confronting my overexagerated death.

Claudis knew something most demons wouldn't about me. He knew the part of me that died years prior to my fall.

"It is complicated, but I need you to trust me. I will never betray you" he promised and I felt he was cringing back from the topic.

I tore my hand away. I felt a heavy weight in my chest only to realize my heart was swollen with conflict.

"Then you will never earn it" I stated finished dancing around the issue. "Good luck trying to figure out how I knew about the grave marker because I'm not in the mood to share my personal memories with a Demon Lord"

I retracted from the situation because knowing he had such feelings bothered me more than the ones another demon lord expressed for me.

"Wait" he softly spoke as I paused. "Ryoma, you do not remember do you?"

I felt something different when he asked me that. My insides grew relaxed which replaced my loathing for him.

"Remember?" I questioned as I turned to him. "I came here a lot when I was little. I'd sleep by that tree" I gestured to the tree with my name inscribed on it. "Those times are over, that me died in an instant. I have a decent idea"

Claudis no more understood me than he noticed me.

"We have met before,  but it is a long story" his voice trembled slightly at the thought of telling me. "I know because I knew your father"

Is he really thinking I buy that?

I sighed irritated as I felt the tension coming back.

"Ryoma, You were not as cold as you pretend to be. I still see a fearless spirit inside of you, it never left you"

Fearless?

He's dumber than I thought.

I smirked in amusement at his flawed notion of me.