Demonic Temptation

Chapter 3

I woke up to a cold wet nose poking my cheek. I grumbled and buried my face in my pillow. I heard a yip of protest. I smiled and sat up. Tessa wagged her tails happily. She barked and ran to the door, wanting to be let out. Yinsy came in and Tessa bolted out. "We'll have to get her a dog portal."

"Dog portal?" I asked her. "It's a collar that allows her to go through doors so she can come and go without needing us to open a door for her." She explained to me. I nodded, "I see." She smiled, "Get dressed, I've got something to show you." I raised an eyebrow but I didn't protest. "What about breakfast?" This woman keeps forgetting about the most important meal of the day. "Later." She said and I sighed.

After getting dressed I followed her out of the room. Tessa joined us part way down the hall, tails wagging. Yinsy took us outside towards the stables. I could hear the sound of metal hitting metal as we turned the corner. There was a blacksmith station. Beautiful swords hung on the wall. Some had straight blades, some were curved. They were all unique and probably heavy. The man had black and yellow scaled skin and orange reptile eyes. "This is Unif. Unif, this is Raven. She's a blacksmith from Tamayo who'd like to continue her craft now that she's here." My eyes widened at what she said. She gave me a bright smile before turning back to Unif. He looked me up and down, and sneered. "Don't you have a pretty dress to wear or something?"

I rolled my eyes, "Sexist pig." He growled and bared his fangs, "Excuse me?" I stepped forward, "I didn't stutter." He then smiled, "Okay girly, I'll let you work with me. A girl, fresh from the human lands who doesn't back down, I like that." Yinsy rolled her eyes, "One day, that will get you killed." "I've got scales of steel." He bragged and this time Yinsy and I rolled our eyes at the same time.

She smiled, "Have fun." I looked at her shocked, "What about breakfast?" She waved her hand, "I'll have someone bring you something." I huffed and Unif laughed. "Come on girly, let's see what you know."

For hours I worked with Unif and I felt like I was at home. It was easy to work beside him. We laughed and fell into an easy rhythm. We stopped to eat when our meals came but then we got back to it. Tessa enjoyed playing with the horses in the stables, chasing butterflies, and sunbathing while I worked.

When the sun went down she laid on my jacket that I placed on a chair. It was late by the time we both felt tired. "Not bad girly, how long have you been in the craft?" He asked me. "Seven years. I started when I was sixteen." I shared with him. "I even had my own shop. Didn't make much but I loved what I did." He nodded, "And that's what matters. Do you think about owning your own shop again?" I shrugged, "I don't know. I haven't thought about my future now that I'm here." I don't even know if I wanted to stay human. I got a dog, that's as far as I've gotten.

He chuckled, "That's okay girly. You've got plenty of time to figure it out." I have him a smile before picking Tessa up and grabbing my jacket. I carried her to our room and I laid her on the bed while I went to the bathroom to bathe. I sighed, sinking into the bubbles. What did I want to do? I am a blacksmith, no doubt about that. I just didn't know what I wanted to do with my gift. Would I be able to open up a shop? Would I be trusted? I was a human and demons needed weapons heavier than I can make. Unless I became a demon.

If I did, how would I change? Would I grow horns? Wings? I loved flying with King Azia. Being up high, soaring over the city. It was breath taking. As a demon I'd have the strength to make any weapon weight I wanted. I could even be more help to Unif. I was only able to do minor things, like work on hilts, and polishing. Both are things that do take time and never taken for granted, but I didn't have the strength to move them around or work on a blade. I got out when the water got cold.

I wrapped a towel around myself. I could make things for humans, but I wanted to explore with my skill, see the different types of strange metals I could work with. Unif told me about so many different kinds, some that you needed magic to work with, others that needed extreme strength, it was all so informative and amazing.
I got dressed and crawled into bed with Tessa.

Suddenly the castle rumbled and shook. Screams could be heard around the castle. I tried getting up but I hit the floor. Tessa whined and licked my cheek. "I'm fine." I assured her before getting on my hands and knees to start crawling. My door flew open and Xan came in with Yinsy. "What's going on?" I asked him. "Desmos are attacking." Yinsy said as she helped me to my feet.

"What?" I asked her. "Desmos are giant demons. They are from another, over seas, Demon Kingdom." Xan explained. There's more than one? Suddenly a hand broke my window and Xan pushed Yinsy and I out of the way. His sword sliced off one of the fingers. Blood gushed from the missing digit, creating a small lake of blood.

Tessa jumped into my arms as Yinsy grabbed my shoulder, "We'll let him handle it, we need to get you to safety." Suddenly we were no longer in my room. We we're in another part of the castle, underground with the other girls and staff members. Then Yinsy was gone, probably to help her mate. "Is that yours?" One of the girls asked, pointing to Tessa. I nodded, "Yes. This is Tessa."

Tessa jumped from my arms and went to sniff them. "Here you go miss." One of the maids said while handing me a towel. "Thank you." I began cleaning the blood off of my feet. My poor room. I shivered at the thought of the blood lake from the giants' hand.

We all stayed underground until the the shaking stopped and Yinsy came back. "Well your room is ruined." She told me. "Really? I thought the lake of blood in the middle of it was a wonderful touch." She rolled her eyes, "Come on." Tessa leaped into my arms before Yinsy teleported us out.

"So why did they attack?" I asked her. "Because they see us as weaklings because we made peace with the humans. They think the humans should be enslaved. It's why King Azia had banned them to their island in the first place. He didn't want them to ruin the peace. We've been going back forth for centuries." She said as if it wasn't a big deal. "Our men and King are much stronger than they'll ever be. My Xan had taken down one easily on his own." Admiration and love sparkled in her eyes as she spoke about her mate.

King Azia approached us followed by Xan. "Are you okay?" King Azia asked me. "A little grossed out, but I'm fine." I answered honestly. He nodded, "I have another room being prepared for you as we speak." "Was anyone hurt?" I asked him. "A few guards when the attack first happened, but just minor injuries." He answered and I nodded.

He then turned to Yinsy, "I will see to it she gets to her new room, you two go enjoy yourselves." That was all Yinsy needed before leaping into her mates' arms as they kissed and the two of them disappeared a second later. Her parents had once been wild then they had kids and that passion died. It was nice to see that passion between a couple who clearly loved each other.

"Do you miss your home?" He asked me as we began to walk. I thought for a moment before shaking my head, "I never considered it my home. I couldn't afford to ever leave so I was stuck there." "Not even your shop?" He asked curiously. I shook my head again, "I loved my work, and what I made, but the shop had been given to me when my mentor died. If I had my own shop, it'd be bigger, with better heat ventilation and propper weapon displays."

He nodded, as if he was making mental note about everything I had told him. "Would you open a shop here?" He asked next. I nodded, "If I change into a demon I will but I haven't decided." He seemed stunned, "Why would being a demon have anything to do with that decision?" "Because of all the amazing metals I could work with. As a human I'm not strong enough, but as a demon, the skies would be the limit on seeing what I could do." I couldn't help the excitement as I spoke. His gold eyes shined with understanding, "I see. What's stopping you from changing?"

I shrugged, "I'm not sure if I'm ready just yet." He nodded, "When you are, come find me." We then stopped outside of a room. He opened the door for me and I was greeted with a room much larger and luxurious than the one I had been in. Tessa jumped from my arms and went to the bed. "Fresh clothes are waiting for you in the bathing chamber." He told me before turning to leave.

"My name is Raven by the way." He stopped and turned to me. "Raven." He said as if tasting the name on his tongue. When he said it, it made my stomach flip but I didn't know why. "Good night Raven." He said with a small smile. I nodded, "Goodnight King Azia." He shut the door softly as he left the room.

I then looked around my new room. I didn't like how large and luxurious it was, much preferring simpler. But it was nice and comfortable. I bathed and changed before crawling in the bed with Tessa. She was out like a light and I hoped I would fall asleep just as fast.