Dormant

28

Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.

-Nehemiah 8:10

28

Despite everything that he had been taught his entire life, Alooc found himself doing the exact opposite.

"You've almost got it. Reach a little higher! I can't stand any taller. Stretch out those little arms, boy!" the demon called out in encouragement, attempting to hold Jack-Jack even higher.

"I-I almost got it!" The little boy grunted as his fingers brushed across the bottom of the apple he was trying to reach. Several more failed attempts caused him to burst out laughing. "I'm too short, Za! Throw me up! Up high!" He flailed his arms, flapping them like he was a bird attempting to take flight for the first time.

Alooc instantly pulled his hands out from underneath Jack-Jack's feet, catching the squealing boy as he fell. It was amazing just how small that he was; just by holding him, ready to toss him in the air, the demon could feel every bit of Jack-Jack's bones. Like he was paper, Alooc tossed him up into the tree. Jack-Jack's legs kicked both and forth as if he was running in the air, another shout of excitement slipping from the boy as his hands finally closed around the apple that he had wanted the second his eyes had laid on it. Jack-Jack shouted as his glasses flew from his face. Catching the boy with one arm, Alooc snatched his glasses from the air. The child laughed as he was swung onto the demon's large shoulder, comfortably sitting on the muscle with both his glasses and apple in hand.

"Thank you, Za!" the boy smiled, already speaking through a mouthful of apple.

"No problem, kiddo." Alooc patted his knee before continuing their hike up a hill.

This was becoming a problem. And the Demon Lord was growing steadily more aware of it as time passed. The child, the sick, dying child that he had brought along with him for some unknown reason, was beginning to grow on him. Through all of his smiles, tears, and laughter, somehow Jack-Jack had managed to worm his way into his cold, stone heart. Somehow, by trying to help the child deal with the pain of losing everything that he had known to the Orcs that had attacked his family, Alooc had begun to lose the Demon part of him. He could feel it. There was this... light that was starting to grow inside of him. Right where his heart should be full of darkness and blackness, it was starting to glow with purpose and... happiness.

And that was bad. While the effects had yet to take shape, he had heard of stories. Demons that fell in love died; the love melted the darkness that protected their heart and immortality. They shriveled into the centuries old being that they were. Alooc didn't plan on dying again anytime soon. And certainly not right now when there was too much going on that he didn't understand. While the ash did not seem to be his problem, Legion claimed that it was the Demon Lords' problem.

Besides, the human boy needed him.

They had crossed miles since Alooc had found Jack-Jack. Their days were consumed with walking on every piece of terrain that Alooc could imagine. Well, Alooc did the most walking and carried the boy whenever he grew tired, which was happening faster as time progressed. The mountains had cleared from looming earth to rolling hills. Jack-Jack acted as if he had never seen anything before. He pointed to everything, questioning what it did, what it's purpose was. The boy woke every morning before sunrise just so he could enjoy the colors that painted the skies. If anything dangerous crossed their path, Alooc took care of it, hiding the boy somewhere so nothing would happen to him.

Jack-Jack still didn't know that he was traveling with a Demon Lord. And he wasn't going to know if the Demon Lord had a choice in the matter. Alooc wasn't sure how the child would react. Jack-Jack might be too young to understand the fear he should have in the proximity of Alooc, but something told the shape-shifter that Jack-Jack understood he shouldn't be near either, like angels and demons. The boy's health was fragile too. Telling him might cause his health to be even worse.