Demonheim

chapter 4

Odiana's heart was in her throat. Roy had done something stupid and once again she was surprised he had not been killed on the spot. It was as though the green demon had taken his place in death. Fool's luck is what she would call it. Roy can't seem to die despite his stupidity.
Dera stood next to her, she never uttered a word throughout the whole ordeal. Odiana was certain the beautiful demon didn't care at all if Roy died, she was simply doing her job of chaperoning the newly spawned demons and if they got killed it simply meant her job was completed.
She watched as Roy walked forward on unsteady legs and picked up the blade. Odiana had never seen anything like it, well that was to be expected, nothing in Hellheim was like anything she had ever seen in Berrion. The sword was curved like a claw, it was forged out of some kind of steel that looked bluish, like Roy's new skin.
A female demon came and led him out through one of the smaller doors. They had to wait till the rest of ceremony was over before she could get Dera to lead her to him.
She walked beside the demon woman's floating form. She couldn't take it anymore.
"Do you care?"
Dera glanced at her, her expression blank.
"About what?"
"Roy" Odiana clarified, "would you have cared if he had died".
Dera looked away, "no"
She could argue but it was pointless. In Demonheim there was no such bonds, familial or familiar, all that mattered was power.
They stopped at a doorway, it was open and maids were trooping in, each carrying a piece of armour. They walked in to see Roy's blue form standing on a stool while a horde of surprisingly human maids fitted him with various pieces of armour. The black armour suited him quite well, he almost looked like a respectable knight. He turned to them.
"Oh hello there!" He called cheerily like he wasn't about to go face certain death.
"Ow!" He jumped suddenly, "watch the tail!" the women jumped in fright at his outburst but went back to work when his attention left them.
"Do you know what The Trial of The Black Fire is?" Dera asked as she floated towards Roy.
The blue skinned demon shrugged.
"You will be dropped into a world that has been mostly consumed by black flames that corrupts anything it touches"
Roy's eyes widened, "damn"
"Damnation is correct" Dera said in a deadpan.
"The black fire has consumed most of that world, you will be tasked with taming it or die trying and I assure you the black flames is not so easily tamed"
Warrick stumped in, the large demon towered over everyone in the room. His piercing red gaze settled on Roy.
"You're a fool Roy, I should have known that before now!" Warrick's angry voice bounced off the walls.
Roy shrugged. Almost throwing off the maid trying to pin his pauldron, she slapped his shoulder in annoyance.
Roy winced, "sorry" he muttered. The maid seemed shocked at her slip and even more shocked by his sincere apology. Odiana had been in Demonheim long enough to know how humans were treated there, it wasn't much better than the minions.
"You have gotten the attention of Kalendrius and if you consider what happened to her last consort you would know you're living on borrowed time and you're not nearly trained enough as a demon yet to even survive the trial!"
"Hmm" Roy said, "so that's her name".
He tested the name, "Kalen-dri-us"
"You think if I call her 'Kally' it'll make her more feminine?"
"No" Warrick spat, "it'll make her kill you"
Odiana knew why Warrick was so infuriated. He had brought Roy to Demonheim so he was considered one of his own. If Roy had made a fool of himself he had also by extension made a fool of Warrick. This was wisdom she had gleamed from being of noble blood and Roy wasn't a noble though he was quite popular on Berrion he didn't have much dealings in politics. She hated the politics herself and had chosen to be a holy warrior instead and they sent her to her death as punishment.
It took her a moment to realise the room had gone silent and that she was growling menacingly. She stopped immediately and tried to push down the fiery ball of anger that was welling up in her but it was already too late and everyone was staring at her. Dera had explained shortly after she spawned that she was a rage demon, a species of demon that could harness their anger and use it to double or even triple their immense physical strength. She was much more easier to provoke now than before her spawning and Roy always took advantage of that.
Odiana sighed, now at least they were quiet and she could be the voice of reason between the two demons, if that was even possible.
"How long do we have to prepare for The Trial?" She asked Warrick.
"No time at all" the large red demon groused, "I've been sent to get him to the world tree and guide him there"
"Does he have to do it alone?" They both seemed shocked by her question.
They glanced at each other and a silent conversation passed between them.
"Yes" Warrick said simply. Roy nodded in agreement, which was what Odiana picked up on. Roy would never agree with anyone on anything.
"That's a lie, you're both trying to keep me from going" she folded her arms and stared at the two demons. Roy stared at her with pleading blue eyes.
"You don't have to come with me, this is my trial, well except you want to be Kally's consort too" he asked with a raised eyebrow.
She simply glared at him.
He sighed. There was no room for arguments.
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A/N: hello there reader, I know this is shorter than usual but how's the story so far? Please leave a comment. Next chapter is already written, just a few things to edit before I can post.