My Demon, My Love...

The Rules of the Realm

     "Where am I? What has become of me now?"

     Azlyn slowly opened her eyes and realized that she was face-down on a cold marble floor.  She looked to her left and saw a beautiful, soft-looking, rug sprawled out on the ground next to her.

     "Typical. Of course, they would put me on the hard floor instead of the rug."  Azlyn thought as she rolled her eyes.

      Azlyn could feel that her hands were tightly bound behind her back.  She knew from many past experiences that her best bet was to try and sit up, then take in her surroundings.  This was certainly not the first time that she had been through this ordeal and she doubted that it would be the last.

     Azlyn wriggled and struggled to force herself off of the floor without touching any of the furniture around her.  She knew the rules all too well and she was not about to start breaking them.  Not before she had even had a chance to make a first impression on whomever her new master may be.

     Azlyn finally managed to force herself up onto her knees.  However, after all that movement and use of muscles, she realized how badly her body ached.   Her head was throbbing, most likely from when she had been knocked unconscious.

     "I wonder if I could count how many times that I have been bound and knocked unconscious."

     Azlyn began to look around and take in the details of the room.  She came to the realization that she was in the nicest room that she had seen in her whole life.  The entire place was covered in expensive paintings and silks.  The rug that she sat next to was probably worth more than the cost of her food for several years.  The bed behind her was made up of ornately carved wood and looked to be so fluffy that she imagined it must be like laying on a cloud.   There were three book shelves around the room all decorated with various collections; one appeared to be lined in a rather magnificent book collection, while the second seemed to contain an assortment of antique weapons, and the third appeared to be housing for various trophies, medals, and awards.   Overstuffed arm chairs sat in one corner, framing a large, stone fireplace.  Whoever this room belonged to certainly had impressive taste.

     As Azlyn sat there, on the cold floor, for what felt like hours.   She wondered how long she would be left waiting there before being introduced to her new duties.   Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching.  She hoped that whomever it was that walked this direction was headed to this room.  She could not stand waiting to learn what horrors awaited her in her new life.   She began to hear the sound of muffled voices and she tried her best to listen in on the conversation.

     "Before we go inside.   I just wanted to say that I hope that you've enjoyed yourself today."

     Azlyn could hear a male speaking just on the other side of the door.   She watched as the door knob, slowly, began to turn.

     "Happy birthday, son!"

     The door swung open and Azlyn's eyes fell upon a being so astonishing that she found she could not look away.  He had sharp, rugged features and his eyes were as dark as the ocean in the dead of night.  His jet-black hair contrasted beautifully against his light, olive skin.  The small black horns atop his head blended into his short-cropped hair, almost seeming to disappear.  Azlyn guessed that he chose not to wear his horns at full size, so that they were not intimidating unless he needed them to be.  He was impeccably dressed, revealing that he came from very wealthy means.  There was something familiar and comforting about him.

     Azlyn quickly realized that she had been staring.  She knew that this was against the rules and swiftly adjusted her position to a more appropriate one, by dropping her gaze down to the floor.  She chastised herself for making such a grave mistake, she knew better than to look a demon in the eye, especially one of such obviously noble means.