Demon Games

yay! ok, another chapter. I hope you like this one even MORE than the last one. tehe ^^ This one runs more smoothly, they meet and stuff and things become a little more interesting. enjoy!

Lyra forced herself awake at dawn, and carelessly tied her hair back. It would fall out after only an hour or two but for now it would work to keep the hair from her face. She found a large baggy sweater to wear; she had found long ago that she liked larger clothes. They were more comfortable and hid her lack of everything well. A pair of shorts suited her as well that morning, the shirt long enough to cover them as it was falling off one shoulder from the collar being too large. A quick glimpse in the mirror and she was ready. She left her charm on her computer desk, it would only complicate the procedure and it was better if it went quickly. There was a reason dawn on Saturday morning was her choice hour of soul sending. No person in their right mind would be awake that early on a Saturday, let alone out. Fewer people to witness her strange ritual. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes as she walked lazily along her stone path to the gate. She had it unlocked and opened before she realized there weren't any souls waiting for her, not even one. She furrowed her brow as she stepped out onto the sidewalk, looking either way before walking back inside. Usually there was nearly twenty waiting for her, never less than five, but today not a single one. It was then she noticed her charms were gone as well, this confused her further. Had someone stolen them? If so, then why didn't the souls come to her in her sleep? They were all so selfish; it was unlikely that they would give her a moments rest if she didn't have the boundary between her and them. She began to check her perimeter and found that all of them were gone, even the hidden ones that she had nestled between the stones of her wall.

"They're all gone."

Lyra jumped at the voice, it was low, masculine and very real sounding. Not the voice of a soul who usually sounds faint or even distant. She looked about herself to find a figure sitting comfortably in a tree not far from her. He was smoking a cigarette but the dimness of the morning made it hard for her to see much else. She could see the burning end of the tobacco and the smoke rising before him in the air. She reached absently for the charm that would any other time be around her neck. It wasn't today, nothing to protect her now.

"Are you the one who chased away all the ghosts and stole all my charms?"

The figured jumped smoothly from the tree, landing on the ground without a sound. He wasn't human that was for sure, but he wasn't light or transparent like the ghosts. The way he moved, and the way the hairs stood up on the back of her neck told her she has never encountered something like this. He was tall and slender but far more built than her in size. His dark hair was a bit long, falling about his face and neck but not quite touching his shoulders. She couldn’t see his eyes, only the perfect structure of his face and his pale complexion. He reached up to take his cigarette from his mouth, his long fingers removing it and throwing it onto the ground. They were the hands of an artist, with long beautiful fingers and sure movements. He approached her and she found herself unable to move away. She was frozen, much like a mouse in the gaze of a cobra, she was at his mercy.

"I sent the ghosts where they belong as to allow you a final nights rest. As for the charms, I destroyed them. They were aggravating my senses you see."

Lyra let her hand fall from her throat absently, the charm she didn't have with her would do her no good anyway, he was above that type of protection and she had nothing stronger.

"If you're not a soul who are you, and what do you want?"

She watched him as he smiled at her demands, his chin lifting a little as the growing light hit his startling golden eyes.

"I am the demon Kain, and I've been sent to exterminate you."

Lyra swallowed, she must not show her fear of him. Surely there was something to be done.

"Who sent you?"

He approached her, as she felt her body quake the nearer he came.

"That's not important, the dead doesn't need to know such things."

Without warning her knees gave way under her as she collapsed into the grass. Her hair fell loose of her tie as it fell away somewhere, lost forever in the grass. She almost wanted to cry, but for some strange reason a smile broke through instead.

"Do you know where I will go? Do you know what will happen to me?"

Kain had never heard a question like that; it had caught him off guard. Usually they run, or scream or beg him for another chance. But this girl simply falls before him and asks him where she will go.

"I can't say, I truly don't know."

She lowered her head, allowing her hair to shelter her face as she spoke.

"I guess it really doesn't matter. I'm so tired of this place, so weary. I suppose my parents will be pleased of my demise, and my classmates can now study in peace."

She felt her voice breaking, just like her hope inside. She did like living, but, everything else, it was more than she felt she could handle.

"Why do you say these things?"

Tears filled her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She would not cry, not after seeing souls vanish into oblivion before her so many times before. She would not fear death.

"I was a mistake, I wasn't supposed to be. I can feel it inside; I've always felt it. That I'm not real or have a purpose, I wonder if I'm even human. I suppose that's why you're here now, to fix the mistake that had been made."

Kain didn't want to listen to her prattle anymore. Something about her was grating against him, and he disliked it greatly. As he extended his hand, a sharp smell struck him and turned his gaze to the sky and away from the kneeling human.

"Damn angels must have found me at last."

Lyra lifted her head to look at her killer; he wasn't looking at her anymore but at the sky, which was growing lighter by the minute. It was there that she saw a small form moving towards them fast. It was light in color and blended in well with the lightening clouds but Kain saw it easily as he moved his hand from her and extended it skyward. She began to stumble to her feet as she realized another demon was falling towards them but this one was female and light in color. She didn't get far before Kain took hold of her shirt and tossed her aside roughly, just as the light demon collided with him. She heard them strike as she found her feet again quickly, seeing them grapple in her garden like Greek gods of old. It was then she saw the wings, the great white wings that were being ripped and shredded in the battle by Kain. The being screamed out loud as he took hold of her throat and crushed it easily in his fingers. Lyra winced as she heard the small bones crack and the gurgle of blood in the woman's lungs. The body dropped heavily against the ground as she watched it burn to ash on the ground, nothing left but scattered white feathers and blood, and Kain who was panting heavily from the short lived battle.

"I will make you a deal human."

Lyra looked at him, finding it strange that fear wasn't riding her as before, even after seeing him grapple with a demon.

"It seems that heaven dislikes my presence here and knows you are here as well. You are valuable to them if they should take you. They would train you and keep you as a pet. I think it would be wise for me to keep you alive, and have you to usher souls to hell."

She moved her gaze from the scattered feathers to her feet in contemplation. She knew it was unwise to take her eyes off him but at the same time didn’t want to look around her.

"I must send them to hell?"

Kain approached her smoothly, again not making a sound as he walked.

"If you want to live that would be wise. But for now you must come with me. I need to report to my father."

She looked up at Kain again as he spoke, his arms outstretched to her as if to hug her. She didn't move, there was a question she wanted answered first.

"Was that a demon?"

She nodded towards the quickly vanishing ash pile that had once been alive. The slightest wind carried it away, bit by bit. The feathers, however, weren't leaving so quickly.

"It was an angel."

Lyra stiffened, seeing now that his words made sense. Heaven knew about her and wanted her as well, surely to usher souls to heaven instead of hell. She was speaking to the enemy, and being taken captive.

"It wasn't a bad thing. It was either her or me and I was the stronger. I survived and she died. If she had taken you it would have been a worse fate than what I'm offering. They would steal you away and train you as a pet. You would be lowly in their kingdom, a once human, now a tool. In the care of hell you are an usher, a valued gate between the souls here on earth and hell."

Lyra gazed at her feet again, her fists clenched at her sides. She hated having so little time to think things through. A rash decision could end her now.

"I don't know…"

She stiffened as Kain closed the gap between them, encasing her in his arms of steel as he held her to him almost tenderly.

"Hush now. I dare not leave you alone at the moment so you have to come with me. It will be a short visit, just close your eyes and don't open them until I say."

Lyra obeyed, knowing that she had no other option. For a demon he was surprisingly warm and smelled of tobacco. The moment she closed her eyes she felt herself moving, it was a strange sensation but she pressed her face against his chest to resist the urge to look around.

“What is the meaning of this Kain?”

Lyra felt Kain’s fingers tighten against her as the large voice rumbled with anger. He was leaning over her as he spoke, his chest against her ear as she humored at the heart beat of a demon.

“Be pleased, I’ve returned home with a gift.”

The voice scoffed, a sound that was close to that of gravel being shaken in a barrel.

“A gift I ordered you to kill. It was foolish of you to bring her here. This is not like you at all Kain, my blood thirsty son. Of all my boys you were always the hungriest and here you stand with a human sheltered in your arms. You must be ill.”

Lyra tried to turn her head towards the voice but a hand found her hair and held her fast. It was almost tender…almost.

“An angel attacked me today. They know where she is. And if an angel would be so bold as to attack me she is obviously desired by them. We can use her.”

Lyra waited for a laugh, a denial, a final blow to finish her as she counted the seconds. It was a painful ten before anyone spoke.

“You speak of starting a war my son? Surely you provoke their anger and they will come. Kill her and be done with it I say, kill her and all our problems go away. Heaven can’t use her and she can’t steal our souls any longer. It is a just decision why do you continue to disobey me?”

Lyra’s fingers clutched at his shirt as Kain gazed down at her. Even now he could think of ten different ways to kill her. It would be so simple to squeeze her until he heard every rib crack and her spine sever. Or his hand, resting so lightly against her hair, his fingers pressing deeply until her skull was crushed and her life was mush in his palm amidst the hair and bone. But something was screaming at him, something was telling him to let her live and it was so strong that he wouldn’t dare deny it.

“A war I would gladly fight. We can use her, I’ve seen what she can do and I’m sure that, with the proper guidance, she could become more than just a gate. She can release with a touch father, just a single touch.”

Kain’s breath fell against her hair as he spoke, her fingers tangled in his shirt. She didn’t really want to die, not in hell. Her fingers tangled against him felt as though they were gripping her last piece of possibility, even if it was a servant of hell, it was a life. If there was nothing else she could do past that point then she would serve until her true time arrived.

“It is a war I’m not prepared to start my son. And what would you do with her? She can’t stay in hell, and I’ll not spare a man strong enough to defend her on earth. And what if the angels should take her? I understand her talents have struck you my son but really, think this through. She’s just a human Kain, do not think her more.”

Lyra tensed in his arms until she was almost shaking. It was her end, Kain’s father wouldn’t allow her to live, she would perish in hell. Maybe it was where she truly belonged anyway. All their words, all of the new things she’d encountered in only a few hours were more than she could bear. It made sense, that was why people were uneasy around her, why she was so universally hated. She was a child of hell, she had always been a child of hell, and even in her final hour she would perish where she was meant to be.

“Allow me father. You say you can’t spare a strong enough man then spare me. I do nothing anyway; I’m your errand boy. But you know and trust my abilities, allow me to keep her.”

Kain’s fingers slid through her hair as she felt him draw her close, his cheek against her head. Was he trying to soothe her?

“You truly have lost your mind. My youngest, banished to life on earth simply to guard a valued gate? This is madness. Not only will she be hunted but you will be as well. I can’t risk losing my son of spades, my messenger of death, my prince of darkness. This human has captivated you; you would sooner be drenched in her blood than be bound to her. Even if I sent you I know you. You would dutifully watch her for a time, but your nature would win over, you would destroy her. Even your most loved pets you’ve had all died by your hand. You simply can’t protect, Kain, you can only kill.”

Lyra’s ears strained to identify the sounds emerging around them. Something close to footsteps but more like scurrying, beasts surrounding them and coming close. She didn’t want to be there any longer. Something inside her wanted to flee. Kain’s voice was the only thing to still her as he used his cobra ability to freeze her muscles and mind.

“Hush now, it’s only the damned. Your human heart fears them naturally, do not fret.”

She drew a long breath and tried to still her heart. Adrenaline was filling her veins but she denied herself an escape. Kain smiled.

“Will you obey me my son, or shall I remove her from your arms limb by limb?”

That strange feeling of moving took over her again as screeches rose from every side.

“Even now she displays her courage. We shall see who will win the game, won’t we?”

Before another second passed the feeling was gone again and Kain’s arms fell from around her. She felt cold without them, he was so warm it surprised her.

“What’s your name human?”

She stepped away, giving herself air to clear her mind. She was confused and grounded at the same time, as though she was all knowing but somehow still blind against the coming storm.

“My name is Lyra.”

She didn’t look up at him, only at her feet. If she stared at her feet she could clear her mind of everything. Maybe then she could understand.

“Lyra, hmm? That’s a strange name even for a human.”

She furrowed her brow. He was sheltering her and now he’s making fun of her. She didn’t understand people at all. She didn’t understand why she was so unacceptable even by this proclaimed demon.

“Why don’t you leave Kain? I think I like the quiet.”

Kain tilted his head as he watched her with some amusement. She was so peculiar.

“I can’t do that. I can never leave you alone, in order to protect you from heaven.”

Lyra finally met his gaze. She had never shared her home with anyone, never. No guests, no over night visitors, not even a visit; it had always just been her. The silence of the house became its trademark. Never a sound, never more than a small voice in the night or a light sob. She didn't know if she could take the echoes of another person in her home.

"Don't be so stupid, you can't always be here. At some point, you'll leave and I'll be here at this place again."

Kain pulled a cigarette from his coat pocket along with a lighter and carefully lit it before he continued.

"Where's the final charm?"

She stared at him a moment in confusion. He knew about her necklace charm, perhaps he was the eyes she had felt the day before following her.

"It's in the house, on my table next to the door. I left it this morning because I was going to send the souls."

Her gaze fell to the ground. That moment seemed a lifetime ago.

"Lets be rid of it then."

Kain started towards the house and had several strides on her before she managed to catch up at the door. He let himself in as Lyra opened her mouth to protest.

"This is a beautiful home. It's so large. Are you really here alone?"

She shut her mouth, taken back by his harsh words. Or maybe they just sounded harsh to her.

"Yes, it's just…me."

Kain's fingers found the charm resting on the table as he lifted it to his face, a look of disgust in his eyes. She only watched as his black flame devoured it until it was only smoke and a memory.

"What if I needed that?"

Kain smiled and took a long drag from his cigarette before pulling it away from his lips. Something about his smile made her wary as her chest tightened and heat rose to her cheeks.

"You won't, from now on Lyra, you belong to me. And I will be your charm."


If you can't tell Kain's a bit of a daddy's boy, but for a very good reason ^^ until next time guys xoxoxo loves you! toodles!