viceofvoices | Rule 63 Demons

He paused for a moment, watching her. Approaching behind her, the reflection revealed him gazing down at the back of her head with an odd expression. "...oh? You're saying being a wicked villain doesn't suit me?" Though the tone of his voice was teasing, something in his eyes as they lifted to the mirror to search for her gaze was all too somber.

She met his gaze in the mirror, looking confused. "I meant the colors. Black, silver, and purple... You don't normally like the castle's decor?" It looked so elegant.

Ah...so that's what she meant. What was he expecting? He ducked his head slightly with a small, bitter chuckle. "I like it well enough, but I admit decor is usually not a priority for me. I confess I tried to make this place as opulent and evil looking as possible, as befitted a true damsel-in-distress."

Reaching around, he touched the tips of his claws to the silvery surface of the mirror in front of them. As a faint humming rose in volume around them, the glass rippled like a stone thrown into a still pond. Light shone out, silvery and soft.

"This would be the entrance to Niflheim. Shall we?"

Krichevska didn't have the heart to tell him that it mainly just looked opulent to her. She was too used to decor looking "evil" as the standard. Maybe someday she would have him visit her castle.

Yes. Someday she would.

She nodded, both as reply and in appreciation. A mirror as an entrance... How perfect. Krichevska took a step toward the mirror, curiously putting her hand against the rippling surface before finally stepping through.

Hild stepped through behind her and in a split second, the world around them shifted and formed again. As the near blinding white light faded, the world of Niflheim came into view.

There was no sun or moon in the sky but light shone down regardless, in hues of red and purple and yellow, like sunset. They were on a stone platform of sorts, looking out over spires and blade-like buildings. At this height, they could see the fields beyond, strange, huge creatures roaming in packs.

Hild stepped up behind Krichevska, looking down at his kingdom with quiet pride. "What do you think?"

Edited 2013-03-01 16:36 (UTC)

Krichevska stared around in wide-eyed wonder. "I've never seen a city so big..." she breathed, a hand hovering over her mouth. And how tall they were...! She'd only ever seen a few buildings that tall, nearly all of them castles.

Suddenly she turned around and looked up at Hild. "I want to see more of it!" she said excitedly. It took a bit of restraint to keep from falling into habit and ordering him to show her.

He felt himself grinning in response. "Of course, my lady. Today, let me be your guide." He took her hand and went to the edge of the platform. With a warm glance her way, he jumped off.

When they landed, he lead the way down stone pathways decorated with elaborate designs, the buildings looming over them. Unlike the castle he'd created for Krichevska, this place was full of demons, all bearing some form of red marking on their faces. As they milled about, going about their daily lives, they chanced furtive glances at Hild and his unknown companion, but seemed to hold themselves back.

Strange sculptures hovered in the air in places, giving off light or sound, but Hild gave no explanation for them. Small platforms lay suspended in the formation of stairs and beautiful stained glass windows gleamed in the crimson light. It was as if gravity simply weren't that big a deal here, and as demons flew by overhead, Hild glanced down at Krichevska.

"Shall we go to my castle?"

Edited 2013-03-01 17:05 (UTC)

Krichevska nodded enthusiastically. If she were paying more attention, she'd probably be embarrassed at how she was acting--more an excited child than a cool and put-together queen. But she had never seen a place like this before, and there was no way she was going to pass up on the chance to explore as much of it as she could.

Especially if it means being able to see the place where Hild really lived.

"Do you really need ask?"

Frankly, Hild was captivated by her excitement. He much preferred the girl she really was to her attempts at living up to some self-imposed standard. Deciding to take the long way to his place in order to show off more, he was in the middle of explaining in further detail the licensing system of his demons when, suddenly, a figure came bearing down on them with clear, combative intent.

"I've got you now!"

Hild snapped his hand up just in time to catch the leg swinging down in powerful kick from above. The force of the impact sent dust and debris flying, and when it cleared, it seemed Hild's attacker was...a child. Suspended in the air, with his foot caught in Hild's claws, the boy grinned and twisted, bringing his other foot up to kick Hild in the face.

Hild let go and blocked each successive hit the child aimed at him, smiling mildly. "Ah, Thorn. I told you, didn't I? You'll never be strong enough to defeat me!"

Krichevska hid her amusement at the display with her fan. Some things really were the same across demon realms, weren't they? Children were just as eager to grow up.

"Is this a friend of yours?" she asked.

"Ah," both Hild and the child said in unison, frozen in battle stance as they glanced towards her. Thorn slowly turned bright red and tried to scramble away, but Hild's muscular forearm wrapped around his shoulders and pushed him back into view.

"Krichevska, this Thorn, one of the children in my kingdom. He has vowed to be stronger than I someday and overthrow my reign." Hild spoke fondly, clawed hand ruffling the boy's dark, messy hair. For his part, Thorn seemed unable to decide between staring at her in awe or looking down at the stone under their feet.

"Thorn," Hild continued, smirking a bit in amusement, "this lady is Queen Krichevska, visiting from a faraway kingdom. Say hello."

Thorn turned even more red and made a strangled noise that might've been a greeting.

Edited 2013-03-01 17:59 (UTC)

"What a bold child! It is good to see that the children in your realm have such spirit." And the way he acted, he was quite cute, wasn't he? If a little shy.

Krichevska took a few steps forward and shut her fan. "If you keep training, perhaps someday... But it all depends on your will, young man." She gave Hild a small, somewhat apologetic glance. She didn't mean to imply Hild was weak, after all, but she didn't want to crush the poor boy's dreams, either.

By the glance he shared with her, Hild seemed to understand and appreciate her words. Thorn mumbled something under his breath, paused and then looked back up at her, still blushing fiercely. "...ugly hag!" And then he shot off like a bullet, sticking his tongue out at her as he ran away.

Hild watched him go with faint amusement. "...my. Seems you've got another admirer, my dear."

Edited 2013-03-01 18:25 (UTC)

Krichevska didn't seem to agree. A violent, ominous aura surrounded her, and it was all she could do to hold back from causing something to explode. "H... Hag?!" The word practically came out as a hiss.

Snickering quietly, Hild put his hand to his chin. "Yes, well, Thorn has never been good with women. Seeing someone as beautiful as you prompted him to put up a defensive front, lest he become a puddle in your presence."

Frankly, he knew exactly how the boy felt.

Krichevska calmed a little and the aura around her dissipated, but her expression remained petulant. She agitatedly fanned herself and looked away, muttering under her breath. "I am an absolute vision!"

"Let us see another part of your realm!"

"Of course." Lightly placing his hand on the small of her back, Hild continued the tour, leading up the centerpiece of the city -- the two larger spires joined at the bottom. There didn't seem to be any actual door, but as they approached, the elaborately carved wall in front of them shifted and changed, opening up like a complicated mechanical lock.

As they stepped inside, the door shut behind them. They were greeted by huge arches lining a suspended walkway over a chasm that seemed to go down forever. Directly above them, roots of some unknown plant made an unorthodox decoration.

Her annoyance slowly faded as they walked, and she took in the ceiling with wonder. Somehow just that made it seem natural, and the cathedral-like feel of the building... It was rare to see such a design in the Netherworld, and the natural light of this netherworld made it all the more beautiful.

Then she stared downward and a small chill went down her spine. "I am assuming nearly everyone here is capable of flight?"

"Anyone with the jurisdiction to enter here does, at any rate." Hild wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close, smiling. "Don't worry. You are never in any danger when you're at my side. If your wings disappear, I shall be there to catch you."

She was about to comment on how she hoped that was the case, given how that put seemed to go on forever, but all thought seemed to disappear at Hild's words. How? How was he able to make her melt like this with but a sentence?

"Is... Is that right? Then I shall hold you to your word," she said softly, relaxing against him.

His breath caught in his throat at the feel of her. He'd been pouring on the charm to tease, to fluster, but in the wake of her soft words, he stared wide-eyed down at the top of her head. As they walked in silence across the chasm, his thoughts were spinning a mile a minute. He'd been aware of his attraction to her the moment she blasted him out of her tower, but the tightness in his chest now seemed to imply something else, something more.

When did this happen? He hadn't even noticed, and he prided himself on being exceptionally observant. And what was he to do with these freshly-bloomed feelings? There was no way he'd suit a woman like her, so surprisingly pure for a demon, so noble and precious. He was bound in the spiderweb of his worlds laws and limitations. He was trapped by his own ambition.

As they entered an enclosed hallway, Hild was still at a loss for words as he looked ahead, still holding her as close as he could as they walked.

For a moment, she wondered if she had said something wrong. Hild had been so quiet the past few minutes. Had she been too bold? It didn't seem like that big a move, but most of her books had men be the ones to make the first move. Or maybe... she hadn't been bold enough? Another set said that girls should take the initiative. It was difficult for her to tell. This was all so new.

At least he hadn't let go. Maybe that was his way of saying he was okay.

"What are these statues along the walls?" she asked, more to break the silence than anything else.

"W-What?" His voice was husky, a little dazed as she brought him out of his own head. But he recovered quickly enough, smiling the usual, carefully-crafted smile. "Ah, those. They are linked to Nidhogg, directing my soldiers and council members when I am absent, as well as being transport links to each demon's room here."

"Oh...? A teleport to one's room... That is very useful," she wondered if she could get something similar made for her castle. Actually, being able to direct her vassals from a distance would be useful as well. But doing that would ruin the point of her being "kidnapped," wouldn't it?

"I wonder how they work..." She stopped beside one of the statues and poked it curiously.

Hild tensed next to her, appalled. "No, wait --!"

Whatever else he was about to say was cut off as Krichevska was transported. But rather than being in any room, however, she was violently tossed into the clouds above the city, falling rapidly.

"Tch!" Hild immediately disappeared from the hallway with a frustrated click of his tongue, fear settling into his veins. While he knew her cape allowed her to fly when necessary, he had no idea the limitations of her ability or if she'd be too shocked and frightened to deploy them properly. As the idea of her terrified face flashed in his mind, his veins felt ice cold.

Up in the sky, her quickly searched for her figure, alarm and fear written plainly on his tense features. "KRICHEVSKA!"

Edited 2013-03-01 22:56 (UTC)

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