ep. 1
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Sometimes she pretended she could fly.
Wind passing through her hair as powerful wings took her higher and higher. Diving back to Earth, muscles burning sweetly from overexertion. Being able to see everything and anything from an eagle's point of view.
From the moon's perspective.
But, it was never to be. She was like her namesake: lonely. Watching stars play while she remained on the ground, stuck.
Born without wings, born the wrong species.
Demon. There was nothing demonic about her except her eyes. Black irises with ruby red pupils as thin as a snake's. When she closed her eyes she liked to pretend she was human. They had it so good and they didn't even realize it. Loved deeply by God and His Angels. Protected by them while she and her kind were hated by everyone. It was heartbreaking for her.
Mahin sat quietly as her servant brushed her knee length hair for her. The Human-Turned-Demon knew limited English and no Latin. She cooed, "So beautiful. Beautiful hair."
Her accent made her difficult to understand at times. Mahin caught her gaze and smiled politely at her. Sharp teeth bared back at her in a leering smile that was anything but friendly, even if that was its intention. Her servant began the painstaking task of braiding Mahin's hair and twisting it into a bun. Father did not approve of his daughter allowing her hair to flow free.
Her older brother, Tavor, sat perpendicular to her, legs casually parted. His long hair was tied back in his signature low ponytail. His golden eyes stared at her appraisingly, his mouth covered by his hand. She couldn't tell what he was thinking.
"Sister, perhaps you should cut your hair. It is getting to be quite long." He moved his hand enough for the words to come out clearly.
"You know how much I adore long hair." She replied.
He said no more for a few minutes as he watched the servant's hands weave and twist her ebony locks. Mahin got to her feet and smoothed her silk skirt and adjusted the bright green bodice of her gown. She stood still long enough for the servant to place a gold comb in her hair off to the left. Tavor stood on long legs and sauntered over to her, grabbing her hand. His wedding ring sparkled in the dim lighting. Humming softly, she stared at her own ring as he brought her hand to his lips.
It was tradition for Optima families, demons who came from two of the Precursors who Fell with Lucifer, to intermarry rather than taint their "pure" blood. Brother married sister. Mahin's family line was so "pure" she was going blind in her left eye because of a genetic defection that developed several generations ago and seemed to only affect the females. She had just recently married Tavor.
"Come; Mother and Father are already waiting in the carriage for us." He said, leading her out of her bedroom.
She complacently walked beside him as they walked down the corridor toward the staircase. With her free hand, she grasped her skirts and pulled them up enough she could comfortable descend the stairs without fear of tripping.
Not that Tavor would let her fall, naturally. He was always by her side from the moment she had been born. He was 428 years older than she was and he fulfilled the role of overprotective brother. He would check up on her hourly as an infant and encouraged her to seek refuge with him on the rare occasion their parents argued. She would creep into his bed at night when she had nightmares of monstrous Angels reaching for her.
"I fail to see the entertainment value in watching Human-Turned-Demons go at each other until one falls." She remarked once they got to the bottom of the stairs.
"I do. They are inferior to us, what better way to control their population than by pitting them against one another?" Tavor chuckled.
Mahin pursed her lips to keep from voicing her disapproval. One of the butlers opened the door for them where the carriage awaited. The hell horses snorted and pawed at the ground, tossing their heads impatiently. Tavor helped her get into the carriage, where she sank into the unoccupied seat beside her mother.
"Mahin, my lovely, you look exceptional this evening." Her mother, Nadia, simpered. Nadia had an extravagant set of pearls around her neck to match her black gown.
It was no secret Nadia was almost completely blind, but she sacrificed her sense of smell in order to heighten her eyesight because of her Adsecula.
Every Optima and some nobles possessed a being that lay dormant inside their minds until they came of age. These beings had their own names and personalities. Through a process known as Metamorphose, the Adsecula and Optima would merge until little to nothing of the original personality remains. They were known as Adsecula. Mahin's had been a peaceful Adsecula—a rarity, indeed—that permitted her to maintain most if not all her original traits with the benefit of gaining heightened senses as well.
"She always looks lovely, Mother." Tavor replied, winking at Mahin. Mahin smiled and blushed prettily while her father remained silent.
With a whinny, the hell horses broke into a trot and pulled the carriage after them. Mahin pulled her fan out and idly fanned herself, staring out the glass window.
Her family lived in the Thirteenth Legion of Hell and were one of the more affluent families in Hell. Their Precursor, Amdusias, had been the one to warn Lucifer of Michael's intent to fight him before the start of the Great War. As such, the males of their family were given the high honor of being the Royal Adviser to the Demon King, who hailed from Abaddon, Lucifer's former Second-in-Command.
Mahin leaned back in her seat as the carriage tipped from the angle of the hill the horses were trekking. They were very close to the arena now, which lay on the outskirts of the Thirteenth Legion. Her father, Altus, and Tavor were beginning to look excited, whereas Nadia rolled her eyes.
"So bloodthirsty, you two." Nadia teased, pulling out her own fan.
"As if you can't smell the blood already." Her father countered, his pupils dilated from the heady scent of blood.
Mahin's scalp prickled uncomfortably. She wasn't fond of the effects blood had on her brother and father. They were often intolerable to be around for the next couple days.
Their carriage lurched to a stop and Altus got out first. He held a hand out to Nadia and helped her out. Then, out came Tavor, who did the same for Mahin. She wrapped her arm around his as they were jostled and bumped by the crowd of Optima and noble families who had gathered to see the tournament.
The arena had been the third structure built when Lucifer created Hell. It was built from the foundation up by the bones of fallen humans during the Great War. It was bright white, the brightest building in all of Hell, the bones polished weekly to maintain their sheen. Despite the questionable material the arena had been built from, it was a surprisingly sturdy structure able to withstand heavy abuse.
An impatient nobleman stepped on the edge of her dress, dirtying it. The demon seemed unapologetic until Tavor bared his canines at the prior, resulting in a submissive tilt of the head and a quite sincere sounding apology. Mahin was a little put off at the footprint on her lovely skirt.
"I'll buy you a new one, love." Tavor promised, kissing her knuckles when he saw her sour face. She smiled, somewhat placated.
Her father led them to where King Lin XV sat in the Royal Box with his wife, Queen Astera. Like her brother, Lin XV, she had the gold spun hair of Abaddon's successors, the waves tumbling down her back with an extraordinary shine. Her white eyes passed coolly over Nadia before landing on Mahin. She nodded her head curtly, not a woman of many words. Lin XV clapped Altus heartily on the back and shook Tavor's hand overzealously, a boisterous laugh emanating from his long neck.
"Altus, I was wondering when you were going to arrive." The King said. "The wine is almost gone!"
Altus chuckled and stared warmly back at his old friend. Their fathers had had them grow up together, figuring it best for the future Royal Adviser and King get to know each other. The friendship blossomed and they remained steadfast, loyal only a smidgen more to their families than to each other.
Altus replied, "I'm sure you will find some more with that keen nose of yours."
Lin XV guffawed and narrowed his yellow eyes at Tavor and Mahin. Mahin gripped Tavor's arm firmer as the King's eyes looked her up and down. "This must be your lovely daughter."
Reluctantly, she held her hand out and let the King brush his lips over her knuckles. She did not care for the way he appraised her like she was no more than a China doll. Altus waved a hand at her and Tavor. "Yes, my son and daughter, Duke Tavor and Duchess Mahin. They were wed a fortnight ago."
The King backed off after her father's unsubtle hint. Queen Astera's face had hardened from stone to diamond and her seeming dislike of Mahin had grown. Now she looked down her nose at her. "Congratulations, you two, may you have fine strapping boys."
At the mention of children, Mahin paled. She knew it was part of her responsibility to bear Tavor children but she was terrified of pregnancy. Personally, she wasn't even sure if she wanted children; she worried if she would be a good mother. Nadia herself had little to no part in raising her and Tavor when they were growing up. A nursemaid and governess had been Mahin's constant companions throughout her girlhood into her adolescent years.
Tavor bowed while Mahin slipped her hand out from the crook of his arm to curtsy. Her brother admitted, "Thank you, Your Grace, but I would rather have a girl."
Lin XV seemed surprised. "Why would you want a girl, lad?"
"A little dark angel to spoil and dote on just seems more appealing to me, Sire." She couldn't stop the light smile as she tucked her arm back with his. It was one thing they agreed on; the sex of their first child. Once she was actually pregnant, of course.
Queen Astera piped in, "Dear, perhaps we should let the Amdusias family take their seat?"
"Ah, yes, of course. We'll talk later, Altus." King Lin XV promised as he returned to his plush seat.
Altus nodded his head sharply and led his family out of the Royal Box and into the box meant for the Royal Adviser's family. Its heraldry possessed the two crossed trumpets of Amdusias, the creator of thunder, and the head of a unicorn sat in the middle of the trumpets. Their box was covered with dark purple curtains lined with gold thread. Their seats, while not nearly as extravagant as the King and Queen's, were certainly far more comfortable than the hard stone benches the commoners sat on.
Mahin adjusted the little red pillow on her seat before settling on it. Tavor took his seat beside her and let her intertwine their fingers, palm to palm. Nadia sat on Mahin's other side and her father settled down beside her mother, his face relaxed as he stared down at the sandy ground in the very center of the arena.
Once they were settled, Altus snapped his fingers and one of the servants rushed over. "Fetch us wine. Mahin, Nadia, my beloveds, are you hungry?"
"I am fine, Father." Mahin answered sweetly, resting her head against Tavor's shoulder.
"As am I, Altus." Nadia said. Altus dismissed the servant.
A set of demons carrying horns brought the instruments to their lips and blew. A hush came over the once roaring crowd as hundreds of eager eyes zeroed in on the center of the arena. The iron wrought gates across from each other opened. One Human-Turned-Demon rushed out, roaring and banging on his bare chest. Part of his face was covered by a defensive mask some demons could create when they felt threatened. It was clunky looking and Mahin questioned its usefulness when it blinded him on one side. His opponent timidly stepped into the ring, his head twisting and turning as he took in his surroundings. Her heart dropped.
"He's only a child." She murmured, loud enough for Tavor to hear her.
He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. "He must have done something to have gotten himself down there. They don't just go after Human-Turned-Demons needlessly."
She gave him a doubtful stare and turned away from the arena when she heard the young Human-Turned-Demon shriek with pain before it was abruptly cut off. The commentator yelled incoherently in Latin.
The servant returned with the wine Altus wanted, passing four goblets to each one. Altus drained his eagerly while Nadia took delicate sips. Tavor swirled his around a bit, eyeing it with some distaste. He had never been one to drink. Mahin brought her goblet to her lips, then frowned. It smelled off.
She sniffed her wine. The wine smelled bad, almost musty. Her eyes widened with realization and she dropped her goblet as though she had been burned. It clattered to the ground with a loud clank, the wine spilling everywhere. She smacked Tavor's goblet out of his hand, earning her a hiss of ire that she effectively silenced by crying, "Don't drink the wine! It's poisoned!"
No sooner had she cried, she heard her mother and father gasping for air.
