Chapter 16: There’s More Than Just Demons

While some bridges were worth burning down, others were meant to be fostered. For decades the Ravenheart family had enlisted themselves with demonic servants. In the old days, the Ravenheart family would perform sacrifices of blood and soul to appease possible servants. For most who were blessed with magick gifts via birthright, their energy was enough to feed their demons and keep them loyal to their families for centuries.

There were others, mostly women, that formed groups called covens. There the demons and their magick practices were gated to that specific coven until the coven itself completely dried out. The night of the argument with Neo, Quilliene was struck in her sleep by both a nightmare and a memory. Visions of her teachings on how to invoke her magick words and the introduction of a demonic servant. Many who still roamed the mansion halls before it was even built remained. After having woken up in a cold sweat, the young queen remembered something very specifically though.

Although a surviving family with immense magick power would still keep the contract intact, it was important to renew the contract once the former summoner had passed and their soul had been claimed. It was a sign of respect and good for establishing loyalty between the master and servant. So, on that day, when the young queen was still greeting the loss of her parents and busy hating her newly hired bodyguard, she found something to do. However, she was aware she could not do it without Neo.

So as she carefully exited her room, having refused the painkillers for her broken bones and coming to regret her decision, she stepped down the hall slowly. Quilliene didn't want to notify Neo, or whatever his name was, that she was about. Alas, that plan quickly went under when she tripped and caught herself on a table, knocking over the red floral vase on top of it.

The porcelain went crashing to the ground, and she gasped, quickly falling to her knees as it shattered. Starting to sweep it up with her hands, she cursed under her breath. "Damn it all," She hissed. "This was her favourite one, too…"

Quilliene heard a door open behind her, and she glanced slightly over her shoulder - only to look back at the ground when she saw the flash of red. She already knew who it was; Neo. Not bothering to acknowledge him, she continued to brush up the shattered porcelain into a pile.

Neo watched her for a moment, a small sigh escaping him as he rubbed between his eyes. He looked around, then motioned at a maid coming to investigate the noise. She saw the queen cleaning up the mess, and hurried to her side to quickly give her a hand. He didn't want to annoy Quilliene with his presence, so he didn't approach.

"I'm fine," Quilliene said softly, showing the maid her hands and the shards. "I'm fine… No need to worry, alright?" The maid nodded when she was apparently convinced the Queen was okay. "Just, try and see if you can get it fixed, yes? Don't discard the pieces, understand?" The maid nodded, and Quilliene stood back up. Her brown eyes travelled to Neo, finally speaking to him. "I assume you were sleeping?"

"Well…" He hesitated, glancing away. "No. Not really. I don't exactly sleep that often."

"Sleep deprivation is not the best in this line of duty," She mused. "If you are going to protect me, you have to worry about your health, as well."

"I don't… sleep normal," Neo said slowly. "I can go three days without a wink. Yesterday was the first time in two, and that was only because," He went quiet and motioned to his still healing arm. Then, he glanced at her room. "Where are you going? You know I have to accompany you if you leave your-"

"I know," Quilliene said flatly. "Come on."

Quilliene turned and started walking through the hallways of the mansion, glancing around at the patterns and paintings before looking forward. She felt rather calm and content, but also agitated by her bodyguard's presence. She was hoping to do it without him, but perhaps that would not be the case. She could hear Neo's steps behind her, though they sounded soft - was he not wearing shoes? Hopefully he still had socks on.

She kept going on until she entered the ground level of the castle, then a lower level through a spiralling white staircase. Quilliene trudged along through the dark, gravel halls only lit with simple lanterns. The light was bright enough to see through the hallways and back. At the sides were strange, small rooms with metal bars for windows and doors. The queen ran her fingers along each of the bars on the left side, looking into them intently before continuing to walk, making her way towards a wooden door at the end.

Neo was still behind her, his socks silent against the stone floor below him. His red gaze examined his surroundings, the metal bars and dark atmosphere reminding him of a prison. However, it was not the place he had been held in for three years. That place was deep in the middle of nowhere, with such high security that not even a fly could enter it.

Quilliene stood in front of the door, taking a deep breath as she grabbed the handle and pushed it open. The entrance led into a small space with a desk and chair, an assortment of papers and strange sketches laying across the table. In the centre sat a magickal rune circle carved into the stone, a star in the middle of it with odd symbols between the spaces.

Quilliene made her way to the circle, taking a box from the desk and opening it. From inside, she picked out a long piece of chalk. She started tracing over the engravings, while Neo stayed by the doorway, merely watching as he crossed his arms over his chest. His eyes held curiosity as to what Quilliene was doing, wondering why she had the strange runes in her basement and if he even wanted to know.

After finishing replenishing the chalk, Quilliene clutched the box to her chest as she kneeled down and sat on her legs in an almost prayer-like position. She pulled out a handful of jewels, placing the assortment of sapphires and rubies around as she sighed a small bit. Then, she crossed her legs, closing her eyes as she pulled open a book and threw it into a white circle before her on the star. She started chanting in what seemed to be Latin, holding a sapphire and ruby tightly as she did.

Neo leaned against the doorway, becoming ever so slightly a bit bored. Even so, he was curious as to what the queen was doing, so he stayed where he was. She didn't seem to think of or care about their previous argument, but then again, she could have just been hiding behind a mask like before.

The white lines of the circle started to shimmer and fizz as Quilliene held her clasped hands up, squeezing tightly as a mixture of purple and red morphed and liquidated in her hands. They started to drip onto the chalk, seeping into the engravings and spreading across it. They formed exactly into the lines of the circle the more liquid she let fall. Neo began to wonder if he should leave, presuming that she was probably summoning some sort of demon to rip his guts out.

Alas, his curiosity was peaked, and he stayed to watch further. Quilliene continued her chant, the light growing and vibrating as runes appeared on her arms and neck. She dropped the last of the liquid stones and fluidly separated her arms, before clapping her hands together and beginning to speak in a loud voice.

"By the power of eternal fate and the bonds of the Gods, I bind you to this place and my every will's command! You shall fall under my rule and never fail under it. Thy demons will be attuned to my heart and become one with a simple wave of my hand! Videte vocationem meam!"

The runes flashed brighter as what seemed to be the noise of millions of wailing voices sounded from upstairs. Neo glanced up at the ceiling, his thoughts going back to the time he had first met Quilliene. The maid had told him that they were demon servants, but he didn't quite know how they were controlled. His eyes travelled back to Quilliene.

She raised her head high, the circle glowing brighter and brighter and the wailing getting louder and louder until she slammed her hands into the ground and it all stopped. The light faded quickly and the liquid evaporated into bubbles, smelling like sulphur. The runes on her body disappeared before she started falling backwards. Neo rushed forward and caught her before her back hit the ground, putting one hand behind her head, helping her sit back up as she seemed dazed.

"You alright?" He asked quickly.

She was breathing heavily, sighing as she attempted to gain more air back. "I expel magickal mana by doing this, but… it's for the good of the mansion. Everyone is fine up there," She glanced at the ceiling. "Just making sure their contracts stay and do not betray me or leave my assistance. It's a spell only for demons that my mother and father used."

Neo remained silent for a moment, still crouching next to her, then spoke. "Are all of them demons?"

"Yes," She wiped off her hands on her skirt. "Every single one of them are demons, but a strong-willed bond doesn't make them good people. They do that on their own."

"Weird," He mumbled, narrowing his eyebrows. "I never thought Raemith would be a demon."

"He is," Quilliene took in another deep breath, letting it out as she continued. "And isn't. Born of a human and a demon. Back when my grandparents were around, one of the servants wandered off and he found himself a girl. He went to her everyday, sometimes just to be a pest, but… He caught feelings."

"So he's a half breed. Honestly, never would have thought of that, either." Neo glanced down the hall, thinking he heard something odd. Alas, he figured it was just a strange feeling in his gut telling him he was hungry.

"Of course not," Quilliene spoke. "He doesn't enjoy talking about it much. He is a good man and an even better soldier. He's a little too cautious and protective of me, though. When I was younger, he would take care of me like a bodyguard at meetings and when he volunteered to come, it took him a while to let people shake hands with me."

"Sounds like you've got yourself an admirer," Neo grinned, his eyes sparkling a little bit.

"Like hell I do, you jerk," She hissed, but he could have sworn he caught a smile.

Neo simply scoffed a bit, and Quilliene started cleaning up her supplies. Her arms were trembling and shaking as she did. Dammit, She thought to herself. My injuries… They're messing with my head, and my body. I can barely stand as it is. Neo glanced at her, watching as she painfully cleaned up her supplies. His eyes drifted back to the corridor, staring intensely before he started helping her pick all her equipment up.

"He does seem interested in you," Neo mused. "But how does demon age even work if he used to be a guard back when you were a kid but still look like a teenager now?"

"He is, in human years, about fifty years of age," Quilliene explained. "However, in the demonic calendar, he is half of that - maybe even less, but still older than you."

"Then he's ripe for the picking," Neo smirked a bit. "After all, he seemed jealous as all hells when he saw me with you." She scowled, hesitating to stand. "Maybe you should stay for a bit," He said in a worried tone. "You don't look="

Neo was cut off by a loud bang and a furious roar, another ringing out immediately afterwards down the hall. He stood up quickly, glaring across the corridor as a dent formed in one of the cage doors down the hall. Clenching his fist, he didn't look at Quilliene as he spoke his question.

"What the hells are you hiding in here?"

"I…" Quilliene mumbled. "I can't exactly tell you." She looked up to him again, starting to stand.

"What in the world is that supposed to mean?" He looked at her in confusion.

"Just help me to the cage," She ordered him, using his covered shoulder to stand herself up.

"Are you sure?" Neo spoke cautiously, steadying her. "What if that thing is dangerous?"

 "It's only dangerous if you let it be," She snapped, starting forward. Neo had no choice but to follow as to keep her standing.

Approaching the third cell down, Neo got a look into the other cages they passed. A mass of fur in one of the left, huddled in the corner, but at least three times the size of him. A stag with white fur and stripes, spiralling horns of a gazelle on their head. A bird, stretching its wings, but huge and that of a crow and floppy ears like a dog. How had he not noticed them before? The whole place seemed brighter.

Your majesty.

A voice echoed through his head, and he flinched, pausing. Quilliene continued forward though, and he was made to follow. They moved to a cage in which a giant bear-like gorilla stood, high and mighty but low down and seemingly in pain. It fell short as it backed away from the doors, roaring in agony.

"What in the…" Neo whispered.

"One Who Stands With Their Head High," Quilliene addressed the creature, tilting her head in apparent worry. "What is the matter?"

Your majesty, The voice echoed again in Neo's head, making him glance around then back at the gorilla-bear. I am… in pain. Ever since your parents passed away, I have known nothing but agonising, pure pain.

"One Who Stands With Their Head High," She spoke slowly, her voice breaking as tears seemed to threaten. "What do you wish for me to do?"

Take me, The monster begged. Take me away.

Quilliene grabbed the latch on the door, and Neo took her wrist. He shook his head, but she pulled away and flipped the cage open. His heart beat faster, unsure of the creature, unsure of what might happen. Quilliene entered alone, whispering for Neo to stay back. She started humming a soft tune, singing in Latin. The creature lulled about, stumbling, before slumping to the ground. She motioned for Neo to enter.

"I need your help," She said to him as he approached cautiously. "I can't do this on my own… I used too much mana."

"What do you want me to do?" Neo asked, glancing at the beast.

She bit her lower lip, crouching down next to the beast and petting its nose. "Exactly what they want." She raised her head sadly. "Kill them."

Neo seemed surprised for a moment, then crouched down before the creature. He hesitated, then took off his glove. He didn't quite know what was going on. Quilliene continued to sing as he reached forward and touched their forehead. They spasmed, groaning, flailing. A paw scratched at his chest, and he flinched away, but the queen reached for his wrist and put his hand back on the creature's head. Her singing went on.

A few more moments passed before the life in the creature's eyes faded. Neo didn't try to pull away as Quilliene kept singing, and she continued to keep his hand on the body. They didn't stop until the beast turned to nothing but ash, leaving only a pile of what once was a magnificent creature.

Finally, Quilliene's voice stopped, and she let go of Neo. He looked down at his ripped shirt, thankful that there was no blood. Even so, he cursed, seeing that his shirt was torn and he didn't have another. Standing up and moving away, he turned his back to the queen as he shed the jacket and took off the shirt.

However, as he did so, Quilliene looked over at him. What she saw was a sight to behold. On Neo's back, stretched out across all of his skin, were long jagged scars. Some were fresh of about four weeks; others were old enough to be years. Her mouth opened as she gasped, and the man looked over his shoulder at her. She quickly turned her head away. Neo paused as she glanced off, then put his red flannel over his arms and buttoned it up.

"They tore my damn shirt," He mumbled, trying to distract her.

There was an overlapping silence before she asked, "Where… Where did you get those marks?"

Neo glanced back at her, then wrapped his arm around and touched his spine. He felt the jagged scars, then sighed as he grabbed his shirt and walked back over to her. "While I was in prison," He started, sitting down. "This noble man came in every month. He paid the people there a lot of money just so he could… do his punishments."

"Oh," She whispered. "Oh, that's… There's too many scars to count."

Neo scoffed, running his bare fingers through his hair. They were quiet for a moment, before Quilliene sighed and began to stand. However, she only stumbled and caught herself on the wall. Neo shot to his feet, coming towards her carefully. He said her name, reaching out to help her, and she reluctantly accepted his hand - until he remembered he didn't have a glove on. Quickly retracting and stepping back, Quilliene flinched as her hand started to turn pale.

"Hold on," Neo mumbled, searching for his glove before picking it up and putting it on.

What was that? Quilliene thought to herself, gripping her hand as it started to regain colour. She looked at her bodyguard. "Are you… okay?" She said softly.

"What?" Neo looked up. "Oh, I'm fine - sorry, I didn't mean to… do that." Neo held out his gloved hand, looking almost unaffected when he had accidentally grabbed her with his unprotected skin. However, in the back of his mind, he felt embarrassed. "Come on, I won't bite this time."