Chapter 007: An Unknown Bed

When Elizabeth finally came to, finding herself in a soft bed with a silky canopy overhead, she momentarily found herself wondering if she was back home. If all the years of suffering were naught but a bad dream that had finally passed. Yet (ironically) the strength running through her body…

Proved her wrong.

Turning her gaze to the side revealed that she was surrounded by what truly looked like a room made for a noble girl. Wallpaper on all the walls with a dresser filled to the brim with outfits. None of the outfits inside were exactly in fashion, however.

Just glancing at them revealed a lot of them were far too focused on combat; whether due to being literal armour of varying degrees of heaviness or being enchanted past the point of return. She didn't think even her matron family could afford so much. That obviously begged the question of who could.

It also made her wonder exactly where she was - her mind quickly returning to the scenes of brutal violence that had occurred. Worry started to flood her at the chance of being captured by those that belonged to the church. Seeing an unconscious girl with royal features made them spare her.

Nevertheless, that would only apply for as long as they didn't know anything about her, making her escape the first thing in her mind.

Pushing herself out the bed to find herself dressed in a silky nighty that had clearly been enchanted.

She was sensitive enough to magic to tell it wasn't a weak enchantment either.

Her thoughts cut off as she turned to where the window should be… Only to find no such window. Turning her head to look all around the room showed there was actually no window of any kind in the room. All there was, was a set of ornate metallic looking double doors that she was positive would be locked tight.

If panic hadn't set in before - it certainly had now.

"I-I need to get out of here…"

| Those your terms, niña? |

The world itself seemed to throb as the vibrancy vanished from the world. Leaving the girl to view the world as if she was looking through a fish eyed lens. Crimson violet petals began to fill the room as the scent of molten iron filled the room.

At the centre of that view…

That sudden bell-like voice caused Elizabeth to completely freeze on the spot only to be welcomed by the visceral sight of a demoness appearing in front of her. At first it was muscles & sinew that was created from thick crimson flames. That tissue soon to be pierced by violet lightning that sparked up their back.

Forming a literal spine of lightning that the demon happily showed off until it became wrapped in a deeper black flame which appeared in the form of a tuxedo.

Although, where the face should be, those black flames instead formed a mask with the eyes and mouth being simply upturned crescents. Claw-like hands came up to readjust that strangely feminine demon's lapels as that masked face leaned in. Meeting eye to eye as violet flames flickered in those eyeholes.

Finally finishing that demoness' manifestation as the world itself seemed to be having a panic attack while she could hear her heart beating in her ears. All feelings became numb… All except the hollow feeling that comes with a prey looking up at the apex predator in front of them.

| All dreams… Can come true. |

Her fish-eye like vision began to throb in & out as it became literally impossible to focus on anything but the monster in front of her. That as well as something she had conveniently looked over previously. On a nightstand was a single vibrantly purple "apple" atop a cushion - as if it was some priceless treasure.

She had no idea what to do as time itself seemed to be too afraid to move without direct permission from the entity who was staring at her. Those violet flames burning away any hope of fighting against her. Their clawed hand reached out to press a single digit against her forehead.

| Escape not needed, tonta. | 

With that the sound of the door opening caught Elizabeth's attention however she couldn't find it in herself to look away from the demon. All her instincts told her to but (under the pressure of that monster) her body refused to move without permission. Although the sound of the door opening… Was slow.

Time truly was moving at a pace that a snail would be embarrassed about.

As the door opened, the demoness finally seemed to learn the meaning of mercy, dematerialising in an equally gritty fashion as she appeared. As if the process had literally just been reversed. Finally letting the girl let out a breath she didn't even know she had kept.

Collapsing to the ground without the ability to even look at the source of the steady footsteps that singeled someone walking toward her.

Unable to do anything but catch up on her lost air with perspiration covering each inch of her body.

"Hm… It seems you have slept well."

A familiar voice that she partly thought only could exist in a dream (or perhaps a nightmare) but his level of presence could not even compare to what she just went through. Silently just lying on the ground with her hands clutching the carpet. As if afraid she'd be ripped from the mortal coil itself.

Fortunately the powerful prime arch-minister of the demons did not seem to particularly care about her completely "disrespectful action" as he instead walked to the apple. Studying it with a tilted head before turning back to where that demoness once appeared. Narrowing his eyes with realisation.

"It appears you gained the interest of the primordial blood… What a lucky girl you are. At first I believed you were merely a means to an end but to think she'd go through the effort of using an avatar for your benefit while in her current state?"

Shaking his head as he rested his hands behind his back.

Walking back to that he stood in front of the quivering figure of the fourteen year old girl - studying her for a moment as he moved one hand to stroke his perfect chin. Green demonic energy defused from his eyes as his lips curled up. Interest in that tiny weak little girl visible on his face.

"You are indeed an interesting one, how about I offer you a deal, myself?"

She finally recovered enough to turn her head up to at least be welcomed by the undoubtedly beautiful features of the demonic vice-leader.

Although this also allowed her to grow serious as she knew exactly what the demon in front of her would want from her. Help in letting the divine demon, on death's door, fully recover. Her ability to summon it proved that it was weakened and that is also why they returned to the coffin after the fight.

"The on true monarch of all demons is-"

Sure enough…

"-completely fine physically."

… She was completely wrong.

"Recovery was actually the easiest part but she essentially converted a large portion of her sin into sloth as it made the wait in the void a lot more bearable. That had the unfortunate effect of making her quite torpid at the moment. This is why it is so surprising she bothered making an avatar!"

Throwing his arms out wide as if congratulating her but Elizabeth still couldn't comprehend that the only reason that demoness returned to the coffin… Was to sleep.

"She was so smart that she even returned to her coffin; it had the ability to hide her presence from even the heaven's and, well, we don't need to worry about the abyss…"

Somberness echoed out his tone which ended up snapping Elizabeth out from her shock.

Although he didn't say anymore on that - preferring to continue on with his work.

"If we waited a few centuries or so she may rebalance her sin, nevertheless it would be ideal for the demon realm if we returned as soon as possible. The way to do this is actually quite easy. Like a human needing their morning expresso; we just need to give her a small boost of sin!"

"So… You just want to collect sin?"

Knowing that she couldn't get away from the demon she wanted to at least know what she was getting herself into. It wasn't as if she liked the church in the first place. If they had failed to summon these two demons then they would have likely all been killed as Elizabeth didn't know if she could fight them all.

"Indeed and in return I can help you absorb some of it using the gifts that the primordial blood has graciously gifted to you."

Nodding his head while motioning for her to follow him.

Having no reason to refuse she stood up only to be forced to capture a fluffy dressing gown that was suddenly chucked at her face. It was only then that she realised she had been speaking to him, all this time, in nothing except her night garments. A blush quickly forming… Until she realised he didn't care.

Not even seemingly minorly interested in her as he didn't bother waiting for her to get dressed before walking out the doors.

Her cheeks puffing up as she quickly threw the robe on only to follow - finding the hallway out of the bedroom to be built by perfectly identical bricks. It also was not as small a hallway as she saw many familiar faces running about. Slowly growing suspicious about where she actually was.

Continuing to follow actually led to a stairway on one side while the other led into a truly massive set of metal doors that the demon pushed open with his two hands. Letting them into the giant chamber that ended in a familiar coffin. The raised platform it sat upon had been cleaned up but… It was familiar.

It was their hidden base.

"To get that sin we'll be targeting the most sinful people of all; nobles & priests!"

"W-what?"

"Pride, envy, lust, greed, wrath, gluttony and sloth? They possess all of those in spades and we can increase it even more by tapping into the wisdom of the divine demon. Of course I'll need more information before planning our steps but the church should have some cardinals."

A malicious smile formed on his lips.

"We have so much work to do, little mortal girl."