A woman with a burnt purple dress crashed through the window of a castle corridor, her blood staining every inch of the carpeted stone floor she now lay on. Scratches and cuts riddled her body as the blood slowly puddled around her, expanding like the dark void. Suddenly, the blood stopped. And as if time was reversing, the blood flowed back from whence it came, and a deep gasp of breath broke free, followed by a cry of pain.
The young lady, Kalika Archelion, drew her eyes open and writhed in pain. Tears streamed down her face as she fought to control her emotions, seeing all too familiar hall of her home being desecrated by the demon invaders.
Blood marked the corridor, and body parts of the casualties littered the ground. No one was safe. Not even the castle maids and butlers were spared the cruelty of these demons. Kalika could only watch as some demons picked up leftover armor, weapons, and trinkets, searching for anything remotely valuable to loot. It was a sickening sight to witness monsters raid her once beloved home.
Not long after, Lillian entered through the same broken window with demonic wings abroad. She still wore the cuffs on her ankle, but unlike her earlier prisoner's clothes, she wore one of her favorite dresses that was torn at the edges. Ignoring the chaos around them, Lillian quickly and cleanly morphed her wings back into her body and practically skipped to see how Kalika was fairing.
Kalika saw the giddy expression Lillian sported and quickly averted her eyes. Her breath became shallow, and her body trembled uncontrollably.
Lillian looked back up at the door before them and entered it. "So, this is my room!" Lillian proudly proclaimed. "I'm so glad the Demon King is letting us stay! Isn't that great, Kalika!" Kalika refused to look up, and into the room, Lillian stood.
"This can't be happening to me." Kalika could only clutch her hands. "This is just some terrible dream, right!?"
Lillian skipped back to Kalika, and using her tail, yanked her upside down, hanging the now limp Kalika upside down.
Kalika floundered about as they both now entered the room. Using her free hands, Lillian moved Kalika's gaze to look at her bed, her dresser, her cabinet, and even her personal closet.
"Why is the room... so clean?" Kalika wondered.
"What do you think?" Lillian excitedly asked..
Kalika was silent, unsure of what to say. Her shallow breathing slowly dug into Lillian's nerves until she finally grew tired of waiting.
Without hesitation, Lillian tore off one of Kalika's arms, making Kalika scream in pain. With a deep, searing pain, Kalika answered with her weak voice.
"It looks great!" she whimpered.
"I don't think I heard you." Lillian was much more serious. Lillian proceeded to break Kalika's other arm. Kalika screamed out again in pain.
"It looks amazing! It's much better than when father had it!!"
"I know, right!" Like a switch, Lillian went back to being happy-go-lucky. All Kalika could do was weep as she continued to be held upside down by Lillian's tail.
Lillian snapped Kalika's neck, killing her.
Lillian smiled and watched as Kalika's torn-off limb reattached itself, and as the blood gushed, and as her broken limb fixed itself. Satisfied, Lillian dropped Kalika on the floor just before Kalika revived. She watched as Kalika started to sob on the floor, curling into the fetal position.
"Why? Why!?"
Kalika's thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of the Demon King. She could catch a glimpse of the clothes he was now wearing. Gazing up for a better look, she saw that he was now adorned with much fancier clothing. "I... Isn't that... Father's clothes?"
"So you finally found your room, Lillian. I hope you two had a fun time," The Demon King gazed at Kalika with his arms crossed. He smirked, amused at her wretched state.
"Yes. We had a lot of fun!"
"That's good to hear..." The Demon King then knelt. Kalika flinched, shocked to see the demon brush his hand against her hair. "And Lillian, I think you'll also be happy to hear that Kalika's room should be ready down below."
"Oh, that's great," Lillian exclaimed.
Kalika broke from her stupor. "R-room? What room?"
The Demon King chuckled. "A room in the deepest part of the castle, of course." He started to get up. "It's not the coziest of places, but it was handpicked by Lillian herself. It only makes sense for her to look after you."
Kalika suddenly grabbed the Demon King's pants and looked up with pleading eyes. "P-please. Not there. Anywhere but there." She tightened her grasp. "Please, I-I'll do anything you want. Anything. E-e... E-e-even…."
Her lips trembled, unable to say the words that felt so forbidden to her. Flustered, her eyes drew to the ground with her grasp loosening.
Despite Kalika's unspoken words, it was all too clear what she was about to say. Anger flashed in Lillian. And the demon King, as cool and collected as he was, looked upon Kalika, disappointed.
The demon King calmly reached Kalika's arm and squeezed. Kalika blurted a squeak as she felt the pain of her bones nearly breaking. "That's a tempting proposal… However, I'll have to reject your offer."
The Demon King then threw Kalika to the ground, leaving her with Lillian. "Unfortunately for you, I'm not an Incubus that wishes to pleasure himself. As a Lupeus, I prefer to see my enemies suffer." The Demon King glanced back. "Oh. Lillian. Would you like a fine selection of clothes for your sister by chance?"
Lillian stepped behind Kalika, placing her hands on Kalika's head, "No need. I already have some apparel in mind."
"Heh. So be it." With those last words, the Demon King left.
'With the Demon King gone, Kalika trembled. Her only hope practically diminished as Lillian whipped her tail around Kalika's neck. Kalika choked as she was lifted into the air.
"Now. Let's go get you fitted." Lillian pulled a pair of tanned garments that were all too familiar to Kalika.
********
Kalika shook as she traversed the long, wet, cold, and stony corridor. She wore a pair of prisoners' clothes once worn by Lillian. The holes still felt fresh with the cool breeze flowing through. She shuddered from another wave of cool air. She then glanced back at Lillian, who was escorting her alongside several other demons around them, who were equipped in thick armor once belonging to the human soldiers.
They passed by room after room, passing by a room that was even riddled with devices specifically made for torture. Seeing those rooms made her feel uneasy. It wasn't long until they finally reached a hall with rows of iron-barred prison cells. She darted her eyes around. Looking at the empty cells around, one of which held the still rotting corpse of a grey-bearded prisoner. "I-is that, going to be me!?"
Suddenly, the demons in front stopped. Kalika glanced up, confused.
"We're here~," Lillian said. She turned Kalika to the right, showing off a cell that was a complete and utter mess.
The prison cell had no light, rusted bars, and piles of dirty hay scattered throughout the floor. Some sets of iron chains hung loosely on the rough wall, likely used to hold other, more deranged prisoners. And the worst part was that it smelled like a horse's stable.
Kalika's eyes flashed with recognition. "Wait. This is... Lillian's cell..."
"Going forward, this'll be your new home." Kalika was put in a daze, seeing this prison cell right before her.
"Welcome to your new home, Kalika," Lillian said mischievously.
After a while, Kalika broke out of her trance. She then slowly and reluctantly entered the cell like a dog. Lillian followed behind, and it wasn't long before Kalika was pinned to the wall and cuffed to the hanging chains.
"W-what?" Startled, Kalika pulled at the chains, trying to free herself from the restraints. She turned back to Lillian, terrified.
"Aw, you look so cute in this, Kalika. Reminds me a little of when I was locked up, too."
"L-let me out of this!" Kalika pulled harder in vain.
Suddenly, Lillian stabbed Kalika through the stomach with her bare hands. Merciless, Lillian ripped her hands straight out and listened as Kalika fell to her knees and shrieked out in pain. It wasn't long before she spat out a pool of blood too.
"B-but... Why?" Confused, Kalika glanced up, catching a glimpse of Lillian's bloodied hand and how it shook. She looked up and noticed Lillian glaring straight at her with the rage of a million suns.
"This is your punishment. You deceived our father, had me executed, and for what? For as long as you live. I will never forgive you!"
Hearing Lillian's declaration, Kalika trembled. Blood continued to rush from her body, leaving her in a weakened state. She panted, trying to bear with the pain, trying to bear it. Using a single finger, Lillian lifted Kalika's head to look at her.
Kalika's heart ceased, and seeing Lillian's satisfied smile, she closed her eyes, expecting the worst. But unexpectedly, Lillian caressed her cheek. "I'm so glad you're still alive."
A chill ran down Kalika's spine.
Suddenly, a demon Demon Guard came into the cell. "The King wants to see you." It was said in a frog-like voice.
Lillian backed away, disappointed. "Let's go then."
Lillian paused, then glanced back at Kalika. "Don't worry, Kalika, I'll be back." She smiled more mischievously. "I'll even have some games ready for us to play like the good ole days."
Kalika panicked as she watched Lillian leave. "W-wait! L-Lily! Lily!! Please! Don't leave me like this!!" Kalika's words fell on deaf ears. She was now alone.
"P-please…" The feeling of despair crept into her heart. "I don't... I don't..." Tears fell from her face as she slowly bled out. "I don't want to be here."
Slowly, a small puddle of her tears was consumed by the blood that rampaged through the prison floor. Slowly, Kalika fell into a daze, her eyes drooped, and she felt her consciousness slipping from her with the pain strangely subsiding. "Oh... Am I dying again… or am I waking up?"
"I hope I'm waking up. I don't want to be here. I don't want to suffer. Please. I'm sorry. Please."
********
A man in noble attire ran through the luxurious and pristine white hall past men with shining silver armor. They watched on as the flustered man sprinted his way into the throne room of the Emperor of the four provinces of God.
Slamming open the door, the man found four priests gathered around a round table with the throne and the emperor not too far away. Half of the priests there looked elderly, while the other still had a youthful appearance. As for the emperor himself, he looked the oldest among all of them, looking more decrepit than most old men.
The man immediately bowed, a cold sweat running down his face. "PLEASE FORGIVE MY INTRUSION!!"
Everyone now laid eyes on the intruding man.
"" What is so urgent you barge in on our meeting?" one of the older priests scolded.
"T…The ... . There's... T-there's been a demon invasion!" Everyone there, aside from the emperors, had their eyes widened from shock. "They invaded the Dahlia capital, 'Nostros', from below! And killed everyone there! Including the Lord and the Saintess!!!"
The other older Priest became more worried. "Demons invading? I never thought I'd see the day…"
"Invading such sacred land. How unforgivable!" a younger black hair priest stated.
"This is dire straits indeed," the last priest with brown hair turned to the emperor. "Should we mobilize forces from the other countries to meet them head-on?"
"No." The raspy and old, wispy voice of the Emperor was stern. "The Saintess shall be reborn again, like all those other times. As for the demon invader, we leave them in the hands of the Heroes of Prophecy. These warriors of God will find the head of their king and cut it off. Just like they've done in the past."
"This invasion of demons is already destined to fail. It is by God Cassell's design that the evil deeds of these demons will never bear fruit. So it is better to let nature take its course. In due time, the Heroes will rise to kill those evil demons lurking in Dahlia."
"And what if they don't?" the black hair priest asked.
"That…. It is an impossibility." The Emperor said. Inform all your respective lords not to interfere. Let Dahlia fend off the hordes for now, they should be able to fend themselves off just fine... But as for you, priest Frances…I will mobilize some forces and fragments of God's tears for your own protection, so you may return to Dahlia unharmed."
The first elder priest bows. "This precious gift humbles me, Emperor Talinidus."
"Use this gift well and… do try your best to bring the generals back in line… There's no doubt that Julius's Generals will try to break the state even further." The Emperor suddenly began to cough hard. A nearby guard rushed over but stopped, seeing the swift motion of the Emperor's hands. "Everyone is dismissed."
"W-what about your successor!??" The brown haired priest exclaimed.
"I have ruled for many years thanks to the graces of God, Cassell. And I shall continue to rule even now. I've already seen the Lords and their abilities are much too lacking to take my place... That is all."
"Fate is deeply entwined in all things living, and when God believes my time is over… He will send another just like me." With those last few words, the Emperor left the four priests and the other men in the room.