34

'What are you doing here?' said Lucien in a mix of annoyance and fear as he eyed the clear threat in front of him.

Grace took a step backwards and looked at the towering demon – twice as terrifying as he smiled malevolently at them, but also twice as... charming? How could he manage to have that kind of magnetic presence? The kind that made her want to listen to what he had to say, even as half of her wanted to take Lucien's hand and dash for the castle instead.

'I have as much right to walk here as you do – what's your name? Lucien,' said the Assistant with an unpleasant smile before looking at Grace. 'Those biscuits smell so nice, Grace... why aren't you eating them?'

'What's it to you?' said Grace crossly.

'Because, it makes me rather sad to observe how strictly you adhere to meaningless boundaries and rules that merely confine you,' said the Assistant, his words smooth and effortless – he could read out an entire dictionary and she would listen. 'Restraint? For a couple of biscuits? Hilarious.'

'Oh, and it was so important to you that you had to come out of your way to tell us that,' said Lucien, rolling his eyes. 'Now that's hilarious!'

'I wasn't addressing you,' said the Assistant coldly. 'And yes, it was important, because when I look at your whole life, Grace, I see nothing but restraint and suppression of even your legitimate and natural desires. For what? Why?'

Grace looked at him in confusion. Was he telling the truth? Was it really true? She had never really analysed her life in that way.

'Indulge for a change, Grace,' said the Assistant softly. 'You'll see that beyond the barriers you have placed between yourself and happiness, there lies infinite pleasure that you cannot possibly regret.'

'What are you trying to say to her?' said Lucien uncomfortably.

'That is for her to understand,' said the Assistant, taking the basket from her, much to her surprise, and taking out a chocolate biscuit. 'Grace, do you know what this is called?'

'A chocolate biscuit—'

'No, no, no. A Devil's chocolate biscuit! It's because its pleasure is so intense that it feels almost like a sin for girls like you; but it isn't. It's only... something beautifully out of your comfort zone. It's when you cross the boundaries that the fun begins, mortal. It's when you transgress restraint that you experience irreversible delight. Eat it, Grace!'

Grace looked at him, so caught up in his stream of words that she had forgotten to interrupt him or do anything else but listen intently. Now, she looked at him in surprise and confusion as he held out the biscuit to her with a piercing gaze and a subtle smile.

'Eat it,' he said softly. 'Right here, right now. You know you've wanted to all along.'

'I... I have but...' said Grace, looking at the biscuit, wondering what on earth had stopped her from eating it all this time, anyway.

'But now you're going to do it,' said the Assistant. 'Here you go. I want to see you enjoy it, Grace. I want to see you happy.'

Grace took the biscuit from him slowly. Wanted to see her happy? She doubted it was just that, but his words touched her somehow despite it. Even if his intentions were wrong, there seemed to be some truth and sincerity in his words and actions for now. At any rate, eating a biscuit seemed innocent enough, so she would go ahead and—

'No,' said Lucien suddenly, taking the biscuit from her in a rapid movement and tossing it back to the Assistant. 'Now she won't. She'll eat them when she gets home. You eat it if you like!'

'You're an odd personality, demon,' said the Assistant icily. 'Isn't this what you wanted all this time? And now, just because I said the same thing, you're saying the opposite! Are you that intent on trying to be different from me?'

'Whatever,' said Lucien, turning to Grace. 'Let's go home, Grace!'

'She doesn't have to do what you say,' said the Assistant. 'She doesn’t have to go home just because you said so. She doesn't have to forgo something delicious for even an instant just because you're jealous that I made her do what you couldn't.'

'You didn't make her do it!' said Lucien crossly. 'And you won't!'

'But I can,' said the Assistant with a sly smile, looking in Grace's eyes and taking a small bite in such a tempting way that for a moment, it seemed like both the food and the person eating it were the most delightfully dangerous things in the world – and she wanted them.

'Won't you eat it, Grace?' said the Assistant charmingly, handing the biscuit to her – sweet, dark, sinfully innocent. 'You know you want so much more than that...'

'I'll eat it,' said Grace, looking crossly at Lucien. 'And don't you dare stop me this time!'

Lucien looked rather hurt, but he didn't say anything. He only glared at the Assistant instead. 'Happy now? What are you trying to prove?'

'That I get what I want,' smiled the Assistant. 'And it's not always a bad thing.'

'I hate you!' said Lucien passionately.

The Assistant laughed. 'Why? Because I made her eat a biscuit you wanted to make her eat? We're not so different, Lucien. We both want the same things. We're both demons. We're the same.'

'No, we're not!!' said Lucien fiercely. 'We're nothing alike!'

'Oh, but we are,' said the Assistant unpleasantly. 'You just can't accept it. Your father understood this quite well, and we were such good friends, you know...'

'I'm not like my father!!!' exclaimed Lucien.

'Emotional little boy,' said the Assistant with a click of his tongue. 'But you see, we all think we're so different, until we wake up one day and realise that we can't escape our race, our parentage. We can't escape who we are. Your father had grand ideals once too, but he grew out of them – just like you will. You're just like your father, Lucien. And you'll be just like me.'

'SHUT UP! SHUT UP RIGHT NOW!!!!' roared Lucien, his purple eyes turning so violet they were almost black, as his red hair seemed to come alive with actual flames. He would have looked terrifying, had Grace not known him enough to tell that he was hurt. Badly.

And she couldn't bear to see him like that.

She turned to the Assistant and found his face to be gaunt and lean and cruel. His smile was evil and scheming. Right now, she detested him. 'Shut up,' she said quietly.

'Tsk, that doesn't befit a lady like you to say,' he replied with a patronising smile.

'But it befits a horrid creature like you to hear!'

'Creature? Ouch. That hurt a bit.'

'It should. Because anyone who tries to hurt him should get hurt!'

'I see you're rather attatched to him,' said the Assistant. 'And here I thought you didn't like me just because I'm a demon in Hell... Well, if this is my competition, I guess I do have a chance with you after all...'

'You don't stand a chance in Hell!'

'My dear, this is Hell!'

'Whatever! You know what I mean!'

'As you wish. But I'll visit you again. And we'll see if my chances increase with time. Farewell, Lucien. Take care of her for me, will you?'

'OH, SHUT UP, YOU PATHETIC OLD—'

'So unsophisticated. I take your leave, lovely Grace. Your face as you ate that biscuit is a memory I shall take with me; you see, you look so beautiful when you yield to me.'

He disappeared before Grace could reply, taking with him the joy and excitement they had had before; and it was with their heads cast down in silence that they returned to the castle.