Demon's Assignment

Thick double doors of darkness stood proud in front of Lilac. Standing on her left was a ghostly suit of animated plate armor, holding a spear in his left hand like a staff. On her right was a beautiful woman with dark purple hair cascading down the open back her dress failed to cover. Her pointed ears and the devilish tail that escaped the hem of her skirt gave away her demonic nature. Any onlooker could tell that the enchanting creature that stood by her side in support was her mother.

Light split the middle of the two doors, accompanied by a loud rumble. The solid wood parted to reveal a dark figure sitting on a black throne. Shadows rose from the edges of the seat, adding to the terrifying aura the figure emitted.

The animated armor stepped into the room first, his metal boots clicking against the stone floor. He stopped halfway to the throne and bowed. “My lord, I have brought her as requested.”

Lilac halted behind the armor and took a deep, shaky breath. She felt a gentle squeeze of her arm and looked over to see her mother smiling at her with reassurance in her golden eyes.

“Lilac Vekholam,” the dark figure stated her name. Though his face was hidden, she could feel his eyes piercing into her soul. “You must be wondering why I’ve asked for you today."

She dipped her head in reverence. “That would be correct.”

“You may lift your head,” he permitted. Once her eyes were on him again, he continued. “Have you heard any news from the human world as of late?”

“Nothing at all,” she shook her head. The question came as a surprise to her. Why would the Demon King summon her to ask about news from humans?

His attention shifted to her mother. “Has any news reached you, Thyra?”

“None, my lord,” her mother bowed. “If I may be so bold, what does this have to do with my daughter?”

“Azhon, leave us.”

At the Demon King’s command, the animated armor saluted and marched out of the throne room.

Once the guard was gone, he continued. “I’m certain you both know of the prophecy had among the humans.”

“Prophecy?” Thyra’s eyes widened. “You mean–”

“Their hero has been found.”

Stunned silence followed his announcement. Lilac’s mother was the first to overcome the shock. “T-the hero? The one believed to kill you and bring an end to us demons?”

“Unless you know of another hero that I don’t,” the Demon King replied.

Lilac’s gaze was on the cold grey stone in front of her as thoughts ran through her head. “Are you… going to send me to kill him?”

“Kill him? Why would I send you to kill him?”

Lilac blinked in confusion. “If that’s not what you want me to do, then… Why did you summon me?”

“I want you to observe him,” he explained. “I want you to find out his strength, his magical ability, his weaknesses. Everything you can.”

“But why me?”

“Simple. You’re a cute girl that happens to be his age,” the Demon King stated nonchalantly.

Lilac didn’t know how to respond to the king calling her cute. “Oh, um… okay. I can try.”

“I appreciate your cooperativeness. You’re doing a great service to your fellow demons. I’ve heard that the hero will start attending a prestigious school soon. I’ll have Jharis arrange for your acceptance.”

Dust swirled upward in a spiral to the right of the throne, revealing a tall, attractive man with long, blond hair and piercing red eyes in a fancy tuxedo. He gave a slight bow, with his arm against his chest. “You called, my king?”

“Please prepare documentation for Lilac here,” he said without turning his covered face.

“As you wish, my king,” the vampire disappeared as quickly as he came in another swirl of dust.

Lilac’s mother stepped forward, her hands clasped in front of her chest in a pleading manner. “You’re sending Lilac among humans? What if they find out what she is? They’ll kill her!”

“I understand your fears, Thyra. But do not worry. She will not be discovered. Jharis will teach her everything she needs to know about how to blend into human society.”

Dust swirled upward in a spiral to the right of the throne, revealing the same tall, attractive man that had just disappeared. He gave a slight bow, with his arm against his chest. “You called, my king?”

His noble demeanor did not change in response to the vampire’s repeated arrival. “Once you’ve finished preparing the documents, please tutor Lilac on the human world.”

“As you wish, my king,” Jharis vanished in yet another swirl of dust that engulfed his person.

“I still think it’s a bad idea. Why can’t you use someone more experienced? She’s just a child,” Thyra protested, taking another step closer to the throne.

“Why don’t we ask her what she thinks?” The king suggested, returning his attention to the one he had summoned.

She shrunk under the intense gazes of the king and her worried mother. It was as if the weight of the world was threatening to crush her if she made the wrong decision. “I… want to go,” she decided with a firm nod. “If I can help save our people, then I’ll do it.”

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw her mother’s eyes widen with horror, and her heart was hit by a hammer in turn. She focused on the king to block out the pain her mother’s expression caused her.

The king nodded in appreciation. “Excellent. I must thank you for your bravery. You have ten days to prepare for your assignment. Jharis will take good care of you in the meantime.”

Jharis materialized from a pillar of dust once again and bowed in the same way as before. “You called, my king?”

“I did not,” came his curt reply.

“I see. Then I will continue with the task I have been assigned,” Jharis disappeared in the same fashion as the previous two times.

“That is all we needed to discuss. You are free to go back home,” the Demon King dismissed them with a wave of his hand.

Lilac’s mother opened her mouth to say something more but turned to leave in mournful silence. Her thin, near-black devil tail trailed on the stone behind her. “Are you sure you want to go?” She asked once the heavy doors shut behind them. “The human world is dangerous.”

Her feet slowed to a stop beside her mother. “I know it’s dangerous, but if this is as important as it sounds, I can save our people. Isn’t that worth the danger? Besides…” Lilac’s eyes sparkled with pure excitement. “I’ll never get a chance to learn about humans like this!”

A sigh of defeat escaped Thyra. “If that’s how you feel, then I suppose I’ll have to let you go. But promise me you’ll be careful, okay? I don’t know I’d be able to live if something bad happened to you.”

Lilac took her mother’s hand in her own to comfort her. “I promise, mom. There’s no need to worry about me.”

“I hope you’re right,” a tear wet her cheek. “Learn all you can from Jharis. What he teaches you could be the difference between life and death.”

Dust rose in a churning motion beside them, signaling the arrival of Jharis. He bowed in respect to Thyra. “She will be an expert in living among humans by the end of the week. Now, I must borrow her. Come, darling, off to Human Society 101 with you,” his arm reached out to grab Lilac’s wrist and before her mother could react, they were gone in a cloud of dust.

—

The next ten days passed in a flash, filled with countless hours of cramming as much information about human laws, mannerisms, and customs into her brain like sardines. Though she had to question some of the information she was given, Jharis was one of the most experienced demons at living among humans. He spent most of his time in a human settlement, returning to the Darklands only to visit family or follow the orders of the king.

She stretched her arms above her and yawned. Due to the intensive tutoring, she received almost no sleep since the morning before her audience with the Demon King, and the soft velvet cushioning inside the carriage she was riding in was trying desperately to lull her to sleep.

“Are you still conscious in there?” A masculine voice called out from the driver’s seat of the carriage.

“Yes, I’m still alive,” she replied with a deep breath. The driver was someone who had been assigned to deliver Lilac’s reports to the Demon King and was operating under the guise of being her servant. The man she would have to endure for the next several months was none other than her boisterous tutor, Jharis.

“Good, good!” The carriage lurched to a stop, throwing Lilac face first into the cushioned bench in front of her. “We’re here.”

Lilac pushed herself up with a groan. Her face was still recovering from the sudden impact, but luckily its opponent was soft. Within her chest, her heart quickened its beat, anxious for the new experience awaiting her at her new human school. Closing her eyes, she focused on the magic within her.

A moment later, her dual devil tails vanished into the air, and her pointed ears took on the rounder shape of a human’s. All of the features hinting toward her demonic nature disappeared and were replaced in an instant.

“Are you ready, my lady?” Jharis’s voice came from the side of the carriage.

“Yes, I am,” she waved a hand through her hair and dusted off her dress.

The side of the carriage slid open, revealing Jharis in a grey suit that somehow made him look more attractive. He offered his hand to help her out of the vehicle, and she accepted.

“Welcome to your new school, Lady Lilac.”