Bunny Kid short 1

The portal closed behind them with a sound like a held breath releasing.

Lilith walked without looking back.

The Demon Realm did not ease you in. It arrived all at once. The sky was the color of cooling embers, deep red fading to black at the edges, lit from below by rivers of molten light that cut through the dark stone landscape like veins. The air was warm and carried the faint smell of sulfur and something sweeter underneath it, like incense left burning too long.

Iron fell into step beside her, three paces back and one to the left. His default position. He had been walking that exact distance behind her since she was old enough to leave the palace grounds.

"You're quiet," he said.

"I'm always quiet."

"You're quieter than quiet."

Lilith didn't answer.

The path from the arrival point to the palace cut through the outer district of the realm, a sprawling network of black stone buildings and arched bridges over the molten rivers below. Demons moved through the streets with the particular energy of a place that never fully slept. Vendors called out from stalls selling things that glowed or moved or both. Children ran between adults' legs, their small horns catching the ember light. An old demon sat outside a doorway sharpening something that didn't look like any weapon Lilith could name.

She had grown up looking at all of this and feeling like it belonged to her.

Right now it felt like something she had left and come back to find slightly smaller than she remembered.

"You're thinking about the bunny kid," Iron said.

Lilith's eye twitched. "I am not."

"You have the same face you had when you left him at the shore."

"I don't have a face."

"You have a face, Princess. You always have a face."

Lilith stopped walking. She turned and looked at Iron with the full force of her most withering glare.

Iron looked back at her with the calm of a man in extremely heavy armor who had weathered worse.

She turned and kept walking.

The palace rose ahead of them, black spires against the ember sky, the gates already open. Two guards snapped to attention as she passed. She didn't acknowledge them. She never acknowledged them. It wasn't rudeness, it was just how she had been taught to move through a space that was hers.

Inside, the palace was cooler. High ceilings, dark stone, golden light from sconces shaped like claws. The kind of place that was impressive whether you wanted it to be or not.

A servant intercepted her at the inner corridor. "Princess Lilith. Your father requests your presence in the lower hall once you have settled."

Lilith exhaled through her nose. "Tell him I'll be there shortly."

The servant bowed and disappeared.

Iron stopped at the corridor junction where his post began. "I'll have the prisoner moved to the lower dungeon."

Lilith nodded. "Get what you can out of him. Whoever sent those men after me, I want a name."

Iron nodded once. "Understood."

She walked the rest of the way to her chambers alone.

Few hours go by...

The dimly lit dungeon echoed with the sound of chains clinking as the demon prisoner wheezed, blood dripping from his mouth.

Iron cracked his knuckles, his towering steel-plated frame looming over the beaten demon. "Alright, last chance. Who sent you after Miss Lilith?"

The demon grinned with bloodstained teeth, then spat a glob of blackened blood onto Iron's helmet.

Iron sighed. "Why do they always gotta do that?"

Without hesitation, he drove a heavy fist into the demon's gut. The demon lurched forward, coughing violently.

Lilith leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "Tch. This is useless. He's not talking."

Iron tilted his head. "Want me to just kill him?"

Lilith waved a hand. "No, no. Too easy."

She rubbed her temples, then crouched down to the demon's level. "Alright, listen, pal. What if we gave you some money?"

The demon pretended to think, tapping his bloody fingers against his chin. "Hmm... let me see... Uhhh, nope! HAHAHAHA!"

Lilith gritted her teeth, flames flickering around her hands. "WHY, I OUGHTA—"

Suddenly, the dungeon door creaked open.

A graceful figure stepped inside, her long silky black hair swaying as she walked. She had pale flawless skin, and her faintly pink lips curled into an amused smirk.

"Oh my, if it isn't Lil' Lilith."

Lilith snapped her head around, eyes widening. "YOU."

It was Imma, her rival and fellow demon princess.

Lilith stood up, crossing her arms. "What the hell are you doing here, Imma?"

Imma smirked, twirling a strand of her hair. "I just wanted to check on you. Imagine my surprise when I heard you were playing prison warden."

Behind her, a tall blue-armored knight strolled in, his suit gleaming despite the dim light. Though fully armored, the way he moved casually, as if he were wearing pajamas, ruined any sense of intimidation.

"Hello, Iron."

Iron turned his head, then nodded. "Steel. It's been a while since we sparred."

Steel grinned, the visor of his helmet shifting slightly. "I know, man. But Imma keeps making me wash her clothes."

Iron visibly tensed. "For real? SAME, BRO."

Lilith and Imma turned on them instantly.

"SHUT UP!" they both shouted.

Lilith glared at Imma. "You just happened to check on me? Yeah, right."

Imma giggled behind her hand. "Maybe I was just bored? Watching you struggle is always fun."

Lilith scoffed. "Tch. Keep talking, Princess Narcissist."

Imma grinned. "Aww, is Lil' Lilith upset? Do you need a hug?"

Lilith summoned a fireball in her hand. "Do you need a fire-resistant face?!"

Steel sighed inside his helmet. "And here we go again."

Iron chuckled. "Want to take bets?"

Steel leaned in. "I bet she sets something on fire within a minute."

Iron nodded. "I'll give it thirty seconds."

Lilith yelled in frustration and threw the fireball, which Imma dodged effortlessly.

BOOM!

The fireball hit the demon prisoner's chains, freeing him.

The demon blinked. "...Wait. Am I free?"

Lilith and Imma both turned to him.

"Oh, HELL NO!" they shouted in unison, before simultaneously kicking him in the face.

The demon slammed into the wall, unconscious.

Steel and Iron stared.

Steel whistled. "Man, that was brutal."

Iron sighed. "I was hoping he'd actually escape. Would've saved us some trouble."

Lilith brushed her hair back, exhaling. "Alright, now that that's dealt with—"

Imma smirked, stepping forward. "What? You wanna fight me now?"

Lilith cracked her knuckles. "You read my mind."

Steel and Iron looked at each other, then simultaneously took a step back.

Steel sighed. "Yeah. We should probably let this happen."

Iron nodded. "Yup. They're not gonna stop anyway."

Flames and dark energy started crackling between the two demon princesses.

Steel and Iron had already stepped back, well aware that interfering would be a death sentence.

"Alright, Princess Brat," Lilith sneered, flames licking at her fingertips. "Let's settle this."

Imma flipped her hair with a smirk. "You sure? Wouldn't want you crying to Daddy again."

Lilith's eye twitched. "THAT'S IT—!"

BOOOOM!

A massive explosion of dark energy erupted in the room, snuffing out all other power like a candle in a storm.

A deep menacing voice echoed. "Enough."

A tall fearsome figure strode into the dungeon, his very presence suffocating.

Akuma, King of the Demon Realm.

His red eyes glowed beneath his long jet-black hair. His royal robes draped over his massive frame, embroidered with golden demonic symbols that pulsed with ominous power.

Lilith froze, her fire vanishing instantly.

She slowly turned, her face draining of color.

"...F-Father..."

Akuma stared down at her, expression unreadable. "Lilith. What do you think you're doing?"

Lilith flinched, her pride evaporating in seconds. She backed down, lowering her head before quickly dropping to her knees.

"S-Sorry, Father. It won't happen again."

Akuma sighed heavily, shaking his head. "You always let your emotions get the better of you. A true ruler must be composed."

Imma grinned smugly, arms crossed. "See, even your father agrees you have anger issues."

Akuma glanced at her. "Imma."

She blinked, immediately standing straighter.

"Will you be attending the Demon Ball?"

Imma flashed a confident smile. "But of course, King Akuma. I wouldn't miss it for the world."

Lilith shot her a glare, still kneeling.

Akuma turned back to his daughter. "And you, Lilith. Are you prepared for what's expected of you?"

Lilith already knew where this was going.

Her shoulders slumped. "Yes, Father..."

Akuma narrowed his eyes. "You must begin searching for a worthy prince."

Lilith let out the longest most dramatic sigh known to demonkind. "Ugh. Yes, Father."

Imma snickered. "Good luck with that. Who'd want to marry a hot-headed brat like you?"

Lilith clenched her fists, her head snapping up. "SAY THAT AGAIN, YOU SPOILED—"

Akuma held up a hand. Instantly the room fell silent.

He looked at both girls, his piercing red gaze radiating authority. "There will be no more foolishness. You will both attend the Demon Ball. You will both conduct yourselves with dignity. And you will both stop acting like squabbling children."

Lilith bit her lip, nodding.

Imma hid her amusement and gave a polite bow. "Of course, King Akuma."

Steel and Iron watched in silence.

Steel whispered, "Man. Akuma's presence is insane."

Iron nodded. "You ever seen Lilith back down that fast?"

Steel shook his head. "Nope. Legendary moment."

Lilith grumbled under her breath as Akuma turned to leave.

Imma leaned in, whispering smugly. "Can't wait to see who your prince ends up being. Knowing your taste, he'll probably be some sad little commoner."

Lilith whispered back. "And knowing yours, he'll be too afraid to talk to you."

Imma giggled. "Tch. We'll see."

Lilith watched her leave, then stood alone in the dungeon for a moment.

The unconscious prisoner slumped against the wall. The sconces flickered. Somewhere above her the palace carried on as it always did.

She reached up and touched the side of her neck, where the necklace wasn't.

She had left it in her chambers. Obviously. She wasn't going to wear it around the palace.

She dropped her hand.

"...Commoner," she muttered to herself.

Then she walked out.