“You seem unsettled, son. Why?”
He glanced over to his mother as to try to figure out the nature of her question though he already suspected he knew but would indulge if only for her sake.
He smiled; his startlingly perfect white teeth and fangs emphasized more by the stimulated moon that hung high above. “Why would I be unsettled mother? My laws will soon pass, and I will finally be free of this ‘arrangement’ you insist upon.”
The Empress sigh, “I do not understand why you are so against this; Dimitra is beautiful, smart and would be a perfect match for you, yet you are the only one who cannot see that.”
“She is a beautiful and smart creature, but she is hardly perfect for me,” Eros spoke, “I should be the one who decides who is perfect for me and she is not it.”
“Then who?”
Eros stopped in front of the stone image of Lilith and into the water surrounding her, his strong reflection staring back at him. He did not know how to explain to his mother, that quiet voice that called to her, the one that invaded his dreams and kept him awake at night. It was as if he could hear and feel his other half calling to him. Even more so, the call did not come from any of the nine realms but beyond it. “How about this mother, when I have found her. My only words to you will be my one.”
His mother nodded, “Well, until then we shall hold Dimitra in her place.”
Eros held back the growl that threatened to escape his mouth; turning to his mother, he simply took her hand to escort her back to the great hall. As they made their way back, a warm breeze floated pass them bringing with it a whisper.
“Soon,”
Eros spun around, his clear as diamond eyes scanned the grounds.
“What is it, son?” his mother questioned
Eros looked around more but saw nothing could it have been his imagination, his hopes manifested? “Nothing, mother. Shall we, I have yet to share a dance with my beautiful mother.
Eros had no idea just how much his hopes had manifested and the long battle he would have to truly claim it.
Eros danced with his mother until his father decided that he had taken up enough of her time, he merely chuckled at his father’s quip.
“Eros.”
He heard his name called behind him, he suppressed the groan that was crept up his throat. He turned to the source; Dimitra stood in front of him smiling brightly at him. While he didn’t hate her, she did not interest him in the least and merely tolerated her for the sake of the counsel. He also knew that she had designs on marrying him, once that did not come from love but from the allure of power if he was too accent the throne.
“Dimitra,” he bowed slightly to her, “Are you enjoying the festivities?”
She batted her eyes at him and continued to smile sweetly at him, he knew better than to believe there was anything sweet about her. She was cunning, devious and calculating she did nothing unless it had value to her and could get her, what she wanted.
Even her place in the army he commanded was a move to gain favour with his parents and his as well. He would not deny that she was an exceptional fighter and there was barely another Succubus or Incubus for that matter that could match her save for his elite combat members including himself.
“I am enjoying myself quite well, I am pleased to see you here tonight you so rarely attend these events.”
He nodded, “Well since it is my own law that I want approved and circulated, I thought it best that I appear and show how strongly I support it,” he wanted to make sure she understood that in no circumstance would his parents dictate his love life and any chance she had would be gone.
She clamped her lips tightly, her eyes flickered red for a moment then disappeared. Good she understood exactly what I am saying, he thought. He turned to leave but she placed a hand on his arm to stop him.
“Nevertheless, I am happy to see you still,” she gave him a tight smile that didn’t reach her eyes. Even for have one-dimensional eyes one can still read the depths of emotions that can show in them and emotions never did reach Dimitra’s except for hate and anger.
She continued, “But there is more than one way to get what you want in this life Eros and more than one way to get the demon you want as well.”
He narrowed his eyes at her, “Dimitra, it is Commander Eros or Commander, which ever you chose I do not care but it will never be just Eros. Please remember your place.”
He didn’t wait to see her reaction or anything else she had to say. She will soon understand how little her threats mean to him and nothing from the old world will make him look favourably on her.
Demons were no longer the barbaric bloodthirsty monsters that lived in the shadows. They had evolved and yes some like his kind still had lived by night, but they were more than they were once, and he would be damn if he were to see them go back to the old ways. The old ways had nearly caused their extinction and the Great War between the human hunters and the demons.
If they were not careful, they would revert to their past and would lose all they had gain. They were active in the human world using the human money to build and fund their world and their protection from the remaining demon hunter orders. The demon hunter still saw them, as an abomination, and a danger to the world and still hunted them with passionate conviction. That was why Eros formed the elite group centuries ago; he would kill them as much as they hunted him and his kind and as long as it didn’t take innocent human lives, risked exposure or another great war.
Yes, Dimitra would soon learn he was a demon apart from all and everyone, and that his own mind, heart and black soul ruled him.
Dimitra along with everyone in the kingdom wondered how the hunters were able to learn of their chosen route and not only ambush them, but poison Eros in turn. It could only have been the work of a traitor. Someone who wanted to get rid of Eros or worse the entire council members. Luckily, the route for the Emperor and Empress were changed last minute to prevent just that. Eros had chosen to go with the high council members to ensure that they were safe on their journey, he had instructed his second in command Dagar to stay with his parents.
The attack on them came fast and swipe, Eros managed to kill two of the attackers but one of their darts managed to pierce him. Within the next two days, he had succumbed to whatever poison lied within it. Their healers managed to keep him present with their herbs and magic, but it was the feedings that kept him alive.
The Emperor had summoned every healer within his kingdom and those of allies beyond it. The poison within him was an ancient and magical one; Eros was losing the battle that raged within him. That was as much as the healers knew; how to counteract it was unknown and further beyond their scopes were how long he had. The kingdom below the city of New York braced for the death of their prince. Some even began to mourn at a loss they had not yet suffered.
“I cannot let you die Eros, you are too important to my goals,” Dimitra whispered as she stood near him.
“Tomorrow, I will find you a human, one with enough energy to destroy the death within you and you will be whole again,” she said before walking out of his bedroom chamber.
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