Fantasy The Demon's Bride [Reawakened]

[tane5naoki]

The sound of leathery wings filled the air around Puzith as he looked through the windows of his castle. A malevolent smile spread across his sharp features as he looked across the forest, where a once proud trading community laid in ruins. "Have they agreed?" He purred to the envoy behind him.


"Yes, Sire. They have complied with your demands. A dread-mount has departed the stables, and will retrieve your bride. She was ordered to be ready by the time the mount arrives, and bring no luggage. She will be here within the hour." The demon behind him, a nameless minion to Puzith, groveled on its knees before its lord, as was only right and natural.


"Very good," Puzith had expected no resistance from what was left of the trading community, but he wished they had. It was enjoyable to see them reduced to nothing, to feel their loathing and fear, it was a pungent and sweet odor to the wind he could taste even across the distance betwixt the castle and town. "Have Merce fetched. I would have her in the throne room when my bride arrives." With a practiced flick of his wrist, he twisted and walked past the demon, ensuring his cloak brushed over the prone figure, in an act of dominance.


As the two demons speak, the stable door of the castle is kicked open, and a great beast breaks into a gallop to do his master's bidding. It's a massive horse, black as midnight, carrying with it the smell of grave soil. It streaks across the forest, his hooves barely touching the ground. Few things move as fast as Dread-Mounts, it is known, nor as silently. Within 20 minutes, it clears the half a day journey it usually takes to take the forest path to the mountain.


Before long it arrived at the main gates, where the bride was ordered to be, and begins pawing at the loamy soil. His very presence leached the warmth out of the air, drawing in all happiness and hope of any living creature around him.


[[Alright, I know it's not my best work, but I didn't want to make you wait any longer. @sprouhtt. I figured you could take the first reply to set up your character, how she's feeling and such before the Dread-Mount arrives to take her away. I'll then tell you of her journey to get to the castle. I hope that's all alright with you!! ]]

 

[sprouhtt]

Decthalia had woken up the day of the engagement party which was going to be held at Puzith's castle. There was going to be a ceremony which is going to be where they are presented with gifts from the guest of the village and other kingdoms.  Decthalia just hated the fact that she was going to marry off some guy who she had never met but has heard terrible things of. The only reason why she is doing it is so that her kingdom is not terrorized anymore by his creatures of the dark. Decthalia was pondering about how furious she was when she heard the news last week, it made her blood boil. 


Decthalia was still in bed under sheets and sheets of warmth were making her sleep more and more peacefully as if she forgot that today was her big day. Possibly everyone in the kingdom was going to see as well as the King of course. Decthalia wished that she wasn't born with such looks, she was always kept inside the castle the past years since every time she goes out men can't even contain themselves. Usually, it's an uproar of commotion whenever the princess goes through town. Whenever she would go out which was rarely now, she would be forced to wear a black veil to conceal her appearance. She hates of this agreement but it's the only way, she has been wearing it for about three years now. 


Decthalia was woken up by the servants who threw the sheets off of her and got her ready for the big day. The servants usually stayed quiet unless spoken to but Decthalia never seemed to have a problem with them whenever they would speak to her. Decthalia was never the one to be rude to any of the servants at the castle and most of them she goes way back with them ever since she was born. As they finished bathing her, clothing her and doing her hair she finally made way down the hallway. Decthalia tried to walk like she was slouching but the dress was so tight on her that it was making it hard for her to breath. Decthalia already had a curvaceous figure so the servants would only tighten the dress more and more to give her a bit of more form. 


Decthalia's father was already waiting for her by the doors and in his hand was the veil that she was supposed to wear. The veil was a beautiful beige satin veil with embroideries on it. The veil had so much detail going on that you couldn't see through the veil, it was impossible for you to do so. Her father gave off no emotions except for a kiss on her forehead before she got into her carriage and her father would meet her at the castle later on. When she went inside the carriage she could smell the scent of death lingering around the carriage and not to mention the horse, it was a horse that she had never seen before. This feeling that was stirring up in her stomach made her clench her hands together even tighter than they were. 

 

[tane5naoki]

The carriage lurched forward, carrying the bride-to-be with it. She had been lied to, there would be no engagement party, for Puzith cared nothing for such trivialities. The lies had only been fed to her and her father to force an agreement. Flocien knew the truth, as Puzith's right hand, and as he sat, concealed in the carriage, considered the woman in front of him. Her beauty was apparent, even as a demon he could tell. She had a pleasant shape, and unlike the last bride, wasn't plagued by malnutrition nor disease. This was a proper, human, lady.


With a flourish of his hand the spell concealing him dissipated, revealing himself to Decthalia. "Listen, human, for what I have to say can only be repeated once." He waited for her reaction, ensuring that she would be listening. By now she had to be used to demons appearing whenever they wished, but humans were a queer bunch who never seemed to get used to their magic, as it terrified them.

 

[sprouhtt]

Decthalia had her grip on the dress pretty tightly as her heart began to beat rapidly. Decthalia didn't know the meaning of why he wanted to her but she knew one of the reasons was because of her looks. She honestly didn't want to marry this cruel man who she would later have to call her husband. Decthalia was trying her hardest to not cry during the car ride so she held it in for quite some time so that she wouldn't look like a mess when he unveiled her. The only thing that Decthalia was looking at was the trees when they were passing by. The veil was pretty thick yet it was still light enough for her to see through without falling. Before she could even blink she felt a sudden breeze in the carriage and when she looked she saw a strange man sitting across from her in the spacious carriage. Decthalia gasped yet she said not a thing. She looked at the man and hoped that he was here to assassinate her because she honestly didn't feel like getting married to that man. It was taking Decthalia a while to see who this man was but it wasn't the veil that was making her not see who this man was. In reality she had no idea how the demon king looked like, she only heard that he was cruel to his people and to the ones around him. "Are you here to murder me?" She asked the mysterious man as she looked at him but he couldn't see her. 

 

[tane5naoki]

Flocien shook his head, and said, "No, fool. Who would murder you? There are only two factions in the area, The Demons and the Humans, and both want you to live." He looked out the window, considering his next words very carefully. "I'm sorry for that, I let my tongue get away from me. Don't tell my Master I chastised you, he wouldn't like it."


"I am Lord Puzith's second-in-command. I am his most trusted advisor and lieutenant. I was sent to collect you and inform you of the rules that Lord Puzith demands you live by in his manor. First; You will always address him as Lord, whether it be Lord Husband, Lord Puzith or My Lord. I don't care and neither does he, as long as he hears Lord. Second: You are permitted to roam the castle and manor as you will during the day, when the sun is in the sky, and none will harm you; but after the sun has set and darkness abounds, you are to stay in the suite the Lord has set aside for you. Should you leave the room for anything other than the Lord's decree, your life is in your hands. Third, life among demons is not suited for humans. The chaotic energies and magic can affect you in horrific ways, transforming you. In an effort to keep you pure and beautiful, you must wear this pendant at all times."


He reached into his coat and brought forth a small necklace, a delicate silver chain with a single charm hanging from it, in the shape of a 5 pointed star. The silver had an unearthly sheen to it, and as he held it, smoke rose from his fingers and filled the carriage with the stench of Sulfur. "Lastly, on the night of the full moon, much like tonight, every month, Lord Puzith will allow you one request. A wish, and you may ask for anything, and if it doesn't violate the contract with your people, and is within his power, he will grant it to you, so long as you obey his rules and respect him. Any questions?"

 

[sprouhtt]

"I would be glad if you did." She had muttered under her breath when he snapped at her. Decthalia was confused as day to see this man or demon or whatever he was sitting in front of her. She didn't know what else to do nor say so she let him continue on speaking. "There is nothing to say," she told him seeing that he was very scared of his master or maybe even petrified. "Why must I call him Lord? I will not bow down to this man by any means," she thought to herself as she tried to focus her eyes on the man since her veil was in the way. These were strange rules that were being enforced since she wasn't used to being told that she couldn't roam the castle during the night and if she were to roam it would be out of Lord Puzith's hands. 


Decthalia watched as he slowly pulled out the beautiful necklace that was meant for her to wear so that her beauty and pureness wouldn't be harmed. Decthalia didn't really question it since her father told her of the kind of magic that was in these parts of the land. It made her skin crawl just thinking about the horrific things that go on there and plus as they got closer and closer to the land she could feel the atmosphere change. "Will I meet him right away when I get off?" She asked him wondering if he was going to greet her but she didn't get her hopes up since she knew that he didn't give a care in the world for her except for her appearance. @tane5naoki 

 

[tane5naoki]

Flocien shrugged, "You will do anything and everything he asks, or he will kill you, and then destroy the people you hold most dear." There was no emotion to his voice, and as the carriage was pulled through the final leg of the journey, he stared out the window.


"I don't know what he has planned for when you arrive, but, suffice it to say, you won't like it." As the words escape his mouth, the carriage crosses the drawbridge into the manor. As the horse pulls them through the gates, the demon vanishes into thin air leaving Decthalia alone. Outside the courtyard is filled with people in fancy attire exiting their own vehicles and strolling up to the main doors. All around decorations of flowers, candles and expensive fabrics dot the castle walls. Servants rush to assist the patrons into the building, and the lively sound of music plays from the open windows of the hall.


"My Lady!" An eager voice calls out as the carriage comes to a halt, and the door is opened. Outside, a smartly dressed footman stands, offering his hand to Dacthaila to help her out. "We've been expecting you!"

 

[sprouhtt]

Decthalia didn't like the idea of death when he spoke of it because it's like he had no emotions and no soul. Decthalia tried her hardest to not do nor say anything. She stayed still in the carriage as she watched him disappear into thin air. Decthalia still wasn't use to having everyone disappear and reappear in front of her. She wondered what he has planned for her but by the way that he had said it earlier she knew that it wouldn't be great. 


When they had arrived the carriage brutally stopped and she went back and forth in her seat a bit, hitting her head on the back of the head cushion. The door slowly opened to her and she watched as a footman came to her service to help her out of the carriage. Decthalia smiled but it couldn't be seen by the footmen since her veil kept it that way, so she thanked the man instead. 


As as she came out of the carriage she watched as the rest of the guest went up and most of them were looking at her curiously but they knew who she was and many felt sorry for the poor girl so all they did was shake their head a bit or look away. Decthalia hesitantly looked up at the stairs that led up to huge black gates. She took a deep breath and put one foot at a time slowly making her way up the stairs like the rest of the guest. 

 

[tane5naoki]

The Footman's hand was cold and clammy, it could be felt through his gloves. He turned and a young man in a rich velvet doublet stepped forward and in a flourish of movement removed his ornate, feathered hat, and bowed low to her. "My Lady, I have the honor of escorting you into the hall, and announcing you." He offered his arm, which was covered by a draping cape. "Shall we?"


The people all around them were silent as the grave, and the only sound could be heard from the hall, of a band playing, with a violin's beautiful timbre echoing through the open windows. A second later, a beautiful voice could be heard, singing in a language unknown to Decthalia, but the notes were moving nonetheless. Several of the party goers stopped in place as the song began, their ears perked upwards as they listened to the music. As they entered the doors to the great hall, her escort coughed into his hand a few times, getting the attention of the inhabitants, and said, in a great booming voice. "NOW INTRODUCING, THE LORD PUZITH'S BRIDE-TO-BE, LADY DECHTHALIA." The party goers turned and bowed to her as she entered, though the music didn't stop.


"Where would you like to go first, My Lady? Would you like to go to the food? Get a drink? Or Meet the Lord of the Manor?"

 

[sprouhtt]

Decthalia began walking up the steps towards the castle when she was stopped by a man in a beautiful doublet with a unique feathered hat. He told her that he was her escort, she didn't say anything because she knew the way he was dressed he had to be one of Puzith's workers. She carelessly put her hand on top of his arm when he offered it to her. As she walked inside the people around her suddenly stopped to look at her, it was scary until they entered the great hall which is where her heart stopped when she saw how many people were here. It looked like millions and of course she was supposed to act like this given the fact that her father had never let her go out of the castle walls for years. 


It was crazy for her to think that she was going to get married at this age but when the young man said that she was Lord Puzith's Bride, it was even harder for her to believe it was true. Decthalia stayed still for a moment as she thought of where she wanted to go and the only place she could think of is home but as of right now she wouldn't be able to. "Perhaps I should go and freshen up," she told him as she wanted to go to her room and wait awhile before the ceremony started. To tell you the truth, she was a nervous wreck but because of the veil, it was hard to see her facial expression or any expressions. 


Decthalia wanted to avoid Puzith as much as possible because she knew she would tremble in front of him. She had a good and tight grip on the young man's sleeve because she was as scared as can be and plus the atmosphere here is very different than the one back at home. This one is very heavy and she feels that it's weighing her down but she can't pass out now, it would look bad so she sucked it in and forgot all about it so that she wouldn't have to think about passing out since she began to get lightheaded.  @tane5naoki 

 

[tane5naoki]

Her Escort suddenly tightened his grip on her arm, and said, "Oh, I don't think that Lord Puzith would like that, My Lady." He lead her out towards the dancefloor, "I think a dance will help clear your head, and get you into a more lively mood." Sweat was visible on the brow of the escort, and his gaze began shifting back and forth, his nervousness became palpable as his hands began to shake.


Puzith watched from his perch. Everything was going according to his plan, and as he sat on the balcony, he felt a shifting in the curtains behind him as Merce approached him, followed by Flocien. "Are you prepared for your part in this tonight, Merce?" He said, his voice quiet and commanding.


"Yes, Lord." Was all she said, her voice flat and without emotion. "I have craved this night for so long, the taste is sweet on my tongue now that it is here."


"Just a bit longer, pet," He said, "You will be my bride no longer after tonight." Behind him, Flocien's mouth curled into a cruel sneer. "For now, we wait, let her have some fun, and then we shall have my fun."


The song's tempo picked up as the Escort led Decthalia to the floor, and with another flourishing bow, he began to perform the well-rehearsed steps, indicating that she should follow his lead.

 

[sprouhtt]

Decthalia titled her head to the side a bit when he told her that Puzith wouldn't like it if she had possibly wandered around. Decthalia didn't argue so she followed him towards the dance floor when he suggested a dance would help her ease up a bit. Decthalia was surprisingly quiet but it was normal for her to stay quiet since she rarely spoke if she was spoken to, she is a very obedient girl growing up because it's how her father raised her and she wouldn't want to disobey her father's wishes. Decthalia stayed close to her escort since she felt the tension in the room rise and certainly when they began to look at her from head to toe. Whispers could be heard throughout the room as she walked towards the dancefloor. 


"How is he like?" Decthalia asked her escort as she looked at him but he couldn't see her face through the veil which was a bit disappointing. Decthalia liked the fact that she got to wear the veil all the time when out in public because sometimes she wouldn't need to make eye contact with the person she was talking to. She was never good with making eye contact since she felt as if everyone intimidated her from where she stood but sometimes it was the other way around. "Is he as cruel as they say?" She added as her grip tightened even more on the escorts hand when they began doing a simple dance that wasn't hard for her to learn since they were only going to the side twice and then back once. @tane5naoki

 

[tane5naoki]

The Escort shot a look up to the balcony he knew his lord to be hiding in. It was obscured from vision, a spell keeping it that way, but he could feel the malevolent presence of Lord Puzith. "Cruelty is a mark of pride for a Demon Lord. It is a tenant they live their life by, a measure of their power and expected of them by all other monsters in their hoard. A demon without cruelty is a demon without power." He dodged the answer while providing her with all the information he felt he could divulge. 


"Just know, he will keep his word, and through your marriage, your people's lives will be restored as wealthy traders, and you need not concern yourself with any further thoughts on your fiance." He had given the exact speech, not a year earlier, to Merce, the current wife of Puzith. She had been so full of hope, and so sure her beauty could charm the Demon Lord's heart and turn him from his wicked ways.


The Music's tempo increased again, and those on the dancefloor began to move more urgently, keeping time with the music. Grunts could be heard as a few members struggled to keep time, while a look of concentration passed over the other's faces as they tried not to be the first to falter.

 

[sprouhtt]

Decthalia let out a slight sigh as he told her that. She didn't know what to do at this point, whether she should be scared or petrified at what's to come ahead in the future. Decthalia didn't like that she was forced into this marriage but when she saw that her people were suffering she had no other way to go. Her eyes began to fill with salty tears but she kept her mouth shut from crying so loudly so she had a few sniffles here and there but they couldn't be heard since the music grew louder as well as the tempo of the song went faster. She wasn't so worried about her makeup getting ruined since she didn't wear any, which is one of the reasons why most of the women envied her. 


"I understand." She told him as she went with the beat of the song before she couldn't keep up and accidently stepped on his foot. "I am very sorry, I am not much of a dancer," Decthalia said to him and she felt bad so she let go of his hand and stepped back as she waited for his reaction. Decthalia began to wonder when this 'ceremony' was going to begin. 

 

[tane5naoki]

A great laugh echoed throughout the hall as Decthalia stepped on the escort's foot. He turned white as a sheet and backed away from you, with an accusatory glare. "You've killed me," He says simply as a great, black mist fills the area around him.


"I was very clear," A disembodied voice whispers in the hall, "The first to break the dance, would feel my wrath."


"My Lord Puzith, it wasn't my fault, the human couldn't keep up, I tried my best...!" He curled into a ball, whimpering, "I've served you loyally for so long my Lord!"


"I know, which is why this feels so...sweet." At the last word a man appeared in the mist and grabbed the Escort by the hair and pulled him off the floor. The Escort's shape shifted as he tried to get away, but the thin hands that held him didn't allow him to go anywhere. The trapped demon, as Decthalia would now be learning was what the escort was, began to dissolve into a grey mist as he struggled but to no avail. The man behind him began to inhale, and the essence of the Escort began to be sucked into the man's mouth. Once he had consumed the lesser demon, the man, wreathed in black smoke, smiled and said, "Welcome, pet." To Decthalia, "Let us remove your veil, I would look upon your face and see what I have been sent."

 

[sprouhtt]

Decthalia gasped as she watched him get angry for her stepping on his foot on accident. She was quick to apologize but as soon as she heard the Escort pleading for his master to have mercy on him, she felt bad that his life was going to be taken for something so petty as to stepping on his foot and breaking the tempo of the moving. She put her hand underneath the veil and covered her mouth from screaming at the sight that she saw. As he moved towards her she shook from where she was standing and she was so petrified that the same thing would happen to her if she didn't do what he wanted her to. Decthalia wasn't prepared for this at all nor did she like the atmosphere that she caused.


As soon as he spoke to her she trembled even more and didn't know what to do at all and running was not an option at this point. From then and there she knew her father hated her, because if he didn't hate her he wouldn't have forced her into this marriage of horror. Decthalia said nothing and she did as she was told, she removed her veil for him to see. When her face was uncovered it was still pure and beautiful as the day she was born but she had tear stains running from her eyes down to her cheek. @tane5naoki

 

[tane5naoki]

A grin crept across Puzith's face, and his eyes filled with lust as he looked upon her. "Oh." He said simply, "How well they heeded my demands." He said. He stepped forward, towards Decthalia with a slow, measured gait, taking in the sight of her. "I have always requested the 'most beautiful' woman in the community for my brides since I began my practices so many years ago. Often I am sent the least plain or the most important man's daughter. I have even been sent women already married, and children, once a boy in a wig, for I had grown over zealous and my minions accidentally killed all of the females in the village."


He reached her, his slow, mesmerizing voice filling the room and causing the other party goers to sway and heed him. No one but the Lord moved from where they stood. "Never before have I been sent a woman who was truly the Most Beautiful, until this day. Make note of this, Flocien. For their obedience, we leave this mountain range forthwith. Not a second to spare, recall my armies, and remove the curse. Within a fortnight, they will have everything they once possessed in double measure, have my sorcerers see to it my blessings in this community are to last 1,000 years, even if I am to die and my castle blows away into dust."


With a single, gentle finger, Puzith traces the outline of her jaw, his eyes greedily drinking in her features. With a whisper, he leans in, and says, "What other secrets are you hiding from me, Decthalia." His finger slips downward and lingers on her throat before plummeting towards her chest.

 

[sprouhtt]

Decthalia stayed still and she looked at the other party goers in the room and felt the atmosphere change dramatically. All eyes were on her and the lord,"Who is Florcien?" She asked him in a curious tone of voice but softly. She was very soft-spoken and hardly raised her voice at other people which is why she has been so obedient throughout the years. Decthalia blushed and she could already feel her face turning a bright red and feeling warm to the touch. Decthalia tried to stay calm so she began to think of other things but even those things led to this horrible nightmare that is a reality for her. 


His voice felt very reassuring now but she knew it was only a cover up for the real thing. She knew what his true colors were the minute he came to talk to her but she did like how he was going to remove the curse on her people. She lowered her head a bit as a sign of thanks for complimenting her on her beauty but her lips didn't seem to move nor quiver one bit. It was as if they were sewn together by her fears. 


A few moments later she felt his cold finger tracing the outline of her jaw before he carelessly and slowly moves his finger down to her chest. Decthalia grew extremely red since this would be the first time in her whole entire existence that someone was touching her so freely and caressing every part and feature of her body. She saw the crazy look in his eyes, the look of lust it was and even an inexperienced innocent girl like Decthalia could spot that out. 


She heard whispers from the crowd and not to mention the taunting stares as well and she grew rather uncomfortable. Without thinking her hand made contact with his and she slapped it away from her chest,"Just because I am yours now does not mean you can touch me so freely in public." Decthalia said as the whispers in the room turned into gasps and slight laughter as they laughed at her feeling uncomfortable and the whole touching situation.  @tane5naoki 

 

[tane5naoki]

His hand slapped away, Puzith's eyes flashed red in anger for a split second before he regained his composure. "With spirit." He said, his tone implying boredom, "I do so love a challenge. It'll be more fun to break your soul that way, beloved." He lifted his hand and dismissed the magic on the hall. A gust of wind tore through the building and the candles and torches lighting the ball were snuffed out, all at once, leaving Decthalia in the darkness.


As her eyes adjusted, it would reveal that she was no longer surrounded by party goers, and the hall was no longer filled with the sounds and smells of a party. It was all replaced by the smell of decay and rot, as the inhabitants of the halls were revealed to be corpses, decomposing bodies with glowing red eyes. There were people all around she would recognize, by what was left of their faces, or the clothes they had died in. They were the people of her town, being used as playthings by the Demon Lord's lackeys. 


"Now, you will learn I will do as I please with you when I please. This is my castle, and your beauty is no so enchanting that I forget my place." He smiles and took a step back, the corpses began to shamble towards Decthalia, cutting off the exits and reaching for her with their decaying flesh.

 

[sprouhtt]

Decthalia froze for a moment as his eyes turned into a bright red color and she could see the anger in his eyes. Decthalia didn't regret her actions at all because she knew that was way out of her comfort zone but another part of her knew that was going to be expected later on in the future. She felt a cold, spine-chilling breeze blow on her as the lights went out within seconds before she could even blink. She knew something bad was to come when she saw the crowd disappearing as soon as the lights went out.


Her nostrils soon began to fill with the scent of decay and death, death was surrounding her and slowly eating her up inside as her fears grew more and more. When she looked around and tried to focus her eyes on something she saw bodies, tons of bodies surrounding her. Some were of faces she recognized from the castle but others she didn't know who they were but she had a feeling that these poor innocent people were the ones who were reported missing as the weeks went by. 


As he begins to let the darkness take him she no longer can make sight of him anymore,"Is this some kind of joke?!" She whimpered softly to herself as she turned around dramatically each time the corpses began to crawl towards her. "Please! Get away from me!" She exclaimed as she leaped over one of the moving bodies that were on the floor. Their faces were horrifying and unpleasant to the eyes so she tried to look away,"I don't want to hurt you...get away from me please." Decthalia said as she was trying to leap over them but the dress made it hard for her and so it was bringing her down until one of the corpses got a good grip on her ankle and she fell face first. Decthalia felt scared so she kicked it away from her but before she could get up more and more of them began to pull on her ankle and dress to drag her towards them. She began on kicking and screaming, the fear already being let out, she knew this was the day she was going to die. 


"PLEASE!! HELP ME," she shrieked as she looked back and saw more of them crawling towards her as their gritty dirt fingers began to touch her arm and more of them grabbed onto her ankle. Decthalia covered her head on the floor with both of her arms as she cried her eyes out, but not once did she scream the words 'I'm sorry,' because she believed what she did was right. 


@tane5naoki

 

[tane5naoki]

The Demon Court watched in abject fascination at the scene below them, each of them with contemptuous grins adorning their faces. No help would come for her this night, nor the nights to come. Watching their Lord use his brides as playthings was one of the best perks of the job.


Puzith stood by, letting the lowest of his demons terrorize his bride. They knew not to harm her flesh, but he didn't care about the rest. Their dirty fingers dug into the fabric of her dress and began to pull great sections of it away, revealing the layers underneath. Moans and screams filled his great hall and filled Puzith with a warm sense of accomplishment. She was stronger than the rest, and this would be the most fun he had with a bride in more than a hundred years, he could feel it.


"Decthalia," He chided as she screamed for help. "Who do you think is going to come and save you, Beloved?" He laughed above the noises of the rest of the hall. The demons attacking her dispersed at the sound of his laughter, fearing for their lives. She was alone now, more than ever, sitting, half-clothed, in the middle of the decaying ballroom. "I'm the only one here with the power to preserve you. You will never disrespect me again, will you?"

 

[sprouhtt]

Decthalia could feel their fingers tearing apart her beautiful dress, and not to mention leaving her half dressed on the floor. She didn't want to look at their decaying faces so she just stayed in the same position crying and screaming in fear. Decthalia didn't know why he was doing this to her and at that moment she finally came to the understanding of how she was an unlucky woman with bad luck. Decthalia hardly knew the man but the rumors that she heard were true and now that she has experienced half of the horror, she wants no part of it. But she knows that if she turns her back now he will go back to terrorizing her kingdom. This was not going to be the fairy-tale ending that she was hoping for. 


Decthalia heard a voice that called to her and she knew that it was Puzith because he still had that soft tone of voice.Decthalia began to see all of the demons/corpses leaving her there with her torn up dress as she lifts her face from the floor and looks around but she doesn't see Puzith.  "If I am your 'beloved' then why would you do this to me?" She asked him. Decthalia knew what she did was right but she really didn't want to go through this again,"I will not disobey you." Decthalia softly said as she got up from the floor. @tane5naoki

 

[tane5naoki]

"I know." Puzith purred, stepping forward and offering her is hand. The illusion to the hall was replaced and the decorations and light reappeared. The lowest demons returned to their previous appearance of party-goers. The music began again, a brash cacophony of drums, trumpets, and a piano echoed through the hall. He ignored her first question as he waited.


"Tsk," Puzith clicked his teeth together as he looked over his bride. "This won't do, now your dress is ruined. How are we to wed if you're clothing is torn to shreds?" He clapped his hands together. "Merce, please take my Beloved to your chambers and find something more...suitable for her. I will stay and enjoy the music with my minions."


The mousy woman standing on Puzith's hidden balcony suddenly appeared beside them in a cloud of black smoke. She didn't seem at all perturbed by her sudden appearance. "It would be my pleasure, my Lov-Lord. My Lord." She motioned for Decthalia to follow her.

 

[sprouhtt]

Decthalia had streams of tears running down her rosy cheeks. She could feel her cheeks becoming very warm, she wanted to continue to cry but she hated crying because it showed how weak she was to others if she did. Decthalia tried to dry the tears from her face as she looked up at Puzith but then brought her head back down when she looked how how hideous her dress has turned out to be. Decthalia went into shock and it broke her heart that this dress had to be ruined by Puzith. "Maybe you should have thought about that before you sent your un-dead upon me," she muttered as she got up.


Decthalia was taken back by surprise when she saw a very beautiful lady appearing near her her husband to be. Decthalia was very out of place right now but she could sworn that the woman was going to say "My love," instead of "My Lord." But she paid no attention to it, or at least tried not to think about it but there were swarms of thoughts coming to mind.


Decthalia lowered her head and waited for her to start walking so that she could follow her. Decthalia didn't like this at all, did her father know that it would be like this? This made Decthalia angry and she began to question whether her father loved her enough, because if he did, he wouldn't have sent her off to marry this cruel man.


@tane5naoki

 

[tane5naoki]

Merce lead Decthalia through the castle, pausing only to pick up a hooded lantern from the wall and light it with practiced ease using a candle. She kept a hurried pace, trying to return to Puzith as quickly as possible.

"Walk faster m'lady." She chided, turning her head to look at Decthalia with her pale blue eyes. "Your future husband does not like to be made to wait."

She lead her to a set of double doors, small and hidden away in an alcove between two pillars. "This is the suite for Puzith's bride. It is warded so that none but his brides may enter, unless you invite someone else in...but I caution you not to make a habit of inviting others into your chambers. Puzith is a jealous being."

The suite was spacious, but sparse. The sitting room had a small fireplace with a rocking chair next to the hearth and a couch with a broken leg that sat on the floor in ruins. The room was through a doorway to the right, with a single feather mattress on the floor with a stack of books next to it. A small room attached to her bedroom was where she could relieve herself. A sad little wardrobe sat in the room, opposite of the bed, and Merce opened it and within was a small collection of dresses, far more revealing than the one she came in.

"He likes to see our flesh. Always give him what he wants, it is easier that way."

sprouhtt