chapter 2

Ducan's p.o.v

I looked at the ancient witch calmly as she threw the stones covered in dry blood on the ground chanting a few words. When she looked to the heavens with her arms widely spread, her eyes rolled up and her voice got louder.

An invisible shield began to rise up and in front of me a large black door with ancient symbols appeared. When it opened, we all could hear the loud cries of humans mostly in my name.

"Search if their territory has a blessed maiden." I ordered.

She began chanting the words backwards while the dark bones and stones on the ground rolled in the symbolic circle that had different ancient letters and numbers drawn in it.

When she stopped her chanting she dropped her hands and looked at me seriously.

Her eyes were back to normal and the bones and stones were no longer moving.

"Only you Great Maou can be able to find her." She answered huskily.

"What do you mean by that?" I asked calmly.

"Your hand, demon king." She ordered as a few murmurs broke out.

"Know you place old witch!" The oldest general spat.

"Relax." I whispered softly then stood up from my throne and went to her with my hand extended.

"Good." She whispered and grabbed my hand, slitting my palm with her sharp nail in a split second.

I stood there without flinching or reacting as my blood dripped on the bones and stones. 

"Help." A child's voice called, as all the other voices coming from that door died out. 

"Help my father please. He pretends to be okay when he isn't. Why haven't you answered my prayers yet when I have been praying to you sincerely. Aren't you the gods of our land who chose me as your favoured maiden?. Why can't I do anything to help anyone?. Am I that useless or should I pray to the Demon king?" She asked, then sniffed and continued.

"Anyone be it heaven or hell, please hear my humble prayer. Save my family and people from this drought and these diseases, please." She cried out.

From her sentence I could sense how true she was to her words and her reference of "Save my people," meant she wasn't a lowly human servant.

"She is calling out to you, isn't she?" The ancient witch asked.

"Yes." I answered.

"Then go to her. No one here heard what she said, only you did." She said as I frowned deeply.

"Are you suggesting I go there to face my death?" I asked bitterly.

We all knew the humans possessed the holy sword.

Once the sword was driven in any demon's flesh, it drew out their power and its energy began eating them up from the inside, quickly ending their lives.

"The sword has been lost for a thousand years, no one possesses it as of now." She whispered.

I looked at the generals and noticed how they had a sympathetic look on their faces. When I looked at Ose he smiled at me and nodded.

"Go Great Maou, cross this door. It will lead you straight to where the girl is. No harm shall come to you until your safe return, you have my word." She said.

I swallowed hard then turned and walked to the door. I stopped at the entrance and looked at my healed hand then back at Ose for the last time.

If anything was to happen to me, I knew he was going to take over my position and govern my people. After all, I knew him a little too well.

"See you soon generals." I whispered then crossed the entrance.

I could see a lot of energy forces in different colors before a village appeared ahead of me. I stepped out of the energy field and stood on a small road. 

I was more conscious of the surroundings because I didn't want to come across many humans.

If I was to be triggered and angered, I would lose my human form and turn into my demon form which was hard to look at. Unlike the other demons who were dark fairies, dark pegasus, dark kelpie, fae hors, dark unicorn and centaur demon's ( etc ), I was different. Some of them had medium black wings and four eyes while some had long fangs and long tongues. 

I looked way more monstrous with horns on my forehead. 

Upon reaching the last stage of my wrath, I turned into a black dragon with large horns.

That transformation happened only once in my past, and that was when a few generals rebelled against me and tried to take away my throne. Since then I had been working on my anger and calmness.

I walked ahead and got closer to the entrance of the village. It was so quiet and no one came into sight.

I stopped walking when I heard a slight movement to my right coming from the bushes a few meters away from me.

"Come out." I ordered. With my heightened senses I could smell it was a human.

A small girl with black hair and dark blue eyes came out and approached me.

I was astonished at the amount of power and energy she possessed at a very young age. The girl surely was around twelve years old, but the aura and light coming from her was too powerful. Although she was dressed like a male child and her hair was cut short, I could smell her scent, she really was a girl.

"I didn't mean to hide." She whispered softly with tears forming in her eyes.

I sighed then got down on one knee to match her height.

"Tears only make you look weak, don't you know that?" I asked softly.

"No they do not. Tears only make you stronger my Lord." She answered.

"My Lord?" I asked with a raised brow.

"Yes, from your expensive outfit I can tell you are of higher status than I am, perhaps you came from the capital." She answered, confusing me.

"What do you mean by Status?" I asked.

"I'm the daughter of the chief although my father forced me to never tell anyone that I am a girl." She answered. 

I kept quiet for a second then decided to ask her a few more questions.

"If he told you that, then why did you tell me?" I asked.

"Because I don't think you are from here. Moreover, you seem kind." She answered.

"Really?" I asked, amazed at how foolish she was.

"Yes." She answered with a smile then rubbed her hand over her eyes.

"My Lord, why are your eyes red and your hair long and white?" She asked curiously.

"Because I'm not part of this kingdom and territory." I answered.

She burst out into laughter then stopped.

"You are funny my Lord." She whispered.

"You know what, I'm feeling generous today. What can I grant or give you?" I asked softly.

She kept quiet for a second then answered.

"My Lord, I ask for rain and healing for my people in this village." She answered.

For some reason I was expecting such an answer to an extent, that's why I wasn't shocked with her response.

"Okay, but I want you to tell me what you would want me to grant you. Not for your people but for yourself." I said.

She kept quiet for a few minutes then smiled.

"I wish for everyone to know that I am a girl and for them to accept me without judging or mocking me. I also wish to marry a loving and skillful husband when I grow up, because most people will be after what the gods have granted me." She answered in a whisper.

For a young child she truly was wise.

"Anyway see you soon my Lord, I have to go and gather herbs behind our village houses for the sick elders." She said then ran away before I could respond.

"What an interesting child." I muttered to myself as I walked to the village entrance.

I hated humans a lot and I never wanted to meet any of them, but after talking to that kid, I felt at ease and I found that disheartening.