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.

Ducan's p.o.v

I stood surrounded by a lot of humans who had come out of their houses to look at me like I was some rare priced jewel.

The so-called chief stood next to the warriors and a lady facing me.

My hand was clenched in fists and I felt disgusted by them. I couldn't help but remember how their kind brutally murdered my parents.

"Judging by the rich fur and expensive kimono you are putting on, you must be a lord, right." The chief asked as I chuckled softly then cleared my throat.

"I won't beat around the bush because I see no reason to entertain you pests." I answered seriously.

"Pests!" He exclaimed.

"Yes, so listen carefully. I am The demon king and I am here to grant you rain and healing. In exchange I want your daughter as my bride." I said simply.

The man gave me a sympathetic look before whispering something to the young lady next to him.

"I'm so sorry to say this my Lord, but my husband is asking you to leave." The young lady said as I raised a brow.

Husband?

She was just a young maiden and yet she was already married! How could she marry such an old man?

Why were humans so foolish? I wondered.

"He looks like a lord but in truth he is insane. I don't have a daughter but a son, insane lord." He mocked, annoying me.

"Old man, I won't repeat myself." I said seriously.

He gritted his teeth then pointed a finger at me.

"Kick him out of my village!" He exclaimed as the warriors ran towards me with arrows and swords.

"Stupid move." I whispered then raised my left hand, freezing their bodies to ice.

"Demon!" One screamed as they all began to run away.

"Call the priest now!" The chief called out then ran into his house as his wife followed behind.

I angrily disappeared and appeared in front of him, before he could hide himself in the wardrobe.

"Come with me." I spat then grabbed him by the collar dragging him outside.

"Please let my husband go!" The lady pleaded behind me.

I ignored her and went to stand at the center of the village. As soon as the humans saw their chief in my grip they began coming back slowly.

"Let me go, you demon. Let go while I'm still asking nicely. If the priest comes here with the holy sword, he will drive it through your heart as they did back then to that demon lord who captured and forced himself on our blessed maiden." He spat and in that moment my fangs and claws came out.

I was furious and I couldn't contain myself. How dare he, a lowly insect, say such horrible words about my father! He did not deserve to live.

I turned in a split second sinking my teeth into his neck and drinking a mouth full of his blood as his body went pale and limp in my hand. The saliva demons spat out whenever they were angry was toxic to humans. One bite at the human's flesh resulted in an instant breakdown of the nervous system. But I was different, one bite in my angry state sucked the living soul out of their flesh, their lifespan adding to my very own.

A loud scream got my attention, I let go of his body then looked up and came face to face with the child I had met.

A clay pot of herbs was shattered on the ground and she was shaking badly in fear with her eyes widened, while her mother held her shoulder with tears rolling down her cheeks.

I looked at my hands and noticed the dark smoke coming from it. I sighed softly knowing my form wasn't human, anymore but demon.

The little girl was nowhere to be seen at first so I thought nothing of her, but now that she was here witnessing me suck her father's life out, I felt uneasy.

I was about to take a step forward when she picked up a sharp piece of clay and pointed it at me.

"Stay where you are, you demon monster!" She screamed in a cracked voice.

The mother quickly went down to her knees and put her hands together in a pleading gesture.

"Please spare my son." She sobbed.

I looked around and noticed how everyone was looking at me in fear.

I looked at the lady then raised my hand as a cloth shaped like a page appeared. A binding spell was Written on it, in my language, so no one could read it, in human terms it was a contract.

"Your daughter shall step forward and press her hand on this piece of cloth. Failure to do so, I will wipe out your entire village and leave out your daughter to live a miserable life alone blaming herself for your deaths. But if she does as I have ordered, I will grant this village rain and healing then leave you in peace. I will then return to claim your daughter for myself once she reaches a marriageable age." I said as they began to whisper.

"Daughter, what does he mean?" One human asked.

"I can't sacrifice my only daughter, please have mercy." She sobbed.

"Ah, humans. Always selfish." I whispered then raised my hand to kill only a few as an example, when the girl took a step forward.

"Wait." She said seriously.

I looked at her, surprised at how bold she was acting.

"I'll do it." She said as her mother grabbed her hand, shaking it a few times.

"No, Eleanor you can't." The lady sobbed.

"Eleanor? Is she truly a girl?" The other human asked loudly.

I ignored the ruckus and grabbed the cloth in my hand.

"Step forward." I ordered.

She took in a deep breath and did as I had ordered.

"Extend your arm towards me and show me your palm." I instructed.

She breathed out then did.

I went down to my knee and pressed my claw on her palm.

"Deep breath." I whispered before making a small cut.

The girl stood still without making a sound or flinching.

When her blood dripped on the cloth it vanished.

I stood up with a smirk knowing how the contract was finally sealed.

"Now that it's done, I'll fulfill part of my bargain." I whispered softly then raised both of my hands as rain clouds began to gather.

It wasn't hard healing the sick humans and making it rain. After all, all it required was weak magic.

Eleanor's p.o.v

"Won't you rest Eleanor?" Victor, my best friend and crush, asked seriously.

"Evil knows no rest." I answered in a labored breath then drew my bow and arrow closing one eye to get an accurate hit on the board.

"You have been training for the past ten years." He said as I dropped the bow and arrow on the ground with a glare.

"You have been doing that too, so don't make it sound as if I'm the only one doing my best to always stay fit and very well prepared." I spat.

"I didn't mean that, you know. It's good that you are prepared and always training, but I also think you are doing a little too much." He said annoying me.

As if him being good looking wasn't enough, he was now getting my attention with his voice only to distract me.

"Training for ten years isn't enough. You know that I have to avenge my father's death and kill the demon king." I answered with detest.

"I know and believe me when I say that I understand. Not only did he kill our chief, he exposed your secret and most people hated you and your mother for lying to them. But now that your mother is married to your father's brother who was her past lover, she is happy."

"Your uncle is a good chief, and your younger brother his son will soon take over when he reaches the age of eighteen. That's like in the next eight years to come, it's not that far. so everything is going to be just fine. It's not a bad idea to relax once in a while." He said then winked at me.

I smiled and quickly lowered my gaze to the ground. My cheeks were heating up and I felt shy. He truly was a good looking man. He had bright green eyes, long black hair and he was tall, taller than me. His built was amazing too.

"On a serious note though, you need to rest." He said softly.

I sighed then shook my head and walked past him.

No way was I ever going to rest. Since the passing of my father I began training with the warriors of our village and grew strong. I knew how to weld a sword and how to shoot an arrow.

In my cupboard was a bottle of holy water prayed for and anointed by the high priest of the capital city. I was going to destroy the Demon king even if it meant my own death.

I went into the house and gasped quickly, then covered my eyes. My mother was on my step father's lap making out with him.

It was usually like this and I was getting upset with her actions. She was never like this with my late father. Even the day he had passed away she cried in front of the people but once we were all alone, she wiped off her tears and went into her bedroom to smoke her pipe.

When my uncle came forward to take over the Chief positions, she was so excited because she knew he would take her as his wife to continue my father's lineage.

People also began to call her names but that seemed to un-faze her. My younger brother was soon born and he became my mother's favorite as well as the jewel of my family. Since he was a boy, he was the rightful successor to the chieftain throne. He was brave and loved by almost everyone, he did no wrong in their eyes and he was who most women of our village and capital wanted to get as a husband.

It was still funny how no one saw his arrogance and rudeness. He was prideful and I hated him a lot because whenever we were alone he would try to make a move on me and I found it disgusting.

"Cover up for the love of gods." I whispered softly.

"Just walk past us as if you saw nothing." My mother answered in what sounded like a moan.

I frowned then bit my lower lip. She was no longer the mother that comforted me whenever I was lonely and assured me she would never hand me over to the Demon king. She was a mother who wanted nothing to do with me and cared less.

"Mother, I'm hungry." Zara's voice called from outside.

I dropped my hand and watched as my mother quickly stood up and fixed her long dress while my step father pulled up his pants and fixed his clothes.

"You are hungry my young chief? Don't worry, mother has prepared something good for you." She said immediately he walked in.

He paused when he reached where I stood and looked at me from head to toe with a smirk.

"Mother, why don't you let me have my sister for a wife or at least a concubine? You said the demon king wants her for a bride because she is a blessed maiden right? If that's the case then why can't you offer her to me when I reach a marriageable age?' He asked as I glared at him.

"For a ten year old you are really disgusting." I spat.

"You little whore, shut your mouth!" my step father warned on top of his voice.

"Wife, see her disrespect." He complained.

She angrily walked to where I was and grabbed my hand dragging me to my room.

"What's wrong with you!" She exclaimed once we were all alone in my room.

"No mother, what is wrong with you?. Are you going to let that ten year old child speak that way to me?" I asked seriously.

"Is it his fault that he wants to suck on these!" She exclaimed as she touched my breast, roughly hurting me.

"Is it his fault that he wants to be the first man to drive his manhood into your untouched womanhood?" She asked, making me feel nauseated.

"You and those bastards are sick in the head!" I yelled on top of my voice as she raised her hand and slapped me across the cheek.

I stood there not flinching or reacting. Once in a while when she was furious with me she raised her hand. At first I used to cry, not because of the pain but because of the disbelief and sadness over her actions. But now I was so used to her that it didn't come as a surprise.

"If the demon king never comes to take you. You will be your brother's concubine. You want it or not." She said then stormed out of the room.