Kalika with her golden lox and favorite purple dress, stood tall in the dungeon hall overlooking her adopted sister Lillian. "Don't worry Lily. I'm sure you'll be forgiven." Kalika said.
Her very smile and words had brought comfort to Lillian, in what she saw as an otherwise grim point of her life.
Lillian grabbed the bars of her prison and looked upon Kalika with admiration. And despite the apparent darkness that surrounded them, Lillian's beauty still shined through the dirty prisoner's clothes with her brown-hair and glistening blue-eyes.
Lillian smiled much more brightly. "Thank you, Kalika."
********
THUD
Cheers filled the air as Lillian's head fell hard on the pavement. It was a nightmare brought into reality, and there was nothing that Lillian could do. She could no longer feel her arms, her legs, her very body. She no longer had any control of herself and understood that she would soon be dead.
"Why? How could they?" She thought with a whimper.
Lillian's vision began to blur as memories of her entire life flashed before her eyes, wondering what she did wrong. "Father… Grimwald… Leo…. Kalika… What did I do to deserve this… I just wanted… Everyone to be happy…"
A darkness consumed Lillian's entire vision, replacing it with nothingness.
Unexpectedly, her senses of life began to return one after another.
She Inhaled, taking in the smoldering smoke. The sounds of an unfamiliar man's deathly laughter, followed by her sense to feel the air blowing gently around her.
"Is this... Reincarnation?" She questioned. She felt renewed with vigor and immediately opened her eyes. She took in a familiar yet new surroundings, that she didn't expects to see.
Before her lay the very center of her countries capital she was just executed in. It was littered with bodies of her people, both civilian and guards alike. And to her surprise, there were also red and blue demons with spears and swords at the ready to kill any person that dared retaliate.
Still confused, she continued to look around with her gaze quickly shifting to the balcony where Kalika, her father and her ex-fiancé Grimwald still stood.
Lillian cocked her head, feeling something missing. She didn't know how to feel. "Huh?"
"You monster!" Lillian glanced over to her father, Julian, who shouted, clearly angered.
"Eheheheh… Now that's no way to thank the demon that resurrected your daughter, now, is it?" The demon King, Lucius, questioned.
Lillian glanced to her left, finding a tall fit demon with blue skin, black horns that curved from the front of his head, and sleek black hair. His yellows eyes were glued directly at the balcony as he present an amused smile, plastered on his face.
"I'm… Alive?" Lillian uttered.
Still a little confused, Lillian turned to look down at her hands, finding them to now be stained cold blue like the demon next to her. She then moved on to feel her head and to her complete shock, should found a set of newly grown horns on her.
"Wha-what's going on!?" Her heart started to pound. "This can't be real. Can it?"
She felt a dangerous presence approaching her from her behind along with a familiar voice arose.
"I'm sorry milady, but I refuse to let your honor be tarnished!" A heavily armored knight spoke.
"L-Leo!??" Lillian froze, shocked by this unprovoked attack. Just as she was about to speak up, she felt a strange part of her body reach out to him. Before she realized it, a sensation of something wet and slimy arose as a tail struck through Captain Leo's head.
Although shaken, she found herself in control of this tail and pulled it from the already bloodied captain's head. She stroked it, confirming that the tail belonged to her.
With a steady and calm heart, she gazed back somberly at the now dead Leo. "I-I'm sorry Captain… You startled me."
"Do I really feel nothing for Leo? All those year's... All those times we spent together... Why can't I feel anything for him?"
"Heh, What a foolish man. Against a demon fed my blood, he stood no chance." Lucius said.
"A-a demon?" Lillian, hearing his words, looked upon Captain Leo's body more bitterly. "But I'm-"
Suddenly, she was hit by a fireball.
Lillian was instantly consumed with fire the burnt through her prison clothes. But to her own surprise the fire simply felt warm and fizzled out just as quickly as it came.
She glanced back to the balcony and found the perpetrator to be Grimwald. His gaze sharpened at her as he was now posed and ready to jump down with his sword in his hand.
"N-no." Lillian reached out both hands to him to push him back with her wind magic. But a fear rose from deep inside. " Please, Don't! I don't want this!"
"Gri-" A deadly burst of wind erupted just behind Grimwald, instantly decapitated him. The next thing she knew, she was holding Grimwald's head.
Her lips now trembled, Shocked by her overwhelming power. "I-I didn't mean to-" She stopped as she saw his confused expression.
Understanding that he didn't have long to live, she said her last words to him. "I… I'm sorry Grim, it looks like… this is where we part ways…" Lillian forced a bittersweet smile. "I'll always cherish the short time we spent together while I was still human…"
With tears now running down her face, she embraced Grimwald in a kiss they were never able to have. Not long after the light from his eyes left, All feelings she once had for him, vanished like the wind.
Lillian hugged the head close to her chest a little while longer, not wanting to believe the reality she now found herself in. "Why... Is this happening to me...?" Smoldering flames engulfed Grimwald's head, it quickly intensified as thoughts of Kalika flashed in her mind.
"I just wanted... Everyone to be happy... Kalika... Father-" Grimwald's head broke away into ash, Spilling to the ground.
Not long after Kalika's scream was heard. Her rage now boiled over, as she thought of Kalika's fake smile and her father's cold demeanor as she was executed.
It felt like a cruel punishment beyond even her own comprehension.
"Oh?" The Demon King looked back at Lillian with more interest. To his surprise Lillian sprouted demon wings from her back and launched herself towards the balcony.
As she landed atop the balcony railing, her wings retreated back into her body. An intense anger built up within her, but just as raised her hand to release her full fury, Kalika confessed.
"No… I can't do it… I don't have magic… I… I can't use holy magic… or fire magic… or any other kind of magic. I'm a fraud. A fraud who can't use magic." Kalika's last statement hit Julian hard as he saw Kalika cry from this sudden confession.
"No. you're just lying to yoursel-." Julian stopped himself for a moment. "I can't lose both my cherished daughters."
"F-father?" Kalika's looked on in surprised by Julian's words.
Lillian, who watched, soften her gaze, remembering the simpler times in her life in their fractured family. Her feelings for those times were now numb, but it still held a special place in her heart.
As she glanced back around she saw the different demons watching her. She then looked back to her hand. "I-I'm... A monster..."
Lillian's hands drooped and she bit her lip. "Now... I'm an enemy of God now..."
Digging back her resolve, she pointed her finger back to her father. "I'm sorry father, But this is where we must part ways."
"What have I done...?" Julian said.
Just as Kalika finally noticed Lillian, Lillian flick of her finger and sent a blinding flurry of wind into the sky, tearing Julian to shreds. And like an explosion, it sent tiny pieces of him into the air. and blood onto the two sisters
Kalika looked on, horrified by what she just witnessed. Seeing the distress, Lillian gave a cruel jest, but this did very little to comfort Kalika as she sat frozen in place.
Not wanting to wait around, Lillian jumped from the balcony and approach Kalika. As she did, she attempted to mask her true mix of emotions with a smile, just as Kalika did for her.
Her Rage. Her regret. Her sadness. Even her hatred that felt overwhelming to her. She bottled them up the best she could and crouched to meet Kalika's green eyes.
Kalika whimpered, still stun locked in place as she looked at Lillian in horror. She couldn't blame her, after all, she'd be just as shocked if the same happened to Kalika.
Lillian placed two of her fingers on Kalika's cheek. "It's okay Kalika. It'll be over soon... Even though I'm no longer human… And as much as I hate you right now… You're still my family. So, I'll make this quick."
Lillian cocked her head, giving a more comforting smile. "Thank you, Kalika. For being my sister."
With a flick of her fingers, Lillian forcefully snapped Kalika's neck. her body instantly became limp, leaving Lillian to watched on somberly as the light faded from her sister's eyes.
"Now... I'm the only one left.... And now... I'm all... Alone..."
Lillian stayed crouched, staring at her dead adopted sister in silence. her thoughts slowly became a scrambled mess. Everyone she ever cared for were now dead.
"I'm.... All alone... A-ands all my fault... No!"
"It's because of these demons… " A rage foamed back into Lillian. "I-I'll k-"
"I DON'T WANT TO DIE!!" Kalika suddenly interrupted.
Lillian was left to look on in shock as Kalika's face was instantly repositioned back on her fingers. The light had returned to her terrified eyes, leaving her completely befuddled. "Ho-how is she…?"
Lillian noticed Kalika's dumbfounded expression as well. Seeing this, she blurted out a laugh.
"This is impossible." She thought. "It must be going mad. Let me rid myself of this visage before I lose myself."
Lillian got up, separating herself from Kalika. She then sat herself on the balcony rail, amused, believing that her mind was playing tricks on her.
Just as Kalika was uttering something, Lillian snapped her finger sending an eruption of fire to burn Kalika to ash. Kalika's screams echoes throughout the capital center, unnerving the citizens and guards that were still alive.
After a while her screams subsided and Lillian watched on, as Kalika became a charred husk. And by some strange miracle, her dress although burnt up, was mostly still intact.
But to Lillian's shock, Kalika's flesh and skin returned from its charry state to back from before she was even burned alive.
Lillian held her mouth in disbelief. "T-there's no way! H-how is she... reviving!?"
Kalika, seeing herself more exposed, quickly covered herself as she whined about her dress.
Lillian watching couldn't help but blush. A wave of relief washed over her and joy sprung forth. Whether by some intervention by God Cassell himself or some other means, Kalika was still alive.
"Th-thank God," Lillian said.
To ensure she wasn't going crazy, and with pure giddiness, she killed Kalika again. Like before she again revive.
She then killed again, and again, and again, and again, and again! "Sh-she can't die… She can't die. She can't die! SHE CAN'T DIE!!"
Lillian slipped into a manic laughter reveling in the pure joy of this new reality she was in as she continued to brutally kill her adopted sister. The very sister that betrayed her. That deceived their father. That lied to their people.
Even as she heard the roars and the terrified screams of civilians now getting slaughtered, she couldn't help but continue in her uncontrollable frenzy against Kalika. She slowly felt a sort of pleasure from fulfilling a dark desire that even she never knew of.
Even as the Demon King arrived, to urge her to stop, she ignored him and continued the onslaught. She continued on kill after kill until Kalika was finally able to urge Lillian to stop.
Uncontrollable tears streamed down Kalika's face as she apologized and begged for mercy. All the while, Lillian could only look upon her now weeping sister, lovingly.
"[At that time, I wasn't sure if God Cassell had truly intervened in that moment or if I was in some strange fantastical dream of my own making.]"
********
"[To be honest I didn't care because I couldn't be happier. ]"
Lillian dropped a freshly pulled heart to the ground. She smiled at her adopted sister, Kalika, as she became paler, gasping for air. Her sister's blood rushed to the floor with her own reflection becoming visible.
It became another stark reminder of how much had changed. She could practically imagine her once normal human skin and brown hair. But now, even in the red pool she can see her cold blue skin and white hair.
"[My foolish sister was still alive....]"
She darted her red eyes back at her sister as Kalika finally took her last breath in the damp dungeon prison. As expected, the heart on the floor rolled back into its owner's chest. The blood receded back into the body from whence it came. And a deep gasping of breath returned.
Kalika was alive once more.
"[No matter how many times I killed her. and no matter many times I broke her... she was still here.]"
Unexpectedly, Lillian embraced Kalika in a hug.
Lillian could tell that Kalika was simply terrified. And she was okay with that.
"[She's the only family I have left, and the only thing this horrible world can't change... Even if it is fake...]"
********
Lillian wakes up within a shabby shed. "Huh?" A familiar scent of a home cooked stew filled the shed as an older gentleman prepared the meal over the fireplace. Looking around, she was alone with the man. "Oh yeah…"
Memories flashed of barely escaping alive from the Angel, Terrocht. The very angel that decimated the last city they conquered.
She remembers it like it was yesterday, the cold freezing Ice that bound her tight, freezing her very skin to a numbness she's never felt. She remembered Jala's and Azar betrayal very clearly, Then Azar's betrayal to Jala.
It was only thanks to a hidden power she had as the Saintess that they were alive now. A power she kept hidden even from her adopted sister Kalika.
The cabin door suddenly flew open, a burst of chilling air spreading throughout. The man jumped around, finding the Demon King, Lucius entering along with Jala, his General.
They entered in with a deer and rabbits, a plenty, laying them on the ground. Jala then slammed the door closed with his tail and wrapped it back around his waist.
"You're awake," Lucius noted.
Lillian sat back up from the shabby bed, greeting the two demons.
The older man hurried bowls of the stew and quickly laid them out on the table. Lucius didn't hesitate to grab a couple of bowls in his hand and pass one to Lillian. She took the bowl in hand and sipped down the piping hot stew, finding it sweeter than expected.
"Mm… What did you use for this?" She took a spoonful of the stew, grabbing a piece of cooked venison and red soft vegetables in it.
"I-it's a family recipe. We use vegetables imported from southern lands."
"The wildlands of man beasts?" Jala asked.
"Y-yes... There."
Lucius ate some of the stew too, agreeing on the taste. The man just sat idle, nervous as watched as they all calmly ate.
"The world keeps changing… It wasn't even ten years ago that going south meant you forfeited your life. Who knew there were other species of humans." Lillian noted.
"I wouldn't classify them as humans as much as beasts that can walk upright. In any case that's not important right now." Lucius said, setting his bowl.
She glanced at Lucius and gave a sigh. "You're right. We need to get back to the castle and deal with Rakon. But are you sure he'll be there?"
"Without a doubt, he'll want to make changes there which will take some time. Besides, he would enter the pit unless it was for the crowning ceremony. And that won't take place for another eight months or so."
Jala set his bowl down, finished with his stew. "What's more important is that we stay hidden. Rakon has many other demons under his beck and call, even the elders can't be trusted"
Lucius sneered. "Those old crones are always looking for more. When this whole mess is done, I'll have each and every one of them killed."
"By the way, Lucius… When you find your brother, what will you do to him?" Lillian asked.
"I don't know just yet. Since he's one of the last few that can create blood contracts this makes the choice of killing him more difficult to pass. Was there a punishment you had in mind?" Lucius asked.
"No, nothing that comes to mind. But as long as Kalika is fine, I really don't care what happens to him."
Lillian gazed at the stem more somberly. "She must still think I want to kill her and torture after memory was wiped away..."
"She's probably still confused but you can catch her up to speed once we've finished with everything is dealt with." Lucius said. "There's no point in worrying about what's already lost."
"I guess you're right."
"If you don't mind me asking..." Jala set his bowl down, finished with his stew. "Why does this girl matter to you?"
"They've had a brief and important history together, " Lucius spoke. "And that's all you need to know."
Despite being unconvinced, Jala, didn't pry any further. He watched as Lucius took his last sip of the stew with Lillian following behind.
"Would anyone like more from the stew?" the old man asked.
Everyone affirmed and more food were quickly served a new bowls.
"By the way, when shall we continue our journey?" Jala asked, getting his second serving.
"We'll rest for another day here then we'll continue to that entrance you talked about." Lucius took his bowl readily.
Understanding, Jala simply nodded. He then turned back to eat his second portion.
As Lillian received her second serving, her thoughts lingered Kalika. She couldn't shake feeling as if something bad happened. A strange unease churning in her as her ears started to filled with white noise.
"Is something wrong?' Lucius asked, concerned etched on his face. Lillian looked around, finding that everyone was now staring at her. She finally realized she split the bowl of stew in half and onto herself.
"N… No… I was just… lost in thought."
Lucius helped clean Lillian as the old man proceeded to get another bowl for Lillian.
Jala continued to eat in silence, turning his attention away from the scene.
"I'm sure Kalika is just fine…" Lillian thought. "When I get back, she'll probably give me some attitude." She joked to herself.
"I just have to wait a little bit longer..."
********
Deep within the Pit, inside of a well-hidden cave a blue demon woman opened her golden yellow eyes. Her hair was black with a few strains of white hair clearly visible. This woman was Kalika.
With a bored expression she got up, glancing around uncaringly. She felt the heft of the newly born horns on her head that curved to the back. She still wasn't used to it, but didn't complain.
She looked within a stony cave seeing a huge red demon and a human with ginger hair still slumbering in their own little cost places.
"Oh… I'm back here," she stated.
She glanced at her body with the prisoner's shirt that was gifted to her, looking more worn than before. She could tell that they could easily fall apart, leaving her bare once more if she wasn't careful.
Suddenly a rumble of the stomach was be heard. And a drool ran down her face. "Hungry…"
Noises from within the cave tunnels then erupted with the patter of small feet's and grunting. From within the tunnel, little green ugly men emerged with pointed ears and strange clubbed weapons in their clawed hands.
"Huh?" Kalika cocked her head, with curiosity.
"What are those things?"
Her eyes lit up as she caught glimpse of a strange looking rabbit in one of their hands. "Food..."