The dark sun seemed to rise early that morning. Or it could just be that Andrus slept poorly the night before. Things kept bouncing around in his head-he couldn’t seem to shake the sounds of the music in his head and he yearned to hear more. As he moved around his small quarters, Andrus couldn’t help but keep looking over towards the drawer where he had hidden the music player. Perhaps if he knew more about it, more about what it was and how it was made…maybe then he could rest more easily. As Andrus looked at himself in the mirror he smirked-his black hair seemed to grow longer, making his pale flesh seem even whiter.

It had always been odd to him that he was pale fleshed while most Demons were either red fleshed or green. Andrus had also never grown claws, his fingers were rounded and while he had nails, they never seemed to grow very long. Most Demons used their claws in battle, but because he had none Andrus had had to come up with more inventive ways to battle his foes. He wore several straps underneath his clothing-two that crossed his chest, one the wound around his right thigh and one that wrapped around his left arm. Secured in these straps were his daggers, he took pride in them as he sharpened the blades almost nightly. He wore thirty blades in all-including his sword which he kept sheathed at his side.

Andrus groaned as he finished dressing and came to realize that he had to stop by the training center before going down. The Lord required each Torture Demon to have four training sessions with in their work week and Andrus was one short and today was the very last day. Andrus hated training-it bored him to watch his fellow Demons cackle at him, calling him the ‘Fleshling’ as they tried their hardest to best him. Andrus was lightening fast and deadly with his sword and blades, but anymore the fight in him was beginning to die. His boots clapped against the cobbles as Andrus walked down the street, his eyes darting around to make sure that no one was coming on him from behind.


“Andrus!” A female voice sounded out from behind him and as Andrus turned he smirked widely.

“Latvinia!” The girl had wrapped her green arms around Andrus’ neck and he spun her around, her purple hair flaring out behind her in a braided wave.

“Where have you been?! I’ve missed you.” The green girl asked as Andrus let her down and they both continued to walk down towards the training center.

“Busy…you’re brother seems to have forgotten to give you my messages…” Andrus rubbed a hand on the back of his neck, an uncomfortable stone landing in his stomach.

“Calvanis always forgets. What was the message?” Latvinia looked up at him and Andrus bit down on his lip ring. Lattie had loved Andrus since they were Demonglings, but to Andrus she would always be like a sister.

“They-uh-upped my ward count and so I’ve been busy…sorry.” Andrus smiled down at her, pulling open the great door to the training center to allow Lattie to go before him.

“Well you should have called yourself Andrus…” Lattie turned to him then, her red eyes blazing and her lips were pursed in aggravation as Andrus tried to train his eyes elsewhere.

“Sorry. You fighting today or did you come to watch me whip some Demons in to shape?” He asked playfully, eliciting a giggle from Lattie as they both entered the fighting ring.


The ring was massive and lined with red and black pads to ward off more Demon injuries. Weight benches were in one corner, but Andrus always avoided those-he was a slight Demon and preferred to stay that way as it helped him remain quick paced. Punching bags hung from the ceiling, but again Andrus avoided them-all he was ever concerned about was the sword masters that grouped together in the very middle. There was a small group today, thankfully, and as Andrus approached a hush fell over the room. His boots clicked against the floor, his leather jacket warm under these lights and with a quick motion it was off and in Lattie’s hands.


“Come to lose today wee Andrus…” One Demon called but Andrus just continued towards the middle, his crystal eyes meeting the red ones of his worst opponent. Moranis-The Lord’s personal guard, given that position only because Andrus had turned it down.

“No. I’ve come to teach all of you how it’s done…” Andrus moved his hand to hover over the handle of his sword as Moranis just smirked, his fangs hanging over his lip in what only he would think would be a terrifying manner.

“Ah fleshling…when will you realize you don’t belong down here?” Moranis spoke finally, his voice deep as Andrus just smirked and unsheathed his sword. He held it in one hand, pointing the tip of it towards Moranis as his smirk deepened.

“I may not seem to belong here, but I can definitely take any of you who think that you do…” To make a point Andrus spun around, his sword coming down on the one of the Demons who thought he had not seen his sneak attack coming.


It was five against one-Andrus being the one as red skinned Demons flew at him, but he was more than prepared. Moranis seemed to be hanging back, his sword still sheathed as he watched the action. Andrus dipped and dove, rolling on the floor as he avoided being hit by metal, and he sprang up on his feet, his sword coming down infront of him to block an attack. Andrus could hear Lattie squealing the corner, her red eyes flashing as she looked on. He rolled his eyes, making a mental note to talk to her as soon as possible-he wasn’t interested and she needed to move on. Finally Moranis stepped forward, all of his companions gasping for breath as Andrus just held his sword in his right hand, his head tilted as he smirked at the approaching Demon.


“Ready to fight your own battles Moranis?” His smirked deepened as Moranis ran at him, his sword raised and Andrus just spun out of the way, moving so that he was crouching low to the ground, the smirk never leaving his face.

“I will gut you fleshling…” Moranis hissed through his teeth as he ran after Andrus and missed the quicker Demon once again.

The two sparred for what seemed like hours, their swords clashing against one another harshly. Andrus felt bored-Moranis seemed exhausted as he ran after the smaller Demon time after time and still he could not catch him. They had drawn a crowd, Andrus always seemed to draw a crowd when fought and he was thankful that Lattie seemed to have moved on from watching him-she was currently speaking in hushed tones to her brother, who had finally showed. Not paying attention nearly cost him as Andrus had to hold his sword above his head, blocking Moranis as he spun away from the Demon and a hush fell over the crowd. There, in the wings, was a very large red Demon, his black horns shining in the overhead lights and his yellow eyes were trained on the two fighters.


“Enough!” His voice boomed across the room and Andrus dropped his sword and kneeled as the Demon Lord looked down on them all. The entire room was on bended knee and Andrus chanced a look and saw that the Lord had his eyes trained right on Andrus.

“Rise Andrus. Moranis-make yourself useful and escort Andrus to my quarters…” With that the Lord had disappeared and Andrus felt his stomach tighten. The Lord had not been happy with him and his declining the offer as personal guard, but he had to go.

“Of course he treats me like the bloody messenger boy…” Moranis hissed as Andrus turned to the other Demon and they both sheathed their swords and walked towards the back of the room.


Andrus felt a shimmering feeling run over his body as both Demons vanished and soon found themselves outside of a large wooden door. Andrus scanned his eyes over the woods carvings, taking in the detail of the Angel’s wings and the realistic fierceness of the flames of the carved fire. This door depicted their history-the day the Lord rose against his brother and fell from the Heaven Realm, taking seven Angels with him to form his own Realm. Demons were fallen Angels, their wings removed as they fell and in their stead a pair of horns appeared. Andrus had never grown horns, another thing that set him apart from his brethren.


“Leave us Moranis-“ A voice spoke from the open door and Moranis only bowed as he backed up slowly and Andrus felt himself gulp loudly.


Andrus entered the chamber, the flames that were held up against the wall in metal sconces flickered across his face, making his pale skin seem almost normal. The Dark Lord was seated in his throne, his cloven feet clicking against the stone floor as his eyes scanned over Andrus. His heart was pounding fiercely in his chest as Andrus finally was kneeling in front of the Lord. Looking up, Andrus was met with snake like eyes that were staring him down. The Lord continued to look down at him and finally motioned for Andrus to rise.


“You summoned me my Lord?” Andrus shuffled his feet back and forth, his hands held behind his back as he fidgeted nervously.

“I watched you fight off six Demons-all of whom are much larger and stronger than yourself.” It was a simple statement, one that Andrus was not sure how to take.

“Ye-yes my Lord.” Andrus bowed his head, his black hair shining in the flickering flames.

“You look so much like your mother…” The Lord’s voice was low and Andrus felt his head snap up. He looked nothing like his mother-he was pale fleshed and she had red skin that flashed in the light. His eyes were crystal blue and hers, a deep red that fired up when she was angered.

“M-my Lord?” Andrus felt his voice shake as the Lord left his throne and approached him. His large hand came to rest on Andrus’ shoulder, his black claws close enough to Andru’s face to make the smaller Demon feel slightly nervous.

“Your mother Andrus-I loved her very much, even though we Demons are mostly incapable of such a thing…” Andrus looked up and saw that the Dark Lord seemed to be looking at him softly, his snake eyes watery at the distant memory.

“My mother?” Andrus was confused, his mother and father had always been together and to his knowledge the Dark Lord had never taken a wife or a lover.

“Your mother Andrus-Andy-was human. You are my son and the rightful heir to my throne once the time comes for me to step down…” Andrus felt his heart stop as he looked up at his father, his true father.

Everything began to click into place and as Andrus stood there silently, he wondered what all of this would mean for his future-if he even had a choice in his future at this point.

Notes

What?! Andy is the son of the Devil himself? Crazy!

Haha, thanks to all of my reviewers and subscribers-I love you all.

Please review this and keep my spirits up! I may not update for a few days as I'm working all weekend and have to update other things before this story, but I will try to get another chapter up at least by Sunday. : )