9. Curiosity

9

Curiosity

Alistair

A fter the hellhound's body is disposed of by my demonic flames, I lead my lady Morgana behind a nearby pawn shop and straight to the closest portal to Hell. Raising a hand, I summon the portal with the appropriate enchantment, and as if the back wall of the shop is alive, it starts swirling. The bricks become a blur of blue and gray light until they form a vortex of dancing light, finally solidifying into the blue color of the Soul Crystals. We walk through the portal and emerge on the other side by the royal family's castle. I hold my head up high as we stroll through the gates and past the king's guards, all of whom bow to my lady.

Escorting her all the way to her room, I am filled with concern for Morgana; she is never this quiet. "My lady, are you sure you are alright?" I ask once more, worried she is injured and not willing to admit it due to pride. She sighs in front of me as we stop at the doorway to her room.

"How many times do I have to tell you, pet? I'm fine. Stop worrying," she says, sounding tired and exasperated.

I can't help worrying; she isn't acting like her usual strong and willful self. Most of the time, she would be talking non-stop, even if all I did was hum in agreement. Now, she quietly goes into her room and falls backwards on her bed.

Staring blankly at the ceiling I can see the pondering expression on her face. I really want to ask what she is thinking or if she truly is okay but my lady hates having to repeat herself, and I already exasperated her today. Deciding it was better to remain silent for the moment, I lean against the doorframe in case I am needed.

"It was strange," Morgana comments after some time passes.

"What was strange, my lady?" I ask, confused as to what she is referring to.

"The hellhound, it had something different than other hellhounds. I don't really know how to explain it, something was off about that one compared to the ones I had growing up." She remarks, still staring at her ceiling before closing her eyes. "I'm tired, and annoyed. I'll kill the owner of that hellhound if I find them."

"I can go investigate how the hellhound got out if you would like my lady." I offer but I get no response. I stand up straight and walk into the room. "My lady?" I call, only now noticing the steady slow rate of her breathing and how calm her heartbeat is. She fell asleep on top of the covers almost immediately. I suppose she is still getting used to her new human form and that takes a lot out of her.

Raising a hand the cover turned into black smoke and dissolved from under her, only to reappear on her a second later. I close the distance and pull the sheets over her, adjusting it to make sure she is covered completely to her shoulders. Morgana may be my master, she may be the future queen, but she's not deserving of what is happening to her. Despite appearances, she's the kindest Angel I've met. Certain she won't be cold now, I turn and leave the room, making sure to gently close the double doors behind me, and lock them.

I knew she was safe in the palace, the most heavily guarded place in all of Hell but I still wanted to remain by her side regardless of knowing that fact. Even though I fiercely wish to stay on guard by her door, I force myself to walk away towards the throne room a few hallways down to seek court with the king. I need to get to the bottom of this hellhound incident and I also need to get a human appropriate meal for my lady since she can no longer sustain herself on blood, or soul energy. The staff that prepare the highest grade of blood for the royal family can't find out about Morgana's transformation that led her to become a full-fledged human. No one can, only the king, my lady and I know all the details. And therefore I've been tasked with discreetly providing her all the necessary food she will need in her new form. We don't know if this is truly irreversible at the moment, it's only speculation, and furthermore we don't know how the rest of this realm will react if they find out Hell's only heir is no longer immortal. So, we must be cautious and keep the facts close to our chests if we want to keep Morgana safe.

My wandering thoughts cease as I approach the guards at the smaller side door that leads to the throne room. There is only one door here and it is less grandiose than the double doors considered to be the main entrance. I request an audience and I'm granted one fairly quickly. The guard that had gone to notify the king holds the door open for me and I step in. Stepping inside I can see the king is preoccupied torturing a soul. The grand throne room has shifted into a large theater room, with a stage and seating for audience members. It looked like a theater you would see in the human realm. The king is seated at the front row looking up at the soul he is torturing. It is a human man, completely naked, standing in front of a podium while giving a passionate speech about something or other. I'm not listening to the human ramble as I kneel down by the king's feet to his left. He doesn't acknowledge my presence so I wait patiently in silence.

"You may speak, Junior." He says after a few minutes of listening to the soul still talking, trapped in the illusion of his worst fear.

"Your Majesty, I came to report another attack against my lady, Princess Morgana. We went to the same cemetery where she was attacked before and a hellhound appeared. He tried to kill her but I disposed of it before it could." I report still kneeling at my king's feet, looking at his dress shoes.He can become irate when it comes to his daughter, so I can only hope-

"Was she injured?" He asks in a calm voice but knowing him for so long as I have, I know he is worried for her, but did not want to show it. He finally turns to look at me as he asks this.

"No, Your Majesty. She is alright, resting in her room."

I feel a cold hand go under my chin and tip my head back, now looking at him, expression calm and collected. "You've done well, Junior. Thank you for protecting my Morgana so well," he says making eye contact for the first time since I had entered. I can see his relief and appreciation in his eyes.

"It is my job to serve and protect the princess, Your Majesty. I shall do it till the end of my time." Or to the end of her now mortal life , I add in my head, not brave enough to say out loud for more than one reason.

He releases my chin and leans back in his chair. He waves at me, signaling to raise and sit on the chair beside him. I do as he orders, making sure to thank him.

"I wanted to ask you something if I may, Your Majesty." He gives me a gesture to proceed, while staring at the soul he just helped to overcome his fear of public speaking in the nude. "I wanted to ask you, have there been any missing hellhounds recently?" Lucifer doesn't respond but after a second he turns his attention back on me making me feel small under his intense gaze.

"You know, your dedication to my daughter, while admirable, is strange. I have never met a demon servant quite so passionate and willing to go the extra mile for their master like you do. Especially since you are no longer under her command, unable to decline her every request. It is very curious," Lucifer states coldly while staring me down. I feel the shock wash over me at his words. I try to sculpt my expression into one of neutrality so he doesn't see how off guard he has caught me, but his disappointed sigh suggests he still notices something. "Alistair, you must understand," he continues, his tone now laced with a mix of curiosity and authority, "I have seen countless servants come and go, each bound by their contracts, their loyalty driven by obligation rather than genuine care. Yet here you stand, free from such bindings, yet still unwavering in your devotion to Morgana. Why is that?"

"Your Majesty," I begin cautiously, knowing full well that lying would result in far worse than reprimand. Lucifer would probably cut out my tongue over a simple lie. "My loyalty to Lady Morgana transcends the usual bonds of servitude. I have served her for years now, and in that time, I have come to care for her deeply. It is not just duty that drives me, but a sincere desire to protect and support her."

Lucifer narrows his eyes, studying me intently. "But surely you understand the implications of your feelings. If she regains her powers, she will ascend once more to her rightful place as the Princess of Darkness. You, a mere servant, would be forbidden to covet her. And if she remains mortal, she will live a fleeting life, and you will be left behind, eternal and alone."

I swallow hard, unable to refute his words. "I understand, Your Majesty. But my feelings for her cannot be changed by the circumstances of her power or mortality. Whether she ascends to her throne or lives as a mortal, I will stand by her side."

Lucifer's expression softens slightly, though his eyes remain sharp. "You are either very brave or very foolish, Alistair. Perhaps both. But know this: my daughter's safety and happiness are paramount to me. If you ever endanger her, intentionally or not, I will ensure you face consequences far worse than you can imagine."

"I would never endanger her, Your Majesty," I vow, my voice steady. "I will protect her with my life."

"Good," he says, leaning back in his chair. "Because if she does regain her powers, she will need steadfast allies. And if she remains mortal, she will need someone to make her short life meaningful." As I absorb his words, Lucifer continues, his tone almost contemplative. "All hellhounds are accounted for and haven't left Hell all week," he states with finality. "I suspect there is more to this than we understand. Be vigilant, Alistair."

"I will, Your Majesty," I reply, bowing deeply.

"You may go," he says, dismissing me with a wave of his hand.

As I turn to leave, he calls my name once more. "Alistair," he says, his voice softer. "Take care of her. She is precious to me."

I nod, understanding the weight of his words. "I will, Your Majesty," I promise before exiting the room.