The King and queen stepped back in shock and Mary gasped as The Demon King approached them. Suddenly, demons followed, gross-looking goblins and monsters wearing armor, which made me gasp even louder when I got a closer look at The Demon King.
He was at least seven feet tall and in the shape of a human. He was slender, but you could see his muscles through his black armor and cape that was wrapped around his chest. He was wearing a chestplate, knee-high leather boots, black pants, and a belt that held three swords. His face was dark, yet pale and masculine. His eyes were a piercing yellow with black slits for pupils, and he had a smile where every tooth was crystal white and sharpened to a point. He was wearing a black metal crown only visible on his forehead in the shape of a v. He wore no sleeves, clearly seeing his muscular arms and black metal armlets that were covering his wrists to the middle of his forearms.
He looked completely human other than a few features. He had black horns coming from the front to the back of his head in a sharp curl. His nails were long, pointed, and black. He had closed dragon wings attached to his back, along with a thick, black, devil-pointed tail. The only thing that seemed innocent about him was his exceptionally short hair, which was as white as snow as it fell over his forehead.
Just looking at him for a second made me blush instantly. I stopped walking, and all I could do was stare. 'How could a demon be so handsome?' I thought as I saw him slowly walk up to Mary's father. "I am Sython. The Demon King." His voice was deep and captivating. It only added to his intimidation and made him even more attractive.
Mary's father stayed still as he tried to hide his fear. "I am aware." He gestured to Mary. "This is my daughter. Princess Mary of Ora." The Demon King turned to her and she bowed slightly to show respect. He stepped in front of her and looked into her eyes. Mary looked away while blushing. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Your Majesty." Suddenly, The Demon King raised his head as if he noticed something. "I smell blood."
With his comment, I realized the pain in my back and how heavy the vase was. I tried to find the strength to hold it up longer, but it was too late and I fell forward. I dropped the vase, causing it to shatter. I sat up from the ground and saw broken pieces everywhere that were too small to put back together. "Oh no." I looked up from the broken vase to see everyone looking at me. Including The Demon King.
Mary looked at me with rage and I started to pick up the pieces while pretending not to notice. Mary returned her attention to The Demon King, who was still staring at me. "Don't mind her. She's not important. Just a clumsy, worthless, slave." Her words hurt but I pretended not to hear them again. I looked up to see if he was still staring at me, but our eyes met, and I quickly looked back at the ground.
My fear multiplied times ten when I heard him walking towards me. As I heard his footsteps get louder, I had never felt so afraid in my life. Finally, his footsteps stopped in front of me. I started to shake as I looked up, but I was shocked by his charming smile and his hand reached out toward me, offering help. "Are you alright, little one?"
I heard Mary gasp as I raised my shaking hand to his, and he pulled me to my feet while staring into my eyes. He was even more intimidating up close, but his smile made me blush. Suddenly, Mary had enough. "Hey! Why are you helping her?! I'm the one you're supposed to meet! Not that pile of rags!" He ignored her and his smile disappeared.
His piercing stare into my soul made me helpless to his gaze and I couldn't do anything but look back into them. Then, he spoke. "You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen in my life." My eyes widened. 'What?! B-but I'm ugly! At least, everyone who's met me has seemed to think so...' I thought while continuing to shake. Mary gasped again and started to yell. "What?! How could you think that SHE is pretty?! Especially when I am standing right here?!"
The Demon King closed his eyes and sighed. "You may be exceptional on the outside, but your soul is unimaginably disgusting. It is clearer than day how ugly you are, but you humans refuse to see anything but outward appearances. You might as well be a fat ugly pig, covered in waste." I couldn't believe what I was hearing and neither could Mary.
Before she could yell again, The Demon King turned to face her. "You're a spoiled brat who thinks she can control anyone lower than her." He stood in front of her while looking down with a glare. "But I am anything but lower than you. So, if you dare raise your voice towards me again, you will regret it." Now it was she who was shaking.
He started to walk away from her when she stopped him. "I'm not afraid of you! You're just a stupid demon afraid of his own shadow!" He stopped in his tracks, and Mary's parents tried to run to her, but Sython turned around and immediately shot magic out of his fingertips in the form of black lightning, making Mary disappear as soon as it reached her. Her parents gasped as they saw a pig crawl out from under the dress I had made her and run out, squealing.
Her father begged The Demon King after her mother picked up the pig and started to cry. "What did you do to her?! Please! I beg of you, change her back!" The Demon King rolled his eyes. "A woman with such disrespect doesn't deserve to live. You're lucky I didn't kill her." Her father continued to plead. "Please! We'll discipline her! We'll do anything!" The Demon King smirked as he turned away. "You should have thought of that before you became parents."
He then walked away, not listening to any more begging, and gave an order to one of his guards. "The search is done. Take the slave." I barely heard what he said but it made me look twice. "What?" A green demon with six arms then started walking towards me. I backed away but my fear and pain prevented me from moving faster than the demon. It grabbed me and lifted me over his shoulder. I tried to struggle but its arms had already restrained my arms and legs, so all I could do was speak. Unfortunately, I wasn't good at speaking or had the strength to yell. "Ah! What are you doing? Please put me down!" That was the best I could do.
The demon carried me out of the palace and onto a horse while restrained. I started to feel dizzy from the blood loss and hunger, and my vision began to get dark. I looked up once more and saw The Demon King walking toward a clear area and shooting black lightning out of his hands to create a portal. The portal opened and I saw flames inside. 'What does he want with me?' I thought as I rested my head on the horse's mane. I then closed my eyes and gave in to my desire to sleep.