A strong scent of blood is in the air. Kalika opened her eyes to find that she is watching herself in the underground arena. There doesn't seem to be any spectators around.
"Another one of those strange dreams…but this is… different…"
She seems to be fighting against a gruff muscular old man. She watches as the man expertly parries and blocks the incoming attacks from Kalika's blood blade dagger until he kills her with expert precision.
"Isn't that me? fighting in the arena. I still look… young."
Kalika could feel her unmovable body become angry seeing her own death. A familiar voice then called.
"She's been at it for a while."
Kalika's view turns to see Rakon is behind her approaching.
"Then why is that man still alive? Doesn't she care about eating anymore?" Lillian seemed quite puzzled as she turned to look at the match with Kalika readying her dagger again.
"I don't think it's the fact that she doesn't care. I think it may be that she plans to get stronger."
"What do you Mean Rakon?"
"That Old man there has been offaly patient with her, and she's been forfeiting the match when she notices that he's getting tired."
"Is that so…"
"Yes. At this point it's obvious that she's using him as a training opponent. Even that man realizes this."
Lillian's gaze stays fixated on the fight, as the clash of blades and daggers continue until Kalika is killed once more. And once again a swelling of anger arises seeing this.
"You plan on killing him like the others?"
Rakon starts to lean on the balcony overlooking the fight.
"Not that I care. But I'm certain killing the man will only wind up upsetting your toy."
"Then what do you suggest I do?"
"Nothing."
Kalika's view turns to look at Rakon who is continuing to watch the fight as he seems to be entranced by it. "This will prove to benefit the girl in the long term. The more proficient she becomes with that Dagger you gave, the better her chances of winning her future matches. You wanted her to live a comfortable life, didn't you?"
Lillian looks away, back to the fight.
"Besides I kinda like the grit from her, and it'd be a shame if that was snuffed out so fast." Rakon finally finished.
There is a pause between the two. As the fight continued Kalika seemed to have landed a scratch on the man. Although she didn't show it at first, she soon showed a sense of accomplishment as she gave a satisfied smile.
"Fine. he can live for now."
Kalika takes notice that she is being watched. She can be seen scowling.
"What's that man's name anyways?" Lilian asked.
"That man there, it's T-"
A sharp pain is felt. Kalika wakes to find herself in her solitary cell. She finds that she's sitting on someone's lap with a hand through her torso. The hand pulls out and she is now being embraced.
Kalika recognized the person immediately as Lillian as she shouted out her name. Kalika was very confused and frightened to find that Lillian had come to torment her again or so it seemed.
"W-what are you doing here!?" Kalika wheezed.
Lillian doesn't answer, instead hugging Kalika tighter. She then leaned forward pressing her chest to her sister's back and laid her chin on her shoulder.
Kalika could only be bewildered by Lillian's actions. She not only stabbed her through her stomach, but now she seems really upset. She hadn't seen Lillian like this since the day she became a demon.
"Lucius Proposed to me almost a week ago," Lillian said.
The pain from Kalika's wound faded as she heard Lillian.
"The Demon King?"
"Yeah."
"And he wants to marry you?"
"Yeah."
Kalika's curiosity started to peek. "I thought you two were already married."
Lillian started to become amused hearing Kalika's statement. "No, I only became queen because it was convenient for both of us at the time. So, I was just given the title. In truth I wasn't expecting this."
"So now you'll actually marry."
"No… I rejected his proposal."
"I… I see…" Kalika was surprised to hear this.
Kalika felt awkward having Lillian leaning on her and talking to her so nonchalant. "W-what's going on with Lily…?"
"It actually made me so happy, but…" some of the pain returned as Lillian hugged Kalika much more tightly. "I'm not ready."
There was a long pause between the two. Lillian was comforting herself on Kalika as Kalika herself could only find the strangeness of her demon sister just embracing her like some teddy bear.
"Is this why you're here?" Kalika asked nervously.
Lillian took a moment before answering. "In the morning me and Lucius will leave along with some of the generals to march the army south. I'd like to bring you but… I don't want to lose you."
"So, I thought I'd see you before I leave. Since we won't be seeing each other for a few years."
Kalika remembers back to when Rakon and Lillian were talking earlier about Lillian and the Demon King being on the front lines. As well as when Rakon talked to her about the war.
"I see. So, it will be just like the old days of just waiting, just without being tortured."
Lillian chuckled a little. "I guess you can say that. But you're still under the rules of a normal prisoner so Rakon might decide to change some things up."
"R-Rakon…" Kalika Repeated horrified.
Upon hearing his name, Kalika's predicament was now starting to sink in.
On one side, she'll be freed of her sister's torment and torture. On the other hand, Rakon, who seems to have a strange obsession with her. It was that demon that felt like the biggest wildcard. Kalika found that he was incredibly unpredictable, and she didn't like that.
"Lily… isn't there anyone else you can put in charge??"
Lillian was getting confused. "What do you mean?"
"Rakon. You can't trust him!"
Lillian rolled her eyes. "This again. I told you a million-time Kalika. He's our most trusted advisor. Besides, he is actually a pretty good guy compared to most of the other demons I've met."
"Lily! Please! Trust me! He's not what he seems-!" Kalika started to become more panicked. The wound on her stomach started to become more noticeable as she flinched from the returning pain.
Lillian gave a sigh. "I know you can be pessimistic, but you shouldn't worry Kalika. Everyone staying here won't lay a finger on you. And I made sure of it."
An unfamiliar maid entered the cell. "
The Maid was speaking in the demon Language. Kalika couldn't help but look at the maid who also had pink eyes. "Did I understand that correctly?"
Kalika's suspicions are confirmed as Lillian heals Kalika's wounds. "Sorry Kal. It looks like we're all out of time." Lillian then starts to leave alongside the maid.
"W-wait!" Kalika reached out to Lillian.
Lillian at the door looks back to Kalika with a somber smile "Don't worry. I'll be back before you know. And that's a promise."
"Lily. No wait-!" The steel door closed.
There was nothing Kalika could do as the sequence of closing steel doors slowly became quiet. Before she knew it, Kalika had once again found herself alone in her prison.
"A few years, huh? Maybe nothing will change…"
Kalika gave a doubtful sigh as she leaned back on the wall with her head held up. She then opened her eyes to find something strange on the ceiling above her. It looked like an eyeball with green pupils.
Kalika rubbed her eyes and found that it was no longer there.
"I must be going crazy…"
Kalika leaned her body into the corner cozying herself up for another long boring day.
********
Sometime later in the castle above, servants of all kinds of demon are rushing through the corridors for some last-minute preparations. Among them the Rhonda who is moving the clean laundry back into the bed chambers along with some other maids.
As she rushes through the corridor she runs into the Demon King Lucius. He was dressed in a heavy armor that went up to his chest. Arms and head were the only parts freed of the metal protection.
"Ah, Rhonda. Have your seen Lillian." Lucius started talking in their native demon language.
"I-I-I am sorry. I have not." Rhonda was very shy. Avoiding eye contact with Lucius.
Surprisingly enough Lucius then offered a handkerchief to Rhonda.
"Clean yourself up."
Rhonda was puzzled by this until he gestured using his face as an example. Rhonda immediately got flustered. Rhonda immediately dropped the basket of folded clothes in favor of cleaning her face.
"I-I-I'm sorry. Please forgive me your majesty." Rhonda gave a deep bow.
"There's nothing to be ashamed about. Urges of succubus's can't be help, especially if your survival depends on it."
Lucius wasted no time taking the handkerchief back from Rhonda. He followed up by immediately burning it to ash once she let go of it. Rhonda couldn't help but look down shamefully.
"Thank you."
"Rhonda." Lucius broke Rhonda's from a trance.
"Y-yes?" She stood at attention.
"Watch over Kalika well. I'm sure things will become much duller for her so do keep her company when you can."
Lucius handed a golden crested pendant to Rhonda.
"W-what… is this? Wait isn't this-"
"If other servants or guards give you trouble just show this to them."
A servant rushed up to Lucius, interrupting their conversation. "Your Majesty, we found her!"
"Good. Where was she?"
"We found her coming from the dungeon."
"I see." Lucius sighed.
"Y-your Majesty…?"
Lucius, on hearing Rhonda, turned his attention back to her.
"I-if you don't mind me asking… Why do you care about Kalika?"
"Personally, I could care less about that girl. But Lillian cares a lot more about her than she would actually ever admit. Which is why I need you to look after her."
"I… I understand." Rhonda gave another solemn bow.
With business finished Lucius takes his leave "Don't disappoint."
Upon Lucius turning the corner, Rhonda holds the golden crest in her hands looking at it deadly, feeling its groves and engraving. In blue painted letters was a language she couldn't understand.
With resolve she finally pins the crest onto her maid outfit. She grabbed the basket of Laundry and went ahead to finish her chores.
She proceeded into the bed chamber, finally setting the curtains and the sheet for the bed. She finished by setting the clothes into the closet.
Rhonda looked out the bedroom window to see the demon army on the march. They were all starting to look like ants from where she was. Seeing this she knew that the war would soon be over.
Upon finishing the last of her chores, Rhonda opts to finally pay Kalika a visit. Grabbing some cleaning supplies, she makes her way through the castle corridor.
Eventually she passes by a group of three Demon ladies on her way to the dungeon. They looked were all laughing carelessly and walked around like they owned the place. Rhonda could only look at their backs curiously.
"Where have I seen them before?"
Rhonda simply shrugged them off venturing forth into the dungeon. She passes by many of the familiar guards of the dungeon. Bowing respectfully as she went along. until she finally made it to Kalika's solitary prison.
Strangely enough there wasn't any guards around the steel doors. This didn't deter Rhonda as she started to enter the cell with a smile.
To Rhonda's excitement turned to horror as she found herself in front of a bloodied, cut and bruised up Kalika.
"K-KALIKA!" she yelled.
Rhonda was frightened by the scene in front of her. Mustering courage, she rushed over a completely bloodied and bruised Kalika.
"Rhonda. Perfect timing."
Rhonda looked behind herself quickly to find Rakon.
"It looks like the other girls had a bit too much fun with Kalika. Please clean up this mess."
Rakon threw a blade on the floor for Rhonda. Rhonda was frightened by it and backed away from the blade in front of her.
"Do you plan on prolonging her suffering?" Rakon asked.
Rhonda was wavering until Kalika tugged at her skirt. Rhonda could see Kalika's hands trembling.
"P…Please. Rhonda."
Rhonda Looked at the blade on the ground and back to Kalika. Resolving herself, she grabbed the blade.
"F… Forgive me," Rhonda said tearfully.
Rhonda tried to make it as quickly as possible for Kalika opting to aim for the heart. Soon Kalika died and resurrected quickly after, recovering from all the cuts and bruises that were given to her. Her breathing had become much shallower, still trying to register the pain that she had just endured.
"Y-you bastard!" Kalika glared at Rakon as tears were falling from her face.
Rakon simply smiles back at Kalika, contently.