Daemon woke up feeling something cold sliding over his chest. He didn't need to open his eyes to know who was on top of him. Reluctantly opening his eyes, his gaze fell on the thirty-centimeter serpent staring at him. Unlike any other serpent, this one had pink scales and pink eyes.
"Praised be Satan, Daemon," he heard the voice in his mind. Daemon pursed his lips at such an unusual good morning.
"Good morning, I guess?" He replied, lazily running a hand through his own hair.
The snake was obviously Amara in her animal form, something he found quite useful since he didn't want others to think he was crazy for talking to himself—after all, normal people couldn't see demons.
But he found it strangely fitting for Amara to transform into a serpent. In the Bible, it is said that the serpent tempted Eve to eat the forbidden fruit to gain God's wisdom. It was only fair that demons could transform into serpents.
It had been just under a day since he and Amara had made the blood pact. During that time, they had both explored the city as a farewell gesture and gotten to know each other better. On this day, he also observed Amara. Despite being a demon, she was almost like a sheltered rich girl—sarcastic, arrogant, and unexpectedly sweet. It was clear that Amara held a high status in Hell from this innocence.
Today was also the day he would go to Brighton Hall Boarding School in New Eden, Oregon. Sitting up in bed, Daemon ignored the pink snake coiled around his arm and headed to the bathroom. Since it was extremely early, there was no line for the bathroom—which, believe it or not, was a cause of many fights in a normal household, let alone a crowded orphanage.
But before entering the bathroom, he grabbed his own shampoo and soap. Feeling the water running down his body, Daemon let out a pleasurable sigh. It was almost as if every time he showered, his sins were washed away with the water, making him feel like a pure angel again.
But this feeling vanished when he felt two hands washing his chest. He looked down and saw Amara showering with him. Her scales had receded, revealing her smooth and flawless skin, her modest, soft breasts pressing against him.
Unfazed by the naked body in front of him, Daemon grabbed the shampoo bottle and helped Amara wash her hair, making her laugh at the funny, foamy sensation in her hair, which also brought a smile to Daemon's lips.
It's not that he didn't feel attracted to Amara—he did. She was incredibly beautiful even with her exotic features. But he wasn't an animal who couldn't control his own desires.
With her hair full of foam, Amara mimicked Daemon and spread liquid soap over his chest and abdomen. Her gaze lingered for a moment on his perfectly sculpted abdominal muscles as she continued to spread the liquid soap.
Afterward, she joined Daemon in the shower, rinsing off all the foam and soap from their bodies.
"Are we going to your new school?" She asked, feeling comfortable with the warm water running over her body.
"Yes, probably a very interesting school," Daemon replied, turning off the shower and grabbing his somewhat old towel.
Amara didn't continue questioning and joined Daemon to dry herself.
---
"Yes, yes, I understand. I promise to behave," Daemon said, rubbing his forehead with a helpless look on his face. He had been listening to Felipa's sermons for hours, and the woman showed no signs of stopping.
"No, you don't understand," Felipa, the Orphanage Headmistress, responded with a stern expression. "Daemon, I know you better than anyone in this world. I know how much trouble you attract, so try to stay out of even more trouble at Brighton Hall."
Daemon's lips twisted unnaturally at the sharp and painfully realistic words from the woman he considered his mother. He couldn't deny the truths in her words, not when he had indeed caused trouble wherever he went, like a tornado leaving destruction in its wake. Particularly at school, where he had been expelled from two schools for fights and aggressions.
For context in the story, at the first school, he had fought because some boys had called Felipa inappropriate names, which he felt compelled to correct. And in his defense, he had only taught those boys a lesson about how wrong bullying was. The fight wasn't particularly serious, just ending with a broken sink in the bathroom and a partially fractured skull along with some other broken bones. They had definitely exaggerated when they accused him of attempted murder.
At the second school, it was even more insulting. A twelve-year-old boy had given him a nasty look, and one should never give Daemom Morningstar a nasty look. Naturally, it escalated into a very ugly fight involving ten other boys, something he proudly claimed to have won without suffering any serious injuries. Well, when everyone involved is twelve years old, it's not particularly difficult.
Although he had calmed down somewhat at the next school, he still found himself in the principal's office a few times for bad behavior, like smoking on school grounds and other teenage idiocies.
Seeing Daemon's untrustworthy expression, Felipa sighed and spoke gently. "Just try not to get into too much trouble and focus on your studies. I've always believed that God has an incredible future planned for you."
Daemon wanted to retort with a sarcastic remark, but since this was their farewell, he remained silent and simply nodded. Honestly, he wanted to give this incredibly strong old woman a hug, but he saw no need, given the determined expression on her aged and wrinkled face.
Something was moving under Daemon's shirt, but Felipa ignored it, thinking about the new pet Daemon had acquired the day before.
Suddenly, a black car parked slowly in front of St. George's Orphanage. The car door opened, and a man in a black suit stepped out. The man was very tall, easily towering over two meters in height. His imposing and serious aura could be seen from blocks away; someone could easily mistake him for a bear.
"The boarding school must certainly be wealthy to send a car to pick me up," Daemon murmured, a smile growing on his face. Brighton Hall Boarding School was becoming more and more interesting in his eyes. He had been expecting a bus, but here came a luxury car and a private driver...
Seeing him smile like that, Felipa knew he wouldn't behave as he had promised earlier.
"Daemon? I'm Marcus Mora, your driver who will take you to Brighton Hall School in New Eden, Oregon," the two-meter-tall man introduced himself, extending his hand with a sunny smile.
Marcus had an obvious Latin origin, his straight black hair falling over his slightly handsome face, hiding some scars that Daemon noticed. One thing he also noticed was that Marcus was a retired soldier, given how many times he had been discreetly scrutinized by the man's eyes in just a few minutes.
"I hope we'll have a pleasant trip, Marcus," Daemon replied with a smile as he shook Marcu's hand firmly.
They exchanged glances for a moment and smiled, apparently seeing it would be a pleasant journey.
"Please take care of him during the trip, Mr. Mora," Felipa spoke with a stern tone, looking at Daemon, who just rolled his eyes at the Headmistress's words. The woman was overreacting; he wasn't a monster causing destruction wherever he went.
"He'll certainly be in good hands, Sister Herath," Marcus smiled reassuringly with conviction in his voice, his brown eyes narrowing for a moment as he looked at the old nun. A touch of respect and admiration reflected in the eyes of the two-meter-tall man, which was somewhat amusing considering Felipa's height.
Felipa narrowed her eyes at the towering man and responded calmly, "I'm sure of that, Mr. Mora."
If Daemon had faced them both, he might have noticed something, but as he was looking at Marcus's back, he couldn't see any expression from either of them; otherwise, he would have noticed something very suspicious happening at that moment.
Marcus picked up Daemon's suitcase and carried it to the car. Daemon looked at the man for a moment and then turned his gaze once more to the old woman who had raised him with severity and smirked arrogantly.
"You're getting old, don't wander around too much; if you fall, you probably won't be able to afford the hospital," he said, looking directly into the woman's eyes with a defiant look. His lips curved into a mocking smile.
"Humph." Felipa snorted coldly at his disrespectful words and replied even more sarcastically, "My old bones are twice as strong as yours, ignorant brat."
Daemom only smirked in mockery at her words and turned, walking towards the car where Marcus waited patiently.
"Daemom."
Hearing Felipa's voice, Daemom glanced over his shoulder at the small figure dressed in clerical robes, who seemed a bit fragile to him at that moment.
"Take care, and may God be with you, child." Felipa looked into the boy's blue eyes and spoke, her voice gentle and warm, causing Daemon's lips to curl into a mischievous smile.
"I'm not sure if God will do His part, but I promise to take care of myself, old lady." Daemom smiled arrogantly in response and got into the car.
"[God definitely won't take care of you; He doesn't take care of anyone.]" Amara spoke in Daemon's mind, making the young man roll his eyes. He didn't need a demon stating something so obvious.
Marcus glanced once more at the Orphanage Headmistress and nodded to her before getting into the car.
"Arrogant boy," Felipe muttered to himself, watching the car grow more distant and finally disappear at the end of the street.
"Don't blame me, child, but you needed a place where you can better learn to control your future powers. After all, you're the most powerful Medium I've seen in my life." Looking at the Orphanage she had cared for twenty-five years, a touch of reminiscence reflected in her eyes, and Felipa murmured as she turned back inside the building.