for Kingu, who loves dark Noctis, big time
for Fishcake-kun, who's my muse that inspired me to write eloquently
for marchenne, who knows what it's like to have something stolen
for TigerRaiken, whose helpful advice was to "just write"

A/N: Dark

Anastasia
by Eel Nivek

• • • • • •

This was it. There was no turning back. The crude, black night, absent of stars, only appeared once a century. If she didn't take this opportunity now, she'd forfeit all hopes of ever escaping her husband's cruel grasps. The ancient clock read a quarter till midnight. By now, her husband's household was enveloped in an aura of artificial sleep. With the help of her maid, she had managed to create sleeping concoctions, disguised as drinks.

Steadily, she grabbed only what was dearest to her: a necklace, a pouch, and a ring. She gently eased herself out her husband's bed, heart furiously pounding in fear that her spouse would wake at any moment and foil her plans of escape. If he knew what she was plotting, he would not be kind or tender, he never was anymore; the man she had once loved, the man who had conquered her cold heart was merely a specter hidden deeply within her conservative mind. No, that soft, affectionate man had been erased from existence, replaced with a power craving fiend, who flaunted her "luscious" form to his subjects, and sneered at her "compassionate" heart.

Yet looking down at her husband, lost in his sleep, she saw him; the one she loved, the one who had earnestly pursued and thawed her icy heart. He was the one who taught her to trust, love, and yield. Her teacher. Her one love. Their love was legendary. So where did they go wrong? A lone tear slid down her dry cheek in remembrance of the past.

It was ridiculous—ironic, even. She, who once held the reputation of being the most formidable woman in the Demon court, had fallen for him, the frail, flimsy heir to the Demon throne, the guardian and ruler of the last Crystal.

Even now she remembered how he brazenly tried to court her...

xxx

The sight of his scrawny and puny physique, and the way he presented himself with an air of childish arrogance was amusing. He tried to woo her, complimenting her "nice ass." It was a genuine attempt; of course, she had sent him scampering with his ego entirely trashed.

But he didn't stop. Every function, gala, soiree, he was there, without fail, waiting to win her over. When words failed, he used actions. Over time, after years of outright rejecting all of his advances, she noticed things… abnormal, disturbing things. He started growing, physically and intellectually. His charm tripled; his compliments became rhetorically lewd and sexual. Soon, she found herself fawning over his Godlike frame, stumbling and stuttering over his silver-kissed words, like a naive fan-girl. He knew what effect his words were having and increased his efforts.

Her cheeks still burned whenever she thought of his first perverse effort at exploiting her carnal needs. It was direct, preposterous, but effective nonetheless, very much to her shame. She had been talking to a high-ranking viscount, discussing affairs of the Demon court. When suddenly, out of nowhere, a rough, calloused hand slid down the back of her thin dress, gliding over the enticing curve of her rear, and then up, this time grazing her raw flesh from the inside of her attire. She was completely taken aback by the outrageous public act. It was undoubtedly a Demonic gesture of possessiveness and courtship, the way he held her by the waist, all the while, molesting her.

He wanted her as his woman. He would have no one else as she would soon come to learn. She tried to fight him off that day, using every means possible, but she came to a sad realization… She wanted him just as much as he wanted her. In the end, his persistence had laid siege on her heart; accordingly, she was defeated.

That night, in front of the eyes of many, he whisked her away, carrying her bridal-style, enveloping her in his masculine, sweet scent. He carried her all the way up a thousand flights of imposing stairs, a feat impossible for men, yet elementary for their kind. And not once, did he take his radiant, blue eyes off of her. Her heart never stood a chance.

Only when they reached his grandiose room did he release her. She settled herself into his bed, anxious, but eager at the same time. Despite what the court and many of its ignorant gossips believed, she'd never given herself to a man before. Patiently, she allowed him to take the lead. In terms of sexual prowess and knowledge, he was, by far, her superior. He knew it, yet he didn't flaunt her weakness at her… He gently eased her nerves; first, kissing her anxieties away and claiming her lips passionately and possessively. Unbeknownst to her, he had staked his claim on her. From that night onward, no one would dare to make a move on her. To do so, would be a suicidal fantasy.

Slowly, he started becoming aggressive. He forcefully tore her dress to shreds then kneaded her voluptuous breasts, massaging them until her loins burned with unbearable desire. She cried out, bending over her lover's body, kissing his silky, sable hair. The pleasure was immense as was her desire to have him. Once more, he captured her lips before latching his mouth onto her rosy nipples, sucking them greedily as a child would. By this point, she was beyond sensibility. Her thoughts abandoned her, leaving her light-headed and enhancing the pleasure she received.

She couldn't form any coherent words. The words, that did manage to escape her lips, came out as wanton moans or loud sobs. Pleasure became her only world; her mind and thoughts revolved around it. Try as she might, she couldn't deny that she felt ecstatic, and to encourage her skilled lover, she screamed louder, stirring up his suppressed desire.

Her actions were without fail. He roughly grabbed her by the legs, spreading them apart, revealing the glistening, pink lips of her sex. He held her legs up, forcing her body to arch downwards, directing all of her weight onto her neck. Then, he pressed her lower lips to his face, taking and lapping up her nectarous juices. She screamed out loud, for the entire world to hear, as he repeatedly flicked his hot tongue against her sensitive clit. If Heaven existed on Earth then this was it.

A burning knot formed at the base of her cervix. She was more than ready for him to fill her up. Her thighs tightened in anticipation as he drew his wet face from her core. The sight of his lust-brimmed eyes aroused her to no end. His rugged muscled chest was drenched in sweat—a result of their heated coupling.

However, it was his erection that attracted her attention. She licked her lips hungrily, knowing that, seconds from now, she'd be filled by his monstrous genital. Her body ached for him. He saw this and wasted no time in taking her. He guided his rigid cock to the entrance of her womanhood. Teasingly, he slightly drove the head past her lips, but went no further, causing her to writhe in severe longing. She tried, herself, to sway her hips so that she could enter him, but his hands held her at the waist, immobilizing her. Once again, she cried out at the abuse.

He smiled cruelly, but she could see that he needed her as much as she did. As she could tell, his cock was unbearably stiff.

"P-Please!" She gasped. "Put it in!"

Gladly, he obliged. He wasted no time in impaling her, completely shattering her hymen. She screamed as the force and enormity of his rod tore through her, hitting her womb on the first thrust. She tossed her neck and cried, sending her pink hair flying in disarray. It hurt. Tears rolled down her cheeks, but her lover quickly lapped them away. He reassured her, with tender words, that the pain was temporary whereas the pleasure was forever.

Soon, the pain in her groin receded, extensively drowning her in wave after wave of blazing pleasure. Her walls tightened almost painfully as he gently entered her, again and again. His rod was like a burning spear, searing her insides every time it made contact with her womb. As she began to ease herself into his rhythm, he spun her until she was on her knees. What happened next, she could never have been prepared for.

He pounded her like a potent jackhammer, driving in and out of her, harder and faster. His length was so quick and big that she couldn't even scream or moan. The moment his cock slapped against her slick core, her breath escaped her. She panted as he continued to drill her. Her ample breasts tossed and flailed, colliding with each other, as he hungrily made love to her. Her toes crinkled up as an unexpected chorus of scorching pleasure washed over. Her hips buckled uncontrollably as the loud name of her lover escaped her lips. She came hard and dropped onto the bed, losing control of her entire body. Her feminine fluids gushed out of her clit like a raging river.

She was tired. She lay on the bed, dazed, but he did not relent. He was not satisfied. No, he was far from being satisfied. He had yet to use or explore every inch of her succulent body, and he would give her no rest until he had done so. Kissing his beautiful goddess, he entered her once more despite her weak protests. This time, he loomed over her as she lay on her back. His cock audibly slapped against her glossy sex. All she could do was toss and turn as her lover pounded away. She was so far lost in a haze of pleasure that her body robotically responded to his touch.

For hours, he explored her divine body. This woman, he knew for certain, was created for him, to mate him, to love him, to fuck him. He would never let her go. She was his. Pulling her legs up, he quickly discovered that her body could accommodate any position he desired. Her years as a commander in the Demon army gave her what other women could only dream of having—strength and flexibility. He had to admit, he was surprised that she was still conscious. Every other woman he fucked passed out after their fourth orgasm, but his lithe lover was on her eighth and counting.

So he decided to experiment. He wanted to see how long she could last. She, on the other hand, had no choice but to service his insatiable sexual needs. He took her everywhere, in every position. His gigantic closet was a mess, his shower was soiled, his work table was deprived of its stationery. Overall, his room was the bane of every maid's existence.

Unable to bear the clamp of her firm walls, he sucked in a breath as he poured his hot seed into her womb, filling her up to the very brink and brimming over, spilling onto the bed sheets. She groaned as a lovely, hot sensation poured into her womb. She was satisfied. He smiled, taking great pleasure in the distant, exhausted look in her eyes. She had matched his stamina. He was finally tired and pleasantly satiated. He would let her sleep, a reward for being the first to fully satisfy his erotic needs. She was worthy of him and so much more; she would be mother of his children.

Seeing as his lover was now fast asleep, he toyed with her hair. As sleep started to overtake him, he grazed his fangs against her shoulders, and broke the skin, drawing blood. It was done. She was officially his. He had marked her for the whole world to see. On that very night, he, the Demon king, had taken a mate. Fatigued, he wrapped his arms around her petite body, guarding her protectively. Never, for a second, would he let any harm befall her. She was his delicate prize…

Or so he believed…

xxx

There was no time to waste. Kissing the forehead of her former love, she fled the palace. Both their lives would be better without each other. She would be freed from his abuse, and he would be freed from his sins. Most of all they would be freed from the lingering ghost of their unborn child, Ana, who never stood a chance. A cursed child—their cursed child—who never knew a mother's love or a father's pride.

Outside, her faithful, young attendant and maid, Rosette waited patiently for her under the thick cover of darkness. The guards, those that weren't intoxicated, were patrolling the enormous perimeter of her husband's palace.

"Rosette!" She called out as quietly as possible.

"Lady Lightning," the young maid gasped. Her eyes were still adjusting to the foreboding night. "Please follow me. I've arranged for a vehicle to take you across the border once you make your way out of the palace."

Holding the maid to her word, she trailed after her attendant, stopping every now and then at hints of irregular activity. For the most part, the journey out of the palace was effortless. Not once were they approached by her husband's elite Demon guard, a special division that she had once headed, which was unusual, considering they were all highly trained assassins and trackers.

She paid that detail no attention. If luck was on her side then she would not curse it. Making haste, she crossed the ceramic bridge over a pond, which she had insisted on installing. As they reached the other side, they stopped. Standing on duty, with his or her back to them, was an elite guard equipped with several dozen hidden weapons. Without hesitation, she grabbed a syringe from Rosette's arsenal and snuck up on the guard. With the grace of a commander, she pounced, covering his lips with one hand and injecting the syringe into his neck with the other. He would wake in an hour, remembering nothing.

Rosette immediately slid her access card into the secret entryway. The maid had to do it for her. Her husband had robbed her of all means of escape; even going so far as barricading her in their room whenever he was away. For a man who insisted she was nothing, but "trash," an "eyesore," her husband had gone through extreme lengths to keep her caged in his palace. One would think, he would have ended her life or sent her into exile if she was so "atrocious."

They crossed through the door and stepped into the forest's dense foliage. Crickets chirped. Wild nocturnal animals peered at them curiously from their nests. The atmosphere was so much more animated and merry compared to the atmosphere in her husband's palace.

As expected, an obsidian limousine was waiting for them. Her maid approached the driver carefully, not wanting to walk into a setup and asked for clearance. Once satisfied, Rosette called her over and gently aided her into the back seat. The door closed; she frowned.

"Rosette come with me," she urged. If her maid stayed, she would definitely be killed, tortured, for playing a role in her escape.

"I cannot," her maid insisted. She shook her head warily. "It is my duty to serve the Caelum household. Although my primary task is to assist you in all of your pursuits, I cannot disobey the laws that established my standing in society. This will be the last time we see each other… My lady… It was a pleasure to be of service to you."

"Rosette…"

"Please go, and with haste before the young master awakes! Time is of the essence!"

Rolling up the murky windows, she commanded the driver to take off. She didn't look back at the fading figure of her maid. She would shed no tears. Who would she cry for? Rosette would be fine… She had to hope.

"Driver, ETA?" She inquired, testing his military acumen.

"Six hours," came his curt reply. "Approximately."

Good, he knew how to properly phrase his response; he was someone who could be trusted. Closing her eyes, without a single care in the world, she slept.

xxx

"Noctis…" She frowned, afflicted by the way her husband was stressed out from his diplomatic meeting with minor Demon groups. Perhaps now was not the right time.

"What is it, love?" He replied, unconsciously using his chilling, king's voice.

"Ana kicked me again… Do you want to talk to her?"

"I would love to."

She sighed contently as her husband placed both his warm hands on her swollen stomach. He closed his eyes and whispered words of love to their unborn daughter. Though physically, the father and daughter pair had not established links; mentally, they were inseparable. She could tell that he loved their daughter by the way he charmed Ana, the same way he had charmed her.

A slight pang of jealously filled her heart. She didn't know why, but she was mildly irritated at the uneven distribution of attention. Whenever they were together, her husband always directed his attention towards Ana. It shouldn't have bothered her. It was shameful, unheard of… a mother envious of her daughter?

Seeing the aggravated expression on his wife's face, Noctis smiled, knowing exactly what she was thinking. His graceful, elegant queen was envious of her princess. It was too adorable. He made sure to remedy the situation.

"Love you're doing it again," he whispered into her ear, licking the lobe playfully.

"D-Doing w-what?"

"Worrying."

"I most certainly am not!"

"How many times must I tell you, silly woman? You will always be my Queen, my counterforce, my inseparable other half, my unending pride, my eternal life. Ana is our daughter, our creation. Without you, she would never have come into existence. So cease this nonsense, love. Although I admit, you're absolutely adorable when you're envious, jealously doesn't suit your exquisite persona."

"Don't take that arrogant tone with me, idiot husband!" She blushed angrily, turning ten shades a bit too red. "Don't try to charm me with your silver-tongue."

"If my words have no effect then perhaps… my actions will…"

"W-What are y—! Mmph!"

He fisted the back of her hair softly and pulled her lips to his, claiming them in a heavy kiss. Taking her by the tongue, he reminded her exactly who it was that she belonged to. Gods, she was absolutely delicious. There was no way in Hell he'd ever tire of her. As he continued to ravish his delicate spouse, he a felt slight movement knick him in the abdomen; the gesture, he sensed, was full of rage. Oh dear… It seemed he really did have two delectable women vying for his attention.

"Have you learned your lesson?" He prodded, pinching his wife's smooth cheeks. It was a condescending gesture, that she normally would have castrated him for, luckily, he escaped without any injuries.

Pregnancy had made her soft. She merely turned her head, sticking her chin up in an elegant pose. He would get no response from her. No he would not… that wicked, manipulative, gorgeous man, whom she called husband. If he even so much as dared to tease her again, the whole palace would ignite into an inferno of flames.

A light knock on the door interrupted their moment. Her husband snarled bitterly, marching over to the door with the grace of an adept king. He flung it open and confronted the fool who had the insolence to intrude on his session with his queen. On the other side of the door stood a frightened squire, a young boy in his early teenage years. The boy delivered the message, announcing that another meeting was in way and that his presence was required.

Agitated, he sent the boy away. Watching the brooding look on his lover's face, he contemplated whether to stay or go. In the end, his sense of duty won. He left his gorgeous queen alone to her devices, abandoning her on their massive bed. The sight of her lean, petite body dwarfed by the size of their bed was a pitiful sight. She was distressed to see him leave. It took every ounce of his discipline to leave the room. Had he been any weaker, he would have run back into her arms and taken her, smothering her with his love.

Seeing her husband go, she felt wistful. He had been with her, only seconds ago, yet she missed him. What was she to do? She couldn't go a minute without him. Should she sleep? She always slept, lazing her precious time away. No, she wouldn't sleep. She sat upright, pressing up against the head rest, and hummed a light tune to her daughter. Focused on her bond with Ana, she didn't notice the shadowy figure arising from the corner of the room. By the time she did… it was too late.

She could only turn, shielding her child, before the piercing tip of a barbed blade tore through her back, impaling her against the wall. Blood, her blood, sloshed against the dark walls, painting a gruesome, nightmarish image. Her insides and tissues were shred to bits. The pain was unbearably excruciating. For the longest time, she thought she died.

She wished she had.

xxx

"My lady we have arrived at the destination," the chauffeur informed, lowering the division doors.

Clutching her burning chest, she gasped as her lungs prickled. A dream? No, it was a memory sealed deep within her that had resurfaced—the cause and origin of her husband's abhorrence for her. Brushing her wet bangs aside, she pushed open the door and exited the vehicle. A plain, wooden hut, enveloped in green foliage, stood at the center of what appeared to be a small human village.

Her driver left, completing his assigned task, leaving her with no one but herself. She was free. No more would she cringe from the malicious presence of her husband. No more would she lower her head in fear of being observed or punished. Now was the time to heal, a time to restore her physical strength and mental fortitude; she would no longer trust the advances of men. She had opened up her fragile heart, only to have it crushed to pieces, and in pieces, her heart would remain…

Following the instructions that her maid had given her, she strolled towards the hut silently, staying as inconspicuous as possible. Inside, the hut was old, beaten and dark. The corners were strewn with dusty, ancient cobwebs. Small critters and insects scuffled frantically as her imposing presence filled the room. A nasty breeze fluttered into the room through the non-existent windows. Everything about this hut was hideous; it was similar to a setting, in a horror film, where exorcisms and murders frequently occurred. She would have to spend a great deal of her time refurbishing this run-down hell-hole, but that was fine.

Since she had no belongings to unload, she circled the crammed the hut, eagerly looking for spare items she could use in repairing her new abode. If anything, she could resort to asking the human inhabitants in this village. The sun was rising in lieu of the coming day, which meant the village would be bustling with life. The human village was by no means isolated. That much, she discerned from the footprints and dusty car tracks on the road.

Of course, what she really had to do was alter her appearance. It would do no one any good if she waltzed out in her Demon glory, her trademark pink hair and all. Even humans, as lowly and uncultured as they were, would be able to tell who she was. After all, her husband was sovereign over both the demon and human races. Only a fool or a child would not know what sort of entity the dread-inspiring archfiend, Noctis Lucis Caelum was.

Calmly setting herself on her bed, which creaked even under the stress of her light weight, she closed her eyes and focused on the image of herself in the form of a human. Common human characteristics were comprised of certain looks—black eyes, black hair, light skin. She slowly recited a transformation spell that demons often used to conceal some of their prominent features such as skin marks or tails. Once finished, she grabbed a piece of broken glass off the windowsill and examined her reflection. With the exception of her emerald colored eyes, her appearance had changed. Her hair was no longer a lustrous pink, but a dusky black. Her skin no longer carried its creamy, childlike pale tone, but had a sun-kissed tan instead.

Pleasantly surprised by the results of her first transformation, she stretched her limbs before exiting her little hut. The first thing she had to do was procure clothes. Although comfortable, her flimsy, beige chemise was definitely unsuited for everyday tasks. She didn't pack because doing so would only have stirred up suspicion. She didn't have to walk very far until she came to an open-air market, which was teeming with customers and vendors.

She entered the small shop of a human cloth merchant. Glancing at her state of dress, the shopkeeper, a middle-aged man, eyed her warily as if she were some beggar, even worse, a thief.

"Please do not touch anything you cannot afford," he requested rudely.

Smiling lightly, she pranced around the room, taking various dresses, shirts, pants, and shoes off of the racks. Depositing the heavy stash of clothing onto the countertop, she waited for the shopkeeper to give her a sum. The merchant eyed irritably as if he believed she couldn't afford a single thing; therefore, would have go through the trouble of re-hanging the items. Better yet, he sneered at the fact that she had chosen so many expensive clothes and was attempting to buy out nearly the whole store.

"The total comes to…" he paused for an unnecessary dramatic effect. "A hundred thousand Gil." His pudgy eyes widened at the mere mention of the amount. If by some gracious act of lady luck this transaction was completed, he would have more this day than he had in the past two years combined!

Pulling out a pouch that she always kept with her, she fumbled around and took out one of many, many precious stones that she had. The minute she did, the shopkeeper's eyes bulged out of their sockets. It seemed he had keen eyes for valuable materials.

"T-That's a platinum ingot!" He sputtered like an idiot.

"Yes I can see that."

"Those are worth a hundred and fifty thousand Gil!"

"I am aware of that… Are you going to stare at me all day? I can go elsewhere if I'm bothering you."

"NO! B-But… I don't have any change!"

"I don't care. Just hand me the clothing and you can keep what's left over."

"Really? My lady that is very generous of you! Is there anything that you might possibly require? Anything, at all!"

"Yes, I would like bags for all of these."

Exchanging the tiny mineral for the large bundle of clothing, she left the clothing store, reinserting herself into the busy crowd. Walking through a swarm of busy people, she received quite a bit of astonished stares. She had to admit she looked quite ridiculous, carrying a dozen shopping bags more than a human woman could ever attempt to. Moving further into the marketplace, she came to a chain of food stands. Suddenly, the mixture of foul aromas overwhelmed her senses. She cringed, dropping her bags as her stomach churned unpleasantly. She rushed over to the nearest bush and gagged, puking out everything she had digested in the past few hours. She was light-headed and dizzy. Her knees buckled weakly while she tried to steady herself. People eyed her warily, but she didn't care.

This foreboding feeling… She hadn't felt it since… Since, she was pregnant with Ana… But that was impossible… The palace healers said she would never be able to bear children again! But there was no denying it. Everything about her body's current condition proclaimed that she was carrying a child. But how was this possible… Better yet, why?

xxx

Where was she?

She slowly opened her eyes and found herself chained in an array of casts and bandages. Her throat was unbearably dry; she had gone too long without water. Testing to see the limits of her restraints, she hissed as searing pain racked her abdomen. Her stomach felt as if it had just been sewn together after being cut into pieces.

A palace healer walked into her ward with a grave look on his face. He settled himself beside her bed and observed her quietly.

"How are you feeling my lady?" He inquired softly, loosening some of her bandages.

"I don't know… What happened?"

"You've been out for quite some time now, a month to be exact. You're very lucky to be alive after taking that blade to your lungs."

A blade? NO! She thrashed wildly as her memories came back to her. Ana! S-She… She couldn't feel the presence of her precious daughter.

"NO!" She shrieked. Please! "NO!" It couldn't be… WHY? She buried her face against the pillow, attempting to suffocate herself. Anything was better than this. She would rather die than face the shame of losing her own child. Oh Ana forgive me!

"I-I-lost her..?"

"I'm very sorry my lady. There was no way she could have been saved. By the time your husband realized that assassins had infiltrated the palace, it was too late. We found you snared against the wall. Your daughter was gone."

"N-No… It can't be!" She closed her eyes and tore at her hair. "A-Ana was… Ana… Oh God please don't do this to me. PLEASE!"

Sobs racked her unstable body. The sad truth hit her like a bullet train. Ana was dead. It was all her fault! If she only she had kept her guard up! Tears rolled down her moist cheeks. She was unfit to be a mother, and she would never be; her body would never be capable of baring children again. She screamed against her pillow, beating it as if it was an embodiment of her problems. Cold tears continued to pour out of her lifeless eyes. Her grief persisted, but body gave way to exhaustion. Lying on the bed, she wondered if she was just trapped in a horrendous illusion. Perhaps she'd wake up and Ana would be okay! No…

She stayed like that, lifeless and cold for hours, until an ominous presence occupied the room. Standing by the bedside was the shadowy figure of her husband. She gasped as her eyes focused on the repulsive objects he held in his hands. Heads. Unrecognizable, decayed heads that spewed cascades of ruby, red blood from their detached joints. She gagged at the unbearable stench of decay, but her husband disregarded her distress, pressing them to her. She wanted to tell him to stop, but her senses overwhelmed her.

"Look," he stated. His voice was emotionless. "Aren't they lovely? They're the ones who took Ana from us… Do you want to know how I killed them?"

No! Don't… She pleaded silently.

"Let me tell you. I herded them, one by one, like little sheep. I captured all of them, along with their kin, children and all. The five that had been involved in the scheme, I tied against the walls. I pried their eyes open with nails, forcing them to watch as I slit the unblemished throats of their children and lovers. It felt wonderful, hearing them scream like little bitches. I relished in their pathetic squeals. They begged me to stop like the desperate worms they were, but I didn't… No, they robbed me of the one thing that was dearest to me… Ana. I cut their fingers off, then their legs. They fell to the floor, flopping like helpless fish. And then, I killed them."

He laughed maniacally.

In the light of the moon's ray, she saw her husband's frightening irises. His eyes weren't their normal, gentle blue; they were red. This man wasn't her husband. No, her husband was never this irrational.

"Stop!" She sobbed.

"Stop? STOP?"

He seized her by the throat, choking her roughly, and smiled. "You wanted this didn't you? You let them kill Ana, isn't that right? You stupid, envious bitch!" He slammed her against the bed brutally. The impact nearly knocked her out. Seeing the malicious, red glint in her husband's eyes, she was frightened for the first time in her life. He was really going to kill her.

Stop! Noctis please! She tried to say, but his powerful grip was crushing her windpipes. Her body was extremely weak and frail from both her pregnancy and the sword wound. In any other situation, she could have easily fended him off. In terms of battle prowess, she was quicker and lighter. She had beaten him many times in mock battles, though he rarely tried. Desperate, she clawed at her husband's wrists, trying to pry them off of her bruised throat. The lack of air made her light-headed. If she didn't take action then she would surely die. She did the only thing she could do. She brushed her hand against his cold cheek. It was something she always did to calm his nerves.

The effect was instantaneous. As if she had just dispelled an ancient curse, he staggered backwards, dropping the decapitated heads. His face scrunched up into a guilty snarl. Before she could call out to him, he vanished.

xxx

"NO!"

His heart lurched painfully. Bittersweet splatters of blood glossed over every inch of the room. Pinned up against the wall, hanging on the sheer edge of death, was the colorless figure of his wife. His eyes burned furiously. He rushed over to his pale lover and pulled the blade from her stomach. Blood poured out of the wound, but she would survive. Her demon traits were already in effect, sealing the foul cut. However, it was impossible to know if her body would ever recover. How could he let such a thing happen?

"Light love. Wake up, please!" He begged.

There was no response. His lovely wife remained still, eyes closed, mouth shut. Promptly, a group of healers rushed into the room. They took her from his cold arms, wisely disregarding his ignorant orders to leave her with him and transported her to the palace's medical ward. As he watched the healers cast cures on his wife, a veteran healer approached him woefully.

"Young master… There's no easy way to say this. You're daughter... I'm afraid… didn't make it. There was no way we could have saved her. The minute the blade entered Lady Lightning's abdomen, she died…"

What's this..? He laughed, unable to comprehend the madness behind the healer's words. It wasn't true. This couldn't be happening. Light had been expecting Ana in a couple of weeks. There was no way she could be gone! He clenched his fists, digging his nails into his palm and drawing blood. An urge to kill, murder, manifested deep within him.

"I can help you find them."

He stood, clutching his head.

"If you let me, I can murder the men, who assaulted your wife and succeeded in their efforts to kill your daughter. I can find them, you know that. Just let me in."

"NO!"

"Come on. Don't be a fool. You don't have the strength or heart to kill. That wench you call your wife has made you soft; you've become a prissy milksop. Return to me, and I'll promise you the heads of those who murdered your daughter."

It was such a tempting offer… Maybe… Just maybe.

"Yes, that's better. Accept me, let me into your body once more. Become the man you've always neglected to be. Become the Demon King!"

"Get out of my head!"

"No. I will always be a part of you as long as you live. There is no way you can get rid of me."

"I don't trust you."

"Hn, trust is for the weak. You should be honored to be my vessel."

"No. I won't ever use you again. You lied to me."

"Aww… Did I hurt poor Nocty's feelings? You can't still be mad about that, can you? After all, we both know you wanted those kids dead. They bullied you, all I did was give you a push. You would have slaughtered them regardless."

"No…"

"Let me in. Use me. I exist for a reason—to fulfill your desires. Do you really want your daughter's death to go in vain? Will you be able to sleep at night, knowing that your daughter's merciless killers are still alive, basking in the light of their achievements? You've become weak Noctis. Years ago, you wouldn't have hesitated."

Noctis paused, weighing his options.

"Fine."

"Yes! That's better."

He didn't care anymore. At that moment, nothing mattered to him than revenge. His sole desire was to gain retribution for the crimes committed against him.

"Wait."

"What is it?"

"Don't you dare touch Light. I'll swear on flames of Gehenna that I'll send you to Hell myself, if you do."

"I wouldn't dream of it…"

Immediately, his body burned, erasing his mind of his senses. The veteran healer, who had been watching his silent, mental interaction, addressed him warily.

"My lord, are you feeling well?"

He nodded, baring his newly shaped fangs. He opened his eyes, and for the first time, saw the world through the lens of a bloody kaleidoscope. Freedom had never felt so delicious. For so long, he, the Demon King, had been trapped inside this body, a slave to his softer half. Now that he was free, the world was his for the razing. He would start by destroying the ones, who had dared to touch what was his. He closed his eyes, concentrating on locating his victims. With a flicker of his fingers and a poisonous smile to prophesize his actions, he travelled through the shadows of his kingdom until he came to a collection of mansions.

The sheep were already lined up for the slaughter. With a mere movement of his lips, he blew up the doors to the buildings, showering the insides with debris. He wasted no time capturing everyone in his sight. No children or women were spared. He grabbed them by the necks and harvested them like crops, gathering them at the center of the room. They screamed, wailed, sobbed like whimpering cowards.

They cried for their caretakers, and the demons came, rushing towards their loved ones. Not once did they consider the fact that they were advancing into their graves. He rounded them up like a herd of cattle. He disarmed and destroyed each one of the assailants, snapping all eight joints in their bodies. They screamed like children as he nailed them to the walls, forcing them to watch weakly. And then, as they watched, weak-spirited, he killed their loved ones. He impaled and butchered them without remorse. When he was finished, he laughed sadistically at the pathetic sight of the grown men crying their eyes out with snot oozing down their noses. Now they knew how he felt, how anguished and heartbroken he was.

He turned, ending their lives with a mere gesture of his hands and faded from the gory scene.

Rest in peace, Ana.

xxx

Three months.

That was how long it took her to recover control of her body—her upper body. For now, she was constrained to a wheelchair. Her legs remained paralyzed, and the healers continued to do all that was possible to cure her paralysis.

Three months.

That was also how long it had been since she had last seen her husband. From what she had heard from the nurses, her husband was a phantom that stalked the halls at night with terrifying, ruby eyes that glimmered in the dark. He wasn't the same was what the servants said. Not once had he come to her bedside to soothe her distress over losing Ana. So she decided it was her move to make; she would be the one to confront him.

She tediously wheeled her way to her husband's room located on the fourth floor. She knew something was seriously wrong as she got there. The door was slightly ajar, and the disturbing sounds that came from their room devastated her heart.

No… Not after Ana… Not this… It was too much to take.

Heart in her throat, she weakly pushed the door, hoping that the Gods would have mercy on her unstable mind, but the Gods didn't exist. Not today at least. She watched, with bleeding eyes, as her husband ruthlessly fucked another woman on their wedding bed. He took the woman like a savage beast, pounding and grinding her into the bed, causing it the creak under the pressure of their sinful mating.

Unable to tolerate the act any longer, she choked. Her husband stopped what he was doing immediately and turned. Seeing her traumatized state, he smirked callously. He walked towards her, bare-naked, with those same, unnerving red eyes. His face soon became a mask devoid of emotion, stoic and cold.

"W-Why?" She sobbed.

"Why?" He reiterated incredulously, making light of her serious meltdown. "You of all people should know. You're worthless that's why. You can't produce any more children, you've become a useless cripple, and you murdered my daughter. Need I say more? It's only fitting that I procure a more, how should I put it, able female to suit me."

"That's bullshit! Noctis, what's wrong with you? You'd never say that to me!"

"Yes… I would never say that to you—the court's most cherished demoness, but that's the thing. You're not you. All I see before my eyes is a defective woman, who's lived way past her prime. You're a lingering shadow of the woman you used to be. You've outlived your usefulness."

"Shut up! SHUT UP!" She screamed.

"Look at you. It's absolutely pitiful to see how low a woman with your capabilities has fallen."

"Give me my husband back, you monster!"

"Your husband?" He grabbed her by the chin. "What makes you think that I'd be your husband? Who the hell would want to be tied to you?"

"Stop it! S-Stop. Stop. STOP!"

"Oh, you think this all a big nightmare, don't you?" He narrowed his eyes. "Well, let me show you how real this is."

In one fluid, unpredictable movement, he struck her across the cheek. The force of his strike was so severe that she fell out her chair and came crashing onto the cold floor. She clutched her swollen left cheek and tried to salve the burning sting.

"This is reality, and that's exactly how much you mean to me. I can't kill you; it's not allowed. What's more, I can't mate with another female. However, if you just happen to take your own pitiful life, well, that's another story."

Panting raggedly, unable to open her left eye, she dropped her head against the floor.

"Look at you," he continued to taunt. "You can't even fight back! This is how disgustingly weak you've become. With a woman like you for a mother, it's no wonder Ana died. Tell me, did you bare your stomach at the assassins? Did you put up any effort to protect her?"

Of course I did! She wanted to scream. Instead, she remained silent. Her body was so exhausted, mentally and physically, from everything.

"N-Noctis… please."

"You sound pathetic. It's sickening really, the way you continue to beg like a peasant. I expected a lot more from the woman, who I chose to be my Queen. The title of Queen is unfit to be yours now. From now on, you'll be my mate in title, but merely a slave to my needs."

"That's right. I'll introduce you to my new mistress once she awakes from our lovely coupling. Unlike you, she can actually use her legs for a pleasurable purpose. But then again, you can't use your legs at all, can you?"

"Noctis… I love you…"

"What?"

"I love you! Please, come back to me."

Her words served their purpose. He shrieked loudly, clutching his head with both of his hands. His eyes flickered blue and red as his conscience fought for control. "I won't let you take it BACK!"

Observing her husband's torment, she prayed silently for him to return. She could only watch as his body slumped, unmoving. The air was eerily quiet for the few, long minutes that the two were locked in their mental battle. Finally, he stirred awake.

He slowly lifted his head, "I'm sorry Light… I'm so sorry love… I can't believe I did this to you…"

Was it really possible?

"Noctis it's you—"

"—is what you'd want me to say right?" He laughed, shaking violently. His eyes were still red, atrociously red. "Did you really think I was going to go away? No, I'm here to stay, love."

She shook her head to deny it. It couldn't be…

xxx

For months, she continued to stay by her husband's side, despite how horribly he treated her. The reason she stayed was that she had hope. Hope that one day her kind, gentle husband would return. Even though that seemed impossible, at the moment, she couldn't afford to give up. Not after all of the suffering she had endured.

At present, she was confined in her room with guards watching her every single second of the day. What was worse, her room was next to her husband's. Every night, without fail, he would bring to his bed a different woman, and make infuriating love to her. Each woman would scream his name throughout the night, robbing her of her sleep and taking from her, her tears. He did this to torment her—to make her concede.

Her confidence started to waver. She cried herself to sleep every night. The strong soldier within her no longer existed. She started to doubt her actions and doubt her worth. If her husband, who had so dedicatedly loved her, despised her, who would love her? It was just as he said; she was a lingering shadow of the woman she used to be. Consequently, due to her imprisonment, her appearance faded. Her rare beauty, which had been unparalleled, lost its luster and appeal. Her strong, lean frame, which had been the envy of every demoness, lost its tone.

She thought her life could never get worse.

Until she met him.

On that day, she had been walking through the palace gardens, an action her husband had surprisingly permitted. There was a party that day. In order to stay away from the public, as her husband had ordered, she sought refuge with the plants she had once cared for. She sat by the pond, in the middle of the cold night, and stared at the moon's beautiful reflection. It was so pretty, full of life, unlike her. She slipped one hand into the water and sighed.

"Hi there!"

She jumped and quickly pulled her hand back, shielding it against her chest.

"Who are you?" She questioned the young demon boy. She was quite angry that her privacy had been so easily intruded upon. How long had he been standing there, watching her as if she were some object to fawn over?

By the looks of it, he was no older than a teenager. He reminded her of Noctis, when he had first attempted to court her.

"Name's Coma."

She was taken aback at his total lack of respect. Although it didn't seem so, she was at least a couple decades older than he was. Then again, after she had been stripped of her rank, it wasn't surprising that he didn't know who she was.

"…"

"You know, usually when someone tells you their name, you tell them yours in return. It's only proper etiquette."

"Leave," she hissed. She was in no mood to deal with the woes of an uneducated teenager.

"I'll leave if you give me a kiss! Come on pretty lady, one kiss that's all I ask for!"

The nerve!

"PLEASE? PLEASE?"

"No."

"PLEEEEEAAASEEE."

She continued to ignore the irritating child. Hell would freeze over before she ever locked lips with a child such as him.

"Did I mention you have beautiful eyes?"

"The answer's still no."

"Damn it," he muttered. "Please lady, if you give me a kiss, even a peck on the cheek, I can die happy! I swear, you're so beautiful it hurts to look at you. And I love beautiful things! PLEASE."

"Alright!"

"Really?"

"No."

"…"

She smiled lightly. As annoying as he was, the boy also provided her with a small amount of entertainment. To put it simply, he was amusing. He didn't care about pretenses; he was sincere in his interactions with others. She liked that about him. She would have loved to continue tormenting the little boy, but she felt her husband's terrifying aura approaching her quickly and violently. Oh God, he knew!

"Listen Coma!" she whispered frantically. "You have to leave right now! My husband is on his way right now, and he's not a rational person. He'll kill you!"

"Nope," he answered. "Nice try, but I don't buy that. I ain't leavin' until you give me my kiss! Either you do that or I'm going to be your best friend for the next 24 hours."

"Fine!"

She grabbed him by the shoulders and pecked him the cheek, "Now leave!"

"You call that a kiss?" He laughed. Without warning, he seized her by the hair and pulled her towards him, locking his lips to hers. The second he did, he was harshly torn away from her.

"Noctis!" She screamed, horrified by the sight of her blood thirsty husband drowning the young boy. He held the boy by the nape of his neck and held his head under the pond. The boy struggled and thrashed frantically, but his efforts were useless. No one, let alone a child, could match her husband in strength. Unable to tolerate the scene any longer, she used her newly restored legs and tackled her husband. The impact was enough to free the child, but enough to inflict any damage onto her husband.

Let loose, the boy, Coma coughed and tried to crawl away frantically. She did all she could to hold her husband back, pinning him to ground with whatever strength she had left. If she gave in, or slipped even for a second, the boy would surely die by her husband's hands. Sadly, she wasn't strong enough. Her husband tossed her aside like a ragdoll. She could only watch, broken and fatigued, as he hunted the poor teen.

"What do we have here?" He hissed bitterly. "Did you really think you could get away after you touched what is mine?

"I d-didn't know, she was your wife! M-M-My lord, I swear on the graves of my ancestors that I really didn't! I-I would not have been so foolish, if I-I knew that she was none other t-than L-Lady Lightning!"

"Bow before me, you insolent child," he commanded. His crimson eyes bled through the darkness, illuminating the night. Using his unique demonic ability to control others through oratory, he forced the boy's head to collide against the ground. The boy's skull cracked agonizingly. He screamed in utter anguish as his head bled.

Lightning sobbed bitterly. It was pathetic. No, she was pathetic. Everyone involved with her died because she was too weak to protect them. She closed her eyes as her husband plucked a Demon blade out of the air. A single stroke was all it took to silence the boy, forever.

A tear slid down her cheek. She thought it was over; it was, but not for her. Noctis slammed her onto the floor, pinning her arms above her head with one hand. He quickly undid the laces of her flimsy chemise while she tossed and turned violently. No! Not like this… She didn't want this.

"STOP Noctis! Stop!" She screamed.

"You wanted this didn't you? Did you really think I wouldn't see you kiss that boy? Since you can't seem to live without whoring yourself away, I'll give you what you want. You'd like that, wouldn't you? You degenerate whore."

"You said it yourself, I'm trash. Why do I matter to you when you clearly have a collection of willing tramps?"

"That's because you're my worthless trash. That alone gives me the right to do as I see fit. I'm a possessive man, and you'd be a fool to assume that I'd let others touch what's mine."

"I love you," she repeated. She wasn't going to fight him. Let him take her body, he'd never take her heart. That belonged to her real husband.

"Still spouting nonsense about love, I see. You're still the same sentimental woman you were years ago."

She laughed bitterly, "I love you."

He snarled furiously at his failed attempt to break her spirit. No matter, he would have plenty of time to do so. There was no way she could escape his grasp.

"Is that so?" He regained his cool composure. "We'll see how long that lasts."

Without a word, he faded into the night. She finally let loose the sob that she had held back for so long.

"I love you, Noctis…"

I hate you.

She had to escape.

xxx

"Mom?"

"Moooooom."

"MOM!"

Lightning snapped out of her nostalgic trance. The sound of her daughter's frantic voice grabbed her attention. The disgusting scent of burnt toast pervaded throughout the kitchen. Accordingly, two loaves of bread, burnt to black crisps, popped out of the smoking toaster.

"Oh no," She groaned. "Sweetheart, it looks like I won't be able to make you anything for breakfast. We're also out of milk and cereal."

"It's fine mom! I'm just glad you're okay. You kind of freaked me out right there," her daughter replied, tying her shoes and stuffing her school supplies into her backpack. "You just stopped all of a sudden. Are you alright?"

"I'm okay. Just spaced out, that's all."

"What time is it?"

"8:40! You're going to miss the bus if you don't hurry!"

"Wah! I gotta go!"

Her daughter bolted out the door and rushed through the yard.

"Ana!" She called after.

Ana stopped, brushing aside her golden hair that she had inherited from her grandfather. She was by no means a petite girl. Like her mother, she was both tall and delicate; her skin even had a light tan due to all of the athletics she was involved with.

"What?"

"I love you!"

"Mom!" She grumbled, flushing scarlet with embarrassment. She could only hope that none of the neighbors heard her mother's humiliating declaration of affection. "I'm fifteen! You don't have to tell me that you love me every time I leave for school!"

"Ana!"

"Fine… I-I… I LOVE YOU, BYE!"

Seeing her daughter run merrily, Lightning felt pride flourish within her. The Gods had given her a second chance. For Ana, she'd endure any torment and weather any storm. As a mother, she did everything in her power to her protect her precious child. On the laborious day of Ana's birth, she swore to herself that she'd let no one harm her daughter. She wouldn't make the same mistake again…

xxx

"Hey Éclair!"

Anastasia turned her head at the all-too-familiar use of her surname.

"Hey Ren."

"Woah!" The blond haired boy gasped dramatically. "No snide insult? AND you've actually made it to school on time? Who are you, and what have you done to my best friend?"

"Ha. Ha."

"Oh stop it! It wasn't that funny."

Ren Kobayashi was a boy, an infuriating one at that, who came from a mixed family. He had been her friend since grade school. Often, due to the color of their hairs, they were mistaken for siblings. As irritating as he was, Ren had somehow managed to stay her friend. Although they argued more often than not, she could never hate Ren—he was simply too innocent. Of course, that statement had been tested many times over the years. There were even times when all she wanted to do was create a Ren punching bag so she could beat him over and over again.

As they continued walking while having their daily conversation, they stopped at the end of an enormous crowd. Hundreds of students were gathered around the entrance of their high school. Everyone whispered excitedly as if a group of pop stars was going to arrive at any minute.

"What's going on?" She asked curiously.

"You don't know?"

"NO. I just asked you 'what's going on' because it makes me extremely happy whenever I do."

Ren rolled his eyes, "Do you know about the Demon Brigade?"

"Do I? Of course I do, everyone knows about them. They're a group of famous demons from the capital that work for the king."

"Yeah, they're supposed to be visiting our school today."

"What for? There's nothing interesting to see here."

"Each year, they visit various combat-orientated schools such as ours in order to recruit talented demon students into their ranks. The schools have no choice, but to abide by the Brigade's rule. If they don't, they lose all funding from the capital. Basically what the Brigade does is test each student's combat skills by having them perform in certain trials. Of course, you don't know any of this because you're a measly, little first year."

"Thanks..."

Suddenly, the ruckus caused by the eager students grew louder. An envoy of black limousines drove up to the school. The members of the Demon Brigade emerged elegantly from their vehicles as if they were celebrities at a premiere. They walked through the parted waves of students, in an impressive, royal gait. When they stood next to the students, it was painfully obvious that they were so much more refined.

For the most part, she didn't really care about the Demon Brigade. It wasn't like she wanted to work for the capital, no matter how enticing the pay and benefits were. Plus, there was also the fact that she would never leave her mother alone. As she continued to observe the members of the brigade, she made eye contact with an extremely attractive male. She lowered her eyes and blushed as his icy, violet eyes remained fixated on her. He scrutinized every inch of her body, making her flush even more. She had to pull at the collar of her uniform to release the steam that was building up in her chest. Boldly, she looked at him again, only to find him still staring at her. Before she could look away, his lips curled up into an amused grin. He turned away with his hands in his black blazer and led the members into the school's combat facility.

xxx

What the hell is going on?

Ana couldn't believe what she was seeing. As she stood amongst the equally startled group of observing students, she was at a loss for words. She knew the brigade was strong, but not this strong. This was absolutely humiliating and detrimental to her school's prestige. None of the military-arts students could compete against a single person.

At the center of the arena stood a red-haired member of the brigade, and lying unconscious, around him, were several members of the upper division military class. The test given by the brigade was simple, yet impossible at the same time, as she had just witnessed. The objective was to land a clean hit on the designated target, who in this case was the red-head named Superbia. But that, itself, was the problem. No one could touch him. He was too agile, and way out of any student's league when it came down to a battle. To make things worse, he was an arrogant prick, who brutally beat down any of the students that attempted to hit him.

"What's wrong?" He shouted into the crowd of onlookers. "Is this really all this shitty school has to offer? National prestige? You've got to kidding me, my mother could beat you scrubs with her arms tied behind her back."

The whole brigade, comprised of roughly a hundred aristocratic demons, laughed at Superbia's ridiculous insults. They even joined in on the taunts, hurling insults in the same rude manner. All of demons, with the exception of the violet-eyed boy, their leader, snickered obnoxiously.

"Cocky bastards," she growled silently. If only she had practiced her combat abilities, instead of lazing around joining sports clubs, she could have kicked their arrogant asses.

"Save it Ana," Ren warned. "This is serious. You don't want to make enemies out of those guys. Though I have to say that, red-head over there has a really interesting vocabulary. I mean seriously? Scrubs? Who says that?"

"This is pathetic! We just got our asses handed to us by that douche-bag. I can't stand this."

"What are you going to do about it, you idiot? Do you want to get your ass kicked by him too?"

"Why don't you do anything? You're a guy, aren't you? Go beat him up, you'll look cool in front of all the girls."

"Ana, Ana, tsk, tsk. That would be a great idea IF I knew how to freakin' fight. The only thing I can do with these hands of mine is completely dominate on my PlayStation. Just yesterday, I unlocked every single trophy for Little Big Planet."

"Little Big wha—REN! This is serious. I'm really pissed off right now, and the red-head asshole still hasn't given up on insulting us. Why can't you be more like those characters in those manji comics you try to make me read all the time?"

"MANJI? MANJI? FOR CHRIST'S SAKES WOMAN! IT'S MANGA! M-A-N-G-A. Why am I still friends with you?"

"Because you wouldn't last a second without me. Anyways, why do you keep reading..?"

"Manga," he cut in.

"Right. Why do you keep reading manga?"

"Hey, can I help it that I'm half Asian? Did I ask for this Asian blood to flow through my veins?"

"I guess not."

"Well there you go."

Ana balled her fists angrily. She really, really wanted to go out there, but she knew she wouldn't last a second against Superbia. All she could do was watch. She soon found out that she wasn't the only one thinking about ripping the red head into bits. The other students were also suppressing their anger.

"So that's it? There's no one else in this pussy school? Man what a bore!"

"Wait!" A voice boomed from the entrance of the facility.

Everyone turned to figure at the doorway. Seeing the person at the door, she smiled. Perhaps there was hope left, after all.

"Who the hell are you?" Red-head questioned.

The figure bounded onto the battle floor. His huge, bulking physique caused tremors as he ran. All of the students recognized who he was and started cheering. If anyone could beat up the red-head then it was him.

"Fourth-year, Student Council President, Joseph William reporting for duty! I hear you've been insulting my precious student body, is that correct?"

"So what?"

Without any noticeable movements, the President vanished. When he re-appeared, he was directly in front of the red-head, who was just as shocked as everyone else. The President grabbed Superbia's head in his massive hand and smashed his face on the floor. The crowd went wild. Students hugged each other, having their prides restored by the actions of their Student Council President. The President raised his fist to deliver the final blow, but it never came.

Ana gasped. Before she could register what was going on, the President went flying into the crowd, bowling over a couple unfortunate students. Where the President once had been, the violet-eyed boy stood. He looked awfully bored for someone who just sent an enormous man flying. He ran a hand through his unkempt black hair as if the stunt he pulled had been effortless.

"H-Holy shit!" She heard Ren choke. "B-Black hair. Violet eyes. Bandages on his arms. That's the king's head assassin!"

Head assassin? You mean that she had a staring contest with the Demon King's head assassin, of all people? Was she a complete idiot?

"I remember now. My parents were talking about him. The reason why he wears bandages around his hands is because anything he touches rots and dies. That's why his name is Excess. In Latin, excessum stands for death and digression."

She gasped, seeing Excess stalk towards the unconscious Student Council President, with a murderous gleam in his indifferent eyes. She had to stop him. No one else, but she and Ren knew who the dark-haired boy was, and she knew for a fact, Ren wasn't going to do a thing. Despite Ren's severe protests, she ran as quickly as she could and stood over the President's body, with her arms outstretched in the typical "protect you" fashion.

"Move." Excess ordered, unwrapping his bandages.

"No." She protested although legs shook uncontrollably. The lethal look in his violet eyes told her that he had killed plenty of times before without hesitation, and she was absolutely terrified. "Just leave him alone. He's done nothing to you."

"I won't say it again," he hissed venomously. "Move."

She shook her head, determined to fight until the end. In an instant, he closed the gap between them. He was so close to her. If he moved a single step closer, their lips would touch. Defiantly, she forced herself to stare back into his eyes. His eyes were alluring, yet they held so much anger and resentment. The other students were watching their silent exchange in awe. From the students' vantage points, they seemed like polar opposites.

"I'd rather not kill you. It'd be a waste to ruin something so lovely."

"I'd rather you not kill me, too. And I will take that as a compliment." Oh God what the hell was she doing, swooning over the bewitching words of a murderer?

"You really won't move?"

"No."

"Pity."

She closed her eyes as he lifted his hands and touched her cheek. His touch was surprisingly warm and welcoming. So warm, in fact, she initially thought her flesh had burned away, but nothing happened. She opened her eyes and looked around; everything was still the same, so she couldn't be dead.

"I-I'm not dead?" It was a pretty stupid question to ask.

For the first time in his life, Excess was completely shocked, at an utter loss for words. He brushed his hand against the gorgeous blonde's smooth skin. Her flesh wasn't rotting like it should have. She was completely unaffected by his cursed touch. There was only one other person in the world who was immune to his touch, and that was his master, Lord Noctis. Unable to contain his curiosity, he grabbed the blonde's delicate hand, examining her lithe fingers. He immediately noticed a silver ring placed on her ring finger. It was a ring that bore the Caelum crest. This girl was no ordinary human. No, she was much more than that. She was unquestionably the heiress to the demon throne, his fiancé and mate.

After years of searching, moving from one school to the other, he had found her at last.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. It pained him to do this.

"Wha— Uhh…" Ana gasped as he struck her in the stomach, knocking her out.

He carefully held her unconscious body in his arms. Ignoring the loud protests of the foolish human students, he made his way to his brigade where his subordinates were waiting.

"STOP!"

What was it this time? He turned and found himself facing a flimsy blond haired boy, who, by the looks of it, harbored some sort of affection for his mate. Unacceptable.

"Give her back!" Ren shouted. That idiot, Ana just had to go and try being a freakin' hero! His heart almost burst out of his chest when Excess had stroked her cheek. He still didn't know why Ana was unaffected by the boy's dangerous touch. Before he could blink, he was swept off his feet. The back of his head hit the matted floor. The king's assassin pinned him to ground with his foot.

"Get it over with, asshole!"

"You're not worth killing. Instead, I want you to deliver a message for me. Tell Lady Lightning that her daughter's going to be in my care. Tell her to come to the demon palace, if she ever wants to see her precious child again."

Demon palace? Lady Lightning? What the hell was going on? He wasn't given any time to think about it. A sharp rap to the head knocked him unconscious.

xxx

"Ugh… Where am I?"

Ana sat up slowly and found herself in quite an elegant bed. The room itself was splendid with its white walls and flowers. It was the sort of room that teenagers, such as her, could only dream of having. I mean come on, there was a damn sixty-inch television set, sitting right in her face, just begging to be turned on!

"You're awake."

The unexpected voice caused her to jump. She craned a neck to get a better view of the person who had addressed her. The dim lighting made it impossible to see how he looked, and the fact that the man stood in the shadows didn't help at all. The man came closer and revealed himself. For probably the fifth time today, she practically almost passed out from shock.

"The K-King!" She sputtered like an idiot and tried to bow as best as she could. She half-expected him to strike her down for her lack of etiquette. Instead, he did something she'd never ever believe he'd do. He walked to the bedside and gathered her into his warm, athletic arms. He was hugging her! Her mind couldn't comprehend what was going on. It took all of her effort not to scream and shake like an immature fan girl.

"You don't have to be so formal, Ana," Noctis whispered gently, inhaling his daughter's lovely scent. "God, you look so much like your mother."

What?

"Y-You know my name? And h-how do you know who my moth—"

"—But you have my eyes," He cut in.

No. Freakin. Way. Did he just say what I think he said? She opened her mouth to say something, but she was so flabbergasted her words died at throat. But there was no denying it; they both had glacial blue eyes that glittered in the moonlight.

"That's impossible! My mother told me my father died of an illness! A-And there's also the fact that I'm a human, and you're a demon!"

"Is that so? Your mother was always a clever woman, but then again, if she hadn't been, I would never have fallen in love with her." He slowly got into the bed, leaned against the headrest, and placed her on his lap, caging her against his body.

Oh my God. This had to stop. She almost fainted, again. She'd never been this intimately close to a male before, mainly because her mother threated to castrate any boy who tried to make a move on her. Ask Ren, he knew. She suddenly gasped, feeling his lips press against the back of her head.

"W-W-What are y-you doing?"

"Relax…" He sighed lovingly. "Do you know how long I've waited for this day? Do you know how painful it was? Knowing that you were out there, being able to feel your presence, but never being able to find you? I've searched for fifteen years, sent out all of my best trackers, but they never found you. Of course, that was to be expected. Your mother is very gifted at concealing things."

"Look," he lifted her left hand up and pointed to the silver ring. "I gave this ring to your mother when I courted her. What's special about this ring is that it suppresses a person's energy. In your case, it suppresses your demon nature. Your mother wanted to you to grow up as a human, so you'd never be involved with me. Have you taken it off before?"

"I did," she replied silently. "Once."

"And what happened?"

"I found out that I could move things with my mind. I could tell a door to open and it would. I could order animals to dance and they would. Mom eventually found out what I was doing and yelled at me. She was so angry, but at the same time she was scared. She looked at me with tormented eyes. Ever since that day, I've never taken the ring off."

"I see," he nodded, stroking his daughter's velvety, golden hair. "You've inherited my ability to command nature. Watch this," He pointed to a vase full of fresh roses, "Wither." As he had commanded, the roses crumbled into black ashes. "Live," This time, they returned to their former fresh states.

She watched intently as he continued to display his skills. He seemed so genuine in his attempt to persuade her. Her heart fluttered warmly. She felt so safe and secure in his arms with his fatherly love enveloping her.

"Why don't you take the ring off? There's something else I want to show you."

Curious, she did as he ordered.

"Check your wrist."

She did and surprisingly a strange, black insignia appeared on her wrist. It was like a mini-tattoo. She watched carefully as he rolled up his sleeves. On his left wrist was the same, exact mark! She realized that this couldn't be a coincidence.

"You're really my father, aren't you?" She sobbed happily. Tears poured down her eyes as she turned and buried her face into his chest. "I-I always hoped that you'd be alive, a-and here you are! D-D… D-Daddy!"

Noctis kissed his daughter and crushed her in his loving arms. Oh how he had longed for this day. She was everything he had expected her to be and much more. She was as beautiful as her mother. Her golden locks contrasted and complimented her blue eyes. To put it simply, she was exquisite.

"Let it all out, baby," he cooed, wiping away her tears. "I won't ever let you go. I promise."

"D-Daddy?"

"Yes, sweetheart?"

"Why did mom leave you? Why did she try to hide me from you?"

"To be honest," he paused. "It's not really something I'm comfortable talking about, but I'll tell you…"

For hours, he sat and told her everything—from the moment he met her mother to the moment they parted, leaving no detail out of the story. She listened patiently and cringed at times. It was heart-breaking to hear what her poor mother had gone through. Although her father had been the one, who had inflicted the damage onto her mother, she could tell that he truly regretted his actions. His words were sincere. Moreover, she was momentarily overwhelmed by grief when she learned how her eldest sister, her parents' first child, had died.

"So that's why your mother named you Anastasia. Your name stands for resurrection. I assume your mother saw your birth as second chance. In a sense, she believed that you came back from the dead and named you accordingly."

"I can't believe I didn't know you existed."

"It's alright. We have plenty of time from now on. I just don't think your mother will ever forgive me for what I've done to her."

"I'll try to convince her. You couldn't help it, right? I mean, if I was possessed by my psycho other-half, I don't think I'd be sane either."

"Alright… I'm going to hold you to your word then."

A loud rap on the door interrupted their conversation. The door creaked open, and a manservant entered.

"My lord, Lady Lightning has returned to the palace, and she seeks your audience."

"Mom?" Ana questioned. "How did she know I was here?"

Surely, this couldn't be a coincidence.

Could it?

xxx

Lightning paced around the throne room frantically. Even now, with the palace guards observing her every move, she couldn't stay still. How could she when her precious daughter was in his hands? Her heart had nearly burst out of her chest when Ren told her that Ana had been kidnapped. At first, she was worried, but when she realized just who had taken her daughter, she went insane. She had driven for six hours non-stop and finally arrived at the palace, with the intent to murder everyone. However, she decided to be rational. She didn't want Ana to be harmed in her rage.

To be completely frank, she was still terrified by thought of seeing her husband. There was no way of knowing how fifteen years had changed him.

"Mom!"

Her heart fluttered at the sight of her daughter bursting through the grand doorway. Immediately, she ran over and hugged her baby.

"Are you okay?" She asked breathlessly. "Did he hurt you?"

"You're mistaken if you think I would ever hurt my own daughter."

She froze. Fifteen years couldn't make her forget how sweet and loathsome his voice was. He entered through the doorway in his usual dark and majestic splendor, carrying with him his aura of malice; however, he was different. He didn't seem like the man, who had abused her. Rather, he seemed like the man, who she had given her heart to.

"Well excuse me for doubting you, but I think I would know from personal experience," she spat bitterly.

"Mom!" Ana scolded.

"Come on, baby. We need to leave now. We can't stay here any longer!"

"No! I'm not leaving!"

She couldn't believe what her daughter was saying. There was no reason for them to stay in this god-forsaken palace!

"What are you talking about? Don't be silly. Let's go."

"Mom… Dad's told me everything, and I truly believe that you can't blame him. I know as much as you do that, somewhere deep inside, you're still hoping that we can be a family. And we can! Dad's changed, so please Mom…"

"No. Absolutely not, you don't know what kind of person he is. If you're not going to go then I'm leaving without you."

"You can do whatever you want, but I'm staying," Ana replied stubbornly. "I've lived without dad for fifteen years, I'm not just going to let this opportunity slide by."

"Ana PLEASE!" She cried hysterically, uncomfortable under her husband's piercing gaze. "You know I can't ever leave you. You're all I have left…"

"Mom. Trust me, please. Dad's willing to make things right with you. Stay here for a week, and if you still can't stand the sight him, I'll leave with you. I promise, I won't even lift a finger in protest. Give him a chance."

She closed her eyes and carefully weighed her options. Was she really going to do this? What would it take for her learn? She had to hope.

"Okay. Just this once… I'll do it for you."

"Really?" Her daughter beamed brightly. She turned to her father and gave him a proud wink. All that was left was for him to do his part then maybe, for once and for all, they could get passed this hurdle.

"Well then, I guess I'll show you where you'll be staying, while Ana attends to her business," Noctis answered.

"I'm not going anywhere without my daughter," she spat.

"Mom. It's fine. I'm not going to disappear. I'll be with you, shortly. I just have to do something real quick." Of course, she really didn't have anything to. It was simply a plan concocted by her and her father.

She watched with a sliver of hope as her father offered her mother his arm. And as expected, her mother slapped his arm away and cursed at him. It wasn't much, but they had to start somewhere.

xxx

"I've missed you."

Silence.

"Please love, it's really me. I had to fight for fifteen agonizing years to re-take control of this body, but I've finally gotten rid of him. I swear I'll spend the rest of my life making it up to you! I love you."

More silence.

"Do you remember this place?" He laughed softly. "I first met you here. I still remember, you kicked my ass for complimenting you. It was also… Where we got married."

"Listen," she hissed. "Just stop. I'm in no mood to talk to you."

"I see… Well, we're here."

He opened the door, revealing a lavishly furnished room. Inside, there was a single bed, though it was enormous in size. There were also several drawers and wardrobes. Other than that, it was simply designed to be a guest room.

"Light… I'm sorry…"

"Save it."

"I'm sorry you're still the gullible fool you've always been."

What?

Before she could react, he roughly shoved her into room. When she passed through the doorway, she felt as if she had entered a different dimension, and she had. The room was nothing compared to what it "looked" like from the outside. The place was a rotten shit-hole filled with cold rocks and gravel. In essence, the place was a prison cell.

"What the hell is this?" She demanded angrily. She tried to leave the way she came in, but the room was invisibly sealed off.

"You haven't changed at all."

No! She couldn't believe what she was seeing. Staring back at her were the same hateful red irises that belonged to him. How was this possible?

"What have you done?"

"Simple, I've put you where you belong—with me. Now, you'll never be able to escape, isn't it convenient? Do you really want to know what I've done during the fifteen years we were separated? I built this prison cell for you, that's what I did. It was specifically constructed to fit your needs. On the outside it looks like a plain guest room, but it's not, you know that first-hand. However, that's not all. Let's just assume that little Ana decides to visit her mother. She wouldn't notice a thing. The only people that can see the room, for what it really is, are you and I."

"I knew it! You can't be trusted."

"But it's too late to change your mind. I've already got you where I want, and poor Ana doesn't suspect a thing. I've also learned how to act by the way."

"Why are you doing this, Noctis? Why can't you just leave me and Ana alone? Why can't you let Ana go? That was fifteen years, ago! This is now!"

"WHY?" He shouted angrily. "I'll tell you why. It's because you two are mine. MINE. Why can't you understand that? As long you live, you'll never be doted on by men other than me."

"Ana will never accept this."

"Oh Ana will never know. You won't tell her."

"Do you want to test that theory?"

"No, because I already know you won't. Why would you? Tell me, what would happen to Ana's frail heart if she discovered that her father wasn't the gentle man she believed he was? She would be devastated, heart-broken. She would despise me, and that anger would gnaw and eat away at her kind spirit. Are you okay with that?"

Lightning cursed angrily, tears of frustration welling in her eyes.

"Either way, loath me or not, she's not leaving this palace. It's your decision. If you want to destroy her happiness then by all means do so. Her time here can either be pleasurably fake or brutally real."

"Damn you," she grit her teeth. "What do you plan to do to Ana?"

"I have to say, we've created quite a beautiful child. Her delicate looks have not gone unnoticed. I'm going to give her hand in marriage to my head assassin. That way I'll be able to consolidate my rule within the assassin factions."

"You would give Ana to someone she doesn't know? You're despicable!"

"Hate me all you want. It won't change a thing. And you should wipe that glare off your face, Ana is coming."

"Mom!" Ana called out happily.

"I'll leave you two alone for now," he smiled, closing the door behind the mother and daughter pair.

"Wow the room looks really nice. What do you think mom?"

"I-It's lovely," she lied.

"Are you sure? Are you okay?"

"Listen to me Ana," she ordered, pulling a silver necklace out of her pocket. "Wear this right now."

"What for?"

"Don't ask any questions, just do it! Please, just do it for me."

"Alright," she complied and put on the necklace.

"Now think of our house. Think of the kitchen, think of your bedroom, think of anything that you can remember."

"Okay."

She thought of her bedroom, mainly the little desk she had where she would study and do her homework late into the night. As soon as she did, the room started to spin. Her mother's face became a blur. She couldn't tell what was going on, but everything became a messy conglomeration of nothing. Everything became black, and then there was simply nothing.

Lightning watched with a heavy heart. Seeing her daughter vanish had been heartbreaking, but it was something she had to do. She wasn't going to let Ana suffer in her marriage to a murderer. It was better this way.

At that moment, Noctis burst into the room furiously. He had sensed his daughter disappear.

"Where is she?" He grabbed her shoulder and shook her roughly.

"You'll never find her. I used the necklace. You know exactly what the necklace does, you gave it to me. In a couple of hours, our daughter's going to wake up without a single memory. She'll never know what happened to us. You gave me that necklace and told me to use it if I was ever kidnapped. Ana's gone, she'll never be tormented by you. I win."

He started laughing wildly. His whole body shook with absolute bliss.

"What's so funny?" She questioned hesitantly. Her confidence started to waver.

"This is what I wanted all along! I wanted you to give the necklace to Ana. Do you know why? Ana is a single child. All I need is right here. With you, I can have as many children as I want."

"N-No" She shook her head. She couldn't believe it! She had played right into his hands without realizing it. "You can't do this!"

He slid out of his suit, smiling wickedly, "Shall we get started?"

Ana… I'll always love you… As long as we're both alive… I'll endure anything… Even this…

Grow and live free Anastasia

My precious jewel.

My unwavering hope.

xxx

Anastasia — a story for Kingu, Fishcake-kun, marchenne, and TigerRaiken