Chapter 2 -2
The temple of the Solarian Faith in the heart of the capital of Mistfall was the largest. It was carved out of striking white marble and at the height of day, it reflected the sunlight, making it glow.
Even now, as the sunlight slowly set in the west, the tall white building with its awe-inspiring pillars which seemed to stretch to the sky glowed gently, reflecting the last rays of the sun.
At the very top of the temple was the bell tower, which was used to signal important daily events, such as the Rites of the Setting Sun. It rung at this very moment, its loud but clear ringing resonating for miles around.
Within the temple, acolytes and believers, led by priests and priestesses carried out the rites. The Solarian Faith worshipped Solaris, the sun god, carrying out two rites daily to show their devotion. One at sunrise and another at sunset.
As worshippers of light, they did not hold very a favorable view of demons, so when a bloody demon appeared right in the middle of the holy rites, there was pandemonium.
King Caede was unfazed, and behind him stood Vitalis, despite the adjutant’s silver mask, his exasperation could be felt.
“Damned demon!” One of the High Priests leading the rites bellowed from the altar. “How dare you step on blessed ground!”
“Which of you is High Priestess Ayla?” Caede asked shortly, ignoring the Priest’s impassioned words.
A strained silence fell over the temple, from the priests on the altar to the acolytes and believers, none of them took their eyes off him, and no one spoke, silently refusing to reveal the High Priestess.
Caede pinched the bridge of his nose, his patience very close to snapping.
Vitalis hastily stepped forward to take control of the situation. “We’re here on King Ulric’s orders, this is a matter of state.”
When he said that, a handful of people glanced over at a svelte figure standing on the altar. A white veil covered her hair and the top half of her face, and her pale, slender hands grasped a gold bowl.
That was all the confirmation Caede needed, he stepped forward, intending to take her with him and be done with it all.
An acolyte in coarse white robes charged forward as he did. It was an older woman, her mousy brown hair looked lifeless, her face weathered from age and hard work.
“No!” She screamed loudly, throwing herself in front of High Priestess Ayla. “You’re mistaken! Ayla isn’t who you want.”
“Mother,” Ayla murmured, quietly enough for only the acolyte to hear, but Caede heard it as well.
The Demon King didn’t slow down despite the human woman’s antics. “Your daughter isn’t condemned to death,” He attempted to comfort her, an effort that was nullified when he effortlessly moved her to the side with a single hand.
The Acolyte became hysterical, too terrified to touch him, she tried to get to her daughter again, tears streaming down her weathered face. “P-Please… Please, I beg of you, Your Majesty,” She choked out, miserable. “She is all I have.”
But Caede was no longer listening, because if there were any further delays, he would damn it and leave without a bride.
So he swept the High Priestess off her feet while she still clung to the golden bowl she held, throwing her over a shoulder without caring that her immaculate white robes were now stained with blood.
The golden bowl clattered to the marble floor behind him, and before the High Priestess could gather herself to say a word or two to her mother, they both vanished out of sight.
Vitalis left a moment after they did, so he was graced with the sight of the acolyte throwing herself to the ground with a hear-wrenching cry. It made him frown, aware of how much His Majesty disliked nuisances.
-+-
The Hells was in a completely different plane from Earth. It wasn’t underground like most religious fanatics preferred to believe, rather it was a world several times as large as the Earth.
In the heart of one of the sprawling Kingdoms that dotted the Hells, was King Caede’s castle. He appeared in a large bedroom, carrying the spoils of battle with him, which included the gritty blood he was still covered with and the human woman he held.
He tossed her on his bed and immediately turned to leave, the only thought on his mind getting clean.
Ayla caught herself against the satin black sheets although the bed was so large that even if she kept rolling, she wouldn’t have fallen off. Her white veil was pinned to her hair so it hadn’t fallen off even when she was practically stolen away from the temple.
Underneath the lace-trimmed veil, her nose scrunched up. Even though the abhorred demon was gone from the room, the scent of blood still assaulted her senses. It had taken all of her will power to force down the nausea that had bubbled up as she was taken.
Fortunately, the journey had taken only a moment and then he had tossed her to the side.
She slowly sat up, looking around. There were heavy red curtains obscuring the windows so she couldn’t see out of the room. The bedroom itself however, was opulence personified.
The bed alone could fit ten while they slept comfortably, precious treasures used as mere furniture. Done in blacks and reds, the room was much like the Demon King, oppressive.
Ayla clasped her hands together to stop them from trembling, her thoughts racing. She thought of her mother, tears stinging her eyes. She forced the tears back, a habit she had to learn from a young age, the realization that this was now her new life slowly sinking in.
She would never see her mother again.
Ayla’s hands trembled despite how tightly she clenched them and her shoulders quaked gently, yet her tears did not fall. Her sadness was overshadowed by rage and despair, powerful men only knew how to claim and destroy.
Her lips moved soundlessly, words of supplication spilling out. She doubted Solaris could hear her from hell but it was all she could do. The familiar words soothed her, her trembles slowly easing.
