A Hunter's Curse (Closed o/o with Nyx)

The king was tired of the girl and tapped his foot in irritation. His wings were puffed up like a bird trying to appear larger, and his face was a bright cherry red color. “No! You should have at least snuck under the covers, if not more! Who doesn't do that? Even canines do!" As the red on his face flared, he sighed, attempting to control it. "Next time, just lock the fucking door. You really irritate me!" As the pounding in his head grew worse, he held his hands to his temples and closed his eyes. With his wings fully extended, the king fell to his knees. The king's nine-foot wings could fit in the hall, as it was significantly large enough. Another force pounded in his skull, something sinister. In an effort to prevent his head from rupturing in two, the demon let out a demonic roar. His ears were filled with the roar of rushing water as the hallucinogenic effects of last night's error took effect. Why the fuck did I drink so much demon wine? It killed demons even in huge volumes Another guard rushed over to inspect the king, wondering why his king's realities were split. Nathaniel launched himself at the guard, clawing out his eyeballs and then ripping out his heart. The audible tears of flesh were enough to send shivers down your spine. The king was panting while drawing a claw over the open space. He lowered his head, letting out a disturbing laugh. The pounding was a welling of wrath, not the result of drinking too much demonic wine. Standing up, Nathaniel turned to face Ember while grinning hysterically. “Forget what you just witnessed.” The king ran off.

Nathaniel entered the servants' quarters after sprinting down the right side's flight of stairs. "I'll require new clothing." As their king came into view, the royal attendants panicked. He didn't care if they ran around like scared mice; he just barged into the nearest washroom and burned the blood with fire. He observed it bubble and evaporate. Water wasn't actually used in hell. Only fire. Once he returned, his personal attendants dressed him in an elegant suit. He requested a maid to send Ember down to the family dining room. Nathaniel entered the private dining room after trotting across the palace grounds, his shoes clicking on the marble. With swords, knives, and paintings adorning the room's red walls, it had its own unique beauty. The same red carpet covered the floor. On the west side was a fake fireplace with skulls on the mantle. The centerpiece of the entire arrangement was an ash wood dining table with five chairs on either side and two at each end. The room was dotted with extra chairs and tables. Nathaniel occupied a seat near the doors at the northern end of the table. He was given a cup of specialty tea by a servant. He glared at the servant, striking fear into their heart.

@Nyx-is-with-frost

"It's hot I wasn't sleeping under a and it's not like I can lock the door when I'm a wolf, " ember jumped back when Nathaniel attacked the guard she backed up against the wall as she stared at the scene unfolding in front of her fear coursing through her she didn't answer when he spoke to her she just stood there terrified she stayed there until one of the maids came to get her she walks with them to the dining room and sat down quietly looking at her lap

@Anxietyfilledcinnamonroll

It seemed like nothing had happened by the time he realized the girl had arrived. There was no stench of blood, nothing reeked of death. He grinned crookedly at her. "Sit." He pointed to the chair across from him and the one to his right. "Choose whichever seat you'd like." Food was on the table, but what was for breakfast? One couldn't be certain. "How was your night's rest? I heard you say that you had never slept in a bed before." The psychotic monster she had previously witnessed didn't resemble the king's manner. It was relaxed and quite cool. The demon took a bite out of what appeared to be an English muffin, but it looked rather strange. "Late last night, I sent the hellhounds to fetch meat for you. What I have on my plate? Avoid trying." Even though they were no longer claws, his nails were still covered in blood. "Ember, tell me. Would you like to return to Earth?" He summoned a servant to bring him the drawn plans. The servant returned with a piece of paper and a pen. Nathaniel unrolled the paper and began to add to the previous pen scribbles. He folded it back up, keeping it hidden from Ember's eyes. Was he going to use Ember as a weapon against the hunter's? Maaaaybe. But first he had to gain her trust, and after his desired killing, that was going to be very hard. "Or stay with me. This choice will affect your life."

@Nyx-is-with-frost

Ember sat down at the table a couple of seats away from Nathaniel avoiding his eyes and looking at what was on her plate she glanced up briefly when he spoke "I slept fine." Her response was short and quiet as she looked back down 'meat? What kind of meat was he talking about?' I'm not hungry." She ignored his question about leaving she had nothing on Earth she at least had a bed here but was living with a demon worth that she had to figure that out soon

@Anxietyfilledcinnamonroll

Nathaniel observed Ember, finding her demeanor troubling. When she sat down a few seats from him, he arched an eyebrow. His blond hair was stained with blood, and his eyes had a red glint to them. "Now, come on, girl. You've never before witnessed a demon lose control? It's not difficult to come by. We all have some pounding compulsion." He had on a red tailcoat with floral accents in black (Reminiscent of Victorian-style formal wear). He wore black dress pants and a purple dress shirt underneath. "Relax; it's venison. I wouldn't force you to consume human flesh." He grinned, showing his blood-stained fangs. The king took a sip from his teacup before smashing it on the ground. Glass shattered everywhere, a blood-red liquid seeped into the carpet, and the king got to his feet. "Never ignore my inquiries, girl." He made a low-pitched snarl. He fluctuated between being calm and angry in a split second. This was the wrath demon's curse. In an effort to maintain control, he turned his head away from Ember while taking a sharp breath. Nathaniel sat back down, crossing his legs. Nathaniel’s eyes were unfocused, staring past Ember. They were separated by a deafening, even sickening, silence. As he was consumed by yet another wave of bloodlust, the king's heart continued to beat against his chest. “I require an anchor.” Nathaniel spoke. His voice filled the cracks in the static air. "Or else, once I crack, I'm never coming back." One day, his wrath would completely consume him; after all, his great-great-great-grandfather had experienced the same thing. Some people used their anger as an anchor, while others used them as mental or physical anchors. Nathaniel though? Long ago, he learned to live with his anger… when he felt human rage. But while he reconciled with demonic rage, he needed a temporary anchor.

@Nyx-is-with-frost

She sat there quietly until she heard the glass shattering which made her flinch her heart was beating rapidly and "I'm sorry.." She spoke softly her voice quivering she didn't know what to expect anymore she thought she could handle herself but it seems she was wrong "what do you mean anchor?"

@Anxietyfilledcinnamonroll

July 29, 2022

(Sorry for not really responding. I was on the road all day long)

The silence between them grew louder as Nathaniel sat with a stone face. His face was sickly gray and his eyes were dark, clouded with rage. Almost glowing red, his scars stood out against his pale skin. He gave the stained carpet a few moments of his empty attention before turning to face Ember. "By anchor, I mean something that will keep me anchored to reality. I have nothing. I'll be swept away by my wrath." After his moment of fury, he spoke in a particularly cool tone. To clean up the drink that had been spilled, he called a maid. " It's challenging to accept demonic rage. It would prefer to chew you up." He straightened his legs and returned to his meal. "I'm no longer hungry." The king stepped aside and walked away. He took off running down the right hallway, up the stairs, and into his room. Nathaniel sighed and slammed the door shut. He then started breaking everything in the room that could break. He eventually found himself sitting in a pile of broken glass and mirrors before letting out a demonic scream.

@Nyx-is-with-frost

July 29, 2022

(It's okay I'm reading it now!)

@Nyx-is-with-frost

July 29, 2022

She didn't exactly under stand what he meant she just listened before he stormed off she hurried to her room as shut the door behind her with a click and then locked it her hear was beating so fast she could hear it all around her she sat down on her bed taking deep breaths trying to calm down

@Anxietyfilledcinnamonroll

(Sorry for slightly absent, I've been quite busy with family since I'm on vacation)

Nathaniel was sitting in the glass pile, his face covered in blood. He wiped the cut on his cheek with the back of his hand, smearing blood all over it. Skin quickly mated together as the wound quickly healed. It was nearly impossible for the king to stand up due to his wobbly legs. Nathaniel grabbed onto the bed, pulling himself up, glass crunching beneath his boots. Smears of blood remained after all of his wounds on his face, arms, and legs had healed completely. He approached his door and grabbed the handle. While waiting for his body to become stable, the king struggled to stand. He yowled for a servant to clean up the mess as he yanked open the door. He stumbled down the hallway and collapsed on Ember's door. Nathaniel banged on it. "I won't harm you," As a result of his yelling rage, Nathaniel's voice was raspy. He was surrounded by an obvious aura of rage, even through the door. "Girl, I want to talk." Another impatient knock was pounded on the door.

@Nyx-is-with-frost

(It's okay I understand that vacation is always busy!)

Ember was sitting on her bed thinking over everything she has already been through, down here in one day but in a way, it was safer than living on earth she had this nervous feeling in her stomach almost like she was in danger if she stayed here for too long she had just started to calm down before there was a loud bang outside her door she jumped off the bed gasping and when she heard his voice was when she felt her body go cold she stood there for a minute 'I won't harm you.' he says but can she even trust that? She took a deep breath and in locked the door slowly and backed away from it "come in." She spoke softly as she sat back down

@Anxietyfilledcinnamonroll

Nathaniel reached up, latching onto the door knob, and twisting it. The door creaked open, but no one entered. Heavy breathing could be heard from the hall as if the person had ran 10 miles. The demon poked his head into the room, blood splattered on his face and eyes like a deep ocean void. He cracked a twisted smile. "I promise I won't hurt you." Nathaniel got to his feet, strolling into the room. His black suit now had oddly placed blood stains. "I maybe a little deranged, but I'm not awful. You could, after all, suffer with me than by me." His words did not make sense in the current moment, but would be understood later. Staggering over to the bed, he carefully sat on it, looking up at Ember. "Did you understand a lick of what I said earlier? Or did my uncontrollable rage scar you?" Everything about Nathaniel in the current moment was off. His voice, face, clothes, aura, everything. "You could be an anchor, you know." He paused and mumbled. "If you were nicer to me." The king looked at the demonic mark on her shoulder and smiled. "You might not want to go home. Azazel told me things have gotten worse. They scarred his wondrous wings." He picked a piece of glass off his suit and closed his hand around it. Blood welled up at the site, the glass nowhere to be seen. "My blood is a special kind." The wound healed instantly. "It's royal blood. A type only I can possess, but it also turns humanoid creatures into their demonic counterparts."

@Nyx-is-with-frost

Ember stared at the open door in confusion before Nathaniel walked in stumbled was more like it she felt uncomfortable once he sat next to her "i-i understand you need an anchor." She paused once he said that "what do you mean me? I'm not gonna be nice to the person who treats me like the mud on the bottom of their shoe I'm not that type of person." She looked at his hand in shock she didn't know other people could heal like she could and looked up at his face " why are you telling me this?"

@Anxietyfilledcinnamonroll

Nathaniel was calm, despite his appearance that suggested otherwise. Well, calm until he slammed his hands against the bed's edge. "Do I need to be direct with you, Ember, and less suggestive?" His scar twisted with the sour expression, his navy blue eyes a hurricane of annoyance. "A physical anchor could be you. They do have a tendency to appear when you least expect them." His mouth twisted into an intriguing kaleidoscope of a smile as he drew nearer to her face. "This is why I'm telling you, Ember; you have a few options. Your first error was choosing to remain here; that was your own downfall. Either accept my offer or reject it." Nathaniel flicked his hand and claws appeared. He slashed at his own palm and held up the hand he had cut with his claws. "Take my blood and permanently turn into a demon dog, or at the very least, acquire some demonic powers." His palm began to dribble blood, dripping down his wrist, and falling onto his leg. "You're not required to, but it's suggested." He put his hand down after the cuts had healed. "Regarding being a physical anchor. Do you have the guts to tell me to stop before I start killing everyone and everything in my path?" Nathaniel raised an eyebrow.

@Nyx-is-with-frost

She jumped back when he slammed his hand down breathing frantically as she stared at him she listened to what he had to say and before she knew what she was doing she looked at his had that was now bleeding once again and nodded her head "o-okay.. I'll do it. " she paused for a moment looking at him hearing his last words and she nodded once more it it my job I shall do it correctly her face was emotionless as she made her decision she felt as if she had just sold her soul to him

@Anxietyfilledcinnamonroll

Nathaniel grinned. He grasped Ember’s face gently. “You’ve made three deadly mistakes, girl. You will reap what you sow. You'll never be able to comprehend how terrible suffering under the devil is. Or your actions.” He dropped his hand, letting Ember’s face go. Had she just sold her soul to him? A curious question that could be evident in do time. Nathaniel stood up, held his hand out, and his scythe materialized in it. He wrapped his hand around the tang and held the other one. His hand was pierced by the purple-blue weapon's tip. The weapon's snath hit the ground as he pulled the chine down. Blood spilled down his arm and onto the ground as flesh tore. “What method do you want to use? ” His eyes lit up as he pulled a vile out of his suit pocket. Collecting the blood in the vile, the flesh molded itself around the wound, stopping the blood flow. Pushing the corkscrew in the vile with his thumb, he looked to Ember. “Not the best way to collect blood, but it’s definitely the fun way!” The glimmer in Nathaniel’s eyes was something else, something insane, something dark, something otherworldly. "Well, take this, dear." He tossed the vile to Ember. “Soon, a physical anchor won’t work as well. Soon an emotional will have to keep me bound to reality.” He examined the hand he had just ripped apart. “Love always does the trick.”

@Nyx-is-with-frost

She flinched slightly at the touch but didn't move she only stared at the 'man' before her, fear striking her as she listened to what he was saying 'suffering' she felt in danger but she didn't run she only sat there as calm as she could be during this situation she let out a breath when he let go of her and watched as he sliced open his arm with no hesitation watching as his blood poured into the small bottle the smell of his blood filled embers lungs it didn't smell like any blood she'd ever tasted it was hard to explain the scent she caught the vile when it was thrown to her seeing the look in his eyes she realized this man was insane she was curious what he meant my emotional anchor until he said 'love always does the trick
"Love? What do you mean love?"

@Anxietyfilledcinnamonroll

Nathaniel looked over to Ember, realizing the fear she held. "I'm not a horrible monster, Ember. Do you think I'm gone?" He raised an eyebrow, resting his back against the wall. "I'm not too terribly insane, I still have some sanity left." He pawed at his face, trying to wipe away excess blood. The king needed to clean up for the second time today. It seemed he always soiled his clothes. "Drink the contents of the vile. It won't kill you." The stench of blood that lingered in the air was sweet. It was almost alarming how sweet it smelled, but the demon didn't seem to be on edge. It was as if this was a normal occurrence. His smile reflected his mental state like broken glass. "Love? How dense are you, girl? I mean affection. A relationship. All of it. It’s easier to live when you have something to take care of.” Nathaniel's eyes stared into Ember's, sinking into their orange hue. The demon seemed charming in his own way, despite the insane horrors Ember's seen. Despite the rage that consumed him. And despite the broken mirror that was his face. "Calming me down won't work for long. My wrath will break through the chains, turning me into an unstopped able beast. One that will never be tamed." His tone switched to one of mockery. "You don't want that, do you?"

@Nyx-is-with-frost

Ember looked away almost embarrassed that he saw her at a weak point but quickly covered her fear "I don't think your mad I'm just concerned that you've cut your hand opens three times already." She had a small smile on her face as she was trying to lighten the mood and little before looking down at the vile and taking the cork out of the bottle before taking a breath "okay.." She raised the bottle to her lips before drinking the blood inside she made a face at the taste of it and looked up a Nathaniel wiping her mouth "I'm not dense I'm confused as to why you would spend to me about being your anchor and then speak of love to how am I supposed to provide you that feeling? And no I wouldn't…"

@Anxietyfilledcinnamonroll

Nathaniel waved his hand, unconcerned he had hurt himself repeatedly. He appeared to relish it. "Wouldn't that allegedly make me insane? I did enjoy opening my hand up several times." He grinned while capturing an unsettled mind in a ravishing way. He didn't appear to have lost his temper or to be overcome by the profound wonders of a fractured reality. However, Nathaniel did appear to be—born of a manipulative kind. His smile fissured wider when Ember drank the blood. His blood. “It doesn’t have a bad taste. It’s like peaches with sugar, isn’t it? Since it takes time to overwhelm your cells and tamper with your DNA, you won't notice the changes right away." He cocked his head, his eyes sparkling with an odd emotion. "You see, love. You fall into it. That’s how it works.” He plodded closer to Ember, wings unfurling to make himself look regal, grander than he already was, but also threatening. “Right?” The king gritted his teeth, speaking through them. "Do not even think about lying to me! You'd rather I turned into a beast because it's simpler to flee that way, don't you think?" Nathaniel struck the wall, making a dent in the stone with his hand. He might as well have gone crazy. His body shuddered, and his breathing was labored. He jerked back and cast a quick glance at Ember. His eyes burned with a bright fire. "I made a promise not to hurt you, and I don't lie through my teeth. I'm going to let you be." He quickly left the room, slamming the door behind him.

@Nyx-is-with-frost