Chapter 91

Chapter 91: Chapter 91

"Your job is to keep the palace clean and prepare meals," He explained to them. "I’m leaving on a journey today but I have four companions..."

The servants nodded dutifully, their tasks were fairly simple, and for most of the day, they would get to laze around and enjoy the sights of the oasis.

"And yes," Dulce remembered to say as he was about to leave. "Stay out of locked rooms. There is no reason to clean them." He said shortly, making his way to his room.

The rich blue curtains were dusty but the tiled floor was spotless, his made bed untouched. It was almost time to leave for the Hells, he was already prepared, he just needed to clean up.

The servants were hard workers, providing warm water for the masters to clean up before getting started on cleaning. Dulce had told them that a single large meal a day was more than sufficient and they were allowed to have their three square meals despite this.

There was a knock on his door as Dulce brushed out his hair, it was still early in the morning, the desert yet to heat up.

"Come in," He invited, expecting a servant. The Demons never knocked.

Caedos’ tall figure stepped in, the Hellhound’s presence brightened Dulce’s mood. Ever since they got off the ship, he was no longer interested in lounging on his bed, it saddened him.

"Caedos, I wasn’t expecting you." He said with a smile, turning away from the mirror. "Is something the matter?"

The Hellhound sat on his bed, "How long are you going to be away?"

Dulce tied back his hair without looking at the mirror, the soft voluminous locks easily tamed. He hadn’t asked Kath’tan so he couldn’t predict, "Soon." He said vaguely.

There was a possibility that it might barely take a day, it was Threnval after all, and Kath’tan’s relationship with his father was incredibly strained.

"I’ll run in the desert when you’re away," The Hellhound self-reported.

Dulce pressed his lips together grimly, "Be careful in the desert," He said, swallowing down the lecture he was tempted to give.

"It’ll make me stronger," Caedos went on. Running would help him better get used to his body, and it would unwittingly help him access the strength he already had.

"That’s good," Dulce said, rising to his feet, but his gaze was distant. "I should speak to Ruoxi before I leave," He mumbled, starting for the door.

The Incubus was in his room, turning away from the window when he came in. "You’re about to leave." He stated.

Dulce lingered at the door, he didn’t have very much time left. "Yes, I’ll return before you get hungry." He promised, "Could you watch out for Caedos when he runs in the desert? And if you’re so inclined, spar with him?"

Ruoxi studied the Vampire who made these requests even though it meant that he would lose his precious Hellhound. "I could," He said simply.

A relieved smile stretched across the Vampire’s face as he drifted out as quietly as he came in, a pale apparition.

Ruoxi watched him leave, staring at the closed door now. He had gone to the treasury room after the Shadow Demon left and there was more gold than there should have been left behind... nothing should have been left behind, but Asael refusing to have his summons undone should have told him that already.

-+-

Dulce returned to his room to find Caedos still seated on his bed, waiting for him. But there was no time to linger anymore, he needed to go seek Kath’tan out. It would be nice though, to return to meet this.

The Fiend came looking for him first, just as he gathered up his small, handheld trunk, it was a pleasant surprise.

"Kath’tan, I was just about to come to your room," Dulce said, walking closer. "Caedos, can you create the portal?"

The Hellhound finally rose off the bed, the room was spacious with minimal furniture, so it was easy to find an open enough space to create a portal.

A storm began in his hand, which spilled out and caused a tear that widened, creating a swirling portal.

Dulce was prepared to leave but he also knew that there was a chance he wouldn’t have to leave. He took a step back and waited for Kath’tan to try going through the portal first.

He didn’t expect his wrist to be grabbed, Kath’tan taking him along on his first attempt. "Kath’tan? Wait-" His protests were cut off as he fell into the portal.

He hadn’t even asked yet if Vampires could go to the Hells. What if his presence wasn’t needed?

Caedos stared at the swirling portal that he kept open long after they had left, he turned away from it after a while, the portal collapsing into nothingness.

-+-

Dulce was unfamiliar with portals so he lost his balance when they appeared on the other side, falling against Kath’tan. "I-I apologize for that," He said, out of breath and disoriented, his previously neatly bound hair in disarray.

Kath’tan glanced down as the Vampire took an unsteady step back, still holding onto his wrist. Caedos had never been to Threnval, so naturally, the Hellhound couldn’t create a portal there.

He looked around, they seemed to be on the outskirts of the Deep Woods. "Hold on," He warned quietly before warping away with the Vampire.

Dulce’s yelp of surprise was cut off and as they landed on solid ground again, he stumbled around even harder, Kath’tan’s grip on his wrist the only anchor keeping him off the floor.

Kath’tan looked around again, keeping the woozy Vampire close. The room that was their new destination was so familiar, it was surreal. It was an old room that had never been renovated since he lived here, which was all his life.

They were in his childhood bedroom. It had seemed like the perfect place to go first but as he looked around at the faded paint and old curtains, the wood in the furniture growing weak, he suddenly wanted to leave.

Dulce had yet to see it, the Vampire was still struggling to stay on his feet, dizzy. He could leave before the Vampire collected himself, and never return here.

"M-My apologies," The Vampire muttered, right before smacking into him and apologizing again.

Kath’tan’s worries melted away, a faint smile on his face. He was worried about the inconsequentialities, he doubted that the foolish Vampire would even notice anything wrong.