Chapter 98

Chapter 98: Chapter 98

It was much cooler outside, Dulce’s hair and cloak swaying in the gentle breeze.

Kath’tan led the way and he quietly followed behind him, trying to stay in the moment. Perhaps things were better when the Demon was trying to kill him to undo the contract, they were strangers to each other then. They hadn’t been to each other’s homes, they hadn’t shared a drink together.

They stopped in a quiet corner of the gardens, far from the festivities of the banquet and the patrolling guards. Kath’tan had come here naturally, it seemed like he was quite familiar with the space.

There was an alcove with a marble bench, vines entwined the arched pergola that provided shelter, making it look like a part of the garden. Large, star-shaped, red flowers surrounded them, the faint rushing sounds of fountains in the distance.

There were tables on each side of the marble bench, perfect for placing the drinks they came with. Dulce sat down on the bench, pouring himself a goblet of wine.

He looked up at the sky, the alcove provided a great view of the sleeping suns, the large red orbs hanging low in the dim red sky. It gave night a different meaning, it was more like sunset and less like night.

It was easy to adapt to the red haze that covered everything, after all, everywhere you looked was the color red, the flowers, the decorations, the people.

"Do you like banquets?" Kath’tan asked quietly, his gaze fixed on the Vampire.

Dulce nursed his goblet of wine, watching the sky. "I avoid those hosted by Vampires and I stay out of the public eye so I’m never invited to one."

Kath’tan poured himself a drink with a smile, social events were held so highly by Wrath Fiends, but stepping outside of their circle of influence told him that it wasn’t the norm.

"Do you like banquets?" Dulce asked in turn, cautious. It seemed to be a sensitive topic for Kath’tan, if he did, perhaps they could throw one... he tossed the silly thought to the side.

"No. It’s all a pretentious show," He said after a drink, leaning back against the cold bench and equally staring at the sky. "A show I once wanted to be a part of."

Dulce snuck a glance at the Demon, for the first time Kath’tan didn’t look angry, it made him brood. Because despite the Demon’s lack of anger, there was no place in his home for him.

"Have Wrath and Chaos factions always been at war?"

Kath’tan frowned, thinking about it. He swapped his now-empty goblet for an entire jug of ale, speaking freely. "I’m not sure. History and records show that Wrath faction Demons are the true descendants of Flaeris, each city representing the five suns."

"Then where did Chaos faction Demons come from?" Dulce asked curiously.

"That they came from across the sea to wipe out the true descendants." He snorted, "Unlikely, I have seen Chaos faction Fiends and they’re no different, save for the color of their skin."

Dulce poured himself another drink of wine, "Have you been to other parts of the Hells?"

Kath’tan took a deep drink at the question, "Fiends are a scourge on the Hells, no other place will welcome me."

Dulce scratched his head, he had been trying to change the topic to a much lighter one. "You’re hardly welcome here." He said tentatively.

Kath’tan had a thoughtful look on his face, there was not even a trace of anger, it was a strange sight. "I’m not." He agreed easily, yet was still uninterested in journeying across the Hells.

The second half of his words lingered on the tip of his tongue, that he would rather wander Earth by the Vampire’s side. He filled the absence of the words with more ale, emptying an entire jug in a short time.

Dulce wanted to ask where the Fiend would go but it didn’t feel like his place to, he knew the proud Demon didn’t want his pity. So he equally took a jug of wine and drank as deeply as Kath’tan had done.

"Miss Moira had said that only I can undo the contract," He spoke after a long spell of silence, wrought with thought. "Perhaps I should attempt..." He started to suggest, peeking at Kath’tan.

The Demon glared at him, the first traces of anger he had seen since they arrived at the Hells, it was familiar but it didn’t hold danger.

"Or never mind," He muttered, "I’ll likely only make it worse."

"You know... You can take your time searching for a way to break the summoning contract," Kath’tan went on after another spell of silence. "So you can spend some time with your Hellhound before he has to leave, I have nowhere to return to anyway." He grumbled, looking at the field of flowers around them.

Dulce still drank from his first jug of wine while Kath’tan was on his fourth, "I thought you despised the contract, it made you angry."

Kath’tan’s gaze was wrenched in the direction of the Vampire. "I’m a Fiend, anger is the default state." He said with a touch of disbelief.

"I have only glimpsed Grand Duke Zazrel be angry for a moment, no one else since I arrived." Dulce cruelly struck at him, "You do not have to be pleasant about it. I ripped you from your life and bound you in a permanent contract without your will, your anger is well-deserved."

Kath’tan narrowed his eyes, surly. Anger had been a privilege growing up, he hadn’t been angry at the summons, he had been angry at the timing, it had felt unfair. But now that he held all the cards, the anger was all but gone.

Yet he held onto the anger because it was the last shield he had against this foolish Vampire with a gentle voice and open gaze.

The conversation settled into silence again, an even longer one. Kath’tan knew he had hit his limit with his drink, yet he reached for another bottle. Taking so many out had just been for the sake of it, he never planned to drink it all.