#son of hell

Rajesh growled in frustration as he made his way down an empty path. Everything about this day was going to drive the demon to madness, he was sure of it. Why the king decided to send him on a wild damn chase just to find some elven healer, he’d never understand. And none of the elves in the village were keen to talk to him. Not that he could blame them.

He leaned against a tree, running a hand through his hair. “I don’t even want to bring them to the damn king. He can find his own damn healer.”

He sighed out a breath as he looked around. He wasn’t even completely sure where he was anymore. Getting close to the elves was hard to do and how he’d managed it was beyond him. They were more secretive than he remembered.

He pushed off the tree with a rough breath. “I’m done. I haven’t f-”

Though he had started walking, he immediately stopped. There, kneeling on the ground picking what looked like flowers, was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. She had red hair that stopped just above her waist. He wanted to touch it. To run his hands through it. To see it it felt as soft as it looked.

He’d never wanted like this in his long life.

He tried to shake off the feeling and took a step, only to trip over his own feet and land on the ground.

The woman’s head lifted, her pointed ears twitching as she looked behind her. “Is someone… Oh.”

Oh Hell even her voice was beautiful. Light and lyrical like she was singing when she spoke. He could listen to her forever. She looked at him and he was a goner. Her eyes were a light blue and they shimmered with amusement.

“Are you going to speak?”

“Wh-What?” His voice did not just crack. He refused to believe it. “S-Sorry. I… uh… I…”

She giggled and he gulped. Hell. “Are you alright?”

“Y-Yeah! Of course! Just… Just… tripped. I’m… I’m fine. Really.” He tried to stand, putting pressure on his arm. He winced, feeling a sharp pain. “Oh Hell. Maybe that trip was harder than I thought.”

Before he even finished, the woman was beside him, her hand on his arm. “Let me look at it. Oh, it looks like a sprain. I’ll just…” She closed her eyes and a blue light surrounded his arm. Before he knew it the pain was gone.

He blinked. Oh Hell she was the healer the king wanted. There was no way that bastard was coming within twenty miles of her. Rajesh would kill the damn fool first.

“Does it feel better? I’ve never really healed a demon before.”

Oh she was talking to him. “Y-Yeah. It feels a lot better. Thank you…”

She smiled gently. “Emese. And you are?”

“Raj…. Rajesh.”

She held out her hand for him and he took it gladly. The two stood and he wanted to groan. Even as an elf, known for their height, she was shorter than him. Not by a lot, mind you, but enough that there was an obvious height difference. She was gorgeous. She was adorable.

She wasn’t going near Hell. Not if he had his way.

She smiled with a tilt of her head, her hair falling over her shoulders. “What are you doing all the way out here? Seems an awful long way from Hell.”

He chuckled. “I… Well… Yes, it is. It’s a bit of a long story, but…”

She waved a hand absently. “Go on. I have nothing but time.”

“I-It’s really not...that interesting, I promise you.”

She raised an eyebrow. “A demon comes all the way out here and it’s not interesting? Either you’re lost or you’re a liar.”

Rajesh grinned. “You’re not afraid of me at all, are you?”

She laughed. “No not really. Should I be?”

“If you were anyone else, yes. But… no. You shouldn’t be.”

“Hmm… What do you mean by that?”

Rajesh laughed softly. “Do you really want to know?”

“I wouldn’t have asked otherwise.”

“Alright. Just remember, you asked.” He grabbed a branch off a tree. “Watch.” He held it in his grip, watching as the wood disintegrated into black smoke. “See?”

Emese’s eyes widened. “That… That is your power? I knew demons had different ones but…”

He chuckled. “Don’t worry. I seem to be the only one with this particular gift. And I don’t particularly like using it if I don’t have to.” He tilted his head. “But the way you said that, am I the first demon you’ve met?”

She nodded. “Yes. They don’t tend to come around here very often. Not that I can blame them. It’s not exactly… populated like Hell, from what little I’ve heard.”

He grinned. “It is quite populated. I think you’d…” He shook his head. “Never mind. Listen do you have a place we could sit? I’d… love to talk to you some more. If you’d like.”

She smiled with a tilt of her head. “I would. I do have to keep gathering plants however. You’re welcome to have a seat somewhere if you like.”

He looked at the ground with a wince before nodding. “Alright.” He choose a nice soft patch of grass and watched her hurry back over to her basket. “Why do you need plants?”

“Well, I make potions with them, of course.” She pulled a few leaves off a plant, placing them in her basket. “I’m a healer. A priestess of my village, actually.”

“I gathered the healing. I just don’t understand why you would need potions, then.”

“Not every ailment can be cured so simply. And using my magic can drain me if I use too much. I wouldn’t be able to use it for everyone.”

“I see.” He rubbed his arm. “Then I suppose I owe you more thanks than I thought.”

“It was nothing really.” She shot him a knowing smile. “Since it was my fault you got hurt anyway.”

Rajesh did not feel his cheeks heating. He certainly did not feel the heat rising to his ears. “I… I have no idea what you mean.”

“Hmm,” she hummed in disbelief. “Then I suppose you tripped over a branch and not your own feet while staring at me.”

“Exac- Wait, how did you… Not that I was… Because I wasn’t….”

She giggled quietly as she placed a few flowers in her basket. “Elves do not have long ears for show. My hearing is quite exceptional and the forest is rather quiet.”

“Hell,” he muttered. He crossed his arms behind his head, leaning back against a tree. “Guess I can’t hide it huh.”

“I would say not, no. I am rather flattered. I’m not usually the center of such attention.”

The quiet way she said it made him slowly sit up. “What?”

She shook her head, brushing hair behind her ear. “It’s nothing.”

“Doesn’t sound like nothing.”

She let out a sigh. “As the priestess, I’m mostly just… someone who is there. I am important, do not misunderstand, but… I’m seen more as a title than a person, I suppose.”

Rajesh couldn’t stop the growl from growing in his chest. “Are you mistreated?”

Emese shook her head. “No, nothing like that. Simply that I…” She smiled gently. “I can’t remember the last time I simply talked to someone like this. When it wasn’t about what healing they needed.” She sighed, shaking her head. “But I’m afraid I need to go back.”

“S-So soon? I…”

She stood slowly with her basket over her arm. She was silent for a moment before turning to him with a smile. “I come here every other day to gather what I need.”