"So... might I ask what the Eternal Forest is?"
Angelica asked her lover as they trekked through Hell in search of her mother. Malphas glanced back, "I reckon you will enjoy it. The Eternal Forest is rather quaint. The wars rarely leak into the area. Come to think of it, the forest is more of a piece of Heaven in Hell." He paused, "I have not journeyed there that I can remember. I do know it's location. And that most of it's residents are apothecaries and such. My brother Stolas frequents there for his magic lessons."
He looked to the angel, "We need to be careful now. We are edging into land that the wars frequent." Angelica rushed to catch up to him. "Wars?! What wars?!" Malphas glanced at her, "You recall when we spent our first Christmas together?" Angelica nodded, "Of course. I fell into the snow bank and you had to pull me out."
Malphas smirked, "And then I came to the Silver City to tend to you." Angelica blushed. Malphas cleared his throat, "My skills in combat are from leading the battalion in one of the recent wars." He paused, "My entire battalion was... slaughtered."
He shut his eyes, remembering the snarls and the screams and roars of pain from his soldiers, the wails that haunted his mind. He held back a shudder, "Anyways- it was my duty to avenge them." He frowned, "Without sending word home, I allowed my clan to believe me dead. I was about ready to give up. Surrender." He smiled, "But that happened not long after I met you."
Many Years Ago...
Malphas was a young demon, newly a full fledged demon. He cowered a bit and ducked as the fury of the battle overwhelmed him. "Prince!" One of the Commanders yelled, "Fall back!" Malphas was frozen. Fear surged through him. His first battle. He had been young. Young and a coward. The armor was heavy against his body, weighing him down, and he fought blindly.
Average height for a demon his age, but short and young compared to the others in his battalion. He was inexperienced. He fought well, very well, but his enemy was the confusion in the battlefield. He roared in pain as he was tackled by an opposing demon. A dog of sorts...
He hated dogs....
The opposer clawed at him viciously. Malphas bit his tongue, almost wanting to yowl in pain for his mother's comforting embrace... As comforting as his mother could be anyways. The claws dug into his shoulders, he could feel the muscles ripping before he rolled and slammed the demon to the ground. Malphas snarled and shook himself off. Terror surged through him, and blood covered his pale golden armor. His eyes turned several shades of demonic as he was surrounded by the other demons.
"Prince! Retreat!"
Malphas's eyes narrowed. Retreat? Retreat? The thought infuriated him. He grit his teeth and launched into battle. Malphas Desideriis did not come here to lose. To retreat. He was going to win this. Regain land for his kingdom. Things were a blur before the other side retreated. Malphas grinned.
Cowards! They didn't stand a chance!
Malphas felt pride overwhelm him and he turned around to face the commander to laugh in his face. What he saw made him freeze.
Dead.
They were all....
Dead.
Every last one. Everyone of his battalion.
Dead.
Malphas dropped to his knees. He failed. He couldn't return home... Not after this. He sunk to the ground, tossing his helm to the ground with an angered scream. He closed his eyes.
What would his father say if he returned?
I raised you to be king one day... you are nothing but a failure of a demon...
What would his mother say?
You did your best...
Stolas and Ilia would be his only comfort. But they even had their limits.
You tried brother. You couldn't have done anything.
Malphas grit his teeth, then he heard a beautiful bell like voice in his ears.
Sometimes anger is not the best option, mon amie.
Angelica. His beautiful angel. He shut his eyes, and let her voice take over his mind.
He who wishes to fight must count the cost...
In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity....
You're special because of the unique combination of your skills and experiences.
Anger may in time change to gladness.... But a kingdom that has once been destroyed can never come again into being.
"Oh Angelica..." Malphas sighed, "You claimed to know nothing of war, my angel... But you speak so many words of wisdom to me, ma cherie..." His eyes flashed. He would return victorious. For now, he fought not only for his clan, but he fought for the worthiness of his angel.
And so, while his clan feared he had perished in the war, Malphas Desideriis claimed the lives of countless demons. And he returned to the Castle Desideriis, a proud stride, and in his left hand, he dragged his sword, in his other hand, the heads of all the commanders of the opposing army.
Present
Malphas sighed, "I thought of you every moment. I didn't know why." he looked back at her, "Now I do." He offered his hand, "Come. Stay beside me. I wish to keep you safe, milady."
The couple walked for hours until they arrived a small town. Angelica's eyes widened as in the distance there were cherry blossoms- or at least, they looked like cherry blossoms. Malphas lead the way into the town and pulled her close. "Be vigilant. We do not know if your mother is here or elsewhere. She frequents in this town, I can only assume she made herself at home in the forest somewhere."
Angelica held his hand and smiled, "You are doing all this for me? Smuggling an angel into Hell so that she may see her mother?" Malphas smiled and straightened his posture. "If I could not show my love for my angel, what kind of love would I be?" Angelica sighed and pulled him into an alleyway to kiss him passionately. Malphas groaned as she pulled away, "By any chance would you be interested in sex?" His lover laughed and gently hit his arm.
"Keep dreaming, mon amour."
The couple walked into the small town, both having their hoods over their heads as they walked through the dark cobble streets of the small forest village. Angelica clung tightly to her lover's arm, still a little frightened of the new world she was in. Malphas brought them to a small inn on the edge of town.
The demon prince was about to open the door when he spotted a shadowed figure out of the corner of his eye, disappearing into the forest. He frowned and stopped in his tracks, trying to catch scent of the mysterious figure. A strange scent of burnt cinnamon and herbs. He turned his gaze to the figure, feminine... He could tell by the quick movements. Angelica had followed his gaze and looked at him, "Do you think it's her?" She asked. Malphas walked towards the figure, "It would not hurt to follow for a while."
The pair crept after the figure disappearing into the darkness. "Angelica, stay close. I'm not sure how safe these woods are." Malphas warned his companion wandering ahead of him. Angelica glanced back, "But Malphas! If we don't hurry we will never catch-" She screamed as her lover was suddenly tackled by a cloaked figure.
"Malphas!"
Angelica looked alarmed and ran over, only for her lover to hiss a warning. "Get back! Stay back! I can handle it." Malphas bared his teeth in warning at the opposing figure who pressed down on his neck with a sharp nail. "Don't move, demon." Angelica suddenly ran and jumped on the figure's back. "Get off of him!"
The figure growled and pushed her back. Malphas took the opportunity to throw the figure off of him and pin them beneath his foot, before pulling a dagger he had strapped his hip. He glanced briefly at his partner, "Angelica, turn away. I don't want you to see this." Angelica looked at him, "Does everything here have to end in death?" Malphas looked at her apologetically, "It is the way of Hell." He sighed, "So please, darling? Turn away?"
Angelica went to speak when there was a yell, "Who goes there?!" A new hooded figure approached and the demon quickly looked to his beloved. "Get behind me. Now." Angelica obeyed and snuck behind him, gripping his free arm that came to shield her.
The hooded figure walked over and seemed to glare at the one beneath the demon. The one standing flicked a hand and the being under Malphas collapsed, making the demon stumble a bit. Angelica pulled him back to stand and narrowed her eyes. "Malphas? What is going on?"
Malphas hummed, "It would appear we stumbled across a secluded apothecary." He narrowed his eyes, "Who are you? Was it you we were pursuing earlier?" The figure hummed, "Indeed. Why have you trespassed on my land?" Malphas furrowed his brow, "I was unaware this land was owned. I apologize."
He frowned then, "We are in search of the Daemon Angel. We thought it was her of whom we were following." The figure was quiet for a moment, "For what reasons do you seek her assistance?" Malphas glared, "Personal." He grabbed Angelica by the hand, "Come along, Angelica... We need to leave." Angelica stumbled after him.
"Wait." They turned and the figure removed their hood, revealing the face of the Fallen they had been in search of. Lucia Magné's dark brown hair was pulled back into a braid and slightly frayed. "Angelica? Tis not a demon name." Angelica removed her hood and ran over, "Mother!" Malphas and her mother hissed and the demon was by her side a moment later, pulling the cloak back over her head. "Don't remove your hood!" They ordered. They heard the sound of distant roars and Lucia frowned, "Come with me. It is unsafe out here."
They sat in the sitting room of Lucia's small cottage, the Fallen's cottage was enchanted with magic, a broom was sweeping the floor, there was a cauldron bubbling over the fire, a spoon stirred the mixture inside while Lucia used her remaining angelic magic to levitate two cups of tea over to the couple.
"So tell me, what on earth is my daughter doing here? And accompanied by a demon prince no less?" Angelica and Malphas shared a look. "Well..." Angelica started. Malphas cleared his throat, "Angelica missed you so I offered to take her here for a day so she could spend time with you." He frowned hearing the roars in the distance. "Have the wars truly advanced this far?" He asked. Lucia nodded, "Unfortunately." Malphas stiffened at that and he looked concerned, "Are they bad at night? As they are on the fronts?"
Lucia nodded, "Sometimes. It is rare anyone ventures into the forest. I had initially assumed I was being followed by enemy warriors." Malphas bit his lip. Angelica frowned, "What is the matter, Malphas?" Her lover sighed, "If the wars are this bad, I am concerned about making it back before dark." He looked at her, "Do you believe your friend can cover for you longer?"
Angelica bit her lip, "I have never been away for a full twenty four hours." Lucia frowned, "Where is your father? I can not imagine he approves of this... relationship." Angelica blushed, "He... does not know. He is away from home often. He's in the reaper realm on business." Lucia nodded slowly. "I see." She sighed, "That is why I did not remain in the Silver City. I had wanted to take you with me."