Far beneath the earth’s surface, torment and chaos reigned supreme. A cavernous home of fire and lava spread out as far as the eye could see. The heat baked the very souls it housed, their screams echoed throughout in a chilling harmony as each one experienced their own veritable hell. Demons of all kinds stalked the grounds of this place, causing mischief and aiding in the torture. It was their playground, so long as they kept their king happy.<br/><br/>Their king was a demon among demons. In the very center, at the highest point, sat a throne of bone and blood, where the one who resided upon it could see every corner of his abode. A hulking creature of immense size ruled over all the others. His body looked that of a bare human man, but his legs and arms were that of a beast. Claws razor sharp existed where fingers and toes would reside on a human, fur covering his limbs before thinning out to a leathery red skin that formed the grooves of pelvic, abdominal, and pectoral muscles. His face was like that of an angel in its beauty, and many would mistake him for one if not for the red hue. He was no angel, his wings were not white and he adorned no halo. Only black leathery wings like that of a bat protruded from his back, and all that sat atop his head besides his crown of thorns were two long goat horns twisting out of his forehead, pointed menacingly at their tips.<br/><br/>Eyes, whose color flowed and changed like liquid fire between orange, yellow, red, and black, watched over his kingdom. A malicious smile spread across his lips as a few fangs peaked into view, glistening in the firelight. He was a master of shape shifting, and he himself had created every demon that ran through his domain using this trait. On the Earth’s surface, he would rise to those who called for him, or seek out those who did not yet know their need for him. There, he took the form of those that one desired most, bringing them pleasure unlike any they’ve experienced, luring them into his modus vivendi. While many accepted him with open arms, more resisted and now fill his halls with the music he so enjoys. And when he’s had his fill of listening to their screaming souls...he devours them. Their energy becoming his.<br/><br/>Those who have willingly submitted to him become his demonic children. The ones that run rampant about his palace are given what they most fantasize, but in return, they must do his bidding whenever called upon. Others of his own making prefer to stay on earth, enjoying their life as they see fit among the mortals, all the while collecting more souls for him to recruit, or relish.<br/><br/>One such creature he seemed to have taken special interest. She was very curious. Similar yet different from all his other children. As soon as his power was given to her to utilize as necessary, her adeptness at handling the change was almost instant. It was as if she were born to attain such a power. But her mind wavered far more often than he would have liked.<br/><br/>The Demon King called upon his first child. Bezel was old, the oldest and most powerful of all besides himself. In his true form, he looked frail, old, and decrepit, though his eyes, a bright yellow, still held a youth within them and a vitality still coursed through his veins. He had been given the ability to shapeshift as well, and with that power was sent to earth to blend in and keep watch on this demoness. Bezel bowed to his master, agreeing to watch his new pet...though begrudgingly.<br/><br/>Bezel was the king’s second in command. He was there since the beginning, aiding in the creation of his army of darkness, teaching the new ones their ways, overseeing and leading all. Yet now, here he was, millennia later, with all his accomplishments, with all his years of service to the great lord, playing babysitter from the shadows. He may as well have some fun while he was on this mortal plane.<br/><br/>Throughout his travels he had sent mindless creatures of ill will to cause havoc in peaceful towns during his down times of watching the ‘princess.’ A sour taste filled his mouth each time he thought of her, let alone spoke her name. The trouble with his fun, however, was that there were some who had caught on to his mischief. It did not bother him though. As annoying as the skinwalker and his dwarven sidekick were, they were of little consequence to him.<br/><br/>It was only until that his given target and these vagabonds met did things get complicated. He was instructed to keep out of sight and out of her radar. If she knew that the king had sent somebody to watch her, she would push away from him. At least, that’s how the king felt about it. Bezel had to stick to the shadows. He cursed under his breath as he shimmered the imp corpse from sight, clearing any evidence that he was there before he himself shimmered away from the nearby alleyway.<br/><br/>Reappearing in a nearby forest, next to the dead creature he had sent to put those drifters on a wild goose chase, he kicked the dead carcass in frustration. He pulled his hood off his head, his bald and wrinkled features showing to nobody in the empty woods. Frustrated and angry, he muttered to himself, “stupid girl. Stupid imp. Stupid skinwalker. Why am I up here?! I should be home, working on plans and strategies for the Great War! This is a poor use of resources! All because of some whore!” He thrashed about, tossing up leaves, kicking at the barks of some nearby trees, throwing the imp’s body across the forest before it hit a tree trunk, the sound of its bones cracking echo back.<br/><br/>While Bezel had his tantrum some ways away, back at the tavern...<br/><br/><a class="username" data-user-id="610" data-username="@wretchedmani" data-xf-init="member-tooltip" href="https://blackdahliaroleplaying.com/members/610/">@wretchedmani</a><a class="username" data-user-id="1907" data-username="@Katerina" data-xf-init="member-tooltip" href="https://blackdahliaroleplaying.com/members/1907/">@Katerina</a>