The demon tipped her had from one side, then the other, as if trying to fit her mind around Ella's thoughts. To offer without seeking something in return was as alien to Uphir as this entire world was to Ella. Still, Ella's human strangeness was to Uphir's benefit and finally she rolled her shoulders in a shrug. Perhaps humans were so rich they could afford such strangeness.
“A pawn becomes Queen, if it makes it to the end of the board,” Uphir said, for should this human become more powerful (and she was more powerful than she knew, already) currying her favor might be useful.
“The Prince seeks weapons from us,” Uphir gestured where Malaphor and several red-skinned demons huddled together. “He plans for war – well, for more war than the usual raids.” The demons hand dropped to her belly again, for even demons have a shred of maternal instinct.
It was true, Malaphor planned war – a great war beyond any Purgatory had known for centuries, a war that would break the barred gates out of this starving land to the riches of the mortal world – and he'd take that wealth and command it for his own. But that meant a grand army, in Malaphor's mind, and that meant he must rule Purgatory first. With Ella's presence, the ancient standoff among the powerful was coming to an end.
While it seemed that Malaphor ignored Ella, he kept an eye on his precious pet. When he was satisfied that the demons would do as he wished, he turned to her, taking her hand to draw her from the stool and pulling her close with a toothy grin. He ran a hand down her bare back, fingertips pausing at the edge of the belt, nudging it to make the toy within her move. “You hunger, my pet, do you not?”
Malaphor bent to breathe in the scent of Ella's skin, lips brushing her neck, tail lashing lazily. “Tell me how you lust for me, and I will soothe you.”
He wished to hear her admit the truth; she craved him. Malaphor was particularly pleased that she would do so in front of the gossipy lesser demons, that all might know how his pet yearned to serve him.
“A pawn becomes Queen, if it makes it to the end of the board,” Uphir said, for should this human become more powerful (and she was more powerful than she knew, already) currying her favor might be useful.
“The Prince seeks weapons from us,” Uphir gestured where Malaphor and several red-skinned demons huddled together. “He plans for war – well, for more war than the usual raids.” The demons hand dropped to her belly again, for even demons have a shred of maternal instinct.
It was true, Malaphor planned war – a great war beyond any Purgatory had known for centuries, a war that would break the barred gates out of this starving land to the riches of the mortal world – and he'd take that wealth and command it for his own. But that meant a grand army, in Malaphor's mind, and that meant he must rule Purgatory first. With Ella's presence, the ancient standoff among the powerful was coming to an end.
While it seemed that Malaphor ignored Ella, he kept an eye on his precious pet. When he was satisfied that the demons would do as he wished, he turned to her, taking her hand to draw her from the stool and pulling her close with a toothy grin. He ran a hand down her bare back, fingertips pausing at the edge of the belt, nudging it to make the toy within her move. “You hunger, my pet, do you not?”
Malaphor bent to breathe in the scent of Ella's skin, lips brushing her neck, tail lashing lazily. “Tell me how you lust for me, and I will soothe you.”
He wished to hear her admit the truth; she craved him. Malaphor was particularly pleased that she would do so in front of the gossipy lesser demons, that all might know how his pet yearned to serve him.