The Crown and The Rose
Chapter 15: He Fears Me

Chapter 15: He Fears Me

The Rose

Lush fears me as he should. But both of us know that there is more to his fear. He is desperate. He is desperate not to solve the missing case but to prove himself to me. To show me that he has what it takes to be my servant. He wants to show me that he is not just someone born with a diamond spoon in his mouth. He is not just a royalty. He is the person the Gods chose to bless.

I like the way he looks at me -hunger, greed, and anticipation. He wants to be acknowledged by me. By the supremacy of the demon realm. He is thrilled and so am I. I could never think that just a mere human would make me feel this way. Make me feel this eager and this hungry to know more about this Gods’ blessed prince.

I want to know what he can do. What he is capable of doing. I want to push his limits. Make him sharpen like the blade that he is. But a bit rusty. I can’t decipher why but I feel so curious about him that I couldn’t resist myself coming all the way to the Syx and watching over his every move and every decision. I don’t remember coming to Syx for centuries I have someone significant who can keep things as calm as still water surface.

Lush knows that he can’t disappoint me if he wants to live and I will make sure that he believes it. I will be his savior and I will be his executor too. I will save him when he needs it and then I will hurt him to make him remember over and over again who he belongs to.

I want you to show me, Your Highness...

I peer over Lush, trying to maintain my cold demeanor while fire is blazing in my eyes. He makes me feel things I never felt before. Lush mulls over whether he should look at me or not. He is uncertain and his uncertainty is something I will take advantage of and crave him just the way I want.

Lush bites at his bottom lip and then whips around to leave the room. He looks so beautiful when he is scared... I watch him leave the room stiffly. It’s his first day here and I didn’t expect him to make a move already. He is sharper than he looks.

I look forward to the thrill, my prince.

Philip turns his head to me, looking a bit hesitant, "My lord, c-can I go and see His Highness for a bit?" Phillip bites at his lip as he looks everywhere but my eyes.

My eyes narrow and I slowly say, "You and him are poison for each other and I believe that you are already aware of that Phillip."

"I-I am aware my lord." Phillip tries to defend himself, his voice meekly and hesitant, "I just want to make sure that he is doing alright and give him some information..."

I stare at him for a beat before turning around and walking to the desk at the end of the room, just before the large clock. I pick up an eagle-feathered quill and brush it lightly against my cheek. "You know what you are Phillip. And everyone in the demon realm knows that too. So be cautious when you get attached to the people who hold no value in my eyes. You will end up disappointing yourself."

"I will keep that in my mind, my lord." I don’t need to turn around and see that Phillip is bowing me deeply. He raises his head and almost flies to the staircase.

Phillip is a human. But he is special. He wields dark magic. Humans aren’t supposed to wield dark magic but he does. Dark magic feeds on the human soul and eventually kills them. But the Blacks are special.

My father, Infernon blessed them with dark magic centuries ago. So the Blacks can wield the dark magic without any consequences. And Phillip is the last survivor of the Black family.

As Phillip’s family could wield the dark, they were considered evil. People thought that they were demons who crossed the border and now were trying to deceive them. Phillip’s family resided in the Blade Empire. But the former Emperor, Lush’s grandfather massacred his family. Lush was just an infant back then.

Phillip was on the verge of death and I saved him as I was passing by and he begged me to save him. He was around four years old back then. I took mercy on him as I thought he could be useful to me. He had a strong dark aura around him at that age.

I took him in and raised him. He is my most devoted follower now. He would even give his life if it was an order from me. He is a precious devotee of mine. I can’t afford to lose him for something as useless as an attachment. He is worth more than that. And I hope he understands that too.

Phillip is well aware that the reason for his family’s slaughter is Lush’s grandfather but still he is trying to help him. He is trying to keep him alive. He washed Lush with Demon’s stench that he, himself uses and did his makeover to make him look like a demon. I still can’t decipher the reason behind all of this. It’s as useless as it seems. If I were Phillip I would have tried my best to kill the young naive prince.

But now that Lush is here in my school, I am sure he will soon understand what it means to be in hell even with all the assistance is offering him. He will squirm and cry but will not be able to get out of this hell hole until he gives me what I want. I want him to watch him fall into the pit of despair and then crawl to my feet and beg me for mercy and I will kick him back into hell again. Just think of it makes my body tremble with thrill and anticipation.

I am making him do all this for naught because I already have a vivid idea of who this culprit could be. He is never calm. He is as destructive as the tsunami itself. But there is a limitation to what he can do without showing himself in front of me. That nine-tailed devil is wreaking havoc again and I need to put a lease to his throat soon.

"Seraphina, you may come out now." I get seated behind my desk and draw a piece of paper and ink to me as I nonchalantly ask my sister to step out of the shadows.

"Aw, brother how can you always find me?!" Seraphina steps out of the looming shadows of my office.

"You are just very terrible at it." I don’t raise my eyes from the work that I am doing.

"Brother, now tell me did you mean it when you said that you are relieving from my duties?" Seraphina’s tone of voice remains the same sarcastic and poisonous however there is a hint of uncertainty and disbelief that can be detected beneath the surface.

I put down my quill and look up at her, my gaze cold and hollow, "Do you think I just talk without any meaning behind it? You should know better Seraphina." Sweat forms on her hairline, "I meant it when I said that I am disposing of you as the student council president. Leave your badge here and leave."

"But why?" She asks mutely, "What did I do wrong?"

"You took the authority I hold in, and to my eyes, that is a grave sin." Seraphina flinches, "You are trying to deceive Lush. I certainly did not give you the authority to do that."

"You are changing brother." Seraphina huffs and then takes her badge that was pinned to her chest off, she tosses it over to the desk. "But brother I will not change." She spins around and starts to walk to the staircase, "I will settle the score with your pretty servant, Lush Von Blade, and prove that I am more capable than that mare human. Even you can make wrong choices. I will prove it."

I see Seraphina descend the slippery mushy steps of the staircase, wearing the look that she could care less even if she fell. Of course, she could. She is the phoenix after all. One of the most respected and feared legendary beasts among the demons. She is my sister at the end of the day without any doubt.

Seraphina is that significant person who is in charge of the Syx. She is the unchanging president of the student council who has raised her own kingdom within these four walls. She is undefeatable here. However, it doesn’t apply to me. I can crush her any moment if I want to. But she is useful and she knows it well. She knows that I won’t kill her if it’s not necessary. So she can do whatever she wants until it potentially hampers me. This is why despite disliking Phillip she doesn’t lay a hand on him but it isn’t the same for Lush. He isn’t valuable to me, not yet and Seraphina knows it well.

Seraphina will kill him.