Silk Curtains

[Acerina "Ace" Lamielle]

Ace took the lead, but made sure that Dante had no chance to escape as she walked him to her home, the demonic palace. "Yeah, there's a demon queen. She's my sister actually." Ace sounded quite proud as she mentioned this fact. Her sister might be missing a few screws, but she loved her to death.

Soon the forest gave way to buildings and the demon city panned out before the princess and her guest. People scattered as Ace passed or looked on in curiousity as they spotted and sensed the human presence near her. She moved closer to the boy and kept her eyes hard and cold. She wanted everyone to know not to touch him or they would die a most painful death.

The palace reared itself up before them quickly as Ace turned a corner. It was gorgeous in her eyes, and in the past even non-demons had considered it to be beautiful, if not terrifying. She smirked and headed for the front gates. The guards swung it open promptly and bowed their heads. Ace continued in, grabbing her companion's chains and making it look like she was dragging him in behind her.

She entered right into the main building and up to her room. The doors of her bedroom were abnormally ornate compared to the doors of the other rooms. Hers were big, black, and covered in iron details. She had created the illusion and then made it real over four years ago now. Her whole room was made of illusions brought into reality.

She stepped inside and let Dante come in as well. She scanned the room with more pride than she had when she spoke of her sister. Burgundy and silver silk curtains hung over the windows and over her king sized bed. The floor was made of burgundy marble and her bed was raised on a dais of the same. Her bedding was silver and black with red accents, and her furniture was cherry wood.

It had taken her a long time to create everything, but when she had finished... she had felt so accomplished. Ace closed the door and pointed to a black velvet ottoman. "Sit down." She ordered, heading for a door to the left that was open to reveal gilded mirrors and marble countertops. A bathroom. She entered and found bandages and ointments along with a rag which she soaked with cool water. She grabbed a bowl and filled it with water too before going back to Dante.

[Dante "Pet" Leo]

She was the Queen's sister. Impressive, he had to admit. The idea of meeting the demon queen sent shivers through his body once more, but he comforted himself in the fact that she would probably not bother with a human like himself. After all, Acerina sure tried to make it seem as though he was worthless, unimportant.....a toy.

The key word here was try. He might have been a human, but he wasn't a total idiot. He knew she could still kill him in less time than it took his heart to beat once...but there was something strange going on here. He felt suprisingly at ease, considering he had chains tying him up and blood tattering his shirt further every second.

But when they entered what was clearly demonic realm...and so many frightning eyes were staring at the human being dragged in by their princess, that sense of ease immediately dissapeared. He kept his mouth shut, his gaze wandering from left to right, registering every bit of information he could gather from what he saw.

He obediantly followed her into what was clearly her room. He was suprised that he wasn't going to be locked up in a cell or a dungeon, then again, maybe this was just one of her cruel jokes. "Nice room" he nevertheless complimented. He was certainly not used to such luxury, and felt slightly uncomfortable again, but at least he wasn't the object of attention for the entire demonic realm.

He sat down without any objection. The loss of blood had made him tired, and sitting down had been all he wanted for quite a while now. "Could I get these things off me?" he lifted his hands slightly, the jingle of the chains making it obvious that that was what he was refering to. "By the way, Acerina" he remembered her name quite clearly and thought back to when she had pinned him to that tree "I'm Dante" he figured his name really didn't matter, but hey, the fact that he was in the presence of a demoness didn't mean he had to lose his manners, not to mention a demon princess.

[Acerina "Ace" Lamielle]

Ace sat down next to Dante and placed the bowl on a coffe table. She grabbed the rag and began to clean the wounds she had inflicted. She was startled when she heard her name come from Dante's lips. Oddly, she enjoyed... and he had used her full first name - because she gave it of course but still - no one called Ace Acerina.

She smirked and shook her head. As he gave his name she nodded. "Ok, well I'm still just going to call you pet... but it's nice to know your real name." She said nonchalantly. She contined to wipe the blood off and rinse the towl out in the bowl. The water in the bowl was a cloudy pink-red now.

Surprisingly, Ace was doing well restraining herself. Normally the scent of blood would drive her insane and she'd tear out the throat of her victim or some other such gruesome way of getting to their blood. Even though Dante's smelled more than appetizing enough for her, her tongue didn't taste that sanguine liquid flowing from his wounds. No matter how much she wanted it, her body made no motion to take it.

She finsihed cleaning the blood off of him and then bandaged his wounds. When she was done bandaging him she trailed her finger along his jawline under his chin and then smirked. She stood and motioned around her room. "You can make yourself at home. My room is your room. Do not leave it though. Not without me or my permission. This may be the demon palace, but it is still just as leathal to your health as the city."

"If you need anything I will instruct a servant to take your requests." She looked around her room a moment and then rubbed her neck. "That's all. You can... go explore my room now. I'm going to go change and relax." Ace headed for her closet to change into a tanktop and shorts pajama set. As she walked through the door she took her honey colored hair down from the twist it was up in all day and let it cascade down about her shoulders.

She sighed to herself. She had a toy, but hse didn't want to play with him. Not in the torture sense at least. She almost felt bad thinking about it. He was hurt. She'd wait until he was healed. Still, she was a demon. Why did she care about his health? She should be torturing him until he was within an inch of his life. Ace stripped down and slipped back into her clean black silk shorts and camisole. She decided that since she couldn't explain it she'd just go with it and hope her morbid sense of humor came back to her soon.

[Dante "Pet" Leo]

He had to admit he was suprised to the treatment he was given so far. Was she not a demoness? And as she had alluded to, shouldn't he be already dead....or at least crawling on the floor as it was covered with his own blood? Well whatever was going on here, he wasn't complaining, but he wasn't expecting it to last either.

Ok, well I'm still just going to call you pet...

He thought of the name...Pet. Well, that wasn't so bad. But wait...should he call her Acerina? He still considered he had nothing to complain about. He watched her every movement as she came out with a bowl and bandages. He was yet again suprised at the gentleness of her touch as she cleaned him up....but why? "Thank you" he spoke softly as she finished bandaging him up.

She walked to the closet and his gaze was focused on her as her hair dropped down. The closet door had, intentionally or not, been left open slightly. He found himself leaning foward so that his gaze could continue staring foward, at least to the extent that his chains allowed him to do so. He felt a shiver run down his spine as her clothes were slipped off, but as she turned very slightly toward him, he threw himself back against the chair. But the chains which had done only but annoy him so far, jingled lightly.

Shit...she's gonna kill me.

But he not only felt guilty because his life was on the line...he felt guilty because he had done something absolutely unacceptable. Dante you moron... he cursed himself. "um..." he cleared his throat a bit and stood up, making sure to keep his gaze away from her as he walked around the bed and looked around "Could you take these off me?" he shook the chains up to indicate what he was talking about. He kept walking around, wondering what different items were or meant, simply in order to keep his mind off of the demoness who was stripping in the closet only a few feet away from him.

[Acerina "Ace" Lamielle]

Ace heard the jingle of chains and in the corner of her eyes she saw something move swiftly out of sight from the doorway. She raised an eyebrow and smirked a little. Then as she heard Dante ask about taking the chains off she walked out in her pajamas and looked him up and down.

"Why? So you can spy on me silently?" She came up beside him and leaned over a bit, head turned to look at his face. She tapped her finger on the chains though and they disappeared, however around his neck was replaced a black leather collar. It would hurt less and it wasn't as noisy, but Ace had to make sure that other demons knew he belonged to someone. As an afterthought she ran her finger over the front of the collar and the family crest appeared.

Now they'd know he belonged to someone in a palace. Hopefully that would ward off harming him if he was stupid enough to get caught outside by the city's demons. She chuckled and started walking towards her plush velvet couch. "I hope you liked what you saw. Lucky for you I won't torture you for it today. Think of it as a freebie." Ace smirked and looked back at him with a wink.

She then laid down on her couch and stretched out much like a cat. Fluffing a throw pillow, she placed it under her head and yawned a bit. "Come sit, pet." She said, indicating the floor beside her. Before he sat down she reached for a silver bell on the table and let it ring a few times. A servant immediately entered and bowed. "Yes, Your Highness?"

"Drinks and food for two." Ace ordered. "Thank you." She added as the servant nodded and left the room, only to return a few moments later with what Ace had asked for. Ace then dismissed the servant and reached for her drink. "Drink, eat, be merry." She said to Dante, chuckling slightly at the trite phrase she'd used before sipping at her drink again.

[Dante "Pet" Leo]

Just the sight of her watching him like that sent shivers down his spine...

Why? So you can spy on me silently?

"No...that's not--" his cheeks turned bright red with embarassment. He wasn't that kind of guy, although he had no problem with expression his affection for a woman, this situation was much different. For one...this woman was a demoness who might kill him at any time. That sure wasn't a comforting thought. Second of all, could he really like a demoness who had seemed to get pleasure out of hurting him? He chased these thoughts out of his mind and felt relieved as he realized she did not seem angry.

He rubbed his wrists and was able to relax a little when the chains were gone. Of course, there was still that leather collar...and unfortunately, he wasn't used to wearing necklaces, so it felt even more uncomfortable than it needed to. It was obvious however, that it wasnt coming off, so he didn't bother to ask. It was a minimal thing to have to deal with.

His face had just come back to it's normal color when she alluded to the 'incident' once more. He turned reder than he had before, but he didn't apologize. He knew how frustrated she would be, or at least he could imagine. Besides, he was at a loss for words at the moment. But the blunt truth was --and he admited this to himself-- was that he very much liked what he had seen. He cursed himself for being so horrible.

He stood there for some time, watching her move to the couch and the short exchange of words with her servants. He wondered how someone could get such a job...and whether it was a decent one. He slowly moved toward her and sat down, his back leaning against the couch as he rested his head near her hand. He ate, drank, but was not really sure how he could be merry. Not that he was unhappy at the moment, simply that he really wasn't sure how to be merry. He closed his eyes and thought "Do demons sleep?" it was a random question, surely, but he wanted to know more about her...about her kind. His eyes opened slightly and he tilted his head so that he could see her face. The strain of his face made his gaze look pitiful, at least he had been told so before. But he simply like to stare at her eyes.

[Acerina "Ace" Lamielle]

Ace smiled... no she smirked. Ace didn't smile. She smirked as he sat down next her her and began to eat. She finished her drink and set the glass back down on the tray it came on. As she pulled her hand back she allowed her fingertips to brush over his shoulder.

Unable to stop herself they continued along the back of his neck and other shoulder. She then leaned in and brushed her lips over the nape of his neck. It wasn't really a kiss, her lips stayed relaxed, but still moved along his skin. Ace really had no idea what she was doing. Her body was acting of it's own accord... but her mind and heart weren't fighting it at all.

She slid off the couch to sit next to him on the floor. Her arms wrapped around his torso as she took a seat in his lap. What the hell was she doing?! This was not... he was... Ace didn't care as she rested her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. She was too comfortable to make herself move, and her body wouldn't even if she tried.

Ace purred shortly and then, curling up closer to him, answered his unasked question as she drifted off into a light sleep. Ace hadn't fallen asleep in the same room as anyone in years, let alone in their lap. Was it because he was her pet? Her 'property'? That she felt so comfortable with him because she 'owned' him? Whatever the reason, she rather enjoyed the contact and the chance to relax.

[Dante "Pet" Leo]

He felt inexplicably comfortable there, simply sitting next to her. He was slightly suprised at the touch upon his shoulder, but it didn't really bother him much. It was only when he realized that her hand wasn't going away, that he found himself unable to close his eyes again and relax. Her hands and touch were getting boulder too, and then her lips were gently grazing along his skin and hair, and he found himself attempting to hide his hand which had tensed into a fist.

She moved down next to him. His heart began pounding into his chest, and he felt as if it were to break his rib cage and leap out of it. Her gentle carresses continued, and he found himself thinking that he was in heaven...or hell, which ever would fit the description best here.
He found himself shaking slightly, a feeling he desperately tried to subdue as she settled into his lap. She didn't seem bothered by it at least....so maybe he was able to control himself better than he had thought. He tried to slow his erratic breathing, but it was still unusually deep. How come was it that she was so comfortable with him?

Was she falling asleep? He unintentionally inhaled the scent of her hair, and found himself leaning into her so that his face could be closer to hers. His left arm curled around her waist and he felt the bare skin which her clothes neglected to cover, only under his middle finger. He supposed that was the answer to his question....demons could sleep.
But he found that with her in his lap...such a beautiful distraction, he couldn't sleep for himself. But that was alright, he was tired, but he could sit there and watch her for hours.

He gently whispered in her ear "Sleep well mistress" he smiled lightly, continuing his deep breathing.

[Acerina "Ace" Lamielle]

Ace had to have slept for at least an hour. Peacefully too. When she awoke she stretched, her eyes still closed, and wondered about the feeling of where she had been laying. At first she couldn't remember what had happened before she slept. Then as she opened her eyes and saw Dante it all came flooding back to her.

She cursed and stood in one fluid movement. Had she really fallen asleep on him? Ace shook her head and ran her fingers through her hair. She was such an idiot! And how she had been acting before... her fingers... her lips... Ace's head hurt as she tried to come up with some explaination for it. Her behavior was... inexcuseable.

As a demon princess she shouldn't be touching her lips to anyone's skin, let alone a human's skin. She turned back to him, examining him. He had just let her sleep in his lap? Something in her chest fluttered, her heart? She chuckled to herself. Not over a human. Not over any man. She walked over to him and placed her foot on his chest. She applied a little pressure, but not enough to hurt him.

Ace leaned over him. "What a loathsome human. I bet you enjoyed that... just taking advantage of a demon princess like that! I'm nice to you and you put your paws all over me while I'm sleeping. Pathetic. You don't even have to guts to do it while I'm awake!"

She couldn't tell if she was saying it to move him into action, because she was really upset... or what. If she was upset... it wasn't really with Dante though. It was with herself. Trying to move him into action was more likely. As she looked down at him she just wanted to drop into his lap again. That thought made her stomach turn.

A demoness should not want that.

[Dante "Pet" Leo]

He had managed to close his eyes again, even though the distraction in his lap was so great. He was in a half sleep, having dozed off slightly though retaining the tenseness in his body. He was almost relieved the feel her move as she woke up, but sad as well. Something in him loved having her so close. He kept his eyes closed for a few more moments trying to relax his body.

Then came the foot. The light pressure on his chest incited him to open his eyes, just to see what was going on. He remain immobile, confused as to whether she was angry or whether it was just one of her strange games. By her face...she actually looked angry...but at him? There was no reason to be...maybe he had gone too far. But she was the one who had fallen asleep on him!! Women are just so complicated....

He frowned slightly at the harshness of those words, undeserving as far as he was concerned. He was not that kind of guy...he knew it, and he knew she knew it. Other wise she would have torn him up when she caught him peeking right? That would've made more sense at least. No...she couldn't be mad at him...there was something else in the works here.

He pushed her foot away and stood up in one swift movement --swift for a human at least. He took a few steps toward her, his bright eyes not letting her gaze go. He only ceased until he was standing barely an inch away. He took her by the waist and pulled her against her. Now would she be less angry? Doubtful.

"If you really believe I just took advantage of you, tear me up right now, and I'm sure you won't feel guilty about it. But i don't think you really think that."

[Acerina "Ace" Lamielle]

Ace continued to look down at him and was surprised when he pushed her foot away. She backed up, but he moved closer. For a second Ace was actually scared. Then the fact that he was human and she was a demon came back to her. What a stupid thing to forget. How could she?

It came back to her all over again though as he pulled her close. Her heartbeat skipped. 'If you really believe I just took advantage of you, tear me up right now, and I'm sure you won't feel guilty about it. But i don't think you really think that.' Ace shuddered as he told her to hurt him, to kill him. "Fine." She whispered quietly.

Her hand came up, ready to strike. Then suddenly fell to the back of his neck and pulled his face in so she could kiss him. Her lips met his and startled her, even though she had made the move. She hadn't been thinking straight all day. The boredom must have gone to her head. Still, she didn't pull away.

She kissed him harder and wrapped her arms around his neck. When she finally did untangle herself from him she was breathing hard. It wasn't from the lack of breathing for a moment, but more from her heart pounding non-stop and the surprise from kissing him so unexpectedly.

What was she doing? She needed to stop and get her head in order. Before she completely went insane or disgraced her family, or who knows what. Ace bowed her head and took a deep breath. "Damn..." She muttered to herself.

[Dante "Pet" Leo]

I was right...

Much more accurate than he had thought in fact. That anger had been false, or if it had been real, it hadn't been directed toward him. He stared at her hand as it menacingly hovered over his body, but as she pulled her own face close to his, that strange feeling of heaven vs. hell came to him again. It was strangely painful, that kiss....it jerked his heart in a way that he never could have imagined...but it also felt unbelievably satisfying and pleasant. There was no way to describe it.

Why did you do that?....I didn't want that....I don't like you that way...that much... he tried to lie to himself. But so many questions were rearing up in his mind. His mouth was yet again at a loss for words, certainly due to the extreme confusion and disorderly state of his typically calm mind. Without knowing it, he had kept his hands on her waist, but his arms dropped down along his body. Who was he kidding...what was there not to like about Acerina? She was beautiful...interesting surely, and leathally dangerous....wait, had he just listed that as a good thing? But there was something wrong.

In normal circumstances...if that could ever occur, he probably would have taken her face in his hands and kissed her again to never end. But this was far from normal. He was distraught, and although he couldn't exactly figure out why, he felt it might have something to do with the fact that, she didn't seem to be accepting this. There was something holding her back.

He turned around and went to sit on the couch. He put his head in his hands and forcefully ran his hands over his face and through his hair, as if an attempt to wake him up from a strange dream. This day had gone from being a vampiress' prey, to being beat up by his best friend, and then being beat up by a demoness....who seemed to have a thing for him....maybe.

He didn't dare look at her. He couldn't stand to see her eyes full of whatever emotion she was feeling right now. What she whispered reinforced that fact.

Shoving me back down on the couch would've been enough...

I want you

I need you

I hate you

Damn it

[Acerina "Ace" Lamielle]

I don't understand.

Ace felt her chest tighten as Dante moved to sit on the couch. He hated it. He hated her. He had to have. Why did that hurt Acerina so much? Why did that make her want to cry? No. She'd never cry for anyone. She wasn't weak. She didn't cry.

Yet her eyes began to sting. She sniffed angrily and then slapped him. "At least look me in the eyes after I act like an idiot!" She hissed. She turned on her heel and stalked out of the room. She even admitted that what she had done made her look like an idiot. She shivered as she heard her door click shut behind her.

Her bare feet made no noise on the marble floors of the corridors. She stopped, listening to the eerie silence of the palace. After her outburst it seemed... so out of place. It made her sick. She grabbed a vase and threw it into the wall beside her.

The crash made her feel a little better, but in the end she just sank into a crouch with her head in her hands. A servant came up to her. 'Are you alright Your Highness?' She asked her. Ace growled and ran her fingers through her hair. "I'm fine. I just... I'm not in a good mood. I'm sorry, could you clean this up, please?" She asked, motioning to the shards of pottery on the floor.

She straightened up as the girl nodded and started for the gardens to get some fresh air. Outside the gentle breeze helped to cool her head figuratively speaking. She sat down on a stretch of grass next to a bench and leaned back, staring up at the evening sky. She let out a sigh and tried to relieve the tension in her shoulders.