Wicked Bartender PG-13 Version

by KuroKoneko Kamen

  ***

  The day of the fateful battle had arrived. Duke Dantalion and his legion of bloodthirsty demons would fight against God’s Chosen Knight and his holy army of demon slayers who were charged with preventing the Apocalypse. Duke Dantalion had a new mission. He was to kill King Charles VII, but Lucifer told Dantalion he would first have to fight and defeat God’s Chosen Warrior and his holy army.

  The demons in Dantalion’s legion entered the battlefield on horseback. They were in their ‘human forms’ so their claws, fangs, wings, tails, and horns were currently absent. The demon warriors were all mounted on hellish steeds that had glossy, black coats and glowing, red eyes. Some of the horses even had bat-like wings and horns in the center of their foreheads.

  Approaching his legion was God’s Chosen army. The humans were also mounted on horseback and dressed heavily in impressive, gleaming, steel armor. They wielded a variety of deadly looking weapons: double-edged swords, spears, and crossbows. The army had a fierceness, an unexpected confidence about it. A sense of true purpose. And there at the front of their army was God’s Chosen Warrior - the one Dantalion was supposed to fight and kill.

  The sun blinded Dantalion’s eyes momentarily blocking the holy warrior from view and he raised his hand to shield himself from the light. The warrior’s armor was as golden and bright as the sun. Dantalion lowered his hand and took a better look at the warrior. He blinked.

  The knight was dressed in golden armor and wielded a double-edged sword, but what surprised Dantalion the most was that God’s Chosen warrior was a woman. “A woman?” Dantalion growled in a low, deep voice. Damn you, Lucifer. What game was Lucifer playing at? He knew of Dantalion’s creed: ‘No women. No kids’.

  Did Lucifer really expect Dantalion to fight and kill this holy warrior maiden? Dantalion looked at his demons out of the corner of his eyes. If he did not fight the woman then one of his men would and they would show her no mercy.

  They would fight her, defeat her, and maybe even rape her before dealing the final blow. That was the nature of a demon from Hell but…the very idea made Dantalion sick. He unsheathed his impressive, double-edged, black iron, great sword and raised it before him. “God’s holy warrior is mine!” Dantalion roared to his men.

  “Aye, Commander!” The demons cried out in unison. Dante could tell that they were looking forward to seeing the fight.

  Dantalion decided he would face the woman, defeat her, and perhaps capture her. After that he would decide what to do with her. Maybe as long as he defeated her and her army Lucifer wouldn’t mind if he spared the warrior maiden’s life. The demon Duke lowered his sword and pointed it at the army in front of him. “For Lucifer! Charge!” He bellowed and rode forward heading directly for the lady knight.

  “For Lucifer!” The demons let out a ferocious battle roar as they unsheathed their weapons and charged forward after their brave commander. They were about to spill lowly human blood - one of their favorite things to do. Evil leers and sinister grins stretched across their faces and their eyes gleamed with malice. They may have appeared human but that bloodthirsty look in their eyes gave away their demonic nature.

  The Maid pointed her sword forward, “For God! For peace! Attack! Destroy all the demons!” Jeanne kicked her white horse into motion and rode forward without fear.

  Dantalion couldn’t help but be momentarily impressed by the young woman’s ferocity. It was a trait that demons respected. The warrior maiden must have spotted him too because she rode right for him. As she got closer to Dantalion he was able to see her face more clearly. She had cut her stunning, platinum blonde hair short - a pity really. And her eyes - Dantalion had never seen more captivating eyes. They were wide with long, dark lashes, and a pale green with flecks of silvery starlight in them.

  Dantalion barely raised his sword in time to block the vicious swing of the maiden’s sword that had been aimed at his head. She’d meant to decapitate him with that blow. Steel clanged against steel as he pressed his sword against hers. Well, he assumed her sword had been made of steel but truly he’d never seen a metal like it. It looked like gold but was obviously much stronger. Jeanne was surprisingly strong and continued to push against his sword with all her might while trying to get her sword closer to his neck, inch by deadly inch. “Die demon!” She snarled.

  Her eyes once again captivated Dantalion. They were blazing with such fiery passion, determination and fearlessness they reminded him of the flames that blazed for all eternity in Hell. Unquenchable. Her eyes looked like emeralds that had been thrown into the fire pits of Hell. So fierce. So beautiful. Dantalion found himself thinking. He gazed at the rest of her face next, wanting to see more of her. She had an oval-shaped face, high cheekbones, perfectly kissable, pouty, pink lips, and a dainty, sloping nose. Overall it was a very feminine face. Angelic.

  She looked innocent, delicate, vulnerable, and yet she was holding her own against him as they fought against each other. How fascinating. Was she really just a human? Dantalion wondered in awe. Perhaps, she’s an Archangel. There was no way this fierce beauty could be a mere mortal female.

  In a daze, Dantalion swung his sword and continued to block the maid’s attacks. He wasn’t really paying much attention to her attacks though and was instead lost in her green eyes.

  Jeanne was serious, however, and getting more and more frustrated with the demon Duke Dantalion. She knew he wasn’t taking her at all seriously. He’d yet to go on the offensive and continued to merely block her deadly attacks. “Argh!” Jeanne yelled out in frustration as she viciously swung her sword at Dantalion again. This time she managed to slice her sword past his upper arm, drawing blood.

  Dantalion’s eyes widened at the fact that this human female had managed to cut him. He smiled and his golden eyes gleamed with interest.

  Jeanne gasped at the sight and her heart fluttered inside of her chest. What the hell was wrong with her? No, what the hell was wrong with this demon in front of her? She’d just wounded him and now he was smiling. That smile made him look very handsome. His golden eyes were ablaze as they looked at her with…admiration? No. A demon wouldn’t look at a lowly human with admiration so it had to be lust. Jeanne’s lips thinned and she gave Dantalion a disgusted look. “Don’t look at me like that! You perverted demon!” She accused with obvious ire in her voice.

  Dantalion blinked. Perverted? How had he been looking at her? He wondered. Dantalion shook his head. “What is your name, woman?”

  Jeanne narrowed her eyes at Dantalion suspiciously. She knew this demon had no right or reason to know her name and yet…she found herself answering him. “Jeanne.” She spat.

  “Jeanne.” Dantalion repeated her name as if it were a blessing and smiled again.

  Jeanne felt flabbergasted. What the hell is up with this demon? But for some inexplicable reason she found herself asking. “And what’s your name, demon?” She sneered the word ‘demon’ but the demon Duke didn’t seem to mind.

  “I am Duke Dantalion.” Dantalion replied with obvious pride in his voice.

  Jeanne raised her eyebrow at Dantalion. “A Duke of Hell? They have Dukes down there? I’ve always pictured Hell as being a gigantic, flaming pit.”

  Dantalion frowned. “Yes…we also have Lords and Ladies.” He didn’t like this woman insulting his domain.

  Jeanne snorted. “Ladies? You mean whores of Satan?”

  A muscle beneath Dantalion’s eye ticked as he thought of his fiancée, Lilith. Lucifer had chosen her for him. She was a legendary demon after all. She’d been Adam’s first wife but when she’d refused to lie below Adam during sexual intercourse, she’d been thrown unmercifully out of the Garden of Eden.

  After that she became the demon Samael’s lover, and had spawned several half-demon half-human children. Lilith’s children had been evil and had spread chaos across the Earth. When Lilith died and her soul went to Hell, Lucifer decided to reward her for the mess she’d made upon the Earth. He made her a de
mon and gave her power just to spite the God who’d created her only to then forsake her.

  Dantalion didn’t love Lilith, but…he would marry her because Lucifer wanted him to. He didn’t like this lowly human woman calling his fiancée a whore. Even if she was a whore. Sure, Lilith had been Samael’s lover at one point, and then once she became a powerful demoness in Hell had taken many lovers and even had several love slaves. But at the moment, Lilith only had eyes for Dantalion and had slept with no other demons since their engagement. Dantalion also respected Lilith for her strength and tenacity.

  “You know not what you speak, ignorant woman. I grow weary of this conversation. I believe it is about time I defeated you.” Dantalion announced and pointed his sword at Jeanne threateningly.

  Jeanne was caught off-guard by the demon’s sudden attitude change. She realized she must have hit a nerve or something. But she was glad Dantalion was finally going to get serious. “Defeat me? Ha. I’d like to see you try, demon! I will defeat you and rid the world of your evil!”

  They both charged each other and their swords clashed again throwing sparks up into the air. Now that Dantalion was finally taking her seriously, Jeanne’s arms began to ache with the force of Dantalion’s blows. His golden eyes had taken on a murderous gleam - reminding her that this was no handsome man before her, but an evil, bloodthirsty demon.

  This demon…is incredibly powerful, more so than any demon I’ve ever had to face before. Dantalion is different. He is also…frightening. Intimidating.

  Jeanne began to realize that she would not win this fight. The demon had only been toying with her. Her eyes widened in fear as her life seemed to flash before her eyes. She shook her head, “No!” She didn’t want to die. Jeanne turned her horse around and kicked her horse into a gallop as she fled from Dantalion.

  Dantalion chuckled darkly as he watched Jeanne ride off and try to flee from him. That’s more like the pathetic human she truly is! “You won’t escape me, woman!” Dante called after her as he kicked his black steed into a gallop and took off in pursuit.

  Jeanne was forced to stop her horse abruptly when she reached the edge of a cliff. “Whoa!” Jeanne pulled back on the horse’s reins and looked down over the cliff’s edge. Her horse’s hooves dislodged a few rocks that plummeted down. She gulped. It was a hundred-foot drop that ended with a rushing, gray-blue river. Sharp, jagged rocks were poking up out of the river’s surface. If she fell, the rocks would impale her and she’d be killed instantly.

  Dantalion’s dark laughter had her turning her horse around to face him. “There is no escape, Jeanne. Surrender!”

  Jeanne blinked. What? Surrender? Demons were rarely known to take prisoners…and if they did it was for nefarious purposes. Jeanne’s eyes narrowed at Dantalion and her lips thinned. This disgusting demon probably wanted to rape her, she deduced. Well, she would rather die first! She found renewed strength in her anger.

  Jeanne unsheathed her sword and pointed it at Dantalion. “I will never surrender to you, you foul demon! Now come and try to kill me!”

  Dantalion’s confident expression shifted to surprise at this beautiful, fierce human who’d apparently found her courage once more. He could tell she was ready to fight to the death. His bloodlust faded and he smiled. “I will not kill you, Jeanne. But…I will defeat and capture you. And after that I will decide what I must do with you.” You confound me.

  Jeanne’s brow furrowed. “I know what you’re up to demon! But no man will ever touch me without my permission! I would rather die first! Die, demon!” Jeanne charged forward, attacked, and let out a battle cry.

  Dantalion found that he was offended by Jeanne’s low opinion of him. But he also realized that his feelings made no sense. He was a demon.

  Dantalion raised his sword and their swords clashed. His smile widened. Yes, her blows were stronger and more impressive now. This was a magnificent fight. His blood was boiling with…passion. “That’s it Jeanne. Embrace your anger. It makes you stronger!”

  “Silence demon! Die!” Jeanne nicked the side of Dantalion’s face. She felt a pang of regret at the action since he was so handsome but quickly shook her head of such thoughts.

  He wiped the blood from his face with his thumb and licked the blood from his fingers with a flick of his tongue. There was a dangerous glint in his eyes. It had been centuries since he’d last been injured. This woman intrigued, amazed, and fascinated him. “Very good, Jeanne.” He praised.

  Jeanne frowned at the demon and seemed to hesitate. “Dantalion-?” She began and her sword lowered half an inch.

  His name coming from her lips was music to Dantalion’s ears. She’d finally said his name. Am I attracted to this female? He thought to himself in awe. However-

  Jeanne suddenly cried out in pain.

  Dantalion looked up and saw an arrow sticking out of the junction between Jeanne’s arm and her shoulder, right between her armor. Dantalion turned to see one of his demon knights with his bow raised and a wide grin stretched across his face. “Duke Dantalion! I got her! Now, finish her!”

  How dare he interfere! Dantalion looked over at Jeanne and then looked back over at the demon who’d ‘aided’ him. He was furious. Dantalion was surprised by his sudden anger but he found that he was angry at this demon for shooting Jeanne. Dantalion growled low in his throat before turning his horse towards the demon. He charged towards him, and raised his sword. “I told you: none are to interfere! The woman is my prey and my prey alone! You disobeyed me, fool.”

  The demon paled as he saw Dantalion riding towards him with a murderous look on his face. He instantly dropped his bow and put his hands up before him in a surrendering gesture. “My Duke! I’m sorry I-”

  Dantalion twirled his massive great sword through the air and swung his sword at the demon’s neck. Dantalion’s sword sliced through the demon’s neck and he was decapitated. Blood spurted from the neck and the body fell over onto the ground.

  The demon Duke turned to face Jeanne.

  She was wide-eyed and looking at him in astonishment. “Dantalion…?” That’s when she swayed in her saddle, her eyes drifted close as she lost consciousness, and she fell off her horse and right off the cliff.

  “Jeanne!” Dantalion yelled out and was surprised by what he’d just done. He forced himself not to go after her. She was his enemy - a chosen warrior of God! He couldn’t kill her because of his creed, but if she fell to her death then…he wouldn’t have to kill her himself. Dantalion. The demon recalled the way her sweet voice had said his name like a caress, and it wouldn’t leave him. It echoed in his head over and over again.

  Blazes! Dantalion summoned his wings so that they emerged from his back. His wings were black, leathery, and dragon-like with claws on their tips. His wings spread and he took off into the sky with a violent flap. He flew over the cliff’s edge and dove down after Jeanne. “Jeanne!” His hesitation had cost him dearly. He’d barely make it. The demon wrapped his arms and wings around Jeanne just before she hit the rocks.

  Instead Dantalion let the rocks hit his back as he shielded Jeanne’s body with his own. The air was knocked out of his lungs and they fell into the river. Dantalion made sure to keep his arms and wings wrapped around Jeanne’s fragile form as the roaring, raging river began to swiftly carry them downstream. The swirling currents slammed Dantalion into several sharp, jagged rocks and through the excruciating pain he struggled to stay conscious. His wings were cut and torn and his body was badly sliced and scraped.

  It felt like a hundred demons were holding him down and attacking him all at once. It seemed like hours before the river finally calmed enough that Dantalion was able to fight against the currents and swim Jeanne to shore. Dantalion stood up on the riverbank with Jeanne in his arms, cradled against his chest protectively, and looked around for any sign of shelter.

  First things first. He knew that he had to see to Jeanne’s wounds. He entered the forest and after a few minutes of searching found
a suitable cave that would have to do for shelter. Dantalion was in excruciating pain himself, and could feel himself bleeding from the various wounds that covered his body, but…Jeanne’s needs would be seen to first. After all he was an immortal demon. He would heal. Eventually.

  Dantalion carried Jeanne inside of the cave and set her down gently. He realized he would need to make a fire before nightfall. Dantalion left Jeanne in the cave and went to gather firewood in the nearby forest. When he had a sufficient amount, he returned to the cave, and set about making a small fire. Once the flames were crackling to life, he decided it was time to see to Jeanne’s wounds.

  Dantalion approached the unconscious form of the warrior maiden and simply gazed upon her face for a moment. She was a bag of contradictions: fierce, powerful, strong, courageous, and brave. Innocent, pure, vulnerable, delicate. A single arrow had felled her.

  The demon set about taking her armor off until she was in nothing but a white blouse, a pair of brown leather pants, and a pair of black boots. Her shirt was soaked and stained red with blood. It was also plastered to her wet flesh in such a way that Dantalion could see her chest.

  Dantalion gulped at the sight. He shook his head, not understanding his physical attraction to this strange human woman. He peeled off her shirt and gasped at the sight of her. Dantalion’s hand twitched but he resisted the urge to cup her in his hands.

  Instead, he turned his attention to her wound. The arrow had imbedded itself deeply and would need to be pulled out. Dantalion gripped the arrow firmly, and pulled it out as swiftly as possible. Blood spurted from her wound and he immediately pressed her wet shirt against the wound to stop the blood flow. He realized that the wound needed to be closed or else this delicate woman would simply die of blood loss.

  Dantalion was glad Jeanne was unconscious for what he was about to do. He placed his hand directly over the wound and concentrated on his demonic power - summoning fire and cauterizing the wound. The smell of burning flesh hit his nostrils making him feel like he was back in Hell. In Hell demons tortured the damned souls of humans…burning them, peeling off their flesh, eating them.

  Dantalion quickly pulled his hand back and inspected the wound. She would live. A demon’s saliva had healing properties and so Dantalion leaned over Jeanne’s form and licked her wound for a few minutes. His tongue touched a part of her uninjured flesh on her collarbone, and a shock went through Dantalion’s body.

  She tasted like honeysuckles and fresh grass. Milk and honey. A divine gift of the gods. Before Dantalion even realized what he was doing he began to lick and nip at her neck. She was delicious. He just couldn’t get enough. A moan was pulled from Jeanne’s lips.

  Dantalion pulled back abruptly as if burned, his eyes wide, and he was panting for breath. What the hell was wrong with him? He’d lost himself in his desire for this inferior human woman. How was that possible? How could this lowly human woman arouse him so much? Just licking her skin…her taste…it was more erotic than having sex with his fiancée Lilith.

  He shuddered and tried to get himself under control. He sniffed Jeanne discovering that she was a virgin - pure and innocent. And here he was acting like a beast. Well, he was a demon, a monster, but Dantalion had his code that he’d followed ever since he could remember. Dantalion frowned as he tried to remember his existence before he’d become a Duke of Hell. Had he been human once? Or was he one of God’s fallen angels like Lucifer himself? Would it even make a difference? Probably not, but sometimes…sometimes he felt…conflicted about the things Lucifer made him do. He shook his head. No, there was no other way and no turning back. Everything he did was for his friendship with Lucifer. He cared for Lucifer like a brother and that would never change.

  Dantalion backed away from Jeanne and sat down on the other side of the fire, crossing his legs. He stared through the flickering, orange and red flames at Jeanne’s unconscious form. Watched the rise and fall of her beautiful chest. He licked his lips. So beautiful. So pure. She was like a bright light in the darkness, the boredom, the monotony of his routine life. But he still didn’t trust her.

  She was a Chosen Warrior for God and he was a demon. They were enemies. If she had the chance she would cut off his head. That was the only way to kill an immortal demon after all.

  Dantalion remained sitting cross-legged and continued to keep a watch on her. He had this strange sense of peace and contentment wash over him. He would not sleep that night, he decided. However, the demon had underestimated the amount of blood he’d lost and slipped into unconsciousness.

  ***

  Jeanne awoke with a gasp and sat up, wide-eyed, trembling, and felt a sharp stab of pain in her shoulder. She grabbed her shoulder and noticed the cauterized wound where the arrow had been imbedded. Her eyes widened in surprise. Who? She realized she was shirtless and wrapped one of her arms around her chest self-consciously as a pink tinge came to her cheeks. Someone had obviously saved her but…who?

  She noticed the small fire and looked past it. She gasped when she spotted the demon Duke Dantalion lying on the floor. “Dantalion!” She hissed and looked around frantically for her sword. She spotted her armor lying in a pile and her sword was sitting right on top of it. She scrambled to a stand, grabbed her sword, and held her breath as she carefully approached Dantalion as silently as she could.

  Jeanne stood next to him, raised her sword, and prepared to take his head. “And now, you die, Dantalion.” Jeanne said softly as she looked down at his sleeping face. But then she paused. He didn’t look so good. He was ghostly pale, and sweat beaded his brow making him appear feverish. His brow was furrowed in pain and a scowl marred his lips.

  Jeanne lowered her sword and instead poked the demon with the tip of her blade. “Hey, wake up, so I can kill you, Dantalion.”

  There was no response. Jeanne frowned. The demon was obviously injured but she didn’t remember injuring him badly, so why…? Jeanne thought back to the last thing she remembered. She’d been shot in the arm by a demon and then-? Dante had looked at her and the demon before Dantalion rode towards the demon with his sword raised. Dantalion had swung his sword and decapitated the demon! After that Jeanne remembered how Dantalion had turned to look at her with an almost concerned expression on his face. That’s right…he’d looked angry and concerned.

  However, the pain in her shoulder had become too much and she passed out, falling backwards. She must have fallen right off the cliff to her doom. Her eyes widened in realization. Dantalion must have decided to save her. No. Jeanne shook her head. That’s impossible.

  Jeanne poked the demon with her sword again. Still no response. She decided to see where he was injured, for curiosity’s sake. It wasn’t like she was worried about him or anything. She set her sword down, reached out, and began to remove Dantalion’s impressive armor, and his long, black and red cape.

  After that she removed his shirt. She gasped at the sight of his battered, bruised, bleeding and heavily scarred chest. Huge dark blue and yellow bruises were forming on his body. Deep gashes were bleeding from where the rocks in the river must have hit and cut him. The many jagged scars he had were obviously from pervious battles. He was definitely a warrior. Like her. There were so many scars. And yet his face was still perfect. She let out a sigh of relief.

  Unconsciously, she reached her hand out and traced one of his scars. Like this he almost appeared human. He looked so different from the very first time she’d laid her eyes upon him. She thought back to that fateful moment…

  Their two armies had approached one another, and that’s when Jeanne saw him. The leader of the demon army. He was astride a gigantic, black horse with glowing red eyes. The demon commander was huge, intimidating, powerful looking. He was dressed in all black with a pair of heavy, black boots on his feet. Black iron armor with spikes on it adorned his chest, and a long, flowing, black cape with a blood-red lining whipped wildly behind him in the wind. He wielded a gigantic, double-handed, black iron, great sword. T
he hilt of the sword was a dragon’s outstretched wings and the bottom of the pommel was a series of howling skulls.

  The wind blew the demon’s wavy, midnight hair around his shoulders. His eyes were a golden color - like the blazing sun or smelting gold. They were incredible. Most demons had red or yellow eyes, but not gold with flecks of orange and silver in them. They were beautiful. Captivating. His face was elegant with chiseled features, a long blade of a nose, and he had pale but slightly sun-kissed skin from having been outside.

  Jeanne sucked in a breath. She’d never seen such a handsome man before. Her heart was already beating faster inside of her chest, and her mouth felt dry. The sight of a man had never affected her like this before. In fact, she’d never really been attracted to a man before. Had always thought of herself as a man herself really. She was a warrior after all. But right now Jeanne was definitely attracted to this demon commander. And she hated herself for it. How could she be attracted to this man - a demon no less! It was a sin!

  Jeanne raised her sword and pointed it at Dantalion as if he’d offended her. She would kill this demon man no matter how good-looking he was, and put his head on a pike. “For God! Attack!” She cried and rode straight for him. Their swords clashed and she was able to get an even closer look at his handsome face. Mistake.

  He seemed distracted too, and this angered Jeanne. Pay attention to me! See me! She had urged in her mind and attacked him more fiercely than before. His attention finally seemed to truly focus upon her and he smiled, taking her breath away.

  It wasn’t a smile she’d ever seen on a demon’s face before. It wasn’t a leer, or a sneer, or a snarl. But a genuine smile. One of pure pleasure. It transformed his fierce face into a handsome visage of temptation.

  Jeanne could barely breath. This demon man totally affected her and she didn’t know why. It confused her. She’d never been attracted to a man before and had never felt these strange feelings and sensations until now. Until this demon had awakened them inside of her. He’d awakened her femininity.

  And she hated it - detested him for it. She would kill him for it. Jeanne had thought that perhaps she’d go through life without ever feeling physical attraction for a man and had been slightly saddened by this thought. She’d supposed that perhaps God meant for her to be celibate.

  But now, her blood was on fire as those golden eyes bore into hers searchingly. She licked her lips and her emerald green eyes were drawn to his not too big but not too thin lips. Kissable lips. She shook her head and attacked Dantalion again. They spoke to one another and exchanged names. He still wasn’t taking her very seriously until she insulted the so-called ‘ladies’ of Hell.

  Then all of a sudden he was fighting her seriously and he’d become rather frightening. His expression had frosted over, and a fierce aura of power had flared up around him. He’d suddenly scared her and she took off at a gallop while trying to flee from him. She was a coward. Afraid of Dantalion and her own strange emotions. She didn’t think she wanted to kill him, and unless she was fighting him seriously she knew she’d have no chance against him. Was he perhaps a fallen angel? Is this what made him appear so different from the demons she normally encountered? That Dantalion had once been ‘good’. Did this mean that perhaps somewhere deep inside of him…there was still ‘good’? Is this what drew her to him? The thoughts zipped through her mind like streaks of lightning.

  Dantalion pursued her and they’d fought by the cliff. An arrow pierced her shoulder. She fell. But she was still alive.

  “He saved me.” Jeanne murmured in awe, and felt confused. “He actually risked his life to save me…but why?” She frowned. Is there still ‘good’ in him like I suspected? Is that why he saved me? Did he used to be an Archangel? Like Michael.

  I could just leave him here and return to my men. She instantly discarded the idea. She was still weak from blood loss and half-naked. If she were to return to her men looking like this…one of them would probably rape her. This was sad, but true. Her men were, well, men and had ‘needs’. That’s why Joan was allowed to dress up like a man - to protect herself from her own men, her own army, and to hinder their desire for her.

  Nothing in this world is truly black and white. Good or evil. Jeanne had learned this by fighting a war. I’m in command of God’s holy army but they aren’t saints. They aren’t angels. They are human men. And no human is without sin upon this Earth.

  A puddle of blood began to pool around Dantalion ominously. She sighed. She really should just leave him there to die but…she found that she couldn’t. Jeanne grabbed his magnificent cape and began to rip it into strips. After that she wrapped a piece of the black material around her chest for modesty’s sake. She grabbed another piece of material and went outside to find the river.

  Once she found the river she wet the cloth. She returned to the cave and began to clean Dantalion’s wounds. After she was done cleaning the front of his chest she flipped him over onto his stomach. She gasped. His back was even worse than his chest and was covered in bruises and deep gashes. She cleaned his wounds gently and began to wrap strips of black cloth around his torso before tying the strips tightly to staunch the blood flow. It took at least an hour before she was done. She rolled Dantalion over onto his back and wiped sweat from her brow with the back of her hand.

  Once her task of treating the demon’s wounds was finally finished, she stood up and made her way to the other side of the fire before sitting down. She brought her knees up to her chest, wrapped her arms around her legs, and rested her chin on her knees. She peered at Dantalion through the flames and watched the rise and fall of his chest. She felt oddly safe in his presence.

  ***

  Several hours passed before Dantalion began to wake up. He started awake and sat up. I fell asleep! He looked down at his chest and blinked upon seeing the makeshift bandages that had been tied around his torso. Who? Dantalion turned his head and spotted Jeanne silently staring at him from across the fire, her sword lying next to her.

  “Jeanne,” Dantalion breathed. She was awake. And he was still alive. She hadn’t killed him in his sleep, but had actually tended to his wounds. Why?

  “Dantalion,” Jeanne murmured back. Her green eyes were intense, wary, curious.

  They sat there and just stared at each other silently for several electrically charged minutes.

  Finally, Dantalion ran his hands back through his mussed-up hair. “Why am I still alive? Why didn’t you kill me?”

  Jeanne’s eyes narrowed at Dantalion. “I could be asking you the same thing, demon.”

  Dantalion’s eyes widened and he chuckled. “Oh, why indeed. I don’t really know why myself, but I follow a creed. I don’t kill women or children. Your presence upon the battlefield today truly caught me off-guard. I didn’t know what to do. First, I wanted to go back to Hell and give Lucifer a piece of my mind. He knows of my creed and yet he sent me to kill you, obviously. Perhaps, he was testing me, but…I will never stray from my creed.” It’s the only thing I have left.

  Jeanne’s eyebrows shot up to her hairline. A demon who had a creed he lived by? She’d never heard of such a thing before. It was…odd. “You mean you’ve never killed a woman or child before? Ever?” She was giving the demon a skeptical look.

  Dantalion shook his head. “No.”

  Jeanne’s expression shifted to surprise. “You know…it’s very odd for a demon to say something like that. I’ve never heard of a demon showing a human mercy before.”

  Dantalion shrugged. “It is my way.”

  “So are you really going to go against Lucifer’s orders and not kill me?” Jeanne prodded.

  “Yes.”

  “What do you plan to do with me then?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Why don’t you just let me go?”

  “I…can’t.” Dantalion said apologetically. He didn’t know what he was going to do about Jeanne d’Arc. He needed more time to think.

&n
bsp; Jeanne stood up aburptly and grabbed her sword. “If you think you can keep me here by force you are sadly mistaken, demon! I am Jeanne the Maid! God’s Chosen Warrior! I can kill you!”

  “Possibly. Why don’t you then?” The demon challenged.

  Jeanne let out a frustrated noise. “You almost sound like you want me to kill you!”

  Dantalion did not respond.

  Jeanne sat down with a huff. She gave Dantalion a thoughtful look. “Hey…do you think there are more demons like you in Hell?”

  Dantalion blinked. “Like me? How do you mean?”

  Jeanne waved her hand through the air. “I don’t know…like demons who wouldn’t mind calling a truce with the humans instead of starting the Apocalypse. You said even Hell has Lords and Ladies, right? Maybe we can call a truce and co-exist?”

  Dantalion gave Jeanne a surprised look before he burst out laughing at the absurdity of her suggestion. “That’s ludicrous! Demons belong in Hell not on Earth! They are beings of pure evil and would plunge this world you love into eternal darkness and chaos.”

  Now it was Jeanne’s turn to look surprised. “If you really believe that then why are you helping Lucifer take over the Earth?”

  That question threw Dantalion for a moment. Why was he helping Lucifer with this foolhardy scheme? The Apocalypse…demons taking over the Earth. Ludicrous. Dantalion felt it deep in his bones. Demons should stay where they belonged - in Hell. Lucifer was trying to ruin the natural order of things.

  It would be the same as angels suddenly deciding they wanted to live on the Earth. Dantalion recalled the last time that had happened and it had been a mess. The offspring of angels and human women had turned out to be grotesque giants that had been called Nephilim. The Nephilim terrorized the Earth until God sent the flood to wipe them all out. Well, everyone except for Noah, his family, and his arc full of animals. The Nephilim were the same beings found in the Greek pantheon of gods in the human legends. After the time of the Nephilim the angels were greatly restricted and could no longer materialize upon the Earth unless they were delivering God’s messages. They were forbidden to have sex with human women again. If they broke this rule they would fall and lose their wings.

  “Why indeed?” Dantalion laughed and ran his hand back through his hair. “I think it’s ludicrous but…I’m a warrior. War is all I know. I fight Lucifer’s enemies and kill them. And Lucifer has said that the humans are his enemies, and so I continue to fight for him on this occasion. It is my job to fight and win - not to think.”

  “What are you stupid then?” Jeanne challenged. “You can’t think for yourself? Or make your own decisions? If you believe this war Lucifer has planned is nonsense then you should tell him so!”

  Dantalion should have been insulted but he found himself mulling over Jeanne’s words. “Speak to Lucifer?” He was Lucifer’s best friend. Perhaps he could convince him that this war was folly. Dantalion worried two fingers over his jaw in thought. Perhaps, Jeanne was right. He should try and convince Lucifer of his folly. “Perhaps.” The demon Duke finally said after several minutes. “The legion only obeys me. I will tell them to halt their attack until I return from Hell with further orders. I will try and convince Lucifer to stop this foolish war.” Dantalion’s expression was grim. He knew it would be far from easy to convince his friend to stop his war.

  Jeanne smiled at Dantalion radiantly then, revealing startling white teeth. It was a smile that took Dantalion’s breath away. “Thank you, Dantalion. So there are really no other demons like you in Hell? That are slightly good?”

  “Slightly good?” Dantalion laughed. “I am not good.”

  “But you saved my life.” Jeanne pointed out to the demon.

  Dantalion frowned, and shook his head. “You…are a woman.” That’s how he was justifying his actions, he realized. He’d simply been keeping true to his creed. Nothing more, nothing less.

  “Maybe you’re a fallen angel and that’s why I sense good in you, Dantalion.” Jeanne said firmly.

  Dantalion’s eyes widened. “You think so? I cannot remember my previous life before Hell. I do not know what I was.”

  “I think you were definitely an Archangel. I see good in you, Dantalion. I really do. Maybe together we can end this war between Hell and Earth.” Jeanne insisted passionately. “Maybe…that’s why we’ve met.”

  Dantalion found himself getting swept away by this woman’s passion. He couldn’t believe she thought he was ‘slightly good’. He considered himself pure evil. A monster. For some reason he felt…happy that she saw good in him. Hopeful. It was a nice dream.

  At that moment, Jeanne’s stomach rumbled loudly causing her to blush. Dantalion raised an eyebrow at her. Dawn had broken, filling the cave with bright sunlight. He couldn’t believe how much time had passed simply talking to this strange human female. “Hungry?” The demon questioned gruffly.

  Jeanne nodded. “Yes.”

  “I’ll go to the river and catch us some fish. You stay here and rest.” Dantalion said in a stern tone.

  Jeanne pouted. “I can help.”

  Dantalion looked at what Jeanne was wearing - her leather pants, and just a scrap of material wrapped around her chest. He didn’t want any men to accidentally see Jeanne looking that way. Provocative. After Jeanne was fed he would go into the nearby village and procure some clothes for Jeanne before returning her to her army. He would then return to his own army and tell them to hold off on the attack upon the humans until he returned from Hell.

  “No.” Dantalion said firmly. “You are to wait here. I shall return momentarily.” That said, Dantalion left the cave and Jeanne behind.

  Jeanne stuck her tongue out at the demon once his back was turned. He was treating her like a kid. She was Jeanne the Maid! A fierce warrioress! A warrioress who also felt disgusting. Ugh. She was all sweaty and her hair was oily. She sniffed her armpits and discovered she smelled. Didn’t demons have heightened senses or something? She blushed at the thought of Dantalion thinking she stunk like a pile of horse manure. She probably smelled horrible. How embarrassing!

  Jeanne decided that she’d go take a quick bath in the lake she’d spotted yesterday on her trip to the river. She picked up her sword, strapped it to her side, and set off into the forest, heading for the lake. She arrived there in a matter of minutes. The lake was small, tranquil and a lovely dark blue. It was so hot out she’d begun sweating during her trek to the lake.

  Jeanne quickly stripped out of her clothes, set them down into a pile, and set her sword down on top. She made her way to the lake and dipped her toe into the water. The water was cool and refreshing, and not too cold. Jeanne stepped all the way inside and began to swim around. Ah, bliss. This is heavenly.

  ***

  Meanwhile, at the river, Dantalion was hopping from rock to rock and peering down at the fish that were rapidly swimming past. He’d left his great sword back inside the cave and so raised his hand, extending his claws. His gaze narrowed upon the fish and he struck. His clawed hand pierced the body of a fish and Dantalion pulled it out of the water. Dantalion removed the fish from his hand and tossed it upon the shore.

  He looked down at the rushing river water again and prepared to get another trout. The demon spotted another fish and his hand flashed into the water. Dantalion’s sharp claws pierced the fish and in seconds he’d caught another. This fish was thrown at the shore where it landed next to the other one. He caught several more fish in this manner, until-

  “Dantalion!” Came Jeanne’s panicked scream that echoed through the surrounding forest trees.

  Dantalion turned to look in the direction that the scream had come from. “Jeanne.” He took off running into the forest.

  ***

  Jeanne had been dozing off in the water when suddenly she heard deep voices and laughter. Oh dear. Jeanne turned her attention to the lakeshore where three male bandits had appeared. They were scruffy looking men dressed in brown leather pants, and
dirty shirts. The bandits had rusted weapons strapped to their sides and onto their bodies. Their faces were unshaven and covered with scars. The men were searching through Jeanne’s pile of clothes for money. They picked up Jeanne’s sword and stared at it. When they unsheathed it they discovered that the blade appeared to be made out of gold. “Oh, this is a nice sword. It looks like it’s been made out of solid gold! This will fetch a pretty penny in town.”

  My sword! Jeanne gasped. Her sword was very important to her. She’d seen the sword in one of her visions and had somehow known that it could be found buried behind the altar inside of the church of Saint Catherine of Fierbois. The sword had been covered in a layer of dust but once that rust had been removed it was to reveal its uncanny golden appearance.

  The three bandits turned to stare in her direction, drawn by the sound of her gasp. Evil leers spread across their rugged faces.

  “Well, look at what we have here, boys.” One of the bandits began.

  “A pretty boy?” One of the others asked in a dumb tone.

  Whack! This bandit was promptly hit over the head by the first. “No, you idiot! That’s definitely a girl.”

  “Why’s she got a sword then?” The bandit who’d been hit over the head asked dumbly as he rubbed the bump now forming there.

  “Hell if I know.” His friend shrugged.

  “Girl, where’s your money purse?” The first bandit called out to her.

  “I don’t have any money. And get your hands off my sword, you ruffians!” Jeanne demanded.

  The bandits laughed in unison. “Why don’t you make us?”

  “I…” Jeanne chewed on her lower lip as she hesitated. These scoundrels! If she had her sword she could gut them in five seconds flat. But without her sword…she was just a woman who could be easily overpowered by a man. Darn it! Jeanne turned and began to swim away from the shore. I have to escape!

  “Oh, you’re not getting away!” A bandit called out, before diving in after Joan and swimming after her.

  Jeanne couldn’t believe how quickly the man caught up to her. In seconds, he was upon her, grabbing her arms and pinning them to her sides as he restrained her and swam her back to shore. Jeanne kicked and struggled against the man’s iron hold, but he had her arms pinned behind her back. The other two bandits drew closer and leered at Jeanne’s naked body.

  “My God, she’s definitely a woman all right. And a beautiful woman at that.” The third bandit said in a rough voice.

  “Why did you cut your hair short? Trying to travel through these lands while pretending you’re a man? You know it’s a crime for a woman to wear a man’s clothes. You’ll have to be properly punished.” The men chuckled, leered, and licked their lips evilly.

  Jeanne paled. These men were going to rape her. She took a deep breath and screamed: “Dantalion!”

  The men looked around nervously but when no one immediately showed up they began to laugh. “Who’s Dantalion?” The first bandit and apparently the smartest of the group asked.

  “A demon from Hell.” Jeanne said smoothly.

  “A demon?” The bandits began to laugh even harder.

  “Hold her still,” one of the bandits approached Jeanne and reached his hand out towards her chest.

  Jeanne cringed away from his touch. However-

  Splurt. Jeanne watched as a clawed hand abruptly burst through the man’s chest. Blood dribbled down the man’s chin, and the bandit’s eyes were wide in pain and horror. Jeanne was equally shocked by what had just happened and her mouth gaped open slightly.

  The bandit sunk to his knees and then Dantalion was revealed. He looked…different. His golden eyes had turned red, horns had sprouted out of his head, his incisors had lengthened, and his nails had turned into long, black claws.

  Dantalion turned his attention to the bandit on Jeanne’s left next and attacked, swiping his claws across the man’s throat without mercy. The man staggered backwards gasping and gurgling before he fell over dead.

  The bandit that held Jeanne pulled out a knife and held it against Jeanne’s throat. “Stop! Don’t come any closer or I’ll slit her throat!” The bandit warned, however-

  Dantalion had suddenly vanished.

  In a heartbeat, Dantalion was in front of the bandit and kicking the knife from the bandit’s hand. After that the demon side kicked the bandit sending him flying to the ground. With a feral roar Dantalion pounced on the man, straddled him, and then he thrust his clawed hand into the man’s chest to rip the man’s still beating heart right out of his chest. Blood splattered across Dantalion’s face. The demon tossed the heart aside disgustedly. Some demons would have probably eaten the man’s dark heart but not Dantalion.

  Dantalion stood, panting for breath, and turned to look at Jeanne. She was looking at him wide-eyed. Dantalion took a step back from this earthly angel, suddenly feeling ashamed. “Don’t look at me. I’m…I’m a monster.” Dantalion growled almost angrily.

  But at his words Jeanne’s expression softened. She began to approach Dantalion instead of closing her eyes and running away. The lady knight approached until she stood directly in front of Dantalion.

  Dantalion didn’t know what Jeanne was going to do to him. Punch him? Kick him? But then she did the last thing he expected. She hugged him. She wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in the crook of his neck, breathing in his musky scent of blood and steel. “Thank you…for saving me, Dantalion.” Jeanne murmured softly.

  Dantalion shivered as her fresh breath wafted over his ear and in a blink he could no longer hold himself back. He put his hands on Jeanne’s shoulders, and pushed her away from him before reaching out and tilting her chin up so that she met his eyes. He searched her glittering green eyes for any sign of disgust, revulsion, or hate, but didn’t see those emotions there. Instead he saw admiration and some other indefinable emotion.

  That’s when he kissed her.

  Jeanne’s eyes went wide and she almost pulled away, but as soon as their lips touched it was like an electric zap passed between them. Then Jeanne was closing her eyes and kissing him back. She tentatively wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer. Her chest was pressed up against Dantalion’s rock-hard torso. They both groaned at the sensation and deepened their kiss - tongues clashing, rolling, savoring.

  Jeanne felt dizzy, drunk on this intoxicating demon man. She’d never felt anything so wonderful as the emotions this man was causing her. Had never tasted something so delectable than this man’s natural flavor.

  Dantalion was thinking much the same thing. Jeanne’s honeysuckle taste…he couldn’t get enough and unconsciously put his hands on her lower back to press her even closer to his body. “Jeanne,” He said in a husky voice. “We can’t. We shouldn’t. I am a demon and you are…” He shook his head. “This is a sin.”

  Jeanne was looking at Dantalion with a needy expression on her flushed face. “Dantalion I-” She began to struggle to form the right words. She wanted to explain her desire for this handsome demon man before her.

  Dantalion turned around and put his back to her. “Get dressed. Then we shall eat. After that I will return you to God’s army. Where you belong.” He forced his voice to sound firm.

  Jeanne’s expression fell, and sadness filled her green eyes. She’d been rejected. “What if…I wanted to stay here with you instead?” She asked softly. Always.

  Dantalion turned around and gave Jeanne an astonished look. And as he saw her standing there naked, vulnerable, and with that open look on her face he realized that she wasn’t afraid of him. No. She wanted him. In that instant he fell in love with Jeanne d’Arc. So brave. So lovely. Dantalion couldn’t hold himself back. He crossed the distance between them, and kissed her once again with fervor.

  He moved his lips to Jeanne’s cheek and started to place kisses along her jaw line and then down her neck. He started to nibble on her collarbone as he tried to get his emotions under control. “Jeanne…Jeanne…J
eanne. I…want to stay together with you too. But we can’t. But perhaps after we’ve ended this war…then we could be…” Dantalion swallowed the lump in his throat. “Together.” I love this human female. I want her. I want her to be mine.

  Jeanne let out a wistful sigh, “Oh yes…Dantalion…yes…I’ve never felt this way about anyone before. Ever. For once in my life I finally feel truly alive.” I want to be with him. I want to be his.

  “I feel the same way. I was dead until I met you, Jeanne. Now I feel alive and am willing to risk everything for the chance that we can be together freely.” Dantalion vowed. He placed a tender kiss on her forehead. “Get dressed. I caught some fish.”

  Jeanne smiled. “Alright.” This demon man is so intriguing. He’s powerful and yet kind. Pure evil and yet he’s good. I want to find out more about him. I don’t think I will ever tire of learning more about the puzzle that is the demon Dantalion. How many sides can one being possible have?

  To be continued in…Drink 8: Between The Sheets

  Dantalion: “Good evening, lowly human, tonight I am going to teach you how to Kiss.”

  Reader: “Yay!”

  Dantalion: “I mean, I’m going to teach you how to make a Lover’s Kiss. Pour 1/2 an ounce of amaretto almond liqueur, 1/2 an ounce of cherry brandy, 1/2 an ounce brown crème de cacao and 1 ounce of cream into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well, and strain into a parfait glass. Top with whipped cream. Sprinkle with chocolate shavings and garnish with a maraschino cheery. Enjoy your Lover’s Kiss. I know I enjoyed my Lover’s Kiss with Jeanne.”