Chapter 9
"Life in the palace is really harsh and dangerous. Once you're in, there's no way out," Kai, one of the young slaves, had said.
It had been a few weeks since Yuta became a slave in the demon realm, and he was beginning to understand the brutal truth of those words. There was almost no rest for slaves—it was one chore after another, almost like how it was when he lived with his "family."
After a meager breakfast, Yuta and Kai were sent to the stables to milk the cows along with another red-haired boy who Yuta had learned was named Ren.
"So how did you get here?" Kai asked Yuta on their way to the stables.
"I actually don't know clearly. I went on an errand late at night and the next thing I knew, here I am," Yuta replied softly.
"Hmm, I think you must have been sold," Kai said thoughtfully.
"That's not possible," Yuta said, solid in his conviction.
"I've been here for a long time, and if there's one thing I know, it's that the palace never kidnaps slaves. They always buy their slaves either from the slave market or from their families," the boy Ren said.
"No, my aunt wouldn't hav…" Yuta started when he suddenly stopped.
Or would she? His aunt certainly hated him enough. And the words she and Riko had said that night?
"Listen here," Ren said quite seriously. "If you guys want to live here for a long time, the first thing is to follow the rules and learn how to mind your business. And one more thing—try to lay low as much as you can."
"But why? Is there anything else we need to know about?" Kai asked, beating Yuta to it.
They were already working tirelessly as slaves for this demons, what more threat could they be than the fact that they had less than six hours of sleep daily?
Ren looked around carefully then whispered, "It will be the full moon soon, and Lord Elrien will go on a blood lust."
"You mean the rumors are true?" Kai asked in a pale horrified face.
"Very true, and no one—I repeat, no one—has ever survived that night," Ren whispered, his expression fearful too.
Yuta felt himself shiver at Ren's tone. He had thought that the story about the cursed demon lord was just a myth. Sure, he knew that supernaturals like witches existed, but a demon? And a cursed one at that?
He was still finding it hard to adjust to this new world. A part of him wondered if he had fallen into one of his many fantasy demon stories.
Didn't demons go extinct many years ago? They were the only creatures known to drink blood and were known for their brutality.
He just prayed that nothing would make him ever meet with the demon lord.
Little did he know that on the very first day Elrien had seen him—even in snake form—his fate was already linked to the demon's.
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They got back after a little while to see Lyrian, one of the high-ranked demon servants, coming towards them in anger. Even from a distance, Yuta could feel the thick, oppressive aura radiating from him. Lyrian was beautiful in the way that predators were beautiful—dangerous and mesmerizing, with pale skin that seemed to glow with an inner light and eyes that held no warmth.
As Lord Elrien's favorite pet, Lyrian held a position of power that he wielded with cruel precision. He was known to be vicious even to fellow demons, and his treatment of humans was legendary for its cruelty.
"Fools! What took you so long?" Lyrian snarled, his voice carrying an otherworldly quality that made Yuta's skin crawl. "I cannot have my bath without raw milk, can you handle the consequences if I keep his lordship waiting?"
"We were…" Kai started to explain when he was suddenly struck with such force that he stumbled backward.
"How dare you lowly slave look at me when speaking!" Lyrian hissed, his eyes beginning to glow with malevolent power. "I'm having mercy on you today because you're new, but the next time you dare meet my gaze…"
He moved in a blur and without warning, his clawed fingers lashed out, and Yuta watched in horror as Lyrian scratched Kai's face with sharp claws and savage efficiency. Kai's screams echoed through the courtyard as blood streamed down his face.
"Let that be a lesson to all of you," Lyrian said coldly, licking the blood from his claws with obvious relish.
Yuta was stunned, horrified, his heart hammering at an insane pace. He wanted desperately to help Kai, but Ren's warning gaze held him back. One wrong move and he'd suffer the same fate—or worse.
As Lyrian's gaze swept over the group, his eyes lingered on Yuta with calculating interest. Even in his terror, Yuta was striking—his human but ethereal beauty seemed to glow even in this hellish place, his fine white hair catching the light like spun moonbeams.
Lyrian made a mental note: this human was far too beautiful. He must never be allowed to serve Lord Elrien directly. Such beauty might catch the demon lord's attention, and Lyrian couldn't afford to have competition for his master's favor.
"Now the three of you should find something to do if you plan on having any meal today," Lyrian said as he walked past them, stepping over Kai's writhing form without a second glance.
"That is Lyrian," Ren whispered once the demon was out of earshot. "Lord Elrien's favorite pet and one of the cruelest demons in the castle."
"I'm so sorry, Kai," Ren said, looking sympathetically at their wounded friend. "Another thing—be sure to avoid Lyrian at all costs. What you saw today was him showing mercy."
Yuta wondered how he was going to survive in this palace. There were so many dangers, so many ways to die.
"Yuta, please would you mind getting me fresh flowers from the garden? I forgot to bring them before returning," Ren asked.
"Sure, I will, but I don't know where the garden is," Yuta replied.
"Don't worry, it's easy to find. Just walk straight and turn right, okay?"
"I'll go now," Yuta said.