Blood spilled from a fresh wound into a freshly drawn circle on the cobbled stone floor. The flickering candlelight painted long, drawn out shadows across bookshelves and cold, stone walls. All too soon did a sudden gust of wind in an otherwise still night snuffed out the candles leaving thin wisps of smoke to circulate in the darkened room.
"I know you are there." It remained quiet as mismatched eyes peered through the darkness. "I require your assistance." There was movement for a moment. "Make yourself present."
"My, I must say, I am quite baffled as to what brought about this engagement," an amused voice teased. "Do pray tell, explain why a sorcerer would summon the likes of me?" Sharp, red eyes then noted the circle scrawled along the floor. "And by rudimentary means no less."
"I require your assistance."
"Ah, do pray tell what a sorcerer would desire? Is it money? No, that could not be the case. One such as you could just conjure wealth. Perhaps there is a woman you desire? A gentleman? I do not judge in such matters."
"Not quite," came the reply. "I require your assistance in my work."
"Your work?"
"I require a familiar."
"Pardon?"
"I know you are not hard of hearing, demon," the first started as he stepped towards the edge of the circle. "I desire a familiar."
"Why not summon a lower ranking demon rather than wasting my time then, sorcerer?"
"What use would a lower ranking demon be to me when I can have one of your stature?" came the rebuttal. "Now, if you would be cooperative, shall we begin?"
"Flattery will get you nowhere with me, sorcerer," the other scoffed. "What would make you think that I would want to help you in any shape or form?"
"What, pray tell, makes you think that I am giving you a choice? If I recall this ritual correctly, you have the option to deny my request, yes, yet you will be unable to return from once you came if you cannot make a deal, no?" A low snarl resonated through the room. "Ah, so I am correct. That is rather reassuring."
Red eyes peered through the dark as a low growl rumbled, "What do you want?"
"I told you. I require your assistance as a familiar. You are free to do as you wish after that."
"As I wish?"
"As you wish," the summoner replied as they extended their bloodied hand, "so what shall I call you?"
"Pardon?"
"Come now. What shall I call you?"
"Address me by my title. I was the Scourge of Rozzman, general of Aamon's third legion. I am now a knight of the archdemon, Leviathan. I am-!"
"Tyson."
"What?"
"I shall call you Tyson," came the sudden interjection. "I think it suits you quite nicely."
"Why ask my name if you were going to name me, sorcerer?"
"To be polite honestly. One must not forget one's manners after all."
Sucking his teeth, the newly dubbed Tyson merely stared at the bloodied hand before taking it into his shadowy one. "And what shall I call you? Master? Most tend to prefer that title or perhaps something else entirely."
"I do not require a title. I am called Evrett," the sorcerer replied with a slight smile. "Will you be my familiar?"
"Are you even giving me a choice in the matter?"
"That is up for your interpretation, my dear Tyson."
A blue tongue snaked out to lick the blood away before slipping back to hide behind a row of sharp teeth that soon curved into a grin. "How can I be of service, Evrett?"
"I have asked this countless of times but remind me again as to why I am doing this?" the demon grumbled as he eyed the flask he was providing a flame for.
"Because, my dear Tyson, you are my familiar," came the usual singsong response. "You are to assist me in my work and that would require you to heat that potion for me, dear Tyson."
Snorting at the accusation, red eyes then panned over to the sorcerer sitting on the stone windowsill at the other side of the room. Per usual, his gaze was set on something in the distance as his fingers drifted listlessly along a bejeweled choker. This was the daily morning routine when the man wasn't away on some business he did not speak of.
"What is this for?" Tyson grumbled before setting the fragile glass none too gently.
The faint sound of a glass breaking drew mismatched eyes from the morning scenery to pin the other with a mild glare before closing as a gentle smile crossed the man's face. Rising to his feet, long strides crossed the room in short time before Evrett tilted his head to look down at the demon sitting on the floor.
During their first encounter a few months ago, the one dubbed Tyson had had a more monstrous form. Though most of his features had been obscured in the darkness of the room and that naturally covering him, Evrett could make out the sharp pair of eyes that rivaled the color of the freshly spilt blood that made up the pentagram as well as the mouthful of yellowed fangs on display when the demon spoke. Long, black claws tapped lightly at edges of the blood drawn pentagram while a spiked tip tailed swayed steadily behind him. Though he had remained seated during their meeting, the demon could easily tower over the sorcerer if he had decided to stand while a set of horns curved upwards at the top of his head only added to his height.
After their agreement, however, Evrett had been met with the sight of a more humanoid individual sitting in the darkest corner of the room come the following morning. Tall horns were a bit more modest with just the tips poking out from tousled black hair that almost matched the equally dark skin of the demon. His facial features were a tad more defined in the darkness, but the red eyes continued to stand out more than anything while runic symbols of matching color were tattooed along his arm and under his left eye.
"I have told you times a plenty that we handle glass with care," Evrett chided before noticing the dark purple color leaking from the other's hand. "Demon or not, you should try harder to exercise a bit of caution not to harm one's self," he added with a sigh as he knelt before the other. He then ripped off the edge of his sleeve before setting about at mending the wound. "Try not to break anymore glasses today please. It becomes more difficult to obtain them each time you do."
"Why not fix it with you magic then? You are a sorcerer, are you not?" Looking at the shattered pieces on the floor, Tyson then glanced at his bandaged hand. "I still don't understand why you go through all this trouble," he snorted as he undid the cloth from his hand. "A scratch from glass does nothing." He showed the nonexistent wound to his keeper before offering a smirk in return. "Compassion will get you no reprieve when this is all over mind you. I still have every intention of making you mine then dragging you down when you no longer have any use of my services."
Evrett merely chuckled in response as he eyed the clawed hand being shown off. "I have no intentions on trying to win your favor, Tyson," he replied as he began to pick up the glass shards. "I just wish that you would be gentler with my things is al–" The smell of blood had eyes of equal color returning to stare at sorcerer. "Oh dear," he chuckled as he the warm liquid started to drip onto the floor.
Watching as the man went to tear another piece of fabric from his sleeve, Tyson grabbed a hold of the other's wounded hand. "If you are going to chastise me, perhaps you should heed your own advice," he scolded before laving his tongue over the injury to clean it.
Feeling his cheeks burn at being lectured, Evrett averted his gaze before turning his head altogether, upsetting the long, white strands that already sat precariously tucked behind his ears. Chancing a glance at the demon through fallen hair, mismatched eyes caught the last of the unnaturally long tongue returning to his familiar's mouth before red eyes met his gaze.
"Sorcerer."
Said person startled. "Y-yes?"
"You were staring."
"Was not," he argued as he pulled his hand back.
"You should exercise more caution if you are going to lie to me," Tyson chided.
"I…I…" Evrett cleared his throat before climbing to his feet. "Tyson, please discard the rest of the ruined glass and began heating the spare one on my work desk. And do try not to ruin this one. It's the last one and it will be troublesome if it is destroyed," Everett instructed as he made his way back to the window.
"As you wish…" the other drawled as he began collecting the shards. "You have visitors."
"Wha–?"
Mismatched eyes darted towards the door to see two armed guards entering the room before the pair parted to allow a third to enter. Sharp, amber eyes scanned the room before focusing on its occupant.
Dropping to one knee as he placed is hand over his heart, Evrett bowed his head. "Your Majesty, I am humbled by your unexpected visit."
"I am in need of your assistance, sorcerer."
"Anything for you, Your Majesty."
Being met with silence, Evrett chanced a glance to see the man staring down at him pensively before he waved his and dismissing the pair altogether. Lowering his gaze just as quickly as the armed guards departed, the sorcerer awaited his cue to rise at the touch of his shoulder but was met with a firm grasp instead.
"Sorcerer, no, Evrett." Said person slowly lifted his gaze at the mentioning of his name. "I need you to do something for me. You have yet to fail me on any task given but it is very important that you handle this discreetly and without haste."
"Sir?" Having something whispered into his ear, Evrett shrank back almost violently as his eyes widened. "I cannot do something like that."
"Evrett–"
"I cannot!" he shouted before having the jewel on the front of his choker seized.
"I'm not asking you."
"I cann–"
"Do you remember who took you in when you had nowhere, no one? Who gave you a home, a purpose? Who has kept you alive all this time?" came the rebuttal. "Was it not you that said you would do anything for me? To be my shield?"
"S-Sir–"
"You have no right to tell me, your king, no, sorcerer," he interjected as he yanked the jewel forward, watching the other follow suit. "If you want this off sooner than later, you will do as I say unless you prefer to wear it for the rest of your life. Do I my make myself clear?"
Hissing drew the king's attention to an ebony-colored serpent slithering over with the intentions of sizing him up. Fangs flashed as garnet-colored eyes remained locked on the monarch. Scowling at the thing as it began to sway, blue tongue flicking in warning, the king reached into his pocket to withdraw something before having his hand grabbed by the sorcerer.
"Please do not do this."
"Release me or the snake will not be the only thing without its head."
"F…forgive me, Your Majesty," Evrett replied as he removed hand prior to bowing his head.
Eyeing the serpent once more, the king turned away from Evrett altogether. "Sorcerer, you have but a fortnight," he stated.
"King K–"
"A fortnight."
Not chancing eye contact, the sorcerer kept his gaze fixated on a crack in the floor until he could no longer feel the presence of his monarch. The reverberating echo of the door being slammed shut caught the man's attention before he felt fingers treading through the long strands of his hair moments after.
"That was your king then?" Tyson questioned before his claws brushed down to touch the iridescent crystal adorning the other's choker. "What an interesting encounter." Flinching at movement of the gem, Evrett smacked the hand aside before reeling away. "Oh."
Seeing a shadow towering over him, Evrett lifted his gaze to see red eyes glint with almost hostile glee as they stared down at him before the thin line making up Tyson's mouth curved upwards to reveal a set of pointed teeth.
"T-Ty–"
The demon leaned down as his smile broadened. "Sorcerer, what ails you?" he questioned. "You're shaking like a newborn lamb."
"N…nothing." The demon's smile continued to grow, threatening to split is face in two. "I am not shaking."
"Is that so?" Tyson mused aloud before extending his hand. "We cannot have the king's shield cracked, now can we?" Evrett knocked the hand aside at the statement. "My, did I strike a nerve, Evrett?"
"Do not refer to me so lightly."
"Oh?" He then offered his hand again. "So, the shield does not require a sword?" Said individual glanced at the demon. "Let us be honest with ourselves, sorcerer. This is why you summoned me, is it not? I know my purpose did not involve heating your potions or watching over your quarters when you are away," Tyson stated as Evrett looked elsewhere. "It would be wise to tell me now, Evrett, so we can end this farce."
"You do not tell me what to do," Evrett replied, knocking the hand away as he rose to his feet. "You have no right!"
"Oh?" came the taunting growl as Tyson straightened before glancing at the jewel at the man's neck. "What is your desire, sorcerer?" He noted the slight scowl. "Sorcerer." Evrett kept his gaze elsewhere before lowering his head to hide behind long strands of hair. "Sorcerer…"
Scowling momentarily, Tyson reached out to brush aside the white curtain before tucking it behind the Evrett's ear. Tilting the man's chin upwards, red eyes watched as the mismatched pair slowly followed suit before running the pads of his thumb under the left then right eye.
"Ty–"
"Just say what you want." He leaned forward before moving over to the other's ear. "What do you truly desire, Evrett?" Sharp eyes caught the flush of the other's skin. "All you have to do is utter your wish."
"I…I want…"
"Yes, what is it?"
"I…I…"
"Yes, tell me what it is," Tyson pressed. "What is it that you truly desire?"
Lowering his gaze before the red pair could meet his, Evrett removed the clawed hands and lowered them. "I want you to be my familiar."
"Look me in the eyes as you say it."
Steeling himself to look the other in the eye, Evrett balled his hands into fists as he looked at the demon before averting his gaze at the last moment. "Excuse me," he muttered before hurrying to the door.
Rushing after him as he got to the exit, Tyson grabbed his arm. "Evrett!"
"Get rid of the broken glass and heat up that potion for me without breaking it this time, Tyson."
"That is not what you were going to say, sorcerer. What. Do. You. Desire."
To that, Evrett wrenched his arm back. "You will not sway me so know your place and do as you are told."
Having the door slammed in his face, Tyson bit down on his knuckle hard enough to make it bleed before looking back at the broken glass then the flask sitting on the workstation. "You will tell me, sorcerer…"428Please respect copyright.PENANAyHpALPhsZl
Surveying the nightscape as he sat on the windowsill, Tyson slowly redirected his gaze as the door opened. Watching as the once missing sorcerer entered without a word, Tyson climbed off the sill to make his way over before noting the bag at the other's side. Scowling at the item as Evrett quietly made his way across the room, the demon stepped forward before stopping as Evrett turned towards his worktable.
"Did you–"
"I did as requested. You can see for yourself."
Picking up the flask, Evrett swirled its contents before setting the glass down. "Good."
"You were gone a long time, Evrett." Said person turned to see nothing but red eyes staring from a silhouette. "What ails you?"
"Nothing," came the response as Evrett continued to cross the room. He then paused as he felt arms encircling his waist. "Ty–"
"What ails you?" Tyson questioned in his ear. "I cannot help you if you do not tell me. That is why you summoned me, correct?"
"I already told you."
"What ails you?"
"Ty–"
"Tell me what you desire, Evrett," he pressed. "Say the word and it is yours."
"Ty–"
"Utter it and it is yours. It is that simple."
The sorcerer lowered his head before having his chin tilted upwards while the arms at his waist tightened. Feeling something brush his hair to the side, Evrett turned his head to be met by the red gaze watching him intently. Becoming unnerved by the intensity of it, Evrett looked elsewhere before slowly having his head redirected once more.
"Tyson." Said person hummed in response as he leaned in. "I need you to do something for me."
"Ask and it is yours."
"I want you to look after my place."
"That is not what you truly want, Evrett."
"No, it is not, but I want you to look after my place as me."
Tyson raised an unseen eyebrow. "Pardon?"
"I have to go away for a few days, but I need to have everyone believe that I am still here."
"You cannot leave."
"I can and shall," the sorcerer replied as he wrenched away from the demon. "Know your place as you cannot tell me what to do." He eyed the other momentarily and noticed the tail swaying spastically before distancing himself to pack. "If you agree to this, I will tell you what I truly desire once I return."
"Oh?" Tyson asked in an amused purr. "Very well. When is your departure?"
Tossing his bag over his shoulder after packing a few things, Evrett made his way to the door. "Now."
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