-- PROLOGUE --
For a long time, he was silent. Khandura never really had a voice to speak with. Growing up, his parents rarely brought attention to him, often leaving him to do his own thing. Although, he had many restrictions. He could not leave, could not speak, and, most importantly, he could not express himself. He was a pawn to their game, a political piece meant only to boost their family status. He was silent. Until one day, as a young viscling, he heard it. A melody carried by the winds that seemed to resonate with his very being. A song meant just for him that echoed straight into his soul. Dura had no clue where it came from but he followed it. Venturing away from the order and silence of his home, Dura wandered through the garden and stopped before an old storage shed, hidden by hedges and overgrowth. There he could feel it best. Pushing his way into the dusty old room, Dura glanced around before his gaze fell upon something he could have never imagined to be in a place such as this. Resting against the farthest wall, a cello case sat waiting in anticipation for him to step forward… and he did just that. He gingerly lifted the lid and opened up to see the simple wooden instrument, seemingly unchanged by the ways of time. It still showed every small scratch and dent in its surface, showing the wear given by it’s previous owner. Yet, the black stained wood it was formed from gave such a unique elegance that Dura found he could not lift his gaze. Lifting a single hand to it, he hovered above the strings for a moment before, with nothing more than a simple movement, he played his first note.
Ever since that day, Dura has found his individuality. With the negative reaction he received when he brought the instrument to his home, he made a decision. Packing his only suitcase with the bare minimum required for survival, Khandura left his home, seeking someplace where he was free to do as he please. Hoping to find someplace to play to his heart's content. Longing for someone to understand the escape that was music.
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-- INTRO --
An ordinary tune. That’s what they called it. Breathing deeply with frustration, Khandura gently placed his cello into its resting place, ignoring the taunting laughter from those behind him. Huffing with anger, he turned from what he decided was, ‘the most idiotic lot of fools who wouldn’t even know true music if Bach were to be standing before them.’ Storming from the stage, he ignored the crew trying to stop his march. “Oh dear, Mr. Khandura, please! That was a lovely performance! Please do not let those fools dissuade you!” He heard his boss cry. Pivoting on his hind foot, he met those desperate eyes with his own rage filled orbs. “You speak of them as if they are fools, but the only thing foolish is this rubbish you have me play! Nothing your writers create will ever meet up to my skill! I’m finished! Find some other gullible young idiot to mold to your will.” Throwing open the stage door, he stepped out into the alley, reveling in the sunlight and slamming the door on those who tried to follow him.
“What a lovely performance, he says.” Khandura echoed mockingly as he pushed open the door to his apartment. “That foolish old bag of bones. Those people knew nothing of music. The only thing they came seeking was a good chuckle and a laugh, easily provided by the crew.” Snorting he entered the main room and flicked the lights on. “Those backwater idiots.” He mumbled, letting out a breath as he took in his home. It wasn’t anything too fancy, that was for sure. It was simply the necessities, a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and living area all filled with only the bare minimum of furnishings and decor. He didn’t plan to stay for long after all. As soon as he gathered enough money, Dura was heading for the spotlight. Setting his case beside the door, he meandered into his kitchen, reaching for the cup of coffee he left this morning. Lifting the mug to his lips, he took a sip of the bitter drink. “A bit cold but still good.” He spoke breathily, sighing with content as he took a moment to refresh. A sound from his living room caused his hair to rise with surprise and the peaceful aura to flee. Whirling to face the intruder, he winced at the harsh red light. Blinking several times to focus his vision, he growled at the figure he saw. Standing nonchalantly in the middle of his living area was a child, one who held an air of superiority. Feeling his surprise fade away, he quickly replaced it with a threat, feeling his chest rumble with a deep growl.
“Who are you? What are you doing here?” Khandura snarled at the child, ignoring the prickling of unease that caused his stance to shift nervously. His anger grew at the amusement the other seemed to show. It was if this were all some simple game to the other. But no, for Dura what this child had done was unforgivable. This was his sanctuary and he would not allow this child to toy with him in his house. “Me? I’m a demon. One whose name would mean nothing to you. And I’m here to steal your soul.” Steal his soul? What hogwash! This… this insolent child had the audacity to call himself a demon, a creature only spoken of in myth and is obviously not in existence, and to threaten his soul?! Just who did this brat think he is?! As if he could believe such rubbish! Rolling his eyes with disbelief at the child's words, he felt his body quiver with suppressed rage. “And I’m the easter bunny.” though the line was meant to be humorous, no laughs following his remark. Instead, the tension remained. “Tell me the truth, or else.” If the child knew what was best for him, then he would speak now. If not… Dura was only a step from his landline and he could easily call upon the law to lock up this misguided child.
“Or else what?” The ‘demon’ responded, “There exists not a single method of torture that could compare to the hell’s i’ve lived through.” Oh he wants to talk about that?! Try working with a director such as his previous one! Then you can speak of the hells you’ve seen! He allowed the child to continue his monologue for just a bit longer but quickly felt his anger rise again. “...I know mortals like you. Silly little things that believe not in demons and witches and magic and more. Nothing I say will be able to sway your mind.” Was this child calling him stupid?! Only the foolish believe in such outlandish tales such as witches and wizards! Magic has no evidence! No solid proof of it’s existence! And until someone brings proof of such a thing, He will continue to follow the only thing that does have proof. Unlike this magic that the child believes in, Dura knows that science holds more fact to it than demons ever will. “You dare to mock me!” Khandura roared, teeth snapping at the end of his words. This child, it was as if he was capable of driving Khandura to the very ends of his ropes. Infuriating him so, just by his superiority and smirk. “I should rip your throat out and see how you fare then you insolent child.” Yes, that would do. No more fun and games, or so he thought. “Another day perhaps. When i’m in a mood to entertain the petty threats of foolish mortals.” Dura has had enough. He hated this… this humiliation! In his own home much less! No more idle threats and banter! He wanted this child out and he wanted it now. And that stupid smirk… he wanted to rip it from the smaller one. He roared with fury and took a threatening step forward only to stop at the child's next words.
“Today I came to make a deal with you. They say your the best cello player on earth. A title that has belonged to myself for centuries. I say we play a piece each. The best musician wins. And if i win, I get your soul.” He froze at this. Feeling his rage give way to curiosity, Dura hummed with consideration. Though this child has invaded his home, he couldn’t deny that he was pondering the challenge. After all, he loves a good competition and it shouldn’t be all that difficult to put the insolent brat back in his place. Although, if he were to be offering his ‘soul’ to the child, shouldn’t he be getting something in return? He snorted at the thought and decided to express his concern to the other. Maybe he could use this to his advantage. “What would I get from the deal?” he asked. As if expecting his question, the child responded swiftly. “Anything you wish for.” Raising an eyebrow, he smirked at the idea. Anything, huh? This kid certainly drove a hard bargain. Perhaps, he could request something of the boys. Something he wouldn’t want to give up. Then perhaps the child would back out before he had to suffer the humiliation that was sure to come. Focusing, Dura searched for something that the other seemed to hold dear and his grin widened when he spotted just the thing. “Your pendant then.” The mortal replied, pointing to the gold and ruby piece hanging from the demon’s throat. “I want that if you lose.” Surely he wouldn’t want to part with such a valuable piece. And if he chose to continue, well let’s just say Dura found the piece to be quite fashionable and fitting to his tastes. He observed with no small amount of pride the hesitance shown by the other. “Very well then.” The words seemed forced, but his face remained confident.
Khandura did not know what must have been in that coffee but what he did know was that this child has somehow found a way to summon a cello from random plates of gold and some plasma force of particles. He found his brain to be almost stuttering at the sight yet refused to show his astonishment to the stranger. Instead, he closed his eyes and awaited the music his opponent was to play. It was a dark piece. Solomn and empty. He quickly became absorbed into the melody, barely recognising and yet focusing completely as the other parts began to play. He could decipher it all, the piano, the vocals, he absorbed it and picked apart each piece. As the final note echoed, he steeled his face. He would not give his opponent the satisfaction of seeing how deeply involved he had become. His opponent was good, that much he could admit. Yet, Khandura knew he was better. Emotionless, he stepped towards his case and quickly lifted it from it’s bed. Still tuned perfectly from his previous performance that day, he situated it into a familiar stance. It was as if he were welcoming an old friend. Just as every time he plays, he could feel the resonance of the strings beneath his fingertips. He could hear the music before it played. He knew what he had to play and he could feel his soul seemed to tremble in time as he played the first note. He swayed slightly to the piece, his hands moving as if they weren't his own. He followed the music within his heart, the unfinished song echoing the hardships he’s faced within his own life. And just like that, it was finished. The finale came like a final breath and lingered in the air like the first winter chill.
He lifted his head, a smug look etching into his features as he took in the bitterness of the other. He gracefully caught the pendant that was thrown his way, feeling a hum from within himself as he held it in his grasp. The child had accepted defeat and had done so in a more mature manner than the musician had expected. Admiring his new piece of jewelry, Dura grinned as he laced it around his neck. “So much for an all powerful demon.” He said with a smirk.
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-- CONFLICT --
The days continued on after Khandura’s victory. He continued his performances, traveling and living the life he had always dreamed of as a child. He was free to do as he pleased when it pleased him and that made him quite content in the following days. Still, the appearance of that stranger never seemed to leave him. At first, he had thought it to be merely a dream. Only the pendant around his neck proved to him that it was not. After pondering nonstop for many days and many headaches, the musician decided to ponder no more and simply allowed the occurrence to roll off his back. Instead, he focused on what he did best, his music. That is, until he noticed them. He had performed late one night, signing autographs for his fans afterwards, leaving the streets empty and leaving him to his thoughts. He didn’t hear it at first but once he did, the sound of another's footsteps allowed the beginnings of paranoia to seep into his own daily routine. He began to be more observant, always watching. He began to notice that he was always being followed, and one day he made the mistake of acknowledging his stalkers.
His breath was heavy in his chest as he fled from his pursuers. The footsteps of the trio behind him echoed even louder, barely heard over his heartbeat in his own ears. He needed to escape and he needed to do it quickly. Adrenaline raced through his veins as he begged whatever deity there may be to come to his aid. “Please…” he panted as he turned down another alley only to come face to face with a brick wall. “Oh no. Please. Nonononono…” he chanted desperately as he looked for any escape. His breath came in short gasps by this point and he was trembling with fear. His pulse seemed to quicken as the steps drew nearer. “Who are you?! What do you want with me?!” He had a moment of slight desavous as the trio continued to advance. This time however, he was rather certain he couldn’t escape by playing his cello. “We having been watching you, and now we know.” One female stood ahead of all the others. “You have fallen from your holy path and made ties with a demon. We can not allow you to continue down this path of impurity any longer.” At these words, they slowly began forward and Dura continued until his back was against the wall. “A-A demon?! I-But demons d-don’t exist!” They ignored his words and, before he could release another syllable, he was under attack. He was never trained to fight. Through his childhood, the only thing he was taught was what fork to eat dinner with and through his travels he had never needed such a skill. Now he found himself greatly regretting the fact that he never entered a gym. His opponents were merciless, moving swiftly and without hesitance. They beat him and bruised him until he was nothing more than a whimpering mess, huddling against the wall in an effort to find some sort of stability. That was when the leader stepped forward, grabbing him around the neck, she flew him against the wall causing his world to go black.
When he returned to consciousness, the stranger was there. He struggled to focus but once he did, he jerked his head up and quickly regretted it. His mind was a jumbled mess and it seemed that every muscle was sore. Suddenly he had to shut his eyes as everything became a bright blur before him. When he found he could focus again, he gasped in horror at the destruction before him. His eyes wide and horrified, he felt fear grip his very being as the child, no… demon turned to face him, eyes still crazed with battle.
“P-please don’t k-kill me.” Khandura stuttered, eyeing the demon’s bloody claws with open apprehension. How easily they could tear through him, leaving him nothing more than chopped sushi before the beast. “That would be counter productive.” The demon snorted, a spark of pride rushing through his veins. He had made the mortal so fearful. It was only right. “If I wanted you dead I would have let those hunters kill you themselves.” The hunters… the hunters that were now nothing but a mass of bones and blood at his feet. Oh god. He felt like he was going to be sick. “You killed them.” he stated, scrambling to his feet, trembling at the realization. “You killed them. You really killed them. Oh god they’re dead.” “Very very dead.” Oh god. He just helped murder three people. He could be arrested. Or put to death. He didn’t even try to stop. He just witnessed the murder of three people. He practically murdered them himself. But they were going to murder him. They almost did murder him. Until… wait a second. “But how did you even get here? You weren’t and then you were.” he knew he was rambling but at this point he was just so sick and so scared that he didn’t even care. “And you had fire blazing from your paws. Fire. Black fire. That’s not possible. It’s not. Science doesn’t work that way.” He continued to ramble, volume decreasing until his words were inaudible. “What are you?” he finally asked, turning to the demon. “You said once you’re a demon but that can’t be true. Or is it?”
The demon laughed, sending chills down Dura’s spine as he hunkered down into an even more submissive position than he was in before. “I’ve already told you i’m a demon. It’s not your fault if you didn’t take me seriously mortal.” He felt like being sick. He made a deal with a demon. Good thing he didn’t believe in the afterlife… or maybe he should start believing in that too. Khandura had no clue what to believe in anymore. “As for how I got here. It’s simple. You almost died. I let the pendant pull me here. Let’s just say it’s not in my best interests to let the holder of my soul die. It’s never much fun.”
“Holder of your soul?” Not the soul talk again, but how could he be the holder of the demons soul? The only one whose soul was on the line was me. Oh god. I bet my soul with a demon. Please tell me this is all a dream. “What do you mean? That makes no sense. You can’t own someone’s soul. If souls are even a thing that exist. You’re speaking nonsense.” “I mean you own my soul!” he snarled out, voice ringing loudly in the small alley. Dura flinched away but his curiosity kept him grounded to his position. “You chose my pendant as your prize to our deal. The pendant that happens to contain my soul Khandura. Are you really that daft?” “What! No! Why would you even bargain your soul in the first place? You should have said no when I asked for the pendant! Or offered something else.” The words fell quickly from Khandura’s mouth. He certainly was quite the hypocrite though. After all, he had no trouble betting his soul away.“Or better yet! Maybe not bargain for souls at all. Why did you even challenge me in the first place. I’m obviously no threat to you.”
“It’s not as simple as you make it out to be.” The demon bit back. Khandura growled to himself. His fear did not ease but he could feel the complications of this all overloading his mind and foretelling a massive headache in the future. “I was making a deal for your soul. A deal such as that is not one to be taken lightly. There are rules one has to follow. And one such rule is you offer them anything in return. Including your own soul.” Well there are rules for a lot of things but heck, Dura decided that one just wasn’t worth the risk. “And I wanted your soul because I’m behind! I’m supposed to collect a set amount of souls and I can’t do that when no one listens to my music! All because some mortal hotshot has decided to proclaim himself the best cello player in existence. A fact that is true it seems but nonetheless harmful. So i’m sorry, next time i’ll just rip your throat out and leave you laying in your own blood rather than merely stealing your soul!” Oh god. He made him angry. Desperately grasping for a peaceful escape from this situation, Khandura tried to reason with the other.
"Look, it's obvious that neither of us want to be in this situation but we are.” Khandura replied, obviously trying to take a step back before the actually attacked him. “All I want to do is play my music and to have people listen. All you want are souls. Isn't there some way we can both get what we want without any... throat ripping involved?” The demon was silent, staring at the other with bared teeth as he ran through his options. Khandura stayed silent, hoping that a compromise could be found. “I suppose. It won’t be easy but it can be done.”
A deep breath of relief excited him, causing his legs to give out beneath him and gravity to pull him onto his rump. Still, he shook as the tension eased slightly. “Okay good. That’s good. Great even.” the mortal said, clearly relieved. “Now can we get out of here? All this blood is starting to be unsettling.” He had tried his best to ignore the sight, but with so much of it surrounding him it seemed his evasion wasn’t very effective. He glared at the demons amusement to his discomfort. “Very well.” With that, he jumped with surprise as the demon came nearer, grasping onto him. It was at that moment that Khandura realized he was about to become more familiar with this… magic… His stomach gave a sudden lurch at the thought and his pupils shrunk as he felt the magic pull at him. Oh dear. Just what has he gotten himself into this time.
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-- INTERLUDE --
“I just realized, I don’t know your name.”
“Oh really?”
“Yeah. It’s unsettling. Like I know you know my name. Even if you don’t use it often. But I don’t know yours. And I feel like that’s something I should know? Especially since I’m your master.”
“You’re not my master kid. You own me. There’s a difference. One you’ll be sure to remember if you like all your limbs attached to your body.”
“Sorry! I’m sorry! Please don’t cut off any of my limbs. I like them attached to my body.”
“Good.”
….
“It’s Abdiel.”
“What’s Abdiel?”
“My name. My name is Abdiel.”
“Do you think you could stop calling me kid? Last time I checked that roll belonged to you.”
“What in hell makes you think i'm younger than you?”
“Because visclings are smaller and walk on all fours?”
“I'm a demon kid. The only reason i don't grow is because my mortal body was killed when I was still a child.”
“So you're older than me?”
“I'm over 750 years old. Think about it.”
“It’s amazing how many more people show up to hear my play now that I can boast that i’m better than the devil.”
“Shut it will you.”
“Why? Don’t care for the truth.”
“Not in this case. And besides, i’m not even the devil.”
“That’s not what I recall you saying when I first met you.”
“I said I was a demon kid. I never claimed to be the devil. I don’t have a death sentence.”
“You mean demons and devils aren’t the same thing.”
“No. There’s only one devil. Tyramet. Our king. And trust me when I say you’d rather die 60 time over than meet him in the flesh.”
“You don’t”
“Not at all.”
…
…
“So you’re a demon?”
“Yes you fool! Pay more attention the first time.”
“Okay that’s it! I’m teaching you how to fight.”
“What?”
“I am going to teach you how to fight.”
“But why? I don’t need to fight. You handle all the fighting just fine.”
“I’m getting sick and tired of having to kill each and every demon hunter that is after us. And since they’re after both of us, you can do your share of keeping us from getting killed. Unless you’d rather I let them kill you?”
“No thank you! I like living. I guess I’ll learn to fight.”
“Good. Now grab that knife and get over here.”
“Yessir”
“Other knife.”
“Sorry.”
“You’re getting better at playing that piece kid.”
“Really?”
“You heard me the first time.”
“I’m actually doubting if what I heard was correct though. You don’t give out compliments. It’s not a part of your dark and brooding personality.”
“Would you rather I rip out your vocal cords.”
“Ah there we go. That’s the demon I know.”
“Can it. Or else I’ll drop you off in hell.”
“Love you too gramps”
“And with the souls that we collected from today’s show, that puts our total at 66.”
“Perfect. Master will be pleased when we deliver them.”
“Who is this master your always referring to? I’ve heard you mention him a ton but I know nothing about him.”
…..
“I mean you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to but i’m really getting curious.”
“His name is Kieran. He’s not technically a demon really. He’s more of a dark mage. A necromancer if we want to be exact. It’s rumored that at one point, he was Tyramet’s left hand. But no one knows for certain. What we do know is he’s mated to Ahriman, the devil’s firstborn. And that he is definitely not one to be trifled with.”
“He sounds….terrifying.”
“Oh he is. You’ll see that when we meet up with him tomorrow.”
“What do you mean ‘when we meet up with him.’ There’s no way I’m meeting a necromancer who is married to a literal devil.”
“Too bad kid. That’s what you signed up for when you agreed to help me collect souls.”
“That’s it. Kill me now. Please.”
“That can be arranged.”
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-- CONFLICT --
It wasn’t just any ordinary day, no. Khandura was ecstatic. On this day, he had just performed before his largest audience ever, his demonic companion with him by his side. He walked with more confidence and satisfaction in himself than he had ever imagined he could have. He had finally achieved it all. Or at least, that’s what it felt like. He was stronger, smarter, and, most importantly, he was never going to be alone ever again. He had abdiel by his side, a demon who over time has become even closer a friend than his lonely old cello. On this day, after such a wonderful performance and the feeling of Abdeil’s magic still lingering in his memory, he felt his body tingling with energy. Turning to his companion, Dura bounced as he walked, feeling as giddy as a child in a candy store. “Abdiel, do we really need to return straight home? Couldn’t we do some exploring?” He asked the other, swishing his tail playfully behind him. The demon seemed hesitant, causing a frown to fall on the others face. “Oh come on, Abdiel, just a short walk. If not then you’ll be stuck with me and all this energy until the next performance.” Urging the other to give in, Dura cheered internally when the other gained a resigned look. “Fine,” Abdiel growled, scowling deeply as he spoke. “But we can’t be long.” Khandura’s face broke out into a bright grin and he cheered as he dumped his cello in the door of their apartment and raced to the street. In his hurry, he missed the small fond smile on the demon's face as he watched the other go.
Khandura slowed as he stepped in the street, allowing the demon to catch up. He observed how his friend kept a close eye on their surroundings, awaiting the inevitable attack that was soon to come. Feeling rather optimistic, Khandura shrugged to himself and spoke, hoping to allow Abdiel to relax. “Perhaps we won’t come across any hunters today. Wouldn’t that be nice.” Closing his eyes, he smiled at the soft breeze against his face. He froze when he felt Abdiel stop beside him. Feeling tension rise in the air, Dura opened his eyes and quickly fell into the battle stance that Abdiel had taught him. He quickly saw why the demon had gone on the defensive. Sighing at his ability to attract trouble, he fell into step beside his friend. “Just one day,” he muttered to himself. “That’s all I ask for. One day where none of these ‘ followers of Ugin’ try to kill us.” He was long past his days of feeling shaken by such battles. They had become merely a routine, normally as a sign of when the pair needed to travel to the next town. Quite frankly, Khandura was sick of it. Yet, if this was the price for a friend such as Abdiel, then so be it. Letting loose a snarl, he charged towards the hunter, feeling as strong as the magic Abdiel was building beside him. He never expected to come face to face with a real challenge. When he realized his mistake, it was far too late.
This hunter was different for the rest. Panting heavily, Khandura decided this quickly. He watched in astonishment as Abdiel was simply pushed to the side once more, thrown into the rubble, and braced himself for the attack which was soon to come. Come it did. He cried out as teeth latched into his skin, kicking and struggling to escape his captor. A familiar form leapt through his vision, latching onto the hunter in hopes to free him. That’s when reality seemed to crash into the young viscets mind. This was it. They had finally met their match. Never had the pair imagined that their deaths would come from the swift claws of one of Ugin’s followers. “Abdiel!” He cried out, seeing the demon thrown into a wall before he faced their attacker with a snarl. Her eyes simply narrowed as she attacked again. That was when he felt it. That familiar echo from within himself, one which in the past led him to his cello. A feeling that came over him each time he stepped on stage and one he hadn’t needed to feel since he came across his friend. It was a sense of certainty and as he looked into Abdeil’s desperate eyes as the other raced towards him. Khandura knew this was the end. In this realization, a tired smile found it’s place on his face as the hunter began her final attack. Suddenly, his whole world was left in pain, causing a broken scream to escape him. Choking on his agony, Dura fell to the stone ground, gasping as he struggled to hang on to what little consciousness he had. His vision narrowed and black spots began invading his sight. Unknowing of his surroundings, the viscet focused on the only thing he could. The struggle to pull air into his lungs and the pain he felt as his life force left him.
It seemed like years before he felt a familiar presence beside him. Forcing his eyes open with what little energy he had left, Khandura smiled at his friend, trying and failing to lift his head off the cold ground in an effort to comfort his partner. “A-ab-d…” he choked, his voice harsh and broken. “Shut it kid. I don’t want to hear it.” The demon snarled, obvious frustration and grief showing on his features. “S-so -rry, g-rr a-m-pss…” He knew he was fading fast but he had to reassure the other. He simply couldn’t leave it like this, there was still something he had to do. Gathering the last of his courage and determination, Dura weakly latched onto the pendant that sat before him and pushed it before the speechless demon before him. “D-Dura…” Abdiel spoke, shock ceasing any movements. “M-fr-a-ai-d yo-ll a-ave t-to go s-solo A-ab…” A harsh cough interrupted him and he found his strength had finally left him. His hand dropped before him as his breath began to slow. With a final heave, he felt emptiness.
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-- OUTRO --
Khandura had never believed in such things as the afterlife. Even after his time spent with demons he couldn’t find himself expecting something after death. That’s why it was quite a surprise to feel numbness. Nothing but silence and blackness surrounded him, and it was in these moment of confusion that Dura watched his life flash before him. He could see it then, his parents and him at the dinner table. One on each end of the room and him in the middle, all eating in silence. He remembers the day he finally broke the pattern, the day he began to write his own song. That day in which he wandered from his sanctuary to find his future, resting in the case of a cello. He sees the day he ran away, packing all his belongings into a single leather case and never looking back again. He follows the steps he made of his life, growing up on the streets, stealing to survive, playing music with his case opened before him, learning and growing until it felt as if he couldn’t learn any more. It was in those days, he recalled, that he finally managed to make a name for himself. A name which brought before him the greatest change of all. How ignorant he know seems when he looks back on his doubt. Abdeil could have killed him then. Stolen his life at the first semblance of doubt and was Dura ever thankful he didn’t. Smiling he welcomed these memories with open arms. Abdeil showing up in his apartment, scaring the daylights out of him. Him mocking the other and the day he first witnessed Abdeil’s strength. The training, the battles, the music… He was happier in those days than he had ever been in his life. And suddenly, all the darkness that surrounded him seemed a lot less darker. Wait, it was getting lighter. Feeling a pulling sensation within himself, Dura allowed himself to fall into unconsciousness once more.
As he awoke, the first thing Khandura noticed was his heartbeat. He could hear it. Quickly gasping, he strove for oxygen that moments ago it felt like he had been denied. Trembling, he looked to his hands, finding them covered in blood. His blood might he add. Shaking his head in disbelief he gasped when he saw Abdeil’s face. “Khandura.” The other spoke before pulling him him into a tight embrace that Dura greedily accepted, burying his head into the others hold. Grasping tightly to the smaller, confusion clouded his thoughts as he listened to the other. “I’m sorry. It’s my fault you died. I should have gotten us out when I had the chance.” That idiot. Of course he’d blame himself for something like this. Decided to save that conversation for later, Khandura quickly questioned him. “I was dead. Now i’m not. How Abdiel? I know you can’t heal.” He spoke with curiosity and concern, fearing that his companion had sacrificed something dear. “I made a deal with my master. It brought you back to life, but your,” Freezing, Khandura gasped. He knew those deals and they always had a cost. He waited to hear his with bated breath. “You’re a demon now kid. You’re one of us.”
