This is for my Kingdom

"Look..." This time it was Kassidy who spoke. From her it was a breath of wonder.

Her voice broke the moment; Vale and I looked away from one another, trying to see what it was that had caught the woman's attention now. It was the ground. Just as fast as the vines had fled grass was appearing out of nowhere, starting at Kassidy's feet and spreading out in a flash from there. Not just gras but an ever-expanding field of flowers flowing over the barren brown earth like it was always meant to be there.

"You did it! You did it!" Sang the fairy, dancing on the breeze around our heads. "The fairy fields are back! And soon my kinsmen will return, and I will not be alone anymore. Oh, thank you! Thank you so much!"

I smiled as I watched her dance about, even flitting around Vendaval who looked like he may just eat Luetta if she landed on his head once more. Kassidy gazed down at the staff in wonder. Its aesthetic really didn't match her either but it felt like a good fit, so I was sure that was all that mattered. Markus thumped Roran on the back, and it looked like the man nearly fell over from the force.

"Well, that was an adventure."

I turned from the others and saw Vale watching them celebrate with a rare smile. It was strange to see but not unpleasant. It made me smile too. "Not bad for my first dungeon raid if I do say so myself." I said, watching the group with affection. Even the damn priest's awkward, stubbornness was growing on me a bit, though I doubted we would ever be friends. He was an ass, but an ass with a deep love and protectiveness for his kingdom and people. It was just a shame that he couldn't count the few demons in Larasta among them.

"Are we done now Mistress?" Asked Vendaval. I almost laughed at the look he shot at Luetta.

"I think so." I turned back to Vale. "Is that it? Are we done? I'm starving."

Vale chuckled. "Yes, we are done. We should get some food in us, have Kassidy finish mending you up, and then head home. We have plenty of time, so we don't need to rush. I'd rather we all be at out best before making our way back through the dungeon. Just because we beat the spider doesn't mean the other monsters will let us alone."

"Yeah, good idea." I sighed, rubbing my ribs. They weren't broken anymore but they still hurt quite badly.

"Did you just agree with me?" Chuckled Vale. "Maybe you got hit over the head harder than we thought."

"Oh, hardy-har-har, aren't you the comedian?"

We ate a fast, and cold meal. One, Luetta put up a stink when it was suggested that we light a fire, but also, we didn't want to hang around. The Fairy Fields was, indeed, beautiful, but we were all anxious to be home and out of this dungeon. So, we ate fast and said our farewells to the diminutive fairy before starting our significantly nice trudge back through the fields toward the forest.

Kassidy offered to heal me up, but honestly, I was nearly there and my naturally fast healing as a demon was making quick work of what little hurts I still had. It was better for her to save the mana she had in case we came across another difficult enemy. Markus seemed to be in high spirits as we walked, loudly providing a play by play of the battle over and over. So much so that even Roran got tired of hearing it and walked a little ahead of the group.

I was worried about him being up front. I didn't like the guy much, but I didn't want him to get attacked either, and walking at the head of the group was a good way to get oneself killed. He made sure not to get too far ahead, and it was a wide open field, so Vale didn't seem to mind too much. We would see any monsters coming for a way out. Besides, this was a place avoided by the monsters for ages and so I was sure nothing would come investigate this way for a while.

It was nearing sun set when the Forest finally came into view. I hadn't realized that we had left it so far behind in the first place, but it was a relief when we saw it. It meant that we were getting closer to the exit. Still, it was late and there fore we would have to spend another night in the dungeon all the same. Vale began looking out for a camp site and eventually settled on a tree that had large roots and a few boulders near by.

Markus and Vale wasted no time getting a fire started. By then I was not the only one in need of a good meal after all. I had just settled Drogin down between Vendaval's shoulder blades where he slept next to the fire when I noticed that Roran wasn't in sight.

Worried, I decided to have a quick look for him. I would probably get blamed if he got kidnapped by a monster, so I decided to get on the case in a hurry. His scent was on the wind so I followed it as best I could toward the boulders. Had he come over here to take a piss? I hoped not because I really did not want to walk in on that.

I had just rounded a stone nearly twice my height with a root wrapped around it when I almost crashed into the man in question. He didn't look to surprised to see me; his face was actually eerily blank. I cocked my head, confused.

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"You alright? I was worried you got hauled off and came to look for you." I said with a weak chuckle. Just be nice Sin. "The others will get worried too if the see you aren't around. This isn't a vacation location after all."

"A demon, worried about a human?" He said, voice flat.

Not this again. I took a deep breath and willed myself not to get mean and sarcastic. "Maybe you have met more demons than me, or maybe you just ran into the wrong ones, but I think your viewpoint on my kind is a little skewed." I said, fighting hard to keep anger and frustration out of my voice.

"It is a well-known fact that demons covet the souls of other races." Said Roran, still in a monotone. "It is the very nature of demon summoning in fact. Why else would a demon agree to be a servant to another being otherwise. In exchange for a soul the demon agrees to serve for the duration of the master's life. Once the master dies, the demon is sent back to the demon realm, one mana rich soul in tow. There is some debate as to what your kind do with those souls, but they do covet them all the same."

I sighed. "That is business, from what I understand. It's the very nature of a contract that both parties get what you want. In fact, using your own example I could argue that that means that other races are nothing but slavers."

"Then there is the very real threat of the demon king." Continued Roran, like I hadn't even spoken at all. "Demon King. It is right there in the name is it not? And it is well documented that it is often Demon Summoners that defect to his ranks. It was even a demon summoner hero who most famously betrayed the kingdom."

I was getting annoyed now. "Again, I do not see how this is, in anyway, a poor reflection on demons. All I hear is that people who are wanting to make slaves of demons are also big enough ass holes to also want to betray people. The demons in that situation don't even have a say in the matter. They are mindless slaves at that point after all."

"And then there is you." He said, again not even listening. I was about to just storm off when his next words hit me like a freight train. "You who is the Demon Queen."

I froze mid step. What? How the hell did he know that? Only me and Commander Rice and Captain Rift knew about my title as Demon Queen. I did not think either brother would betray me, least of all to this smarmy priest.

"You act as if you mean well, you aid those who fight for the continued freedom of Larasta, but what is your true goal here Sin, the Demon Queen?"

"Tch!" I hissed, spinning on my heel to face my enemy. "What true goal! I was the one asked to come and help you guys, or don't you remember?"

"I do not mean your purpose in this dungeon. I am now convinced that that is rather obvious. Clearly you are trying to ingratiate yourself to the nine kingdoms. You are trying to infiltrate our squads. What I do not understand is your end game, as it were. Did you plan on joining the Red Ravens and then gain access to the Queen in that way?"

"What!?" This guy has completely lost his marbles.

"Sucking up to the Golden Dragons would have gotten you there faster, but I suppose they are usually more selective than the Red Ravens. Or at least they used to be. They do have a demon among them now."

"Shut up! You have no clue what you are talking about."

"You are the Demon Queen!" Snarled the priest. "You can't fool my eyes, demon. Just like that fool Rice, I too have the eyes to see the statuses of others! And yours is there, plain as day!" He swung his fist through the air angerly. "I came to Bellana with Lady Kassidy to be of help and because I was curious about the demon said to be able to enter the church. To think I would come across one the title Demon Queen!"

"You know nothing about me, moron!" I snarled back.

"It must mean that you are destined to be partnered with our greatest enemy! And as an enemy I can not abide by this anymore. A demon Queen with the ability to have untold numbers of named monsters on her side. An army of high ranked beast to aid the Demon King in his assault?! It could be the very thing that finally tips the scales in the Demon kings favor, once and for all."

"I told you to shut your mouth, priest! I am not an ally of the damn Demon King! I didn't even know about him till a couple months ago."

"Lies! Did you think I would believe a word out of your mouth, demon? After all the things you have proven to be capable of? Not even the holly sanctuaries are safe from you! The one demon who can enter the church. The all-powerful demon queen who can take her hoards of raving beast into any holly sanctuary and murder all who seek refuge there."

"Enough! Look, buddy, you need to take a chill pill, right now! Or I swear I am going to knock you into next week, tie you up, and sit you down with the others so we can all discuss your new brand of crazy!"

"Sin! What the hell is going on?" I heard a dim shout from the direction I had just been. Clearly my and Roran's screaming match had reached even their ears. I felt Drogin and Vendaval's distress, as they in turn picked up on mine.

I turned to shout back at the others, to tell them to come help me shut this fool up, when I realized my mistake. Never turn your back on an enemy, you hear me Sin. Vale's voice rang out in my ears. One of the many things he had told me over the last couple weeks as we spared. It was the words I heard when I felt cold, clammy, hands wrap around my wrist and tug.

I spun around as Roran yanked me back behind the boulder, he had been behind when I nearly crashed into him. I caught a glimpse of a black inky hole in the side of it, rimmed in red light, when Roran gave me a push. I stumbled back, tail lashing out and wrapping around the high priest's armpit and shoulder. In slow motion I saw Vendaval jump behind the man, but already I was falling into the hole. My tail pulled free in a gruesome spray of blood and Roran's arm fell to the ground almost comically. He fell back screaming. A pair of rough, dark-skinned hands caught him. I couldn't even hear, I realized, as Vale's face came into view, Drogin perched on his shoulder and his face pale and distressed. He was screaming something, banging on the opening as if it were covered by thick glass. But that wasn't right, as I had just passed through it a second before.

My vision tunneled, the edges closing in. Vale continued to pound but all I could here were the words Roran whispered before I was shoved into the hole, repeating on loop in my brain:

"This is for my Kingdom."