Page 23 of Crowned A Traitor
Klara bowed her head in apology for her rashness. "Frendall, you will oversee my daughter's progress. He will report back on the steps you have been taking."
A spy. A babysitter. Klara clenched her jaw, and Frendall looked to the King.
"And I can always spare a Lesser Demon or two," Purple Hair spoke once again, and Klara wished she had her axe.
"Your support is much appreciated," Lucifer told Purple Hair.What a kiss ass. Who is this Demon to interfere?Klara let it slide, hoping the Demon would remember her place and keep quiet.
"No," Klara said. "I don't need an envoy if there is too much movement in the Forest it will scare those involved and smuggling will cease."
"I merely wish to show my support for our future Queen."
Klara was a second away from shoving the apple from the roast pig into Purple's mouth. Klara glanced at her Father, surprised he was allowing an outsider to join their conversation.
"Who are you to comment on our business?" Klara's words were cut short as Frendall's foot connected with her shin. It didn't hurt, but it distracted her from scolding Purple Hair.
"I do not wish to offend you with my opinion, it's our duty to protect you and if the Malum can't, then we must." Klara could see the shine of delight in her Father's eyes as he drank up Purple's every word.
"Thank you for your concern. The Queens would be thankful to hear that you care so much about my daughter's safety," the King praised her, and Klara sat dumbfounded.
"Of course, we only want to protect our Heir," Frendall chimed in breaking the tension.
Purple Hair's hand gripped Klara's once again. Klara was surprised that she dared to keep contact with her, Klara's revealing powers were famous in Hell, and yet Klara saw nothing.The Demons' mind is blank,such a spell could only come from the strongest of grimoires. Klara felt the heat of her skin intensify, as she slowly chipped away at the spell to reveal Purple's secrets, Purple dropped her hand as the heat had burnt her. Her sudden movement told Klara that she wasn't a natural spellcaster. "Let there be no tension between us, I only wish to help." Purple's yellow eyes flashed, and Klara faked a smile.
"Your concern is appreciated, but if I need your assistance I will ask." Klara turned her back on Purple. "Father, Frendall belongs at your side. To take some of your personal Demons from Hell would risk your safety, and I don't want to see you suffer. I want to do this alone. I can send reports, and I can accept spot checks, but an Overseer and Demons will diminish my standing with the Creatures in Malum and your own council." Klara added the last part quietly to emphasis her false care about what the Higher Demons thought of her.
"I see your point."
"Don't you agree Commander Frendall that the safety of the Heir should come before pride?" Purple's raised voice stole her Father's attention.
"Mila, to see you care for my daughter brings me great comfort," Lucifer said.
"Mila?" The truth hit Klara like an Ogre's baton. "You are Eve's daughter?"
"Ah, yes," Lucifer smiled. "How thoughtless of me, she was only a young thing when you left, and still in the care of her mother in Malum," Lucifer said.So, when I left, you traded me for another and tortured my best friend into becoming one of your soldiers.Klara struggled to keep the thought to herself.
"During your last visit, I would have liked to have introduced you, but you left in such haste," Lucifer said sharply.
"Eve is my mother,” Mila interjected before Klara could respond.Since her mother spent the last decade raising me instead of her, no wonder she wishes to see me roasted on a plate.
Eve was gifted with powerful magic, and Klara guessed that's how Mila was shielding herself from her touch. But the burn in her skin and bones told Klara that Mila was no ally and she certainly wasn’t as strong as her mother, Eve.
"How is your brother, Cain? Eve mentioned he was on Human soil."
Frendall thumped her harder, and Klara smiled at him, not bothering to return the strike. She was playing with fire, hoping Mila would reveal herself since her touch couldn't. Mila pursed her lips while the other Demons turned swiftly back to their food.
"Last I heard my brother is off sulking by some lake in the Human World."
"It must be hard to be without your family close to protect you, so I must insist that you retain your Lesser Demons."
The scorn in Mila's eyes told Klara of her hatred. Mila was one of Lucifer's unclaimed spawn, and Klara was a divine creation. "Your kindness is much appreciated. Should you need me, I shall be ready and willing.” Mila, like many others, wanted Klara's birthright for herself. The only difference between them was that Mila was birthed by a Human, whereas Klara was created from Lucifer's bone and blood.
"Have you completed your training you must still have a year or two to go?" Klara said, and Mila picked up her fork. "A mere formality, I'm strong enough to take on anything that comes my way."
Mila's reply causes various micro conversations to cluster at the lower end of the table. Klara flinched as Mila flung her arms around her.
"How has your new heart taken? We would not want you to be weakened," Mila said, and the individual conversations grew as the Higher Demons saw that Mila held no fear in touching the Heir.
"Seems they already care so much for each other's wellbeing," Frendall said to the King, clearly seeing the tension Lucifer couldn't.
