Prince's eyes fleed.
Prince's world stopped spinning.
Parath. Parath. Parath. Parath. Parath. Parath. The bastard's name is Parath. Parath. Parath. Parath. Parath of the Fallen. Parath. Parath. Parath. Parath. The man's name is Parath.
His world was forced into orbit - a laughter of greater depth which rivalled his own, bounced off the hollow walls of the hollow room.
A DEMON IS LAYING BEFORE ME.
A DEMON!
Prince wanted to run away, he wanted to turn the handle, run through the door and never look back.
SURELY WHAT LAY BEHIND THE DOOR MUST BE BETTER THEN WHAT LAY HERE!
HOW IS IT POSSIBLE, HOW HAVE I MANAGED TO STUMBLE UPON THIS HEAVENLY DEMON?
Prince didn't blink - he didn't even move.
Prince's mind was racing - now it was quiet.
Was it resignation?
Lack of ideas?
What was it?
What gripped Prince so deeply, so powerfully?
Remember who you are. Prince.
Remember who you are.
Look at him. Look at him!
He's on that bed, decaying!
You, you're still standing.
Indeed!
Prince was still standing!
But how long until Prince's legs betray him?
How long until his will abandons him?
If I could describe my laughter, it would bleed onto the pages.
Anyhow!
Prince of Nothing!
Harbinger of Agony!
Is that not what you called yourself?
Look at you!
Look at you hide from that man's gaze!
I'm suprised you haven't pissed your pants!
You haven't lost your composure!
Why why, if I'm here take my advice no?
The man is staring into your soul, hes smiling, he's waiting.
Waiting for a response!
Tell me, how many have bragged the tale of staring back into the abyss of a demon's eyes.
How many?
Could you count them on one hand?
So don my mask!
Use me!
I am your strength, am i not?
I am you!
Yeah... yeah you are.
Prince's eyes focused then unfocused then focused again.
A shiver so compelling, so commanding, travelled through his spine - to his neck.
Crack!
Prince cracked his neck in a moment!
He cracked it to the right!
And when he cracked it, the shiver left - something else joined.
A madman, a shadow, a demon too in of itself.
It descended from the confines of a dark prison into a world of grey.
It arrived - the madman!
Prince's own!
The damned man which Prince called bastard!
Prince's hollowed eyes met the gaze of the heavenly demon.
Euphoria!
Euphoria is one way to describe it.
Like sweet invigorating warm gold honey like substance which flowed in his veins instead of blood.
That euphoria.
But.
Deep in the furnace - Prince's small stomach.
My oh my, there's ice!
Small, but who would deny?
I can see the ice!
A fragment of ice within a furnace. My oh my.
Prince continued to stare into the abyss.
The man seemed to not have noticed Prince's odd actions.
Quite an actor Prince is indeed!
But then the man spoke, "Prince? Are you okay my dear fellow, my friend."
So he did notice.
Somewhat at least.
Prince's throat was baking before - now it was baked !
Agony!
Why was it so hard for Prince to speak!
To use his tongue !
To lick his lips!
To move them!
Why!
He spoke nonetheless - admirable.
"I'm fine."
Doubt wormed its way into his mind like the worms which made their way to the surface when it rained.
Every moment his throat was intending to falter, to betray him.
Prince pushed his throat forward even so.
"What is a heavenly demon doing in a rotting bed?"
Parath's eyes widened.
"Prince! My boy! You are quite knowledgable with names aren't you? And here i was thinking none one would know my face or name in this god-forsaken hive."
Parath chuckled.
Prince couldn't.
The ice didn't melt, it never melted.
Was it growing or staying the same size Prince couldn't tell.
Did he care?
Who knows.
Prince spoke - valient !
"Why are you here, a man of great power, rotting away. Tell me, if you would."
Parath smiled.
"Why haven't we lost track of the questions Prince? Weren't there question before you wanted answering?"
Parath was right.
Prince spoke quickly at first.
"No, I don't care about those questions anymore. Why should I? Something beautiful lay in front of me, shouldn't I stop to appreciate its beauty?"
Prince and Parath both let out hearty chuckles.
Chuckles tainted with madness.
"Prince, I think i harbour love for you! Such a cute boy you are! I feel like a proud father!"
Prince frowned in his mind.
Disgusting.
Prince smiled at Parath attentively, a small laugh leaving his lips.
"I'm not really a child you know?"
Parath lost expression.
"Oh."
He blurted out into laughter.
"You are still quite young though, I could be your great grandfather!"
Prince was severly unnamused.
A manic laugh leaving his lips.
"Sure!"
I will kill you, I will butcher you, I will murder you. I am Prince, I am a harbinger of death and agony, I am the walking body of blood. I reap lives and sow skin, I walk without sin. I am Prince, a demon whos horns grow tall, an angel whos chains have been outgrown and I will be your downfall!
Parath the heavenly demon!
Parath of the Fallen!
A man from myths and legends has stumbled upon me!
And he shall meet my benevolent blade!
Those are all empty words.
Such hollowness, its embarrassing.
Do better!
Wait a damn minute... Is he even who he really says he is?
Wow - just wow.