Chapter 202: A forward directed at Cass’ throat
The first step that one needs to take when trying to understand the true nature of demons is this-
Demons and Gods are not that far off from each other. Think of their relationship as something akin to half siblings. Whose parents both hate each other. So, it is understandable how in the normal realm demons are hated while in the lower realm gods and their counterparts are hated.
It is a strong, blood related war that unfortunately, probably will never end.
That is to say, by their nature, gods and demons are quite similar, they just have some interesting twists on what each would consider normal habits. Most demons revel in mayhem and mischief, causing the humans that the gods so favour pain and anguish, while gods prefer to give them tasks, shower them in affection and bring them joy and laughter.
Gods and Demons alike tend to use humans and other folk for their own kind of game. Some gods will bless a few, some demons will curse a few. It’s a delicate game that has continued on for millennia, and across many, many worlds.
Which brings you, my dear reader, to this book. No one who doesn’t have questions would stumble upon this book. The likelihood is that you are questioning some reality of yours. That something doesn’t seem to be quite right. Some might even say that they feel like a puzzle piece that doesn’t quite fit. That while you may go through all the normal steps, you still don’t fit in.
Maybe you don’t match with your parents, or you have an illness that can’t be cured. Or a strange allergy that no matter who you go to, you can never seem to shake. That is usually when you come across my book. A last resort. A last desperate plea.
This is the most up to date version, listing every type of demon out there. Not by name, of course, since that would be rude, and I couldn’t exactly give away my sources. That would make me a terrible confidante and there would be no more updates to this rather extensive list.
I hope that you find what you need, and if you don’t, you don’t panic. If you do find what you need, but it’s a great shock, know that you aren’t alone. I wouldn’t have half of this information if I didn’t once find myself in your same shoes, questions I didn’t even know how to ask on my lips. Know that no matter what, you are not what your blood makes you.
Blessed be,
The Author
Cass felt like his whole body was vibrating as he finished reading the beginning of the book. Every single emotion was swirling inside of him. He doubted that this book was written 10 years ago. There was no way.
Or, if it had been written 10 years ago, Lord Blackburn had found it then and had gotten rid of the book. This was feeling too surreal. Too targeted to not be fake or planted. Either way, he turned the pages and began to read.
There were several classifications for demons. Most of it made some kind of sense. There were higher level demons, and lower level demons. There weren’t really any middle level demons. It sounded like there was a tipping point where a demon flipped over and became higher level or lower level. Even the author wasn’t sure where that switch was.
They just said that one day he spoke with an imp that was a lower level, and then the next day they went to speak with them and they were suddenly higher level and they had to navigate the new rules that were in place.
Apparently, one could build their immunity and power level up by drinking a higher level demon’s blood, but it was painful and it didn’t always work. Unless you were the offspring of a higher level demon mixed with another race.
Any race except a god. Then, well, the author wished you luck. You probably wouldn’t have a long life span. Your body literally couldn’t handle what was going on inside of it. Cass prayed that wasn’t the fucking answer to what was wrong with him.
He knew, knew he had fairy blood. Other fairies acknowledged him as one of them. He had those fucked up side effects. The ones that meant he’d had to snuggle Lucian last night. And he’d had to snuggle him the night before as well. So he knew that, but the other parts?
He kept reading.
Lower level demons couldn’t drink anything that had human blood in it. Which meant, by basic standard, there were some races of demons that were automatically higher level no matter what.
Anyone who interacted with humans in any capacity was automatically a higher level. Specifically if they interacted on an intimate level. Accepting all fluids or meat that a human could offer.
But, any demon could make a deal with humans, they just couldn’t consume parts of humans. Lower level demons could fuck with humans the same way a higher level demon could. They could even shake hands, hug them, anything like that, but kissing or drinking blood or other fluids? They would get violently ill.
There were some races of demons who actually relied on human fluids of all kinds as part of their diet. They had evolved to need to consume the body of others. Even other demons. It was a temporary solution, but one that would work in a pinch.
Cass felt a cold, cold chill run down his spine as he read that.
Then, finally, he got to the table of contents and Cass’ breath caught.
Vampires were on the list.
Cass had to close his eyes. He felt like he was about to lose it. Okay. Alright. So this confirmed that Vespertine was a demon. He didn’t know why, or how, but this was...
"Are you okay?" Lucian asked, his voice gruff and Cass almost jumped, forgetting he was there. He shivered.
"I, uh." Cass cut off swallowing. He couldn’t get any more words out for a moment and that seemed to wake Lucian up.
"Sweetness, is the book troubling you?" He asked carefully, noticing the book in his lap and Cass swallowed. He nodded. "Should I take it away?" Cass shook his head. "No?" Lucian asked and Cass let out a shaky breath.
"I need to read it." Cass said weakly. "I...need to know. I need answers." Lucian’s whole body went slack before he wrapped himself around Cass, his arms sliding up Cass’ body to wrap around his waist.
"Oh sweetness. If they threaten you, I’m running away with you. No questions asked. I’m the one who knows the way out of here. They would be shit out of luck without me." He told him and Cass let out a soft laugh.
"They’d wait till we’re out of the dungeon to prove that I was just like my Mother." Cass whispered, not sure where those words came from, but they felt like Lord Blackburn’s. Lucian’s expression darkened.
"They can fucking try, Cass. It’s not happening. Who the hell thinks they can get away with messing with a dragon’s bond partner?" He scoffed at his own words, thinking it was ridiculous and Cass opened his mouth. He closed it shortly after, swallowing as he turned his attention back to the book.
He had nothing nice to say to that. Everything felt like poison, seeped with his doubts and fears right now. He didn’t want to taint the air with his words, so he just shut up and turned back to his book. For once, Lucian got it, and just sighed, remaining wrapped around Cass as he continued to read.
Cass knew he should probably scan over the lower level demons, but he had a sneaking suspicion he wasn’t in that category. Everything pointed to a higher level demon and unfortunately, they were the part of the book that had the least amount of information.
Cass felt a knot of disappointment in his gut as he looked through the mostly blank pages. Incubus, succubus, vampire, hellhound, pishachas, the princes, and then finally, the king themselves. It seemed that the king didn’t have to be male, it just referred to the most powerful demon, which also meant the demon who had caused the most harm to the world.
Each page should have had more words, more descriptions, but there wasn’t much. All of the beings that were listed as higher level in one way or another consumed something of humans and other folk. Cass wasn’t sure what he qualified, but his gut was drawn towards the hellhound and pishachas. Mainly because he knew the least about those types, and they felt like they could have fit?
He just didn’t know. He didn’t think he was a vampire, and if he was related to a prince or the king, he had a feeling this wouldn’t be the first time he found out about it. If he was related to them, wouldn’t they have reached out by now? Wouldn’t the gods have told him about it?
Cass snorted. No, they wouldn’t have. He shouldn’t have too much faith in them honestly. He wasn’t sure who he should have faith in at this point. Should he just start praying to his sister? Maybe if he prayed hard enough he might be able to hear her voice again.
Cass stopped as he was flipping passed the page for the King. He stared at the words that followed the King entry, and it shouldn’t have surprised him as much as it did. The king wasn’t a race, it was a position. One of the demons from the higher level demons would take on this position when the time came.
That meant that normally, a demon would rotate through the position of King in times of great strife but would remain in that position if they were strong or if it was during a time where demons were doing quite well for themselves.
The longest a King had remained in power was 75 years, and that was the current King.
The page was torn, so Cass couldn’t read what kind of demon the current King was. Cass wondered if he had done that by accident, or if that had been ripped out of other copies as well? Had that been considered too much information? He was kind of bitter about that.
He wanted to know. That was information that would help not just him, but Fiona as well. They could maybe use it to defeat him. Without Cass around. When Cass wasn’t around.