Your protagonist, Kael, is a low-ranking demon from a bureaucratic underworld who is unexpectedly sent to Earth for a “simple” mission: collect the soul of a human who made a contract centuries ago.

But when Kael arrives, they discover the human in question has somehow broken the contract and now runs a sanctuary for magical beings hiding on Earth. Stranded without a way back to their realm until the job is done, Kael is forced to infiltrate the sanctuary, pretending to be a rogue creature seeking refuge.

While on Earth, Kael begins to experience emotions they’ve never felt before—curiosity, guilt, even a strange affection for the humans and magical beings they’ve always considered inferior. As they uncover the sanctuary’s secrets, Kael must decide whether to complete their mission or defy their superiors, risking eternal punishment.

Are they a reluctant savior, or will their darker nature take over?

I relax in a comfy chair as the woman across from me files my nails.

"Are we going with black again?" she asks without looking up.

"No. What's that color everyone is fawning over? Bubble Bath?"

This catches her attention. She taps the file against the table, getting rid of the dust, before setting it down. She glances up and arches a brow. "Bubble Bath? You want...pink." It's not a question.

"Is that so hard to believe?"

"When you've only been wearing black nails for the past three months, it rises suspicion. What's going on Reeves?"

I sigh. "Anna, you're too smart. But to be completely honest, I simply just want a change of pace. Considering there won't be a tomorrow."

Anna's face slackens. She grips my hands tight. I would say it was painful, but I've felt worse.

"Do not say such things. You're needed here, you--"

"God, Anna, I'm not committing suicide!" I hiss so the other nail technicians and customers can't hear. "I simply mean that tomorrow won't come, so why should I go with the normal? Might as well live up our last day."

She just stares at me wide mouthed. I roll my eyes. "Do you have someone after me?" She shakes her head. "Good, because this is going to be long."

"Okay..."

"It all started centuries, more eons, ago. I was tasked with a simple mission. Destroy Earth. So, I picked a random month, day, and year. Just so happens to be tomorrow."

"That wasn't very long of a story."

"That's all you have to say?" I huff. "I just told you that I'm detonating Earth tomorrow and your response was in relation to the length of what I told you?!"

"You said it was going to take a while."

I roll my eyes. "So I exaggerated. The point is that no one is going to exist tomorrow, and you're acting completely fine with it."

Anna readjusts her glasses and sits back in her seat. "Obviously you need to see a therapist if you're having this much of a god complex. As a woman working in a nail salon, I usually love gossip, but this is too much. I'm sorry Reeves, I'm going to have to ask you to leave." She picks up the file and uses it to point to the door.

My eyes simmer with rage. And I mean actually simmer. Anna scoots back as soon as she notices, fear present on her face. I push myself out of my seat, my hands placed on the desk.

"All I wanted was to get my nails done," I say cooly. This frightens her further. "Is it too much for a demon to ask to get her nails done?"

Anna swallows. I smile cruelly.

I arrive to Earth on a beach. A beach. A beach in Britain, that means rain, clouds, screaming children and, more importantly, the water that I’m up to my knees in is brown, even colder than my home planet and smells depressingly of urine. The upside is I’m dressed appropriately, I’m wearing what everyone else is, both women and men, a pair of beige shorts with an I’ll matched t-shirt slung over my shoulder.

I smile to myself as I look around, I may be dressed matchingly, but I have the muscles of my homeland, they have all either a beer belly or what they think is major muscle. I then remember where I am as seaweed wraps itself around my leg.

Several disapproving looks follow me off the beach. Children’s looks, obviously, only the children think swearing’s wrong. Major flaw in these humans, the grown teach the young rules they could never obey themselves, and the little mites are ignorant enough to think those rules are correct.

I take that back. The child that just ran into my leg has a larger vocabulary than I do. I like that child, but before I can swear back at them, they’ve run on.

Man this place is great! Azul thought sarcastically to himself. Even if my plans to overthrow my brother didn't go like i had hoped before one of his companions had ent him here. The plan was was simple, take out the gaurds and challenge his brother for Rulers Rights. To bad nothing was that simple when it came to his brother. Another scream came from down the hallway, snapping Azul's attention back to the present. The scream was muffled, female and failing. Whatever was happening she was giving up her will to live. A male voice whispered something even his otherworld ears had trouble hearing. Deserve this was all he could make out. Another scream rattled the house. More panicked and fearful then the first, then she was begging him to end it. Azul heard laughter come from the man and he was sick to his stomach from waiting so long. He entered the shadow realm and found his way to where the woman and man where. He appeared directly between the man and tortured woman. Pure hate and anger was the only emotion on the mans face as Azul drove his hand into the mans chest, grabbed his still beating heart and said my name is Azul, you see a demon from your nightmares and do not fear but hate me. I judge you guilty! Die now so this world will be more peaceful. When he finished he yanked his hand out pulling the now still beating heart from the man's chest. Azul found it most unfortunate that all "food" in this realm made him sick. Except the indigenous species called humans. A heathy heart would sustain him for months, unfortunately those were hard to find in the scum he hunted. He tucked the heart away for later consumption. Turning to the woman now, he was blindsided by the amount of mutilation that had been done to her. He had been involved with some messy interrogations back in his world but this was all new to him. He didn't know quite what to do. He moved closer to see if the injuries were able to be healed. After looking over the injuries the woman had Azul came to the conclusion that she was dying, and the man had been doing his work on her for quite a long time. He was mutilating her for his own pleasure. There were deep cuts across her chest that had been healed but left her breasts as the humans called them looking like flowers. There were scars all over her body saying whore, slut, tramp, cunt, all words Azul didn't understand. Then he noticed the twin rods between her legs, she also suffered from beatings regularly and had no eyes or teeth. I should end her misery he thought to himself, i will offer her the chance to live as this is not my decision to make. Do you want another chance to live? He asked her. He saw her stiffen at the change in voice tone. She took a moment to respond. The the pain is to great to go on, can you make it stop? Her voice still in the begging tone. Azul thought and answered there is a way for you to live pain free. Is this what you wish? Yes yes yes was the immediate answered from the woman. I don't want to die but I don't want to endure this pain any longer. I can not remember a time i didn't live in constant agony. Azul explained the process to the woman, that she had to die to come back anew. With the woman's agreement, Azul began the process. First comes death he said aloud. With a quick pull he ripped her head from her shoulders. Next comes sacrifice, he cut open his arm and stuck his arm over the decapitated body of the woman to fill the vessel with demon blood. She would be forever bound to him because his blood was used. Next comes resurrection Azul said in a chanting tone and placed the head back on the body. Feeling drained from the ritual he took the mans heart out and ate it to refuel himself. Now all I have to do is wait he said to himself. If she has enough will to live this will work. A few hours later he noticed there were black eyes like his in her skull and the head had reattached itself to the body. So the legends were true he thought to himself. The Legends told of travelers that come from distance lands to his home world of Lycia. Where they conquered our ancestors and made them slaves. Which lasted until a uprising from his family line took prisoners and created hybrids. The conquerers were called humans but nobody knew the realm or planet they came from.
Another few hours later the woman gasped her first rebreathe. Startled by the sudden noise Azul quickly recovered to walk over to the woman. At first he noticed how her body had completely "changed". Before was a scarred broken woman but now sat a flawless woman. Are you just gonna stare at me or cut me free from this prison? The woman said him. Caught off guard again Azul struggled to find words. Ahhh yes sorry i was only shocked it worked. i was going off a legend from my people. Azul finally was able to say. Moving across the room quickly to cut her bonds he noticed the rods were still hanging from between her legs. The woman must have noticed at the same time as she said, well thats lovely can you get those out first? I cant feel them but for some reason know the dont go there. She said in a laughing voice. Azul silently went behind the woman and removed the rods that turned out to be more than plain rods. They were more spear like with the end coming to a point. The man had tried to impale the woman. The woman fully aware of Azul now, stood to her full height. Azul backed away giving her some space and then heard the woman say my name is Lillianne, I’m greatful for what you did for me but why are you here excatly? Not knowing how to explain this, he decided full truth will suffice for now. I’m not from this world, my realm is called Agarth and is currently ruled by a sadistic monster that also happens to be my brother and I lead a rebellion against him. It failed and as my companions were slaughtered around me, my partner Lilith used a spell to send me away and gather a new army to dethrone my brother. You have no obligation to join me. I only wanted to make your pain stop for you.

The protagonist is a demon from another world, sent to Earth on a mission to collect human souls for the dark lord who rules the demon realm. However, upon arriving on Earth, the demon becomes increasingly intrigued by human emotions and begins to question their loyalty to the dark lord. As the demon interacts with humans and experiences love, compassion, and friendship for the first time, they start to reconsider their mission and purpose. This internal conflict leads the demon to ultimately defy the dark lord, choosing to protect the very souls they were originally sent to claim.

A large silhouette skulked through the back alleys of an unassuming New York City. The light of the full moon pressed down on the form of a huge beast covered in brown fur. The creature’s lips were quirked up to bare it’s teeth; a vile black ooze dripping from between it’s pointed fangs.

The beast labored through the trash laden streets, taking slow and heavy steps. It cared little for whatever mortals may be awake to bear witness to it’s horrific form, for it was on a mission. The Demon King issued a direct order; an order that this lowly creature took honor in completing.

At last, the demon finally beheld its wretched pray, residing in one of the few remaining lit buildings on the street. The demon smiled to itself; pleased that it’s King’s order would soon be fulfilled. It effortlessly passed through the door, despite it being nearly half of its size, and faced the single human within.

The human gaped in abject terror. His face was white as a the moon and his mouth hung open. The demon took slow, deliberate steps towards the human, and with each step it took the air turned colder. Once it was well past reaching distance from the human, it stopped and deliberated. The human only stared.

Slowly, the demon raised its arm and stretched out a single claw, almost a foot long and razor sharp, pointing past the human’s head. The two beings stood there like this for a moment, until the human recovered from his paralysis and turned to see what the demon was pointing to.

The human pondered, then spoke in a shaky voice. “Is that-“ he gulped, “-Is that all?”

The demon nodded. The human, hesitant to turn its back to the beast, slowly walked backwards to another room, only turned around once he knew he was out of sight. Once he was decently far from it, the human’s walk turned into a sprint.

A few moments later, the human returned with a brown paper bag and presented it to the demon. It stepped forward and took a long and intentionally uncomfortable sniff. Satisfied, the creature opened its wretched maw, reached inside with one of its furry hands, and pulled out a single gold bar coated in a foul-smelling black ooze. The demon took the paper bag in its mouth and replaced it with the gold bar. It nodded to the human, and turned to leave.

Once outside, the demon turned to face the building. The glowing Golden Arches sitting atop its roof shone brighter than the moon, acting like a beacon in the night. The demon thought that plastering the walls of the establishment with the visage of a clown was rather tacky, but it was no matter. All that was left was to deliver the package to the Demon King, and then the demon would be rewarded handsomely. After all, the Demon King was very fond of these “chicken nuggets”.

Chapter Two - The Academy's Secret

Days passed, but the gray, heavy sorrow in Adam's heart never lightened. Each morning, he woke with a dull ache, and each night, he wept silently into his pillow, his father's muffled sobs echoing from the room next door. The world outside carried on obliviously, its rhythm unaffected by his family's tragedy. School had become a blur of whispered condolences and pitiful glances that only made Adam feel more isolated.

Elizabeth hadn't shown up at school since the incident. Rumors swirled about her sudden disappearance, some claiming she had been sent away, others suggesting she was hiding out of guilt. Adam tried to push these thoughts away, but they clung to him like shadows, dark and persistent.

One afternoon, as Adam wandered aimlessly through the park near his flat, he noticed an old, gnarled oak tree that he and Elizabeth had once climbed. It stood as a silent witness to their happier times, a stark contrast to the present. Adam's eyes fell on the initials they had carved into the bark, A&E, encased in a heart. Tears welled up again, but he fought them back, determined not to let the memories consume him.

"Hey, Adam."

The voice was soft but unmistakable. Adam turned to see a figure emerging from the shadows beneath the tree. It was Elizabeth. Her eyes were red and swollen, her hair unkempt, and her usual confident demeanor replaced by a look of abject fear and remorse.

"Elizabeth," he said, his voice hoarse. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to apologize," she whispered. "For everything."

Adam's heart clenched, anger and sorrow warring within him. "It's too late for apologies, Liz. My mother is gone. Because of you."

"I know," she said, tears streaming down her face. "I know, and I can't live with it. But there's something you need to know. Something the Academy has been hiding from us."

"What are you talking about?" Adam asked, his curiosity piqued despite his anger.

"The Academy," Elizabeth began, "it's not just a school for heroes. It's a place where they train us to manipulate, to control, to deceive. They made me push the ladder. They said it was a test, that it would make me stronger. I didn't know your mother would die. I swear I didn't."

Adam's mind reeled. "What? That doesn't make any sense. Why would they do that?"

"Because they're preparing us for something bigger," Elizabeth replied. "Something dark. They want to create heroes, yes, but they also want to create villains. To control both sides of the coin."

Adam took a step back, his disbelief giving way to a chilling realization. "So they made you the hero and me the villain. All this time, we were just pawns in their game."

Elizabeth nodded, her expression a mixture of despair and determination. "I don't want to play their game anymore, Adam. I want to stop them. But I can't do it alone. Will you help me?"

Adam looked into her eyes, searching for the truth. He saw the guilt, the pain, and the earnest plea for redemption. Despite everything, despite his anger and grief, a part of him still cared for Elizabeth. Maybe it was the part that remembered their friendship before it was tainted by tragedy.

"Okay," he said finally. "I'll help you. But if you ever lie to me again, it's over."

Elizabeth nodded, relief flooding her features. "Thank you, Adam. I promise, no more lies. We need to go to the Academy. There's something there that can expose everything. But we have to be careful. They're watching us."

Adam felt a surge of resolve. For the first time since his mother's death, he had a purpose. Together, they would uncover the Academy's secrets and bring the truth to light. The path ahead was fraught with danger, but Adam knew they had to try.

As they set off towards the Academy, the storm clouds that had hung over Adam's heart began to part, replaced by a flicker of hope. This was not the end of their story, but the beginning of a new chapter, one where they would no longer be pawns, but players in their own right. And perhaps, just perhaps, they could find redemption in the process.

As they reached the gates of the Academy, Elizabeth's expression subtly shifted, her eyes hardening with a cold determination. She glanced at Adam, a smile playing at the corners of her lips, unseen by him.

For Elizabeth had a secret. She wasn't here to expose the Academy. She was here to ensure its dark plans succeeded, and Adam was the perfect unwitting pawn in her game

Chapter One- Chosen

Once upon a time’s are overrated. Maybe once in a while they will stop being used. I mean, how cliche. Once upon a time is like saying that there once was a traditional fairy tale. But as unfortunate as that might be, this is not a typical fairy tale. This is a tale of adventure, and sadly, numbness. 

But i musn’t say much more on this matter as the story must begin, so, to the land of adventures we go. 

Staring out of the window, Adam tapped his pen in a kind of nervous rhythm. And not to say all rhythms are nervous, but to say that adam was particularly nervous, this might be because of the fact that his mother was in hospital or it could be the cloudy weather, but for now, let’s just say he was nervous. 

Adam watched as a black cab pulled up outside his flat. As his father went out to meet the man emerging from the car, his face turned pale. Adam could tell what had happened. He didn’t want to go downstairs or outside in the rain and he couldn’t bare the sight of his father like this, so he pulled the curtains closed and turned away. This action is not to say that he didn’t care for his father or mother, but to mean that he couldn’t bare it anymore. 

“Always the villain, aren’t I. I didn’t even get to..t.t.t..to say goodbye”, He said as his eyes filled with tears. The rain pattered on the window and thunder filled the streets. “Mama!”, He cried into the quiet of the room. He was empty, just lost of words.

Not to butt in but, I have to say that his mother’s death was not his fault, it was his best friend’s,Elizabeth. She had pushed the ladder. She hadn’t even said sorry. She just ran, like she did from all of her problems. To know that she had taken his mother’s life, though, was heartbreaking. Adam didn’t blame her for a second even though she was the one to push the ladder. 

After all the years of happiness together as friends, her selfish ego, wanted praise for saving his mother. But that didn’t happen. She was the chosen one, according to the academy. She was supposed to be the hero of every situation but Adam just had to be the villain, taking all the blame, praising Elizabeth for her good work but knowing that ultimately friendships break and end in darkness.

Mechnical chimes of “Turkey in the Straw,” clashed and clanged against the carnival booths. Scents of buttery popcorn and frying grease wrestled human body odor in the heavy summer air. Blowing smoke rings of regrets, Bimzo scratched at a mosquito bite beneath his flame colored wig.

“Sweetie, what’s your favorite? The Barbie balloon, Strawberry Shortcake, PowerPuff Girls,” the old lady asked the little girl. “Doesn’t the funny clown have so many pretty balloons.

Fuschia, blue, silver, and gold, bright balloons bobbed from Bizmo’s cart. The lady and the child pointed at the Superman and the My Little Pony balloons. Dreaming of a sweet sulphur breeze, Bimzo pulled at his clown costume colllar. He slapped at a horsefly on his neck. Bimzo looked at the smushed insect and thought, lucky devil.

“I wanna Aquaman, Grammy. I wanna Superman,” the girl screeched, bouncing up and down.

“Blue is for boys, sweetie peach. How about one of the ballooon animals the happy clown made? Okay see the pink poodle okay?”

If only Bathazar could take a joke, Bimzo thought, what’s a little insurrection between friends. Scratching at his balls, the clown took another drag. The little girl stamped her foot. Hoisting up her giant handbag, the grandmother fished for her wallet. Bouncing on her sneakers, the granddaughter tugged at the clown’s pants’ leg.

“Hey kid you want a balloon or not! Ain’t nobody got all damn day,” Bimzo said.

The two customers looked up. They broke into laughter. The worst part of Bathazar’s punishment wasn’t having to work as a clown, or carnival life, or even living in Florida for a century (though that was no cakewalk), the worst part of the demon overlord’s curse was that every single insult Bimzo uttered sounded like a hilarious saying. Bimzo’s profanity became heartwarming adages. His crude gestures, adorable balloon animals.

As the little girl clapped, Bimzo whipped up an enchanting balloon bouquet surrounding a Wonder Woman balloon. A group of children and parents watched with joy. Grandmother and child walked away delighted. Quickly ,a line of happy children queued up for fantasical balloons. The demon clown wondered if demon overlords had a sense of humor. Sighing, Bimzo blew a solo smoke up into the fetid air. TOn a continuous loop, urkey in the Straw played.

“Wooosh” Air crackled like fire around the portal as it opened up.

Blackness darker then night slipping through in a quick burst of speed. Yet the air was heavy, quickly dropping her to only knee’s.

“What is this?” She hissed, crawling forward a few steps. “I can’t even breathe….” She huffed.

“Meow!” A grey and white tabby cat called out only a foot or so away.

“How can you live here beast?” She hissed, but the cat kept moving toward her.

Snuggling up against her knee, making a strange nosiey vibration.

“Of course you can’t talk… What was I expecting” Groaning she stood up only for her shadow body to slam back into the ground.

“I thought you were stronger then this dear sister?” A laugh echoed out of the still open portal. “Hope you enjoy dieing on earth. It’s wards will end you without much of a blip on their radar” Then the portal disappeared.

“Someone please….” Tears started to run down her pale cheeks, the shadows dying away leaving her stark naked on the cold blacktop. “Beast can I use your form…. Please…”

“Meowwwww!” The cat leaped up onto the walkway twitching its tail.

“Pleaseee….. I’ll owe you a life….” She cooed, trying to get it to come closer again.

“Omg…. Are you ok?” A female voice called over her shoulders and she sighed.

“Earth home to the humans” she groaned to herself reaching for the beast with all her disappearing power.

“Uhhhmmm…. Did you see where that girl went kitty?” A black haired girl stepped into the streetlight’s light, a single green strip down her right bang.

“Did you see anything suspicious?” A gruff manly voice sent a chill up her spine but she didn’t turn.

The smell of hard cigar filled the air and his heavy footsteps made the girl shutter. It was dark out, late at night. Of course she shouldn’t have been out, adventuring in the late night hours.

“Sampson! Your gonna scare the poor girl.” A female voice scoffed, shuffling something behind her back as the girl turned. “Yah big brute”

Of course she wasn’t being dramatic. This man had to be over six feet tall and built like a small military tank. His hands and arms were massive. Eyes trained on the girl with a fat brown cigar burning as he breathed.

The female was much shorter then him, slender but not skinny. Curves sticking to the clearly large womanly assets that the girl quickly felt ashamed at looking. Which caused a reddish tint to glide across her features.

“Maybe you shouldn’t wear such hoe shit” The man gruffly chuckled and turned. “There’s nothing here but the girl and that cat. No need for us”

“Your gonna leave this poor girl alone out here?” She groaned, giving him a serious glare. “We should at least accompany her home”

“It’s not our business… let’s get back to work” With that he just started down the dimly lit street.

“Ughhh. He’s so aggrivating. Why’s it so hard to be nice.”

“There’s no reason to be. Cuz it’s not my problem, let’s go”

“Sorry hun. Please get home safe” With that the woman bound after the man.

The night had started getting chilly when she finially reached her upstairs window. Morning wasn’t far off by the growning sky light. Yet the cat hadn’t left her side, hopefully her father wouldn’t be too upset.

“Wake up Tiger!” Her father cooed as the cat bound after him opening the door. “Guess you found a new friend?”

“Dad I’m sorry I…” She started sleepily.

“It’s fine. I get it, I’ll grab stuff for it later.” He said with a quick smile before departing the doorway. “It better not poop anywhere”

“Like I would poo on the floor” She groaned with a sigh.

“Did you just….” The girl was sleepily wiping crust from her eyes, hanging off the beds edge.

“Oh crap”