The bird gave a shrilling screech, letting the passenger know they had arrived at their destination.
"We are about to land," Venor said.
This time, Venor didn't need to inform Jaquer about the turbulence.
The hunter prepared early. He grabbed the rails stuck to the window and the cushion of the couch.
He didn't need to wait long before the chamber jagged, as the bird changed its route, towards the ground.
As planned, Jaquer remained seated with his tight grip without being tossed around but something out of his expectations happened.
Venor came stumbling towards him and crashed into his body, leading both of them to fall on the ground.
Jaquer could feel his unknown bone breaking after being crashed by the big boy.
The bird halted, and the commotion stopped.
Venor pulled himself before checking for injuries on Jaquer.
Hair messed and dress scattered on the floor, Jaquer gave a weak thumbs up and with Venor's help he stood up.
After cracking his neck and checking other bones on his body, Jaquer confirmed to himself that he had no serious injuries except a bump at the back of his head.
He progressed towards the door, but Venor caught his hand and halted his steps.
"Wait," Venor walked towards Jaquer and turned the hunter towards him.
The demon took the hunter's chin between his finger and inspected for injuries. And next moved his head towards the hunter's neck and bit on the warm skin with his molecular teeth, and licked the area to sooth the pain.
Jaquer, on the hand, taken back by Venor, shivered with the pain radiating through his body.
A hiss slipped out of his mouth, and he gasped when the demon licked on the same area he bit.
"What the fuck..." He questioned with his usual demeanor and tried to push away Venor.
A flash of disgust appeared in the view of his eyes as he distinctly looked at the man of crime.
The latter, without complaint, moved at one push and rubbed his wet mouth against the Flame Flower fabric and explained, "The demons are known to be savages, even in bed. If I don't leave a mark, won't it be obvious that I picked out a rogue flower instead of my wedded to be."
Jaquer glared at the man standing before him and softly rubbed his hand against the cool area while flaring his nose.
He bit his lips while gulping his saliva to calm his mind and the reaction below.
It was universal.
Jaquer reasoned this abnormal behaviour, but his lips ran dry with the passing moment.
He let out an exasperated breath before walking the damn away from Venor.
For him, getting a reaction for having been bitten by a demon was crazy.
Before opening the door, he physically slapped his cheeks to subdue the hormones, straightened his shoulder with a touch of forced smile and took the hook of door in his hand and stepped outside.
****
Descending from the wings of the bird, Venor and Jaquer met the Devil's Guard, waiting for them.
"Commander Venor Cythil." The Devil's Guard greeted Venor.
His voice was barely audible, with a hoarse tone and carried more air than voice.
Jaquer bit his lips to control his laughter. But his smiling eyes froze when the demon with lizard-like eyes stared at his face and greeted, "The Crown Prince of Pyran, welcome."
Jaquer nervously nodded his head with a gentle smile and clung to Venor's arm.
Part of their act, he convinced himself.
Initially, Jaquer was conflicted about being the fake wedded to be of Venor.
But as Venor laid out the plan, he decided to agree.
The previous night...
Within the walls of Red Garden Citadel, inside the Strategy Room, sat two demons and four humans across each other.
But the situation was nothing like a typical strategy room.
Zitara sat with his leg above the table, acting as if he was forcefully dragged to this place (he actually was), while Venor and Hader sat with serious expression, meanwhile Alys and Eres sat controlling their laughter and our protagonist, Jaquer, was ready to throw hand at whoever didn't agree with his argument.
"Why should I go as your wife-to-be? Oh fuck no. I mean your husband-to-be!?" Jaquer asked, banging the table with his fist.
He was an elite hunter, then depromoted to become a demon's servant and now, Venor expected him to act as his fake husband?
As a hunter, even having demon as his fake husband and he was not a bit interested in man, either way it would be blasphemy.
"A demon can never kill another demon," Venor explained, "Only the Devil can kill and punish any demon he wants."
"And what did it have to do with me pretending to be your husband?"
"Wife-to-be," Venor corrected.
Alys couldn't help but spit his saliva while his laughter slipped out.
Jaquer glared at him before his attention was grabbed by Hader, "Since the Devil can't harm the commander, he would try to manipulate and make Venor surrender with me as hostage."
She replied contentedly without saying more than necessary.
Jaquer opened his mouth and closed it without finding words to argue.
"You are a hunter, and you as an ally would be of a great help," Venor said with a calmer voice in order to persuade Jaquer.
But the hunter was in no mood to give in; he argued, "Why me? Alys and Eres are also—"
"We are not elite hunters like you." Alys waved to his friend, and Eres too followed suit. "And we are not wifey material."
Jaquer, with defeat slumped down on his chair and waving his white flag of defeat, asked, "What's the plan?"
Venor's face immediately brightened after Jaquer's approval, and the official discussion began.
****
The Devil's Guard led them through the entrance, the path winding towards the heart of the Devil's Den.
Massive bone archway, crowned with black horns, marked the pathway while the shadow guard stood near the arched walls, with bone helmets on their head.
The path lined with lava veins, pulsing simultaneously with Jaquer's heartbeat.
The hunter looked above and met the sight of a vengeful soul with hollow eyes and formless body, trapped between the magical barricade, while they fight for eternity.
If Jaquer was correct, this must be what Venor will become if their plan fails. The hunter's heart shook for what Venor might become, but shouldn't he be happy?
It must be because of his human heart that stopped him from that selfish thought. No matter what, they must exit this place, successfully.
Jaquer gulped and wrapped his arms around Venor's like a couple in love as they followed the guard.
Even though their heart beat frantically with fear, the smile on their face never left their lips.
The hunter occasionally looked around the building and counted the number of archways.
Venor told that the devil may have his eyes everywhere, hence he intentionally tiptoed his legs and leaned towards Venor's ears, like a married couple sharing secrets, as he whispered, "Venor, I have to say something."
Jaquer must pretend to be in love with Venor. He often noticed girls whispering to the boys they love while hiding their mouths with their hands. He did the same.
"What?" Venor whispered too, eyes looking at the hunter with a soft gaze, even though expecting an important report from his observation.
But Jaquer grinned ear to ear before cursing with a playful tone, "Fuck you,"
Cursing was the only way Jaquer could stop himself from peeing on his pants at that moment. He swore the hollow-eyed monster above him was scaring the shit personality out of him.