Chapter 3: "Love? In This Demonic Economy?!"
When Lyra said she was taking me to meet "allies," I assumed she meant, like… crusty old demon generals or maybe some bat army raised by Kevin (long story)
What I did not expect… was a farmhouse.
A literal, wholesome, birds-chirping, flowers-smelling-like-springtime farmhouse.
"So… what is this?" I asked, blinking at the red barn and clothesline flapping in the breeze. "Is this hell's version of a prank?" *that means hell's trash *
"These three are important," Lyra said. "Don't screw it up."
"That sounds like a you problem, Not a me problem."
Then the door opened.
And she walked out.
---
Let me be clear. I have never believed in love at first sight. That's human nonsense.
But when she stepped into the sunlight—with a sword strapped to her back, a streak of blue in her jet-black hair, and an expression like she could murder a dragon and then write poetry about it?
Yeah. My heart did a little thump. Followed by a what-the-actual-hell-was-that.
She paused on the porch. Blinked.
Then frowned. Blushed.
And slammed the door back shut.
"Was that the welcome?" I asked, confused.
"That's mira," Lyra said. "Try not to die."
---
Meet the Siblings:
. mira – the eldest
Wields a sword bigger than my trauma
Quiet, always watching
Muscles. So many muscles.
Definitely blushed when she saw me
. Kai – the middle child
Laid-back, smooth talker, hair that screams "too pretty to care"
Constantly snacking
Nonchalant
Thinks he's a genius (jury's still out)
3. Nia – the youngest
Tiny, chaotic, possibly part gremlin
Collects skulls "for fun"
Calls me "Fire Uncle" for reasons I do not understand *Like what the actual f*ck *
---
Once inside, Kai handed me a mango.
"Welcome, prince of doom . Fruit?" *huh .? Weird *
"...Thanks?"
"Don't eat it," Nia whispered. "It's cursed."
I stared at the mango. It stared back. I put it down.
mira hadn't come back out yet.
"Is she okay?" I asked.
"She's fine," Kai said. "She's just, y'know... dealing with feelings."
"What feelings?"
"Crushy ones."
I froze.
"On me?"
Kai smirked.
"Bro, you shirtless screamed your way into her field of vision and then summoned black fire while growling. Of course she caught feelings. She's a sucker for dramatic entrances."
"I WAS DYING."
"Even better."
---
Five minutes later, mira re-entered.
Calm. Collected.
Absolutely not avoiding eye contact.
She sat across from me at the table. Arms crossed. Eyes doing that "I will end you if you mention my blush" thing.
"You have… horns," she said.
"You have… a sword."
"I could kill you with it."
"I could die looking at you."
(And yeah ,I'm good with the ladies and the lines )
Her face turned redder than a lava tomato. She stood up so fast she kicked the chair back and stormed out.
Kai dropped his mango.
"BRO."
"I panicked!"
"YOU SMOOTH-BRAINED GARGOYLE—SHE LIKES YOU!"
---
Later that evening, I found her training outside. Sword slashes so clean they sliced the wind itself.
I stood there awkwardly, holding a burnt flower I tried (and failed) to conjure nicely.
"Hey."
"...What."
"So I know I'm technically a cursed prince of a broken realm, but I was wondering—uh—do you wanna maybe—"
She turned fast. Too fast. Her foot hit a rock.
She tripped.
Right into my chest.
We both froze.
Her hand accidentally brushed my horn.
"Sorry," she said. "Didn't mean to—uh—touch your…"
"It's okay," I replied. "They're… sensitive."
Silence.
Then she pulled back like she just touched lava.
"Goodnight!" she barked, and sprinted away at a speed that would embarrass wind spirits.
Kevin the bat landed on my shoulder.
Screee? (Translation: "Was that flirting?")
"I have no clue, Kevin. But I think I'm in love."
(Wait do demons experience love ...well I don't know, I'm in love )
---
That night, Lyra found me staring at the moon.
"You met her for five minutes," she said dryly.
"I'd burn a city for her."
"You burned half a ruin for a slime monster named Goopy."
"Still counts."
---
And somewhere, in the shadows behind the barn…
mira sat clutching a sketchbook.
Inside, the pages were full of drawings.
Drawings of me.
Smiling.
Laughing.
Fighting.
Burning.
"Stupid demon prince," she muttered. "Why's your smile stuck in my head?"
Her heart did a little thump.
---
That night, while the others slept and the fire cracked low,
I sat under stars that refused to glow.
Kevin was drooling on my head like a hat,
and I whispered to him:
"I think I fell for a girl with a sword… imagine that."
Lyra passed me, sharp-eyed and slow,
"Your heart's too loud," she said. "She'll hear it, you know."
I shrugged and smiled, that dumb crush grin,
"Let her hear it. I'd still let her win."
Somewhere, out back, she was watching the sky,
Pretending the moonlight hadn't caught her sigh.
In her lap, a sketchbook—edges torn and bent—
Pages of me in charcoal, in moments she never meant.
A prince with horns.
A heart reborn.
A laugh she wanted to hate.
But couldn't ignore.
"Stupid demon," she whispered. "Why do I care?"
Then she pressed her palm to her chest and said:
"You're not mine.
But I'll always be there."
And beside her—
A flower burned with flame and bloom.
Left where I stood beneath the moon.
---