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LAUDON'S POV

Happiness.

Laudon has never felt this much happiness in all his life. He returns to Hell with a smile on his face, a big smile that he has no intentions of hiding. He enters his room and collapses on the bed with a sigh of content, his mind replaying the time that he and Maggie had spent together on Edreial.

Laudon had no clue that a human could be so... captivating?

As he quietly reflects on the precious moments that he and Maggie had created, such sweet and innocent moments, Laudon finally admits to himself that something special is brewing between him and the brown-eyed girl. Something powerful, yet intangible. A constant pull that vibrates every single molecule throughout his body. A pull on a string that is wrapped tightly around his dark soul. A string that Maggie holds the end of. 

I must have her, Laudon thinks to himself, staring off into space with a wolfish grin. But would she want me in that way? Surely not. Everything is so complicated. I wish I knew what to do next...

As Laudon stands to change out of his clothes, he receives a knock at the door.

"Enter," Laudon calls, looking back. "Zul. What do you want?"

"I came to check on you, my prince. After what happened with Myrlande, you suddenly disappeared without a word. I was worried that..." Zul pauses, taking another step forward. He sniffs the air, his eyes narrowing and jaw clenching. "You went to see her."

"Pardon?"

"I can smell her on you. The human. Maggie Brumfield."

Laudon rolls his eyes and strips out of his clothes to change into his training gear. His good mood is plummeting, and the desire to punch something is rising rapidly all thanks to Zul.

"So what, Zul? What business is it of yours that I went to go see her? Because had I not gone to see her, I would have finished transforming. In a blind rage, I would have torn this literal hellhole apart."

"You are suggesting Maggie prevented that from happening?" Zul watches Laudon's every move, judging him silently. "But how is that possible? What did she do to you, my prince?"

"Nothing. She did nothing to me. She's just... special. That's all I can say for now."

"I see." Zul takes another step forward, then another until he and Laudon stand face to face.

Where did Laudon go wrong? When did everything spiral out of control, before or after the incident with Maggie Brumfield? Zul has trouble wrapping his brain around the bizarre shift that has occurred within the Prince of Hell. If only Lucifer were here.

"I am going to say something that you may not want to hear," Zul warns. "I apologize if it upsets you."

"Go on then," Laudon mutters. "Say it."

"You need to stay away from Maggie Brumfield."

"Well, you were right. I did not want to hear that," Laudon replies with a hard scowl. "I recommend you drop this before I get even angrier."

"We both know your father would not approve of you spending time with that girl, be it for pleasure or leisure," Zul continues anyway. "Have you forgotten about her powers? It is still very dangerous for you to be alone with her when we have yet to figure out what she is fully capable of. Your father—"

"Isn't here!" Laudon snaps, his eyes flashing red. "My father isn't here, and I am sick and tired of you acting as his substitute. I care not what he thinks, and I care not what you think. I will continue to see Maggie as often as I want, no explanation required. Get in my way, then you and I will have a problem."

The stare down is intense.

Zul does not budge and neither does Laudon. They both are stubborn beings and the opposite of submissive. Zul suspects that, somehow, Maggie Brumfield has bewitched his prince. Why else would Laudon act out like this? Unhinged. But no matter. Zul swore to Lucifer, swore with his life, that he would protect Laudon and the throne at all costs. And in the worst case scenario, that includes protecting Laudon from himself.

"Regardless of what you feel towards this girl, I will not allow you to succumb to her," Zul says. "You cannot see it now because you have been blinded by her purity, but the best relationship that you can have with Maggie Brumfield is no relationship at all. If need be, I will personally see to that."

Laudon tilts his head to the side, exposing his growing canines as he smiles manically. "Is that a threat?"

"You may take it however you so please, my prince."

Laughter fills the room. Loud, hysterical laughs pour from out of Laudon as if Zul had told him the funniest joke in all of history. In less than a second, Zul is flung out of the bedroom. Laudon gives him no time to recover. He captures Zul by the throat and pins him against the wall in the hallway. Lifting him off the ground, Laudon's nails shift into their natural state, breaking the skin and causing Zul to bleed. The smell of it amplifies Laudon's rage.

"How bold of you to threaten me..." Laudon growls, his grip tightening. "Do you truly wish to die today?"

"You will not kill me, child." Zul taunts with a smile. "You cannot kill me. Not for doing my job. How would you even explain my death to your father when he returns? I am no low-ranked demon. He will assuredly punish you for killing me over some worthless human."

"Silence!" Laudon sends Zul flying to the other end of the hallway, his body splitting the wall.

Laudon has not completely lost control, which is why he is going easy on his guardian. Zul does not fight back for a reason. Per the rules, no one in Hell can touch Laudon in such a way except for Lucifer. The only exception is when Laudon is challenged for the throne. All other attacks against the Prince will cause one to be immediately cast to The Void.

"I will only say this once." Laudon squats next to Zul on the ground. He presses an elongated finger into Zul's chest, his sharp nail piercing the skin directly above Zul's heart. "You will never come between me and Maggie Brumfield. Without my permission, you will never visit with her. You will never speak to her. You will never lay a finger on her. From this day forth, I forbid you from even thinking about her. Disobey me and I will kill you, my friend. This is no threat, but a promise."

Laudon rises without another word, turning around to walk back to his bedroom.

"That girl will be your downfall!" Zul yells. "Hear me well, my prince. She will be your downfall!"

Ignoring Zul, Laudon changes into the appropriate gear and then teleports to the training grounds to blow off some steam. The demons nearby clear out immediately, giving Laudon his space. He works himself until he is sore and breathless. Until his razor-sharp nails retract and his teeth begin to resemble those of a human.

This is the second time his anger had nearly triggered his transformation into his true form. Laudon suspects this is a side effect of his angelic powers being activated. Both demonic and angelic energy flows through him now, the two most powerful throughout the current worlds, and he has no clue how to balance them out.

Perhaps the next time that he is set off, he will take up Maggie's silly suggestion and try meditating. That or revert to his original proposal and kill something.

Even better, kill someone.

. . .