The Lesser Evil - 14. The Duel

Even in the middle of a sunny morning, the trinket shop looked cold and empty without Edwin there. The messy counter was covered with tools, wires and crystals, as if waiting for its owner to return and continue the work he’d started. The sign on the door read ‘Closed’, with no one to turn it around and open the shop. Lothar couldn’t stand it. Everywhere he looked, he could see Edwin, his handsome face smiling at him, his full lips inviting him for a kiss. It hurt so much when he thought about what Cromwell had forced him to do, but there was no other way. He knew that, and he was sure that Edwin knew it as well.

To make matters even worse, there were Ida and Isolde, giving him sad, miserable looks as he transported them back to Earth. Edwin’s shop was the place he knew best, so it only seemed natural to drop them off there. To Lothar’s surprise – and everyone else’s – Cromwell had kept up his end of the bargain and left them alive. Lothar figured the twisted pleasure the demon lord got from making him kill the man he loved was enough for him. Still, the young demon knew he would not get off that easily. Cromwell would hold this betrayal over his head for the rest of his life, but Lothar would not put up with it any more. He was done being an obedient servant and taking orders. As soon as he returned to his realm, he would take matters into his own hands.

As he stood in the trinket shop, he looked through the window with nostalgia, his back turned toward Ida and Isolde, as the two sisters held each other for support, finally reunited after all. He could not look at them. He had to get out of there and carry on with his plan.

“Don’t bury him just yet. I’ll bring him back, I promise,” he spoke without looking at them. Even though he knew it was not the end, the knowledge of what he was forced to do was killing him. Would Edwin even forgive him? Would he understand?

“How can you bring him back?” Ida cried out, but her question was left unanswered, as Lothar blinked, disappearing from the shop.

As he stood outside, he could hear Ida crying and Isolde yelling, threatening him.

“You’ll pay for this, demon! You killed my friend!” the older sister shouted in anger and pain, making Lothar wince. He had messed everything up, but he would make it right.

After casting one last look at Edwin’s home, he blinked again, vanishing from sight.

~~

As soon as he stepped into his home, Lothar could tell something was off. On high alert, he drew his blade and silently looked around the room before blinking to the next one. Both empty. Finally, he made his way to the makeshift kitchen that also doubled as a dining room. As if he ever ate anywhere other than his bed, but still, he could if he wanted to.

His eyes immediately went to the table, noticing a plate of fresh strawberries, his favorite fruit. But he wasn’t the one who left them there, and they certainly didn’t grow anywhere in the Demonic Domain. The hot, barren lands could only support the toughest of shrubs and grass.

With his blade firmly in his hand, he carefully approached the table. Suddenly, he felt someone’s presence and turned around. A moment later, Nyra appeared, standing beside the door.

“They’re not gonna attack you, you know.”

“What the fuck do you want? And where did you get these?” Lothar asked, giving the woman a death glare. After how she betrayed him, he wanted nothing to do with her anymore. As far as he was concerned, their friendship was dead.

“I pulled some strings,” she shrugged. “I know you like them. I just wanted to-“

“You think this will make up for what you did?!” he shouted, picking up the plate and flinging it across the room. It smashed against the wall and broke into pieces, the fruit falling to the cold stone floor. “You brought Edwin and Isolde to Cromwell. You spied on me. I always thought it was Zelig, but it was you. So much for being my friend.”

“Lothar, I’m sorry. I did it because I am your friend,” Nyra replied. “I wanted to keep you safe, prevent you from…”

“From what?!”

The demoness let out a sigh, hesitating. “From making a mistake. Didn’t I make you promise me you wouldn’t do anything stupid?”

“Don’t you dare!” Her words only served to make Lothar even angrier. He may have done many stupid things in his life, but falling for Edwin was not one of them. It was reckless and spontaneous, but it was beautiful. “Not like you would know anything about love. You’re just like Cromwell.”

Nyra looked away, but Lothar could see the hurt in her eyes. He had pushed a button, but she deserved it. Demons were never known for their ability to have soft, romantic feelings, but he thought his friend was different. He was clearly wrong.

“Maybe not in that sense,” the demoness replied after a pause. “But I do love my family, my friends. I loved Adrian and I love you.”

“Don’t bring him up now,” Lothar practically growled, angry at the mention of their late friend. Adrian always had his back, he was a true friend until the end, and Lothar would not let Nyra tarnish his memory. “He has nothing to do with this.”

“Maybe not, but it’s still true. I lost him, and I don’t want to lose you too,” she said, finally daring to look him in the eyes. He could tell she was serious, but it still changed nothing. She had betrayed him, and he could not get over that.

“It’s too late. I can’t forgive you for this,” he replied curtly, turning away. “I don’t want to see you ever again. Go now, before I make you leave.” He was done arguing. All he wanted was to find Edwin and bring him back, instead of wasting time listening to pathetic excuses of someone who stabbed him in the back. However, the demoness was still not leaving.

“No, I am not leaving things like this,” Nyra shook her head, refusing to move. “What about what you did? You betrayed Edwin first when you brought the human girl here, letting Cromwell lock her up. Wouldn’t you want to be forgiven for that?”

Lothar clenched his jaw as he stared at the wall, refusing to speak.

“Then why don’t I deserve forgiveness?” Nyra continued. “I know I messed up, but I want to make it right. I’m willing to do whatever you want to make it up to you. I’m still your friend, and I want to prove it if you’d just let me.”

~~

The wind blew in Lothar’s face as he ran along a dirt path, making his way to the Obsidian Keep. He always loved hiking and running, anything that would keep him outdoors and moving. It helped him stay fit and clear his thoughts, and right now, his mind – as well as his eyes – were fully focused on the black fortress ahead of him. He could have easily just blinked over there, but that would have been too easy and comfortable. But no, he did not want comfortable. He wanted to run, get his blood pumping and feel the burn in his muscles in preparation of what was to come.

It wasn’t until he reached the fortress that he blinked inside, wanting to avoid the pesky guards standing at the gates. The last thing he wanted was to deal with them and have to listen to their idiotic remarks or lousy attempts at humor. No, he would go straight to the person he wanted to see.

When he reappeared, Lothar was in the hallway, standing in front of the heavy door that led to Cromwell’s chamber. This was the moment that would change everything, or so he hoped. Still, he couldn’t bring himself to open that door. Was he scared, or just nervous? Maybe it was a bad idea after all. Maybe he should just leave and go find Edwin. But then they would never be free. Nothing would change.

“How long are you going to stand there? Come in already,” the deep voice of the demon lord came from the inside, startling Lothar. The white-haired demon quickly gathered his wits, keeping a firm grip on the blade in his right hand. With the other one, he pushed the door open and entered.

This time, Cromwell was not seated on his obsidian throne, but rather stood by one of the windows, looking out. At what exactly, Lothar did not know, as there was nothing but rock and mountains stretching for miles.

Mustering all of his confidence, the young demon walked up to the centre of the room, casting a quick glance over at the panther that slept in the corner. He hated that animal, feeling the urge to drive a dagger through its skull and kill it on the spot. But that was impossible at that moment. Besides, he had a bigger target than that.

“So, you really want to do this?” Cromwell finally spoke, turning around, his eyes landing on the weapon in Lothar’s hand. He knew.

Lothar nodded calmly. “Yes. I came to challenge you…”

“…to a duel,” the demon lord finished the sentence for him. “I had no idea you wanted to be the next demon lord so badly,” he added with a chuckle, throwing a smug look at him.

“I don’t.”

“Of course you don’t, you don’t give a shit about it. This is about your human. Is it really worth it? Did I spare your life just to kill you now? Because we both know that’s what’s going to happen. Dying here won’t bring him back.”

“Or maybe you’ll be the one who dies today,” Lothar replied. He could not let Cromwell get to him before the fight even started. He was already at a disadvantage, with the demon lord being much bigger and stronger. But then, Lothar was faster, more agile. Perhaps he could use that to his advantage.

Cromwell simply threw his head back and laughed at Lothar’s remark, as if he’d just heard the funniest joke ever. “You have guts at least. It’s a shame I have to kill you, you’ve been a good soldier,” he said, shaking his head. “You could’ve gone much further than this. But this is what you wanted.”

“This is NOT what I wanted,” Lothar spat out, “but it has to happen.”

“So be it then,” the other demon shrugged, saying exactly what Lothar had expected. If there was one thing the young demon knew, it was that Cromwell’s pride would not allow him to refuse a duel. “Pang, leave us,” he turned his head, addressing his pet. The panther calmly stood up from her spot on the floor and left the chamber, leaving the two demons alone.

Lothar barely had any time to reach when the demon lord rushed his way, delivering a powerful kick to his stomach and knocking him down to the ground.

“This is what you wanted. Now get up and fight me!” Cromwell roared, brandishing a blade of his own. There was fire in his eyes, his strong muscles flexing as he glared at the other demon.

Lothar was quickly back on his feet, determined more than ever to finish the demon lord off once and for all. Keeping their distance, the two circled around each other until Lothar finally lunged. He slashed with his blade, but Cromwell swiftly blocked it, letting out a chuckle. The bigger demon went for a counterattack, but this time Lothar was prepared – he dodged the blow and slammed Cromwell in the side, causing him to stumble. Just as he went in for another attack, the demon lord evaded it, slashing with his dagger right across Lothar’s cheek.

The sharp pain burned, blood trickling out of the wound, but the young demon couldn’t care less. The adrenaline spurred him on, making him stronger, more resistant to pain. He growled as he traded blows with his opponent, managing to cut him across the forearm, tearing through his jacket and leaving a long cut on his skin. It seemed to have no effect as Cromwell kept fighting, no worse for wear.

Slowly but surely, however, Lothar was beginning to tire out, his reactions slower. Cromwell was much stronger than him, a more experienced fighter, but neither of them were willing to give up. As the demon lord’s heavy arm punched through the air yet again, Lothar ducked barely in time to avoid it, only for Cromwell to knee him, causing him to lose his balance. In a relentless assault, Cromwell delivered blow after blow all over Lothar’s upper body until the younger demon collapsed on the floor, bruised and defeated.

“Is that all you’ve got?!” Lothar could hear Cromwell’s growling in his ear, even though he was dizzy, feeling as if he would pass out at any moment. He knew the demon lord was riled up and bloodthirsty, oblivious to everything but his crushed opponent.

“Time to end your pathe--” Cromwell grumbled in rage until he suddenly stopped, coughing as words got stuck in his throat. His eyes went wide as he looked down, seeing a blood-soaked blade penetrating his body. Lying on the floor, Lothar could see the exact moment the demon lord realized he had been tricked, but it was too late.

As Nyra pulled out the blade from Cromwell’s chest, the demon lord fell to his knees, before dropping face down on the ground, dark blood pooling around his dead body.

“You look horrible,” the demoness said, rushing to help Lothar get up. “You should’ve let me fight by your side.”

“Then he would’ve been prepared. He would’ve killed us both,” the demon replied. Everything hurt, but he could still move, albeit slowly. At least he had no major injuries. “I’m fine anyway.”

“Oh, really?” Nyra raised an eyebrow, squeezing his shoulder.

“Oww! Not there!” he yelled, letting her help him up on his feet. She blinked, and the next moment they were back in Lothar’s home. The fight had taken more out of him than he thought, and he was grateful to be back in his bed. He decided to only allow himself a short nap to recover. He needed to go find Edwin, and he didn’t want the man to see him in this condition.

“Do you want me to stay? I can if you want,” Nyra offered.

“Thank you, but you don’t have to. I’ll be fine, really,” he insisted. “What are you going to do now?”

“I don’t know… Get an alibi in case anyone starts asking questions.”

Lothar chuckled, but immediately regretted it, as his ribs hurt like hell. “As if anyone’s going to care who killed him. All anyone will care about is that he left an empty spot that needs filling.”

“You have a point. There’s going to be a big clash for the next demon lord now. That citadel will be a battleground for months to come.”

“And I don’t want anything to do with it. I’m done,” Lothar shook his head, determined not to get sucked into it again. His days of being a warrior and serving whoever came to the throne next were over.

“Good. That means you won’t be getting into any more trouble?”

“I never said that,” he managed to crack a smile, causing Nyra to swat him gently on the arm.

“Get some rest, alright? I’ll come by later to check up on you,” she nodded, squeezing his hand before getting up.

“I will,” Lothar promised. “Thank you for helping me.”

“That’s what friends are for, right?”

Lothar simply nodded in response, offering her a sincere, grateful smile.