Chapter 3: A Meal with the Devil

After leaving a few stuff to let simmer, Ruby covered the exquisite dishes she made before going upstairs to change into more comfortable yet formal clothing as well as fix her appearance. She's not aiming to seduce the demon or anything, but of course, being clean and presentable is just common courtesy for hosts even if your guest is very unwelcome.

Ruby faced her vanity after washing her face. Her eyes look tired and her lips are chapped. Her skin is paler and clearly dehydrated while her silver tresses are disheveled. She sighed with displeasure. Even though she has the appearance of a very young maiden still at the bloom of her maidenhood, Ruby is actually older than what she appears to be much like the other witches and right now she is feeling as old as her real age.

She still can't believe that she summoned a demon and now he's probably bathing in her bathtub and washing away the thousands of years of grime and filth from his body. She'll have to thoroughly clean it after he leaves. Who knows what sort of germs or viruses he is carrying around.

Ruby sighed and crashed down on her bed. Meeting and interacting with Aleister, as well as conducting the ritual is both physically and mentally exhausting. She needs to be always on her guard and alert for the smallest moves that he makes to ensure her safety and her anonymity regarding this whole debacle. So far the demon hasn't made any moves that will indicate or lead to any harm towards her but she can't lower her guard. He is not her ally therefore he is her enemy but if she plays neutrally, then the two of them might come to an agreement which hopefully, will include his departure and avoidance of mentioning her name to anyone he will meet.

After composing her thoughts and fixing herself, Ruby went downstairs donning a casual long black slim-fit dress with a cross back design and a long slit on the skirt. Even though their supposed dinner is not formal nor romantic, Ruby loves to indulge herself with glamorous fashion regardless of the occasion. Aesthetics is one of the greatest desires of witches if not all women, second to knowledge of course.

"Well don't you look ravishing? I might reconsider eating you." Aleister commented as he descended from the stairs with an amused smile as mischief danced in his crimson orbs.

"I'm flattered but I must decline. Please wait for a few moments, your majesty. Serving our meal shall only take a minute." Aleister only nodded and paused on the staircase watching her with a hawk-like stare which made her extremely uncomfortable and agitated but she did her best not to show it.

Ruby served the food she prepared on the table complete with his diet blood mead in a beautiful clear pitcher with purple butterfly designs and gold rims. Her eyes widened when she finally realized whose clothing the demon wore. He had stolen her purple hoodie and wore a pair of black slacks she definitely didn't own. He looked like the typical bad boy with his wet hair and his hands tucked in the pocket of HER hoodie. He almost looked like a normal teen except for the horns and the skin and his mismatched crimson eyes.

Ruby didn't address the issue and pretended that it didn't bother her as she placed plates and utensils on both sides of the table before inviting him to choose a seat.

Aleister took a seat on the head of the table opposite of her and started digging into the meticulously made four-course meal she had prepared for him. Digging in seemed to be an understatement since it was more like devouring because the demon was eating worse than an animal starved for a whole week.

Aleister stopped eating when he noticed the witch's stare and growled as if not wanting to share his meal before returning to gobbling his side of the table. Ruby averted her eyes from his awful display and focused on eating her vegetable salad with mashed potatoes side dish and fruit slices. She ate meekly like a lady while her familiar sat on the table eating a fish larger than himself using a knife and fork too big for him.

"May I ask what it is that you plan to do from now on?" Ruby started trying to break the awkward silence between the two of them. Aleister finally looked up from his meal looking like a carnivorous chipmunk with his cheeks stuffed full with beef and chicken. He swallowed the contents of his mouth in one gulp and then whipped his lips with a napkin. At least he had enough manners to wipe his face and talk with an empty mouth, thought Ruby.

"Since I was cramped so long in endless oblivion of chaos, I would like to go and explore the world." The demon answered as he took a swig from his goblet of blood mead.

"I think I want to see different things for a change after all of that chaotic nothingness. It might help me remember who I was after so long."

"Styx." the witch suddenly blurted.

"What?"

"You said that you fell into a river the first time you arrived in the 13 Circles. That must be the reason why you forgot all about your past. The River Styx is also a River of Forgetfulness where the dead drink from to return to the mortal world to be reborn anew. That must be the reason why you can't remember anything." Ruby explained as she stabbed a carrot with her fork before putting it in her mouth.

"If that's the case then how do I remember what I forgot?"

"I'm not sure but according to the book that I've read, you didn't really lose your memories. Your body forgets it when you die, or get dunked in the river but not your soul. According to the author if you want to remember certain things must trigger the memories and perhaps traveling would really help you."

"Wow, that was no help at all. I planned on traveling in the first place, I didn't need you to tell me my whole plan." The witch frowned at the demon's rudeness.

"How many years do you think you've spent in the 13?"

"I'm not entirely sure. Time doesn't really work there but I guess it felt like about 20, 000 years."

"If it felt that way then perhaps you've only spent a few hundred years give or take 400 since 100 years here is 5,000 there. That's the estimated conversion of the Circles' timeline to our own. You're a demon so why not start exploring Pandora's Chasm, or whatever is left of it. You might've been a general or a soldier that got blasted into another dimension during the war 400 years ago. You might find remnants of your past there but it's a really dangerous place even after its collapse after the deaths of their leaders and most of their population. The other demons might be dismantled but they are still ferocious as individuals." Aleister nodded taking her words into consideration.

"Right, so where do I go to reach that place?"

"South. As far south there is. I'll give you a map you can use. It's best if you leave before dawn, demon hunters might spot you and delay your travels."

"Basically you're just trying to get rid of me as fast as possible." the demon guessed, directing her with a playful smile.

"Yes." Ruby answered plainly.

"Such a shame, I quite enjoy your company."

"Well I can't say the same for you but this certainly spiced up my weekend although my services always require payment. You owe me four favors regardless of the magnitude of what I have done. The first is for giving you your freedom, the second is for welcoming and feeding you under my roof, the third is for the mead, and the fourth is for a place to start your quest therefore I have 4 requests."

"How bold of you to demand something from a Prince of the Inferno but... Name your terms and I shall judge them."

"First you will forget you ever heard the name Rubisviel Fyaril, Witch of the Dark Forest. Second, you will never utter my name or anything about me to anyone else. You will deny ever meeting me or any affiliation with me. Third, you will guarantee no harm to me because of your actions if you ever seek to conquer the world. The fourth shall be something I will decide upon the next time we meet. If that shall ever happen."

"Very well. I accept your terms. I'll make sure to never get close to you ever again so that I don't have to comply with your bidding." Aleister finally stood from the table and, surprisingly, thanked her for the meal. Ruby took a map tucked inside a book and handed it to him before leading him towards the exit.

Aleister summoned back his wings which miraculously didn't destroy the fabric of her, or now his, hoodie. He faced her once more and suddenly kissed her full on the lips completely taking her off-guard. Ruby tried to push him away on instinct but he held her hand rendering her powerless. His kiss didn't linger long because he soon pulled away.

"What the hell?!" the witch yelled in anger and astonishment before wiping her lips on the sleeve of her dress.

"It just felt right." he whispered while looking down at her face with melancholic eyes. His demeanor quickly changed back to a smirk.

"Anyways good riddance, bella!" Aleister bid before unfolding his wings and taking off towards the dark night sky leaving the witch fuming and cursing.

Manticat soon flew near her and made kissy faces to tease her. The familiar seemed to snicker at her and Ruby grabbed him to punish him by pinching his cheeks.

"Let's just go to bed. It's no use crying over spilled milk, what I need right now is a warm bath and a good slumber." Ruby yawned before closing the door and ordering the dishes to clean themselves, which is the handiest magic she ever learned.

"I hope I never see that bastard again."