Chapter Text
He was burning. He always was. The fire inside him was a like a living thing, a reminder of his purpose and of the night a demon had taken everything from him… his home, his family and his humanity. He’d burned then too, screamed as flames scorched every part of him, burnt his lungs black and peeled skin from bone until he’d conceded. Until he too had become a demon, until he had snapped the binding spells his would be master had placed on him and fought back. Until he had fled into the night, ember eyes blazing and skin burning in the night as he ran from his old life.
It had led him to safety. To someone willing to look past the eyes and ears that marked him as an Inugami now. A sorcerer willing to take him, to let him heal and to teach him a few tricks so he could hunt down the creature that had made him. It had led him to wander, directionless and burning with rage and the desire for revenge and most importantly it had led him here.
________
He should have been able to defeat her easily, but he’d underestimated the strength of the mosquito demon and was suffering the consequences. He was weakening too, it had been weeks since he’d found a suitable energy source, since humans were too weak to feed from without killing them and no sorcerer in their right mind willingly took in a rogue demon. Gritting his teeth against the sharp pain of the cuts adorning his chest he raised an arm towards the swarm of insects surrounding his main target.
“Incinerate,” he barked out, flames suddenly pouring from his palm and devouring everything in sight, licking hungrily at the bases of abandoned building and filling the air with the unmistakable smell of brimstone. His small sense of victory short lived as the last wisps of smoke cleared to reveal a smug pout on the face of the bloodsucking demon he’d been hunting.
“Too late,” she taunted brightly, her form shifting into something stronger and clearly more dangerous.
Sending another jet of flames streaming her way Genos hissed as she dodged gracefully and dived his way, her sharp claws easily tearing him open like his skin had been replaced with paper. Blood smoking as it hit the pavement he scowled as the smell of brimstone filled the air, dizzying him as he made his final decision.
He’d known this would happen eventually, although he hadn’t pictured it happening in an empty street because some lower demon had caught him off guard. Heaving in one last deep breath he lifted his gaze determined to meet death head on as he drew the last of his power in for one last attack. Even so he barely caught the flash of movement that crossed his vision before the mosquito demon was reduced to a large red stain on a nearby building. Wanting to retch at the smell of ichor Genos forced himself to stay upright eyes focused as the haze of smoke shifted to reveal the figure that had just saved him.
It was a human… and clearly a powerful magic user at that.
Genos’ teeth clenched as fear suddenly froze him in place as blank brown eyes stared him down, not completely distracting him from the fact that the sorcerer was completely naked. Hissing through his teeth as the last remnants of smoke curled around the strange figure he the demon lowered his eyes to the ground in front of him. He knew what came next, he was a rogue demon after all. It was this stranger’s job to hunt things like him down and to keep people safe.
“Hey are you okay,” a quiet voice asked calmly as a single pale hand suddenly edged its way into his field of vision, waving to get his attention, “You look pretty beat up,” it added in what almost sounded like concern.
Blinking in confusion Genos’ gaze shot up in surprise, “I I’ll heal,” he stammered out in shock before his whole world suddenly tilted and faded to black.