Caught

He slowly, quietly slipped the tray onto the table and was about to turn when from behind a changing screen, a woman danced out. Gob froze and observed the woman. She had long curly blonde hair and she was wearing a simple flowing dress. She was built very delicately and was very pretty. She didn’t have much of a bust but her dress pushed up what little she had. She held her skirt out with one hand and danced barefoot to a large mirror. She made several oohs’ and ahs’ as she posed and admired herself. There was a clumsiness to her. Her grace and poise seemed fake, exaggerated like she was putting on a play and she wasn’t a great actress.

As Gob looked at her he made a sudden and shocking realisation. She was a human. There was no way a human should be this far into the demon lands. There had been no envoys and if she had been kidnapped then there had been a massive policy change and this could be that start of war. She didn’t look like a captive though. Without thinking, Gob gasped.

The woman’s big blue eyes met Gob’s in the reflection. She turned and said, “Gob, I can explain.”

“How do you know my name? What are you doing here human?” Gob said as he started to back away.

“Stay where you are and I will explain,” the woman said. Her tone had changed from light and tinkling to harder and more serious. She was definitely a suspicious person.

“Guards!” Gob shouted as he turned to run. “Guards!”

“Gob, stop.” A voice heavier than thunder made Gob freeze and in dread, turn his head to look back at the woman. An aura of dark flames had appeared around her. Gob felt as though he had become heavier, that the air around him was pushing him down. He collapsed to his knees.

“If you had just believed an excuse Gob,” the woman went on. “I wouldn’t be **** into this position.” The woman melted away and in her place stood the demon lord. He was tall and slender with flowing blonde hair. he had the ethereal beauty possessed by all true demons. He was now dressed in a velvet frock coat and a shirt with cuffs of the finest lace.

“I’m so annoyed that I have to kill you. I rather enjoyed watching you scurrying around the palace. Still, I can’t have you telling stories.”

As he raised his hand Gob pleaded for his life. “You don’t have to kill me, sire. I can keep a secret. I didn’t see anything I swear. You know I’d never betray your trust. Put the worst curses on me but please spare me.” Gob wailed as the very air threatened to squeeze the life out of him.

Suddenly there was a release and Gob felt the air return to normal and the dark flames around the Maou receded. The Maou chuckled. “You know what Gob, you are right. I was caught off guard and I jumped straight to **** when a simple curse is all I need.” He snapped his fingers and Gob felt his blood turn to ice. “There, now you can’t say anything about what you see me doing to anyone and I get to enjoy watching you sneak around trying to catch the Maids in the nude.”

“You know about that sire,” said Gob, his blood returning to normal.

“Of course I do. Who do you think told them they weren’t allowed to kill you? Come,” Maou went to sit in his armchair and he summoned a small stool for Gob to sit on and a second cup to go with the tea. “Let’s talk Gob. It had been a while and I would like to talk about what you just saw. Would you mind pouring?” Whilst it was phrased as a question, there was no question about it. Gob ran to pour two cups of tea from the pot, rightly assuming that Maou intended Gob to join him. Gob took his tea and sat on the stool watching Maou sip his drink in quiet contemplation and Gob did his best to do the same.

“Do you know what my job is as the Maou, Gob?” he asked after a while.

“No sire,” stammered Gob, still not convinced that he wouldn’t be torn to pieces.

“Nothing. It’s actually my job to do nothing.” Gob didn’t know how to respond but it didn’t matter as he went on. “Okay, strictly that’s not true. My job is to deal with things if any of my subjects get out of hand and start pushing too hard against the light kingdoms. When I was first crowned I had my work cut out for me. Those orcs were particularly troublesome. I had to kill one in ten of them before they respected my authority. The other true demons were the same but that was more aggressive diplomacy than outright **** although I did have to kill a few of them. Once my power was secured though I haven’t had any trouble.

“The treatises that my father established decreed that I, as the Maou, would not get involved in any conflicts unless the light kingdoms unanimously decide that I should intervene. In return, small border conflicts would not cause a unilateral response from the light kingdoms. Should I decide to get involved we would find ourselves immediately at full-scale war with every other kingdom outside of the demon lands, such is the threat I pose.

“Now I know what you are thinking. ‘Why don’t you just overthrow the world?’ and my answer would be, but why? My father discovered before he withdrew his forces back to the demon lands that the races under our banner need conflict and without an enemy, they turn on each other. By allowing the different races to battle opposing kingdoms individually they are given purpose and it allows us to thrive. As long as they don’t unify under my banner then the light kingdoms accept that continuing conflict is just how things are when they border our lands. They know that if I get involved then they will suffer losses only seen three thousand years ago when my father tried to expand his empire.

“So my job is to do nothing. Don’t get involved and just keep an eye on my subjects to make sure they don’t get ideas that destabilise the balance that has been achieved. My subjects know my power so they toe the line and I have nothing to do. My father lived for thousands of years before he grew tired of life. I’m barely over two hundred and I sometimes feel that way. How old are you Gob?”

Gob was hugely uncomfortable. He didn’t understand everything the Maou was telling him and why was he pouring his heart out to him? Despite his confusion he didn’t dare show it so he answered, hoping that understanding might be forthcoming. “A little over twenty I think Sire.”

“Do you ever get bored Gob?”

“Yes, sometimes.”

“I get bored a lot, Gob and potentially I have a whole eternity of life ahead of me. Sex is a pleasant distraction. I love pleasuring my partner. It is one of the few times I feel like I can give freely to someone without it being questioned. Even then I can’t show weakness or vulnerability. I’m only telling you now because of that rather potent curse I put on you. I should point out that even considering disclosing any of this information will result in the most agonising and drawn-out **** imaginable.

“So I decided to play a little dress up,” he said defiantly like Gob had accused him which made Gob wince. “I thought it might be fun. Frankly, I had forgotten that I’d ordered a snack as it had taken so long. Who was on duty tonight again?”

“Tallie, Sire.”

The Maou sighed. “It would have to be my current favourite, wouldn’t it. I knew she was a little defiant. I think that’s why I liked her so much. Still, I can’t let it go unpunished.” He looked at Gob and smiled. “I was thinking I’d **** her for a day or two but if you have any better ideas feel free to share. You can have a little **** for her getting you into trouble.”

Gob didn’t like the idea of her being tortured. “Can’t you just tell her off?”

The Maou laughed. “Oh dear me no Gob. A telling off is for not polishing the crystal ware properly. A demon in my position has to reprimand harshly. You will have to think of something better.”

Gob couldn’t think of anything clever so he just said. “Mabe put her in the dungeon for a bit?”

The Maou seemed surprised. “I thought you might have taken the opportunity to **** her yourself but seeing as she has wronged you I can agree to your terms.” He snapped his finger. “Done, now what were we talking about? Oh yes. You caught me trying out something a little new. A bit of dress-up. Something fun and different. It wouldn’t do for it to get out that I was doing it and that is why I reacted so strongly.”

There was a burning question Gob was **** to ask and it just slipped out of him. “Why a human?” Gob froze as he saw the Maou’s inscrutable expression. He hadn’t even meant to speak and he had been so insolent. He took a breath and waited for ****.

The Mao sat back in his chair and said “Fascinating. I would have assumed you would have picked up on the fact that I was a woman but instead you ask me why I chose a human. That is a surprisingly astute observation. I must confess, I have a bit of a fascination with humans. They are so similar to the other races but are so unexceptional. They lack the durability and inventiveness of the dwarves, the agility and magic of the elves and their lives are so very short. Yet, somehow they are the most populace of all the races. So unremarkable yet so successful.

“The reason I was a human Gob, as well as being a woman at that, was that humans are alike demons in appearance yet so weak and fragile. I don’t know what weakness feels like and I am fascinated by it. You caught me playing at being a weak little human female because I want to know what it feels like.”

“Did it work?” asked Gob, once again his mouth running off ahead of his brain.

The Maou laughed. “As I was crushing the life out of you did it feel like I was powerless?”

Gob shook his head. “No,” he said, averting his gaze.

“Hmm,” said the Maou and they fell into silence as he sipped his tea. “You know Gob? I have rather enjoyed having someone to talk to about this. I wouldn’t normally risk it but you are small and pathetic enough that I feel I can be honest with you.” The Maou slapped his knee, making Gob jump. “That decides it. Gob, I’m promoting you to servant.”

Gob looked up, he’d be on equal status with the maids. Maybe they would start to give him a little respect. “Really sire?”

“Ah, you are honoured I see,“ smiled the Maou. “As well you should be. I shall inform Karus and make sure the formalities are handled. I would like you to be on duty in the evenings until the start of the morning shift. I’m sure that you will not get many duties but that is my free time and the time I am most likely to want you to serve me.”

“What are my duties sire?” Gob was excited. This was a chance to gain some status in the palace and with status, he hoped maybe to attract a female.

“Good enthusiasm Gob. Normal servant duties. Mostly fetching things and small errands. Mostly what one of the Maids might have done at that time. Apart from joining me in my bed. Fret not young Gob, I will not be asking you to perform those duties.” Gob laughed nervously but the Maou had a twinkle in his eye that reassured Gob that he was joking. “Run along now Gob. Expect to hear from Karus tomorrow.” Karus was the Maou’s secretary, a stern true demon and second only to the Maou in the palace.

Gob took his chance to get out of there. He stood, bowed formally to the Maou as he had seen other servants doing and backed away before turning to go. He seemed to have done things correctly as he saw the Maou politely nod and wave him away dismissively. He got out of the apartment and rested against the door. It had been a terrifying experience but he was pleased with how it had turned out.

As Gob got back to the kitchen, Graff was just hanging up his apron. “Ah, you’re still alive. When I saw Tallie vanish I assumed he must have been angry. I’m guessing that you blamed her. Not that I blame you. No point in risking your neck. Is he torturing her now?”

“No, he sent her to the dungeon,” said Gob, pleased that he had saved her from the ****.

Graff looked horrified. “I knew he must have been angry but why would he do that?”

“What do you mean?” Gob was confused why Graff should be so disturbed.

“I forget you are so young Gob. When you have long lives it tends to throw out your sense of time. If he puts her in the dungeon, she will be there for decades at least or what is the point? But it’s more likely that he will forget she is there and she will be there until she dies. Most people who go to the dungeon don’t come out again. It’s a shame, she was a pretty one.”

Gob couldn’t believe it. He had condemned her. “Maybe I could ask him to let her out?”

Graff laughed without mirth. “He’s made you his chief advisor has he? Don’t do it, Gob. He’ll not take kindly to it. Don’t risk your life for hers.” Gob nodded sadly. “Get to bed now lad. I doubt we’ll be called upon again tonight. Goodnight Gob.”

“Goodnight Graff,” said Gob as Graff walked out. He stood there in the middle of the kitchen and looked at the chair where she had been sitting. It had fallen over, probably when she got transported. He sat the chair upright and went to his blanket, curled up and went to sleep.