Kurai Yoru (Darker Night)

33: Loyal, To The Very End

"Sitri! SITRI! What, the hell are you doing?!" Truth continued on stomping at the black ground, his eyes staring at his other self's vision. "Wake up, you pathetic shit!"

The black-eyed demon would have pounded Sitri if he could. Being trapped within the fifth dimension, the normally jolly guy was left screaming at the top of his lungs. If he could just have his own physical body, he would be able to get out, but sadly, it wasn't as easy as it sounds.

"Truth, you need to calm down." Purred Eliya to his side, her hands hugging her lover affectionately. The pink-haired princess knew an angry Truth is the farthest thing from safe, but she doesn't care. "Sitri's better than this. He'll wake up soon. I hope..."

Fortunately, the rational side of Truth listened to the girl, now regulating his breathe by slowly exhaling and inhaling. "Thank you, Eli. I needed that."

"Someone needs to keep their cool when Mabelle's not here. I'll panic later." Eliya smiled at him.

"Sorry. It's just that Sitri kinda looked like crap back there." Truth rubbed his temples.

"I guess even Demon Lords break when you push the right buttons." The princess looked down to her feet, frowning. "He needs help right now. Someone needs to give him the wake up call..."

She turned her gaze to Lesha who was staring at Sitri. "before that girl gives him the wrong one."

"It's no use. I can't make him go here. He isn't answering me." Clenching his fist, Truth once again gritted his teeth. "And that fox just also exploded. What a timing. Who will help him now?"

"... Who would even help a downed villain?"

=≠=≠=≠=≠=

"A-Ani, Tamamo, Everyone..." Muttered the lifeless demon, his voice trembling. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

"Sitri, it's too late." Lesha clasped his right cheek with her hand, averting his gaze towards her. "They won't be coming back. They've left you."

"That's,-- No, that isn't true." Sitri's knees buckled down, with him falling down into a kneel. "They-- they love me. They would never..."

"Love, you?" The blue-haired goddess chuckled. "Do you even know what that mean?"

Before he could even utter a single word, Lesha proceeded to bury him in his doubts even more. "They loved you because you were strong, influential, rich. But now? They've got nothing to earn from you anymore."

Sitri widened his eyes.

"You've set the title of being the Demon Lord to Celleya when you die. Thalia and the vampire faction had already grown strong because of your connections. Hexhine should be disgusted at you when she learns what you did to Ani, and Tamamo already finished her report about you to the other Goddesses." A flash of predatory sneer appeared on the goddess' face.

"Oh, and last but definitely not the least, Ani's probably scared at you by now." And that was the final nail for his coffin.

"Then, they've really left me?" Mysteriously, the demonic entity froze his movements, darkness foreshadowing his eyes.

"Mhmm. You have nothing now, Sitri. But here I am, offering my kindness to you." She wrapped her arms to one of his, rubbing it with the side of her cheek affectionately. "Come with me."

"Come with you...?" His infamous menacing smile reappeared, eyes glowing white. His usually normal-sized sclera is now as small as a pinprick dot. "No, you will come with me."