I didn't think that I could hate anyone the way that I hated Maddox Kane. Well, I didn't hate him as much as I wanted to. I was intrigued by him. I disliked him because he thought he was entitled to everything just because he took over Earth, killed our parents and family, and forced us to live a life under his regime. I disliked him because he had no idea how many tears I shed, wishing for my parents to come back to me unharmed. He had no idea how miserable we all were but yet, I found myself fascinated by his nature.

He was just a man of mystery; an enigma, if you will.

"Availa," I turned to my servant who picked up her head at my call. "Yes, Troy?" She responded and I sighed, looking out of the window, wondering why everything was so dark, dull and depressing. Everything was in ruins, shambles, no sign of life anywhere except for the flowers that bloomed. "Are you happy to be here?" I questioned and she nodded with no hesitation. "Of course," She stated adamantly. "Sir Alistair has done nothing but good for me," She said and I frowned.

Was that the truth or was she just trying to defend his honor because she was obligated to? Either way, I didn't give a fuck. I had every right to be fucking pissed at this man and his lack of respect for humans. If he wanted us to respect him and live by his laws, he had to earn it. Respect was a two-way street. He couldn't disregard us like trash and expect us to kiss his god damn feet because he was demon lord.

Man, that bastard could kiss my ass. He appeared to be the same pompous bastard with those dumb laws as I pictured.

"Well," I folded my legs, knowing that I couldn't talk her out of her. Despite her cute nature, I wanted to loathe her because she couldn't relate to me at all. She couldn't understand my pain, my angst, my contempt for this man.

"It just makes me so upset that he can look me in the eye so casually, knowing that he's responsible for everything that he has done," I bit my lip, taking a deep breath so I wouldn't cry. There was no point in crying over what was already lost. I couldn't get it back nor could I think about the part of me that I lost in the mix. Losing them was like leaving two bullet holes that were just shot through my heart, feeling the tearing, the ripping, the bleeding inside of me. It was a constant painful reminder that burned me inside and out every single day, a void that I could never fill as long as I lived.

"I don't know if he remembers because it was four years ago and he has killed tons of people between now and then," I shook my head, gritting my teeth. "But I just want to know why. Why my parents, why them. What did they do wrong?" I waved my hands in the air, pleading with nothing.

I could recall his dark words, the color of his eyes and his demeanor as he said one thing and one thing only. "You don't know me and you never will."

What did he mean by that? Who the hell would want to know someone who always thought of killing to be a good solution to problems so insignificant? Who the hell would want to know someone who didn't understand how the inferior race felt?

"I don't know what you've seen or what you've heard," Availa spoke up and I turned to her, feeling the atmosphere of the room change. "But Sir Alistair hasn't killed anyone a day in his life," She folded her arms, a frown on her lips. I raised a brow, wondering if she was that naive or if she desperately wanted to believe that there was hope in the man. "Yea?" I muttered humorlessly. "Is that what he told you?" I raised a brow, knowing that she wouldn't understand or relate to me.

Maddox did right by her because she was one of his kind: a demon. She didn't have to deal with him storming onto her land and rounding up people and taking them to be killed just because he could. He had that power.

"No," Availa mumbled, cutting her eyes at me. "I don't expect you to understand or to believe, Troy," She sighed, clutching her necklace. "But our lord is not who you think he is. He's not that villain you're making him out to be. He's the best man that I have ever met," I internally snorted, wondering if she was smoking demon crack or what. She had to have been delusional because there was no way. Absolutely no god damn way. "Is that right?" I chuckled, knowing that there was no point to this conversation.

"Yes," Availa reached for my hand, squeezing my palm. "I know it seems like everything has tarnished the image of our demon lord for you," She rubbed the back of my hand and I somehow felt her emotions. "But believe me when I say that Sir Alistair looks out for everyone, even you humans," She stated and I rolled my eyes. "Oh, yeah? Then why is it that you're a servant with very little powers, while everyone else gets to be high and mighty and close with Maddox?" I scoffed. "Huh? Can you tell me that?" I stood up, face furrowed and contorted into annoyance.

"Like I said," Availa's tone turned into one of warning, little black horns peeking out of the top of her head. "We all have sins, but none more than him. You don't see the facade he puts up to keep us out. You have no idea, Troy, and you will not disrespect my lord anymore," Her face hardened and I sighed, reining in my emotions. This wasn't my turf anymore and I had to do well if I wanted to get out alive.

"Besides, if he wanted to kill you," She shrugged, returning to her cute face. "Wouldn't he have done so already, considering everything that you've done?" She raised a brow and I reluctantly nodded. "Instead of trying to hate him and make him out to be this terrible person," Her horns slowly descended back into her scalp, her eyes turning green once more.

"Why don't you try understanding him?"

I let my glare go, sighing heavily. "Now why would I do something like that?" I ran a hand through my blonde locks, defeated for now. Availa put a hand up to her lip as to stifle a giggle, like she knew something I didn't. "Maybe you'll learn the truth about everything and you'll see that not everything is what it seems," I remembered Pazul telling me the same thing. "And who knows? What if you change everything?"

There was hope in her eyes and I looked away from her, understanding her words. It seemed as if she was telling me not to judge him without knowing him. Why would I want to know him? I had no reason to.

Especially after everything that he has done.

All of a sudden, a knock resounded at the door, bouncing off of the walls. "The fuck is that?" I scowled, Availa's eyes narrowing at my choice of words as she bowed her head. "Yaeza," She spoke in a demonic voice and the black door opened on its own, a beam of light on the other side as the urge to compel filled the room, suffocating me and tightening its familiar grip around my throat.

"Sir Alistair," Availa announced and I rolled my eyes, folding my arms. In came in the lord of Hell, dressed in a sinful red button-down shirt with grey slacks, his hair pushed back to reveal his gold eyes as he caressed the chiseled stubble on his jaw, a smirk on his lips. "Thank you, Availa," The servant nodded with glee before exiting the room, leaving us two.

Lovely.

"So what is that I can do for you on this fine Tuesday?" I deadpanned sarcastically, not liking the way he was boring into my soul like he knew all of my secrets with just one glance. "Yes, daddy, may I help you?" I asked again, not turning in his direction as the door closed with the telekinesis of his mind. He chuckled lowly at the nickname, the peek of his white fang greeting me.

"I don't mind you calling me that, if you will," He hummed and I sighed audibly, regretting my words. He stepped closer to the side of my bed, the click of his footsteps echoing in my ears. I didn't know why but I felt a strong desire building within me as he came to stand right by me, warranting me to size him up. There was no way since he was several inches taller than me and broader than me.

"I came here to discuss some things with you, Mr. Morelli," I wanted to hate the way he said my name, but it made my heart thump every time I heard it utter from those lips. "About those laws of mine that you were so hellbent on breaking," There was a hint of amusement in his tone as if he had the answers to everything. "Yea, well you should've come earlier than that if you had a problem with it," I rolled my eyes and Maddox cracked his knuckles. "There was no need for me to since there was a plan already being crafted."

What did he mean by that?

"How did you even know that I was causing hell? I mean, obviously, your cops relayed everything back to you but I know you heard us talk all day every day like some little fucking eavesdropper," Maddox chuckled despite my blatant disregard to his rule of no profanity. "I didn't always listen because I had people doing it for me. I had several people reporting to me of your behavior," He sounded amused and I looked up at him. "These people weren't my cops. They have a job to keep the peace but for an instigator like you, I had others. Yes, they were humans of my creations: duplicates," He stated and I furrowed my brows.

"Huh? Duplicates?"

With a smooth movement of his hand, a holographic screen appeared before us, showing us the amorphous body of a human. "Yes, they are copies of humans with the exact same DNA codes and the same genetics that I have created with my power. They are the same exact person, twins if you will. They are indistinguishable from their original," He went through to show me all of the specs and I wanted to know why this was important. "I made them because I wanted them to see what living with humans was like, what they experienced, what peculiar people they met, who I needed to make house calls for," Maddox smirked knowingly and it instantly dawned on me.

"One could only tell the difference if the duplicate was nearing their end. They don't have blood like their humans. Rather, they have mercury," My eyes widened as it began to click altogether. "When the duplicate begins to die, the mercury ejects itself as a way to urge the process." I blinked, remembering where I had last seen that mercury, a silver liquid that was extremely shiny.

"W-wait," I put a hand up, my lip quivering as I put two and two together. "You don't mean..." I trailed off, unfaithful thoughts consuming me as he nodded, oblivious to the burning of my heart. How could he? Were my parents not enough? "Meet my latest duplicate," He pressed something on the screen and up popped those grey eyes that I looked into for the last four years.

"Avery Carmichael."

Traitorous and murderous thoughts filled my mind as I flashed a pain-filled glare his way. That would be exactly why I had the feeling that Avery wasn't himself. "That same day you saved him and your housemate, Jade McKinley, was the same day that he was meant to come serve me," Maddox explained, no emotion in his voice and no regard to the inner turmoil that was scratching through my chest. "My advisor Jexan went to go collect them, but it seems that he had demands of his own," He raised a brow and I fought the urge sniffle. "In exchange for your safety, Mr. Carmichael accepted to become my duplicate."

I remembered that day like no other because it was only a month and two weeks ago. It was when I had gotten caught out after 9 PM and Jade and Avery had to come and get me. I had made a way out but the demon cop that was following us managed to catch up to me. It appeared to be a lure just for us. But now that I remembered, he was aiming for me, but for Avery. I had managed to fight him until they got away, but it seemed that the point was moot. Did that mean I was the reason my friend got caught? "D-does," I took a deep breath, feeling my heart tighten like I was reliving that dreadful experience again. I felt absolutely betrayed. "Does that mean he's dead?" I bit my lip, hoping that this man somehow had a heart and he wasn't that cruel.

The screen disappeared and Maddox turned to me, his face stoic and cold as he raised a brow, not allowing me the slightest inkling into his mind. 

"I'll let you answer your own question." 

His voice was rigid and firm and I stifled a gasp, closing my eyes. "W-were my parents not enough for you?" This wasn't me. "How could you do something so evil?" My voice was small and inconspicuous. My hands never fiddled with each other out of nervousness and fear and anxiety. No, I was Troy Morelli, not the man that I was acting right now. Is that what happened to people who were far too broken for repair? 

I let my head fall as I gripped the comforter in my hand, trying to find siege within it. I didn't know what to do anymore. I felt cornered now. First my parents, now Avery. I didn't want to let anything happen to Jade, my only last hope. I bit my lip a little too hard, the pain and the taste of copper reminding of where I was. Suddenly, I felt a warm hand under my chin lift my head up to expose me to those gold eyes. A thumb caressed my jawline as I saw a flicker of emotion in those same eyes. He looked almost hopeful as a small smile betrayed his lips. "One day, I promise you'll know."

He didn't need to say anything else because at that moment, his eyes told me what his mouth wouldn't. That one glint revealed a whole world of darkness and despair, the two abstract objects becoming a reality. For that one second, I got to see a glimpse behind that facade that Availa mentioned.

What the hell?

Then that glimpse vanished and the facade slid back over as his hand left my chin. He cleared his throat, fixing the tie around his neck. He looked awkward as if he wasn't used to that kind of contact, that kind of comforting. Pazul, Natanya, Availa, even Jexan's words came to my mind as I witnessed the beginning of the unfolding of the demon lord.

Someone so cold, heartless, scheming could be so gentle. 

Maddox snapped me out of my thoughts as he turned around, that devious smile returning. "Come with me, Mr. Morelli," With the lift of a finger, I found myself floating across the room to be by his side. "Don't think that I simply forgot about your punishment," He chuckled darkly as he began to transport me down a hall I had never seen, a hall that was closed off to everyone else. It was dark and gloomy, but I could make out the faint red door that awaited us. 

I frowned as the door opened ominously and he stepped in, that smile never leaving his face. I blinked as I walked in on a red-tinted open room with candles framed on the wall, a black canopy bed against the wall in the middle of the room, a St. Andrews cross in one corner with rope attached, a whole wall full of collars, clamps, floggers, whips, paddles, canes, gags, plugs, harnesses and restraints of all sizes and colors, along with other stuff that my poor mind couldn't even wrap around. There was soft music playing in the air as I looked over the spanking benches, couches on the other side, various toys in a cabinet, ready to be used, a jail cell and a medical bed (I thought it was for roleplaying) with blindfolds and costumes in a large black bin in another corner. It was finished with a small bar off to the side.

It looked like a dungeon with swings hanging from the ceiling and mirrors in various places so all you could see was yourself.

"W-what the hell is this?!" I screeched as I fell to my feet, looking around in partial amazement and surprise. "Tsk," Maddox shook his head as he closed the door behind us, the dimness of the room greeting us. "That vulgar mouth has to go," He said in a matter-of-fact tone as he pointed to a chair in the center of the room. "Sit," He demanded in a dark tone that left no loopholes for disobedience and I gulped, following the impulse to comply as I went to sit in the chair, shivering not from the cold, but from pure anticipation. 

I had no idea what was happening. He cracked his neck, loosening his tie as he let out a breath. Before, I would've said that I hated him with a passion, but I only hated him a tiny bit (lies). The rest was curiosity and I disliked that I was feeling that way. He was silent, sticking his hands in the pockets of his slacks, looking big and malicious over me before he uttered a single word.

"Mr. Morelli, I thought about torturing you, but then you would just end up dying in the process and you wouldn't actually learn from your mistakes," I gulped, not liking the smirk on his face. "I actually thought about killing you, but what fun would that give me?" He grinned, stepping closer to me. He really did not want to kill. I had no idea what he was talking about and the hungry look in his eyes caused me to sweat visibly. He looked like a predator trapping its very delicious prey in a bind, waiting for that signal to leap. What did he mean by that?

The air was thick as his tongue reached out to lick those lips, taunting me and tempting me. It felt electrifying, intoxicating. He stepped closer to me, the heat from his body caressing my pores. I could feel the strong urge to be satisfied in every way possible. "I heard that you were promiscuous," Maddox continued, an audacious smirk playing on his pink lips. "So why not humiliate you? You'll be a mere example of what I'll do should someone take the same path as you. You know, make the city of No Man's Land understand that one should not dare to defy me," I didn't like where this was going as his eyes roamed my body, his hands moving with every word.

"They'll get to witness what happens if they so even try to go against my word," I furrowed my brow, wondering what he was talking about as he motioned for me to stand, myself completely unaware that I was being recorded right now. "From now on, you shall address me as Master," I gulped, unsure of what it was that he wanted from me. His smirk turned into a broad grin as his eyes darkened from gold to red, desire morphing his pupils as he loomed over me, a dominating aura engulfing him entirely with every word he spoke.

"Strip."