1 - prince of the underworld
“Tonight... the devil will dance with his demons of terror, and souls will scream with fear and fright. A river of blood will flow in the streets as we celebrate man’s downfall and their world’s apocalyptic plight.”
Dorian hummed to himself as he fixed the collar of his shirt in the mirror. Pausing, he tilted his head to the side thoughtfully.
“Can you believe that was the first lullaby he told me? Actually, I’m not really sure you can call that shit a lullaby. I probably giggled when he sang it, too. Like a fucking demonic little homicidal moron,” Dorian said, teasing the dark curls dangling in front of his forehead.
“He was just... assuming fatherly duties,” he heard a deep voice say behind him.
“Oh yeah, of course. Father of the fucking year,” Dorian snorted. He turned around and leaned against the wall, his hands perched on the dresser behind him. He looked upon the tall, dark figure standing by the window. Pale skin. Short black hair. And a dark cloak that fell to his knees. “You’d say anything to cover for him, wouldn’t you, Moviar...” Dorian mused with a raised brow.
“I am loyal to both the father and the son,” Moviar said.
Dorian snorted again. “Lies and fallacies. You’d cut my fucking throat if he asked you to.”
“Dorian,” Moviar said firmly. “Why must you always belittle how I feel about you?”
Rolling his eyes, Dorian grabbed his leather jacket. “Do I really need to attend this shit?”
“He requested you personally,” Moviar persisted.
“How cute,” Dorian said sarcastically, pulling the jacket over his shoulders. He picked up his phone and checked a text from Ryder. The corner of his mouth turned up into a slight grin as he texted him back.
“Seems there’s only one person on this planet that can make you smile like that,” Moviar noted.
Dorian glanced at Moviar with mischievous blue eyes beneath his curls. “Wasn’t a smile; it was a grin. I don’t smile when someone tells me they want me to fuck them into cardiac arrest. I grin,” Dorian said, lifting his head. “This is a smile. This is a grin. Smile. Grin. See the difference?” he said, demonstrating.
Moviar watched Dorian grab a small bottle of bright green liquid from the cabinet. “Dorian, I would highly advise against-” Moviar started as he watched Dorian uncap the bottle.
But Dorian raised his hand to silence him. “If there’s one thing I will not do... is go to this shit sober.” Moviar let out a defeated sigh as Dorian downed the entire liquid.
~
Dorian puffed on the joint between his fingers as smoke blew from his nose. His light blue eyes flickered between obsidian as he stared at the tall doors in front of him, vibrating from the music blasting inside.
“Moviar. You were supposed to bring the halfbreed over an hour ago.”
“We were... delayed,” Moviar said apologetically.
Dorian looked up at the giant, gargoyle-like demon guarding the door. His massive stone wings splayed wide behind him as he stared down impatiently and irritated at the young demon prince before him. “You’re wasting time,” the demon guardian said.
Dorian puffed on the joint again before blowing smoke from between his lips. “Have you tried... lotion?”
“Dorian,” Moviar groaned next to him.
“Because you, my friend, are ugly. As. Shit,” Dorian said, retaking the joint between his lips.
Moviar turned to Dorian, giving him a look of warning. “Just this once. I beg of you to behave... just this once.”
Dorian shrugged as he flicked his joint and snuffed it out with his heel. “I’m trying to help the ugly piece of shit out, but sure. I’ll behave just for you, Moviar. Old buddy. Old pal. Old friend.”
Moviar sighed with exasperation as Dorian walked past him, and the tall doors opened. “Aveeno. Lubriderm. Nivea. Can’t fix your ugly fucking face, but at least you won’t have to worry about starting a fire every time you walk. Just saying,” Dorian said casually to the gargoyle as he walked inside. Moviar rubbed his temples as he looked at the gargoyle apologetically and followed Dorian inside.
The moment Dorian stepped into the dark building glimmering with neon lights, his hair blew back from the force of the speakers blasting music. The temperature in the room was scorching as neon lights flickered about the crowded room.
To Dorian, it looked like the average nightclub. But it was more than that.
Several creatures occupied the room, ranging from distorted human forms to scaly lizards to walking statues. They danced on tables, drank odd-colored liquids from tall, opaque glasses, and moved against each other until their bodies were practically one.
He could hear several voices whispering his name before he could fully take in his surroundings.
“It’s the halfbreed.”
“His bastard seed.”
“The hybrid is here.”
With his hands shoved into the pockets of his slacks, Dorian ignored the gossip as he strolled across the metal floor toward the open bar. “Dorian, you just had an entire bottle of absinthe-” Moviar followed after him.
“And yet, I’m still too sober,” Dorian said, sitting at the bar. “Imagine that.”
“We’re already late,” Moviar persisted.
“So, what’s a few more minutes,” Dorian said, waving down one of the bartenders. Sighing with defeat, Moviar perched himself on the barstool next to Dorian as one of the scaly, lizard-like demons strolled up to them.
“Welcome, Master Dorian. What can I get for you?”
“Get me two shots of Eek’s blood,” Dorian said, putting another joint between his lips.
“Dorian! TWO?!” Moviar exclaimed with disbelief.
Dorian paused and looked at Moviar with a raised brow, his joint dangling from his lips. “...on the rocks?”
Moviar groaned as his head fell against the table. As Dorian lit the joint between his lips, he refocused on the music, trying to block out everything else working hard to irk his nerves.
Even among the various demons in the crowded club, Dorian stood out like a sore thumb. But as the son of the devil himself, he was rather used to that.
There were levels to the creatures of the underworld. It had its own caste system that Dorian himself couldn’t fit into. At the bottom were the Lacertilia demons. Creatures with scaly skin and cat eyes that resembled reptiles in the human world. These demons were restricted to the gates of the underworld and virtually unseen by the human eye.
Higher up the chain were shapeshifters—demons who wandered the human world and took the form of humans. There were variations of shapeshifters. Incubi and succubi were free to have their fun with mortals within certain limitations. And zegamorphs... highest on the chain of shapeshifters and rarest of their kind. They could change their appearance to look like other humans and their persona and behavior to adapt to the mortal of their choosing.
Finally, at the top, but certainly the least liked by Dorian, the gargoyles. Gargoyles were unseen by the human eye but rarely dwelled in the mortal realm. They came in two variations: guardians or warriors of the underworld. These creatures were massive, standing on hind legs that put them at over 8 feet. They were the only demons with stoned wings. They were also the closest to Dorian’s father, which added to his disdain for them.
Gargoyles tended to think of themselves better than every other creature in the underworld, for they were of the same league and form completely identical to that of their sworn enemy... the angels. Their narcissistic behavior and undying loyalty to his father only instigated Dorian’s need to tear them down whenever the opportunity presented itself.
“Two shots of Eek’s blood,” the demon said, pushing two shot glasses filled with a thick purple liquid.
“Bottom’s up,” Dorian said, grabbing one of the glasses before throwing it back. Moviar scrunched up his nose as he watched Dorian cringe with a shake of his head. “WOO! That’s fucking gross,” Dorian said, reaching for the next one. But Moviar quickly touched his hand.
“Dorian, you need to be able to actually comprehend what is being said at this meeting,” Moviar warned. “You may be a demon, but you’re only-”
“What? A halfbreed?” Dorian asked with a raised brow.
Moviar’s shoulders fell. “I would never call you that.”
Dorian smirked at him and pushed the shot glass towards him. “Then you take it.”
“I’d rather not,” Moviar said quickly.
“Come on, Moviar, stop being so fucking controlled all the damn time and just drink it,” Dorian insisted.
“Your father-” Moviar started with a shake of his head.
“Let me stop you right there,” Dorian said, putting his hand up. He grabbed the small glass and threw it back. Moviar’s jaw tensed with frustration as Dorian slammed the empty glass on the table.
Wiping the purple liquid from his lips, Dorian leaned back and blinked at the demon bartender with wide blue eyes. “Look at that. He’s not nearly as ugly anymore. I might even fuck you.”
The demon bartender looked at Dorian, startled. “I’m kidding. I’m not nearly that drunk,” Dorian said, standing from the barstool. He nearly fell over before he grabbed the table. “Shit, I’m seeing double... Guess I’m finally ready. Come on, Moviar, before I change my mind.”
With a groan, Moviar walked alongside Dorian as they moved through the crowd. Several demons moved out of Dorian’s way as he tried to keep his eyes forward. The music seemed louder than usual. The lights were brighter. He could practically feel his blood flowing through his veins. All of his senses elevated yet, at the same time, obscured.
Moviar walked ahead of Dorian, leading him down a narrow corridor away from all the noise. They came to another large white door with a gargoyle standing outside.
"Moviar,” the gargoyle said. “You’re late.”
“Apologies,” Moviar said. “Master Dorian wasn’t feeling well.”
“Bitch, I’m feeling fucking fantastic,” Dorian said from behind Moviar.
Moviar slowly exhaled as he smiled politely at the gargoyle. “Has it started?”
The gargoyle looked at Dorian before glancing down at Moviar. “They just finished introductions.”
“Fucking hell, you people are sooooo goddamn sloooowwww,” Dorian muttered. “Thought you motherfuckers would have at least been halfway done by now.”
The gargoyle looked at Moviar. “Is he inebriated?”
“Your face literally looks like gonorrhea. How else did you expect me to get through this shit without losing it?” Dorian asked.
“Dorian!” Moviar spun around and snapped at him. Averting his gaze, Dorian shoved his hands into his pockets. “I’ll keep an eye on him,” Moviar reassured the gargoyle. “May we go in?”
The gargoyle’s nostrils flared before stepping to the side. Moviar nodded his gratitude before he led Dorian inside. But Dorian stopped short and threw the gargoyle two middle fingers before Moviar yanked him inside.
~
His blue eyes tried to adjust to the dark ambiance of the room. The air was thick with humidity and a low hum vibrated throughout the room, circled with dim lights. A long table in the middle of the room, right below a massive chandelier, was occupied by several demons. Most of them shapeshifters that he had recognized. Some gargoyles.
He spotted a familiar face leaning against the back wall. The shapeshifter smirked at him.
Dorian’s presence was immediately felt, and everyone at the table turned to look at him. Dorian rolled his eyes. “Take a fucking picture-” he started before Moviar quickly grabbed his arm.
“Dorian... please," Moviar said tensely, nudging him along as they walked toward the table. Reluctantly, Dorian sat down at the table while Moviar stood behind him.
"Master Dorian...”
Dorian looked across the table and saw an obsidian black gargoyle sitting at the head. "Glad you could finally join us,” Legion’s deep voice reverberated.
Dorian threw him a sarcastic thumbs-up as he leaned back in his chair. His brows furrowed in frustration as the situation started to sink in. Legion was his father’s right-hand demon. Yet, he sat at the head of the table, where his father usually sat. It could only mean one thing.
“He’s not even fucking here?” Dorian snapped.
"He had matters to tend to,” Legion said.
Dorian shook his head in disbelief. “Then why the fuck is my ass here-” he started, standing to his feet.
“We need all leaders here, Dorian. This is important,” Legion said firmly. “We need to discuss the Maddox.”
Dorian grew still as his jaw tensed with frustration. He glanced around the table at the other demons staring at him like some spectacle. He reluctantly sat back down and leaned on his hand. “I thought the Maddox was a myth,” he said.
"These young demons think they know everything when they don’t know shit,” an older shapeshifter snorted.
"He’s only half. It’s doubly insulting,” another quipped.
"Does this fucking halfbreed really need to be-” another shapeshifter started before he started gurgling. Moviar’s eyes widened in shock at how fast Dorian had moved. He barely saw him leave his chair.
Dorian’s eyes shifted to obsidian as black veins decorated his morphed face. He snarled as his fingers dug into the neck of the shapeshifter sitting in front of him. “If another one of you motherfuckers calls me a halfbreed again, I’ll tear you to fucking pieces!” he said, ripping some of the shapeshifter’s flesh.
"Dorian, control yourself!” Legion snapped.
“Dorian!” Moviar said, rushing towards him. He grabbed Dorian’s hand and peeled his fingers out of the shapeshifter’s bleeding neck.
Dorian glared at Legion. “I need a break.”
"You just got here-” Legion started.
“I need a fucking break!” Dorian snapped, storming out of the room.
~*~
Dorian splashed water on his face as he leaned over the sink in the large marble room. Raising his head, he looked at himself in the mirror. The traces of his black eyes still lingered. His rigid veins still present on his face.
A small snarl escaped his lips. The feeling of deep-seated hatred and resentment bubbled up in his chest. “He didn’t even fucking come...”
Dorian never understood why he was so disappointed by his father’s persistent absence. He hated him with every fiber in his being, and yet somehow still missed him. Still wanted him. Just a mere semblance that he actually gave a damn about him. Shaking his head, he grabbed a paper towel to dry his face when his eyes quickly diverted to someone standing behind him in the mirror.
“Same old Dorian... still throwing tantrums when he doesn’t get his way...”
Dorian stared at the shapeshifter he had recognized the first time he entered the room. His dark blond hair was longer than he remembered. His blue-green eyes seemed even greener than before. His lips were still plump to perfection and there was a soft blush to his cheeks that did not leave Dorian indifferent.
“They just let any fucking demon into these meetings now, huh?” Dorian said, wiping his face.
The shapeshifter chuckled as he shoved his hands into his pockets and leaned back against the wall. He tilted his head to the side and gazed at Dorian with a knowing grin. His eyes unapologetically roamed Dorian’s form before meeting his gaze.
Dorian rolled his eyes. “Why are you here, Kai?”
“Oof,” Kai smirked. “There was a time when a drunk Dorian gave me a much sexier greeting.”
“Please,” Dorian snorted. “You didn’t even look the same back then.”
Kai pretended to pout. “The changes are subtle. It’s still me. I thought you’d like it.”
“Why the hell would I care?”
Dorian turned to the garbage when Kai blocked his view. Their faces inches apart. “Interested in what else changed?” Kai smirked.
“Get a hobby, Kai,” Dorian said, side-stepping him, but Kai blocked him again.
“You used to be my hobby,” Kai smiled mischievously.
“Get another one that makes you less pathetic,” Dorian said, moving to the other side. But again, Kai blocked him. “Really? This is what we’re doing?”
“Don’t act like you’re eager to get back in there,” Kai grinned mockingly.
Dorian leaned back against the sink and crossed his arms over his chest. “Why are you here?”
Kai exhaled as he leaned back against the wall again and stared at Dorian. “Same reason you are.”
Dorian snorted. “Since when were you considered a leader of the underworld?”
“As of last night, when Legion assigned me to the search for the Maddox,” Kai said.
“Ohhh, so you’re just an errand boy. Still taking orders from gargoyles like the sad little monkey you are,” Dorian said condescendingly.
“Don’t be jealous, babe. I know you prefer me taking orders from you,” Kai quipped with erotic-laced venom in his voice.
Dorian’s face dropped as his jaw tensed. “Aaaaaand that’s my cue to leave.”
“What, so you found a new boy toy to leave your marks on, and you’ve forgotten all about me just like that?” Kai chuckled.
“Go cry about it,” Dorian said, heading for the door.
“Maybe I should have taken on this form instead,” Kai said as his face mutated.
Dorian blinked in shock at Kai wearing the face of Ryder. “Fuck you,” Dorian sneered as he walked out.
“I wish you would!” Kai shouted after him with a teasing chuckle as his face mutated back.
~*~
Dorian leaned back against his chair, listening to Legion bark out orders like the tyrant he was. He was convinced that his father’s absence gave Legion a false sense of superiority as if he suddenly took his father’s place as king of the underworld.
He caught bits and pieces of information here and there as he tried to tune him out. The Maddox was an unknown mythical creature that had the supernatural world in a frenzy. Demons, angels, and all affiliates were on the prowl, searching for something they didn’t know how to find because they had no idea what it looked like, what form it took, or what it sounded like.
Yet everyone was completely obsessed. Especially his father. Dorian wondered why. His father’s obsession with finding this creature he presumed didn’t even exist was the only pull to actually be engaged.
Feeling his phone buzz in his pocket, he checked to see a text from Ryder come in and scrolled through their messages with a grin.
Ry: why are you taking so long to answer :(
Dorian: sorry babe I’m in a meeting
Ry: meeting? you’re a college student
Dorian: family meeting
Ry: ugh
Ry: keep ignoring my messages and I’ll bite you
Dorian: you’d like that wouldn’t you...
Ry: *explicit gif delivered*
Dorian: am I the one smacking that ass like a drum? since you’re the one so obsessed with your phone?
Ry: says the guy texting me while in a family meeting. who’s obsessed again?
Dorian: yea, I’m obsessed with you... but you already knew that...
Ry: fuck you D. now I really miss you
A small grin painted Dorian’s face as he tucked his phone back into his pocket. He leaned on his hand, bored, when he caught Kai standing in the corner of the room. His body relaxed as he listened to Legion talk.
But Kai’s gaze was on Dorian. As if he knew something Dorian didn’t. It made Dorian feel uncomfortable. It was bad enough that Kai knew who Ryder was. But did he know what Ryder was?
He was starting to wonder if Kai had been the demon who put a target on Ryder’s back.
~*~
“RYDER! LET’S GO!”
Ryder looked up from his phone to see one of his brothers waving him over. He wiped the trail of blood from the side of his face and tucked his cell phone back into his pocket. Rubbing the large bruise spreading across his muscular bicep, he jogged towards the circle of his brothers standing at the center of the yard at the back of their house.
“Where the fuck were you?”
Ryder took a tentative step back as his father, Rohan, rounded on him. Rohan’s tall frame nearly towered over Ryder as his muscles flexed with irritation. “Did I say you could take a fucking break?”
“No, sir. I know breathing is strictly against your rules,” Ryder said, fake saluting.
His brothers’ snickers were cut short by the sound of a sharp slap as Rohan backhanded him hard across the face. Ryder touched his stinging face as he felt blood trickling from his busted bottom lip. “Keep your smart fucking jokes to yourself,” Rohan said snidely.
Ryder licked the blood from his lip as he watched his father walk to the center of the circle with a large bo staff in his hand. “You can forget about sleeping tonight,” Rohan said to his sons. “I’ve received word from the Jaeger Council about the Maddox.”
His sons looked at him wide-eyed as they straightened their postures. And Rohan returned a firm glare.
“We’ve got work to do.”
~*~
