I fall flat on my face.

What the fuck in the name of all of Kanestus' joy was -that-?

The rain starts. A monsoon right now is the last thing I need. I fucking hate this human shithole already.

Breathe.

The assasination... I failed.

The princess. What the fuck was that!? I have never...

Her fucking eyes. Her fucking grin.

I have never been scared of a human in all my life. But that... that cannot have been human!

Is this a new ability of the bloodline? It can't be. Why didn't that other princess use it when I killed her, in that case?

I cough up a massive splatter of blood through the gap in my teeth.

Black bile as well. Not good. Its probably the arm. It's totally shattered and bent at a scary angle. The bone will be infecting me.

Blood is crusting my trousers too. My leg is crippled. I don't even know how I managed to get to this old bell tower in the slums.

And my face! My lovely face that my lord said was beautiful! Ruined!

I see it reflected in the puddle from this dripping roof and recoil. Hideous.

I will not even be able to put on a new face like this, and pay for healing.

I feel weak and faint. I vomit.

More black bile.

No...! Don't fall asleep you stupid whore! Move it!

I pull myself away from the splurting rain in a crawl.

The... brooch... I must get a message to my lord... at least...

I croak. My tongue is numb and tastes of blood and vomit.

No... first... must see to wounds.

I take a black potion I stashed here. An emergency elixir. It is void given form. Demons do not have the light. We cannot make it appear often.

I... I don't want it... it will remake my flesh... but it is necromancy. It will dull my senses forever. I will have to struggle against the call of the void every day, lest I become a mindless apparition.

I... must do it. My lords plan must work. He must know of this power at least.

I quaff it in one gulp.

I squeal and bang the stone with my good leg. It burns! It is evil! It wants me to die! It... I must! Tame! It!

I cough up more blood as I feel my insides die a little. Something seizes up and I get cramps all over.

But my body heals a bit. It fills with unlife, gradually.

The pain is incredible.

So I pass out.

...

...

...

I try to jump up as I suddenly regain consciousness. But I fall flat on my face again.

Why can I no longer feel my legs?

I panic... I should be right as this calming rain! Part zombie maybe... but able to move!

There's no way my lords potion failed! No way!

"Mmmm... gravefellica dust, yes?" A voice says. "A terrible thing. Master hated it... and yet he kept a portion close to his own heart. To stop it when he felt it neccessary, yes?"

What?

A hand grasps me by the hair and yanks me up, and then throws me on my back.

A human girl with purple hair. More scary blue eyes!

I recoil.

Ah... the Etranger's assassin, how did she?

"You are wondering how I found you, yes? It is not hard. You left quite a trail. The rain made things tenuous in the end, but my intuition paid off, yes?"

I try to move my lips, to shout, to curse, anything. But my tongue is numb, my throat paralysed. A strange choked noise is all that comes out.

"Hmmm... not even able to speak? Perhaps I used a little too much, yes? Strange... Ah...! Of course! The dead flesh you now have makes it more effective! How negligent I was, yes?"

She smiles wistfully and shrugs as if to nonchalently say 'my bad'.

"Oh well... I have plenty enough evidence that you have left here, yes?"

The girl shakes her head, and pulls out a piece of paper. My lords letter! Get your hands off it!

"Why-ever would you keep the letter of your assignment...? Ah... right... you love him, yes? I suppose I have realised recently that I can relate. How peculiar, yes?"

I thrash, hissing.

"Now, now, miss demon... should I call you Barbatos...? As I'm sure you're aware, its nothing personal, yes?"

She taps her cheek.

"I find... after all, that this is still strangely easy. This broken blade is probably not fit for Nii-sama. Alas... but my love is still blinding, yes?"

She grins. It is the last thing I see as my sight goes dark. My head flops and my tongue lolls.

"Ah, yes... even your head is partly dead now, is it not? The gravefellica will now kill you. Goodnight, miss Barbatos. Send the demon lord our regards in your next life. Me and nii-sama will be coming for..."

My hearing becomes a whine. I feel so slow.

I think perhaps I am spasming. I can't breathe...

Blood is running from my eyes again. It is the last thing I feel.

My lord. I am sorry.

Please. Save the world. Reach your dream.

I will not be able to see it with you.

If only... I could just...