"I think we should just kill her. Again." Hiro says as Bathilda adds the finishing touches to her creation. In the palm of her hand is a white-gold ring with a red diamond in its center. Putting her full effort into its design and effect, the kind-hearted Vampire is trying to help the Demon King break her curse with the skills she's acquired since entering the world.

"Ok. This is called the ring of self control. It should give you full control of yourself, but... well, we'll see. I'm going to put it on you now so don't move."

"This is stupid. What if she attacks you?" Hiro shouts. The Demon King barely registers his words though as she stares at the object in Bathilda's hand. Her eyes sparkling at the prospect of self control.

Bathilda reaches out and takes the Demon King's small hand in her own. Carefully, she slides the ring into the little girls finger before she takes a step back.

The three of them stand there, waiting as the seconds tick by. Bathilda is hoping for something to signify that her magical ring worked. Hiro is ready to launch himself into attack mode and decapitate their intruder turned guest. The Demon King herself is just staring at the pretty object on her finger unaware of anything else.

"It's so beautiful," she eventually whispers. Bathilda let's out a breath she didn't realise she was holding and she approaches the destroyer of humanity once more.

"How do you feel?" she asks.

"Erm... I don't know. Different?" The Demon King has never had this type of freedom before so emotions and feelings are brand new to her.

"Good. Different is good. It's better than destruction and death. That's for sure. Anyway, come inside and sit down. We'll have some tea." Reaching the front door, Bathilda turns to see the child has not moved. Neither has Hiro and he's still glaring at the small girl.

"What are you waiting for? Hurry up," she calls out. "You too, Hiro. Don't just stand there making her feel uncomfortable. God knows you did it to me long enough."

"Hey! That was different," Hiro pouts.

"Yeah, yeah. Just get inside before everyone sees us, please. You too," she tells the Demon King.

Once everyone is sitting down with a hot beverage in their hands, nothing has changed and the silence is almost as deadly as the little girl, the big girl and the man girl, looking back and forth between each other.

"Ok, that's enough of the tense silence. Miss Demon King, what is your name? I ask because I'm straight up refusing to call you by that moniker again."

"I... er... I'm just the Demon King. I don't have a name," she answers rather meekly. A far cry from 'I'm the Demon King. All who gaze upon me blah de blah de blah'.

"In that case, your new name is Flo." Inwardly, Bathilda congratulates herself on a job well done for coming up with a name so quickly. On the outside, she smiles pleasantly at Flo.

"Why did you name her Flo?" Instead of the Demon King, Hiro is the first to comment on her new name.

"Recently, I've been wondering if God was actually God and if his harem were all just a bunch of demons. Florence especially. I mean, she could have at least given me some more information before I was quickly sent off to start my second life."

"Yeah, I spent longer there than I care to remember, but God being the Devil? I can't see it and didn't see anything on those lines either. Not that I was allowed to enter the hot tub." Hiro's last sentence is rather quiet and there's more than a hint of annoyance to it. Bathilda wasn't in the so-called heaven for long, but that's not the way she pictured it going. Sure, God was buff, but he seemed a little... shallow? Maybe eons of being the omnipotent will do that to a person, or a deity.

"Flo," the Demon King smiles and then repeats the name over and over.

"Do you like that name?" Bathilda asks and Flo nods in response saying her name again. The once Bat turned Vampire notices the universal gesture and moves onto the more important matters.

"Do you want to live here with me and Hiro?" Hiro's eyes widen further than possible, but not more Flo's who are also sparkling. She nods furious, beaming ear to ear. Hiro doesn't seem impressed but Bathilda ignores him for the moment.

"Ok, but there are rules. Do you understand?" Another nod. "Good. Rule one, no more violence. That goes for you too, Hiro."

"This is such bullshit!" He responds, but doesn't go any further. Flo is still nodding along and Bathilda is hoping that it's in answer to her question, not just the good vibes.

"Rule two, humans like..." Bathilda was going to say 'myself', but faltered as she is no longer human, "them." She points towards the walled city of Home that is visible through the window. "Are precious and need to be protected." Hiro shakes his head, not to Bathilda's rules, but to the ridiculousness of the situation, while Flo nods along merrily.

'Don't kill and protect humans. Is there anything else or have I got it all covered?' she thinks to herself.

"Oh! Rule Three! All young girls must attend school. Since we don't have one though, I will homeschool you with everything I know." Hiro furrows brow, but can't stop himself from chuckling at Bathilda's last rule. Clearly it's self satisfying, but he feels no pity for Flo. In fact, it's quite the opposite and he ends up cackling in delight. Flo has finally stopped nodding along and is looking a little puzzled.

Not upset though I might add, which delights Bathilda further. She's already over the fact that Flo is the Demon King. After living in such a ridiculous world for some time now, the reincarnated nurse has learned how to just roll with it.

- fin