Ari knew it was useless trying to hide or run. The demon could smell him because of his arm. Ari bent down and peeled off the moss growing on the tree. He took off his bandaging and stuffed his arm with the moss quickly before rewrapping it. The ground shook, causing Ari to stumble forward and lose his footing again. It was near.

He clung to a tree until the rumbling stopped. As soon as he noticed it did, Ari began his climb up the tree one branch at a time. He ignored the throbbing pain in his arm and the sting of the scratches coming from wayward branches and twigs even the tree itself. The bark was rough and full of needles. Still, he pushed himself to climb more until he reached the top.

High places never scared him, but the sight that beheld him made his eyes widen. To think he was thinking of doing such a thing. Truly, Ari thought he had lost his mind. He clenched his hands tight into fists and jumped the moment its leg came into close proximity to the tree he was on.

Barely, he latched onto the hair on its leg and started up its calf. He needed to get to the head. Ari did not have the slightest idea in mind of how to kill it. A blade or arrow would not be useful... but his blood... Maybe he could use it...

The demon roared and pulled up trees from the ground searching for him. When he reached its back, Ari saw the many bite marks from other lesser demons and stab wounds from arrows and blades. They looked old. No one from the Khaeo would ever dare to venture into demon country.

He reached for the hair on its neck and pulled himself up. Slowly, Ari peeled away his bandage and tore away the moss from his arm still dripping with blood. The demon stopped and smelled around. Its red eyes soon met with his and Ari did not have the slightest idea on what to do next but wait.

Ari laced one of his blades with his blood as he saw its massive hand heading in his direction. He sliced at its fingers. As it tried with its other hand, Ari cut deep into its palm. He pulled the sword back and covered it with more of his blood. Soon Ari plunged it into its shoulder and slid down along with the sword until he was at its ankle. He jumped off the moment it began to stagger and twist towards him.

It did not go down as Ari thought it would. It knelt down, its eyes changing from red to yellow to green to blue. Ari watched in shock and surprise as the color finally stopped at gray, the most unlikely color.

"Daevasari." It outstretched its hand towards Ari, Ari quickly backed away. Ari's heart tightened at its words. He thought to run back to where he came from, but he stopped. It had spoken. It could speak like them. Again, his curiosity ate away at his fear.

Ari approached it with some apprehension. He stepped closer when he did not see the lesser demon move even as he went towards its lowered face. Slowly, Ari outstretched his hand. He thought to take it away, at first, but something in him made him keep going until it was firmly pressed onto its leathery skin.

His hand was covered in his own blood. It was dripping down his arm now, but Ari did not pay it much mind. He was much too fascinated with the creature that laid before him.

"They say... " Ari found his voice hoarse and rough but he continued. "They say... lesser demons are spawns of the souls we had taken... Souls that were once human... Is that true?"

Ari did not think it would answer. He did not put much hope in it, but it did.

"It is so."

"What a soul you must have had... to end up like this... "

"Wretched and dark," it bellowed.

Ari took back his hand as its dark gray eyes met his. It was like it could see through his very soul and that frightened him, but he would not let it show. He could not seem weak in front a colossal demon such as this one. It would eat him alive, he knew. It was only the blood flowing through his veins that kept it tame for now.

His blood burned through its flesh from where he touched it. It spread and began connecting and etching lines into its skin until it formed a symbol resembling the one Ari was so mesmerized by on Auovin's skin. However, this one was slightly different, unique of its own. He looked at his own hand before looking back at the demon.

Its bones began popping. Its flesh melted from its bones. Ari hardly had the time to run before it fell in heaps and chunks. Steam came from the husk that was left remaining from the demon. Ari could only stare in horror that he had done such a thing. He did not mean to kill it. He did not.

"Daevasari," a voice murmured.

Ari looked to where the voice was coming from. He furrowed his brows as a naked man appeared from out of the husk. The man walked towards him and knelt even as Ari backed away. The only thing that gave Ari any semblance of what was going on was the mark burned into his skin.

"This wretched and dark soul is yours... With your blood and your name, it is complete."

"My... My name... "

"Blood does not lie. It tells all," the man said as he took Ari's bloodied hand in his. He kissed it before licking up his arm causing Ari to quickly snatch it back. He only gave Ari a soft smile in response. "Ari."

Ari looked at the man trying to stamp down the fear festering in his gut. The way he stared at him unnerved and the way he said his name sent shivers up his spine. How could he have known it?

"Is this not what you wanted? Your blood, your name in return for me not eating you where you stood? Young ones taste the freshest, untainted by much of the world, unlike the rest." He licked his lips and pressed closer, but Ari put a hand out, stopping him.

"You know my name because you tasted my blood?"

He slithered closer and around Ari's hand. Ari took out a dagger before he could reach his neck.

"I want to taste more."

"Your face... It has a symbol on it. What does it mean?"

The man looked at Ari and smiled darkly. "What does it mean? It is yours as I am."

"You tried to kill me."

"As I kill anyone who dares to pass into this land. Now give me--"

Ari pressed his hand onto the man's face and pushed him away from himself.

"Stop it. I do not like you touching me."

Ari stripped off his jacket and threw it at the man. "Put that on... And find some pants."

Surprisingly, the man did as was told. When he was finished, he stared intently at Ari making Ari fidget. Still, Ari stole glances at him every now and again. He had dark blonde hair and tanned skin, much darker than his own. His frame was muscular and lean. Ari stared back at the decomposing carcass that once was the man that lay before him.

"My name... what is it again?"

"Which one?"

"... Which...?"

"I know a name when said aloud can make you sleep... if weak enough." The man grinned making Ari uneasy. "Do not worry, I am loyal to you. I would cause you no harm."

"Unless I am weak."

"Yes, unless you are weak... Then I feast on your blood."

Ari swallowed and looked away from him. "Your name, what is it?"

"Kaval."

"You come from where?"

"I come from nowhere."

Auovin would know what he should do with him. Ari shifted onto his feet. He was in that direction, so he would have to keep going in further.

"I am looking for someone... so we must go further in. What is waiting for us there?"

Instead of answering him, he stared at Ari's arm dripping with blood. Ari wrapped a hand around it gaining Kaval's attention once more.

"What lays there behind the forest?"

"Darkness, beauty, home... love," Kaval teased. "What answer were you expecting for me to give you? Everyone finds something different here in these lands. You have been to the dark place. It is no wonder your blood tastes... interesting. You will only attract more demons such as I to you, so let me--"

Ari shook his head. "You will have none of it."

"Not even the tainted bit? It is for you more so than for myself," Kaval gestured but Ari did not believe him. What a terrible demon he was. If there were more like him, Ari wondered just how many lessers could masquerade in human forms? It was a scary thought to have.

"I am sure it is."

"The taint in you will eat you alive. It is too much for you... You are so... small... and delicate... after all."

His arm burned, that was for certain. Sweat formed on his forehead and his legs were becoming like lead. Kaval was right. Whatever Koli put into his blood was making him burn up from the inside out.

Ari stuck his arm out. He watched Kaval's eyes light up. His face was beaming. Ari knew he would have to be careful around him... but some part of him felt the... Ari furrowed his brows. He was much like a pet. Kaval did not have fangs, so he sucked from the open wound which did not cause Ari much pain. When he was through, Ari could instantly feel the effects of the taint being taken from him. His mind was clearer and the burning sensation that took root inside him was non-existent. Ari quickly took his arm back and covered with his hand again.

"I gave you what you wanted now tell me in which direction did an old one go?"

Kaval quickly pointed deeper into the forest.

"Did-- was another with him?"

Kaval licked his fingers and shrugged. "Old ones are not ones to be trifled with."

It was good that he knew Kaval did not prey on their kind, well save for the younger ones. Looking around, Ari knew what kept his belly full and that thought made his stomach turn. Kaval did not say much about himself, but Ari knew he was a guardian of some sort that made sure humans did not trespass onto the land. Perhaps, he was one of many.

"What business do you have with one as old as he?" Kaval asked.

Ari tucked in his lips and continued onward despite his lightheadedness.

"You cannot think for a moment you can be with one--"

Ari cut his eyes to him silencing him instantly.

"I do not need your opinion on my choices. They are mine and mine alone. Choose not to follow if you want."

"Old ones, they are manipulative. There is no reason for him to want one so young as you."

Ari narrowed his eyes.

"It must be for some other reason."

"Because it cannot possibly be love," Ari noted causing Kaval to nod. "Perhaps it is my blood. Many say he wants me to use it for something terrible."

Kaval nodded his head vehemently then.

"And what terrible things are those? Everyone says the same thing without giving me much after. I do not believe them. When you meet him, you will think the same as well."

Kaval picked at his teeth and followed closely behind. "What will I think?"

"He is nothing but a wounded beast trying to defend its lair."

"Is that what you think of them as? Wounded beasts? Ari, my little young one, do not go on and think that of them. They are great and terrible demons, some once thought of as gods."

"I know this."

"And with the ground rumbling beneath us, I know one has woken. That would make... " Kaval counted on his fingers before holding up with one hand. "Five."

"Five... "

"He was a great one... "

"Perhaps he trying to put him back to sleep... "

"You do not know a thing about blood demons, do you... or what happened so many centuries ago? If you did, you would not think one old one would try to put another back to sleep."

"But they-- "

"Do you believe everything they tell you?"

"He would not lie to me." Kaval raised an eyebrow. "He would not."

Kaval sighed deeply before wrapping an arm around Ari's neck and bringing him close.

"All they do is lie. What are truths and lies... I do not know, my little demon, but time will only tell. And what wicked white lies they can be. They can be the ones that keep you up at night and eat away at you... or the ones that make you fall in love." He smiled against Ari's cheek causing Ari to move away from him.

"Blood does not lie. Take some and find out for yourself."

"I will."

"But somehow I believe it would not matter... What are lies or not... You just want to be with him."

Ari's eyes widened.

"Blood does not lie," Kaval repeated. "The blood tells all, Ari."