Pulling himself out of his memories and back to the present, once again, Slayer turned and started down the spiraling staircase of the tower.
He continued walking down the empty corridors only passing a couple of the maids and servants that were cleaning and taking care of their duties on the way. The ones who served him in the Palace were all humans, and all who served him were always cowardly when he would come around and knew better than to dare look up at him as they bowed their heads while greeting him, as he walked by.
"Y-your Majesty." They trembled as they spoke the words. Slayer just kept walking, not even acknowledging them. He didn't care to pay them any mind, just how he viewed most people. He would only pay attention to a maid when he needed blood and sometimes allowing them to entertain him for the night.
Other than that He had no reason to waste his time on lowly humans. He was only close to his soldiers, the ones who went to battle with him. The ones who proved themselves to him and became not only his soldiers, but his comrades.
The few who new Slayer on a more personal level, thought it odd how he was so close to Malice, and how he treated him better than anyone else. It wasn't easy to get close to Slayer and he kept his circle of who he allowed near him extremely small. So this attention that Slayer showed towards Malice didn't go unnoticed by anyone. And to their knowledge, was the first and only one who he allowed to get close to him the way Malice had.
Slayer's obvious, complete trust that he held towards Malice; did however bother a couple of Slayer's high ranking Generals and Commanders. And even Beast, had taken years to finally view Malice differently.
Beast had struggled with accepting Malice, for years not because he thought Malice to be of any kind of threat towards Slayer or to Damns Hollow. it was still not easy for a Demon like him to accept something that he viewed and thought of as an abomination. Especially having been born in the Howler's Clan
Beast was probably the hardest on Malice. He would always push Malice in everything, way more than he would the others. When Malice was involved in anything that Beast was in charge of, Beast was almost brutal in his ways and had Malice do things that would've broke anyone else; but Malice never faultered to anything he was told to do and did it even better than what was instructed or expected of him.
Slayerr didn't mean to raise Malice when he brought him back to the Palace, but Malice just was a presence that seemed to be something that felt was natural. Like he had always been there with him. At first Slayer had thought that he'd allow the pup to grow big enough to be able to fend for himself. Slayer couldn't help but be interested in the pup, he was a hybrid of two completely different kinds of demons who each belong to two different Realms. Both being Ruled and belonging to 2 very powerful Demon Lords.
But as he got older Malice wouldn't leave Slayer's side, and as much as Slayer had tried in the beginning to abandon the growing pup and get him to venture off, he wouldn't. Malice was always on his heel and he always was devoted and fully trusting of Slayer. Here was never anything that Malice felt or showed towards slayer, somehow knowing that he never needed to. The hybrid pup grew on him and without ever really realizing it became more like his apprentice and Malice chose to passionately serve him and so Slayer allowed Malice to do as he wished.
Through the years, Slayer taught him to fight, hunt, kill without remorse, had a handle things that concerned Damns Hollow and the neighboring kingdoms that they dealt with. And even how to control his own unique powers that he possessed. Powers that didn't belong to neither one of his parents.
Malice had the ability to use his energy core to take on the form of any weapon he chose, but his favorite was using the bow and arrows. He could make them appear and was so quick when he shot that usually whatever he was shooting for was dead before they knew it. Slayer taught him to be a master archer, and no one other then Slayer himself was any kind of match against him and wouldn't ever even stand a chance..
Slayer reached his study and found Malice there overlooking some of the documents and papers that Slayer needed to finish signing off on and finalizing. Malice had heard Slayer approaching ever since he had descended the tower staircase. His hearing was excellent and he could always pick up where Slayer was in the Palace.
He looked up at Slayer as he walked to where he was overlooking the documents on the massive table that sat in the middle of the study. Bowing his head a little at Slayer acknowledging Slayer's presence as he came to stand in front of him.
" My Lord, How did the lands seem this night? Were they calm or were they more on the chaotic side this evening?" Malice asked.
Slayer hated the formal greeting that he was never able to break Malice from using.
"Even on the chaotic nights the lands seem calm and peaceful to me, you know that." a small smile came upon his face as he was talking to Malice.
" I was thinking of stretching my wolf's legs, but decided against it, knowing that I have had you overlooking the documents that I've been neglecting to deal with." Slayer said with a sigh that showed how uninterested he was in having to deal with this.
Looking down at the papers laid out on the desk Slayer picked up the first paper that was laying on top of the pile; it was a treaty proposal from Chiloquin, one of the neighboring kingdoms. Wanting to make sure that they were considered allies and their Kingdom wouldn't be in any harm of an attack.
The neighboring kingdoms usually would send their messengers yearly to make sure that Slayer knew that they wanted no problems with the kingdom of Damns Hollow. After reading it he set it down to look at Malice who he just noticed to be awfully quiet since he entered the room.
A crease came to settle upon his brow and he could clearly see Malice was troubled by something.
"What seems to be bothering you? Has something come up that is troubling you or are you in fact upset with me for dumping my work load on you to deal with?" Slayer asked. Trying to read Malice.
"I never mind doing anything that you may need me to do for you Sir. Serving you is what I do and so am more than willing to do what you ask of me and to do whatever I can to best serve you. I apologize for coming off irritated or upset with you, that is not the case at all." Malice bowed his head deeply at Slayer as he spoke . He always made sure to show flair how much respect he had for him and when he raised up his head and looked at slayer, Slayer could tell that malice's expression had softrned.
" I really wish you wouldn't apologize to me and not talk to me in such a manner but I know you'll never quit with the formalities." Slayer said more coldly than he had meant it to.
"No, Sir, my respect for you will never allow me to drop my formalities and how I serve you. I am troubled but not by you or the work I've been overseeing." Malice informed Slayer. He looked as if he was trying to hold back from asking Slayer something though and it didn't go unnoticed.
Slayer always found his Unchanging attitude about serving him honorable, for he never could get Malice to change his way of thinking when it came to how he viewed and felt about things.
"Ok, than what is bothering you tonight? What is it that you are wanting to ask me but I'm sure of?" Slayer asked Malice, curiosity evident in his voice.
Knowing that Slayer was impatient and didn't like it when someone took their time and answering him, Malice said,"You received a letter earlier, during the time of day and from the messenger that I was on familiar with and had never seen such a creature before. and the creature didn't say anything as it handed me the letter, leaving immediately as it started to get dark. I was unsure whether I should read the letter that creature brought or if I should wait for you. But I was suspicious of the creature and the way the letter had come during a time that you would be sleeping. So I wanted to make sure it wasn't anything harmful, for even the envelope had nothing written on it to let it be known who in fact it was from." Malice answered. Still clearly confused about the creature that had arrived at the Palace today
"First, you already know that you are my most trusted out of everyone and never have to second guess your actions when it concerns anything that involves me. I leave you to overlook my responsibilities and have raised you up after all." Slayer said this last part in a joking tone. Showing a mischievous smile as he said this with a light chuckle at Malice."So what about the letter has you so bothered?" Slayer asked. Wondering if his guess of what the creature was and who the letter came from was correct. "What did it say?"
Malice didn't answer right away and just stood there starring off into space, clearly and deep thought before he finally said,
"Apparently Lord Vishious is coming for a visit," Malice tilted his head to the side as he said this.