Angelica stepped through the doors to the dining hall several minutes before seven. She had spent the past hour or so pacing back and forth in her room, unsure of what to do. It did, however, finally occur to her that nothing was going to change if she simply hid herself away.

At the top end of the table, three places had been set. The door at the back of the room swung open, and Dusty appearing, holding a steaming dish in front of him. He spotted Angelica and after placing the plate on the table, bowed.

“Good evening, Miss Angelica.”

It seemed that when the demon said he was teaching Dusty everything that included common etiquette. Though it did not seem the kind of thing about which a humanoid demon would worry. She curtsied, only proper since she was now wearing a light yellow sundress. She had gone through many of the clothes in the wardrobe between pacing. “Good evening, Dusty.”

“I have a few more plates to get, but feel free to have a seat.” He moved back toward the swinging door.

The princess moved over to the seat across from the two place settings, and sat down. Dusty brought out a few more plates, before taking the seat diagonal from her.

“Did you enjoy your lunch?”

“I…I wasn’t really hungry,” Angelica lied.

The door opened again and the humanoid demon came in. He smiled as he approached the table. “Sorry for my tardiness. I was caught up in town.” He sat down smoothly in the chair across from Angelica.

A demon in town? What was he doing in a town?

“Our guest should help herself,” Dylan said.

Angelica looked over the food. The delicious smells had been wafting past her nose for some time now, making her mouth water, but she was still wary. She did not know what this humanoid demon wanted with her. Could this meal be some sort of trap?

“The food is not poisoned, Princess,” Dylan said after a moment.

“It’s magiced then. To make me your slave,” Angelica accused.

“I do not appreciate such accusations of Dusty, Princess,” Dylan said firmly. “He has worked hard to create this special meal in honor of you, and I will not allow you to insult him.”

“My name is Angelica, not ‘Princess’,” Angelica countered weakly. She glanced over at Dusty, who looked unfazed by the accusation.

“I can serve you if you like.” Dusty stood up smoothly, and moved to her side, filling up her plate with several slices of meat, and a helping of vegetables from each of the other bowls. Once that was done, Dylan and Dusty filled their own plates.

Angelica bowed her head over her meal, making the signs of the Heaven and the Earth. When she looked up again, she saw the two were waiting patiently. He may be a demon…but he doesn’t even honor Terranok before his meals?

“How is your research coming along, Dusty?” Dylan asked, as he began to cut his meat.

“I found an old manuscript in the back of the library’s history section that was extremely informational; but if you don’t mind me asking, Master, why do you wish me to learn this subject?”

“Knowledge is power,” the demon said simply. “Besides, it may come in handy one day.”

“Yes, Master.”

“You are welcome to any of the materials in the library as well, Princess.”

Angelica smirked. “You are most kind.” His mannerisms showed he was holding no pretenses. She had spent enough years around the lying snakes in the royal court to be able to tell a sincere word from a misleading one, but at the same time she felt that he was not being entirely truthful with her.

“I see you have gotten over your earlier fear of me, Princess.”

“It is wise to treat something with which you are not familiar warily,” Angelica responded before taking a piece of carrot onto her fork and transferring it to her mouth.

“Well said,” Dusty nodded with a smile.

The demon nodded. “I am glad you are now more able to relax.”

Angelica found her plate empty before she realized it. It was one of the most delicious things she had ever eaten. She helped herself to some more, earning a warm smile from Dusty.

“This is very good,” she complimented him.

“I know.” Dusty said with a nod.

What an odd boy… Angelica soon cleaned the second plate. “I need water drawn for a bath.” If they were going to treat her as a guest, then she might as well take advantage of it.

“There is no need. I had Dusty recast the spells on the fountain and tub in your washroom. You only need to turn the handle,” Dylan said.

“Spells? You mean magic?”

“It’s an easy spell to transport water from the river to the bathroom. It’s a little harder to heat it for the bath though, that spell has to be recast more often,” Dusty agreed. “I can come and show you how to work it if you need.”

“No…that’s fine,” Angelica said. In the house of a demon, she supposed it would make sense that they would use magic. They were not restricted in its use, because they had nothing to do with the Choir.

Dusty rose and began clearing the plates. Angelica watched him for a moment before she followed the demon out of the dining room, and to the library.

“Heat of the setting sun.” A fireball jumped from his hand and ignited the fireplace.

“What is it that you want from me?” she asked, hiding her surprise at seeing magic cast right in front of her.

Dylan took up his violin from the case sitting open on the table. “I don’t believe I know what you mean, Princess.”

“You kidnapped me, you’re forcing me to be here, and yet you treat me like I’m your guest. I don’t understand.”

“Maybe you don’t need to.” He plucked at the violin and then tightened one of the pegs slightly.

“But you…”

“After dinner is time for me to work on my compositions.” Dylan looked up sharply. “I would ask that you leave if you’re going to continue talking.”

She glared at him for a moment, playing with the idea of challenging him further, but the look in his eyes gave her pause. “I feel like doing a little reading,” she lied quickly, not wanting to let him think he had scared her off. She moved over and scanned the spines of the books under her finger. Many were in a language she did not recognize. A moment later the music began, flowing softly and smoothly around the room. She paused, listening to the notes rising and falling in a slow steady rhythm. The part of her that loved to dance itched to glide across the floor. The music stopped abruptly, and there was the scratching of a quill.

Angelica’s eyes shifted back to the books spines, grabbing the first one she could find in common. She chose a couch across the room and plopped down, pulling the book open. Dylan picked out a few notes on the violin, playing a certain measure over and over. He was composing his own music. The court musician never let anyone listen to his creation sessions. She watched him curiously over the top of her book.

Dusty came in some time later, and made his way to a table where a number of books and scrolls were laying out. He dove immediately into his work without a word. Angelica marveled over his dedication. She had never done anything without her tutors having to tell her three or four times. Dusty looked up at Dylan after a few moments. The music paused again. “Master,” the young man said quickly.

The demon wrote something down and then turned to him.

“I don’t understand why angels are allowed to pray while on their feet.”

“Angels are the children of the Heaven, just as demons are children of the Earth,” Dylan responded. “Since they have such a strong tie with the Lady of Light, they are permitted to remain close to her while praying.”

“But if humans are favored by both the Heaven and the Earth, why do we have to kneel when praying?”

Dylan chuckled. “That, I do not know. You are much further along in your understanding of worship than I to be asking such questions. I simply accepted things as they are.”

Angelica watched Dusty over the top of the book. This demon was teaching him such things? Teaching him to question the Gods? What would the Choir say if they found out?”

“But the One King is allowed to pray on his feet as well. Why is he different from other humans? I know it is said he is the chosen of the Gods, but what about him is actually different?”

“Again, I am at a loss.”

Dusty caught Angelica’s eye. “Do you know, Miss Angelica?”

The princess blinked. “The One King is favored.”

“I know that, but why?”

“I don’t think about such blasphemous things.”

Dylan chuckled. “One would think the Renegade Princess would have rebelled against the church pushing its ideals on her as well, but I see I was mistaken.”

“No one pushed their ideals on me. The Goddess Lucinia and the God Terranok deserve our worship and praise.”

“I imagine they do, if they truly exist,” Dusty said.

“If they…?” Dylan laughed, putting the violin back under his chin. “The magic of this world does not come from no-where, my dear apprentice. It is only through the magic that a being is truly able to live at one with this world. Worshiping the Gods but ignoring magic is not accepting the Gods for what they truly are, the same as practicing magic and disbelieving the Gods.”

“Yes, Master.”

Angelica’s eyes fell back to the book. Her head was swimming. Questioning whether or not the Gods even existed? If the Choir were to ever find out, he would be taken away before he could even try to defend himself. She closed the book, unable to concentrate, and left the room silently.

Music drifted down the hall after her as she made her way back to her room. She paused by the window. What did doubting the Gods matter here? There was no church and no Choir to tell her what to do. The moon hung high in the sky, more than half of it showing.

She worshiped the Gods because of everything they had done for her, and for the kingdom. Angelica made the sign of the Heaven. “Thank you Goddess Lucinia for continuing to watch over me, and keep me safe from harm. Please do not withdraw your holy light, as it sustains me in these trying times.” She then made the sign of the Earth. Being captured by a demon, one of the God’s own children. Had she done something to anger Terranok? “Thank you for your blessings, God Terranok. If there is something I have done to anger you, please let me know what that is, so I may atone myself.”

She sighed and sat back on the bed. Even if they were to answer, there were no priests or clerics to interpret their words. She curled up on the bed, suddenly feeling more alone than she ever had before.