".... Noah! Get your ass up!" as my eyes flutter open I'm met with my father glaring sharply at me. He grabs my wrist and forces me to my feet. I quickly stand up and purse my lips together, knowing that I was going to have to suffer another day of torment. I brace myself by shutting my eyes quickly before I'm slapped by my father. "Why the hell didn't you wake up the first time I called you?! Are you asking for me to beat some sense into you?!" I keep my gaze low and stare at his shoes, not willing to see his terrible face or my mother's unbothered expression standing behind my father, watching as he beats me as she normally does. Neither of these two loved me. They only used me to make money for them. To them, I'm just useless and am only a way to work the animals and farm.

As my father rants on we hear the frantic bell of the town chiming. Both my parents pause and I flinch, knowing the only time that the bell is rung is when something terrible is to happen. My father grabs my wrist tightly, not caring that I wince from the old bruises wrapped around my wrists from the chains. He drags me outside as mother follows. Her black hair flowing softly not matching her always cold expression. My father tosses me to the ground when we get outside. He glares down at me a moment before he turns his attention towards the town center that was only a few feet away from our house. In the middle there was a crowd and the priests of the town talking frantically to the group.

"Please, if there is any maiden that we can use...he is to be here soon!" I watch as people whisper and look panicked. "Get up, useless boy." I stand up and do as my father says, already weak enough from the last beating. He pulls me by my arm again, and I know better than to do anything but follow, though I can't help feeling that what he's thinking isn't good. Mother stays behind and walks with distance, never to far. He takes me through the crowd to the frantic priests.

"My son will volunteer." my eyes widen, and I look at him quickly, not believing what he had just said. I frantically search his expression for reassurance he wasn't actually going to give me up. His dark eyes stay firm, focused on the priests. I look to them about to testify, but before I can, one speaks. "Well he isn't exactly a maiden like the sacrifice is supposed to be." For once, the judging looks gives me a sense of hope. Hope I wouldn't be sacrificed. "Did the demon state that it had to be a maiden? Didn't he only say they had to be fair in looks?" My heart pounds as I hear my father push. "I suppose...if there's no other maiden available this year...." As they talk amongst themselves I can't help but feel sick to the stomach. What had I done to deserve any of this? Just because I hadn't been born a girl?

After a hurried conversation, they came to a conclusion. "We have decided that the only way we could use him as a sacrifice...is if we turn him into a maiden. Since he seems satisfied with our offerings Normally, we can't risk messing it up. Can he act as a maiden?" I try to back away but my father's grip on my arm tightens and I know my fate is sealed. "Of course he can. He'd be honored to be of use to the village for once." I feel my father's sharp gaze and dark grin as I stare at the altar, knowing that today was the day my life would end.

Before I knew it I had been given a convincing long, black wig and had makeup and a sacrificial dress forced on me. All my life I've been tormented and tortured because I wasn't a girl. Now I had a patted bra on and underwear I wasn't proud of wearing. I felt empty inside. It's not like I had much to resist for anyway. Maybe my father, that bastard man who is unfortunately my father, was right. As I look in the mirror, I don't see me. I see a young girl staring back at me. For once, the bruises were covered by strong body paint that matched my skin tone, pale as a dead person. For once, I could look at myself and not feel disgusted or pitiful. I see my gray eyes and dark eyelashes shine brightly for once instead of the dark gray I had always known.

After all the hurrying around me, I had been dressed and dolled up to pretend to be a girl in order to please a demon who was otherwise to destroy the village. Part of me thought that this was the perfect opportunity to get revenge on the village for all my suffrage. Those innocent kids don't deserve to be punished for the terrible beings that call themselves humans though. As I'm pulled away to the altar I stare into the crowd were little kids watch uncomfortably. They were the only reason I'm letting myself be sacrificed and pretending to be someone I'm not. If not me, then a young girl would be picked, and I know that the girl who would be picked would be far too young. I couldn't let a kid suffer when she had a life to live. They all have someone who cares. A life they cherish.

I didn't have to sit there and pity myself for long before a dark smoke appeared across from me on the alter. Soon, black hair and red eyes appear from the mist followed by the demons black horns and black wings. He wore a black button up and black pants. His expression dark as he looked around. "I see you mortals are still quite bland with greetings." I watch the uncomfortable and nervous expressions of the priests as they try to scramble for words. I just admire his black wings, the feathers large and shine the beautiful purple like a raven.

He seems to have gotten bored with the priests scrambling and glances over to me. "Ah, I see you prepared quite the beauty. She looks much better than the last ones." I stiffen as he walks over to me and lifts my chin, grinning. "I can already tell she's quite the spirited one." I keep my expression unfazed, trying to mask the fear, sadness, and anger stirring within me as I fight all instinct to run. His fingers were cold but for some reason not uncomfortable. His red eyes were making me feel prickly though as I try to keep my calm. "She'll do I suppose. Well, I have business to attend. So fortunately I'll be off." My breath catches as he picks me up in a princess carry. I feel my calm demeanor start to crumble as dark smoke embraces me. I shrug my eyes tightly, not knowing what awaits.

After I hear a few swishes I crack open my eyes to find a room with gray walls, a big bead, no windows, and a TV across from the bed. The desk beside the bed had a book and on the right wall a big bookcase stacked with books stood. The floor was made out of wood and there was a couch and chair in front of a fireplace that was crackling softly in the corner. The room was spacious but cozily themed. The beds sheets black and the pillows a soft gray. The whole room was decorated with a gray palette. Nothing that screamed 'this is where your life ends'.

The demon suddenly walks over to the bed and sets me down on its edge. He stares down at me a moment, almost as if he's studying me. For a second I remember again why I'm here and the fact I have to pretend to be a girl when I didn't even know much about them at all to begin with.I was always secluded and weren't around people much, how could I possibly act like one? He soon broke the silence. "... I'm not too fond of the fact my sacrifice smells of others. You need to go take a bath. Go through the door and take a shower or bath, you can do that much, right?" I sit there a moment processing his words before quickly nodding, not wanting to displease him if there's a chance I hadn't messed things up already.

He sits on the edge of the bed while I get up and walk over to the door before pausing nervously, still trying to contain my fear and other emotions that are trying to free themselves. "..um..can I...have a change of clothes...?" I hesitantly look back at him and see his expression is neutral before nodding. "Very well." He snaps, and before I can say more he motions me to go inside and I do. The bathroom was nice and spacious with a nice bath and shower. It looked pretty, unlike what I normally lived in, it was clean and white.

I struggled but eventually managed to remove the frilly white and silver dress. I remove the bra too and sigh, finally able to breathe. I take off the flats that I had been forced into and then start the water, not caring that I stood there in only women's underwear. I was just glad to have removed all the terrible clothes. I had decided to take a bath to help calm me. The bath was nice and warm and after removing the underwear, I slip in. I hadn't had a warm bath this comfortable since I could remember. I couldn't help but slip into the water.

After probably 20 minutes I finally get out, having finished cleaning myself awhile ago but not willing to leave the warm water to go out there with a literal demon. I get out and see the clean clothes on the counter. There was a black sweatshirt and women's underwear. Great. And of course some black shorts along with some dark gray socks. I sigh, already done with these girly outfits. After I dry off and get the clothes on I work on drying my hair with a white towel, the extensions really convincing. (the priests don't exspect me to live long enough for them to start to mess up)

After getting myself together, which didn't take long because of the amazing bath, I walk out of the room, ignoring the embarrassment of the outfit. I stop at the door and just stand awkwardly, unsure what to do next. "Good. Now that you have their scent off you, I can focus more on what I should do with you." He tilts his head to the side, looking my up and down. I stand there stiffly, unsure what he's going to choose for my fate.

"Well, I think I know what I want you to be." I wait nervously and move hair from my face. "Mine." I pause, unsure if I heard him right but then he snaps and I feel something around my neck. I reach up and touch it to feel a collar. "w-what....?" He grins happily as I stare in confusion and surprise. "well little mortal, I like your energy. Your rather adorable too. Therefore you now belong to me. That means you will stay here like a good girl and be mine~" I stiffen, not knowing how to respond or think about what he just said.

"...w-what do you mean...?" He snaps, and swiftly I'm placed on his lap facing him. I quickly stiffen, blushing slightly, never having been so close to someone before. His wings swiftly disappear into his back as he looks up at me with a smile, his eyes still as sharp, but somehow no longer making me so afraid. "I've been quite lonely, the past sacrifices have been such boring or annoying people. Their energy and scent were never so soft and inviting as yours~" not knowing how to respond and feeling my cheeks heat up I was about to get off his lap, but he holds me there. "Don't worry love, I won't hurt you, not unless you make me of course."

He nuzzles his face into my neck, his cold skin surprisingly comforting. I hadn't ever been embraced before, let alone lovingly or so gently. I hold still. I thought demons were horrible creatures known for their sadistic nature...? In the small moment he held my waist and buried his face in my neck with his soft cool breath against it, I felt a rush of emotions. Was this what it felt like for someone to be loving? For once I didn't want to pull away from someones touch. I melt into his arms like a old candle that's finally been lit.

I rather liked the feeling of someone pressed against my body. It felt oddly comforting and made me unable to pull away. My calm was soon interrupted when I remembered that he still had to think I was a girl, and since I'm not being killed... how will I keep up the act? Could acting like myself be enough, or would it give me away? I still didn't trust the demons motives... even if his embrace it gently, behind it, I can feel the strength in him that could crush me at any time. Would he kill me if my true gender was revealed? Would my mistake lead to the death of the children in the village? My throat tightens at the sudden realization of the gravity of my situation.

As I overthink, the demon takes a deep breath into my neck, snapping me back to reality as I feel the cool breath as he exhales. "Your warm...I hope you last longer than the others. They were quite disobedient and rude or just plain crybabies. I like how quiet and obedient you are." I can't help but feel uncomfortable at his words. A pang rubs through me when he mentions the last people... clearly there isn't a trace of past sacrifices...had he killed them? I wasn't planning to live past today, now I couldn't escape. I was stuck pretending to be a good girl when I wasn't a girl, nor was I wanting to follow whatever a demon commands, especially one with a record of a sort temper with people.

I stay on his lap stiffly, not daring to move. He seems content with resting his head on my shoulder and holding me close onto his lap. After a while he finally speaks into my neck, his grip tightening around my waist slightly. "Tomorrow I will be gone for some business. When you wake up there will be some food in the table and I should be back before dinner. I expect you to behave while I'm gone, is that clear?" He glances up at me, but I only nod, wary of what he just said. Was he actually going to treat me so...well? A little warmth forms in my chest at the thought of food, I was hungry but not willing to ask for anything. Did he have ill intentions? Maybe his kind treatment was like a ritual thing, and after he would kill me, or worse....

After a while of sitting in silence, he took his head off of my shoulder and looked me straight in the eyes, his red eyes making me hold my breath, his expression firm but not one of anger. "It's best if we go to bed now." I just nod and wait awkwardly, partially not wanting to leave his embrace but also thankful I can get away from him since I didn't know his true intentions. I speak with a soft voice, trying to make my voice sound more like a girls, though I hate the fact I had to. "Uhm....where can I sleep...?" He studies my face a moment, as if confused why I'm even asking. "Obviously you're sleeping on the bed. It's been too long since I've been so warm, I can't risk you losing it sleeping elsewhere."

 I stay there confused, but he simply picks me up, setting me down on the ground. He yawns before getting under the covers, scootching over a bit and lifting the blankets looking at me expectantly. I hesitate, surprised he's actually telling me to use the same bed as him. I feel my cheeks heat up slightly, since I've never exactly been in the same bed as someone.

He seems to be getting impatient,, so I slowly slip into the blankets just barley, and lay on the edge of the bed, facing my back to him, trying to make myself as small and as far away from him as possible. He snaps and the lights turn off, leaving a dim room only lit by the fireplace. He sighs behind me, sounding more tired than annoyed before wrapping one arm around my side and pulling me over to him, holding me against his own body. I stiffen quickly, not expecting him to do that. My breath quickens slightly, and I try to calm my racing heart. His body was firm but cold against my back, though the cold was oddly comfortable, not harshly cold, just cool against me as the blankets make a warm layer around us.

I eventually calm myself down and he just nuzzles into the back of my neck, pulling me closer into both his arms and presses his legs into mine. my breath catches slightly, not used to all the contact. After awhile I managed to calm myself. I know I couldn't exactly pull away and ruin what seems like a satisfied demon. I couldn't risk messing this up if I was in the clear, he didn't exactly seem to be interested in killing or eating me, so I hope that means I'm safe for now.

After all the stress of today I feel my eyes sting and begin to get heavy. I've never felt so safe, so comfortable sleeping, remember that he had promised an actual meal in the morning, maybe...just maybe...I would finnaly be freed of the abuse. I knew that after the bath the paint covering my wounds was slowly going to fade, eventually revealing them. my chest tightens at the thought of having to explain that. Would the sight of my damaged body make him disgusted....? Would it make him no longer so kind?

The fears run through my mind of all the things I'm hiding, the delicate girls I'm pretending to be would slowly fade away, my disguise will eventually be ruined...I can't exactly hope the extensions, body dyes, and girly interest in outfits ( including the padded bra) wouldn't eventually be seen through. I wouldn't be surprised if when he found out he would destroy the village and the innocent children...I can't stand the thought. I take a shaky breath and slowly place my hand on the one wrapped around my waist. I close my eyes, no longer wanting to be trapped. My life has always been a long trap I could never escape. For once...I wanted to let myself hold the false hope that I can wake to something better. Just anything better...I slip into a deep, dreamless sleep.