Page 1 of Demon Seed

Vesper

Not all demons are alike. Some, like me, were once celestial entities—angels whose minds brimmed with curiosity, whose audacity led them to question the very fabric of the divine plan.

The Fall was not merely a descent; it was an excruciating and absolute metamorphosis. The light that once enveloped us was stripped away, leaving shadows and a new, darker essence.

Others among our kind have a different lineage, born from the bloodline of demigods who reached beyond their grasp, their ambitions too vast and unchecked. As the old pantheons waned and their glory dimmed, these half-divine progenies did not simply vanish into obscurity—they underwent an evolution of their own.

Darkness surged to fill the void where divinity had once resided, transforming them into beings of formidable power and shadowed intent.

We are the Darkbourne—demons who once resided among men and have now chosen to live among our own kind. I am their king and founded this place centuries ago when men’s hatred burned brightest. When their pyres consumed us, and their silver blades dripped with the blood of our half-demon brood. Here, in this dimension between realities, we built something they could never understand—a civilization of shadows and starlight.

The perpetual darkness of Nightshade wraps around me as I stand on top of the city’s ancient watchtower. From this vantage, I can see the entirety of my kingdom—the sprawling metropolis, the winding Serpent River cutting through the valley, its waters black as ink yet somehow gleaming with an inner light. The Forbidden Forest edge our borders, their primeval trees standing like sentinels against the outside world. All of it is my domain.

Castle Darkbourne groans around me, ancient stones settling as the night deepens. From my window, I can see the crimson moons hanging low over the Blackthorne Mountains.

“My lord.” Cassian’s voice materializes from behind me. My most trusted advisor materializes from the shadows, his raven wings folded neatly against his back. “Captain Morrigan awaits your council. There’s been another breach in the eastern barrier, and she wants your permission to clear the woods.

I clench my jaw. The barriers between worlds have been thinning. Soon, the humans might stumble into our sanctuary, bringing their prejudice and violence with them once more. They are no match for us, but it would be unfortunate if they spread the word about the existence of the Otherworld.

“Tell Morrigan not to rush into a battle. I’ll be there momentarily.” My gaze lingers on the horizon, where the mountains meet the star-filled sky that never sees dawn. This darkness is our protection, our home. And I will not let it fall. Not while I still draw breath.

I move through the dense undergrowth of the Forbidden Forest every step deliberate and silent. The trees tower above me, their gnarled branches reaching toward one another like desperate lovers, creating a canopy that blocks most of the moonlight. What little illumination filters through casts strange, shifting shadows that play tricks on even my trained eyes. A cool breeze carries the scent of night-blooming jasmine to me, along with something unfamiliar. It’s probably trouble. I can always smell it before I see it.

“You’re being reckless again.” Morrigan surprises me, her voice barely above a whisper, yet somehow cutting through the eerie silence of the woods.

I don’t turn to look at her. I know what I’ll see—a lethal demoness with pale skin that gleams faint blue in the darkness and horns curving elegantly from the back of her head. Her red eyes are surely narrowed in disapproval.

“Someone breached the eastern boundary,” I reply, continuing forward. “My legions were triggered minutes ago.”

“Which is why you shouldn’t have ventured here alone. You’re fortunate I tracked you down before encountering more than you could handle.”

I recognize an edge to her tone when speaking as Captain of the Guards rather than as my friend.

“An entourage of demons would announce my presence. What if this is one of those curious humans who believe in capturing one of us and becoming famous? I don’t want to share more of our world than is necessary.”

“Perhaps you’re walking into a trap,” Morrigan interrupts, moving with supernatural grace to block my path. “Vesper, you’re too valuable to risk on a whim.”

I meet her gaze steadily, stunned she’d assume I could not fend off such a weak species. “No human can harm me, Morrigan. Besides, it’s not a whim. This intrusion feels… unusual. Different from their typical probes.”

A sound—barely perceptible—comes from our left. Morrigan’s hand flies to the hilt of her blade, her body tensing like a predator about to pounce. I raise my hand slightly, signaling her to wait while the woods hold their breath with us as we listen.

I draw bare my claws, drinking what little moonlight filters through the canopy. “Keep the perimeter secure. I’ll approach first.”

“With respect, my lord,” Morrigan says, the scales along her forearms bristling, “we don’t know anything about this creature.”

“Precisely. We know nothing of its intentions,” I continue. “If it wanted to harm us, would it not have done so already? Why linger at our borders?”

Morrigan steps beside me, her dark robes fluttering in the breeze. “Perhaps it is lost. Even celestial beings might find themselves adrift.”

“Whatever it is has a gravitational pull that summons me. I need to uncover what it is.” I step deeper into the woods, my footfalls silent against the moss-covered ground. The trees around me seem to bend inward, as if sharing secrets I’m not meant to hear. I’ve walked these woods countless times, but tonight feels different. The air vibrates with an energy I’ve never felt before.

“It feels like starlight,” Morrigan calls out from a distance.

And as I draw closer, I see why.

“This light is much closer than the stars. It’s moonlight,” I reply, drawn farther down our makeshift path. “Stay where you are, and do not follow any farther. I don’t know who it is, but I’m certain it means no harm.”

“Vesper—” Morrigan warns, formality abandoned in her concern.

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