Defying Expectations | OPEN

Djinn appeared outside the gates to the cemetery, red eyes bright in the deepening twilight.

Everyone knew that demons could not step on holy ground; that places like churches and graveyards were safe from their intrusion.

Djinn walked forward, strolling almost casually between the headstones. Unknown to all but a scarce few, such rules applied only to lesser demons. In all of Hell itself, Djinn had no equal among the ranks of demon.

"Burning," he remarked casually of the owner of one headstone as he passed. His gaze flicked to the next one. "In eternal torment. In eternal torment. Went elsewhere. Screams beautifully. Dispossessed of all sanity. Tormenting others." A faint trace of approval may have entered his tone. "Also in eternal torment."

The demon continued along, remarking upon the various deceased as he walked with no apparent destination. He was simply... killing time.

(OOC: After thinking about it, I realized I am bored enough to reply!)

Sitting in the pale moon light, her jacket tucked closely, Iva looked at the gravestone of her mother shining in the night. Sure, she was breaking school rules by being here, but that was fine with her.

She didn't like school.

"Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them." Her hands folded in the traditional prayer, she paused to breathe the soft air of winter, " May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen."

A shadow fell behind her and she could feel her heart speed up. She turned to look- just a man.

She would have been releaved if his face didn't look so familiar.


Like someone at school.

Djinn's gaze rested on the tombstone for a fleeting moment. "Went elsewhere," he stated in a bored tone. His eyes turned upon the girl, catching the light as they did so, so that even in the dimness, they were unmistakably crimson. He gazed at her for a long moment, as though studying her, though his expression was inscrutable.

"Little mortal," Djinn murmured in a dangerously silky tone, circling the girl in an undeniably predatory fashion. "In the cemetery, all alone after nightfall." He gazed about the graveyard before turning back to look at her, a cruel smirk pulling at the corner of his mouth.

"There are ghosts here, y'know," he said, almost off-handedly. He gave a meaningful pause and leaned towards her slightly. "And... other things."

Iva watched the man carefully, fear shining in her eyes. It was if he was a viper- ready to strike at any time. She stood slowly, her fists curled into balls.

Red eyes, calling her a mortal- She remembered who else had these traits. Arsen Something- or- other. If they were related and had the same attitude, Iva realized she should watch her tongue; Death wouldn't be good tonight.

Ready to run, Iva tried to work up an answer.

"Maybe I like the night, yes?" She said, her accent making her words more steady than they should be, "I am not afraid of the ghosts so much."

Djinn chuckled, genuinely amused.

It was not a pleasant sound.

"Maybe so," he said lightly, voice so nearly congenial that it would have been convincing but for the air of malice which surrounded him. "Ghosts... needn't be feared so much. It's the scarier, more... dangerous things you've got to look out for.

"So, tell me, little mortal - I know you are meant to be elsewhere at this hour, whatever leads you to be here, alone?" the demon asked casually, red eyes gleaming. "Sentimentality only? Or perhaps a bit of rebellion and rule-breaking? Why, something... evil," his tone caressed the word, "could befall you."

Feeling her skin crawl because of that stupid laugh, Iva couldn't decide whether the man was going to carress her or maim her. Probably both. She backed up a step, biting her lip.

She realized she was the prey- he the hunter. It was as if she was in his game. Realizing that, dark attitude shone in her eyes.

"All of it," She replied flatly. She considered the second part of his monolouge, then smirked. Before she could stop herself, the words fell out of her mouth.

"Evil does not befall me. I befall on it."

The demon actually smiled, though the friendly expression looked out of place upon his features. There was far too much ill-intent visible in those crimson eyes.

"Is that so?" he said, grin broadening ferally. "You are most amusing, little mortal. Your defiance is... cute. Hell, I might even let you live. Perhaps.

"Tell me, little mortal, is there any reason I should spare you your measly existence? Any at all? Maybe we can strike a bargain. Wouldn't that be fun?" Djinn gazed at her intently, hands stuffed into his pockets in a casual manner that did nothing to detract from his menace. Few could mistake him for merely human; he just didn't quite pull it off.

Living with her father for most of her life, Iva knew something about "bargains". As a business man, her father thought himself as "wise" at most points of his life, but he had always said something interesting about deals.

Necessity never made a good bargain. Especially with this man, if he really was a human male.

She wasn't sure; in a magical realm, anything could happen.

Iva realized, as she stared back at the man's demon eyes, that this was definitively a time of necessity. She took a step back, finding a grave stone behind her. Not missing a beat, she simply leaned back on it as if she had planned to do that originally.

"Me? A reason?" She mused, as if this was a simple conversation, not a debate over her life. She figured she could continue this as well, as long as she didn't look into those eyes.

"I am just a poor, sad Russian girl. I have nothing to give- that is reason for me to keep living- So I can become something more than that,"

Well, that was a lie. She wasn't poor or sad. She was certainly Russian though.

Arsen often wandered during the night, it gave him something to do whilst the world slept but tonight he felt something familiar. He felt the familiar dread in the pit of his stomach, which could only mean one thing. Demons.

He stopped and scanned the area only now realising he was on the edge of the graveyard and spotted his father with that clever little 3rd year who knew his weakness. "Father!" He said leaning against the statue closest to the edge of the scared line he couldn't cross. "That one is mine." He said nodding to the girl.

Djinn had been about to respond to the girl - this pathetic mortal foolish enough to think he might spare her for such an inane reason - when he heard his son call out to him. He'd known the boy was there, of course; he just didn't anticipate his interference.

The demon looked slowly over at the boy, then back at the girl, before turning in his son's direction. Between on step and the next, he was standing directly in front of the boy, red eyes gleaming.

"Is she?" he asked mildly. He inclined his head slightly, glancing back at the girl. "Such an amusing little pet you have."

He stood up straight and away from the statue as he father moved forwards. Arsen had one fair and that fear was stood before him right now. He alone was the one person who could kid him and make his after life even worse than him painful death.

"Yeah she is." He said his voice speaking like he normally would with others, luckily that didn't give away how he really felt. "She's not like the rest, she has fire. All the others are weak and pathetic." He shrugged.

Iva jumped at the familiar voice, relief in her pale blue eyes.

"Thank God," She whispered, her hand over her racing heart. To think, she, Iva Popov, was that close to death. She reminded herself to thank Arsen later, but right now, she would just play along.

The pet thing was just a joke, right?

The man- Arsen's father- was close to him now and despite her instincts to dash away, Iva found herself walking over to Arsen defiantly. She flinched when she saw both of their eyes, but showed no other emotion. She simply stood next to Arsen, hands tucked behind her back as she grimaced slightly.

As if she was a dog.


At least he thought she was "different". That was good, she thought.

"So, I noticed," Djinn stated, gazing almost thoughtfully at the girl. "Pity she's already claimed. Such promise. Do let me know if you tire of her."

He turned back to his son. "Speaking of pets, how is Blondie? Dead, yet?" A bit of menace entered in his tone, though, he knew full well the construct was perfectly fine. He'd just spoken to it a couple days before.

He nodded. "I will do." He stated clearly before taking a glance at Iva out of the corner of his eye. At least she was smart enough to follow along with what he was saying, she would no doubt get herself killed and him at least injured if she didn't.

"No im taking care of her just as you asked. She won't be dying anytime soon." He said, the girl was growing on him but he still hated how annoying she was. He liked her when she was no where near him at least.

At the demon's gaze, Iva stepped closer to Arsen, her gloved hand clutching his robe. Something about that look made her want to scream, cry, and blush at the same time. It was as if she was the award winning pooch at the Dog Show, examined by the judges with such care.

"Винт с," She whispered, hiding her eyes. Screw off in Russian seemed so much more fitting than English. The man probably wouldn't understand it either. Did Demon's speak Russian?

Iva realized they were talking about Aria now, so she bit her lip. Such a nice, weird girl. Iva hoped that Aria wasn't scared by them too.

"Good," the demon told his son. "Be sure you learn what you are meant to. Mortals are such frail things, after all."

Djinn's eyes flared with white hot fire and he turned to sneer at the girl, crouching so his sulfurous breath brushed her face. "Смотреть ваш тон, домашнее животное," he snarled back at her. "У меня нет проблем убить тебя, где ты стоишь."

He straightened, turning to look at his son. "Quite fortunately for your ill-mannered Russian, I have better things to do.

"She speaks to me in such a manner again, and I will kill her," he promised. "Until next time." He stepped back, turning towards the center of the cemetery. The demon was gone before he had completed the movement.

Iva bit her tongue- literally. Sure, it was just a childhood habit she had, biting her tongue to stay out of trouble, but this time, blood filled her mouth. Not a lot, but enough to be bother some.

She paused a moment, making sure the man- no, monster- was actually gone. Her heart was racing pitifully, overcome with fear. Those firey eyes made a frost over come her body- one that stopped her from moving all together.

SHe was frightened beyond belief, but would never admit it.

"Your father," She turned to Arsen, a relieved smile on her face. The ice blues twinlked with admiration, as if they were old friends instead of almost strangers. " Is a jerk."

Then she realized she still clutched to his cloak. If she didn't have gloves, she would have let go, but today was one of her "good" days and, well, she didn't want to.

"I guess I owe you one," She said, serious, "Whatever you wish for- ask me,"

He turned and sighed in relief when his father disappeared. "Don't! Ever! Give him reason to kill you cause theres no stopping him once he wants you blood!" He said sitting on the edge of the nearest statue.

He glanced around to make sure his father was no longer around. "Yes i know, he's not the best father in the world but he can kill in you less than a second without even needing to touch you or raising a wand." He said rubbing his forehead, he was just glad he fell for the whole pet thing because it could have ended disasterously for both of them.

"I'll get back to you on that one, just make sure you don't go insulting demons cause i can't be around to save you all the time."

Iva swallowed hard, then nodded gravely. Usually she would have a smart reply about the situation, but something about Arsen's face bugged her. He truly was seriously.

"Okay," she agreed, hugging herself. She gave a shalow laugh, looking at Arsen.

"And I thought my dad was bad!"

He laughed, it wasn't a normal happy laugh, more like a nervous laugh. Which sounded unusual from the usually cocky teen. "You have no idea!" He said shaking his head.

"He killed my uncle without even batting an eyelid." He said thinking back to that horrible day, he truly thought he was going to die that day.

Iva shuttered, truly disturbed about how one could kill part of their family. Arsen's shaky laugh made her even more on edge, so she edged closer to him. He could protect her, or, at least, distract the demon while she ran.

"As long as he does not kill me, I am happy," she huffed, crossing her arms.

"I wouldn't be so sure around him. He doesn't care about anyone but himself." He muttered, if the demon cared about him half as much as he did himself it would be amazing. Instead he lived his life as if he was an orphan most of the time.

"You cold?" He asked mistaking her movements.

"A bit," Iva replied, sitting on the statue as well. she looked up at what they were sitting on, trying to busy herself with something. Finally, she looked back at him, her blue eyes flashing.

"Are you okay?" she asked quietly.

He opened his arms for her to step into and turned up his body temperature a little to warm her up. Why he was suddenly being so nice, he didn't know but it definitely felt strange.

He nodded. "I've died before and i'd really not like to go back there again. Death isn't fun." He admitted, not many people knew he'd died because it wasn't a subject he particularly liked to talk about.

Iva looked at Arsen and raised an eyebrow, comfused. Realizing he wanted her to walk into his arms, a slight blush crossed her cheeks. She was about to refuse when a shiver crawled up her spine, causing her to move into his arms reductantly.

"Thank you," she mumbled. He was so... warm.

"I would think death is not fun at all," she agreed softly, "How did you..." she paused, not wanting to finish the sentence. "How did it happen?"