Truth-Laced Lies

Outskirts of Azorat
Small, two-story dwelling


Djinn transported them both into the entryway of the house. He withdrew from the man first, turning towards the dwelling.

"I realize it is not quite what you are accustomed to," he told Aspen, "but your previous home was... taken over. I keep my belongings in one of the upstairs bedrooms, but apart from that, the rest of the house is yours. I'm afraid obtaining your own belongings may prove a bit... difficult, but if there is anything in particular you desire, I could attempt to retrieve it for you."

They were just pretty words, though; the demon's act of concern towards the man. He knew full well that Aspen did not remember his previous life - he'd made no effort to keep said memories intact during the process of resurrecting the man. Amazing just what one can do with a person with the proper knowledge set.

Still, Aspen wouldn't realize that he already knew his memories were missing, therefore, Djinn acted accordingly.

The transported didn't effect Aspen one bit. Unlike most men he had the power to apparate as easily as jumping. He took a step forward to view the house and narrowed his eyes. What was it he was used to? Didn't everyone live in a house?

He shook his head. "I don't r..." He cocked his head to the side still looking at the house, hoping it would jog something in his mind. "No, i don't need anything." And with that he jumped and landed in one of the bedrooms in the house. It wasn't the best house in the world but he didn't plan on staying here long. He just preferred to be outside.

Djinn was unconcerned that the man felt no need to return to his presence. He didn't expect him to remain, at all - not for any considerable amount of time, in any case. The house served merely as a meeting place, of sorts. Infusing an aspect of permanence.

The demon chose to walk up the stairs, part of his act as human. He made his way to his own 'room'. Djinn didn't truly stay there - even stripped of his status, he had no need for sleep. Anything he actually needed, he usually kept on his person.

Stationing himself at the window, he stared out. Whether Aspen chose to ask anything of him or not, he would wait for the man's next move. He had time to kill, after all.

After scouting the house for a while he finally picked a room he would consider his for all intents and purposes but it was his should he ever need it. Once he'd made sure he knew all the entrances and exits incase he suddenly found himself incapable of jumping (Which was near impossible in his case) he headed straight for Djinns room.

He leant up against the door frame and folded his arms across his arms as he considered his questions for a few minutes. He also wanted to watch the demon. It wasn't everyday you could find yourself trusting one was it.

"How is it i have no memories beyond that of furmage?" He asked.

Djinn turned to gaze back over his shoulder, a brow raising ever-so-slightly. "You do not remember?" He inclined his head almost thoughtfully.

"You had died. I brought you back." The demon turned back to the window. "Returning people to the mortal plane is not an exact art. It is unfortunate that you must do without your memories. They may even yet return. Either way, it is better to be without knowledge of your past than to rot in Hell without cause. Regardless of how you perceive it, I have done you a favor. There aren't many who can say that."

His words were true, the lies entirely in the details the demon chose to withhold. Returning people to life wasn't an art, but a being of Djinn's age could have brought the man back intact even without his powers. Aspen's memories might return, but never wholly - Djinn had made certain of it. And Djinn had done Aspen a favor... with perfect certainty that the man would repay him with unwavering loyalty.

That was the secret to lying, its art: the most effective lies were spoken in truth.

He frowned and lowered his eyebrows as he thought, but no matter how hard he tried nothing came. "No." He said simply, annoyed at himself more than anything that his mind failed him.

"And for that i am eternally grateful. One more question though. How did i die?" He asked. That was one question he was dying to ask. He couldn't bare to hear he'd died an easy death. He was always for a fighters death. Die young fighting till the very end.

Djinn turned to face the man. "You died because of your nephew," he stated bluntly. "He stood by without so much as a word as you died without a fight. After all you had done for him, he made no move to defend you, even though your death was all his fault.

"That's part of the reason I brought you back, Aspen. You deserve better."

"I have a nephew?" He asked, he hadn't even thought about family. He'd just presumed he was alone in the world. A growl escaped his lips, leaving his fangs exposed. "Where is he?" He growled dropping his folded arms to his sides in fists.

If there was one thing he remembered from his previous life it was how he wanted to die. He wanted to die fighting till his last breath but if what Djinn said was true which he believed was then his own flesh and blood had taken that away from him. Now he had to pay.

"Yes," Djinn confirmed. "He attends Hogwarts. Wizarding school - I doubt you recall that if you can't remember your own relation."

The demon held up a finger. "I don't want you to do anything rash, Aspen. You should know that your nephew is also my son. He's half fire-demon. That means he can wield fire as naturally as you can translocate. At present, that means he can do something that I cannot.

"You will eventually have your revenge on him, but there's no reason you rush into yet another pathetic death. Arsen is not invincible, but you'd be a fool to underestimate the boy."

Aspen growled. "Can others... translocate like i can?" He asked noting the way he said as naturally as you can. He'd find his nephew and make him pay, but he knew he couldn't doit against Djinn's wishes. He just couldn't find it in him to disobey him and he knew that should annoy him but it didn't.

"So what are we going to do?" He asked pushing himself off the wall. "Im not stupid, i know you didn't bring me back so i could die a real death. You're a demon, if there's one thing i remember it's demons and they don't think of others. So what do you need?"

Djinn inclined his head. "There are a few," he confirmed, "all of them old and none mortal like yourself. Others learned; you were born to it.

"Always to the point," Djinn smirked, eyes gleaming. "You're correct, of course. There'd little point in my reviving you were there no benefit to myself. Due to my... circumstances, I find myself in the unique position of needing an ally, someone I can trust. You, Aspen. You have always been reliable. That is why I brought you back."

"Okay, so we're allies? I'm free to do as i please until you need me right?" He asked, he was not willing to be sitting around all day doing nothing waiting for the demons call. Not when he could so easily travel around.

"So what's the situation? If I'm to guard you, since i presume that's really why I'm here. I'm going to need to know what I'm going to be up against. I'm guessing you being here weakens you?" He wasn't stupid, his years as an assassin and Satan's bounty hunter had left him very perceptive and smart when it came to people and his surroundings. It just came down to whether the demon was willing to tell him the truth or not.

Djinn inclined his head. "But of course," he replied. "Man such as yourself can't be cooped inside all day, after all.

"I am still quite formidable. I am weakened only because my creator felt that I needed to be punished and decided to strip me of Status.

"Hell... has become too good for me," Djinn uttered dryly, "and without Status, my powers are greatly diminished. Frankly, you are to serve mostly as a deterrent. My son tends to hold grudges. I do not wish for him to get any ideas."

"Not unless you wish me to turn rabid. Which i would if you caged me like some wild beast." He warned but for some reason he had a feeling he didn't think any cage could hold him anyway.

"I understand. Watch out for my nephew and any other fool that tries to kill you." He nodded in understanding. "But i take it i am merely here so Arsen thinks twice before coming to kill you?" He asked narrowing his eyes as the anger settled in.

Djinn shook his head, an amused smirk on his face. "I told you, Aspen. You are here because I wanted an ally, again." The 'again' was added only to reinforce the deception that they had been associate's before. "We I solely in need of a protector, I needn't have bothered bringing you back, at all. Drust is well capable of protecting me."

The too-dark shadow that had been in the far corner of the room slunk forward, inky black tendrils solidifying into the form of large presa canario. Drust stared at the man, gaze far too intent for a mere dog, before turning his attention to his master.

"I trust you can imagine the damage a hellhound can inflict?" Djinn asked rhetorically. "You are far more than a pet to me, Aspen." The lie sounded as perfectly sincere as a demon was capable of being. "Don't undervalue yourself in such a way."

Aspen didn't miss the fact he said again. If there was one thing he noticed since he'd come back it was that he was very perceptive. So they had been allies before? A part of him couldn't help but believe the man before him, but the other half knew something was wrong. "Okay." He nodded, pushing aside that doubt.

Aspen took a step back a hiss escaping his lips as the hell hound came into view. It was an automatic response to something he didn't understand. "Imagine? I think i already know." He frowned tilting his head to one side. "I think i'm hungry. Mind if i hunt?" He asked, not entirely sure what it was he actually ate. "You don't happen to know what i eat do you?" He asked, he knew some how that it wasn't human food. He just wasn't craving that.

Satisfaction to which only Djinn was privy emanated from Drust at Aspen's response. The hound found his retreat most satisfactory, indeed.

"Not at all," Djinn told the man, then smirked. "Last that I was aware, you had a taste for human. You even had yourself a rather impressive collection of human fingers.

"If you wish for something a bit more challenging and fulfilling, however, might I suggest... demon? I think you would find the pursuit immensely enjoyable and the reward most sweet."

"Human fingers?" He smirked suddenly liking the sound of that. Who didn't want to remember every victim they had ever killed and/ or tasted? "Guess i'll have to start myself a new collection then."

Demon? He thought, his eyes flicking hungrily to Djinn's neck. Now he thought about it the smell was tantalising. "Do they still come to the cross roads like they used to?" He asked biting the inside of his lip to keep his fangs back. He'd faced enough hellhounds to last him 10 life times.

Djinn gave a smirk. "Oh, they do," he assured. Clearly, the idea that he was essentially betraying his own kind did not bother him. They were mortalborn, in any case, meaning they were far beneath him.

Drust's gaze was focused intently on the man, that the only threat the hound felt the need to give. The hound lowered its head, though his eyes remained fixed on Aspen. Dissipating into a cloud of dense black smoke, it vanished back under the bed. Still, it watched.