FALLEN ANGEL: MARRIED TO THE DEMON KING

Arella slammed the letter on the table, "You're telling me that in all the realms—heaven, earth, and underworld—the only solution to prevent catastrophe and centuries of conflict is to marry off to a demon."

"Not just any demon, the Demon King." Solan offered.

Arella shot him a look that made him shut up.

"King Varziel." Arella murmured.

"The council believes you are uniquely suited for this role." Solan tried again.

"Oh, I'm sure they do. After all, none of them seemed bothered by my mother's decision to lay me off." Arella snapped, "I have been nothing but a headache for them since they day I could walk. This is their way of getting rid of me for good."

The Shadow Hound stood from its position and pattered over to where Arella stood. It rubbed its furry head on her knee. Arella stretched out her wing and let it rub the creature's forehead.

"I don't want this any more than you do." Solan said. She could clearly see the disgust on his face as he looked at the creature. "However," he cleared his throat, looking back up at Arella. "The decision has been made. The Council's decision is final; you know that. Your presence is required."

"Required?" Arella scoffed. "It has been a hundred years. I almost feel like I owe nothing to the angel realm. What if I say no? I can very well tell the Council to shove their decree up their pretentious asses."

Arella refused to think for a moment that her father was part of the council.

No, actually, he could shove it too.

Solan's expression hardened. "You know the consequences of defying the Council, Arella. You would be stripped of your rank, your immortality, and your connection to the heavens. You would become mortal, Arella. Is that what you want?"

Arella faltered, clenching her fists. He was right.

A corrupted angel was one that had joined forces with demons in order to fight the angels. An exiled angel was one that had been banished from the heavens, turned into a mortal, never to return.

Being married off to an demon sounded much better than that. Her fingers dug into her palms. Refusing would mean she would lose everything—not that she had much to lose after a century in exile.

She walked to the only chair in the room and slumped into it. "Why me. I know our numbers are very small; however, there are a good number of unwed female angels."

"You know how weak female angels are. Many of them have not suffered a day in their life, nor do they know how to survive if they were tossed into such a situation. You, however, are strong enough to survive it."

Arella laughed bitterly, "As if that makes me feel so much better. Thanks for calling me a weirdo, Solan."

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The weight of the situation hung heavy in the air.

Solan was the first to move, and he crouched next to Arella, "I heard some of the elders talking." He paused, obviously hesitant to share. Then, as if making up his mind, he took in a deep breath, "I think there is something else going on here. I heard the elders saying that an angel was found dead close to the borders between heaven and hell. They suspect the demons had a hand in it. However, there is no proof. The demon patrol is also the one who brought the angel's body to the patrolling angels."

Arella's eyes widened upon hearing this news.

"So they want me to go there to investigate."

"It is much more complicated than that." Solan scratched his cheek. "There are also rumors going around that the Demon King personally asked for your hand in marriage."

"What?!" Arella would have jumped out of the seat were it not for Echo, who had nestled himself at her feet. "Why would he want to marry me?" she hissed at Solan.

Solan raised his hands. "How am I supposed to know the answer to that?" You should ask him when you get to see him."

Arella slumped back into her seat. "Ugh. Fine." She ran a hand through her shoulder-length locks. "When do I leave for the demon realm?"

"I am not sure. I do know that preparations for your marriage are already underway."

"Fine." Arella sighed, resigning herself to her fate. "See yourself out. I might be tempted to burn your robe if I see you out myself."

Solan stood, hesitated for a moment, as if he wanted to say more. Eventually, he nodded his head and walked out of the cottage.

The moment the door closed behind him, Arella let out a frustrated scream into her throw pillow. Echo raised his head to look at her, his glowing green eyes filled with a mixture of curiosity and sympathy.

Arella dropped the pillow from her face. "Don't look at me like that, Echo. It's not like I have a choice."

Echo raised its massive head and rested it on her lap. It was a small gesture of comfort it had always done over the years. She ran her hand through his thick black locks. "Marry the demon king." She scoffed. "Can you believe that madness, Echo? What am I supposed to do with this information?"

The Shadow Hound let out a soft rumble, its warmth grounding her slightly.

"I guess we will just have to find out, huh." She spoke up, mainly to herself than to the creature.

She glanced at the letter once more, her mind racing. "I guess we should start packing, huh. Three days isn't a lot of time. I also have to say goodbye to the silly king."

S/T:

(Back up in heaven, Camael is on his bed, crying on his wifes shoulder.)

Camael: Arella is never going to forgive me. It is not like I wanted this to happen. The other council members ganged up on me.

Lailah: (Pat's her husband's back) Yes, yes, dear. Arella is a kind child, though, so I am sure she will understand. She takes after me in that regard.

Camael: (Looks up at his wife. He cannot refute her words because if he calls her anything other than kind, he will be chased out of the house.) Yes, she really does take after you. (Arella really did take after his wife. He was sure she would hold a grudge against him for years.)