A Sacrifice for a Lover

*NOTE: This page is part of Sacrifices That Lived. If you ended up here unaware of what the series is about, please look up the main article first.*

**A Sacrifice for a Lover** is a story about a once powerful demon waking up in modern times, surrounded by younger peers that far exceed him in strength.

Jangzelang knows he can't fall behind if he values his safety and has to copy their tricks by pursuing a Sacrifice, but quickly finds himself distracted by the captivating appearance of a lady with a natural skin and hair colour he never knew humans could have.

The story was conceived in late October of 2023, but it and the characters have made no official appearance.

## Additional context

The story's main setting is China, somewhere after the 21st century.

Because of past mistakes, Asia's birth rate continues to dwindle and there're not enough women to change course. They become valuable to many lonely men and this shift in culture indirectly leads to the creation of a matchmaking event, exclusive to the continent, though not targeted at humans.

Demons are invited to meet and charm female Orphaned Sacrifices under the assumption they too struggle to find a partner and are thus more open to granting these Sacrifices on the run a real future.

The event promotes the controversial method of courting a Sacrifice in order to absorb their stored magic, but since demons look down on humans, Sacrifice meat is loved, and eating a more secure method of getting their magic to merge with their body, most demons outside of Asia don't believe it's feasible to try and thus never bought an overpriced ticket to see what it's like.

Having that said, only the rich and top elites show up in droves, who also know of the true practises going on behind doors, which isn't as advertised;

Sacrifices get to set the rules on what kind of union they wish to establish, but demons only pretend to care until they've earned their trust and disregard whatever they've agreed upon. Marriage has never having been entertained with any sincerity, and there's no safety measure in place to prevent a girl's murder after she leaves with her demon of choice.

The low success rate is only known amongst its predatory guests, while Sacrifices all over the world keep getting urged to show up and register themselves with the promise the event is a protected space. Especially Sacrifices born in Asia have been fully made to believe the event is legitimate and tend to put on the most confident act when mingling with guests. Most foreign Sacrifices, meanwhile, are the oblivious victims of kidnapping and bought by the event from Orphaned Sacrifice collection facilities, as to keep their selection of girls high and give guests a reason to come and splurge their money.

Despite demons running and attending these events, humans made it up and they're a tremendous source of money for whatever country hosts one.

## Story

> **CHAPTER 1: Introduction**One day, a young demon named Jangzelang senses a way out from the dreary, overstuffed realm he and countless other beasts reside in. A handcrafted mirror sits in the home of a celebrated town leader on Earth -its size and great optical quality having spawned a portal for Jangzelang to cross by using his trademark ability of merging and traversing through reflective objects.
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> He doesn't waste this opportunity to explore and finds himself in pre-ancient China. He meets the simple inhabitants of Earth, who seemingly can't defend themselves from beings like him, as they are not only physically weaker, but constantly engage in emotions and practises that leave their souls open for the demon of curses to consume. Jangzelang is pleased with the easy prey and makes China his new home.
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> As one of the few demons on Earth, he has little competition to keep him humble and lives a life of unchallenged luxury. He turns into a confident, but lazy self-proclaimed lord, claiming the souls and possessions of any small-scale and big-time leader that makes the mistake of summoning him. Eventually, he sees no reason to secure any more wealth or mindless, soul-sucked followers and decides to give himself a deserved break from doing the same old.
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> Jangzelang abandons his kingdom and real mansion to sleep in his way more impressive, personally-crafted domain, safely hidden away inside a large, heavy mirror sitting in his bedroom. Without concern for when he'll open his eyes again, he lies down.
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> When he finally decides to wake up, he realizes something's amiss upon spotting the wrinkles in his hands. He leaves his mirror and learns it's been damaged and dumped on a garbage hill, together with other trashed, unfamiliar objects. The cracked glass allowed for the flow of time to seep through, and not having fed himself for all these years, his life and powers have been eaten away.
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> Jangzelang realizes the world around him greatly modernized during his sleep and he missed out on the worrisome mass-integration of demons on Earth -all more powerful than him. After some further investigating, he learns humans and the now sizeable demon population established a peculiar relationship; where demons will act like some kind of one-time genie in exchange for ownership of the client's child, to use as a greenhouse for their magic. It's a strategy Jangzelang never guessed could make oneself stronger, and one he knows he needs to explore if he wishes to survive amongst his hostile peers.
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> But Jangzelang is like a senile old man in front of a desktop computer and has no idea where to begin, nor has the patience. As luck have it, his country holds regular events that allow demons to meet with "Orphaned Sacrifices" -humans already imbued with magic and no one to claim them- which are advertised quite proudly. It's only for the elite or those who can pay the hefty entrance fee, but Jangzelang does not consider that a sign of trouble to come and secures himself a ticket.
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***CHAPTER 2: The Castle That's Just a Hotel and the Demon That's Just a Human**
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> Jangzelang looks up the address and arrives at a beautiful European-looking castle, which he learns afterwards is a hotel. As he enters, wearing his best silk robe, he realizes how off he looks. Besides attire, he's the "oldest" demon in the room, with everyone else not looking a second over 25. For an adult demon, an aged face is a sign of lost power, and everyone knows what's up when their eyes meet his.
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> A hostile air fills the room, making Jangzelang regret all decisions that led to this moment, but with his reputation being all he has left, turning tail would be more embarrassing than powering through. Even the youngest attendee could break him in half with a flick of their pinky, and right now, he had to pretend that was not the case.
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> Jangzelang's pride seeps away with every step and he heads to an unclaimed table to collect his thoughts. He tries to comfort himself with copious amounts of tea, but can't relax and has to keep track of the sneering guests who could kill him at any random moment for that boost of status, or his riches, assuming anyone knows who he is.
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> Though demons are naturally combative and he notices some guests already getting angry over the long waiting time, there's security present that works hard to keep people in check. It reassures Jangzelang somewhat, but he still doubts he'll get what he paid for with this calibre of contenders in the room.
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> Then, a group of young women show up, looking like demons, though even the unfamiliar Jangzelang knows they're not. They exude a sweet scent that kicks him in the senses the moment they're released from the chamber that had apparently been enchanted to hid their presence. He immediately grows hungry and a sensation he's never had before pushes him to sprint at them, but being raised better than that, he looks around to see what the proper etiquette is at this moment. Though he sees some twitching hands, the audience stays put, so he does too.
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> A host shows up to formally start the event and introduce the ladies, who Jangzelang learns are the ones everyone calls "Sacrifices". The point is to mingle and agree on a deal before the end of the party, and if human and demon accept each other's terms, their night will end with either death, marriage, or spending a night with each other in one of the castle's rooms. The severity of magic a demon will receive in return seems to hinge on what option is chosen, but so does the Sacrifice's "payment"; with those who let themselves get eaten being promised an even greater reward, though it'll be one they themselves cannot benefit from.
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> Jangzelang is surprised to learn about all these options, since he was convinced Sacrifices were meant to be eaten, not married. The girls look awfully calm with death being a possible outcome, making him wonder if killing humans is an outdated practise that the event presents for show.
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> Even so, he already has his eye on one of the women, every inch of her like nothing he's ever seen. She has dark skin, as if the sun itself tried to take her down, but instead, she captured it inside her hair, shiny and yellow of colour.
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> Though he's seen a handful of foreign humans walking around since his awakening, with light hair and large bulging eyes, and the demon race itself comes in weird shades, this was special. He never cared to travel the world or left his comfort zone back in the days, and the woman raised questions he wanted answers to, but there was no easy access to her with men swarming the clique, trying to charm them into a deal. Unlike him, they looked young, most were handsome, and all had enough magic power to be of objective use. Jangzelang knew not to be a catch the moment he entered the room and can only sneak glances at the girl from his table.
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> But his heart starts to beat a little faster when he notices his subject of interest is the least pursued Sacrifice in the bunch, making him almost take it as a sign of fate. Every demon who shows up to look at her quickly moves on, and Jangzelang is too blinded by hopefulness and her beauty to pick up on the reason.
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> Meanwhile, guests bring their complaints about the woman to the host, stating she's like an empty barrel with no magic worth consuming. The greedy demons quickly make their intentions clear; and wish to skip the courting process by offering the host money to buy her as regular food. The host isn't having it and argues it doesn't matter how much magic a Sacrifice holds, and it's the job of the demon to get the most out of her. He advises them to benefit from the little competition and make her fall in love with them.
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> The men aren't interested in marriage and the backtalk creates a loud argument in the busy room, catching the attention of security again, though the other guests are too self-concerned to acknowledge the noise and rather devote their attention to their Sacrifice of choice. Nevertheless, this brief moment of commotion that distracts security invites one man to approach the controversial woman and guide her away. She looks unsure about what's happening, and since she doesn't speak Chinese and likely has no context for why she's even here, she lets herself get stolen by this shady customer.
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> Jangzelang can't hear the details of anything going on, but can deduce quite clearly he's forcing her away without having done the work of earning her. Though he knows better than to try, he's pushed off his chair by a burst of panic and hurries over to stop the two from leaving the building. The perpetrator with the starved expression looks at him with anger and doesn't utter any words as he swiftly fires off his fist at his face. Jangzelang barely avoids it by merging himself into the kitsch and overly reflective ring sitting on his middle finger, thus disappearing out of sight.
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> In the castle's mirror world, Jangzelang looks for other reflective objects that count as a mirror and jumps out of a piece of cutlery, catching the still confused man off-guard, who's swiftly kicked in the back. He staggers a bit, but the weak attack does nothing else to him. Security finally shows up to stop their scuffle, saving Jangzelang from further possible embarrassment.
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> The Sacrifice doesn't know what happened, but can make a good guess and responds grateful for his efforts. She mutters only a few words, as she knows the Chinese-speaking Jangzelang won't understand anyway, but he makes his own guess and bows his head in return.
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> Now that he's standing next to her and got her attention, he feels even more weak-kneed than before. In both of her dark and otherwise pupilless eyes moves a bright swirl, like a distant galaxy in space -a glimpse of a world he's never seen. It distracts him of the maddeningly enticing scent of her flesh, now nothing more than a nice perfume, and he wants to keep talking to her, but the other guests seem not to be done causing a ruckus. Everyone's picked up on her little magic and a demand goes around that she'll be auctioned off as meat.
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> It worries Jangzelang the host will give in, but surprisingly, the integrity of the event is called more important and he refuses to change the rules on what still qualifies as a Sacrifice. The woman notices the glares she's getting and looks uncomfortable by it. Jangzelang sees this as his moment to disregard his own fears and man up for her sake, despite knowing he's dependant on security and expects nothing good will happen to him when the party ends.
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> He bows to her again and gestures to have her hand. She's hesitant, but since he just helped her, has to believe his intentions are good. He guides her to his once lonesome table and asks a server to bring another cup. He pours her tea, but the steam coming from the liquid doesn't reassure her it's for consumption and she is afraid to grab it. The response confuses him, but he reassures her by blowing in his own tea, showing it can be cooled.
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> Not a minute later, the date is interrupted by men seating themselves down. They've just been rejected by the other Sacrifices and wish to go home with a consolation prize. They casually ask for her hand, making Jangzelang suspicious if the already married men are faking interest. Though Chinese elites took multiple women in his time, demons don't have a polyamorous culture and only settle for the strongest partner they can win over. Since they look down on humans, it's hard to believe this many couples would be alright with accepting one into their home, and the wives of the intruders were looking on from a short distance, not happy, yet oddly determined.
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> Regardless, the men's intentions didn't matter. Whether it was a scheme or they were also in love with her, the outcome was the same for him. Jangzelang asks them to give him a minute alone with his date, the audacity of the request brewing a rage inside each one of them, but with officers nearby, they pretend to keep their cool. One of them proclaims they're not breaking any rules and only a Sacrifice may ask them to leave.
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> Jangzelang looks at the woman. She's uncomfortable by the presence of the intruders, but clearly not been told to have the power to send them away and just nervously looks at everyone. The men know and smile arrogantly upon her silence. Jangzelang hates to make more enemies, but suggests each one of them stretches out their hand to see which one(s) she'll grab. They don't want to agree to that, but since they can't think of a good reason to deny this method for a person who can't be verbally communicated with, they have to play along. The men stretch out their hands at her, making her flinch, and Jangzelang conveys to her to pick one.
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> He stretches out his hand as well, and she doesn't know what this game could possibly mean, but not wanting to touch the strangers anyway, she lays her fingers on Jangzelang's palm. His smile convinces her she won the game and she gives a careful smile back. The men depart, but feelings of vengeance linger in the air. To be treated like that by a weak demon and a weak Sacrifice was unheard of and they'd definitely return to make it known.
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> Jangzelang is growing sick with anxiety, but the woman is glad to have earned his protection twice and her smile turns more sincere. Her little tooth gap is another surprise he didn't expect and his eyes won't move away from it. Every inch of this babe squeezed his heart to a suffocating degree and helped him forget the stress of surely getting his head smashed in in some alleyway later this evening.
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> He picks up his cup and urges her to drink as well, which she does out of trust for him. She doesn't look too fond of it, so Jangzelang requests some sugar to be brought, pleasing the first-time tea and sugar consumer. With that knowledge, he orders her all kinds of sweet pastries, which takes her an embarrassing time to realize is food at all until Jangzelang decides to feed some to her. It's nothing but joy on her face, the sight of which nearly makes him diabetic.
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***CHAPTER 3: First Comes Love, Then Comes Misunderstandings**
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> While the other Sacrifices spend their evening negotiating with the top most powerful demons in the room, Jangzelang and the girl, who he strenuously learns calls herself "Sepere", work to get to know each other better and stuff their faces with overpriced snacks. Jangzelang wants to know about her hair and skin colour, and though she understands he has questions, she doesn't know how to convey the why.
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> Suddenly, the host interrupts all chatter by congratulating a Sacrifice and demon for choosing each other, and asks the room to give them an applause. A half-hearted clap follows after some insistence, but having one less Sacrifice to pursue drops the guests' mood and they look angry if anything. Sepere watches the two disappear into the hallway, almost picking up on what's happening, but she wonders and looks at Jangzelang. He grins sheepishly, but doesn't comment on it. Instead, he wants to order more tea, but an event employee shows up to interrogate him about his progress with Sepere, who he's been hogging for quite a bit.
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> Jangzelang says they haven't yet gotten to the subject of setting up a deal. Though there's no time limit, an unspoken rule asks couples to speed things up for the sake of the other demons in the room, who could go on a rampage if tormented by the presence of the Sacrifices for too long. When he explains they can't understand each other to set anything up, the employee wastes no time to retrieve information about the girl and returns with the reveal she's from Brunei.
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> The Malay interpreter he brought along stays behind, and as the man has an impatient look to him -playing interpreter is probably not his function at the event- Jangzelang understands there's no more time for pleasantries and has to talk business with Sepere. She's finally informed why she's here, visibly shocking her. He worries sharing the crude objective of taking her magic could create distance between them and he's hesitant to utter these intentions after acting so casual with her, but Sepere stays to listen to his stumbling, and after some short thinking, agrees to accept him. Her approval of him makes every inch of his body lighter, he feels like they could tie a string to him and call him a balloon.
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> He asks what kind of fate she's ready to accept, and surprisingly, she says not to mind whether they get a room or he eats her. The complete absence of the marriage option from the interpreter's mouth discourages Jangzelang greatly, taking it as a sign he hasn't truly managed to charm her and she'd rather separate from him. Though he's weak and there's no certainty on how much that'll change after tonight, he asks her what she wishes in return. She gestures to them and the table, saying he's already granted it to her.
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> Jangzelang is baffled to hear a young girl is willing to die over 2 hours of tea time and insists she wishes for something bigger, perhaps a gift for her family. She says not to have anyone in her life and their time together was an appreciated experience she never had before.
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> The employee returns, their cue to stop talking. With Sepere leaving her fate in Jangzelang's hands, the employee awaits his response on how to proceed. Though eating a Sacrifice appears to be the most secure option, it was never one he considered. He'd rather have this one night, even if her approval of him ends up being fake and he leaves the party weaker than before.
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> He announces his choice, and just like the couple before them, the host publicly congratulates them and they receive an embarrassingly insincere applause.
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> As they enter a long hallway and are guided to a room, another door opens. It's the demon from said couple, yet there's no woman following behind, nor can Jangzelang pick up on any other scents coming from the room. Since he's not really concerned with it, he guesses she already left and turns his attention back to his own Sacrificial girlfriend.
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> Inside, the two experience some kind of culture shock. They're confused by the flat-screen TV on the wall and mesmerized by the light show going on on the castle's grounds. They stare through the window for a bit and Jangzelang has alot to say about the room and the castle, but of course, can't be understood, so just describes the lights as "wow". Finally a word she understands, and she wows along. Jangzelang turns to her and gives her the same verdict, making her awfully bashful.
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> Despite the language barrier and Sepere not being talkative in the first place, she ensnares him with her mannerisms. He approaches to lie her down on the bed and confidently brushes his fangs against her neck as he hovers over her, a move not well-received. Sepere is frightened and shivers under the thought he's settled on killing her after all. He quickly backs off and the heartache on his face helps her see it wasn't meant to be an attack. Both these people are really fucking stupid.
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> Anyway, this isn't an erotic novel, so I'll just say they took their time and it was lovely. The kind of stuff the majority of you will never be able to relate to, feel sad forever.
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> After this honeymoon practise course, Sepere notices her roommate has changed appearance quite a bit and is awfully confused by it. It's like time reverted for Jangzelang and his physique is more muscular than before. Since he's been too distracted to notice it himself and doesn't bring it up afterwards, Sepere tries to ignore it too, but can't help but sneak glances at him.
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> Jangzelang picks up on the staring, that continues on when they shower and dress themselves, making him think she's become cautious of him and is trying to ensure he keeps his distance now that matters have been taken care of. He's disappointed the woman of his dreams indeed doesn't return his feelings, but doesn't want to make things awkward and keeps his composure in her presence.
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> As they head back outside and he announces to hallway security they've finished, he's met with a notable expression of surprise over Sepere being by his side. The guard doesn't comment on it, though, and asks if they wish to receive a marriage contract. Jangzelang has a long face and replies Sepere doesn't have feelings for him, leaving the more knowledgable guard flabbergasted, but also enticing him to abuse the situation.
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> Jangzelang is new to this and only knows a Sacrifice that still has magic has therefore not mentally agreed to give it away, and with Sepere still having her swirled eyes, he believes no connection has been established. The guard deviously proclaims no harm was done by spending time with her and she can still be given to another demon.
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> Jangzelang looks at his woman, standing around and waiting for the next person to make a sound. He apologizes for making her uncomfortable and wishes her good luck with a better man. His saddened face tells Sepere something's up, but the guard holds her back when she tries to reach out to him before he turns around. She guesses he merely needed her to revive himself, so stills any words she thought of saying and reluctantly accepts that a tool is all she can realistically be to a man who's just a stranger in the end, even if he was the kindest person she ever met.
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> Her heart hurts as he walks away and won't even give her a last look over his shoulder. She begins to sob, but the guard squeezes and shakes her by the arm with an expression she knows very well. It was an order to stay silent.
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> Jangzelang heads for the exit, every demon in the room noticing the stark difference between this intimidating lord from Ancient China and the withered loser in the lame cosplay suit that first entered. The crowd averts their eyes as they let him through, sensing quite clearly he outmatches all of them, but their grovelling isn't noticed or appreciated by Jangzelang, who's distracted by his own gloom.
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> Nevertheless, outside, Jangzelang is ambushed by a sizeable group of demons, some of them he met. It comes as no surprise and draws no emotion from him, either. His attackers' feelings of vengeance are no longer a sign of danger, but an opening for him to attack. With a simple clack of his teeth, he takes and swallows every one of their souls. The men feel the disappearance of their essence and lose the ability to compose themselves with it. They become even more set on attacking, but with their souls now consumed by him, Jangzelang controls their minds.
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> But he's not in the mood to show off any more than that, and he orders them to never show themselves to him again. They turn around without a word and disappear into the darkness.
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> He stands around a bit, unsure on what to do next. He looks at his hands, the skin of which is free from any folds or blemishes, and his voice sounds youthful, energetic, and powerful, like old times. He starts to pick up on it; it wasn't just a moment of blind euphoria with his beloved, he was stronger. Everything was back to normal, or rather, everything changed. He felt like he could manipulate any object with a minor reflection, could see half the world through their mirrors, and feel demons and people from miles away, with their delicious souls, vulnerable and open for the taking, right where he was standing.
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> This night exceeded his expectations, but the fact he could leave this awful party unscathed was only thanks to Sepere. He felt to owe her everything, but she didn't want him, so the most respectful thing to do was not bother her anymore..
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> But he couldn't get himself to leave. Why would he leave, now that he had all this power? How could she say no to him, now that he had all this power? It didn't make sense, was her kindness out of pity? He refused to accept this outcome, he needed an explanation.
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> He heads back inside and looks around, but Sepere hasn't been brought back to the main hall to mingle, so he asks the host about her whereabouts. When told someone else already claimed her, his body becomes hot with fear, rage, and disgust, and he hurries over to the bedroom hall. He demands to know which one holds Sepere, but security refuses to answer.
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> Jangzelang reminds himself of his newfound strength and starts looking through the mirrors sitting inside the rooms, showing exactly what's transpiring. Many rooms are empty, and those that aren't show young women about to get murdered or being told the news they're going to be. He finds Sepere's whereabouts, where some foul man is forcing her down with his teeth already in her neck. Jangzelang tenses up.
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> He speeds away and jumps in the nearest reflective object he can find. He enters the castle's mirror world once more, where there's no passage of time or living beings blocking the way, with all spaces open to explore.
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> Inside Sepere's room, multiple long black arms shoot out of the mirror and grab the attacker, slamming him against the walls and flicking him through the thick stone into the back garden in a crazed temper tantrum, never to be seen again. Sepere barely avoided death, but the sudden noise and destruction of the room isn't much better and she cowers in fear. Jangzelang jumps out the mirror and hurries over to hold her. She recognizes his voice and embraces her hero, a reunion that's interrupted by security coming in to check.
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> The host shows up too and they're not happy to see the property damage, but it's a fixable problem to the wealthy Jangzelang. He doesn't care to explain himself and simply proclaims to be taking Sepere with him.
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> The host sees no reason to argue with the powerful lord and asks them to sign their marriage contract, as administrative proof that the Sacrifice is no longer "orphaned". It's not quite the same as a big wedding party, though Jangzelang agrees with the host that there'll always be time for that whenever.
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> Jangzelang looks at Sepere, who has her eyes fixated on the security guards for a reason he can't guess. She's clearly nervous in their presence and tightly holds onto Jangzelang's arm. He turns to her and caresses her shoulders, momentarily distracting her. Then, as he holds her hands, he proposes to her. The hosts intervenes that not to be necessary, as the contract doesn't literally wed them, but Jangzelang replies that marrying her is his intention, then continues to await her response. But Sepere doesn't recognize what he's doing, and as such, doesn't respond.
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> He takes it as reluctance and reassures her -if not himself- she may always decide later. The host finds it pitiable and sees it his duty to report she's lived a sheltered existence and probably doesn't know many practises and things. Jangzelang learns she was bought from an Orphaned Sacrifice collection facility from Brunei, and was likely imprisoned there since she was a small child. He doesn't know what these facilities are about, but the thought his dream girl was raised in a cell isn't lifting his spirits, though he thanks the host for the information.
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> Jangzelang signs the contract without hesitation, but Sepere needs time to understand it requires her name. When the host starts wondering if she knows how to write, she finally puts down a series of numbers. Upon asking, the host states it to be her facility's ID code, since they don't name the nameless and Sepere's name itself is just an abbreviation of these numbers in Malay.
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> These sudden reveals had clear language: this was a low-calibre woman, unlearned, oblivious, without pedigree, raised with less rights and freedom than a crazed criminal on death row. The kind a man like him would never even look at out of worry his eyes would get leprosy. And to add onto that, she failed as a Sacrifice and couldn't increase whoever's magic was inside of her.
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> These facts were unbecoming to a woman this gorgeous. It only made Jangzelang angry at the world. Humans and demons failed her and he was going to make sure she'd be safe from their cruelty. They were undeserving of her face and love. She belonged to him alone.
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***CHAPTER 4: Deep Behind the Looking Glass, Where Time Does Not Pass**
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> Jangzelang takes Sepere with him to his mirror domain, a beautiful land where only a mansion sits. He joins her as he lets her explore the house and never-ending outdoors, but is quick to pick up on her discomfort and asks if there's anything not to her liking. It's hard to describe without words, but she manages to tell him. His domain is made for sleeping; and the landscape is devoid from the natural ambience one would normally hear in outdoor environments. The silence is deafening.
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> He understands what needs to be done and spawns loads of friendly wildlife for her in the skies, waters, and on the ground. A breeze brings movement to the trees and grass, finally giving life to this once mute painting.
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> Jangzelang wastes no time to pamper her and introduces her to some Asian-inspired practises. He gives her large dresses and hair ornaments to wear and plays for her the pipa in the corner of the room at every dinner. His extremely outdated acts of affection make her feel like she's living in a fairy tale, and as if it were even possible, Sepere grows more in love with him every second. Though her magic continues to lay dormant, it's like a bottomless pit Jangzelang is given access to every time they lock each other in a lover's embrace.
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> His strength reaches pointless heights, while his body tries to make itself even younger than it can't possibly be. Having met him as a 50-something man, now a late teenager, is strange, but he's a safe introduction to the demon race and she takes whatever weird thing she witnesses for what it is.
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> One day, he expresses to want to officially marry her and have sons. Marriage and childbirth are both concepts she's never been taught, but Jangzelang tries his best to let his intentions know by mimicking a baby lying in his arms. Interestingly enough, or concernedly, she recognizes what he's holding and her expression is not against it. With their love for each other undeniable, he skips on getting her spoken approval and arranges their marriage and family life.
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> As said, they have a big wedding and settle down in their magical mirror world. Sepere conceives droves of sons and two girls, but with time standing still, she doesn't age and there comes no natural end to it. Jangzelang, a demon who's spent thousands of nights alone, is enamoured by this new and different way of living and the mere image of her holding a young one makes him not want to take a break from fatherhood, either. He selfishly assumes Sepere thinks it's an honour to have his attention and takes every chance he can get to extend this moment of pleasure.
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> As to decrease the chance he'll be denied by her, he frees her from any kind of physical discomfort by laying her in "cursed" water that sends pain to random targets in the real world, and eases her role as a parent by stepping in whenever his children dare to be a bother.
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> Their eldest son isn't happy with it and believes she's like a bird in a golden cage, given no other role to play than that of a child dispenser. As he and his siblings are free to leave their home as they like, he knows of the world outside and how weird his parents' relationship is.
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> When he shares his concerns, Jangzelang feels disrespected. He insists Sepere is happy and it's too dangerous for her on Earth, where she'll age and die. Considering her past of abuse, he believes there's nothing out there for her, an argument he knows his son doesn't know enough about to reject.
>
> Nevertheless, the conversation sticks with him and Jangzelang worries his son might've spoken up for his mother. With their children being bilingual, they've always been able to understand her and might've had conversations in the past he's never got to have with her himself. But now that they've studied each other's language with help of their offspring, he sees no reason not to ask her directly.
>
>
> He turns to her one night and asks if she's happy. The question comes out of nowhere for her, but an inarguable admission follows. He smiles, but continues if she doesn't feel trapped with him in this fake world, to which she states it to be very real for her. He wants to know if she isn't curious about her origin and what island she came from, but Sepere says not to concern herself with a land she barely remembers. This is her home.
>
> Sepere's responses are like his thoughts and they convince him he was right all along, and yet, he remains conflicted. She takes notice of his silent expression. She asks if he's homesick and wants to go back to China, but Jangzelang replies China is not his place of birth and he isn't Chinese. It's a surprising bit of news after the many years they've been together, but since it's not strange to assume a demon isn't native to Earth, she attributes her surprise to ignorance and thus doesn't comment on it.
>
>
> He explains wanting to keep her safe, but not make her a prisoner if she desires to meet and know normal people. Sepere says to be afraid of people and has her company in him and their children. He smiles she won't be alone and they could travel the world together, admitting to have never done so in the many years he's been alive.
>
> Wanting to be supportive, she asks him where he'd like to go. Jangzelang thinks, then remembers the castle they first met at, how he'd like to see more buildings like those. He asks if she has a preference, to which she suggests his real homeland, but he smirks it to be a world of demons and she'll instantly die upon entering.
>
>
> Making holiday plans in their cosy giant bed was fun, and Sepere seemed to be warming up for the idea of returning to Earth. Or was it the assurance he wasn't her jailer that made her smile?
>
> If she wanted to stay in her golden cage, she was welcome to, he preferred it, but if he didn't at the very least unlock the door for her, what kind of insecure loser would he be. Sepere was timid and meek, she accepted anything, and things she didn't, he refrained from doing. The proud man knew very well that if there ever were to come a time she demanded her leave, he could only fall to his knees and beg for her reconsideration. He acted like the king of the house, but there was one true authority figure walking around. The one voice every resident of the mansion listened to was hers.
>
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***CHAPTER 5: A Soulless Mother and a Heartless Father**
 (Click "Expand" to read)>*

> Jangzelang and Sepere continue living out their peaceful days, occasionally going out into the real world to learn about other cultures, though these trips always end in him getting nervous by the casual stares of other men and dragging his wife back home.
>
> He discovers there's a good sum of women out there with dark skin and blonde hair, but, this hair smelled different. Like it wasn't real. It reminded him of how special Sepere was, and to see so many humans trying to mimic her beauty made him prideful, dialing up the overprotectiveness.
>
>
> They're often joined by a few sons, but seeing their parents interact in these different settings gives them an odd vibe they never picked up on before. Sepere is oddly charmed and accepting of everything their father does, even when he makes a fool out of himself towards innocent tourists, blamed of lewd thought crimes. Any normal person would be embarrassed, and their mother was a good person; they expected her to stand up for these people getting death threats. But she always smiled or stood idly by.
>
> There's uncertainty for the reason and they wonder if they're just seeing an undiscovered side of their lovestruck mother, but the eldest son, Cowan, is expectedly skeptical. Having inherited the most demonic power, he feels to recognize what's wrong, yet the pieces don't quite fit together.
>
>
> He visits his mother one night and tries to instigate a discussion about his father, but she excuses or downplays everything. He pries further and asks if she often feels down or upset, but she claims not so. It's difficult for a half-demon to find traces of supernatural meddling by a fullblood, and Cowan can't sense whether she still has that which he suspects has been stolen..
>
>
> ..her soul.
>
>
> He knows the only way to know for sure is if she were to expose it to him, but the requirements are inappropriate. He could try and get her to practise "witchcraft" or pray on accident, but that required giving her a good reason. Knowing how much she loves his father, he buys a little Buddha statue and brings it to her with the supposed request from Jangzelang that asks her to wish fortune upon his children. It's a beautiful gesture she doesn't see anything off with, and she holds the little golden man as she wishes with all her heart.
>
> As hoped, Cowan can now see his mother's core.
>
>
> Nothing.
>
> He finds nothing.
>
>
> ...
>
>
> Disgust and rage fills every cell of his body. He hoped to had been wrong, but the truth was there. His mother had no soul, it was taken by his father, who knows since when. Everything was a lie. She was just his mindless slave, instructed to love him, and probably them as well.
>
> Cowan kisses her head and Sepere embraces him in return, hoping he'll get everything he desires in life. Her affection has always been unconditional, but Cowan grows tears knowing it's magic-induced. He squeezes her tightly, then walks off to find his father.
>
>
> He's not far away from her, he never is, so Cowan asks him to move a few rooms before having this conversation with him. Jangzelang sees it's important, but the feelings of vengeance Cowan can't suppress are growing stronger as they walk through the mansion, which his father naturally picks up on.
>
> As he turns around to face his son, Cowan starts beating him up. Jangzelang is quite surprised by it, but doesn't want to harm his own flesh and blood and tries to stay clear of any more of his swinging fists. He demands an explanation for the tomfoolery and Cowan accuses him of stealing his mother's soul and having molested her for all these decades.
>
>
> The loudness of his voice grabs the attention of his many siblings sitting in their rooms, who tiptoe towards the commotion to listen in. It's not subtle and Jangzelang knows he's surrounded, making him visibly on edge. He proclaims he and his mother are in love and the taking of her soul is a normal wedding practise to prove her devotion to him, but Cowan calls bull, as he hasn't given her anything that valuable in return. Jangzelang replies he's given her himself and her sons, earning him a quick sock in the face.
>
> Since Sepere has not lost her mind, it means her soul still exists somewhere nearby and Cowan demands to know where it is. Jangzelang again argues there's no reason to look and his mother is happy, but Cowan no longer has patience for the excuses and tries to kick him every time he tries. He demands again and again, but his father is unwilling to tell or admit fault. He flees the scene, leaving him and their spectators standing.
>
>
> Cowan looks at his overgrown family. The thought that every one of them was born from a deranged narcissist and a shell of a woman who lost the capability of knowing any better was miserable. He cared for his siblings like a second father, a second mother.
>
> They were good children and didn't deserve this, but just heard every word. His father didn't deny stealing their mother's soul, and most knew what it meant; they'd been sharing their home and love with a person who had no free will. Their faces were droopy and no one could utter a word.
>
>
> Cowan asks everyone to spare their youngest brothers the news, with the promise he'll help Sepere. Even though doing so will likely mean they'll end up without a mother, and Jangzelang is no longer their father in their eyes, they agree it to be for the best.
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***CHAPTER 6: A Borrowed Soul is a Kept Soul**
 (Click "Expand" to read)>*

> Cowan is aided by many siblings, who either try to trace back Sepere's soul using their own watered-down demonic powers or hope to awaken something inside of her by politely questioning their father's behaviour in her presence. Since soulless organisms are known to be susceptible to negative emotions, they have to assume the same is true for her and can't push their luck and trap their mother into an inescapable fit of rage by doing anything more than that.
>
> But, Sepere stays kind to them, like she's always been, no matter how often her children come to her with dubious stories about her beloved husband.
>
>
> Jangzelang has long returned home, but the mood is heavy whenever any one of them shares a room with him. Since his youngest children are still clueless, he purposely focuses his attention on them. These few boys provide the only carefree sounds of laughter in this otherwise dreary mansion, filled with judging stares.
>
> Matters aren't speeding up. Sepere's soul can't be detected and most of them think their father is holding onto it somehow inside his own body, without having eaten it. It's an ability they're wholly unfamiliar with, and with Jangzelang refusing to speak with them, they can only make random guesses like these.
>
>
> Then, one day, Cowan and the others are hit with the disgusting news his mother is again pregnant. His father's obsession with family life stopped being endearing 50 years ago, and now that they had their fight, to see he still won't show consideration for Sepere is the last straw.
>
> Cowan again comes to meet him in private and announces to take everyone away from him. He braces himself for combat upon having given this serious declaration, but Jangzelang expresses not wanting to fight, though also assures Cowan he won't let him take his mother and brothers.
>
>
> Cowan is confused by how he's been shrugged off again, without a single punch or restriction implemented. He's witnessed his father physically punish his siblings often enough, but upon thinking back, doesn't recall him ever laying hands on him. Since he's always been an exemplary son, it's easy to guess why, but he was now his greatest enemy, yet that still didn't sway his father. Did he think he wasn't going to do it, or was his halfblood offspring too weak to be a threat?
>
> He sprints towards Jangzelang with fist ready, who escapes through the glass of wine he's holding, whereafter the object falls onto the floor. Cowan angrily starts wrecking the room, calling for his cowardice father to come consume his soul, but nothing happens, and he eventually crashes onto the floor in exhaustion.
>
>
> He looks at the pale fluid on the floor, slowly seeping away into the wood. It showed his reflection for as long as it could, but it had no use for him. He couldn't traverse reflections.
>
> He felt so tempted to leave this madhouse and never return, start his own life, away from this fake happy family, but who could do something like that with a clear conscience. His love for them was the only thing that was real in his life.
>
>
> He drags himself back to his bedroom, visited by concerned siblings along the way, but Cowan wasn't in the mood to speak. There, he sits himself down and looks at the mirror on his desk, wondering if his father was spying on him. His powerlessness to stop him made him sick.
>
> The little spinning swirls in his eyes were therapeutic and helped calm him down a bit, but also reminded him of his trapped mother. He couldn't even say at this point if his father's love for her had any merit to it, as it seemed to him he thought of her as a fun and useful aesthetic to his mansion. Why was he always grovelling at her feet if she's his slave in reality..?! Was everything pretend, even their family dynamic? The man had issues..
>
>
> Suddenly, Cowan sits up. His eyes -the kind no other sibling inherited- and the fact his father refused to harm him, it made him wonder..
>
>
> He opens up his desk drawer and grabs a letter opener. Without further hesitation, he points it at his throat, but before he can take his life, a hand grabs hold of his. His father stands next to him, his expression serious and anxious. Though he may very well love his children enough to not want to see them dead, Cowan had different suspicions and wanted to get the truth out of him. He takes a leap of faith and proclaims Sepere's soul is inside of him. Jangzelang is quiet for a bit, then corrects him her soul *is* his soul.
>
>
> He reveals to had carried Sepere's soul with him for a short while, but chose to give it to him after discovering he was stillborn. He tells him how she struggled with her first delivery, since humans and demons are notoriously bad at conceiving offspring, let alone living one. The experience helped him figure out how to ensure every pregnancy would go without pain and lethal mistakes, but he didn't want to turn Cowan into a mere experiment and let her keep her soul, believing that's what she would've wanted.
>
> Cowan turns upset again and calls it preposterous, reminding him she has no soul to understand and want anything, only what *he* wants her to understand and want. Jangzelang argues he's wrong and doesn't know her like he does, to which Cowan calls his bluff and orders him to return her soul and prove it. Jangzelang says that to be impossible, as his developing body has fully reassembled her soul and can't possibly be claimed by a body that's already grown.
>
> With that, he exits the room, leaving Cowan with his many thoughts.
>
>
> It's believable language.. and yet, something still felt off. He finally believed to had figured it out, a way to save her, but was told there's no possible way. It was hard to test if that were true at this point. If he killed himself and it'd change nothing, he wouldn't be alive to try out anything more. Who would ensure her freedom, then?
>
>
> Cowan thinks to himself, his face turning sterner as he goes through his father's words. He couldn't trust him just yet, no matter how sincere he sounded. The fact remained he stole this woman's soul, he was a crook and a pervert. Meanwhile, his mother still had her sanity, which should not be possible if the soul inside of him is supposedly not hers anymore. His father was clearly hiding lies underneath some truths, hoping to get his son off his back..
>
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> He looks at the letter opener on his desk. Matters had become so much more difficult. His father managed to insert some doubt and made him hesitant to try again.
>
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> At least, not without giving someone a heads up first.
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***CHAPTER 7: One Woman is Worth Two Boys**
 (Click "Expand" to read)>*

> Screeches fill the home, tears flowing on the many faces of those told the news. Cowan was no more and found dead in his bedroom. While everyone's grieving in the living room, a select few look on edge, like they're waiting for something to happen.
>
> Jangzelang and Sepere look the most distraught of all and hold each other tightly as they sit together in silence. They're carefully watched, but that which the boys hoped for doesn't transpire.
>
>
> These now eldest sons nervously look at each other. The thought Cowan died for nothing is heavy knowledge to bear, but a possibility they were warned about. It was now up to them to find out how to save their mother, though the motivation to push through was not as strong as Cowan's. One of them concludes Cowan's main flaw was that he always wanted to do everything himself; and suggests assembling more of their brothers to force the truth out of their father. Another wonders if the truth hasn't already been shared and Cowan just took a dangerous risk.
>
> Since he's always been the smartest out of everyone, they have to believe he was on the right track and decide not to choose their father's side.
>
>
> That same night, they and many others show up at Jangzelang's office to demand their mother's soul. Jangzelang responds disapprovingly to their priorities in the face of Cowan's recent death, to which they reply it's thanks to his selfishness he's gone. Jangzelang is insulted and shows them the door, but they refuse to leave and urge him to free Sepere before more kill themselves. The threat is taken seriously and he asks for what reason they'd do something so irreversibly foolish, but the boys say nothing more.
>
> They cautiously exchange stares. Their attempts to emotionally corner him were disgusting, even though he knew Cowan's passing was indeed his fault. But he couldn't let go of it. His beautiful wife, their beautiful children, his life was finally perfect after obtaining what he once thought was a simple pleasure for simple mortals only, and then Cowan had to ruin it. The child whose existence he fought the hardest for was first to go, his stillborn miracle, and it hurt his heart tremendously.
>
>
> Her soul was never with him. It was a lie. A foolproof lie, he believed, to stop him from playing detective and refrain from harming himself, but clearly, he failed to appear trustworthy in the eyes of his most distrustful son, who still committed suicide for that off chance it would free his mother. And now more of his offspring had shown up, expecting him to come clean. As messed up everything had become, doing this would mean the definite end to his family. How could he admit to them to have instigated Cowan's suicide.
>
>
> Then, his daughters enter the room. Two girls, now women, the only ones he conceived. They shared their mother's facial structure and had the darkest skin out of all children, and these few similarities always made it hard for him to deny them anything. Seeing their saddened faces had a greater impact on him than that of all his sons combined, which was likely why they were summoned.
>
> They ask if it's true Sepere is a slave, to which Jangzelang quickly repeats all his old and overused excuses, without again acknowledging that the soulless have no control over themselves. The girls say nothing more and just lower their heads in disappointment for their father.
>
>
> They then state not to think he's a suitable caretaker for their underage brothers and have come to take them away. Jangzelang wants to stop them, but doesn't know how to do so without inflicting violence, so instead follows them around the house to plead with them. His voice becomes more forceful with every child collected, but the girls continue to ignore him and suggest he doesn't make a scene in front of them.
>
> Seeing his pride and joy being snatched away hits on the nerves, and eventually, he raises his hand with the intent to strike his daughters and finally bring an end to it. Another hand grabs hold of his wrist, but it's not strong enough to stop his arm from swinging.
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>
> The mediator is flung at his targets and Jangzelang now sees three women lying on the floor; his daughters, and Sepere. The children cry upon seeing their father having harmed their mother.
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> He looks at his wife with his face stuck in shock and dread. She's breathing, but their unborn child surely was not.
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> His eyes well up, but there's not a sound. It was over.
>
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> Sepere's pained, but otherwise calm expression gradually changes. While her eyes peer into Jangzelang's, a spark of fear ignites, like she understands to be in the presence of a serial killer.
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> She begins to scream, catching the whole room off-guard. Believing her pain is too much, they ask her what's the matter, but she appears fearful of them as well and tries to avoid everyone's touch.
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***CHAPTER 8: Lifetime of Captivity, Lifetime of Freedom**
 (Click "Expand" to read)>*

> Multiple years pass. Sepere has been released and lives a normal life on Earth -relative to the one she had prior.
>
>
> After having gotten back her soul, it became clear she was never in love with Jangzelang and greatly fears demons, if not people in general. His fond memories of their meeting was an optimistic delusion, one their children felt betrayed by now that they knew the truth.
>
>
> Her opinion on him was much the same as the late Cowan's; and she considered her "happy marriage" with Jangzelang assault. She never wanted to see him again, and though she used to avoid her half-demon offspring as well, she'd come to see that to be unreasonable.
>
>
> Despite being the one to free her, Jangzelang remains convinced they were in love and attributes the taking of her soul as the issue. With Sepere still on his mind, it forced his own children to act as her security in case he'd go back to his old antics, even if they didn't have the strength to stop him in such a situation.
>
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> But nothing happens. Jangzelang yearns for his family, but accepts to have lost their approval.
>
> Sepere dies of old age, never to have seen him again, though he has watched her many times, inside reflections, no matter the distance.
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>

## Characters

### Jangzelang

Jangzelang (*pronounced: "Djahng-zuh-lahng"*) is a curse demon. He's a few thousand years old and physically looked like a man in his late 50s when he awakened from his sleep, until he regained his power and looked like a late teenager again.

He is powerful, though soon fell behind after his long slumber in a broken mirror, causing him to awaken aged and much weaker than the modern day demons that suddenly inhabited Earth.

His trademark ability is entering mirrors and he came to Earth around the time the first mirror was manufactured by human civilization, which for him, acted like an exit from the demon realm. Besides using it to return to his old home, he can spawn and build entire worlds for himself as well; one for each uniquely crafted mirror he finds. Having that said, mass-produced mirrors will all lead to the same domain, though come with the benefit that all these mirrors would have to destroyed in order to destroy that domain.
Mirrors are also a quick and safe transportation method for Jangzelang, and since there's no passage of time inside, he can theoretically sleep forever without having to sustain himself.

While he's not Chinese, his human form has an Asian appearance and Jangzelang was still a young man when he came to Earth. As such, he was susceptible to the culture, and after having spent thousands of years in China, flawlessly speaks the language and considers himself a true citizen, even if he doesn't care for the humans that built the country.

Since it was still ancient China last time he was awake, he has plenty of old-fashioned viewpoints, though the fact he wasn't raised in the country still makes it possible to have him doubt these. He likes old-timey tunics and robes, though usually decorated in ways that are not traditionally Chinese, and values sons above daughters, yet has expressed to Sepere to want some as well.

Jangzelang, to Sepere, is well-meaning and has genuine feelings, but having lived his entire life as an untouchable rich man and getting that same power back tenfold translates his love for her into overprotectiveness and obsession. He worships the mere shape of her and can't bear the thought of anyone laying eyes on even the corner of her dress or breathing the same air, making him reluctant to take her out of his mirror domain.

The story starts out like an unassuming love story, but appears to be an erotomaniacal interpretation of Jangzelang's and he's revealed to be the main antagonist. He convinced himself the frightened and confused Sepere grew in love with him the same night they met, yet, had some uncertainties and still devoured her soul the moment it exposed itself during a moment where she seemingly prayed to a higher power for a rescue from a dire situation; this being the moment she and him were expected to share a bed.

Unlike Jangzelang's regular victims, he did not swallow her soul, which ensured she wouldn't get consumed by negativity and lose her mind.

Upon discovery, his children would scold and guilt him for this crime, leading to Sepere's long overdue freedom. As expected, she had no love for him and their many years together hadn't changed that, rather, made it worse. He remains madly in love with her, till the day she dies of old age.

### Sepere

Sepere (*pronounced: "Sep-peuh"*) is an Orphaned Sacrifice. Her age is unknown, but she looks to be in her early 20s.

She has no family or friends and was shipped from an Melanesian island after being found by tourists as a child. She was kept with other Orphaned Sacrifices in what called itself a "facility", located in Brunei, and evidentially wasn't exposed to much love or care from the people maintaining it.

With the amount of magic inside of her being so insignificant and refusing to grow, demon customers had no interest in buying her, and she eventually got sold to a large matchmaking event in China, in desperate need of more Sacrifices to offer to their record-high demonic visitors.

She's portrayed as extremely timid and agreeable, if only because she has no life experiences because of her long confinement in Brunei. At the end of the story, it's revealed Jangzelang had consumed her soul the same night they met and she was never in love with him. Upon given her soul back, she's shown to be extremely fearful of him and her own children, resulting to Jangzelang having to let her go.

Though she doesn't wish to see him again, she eventually tries to re-establish a relationship with her many children, understanding they are an innocent party and her freedom is only thanks to them.

She has dark skin and plentiful blond hair that appears to be her natural colour, with her eyes being the Sacrificial trait. Her pupil looks much like a sideways, spinning swirl and has a blue-ish colour. Other than that, she has somewhat oval-shaped nails, but nothing else that makes her look out of the ordinary. She's tall and surpasses Jangzelang in size.

*<under construction>*

### Cowan

Cowan is Jangzelang and Sepere's first child. He is close to 100 years old, but has the appearance of a young adult.

As the firstborn, and a man, his father has alot of expectations for him and the most time was spent on his education, including magic training. Cowan was often instructed to look after his mother and siblings whenever they couldn't for whatever reason, making him the most attached to his family as well. While most of his other siblings entertained leaving the house upon reaching adulthood, Cowan never considered it an option for him.

The story shifts focus on him at the end, where he tries to discover the reason for his mother's leniency towards their rather cruel and coddling father.

As a half demon, he possesses some supernatural traits, but his human half allows for little and he's better at detecting than performing.

*<under construction>*

## Trivia

* Originally, Jangzelang and Sepere were written to truly be in love.
* The name "Cowan" is based on the Chinese word "(guó)wáng", meaning "king".