Home is Bitter Sweet

His lips tugged upwards at the question, he found this to be his escape. Where he ventured to when the reality was harsh and unkind. Sometimes he came for knowledge, other times the pleasure. On this occasion, it happened to be the former with some spent on the second.

Gently he booked up the book which had an impish design. Of small imps playing along with fire. Above in bold letters, it said Children's Tales, Demon Edition. It was a book surmising the tales told to children of demons.

A novel thought, some of which were utterly charming. While others seemed garish and crude. One struck a chord with him. The Demon Mask, a story about how demons wore masks all of them.

But kept their faces hidden always even from one another. Never taking them off until someone sets them free. A little romanticized if he were asked upon the topic. But the truth was he wore a mask, so did Algos, so did Mana, so did everyone.

Algos herself saw him when they first met, nerves perhaps from him. Five hundred years spent avoiding his kin. This had lead to something of a desire to maintain distance. He didn't want to get pulled into the wars and turmoil.

Even though these provided such excellent corpses and things for his study. He didn't kill with his magic, he held this as a rule. Astaroth was a failure as a demon most would say. Whereas others were hard and unkind.

Some even gaining a reputation that caused others to shriek in terror. He gently closed the book sitting it next to many others. He didn't say anything just yet. As he gently set the doll down on the desktop. Amity was observing the other closely.

"This is Amity, my name is Astaroth Asthavon. It's lovely to meet you, I come here often to escape or indulge myself. Sometimes both, so pull up a chair...I could make you one if you'd like."

He gestured to the doll he'd set down and she offered her acknowledgment moving again. He'd explained his presence in this place. Books were excellent escapes, from the mundane and woes of one's soul. Some books were nothing but boorish reads.

While others contained excellent ideas and possible outcomes. Some were brilliant and would take you to the next level of thinking. This being a demonic library one could imagine the books they had. Some torture ones were there, highlighting demonic torture techniques.

Another book covered the sexual techniques that best-offered children among other things. Or how to handle a spouse that suddenly grows a penis. The many books in this place had something for everyone.