That was the question she had been asking herself for more than half an hour, also the time she had been looking for him.
Henchman always responded to his call, regardless of its relevance, how far away it was or how long it took. His sense of duty and loyalty still surprised him, that's why this twist out of the ordinary worried him a bit.
While he was inspecting one of the tunnels, he came across two imps.
─── You! ─── he exclaimed, pointing to one. The indicated imp froze in fear while the other, noticing that it was the Devil himself, flew away in a hurry.
Once the Devil's shadow loomed over him, the little one came to his senses, establishing a practiced military salute.
─── S-sir! T-how can I help you? ─── asked the imp, sweaty and shaky. The Devil looked annoyed, and every imp who has been in hell long enough knows that he should never cross the path of the aforementioned when he was in a bad mood.
─── Take me to Henchman, NOW ─── he demanded. His dark fur igniting on fire.
And with that, they were off.
They passed through several caverns and tunnels before the destination became clear.
The imp was taking him to the imp canteen.
The place was a somewhat small and distant, the cavern colour of dark amethyst, had been redecorated to look more like a surface bar or diner. They had a stage carved into the rock and covered with ebony wood; on the ceiling, winged imps held searchlights.
The Devil had no idea why the imp was leading him there.
Before he could bellow his bewilderment, a pleasant noise came seemingly out of nowhere.
─── Do you hear that? ─── The Devil asked, earning a strange look from the imp. Frustrated, he took the little being by the arm and dragged him along, using his sense of hearing to lead him towards the source of said music.
─── What is that music? ─── he inquired breathlessly, fascinated by the way the melody made his hair stand on end and his insides tingle.
It was a trumpet. A trumpeter.
─── Don't you know? ─── asked the smiling imp, with a hint of amusement in his voice. Confusing him even more.
However, there was no time to take out his anger on this bold imp. The search for Henchman, leaving her forgotten somewhere else.
What kind of musician would be behind this?
He was intrigued, he wagged his tail side to side with excitement, pushing him to run the entire last stretch, forcing the imp to chase him.
If he was sure of anything, it was that he would discover the owner of that sweet melody. It sounded so familiar, so far away, so…comforting.
And, when he arrived, he was surprised at what he found.
There on the stage, accompanied by two other imps playing the piano and cymbals, was the lost purple demon.
There was Henchman... playing that lovely trumpet solo!
The white light from the searchlight washed over him like moonlight washes over a lake. His eyes were closed in a soft wrinkle from concentration, his eyebrows were slightly curved, in indescribable emotions. Gloved hands seemed to work magic with the ease with which they slid across the buttons. His cheeks inflated and deflated with each new batch of sounds he emitted, blushing at times, making him look even more beautiful if he could.
The Devil's face suddenly goes up in flames.
The scene was so beautiful, until...
─── Henchman! ─── The little imp called breathlessly, the one who had been accompanying the Devil, finally arriving on the scene. ─── The boss ───gasp─── is looking for you! And... ─── He slumped over.
Henchman's eyes widened at that instant, the many imps that filled the place turned in the direction of the uproar; the peaceful atmosphere of union and camaraderie that he had, broke into a fragmented mixture of terror and surprise.
The deathly silence drew an annoyed expression on the Devil's face.
Henchman looked at a nearby clock, realizing that the time had passed. He had disappointed the Devil. Hastily he relinquished the trumpet to the pianist imp and scrambled down the stage, falling.
The Devil didn't need to look twice to know that the purple demon would follow him from now on.
─── I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry; I'm really sorry, boss! ─── Henchman apologized over and over again, chasing, while trying to match, the hasty pace that his boss was taking.
Since they found themselves, they had done nothing more than wander fasty through to the same circuit of caverns over and over again.
Silence, such flat, indescribable silence, the kind that seemed to bode ill.
Henchman wasn't usually the clueless type with schedules, however tonight he had completely lost track of time. It started with one imp asking him to play a song he liked too, and then another joined the first, even paying him to play another song, and the second was joined by a third and…and…
Henchman covered his face in sorrow.
It had been so long since he had the luxury of playing to an audience, that he had forgotten the beauty of sharing music with the world...
He was selfish. His boss had needed him and hadn't been there for him.
And, now, they were most likely on their way to his place of punishment...
...Meanwhile, the Devil couldn't stop thinking about everything that had happened before.
The way his body reacted to the music was a sign he didn't get to see, to recognize that sprightly trumpet melody once he made it clear it was his duty, and he didn't reciprocate.
How could he allow himself to forget him?
In his defense, it had been too long since he had last heard Henchman play his instrument. So much so that he had almost forgotten that he could do it better than anyone he knew.
─── We arrived. ─── the Devil yelled, with a neutral voice, but dismayed inside.
Henchman opened the door for him to go in first. He often, could read the Devil's thoughts and feelings with just one look. Except this time his analysis turned up nothing, not even a pale idea. Only contributing to the fear keep growing.
─── Close the door. ─── exclamed.
Henchman couldn't do more than force himself to comply and swallow trough is parched throat.
Once sealed again, the room plunged into gloom. His eyes could barely register the silhouette of the Devil, standing in the center of the huge room.
─── Henchman, Henchman, Henchman...
The imp couldn't help but grab his tail and wrap its wings around itself. He didn't like the darkness, the uncertainty; not know. He had already disappointed his boss on previous occasions, he knew it, but since then, he knew that the worst of all was the ignorance of what the punishment would be instead of the punishment itself.
─── Do you know? I hardly remember the last time you let me down. ───he commented, laughing weakly.
─── Tonight, you managed to refresh my memory.
─── Boss, I told him I'm sor-!
─── Shhh! I won't accept your apology this time. However, ───in the ceiling there was a sound, and then, a searchlight illuminated the Devil.───I'm willing to leave it in the past if you'll grant me anything.
Henchman looked at him confused, making The Devil smile with a hint of evil.
The purple demon approached cautiously.
─── And that... what would it be? ─── he asked.
─── Well, a duet! ─── he exclaimed excitedly.───What else could it be? ─── He feigned innocence, fluttering his eyelashes.
The classic click of the trident echoed through the room; two bright purple clouds gave way to two instruments.
In the hands of the Devil, a violin carved from a dark maple; And his own? a brass trumpet.
Little lights around him showed him the nature of the location.
This was the stage, and not just any stage, it was THE stage of the infernal amphitheater. Place where all the imps were summoned in the name of the culture and, more importantly, where the Devil was the only one allowed to act.
─── Did the cat get your tongue? ─── he commented playfully, leaving his position closely followed by the ghostly glow of the searchlight.
─── N-no. ─── The purple demon responded awkwardly, looking nervously at the instrument. ─── I was surprised. It is just that...
─── What surprises you? ─── he arched a thin brow, curious.
"I'm surprised you're not upset"
"I'm surprised you remember it"
"I'm surprised you want another duet"
───...I'm surprised you want a duet. ───Henchman muttered.
─── Hey! Henchman, since I heard you, I have those notes going around in my mind. ─── him confessed expressively.
─── I don't just want you to play along with me, Henchman. I want ───a snap and a light to bathe it.───to razzel dazzle me.
Henchman felt a chill run down his spine.
─── And?... What do you say? ─── The Devil wagged his tail curiously, looking haughtily at him without blinking.
With my throat drier than a desert and my hands drenched in sweat than ever. He could feel the Devil's intense gaze on him, expectant.
He licked his lips and blew.
The first note broke, earning her a blush and an unwanted reaction from the Devil.
He played a short but clean tune.
The Devil smiled and imitated the melody with his violin.
This time he played a more complicated, more daring composition.
The Devil seconded him with precision and agility.
Every time he finished his humble offering to the Devil, his eyes couldn't help but open and look at him. He discovered that he had been missing something in his life.
The image of the Devil playing his violin was burned on fire in his mind and yet, every time he presented himself with the opportunity he couldn't help but drink of that sight anew.
...How could he not do it?
The way his entire body swayed to the violin's song just as trees sway in the wind, with the intensity of waves breaking on a cliff.
His arm was like a monument, like a mighty column of onyx that, atop it, was crowned by the fleeting work of his fingers on the strings. The way he guided the violin bow was as natural as the air that filled and emptied his chest with each breath he took.
He had always thought that violin bows were similar to a sword in appearance. That and, although not all but some violinists, seemed to struggle to play precise notes rather than let the music flow through them.
Now he was seeing something completely different.
He was seeing something delicate, something... majestic.
The beat of a bird's wings languished and the glow of a sunrise paled in comparison of him to what he had seen.
He was worthy of worship.
Oh, God, how could he even begin to describe that beautiful face?
His face was like a work of art.
That face, which pitifully often betrayed annoyance and arrogance, was now solemn; placid, as if he were immersed in the deepest and most beautiful of dreams.
There were so many emotions, so many feelings in him. He could tell it, he could feel it on his own skin whether from his position as a musician or a right-hand man: El Diablo had a unique way of playing. She could see it in every line of his lip twitching, in the way his brows furrowed and his thin brows flexed. Micro expressions swarmed under that almost calm face...
It was as if his entire being was compressed at this moment. As if, in each note, his soul told the story of him one more time...
Henchman could barely contain himself.
This new facet of the Devil was sowing so many heartbeats and butterflies in his stomach that it was hard for him to breathe, he felt as if he was going to faint...
Until, finally, the duet ended.
Henchman couldn't help but sigh in relief, taking the opportunity to regain all the air he had lost.
The Devil sighed through his nose. He widened his eyes, embedding the rubies into the purple demon before smiling.
─── Are you serious, boss?! ───The aforementioned he couldn't help but wag his tail and flap his wings in joy.
─── Don't let it go to your head. ─── he warned.
─── Too late! ─── he replied happily before beginning to fly and spin, playing a festive tune on his trumpet.
The Devil couldn't contain a soft laugh at his enthusiasm.
───You still have it… ─── he muttered himself in a confession, making the violin disappear. Regret seeped out instantly, making him cover his mouth as if he had said the sanctify prayer.
Talking about the past was not allowed...
───...You still have it too, boss.
─── Henchman responded timidly, holding out the summoned trumpet.
The Devil was pleasantly surprised once more on the same night. When he turned around, he gave her a warm smile before accepting the instrument and making it disappear as well. Once everything was ready, he took the handle of the door, ready to leave. More, before leaving, he added:
─── I hope to see you tomorrow, Henchman.
The closing door echoed in the huge, acoustic room.
His heart was pounding as if he was going to jump out of his chest...
