Zed rolled over in the bed. He couldn't sleep even if he tried... He had awakened when the leader of the Quarter Knights had left the room.

Not that he would want to sleep. Not in here. He looked around. Yes, it was Zeikfried's bedroom. Again. He didn't like the fact that he was used like this. But there was nothing he could do. He wouldn't even consider disobeying Zeikfried. He would kill him if he did.

Last night, Zeikfried had dragged him here and almost ripped off his clothes. He glanced around. His clothes were lying all over the room. Well, not all of them - his scarf was lying on the bed next to him. Mostly because Zeikfried had used it last night to tie him up.

He had a couple of bruises, and he was feeling a bit uncomfortable. Zeikfried was a bit rough in bed. But then again, he just used Zed for sex. Zed knew he didn't care if it hurt. And most of the time it did. He glanced at the stained sheets. He was nothing more than a toy to Zeikfried...

So why on earth did he like what Zeikfried did to him?

Zed sighed and rolled over again. He saw his sword Doom Bringer lying on the floor next to the bed. He reached out and lifted it up. Then he unsheathed the sword and stared at the cold blade.

"I really should kill him... No, I should just cut off his..."

No, he would never be able to kill Zeikfried. He would never be able to even harm him. Zeikfried was the Demon leader, after all. And although Zed didn't want to admit it, he'd never have the courage.

"What's wrong with him, anyway?" He said to his sword. "All Quarters Knight are a bit weird nowadays..."

Zeikfried was the leader of the Quarter Knights. The others were Alhazad and the female knight, Lady Harken... And then there was Boomerang.

Zed didn't like him. He was a quiet man, but whenever Zed looked at him, he felt that Boomerang was up to something... He and the wolf that followed him around. Besides, Zed didn't like the way Boomerang had looked at him a couple of times. It gave him the most unpleasant feeling... As if the dark demon wanted...

"Hmpth. I'm not afraid of him," he said, still looking at his sword. "I'm not afraid of anything!"

He smiled, staring at the blade of Doom Bringer. Then he put the sword away. It was time to get up.

He sat up and looked at his clothes that lay on the floor. Zeikfried should have been more careful... He wasn't paying attention to anything else than finding all of his clothes, so he couldn't hear a quiet sound behind him. But he could feel when something sharp was pressed against his back.

Zed screamed. Someone laughed.

"Thought I'd find you here..."

Zed moved away from the sharp object and turned around. It was the red-headed female Quarter Knight.

"Lady Harken..." Zed wrapped the sheets around his naked body.

Lady Harken smiled evilly and pulled her scythe away. "Well, Zeikfried looked like he had been screwing someone last night. Thought it was you..."

"None of your business."

The female demon raised an eyebrow. "Hah. Isn't any one of you straight here? Well, except the white balloon."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Nothing really. Boomerang just has the bad habit of watching you. I think he wants you, pretty boy."

Zed gulped, but tried to look calm. "Whatever."

Lady Harken took a few steps and stopped by the bed.

"Get dressed, I have a job for you. Easy one, even you should be able to handle it."

The green-haired demon frowned. "Are you questioning my talent?"

"Other than pleasing Zeik in bed? Oh, yes I do."

With one soft move of her scythe, she removed the sheets that covered Zed. He looked irritated.

"Would you mind?"

"Bah. Unlike some others, I have no interest in you... Well. You have five minutes. I'll be waiting you in the hall." The female Quarter Knight teleported away.

Zed sighed, wrapped the sheets around his waist and started to gather his clothes from the floor.

Author's notes:

I like Zed.

- Elmina (February, 2001)