"I don't know, Damion. Seems a bit farfetched to me."
"Farfetched? It's been the same for centuries!"
"Lower your voice. You'll wake Millan."
Millan identified this as the perfect opportunity to feign that he'd been woken up. Opening his door, he rubbed his eyes and innocently mumbled, "What's going on?"
His father remained by the window as his mother tended to him. "Go back to bed, dear. It's nothing."
"But I can't sleep. I'm not tired. Can I stay up for just a little?"
He could tell from the look on her face that she wasn't going to fight him. Proud of his tactics, young Millan happily took his spot next to his father. He poked his head over the windowsill and scanned the main street. Night had fallen, and lanterns cast the only light on the streets. The house was quiet as a distant and unnatural roar swept through the town. Millan's heart did a backflip. The single bell in the watcher's tower chimed in a way the boy had never heard before. Millan turned away from the window and wrapped his arms around his father's leg.
"Angels help us," Damion said.
His mother tried to usher Millan away. "Let's go to your room, dear. You'll be safe there."
Any other nine-year-old boy would've taken the opportunity to flee from the scene, but Millan's paralyzing fear was gradually overcome by curiosity. After all, if his parents would be safe here, so would he.
"I want to see." He knew about the demons and why he wasn't allowed outside after sunset. He knew the fiends had even tried to conquer Light's Haven a couple years earlier but had failed thanks to the might of Candelux. And it was only last year when the new priest had arrived in Nesinu. Millan didn't know much about the old man in the brown robe. His father had ordered him to stay clear of Don Skully, and he dutifully obeyed.
His mother grasped his hand. "Millan, this is not something for little boys to see. You'll get nightmares."
"I don't care." He yanked his hand away. "I want to see."
"No, come with me."
"No!" The boy stomped his foot. "I don't want to go to my room."
"Let him watch," Damion interrupted.
Millan's mother glared at her husband and crossed her arms in front of her chest. "Fine, but you'll deal with the consequences. When he can't sleep, you'll be the one to comfort him."
"Fine," he answered flatly. And then under his breath, barely loud enough for Millan to hear, he said, "Assuming we survive tonight."
A lump formed in Millan's throat. Maybe he should go to bed. But no, he had already fought to make it this far. The young boy moved back to the sill. A small group waited at the edge of town. They appeared human only in shape, but their features were all wrong. The leader, Millan assumed, towered over the streetlamps. His nose was elongated like a muzzle, which pushed his eyes more to the sides. Around him stood six child-size beings. A couple had funny ears and one stood on all fours. Millan sensed there was something wrong with them. An evil festered inside them. He felt uneasy as this was his first sight of demons.
"Here comes our savior now," Damion said. Millan knew he was being sarcastic. His father never had anything nice to say about priests.
Don Skully was the lone human on the street as he confronted the demons. He stopped a stone's throw from Millan's home, and the demons had halted on the other side, giving Millan the ideal view for the upcoming fight. The young boy noticed the priest playing with an object in his right hand but couldn't make out what it was.
"Leave this town, demon," Skully said. "What you seek is not here. I don't want to risk the lives of these villagers, so I give you this chance to withdraw."
The demon leader uttered gibberish in the demonic tongue that little Millan couldn't yet understand.
"You're mistaken. Leave now or face Verago in the Depths."
The large iymed snarled and the six fray demons charged toward their foe.
Most of the initial battle was a blur to Millan. Lights flashed as the little demons seemed to melt away. As they advanced toward Skully, the fray did their best to dodge his attacks, but the streaks of light always found their marks. Before long, only the giant remained. A darkness gathered around his claw as he pulled a massive weapon from seemingly nowhere. It was an enormous scimitar that was almost as tall as the demon himself. Millan squinted as the light from the lanterns danced off the blade.
"Your friends are gone. Go back to wherever you came from and never return."
The demon responded and brandished his weapon.
Don Skully sent a pulse of light at the fiend, but he didn't budge. The blessing landed, leaving an imprint seared in the demon's chest. The iymed snickered and walked menacingly toward the priest.
Within striking range, the demon readied his blade, but a chain of light burst forth from the ground and caught his wrist. As he struggled to break free, more blessings emerged and pulled the beast to his knees. Don Skully strolled up to him and held out his hand.
"What's going on?" Millan asked.
His mother inched toward the window and craned her neck. "He's cleansing the demon, so he can't return to the Surface and harm us."
Millan smiled and quietly clapped his hands. The restrained iymed bellowed and struggled against the chains, but Don Skully remained unfazed and resumed his ritual. The demons were dealt with, and no one was hurt. Everything was going to be all right.
Millan looked up at his father. "He kept us safe, didn't he?"
Damion stared stoically at the priest. He barely moved his lips. "So it would seem."
The young boy turned back to witness the cleansing, and his smile vanished. The large demon's yell reverberated off the buildings as he broke free of the holy shackles. The beast spun around and swung the scimitar to take the head of the priest. Millan cringed at the thought of their only defense falling prey to this monster. As the blade sliced through the air, light shot forth from the object in Skully's hand, creating a blade that danced like fire. The demon's weapon struck the light with such force that it knocked the priest backward a few yards and onto his back.
Skully returned to his feet with a lack of urgency. As the beast marched toward him, a yellow glow consumed the old man. The iymed whirled around once again and slashed at him. The holy aura around Skully intensified until it burst into form. Two wings of light exploded brilliantly from his shoulders, and his blade became like an untamable flame. The wings flitted up and then back down as the demon brought his scimitar in for the kill. Don Skully was whisked into the air and out of harm's way. The iymed raised his head toward the night sky to locate his adversary. Skully's blade of light blazed, and as the priest descended, his weapon tore effortlessly through the demon's body.
Millan clearly remembered the silence of the night when the battle had finished. No trace of demon could be found as the remains melted to the Depths. The wings of light had flickered and fell away like dust. The blade that had been summoned from the object in Skully's hand had vanished as well. There was no applause and no cheering. After taking one last look around, Don Skully had made his way back to the newly built rectory.
A sharp knock came at the door as Millan clutched the replica of the Talisman of Zavi. It was just like the one at the end of Feranis's staff, a conduit imbued with the power of holy light, manifested by the user. It was the gift that Millan received from Skully at his Acceptance and the last remaining object that reminded him of his mentor.
"Who is it?"
"Squire Aler. Head Archdon Scarit has called an assembly to discuss the battle ahead. I was sent to retrieve you."
Millan slid the star-shaped object into his pocket, opened the door, and followed the squire out.
✽✽✽
A slithering whisper slipped into his mind. The preparations have been made.
Alone by the lake, Erynion rubbed his temples.
"How are you feeling?" a voice asked from behind.
Erynion glimpsed over his shoulder. "Fine."
"You haven't been meditating again, have you?" Serey
na stepped in front of him.
"No. It's just this voice I keep hearing."
"What kind of voice? Another memory?"
"I don't know. This isn't like the dreams I've been having. This voice is different. It seems to be giving me instructions."
"Instructions? To do what?"
Erynion shrugged. "Kill the king. Find the Brotherhood."
"You never mentioned it before."
"I've been trying to figure out the source. I guess it didn't seem worth mentioning."
"I see." Sereyna urged him to get up. "Come. It's time to go. Where are your friends?"
He remained seated. "What?"
"Flinch? Sonojj? Where are they?"
Erynion surveyed the area. "No idea. I thought they were in the camp with you."
"Interesting." Sereyna clasped her hands together. "Well, no matter. We don't need them anyway. We'll crush Royal Oak together."
"Why?"
"Why? Why not? Humans are the enemy. Royal Oak happens to be the second-largest city in the kingdom. It would give me such joy to cut down that ridiculous tree and burn the city to the ground. Wouldn't that make you happy?"
Erynion felt ill at the thought of mindless killing. "Not particularly. All I know is my purpose."
"Which you need me to help you with, correct? I'm helping you, and you're helping me as my soldier."
"If Royal Oak is so easy to destroy, why have you waited this long to do it?"
Sereyna hesitated. "It…uh…what do you mean?"
"According to Sonojj, you've been around for quite some time. Humans have always been there. The tree has always been there. Why the sudden interest in attacking the city now? What's changed?"
"There's a first time for everything. I never attacked Malarekita before either."
Erynion groaned. "Why don't you stop pretending? I know what I am, and you know as well."
Sereyna gasped. "Your identity?"
"No, not who I am. What I am. I know there's no demon lord in Alovajj because he's right here, sitting on this shoreline."
"You're sure of that?"
"Very. I suspected I was something terrible when I awoke that first morning and the town was gone. The same thing would've happened in Nolka if you hadn't shown up. Tell me I'm wrong."
Sereyna slid her hands down the back of her legs, fixing her dress as she sat beside Erynion. "You're not wrong. It's also possible that in your weakened state—caused by the agony—the archdon there could've cleansed you. I couldn't take that chance."
"You used one of your lieutenants as a distraction, a sacrifice."
"Reaper? Yes. And I would've given up the other three as well if it meant getting you out of the hands of those priests."
"So, you admit it. I'm the demon lord everyone's been talking about."
Sereyna pursed her lips and took his hand into hers. "Yes. It's true."
"Why did you lie to me?"
"Very simple, really. I thought if you believed you're weaker than you actually are, then your mind would only try to tap into a small amount of your energy. I was trying to save you from the agony, so you could explore your identity."
Erynion was drawn to the moon's reflection in the lake, shining brilliantly in the wake of the dwindling rays of sunlight. "I have to admit that when you said I wasn't the demon lord, I wanted to believe it. But when the others told me about the purge at the Assault, I knew. Were you ever planning on telling me the truth?"
"Of course, love. I know you're no Dardan fool. If the others told you about the last demon lord and the purge at the Assault, then you must also realize how terrified they all are at the prospect of another one."
"That's the real reason why Alejjir left, isn't it? He knew what I was."
"Yes, I'm afraid so. And imagine if the others discovered that you're the demon lord. After the last one, we'd have no army."
Erynion eyed her suspiciously. "We?"
"Yes, we."
"I thought I was just your soldier."
"Aww, my sweet Erynion." Sereyna laid her head on his shoulder and squeezed his hand. "Did you take offense to that? You may have a massive power festering inside you, but it means very little if it can't be controlled, just like Maligus."
The demon lord pulled his hand away from hers. "Maligus? What does he have to do with this?"
"Poor demon. He has so much power within him, but he has no access to it. He could be the strongest lesser iymed on the Surface, maybe even a greater iymed. Not as strong as me, mind you."
"How is it possible that he harbors so much power?"
"He absorbed the energy of his brother."
"Absorbed? He killed his own brother? Who would do such a thing?"
Sereyna shook her head. "No, no, no. That's not how it works. Only Verago can move energy from one demon to another. Maligus and Rojjiro were unique. Verago linked them as part of an experiment that exploited their familial bond. They became the first of their kind, known as kindred demons. Fighting side by side made them more powerful. It was a loophole to the agony problem Verago was facing with stronger demons."
"They both served under you?"
"That's right. Pledged their undying loyalty. But a couple of years after the Assault failed, Rojjiro wandered off. No one seems to know why for sure. We found out later he had attempted to raid some small village up in the northeast of the kingdom, probably somewhere close to where you popped out."
"He died in the raid?"
"Yes," Sereyna said softly.
"So, how does that affect Maligus?"
"Aside from his terrible temper now? The strength that kindred demons receive when fighting together is only one advantage. There is a more powerful outcome from their connection. When one of the demons falls in battle, his energy is transferred to the other. The rush of power is intended to give the surviving demon a temporary burst of strength to overcome the odds and avenge his sibling. Unfortunately, Maligus was nowhere near Rojjiro when he died. He had no idea what was happening. The darkness invaded his body, and Maligus was infused with the power of his brother."
"Then why isn't he any stronger?"
Sereyna placed her hands on her knees. "The effect is supposed to be temporary. Gaining so much energy would undoubtedly drive any demon to madness from the agony. That's why the intent is that it's used in battle. But, we weren't. And so, I did the only thing I could think of. I created a barrier to separate Rojjiro's energy from Maligus."
"Wait a minute." Erynion shot to his feet. "You can do that?"
"I can do a lot."
"Why don't you just do that with me?"
"It's not the same. Rojjiro's energy was foreign to his brother. Because Maligus feared the agony, his body inherently tried to reject the influx of power. This is what allowed me to create the barrier successfully, and that is what remains locked inside him to this day." Sereyna patted the ground. "Sit back down."
Erynion obliged. "And he can never access it?"
"He can. If he chose to, he could dissolve the walls that I put in place, but he never will."
"Why do you say that?"
Sereyna's fingers danced on her knees. "He came to me after the whole incident, asking for my help. He wanted to control his new power. I tried to help him, of course. My expertise allowed me to slowly peel back the spell. But no matter how cautious I was, the power was too great for him."
"You mean the agony."
Sereyna nodded. "He panicked. He inadvertently punctured the barrier and his brother's energy mixed with his. Maligus nearly went insane. It took some time, but I fixed his mistake and locked away the energy once again. But the damage was already done. Maligus didn't speak for a month after that. When he finally did, his first words to me were, 'Never again.'"
In search of the ogre demon, Erynion stared at the demon camp. "So, he's afraid."
"Indeed. But I wouldn't mention this to him. The whole incident can make him unstable." She softly caressed his face. "And just as I tried to help him, I'm also tryin
g to help you, but you must listen to me. Don't let fear manipulate you, and I promise that you'll gain control over your power. I know that will allow you to rise above me, but until then, you must fight under me. So, yes, the mighty demon lord is my soldier. Is my command so terrible that you cannot endure it?"
The demon lord considered her words. "I'll follow you if you answer me this."
"What's on your mind?"
"Why did you choose the name Sereyna?"
"Why do you ask?"
"That's irrelevant. Will you answer the question?"
Sereyna seemed to ignore him as she smoothed out the creases in her dress, but she eventually relented. "It's simple really. It's the same reason I chose any of my pseudonyms. I adored the name, so I made it my own."
"Where did you hear it?"
"I don't know. It was years ago. What does it matter?"
Erynion growled. "It matters to me!"
The Seductress put her hand on her chest and leaned back. Though she remained seated, she put some distance between herself and Erynion. Her eyes were as open as they could be. "Very well. If you must know, Sereyna was the name of my sister. I always liked her name better than my own. She didn't live past the age of nine, though. I, of course, was still not allowed to change my name even after she died. But, when I became a demon, it was the perfect pseudonym for me."
"I was told you went by other names before you chose Sereyna."
"Other names? Of course. I couldn't use my sister's name in the beginning. There were still people alive who would have connected me to her. It was no secret I wanted her name, but that was many years ago. No one would remember that now, and so I'm free to use it. Satisfied?"
Something about her story was off, but Erynion couldn't pinpoint it. He studied her face for any hint of deception. Could there be a connection between the girl in his dreams and this demon's sister? The humans called her the Seductress after all, well versed in telling people what they wanted to hear.
"For now," he grumbled.
Chapter 20
Blessing of the Fallen Angel
Millan was admiring the large oak tree when the watchtower bells began to ring. The noise didn't startle him since a demon attack in some form was expected tonight. He had received instructions from Head Archdon Scarit to find Archdon Omana at the north gates of the city and join her group. Few demons were capable of scaling walls, and so their point of attack was always the main gate. And although Royal Oak had never been breached by demons, the issue of this demon lord had put everyone on high alert. With the sun departing from the sky, Millan looked to the north, but remained still. Deep down, it still bothered him that Eriph chose not to fight. The inn where the excluded priest was staying was close to the city center, so Millan decided to ask him once again. By the time he left the plaza, the streets were nearly empty. The markings on the doors glowed as the Blessing of Marked Defense was cast within the rectory.
The Twisted Gate Page 18