The Demon's Return

by Selva, SK

  “Balaraj!” shouted Maran. “What happened? What do we do?”

  “What do we do, Balaraj?” A younger Hemadri looked at him for instructions, Karnan standing tall beside them.

  “We need to attack the demon village,” he had said. “The hurricanes are sweeping through Marutam. We cannot wait for Samara or the king. We need to save the land.”

  “We need to be careful,” said another.

  Balaraj looked at the emerald eyes of the most beautiful creature he had ever seen, her words piercing his very soul.

  “I’m sorry, love,” said Balaraj, “but we cannot wait any longer. I need you.”

  “Sonia,” Karnan had pleaded. “Now is not the time.”

  She looked deep into Balaraj’s eyes.

  “I trust you with my everything,” she said as they stormed into battle together.

  Balaraj had never seen Sonia again after that, and Roshna would never forgive him for losing her sister.

  CHAPTER 1 6

  ***

  “B alaraj! What do we do?”

  Balaraj unfroze quickly, snapping himself back to the present. Maran and the rest of the class were looking at him for leadership. The other spectators were still recovering from the shock. Puli was on the ground but still breathing. The magic teacher was gone, but another unicorn was seeing to him.

  “Demons are dangerous,” said a unicorn close by. “We should never have let him back into our world, let alone here.”

  “You were right,” said another. “We need to banish him, but how?”

  Balaraj could feel all the eyes upon him, waiting for his instructions. Memories he had long buried away soared into his head, reminding him of what he yearned to forget. The roar that escaped his lips embodied rage, shaking the very cores of those around him.

  “Where did he go?” he thundered.

  “Aaryav took him,” said someone. “Probably back to his hut.”

  “Everyone to me,” shouted Balaraj. “I knew that bringing the demon creature was dangerous, but Roshna would not listen. We need to banish him. Even if I have to drag him to the king myself. All with me!”

  Hardened war heroes never lost their ability to inspire. A rallying cry echoed through the battlegrounds as Balaraj began his march. Maran excitedly pointed the way to Aaryav’s hut. The crowd ballooned, curiosity and fear powering its growth.

  This time, thought Balaraj, we do things my way.

  *

  Roshna stood in her room, her fingers brushing across a picture of a unicorn she was told she resembled. She did not feel she was anywhere close. Her sister was one of the bravest unicorns she had ever known. Roshna had nowhere near the strength and leadership Sonia did. She tore her eyes away, and they locked on Samara’s horn. She had always sympathized with the demons and spent years trying to convince everyone they deserved another chance. Two of the bravest women she had ever known, and here she was, expected to replace both.

  If Sonia were still around, it would have been an easy choice who should lead our clan. Balaraj would not be the monster he is today. Samara only chose me because I promised her to help the demons should they ever return. Maybe she was wrong?

  “No,” said Roshna. “She wasn’t wrong.”

  She thought back to all those years ago, when she was still a young but impressive unicorn. She was waiting in Karnan’s chambers, upset that she hadn’t been allowed to join the battle. They had all been gone for several days. Her fingers clutched a feather from Samara. It had ordered her not to leave Karnan’s chambers, no matter what. Word of a demon trial had reached her through the centaur that brought her food, but she did not care. Roshna just wanted to know why Sonia was not answering her feathers.

  Samara had then returned with Karnan and given her the somber news. She had said things she regretted. Samara had let her rage.

  “I know it looks like the demons took your sister,” she said, “but we must not lose the land.”

  “The land is all anyone cares about here!” shouted Roshna, crying into Karnan’s shoulder. “I don’t care about Ilemuria or anyone. I care about my family. I care about my sister. The demons killed her. I’ll destroy them.”

  “Roshna, listen to me. The demons did not kill her.”

  “You lie!”

  “How can you be so sure?” asked Karnan.

  “Listen,” said Samara as she reached for a chair. “I am not made for either world much longer. I need to elect a new leader. I need someone I can trust.”

  “Well then, you’ll just have to pick Balaraj,” said a stubborn Roshna.

  “No,” said Samara. “I need someone that will sympathize with what just happened. King Nahusha has said he is going to ban the demons. No creature has ever been banned before. But the danger is still out there, and it is not the demons. We’ll need them to defeat the evil.”

  “The dragons came and won the battle for us,” said Karnan.

  “Yes, but not the war,” said Samara. “And at this point, I don’t know who it’s against.”

  The flash of light that illuminated her room suddenly nearly blinded Roshna, pulling her back from her memories. As she struggled to get her eyes to focus again, a single feather floated into her room. Her heart pounding, her shaking hands reached for it. Thalia’s voice resonated through her room.

  “Veeran was at the battle class. Balaraj forced him to fight, and he lost control.”

  She could not believe it. He let an untrained creature fight in the most energy-riddled contest?

  It was unbelievably reckless. He could not have. A steady pitter-patter of footsteps graced her ears. It grew louder and faster. Cries of anger joined in the frightening symphony. She glanced through her window, clutching at her chest when she saw her very villagers stampeding in rhythm. It was obvious in what direction they were headed.

  She had not heard from Veeran for over a week, but the reports from Thalia, Aaryav, and even Poorvi were reassuring.

  Roshna bounded down her steps and out of the embassy. She was ahead of the mob, but not by much. Their ever-growing roars meant there was not that much time left. Aaryav burst into view, half carrying, half dragging a clearly exhausted Veeran.

  “Roshna!” he said, more terrified than she had ever seen him. “Giant fire, Balaraj mad, what we do?”

  His words were incoherent as he continued to glance behind them. Thalia was quickly running into view.

  “They’ll be here soon,” she panted.

  Roshna knew she had to act quickly. “Get to your home now. I’ll take care of it,” she instructed Aaryav.

  With the help of Thalia, they carried the demon into the tiny hut. The worn front door slammed behind them, but would it be enough to provide cover?

  Thankfully, Roshna could feel the land barricading the door as Thalia set up a shield, just in case. She turned just in time to see a horrifying sight of a mob, led by Balaraj, emerging from the training grounds.

  “Out of the way, Roshna,” he shouted.

  “Balaraj, please,” she pleaded, almost pathetically. Sonia would never have stooped this low.

  “No more! Look at what he did!”

  Roshna’s eyes opened in shock as she saw a tormented Puli being supported by two other villagers. His face was tense with pain.

  “It’s your fault he’s like this,” said Balaraj.

  “You goaded an untrained creature,” said Roshna.

  If I don’t do something soon, I’m going to lose their trust as leader.

  “It’s your fault that we needed a near death to realize the danger of this demon,” said Balaraj, clearly not listening or willing to reason. “You do Sonia a disservice by protecting him.”

  Roshna’s eyes turned to fire. “Do not utter her name,” she said. “You do not deserve it.”

  “Then get out of my way,” he said, strolling past her to Aaryav’s front door.

  “The rest of you, stand down,” said Roshna.

  Her sister’s name on his accursed lips was all the fuel she
needed. This was her village and her clan. It was time she started showing it.

  The assertiveness in Roshna’s voice gave the villagers pause. Balaraj was the most powerful unicorn, but Roshna was their leader, and a fantastic one at that. Several stepped back, but a few held their ground. Roshna could see the other villagers leaving their huts, curious.

  “Open up!” shouted Balaraj as he pounded on the door. “Let him out!”

  “He’s not here,” Aaryav shouted back from inside. “Maybe try tomorrow.”

  “I raised you, boy!” shouted Balaraj. “Remember who it was that brought you here. Remember who it was that trained you to be a racer. You would do well to know where your loyalties lie.”

  There was no response.

  “His loyalties are to Marutam and the unicorn clan,” said Roshna, stepping up to Balaraj.

  “He needs to be banished from the village! We’ll drag him to Kataragamam Castle. You remember what King Nahusha said. We have the proof. We can ban them forever.”

  “We will discuss this only with Roshna,” said Thalia from inside.

  “A fool’s view,” said Balaraj, turning to the crowd. “You were all too young to have remembered what the demons did to Ilemuria last time. They killed many of us. They almost let magic out into the human world. The king and the council banished them, rightfully. We cannot allow that to happen again. I will not repeat what happened in Poombuhar. No more demons!”

  A chant began, growing as each villager added their voice to it.

  “No more demons! No more demons!”

  “ENOUGH!” shouted Roshna, quickly silencing all those around her.

  “Jagan,” instructed Roshna. “Take Puli to the infirmary now. Poorvi will be there and able to help.”

  Jagan, one of Balaraj’s top students, quickly did as he was told. Maran looked at him with disgust.

  “Those who were not at the training grounds,” Roshna continued, “please go home. You will have my decision in the morning.”

  The crowd dissipated slowly, leaving Balaraj and a few of his students.

  “Roshna,” said Balaraj, almost begging. “Remember what they did all those years ago.”

  “We of all creatures know what it’s like for new ones to come to this world and lose control of the power from the land,” said Roshna. “It is not the first accident, and it won’t be the last. For now, he is still under my watch. I will see to this and exact punishment as I see fit.”

  “King Nahusha should be the one for this. The demon boy should go on trial.”

  “Trials are for crimes. Veeran, from what it sounds like, did not know how to use the energy from the land and was overcompensated. We have not summoned the king for worse incidents, and I do not wish to turn this into a land-wide issue. I will talk to Veeran.”

  The look of mistrust on Balaraj’s face was great, but Roshna held her ground.

  “Go home,” he said to his students.

  They looked at him quizzically but followed instructions. Balaraj waited several minutes until he was sure it was only the two of them left.

  “It took me a long time to recover from what happened,” he said.

  For the first time, Roshna sympathetically patted his arm. “We’ve tried to help,” she said, “but remember you are not alone. We can still help.”

  “I do not need your help. It’s clear that you will not give up your position. I have no choice.”

  “He will not be roaming the village the next few days. I will seek counsel from the king. If you wish, you can come along.”

  Balaraj nodded, his legs turning and taking him away. He knew he was not finished. He was going to go where he knew he would have help.

  CHAPTER 1 7

  ***

  T he sun was setting, casting a long shadow over Marutam, darkening the only path out of the village. It did not matter. Balaraj knew the way, and the ones he needed would be up. They were the ones with whom he went into the last battle, and they would be the ones he would go into this one with as well. He clipped one of the feathers from his back and whispered to it, letting it fly away into the night.

  It was frightening to know that this fight was against his own leader.

  “Samara was wrong,” he muttered. Though he left great footprints, his walk was as silent as the still wind. “I should have been leader. Not her. Just because Sonia was her sister.”

  He quickened his pace toward the Yonder Gate, his destination clearly in mind. Balaraj was a powerful flyer but was not in any mood to waste time. Through the gates he went as the great village of Kurunji greeted him.

  A popular figure amongst those clans adept at battle, Balaraj was easily recognized. Ogres pointed and trolls came up to shake his hand. Orcs and centaurs bid him good evening. Balaraj, arguably the greatest unicorn warrior the land had ever seen, ignored them all.

  I came here for one thing only.

  The troll embassy was not far from the entrance. The guards had let him through without checking him.

  The demon boy is a danger to Ilemuria. I’ve already lost Sonia. I will not lose any more.

  Karnan was already there, never a man to keep an old friend waiting. Hemadri opened the door.

  “What is happening, Balaraj?” he demanded. “I was out training our warriors for the battle games. It is not like you to suddenly command our presence? I’ve heard the king came and met the demon boy personally.”

  “Hemadri,” said Balaraj, “this is much worse than we ever could have imagined.”

  The troll pursed his lips but stood aside and let his war mates inside. They had always been so trusting of each other, even if they had disagreed. No one could ever dispute their loyalty to the land. It was not strange for them to discuss such important matters. It was amusing to Hemadri to see Karnan and Balaraj bending their heads to avoid banging against the ceiling. His chambers were built for a troll, after all.

  “It’s a wonder you ever entertain guests here,” commented Karnan.

  “We need to banish the demon boy,” said Balaraj, getting straight to business. “He is too dangerous.”

  “Here,” said Karnan, pulling out a chair for Balaraj to sit down, which he ignored. “Please let us know what happened.”

  It was an incredible story that left his lips, only heightened by Hemadri’s animated reactions. Karnan listened without pause, waiting patiently for the frightened unicorn to finish.

  “If he had any control of his powers,” said Balaraj, “then the boy would have been dead.”

  “Did you not teach him control in his previous classes?” asked Karnan.

  “This was his first one, and look at what he caused!”

  “But why would he attack a student? You know better than to allow these kinds of training drills during a student’s first class.”

  “He is not my student! He almost killed one of our tribe!”

  A hushed silence filled the room.

  “You cannot blame the boy for what happened to Sonia during the demon tragedy,” said Karnan soberly.

  It was clear to him what was driving Balaraj. He was beyond reason.

  “And why not?” interjected Hemadri. “They are of the same tribe, and not of our caste anymore.”

  “But they are not the same people, and I implore you not to bring up caste around me,” said Karnan. “I am not arguing against banishing the boy, but if we are to do this, we will need the proper evidence to present to the king.”

  “I can bring you a broken boy,” said Balaraj. “Puli will be more than enough.”

  Karnan thoughts swirled back to what he had discussed with Roshna. It had been a quiet several days since they had met, with her still adamant about protecting Veeran. How could she continue to do so after what happened to one of her own tribe?

  “We’ll need to call a meeting for the Council of Elders,” said Hemadri. “Then we can decide how to present to the king.”

  “Your council’s ways take too long,” said Balaraj. “The boy is a danger now. We
need to invoke Sammelanam Karoti.”

  He’s lost his mind, thought Karnan.

  “That is for matters of Ilemuria emergency,” he said, making sure he got his words correct. “We do not invoke it unless the land is about to be destroyed.”

  “Come now, Balaraj,” said Hemadri. “We both believe the boy should be banished, but he is one demon who can barely control his powers.”

  “They’ve gotten to you too, haven’t they?” said Balaraj.

  Karnan could not hide his confusion. “I don’t understand.”

  “The demon boy and his accomplice, Roshna,” said the seething unicorn. “They have already manipulated you two against me.”

  Karnan did not become angry but instead eyed Balaraj with empathy. The same could not be said for Hemadri.

  “Do not dare put me on the same level as the demon boy,” he cursed.

  The centaur gazed upon the tortured soul of Balaraj. Though his body was as powerful as ever and his passion still as fiery, he was still broken inside over the tragedy from so many years ago. He had lost the love of his life and had to gaze upon the same face that sat upon her sister, who blamed him for the loss. Karnan was ashamed of himself. He had never checked up on Balaraj in the human world. He had never made sure that Karnan felt better after the demons were banished. They had all celebrated, but after what they had seen, were they truly free?

  “If we invoke Sammelanam Karoti, then representation from all the creatures will be summoned for a meeting as soon as possible,” said Karnan. “King Nahusha will not be happy unless we have good reason.”

  “We have no choice,” said Balaraj.

  “I’m not convinced,” said Karnan. “For now, old friend, you need to rest.”

  “I cannot rest! There is no time to think about it. We need to do it now.”

  Hemadri, still fuming, looked outside. It was nearing the middle of the night.

  “You owe me for not saving her,” said Balaraj viciously.

  Karnan could not look Balaraj in the eye as he thought back to all those years ago.

  “I trust you with my everything,” Sonia had said.