"Well, well, lookat that." said an arrogant girl voice. "We don't have to do anything much after all. Our long years of pain is finally avenged. That Jessie's plan works well."
I looked up at the voice. And someone I did not want to meet most appeared before my eyes. It was Seth Lee.
He's back!
…sadly, with even colder gaze.
Phoebe was the one who said that. She had one hand rest resolutely on her hip looking even prettier than I last met her. Conner was with them too, he looked troubled and casted me an apologetic eyes. The trio approached us. Their body glowed but I had no mind to waste on that now. I had to think-think! Think about helping Dylan!
Don Winter rushed out of his hiding to Seth. He looked very intimidate and spoke in such a submissive way even though his size was twice as big as Seth. "Master Lee-"
He even used such polite way of speaking!
"We have done our job. Will you please…release us?" I detected fear in his voice! Oh my, what had Seth done to these people?
"You should be grateful." Seth said and a chill ran down my spine. "It's not easy to become our slaves."
Seth leered and made an evil grin. Don sank away behind the grasses again without further objections. It seemed they would have to continue being his slave.
"You can finish him now." said Seth to…me, I guessed, and I gawked at him. Seth continued. "And you'll be free forever."
"You dared!" Nate roared at the trio and stood up fanning out his wings protecting Dylan. His skin melt and color changed as he slowly shifted into a big bird. Black feathers that mingled with gold were outstanding with the orange of the fire from the warehouse that the light rain was unable to calm it down. His, or its?--yellow eyes were blazing with rage and full with readiness to fight anybody who's going to harm his bro.
"Can anyone tell me what is happening?" Dale called out daring another chance, moving awkwardly closer behind Conner.
But no one cared to explain him, including me, because Nate the bird, squawking and screeching, swept his powerful wing in my direction in an attempt to hit Seth. It almost knocked me away from Dylan. I held tight my demon despite the high frequency bird noise that was piercing through my eardrums.
"Stop it crazy bird! You'll hurt Leigh!" yelled Conner and he jumped at Nate, the angry bird, and they went on engaging in fighting again.
I watched the brawl in horror. Arms circled Dylan securely. The situation was getting crazier and crazier. What exactly is all of this about?! I looked at the fighting and at Seth and Phoebe who had no sign of wanting to help Conner, could not stand it anymore!
"Stop it! Stop it! Stop it!" I cried out as loud as I could. "STOP IT ALREADY!!!!"
The bird and Conner stopped. Seth casted me an icy look while Phoebe's was fiery.
I talked to the angry bird first. "I'm going to help Dylan, I promise, okay, Nate?" The bird looked at me with those clear bright yellow eyes. I was not sure if he still understood what I said. I did not know how to read a bird's face. But its size gradually shrank and part of the head started to turn into human form. So, he understands.
I sighed, one problem solved. "Okay, so now Seth, Phoebe and Conner, this isn't time to hunt demons. So demon hunters please go. I won't let you harm Dylan no matter what."
"Demon hunter?" Seth had this quizzical look on his face. "Oh, okay, I kinda like it."
"But I don't!" Phoebe said angrily. Her red aura flared brighter and bigger. "How low could you be human? You even think of us as a lowly demon hunter!"
I looked blankly at the red hair girl, confounded by her act, and turned to Conner for help.
Conner shook his head. Had I done something wrong?
"Then, tell me!" I shouted back irritably. "How am I supposed to know what you guys are, if you don't tell me?"
"You pitiful lowly being." said Seth flatly but the light around his body shone brighter as if releasing more power. One thing I was sure…he must be angry.
I watched Seth, eyes wide with fright as he was about to whip the light beam at me. Nate's warning had made him stop. "Quit it Seth! You're not allowed to hurt human! Don't forget it!"Seth Lee veered the beam toward Nate instead. "Don't call my name demon!" Fortunately, Nate duck away in time.
"Wha-what are you exactly?" I looked at the trio, agitated, trying to move further away from them.
Seth Lee smiled. It was rare. But this rare smile didn't give me comfort, it did exactly opposite.
"Listen." Seth Lee began. "Kill that demon. You have to believe me because we are--"
The aura surrounding the trio radiated and glittered beautifully like diamonds. Oh my god! Are they going to turn into something else too? Like some kind of heroes? Batman? Spiderman?
Nate cut in and ruined the exciting moment. "They are gods."
What?
"Yes." His lips weren't moving but Seth's voice rang all over the area. "You have to believe us because we are GODS." The 'God' word resounded and vibrated through the air magnificently giving me goosebumps.
Oh…my….m...….....….Gods?!
"We are on your side." Now it was Phoebe's voice turn. "We want what's best for you."
"O-Okay hold on." I held out my palm and, like a light bulb was switched off, the trio stopped glowing. There was a lot to take in. Compiling up all the information, I tried not to think too much but instead understand it. I still couldn't though. What? Gods?
Now, I knew that when there's good, there's evil. But gods? Seriously? Demons? And gods? Like Dan Brown's? Oh…it's the world end, isn't it?
But it's real. I looked at the demon in my embrace, his wings, and thought of those blue green eyes. Everything that had been happening was real.
My love for him too.
"Don't be dazzled about that." Nate started saying. "There's nothing to be excited about being a god. The only advantage is that they don't need to be fed on souls to gain more power. Otherwise, they are almost the same as us."
Seth whipped another silvery ribbon at the demon. "We are nothing like you! We don't do evil things like killing people!" And both Seth and Nate jumped into a fight. The swiping and slashing from them were so loud and thunderous that they covered up the deteriorating noise of the burnt collapsing warehouse.
"What about you?" Phoebe brought me back to her from the god and demon's fighting scene.
"You're with them? Then, you should die too!" Phoebe glowered at me and emitted red corona once more. Then, it was the first time I saw her red wings unfolded elegantly.
Conner, left eye twitched, quickly moved in front of me, guarding. "We can't harm human Phoebe." And the beautiful snow white glittering feathered wings of his popped out. My…so many wings, so many colors. Nevertheless, I felt safe and warm at the sight of them. He was like a guardian angel.
"Conner, those are demons behind you." said Phoebe about to get into her fight mode.
"And human too." countered Conner.
"She's with demons!"
"But she's still human." said Conner.
"Somebody had better explained something to me, or I'm calling 911 NOW!" Dale tried to raise his voice, but everyone still ignored him.
The rapid succession of events since this morning confounded me. There were too many things…too MANY things going on. I started the day feeling happy, then moving on to sad, and came right here to despair. I loved my friends but they betrayed me. I thought demons were good but Phoebe said--
"Demons aren't all bad." I tried again talking from behind Conner. I thought about Chane and Cody and the heart-warming forest demons. "They are-they are kind…"
"They brainwashed her!" Phoebe screamed at Conner.
"No!" Conner said. "We ARE brainwashed, by Seth's grudge and anger."
Phoebe balled her hand and fire sparked up there. She pointed with that fire balled hand.
"Haven't you seen that?" I followed it and saw Jessie lifeless body lay twisted on the ground. Her unclosed eyes, left-opened pale mouth, and hollow face stamped its image in the bottom of my heart. She would haunt me forever.
And the last thing she wanted me to do as well…
Help Dylan.