"There's a darkforge and the Darkforgers? Are they related?"
"Kind of. The Darkforgers are a group of pure demons who seek to resurrect Cal-Ra. They are called the Darkforgers because they were keepers of the book in the past," Jade stated.
"Why do a group of pure demons want to resurrect a human?" Hunter asked as he put on his seatbelt.
"Huh? I thought you were taught all this in your school? Whatever, Cal-Ra claimed to be the human reincarnation of the Dark Majesty," she said.
"With the Dark Majesty being?"
"The demon king who defeated the Olympians during the war of heaven and hell," she stated.
"Right. What does any of this have to do with me though, why would they be searching for me?" He asks.
"Waleed is a necromancer, it is possible that they would make you use his powers to resurrect Cal-Ra," she explained.
"I see ..."
[Why don't you just tell her you already know I am Cal-Ra?]
'No, I want to see how long she is going to lie to me.'
[You can't blame her. I gave specific instructions that you must not know who I am]
'That doesn't mean anything. I would very much prefer if she told me that she can't tell me why rather than look into my eyes and lie every single time I ask about stuff like this.'
[I get where you're coming from, I really do, but Jade genuinely likes you - I can tell. Beyond those walls she put up around herself, she's a big softie. So, maybe this isn't about my instructions or whatever, maybe this is because she doesn't want you to look her another way because she's working for a monster like me. Think about it, if Jade had told you from the beginning that I was Cal-Ra you wouldn't have wanted anything to do with her again. She has been through a lot and you are among the few who treat her as a human being. Don't stop doing that now]
'The Darkforgers are trying to bring you back, why doesn't she want that?'
[You know, for a guy who loves smooth segues you're terrible at one and she doesn't want me to leave your head because I like it here and there's so much space up here]
'Damn you! Seriously though, why doesn't she want them to get you, are the Darkforgers that bad?"
[When I was alive, the Darkforgers didn't exist so I wouldn't know]
"Is he talking to you?" Jade asked Hunter, casting a sidelong glance at Hunter before shifting her gaze back to the road.
"Yes," the sprite replied. "He was making a joke about how empty my head is," he added. The vampire laughs, "he's not wrong," she stated.
"Of course you old geezers team up against a young prodigy such as myself," Hunter countered.
[You just had to make an ageist comment, didn't you?]
'Oh come on, nothing ageist about that!'
[Yeah, yeah]
Hunter turned to Jade. "So, where are we going?" He asked.
"While I'm not sure you're the one they seek, I think it would be better if you hide for the time being, I'll let your school administration know," she said.
"How do you hide from a group of pure demons?" The sprite asked.
"Where they wouldn't look; their former leader's place," she said taking a sidelong glance at Hunter. "We're going to Alastair's," she declared.
...
"You can't be serious!" Kendi complained, grabbing the hem of his shirt. "We're close to --"
"I don't want to hear it," he cuts him off. The dark-skinned man let go of the man's cloth knowing he can't change his mind. "Your mind is already set, isn't it?" Kendi said defeated.
"I haven't told anyone else and I hope this remains between us both," he said. "You have Nakia and the kids so when this is all over, you go back home and take care of them, do you understand?"
Kendi rubs his hand over his eyes. "Do you understand?" He repeated, his voice booming and authoritative.
"Yes," Kendi replied with a very low tone.
"Go, I'll let you know when it's time to proceed," he instructed. Kendi shoots a nod before walking out of the hall.
His ears perked up as they picked up the sound of retreating footsteps. "Sylvia?" He called.
"Yes, my lord?" The mage said stepping out from behind a pillar. "A messenger from Hel stopped by some moments ago," she revealed.
"A message from Lilith? What does she want?" He asked.
"It's Alastair, he has been gathering all the older pure demons and taking them from Hel," Sylvia stated.
"Hm ..."
"You want me to deal with him?" She asked.
"Leave it. Besides, you have other things you want to talk about, don't you?"
There is a short silence before the mage responds. "I heard what you said to Kendi. Do you really have to kill --" She breaks down and begin to cry, falling to her knees.
He sniggers, and then pulled himself together, his face turning particularly solemn. He curbs down to her level, wiping away the tears from her eyes. "It will be fine," he stated.
"That's the biggest lie I've ever heard!" She stated. "It won't be fine. Nothing will be fine," she claimed.
"You're right; that was a lie I told just now. It won't be fine and it's okay that you're hurting but this wouldn't be the end, there's so much more left to do," he stated. "I gave Morgan some instructions she'll pass on to you soon," he added.
He rises to his feet and straightens the wrinkles on his cloth. "Will you be okay?" He asked.
"Yes," she replied, still shaking. "Keep this and the other conversation to yourself. You'll hear from me soon," he said before walking away from the mage.
.
.
.
"Hunter!" Jade called loudly. The sprite rubbed the backside of his hand, slowly opening his eyes. "Do you always sleep that deeply?" She asked.
"Ugh," he groaned pushing the door open and stepping onto the demon's driveway. "Hunter, my good friend!" Alastair exclaimed, running and hugging the sprite.
"Right," Hunter drawled. "You're kinda squeezing my ribs," the dark-haired boy complained.
"Who cares?"
"I do! You're crushing my rip cage!" He started emphasizing the word 'my'.
Alastair lets go of the teal green-eyed boy, his lips curled up at one end. "I got the darkforge from Jade, she says you got it for me from the grocery. I guess I owe you one."
"Yeah ... You're welcome." Alastair turned and began making his way to his house with the duo not too far behind. "Chelsea's inside by the way," said Alastair as he stepped onto the front porch.
"I know, our minds are linked," he stated.
"Then you'll know that I am yet to figure out why or what she is," said the pure demon.
"I may have some idea but that isn't why we're here right now."
"We are here because of the Darkforgers," Jade finally says.
"What about them?" The grey-eyed demon frowned. "You of all people know I'm no longer associated with them, Jade," he said.
"I know. We are here because we believe they are after Hunter."
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