Hunter, Jade, Leah, Chelsea, and Alastair arrive at the scene. It was the spot the sprite had seen Zoe train his friend Sophia every day, for nearly a month.
Most of the trees were broken, branches had fallen, leaves were flying about, and something that looked like an elephant tusk stabbed into the sand - all the signs that a long battle took place there. Yet, there was no one there except for one redhead lying unconscious on the ground.
Hunter runs ahead of the group, instantly recognizing the unconscious redhead from afar as Sophia. The sprite knelt beside her and quickly checked for a pulse - he found one instantly but it was very slow.
[Feed her your blood]
'Huh?'
[You want me to explain to you why or would you like to save your friend's life?]
Hunter looked back to see the others were now close to him. "Anyone of you has a knife?" He asked.
"Yeah. Here you go," said Leah as she takes out a dagger and hands it to the sprite. "Thanks," Hunter said before stabbing his palm with the dagger and pulling it downwards. He winced a little but it was a small price to pay - he wasn't going to lose a friend today.
"What are you doing?" Jade queried.
Hunter positioned Sophia's head upwards before placing his wounded hand in the redhead's mouth, allowing the blood from the cut to bleed into her mouth.
"Who's this, and why is she blue?" Alastair asked Chelsea.
"That's Sophia, Hunter's friend," said Chelsea.
"She smells like she's transitioning, though I'm not sure to what. What's with the blindfold?"
"Her eyes emit light or something," Chelsea replied.
"I see."
Sophia sits up swiftly, inhaling deeply. "Sof, it's me, it's fine," Hunter assured the redhead. "What happened here?" He asked.
"They took her, they took Zoe," she cried.
"Who did?"
.
.
.
Ranock and Zoe walked out of the portal and into the Darkforgers' sanctum where some pure demons were, twelve in total, all of them dressed in red cloaks with their hoods on. There was a circle that looked like it was drawn with chalk on the floor in the middle of the room and a triangle in the middle of the circle that looked like it was drawn with blood.
"Grab her," the black-haired pure demon instructed but the fiend resisted, grabbing the first demon to touch her and smashing his head into the wall.
One of the demons shoots fire out of his mouth aiming for the fiend but she easily moves out of the line of attack and hit him with a kick.
The other demons drew back, quickly circling their leader and forming an energy shield around themselves. "I see where I went wrong," Ranock conceded.
"I did come here," Zoe said a small smile on her face.
"Some of my men are still back there, I could order them to kill your friend immediately," Ranock stated.
"You're underestimating my speed."
"You underestimate mine," said the pure demon.
They stare down at each other some more before Zoe spoke again. "Fine. This is a sacrifice mark, right?" She asked.
"Correct," Ranock nodded.
"I'll willingly participate if you agree you and your men would not go even close to her, ever," said Zoe.
Ranock narrowed his eyes. "Deal."
Zoe lies in the middle of the circle while the men stand around her. They begin to chant some words. The circle begins to glow and glow until it suddenly becomes black like coal and the fiend disappears.
"What just happened?" One of the demons asked.
"The job is done," Ranock replied.
"Now what?" Another demon asked.
"We wait until he sees the gift we offered. Time works differently there," Ranock stated.
A large commotion could be heard from the yard and Ranock rushes to the window to get a look at what was causing the ruckus; they were under attack.
He recognized all of the attackers - the girl with the blindfold, Leah who was using a gun to shoot down his opponents, the teal green-eyed boy, and the raven-haired woman. Although the latter two he only knew from their energy levels and not facial features.
"Get down there! Kill those idiots!" He ordered.
The demons nodded, shouting "Yes sir," in unison before rushing out of the room.
As soon as they disappeared into the hallway, there was a light noise that is soon replaced with approaching footsteps.
Ranock stands his ground, ready to fight whoever walked the door. The door swings open and Alastair stepped in. "Hello old friend," he said.
"What are you doing here?"
"What does it look like? Jade is standing by the door. She suggested we take you on but I couldn't do that without first talking to you."
"Then you've become even softer than I thought," said Ranock.
"Perhaps. It's time to stop whatever it is you're doing here."
"Never! This is what the Dark Majesty would have wanted!" Ranock claimed.
"Is it though? Do you know why I left?" Alastair asked.
"You became weak."
"No. I left because I realized what I was doing was selfish. It was never about what he wanted, it was about me and the changes I believed he'd bring for the benefit of the demons. The Dark Majesty is one of the strongest beings ever, he could beat us all in his human form. Do you really think Jade and that fool, Kendi Drumalak could have killed him if he didn't want them to?"
Ranock's face falls and his shoulders slouch down. For a moment, it looked as though he was about to swallow his pride and admit he had been wrong all these years but then his eyebrows furrowed and his jaw tightened and his fist clenched. "I see," he said. "You have been corrupted by that traitor Jade. It now falls on me to remove you from this world before you corrupt others. In the name of the dark majesty," he added as he takes a fighting stance.
"Well," Alastair shrugs. "At least I tried," he said before dashing past the Darkforgers' leader. When he stops, Ranock looked down to find that his left arm was gone. The door swings open and in comes Jade. She places her hand on the side of Ranock's head and takes him down forcefully. As he falls, the vampire grabs the demon's right leg and tears off the limb from the body.
"Where's the girl?" Alastair asked.
"I'll never tell," said the demon lying in a pool of his blood.
"Then you are of no use to me," said the grayish-blue-haired demon as he formed a small ball of energy. "I should have done this a long time ago," he stated.
"No!" Jade stopped him. "I'm taking him in," said the vampire.
"Suit yourself," Alastair said as he shoved his hands in his pockets.
The door swings open again, this time, Hunter walks in with Leah, Chelsea, and Sophia just behind him.
"Did he say anything?" Hunter asked.
"Nothing," Jade replied. "I don't get why they'd want her, it makes no sense," the vampire stated.
"Maybe because she's a fiend?" Sophia suggested. "Zoe told me that fiends could --"
"Wait, the girl they took was a fiend?" Alastair queried, cutting Sophia off.
"Yes," the redhead nodded.
"I know where she is," said the pure demon.
"Then let's hurry there," Hunter said eagerly.
"Slow down tiger. If she truly is a fiend then that means the girl was sacrificed to The Adversary and that means your friend is in Hel," Alastair stated.
"Why would you think so?" Jade asked.
"I've heard some rumors from a friend down there. The Adversary was searching for a fiend, I'm guessing these guys decided to do it for him, isn't that right, Ranock?"
Ranock frowns, not saying anything. "Why would you do that?" Jade demanded. "The Dark Majesty hates the Adversary! Did you forget that he was the one that killed the Adversary in this realm?" She asked.
"I'm sure he does, but you needed the Adversary, didn't you, Ranock? After all, he's the only one alive that can kill me and Jade. He can also locate the Dark Majesty's body," Alastair stated.
"Alastair, can you take us to Hel?" Hunter asked.
"I'm afraid I can't. I have a contract with The Dark Majesty forbidding me from going to Hel or talking about how to get there," the pure demon stated.
"You know any demons who could?"
"I'm afraid not. Besides, if the Adversary already has her then there's no point going down there, you might as well hold a funeral to honor her," Alastair suggested.
"Her name is Zoe LeClaire and she is alive!" Hunter claimed, his eyes burning with rage.
"Come on Alastair," Jade pleaded. "If the Adversary has her then it means his planning to return to earth, we can't have that," said the vampire.
"I know. When a pure demon dies in another realm other than Hel they reappear in Hel unable to access the realm they previously died in. The Adversary is currently in the situation he is in because he was killed here and is now trying to get back. I can't tell you about Hel because the contract I signed unequivocally states that if I do, I die. If I die here, I'll reappear in Hel and my contract with the Dark Majesty has another clause that states that if I ever step foot in Hel, I die and if I die in Hel, that would be the end of my existence, so I'm sure you'll understand why I can't help you," Alastair explained.
[I can help]
'You can?'
[I am the Dark Majesty, what do you think?]
'How can I get there?'
[You can't. You'll need a mage]
'I don't know any mages.'
[Yes you do. Yui, your teacher, Mr. Daniel, and Ishani]
"But I thought Yui was a sprite."
[She is but she has mage-like abilities so she could get you there. Among the names I gave you, ask the one you're least close with, that would be better for you.]
'Why?'
[Hel messes up aliens' heads. And by aliens I mean non demons. Trust me, you do not want to be there with someone you know.]
'Ishani it is then.'
[Good choice]
"I know how to get to Hel," said Hunter.
"Good, I'm coming with you," Jade stated.
[No]
"You're staying here," Hunter refused.
"I'm -- what about Leah?"
"I'm going alone," the sprite declared.
"You can't be serious," said Sophia. "It's my fault she was captured, I want to help bring her back," she added.
"You can do that by staying behind and praying at least one of them comes back alive," Alastair chipped. "The sprite's got the right idea, it is better if he goes alone," he stated.
"Fine," Jade gave up. "I'll stay here and clean this place up."
"Great. Keep Sof safe until I return," Hunter asked of the vampire.
"Sure. Be careful out there, Hunter."
"I'll be," said Hunter as he makes his way out of the sanctum.
"Hunter! Wait!" Chelsea called. "I should come to," She said. "I'll end up seeing what happened down there anyway," she added.
"I prefer that than you seeing them first hand," Hunter stated. "The smaller we are, the faster we'd get out of there."
"If you say so," the raven-haired woman sighed. "Please come back."
"I will," Hunter said before turning back to the others. "Alastair, come with me," he requested.
Alastair nodded before walking up to the sprite and the duo walked out of the sanctum, headed for the Met School of mysticism. "I really can't help you, Hunter," Alastair said breaking the silence.
"I know. I wanted to ask you something."
"Ooh. What is it?"
"How does time in Hel works?"
"Same as the in-between, so try not to spend too much time in there," Alastair said. "Look Hunter, I respect you and I think what you're doing for this girl is cute but she's probably already dead by now and you too would be if you go against the Adversary. Are you sure you want to do this?"
"I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I didn't," said Hunter.
"Very well," Alastair said taking a coin from his pocket and handing it to the sprite. "When you get to Hel, find a secluded spot and say: 'Bahajid, I summon thee from the depths of whatever shit hole you're at.' Hand him that coin and he'll know I sent you, tell him I'm cashing in on the favor he owes me," Alastair stated.
"So he'll help me find Zoe? I feel like your summon might need a little furnishing though."
"It doesn't need any furnishing and no, Bahajid would help you find Naamah, she would help you find your friend. Also, be careful with Bahajid, he might owe me one but it wouldn't stop him from trying to strike a deal with you," said Alastair.
"Funny, Jade said the same thing before I met you."
"Heh. We've come a long way since then," Alastair laughs. "How are you going to get to Hel though?" The demon asked.
As if on cue, an Indo-African woman of above-average height walked past the duo and Hunter quickly raised his hand at her. "Ishani hey," he called. "What a coincidence, I was looking for you," he said.
[Yeah, what a coincidence is right]
"Hunter hi, it's been a while. Hope you haven't had any difficulties finding your beloved platinum bottled water?" She asked.
"None," Hunter replied, taking out small bottled water and showing it to the battlemage.
"Can I have it? I'm a bit thirsty."
"Sure," Hunter said tossing the bottle over to Ishani. "Thanks."
"So, I need your help," Hunter said. "I want you to take me to Hel," he asked.
Ishani spits out the water, coughing slightly before speaking again. "Why the hell would you want to go there?" She asks.
"You know Zoe?"
"Everyone knows Zoe."
"She was taken there, I want to go and bring her back."
"If she's in Hel ... Wouldn't it be better to just leave her there?"
"Please Ishani, you don't even have to stick around. You can leave once you help me get there."
"And how would you come back here if I leave?"
"Shit! I haven't thought about that."
"Yeah, I thought so. I really want to say no but my sense of adventure is telling me to say yes. Screw it! I'm in."
"Really? Is it okay if I hug you?"
"Sure, bring it in." Hunter hugs the dark brown-skinned tightly.
"I hate to break up whatever this is but having a mage doesn't solve your problems," Alastair interrupted.
"I'm aware of that," Hunter said.
"Who's this?" Ishani asked.
"A friend," Hunter replied.
[Ask if any of them have something you could write on]
"Do any of you two have any writing material?" Hunter asked.
"Yeah ..." Ishani takes out a wrinkled paper from her pocket and hands it to the sprite. "Here."
Hunter opens up the paper, it was the battlemage's grocery list. 'Now what?'
[Hold it steady]
The letters on the paper begin to rearrange, forming words Hunter hadn't seen before. 'What's this?'
[It's how Ishani can take you to Hel]
"Is this the spell to bypass Lilith's traveling ban?" Hunter asked Alastair who takes a glance at the paper before looking back at Hunter. "I can't say," the pure demon responded.
Hunter hands the paper to the dark brown-skinned woman. "This is the spell," Hunter says.
"Okay. Give me a moment to prepare" she said.
'I saw one of your memories earlier.'
[What was it?]
'How you died.'
[Ah, I was wondering when you were going to see that]
'Yves called you Horatius.'
[Oh. That's my name ... The real name of the Dark Majesty]
'Why then did --'
"I'm ready," said Ishani.
"Alright. See you soon, Alastair," Hunter said to the pure demon.
"Yeah ..." The grayish-blue pure demon waved.
"Alright," Ishani sighs.
"Nervous?"
"Just a bit. You?"
"Same ... Let's do this!"
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