Am I already too late?! If she's starting in Srimore, she's going in order of which who'll be the easiest to conquer. I hate that I recognize her pattern, but it's obvious.
"We need to get to Uboni," Elijah says.
"There's still the last part of the spell," says Benjamin. "You haven't attempted to make a pact."
A pact? "A pact with who…a demon?"
"We're here now, it's time to cross that bridge. They're going to want something in return. For Helen, it was becoming the vessel for whomever Lilith works for."
"You couldn't have told me this from the start?!"
"I told you, chaos magic wasn't something you should be eager to learn."
"I'll have to do it on the way. Come with us? It would be comforting having someone who knows Helen so well on our side, plus I can't do this without you."
"I'm not leaving my home for this!" He says as expected. "I'll draw the symbol for you." He goes to the table with a pen and paper. "Remember, draw it in your blood. Since you were accepted, you no longer have to slash your hand." He hands me the paper and wishes me good luck. I thank him—although he said it'd be strange if I thanked him, I'm simply thanking him for being a good host and support. I also give him a hug. He squirms and tells me to unhand him. After saying goodbye to Benjamin, the rest of us head to David's house. He packs our armor in a hurry and upon seeing Sam staring at us from the stairs, I walk over to David.
"I think you should stay. You've given so much of your life to me and this. The Coven is your home."
He looks at me, puzzled. "I swore an oath to Amiyah's mother to look after you. To protect you from Helen. I also swore another oath, as your designated knight.I'm not abandoning that when you're ready to charge right in and put your life on the line."
"Of course. The noble spy." Sam says walking down the stairs. "He's right, this isn't his home."
There's a silence in the room before David walks upstairs to grab more things. Passing by his brother without even a word.
"I understand you miss your brother, but antagonizing him and his decisions isn't the right way to go about repairing your relationship," I say.
"Wow," He says with a shocked face. "That's so wise. I truly appreciate your input, princess. But, my brother is my brother. I'd, even more, appreciate it if you kept your mouth shut about our family issues."
"One clean shot, I'm itching," Elijah says holding up his finger.
I walk over to him and lower his arm. "Were you ever a warrior, Sam?"
"No," He replies.
"Then you wouldn't understand the sense of duty he feels. I see it every day in our soldiers and especially in David's case."
"His sense of duty is to a royal family that tracks us down like prey and kills us? Do you hear yourself?!"
"His duty is to me, and I don't believe in the way my family does things. We can't control what people do, just respect their decisions."
David walks down the stairs with a suitcase. "I promise I'm coming back, Sam," he finally speaks to him.
"I'll drag him back here myself," I say.
We head out and walk to the entrance/exit of The Coven and Amiyah is already there.
"Iheard the news and figured you'd be heading this way," She says.
"I didn't think it'd be this soon," I say. "Thank you for everything." I hug her trying to hold back my tears. I haven't known her long but it feels like we've been friends forever.
"You're welcome." She hugs back. "But, don't thank me just yet. Your journey isn't over and neither is mine it seems." I pull back from the hug to look at her face in order to see if she means what I really think.
She nods her head "yes."
I go in for another hug, this time tighter. "Ah, there's one more coming," she says nodding in the direction behind me.
I turn around to see Benjamin walking with his cane. I smile and run over to him, grabbing his arm and helping him along. "I guess you like me, huh?"
"Yeah, well. I don't want you to go and die is all."
"Thank you. Both of you—all of you. I couldn't take any of this on without you."
"We're all grateful for each other, we all love each other. Can we get going now?" Elijah says.
Suddenly Ms. Patricia, and Ms. Hughes come running over. "You were just going to leave without saying goodbye?" Ms. Patricia asks.
"Who's this fine young woman?" Benjamin studies her.
She nearly blushes, stating her name, and the two of them have a moment. It's interrupted by Elijah's impatience again. We hug them goodbye, and they give us their blessings and support, telling us to stay safe and make it back. Amiyah opens the exit and we walk out to the other end, stepping foot into District Three. As we head to the station, we draw a small crowd that follows us down the street. We quickly board the train and head to the reserved section for royals. Amiyah and Benjamin gawk at how fancy everything looks. Even the assorted wines and liquor in a glass case, where Elijah is already helping himself. I give him a stare.
"It's been a week—technically. The Coven's stuff is good, but nothing beats this."
"I think your tastebuds have gone to shit, is what I think," Amiyah says. "You're the first person I've ever heard said such an untrue thing."
"While our discussion over drinks is interesting," David butts in. "How well are you two anticipating she'll take this?" He looks at Elijah and me.
"Not…very well," I say. "But as arrogant as she is, she can't deny our help."
"Speaking of which….what help is this?" Benjamin asks. "We've got an alcoholic prince, an old bodyguard, an old man with a cane, and a skinny girl who's still in training."
"What a morale booster you are," Elijah sips from his bottle. "You left out Ms. Red wine over here," he points to Amiyah.
"Red…what?" She asks.
"Your hair—I finally figured out what it reminds me of. Beautiful red wine." He smiles.
"You seriously have an issue," Benjamin says. "I left her out because she can actually put up a fight."
"Her hair is a pretty loud attention grabber, how well are you known outside of District Three?" I ask.
"Not very, I would think."
"They know about her, trust me," David says. "You'll need to hide your hair somehow when we get off the train."
Elijah goes into his bag, grabs a hat, and tosses it to her.
"It smells of liquor," she says, disgusted.
"Take it or leave it," he replies.
"That actually reminds me," David says. "The spies of The Coven will be assisting us. They're already in Uboni as we speak."
"How many are we talking about here?" Elijah asks.
"They're twelve, but don't underestimate them," Amiyah says.
Benjamin hands me the paper with the symbol of the spell to perform the pact. This again…a pact, what does it even mean, really?
"I told you from the beginning, this isn't something you wanted to do. But we're here now."
"What is that?" David asks.
"I have to make a pact….with a demon in order to perform the spell," I answer.
"A demon?" David laughs. "Be serious."
Amiyah walks over to Benjamin. "I didn't bring her to you for you to do something like this, Benjamin. What the hell? And Elijah!" She turns around. "You're okay with this?"
"What did you expect?!" Benjamin lashes out. "What do you think chaos magic is? Where it comes from?! You kids today are so eager to forget about the past. This is why it should be studied in The Coven further!"
"That's the mentality that made you run off with Helen in the first place," Amiyah says.
"He's right," I say. "I've seen one before….Helen told me she made a pact with her." I focus on Amiyah. "Lilith—I asked about her for a reason."
"Yeah, but when you asked I thought it was just a general question, Alyssa. I had no idea you ran into such a thing."
"She's chasing after Helen, she calls her a vessel."
"Something out there wants to possess her," Benjamin says. "Her existence was a break in a very long pattern. No light seals for hundreds of years outside of your family, and finally one pops up and there's a demon chasing after her. That's no coincidence."
That means even if I'm able to stop her, I'd have Lilith to worry about after. I'm beginning to feel like being born into this family was a curse.
"I'm sorry." David sighs. "You all are taking the news of demons being real a little too lax for my liking."
"It needs to be done," I say placing the paper on the table. "There's no other way."
I ask Benjamin for a knife and cut my fingertip to draw the symbol. Everyone's dead silent, anticipating what'll happen next, even me. I try to hide it as much as possible.
"What's going to happen exactly?" I ask Benjamin one last time.
"You're going to meet with a demon, maybe the same one that accepted you as a user of chaos magic. These….things—it's not going to be something you can forget seeing or experiencing. I still have nightmares."
"Thanks." I sigh. Amiyah looks at me as if I've lost my mind. I ignore it and place my hand on the paper. I infuse my natural aura into the paper. I get lightheaded and suddenly everything goes black. I can't hear, see, smell, taste, touch, or do anything for ten seconds. Then suddenly the sound of a water droplet hitting what sounds to be a larger body of water snaps me out of it. I'm in a dark room—or rather a box. My senses return and even with all of my armor on that's resistant to the elements—I'm left shivering. It's freezing cold in here. The air leaving my nostrils creates smokey water vapor. The ground is flooded with water up to my ankles but it's unfazed by the temperature. The water is actually warm.
"Daughter of the witch." An ominous disembodied voice croaks. "Why do you seek us?"
I stumble over my own words, the fear setting within my body and mind is unmeasurable. "I-I-I'm here for a pact," I finally get out. Something big suddenly steps out of the darkness—red skin, and black horns protruding from its chest that curve upward. Its face is long and sharp, with orange glowing eyes. I jump back, but realizing my feet are locked in place, I nearly break my back while falling. Without touching me, its hand becomes a fist and it pulls back. As he pulls, my body is pulled forward. The face of this…beast becomes more visible—its human features make my skin scrawl. Its chin comes to an unnatural point, and the grin—the grin on its face brings me to tears and I don't understand why. As I'm pulled forward, I'm nearly hit in the face by one of its horns.
"A pact, little princess? I don't believe you."
I try to overcome my emotions and settle myself. Pushing it all down like it's a big lump in my throat. Though my chest is still tight as I speak. I'm terrified to piss this thing off. "I need to use the inverse possession spell."
"I need to use the inverse possession spell." It laughs. "'Possession spell' The things the witches steal from us and try to make their own is pathetic."
The water begins to get warmer, I look down and see my boots are gone and I'm standing barefoot as it's bubbling like it's going to boil.
"What will do for me….?" The demon asks grabbing my attention once more. It's like I'm in a daze when I look at it this time. The sweet taste on the tip of my tongue, the piano in my ears, my blood flowing through my veins. All of the same sensations I had when I did the offering return.
"What a fine vessel you would be," it says. "Maybe I'll take you for myself."
Suddenly a bright white line shines behind me. It doesn't hurt my eyes, but the demon can't stand it—screaming profanities as it tries to shield its eyes. It begins cursing the heavens before staring right into the light.
"Michael!" The demon growls, its voice distorted and mangled. It goes to speak again but it vanishes into thin air. Creating a large puff of smoke spreading throughout the room. The light fades, the sensations stop and I become lightheaded once more. My body falls into the water and my vision goes black. A moment later—I wake up, back on the train with everyone standing over me with concern and worry all over their faces. I sit up to notice steam coming from my boots.
"I don't think it worked," I say. "Someone stopped it."
"What? Stopped it? Stopped it how?" Benjamin asks.
"Michael. The demon screamed the name, Michael."
The train horn suddenly blows indicating a stop.
"We're here," says Elijah. "You've been out the entire ride."