"Something bothering you?" Kathy asked as they approached the spirit world gate
"He said an abomination killed Louisa" Xavier said "A two headed werewolf. That's the first I've heard of this" he said as they both sat on a log and stared at the shabby old house in front of them
"I've never heard of such a thing too and honestly speaking, I don't care" Kathy said "Everyone is confused. If not for Marcus, Gard and Lucard, panic would ensue for sure"
"This is why the imperial royal family exists" Xavier said "I just hope the Princess is smart. If not, those council members will puppeteer her and only doom awaits this world"
"Did you put a barrier on the East too?" Kathy asked
"I did....even in the West and on Greenwood" Xavier said "Speaking of which, they've already started attacking the West and testing the waters down East"
"How long can you keep it up?" Kathy asked
"At least...until we leave at six" Xavier said "After I leave, the barriers will collapse"
"Three days is the spirit world is like a couple of minutes in this world" Kathy said
"Hopefully, all of them will still be alive" Xavier said and Kathy smiled "Now, it's my turn to ask you what's on your mind"
"You wouldn't like to know"
"Try me"
"Edward" Kathy said as Xavier stared blankly at her and frowned "I told you....you wouldn't like it"
"Who am I to get angry for thinking about your husband" Xavier said "I think about my wife all the time. It's not uncommon for demon generals to marry each other" he sighed "But she lost her soul in battle and Edward was burnt to ashes in front of you. We were...weak"
Kathy chuckled "I just thought of the number of times I've failed to do something right for someone"
"Huh?"
"I failed once as a wife to Edward. I couldn't fight alongside him when Leon started the attack" Kathy said "I was weaker than him. That's why, when he was fighting Leon, he lost. He fought while protecting me...I couldn't do anything for him"
"And I doubt he regrets doing it. You're thinking too much"
"I failed twice as a mother. The first child die in my womb from poisoning and the second... if only I had listened to James that time and had taken Elias with me, he would have survived. But, I abandoned my son because he reminded me of Edward"
"Nobody would blame you for that" Xavier said "If I had a kid who looked just like my lover, and I saw how that lover die before my very eyes...I don't think I'll keep the kid"
"Are they still attacking the barrier?" Kathy asked
"Pretty much" Xavier said "Give me a sec" he added as he put his index finger on his forehead and started a widespread telepathy "Can everyone hear me? I don't even care anymore I just need you guys to listen" he said "I've set a barrier around the settlements. Now, the enemies won't be able to attack however, I've got somewhere to go around six so my barriers will collapse. During the few seconds or minutes it might take, I'll need you all to hold on until I bring reinforcements. chow" he said the last part and cut the telepathy
"You're still bad at reports" Kathy said
"And you still have a bad attitude" Xavier retorted before remembering something "You waisted a lot of my seed. Do you even have enough magic power for the Princess?"
"I'll be taking your dreams" Kathy said as she got closer to him
"So I've been reduced to food?" Xavier asked as her palm landed on his forehead
"Pretty much....only for now" Kathy said as it looked like a small purple orb was coming out from his forehead as she took her hand off. The orb was the size of a pea and Kathy placed it in her mouth like candy. Her horns began to sprout back out from her head and her eyes glowed a bit
"Is that tiny thing really enough?" Xavier asked
"Yeah" she replied before sighing "There's nothing to do here. Yet, we have to wait" she laid on Xavier's lap like it was nothing
"Your eyes can see someone's magic power and determine the rank" Xavier said and she looked up "That Henry guy was the rank of a demon general wasn't he?"
"He was comparable to number ten of the demon generals" Kathy said "I'm just two ranks above him"
"I see" Xavier said before they changed the topic and started talking for hours. But when the sky seemed like it was getting brighter, he stopped talking
"Is something wrong?" she asked while looking at him
"The sky is getting brighter" he said and she sat up before getting off the log. He did the same before looking in the direction of Norman and Owen "Can one of you lend me a watch?"
Norman and Owen who had heard the question, looked at each other
"Is he talking to us?" Owen asked
"Yes. I'm talking to you two" Xavier said "The guys hiding behind the trees that have been following us ever since Greenwood. Due to the panic, no one else noticed you guys. Now help me with a watch and hurry"
Norman was the first to come out from behind the trees and make himself known
"Phone" Kathy said and Norman tossed his phone on the ground. She picked it up and crushed it with her bare hands "Other guy, phone" she ordered and Owen let out a sigh as he came out from behind the trees and stood next to Norman before tossing his phone at her which she stomped on immediately
"Now, what's the time?" Xavier asked
"You could have just checked the phone" Owen said
"Yeah. We had to crush it because you took some interesting videos and photos of us" Xavier said "What's the time?"
"Five fifty nine in the morning" Norman said after checking his watch
"Let's go" Kathy said while standing directly in front of the door of the shabby old house with her hand on the doorknob
"Wait for us right here" Xavier said as he was he ran up to where Kathy was "We'll be back before you know it"
Kathy opened the door and while holding Xavier's hand, she ran through along with him
"Do they think we're stupid?" Norman asked "We're gonna die here without them. Come on" he said as he grabbed Owen by the wrist and they both ran through the open door.
When they were out of sight, the door to the spirit world shut without further ado and the house became invisible.
******
Spirit World
Rielle's Underground Lab
Timothy was pouring magic into some contraption while Clark was next to him, watching the experiment. They both had on white lab coats and looked a bit sleep deprived.
"Let's stop for today before you collapse" Clark said and Timothy had stopped pouring his magic in
"Hey boys" Priya said as she walked in through the door. Her hair had grown up to waist length, she had gotten taller and a bit curvier, and she had a mature aura to her compared to last time.
Timothy took a good look at her; scanning every inch of her body before resting on her face
"Is something wrong?" Priya asked
"Every time I see you, something changes" Timothy said as he took off his lab coat and tossed it aside
"Well, as a human, the spirit world actually ages me" Priya said as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear "Even if it didn't, time ages people in different ways. I can't remain the same forever"
"At least look a little recognizable so King Marcus and Queen Rebecca won't think I tossed you away and replaced you" Timothy said with a frown
"What's with Sloane?" Clark asked while drinking a glass of water
"What do you mean?" Priya asked
"She hasn't come to see any of us in the past two years" Fernanda said as she walked out from the back room. Unlike Priya, the others still looked the same except with a couple of new haircuts here and there. Even Fernanda had cut her hair to her shoulders. "Nathan has gone back to being unapproachable. Mickey has gone through two years of life training and crying while thinking Sloane probably doesn't even remember her" she said
"She's been busy" Priya said "Anyways, we're being called up. That's the reason why I'm here" she rushed to leave the lab
"Hey" Fernanda tried to call her back but Priya was already gone
"Let's head up" Clark said while patting her on the shoulder "She doesn't want to answer"
"Fine" Fernanda said as she left the lab with Clark and Timothy
******
Training Field
Fernanda, Clark and Timothy rushed to join the others who were already lined up on the field. As usual, Dante's wives all sat to one corner enjoying tea and pastries with a small baby boy who sat on Virginia's laps with an innocent look in his eyes.
Everyone seemed to have aged in one way or the other; Timothy now looked like someone who could live up to the alpha title as he had gotten a little taller and a bit more intimidating. Clark had become muscular and didn't only rely on his spells. Fernanda had a confidence to her and wasn't moved by anything. Alexa looked the same but was more knowledgeable. Christian didn't have a stupid look on his face anymore.
Mary was more open but still a bit cold. Josey was still Josey. Allen was colder too but a bit more open minded. Jerald had finally shown his true colours even though a mischievous smile was now plastered on his face, he was done playing dumb. Brianna was more mature and had a confident air to her. Rosco had gotten a bit taller and had also gone back to being one of few words. Kayden was taller with a confidence to him and a playful nature. Giselle had also gotten taller but was still Giselle and the same could be said for Lilith.
Mackenzie looked a whole lot different as she had grown taller while bangs now covered her forehead and her hair had become as black as the night, her lips a bit on the red side and she looked a little like Sloane with the lost child expression. Natasha and Cassandra were still the same, not really changing at all. While Nathan, was untouchable, it looked like he was only getting much more handsome than he already was and had gone back to being reserved and cold with an unbeatable aura. This was all the result of training under different characters for two years.
Dante nodded his head with a satisfied smile on his face
"It only took two years and all of you changed so much" Dante said "So, how was it training under your Masters
"I don't even want to talk about it" Christian mumbled as he lowered his head
"I thought I'd die" Jerald said
"The worst experience ever" Josey said while staring at Zoe
"Alright, alright" Dante said trying to stop all of them from complaining but when he glanced towards the ice cubes in the group. Nathan wasn't even looking at him, Mackenzie was fiddling with her dress and Rosco just had his hands in his pockets and kept his head down.
As though at the same time, Mackenzie and Nathan had looked up and their eyes glowed
"Something's coming" Nathan and Mackenzie said in unison and a door appeared next to Dante. As soon as the door opened, Norman and Owen fell out and it shut before disappearing