Angelo had taken Cosaria to the in-between space. It was a place of no color and unending land. If a person were to run forever, they would only come back to the same place they started.
"Where… Where are we?" Cosaria said blinking away her confusion.
Angelo took her hand, saying, "My dear, where we are is not important. The important part is that we are together again and that you are safe."
"Where's Delrik?"
"He's no longer reachable."
"No. No, that's not true. I could see it in his eyes. He recognized me." Cosaria jerked her hand away, saying, "Angelo. Take me back."
"I'm sorry, my dear, I can't do that."
"Where are we, where's the gate? You have to take me back! I have to open the gate, then everything will be okay."
"No, my dear. It just isn't so. Allow me to explain, please."
Cosaria backed away, asking, "Will you take me back after you've explained?"
Angelo nodded, "Of course, my dear."
༻✧༺
After leaving the basement, Felux, Tilda and Beniter hid inside one of the servant's quarters.
Once alone, Felux grunted from the pain of his leg. Beniter said, "I'll get some medicine," and left.
Alone, Felux asked, "What happened down there?"
Tilda shook her head, saying, "Honestly? I don't know. Grysle somehow convinced Cosaria to open the gate. Then Angelo came in and randomly had divine powers. Did you know he had divine powers?"
"Naw."
"Well, he does. And he kidnapped Cosaria. Vanished in a flash of light."
"Aye. I was there for that."
"She's gone crazy and is siding with demons! She's even stupider than I first gave her credit for. How could she be so stupid? What do I have to do to save her from herself." Dropping her hands into her lap, Tilda said, "What do I do, Felux?"
"Do what's right."
"I am," Tilda said.
"Are ye?"
Tilda frowned. She said, "What do you mean?"
"I'm asking what's right? What's the truth?"
"That's not what matters!"
"It's the only thing that matters!" Felux yelled. It was the first time Tilda had ever heard Felux raise his voice. His tone became soft, as he continued, "What I once thought was true. It's not always. Killing the one person I've sworn my life to protect. I thought that was truth. Thought that was the only way to protect him. Now, I don't. I donna ken. I donna ken the truth and that's the place to start. We need to know the truth."
Tilda looked down, slightly afraid.
Felux said, "If Grysle's right, it'd mean everything we've been fightin fer is wrong. Did ye even consider it?"
Tilda said, "Grysle's a lair."
"Is he?"
"What are you talking about? Of course he's a lair! Of course he's lying."
Felux searched Tilda's eyes. He said, "Tilda, you have to think it through. Was he lying?"
Tilda hesitated, suddenly unsure of herself. She said, "I… I don't know. I don't have time to think it through. We need to act. If Angelo didn't kidnap Cosaria, Grysle would have gotten away with his evil plan."
"Which mightn't been evil."
"Why are you taking his side?"
"Because I didn't kill Delrik," Felux said, "Because I don't want to kill Delrik. If there's another way, I need to know it. This subject is too important fer simply, 'takin sides'. If you're right, then we have to close the gate and I have to kill Delrik. But if there is another way. If I don't have to kill Delrik… Tilda, I… The need for a solution here is more important than who is right or wrong. We need the truth."
"You don't trust my judgement?"
"That's not-. Maybe this gate, this fate of the world. Maybe it isn't yer burden."
"Of course it's my burden. Cosaria is my responsibility."
"And who gave you that responsibility?"
"No one gave it to me. I… she needs me."
"And if she doesn't."
"I- she- no. She needs me. The fate of the world is at stake. If she doesn't make the right decision now, she could doom us ALL! I thought you knew that."
"What is the right decision?"
"To stop the demons! It's obvious."
"If Cosaria opens the gate and dooms humanity, she'll fix it. She's got to live with the consequences to her own actions."
"I can't live with the consequences to her bad actions. If I don't stop her from making stupid choices, I'll have to live with the burden of her bad actions. I'm not willing to suffer like that."
"Tilda, it's not your job to save her. Or to save everyone."
"Yes, it is!"
Just then, Beniter cried out from the beyond the door. A fight had ensued. Green demons had infiltrated the servant's quarters and it didn't take long before they were captured.
The fight, unfortunately, wasn't all that interesting. Beniter almost cut someone's arm off, but that ended when one of the demons blocked Beniter's sword with his bare hand, then broke it with his mere grip strength. Meanwhile, Felux was feeling the effects of overexerting his leg and couldn't stand while Tilda was too busy helping Felux to try and save herself. Consequently, they were captured by an army of green demon performers and a feather redish-green chicken monster.
The demons tied their hands behind their backs, with Tilda frustrated that this was the second time today this happened. Then they brought the group to their leader, Luten.
Felux thought the one leading the group looked kind of familiar with her long dark hair, but he couldn't place where he had seen her before. He felt it was some king of festival with flashing lights and birds? But no. That's couldn't be it.
Luten, the demon with the long dark hair, frowned when she saw the humans. She said, "Why are you here?"
Felux said, "It's our castle, ain't it?"
Luten said, "So then it is Lord Delrik who is trying to stop us."
"Ye could say that," Felux said.
"Let's take them with us," Luten said as she began to lead her army down the stairs towards the basement.
The chicken beast waddled up to Tilda and cocked with its giant head. Tilda trembled in front of this beast as it started to scratch the ground with its talons.
One of the demons, whose name was Poto, said, "Poor girl, she was turned into a beast against her will."
Beniter asked, "What is it doing?"
"Maybe she recognizes you. She used to work here at the castle. The lady in waiting. Name was Marley."
Each of them stared in shock at the giant chicken beast.
With jaw dropped, Tilda said, "Marley? I'm so sorry."
"It's not permanent with any luck," Poto said, "You can be glad she still retains some of her mind though. If she weren't part demon, she'd still be running around like some crazed wild animal."
"Part demon?" Beniter asked.
"Yup. Part demon. She's got a demon for an ancestor."
This was a blow to Tilda. She had let a demon become Cosaria's closest personal attendant. How could she have been so dumb?
Luten first scanned the scene as the group finally arrived at the basement floor; Panther Delrik knocked out under a pile of rocks. A dead man in the corner. Two twin demons kicking at rocks. The gate vibrating, swirling, and pulsing. And Grysle, hunched over in a defeated heap.
Looking up, Grysle said, "Luten. I thought you might show up."
Luten said, "I wish I could say it was good to see you, but it never is."
Grysle said, "Well, as it turns out. I've given you another reason to hate me."
"And that is?"
"I've lost the divine maiden."
"You what!?! We are this close to opening the gate and you lost the key!"
"The warden took her."
Luten's face fell. "The warden? No." She punched the air in frustration, saying, "NO!"
Poto approached the fuming Luten and said, "Ma'am, maybe we can find traces of the warden and track him. If there's enough divine residue, we might be able to follow."
Luten took a deep breath. She said, "That's. Okay. You're right. Okay, hey everyone, let's fan out and search."
The crowd mumbled their agreement and scattered around the room.
Tilda glanced at the crowd. So these were the people Cosaria was trying to 'save'. These green monsters that have been terrorizing the kingdom for decades. For some reason, she always thought they would be red. But this? This was much worse.
As the rest searched, one demon, whose name was Zeiro, kept his eyes trained on Tilda. When Tilda noticed, she shifted uncomfortably.
Zeiro blinked.
Tilda frowned.
Another few seconds passed by.
Zeiro blinked.
Tilda wanted to say, 'WHAT?' but didn't want to draw more attention to herself.
Finally, Ziero went over to Luten and whispered in her ear, while his eyes never left Tilda.
Luten glanced at Tilda and whispered back, "Are you sure?"
Ziero shrugged.
Walking over to Tilda, Luten changed to a calming, cheerful demeanor. As if she were trying to make friends, Luten said, "Hello. I'm Luten. What's your name?"
Tilda scowled. This demon wanted to engage in small talk. Tilda was not interested.
Luten frowned and muttered, "This isn't going to work."
"What is it?" Tilda asked. Her curiosity got the better of her.
Luten sighed and said, "My friend said he smelled divine power on you. Did the divine maiden, by chance, imbue you with her power?"
"Are you kidding? Of course not. I've never-" Tilda stopped as she remembered the time, so many months ago, when Cosaria saved her life and awoke her powers. Had Tilda been imbued with divine powers? Tilda said, "…Why?"
Luten said, "With your help we could bring back the divine maiden. Possibly. If the divine maiden did imbue her power into you, then we can use that to create a connection to her. Following the connection, we can track her and teleport you to wherever she is. Then, we have black crystals, don't we?" A demon nodded. Luten continued, "You give her a black crystal and she can use that to come back here."
Tilda remained stoic. These creatures wanted her to help them. Help them open the gate and end humanity. Were they stupid!?! Tilda would never!
Luten swallowed. She said, "Would you…? We need your help."
Grysle laughed, a sickening sound. He said, "Ridiculous. You think she'll help? Put your chances on her? She's a human. Hates us from her core. It's too late. Our only chance was with the divine maiden and now it's too late. The warden took the divine maiden and vanished."
Luten spat and said, "Why do you think that is? You're the reason nobody trusts us to begin with! The reason we've been hated and hunted."
"I've gotten us this far, haven't I?"
"Was it worth the cost?"
"You tell me." Grysle smiled the type of smile that never reaches the eyes. Then his lips turned to a frown as he said, "But none of that matters now. It's too late."
Tilda was confused. These monsters didn't act like creatures hoping to end humanity. But who knows, maybe this was how they acted?
Besides, these demons seemed to know each other. They could easily be working together. Tilda wanted to ask, but she was certain no matter what they said, it would be some kind of lie. And if they weren't working together, they clearly had the same goal; To open the demon gate and unleash their demonic energy on the world.
How could Cosaria be so dumb to trust these creatures? Tilda thought. Tilda wouldn't make the same mistake. She was smarter than Cosaria. She had experience with curses and demons. Trust a demon, get the entire town cursed. That's what Cosaria had done.
Felux said, "Tilda."
Tilda didn't look at him.
He said, "Could there be something to what they're saying?"
Tilda knew Felux was emotionally compromised. She couldn't trust him. She said, "You weren't there when Cosaria sided with the demons and was about to open the gate!"
"Hm." Felux looked down, deep in thought.
Luten finally said, "I take it you won't help us."
Tilda opened her mouth to give a cutting remark, but her words were stifled by a strange feeling of guilt.
Felux noticed her silence. He said, "You thinkin of helpin them?"
"I- no! I wouldn't dare."
Felux said, "I'm not sayin it's a bad idea."
Tilda said, "So you think I should?"
"I'd not said that either."
"What should I do?"
"Don't know. What I do know is the Lady Cosaria is with Angelo. Whether or not she's safe? I don't know that either."
Luten said, "Please."
Tilda was so confused. None of this made sense. All she could think was that Cosaria needed saving. Tilda said, "I can't help you, but I'm going to help Lady Cosaria. If you send me to her, I'll take one of your black crystals with me. I need to know she's safe."
Grysle couldn't believe his ears. He said, "You'll help us? You'll send her back here?"
Tilda said, "I never said I'd give it to her. I won't let her open the demon gate and doom humanity."
Luten said, "We won't doom humanity."
Grysle was furious. He said, "So then why should we send you in the first place?!"
"I need to know she is safe."
Luten said, "If we send you, you'll take a black crystal with you?"
Tilda nodded.
Luten took a deep breath. She said, "Honestly, it might be the best shot we have. We send the crystal and hope beyond hope the divine maiden finds it. We'll call it a deal."
Tilda nodded, satisfied.
Cosaria needed saving from danger, from hardship, and at times, she even needed saving from herself. Tilda thought, Whatever the outcome, she's better off with me by her side.