Chapter 9
Flames of Defiance
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The tension in the room was suffocating, the air crackling with power as the three figures faced off. Cater's flaming sword glowed with a fierce intensity, the heat radiating off the blade as he kept his gaze locked on his aunt. She stood in her humanoid form, her expression calm but exuding an aura of raw menace.
Beside Cater, Jane's eyes glowed a piercing icy blue as her hands moved in intricate gestures. Her low chant reverberated through the room, and a wave of magic slammed the doors shut with a deafening thud.
"No one leaves," Jane hissed, forming a glowing orb of energy between her palms. It pulsed with a bright, dangerous light before she hurled it at Cater's aunt. The orb streaked through the air like a bolt of lightning, illuminating the dim room with its brilliance.
But the demon smirked, raising a hand lazily. With a flick of her wrist, the orb was swatted aside like an insect, ricocheting off the stone walls. It sped back toward Jane, but before it could strike her, Cater darted forward. His blade flashed, deflecting the energy into the ground where it fizzled out with a sharp crack.
"How dare you think you can challenge a god?" his aunt sneered, her voice resonating with an otherworldly echo. "Do you even comprehend what I could do to you in a single breath?"
Cater stepped forward, his fangs extending as his eyes turned black as the void. His voice was low, brimming with fury. "If you're a god, then you've forgotten one thing—I'm a god too. And I'll make sure you never set foot in the human world again."
Her smirk twisted into a snarl, and in a blur of motion, she lunged at him. Her claws wrapped around his neck, slamming him into the wall with enough force to crack the stone. Dust and debris rained down around them.
"I've been alive for over two thousand years," she hissed, her grip tightening like a vice. "Do you really think a child like you can stop me?"
Cater gasped, clawing at her iron-like grip. Summoning his strength, he pried her hands off his throat and twisted free, landing behind her. With a swift motion, he swung his flaming sword toward her back. But before the blade could connect, she vanished, reappearing across the room with a mocking laugh.
Jane, who had been chanting furiously, raised her arms just as the demon materialized. Chains of brilliant light erupted from the ground, snaking around the demon's limbs and binding her in place.
"I've got her!" Jane shouted, her voice triumphant.
But the victory was short-lived.
"You foolish little witch," the demon snarled, her voice dripping with venom. Her body began to twist and contort, her limbs elongating as her skin darkened. Claws sprouted from her hands, and her eyes blazed like molten lava. With a guttural roar, she flexed her arms, and the chains snapped like brittle twigs, falling uselessly to the ground.
In a blur, she lunged toward Jane, her claws slashing through the air. But Cater intercepted her mid-leap, his sword colliding with her with a burst of flame. The force sent her crashing into the far wall.
"Jane, get out of here!" Cater barked, positioning himself between her and the demon.
"No!" Jane shouted back, her icy eyes blazing. "I'm not leaving you!"
Cater turned to her, his expression fierce and commanding. "If you stay, she'll kill you. Trust me. Leave—now."
Jane hesitated, her heart twisting at the thought of abandoning him. But the determination in his voice left no room for argument. With a reluctant nod, she turned and sprinted toward the sealed doors. Chanting quickly, she broke the magical seal and slipped through, glancing back one last time before disappearing into the corridor.
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As soon as Jane was gone, Cater turned back to his aunt, who had reverted to her humanoid form. She stood calmly, brushing a trail of black ichor from her lip.
"You're a disgrace to the demon realm," she said coldly, her tone sharp and biting. "You've betrayed our family, your father's legacy, and everything you were meant to be. How could you stoop so low?"
Cater's jaw tightened, his flaming sword steady in his grip. "The only thing I betrayed was the cruelty and hatred that define our bloodline."
"You're pathetic," she shot back, her voice dripping with contempt. "Do you really think you can stop me? You're just a hybrid—a mistake, a stain on our family."
Her words stung, but Cater pushed the pain aside. Fueled by anger, he moved with blinding speed, dodging her claws and slamming her into the ground. She roared in fury, her body convulsing as flames erupted along her skin.
"My father might be the Dark Lord," Cater said, his voice calm despite the chaos. "But I'm nothing like him. And I'll make sure you never harm the man I care about."
Flames surged along the length of his sword as he struck her again, the blow sending her crashing through the wall and into the grand ballroom where the reception was being held.
Screams erupted as guests scattered, their celebration turning into chaos at the sight of the monstrous figure.
Cater quickly shifted back to his human guise, slipping into the panicked crowd. "That's a demon!" he shouted, his voice carrying above the noise. "She's been pretending to be Princess Ava this whole time!"
King Authur shot to his feet, his face a mask of fury. "Guards! Seize her!"
But the demon only laughed, her voice echoing with malice. "You should count yourselves lucky tonight," she sneered. "This isn't over. The next time we meet, you won't be so fortunate."
With a final smirk, she vanished in a swirl of black smoke, leaving the room in stunned silence.
The king turned to his guards, his voice sharp and commanding. "Find my son! Ensure he's unharmed!"
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Hours Later
Alric groaned as he stirred awake, his body aching from head to toe. Blinking a few times, his vision adjusted to the dim light. The first thing he saw was Cater sitting by his bedside, his expression calm but distant.
"Cater!" Alric exclaimed, startled. "You scared me. What are you doing here?"
Cater gave him a small, reassuring smile. "Are you alright, Your Highness?"
Alric sat up slowly, wincing as he moved. "I think so… What happened? Did the wedding go as planned?"
Cater hesitated, his gaze dropping briefly before he spoke. "Your prayers were answered, Your Highness. It turns out Princess Ava wasn't who she claimed to be."
Alric frowned, confusion clouding his face. "What do you mean?"
Cater took a deep breath. "She was a demon. The real Princess Ava is… gone."
Alric's eyes widened in shock, the weight of the revelation sinking in. "I don't believe it," he whispered, but Cater's steady expression left no room for doubt.
The prince rose slowly and walked to the window, staring out into the quiet night. After a long pause, he spoke softly. "Do you think my father will try to find someone else for me to marry?"
Cater joined him by the window, standing close but keeping his tone light. "If you ask me, Your Highness, maybe the right person for you is already closer than you think."
Alric turned to look at him, his expression unreadable. For a moment, the silence between them felt heavy, charged with unspoken words. But Cater said nothing more, and the quiet stretched on, leaving everything unsaid.
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