Taken 20.

Death comes in many forms.

“Are you sure you can trust her?” Jon questioned Alquin as they lay on a messy bed, sheets covering their sweaty naked bodies, the remains of what was their release smeared on Jon’s torso and dripping down his leg. “Malia is a fine advisor, the one I fear I’ve lost is Saytor.” The demon confessed as he stood up and walked to the open balcony, he stood there feeling the slight chill of the night rubbing it’s cold tendrils on his bare thighs.

“Saytor was never truly loyal to you, if he could easily turn back from you.” Jon asserted sweetly as he wrapped himself in a sheet. “Maybe so my beautiful beast but it still does not change the fact that I’ve lost an archdemon who knows all my secrets and how my mind works more than I, he is arguably more dangerous now with his loyalty taken away from me.” Alquin replied knowing full well the lengths Saytor could go to ensure the one he was loyal to had what they wanted, he had him by his side so he knew, now he worried his enemies might make a move to sway his ex lover to their side.

Jon was happy to know Saytor could no longer come in between him and the demon king, he had already placed Marcos out of the picture, and with Malia being the only one truly left loyal to the king she had to be removed, Lera had fled successfully, he knew the demon had escaped to another kingdom but had no idea which one, he didn’t care either way, Lera was no longer a problem. “Test her loyalty my love, and see if she proves her worth or if she betrays you.” The lycan sowed his seeds of doubt in Alquin, and he knew the demon king was taking his bait easily.

“Why should I, it will only be a waste.” The king argued but the doubt had already been planted. “Master I only wish for you to have the loyal and most devoted men by your side, I fear that Malia might be influenced by Saytor to leave you as well and I don’t want that.” He purred as Alquin felt his cock swell and leak with need at the submission Jon gave so easily. “Fine, but first you must please your king.” Jon smiled with victory as he turned and bent down to give the king access to what he desired.

****

Malia had no idea why Alquin needed to see her in the early hours of the morning, why it had to be the forest was also a blank mystery, all she knew was Alquin wanted to see her at dawn by the east forest, it all felt bad going there but she went either way, she needed to maintain her cover, therefore, there was no point in not indulging Alquin in whatever twisted plan he had conjured in his demonic mind.

Malia flew slightly above the clouds enjoying the first rays of light as they lit up the world in a mesmerizing way, this was the beauty of the demon kingdom, which she valued greatly but Alquin was forcing her to do things she would’ve never thought she would in her life. “4th Circle Darkened Script.” Malia mumbled and let lose the dark waves that wrapped around the berserker that had attacked her and killed it, it shocked her why the berserker had attacked her, they were under Alquin’s control.

Three more swiped their claws at her as she descended, this was definitely not the start to a morning she wanted. “1st Circle Lava bomb.” The ground broke apart and burst open, lava flowed all over the beasts that had attacked her instantly being killed. “What the hell Alquin?” She hissed looking around for any sign of the king. Chains sprouted from the ground, before they could rip into Malia she burst from the ground in speed and power, something wasn’t right, the chains had been summoned by a demon obviously but why.

The woman began to circle the skies looking for any sign of her attacker, having found a target a bow and quiver materialize on her person, she took an arrow and aimed, pouring mana into the arrow so that when it hit it would explode, she let loose the arrow. Several explosions occurred but none had the result she wanted. “Found you.” Malia mumbled as spotted the cloaked figure, four arrows were aimed at the figure and before the figure could react they exploded.

Debris raised by the explosion was now settling as Alquin made himself visible, he was applauding Malia for how she had acted, she had passed his test unknowingly. “Well done Malia, you didn’t hesitate to kill an enemy.” He called out and the woman scoffed. “What sick game are you playing Alquin?” She demanded. “Only seeing that you aren’t rusty and that your loyalty to me is intact, I’ve lost Saytor and I can’t exactly lose you too.” He replied with a satisfied smile. “And whose fault is that, you lost Saytor because of what you did Alquin, and now this bloody idiocy about you testing my loyalty is just you being a paranoid bitch who can’t stand not having everything he wanted!” Malia yelled as a fist connected with her cheek, she didn’t tumble or block, she took it like a warrior, spat the blood away with a chuckle.

She knew she had gone too far but the king had to be told the truth whether he liked it or not, she wasn’t going to stand around watching Alquin destroy everything with his horrible ambition. “Remember who you’re talking to Malia.” Alquin growled as more berserkers made themselves visible. “I know who I’m talking to, and I also know you don’t like being told the truth.” Malia replied as her cheek healed. She wasn’t going to lie and she wasn’t going to sugarcoat reality. “I was loyal to you Alquin, but you’re not the man I once knew, maybe Saytor had the right idea after all.” Malia responded as her wings sprouted from her back and she flew off.

She wasn’t going to stick around a man who had lost his way, a king who turned his back on his friends and his people, she wanted nothing to do with Alquin, and so as she flew off toward home, she finally figured that there was no redemption for Alquin.

The king had watched as the figure of Malia became distant, further off she flew. “Damnit!” He yelled and several explosions occurred, he knew he shouldn’t have hit Malia, she was a woman, even if she was strong, she was also his advisor, his brains in times of strife, he regretted listening to Jon, now he had lost both his advisors, and had no way to guarantee that they would ever be loyal to him, he needed as much power and resources as he could but that was something he had just destroyed himself.

****

As the trees swayed in the morning breeze, the heavy dew and fog began to thaw away leaving a perfect shade of green in the morning sun. “Is this the spot?” She asked her familiar and the cat replied with mewl. “Perfect then.” She replied with a perfect smile, this was her revenge, this was the start of something even the demon king couldn’t have foreseen. She swiped her fingers and the ground burst into flames leaving a circle of runes,  in the middle a pentagram appeared, crimson smoke flickered from it but as it moved it turned a shade darker to make it seem black, from a bag she had, she took out a snake, pulled out a knife from air and ripped the venomous snake open, its blood poured onto pentagram and sizzled.

Her familiar dropped a large still beating heart onto the middle of the pentagram, she them poured crushed herbs and red fern onto it, and the heart shriveled instantly. “Evil that lurks within, Death that awaits  in the darkness, I summon you: bring thy enemy to your terror, devour thy enemy without mercy and annihilate thy enemy with fierce vindication: vartum sevro animos transmota lovaro.” She had cast her spell, this was her revenge, and it was also the beginning of it, as the smoke rose into the air carrying nothing but death in it’s wake. “May your kingdom survive this, your majesty.” She sneered looking in the far distance, her familiar purred with satisfaction as she vanished from where she stood.

The once calm forest was turning into a graveyard, the once peaceful villages were now filled with runaways and strangers from other demonic lands, they had run from the cursed fog that brought death and nothing else, in the capital the fog had not yet arrived but already the news of what it had done had reached the king. “Is there any way to stop it, people are dying.” A nobleman urged Alquin but he had no answer, the fog was a mystery to him as well. “Tristan my mate has devised a plan to stop it or slow it down, he will work to find a cure for it please calm down.” He pleaded but it wasn’t enough, the demon kingdom had never faced this kind of magic before someone had definitely done this with clear purpose.

Alquin knew he had to find the best person to tackle the fog, the only person who could absorb magic in any form, a siphon witch, but the only one who had been close,  he had raped and the witch ran far from him, he had to find Ramier Wrath he was the only one who could save the demons. “Once the fog has been slowed down, go and search for my husband Ramier.” He instructed the men in his guard, he knew they would find the witch, it wasn’t just his life at stake but theirs too, so they had to find the witch.

Alquin knew it would be hard to find Ramier, and obviously a cure for what had killed demons in the west, he didn’t know anyone capable of casting such a powerful death spell and making it seem as harmless as fog, but with a mere touch or breath it would instantly shrivel your limbs out, destroying you from the inside. Alquin stood from his throne and moved to the lab Tristan was using, he had to find the fae and see if he had found a cure.

“Dammit!” Tristan screamed as another unsuccessful trial took place, Alquin walked into the lab to find the fae walking around carrying plants and vials, he knew then the fae hadn’t been successful. “How’s it going?” He asked his mate who instantly turned with a startled expression. “Badly, I can’t seem to find the correct binding agent, or a transmitter that would work against the fog and create an anti-virus.” Tristan responded taking herbs and crushing them, he wished he was as good as Mier in alchemy he could’ve already found a cure.

“Have you found him yet or sent parties to search for him?” Tristan questioned as he picked up a bag of mountain ash. “No, they couldn’t find him in the east, west is obviously a no go, he couldn’t be there because that’s where the fog originated meaning either south or north of the kingdom.” The demon king replied with a defeated sigh, indeed Mier could’ve already found a cure. “I regret what I did, and now we need him and he’s nowhere to be found, I guess the goddess is punishing us now.” Tristan exclaimed trying to stop the burn of tears in his eyes.

As the king stood with his fae mate Saytor walked in silently, he didn’t acknowledge the king or his mate, only took what he needed from that particular lab and walked out. “He’s still angry with you.” Tristan mumbled and the king nodded, he had no time to feel sadness or more complicated feelings when his people were meeting death. A soldier ran up to the lab and bowed as he saw Alquin.”My lord, the fog is here, lord Marcos has evacuated the city and has placed barriers to prevent any more deaths, and it seems it’s working.” The soldier reported with slight relief.

Alquin smiled to himself upon hearing the news, at least Marcos was there to help him. “Take me to him.” He ordered and left the fae feeling jealous and inadequate, Marcos had done something to save the kingdom, therefore, Alquin would want him instead, he scowled but another thought came to mind, why had the fog not affected Marcos or Saytor, something was going on.

****

“Saytor this will slow it down, but won’t stop it, I’ve given you the instructions just follow them and you’ll be fine.” The astral projection of Mier spoke as it placed a page of instructions on the table. “Thank you.” Saytor responded as he got to work. “I did it for you guys, not anyone else.” The witch replied as he vanished and Villa walked out of a portal, he had several vials floating in with him from the portal. “You’re here early.” Saytor announced as the vampire walked in. “I finished my work earlier, and came to deliver this, it’s an antidote from Mier.” He explained giving one vial to Saytor who drank immediately.

“Thanks, but Marcos and Malia need those too.” He asserted and the vampire nodded. “I will get to it then, stay safe.” Villa replied with a smile before he vanished. Unbeknownst to the two men, Tristan had seen the whole exchange and he was utterly shocked. 

****

Villa appeared in Malia’s spacious home, the woman was laying on the couch with her mate beside her, the two seemed happy to be indoors just laying there. “This is sweet.” Villa mumbled startling the two. “Motherf—.” Malia screeched but caught herself before she spoke. “Don’t scare us like that.” Malia warned as she settled back on the couch. “What brings you to our humble abode.” Malia’s mate questioned and the vampire flicked his fingers.

“I bring antidotes from my mate.” Villa replied as two vials floated to the two lovers. “Your husband is impressive, this will act as an antidote and a vaccine.” Malia’s mate exclaimed as he drank the contents of the vial. “Exactly.” The vampire smiled happily. “Hate to pop up and run but I must find Marcos, he’s the last one on the delivery.” He asserted but Malia pointed towards the stairs.

“He moved from the castle, staying here with us, something about being able to escape when the time comes.” Malia surmised as Villa made his way up the stairs. “You know your way up there.” Malia’s mate added as the vampire king made it to the top of the stairs, he walked with a confident stride and dominance that radiated off him, he knocked on the door to the guest room. “Come in.” A voice spoke softly and he walked in closing the door behind him.

“You don’t look so good.” Villa mumbled as he walked to the bed where Marcos was sprawled on. “Try being four months pregnant.” The demon retorted and the two of them chuckled. “I brought this from my mate.” The vampire offered the antidote and Marcos drank immediately. “Refreshing, does he know who did this?” Marcos questioned but Villa didn’t want to reveal so he shook his head. “He just says he knows the magical signature but not the person.” He replied and Marcos nodded.

“As long as he helped that’s enough for me.” The demon mumbled as sleep came and whisked him away, Villa sat by Marcos’s side until he was sure the man was okay, he realized the demon had just exhausted himself, so he pulled up the covers on him and walked out of the room silently, he couldn’t stay long because his mate would be going into labor any day so he said his goodbyes and vanished.

++++

LMJ