As Storm, the demon, stands impassively in front of me, I can feel my anger rising. The council behind him has made it clear that they intend to harm my family, and I am not about to let that happen.
"If you're not gonna leave there, you might be the first one I'll kill," he said seriously, still without emotion. Storm's threat did nothing to dissuade me. Instead, I stood my ground and summoned my dragon, Emerald, with a cold, determined voice.
"Emerald," I called out to my demon in a cold voice.
I was angry.
Not just for myself, but also for the council in front of me.
They planned to kill my family.
I looked at each of their demons one by one, except for the demon in front of me, Storm.
The other demons in the council's entourage are equally imposing. Ysabel, the dragon with four heads, each a different color, looks fierce and powerful. Dylan, the hovering white dragon, is massive in size, despite lacking wings. Klenn, the dragon that looks like the sun, is so bright that it almost blinds to look at. Cassandra, the giant clock with hands and feet, seems to keep time with the rhythm of the council's malevolent intentions. And Lin, the shadow-dragon, is the most unusual of them all, constantly shifting and changing its form to mimic the other demons.
Kyle, the Chain demon, is the last of the council's entourage. Its movements are serpentine, and its chain-like body seems to writhe and twist on its own. I glare at the council's demons, my fists clenched in anger. I may not know how to fight them, but I am not about to give up without a fight. I have faith in my family, and I know that they can fight their own demons too.
"Show them what you've got!" I said sarcastically to my dragon, while raising an eyebrow.
'What am I supposed to show them? The 'dance' you're talking about?' He replied telepathically.
I was even more annoyed with this useless demon.
I rolled my eyes in frustration. "Tsss. Whatever! I need to do something," I thought to myself. I clenched my fists and prepared to fight. Even though I wasn't sure if I could take them on, I had to try. I was taken aback by Storm's sudden attack. I blocked his strike with my arms, but he still managed to cut my right arm with his long claws. Blood dripped down my arm as I tried to defend myself.
I saw his companions’ eyes widen and heard them gasp in shock. "Tss! They’re pitying me!" I thought angrily. Storm lunged at me again, but I managed to dodge his attack and kicked him in the stomach. I aimed for where his liver was and felt a satisfying crunch. He doubled over in pain, coughing up blood. I wiped the blood from my face and smiled wickedly.
He looked at me without emotion, and I couldn't read his thoughts. But I knew I had to keep fighting. He swung his fist at me, but I caught it and twisted his arm. I kneed him in the side, and he held his ribs in agony.
But he wasn't done yet. He kicked me in the stomach with such force that I fell to the ground, coughing up blood. He approached me and then grabbed me by the neck, choking me with his immense strength. I struggled to free myself, but his grip was too tight. I could feel his long claws digging into my neck, drawing blood.
Suddenly, Cassandra grabbed Storm's arm, and he released me. I gasped for air, coughing and wheezing as I tried to catch my breath.
"DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH THEM!" I shouted at the other members of the council as I saw them approaching my friends through my peripheral vision. My blood boiled with anger as I stood up, ready to fight again. Storm approached me and kneeled beside me.
Suddenly, the surroundings changed, and it felt like we were in a cloud because of the thick fog surrounding us. "Where are we?" I wondered. It was like we were in another dimension. I looked around, but all I could see was the thick fog. I couldn't see the other members of the council. I could only see Storm. I noticed the change in his appearance. He was slowly turning into a normal-looking human in my eyes. His demonic ears, fangs, long claws, and tail were gone.
I looked for Emerald in the surroundings, but I couldn't see him. I looked at my wrist where my tattoo was supposed to be, but I couldn't see it.
"Now, let's fight. Fair and square," he said expressionlessly.
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My body was weakening, and I could barely defend myself from Storm's attacks. He seemed invincible in this new dimension, blocking all my kicks and punches and countering with brutal force. His counter-attacks were so powerful that they left my body covered in bruises and cuts.
I staggered and fell to the ground, gasping for breath. Storm approached me, holding a sharp knife in his hand. He pointed it at my neck, and I closed my eyes, bracing myself for the end.
"Before you act tough, know who you're fighting," he said, his voice devoid of emotion. He tightened his grip on the knife, and I could feel its sharp edge against my skin.
But suddenly, I heard Cassandra's voice, and my eyes snapped open. We were back at the foot of the mountain, and she was holding onto Storm's back.
"You can't kill a cursed person who hasn't been possessed," she said firmly.
Storm grinned, and I felt a surge of anger. "Have you forgotten, Cassandra? In the world we live in, life has no meaning."
I gritted my teeth, struggling to stand up and protect my friends, whom I considered family.
"Aish! Let's stop this nonsense, shall we? We need to stop them, right now!" Ysabel said sternly.
"I wo...won't... le--le..let it happ--en.." I managed to say, my voice weak.
Ysabel snapped at me, "Can you just stop this and think for once?"
Dylan added, "Your friends are already monsters. There's no saving them."
I refused to believe them. "No matter what you say, I won't let you kill them."
Storm's gaze shifted to his companions, and they began to approach me. I summoned my demon, even though my body was weak. I knew I still had a fighting chance.
I concentrated and connected my heart to Emerald's, feeling my strength and determination. I wanted to fight for my friends.
Suddenly, I felt a burning sensation in my stomach, and I screamed in pain. Darkness enveloped me, and I found myself in a hot, fiery battlefield.
I could see Storm and his companions in front of me, ready to strike. I summoned all my strength and lunged at them, throwing punches and kicks.
Storm blocked my attacks with ease, but I kept pushing forward, determined to protect my friends. I could feel the heat intensifying, but I didn't back down.
My demon fought alongside me, its power fueling my movements. I felt like I was on fire, but I knew I had to keep going.
Storm and his companions were surprised by my sudden burst of energy, and I took advantage of their momentary hesitation. I landed a powerful punch on Storm's face, causing him to stumble back.
I felt like I was in a trance, my body moving on its own accord. The heat was unbearable, but I ignored it, focusing only on the fight.
Kyle stopped me by my arm and suddenly said, "Please don't insist on what you want to happen, My dear-- I mean Eveline. Once they become fully demons, things will escalate quickly, and we won't be able to handle them. So, please don't make our job harder."
"I won't allow you to kill them, even if you try to persuade me otherwise." I didn't want to lose them in my life.
I felt the burning sensation inside me again. But suddenly, the surroundings brightened up due to the light emitted by Klenn's demon. Then I collapsed on the cold ground.
I just stared blankly as Ysabel pulled my arm. Tears streamed down my face as I saw them approaching my friends. I crawled on the ground because I had no more strength left.
I saw Storm approach Renz. He was holding the knife he intended to use on me earlier, and I saw no hesitation in his expression. After a few moments, he swiftly sliced Renz's throat.
I covered my mouth. "This can't be happening!"
Ysabel stepped on my back. "Stay here."
Cassandra threw a kunai in Salem's direction, hitting her in the chest.
Dylan relentlessly punched Vince and then stabbed him in the stomach.
Kyle suddenly thrust his chain into Wency's side.
Klenn and Lin released a burst of intense light that hit the two children, Honey and Gary. They were still too young to understand anything.
Enough... Enough...
'Stop what you're doing to my friends... Waaaah... They're all I have... I'm begging you... Don't hurt them,' I screamed in my head, desperation in my thoughts.
'Renz, Vince, Wency, Salem, Honey, and Gary, please don't leave me... Please...' I wanted to scream, but no words came out of my mouth.
I reached out my hand to them while hot tears kept falling. I saw them screaming in pain, but I couldn't do anything to help.
'Forgive me. Please forgive me,' I muttered in my thoughts, feeling helpless and guilty.
"Ma-mahal kita... Ka namin..." Those were the last words I heard from Renz. I didn't even know what it meant.
I saw their bodies slowly turning into ashes... I tried to grab them, but I couldn't touch them. They were gone, and they had left me.
It felt like the heavens and the earth collapsed on me. I lost my little hope. I lost them. They disappeared right in front of me.
If I am angry with myself, I am even more angry with the seven councils who killed them.