8 Children

"Wait for my signal." That was what Jel said so Osbert waited as the man stared at the boy, a very thin tail sprouting out from his back and horns from his ears.

"Isn't that-"

"Ooooooo~. This is going to be a tough one." Jel chuckled, turning to Osbert. "If he was just a vampire like the girl … there is no use thinking too deeply about it. You ready?"

"Will you be able to take care of him on your own?" Osbert asked, looking at the boy as a red aura appeared around him.

A Devil Child. He thought, staring at the boy. We have had to kill some of them a few years ago and it was hard. We lost many people that day.

He looked at the black tears dripping from the boy's eyes as he stood up on his unsteady feet, tail swishing around.

"He's lost control!" Osbert shouted at Jel, grabbing his cloak. "We should get out of here first. The building is about collapse. It just might kill him."

Jel turned to Osbert, a hint of sadness written all over his face as he shook his head at him, "I am not going to let him die, Osbert. Not if I can do something to help him."

"But there is no way to help him!"

"How do you know that?" Jel asked, still looking at him softly. "Did you try everything possible?"

"I-"

"If there is a possibility, I will help." He said, looking around him. "The shockwaves are growing worse. I don't think I will be able to find an opportunity to for you to escape."

"We both ca-"

"Take care of the girl," Jel said, wiping the blood trickling down his ears. "Promise?"

Osbert looked at him for a second, thinking of convincing him to run away but he saw the determination written all over his face and sighed.

That is a face he knew too well.

"I promised already didn't I?" Osbert asked, grinning at him.

"Good boy," Jel said, patting his head gleefully before turning to the boy approaching them. "Now, what to do? What to do?"

"He looks inexperienced with his ability." Osbert said, standing behind Jel.

"You can tell too?" The man asked, spreading more of the golden smoke from his fingers to outside the window. "This will help to minimize the shockwaves as they escape to the outside world."

"He must have a weak point somewhere," Osbert said, looking at the boy. "Can you do something with that, if you found it?"

"I could. Unfortunately, we don't have that kind of time." Jel remarked, frowning. "Damn, I should have rethought how I broke this news to him."

"What are you going to do then?"

"Wear him out. That's the only option now."

Osbert held the girl tightly in his hands before grabbing the man's cloak.

"Be careful."

"Aww~. Are you worried about me?" He teased, leaning in. "Why don't you give me a kiss then?"

"Will you focus?" Osbert frowned, a blush creeping up his cheeks.

"Sorry. Sorry." Jel said, eyes narrowing at the boy. "Then I should get this over with."

Without another word, he stepped out of the barrier, almost being thrown back as a wave hit him, tearing one of his arms off.

"Damn. That hurts." Jel chuckled, looking at the bone peeking out of the muscles and the blood spilling everywhere. "Hopefully that didn't scare him too much."

He didn't have the luxury to check on Osbert as another shockwave came. Fortunately, Jel was prepared this time as he jumped to the roof, standing upside down.

The shockwave was only ground level so it would not touch him there but … that doesn't mean the boy did not notice him.

Yup, it is better the two didn't come out at all. He thought as the boy immediately made eye contact with him and charged.

Oh, he wants to play? Jel thought, excitement dancing in his eyes as he dodged the boy's charge, crashing into the roof of the house. Too bad kid, you will need a hundred more years before you can catch me.

___________________

Osbert stared at the boy chasing Jel who looked like he is having fun. Not that he can't but … now seems like a highly inappropriate time to be … never mind.

Where could his weak spot be? Osbert thought, looking at the boy moving almost too fast to see and yet, Jel did not look like he was struggling to escape him.

"Brother." He paused, looking at the little girl in his arms as tears rolled down her eyes, her little hands grabbing onto his shirt. "Please save brother."

Osbert's brows furrowed sadly as he wiped the tears rolling down her eyes. "I'll do what I can."

Determination filling him, Osbert stared at the boy again. If this keeps up, it will alert the others here. I need to hurry.

Placing the girl on the ground, Osbert placed a quiet spell on her before walking out of the barrier, instantly thrown back against it.

"Ugh." He grunted, trying to fight against the air currents while he felt his body slowly being ripped apart while he continued to struggle against it.

"Osbert!?" Jel appeared in front of him confusion dancing on his face. "What are you doing out here? Get inside!"

"I can help," Osbert said, grabbing onto Jel's arm as he tried to push him back into the barrier. "Let me. They could be here any time now."

Jel looked at him silently before sighing. "Alright. But I am not going to be responsible if anything happens to you."

"That's fine by me," Osbert said as Jel pulled him into the barrier again. "He is too fast for you to catch him. I just need you to get me close to him."

"Alright," Jel said, throwing off his cloak and Osbert watched as large bat-like wings appeared on his back, ripping parts of the cloth he wore. "Ready?"

"Wings??"

"Well, you don't like that teleportation magic I used before," Jel said, holding his hand out to the man. "Come on, no time to waste."

Osbert grabbed onto the man's arm as the two escaped the barrier once again, the boy appearing right in front of them.

"The hell?" Jel managed to dodge him but it was much harder this time, with Osbert holding onto him for dear life. "He will appear in front of me! Keep watch!"

He didn't need to be told twice as the boy appeared and Osbert jumped at him. Grabbing onto the boy as more shockwaves escaped from his body, Osbert held on as tight as he could smelling around for the weak spot.

Children around his age will not know how to hide them yet. It has to be somewhe- there.

"Come here!" Jel grabbed Osbert from the boy and created a shield as a bright light surrounded the house, making it tremble, breaking even more parts of the house.

"Are you ok?" Jel asked, pulling Osbert as he had his wings and arms wrapped around him.

"Y-yeah," Osbert said, moving away from him while trying to hide his face. "I found his weak spot. It is in the nape of his neck. Think you can get it?"

"Good job!" The man said proudly, getting to his feet. "I think you broke a rib. Try not to move too much."

"I can feel it," Osbert said, suddenly feeling the stinging pain on his side. "It's more than I rib. I think it's my lung too."

"Why don't you turn? It could help wi-"

"I am never turning." Osbert spat, glaring at the man.

"Stay here then. I will deal with this first." Jel said, turning to the boy as his own eyes turned red, a grin coming on his face. "Quickly."

Disappearing, Jel appeared in front of the boy and then behind him, grabbing him by his neck, crushing it as he pulled the glove out of his hands only to reveal a mark there.

Placing the mark on his hand on the boy's marking at the nape of his neck, just like Osbert said it would be.

No matter how much the boy struggled and screamed, Jel didn't let go until the boy turned back to normal, losing all his strength as the man pulled him in his arms.

Flying down, He picked up Osbert and the girl, getting out of the house as it slowly began to collapse without his magic to keep it stable anymore.

"There," Jel said, putting everyone down and collapsing to the ground himself, breathing heavily. "Tired."

"Good job," Osbert said, barely able to sit up as well.

"Sister?" They heard the boy whimpering. "W-where's my sister?"

"I thought she was in my ar-" Jel and Osbert looked around them to find the girl missing. "Huh? I was sure I grabbed her."

"There!" The boy shouted, pointing to the unconscious girl, laying on the ground as the house started to fall on her. "No!"

Struggle as he might, the boy couldn't even get himself to stand up and Jel hardly had any strength to even get himself off the ground.

"No!"