Chapter 3: Doom
Kael's POV:
As I think back on Aurora's reign of terror, I realize that her anger and hurt drove her to create something truly evil. Gaet is a poison that will slowly drain a demon's essence, leaving them a shell of their former selves. It's a fate worse than death, and one that I fear will soon befall us all if we don't act. The witches may have created Gaet, but we demons will be the ones to suffer its consequences.
"Call us traitors for all I care," I said, shrugging my shoulders. We've been labeled as such since my existence began. "So, what's the plan, Thane?" I asked, curiosity piqued.
Thane's smirk grew wider. "I think Hailey will seek us out sooner than we expected." His grin stretched from ear to ear, and I could sense his excitement. Finally, something interesting was happening in our mundane lives. Hailey, the new witch queen, was a calmer version of her predecessors, but I knew she was just as deadly and determined to eradicate the demon race. However, she must have realized that was an impossible feat, which is why she was willing to negotiate with us. We didn't mind her company, at least; it was a change from the usual isolation.
"Finally, something interesting has happened," I muttered, and Thane nodded in agreement. But then his expression turned serious. "But what if Hailey tries to kill us once we steal the book?" His merciless countenance sent a shiver down my spine.
"Well, it's possible," I admitted, "but remember, it's only your demon side that will die. You'll finally become a full vampire and leave this forsaken world behind." I placed a hand on his shoulder, trying to reassure him.
Thane slapped my hand away, his eyes flashing with anger. "I might hate this world of yours, but I still love being a demon too. So I don't want my demon side to die, got it? And don't think vampires are invincible either. They can die, just like anyone else, after about 500 years or so." He sighed, his expression softening. "Unlike demons, who can live till eternity."
"Well, at least you'll still have a long life," I said, disgust etched on my face. "I, on the other hand, will become a human. Can you believe it?" I felt like I was part of royalty, and the thought of losing my powers and immortality was unbearable. I'd lived for so long, yet I still struggled to control my abilities. And to make matters worse, I was stuck in these ruins, with no choice but to endure.
Thane nodded in agreement. "I'd love to steal the book, despite the danger surrounding it." He paused, a faraway look in his eyes. "Same here. I think after that, we can finally leave Xeridia behind."
But where would we go? I couldn't shake off the feeling that we were trapped. If I wanted to flee to the ocean, I could, but Thane wouldn't survive for long there. As a land demon, he could tolerate water, but he hated it, and I didn't want to force him to stay somewhere he'd be miserable. And to be honest, I wouldn't enjoy it either.
Just then, I heard my name. "Kael." I turned to see Hailey, the witch queen, approaching us with a group of older witches. She looked paler than usual, and I knew her time was running out. According to tradition, when a new future witch queen was born, the current queen would begin to fade, and it was her duty to find the new queen before her death. The upcoming queen was chosen by nature, unaware of their fate until the old queen had found them. And once the new queen was discovered, the old one would pass on within a year.
If Hailey wasn't looking so pale, I would have definitely complimented her on her stunning appearance. Female witches were known for their beauty, and Hailey was no exception. Her hourglass figure was accentuated by her long, silver hair with a subtle shade of brown, which cascaded down to her waist like a river of moonlight. She typically wore white, which complemented her hair color and seemed to be her signature style, but today she had opted for a green garment that caught me off guard. I found it unusual, but it suited her well, highlighting her striking features.
"You look different," I commented, trying to sound nonchalant.
Hailey offered a weak smile, her eyes hinting at exhaustion. "I decided to follow your advice to change the color of my garment once in a while," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
I chuckled, remembering our previous conversation. "Well, it suits you, Hailey."
With a graceful motion, she materialized a golden chair and sat down, her movements elegant and poised. "As you know by now, Gaet has been taken away from us by Soccerry," she began, her voice laced with a hint of despair. "It was a great battle that left most witches drained. We're not prepared for the upcoming war that's about to happen, so I'm asking for your help."
Thane and I exchanged a glance, our minds racing with the implications. We knew that Gaet, the forbidden magic, was a powerful tool that could tip the scales of war in favor of whoever possessed it. And now, it seemed, Soccerry had taken it from the witches, leaving them vulnerable and in need of our assistance.
Thane and I exchanged a glance, pretending to consider Hailey's request, but we both knew we had already made up our minds to help the witches. I bowed my head slightly, addressing her with respect due to her title. "What do you want from us, Your Highness?"
Hailey's eyes locked onto mine, her gaze intense. "I know it goes against what you stand for, but I want you to help steal the book. That's the only thing that makes us feel secure enough to win against the demons." Her voice trembled slightly, and I noticed a flicker of fear in her eyes. It was a rare glimpse of vulnerability from the usually poised witch queen.
Unlike the demons, Hailey had always made an effort to keep me company, just as the previous witch queen had done before her. I remembered the curious look in her eyes when we first met, and how she had been introduced to me as a potential ally. Thane and I were the witches' greatest allies, and we had always stood by them in their struggles against the demons.
I raised a concern, trying to sound like I was worried about our future. "Where are we going to stay afterwards? You know we won't be able to set foot in Xeridia again." I didn't really care about where I lived, but I wanted to appear concerned, if only to acknowledge the gravity of our decision.
Hailey's expression turned thoughtful, and she nodded slightly. "I have already made arrangements for your safety. You will be given a place to stay in the witches' territory, under our protection." Her words were reassuring, but I knew that our actions would come at a great cost. We were about to betray the demons, our own kind, and side with their sworn enemies. The consequences would be severe, but we were willing to take that risk to protect the witches and ourselves from the looming war.
"You don't have to worry about that; you can stay with us witches," Hailey said calmly, her expression softening.
"Your Highness," the other witches chimed in unison, earning a frown from their queen.
"It's not the healthiest option, but it's the surest way to keep you safe. However, if you stay with us, we'll have to cast a spell to make you powerless. I don't want to lose any more of my family," she concluded with a sigh.
The offer was tempting, but I noticed a loophole. "If you can make us powerless in your kingdom, why can't you make all the demons powerless so you can steal the book yourself?" I asked, curious about her reasoning.
Hailey's expression turned weary. "I can only cast that spell on a few demons before I become too weak. Even when I cast it on you two, I'll be drained. If I were in my former condition, I would be able to do that, but...the next queen, whom I haven't found yet, has been drawing all my powers. I need to find her quickly." She coughed, then straightened up, her eyes pleading. "Please know I will never harm you two. I can't even perform the Gaet magic, so don't be wary of me about that."
Her words put me at ease, and I felt a pang of sympathy for the struggling witch queen. She was desperate to protect her people and find a solution to the looming war, and I couldn't blame her for that. Thane and I exchanged a glance, and I knew we were both thinking the same thing: we had to help her, no matter the cost.