Chapter 26: 1-25: Lili and Nox and Despair

We arrived at the museum at the dinner rush, a long line formed outside the building. Shera pushed passed them all, guiding us into the building. It was large and open with all species intermingling. It was almost nice to see- especially given what had happened so nearby here years ago. I'd be worried about the prophecies threatening this peace, but the Hero system and Lord system were a thing that both sides agreed to. It meant any war and deals and armies were the candidate's responsibility- though sometimes that did go into full scale war. This region had stayed neutral on both sides during the last Lord's war twenty years ago.

Shera guided us through the rows of tables, dodging waitstaff and customers as we weaved across the restaurant to a booth in the bar area. I nearly said something but then Ilyah told me the age to sit in the bar here was only eighteen. At the booth was a solitary demoness a red-haired demon, hair styled into large curls with two short fat horns on each temple, who greeted Shera and Ilyah as we approached:

"Hey girls! Took you long enough."

"Sorry, someone wanted to listen to her cousin embarrass her girlfriend or we'd have gotten here sooner."

The red-haired demoness glanced at the two of us, "Oh, wow. She really does look like a smaller Ilyah."

Ilyah scoffed, hanging her hat on a hook on the wall before scooting into the booth, followed by Hayli and I in that order. "Did you think I was lying Lili?"

"Yes. That's your job."

"My job is spying; you can spy and tell the truth."

Shera sat down next to Lili and sighed, "Where's little miss Gaia Rank."

"You could call her by her name. Just because she got the rank first doesn't mean you won't."

"I scored better on the written test Lili."

"And Nox did better in the field."

"Lili, you could at least introduce yourself to my guests."

"Oh! Lilianna Von Ferisa, a pleasure." 

Hayli smiled and replied, "I'm Hayli Summer, Ilyah's cousin, and this is Terra Thornell, my girlfriend." while holding me closer to her.

Lili giggled, "A Candidate and a Hero at the same table. How about that."

I looked at Lili, "You're a candidate?"

"Yep. I'm probably the lowest ranked though. The kind that gets paid off to not try. Seems like a good deal." 

"Terra is a Shield also." Hayli said.

"And related to the Thornell hero." Ilyah mentioned

"I could have figure that out by her last name."

Shera coughed, "Where's Nox?"

"Oops! She'll be here soon, Olli just had her deliver some letters that she didn't trust to post to deliver."

"I hope she gets here soon, it's annoying to always finish a meal by the time she orders a starter."

I looked down at the menus that had been at the table, very glad I could read Demon Tongue now. I still hadn't figured out how it worked, but I was pretty sure it was the pool or the arch. If I ever got back to the island, it would be nice to test it with one of the others. I read through and decided on something called "Red Special" whatever that may have been.

"So, Hayli, like you're a humon Hero? That must be pretty awkward." Lili said, mouth full of complimentary bread.

"No. Not really. People don't really bother me about it."

"I had to fight off drunken racists when we first met."

"Sairah would have eventually beaten them."

"And you'd have been hurt."

Hayli grinned, "Fine. But usually when people are sober, they leave me alone."

Shera coughed, "Yeah probably because you look like that."

"If that was the case more than border towns and capitols would accept Demons." Ilyah said back.

Lili turned to me, "So, what are your views on Demons? I know Hayli is fine if she's Ilyah's cousin, but you..."

"They're the same as humans and humons. I have some issues with some demons but that's more towards bad history with them." 

"Like the one that enjoyed jumping off roofs?" Shera asked.

"Action wise? Yes. As a person? No."

"I can understand that. I know some idiots at this table who I love like sister but want to strangle constantly." Shera said looking at Lili and Ilyah.

"Love you too Li." Ilyah replied in between explaining to Hayli what something on the menu was.

I turned back to the menu myself to see what starters or drinks looked good.

(I pulled at my collar, mind screaming at me for wearing this stuffy suit. Vern was fine in his, chatting idly with Olli. Quaza was next to me leaning against the back of her chair.

Olli had invited us to a summit of demons, one for trade in our area. Olli's godmother was invited, and Olli was being forced to go and wanted some people along to not be bored. Vern agreed because Avery let him off of training to go, Quaza went because her mother decided it would be a good thing for her to experience, I went because Olli bribed me with trying some demon food. Of course, Vern and I being idiots extraordinaire didn't realize how boring it would all be. 

"Hello, my fellow demons and guests..."

Blah, blah.

Olli and Vern moved off somewhere while Quaza scooted closer to me. 

"You look like you're going to tear that off."

"I hate suits."

Quaza smiled. "Yeah, but at least it's distracting you from how boring this is."

"I'd rather be bored and not choked to death."

I relaxed back in my chair and slunk down, watching the demons ahead drone on.

"I really hope I don't ever have to go to one of these alone, Terra.")

(I can't fit. That was what saved me.

The demons went back in the corner to do what I assumed was sulk. I took a second to catch my breath- which was ended prematurely as demoness used her surprising hard horns to bend apart the bars and pulled me by my throat closer towards her.

"Plesh mot memt sui." Her hands around my throat made it a little hard to speak, if I were to undersell it a little. The smell of rotten berries and blood came from her open maw full of sharp teeth- in her front few teeth. The rest we more like the ones in mine. 

Maybe she wouldn't eat me. Or maybe she had a really strong bite, and those front teeth were enough to shred meat enough for her to eat it. I was going to die, eaten by a demoness who was caged up.

My little kid body began to fight back trying to avoid being pulled in. I managed to land a hard kick knocking the demoness back into the cell- with her still holding on to me.

In the words of my older brother, "Fuck.")

I nibbled on the starter Hayli had ordered, some kind of fish cake. It was fine, the fish overpowered by the breading and onions. Hayli was devouring it like she devoured all fish.

In the middle of chatting with Ilyah about if Hayli had named herself after her (she did), Lili yelled out, "Over here!" towards the entrance of the room.

A woman, long black hair poking out from under the top part of a helm and dressed in a very loose shirt and pants waved at the table and walked over. She walked over to the table. She was probably around Vern's height, and was even more in shape than my brother.

"Sorry. Lord Salsibre wanted to gossip." She said scooting into the table.

"Really, Noxie, you could just say you had somewhere to be." Lili stated.

"That would be disrespectful, Lili." 

Nox looked first at Hayli and then at me. Her blue eyes blinked, then a look of horror flashed across her face. Ilyah noticed it and asked,

"Nox, you okay?"

"Yeah. I'm fine. I just was shocked by another you and another human."

"Yep. This is my cousin Hayli and her girlfriend Terra. She's related to that Hero Olli was friends with."

Nox smiled, "Ah, nice to meet you both."

"Aren't you going to take off the helmet, Gaia rank?"

"My hair is a mess, and I'd rather not open that box, Bonadea rank."

"Whatever."

Nox turned to the other side of the table, "So, how do you know Olli?"

Lili snapped her head towards Nox, "Why would they know Olli?"

"They're the ones she was busy with last week. Now, come on- answer."

Hayli spoke first, "I-I met her first when Terra and I went on a shopping trip. She was getting out of the carriage we were getting in."

I spoke second, "She was a friend of mine when I was younger."

Nox seemed to think for a minute, "Got it. Wonder why she told me to deny you being here to Quaza then."

I froze. 

"Quaza?"

"Yeah, Honi's daughter." Lili helpfully replied, "She's here for the finalization. She's totally the top Lord Candidate. I mean with her bloodline and magic that's guaranteed."

"I-I thought that would be Olli." I swallow.

"Nah, she's a bit too busy with her experiments and schemes. Quaza's a perfect leader."

Shera scoffed, "Yeah and she lets her grandfather's murderer go free despite knowing where he is."

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"Yeah, go murder someone who lives with a Hero and one of the reasons why the murderer wasn't killed during the attack that gave you this land." Ilyah replied.

"S-s-so, Quaza's in town? H-here?"

"Are you okay?" Shera asked in her usual monotone.

I chugged down my water, "Yeah. I'm fine. I'm cool."

"Probably worried Quaz might use her as bait since she's related to Earth's brother."

"Oh!" Nox nodded. "Don't worry Quaza is cool. You should meet her."

"N-no. I'm good."

Hayli pouted, "Aw, come on. We could meet the Princess of the Demons and the top Candidate." She leaned into me, "As a Hero I cannot pass this up, and as the only Shield here..."

I wasn't getting out of this.

"Fine."

Nox nodded, "I'll have her meet up with us in the park. Ilyah can pick you up."

"Won't Olli be mad?" I ask hoping to avoid it.

"She doesn't need to know. Besides she's going to be busy going over that big plan of hers again."

I sank down into the cushioned seat and waited for the food to arrive.

Quaza...

(Forward we walked, quickly making our way away from that scene, our breath appearing in little grey clouds that emitted from our panting mouths. Our footprints were sunk into the freshly fallen snow, bloodied and uneven. We went on, a trail behind her, oblivious to any pursuer we might have had.

Her eyes were still a reflection, face a scowl. His eyes were the same, a bloodlust coming off of him. We ran into the white expanse from what we caused.

No, what I caused.

I could hear, behind us, an uproar in anger- that familiar voice, that voice I had once enjoyed hearing speak now dripped with rage. I felt a rush of fear, adrenaline and something else. 

They would be following soon. They would be after us soon. After me soon.

The call of a songbird mocked our flight, I could hear its jeering intent.

"Hurry." She spoke, rushing faster. He and I began to pick up our own pace. My heart continued to race as we continued forward.

I could see a light. The sun setting to my left, giving way for the moon to have her night.

I felt a shudder through my already shaking body, a shudder I could not tell the source for.

We kept running, eyes ahead into the silence of the night.)

(There is blood on me.

Blood that is not mine. 

There is blood in my mouth, warm and fresh.

Blood that is not mine.

Bodies lay scattered, torn and mutilated, human and demon around me.

But where is she?

To the west he is screaming, fighting enraged in front of a pair of corpses. Their corpses.

Mom.

Dad.

I blink and stumble towards the fighting. A demon races towards me and stops impaled by an arrow from behind. He falls, axe barely missing me. I do not flinch. I walk towards that reflecting ring standing vigil over them.

The traitor's army is overwhelming, it is a slaughter- but he is fighting them off so easily.

But why isn't she?

She couldn't be dead.

Avery couldn't be.

Heroes don't die.

Not like this.

Not like this.

Not like-

I catch sight of a helmet; bloodied, crunched, familiar.

My stomach twists. I feel my blood start to boil.

I can feel that begin to react. 

I can hear a voice, telling me to calm down. Telling Vern to calm down. But I do not get a choice.

Vern does not get a choice.

Avery did not get a choice.

Those black orbs appear in front of my eyes and then beyond that I cannot remember a single thing that occurred thereafter.)

Hayli relaxed on our bed, watching my somber face.

"Are you okay?"

Would Quaza recognize me? Did Olli tell her I was Terra? Fuck, did she remember that name? "I'm fine. Just nervous."

"Don't worry, if Ilyah is friends with her, she can't be that bad."

I can see the corpses, the fire, the destruction in my head. I could handle Olli- her betrayal was merely business- but Quaza...

Or was it my betrayal. I could have gone with her, and maybe no one would have died. I'd have been a servant at best- but she'd be alive. Why was I such an idiot then? Why was I so afraid to go with her?

"I guess."

Hayli pulled me in with her tail. "I love you."

I shook my head, that shocking me out of my funk for a minute. "I love you too." I smile. Right, Quaza could wait.

I closed my eyes and drifted away, content in the smaller Hayli's embrace.

(Quaza moved closer to me, eyes shimmering in the moonlight.

"Q-Quaza is everything okay?" I stammer. 

She looked nervous, "Um. I- um."

The night was still. She had suddenly appeared by my window as I slept and called me out here after a month of no contact to anyone- even Olli. That was probably because of what I did- that body on that blade.

"Spit it out Quaza." I smile at her, trying to ease her.

"Come with me, Earth." She blurted out.

What. "What?"

"You'll die if you don't."

"Why?"

"Because... I can't say. I can say I need you to come with me, or you'll die Earth."

"How?" She wasn't making any sense.

"If you are here, my mother will ensure your death. Please come with me. I can convince her to make you my blood servant. I can get her to not kill you."

"Quaza. I can't. I can't just go live in a place I've been to once on accident. Besides your mom has no domain to kill me."

She looked sad.

"Please Earth. I don't want to have to do what she wants. Please."

"Quaza, I... I can't." 

She turned her gaze down. "Farewell then. I'm sorry. I won't give you the choice when I come back."

"What do you mean?"

She shook her head, "If by some chance you survive- I will never let you into my mother's lands without you making a choice like that. Die when I return or never at all."

She leaned over to me and embraced me. We stayed like that for a minute and then released. She climbed on her horse and began to ride away, calling back, "I sincerely hope you survive, so we can be together once again, Terra."

I wave, feeling a pit in the depth of my heart. I stayed there on the ground until the sun began to rise, alone and lost in my thoughts.)

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