Chapter 8

“Here is where it gets insane. Caius left the realm. He told me that he was going to Earth to find Talon.” Chance was hesitant, and as he spoke he looked to Arianna.

“What? Is he crazy! Why Talon? He is a demon now, dangerous.... Why would he help Caius?” Arianna shouted.

“Look, at first it sounds crazy, but you all know Caius isn’t an idiot. Talon hates Warrick, especially for what he did to him. Caius thinks that if he can find Talon, then he can convince him to help.”

Chance’s eyes followed to Slaten.

“We need you, Slaten, to find your mother and explain all of this. There is no way they will let me back in now. I need you to go to her and explain what is happening and convince her she needs to share everything she knows about Warrick’s plans. You will need to find a way to explain this to your sister and take her with you.”

Meridian interrupted Chance.

“If all you say is true, then I know exactly where my father would go to find Talon. If Talon is the father of that baby I saw in the hospital, it would explain why he didn’t want me to have anything to do with him. I know where he is. I want to go to my dad and Chance; you are taking me there.”

“No way! Your father had specific instructions, and I am not to go after him.” Chance looked to Arianna for her support as he spoke.

“Well, my dad can hardly sneak a demon back into the realm,” Meridian replied in a condescending voice.

“No. I know that your father is going to come back here and let us know what we are to do. The only ones who can leave are Slaten and Pramlee, no one else.” Chance was clear on that.

Arianna jumped in. “We will do what Chance says and stay here and wait for your father.”

Before anyone else could speak another word, and just in time, there stood Caius.

Chapter 8

Meanwhile in Etheria, things were heating up for the tyrant in charge of Etheria.

“Where are Caius and Arianna!” Warrick screamed at his guards. “How could you get them escape, and where is Chance?”

Warrick was out of control with rage. Why would there be a need for some big place in a realm that was only for the good of heart, the healers and the watchers of one another and humankind? His four guards that watched over the small prison in the realm stood in fear and silence unable to speak. The words would not come. Warrick stormed over to the guard closest to him and grabbed the collar of his shirt.

“Speak!” Warrick shouted.

“Lord, sir...please, it was not us. Chance came to us and told us that it was requested by you that we leave and go back to Caius’s home to look for Meridian.”

The guard’s voice trembled with fear.

“How could you believe such a thing? You know as well as I do that Chance and Caius are friends. You should have known that he was up to no good. I should have just taken care of this myself.” Warrick said as he stared at the guards, “Get out! Go back to the house, you should have found something.”

The guards slipped out of Warrick’s chamber. Once the guards left, he sat alone and his mind brought in thoughts.

My son and daughter are missing, and I cannot hear Caius or Arianna’s thoughts anymore. He was always so good at controlling his thoughts. Chance is lost to me with his betrayal. No one is talking...not even my peers. What could be happening? This must be put to rest, and they must be brought back here to the realm. If my secrets get out, it is all over for me.

Warrick’s thoughts were interrupted by Farrah.

“What is going on here, Warrick? Slaten is missing, and no one seems to know why. What have you done? All I hear is rumors and whispering that you imprisoned Caius and Arianna for the human. What exactly did they do wrong? I want answers.”

Warrick jumped to his feet to face his wife and said, “Caius must be tried for his breaking the laws of revealing himself to the human boy who was attempting suicide due to his parent’s divorce. You know we must not interfere with humankind. We influence, but we do not interfere with human will. You know this.”

“Your laws! It has not always been this way. Since you have taken over, there has been more distance between humans and the connection to the unseen. Humans struggle to do what is right because they have lost their faith. Humankind has succumbed to the influences of the demons who roam the Earth. Why? Why do this and steer away from what is expected of you in this position? Our maker has always said that we should not interfere. That humanity was born of free will to decide who they want to be. Humankind is in a state of turmoil with wars, politics, religion and freedom. People have lost their faith in the good things around them.” Farrah’s eyes filled with tears.

Warrick turned his back on Farrah, “That law was put into place because guides were making their presence known too much. Look what has happened in their history—witch hunts...free thinkers burned alive. What about all those people who have seen things in the past and shared with family only to be called insane or mentally ill. I had to put a stop to it.”

“I know all of this, but demonic presence still exists in their lives, and some even welcome it,” Farrah argued back.

“Demons have not changed much through the years. Sure, religions say the end is near, and Satan is even more of a presence now than ever, but you know these things are not true. Demons are there; they have their influence, and they may attempt at more influencing, but it is not heard of them allowing themselves to be seen in any way. We must not interfere with free will.”

“I know there is more to this with Caius and you can’t get away with what you are doing. You will have to face the music at some point,” Farrah lectured Warrick.

“Shut up! You will do as I say, or you will go right along with them. Get out!” Warrick pointed his finger to the door.

A search party was sent out to go to the fairy realm. Warrick was not the only one who had to face the music. He called a meeting with the members who sat on the council with him and it was decided that there would be a trial.