Chapter Eight: Hekin's Ire

Teffa Lou gasped at the sight of the minions in their full glory. The colors of the spiritual barriers reflected in her astounded eyes.

Another wave of demons was approaching, and these were twice as big as our minions. The chances of us winning were slim, and I felt conflicted.

I grew to hate humankind after I had been abandoned by them. I was their warrior, their hero, and their villain. I was adored by the tribe until a little girl had been killed. To get rid of me, their chief lied and said I had raped and murdered her. The tribe was enraged and tore my body into pieces. I can still feel their anger as my legs were hacked off with axes, and my arms were sliced into strips with knives. Their spit was hot against my skin, and the pain rivaled no other. My spirit never slept as I vowed my revenge against the chief and his tribe. Even though I had killed each and every one of them, my spirit could not rest. I had become a demon, a true villain in this world.

Despite that, my spiritual barrier was that of a human heartbeat, and it allowed me to never forget my origins. I was their warrior, their hero, and I made myself their villain.

As I gazed at Teffa Lou's eyes, I saw the hope that I once held dear. I was determined to protect her and kill any chiefs that dared to hurt her. That was my wish, and I was going to make it happen. The little girl's real name was Teffa Lou Magus. I couldn't control her even if I wanted to. Tark had named her so because I had already heard it. Teffa Lou Magus will not be destined to die by my hand. She will live to learn our spiritual powers and become the first human to emerge from the Shadow Forest with demons at her beck and call.

"Hekin," Jopp began. "Are you sure you want to do this?" He didn't seem on track with what Teffa Lou and I had in mind.

"We're going to save what's left of humanity," I told him. "They could still be alive, surrounded by water, but alive."

Jopp growled. "Humans killed the last angel, Alaris! They brought this on themselves!"

"No human is the same," I professed. "Tark is strong enough to defy you, even though we're thousands of times more powerful than we once were. I will not rest until Teffa Lou's wish has been fulfilled."

"We're not genies, Hekin!" Jopp contested. "If you leave, the next horde will destroy this sanctuary!"

Penny Lee meowed as she sat between us. A violet flash in her golden eyes sent shivers down my spine.

"M-Master!" I cried. I kneeled before her, wishing I had noticed it earlier.

Jopp snarled at her before I slammed his head into the ground. Just a second later, and his head would've been sliced off.

Penny Lee softly growled her appreciation as she retracted her claws. "The demon hordes were a test for both of you," she revealed telepathically. "I am pleased at your performances." With that, the demon hordes disintegrated, their energy absorbed by us and the minions.

Jopp growled as I kept his head pinned down.

"Hekin, travel with the girl and gather the remaining humans. We'll keep the fort up and running here."

"It's a trap, Hekin!" Jopp yelled. "Don't listen to her!"

Once again, I was conflicted. Whom should I believe? My Master that had taught me everything I know, or my brother that had betrayed me?

A warm hand touched my arm. "Let's go find them and bring them back," Teffa Lou almost whispered.

I closed my eyes and nodded. "I'll catch up."

After she had started on the forest trail, I lifted Jopp by the neck and snarled. "Keep this place pristine, and wait for us to return."

Jopp scowled. "Never!"

I squeezed his neck so tight that he couldn't breathe. "Don't be an idiot, Jopp."

"She's . . . not . . . Teff," Jopp bit out. He gasped for air when I released him.

Something cold had pierced my chest, and it was a dagger with a witch's curse.

"I told you I was immortal," Teffa Lou grinned as she approached Jopp. "I'm surprised you even recognized me."

Jopp struggled to his feet and hit his back to a tree.

I groaned at the effects of the witch's curse. My body was regressing to the shadowy form.

"You're nothing without your minions," Teffa Lou laughed. "That'll make this lots of fun!" Her face twitched in pain as Penny Lee seemed to smile beside her.

"Sorry, hon. He's mine." Penny Lee meowed as she licked her paw laced with black blood.

Teffa Lou's head rolled to the ground, and her body fell with a light thud. Inklets of blood swirled before heading straight for me.

Jopp scooped them into his claws and set them alight. He held me by the shoulders. "Hekin! You can't die on me!" He slapped my face to keep me awake.

"I really hate you," I told him with a death glare. The slap was completely unnecessary!

"He'll be all right," Penny Lee assured. "Stop crying you dumbass."

"I really hate you, too!" Jopp wailed.