Chapter 41: A light in a dark place

"So, I'm waiting..."

The general had a glass of wine in hand and was leaning back against his desk.

The office was dark aside from the open fireplace. Tomas and Yona stood across from him covered in flickering red shadows. It was warm, almost too warm. Tomas wondered if the feeling was akin to standing at the gates of the underworld waiting to be eaten alive.

"So Veretta and Errik are not in front of me and I want to know why, Tomas," Ace said with a dark smile as he sipped his drink leisurely.

Tomas couldn't tell whether his manner was disguising his anger or whether it was yet to come. However, he remained staunchly opposed to him and said nothing.

"Yona?" Ace glanced over to her, "leave us please,"

She began to shake her head with a tremble.

"Out," Ace repeated, this time more firmly.

Still, she stood falteringly at Tomas' side.

"It's okay, go," Tomas glanced at her and smiled weakly.

"Tomas.." she hesitated.

"Trust me?"Tomas mouthed.

Yona gave a nod with difficulty and finally left the room. When the door closed, Ace turned back to the desk and began to pour out another glass of wine. He handed it to Tomas who reluctantly accepted, but did not drink. He stared down into his glass apprehensively.

"Why did you return, Tomas?" Ace leant against the mantle of the fireplace and stared into the fire, "You must have known what would happen if you returned empty-handed,"

"I did," Tomas confessed.

"So?" Ace tapped the mantle lightly.

"I came back to tell you something," Tomas inhaled deeply, "I know what you want from Errik,"

"No, you don't," Ace chuckled.

"Clover," Tomas said in a low voice.

Ace's eyes met his with a red glare but said nothing.

"That's the name of the demon who you were in love with," Tomas added with trepidation.

"You read the journal," Ace murmured, "I told you not to,"

"I didn't have time to read it all, but I read enough. The black wizard wrote you were in love with that person. Well, the way he describes it, it was like you were obsessed with them. You became a demon to be with them...that means that you were human before?"

"Don't go there, Tomas," Ace cast him a vicious glare.

"Well," Tomas continued haltingly, "that's what you want from Errik, isn't it? To find that person. But the black wizard's journal cuts off before he says what happened to them. You think he has the answer?"

"Doubtful, but there is a possibility," Ace remarked with a frown.

"So, even for such a small slither of a chance, you would go to all this trouble to find out?" Tomas stared at him in disbelief.

"You've never been in love, have you?" Ace finally turned to Tomas with a dismissive air, "no matter. I don't expect you to understand. No one ever did... Well, now that you've discovered this, what is exactly you came all this way to say to me?"

"There's another way to locate them," Tomas declared unwaveringly.

Ace tilted his head to the side with a chuckle, "And I suppose you're going to tell me what it is?"

"Yes, if you promise to leave Errik and Veretta out of this," Tomas posited.

"How about this?" Ace gave a dark smile, "you tell me the method now, then I decide whether I'm going to kill you or not,"

"No, first you have to do something for me," Tomas held his ground.

"Don't push it," Ace retorted, "you're in no position to make demands!"

"Actually, I think I am," Tomas replied unflinchingly, "I realised why you got us kicked out of the college. At first, I thought it was so you could hide Silthus from Veretta, but that's not it, is it? You want to hide them from Silthus,"

"Ah, I see Yona has told you more than she should have," Ace sat back at the desk with a sigh, "well there's no point in hiding it now. Your friend has no idea what kind of man Silthus is, nor those that keep his company. Even with Errik, Silthus has a division of powerful wizards who never leave his side. If Silthus so much as gets a whiff of them, they'll both be dead. Even I won't be able to prevent it. That's why I told you to bring them here, you little brat,"

"Surely, even with the wizards, they won't be able to defeat Errik?" Tomas's brow furrowed.

"Silthus has his own magic," Ace shook his head gravely, "and then there's Cora as well."

"But if you helped Errik then maybe..."

"Let me stop you there," Ace dismissed, "If Yona has already filled you, then you must know I have no intention of going up against Silthus,"

"But you can stop Silthus from going to the college, can't you?" Tomas persisted, " If he doesn't go there, Veretta and Errik won't be able to go after him. I'm just asking you to distract him while I deal with Errik and Veretta,"

"What exactly are you going to do?" Ace scoffed, "ask them to leave? I think not,"

"I can cast a spell that incapacitates them long enough for Silthus to leave," Tomas answered earnestly.

"It won't be so easy to put Errik down," Ace sighed, "he has a high tolerance to magic,"

"Well, maybe while I was in the college I developed a spell just for him," Tomas gave a shrewd smile, "I mean his powers were out of control and I..."

"You're an alchemist," Ace seemed to take attention this time, "Yes, I recall. Yona said you were always out in the garden. So you think you have a spell that will be strong enough to keep them incapacitated? For how long?"

"A day, give or take, but it should be enough time to get them out of harm's way," Tomas explained.

"What makes you think I distract Silthus for that long?" Ace gave a strained expression.

"Because he's in love with you," Tomas said flatly.

Ace's eyes came up with agitation, "Ah, Yona. What has that girl gone and told you? I thought I taught her better than this. "

"It's not like that. The green general attacked me on the way there. She thought I was one of your lovers," Tomas frowned sadly, "but it was like she wasn't really interested for herself... Does Silthus..."

"Just be quiet," Ace held up a hand interrupting him, "Get out. I need to think,"

"I'm sorry..." Tomas hesitated, "but will you consider it? I think this plan could work. If you could just distract Silthus long enough, I'll find a way to get rid of Errik and Veretta. Then we could..."

"GET OUT," Ace glared at him sharply.

Tomas swallowed uneasily and turned to the door. He closed it slowly leaving Ace behind. Yona was waiting on the other side. Tomas gave a tense nod. He and Yona descended to the garden and sat on one of the wooden benches outside. It was a warm night, glittering with stars. A night bird was singing a lonely song just beyond the dark horizon.

"Do you think he will agree?" Tomas asked quietly.

"Well, he did not kill you which means he is considering it," Yona replied.

Tomas let out a chuckle, "I guess that's better than nothing. This is the only way I can think of to save both Veretta and us, but if he refuses I don't know what we can do. He seemed really...angry,"

"What you saw was not anger," Yona stated calmly, "My master rarely succumbs to anger. He will weigh out the merits of the plan and make the right decision,"

"You have a lot of faith in him," Tomas observed, "because he raised you?"

"He did not just raise me," Yona answered, "He saved my life. When I was a child, my father was killed in battle. My mother had no interest in raising me so I was left to wander the demon world. The master took me in and brought me to the human world,"

"So the demon world, it's real?" Tomas glanced over at her apprehensively.

"Yes, but it is gone now," Yona replied quietly. "It was destroyed,"

"So the only demons left are you and your master?" Tomas asked.

"I cannot say. Demons have contrived for some time to cross into the human world. The most powerful among the demon world had the ability to cross between realms. Some may have survived,"

"Powerful demons...like your master. But the way he was described in Errik's journal, the black wizard said he was weak for giving in to the darkness and becoming a demon," Tomas said thoughtfully.

"The black wizard was wrong," Yona smiled, "my master is the strongest person alive. If only you knew Tomas, you would see what kind of person he is,"

"I'm not sure i like what i've seen so far," Tomas confessed.

"I hope you will see the otherside of him as well one day,"

Just as yona said the words, her eyes narrowed ahead and she stood up.

"Tomas, look," she pointed down the eastern slope of the garden.

Cutting across the hillside, there was a light passing through the trees. Tomas stood to look over as well. He looked to Yona hesitantly.

"Who is that?" he asked.

"I don't know," she answered apprehensively.

They both started towards the edge of the garden to meet the oncoming light. The came around the front of the manner just as two figures followed behind the light of a lantern.

"Tomas!" Veretta cried.

She ran towards him and threw her arms around his neck. Tomas stared down started. She looked up at him with tears in her eyes.

"I know you're angry with me," Veretta cried, "but please, you have to come back with us! You can't stay here, it's dangerous,"

Behind her, Errik was standing with his arms crossed impatiently, "Come on, Tomas. Let's go," he said gruffly.

Tomas' eyes widened, "you can be here," he breathed uneasily, "you have to go right now!"

"What are you talking about?" Veretta shook her head, "I know you're angry but just listen, Tomas. We can work this out together,"

"No, I'm serious, Veretta," Tomas glanced back at Yona apprehensive, "you and Errik need to leave right now!"

"Tomas, I..." Veretta stared at him uncomprehendingly, "what's going on?"

"Good question. What is going on, Tomas?" came the general's voice from behind.

Tomas swung around with trepidation. The general was standing with a dark smile in the doorway.

"Please invite them inside."