Embrace of the Demon's Thirst

Please, Mr. Nice, you have to," Elena stammered, her words betraying her weakened state. "You have to put an end to all this," she continued, crawling towards Damien.

"I can't, princess, and I won't," Damien said, refusing her pleas.

The demons retreated, falling back to join Cassius and Sebastian. Cassius slowly walked towards Damien, a smirk playing on his lips. "Are you scared, brother?" he taunted with a smile. "I mean, you should be. Scared to become the brother we knew—bloodthirsty, Reaper, a ruthless killer who strikes with no mercy." Cassius's voice filled the area, his devilish smirk lingering as he returned to Sebastian's side.

Elena finally reached Damien, grasping his leg as she rested her back against a nearby tree. "You have to do it now, Mr. Nice," she pestered, determined in her decision, but Damien remained adamant in his refusal.

The weakened state of Damien and Elena brought a spark of pleasure to Sebastian and Cassius, who reveled in their adversaries' vulnerability. Sebastian cut in, his gaze shifting between Damien, Elena, and Leonidas. "You know what, brother? We're feeling merciful today. We'll let the old man live, and he can take that other guy with him. I must say, he put up a fun fight," Sebastian said, acknowledging Leonidas. "I'd love to feel such a challenge again, so I'm going to do him the mercy of letting him live for now, only to die by my hands later." Sebastian smirked, his eyes returning to Damien and Elena.

"But she and the old man's knights have to die, brother. I mean, she had her chance, but she chose death. So, I'm pretty sorry, brother. I should at least grant her wish. Besides, my demons need to feast, and what could be better than a feast that's willingly walked right up to us?" Sebastian said, his tone cold and calculating.

Damien managed to stand up after regenerating his legs and healing his wounds. "Let them all go, brother. All you want is me, not them," he insisted, his voice wavering despite his determination.

Sebastian scoffed, mocking Damien's weak state. "You're no match against us, brother. I mean, you're just unexpectedly weak, so weak..."

As Sebastian continued to taunt Damien, he suddenly lunged forward, aiming for Sebastian with swift speed. However, Sebastian proved to be faster, dodging Damien's attack and mutilating his left hand. Damien fell to the ground, wounded and in pain.

"Just give up, brother. Just relax. I shall put you out of your misery soon by ending your life, but first, I've got to take care of this," Sebastian said, his words laced with mockery as he turned his attention back to the demons.

Despite his weakened state, Damien stood up once more, his anger and determination fueling his resolve. Managing to regrow his left arm, he hesitated for a moment before attempting to strike Sebastian again. This time, Elena grasped onto his leg, her voice a mere whisper.

"There is no time, Mr. Nice. My dad, his men—all their lives are in danger. You have to save them, please..." Her hand fell, releasing her grasp on Damien's leg as she slumped to the ground, close to losing consciousness.

Damien gently grabbed Elena, helping her lean against the tree as her eyes fluttered open. "Do it now, Mr. Nice," she urged weakly.

Damien struggled with the decision. He feared his instinct and craving for blood, a thirst he wished to extinguish, but he knew he was no match against his brothers, especially in such a weakened state. He could probably handle a human or a regular demon, but not his brothers, who were much stronger and faster.

Meanwhile, Sebastian was busy discussing his devilish plot of ruling and killing with the gathered demons. Cassius interrupted him, shock evident in his eyes. "Brother," he said, prompting Sebastian to slowly turn his gaze in the direction Cassius was pointing. They witnessed Damien, his fangs slowly emerging as he grasped Elena's wrist.

"Hey, what are you doing? Don't you dare! I'm going to kill you all!" Cedric interrupted, his furious eyes watching his daughter fall prey to a demon's thirst. Despite the intense pain and bleeding, he grabbed his sword, only for his legs to betray him as he collapsed back to the ground.

Leonidas felt the urge to intervene as well, but he was too weak, lying on the dusty ground, wounded, and temporarily paralyzed. Adrian arrived, his gaze sweeping across the dismembered bodies and wounded knights. "What happened here?" he whispered.

Adrian's attention soon focused on Elena, with Damien by her side, slowly consuming her blood. He shouted, "Elena!" in fury, his sword held high. He rushed toward her, intent on saving her, but as he ran, he heard Cedric's faint voice warning, "Don't, Prince Adrian. He is—"

Adrian's determination to save Elena persisted. "I will save you, Elena. I have to," he whispered to himself.

Sebastian watched the scene with mild curiosity. "Now, who is that weakling?" he asked, his voice tinged with amusement. All eyes turned to Adrian as he reached forth to help Elena, his gaze fixated on Damien's fangs sinking into her wrist, draining her blood.

"Die, you demon!" Adrian shouted, his sword slicing through the air, only to find no sign of Damien anymore. His hands trembled. "This is no time to fear. I have to kill him," he thought to himself, scanning the area as Damien suddenly appeared behind him.

"And who are you?" Damien whispered, causing Adrian to turn, only to crash to the ground. Damien's eyes darkened, embers igniting within them as they transformed into a deep, fiery red, glowing with otherworldly intensity.