To say the recent events had been rather odd was an understatement in Mattos’ mind.

Here he was on an island, a stronghold disguised as a holiday villa, with a Valkyrie, her mildly crazy daughter, a girl that could talk to ghosts and turn trees into energy weapons, a sorcerer who had a smart alec reply for everything and a famous exorcist who seemed to hate conversing with anybody.

They had just fought the most powerful and evil being known to humankind.

And won.

What had started out as a journey to seek help and knowledge to free his home had led Mattos to these people. A team he couldn’t have imagined in his wildest dreams, not least because the Valkyries were the ones who had sealed and disappeared his home city from existence.

It was time to ask for answers and find out what had really happened to Alpinheim, but the Valkyrie seemed evasive any time anyone asked her anything.

During his ruminations, Xellie had joined him quietly on the wooden picnic tables outside the stronghold. He hadn’t seen her slip into the seat, so she could have been there for a long time.

“Somehow, the idea of going back to Alpinheim is making me nervous,” Mattos admitted hesitantly.

“I... I know...” Xellie replied, twiddling her thumbs on the table. “I thought taking out the big guy would be the scariest thing ever, and it was... but I can’t help feeling something even worse is waiting.”

“Because he gave up, maybe? Or is that some Valkyrie talk you’ve got going there?”

Xellie visibly baulked at Mattos' comment, the colour draining from her face as she remembered the previous nightmares about Alpinheim.

Mattos sighed, resting his head in his hand, drumming his fingers against his temple.

“Hey.” Xellie tapped loudly on the table to get Mattos’ attention. “It’s not Valkyrie hocus pocus. Any of them would be glad for you to die in battle.”

Mattos shot her a side glance in irritation.

“Not funny.”

“Well, I’m not joking. They like that stuff.”

That evening, after a barbeque on the grounds of the stronghold, the group sat together in the fading sunlight discussing their next move.

The plan was to go to Mattos’ hometown, Alpinheim, and clear it of the demonic presence that currently occupied it. As soon as they mentioned the town, Raye appeared before them, shaking her swanlike wings into dust before taking a seat with the group.

“Were you making plans without me?” She asked, her tone stern as ever.

“You always show up, anyway.” Grau retorted.

Raye just rolled her eyes in response.

“Anyway....” Xellie looked at Raye and Grau as if a war were about to break out between them and she would have to leap in to stop it. “Since you’re here... Raye could you explain to us what we’re up against exactly?”

“I’m unaware of the level of knowledge you have collectively, so let me explain. Demons draw on power from their dark dimension. In order to do this, they need to have an open portal. This means that they can only operate at full power within a certain radius of the portal. If they go too far, no power. Alpinheim happens to be situated on an ancient portal that the demons reopened.” Raye looked at Mattos for confirmation of what she was saying. “There is a shrine in the middle of the city. That is the portal. Ashmeviti’s minions were opening the portal so that his reach would have spread most of the way across the continent.”

This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

“I know where that is,” Mattos confirmed.

“Liberating the city will require multiple actions. First of all, closing off the portal, something which Grau does quite often.”

Grau sighed contemptuously when Raye said his name. Raye continued to talk, ignoring Grau’s reaction.

“Secondly, cleaning up the lesser demons that are roaming the city, nothing that you’re not used to. Following that, we would need to establish an exorcism spell to rescue the Humans that have been possessed. The final task would be to assess any hybrid demon-human children to see if their souls can be cleansed.”

“And what if they can’t?” Mattos asked, jumping to his feet and slamming his hands on the table.

“Well I am sorry, but they couldn’t possibly be allowed to roam the lands. The existence of a hybrid is a tortuous one that can only end in heartbreak and disaster.”

Raye’s tone was not sympathetic at all. She sounded bored and indifferent to the actions she was suggesting.

“Are... Are these hybrids... children?” Xellie questioned, whilst indicating to Mattos to sit back down, who did so grudgingly.

“The barrier has been up for three years, so yes, they will be infants... There is no other way.” Raye added as the reality of the situation began to sink into the group.

A few minutes of silence passed until it was broken by Xellie.

“Is there really no other way?”

Raye shook her head.

“I understand this is going to be difficult for you - I will not ask you for help in dealing with the hybrid children.”

“What about the mothers?” Mattos said, his voice quiet and angry. “Will they have to watch their children being murdered?”

If Raye had any feelings about Mattos' emotional response, she wasn't revealing it.

“We can deal with that. One of my colleagues will be working to make sure there is no memory of Valkyrie presence or demonic children.”

“You really don’t understand, do you?” Mattos stood up and slammed his fist into the table.

Raye raised an eyebrow.

“I am certain that I’m not the one who doesn’t understand.”

“Then make me understand!”

“As these children grow, so will the demonic part of their soul, which will eventually consume them. They will go from normal human children to soul-consuming, violent beings... most likely against their will at first.”

“Can’t we just take the demon part out? Like purify them or exorcise them or something?” Xellie suggested, gesturing to Mattos to sit down once more.

“Sure. If you want them to wander through life with half a soul.”

“That doesn’t bear thinking about...” Said Grau with a shudder.

Noting Grau’s reaction to Raye, Xellie realised Raye would probably do whatever she wanted, regardless of the group’s reaction to it.

“I guess we have no choice but to trust your judgement.” Xellie gazed around the table at her companions. “Are we all ready to head there tomorrow?”

A series of nods answered her question.

“I will transport you there. It is at least a week by foot otherwise.” Raye said, before adding much to Xellie’s displeasure. “I will also collect Niko to join us for this battle.”

“I’d prefer it if he wasn’t involved,” Xellie replied curtly, causing Raye to stand up and grab her by the shoulder.

“Come here,” Raye demanded, pulling Xellie inside the stronghold and pushing the door up.

“You are being stupidly selfish. If you’re going to do this, you have to realise when you need help. Put your ego aside or you’re going to get yourself and your whole group killed.”

A bit taken aback by Raye’s sudden admonishment, Xellie opened her mouth to argue back, before clenching her fists to stop herself.

“There will be times when you find it necessary to put yourself in extra danger to achieve your goals, and that is acceptable, but to do so to others purely for the sake of your pride is not.”

“I guess.” Xellie hung her head in shame as she took in Raye’s words.