“There is no good and evil, there is only power and those too weak to seek it.”

― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

“If only it were all so simple! If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being. And who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart?”

― Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, The Gulag Archipelago 1918–1956

For the next two days and nights Tabitha and the others proceeded to plan their way into the cave beneath a hill, while avoiding the attentions of the royal guards patrolling the royal family’s hunting lodge. In their human forms using a combination of stealth and invisibility magic. They studied the guards patrol routes and schedules, allowing them to map out a path to the hill without being seen. In the middle of the day, Tabitha laid out her plan in their hotel room. Everyone was in attendance, and all gave Tabitha their full attention.

“Okay, thanks to all our reconnaissance. We have a working plan to get to the cave underneath the hill passed all those patrols.”

There was a sketch drawing of the hill, garrison, and hunting lodge. As well as the times and patrol routes of all the guards flat on a small coffee table at the center of the group. Tabitha pointed a finger on the drawing of the hill.

“The cave beneath the hill is our objective, nothing else matters. This is our primary objective. Lydia and Nanina know how to get into the cave. We move tonight at midnight; you all know why. We have stayed here long enough.”

“Yeah, those Romantian soldiers and Arthurian knights are searching for us all over the place. Gals, I think we have worn out our welcome.”

Balca said jumping up and down on the bed, it was quite bouncy, and the she-demon has been doing this for the past five minutes. Everyone was so use to Balca’s strange behavior, it was second nature to ignore them.

“The priest we met at that church is with them. Although we are in human disguises, if he recognizes one of us. It might mean trouble.”

Kasca stated and Tabitha nodded in agreement.

“That is why we will be staying in until midnight. We are almost there, let us not tempt fate.”

“Agreed.”

Nanina said and continued.

“We have waited for thousands of years.”

Then she shrugged.

“A few more hours will not make a difference. Everyone here is immortal after all.”

“Yes, this is a good plan. We move at the cover of night. The best part there is no moon tonight, the darkness shall aid us greatly.”

Malice said demurely as she took a sip of her tea. Tabitha found out yesterday that the succubus enjoyed the flavor of all kinds of tea. Something not common in the Nether Realm, Tabitha had to admit. Malice’s flavor of tea was quite good, she too enjoyed a cup or two. Just as Tabitha was about to say something else, there was a few knocks on their hotel door. Tabitha quickly looked in that direction, using her x-ray vision to see throw the door. What she saw did not please her at all. On the other side of that door were a group of people Tabitha had hoped to avoid.

“We have company of the holy kind. Everyone take your positions.”

Immediately, all the women sat in chairs around the coffee table. Tabitha took the sketched map and tucked it in the bodice of her brown and green dress. The women took up their quills and knitting needles and placed a tea set on the coffee table. With everything set, Tabitha finally opened the door.

“Yes, how may I help you?”

Tabitha asked in her most innocent voice, before she widen her eyes in pretend shock. At the threshold of her doorway was a man with a scar on his forehead wearing gold and white robes with the insignia of a sun and sword through it. The mark of the Holy Church of Romanto on his left breast, and two other soldiers of the same church stood on either side of the man. Then Tabitha shifted her gaze to the knight in silver and grey armor with a broad sword at his hip and a shield on his back. The helmet he wore was shaped like a bucket, but his visor was up, and she could see his brown eyes. Tabitha could see the knight’s black hair from underneath his helmet too. The knight stood between two of Camelot’s royal guards.

But it was not the Romantians or the Arthurians that garnered most of Tabitha’s attention. It was the woman and man standing at the rear of the group. These people stood head and shoulders above the rest, the man and woman stood 7-feet tall. The man was handsome, with curly brown hair and a ponytail. He wore black leather and chainmail armor; he had a sword and dagger strapped to his belt along with other items. In fact, to Tabitha it looked like batman’s utility belt from the DC comics. He was a warrior, he not only looked it. You could feel it. He stood behind the woman who Tabitha could tell was his commander.

The woman was stunning, with short blond hair and the most incredibly beautiful emerald, green eyes Tabitha had ever seen. She wore a full set of cobalt, blue-plated armor, and a gladius sheathed at her side and a round shield on her back. You could tell that she too was a warrior, they both are warriors. Not only that, but Tabitha could smell something familiar yet foreign from the pair. The scent was both sweet like polished metal and leather, coupled with the smell of pine and spring water. I feel like I have smelled these scents before, Tabitha thought before she said.

“Is something wrong?”

Tabitha had to put her acting skills to the test, she had to pretend to be alarmed at the sight of so many armed people at her door. The man in the gold and white robes who Tabitha assumes to be some kind of high-level priest in the church’s organization bowed to her and said.

“Excuse the interruption my lady, my comrades and I are just doing a search of the area for…strange or out of the ordinary people. May we enter your room? I assure you it shall not take long.”

Tabitha did not hesitate for one second, she stepped aside and waved her hand invitingly.

“Please, come in. The ladies and I were just having afternoon tea and catching up on our knitting. Feel free to look around and ask us any questions.”

“Splendid. Not to worry, we will be quick and not hold up your time.”

The man said as he and the others walked past Tabitha into the room. The girls sitting around the coffee table paused in their pretend knitting and looked at the intruders. While the Romantians, Arthurians, and the two tall people went around and did a quick search of the rooms, the man stood next to Tabitha and said.

“Forgive me, I failed to introduce myself. I am Bishop General Xander Zachery of the Holy Church of Romanto. My comrade who has graciously agreed to be our guide in Camelot is the First Knight, Sir Sloan Wayne.”

Again, Tabitha pretended to widen her eyes in surprise as she turned and curtsy to the First Knight. Who nodded his head in acknowledgement, but said nothing?

“Oh, I had no idea that Sir Wayne is the First Knight to the King. But what is going on?”

It was Sir Wayne who respond.

“We have been made aware of a threat to the city and are preforming searches in order to discover whoever it is that seeks Camelot’s destruction.”

“With that being said. Have you seen anything strange Ms.?”

The Bishop General asked Tabitha, watching her reactions a little too intently. Tabitha placed a hand on her cheek in thought or pretended before she said.

“The name is Tamika Sands, and none that I’ve been aware of, no.”

Giving her real name did not seem like a good idea but giving a name close to her own was much better. Tabitha learned long ago after living under Romantian rule for all her human life that when the authorities ask questions. It was always good to give them short and simple answers. The more you talk, the likely hood of the authorities catching you in a lie. Xander looked around the room before returning his attention to Tabitha and asking.

“I take it you are not a native of Camelot?”

Tabitha shook her head.

“No, this is my first time visiting the city.”

“Oh, where are you from?”

Xander asked the next question looking a bit too curious. Tabitha smiled, she and the others have already taken great pains to craft a story that would be believable. All thanks to Lydia and Nanina who are natives to Avalon, even if they had been imprisoned for thousands of years. The regions have not changed by much.

“We are from the Southern Region, from a village near the desert but closer to the forests of Dorinda.”

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“The Elven Nation?”

Sir Wayne questioned enthusiastically; Tabitha nodded.

“Yes indeed.”

“Why have you come to Camelot from so far away?”

The Bishop General asked his next question, and Tabitha knew this was an interrogation.

“I’ve never seen Camelot; I’ve only heard stories of the city. I wanted to see it for myself.”

“Is that all? You just wanted to sight see?”

The Bishop General sounded skeptical. Tabitha let out a lady like laugh, it was totally fake but believable.

“Oh no, I’ve been buying and selling cloth. Doing a little business while I’m here. The fabrics from Camelot will fetch me a small fortune back in the Southern Region.”

Again, Tabitha and the others came up with a plausible reason for coming to Camelot. With their magic, they were able to create clothing not seen in Camelot. Selling them and buying fabrics from the stores and earning a little profit on the side. It sells their story of being visitors from another land. And female merchants are more common than their male counterparts in Avalon. The Bishop General seems to buy Tabitha’s story because he said.

“I see, thank you for answering my questions. They may be intrusive but the danger to Camelot is real. Just a few moments longer, and we shall depart.”

Tabitha smiled and nodded to the Bishop General, who went off to converse with one of his fellow churchmen. Sir Wayne bowed to her and left to conduct his own investigation. Balca and Talin were speaking with one of the Romantian soldiers who looked both bewildered and confused. Malice and Zula were speaking with one of the royal guards. The man looked to be charmed by the two beautiful women, Tabitha did not blame him one bit. It also meant that the royal guard would not be thinking with the correct head to ask certain questions. Tabitha looked to where Kasca, Lydia, and Nanina were answering questions from one of the Romantians.

Through there link, Tabitha could tell that the twins were not pleased speaking with one of the Romantians. In fact, she could feel their hostility towards the churchmen. Tabitha could not blame them; she too had a hard time controlling her own emotions when speaking with Bishop General Zachery. But Tabitha had remained in character and the twins were doing the same. Kasca was more nonchalant, she seems to not care about the Romantians. Or maybe she just did not care much for humans in general. Is not that Kasca did not like humans, she just did not believe that humans were worth her time to feel anything about. Kasca like the twins answered the man’s question though.

Tabitha spotted the tall man and woman standing to the side of the room and watching with cautious eyes. As if studying the mannerism of everyone in the room, Tabitha made her way over to them. She found the pair interesting and wanted to know more about them.

“Hello.”

Tabitha said with a smile. The woman gave her a look as if sizing her up for a fight. Then she smiled and spoke.

“Greetings Ms. Sands. If you are here to complain about the interruption to your day. I assure you this was not my idea.”

Shaking her head Tabitha said.

“No, of course not. I know you have duties to perform. I was just wondering though.”

“And what might that be?”

The woman asked humoring Tabitha. The man was still watching the room, but Tabitha had a feeling he was listening to every bit of their conversation.

“You are not Romantian. So, where do you call home?”

The woman raised an eyebrow at Tabitha’s question and stared at her for a long moment. Then deciding Tabitha was serious, the woman said.

“No, we are not Romantians. We are Arcadians from the Shattered Lands to the northwest of here. Have you not met my kind before?”

As soon as the name Arcadians was spoken, memories of a life Tabitha had never lived came flooding into her mind. In them she saw thousands of warriors just as tall as the man and woman before her. They were armed with an assortment of weapons and wore armor of different makes. Tabitha saw them fighting against something black, no, it was more than that. It was a darkness so devouring that it threatened the world. A world not Avalon, the Arcadians were fighting this darkness on a different world. Their homeworld? But the memories disappeared just as soon as they had appeared, it was only a few seconds. So, the woman and man did not notice Tabitha’s pause when she replied.

“No, this is the first time I have met Arcadians. I’m from the Southern Region from a small town, but I have heard of your people. You are warriors, yet you serve the Romantians?”

The woman sighed, not in frustration but resigned to answering a question she has answered before.

“My people were conquered by the Romantians 300 years ago. My ancestors had to make a deal if our people were to survive. The Romantians would allow us to live and continue our society so long as we fight for them when called upon. My people agreed; it was the only way to save our people. And so, here I am.”

Tabitha sensed that there was more to the story, something the Arcadian woman did not want to go into detail about. She decided not to push it and said instead.

“I’m sorry to hear that. It must have been a difficult decision for your people. I’ll leave you alone, thank you for speaking with me.”

Tabitha nodded her head and walked away. Just then, the Bishop General declared that all was well, and the party left the hotel room. The Bishop General once again nodded to Tabitha and thanked her and her friends for their cooperation. As Tabitha closed the doors, Zula sighed in relief. But before she could say anything, Tabitha held up a hand signaling for her to remain silent. Zula obeyed and Tabitha listened for the sounds on the other side of the door. When the foot falls finally went silent. Tabitha turned to the others and said.

“We are leaving now.”

Talin looked surprise and confused.

“Why, what’s the matter?”

She asked fearing the answer. Tabitha snarled and said.

“Never trust a Romantian, there was another outside. Another Romantian priest, the one we left alive at that church we came in through the realm gate.”

Both Talin and Zula cursed, and Malice did not look pleased but shrugged as if to say, ‘what will be will be’. Balca scratched her head and spoke.

“That’s gratitude for ya. We spared that worthless priest’s life and he thanks us by leading the Fist of Romanto right to us.”

Everyone gave Balca a look.

“Wait a minute, what did you say? The Fist of Romanto, how did you know it was them?”

Nanina demanded looking at Balca in surprise. Balca waved her hand back and forth in dismissal.

“Remember what that fancy dressed Romantian said. He said he is a Bishop General and there is only one of those. And one organization that has them, the Fist of Romanto.”

Tabitha had to admit when prompted, Balca was a wealth of information. The only problem with that, Balca tends to spring useless information most of the time rather than important ones.

“That settles it, we leave now.”

Lydia agreed with Tabitha’s command, and so did everyone else.

………………………………..

Sandra was surprised at the look on priest Albedo’s face when they met further along down the hallway of the hotel. The priest had an expression of terror on his face, then he said as soon as he saw the Bishop General.

“The woman you spoke to at the door, she is the greater she-devil.”

Sandra blinked once showing her surprise, but no one was paying any attention to her.

“Are you certain?”

Xander demanded looking at the priest intently. Albedo nodded vigorously saying.

“Quite certain, I made sure to commit her magical aura to memory. I will never forget that diabolical evil presence for as long as I live.”

“Then if she is the greater she-devil, it means all the women in that room are her minions. Demons, and we don’t know how powerful they are. I must call for aid.”

“Already done Sir Wayne.”

Xander stated and just then a squad of Romantian soldiers appeared around the corner of the hallway. They were accompanied by several priests and Paladins of the Fist. Sandra was not surprised; the Bishop General had a squad nearby just in case. But Sandra did not feel that it was a good idea to start a battle with a she-devil in a building with innocent civilians.

“We should wait, and watch, sooner or later the she-devil will leave her hotel room. After all, she’s disguised as a human. She’s keeping a low profile; we should use that to our advantage. Follow her to a discrete location and take her there. That way not a lot of people will get hurt.”

“No.”

Xander flat out disagreed with Sandra’s suggestion.

“We must take her now, while she believes we are unaware of her true nature. Nothing matters except that we kill this greater she-devil. The fate of the world depends on our actions this very day.”

Xander was adamant about attacking the she-devil and her minions now. But Sir Sloan Wayne had a different opinion.

“I agree with your Arcadian War Leader. If we challenge the greater she-devil here now in a building full of innocent people. More than likely, the she-devil will destroy said building taking many lives. We know where she is, and like you said. She believes us unaware of her true nature. If she plans to destroy Camelot, then she would have to leave her room eventually. We shall follow, and then if the location suits us. We shall attack and take her down with minimal casualties to the populous.”

“No.”

Again, Xander was forceful, refusing the idea of waiting, following, and attacking the she-devil far away from the public.

“We have the advantage of surprise. We take her now.”

Sandra and Sir Wayne were about to argue with the Bishop General when the man turned and said to the Romantian soldier.

“Captain do your duty. Rush the room and dispatch the denizens of hell before they cause harm to our world.”

“Yes, Bishop General.”

The captain saluted and signal for his men to follow him. Why is it so important to kill the she-devil that Xander is willing to risk a fight here and now with the chances of innocent people getting caught up in the battle? Obviously, Sandra was not getting the whole picture. Again, she tried to argue with Xander. But before she could utter a word, the Bishop General snapped.

“Go with them. They’ll need back up. Remember the agreement your people have with the Holy Church of Romanto.”

Xander gave Sandra a penetrating gaze.

“Your people live so long as they serve Romanto. If you should refuse, then your people will suffer for your lack of obedience.”

Xander continued to stare at Sandra, and she knew a threat when she heard it. Sandra snarled at the Bishop General then spun around and drew her gladius. She followed the Romantian squad of soldiers with Cato right behind her. Sir Wayne watched everything and listened carefully, he made note of what he saw and heard. The King would be very interested to hear what he has learned. The Romantian soldiers broke through the door into Tabitha’s hotel room. They went in quickly with their weapons drawn and the priests were right behind them with holy spells ready to use. Sandra and Cato brought up the rear covering them. Xander waited with the priest Albedo, and the Arthurian knight and the royal guards, but after a while he heard nothing. Except for the Romantians and Arcadians moving in the room. There was no sound of battle, and then Sandra came back outside. She marched right up to Xander, stopped and spoke.

“It seems the greater she-devil was not as unaware as you had expected.”

“What do you mean?”

Xander demanded, he did not like where this was going. Sandra gave him a condescending smile.

“They’re gone. As soon as we left, they got out of here. I assume they must have used some type of teleportation magic. Either way she’s gone.”

Xander wanted to curse at the Arcadian woman, at his own men, and at fate for denying him a victory that would etch his name in the annals of Romantian history forever. But the priest Albedo said.

“I can track her.”

“What!?”

Xander whirled on the priest.

“Are you sure?”

Albedo nodded.

“Yes, now that I felt her aura again, I can find her if she is not too far away.”

“Do it, now.”

Xander snapped. Albedo closed his eyes and breathed deeply. Clearing his mind, he stretched out his senses magically, covering the entire city and the countryside searching for the aura of a she-devil. Albedo opened his eyes in a flash and stated.

“I’ve found her Bishop General.”

“Where is she priest Albedo?”

Xander demanded, he was eager to find the she-devil.

“Two miles to the east.”

Albedo said and Sir Wayne started.

“What did you say priest?”

Albedo looked at the knight in confusion and said again.

“Two miles to the east. She’s near the forest and I believe she is not alone.”

“That is where the royal family’s hunting lodge is located. And this is the perfect opportunity to bring our entire might to bare on the she-devil.”

“What do you mean Sir Wayne?”

Xander asked. The knight looked at him.

“I must contact the King and ask for the resources of Camelot to stop this creature. You gather the rest of your Romantians and Arcadians, we go to the King’s private hunting grounds.”