An overwhelming sense of dread seeped into V’s essence. His eyes shot open. Sun rays slanting through his windows illuminated his bare room. Ironic, considering the violent chill permeating throughout his body.

He leapt out of bed and yanked his door open. His amethyst necklace jostled as he locked eyes with Summer, who was in the room opposite to him.

“You felt it too?” she asked.

Trevor’s door flew open, and he bolted out of his room, sweating profusely. He gave a quick glance to V and Summer before turning his attention to the staircase at the end of the hall. “I’ll wake Pops.”

Connor appeared next to Summer wearing striped blue pajama bottoms and a plain white t-shirt, his sword resting on his back. “Why did you rush out of bed?” he asked, his eyes darting across the hallway. “Are we under attack?”

“I felt something,” she said. “I don’t really know what, but—”

There was a knock at the front door.

The presence standing outside their home evoked a sense of familiarity, similar to how V felt when his mother’s Ensolian form greeted him. “It’s La’el.”

Connor glared at him. “What? How do you know?”

Mr. Au exited his room with Trevor right behind him. “What’s going on?”

V started down the hall, ignoring their confused stares. “Stay up here. I’ll end this once and for all.”

“Everyone, grab your axes,” Connor said.

V dropped his head, sighing deeply. “Please, I—”

“Shut up,” Connor said, jogging toward the stairs.

“I’m serious. This isn’t—”

“Hush,” Summer said, tailing Connor with her large axe in hand.

Trevor and Mr. Au shared a perplexed look.

Seeing such a dangerous weapon wielded by someone wearing an oversized black t-shirt and bright pink running shorts was a bizarre sight. Even amidst such chaos, V stifled a smile.

He didn’t have enough time to develop a covert means of convincing them to stay out of this fight, so he gracefully accepted defeat by keeping quiet.

Just as everyone gathered in the foyer, a muffled voice spoke from behind the door.

“Let’s talk outside.”

Trevor rushed ahead, pulling the door wide open.

The sun assaulted V’s eyes, so he raised a hand to cover them. He heard the sounds of birds singing joyfully in the distance. The air was crisp, with a hint of earthiness from the nearby plants.

Despite this, V felt as if a hand was yanking him into a pit of despair.

A man with light-brown skin stood before them. He was rail thin. Long Black curls messily extended from the top of his head, and gray strands sprinkled his unkempt beard. His demeanor was poised, and he stood with his hands behind his back. A breeze blew by, ruffling his white loose-fitting flare sleeve shirt, and a folded, solid white bandana was wrapped around his forehead.

V gazing upon an older version of himself wasn’t what left him rigid with fear. He accepted this fact years ago. But, as he peered into La’el’s sunken brown eyes, he saw something he had never encountered before.

He saw nothing.

Overt evil paled in comparison to boundless emptiness.

La’el slightly turned his head to face Trevor. His eyes hardened. “I’m glad you all complied. We wouldn’t want to destroy such a beautiful home, now would we?”

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

“How did you find us?” Summer asked, tightly gripping her axe.

La’el’s glare remained on Trevor. “Aayan, though treacherous, was not a fool. He had someone put a tracker on your demon slayer’s car. We’ve been following him ever since. I thought it’d behoove me to check out this one particular stop he made, miles away from his home. But little did I know that I’d be meeting my liberator so soon. Agni, correct?”

“Fuck you,” Trevor said, steam rising from his fists.

V, having spent the entire time dumbfounded, finally mustered enough courage to speak. “My mother told me you used to be kind. How can you justify what you’ve done?”

La’el’s eyes jumped to V. “Your mother?” He expressed genuine shock for a brief moment before settling back into a look of indifference. “I see. So, she actually bred with one of them.”

“Enough!” Mr. Au snapped. He was trembling with rage. “Get out of my son’s body!”

“You’re telling me that my foolish sister chose you as a mate? What could she have possibly seen?”

“Say another bad thing about my wife. I dare you.”

La’el remained unmoved. “Bold. No matter, I guess thanks are in order. You did provide me with a worthy enough vessel.”

His arrogance was palpable, and his words were dripping with disdain. V was in the presence of someone who knew he could slaughter them without breaking a sweat. They were nothing more than ants scurrying about.

They flinched as La’el positioned his arms to his sides. “Nephew, what is your name?”

V clenched his fists. He had envisioned his fight against La’el time and time again, but as he stood before him, he realized that they were nothing more than childish daydreams.

It became evident that his increased empathic ability was a detriment in this case. La’el’s emotions—or rather lack thereof—were acting as a vacuum, swallowing V’s spirit piece by piece.

“It’s rude to ignore your elders,” La’el added.

V’s father raised his axe. “His name is Victor Au, the man who will defeat you.”

Connor unsheathed his sword. Its steel edge glistened as he pointed it at La’el. “With the help of his family.”

V was moved by their unwavering determination. They weren’t the least bit intimidated.

La’el gave V a smirk. “Victor, you appear to have a strong bond with these humans. A mistake. Allow me to liberate you.” His face dropped as he glared at Trevor. “As Agni did for me.”

In an instant, La’el appeared behind Trevor with a raised fist. He punched through his torso, painting the surrounding grass with blood. La’el quickly pulled his hand back, allowing for Trevor’s body to collapse onto the ground.

With his clothes soaked in blood, La’el stood motionless above Trevor’s corpse. “It’s best that I rip this bandage off quickly.”

“Oh no,” Mr. Au said. He grabbed V’s arm. “Run!”

V, stunned by Trevor’s speedy demise, blindly complied. Connor sheathed his sword and took a few hesitant steps before breaking into a full sprint.

V eventually came to. “Wait!” he said, dazed and in a panic. “We can’t just leave Summer behind!”

His father increased his pace as they headed toward the nearby shed. “She’s who we’re running from!”

Towering clouds materialized above. The sky gradually darkened, taking on a deep purplish color as a booming crack of thunder sounded overhead.

Summer dropped to her knees, shock and anguish distorting her face as she looked upon Trevor’s body. Her eyes glowed white. A series of lightning strikes fell from the sky, setting ablaze several pockets of grass.

La’el gracefully dodged each bolt, dancing toward Summer. Once he reached her, he extended a bloody hand.

He lifted her by her neck and squeezed.

The clouds dissipated, and the sky returned to its original color. He tossed her corpse aside—Trevor’s blood coating her neck with crimson.

In only a few seconds, La’el had ripped away a chunk of V’s heart.

His eyes jumped to Connor.

Sorrow consumed his friend for only a moment before Connor retreated within himself. His aura rapidly expanded. A colossal set of wings protruded from his back. V was left awestruck, for they were blindingly white and intricately detailed, having a feathered appearance despite being immaterial.

Connor unsheathed his sword and took flight, dashing toward La’el without uttering a single word. V and his father covered their eyes as Connor’s charge left behind a violent gust of wind.

V took a deep breath and entered his angel mode, momentarily pushing his impending despair to the side.

It was now or never.

He sped past Connor, aiming a fist at La’el’s blood dotted cheek.

La’el abruptly appeared before him, stopping V in his tracks. His movements so fast they were almost indistinguishable from teleportation.

La’el grabbed V’s left arm. “It’s almost over. Stay put,” he said before effortlessly snapping it like a twig.

Pain shot throughout V’s arm. He let out a piercing shriek and collapsed, writhing on the grass.

His screams ebbed into gritted teeth as he watched Connor soar through the air with his sword in hand, swinging at La’el with practiced ease. La’el dodged each attempt with such precision that they appeared to be performing a choreographed dance.

V tried to stand, but the pain disrupted his sense of balance. He stumbled and fell, landing on his broken arm. A blinding heat afflicted the left side of his body. Tears stung his eyes as he held in a scream.

Connor kept swinging at his target, each attempt wilder than the last. In contrast, La’el became significantly more exact, ducking and weaving with ease. Connor put his all into flying thrust. La’el dodged with a slight head tilt as he snatched away Connor’s sword.

He grabbed Connor by his shirt, his wings rapidly fluttering as La’el thrust the sword through his chest.

All V could do was watch. His wounds ran too deep.

La’el dropped the sword next to Connor’s motionless body. He turned his attention back to V, who let his tears of anguish flow.

I couldn’t even touch him, V thought. It’s over.

Connor crawled his way toward Summer’s corpse, leaving behind a bloody streak.

Connor. Everyone. I’m so sorry.

V heard footsteps approaching from behind.

His father stood between V and the demon before them. His breathing was labored, his axe head gleamed. “I don’t have the cardio that I used to. I’m sorry, Victor.”

“Dad…”

“Just focus on me,” he said, still facing La’el. “This fight isn’t over yet.”

V used his right hand to wipe away his tears. “Why didn’t you run? Please… I can’t lose anyone else. Maybe if I plead with him, he’ll—”

“Enough of that. Never compromise with evil.”

La’el paced toward them with his hands in his pockets, stone-faced and covered in blood. “Nephew, I understand your pain. I also wept after finding the smoldering remains of someone I thought I held dear. But eventually, that sadness evolved into clarity. Jai would have inevitably shown his true self. Humans are a wicked race, who periodically wear benevolence like a mask. Some keep their masks on for weeks, months, or even years. But ultimately, they all reveal themselves.”

V’s father tightened the grip on his axe. “Nothing but the rantings of a lunatic in pain. Get the fuck away from my son!”

“You can’t beat me,” La’el said. “Why do you still fight?”

V’s dad turned to his son while presenting a warm smile. “A parent’s biggest fear isn’t failing to protect their family; it’s not getting the opportunity to even try.”

“Drivel,” La’el said flatly.

“This isn’t the end,” his father said. “I love you.” He lifted his axe and sprinted toward La’el.

V closed his eyes and begged to anyone who would listen. Please, I can’t take anymore.

When he opened his eyes to his father’s body lying on the grass—blood staining the back of his shirt—he lost himself.

There were no more tears to give.

The world turned gray. His body felt hollow.

La’el walked up to V, peering down at him. “Agni freed me of Jai’s spell, as I have for you. Never forget that you’re an Ensolian first. Once you’ve healed, meet me at St. James. We’ll rid earth of this infestation, together.”

V blankly stared into La’el’s eyes while clasping his amethyst pendant.