The Usurper

In a silent town in the borders of Lafta, two masked figures entered without any hassle. Kaden subtly glanced out from the hood looked at his friend. He looked okay. "Deric, you have to see a high priest…."

The man stopped immediately. "Priest, why would I need a priest?" Deric smiled cheerfully.

It was a smile unlike any before. Even Kaden was stunned slightly. "but….. you are not the same as you were…." He gripped his shoulders tightly. "I don't know who to explain this, but Deric, there is a demonic being inside of you. If you listen to him and act on their whims and fancies, it might lead you to danger,"

For which Deric chuckled loudly. "Kaden I think it sis you who should check with a healer. After fang's passing you have been acting crazy." He said casually and pulled the hood close to his face.

"Deric…. Believe me when I say this. You are possessed!!"

Deric's eyes suddenly changed, and a naughty smirk arose. "Oh little Kaden, you have got the guts to tell Deric now, huh? Let me tell you... if you speak another word to him about me…." The demonic Deric moved closer to his ear and gently tapped his cheeks. "I will just rip your dear friend's heart out and hand it to you."

"You wouldn't," Kaden growled, gripping his neck tightly.

The demonic being casually showed its palm. The nails that were neatly trimmed grew exponentially into claws. "Watch me~" the possessed man brought his hand closer to his chest.

"Wait! Wait!! Won't you lose your life as well if you do that?" Kaden gripped his hands tightly.

"Well, I can just find another body… but as for your friend, he will end up being a dead body. Is that what you want, little Kaden. To lose Deric too right after your dear fang," the devil wearing Deric's face smirked widely and pushed away his trembling hands. "Che… you humans are so easy to manipulate."

Kaden watched in fear as the possessed Deric walked over to the familiar jeweller shop deep in the market. 'no… he is going to the hideout. For what? What will this demonic being do?' he tightly clenched his pant legs.

As if sending his thought, the possessed Deric glanced back. "Oh, before I leave, let me tell you a secret. Your dear friend Deric is not as pure and innocent as you expect."

"What do you mean," he said stiffly.

"You will understand when the time comes."

The devil chuckled and all of a sudden the silent Deric was back. He glanced back at Kaden questionably. "What are doing out there? Let's go in before people notice us."

Kaden blankly followed, thinking back to the words the devil uttered to him. 'It is not true at all. Deric is not like that… he is kind and a good person…. But if so why are we back in Lafta?'

They both walked into the back door of the shop and into separate rooms.

Deric swiftly wrote a note and toed it to his raven's feet. It flew away into the distance. "Let's freshen up and meet with the others."

"hmm…' Kaden hesitantly left to his assigned room. He glanced out the window into the bustling streets with a slight frown.

The kingdom might seem peaceful, but in truth there were a few people and higher officials who are against the rule of Lijin. But their most powerful ally was the Aaorlin. After the attack on the young prince Erudite, the Aaorlin were considered an expendable good by Lijin and were sentenced to death.

Fang, who was taking care of the things in Lafta at that time, had saved them and reassigned roles for them.

Just the thought of his lover bought tears in his eyes. "We will avenge you, fang. We will…" he mumbled softly and got changed.

Walking out the room he heard vague conversations.

"We can do this as well."

"Having associations with them is not good,"

He heard a vague conversation as he walked through the hallway.

"No, I don't approve of it."

"I approve. This seems like a viable plan,"

The conversations got audible as he moved towards Deric's meeting room. He knocked on the door slightly, but there was no reply.

'Is he having a meeting here?'

He pushed the heavy door with his free hand, other holding the wall nearby. The door creaked, announcing his entry.

The room's occupants all turned the head simultaneously towards the creaking door.

"Ah, Kaden, you are awake. Come join us." Deric calmly showed the seat next to him. Hesitantly, Kaden walked over to his seat.

"Ehem," clearing his throat, "Please can someone sum up the meeting points?" he said in a hoarse voice.

"Kaden, talk some sense into him. He plans to infiltrate the castle," one of the Aaorlins said, glaring at him.

"Hey, there is no use glaring at him. His words are not going to change my decisions," Deric said leisurely, leaning against his chair.

"Deric this is not a good idea, you might die," Kaden said giving a worried glance at his friend.

"Ha-ha, so what? We live or die, it's not in our hands," he said with a very nonchalant attitude.

Leaning forwards on the table, he smirked at everyone and said, "Tomorrow we are going to infiltrate the castle,"

"And Lijin is going to die by my hands."