CHAPTER 240

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[Emily Walker POV]

At times, I hated being a kid.

I wasn't blind, I could see Dad worrying like never before, and just like always, I was nothing but baggage.

If I only were older, I could help him, if I only were older, he would confide in me.

I knew it was silly to think like this, but it pained me seeing him like that. Pretending everything was okay just for me and Nat, smiling to avoid worrying anyone around.

It made my heart ache, because I knew he was suffering, and I couldn't do anything about it.

"Em, are you okay?" Vest asked in a soft tone.

"I.. I am," I nodded, giving her a weak smile.

"Don't lie," Vest smiled, giving me a hug, "You can count on me, for anything."

I smiled, it was uncanny really, she had this presence that made me feel, okay, no matter the situation, "I'm worried about dad," I sighed, "I know something is coming, I can see it on his face, and I… I feel useless, I wish there was something I could do to help him, anything."

Vest smiled, giving me a warm look, "You being safe, it's all he needs, but I understand the sentiment."

"I know," I nodded, petting Goose as she came to the room purring in an attempt to cheer me up, "But, I don't want to be safe, I mean, I don't want to be safe if that means Daddy will have to face everything alone."

"A valiant sentiment," Vest smiled, offering Goose a treat, "But you have to understand, there is a time for everything. There will be a time where you will be able to help him in many ways, it's a part of growing up, leaving your parents' wings to fly right beside them."

I liked the sound of that, flying beside Dad, "I hope that time comes soon."

"Don't, you should be enjoying your time as a child," Vest chuckled.

"You talk as if you were older than me," I replied, rolling my eyes.

"I am," Vest winked.

"A few months at best," I chuckled.

"Older is older," Vest chuckled back.

Enjoying my childhood, that sounds sweet and all, but I would trade all of it just to help Dad, I know Nat would too.

As I mused over that thought, the entire room went dark, leaving me and Vest sitting on the floor, as Goose started to hiss in a mix of fear and anticipation.

"What happened?" I muttered, creating a ball of light with eldritch magic, only for it to be immediately destroyed by an unknown force.

"You are his, aren't you?" A mysterious voice whispered behind my ear, freezing me on the spot. The voice was deep and husky, having low tones that scraped like nails on a blackboard. 

"Who are you?" I managed to ask, shaking, not out of fear, but cold, unbearable cold.

The voice chuckled, and for a moment, I felt as if something was moving around the room.

I gave Vest a look, who unbeknownst to me had grabbed my hand, realizing I had to save her, she had no play in this.

"Right now? Nothing but a shade, biding my time, as the seal wears down, but once upon a time child, I was the King of Old, The Embodiment of Darkness, The Lord of the Abyss," The voice began, whispering, sounding thin and pained. And little by little, what had started as a whisper rose to a scream so high I had to cover my ears in pain, "I AM KNULL THE KING IN BLACK!! And your father will learn what it means to oppose me! So child, hope not ever to see Heaven. For I have come to lead you to the other shore; into eternal darkness; into fire and into ice."

As the monster screamed, I could feel something forming in front of me, I couldn't see it, but I didn't need to see it, to know what it was, a weapon, an instrument to end me.

I refused to end like this.

"Vest behind me!" I shouted, starting to create a shield around me with Eldritch magic, using all of my power to fuel it, however, before that came to happen, Vest took a step forward, her hand stretching into the darkness, grabbing a hold of something, as a dark look dawned upon her face. "Vest?" I muttered in shock.

For a second or two, she said nothing, simply staring into the darkness with a look I had never seen on her face before. After a moment, she smiled, turning to face me, "Don't worry, everything will be alright." 

Before I could ask what she meant by that, she turned to face the darkness once again, and with a tone devoid of any emotion, she spoke in a language I had never heard before, "Δεν θα πειράξεις τον δαίμονά της, και αν προσπαθήσετε ξανά, θα σας εξοντώσω προσωπικά." Soon after she said that, a high pitched scream of agony was heard, as the darkness around us dissolved like a mist, soon enough, returning things to normal.

"What was that?" I asked, staring into Vest.

"A message," Vest smiled, turning around to face me, "Now, if you don't mind, can we keep this a secret between us? Pretty please?"

"I have to tell dad about the attack," I replied.

"I know, I apologize for my bad wording, what I meant to ask was, to just… leave out my part, if possible, of course, if you don't, I won't hold it against you," Vest requested with a bright smile, to which I nodded.

She was strong, I could see it now, with but a touch of her hands, she had vanquished whatever had infiltrated my room with shocking ease. So for the moment, I would compromise as best as I could, she had saved my life, after all, so I would try to avoid telling anyone what she did, but if Dad asked, I would not lie.

"I will, but if Dad asks how in too much detail, I will tell the truth," I replied, hoping that she didn't get mad, she was my friend, and friends kept secrets, but I didn't like the idea of lying to my father, not a little bit.

"It's okay, you are a good child, as you should," Vest smiled, giving me a hug, "Like I said, I won't hold it against you, not a single bit."

I smiled, letting out a breath of relief I didn't know I had been holding, "I will try my best to not say it though."

"That's all I ask," Vest nodded.

"But… how did you do that?" I asked, tilting my head.

"One day, I'll show you," Vest winked, her reply making me pout, if I had that power, I could actually be of use for a change, "Don't pout, I truly mean it, one day, I'll show you."

"Thanks for saving me," I sighed, giving her a small smile.

"No need to," Vest replied, kneeling to give the terrified Goose another treat to calm her nerves.