[60.5] Priscilla POV: Achlamydeous

Felix gave my forehead a kiss before leaving. Once everyone left for the parade, I walked down the abandoned halls thinking to myself.

How should I find the demon? Place flowers in every room to spy on them?

But most of the people won't be the demon so I will be disturbing their privacy…

If it's for the betterment of everyone, surely they wouldn't mind?

Ugh!

What should I do?!

Oh wait! I know!

I can just hide in the annex and wait for the person to show themself!

Then I will be able to-

Suddenly a powerful light blasted through the building, burning my eyes and shattering the glass. I fell to the ground with a scream as the house's protective barrier was activated and shielded itself from the blast.

Once it was over, I ran to the window and looked at the direction it had come in.

Wasn't that from where the parade was at?!

There's a bunch of smoke in that direction!!

Something really BAD happened!!!

What if Felix-

I ran to my room and grabbed the Holy Blade from the dresser drawer.

The demons have to be attacking!

That fortune teller was right!

In order to save myself and everyone else, I have to do this.

I have to take out that demon and save this Kingdom!

I took a deep breath as I held the blade, "I can do this. I can. If I couldn't, then that fortune teller would never have trusted me with this."

I hid in the entrance behind a statue, watching the opening closely.

Since it's forbidden, no one would come to this annex unless it's the demon.

I waited for hours without anyone arriving, but my patience was rewarded.

The door swung open and in walked-

I stepped out of my hiding spot with wide eyes, "I-It's you… You're the demon."

"Priscilla? Wha-What are you doing here?!"

"You… You've been lying to me…"

"You're not allowed-"

"How long!?" I screamed, "How long have you been lying?!"

"Priscilla. Take a deep breath. Don't panic. I'm still your-"

I shook my head, "No. I don't know you."

"Priscilla… Don't say that. I'm your-"

Footsteps walked towards me as I stepped back in fear. The footsteps hesitated for a moment before approaching slowly. I whimpered, "S-Stay away from me."

"Now isn't the time for this. I have to get you out of here. You're not safe. I have to-"

I stabbed the blade without thinking, wincing as I felt it enter his stomach.

An awful scream screeched through the air as light and ominous black smoke poured out of the wound. The smoke took the shape of multiple hands of various sizes, all of which grabbed my throat and held me up.

As I raised up in the air, I kicked my feet desperately.

I…

I missed.

I looked in fear down at those orange eyes. My breath was stolen by the fear and the hands around my throat.

A monster stared back at me, having the head of a wolf, a bear, and a hawk.

From that wound in his stomach, thousands of screams echoed in that dark abyss that was flowing into my body like a rush of water into a tiny spring.

There were so many screams.

So many people in agony.

They were all begging me for help.

Pleading with me to set them free.

As my eyes stared into that abyss without being able to pull away, all the energy started to reverse from my body and flow back into that wound.

I could feel my body drying up as tears rolled down my cheeks.

I don't want to die.

I don't.

But…

But I'm going to…

I slowly raised my hand with wrinkles appearing as I did.

I pointed to the family portrait in the hall and with the last of my energy…

I created one last flower.

___…___

[Author's note: This part of the chapter isn't from anyone's perspective.]

As his large hand caressed her neck, she could only stand there frozen.

Staring into the eyes of the man she had grown up beside.

Hands made out of shadows clutched her throat, raising her into the air.

As striking pain rippled through her body, she weakly raised her hand to point at a single portrait.

With her final energy, petals started to bloom on the portrait while the owner became a wilted flower.

The corrupted flower that had hopelessly clung to the blooming one slowly recovered due to the new energy. When he saw what he had done, he cried out in horror. Clinging to her corpse, he funneled all his energy into healing her.

However, the wilted flower never bloomed again.

And the corrupted flower that desperately wanted to remain beside her…

Would never get the chance to watch her bloom.