Turn A New Leaf

MICHAEL

I shivered at the touch of the cool air on my partly burnt skin. I and Levi sat opposite each other very close to the edge of the hill. Tears rolled down my cheeks as I regretted my decision.

''He tricked you to have total control over your body, soul, and mind. He can manipulate your mind to jump off this hill and you would do it without hesitation. He has you in the palm of his hands and does with you whatever he wants now. You trying to kill Nowel's little sister was not your doing, He made you do it.

Thankfully, I was there to prevent that before you do it and later regret it for the rest of your life. You owe me.''

I swallowed. Levi is right. What was I thinking? Trying to murder a nine-year-old? Things are getting out of control. What next? Does he turn me into his private killing machine?

''Why have you always been good to me? What's your gain or loss in this?''

Levi became astonished, ''Seriously? You still question me being good to you?''

I looked down. I should be ashamed of myself.

''Do you even know when someone is being good or evil to you?''

How would I know what is good when I grew up in violence, hatred, bullying, and all kinds of evil? No one could understand what I have been through since the day I was born. I was born in shame. I never knew who my real father was. The one I knew made my life a living Hell. He tormented me during those times and made sure to hide me from the world. He made me fear who I was and made me realize that I can never be loved or make friends.

He even tried to kill me so many times. My Mother was beheaded while trying to protect me. I shook my head bitterly as I remembered that faithful day. I tried blinking back the tears that were building up in my eyes.

My life is the perfect definition of...pain and misery.

''Shut up.''

''W-what?''

''Shut. that. rubbish you just used to describe your life.''

I gulped.

''You should never let what you have faced or gone through in the past decide who you are or get a negative reaction from you. You should make peace with your past to have a future. Don't be that person who idolizes his past and let it be the determining factor of who you should be in the present and the future.

You went through all those things not because of who you are. Those things can happen to you even if you are an angel, a saint, a full demon, a vampire, or a werewolf. Bad things can happen regardless of what we are. Any being or creature can be hated, bullied, or lose someone they love. You have got to stop...hating yourself or wishing to be anything else but yourself. Move on and try to be a better version of yourself.

Now, you shaking hands with the devil and selling your mate just confirmed what those people thought about you. Remember those people who said that you are dangerous, a threat, a freak, and can never be trustworthy...You just proved them right.

If I were you, I would instead try to be a better version of who I am present than try to be something I was not in the beginning. Surprise them by being that demon that went through Hell and came out as that demon then being a demon that went through Hell and arose as a monster and a mad beast.''

I felt something stir up in me as he said those words. Whatever it was, It felt good and I can't explain why it felt good and peaceful to hear.

''Don't fight fire with fire. Don't be a monster to fight a monster. Go through it, and let. it. go.''

I thought about it. How am I to let go of the fact that my mother was beheaded, that my stepdad once tried to burn my lips and isolate me from the world? Or that I had no friends, no idea of what I am and why I am like this? Or the fact that I was made a slave once and sent on a dangerous journey to prove my worth as a knight of a foreign land. The time that I was almost poisoned or those times I craved fire but was too scared to satisfy my hunger because I was afraid of what the world would see me as.

I sighed. It's going to be difficult but I am willing to try.

''What do I have to do to get my Mate back?''

''Easy. You break the deal you made with the devil.''

''How am I going to do that?''

He sat up straight and, ''There is only one way to break a deal you made with the devil.''

''What is that?''

''You would have to offer a sacrifice on Mount Doom.''

''Mount Doom?''

He nodded.

''What should that sacrifice be?''

''A Demon Lord.''

I frowned in confusion, ''What is that?''

''They are humans that can see, communicate freely, and absorb any negative energy. They have been in extinction for over four thousand years. Very hard to find.''

''How am I going to find one?''

Levi sighed, ''I think I found one already.''

My heart began to leap for joy. Finally, there is the hope of turning a new leaf. I can make up for my mistakes once I break free from the devil's grasp and get My Mate back.

''Who? Where?''

He looked me straight in the eye, ''We are both never going to like this.''

''I don't care just tell me.''

Levi rubbed his chin as if deciding whether he should tell me or not.

''Alright,'' he gave up, ''The little girl you wanted to kill hours ago.''

My heart sank in disappointment. I was expecting someone far, strange, and not family-related. Someone who wouldn't be hard to give up.

''I-I...Iris?'' I wanted to scream.

He nodded, ''She is your only salvation. If you do not want to be the devil's brand new puppet or Nowel to rot in Hell forever.''

I remained silent.