Maniac

Kaden carried the blank Deric all the way over to the borders. Thankfully, they had spies there that helped them slip out easily.

Sitting inside a vegetable cart, Kaden silently glanced at Deric and Deric glanced back with a blank stare. It has been two days since Fang passed away, yet he was still in a dazed state.

"Deric...."

His blank eyes rolled over to him.

Kaden gently patted his hand. "We shall make them pay.... but I can't afford to lose you too. Eat this," he pushed a piece of hard bread into his clenched fist. "Deric... please, eat something. You haven't eaten anything for three days. If this goes on...."

"I don't deserve this..." Deric mumbled and handed the bread back to him. "I have failed him. I have failed us all,"

"We still have a chance, Deric. We can always go to the demon nation's borders... we can.."

"No, we should go back to the dark forests. Eru might be worried," Deric mumbled softly.

Kaden pulled him up and glared into his eyes. "You are still thinking about him!! Deric, wake up! That bastard does not even like you!!!!"

Deric's blank eyes suddenly narrowed dangerously. "Don't ever talk about him like that." killing intent gushed out of him.

Kaden stumbled back in fear. "What... is going on with you? Your best friend died! And here you are thinking about that the person who was the reason!"

"Eru was not the reason for his death!!! Eru is no," he shook his head vigorously and sat down, hugging his head. "stop making him our enemy,"

"Because he is our enemy now, Deric!! He is!! His father is!! His kingdom is!! They are the reason my beloved Fang is dead!!!" Kaden cried out loud. He tossed the bread down and jumped out of the cart. They had already passed the surveillance area. He stumbled through the forest and tiredly leaned against a tree. "We just wanted to leave.... why... why did the kill him?"

He distinctly remembered the face of the person who killed Fang. It was the guy who he trained with his own effort. "I was the reason Fang is dead. If only.... if only I had not come here..." he slid down and hugged the trunk of the tree, sobbing.

The ground beneath him became wet from his tears as he saliently sobbed over his lover's death.

Deric on the other hand hugged his aching head. The voice inside his head shouted loudly. 'kill! kill!! Kill!!' he sobbed softly. "Stop..... Please stop. I can't.... not anymore,"

The voice went silent for a moment. 'That person is mine!! And mine alone!! I saw it all!!! I can still see it!!! He is with someone else!!! You... you let that person fall for someone else!!!' the voice screeched loudly.

"I can't force Eru to like me... love doesn't work that way," Deric silently sobbed.

'What I have is no love. I want to posses him, become one with him!! Because he is mine. OURS!! And you let him go!' the voice started wailing inside his head.

Deric rolled around, trying to sooth his pain.

'You have to go back!! Kill Eru or make him yours!' it said, letting his decide. Still, Deric did not agree with that malicious thing's plan.

"I will never force Eru! He is a person who can love anyone. My love for him always be the same!" Deric shouted and punched the side of the cart.

'No! He is ours!! I will make sure he will be!' the voice declared strongly.

Deric firsthand experienced this mysterious entity's power. He bit his lips, holding back his cries of pain. 'When will this torture end.... if this goes on, this creature will take over my body and might hurt Eru.... I have to stop it,' he thought back to all ways but he did not find an acceptable way. 'if I have to then...'

With his trembling hands, he pulled out his dagger and held it closer to his throat. "if I die you will leave him alone, right? If you hurt Eru, I will kill myself!!"

"IDIOT!!.... You will understand everything soon,' the voice whispered and disappeared.

Deric finally had a moment of peace. He panted softly, holding onto his head. He glanced up at the small cracks of the box and smiled. 'I finally controlled it...' he sat up and tiredly ate the bread. 'I have to be strong enough to control Him or else...'

By later that night Kaden came back with a dark face and led him to an inconspicuous inn. They rented a room and settled down.

"Kaden..." Deric was out of words to console his friend. He just hugged him tight. "Fang was important to me as well..... I didn't expect this to happen. It was all..... because of me. you... you should leave the unlucky me, become a farmer like Fang envisioned... harvest a lot of potatoes..."

Kaden started sobbing loudly. "What is that dream worth without Fang.... my purpose now is to only serve you, to protect you,"

"I can protect myself. Besides, I am going to meet up with my master and Eru they might help,"

Kaden pulled out of the hug and looked at him with tears rolling down his face. "Idiot, why do you still believe him? He is already betrothed to another now."

"W—what..." Deric stuttered not understand his words.

"Your beloved Eru is betrothed to his childhood friend, Zhong."

That second Deric lost all control. His mind was completely open, the shadow demon took its chance, and his mind was completely corrupted with his dark energy.

Deric's blank eyes shone slightly red... he smirked... then he started laughing wildly. "He is ENGADED!!! Engaged ha-ha, ha-ha,"

Kaden felt even his small hairs stood up in fear. The person in front of him, he was not his friend anymore. It was like another person altogether. "D—Deric?"

The person glanced at him with a happy smile. "He is engaged, you say. What do I lack, dear Kaden? What made him chose that guy?" he whispered with the smile still on his face.

Kaden stepped back a little. "because.... because.."

"shhh.. you don't need to say. It's obvious. It's because I am weak." Deric strode over to the window and glanced out into the dark night. "I know how we can get powerful. If we become powerful, won't that person run back to me? Kaden, don't you agree."

Kaden gulped, refusing to answer.

Deric glanced at him and started laughing out loud in glee. "Soon, it shall all be mine. What is mine by right shall all be mine!!" he laughed manically.