Crossroads (2)

We spent most of the day on the outskirts of town, looking for clues or signs of demon activity. Unfortunately, we didn't find any, and as we made our way back to town. I was talking with Qhessa within my mind, thanks to our soul contract.

"Have you located the leader?" I asked Qhessa

It took longer than expected for her to reply.

"The leader of demons has left." She replied after a moment. "Someone important is on the way here, and the leader decided to intercept them, hoping to control them." She added after a moment

Why would someone come here? It didn't make sense.

"Do you know who is coming?" I asked, hoping for an answer

"Unclear, but whoever they are, they were important enough to cause the demon to alter the plan." She responded

"Track the demon and inform me who this person is." I said coldly

"Of course, master." She said before she disappeared from my mind.

Ever since we got to this town, I've been having Qhessa scour the region for clues or info regarding the demons in the hopes that we could be done with this business as soon as possible. As I still had to prepare myself for the academy.

I was confident that Edward was working with the demon in this area, but I still hadn't found the needed evidence. I even had a spiderling attached to Edward at all times, and other than sending a few messages, I couldn't get any hard evidence on him.

Thankfully, Qhessa could locate where the demons were residing, and what she had told me surprised me. It was a small village of demons roughly ten miles from the town, bringing up a new line of questions.

What were the demons doing in the village? How could they gather there under the empire's nose? Why were they there? So many questions and not enough answers were the stories of my life.

As we made our way back to the inn to meet up with the others, I couldn't get the feeling that I was being watched, and quickly turning around, I saw nothing.

"Lord Maxamus, what's wrong?" Olivia asked

I didn't respond to her as I observed my surroundings. Something was wrong; I could feel it. Looking toward Edward, I saw that he was tense and nodded as he looked at me.

"Were being watched." He said as he gripped his sword tightly.

"Princess, come here." I commanded as I prepared myself.

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(Olivia's POV)

"Princess, come here." Ciaran commanded without looking at her

Her body almost reacted, but at the last moment, her brain caught up, and she stopped herself.

"Lord Maxamus, what makes you think you can order me?" She asked as her cheeks slightly blushed for a moment before disappearing.

"How can I prove my innocence if you die?" He asked

"Can you buy us time?" Edward asked as he stepped closer to her and interrupted the two of them.

"It's too late; we're already surrounded." Ciaran responded as he avoided an arrow

Olivia looked around and saw roughly twenty hooded figures surrounding them, and she couldn't help but be shocked that this many had gotten close to them without them noticing.

We must have triggered an illusion spell, she thought to herself and prepared her sword.

The figures didn't say anything as they rushed in to attack, only to be knocked by a barrier.

"Don't worry, princess. I'll protect you." Edward said as he activated his barrier spell.

The barrier surrounded her and Edward, and she realized that he was moving to kidnap her, but she was willing to play along and see where this would go.

She watched as five figures surrounded Ciaran and moved to attack him, but it looked like he was in a dance as he avoided four of the five strikes while redirecting the last one.

"Edward, help him." She said as she let slip a little fear into her voice

"Sorry, princess." Edward said as he approached her.

Taking a step back, she feigned confusion.

"Edward?" She asked with a hint of fear.

"This will be much easier if you don't resist, princess." Edward said as he stepped closer to her.

"Why are you doing this?" Olivia asked as 'panic' began to set in.

"You wouldn't understand, princess." Edward began drawing closer.

Olivia glanced outside the barrier and saw that Ciaran was still fighting. He had disabled eight so far, but he was getting wounded. Everything he attacked an opponent, another approached from his blindside and injured him.

Looking toward Edward, she realized she needed to stall for time.

"Make me understand." She pleaded

"Princess, you've had everything handed to you on a golden platter." Edward began as he stopped just a few steps away from her. "Unlike you, I've had to fight for everything in life. Every waking moment was a struggle for me." Edward said with a saddened expression.

"So, you would betray the empire just to gain power?" Olivia asked and glanced again and noticed there were six figures left.

"I'll side with whoever is willing to give me the power I need." Edward said as he scoffed.

"You sound like someone I know." Olivia muttered and inwardly sighed.

Suddenly, everything was quiet, and it took her a moment to realize that the fighting was done outside the barrier.

Olivia and Edward looked outside the barrier and saw Ciaran watching them. Blood dripped from multiple wounds, and his clothes were tattered, but he still looked in top fighting shape.

"Sparkles, you talk too much." He said to Edward before turning toward her. "Princess, stop playing around and end this." He spoke with an air of calm as if the last few minutes of fighting didn't happen.

"He was about to tell me his whole plan." Olivia said as she rolled her eyes.

"Silence!" Edward shouted as he rushed toward her and barely made it a few steps before his whole body was covered in ice.

"There was a reason why I picked you for this mission." Olivia stated as she looked at the frozen Edward, whose face was frozen in fear.