Chapter Seventeen

"Nathaniel come here," Rina called.

Her son jogged towards them, hands full of flowers. "Yeah, mom?"

"Nathaniel I wanted to introduce you to everyone."

Nathaniel stepped forward and stared at them.

"I think I know, that's Tristen with the silver hair, Sarah and the handsy one Michael, right? You told me in your stories."

They burst into laughter at what Nathaniel, Tristen remained on edge. Conflicting emotions ran through him. This was his nephew, he had another person to call family. He never had a good relationship with Damian. Their father was a harsh demon ruler, just as his brother. But once their father chose to leave the arranged marriage with Damian's mother, all hell broke loose. He took a human lover resulting in Tristens birth. It was something Damian never let him live down, his birth was shrouded in a mix of love and hate. Now here he was looking at the woman he thought would be his mate to only be swapped away by his brother.

"Let's go to the village," Rina suggested.

A small village resides in the Glory Forest, a place where you could choose to live a life free of technology and roam the land. Certain areas were infested with lower class demons but that still didn't stop the curiosity, the view of what their ancestors lived through.

-O-

Damien scanned the area as he patrolled his lands, the forest parallel to the border of the Glory Forest. On occasion there where demons of the lowest branch that came through and attacked neighboring house's. There had been no disturbance reported since his blood rage, he could only assume his beast had his fun with the demons in the area.

This was a task usually left for his guards to complete. But this was also the only time Damien could stretch into his true form. The few skirmishes took off the edge, he was a warrior at heart. He flourished in wartimes, he didn't encourage them but he slaughtered those who dared to defy him. Since the treaty was implemented there was little to no use for his extreme power. Any would crumble simply from the aura he exuded. It was a bore, this long life of his continued on. No excitement, just duties to fulfill at the Lord is required to do.

His slow pace came to an abrupt stop, he felt a rush of foreign emotions running through him. The same feeling as the day his beast was released flushed through him. His chest constricted. The emotions he once again felt were not his, this he knew. Relief, happiness, surprise then sadness poured in to him to no end. This angered him immediately it was like feeling someone else's emotions.

A low growl came through, his beast had awoken. It began to claw at the edge of his mind, it wanted out.

'But how can this be, how is it possible and whose emotions am I feeling,' his fury roared over the emotions that were not his. He was a demon of great control, nothing could crack the walls he built.

But this was different. His anger grew, something was happening to him that he could not explain nor control it. His thoughts were interrupted by one of his stationery soldiers.

"Lord Damien there has been a sighting of a demon that has attacked innocent civilians throughout the villages, and now it is heading towards another village south of here. What are your orders my Lord?"

"I will take care of the problem." Damien answered with a growl at the end before racing off not sparing his soldier another glance.

He would take care of this demon before it ventured into his territory. A vicious growl came out, his beast rammed in its cage. Damien's lips lifted into a snarl, he was in control not his beast. His eyes tinged red but there was no loss of control. He leaped onto a thick branch before he propelled himself across the forest. Various scents filtered through, the fresh smell of toxic free lands. Soil, water and blooms came forth.

Assigning the measly task to one of the soldiers was a waste. This small task would keep his mind off what was happening to him for a while with no solution to it. His knuckles cracked as he spread his clawed fingers before closing them.

This would be a chance to let out some pent up frustration.

'And if that doesn't work I'll simply play with Tristen a bit.' for the longest time his younger brother was in such a poor mood. He didn't bother to ask because he simply did not care. But Tristen's anger did make their spars more interesting. As much as Damien hated to admit it, his brother was the only one to put up a small challenge when they fought.

He scoffed at the thought.

-Village-

Rina and Sarah made themselves comfortable sitting on one of the cushions in Karim's hut. The old woman always welcomed visitors to their village. Over the years, they all developed a special bond with her. Once a year they made it a goal to visit her and enjoy the village way of life. They would all bunk together in one of the cabins next to Karim's home. The hut was empty, they waited inside for her return.

"So I see I wasn't the only one busy." Rina said, eyeing the wedding band on Sarah's finger.

Sarah automatically blushed at Rina's comment, while Michael smirked.

"Well…we're only engaged, we wanted to wait for you and then get married," Sarah said. Her face took on a blushed hue as she turned to Michael.

"Oh my god I'm so sorry for making you wait!"

Guilt riddled Rina, to know the only reason they didn't officially tie the knot was because of her.

'They must have had faith in me and believed I would come back eventually.' Rina thought sadly.

"But I want to help with the wedding decorations please!" Rina begged.

"Well I don't know," Sarah said posing as if she was really debating on the answer. "I mean you are going to have a lot of things to joggle and all…especially being my maid of honor!" Sarah giggled. "Of course you can!" they both squealed in excitement as they hugged each other, Tristen flinched at their high pitch.

"Michael let's go outside, they obviously need their girl time." Tristen suggested while dragging Michael by the collar not giving him a choice.

"Nathaniel you wanna come? Leave the ladies to their gossip." Michael asked before he was yanked out the door.

Both girls laughed at the sight. Nathaniel turned to his mother.

"Can I go?"

"Of course baby, just be careful okay? Stay close to them, don't venture too far off."

"Okay." Nathaniel hugged his mother before running out the door.

Her expression dampened a bit before a smile took over again. Karim stepped into the hut after the men and Nathaniel left.

"Oh Karim, I missed you so much! Where were you just now?" Rina asked, hugging Karim's aged body.

"I was picking herbs near the forest, ye have been gone for such a long time now, are ye alright?" Karim asked concern showed through her one good eye. A small black leather pouch covered her other eye.

"Yes, I'm fine now don't worry."

"So how has life been with Nathaniel?" Sarah asked curiously.

"Who is this Nathaniel ye speak of Sarah?" Karim questioned was interrupted by a loud crash outside the hut. Villager's were screaming "demon"

A screeching howl trembled the ground. Rina ran with inhuman speed outside towards the crash stunning Sarah and Karim.

As Rina ran, a hot burning sensation pulsed at the nape of her neck. She ignored it and sped forward. Her son's safety was first priority.