The temperature dropped the second I stepped into the old packhouse. Fear slid down my back as my ears quickly noticed the silence of the witches. Usually, they want to talk or I hear whispering in another room, but I could only hear the wood under my feet.
I didn't see or hear anything, but I felt a presence coming toward me. Right before it reached me, I threw my hand forward, sending everything in the room flying. A hole burst through the wall as if someone went through it. After a few seconds, flames erupted, forming a demon with a smug look. "I was planning to serve the first punch, but I'll gladly deliver the last."
My eyes widened as a crossbow appeared in his hands with red dragon-scale arrows. The first arrow exploded on one of the walls, barely missing me. And I thought I'd get away with renovating this place for cheap. . .
I threw an energy ball but it only danced over his skin for a few seconds. It didn't phase him at all? Not even a pinch? A glow ran up his skin, similar to how a life link would look. No matter what I do, it won't have any effect until I find the source of the link. Holding him back it is. I threw an orb trap around him and bolted. I purposely opened every door at once while I ran upstairs. I waited until I found a good hiding place before slamming and locking them all. That should entertain him for a minute.
What am I supposed to do? If I shimmer anywhere, he will follow me. The only place I wouldn't mind him following me is Draven's plane, but that's exactly what Silas wants. He wouldn't have sent him otherwise. Back to the topic of links, where is mine? Familiars are the strongest link. Morpheus is supposed to sense me at all times, he should be here by now.
I listened as he frustratedly burst into rooms while quickly thinking. You know the witches could help, but they're quiet for a show. Loud arguing and explosions caught my ears from the floors above. I focused on it long enough to make out Kya's voice before shimmering beside her. "Kya?" Her eyes widened and she immediately pulled me to her. Fire warmed my back as a demon growled in annoyance. "How did you get here?"
"I don't know, I'm just here."
I slowly pushed myself off, looking at her suspiciously. "You're just here?"
"I don't know how I got here. I literally just showed up, luckily. This idiot is relentless."
"Sure you don't."
"Seriously? Look, you can question me later, but right now I need you to turn around and White Witch his ass."
After glaring at her, I turned to see a demon being scorched. A thick cord of electricity stretched from my palm and wrapped around his neck. I tapped into telekinesis to levitate us off the floor and gravitate him to me. I held his red-filled eyes with compulsion to take his attention from everything else. "Did Silas send you?"
His dreamy act dropped and a bored sigh left his lips. "As much time as you spend reading a day, you haven't learned that demons of my rank can't be compelled? Such a waste of potential." I tightened the cord as anger filled me but all it did was make his smile grow. He wanted to push me. Is Silas testing me? Is that what this is? He can't hurt me, he'd never get my powers.
Despite his smile, this demon felt the pain of my powers. He wasn't linked. I filled with guilt and dropped him. "Why did you do that?" Nakya complained.
"I can't kill him."
"He's trying to kill us."
"Last time I killed someone I didn't have emotions if you remember."
"Yeah you got the rush of it out the way, now get it over with."
"I just told you I can't," I snapped, turning back to face her. Just as I did, something flew into me. My back went through a wall and landed hard in the next room, the object landing on me being the icing. Oww. The demon from downstairs appeared above me with a crazed smile. I threw him off quickly and flipped back to my feet. My back, shoulders, and neck popped as I readjusted. Kya being Kya, went off on them. She would be an amazing guardian with her outbursts.
The one in front of me simply threw her back into the other demon and turned to face me. A black cloud formed around his hands with tiny fits of lightning striking the air. What the. . . I tried to freeze them both, but it was a second before the linked demon fought it off. I take it molecular manipulation is a no for him? Seriously? A link doesn't block you from a freeze. The other one began to slightly move before unfreezing himself. If this is a prequel to Silas and I's fight, we all need to accept the worst.
My new friend took my second-long glance at Nakya as an opportunity to shoot a bolt at me. I caught it and yanked him forward as my irritation began to radiate. He may be linked, but I'm about to get my kicks in. From my irritation, chaos began to erupt outside, blocking the moonlight.
I could hear Nakya fighting over the sound of clouds rumbling above the house. A piece of wood creaked behind me, sending me into full attack mode. I immediately spun around, landing a hard punch on his chest. It vibrated off with a powerful boom, but he didn't move. Instead, he came for me, seeming to have the same issue. It didn't matter if it was a punch or kick, the only way to get the other down was to go with them.
Lightning sounded off outside, shaking the house with each bolt to the ground. The outbursts briefly lit up the room for seconds at a time. I got him to the ground and glared down into his cold eyes. I had him down by the neck, unsure what to do next, until a gasp escaped my lips. I fought off what felt like someone pulling me back only to freeze in confusion once I landed back on my hands. I- I'm there. I'm there. . . and I'm here. There are two of me. Why are there two of me? I spun around but no one was behind me. No one pulled me off. I did it myself. I thought it was an astral projection, but the room seemed to be frozen, even myself.
After rushing over to inspect, I could see we weren't frozen. We were slowly moving, but barely enough to notice. He didn't seem to react to my hand waving in front of his face. There wasn't even a forming reaction. I decided to take advantage, sadly learning that I couldn't touch him. I couldn't touch myself either. I even tried to pick something up. Well, I'm not dead. . . A subplane?
A literal black energy radiated off my skin, similar to how I'd imagine an aurora to look. It was a perfect visual of how I felt. It was cold, lonely, and angry. Feeling it is one thing, but physically seeing it on myself is painful. I could feel the irritation leaving my skin from here. When I looked at the demon, I felt the worry that consumed him. Surprisingly, it wasn't for himself. It felt like the worry I have for my nieces and nephews. The worry of a parental figure. The other demon must be his son unless Silas is holding someone as motivation. It was odd. I glanced between the two of them quickly, seeing absolutely no resemblance. I realized that I'd never seen these demons anywhere. I never crossed paths with them on Draven's plane. They were even absent from the books I used for my research. Well, I mean Draven's entire bloodline was also absent from that. I guess no one has lived to share their experience.
Okay, I'm ready to go back. I looked at myself expectantly as if that would do anything, nothing happened. I tried a mini meditation and various other methods before growing impatient and attempting to jump back into myself. Yes, jump. I'm desperate. My last attempt was the saddest run and jump I've ever performed, landing me shoulder-to-shoulder with my opponent. Technically I'm my own opponent at the moment. I breathed out in disappointment and looked between the two of us. If he were a normal demon, his head might have popped by now. I looked down at him curiously. I could feel all his worry, but none of it showed on his features.
"Come on dude, you know you want to call a truce," I slightly sang. Suddenly I was slammed back into my body. Time sped up as his expression briefly changed. He looked a bit shocked until his smirk returned.
