Chasing Demons

CHAPTER 6

In want of a brother

I was treated like an outcast as soon as I had shared the deadline with the elves. They had no use for me for their next mission and seemed to prefer I knew as little as possible about it. Because of course, I would snitch on them now, you know, after I had broken into a military base to help them. Ilynia had reassured me it was not that, but the looks I got from the other elves around here did nothing to convince me. That and the fact I had a fucking guard watching my bush tent. To be frank I felt a bit insulted by the lack of trust displayed to me here. "Can I at least bail on this tent party and go back to town, I mean it does not seem like you guys need me nor want me here," I ranted to Ilynia. "No, I am sorry but the others rather you stay here till the mission is done," she explained. "And why is that?" I gave her an annoyed look; "well because it is not safe if you leave." "Not safe for me or you guys?" I snapped back frustrated, "it does not matter, you are going to stay here, for now, no need to be difficult about it," Ilynia pleaded. So I spent the next two days in my bush tent feeling rather annoyed and restless. To make it even worse the severed head was back mocking me; "murderer", "traitor" it kept finding brand new insults to throw at me. I did my best to ignore it, but the lack of something to do was not fucking helping.

*

The day the prisoners were rescued stood in my memory as a blur. I was dozing off in my bush when I was rudely woken and gestured to follow. I bit my questions in not like the elves around here were known to answer them anyway. And then we were running as the roaring sound of an aircraft deafened me completely. My lungs were burning from lack of air, pure adrenaline was all that kept me going as I did my best to follow my guard. Smoke was clouding my vision, and the heat from the fire around us made me sweat. When the guard finally stopped I collapsed on the spot, I heard vague shouting, but it felt far away as everything went black. I woke up to more shouting a pleasant experience for my already ringing ears. A group of elves was gathered around me, it hit me that there were way less than what I had seen back at the camp. Ilynia was among them I tried to give her a wave, which she at least responded to by glaring at me. Then she went back to talk with a male elf next to her. I gave the guy a once over and concluded he seemed familiar. Still, my brain was too dead to put anything together and I gave up. The elves talked a bit longer as I dozed off again. How did they have so much energy after just running for their lives?

"Wake up," the demanding tone coupled with some heavy shakes brought me back fast. I stared at Ilynia; "are we in a hurry to go somewhere? How do you guys all have so much energy after just nearly dying? I asked. Before she could reply to me another voice broke in; "your master just told you to get up, so you better get on with it," I looked at the newcomer with a glare then at Ilynia expecting her to say something. Instead, she went weirdly quiet now looking embarrassed. "Ok, first of all, who invited you to this conversation and second of all, rude," I was not going to take this guy's attitude. Still, I was not ready for when the guy pulled a sword on me and demanded I behaved. Fuck. I got up because losing my life like that was a tad too petty even for me; still, I looked at Ilynia who was just letting this happen. As soon as I got up the man looked at Ilynia and said something in their language I am not sure what but Ilynia looked like a scolded child at the end. From that day onward I despised what I would come to learn was Ilynia's older brother Lathion.

*

"If you wanted to meet your brother that badly, you should have just told me," the demon smirked before adding; "after all, I do know where he is, Caleb, not only that he also wants to see you. You could say I was sent as a personal messenger." He crossed his arms a bit glaring at me, "or did you never wonder just why I know your name?" frankly I always assumed he was just a creep, but this made a bit more sense. Still, I felt weird about following this guy's advice on anything; he just felt too much like a slick salesman trying to con you. "Right I guess that makes sense," trying to be polite after all I needed this guy's help, so no need to be an ass. "But I need some time to think this information over," I added. A part of me badly wanted to follow this demon now, but I knew that would be a bad idea. Even if the guy was honest, I was not prepared to just bail on the elves just yet, even if my Lathion made me want to do just that. Ilynia deserved better than me just disappearing.  Sure just know I am busy man, Caleb, but I will give you till tomorrow to think things over, you can find me here when you reach your decision" of course he would add unneeded time pressure to the whole thing. I nodded and got up to pay for my beer, before leaving the bar.

"Where have you been?" India's demanding tone put me on edge. "Why do you care? It is not like I am needed around here and ever since you got your brother back you have all but ignored me," I could not help but feel bitter. I had promised to help her find her brother, and in turn, she had done the same, but lately, she seemed more interested in ignoring me, or commanding me around, than fulfilling that promise.  I have not been ignoring you I have been acting properly as I should since I am your charge," she defended herself, making me roll my eyes. "You never gave a fuck about that before, but now your brother is back and you suddenly care a whole lot about that." "It is not like that I just..." I crossed my arms, "just what?" she went silent for a moment, before quietly replying; "I just realized I was acting all wrong getting close to a human, acting like a traitor to my people." The more she talked the more I just wanted to undo this entire conversation. "That is stupid, so stupid, so what you are telling me is that it matters more to you what those people are saying, than the fact I have been loyal and helping you while putting my life in danger this entire time? It was so fucking unfair the fuck gave her the nerve to spout shit like that? I did not bother to stick around for an answer my mind was already made up. I had a slimy demon to catch up with.

*

"Before I agree to anything I need to know one thing," I started "sure, ask away" the demon replied "what is your name? Because just calling you that demon fucker in my head is not going to cut it anymore." I got a good solid minute of silence with that comment before he finally seemed ready to answer my question; "my name is Alastor." I nodded; "well then Alastor you told me you knew where my brother was. Can you tell me where it is, or how vague should expect this whole thing to be?" he smirked leaning forwards over the table; "Oh, Caleb, I can do you so much better than that. I can take you straight to him, right here and now." The fuck how? I took a deep sip of my beer, before electing to just empty down the entire thing; "ok, well let's get going then."