Flame Inside ✿ Damien and Matthew

Chapter 36

(Trigger warning: Abuse and mentions of rape and torture)

Emma arrived at the private training ground, expecting to see Rabbit waiting for her. However, she didn't expect Diana to be there, locking in a heated argument with her. Emma quickly hugged the wall, making sure she was hidden in the shadows, as she watched the argument unfold.

"Rabbit, what you are asking is impossible." Diana told her.

"Impossible? How is liberating my kind impossible?!" Rabbit questioned.

"I know you wish to change the caste system, and I do as well, but it cannot be done overnight. Can you understand the consequences of such a sudden change?!"

"What does it matter?! We are days away from taking control of this world and what we demand will become ultimate law. The world will listen and obey every word we say, every word you say."

"You overestimate the power we would have, Rabbit."

Emma felt frozen. She was confused as to what was happening. She thought Diana was with Rabbit in wanting change. Emma wondered why she would hesitate. Rabbit was fighting for a just cause. The arguing continued. "No, I am not overestimating our power. I know exactly what we should be able to accomplish. You are just too afraid to go through with it!" Rabbit told Diana angrily.

"Afraid?! Of course I'm afraid! Do you know what a sudden change in the system would do to everyone? What it would do to your kind?!"

"We would be free!"

"YOU WOULD BE SLAUGHTERED!" As Diana's voice suddenly boomed, the air began to quake from it. Emma stared as Diana's form suddenly became covered with black and purple flame, glowing gold eyes peering toward the suddenly fearful Rabbit. "Not everyone will be as kind as I am! Not everyone will unlock the chains from your people's limbs just because I demand it! What you demand will sign the death wish of every animal demon in this god-forsaken plane! You know what happened in the human world when the slaves of that world demanded their freedom? Millions were slaughtered and they are still not equal to other humans! Why not learn that lesson?!"

Emma was astonished that Diana was seriously comparing animal demons to the slaves of the human world's past. Rabbit stared, still fearful of the suddenly intimidating Diana, but watched as Diana slowly calmed down and let out a sigh. "I know that what I ask is beyond horrid, but you need to understand. A ruler can rule, but people beneath them have voices and hands of their own, strong enough to disobey and do as they desire. I may demand immediate liberation of your kind, but they may see liberation as a call to slaughter out of desperation to keep what they believe is theirs. I swear on my bloodline that I will fix this caste system, but you cannot demand that I force it overnight unless you desire the blood of your kind to spill over the earth."

Without giving Rabbit a chance to respond, Diana turned and marched towards the exit. She exited through the door, not even seeing Emma hidden among the shadows. Emma turned back to Rabbit to see her moving towards the low fence, gripping her staff to her body and biting her lip. This must have been so hard on her, but Emma wasn't sure who to side with.

Both had valid points. Rabbit and the other animal demons deserved to be free, but she couldn't help but wonder if Diana was right. If she was, Rabbit's people would be killed the minute Diana's liberating demand left her mouth. Even worse, they'd never be able to reach that equality Rabbit wanted. Diana had compared the animal demons' situation to those of the African Americans in the human world. Emma was reminded of all the horrid things they went through after they were freed. Even though they have the same rights as other humans, they are still treated differently by a lot of people. Emma could only assume that the animal demons would go through worse since the demon world seems to be much more violent.