Worthy (Complete)

Chapter 6

Ackmen's large black figure stood silently in the shadows of the moon-lit room. His long paper-thin wings tucked up behind his back came to a point just above his head. Cracked narrow lips formed a vile grin as a yellow smoke was exhaled from his mouth, lingering like a wispy cloud through-out the room.

His eyes glowed with hatred as he stared at the frail human who lay asleep only a few feet away, unaware of his sinister presence.

"This will be easy," he whispered in to the air.

He unfolded his wings and with several flaps disappeared through the ceiling, coming to a stop on the shingled rooftop above. He strolled back and forth while he waited for Melti to arrive, keeping a close listen for any noise out of the ordinary.

The mission of drawing Katelyn in would no doubt catch the enemies' eye. That was not something they could take lightly.

Ackmen stared out over the fields, so lost in his own thoughts that he hadn't heard Melti land behind him. He turned to make another pass and was taken by surprise at the slighter bigger demon standing in his path.

"Melti. I didn't hear you."

"You need to pay attention. If I can sneak up on you so can the enemy. I've received word that they have been seen a couple of times near Katelyn. Not since she's been here, though. We must be vigilant and not back down. We must stand strong on the ground we've gained. Losing it is not an option. If they were around her elsewhere, you can be sure they are around here too."

Ackmen knew Melti spoke the truth. Just the thought of the heavenly angels making their presence known repulsed him, causing a sick feeling of dread to flow through his body.

"Who's watching her?"

Melti's voice was low as the name rolled off his skinny ashen tongue. "Nolan."

Ackmen voiced his concern, "If Nolan's around, that means Necklim isn't far." He shook his head. His feeling of fear was not unfounded. They'd all had the great honor, as some saw it, of being in combat with Necklim and his army before. There were many causalities every time. How the three of them had always kept their heads attached to their shoulders was a mystery none of them could answer.

"You are correct," Melti agreed.

A quiver ran down the boney spine of Ackmen, the words of Necklim at their last battle fresh on his mind. "You will cease to exist if we should meet again."

Melti's low growl snapped him back to the present. "Do you have anything to report?"

"An opening arose tonight. One we'd been waiting for. So I took it."

"Do tell," Melti prodded

"I gave our little sleeping beauty a glimpse of the unseen world around her."

"Continue."

"I revealed myself tonight on the porch as she hugged Trevor goodbye. I was standing behind him, fingers curled and wings stretched out. My strength grew as I sensed her fear. I have no doubt that she'll be just as easy to control as her dearly departed aunt was. If nothing else, using her deepest darkest fears against her." Ackmen's words resembled the hissing of a curled snake ready to strike as they flowed off his tongue.

Melti's sinister laugh lingered out across the flat land in front of them. "Even with the enemy's presence we'll press on. We have much to accomplish in a short amount of time. Katelyn's someone we can't afford to lose. Her part in this plan is too important. Be careful not to scare her too much, we want her to come to us, not run away. All Necklim needs to disrupt our plans is a tiny ray of hope to flicker within her. We don't want her to investigate the goodness of the world, however little there may be left in it. We want her to welcome and accept the hatred. Then we can use her – mightily."