Shadow Beings

58. Trust and Faith

A dreaded feeling washed over me when I heard Vlad say that term. The tone was as if he mocked me and the prophecy, perhaps implying that everything was futile. His voice sounded as if he suppressed his laughter, an emotion that felt nothing but odd from such a being.

"Funny, you call it yours," I said as I took in a deep breath, my tone slightly wavering but my stance remained firm. I focused on the now lighter atmosphere that had fragments of Ariana's aura spread amongst it, the breeze waving away Vlad's intimidation if only a little.

But the two forces swirl around each other, hesitant to fight yet still pushing back.

I could sense a strong wave of conflict pervade the atmosphere now. Ariana's and Vlad's auras fighting, and there was just something... wrong. Something I couldn't properly point out. As if some vile power were controlling a great entity.

Two entities.

"What's so funny?" Vlad's tone was genuinely questioning, as if considering my thoughts to be valid.

"You merely want its power. The stone belongs to no one but its land."

Silence filled the disturbing air but it felt like a facade, as if Vlad contemplated a silly notion. My head pounded with confusion and it was as if the air around was closing in on me, a sense of claustrophobia gripping my mind. My vision was narrow, increasing my uneasiness.

I had to broaden my perspective.

With a deep breath I closed my eyes, letting Anne's positive zeal and Ariana's cool breeze come to me and dissuade Vlad's presence. For a moment I forgot where I was, my thoughts losing themselves by catching onto my place of comfort and I drifted away from reality.

As fingers played melodies, learning or practising or creating. Losing myself in the notes, oblivious to the chaos raging around.

I opened my eyes to the same cloudy atmosphere. Something heavy still pulled on my eyes but my head also felt lighter, either aimless or less burdened.

"Chaos belongs to me. The land may not be mine, but I am its people's master, and the people make the land. The stone was made for me, anyway."

His words were commanding as if he were my leader, ordering me to do his work. His last line echoed silently in my mind, a haunting uncertainty filling me. I shook my head, speaking to push that daunting aura away.

"The people make the nation, not the land, but it's good you mention this. The people aren't free."

"The people aren't free?" Vlad's voice tore through my mind, attempting to shatter my sanity. I took a ragged breath, gripping the ground with all of my strength. "Little being, my people are free. We, demons, stand for our justice and for equilibrium. Do you really think killing us ruthlessly is right? Balance must be maintained."

Vlad's harsh tone vanished but his voice only deepened in effect, a stentorious echo reaching all corners of the garden.

"Are demons really the bad ones here? Do you think that the world is a better place without the ones causing trouble?"

"I never said that," I said, my voice low. "I never believed the demons to be bad."

Vlad didn't utter a word for a while, the awkward quiet making me anxious.

"Light's child," Vlad said in a dangerously soft voice. "wake up. This world doesn't work on your beliefs. If you believe that peace will remain in the entire world, it's not going to happen magically. Negativity will not leave sentience.