DemiDemonDarla

Chapter 16: Unraveling Powers

>>>>> The city of Celestia was growing more dangerous by the day, and Darla could feel it in every fiber of her being. But it wasn't just the crime and chaos in the streets, or the looming threat of the rebel demons that weighed on her. It was something much closer, much more personal—her own powers, which were beginning to spiral out of control.

For weeks now, Darla had been struggling. At first, it was subtle—a spark here, a brief flash of light there—but it was becoming more frequent, and harder to suppress. Every day, she felt the growing energy inside her, pulsing, pushing to break free. Zion and Amaia, who were now secretly living with her to help keep an eye on things, had noticed too.

Each morning, Darla woke with a strange sensation running through her—like an invisible current humming beneath her skin, just waiting to burst out. She could sense it, feel it growing stronger by the day, but she had no idea how to control it. And without control, her powers could not only expose her real identity as the daughter of Aamon, the Demon King, but it could also put a target on her back for the demons lurking in Celestia. She was a walking time bomb.

One particular afternoon, the four of them—Darla, Zion, Lionel and Amaia—decided to grab lunch at The Wingman's Pub, a cozy little restaurant where most of the officers at the precinct went to eat. It was one of those rare moments where they could pretend to be normal for a little while, despite the looming chaos outside.

Darla tried to relax, sipping her iced tea, Zion was reading newspaper beside her while Lionel and Amaia chatted quietly across from her. But something felt off. She had been uneasy all day, her senses heightened, and her hands were beginning to tingle. At first, she tried to ignore it, pushing her glass aside and shaking her hands out beneath the table, but the tingling grew stronger.

Suddenly, a warmth spread through her palms. She glanced down, her heart skipping a beat as she saw it—a faint glow, barely visible at first, but growing. Light—actual light—was starting to radiate from her hands.

Panic surged through her. She hadn't meant to activate her powers, but they were slipping out of her control again. If anyone saw her now, there would be no explaining it away.

"Zion," Darla whispered urgently, her voice barely above a breath. "My hands..."

Zion's eyes immediately dropped to her glowing hands. Without hesitation, he shrugged off his jacket and threw it over her hands, hiding the light from view. His voice was calm, but his eyes were sharp, full of concern.

"Amaia, bathroom. Now."

Amaia nodded quickly, rising from her seat and taking Darla by the arm, leaving Lionel all confused. Together, they rushed toward the back of the restaurant, slipping into the women's bathroom and locking the door behind them.

Inside the small, dimly lit bathroom, Darla's hands were practically glowing through Zion's jacket. She ripped the jacket off, staring at her palms, horrified. The light was blinding now, illuminating the entire room.

"I can't control it," Darla said, her voice trembling. "It's getting worse."

Amaia placed a hand on Darla's shoulder, trying to keep her calm. "Breathe. Just breathe, Darla. You have to focus."

"I'm trying," Darla said through gritted teeth. "But it keeps slipping—"

Amaia closed her eyes, muttering something under her breath—a quiet incantation from the fairy realm meant to calm energies. Slowly, the light in Darla's hands began to dim, flickering before finally fading away. Darla took a deep breath, her whole body shaking with the effort of keeping the power at bay.