DemiDemonDarla

Chapter 18: Felonir, Son of Belphonia

>>>>> Darla paced the dimly lit room, her mind swirling with everything that had transpired over the past few days. Ever since her return from training with Shaman Blanca, she had sensed something shifting, something dark creeping closer. The prophecies had always warned of betrayal—someone close to her who would turn against her in a time of great need. But who? The clues had been vague, pointing her in every direction, leaving her questioning everyone she trusted.

Zion and Amaia sat at the table nearby, their faces lined with exhaustion. The last mission had been another disaster. Every move they made seemed to be anticipated by the demons, their traps set with surgical precision, as if someone was feeding them information from within their own ranks.

"I still think it's Captain Garcia," Zion muttered, breaking the silence. His sharp eyes flicked to the door of the elder fairy's office, his suspicion palpable.

Amaia, always calm and logical, shook her head. "Garcia's been on our side from the beginning. He's helped guide Darla through every step of this. If he was working with the demons, he would've had countless opportunities to sabotage us completely."

Darla couldn't bring herself to speak, the weight of doubt pressing down on her. Was Captain Garcia really the traitor? He had always been a fatherly figure to her, guiding her, encouraging her growth, and shielding her from the worst of Celestia's demonic plague. But lately, even his actions had felt... strange. Overly convenient. And as an elder fairy sent by Queen Dianthe, Garcia wielded significant power and knowledge—enough to tip the balance of the fight against them.

But suspicion had been eroding her trust in everyone around her. No one was above doubt now, and that feeling gnawed at her as if something far darker was lurking in the shadows.

Lionel walked into the room, his usual easygoing demeanor seeming more strained than usual. His sandy hair was disheveled, and there was a deep fatigue in his eyes that Darla hadn't seen before. Lionel had been her partner on the force for months now, and though he was human—or so she thought—he'd been integral to their work. But even he, with his laid-back attitude, seemed to carry a burden he didn't talk about. A burden Darla hadn't noticed until recently.

"You guys look like you're solving the mysteries of the universe here," Lionel said with a forced smile, sliding into the chair beside Darla. "What's the latest conspiracy theory? Garcia's working for the dark side?"

The question was posed lightly, but there was tension underneath. Darla exchanged a glance with Zion, unsure how much to say. "We're... still figuring it out."

Lionel's eyes flickered with something, a shadow of discomfort, before he nodded. "Well, let me know when you find out. I could use a heads-up if the captain's about to sell us out."

A few days passed, and the tensions between Darla's team and Captain Garcia grew sharper. More demon ambushes, more failed missions where they barely escaped with their lives. The city was spiraling out of control, and their enemy always seemed to be one step ahead.

Then, it happened.

It was late one evening when a new tip came in about a group of high-ranking demons gathering in an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the city. A chance to strike at the heart of the rebellion, to weaken Belphonia's forces before they could fully take over Celestia. It felt like the opportunity they had been waiting for, the breakthrough they so desperately needed.

Captain Garcia had been the one to greenlight the mission, insisting they move quickly. Darla, Zion, Amaia, and Lionel gathered at the location, prepared to take down whoever was inside. But as soon as they entered the warehouse, they knew something was wrong. It was eerily quiet, too quiet. No sign of the demon council they had been told would be there.