DemiDemonDarla

Chapter 25: The Pawn of Chaos

>>>>> The atmosphere inside the rebel den was suffocating, thick with the acrid scent of sulfur and the buzzing hum of malevolent energy. Shadows flickered across jagged rock walls, and the twisted forms of rebel demons paced restlessly, their bloodlust simmering beneath the surface. At the center of it all stood Felonir, his dark eyes gleaming with a cold determination.

Before him, a line of children stood unnervingly still. Their wide, glassy eyes held no light, their small faces blank of expression. They swayed slightly, as though held upright by invisible strings. The magic binding them gave their young bodies the appearance of lifeless puppets—pale, gaunt, and eerily silent.

"Perfect," Felonir murmured, inspecting them like a craftsman admiring his work. "When Darla sees them, she'll falter. She won't harm innocent human children... and that hesitation will destroy her."

Beside him, Belphonia—a woman with cold, masculine features and a voice that cut like steel—nodded approvingly. "They'll be the perfect shield. Her team will be too soft to strike them down."

The other demons chuckled, amused by their clever tactic. But Felonir's gaze remained locked on the children, as if calculating every possible outcome. There was no room for failure. This attack would force Darla into a corner—whether she liked it or not, she would face her destiny.

Back at the police station, tension hung heavy among Darla and her allies. Zion leaned against the wall by the window, arms folded, his sharp gaze scanning the horizon beyond the border of the spiritual realms. Kazimir lounged nearby, the corner of his mouth curled in a mischievous grin.

"You know, you're hovering again," Kazimir teased Zion. "You act like Darla's personal bodyguard. It's adorable, really."

Zion shot him a flat look. "You realize we're on the verge of war, right?"

Kazimir chuckled. "And yet here you are, pacing like a worried lover. Maybe take a breath, my friend."

Zion growled under his breath, turning away. But his tension wasn't unwarranted—something was brewing, and they could all feel it.

Suddenly, the door burst open, and Amaia and Lirien entered with grim faces. Darla followed close behind, her expression hard as stone. The room immediately grew silent as everyone sensed the gravity of the moment.

"We've got a problem," Darla said, her voice sharp. "The rebels are making their move—and they're using children as their pawns."

The words hit the room like a thunderclap. Zion stiffened, and Kazimir's smirk vanished in an instant. Lirien placed a hand on Darla's shoulder, her touch steadying but her gaze full of worry.

Amaia fidgeted nervously. "Human kids? How are we supposed to fight that?"

"They're being controlled," Darla explained, her jaw tightening. "They're not in their right minds—zombified by magic."

Zion cursed under his breath. "This is low, even for them."

Darla crossed the room, her heart heavy with conflicting emotions. These were just children, innocent lives twisted into weapons. But if they hesitated, the consequences could be catastrophic.

She clenched her fists. "We don't have the luxury to hesitate. If we don't act, those kids will be lost to the rebels forever—and the human world will pay the price."

Amaia bit her lip. "But what if we... hurt them? They're just kids."

"We won't hurt them," Darla said firmly, though uncertainty gnawed at her. "We'll break the spell controlling them. Somehow."