The Dark Enchantress: The Declaration

13

MAVEN

We lied Calamity down on the queen-sized bed in the chamber. What happened here anyway, I asked myself. I turned to Leo and saw something that surprised me.

He panicked.

His face was white as a paper. I had never seen him making such expression before. His smirk, his real smile, his irritated face, his expressionless face; I had seen it all. But never had I seen him this panic before. He had never panicked to begin with.

I knew that Leo had assisted Calamity for a long time, given the fact that Calamity was the second strongest demoness in the demon realm. He told me so. I looked at Calamity, the one I should call mother. She had a severe wound all over her body and the only thing that was not wounded was her wings.

Leo panicked because of this woman, and I couldn't help but jealous. If I were in her shoes, would Leo react like this?

"Eligos." Leo said as he finished healing her wounds, though from the look at it, it was not completely healed. I never knew he knew healing magic. Demons were mysterious creatures. "He did all this."

I couldn't think anything. Here I was standing, overwhelmed by my own jealousy, while Eligos was out there, getting stronger and stronger every minute. In the end, I could do nothing to stop him. Why was I so weak? Every misfortune would not happen if I was strong enough to handle them.

"You shouldn't think like that." He whispered, cupping my cheeks and smiling down at me.

I just stared into his eyes, hoping that it would somehow give me hope.

"Leonard." A sweet voice cut us. Calamity. Her eyes flickered open. "You brought Mirabella with you. When is the time you actually listen to my word?"

"I listen to no one." He simply said, feeling proud of himself.

"Mirabella." She turned to me. "You have grown up into a fine lady. I do wish I was there when you grew up but I was banned from getting out to the mortal world. I really hope you would understand that."

I didn't know how to act in front of her. She was not there when I was growing up. I could have just yell at her for not being there for me, for letting Eligos to attack me continuously.

But how could I do such thing, when she was the very reason I could meet up with Leo?

"I do understand."

She was taken aback by my response but she managed to give me a weak smile. "Thank you." She suddenly frowned. "But both of you shouldn't be here."

"Why not?" Leo exclaimed, beating me to it.

"It was a trap. Eligos anticipated this. He knows both of you would come here?"

"What--"

Suddenly, I couldn't talk. It took me few seconds to realize that an arm was wrapped around my neck. I tried to get out of the grip but it was futile. I couldn't free myself from the strong grip. The figure behind me snickered, amused.

Eligos.

"Calamity is right. I'm here for your power, my dear half-demon."