Once Upon A Dream

Chapter 18 - Is Ravus More Powerful Than Aesc?

Ch.18

"Kate, the Dante part of me is much better than the Ash part-he's more mature, less afraid, and will give everything to fight or you. And if you've become better, well, then, Kate, you'd be willing to fight for me this time too, no matter what." 

I paused, thinking about what Aesc said. Then I pecked him with a smile that spread to Aesc's lips when our lips touched. When I pulled away, he wrapped his arms around me, his comforting warmth enveloping me. 

"Listen," said Faellan, having walked into the room. He gave us a soft smile, telling us he understood and was happy. "It's great that you too have worked that out-kinda like old times, a little. But, uh, slight problem-well, problemsss: Ravus and running away." His smile vanished. "Ravus knows where all three of us live so if you two love each other so much, then-not to be too blunt or anything, but, make sure you're prepared." 

"Prepared?" I echoed, puzzled. "You mean, to leave?" 

"Well, that too, but mostly the future fighting"-I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck raise as Aesc stared at me-"because she is clearly isn't a fan of you two," he explained. "I mean, she's got to be almost as-if not just as-powerful as Aesc." 

"W-what?" Aesc sputtered. "You can't be serious. I'm Lucifer's son!"

As the words of the final sentence spilled out into the air, chills raced through my veins as fast as a bullet at that last sentence while I could feel Aesc tense and saw Faellan flinch. 

"Yes, but, uh..." Faellan abruptly turned reluctantly. I guessed it was because of Aesc's last remark. "You're not at full, say, capacity of your power because you're not in Hell, and neither is Ravus. However, you've been on Earth longer than she has, which would weaken you-and don't get me wrong, this is happening to me too. So, depending on just how weak you've become, there actually is a possibility of her being more powerful." 

"I'm not weak," Aesc snarled. 

"That's not what he meant," I whispered, putting a hand to Aesc's chest so he wouldn't have the option of taking a threatening step forward, which he had a habit of doing when versing an adversary-which Faellan was not. I turned to Faellan. "Does Ravus have a team or something, like how the three of us are?" 

Aesc raised his eyebrows proudly at me once I called us a team. Faellan grinned. I forced to keep a grim, or at least grave, expression on, hoping it would keep the young men-demons focused. 

"Ravus prefers to work alone," Aesc stated while linking his fingers with mine. 

"But it's not impossible," said Faellan. "Like I said, she'd be weaker-she might want some back up...Oh, Aesc, how did you not know about the whole weakening thing?" 

"I knew about it," Aesc declared defiantly. "I just didn't think that deeply into it-the whole me being out of there longer, okay? It wasn't exactly the thing that was a priority on my list until you said something." 

"Hm," Faellan grunted, thinking. 

I squeezed Aesc's hand, and he gave a return squeeze. That little act made me feel so much better. I had support. We would share this fight. At that moment, I thought I'd be able to survive Ravus. In fact, I thought I'd be able to survive anything. 

"So, I'm packed, if you're curious at all," Faellan stated.  "And you two?" 

"Watch him," Aesc whispered in my ear teasingly before walking to his room. 

"What about me?" I asked Faellan. 

"What about you? You mean packing?" He asked, and I nodded. "Oh, well, then go back to your apartment?"