Heaven and Hell

THIRTY

S I S T E R

———

BLOOD OOZED OUT of the severed head and onto the ground while the stump of the neck pooled with crimson liquid. Unable to look on, Qiu Xia discarded the head a small distance away from its body in disgust, dropping it right by Fabian's foot.

"I'm surprised that you guys don't control these demons," she commented, wiping the dirt on the palm of her hand on her dress. "I had the impression you were considered as beings to be worshipped."

Fabian wrinkled his nose at the demon's severed head, resisting a gag. The image of Qiu Xia detaching flesh from flesh without as much as a scowl or a smile was a haunting image. Her movements seemed so practiced, so precise, and so very deadly. There wasn't even a hint of emotion that he could catch and that fact made Fabian's skin crawl.

"We are from different sides of the war," he explained. "The ruler of Hell, Lucifer, plans to dominate multiple realms with his legion of demons. My brothers and I are merely trying to stop him."

Qiu Xia scoffed. "And how do you plan on doing that? By starting another war?"

"Sometimes, violence is the only way to counter violence. You're a general's daughter. You should know that."

"Even though I am the general's daughter, I understand that violence is the last resort. You and your brothers must be very desperate to have thought of recruiting soldiers of the dead to help fight your battles." The girl stuck up her nose high in the air, her two fists on her hips.

"That's rich coming from the girl that just sliced off the head from a body." Fabian nodded towards the dead demon, a single eyebrow raised.

"Fabian!"

A loud rustle came from behind Qiu Xia. From beneath the shadows and shielded by the abundance of greenery, a head of red hair emerged, matching eyes that pooled with scarlet and gold darting about before landing on Fabian's figure. It then trailed down, pupils focusing on the detached demon head right by Fabian's feet.

Wilhelm's lips quirked into a lopsided grin.

"Hunting?" he asked, gesturing at the head all while stepping out into the open.

He used their native tongue, a language that Qiu Xia did not understand. However, once she remembered that this man was of no threat to them, she calmed down, returning to picking random leaves and plants from nearby shrubs.

"I wasn't the one that took it out." Fabian wrinkled his nose in disgust, internally gagging at the thought of the demon's blood spurting out. "She did."

"Well, from the beginning she had always been a rather sprightly one," Wilhelm joked.

"Not only that but she glowed."

That made Wilhelm shut up. His expression darkened, shifting to an image of granite as he turned to stare at the young girl. Unaware of the looks both brothers were casting her, Qiu Xia continued with her work, unbothered by a conversation she did not understand.

"We cannot let Lucifer get to her." Wilhelm pursed his lips, the humor in his eyes reduced to calculating thoughts.

"Dimitri will know what to do. We should hide her in the North Wing and out of Lucifer's sight."

"Wouldn't it be safer for her here?"

Fabian shook his head. His dark hair fell right over his eyes, covering them just a little. "No. We don't know what she is capable of. If that power runs amok, these villagers will be in trouble. Furthermore, demons are starting to lurk. The enemy is nearing."