The Morning Star

Chapter VII "Jengrith"

Right after the Demon broke loose, it let out a horrific roar arching its body backwards making its presence known. Though a normal human couldn't hear a demon, the forest trembled to the awe of the sadistic Aura being set free. Lilia quickly took a few steps back to summon Astra. "Bring back the..." the prayer was cut off by the swift movement of Jengrith stomping her with his right foot to the ground. Ray's eyes couldn't keep up to the speed of the demon that flickered from standing right in front of him, to standing on top of Lilia. Lilia's face couldn't help but express the horror as she stared into the scaly demon that stood tall with his foot pinning her down to the ground. Jengrith then was ready to sink his claws through her skull, "Jengrith stop!" Ray yelled causing the demon to pause and look back at him. "Don't kill her, she's not your prey." Ray demanded hoping the demon would comply to his orders. Jengrith slowly got his foot off the girl's body and started walking towards ray. His voice was two toned carrying a soft whisper sound that echoed in the back of their heads mixed with a deep growl that could be heard from his mouth "Human, do you believe you carry enough pride to be called the Keeper of Hell's Wrath?" Ray gulped and stood his ground, if this was a test of will, he wouldn't lose it just yet. "I do, I am the Keeper of Hell's Wrath from now on." Jengrith smiled ear to ear revealing his needle like teeth once more as his breath got even more excited, he flickered again to stand tall in Ray's face. slashing the back of his hand on Ray's chest, Jengrith launched him away before he crashed to the ground, the claws tore Ray's clothes and left four long scars that extended from his lower left rib cage, to his upper right shoulder. "Pathetic." Jengrith finally replied as Ray clinched his wounds and groaned in pain.

From the distance, Lilia quietly prayed. "Bring back the black sun, the ones fallen from heaven shall rise, expel, Astra." The dark knight of the black sun quickly kneeled picking up her Keeper. A soft feminine voice asked "Are you alright Lilia?" Lilia nodded and begged. "Please Astra, you have to stop him, His keeper has absolutely no control over him." Astra turned around and took a look at Jengrith, unlike her imperial demonic armor, Jengrith used his own hardened scaly skin as an armor, which made finding an opening a hard task, Yet without hesitation, Astra launched herself at Jengrith to be greeted by his hand squeezing down her neck. "Another soldier of the Almighty? You guys never learn your lesson." Jengrith stated before he threw Astra through the clearing bashing her onto a tree, he then continued. "Be gone, or your demeanor will seal your fate." Astra managed to get back on her feet and shook off the pain replying to Jengrith "A demon with no respect to his Keeper isn't worthy of resurrection." She replied before making her away again to him, but right before she could get close, Jengrith released his full Aura down around him, Astra was brought down to her knees by the force while Ray screamed out his lungs to the crushing pressure, the only survivor of the calamity was Lilia, barely out of the focal Aura zone yet she could feel the bursting sensation of hatred that consumed the soul of Jengrith for eternity. "Summoning him was a wrong call, Ray can't control such a powerful demon, no one can." Lilia told herself as Jengrith's Aura faded away leaving Astra powerless on her knees, and Ray unconscious to the pain. The demon turned back to resume his objective and continued walking towards Ray. Lilia could tell now, all that Jengrith desires is to be left alone, he didn't want to be bound to a Keeper nor did he desire to serve one, but the curse forced him to be resurrected from a Keeper to another, probably after him taking his own Keeper's life. "Jengrith! Please stop!" she desperately yelled trying to reason with the monster that stood before her. "I don't know what you went through in your past, but Ray is innocent of your hate." Jengrith ignored her and reached Ray grabbing his neck before raising him up, suspending him mid air. "A weakling such as you isn't worth being a Keeper." Jengrith said as his hand squeezed tighter. "It doesn't matter how many times I'd have to go through this, until Hell's Gates are open, I'll be damned with this curse." Ray's hand reached out to grab Jengrith's wrist, he was barely able to mutter out. "The sin of pride... that's what you're judging your Keepers for... I'm weaker than you, teach me how to be stronger."

"Ray... please wake up... Ray..." The eyes of Ray slowly opened as he regained his consciousness. "W...where am I..." his eyes then spotted the eyes of Lilia, filled with tears as she dropped herself on Ray hugging him. "I thought I was going to lose you!" she exclaimed before getting back up containing her emotions.

"What happened?"
"You passed his test."
"His... test?"
"Every demon has his own test to know if a Keeper is worthy of it, for a moment I thought the only thing Jengrith cared about was being set free, I thought he was going to kill you."

Ray tried to stand but his body felt fragile. "Astra healed your wounds, but the pain needs some time to be healed." Lilia said as she helped him up. "thank you Lilia, you've done so much to help me." Lilia shook her head and replied. "It was my fault to begin with, I didn't know a demon would go this far to test his Keeper." Ray sat down and supported his back on a tree, he grabbed the paper bag and took off his torn top, he then wore his jacket and zipped it up to cover the healing scars before sighing. "The Keeper of Hell's Wrath, that'll need a lot of work to maintain, I need to get home for now and probably sleep for days." Lilia nodded and smiled, her attitude changed back into the formal female he first met. "Alright then, Ray the Keeper of Hell's Wrath, we'll be in touch, I'll contact you in a few days after you rest."