Demon of the Skies [Book 1]

Deliberation: Part 3

Chapter Quote:
"Wise men learn many things from their enemies."
~Aristophanes
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Chapter 23: Deliberation: Part 3

Present Day...

Elizabeth

I stared at my uncle through my tears, disbelief coursing through me. I'd always wondered why my uncle never married. It's not like women weren't interested in him. I'd seen them staring in awe as he walked by them, whispering about him behind his back.

But now I understood.

Losing the love your life... I couldn't begin to imagine the extent of the heartache and pain my uncle endured. A decade after the tragedy, I could still see in his eyes how much the ghosts of his past haunted him. How much he still hurt from that fateful day...

My brother sniffled, and turning to look at him, I realized he was misty-eyed too.

"I'm so sorry, Uncle Jason," I said, my voice cracking.

He smiled sympathetically at me. "It's the price of war. Part of me is glad it happened at the end. If she had died during the war, or when Pixy deserted, I don't think I would've been able to function."

"Since the governments were trying to hide you... were you able to attend her funeral?" Genette asked hesitantly.

"There was no way I was missing that, and Osea and Ustio would have a new war on their hands if they tried to stop me." Uncle Jason fiddled with a ring residing on his right hand's ring finger. I'd never noticed it before. "Your mom went with me for moral support. PJ, Iris, and Hammerhead were there too. Weirdly, I didn't cry. I think I didn't have tears left in me."

"Was that the last time you saw them?"

"No. I saw them at PJ and Iris's wedding. I was his best man. It was a small ceremony, but it was fun. That was nine years ago."

"Why haven't you seen him since?"

Uncle Jason grimaced. "The people looking for me- if they still are- wouldn't hesitate to use my family against me. You two, your parents, PJ, Iris, Hammerhead, you're all susceptible to that. It's why I rarely talk to you on the phone. Whenever we see each other, it's always in a public setting or at one of our houses. I'm not sure these people know it's me that's the Demon Lord, but I don't want to find out the hard way."

I bit my lip, contemplating on voicing my next question because it would be highly invasive, and I didn't want to necessarily ask it in front of Genette. It was something personal.

I decided to wait until later.

"Shall we watch the next few interviews?" Uncle Jason asked. I could tell he wanted to get past this part of his memories. I didn't blame him.

"Yeah, let's watch them," I agreed. He turned on the TV, and we settled in.

The documentary showed an aerial view of a damn, it's dark blue waters still and serene. Lush green trees lined the banks, and you could hear the helicopter in the background. The location and date faded onto the screen: 30 Nov. 2005, Avalon, Belka.