There is Power in Death

Chapter 19

I feel the need to say this, although it was a bad thing to think, I wanted to use David as bait. I knew nobody else would agree to it, but the thought was there. I look at Talan, forgetting for a second that he's in the form of Atlas. I send him a look that, hopefully, shows what I want to ask. He shakes his head no, and I'm more frustrated. It would go by way faster if I used my full power, but that's apparently too dangerous for me. Don't ask how I got that from his look, I just did. I continue fighting normally, but put a little more magic than average into my strikes. It's barely noticeable to anyone else, but I can feel it. 

We start taking them down one by one and Oliver and David eventually join us. We get through the majority of the demons. Al continues to shift between animals, each one more bizarre than the last creature. They settle on a large dragon and continue to strike the demons. Oliver seems to be very fast on his feet as he dodges the demons' attacks, and David stands there, hitting any demon that comes close. Talan and Benji are covered in the green blood of the monsters, and I realize as I'm fighting that my uniform is also covered. Maddy joins the fight and we eventually take out all the ones in the area.

We collapse on the ground and catch our breath. Talan produces food and water from his pouch and hands them out. 

"So, that was something, huh?" David remarks. 

We all nod in agreement as we drink and recover our strength. I notice that Oliver has blood coming down from his head.

"Hey, T-Atlas, Oliver's bleeding," I point to the wound and Oliver shrinks down and starts looking panicked.

"It's best that I patch him up. He doesn't like people touching his face, isn't that right buddy?" David pitches in.

Oliver looks like he doesn't want to nod his head, but does regardless.

Talan seems to notice, "I can't let you do that. You are not the healer here, I am. I doubt you have a clue as to how to properly patch up a wound like that. I need to do my job, so if you would allow me to save the kid, I will gladly do so. If you deny my request, I have full authority to file a complaint directly."

David is about to say something, but Oliver speaks instead.

"Okay," He says in a small, quiet voice.

He takes off his hood and I am able to see his face. He looks to be around fourteen, with hair that's half black half white. It's the same style as Atlas's, but much messier. One of his eyes is blue, and the other is black. He has fangs, and his eye bags are unusually dark. This fourteen year old is a Phanter, which means that he has killed someone in his fourteen years in the living world. This poor kid.

I can see the wound clearly now. It looks pretty  bad. A demon must've slashed him while he was fighting.

"I can't treat this here, we have to go back to HQ. I'm going to teleport him to my office. Alex and Benji will be accompanying me."

I'm about to ask about Al, but notice that he has turned into a bracelet and is now on Benji's wrist. I can sense that it's him. Maddy agrees to escort David there by foot. We part ways and are in the nurse's office in no time at all. Oliver has passed out, so Talan sets him down on the bed.

"You guys can stay in here, but you don't have to. I'm going to be stopping the bleeding and disinfecting the wound. I may have to sew it shut. I'm also going to give him some anesthetic.."

Al turns back to normal and turns to us.

"That kid, I don't think his mentor is being goo to him. He seemed hesitant to agree with him back there."

"I agree. We weren't sent to only search for demons, I was supposed to see if this apprentice was doing okay. I do that occasionally to all the younger Phanters," Talan talks while he works. 

"Can't you just use your healing powers on him?" I ask.

"I cannot, not on younger patients. My healing magic doesn't work on younger people. I don't know the real reason, but I can work around it."

He silently works and Oliver wakes up not long after he's finished. 

"Are you okay, Oliver?" Benji asks.

"Y-yes. W-where am I-I?" He quietly answers.

"You're in the nurse's office," Talan tells him.

"Can you answer some questions for us? It's about David. You don't have to, but please tell us if he's making you uncomfortable."

"S-sure."

"Thank you. Has David been doing anything to you?"

"Y-yes. H-he makes m-me do m-most of his work. I-I was f-forced into s-secrecy and he make m-me stay u-up t-to clean his r-room. He p-purposefully trashes i-it each m-morning."

"Okay. So he's been making you uncomfortable?"

"V-very. P-please don't make m-me be his a-apprentice a-anymore," he's in tears by now and he's shaking. 

I know what's going on and know how to deal with this.

"Talan, go get a glass of water for him," I say, and start to talk to the kid in a soothing voice and tell him to take deep breaths.

Talan returns with the water and I hand it to Oliver.

"Drink this."

His breathing has calmed down and he slowly starts to drink the water.

"Th-thanks. W-why are you being s-so nice to me?"

"Because what David has been doing is bad, and we care for all the Phanters here."

"W-what's going to h-happen to D-David?"

"He's going to be fired and sent to the Underworld to be judged."

"O-okay."

"By the way, This is Talan, not Atlas. He just uses that appearance so his patients aren't afraid of him. You shouldn't be afraid of him."

"Okay."

"Let's head to my room. Are you able to walk?" I ask.

"I-I am."

"Then follow me."

We all head to the elevators and up to my room.

10007 words