The Demon Wolf (Book 1 of The Devil and the Huntsman)

Chapter 58

Both of them had plenty of reasons to hate the night creatures; they both understood why they all must die. Julius and Harald raised their swords and fought against their enemies in the name of King Lancelot. Unlike Balvu and the rest of the nights, Julius and Harald had a plan to end the long battle and prevent the demons from winning. They planned to go in secret to the castle of Midland and defeat the demon king to win back the court. The kingdom of Midland would soon be in ruins if they lose the battle and surrender their lives to the king of Hell.

"Harald! Stay behind me!" Julius said.

"What about it? What are you going to do?" Harald asked.

"What am I going to do? I'm going to do what I've always been doing for the past twenty years. Tirelessly defend this city and this kingdom!"

"Fine. But do not forget our plan, Julius! Our lives depend on it!"

"That's why you're going to stay behind me and allow me to protect you from the demons. It has always been my purpose ever since we started living in this city!"

Julius was never wrong about his purpose with the earl as he raised his sword in his name. The battle was much longer and more intense than every onslaught that Julius has ever been in. He has always been a competent person in both actions and conversations, which were significant. Julius and Harald killed every night creature standing in their way and prevent the walls from falling. They continued their task of defeating their opponents and making sure they did not die on this night.

Meanwhile, Erica was making sure that everyone was gone from the hallway and not trying to stop her. It seemed apparent that every person who served Harald has been taken someplace where the creatures will never find them. Deep within herself, she knew what her husband was doing to save his people from tyranny. Somewhere in Loftain, there was a path leading to a place where no danger will be around the citizens. A few dozen knights were there to make sure the people were not getting lost from the road, which led to a tunnel.

This tunnel contained many sculptures of ancient kings and plenty of room for people to sit down and rest themselves. It was the only way for Loftain's citizens to be away from the danger of the night creatures. Even the most curious beast could not tell what kind of place it is where the people were hiding. They were to hide inside until the morning sun rises and until the long battle is over. It was when Erica walks to Brant's bedroom door and begins knocking for him to answer her.

Brant hears the knocking, and he was still awake as he listened to the battle begin outside the city. The intense sounds of swords clashing with each other and heads being chopped off were enough for the earl's son to stay awake. He quickly opens the door as he hears the knocking get much louder. Brant saw her mother walk inside as he started being curious about why she walked inside his room. He could tell that his mother was afraid of the things that might happen to her and him.

"Mother, what are you doing here? What's happening outside?" Brant asked.

"Brant, I need you to be with him for the entire night. There's a battle outside, and I'm here to make sure you and I still live," Erica answered.

"What talk is this? What are you saying, mother? I must know why you're in here and why you're breathing heavily," he said.

"The demons. They're everywhere. I don't know if the knights will win or not. Those creatures have a chance of breaking through the walls and taking over the city. There's a huge chance that your father might die in this battle."

Brant was trying to understand every word that his mother is trying to say to him, and he was trying to make her calm down. Erica had all kinds of thoughts run inside her mind and could not make them go away. So much of what has been happening made her shiver at the thought of being forced to serve the night. Midland has already lost a significant chunk of land because of the demons, and they now seemed to have a considerable advantage. Brant never knew his mother's thoughts about many things, but he found it difficult to ask her what she was thinking.

"Mother, what do you want me to do? I've never seen you do this kind of thing to me. Everything you're saying is making me confused," Brant said.

"You don't understand. The demons have returned to Midland, and they're busy trying to take the wall down. And your father and Julius are up there pushing them back," Erica said.

"The demons... in Midland? Impossible! How did they find so much strength so soon?" He asked.

"I don't know. Everything seemed to have happened in a blink of an eye. I can't change everything that's already happening. I need you to trust me. We both need to hide from the night creatures. We must make sure every candle is blown out."

"Mother, please calm down. If you continue acting like this, they'll come for us, anyway. I don't know everything about my father or Julius, but I know that they are the strongest men Midland could ask for. I also don't know if we should put our trust in them any longer. Who knows what they might do if the people lose control and losing hope?"

"Brant, we must never lose hope. If the knights lose this battle, we need to get packed and leave this city behind. We must go somewhere else to live to stay away from the demons. I'm sorry, but this may be a night remembered for all the wrong reasons. Our enemies might kill your father, and Julius may not be here to bury him. If we lose this city, I cannot let you leave by yourself."

Erica's son believed her and continues putting his trust in her as she is with him during the night. He made it seem fair for him to be convinced by his mother about the demons attacking the city. Brant found it necessary for him to comfort his mother and let her know that everything will be alright. A son usually must love and honor his mother for all the things she has done for him. Brant understood that the night is too dangerous for him; he tried finding a few ways to help his mother leave the palace.

"Mother, what do you suggest we do if the city still belongs to us? Do you think everything will go back to normal?" Brant asked.

"Even if we win back Loftain, the night creatures will return to retake it. We'll just have to leave the palace, regardless of whether we like it," Erica answered. She had her reasons for believing what may happen, but so long as she is with her son, she should not worry about it too much.

Meanwhile, the battle between the humans and the demons continued as there were even more creatures climbing up the walls. They were not afraid to take the arms, legs, and heads of the knights with them to trophies. Julius and Harald were trying their best to keep the demons away from entering the city and killing anyone inside. The men waiting behind the doors were terrified of what might happen to themselves if they did not fight back. They were very anxious about the things that are likely to occur to their general and their ruler.

"There are far too many of them!" One knight said.

"We can't hold them back forever!" Another knight said. The men of Midland doubted themselves about the fact that they might never win against the night.

They were all expecting to die with their swords in their hands and had many reasons to fall back. Suddenly, Julius was feeling his chest burn again after killing so many demons in one sitting. He kneels on the ground and feels his body seem like it is getting ready to burn; he commanded the Demon Wolf to cease.

"Dammit, Mephiles! What did I tell you about activating my powers during this time?" Julius asked.

"If I knew, I would've already told you. When you've killed this many demons in one night, my body and yours have no choice but to act on their own. You must find the demon leaders and kill them," Mephiles answered.

"I gave Harald my word. I made them all a promise, and I intend to keep it!"