(1700–1800): part1

Going down the bumpy roads of the memory lane proved chaotic.

The superworld flourished in the hands of the ten most prestigious families, that included the Lindales, Freys, Laylands, Whitelocks, Abrams, Greshmans, and more.

The majority of them exhibited pure powers and were at loggerheads with demons who represented dark powers. That caused an uprising by the demons. The demons expressed a hunger for black magic. There was widespread restlessness and clashes started happening frequently. Until there came so much antagonism that the circumstances were getting out of control at the hands of these families, people started turning their back on the vision this realm supported, causing the realm to be divided and communities to be segregated. Divisions gave rise to rebellion; rebellion caused chaos leading to death and widespread massacre.

As a result, the families decided to form a rule book and limit the power of each creature in the superworld. The rule book limited the entry of demons into the realm. Their powers and rights were limited due to which they felt alienated. Skylar being partly a demon was reluctant towards this arrangement but did not retaliate much. However, that didn’t mean she was not affected adversely. The word about the rules spread like wildfire through all the realms. The demons were out for blood. Not only they but also the other protectors wanted less power in the hands of the witches and half-blooded ‘abominations’ like hybrids and tribrids, as they preferred to call them.

Skylar was furious at the ‘abominable’ status that was ascribed to her community. She was silent but was scheming inside. Shax demon, the strongest among the demon race, had killed many innocent members of the superworld in the name of justice, which had raised grave concerns regarding peace, law, and order in all the other realms. They had brutally murdered kids and women and they were causing chaos in the human realm too.

Shax had burned the great library where all the records and important grimoires were stored. They did that to destroy all the proof of the killings and also to bury all things that could pose a threat to his powers. Shax was planning something ominous. Before burning the ancient library to ashes, he stole the dark magic grimoires. All the paperwork of the realms was reduced to ashes; the spells and runes everything turned to dust. The situation was chaotic.

A few days before the tragedies, Emerald and Skylar had a conversation.

“Em, what is happening! Just because the committee consists of protector families in majority doesn’t mean we don’t have rights. Why are witches stripped of power? Why would someone connive to bring an end to the hybrids? What is this! Are we not important enough to them!”

“You are right Sky, this isn’t right. We need to stand up for what’s right. The charter of rules will become official in the coming week even amidst retaliation.”

“What!” Skylar was in anguish.

“Yes, looks like there has been a divide in the committee. This information has only been told to the protectors. Sophie Layland filled me in. Shax needs to be put down, not the others.”

“What are they up to? It scares me, they will divide us from the inside and regret it.”

That night both Skylar and Emerald went to bed uneasy. At midnight around 3 am, the demon territory was reduced to ashes by the protectors. The innocent ones were ‘collateral damage’ as they stated when asked about the reason and need behind the attack. This had to be done according to them, not everyone agreed to this. Laylands opposed this decision vehemently, Whitelocks and Lindales were a confused lot, unsure who to support. As a result, Whitelocks and Lindales were removed from the committee being stated as ‘dangerous ones with confused state of mind, not trustworthy’.

The killing of innocent demons caused another havoc in the realm. The witches, vampires, werewolves, and even a few protectors found it unjust. Shax demon retaliated. He had killed the Abrahams in cold blood, putting an end to their bloodline.

Ace Wayland approached Skylar and Emerald, proposing the formation of an alliance because without harmony successful functioning was impossible. Everyone was divided, with their distinct motives and agendas. And everyone believed they had enough justification behind their thoughts. Negotiation among witches, protectors, and demons was the need of the hour.

A meeting was held on the 5th of December 1710 in which the witches were persuaded by Emerald to concede to the upcoming alliance as that would ensure safety for their race during these turbulent times.

Ace Wayland was backed by some demons who were ready for negotiation. Only Shax-Solhm was a symbol of terror. He was the one to be ostracized and the justice for the innocents had to be reinstated. The vampires stayed neutral during this time of war and were considered to be with the demons. Ace was a very important ally to Augustus. The protectors also felt negotiation was a better option.

As planned, Shax demon was to be persuaded by Ace for a meeting with the committee. Then Skylar and Emerald would cast a powerful spell to temporarily separate the spirit of the demon from his body. During that time, they could tackle the remaining minions. Originally killing the minions was not the plan as they did not wish for more bloodshed and sorrow. As a part of the original plan, the team expected the whole tribe to trail along behind their obnoxious leader.

It was decided that they would kill the leader and imprison the minions. The fighting team “Nova” did not involve many people as they did not want to put many people in danger in case things went wrong. The wise, democratic, and political minds who were worthy of being trusted were given the duty to look after the common population of the super realms and take further decisions in case they don’t hear back from the fighting teams. The Nova team took an oath before the leaders were nominated. The decisions were to be taken for all the people of the realm. No favoritism, no unnecessary bloodshed, and no threat for the common folks were the rules of the war.

The team Nova consisted of three sub-teams. Roman backed by Ace, Lucy and Augustus, to lure the Shax demon — one of the toughest tasks of the whole mission. Potestas, a solo team consisting of only Skylar, as she possessed the power of many creatures taken together and was immortal. She was assigned to tackle and cage the minions as there were loads of them. The last team Invictus consisted of Emerald and Beatrix, also called Trixie, Lucy’s younger sister since they were both very strong witches. Trixie also could use other people’s magic to her advantage which made her even stronger, but she was young and did not know very well how to control her superior powers. The mission Nova had to commence at midnight.

But things don’t always happen the way you want …

The team met one last time with the hope of seeing each other again after the mammoth mission. Things were very uncertain. Shax was a creature not to be underestimated; he was manipulative; and he used his mind as his greatest weapon.

Lucy, Emerald, and Skylar hugged each other and uttered in unison, “Till the end of time.” Three of them held each other’s hands for a while. Before leaving, Skylar and Ace looked eye to eye and Skylar winked at him as she went her way after saying, “See ya in a while A.”

“Can’t wait ...” he mocked back.

Emerald urged others to hurry up, “Ok, let’s get back to work guys.” Skylar had noticed something weirdly strange about Emerald. She could see the occasional spark of power hunger in Emerald’s eyes whenever they talked about bringing down the ultimate demon. She seemed to be ambitious enough to be the one in power after Shax-Solhm’s downfall. That bothered Skylar. Too much power is not good for anyone. She knew that. She also couldn’t deny that she herself never felt tempted to harness unlimited power. Who wouldn’t enjoy power, that is! The hunger for power made the two soul sisters even more sinister. Skylar thought about Emerald’s deep dark desires but didn’t let it bother her much as she blindly trusted her. But the thought made her rather uneasy.

As per plan, Lucy, Ace, and Augustus went to Shax’s den across the Dark Shadows where he was resting in peace after taking his revenge by killing some more innocent souls. The journey at 2 am in the middle of the night was very dangerous as the demons are the strongest during midnight and weakest during the sunrise. The trio had to be alert and not be consumed by the dark shadows that existed from the beginning of time and were destined to remain till the end of creation. Augustus was given a special shield to protect himself from death during the hours of weakness at sunrise.

As elders say, there are always two sides to a coin; if we have the sun to give us the light, we have the shadows to offer us darkness. It’s only our wise judgement that can guide us to the path of righteousness. The three of them had each other’s back during the passage through the dark shadows as that was a very desolate area and it was believed no one ever returned after entering it. It rouses your deepest darkest desires, compels you to crave for it and destroys you from within.

The Roman team reached the den at 3 am. They planned to leave the den after an hour and come back by 5 am, a good time for Shax to be at his lowest, but Shax was no fool either.

Ace on reaching the den bowed to Shax, “Solhm, may I!”

“Ace, my descendent, what is the matter, what brings you here? Perhaps with another witch and a vampire, planning to trick me with treachery!” He taunted Augustus.

Augustus didn’t say much as he didn’t want to spoil the plan. He stood with his head down to show him that he was ashamed. Although he just wanted to simply feast on his blood.

Lucy then added cautiously, “We are here to present to you with an opportunity, and keenly want your support to help us avenge the lost ones against the protectors, we too want our revenge.”

“That’s right you have the support of the demons, witches, and vampires,” Augustus added to sound convincing.

“That’s a very tempting proposition, I must say, but I’m no kid. What makes you think I would join you without any proof of your loyalty,” Shax said with a rusty voice.

To which Ace added, “I would never backstab my own.”

Shax was not convinced.

Precious moments were being lost. They needed to make the plan work. Everyone tried convincing Shax in various ways. He was still unmoved and enjoying the attention.

“We need you to join us and move with us fast to the castle,” Lucy urged.

“What’s the hurry dearest?” Shax asked questioningly, suspicion deepening in his expression.

“We plan to attack tonight,” said Lucy, to sound as true as possible.

Solhm was still suspicious and tried to buy time. The trio had limited time to lure him and was growing impatient.

“We must hurry up,” said Ace.

Gradually, a large army of his minions started gathering around Shax as if they were ready to fight the whole realm, it was rather unexpected; the army was huge. Ace was not worried about Skylar, but it was the other way around. God bless their poor souls from her wrath, that’s what he thought. But he was worried as they were not all. They had expected the whole army to tag along. But half of the team hadn’t even left the den and that made Ace even more anxious.

They broke into a cold sweat but hid the fact that they were all terrified to their core. They left the den along with their so-called fake ally Shax around 5 am. They were running behind time. Shax was already at his lowest during the journey. The trio were supposed to deliver him at the decided venue but they were running behind the clock. This could immensely sabotage the entire plan.

Shax seemed to proceed with great confidence. He again warned them all that in case he feels danger, he will end those whom they loved, and further those whom their loved ones loved. Shax did not need any allies; he needed blind followers who were afraid of him and ready to be ruled by him. He had a superiority complex.

At around 6 am, they reached their destination. Everything was quiet all around … too quiet in fact …

Was the pervading calmness a lull before a storm! The storm that might be the end to a lot of dreams and ambitions … who knows …