Threads Before the Storm

Arriving at Ella's room, I walk in just behind her and Jean to find the demon girl awake and holding a knife in front of her. Keeping distance between herself and everyone else.

"Arilenne!" Turning at Ella's shout, Arilenne lets the knife go and runs over.

"Ella!" Tackling her into a hug, I step clear as the two women tumble to the ground. Looking at Elias, he gives me an exasperated look before helping the two women up.

"Now that we are all here, can we get to why you wanted to see me?" Starting as she remembered why she came, Arilenne kneels in front of the king.

"I came to petition you to stop the Demon King. He's completely out of control." Taking a seat on a nearby seat, the king sighs heavily.

"What do you mean by that? The destruction at Maplefall was extreme, but I hardly think that constitutes…"

"You don't understand, Human King. Saetaen plans to release the Leviathans." Rounding on her, Ella grabs Arilenne and leans into her heavily.

"He cannot. He doesn't possess the ability to open their prison, and even he is not foolish enough to do that." Pushing clear of Ella, Arilenne shakes her head.

"After Maplefall and his defeat at the hands of this human here, he went completely off the deep end. He slew half of the Demon Lords, including all those that belonged to the old guard. His rage was fiercer than anything I had ever seen. He's already making a move to acquire the thing she needs to make a key that will open their prison."

"What are the Leviathans?" I take an internal step back as the women turn their eyes on me.

"The Leviathans are ancient entities. They predate the creation of even the demons. The goddesses and the Leviathans were the original inhabitants of this world. But when man came, the Goddesses sealed the Leviathans in a prison. However, they built in a door. Just in case there ever came a time when they would need to be released. The Leviathans are not inherently evil. They are just powerful beyond measure. Even the lowest of them would be comparable in strength to an elder dragon at least. Each one is a calamity on its own. If my father releases them, they will wipe all life from the world. No one would be safe. Not the demons. Not humans. No-one." Swallowing to bring moisture back to my mouth, I clear my throat trying to find the words to say.

"Can they be stopped?" Even Elias's voice cracks as he tries to talk. The gravity and weight of the situation settling over us like a dark cloud.

"Not if they're fully released. The best we can do is stop my father before he opens the cage."

"Where's the cage?"

"In the Hall of the Damned." Cursing, the king gets up and kicks the chair in anger.

"This is madness. Has he not had his fill of death and destruction? What gives him the right to do this?" Stepping forward, Arilenne stops in front of the king.

"He doesn't have the right. He is beyond redemption at this point. What he does now, he does on his own. The Demon Lords and the Forbidden Council have condemned his actions. They are already making plans to stop him. The only solace we have right now is that he doesn't have the key yet. But it won't take him forever to acquire it."

"What does he need for the key?" From the back of the room, Hannah speaks up.

"He needs the Soul Stone of Orion, The Tines of Collosus and the Bracer of Firentia. I read about that when I was looking for more information regarding the Oracle given to me by the goddess." Pride wells up in my chest. I'm glad I was blessed with such a smart and diligent daughter.

"You are a well-educated young lady."

"Thank you."

"He already has the Bracer of Firentia. The remaining two pieces are still in the wind. However, he already knows where the Soul Stone of Orion is." Taking a seat heavily, Ella looks over at me.

"We need to see Marianne. Orion is an elder Fenrir. The Soul Stone is part of him. If he's going for that, she need to know so she can get to him in time." Nodding, I lean against the wall and cross my arms.

"What about the Tines of Collosus?"

"Collosus hasn't been seen in a very long time. He's a demonic Dragon and went underground a millennium ago. But don't underestimate my father. If he's set his mind on releasing the Leviathans, nothing will stop him." Taking his seat again, the King leans back with a tired look on his face.

"How do we even get access to the Hall of the Damned? Isn't it sealed in a way that the mortal races can't gain access?"

"There is a door. And I know how to get the key." Pulling a small vial out from a pocket in her coat, Ella holds it up to the light. Swirling inside the blood red mixture is a small silver light.

"I have one of the ingredients to make the key here."

"Ella, that's not…" With a look of horror on her face, Arilenne steps back suddenly.

"It is. The soul of an innocent. I didn't kill anyone for it, Ari. The innocent died at birth. My seer ability made me grab and bind it, and I've held onto it since then. I never knew I would need such a thing until now." Stepping to his feet, a dark look crosses the king's face.

"What kind of key would require such an abomination?"

"The only key capable of opening the door to the Hall of the Damned. Don't be too hard on her, Human King. She didn't make the door or the rules. But she's the one who had to carry the burden of that knowledge." Rounding on Ella, Arilenne sighs before continuing.

"The second part is simple. I know where there is an ancient demon beast that we can gain the soul from. But the biggest problem will be getting the third part of the key."

"Don't tell me."

"You're going to have to deal with the Crypt Master. You know that, right, Ella?" Looking at her face, a small pang of guilt goes through me at the fear on her face. I didn't even stop to think about what the toll of carrying all of those memories and that knowledge must have been doing to her.

"I still find this hard to agree with. The soul of an innocent…"

"If there was another way, I would have taken it, Elias. You must know that. I know there were some things I kept from you, and you must have so many things running through your mind right now, but I have done nothing to harm you and yours."

"I know Ellavessa. It is still not an easy thing to come to terms with, but I'll put it aside for now. What's our next move?"

"I need to go to Marianne and warn her. If the Fenrir lose an elder, there will be chaos amongst the races, and I feel we made need their support to come. You should go after the demon beast. With some high-ranked adventurers, you shouldn't have an issue, Elias."

"I have a group in mind. I was actually going to get them to come here and train Hannah. Oscar, with your permission, I would like Hannah to join us on this quest." I was always told there would come a time in your child's life when you have the make a choice. Between being an overbearing parent and letting them go out into the world to make their own mistakes and choices. Looking across at Hannah, I can see the determination in her eye and I know. The time had come.

"She can go. But Elias…" Nodding at me in understanding, he gets to his feet and offers me his arm.

"I'll keep her safe." Taking his arm in a warrior's grip, I smile at him.

"Thank you." Releasing the grip on my arm, he beckons for Hannah to follow him.

"Come, Hannah, let me introduce you to the members of Dragon Tree. You'll like them." As the king leaves the room with Hannah in tow, Jean bows to me and heads out after them. Turning, I find the two women deep in conversation, whispering to each other. Coming over to them, I stop as they turn to me with a cold look on their faces.

"I will go with your daughter, outlier. I, along with the human king, will keep her safe. But in return…" Moving closer, she pulls me aside and whispers in my ear.

"You keep her safe. She cares for you deeply, outlier. If she gives you her heart, don't break it or I will break you." Taking a step back, I look into her bright purple eyes and see the fierce loyalty reflected. Swallowing everything I might have said, I nod my head.

"Good. Now, I will be off. Take care, you two." Running out the door after Elias, Arilenne disappears. Turning back to Ella, I see her standing there with a gentle smile on her face.

"Well then, shall we go?"

"We should. Let's go find Marianne." Holding out my hand to her, I wait for a moment for her to take it before leading her out of the room and out of the castle.