Chapter 19

The door to Dantalion's room flew open with a crash and Dantalion jumped involuntarily. "D-Devon?!" he just managed to utter, startled.

Without saying anything, he stepped in and raised his hand. Immediately a light blue, almost white glowing ball formed in his hand. Dantalion swallowed. He realized that Devon was really...really...upset.

Kyla slowly opened her eyes. She had to struggle to see her surroundings clearly. She sat up carefully and immediately felt a sharp pain in her back. Azamir rushed to her and gently pushed her back into the bed. "Not!"

Kyla turned her head to her little friend. "W-what... happened?!" her memory was faint.

Azamir first checked her pulse, then answered: "Devon brought you here. Azamir looked for you, but couldn't find you. Azamir was very scared for Kyla!"

Kyla sighed and immediately wondered why Devon had brought her here.

She searched frantically for her memory, but what she found was yawning darkness. Exhausted, she closed her eyes again. Just a little rest..., she said to herself before she fell into a sound sleep.

Dantalion couldn't move anymore. Side feet were frozen solid. And slowly, agonizingly slowly, it crept further and further up his body. Devon slowly came closer. His voice sounded menacing: "I warned you Dantalion! I told you let your magic be in my house!”

"V-sorry... m-me...", the trembling in his voice wasn't only due to the cold that affected his body.

Devon's eyes were still that red. Entering Kyla's mind, he immediately knew something was wrong. Her body was filled with an alien magic and had Raia awakened it would have been her certain death. He had to break her barrier to gain free access to her thoughts and memories, and there he found what he was looking for. The trigger for everything, Dantalion. With the help of the book he had given Kyla, he had not only robbed her of her powers but also slowly poisoned her with his magic, bit by bit. Had she done the training in this state? The more of that magic surged through her body, the more dangerous it was.

Devon stood close to the old man. "Take back your magic!" he demanded in a whisper. But Dantalion's lips were played with a mad smile. "I won't leave you to Raia!" His laughter sounded shrill.

Devon's hand shot out and wrapped itself roughly around the old man's neck. Without any mercy he squeezed. "TAKE... YOUR... MAGIC... FROM... HER!" It sounded like the growl of a rabid wolf. He could have tried to absorb Dantalion's magic, but with that crowd he would have been very weak afterwards. But with the upcoming meeting of the 12, he couldn't risk it.

Dantalion's eyes flashed wildly. "You once had her for yourselves, but this time she will be mine!" Despite the tight grip around his neck, Dantalion had no trouble getting his words out clearly.

"You know it's going to kill her!" he yelled at him.

But the smile on the old man's lips showed him that he expected THIS to happen.

A menacing growl and Devon released him. He turned away from him and stopped in the entrance of the door. He turned to him one last time. "I don't need you anymore..." his voice sounded colder than ice and in the same moment as Devon disappeared from Dantalion's sight, the old man's body exploded into thousands of shreds.

Devon made his way back. He knew that Dantalion's magic would not leave her body. Dantalion himself should have taken them out there. Since he refused, he had no choice. Now it was up to Kyla to embrace this alien magic. She had to learn to deal with it and her body had to process it. If she did, she would have some of Dantalion's abilities within her for the rest of her life. Just wondered which one.

The door opened noiselessly and as Devon entered his room, a servant immediately appeared and helped him to take off his clothes. He then went to the bathroom and immersed himself in the red elixir.

Resting his arms on the tiles and leaning his head back, he closed his eyes. Why now? As if the meeting of the 12 didn't bother him enough already. First his own brother defied him and now Dantalion. He'd known he was up to something, but he hadn't counted on killing Kyla. Well, Dantalion is no longer a problem, he told himself. It was much more important that she regained consciousness as soon as possible. Kyla had to be present at the meeting of the 12, it was essential for his project. And until that happened, he had to make sure that nothing more happened to her.

A little later, after getting dressed and eating, he made his way over to Kyla.

Azamir sat on the edge of the bed and kept watching Kyla. Actually, he should prepare more ointments, but he wasn't sure if he could leave his girlfriend alone.

Azamir awoke from his thoughts when he heard the rustling of fabric. He looked at Devon, whose full attention was on Kyla. As he looked away from her, he asked the lizard, "Was she awake yet?"

Azamir nodded. "Short. Then sleep again.”

Devon audibly exhaled and Azamir stared at him. "Where Kyla was?" he finally asked.

A few feet away from the bed, a large, comfortable looking chair appeared and Devon sat down in it.