Chapter 32 — Preparations for the Battle (Part 1)

Alistair became enormously furious each time, hearing about the next unsuccessful actions of Salvatore and his truncated gang.

"If it weren't for Damon's betrayal, we'd have had it all over the head a long time ago, but now I have to struggle with such idiots like you!" Alistair shouted at Salvatore, Johann and Chris who were just standing in front of him. "I don't understand how it is possible that after almost three years, three demons still can't get rid of one sorceress! This is beyond comprehension! After all, it was possible for a single demon to do it in the past!" he gasped, giving each one of them a murderous glare.

"But my lord, you don't know how many protectors are there now. Two wizards, as many as nine sorceresses, one of them is a half-angel and... It is clear that they have prepared themselves much better than before..." Salvatore tried to justify himself and his companions.

"Ah, so that's the problem? You just simply don't know how to trick them!" Alistair shouted straight into his face. "But okay, let it be... We don't have time to play stalking anyway. Gather an army of demons and other children of the darkness, preferably the worst rabble, let there be a battle to the death. While they distract the members of the Council, you will take care of the "chosen one". I'm gonna observe everything and, if necessary, will go there personally, with my own private army that I got from Lucifer himself." he ordered at the end.

"Yes, of course, my lord," Salvatore replied, bowing, and then headed with Johann and Chris toward the exit out of Alistair's royal chambers.

~~~~~~

Tensions grew steadily at the beginning of July. Johnathan went to his mother, who was the oracle. She predicted a great battle and warned against the army that Salvatore was gathering to attack with it on the evening of July 19.

"Any details?" Elisabeth asked, looking at him carefully.

"My mother said the battle would last until July 20. The breakthrough in the fight will be the night of the 19th to the 20th." Johnathan replied.

"Well, after all, Selene was born a little after midnight. The outcome of the battle will depend on whether the demons manage to catch her and kill by then. If they don't kill Selene by midnight, they will lose." Rita said, which was quite an obvious statement.

"Apparently, one of the demons will warn us about the time and place of the battle. From what my mother described, I concluded that we would be fighting in this valley beyond the forest, away from human habitation." Johnathan added. This was also easy to predict, for this valley was perhaps the only such completely desolate place near Los Angeles, and the demons were surely just as anxious to avoid the mortal onlookers as they were.

"In that case, we are left to wait for the arrival of the one who will inform us about everything. If your mother is right, Johnathan, and it's highly possible, since she is an oracle, it will all be happening very far from the city and mortals." said Elisabeth, clearly relieved by that thought.

"Well, they also care not to come out to humans." Meredith summed up.

From that moment on, everyone prepared for the meeting of the messenger from the Underworld.

~~~~~~

On July 10, 2018, Damon and Marco were patrolling the area as usual. As they split up, one to patrol the front of the house and the other to patrol the back, an intruder burst into the garden and Damon sensed his presence immediately. It was a new demon, certainly none of Salvador's companions, but some other whose aura he did not know, probably one of the army Salvatore was gathering. The intruder was at the back of the house, which was Damon's premise. He was tall, slim, with short blonde hair and dreadfully blue eyes. It didn't take Damon long to catch him. He was still a young and inexperienced demon.

"Who the hell are you?" Damon asked, holding the intruder by the neck.

"Relax, I'm not coming to attack. I am Michael. Salvatore, the commander of our unit, sends me so I would tell you that on July 19 you must all be gathered in the valley beyond the forest. He will be waiting for you there with the entire army. Even Alistair finally decided that he would come right away, even though he wanted to wait at first." the boy replied.

"Okay, I understood and accepted the message. Now go to the Underworld, tell Alistair and Salvatore that we will be ready and definitely show up." Damon said and let the demon go. Then he rushed home, notifying Marco on the way. When Damon came to the house, as expected, everyone was already in the living room, alerted by Alice, who had learned everything from his thoughts.

"The demon messenger was here." Elisabeth said to him.

"Yes, Alice was telling the truth." Damon confirmed, nodding slightly.

"So on July 19th, we're supposed to gather in the valley beyond the woods." Meredith said with a stony face.

"We must prepare for this battle. There are not enough of us, so we will ask wizards and sorceresses from all over the world for help." Rita suggested.

"Of course, you are right. We'd better get down to it right now." Isabelle agreed.

So everyone went to their rooms to make the necessary calls. Eleazar decided to invite his friends in person, so he teleported to them. Maria got the idea to ask angels for help, so she also went to the Kingdom of Heaven to ask for help, or at least a tiny squad of healing angels, which would certainly be useful with more people. They still had a lot of time, and some of the invited guests arrived immediately, especially Eleazar's friends, whom he managed to teleport straight to the Monroe family house. After that, Eleazar also traveled to other places to teleport the others, as many as he could. Everyone was busy with something, while training in combat and using their gifts or magic spells.

~~~~~~

Selene was just sitting on the couch in the living room, resting from training and helping out with amulets, of course by being in the arms of Damon.

"What do you think about it all, can we win this battle?" she asked, visibly worried.

"I hope so... But don't worry about it, darling. Whatever happens, I won't let anyone hurt you." Damon replied, hugging her tighter and kissing the top of Selene's head.

"How can I not worry about it? Perhaps one or even a few people I know will die soon. What will I do without my aunt, you, Rita, Alice, Teresa, or Deborah? Or..." Selene mentioned, deeply moved by the thought of this turn of events.

"The most important thing is your survival... If you defeat Alistair, the world will change dramatically. The demons will not come back because there will be no one to resurrect them. Before a demon is born with such a gift as Alistair has, some time will pass for sure, perhaps even by that time it could be possible to completely clear the world of demons. Whoever dies in your defense will contribute to it and will be a hero for his loved ones. The whole world of magic will remember such a person." Damon said, slowly whispering as if he was telling her a fairy tale. His velvety voice made Selene drift away after a moment.