Demon in Disguise

02 | The plan.

“A what?”

Akiesha’s brows furrowed in confusion when his father finished citing a boring poem from whatever oracle that is by a supposed greatest sorcerer.

One a human, one a demon.

Akiesha pouted in annoyance. What a lame prophecy!

No one should ever put human side-by-side with us, we’re not equal.

Human represents the weak and we represent strength and power.

And to think a mere human is destined to be my rival in a battle!

How am I going to take that seriously?

I would easily rip off that human’s neck with a hand swing.

Nah, that was just a made-believe oracle of a fool.

Akiesha instinctively raised her hand onto her forehead. She could still feel the burning sensation of that mark who suddenly appeared on her body.

“You are the red-moon tattoo bearer Akiesha, you are the one that was foretold by Scabalo thousand years ago. Along with our ancestors, your great great grandfather Agaro, witnessed it, Scabalo incantated the oracle on his deathbed. Agaro wrote the full account of the oracle on this book.” Dayabulu explained to her and handed her an old book whose cover was made from the skin of the ancient beasts.

Akiesha took the book and scanned the pages.

They were written in an ancient script that she believes were the language of her ancestors.

How am I supposed to read this?

She annoyingly thought.

“It is said that the foretold was the only one who can read the Scarabak’shir. The old sacred language of our ancestors.” His father explained, motioning the book she was carrying.

She looked at the book again with curiosity.

Scarabak’shir, so that’s their sacred language.

She laughed at the pun.

Their kinds were descendants of the Lucifer, the prince of Dark and they have such thing as *sacred language*.

She gently caressed the worn-out pages with her fingers.

Her eyes bulged in surprise when the book suddenly glowed in red.

She stared at it in awe.

Dayabulu was looking at her daughter intently.

He was having doubts already that it was her that was being foretold. That explains why her strength and power is incomparable against her peers.

But he silently wished that it wasn’t her. He’s fully aware of the danger Akiesha will be facing one of these days.

A human had once defeated them; Anduroy was powerless compared to his great great great great grandfather Dayabushka but that human managed to defeat the mighty demon.

How much more the supposed rival of Akiesha.

Nevertheless, he knows that her daughter must fulfill her destiny.

Akiesha can soon read the pages as if it was her first language. It seems to be just sleeping within her and has now awakened.

With a loud voice, she began reading it.

Moon glowin’ red

Light a’dark against

A seal of fate

Red blood drenched

Black blood spattered

World on fire

Souls on chaos

Heart drowned in betray

Knees bend in agony

Love lost in midst

O’great sacrifice

One a human; one a demon

Top and bottom; high and low

Both shareth a’bornday

Both shareth a’fate

Triumph o’ success

Life o’ death

Either will they be

O’one soul paved

Great battle seen on horizon

The end will be no ones

World left on dust.

Akiesha snapped the book closed.

She was left dumbfounded; she does not understand anything except the part where it stated that her and the human shares the same birthday.

It makes her stomach sick.

“Is this a sick joke? Of all that I share the same birthday, it’s with a human and my supposed rival!” she complained.

Her Dada only sighed. “This is your destiny Akiesha, the Dark has chosen you. This is the reason why we chose to stay away from humans, this is the sign that I’ve been telling you. You are sign that we’re waiting Akiesha, you will lead us in avenging our great ancestor Dayabushka and of our kind. I know that you’re still young, but I want you to take this seriously. Now, come with me. I’ll bring you to our elders and laid out the plan and the role you’re playing.”

Akiesha could only follow her Dada silently that is now heading towards their tribe’s headquarters.

Prying eyes from her kind bored onto her. Some were still mad while others looked at her in fright.

As they should!

Even before that red-moon tattoo, she was one of the strongest demons at the age of 16 and now that she was actually the red-moon bearer, she was expected to be the strongest.

Hah! I can’t wait to defeat that mere human in front of her kind! Before that weakling could even touch her hair, she will make sure that pitiful creature to be dead on the ground already.

Or she could torture him…

A menacing smile appeared on her face.

Without realizing it, they already arrived at the headquarters.

It is her first time to enter the place.

She held her head in pride as she followed her Dada inside, the guards scanning her through their prying eyes.

“O’might Dayabulu.” Shabunto greeted her Dada, her bones sticking out of its body. If her memory serrves her right, Shabunto if highest ranking official of their tribe’s Special Forces.

Her dad acknowledged the greeting before he sat down on the central chair. Dayabulu motioned her to sit down on the chair beside him which she proudly obliged.

At this point, she’s the most important demon of her tribe.

The officials bowed their heads as she passed by on them.

Her mouth formed into a smirk.

She wonders what the plan will be. She hopes it would be something and fun.

She might even suggest they start attacking people, her, alone can kill everyone without the help of her tribe.

The elders started claiming the available seats as they circled the table around them.

One demon was left standing at the farthest side of the table.

Its body were covered with slitted eyes. Its pupils moved around in no direction.

“Kabuka, why are you just standing there?” Dayabulu noticed the standing demon.

She grinned in amazement when all of its eyes moved to their side.

“Apologies O’might Dayabulu, your daughter Akiesha was sitting at my chair already so I was left standing.” The demon reasoned out.

She was enraged upon hearing it. She stood up and slammed her fist on the table. Some of the elders gaped in awe when the table was cut in half.

Akiesha, was again proud with it.

“Are you saying that it was my fault that you’re stupid? Go and bring your own chair you dumb creature!” Akiesha exclaimed in a high-pitched voice.

The poor demon rushed towards the door out of fear for the young demon.

Akiesha was grinning from ear to ear, proud of the little scene she created.

Displaying her strength and power is what excites her.

She glanced at her Dada to see if he was proud of her but Dayabulu’s expression was blank.

When Kabuka arrived, Dayabulu signaled the others to start the meeting.

Akiesha sat down on her chair and looked at everyone’s face with a taunting expression.

Her forked tongue swayed ecstatically, her thirst for adrenaline rush kicking.

She’s beyond excited to hear the plan.

Shabunto lead the meeting, holding an old parchment containing the plan their ancestors had carefully crafted in years.

“As we all know this morning, Akiesha – daughter of  O’might Dayabulu, direct ancestor of the great Dayabushka is the one that was foretold of the late Scabalo’s prophecy. You’ve all seen the red-moon tattoo flaming on her forehead. She is the strongest and the most powerful demon to ever exist – even passing her great great great great grandfather Dayabushka. She will lead our kind to our success, and we will roam the surface freely again. No more hiding. No more rules. But the path she will be facing wasn’t easy, ”

Akiesha growled in annoyance. They’re underestimating her. They are all fool to believe that there will be a battle to begin with. She will end that human before that poor creature could utter its prayers.

“She will be facing great danger against the human that was destined to fight against her. Scabalo’s prophecy didn’t mention which race will win, hence, our ancestors from the passing years meticulously crafted a plan that will surely give us our victory. Here, in my hand, lies the great plan.” Shabunto raised the parchment and opened it carefully.

Its eyes scanning the pages.

Akiesha waited in anticipation.

She can’t wait to wreak havoc in the surface and let these weak creatures see how powerful she is to the point that they will all bend their knees and beg for their life.

“The first step of the plan: The foretold must disguise as a human.”

Shabunto whispered.

“Of the great Dark force, what plan is that? Are you all kidding me? No! Definitely, NO! I am not agreeing to this, you all can’t make me do that!” Akiesha angrily screamed and bolted out towards the door.

Disguise as a human, my horn! Everything about this makes me sick!