Ultimate Temptation

~Chapter 10~

My temples hurt when I woke up, a non-stopping pounding ever present at the base of my head. Groaning with discomfort, I opened my eyes slowly, my brain registering that I wasn't on the cold hard floor and I shot up, taking in my surroundings. I was on a on a heap of dried leaf, vines and moss. It was surprisingly comfortable and a cluster of blueberries had been placed on a leaf in front of me. 

How did that get there? Who had placed me on this bed of moss?

Hold on...Where was the bear from yesterday?

A grunt from the corner had me pressed against the wall in fear and familiar large eyes looked warily at me.

"Were you the one who placed me here?", I questioned gently.

Grunt

"Not much of a big talker anymore?"

No answer.

Taking the berries, I sniffed them cautiously before popping one into my mouth. A little sigh of happiness escaping my lips as the tarty juice filled my mouth. After eating half of the berries, I placed the rest back on the leaf and nudged it closer to the ever watchful bear.

"For you. Thank you", I say with a smile.

The bear made no move of answering or coming closer to take the berries so I gave up. It was time to go and I had a competition to win. 

A step towards the cave entrance had me stumbling forwards on my hands and knees. My legs were still wobbling and it didn't seem like the sleep and replenished my energy. I punched the wall angrily as tears prickled at my eyes.

"I could help you," the bear said finally getting up. 

 " I could have sworn you hated me" I muttered.

" I hate all humans, they are vile"

"Well good thing I'm half demon", I say pointing at my tiny horns.

"You could have killed me when we first met but you didn't. I would like to show my gratitude by helping you. Also it's not everyday you see a demon to communicate with"

" I need to get to the floor of the hill before the first streak of sunlight. Could you do that for me?"

" Yes. Get on" The bear said, crouching low and I clambered on.

The black shaggy hair was caked with dirt but surprisingly soft. I hooked my hands around its neck and wrapped my legs tightly around it's waist and tried lifting my nose skywards but my position didn't make it possible. It's body stank to high heavens but I was in no position to complain. Quietly, I breathed through my mouth instead.

"What's your name? Do you even have one?" I asked.

"Yes, Davir" With no warning, Davir charged outside and a shriek tore out my mouth as I was smashed face first to his moldy back.

***

I finally opened my eyes when the trees had stopped tearing at my hair and Davir finally stopped moving. The clearing was just few steps in front of us. Sliding down his back, I stood, checking my footings and how well my legs help me up.

"I can go no further"

"It's fine, thank you so much Davir. I won't forget this"

Davir inclined his head before bounding up Kilf. In few minutes, even his footfalls couldn't be heard anymore.

Taking out the flag, I waved it as I began walking towards the white finish line drawn on the ground just a few yards ahead. Hoots and whistles filled the air as I crossed the line and the shofar horn was blown once announcing me as the first contestant to finish the physical test.

"Here you go, a winner's cup" 

I thought I would be given a prize but instead, I was handed a golden cup filled with a murky brown liquid, on the handle of the cup was tied a purple band and Aunt Tessa's words came back to me.

"The liquid will reveal what is hidden"

Without hesitation, I put the cup to my mouth and downed the whole thing. To my surprise, the liquid tasted better than expected, It was like a mix of different fruits and a particular flavor I couldn't place my hands on.

"So what next?" I asked the cup bearer after handing the cup back to her.

No sooner had the words left my mouth when I began to feel lightheaded and fuzzy. What the hell was in the drink?

I was in a grand looking corridor of many rooms. On the floor I stood was laid a red rug, from the ceiling sparkled a chandelier, the walls were decorated with different portraits depicting different battlegrounds and I knew I had been in this place before.

Aunt Tessa suddenly appeared at the foot of the stairs and raced past me without even acknowledging my presence. A look of worry mixed with fear was etched on her face as she knocked on a door harshly.

"Aunt Tessa?" Still no answer.

The door swung open to reveal a beautiful woman with flaming red hair whom she immediately recognized. Mother.

It was a younger version of the queen of Demonia and the witches. I glanced once more at Aunt Tessa and saw she also looked very young here. I was home! The familiar hallways, the pictures I grew up looking at as a child, the chandelier I had once swung from as a child during one of my holidays.

What in the name of sorcery was going on here? How am I even here?

"What part of do not disturb don't you understand?" Mother shouted into Aunt Tessa's face looking really pissed.

"I'm sorry. I know you're busy but.. It is Aris"

"What about her?" A male voice asks from inside the room. Dad?

"S-she..the plants..garden" Tessa stammers pointing past me.

Pushing past her, Mother ran down the stairs towards the gardens with dad directly behind her. Aunt Tessa also in tow. I had a feeling that I was here to see whatever had happened in the gardens. It was definitely important.

Running with them, I came into the garden. Out of habit, I inhaled expecting to breathe in the calming scent of the many flowers which grew here, instead I was assaulted by the acrid smell of smoke and ashes. Grey particles floated in the air.

Putting my hand out, I caught one. It crumbled on my fingers into ashes and I wiped the stain on my clothes. What had caused this?

The gardens which once bristled with life was now silent for half of it was gone. The beautiful flowers were gone, withered and burnt to nothing, rodents which had made the hedges their home had left their homes to escape the heat but their skeletons now lay charred and unmoving. The once beautiful space had now been replaced with a scorched crater. And in its middle was me.

Not this me, no. A toddler version.

The ground the two years old me sat crying was untouched by the blast but the black tendrils of destruction spread outwards. She had caused this. No, I had caused this destruction.

Was this my memory?

Out of the blue, I was pulled away. Dad, Aunt Tessa, the whole destruction faded away and I found myself in a dimly lit small room. But I wasn't alone, in my front was only mom. She wore a black cloak, which covered her entire figure. Only her face and her long hair was visible.

" Mom?"

She looked up at me and I gasped as I noticed her eyes. They were glowing silver. I had heard stories from people about when my mom's eyes had glowed fully silver. It was only when she was truly pissed and was about to go berserk.

Her mouth opened and she suddenly let out a long hiss. The silver eyes held mine and I somehow couldn't break eye contact.

"Although glory but not my best. Power will fall to me finally, when the man made me is dead. What am I?" She asked in a high pitched voice. A voice which wasn't hers.

"Who are you? Where's my mom?"

In a blink of an eye, she was pinning me painfully to the wall. "Although glory but not my best. Power will fall to me finally, when the man made me is dead. What am I?!"

"Am I to answer it?" I choked out as I clawed at the hand on my throat. Her hand felt cold, clammy and smelled of rot and decay. I had thoughts of somehow biting her but as the putrid smell of decay filled my lungs as she moved closer, that thought immediately flew out the window.

"Although glory but not my best. Power will fall to me finally, when the man made me is dead. What am I?" She asked once more, easing the hold on my throat.

It seemed I had to give the answer to her riddle if I was to leave this place. Power will fall to me eventually when the man made me is dead? What the hell is that even supposed to mean?

Her hand soon began to tighten at my throat...time was ticking.

"I need to breathe to think well. Please?" the only answer I got was her hand tightening more. This was certainly not my mom.

Glory...Power...? It definitely had to do with royalty. Man made me....dead? 

The answer abruptly sprung into my mind just as my vision began to waver.

"The answer... is a Prince. Although glory but not my best. Power will fall to me finally, when the man made me is dead. You are a prince", I rushed it all out in one breath.

The hand at my fell away and I sucked in air as I slumped. The thing with the face of my mother took a step back and nodded.

"A prince." it suddenly began to crumble as it kept repeating it. "A prince...prince...prince..."

Anger pumped through my veins as I stood up and smashed my fist in it's face just before the last of her crumbled. "That's for strangling me", I spat at the ashes on the floor.

The door clicked open and I stepped out into a blinding light.

++

I was back. The first thing I registered was a cold cloth wiping my brows as Aunt Tessa shouted at someone.

"She's taking too long to come back. Why isn't she coming back? The other contestants are all back and its been hours". The bed dipped as she got up. "What did you give her to drink, you witch?!"

I opened my eyes groggily to see Aunt Tessa bunching the cup bearer's shirt in her hands as she pulled her close. Agnes sat in an arm chair across me and our eyes soon met.

"She's awake!"

Aunt Tessa flung the girl away and rushed to my side. I was instantly pulled into a tight hug. 

"Easy on the ribs" I laughed while patting her back.

"What took you so long. We were both worried" Aunt Tessa asked feeling all over my body.

"Are you fine?" Agnes asked.

"Apart from being sore and feeling like a horse ran me over, I'm fine. Others are back?"

"Yes, the first nine who drank the potion. You took too long princess" Agnes replied.

"What's the time now?" I asked.

"See for yourself." Agnes said pulling back the curtain. The sun had already set and few stars were already visible in the sky.

"Is this the first time this is happening?" 

"Yes, what did you see?"

The shrill voice of that thing still rang in my head as it repeated one word...'prince'.

Deciding not to say that part, I started, "I saw myself as a child. I think it was part of my memory but I have no recollection of it. I was in a clearing back at home, I-I had caused an explosion of some sort and levelled half the gardens..."

As I spoke, I noticed that Agnes and Aunt Tessa both shared a knowing look. They knew something.

The room was silent when I was done narrating what the potion had showed me. Aunt Tessa ran a hand through her hair and stood up.

"How do I say this Aria...You know you're not like other kids. You're a hybrid...the very first. We don't know the extent of your powers and neither do you. But if you're not careful, you may have outbursts like that in the future and you might end up hurting someone you love"

I quietly processed this information. "If it was that bad when I was little, how will it be now?"

"It will be catastrophic "

"Well good thing I haven't had outbursts like that in awhile" I say cheerfully.

"Yeah, good thing" Aunt Tessa repeated sounding unsure. "When you get home, I think you should speak more on it with your mom."

"That's true...Did I pass? I know I was a little late but I did it, right?"

"Yes, you passed. You wouldn't be here if you didn't "

"That means I'm done with school!" I shouted happily as I pumped the air. "Home sweet home, here I come."

Agnes and Aunt Tessa left the room laughing at my childish antics but they didn't know exactly what 'home' meant to me.

I nestled back into the comfort of the pillows as I thought of being home. No more school, no more Kai, Zach or any of the other bullies, no stares or fingers pointing when I walked. In the kingdom of Demonia, I wouldn't be the only one with horns, mine might not be as long as my peers but it was there. No more sticking out like a sore thumb or putting up with anything anymore. 

Home was where I could be free and be with people who loved me.

The stars which could be seen from my windows and the sound of waves crashing on the shore were the only things I would miss on this island.

By this time tomorrow, I'll be home.