Ultimate Temptation

~Chapter 7~

The moon was still low in the sky as it cast a eerie haze over the island illuminating the ocean below yet I was high up on Kilf, the not so little hill on the island, on its highest peak catching my breath because Aunt Tessa had woken me up to train. Our daily routine involved me making my way up the hill to find a ribbon she had tied to a tree and bringing it back for her while she waited at the base.

The tree the ribbon had been tied to had weak branches and I had made the mistake of putting my weight on one. The next thing I knew, I was free falling to the ground with the cursed ribbon in my fist. Now looking at it, I shook it furiously, annoyed at how much work I had to go through to get it.

There were many traps hidden in the dead foliage of the dense forest blanketing the hill's sides by Agnes and Aunt Tessa and I had fallen victim to many of them on my first ascent to the peak. When Aunt Tessa saw I had mastered the position of most trap and come down the hill three days ago unscathed, the position of the traps have been switching ever since. I've been shot arrows at, missed getting my legs snatched in a clutch trap and even been stung by a bee. At this point, I'm certain Aunt Tessa isn't just here to train me but to m**m or kill me.

A twig snapped in the darkness startling me out of my thoughts and I whispered 'lumien' to create an orb of light in my palm which I held out to the darkness out in front of me.

What now? Was this another trap of Aunt Tessa's?

Another twig snapped and then another and the bushes began rustling as something heavy crashed through them. I wasted no time flinging the bob of light up to float in the air as I took to my heels.

Without pausing to check what it was, I ran for my dear life as whatever animal it was grunted and charged at me.

Taking a dare, I glimpse behind me and see a black bear frothing at the mouth, it's black bead-like eyes gleaming in the little light provided by the ball of light and I add another burst of speed barely avoiding a fallen but instead I get smacked in the face by a low branch.

Groaning as I rub my smarting bum, l sit up remembering what caused my mad marathon down the hill.

The black bear.

It was staring at me, it's black eyes non blinking as it pawed the ground ready to charge. I slowly stood up with my hands raised to indicate I meant no harm and it watched me, it's gaze uninterrupted. I took a step backwards and it took one forward too.

I took another and it suddenly charged at me, not giving me the time to even flee.

"Obstupefacio," I shouted but the bear didn't freeze paralyzed instead it sounded more angrier as it got closer.

I only had time to take a deep breath before the bear collided head on with me knocking the wind out of me as I hit the bark of a huge tree. It charged once more and I tried another freezing spell but it didn't seem to affect it but this time,I was prepared.

Squaring my fists, I sidestepped and punched it in it's throat putting as much power as I could without holding back my demon side. It crashed into the wild undergrowth as it wheezed and coughed clawing at it's throat.

After sometime, it shook his head and stood up once more and I squared my shoulders, once again ready to deliver yet another heavy punch but this time, instead of it to charge towards me, it ran in the opposite direction and soon disappeared into the forest, it's thundering footfalls fading as it fell on the fallen dead leafs.

Breathing a sigh of relief,I check my body over noting my torn jeans and shirt with already healing cuts and bruises peeking from underneath it. I finally make my way down to base of the hill without any more incidents and find Aunt Tessa where she was dozing on a bench, probably lulled to sleep by the sound of the lapping waves on the shore while she waited for my arrival.

"Aunt Tessa?"I call shaking her awake before handing over the ribbon.

"You're here," she says blinking repeatedly before yawning so wide, I thought she'd swallow me with it. "Why did it take you so long? The sun is already rising."

Indeed, streaks of orange light filtered the sky and the bright orange orb could be seen in the distance peaking through the clouds over the water.

What took me so long?

I was filthy with leaves, twigs and what not stuck in my hair which will take hours to remove. My clothes were torn and brown from my hike up the hill yet all she could say was 'why did you take so long?'

"I nearly died!" I exclaim, furiously pointing at the dense hill. "Do you even know what I go through every day all in the name of training?"

"C'mon now, don't be so dramatic. All the traps there were set by me and they're not to kill you," she says waving me off.

"Not to kill me?! I'm sure you're here to kill me, if not that I was half demon and not a full witch who could heal fast, I'll be dead by now in your hands"

"As I said, you're being dramatic. It's because you're a half demons, that's why the traps are so tough"

"Aunt Tessa, I met a bear up there"

"Oh really? What did it want?" She asks innocently.

"It came to say hi to me," I sarcastically reply rolling my eyes. "It attacked me and worse, my magic didn't work on it!"

"Well I know nothing about that. As you know, I am no witch so there is no way I can put that up there or do a spell to not make your magic work"

"But Agnes can," I say but she only replies with a shrug.

"Enough chitchat, get into position," She says putting her fist up as she took a defensive position. "Come at me"

"Okay but I'll be gentle, I don't want to hurt you since you're a weak human," I taunt.

"I might be a human but I'm not weak. I've spent my years training to be able to stand my ground against a demon in hand to hand combat. Come at me"

I waste no time in rushing over to land my punch and the next thing I know, I'm seeing the blue sky as I feel empty air beneath me. I involuntarily let out an oof as I land on my sore behind.

"Weak you say?" Aunt Tessa gloats.

"That was warming up. I really won't go easy on you anymore," I shout charging at her with demon speed.

But before I can land a solid punch, I'm on the ground once more.

"How did you-"

"You're too focused on landing a punch, you don't even watch my legs. Hand to hand combat isn't just about the hands. Again."

This time, I watch her more carefully and note that she's more of an offense than a defense person and that she uses her legs a lot more to attack so I stick to a defensive position for the time being and do a fair job avoiding any major hits from her quick hands.

"Good, now we switch. You attack me" She says tossing me a long stick.

"Where's your own stick?"

"I don't need it against you"

Ouch

Picking up the stick, I launch myself at her, steering clear of her fast legs which sweep out  under me occasionally to knock me off my feet but after series of jabs and swipes, I always end up in my back.

"Again," she shouted and we begin once more till I'm on my back.

"Again!"

"Aunt Tessa, I don't think-"

"Again!"

I was frustrated at not being able to land a definite punch and tired of doing this over and over and this time as I charged at her blindly losing focus and a blow to the face makes me see stars as I fall onto my ass.

"Do not go into battle with your emotions all over. You end up being at the mercy of your opponent. Again!"

Over and over, I attacked her and over and over, I fell to her kicks and punches. This wasn't training, this was a beat down.

Finally seeing an opening, I hit her in the chest with as much force as I could muster and she yells, then in that moment of pain and disorientation, I sweep the stick under her and she lands with a thud on the sand.

"Not bad kiddo," she compliments spitting blood into the sand, stretching her hand at me to assist her up.

"Are you okay?" I ask worried I had hit too hard.

Immediately I clasp her hand to lift her off, I'm thrown over her shoulder and her knee painfully presses deep into the small of my back till I start whining in pain.

"It's never over till your enemy surrenders. Never forget that," she mutters applying more pressure.

"Okay, I surrender," I shout tapping out. She lets go of me and I sag on the sand watching the sun. She plops beside me and we both try to calm our erratic heartbeats while watching the sunrise.

She brushes a hand through my rough tangled black hair and makes a face, "you sure you don't want to cut this nest?"

"No, I don't and it's not a nest, I just don't have the time to take care of it but I'll definitely do something about it before evaluation exams"

"My chest is sore. You didn't have to put so much energy Aris. I'm human after all"

"Well you don't fight like one and I was frustrated," I reply awkwardly scratching the back of my neck.

"Let's head inside and go clean up. We reek to the high heavens," Aunt Tessa says scrunching up her face as she sniffs at her armpit.

***

We had finished freshening up and had stuffed ourselves to the brim with fruits, milk and grilled meat and now we lazily chatted in warmth of my cabin.

"Aunt Tessa? Please tell me stories about your childhood"

"There's nothing much to tell. Not many happy memories"

"Still I want to know"

"Okay, fine. Take a seat" She says patting the space beside her and I waste no time coming closer.

"My childhood was no fun. I was a very sick child growing up and sadly, I burdened your mom with the responsibility of fending for me."

"Why my mom? What happened to Grandma? Mum doesn't talk much about her"

"And she has reason not to. She was killed right in front of us...by a demon"

I gasp horrified, "What?"

"Yes, you're the one who asked for stories and you're old enough to know why demons are not welcome in most places. The world has you know of now is a better place but then, growing up, it was in chaos. Demons had killed most witches if not all, except the ones who locked themselves away on this island. If you notice anytime you go to Demonia, there aren't many female kids" She explains and I nod, I had noticed it too but just shrugged it as being normal.

"Years ago, a  witch had lain a curse..a disease  which killed off most female demons and the remaining who survived were left infertile. In retaliation, the demons killed any witch they could lay their hands on. Later, the demons found out that humans were fertile beings and to avoid extinction of their species, they came to our world and lay ruin to it. k********g the women and turning the men to slaves. Day by day, they came like a curse bringing death and suffering wherever they went and soon the once, beautiful sky of our world became marred with smoke and the sounds of people wailing"

I was shocked and sad. That was why I wasn't welcome on the island, it wasn't what I had done but what I represented. I was a reminder of their painful past.

"One day when I was sick and we were low on food, your mom ventured out to find medicine for me but never returned. I and your Aunt Jumani, your mom's best friend waited for days till we finally saw the stash she had managed to retrieve for us and we figured, she wasn't coming back. It was in their world she discovered she was a witch and met your father, Agyris and they fell in love and had you. They were soulmates and fated to be. They went through alot to keep you safe from harm," she said, her eyes glazed as she reminisced. Turning to me, she smiled, "You're a special child Aris. You are proof that both witch and demon can coexist in the same space without tearing each other apart, you and your parents are proof. Thanks to your mom, humans and witches alike no longer have to live in fear and we can once again build our world to how I remembered it when we were little."

"Mom sounds...so cool"

"Yes, she is my role model and my best friend no matter how much we argue," she says chuckling.

"I'm glad you're here, Aunt Tessa," I say genuinely wrapping her in a hug.

"As I am. You know Aris, you don't have to pick a side. You're both demon and witch, do not pick a side, you're both. So wear your horns like a badge and stop hiding yourself away in those dreadful looking hoodies. What you are doesn't define who you are, only your actions do, I'm sure you'll grow up to be a great queen one day and all this experiences, will become memory"

I feel warm with her words and wipe the single tear that fell onto my cheek before she could see it.

It feels good to have someone who understands you, to have someone on your side.

***

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