Chapter 48: Chapter 48

“Lost in the woods, Lord Micka?” hearing the familiar voice, the corner of the fire lord’s lips was pulled up into an evil smirk.

Scanning the sight with his red eyes, the fire lord didn’t see anything except the intertwined branches and trees, the dark forest was nothing like his empire, he missed the smell of fire and smoke, for the scent of the dirt and moss was making him nauseous, not that he could do anything about it. Yet!

Micka knew that the shadows lord had his doubts about him, he knew that he was watching him since the very first second he stepped into this swamp he called an empire, he knew that the hybrid scum probably had most of his plan figured out, the true question though was, how did he manage to find him so fast, even before that useless demoness who was way too late!

The other question was, what is the best and most fitting way to kill this scum who dared to call himself a lord, Micka thought as he looked around him, still unable to locate the shadows’ lord, he was there though, Micka knew, his smell and his aura were all over the place.

Narrowing his eyes, Micka noticed some shadows twitching before thickening, forming a dark fog that slowly spread to circle the entire area, like an arena, Micka thought, readying himself for what was coming, for he didn’t need any other signs that there was going to be a little battle!

Perfect! He thought to himself, although he wanted to put the filthy hybrid back in his place in front of all demons and humiliate him first, and then kill him, he knew it was better if he dealt with him now so he won’t worry about him later when he claims the half Goddess.

As Eren emerged from the shadows of the forest, the fire lord only stared at him with bored eyes, it didn’t take him long to know that this was but an illusion, a duplicate that Eren created using his shadows while he remained hidden in the fog.

Impressive skill! Micka thought, not impressive enough though for the fire lord wasn’t an easy prey himself, and he as well, had many tricks up in his sleeve.

“Not at all, Lord Eren, I am actually here to wait for a small package!” Micka answered nonchalantly, faking indifference while in reality, his eyes scanned the fog carefully, looking for any possible change in the fog.

It was a given fact that the hybrid had something for the hybrid, and demons, unlike what humans thought, were very capable of developing tender feelings such as attachment and love, the same feelings that made one weak and vulnerable in Micka’s mind.

The infamous shadows’ lord had no known weaknesses, except for maybe this particular one, the feelings he has for the hybrid girl, and the way he would react once he knew someone else has his eyes on her!

“That package is not yours, Lord Micka, now don’t tell me that the fire lord is not just a traitor, but a thief!” Eren answered through his shadow, very calmly, not falling for the weasel’s trap, and not allowing his magic to flicker, if anything else, he thickened his shadows and fog, trapping the fire weasel inside while he waited for the right oppurtunity to strike!

Earlier that night, when the meeting was over and each lord was meant to head back to his assigned quarters in order to discuss further with his advisors and send word to his empire, with news and orders to move their armies, Eren went straight to his bedroom, even though he already knew it would be empty.

And as expected, she was no longer there, he scanned the room with his eyes as his grip tightened around the knob.

The bed, were she was lying peacefully only few hours ago, was empty, the black covers that hid her frail body were on the ground, and Eren didn’t need to see it with his own eyes to know that they were forcefully pulled and thrown away, exposing her to eyes which were not his!

Maybe it wasn’t the best idea to put a spell on her, to help her sleep soundlessly without all those nightmares hunting her, but he wanted her to rest, to be safe in her sweet slumber when the time of the ceremony comes.

Walking toward the black duvet, he picked it up and brought it to his nose, his eyes closing on their own as he inhaled her sweet intoxicating smell, faint but hers and uniquely hers, it helped distract him from that horrible loneliness he felt when he walked in and didn’t find her, the room was back to be as cold and eerie as it was before her, it was again quiet and lonely.

Opening his eyes, Eren watched as loneliness settled back in every corner of the room, before his fair lady, this loneliness was his friend, something he made peace with after being tormented with it for most of his life, but now, with her gone, it was back to how it used to be, unkind, heavy and bitter.

Standing up, Eren took slow steps towards the empty bed, it was undone, but it smelled more like her, bending over the pillow, he inhaled deeper, filling his nostrils, his lungs, and himself with her scent, running his fingers over the soft fabric , where her head was resting several hours ago, to the spot where he thought her lips had touched, he placed his own on it, for several minutes, just allowing himself to be broken and sad and lost without her, just for few more minutes for he knew he couldn’t bear to act weak from now on...

Taking one last deep inhale of her delicious smell, Eren stood up, the solemn expression he had on his face was replaced with murderous one.

“A traitor?” Micka scoffed at the word, “Don’t tell me you actually thought I was your ally in the first place? As if I would ever join forces with a filthy hybrid such as yourself!”

“So instead, you would steal the filthy hybrid’s prize? The one that you, the pureblooded demon, couldn’t win yourself!” Eren’s shadow answered, noticing how the fire lord’s hands were steaming. for he was warming up, getting ready to fight back.

“Big words you are saying, Hybrid! Too big for you I am afraid!” Micka said, the air around him becoming hotter as he prepared himself for the battle, the one that was going to make him the demon king!

“I only have one question for you!” Eren knew how much the fire lord hated him, for the shadows lord wasn’t just a deranged hybrid, but someone who challenged the rules of their world, and once he won that challenge, he bent those rules to his liking. he, with the changes he did and the new laws he set, had changed not only their system but also their hierarchy, the one where the likes of Micka were always on top. “What do you really want?”

“Everything!” Micka said with an evil smirk, then in one swift move, turned away from the shadow image to throw a blazing attack at the creature who sneaked behind him.

“I knew you were still deranged, there is no coming back from that!” The fire lord spat as he stared at the wolf like man who circled around him, growling lowly but threateningly, Micka recognized the familiar aura of the shadows' lord, even though the monster in front of him looked nothing like the hybrid he knew.

His body was bigger, larger, and completely covered with black fur, he was on all four but the way his back was arched upwards meant he was capable of standing on two.

His hands were larger, with long black claws, his face, no longer the common one of a demon or human, but that of deranged wild wolf.

Growing up in the dark forest, Eren had no means to survive but to live the way predators lived, a life of a wild beast, and little by little, just like all the deranged demons, he started looking like a beast, his body, with the effect of the dark energy, adjusted itself to fit the kind of life he was having, his skin was covered in fur to protect him from the cold  nights, his baby teeth turned into sharp canines that helped him hunt, his senses and instincts sharpened while his human half faded a little more each time that side of him was awakened.

And because he was a little boy, an easy prey, because his life was always in danger, that side of him rarely slept.

“This is my land, Micka, I have the upper hand in here, and you have no chance in defeating me, surrender and I will consider not killing you!”

“You think just because we are in your lands, where your element is at its strongest, and you circled me with your small fog, you can defeat me?” Micka chuckled before releasing his flames in all directions, Eren evaded the attack but he knew the fire weasel wasn’t aiming at him in the first place!

No! he was aiming at everything else, for he planned to burn down the forest.