Page 17 of A Demon’s Resolve (Demonic Tales and Adventures #3)
CHAPTER 17
“I found it.” Gaius’ excited voice startled everyone in the archives. When Aticus had asked for Gaius’s help, his old friend hadn’t been able to refuse. But Gaius had insisted Alec’s and Kian’s friends be allowed to help as they had become quite good at research.
Aticus had been reluctant bringing others in on what was happening, but it seemed as if they already knew, so he’d reluctantly agreed. If they were to find what Aticus was looking for, they would need all the help they could get.
Aticus got up from where he’d been reading in one of the rooms and went to the center room, where Gaius had been reading. “So, is there a way to counter the spell?”
They had been searching for ways to stop Brant from hiding Kian, or himself, for that matter. Aticus was hoping they would find a way to bind the old magic once more. There was a reason it had been taken away from them in the first place and Aticus was more than willing to trust that their ancestors had known what they were doing at the time.
Gaius held up a finger as he kept reading.
The magic the demons possessed was strong as they drew their powers from the earth. They weren’t the only race to use it, but their ability to manipulate the elements strengthened the magic, making them more powerful than most.
When that old magic had perverted the humans, the Demon Council had decided the only way to protect demons was to bind the magic. They did not allow demons to use anything but the most basic spells, such as the one to hide themselves from humans.
The last time the old ways were used was to create the line of Sentinels. Most books were then sealed away, except not all the books had been hidden. Gaius had admitted he’d found many books in his own private collection.
It wasn’t until he’d discovered what his own son had done, that Gaius had taken action and locked all references to their old ways in a safe at the archives. How Brant managed to find it Gaius hadn’t known, not that it had mattered.
Gaius had admitted that Brant had occasionally seen him practice some of the spells. It wouldn’t have been a stretch for Brant to figure out where Gaius had hidden the books. There had only been one problem with that theory. Gaius swore none of the material he’d locked away contained anything strong enough for Brant to hide himself and Kian from other demons.
That meant he’d found his information elsewhere. Aticus just wished Giaus knew where. For he had a bad feeling the answer would end up leading to their downfall.
Everyone in the room sat there waiting for Gaius to finish reading. The silence was a bit unnerving. Gaius’s shoulders sagged in defeat. “It is gone,” he whispered in disbelief. “Someone tore out the counter spell.”
“But I thought you said the books had been locked up.” Kendria said, her voice quivering as she grasped the implications.
Gaius didn’t bother answering her as he sat there clearly uncertain what to do.
“We can’t give up.” Calder stood as if trying to convince the others by his actions. “Alec will move heaven and earth to find Kian and we have to help him. Admittedly, this is definitely a setback but there has to be another way.”
“It is possible by studying the spell I could come up with something to counter it,” Gaius suggested. He didn’t sound hopeful but it was their only chance.
In the meantime, he had a meeting with the Council. He wasn’t going to be able hold them off much longer from demanding action be taken, but Aticus was determined to save their kind.
All eyes were on Aticus as he strode into the Council Chamber. The other members were agitated with so much on the line. The other races were clamoring for the demons to fix the problem or they would be more than happy to step in and do it for them.
Even though they were no match for the demons, the fact was, if all the races rose up against them, it would be a war unlike the planet had seen since the beginning of time. Worry etched their faces. Many appearing haggard from lack of sleep.
“Well, what have you found?” Nodin, one of the younger members of the Council, and as such, its most impatient, asked.
There were seven members that formed the Council, each appointed to the position but only after they faced the trials set before them. The trials were put into place by the first Danara and Drakarn to be sure no one rose to power who was corrupt. Not that these were a guarantee but deceit was usually discovered during that time.
Except for Kyden. He’d managed to get through the trials even though he’d obviously gotten into the position in order to destroy their current way of life. Aticus found the missing Danara journals in Kyden’s rooms.
As he’d stood there choking the life out of the old man, Aticus had gotten Kyden to admit to his plan. Except, he hadn’t managed to find out who else was in on the plan before Kyden had died. It was most distressing to know that there were those that wanted demons to return to their evil beginnings.
Kyden’s obvious murder had the Councilors even more on edge. Not willing to share with them the need for Kyden’s death, Aticus had let them believe Brant must have done it. He hadn’t told them the truth because Aticus couldn’t trust another member hadn’t been in on the plot.
Looking at the empty spot at the table that hadn’t been filled since Kyden’s death, Aticus shook his head at the question asked of him. “The counter spell was stolen. Gaius is going to try and come up with one but the chances of him figuring it out in time to help is not good.”
“The situation is becoming worse with the other races. We either have to get Alec to control himself or they will.” Safara looked positively ill saying this as she was one of the more vocal members to advocate for Alec and Kian since it had been decided to bring Kian to Tuklati.
No one at the table had been willing to meet Aticus’s gaze since he’d entered the room. They wouldn’t dare as he might consider it a challenge since they were banding together to suggest Aticus have Alec killed.
Emboldened by Safara’s statement, Kuval, as usual, defended her. “Aticus, none of us wants to eliminate Alec, but if we don’t do something soon, we will find ourselves at war with the other races.”
Jax, the second youngest member of the Council, who usually voted with Aticus, spoke up. “If that happens, there will be no way to stay hidden from the humans.”
It wasn’t the other races the demons feared. Sure, war would mean demons would die but there was never any doubt who would remain the victor. But if the humans found out, it would be impossible for them to survive. Humans were just too prevalent and the magic was still out there to stop demons from using their powers.
Alec had wiped out entire cities, Aticus wasn’t sure the humans wouldn’t figure it out anyway. Then, where would they hide? Especially when they now knew they needed humans to keep their humanity or risk returning to the evil creatures they’d been before.
Not showing an ounce of defeat, even though it was what he felt, Aticus turned his cold, hard eyes on the rest of the Council. “Understand me. We will not harm Alec or Kian. They are the key to our survival. If anyone of you goes against me, you will end up like Kyden.”
With that, he swept out of the room, leaving the others stunned by his insinuation that he’d killed Kyden and not Brant as they’d assumed. Fear filled all five remaining members of the council.