Chapter 40

There was a pallid look on Maris' face by the time she strode deeper into the place that was dimly lit by a light, reflected from metres away.

The discoloration on her face meant one thing–she was uncomfortable and something dark was lurking in this room, which pricked at her skin, causing her to swallow hard. Eyes scanning the place that looked like an ice cave, she was mesmerized amidst uneasiness.

She led them, following the blue light with Dracula by her side. She could hear just how his heart was beating in anticipation.

"Maris." Egon called and she froze in her tracks, taking her time to glance over her shoulder. "Come, I have something to show you."

Maris chanced a glance at the devil's displeased demeanor. He wore a mask of irritation as he watched Egon whisk her away to a darker path on the right.

"Where are you going?" Dracula and Logan asked, distaste laced in their words as they quickly shared a look of hatred before averting it back to Maris.

"We'll be right back." Egon waved his hand at them and Dracula tried to follow them, but was held back by an imaginary force field.

"Why can't he come over?" Maris asked, her eye brows bumped together in a frown of curiosity.

"You're the only one that can access this place and that's why I'm able to go through too." Egon held her hand and a loud growl rang from the other path–it was none other than Logan. "He seems to be possessive over you."

Maris inclined her head to hide the blush that swept up her cheeks, watching over her lashes as her feet moved gracefully, encased in her black slippers.

"So what do you want to show me?" She changed the topic.

"Your parents had asked my father to bring you here if you ever return to fulfil your destiny, but now my father is late and he instructed me to bring you here on his death bed." Egon explained, his caramel skin glowing as the approached a mini river that shined ever so brightly. "Here."

Egon took her hands and they crouched in front of the mini river. "Are you ready?"

Maris nodded then watched with hooded eyes as he dug her hand into the water and muttered some words. The river began to swirl like a whirlpool and he pulled out her hand.

Suddenly, a video came up in the water, just like a movie and had Maris hooked to it.

"That-That looks like my mother." Maris pointed at the water, lifting her gaze to Egon's face for a millisecond then back to the water.

There was a woman, dressed in a beautiful peach dress that pronounced the beauty of her eyes. Her hair was beautified with flowers and there appeared to be something she was cradling–A baby.

Maris gasped when a man rushed into the room, sweat rolling down his forehead.

"Is that my father?" Maris croaked, a lump sitting in her throat. "And is that baby me?"

"Yes." Egon replied and her chest tightened.

He was tall and had gray eyes just like her. His lips were thin and a moustache sat gracefully below a pointed nose.

She had never seen her father before. Her mother had told her he died before she was born and his picture was the only thing of him she had.

That wasn't true... She had his determination. Most importantly, she had his eyes.

"They are coming for us, we need to run to the human world before they get here." Her father panicked, stuffing some valuables into a mini box and handling it to his wife.

There were screams from the background and dread filled his eyes. "They are here."

He rushed Maris' mother to a secret door that led out of the island and shoved her in. His eyes were sad as they held her gaze.

"Get in." She beckoned, but he shook his head with glossy eyes.

"I have to stall them for you to run as far as possible. You know how to get to the human world faster right?" He asked and her mother nodded, tears welling up in her eyes. "Go, protect our baby...and stay safe for me."

Her mother's face turned into a wet weekend, tears roaming freely out of her eyes.

"I love you." She whispered and so did her husband.

The king placed a kiss on the Queen's head and that of the baby before locking the door and running back to face the enemies. It soon turned into a bloody fight as he snapped necks and pierced swords through their chests.

"Where is the child?" The viscious man asked.

"I'll never tell you." The king lunged at him, kicking his stomach with his feet.

Abruptly, a man from behind pierced his chest with a rod and a wail of agony escaped the king's mouth.

"No!" Maris screamed, almost jumping into the water, but Egon held her back.

"Maris!" Logan yelled from the other side.

Maris' guts tied itself into knots as she wailed, tears cascading down her cheeks.

*************

The minute Logan saw Maris, he ran towards her and she fell into his arms with more tears spilling out of her eyes.

"What did he do to you?" Logan asked, sparing Egon a cold gaze.

"I saw how he died, my father." Was all she said, shivering as it played over and over in her head. "He died to save us, but who was after me?"

"Probably the devil. That's what he does." Dracula chipped in and Maris tightened her jaw, gritting her teeth and feeling waves of hatred hitting her.

"If it was truly the devil then let's get you those powers and defeat him." Venom laced her words.

They got to the place and in the centre of the icy room had a table and on that table was a glass container, holding a crystal that shined brightly with a cup that had something as red as whine in it.

"Yes!" Dracula exclaimed and tried to match forward, but a forcefield held him. "Why-"

"Maris is the only one with the power to unlock things down here." Egon explained and Dracula stepped back, impatiently waiting for the crystal.

The moment Maris and Egon walked hand in hand to the place, Egon held the crystal and glanced over his shoulder, saying, "So you think you can defeat him. He who gave you the powers you possess."

~~~Flash back~~~

Just as the symbol on their wrist had alerted them that Maris was in trouble, Egon rushed into their tent to find only Logan sleeping.

"Where is she?!" He thundered, waking Logan up.

Quickly, he checked Dracula's tent and fumed when he saw that Dracula was gone. Egon's eyes glowed a dark blue as he banged his fist on a stone and roared, splitting the stone in half.

All the tritons and sirens gathered round him as they planned to go after him. They changed into their siren forms and flapped their wings, sending them high up to the sky. Logan ran, following them in his human form, sage burning in his veins.

"What a bastard!" Logan growled, running.

Egon flew in full speed, bursting out of clouds with a bird's eye view at the ground for any sign of Maris.

Instantly, Egon halted in his tracks the moment he saw a man in a black cloak floating in the air.

"Who are you?" Egon asked, gesturing for his people to halt.

This strange man only wore a smug grin before snapping his fingers and sending them all to crash on the ground.

He dropped down dramatically, a gust of wind whirling around him as a diabolic aura hovered over him.

"I am the king of darkness, the devil." His voice was deep and contemptible as it should be.

"And what is it you want from us?" Egon asked, not intimidated by how evil radiated from Azazel.

"I can help you get Maris back if you help me defeat Dracula." The devil stated, the corners of his lips turning upwards in a sly smile.

"How?"

"There's a part in your kingdom forbidden by me that no one, but Maris can get in. In there, lies what will be used to banish him back to the underworld." The devil explained, ebony black eyes reading the soul of Egon.

"Why should I trust you?" Egon asked, folding his arms against his chest.

"Because Maris would die if you don't, he'd kill her. You have to make him believe the power to defeat me is in there. All these years I knew Dracula would someday turn against me so I kept it there just in case." Azazel explained, manipulating Egon with his gaze and that was it... They shook hands and agreed.

Back to the present.

Egon glanced sideways then gave her the crystal, which she lifted high and gulped down the liquid. Egon had filled her in on what was happening after he had taken her to see how her father died and she agreed to help.

Dracula's eyes narrowed into crinkled slits as he watched the Triton betray him. Suddenly, Lucy transformed into the devil and a dark chuckle roared out of his lips.

"So you think you can fool me?" He asked, inching forward to Dracula. "You think I'll just let you escape like that? I've been watching you, using Lucy's image and now you'd get punished. Now, Egon!"

Maris read the incantations on the cup and Egon rushed back to where the others were, asking them to take shield behind the rocks.

"I banish you back to the underworld!" Maris screamed the last part.

With that, Dracula let out a shout of betrayal and a portal opened, sucking him in.

"I'll get my revenge on all of you!" His voice echoed before the place closed up and Maris' legs felt like jelly with a spinning vision.

Suddenly, her legs gave up and she fell, but the devil caught her with a diabolic laugh.

"You are all fools to think I'll help you without getting something in return." Azazel's menacing's laugh shook the place as he floated in the air. "I am the king of deceit and I trust no one!"

"No!" Logan ran towards him, but the evil Lord was too powerful for him.

Abruptly, Azazel disappeared like a gust of wind and his baleful laugh echoed throughout the place.

"Maris!" Logan shouted like a banshee, hands stretched forward with a thumping heart.

And that was the beginning of the enmity between the devil, Dracula and sirens.

Watch out for part two.