Twiz: Hey guys I know it's been a while! I just want to thank you all for reading, it really gives me the motivation to keep writing this for you guys :) I also want to give a special "Thanks" to for the kind words of a new friend, Dr. Bob, as they are known on Fanfiction , who really helped get me motivated to write this chapter! :) I hope you guys enjoy!


Call upon me when you need me, and I will be there. Call upon me when the need is dire and I will aid you. You need my aid child. What is your desire? Alice sat there on the staircase, gawking at the beast standing before her. The small girl's entire body was shaking ever so slightly as she sat, dumbstruck. Alice tried to form word but nothing would come out, her throat too closed up to make a sound. "W-what are you?" she finally asked timidly, unable to hide the nervous quaver in her voice.

I am a demon my dear child. I have been watching you these past weeks, knowing that you will need my help. That time has come, I know, and I only ask one thing in return for my aid. The black mass said gently, taking a step towards the cowering girl in front of it. Alice though back to all her horrible nightmares, staring at the personification of those awful nights standing right in front of her. 'This thing knew something was going to happen to Decus? And he did nothing about it at all!'

Alice channeled all the anger bubbling up inside her from her thoughts to her words as she steadied her voice. "What's the price?" she asked quickly, pushing herself to her feet, her hands balled into small fists at her sides. The Forbidden Tome of Demon Lords. Find it for me child and I will free you from your pact. "Fine! I'll do it, just help me!" Alice shouted, growing impatient as wasted seconds were ticking by that she could be using to locate her friend.

The demon reached out and took Alice's hand, sandwiching it between both his hand-like protrusions. It felt like touching a cloud, Alice thought, but an angry storm cloud that was ready to strike lightning upon its unprepared victim at any moment. Alice felt her eyes droop closed sleepily as she listened to the demon faintly murmur sacred words in a language she couldn't recognize. A moment later, a stinging pain shot up Alice's arm. It slowly spread throughout her entire body, a feeling of being ripped in half by a horrible fire. Her eyes snapped open as she cried out in sheer agony.

Once the fiery sting died away Alice looked around, noticing a certain demon's absence. The monsters will now answer to your beck and call, command them at your will my child. And with that, he was gone. Alice barely had time to comprehend what she had just experienced before she heard footsteps pounding up the stairs in her direction. Once the orphanage manager's wife's eyes rested on the small girl on the stairs, she frowned immediately. "Oh it's just the half-elf" she muttered quietly, all traces of concern disappearing off her face. Apparently Alice had screamed louder than she'd realized when she made the pact, and caught the older woman's attention.

"Get yourself downstairs, were having lunch soon" the woman said coldly, gently nudging Alice down the stairs. The blond quickly stepped out of the old woman's way, avoiding her prodding hands. "I'll be down soon, thank you very much ma'am. I'll be down soon, but I forgot something in my room." Alice hastily turned down the girl's hallway, running all the way to her room. She flung the last door open, running inside without even bothering to close the door behind her. Alice stumbled over to her bed, picking up her fluffy white pillow. She wrapped it in her arms and squeezed it in a hug as she lost herself in thought.

'Should I go looking for Decus before lunch? No one would notice I wasn't there anyway so I doubt I'd get in trouble for it. And what was that thing on the stairs talking about. Why did it hurt when he held my hand. He was scary, I don't want to see him again. But he said he could help me help Decus. Was he lying?' Alice's thoughts rambled on and on in as similar, disjointed fashion as she stood there in the middle of the room, her back facing the door, clutching her pillow between her arms.

Alice was suddenly jolted out of her contemplative state by two skinny arms wrapping around her shoulders, hugging her from behind. Almost instinctively, Alice whipped around, smacking the person in the face with her pillow. Whoever it was was clearly caught off guard as they fell to the wooden floor with a hard thump. "Decus?" the younger girl questioned, disbelief eminent in her voice. Just as the poor boy was propping himself up on his elbows he was promptly tackled back onto the floor by an excited Alice. Her arms locked around his neck, her head nuzzled into his neck as he wrapped an arm around her waist to keep her from falling, using the other to prop himself back up.

Decus' warm chuckle resonated in Alice's ear as he quietly replied "well it's nice you see you too." The girl in question pulled back enough so she could look at Decus' face, his lavender eyes as cheery as usual. "Where were you last night you dummy! I was waiting for you all night but you never came back!" The smaller girl's eyes suddenly became sad, " I thought you left..." Alice trailed off as he voice broke. She promptly crawled off Decus' lap, retrieving her pillow off the floor and hugging it once again, resting her chin on its fluffy edge. Decus could only watch as tear sprang up into her golden eyes.

"Oh Alice" Decus said sentimentally as he reached over and wiped the tears from her cheeks, "I'm so sorry. I would never leave you thought, you should know that." Alice whimpered as she nodded in response, tears stinging her eyes as they overflowed down her face.

"I'm really sorry Alice, but I'll do my best to explain why I was gone last night." Decus said, arranging himself on the floor so he was sitting in front of his younger companion. "Last night I snuck out the window in my room. My plan was to go over to the inn to give my condolences to the adventurers and maybe get a few questions in before I came back." Decus launched into the story after that, dramatic hand gestures included to help make the story more interesting for Alice.


Flashback:
Decus scaled down the branches of the large tree nearest his window like a pro. His feet hit the dusty ground with a thump. He took a brief moment to look back up at his window, glowing softly above him before dashing off. As far as he was concerned, he had all the time in the world. The only person who would most likely notice his inexcusable absence would be Alice, whom he'd explain everything to as soon as he got back.

It took him only a few minutes to make the rushed trek to the inn. Decus used the cover of night to his advantage, refusing to be caught before he could accomplish what he set out to do. With a quick glance at the presently setting sun to judge the time, he pulled open the creaky front door of the inn. A solemn woman stood behind the front desk. Her burning red hair and hazy grey eyes gave away her young age as soon and Decus saw her. "Excuse me, Miss?" Decus said politely as he advanced towards the desk. The woman looked up suddenly, her eyes surprised, as if noticing the boy in front of her for the first time.

"I was wondering if you could direct me to the room of the nice men from out of town. I'd like to speak to them if possible, give them my apologies and all." The woman gave a small shake of her head, her braided hair flopping around behind her neck. "That's very kind of you young man, but the gentlemen you want to see have asked that I turn away any and all visitors here to see them. I really am sorry." A forlorn look passed over Decus' face before he replaced it with a smile, "thank you very much anyway." The teen turned abruptly toward the door, 'back to the orphanage I go I guess. What a wasted trip.'Decus thought dejectedly.

He pushed open the creaky door languidly, pausing on the door step as he heard footsteps approaching. "Hold on a moment there boy, I'd like to have a word if you don't mind." Decus whirled around to see one of the adventurers standing behind him. His long drawn face only accentuated his aching, but Decus saw through the mask of grief and recognized him as being the kind man who lent his handkerchief to Alice earlier that very day. It only took a moment to recall some of his companions calling him Branson before the group set off that afternoon in search of the inn.

"Why did you want to come see us son?" Branson inquired gently, striding towards Decus as he pulled the front door closed behind him. Both men seated themselves across from each other in the cozy seating area of the inn as Decus prepared an answer. "I just came to give you my apologies sir, for what happened to your friend and all. He seemed like a very nice man when we talked earlier today." he told the older man apologetically. "Apologies? Thank you for that son, but you really should get back home, it's quite late and I'm sure they're missing you." Branson said tensely, standing up to open the door for Decus.

"I'm sure they're not" Decus muttered bitterly under his breath. "What was that?" Branson inquired as he held the door open, letting the abrasively cold air flood inside. "Nothing sir, I'll see you tomorrow." Decus said with a polite nod as he exited the inn. No way was he going back tonight, he didn't accomplish anything with that. Decus' job wasn't fulfilled yet.


"I fell asleep outside not too long after that. Again, I'm really sorry that I worried you Alice." Decus finished. "Idiot," Alice muttered, punching Decus lightly on the shoulder, "you could've gotten a cold." Decus laughed at that comment, Alice's child-like concern warming his heart. Suddenly things were looking up again. Decus was back home safe, and Alice was done worrying. What could possibly go wrong?


Twiz: But wait, we're not done yet! The long awaited climax is next chapter! Excited? I know I am! Thanks for sticking with me guys, it means a lot :)