I'm SO SORRY I haven't updated! I have been extremely busy and I caught a cold a few days ago!

Okay so there it is!

Demon Child chapter twenty three: The countdown begins

"81 divided 9 it's 9, right?" I asked distractedly. I had this odd feeling…like I was being watched. But, no, don't worry, if he was here I would feel him. Besides, he promised me not to take me away, I thought trying to relax.

But when I don't listen to my instincts (or my sister) something bad happens. I frowned. Had I really been a fool for not take Lea seriously? Can it happen like last time? But that couldn't be true, I had been in Darren's house for half an hour now and he hasn't make a single move to harm me in any way, so Lea must've been wrong.

I looked around. My, Darren's room surely was small. Very small. How the hell there is enough air for both of us here? I tried to take a deep breath, but my throat constricted. I could feel my breathing speed up. "God, no…not again…"

I felt as if the walls were closing in, as if the air was running out…

"Valen, are you okay?" I shook my head, panting.

"I…I need some air…" I managed to choke out. I could feel Darren's arms leading me towards the window, opening it and then helping me out of the house. I calmed down after a few minutes.

"What the hell was that?!" just then I realized that Darren looked more freaked out that I sure looked before.

"Oh, it's just I am a bit claustrophobic…" I trailed off as I saw his confused expression. "Bah, I don't know if you know what that is…" I added when I saw him back up a bit.

"Yeah, I know what it is, but I don't want to get infected." Darren smiled awkwardly. I gave him an are-you-serious look.

"It isn't contagious, you animal!" I laughed.

"Why you little… Okay, now that we're here, I wanna show you something." He smiled at me.

I hesitated. It was becoming dark, and I should really be heading home right now. As if sensing my indecision, Darren looked at me straight in the eye.

"Look, Vale…I didn't want to tell you this, but I'm leaving for a couple of months." He said. I was shocked.

"What? Why? Where?" I asked in a rush, climbing out the window to properly face him.

"A…man who knew my parents it's going to take me where they lived before moving here. Maybe Uncle Rîus will join me later, but the thing is, I won't be able to show you this. C'mon, Vale, it's really important for me." He pleaded. "I promise I will bring you home after that, okay?" he asked. I sighed.

"Kay, lead the way." Darren then smiled and ran towards the end of the town, I catching up to him easily. I had the impression, yet again, that someone was watching me. I almost could see my father hiding in the shadows, remembering the pain when he hit me, his orange eyes wide, furious…

"He can't be here, that's a stupid idea. Don't think that." I thought uneasily.

Still, that feeling did not vanish.

LEA'S POV

I saw them running from the house. I heard my brother's thoughts in my head like they were mine. I didn't know how I did it, I was still frozen to the spot. Literally. I was well hidden, so they couldn't find me. So I tried to reach my brother, but the only thing I could do was that weird sort of telepathy.

My eyes stung with silent tears. He was going to be kidnapped, he was going to be taken away and I couldn't do anything about it! The feeling of helplessness was almost unbearable. I just had the chance of seeing all that with my brother's eyes. I tried to help him the best I could, sending him feelings of unease and such trying to make him desist.

A quarter an hour to the spell to wear off. Both Vale and I were feeling some sort of emotional pain, like a longing so intense that is painful. The countdown had begun.

Just at that moment I was hit with a feeling of shock, denial and fear. It took me a moment to realize it wasn't mine. He stopped running. The feeling of longing was so intense he wanted nothing more that turn around and run in the opposite direction, towards me. Suddenly the ground started shaking.

"Darren what's happening?" Vale asked, but stopped when he saw grey eyes filled with regret.

"Valentine," he started, his voice barely above a whisper. "I hope you will forgive me someday."

His eyes appeared to shine more, and his pupils turned thin. He started growling softly as he shifted forms.

I felt Vale's confusion turning into rage as he comprehended what he was seeing.

"You" he croaked. "How it could be you?"

"Do something, you idiot! Burn him and run!" I shouted to him. He pondered over the idea for a moment. He wouldn't do it. He was sure it would be in vain, and he couldn't bring himself to hurt him. It felt wrong.

"You are too forgiving. I'll have to fix that..." a voice echoed in his head, making both Vale and I freeze.

He looked at the elephant-sized Kaiju that was Darren, full of betrayal. Then he took a deep breath.

As he turned around, he had to force himself to breathe at regular intervals. This is what he had been dreading, he thought as he stared at the form which had risen from the ground.

His father, in his true form, was standing directly in front of him, and he had nowhere to go, and not a single idea what to do. As he looked into smirking orange eyes, he knew exactly what was happening.

He had come to take him.

And this time, there was no escape.

Me and Vale both had the same thoughts in our heads. Shit.

DARREN'S POV

I was following Belloc and Vale towards the lair. I was mentally berating myself. I didn't think it was the right thing to do, but I had to. I couldn't bring myself to look at my (ex?) friend. I was preparing a plan to get him out of there. Of course, I would have to explain everything to Vale, but that could wait.

"What are you doing? Where are you taking us?" Vale yelled as he expelled fire from his mouth at his father. I almost stopped in my tracks. That was rather impressive. Maybe when this is over we should compare abilities.

Soon we were at the desert. I started recognizing my surroundings. It had been hard for me to stay away from my kind, I hadn't done anything. He walked towards the cave's opening. Walking towards the back of the cave, Belloc stopped. He turned towards a spring, sucked in air and blew smoldering hot fire at the water. The ground began to crack and it soon opened up to another chamber. I flashed the memory of that happening the other way round, when Belloc had exiled me and my family

Belloc put Vale on his back as he transformed to run into the chamber. I hurriedly crouched on all fours and followed him.

"We are an ancient race Duncan..." Belloc was saying.

"Vale." I corrected him automatically. Vale looked back at me with a small smile. Belloc didn't seem to have heard me.

"...so old that we became myths to the humans. They call us invaders when it is THEY, who have infested OUR world." Belloc slowed and rounded another corner to reveal beautiful pink crystals jutting out of the ground. Stopping, Belloc lowered his body for Vale to get off. Vale began looking around the chamber. I was standing like in shock. I was home. I was finally home.

I looked as Vale stopped next to a chipped piece of crystal, looked inside it and found a smaller pink crystal that seemed to change to a fuchsia pink when he picked it up.

"Where are we?" Vale asked as he slipped the jewel into his pocket.

"Home," I answered smiling. "Mine, at least." Vale looked at me.

"Why are you here anyway? Why would you...?"

"Dyllon accepted to bring you to me, in return, I would let him go back here." Belloc explained. Vale's expression changed from accusing to confusing in a couple of seconds.

"Wha...?"

"My family and I were exiled from here when I was seven. It was a lifetime opportunity." I explained to him. "I told you I would bring you home, remember?" Vale's face glowered.

"No way! This isn't my home! That doesn't change just because my father's a Kaiju!" Vale said backing up a couple steps.

"I am not a Kaiju, I'm King of the Kaiju!" Belloc thundered out as he shifted forms to stand at full height.

"Though you are my son, you are weak! Belloc stated.

Vale's face glowered as he turned around, lifted a large crystal out the ground and chucked it at a wall of even larger crystals.

Again, rather impressive, for a barely ten-year-old halfhuman.

"I'm strong enough!" Vale yelled.

"He means your heart you idiot." I sighed. He could be so clueless sometimes

"You must be hard and remorseless if you want to rule over the Kaiju." Belloc stated looking around; he stopped for a moment and addressed Vale again.

"Listen, they're assembling, they've caught our scent. Come." Belloc said as he held his hand out for him. Vale jumped into his hand. Belloc stood up again and began walking farther into the chamber, motioning me to follow him, which I did.

"There is a war coming Duncan, between humans and Kaiju. A war that could end everything. It is a terrible burden to bear, but for the good of all you have no choice." Belloc said almost regretfully.

"You actually think I'm going to be king of these creatures? I am not a monster!" Vale yelled.

"Ugh, Vale, there are moments in which you have to learn to shut up." I thought

"You are my son! Superior to everyone you've ever known." Belloc said as he pointed his finger at him.

"That's why you brought me here?" Vale said with a little worry tinged on his voice.

"You ignore me for nine years and then take me away from my family and decide to train me for something I don't even want!" Vale exclaimed angrily. I was getting a bit nervous. What would the other Kaiju think when they see an Outsider with the King? And with a halfhuman nonetheless!

Vale and I gasped as he saw the rather large pit of lava and fire everywhere. Large Kaiju began appearing out on other ledges located around the pit. We could only stare in awe.

"I'm your King- THIS is my son." Belloc rumbled out holding Vale up for all to see.

"YOU DARE DESECRATE OUR RACE? YOU SHAME OUR CEREMONY!" yelled one of the ugly looking Kaiju.

"It's bad enough you keep us from exterminating the human vermin. Now, you mate with them!" another similar looking one said.

"WHO CHALLENGES THEIR KING?" Belloc bellowed to them.

"You Abbadon? Or you Astarot?" Belloc questioned the two that were named slowly backed away with lowered heads.

"I thought as much." Belloc said with scorn.

"Then I make my choice. THIS is Duncan, my heir!" Vale looked up in shock.

He doesn't look too happy. I thought watching his face change from surprise to fear in the span of a couple seconds.

"What happens… now?" Vale asked hesitantly, looking up at his father with a worried look.

Belloc simply tipped his hand and let Vale fall into the pit of skin melting lava.

"VALENTINE!" I yelled in fear as he screamed the whole way down.

LEA'S POV

The spell had worn off, finally, and I was about to get up, when I felt an excruciating pain all over my body, as if I was being burned alive. I let out a scream of surprise and pain that no one would hear.

DARREN'S POV

I noticed Belloc and the other Kaiju watching the pit intently. Looking back at Belloc in anger, I was about to yell at him to save his son when I heard a noise from the pit. I saw a huge spurt of lava fly up and land on the ledge, only to notice it wasn't lava, it was Vale. I gasped when I saw the change to his body. Horns came out of his head, his arms and legs were covered in dark red, scaly armor, and his chest… There was some glowing red flame in the middle of his chest almost like it was his heart. I noticed a golden light in the very centre of it.

LEA'S POV

I felt my body changing, quickly and painfully. I hoped my brother was okay. What is he doing to him? I couldn't feel him. That thought alone was unbearable.

DARREN'S POV

I looked at Vale's face and saw that he had his teeth bared and was breathing hard and growling softly. I saw him raise his hands to look at both of them and at his own body. Vale seemed to feel my stare because he looked up right into my face. That's when I saw that his eyes were a bright, bioluminescent green color with slit pupils.

He looked away, almost in shame and in an instant I saw his body tense. The glowing center of his body seemed to light up even brighter. Vale seemed to growl again and look down as if bunching himself to jump. However, instead he through his head back and let out a loud roar and with it came a huge stream of fire that attacked the ceiling of the chamber.

LEA'S POV

A lot of energy filled me and I screamed, things exploding around me as I released my magic, lying on the ground, unable to move.

DARREN'S POV

The other Kaiju backed up a little and some watched in awe; Belloc watched the ceiling and smirked at his son's display of raw power.

Vale, when he was finished, watched the ceiling as well but then seemed to stagger a little. That's when the golden centre of his chest seemed to glow ever brighter. It seemed to grow longer, and for a second it was a golden ray of light connecting his heart to...it was far too long to see who, but I realized it must be connecting Lea and Vale. Their connection.

LEA'S POV

I felt something bright glowing in my chest. I looked in awe as the light formed a line of golden power. At that moment I could feel my brother. I knew he had changed, like me, but I didn't know in which way, neither me nor he. Once we were both even more equaled, I saw the golden light growing a bit thinner. I gasped. Less time.

"I am going to miss you." I whispered to him, knowing that the following days would be Hell on Earth.

"I will be back, Le. I promise." He said

" I promise, I promise, I promise..." that was he kept repeating all over again, until I couldn't feel him anymore.

"Please Vale, come soon." I whispered as darkness engulfed me.

VALE'S POV

I started feeling weaker as the golden light disappeared and concentrated once again in my chest.

"I promise, I promise, I'll go back, I promise..." I kept repeating until all strength left me and darkness took over.

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