Chapter 58

Lok's POV

Okay, Lok, calm down. I didn't have much time to think, Claus wasn't going to sit still and politely wait for me to rearrange my head, so I had to think and act at the same time. I summoned Hoplite to protect Dante, that way I had one less thing to think about. I couldn't help but breathe intensely, this whole situation was beyond me, and I didn't have time to face it.

-How dare that stupid puppy attack me?! Surround him Nightstalker!

When I saw the titan, I knew we weren't going to get along. He reminded me of a monster from a nightmare, or a horror movie. It was basically a mummy head with golden shoulder pads, and its body, if you could call it that, was a giant lipless mouth with sharp teeth and green slime. He had a bunch of bandages as a cape. Now I had a new monster to accompany my nightmares.

The best thing of all is that it became invisible, I looked for it with my eyes, but I couldn't find it. I depended solely on my hearing to find it, since Claus's dead smell did not allow me to detect many smells. However, being a floating titan, it was too quiet, I just hoped I wouldn't detect it when it was next to me.

-Careful Lok, Night Stalker appears in the shadows. It will appear where you least expect it.

Cherit was right, when I knew that he had become visible again, he had bitten? I don't know if that's the word, but she had attacked Metagolem, who was fighting Ammit Heart-Swallower, grabbing him by the head. Ammit Heart-Swallower stabbed him in the stomach with his armor-reinforced tail, returning him to his amulet.

This looked very bad. There was me, Cherit, Freelancer and Hoplite to face Ammit Heart Eater, Night Stalker and Claus, and Hoplite didn't count because he was protecting Dante. Of course, I didn't have it all in me to win. Claus ran towards Brahe, whom I had not seen because he was trapped in Dante's glue, and freed him with a power called "Death Blow". So now that titan now entered into the equation.

-Oh, it seems you're in the minority, little one. How fabulous.

Claus didn't know it, but I'm more dangerous when I'm in danger. And he was my goal.

Lok's POV end

Sophie's POV

The situation was unsustainable. Lok had me very worried, with his behavior it was clear that he knew something that I didn't, and he looked very bad. I didn't know if Zhalia was trustworthy or not, but she was worried too, and we didn't know anything about Dante. With everything that was happening, it was my turn to take a step and trust Zhalia, and I don't regret doing so.

We managed to get rid of the agents who were chasing us, and we ran to join the boys. As we got closer, the sound of fighting became louder. We just had to go down some stairs and we would join Dante and Lok in this madness.

Two agents came out of the stairs and blocked our way, along with a Mindrone and a Bonelashep.

-I'm sorry girls, but you won't be able to come through here.

-Sophie, go help Dante. I distract them.

-But what's wrong with you? You and Dante are very strange.

-Dante needs someone to help him, not for someone bitter like me to drag him down further. Ray pulse!

Zhalia knocked the two agents to the ground with her power. I was about to protest, but a kind of animal roar was heard and the cry of pain from someone who could only be Claus. Zhalia and I looked at the stairs in alarm, then looked at each other.

-Go away!

As much as it was hard for me to leave Zhalia alone, I had to leave to help the boys, the situation didn't look very good. I just wished that Claus' scream and the growl, which I knew was Lok's, had nothing to do with each other, and had just been a coincidence. I went down the stairs as quickly as I could and was shocked by what I saw. Unfortunately, it wasn't a coincidence, it had been Lok who had made Claus scream.

The room had been frozen in time. Claus's titans did not move, Cherit watched from the air with his hands covering his mouth. Dante was standing next to Lok's Hoplite, his eyes darting around the room, he shifted around restlessly and frustrated with his jaw clenched. It didn't seem like a normal attitude for the situation he had in front of him, it was like he didn't see anything that was happening.

Claus was kneeling on the floor, using one hand to support his weight and the other clinging to his chest, but it was doing little to prevent a green liquid, which must have been his blood, from seeping out and dripping onto the floor. Lok was on the other side of the room, on all fours, looking like a lion about to pounce on his prey, only he had already pounced on him.

The metal plates that covered the distance between Claus and Lok were broken and raised with the marks of Lok's claws, who still kept the hand with which he had destroyed him on the ground. His other hand was raised, close to his chest, with the claws out and the fingers flexed. His entire hand… was covered in the same green liquid. His breathing was heavy, his teeth were bared, and his gaze was sharp and sharp.

Since I was little, I had heard stories about why the most primal instincts of demons had to be appeased, that's why they were "domesticated" as children, but I had never seen why. Lok… was beside himself, and I suspected that this was just the tip of the iceberg of what Lok could do.

Something around Claus started to move, it looked like an orange web, and it was coming together again. He got up slowly and trembling, I don't know if from pain, fear or the rage that was reflected in his eyes. He looked at Lok with much hatred.

-What kind of creature are you?-The only response he got from Lok was a growl, a promise to attack again. -What are you waiting for? Finish him!

Sophie's POV end

Zhalia's POV

I felt like the worst person in the world, pathetic and miserable. The way Lok looked at me and pushed everyone away from me, Dante told me that he wouldn't tell the guys anything until after the mission, but Lok and Dante had been alone for a long time and Lok looked very bad, most likely It was that something had happened, could Dante have told him?

None of that mattered now, we had to go help Dante, and Dante had the right to tell the boys, whether I liked it or not, I couldn't be so selfish as to try to make him suffer alone for my secret. Now the only thing that mattered was getting out of here, helping Dante defeat Claus and destroying his plans, or so he thought. That roar could only have been Lok's and that scream... Sophie may not have known it, but I did, that scream was Claus's. At first, I ordered Sophie to go out of cowardice, I didn't dare confront my father, but that growl changed everything.

I was very confused, I didn't know what I preferred, something really bad had definitely happened, but what was better? If Lok had lashed out like that it meant that he was in grave danger or that Claus had hurt him, and he didn't want that, he couldn't bear the thought of him hurting him. On the other hand, the idea that Lok had attacked Claus, that my father was injured, and he didn't even know how badly... it was all so suffocating, and where the hell was Dante?! His job was supposed to keep him from Lok and Claus confront each other, he was supposed to protect Lok, and stop Claus, what was he doing? How could he allow this?

I had to trust Sophie to bring order, although it was cruel of me to make a child take care of that, I was supposed to be the adult, and I was hiding in a ridiculous fight with two agents who were no problem to me, and yet I was in no hurry to finish quickly. I invoked Kilthane, although I was not sure what to do, my titans were capable of making the decision for me, therefore, Kilthane would be able to speed things up and force me to act. I left my knight fighting the titans and was about to defeat the agents when they started…complaining?

-Why did you do that?

-What?- The titans stopped fighting and the agents returned them to their amulets.

-You went a little too far, Moon. Are you really protecting that brat?

-eh…m right?-I was really confused. My decision was so clear, and I had considered myself part of the Huntik Foundation for so long, that I had forgotten that I was a spy in the eyes of others, ironic, because that was exactly what had gotten me into this horrible situation.

-What do you play? You could have gotten caught. I'm sure the boss has already taken care of the other two.

How could they imply that? Just thinking about it made my blood boil. Dante was the strongest Seeker I had ever met, if it were easy to take him down he wouldn't be the Organization's biggest enemy, and Lok was more than capable of taking care of himself, and from the looks of it, he was making it difficult for Claus.

-Because of that scream- I looked towards the stairwell- I think things are not going as planned- The agents' faces changed, and for a few moments I felt satisfaction, but immediately the possible triggers for the scream came to mind and I got dizzy.- I have to keep my role, remember? I won't do anything else until Claus gives me another order.

-Okay, okay- The agents got up- We're going back to our post, I don't want to be near the boss when you put order down there, I don't know what's happening, and I don't want to know.

I was a little perplexed as I watched them leave. I looked at Kilthane for an answer, but even he seemed uncomfortable with me because of everything that was happening on the team, and I couldn't blame him. Sometimes we seekers forget that titans are a type of demon, you could say that they are very, very distant relatives of Lok. Kilthane has become good friends with Lok's Freelancer, and even, in my opinion, he likes Sabriel a little too much. And if I remember correctly, they are also his first real friends, since in the Organization you can never trust anyone. This situation not only affects me, and although he is still my gentleman, he is not happy about losing his friends.

Zhalia's POV end

Sophie's POV

All of Claus's attacks were focused on Lok, so Lok was dodging his and the Titans' attacks. Maybe it was cruel, but I took advantage of the fact that no one had noticed my presence and I snuck up to Dante. I must admit that at the moment I don't feel like getting close to Lok, and he was managing very well. I think he could last a while little more. Combining his agility, his claws, and his powers, he managed to get rid of Ammit-heart swallower without much problem.

Before I could reach Dante, Nightstalker appeared behind Hoplite and they began to fight. Cherit warned Dante and he reacted by summoning his Hoplite, the two Hoplites did a good job keeping the Nightstalker away from Dante. I was finally able to approach Dante and check on him, he was a little startled when I approached and grabbed his arm.

-Good idea, Hoplites work better together. Join them Hoplite!

-Sophie, I can't see. What happened? That didn't sound good.

-Eh..., you don't want to know.

-From 1 to 10, how bad has it been?

-From 1 to 10, I would say between 900 and 1000.

-Sophie, you're scaring me, what has he done to Lok?

-I don't want to be the one to spoil the story for you, but it's not what Claus has done to Lok, rather, what Lok has done to Claus. - Dante grimaced - Just out of curiosity, did you bring a gun of tranquilizer darts? I think we're going to need it.

The concern was very clear on Dante's face, and even he seemed to see some guilt.

-Sophie, I know I'm asking something complicated of you, but you have to help Lok. I'm sure he'll calm down when he sees you.

I didn't feel very safe, but I had to do something to help Lok, in the worst case, if Lok attacked me in his frenzy, I could use my powers or dodge him, but I hoped that Dante was right, and that Lok wasn't there so lost and could recognize me and calm down a little. Despite my insecurity and my discomfort, I forced myself to abandon Dante to his fate in the state of blindness in which he was, but I had to listen to him and help Lok.

When I was close enough, I raised my hand to the ceiling and used "Glow", a very bright pink light dazzled both Lok and the titans, blinding and disorienting them all. I don't know if I was cruel or not, but I kicked Lok in the back of the knee to knock him to the ground, then knelt in front of him. Dante was right, as soon as Lok knew it was me, he calmed down and came to his senses.

-Have I ever told you how much I like your perfume?

I couldn't help but smile and blush a little, luckily Lok was still clearing his vision. The titans were also recovering, so I grabbed Lok by the arm and pulled him to hide between the pillars, so he could finish recovering, evaluate his condition, and reorganize. Lok sat on the floor while he rubbed his eyes.

-Okay, Lok. What's the plan?

-To start, recover my sight.

-And then?

-I don't know, try not to lose my mind.

-You've already done that, and it hasn't gone very well.

-That doesn't help.

-I'm sorry, this situation is... disconcerting, and after what I've seen I don't know what to do.

-To start, summon Sabriel. Let's leave the titans fighting while we think.

I summoned Sabriel and she went to fight Brahe, Lok's Freelancer faced off against Heart-Swallower Ammit, and the Hoplites kept Nightstalker busy, keeping him away from Dante. I closed my eyes as I thought, we had left Dante completely unprotected, we had to go back to him.

-Lok, Dante is alone, let's regroup and think about something together.

-Sophie, I'm not okay, this whole thing is complete chaos, my head is spinning, my hand hurts from touching Claus and his damn bug armour, my legs are shaking and I'm having trouble breathing. I need to calm down, I don't think I can move.

-Lok, I beg you, don't get sick now, it's not a good time, and after the number you put together, we have more than enough.

-You know, that's the good thing about panic attacks, they come without warning.

He desperately wanted to help Dante, but I could hardly abandon Lok in this state. Why did I have to carry the responsibility of the mission alone? I was going to kill them all when this was over.

Sophie's POV end

Dante's POV

I was already beginning to recover my vision; I was beginning to see distorted shapes around me. I felt helpless, I didn't know what was happening, or what had happened before. When we left here, they would explain to me what happened, but now I had to focus on completing the mission, if only I could regain my sight faster.

-Cherit, we must recover the sceptre, guide me to where it is.

I slowly moved with Cherit's instructions.

Dante's POV end

Zhalia's POV

When I went down the stairs, I tried to find everyone with my eyes. The boys were nowhere to be seen, Dante moved around the room at a snail's pace while talking to Cherit, luckily, he was close to Nefertiti's Sceptre, so it shouldn't take long to get it and be able to leave.

I summoned Gareon and sent him to look for the boys, they would probably need help, if not, I didn't understand why it seemed like they had abandoned Dante and his titans. In a fleeting moment my emotions overpowered my rationality, what if Sophie had had to hide Lok because he was hurt? That would explain the growl and scream from earlier. I panicked, I looked around the room for Claus, when I found him, I didn't feel any calmer, he had a wound on his chest that was bleeding. Lok had hurt my father, I know not without reason, but it was still a bitter taste. Today was going to be something I couldn't forget for a long time. I felt completely defeated, I did not move from the ladder, but I gave the order to Kilthane to go to the fight, I had to do the right thing and that was to recover the Sceptre of Nefertiti, I knew that in Claus's hands no magical creature would be safe, Lok being the first on the list. He would never allow Claus's project to be completed.

Zhalia's POV end

Lok's POV

Sophie was trying to help me stay calm, but the sensations were too intense, I just wanted to transform, find some dark place, curl up in a ball and hide from the world and cry. I know she had to get over me, so that's what I tried to do. When I felt like I could breathe and that my legs weren't going to collapse, I signalled to Sophie to let her know it was time to stop hiding and take action.

Lok's POV end

Dante's POV

According to Cherit's indications it was not far from the Sceptre. My vision had improved a lot, I could almost see completely.

-Careful Dante! Claus is coming here! - Cherit tried to stop me by pulling on the collar of my raincoat.

-Calm down Cherit. He goes help the boys.

-That boy is a very interesting specimen and I plan to have a lot of fun with him in the future. But I haven't forgotten about you.

-It doesn't feel good for you to brag. I guess you didn't bring me the Genie Bottle.

-Sorry but no. Poison fang!

I dodged the disgusting green fluid and prepared to make my next move, I closed my eyes and relaxed, if I wanted what I was planning to work I needed all my senses to be in tune. Claus was very confident in his "spinning edge," believing himself to be untouchable. Cherit was worried about me, and I was worried about him, I should be helping Lok, but I couldn't distract myself, I had to stay focused. I could feel Claus close enough, with a quick and precise movement I grabbed the net right where his disgusting slugs were not passing at that precise moment and tore the net off. I didn't need to open my eyes to know that Claus was puzzled, so I smiled really satisfied when I opened my eyes.

-Did you really think that "Eternal Fire" had not restored my sight?

Klaus's angry face was truly amazing, he really wanted to see what his face was when he beat him up.

-More surprises. Guards! Catch them!

I looked around, more agents had arrived and summoned their titans. They began to cast spells, Lok barely managed to dodge the attacks, but ended up on the ground, luckily Sophie was next to him and protected him with "Light-shield", and Gareon protected them from behind.

-We are surrounded-Lok didn't look very good, he had his ears flat on his head and his tails wrapped around him. -How will we get to the Genie Bottle?

-The puppy is right-Claus took the Genie Bottle out of his vest-The mission has failed! The Genie Bottle will never be yours.

I couldn't help but shrug and smile slightly.

-Good-I looked to my left and there was the Sceptre, I felt a great relief when I had it in my hands- I have never want it. The real mission was always to recover the Sceptre. Now that I had the sceptre, I could vent my anger, and Claus would pay for everything. Now that the mission is complete, the time has come to get serious. Freelancer! Calibam! Slowing!

He could see sparks coming out of Claus's head as he ordered everyone to attack. I took advantage of the fact that Claus was distracted giving orders to his agents to grab him and put pressure with my hand on the wound that Lok had given him. Claus grunted in pain.

-You will never have the opportunity to "play" with him.

I made sure to show my fangs so he could better understand the threat, then I pushed him with one of the pillars and left him there recovering from the blow. I ran to meet the boys, they were my priority and I had to get them out of here.

-Dante, I think we should run out here and leave the fight to the titans.

-Good idea, Lok. Let's get out of here.

I helped Lok up and the three of us ran out, we went up the stairs and Zhalia was waiting at the top, as soon as we were all up, Zhalia started pushing a bookcase to block the stairs, and facilitate our escape.

-Zhalia, what are you doing?- Sophie asked arrogantly, although she can't be blamed, I also noticed her absence in the fight.

-Block the ladder. We will not be able to escape from the Organization.

-Let me help you, Gravity!-Sophie lifted the bookshelf that Zhalia was pushing and finished placing it.

-Let me finish the job, Glue to stop!

Completely cover the shelf making sure it would not move easily. The agents began to hit the bookcase trying to knock it over, but luckily, "the glue" was doing its job well. I knew that that shelf wasn't going to last forever, and we had already spent more time than I would have liked in this creepy place. We left Claus's sinister library and ran through Vienna to get as far away from the Organization as possible. When we get far enough away, we stop running to breathe. We were all suffocated after running so much and this mission had been very exhausting. Lok dropped to the floor, Zhalia leaned on her knees, and Sophie leaned on the wall to avoid falling.

Despite having been successful, I couldn't say that it had been a good mission, it had definitely been the worst mission of all, but we had achieved it, we had the sceptre, all magical creatures would be safe from the hands of the Organization. I could fix Zhalia's matter tomorrow, now we just had to get transportation home, or so I thought, but Lok wasn't well and needed answers.

Dante's POV end

Lok's POV

My whole body ached from everything that had happened on the mission, the race through Vienna had only made everything worse for me. I couldn't help but collapse on the ground exhausted, while panting. I felt less pathetic when I saw that we had all been affected by the race, yet they seemed relieved. I could understand that Sophie and Cherit felt that way, but it made me angry that Dante seemed like all the problems had just been solved and that we could go home. But I wasn't going to get on a plane with people I couldn't trust. I had no strength, I was physically, mentally and emotionally exhausted, but he wanted to survive, and he had always gathered strength when he had to fight. So, I stood up as best I could, puffed out my chest and raised my hair to look more threatening. It may have been stupid, but it was an instinctive reaction.

-And good? Dante-Everyone looked at me, Sophie and Zhalia somewhat confused, but Dante seemed distressed-Let's make things clear. Who is the traitor? You or Zhalia?

Zhalia's face was pure panic, Sophie and Cherit turned to look at them, they were both very surprised. The mission was over, it was time for explanations. I might have had to wait, it wasn't the time, but I couldn't wait any longer, and I didn't want to give Dante and Zhalia the chance to come up with a common version, I couldn't stand any more lies. Sophie, Cherit and I deserved an explanation, a real one.

-Lok, I know I told you that I would explain it to you when the mission was over, but we have to get out of here.

-I'm not going with you anywhere without an explanation, Dante.

-Lok, I...

-It's me-We all look at Zhalia surprised-Lok, I'm the traitor. I'm very sorry, but I can explain it and don't blame Dante, he didn't know until the sceptre mission, and since we lost it, it was a situation...

-You've known for two days?!-Sophie exploded at Dante-And you still trusted her?-She couldn't help but run her hands through her hair in stress-For God's sake! You sent me to her!

-I'm not going to lie to you, it was a difficult decision, and I know that you are capable of taking care of yourself, and I hoped that you would separate.

-But what excuse is that?

Sophie was hallucinating, and it wasn't surprising, everything was so chaotic. Zhalia was a traitor, she worked for the Organization, the same people who wanted to capture me, she worked for the person who was building a machine to do something horrible to me and who already had a cage prepared. And Dante knew it, and if he found out two days ago, he probably had suspicions for a long time, so he could have warned us, we could have come up with a plan together, but no... Dante Vale does things alone, why Dante was not someone who trusted others, and he was not someone to trust.

I couldn't trust them, I couldn't trust anyone. I couldn't help the growl that came out. Zhalia who was trying to explain herself and defend Dante fell and backed away.

-I leaves.

-Lok is right, we must go.

-No!-Dante fell suddenly-I'm leaving, I don't want to know anything else about anyone-He pointed to Zhalia-I can't believe I trusted you, stay away from me forever. -Point to Dante-And if you come near me, even if it's in the supermarket, I'll rip your heart out with one blow.

With that I left, I went into a random alley and left. He didn't know how to get back, but it wasn't the first time I came home when I was completely lost.

Lok's POV end

Sophie's POV

Zhalia, Dante and Cherit were talking to each other. Dante was upset with Lok's departure, he was afraid of what he could happen to him, and he was angry with Zhalia and... everything was so confusing. I was having a hard time processing what was happening, all my suspicions about Zhalia were true. I always thought I would feel satisfied if I was right, but all I feel is betrayal and confusion. And..., I would never have imagined Dante, I idolized him, I always thought that we were a priority for Dante, I never believed... that Zhalia would go first or the mission. But I was wrong, I had put myself at risk, since he couldn't know if Zhalia wouldn't hurt me, he could have warned me, or..., I don't know, I think... everything went wrong.

-Calm down, Dante, and I'll take care of him.

I know Cherit tried anything to calm Dante down. When I had enough of them, I left after Lok, and Cherit after me. I so little wanted to have anything to do with any of them, maybe it had all been a mistake, and we should never have gotten together. I didn't know what to think anymore, I just wanted to go home. It was difficult for me to reach Lok, but I managed it. I didn't know where he was going and he probably didn't know either, but we had to go home and stay together, we couldn't trust Dante or Zhalia, and the Organization was most likely looking for us, so Lok and I had to stay together.

-Lok, wait for me.-Lok didn't stop, he didn't even turn around.

-Because you follow me?

-How come I follow you? We must stay together.-Lok stood up and turned around to face me. I stopped dead, Lok scared me.

-Give me a reason for that-Lok didn't give me time to talk.-All this-Lok raised his arms in the air-It was a mistake. Look where he has taken us. Zhalia is a traitor and Dante…

-All the more reason we should continue together, there is only us. We must take care of each other more than ever.

-So that?

-Lok, you're not well, and you can't think clearly.

-That is not true.

-Lok, I need you to breathe and reason. This whole mission has upset you a lot. You always say that you trust your instincts, what do they tell you now?

-Forget about my instincts! They told me to trust Zhalia, and now the Organization has information about us. I guess you'll be happy, you were right.

-I'm not happy, I didn't want this to happen. -I have never hated being right so much in my life-But I'm sure it's not as simple as it seems.

-It seems that you don't understand it Sophie, we are in the Organization's sights, Zhalia must have informed them, above all. Think Sophie, who do you think should have helped the Organization empty your accounts? And who miraculously fixed it?

-I had not thought of that.

-Sophie, we are alone, and we can't trust Dante. The best thing is that each one goes their own way. I recommend that you go to the kingdom of angels, you will be safe there.

-And what about you?

-I know how to find my life. It's not the first time they want to hunt me down.-Cherit flew to Lok.

-Lok, I'm going with you.-Lok looked at him with so much hatred, he must have felt so betrayed.

-Why do you act as a spy for Dante? No way!

Cherit backed up to stand behind me, that had hurt more than I was able to imagine. Lok turned around again to leave, I couldn't let him go like that, I knew he wasn't going to listen to me now, so the best thing I could do was give him a few days to calm down and be able to assimilate everything that had happened, and that wasn't enough. It was not only for Lok, but for me too. Lok was very wrong if he thought that he was going to run away and leave him to his fate.

-Okay Lok, but at least let him buy you a ticket to go home.

Sophie's POV end