It became nightfall as Eda, King, Luz, Hooty, Lilith, Raine, Derwin, Katya, Amber, Darius, Eberwolf, Steve and Maxwell were at the hideout that the CATTs group that Raine and the group have formed which the hideout they were in was in Latissa. Even though the CATTs stood for Covens Against the Throne.
While Lilith and Hooty were asleep. Eda, King, Luz, Raine, Derwin, Katya, Amber, Darius, Eberwolf and Steve were in the middle of the room where they gathered around at a table.
"So that's the plan you have in mind?" asked Luz with a raised eyebrow.
"Pretty much. Yet since Belos doesn't know what we're up to as well as those faithful to him. We need to be very careful and sneaky about this. And if we're discovered. We should be ready to defend ourselves with everything we've got." Raine answered. "I'll admit it isn't as simple as knocking someone out with the sleeper hold. But it should work."
"If anything else. Why not have the southern gentleman go at them with everything he's got at full power." joked Darius. "He did shoot Belos in his leg with the spirit bullet spell."
Eberwolf shook his head and made an animal like grunt as if telling Darius not to joke around when it came to Maxwell.
"It was just a joke." said Darius.
Eberwolf pointed towards Eda which Eda had a warning look directed at Darius which caused Darius to back down and look apologetic.
"Try referring to my man by his name. He doesn't label people." Eda pointed out.
"Have you and the southern- Maxwell really fallen this deeply in love?" asked Darius with a raised eyebrow.
"He tried to heal me of my curse as a romantic gesture, he's done a lot of good for me, Luz, King, Hooty, Lilith and everyone we know and love. He's learned a lot from his mother in terms of life, love, and he's got a lot of respect for women, he doesn't like lying to me or any woman, he never discriminates, is always accepting of others and their differences, and the fact that he knows better." Eda listed off. "Need I say more?"
"I see your point." Darius confirmed.
"Maxie is a good dude. It's thanks to him I saw the light, left the Emperor's Coven when I saw that being part of that coven had me doing things I don't like doing. After I left the Emperor's Coven. I saw that Maxie was right about everything he's said about the Emperor's Coven, Belos and those faithful to him." Steve stated as he shown to be at peace with who he has become now.
"I'll admit. Mr. Logan has somehow grown on me when I found out he was right and I saw that me and Eberwolf were on the wrong side the whole time." Darius stoically admitted. "He seems to talk about God, Heaven and Christianity a lot. Does this mean he's religious?"
"His mother was a Christian and both him and his mother were raised with the religious faith. So yes." Luz confirmed.
"This might sound a little prejudice but if him being a southerner with southerner roots is part of how he became the man he is today. Then it makes me wonder what any southerner is like and what their lives and lifestyles are like. I've only heard very few of his southern mannerisms, sayings and such." Darius spoke his mind. "They can't all be farmers or countryside people or they probably don't all have an accent."
"Judging by what Maxie told me. He's confirmed that not all southerners have accents and not all of them are farmers or countryside people. He's confirmed that all the stereotypes are not true." Steve pointed out. "Speaking of which. Where is the holy man?"
Everyone looked around in the room and they didn't see Maxwell in the room. They know he's still with them but they didn't see where he is right now at the moment.
"Last time me, Luz and King know is he went to be alone to pray in a room in private." Eda stated.
"I'm already here." came a male's voice.
They all turned to see that Maxwell came out of another room and joined them in the spot of the room they were in. He stood next to Eda.
"Steve is correct, Darius. Not all southerners have accents, not all of us are farmers or country folk." Maxwell confirmed.
"You delved into my mind, didn't you?" guessed Darius.
"Your mind is no closed book." Maxwell revealed.
"Fair enough. What about that saying about this place you call Texas?" asked Darius curiously. "I heard you or Luz say something about everyone in this Texas has a gun."
"That's a stereotype but it's also something they say as a reference to an ongoing issue about gun control in America." Maxwell answered.
"I definitely need to learn more about humans." Darius said realizing he probably doesn't know anything about humans like he thought he did. "One other thing in mind. Mr. Logan."
"You can just call me Maxwell or Maxie." Maxwell advised.
"Understood. You have the ability to read others minds. Are you able to delve into Belos's mind?" asked Darius.
"I used to be unable to delve into his mind but I did something to unblock that shield in his mind that prevented me from delving into his mind. I can now read his mind like an open book." Maxwell answered.
"How was that possible?" asked Raine curiously.
"Belos had a permanent mind shield spell in his own mind which takes weeks to prepare and get it redone. But since Belos doesn't have time to do that. I'm able to delve into his mind freely and know everything he's up to after I destroyed it." Maxwell answered.
"We at least have some form of an advantage." said Amber.
"But what I'd like to know is what was it that prevented me from delving into Raine's mind last time I met up with them at the Coven Day Parade." Maxwell said.
"Why not read their mind and find out." dared Derwin.
"I'm not going to do that to them. Even though Raine is...nonbinary? I said that right, correct?" asked Maxwell hopefully.
"Correct." confirmed Raine.
"Okay. Just as I said about women and their privacy. I don't delve into a woman's mind out of respect because it's invasion of their privacy which I'll only do so if I have a woman's permission. Same is said for someone whose nonbinary. I'm not going to delve into their minds unless I have permission to do so from them." Maxwell said as his gentleman nature seems to extend to even nonbinary people. "Darius, next time you pretend to capture Raine, Amber, Katya and Derwin. Try to be gentler with them next time."
Hearing this even had Raine both impressed and moved by Maxwell's gentleman nature and mannerisms. Raine felt like if anyone is to be the man for Eda, then that perfect man is Maxwell. Raine even looked at Darius with a chuckling grin as Maxwell kindly lectured a now blushing Darius.
"I see your gentleman nature extends to even people such as myself." said Raine with a grin. "Still a sweet, southern gentleman like your mother raised you to be."
"For all eternity." Maxwell confirmed.
"That's good to know. As for why you couldn't delve into my mind last time we crossed paths. Well, there was a temporary spell used on me because while I was pretending to be brainwashed or pretending to be on the side of Belos. They had done a temporary spell on my mind to prevent you from reading my mind because they knew you could read minds and if you read my mind the last time we encountered each other. Then there was a possible risk of everything that both me and others had would get exposed to Belos and he'd have us all killed to stop us, even possibly have you, Eda and everyone you care about meeting a gruesome end." Raine explained and revealed why Maxwell couldn't delve into Raine's mind the last time they crossed paths.
To Eda and Maxwell, they now knew that reason made perfect sense to why Maxwell couldn't delve into Raine's mind when they encounter them at the Coven Day Parade. A temporary spell that prevented him from reading their mind and finding out what was really going on or what Raine's plans were as if Raine was acting as a double agent.
"Acting as a double agent. Now that slays good." Eda said impressed.
"And what about Hunter? Where is he right now?" asked Darius.
"One of my shadow copies is with him. He's at Hexside. The teachers and students are still there to use it as a safe zone of sorts." Maxwell answered.
"How many shadow copies did you create this time? I heard you made plenty of them when you, Luz, King and Lilith went to save Eda and it benefited you." Darius asked.
Maxwell given a sly smile as if he knew something cool they didn't know. He uttered a little chuckle.
"I made enough shadow copies to possibly raise an army." Maxwell revealed.
"When did you do that?" asked Eda, Luz and King in unison.
"When we got back to the Boiling Isles after the mission on Titan Trapper Island turned out to be a dead end. I left a few with Salty to keep him alive and to help him out in case worse came to worse. But while all of you weren't looking. I created multiple shadow copies along the way and telepathically informed them on what to do. There's a lot of them at Hexside that are helping both the students and the teachers, some of them are going around helping out those who know Belos and his plans are nothing but a load of horse manure and many more." Maxwell listed off.
As this was something that surprised both Eda, Luz and King, it even surprised everyone else that Maxwell made more shadow copies than usual. Making enough to make a group of them to help people was one thing he would do but making enough to raise an army of shadow copies was something they didn't know he could do.
"He really is a powerful man." said Darius slightly wide eyed.
"Speaking of our escapade at Titan Trapper Island." Maxwell began.
Maxwell had a bag with him and he opened it by pulling the zipper down and pulled out a smaller bag that had a note on it as he held it out for Eda to take. Eda took it and opened it as she saw two potion vials inside it that both had a coconut oil white color to the liquid.
Eda saw that note attached to the bag which read "If you have a curse, any permanent injuries, scars, loss of limb or worse. Drink this potion and for a whole year, you're in the clear" which Eda looked up at Maxwell with curiosity.
"Where did you get this?" asked Eda.
"While me, Luz and King were on Titan Trapper Island. Tarak giving us a tour of the area. I remember him taking us to this room where they keep their potions. I looked at this one and I asked him what the potion was for. He told me he got it from the night market. He said that those potions you have in your hands now will make whoever drinks it heal almost instantly from any injury, wound, even regenerate lost limbs. It will keep any and all curses at bay and if it's a curse that effects your magic or drains it completely, then that potion will keep your magic restored for a full one year's time." Maxwell answered. "I figured that if there was a chance that you and I got separated for who knows how long. Then I thought that should keep both your magic and Lilith's magic fully restored for a while and then some."
"Wait, when we were shown that potions room. We didn't see you take it with you." said Luz chiming in.
"Well, you see, I kind of, sort of, might've, maybe I.." Maxwell said struggling to tell them something.
"You swiped a couple of them when no one was looking didn't you, ya little dickens." said Eda with a smug grin.
Maxwell blushed and let out a hiccup was he made a prayer hand sign with his right hand as his hand pointed up, then pointed down, and waved it left and right while muttering a prayer under his breath.
"That was one of the big reasons why I went to pray alone and both confess and repent upon my sins to God when I broke that commandment I never wanted to break." Maxwell answered while being subtle. "Yes, I stolen two of them. I figured since both Eda and Lilith are sharing the curse together and if we got separated for who knows how long and if I'm not there to restore their magic myself. Then this could serve as a backup plan. I already confessed my sin to God and prayed for forgiveness from Him. I really didn't want to steal them but I was thinking of Eda and Lilith in case there's some chance that I'm not there to restore their magic such as being separated for longer than a month."
They all could see the guilt in Maxwell's face when he admitted to stealing the two potion vials. Even though he had a good reason to why he did it. They knew Maxwell was a devout Christian and he didn't want to steal but they knew he stolen the two potion vials for in case if he wasn't there to restore Eda and Lilith's magic when the one month is up. Eda approached Maxwell and pulled him into her arms to hug him which Maxwell was wide eyed from surprise to this.
When Maxwell looked up, that was when he was met with a kiss to his lips from Eda's soft, full, big lips. He was wide eyed, blushing, and closed his eyes as he kissed her back. To him, this was a reassuring and comforting sign from Eda. They kissed each other for a minute before they pulled their lips off each other in a loud pop.
"Maxie, it's alright. Sure, you don't like stealing but I know the lord will forgive you as you've admitted what you did, confessed and repented to him. We all know you had good intentions." Eda reassured. "That and getting those two potions for such an occasion has got to be one of the sweetest things you've ever done for me and Lilith. I know you had good intentions."
Eda went in and kissed Maxwell again which after they kissed once more. They smiled after Eda pulled her big, soft, full lips off his. Raine, Derwin, Amber, Eberwolf, Steve, Katya, Luz and King looked on with touched grins as they saw that both Eda and Maxwell's relationship was indeed romantic and heartwarming.
"Just be sure to make sure Lilith drinks her potion dose too. This concerns her too." said Maxwell.
"You got it." Eda replied.
"Like I said. Maxie is a good dude. When I spent some time with him. A lot about what he told me was very enlightening. How his mother taught him a lot, how the Christian faith, his love and faith in God got him this far, all the good he's done for people as well as the good others have done for him, his romantic relationship with Eda being the greatest love story I've ever heard of and witnessed. The bible story he told me about Noah's Ark, what he's told me about God, Heaven, Christianity and a bible story or two." said Steve showing he has been enlightened. "I've decided to give God and Christianity a chance and see where it takes me."
"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." said Maxwell and Steve in unison.
Both Maxwell and Steve have made the prayer hand sign by pointing a hand up, lowering it down, then pointing it from right and left. Darius was a little surprised by how Steve is becoming a bit more like Maxwell with what they spoke about and what they just did.
"Steve, were you converted?" asked Darius.
"Nope!" said Maxwell and Steve in unison.
"I decided to give both God and Christianity a chance of my own free will. I feel like I never been this clear in my life." answered Steve.
"If we stop Belos for good and anyone faithful to him is stopped as well as stopping the draining spell and the Day of Unity. What do we do about Belos afterwards?" Darius asked. "We all know he won't go down without a fight."
Maxwell began to pop his neck and crack his knuckles at the question as if he had a personal grudge with Emperor Belos. He shown a stoic face and uttered a lion like growl, leaving everyone somewhat expecting Maxwell to react to a possibility.
"You already know what we'll have to do to Belos in order to stop him." Maxwell said showing no shock.
Eberwolf made a hand gesture with his left hand by tracing his left index finger underneath his chin while he flopped out his very long, thick, wide, large tongue while making a sickening fake vocal choking sound as if telling everyone they'll have to kill Emperor Belos.
"Eberwolf is right. We have no other choice." Maxwell said showing a grim look.
"Killing Belos?" said Katya surprised.
"Unfortunately." Maxwell confirmed.
They all knew that Emperor Belos had to be stopped but killing him seemed to be something a lot of them or a few of them were hesitant about since all of them haven't had to kill in order to survive. Eda and Luz had rarely had to kill an evil beast or person that tried to harm them or others, Eda was mostly someone they'd expect to do that in self-defense to defend herself or others. But Maxwell, they all knew that Maxwell has killed people and he only did that ether to defend himself or to save lives. Even if he doesn't like having to do that.
"I've killed dangerous monsters and dangerous people in order to survive and save lives. I knew I really didn't want to but I had no choice. If any of you were in my shoes. Do you think you can stand to do it more than once?" Maxwell told them looking stoic.
They all knew that Maxwell has killed dangerous beasts and dangerous people in order to save lives and to defend himself a few times. They knew that most of them might not be able to live with that, Eda had to do that a few times but she was an adult who can handle her own. Luz and her friends had slain a couple of dangerous demons and they were still surprised they did that in order to save lives. But everyone in that room knew that Maxwell would be the one more likely to be able to kill Emperor Belos if he had to.
"I see." said everyone in unison.
"I don't want any of you with that hanging over your head for the rest of your lives." Maxwell said while showing some compassion.
"We'll take note of that." Darius said. "But there is another threat we may have to keep an eye out for."
"Which threat is that?" Raine chimed in.
"Daston Logan. He's working with Belos." answered Darius.
That's when Eberwolf looked at Darius, shaking his head with a cautious face. Darius didn't know what Eberwolf was informing or warning him about. He was even curious to what he meant as Eberwolf jerked his head towards his left as if pointing to Maxwell.
"What are you talking about?" asked Darius.
"Daston is no longer a threat." Maxwell told him.
Those who didn't know that Daston is already dead were Darius, Raine, Amber, Katya, Derwin and Steve. The ones who already knew about Daston being dead were Eberwolf, Eda, Lilith, Luz, King, Hooty and Maxwell. For those who didn't know, they looked on with confusion.
Eberwolf made a hand gesture that made him look like he was holding a dagger of some sort and pretended to be stabbing himself with it while making a fake choking sound as his huge tongue flopped out temporarily. Darius, Raine, Amber, Katya, Derwin and Steve turned to look at Maxwell which everyone was looking at him with caution.
"Daston Logan is dead. Belos killed him." Maxwell said looking as though his facial expression was not sure what to feel or show.
There was a dead silence for a long moment before anyone was to even speak that during that moment of silence. Anyone could hear a pin drop.
"Let's move on." Maxwell said his face still stoic. "Anything else to cover?"
"Do we have any backup plans?" asked Derwin.
"We got that covered." reassured Raine.
"Then I'd like for us to pray." Maxwell requested.
Maxwell reached out to take hold of Eda's hand which she took hold of Maxwell's hand.
"Take told each other's hand, please." Maxwell said looking as though now he needed some form of comfort.
Everyone gathered around and took hold of each other's hands while they made sure that the sleeping Lilith and Hooty were close by.
"Repeat after me." instructed Maxwell. "My Savior and Lord."
"My Savior and Lord." they repeated.
"It would be folly to think that the devil does not prowl like a roaring lion, seeking to devour." Maxwell continued.
"It would be folly to think that the devil does not prowl like a roaring lion, seeking to devour." they repeated.
"He will do whatever he can to prevent your saints from spreading the Gospel." Maxwell recited.
"He will do whatever he can to prevent your saints from spreading the Gospel." they repeated.
"I pray for your protection from the Evil One now. Remind me that you are more powerful than he and that you will set everything right at the end. Amen." Maxwell finished.
"I pray for your protection from the Evil One now. Remind me that you are more powerful than he and that you will set everything right at the end. Amen." they finished with him.
They all made the prayer hand sign while both Eda, Luz and King came to Maxwell's side and embraced him in a group hug while he hugged them back. They were attempting to comfort Maxwell since they knew that his feelings about Daston being killed by Emperor Belos was complicated and that he needed some form of comfort but they worried about what he was feeling from it. Daston was an abusive man from a crime family, he abused Maxwell and his mother for a long time, he's cheated, lied, schemed, he was the very evil man that Maxwell once feared and they knew that they'd have to take him down one day but seeing that Emperor Belos beat them to the punch. Maxwell didn't know if he should be relieved, angry or confused because in an odd sense. Daston's death didn't satisfy him nor did it make him feel good.