Intertwined: her three mates

31. His Downfall

Unknown P.O.V.

“I saw the witch leaving the Wizard castle, she was with another witch, a curly-haired brunette with tanned skin and hazel eyes. She has a sweet-looking ass! They are both pretty little things.” I said a bit distracted, she was a good piece of ass, both of them were. 

“Stop being so lust-driven! We have an important mission here.” my comrade, Azael, mumbled. He was never the life of the party. 

“We can conclude our mission and have some fun in the meanwhile. Why you are so serious? You should smile more often and enjoy the females and what they have to offer.” I flashed him a mischievous smile. He huffed. 

“We should get her now. Her mates are not around her. That is the moment. If you could stop to lust over all females and act for a bit…” My other comrade, Camamel, said bitterly. 

“Okay, okay. Let´s go back there and get those girls.” My 3 companions rolled their eyes. 

The four of us portaled ourselves to the place I saw the young witch last. Luckily, she was still there and only with her little friend. Unprotected. 

We showed up surrounded by smoke. Well, a well-respected demon likes a good dramatic entrance, or at least that is what I like to think. The ‘spartan’ demons by my side don't think so. 

“My, my… what these little witches are doing here alone? You are not afraid to be eaten?” I asked, giving them a smug grin. 

The silver-haired witch looked at us, brow raised, hands on her hips in a defiant posture, “Who are you and your little minions? We are not fool’s food!” she affirmed. 

The dark-haired witch was trembling, as she should be and the silver-haired one pulled the brunette behind her in a protective way. 

My comrade Azael laughed humourless. “That will be your last words, little wench!”

“This witch does have a backbone…maybe that's why she is the King’s mate.” Said the dump of the group, Hazmael. Apparently, you don't need to be anything near bright to be an elite demon. 

“She is no mate. She is a gash, a weakness, his downfall,” uttered Azael reprimanding Hazmael. 

“How ironic is that we will gash her!” I heard the deep voice of the fourth of the group, Camamel.  

“Cali, do these demons think they are funny?” the defiant witch, Livia, asked rolling her eyes. Her friend was shaking too much to even answer. 

“How do you know we are demons? Azael you said that no one would be able to link our doing back to us.” Our dimwit Hazmael mumbled. 

“Well, smoking… you reek of sulfur.” She uttered in a duh voice. The girl was fiery. “Anyway… what do you want? Have you forgot the way to hell or are you doing a tour in this beautiful Realm?” She asked impatiently. 

“Liv, please don't provoke them.” The brunette witch requested in a low whisper. 

“We want you, Livia!” Camamel stated enraged, his eyes were bright orange. He hated that witch even more than the rest of us. Of course, we hated her, first, we are demons, and hatred comes naturally to us. Second, she is to be the downfall of our King, make him softer and vulnerable. As his most loyal subjects and elite demo, ns we have to eliminate this threat before it was too late. 

“Then, let my friend go!” she demanded firmly. That woman didn't even flinch. 

“Why would we do that?” I asked with a sneer. 

“If you do it, I will make sure that your death is not as painful as I have in mind.” She answered, making me laugh and my companions chuckle humourless. 

“How do you intend to kill us, female?” I asked. She does have a sense of humour and it is not everyone that faces death without losing their wit. It is a pity that we can’t keep her as a plaything. 

“Let´s stop talking and start killing.” Declared Camamel fuming impatiently. He doesn't appreciate the beautiful moment of fear, truth, and entertainment that in my opinion should always precede a good kill. The small pleasures of life. 

“Good idea, this conversation is not entertaining, we may jump to the killing part.” Livia snapped back. 

“Liv, you are insane! Please stop! They will kill us!” The brunette witch said and cried piercingly. 

Camamel threw a fireball towards her, but she dodged it by chanting a spell over her breath. How could that witch dodge it? 

~ * ~

Liv

The babbling baboons may not know that, but I am a hybrid and since Elric unblock a tad of my elf powers, I could mind-link my father, I did it as soon as I saw the strange smock raising in the air. I can be reckless, but I am not stupid. I honestly expect more from demons, they could be a bit more scary or smart. Anyway, lucky us that they aren't. And well, I wasn’t afraid of those demons, I had a bigger and stronger one between my legs some days ago.

I looked at Cali, the poor girl was about to piss herself…no, wait, she actually pissed herself. Oh Cali, hold on!! I squeezed her hand trying to comfort her a bit. 

Moreover, having overbearing mates has its advantages, of course, Avalon cast one, actually many, protection spells on me. Elric gave me some stones and said that I could draw power from them, but I still have no clue how to use them. He said that when the moment of need comes, they will make themselves useful. He was very cryptical. 

We just needed to somehow survive until the others come to help. Avalon's protection spell made me able to dodge the fireball that the orange-eyed demon threw on me. It also helped me to dodge and shield Cali against the electric shocks, fireballs, and fire pulses that followed the first attack.  I didn't know how long it could last, I was using it somehow to protect two and it was made to protect one person, so it would wear itself sooner than later. 

I felt quite powerless though, my own powers are not that well developed, if I survive this…no, when we survive this, I will change this situation and practice my magic, became stronger to fend for myself and my friends. 

Anyway, I was tired of only being attacked and dodging it. I will fight back or try my best. I grabbed Cali's hand to channel energy and make my attack stronger. The poor Cali was frozen like an ice statue. “Cali let it go! Give me your hand and try to focus your energy, we need to counter-attack.” 

“But, Liv…” she whispered back. 

“Please, Cali.” I insisted. 

She placed her palm on mine, that way was much easier to gather energy than just by holding her hand. I closed my eyes and tried to concentrate, keeping the magic shield that dodged the demons‘ attacks up and directing my inner magic at the same time. I shot the dumb-dumb demon an outflow of blue energy, making him fall on his butt. He looked confused at his allies. I did the same to the talkative demon, he fell down, but stood up again almost immediately. I tried to do the same with the other 2, but they didn't even flinch. Damnit Liv, you need to focus harder, I scold myself. 

I breathed and focused like never before and directed my magic to the dimwit, it charged him fully and he was paralysed on the floor, surrounded by a blue light. The others stop their attack for while looking at him startled. One of his buddies tried to free him of the magical net, getting stock on it himself. 2 down! More 2 to go! I started to breathe with a certain relief, but it didn’t last long. I felt Avalon’s protective spell starting to flutter feebly. It would fade soon. I wouldn't be able to protect Cali and myself. I sighed, damn Liv… you need to do something! I tried to attack the other demon using all my concentration, he just fell down, but stood. It wasn't enough.

I heard my father’s voice through the link and Laius, no wait… they were here. I was so hazy that I couldn´t see them at first. 

Laius paralysed them just by moving his hand, which of course, stopped their attack. He looked fuming, his eyes were bright red and I could see his fangs growing. Wow, I didn't know he had fangs. Cali's grasp on my hand was getting loose, I am feeling so exhausted, and black spots started to appear in my vision, I was getting ‘loose’. Darkness started to engulf my senses and I felt strong arms picking me up before I reached the floor. I felt intense tingles dancing across my skin before darkness claimed me completely.

~ * ~

I wake up still drowsy and hear people yelling. I look around and by the sense and the smell of balm mint, I am at my father’s place, what I’ve learned is part of Emeraldia, Elric's Realm. 

“Let me sleep!” I say in a croaky voice. 

I do need to drink some water. My throat is so dry that it hurts. I look up and see aunt Astoria's grey eyes, she is stroking my hair softly. She seems to understand my need and gives me a glass of water that I drink in a gulp. 

“How are you feeling?” she asks in the softest tone I have ever heard leaving her mouth. 

“Where is Cali?” I ask concerned. 

“She is fine.” She answers. 

“I am fine too. Just a bit tired, you know. I always could use some more sleep. By the way, how long was I out?” 

I hear a chuckle and look around until my eyes met Nema's light brown ones. “That is my lazy student! … Hi Liv”  

“Less than 20 minutes and you are not hurt. Sienna has already taken a look at you.” Aunt Astoria answers. I nod to her. 

“Hey, Nema! I may be lazy, but I nailed those funny exams of yours… What's up with all the yelling?”

“It’s your father and your mates.” Nema answers rolling her eyes.

“What?” I get up in a swift movement, which makes me stagger a bit, Nema and aunt Astoria hold me and help me to regain my balance. “Thanks” I mutter. 

“Slow down Liv. They won't go anywhere.” Nema utters. 

I go towards them. They all turn to look at me. Elric engulfs me in a hug. And my other two mates come towards me as well. Elric lets me go and Avalon and Laius look at my whole body trying to check if I am hurt. 

“I am fine, you overbearing males!” I say half-scolding. 

“Baby!!” Avalon exclaims taking me into his embrace, his eyes become greener and calmer after he took me in his arms. 

“So, why all the yelling?” I ask. My father comes and hugs me too, lifting me from the floor, he lets me go after a couple of minutes. Yes, it was a long hug. But is not like I didn't like it. 

“Because your mates didn't protect you, they left you without guarding. They left you alone and vulnerable.” My father lashes out, I can hear the anger in his voice.

“It is not like I am a little child and can't go out alone,” I argue.

“Liv, you are a hybrid and the queen-to-be of 3 Realms. These two things make you a golden target and your mates failed to be careful enough and protect you,” my father replies. 

“Come on guys. It wasn’t a big of a deal. Not even that scary.” I try to reason with all these stubborn men.

“Sweets, your friend peed herself,” Laius says with a half snicker. 

“Let’s not hold that against her, okay? Maybe... she has a urinary infection.” I didn’t think Cali had it, but I wanted to protect my friend against the humiliation. “The important thing is that I am fine,” I add. 

My father glares at me as if I am saying something totally absurd. “They failed you… and this one” he says giving Laius a dirty look “failed to control his subjects and prevent them to plan and execute an attack towards you.” 

Laius looks down. I haven't ever seen him looking down before, he is quite upset, his eyes are shining red and he has not even hugged me. 

I go to Laius and stand on my tiptoes, cupping his face. He looks at my eyes. 

“He is right Sugar. We failed you… It won't ever happen again.” He says. I hug him, damnit I just can’t see my playful and mischievous mate down like that.

“Come on, we are all new in this mate thing, it is normal to make a couple of mistakes in the beginning, right?” I say trying to cheer them up. 

I look at Elric and Avalon. Elric's eyes are a bit dull and I can see that he blames himself too. Avalon does not seem so affected by my father blaming them. His eyes are green, not the edgy grey as they get when he is overtaken by a strong emotion, normally, lust or rage. 

“Mistakes that can be fatal, Livia.” My father affirms soberly. 

“He is right, Liv. But now we know better and we will protect you.” Elric says calmly. 

“Well, I should be able to protect myself better too. I want to practice and make my magic stronger. Being dependent on a Hero's protection or waiting to be rescued is totally not me. I want to be able to kick some asses!” I say.

“You won't need to, I will protect you, baby,” Avalon replies.

“But I want to, and I would really appreciate your help with this Avalon,” I say smiling, he nods.