An Unfortunate Enemy

**Aileen POV**

"What do you mean no!?" Tom was outraged. He was staring at me like I was an enemy.
Lena stopped Tom from advancing on me. "Let's just trust her. Don't forget all this was because of her research and friends here. Instead of fighting amongst ourselves, we need to continue. The DSS cannot afford a setback."
I ignored their arguing over whether to put their faith in me. "Mallory, you proved that you're a powerful elemental. Can you protect the nonfighters of our team?"
She smirked and agreed. I continued, "Mallory, Sekai, Rena, Sam, and Father should make one team. You all need to get out of here before Shiuku returns."
"Not me." Father interjected. "If you are staying on the front lines, so am I. I may not have any witchcraft fecking voodoo stuff, but I can kill. I'll find an opportunity as always."
Tom added, "he has been given some training and from Dustin's report, he has taken down several demons here already. King Ulrich can join us."
There was no point in arguing. Tom was a stubborn squad leader. "Fine. We need to make sure everyone sees the final guardian is back. More of Shiuku's forces might choose to side with her. We also need to make sure as many members of the DSS make it out of here as possible. This is a crucial battle for them to win."
"Us." Tom tagged on. "Questionably staying connected to our enemy or not, you are still a member of the DSS."
Lena had enough of us directing orders. She was the one technically in charge of here. "Let's go! We will clear a path and Sekai, your team will make a run for it then." Nothing left to discuss, we left.
Unlike our trip here, Shiuku's pawns noticed us promptly. Shiuku must have gotten ahold of someone. Devon was now a target in their eyes. This time, they attacked.
Lena and Tom cut a dozen down without the need of any elemental power. Father himself killed two with just a sword taken from a demon's corpse. The size reminded me of the family sword that sat by Father's throne. It impressed me how adaptable he was in the heat of battle. War and death seemed to always be an area he was an expert in. I didn't like just how naturally he was killing Shiuku's men. He didn't try to figure out if they were good or not.
"They made their choices when they raised a weapon to us." Father whispered, tossing a dagger to me. "They are openly fighting in this war. You can't expect change so quickly. Lena has a lot of reconciliation to do. For now, this is what we have to do. Even if it is in a moral gray area. This is the ugly side that leads to progression. Don't avert your eyes. This is your path. Live with it."
Father's words stabbed at me. They were bitter, but true. This had been my path. I could not just let others do all the dirty work and come out clean myself. I took the dagger ready to defend myself. Father was trying to finish off a goblin looking creature. He had claws sharper than my blade. The little creature had serious speed too; faster than Father and I. A shame for the creature, we were more clever and there were two of us.
When the clawed demon slashed my arm, I acted all shocked and horrified. I screamed out as if the blood gushing from the wound had acid poured over it. I fell to my knees like the weak human it thought I was. In a roar, Father charged the creature. The demon laughed and evaded Father's blow. Father swung with his blade again. The little three foot demon caught hold of the sword and twisted it from Father's hands. In an instant Father ran forward ramming the demon in the gut. It stumbled backwards. The demon was ready to slice Father's throat and in the moment, I let him have my dagger.
The creature had a shocked look wrinkling his features.
Not that I had the time to waste on the sharp clawed demon. The others were gaining distance from us. Devon waved at us to hurry up.
"You complain that you're in your prime, but-" Trevor snapped his mouth shut. Something horrible must have been ahead of us. Nothing shut my brother up like that.
Devon flung himself in front of me. A flash of bright red and heat blurred my vision. Devon sucked out the oxygen in the fire before it could touch me. Not missing a beat, Devon kicked his leg out, sending a wave of wind at the demon girl in front of us. Trevor pounded his foot on the ground. A giant slab of stone shot up, protecting our new enemy.
Tom and Lena were too engrossed in their own fights to notice the odd development.
"Devon, stop. I want to talk to her." Trevor's voice was hollow. I had never heard my arrogant brother sound so defeated; not even when Shiuku treated him like a barbeque. Had she strangled him while I fought goblin boy? "What did you just say?"
The newcomer spoke, "you're my true love. Join me now! I'll convince Shiuku to pardon you."
"What Shiuku is planning is evil. Lena can break your binding to him." Trevor said.
She sneered, "no love, you need to kill that trash Devon away from Aileen. We give Aileen back to Lord Shiuku and he will reward us well."
My brother was shaking. So he did secretly crave finding his own soul mate. "You almost burned her. You know she's pregnant with his child? That's not very loyal."
Trevor's true love seemed uninterested in what he was saying. "A little burn wouldn't kill her, or the half demon baby. Besides, I knew jello heart would protect her. There was never a threat to Aileen my love. As for what my Lord Shiuku is doing; I support it completely. So does my Dad. Humans are weak and pathetic. They deserve to grovel at our feet. Honestly, I'm kinda disappointed that you're my other half."
Her laugh was annoying and high pitched. Trevor was searching for the right words to say to this woman who was meant to be his. Even as furious as Devon was, he kept himself from lunging at her.
She spread her hands, juggling a ball of fire. Was she threatening the one she was supposed to love? "You know you're all going to fail right? Come with me now and I will convince Lord Shiuku to spare you."
"He already burned me plenty in the past. I don't wish to relive it." Trevor found some of his mettle. "Anyway, the DSS protects the weak. That's the way it should be!"
"This is stupid. How did I get cursed with such an idiotic true love? Lord Shiuku would still spare you. I'll talk to him next time we're in bed!" My heart skipped a beat. She batted her eyelashes at my brother. "Let me put this simply for you lover boy. You will leave the DSS now and come with me. Together we can take Devon down and use Aileen like a shield from those troublesome squad leaders. In return I'll satisfy you anytime Lord Shiuku is away or done."
"You'll continue fucking that evil pychopath?" Trevor tested the edge of his blade on the torn up ground.
She smiled innocently. "Well of course. Why would I be stupid enough to give up the strongest demon to ever exsist! Since Aileen doesn't want him; I'm one of the women currently warming his bed. But Shiuku has others, so I will not always be called on. I'll be all yours then!"
Trevor wasn't sure what to say. I was ready to rip her throat out. My eyes narrowed on the fire in her hand.
"Oh, is the little half breed growing in your tummy upset? Don't worry, Shiuku won't replace that abomination. Any woman brought to his bed has to have the injection. I'm no competition for you slut."
Devon and my Father latched onto my arms. I struggled ready to rip her little blonde head off. How dare she degrade my brother and unborn child! Every cell in my body was flaming. I was able to keep the fire away from my arms, but the rest of my body was engulfed in flames. All I had to do was convince Father and Devon to let me go. I wanted, no needed her death. NOW!
Devon spun me around and held my molten body. The scent of burned flesh invaded my nose. "Devon!"
He silenced me as he had so many times before. His kiss was fierce as he distracted me from my anger.
I blushed when he pulled away. "Control yourself. Save your energy. You said your brother trusted your brother’s judgment right? That is an essential part of your plan. Believe in him now." He tapped on my belly. "Behave yourself little man."
This girl did not know when to shut up. "Don't worry, I'll take good care of you Trevor. I'm sure I'll find the extra stamina to play with you after Lord Shiuku. And you'll get to be reunited with your whore sister again."
Trevor went to her side begrudgingly. He cupped her hollow cheeks and leaned down. Barely a nail's width from her lips he grinned, "I'm every woman's fantasy! An absolute sexy treat! Why would I demote myself to being leftovers that are only wanted when the other food is gone?"
His true love was not impressed. I don't think she could tell just how broken up Trevor was. His cocky mask was damn near perfect. But I knew my brother's shine. It was lost from his green gaze.
Enraged, she called on her fire again. The girl wasn't used to being rejected. "You're nothing but a piece of shit Lover Boy. The weakest link in all your friends. A supposed protective brother that couldn't even save one girl from the most dangerous Demon Lord! You don't deserve to be loved!"
I was the only one allowed to torture Trevor!
Her fire grew larger. Concerned for my brother, I shoved my hands in front of my chest, locking my fingers together. Her fire was snuffed out. *Am I losing control? But I don't feel that overwhelming blood lust this time?*
"Aileen keep that up! You're blocking her abilities!" Devon urged me on. Weird, he was the one telling me not to let my son's power out.
From around the corner, a burst of wind caught Trevor's true love off guard. She was too focused on why her fire went out and didn't notice an old comrade of ours entering the fight. She fell backwards, hitting her head on the floor.
Trevor tackled the man coated in the demon girl's blood. "Jacob you bastard!" His fists hammered into Jacob's head over and over again.
I released my, well whatever the hell ability I was using, and threw myself at my brother.
"Trevor, that is enough." Tears were streaming down my brother's face; his mask shattered. He was hurting so much, I couldn't fathom what he was going through. Yes, he didn't know her at all and she was a bitch; but that may have been his only true love.
Tom finished his fight and hovered over us. "Jacob just saved you from future nightmares of possibly killing your true love. Let him go for now Trevor."
Very hushed, I muttered a thank you to Jacob.
Trevor got off of Jacob, head hung low. He was trying to console himself. "Maybe she just stole my true love's aura? Like Shiuku did to Devon?" The chances of that were highly unlikely. To do that, she would have needed the mind talent. We all saw her fire, but she gave no indication of having another element. "Yes that's it! She's still out there waiting for my shining personality to lighten her life! My real love will obviously be better looking too than that horrid creature!"
We all regrouped while Trevor dried his face.
Lena called me to her. "Aileen that ability, when did you get it?"
"What ability? All I've done is use my baby's aura."
"Yes, the first when you used fire and burned your Father and Devon; that was your baby. Bloodlust was in your eyes." She brushed my hair away from my eyes. "But the second time, when your brother was being degraded near the end, your eyes didn't turn red."
That made no sense. If I used an ability my eyes should have been bright red. Lena continued, "is it possible that he gifted you-"
"LENA!!! We need you up here now!"
We rushed over to Tom. We all stared down at the now blue lipped girl below Jacob. She spoke to Devon, "He was right to sell you." Barely able to move, she tilted her head at Trevor. "I'm glad that girl is dying painfully. I saved her the trouble of being yours."
This enemy was very unsettling. Somehow she knew Devon was sold. Not only that, but I had no idea what she was insinuating with Trevor. Was he right?
My brother raced ahead. He convinced himself to believe that bitch's words, not taking the time to consider if it was a trap. *What the?*
The whole building started shaking. Chunks of rock fell at random. More screams came from every direction. Someone was destroying the castle with everyone still inside.
"That aura...A demon lord showed up." Tom gritted out. "Trevor, get back here!"
Two high ranking demons I'd seen Shiuku talking to months ago attacked Lena and Tom. I charged after my brother, Devon, at my heels. We raced through the corridors following Trevor. A large section of wall and ceiling crumbled, separating us from Father and the squad leaders. I had no time to worry about that. Devon and I needed to get to Trevor.
Trevor was stopped just a few feet ahead in a huge and very destroyed room. A ridiculously powerful aura had both Devon and I halted beside Trevor. It was almost as paralyzing as Shiuku's.
"Hello son."