"W-Where have you been all this time? I looked for you everywhere, but you blocked all the connections we have!"
I caressed his back before returning his embrace.
"It's okay now. I'm back." I whispered. He pulled himself to look at me and I almost laughed.
He looked so damn broke with his tears ruining his face but then again, this guy is Carter: the god of love annndddd my brother.
"Will you stop crying? You're a god for heaven's sake! And what in the world are you doing here?!"
"You lived here and I don't wanna go back to the Spirit Realm. Lelith usually stays there."
I sighed. "Well, I'm going to see her now in the Center," I paused, pressing my lips together. "To complete my last mission as a tamer."
"Last mission?" He repeated. He eyed Yosuke and the others as if he's counting. "Yeah... You only have last one to tame and you can leave this place for good."
His voice went down but then suddenly looked at me with a wide smile.
"But then I can go visit you in the Human Realm, right?!"
"Of course. I'm never gonna shut you down again."
"Well, then I'll go with you to meet Lelith and I supposed, the other rulers are also there?"
"More like yes!" I rolled my eyes.
"Then wait here! I'll go get dressed."
Carter wiped his face and ran inside the house.
"Are you, two, really siblings?" I heard Heie mumble.
"What the heck, Heie!"
The rest of them exclaimed and I chuckled.
I heard that a lot. Carter and I are so close we oftentimes got questioned for being lovers. He's not just a brother but also a best friend. We're really close despite the fact that he's a god and I'm a tamer.
It only took him a couple of minutes to step out with his blonde, curly hair which already reached his broad shoulders and his eyes seems to be gotten bluer than before and--"why the heck are you wearing human clothing?!"
I asked as soon as he stopped in front of us.
"What? What's wrong with it? It suits me well, you know."
I covered my mouth as I measured him with my stare. He's wearing Christian Dior Atelier quilted overshirt, Dior track pants and I don't know what brand his shoes are but--hell no!
"Well... Shall we go now?" He looked at the others and placed his arms around my shoulders.
"I swear to the heavens and hell, I don't like him." I heard Yosuke whimpered.
"Shut up!"
Scott dragged him away from me and placed him at the back as we traced the streets towards the Center.
We just had a normal conversation until we reached the two divided gates which led inside Aiden's realm: The Center.
"Welcome home, daughter of Lelith," said the two 8-foot-tall gate keepers who emerged from the two dark part of the corners.
"Is that even necessary?!" I scoffed.
I could feel my stomach lurched and my mood nose-dived when they opened the door and miasma lingered through my nostrils.
"The scent of death." I whimpered as I took small steps in.
The doors closed the moment we entered.
"Woah!" I gasped when a black wisp came to greet me.
It was just inches away from my face so I could clearly see its terrifying yet adorable face devoured by black flame.
"You have to continue all by yourself from here."
Its soft voice sent chills to my body as I agreed with a nod.
"No! I have to go with her." Carter insisted.
"My apologies, god of love, but your sister's duty is nothing to do with you."
Carter's brows met and took a step closer towards the wisp.
"YES. IT. DOES!" He argued, stressing each word. "She's my sister and I'm gonna come with her whether you like it or not!"
"It's your mother, Lelith's, command."
"How dare you go against me--"
I held Carter's arm to stop him. He looked at me and I shook my head.
"But--"
"Let me handle this. I'll be fine." I cut him off.
Carter let out a long-exasperated sigh. "Just wait with them here. I'll be back shortly."
I eyed Kurama and Ryuu. "As you usual. You, two, are in charge."
They bowed. "Yes, milady."
"Geez!" Carter groaned and face the wisp. "Then do me a favor and tell Lelith I have a bone to pick with her after this."
"As you wish, god of love."
I left, following the wisp into a very wide corridor and suddenly stopped as my unbound hair fell forward.
"Do I really have to do this?!" The more rational part of my brain shrieked.
I know for sure that the moment I enter the counsel, there's no turning back and death is a great possibility if I lose against the last descendant.
On the other hand, if I stop here, they will only let me be on-the-loose for a moment.
Either way, it will cost me my life as I have only been given this last chance to accept the job or I'll be annihilated.
Sick!
I drew a deep, exasperated breath and continued walking until I reached the edge of the corridor to where the rulers are waiting for me in their seats which almost reached the ceiling so, I had to look up.
Adonis sat in the middle. On his right, sat Lelith, and on his left, sat Aiden and behind him stood Spencer: Center's sorcerer and his right hand.
We're just of the same age but this guy just doesn't seem to grow old and he still looks like the same 13-year-old boy I used to mess up with before.
He was only staring blankly at me as if we've never known each other. Time do change people, ah?
"Welcome back," Lelith greeted.
I only gave her an annoying look and shifted my attention towards Aiden.
"So, what is it now, old geezer? You should tell me what to do and introduce me to this son of a beast."
Aiden raised his brows and a playful smirk curved on his lips.
"Eager are we, daughter of Lelith?" He teased and I rolled my eyes.
"It's more like daughter of Alexa," I corrected. "And I'm not here to discuss my family matters with you, Aiden. I came here to finish my job so, will you please cut the crap?"
He grinned and slowly stood up.
"Very well..." he turned towards Spencer, who suddenly emerged in front of me, and nodded. Spencer looked at me as he snap his fingers.
An image of an innocent man appeared before my very eyes, framed with black miasma.
"His name is Travis," Aiden started. "Aquarius' last descendant."
My brows met.
Did he just say last?
"So... If that's the case then why would I tame him?" I asked. "Descendants couldn't bear another descendant if they're tamed, am I right? Or am I correct?"
"Perhaps," Aiden looked down.
"Yes," Lelith confirmed. "A war happened between Aquarius descendants and the goddess of revenge and unfortunately, only one of them survived."
"Travis is a demigod just like you, child." Adonis added. "He's Jeffrey and Harley's only son."
My eyes squinted in confusion.
"Jeffrey is a human and Harley is the goddess of divine retribution and revenge..." I mumbled. "Then how did this Travis become a descendant? You clearly stated that he's a demigod, so how--"
"Harley left Travis with Hannah the day she gave birth to him as she could never accept him for Jeffrey left her with his true love, Josephine. Hannah, who dwells among the Aquarius descendants, took care of Travis as her own child until he grew up as a fine, young man." Adonis said and every word he's saying is projecting in the image I am looking at as if I'm watching a movie.
"But then, Harley came to take Travis back which made Hannah furious since Travis also chose Harley over her," he continued. "Determined to keep him, Hannah casted a spell on Travis, taking his demigod powers and locked him into the depths of despair."
"That's where we found him," Aiden said. "Which took us ten years since Hannah died and she sealed him out from everyone's reach."
"He's been living alone in that very dark place which pushed his will to survive using a bit of Hannah's powers he managed to steal before she could lock him up." Lelith continued.
"But as time passed by, he suddenly developed that power into something extraordinary. Hannah is an Aquarius descendant which made him one but then there's something more. Being locked in that place for a long time made him lose his human heart and a god at the same time and now he's somewhat a demon."
"He's the first of his kind and heaven knows what he's capable of doing," Aiden added.
"So you mean, you're making me tame neither a human, a god, a descendant but a demon with an unknown origin?! Are you people out of your mind?! I am clearly a descendant tamer! What the hell am I supposed to do with a creature like that?!"
"Tame him like what you do with the other descendants."
"Oh yeah? Why don't you do it by yourself, Aiden?!" I groaned, biting my lips. I glared at Lelith who's now looking down.
"How the hell can you make your own child as an experiment again, Lelith?! How can you be this heartless?!"
I bent to hide the misting tears in my eyes before looking back the that man's image. I drew a deep sigh and shot all of them a glare.
"If y'all will give me your word to let me and my mother go after this, then I will." I said, trying so hard not to let my voice break.
"We already know that's what you've always wanted." Adonis stood up. "In behalf of the three rulers, I, Adonis, vow to cut all your connections with the Demon Realm and the Spirit Realm the moment you tame the Aquarius last descendant. You have our word as gods!"
"Very well." I remarked and turned my back against them.
"Wait for me, mother..."