38. Destiny.

Everyone stared in silence at what used to be Morag the Seer.

Theodore clambered up to Maria’s shoulder.

"This is not good." he said.

The demon looked down at the body it was inhabiting.

"Very nice." she said. "This one is strong and powerful. Certainly a lot better than some of the vessels I have been thrust into."

She looked up at the crowd, and stared straight at Paul.

"I commend your parents for creating such a beautiful specimen"

Paul stepped toward the demon but Maria held her hand out.

He stepped back.

"What’s going on here?" asked Bowen. "What’s wrong with her?"

The demon that was once Morag turned her gaze upon him.

"Nothing you need to concern yourself with." she said. "It’s not like you will have much time to contemplate anything, before you finally expire."

"I wouldn’t be so cocky." said Theodore. "You aren’t free. All demons summoned in this manner are usually put under a holding spell so that they do the masters bidding and aren’t given any free will."

The demon’s smile grew even wider.

"I know." she said.

She pointed to the ground and said.

"But isn’t that my master lying headless on the ground?"

Theodore stared down at Wilmot’s body and then back at the demon.

"Uumm. Yes, yes it is." he answered.

"Then what does that make me?" she asked.

"Free?" ventured Theodore.

"Exactly!" cried the demon.

A ball of flame formed itself between the palms of the demon’s hands and began to grow quickly.

"Use your sword." said Theodore to Maria. "Hold it in front of you by the blade like a T. Paul get behind and everyone else RUN!!"

The men blocking the entrance to the tent, despite the fact they were being told to run by a talking ferret, immediately moved.

Eachann and Bowen decided they did not have enough time to escape out of the tent and so moved to behind Maria and Paul.

The demon flung her hands out and the ball moved, quickly growing even bigger.

Everything it touched vaporised.

Just before the flames reached them Theodore cried out.

"Aegis!"

The flames washed over the five of them but did not touch any of them. For a few seconds they were surrounded by flames and could see nothing else.

When the flames receded, the tent and everything in it, including the body of Wilmot, was gone.

Scorch marks were all around.

Maria could see the impressions of some of the men who had fallen while running and been consumed by the flames or had just not made it.

Still others on the outskirts had been badly burned and Maria could see they were now being tended to.

"Nicely done." said the demon. "You are pretty resourceful Maria."

Her eyes seemed to become unfocused as they looked at Maria.

"Nice Aura." she said to Maria. "I love the colour. How did you end up with such an aura as that."

"I get it from my mother." was the answer.

"But you seem to have me at a disadvantage." continued Maria. "You know much about us, but we don’t even know your name."

The demon showed a mock look of surprise on her face.

"Where are my manners." she said. "I am so sorry. I am called Seter."

She bowed low.

"How is it she knows our names and everything?" asked Paul.

"I have your lovely sister’s memories." replied Seter.

"That’s what normally happens in cases such as these."

said Theodore.

"And she is trapped inside there, right?" he asked Maria.

Maria nodded.

"So what do we do now?" said Paul.

"Nothing much really." said Seter. "Unless you know some pretty big spells, I don’t think you will be able to stop me."

She looked around, appraising her surroundings.

"Nice place you have here." she said. "I think I will enjoy wrecking havoc. I should start with you."

Another ball of flame erupted from Seter’s hands.

"Scatter!" yelled Maria.

This ball was smaller and more concentrated than the last one. Everyone dove out of the way as it passed.

Maria could feel the heat as it passed. She felt like her skin was going to blister.

The ball of flame hit the side of the hill. There was a huge explosion as pieces of the ground rained down on the few remaining men in the area.

Seter was laughing.

"That felt good." she said. "I haven’t had a chance to let off a little frustration like this in a long time."

The group came back together.

"We have to stop her somehow." said Eachann.

"And how do you propose we do that?" said Paul. "It’s not like we do this sort of thing all the time. That is my sister over there, despite the fact there is a demon controlling her. we have to save her."

"Any ideas Theodore?" said Maria.

"Not a one." he answered. "I have never run across a situation like this before."

"You people talk to much." said Seter.

They turned to face her, swords drawn.

"I really need to finish up here so i can....."

Seter doubled over as if in pain. She moved as if she was struggling with some unseen foe.

"What... Stop..."

Brown eyes stared back at them.

"Paayl , Maria. You have to stop her, quickly. She grows stronger the longer she is free."

"Morag?" said Paul. "What should we do?"

Her gazed shifted to Maria.

"Maria knows what to do." she said.

"No!" said Maria. "There has to be a better way."

"Sometimes the easiest solution is the hardest to do, but for the good of everyone it must be done."

"What is she talking about?" asked Paul.

"Never mind." said Maria. "There has to be another solution."

Morag’s body convulsed and yellow eyes again stared at them.

Seter smiled.

"She’s quite the fighter." she said. "I will have to teach her who is in charge later. But for now I am getting board with you lot."

She reached out with her hands and two swords that had been abandoned in the retreat flew into them.

She swung them a little, testing them.

"A little heavy." she said. "But I think these will do."

She readied the swords and the others did the same.

She moved faster than any of them had expected.

Maria barely saw the blade coming at her abdomen in time.

She deflected it with her sword but Seter was able to twist her sword around Maria’s and cut deep into her left arm very close to the shoulder.

She heard the others cry out as well as Seter moved pass each of them. She saw Paul fly off the ground and land hard on his back, blood arching from his lips and nose. Seter’s foot kick Bowen several feet away and a stream of blood erupted from Eachnn’s shoulder as Seter’s other blade dug its way into it.

She pulled it free of his shoulder and turned to face them all again.

Pain filled her arm as Maria tried to ready herself for another attack. Bowen was moving slowly. She could see he was contemplating fleeing. Eachann and Paul were also getting back up despite their injuries. Maria could tell that Paul’s nose was broken.

Seter laughed again.

"You’re all pathetic." she said. "Your not even fun to play with. No sport at all. I will just have to finish you off and find better playthings. After all I have a whole world. I think I will start with the Brother. That will teach our little puppet whose boss."

She stepped towards Paul who still seemed to be trying to focus on what was happening.

Maria wracked her brain trying to come up with a solution. Seter was to strong to fight, they had no chance really. She was at her wits end.

A body convulsed.

Brown eyes looked into hers, pleading.

She had no choice now.

With an anguished cry she lunged forward.

It was said the demon’s cry could be heard as far as the sea that day.

A body slumped into her.

Arms wrapped around her shoulder’s like a child who has fallen asleep in her mother’s arms after coming back from her first night around the village solstice fire.

Words whispered in her ear.

"Thank you."