The Half Blood Book 2

“What are you up to?” Daphne challenged Maret. She was certain Rothvaln wasn’t the mastermind behind this surprise attack.

If he’d wanted to extract information from her or murder James, he could have done so effortlessly.

“Quiet, you witch. You’re not in a position to make demands,” Maret retorted, thinking that her harsh words would scare Daphne. She couldn’t have been more mistaken.

“Maret, cool it. Don’t forget why we’re here.” Sunnia, a lord with fiery red hair and black eyes, urged her to simmer down.

Daphne had never sparred with Sunnia, nor had she ever had a conversation with her. But she was well aware of her notorious reputation.

Sunnia was the quiet one. She didn’t engage in idle chatter; she was a killer. She didn’t believe in second chances or forgiveness. If you committed a crime, you met the sharp end of her blade.

“I’ve done my part of the deal,” a shaky voice suddenly piped up. Daphne swiveled to identify the lowlife who had the audacity to participate in this scheme.

The lords fell silent. It appeared as though they were internally deliberating their next move.

“You’re free to leave,” announced Teias, Rothvaln’s general, a burly demon with shoulder-length dark hair and black eyes that mirrored Sunnia’s. To Daphne, he was a traitor.

“No,” Daphne declared. She now had another reason to eliminate that scoundrel.

“Are you challenging my authority?” Teias snapped at her.

Lars started to exit when Maret abruptly lunged at him, her nails piercing his chest, obliterating his most vital organ—his heart. The vermin collapsed, lifeless.

Maret’s face twisted in disgust at the sight of the blood on her hands, and she hastily began to clean it off on her black cloak.

“Can we get this show on the road?” Stelios, presumably the youngest lord but just as lethal as the others, asked with a touch of impatience.

Daphne glanced at James, who was still bound to the chair, unable to move or utter a word. Their eyes locked.

She projected a calm she didn’t feel because a violent storm was brewing within her, but she wasn’t reckless enough to take on these demons alone.

“What do you want?” Daphne asked in a direct tone.

“We need you to liberate someone for us,” Teias responded.

“Why don’t you do it? You’re clearly more powerful than me.”

“At least you understand your position,” Maret taunted her with a wicked grin.

“Maret, enough!” Teias interjected. “The problem is, we can’t. He’s imprisoned in a place we can’t access, and Rothvaln would instantly identify the intruder.”

“Is he Rothvaln’s captive?” Daphne inquired, her brow furrowed. None of the lords responded, but their silence was confirmation enough.

“What makes you think I can free anyone?”

“You’re Rothvaln’s mistress. He trusts you,” Maret stated.

“I’m not anyone’s mistress. I work for him,” Daphne retorted, revealing how the insult had stung her.

“Keep telling yourself that if it makes you feel better. But we all know the truth: you’re a demon’s plaything.” Maret harbored a deep-seated hatred for Daphne.

“Can someone please shut Maret up? We’re running out of time,” Stelios interjected again.

“Daphne, free the prisoner from Rothvaln, and we’ll return your brother,” Teias proposed. Of the five, he seemed the most rational, at least.

“How do I know you’ll spare us? I have a pact with Rothvaln,” Daphne questioned Teias.

“We’ll make a pact with you. All five of us will vow to let you live once you fulfill our request.”

“What makes you think I won’t go straight to Rothvaln and expose your conspiracy?

“He’d kill you all without a second thought. He’s more powerful than all five lords combined.”

A burst of derisive laughter caught Daphne’s attention, and she turned to face the fifth lord, Myron. The most merciless of them all.

He was Teias’s favorite demon and so irresistibly attractive that no demoness could resist him.

James started to emit muffled cries. The veins in his body were protruding from his skin as if he were experiencing excruciating pain.

“James!” Daphne rushed to him, stroking his forehead. Her brother’s agony subsided, leaving him panting heavily.

“Listen closely, you little brat. You won’t breathe a word to Rothvaln. If you do, your precious baby brother is as good as dead. What you just witnessed is a preview of his fate.”

Myron moved closer to her, his threat hanging in the air. “If you feel the need to spill our secret to your master, go ahead.

“But remember, with every word you utter, your brother’s life will be slipping away, and his death will be slow and agonizing.”

Daphne stared him down, her hands clenched into fists.

Myron returned her gaze with a smirk. “I doubt you’d risk it, knowing your brother is teetering on the edge of the Abyss.”

Daphne weighed her options. If she chose to reveal everything to Rothvaln, could she trust him to save James in time?

Looking at these demons, she was certain they’d kill her brother on the spot.

If she decided to aid them, not only would her brother die, but she would too, the moment Rothvaln found out she was the one who freed his captive.

But…what if…I strike a deal with these demons, promising to spare us in return…maybe Rothvaln won’t find out it was me.

All I need to do is figure out how to free that demon without getting caught.

Daphne made up her mind. “Fine. Let’s strike a deal. I’ll free the prisoner, and you’ll let James and me live.”

“Deal,” Teias finally spoke up. A long, needle-like nail grew from his index finger. He sliced open his palm, followed by Maret, Stelios, Sunnia, Myron, and Daphne.

Daphne pressed her palm against each of the lords’. They each echoed, “We strike a pact. Free the prisoner in return for sparing Daphne Brooks and James Brooks.”

“Now, tell me where this prisoner is and how to free him.”

“That’s your problem,” Myron retorted.

Daphne scowled. “Let me get this straight. You want me to free someone, but you don’t know where they are or how to free them?

“How am I supposed to do what you’re asking if you don’t even know where they are?”

“Rothvaln has kept it a secret for centuries. We only have a name. Maybe that’s a good place to start.”

“Tell me,” Daphne demanded of Teias.

“Agate Brevil.”

“Agate?” Daphne was momentarily taken aback.

“We know she’s connected to Rothvaln. She’s a powerful witch. We think she might have some useful information,” Teias elaborated.

“How do I find her?” Daphne asked, careful not to reveal her familiarity with Agate.

“Last we heard, she was residing in the mortal realm, near a place called Iceland.”

So, you’ve been hiding there all this time, Agate, Daphne thought.

“You have one week to free the prisoner,” Teias declared gravely.

“One week? That’s hardly any time.”

“One week is all you get. If we don’t see progress by the seventh night, you know what will happen to your brother.”

Teias exuded a menacing calm, a chill that could unnerve even the bravest of warriors.

“Once I have the prisoner, where should I bring him?”

“You don’t need to worry about that. Once you have him, he’ll guide you to us.”

Daphne moved towards her brother. “Please, let me speak with him,” she pleaded with the lords.

James gasped. “Daphne, don’t do this. You’ve suffered enough. It doesn’t matter what they do to me. Please, don’t. Rothvaln will kill you.”

“James, trust me. I’ll find the prisoner, and we’ll be okay. I won’t let anyone hurt you. Trust me.” Daphne planted a kiss on his cheek.

“I love you, sis.”

“And I love you more, James. Will you wait for me?”

James nodded. His sister had always been his savior, risking everything for him.

And what had he done for her? Nothing, just living comfortably while she carried out orders and endured all sorts of trials.

“Alright, enough of the emotional stuff, it’s time for us to leave,” Myron grumbled.

In an instant, James vanished before her eyes.

“Seven days, Daphne,” Teias echoed.

“Best of luck,” Sunnia wished her.

The noblemen vanished, leaving her in solitude. Daphne’s gaze fell on Lars’s lifeless form. She moved closer, gently laying the iron medallion on his face.

The crucial part was that she needed to carry out her regular duties without arousing any doubts.

Regardless of anything, she needed to maintain Rothvaln’s faith in her. She was left with no other option but to search for Agate first.