Chapter 62: The Devil, the Fairy, and the Traitors
Meanwhile...
Gregory and Patricia strode through the massive, shadowy halls of Ravenâs castle.
The dim purple flames flickered along the walls, illuminating the twisted carvings and dark banners that adorned the fortress.
Each step echoed, as if the castle itself acknowledged their presence.
Gregoryâs grin was as wide as ever, his twisted pride showing in every stride. Patricia, with her striking hair and sinister smile, walked beside him, savoring the moment.
"Isn't it amusing?" Patricia said, her voice dripping with satisfaction. "How the people of Angelica once praised me, showered me with love and admiration. All because I played the part of a caring sister so well."
Gregory chuckled darkly. "And all the while, you were digging your claws deeper into their throats."
Patricia smirked. "Thatâs the beauty of it. I wasnât born into the main family. I was nothing more than a distant branch. But my skills caught their eye. They saw potential. What fools."
She brushed her fingertips along the marble walls, as if reliving her ascent to power. "They brought me into the palace, thinking Iâd be a loyal sister. I watched, studied, and learned. The nobles adored me, the servants feared me. And Angeleva⌠poor little Angeleva. So gullible, so easy to manipulate."
Gregory's eyes gleamed. "And what about the servants?"
Patricia's smile grew colder. "Oh, I had my fun with them. Torture was my personal hobby. A cracked bone here, a stolen voice there. Lower-class fairies meant nothing to me. I enjoyed seeing the fear in their eyes, knowing I held their fate in my hands."
Gregoryâs grin widened. "That's why we get along so well. You savor the fear of the weak, just like I did back on Sappy. Watching Safari struggle, feeling his hope shatter every time I pushed him downâit was exhilarating. And when he lost his sister? That look in his eyes? Priceless."
Patricia laughed. "But even I must admit, your brand of cruelty is admirable. The way you manipulated the devils, made them believe strength was the only path â perfection."
Gregory gave a mocking bow. "Why, thank you, dear Patricia."
But then, her smile darkened further. "Although⌠my proudest achievement was the poisoning of Angeleva's father. Slowly draining his strength, day by day. He had no idea his beloved daughterâs âcaringâ sister was the one killing him."
Gregory sneered. "And when your plan was ruined?"
Patriciaâs eyes narrowed. "Angelvaâs mother caught on. She was clever, Iâll give her that. She identified the traces of my poison and saved him. But that wasnât the end." She tilted her head, her voice dripping with malice. "When she tried to expose me, I made sure she wouldnât live long enough to succeed."
"Slow poison, again?" Gregory asked with amusement.
Patricia nodded, her satisfaction evident. "A single prick of my poisoned pin. It was all it took. By the time I was put to prison, her body was already rotting from the inside. Angeleva never knew the truth. She wept, thinking it was fate. But it was me. It was always me."
Gregory burst into laughter. "And to think, even imprisoned, you had the last laugh."
Patricia's eyes gleamed. "Exactly."
At last, the grand doors of Ravenâs throne room creaked open. The dark lord himself awaited, seated upon his throne of twisted black crystal. His glowing crimson eyes fixed on them, his long fingers drumming on the armrest.
"Welcome," Ravenâs deep voice echoed through the chamber. "I have been expecting you."
Gregory and Patricia both knelt, though their wicked smiles never faded.
"You both have proven yourselves worthy," Raven continued, his voice resonant. "You embrace the darkness, wield it without hesitation. That is why I offer you power."
He raised his clawed hand, and streams of violet and orange energy swirled from the air, converging into their weapons. Patriciaâs elegant bow gleamed with a new sinister light, and Gregoryâs brutal mace pulsed with unholy energy.
"Patricia," Raven declared. "You are now Celestic Warrior Purple. Your bow shall pierce the light itself."
Patricia smirked, marveling at her enhanced weapon.
"Gregory," Raven continued. "You are now Celestic Warrior Orange. The weight of your mace will crush all who stand before you."
Gregory grinned, feeling the surge of immense power course through him.
"These powers," Raven said, his tone laced with satisfaction, "are a result of the energy I extracted from the weapons of Safari and Angeleva. When they were trapped within the pentagon, I absorbed 90% of the energy meant to fuel my ascension."
Patricia's eyes lit up. "So even though that fool Rebel failed, you gained enough power to create us."
"Exactly," Raven confirmed. "You are my Celestic Warriors now, bound to my will. Serve me, and the universe shall bow."
Patricia grinned wickedly. She stepped closer to Gregory, tracing her fingers along his armored chest.
"Donât we look splendid, Gregory?" she purred, her voice teasing.
Without a word, she leaned in, their lips colliding in a dark, twisted kiss. The aura of their newfound power swirled around them, the corruption radiating with intoxicating force.
When they pulled away, Patricia smirked. "So, Raven, how do we look in our new forms?"
Ravenâs grin was sinister, his eyes gleaming. "Fabulous."
Meanwhile, Safari and his crew soared through the vastness of space aboard their trusty ship. The hum of the engine echoed through the metallic corridors as the endless stars outside painted a glowing tapestry of light. But inside, the atmosphere was different â warmer, united.
The recent conversation between Safari and Angeleva lingered in his mind. Despite all the bitterness and pain of the past, the bond they had now was undeniable. He never thought heâd call her family, but here they were. And after all that had happened, it wasnât just a title. It was real.
In the main deck, Zack sat by the window, his eyes wide with awe at the passing stars. Jen stood nearby, peeling some fruit, occasionally sneaking glances at Safari, who stood with his arms crossed, lost in thought. Ian, with his ever-ready camera, adjusted the lens for any potential moments to capture. And Olive tinkered with the ship's systems, ensuring everything ran smoothly.
Angeleva stepped forward, her radiant pink wings shimmering faintly. She still carried that undeniable fairy grace, but there was a new strength in her now â a strength she had found through her resolve.
"So," she said, breaking the silence, "where to next, captain?"
Safari smirked at the teasing tone in her voice. "Captain, huh? Didnât think Iâd hear that from you."
Angeleva shrugged. "Well, you're the one dragging us to danger right now. Someone's got to call you something fitting."
Safari let out a short laugh, but there was a warmth to it. "Fair enough."
Zack grinned, his small hands pressed against the glass. "Does it matter where we go? As long as we stick together, weâll be fine!"
"Exactly," Jen agreed, tossing a piece of fruit into her mouth. "Family doesnât turn away when things get hard. We stand and fight â together."
Safari gave them both a nod. "Thatâs right. No matter what Gregory or Patricia are planning, weâre ready for it." He clenched his fist, his fiery determination clear. "They think power makes them unstoppable. But they donât have what we have."
Angelevaâs eyes softened as she stepped closer. "A real family."
Safari glanced at her, his expression shifting. There was no denying it anymore. She was a part of this family, just like the rest of them. "Yeah. And itâs about time we showed them what that really means."
The spaceship continued forward, cutting through the darkness of space as they prepared to face whatever lay ahead.
Safari and Angeleva's trackers beeped red after sometime indicating a demon general conquered a planet nearby.
The Safari family prepared to descend there after locating it.
_ _ _
The spaceship slowly descended onto an eerie, crimson-hued planet below. The sky was cloaked in eternal twilight, with a blood-red moon casting an ominous glow over the landscape.
Jagged castles and spiked towers loomed in the distance, surrounded by thick, curling mist. This was Vampire Planet â a place where the air itself reeked of ancient blood and unholy power.
As the ship touched down, the ramp lowered with a metallic hiss. Safari, Angeleva, Zack, Jen, Ian, and Olive cautiously stepped onto the cold, rocky terrain. Every sound echoed across the empty, desolate land.
"Stay sharp," Safari warned, gripping his Devil Hammer tightly. "This place screams trouble."
Angelevaâs Fairy Wand glowed faintly, illuminating the shadows. "The energy here⌠it's suffocating."
Zack stuck close to Jen and Olive, a nervous tremble in his small hands. "I donât like this place."
"Yeah, no kidding," Ian muttered, adjusting his camera. "Itâs like one giant horror movie set. Perfect for a heroic shot, though!"