The Damned Demon

740  Still One Option Left

"No..." Amelia's voice cracked as she spoke, her hands clenching into fists at her sides. "I can't leave and let them take away both of you." Her words were whispered, almost as if she feared speaking them aloud would make the situation more real, "I can't just stand by while they tear apart everything we've fought for."

Logan's face, usually strong and firm, was drawn tight with the burden of their situation. His eyes softened as he stepped forward, placing a hand on her shoulder, trying to offer comfort despite the looming threat.

"Amelia," he said gently, his voice low and steady, "you have to. It's the only way we can keep you safe. If we let them take you away too then our family may not even have a future. We will be letting down our ancestors who gave their life and blood to make a better world and ensure that we continue to do the same. The duty now falls on you."

Isla, standing quietly beside them, nodded in agreement, though her voice was more hesitant. "We've made our stand. But your fight isn't here now, my sweet little pea. You need to leave. Not only our family but Asher needs you."

Amelia's breath hitched, her chest tightening with the crushing weight of helplessness. Her fists trembled at her sides, her resolve wavering as she stood in the midst of the chaos, feeling torn.

But Logan's voice cut through her inner turmoil, a steady anchor amidst the storm. "Don't worry," he said with a reassuring smirk, though the tension in his voice was still evident, "These WHA bastards can't touch us because we also know things that can hurt them. So the best they can do is keep us under observation and freeze our family's power, but they won't destroy it. We're the Von Haughtons after all. We don't go down easy."

Isla scoffed, her eyes sharp with determination, "Of course. We're going to teach them a good lesson for messing with our family," she added, her voice filled with unspoken fury.

Amelia wiped at the tears that had begun to fall, but her emotions were too raw to contain. The love for her parents, the sorrow of leaving them, all surged through her in a painful wave. Without thinking, she lunged forward, wrapping her arms tightly around both, her heart aching with every breath, "I will come back for you two. I promise," she whispered, her voice shaky but filled with conviction.

Logan and Isla softened, hugging her back with a force that spoke volumes of how much they feared losing her. Logan gently pulled back, his eyes filled with both pride and sorrow, "Please go, Amelia," he said, his voice soft but urgent. "They're already closing in on our doors, and they might use a barrier to shut down the entire place if we don't respond in time. Take care of your man. We can't let him down twice."

Amelia nodded, wiping her eyes one last time, her breath still uneven. She knew what had to be done, but every part of her screamed against leaving. With a final, heart-wrenching look at her parents, she turned towards the teleportation chamber. Each step felt as though it would tear her apart, knowing the pain she would leave behind.

The chamber crackled with energy, the air humming with power as the chamber swirled to life. Within moments, her figure disappeared, leaving only an empty space in the room.

The second Amelia vanished, Isla's composed facade crumbled. She broke down, her sobs echoing through the silent chamber. Logan stepped forward, wrapping his arms around her shoulders, his voice a quiet, comforting murmur, "I'm glad you stayed strong for her, Isla," he said softly.

Isla sniffled, wiping her eyes. Her face quickly hardened, the sorrow melting into something colder, more dangerous, "Let's greet those dirty pigs who barged into our lands," she muttered, her voice dripping with venom as she stood up straight, ready to face the intruders with all the fury of the Von Haughton bloodline.

—

Outside, on the mansion's grounds, Gregory Hart stood several feet away, his expression twisted in annoyance as he looked at the massive estate before him. His lips curled into a sneer. "They didn't even come out to receive me," he scoffed, frustration evident in his voice. "Are they that scared already?"

One of the guards, standing close by, hesitated before speaking. "Should we force our way in, sir?"

Gregory shook his head with disdain. "Nah. They're too proud to hide forever," he said, his eyes narrowing as he studied the mansion. "Let's give them a moment. They'll come to us."

Suddenly, another guard rushed up to Gregory, a tablet in hand, his face tense. "Sir! We just detected a teleportation energy signature from this place!"

Gregory's frown deepened, his patience wearing thin. "They can't seriously be planning to escape?" he muttered, his voice laced with frustration. "Charge i-!"

But before he could finish his command, the massive doors of the mansion creaked open. Logan and Isla stepped out, their expressions calm and collected, yet filled with an undeniable confidence.

Gregory's eyes narrowed as he watched them approach. "What brings you all the way here, Greg? You're now an errand dog for the big guy?" Logan asked, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Aren't you tired of licking assholes?"

Isla shot Gregory a condescending look, her lips curling into a sneer. Her stance was firm, her posture radiating authority.

Gregory's expression darkened for a brief moment, anger flickering across his face before it was quickly suppressed.

He stepped forward, his words laced with contempt. "That's rich coming from you when you and your family have been serving the Demon King all this time, Logan," he said, his voice cold with disdain, "I can't believe it. The great Von Haughton family, who have stood guard for centuries, reduced to nothing but cult members. Except without the benefits."

Logan raised an eyebrow, his amusement evident. He let out a laugh, mocking Gregory's words. "A cult?" he repeated, almost as if he were genuinely confused. He burst into laughter, shaking his head, "I'm afraid you're not very good at comprehending situations, Greg. No wonder your father is still running things and treating you like an incapable heir."

Gregory's face twitched, his nostrils flaring in anger, "Oh, we know the fact that you personally vouched for the man named 'Ash,' who joined our association under false pretenses and now turned out to be the Demon King himself! Did I comprehend that right?"

Logan's smirk only grew, his eyes flashing with amusement, "Where's your proof that we knew he was a demon? All I knew was that he was a promising young man who approached me for help but had a problematic past. The best you can pin on me is forging his past, Greg." He cocked his head to the side, the cold smirk never leaving his face, "You better have more to back up your ridiculous claims, or we too can come up with our own versions too about what's going on in Mars. I'm sure you wouldn't want that."

Gregory's jaw clenched, his face turning red with frustration, "We'll let the Judge decide the truth," he spat, trying to maintain his composure, "For now, you two better come with us along with your daughter. Where is she?"

Logan's expression darkened, his posture shifting as he took a step forward, his tone unwavering, "I'm afraid you'll find her nowhere near here, Greg." His eyes flashed with a challenge, and Isla coldly and smugly smiled.

Gregory's eyes widened in realization, his breath catching in his throat as his mind scrambled to process the implications of Logan's words. She's gone. "Fuck!" he spat, the words a harsh exhale and ordered a guard, "Quickly, trace that teleportation energy signature! Find her!"

The guards immediately sprang into action, their fingers flying over their tablets and communication devices, scrambling to pinpoint the location of the signature. But Gregory's gaze remained locked on Logan, his fury mounting as he turned back toward him, teeth clenched.

"You just made your daughter a fugitive, Logan," Gregory said, his voice low and dangerous, the weight of the words settling between them. "Are you prepared to face the consequences?"

Logan's smirk never faltered as he looked at Gregory with a casual ease, his arms crossed over his chest, "She's a big girl, Greg. How can I control what she does behind my back?" He tilted his head slightly, as if the answer was too obvious to even consider, "She's an adult, and I'm sure she's ready to handle whatever comes her way."

The response only seemed to fuel Gregory's growing frustration, "Let's go." —

Meanwhile, Amelia's heart was pounding as she found herself standing in the desolate, abandoned remnants of an old metro station. The walls were cracked, covered in layers of grime, and the distant echoes of her footsteps only heightened the oppressive silence. She glanced around, the coldness of the place making her feel more lost than ever, the weight of her decision settling into the pit of her stomach.

As she walked further into the shadows, her mind was racing. Will they be really safe? she thought. The thought of leaving them behind—of not knowing if they would be alright—was unbearable. What have I done?

Suddenly, she felt a pair of warm, strong arms wrap around her from behind, pulling her into the safety of their embrace.

"Amelia! I was so worried," a voice said, soft but filled with concern.

Amelia froze, her body stiff with surprise, before she recognized the familiar voice and the warmth of the embrace. She tilted her head slightly, looking up into Asher's face. His subtly radiant golden eyes were filled with genuine worry as he held her close.

 "What about your parents?" He asked with a worried look.

Her breath hitched as she broke down into quiet sobs, her emotions spilling over, "T-They stayed behind, Asher," she choked out. "How can we save them? I don't want anything bad to happen to them. I-I can't—"

"Shhh," Asher murmured, tightening his arms around her in a protective hold. He pulled her in close, pressing his cheek gently against her hair.

"We'll save them, Amelia. I promise." His voice was firm, yet laced with a tenderness that only seemed to heighten the uncertainty in Amelia's heart. "But first, I need to get stronger, quick."

Amelia pulled back slightly, wiping her eyes as she looked up at him with a mix of confusion and concern. "H-How are you going to get stronger quickly? You're a Soul Devourer. It takes too long to even go up by a level. We don't have that time now." Her voice trembled as she voiced her fears, the reality of the situation sinking in.

Asher's eyes narrowed with an intensity she had rarely seen before. There was a fire in him, one that burned hot enough to cut through the uncertainty. "I know," he said, his voice low, filled with determination, "But there is still one option left. The Tower of Hell."

Ohh :#

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