Bride To His Darkness-Chapter 294: What The Hell Is An Ekimunus?

Tobias’s eyes narrowed at the peculiar compass, his gaze fixed on the intricate workings, and he vaguely recalled an ongoing project about such compasses. Duncan’s Father practiced the creation of ancient sorcery, and he remembered when Duncan’s Father had plans to make such valuable compasses in order to access a person’s location within a short span of time– but he never knew what became of the success of the project. Moreso, Duncan’s Father never introduced his new creation after making them.

"So what does it do?" Tobias asked Duncan quietly, whilst Lucy tried to come closer so she could listen. The compass in Duncan’s hand looked ordinary, no different from the regular that can be purchased from a store, but in truth, it was just a harmless camouflage, made to hide away the real usage of the compass. Duncan’s Father had many useful creations, he was gifted with the ability to create the most destructive weapons, and that made it easier for them to dominate Caledonia– thought Lucy, or so she has heard.

"This compass shares an unbreakable connection to the chip." Duncan softly explained, "it will guide us unerringly to Marius’s location, no matter how far he strays. As long as that chip sticks with him, every step will become a trail of whispers." He glanced at Tobias who seemed to grasp the usefulness of the chip now, but the confusion lingering on his eyebrows were yet to vanish.

Duncan’s calculative gaze returned to Marius, and it was better not to interfere more than they already had. His main concern was Marius’s attempt to get into the heads of everyone, and if given that chance, it will be too late to do anything. The least they could do presently was to make sure he doesn’t manipulate his way into the heads of anyone, especially Ivan’s. However, Duncan couldn’t really grasp his intention from making such a presence in the Chevalier Palace– if he didn’t have that child in his captive, heaven knew a blood bath would occur right in front of the Palace gates.

"Why did he come here?" Duncan murmured questioningly to himself.

Meanwhile, below the ground level, Marius had his attention fixed on Ivan. A coy smile curved his lips at his lack of reciprocation, and he said, "all I wanted from your family was what they stole from me. That Orb was rightfully mine from the start, it belongs to me, and I guess, your Samantha realized who her true Master was, isn’t that why she left you and...came back to me? She came to me willingly, and I made her mind again. Everything is going as it should be, now all I need is this little boy to complete–"

"You better not lay your filthy hands on my son!" Madeline’s voice rang out, slicing through the air like a piercing arrow, and her eyes flared when he crouched down to pet her own son. "What do you want from my son? He’s just a child! If you have issues with us then so be it, but don’t bring my innocent son into this!!" Madeline took another step forward despite Cassian’s attempt to make her stay back. She wasn’t going to just lay back when some demon had her precious son under his captive, and her fury was evident in her gleaming dark eyes.

"Mama!" Alain called out to his Mother, a mix of fear and confusion painting his visage. Madeline’s strength wavered at the sight of her son, and she couldn’t help but assure him the only way she knew how to.

"You don’t have to be afraid, okay?" She said, whilst trying to steady her trembling voice, "don’t... try to fight your way out, no one will hurt you, you’re my brave boy, aren’t you? So just..." her voice faltered when she sensed the condescending smile on Marius’s lips.

"Ahh... how can you possibly assure him of his safety? Don’t lie to him." Marius’s gaze held pure amusement, "aren’t you the least curious about how I got to know you and your husband? Hold on, do you remember the Ekimunus? That ghostly vampire that goes around turning people into whatnot and causing havoc around your realm? The ones you and your husband defeated? I’ll be glad to let you know that he was actually a lower ranked demon, sent to claim your realm the same way I was sent to claim this realm. It is a shame, he was so close, but won’t you consider me a good friend if I avenged on his behalf?"

"You... know him?" Cassian queried with wide eyes, and Marius laughed before exhaling softly, "again, why’d you think I opened a portal that brought you here? There were some errors with the teleportation meridian, that is the only thing that saved you from landing in my Palace. But like I said, your son is exactly what I need to achieve my goal in this realm. Do yourself a favor and go make new ones, cause you won’t be getting him back... not alive at least."

"Is this the reason you stopped the blood moon from happening?" Queried Cassian, as the puzzles began to fit, "you’re deliberately messing with the Cosmo’s to keep us here?!" His fist balled as he could no longer suppress his anger.

"He’s trying to test your limit." Ivan quickly said after picking up his intention, and he sneered, "aren’t you ashamed? I’ve heard of the great Marius but now my expectations of you are disappointingly low. If you have such faith in yourself then release the child, and you can face me. Do you know what they call those who cover up their scheme with a child? A spineless wimp, and for a Demon, you’re no less than a chicken. Isn’t that why your soul was made to wander like a lost hurricane?"

The last sentence successfully wiped off the cynical smile on Marius’s lips. Ivan had expected him to charge forth so they could both end this right here, but the Demon seemed to have other plans. For some unknown reason, Ivan’s powers were useless when it came to Marius, he could not control the Demon no matter how hard he concentrated his energy into it, and that made him aware that Marius was more dangerous than he appeared to be. He guessed that Marius was capable of wiping his kingdom single-handedly, his aura proved it, so why was he hiding behind a child?

That he could not fathom.

"Come find me." He pointed a finger at Ivan, "I still have unfinished scores to settle with you before I claim this world. In the meantime, see if you can find me, and maybe then, I can release the little boy to you, but if you want Samantha, I’m afraid you’ll have to fight for her ownership. You better hurry." And in the blink of an eye, he vanished with little Alain.

"NO!" Madeline was immediately held back by Cassian when she wanted to run to the vanishing black mist, and she struggled relentlessly to release her hand from Cassian’s firm grip.

"Let go of me!! He’s taken our son!! He’s taken my son!!"

"We’ll get him back, I promise." Cassian immediately assured his wife whose eyes had turned teary. They held her panic and she shook her head, as if she did not believe him.

"Didn’t you listen to what he said? He’s going to hurt our son... we... we have to find him.. we need to bring our son back before he hurts him, we need to find him."

"We will, and I promise." Cassian made her look into his eyes so she could see he was damn serious as well. "No harm will come to him, we’ll find him." Cassian had his reasons for staying back, regardless of how difficult it had been for him. If he had made any attempts to strike, their son would be dead so as hard as it was for him, he had to let whoever that demon was take their son. At least, they knew he was still alive, and they’ll try to get him back.

They have to.

"He wants to hunt him down." Ivan couldn’t help but laugh, and there was a dreadful tone in his voice the moment he stopped, "since he’s decided to reduce himself to bush animals, then I have no reason to object."

"If you’re going to find him, use this." Came the voice of Duncan, and when everyone turned around, the vampire was standing at the threshold. He tossed the compass at Ivan who instinctively caught it.

"Is it ’the compass?’" He emphasized, and when Duncan nodded, he immediately held the compass aloft, its needle spinning with purpose. They paused at a designated spot, leading towards the south, and Cassian had to peer himself, not minding the fact that he was confused with the conversation being exchanged by the two vampires.

"Follow the compass, and you’ll find him." He said to Ivan who readily got the message. As he shared more connection to Ivan, the vampire was aware of the compass that his Father had secretly created. Ivan had to know, the reason why Ivan had built a relationship with his kingdom in the first place was so he could access their weaponry when needed.

"Cassian, Tobias, where is Alistair? You’re coming with me. You too Duncan." Ivan said to the three of them, but Duncan was quick to decline.

"You speak as if you have no idea of my ailment." Answered Duncan, "why should I come with you?"

"Cause you’re more useful to me, and the quicker I find my wife, the easier it will be for you to return to your Kingdom."

"I can’t walk under the sun–"

"I’ll come too, I’ll be right by your side and offer my assistance." Lucy immediately chirped in, but before Duncan could strongly decline, Madeline spoke up.

"I’m coming too! He has my son, and you certainly don’t expect me to lie down and wait for all of you to return one piece. I’m in a dilemma so I’m coming with all of you." She declared with finality.

"One question please?" Tobias raised a hand, "what the hell is an Ekimunus?"

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