Although Botis was trying to hide his anger, his mistress quickly figured him out. He turned his head not to face her creating an awkward silence. He wanted to tell her that he liked to just kill both Rico and Lucille right here, right now and then go after the others. But Ciara didn't have enough magic to sustain that. Otherwise Botis would simply say Rico's father is the main antagonist here, and when he would encounter him he would shred him to pieces.

After Rico broke the silence by suggesting to to brainstorm about how to stop his father, Ciara nodded, as well as Botis himself. Ciara laid his hand on his shoulder, it was a nice warm touch. "I guess we can talk later if you want." he replied to her suggestion. She continued to perform some kind of spell and grabbed her head while doing so. The others probably didn't notice but he knew his mistress was doing a spell, probably one to hear the enemy. She lied that it was a headache, of course Botis knew the truth.

"Mistress, can we have that talk now? Concerning the story you just told?" he asked, he looked at Lucille next "Where can we talk in private?" Lucille pointed to the room down the hallway. Botis grabbed his mistress arm and dragged her there with or without her consent. He made sure the others couldn't hear them and spoke his thoughts.

"Okay, I didn't want to talk about your past right now, we can resolve that later. What was the spell you just performed? Is Rico's dad near? You know I just could shred him to pieces, right?"

Ciara did not struggled when Botis dragged her away to a privat room. Her head was still hurting from being invaded by Alruby.

"Okay, I didn't want to talk about your past right now, we can resolve that later. What was the spell you just performed? Is Rico's dad near? You know I just could shred him to pieces, right?" Botis said to her.

''it was not my magic that you sensed'' Ciara said driving out the last strands of that annoying holy witch hunters magic.
''that one was from Rico's father, Alruby. He invaded my mind and demanded I revealed myself. cats'n hell, thats annoying'' She said flushing some of her own magic through her head.

Then she realized what Botis had said aferwards.

''no, there is definatly no killing him. In regards to my mother I still have some things to ask him'' Ciara said but Botis looked away from her again.

''Botis'' she said a bit teasingly but she became quickly serious again. She laid her hand again on his shoulder, but when he still didn't look at her she put her hand to his cheek and softly pushed it up.

''Are you angry at me count Botis, tell me'' She said lowering her hand from his face again.

''I don't want you to be angry. not at me or anyone, remember that'' Ceres said stiing down on a chair.

Botis ignored his mistress first attempt to get his attention by laying her shoulder on his. She continued by softly squeezing his cheeks, rotating his head forwards so it would face hers. She asked him if he was angry at her. Of course he wasn't, he could never be mad at his mistress. Why would he in this situation. Secrets are to be kept to oneself, Botis knew that. He sighed in his own mind followed by a real one.

"No mistress, I could never be mad at you. I will oblige and keep my temper in tone. I won't head out on my own unless you grant me permission to do so. I am a demon in your contract and I should behave like this." he said as if he was reading a rule that a parent had written for their child.

His eyes became more spicy again. "So if that was Alruby's magic, how are we going to counter him. He will find us out sooner or later. We must think of a plan."

''aahh, I'm so glad you are not angry at me. I got that feeling that you were because I hadn't told you this yet'' Ciara said smiling relieved.

''and to awnser that question, I have a plan. But you are not going to like this one'' She said.

''first we are going to have Rico pretend that he captured me'' Ciara rolled with her eyes and giggled. ''yes I know he cannot act, but it will work out. We have to get Rico out of suspicion of collaberating with a witch so he has to be knocked out in the beginning. Can you do that?'' Ciara said.

''then we can start the fight, but the main goal is to flee. We have to make it look like we are going to leave the area permenatly. Give them the victorie without either of our sides losing a life. Can you also do that?''

''I know it is not a beautifull plan, but we will work something out''

"That sounds like a dangerous plan." he sighed "But I shall do my best to protect you no matter what. You should direct us to another place when the time comes to escape." Botis motioned her to tell the plan to Rico and Lucille. As they explained the two closely listened and took it all in.

"That sounds like a good plan to me." Rico said "That way no one gets hurt and all this may settle down again."

"But what should I do? Do they know I'm involved? Should I be on Rico's side or should I go along with you guys?" there was a tone of worry in her voice, but Botis didn't really trust her.

"I think it is best if you stay behind here, as fleeing with five people is quite a drag." Botis answered. One should remember that Cherub and Surgat were still with them, but since they are very loyal they would do whatever they were requested to and thus would also follow her wherever she went. However Cherub was the only one who could fly thus had to carry Surgat.

But in the end Ciara should decide what Lucille should do, it was her plan after all.

''well, Lucille. Like you said yourself you do not have special powers besides sensing the supernatural'' Ciara said sarcastic, but if Lucille was going to put on a play, Ciara would play with her.

''so maybe it is the best for you not to get involved. You still want to be in good graces with Rico's father right? If Alruby sees you he might suspect you from being a witch''

With that being said, ciara transformed her plain village girl dress into her ususal black and red dress but with a blak veil covering her face this time.

''wouldn't want to be recognized'' She said while walking outside. Outside she pointed her wand at Rico and chanted.

''terminus'' red lines appeared all over Rico, indicating a binding the caster of the spell.

''alright, now that we have Rico fake cursed and captured by the evil witch and her demon, how about we go and look for trouble'' Ciara said with a grin.

Ciara suggested Lucille to sit this one out. Lucille nodded and obediently took seat on the most nearby chair in the chamber as she saw the others head out.

Botis saw as Rico got fake cursed by his mistress and followed her outside, retaining his normal demonic form. Botis dragged the two other little demons along with him. When they headed outside Botis looked to the two demons.

"Cherry, Sugar, you two better keep quiet during this time. We're going to stay on the background this time. And once the battle commences I want you two to keep Ciara save, I'll try to get myself... defeated... by Alruby."

"Hey! Our names are Cherub and Sugat! Pay some respect!" Surgat said.

"And it's not like you're that strong, right Botis? Losing to a witch hunter isn't such a disgrace." Cherub added.

"Just do what you are told twerps."

The five headed outside and their presence was quickly noticed by Alruby. He saw a gang of several humans approaching led by a single man who he saw was Alruby himself. He was curious to see how the man would react to what has been done to his son and what the result of it would be. Would he immediately launch an attack, or stat negotiating? He readied an attack behind his back to prepare for what to come.

Ciara saw the group of men before her and shiverd. These man were responsible for her mothers death.

''Ricardo Alruby'' She spoke with a confident voice, she was on a stage right now and Ciara loved to act. When she was small she would always play a sorcoress who loved all with him. Right now however, she had to play a evil witch.

''you have done quite well chasing me all around the forest. However..'' Ciara paused while giving a sadistic little smile. Her mouth was just visible underneath the black veil, it gave it an even more ceepy vibe.
''it all ended when my servant caught your precious little son, the heir to the witch hammer's guild if I am right'' Ciara said teasingly laying her hand on Rico's cheek.

Rico went and tried his best to act natural but he sounded so nervous it actually sounded natural.

''Father, forgive me. I am not worthy, defeat this witch even if I have to die'' He said falling over each word. Ciara saw that Alruby was doubting, was the cost of losing his son worth the prize of killing a witch. She had to think of something, and quick.

''hhhmmm, isn't he your only son. why hesitate, if you let me go I will let him free as well'' She saw she was getting somewhere.
''or maybe I should just take him with me, he is very cute I think he will amuse me for a while'' Ciara said bolt, she couldn't believe she had just said that. She moved a bit closer apologizing in her mind to Rico and Lucille.

Rico flushed red and started to mutter something ununderstandable. Ciara knew that Botis was watching from afar and was probably holding back his laughter from this horrible attempt of Ciara to look like a man trickster.

''let him go'' Ricardo Alruby finaly said and Ciara stopped clinging to Rico, who could breath again.

''do we have a deal Ricardo Alruby'' Ciara said and a pentagram appeared infront of the feet of Alruby.

''seal it then'' She said and raised her arm. Alruby drew a cross and asked for forgiveness from the holy mother. Then he finaly sealed the deal and the pentagram flew towards Ciara's Grimmoire. it burned himself on the page of it.

''done!'' Ciara said pushed Rico forwards, and flying up into the air with her staff. Just when Ciara thought everyting had gone well a Arrow of a crossbow reflected onto her shield. She quickly turned around and saw that the rest of the man had started to chant from bibles and that a heavenly trumpet was blown.

''feel god's torn you witch'' Alruby said laugung evil as a spear appeared from the heavens.

Archangel Michael's spear.

''Count Botis!'' Ciara yelled, and hoped he could defend the both of them.

When Ciara called out for him, Botis looked into the sky. There he saw holy magic being practiced, magic he could never use even if he trained for eons. His magic and the magic of the witch hunters, priests, holy maidens, they were all the exact opposite of the magic practiced in the Underworld by the lords and counts. The spear crashed down from the heavens right above Ciara.

Unfortunately none of his magic abilities were designed to stop such a powerful spell, he could escape it, but never defend both of them with it. Luckily for him, what he lacked in magic, he could lend from his maidens, and he knew exactly who to summon for this ordeal.

"Die Mädchen der Hölle, rufen ich dich."

"Mädchen von Ketten"

"Mädchen von Unterkühling"

Like the first time a coffin with spikes appeared out of the ground and opened, Ketten being the one who stepped out of it. However a maiden, one new to his mistress, also appeared. A spot on the ground froze and ice crawled up, slowly manipulating itself into a humanoid form until the outer layer broke and the maiden was revealed, the Mädchen von Unterkühling. She was a woman with a pale expression, her eyes had no pupils and were completely white. Her platinum blonde hair was tied back into a knot. She wore a beautiful light-blue kimono glaced with a layer of ice and transparent cloth hanging under her sleeves. Little icicles could be seen formed on her pale skin as well.

"Ketten grab these two little runts and use your grapple hook to get as far away from here as possible." Botis said to his main maiden. Ketten immediately wrapped one chain around Cherub and Surgat and with the other chain latched onto a far away spot and pulled them away from the scene. Botis turned to Unterkühling.

"You stay here and defend us from the spear of Michael. Your magic is the only thing that can stop it."

She bowed deeply "Please master..." she looked at Ciara "mistress... stay close." were the words she spoke. Botis and Ciara did as she said and were next to her, feeling a cold chill being emitted from her body, causing a slight shiver down the spine on Botis. The spear closed in. Unterkühling held her hand up in the air and send out a blast of ice which halfway split to all sides and created a huge sphere of multiple ice layers around Ciara and Botis.

"This should keep us from gaining a lethal wound mistress." Botis said to his mistress, he then turned to Unterkühling "Once the spear impacts I send you back as we need to make a quick escape."

Not a second after that the spear crashed down on the sphere, going through the layers while losing its momentum and deceased its impact. The last layer broke as well as the tip of the spear and the parts of the spear were tossed to both sides, not hitting Botis nor Ciara. Two explosion were next to them. Botis quickly desummoned Unterkühling who turned into a puddle of water and subtracted into the ground. He grabbed Ciara, sprouted his wings, and made their escape.

"Grab your stick, we move faster separate." he said to her "Ketten should be close, keep an eye out for her and the twerps."

Ciara let herself fall out of Botis's grip and summond her flying staff. As she did she fell down a bit but quickly managed to catch up with Botis.

''That's the first attack I didn't see you take on head first'' Ciara said to Botis once she had reached his side. Ciara was impressed by the power that third maiden of Botis showed. She had managed to stall the spear of micheal if not for only a few seconds.

''your maidens are quite powerfull my count, I cannot wait to meet the other two'' She complimented while searching for Surgat en Cherub. Once she found them she flew down and the two of them rushed into her arms.

''Thank you miss ketten for taking care of them'' She said looking at ketten. As she did however, she saw a white bird fly away in the background. A white coakatoo, one she had know for a long time.

''wait!'' Ciara called out to him as he flew away into the shadows of the tree's.

Ciara managed to hop onto her own stick and soar through the sky along with him. They had gotten rid of the witch hunters by now, that he knew. Despite them being excellent hunters they cannot do much when they escape through the air. His mistress complimented his maidens. They were indeed quite powerful, especially Unterkühling because of her peculiar origins.

"Yes they are indeed." as he said that he spotted his main maiden, Ketten, and landed on the spot where she was with the two undertwerps. His mistress, as expected, embraced the two in a firm hug while he himself turned to Ketten.

"Thank you, you are dismissed." he said. Ketten nodded. A spiked coffin appeared out of the ground where Ketten stepped into. The door closed and took her into the ground through the pentagram again. As Ketten disappeared Botis saw that his mistress had caught air of another creature near them. A white bird.

"What or who is that?" Botis questioned.

Ciara looked at the bird as it flew out of her sight, but she knew where he was going. It's nest was located in a place she could never reach.

''mistress'' Surgat said after having climbed up onto Ciara's shoulder. She scratched his head as they both looked in the distance.
''I know'' Ciara awnserd Surgat.

"What or who is that?" Botis asker her making her turn around.

'' He was my mothers familiar, that bird is a demon'' Ciara said giving a smile.
''haven't seen him in 12 years though'' she smiled while walking towards Botis.

''but enough of that, is everyone alright? are you injured count Botis?'' as she walked around him she noticed no substained damage.

Botis dusted himself off. "Nope I'm A-okay, same goes for my maidens." he sighed "really disappointed that Alruby had to be Rico's father, Iw would've killed him on sight in a different situation."

He went back on the topic of the demonic bird. It was strange for a demon to yield such an appearance, and also to still be roaming the surface after the passing of its master. "Is that demon now under new command? It is strange for it to be here." he mentioned. "Shall we follow it? I'm rather curious to find out."

''I have a feeling to whom the bird might belong, mistress''Surgat said
''I have as well Surgat'' Ciara said giving away a bittersweet smile. She knew whom the bird belonged to, and how she longed to see him again. It gave her a reasuring feeling though, that he was still watching over her from a distance.

''Count Botis, you might be able to follow the bird. But I certanly wouldn't be able to. The underworld would kill me instantly, and unfortunate I haven't found my mothers spell to entering that place yet'' Ciara said walking the opposite direction of the bird had flown to.

''Let's go home'' She said as she motioned for Botis and Cherub to follow her.
''or do you want to go back to the underword count?''

Botis looked at the bird as it went back to the Underworld. He sighed and wondered how such a beautiful demon could reside in such a wretched place as the Underworld while it is able to stay on the surface. But then again how could a demon without an owner roam over the surface... or is there something he missed? He looked at his mistress who wanted to go home and asked whether he wanted to go along or return to the Underworld.

"I'm fine going along with you, as long as my presence isn't too much for you to handle." he said, hoping that he could go along.

"You know..." he continued. "For a mortal to enter the Underworld is dangerous... none of my previous owners have dared to do so but one... and that didn't end all that well. I would prefer if you'd never went to that place, no matter what business one could have there."

''I can handle your precense just fine, as long as you don't use your powers to much'' Ciara smiled.

''lets go home then, I am sure the Robur is worried about us. And I will make some choco cookies like I promised you three''

''yay'' Surgat and Cherub cheered, making ther way towards the house.

"You know..." Botis started "For a mortal to enter the Underworld is dangerous... none of my previous owners have dared to do so but one... and that didn't end all that well. I would prefer if you'd never went to that place, no matter what business one could have there." he said on wich Ciara turned to him.

''My mother went there once and she came back, she told me it wasn't such a bad place. But then again maybe that was because she had her demon with her'' Ciara began ''And don't I have you with me when we are down there, or do you not want me to see it'' she looked a bit mischevious at Botis before flashing a grin.
''or maybe your castle isn't as big and grand as you described it'' She teased him before quickly looking him in the eye's

''but I am sure the underworld isn't such a scary place, and that your castle is grand'' Ciara nodded before dragging him into her house.

''lets make some cookies'' she said as she began.

They walked into the kitchen and Botis continued on his mistress comment on his castle. "Assure me my manor is grand, it's not really a castle though. But there are a lot of demons who despise me in the Underworld, I haven't been the nicest in the latest years, but even when I was younger I was a bit of a rascal... I don't even know why I'm telling you all this." he said a little bit embarrassed.

He looked away from his mistress. "I'll go upstairs, Surgat told me that you decorated my room, so I'm going to see how it looks." he said returning to his regular uninterested tone of voice near the end f his sentence.

Ciara listened as Botis told her of his home a bit more. Ciara continued to listen as Botis let go some things of his past as well. Honestly she hadn't expected something else from him, he didn't excactly look like the all friendly neigbour type.

When Botis made his way upstaris she looked at him, Ciara hoped he'd like his new room. She really didn't knew the taste of the count yet.
As Botis was upstairs Ciara started to make choco-chip cookies like she had promised. As she was bizzy with making the dough her two little racalls started to eat from the chocolade very secretly. She grabbed some flour and trew some towards Cherub and Surgat, making the red wings of her little Cherub white and the same happend to the black fur of Surgat.

''Little rascalls, stealing the chocolade for the cookies'' She said quasie angry. Surgat and Cherub looked at one another and nodded, quickly making their way towards Ciara they smiled mischevious.

'this can't be good' Ciara thought laughing.

They both grabbed some flour and trew it at ciara. Surgat ran around the house leaving white pawprints around the floor before quickly dissapearing through the door, followd by Cherub. They made their way towards the forest, without doubt they were on their way to the Fae pound. They loved to play with the spirits of the forest. Ciara smiled as she shook her head making some of the flour falling to the floor.

Ciara quickly finished with the dough and put the cookies in her oven. After that she made her way towards her room deciding that she would clean up the living room and kitchen later. She walked up the stairs leaving a trail of flour all the way to her room. There she took one of her white dresses and red shawls out of the closet and grabbed her towel, wanting to take a bath. She snuck past Botis his room not wanting him to catch her in this state. Ater her bath she decided it was still a way to beatifull of a day to spend it inside and the made her wat towards the tree top, where she climbed into some branches and laid down closing her eye's. The sun shined upon her making her feel cozy and warm, and before soon she fell asleep. tired of that day's events.

Botis walked the stairs up to his room. He could feel his mistress watching him from behind, knowing her she probably had decorated his room in her own silly way. He continued through the hallway until he reached the door behind which his chamber was, as pointed out by his mistress last time. To be honest, he expected a room with flora decoration and perhaps even childish. However he opened the door and saw a large room in front of him, one bigger than he had expected.

Most of the furniture were made out of wood as he had expected, but they weren't ugly or anything. In fact they seemed as if they were made by professional people. The bed had a sheet made out of linen, a perfect fabric to sleep under. He plumped down on bed and inspected the rest of the room. There was indeed some vegetation but not as much as he had expected. He actually found it quite the peaceful place to rest him, even though it was completely the opposite of what he was used to sleep in. His own chamber was dark and isolated with Victorian English furniture made out of steel, a hard design contrary to this soft choice of design.

Botis quickly fell into sleep on this soft bed and took a small nap. He quickly awakened again and decided to head downstairs. As he made his way through the hallways he heard water from another chamber, probably someone was taking a shower... his mistress? He immediately visualized it and also immediately threw it out of his mind, he shouldn't think about such vulgar things. He continued walking downstairs where he found the twerps.

"Sugar, Cherry, is the mistress taking a shower?" he waited for a reply expecting a yes and continued. "So what do you guys usually do now... because I'm lost about what to do."

Surgat and Cherub,

Surgat and Cherub quickly returned home from the pound as they found it desolated off the Fae.

''they are probably scared of the magic clash that took place today'' Cherub complained as Surgat walked back home. Once they reached their home they looked at the mess they made and decided to clean it up.

Just as they finished cleaing up Botis came walking down the stairs asking them what they did when their mistress was taking a shower.

''Usually we go and play with the Fae of the forest, but right now they are hiding for they sensed evil and good magic clashing today'' Surgat said.

''but something else to do right now'' They both said in harmony as they thought really hard as to what to do.

two unknown demons

''master, like you said I made my precence known to her'' A young boy said, his arms had white feathers while his blond hair was spiked up a bit. He landed besides a rather flamboyand looking demon with blond and black hair, tanned skin and a very royal outfit. They looked at the sleeping Ciara in the tree top and grinned.

'' Like I thought, she had contracted with a demon from Solomon's keys'' The older demon said.
''and here I was, afraid that she might wouldn't be able to do that'' He grinned again.

''so what will happen if you remove your curse, master'' The young boy asked mischevious. He already knew what would happen and he would just love to see that. The older demon grinned and looked away from his pupile.

'' shall we see what happens'' He said as he snapped his fingers.

''Sanctus espiritus'' He said.

Ciara

Ciara was deel asleep in her own past. It must've been today events that stirred up her old memories.
'' Ciara this is........... he will be your new father'' Her mother said.
''Ciara, my child. Your mother is gone, burned and scatterd in the wind. I'll take care of you for now but I cannot stay with you forever'' he said.
'' don't go, don't leave me'' A young Ciara screamed while a older witch held her arm, wich she tugged violently as she watched the blond an black hair she had gotten used to dissapear leaving her with Surgat.
'' you are all crazy, sending a night demon after me!'' An older Ciara yelled while marching away from the witch convoy.

''Mother'' Ciara wispered before she awoke violently by a pain that seemed to come from the core of her being, like her magic was ripped out of her. Sweat pearl appeared on her forehead as she fought the urge to scream and cry. Ciara had no idea what was happening.

''alright thats enough fun for today'' She heard a very familiar voice say in the distance followd by the sound of fingers snapping. Immediatly the ripping feeling in her magic stopped. She looked around her just in time to see a flash of black and blond jump of a branch followd by a little boy with with feathers on his arm. Whomever they were, they surely didn't mean any good.

''Count Botis! come help me. there are some more attackers'' Ciara yelled as she summoned her staff and flew after the two figures. The boy pulled his eyelid and stuck out his tounge before quickly following the other figure into a pentagram.

'a portal to the underwold' Ciara thought as the gate closed infornt of her eye's.