As Botis asked them what they normally do in the free time, Cherub and Surgat answered that they usually play with the Fae of the forest. However such a thing cannot be done today duo to the fight they had earlier. A clash of good and evil caused the Fae to flee and get to safety. Botis himself had never seen a Fae, he knew of their existence but unfortunately never got to see one up close.

''but something else to do right now'' the two said in harmony as they thought of something. Botis sighed. He headed towards the couch and sat down on it, the little two joining him, despite him not wanting to. What had gotten into them that they suddenly acted so normal around him. He still was one of Solomon's keys, a demon ranking far above them.

"Perhaps we could..." Botis started but then widened his eyes and sat still. "... there is someone near." he said under his breath.

''Count Botis! come help me. there are some more attackers'' he heard his mistress shout from above. Botis, having anticipated the attackers in some way, immediately jumped up from the couch and stormed outside, leaving the twerps confused behind.

"Why don't we get to join..." Cherub said with a sad face.

"Don't act like a child, this way we have more time to relax." Surgat answered.

Botis was outside and spread his demonic wings and kicked himself off the ground into the air. He joined Ciara who was already flying in the air. The young boy who flew before him turned around, pulled his eyelid and stuck out his tongue before quickly following the other unknown figure into a pentagram. The portal quickly closed after the two had entered. The demon turned around to his mistress.

"What was that all about?" he asked her.

'' I have no idea Count Botis. One moment I was sleeping and then the next I awoke violently while I saw those two run away'' Ciara said as Botis made his way to her side. Ciara squinted her eyes and landed at the place those two had dissapeared into. She immediatly drew a circle and made the pentagram she had seen before from memorie.

''do you mind going after them for me? It seems those two wanted to hurt me for a reason, I want to know why'' She said as she finished the pentagram. She had made it just from memory and knew there would be a certain risk of sending Botis there.

''The point is, I drew this fromt he quick inmage I just saw. It can be I made a mistake and it will send you somewhere else compleatly" Ciara said looking concerned at Botis.

She knelt down and placed her hands on the inner adn outer circle of the pentagram and infused it with her magic.

''I cannot hold this one for long. Count Botis if you go here are your orders, find them and ask them why they attacked me. No killing as usual'' Ciara said.

His mistress asked him if he could go after the two unknown demons that just had fled from their home after peeking on Ciara as she was sleeping. He also was wondering what their intentions were, maybe they weren't as bad as they seemed like or maybe they were more evil that they wanted something more than peeking on a young woman.

"I will go down there for you mistress, but you better not follow me. The Underworld is a weird place, and it even could be for me if I now happen to land in an unrestricted area, or the property of a stronger and higher ranked demon." he sighed "But I'll find out what those two were doing, for you. No killing, only talk. I'll try to be back soon, just give me a warning if you can't hold it anymore." he said, hinting at a mental form of communication between the two.

Botis jumped down into the pentagram and descended into an unknown place in the Underworld. He looked around and saw many rocks around him, towering into mountains in the distance. He looked around and saw a cabin of sorts in the distance and walked to it. It was likely the place where the two demons resided. In his mind he would just set the cabin on fire, or tear down the door and barge in. However this time he just knocked, "hoping" to have a simple conversation.

He waited and the door opened, a small boy standing in front of him with feathered arms. "Where is your master, I have some questions."

Ciara

''be carefull'' Ciara called out as Botis dissapeared into the portal. Now she had to keep the portal open otherwise she was afraid Botis would not return to her. He was in an unkown part of the underworl for the portal looked nothing like his own.
Ciara sighed and continued with pumping magic into the portal, she thought of what Botis had said.

''like I could follow you, if I could I would have long ago'' she complained.

Underworld

''well, open the door Rok, It seems my precious daughter send her pet demon after us'' Dantalion grinned as he sat down in a chair. Rok looked at his master with much confusion until he heard a nock on the door. He opend it with a bored look expecting to see a little demon , one of her munchkins of some sort. Less did he expected to see Count Botis standing at his door. Rok stood silent with a chill running down his spine.

"Where is your master, I have some questions." Count Botis said demanding.

''Let him in Rok'' Dantalion said snapping his fingers and another chair appeared. With a angy glint in his eye Rok stood aside and invited Botis into the house.

''please come in my Count, My lord would love to greet you again after such a long time'' Rok said.

''true, true. I do believe I haven't seen you sinds that, Botis'' Dantalion said putting down his cup of tea.

''want some?''

From behind the smaller bird demon, who he learned his name was Rok, another demon ordered to let Botis in. He recognized the voice all too well, but couldn't believe it until he saw him. Lord Dantalion. The high-class demon summoned a chair and Botis proceeded to walk, ignoring the servant of Dantalion. He sat down on the chair and he got offered some time.

"I'll pass. I haven't got much time." he looked around at the poor cabin. "So you're living here now, guess this is the only place where you can't be find after what happened." Botis spread his legs and leaned with his hands on his knees and looked Dantalion straight in the eyes.

"Okay, I know we aren't on the best terms, especially after that, but there is no reason for you to spy on my mistress. So spill it... what were you planning to do with Ciara and why?" he asked the demon. Personally he still couldn't believe that he was even around in the Underworld, all his other servants are probably dead or still at his fortress, and yet he only chose this weakling to tag along, unless other demons were hiding out in the small cabin. After what happened between the two of them, he would never imagine to see him again.

''spying?'' Dantalion said before bursting out in laughter. ''you thought I was peeking on a innocent girl sleeping, such dedication to protect your mistress'' He said sly and sipped his tea. ''What did you think I was planning to do to the girl, there in the tree top?''

''are you sure you don't want some, I learned to make this from my last mistress'' Dantalion said ''and as for my plans with Ciara, do me a favour and don't go meddeling with my plans. They have been in the make for quite a while and I would hate to see them spoiled'' Dantalion grinned, flashing his teeth.

'' and as for you, I will have to think of a role to play for you in my plan. But for now, play the knight and protect you mistress. She will need it. And I will let you know this, I do not intend to harm her in any way. So can you please drop the, kill you, attitude. Ultimatly our goals are the same'' Dantalion leaned forwards from his chair and put his hands under his chin with his elbows resting on his knees.

''kill all those that try to hurt her, she is way to kind to give you the order. Her kindness will be her death one day'' He sat silently on his chair before sending a gust of wind inside.

''Adjeu, Monssieur Botisé. Beware of Ricardo Alrudy and the moonlight rose, Ciara know who they are'' Dantalion waved his hand and the cabin exploded, wiping everything in its surrounding away. when the dust had cleared both Rok and Dantalion had dissapeared.

"What do you mean?" Botis asked when Dantalion explained what role Botis should play in his plan. A role of a knight, a protector. And why are their goals the same, who is this person? He knew Dantalion wasn't going to give the answer to his relationship with Ciara, so he better ask her... although it might bring her in danger if he does so. Dantalion was right about having to protect her from any harm, but why would he want that?

The demon narrowed his eyes, still having the 'kill you' attitude towards Dantalion. He was on the edge of hurting Dantalion, but he was limited to doing nothing on order of his mistress. Dantalion said him to kill anyone who tries to harm her, as Ciara won't give the orders herself which will lead to her demise.

"I only take orders from my mistress, not such a filthy scum like you." he answered. He sensed Ciara couldn't hold the portal for much longer and stood up. Dantalion said his goodbyes to him, lastly warning him about Alruby and the Moonlight Rose. He knew Alruby posed a threat, but he'd keep the other name into consideration. With the the cabin exploded, leaving Botis alone in the rocky deserted Underworld. He sighed and flew up to the portal in the sky, back to the surface.

"I'm back mistress." he landed and his wings disappeared "Sorry to have kept you waiting for so long, I hope I didn't consume too much energy."

"Anyways, there is so..." Botis sighed "It were just some pesky jester demons... it was nothing to worry about, I scared them off, they won't return." he lied to her, thinking by himself why he would ever to that. Something inside him told him not to tell about Dantalion... something told him that something bad would happen if he would, so kept it on low profile... for now.

Ciara looked at Botis as he told her he scared the pesky demons away. She felt like something wasn't right, but she couldn't quite lay her finger onto it. She decided to let it go, Botis probably hurt the demons to much and tried to hide that or something.

''let's go home then'' Ciara said as she hopped onto her staff, quickly followd by Botis.

Once she got home she saw that Cherub and Surgat had cleaned the room so she forived them for the mess they made this afternoon.

''we saved the cookies mistress'' Cherub said with pleading eye's, hinting that he wanted one.

''alright, alright'' Ciara said smiling and getting the cookies of the plate. She gave one to Botis as well and took a bite out of her own.

''you two are back early, normally you two play all night with the Fae'' Ciara commented towards Surgat and Cherub.
''they got scared away, so we came back'' Surgat said biting in his cookie.
''maybe they will call on Aerl, because there was danger'' Cherub commented cheesy.

''Aerl, haven't seen him in such a long time. Ah all is well, he is like the wind after all. Can't sit still for a moment'' Ciara said finishing her cookie.

''do you like your one Count Botis?''

Botis accepted the cookie that his mistress gave him and took a bite from it. Like always her baking was incredible, the magic must have helped as well. He had to look out though, if this continued he might become an addict to sweets. Ciara then also began talking about the Fae again, the creatures he had little to no knowledge of.

"Mistress, if I may ask. What the heck are Fae and who Aerl? I have heard of the term Fae but I am totally lost in this conversation." he said before chunking down the last bit of his cookie. "I assume they aren't demons... but are there other supernatural creatures residing on the surface?" he wondered as he stared to the plate that still had some cookies on it.

'' indeed, they aren't Demons. The commen people call them fairy's, or faery folk, but the Fea have their real nature hidden very well. The Fae are the spirits of Childeren who died very young''Ciara explained and she walked towards a Bookshelf ans ran her fingers over the back of her books, searching for one.

''you may take another on Count Botis, be quick or Surgat and Cherub will eat everything'' She laughed as she saw Botis eying the cookies.

''ah here we go, this is the book'' Ciara said as she pulled out quite a big and old book. IT was brown, with traces of green, worn off by time. A red ribbon was used as a page divider. As Ciara laid it on the table a bit of dust flew of it.

''Fae'' Ciara said and waved her hand above it. Immediatly the book started turing pages as quick as it could and then stopped abrubtly at a page containing a picture of a fea.

''now, Aerl is like the pied piper, He blows his flute and collects all those death spirits and takes them with him. He brings them to places in the forest we call the white lands. There the Fae gather and play until they are satisfied and can pass onto the next life without regrets'' Ciara continued her explanation while turning some pages through the book.
''this is Aerl, the soul piper. king of the white lands and warden of the west wind '' she said as she tapped her finger on a picture.


''and this forest has a lot more supernatural beings. Take Robur for example, 500 years ago he was a god. But a new religion robbed him of his position, and now his is just a plain old, grumpy oak'' Ciara said and the three shaked in response. He knew Ciara was making a joke.

''then there are The river Nymphs, Will-O-wisp carefull of those they are the spirits of Fae who couldn't pass on, Merrow, Banshees and a lot more''

''Banshees scream very loud, and only when someone of their family dies'' Surgat said. ''indeed'' Ciara said petting Surgat.
''Maybe we can go an d search for the Fae in a few days, when the traces of our magic have dissapeared'' Ciara proposed.

As Ciara explained the magical forces in these lands, Botis decided to take another cookie and ate it while she explained. The Fae seemed like a kind society, despite their disturbing existence. The whole flora theme reminded him of the Queen of Plants, Lady Aconitum, a demon who had control over all things flora.

The other magical creatures also sounded interesting. Ciara warned him for some of the spirits, but Botis was sure they were no match for him. After all, if they used to be human in past lives then they couldn't be so strong. But summarized, there were a lot more supernatural beings roaming the surface aside from the demons, Botis never had known of this and he wondered how they could conceal themselves so well from the human population.

"Aerl sounds like a wise and powerful man. I would indeed like to meet him one time." he said. "We were fortunate that the house was cloaked as a regular tree, luckily they do not know where to search for our hideout."

Someone knocked on the door.

"I'll get it!" Surgat shouted and ran towards the door. Once he opened it one could see Lucille standing in the opening with a basket in her hands.

"Oh... Lucille was it, right?" Botis said skeptic.

"Sorry to intrude. I've got some gingerbread with me, would you mind if I enter?" she looked at Ciara for consent.

'' come on in'' Ciara said as she looked at the opend door. Around her she saw the energie of Robur pulse around, confirming her suspicion abput Lucille.
'she is something supernatural as well' She thought as she calmed Robur.
''It's alright Robur, you can let her enter''

Lucille smiled a bit as she stepped into the house.

Ciara decided not to confront Lucille about her true nature, but she wanted to at least confirm her suspicion even more before making a conclusion.

''Want some tea, my mother taught me how to make this'' She offed to Lucille as she grabbed some pots that contained the herbs.

''is Rico not with you?''

Lucille nodded and entered the house, seemingly not taking notice of Robur but actually in reality was suppressing the aura around her, so Ciara, Botis and apparently the oak tree wouldn't notice who she really was. She sat down on the couch when Ciara came to her and offered a cup of tea.

"Ow that would be lovely dear." she said with a kind smile as she put the basket with gingerbread on the table. She saw Cherub and Surgat glance over to the sweets, politely waiting for permission as they already were drooling over the sweets.

"You can take one if you may, that's why I made them." she closed her eyes during the sentence and put up a gentle smile once again. Botis narrowed his eyes and look skeptic. He walked towards the basket and took out a gingerbread and took a bit of it. Nothing felt wrong with it, it was actual gingerbread.

"Go on guys. Take one." he said, avoiding suspicion towards Lucille. The two immediately dug in.

Ciara asked why Rico wasn't with her.

"Ow yeah. Rico is with his father. You know how Alruby is I assume, Rico received immediate punishment for his actions." she looked down to the ground. "However I am worried... I overheard them... and Rico might possibly get sent to a special witch hunting unit in the southern kingdom... or something in that sense."

Ciara dropped her cup when she heard the news of Rico's punnishment. The cup shatterd on the ground into a thousand pieces. Ciara sighed and cleaned up the pieces before walking towards the table, remembering her last run in with the south devision

''this can't be'' She said leaning on the table edge. The prospect of seeing her best friend leave to god knows where and return as some sort of brain washed witch hunter shook her to the core.

''we cannot let that happen, the man who rules the south devision is a cruel as Alruby. When I was with Moonlight Rose we alsway had run inns with these guys, and a lot of witched died''

With a sigh Ciara pulled herself together and made her tea in silince, she made two cups. One for Lucille and one for Botis.

''here you go, and Lucille do you have plan of some sorts or are you here to ask for our help?'' Ciara said

Botis was rather shocked by the news as well, he didn't really care that much for Rico but he did help them and he didn't wish him anything bad. And with him gone it was certainly going to effect Ciara, which is the last thing he would want.

Lucille nodded.

"Yes, I came here for your help. I might be an excellent traveler, but I have no idea how to save Rico from professional witch hunters." she looked to the ground, seemingly really worried about her boyfriend "Your knowledge of the witch hunter is greater than mine, and so I hear you even had encounters with the southerns. We both care for Rico... we must help him in any way possible."

Botis rolled his eyes. He wasn't sure whether Lucille was sincere or not, but why else would she want to rescue Rico? There was something more about her than meets the eye, but at this moment in time one shouldn't worry about it. Maybe it was something good that she just tried to hide for the sake of being normal. However focusing on Rico again.

"Rico is a dear friend of my mistress and I'm sure I can speak for her that we'll join you to rescue him. Where is he now?"

"The southerns will be here in an hour, he is packing his bags under supervision of his father. I don't think we'll be able to rescue him before he leaves... so it has to be when they have left." Lucille said.

"Sounds like a plan, right mistress?" Botis looked at her and gave her a wink. He then looked at Surgat and Cherub who were devouring the gingerbread "You two! Pack our stuff!"

The two rascals immediately obeyed the intimidating Botis and rushed to pack the usual stuff Ciara would take along on a serious quest.

Ciara looked as her two little ones packed her stuff and stuffed their faces with gingerbread at the same time. It made her smile, one wich soon dissapeared when she thought back at her last encounter witht he Southern witch hunters. Ciara made her way towards Botis and stood besides her before giving an enormus sight.

''have I ever mentioned my run in with the southeners to you, I don't think so'' She began her story as she looked at Botis. ''they don't like me very much, they have an unsetteld score with me since I was the only one of my group to escape them'' Ciara shaked her head thinking back to it.

''mistress, we have packed all your stuff'' Surgat said as Cherub flew over towards her handing a black veil towards Ciara.
''Did you pack the healing herbs and holy repellant?'' Ciara asked on wich they both nodded yes. Surgat widend his eye's however as he rushed towards the shelf grabbing a bottle in his mouth.
''now we have al'' Ciara laughed and padded Surgat's head.

''do you have a plan?'' Ciara asked Lucille as she walked over towards her.

Ciara approached Botis and told him about her previous run ins with the southern witch hunters. Botis wondered what exactly happened between to her in the south. He remembered being there himself for a short time before his master got slayed by the same southern witch hunters. They were indeed a strong tribe, and he was surprised his mistress got away if she was captured by them. However Ciara quickly continued to Lucille to ask about the plan.

"Just like I said earlier. Rico will be picked up and exported by a small group of southern witch hunters." Lucille said after Ciara asked her the plan. "It is best to intervene while they are on the way as there will be a max of five hunters, which I know is still a lot. But if Rico helps us it's kinda five against five." she said.

"And when we aren't in time to intervene?" Botis asked.

"Then we're done for. We won't survive a minute inside of the Southern witch hunter camp."

Ciara thought over the plan Lucille had proposed.
''maybe...'' she started before nodding her head and smiling a odd smile.
''its a rather studid, and dangerous plan but.....I can distract them. Like I mentioned before they and I have an unsettled score and I bet they want to settle it after 5 years''

''we have 5 fully trained witch hunter and the leader of the whole bunch Alrudy agains us, and our group consists of a human girl'' Ciara said eyeing Lucille '' a witch hunter, a demon from Solomons lesser key's, two little demons and a witch who can't preform larg spells''

''but we will manage one way or another, will you trust me that I will distact them and take on the ones that come after me while I will trust you to take care of those that stay with Rico and save him'' Ciara said overthing the words she had just spoken.
''I will go alone, count Botis stay with Lucille will you. She will need more protection than I , after all she is just human. The same counts for you two'' Ciara said and patted Surgat and Cherb before looking up towards Botis. She just knew he would not like the fact that they would be sepparated but they had to split up the group of witch hunters one way or another.

''I will be fine, I am quicker than you think'' She smiled

Botis nodded and gave her a faint smile.

The plan was put into motion after this. Lucille went to Rico's home where he was with Alruby and the five witch hunters that would accompany him to the southern witch hunter camp. Alruby seemed to have a proud smile on his face, something to be expected. Rico on the other hand had the most fake smile one could have. Lucille said her goodbyes to Rico and promised him that she will visit sometime when she continues her travels. Lucille returned to Robur as Rico started his journey to the south.

"He should be on his way now." Lucille informed the rest of the team. Everyone grabbed the equipment they wanted to bring with and headed out for their quest to save Rico from the witch hunters. One should note that Lucille carried around a whip now, which seemed to be her weapon for on the road, she probably had some combat experience from her journeys.

After some time walking they caught up with the convoy. They were riding horseback across the open fields, there was a slight breeze floating over the green grass and a clear blue heaven above with a bright sun. It seemed like a perfect day for one to go horseback riding, however not the perfect day to be a witch hunter.

"Let's start the plan, 'kay?" Botis said and looked over to his mistress. Like discussed Ciara would distract the convoy into following her, and as to be expected some would stay behind to protect Rico. Lucille, Cherub, Surgat and himself would then attack the convoy and hopefully get some assistance from Rico as well. He hoped that things would work out the way they had planned. Although he wasn't sure about his mistress going out alone, but he already knew who to send along with her.

Ciara looked a the group of hunters, foccusing on a middle adged man that rode near Rico seeming to talk to him.

''we are in luck, that one was actually in the group I encountered with midnight rose'' She said as she pulled her black veil over her head.
''surrexit nocte, Muto'' She chanted and her red and black dress transformed into a uniform she had not worn in a long time. It was a long elegant black dress, revealing just a bit to much cleavege for Ciara's taste, hold togeter by a tight white corset with a black rose on the middle of it. A blood red choker sired her neck with a black rose in the middle holding the chocker together. She sticked her finger between the fabrick of the chocker and loosend it a bit.

''I always felt like this is a dog collar'' She joked and trew Botis a look.
''no killing'' She said as if that wasn't obvious enough to him by now. She stretched her fingers and took a deep breath of air.
''alrighty then, time to go all evil withy again. All cats in hell here we go!'' she said enthausiasick and called for her staff before rocketing into the sky. Ciara obiously got the attention of the witch hunters almost immediatly as she soared through the sky.

''hey glooming guys over there, did you miss me!'' She yelled as she waved her hand happily. The middle aged man near Rico focussed his arrow on her but soon his face turned pale. ''What are you all doing here so far down west?''

''It is the demon mistress from midnight rose, she escaped us a good five years ago. GET HER!'' the man yelled in panic as he was sure to remember their last encounter. A small grinn played on Ciara's lips as she rememberd the good old days, how she missed her old teammates.
'' awwww, I missed you to mister. How about you give that cuty over there to me and leave me be alright. I have no intention nor the time to play to long with you all'' she said lowering herself a bit closer to the hunter. The man who had aimed his arrow at her took the change and fired his arrow. It quickly deflected on her shield however and the vail attempt made Ciara laugh, although she excaggerated it to fit her role as an evil witch.

''Lets see one ,two, three, four, five hunters with weapons and one of me. Whats a poor witch to do against a group of strong men'' She said sarcastick while counting them with her finger.
''Oh I know'' Ciara said and pulled her wand.
''augeo'' She said dark waving her wand in a most dramatic play.'don't laugh I am a bad actor' she tought as a inmage in the back of her head showed a grinnin Botis somewhere below her. Besides Botis Surgat felt his energy swirl and a pentagram appeared beneath his feet.

''whaa, this had been such a long time ago'' He said grinning and flashing his teeth before dissapearing in thin air.

''Videte vocationem meum, et vocavi te. Cat daemonum ab inferis possem tendunt, propter nomen meum. Surgat!'' Ciara chanted and besides her a pentagram appeared from wich Suragt enmerged. Only this Suragtwas bigger than the normal cat they were used to. He was now roughly the size of a big lion, feroucicly growling at the hunter.

''Come and get me boys'' Ciara challenged the hunters before flying off, followd by Surgat on the ground. Three hunters, uncluding the middle adged man followd her into the Woods. Leaving Rico with two others.

''good luck count Botis'' Ciara wisperd into the air. They both had a good fight lying ahead of them.