Lict, Vierne, Melissa and Mrs Winston stood before Akagi, "It's not just me. All those demigods that don't have parents are kept inside that dungeon without food and water for years. We are only used as weapons or practice materials for all the rich demigod kids there," He told them, "Our skin starts peeling, most of us develop psoriasis because of lack of sunlight, we lose our vision slowly and perish within those cells for eternity."

"Is that woman even human?" Vierne asked.
"I don't know," Akagi said, "But those demigods have suffered for so many years. Their star spirits are never able to reach them. They have lost all hope of freedom,"
"We have to help them," Vierne said.
"Akagi dear," Mrs Winston said, "Bring them here. I will arrange for proper shelter and schooling for them." He nodded.

Vierne had just reached back to her mansion, and they were already leaving for another journey to Lvans Ablution School of Supernatural, in Khimki, Moscow City. But this time it wasn't going to be a vacation, rather, it was a one day trip of Akagi meeting up with the principal while Vierne would free all the children in the dungeon and take them out of the school with her. Evgeni had reached Khimki by then with Lobelia and was on his way to the school.

The school was surrounded by a huge forest which was used as a battleground for the students during practice parades. It was owned by the school along with the school building. The area covered by Lab was much greater than that covered by Escola.

"We'll split here," Akagi told Vierne as they stood outside the forest. You go from another site, you'll see a door that'll open into a flight of stairs. That'll lead you to the dungeons, break open the bars and lead the kids outside the school. I'll be there by then"

"Okay," Vierne and Lict ran in the opposite direction, towards the backside of the school while Akagi and Melissa walked inside the forest.
"That was well planned," Akagi stopped and looked ahead. It was Evgeni and Lobelia. "Well, that didn't go as fucking planned," Akagi took out his gun and shot Melissa.

Vierne turned back, "Did I hear a gunshot?"
"We need to keep running," Lict ran ahead of her and they soon reached the door. He turned the doorknob, "Dammit, it's locked" He said.
"Move aside," Vierne removed her ring. She touched the door with her right hand and it broke apart. They walked inside the stinking dungeons. It was dark and soggy, stinking of urine. The walls were covered with soot and voices of water dripping down into the drains could be heard. Vierne felt like throwing up.

"How can anyone live here?" Lict covered his nose with a handkerchief.

Vierne walked towards a cell and looked inside. Someone lay on the floor. He didn't seem to care that someone was finally there to help him. She touched the bars and they broke down. She walked towards him and looked down at him, "I'm here to help you, let's get out of here." He moved a bit and looked up. His eyes were red and swollen. His hands had wounds and bruises and his hair was unruly.

Lict looked at him from outside the cell. It was a kid, maybe thirteen or fourteen years old. He moved away from her, "I won't hurt you."
As he moved away, he left blood marks on the dirty floor. Vierne was shocked, he seemed to be severely wounded.

"Oh God, you're losing so much blood,"
"He's bleeding for the past one week," She turned back and looked at a boy sitting in a cell opposite to his, "You've finally come for us? I have been waiting for so long—Twelve years now."

Vierne turned back at the boy and tried to pick him up into her arms, he scratched her and moved away. He was stinking so bad she wanted to throw up, "He doesn't trust you,"
Vierne sat on her haunches, "Hey, we are like you too. I am a demigod. And that is my star spirit. We are here to save you."

"It's too late," He said and Vierne looked at him, "It's hurting a lot and the bleeding just doesn't stop," He began crying and raised his shirt and Vierne looked at the wound on his stomach, "They took away my liver. And now I'll never be able to eat again. I'm going to die," Vierne hugged him and pressed his head, "You'll be okay. We are demigods, we can heal our bodies and regenerate ourselves. Just be strong."

She transferred her spirit energy to him while she hugged him, his wounds began patching up and his liver began growing again. She felt dizzy but she held on till he was completely healed. His bleeding stopped finally. He looked at her, "I told you, didn't I? You'll be okay," Vierne got up and felt a bit tipsy,

"Milady," Lict moved towards her.
"I'm okay," Vierne pressed her head, "Let's get out of here," There were a total of six demigods. All of them were in poor condition. All of them had foot deformities and psoriasis. One of them had never seen the sun in his lifetime and went blind the moment they walked out. Their eyes had adjusted to the dark and they all cried the moment light hit them.

"It's hurting a lot."
Vierne looked at Lict. She realised that she had been lucky to have survived a rather peaceful life, locked inside a mansion rather than those kids who had most of their organs missing.

"Why would they do this to you?" She inquired.
"Demigod organs sell for billions in the black market."
"So, this is all for money?"
"Precisely."

Vierne's eyes lit blue. Lict flinched, "Milady, I'll go find Akagi, he is late." Lict ran away inside the woods. 'Milady is angry. Before she does something, I need to find Akagi and just get out of here.'
As soon as Lict left, a man pressed a gun on Vierne's neck. The kids shivered, "You're coming with me," He said. He was a guard. Vierne decided to follow him quietly.

Akagi was busy fighting Evgeni and Lobelia. She was fast too, but not as much as him. But she could defend herself from every hit of his by her sword. Evgeni sat in a corner and looked at them. Finally, Lobelia decided to attack. She suddenly turned to her right and swayed a sword in the air as he was about to attack her. It hit him on his right hand and he dropped the axe.

"Milord!" Melissa shouted.
"Perfect," Lobelia had almost hit the axe with her sword but Akagi pulled the axe back to him, "I guess you don't know but I'm a lefty." He disappeared in the woods, "Lobelia," Evgeni said and she looked in the other direction. Lict stood before them, "Talk about bad timing,"

Evgeni opened his diary, "I'm glad you came here yourself. I was wondering how I would find you but I guess that won't be required."
Lict glared at him, "Lobelia, Vyzov forma dva" And she turned into a dagger, "I'll end this quickly." He swayed the dagger and it gave out a strong, bright silver light that paced towards Lict. The latter quickly made a golden shield before him which broke into pieces when the light struck it and he went flying towards a tree. His head was hurting and he looked up at Evgeni, "I'll kill you right here,"

Lict looked at him, "You alone can't kill me,"
Evgeni narrowed his eyes and swayed the dagger and Lict ran away, dodging the dagger. Wherever the silver light touched, the result was a complete conversion to energy and explosion. It was powerful and could not be reflected back by shields. Evgeni ran after him.

"Milord, you shouldn't run," Lobelia said.
"It's fine. I can do it!" He said as he ran and swayed the dagger. Vierne reached the principal's office along with the other kids. She was a young woman with black hair and dark skin. Vierne looked into her eyes as she stood right before her. She smiled and came close to her, "So, you're being the saviour here, huh?" Siah said.

"I'm only doing what I think is correct," Vierne replied.
"And is trespassing correct?" She asked.
"Yes, because it is being done for a noble cause."
Siah looked at her, "You seem rich, draped in silk clothes. Don't you think you can live a luxurious life by staying away from such wars? I can lock you up in here too if I want,"

Vierne smirked, "Try me,"
The guard moved towards her and Vierne touched Vierne's left hand, he stopped all of a sudden. He didn't move at all after that.
"Did no one teach you? Using your powers against mortals—It's not correct," Siah smirked.

"I will do what I want." Vierne's eyes glowed blue, "And if you think what you are doing is correct, then tell me—Can you do this to your own child?"
"Of course I can."
Vierne looked into her eyes.

"No wonder you're human,"

-To be continued

Siah Scheczalier
Dear Ms Lady Demigod