❣❣ Almagne's POV:

It has been one month since Sebriel was kidnapped and in one month all of us has been busy coming up with a plan to get her back.

The kidnapper is unknown so is their location. This never happen ever before.

"Where's Alron?"

"I don't know. He's been out for almost one week." Rock answered as he continued looking over the map which resides the whole picture of the demon world.

There are many hide outs and checking each of them would take forever. Demon world is bigger than we have ever thought.

We have already crossed out those places that are most likely not possible to be a hideout. But still, we can't be so sure about things so we decided to ask for some ghoul investigators and let them investigate the place they are assigned with.

"Magne, can you hear my opinion?" I heard Nico asked me. I stared at him in cofusion but came near him anyway.

"What is it?"

"You see, I have been so certain about this for quite sometime but I couldn't bring myself to tell all of you. We already investigated for the past one month but we couldn't seem to find her exact location. This is a big gamble if we proceed to make this our final location.." Nico stopped as he lower his head down and hesitated on telling me. I'm quite curious where it is but I'm kinda triggered to know where this place is.

"Where?" I asked almost impatient.

"Elite Demon Academy"

My eyes widened as things started to sink in my mind. What he said just made a HUGE sense.

Elite Demon Academy is where almost all of the demons are. That's where they study. Considering that the power we encountered one month ago was strong and couldn't be remove if we use our inner weapon.. that would be the absolute answer.

But, that place may not be where Sebriel really is but we can find clues.

"You know what, Nico. That's the best deduction you have ever done! Let's put a reconsideration of your opinion and have a meeting together with the other members. Call them this instant." I said as a big smile started to curve on my face.

We have a lead.

~~~

I arranged the papers of the possible plan and took my seat. I am not the head person on this investigation but my brother has been missing in action for quite so long.

I heard screeching sound from the door and I could see my brother coming towards me with his serious face. Deym, I know he's busy but hes taking it to the other level.

"Brother!" I called him out and went near him.

"Magne, I'm sorry. I was busy doing things. And thank goodness. I know where Sebriel is." He said which left me by surprise.

"Y-you know?"

"I have been out for almost one week and I have been trying my very best to crossed out every place of the demon world. And it only left me with two places."

"And where is that?"

"That would be at the Main Kingdom of the Demon World and the Elite Demon Academy." He said seriously as he took his seat at the near chair and rest his head at the table.

"What's wrong?" I worriedly asked.

"I haven't been asleep for one week." He said. My eyes widened by surprise. He never slept this past week?

I stared at my brother and saw how peaceful he is right now. He's been so into searching Sebriel. No wonder he's so exhausted.

"Hey! I tried making a pla-" Rock stopped halfway when I motioned him to shut up. I stared at them one by one and smiled.

"We'll postpone the meeting for now." I said and sat beside my brother.

"What happen?" Tanong ni Rock habang tinignan si Kuya nang may pag-alala. He's a worry-cookie. Ahahaha. It's cute, right? Hehe.

"He hasn't been asleep for one week." I answered as I sat beside my brother. I examined his face and I could see the dark circles surrounding his eyes. No wonder he fell asleep the moment he closed his eyes. If I were him I wouldn't be able to survive without sleeping for a week. I would either die or die.

"We should really leave him and let him rest as much as he can." Sabi ko at nilagyan ng kumot si kuya para hindi siya lamigin.

"We should." Sabay na sagot nila. Tumango ako at isa isa kaming nagsilabasan sa meeting room namin. Bago pa man ako nakalabas, tinignan ko muli si kuya na mahimbing natutulog at napangiti.

My brother has been working himself off just to find Sebriel.

So Sebriel, you better show yourself.

❣❣ Sebriel's POV:

Nakaupo ako sa isang upuan habang nagbabasa ng history nang mga demonyo. Napakainteresting nang history. Hindi interesting to the point na maeexcite ka.

May point sa war ng mga demonyo at ghouls na natigil sila ng isang linggo dahil nawala si King Rekkie- Dad Rekkie at Queen Selvianne- Mom Selvianne. Base sa nasa aklat nawala sila dahil nagtanan sila. Though, di pa confirmed pero sa oras na iyon doon nangyari ang paglabas nang former King na grandpa ko daw base sa sinabi ni king- Dad Rekkie. Okay, tatawagin ko nalang siyang King Rekkie. Napakahirap maging in-role bilang anak niya.

Nakakailang. I never really had a father I can call dad, and the fact that King Rekkie is asking for a favor that is kind of beyond expectation is making it hard for me to cope.

Isipin niyo, I lived and grew at Ghoul realm for over 160 years and 160 years later, I ended up living here at Demon Realm for Hades knows how long.

Napabuntong hininga ako at sinara iyong libro na kanina ko pa binabasa. Hay, naku. Ang stress ko! Tumayo ako at tumungo sa kwarto ko. Pagkapasok ko bumungad sa akin ang napakagandang kwarto na ni minsan hindi ko inexpect na magkakaroon ako. Muli akong bumuntong hininga at humiga sa higaan ko.

"Ano ba ang dapat kong gawin? Bukas na ako pag-aaralin ni King Rekkie sa Elite Demon Academy. Di ko alam kung makakayanan ko. Ghoul ako at never ako naging demon. Nakakagulo." Sabi ko sa sarili at sinabutan ang sarili kong buhok. Wala akong kuto sadyang sumasakit lang ang ulo ko. Bago pa man ako patayin ni Elvon at Elvan baka mamatay na ako bago pa man ako planuhang patayin nila.

Napatingin ako sa gawi ng pintuan ng maramdaman ko ang presensya ni Kearr at Karre lalong lalo na ang tapak nila papunta dito.

"Seb!" Masayang tawag ni Kearr sa akin sa labas ng pintuan. Bumuntong hininga ako at binuksan ang pintuan ng kwarto ko.

"Hi," Sabi ni Karre at bahagya akong nginitian. Tumango lang ako at tinignan sila ng pagtataka.

"So, may maitutulong ba ako?" Tanong ko sakanila at pinapasok sila sa kwarto ko. Masayang pumasok si Kearr habang si Karre naman ay mahinahong pumasok.

"No. Plus, stop acting like you're our maid or something." React ni Karre. Nilapitan niya ako sabay tapik sa balikat ko kaya ngumiti at tumango nalang ako. Di ko naman kasi alam kung paano ko sila kausapin. I've been a commoner all my life and treating this Noble Prince, plus she's a demon prince, is seriously rude and is against all laws in this world.

"Should I really treat you like that? Wouldn't I be impudent and rude? Wouldn't that be gawkily? Or something?" Sabay kong tanong at di namalayang hinihingal na pala ako.

"Jeez, sistah. You're exaggerating." Sabi ni Kearr at malapad na nginitian ako. Tumango nalang ako. Yumuko ako at bumuntong hininga. Nakakatakot talagang umaktong kapatid at anak ng pamilyang Elnashio eh.

"May kailangan ba kayo? May ipapagawa ba kayo?" Tanong ko muli.

"There you go again. Stop acting like you're a maid. We just want to have breakfast with you." Sagot ni Kearr at nagkibit balikat. Napa'ahh' ako at tumango tango.

"Ako na magluluto." Pagbubuluntaryo ko at nginitian silang dalawa. Napataas sila ng kilay at medyo sinamaan ako ng tingin.

"Okay, jeez. I am not acting as your cook, okay? I just simple want to cook for my brothers and father." I said emphasizing the words 'brother and father'. Tinignan muna nila ako ng madiin at tinaasan ng kilay bago nila ako tinanguan. Ugh, this is exhausting!

Lumabas kami sa kwarto ko at tumango sa direksyon ng kusina. Pagkarating namin doon, nakita ko si King Rekkie na nakaupo habang nagbabasa ng libro. Mas siningkit ko ang mata ko tinignan iyong librong binasa niya.

What?

The Mermaid's After Tale?

That story is for kids. Primarily for demon kids.

Nilapitan nina Kearr at Karre si King Rekkie at umupo sa tabi nito ng may ngisi sa mukha nila. I sense prank here.

Bago pa man makatingin si King Rekkie sa gawi ng mga anak niya biglang may sumulpot na balde sa ibabaw ng ulo ni King Rekkie at before he knew it, nabasa na siya. Yuck, laway pa ng demon Rhino-Dile.

Little trivia, Rhino-Dile is a crocodile with the face of a rhino. Not in a weird way where it's body is half crocodile and rhino. (P.S.: If you have seen the movie of Dyawne Johnson 'Rampage' you'll know what it looks like. I referred it on the movie. Credits to them.) It has the ability to swim on a sea or river like a sea serpent. Has a strong jaw and can easily overwhelm a low-level demon.

"Ugh, here we go again." Sabi ni King Rekkie at naparolyo ang mga mata nito.

"Hahahahaha! Dad! That was hilarious!" Sigaw ni Kearr at humaglpak ng tawa. Si Karre naman ay nagpipigil ng tawa. Napataas ang kilay ko at sinapak iyong balikat nilang dalawa.

"Stop laughing! Get a towel!" Sabi ko at tinaasan sila ng kilay. Napatigil silang dalawa at tinignan ako ng gulat. Tinaasan ko sila ng kilay.

"What are you staring at? Get a towel." Sabi ko. Sabay silang tumango at sabay din na tumakbo para kumuha ng towel. Linapitan ko si Dad at umupo sa tabi niya.

"Ayos ka lang ba, Ki- Dad?" Tanong ko. Ngumiti lang ito at tinanguan ako. Pagdating nilang dalawa sabay nilang binigay ang towel sa akin. Hinablot ko naman ito at marahan na pinunasan ang mukha ni King Rekkie.

Tsk.

"Sumubra na kayo, Kearr at Karre. Hindi niyo dapat tinatrato ng ganito si Dad. Kung wala kayong saya try niyong makipagtitigan sa isda. Tsk. Kung gusto niyong makalaro si Dad try niyo namang hindi umabot sa ganito." Sermon ko sa kanilang dalawa. Narinig kong nagpipigil sila ng tawa kaya tumingin ako sa gawi nila at sinamaan sila ng tingin kaya napaigting sila.

"I-it's alright, anak." Sabi ni dad. Tinignan ko naman siya at sinamaan ng kilay.

"No!" Sabi ko at pinahid ang isa pang towel sa buhok na puno ng laway.

"Dad, no matter how strong you are if you have an open wound or cut you'll get paralyze if the saliva gets in contact with it. Understand?" Sabi ko at tinuro siya.

"O-okay." Sagot nito.

"And the both you, do this again and you'll get what you deserve!" Sigaw ko sakanila kaya sabay silang napatango.

"A-anak?" Tawag ni King Rekkie sa akin. Kahit nakakailang tumingin pa din ako.

"I think my head's numb." Sabi ni dad kaya nanlaki ang mata ko lalo na yung dalawa.

"What?" Sabay na sabi naming tatlo.

"A-and my whole body started to feel numb as well." Sabi niya kaya mas nanlaki pa ang mata namin.

"You have an open wound?" Tanong ko at kinalma ang sarili ko.

"Kinda. I remembered, I scratch my head using my nails earlier." Sabi nito at di na gumalaw. Tinignan ko ang kamay niya at nakita ang napakataas at tulis na kuko nito.

"Dad, we're going to cut that nails of yours." Sabi ko.

Tinignan ko si Dad at nanlaki ang mata nito.

Rekkie Elnashio's POV:

"Hun, we're going to cut that nails of yours." Sabi ng asawa ko habang nginitian ako ng matamis. Nanlaki ang mata ko sa sinabi nito.

Hindi pwedeng putulin ang kuko ko! Hindi pwede! Tinago ko ang kamay ko sa likod ko at awkward na nginitian si Baby Selvianne ko.

"No" Sabi ko at mas madiin na tinago ang kamay ko sa likod ko.

"Did I just hear no? You scratched yourself because of your nails.. again." Sabi muli ni baby Selvianne. Lumingo ako.

Bago pa man ako makatakbo ng mabilis gamit ang bilis ng isang demonyo, hindi ako nakatakbo ng biglang nanlumay iyong katawan ko. Tinignan ko ang gawi ni Baby Selvianne at may hawak na gunting sa kamay nito.

"N-no!" Sabi ko at marahas na tumayo sa pagkakahiga ko.

"You can't run, Hun. I erased your powers temporarily." Sabi nito at nilapitan ako.

"N-no! Hun! Please!" Sabi ko and before I knew it, I don't have my long nails anymore.

~~~

"Dad?" Rinig kong tawag ng anak ko kaya nabalik ako sa huwisyo.

"Y-you can't." Sabi ko.

"You don't have any choice. We'll cut your nails while you're still paralyze and after that, we'll get you a medicine to retrieve back your strength." Sabi nito at nginitian ako ng matamis. Napatigil ako at di namalayang napangiti na pala ako.

She just look likes her mother. Especially, when she smiles.

"Bu-" bago pa man ako makareklamo tinaasan niya ako ng kilay.

"It's for you safety, Dad." She said as she smiled at me warmly. I stared at her and smiled back.

No matter what, Anak. I'll protect you.

××ו••××ו••××ו••××ו••××ו••×××

To be continued..

Honeystesha signing off..