Trying to remember what is exactly the Blessed Twilight event is and I try to see if Desmond might know anything. I just got a feeling he does know something.

“Hey Desmond, I want to know what is really this Blessed Twilight thing. I know I was conceived on that time and now you and Oxley are telling me it will happen again next year.”

“Well I don’t know the exact, but I do know it is a mystical ceremony were every seventeen years the moon, the sun, and Jupiter will align in a parallel where a very unique eclipse will preside. Sun ties to light and moon to darkness. Once the two form into an eclipse, there is the equinox that forms on the seventh day of the month of Jupiter. I don’t know the rest of it. I need to check with Oxley.” He explained.

He soon grabs a black leather-pad notebook out of his pocket pant. He flips the pages to check on something.

Seeing the object in his hands, I try to see what he has there.

“Hey, what is that?” I ponder.

“It’s a guidebook along with tricks and tips I created to help me ease my apprenticeship.” He responds.

“Wait all that stuff on there is what Oxley taught you.” I say.

“Well mostly the stuff I learn from him; the other stuff I learned from a friend of mines, another wizard, Ignatius Parasmith.” He continues. “After I turn into a master wizard, I can lend this book to an up and coming young wizard like myself so he or she can be even greater than me.”

“So Oxley is Merlin and you’re Merlin’s apprentice.” I say.

“In that sense, yes.” He says. He then quits flipping the pages, closes the book, and puts it back into his pocket. “I thought I wrote something about the Blessed Twilight. I need to see if Oxley knows the rest.”

“Well, while you head back you can tell Oxley thanks again for helping me and you as well.”

“No problem. If by any chance you need me for a short wizard spell or potion to throw at a bully or demon, let me know.” He grins.

“Okay.” I reply as I glance in the sky to see the sun hidden in the clouds. Thinking about my frantic mother, I have to head back. “Well if that‘s it, I half to go!” I say.

“Go on!” He replies as he nods his head in agreement.

Thinking about poor Cort, he did not stand a chance when Mammon mercilessly killed him. I never even knew if Cort had a wife. Have any kids even. He had not mentioned me of a family instead he was just doing his job. Asmodeus and his goons should have not killed a man who had nothing to do with me. He was just taking me home until that snobbish demon attacked us back then. I do not want to forget what they did to Cort, and one day I will get justice for what Mammon did to Cort and what Asmodeus did to my father. 

***

Finally reach back to the corner of Adam Street and Leviathan Crossway. Rushing my way to my house, I made it back but then I notice a couple of police cars parked in front of the house. It is time to make things straight. I open the front white door turning the door handle where I see police officers standing and some sitting on the couch in the living room.

They all look at me once I open the door and then before I can even respond a word, mom walks out of the hallway follow by Nick to where she nearly has a heart attack.

“Caden!” She yells as she quickly runs towards me and gives me a huge hug. I see her eyes pouring out tears. Easily, her face is visibly upset as she did not know where I was for two days.

She continues to cry until she is able to calm a bit, “Caden, what happened to you?” She asks despondently.

Not wanting to tell her about the forest, being ambushed by demons, and meeting wizards while people who do not know the real me standing beside her.

“I was in the cab and all I remember was an attack and then I black out.”

A man wearing a black, gold tinted cap; a black, gold tinted uniform; and a black puff jacket while a Sherriff shield is attached on his upper jacket left side while viewing his pistol near his right pants leg; he comes forward next to my mom.

“So Caden, you didn’t witness the murder of the cab driver?” He asks a bit softly.

“No sir.” I reply.

He reluctantly nods after hearing that, but I know lying to police is bad, yet I think I have a definitive reason why I need to lie.

“So sheriff, guess things is taken care of here.” Nick enters into the conversation.

“Guess so. I’ll shut down the missing report and go forward to the cab driver’s murder.” The sheriff says.

“I hope you find the creep who did this.” Nick says.

“We’ll do our best.” The sheriff responds. Then the sheriff leaves, but before he heads out, I hurry to tab on his jacket sleeve to get his attention. He turns around to see me.

“Is there something you forgetting to tell me, son?” The sheriff asks.

“It’s not about the murder. I just need to know does the victim have any family.” I ask.

“If I remember correctly, he was currently living in an apartment, but his entire family is back in St. Thomas. We already notified them about his death.” The sheriff states.

“Thank you.” I reply.

He nods his head and turns back around. Then the others who were with him inside are exiting out as well. I turn back to mom where she hugs me again knowing her turmoil she went through is over.

“Oh Caden, when I heard about the driver’s death, I soon heard he had a passenger and that was you, but you disappeared. I was worrying sick.” She says.

“Well everything is back to normal.” I say.

“Good because I don’t think I can trust you in another cab by yourself.” She states.

Nick walks to me to pat his hand on my left back shoulder.

“You’re lucky kid.” He says.

“Thanks.” I respond back.

Nick looks to my mom as he gives a kiss to her right cheeks and tells her, “I have to go, so I’ll see you.”

“Yeah, thanks.” She replies.

“See you later, Caden and its good to see you alive and well.” He said before heading out.

I wave thanks and bye as mom reaches to the door to close it. She then almost fall to the floor nearly fainted. I quickly come to her aid helping her to the couch nearby.

“Are you alright, mom?” I worry.

“No.” She sighing short breaths exhaling them out. “I’m just tired and exhausted. I was up all night and day yesterday and today worrying about you. When I didn’t hear you come back, I became frantic.”

“I’m safe mom. Trust me.” I say.

“Well I guess we can order take out or pizza. Whatever you want, but before then I need to grab some sleep. Knowing you’re finally backed in one piece, I can shut my eyes. Wake me up in an hour or two.” She says as checking to see her eyes after tearing down appears to be drowsy.

“I will.” I respond.

She smiles and heads back to her room trying to get her shut eye feeling everything is fine. I check my pockets to see where my phone is, but since the attack, I lost it. Now I can imagine Liana is ringing my phone a lot and as well Eric. Thinking about reaching to them back on facebook, I head to the hallway to walk to my room until I hear a swoosh sound. Fearing it could be a threat, I turn around and to my relief. It is Mal.

“What happened to you?” He asks stewed.

I walk out of the hallway to come near and give him the details of what happened the past few days.

“After I found the Alpheus prophecy and decode what it said…”

“Wait, you found the prophecy. You completed the first trial?”

“Right before I was attacked by a demon known as Mammon.” I state.

“Mammon!” He jumped back a bit after hearing his name. “He’s Asmodeus number two. I’m surprised you’re still alive.”

“Where that’s the thing. I think he wanted me to stay alive because hours later he attacked me again and kill the cab driver. I followed him to the forest where it was an ambush. There were other demons waiting for me and then I saw him.”

“Who?” Mal asks as he shows a huge concern.

“Asmodeus.” I reply.

Mal did not respond back and for a minute, he was silent. His eyes then went down as he places his hand on his chin. Thinking about what I just told him especially when I mentioned Asmodeus, he puts his hand down and opens his mouth as he is about finally speak.

“I didn’t expect him to do that, so he left afterwards?” He wonders.

“After he tortured me and threatened my mother and my friends if I didn’t tell them goodbye and go back to him in the underworld.” I reply.

“That is not going to happen!” He declares.

“What are we going to do now?” I ask.

“You need to be prepared. You need to master your powers and master that demonic side before the next trial.” He states.

“So it’s finally time to train.” I say.

“Yes, but I need more time. Asmodeus is smarter than I expected. He will do whatever he can to find a way to get you and we must not let that happen.” He says.

“Well let’s do it.” I say.

“We’re going to start soon, but this won’t be a one day thing, Caden. You really need to be focus and I cannot have you be distracted.” He says.

“I won’t promise.” I say.

“Good, but in order to protect the ones you care about, you need to make sacrifices. Your father taught me that before he gave up his life to save me when I was down.” He says.

Dantailon sacrificed himself to save Mal and overall trying to protect me. It is hard to understand what my father looks like and how he really becomes this tragic hero. Mal is the only one who can fully explain what my father was like and how they were more like brothers. The way Mal seems so proud of him. I wish I was, but I still have this lingering doubt about my father.

“So Caden, you heard what I said?” He questions if I fully listened to him.

“I did. Make sacrifices that will save the ones I care about.” I say.

“You’re in a good start, so meet me in the forest in two days after school for our first day of training.” He declares.

“I’ll be there.”I reply.

Mal soon disappears in a dark grey cloud-like shape. I will not let these demon creeps hurt my mother nor my friends. I want to protect them. I need to protect them. No more running away. It is time for me to defend. And it starts now, but when Mal told me about making those sacrifices I have to find out where to start.

The next day approaches. After seeing the sunrise, I put on a plain white tee, a green flannel hoodie, light blue jeans, and my tennis. I take my bike and head off to school where before classes start I had to meet with someone. I need to give up soccer this year because I need to stay away from the public spotlight. I need to stay low because of Asmodeus being so unpredictable and his demon friends still using human disguises, so really I do not know who to trust.

Another reason for doing this sacrifice is that a play might tick me off and who knows my demonic side might come out and unleash my powers; and I could really hurt someone. Since I’m not in total control of demonic side, it is unstable and I need to control them. In order to keep everyone from harm’s way from either Asmodeus or myself, this is one sacrifice I must make.

Entering the athletic center near the gym, I walk to Coach Hansen’s room as he is making plays on his white board. Seeing him writing strategic lines across the board using a red marker, I knock on the door’s beam.

He turns slightly and can instantly sense it was me. “Abele, where the hell have you been?” He demanded.

“Coach, sorry about the missed practices and missed games.”

“Sorry can’t cut it. I chose you to be the starter, yet you didn’t come up to your end.”

“I’m sorry coach, but I know my mom told you I had a hamstring.”

“I understand that. You’re just a kid.” He sits down on his desk chair and sips a bit of coffee from his Rocking Angels—a circle with Rocking on the top and Angels at the bottom with a thunderbolt coming out of the logo- brown mug. “I need you to understand Caden; this isn’t a game of chess. This is my game. My sport and I want you to come back to us for the Monroe Knights game.” He says.

“I appreciate it coach, but I need to leave the team.” I state.

“Why?” The coach asks as he is lost in words when I had to decline him. His mouth drops a bit.

“I can still go to my classes, but personally I need to stay away from the game.”

“You know what you’re doing kid.” He says.

“I do coach.” I respond.

“Alright, I’ll drop you from the starter list, but not the team.”  He continues. “You got talent kid. You do. Last year wasn’t a fluke, that’s why I chose you to replace Riley.”

“Thanks coach.” I say as I reverse my direction and walk out of the office. I can only imagine what the coach is thinking right now that his potential future star would not shine right now. He was right, I did become a true freshman star when he needed the backup to perform, and I did. Last year I broke a previous record that was hold by coach himself back in the 70’s. 

I never would have imagined my short, but lasting performance impacted the coach that much. However, I would not know how it feels to be a starter. Hopefully soon, I can play as a starter before I graduate. But what has been going on in my life, making this decision was a difficult, yet logical choice.

Before I can get to my English class, Karina appears on the other side of the hallway. I notice her telling me to come here quickly. Seeing other students passing by, I notice the main hallway is almost empty, so I head to the other side of the narrow hallway to talk to Karina.

“Karina, what are you doing here?”

“The second trial.”

“What about it?”

“Tell me, what your father wanted you to do for the second trial.”

“Um…um?” Trying to think hard.

“Come on Caden, you half to. I know you don’t have your journal with you, but I can sense you know them.”

I listen to what she has to say. I start to think about exactly what was the second trial. I knew Dantalion wanted me to learn the Devos prophecy from the Alpheus prophecy. However, after the attack from Asmodeus and his hellion gang, I was about to forget them.

Then out of the blue, I start to remember tidbits of what the second trial is. Trying to remember the exact words Dantailon wrote on the journal. After a few more seconds, I start to remember the words.

“I think I got it.”

“Okay.”

“Dantailon said the second trial…” Squeezing my eyes trying to fudge those words, “…something about a book that has info on a Devos that I need to destroy.”

“What’s the book?”

“I don’t know?!” Trying to think hard and trying to remember that name of the book.

“Come on Caden, I know you can say it.”

Hearing Karina’s confidence, I know I can say it now. After another minute pass by, the elusive word has come to my mind.

“Daemonum…the name of the book is the Daemonum.”