The Broken Halo

Chapter 1015 - 1014: An Old Grudge

For a moment, the elders stared at Simon without speaking.

He had resisted the pressure upon him. Barely, and only because they had released so little of it, but a Greater Demon shouldn’t have been able to answer them so calmly.

What troubled several of them more was what he had said.

He had threatened to return and kill them.

When had someone beneath them last spoken those words in this hall? When had a visitor refused them so openly, then promised revenge if they forced him to obey?

Ancestral Elder Wild Hunt’s eyes narrowed. The red cracks on Ancestral Elder Cinder Queen’s hands brightened further.

Above them, Grand Elder Red Calamity looked amused.

Grand Elder Night Widow’s gaze moved from Simon to Grand Elder Dread Crown, whose smile hadn’t faded. Neither seemed particularly surprised by the boy’s response.

Simon noticed.

He remained calm, certain they weren’t going to hurt him now.

It wasn’t because his threat could stop them. Ancestral Elder Black Tide alone could kill him before he drew a weapon.

But the Grand Elders had just discovered four natural seeds and a bloodline evolution method in his possession. They wanted him to speak, and Grand Elder Dread Crown had watched the entire exchange with growing interest.

Simon doubted the elder intended to let that end with him being tortured.

Ancestral Elder Black Tide’s fingers curled against his knees.

The boy had challenged him in front of the entire council. Worse, he had done it without the slightest sign of fear.

”You insolent little-”

A sudden laughter interrupted him causing everybody to look at the source.

Grand Elder Dread Crown brought his hands together.

Clap

Clap

”Not bad. Not bad at all for a boy who awakened one like mine.”

Ancestral Elder Black Tide closed his mouth.

Grand Elder Dread Crown glanced toward him, and the cold pressure over the centre of the hall receded. The other elders restrained their auras as well.

Simon looked up at the higher seat.

He settled the power stirring within his heart. The demonic energy gathered around him dispersed, and his sleeves fell against his wrists.

Beside him, Enigma quietly released a breath of relief.

”I had my doubts when you described how it formed,” Grand Elder Dread Crown said. ”But I can see one reason it came to you naturally.”

Simon didn’t answer.

The elder’s smile faded, leaving his expression composed again.

”And you’re right. A method that allows demons to recover their ancestry is valuable. We shouldn’t expect you to hand it over for nothing simply because you’re much weaker than us.”

Ancestral Elder Bone Prophet looked toward him.

Grand Elder Golden Tyrant’s upper hands relaxed against her armrests, though her eyes remained on Simon.

He narrowed his gaze slightly.

The change was welcome, but that didn’t mean he had forgotten the threat that came before it.

”We can offer something in exchange,” Grand Elder Dread Crown continued.

”What do you have in mind?” Simon asked.

”Be patient. There are a few things we need to settle first.”

Grand Elder Dread Crown lifted a hand toward the side of the hall.

Simon followed the gesture.

A narrower door stood beneath the raised gallery, separate from the entrance he and Enigma had used. He hadn’t paid it much attention before.

Nobody came through.

He looked back at the elder.

”Before we discuss a price, we need to establish how much of what you’ve told us is true,” Grand Elder Dread Crown said.

Simon’s frown deepened.

”The four you formed. The suppression that awakened your demonic cat bloodline. And the method you claim to possess.”

”I haven’t offered to sell it yet.”

”I know. But we won’t offer you anything without checking.”

Simon couldn’t object to that. But he disliked the implication that the next part of the meeting had already been arranged without him.

’How do they intend to check?’

He thought of the eyes studying him from the gallery. If they intended to search his mind, this conversation was about to become unpleasant again.

Then a familiar presence reached his senses.

Simon turned toward the side entrance.

He recognised it before he could place the memories that came with it. White hair. Black eyes. A furious face above him as fingers closed around his throat.

’Merath.’

”Seems you recognise her aura,” Grand Elder Dread Crown said.

Simon returned his gaze to him.

”She told us what happened to her partner during their assignment in Shadowgrave Clan. They were to locate and recruit the descendant of the Shadow Monarch.”

Enigma glanced at Simon, then at the door.

Grand Elder Dread Crown continued.

”According to her, you placed her under an illusion and made her kill her partner, Jorra.”

Simon’s eyes narrowed.

He had wondered whether Merath had returned. Now he knew she had done considerably more than threaten to report him.

”To our surprise, we found she was telling the truth.”

Grand Elder Dread Crown watched him closely.

”You made her believe she was holding you when she was holding him. She used him as a shield against the Night Sovereign’s attack.”

Simon remembered the shadow blade passing through Jorra.

At the time, he had needed a Daemon heart. Merath had also been quite willing to sacrifice him when she thought she had the opportunity.

He didn’t regret what he had done.

But explaining it here was another matter.

”She was punished for failing her assignment,” Grand Elder Dread Crown said. ”Since then, she has wanted nothing more than a chance to find you and settle that debt.”

His gaze passed briefly over Simon’s chest.

The elder shook his head.

”Unfortunately for her, that may no longer be possible.”

Simon offered no reply.

They had known about Jorra before he entered the hall. None had mentioned him while questioning Simon about his bloodlines.

He looked toward Enigma.

The Fourth Abyss Lord was frowning. His attention shifted between Simon and Grand Elder Dread Crown, but he didn’t interrupt.

’Seems he didn’t know about Jorra and Merath too.’

A faint sound came from the side entrance.

The door opened, and two figures walked into the hall.

A boy and a girl.

Simon recognised the girl immediately.

Merath’s white hair fell over the shoulders of a fitted black robe. She was tall and pale, her appearance almost human until one looked at the claws on her left hand.

Her right sleeve was folded and fastened at her side.

She had entered with her eyes lowered toward the floor. When she lifted them and saw Simon, she stopped for a fraction of a second.

Her black eyes widened in confusion and disbelief.

Then her gaze travelled over his horns and down his body.

Simon could almost see her comparing him with the broken, exhausted demon she had last confronted. Her left hand slowly closed, the claws pressing into her palm.

He gave her no greeting.

The boy beside her drew his attention next.

He was taller than Jorra had been, with short silver hair and the same narrow face. A strip of black cloth circled his forehead, leaving a pair of pale-grey eyes uncovered.

His features were more mature, but the resemblance was difficult to dismiss.

Simon studied him more carefully.

He had never seen this boy before. He was certain of that.

Yet the shape of his mouth, the line of his jaw, even the way his head turned reminded Simon of the Heart Daemon whose corpse he had taken.

The boy wore a high-collared black coat. The Abyss’s black dragon emblem sat upon its left breast.

Unlike Merath, he showed no obvious surprise.

His eyes settled on Simon and remained there as the two approached the centre.

Grand Elder Dread Crown lowered his hand.

”I’m sure Merath needs no introduction.”

Simon looked from her to the silver-haired boy.

Grand Elder Dread Crown continued.

”This is Joren. Jorra’s elder brother.”