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Chapter 96 - Chapter 95: A Tense Bargain

""

"" Zigfred slammed a crate of bottles down on their counter, rattling some of the other vials and bottles off. Hearing the splashing and crashing of the bottles, Zigfred groaned in irritation. ""

Charla broke from her trance, feeling the bottles wet her feet. ""

""

Zigfred pulled bottles out from the crate of goods and proceeded to display them on the tables.

"" Charla re-entered her dazed trance and drifted away in her thoughts.

"" Zigfred sighed and shook his head. ""

Suddenly, a large blue hand grasped the door. It cracked and creaked from the weight of its grip as the demon behind the hand then pulled and squeezed himself through. The giant blue ogre demon, Brom was followed by a second red demon, Gorm who also squeezed his way through with two large bags in hand.

"" Zigfred raised his hands, and on command slowly a huge hole widened and crumbled open just next to his cobblestone fireplace. the sheer size practically engulfed the store, leaving only the edge of the store untouched.

""

"" Everyone froze at once as their attention drew to Zelak entering the store with a large bag over his shoulder. Zelak then glanced at the distant Charla, then back at Zigfred, who narrowed his eyes at him.

""

""

Zigfred's eyes widened, recognizing Kalika entered along with a disguised Donovan. Kalika turned a glance on Zigfred, also recognizing him. "So he's the demon who has Bjorn…" she muttered.

Kalika turned her eye at Zelak. "I guess I'll just wait and see how things unfold…"

Charla's eyes sharpened at Donovan immediately as she muttered something beneath her breath.

Noticing Charla's strange, fixed gaze on him, Donovan shuddered. He averted his gaze only to lay eyes on the two ogre demons, who stared daggers at them.

"" Brom questioned.

"" Zelak answered. He then turned to Zigfred. ""

"

""

Kalika glanced at Zelak and back at Zigfred.

"" Zigfred questioned.

"" Zelak gestured to his bag over his shoulder.

""

"" Gorm argued.

Zigfred examined Zelak, trying to read him. After a moment of contemplation, Zigfred finally relented. "

Zigfred gestured with his hands, and the massive hole in the center of the store suddenly shrank. Leaving it just big enough for a couple of people to enter. ""

"" Brom yelled.

Gorm followed alongside his brother's fury, throwing the huge bags of crystals on the ground. Before he could get a word in, Zigfred spoke back up.

"" Zigfred turned his glare to Zelak. ""

Without warning, Zigfred jumped in.

Kalika closed in on Zelak and whispered, "Blood?"

"It's the only thing that'll catch his interest. And by the looks of it, he doesn't know anything about the human… this should work in our favor."

Kalika glanced back at Donovan who wasn't moving.

"" Zelak explained. ""

""

Donovan gave a quick solemn nod, reassuring Kalika. Not long after, Zelak entered the hole with Kalika following behind as one of the demons behind simply growled in irritation

"Good luck Kalika... Zelak..." Donovan thought. He ignored the glares shot at him by the demons, But couldn't help but get shivers sensing Charla stares becoming more intense and focused on him.

********

Kalika's body, twisted and turned, sliding down a slippery dark tunnel there was an unexpected thrill she had as she wondered what was at the very end. luckily for her, she didn't have to wait too long as she saw that she was approaching a bright light. She slid out of a round hole and onto a pillow on the ground as was meet with a well-furnished room fit for a noble.

Kalika slowly stood back up with Zelak waiting for on the side. She the turned her trailed her gaze to Zigfred who set three chalices on the table and poured a bottle of a purple beverage into them.

"" Zigfred offered a cup. ""

"why is this demon being so chummy all the sudden? I thought he'd be more irritated or something..." was the first to reach out and seat herself on the well-furnished couch. "As he doesn't try to do anything weird I guess it doesn't matter"

Kalika smelled the strange concoction that reminded her of a forest. She gave a quick sip, enjoying its taste. "Mmm.." She looked back into the chalice of wine. "It's sweet like that mead…"

"" Zigfred sat himself across the table on his overly furnished chair.

"" Zelak took the drink from Kalika and placed it back on the table. As annoyed as it made her, she turned a blind eye, feeling a dizziness already taking effect.

Zigfred gave a disappointed sigh. ""

"" Kalika questioned.

"" Zigfred explained. ""

Kalika raised a brow and turned to Zelak.

""

""

""

""

""

Zigfred rolled his eyes. "" he then shifted to Kalika. ""

""

""

Kalika side-eyed Zigfred. ""

Hearing this, Zigfred could only laugh at her remark. ""

Kalika twitched. ""

Zelak glanced at Kalika, a cold sweat running down his face. ""

"" Zigfred raised his hands, silencing Zelak with a newly bored expression.

"" Zigfred turned to Zelak. ""

"" Zelak carefully placed the bag down, unveiling the large cluster of crystals. While it glowed a bright white, what Kalika saw was a rainbow of five colors. The magic crystal held colors of red, blue, green, brown, and even black. It was unlike anything Kalika had seen.

"" Zigfred admitted. "< But what of the black blood?>"

Raising his hand, Zelak gestured to Kalika.

Zigfred snickered, surprised. " He leaned to the side of his chair, resting his head on his fist, amused. "

"" zelak said.

Zigfred gave a more doubtful look, forcing Zelak's hand.

"" Zelak turned to Kalika.

Understanding what Zelak wanted, Kalika sighed in annoyance. She drew her dagger and cut her hand. From her hand stemmed black blood that dripped to the ground before her wound healed. Completely.

Zigfred looked on, stunned. He quickly reoriented himself. ""

"" Zelak explained. ""

Zigfred frowned, unconvinced. "" He glared at Kalika and Zelak with a sharpened gaze and crossed arms.

""

"" Zigfred cracked a sly smirk. ""

Kalika shot a glare.

"" Zelak said.

"" Zigfred scoffed. ""

Zigfred's pink eyes glowed more vividly. ""

Kalika stood up, glaring more intensely at Zigfred. ""

Zigfred gazed at Kalika unamused, then turned his frown into a subtle smile.

Suddenly, everyone within the room around Kalika vanished. Alarmed, whipped her head around, confused. "Where did everyone-"

Suddenly, someone grabbed her whole body. She wiggled and flailed around, trying to free herself. But upon looking at the assailant, she saw Bjorn. His eyes were as white as snow, and his face was as mute and unreadable.

"Bjorn!? Let me go! Let me go!!"

He squeezed tighter.

From the suffocating feeling of being crushed, she felt cut to the arm. Her blood rolled down her arm, and as it fell, she was kicked straight into the wall.

Kalika shook her head and reoriented herself. She looked back up, and saw as both Zelak and Zigfred we interlocked with their blades exuding the two different elemental magics.

Zelak's sword blazed with intense fire as Zigfred's pulsed with pure water swirled around his more elegant sword. And with the two swords clashing, steam slowly filled the void between the two.

A light and heat drew Kalika's attention to a burning black parchment, which turned from a crimson to a deep purple as it turned to ash.

"" Zigfred said. He pushed Zelak away. And with a snap of his finger, a huge hole opened above them. ""

.********

Brom's ear twitched, and a sinister smile formed.

Meanwhile, Donovan stood stiff, trying to ignored Charla's intense gaze fixed on him. "W-why is she still staring at me!?" He glance back to her, watching she she was peeking her head from the counter and breathing heavily.

Suddenly, Donovan was slammed through the walls with a large hammer.

Charla erected gasped, shocked by the sudden brutality. Her eyes lit with rage as she saw the ogre demons jump through the hole, and before she could give chase, a strained coughing caught her attention.

She hurried to the new hole and saw something moving, but just barely. Slowly, Charla cracked a smile with a new idea in mind.

********

The two Ogres landed, breaking through the stone tiles that once covered the room. To Kalika and Zelak's surprise, the room began to expand around them into some large arena. " With a wave of his hands, Zigfred sank into the ground. ""

Kalika quickly dashed at him with her dagger in hand. She swung, but it was too late as he completely sank into the ground. "Damn it!"

Gorm threw the bags of crystal to the side and conjured a huge red-stained club that looked both sleek and overused. Meanwhile, Brom rested his massive hammer on his shoulder, ready to use it as he glared at both Zelak and Kalika.

""

Kalika widened in realization. "Donovan!" She darted her eyes above from the hole they dropped from.

"" Brom asked. ""

Glancing back at Kalika, Zelak saw a raging bloodlust building within Kalika. She then glared straight at him.

"You! Find that damn demon! I want to kill these two myself!"

Gorm raised a brow ""

A darkness erupted from all around her. Her dagger poised at her side, at the ready. And her eyes sharpened and focused as a single thought ran through her mind.

KILL

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