Heritage
Cannabec

I was running. The forest was dark and the branches of thetrees leered over me, tearing through my kimono and hair. My hands hurt and I glanced down at myhands. They were completely burned andraw. The pain was numb but at the sametime, it felt just too much to bear. Icould smell the smoke in the air as I fled from the burning building. I gasped when I ran into someone.

“It’salright. Ssh…”

I trusted him so I hugged him. The figure cradled me gently as voicessurrounded us and he carried me away. Heput me down after a while and crouched down. I couldn’t see his face clearly as he cradled my hands in his andpressed a pair of cold lips onto the raw skin. I noticed that his skin was blue which struck me as both odd andintriguing. He ran his hand across myburns again.

“It’sgoing to be alright, Zelda. Once you’resafe, we’ll tend to your burns, I promise. You’ll be safe.”

“Mama…” my mouth moved by itself.

A cool pair of lips pressed themselvesto my forehead and those cold hands ran themselves through my ruined hair.

“I’msorry, Zelda, I really am. But don’tworry. She’s in a better place now.”

He embraced me tightly before picking meup and running off again. I clutchedonto him, burying my face into his growing hair. I felt safe, I was going to be alright. But the feeling of security wasshort-lived. We were attacked, voiceswere raised.

“Zelda,run!”

I ran. I ran through the dark forest as I heard the sounds of swords clashingone another and magic being cast. Icould hear hooves galloping and ran faster. I ran until I tripped over and realised that I had reached an oldlooking building. I reached to pull thecord of the bell that hung above me and everything went black…

I woke up to raised and panicked voicesbelow me. I sat up and spotted thespirit woman glaring through the gaps of the floorboards and saw Zack’soffice’s light was on with Zack and someone else. Zack had his face in his hands by his deskand I could just see the long dark green hair of his guest. I felt a bit more cautious when I realisedthat he had grey skin. This man wasn’thuman.

“You do realise that your plans willhave to change dramatically now that you know you’ve failed in converting theyoung elf and you’ve lost her?” his voice drawled, making my spine shiver.

“It just doesn’t make sense!” Zacksounded inferior to the other “I gave her lessons on being a normal human girl,I taught her how to apply make-up, I convinced her to take better care of herappearance and she’s been getting nothing but my undivided attention. She should have succumbed, my plan shouldhave worked.”

“Are you quite sure that she’s only beengetting views on humans from you?” the man leaned across the desk and I sawZack’s hesitant gaze “No other supernaturals have made contact with her sinceshe’s been in your care?”

“No, my colleagues and I had influencedher,” Zack nodded “I assure you, she was raised as a normal human girl.” An impatient growl left the other’s lips ashe turned away from Zack.

“I told you to kill her when you firstfound her but you ignored my advice,” he hissed “I may not be the best but myadvice does tend to work if followed.”

“I needed a beautiful girl to wedJohnathan’s son,” Zack explained and I felt my stomach churn when I picturedthe snobbish character that was the offspring of Johnathan, Zack’s financialadvisor.

“You chose to adopt her at the wrongtime, the best time to ever influence a child is when they are five years ofage,” the man turned on the spot to face Zack “That rule applies to all races.”

“But I thought she was dead when she wasfive,” Zack argued feebly.

“Then you should have killed her whenyou had the chance!” the man snapped irritably, making Zack wince “You wantedto wipe out the elf race, you should have killed Zelda right away! She is the light for the elf race, you needto snuff it out!” My eyes widened when acold breeze blew through the attic from a window that had been left ajar. The pink petals moved with the breeze, oneslipping through the floorboards before I could snatch it. I watched in horror as it fluttered down theoffice and the man spotted it. Hesnatched it with two clawed fingers and breathed it in thoughtfully. He snapped his head up and I could tell bythe ethereal glare in his eyes, this man was definitely not human. He didn’t even look like he belonged onEthylias.

“Ah-ha,” he grinned at me and held out ahand, beckoning me “It seems I have found your little princess, Zack.” The spirit woman gave me an alarmed glanceand I stood from my place. “Come here,Zelda,” his voice crooned.

“Zelda,run!” the spirit woman hissedand I glanced at her.

“Where to?” I hissed back in a panic asI snatched my kimono up, shrugging it on hurriedly.

“Farto the east from here there is a palace in the forest, there should be a palaceanyway,” she began giving instructions“Look for someone called Paradox, saythat Zereria sent you.”

“Zereria…” I said carefully then nodded.

“Takecare and whatever you do…” Suddenly a pentagram appeared beneath my feet and Ishrieked in horror as everything disappeared around me and I was on the officefloor. My heart thumped against myribcage as my head spun from the sudden transportation. I stared up at the figure with wide eyes ashe snatched my chin with his clawed fingers. I shivered as those nails dug deep into my skin.

“Do you really think I would let youflee so easily?” he purred as I heard Zack stand up with a surprised gasp. I shivered under his gaze and swallowed. Those startling green eyes stared down at meand I felt swallowed with envy. Envy? What could I be enviousabout? After a couple of moments, I feltmy stomach churn when I realised why the feeling suddenly came to me. This was a demon.

“Who are you?” I croaked and he grinned.

“Cannabec, at your service,” he purredand licked his front teeth thoughtfully. I moved away from him, my back hitting the solid oak desk. He tilted his head curiously at me. “You must be hurting, Zelda.”

“Excuse me?” I croaked as I pressed myback against Zack’s desk.

“Your parents, ripped away from you,”Cannabec’s voice turned soft as he leaned in close enough for me to feel hisbreath on my face “Your race, threatened and endangered. All those chances of picking yourself up andstarting a new life with a new family, ruined. And do you know why, Zelda?” Ifelt myself relax as Cannabec stood then pointed to Zack. “It was him!”

“What?” Zack spluttered as my heartlurched.

“Who went and personally slaughteredyour poor family?” Cannabec hissed as I slowly looked up to see Zack’s shockedface of betrayal and disbelief “Zack did! Who discovered that you were still alive andsquandered all your chances of having a new family so he could adopt you andmake you think like a human? ZackBrodka! Who ordered for Vincent, Duneand Aura’s families to be killed? Zackary Julian Angelo Brodka!” Istared at him with wide disbelieving eyes when he mentioned Vincent, Dune andAura and he snatched my chin again. “Ohyes, young Zelda. I have been watchingyou for a very long time now. I’ve beenwatching you very closely.”

“Get away, don’t touch me!” I screamedas I jerked out of his grip and ran for the door. I skidded to a halt as flames consumed thedoor and fell back to the floor, backing away from the hot and fiery wall.

“There’s no escape, young one,” Cannabecsaid and I heard his footsteps approaching me, my eyes fixated on the flames asI tried to control my breathing. Ishuddered as his hands gripped my shoulders and a cold breath caressed my ear,my skin crawling with goose bumps. “Whyare you running, Zelda?” he whispered into my ear, I could barely feel his warmtongue touching my earlobe “Don’t you want to get back at Zack? Don’t you want to avenge your parents? Don’t you want revenge?” The temptation of burning Zack alive wasthere at the back of my mind, I won’t deny it. But I closed my eyes and focused on what was right. Yes, he killed my family, if that really wastrue. But killing Zack will not bringback my family nor pleasure to me. Ilifted my head and regarded Cannabec behind my shoulder.

“I wouldn’t mind revenge,” I whisperedand lured Cannabec in front of me “I wouldn’t mind avenging my parents’ death.”

“Yes, Zelda,” Cannabec crooned as hecurled two fingers under my chin, his nails nearly digging into my skin “I cangive you revenge, I can help you get back at Zack. I’ll help you restore your race, help youmake supernaturals feel welcome in Aurallion. I can do anything for you.”

“Anything?” I whispered and leaned in toCannabec.

“Anything that you desire,” hesaid. I lifted a hand to cup his coldgrey cheek.

“For so long, I haven’t been able topicture my family because I lost all my memories of them,” I whispered and myeyes brimmed with tears.

“Aw, I know,” Cannabec purred as hecupped my cheek in turn. I suppressed ashiver of repulse and sniffed softly.

“You will really do anything that I askof you?” I whimpered and widened my eyes pleadingly.

“You only need to say it and I shall doit for you,” his grin grew wider as I sighed and closed my eyes.

“Get out of my face.” As quick as I could, I retreated my arm intothe sleeve of my kimono and whipped my fan out to slash across Cannabec’sface. He let out an inhumane screech andI jumped back to my feet, jumping away and landing onto Zack’s desk. I glanced back at my guardian, he wascowering in the corner pathetically. Ifelt my lips turn into a sneer. Heenlisted help from a demon in the first place, this was his problem.

“You little ingrate!” Cannabec screechedand charged at me. I whipped my secondfan out but it felt like a pretty redundant when Cannabec’s hand was engulfedby green flames and he revealed a slim blade. I retreated warily briefly before jumping out of the way and he slicedthe desk in half. I stumbled from mylanding, knocking into a bookcase and stared as he slid his blade out of thedesk and stared at me with his burning gaze. “You have nowhere to run, Zelda,” he purred and held his blade up to me“I would be a generous demon if I was not powered by the sin of envy. I am going to kill you.”

“I am not afraid of you,” I said even whenmy blood was running cold from Cannabec’s mere presence “You may kill me but itwill take a lot more than that to drag my soul into Hell.” He smirked at me, he could see me trembling. I glanced at the window and took a deepbreath. “I pity you,” I spoke as heraised his blade “Being powered by envy? That has to be the weakest sin to be powered by.” My plan to anger him didn’t work as hesmirked.

“You’d be surprised by how many humansfall to the power of envy.” He turnedover to the cowering Zack and advanced towards him. “Those who truly feel envious of theirfriends, others who have achieved so much and so many other petty reasons. They beg for my assistance, prey for me, seeme as God…”

“Only a demon would dare say that,” Icommented as I moved myself carefully in line with the window. I froze and spotted the bookcases, a handfulof books had fallen onto the floor after I had stumbled into them. I crouched and carefully picked up aparticularly heavy book.

“Zack had dreams, you know,” Cannabeccontinued speaking with his back to me as he snatched Zack’s chin “But heneeded power. Vampires, werewolves andelves like yourself were in his way. Sowhat better way than to get rid of the races.”

“And there would be more humans,” I saidas I withdrew my fans into the sleeves of my kimono, carefully weighing thebook in my hands then picking another heavy book “The majority of humans areknown to hold weak minds. You will reapmore souls if you can lure more humans into the seven deadly sins.”

“I really must say, you’re a very smartgirl, Zelda,” Cannabec turned and grinned widely at me.

“Yes, and you’ve just been outsmarted,”I said before throwing one of the books into his face. Cannabec cried out as the corner of the bookhit him in the eye and I snatched another heavy book, throwing them as hard asI could at the window. The windowcracked, making the glass weaker. Icharged with all my might as Cannabec dropped to his knees and began healing uphis eye. I smashed through the windowand closed my eyes, focusing on a safe place. I needed to be anywhere but here. As I fell, I felt the petals graze across my body until I received avery soft landing. There was a surprisedgroan as thousands of petals fell and blanketed the room. I sat up as surprised mewls sounded in theroom and glanced at the basket in the corner.

“Zelda…?” the figure next to me sat upin the bed “Ugh…” Aura yawned loudly anda couple of petals fluttered into his mouth. He spat them out then glanced over to me with tired pink eyes. His beautiful golden hair was ruffled and Ipaused briefly to admire this scruffy yet adorable look. “How…when…what?” he murmured sleepily andrubbed his eyes. I got up and brushedmyself down. Petals fluttered out of mykimono sleeves and I shook myself out to get rid of the petals that werestuck. I can’t wait to learn how to notsummon so many petals when I teleport.

“I’m sorry but complications arose,” Isaid as Aura rubbed his eyes again then continued staring at me in surprise“Aura, we need to leave.”

“What…why? Is this a dream?” Aura mumbled and I marchedacross the room to pick up the basket of Nekaroses.

“No, Aura, I’m sorry for dropping in onyou like this,” I apologized “But we really need to leave.”

“To where? What about Dune?” Aura yawned and stretchedhis arms out. He slumped against theheadboard of the bed sleepily.

“Dune…it’ll have to wait,” I sighed andshook my head “Come on, Aura! Snap outof it!” I rushed forward and snapped myfingers in front of his face to get him more awake. “We need to head to the eastern forest, weshould be safe there for a while.” Aurablinked blankly and yawned.

“Zelda, it’s the middle of the night,”he whined and buried himself underneath the covers of the bed again.

“No, it’s near to dawn and I’ve got ademon on my tail. Get up!” After placing the basket of the Nekarosefamily, I shoved Aura out of the bed. Aura grunted as he landed on the petal covered floor and sat up, rubbinghis eyes.

“What do you mean you’ve got a demon onyour tail?” he grumbled as he got up onto his feet.

“I mean that my guardian was under theinfluence of an envy powered demon named Cannabec and now he’s after me becauseI know why they want to wipe out the supernatural races,” I explained whilepicking the basket up.

“Wait, did you say Cannabec?” Aura seemed alarmed but at least he was awakeproperly. I nodded and he rushed to pullone of his new shirts on with the shorts he was already wearing. I felt a bit wary at his sudden haste. “Do you know who he is?” he hissed andslipped some shoes on.

“An envy powered demon?” I raised aneyebrow “I’m sorry, Aura but I don’t know that much about demons and angels.”

“His power is from the sin of envy buthe’s the top of his rank!” Aura hissed and nearly slipped over the petals “Heis one of Satan’s Seven Sons. He createdenvy.” I nearly let the basket slip outof my grip as he regained his footing but soon slipped again and fell on thebed. I had angered one of the mostpowerful demons ever known. I don’t knowany stories about Satan’s Sons but from Aura’s sudden panic, I realised that wewere in serious trouble. I swallowedharshly then shook my head.

“We should be fine then!” I whispered asI shifted the basket into a more comfortable position for me to carry “If he reallyis Satan’s Son then he should be here by now! He might not be so interested in killing me after all!”

“Zelda, Cannabec may be the youngest ofthe sons but he is cunning. How do youknow you’re not falling into a trap?”

“Just trust me!” I begged Aura andgripped his hand “We need to leave Aurallion now!”

“But what about Dune?”

“Dune can take care of himself. We don’t have time and I don’t know where helives.” Aura hesitated and noddedwarily.

“So where are we going?” he asked and Ibrushed some petals off the Nekarose basket.

“I’ve been told to replace a palace in thefar eastern forest,” I explained “We’re looking for someone calledParadox.” I took Aura’s hand andsqueezed it. We stared at each other fora while before I spoke. “Don’t worry,trust me. I know what I’m doing.” He stared me in the eye then squeezed back,nodding.

“I trust you,” was all I needed to hearto lead him out of the apartment.