The Devil's Warrior Queen
Chapter 393: Friend In Need

Chapter 393: Friend In Need

Ares abruptly rose from his chair, his silver eyes unwavering on Ariana with a solemnity that made her wary.

The room went silent for a moment as Vlad’s gaze dropped on Ares, wondering what was through his head. Ares would never hurt Ariana, he never cared about formality within his friends, but then, he was one unpredictable demon.

Despite the fact that he was cool headed and nonchalant, they were aware of the darkness lurking within him, they knew just how cold hearted it was. His father had often put him in war alongside his friends and they had seen his cruelty firsthand, they had seen how he relished in the torment of the unfortunate as he poured his wrath on them.

"Don’t give me that stare, I would hurt anyone but the both of you." Ares said and the tension in the room suddenly died down and he saw guilt flash through their eyes.

"Anyways, I have something to tell you both." Ares started with a solemnity in his eyes.

Their eyes squinted with curiosity as they listened eagerly for what he was about to say. Judging from his serious countenance, they immediately realized it was of great implication.

"Ever since I turned fourteen, my grandfather has been paying me visits, giving me sugar coated promises, technically everything I want. A place I feel at home, unlimited power and domination. I’ve found it hard to control my chaos, I feel more tempted to take his offer and leave with him every single second." Ares confessed, leaving both Ariana and Vlad dumbfounded.

"So Lucifer has been paying you sneaky visits and not even your father was able to know?" Ariana implied, her brows furrowed with deep concern.

"No, he’s strong enough to hide his presence." Ares remarked with an exasperated sigh as he buried his fingers into his hair, pushing the stray locks away from his face.

"If Lucifer is paying you sneaky visits, it means trouble. I know it’s hard to resist, but try. And I think it’s best if you let your parents know, they’ll know what to do." Vlad pointed out.

"That’s not even the worst part. Apparently, my father made a deal with him before I was born." Ares revealed to them and their brows lifted up in curiosity.

"A deal with the devil is quite detrimental, as well as the price." Ariana said.

"And apparently, the price was me. My father offered me to my grandfather once I turned eighteen in exchange to saving my mother." Ares breathed out, but there was no hurt in his eyes, nor any emotion portrayed in his neutral facade.

Ariana’s mouth was hanging low in stupefaction while Vlad merely stared at him in speechlessness.

"That is quite a revelation." Ariana whispered.

"Does your mother know?" Vlad queried.

Ares shook his head "I’m not sure."

"I doubt she knows either, she dotes on you like the most valuable jewel in the world, she would never let you go and if she knew about the deal, knowing you would be gone by next month, she would have been utterly heartbroken, she’s rather oblivious of the truth." Ariana stated out thoughtfully.

"So what do we do?" Vlad muttered.

"Tell his mother the truth and get beheaded by Draco or try to fight against Lucifer and break the deal!" Ari suggested but she was quite uncertain of her own advise.

"And how do we break a deal with Lucifer? I doubt it’s ever happened before. What if I resist him and then he tries to hurt my mother? It sounds like a risky stake here and it is indeed risky." Ares intoned, the lines on his forehead visible as his brows creased tightly.

"I doubt your father will let that happen, but for now, we need to save you from the restraints of Lucifer’s deal." Ari reasoned out.

"You only want an adventure, Ari. I doubt you truly care about me." Ares said casually and she clutched on her chest with a feigned expression of pain on her face.

"How dare you question my sincerity? If I didn’t care, I wouldn’t be risking my life for you in a bid to go against Lucifer and become his enemy. We all know the stories of his enemies never ends well." Ari scoffed.

"Right." Vlad tsked.

"Besides, as long as you are your own person, he won’t be able to force you or perhaps you could trade your offspring in your place." Ari suggested with a satisfactory grin on her face, her purple eyes gleaming with confidence.

"So basically, you’re suggesting that he makes the same mistake as his father and for a rather selfish reason." Vlad commented as he shook his head in disbelief at her incredulity.

"Of course not, we both know that Ares with this attitude of his is never getting a mate and if he doesn’t get a mate, he doesn’t get an offspring. That’s one way to trick the devil, thank me later." Ari said as she flashed them a confident smile while tossing her ashen hair in pride.

"You are absurd and your suggestions are equally silly. He’s definitely getting a mate, even with his sour and unlikeable attitude." Vlad mentioned in a low drawl.

"Even with that, I still have loyal friends, so having a mate wouldn’t be such a hassle." Ares chipped in with a smug smirk.

"It would be a hassle for you, but for me, it would be as easy as hitting the bullseye." Vlad said with squared shoulders while Ari rolled her eyes.

"I hope neither of you gets a mate." Ari mumbled under her breath but their ears caught every word.

Aldric whipped his head toward her as he gave her a word of advice "You are the only one here whose possibility of getting a man seems very low, if I were you, I’d brush off myself properly so as to pass out for a fine young lady rather than a vulgar and rough unladylike woman whom no man..."

His statement was abruptly interrupted when Ari’s balled fists suddenly connected with his abdomen in brute force.

He wheezed in pain while she smiled in satisfaction "So much for a big mouth. You might be powerful but my fists still hurts."

Ares suddenly spoke out amidst their little fight "You are a witch, right?"

Ari snorted at the question, before she answered "Of course I’m a witch, what kind of question is that?"

"How powerful are you as a witch? Are you as powerful as your mother?" Ares questioned again.

"Are you as powerful as your father? No, but you’re still powerful. You can say the same for me." Ari pointed out as she blabbed.

"Then can you do me a favour as a friend?" Ares asked.

"Of course, what is it?" Ari’s eyes softened as she spoke. Looking into the depths of his eyes, she could sense his inner turmoil as he struggled between light and darkness, his strength to persevere, waning with each ticking second.

"Alter the connection, block him out or whatever it is you can do so I no longer have to see him again, it would be much easier if I didn’t feel his presence." Ares said.

"Right, well..." Ari stuttered with a remorseful look in her eyes.

Ares’s brows furrowed deeply in displeasure "What? Can’t you do it?"

"It’s impossible to refrain him from visiting you, he’s way beyond my limit of what I can and cannot do. My powers are too fragile for a being like the devil." She said apologetically.

"It’s fine, I’ll just have to try to resist, but it seems impossible. It’s as if there’s a part of me missing and he’s the only one that can help me fill the void within me." Ares whispered as he threw his head back while closing his eyes.

For a moment, the room echoed only silence as they each tried to stimulate a way to help their friend in need.

Ari sat down as she clutched on the furry animal that was cuddled up quietly on her lap, she stroked it delicately as her mind wracked and pondered on ways of how to help Ares. As far back as she could remember, both Ares and Vlad had always had her back, especially since she was getting bullied as a child for being different.

They had always taken the blame for her whenever they could and when they were all sent to war together, they had watched over and guarded her so securely while they fought in the battlefield.

While Ares saw her as capable and strong enough to take care of herself, Vlad had always been protective, despite not portraying it too much, but she was well aware. When they thought she couldn’t notice, she was well observant.

As she pondered on the possibilities on how to help Ares from the clutches of Lucifer’s vice grip, a thought suddenly sparked into her head and she jolted up from her seat as she exclaimed "I got it!"