CHAPTER 2

Damon

The day came very fast, faster than I had anticipated. I was hoping to still buy more time to convince the Assembly. I didn't care if they decided to back me up but a little approval wasn't so bad.

That was the reason I thought I wanted to remain in Hell but I was wrong. Nightmares and dreams about my parents' deaths and memories of them, had managed to instill fear in me.

Just a little.

Every night, I would see my mother in my nightmares, warning me not to go to earth, just before she died but before that happened, I would see her in my dreams.

She was usually on earth, building fun memories. I was always watching her from a distance and while she's smiling at me, a dagger is plunged into her and before I can get to her, the light in her wild blue eyes die out.

For the past one week, I've been waking up, almost screaming, with tears dripping down my skin. I would stay up for several hours afterward and just stare at my ceiling, not sure exactly what to think of.

But I had pushed all that behind me. I wouldn't have my peace if I decided to remain in Hell. But maybe if I could take my revenge, I would finally be able to get my peace.

It was all a theory that wasn't proven yet but I was more than willing to give it a try.

The first thing I saw when I stepped out of my room was the mostly unwanted thing that I didn't need to see right now.

"Damon?" Penelope's warm honey eyes melted at the sight of me with something that might seem like concern to others, but definitely not me.

"Good day Penelope." I greeted with tightened jaw. I really didn't need anyone's discouragement, not today of all days.

Especially not Penelope's.

"Are you really still pushing through with your plan? Damon...." She stepped closer to me.

"Damon, you don't even know your parents' murderers. Are you really just going to go on a death massacre on earth? Those creatures; humans, they see us as nothing but monsters. We're myths that they tell to their offsprings, myths they greatly fear but would still hurt when given the chance. Your visit with earth would make their myths true. We do not kill Innocents, Damon. But that's exactly what you're planning on doing." My harsh attitude to her the last time didn't stop her from coming closer to me, more than she had been warned not to.

"If they see us as monsters, then they would get monsters. Moreover, who ever said I was visiting earth to kill Innocents? I thought I made it clear enough that I was visiting that damn place to avenge my parents' deaths." I furrowed my brows at her, hoping my facial expression was enough to send her off.

But it wasn't. Maybe she was clueless, maybe she didn't care, maybe she did but wasn't bothered. Which ever one it was, it kept her glued to the spot.

So I decided to move away.

"Damon, we only ever...."

Knowing the words she was about to speak, I stole them from her mouth, " We only ever visit earth when we have a mission there. We go after unearthly creatures who have managed to break free from their bounds and escaped into earth."

She smiled at me and I only rolled my eyes at her, "I get it. All we ever do there is protect them but in turn, all they ever do, is hunt us."

"You don't seem like you want to be convinced." Her shoulders dropped in disappointment.

"I cannot be convinced. Nothing and absolutely no one can." If my dreams and nightmares couldn't convince Mee, nothing and no one else could.

Did Penelope think she could convince me? Now that's something to lighten the mood.

"Let me be a little respectful enough to inform the assembly of my departure." I passed her a tight smile which she fortunately understood, and made way for me.

I passed by her and made my way to the Assembly. Only a few of them would be present there anyway as a majority would visit the Demon academy.

Today was the convocation of the best students that had managed to pass their tests. They would join the Junior Hade Council after graduation. There, they would take care of matters concerning Hell, unearthly creatures and annoyingly, earth.

Anyone who made it through and climbed the ranks, would get to be a part of Jade's Elite council. They were the second in command to the Demon Assembly.

I was an elite and would still have been if my father hadn't died so early.

"You finally use the door." I heard a familiar voice.

"We could say I was touched with Klaus' words after the last time I was here."

"I see you have your head in earth already." Zachary approached me with his hands behind his back, his robe gracefully sweeping the floor of the Assembly room.

He was the only one present today.

"I have my heart in earth already but sadly for the humans, it's void." I responded and he only smiled.

I couldn't quite describe the expression behind his smile.

"You don't look dressed for the Demon Academy convocation." I added.

"My current look doesn't mean I wouldn't be present for the convocation. You know I have a thing for entries, right?" He chuckled and I couldn't help but smile.

"You do, all of your students knew that and probably still do. At least I do." I reminisced on my memories with Zachary before I had to ever bother about anything else but passing the test at the Demon Academy.

Zachary used to be a professor at the Demon Academy. My father made him my personal tutor. We built a friendship that only seemed to exist and dwell on past memories now.

"What are your plans, Damon?" He asked, not ignoring the current situation.

"I will be taking no one with me. Having a family on earth would only make the enemy capable of making me the victim of my own plan. I do not plan to endanger anyone I care about. I know, earth is a big place and the killer could be anyway but I will be fine." I nodded at him.

"I know, you've always done well on your own. I don't doubt that you will even now." He responded.

"I'm glad you still care about something." He quickly added.

"I care about my kind, I always will." With that being said, I turned around and left.

"I still need an assurance that you will return alive." Zachary stopped me just before I walked through the door.

"I'll bring you Ice cream when I'm back." I turned around and gave him an assuring smile before turning the door knob and walking out of the room.

"I'll hold you to that." I heard him say after me.

I didn't feel like walking to the gate so I just teleported instead. Upon getting to the gate, I had one last look at me home; Hell.

"This is it." I sighed, shutting my eyes tightly as if mentally preparing myself.

Once I felt I was ready, I pushed the gate open and for the first time in over a century, stepped out of hell.