Chapter 17: Bargained
The sight of bodies strewn across the ground and splattered blood marred the grandeur of the hall.
Tarah’s heart pounded against her chest as her eyes darted to the kneeling figures of her parents. In front of them was a man adorned with a dark crown, its centerpiece a gold serpent coiled circularly. Its design gave an illusion of the serpent seamlessly melding into the man’s head, a symbol of malevolence etched into his very being.
"You see, I’m easy to negotiate with," the man, who she recognized from her vision as the Demon King of Helion, Devon, said with a malicious grin. "Submit to me, and you’ll all be spared."
"We would rather die and be with the Almighty in heaven with a clear conscience than be subjected to your evil deeds!" Tarah’s father firmly stated with his head held high.
"I see," Devon snorted. "Let’s have your wife there first, so she can be prepared once you follow her then,"
With a flick of his finger, Devon killed yet another victim. Tarah could only tremblingly gasp in horror as she witnessed how her mother’s body fell onto the floor with a thud.
"Lina!!!" her father shouted. However, he received no response.
"Mother," she breathed out as her own knees weakened, causing her to slump to the floor helplessly.
Hearing her distress, her father turned to her. With a smile on his face, he whispered, "Don’t worry, my child. Everything will be fine. The Almighty is always in control, and we should have faith no matter what. Everything happens for a reason."