It took me two days to finally wake up from Dad's spell, much to his and Leon's relief.
He did not expect that looking into my memories would somehow trigger my nightmares.
To Dad and Leon's horror, they discovered all the trauma I endured, not to mention that someone took advantage of it and made me paranoid of everything, to the point of making me overthink a lot of stuff.
Despite my begging them to tell me which speculations were correct and which were a result of overthinking, Dad gently but firmly told me that he decided I should not think about my suspicions and observations and he would not allow me to know more about it.
Why?
But I want to know!
I want to know the truth!
Especially since it concerns me!
Leon cleared his throat and quietly told me that I am close to losing my mind to the point of no return.
And to make it worse, someone did it on purpose.
I cried as I pleaded for them to tell me anything. I don't want to be ignorant, especially if it concerned me.
It took a few moments, but they both gave in. They admitted it was for my own good. They explained that they understood me and would act the same way if they were in my position.
But there was a condition.
They wouldn't tell me everything, just enough to put me at ease.
Seeing the pity in their eyes despite their firm tone, I nodded.
They aren't doing it to be mean.
I'm sure there's a reason why.
I hope they will tell me.
...
The reason why they can't tell me everything is... because of the Demon King.
Ah.
They're right.
I understand now.
I should not know anything, especially their plans, as the Demon King might read my mind.
Dad admitted that the spell he placed on me to prevent the Demon King from reading my mind is extremely limited, despite it being extremely complex.
Extremely complex that it took him a long, long time to develop it.
Uh, exactly how long?
Centuries.
Ah. I see.
So that's why they can only tell me a limited amount of information.
I understand.
Thanks Dad. I know you're trying your best.
I tried to apologize to him, but he wouldn't hear any of it.
Same with Leon.
They told me that there's nothing for me to apologize for, as it's a natural instinct of an individual to be curious, especially when it comes to their own safety.
They promised me that they would do what they could to protect me and would find a way to sever the Demon King's hold on me.
At least I was right about that.
....
Dad told me that I was right about a lot of things, though he would not confirm which ones I was correct about.
It's okay.
At least I'm not completely wrong about everything.
Leon had a grim look on his face as he exclaimed that he had a lot of things to do in the territory, confirming that my suspicions and investigation regarding a lot of his warriors and magic users being demons in disguise were entirely correct.
He paused for a moment before asking Dad's opinion on letting the others enter.
Dad pondered for a moment before nodding and Leon removed the spell that prevented the others from entering the room.
Instantly, the pack and Khamsin stormed inside, furious, demanding an explanation as to why they were not allowed to enter.
Leon growled at them in a low voice, silently warning them to control themselves... or else...
Surprisingly, Dad looked quite calm at their reaction, but looks can be deceiving. When Ten entered and saw him, he was so terrified that he immediately exited.
As for me, I just sat up, glanced around at everyone and stretched my body for a moment before standing up to embrace Lion.
He immediately carried me in his arms, nuzzling my face and neck while asking if I'm alright and...
Much to my embarrassment, my stomach growled loudly.
After hearing it, everyone fussed over me, giving me all sorts of food while Lion fed me.
I felt awkward about the attention, but I decided to let it be, as it was one of their ways of showing affection.
....
Soon I felt bloated and very, very contented with everything I ate and snuggled against Lion, who embraced me tightly as he glared at Dad and Leon.
Much to Dad and Leon's amusement, the rest of the pack, including Khamsin surprisingly, sat around Lion and me, as if they hadn't forgiven them that I was separated from them without an explanation.
The pack, I can understand. But Khamsin?
That was a surprise. Not to mention that the pack acted as if it were not surprising to them.
Oh, well.
I don't mind, though.
Anyway, regarding Lion and Alpha's stupidity in making contracts with shady individuals...
Both of them looked down in shame as Dad and Leon gave them a harsh lecture. Dad did most of the talking and included Leon in the middle of his scolding, much to Leon's dismay, as he hadn't expected to be included.
But he deserved to be included as he made the same mistake as they did.
Now the three of them were being intensely berated by Dad, so intensely that the rest of the group, including me, felt like accomplices. We all bowed our heads in shame despite not doing anything wrong.
Seeing that I was being affected by his scolding, Dad took me from Lion, placed me beside him and spoke to me in a voice so sweet that everyone shivered. He told me that I was not included in his scolding, as he believed that I was not stupid enough to do what they did...
Except what I did to his phylactery back then.
Everyone glanced up and tried to ask curiously about what I did, but when Dad glared at them, they all bowed their heads once more.
Dad cheerfully told me that he is staying here for a while and that we are going to have some fun together.
Just us.
Yey!!!
I'm excited about it, though the rest of the group have devastated looks on their faces..
Including Leon.
Uh.. why should he be devastated?
My thoughts were answered when Leon protested that he was planning to have some fun with me too and...
Dad gave Leon a stare and declared that he's my parent, which gave him a huge advantage over him.
Including my mates as well.
Now all of them except Dad have defeated looks on their faces.
I'm sorry, everyone!
But I don't mind spending time with Dad!
.....
Everyone was horrified when I revealed Deus and Bubu's true identities.
Dad had placed a temporary spell on me that would allow me to tell everyone about it.
Lion was greatly affected by the revelation that his face looked furious, so furious that I cannot put into words what I saw.
Seeing him... all I can say is that he looks extremely dangerous.. that I am terrified to approach him.
Not only him, but the others as well.
Orm had a dangerous aura surrounding him as he mumbled menacing, unintelligible words until Leon cleared his throat and warned him to calm down.
I can't blame him, since he was the first to discover Subus in disguise back then but was prevented from warning the others.
As for Sly...
He excused himself as he exited the room, but not before Lion warned him not to throw his tantrum inside the castle, suggesting he go to the outskirts of the territory to let it all out.
After a moment, Lion excused himself, muttering that he didn't want me to see him like this and gave me a tender kiss on my forehead despite being in a dangerous mood.
Seeing that Orm's anger was becoming uncontrollable, Leon stood up and faced him without a word, while pointing towards the exit.
Orm didn't argue and instantly went out of the room.
Now it's only Ghost and Alpha who are left from the pack, not to mention Khamsin as well.
I was surprised that Ghost wasn't affected by the reve...
Wait..
Is he okay?
He seems to be breathing a little too fast.
Hold on. Is it me or does this room seem a little colder?
And why do I feel that the hair at the back of my neck is standing up?
Khamsin and Alpha tried to talk to Ghost about calming down, but he suddenly whispered in a cold voice, telling us not to touch him or talk to him or...
Dad shrieked angrily and gave Ghost a hard slap on the face, asking him if he was trying to kill me.
Ghost looked stunned, as if he was in disbelief at what he had done, as he stared at his hands before him.
What just happened? Why is Dad furious at...
Oh my gosh!
I see..
I suddenly remembered something I read about a long time ago about a lich. When they are extremely furious, they have a magical ability that causes extremely devastating damage to individuals surrounding them.
That ability may drain the lifeforce of the inviduals surrounding them. You can feel the spell working when the area is filled with negative energy. For instance, the room gets colder and...
IS HE FREAKING SERIOUS?!
I was about to approach him, but Dad stopped me, saying Ghost was dangerous because he hadn't yet gained control of his emotions and might unintentionally harm me.
Hearing that Ghost had tried to harm me, though unintentionally, Alpha began to growl at him while Khamsin spoke to Ghost in a low voice, warning him that even though he is his brother, he would fight him if he had to, especially if he compromised my safety.
Leon stood up and approached Ghost, telling him to calm down and get his emotions under control, or he would have to fight him.
But their warnings are ineffective, as Ghost is starting to hyperventilate, as if he is in a panic over what to do. My feelings for him got the best of me and without thinking of my safety, I rushed towards him, to everyone's horror and embraced him tightly while crying.
I whispered to him in a gentle voice, though my voice was quivering because I was crying, that I knew he was trying his best and that it was okay.
He grabbed me closer as he placed his head on my shoulder, panting hard, while I murmured comforting words to him and stroked his head, telling him that it's alright and that I'm here.
It didn't take long for him to calm down, much to everyone's relief and Dad's astonishment.
Dad admitted that he had never seen a lich be calmed like that, even though Ghost is not entirely a lich.
I continued to caress Ghost's head until he whispered into my ear that he's okay now. He placed me on his lap as he tightly embraced me... too tightly, as if I were a pillow to him and a bit too tight for me, but his comfort is important for me at the moment so I didn't complain.
Since everything was settled with Ghost, Leon glanced at Alpha with an unreadable face and told him that they needed to excuse themselves for a private chat.
I wonder what they are going to talk about?
With intense shame etched on his face, Alpha hung his head and followed Leon out of the room without a word.
After they left the room, I asked Dad what was wrong with Alpha and why Leon was acting that way towards him.
Dad did not say anything for a moment, then turned to look at me and commended me for having a pure and accepting heart.
Uh.. I don't have a pure heart..
I was about to protest what Dad just said when he looked at me as if he was reminding me that there are some things I should not know about.
Okay.
As long as Alpha is all right.
...
Since there's only the four of us left in the room... Dad, Ghost, Khamsin and I, it seems that the meeting is adjourned, because the rest are away.
I was about to stand up when Dad told me that even though that there are only four of us, we can still continue the meeting.
The others can catch up.
Sigh.
How long does this freaking meeting last?!
Upon seeing the dismayed look on my face, Dad assured me that we would not be long, as we were just going to discuss some important things that I'm allowed to know about and some things that I should tell the rest about.
Okay.
Since Dad's spell is still in effect, I told Ghost and Khamsin about everything.
Yeah.. it did take a long time, even though they didn't interrupt me.
After I finished talking, both Ghost and Khamsin looked like their souls were being sucked out.
Dad looked amused at them and mentioned that what I had just said was only the summary of what actually happened.
Heh.
Now the two looked like statues.
Dad paused for a moment before telling us the agenda for the meeting:
The High Council.
Dad simply told me to steer clear of them immediately if I ever met them.
They're extremely dangerous, even the low-leveled ones.
That's common sense, Dad! Yilan was a former High Council member when he was alive... I almost died because of him!
And to think he wasn't a high-leveled member of the High Council.
Dad looked pleased that I understood without complaining and advised me to tell them immediately should I meet one.
No worries about that because I know my limits!
Ah yes, Dad also mentioned that the experiments are true and it's not only the High Council doing them.
He admitted that he also experiments with individuals, but with limits.
Of course, he has ethics, after all.
What a joke! Is he really talking about ethics regarding such horrible experiments with a straight face?!
Dad explained that his experiments are limited to individuals within this world, unlike those at the High Council, which overstep the boundaries and rules by taking individuals from other worlds.
He really has a distorted vision of what is right and wrong!
It's still the same!
Suddenly, Khamsin looked like he couldn't take it anymore. As Dad discussed the experiments, it reminded him of what we saw in the desert and he hurriedly excused himself, covering his mouth as we heard him retching.
He ran towards the exit as we knew where he was heading.
And now, there are only the three of us left.
...
Ignoring the fact that only Ghost was left with us, Dad continued the meeting.
He told us he suspected Bubu when she insisted on not staying near him.
They are natural enemies, after all.
Dad asked me what kind of demon Subus is.
Now that everyone knows about Bubu's real identity, Dad decided we should call her by her real name.
Anyway, I told Dad and Ghost that Subus is a succubus and can take on various forms, except for the one she took when she was Bubu. That was an experiment they made by trying to fuse a pixie with her.
Ghost looked horrified upon hearing it, exclaiming that what they did was insanity and that they deserved to be destroyed without mercy.
That goes without saying.
A succubus usually preys on males as they are their source of food, draining their energy and life force by means of intercourse.
Suddenly, we heard several expletives being yelled and we turned to look to see Lion furious again, while Sly and Orm turned to look at him in surprise.
We didn't hear them enter!
Dad chortled, much to the curiosity of the others, while I tried to keep a straight face.
Of course, Dad and I already had an idea why Lion suddenly exploded like that.
Lion exited again, still yelling expletives, when Ghost nuzzled me and asked what made Lion lose control of himself.
Dad asked me if he should be the one to tell them.
I simply grinned at him and told him to go ahead.
.....
Sly, Orm and Ghost stared at Dad, not knowing how to react to what he had told them.
I wanted to laugh but tried my best not to, in case Lion might unexpectedly enter the room.
It's not funny.. it's definitely not funny..
Sly ranted that everything finally made sense as...
Why was he ranting? Did he and Subus..
Seeing the look on my face, Sly immediately assured me that Subus hadn't touched...
Ghost averted his eyes while murmuring that he remembered Sly not minding Subus touching him all...
Sly retorted that he thought it was me he was with and that if he knew it was...
Orm yelled that he had tried to warn them but they just wouldn't listen to him back then.
And now they are all arguing, much to Dad's amusement.
While they argued, I sat beside Dad and continued telling him what I know about a succubus, acting as if everything were fine.
Dad listened as I told him that a succubus has the power to charm, manipulate, teleport, shapeshift, absorb energy and life force by means of intercourse, create illusions...
He interrupted me to scold me for not listening to my instinct back then, despite knowing what a succubus is.
Seeing me about to cry, he immediately softened his voice and told me that, of course, he didn't expect me to be thinking straight back then, given what I was going through.
Hmm.. harsh but true.
Then I revealed to everyone present that Subus was created by Deus, also known as Asmodeus, Archdemon of Lust.