We had made it to the underworld unnoticed, which had shocked me at first. Then I noticed there were hundreds of people all gathered here for something. They were all dressed similarly to us. Thankfully we had Alyanna, who had picked us up some clothes to keep us from sticking out. We had to be in the right place. There was a slight musty smell that tickled my nose with every breath. I am not even gonna lie - this place gave me the major creeps and set me on edge. It was like an old time arena for gladiators, which I would usually make a joke about, but I just didn't have it in me. My main goal was to get Gwen out of here.

Making our way to some seats in the center of the stadium, I noticed a large spot on the other side that held what looked like a throne chair. I would bet everything that Bael would sit there.

“Now we need to wait. Bael will bring her here before doing anything too terrible to her. I have to warn you, she may not be the same Gwen anymore,” Canio whispered to us. The thought that my Gwen could be gone left my entire body cold. There was so much that I wish I could have said to her. I knew without a doubt that if we didn't save her, I would never be the same. I looked down to wallow in self pity.

I heard the crowd start to go wild and I looked up. Now standing in the middle of the arena was Bael holding a limp Gwen. What in the fuck had he done to her? It took everything in my being to not rush to her. I glanced at my brothers beside me and they looked like they were having the same problem. Bael moved one of his hands from Gwen and snapped. Appearing out of nowhere was a petrified young guy. He must be the one to be sacrificed for Gwen to attain her full powers.

Bael started to yell dramatically to the crowd, “Today is the day fellow demons! We have a new female, who is not yet whole! We are gonna make her fulfill her purpose! You all get to bare witness to the birth of my queen!”

Gwen's face went ashen as if she just realized what Bael had planned for her. As I was looking at her, I noticed a small misshapen form which could have been a man, carrying out swords of different sizes and laying them down in front of Bael and Gwen. Bael bent and picked one up, thrusting it into Gwen's hand. He kissed her on the forehead, then whispered something that I couldn't hear into her ear that caused her already ashen face to lose even more color. I knew without a doubt that if we didn't get her out soon that she would never be the same.

“Little mouse, your time has come. Once you’re fully demon and we know what kind you are gonna be, you will be mine. Oh, the wonderful children we will have. Then we can overthrow the king.” Bael whispered in my ear after kissing my forehead, causing me to dry heave. He thrust a sword into my hand before dropping me to the ground and teleporting beside L. I proceeded to fall to the ground like a sack of potatoes still clutching the sword, even though I wanted to do nothing more than throw it as far from me as I possibly could. I really don't care what I looked like. At this moment, I was just trying to keep myself from vomiting everywhere. The thought of what he was gonna make me do, and what he wanted to do with me afterwards, was just too much. I didn't have much in my stomach, but now I had nothing there since I lost the fight to keep the contents inside.

Vita help me. I pleaded into my mind, I had nothing else left. I could feel my body getting up on its own without my help. I was like a puppet and he was the puppet master. It was one of the worst feelings I had ever felt. I could think for myself, but no matter what I did my body moved forward. Just as I was halfway to the young man, who looked like he was frozen in fear, I felt a slither of strength slowly slide into my body and I was able to resist the next steps. It was the hardest thing I had ever done in my life. I turned in Bael’s direction and shot him a look of pure hatred.

“I will never be your queen.” I screamed out my frustration and my determination in that one, small sentence. I could feel him trying to take back control, but I resisted till I could feel the sweat start to pour down my face. If something didn’t give soon I was gonna run out of energy that I couldn't afford to run out of. Closing my eyes to try and concentrate, I felt my resistance slip for one second. That was all it took for my entire life to change once again in the amount of a few days. I felt my body fly forward and I heard the sickening sound of my sword sliding through something like butter. I was terrified to open my eyes, but I did it anyway. In that one small slip, Bael had managed to teleport me forward and impale the young man with my sword. I could hear a commotion behind me, but all I could think of was - What had I done? I felt myself once again gain control as I pulled out the sword and fell to the ground with the man clutched to me.

“You’re gonna be okay. It will be fine. I will get you patched up.” I repeated over and over as I tried to stop the blood from pouring out of his wound that I had inflicted. I knew that there was nothing I could have done differently, but that didn't stop the waves of guilt threatening to pull me under. I looked into the boy’s eyes as the life faded from them and screamed so loud that the entire stadium went quiet.

The burning started in my toes and made its way to my head. I felt like I was on fire. I screamed out the guilt and pain I was feeling. I started to levitate into the air, becoming engulfed in flames the higher I went. My eyes locked on Bael, who was currently fighting against Barrett, or at least what I assumed was Barrett. It was a giant brown bear, who was holding his own against the demon lord.

Still engulfed in flames, I lowered to the ground. I felt the powers flowing in my brain. It was as if I had been seeing the world through a blurred lens and now everything was so vivid and sharp. I could see Ethane staring at me in awe. I had a moment of hope that he would still want to be with me, before looking back in Bael’s direction. I could hear the grunts from him trying to stave off Barrett’s attacks. I felt something hit my foot, looking down I saw that it was a katana. I leaned down and picked it up knowing it was gonna come in handy when I called Bael. As soon as my hands touched it, the sword was surrounded by flames. Everyone in the stadium stilling in shock.

“Bael!” I yelled and before I knew it, he was standing in front of me. I felt myself slip into his head and hold him in place like a statue. Feeling all his vile thoughts and the things that he planned to do, not only to me, but the entire world. I knew without a doubt that he had to die.

“You should not be able to do that. What are you?” Bael asked, looking as if he was terrified of the answer. His inner thoughts betrayed him, and I could see that even in this moment when all the cards were in my hands that he still wanted the world to burn. I knew what I had to do, and even though I was a demon, I hoped that it wouldn’t haunt me.

“I am what you made me!” I screamed while pulling back the sword and cutting off his head in one clean swoop. Following the severed head with my eyes until it hit the ground, I had no remorse for his death. However, I turned my head and glanced at the unknown man laying there dead. I would not be getting over that ever. The sight of his lifeless body would haunt me for the rest of my immortal life.

I fell to my knees in that moment, the flames and all the energy that I had went away in an instant. I felt like I had been running a marathon, and my body started to go numb. Ethane rushed over to me. “I’ve got you Gwen, we will keep you safe.” He rubbed my hair while yelling at the guys. I wasn't sure what he had said. My brain couldn’t hold the information.

“Save the woman that was in the booth with Bael.” Those were the hardest words to say as I could see the black in my vision starting to get bigger. Using the last of my strength, I reached up to cup Ethane’s face. “I am sorry” and just like that the blackness won and I went limp.

As soon as Bael started to control Gwen, we jumped into action. Alyanna teleported me to the arena to stop Gwen, while she and the others went to take on Bael and who knows who else. I had to act fast because Gwen was progressing on the man with robotic movements.

I made my way towards her as quickly as I could when she turned and screamed at Bael with so much menace that it went straight to my heart. What the fuck had he done to her? I could see her trembling to keep control of her body.

When I got close enough to her, I reached out to touch her arm. As soon as I made contact, she was gone and the next thing I knew she had stabbed the young guy through the stomach. You could tell the exact moment that she got control back, because you could hear her wailing at the man that he was going to be okay.

Falling to my knees, I was swallowed by guilt. I had been too late to save her. I had failed Gwen and she would never be the same. Never taking my eyes off of her, I moved closer. I knew that the man had died from the earth shattering screams that she let out. I stumbled as I tried to stand and make my way over to her.

I couldn't believe my eyes. She was like a goddess, starting to float in the air. The higher she went the more she became engulfed by flames. I could hear fighting, but other than that, everything was silent. It was as if they were waiting to see what she would do next. All I could hope was that she wouldn't blame me for failing her.

I stood up as she started to float down. I had never seen anything so beautiful and deadly at the same time. She made it to the ground, spearing me with a longing look before picking up a sword off the ground. Looking back in Bael’s direction, I heard her scream his name, and not even a second later he was standing in front of her with almost the same robotic look that she had worn when she was under his control.

“You should not be able to do that. What are you?” Bael trembled as he uttered those words. Gwen looked like a avenging angel as she took him in and looked him over.

“I am what you made me.” I heard her scream as her face transformed into a look of pure and utter hatred as she cut his head off then fell to her knees.

I rushed over to her as the flames extinguished and pulled her into my arms. “I’ve got you, Gwen. We will keep you safe.” I promised her as I moved the hair that was in front of her face. I felt a tremendous amount of relief at the fact that she would let me hold her this way.

“Alyanna! Get that woman and get down here now!!” I yelled to Alyanna before turning back to Gwen. Her skin tone was so grey that I was starting to really worry about her and what was gonna happen to her next.

“Save the woman that was in the booth with Bael. I am sorry.” She uttered in a small voice before going limp in my arms.

“Gwen!” I yelled shaking her and trying to get her to wake up. I felt for a pulse only to find that there wasn't one. She was gone.