The Unseen Demon by S.R.Parker (leveled readers .TXT) 📕

Tension between every demon race was thick, but none thicker than those of the Elemental demons. The hate that ran through the veins of each individual was more than just bad blood it was their nature. So their emissaries didn’t extinguish at the borders of their Homelands, it was across all of Hell.
The evolution crisis, like a virus spread over Hell. It set fear, anger, and even a peace to some of the demons, but to the Elementals it ignited more hate between them. The Water Elementals combated the crisis by passing laws that stated any child born with impure blood was to be slaughtered. It was brutal, but their Monarch saw it as necessary to keep their powers not only as demons, but as Elementals. The Wind Elementals had similar views and together they massacred hundreds upon hundreds of children. Earth and Fire couldn’t watch such cruelty to the innocence and so began the Elemental Wars.
For years the Elements fought against each other in what seemed like an unending war. The number of deaths was staggering on all sides. At last it was brought to a halt with the signing of peace treaties. Still, there was no treaty that could ever actually bring peace between the Elementals. Every day they are still at war. The only difference it isn’t in the masses of an army, but with the prejudice in everyday life and the midnight murders that take out one family at a time.
It is a battle that will only come to a complete yield when they have wiped the other out to extinction.


Part One: Journey to a Stranger
A life of promised peace was taken from him at an early age, but it didn’t steal his dreams. For he had envisioned his dreams coming true with the gift his eyes had granted him, the gift of a Seer.
Rawstralin had brought him to the Fortress not to train him to just be a great soldier, but to be the perfect partner. He was to be the Captain of the Fourth army, Araken’s best friend, and anything else the other demon needed of him. A sheath that held the High Lord’s perfect weapon.
It was in this task that he saw the first of his dreams coming true and nothing could’ve brought him such happiness. He isn’t the one that lead the Army to victory or the one that put fear into the hearts of their enemies. No, he was the demon that held the great legend to a pedestal and made Araken able to achieve such feats.
This is the short tale of the demon that devoted every fiber of body and soul to Araken. He could only hope that one day he’d love him so together that could make each other’s dreams come true. His name was Cheshire Devoux.

It was a bright cloudless day as Cheshire giddily walked beside his mother while she made her round about the weekly market of Sweshon. Sweshon was a quaint village on the far outskirts of the Province Rodervic and the weekly market was the busiest time to be about the small village.
Demons packed the cobble stone courtyard as they went to each of the merchant’s stands to buy fresh food along with other merchandise like clothing. His mother was inspecting a bushel of apples when he was jumping from one foot to another. He looked over to the fountain at the center of the courtyard was pack with little demons playing in its water while their parents shopped. Cheshire frowned and wished he could go play with them. He turned towards his mother, she had golden locks pulled into a bun, turquoise eyes that matched his, and a soft delicate face. He tugged on the skirt of her bright yellow dress and pointed toward the fountain. “Momma can I go play.”
She stopped and gave him a peck on the cheek. “Of course you can Cheshy. I don’t want you going too far away from the fountain though.”
“Don’t worry I won’t!” he shouted as he ran through the crowds to get to the fountain. Cheshire bumped into multiply demons that yelled at him to be more careful, but he just wanted to go play.
Once he was close enough he jumped into the fountain and let the water splash all the other little demons. They kicked water at him in turn. He giggled and started a water war with them.
Cheshire was running away from an older demon that had gotten a bucket of water. His footing was lost on the slick bottom surface; he tripped forward, and tumbled out of the fountain. A puddle of water gathered around him as he tried to stand, but again he slipped. Two strong hands pulled him up. He rubbed the water from his eyes and brushed the wet hair from his face. “Thanks for the hel-.” He stopped mid-sentence when he saw what had helped him. A sharp featured face, soot covered skin, and crimson eyes that stared at him with a penetrating gaze. Immediately he jerked back, but the Fire Elemental wouldn’t release him.
“You should be more careful little one,” he growled. “You got your filthy water all over my boots.”
Cheshire struggled as the demon held him in the air dangling him. Snickers came from behind him. It was then he noticed a whole company of Fire Elementals. All of them suited in leather armor and armed with swords or battle axes. He gulped and closed his eyes tight as tears welled up.
“You better put my boy down!” a booming voice called. Cheshire raised his head to see his Pappa pushing through the masses of the crowd. He couldn’t have been happy. The little demon outstretched his arms to him while is fingers wiggled. His papa was a bulky demon with dirty blonde hair, scared face from Hell’s Frost burns, and pure teal eyes. Most would back away from him, but his son never feared him, and at this moment wanted him to rescue him.
“I said put my boy down,” he said as he got closer.
The Fire Elemental moved slowly before he suddenly dropped Cheshire carelessly on the hard ground. Cheshire crumpled on the ground grabbing his arm as pain shot up and down it. He cried out. “Pappa.” His father reached for the sword he had hilted at his waist, but once he saw the other Fire Elementals move forward he only knelt down and cradled his son. The little demon hugged his papa tightly as he was carried away from the Fire Elementals. He hid his head in the crook of his father’s neck when he saw the Fire demon still watching him.
His Mother had a basket full of fresh greens and a loaf of bread in her hand. The merchant was trying to talk her into buying more. “I don’t think I need anymore, thanks.” She turned around, a wide grin spread across her face as she saw them approach. “Wreyn, you said you wouldn’t be back from the forge ‘til after dark.”
“I told you not to let Cheshire run off on his own!” he snapped, pointing his finger accusingly at her.
“I’m sorry, but it was just the fountain-“
“Well, you’re lucky that I came from work early. A dirty soot face had his paws on him.”
“What? Cheshy are you okay.” He felt his mother’s hands trying to grab him. “Wreyn let me see him.” His papa passed him into her after she set her basket onto the ground. She petted his hair and warmly embraced. “I won’t let you out my sights again. I’m so sorry. Did they hurt you?” Cheshire held up his swollen arm. She gingerly examined it before she placed a soft kiss on the injured limb. “I’m going to have Old Keliegh take a look at it to see if she can make it all better.”
“Verlise, I’ll see you when you got. I’m going to go and start dinner,” he said as he kissed her cheek. His mother smiled and walked away down a small dirt path. The path led them out of the village up toward the tops of grassy green hills. A small herd of sheep passed by them. Their shepherd tipped his hat to Verlise. He had a lanky build, soft brown eyes, and a touch of stumble upon his round face.
“Good day, off to see Old Keliegh.”
“Yes.”
“Better get up there quick. She’s on her way to the mountains for some herbs.”
“Thanks.”
Once they reached the top of the hills the thick forest could be seen as far as the eye could see. Their dark hues of green like a blanket surrounding the small village. His mother carried him toward an old cottage just within the depths of the forest. A small garden was upfront with a fence bordering it off from the wild brush and plants. Its stone walls covered in moss, the windows dirtied, and the door practically hanging off its hinges.
Verlise knocked on the door softly. It was immediately swung open. An old woman, with long gray hair and a plump build welcomed them. Her wrinkled face smiled brightly as her brown eyes lit up. “Oh, deary you caught me as I was leaving. What brings you up here?” she asked happily.
“I don’t mean to be a bother and delay you, but I was wondering if you could take a look at my son’s arm.”
“It’s not a bother at all the herbs will still be there in morning. Come on in and I’ll see what I can do for Cheshy.”
Old Keliegh’s cottage wasn’t anything special. It had the bare minimum furniture, a small round dining table next to a window. An overstuffed bed was in the corner, its rotten frame barley holding on. A couple dressers for storage and a wall dedicated to the preservation of herbs for her remedies. Cheshire came up her with his mother a to visit and for accidents he tended to take frequently. He loved the Old Keliegh like a grandmother, since he never had a chance to meet his real ones.
“Sit him on the stool over there,” she said as she closed the door.
Verlise sat him on the stool and stood behind him. Keliegh gingerly lifted up his arm. He gasped in pain as he tried to yank his limb back. “I’m sorry dear there isn’t much I can do. It is either a small fracture or a bruised bone. I can give him something for the pain but that is all.”
His mother smiled. “Thank you.”
“No need for that I’m happy to still be useful in my old age.” Keliegh hobbled over