Chapter One
THE ESCAPE
Darkness covers the underworld, fear and torture rules the land beneath the surface world. Alas the next heir to his Father throne as demon of pain and destruction, finds himself in disagreement with the destiny laid for him by his father Lord Israel.
Lord Israel seated in his high and mighty throne all dressed in his royal attire calls out for his son.
Lord Israel: Troy, send for my son, let him know I his father sends for him.
Troy: Your wish shall I obey lord Israel.
Troy walks to the door post of Alas room, a prince who is in love with the outside world, whose childhood have been like a trap to him, in his heart he sees the underworld not as a home but his own very prison. He sits looking at himself in the mirror, his long dark hair, his fangs like that of a vampire and his red eyes that frightens the mortals trapped in the underworld. Only if he could be human he said to himself, he pulls out his fangs, adding it to thousand of fangs he have kept locked away from his father not to behold. In this world he feels alone, having no much knowledge of who is birth mother was for she had been slain and fed to the beast of the sea by his own very Father, a cruel and merciless ruler who desires nothing more than his son to rule by his side. On his door Troy stood, finding it hard to knock for he knew of the anger that boils in the heart of Alas the young Prince of darkness. Alas turns to the door, looking through it he sees Troy standing.
Alas: Troy, what is it you want?
Troy: Forgive me lord Alas, your father seek your presence.
Alas: Depart for I shall be with him soon.
Alas turns his attention to the mirror one more time, opens his mouth, seeing his fangs had grown back again. How much he hated being who he is, a demon feared by mortals, denied by his own father to live among them. Now he is eighteen, he feels it’s time to stand up for himself. To the door he walks, passes through it without caring to open it. He kneels before his father Lord Israel the lord of princes.
Alas: Father you called.
He lifts not his head to behold the countenance of his father, for in his deadness of heart he knew his words would go against the will of his father.
Lord Israel: Now that you have completed your eighteen circle, it is time you sit beside me and learn to rule as I rule.
Alas: I wish not to rule father.
Lord Israel: (provokes in anger) What? How dare you speak such nonsense from your mouth, you are my son, you shall rule by my side.
Alas: Now that I have completed my eighteen circle, it is customary that every seed of this realm have the right to pick a path to follow.
Lord Israel: (his eyes burns in his fury) Silence. You are not just a seed, you are my seed and you shall do as I have instructed. Now sit beside me.
Alas arise from the floor to which he kneels, with sadness written all over his face, he sits besides his father, watching how merciless he is towards their own kind and that of the mortals whose bad life have brought them down to hell. At the very late hour of the underworld, he retires to his room, waiting patiently for his father to sleep that he may escape to the outside world. The night sleeping horn sounds, everyone retires to bed, Alas slips out of the castle flying straight into the bright white light that leads to the human world.
In the world of the mortals in its deserted place covered with forest he stood having no knowledge of where he is, for it had been one thousand years since he once visit the mortal world. Ten years in the realm is a thousand years in the mortal world, how fast the world have gone by his eyes, he being alone in the woods, walks slowly hoping to find someone who would be of help to him in having a real life experience of the outside world. Walking gently in the woods, he hears a cry for help. Quickly he runs to the direction he hears the voice. It’s a young female lost in the woods running away from the wolves chasing her. He grabs her by the arms, shielding her from getting hurt, he draws out his blade of blood. The wolves sees his red eyes, slowly they step back and ran away. She embraces Alas crying helplessly for she thought in her heart she was a dinner for the creatures to feast upon.
Tara: Thank you for saving me.
Alas shuts his eyes, for he knew the sight of his eyes would scare her as she had earlier been scared. Tara touches his face, wondering within herself why this young man who saved her shut his eyes not to be glazed upon.
Tara: Please open your eyes. (she asks with sadness in her tone)
Alas: I don’t want to scare you little one.
Tara: I promise not to get scared.
Alas slowly opens his eyes staring right at her expecting her to freak out, running off as she had earlier done while being chased. Tara stood still admiring the beauty of his eyes.
Tara: Blue is my favorite color, you shouldn’t shut it away from the world.
Alas shocked by the words of this little girl, pulls out his sword and stare at his own very eyes.
Alas: You are right, they are blue.
He couldn’t understand while his red demon eyes had suddenly turn blue, a perfect color that makes the suspicious not suspicious.
Alas: How could this be? (looks at his eyes through the sword)
He looks at the little girl as he could hear her stomach rumbling.
Alas: Why does your stomach make noise?
Tara: I need food, I also need to get back home to my sister.
Alas: Do you know where you live?
Tara: No I don’t, I was walking with my sister then the smoke came in and I lost her.
Alas: I will take you to your sister.
Tara: Promise?
Alas: I don’t know what that is but I give you my word.
Alas took hold of her hands, using his power to access her memory that he may find her house. Flashes of her memories came across him, seeing how she have live with her family not like a prisoner but like a free born.
Alas: Let hurry now, your sister is not very far from here.
Together both Alas and Tara walk down the woods, neither did anyone felt alone, for it was like fate had brought them together.
The more they walked, the more the ears of Alas picks the rumbling of Tara stomach. Knowing his kind doesn’t eat the food of mortals he couldn’t bare to let Tara die in her starvation. He picks her up, placing her on his shoulder.
Alas: Can you do something for me little girl?
Tara: I’m pretty much tired mister.
Alas: This won’t require your strength, close your eyes tight, only open it when you feel not the wind hitting your face.
Tara: Okay Mister, my eyes are closed.
Alas picks Tara up , resting her on his chest with her head laying on his shoulder, Tara could feel the rush of a mighty wind like one flying in the air, she opens her eyes to see curiously why so much wind hits her face, the wind being so much couldn’t let her see, it wasn’t the wind hitting her face, it was Alas who was running in the wind. Slowly the wind cease from hitting her face. She hears a voice calls out for her “Tara”. She opens her eyes and jump’s down in excitement.
Tara: That’s my sister calling for me.
She runs to the direction she hears her name being called for. By the Riverside Julia lay helpless as one who has lost her sister forever. She hears footsteps approaching her, she lifts her head seeing her sister Tara joyfully running to her. She arose from the floor, runs to embrace her sister. How happy they were, Alas stood admiring this much concern both sisters show to one another. Tara pulls her sister by the hand to meet Alas who stood watching in his black long clothes.
Tara: Sister, this the young man that saved me from the wolves.
Alas eyes widens seeing how helplessly her big sister falls down on her kneels before him, he paid more attention to her eyes seeing such a beautiful eyes of hers brings out tears.
Julia: Thank you for saving my sister and bringing her to me. I’m forever grateful.
Alas in his silence finds no words to utter for her wet eyes reminds him of his mother who was slain on her knees before him at his very young age, he walks to her wipes her tears rolling down her cheeks.
Alas: share no more tears, your sister is here with you.
He turns to leave filling relieved he have brought happiness to two souls in the land of the living. While he turns to leave Julia calls upon him.
Julia: Wait. Please come with us, that I may cook for you.
Alas turns his face towards her, looking at her beauty reminds him of the astonishing beauty of his mother, how beautiful she was, like the goddess of the moon, yet life was swept away from her by his father.
Alas: What is your name?
Julia: Am Julia by name and you are?
Alas: Alas Israel.
Tara: What about me, aren’t you going to ask my name .
Alas: Tell me little one what is your name?
Tara: My name is Tara.
Alas smiles for the first time, how long it as been for someone to have place smiles on his face. Will this happiness of fulfilment he feels be there if his eyes were still red?, though he couldn’t tell what changed , he was happy to have finally smile after the death of his mother.
Alas: I will come with you.
He gives in towards following them for he believes in his heart, he would find this peace that he never got the chance to have.
Julia: Our Village is not too far from here. She says.
Alas: Tara is hungry, have you anything in your bag to give her?
Tara: Yes sister am hungry.
Julia breaks the last of the bread with her to give to her sister as well as taking a little bite from it for strength. She insisted in giving to Alas but it Smell would weaken his sense of smelling for couple of hours. He sadly rejects the bread.
In the underworld did the horn of the night sounds, Lord Israel sits before his throne waiting patiently for the presence of his son but he was absence to take his sit. Once again he commanded Troy to go to his room to get his son. Troy approach the room waiting for Prince Alas to smell his presence but he didn’t. Troy breaks the door only to see Alas was not in the room. He sends the warriors of the underworld to search every part of the underworld. They searched but found not the Prince. With fear Troy kneels before the king for he knew the news of his son disappearance will be the chopping off his head. Hearing the news of his Son, Lord Israel pulls out his sword and chops off the head of Troy. In his fury he shouts causing the foundation to shake.
Lord Israel: Find my son and bring him to me alive.
With great fear in the heart of his warrior’s over his chopping off Troy head, they flew out of the underworld to search for the Prince as some stayed back to search within the kingdom of the underworld.
Chapter Two
HIS GONE
Alas journeys back to leaf village with Julia and her sister Tara, Julia grandmother with so much joy receives her grand children for the excitement of her heart can not be measured by any objects of this world. In her old age did she care for Julia a pretty young lady whom every man in the village waited patiently for her to clock eighteen, that they may have her as a wife. Alas stood at the entrance door for he couldn’t enter their house, curiously Julia and her Sister puzzled on his refusal of coming into their home. He glaze at them wanting to tell them he is a demon, how silly he would sound without showing them his red eyes, of course he can’t show them for the evilness of his eyes is swept away by the beauty of his kindness, who then would believe he is a demon, even his own father would spit on him. Tara approaches Alas, pulling him by the hand into the house but her strength fails her, for Alas is like a thousand men in one body, her grandmother who had walked into the house comes out seeing neither of her children had stepped their feet inside. Julia paused thinking of the right words to say to Alas for she fears she might hurt his kindness towards Tara by uttering words inappropriate, for she was told years ago by her grand mother that supernatural beings can not enter the homes of mortals unless invited through their act of either good or evil.
Julia: Why aren’t you coming in?
Alas: I’m sorry if I might have put any thoughts in your heart, I was lost in the memory of my childhood when I saw your grandmother.
Lies proceed out of his mouth to cover up his demon nature, out of Julia desire of truly wanting him to stay with them couple of more days have she broken the barrier that separates both worlds, giving him access to her home. How lucky he was for the barrier preventing his entrance had been lifted by the intentions of Julia needs for him to stay. He walks into the house, wondering why Julia could have want him to stay much longer.
Grandmother: Children sit, let me get you your food, I am so grateful you are back safe.
Julia: Grandma our safety is because of Alas, he brought Tara back to us, I don’t know how I would live with myself if anything had happened to her.
Grandmother: I am very grateful mister for ensuring the safety of my grand daughter, you are welcome to our home anytime you need somewhere to rest your head.
Alas: Thank you all for accepting me.
Alas couldn’t help but notice how Julia stares at him, admiring his beautiful white skin, his pink lips and his blue eyes. Alas smiles towards the family treating them in the manner they treats him. Julia grandmother present a hot soup and bread for Alas, he humbly shakes his head in rejection of the food with his hand covering his nose, that he may not loose the sense of smell within the next couple hours, for he knew his father would be looking for him with his guards. He intends leaving in other to save their life.
Grandmother: Is there anything wrong with my soup young man?
She asks for his behavior in closing his nose against the aroma of her soup made her worried, inhaling the soup herself to know if she had missed anything while preparing it.
Alas: No Grandma, you don’t need to do that, your soup is fine, permit me to take my leave.
Julia: Please, you don’t have to go, at least not yet, stay with us for few more days.
Alas looks at Julia eyes, seeing how honest her words are, he decides to stay despite his father may find him there. he chooses to live life by the books of human existence, before he can do that, he needs to pass a message across to his father. Hoping his father would give him the chance of living in the human world as he soul desires. Anger boils in the eyes of Lord Israel, seeing his son could go against his instructions and run after his own desires. He roars shaking the foundation of the earth. Alas followed Julia to the farm to harvest some corns when suddenly the foundation of the earth shakes, Alas knew it was his father anger boiling hot against him. He hears his father scream out his name.
Lord Israel: Alas, you have chosen to disobey me. I will find you.
Julia pauses seeing the attention of Alas looking directly to the sky, unknown to she he was hearing the boiling anger of his father.
Julia: Isn’t the sky beautiful? She asks Alas.
Alas: What? (drawn back by the words of Julia)
Julia: Never mind.
She felt like an idiot in his eyes, seeing his attention was never for once with her since the little head quake. She returns plucking the corn putting it into the basket. She felt a grab on her hand which startled her causing fear rolling through her veins, she turns her head slowly to see who could have grab her hand from putting the corn in the basket. It was Alas, his blue eyes sparkles before her sight. Seeing the fear in her eyes, he let go of her hand.
Alas: Am sorry if my action sacred you.
Julia: You startled me, I am not use to being grab like that.
Alas: you asked about the sky .
He looks up to view the sky , feeling the wind touching his skin. He stares closely into the eyes of Julia as though he wishes to kiss her. Julia couldn’t feel his breathe against hers but she barely could take off her eyes from his soft gentle lips. He opens his mouth and says to her.
Alas: The beauty of the Sky is no match to the beauty I see in your eyes.
How fascinating it is for Julia, never have any man spoken to her in such a charming way he speaks. His voice is like that of royalty, his continua smiles slips through the gate of Julia's heart. All she could do was to pick up her basket while admiring the beauty of his face, she finds not only her hands trying to pull up the basket but his hands as well pulling up the basket.
Alas: Allow me to lift it, while you walk home, you deserve to rest.
Julia: Grandma will be upset if I let you carry this basket full of corns.
Alas: Accept my help as a symbol of my gratitude to you for letting me stay over at your place.
Julia: Am curious to know why you treat me with so much respect
Alas: Forgive me if I offend you in treating you with respect.
Julia laughs finding it to be funny meeting a guy whom act like one who is not from this world.
Alas: Why are you laughing, did I say anything funny?
Julia: Yes you sure did. Where are you from? I don’t think you are from here.
Alas: What makes you separate me from being part of this place?
Julia: The manner in which you speak, also you have been smiling since we left the farm
Alas: I haven’t smiled for many years, I am glad to see smile on my face again.
Julia: What could have taken such a beautiful smile off your face?
Alas: I lost my mother while I was eight years old.
Julia: Am sorry to hear that.
Julia became silent seeing it no longer appropriate to ask any further questions, for she had taken the smile off his face by reminding him of his late mother. Julia quietly walk down the road with Alas who had suddenly stopped smiling after being reminded of his mother, Silently Julia observed Alas had not break a sweat since he had place the basket on his head. Deep down in her heart she felt there is more mystery to Alas but her heart couldn’t stop admiring the perfection of his body. Never have she lust over a boy desiring to have him all to herself, she finds not only her mind wondering what Alas wasn’t telling her but her heart wanting him to sleep in her room tonight. While lost in her thoughts she turns to take the wrong path home.
Alas: Where are you going to?, this is the way to your house.
Julia laughs seeing she almost went to the wrong direction she was heading to, due to her interest in Alas a mystery young man.
The sounding horns of the underworld happens only once a year, a year for all demons to sleep, giving every mortal under captivity a full month to rest from their tortures. Unlike the human world, Alas barely could sleep, despite his presence on earth he still wasn’t able to fake sleep. He passes through the locked door of Julia grandmother house, so he could glaze at the beauty of the night before the sun rises. While standing looking up the sky, he sight his kind flying with his wings flapping in the air, quickly he hides inside the big tree planted to give shield during the hot sun in Julia grandmother compound. He exist out of the tree, looks above the sky, seeing more of his kind flying around the sky searching for him, in the tree he hides again pondering on why they didn’t catch up with him at day. He thought to himself the day is good for him and the night is evil, he hears the landing of a demon close to the tree, sniffing his presence around the compound, Alas pulls out his sword, waiting patiently to strike, if his kind tries sticking his hand inside the tree to pull him out. He sees the reflection of his face in his sword, closely he looks at his sword, seeing his eyes all turned back to red. Confused he became for he couldn’t understand the essence of his eyeballs turning back to red. Could this mean I will have to remain in this tree till my eye balls turns back blue? He said to himself as he hears his kind fly back up to the sky. Though he wished to exist the tree but he couldn’t for his eye balls were still red, he fears Julia seeing him like this would cause her and her kind to panic as they normally did when he once came to earth hundreds of years ago.
It was morning, Julia knocks at the guest room door but there wasn’t any response, she opens it and finds not Alas in the bed, she search round the compound but couldn’t find him. Her heart melts, her eyes became wet, sadness grew In her. She barely could take off her eyes of him while he was around, what makes her feel she can now he is gone, she said to herself as she sheds tears. Her little sister still sleeps unaware of the absence of Alas, while Julia sits outside hoping he might had gone out but will return soon. Grandma approaches Julia, seeing the change of her countenance, she desired to know what troubles her grand child.
Grandmother: Julia my child, what seems to trouble your heart.
Julia: Grandma, it’s Alas.
Grandmother: Did he sexually harass you last night?
Julia: No Grandma, he isn’t such a guy.
Grandmother: If that is the case, open up to me.
Julia: He have left the house.
Grandmother: Let that not trouble you, he is a young man, he probably went to do something important but Julia weren’t you the one that unlock the doors?
Julia: Yes Grandma.
Grandmother: How then did he leave the house if you were the one who opened the door?
It then came to her notice at that very moment that Alas could be a demon, Alas who was hiding in the tree at that moment knew he had screw things up with this family, regretfully he thought within himself he should had held back inside the house but his eyes have kept him trapped just as he have been trapped in the underworld
Julia: No it can’t be, Grandma could he be a demon?
Tara walks in hearing Julia asking if he could be a demon, with her hands still robbing off sleep from her eyes she answers the question unaware they speak of Alas.
Tara: No sister, demons don’t save kids from wolves, only Angels does.
Julia: Yes, you are right Tara, he probably is an Angel, what was I even thinking, such a sweet good looking young man a demon?, I’m over thinking too much.
Julia suddenly feel relieved knowing her suspicious about Alas turned out to him being an Angel. Her grandmother smiles excusing herself seeing her countenance have returns to it’s usual form, Tara unaware of Alas absence asked for him.
Tara: Sister, where is Alas?
Julia: I really don’t know, I hope he comes back soon.
Tara: What do you mean by hope he comes back soon?
Julia: He is no where to be found at home, he left while the doors were still locked.
Tara: He has gone home then, he should have stayed little much longer, I really did like him.
Julia: So do I Tara.
Tara hugs her sister sadly missing Alas whom seems to have left without saying goodbye. Alas hearing them understood why his eye balls became blue, it was due to his interest in keeping Tara safe that changed the color of his eyes. He pulls out his sword so as to see his eyes again, how disappointed he was seeing it was still red. He decided to try out saving someone life to know if his eye balls would turn blue but how can I save someone without first scaring them off he said to himself.