Chapter 24: Blessing In Disguise
"Are you willing to become a demon to save him?" Arthur asked Raphael while pointing to Alex's chest as the him he was referring to.
Raphael widened his eyes in surprise. He never expected Alex to have anything in common with demons.
"I quite expected that reaction but you are calmer than I expected," Arthur stated with his hand on his chin. "Well, back to my question. Are you willing?" He asked Raphael.
After a brief silence, Raphael nodded his head in reply.
"Why if I may ask," Arthur requested.
Raphael took out a pen and paper and wrote down something on it which he showed him after he was done.
"The reason isn't necessary," Arthur read with an amused face. "Fine. Let's get down to business," he said and approached Raphael. Placing his hand on his head, he said. "If it were an ordinary demon, he would need to bite to turn a human into a demon but because I'm a lord, I don't need to do that. The process might be a little bit excruciating but it'll last for a few minutes, during that time, do your best to stay awake. Don't lose consciousness or you'll end up dying and then all your efforts will be wasted. I'll begin!" After he was done speaking, a tiny bright light that emitted out from his palm rested on Raphael's head for a while, and soon after, it disappeared by entering inside him.
The moment the tiny light disappeared, Raphael's eyes sprang open and he fell backward with a force that made him hit his back on the wall of the room. He held his head as black veins began to pop out, the black veins soon began to spread from his face down to his neck and from his neck down to his chest, stomach, arms, and other parts until his entire body was covered with them. As his whole body was covered with black veins, he fell to the ground, crouched as an excruciating pain began to wash all over him. In as much as he was dying in pain, he held himself from screaming, and even when he felt his head spinning and his eyes closing, he fought to stay awake because he didn't want to die yet.
Arthur smirked and went to sit down on the bed, he watched as Raphael rolled on the floor in pain while trying to suppress his urge to scream out.
"He's kind of interesting. I might have to reconsider truly," he mumbled and chuckled.
The process lasted longer than Arthur had claimed it would but the black veins eventually began to vanish until none was left, and after that, Raphael opened his eyes and looked around. Seeing Alex, he moved without thinking and rushed at him.
"Hold it, hold it," Arthur said, abruptly stopping him the moment he got too close to him. Raphael mindlessly tried to go closer to him but it was as though there was something in between them that was hindering his movement. "What do you want?" Arthur asked him, seeing how he was trying so much to get close to him.
"Blood!" Raphael moaned. "I need blood," he added. This was the first time he was speaking without coughing out blood, this time around, he wasn't using his ability to speak.
"Oh, did your curse get lifted after becoming a demon?" Arthur asked without expecting an answer.
"Blood, I need blood," Raphael mindlessly repeated. His eyes were all red and his ten fingers all turned into claws, he kept trying to pass through whatever was stopping him but it wasn't working — it was not meant to work though.
"You need blood? This is why I hate turning humans into demons," Arthur grunted with a slight frown. Nevertheless, he cut his wrist with his claw and stretched out his arm towards Raphael who finally was able to move again. He rushed and grabbed Alex's outstretched arm and shoved his bloodied wrist into his mouth. Arthur watched as Raphael consumed Alex's blood and a look of pleasure washed over him. "This kinda feels good," he muttered and smiled.
After a while later, Raphael finally came back to his senses and his eyes and claws returned to normal. He moved backward and lowered his head. "I-I'm sorry," he mumbled to Arthur who chuckled.
"I've done my part here, it's time for me to leave," Arthur said and immediately, Alex's closed and his head dropped. Seconds later, he raised his head and opened his eyes — The first thing his eyes caught was his wrist and the injury on it.
"What happened to my body, Arthur?" He asked aloud to Raphael's hearing. Hearing his question, Raphael lowered his head in embarrassment.
"I had to feed him your blood to keep him alive," Arthur replied. Explaining further, he said. "Turned demons need blood to survive, not just any blood but that of those who turned them. So, if you want him to keep living, consistently feed him your blood. Failure to do so will cause him to die."
"Oh, I see..." Alex mumbled and paused because he noticed that Raphael was hiding his face from him. "You don't have to feel bad, I am the cause so I'll fully take the responsibility," he said to him.
"I-I'm sorry once again," Raphael spoke.
"Are you now able to talk?" Alex asked him in surprise.
"Yes," Raphael replied. "It's all thanks to you that my curse has finally been lifted. I'll forever be indebted to you," he further went ahead to say.
"Does that mean you can freely talk and still use your ability whenever?" Alex asked him to be sure.
"I believe so," Raphael replied.
Alex was happy. Finally, he will be able to have a proper conversation with Raphael, something he has always wanted.
"That is good," Alex said to him and then patted him on the shoulder.
"Hey, look! The black veins are all disappearing!" Raphael suddenly said to him.
"I know, I can feel it. It's why I'm able to move already," Alex replied with a calm expression on his face.
While they were still talking, Raphael suddenly turned to the door, his gaze sharp and his ears perked up. "Someone is coming," he announced.
"It's the teachers, no doubt," Alex replied and went to sit down on the bed. "Remember, don't let anyone find out that your curse has already been lifted. Let's keep things on the low," he said to Raphael who nodded his head.
Soon, the door opened revealing a worried Kelvin and Derek. As soon as they entered the room and caught sight of Alex sitting on the bed, they rushed to him immediately.
"We've been searching the whole place for you," said Kelvin with an angry yet worried look on his face. "Never you make me worried sick like this," he added.
"I won't do it again," Alex replied so that he would calm down.
Derek seeing Alex was relieved and began to check his entire body without saying a word.
"What happened? The poison is all gone," he said to Alex.
"I woke up and found out they were all gone," Alex replied but Derek wasn't ready to buy it.
He gazed at Alex with a stern look that began to make him uncomfortable.
"I told you all that I know, quit looking at me like that as if I'm some criminal," Alex said with a frown.
"You do realize that you are speaking to your teacher, right?" Derek questioned with a tone that depicted authority.
"I'm not trying to be rude," Alex stated. "I just told you something but you are assuming that I'm lying to you, it's unfair."
"Being unfair is not really my concern. But whatever you say, since you are fine... I guess my stay here is no longer needed," Derek said and immediately left the room.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone