For years, the cave had been their world. A world of warmth, kindness, and relentless training. When the catastrophe struck, Avon was ten, Sara was seven, the boy was ten, and the girl was thirteen. Helen, the mysterious woman, had saved them. She was their mother, their protector, their teacher—the kindest person they had ever known. But even the best of things must come to an end.
Avon, Sara, and the other children were on the move, high in the mountains. They were enjoying themselves, standing on the broad shoulder of one of the giant Rock People. The massive creature moved slowly between the peaks, its silent presence a comforting shield.
Then Helen appeared, her huge wings gliding gracefully beside the giant. The children waved, and she waved back, performing a series of breathtaking aerial maneuvers. She flew so fast that in an instant, she was beside them. She took Sara, holding her tight, and soared high into the sky.
"Do you trust me, beautiful?" Helen asked softly.
Sara nodded, her eyes wide. Helen then released her, letting her fall through the air. Sara screamed with a mix of fear and excitement, throwing her arms out to embrace the wind. Helen descended with her, slowing just enough to catch her again, playing with her for a moment before returning her safely to Avon's side.
She flew to the giant's head, touching its immense, stonelike surface. The giant had no face, no eyes, no ears, yet his emotions were clear in his every movement. Today, he was happy.
"Thank you," Helen said softly.
The giant rumbled in response, a deep, guttural sound that seemed to come from the earth itself. He nodded, and Helen flew back to the kids, circling above them like a guardian angel.
She thought to herself: I wish the world was always like this. Happy, warm, and safe. With these kids, I know it can be. But I can't delay it any longer. It seems the time is coming.
One Year Later
Helen stood at a distance, a graceful figure wielding one of her blades. She moved with impossible speed, a dance of steel and death. The children, each holding a wooden stick, tried to imitate her, but failed miserably. Helen laughed, and soon, they were all laughing with her.
"It's okay, dears," she said. "We can try again later. It's dinner time now!"
"Yay!" the kids cheered.
As Helen prepared a meal, she thought: We have plenty of time. These kids will be great warriors one day. I will make sure of it.
A Few Months Later
The children watched as Helen performed a series of brutal attacks on living puppets shaped like succubi.
"These sinful creatures have weak points," she explained, pointing to the neck and stomach of the puppets. "These are the most obvious. And so you don't mistake them, these are called succubus."
"You… you are a succubus, right?" Sara asked, her small voice full of curiosity.
"That's right, dear," Helen replied. "But I no longer follow their traditions. I am different from them." She thought: They are so smart. With the juice, they will become even smarter.
A Few Months Later
Avon, now a young teenager, was training with a wooden stick against dummies Helen had built. He moved with speed and precision, but on his sixth attempt, the stick slipped from his grasp.
"Again!" Helen commanded, her voice firm.
He tried again, but failed.
"Again!" she said, without a trace of mercy.
Avon was exhausted, breathing heavily. "Can't we… take a break?" he panted. "I need to catch my breath."
"Oh?" Helen said, her voice dangerously soft as she walked toward him. "A break? Catch your breath? Would you like a warm blanket and a cold drink, too?"
"No, I didn't mean that! I'm just… tired," he said, taking another deep breath.
Helen stopped directly in front of him, her face close to his. "And that's exactly why you must continue. Those sinful creatures will never stop until they put you down. The same succubi who took the lives of your mother and sister will never rest until they do the same to you. Do you want to see your sister in that situation?"
"No!" Avon yelled.
"Do you want to witness it all over again?"
"NO!" he screamed, his face hardening with a new resolve.
"Then pick up your weapon and keep fighting. It's either you or them."
Avon grabbed the stick, his eyes filled with a fiery determination. He performed the moves flawlessly, his body moving with a newfound grace. Helen smiled and clapped. The other kids watched in awe.
"Well done, dear!" Helen said, her voice cheerful again. "You killed five succubi with no casualties. A delicious victory, I dare say." She walked to him and wrapped him in a hug. "You and your sister did so well. Soon you'll handle a real blade with that same ease."
Sara ran to them, a happy smile on her face.
"So… you're not angry at me?" Avon asked hesitantly.
"Never," Helen said with a smile. "I will never be mad at you. Keep that in mind. And you too, Sara, you were amazing. I am so proud of all of you."
Avon, Sara, and the others beamed with pride. Helen thought: They're doing so well, even at this young age. A few years from now, they'll have the strength to take down an entire empire. No, that's not their purpose. Soon, my sweeties. Soon, I will tell you all.
"Alright, Arcadius," Helen announced. "You're next. Show me those beautiful moves with your spear."
A Few Months Later
Avon and Arcadius were arguing about which weapon was better.
"I'm telling you, the sword is better up close!" Avon insisted. "What are you going to do with a spear when an enemy is right in front of you?"
"I'll find a way to deal with it," Arcadius countered. "But a sword will do you no good when an enemy is flying."
Vernara, a girl with a fiery personality, interjected. "That doesn't make sense! Even with speed, they can still get away and call for help."
Arcadius shot back. "You're one to talk with that big axe of yours! You throw it, and you've either hit or missed, losing your only weapon either way."
"I can't argue with that," Avon admitted.
"Ugh, you two!" Vernara sighed.
Sara, unnoticed, touched Vernara's shoulder and offered her a warm cup of tea. "Oh, just in time, sweetie. Thanks," Vernara said, taking it with a grateful smile.
As the younger ones bickered, Helen sat on a chair, her legs crossed and her wings spread lazily, a yawn on her lips. Sara came and laid her head in Helen's lap.
"Sleepy, I see?" Helen said, gently stroking Sara's hair.
"Yes," Sara mumbled.
"How about I sing you a song?" Helen began to hum a soft, beautiful melody, a song about a starlight in the dark night. As she sang, Sara fell asleep in her lap. Helen, knowing Sara was a light sleeper, didn't move. She whispered into her ear: "Follow the stars, and they will lead you to the path."
The others grew silent, listening to her song, a peaceful moment on a cold, beautiful night.
Six Years Later
The children were no longer children. They were young adults, training with stunning precision and teamwork. This time, Helen used magic to make the puppets move and attack them, pushing them to their limits.
Helen, meanwhile, was preparing a meal. She was almost finished when she went outside for a brief moment. She came back with a large, ornate cup and placed it on the table, watching the young warriors with a proud smile.
She thought: After this night, you will all be stronger. Brighter. More beautiful.
Avon threw Sara into the air. Sara spun, her sword flashing, and knocked two puppets to the ground before cleanly cutting off their heads. Avon then faced three puppets at once. He held his sword close to his chest, spun, and in one swift motion, decapitated all three.
Arcadius, with his spear, crouched as a puppet attacked, his spear pointed toward its face. He thrust, shattering the puppet's head, and then hurled the head at another puppet. Before the last puppet could react, he was beside it, spinning and cutting off its head.
Vernara wielded her axe with fury. Four puppets flanked her, but she charged forward, using their momentum against them. A spear flew at her, but instead of dodging, she caught it and threw it back, impaling one of the puppets behind her. She then launched herself at a shield-wielding puppet, bringing her axe down with such force that it tore the puppet in two. She threw her axe at another puppet, the heavy weapon sending it flying into a wall. The last puppet charged, but Vernara parried its attack with her bare hands, kicked its legs out, and slammed its face into the ground with her foot. She then saw what the puppet had been holding—her hair tie. She took it, tying her red hair into a ponytail, which seemed to glow like a fire.
Helen smiled and clapped. "Dinner is ready, sweeties!" she called out.
The young adults, happy and hungry, put away their weapons. The table was set with fried chicken, hot rice, and warm potatoes. They ate as if there were no tomorrow, enjoying every moment of the delicious meal.
"After you finish," Helen said, "there's something I want to give you."
Their eyes lit up with anticipation. Helen brought out four cups, filling each with a thick, red juice that smelled like fruit but made them feel slightly dizzy.
She gave a cup to each of them. Avon drank his, and a sudden, painful dizziness hit him. He saw the others fall into a deep sleep, their bodies collapsing to the ground. His head throbbed, and the world spun. He saw Helen, her voice a smooth whisper: "It's okay, Avon. This is for your own sake. Just let it through, and all will be well."
5 years later
Avon woke up. The dizziness was gone, but his head still ached. He was the first to awaken. He checked on the others, finding them all in a deep, peaceful slumber. He looked for Helen, but she was nowhere to be seen.
He walked to the table where they had eaten. The food was now long-rotted, covered in mold. Was the food already rotten when we ate it? Or did it rot after? A strange lightness filled his body. The cave was filled with an unnatural light, not from the fire. How can I see in the dark? he thought. Something is wrong. Where is Helen? How long have we been sleeping?
He walked to the cave entrance. The view was as beautiful as ever, but something was different. Something was missing. He saw her, standing at the mouth of the cave.
"I see you are awake, dear," she said. "Good. I will tell you everything about this day and the future, dear Avon."
She flew to him, took his shoulders, and led him back inside. Outside, the mountains were empty. The giant rocks were gone, their bodies laying lifeless against the mountain slopes. The air was clear, but the absence of the giants was a deep void.
Helen moved her finger, and the rotted food was cleared from the table. She sat down. "Please, dear, sit."
Avon sat, his mind racing. "What's going on, Helen? What happened last night?"
Helen looked at him, confused by his question. "Oh, you mean that night?" she said, her voice laced with sadness. "How can I explain this…"
"That night?" Avon stammered. "What are you talking about?"
"How do you feel, dear Avon?"
"How can I put this… more energy. More power. I feel like I can run for days without getting tired. What's going on?"
"It's no use hiding it anymore," Helen said. "The truth."
"Truth? But you've never lied to us."
"And I haven't," she explained. "But you never asked, and you would not have understood. So I kept some critical information from you. About the food, it was not rotten when you ate it. And I would never poison you."
"I know, Helen. I know. It was delicious."
"That night you are talking about was five years ago. You were all sleeping for five years. The dizziness you felt was your body adjusting to the energy flowing inside you. The others will wake soon."
"Five… years?" Avon whispered. "Was it because of the red juice?"
"That red juice… was my blood."
"A succubus's blood," he said, his voice dropping. "No wonder I felt dizzy. But what does that make me? A succubus like you?"
"No, dear. You are not. You are half succubus, half human. Your body, your heart, your mind are human. But your desires, your strength, your vision… they are succubus. This will not affect your mind unless you let your desires take control. And your body needed energy, so I gave you all mine."
"So you can take energy from people and give it to someone else?" Avon asked, amazed. "But… what about our giant friends? What about you?"
"When a human body converts to a succubus, it needs immense energy," Helen explained. "It calls out to other succubi to perform a full ritual. One week after you fell asleep, your bodies began to change, and they started to call. Countless succubi came in hordes. Our giant rock friends defended the mountains for four months without rest, but they were outmatched. They were crushed. The giant Rock People went extinct five years ago. Only their remains exist."
"No!" Avon gasped.
"And as for me, dear Avon, I told you one day I would leave once you became a man."
"But if you leave, that will make you our enemy, too, won't it?"
"No," Helen said, her voice softening. "Because I am not going there to join them. I am going to do something that is forbidden to us. This is another story I need to tell you."
"I was once a farm girl in a small village," Helen began, tears welling in her eyes. "I had a handsome husband and a beautiful daughter, the same age as you when I met you. It was a happy life, but it was the last happy day we would ever have. They attacked out of nowhere, a massive horde with a blood-red sky. The nearby kingdoms declared it the end of the world, and every kingdom joined the fight, but they were also facing the same enemy. Our village was the first to perish. They used us as toys. They made the women and children their slaves. A female demon made me clean her shoes with my mouth. She made me drink disgusting things and did horrible things to my daughter right in front of me."
Avon's eyes were wide. "I thought once you turned into a succubus, you forgot everything."
"There was no pleasure, dear. It was torture. How could I forget? And the worst part was that with my newfound strength, I still could not kill them. My body stopped me every single time. My daughter and I became one of them after they played with us for months. The other kingdoms were destroyed, and no one helped us. Not the elves, not the angels, not the magic users. Nobody. That was five thousand years ago. But today is a different day. I have a different plan. I will do what I've wanted to do for thousands of years."
"And that is to break the forbidden law and kill them," Avon finished.
"You're goddamn right I will," Helen said, her voice a raw cry of pain. "And once I get my hands on her neck, I will keep squeezing until I suck every last drop of her life's energy."
"You'll get yourself killed!" Avon said, panicked. "You can't take on the entire swarm by yourself!"
"I know, but I have to try."
She walked to him, pushing him gently to the floor, and sat on top of him. Her hands went to his chest, and her face moved to his neck. "Excuse me, dear," she said, her voice a soft whisper. "I have to do this one last time. I need them to accept me so I can get close. Please understand."
"It's okay, Helen," Avon said, tears in his eyes. "Do what you have to do. I won't stop you."
She bit his neck, a sharp but not painful sensation, and then held his face, her gaze locking with his. She kissed him on the lips, a long, mournful kiss.
"I have one more favor to ask," she said softly.
"Yes?"
"My daughter. She is in that wall." Helen pointed to a section of the cave. "The fake wall I created to keep her inside. You may see some unpleasant things, but my only request is that you kill her. Spare her from this sinful, disgraceful life."
Avon reached up and wiped away her tears. "With pleasure."
"I am sorry for doing this, Avon. But you already know what you must do after this day. You are the prince of Avalon. You must become their king. And please, please don't let anyone go through what I did. I do not wish for anyone to live like this."
"Don't worry, Helen," Avon said, his voice firm with purpose. "I swear I will become a king, and I will take out every last one of them. That is my promise."
"The others will know what they must become," Helen said. "I've already told them they will be kings and queens one day. Don't worry about them. Take Sara, and take care of her. Do not let a single soul touch her. And if they do, show no mercy."
Helen got off him and put on her armor. She was about to leave.
"Please take care of yourself," Avon said, his voice cracking. "I love you… Mom."
Helen froze. She turned back, tears streaming down her face. "And I love you… a hundred times, my love."
Avon remembered his sister's words. He ran to her and hugged her tight, and she held him just as fiercely. She pressed her forehead to his, a final, intimate farewell.
"Take care of your sister," she said. "Make humanity great again. And please, never use magic or learn it. It is a sin for humans."
"Don't worry. I will not. Take care of yourself, Mom," he promised.
"I will, dear."
She spread her magnificent wings, the energy inside her humming. She flew off, disappearing into the sky. Avon stood in the cave, looking after her, then at his brothers and sister still sleeping. He looked at the fake wall, his purpose clear. He would find a sword and give Helen's daughter the mercy she had asked for.
Helen's thoughts followed her: Now, my dear, your journey begins without me. Your vengeance will become your justice. I believe you are ready. Please don't die on me. Don't… die. Live and see how beautiful this life is. I have lied to you, my dear. I'm sorry, but I won't make it out alive. And that's okay, because death is what I've wanted. And death is what I will get.
She flew until she reached the sea. In the middle of a swirling fog, a massive, gigantic, dark tree stood.
"It's showtime, sisters," she whispered. "For humankind."