I wasn't born powerful, I earned my power.

Benjamin Syre.

The air was cold, the northern mountains always were, his magic was keeping everyone warm but it didn't mean at some point they could feel how cold they would be without his magic, they had hiked up the mountain in search of the tomb, searched almost every inch of the elusive shade mountains, it was said that a powerful witch had created the mountains as a defense in the early century, the Artiste of Shade, his name is still revered as is his magic and creations.

"Sugarplum we need a new plan, obviously the tomb is here but the mountains go on for quite a stretch and I can't have you trekking even more in your condition, let's search for a trace of concentrated magic." Hayes expressed with concern for his mate etched in every word. "He's right Ben, we need a better search." Lario supported and the witch wasn't going to argue and honestly it was a better idea than just looking around for an entryway.

"I will look, you're already heating us up in this cold." Alarion offered with a shrug and placed a gloved palm on the ice covered mountain plain, the angel released his magic into every part of the large rock, he searched until he found what he was looking for in southwest. "Southwest, there is a clearing underground, it's sealed with demon magic, and inside is a heavy concentration of magic." Alarion reported with a happy grin. "Thank you Alarion, let's get a move on." Lario urged and the four of them followed after Alarion as he led the way.

Ever since he ripped Corey's mind apart, he had one goal in mind, make sure the abominations never awaken and make sure that he told them of Gariell, the monster of all monsters. He led them forward toward the tomb, and as they got closer the cold was harsh and unforgiving, Ben's magic pulsed around all of them, it was so cold that steam rose off their bodies when the two forces of nature were in contact.

Benjamin could feel the repulsion centered around the tomb, it was warding them off with the cold but they had no option, ever since he realized that his seal could lock away abilities from any being and that Mael feared his flame could destroy immortal beings he was determined to make sure that the abominations weren't set free. "We're close." Lario called out, Hayes had put a shield around all four of them because it was the only way they could see past the blizzard.

They all trudged onward despite the harsh cold until the came to the eye of the blizzard, it was calm and peaceful unlike the surrounding areas, Alarion tried to move past the invisible barrier but he was thrown back by a blast of ice, Lario made sure he was okay. "It won't let me through." Hayes growled and the witch realized he was the only one who could pass through. "I have to do it alone." Ben announced and Hayes was already against the idea, the demon was worried already.

"There has to be another way, back me up here." Hayes argued looking at the angel and witch behind him, they didn't respond because they knew Ben was right. "You have to trust me, I can do this babe." Ben comforted his mate who was ever reluctant. "If you don't come back within the hour I will break down this mountain myself to get to you." Hayes promised and leaned down to kiss Ben, it was reassurance for him that his mate and child would be safe. "I love you." Ben mumbled to his mate.

"I love you, even more, come back safe." Hayes responded just as Ben's whole body glowed with power, heat like the sun radiated off him just as he slipped past the cold barrier, it didn't lead him forward, rather downward, the witch heaved a breath and calmed his heart. "Let's make this quick Remmy your papa will have me by my knees if I don't do this and get out." Ben mumbled caressing his stomach.

He began to descend the stairs, each step he took the more power he felt, he felt like he was descending into an abyss of infinite darkness until the stairwell just stopped on a platform ahead of him, a sphere of light appeared in his palm, it lit every part of the dark carved out mountain. "This isn't scary at all." The witch mumbled with a chuckle. "Oh it isn't." Nico replied with a glare at Ben, the witch looked perfectly at home covered in darkness.

"Oh hey Nico, let me guess the barrier wouldn't let you in so you're astral projecting looking for where the body is, on top of that you made a counterspell in hopes I'd show up, I'm impressed it seems you're still following in my shadow, how is Mael." Ben taunted the male in front of him. "He is after all scraps I left for you to pick up." He added and Nico growled sending a bolt of lightning toward Ben, the lightning was absorbed into his skin with ease. "You do know I'm a siphon right, literally every part of me is magic absorbent." He chuckled looking at the angry figure of Nico.

Nico waved his hand and jagged rocks rose up from the ground, each sharpened tip was supposed to hurt Ben but when he looked closer they all had gone through him as if he were transparent. "How?" Nico whispered to himself. "Honey you're using magic under a seal, amplifying that magic with that of the seal but what you don't know is that the seal is meant to ward off and protect, therefore it will prevent your magic from harming, at least be smart when you're following in my shadow, mitté." Ben replied with a grin throwing Nico to the wall.

The witch staggered to his feet, he wondered how he was feeling pain in astral form. "You must be wondering how I did that, it's simple really, I'm using arcane magic to tap into your core and hurting your actual body." He explained shocking Nico. "That's not possible, only these abominations have that kind of power." Nico argued as Ben laughed. "What if I too am an abomination, it's such a strong word though, but remember Nico, if you follow in my shadow you must know this, I wasn't born powerful, I earned my power." Ben exclaimed just as he sent a bolt of golden lightning toward Nico.

The witch vanished instantly, Ben sighed and moved toward the open underground hall, he could see the light shining off the barrier, the body of a woman perfectly preserved, her hair was white as snow, her skin a rich caramel color, she was indeed beautiful, but Ben could also feel her malice, the sheer cold will she had. "I'm sorry I have to do this." Ben mumbled just as he snapped his fingers, a sphere made of rainbow light appeared above the woman, a purifix orb, he had made it especially for these so called abominations.

A tetragram appeared on the floor, a black candle with a burning red flame appeared on each point, the witch waved his hand and five beings walked through the portal he had just opened. "So this is what they call abominations, doesn't really fit." One of the figures commented as he looked at the woman, all five of them were demons of dark power, you could feel it in your bones. "It seems you're up to your usual escapades Benji." The demon who had spoken first commented again.

"I need the power, purified along with destroying the body, you are here to rip the soul out and shred it to pieces, leave no trace of it." Ben instructed just as his eyes turned to black catslits with the rest of his eyes golden. "Sounds like fun." A deep male voice rumbled among the five, these weren't normal demons anyone could tell, they were Ben's little secret. "Sacrifio elomente sievso lacriv." They all began to chant, as their spell came into effect pure raw magic in the form of blue light moved from the woman on the ground into the purifix orb.

A scream tore out from the limp woman, her soul was being ripped out by ten black claws, she screeched and pulled but the power the people around her had was too powerful, frantically she looked around wanting to see what was going on but already her soul was being torn apart, it started as threads until it was whole fabric, she was torn to countless pieces which were too darkened and many to count. The purifix orb hovered above the corpse, Ben had secured it, all the inexhaustible power.

"Good work, 6th Circle: Hell's Purification." The witch among demons cast and golden flames erupted on the body, they charred the body till there was nothing left but ash, a transparent rectangular form appeared in front of Ben's palm, it absorbed all the ashes and held them inside, once it was complete the rectangular shape vanished. "Making sure not even the goddess can resurrect that body, you're cruel as ever Benji." Another voice from the demons commented making the witch chuckle.

"Doing whatever it takes to survive, after all, we need to be ruthless, thank you for helping, have fun." The witch opened the dark portal again and all five figures retreated back in, Ben waved his hand and all evidence of what he had done was gone, he also placed a seal in the place itself, even when it was bypassed none would find anything. "Just in time Remmy, your papa is getting worried." Ben mused as he climbed the stairs back up to the surface.

He found himself at the eye of the storm, Hayes was the one to check on Ben first. "Its done, I destroyed the body." He reported standing beside his mate. "Good, I'm glad you're alright, let's get out of here we have to find the last one." Alarion replied with relief lacing his words. They all held hands and vanished, the four mystics appeared at the school. "Can you report to the others, Ben has to eat." Hayes expressed and Alarion nodded instantly, they all knew pregnant Ben had to be taken care of. The demon and his witch vanished and appeared in the neo realm right in their house, only Kyra and Robin were still living with them, the rest had gone back to Halwright.

"Did you do it?" Hayes asked looking at his mate with a smile, the witch snapped his fingers and the purifix orb appeared, it was no longer one color but slowly turning into different shades, it was purifying the magic and pure mana Ben had taken from the woman, once done the orb would be rainbow colored. "We need to get to the second one, it's in the desert, we just work it out like we did today." The demon explained and Ben nodded with a smile, they needed to do this, and no one had to know, hopefully no one would ever find out.

Some acts of evil were necessary but it was unnecessary to involve other people in them, it never ended well.

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LMJ