THE DEMON KING WHO WAITED FOR HER
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
BLOOD OF RUTE
Linah woke up with a sharp gasp, her body jolting as if she had been pulled back from the edge of death. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, her heart pounding hard against her ribs. The scent of smoke still clung to her senses, and for a moment she thought she was still trapped inside the burning cave.
"Linah!"
Mako was by her side in an instant. His eyes were red with exhaustion, his face drawn with worry, but the moment he saw her open her eyes, relief washed over him like a breaking wave. He gently held her shoulders, afraid that she might vanish again if he loosened his grip.
"You've been unconscious for a long time," he said softly. "I thought I lost you."
Linah swallowed and slowly sat up. Her body felt weak, yet something inside her stirred restlessly, like a current beneath calm waters.
Images flooded her mind — fire, darkness, a woman's voice calling her name, and water… endless water.
"My heart feels heavy," Linah whispered.
"Heavier than before."
She looked at Mako, her eyes filled with fear and confusion. "I keep seeing a woman in my dreams. She looks like me… but older. And she's crying."
Mako stiffened. He already knew what Linah was about to say.
"My mother," Linah continued. "There's something about her I don't know. Something important."
Silence fell between them before Mako finally nodded. "We cannot continue this war blindly," he said. "If your mother is connected to all of this, then we must uncover the truth first. Only then can we return and destroy our enemies."
Linah agreed. She felt it deep in her soul — whatever fate awaited them next was tied to her mother's past.
Before they could move, the air around them suddenly changed.
The wind stopped. The forest grew unnaturally still. Even the birds fell silent.
A cold presence crept into their bones.
Slow, deliberate footsteps echoed through the clearing, each one heavy with power. From the shadows emerged a tall figure wrapped in dark charms and ancient symbols. His eyes glowed with a cruel intelligence, and his smile carried no warmth — only malice.
Everyone froze.
Mako's uncles stiffened.
Lisah gasped softly.
Even the warriors who had faced demons before felt their courage crumble.
"Tonde…" Mako breathed, his voice barely audible.
The man before them laughed quietly, a sound that sent shivers down every spine. His gaze slowly shifted until it landed on Linah. He studied her face carefully, as if confirming something he had known all along.
"So," he said coldly, "Rute's daughter still lives."
Linah felt her blood run cold.
Rute.
The name echoed in her mind like a drumbeat.
Her heart clenched painfully, as if it recognized the name before her mind could understand it.
"You look just like her," Tonde continued, stepping closer. "The same eyes. The same cursed blood."
Mako stepped in front of Linah protectively, his hands clenched into fists. "Stay away from her!"
Tonde's smile widened. With a flick of his fingers, ancient charms burst into the air, releasing dark energy that slammed into the ground like thunder. Warriors were thrown back violently. Trees cracked. The earth trembled beneath their feet.
Linah tried to summon her power, but the force was overwhelming. Her knees buckled, and she cried out as pain ripped through her body.
"This is what happens when forbidden love leaves behind a mistake," Tonde sneered. "Your mother should never have betrayed her world. She paid the price."
Linah's eyes filled with tears. "You killed her," she whispered.
Tonde's eyes gleamed. "She chose her fate."
Before he could strike again, the ground beneath them began to shake violently. A roaring sound filled the air — not of fire, but of water. A powerful whirlwind rose from the nearby river, spinning faster and faster until the waters surged upward like living beings.
The river split open.
From within it emerged figures made of shimmering water, their forms glowing with ancient power. The water spirits had arrived.
They moved swiftly, surrounding Linah and her people. When they reached her, something unexpected happened.
They bowed.
Every single one of them lowered themselves before Linah.
"Child of Rute," their voices echoed together. "The waters remember you."
Everyone stared in shock.
Mako's breath caught in his throat.
Before Tonde could react, the water rose violently, pulling Linah and her people into its depths. Darkness swallowed them as the surface closed above their heads.
Instead of drowning, Linah felt warmth. The water cradled her gently, parting around her body as if it recognized her.
She opened her eyes to find herself in a breathtaking underwater realm filled with glowing plants, ancient structures, and flowing currents that danced like living spirits.
Her people looked around in awe — but Linah moved effortlessly, as if she belonged there.
One of the water spirits approached her. "Your mother, Rute, was one of us," it said gently. "She was taken by love and paid with her life. Tonde was among those who sealed her fate."
Tears streamed down Linah's face as the truth settled into her heart.
"My mother died because she loved," Linah whispered.
"Yes," the spirit replied. "And because of you… the cycle has not ended."
They refused to say more.
Some truths, they said, were too heavy to be given all at once.
Linah clenched her fists, her sorrow turning into burning resolve. She looked at Mako, who stood firmly beside her despite the revelations.
"We will return," Linah said through tears. "For my mother. For everyone we lost."
Mako nodded. "And we will destroy them."
Above the water's surface, far from their reach, Tonde watched the river silently — his smile gone.
The war was far from over.
END OF CHAPTER SIXTEEN