It didn't take long for the call to come through.
"Hello, who's speaking?" I said playfully, even though I already knew it was Slater.
(Boss, I found out who's funding the group you told me to investigate.) Slater said.
"Oh? Who are they?" I asked.
(A group called Goetia.)
Damn, demons again… It seems like they're more interested in us than they should be.
I don't think this has anything to do with the fact that I planned and executed Silas with Jeremy's help.
This feels older.
The Augustines aren't new. That group has existed for over a hundred years.
Which means… demons have been trying to mess with us for over a century.
I think they want to possess vampires and gain access to vampiric magic.
But that's impossible. A vampire's mental power is far greater than most creatures, not to mention the inner vampire that eliminates any threat to its host.
It's stupid.
I closed my eyes while Slater kept talking, and time seemed to freeze.
"Mom," I thought.
My sweet boy, my darling, you finally remembered your beloved mother, she said in my mind with a cheerful, slightly annoying voice. I've been waiting for that damn Monday so I can hug you and squeeze you.
"Mom, those Nazis experimenting on vampires… I think they're demons."
The moment I thought that, I felt interference.
Ohhh, looks like those idiots never learn, her voice turned cold and cruel. Lucy did mention a rebellious group causing trouble for the new leaders of Hell.
Time froze — but this time… it wasn't heavy.
It was comfortable.
Almost… fun.
"My son~" her voice echoed again, light, almost amused. "So it's those idiots again?"
I tilted my head slightly, a smirk forming.
"Mom… Goetia. Demons. Experiments on vampires."
A brief silence.
Then—
She laughed.
Not kindly.
Pure amusement.
"HAHA… I knew it! Lucy mentioned a bunch of failures trying to 'innovate.' And look at that… going after you of all people?"
I rolled my eyes.
"I'm just too popular."
"And too dangerous," she corrected, satisfied.
On the other end of the line, Slater was still talking:
(Boss? Should I keep investigating or—)
I ignored him completely.
"Mom… they're trying to possess vampires. Break their resistance."
Another pause.
But this time… I felt it.
Her leaning forward, interested.
"Hmm… ambitious."
Pause.
"Stupid."
I smiled.
"So?"
And then it came.
No hesitation.
No concern.
Only expectation.
"Kill them all."
Simple.
Direct.
Natural.
A pleasant shiver ran down my spine.
"Actually… no," she corrected with a soft laugh. "Don't rush. That wouldn't be fun. I want you to enjoy it."
"Of course…"
"Make it a game."
Her voice softened.
Almost sweet.
Almost.
"They started it. You finish it."
I closed my eyes for a second.
That… was almost relaxing.
"Consequences?"
She let out a theatrical sigh.
"Oh, please."
Then came the tone that defined everything.
Absolute authority.
"You are not just my son anymore."
The air grew heavier.
More… significant.
"You are a prince of the three factions."
A faint warmth spread through my body.
"If someone attacks you… that's not an incident."
Pause.
"That's a declaration of war."
I opened my eyes slowly.
The smile on my face was no longer human.
"Understood."
"Then go," she said, satisfied. "Hunt them. Break them. And preferably…"
A low laugh echoed in my mind.
"Be creative."
On the other side—
(BOSS?!)
I returned to reality.
"Slater."
(Yes?!)
"I want the location of every Goetia member. This is no longer an investigation."
Pause.
(Got it… but… what are we going to do?)
I let out a short, cold laugh.
"We're going to have some fun."
I hung up.
And as I put my phone away, I muttered to myself:
"Demons trying to play possession…"
My gaze darkened.
"Let's see who possesses who in the end."
And deep down…
She was still laughing.
Proud.
---
"Bonnieeee!" I shouted as I walked into the house.
Bonnie was sitting on the bed, gently stroking Katherine like a cat. Katherine sat there with dull eyes, making faint, broken sounds.
"Get ready, we're going to kill some Nazis and a few demons."
"Wait—demons? Those exist?" Bonnie said, eyes wide in shock. "Are they some kind of species created by alpha werewolves or bored witches?"
"No. Not every monster was created by alpha werewolves or bored witches. All mythologies exist," I said cheerfully, opening my arms. "We just don't see them because the three factions are very isolated—and very powerful."
"How powerful?" Bonnie asked, now curious.
"You're equivalent to a Marquis of Hell. Caroline is a Duke. Me, my uncles, and my father—we're equivalent to Kings of Hell," I explained, using the information my mother gave me.
The hierarchy goes like this: lesser demons (no body), Hell knights, barons, viscounts, counts, marquises, dukes, princes, and infernal kings—and of course, Lucifer.
But that's complicated, and neither I nor the readers care that much.
"Damn, then why is Caroline ranked higher than me?" Bonnie asked.
"Well, my lineage doesn't grow stronger with time like my father's and uncles'. It grows through potential. And in terms of raw potential, Caroline's physical strength is equivalent to a thousand-year-old vampire," I explained. "You have huge potential as a witch, but Caroline jumped straight to the top, while you grow stronger over time through practice."
---
Katherine was still in Bonnie's arms when her body moved again.
This time… without violence.
No tremors.
It was subtle.
Controlled.
Her eyes opened slowly—clear, focused… too aware.
Bonnie froze.
"…Katherine?"
Silence.
Then she blinked once and answered with calm precision:
"Not exactly."
Caroline let out a short breath.
"Okay… your voice sounds really robotic. That reminds me of my inner vampire when I dealt with it to access my magic."
Katherine's head turned slightly toward her.
"A simplified description, but acceptable."
There was no hostility.
No mockery.
Just… clarity.
I watched in silence, interested.
Bonnie still held Katherine, tense but not panicked.
"Is she… okay?"
"She is," the entity replied immediately. "Damaged, but stable. Recovery has begun."
Caroline crossed her arms, uneasy.
"So… in theory, mine could take control too?"
The entity looked straight at her.
"Yes."
Pause.
Caroline swallowed.
"…and is there any chance it just takes over out of nowhere?"
Silence.
One second… two…
Then—
Katherine's expression softened slightly.
"None."
Caroline frowned.
"Like… zero?"
"Zero," it confirmed. "We do not exist to replace. We do not compete. We do not seek control. Also… I can sense vampiric magic in you. You have already made peace with yours, haven't you?"
Bonnie tilted her head.
"So what exactly are you?"
The answer was simple:
"Protection."
The word settled heavily in the room.
"We are the last resort," it continued. "The final barrier when the system fails."
My eyes narrowed slightly.
"That's why you appeared."
It looked at me.
"Correct."
Pause.
"Something attempted to possess the host while her mind was… fragmented."
Bonnie pressed her lips together.
"…a demon."
"Yes," it confirmed. "An invasive, incompatible, hostile presence."
Caroline exhaled.
"And you—"
"—interrupted it," it finished.
Pause.
"Permanently."
Silence.
Bonnie let out a slow breath.
"So… you saved her."
The entity paused briefly.
"As I fulfilled my function."
I smirked slightly.
"Modest."
It ignored me.
Then—
It looked at all of us.
Bonnie.
Caroline.
And then me.
"You have been taking care of her."
Not a question.
A statement.
Bonnie blinked.
"…yes."
Caroline shrugged.
"Not even she deserves that kind of torture."
A brief silence.
Then the entity did something unexpected—
It inclined its head slightly.
Almost… respectful.
"Acknowledged."
Bonnie froze for a moment.
Caroline widened her eyes.
"…did I just get thanked by a vampire defense system?"
"Correct."
I let out a quiet chuckle.
"Caroline just earned approval."
"I'm framing that."
The entity took a slow breath, and the air seemed to stabilize.
"This interaction is ending."
Bonnie adjusted Katherine carefully.
"She's going to wake up…?"
"Eventually," it replied. "With less interference than before."
"Thank you… for protecting her while she was defenseless," a demon said quietl
"You have my gratitude."
Finally—
Katherine's eyes blinked.
The presence… withdrew.
Her body relaxed completely.
And this time—
It was just her.
Unconscious, but… peaceful.
The room fell silent for a few seconds.
I picked up my phone again, calm.
"Good."
They both looked at me.
"Good?" Bonnie repeated.
I looked back at them, a faint smile returning.
"That's one problem solved."
"One?" Bonnie asked.
I slipped my phone away.
"Now we know that even if they try from the inside…"
My smile sharpened.
"…they'll lose."