The Prime Control Chapter 19: The Residence

William POV:

I woke up first, Taury on my chest, and Aoi on one side, Ruby on the other. It was quite nice… of course, I was unable to move without waking any of them.

I sighed. The previous night was a blur. The last thing I remembered was Zeus’s… deal, then only fury… and glee?

Why would I feel glee after he made a deal like that…?

I was wanting to ask someone, but it’d have to wait.

Then Ruby yawned awake. The regular shuddering happened. It was still amazing just how much passive power she had.

“Papa?”

“Hello Ruby.”

She got up, and, with one of my arms freed, I was able to slip out of Aoi’s grip, and maneuver Taury to the bed.

I stood up and stretched. Then I walked over to a mirror and saw myself. All injuries I ever had were gone, even the minor scars that the Dream left when it healed me were gone.

I noticed that my arm and leg were no longer earth magic either. Black markings were strewn on each one.

“Ruby? What happened last night?”

“Papa got angry… then you became like the meanie. You… smiled like him and your body looked like his… Your scent was… scary.”

I blanched… I became a demon…

I knelt in front of Ruby.

“I’m sorry for scaring you.”

“It’s okay, Papa. Mama saved you.”

“What?”

“Before you killed Zeus, I distracted you, and Mama kicked you.”

“Before I… what?”

“You nearly killed the evil lightbulb.”

I found the name funny, but I was more concerned about something.

“How did I nearly kill him?”

“When Papa started getting scary, you became faster than him. You beat him up. He couldn’t do anything… Papa? Are you okay?”

I had gone fully pale.

“Yeah… just… trying to process what you are saying.”

“Is Papa being dumb again?”

“Yeah… a little.”

Ruby hugged my leg, making me smile. I looked in the mirror and examined my arm, the markings were unfamiliar. I’d never seen anything like them.

There were two places I could go to ask.

“Hey, Ruby, I’m going to the nexus for a second.”

“Okay, Papa.”

I picked up the amulet and entered the Nexus.

“A cart fit.”

Then I dodged the falling Artifact.

“Hello Arty, I have a few questions.”

“Got it, Child of Amelia. What is it you need?”

She stood up and froze upon seeing my markings.

“Do you kno-“

She slapped me, making me flip.

I landed with a yelp and she pinned me, pure fury radiating in her eyes.

“Do you have any idea what you have done?”

“Um… barely… from the sounds of it, I became a demon.”

“Exactly! That’s the problem. You… you… became a demon and simply turned back… that part’s good at least.”

She sighed deeply and let me up.

“Sorry for the reaction… I just wasn’t expecting that… what even happened?”

So, I recounted the story, and her brow furrowed with every word.

“That stupid atronach! Of course, he’d be behind it!”

“Do you know him?”

“Do I know him… *sigh* he’s one of the few that know of my existence… of course not the part that I live within a gem, but he knows that I exist.”

“Did he…”

“He tried. One of the few times he nearly lost his life.”

“Ah…”

“Yeah, he’s definitely a scumbag, but going after your child is a death sentence. He should’ve realized that the moment he saw you.”

Then I looked at her.

“What do the markings mean, though?”

“Well, it marks you as a former demon, there’s only ever been one other like you, so it’d not be recognized by most, but demons may recognize you as kin, and if you prove superiority, they may serve you.”

“Is my power affected?”

“No, becoming a demon grants insane power, but after turning back, it’s nullified and you return to normal.”

“I see… any lasting effects?”

“Well, there is the occasional sadistic snap.”

“What?”

“Basically, in high emotion scenario’s you may go bonkers and absolutely savage on the person that made you angry.”

“Oh… anything else?”

“You are far more prone to becoming a demon again.”

“I see… and what exactly makes me one?”

“Hatred, demons are also called Shadows of Hate. When someone gets so consumed by hatred that they can only see the target, their demonization begins. When it’s completed, they spread that hate to everything. They can’t see beyond it.”

Then I thought of something.

“Why is the Hunter so unique in that regard?”

She looked at me slightly impressed.

“You know to ask that… Well, the Hunter became a demon in a different manner than most. His was closer to Mordred’s transformation than the typical.”

“How did he?”

She looked at me.

“Right, can’t tell me that… should I tell Gramps?”

“If you want to get slapped then suplexed.”

I grimaced; Gramps would definitely do that.

Then I sighed.

“Why did you react so harshly when I showed you the markings?”

Then she looked at me.

“Because there are beings that would want you because of them, your importance is continuously rising, Child of Amelia, you are even now immortal.”

“Immortal?”

“Demons are ageless, meaning that since you now have a piece of demonic energy in you, you are immortal, you can no longer physically age.”

“So… I could be with Taury forever, now?”

She sighed with a smile.

“You really are optimistic… at least, you try to be.”

“It’s better to hold the light to the point it hurts than to fall into the darkness.”

“Well said, Child of Amelia.”

“Well, thank you for the information, I should get back.”

“It was good to speak to you.”

I returned to the apartment and sat on the couch.

I sighed deeply, then I stretched out my right arm, and claws shot out.

The markings glowed as I examined the claws.

“So… I am becoming more demonlike… that isn’t good.”

I smiled to myself.

“I won’t fall that easily.”

Then I got ready for school. It was Monday morning, after all.

_

Taury was sitting on my head, we had the pizza she bought for breakfast, and then headed to school, this time we left Ruby with Roman, so they could practice control.

I walked through the hallway with a smile, Grace did a good job fixing the damage from the fight. Of course, there was still a couple open place’s from Ruby’s fire.

I smiled; my little girl was powerful.

“Hi William!”

A random person waved at me, so I waved back with a smile, the person flushed.

I walked into my math class and took my seat, people looked at me.

“Wow… he looks different.”

“Yeah, more confident.”

“What are those markings on his arm?”

“Did he get a tattoo?”

I smiled at the gossipers.

“Hello, ladies, what’cha talking about?”

“Uh… n-nothing?”

I looked forward and saw the professor giving a confused look at me.

“Alright? Well, let’s begin class.”

_

I excelled in a lot of classes now. In science, I made a perfect concoction using a combination of earth and water magic. I got to lunch and Aoi decided to latch onto me.

“William, you’re being weird.”

“I am?”

“Yeah, you’re being too up and above. It’s weird.”

“How?”

“You’re normally calmer and less… vwoomf.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yeah, it’s like you entered an emo stage.”

I snickered.

“I became an emo?”

“Yeah, you’re being goofy and flirty.”

“Flirty?”

“Yeah, you’re acknowledging everyone now instead of just a few people.”

“I thought I already did that.”

“No, now you’re going overboard on it. Plus, the markings are drawing attention.”

“I know, and I wish they wouldn’t, but it’s not like I can remove it.”

“Just be a bit more normal for you, okay?”

“Okay, I’ll try.”

Aoi smiled and hugged me harder.

_

“And suddenly he’s back to normal.”

“Yeah, wonder what happened?”

“I heard that the climby girl told him he’s being weird.”

“Think they’re dating?”

“I mean, they live together.”

“They WHAT?!”

“Is there a problem, Mr. Henderson?”

The history sub looked up. Ms. Pan still hadn’t returned, after school, I had to ask Maven if she knew where she was.

“Did you know that William and Aoi live together?”

“They do? Is that my business?”

And then one person.

“Isn’t she underage?”

I nodded.

“Aoi is 16, yes.”

“You’re gross.”

I looked at the person and smiled.

“Why do you assume it’s romantic? We have absolutely no interest in each other.”

Aoi was raising a brow and nodding.

“Yeah, besides, he already has a girlfriend.”

A girl looked with mild shock.

“He does?”

Aoi nodded.

“Yeah, and she’s pretty, and tall.”

Then one person.

“Is it Teresa?”

Aoi blinked.

I smiled.

“Yep.”

Then I looked at Aoi who quickly realized that it was a fake name for Taury.

“No way, someone that hot would never go for someone like you.”

Then one moron,

“Isn’t it obvious, he’s probably paying her to be with him.”

I laughed.

“Wow, you really think someone like that can be bought. Did you forget what happened last night?”

Someone laughed.

“Yeah, you got in a fight with a rock star over a girl.”

“Over Teresa, because she flat out refused to be won over by him, and he still insisted.”

Someone nodded.

“Yeah, that’s what I heard her and the guitarist talking about. They apparently knew each other.”

“Yeah, she had some history with that group, and Daniel could not get over the fact that she wasn’t interested in him, so he thought I must’ve done something.”

“Yeah, that makes sense.”

Taury already updated me on Ruby having Control, so I was unsurprised to see what the people remembered.

Then someone smiled.

“He hurt you pretty bad though.”

“He was worse off.”

“Uh… yeah, but still.”

“And I’m up and well. That’s more than can be said for Daniel.”

Then one person spoke.

“Yeah, and then that one kid popped up.”

“Yeah, she called Daniel, ‘Papa?’, I think.”

“Ruby is not his.”

The guy flinched and looked at me and my look.

“S-sorry, who’s is she?”

“Ruby is my kid.”

I smiled, then one guy.

“Goodness, he even knocked her up, this guy has awesome pull.”

I flushed deeply.

“I- uh… mmmm…”

Taury felt like a furnace on top of my head, she was also deeply blushing.

I wasn’t able to explain without fully explaining magic and atronachs, so I was stuck in a situation and Aoi was snickering, fully recognizing it.

“By the way, its the oddest thing, despite that whole scenario, many people still are on his side.”

I sighed.

“Though a scumbag he may be, he’s a massive sweet talker.”

“Was he that vulgar?”

Aoi nodded,

“And he went for me first, too. He’s a jerk.”

“Woah...”

A bunch of the students were thinking about that. The famous singer, a womanizer. Honestly not sure what they expected.

Humans were quite vile in their behavi…ors…

I snuck a look at the mark on my arm to see that it lightly expanded, but, as though it was scared of my attention, it faded back into the small mark.

I sighed, then raised my eyes up, Taury also noticed the markings. She gave me a concerned look then started looking back at the teacher.

I understood the whole demon scenario, but some parts still eluded me. How did become a demon make me, not only stronger, but able to decimate Zeus? If Hatred is the catalyst, then why does the Hunter care for Mordred…

Why did I, as a demon, care for Ruby?

_

I sighed as I entered the nexus. I needed more answers, and I already knew the Artifact wouldn’t help me, so I needed someone who may actually have the equipment to do so.

I appeared in a gym and walked over to Astella.

“Ah, my king! It’s good to see you again. What is it that you need?”

Looking at the minotaur, I realized that if she didn’t do the royal challenge, I may have became a demon there.

“Um, can we talk?”

I looked at eavesdropping minotaurs.

“Privately? It’s important.”

She sat up and put down the treadmill.

“Sure, come with me to my office.”

I followed her and she sat down in her chair.

“Please, have a seat, your majesty.”

I sat in the chair she provided, and she smiled.

“So, what is it that you need?”

I rolled up my sleeve.

“What do you know about these markings?”

She looked at the demon markings with confusion.

“I’ve never seen anything like this before. My king, could you please tell me what they are?

I sighed deeply.

“Alright, but don’t panic.”

“I don’t know why I would, but okay.”

“They are demonic markings.”

…

“... What?”

She showed a look of deep confusion, so I decided to explain.

“Have you ever met Zeus?”

“There’s an actual Zeus? I honestly thought it was a few people together.”

“Yes, there is, but anyway, he’s essentially the scumbag of all scumbags.”

“Makes sense.”

“Well, he decided to harass Taury, so I fought him.”

Her eyes widened.

“Wait… you’re talking about the Light Atronach… aren’t you?”

“Yes.”

“My king, with all due respect, DO YOU HAVE A DEATHWISH?!!”

I winced, I couldn’t say I didn’t expect that reaction.

“Alright, well we fought and he was beating me up, then I actually managed to genuinely hurt him.”

She looked at me in admiration.

“Wow… to be able to hurt a light atronach…”

“Yeah, he was also impressed, so impressed, in fact, that he ripped my arm and leg off again.”

She winced.

“Why does that keep happening to you?”

“I don’t know, anyways, then Ruby… you don’t know who Ruby is, do you?”

“Nope.”

“She’s an atronach that was made by a combination of my and Taury’s magic, causing a hybrid atronach.”

Her eyes widened.

“A h-hybrid?!”

“Yes, so, Ruby came up and told him to stop.”

“Oh no…”

“He took notice… and…”

I felt anger at the memory, my arm began to spread black and Astella shivered.

“That filth offered Taury’s freedom in exchange for my daughter.”

“Y-y-your majesty, p-please calm down.”

I realized and calmed myself. My arm returned to normal, and I sighed.

“Sorry…”

I put my head in my hands.

“Anyways, that happened… and I… turned.”

Astella looked confused.

“Turned?”

I looked at her and put my arm back on the table. I gave a serious look.

She looked at my arm in confusion… at the markings. She thought, looking from my face to my arms, then what looked like denial spread across her face, then fear and confusion.

“My king… please tell me, I have to be wrong, you didn’t turn into a… turn into a d… huuu.”

“I did.”

With my simple words, she went slack, leaning back in her chair, she gave an empty look to the ceiling.

“A demon… how are you human still?”

She looked back at me.

“Because, before the transformation could finish, Taury drop-kicked me, breaking her own leg, but knocking me unconscious.”

“That’s good… I was scared.”

“Yeah, if she didn’t… I don’t want to think what could’ve happened.”

“What happened to Zeus, did he just take off when you started becoming a demon.”

I gave a dark smile.

“He tried to, at least.”

She got my meaning, and I could see her pale underneath the brown fur.

“You… defeated… the light atronach… You?”

“Yes, becoming a demon made my power skyrocket to where even he couldn’t keep up.”

“Wow… that… that’s terrifying.”

“I suppose.”

“So, what did you need with me?”

I gave a serious look.

“I need you to do research into these marks, as much as you can find, and if you find something, report directly to me, I’ll give you access to my nexus point.”

“Thank you, my king. I will make you proud.”

Knowing that she had her assignment understood and in progress, I headed back to my realm.

I entered my flat and saw Jones having tea with Brent and Aoi. Taury was sitting on the table.

“Ah, to what do I owe the displeasure.”

I still didn’t like Jones.

“Hi Brent.”

Jones sighed.

“I have two things, first, we got you an actual house, second, one of our executives wants to meet you.”

“Why?”

“Well, let me put this simply, you are able to intimidate Morgan, you have the ears of one of the most powerful fey, and you child is able to cause an earthquake with a yawn. He wants to recruit you.”

“And… why would I work for him? The Order has nearly gotten me killed several times.”

Jones sighed.

“Because you do need allies, you can’t think that Morgan will allow you to simply exist. She will take action, by joining us, you’d nullify a lot of risk.”

I snorted.

“Do you really think you are that strong? A single demon would be able to overwhelm your entire force, and I have hundreds, no, thousands of demons that will come for me. And if Morgan does too, you’d all die before being able to breathe once. So, tell me, what would I gain by aligning with you.”

Jones looked at me with, to his credit, no fear. It was clear that he was used to dealing with higher fey.

“Even if we can’t do much, even if we would be taken down by the weakest of your enemies, we have something that they don’t have.”

I raised a brow. Brent also looked curious.

“Oh? Well, do tell me, what do you have.”

“We have guns.”

I snorted. Jones smiled.

“Okay, that’s fair…”

“What?”

Jones looked at my expression.

My eyes widened. Then I smiled.

“You know what? Sure, take me to this meeting.”

_

I sat in the chair, Taurael sat on my shoulder, and a man sat before me.

His black hair brought notice to his golden eyes. His brown skin was smooth, while showing muscle. This man was strong.

“I assume you are the executive?”

He looked at me.

“You don’t look powerful, but that aura. Also, why is there a pixie with you?”

“My associate doesn’t split from me.”

“She could tell Morgan.”

I smiled.

“Trust me, she won’t.”

“I’m going to need proof for that.”

I smiled at the man.

“How about an assurance?”

“An assurance?”

I smiled.

“There are a few things. I could put earplugs in her ears, make her not focus on the event, or… I could give you her name.”

Only Brent knew that it wouldn’t work, but as for Jones and this guy, it was like I was giving them the keys to the kingdom. The only thing that confused them, was how casual about it Taury was.

Then he narrowed his eyes, so I smiled.

“How do I know you won’t give me a fake one?”

I smiled even wider.

“I suppose you wouldn’t. But, let me put this quite simply,”

I glanced at Taury.

“She works for me.”

I looked back at the man.

“She won’t tell Morgan. You can ask Brent if you don’t believe me.”

Then the man sighed.

“Very well.”

Then he pulled up a file labeled, ‘William and the goddess Athena.’

“We heard that name belonged to her from a valkyrie who apparently knew her, so we shall call her that.”

Taury smiled.

“And you should know, I don’t work for Hestia.”

He raised a brow, as if somewhat surprised that Morgan was the grecian Hestia.

“I see. Well, fine. We can start the meeting. William Cambell, we want to hire you to the Order.”

“Oh? And why is that?”

He looked at me. It was obvious that he was fully aware that I was dangerous. He just didn’t know how much.

“Brent and Jones both speak of how strong you are, not to mention Cina noted that you were taught by the same martial arts teacher. And that rookie… what’s her name.”

“Adeline, sir.”

“Right, Adeline claims that it would be a major boon to have you on our side. Especially since you survived a point blank explosion. You’re strong, so we want you.”

I smiled.

“Interesting, now, tell me, why should I join you?”

I leaned forward, putting my elbows on the table and looking into his gold eyes. His look was neutral as if he was aware of my fey-like behavior. He was impressive.

“I’m sure Jones already told you.”

“Defense, of course, but I ask you, could your troops really defend me?”

He raised a brow.

“The beast at the woods could be defeated by our men with ease.”

I sighed.

“I don’t think you quite understand.”

I took off Grace’s amulet and the man shivered, it was clear that his relic had some way to sense auras.

I stood.

“If I join you for defense reasons, I’d be the defense. Your men, sure, may be able to take one demon, but what if ten come? What of a hundred? How do you expect to beat one thousand? Defense is not a thing that you can provide to me.”

I sat back on and replaced the amulet on to my neck with a smile.

“So, what exactly can you offer me?”

He looked perturbed by me, and Jones was pale from my show of strength. He wasn’t expecting this.

The man coughed.

“Very well, then we can provide equipment. You, in turn, will assist us in gathering information, and assist our negotiations with fey.”

“So, I get guns, and in turn, became a double agent diplomat.”

“... Pretty much.”

I smiled.

“Do you know how dangerous being a double agent is? And all you’re offering is a gun?”

The man thought for a moment.

“We will also share our research results on different fey. We have information that even Morgan wouldn’t know.”

That caught Taury’s attention, but I simply smiled.

“Give me an example.”

The man simmered in his expression, but relented.

“Spriggans have a weak point, we aren’t sure what it is, but we know they do.”

I smiled.

“Really, is that so? And, pray tell, how did you learn this?”

He smiled.

“We know an elf that gave us the information, but he wouldn’t get more specific. Our source is incredibly knowledgable about fey biology.”

I smiled.

“I also have a scientist working for me, she has told me a lot more useful information than just that spriggans have a weak point. Heck, anyone who’s been alive since the Battle of Gaia could probably tell you that.”

He glared,

“And how is your source better?!”

I gave a cheeky grin.

“I know what the Spriggan’s weakness is, and how to exploit it. I also know the weakness of several other fey species, my researcher could also easily study behaviors and find anything I want to know. Can your elf compare?”

His jaw dropped.

“Well, we can still provide a lot of weapon research…”

He was getting unsure as he realized just how ahead of the Order I was.

I was stronger, I had more intel, I even had better weaponry.

I smiled.

“Tell you what, if I say yes, I get all of your information, I get access to your top weaponry, and I will improve it, I will share more of my data, and I will assist you in some of your missions. Now, my requests, other than data and weaponry.”

I raised one finger.

“No more testing on unwilling fey.”

I raised a second.

“You won’t intervene in my personal life.”

Then I raised the third and final.

“And when I ask for it, you will come and help me, just as I will for you.”

He looked at me with a shocked expression, the first major emotion other than annoyance he showed the whole meeting.

“That… doesn’t seem like you’re joining us.”

I smiled.

“Because I’m not, I’m offering an alliance, because, to put it simply, Morgan is a threat, the demons are a threat. I’m not proud enough to think that I could beat both alone, I’m going to need allies, but I won’t become a subordinate.”

“So, an alliance?”

I nodded.

“See it as simply allying with another high fey, you guys are friends with some.”

He nodded.

“Very well, I will speak with the rest of the board, then I will call you in. In the meantime, we have fulfilled our promise and provided a house for you, Brent will help you move in.”

_

I gaped. This was massive.

“Wh-what?”

Me and Aoi were both gawking and Taury was smiling.

“Finally, a decent sized house.”

““D- DECENT?!!””

She looked at us confused.

“This is about the size of a mead hall, so, yeah, decent housing.”

I blinked.

“Sometimes, I forget you’re old.”

“HEY!”

I walked in. Brent would live with us for a week to help us get situated.

I opened the door and froze.

“Brent, what is this?”

Inside was Adeline and Cina in maid suits.

Adeline had a deep blush, and Cina was beaming.

Brent blinked.

“... They were assigned to keep an eye on you, but I have no clue about the dresses.”

Adeline’s head shot up.

“Wait, this wasn’t the uniform?!!”

She spun.

“Cina!!! You lied to me!!!”

“My master deserves the best!”

Oh, right. I forgot that Cina was made fully loyal to me permanantly. I still needed to find a way to undo that.

Aoi had a look of confusion.

“I thought you weren’t being a puppetmaster”

“I’m not, there was simply a moment where my magic got supercharged and I used it on Cina. Now… I don’t know how to fix it.”

Then Adeline saw Ruby.

“Woah… what is that?!”

She walked up and crouched. Cina looked with suspision. Her fey hatred was still encoded, even if she was coded to follow me.

“This is my daughter.”

Adeline thought.

“OH! This is Ruby?”

“Yep.”

Cina looked struck.

“Ch-child?!”

I nodded.

“Yeah, sorry.”

Adeline realized I was trying to split her from my control.

Then Cina smiled again.

“I just need to prove myself to the point you will grant me the same honor.”

Then it was as though her passion created a blazing aura,

“I will treat you all well, and be the perfect maid, until I gain your affection!!!”

…

“Goodness… I need to find out how to end the Direct.”

Adeline nodded.

Ruby walked up.

“Wow, papa, you put a lot of magic in her.”

“How can you tell?”

Ruby snickered.

“Papa being blind. Look at the lines, the magic is pouring in almost every one of her veins.”

“What?”

“Compared to Mama, who has only a bit of your magic in her veins, the maid lady is glowing with your magic.”

I blinked.

“You can see magic?”

“You can’t?”

“I only saw it twice, and both of those situations involved the Sylvian Dream.”

She looked at me and sighed. She walked up.

“Look.”

Then her eyes spiraled into a constelation and her glow permeated me.

Thus I, once more, saw the tapestry of magic.