This is the final chapter of this series, I hope you guys have enjoyed. I may return to Ashley and Alex one day but I have ideas for other stories planned. Please give me feedback on what you enjoyed, what I could improve and whether you liked the series or not as it would help me learn how to write better in the future!
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The pair finished their food before Alex washed up and Kono cleaned the counters. Just as he was putting his plate on the draining board Alex felt his stomach lurch as his body tingled. It felt like he'd been hit with large spike of adrenaline. He heard a clatter from behind him and he spun round to find Kono staring at him strangely. The kitchen filled with bangs as multiple pairs of footsteps came rushing down the stairs. Meg and Corvac ran in first quickly followed by Ashley.
"What's going on?" She asked frantically as the three demons stared at Alex. Alex looked down at himself and other than the strange feeling that had mostly passed, couldn't figure out anything wrong with himself.
"This is bad," Corvac said finally.
"What is?" Alex asked feeling rather anxious all of a sudden.
"Do you feel anything?" Corvac asked.
"I felt a bit funny a moment ago and I suppose I feel sort of tingly but it was only for a moment," Alex replied.
"Yeah well to us it was like some magical bomb had just gone off," Corvac replied.
"What does that mean?" Ashley asked.
"I'm not sure but if I had to guess I would say that Alex's powers are beginning to manifest as Lucifer gets free," Corvac proposed.
"Which is great for defeating Lucifer, not so good for keeping Alex safe in the mean time," Kono chimed in.
"Why not?" Ashley asked.
"Because that kind of power will be like a beacon to every demon nearby and as it grows, it'll become stronger and soon every demon in the city will feel it," Corvac answered.
"So what do I do? How do I stop it?" Alex asked.
"I don't know if you can. Lets try these," Corvac replied as he pulled the pair of magical shackles from his pocket. Alex held out his wrists and Corvac placed them on him and snapped them shut before stepping back. The three demons look at Alex before looking at each other and shaking their heads.
"I guess they only work on demonic magic," Meg sighed as Corvac removed the shackles.
"Kono try hitting him," Ashley suggested. Kono gave her a confused look and Ashley gestured for her to do it. With a shrug Kono walked up to Alex and thumped him hard on the arm.
"Ouch!" Alex cried out as he rubbed his arm. "What was that for?"
"I wondered if your powers would protect you from demons like they did from Azalith. You didn't even realize you had them then and they stopped her wing from killing you, I thought now they are manifesting they might do the same if Kono hit you," Ashley answered apologetically.
"She has a point, if your powers don't protect you from demons and you're currently growing into a beacon for every demon in the vicinity, you're in trouble. Let me check something," Corvac said as he walked out of the room. The group waited as they heard the front door open and close as he stepped out and again as he came back in.
"Anything?" Kono asked.
"I could barely sense him from outside, any demon walking past would notice something strange about the house but wouldn't think much of it. If he grows any more powerful though it'll be a problem," Corvac answered.
The group spent the next hour coming up with solutions. Hiding Alex somewhere in the world was discussed, somewhere far away like the middle of the desert, but Corvac shut that idea down as once he was at full strength it was likely any demon on the same half of the planet as Alex would sense him. Corvac tried numerous spells to mask Alex's aura but none of them worked either. They were running out of ideas when Meg had a suggestion.
"I have an idea but you won't like it," Meg spoke up looking at Alex and Corvac.
"What is it?" Alex asked.
"Well I don't know if it will work or if my body could handle it but we could try merging you into me," Meg offered.
"Is that possible? Wouldn't a demon body hosting the power of God be a very bad thing?" Alex replied.
"It's possible. Your body would be magically merged into Meg, it would still contain your powers. Her body would be like a shell that would contain that vessel and hopefully mask its aura," Corvac theorized.
"I'll need a lot more power than I have now though," Meg added.
"I can help with that," Corvac chimed in.
"Is this really the only option I have?" Alex asked.
"Unless you can think of something else it may be, that's if it even works," Corvac answered.
"Well that ruins my plans for this evening," Ashley chuckled. Alex had forgotten all about that. His day of relaxing and enjoyment was quickly turning into one of anxiety and stress.
"How long would this be for?" Alex asked. He wasn't exactly afraid of being in a demons body but he wasn't excited about the idea. He had been in other peoples bodies before but being in a demons body without being in control felt a lot like signing himself up for a rough time.
"From the rate your power is increasing and my estimates about the spell, Lucifer will be free by the end of tomorrow. I can't be more specific than that but once he is free we will know, every demon will know. Once he's out, we can go straight to him and hopefully end all this," Corvac replied grimly.
"Fine let's do it then," Alex resigned.
The demons spent some time preparing as Ashley and Alex watched. Alex was sat with Ashley kneeling behind him, her arms draped over his shoulders and her chin resting on his head. She didn't want to admit it but she was worried about him. They watched as Corvac siphoned as much power from himself and Kono into Meg as they could spare before they turned to Alex.
"Ready?" Meg asked with a wicked grin. Despite the potentially world ending events that could take place the next day she seemed to be enjoying herself. Alex stood up and kissed Ashley before turning to Meg. She reached out her hands and hesitantly Alex grabbed hold. As soon as his hands made contact with her skin it felt as if the whole world had melted around him and his body was being sucked through the hose of a vacuum cleaner. All that only lasted an instant and he found himself looking out from Megs eyes. He could feel her body, the power flowing through it and the cool air against her bare skin.
"Did it work?" Ashley asked.
"Yeah, I think so," Corvac replied.
"I can't sense him either," Kono joined in.
"It worked, Alex is in here," Meg answered. Her voice sounded strange to Alex, muted slightly compared to how he was used to hearing it.
"Alex are you ok?" Ashley asked looking at Meg.
"I'm fine," Alex replied. He wasn't sure how he replied but it felt like he was talking despite having no physical form inside Megs mind.
"He says he is fine," Meg repeated causing Ashley to sigh in relief.
"And what about you?" Corvac asked Meg.