''Edward? Are you okay?'' Edward as frozen as he was, could still feel movement, and bits of warmth, as he was shook. Hands pressing down along parts of his body, possibly trying to thaw him out. His breathing was rasphy and loud. Even though he was frozen his functions had regained full strength, and he was able to hear Barron's attempts to talk to him, although all he could move was his legs, and a few of his toes past his socks and shoes.
''Here, let me help get you warmer.'' Barron reached along Edward's shoulders, careful to remove the green, lime, cloak, and place it underneath him. Wrapping his chest, and arms with it. Then as he wrapped his arms around the warm one, Barron felt his body rocking back and forth, with Edward's head buried in his neck. Barron sighed, and continued to keep himself focused, even with the chilling, and cool temperatures of Edward's body, as it brushed past his face every few seconds. He had to admit he was getting cold, but he knew he wasn't weak, so there was no way he was going to pretend to be. He could take the cold. After everything that's happened, there was no doubt about it. He could manage a little bit of frostbite.
''This is shameful, Edward. You shouldn't need a demon to keep yourself warm. I gave you powers for a reason, how dare you taint your honour in such a manner.'' Groaned a deep voice. Barron hissed under his breath, as he turned his eyes to the sight in front of him. From where he sat, his eyes had to stare up in front of him. Where a hunting sight burned into his mind. So, it wasn't a dream.. he thought to himself. None of what had happened was a dream. Edward's sister, Alice, really had pulled the two of them into a portal. Which resulted in, Ren and Bright being left behind on Earth. His eyes widened, as he gasped, the realization hitting him almost in pieces.
Earth was a mile stone away now. He and Edward were no longer on Earth. But on the planet, Nation Valley. Edward's birth home. The person in front of them, staring down at them, with hatred carrying past his eyes, was the king. King Barden, Clark. The first leader, and founded of Nation Valley. Run the throne alongside his wife, Queen Jewel. First name, no one ever knew. Their daughter, Alice Clark, stood, with the same amount of hatred, her father had.
Although, she seemed to have a little bit of joy at the same time. Mostly, she liked to watch her brother suffer. That had to be the case. Stories about her cruel crimes, were beginning to look believable, now.
''My son, how long are you going to pretend to be weak? Surely by now, you've regained your powers, have you not? What happened to that mission, I couldn't get you to shut up about? Is your silence telling me, you failed?'' King Clark hissed angrily through a breathe of frustration.
''Why do you proceed to talk to him like that! He is your son? Where's your respect!'' Barron snapped, the grip he held around Edward's body tightening, the more anger he felt, and the more defence he felt he needed, to protect them both. If worse became worse, Barron was sure he could trust in Edward's powers. The friendship between the two, had only grown stronger, in those recent days.
''He'll regain my respect once he stops acting like an infant, and looks me in the eye like a man! With you having to comfort him like that, makes me see him as nothing more than the mortal he once was.....'' Barron's eyes shifted from angered to confused. The king, the king had used the term ''mortal'' to talk about Edward? But Edward wasn't mortal? No way, there was no way a mortal could even begin to use powers like Edward had. No way at all. And Barron knew the terms in which the planet runs on. No moral shall be able to breathe the air on Nation Valley, it was the reason so many humans had been casted to Nation Valley, during the wars. To rid of the population problem, before the nations became divided and separated. There was once a time where humans used to live freely with some creatures from the nations.
The few nations who still lived with mortals, were The Spark Nation, Air Nation, Water Nation, and the last one, The Demon Nation. Although, war broke out, and the humans were taken out. Most however, had been able to flee to Earth, in order to escape what awaited them if they hadn't.
None of this made any sense to Barron. He was confused, but more importantly, very confused. Could there be more to Edward than everything he told him? Was he being betrayed like Aaron had been?
''Why do you use the word ''mortal'' to describe your son? Surely he's you son from birth, isn't he?'' Barron questioned.
''Edward Clark, is a fake name.'' The king replied, shifting himself back in the oversized throne, in which he sat comfortably in. His daughter, Princess Alice, standing next to him. A joyful glare presented itself inside her eyes, as Barron dreaded the words he took in next.
''Edward isn't my true son, not my blood, not even by birth. My wife only created two children. My daughter, Princess Alice, and my bastard, Prince Cole. After Cole was locked away in the temple located on Mars, I had to find a way to keep my gulit from destroying me. As you probably learned by now, warm and cold ones powers run on their emotions. My wife gulited me every single day, my Cole spent imprisoned, so in order to make myself feel better, I visited Earth. Where to my surprise, I found two infant children. Two baby boys. I knew their names the minuet I saw them. Edward..... Although their names had been stitched into the blanket in which they were wrapped up in. Kal, and L. What trashy names, I couldn't bring myself to call my new son, Kal, so I changed his name. To a proper name befitting royalty, Edward, and I took him back here.''
''But you should've known he wasn't going to survive! The air here is different than on Earth! You were setting him up to die!'' Barron shouted, unable to keep himself quiet as he was forced to take in the awful truth. So much worse than he'd ever thought. Nation Valley, truly had dark, secrets. How no one ever found out them, before him, disgusted him.
''I was fully aware of the fact that humans couldn't breathe the air here, so I cashed in a favor. A close friend of mine, owed me a favor. Which you'll probably hate your family after I tell you this, demon, but it was your father who owed me this favor..... You'd better believe my words, for none of this is lies. Your father helped me perform a surgery transfusion, which proceeded as removing Edward's human lungs, with lungs from a barely breathing cold one. During this time, the vampires had taken part of our land for themselves, and thought it to be a game, and attack a young cold one, who'd just so offend to be hanging out with some friends, before the attack. His body was badly damaged. At the time, I knew he wouldn't survive, so I helped myself to his lungs. Which then, got placed into my infant mortal son..... In the end, he was able to grow up just like any normal warm one. Later, he developed his powers. And became a royal figure...''
''My father wouldn't do that! Bastard-he wouldn't do such a thing! He hates your guts, he always hated your kind! Why the hell would he agree to help a heartless bitch like you!'' Barron snapped, the tightness in his throat increasing, as he suddenly found it hard to take in another fresh breath of air.
''He helped me, because I presented him with something. A living something. As you probably forgotten, I found Edward on Earth, alongside another baby. His brother, I assumed, at first. What you didn't care to realize earlier, demon, was that.... the baby grew up to be a demon. A sixteen year old demon, who would later be lucky enough to get two other brothers, both who'd love him without the knowledge that they shared no blood between them. That baby, is you, you stupid little bastard! You are Edward's brother! Do you understand everything now? Have you considered the facts, that have presented themselves in front of you?'' Hissed the king.
Barron who'd stopped listening seconds ago, was completely in shock. His body was trembling, and his breathing seemed to turn to ash. The feeling of tightness growing in his chest, only grew tighter, as his pulse weakened, from the cold, that run up his arms, from Edward frozen body. With little movement he could perform, Edward suddenly found his eyes. Together the two, embraced one another, this time, in a different way. This different, it was revealed to them, they hadn't been made just to be friends, but forever, to find themselves, as brothers again. Barron shifted himself from his recent position, as he gasped, feeling shifting from Edward, as he suddenly got himself up and away from Barron. Barron suddenly reached his hand out to reach for him again. but was stopped. Pausing with his hand half in the air, as Edward smiled a loving smile at him.
''Its a little chill, nothing to fear.'' He whispered. Barron nodded as he understood, allowing Edward to be on his own, as he stood. His legs trembling, and shaking as he tried to control his balance. Even though this, he has a sharp glare behind his eyes, as he stared up at his father.
''I always somehow knew, you were lying to me about something big. I just never thought of this..... But I guess I should've, right? I guess it was beneath me to ever think anything worse of you, then what I already thought? How foolish I was to think you were ever my father. To think you just used me as a way to take pain away from the selfishness you faced, while locking away my stepbrother!'' Edward snapped angrily. ''And I thought Alice was the only murderer in this family, you put that innocent cold one to death, and gave me his lungs, and for what! To have me life as your replacement son?! Do you know sick that sounds?!''
Alice hissed something under her breath as she met Edward's sharpened gaze. The two took in one another, as Alice proceeded down the pair of stairs, separating him and her, now able to make whatever was going to happen fair. The level was fair now, once Alice and Edward were face to face. Even though Edward was the youngest, from her and Cole, he still has his strength. Plus his knowledge. Everything he'd learned from his time on Earth, had only helped him evolve. Evolve into a better warm one. The anger he felt flowing through his veins at the moment, would only help him keep his strength up. For if he unleashed his true form now, the emotion of anger he was feeling, would only act as fuel for his powers.
''You were just an abandoned, weak mortal, before father found you! Can you honestly stand here and tell me, your not greatful for everything he's done for you! You get to live as royalty! As a prince! Would you have truly cared about none of it, had you learned the truth years ago?!''
''Yes, I would. Because I've learned my truth. Why live as a ruler of evil, who hides behind so much blood, ruining a life has become a normal everyday thing, and not feel sorrow about it! I don't want to be associated with a group of damaged, horrible people, who'd object themselves in such a manner, they'd be okay with imprisoning a child, because of threatened power.'' Edward finished. ''I can't believe you'd stand here, and justify his actions, Alice! Did you stand behind him all those years back, during Cole's imprisonment as well!? During your finale goodbye, did you try to explain to him, why imprisoning him was good? Did you try to make him stand with his father even though he was never going to be allowed to leave?! Did you truly realize what you were doing! Did you truly realize after that you'd sentenced him to his own internal suffering! Can you say everything you've done, was worth it? Worth being able to be seen as a ''good daughter'' in the eyes of a man who'd in a heartbeat imprison you, or kill you, without thinking?''
''Shut up, you mindless worm! I know what I've done, and I stand for everything! I take full responsibility, and I'm telling you, here and now! I don't regret anything! I'd imprison Cole myself, if father hadn't! I'd do everything exactly the same, if father chose to keep his empathy and think twice before acting.'' She whispered.
''Your just like him, Alice. Your so much like him, its terrifying.'' Edward whispered, his gaze dropping, as he shut his eyes for a painful moment. Things were starting to become so clear to him, it was devastating to keep listening too.
''There's one last thing I don't understand...'' Barron's words came flying through the air, in seconds. Edward, who turned to stare past his shoulder, at the crushed form of Barron, frowned, as his cold eyes, searching for any sort of life behind those vibrant eyes. Shocked, and shattered deep inside, Edward came up clean. Barron's humanity!? Where had it gone?!
''If Edward is my brother, what happened to me? Why was I given to the man, who I called father, instead of becoming a part of your family? Why wouldn't you allow me and Edward to grow up together?'' He asked softly.
''Easy question, its because I couldn't afford to kill another innocent person, only to give the lungs to someone I knew, wasn't going to survive. From the beginning, I knew you were going to be the weak one. I knew you were going to be more of a bastard than Edward was. Sure I was able to turn him over, but you. There was no point in keeping a child such as you were, as my son. You'd been better off with the low class demons, on Demon Nation.'' King Clark answered.
''In other words, you were filth then, and filth still.'' Hissed Alice.
''Barron?! Barron, get a hold of yourself! Your not filth, your so far from any of what there saying, alright! Think of Ren and Bright! Their your true brothers! Don't forget their faces! Barron! Don't!''
''Those destroyed wings, stuck to your pitiful back, act as nothing but a token. A token that reflects your weakness, Barron... Your power weakens you, hurts you, destroys you? Doesn't it? The reason for that, is just because you didn't get the lungs of a warm or cold one, doesn't exactly mean you didn't receive anything. Take a quick guess on how you manage to breathe on Demon Nation? Your home planet? Think about it, the air isn't exactly far from the air here. You must've been given something to survive the air, right?'' Alice's words stabbed into his heart, as the anger, and hurt only increased, flowing through his veins. Burning holes into his invisible bones of skin,
He was shaking uncontrollably now, and his eyes were wide, and filled with shock. His only wish was to fall...
''Barron! You need to stop listening to them! Stop listening to them!'' Edward ordered, the fear in his dark colored eyes, moving to his face, as Alice launched her fist straight at him. Unable to focus, her fist connected with the side of his head, causing a few scars as the frostbite moved into those corner scars, causing the blood around them, to freeze over, as Edward was left, in a pained shock.
''You didn't.... he couldn't have...my father isn't capable of murder...he's not....'' Barron whispered softly under his breath. Unaware to the truth that the others were able to hear every single plead and beg he let out.
''Oh come now, demon? Everyone is capable of murder. And those who say no, are fools. Your father was so proud of himself once he brought you home, so was your mother. Its sad really, how for so long, even now, she never got to learn the truth, of how you'd come to her...and to add on, your father didn't just take the life of someone new. no, that fool was convinced a mortal's lungs would work if he did somethings to fix it. The first test subject, was your birth mothers.....How sorry I am, your foolish father couldn't figure out the simple contrast of mortal lungs and demon lungs? In the end, he finally decided to just kill a random demon, harbour their lungs, and transport them to you. As you stand and breathe here today, in my castle, in my home, don't you forget, who's lungs your using to breathe. Ones that have a horrible past behind them, one with tainted mortal blood...as the coat.''
''You bastard! I'll kill you! I'll kill you! I'll-'' Barron droped with sorrow to his knees. The stained feelings behind his emotions, weakening him, to the point of weakness, his body couldn't take the shock anymore. His heart was beating through all sorts of panic, Barron felt a wave of nasua flow through him. Reaching the top of his head, as he began to twitch. Uncontrol of his body was the next thing to happen. before he became droshy, and disoriented.
''Barron....'' Edward whispered, through his disappearing voice. The shock and frozen pain was the only thing he could take control of. Anything else, was beyond any strength. Keeping the ice from freezing his brain permanently, was the one thing he could do.
***
The temperature in the castle seemed to drain in seconds. The castle walls grew dim, and dimmed from their bright colors, to nothing but a shine of brown and black. The castle halls were lit with torches, as the barking and bangs, followed by groans and cries, of many people, outside the castle windows, howled and hounded through the halls. The gruesome realization hit Edward almost immediately, as he realized in seconds, what was happening to him. For some reason, he couldn't feel the ground underneath his feet. Tightness took him from behind, as his neck cramped, and the scent along his pale, blue skin, smelled that of tained, and unwashed rope. The rope was keeping his arms tied together behind his back, and doing the its job, keeping his neck and head firmly in place. The rope was tied around his neck, as he searched with his feet, he found something hard, underneath them. A stool of some sorts. Made firmly out of the hardest kind of wood, Nation Valley had to offer.
His eyes widened once he had the wind knocked out of him. The freezing remains of his sisters ice, still effected him, loosely, and weak now, but still acted as a means to keep him distracted and his focus to be on keeping himself alive. Even though, the realization hit him, after taking in the faces of some of the cold and warm ones. Their faces all lit up by the warm ones fiames, seeing no use for the torches, kept by the cold ones, who couldn't produce fire.
This was planned for him.
This was for him and him only. No signs of Barron anywhere near by, told him, the punishment was mean't to be shared by both. Which as he thought, sent a wave of relaxation to calm his muscles, and bones. He wasn't going to have to feel defenceless, as both of them die. No, this was only going to be him. Edward, Kal, prince, highness? Neither of those names mattered anymore. Soon, he'd be nothing but a distant memory, sent to the afterlife, with some stupid, stappy, message, printed on some tomb stone, in his memory.
He was to be hanged at dawn....
To be Continued