Chapter 3 - Chapter Three

The castle halls seemed much stipper this time around? Could it be because of how long it'd been since he'd visited? Probably, maybe? Either way that wasn't what concerned him, no, what concerned him, was what his father planned to do to Barron? Where he was keeping him hidden, he wasn't exactly sure. All he knew was that he needed to find him, and quickly. He drew himself down the steep, dark, black, and brown, hallway, as the cold from the bricks chilled his bones. Even with the tiny bits of heat given off from his flames to keep him warm, still didn't seem to be enough to match Alice's cold. With her magic presence near by, he knew some way, somehow she was around. Waiting for him to turn the corner so she could get the drop on him, just like the last time, at Barron's house. This stop, he was prepared for a sneak attack. He crept down the rest of the way, until he made it to the end of the hall, the end window causing more of a breeze to slip inside the large hall, as it ran up his bare spine. Considering his green cloak had been taken from him, mysteriously during the span of the few minuets he'd passed out, before his planned execution, he added that to his list of priorities. The gift from Barron. wasn't trash. No, not trash, but a treasure, at some point he was going to have to retrieve it.

''Father?! Alice!? Where are you two hiding?! He shouted, his voice running off the side of the walls, as he kept his hands glued to the front of his body. Defence at its highest, as he waited. The simple sounds of howling winds, as it past through his short brown locks, acting as winter rain, as the cold rain drops chilled, sending freezing cold chills, to cool his muscles, followed by his bones, as he wrapped his arms around himself. Being cold, oh, how he hated the feeling. With a small pinch of one of his fingers, he was able to make a small torch, with the small amount of flames he'd created, he was able to bring a tiny bit of warmth back to his body, by running the torch up and down his arms, then his shoulders. Without the fear of being caught up in his own flames, he sighed, blowing it out, once he realized enough was enough. Once he turned to enter into the next hallway, he heard the small sounds of chuckles, then moans, screams, then pleads. He was forced to indore so many different sounds, it was almost impossible to understand who or what they were being made from.

He swallowed the tightness in his throat, as he eventually made it to the throne room. Nothing about it seemed different, from the last few times he'd gone through, only now, for some reason, the portal leading to Earth was for some reason staring at him, from across the large square room. The blue light of the shinning hue, seeming to have been much dimmer than the bright blinding light he'd remembered all those times, from having to use it. He carried a look of concern, and worry on his face as he approached it.

The red and yellow thrones of his parents staring at him from the side, as he got closer to the portal. He'd been right before. The portal's light was dimer. Much smaller, and less bright. For a moment, Edward almost lost his guard. Coming at him full force was Alice. Launching herself at him as if she'd mean't to make her blow intended to kill him, but as quickly as he could, his flames roared, and rowed down his entire arm. Sparking flames as the orange hot temperatures lit up the entire room, not only the room, but his entire body. In seconds, he was being swallowed by his flames.

His skin and hair resembled that of orange, along with his eyes, which had darkened in color, the unbreakable amounts of solar power, connecting through him, from the might of his true unleashed form. Never, in so many years, had his flames being able to take over so much, as right that moment. Seeming to have been behaved for all those years, just to be stuck waiting, for this moment. Somehow, his powers had a sense. A sense Alice and his father mean't harm to everyone. Standing tall and straight he made his way across the floor where his sister, stood, facing him, with what almost seemed to be fear.

Edward couldn't help himself but to smile at the sight of her twisted, fearful face. The moment he'd been waiting for, since the reveal of his true relationship with Barron. had finally arrived. And as he stated minuets before, no mercy. She deserves no mercy.

''So, what happens now, brother? You going to kill me? Kill me like you said you would? How'd you prashe it again, burn me alive?'' Alice teased, as she brought up his exact words from before. The same expression he had during it, right there, planed on her face.

''You can't be allowed to leave here, at least not alive, Alice....'' He cursed. ''I won't allow it. You've hurt to many people, some of those I care for! Some I don't even know! But, sadly, I guess I'll never get to know..... considering you've taken them from me..''

''You can bring Cole back, moraon?! You honestly think father would've imprisoned him, without setting up a way to bring him back?! What kind of man do you take father for!?'' She snapped angrily, blood rolling down her face, from multiple scratches and burns.

''I think he's an evil man, Alice. I honestly wish you could've seen that... I honestly don't see how your going to get redemption for this? For any of this....'' He sighed. ''I truly don't see it, sister...''

Alice groaned, then hissed something as she let out a whisper of frustration. For the first time in long, long, time, it was clear. Clear as crystal. As a wicked smile presented its self onto her face, she chuckled. A sense of wickedness beholding her, as she dropped her arms to her sides. Mostly because she realized her ice for once, wasn't powerful enough to take on her brother? Or because, that twisted smile mean't something else? Edward suddenly felt dizzy as a bomb of nasua went off in his lower stomach, rushing up to the surface, he collapsed to his knees in pain. Smoke rising from his normal body, as his bare skin burned, then sent more smoke into the air. Drips of small amounts of water rolled down his bare body. Creating a puddle underneath him, as he tried to cover himself up. The one thing he feared from before, had come true. Unleashing his true form, had burned away all his clothing. Which as low as it was, still had him wearing pants. Now, he had nothing. Shameful, wet, and broken, he sat, soaked up, the drips of blue water soaking up into the puddle he sat in, as footsteps came looming over him from behind. The echo of the vengeance he felt, brushing past his cheeks, as he found Alice's baby blue eyes.....

They were filled with happiness.

His, mercy.

Once again he'd underestimated her methods. Underestimated her allies. Nation Valley was home to so many of those, brainwashed, believing for even a second he was the awful person they'd made him out to be. And who was to thank for that, the monster and his assistance.

''How pathetic I have you looking, right now, Edward? Its honestly quiet sad to look at. No way, your going to be able to conquer up your flames with all that moist water around you. If I wanted too, I could freeze that water, then what? You'd become my personal popsicle.... I doubt that'd be fun for you, though, but again, this isn't about you anymore, sweet baby brother, no, this is about me and father now. Your nothing but the same stupid infant child he found so many years ago, infant Kal, with no parents, or family to take care of you. Abandon in that alley..... most likely to rid of you, and why? Cause no one wanted you! No one!'' She shouted her voice cursing through the brick walls of the castle throne room. Edward as time went by, found it harder to breathe, the more the water soaked into his skin. With so much water around, how could he bring his flames out to defend him?

He had to face it, he couldn't. But even though his powers weren't working at the moment, didn't mean he was beaten. There was still one thing he could do. Stay, stand, and fight with the strength of a mortal. Deep down inside, somewhere, his mortal humanity still remained. The only thing he'd been given was those lungs.... But that was one simple thing. One thing only. One number. How could that even compete with the rest of mortals he had left.

The chance he couldn't win flew over his head, but only for a second. As he rose to his feet, the leftover remains of the water, dripping and rolling down his bare thighs, as Alice rose her brow directed at him. Seeming surprised he'd was even still wanting to fight her. The pose for surrendering still couldn't apply to him. So, it would've seemed.

''Edward! Get back down!'' Shouted a voice.

''Huh?'' Edward whispered, turning his head to stare behind him.

''I said get back down! You look stupid all naked like that! Save us all the last bit of dignity you have left, and sit this one out.''

''But, Aaron? I-she's my sister? I need to do this on my own! She's my-''

''I'm going to stop you right there! Shut up and get down!'' He ordered, as he held his hand down upon his shoulder. Sending him to the ground in seconds. Catching him off guard, as he watched Aaron slowly slip past him. Proceeding to say something but froze, when something warm, soft, and fluffy, fell on his head. Staring up with his eyes, his vision was filled with the color black. Gripping the strange piece of fabric in both his hands, he laid it over his lap, staring at it from below. His eyes scanned every inch of it, as he finally realized what he was looking at.

''Where'd you get this?'' He asked.

''It was a present from my father before he left us, never did have the nerve to wear it. Seeming as you so foolishly allowed your clothing to be destroyed, thought it might be needed in this situation.'' He replied.

''That's very kind of you, Aaron..... But what about the bottoms? I highly doubt this will be long enough, at least to cover me as I stand....'' Edward let out a uncomfortable laugh, followed by a smile, as his cheeks turned bright pink.

''Don't worry about that, it might look small in your hands, but once you put it on, it'll hide everything for you. And if it doesn't? Well, it'd be a very awkward piggyback ride out of here, then won't it?'' Aaron groaned.

''Dammit! What're you doing here?! I thought Edward killed you! I was so sure of it, when he brought back your boyfriend, without you!'' Alice barked, the anger on her face moving so it was more evenly separated. Her cheeks puffed up, as her face now matched Edward's, aside from the faded out line of the shade matching a tomato, that Edward did not have.

''Oh don't worry, your highness? I'll be visiting him after I'm done with you.... And just for the fun of it, I'll try and go as slow as I can. Make sure your death isn't to quick..... Then after everything, I'll bring my friends home... where I'll never move from the couch again.'' Aaron breathed.

Once Edward made sure the cloak was covering everything he needed too, he was up and standing again. Most of the water had been completely soaked up now, so only a little bit of the substance remained. Nothing to worry about though. Aaron nodded at Edward as the two shared a smile between one another. ''I'm going to get Barron, something's telling me I know where father took him.''

Aaron nodded as he turned his attention to Alice. A evil, yet twisted expression, replacing the loving smile he'd just shared. Edward was past his sister in seconds, disappearing through the portal...

Where the air was toxic, and very survivable. Even though he was aware of the harsh conditions on the planet, he needed to go there. There wasn't any time to waste. Nor could he abandon the one true family member he had. Barron wouldn't have left him, if things were reversed. On his way, to the dark, cold, planet, home to that of the enemy nation.

Demon Nation.