CASTYR'S POV
"NOOO!" Before I know it I am charging at the king who has a smirk on his face. I fight against Aklys as he catches me and holds me tightly, stopping me from barging at the king. "Don't you touch him," I growl. I am pretty sure I look like a furious, little cat that is clawing at Aklys.
One of the young demons steps in front of me and punches me in the gut. I let out a grunt as the demon then strikes me across the face. Determined to have me release my hold, he continues beating me until I let go of Aklys who then gently brings me to the floor.
"Stop!" Aklys growls at the demon harshly who is about to punish me more for clawing his general.
"Does our star know the infamous Ilios?" The king snarls evilly.
I just hiss at the man in response, the metallic taste of blood vivid in my mouth.
"Hmm. We shall have to use this to our advantage. Take him away while I engineer a plan." The king waves his hand as if we are pests flying around him.
Aklys brings me to my feet, shooting his officer a glare as he turns me around. The demon general sticks close to me as he escorts me back to the hall lined with cells, not letting anything touch me.
Orion looks as if he is going to pop a vein when he sees my bloody face.
"Don't worry. It wasn't Aklys," I say immediately as I walk inside our cell.
"The king?!" Orion questions with shock. The king would not hurt his most prized possession, would he?
"No. One of Aklys' soldiers."
This makes Orion even madder. "Control your men!" The angel says angrily to the demon general, making the young officer shrink back. Orion glares a hole into the perpetrator before turning to me. "Let's get you healed up, huh?"
Orion has me sit down before he snaps at the three demons standing awkwardly and apologetically in front of the cage. "Leave. I don't want to see your faces for a while."
Aklys takes one more longing look before following after his men, who are already scampering up the stairs.
"You know how to handle demons," I compliment the strong angel hovering over me like a mother duck.
"Mmm. It comes with lots of experience."
"How long have you been stuck here?" I inquire as Orion begins healing me.
The angel looks up in thought as he counts the years. "Just know it was long before you came in the star shower.
I nod. "That's a long time."
"Mm hmm."
"At least you weren't lonely."
"Yes, that is true."
"Kilo was here all alone." My heart aches as I picture Kilo lying in a cage cold and all alone.
"Kilo...Is he your guardian?"
A smile comes to my lips as I nod.
"Have you two bonded?"
I nod happily.
"Then you can see each other in your dreams. Have you seen him yet?"
I nod. "Right before you woke me up."
"Oh! Sorry," Orion apologizes shyly.
"It's okay. I got to meet you. And I'll see him again. Don't worry about it."
Orion smiles in a nod and sits beside me as he finishes healing my wounds. I wipe the blood off as I observe the prisoner two cages down. "Why is he here?" I point at the slender form curled up in a corner of his cell.
"He fell in love."
"What? Then why is he here?"
Orion looks at the sleeping form with a sad expression before explaining, "Demons are not allowed to fall in love. The king thinks it makes them weak."
"He's a demon?!" I mean, I can see it. Even though he is slender from lack of food and nutrients, one can tell he is rather tall. "Wait, I thought demons can't fall in love," I say in confusion. The only demon I have ever heard fall in love was the demon who mated with an angel and made Denzyl's kind....oh, and Aklys. Boy, that demon is whipped! Well, Denzyl is too!
"No, they can fall in love, but it is very hard for them to. They are raised being taught that emotions and love are weaknesses. Plus, it is extremely rare."
"Oh. Do you know who he fell in love with?"
"Not really. I just know it was another demon."
"Another demon?"
Orion nods as he looks at the prisoner. "I'm pretty sure the other demon is being forced to do things he/she doesn't want to do to keep him alive."
"Like Aklys." It was more of a thought, but it somehow managed to escape my lips in a whisper.
Orion hangs his head as a single tear falls. Oops. I think I just hit a major sensitive spot. I instantly shut my mouth and mentally slap myself for being careless and insensitive. Orion and I sit in silence as the exhausted prisoner continues to sleep curled up in his most defensive position.