KILO'S POV
Ithyos is silent. Even the city below offers no release from the silence. The respective lights for security are on, but other than that, the residence is pitch black. My feet make soft padding sounds as I walk up to a side door of the residence.
I draw the gun provided by Devyn from my thigh as I open the door and enter. After scanning my surroundings, I cross the wide room and enter the corridor at the opposing end. The sounds of footsteps reach my ears as I come to the end of the corridor. I stick to the wall as a guard walks past the mouth of the hallway.
I scan the guard. Hmph. Too short.
After the guard rounds a corner, I exit the corridor and continue. I enter a walkway to find myself behind another guard.
Hmmm. He'll do.
I quickly walk up behind the guard and render him unconscious before dragging him into an empty room. I exit the room dressed as a guard, making my search easier. I walk down the walkway confidently as I maneuver through the residence.
Okay, let's find the generator.
Being the guardian angel of the star of this residence, I know this place like the back of my hand. I make my way to the center of the residence and find the atrium where Castyr and I used to relax. Following the circular corridor surrounding the atrium, I come to a door leading to set of stairs.
Descending the stairs brings me to the energy generator. A railed walkway extending from the inner side of the wall of the generator surrounds the sphere of light. I am standing in the glassed-in corridor surrounding the generator. Looking through the glass and into the generator, I am able to make out a body floating in the center of the light sphere.
"Castyr."
I take a step towards the door leading into the generator but stop almost immediately. A man stands in front of the glass looking at the sphere. His blonde hair touches the nape of his neck. The man is dressed in the uniform of a major, his hands clasped behind his back.
"Who are you? Why are you here?" I question in a deep voice.
"I was wondering when you would come...Kilo." A smirk appears on the man's lips as he turns to face me.
I take in a breath as I see those honey-brown eyes. "Lennox." My brows crinkle in confusion. "W-why are you here?"
"Oh, come on, Kilo. You aren't that dumb," Lennox taunts with an eye roll.
Lennox was transferred to another city after Castyr and I fell fifty years ago. We have not seen each other since the day he came and asked me to help him service an incoming ambassador. So why is he back in Ithyos? I clench my fists as the only explanation comes to mind.
"You're the mole," I growl.
"There you go," Lennox smirks.
"Why? Why did you do it? They could have killed Castyr!"
"You mean Marc? Tsh," Lennox gives an eye roll. "It's a pity he didn't pull through. That's when I thought Hades could do a better job. Didn't think they would let him live, either." Lennox turns towards the light sphere and looks at Castyr being held in its center. "Guess I'll just have to finish him myself."
I storm over to Lennox and hold him by the collar. I bring my face close to his and stare into his eyes, searching for the boy I grew up beside and trained with. Instead, all I see are eyes filled with hatred and betrayal. Wait...why is he looking at me like that? I loosen my grip and move to take a step back, but Lennox grabs my wrist and keeps me close.
"So this is what it takes...for you to look at me."
I furrow my brows. "Lennox..."
The blonde looks up at me. His eyes are wet but still bore through me with hate.
"You asked why. Why I did everything. Why I let the traffickers in. Why I sold you out to Hades. It's because you were always with him!" Lennox tightens his grip around my wrist as his chest rises and falls rapidly. "You wouldn't even look at me anymore."
I stare at the blonde angel, baffled. How could I not have known? I was oblivious to his feelings.
"I was hoping that if Castyr was no longer here, you would...you would come back to me."
"Go back to you? Lennox, I was never with you." As much as I regret not knowing Lennox's feelings back then, I never felt that way.
Lennox stares up at me and clenches his teeth before pushing me back with a yell. The blonde draws his sword as I steady myself.
"Then I'll just have to make you be with me," Lennox growls as he readies his sword.
I reach my hand down to grab the gun only to find it missing.
"I have been waiting for this moment for years. Did you really think I would let you fight me with a gun?" I look up to see Lennox twirling the gun in his hand. "No, this is going to be just you and me like how we were before." Lennox's voice is deep and dark as he crumples the gun.
Using Lennox's attention on me and the gun as a distraction, I sneak a look at Castyr to make sure he is still alright.
"Tsh. Are you seriously looking at him right now?!" Lennox yells as he bangs his fist on the glass.
In response to Lennox's shout, I draw Ymir and prepare for his attack. But instead, the blonde jumps through the glass. My eyes widen as I realize he is going to kill Castyr. Running, I leap through the broken barrier, spreading my wings as I reach Lennox. He whirls around and slashes at me, his wings spread. I manage to evade his swipe and engage him in sword to sword combat.
I bring him down to the walkway lining the generator and draw him away from Castyr.
"Stop this, Lennox!" I call, giving the angel a chance to put an end to this struggle.
Lennox lets out a growl and charges with hard determination in response. Our swords clash, sending a wave of shock and light throughout the generator. It is not often that two angels' swords clash in combat.
Lennox looks at the source of the generator at the bottom of the basin before looking up at the light sphere. He uses his sword to push me away and leaps from the walkway. I go after him and meet him at the generator's source. If Lennox turns off the source, the light sphere will fade back into the reservoir and Castyr will fall. If he completely destroys it, the sphere will erupt, obliterating Ithyos and sustaining damage to the city.
I block Lennox's sword from striking the generator's source, but by this time, we are surrounded by Ithyos' guards. The walkway above and the outer corridor are filled with soldiers. Red dots of target lasers float over Lennox and my bodies.
"Drop your weapons!" A leading guard orders.