Both Zara and the demon chief turned to look at Pierre with surprised expressions as the room fell silent.
Martine meanwhile glared at Pierre, her frustration evident. "What are you saying?!" She asked with indignation, "We don't have time for this, the boy is right there!" She said with a point towards Alexander.
Pierre sighed softly as he nodded, "Yeah, I see that." He replied, his tone calm and steady. "But right now, the fastest way forward isn't to take him, at least not yet."
The demon chief nodded in agreement, "Indeed, this is a situation that had been delicate from the very beginning," he then turned towards Zara and Alexander, a soft smile playing on his lips. "Zara has cared for Alexander, going to extraordinary lengths to ensure his survival, I believe she deserves a proper goodbye at minimum."
Zara's trembling slowed as she held Alexander close, unwilling to loosen her grip.
She looked toward the demon chief with a hesitant hopefulness. "Can I keep him?" She asked again, her words slow and soft.
The demon chief shook his head slowly, "No, not here." He admitted, but I'll ensure you get a goodbye, that I promise." He said, placing a hand on his chest.
Zara looked down, her lip quivering as she gave a solemn nod. "O-Okay." She whispered, her tears rolling down her cheeks, as her arms went limp and her tail unraveled.
Martine breathed a hesitant sigh of relief as she took a weighted step back. "Ha," she chuckled softly, "finally…"
Pierre glanced at her, a look of conflict flickering in his eyes. "Don't." He whispered sternly.
The demon chief reached to embrace Zara, before gently pulling her off the bed and into his arms.
Zara allowed herself to be pulled away, letting out a soft whimper, her tail limp and body still.
As the demon stood with Zara cradled in his arms, Zara looked to have been truly defeated, as if her world was crashing down around her."
The demon chief let out a long sigh as he headed towards the room's exit, his steps slow and deliberate.
"Come downstairs when the boy awakens, I have things I wish for him to have, along with the girl Mimi." He spoke as he walked towards the exit, his words holding no emotion.
Pierre nodded understandingly, "You have my word." He replied.
The demon chief didn't look back, instead, he quietly stepped out of the room, leaving the royal blades and Alexander alone.
Martine let out a shaky breath as she looked towards Alexander, who peacefully slept with a slightly saddened expression.
"We've done it Pierre, we've completed the mission." She said with a victorious grin, yet as she smiled to herself, something within her felt wrong.
Pierre remained silent, his gaze fixated on Alexander's quiet, sorrowful expression. His jaw tightened as his eyes narrowed. Unease settled over him as he had just committed a crime against the boy.
Martine turned to look back at Pierre, who was heading towards the left wall.
Martine spoke again. "What are you doing?" She asked, her tone skeptical, "We need to leave, we have Alexander."
"Why?" Pierre asked, crossing his arms as he closed his eyes. "Her majesty can wait, I'm not in a rush to seal this boy's fate."
Martine frowned as her victorious grin dissipated, "What are you saying, you don't actually trust that demon right?" She asked, her tone almost desperate, "right?!"
Pierre sighed, "I do actually, I trust him more than headquarters, more than Her Majesty." He admitted.
Martine's eyes widened, before quickly shifting to become hardened. "That's… Pierre, I don't like what you're saying, are you wanting to defy orders, to betray your kingdom for a damn demon?"
Pierre opened his eyes, his calm demeanor cracking slightly as he stared at Martine. "I would never betray Her Majesty, no matter the order." He answered before his expression became doubtful. "But," Pierre glanced at Alexander, "I don't have to be a monster either, and neither do you."
Martine was taken aback by Pierre's words, her expression becoming confused. "Monster?" She echoed, "We're doing what's necessary, what's needed for survival."
Pierre let out a bitter chuckle as he closed his eyes, leaning his head on the wall. "You don't even believe that, but I'm done." He replied, "Make your choice Martine, I won't stop you."
"What choice?!" Martine asked, stepping towards Pierre, "What choice do I have?!"
Pierre ignored her.
Martine gritted her teeth as he looked towards Alexander. Her fists clenched as she stared at the boy's peaceful yet sorrowful expression. Martine's instinct screamed for her to take the boy and complete the mission.
Yet she hesitated, Pierre's words circling in the back of her mind stirring doubt.
It was then she realized she couldn't do it, she couldn't finish the mission, not without Pierre.
"Dammit Pierre," Martine whispered to herself as she approached a chair beside Alexander's bed. "I can't believe I'm doing this."
Martine sat down with a heavy sigh as she shook her head. "This is treacherous, akin to backstabbing the kingdom itself."
Pierre nodded. "Perhaps."
Martine then turned towards Alexander, who looked to be shivering. He must've grown cold without Zara holding him.
Without much hesitation or thought, Martine removed her cloak and draped it gently around Alexander.
As she tucked the cloak around him, her expression softened. "We won't mention any of this on file, right?" She asked curiously.
Pierre smirked, "mention what?"
Martine chuckled softly. "Right."
— — —
Back to the present, right after Alexander had woken up.
Who the fuc–
Alexander's face scrunched up as he was greeted by the strange woman pressing a hand down on his chest.
"Don't move, you're just waking up." The woman said with a soft chuckle.
"Who are you?!" Alexander asked in a slight panic, "Where am I? Where–" Alexander abandoned his millions of questions as he began to examine the room.
He was in a small modest room, with little furniture and no windows. There was only a bright illuminating orb hanging from the ceiling and a strange man leaning against the left wall.
Who is that?!?
Closing his eyes Alexander tried to remember the last thing that happened to him, but all that came to mind was him falling face-first into the dirt.
"Hey, just relax Alexander." The woman said again, her voice calm and soothing. "You're safe now, I promise."
Alexander's eyes snapped open as he looked back at the woman, her calm gentle expression anchoring him in the moment.
With a slow breath, Alexander asked his first question again. "Who are you?" He asked, not sure of how much danger he was in. His heart was racing and his body still felt weak.
"I'm Martine, a royal blade of the Ambur kingdom." The woman said, placing her other hand over her chest. "And I'm here to take you home."
Home?
That word sounded almost foreign, Alexander hadn't been "home" in a while.
But, if this woman was truly from the Ambur kingdom then he knew he was safe. "I see," Alexander whispered with a relieved tone.
"You certainly caused quite the disaster back home Alexander." The man from earlier said as he pushed off the wall.
Alexander quickly turned to look toward the man, "And who are you?" He asked, his expression skeptical.
Is he also a royal blade?
"I'm Pierre, and I'm also a royal blade of the Amber kingdom." He answered.
Alexander frowned briefly, curious about the fact that there were now two royal blades.
Is there a third?
Alexander hesitated momentarily, slowly proceeding with Pierre's words as he cleared the fog from his mind.
He then began flexing his fingers as he readjusted his limbs. Nothing felt broken, despite the fight with the war hound, Alexander came out relatively unscathed.
And what few injuries he did sustain, was probably healed during his Power Nap.
Pierre soon began walking towards the exit, "We should head downstairs if he can walk, meet with the demon chief."
Martine sighed as she looked down at Alexander, "Can you walk?" She asked, gently grabbing the bottom of Alexander's face as she turned his head toward her. "Any injuries or pains?"
Alexander squinted his eyes as he looked up at Martine. "No." He answered, "I'm fine."
Martine narrowed her eyes, though Alexander couldn't see it thanks to Martine's sunglasses. "Are you sure?" She asked skeptically.
Alexander raised an eyebrow.
Does this woman think I'm lying?
Alexander again shook his head. "No, I'm fine." He repeated.
Martine looked over at Pierre, who stood near the doorway with his arms crossed. "Come on, let's go."