### Chapter 21: A Father's Wrath
The streets of Hell were always dangerous, but Kael, despite being only five, had grown somewhat used to the chaos. He walked with a slight bounce, his little wings fluttering behind him as he made his way to Hell's preschool. He was in a good mood—his mom had packed him his favorite lunch, and his dad had even managed to give him a quick "Have a good day, kid" before he left.
But as Kael turned down a shadowy alley that cut his usual route in half, his mood shifted. The alley was eerily quiet. Too quiet.
"Hey, kid," a gravelly voice called out from the darkness.
Kael froze, his tiny fists clenching. From the shadows emerged a group of demons, their eyes glowing red and their grins menacing. They were tall, with horns that curled like ram's horns and claws that looked sharp enough to tear through stone.
Kael took a step back. "I... I have to get to school."
One of the demons chuckled, stepping closer. "You're not going anywhere, little one. Do you know how much someone would pay for the Prince of Hell's son?"
Kael's eyes widened. "Leave me alone!"
He turned to run, but they were faster. The leader of the gang reached out and grabbed him by the back of his shirt, yanking him off the ground.
"Stop squirming, brat," the demon snarled, shaking Kael like a rag doll.
Kael screamed, his small voice echoing through the alley. "Help!"
And then, like a shadow cutting through the faint light, there was movement. Fast. Deadly.
Before Kael could blink, the gang leader's hand loosened, and Kael dropped to the ground.
*SQUELCH.*
Kael looked up just in time to see the demon's head hit the ground, separated cleanly from his body. Blood sprayed the alley walls like a macabre painting.
Standing there, blade in hand, was Kikidori.
His crimson eyes glowed with fury, and his grin was wicked and terrifying. He twirled the bloodied blade in his hand like it was a toy. "You picked the wrong fucking kid, asshole."
The remaining gang members took a step back, their bravado crumbling in the presence of the Prince of Hell.
"W-we didn't know he was yours!" one of them stammered.... Which was obviously a lie because not even a minute ago the leader was talking about how it would be to sell the kid of the prince of hell
"Doesn't fucking matter," Kikidori growled, his voice low and dangerous. He lunged forward, faster than they could react, and in a matter of seconds, the alley was painted with more blood. Limbs and bodies dropped like broken marionettes, each hit accompanied by a sickening *squelch*.
Kael stood there, wide-eyed but oddly calm.
When the last demon fell, Kikidori turned to his son, his blade dripping with blood. He crouched down, his expression softening ever so slightly. "You okay, kid?"
Kael nodded slowly. "Yeah."
Kikidori wiped his blade on one of the fallen demon's tattered clothes and sheathed it. "Good."
Kael looked at the carnage around them—bodies, blood, and a faint smell of burnt flesh. He didn't flinch. Instead, he looked up at Kikidori and said, "Thanks for saving me, Dad."
Kikidori smirked, ruffling Kael's hair. "Anytime. Just don't tell your mom about this, yeah? She's already on my ass enough."
Kael nodded solemnly. "Okay."
Kikidori picked him up, spreading his dark wings. "Let's get you to school before anyone else tries to pull some stupid shit."
As they soared through the air, Kael glanced back at the alley one last time. He had just seen his father brutally murder an entire gang of demons.
But instead of feeling scared or upset, Kael felt... safe.
End of Chapter 21