Kylo

Xander once said brain damage is contagious. Maybe that's why I’m feeling crazy as I walk towards the castle with Aaron.

Each tree we cross seems to make me slower with uncertainty. Aaron doesn't even look intrigued anymore, let alone concerned. I always hated it when he slips into the perfect royal son role, this time it terrifies me even more.

I expect to be covered in dust when we push open the huge doors but all I see is a ballroom with candlelit chandeliers, beautifully crafted floors and false ceilings. It is hard to believe this place is abandoned for a day, let alone decades. We ignore the doors at the side leading to countless other rooms and head straight towards the grand staircase at the end of the room.

Instead of the red and black theme like the rest of the castle, the staircase is an amazing brown color which appears golden because of the fire from the chandeliers doting the ceiling like stars in the night.

Aaron takes my hand in his as we walk up the staircase even though his stoic expression never changes. We take a left turn at the top of the stairs, navigating through pristine corridors covered in old paintings and photographs as we make our way to the throne room. How Aaron knows the way is beyond my understanding, and right now I don't even care about that.

I feel Lucifer and Lillith's presence even before I see them. A few steps later, I take a deep breath as I stand in front of them, not knowing what to do next. Aaron walks away from me, towards the King and Queen of hell and settles on the throne at Lillith's left.

“You are a student at Edifice Phantoms, correct?” Lucifer asks. I know he knows who I am, but I nod anyway. His voice appears more commanding here.

“Did you cheat to secure third position in the ongoing competition?” Lillith asks without giving me a break. This seems like an interrogation rather than a normal talk.

“No.” I reply, limiting my words as much as I can to avoid saying the wrong thing.

“Did you know I have to officially make you an Elite if you come first or second?” Lucifer continues.

“What? No. Is that even a thing?” You can only die an Elite, right? It’s not possible to just be one.

Lillith grimaces, “You may go now.” I nod and bow with unstable feet as I walk out the room. That was surprisingly easy.

My thoughts are destroyed as I hear three raised voices screaming at each other inside the throne room. I’m worried about Aaron but I won't really be able to do anything if Lucifer throws me in a prison for eavesdropping. Hold on a little while longer Aaron…

I wait near the staircase until he arrives. It takes barely a few minutes before he walks out, and his stoic expression is completely wiped away. He actually looks angry. The moment he spots me, his anger seems to grow. “This was all your plan, wasn't it?” He screams at my face.

“What do you mean, ‘plan’? What happened, Aaron?” It seems as if all the concern he had for me is transfered into anger. I swear to Zion if Lucifer said something stupid, I will-

Actually, I can do nothing.

“He said you would say something like this.” Aaron scoffs, “Congratulations Kylo, I hope it was worth it.” He walks out the huge doors and for a moment it feels he is walking out of my life. I suppose the devil's son will always be a devil himself, and a devil never settles.

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The streets of Charon never seem to run out of noise. Covered with small cheap stalls on every side you look, the Charon market may as well be a city. Even though Xander, Aria and I have literally no money with us, we stop at every shop that intrigues us just because we can. 

Aria takes it one step further by bargaining the price to as low as it can get before pretending to be utterly dissappointed by the item and moving on. This one shopkeeper had even tried to see a costly item to her for barely a few coins. Xander had to pretend he was Aria's boyfriend and they had to get going to some big fancy non-existent event soon to help her out. I’m pretty sure he enjoyed playing the part. 

“As your boyfriend,” Xander starts off again, “it appears to be my responsibility to ask if you need something.” 

Aria laughs, and I see how they would be perfect for each other. “As your girlfriend, I demand you make Kylo sing the most romantic song he knows. He’s ruining the mood with that dead look on his face.” 

I beg Xander with my eyes to save me from this girl and her weird wishes. She may be the damsel and Xander the knight but I am the one in distress. “Aria, my love Kylo's singing will convert this romantic story into horror. How about we head to the Elysia forest instead?” 

Elysia was supposed to be Zion's sister city. But it is completely uninhabited, so nature decided it is it’s duty to occupy it. Where there is nature, there are lovebirds, no matter how gruesome it looks. Personally I would rather kill everyone here with my singing than go there with these two. 

I begin to feign sickness but it appears I don't have to. Looking at Aria, I can tell she really is going to be sick. Even as her lips quiver, her eyes are fixated at something, or someone ahead of us. 

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