"No!!" Before Castyr knew it he was charging at the king who had a smirk on his face. The star fought against Aklys as the demon caught Castyr and held him tightly, stopping him from barging at the king. "Don't you touch him," Castyr growled. The star acted like a feral cat as he clawed at Aklys as he tried to rush at the king. He was furious. There was no way Castyr would allow the king to touch Ilios.

One of the young demons stepped in front of the star and punched Castyr in the gut. Castyr let out a grunt as the demon then struck him across the face. Determined to have Castyr release his hold, the guard continued beating the star until he let go of Aklys. Aklys was careful to gently bring Castyr to the floor before restraining the star's hands behind his back.

"Stay your hand!" Aklys growled at the demon harshly who was about to punish Castyr more for harming the general. Blood trailed down the star's temple and filled Castyr's mouth as the younger demon backed away upon Aklys' growl.

Castyr spit out a mouthful of blood as the king snarled evilly, "Does our star know the infamous Ilios?" Castyr hissed at the man in response, the metallic taste of blood vivid in his mouth. "Hmm. We shall have to use this to our advantage. Take him away while I engineer a plan." The king waved his hand as if the four were pests flying around him. Seeing the signal for dismissal, Aklys carefully brought Castyr to his feet and shot his officer a glare as he turned the star around. The demon general remained close to the star as he escorted Castyr back to the hall lined with cells, not letting anything or anyone touch the star.

Aklys lowered his head as he brought Castyr to stand before the angel. Orion looked as if he would pop a vein when he observed the star's bloody face.

"Don't worry. It wasn't Aklys," Castyr said immediately as he left Aklys' side and walked into the cell.

"The king?!" Orion questioned with shock as if to say 'the king would not hurt his most prized possession, would he?'

"No. One of Aklys' soldiers," Castyr explained as he wiped away the blood trailing from his mouth.

The star's response infuriated the angel. Orion swiveled around to glare at the three demons standing just outside the cell. "Control your men!" The angel said angrily to the demon general, making the young officer shrink back. Orion glared a hole into the perpetrator for a good minute before turning to Castyr and gently saying, "Let's get you cleaned up."

Castyr nodded in response as Orion had the star sit down before snapping 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 took one more longing look at the angel before following after his men, who were already scampering up the stairs.

"You know how to handle demons," Castyr complimented the strong angel who was hovering over him like a mother duck.

"Mmm. It comes with lots of experience."

"How long have you been stuck here?" Castyr inquired as Orion began wiping the blood from his forehead, cheeks, and chin.

The angel looked up in thought as he counted the years. "Just know it was long before you came in the star shower." Castyr nodded in understanding. "That's a long time."

"Mm-hmm."

"At least you weren't lonely."

"Yes," Orion released with a sigh. "That is true."

"Kilo was here all alone." Castyr's heart ached as he pictured Kilo lying in a cage cold and all alone.

"Kilo...Is he your guardian?" Orion assumed as he moved from the gash on Castyr's forehead to the bruise forming on the star's cheek. A smile came to Castyr's lips as he nodded in confirmation. "Have you two bonded?" The angel inquired further. Castyr nodded happily, unafraid to declare his relationship with Kilo. "Then you can link each other. Have you kept in touch?"

"Yes," Castyr said in response. "If it wasn't for the link, I don't know what I would do."

"Mm. I understand," Orion commented as he finished cleaning Castyr's smaller wounds. "It can get lonely on your own."

Castyr nodded in agreement before turning his head to the left. Orion came to sit next to the star as Castyr observed the prisoner who was being held two cages down. "Why is he here?" The star inquired as he pointed at the slender form curled up in a corner of his cell.

The angel followed the star's gaze and sighed when he saw it landing on the dark-haired prisoner. "He fell in love."

Orion's answer confused Castyr. "What? Then why is he here?" Orion looked 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?!" Castyr exclaimed quietly to not disturb the prisoner. 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," the star said 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 as well.

"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 nodded as he looked at the prisoner. "I'm pretty sure the other demon is being forced to do things they don't want to do to keep him alive."

"Like Aklys." It was more of a thought, but it somehow managed to escape the star's lips in a whisper. Orion's gaze fell to the floor. Castyr pursed his lips as he realized he had hit a sensitive spot. The star immediately shut his mouth and mentally slapped himself for being careless and insensitive.

Orion and Castyr continued to sit in silence as the exhausted prisoner continued to sleep curled up in his most defensive position.

<<<<<>>>>>

Quiet shuffling from two cells down caught Castyr's attention as he shifted into a more comfortable position. Looking toward the other inhabited cage, Castyr watched as the slender prisoner sat up and looked at the him with wide eyes. The demon's eyes went to Orion, who was sleeping next to Castyr, before observing the glow that surrounded the star and angel. Castyr's gaze softened when he saw the dried trail of blood that ran down the demon's face from his temple.

Propping himself up to lean against the bars of his cell, Castyr flick a finger at the fellow prisoner. A small ball of light emerged from the flick and floated through the cages. With Castyr's guidance, the small ball rested on the bloody gash. After a few seconds, the light sept into the wound, healing it. The black-haired prisoner slowly brought his hand to his temple and felt the smooth skin. His lips parted in awe as he looked at Castyr in shock. The demon quickly bowed his head in thanks.

Castyr's lips pulled into a small smile when he saw the healed wound. I did not even know I could do that. Nice. Turning his attention to Orion, who was fast asleep, Castyr moved a loose strand of hair from the angel's face while giving a small yawn. The star blinked his eyes as exhaustion crept into his body. Why am I so tired?...Oh, that's right. Castyr sighed quietly when he remembered he had recently been stabbed through by a sword.

Thankfully, the herbs Aklys put on the wound were speeding up the healing process. Castyr did not have much further to go until the wound would be bearable. With his thoughts trailing to the herbs on his wound, Castyr sat up straight when an idea popped into his head. Pulling down his shirt to reveal his shoulder, Castyr wiped the herbs off the wound with his index and middle fingers. Lifting the Orion's shirt with his free hand, Castyr gently rubbed the herbal paste onto one of the gashes in Orion's side that the star had yet to completely heal.

Castyr's brows furrowed as he looked down at the sleeping angel. I do not know what you did to get tortured like this, but you deserve to live. You will not die as long as I am here. Castyr's eyes began to droop as he checked on Orion's healing wounds. He had spent much of his energy healing Orion, and since the angel was now stable, Castyr scooted down to lie beside Orion. Placing his hand on Orion's side to channel a small amount of healing light, Castyr allowed himself to catch up on some very much needed sleep.