CHAPTER 38
Rae held Ilios tightly as he slept, the two angels' chests flushed together. The blonde was almost completely enveloped by the bigger, chocolate-haired angel. Rae rested his chin on the top of Ilios' head, so he could feel the blonde's steady breathing on his neck. The room was silent, each of the angels being completely filled by the other's presence. The quiet flapping of wings on the balcony could not be heard through the other's heartbeat as they only knew the other.
Even the opening of the balcony door remained unnoticed as the demon slipped into the moonlit room. After putting away his wings, the demon silently retrieved the slender dagger from his shoe. It took only a few steps before the demon was leaning over the peaceful couple. The knife hovered over the chocolate-haired angel who was protecting his partner. It was not until the demon was too close to fly away that those blue eyes snapped open and the knife was knocked from the demon's hold.
In the next second, the door to the angels' room was flung open, and the purple-eyed captain rushed in and grabbed the demon by the throat. Even though Kilo knew that Aklys helped keep Castyr alive, the angel still held a grudge against the demon for taking his star away from him.
A grey-eyed demon entered shortly after Kilo to helped subdue the intruder. The fight was against the demon general, so both Ilios and Rae were quick to their feet. Rae was quick to join the struggle while Ilios walked to the balcony and spread his wings. While Rae, Denzyl, and Kilo fought to subdue the demon general, Ilios took flight. After two powerful flaps of his wings, the blonde disappeared into the night sky
Grunts could be heard as the struggle with the red-eyed demon continued. After a few moments, Denzyl and Rae had Aklys pinned down with Kilo pressing the demon's blade against his own throat.
The demon's chest rose and fell as he panted. "Castyr told you, didn't he?" Aklys smirked as he put his hands up in surrender. Rae and Denzyl kept their hold on the demon as Aklys' gaze trailed over the three. Kilo's dark purple eyes flared as his star's name left the demon general's lips. The demon noticed the fire in Kilo's eyes, so he quickly said, "Don't worry. Castyr is just fine," in an attempt to soothe his captor.
"Then why was he so traumatized that he could not even speak?!" Kilo questioned sternly as he glared at the red-eyed demon. Denzyl and Rae looked at the captain in shock. Kilo had yet to tell them of his latest link with Castyr.
Aklys' face genuinely turned to shock and confusion. "What? When I left, he was bleeding, but he could still talk. And Orion was going to heal him. What do you mean? What traumatized him?"
"I was hoping you could tell me that."
Aklys looked down and furrowed his brows as he pondered what the source of Castyr's trauma could have been. "Did he get transferred without my order?"
"You don't even know what is going on inside your own prison?" Rae taunted with a scoff in response to the demon's reply.
Aklys looked up at the angel with fury. "It is not my prison." Flames filled the general's eyes as he fought against what he was. He hated his position as general as it forced him to do cruel, brutal things to those undeserving of the pain and agony.
"But aren't you the demon general of Hades, the right-hand to Hades' king?" Denzyl inquired as he noticed the anger in Aklys' eyes.
Aklys hung his head and clenched his jaw. The demon nodded slowly before adding, "I am...but only to save someone."
"Orion," Kilo voiced the name of Aklys' weakness, much to the general's shock. Aklys quickly looked up at the angel before returning his head to its hanging position. The demon nodded his head slowly in response after a moment.
"We can help save Orion," Rae stated, drawing Aklys' gaze up to the blue-eyed angel. "But you have to help us save Castyr." Aklys instantly agreed to Rae's conditions with a single, crisp nod. He would do anything to get Orion out of that hell.
Wings flapping on the balcony grabbed the four's attention. They turned their heads to see Ilios landing with a young demon in his hold.
"General," the demon voiced as he saw Aklys leaning against the wall between Rae and Denzyl.
Aklys looked at his lieutenant fondly. He was a good kid who merely followed the general's orders. "I'll help you if you let him go back to Hades," Aklys proposed to the four.
Kilo eyed Aklys cautiously, his purple orbs scrutinizing the demon for any signs of a lie.
"Brogan, go back to Hades and tell them I failed. There were unforeseen enemies, and I was overcome," the demon ordered his subordinate to show the four he was serious.
The young demon looked at Aklys quizzically as the demon general nodded to the angel holding him. Ilios took Aklys' nod as his cue to work his magic. With a wave of his hand in front of Brogan's eyes, memories of Aklys bloodied and dead from Ilios' blade were implanted into the young lieutenant's mind. Brogan's eyes widened and filled with tears as he saw Aklys leaning against the wall with closed eyes and a trail of blood oozing from his lips. The lieutenant began to cry before Ilios rendered him unconscious.
"I'll go drop him in a field somewhere," Ilios stated as he spread his wings. Rae moved to join him, but Ilios shook his head. "I'll be fine. It's a short flight."
Rae reluctantly nodded and gave a small smile, "Stay safe. Love you."
"Love you," Ilios smiled back before taking flight. The angel-angel couple had gotten into the habit to say the words every time they separated to make up for the fifty years they could not.
"Thank you for letting him live," Aklys thanked the remaining three when the white-winged angel had once again disappeared into the night.
"How do we know you are not double-crossing us?" Rae questioned as he eyed the demon general cautiously.
"You don't," the demon answered truthfully. "But just know I would do anything to save Orion." The determination that filled Aklys' eyes was the same as it had been in Ithyos right before Kilo and Castyr fell to Earth.
"I believe you," Kilo said to Aklys. If Aklys had half the determination Kilo did, it would be enough for Kilo to trust him to do anything to save the one he loved. "Now, to business. Let's get them out of there," Kilo said as he gave Rae and Denzyl the que to release their hold on the general.
"We have to do it quickly. The blood sun is in two days," Aklys addressed the three men standing in front of him as they released their hold on the demon.
"We are aware," Rae nodded.
"But there is one problem," the demon added. The two angels and Denzyl furrowed their brows. They could not afford any more problems. "The king is going to drain Orion tomorrow since I did not return with Ilios. We have to do it now."
"Then we better not waste any more time," Devyn's voice sounded from the door. The two angels and two demons looked to see the human standing at the entrance to the room. The human placed the loaded gun in his hand into the holster on his thigh before walking up to the four. Being human, Rae, Kilo, and Denzyl had agreed it would be best if Devyn did not participate in reining in the demon general. However, that did not stop him from standing at the door gun-in-hand and ready to barge in and pump Aklys full of lead.
"Have you been there the whole time?" Denzyl inquired of the human as Devyn came to stand beside him.
"Where else would I have been?" Devyn answered rhetorically as he folded his arms across his chest and let his gaze trail to the red-eyed demon standing in front of him. "So, you're the one who caused Kilo and Castyr to fall from Heaven." Devyn's eyes narrowed at the demon, and his voice was low as he addressed the general.
Aklys eyed the human cautiously as he mentally noted to not piss off the emerald-eyed man.
"What are we waiting for? Let's get to work," Devyn stated as the four had remained silent. The demons and angels obediently bowed their heads in agreement before following the human out of the room.
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"No! We are not doing this! I will not let you," Rae protested profusely as he argued with his partner. The remaining four watched as the two angels continued their discussion regarding Ilios' role in the rescue mission.
"Rae, it's the only way to save them," Ilios responded calmly as he tried to persuade his partner to agree with his decision.
"No. It's too dangerous. You are not doing it." Rae's voice was firm as he disagreed with Ilios.
Ilios heaved a sigh before turning to the four. "Excuse us for a moment," the angel apologized before taking Rae's hand and leading him out of the common room.
Devyn watched the two leave before his gaze trailed over to the demon standing across from Denzyl and him. Aklys' red eyes flicked to Devyn's for a split second before they quickly moved on to Denzyl.
"What are you? You're not from Hades," the demon general addressed Denzyl with a cool tone.
"I am from Sendrum," Denzyl answered shortly.
Aklys nodded his head. "I had heard of the leader's son going missing with their sacrifice." His red eyes landed back on Devyn as he added, "I assume that sacrifice is you, little human." Denzyl immediately brought Devyn behind him at the general's words. "Don't worry. I don't meddle in other people's affairs," Aklys sighed as he let his gaze fall to his feet. He seemed tired, but a fire was still aflame in his red orbs.
Denzyl relaxed slightly but remained protective as the demon general turned his attention away from the human. Devyn peeked around Denzyl and peered at the demon general. His pitch-black hair was cut short, and his red eyes contained years of hardship and struggles. Devyn stepped out from behind Denzyl as Kilo went over the map that Aklys had drawn of the major points of Hades.
"Will Rae let Ilios do it?" Devyn inquired of Kilo as he watched the angel inspect the map.
"Ilios will do it whether Rae wants him to or not. It will just be easier on Ilios if Rae agrees," Kilo answered, eyes fixed on the plan spread on the table. Devyn nodded in understanding as he, too, began examining the map.
While the two demons, Kilo, and Devyn were inspecting the map silently, Rae and Ilios were continuing their discussion on the roof of the penthouse.
"Why? Why do you have to? We have already been through so much," Rae said, his eyes showing his pain and conflict as he looked at his love.
The wind ruffled Ilios' blonde hair as the angel cupped Rae's cheeks in his hands and brought his lover's face close to his. Ilios looked Rae deep in the eyes before answering, "I wouldn't be able to live with myself knowing there was something I could have done to save Castyr but didn't. This is the only way, Rae."
"It's too dangerous," Rae responded in a whisper. Tears were forming in the angel's blue eyes as he tried to persuade his lover.
"I'll be fine, Love. Besides, I'll have you, and Kilo, and Denzyl, and the demon general right behind me. It's going to be okay," Ilios assured before placing a kiss on his angel's forehead. "I can do this."
"I can't lose you. I just got you back."
"You're not going to lose me. Stop thinking those thoughts." Ilios took Rae's hand before adding, "I need you to back me on this. Please, Love?"
Rae closed his eyes before reluctantly giving in. "Okay. But promise you will get out of there if things get heated."
"I promise," Ilios smiled affectionately before bringing Rae in for a kiss. The two shared a sweet kiss and stayed in each other's arms for a little while before making their way back inside once they had had some alone time with their lover.
Kilo straightened his stance as Ilios and Rae entered the room.
"I'll do it," Ilios said quietly as he nodded at the team. The silver-eyed angel held Rae's hand all the while as the two approached the table.
"Thank you." Kilo bowed his head toward the blonde in thanks for his help. Ilios nodded back slightly.
"Okay. Now that that is settled. There is a way to rid the world of that bastard," Aklys spoke up after a small pause. The team members listened intently as Aklys explained his plan.
"So we just have to lure him into the machine?" Ilios asked after the brief concluded.
"Yes," Aklys nodded. "It's only fitting the monster be put down by his own invention." A dark smirk came to the demon's lips. His hatred for the king was strong, and it would drive him to carry out his promise of alliance.
"Are you a hundred percent certain this will work?" Rae double-checked. He wanted to make sure nothing would go wrong as his love would be playing a major role.
"Yes, and even if I wasn't, it is the only option we have. The king is too powerful to overcome with just our abilities. We are no match for him," the demon general answered matter-of-factly.
"What if he suspects something when you go traipsing in with his prize after you have been declared dead?" Devyn questioned.
"He won't. He will be too caught up gloating about how he has the great Ilios in his grasp. Trust me, his ego is way too big to worry about something like that," Aklys assured.
"I hope you're right," Rae responded, his hold on Ilios' hand tightening. The blonde-haired angel looked up at Rae and gave him a reassuring smile.
Aklys nodded his head in agreement. "There's one more thing." The demon lifted his hand and pointed at Devyn. "He should stay here. His scent is too alluring. It will give away your location."
Devyn lifted his brows at the demon's sudden comment, however, he quickly lowered them when he caught Aklys' drift. "I understand. I do not want to mess this up in any way. I will stay."
Denzyl visibly relaxed at Devyn's words. He did not want Devyn to go in the first place. Kilo looked at Aklys with respect as he knew Devyn's scent was not all that alluring. Sure, he had a nice scent of cinnamon and rain, but it was not to the level of giving away their position unless someone was right next to him. In fact, Denzyl was the only one who could clearly smell Devyn at that moment. But it was kind of Aklys to come up with a reason why Devyn should stay. A human was no match for Hades.
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