"What happened after I fell?" 

Kilo looked at the star who was sitting on the sofa in the living room with a solemn expression. Castyr had remained fairly silent since recovering from his latest episode, so Kilo was relieved to hear the star speak...even if it was about that dreadful where he thought he had lost Castyr forever. Kilo took a deep breath before slowly answering, "Everyone disappeared...the king, all the demons, everything...except us."

"Including Denzyl?" Castyr knew that his abilities were specifically for eliminating demons, so he was unsure whether Denzyl had been spared from his blast of light. Castyr nodded in relief when Kilo responded, "Ae, Denzyl was spared."

"Is Ilios really...?" Castyr stopped short when inquiring about his mentor. This was the first time Castyr had asked about that day and what had happened, and Kilo did not want to hide anything from the star, so he nodded in confirmation.

"Ilios is gone."

"And Rae?"

Kilo let out a breath before answering, "Rae is fulfilling Ilios' last wish."

The star nodded in response before inquiring about the demon-human couple.

"As far as I know, Denzyl and Devyn are on Earth running Vaumyr and Co. together," Kilo answered, unaware of the most recent events regarding the couple. "And I'm sure Denzyl has already dealt with Devyn's fiancé."

Castyr nodded before asking about Miren, which Kilo told him about the human helping them get to Mythos. "Orion is working on becoming Aklys' liaison with Heaven," Kilo informed Castyr when asked about the blue-haired angel.

"I hope things work out for them. They've been through a lot." Castyr's voice was low as he wished for the angel-demon couple's well-being, but Kilo was just glad that Castyr was talking even if he could barely hear him.

"I'm sure they'll be fine. They've been fighting to be together for centuries. And now that Aklys is running Hades, they are free," Kilo said in his best attempt to assure the star the couple would be fine. But Castyr knew what the heavens were capable of and hoped they would be left alone. "As long as Heaven doesn't mess with them-" 

The couple's conversation was stopped abruptly when the alarm system to the residence activated and rapid pounding sounded on the door. The angel and star rose to their feet and slowly advanced to the door. Kilo drew his sword as Castyr readied the gun he had picked from the house's safe. Kilo activated the screen as a voice called his name from outside the door.

Kilo's brow furrowed when he recognized the voice. The angel quickly opened the door as the frazzled visitor began inputting the entrance code.

"Kilo!" Devyn's head snapped up as the door was opened. The angel and star stared at the human in shock until Kilo asked, "Devyn, what happened?" The human was fatigued but frantic for something.

"Remember our deal?" Devyn wasted no time in confronting the angel. Kilo nodded. "I need your help."

"What is it?"

"It's Denzyl..." Devyn began, his eyes hard with determination and tinted with fear. "He's been taken."

Needing to understand the severity of the situation, Kilo brought the human inside and sat him down before making Devyn tell him everything. "A demon from Sendrum came and lured Denzyl using you to capture him and brought him back to his home planet where his father is going to either kill him or do something awful to him," Kilo summed up the human's story.

"Yes, and I need to get him out of there before that happens. Please, Kilo," Devyn was sincere as he begged the angel. "I need your help."

Exhaling, Kilo looked over to Castyr who had been silent since Kilo had opened the door. The star was healthy, fit, and aching to get out of the residence he had been resting in for months. Knowing Castyr was itching to do something, he thought this rescue mission to be perfect. "When do we leave?" Kilo asked Devyn, who sighed in relief. 

"As soon as possible. I have a ship ready to leave now."

"Perfect, let us grab our gear."

Devyn stayed on the sofa while Kilo and Castyr left the common area to prepare to depart. The human clasped his hands together; he was anxious to get Denzyl out of Sendrum, and Kilo was the only one he could think of who would help him. Devyn watched Castyr follow Kilo silently and could not help but recall the happy, carefree star who had begged him to help his angel over fifty years ago. The star's difference shocked Devyn. He was used to Kilo being the silent one, but now, Castyr did not even speak a word. His eyes had also changed; they were darker and scarred. 

He had not seen Castyr since the star let himself be captured by Aklys that night outside the city after he and Kilo had fallen from Ithyos, the star's residence in Heaven. Devyn knew Castyr had been through a lot and was sad for showing up suddenly and asking for the two's help, but he was relieved an angel and star who were trained and very powerful were willing to help him rescue Denzyl from Sendrum.

Kilo and Castyr returned to the common area after a few minutes dressed in stealth gear and bulletproof vests. Kilo had a pistol strapped to his thigh, and Devyn knew the angel hosted his sword in his back, so he was not worried when the angel was empty-handed otherwise. Castyr had a sniper rifle slung over his shoulder with a gun on his waist and another on his thigh with a dagger strapped to his calf. 

Devyn had come already dressed and prepped, so all that was left was to load up the ship. Gathering all the weapons and ammo they could gather from Devyn's secret residence, the three boarded Devyn's vessel before quickly taking flight and setting a course to Sendrum. 

<<<<<<<>>>>>>>

"Where is the monir?"

Mei ignored Denzyl's inquiry and continued tending to his wounds. The physician's assistant was silent as she cleaned and dressed the damage that had been dealt to the avex by Ryiak.

"Is my mother alright?" Denzyl asked again. He was replied with silence. Denzyl began to grow worried when Mei continued to ignore him. Denzyl had not seen his mother since being dragged to Sendrum and had become concerned for her safety. He had no idea what his father was capable of when it came to the monir. Well aware that his mother had stood against Klein to save both Denzyl and Devyn, Denzyl hoped she had not received severe punishment from her mate. 

"Please, I need to know. Is she okay?"

"The monir is alive." The voice that answered Denzyl did not belong to Mei. Denzyl turned toward the cell's entrance to see Etta standing at the doorway. Etta uncrossed her arms and approached the avex while motioning Mei to hand her the cloth she was using to wipe down Denzyl. Bowing her head to the senior demon, Mei handed over the cloth to Etta before quietly leaving the cell. "Don't worry about your mother; she is okay."

Denzyl fell quiet as he obtained his answer and watched carefully as Etta poured a serum onto the cloth before approaching him and continuing to clean his wounds. Curious about the reason Etta had done all of this and became involved with the clan again, Denzyl decided to ask the female bluntly. "Why did you come back to Sendrum?"

Etta paused her wiping and locked eyes with the avex before continuing to clean Denzyl. After a long while of silence, Denzyl assumed Etta was not going to answer. This came with no shock. Etta had always kept to herself since her family had been killed, so Denzyl did not expect to get an answer out of her. But, to Denzyl's surprise, Etta pushed her tongue against her cheek and looked up at the avex before responding, "They have someone precious to me. If I do this, Klein will let him go."

Denzyl lifted a brow at Etta's answer. It all made sense now. Under normal circumstances, Etta would not stay more than half an hour on Sendrum. Once she unloaded the goods she was transporting, she would hightail back into space. 

"Who is he? Your mate?" Denzyl inquired. If he could find out more about Etta's situation, they may be able to strike a deal.

Etta was silent for a moment as she pondered whether or not to disclose such information to Denzyl. Figuring it could not hurt because she knew Denzyl was not the type to hurt innocents, Etta replied, "My nephew."

Denzyl's brows furrowed. Strange. Etta is an only child. Noticing Denzyl's reaction, the female explained, "He's human. His mother, who was a close friend of mine, was killed by the dendrum when he was taken. He's fourteen and too young to die."

"You know Klein rarely keeps his word." Denzyl hated to break Etta's hope that the emyr would hold good on their bargain and release her nephew when her side of the deal was completed, but he also knew that deep down Etta was aware of this. 

Etta stopped wiping Denzyl's arm and looked up at the demon before exhaling. "This is the only way I know how to get him back. I am by myself and cannot take on Klein."

"You don't have to be alone," Denzyl rebutted, extracting a "Tsh," from Etta. "You're not really in a good place to be making any offers, you know."

Denzyl tilted his head to the side in slight agreement. "Well, think about it and get back to me."

"That doesn't give me much time, then. You're supposed to be discarded after you mark the Emyr's heir."

"When is that supposed to happen?" Denzyl inquired. He had been told what he was supposed to do, but he had not heard anything regarding when or where it would take place.

"You are to be taken to the elders in Holeback Mountain tomorrow at dawn where you will mark and mate the heir."

"That's quick," Denzyl commented under his breath.

"Yeah, but the journey to Holeback Mountain could take a couple of weeks." Etta's reminder sparked some hope in Denzyl. It would give him some extra time to devise an escape plan.