Athena stuck her head out of the door and looked up and down the hallway. She saw Kassach leaning against the wall across from the door with his arms crossed and head looking down. She stepped out of the room and closed the door behind her. She looked at Kassach and saw him looking at her. 

"Human's clean up nicely," he gave her an encouraging smile.

Athena smiled back and looked down. "Can I go see my friends now?"

Kassach looked down the hallway and nodded. "Sure. Lead the way."

She turned to her left and started to walk out of the door and down the narrow staircase again. She took deep breaths as she came up to Celso's cell and looked into it. He was leaning against the wall with his eyes closed and his hands clenched in his lap. She looked over at Kassach and motioned for him to unlock the cell door. He did as she wanted him to do and waited for her to go through.

Celso's eyes snapped open at the sound of metal clanging against metal. He eyed Athena up and down as she came to stand in front of him. He waited until the guard was gone before jumping up and wrapping her in his arms. He held her face in his hands and kissed her.

Athena wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer. She sighed when he separated and rested his forehead against hers. 

"I'm so sorry," his voice cracked. "I was supposed to protect you, but I didn't. I-"

"Celso," she said quietly. She pecked him on his lips while making him look at her. "You're here now."

He shook his head. "This wasn't how it was supposed to go. We were supposed to come and get you out, but we only got caught instead." He took one good look at her as he motioned to the dress. "What's this?"

Athena looked down at the dress and rubbed it between her fingers. "A dress."

"Are you not staying down here?"

She shook her head.

"Athena," he gently pulled her chin up to look at him. "Please tell me that you didn't give in to him."

She looked down at the ground. 

"Athena," he sighed. 

"I had too!" She looked back up to him with tears in her eyes. "He threatened your life and the others! What else was I supposed to do?" She placed her head in her hands and felt strong arms wrap around her.

She heard Celso sigh in her ear. "I just don't want you to get hurt."

"And I don't want you to get hurt!" She looked back up at him and placed her hands on his shoulders. "I'm going to get us out of here. All I need to do is get the trust of King Buledal and somehow get you all out of here. I promise."

Celso chuckled and shook his head. 

Athena pulled away from him a little. "Why are you laughing? I can do it!"

Celso pulled her back towards him and kissed her forehead. "I know you can do it. That's what I was going to do for you."

"Well," Athena jested. "It seems like the hero role has changed."

"I guess it has," Celso smiled as he bent down to kiss her, but a grunt stopped them. They turned to see Kassach standing at the cell door. 

"The King has requested you, Miss Athena," Kassach informed her. 

Celso tightened his hold on Athena as he glared at Kassach. 

Athena sighed. "I'm coming, Kassach." She looked back to Celso and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "I have to go. I'll see you later." She wiggled out of his grasp and walked over to the opened cell door. She heard the door close behind her and she looked behind her to smile at Celso. 

To her, he looked relieved and nervous to see her. He smiled back at her and waved as Kassach gently pushed her forward. Athena sighed with relief when she noticed his smile was relaxed and not fake. She looked ahead of her and was halfway up the stairs when she remembered that she didn't get to see Derek. 

I'll see him after whatever the King wants, she promised herself. 

She waited at the top of the stairs for Kassach to catch up with her. He pointed with his staff the direction to go and she started walking. They were halfway down the hall when Kassach broke the silence. 

"Who was that you were talking to?" he asked.

Athena looked back quickly before turning her head back around and answering. "His name is Celso."

"What is he to you?"

Athena thought that question strange but decided to answer it anyway. King Buledal told her that if she joined, no harm would come to her friends. To her, that meant that she could tell Kassach who he was not suspect anything would happen to him. "He's my boyfriend." Kassach was quiet behind her. She stopped and turned to face him. "Why do you ask?"

Kassach shrugged and continued to walk pass her. "I was just wondering. Let's keep going. We're going to be late."

Athena fell into step behind him as he led her down the rest of the hallway and through two large doors. Behind them laid a huge dining room. A large golden chandelier rested above the long oak table. The table was filled with delicious looking food. Everyone seemed present besides Athena and Kassach. The demons at the table were all different shapes and sizes, but all seemed to have the status as one another. All of their attire had jewels encrusted on the collars and a silk like material. The only one who remained ahead of them all was the King.

Kassach immediately walked to King Buledal - who was sitting at the end of the table - and bowed. He spoke in the demons language that she still didn't understand. King Buledal smiled and motioned for her to come closer. She did as she was told and came to stand beside the King's chair. He raised in one fluid motion and laid a large hand on her shoulder. 

"My friends," his voice bellowed through the great hall. "I've called all of you here today to tell you great news! I have here our greatest weapon of all!" He looked down at her and smirked. "My friends, I'd like you meet, Athena."

Athena held her chin up and looked around the table at all the higher class demons. They all looked confused. Confused on why this human woman - tiny compared to them - would be their greatest weapon. Athena held that same question in her own mind. It was answered a little by Coleen, but she was still confused on why King Buledal needed her. She cleared her mind at the thought as she continued her observation of every individual face. 

She smiled when her gaze stopped on Kassach's. His face was stoic, but crinkles around his eyes indicated his amusement. Amusement about what, she didn't know. She was going to make sure that he gave her answers later. 

 Her attention was brought back to the room when King Buledal started to speak again. "Trust me, my friends, she will be our greatest weapon. I know she might not look powerful enough to hurt a fly, but she has great power deep beneath her skin." He sighed heavily. "I can feel it. She will begin her training tomorrow and won't stop until our plans are fully completed."

"You mean to tell me that this little girl doesn't know how to wield her magic?" a demon spoke bewildered. 

Athena looked up at King Buledal and expected an outburst from him, but she didn't expect him to close his eyes and take a deep breath before he answered. "Yes, Lord Carsor, she doesn't know how to wield it yet. The pathetic humans didn't trust her enough with her magic, let alone didn't know how much power she really has. I assure you, my friends, she will help us defeat the fighters and protectors of the human race once and for all!"

Athena watched Lord Carsor's face as the rest of the demons cheered and banged on the table. He did not join in his friend's excitement. Instead, he laid back in his chair and began to chew on one of his long fingernails. His face still held disbelief and anger. 

She couldn't blame him. How could he trust a human? A kind that they are trying to take a hold of. She wouldn't trust her if she were him, but she didn't feel threatened. Oddly, she felt safe in the company of King Buledal. She knew that if she didn't do anything to upset him, nothing could happen to her. 

"Take your seat, Athena," King Buledal told her while pointing to the empty chair on his right. "The celebration is about to begin."

Athena nodded and let Kassach hold her chair out for her to sit in. Even demons have some manors, she thought to herself and she nodded thanks to him and let him push her forward. She watched out of the corner of her eye as Kassach sat down next to her, pinning her in between him and the King. 

Her stomach rumbled for the first time that day as she looked at the food in front of her. She didn't know what kind of meat was presented. She recognized some of the vegetables and was surprised to find them here with demons. 

She looked up when she heard King Buledal chuckle. "I assure you, it's not what you think it is," he tried to assure her as he pointed to the meat with his knife. "Kassach, cut off a small portion of the meat for our weapon and place it on her plate. I don't want her to starve before training even begins."