Felix walked down the steps outside the manor just as Kettil was returning home. He stopped him halfway, informing him, "Master Knight has a new policy. No one enters the manor smelling like Earth or humans. You'll have to wash off first, but Croc said you can go in through the sewers and wash off in his shower."

"Fine." He groaned.

"Hey, could be worse." Felix responded. He extended his hand out, clearing his throat.

Kettil raised his eyebrow, "What?"

"Hand it over." He received a glare for the small creature. Felix narrowed his eyes, "Now." 

Hesitantly, he unclipped a steel container from his hip. Kettil didn't want to give up his newest find, but he knew he'd get punished if he gave too much attitude to Master's assistant. In a way, Felix was now an extension of Jasper. He took the item from Kettil, having to use a little force to do so.

"Thank you. The entrance to the sewers is down there, to the left." He spoke as he pointed in the proper direction, "Once you smell better, I have a reward for you from Master."

That made it a little better but he was still pretty pissed he had to give up such a great find. Granted, he knew his mission was to retrieve the item for Master. He should've have expected to get to keep it. Kettil stomped his way down the steps to go wash off.

"What is that?" BK asked, having been sat quietly on nearby rocks.

"Kiapolo's heart. His spiritual one, of course. It was buried deep within ruins on the Hawaiian islands. If it exists, though, Kettil can steal it. That's why he's here. He's the most skilled thief alive." Felix explained.

"Hm, that's why." He replied, "I've noticed that everyone here has a purpose. Jasper didn't just pick random people for his army."

He scoffed, "You don't live as long as him without mastering the art of war. Trust me, all his pieces have been picked carefully."

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A light fog bathed an overgrown forest. There wasn't a living being for miles. Yet, the feeling of souls filled every inch of soul. When Thursday closed his eyes, he could still hear their screams muffled beneath the roots of thousand year old threes. Earth, though lacking an entire supernatural existence, did have hot spots and black holes of dark energy. 

This place was among one of the worst. Nestled in Japan's rich history, many humans have met their end in this forest. That is why they call it the Suicide Forest, after all. It seemed like a fitting place for Sixteen to hide. According to Knox, death followed him even when he didn't ask for it to. If this is where people came to die anyways, at least he couldn't blame himself for leaving corpses in his path.

There weren't any humans for miles. Just in case there was, Thursday didn't want them to catch him. He kept his wings and horns concealed. As far as anyone else would be concerned, he was just a normal human. He walked across the thick, moss covered roots, listening for another sign of life. The only other bodies he could find were dead. Every so often he ran across a human that had hanged themselves, their flesh rotting away.

"It is sad," He spoke to seemingly no one, "That humans value life so little. Wouldn't you agree?" Thursday glanced over his shoulder to the purple shadow in the distance. 

He kept his distance. It'd been so long since he'd spoken to another being, he wasn't sure if he still had a voice. "Yes." He responded, "Please go."

"Why would you want to be alone? Do you dislike others so much that you would rather lay beside sickly dead humans every night? Down in the dirt, without anyone to share your misery with you?"

The sun adjusted in the sky slightly, allowing a small amount of light to beam across Sixteen's face. It was just enough that Thursday could see one of his lavender eyes. His hair was a rich purple, decorated with feathers. Straps, lace, and black leather decorated his thin frame. Though he was built lean, he was strong, much like Jasper and Asher.

"I would rather keep my misery to myself than allow it to touch another." He answered.

"That is your curse, isn't it?" Thursday remarked, "What so few understand is why you're called the cursed prayers. It was not the prayer that was cursed, but the demon that resulted from it. Asher's mind becomes dangerously imbalanced without lust. Jarin's body would decay if he didn't feast on the hearts of other supernatural beings. I haven't figured out Jasper's clutch yet, but I know yours. If you don't bathe in blood enough, you put off a pheromone that drives people to suicide."

Sixteen lowered his head in shame. "Yes. That is true. You can understand why I'd prefer to be left alone. People come here to die regardless of me. I do not have to kill anyone and I am not responsible for their deaths. I do not want to be responsible for yours either. Please, leave, for your own good."

Thursday turned his hand outward to reveal the demon pact on his arm. "I can't do that. I'm under strict order from my Master. I must bring you back to him and he'd preferred you come willingly. He has a gift for you."

"There is nothing you can give me that I want!" Within what seemed like a quarter of a second, Sixteen drew his sword and darted towards Thursday. "I told you to leave!" Upon landing back on his feet, he was shocked to see his blade clean. Glancing back, he found the demon had jumped up to a tree branch.

"Are you sure about that? Not even a dear vampire with orange hair, that you used to buy dahlias from?" He questioned.

"How do you know about that?" Sixteen sneered, "Never the matter. Now I know you mean me ill intent. My love is dead. I've held his dead body in my own arms."

He launched another attack at Thursday. His sword was long, thin, meant for a swift death. After a few failed attempts to hit him, he picked up on something. There was a noise he emitted. It was so sudden. No one would catch it, unless, of course, they were as highly skilled as Sixteen. With this new knowledge, he attacked Thursday once again.

Sixteen was relieved to see blood on his blade, finally. His relief turned into horror when the liquid ate away at one of the finest steels ever made. Only demons of high power have corrosive blood. He'd already picked up on the fact that Thursday wasn't ordinary when he missed several hits on him.

"You use echolocation to predict my movements. It's clever, but not unbeatable." Sixteen slipped his sword back into it's sheath. "I don't intend on making you my first victim in over a decade. Please, leave now, before I am forced to break my clean record."

Thursday grasped onto the side of tree, having to catch his breath. He placed his hand over the wound stretching across his stomach. "They warned me you were dangerous. I knew what I was getting in in coming here. You're right. Knox isn't alive, but his spirit hasn't crossed over either. It's complicated and I don't really understand all of it. I'm not really one of the smart ones. I'm one of the ones that hits whatever Master Knight tells me to hit. 

The only reason I was the one sent to find you was because I was the only one who could manage to avoid your hits. In my life, there's only ever been two people who have managed to wound me. You, and Master Knight. He's a smart man. You should trust him, and trust me when I tell you this. If you come with me, you can see Knox. You can speak to him, hold him, kiss him. Please, just take a chance and trust me." Thursday extended out his hand, "You have nothing left to lose."

Sixteen looked to the demon in front of him. He'd never seen one of his own kind have such gentle eyes. They held hope, a hope given to him by this mysterious master he spoke of. Thursday was right. Without the kingdom, without Hell, Sixteen had nothing left to worry about. His life for the last ten years had been in limbo. 

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