Keshiema opened her eyes and looked at Dásos. "That was...this Snow Lily you showed me. She's my mother?"

  "Yes," Dásos nodded, "Lily of the Snow is indeed your mom."

  "And Damien protected her?"

  "Aye. She raised him, after all. Twice, actually."

  "Oh no, Damien! How could I be so airheaded? Is he okay? Where is he?" She frantically tried to untangle herself from the bed linens. She reached for her dagger, but it was in the wall across the room.

  "Relax Little Sparrow." Dásos calmed her as he untangled her, "He is alive."

  "But is he well?" Panic still coated her words.

  "I'm not sure you should care so much about that, Keshiema."

  "Take me to him." She demanded.

  "It's not that simple." He tried to take her hand, but she snatched it away.

  "Take me to him now." She met his concerned gaze with fiery determination.

  "He's been in interrogation since he woke up. I doubt the Elders will let you see him."

  "He nearly died! He's a victim in this! Why would they be interrogating him?" Her anger showed in her red hair and eyes.

  "It's not safe! They think he might have been the intended target."

  The answer sank in. "Was he working for Nergal?" She asked.

  "I can't say for sure. But I know he's not like he used to be."

  'Could he really be working for Nergal? Why do I feel so betrayed? I hardly even know him.' "Dásos, am I wrong to trust him?"

  "There are few I trust. What is it you feel for him, Keshiema? You're more flustered than you should be."

  "I've only spoken with him a couple of times, but here's this nagging feeling in the back of my mind that I know him. I need to see him."

  The resolve he felt through the blood-bond was almost frightening. He knew arguing was pointless. "Open your front door. Hot Head and Sickly are standing guard."

  As her feet touched the floor, an icy pain ran up her legs. Pyro and Merihim rushed in at the sound of her shout. "Are you alright?" Merihim asked, assessing that she seemed unharmed. He did notice the dagger buried in the wall, but held his tongue.

  "I'm fine, I think." Carefully, she set her feet on the floor once more. 'Nothing out of the ordinary,' she looked for Dásos, but he had vanished.

  "They don't know I'm around. It's probably best to keep it that way for now." The words floated to her in a much lighter way than typical telepathy.

  "Pyro, Merihim," she looked at each as she spoke their names. "I need to speak with Damien."

  "Prince Ipos is currently... unavailable at the moment." Pyro sounded unsure of himself. A first since she had met him.

  "Prince?"

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  "You knew King Paimon had a son, but not who that son was?" Merihim asked.

  'That lines up with what Dásos showed me.' "I need to speak with him." She repeated.

  "Maybe after you answer a few questions." Stolas's displeased voice fell heavy over the room. Merihim and Pyro looked as surprised as she felt. They all winced with a wash of guilt.

  "Stolas! You're back!" Pyro smiled confidently as he turned around.

  Rage glowed in Stolas's icy eyes. "Did I say you could speak?" As Stolas held out a hand, Pyro was drained of all color. His glistening eyes going dull, his hair and skin turning ashen, he slumped to his knees, a lifeless corpse.

  "What did you do?!" Keshiema screamed, running to Pyro's side. Being executed in cold blood for nothing more than speaking? It was horrid. White, red, and black streaked her hair, and swirled like a vortex within her eyes, Her lavender aura radiating from her. "How could you?!"

  Stolas frowned, unapologetic. "Wait." He ordered coldly.

  Keshiema charged him, not thinking about what would happen; How she would attack. Merihim grabbed her as she passed him, pulling her back with surprising strength. "Kesh, wait!"

  Tears of anger filled her eyes. As she fought for freedom, thrashing to get at Stolas with all of her strength, she heard something. It was small. A cough. Then a gasp. She stopped moving, and Merihim let her go. Whirling around, she looked at Pyro as he sat up. His color gradually returned as he coughed and wheezed, slowly coming back to life.

  "I don't understand. What happened? You were dead!" she threw her arms around Pyro, hugging him tightly.

  He patted her back comfortingly. "Nah. Well... kind of?" His voice caught as he spoke. Clearing his throat, he looked up at Stolas for further clarification.

  "It's a temporary suspended state. It only lasts a moment. From this perspective, at least." Stolas answered nonchalantly.

  "How long does it last for your victim?" she stood, clenching her fists. Her aura brightened around her as her anger rose.

  "That all depends on how angry he is." Merihim looked at Pyro for the answer, moving slightly closer to Keshiema in case he needed to stop her again.

  "A few hundred years, at least." He glared at Stolas. "And the pain was a lot more vivid this time."

  "You lost my sister." He stated coldly. You're lucky she's unharmed."

  "They didn't lose me." Keshiema looked at him in disbelief. Crossing the room, she explained further. "I snuck out."

  "Why? You could have been killed!" Stolas brushed his hand through his hair in frustration, unsure how to deal with the young woman.

  "By the looks of things, I could have been killed here!" She stood toe to toe with him, not letting his height intimidate her. Merihim took her arm, ready to put himself in her place.

  Stolas stepped back, placing his hand on Keshiema's shoulder. "I'm sorry you had to witness that. I lost control."

  "You're sorry?" She stepped away, letting Stolas's hand fall and shaking Merihim away. "You placed Pyro through centuries of excruciating pain, and you're apologizing to me?

  "Keshiema, Hell-Children have been disappearing all over the city. Iatter of time before the king discovers you. If he finds out who your mother is..." Stolas shook his head. "On top of that, he most likely wants the prophesied dissident alive. Hell! It might not have even been the king behind the attacks. Which means we have a completely new threat on our hands!

  "There is whispering of spies all throughout the city searching for any opportunity to catch Hell-Children. Yet you deliberately disobeyed our orders, sneaking off campus by yourself to go who knows where! I'm trying to keep you safe. You're the only one who can kill that bastard...and I...I can't bear the thought of losing you. You hardly know me, and that's my fault, but I will continue to protect you as long as I can."

  She understood Stolas's anger at her sneaking out. "You're right. I'm sorry. I won't do it again." She blamed herself for putting Pyro through that torture. She would not do that to anyone again.

  Stolas looked defeated. All of his power, and he could not keep her from running away. 'If I hadn't left to distract Him, who knows what would have happened. Maybe she wouldn't have left. If she hadn't, would she still be alive?' He turned around, unable to look at her.

  "Alex?" she hoped he would hear her out if she used the name he preferred. "I still need to speak with Ipos."

  "Keshiema." He pleaded with her. "There's a chance he could be working for Adramelech, or someone else we don't even know about yet."

  She was not surprised. There was something off about him; she felt conflicting emotions of trust and fear whenever she looked at him. "I think he knows about my past. My human family. I think he knows who killed them." 'How do I know that?'

  The quickness with which Stolas turned around made her jump. His face was full of despair. "how much do you remember about that night?"

  "I'm not sure. That's why I need answers."

  "You can talk with him." He was speaking through his teeth. "But Eurynome and Ayperos are to stay in the room with you." Merihim and Pyro looked at each other with worry, but neither of them spoke. "Wait here and Ayperos will come to retrieve you shortly."