Similitude of Ashes and Feathers

Chapter 5: "Hypothetical" Questions

While Aaron searched Alex's room, regardless of his request not to, Alex went to go meet in the dining hall with the king and queen.

Casually Alexander walked into the dining hall, trying to be as normal as possible but thinking of how he was going to phrase things in this upcoming conversation left him at a loss. Of course as soon as he came in the queen stood from her seat, "where have you been? Why did you leave the protection of your guard?" Martha Washington, the queen of the angels, was quick to make her way over to him. She could've been a warrior angel had she not married into royalty so she was very fast to be in front of him. "Do you have any idea how worried we were?" She looked over his features, touching his face to generally see if he was injured.

"I know, I know." He sighed and pushed Martha's hands away, "I'm fine. I had my own business and I didn't need babysat. I'm old enough I can be on my own, can't you just trust me on that?" Her concerned expression left him knowing the answer to that question and he frowned because of it. "Seriously?"

"It's not about age," the king stood from his seat, "it's about title. Alexander, you are an important figure to the people. Having your life threatened in any way or at all could be detrimental. You need to start thinking about that and less about your curiosity. It's important to learn but if you wish to go out you need to have a guard present. Where were you?"

Alex pursed his lips before answering, eyes slightly narrowed, "I was out. I thought that much was obvious. Besides, Hercules found me so it shouldn't be that big of a deal." He folded his arms across his chest, "I'm here now. Can we just move on? I'm here and I'm even alive, impressed?" Alex walked by Martha, "we can talk more about it if you really want to later, but I'm fine and that isn't going to be any different no matter how many times you ask."

The king hesitated before nodding, he really hoped Alex became less of a handful as he got older. That seemed unlikely, but he still loved and cared for him so he had that hope. Martha came over and joined them at the table, the food had been brought and the most important part was that they could at least all join each other for family meals. Or at least that was what was considered important to his adoptive parents.

As they ate the silence was deafening, until Alex broke it. "You're afraid of me going out by myself because of demons, correct?" That was a rhetorical question so he didn't let them answer. "But when was the last time anyone even saw a demon here? They don't come here, why would they?" Alex paused as he recognized that he was taking this conversation the wrong direction.

"Just because it isn't common doesn't mean it's impossible," George said, "and it isn't just demons." There were rogue angels as well and Alex knew that, it just wasn't common. "Regardless it's for your own good and we just want you to remain safe."

"We love you and want what's best for you, really." Martha smiled, "there's nothing wrong with wanting to know more and being curious. You just need to learn when you've gone too far, dear. You're going to give me a heart attack one of these days." She gave a soft hum of laughter, "you're already so smart. If you would just be a little more cautious and less brave it would be better for everyone."

Alexander sighed, "yeah." He didn't agree or he wouldn't have said that the way he did. "Well what if demons had changed and weren't as bad as they used to be? Or maybe they aren't all the same and we just stereotype them? Then what? You talk about wanting to change things, keep peace, but we still have angels executing any demon they see if there was no 'warning' they would be there. How is that peaceful or fair?"

"That is an old decree agreed upon by the angel and demon hierarchy, Alexander. I didn't say I wasn't doing anything about it. It's just a little more difficult than you might think. Just because we are royalty does not mean we should be changing everything without input from the people and the other kingdom affected by it. It has nothing to do with my personal feelings on the matter, I think you'll find things have changed greatly from what they used to be when my father was king." Alex was lucky to be alive because of what he was, had his adoptive father not been king at the time he wouldn't have been.