King's Kou: Do not awaken the knight in the beast

Chapter 26: You can't kill me

"Your Majesty Kairon."

It was a surprise for Boota to see him. Whenever someone got heads, Boota expected that Mammon would use someone valuable to a person to transform reality either to a dream or a nightmare. He had watched Kairon from his rise down to his fall. He was one of those viels closest to the royal family, second to Kou who tagged behind Kairon everywhere. The queen nearly adopted him as a son but decided against it because of Canaan's prejudice against viels. They were freaks after all. The royal family's blood should not be stained by filth. He was close to the queen but Kairon merely acknowledged and respected his presence as he did to others.

"It is nice to see you that you are well and alive," Kairon greeted. "How is my Kou?"

"He is still in a critical condition."

Kairon's gentle expression darkened before a smile split his lips. A shiver ran down Boota's spine. This was not His Majesty. He would never have such a sordid expression.

"Did Soleil do it? Was she the one who hurt him?"

"She was left with no choice. She was used by the human."

Kairon wiped a mask of disappointment and frustration down his face. He turned his back to Boota and began to whisper. "No choice no choice no choice no choice no choice–"

"Your Majesty, stop."

"DID WE NOT BUTCHER YOU ENOUGH TO EXPAND YOUR CHOICES?!"

Kairon faced Boota, his eyes were gone from his sockets. Blood trailed down his pale cheeks that gradually darkened into charcoal. He reached out to Boota; strong and disastrous winds blew as the previous king's jaw stretched, the ends of his lips split. The pitch of his scream started low and slowly became high-pitch.

"YOU FUCKING PARASITE!!! YOU KILLED US ALL!"

Boota gasped when Gaku spat water to his face. The fish was already groveling for forgiveness.

"Forgive me, master! I would accept any punishment. It was the only way to wake you up!"

His fish servant merely spat water to his face but his entire body was shivering and cold. The casket behind him disintegrated into black sand that retreated and vanished into different directions. Gaku waited for a kick or a verbal reprimanding yet none came much to his disappointment.

"Master?"

He looked up and pulled himself from his knees. Boota's eyes were wide. His jaws were clenched. He was stiff in place. That damn devil must have shown something unsettling to his master since they got heads.

"Master, let us proceed. If we don't move now, we will be letting that devil win."

Boota took several deep breaths. His eyes were tightly shut as he regained his composure. He wanted to get this over with but knowing what Mammon had up his esurient and sly sleeve was unnerving.

"Lead the way, Gaku."

This night may be a curse for some, but it was a blessing and a dream come true for the steadfast sea-creature residing on land.

Jinx was pacing back and forth. It was taking all of Karma's willpower not to throw the pot hanging behind him.

"We should get away while we can. Basil and Boota can handle him. The longer we stay the more likely that devil will catch us!"

Soleil was looking down on her clenched fist. She didn't want to show the children how troubled she was by the situation. There was more than one devil prowling in the forest. Most likely their target was their wounded general. Why they wanted Kou was the real question. What was he doing that garnered the attention of the rulers of hell? The rest of the viels thought he had perished along with the old capital.