The World I Knew Isn't The Same Anymore

Chapter 25 Hells Fire

The past twelve hours has felt a week long. In just 12 hours, the world Bree's grew accustomed to has just flipped upside down. She realized the dormant emotions her body has felt has manifested into thousands of feelings she's still learning how to feel. She understood all the times she's ran to Chase was more than just feeling safe with him - she likes him. And the kiss they shared this morning makes fireworks explode in her stomach.

She never truly grasped the idea of fear, but when Sebastian entered her body and seeing Asmodeus hurt her friends, then she understood the saying of 'having my life flash before my eyes.' And she remembers Ashly's body falling dead to the floor, and she never was able to process that until only a couple days ago, grief. She blamed herself at first unable to believe it was real, then got angry she couldn't do anything to save her, went on a deep dive of research for necromancy, until she cried herself to sleep so she could accept it the next morning.

And when she saw Chase's body unconscious her entire insides turned into jelly. She thought she wasn't able to breathe as she felt herself trembling. When they dropped him off at the ER Arthur had to physically hold her back from running after him and screaming bloody murder. Somehow Arthur has managed to calm her down and brought her back to the castle to shower and get changed.

Now, it's nearly 7pm and Arthur had to take her out of the castle before his family got home. He told her that they're not too happy with her at the moment so he took it upon himself to go on a mini joy ride throughout Celestway of Valencia before dinner.

It's Bree's first time out touring this hidden place - and she's kind of upset her first time out wasn't with Chase or Izabel. Celestway is absolutely stunning though and Bree can't take her eyes off everything here. People crowd the streets, and it looks a bit like Paris with its ancient walkways, similar fashion sense, streams for little canoes, and small shops on either side. There seems to be no roads for cars, as most everything is in walking distance from the living establishments. Some people even have small flying machines or travel by horse. Each plant seems so lively and blooming in the beginning of Spring, and the streets are filled with live music.

"Up here," Arthur breaks the silence as he points to an open building settled near a small lake.

It looks like a sports bar, it has a patio with tables and a walk up ordering place with the menu right behind. They have a couple TVs around the inside of the small wooden building and it doesn't seem too crowded. Bree wonders if the citizens would recognize Arthur and begin to crowd him because he wore sunglasses (despite the sun setting), and a scarf with causal clothing. Even his hair is down and messy, much different than his usual posh style. Bree silently thanks God that the menu is simple so she's able to order just a chicken sandwhich and fries, and Arthur takes a similar approach as well. Then they sit down at a table over looking the glistening water.

Bree watches as he plays with the straw for his water and then decided to break the deafening silence between them. "So, why'd you ask me here?"

Her words have caused him to instantly stop fidgeting and clap his hands together on the table. "I want to be honest with you. If I'm being frank, I feel a little guilty. And it seems that you, Chase and your buddies have figured out a lot more than I anticipated on your own."

Bree makes a sound with her throat that she's not used to, a scoff. "You mean how your family had a whole prophecy and prince of hell at your disposal?"

"Yes," he says assertively. "It wasn't our doing though. The generation of royalty after the Holy War had a powerful king with sealing magic. Asmodeus was never sealed in his realm during the war, neither was Leviathan. The king found Asmodeus terrorizing the Northern parts of Europe and was able to seal him, not in his realm, but in ours. He's been at the castle for nearly 600 years."