Hell Bound

CHAPTER 2

Alithiya looked at Allen with an expression ranging from shock to disbelief. Without her realizing it, she had already slid to the ground and was now kneeling, her gaze staring off into distance. 

The night was silent, as Allen waited. 

"Why?" The small whispered word that fell from her lips was barely audible, but Allen heard it loud and clear. And the amount of pain in that small word was made his head bow in shame. He gripped his sword tightly. His teeth clenched. 

"I didn't have a choice. Forgive me," he said. 

"Why, then?" she asked again, this time her voice gaining sound. 

Allen fell onto his knee. He bowed his head. "Forgive me," He said. Only silence answered him. He didn't look up. 

"When your father was defeated," he began. At his hoarse voice, Alithiya looked up and at him. He still didn't look up. He licked his lips and began again. "When you father was felled in battle, the soldiers, all lost their will to fight," he said. He closed his eyes, as if he could see it when he did so. He did. There wasn't a night or day that had gone by that he didn't forget about what happened that night. He could see it all.

The blood, the pain, their screams as one by one his comrades fell in battle as he stood guard over the very heart and soul of the fight, wishing beyond anything that he could go down with them, fighting to the very last breath. He wasn't granted his wish that night. Nor any other night. For he had been appointed to do a very important mission. To save and protect the next heir to the Morfron line. Female though she may be, she had both demon and angel blood. A woman like that could wield power, and there'll be lots of suitors willing to take her hand to increase their own power. He couldn't allow that. Until a man truly suited to her and will be compatible with her own powers would be allowed to court her. Or at least that what he had hoped, until The Deceiver came to him with his own proposal.

He would marry Alithiya and secure his throne as well as hers in hell, and in return Allensandro would give up his ties to Morfron and serve only The Deceiver. 

It was an outrageous proposal. One that guaranteed that no other demons of Morfron blood would try to claim the power, and usurp his throne. A proposal that would guarantee that Alithiya would forever and always remain the next Morfron blood, and would always be by his side. As well as Allen. He may give up his ties, but never his family.  His last remaining family. And the proposal, although it didn't seem likely, seemed to secure him to The Deceiver as well. For what better way to keep your enemies closer than to marry one of their own and make sure that you had leverage over them. 

Allen would die a thousands death, if it meant his niece was safe. Alithiya would do anything, if it meant keeping Allen safe. It's in her blood, as a Morfron. 

Alithiya looked down at her hands which were clasped tightly in her lap. Her expression, unreadable. "So, I'm his intended then?" she asked, softly. 

Allen kept his head bowed. "Forgive me. If there had been any other way to keep you safe I would never have considered condemning you to an eternity by the Deceiver's side. It had been the only, surefire way to make sure that you would be safe. Many would dare to attack other realms. But Hell is the only realm that any immortal or mortal fear to conquer. It thrives on bloodshed, pain, and blood. Anyone would rather keel over and die that try to make an attempt at conquoring it, much less attacking someone who is under its power and protection as well as its queen,"

Alithiya bowed her head. "But Dragon isn't the king, Allen," she said softly. 

At the Deceiver's name, his real name, Allen's head snapped up, his eyes filled with disbelief. "Milady-how-?"he asked.