Pandemonium [original]

Chapter Twenty-One: Killing me Softly

Caspian and Zaria were seated on the couch in the living room. Sephiram leaned casually against the arm of the couch, and the rest of the gang stood before them. Between Cassy and Zaria, they managed to piece together the story behind their capture and escape from the humans. Sephiram was unusually stoic, more so than before, with little to add.

Rubbing his temples, Rhys attempted to make sense of the events leading up to their kidnapping. "Did you even manage to get the IDs?" Caspian and Sephiram's actions before joining Zaria were prominent in Caspian's memories. The redhead left that particular part out, "No."

"But that's not the point. They knew where Zaria was, and they knew who we were, Rhys. They know we're here. We have to go back to Discord."

Rhys thought for a moment. "Do we really need to go back?" He asked. Caspian gritted his teeth, he wasn't expecting this much resistance to something that would save all their asses.

The prince backtracked, "Hey, all I'm saying is they knew where Zaria was, but they haven't shown up here yet." At that moment Sephiram chose to speak up; his face was paler than usual. "They kept asking me where the prince and princess were."

Demitri rolled her eyes, "Like they'd get anything out of you." She seemed to be in a particularly sour mood since she heard what had happened.

"That just proves my point," Rhys leapt at the opportunity. He was convinced that the further from the humans, the safer they all were. "They don't know where the apartment is."

"Or that we recruited a human," Zaria added. Malachi remained silent, he understood the danger they would face returning to Discord, but believed that the leader of his Realm, Lady Fire, would do anything in her power to protect them. In Pandemonium, they were fighting this battle alone.

"We should still go back," insisted Caspian. "I don't want to risk it. They could get the information from the captives they took from the Dark Kingdom."

"Only my parents knew where this place is, Caspian." Rhys reminded him gently. A long silence stretched between the Majin.

"We should think this through more before making a decision," Rhys concluded. Caspian seemed uncharacteristically tense, but he agreed. From the looks of it, he had almost everyone's support, aside from Sephiram and Huey. Huey posed another issue altogether. The golden-haired boy hadn't said a word since everyone had been reunited.

The redhead stood. "Let's take a break from this." He was about to pull Huey aside to talk when he saw the boy approach the couch then sit beside Zaria. Caspian decided to leave them for the time being. At the sound of his own stomach rumbling, he headed into the kitchen to scrape together something to eat. He was positively ravenous.

***

Meanwhile, Huey reached over and took Zaria's hand in his. "I was afraid I wouldn't see you again." He whispered. Zaria didn't seem to register his words, instead she was lost in thought. "Z...?" Huey tried again.

"What." She heard him, but wasn't listening. She "watched" with empty eyes as Rhys and Malachi pestered Sephiram, teasing about an alleyway or something like that. Thick brows over baby blues were furrowed, "Z, I want to make sure you're okay. Okay? If you talk to me, then I can-"

"What?" She interrupted. "You can what?" Her voice was cold, and the human boy was taken aback. "Sorry, but it's a little late to be there now." She stood, and started for the door.

Huey immediately leapt to his feet and followed behind. "Where are you going?" he demanded, "It's not-"

"Not safe?" Zaria scoffed. "Do you realize what I am? Who we are?" She shook her head, gesturing to her fellow Majin. "It's not safe for you, Huey." What if you had been the one taken. With her hand on the doorknob, she turned to face him. "I'm going to my workshop. I'm not letting my work fall into the wrong hands again." With that, she was gone. The room was hushed for a moment, "I'll go with her." Malachi's heavy boots were a muffled thudding as he stepped towards the door.