Exquisite Pain (Garmau)

Chapter 43 A Meeting

You're only as innocent as the horns holding up your halo.
~Unknown
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(Aphmau's POV)

The armour was stuffy.

It was hot and I wanted nothing more than to take it off. Vylad informed me that it would be a bad idea, so of course, I had to leave it on. As soon as the high walls of O'Khasis were in sight, the entirety of Vylad's demeanour changed. He no longer had a smile as his resting face, and his eyes were dead. 

"We're here," he whispered.

"Your Highness," one of the guards bowed, a wave of nervousness washing off of him, "you didn't have a guard when you left this morning, please, who is this?"

"That is no concern of yours," Vylad spoke calmly, yet his voice was laced with authority and strength.

"Actually, sir, we are under strict orders to know who you are with at all times an-"

"And who gave you those orders? My father?" Vylad was beginning to grow angry, "need I remind you, that you are also under strict orders to obey me no matter what? My word is final, this guard is merely a new recruit who has yet been put into the system, speak to me as if I'm a child again and your execution will be the day after you dare speak down to me, do I make myself clear?"

I couldn't help but grin under the helm. Vylad was a good man, never would he execute them. But he knew the exact words to say, when to say them, and how they are said to get what he needs. We walked inside the kingdom, every eye on us.

"So what now?" I whispered.

"Well, you have to speak to me as if you're a guard," I heard in his voice the sound of smugness.

"Of course....Your Highness," I managed through gritted teeth. I felt him biting back a smile and I wanted nothing more than to hit him upside the head. "Wipe that grin off your face," I hissed.

We got through the castle, avoiding everyone. We passed Zane and three other guards, and I smirked knowing where we were going. The two of us made our way into the office, and made sure the coast was clear before I took off my helmet.

"Finally, man, I have no clue how guards do that everyday," I sighed, "alright, let's look around."

I went to the bookshelves while Vylad looked through the desk.

"Anything yet?" He called.

"No, all I can find are History books and records."

"My brother definitely has an interesting taste in reading..." He mumbled.

I tried pulling out every book and knocking on the wall behind them to see if any of the walls were faulty or anything.

Two hours passed and Vylad gasped.

"What?"

""Zane is coming back, we have to go."

"But we aren't done, we haven't found anything an-"

"If we leave now we can still see Garroth before we have to run."

I inhaled sharply, grabbing my helmet and putting it on.

"Let's go."

Vylad smiled sadly and I followed him out of the office. We started to walk down the hall when a loud and powerful voice made us both freeze.

"Son, where are you off to?"

Vylad and I both turned to see Garte, and I remained still.

"I wanted to go see Garroth, is that alright? I am accompanied by a guard."

"I see that, but you know that we have strict rules with Garroth. I must know which guard is with you at all times, and who is this?"

"It's officer Verte," he said without hesitation.

"Take off your helm, Verte."

I lifted my hands to my helm, darting my eyes to Vylad. He subtly nodded and I took it off. Garte didn't seem fazed and simply nodded.

"Continue."

As soon as he was gone, I looked over at Vylad.

"You didn't think I wouldn't think of my father, did you? Oh, ye of little faith," Vylad laughed shaking his head and tsking his tongue playfully.

"I don't understand..."

"I had Dante put one of his illusion spells in a jewel that's easily removable on the inside of the chainmail."

I looked down and noticed the small glimmering jewel that was unnoticeable to the naked eye.

"What are we waiting for?" I breathed.

We walked down several staircases and past multiple hidden passages. The further we went, the more cold everything became. Everything was more damp and also the closer we got, the more nervously excited I became.

We got to a hallway and rounded a corner.

And that's where he was.

Garroth was leaning against a wall in a cell, his hair a mess, dirt covering every visible part of his skin. He heard our footsteps and looked up. He scoffed.

"You brought a guard? Which one?"

"One of your favourites," Vyald smirked. I removed the helmet and took out the jewel in the chainmail. Garroth watched, and slowly I saw his eyes widen and he rushed to the front of the cell.

"Aphmau?! You're here?! But how?!"

"No time to explain, just enjoy your visit," Vylad sighed and leaned on a wall. I knelt by the bars of the cell in front of him, and got shocked when my hands tried to go through.

"This cell is lined with several spells, no one can get in or out unless it's my mother," he whispered, keeping his eyes on me at all times.

"I wish we could sit here and stare at each other, but we need to talk while I have the chance," I reminded him.

"What was that magic, what happened back in the nether?"

"I'm turning into darkness itself...." I wasn't going to lie to him, "and if it keeps going I will be nothing but a dark and emotionless void that only wants evil, I'm not even sure if I'll be a sentient being anymore. I don't know what to do about it, and I don't know how to fix it," I laughed a little and took a deep breath to calm my nerves, "there's more. My father is planning on destroying O'Khasis, I'm not sure when, not sure how, but he's coming. That's why I'm here, he wanted me out of the way so he sent me to an old friend claiming that I was there to be healed from this....darkness thing. But he doesn't want that, me becoming dark is what he wants."

"Aphmau...."

"We can't stay much longer, Aphmau, come on," Vylad handed me the jewel and let us say our goodbyes.

"I love you," I bit back tears, knowing this goodbye was going to be as hard as the last one.

"I love you, too."

A/N I had a long weekend, so I decided to use my free day for writing. I love you all, devils, byeeeeeeeeeeeeee.