The Darkest Cure ((#Wattys2015))

Chapter Two

Lucien and the others were quiet when they returned to the fortress. On the way home they found out that Kane had been taken by the Hunters. They neither saw, nor heard, from Torin. Amun was silent still, as he leaned Gideon against the wall.

Lucien watched Maddox run down the steps, only wearing black pants. He looked like he had just woken up. The Keeper of Death wiped a sooted hand over his scarred face. His warriors were injured; Aeron was shouting foul words and going crazy over Lakena. She was in an even more critical condition than the rest of them, but luckily for her, she was unconscious at the moment.

A grenade had exploded behind her and Cameo, although the Keeper of Misery had been farther away.

Only the left side of her face was burned.

Lakena's whole back had been burned. Her shirt, what hadn't been melted into her back, had been burned off. But Lucien wasn't concerned. He could feel her spirit; more there than ever before. If they didn't get the shrapnel out of her back, she wouldn't be able to heal properly, and she would die a painful death. He knew for a fact that it had been years since this angel met her end. Having to take out the metal beneath already healing skin and scars would hurt like hell. Lucien knew this for a fact. And he knew Lakena would be terrified.

"What happened?" Maddox asked, his violet eyes wide. Paris grunted on the couch and writhed in pain. He lay on his back, the bone in his forearm popping out and breaking skin.

"We were bombed," Lucien said as Aeron let out a string of curses.

"By Hunters?" Reyes nodded at the question. He pulled off the melting boots on his feet. Blisters bubbled on his feet as he slid out of the chair and sat next to Lakena. Pain smiled.

Maddox had moved over to Lucien. His expression was calm, but his eyes were clouded with pain and worry. It was as if Death itself was in pain. A very feminine gasp was heard in the room. Maddox whirled around; a young woman stood at the top of the steps, looking at them. His eyes were wide as he quickly moved to block her from the Lords' view.

"So, the human is yours," Sabin eyed him before looking to Lucien.

"Ashlyn," Maddox turned to face her. "Please, go get some towels from my bathroom." He told her. She nodded, silent and wide-eyed, and disappeared down the hall.

Aeron raked a hand down his face over and over. They'd have to lock him up soon....

"Where's Torin?" Lucien shook his head, not knowing the answer to Maddox's question. Reyes shook his head as well, grabbing Lakena's hand. As Pain, it was his duty to stay close to his brothers, and the demon could feed off them. Lakena was the most delicious thing in the world at the moment.

"Lucien," Reyes spoke just before Lakena let out a shrill cry of pain. She was awake now, despite Death's hopes that his sister wouldn't have come to until later. He'd hoped to extract the metal from her back and clean out the wound so she wouldn't scar. But, that wasn't an option now. They would have to get it out while she was awake.

Death and Pain would stay at her side until the wound was treated. Lucien could feel her growing weaker, and didn't know why. He closed his eyes, and ventured into the spirit world, taking his body with him. Lucien stared at Lakena's body. Spirit wise, her emotions were strong. He mostly saw white around her, which meant she was afraid; and she had every right to be. He could only assume she was afraid of the demon inside of him, giving her soul away to the Underworld for as long as it wanted.

The Underworld?! he thought. If anyone was to be barred from entering Hell, it would be little Lakena.

Are you so sure? the demon spoke for the first time in a while.

What do you mean? Lucien's brow furrowed.

Lucien didn't want to judge his sister's soul again; by the Gods, she wasn't even dead!

Yet. the demon said sadly. It was sad for her, he knew that must. It was safe to say that Lakena harbored a peice of every demon, from Death to Hope. He shook his feelings away, and looked at her again. He saw grey--guilt.

What does she have to guilty for?

Try who. the demon told him in a whisper. What? Lucien returned to the living.

"What did you mean by 'who'?" he muttered.

"What?" Sabin said to him. Lakena moaned in pain.

"What? Nothing. We need to get the metal out of her back before she fully heals. And before we leave."

"Before we leave?" Paris echoed from the couch. He groaned as he sat up, and glanced at Aeron.

"We're going after dim0inuk. Pandora's box."