The Locked Emotions

Persephone

The awkward silence was oppressive. Solskin sat on a chair facing me. I could barely think over the massive storm rolling in, sending torrents of rain smashing against my window.

"Well? What is it?" Solskin asked, finally breaking the long silence.

"Solskin…" I paused, unsure of how to approach this ticking time bomb of a conversation. Hesitantly, I spoke up again. "Are you ok?"

"I am fine," he said, almost automatically.

Gathering my resolve, I glared right at him, "I don't think so."

Solskin leapt up, the chair chattering to the ground behind him. "What do you mean?" he growled.

"Well..." I felt uncomfortable. "I think you are hurting inside. I don't think you came back the same."

"You're wrong." He was as blunt as a mace. He turned to leave, but I reached out and stopped him.

"Think about what happened before all this." Solskin cut me off.

"Before? Before, I didn't know that Xavier is a goddamn demon!"

"Think, Solskin, think! Xavier killed that assassin! Why would he do that if he was a demon? You are just venting at him. You just need him to be the scapegoat."

"The scapegoat for what?" Solskin asked coldly.

"I don't know, Mordred's death?"

"If Xavier is not a demon, then why didn't he save Mordred?"

"Because he was also attacked! He was in no position to help Mordred. I found traces of C'Dor in his room."

"How do you know he didn't come willingly?"

"The giant slash across the door." Realizing he had never been in Xavier's room since then, I grabbed his hand and dragged him out of the room.

Xavier room was left untouched, probably because it was still under investigation. Pushing open the door, I led Solskin inside.

Solskin

The door slammed shut behind me. My eyes swept the room, taking in every little detail.

Sheets were strewn across the floor. Behind me, the door was almost gashed in two. Black residue clearly lined the edges of the cut.

"There clearly was a fight here." I could only nod in agreement.

Persephone faced me, "Xavier is our ally. He isn't willingly fighting against us. You should know this. So what is really wrong?"

"Nothing." I said through gritted teeth.

"Xavier is not to blame." She repeated.

"No! He is!" I shouted at her. "Get off my case!" I felt my anger boil. Who was she to lecture me? I picked up my sword and swung it at her.

Quickly, she ducked under my wild swing. Standing up, she stuck her hands out.

Black chains began snaking up my legs, quickly binding my entire body. A burning sensation coursed through my body, causing me to drop my sword.

"Calm. Down." The chains got tighter.

I remained silent. Persephone picked up the sword and placed it off to the far corner of the room.

"Let me try this." Persephone closed her eyes and took in a deep breathe. "Calm."

In an eerily similar fashion to before, I began to feel unnaturally calm.

"Xavier couldn't have saved Mordred, he was fighting C'Dor!"

Her words finally pierced through the haze of rage. "Then why-" I choked, unable to bring myself to complete that thought.

"It's okay, Solskin. I can help you. Through all of this shit from Hades, we should at least trust each other." Persephone talked with a low soothing voice. It was almost sisterly in nature.

"Just tell me what is wrong?"

She kept pressing, her voice becoming more and more gentle. I sat back down, but I said nothing.

Sensing my reluctance, Persephone stopped. She leaned back in her chair and we sat in silence. Only this time, it was comforting.

??????

"You asked for me?" I knelt down in front of Astaroth.

"How is he?" Astaroth's voice was unnaturally loud, echoing off the walls of this massive throne room. C'Dor stood off to one side, disinterestedly tossing a knife at the wall. The clanging of metal against stone grated my ears, setting me further on edge.

"Mordred is currently in control. I currently have him believing that I am helping hide him."

"Good, are you keeping him at your safehouse."

"Yes, he is still in the campgrounds I set up." I kept my head low, allowing my hood to cover my face. If I get caught, everything ends. Thanks to my stalking experience as a hunter, I could barely keep my voice steady and my heart rate normal. The experience was still nerve wracking.

"Make sure he stays there."

"Yes, sir."

"Also, how goes the mission?"

"Persephone and Solskin are excellent fighters, not to mention Epoch and Savah from the royal army are now providing assistance. Things are… going slower than anticipated."

Astaroth stood up. "I expected as much. I have enlisted some help. Meet Vis."

I heard footsteps behind me. Turning around and glancing up, I saw an elven women. Her skin was a dark gray and eyes crimson red. Her black clothing was accuentated by the shine of daggers and vials of various poisons and acids.

"Hello there." Even her voice was vicious.