I Scored Myself A Mate

Their journey back home after that big fight that ended up in tears was quiet. Even though they all shared the same carriage it was one of those times that exhaustion took over them and no one was in the mood to chat. Allias was happy about that, he didn't want to answer any questions about what happened in that house or about the curse. For now he only wanted to focus on the fact that Mark was going to return in just a few days and he would be able to get his friend back. He looked outside the carriage's window when they passed through the main village and Ares drive towards the palace. There were a few people out on the streets but their faces were tired, blank as they walked around, making Allias' heart heavy. 

"Have I neglected the kingdom?" He asked, mostly himself but he ended up saying it out loud.

"Yes" Ea answered, being brutally honest. "Both of you have. I think you should focus more on what's happening here before we all just go out on a new adventure again. The people need help, they need to see that their aid is back. We can't simply be away all the time. You need to also hold a hearing for them to visit you and talk to you." Ea told him and the king frowned as he rubbed his temple.

"I hate hearings. Can't we avoid that? I mean how will I be able to solve that the baker is sleeping with the shoemaker's wife?" He said and Theseus laughed. Having done Allias' job for almost a century he too knew the difficulty of holding a hearing. It was exhausting and it could even last a few days.

"No you can't. The people need to have contact with the king. Also the body of that pervert has been sent to the palace. You can decide what you want to do with it after we arrive." Ea informed him and the king smirked.

"I told you, I am going to turn it into an invitation. I will hold a ball. A masquerade one actually." He said and raised his eyebrows playfully. 

Ea's eyes widened and his lips turned into a thin line as he heard the king's words.

"You're kidding." He stated and Allias shook his head negatively.

"I am certainly not."

"You can't do that. All the lord's will immediately turn against you. We need to be more careful about..."

"Let them then. Ea do you think they have the luxury to turn against me? They have always hated me, from the moment I was born because I reminded them of my father. That will never change there is not even one possibility for me to become friendly with them. So what is another option? For them to fear me and I know how to do that the best. Get it?" He asked him with a bright smile but the small advisor simply sighed, falling back on his seat. He waved his hand, meaning that he wanted this conversation to be over and closed his eyes. 

"What are you smiling about?" Allias asked when he noticed that Theseus was looking at him, smiling. The general shrugged his shoulders. 

"I don't know, your idea it was very....creative." he described it and Allias couldn't help but laugh with his adjective of choice. 

"Creative. Yes I would like to call it art." He joked and Theseus entiwned their fingers. 

"It won't be easy you know." He reminded him and Allias' shook his head. He already knew that, unfortunately he was very wary of it. Nothing have been easy from the very first moment he had met eyes with Luke just a few months ago. Everything had happened so fast it seemed like years had passed but that wasn't the case.

"I know. What has been easy with us?" Allias asked and Theseus gave him a dirty look combined with a very charming smirk. "Except that." 

"Killing, bathing in blood, ruining lives, you know. We're good at that." He said.

"Theseus..." The king called out with a concerned expression and his lover met his anxious eyes. "Are we the villains in this story?" He asked him and the general was taken aback by his question.

"People dying, suffering. Everything has started front he moment I returned. So maybe....we are not as good as we thought." He mumbled, lost deep in thought when Theseus turned his body towards him. 

"We are the villains? That's ridiculous Allias. How could we be the villains after everything we've gone through. The people out there, monsters like Achlys, these are the villains. We are just sick of being oppressed. Morally grey, yes. I wouldn't mind killing someone in the blink of an eyes if you asked me but no I don't think we're the villains here." 

"You would kill for me?" Allias asked him.

"What do you mean? I've done it plenty of times" he told him.

"No, I mean if you didn't know why and I told you to kill someone, even without explaining you the reason would you kill them for me?" He asked Theseus.

"Yes." He stated with no hesitating.

"What? Why? Don't you think that's obsurd? What if I...I don't know, I am wrong?" 

"I trust you. I always did. And that's because I know you're good Allias. That's why I know there would never be a chance of you ordering me to kill someone without a reason. 

Allias stared at Theseus and smirked.

"What if I told you to kill Ares?" He asked and Theseus started laughing.

"Oh, about that you don't have to asked me I am planning to do it one day anyways." He told Allias.

"I can hear you, you bitches. Say you're sorry or else you're driving." Ares shouted from the driver's seat and the two older elves began giggling. 

"Sorry, sorry dear brother." Theseus said while laughing. 

"With honesty and emotion!" Ares screamed.

"Oh, my amazing brother I am so incredibly sorry." He repeated.

....

After a while they finally reached the palace. Maids and attendants were waiting for them at the gates and the king walked out last making his graceful appereance. Immediately his eyes traveled to Mark's body which was being moved by some soldiers.

"Take his body to the gallery" he ordered. The gallery was a very big round room with tear shaped windows, designed of pretty stained glass and Allias kept there gifts that he had been given from people that were of the artistic kind. Paintings, statues and books were kept there creating the perfect art observation space. 

"Will we do it now?" Theseus asked but Asmodeus answered instead of Allias.

"Yes we will let's go." He told them and rushed inside the palace first. His appereance scared a lot of the worked in the palace. Elves were known for their delicate and elegant beauty while Asmodeus was a moving storm. From his wild hair to his agressive exterior to his horns and fangs everyone looked at him from the sides and the few elves that stood on his way simply jumped to the sides not wanting to agitate him.

"You don't know where we're going so why are you ahead?" Allias asked him and Asmodeus' stopped, realizing that indeed he was walking with no actual direction. He was just incredibly impatient. He couldn't stop now, there only a few seconds left before the final phase of the plan and he needed to make sure that nothing will stop them. Mark had to come back. 

"Sorry, sorry" he said and moved to the side so Allias could lead them. "Please let's just go." 

"I would really enjoy stalling this just so you could suffer more. You're lucky I want Mark back too." Allias said and Asmodeus sighed. He expected everyone to be hostile towards him, he was hostile towards his own self too, he deserved it after all. He didn't really care though, he was never in need of being liked. All he wanted was Mark to return, to see him one more time and disappear.

"The witches, they said Mark may not return the same." Allias told them, informing them about what he had been told as they stood in front of the door. The king grabbed the small doll from his pocket and Theseus pushed the door open. 

Mark's body had been placed on a big bed. They had placed it there beforehand and now Mark was there, sleeping. Allias looked at him with a suddened expression and approached his bed. H placed the doll on the spot he was told, exactly like he was instructed and smiled. "Please work" he begged. 

"Is that it?" Asmodeus asked and the king nodded. 

"Yes, nothing else. We will just have to wait for him to wake up. Come on let's go." He said and headed towards the door with Theseus following him close behind but the demon did not move. 

"I will remain here until he wakes up." He stated and Allias was ready to object but Theseus stopped him.

"Fine. We will be watching you. Don't do anything." He warned him and Asmodeus nodded. He was left alone with Mark. He paced towards his body and took his hand in his. It wascold but the elves had managed to preserve his body perfectly with their magic.

"Please come back." Asmodeus begged.