I Scored Myself A Mate

The next few hours were a complete mess. It could be described as an utter chaos but still that wouldn't be enough to properly characterize what was happening at the palace. 

The moment Ea had told them there was something wrong with him and that he could actually sense Ares Allias had grabbed him and had brought him to Amelia. They did not remain in her guest room though as she too was forced to step out. The poor woman gathered her tools and papers in a hurry, messily placing them underneath her armpits and rushed outside following the three elves. Ea could still hear clearly the jiggling of her bracelets as her long skirt wiped elegantly the floor. 

Allias took them all to the throne room. It was actually quite spooking at that time of night. Barely any light, the only source the moon that sneaked in through the tall windows, showing parts of the spacious room. Mark and Asmodeus had been awakened too since the matter involved his brother. The red haired had entered the room, dragging his feet dressed in a loose pair of shorts with teddy bears on them and a black t shirt. Asmodeus was following behind him, dressed as if he hadn't actually slept at all.

"What's wrong?" Mark had asked them with a yawn and Allias explained to him the situation in a hurry.

At the moment Ea was sitting on a chair a guard bad brought in and Amelia was looking at him. Yes, plainly staring at him making him blush from embarrassment. Such intense eye contact and for that long made him feel awkward. 

While they were engaging this is peculiar staring contest Allias had ordered Theseus to gather a few men, the whole castle had woken up curious as to what was happening. Already a few heads were popping from the sides of the huge entrance but the king did not bother to kick them out. Everyone had been really worried when they found out that Ares was missing so this time he was going to let them watch. If Amelia wanted them to be gone he would tell them but for now as long as he was only an observer too he wouldn't intervene. 

"So you're telling me he can feel Ares through this soul link?" Mark asked , scratching the back of his head still half asleep.

"Yes. It can happen in moments of intense emotion. Some times you can feel the pain of your partner, their fear, their happiness. It's complicated though, it doesn't happen all the time." Allias said as he paitiently waited for Amelia to say something 

"I've never seen it happen to you and Theseus." Mark commented and Allias smiled, it didn't look to be a hapoy smile though, more like a form of pouting.

"That's because Theseus and I are not...married, in human terms. We are not soul links." 

"You must be kidding me. How long have you guys been together?" Mark asked and Allias shrugged his shoulders. It had been so long he had actually lost count of the years. He rembered it all so clearly though.

"I don't remember. More than four hundred years though." He said and Mark gasped. 

"That's a long time" Mark mumbled supriesd and Allias chuckled.

"Sure is" he said and nodded his head. 

"Do you feel anything now?" Amelia's voice was heard. She was talking to Ea and this was probably the tenth time she had asked him this question. The small elf shook his head negatively, the same answer as all of the times before. 

"I don't think this is the right approach." Ea stated and Amelia sighed, her fingers dibing into her thick hair as she tried to think. 

"We can't do anything until the connection returns. It's that moment we need. Once he feels Ares I can touch him and connect with them I will be able to find the place I ssnsed with my magic." She said and Allias nodded. 

"When was it that you felt the connection?" Asmodeus asked Ea.

"When I fell asleep." The elf replied.

"Then maybe you should try to sleep." Asmodeus suggested. "Or maybe you could make him fall asleep. A small spell or something." The demon told Amelia. She was standing away from him, always standing at the opposite direction. It was pretty obvious that she was scared of him. Asmodeus had noticed it of course and it prickled. A small pain in his chest like a thorn. All thag just because he was a demon. He couldn't blame her though.

"A sleeping potion takes some time to make. Also I don't have all the right ingredients so it will take longer. Can't you just fall asleep?" She asked him.

"I am not going to fall asleep when I am this anxious." Ea stated. He felt kind of insulted by that. Who would be able to fall asleep after what they had experienced, after the hope of finding their lover had returned. 

"Okay then. I think I can help" Mark said and everyone looked at him surprised. He frowned and raised an eyebrow, crossing his hands over his chest and tapping his bare foot on the cold tiles. "What? You think I can't help? Maybe I should keep my mouth shut." He told them and Ea's eyes widened.

"No, no, please forgive us. We would love to have your help. What is it that you're suggesting?" He asked and Mark scoffed.

"I don't know maybe..."

"Spill it orelse I will fucking slap you. And you don't want to be slapped by me believe me." Allias told him with a threatening glare and Mark coughed. 

"Fine." He said. "Arpaia, come here" he called out and the demonic spirit appeared in front of them. The beautiful woman was wearing a very long velvet dress with her back exposed and stared at them. She smiled at Mark and rushed towards him, hugging him. "Okay, okay." He said and puslled her arms away. She pouted but didn't complain, as it seemed it was actually something normal between them. 

"What will she do?" Amelia asked. Her tone was a bit agressive. She didn't like the idea of having another demon in the room, even if she was of much lower rank. Arpaia looked at her, squeezing her eyes, realizing immediately that she was afraid and grinned .

"You're scared." She stated and in the blink of an eye she had appeared right in front of her, making her take a step back. "Why though?" She asked her as her smile grew bigger. Her long nails touched the edge of her chin and the sound of Mark clicking his tongue was heard.

"That's enough." He told her and closed his palm. In the nest second Arpaia had returned back to her original place. She had disappeared for a second, unwillingly returning to her spot.

"That was not very nice." She commented looking at Mark with a frown.

"I called you her because I have a job for you." Mark informed her and she tilted her head to the side.

"That's unexpected. What could you want from me master? I do not fight." She stated.

"I know that. I need you to hypnotize him and make him fall asleep. Don't do anything else. No nightmares, no crazy dreams just make him sleep." Mark ordered her and she walked towards Ea. The elf gulped,. intimidated by her smile but didn't move. He allowed her to touch his head and after a few minutes and some aeird chanting he had fallen asleep. Arpaia had disappeared immediately after it, blowing Mark a kiss as she left and Amelia released a heavy breath. 

Ea's mind was blank again. His body gone as he traveled through an endless darkness. He searched and searched desperately for Ares when his mind suddenly stopped him. There it was again, that piercing pain on his chest, burning him. This time though he managed to see something else too. Something that surpsided him.

In the darkness a light glowed. Like a spotlight offering him view of a cage. It almost reminded him that of a birds, a golden color, shiny, polished to perfection and inside it a person was sitting. His knees brought to his chest, his face hidden. 

Ea took a step closer, wanting to see better when Vines' voice was heard again. Far away from them but still crystal clear.

"Wake up!" He screamed and the man in the cage flinched. He raised his head slowly tears in his eyes and for a second Ea couldn't believe what he was seeing right in front of him.

"Ares!" He shouted at the top of his lungs and suddenly the elves eyes widened. Their eyes met, a shocked expression on the prince's fave as he parted his lips. He tried to speak but no words came out it was as if his voice was gone. He moved forward, his palms wrapping around the thick bars of the cage and extended his arm, hoping that Ea would take it. The elf tried to reach him but now he felt like he was stuck.

"Ares!" He shouted again and again tears gathering in his eyes as he watched him shake the cage, trying to get out. He couldn't speak. "I will find you. I promise!" Ea cried when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned around, seeing Amelia look towards the same direction as him. She looked at Ea with a smile.

"I found him"