"ugh.." Ilian groans as he awakes to a pounding headache. Where am I? He thinks as he looks around the plain room, trying to remember how he got here. I don't remember coming here.
The last thing he could remember was stopping at the inn last night for a quick drink, and chatting with a traveler at the bar.
As he twists to look and see if there is anything behind him, he feels a slight pinch on his wrists and looks down to see his hands shackled to the wall with a loose chain.
"Well, shit." He says, as the door in front of him slowly opens. "Oh good, you finally woke up. Now we can properly get to know each other.
"What are you doing in the lands of Twilight Hollow? Who sent you? Don't you know that your kind aren't welcome here? Archangel scum." The demon spat at the floor at Ilian's feet.
"Wait, I'm in twilight hollow? Last I remember I was at the inn in Duskgrove. What trickery is this? You think to fool me?" Ilian responded with a questioning voice.
"SILENCE!" The demon roared, as he slapped Ilian across the face. "Don't think to question ME when you showed up in MY lands uninvited.
"Your race is not welcome here! Now tell me who sent you."
Ilian looks at his interrogator with a mixture of rage and confusion. "I already told you. I was in Duskgrove. I had no intentions of being anywhere near Twilight Hollow. It seems there has been some sort of misunderstanding, but I should be the least of your worries.
"Someone that could spirit away an archangel in the middle of the night undetected is a much larger threat to your lands than I am. Now, unshackle me so we can have a proper conversation." Ilian grins, thinking this would be the end of it.
The demon looks at him, wary of following through with this angels request, since their races are mortal enemies. He leaves the room without responding, seeing as he won't be able to get any information from him for now.
Let him starve for a few days, then we'll see how loose his tongue will get. Xephor thinks, heading back to his bedroom located on the second floor of the palace of Twilight Hollow.
Still, I must speak to father about this. We can't afford another war with the archangels. The last one nearly wiped us out. And for what?
After thinking this, he changes directions, heading to the throne room of the demon king. Oddly enough, he hears what seems to be a conference taking place.
He called the council together? Without me? Xephor thinks as he walks in unannounced. As everyone turns to look at him, he gives a stiff bow and looks at the demon king sitting in his throne.
"My lord, I thought you should know, an archangel has been captured and is in the dungeons below us as we speak."
"Oh, that thing? That's old news. Our spy master drugged him and brought him here overnight. We plan to use him to send a message that we're not to be trifled with." The king responds.
"But my lord, we can't afford another war with the-"
"Don't tell me what we can and can't afford to do, boy! Think you to be the head of this kingdom? You have much learning to do if you wish to be the crown prince.
"Now, leave us and let us discuss the exact message we will leave with the filth. I expect you won't have an issue questioning my decision on this as well?"
"No, my lord." Xephor bowed again, before exiting the throne room. So, they captured an archangel and didn't tell me, huh? I wonder what else they're hiding...
As he's walking back to his quarters, all he can think about is the archangel in the dungeons that his father captured to send a message.
There's only one way to avoid a war... Xephor thought, with a hint of determination in his eyes. He quickly detours and heads down to the dungeons, intent on finishing his task before the council finishes their meeting.
As he opens the door, his eyes fall upon the archangel, whose shoulder length blonde hair and golden eyes perfectly matches the attributes written about in his textbooks.
If unsure what type of angel you're facing, look them in the eye. Archangels always have golden eyes.
As he's lost in thought, Ilian sneers up at him ready for another interrogation. "I already told you, I didn't mean to come here. Remove these shackles and let me leave!" He says with contempt.
Xephor looks down at him with a frown. "Relax, I'm helping you escape. My father has a foolish idea that's going to get us all killed."
Ilian looks up at the young demon in shock, not expecting one of his kind to actually show compassion for the others of their race. "But how do you plan to remove these shackles? I don't see a key hole."
"Oh that? That's easy." Xephor says with a smirk, reaching down to grab one of the chains in his hand, which immediately starts to melt.
"What is this?" Ilian gasped. "One of the hellspawn was born with the ability to control hellfire? And you're rebelling against your king?"
"I wouldn't call it rebelling," Xephor responds with an icy glare. "I would call it.. saving my kingdom from another pointless war." He says as he reaches toward the other chain, melting it as well.
"Now, let's go! Quickly! We don't have long to get you out of here!" Xephor snaps, the reality of what he's doing starting to sink in. "I'll lead the way."
He immediately turns to sprint towards the exit from the dungeons, planning to take the rear exit which is far less guarded.
But before he can even step out from the dungeons, a shadow falls across the door.
"Well, well, well, what do we have here?"