Proposition Accepted

**Trevor POV**

"Where are they, Ellice?" I held a jug of water near his face, an unspoken offer. "My sister, my woman, and unborn child."
For the first half of the day, Ellice hung in a cell without food or drink. The degraded knight was recently relocated to the torture chamber, tied to a chair, and whipped by the King himself a few hours ago. The heavy collar around his neck would have prevented him from looking away from his tormentor as the punishment was carried out.
King Ulrich does not take kindly to treason. Proof the poor man hadn't played an active role mattered none. Silence was declared as treason in court.
I understood why my Father went to such lengths.
This hopeless, helpless feeling was too much. The person with at least an inkling of information chose to stay mute. And sadly, Ellice was the best lead we had.
"They'll kill Izzy. I won't talk. I love her."
His voice was barely audible, and clipped sentences caused guilt to join my ray of feelings. In his shoes, I'd do the same. But all secrets were deadly for all of us, including Izzy. A fact Devon and Aileen aimed to teach me.
"You and her let us play into a murderous psycho and absentee demon lord's hand, breaking your holy vow. Still, I will do everything in my power to pardon both of you." The words were harsh, but his comprehension was vital.
"Too strong." Sir Ellice squinted and heaved. No tears fell as he'd been left without water.
The same had been said for centuries about Shiuku. Yet we bested him and will again in another year's time. All it takes is a nudge, the first victory to turn the tides. "The two traitors are revealed. Events will shift back in our favor."
"No, I am not the second. I don't know who it is, she refused to say."
Unable to keep wrath at bay, I punched Ellice. His nose crunched upon impact, but the knight himself made no sound. Water from the air around us circled near my fists. "What do you know?!"
"Can't risk…Izzy is with child…not mine…but I'll cherish."
Shit! They're both in vulnerable states, growing treasured life. Friends bringing precious life into the world should've been the opening to their new lives. Instead, it will lead to their ending credits. All because of a scheme neither willing is a part of.
*Sorry King Ulrich, you won't have the opportunity to punish Lutz's killer. He's mine.*
Ellice coughed, incapable of glancing away from me. Hatred never infected his gaze. In fact, he looked almost grateful for the distraction. It was easier to deal with than the internal pain we shared.
So many similar emotions I was sure my own reflected back. Stubbornness, dread, and the will to destroy ourselves for our family.
"I don't want to hurt you," I told Ellice, backing away. Torture was not condoned by the DSS or myself. Certainly, a man protecting his own did not deserve it. No, I'll let this hatred fester for my actual enemy.
"Brutality has always been beneath me. I find it pathetic, but I'm running low on options, almost forgetting and losing my awesome self."
He was listening intently for the first time since my arrival. Just a push more.
"I'm more than a Prince, Ellice. I am considered one of the DSS' best. I've never forsaken an innocent life. My sister and I have done research into what's going on. I know Izzy is forced into siding with those monsters, and I will rescue her, for you and Natalie. But I need your trust and cooperation here. Just give me something so I take justice for my Sweetness and her beloved friend."
Hope flashed through the knight, lightening his soul. As if Ellice's body forgot his condition, the strength in his voice echoed off the walls. "Izzy explained this pull. She's my true love. I see it on your face too. The same connection to Natalie." I didn't correct him over the identity of my real true love.
*Soulmates were overrated. I'll recognize and determine my own feelings.* "I am unaware of their goal, but Izzy cried over this next phase. She'll never recover if successful. Shion and Kalum. They're both in danger, for opposite reasons. Capture and Death."
Sick, pathetic, weak, murderous little fucks!!! Shiuku does want Devon and Aileen's child dead. The assassin or fucking anyone under Shiuku's mark will kill Kalum. Mother fucking hell!
Wasting no more precious time, I raced to the Queen and King's quarters.
On my way out of the dimly candlelit dungeons, I produced an intense blast of water at two men away from me. The fatter torturer landed on his own rack, the pressure breaking the gruesome equipment. Sir Ellice was bound to thank me for the accident.
Halls and corridors passed in a blur. Maidens, merchants, and servants scurried to the side as I barreled forward. Thoughts of my two favorite little men panged at my heartstrings. *God, my family has suffered enough. Find any other way to punish me for my failures. I'll do anything.*
By the time I reached the antechamber, my legs throbbed, and my lungs burned with each rough pant. To my relief, both imperial guards were alive and well. They both wore solemn expressions staring at their weapons. Odd, but no fear like if a tyke Prince perished under their watch.
"Move aside," I ordered simply, unwanted malice dripped into my words. Holding my rage back for this assassin was proving to be a challenge worse than when Shiuku fried me alive.
In a delicate tone, the left man informed me, "Lord Devon is speaking to Prince Kalum. My Lord is unwell."
"Lord Devon? Why is he in the King's chambers?" Last we'd spoken, he was hunting for his wife. If only Aileen had been able to bear Devon's mark instead, he'd have found her hours ago. A fact that saddened him all the more.
The other guard answered, staring at his blade rather than me. "A messenger came with a letter from your Mistress and a note presumably from her as well. The maid requested we give the letter to Shion, as the contents were addressed to his Father. We did as asked and had a young apprentice lad find my Lord."
Natalie?
The door opened slightly. Jacob stood, displaying only his back. "Come in, Trevor."
Twisting to the side to fit in the tiny opening, I almost missed a charging child flinging himself at me. Red-faced, glassy teary-eyed, and with snot running down his face, Kalum hugged me tightly. "Uncle still loves me, right?! I still your nephew, right? Stay my Uncle, please!"
Between each sentence was a pause as he hiccuped or cried. The words he managed to get out were barely intelligible. "Please say it."
"Of course! Uncle Trevor will always love his Kalum, you know that. Don't ever assume otherwise. You'll break my heart, baby demon!"
My reassurance meant little to him. "Don't know! Shion said he's n not my brother! But he is! I love him! Why Shion hate Kalum?!"
"He's your brother. Whatever spat the two of you are in will be settled like every other time."
"I not his brother and and he said Daddy, not his Daddy!"
Kalum screamed loudly, using my tunic as a tissue. He cried harder than I'd ever heard, broken by his brother's cruel declarations.
Swaying, Devon gripped my arm, steadying himself. Dark circles rounded his eyes, his shoulders slouched, and his knees buckled from the unimaginable emotional weight. The man was miserably trying to hold himself together for Shion.
He handed me a piece of paper, ripped and crumpled. Written in rushed handwriting was a letter to Devon from Natalie. It explained who Shion's real Father was. About how Aileen had tricked him into believing the child was his. She should have talked to Aileen or me about this first.
"Shion read the contents before I could get here."
I moved on to the second letter. Whoever wrote this one was attempting to emulate Natalie's. The handwriting was close to Natalie's, but the curves were slightly longer, and the ink pressed harder.
God Damn.
The note was straight to the point. It explained that the man in the black cloak was working with Shion's Daddy. And listed easy-to-read instructions.
To see Daddy one day-
Go to the window
Let Power loose
Run out window
Be caught. No ouch
Daddy's friend will talk to Sekai.

"Shion asked Sekai if I was his Dad. I was going to tell him tonight Trevor. Tonight, with my loving wife. When she told him it wasn't her place to say, he got mad and let lost control of his abilities. He yelled at Kalum and tried to jump out the window. When he did…that fucking assassin attacked Kalum."
Dryly I asked, "and Shion?"
"Gone. Sekai kept Kalum alive, but Izzy snatched Shion when he jumped."
"I…" Shion is gone… "But Shiuku can't-"
"If we don't turn this around now, he'll spend the year being taught love is a weakness like Shiuku wanted. A miniature him to conquer humanity when the vortex opens next year." Devon scooped the shaking form of his son up, crushing Kalum to his chest. "Trevor, I have to protect what remains of my family. Those bastards are after Kalum's life. Please, find Aileen, Natalie, and Shion. This time, I'm begging you."
I nodded, not trusting my mouth to work.
Devon made his way to the door. Cradled in his Dad's arms, Kalum protested against his Dad's muscles. "I want my brother. Bring him back! Please…Shion, I'll share my toys. I love you! Come back!"
I pinched my side to maintain my composure. Kalum's pleas were too much. They were acid in my soul. The second the door shut closed, I crumpled to my knees.
Those bastards will regret ever stepping foot into this dimension. No, he'll regret his birth and present his parents for bringing him life! Kalum, Shion, my sister, Natalie, Izzy/her baby, and my unborn child suffer because of their scheme.
Jacob took measured steps to where I'd dropped." It's weird to see the Great Trevor gloomy. Doesn't suit you."
Shiuku and the assassin will see what the deadly sin of wrath can do. Disgraceful, evil monsters. Hell, it would be a kindness to them.
"Trevor."
Finding the new hideout was almost impossible, and no more time to spare. I was left with a single route I didn't ever want to resort to.
"Trevor."
The DSS' first principal. Save the majority, the innocent, and the victims. Lives of the many matters more than the happiness of any individual within those walls.
They are most important. At least she's not messed up and disgusting like my true love.
"You're crying."
Wiping my cheeks and faking a giant grin on my lips, I said, "I need a ring, my Good Man."
Jacob didn't hesitate. He grabbed a small box off the Queen's dresser. "Figured as much when Sekai was taken to the Healing Hall, and Devon sent for me."
"You stopped to purchase a ring? The right path that apparent?"
"The DSS doesn't give up on anyone. Never admit defeat, but sometimes a sacrifice is unavoidable. We must be willing and ready for a tough call." Jacob sat beside me, looking less dignified than when shoveling manure. "By the royal family's authority, I hereby beseech you that I am no longer in Lutz's debt. My deceased Mother's ring shall be my final atonement."
There was no more explanation needed between us. I meant when I said I'd do anything for my family.
"Tell the Queen of Krennan and Princess Lydia; I, Prince Trevor, summon them."