Confrontation

**Aileen POV**

The scent of gore was almost unbearable when Devon opened the metal cell door. Both Sam and I gagged upon entering. On the floor was dried blood mixed with something that appeared suspiciously like urine. That was a shame. There was less of a chance he'd piss himself seeing me now.
I let my eyes trail up from the floor. There was a stool close to one of the stone walls. Chains secured all four legs of the seat. Jacob sat atop with heavy ropes wrapping around his neck, arms, and legs. The rope was then tied to a ring above where the chains connected high on the wall. All restraints were strategically placed keeping the stool far enough away from the wall to provide no back support, yet close enough to keep a firm hold.
Then there was Jacob. Bruising was starting to form under the ropes' knots. Black squirting eyes made it hard for my former friend to see us properly. His lips were chapped and broken as if he were dehydrated. I doubted anyone was giving him food or drink. The rest of his face was puffy and blackened. No one at the DSS would have recognized him in this condition.
"There anything you want to say to my face Jacob?" I asked as blandly as I could.
No answer. Jacob hung his head low, refusing to look at me. Too damn bad, I was not in the mood for this game.
I walked over and snapped his head up, forcing him to see me. Devon came up from behind me with a small water bottle. The half demon was pretty smart. How was Jacob supposed to answer me if he was thirsty? At least one of us was thinking clearly.
I glared emotionlessly down at my ex comrade. "Okay, I'm going to let you have some water. I'll be that...generous. Then you are going to answer every question I have fully. Understand? NOD!"
Hesitantly, Jacob lifted his head up and down.
"Good, now if I think you are lying or hiding something from me, I will use this here sword to stab you. Now, normally I hate torture. I'd rather kill you and be done. But you see, you killed the one man who's never let me down. He was there for everything... then again you already know all this. There is no point in rehashing. Just be smart and answer my questions old buddy. As much as I hate you, I don't want to hear you scream for too long."
He made no attempt to communicate. Jacob closed his eyes, unable to droop his head again with my tight grasp. Angry, I punched his already messed up face. Two more solid hits with a satisfying crunch noise from his nose; and I let his head fall. Taking the sword in hand, I pierced the wall above his right shoulder. His hands started to fight against the ropes. I smirked.
Sam joined us. She grabbed the water bottle and sprayed the contents on his face. Jacob's tongue flew out to lick the drops sliding down. The man must have been really parched. I suppose he had been down here for much longer than I intially assumed. The room was noticeably much hotter than the rest of the castle. Shiuku did know the simplest and most effective ways the torture his enemies. I wondered how often he had used this room.
As if on cue, I felt that weight on my shoulders again along with a horrendous headache. I really should make my demon lord pay for some Tylenol.
I laughed not caring if my friends thought of me as insane. *Oh dear husband did you want to watch how cruel your little one can be?* I pondered to myself. Should I let him know that I'm aware of his invisible eyes now? No, I suppose keeping it a secret could be beneficial for a while. Besides, I wanted him to see what ordering Kalum's death did to me.
"Tell it to my face and you can have all the water you want. Stop being a damn coward!" I shouted. A good thing Sam held the bottle. I would have squeezed out all the contents with how tight my fists were balled. A warm trickle slithered under my fingertips. So far I had done more harm to myself than Kalum's killer.
"I...hikk" He couldn't make any words come out. His voice was just about as hoarse as my brother's had been about a month ago.
Sam pushed the bottle to his dry lips, tipping the water into his mouth. Jacob gulped down as quickly as he could. Instincts would be kicking in by this point. Whether he wanted to survive or not; human nature would compel him to swallow any liquid present. In great distress, all of us lose control of our automatic responses.
While waiting, I ripped the sword back out of the stonework. Sweat was dripping from my forehead. Was it always this hot in Shiuku's cells? Or did Devon turn it up? He had already beaten Jacob before I got down here. Him showing up with bloody knuckles made a lot more sense after seeing Jacob's condition. Either Devon liked Kalum a lot in the short time they might have crossed paths, or he was that defensive about me. Back when I was in the first parts of getting abducted, he had torn Prince Roy apart a bit with his wind elemental talent.
Glancing back over at the tied up Jacob, I saw streams of cool water falling onto his clothing. His desperate tongue was still seeking any left over dribbles.
"Talk." I ordered simply.
So slowly, he lifted his head. "I killed Sir Kalum. Kai-"
I punched him again. This time I aimed for his gut. If not for the rope around his neck, he would have folded up nicely. Instead he had to tighten his lips and swallow down what was trying to come up. The poor man needed all the liquid he just drank.
"Continue, once your stomach has calmed down." I told him. "Would you prefer I stab you instead? Then you could keep your precious water."
I felt like someone else was speaking for me. This was never me. But anytime I tried to remind myself torture is wrong; an image of Kalum's goofy lopsided grin would flash. Pain would stab at my heart, making me want to hurt Jacob. He should share my anguish!
He huffed trying to regain his breath. His eyes searched mine, probably wondering where his friend was, or maybe he wanted some mercy. Was that why he volunteered to be tied up? Ha!
"Kaibec found out that.. I was gon..going to kill Kalum...He ...tried to st..stop me. I had to..speed up my plans."
I had to stop myself from punching his gut again. "Kaibec couldn't even save him! How bad did you fuck him up!!! Kaibec is the best healer! Did he suffer then? Tell me he at least didn't linger!"
"No, he didn't. I gave him a quick death."
That same fragment of me that snapped back with the monster in the forest, was bending again. I stabbed my blade through his foot. His scream was barely audible. The haze causing my headache dissipated. Shiuku was done watching me huh...
"How sweet of you." I twisted my weapon.
I was so lost in my world of revenge, I didn't notice Devon come up from behind until both his arms rested around me for the second time today. Where Jacob filled me with unease, or hatred; Devon calmed me. His arms made me secure and cherished. I was appreciated; not used up, or a baby maker. I was Aileen Lutz.
Devon kissed my temple making strange sparks zap my spine and spread throughout my nervous system. Maybe this was some kind of mind trick of his to coerce the rest of me to relax.
"This isn't you Aileen. I saw you with that evil man in the park. He had you topless protecting some girl you didn't know. Yet, did you torture that man? No. Jacob has been scared, starved, dehydrated, beaten, stabbed; what else do you want?" Devon asked.
I turned towards Sam, expecting her to say something. For once, she was mute as a mime. She even did her best to create an imaginary wall between us, walking away. Quietly, she opened the cell door, shutting it smoothly. Never knew Sam could be so soft. Or was I really being that immoral? A demon and a friend both believed I was acting that wicked. Sam had to leave.
But he killed Kalum. Someone so kind, loving, and ... he wouldn't want this either. Justice, not revenge. Jacob deserved to die, no one deserves to suffer. In my dimension there is a reason our people fear lingering more than their lives ending. Damn him!
I clenched the hilt of my sword and flung it behind me. The blade rang loudly meeting the metal door. Jacob flinched against his bonds. *Was I really that terrifying to him?*
Of course I was. This wasn't the way to avenge Kalum. Torturing Jacob wouldn't bring back my friend. It would just kill the rest of me that Sir Alaric wasn't able to. It took Devon, Mr. Silent Dream Apology Man, to see through me. To save me from ruining who I am. Damn it! Damn it! What is wrong with my head!
Jacob stayed silent, watching Devon's interaction with me. That tidal wave of anger started building inside me again. "I hope you remember what Devon did for you. If you see Kalum, tell him that I'll make him proud; him and Father."
I was about to land the finishing blow when something dinged in my mind. I had thrown my weapon like an idiot behind me. Lena would be highly let down. Never throw away your blade.
I moved to retrieve my temper tantrum thrown sword, but Devon stopped me.
"Give me your letter." Devon demanded, holding out his hand.
*Huh?*
"Give me your letter Aileen. To your Father." Devon repeated.
"Why? No one reads them. Not even you Dev."
He smiled while grinding his teeth. I guess I wasn't the only one who sucked at cute smiles.
"Not me, your Father. Shiuku's haze never reached me. He doesn't know I'm back yet. I could have run into complications on the mission... And I have another one tomorrow anyway." Devon reached into my back pocket and snagged the letter. "I'll be your delivery boy, but you'll have to make a sacrifice too."
"What?" I was trying not to cry. Devon was supposed to be too scared of torture from Shiuku to trasport my letter! And I couldn't figure out what the sacrifice would be; letting Father read my writing?
"My missions stop if Jacob dies. Only Sekai and I would be in rotation. Shiuku told me to watch for his death. If I got a call from Sekai, I was to return." He breathed heavily. His heart was most likely racing. "I'm not going to disobey Shiuku too obviously. I will only be able to act this out right, if Jacob lives...for now."
Let Jacob live? Wait! He was really going to be brave for me again?! I really did love anytime Devon poked his head out of his shell... kind of like a turtle. But could I let Jacob live and more importantly, keep babysitting me for my evil demon lord.
"Didn't Trevor and King Ulrich want a piece of Jacob anyway?" Devon questioned. "Let your Father read how you are feeling. I bet it'll give both of you some closure. Let me do this for you Princess."
I looked over at Jacob, unsure of what to do. *Father was blaming himself for everything. He even said that he failed me. He could be even more miserable than I am right now. Not only that, but after reading, Father may be more inclined to trust Lena and Trevor. They could be part of his family too. All of us a broken rag team little family.*
"Don't piss me off Jacob. And I don't want to hear anyone of my family's names escape your lips. Consider yourself on borrowed time." I sat on the ground hugging my knees. Now I would have to wait for Jacob to leave. He was my guard once more.
Devon freed him from his bindings. He gave the other man a warning, "Shiuku hears none of this. I still don't like you. Protect Aileen."
His word of caution given, Devon headed back for the door.
My eyes followed him. For some reason he looked much taller and more confident. I wish he would just comprehend how brave he really was. Not many would dare a task that would lead to a torment fueled punishment. Still, there Devon was walking away to help me and my family. Absolutely amazing. While lost in my musings, I remembered something unsettling. What Sam had said earlier. *You love him.*
Not even a question when she spoke those words. This whole time I thought she was talking about Kalum. No, she was telling me straight out, I love Devon.
*I love Devon? Shit. Almost 20 years without falling for any man and now that I'm (sort of) married I catch feelings? I really am a whore aren't I? And best of all, it's to someone who already lost their true love. He would never move past his love for that lonely innocent girl, and I would never be able to act on mine. Never did I think I'd be this jealous of a dead girl.*
Burying my head further in my legs, I made a mental note to myself. Let my realization about Devon become enshrouded in the deepest clouds of my mind. I didn't want to destroy our friendship in a one-sided love that neither of us could do anything about.
Life really is too cruel.