Stolen Aura

**Devon POV**

Rotating my jaw caused more pain rather than relief. Tom sucker punched me the moment Aileen's door opened. A warning that the old second in command of Squad Leader Nye's team would be here would have been nice. I guess the other man never forgot me. He hadn't held back either. No doubt my jaw was dislocated now.
Unnerved once again, I had Kaibec step a paw inside first. I followed behind surveying the room; had to know how fucked I was. Sitting on the bed was Aileen's Father and Lena. Welp, that's bad news. The two of them seemed to be friends now. Trevor sat on a spinner desk chair, tapping his fingers on some wood. Tom elbowed me and went to stand by Aileen's bed. In the process, he stole the fast food bags from my hand.
Her brother, her Father, her Squad Leader, and Lena's husband were all here; along with the demon I have irrationally hated for the past many years. Perhaps I should have just let them tie me up like Jacob had. At least then I could somewhat expect what was coming. Three members of the DSS and a pissed off Father; yeah I would be crawling back to Shiuku; literally.
What was I even supposed to say? I felt hollow. A gasoline truck could have slammed into my car, destroying my ride, and I wouldn't have cared.
How many times had I been in this very bedroom; helping Shiuku invade my true love's dreams? How many times did I watch him touch her, tease her, watch them bring each other to climax? Back then I had tried to ignore their sounds and wished that I could not see in the dark. No wonder I always felt like shit after. I was allowing him to put his hands on my other half. And he freaking knew!
Timidly, I reached in my pocket and grabbed Aileen's letter. Her Father rose, taking the crinkled paper from my grip. He went back to the bed, not saying a thing to me. What was there to say? I was supposed to protect her, but I gave her away. I helped corner and kidnap her.
Lena waved me over to her. Eventually she was bound to want a shot at me too. I walked to the edge of the bed in front of Lena; sitting on the floor. "You wanna tell me about it?" she asked in a kind voice.
Huh? She should be beating the crap out of me, not worrying about me!
"Trevor has told us everything he knows about Aileen and Shiuku. I have to admit it's not much. Care to fill me in the rest of the way?" I didn't deserve this. All I caused for those close to me was misfortune. Punch me, stab me with ice, spit on me; anything just not this. I hadn't done a thing to earn someone's concern. Just like I said with Sekai, I didn't deserve to be happy.
Tom at least made sense. He wore his hatred for everyone in this room to see. As did Trevor who spoke after Lena's unanswered question. "Tell us everything Devon. We need to know what Shiuku is plotting and Aileen's Father wants to know why he targeted his daughter. Tell me he isn't abusing her. Does she know Shiuku ordered her precious Kalum's demise? Is she aware he isn't her true love? That apparently it's the cowardly bitch formerly of the DSS?"
"Trevor!" Lena exclaimed.
Tom held up a hand. "No butterfly, Trevor is right. Devon chose this path for himself. Now we need information. He can either tell us, or we can force him too."
At the moment I didn't care what happened to me. Shiuku had already made my life hell, more than I ever knew about before. I told Aileen's family everything. All the way from the dreams I helped him invade, to watching her through his aura, the man in the forest, kidnapping her, and the day I waited for her outside their bedroom; after their first night.
Aileen's Father covered his face in a pillow, screaming out profanities. Lena appeared ill. Tom broke his cell phone, engulfing the device in flames. Trevor was openly weeping. Kaibec was... well devouring a burger and fries.
Lena was the first to regain her composure. "So... it never made you wonder why he made you open a path to her dreams? You never were curious why your aura needed to be used? Or why keep the room pitch black?"
"He wanted to overload her senses with himself. Shiuku could give Aileen all his attention." I could barely speak at this point. If they killed me now, it would be a mercy. Shiuku should be back any minute now. She could be in his bed again. Maybe I should just piss Tom off enough to end me.
Lena hummed to herself, thinking over her response. "You don't get it do you. Shiuku is cunning and strong. He could have done it alone and still ....played with Aileen."
"Yeah, and I did not need the details of that! I don't want to picture my princess sucking off a demon!" King Ulrich whined pretending to throw up.
I could have skipped over that detail, but I was so lost in the memories that I had gone far too in depth.
"Anyhow, it sounds to me like he used your aura. If Shiuku knew you were her true love, then using your aura would give Aileen a sense of protection and love. In the dark, she would have made the connection it was from Shiuku; not you. To further prove my hypothesis, when he first captured her, you were there. He had you soothing her mind from a distance the night they consummate their union, and the next day he had you wait outside their door. He's been using you Devon, to make Aileen feel safe in his arms."
He used our connection as his! Wait a second; is that why he switched from Kaibec to me so fast? And I fell for every word, every Goddamn lie! All those kisses, intimate encounters, touches; they were all supposed to be mine! She was supposed to be mine! Is that why I was sent to guard her and only put on short assignments? So my damn aura would be there for her to mistake as his! Aileen probably thought she was in love with him. The bastard! And the most fab-fucking-tablous part! I can't do anything about it.
"When you go back are you going to tell her?" Trevor asked, full of compassion now.
I wanted to. God did I want to. "I don't know. I don't think I could. Since she arrived, all I've wanted was to make her happy and silence those damn voices in her head."
"Sing to her." Both her Father and Trevor said simultaneously. Trevor continued, "there is a song that always settles her down."
Was he about to sing? He inhaled like he was going to. Please don't. "In the cold of night, in the light of day, I will be there to protect you. I'll be there to defend you. I'll be there to give you strength. Just look to me when you need me most. For I love you most. Let me in, I will not boast. Let me in this harsh harsh world." Tears fell from Trevor's eyes as he sang. He loved his adoptive sister so much and because of me, she would be in so much pain.
King Ulrich added to the song, "don't you fret my little one, for I will always shield you. Let this song show my care when you feel you are about to despair. I will be there no matter what. For my love is in your heart. Let me in this cruel cruel world; and I will save you from it all." Neither man could sing, but there were no dry eyes in the room. Not even mine. "Her Mother's song. I sang it to her a few times, and I guess Trevor took it up after me. I sang it the day she tried to kill herself. Anything in my power I would have given to stop her from commiting suicide. Amazing how the simplest things do the trick."
Did Shiuku know about that song? He had been watching when she attempted her life. Is that where he came up with 'little one'? He really was manipulating her in obscure ways. The demon lord really was a mastermind. Tricking me, using my aura, threatening her family, killing those she loved making her feel more alone, having Jacob kill Kalum so she would murder him; all for what? A child, an heir. He was obsessed! Lust and stupid obsession! That's not love. He'll only hurt her in the end.
"So now what? You sure you can't tell her?" Lena scruffed my hair like she had so many times in the DSS.
I shook my head. "No, my plan will return to what it had been even back when I was invading her dreams. She needs to go home. If I die in the process; so be it."
An idea struck me. Shiuku wanted some kind of collar for her. I may not be able to be with her, but I was supposed to help design a necklace to act as a collar! I could make it sentimental to help give Aileen more strength, Shiuku would think it was a symbol of his lust, but in my head I would know it is of my love. No one will be hurt and I can have that small satisfaction. Shiuku will believe it's his, Aileen will be happy that he put so much consideration in the gift (just like the bow), and I would know it was really my collar. A clear win-win.
I ran over to Aileen's desk, pushing Trevor away on his chair. In the front corner was a folder full of notebook paper. Perfect! I started doodling some symbols, only pausing when I had to think about the next person.
"What are you doing?" King Ulrich had come up from the bed at some point. "A dragon, a sword, an unopened envelope, a heart in the middle, lilacs, a music note, and a butterfly? Why all the charms on a necklace? Are you planning on leaving Shiuku and becoming a jeweler?"
"No, but you'll all find out about it in a later letter from Aileen I assure you. I'm far from done being a personal demon mailing service." I smirked in spite of my mood. "Now why don't you finish reading what she wrote and send a reply. It's time to take a stance against Shiuku right Final Guardian?" I winked.
I was caught off guard when Tom punched me in the jaw again. Pain exploded on the already injured area. Right, he still had his own vendetta against me. Hopefully he would at least be willing to work with me. I mean, he hadn't used fire when punching me, so that's a good sign.
Trevor gave me a warning. "Do what's best for my sister, or I swear what I do to Jacob, won't compare to the hell I'll ensure you get."
Her Father thumbed the paper, looking at the symbols again. He smiled, but kept his thoughts to himself. For all his doubts, King Ulrich was a good Father. We all make our own mistakes; at least he learned from him. Now it was time I learned from mine.
Hang on Aileen. I could still remember watching Aileen stab the monster in the forest while I spoke these words. As I said that horrible day, but now meaning it more than ever. "Go home Aileen, before it's too late." Only this time, I'll be aiding you and the DSS. No more being a coward stuck in my own self-loathing!