The Dark King Fights

**Devon POV**

I couldn't avert my attention away from the mark on Aileen's Father's hand. Jealousy pegged me that Sekai could mark her true love. As long as Aileen was marked by Shiuku's deal, I wouldn't be able to claim her as my light. I had to admit it was comical that the 'Dark King' wore a mark of light. Honestly, I was surprised Aileen didn't make a snide comment about it.
A great part of me was worried about my true love. She may not have been very far along, but I feared she kept forgetting the fact of her pregnancy. I know she wants to help; I just don't want to risk something happening to her.
Chances were high Sekai's boyfriend wouldn't dare raise a hand against Aileen. He was extremely loyal and believed in Shiuku's cause. No way would the demon risk his position for a hit on Aileen. She should be safe.
Either way, I will not leave her side. One wrong move towards Aileen and I would end his life. It might be fun to show my old abuser just how much stronger than him I really am. Had I not been so cowardly in my past, I could have destroyed him. After letting my real power shine, protecting Aileen's dignity; it clicked in me that Shiuku always knew how capable I could be. Heck, I beat Tom back in the day!
Aileen's Father took the sword from her when we reached the staircase. "Don't over exert yourself. And there will be no fighting princess. You take it easy this time."
A plain order that was music to my ears. I didn't want to start making demands over my girlfriend so early in our relationship; especially with everything going on. Her Father had no problem telling her what to do. Aileen didn't argue. She trusted her Father's judgment. The girl really did idolize him.
Sekai whispered something in his ear that made him grin. His body language was more relaxed than I had ever seen it. The mix of having his true love and a weapon in hand comforted him. This may have been the first time since the DSS took him that the King wielded a sword. He looked natural with it.
*Note to self- Do not get on my future Father in laws bad side...again*
And yes, I was already imagining having a married life with Aileen. I just wouldn't bring it up to her unless we escaped here. No reason to give her false hope and I still hadn't asked her Father. He could refuse. I'm not a prince. Her protective Father also hadn't forgotten that I was originally aiding in her dream torments and abduction. A fact that he had beaten into my face upon agreeing to live here. I did have a blessing disguised as an arrogant prince! Prince Roy really did save me! I would be lying if I acted like I didn't utterly enjoy every ounce of his struggle. Some of Shiuku's cruelty must have rubbed off on me during a lifetime in his service.
Aileen pinched my cheek, taking me away from my dark memories.
"We're here."
Aileen tried to raise an eyebrow unsuccessfully. Her face furrowed cutely. She was so adorable with her mild irritation.
I couldn't stop myself. I cocked an eyebrow at her, resulting in a light punch to my torso.
"Jerk, do you even know why I was trying to do that?" Aileen huffed faking anger. "You're lucky I like your face."
"And I'd be lucky to be deaf." Her Father grumbled.
Examining the room, there was some kind of liquid leaking out from the frame. There were scratches on the exterior of the door too like something was trying to get in. There was a persistent odor causing Aileen to gag.
Sekai fished out a key and meekly opened the door. Her fingers trembled when that horrid man called out to her. He made some crude comment about how horny she must be to get it on in the research lab. So that's what this dim place was.
Our group entered the room one at a time. Sekai first, then the King, Aileen, and lastly me. The room smelled worse on the inside and Aileen immediately retched falling to her knees. Urine, blood, and decaying flesh created a revolting aroma. I could recongize a few of the newer corpses as Sekai's latest torture subjects. Their broken bodies must have been brought here as test subjects.
Dark blue bulbs would make seeing rather hard for Aileen or her Father. For that I was glad.
The corpses were posed in odd angles that even for demons shouldn't be possible. Nothing alive could bend in those positions. Dolls, several of them looked like horror dolls. Two experiments had no skin. Not a small sliver of flesh remained. The other two seemed to have no bones. Their limbs were contorted in a way a snake's could.
Then there were the markings all over every single one of them. Demon's marks.
"Good timing babe! Once we have a little session in front of Devon again, you can heal this new subject I'm getting. Gotta get as much as I can out of her."
Aileen hurled.
"Sekai, don't let him get to you. You're stronger than him." I encouraged her.
King Ulrich was already adjusting to the darkness. This was clearly not his first time fighting with little light. He drew his sword from the sheath prompting the demon to laugh.
"A human man, our old toy, a pregnant girl, and a healer/torturer. What is this? Are we going to have a gang bang. And here I thought that you hated when I made you do that. Well, I guess with how wet you got I should have known better. Come here pet." He beckoned her.
Aileen rose to her feet, only to be blocked by her Father and I. "You! You're the reason for their trauma! Freaking Rapist!"
"Shut your trap. I don't want to hear anything from Shiuku's baby incubator."
The last words barely escaped his mouth. Aileen's Father lunged for him. Stupid demon had insulted his daughter and future wife.
Lowly the demon cackled, underestimating the 'Dark King'. Aileen clung to me, just barely holding herself back. Good. She was finally remembering it's not wise to fight pregnant. Besides, there was no reason to get involved.
King gets hurt, Sekai goes berserk. Her skills may have been geared towards inflicting precise clean incisions and then healing up her victims... But backed into a corner, she could fight.
King kills Sekai's ex, well that's just another line on his kill sheet. Maybe the more bad demons he killed, it would subtract a tally from the innocent he murdered in his youth. The King should try working for the DSS for a while! He had skill regardless of his lack of elemental talent.
"I don't wanna hear tough-guy talk from a demon who needs multiple people to please his woman in the bedroom. I've had no such problems."
A wall of ice spiked propelled towards the King. As he prepared to dodge, Sekai flung out her arms, preventing the ice from closing in further. She spoke out to our tormentor. "No more powers Hal. Anything you try to do to my love, I will counter. You want me to stay out of it? Fight him with no abilities. You always rave about what an excellent swordsman you are. Prove it."
I knew it took all her willpower not to start buckling under his intense gaze. Her confidence wavered, but she allowed none of it to surface.
Aileen's Father wasted no time. He charged ahead swinging his blade in an arched path. Hal created a solid ice sword and parried him effortlessly. The two of them clashed their blades together maneuvering around in a small circle. At first it was an equal matchup, then Sekai looked down. In that instance, Hal used his wind to stab at King Ulrich's hand. His grip loosened just enough that Hal managed to twirl his wrist and disarm the King.
Quickly, King Ulrich jumped back, reaching for anything he could use as a weapon. Sekai snuffed out Hal's elemental power again. The King found a bone and swung it at Hal like a club.
The bone snapped upon first impact. The King tossed the bone towards Hal's head. While the demon was distracted by the bone, King Ulrich got two punches to his head. As Hal prepared to swipe at his opponent, the Dark King hauled up a lifeless body and threw it at the demon. Hal cut through the boneless corpse just in time for the King to puncture a hole through his hand with a discarded piece of broken rib. The grip on Hal's sword loosened. The King threw all his body weight into a spin kick aimed at the jutting out bone stuck in Hal's hand. Finally his sword dropped and skidded to the ground.
I cheated a little and added a wind current to further distance the weapon from Hal.
He yelled and charged at King Ulrich. A damn good thing that the man was light on his feet. He used fancy footwork to spin around the demon. In his dance, he grabbed what I could assume was once the patella and clubbed the demon in the head again.
Blood was starting to ooze out of the side of the demon's temple. Aileen puked more as the rusty scent of blood became thicker. That baby really hated the scent of blood. Not that I could blame the little tyke.
Hal tried to grapple King Ulrich, but just barely missed. Perhaps his eyesight was fading. Their circling had brought the fighters back near one of the lost swords. With a cocky grin, King Ulrich kicked a fleshless corpse underneath where Hal was about to step. That was the end.
The King used his underhanded trick to catch Hal off balance. He grabbed the sword, and pierced through Hal's heart. The Dark King twisted the blade causing the demon to scream.
The King bent down, still keeping Hal pinned near the heart. "No one disrespects my daughter. And no one touches what belongs to me."
Aileen glanced at me with questions in her deep eyes. She hadn't been able to make out much of the fight between the dark and throwing up. I used my wind to let my scent drift over her again; before her Father could withdraw his blade from Hal's body. My love didn't need to puke any more. I was stupid for not thinking of this sooner.
With one hand to her belly and the other under her armpit, I helped Aileen to her feet. Sekai and King Ulrich met by Hal's dead body. I guessed that was one way for the King to get rid of his competition, just dispose of the other man.
"Good job Sexy Daddy." I mock-saluted.
I had meant the title like a joke, but my mouth felt dirty saying the words. Aileen whined against me.
Our little team went off in different directions, searching for information. Sekai had promised books, not bodies.
We didn't get to look around for long. A raspy cough and a yell came from the other side of the door. A crash boomed as a large green bird-like looking creature walked in. Two girls were hog tied to a pole, as if he was going to cook them. "Hal?" The giant idiot called out.
"So much for royal luck." complained Aileen's Father, drenched in sweat. The man had exhausted himself.
Aileen reached for my sword, the need to protect her friends made her brain lag. I was finally getting comfortable with my upcoming role of step dad. She needed to put her safety and that baby first.
I had to fold my arms under her chest so she would avoid combat. That monstrously muscular bird creature was strong.
Flailing in my arms she demanded, "Release them! Let Sam and that innocent girl go now!"
Time halted for everyone in the room. Sekai, King Ulrich, and I all saw it. Aileen's eyes turned bright red.