Day After Hell

**Aileen POV**

Everything was so warm and snuggly. I didn't want to wake up. My body wanted to stay cocooned in the soft blankets and drift back to a dreamless sleep. While slumbering, there was no fighting, no Shiuku, no war, no wondering what the DSS will do after I escape, no worrying about Devon... Devon!
Too fast, I shot up in bed. Instantly my head became woozy and I slumped back into my pillows. What happened to him?! Is he still alive? Slowly, I turned my head towards the left, wishing him to be there. Instead, a vase full of fresh lilacs rested on a very uncomfortable looking stool. How they kept finding fresh lilacs at all times of year, I would have to ask. Perhaps they had demons fly in the fragile flowers. Funny thought.
Laid against the vase was a letter with my Father's seal crudely drawn in marker. I picked it up, a tad nervous.
*Dearest daughter,*
*I am sorry and give you my humblest of apologies that I am unable to be there when you awaken today. You've managed to sleep peacefully through an entire castle being destroyed and collapsing. That was impressive; although, I do hope that does not become a habit. Soon you shall have a squalling infant roaming around. You need to be vigilant with him, especially with his powers. I plan to slowly introduce elementals into our dimension, but it will be a delicate and lengthy progression. No one can see that child's powers, or they will claim he is a witch. Eventually we will get things to where he can use his abilities, but absolutely not for a while. Not only that, but if he's anything like you, he will find ways to leave his crib and cause trouble. You will have your hands full.*
*Currently, I am being interrogated by the DSS. Since I am the only healthy one who was taken by Shiuku, I have been given the privilege of answering hundreds of questions. I had been expecting this. The squad leader couple had warned me upon our arrival. From what they said there will also be some trials coming up. They are going to make decisions on what to do about your pregnancy, Sekai's transgressions under Shiuku, and Devon and Jacob's betrayals of the DSS. I know very little of the politics at play here, so I can not offer much advice except this-*
*Do not let them bully you into doing something you don't want. You have sacrificed and suffered enough. Don't forget you are the brave and smart Princess of Lutz. Not only that, but you've given the DSS their first major victory against Shiuku. Do not forget that. Use that. It's time you gained something out of all this.*
*I will leave you with this. Truly, I am trying to be a better Father. Before they demanded my presence at gunpoint, I had planned to be sitting by your bed when you opened your eyes. The idea was to prove that I could be there for you... Be the man your Mother needed and Kalum hoped I would become.*
*King Ulrich, a very proud Father*
*PS- Show anyone this letter and I will disown you. Love you Princess.*
Damn him! My vision was getting blurry from misty eyes. He should know better than to write that last part to an emotional pregnant woman. Still, his letter warmed my heart. I doubted he would ever admit what actually caused him to be a little more sentimental. Deep down I figured the cause was equally from when I disappeared, Kalum's death, and him finding his true love. There was no question that Sekai and I would probably be the only ones left alive to see this side of him.
The way Sekai and Father acted around each other had me guessing she would be announcing a pregnancy soon. They already informed me she would be marrying Father back home. The citizens of Lutz would be ecstatic to have a Queen to fight for again. Before the wedding I would have to sneak down to Mother's tomb in the catacombs of the castle. I wanted to show her the gift Father and Sekai gave me on my birthday. She needed to know that Sekai would never try to replace her and that she is still remembered. Mother was never a bitter, or vengeful person. Knowing her, she would be smiling down at me while I ball my eyes out. Somewhere from heaven her and Kalum may have found each other too. The two of them were always very close friends. I bet they would both be happy for Father. They were amazing people that way.
My fingers started fidgeting with the charms on my necklace; the sword and the lilacs.
"I brought this for you because you're as cute and sweet as a cupcake!" I heard a playful voice tease someone from my right side. Careful of my bump, I sat straight, and scooched to the edge of the bed. My feet dangled off the right side. There were two more beds filled with two girls from the group Shana had been healing back at Shiuku's castle. Trevor was sitting on a stool next to the girl who was terrified of him. One of his arms was outstretched, offering her a delicious looking cupcake. It seemed the death of his possible true love wasn't crippling him for the moment. That shine was back in his eyes and he was giving that girl his signature devilish smile. It was good to see Trevor back to his old flirtatious self.
The girl shivered, obviously scared and tried to shoo the cupcake away from her. Trevor gave her that pout that had girls swooning all over him. None of them could say no when he gave them that expression. The girl on the bed acted unaffected and shifted away from him. It was odd. Very few girls turned my brother down, but it happened occasionally like with Sekai. Never, unless she was an enemy, did I see someone scared of Trevor. He had kind warm eyes that had girls begging to be in his arms. Well, no one could say my brother couldn't be determined. This timid girl had peaked his interest. He whispered something in her ear. She made no reaction until he started walking towards me. I saw a massive blush start to cover her entire face. So she wasn't immune to his charms afterall. When she noticed me watching her, she swiftly hid under the blanket.
"Welcome back to the world of the living little sis! I would have greeted you earlier, but I can't leave a cute girl lonely." Trevor chuckled, unwrapping the tasty looking desert.
I spit back, "looked like harrassment to me."
His face scrunched up like he was deeply insulted. As soon as he closed his eyes and opened wide for a chocolatey bite; I snatched the cupcake from him. My cheeks puffed as I inhaled the rich moist cupcake.
"You damn vacuum! That was mine!" He acted outraged.
Muffled by the snack, I said, "you declared it was for someone cute and sweet."
"That's not you." He stated plainly.
My smile showed off brown teeth as I swallowed my desert. "Don't be that mean Uncle! Your nephew really wanted it! Besides, I've been so close to demon baby powers the last few days; would you really want to anger him?"
"Oh don't worry dear sister. Uncle Trevor will make sure he gets all the sweets and sugar he wants. I'll fill him up with nothing but chocolate and candy then send him back to you. I'll be the best Uncle ever and he'll love me!" Trevor got a devilish grin again. "Girls love babies right?"
Well he wouldn't be watching my son often. Not only would I have to worry about a sugar high, but also him using my son to pick up women. As if he wasn't able to seduce them enough with those big green eyes he loved to bat. Add the adorableness of a baby and he'd be unstoppable...Unless I taught my precious boy to throw up on him.
My heart skipped a beat when another realization kicked in. When I return home, it will be another five years until I see Trevor again. He wasn't just my brother, he was my best friend. Life would be weird without him. It was strange enough not having him harass me over the last several months at Shiuku's castle.
Trevor stood up and held out a hand for me. There was something that I couldn't admit to him. His head would explode if it got any bigger. This flirtatious happy idiot was an incredible man. He was still right next to me, but I could feel the gap in my chest from where I would miss him.
"Let's go. Gotta feed little demon." Trevor guided me out of the room.
We walked through familiar halls and well lit coordoors. It had been less than six months, but it felt like a lifetime. Back then I hadn't trusted my squad leader and hid Shiuku's dream invasions from her. I'm not ashamed about what I did in those dreams anymore. It had all been because of Devon's aura. He was the one all my touches and kisses were meant for. We'd just been too blind to see it earlier. Devon would be the only man for me from now on.
"Devon! Is that where you're taking me? Is he okay?" The man had to be alive just as promised, otherwise Father wouldn't have mentioned him having a trial coming up. "He actually beat Darren?"
"No. Darren was the clear winner of the fight. Devon must have fought well to hang on that long. When I got there Demon Lord Darren was huffing and was hunching. He made it clear that the only reason he wasn't making sure his son was dead was because of the deal you made with Shiuku. Shiuku got there before me and told him to withdraw since Devon had allied himself with the DSS again."
"So I can see him?"
Trevor picked up the pace causing me to trip over my feet slightly. My legs were still tired and did not want to work properly. "Not now. You've been under too much stress during your pregnancy as it is. You don't need more right now. Devon has some things to work out before he sees you again."
"What's wrong with him? What the hell did that fecking demon lord do to him!?"
Trevor flicked my forehead, "no baby rage. Your eyes were starting to darken with a red tint."
"If you really think it's best for the baby, fine, but my anxiety is getting worse. Maybe it would be better to go speak with Dev?"
My brother winked and waggled his finger in front of me. I almost bit him out of spite. "No dear sister. I cannot let you and it is not my place to explain what's going on with him. As for your anxiety it will fade soon. You're going out with the most handsome man in all the land!"
I really did have the best brother, but I couldn't stop myself from worrying about my true love. Devon, he just had to be okay.