Mistakes of the Past

**Aileen POV**

Devon didn't flinch. He remained shielding us from the demon lord of time and dimensions. Offering weakness to a possible threat is a costly mistake. One that Devon was thru with making.
Kuzon ran a hand through his thick long hair. "We have some unfinished business and I must talk to you, your wife, and ...son. Both Squad Leader Lena and Tom agreed your fate is mine." Venom dripped out of his mouth with each word. I knew of Kuzon's hatred for Shiuku and whatever Devon did seven years ago.
The demon lord's aura was obscene just like Demon Lord Shiuku and Darren's. He even had the same malice, at least concerning Devon. Still, the squad leaders trusted him. If he meant any ill towards my child, one of them would have informed me. The person I did fear for was my dear husband. Both Lena and Tom had told us he hadn't forgiven Devon and may not allow him to leave. I bit my lip nervously. Of course the sole demon lord with any power over dimensional rifts would be the one with a vendetta against my true love.
He led us into the nearly empty Hemmer household. The only person inside was the demon girl my brother was obsessed with. She made eye contact with us before scurrying out the door. Maybe she had been hiding from my brother?
Demon Lord Kuzon noticed her and gave a slight wave as she retreated outside. "Another victim of Diana huh?"
"Diana? No she was a victim of Shiuku's." Devon stated. He explained the situation to the demon lord.
Kuzon shook his head. "Oh I get it. Yes, I am positive now. She is a victim of Diana's. She was just as twisted and deluded as her Father."
I had no idea who Diana was, or how Kuzon came to any of those conclusions. Me, being my curious self, was about to ask more questions. Kuzon waved his hand before either of us could question him. He sat himself at the dining room table and gestured for Devon and I to sit across from him. We did as instructed. No point in pissing off a demon lord. This long haired, calm toned demon was the last obstacle for me to go home with my family.
"I'm sorry about Squad Leader Nye. I know you two were friends." Devon hung his head.
Kuzon watched little Shion snoring lightly in my arms. His features all soften observing my precious son. It warmed me; the demon lord was no threat to my bundle of joy. Kuzon pointed to the pac-in-play in the living room. Right, things could get tense and I didn't want to wake my child up. Carefully I went over and laid Shion down for his nap. Once the baby was down, we continued the conversation.
"Do you really think that is all you did? Humans die. Nye made his choice and sacrificed." Kuzon asked. "You are aware I ally myself with the Final Guardian correct?"
Devon nodded.
"Good. Do you remember the opportunity I gave you? When I sent you back in time to your childhood with her?" Again a nod from Devon. "You were a coward and pulled her away from seeing the truth. She could have helped you get away from Shiuku. Her and Nye. Instead, you stalled until I brought you back to the present time. Then you led those bastards to my home." A mist rose from the floor around Devon and I.
"Wait you're not... Not again Kuzon!"
I was given no time to figure out his words. A flash much like the one that brought me to this dimension, encompassed both Devon and I. Just like back then, my mind and body felt like they were tearing apart from each other. They were separate entities entirely. It became impossible for me to open my eyes, or focus. All around me were nauseating swirls of what this time I knew to be aura.
My butt landed on something that made a grunting noise. I was in some woods surrounded by large mountains. Did Kuzon really send us to the past? My baby! That's why he wanted me to put him down! The demon lord better take care of my son while I was stuck in the past! My beautiful baby I had just gotten back...
The groaning got louder from under me. Casting my gaze downwards, I saw my husband. His entire face was sheet white while he took in his surroundings. I got off of him and held a hand out with a reassuring smile. This man had done everything in his power to support me even when he found out I was pregnant with Shion. Now was my turn to assure him that I would always be there for him.
A strong smell caught my attention. It was sour, made my mouth water, and my skin tingle. Sneakily, I crouched down and quietly stepped towards a large tree surrounded by overgrown weeds. The perfect hiding place.
Devon took a spot behind me. I reached behind me for his hand. The entire palm of his hand was coated in sweat. Just as I was going to ask him why he was so worried; I heard a voice from beyond the tree. I peeked out slightly to see. My eyes widened at the sight of a second Devon. This one had the same buzzed haircut from when I first met him. He was a bit shorter and there was no scar through his left eye. He had that same sad expression from before we got together and his face appeared longer than it did now. We had been happy for so long, I had forgotten just how miserable he used to look. It took all my self control to stop myself from running to him. I wanted to hold him and tell him eventually it will all work out.
I was so entranced by the younger version of my husband, I had almost missed a young brown haired girl in front of him. Her hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail. She had a naive, almost innocent face. In a sad voice I heard the girl ask Devon what was going on. He grabbed her arms to stop her from either moving towards, or away from him. At the time, I wasn't sure which. I wished it had stayed that way.
My past husband cupped the girl's face like he had mine so many times. "Lena, come with me."
"Come where, Devon? You sense all those demons racing towards our team right?! We need to go!" Lena pointed towards a mountain. I would assume that was where Squad Leader Nye was. I glimpsed the mountain briefly. Fire and smoke poured out of what seemed to a cave. *Was that how Nye was killed? A massive fire?*
Should have kept my eyes on the flaming cave. When I turned back to my ex-squad leader and husband, he was kissing her. This was all in the past...I repeated those words over and over in my head. He was being abused at this point and didn't know what true love really was. So why was my heart shattering?
Behind me, Devon rubbed his thumb over my fingers. Not that I could concentrate on the tingles coming from his touch. My attention was glued on him still kissing Lena. How long was he going to keep it up? She's supposed to be with Tom!
After whatever amount of time it took me to draw blood from biting my inner cheeks, Lena broke the kiss. Her face was rosy and tears started to fall. She backed up away from him, but stumbled on a log. Devon, saved her from her fall. God forbid she fall back into the pile of mud. The Final Guardian would never survive that.
Back in Devon's arms, he decided it was right to kiss her again. This time he pushed his tongue inside her mouth. The hair on the back of my neck was standing by that point. *I wanna kill him. I wanna march up to him, smack his face, and tell him to think with his damn head. Stay with the DSS. All Shiuku does is abuse and trick you. And for the love of God stop kissing her!*
But I knew to control my temper. Thank God I wasn't pregnant anymore. Shion's powers would be going ballistic.
Finally Lena shoved him away from her. "No Devon. I know Tom is a selfish angry asshole, but I love him. You know that. And we really don't have time for this! The team is in trouble!"
"They are all going to die. Come with me to Shiuku's and you'll live! Swear to him and you'll be spared." Devon pleaded.
Lena shot him daggers. "Shiuku? The one I'm supposed to defeat!? Tom was right! You were the traitor the whole time weren't you!?"
"Please Lena, Shiuku is going to win."
"Get the hell away from me! I'm going to save my comrades."
"Tom doesn't treat you right! And he'll be dead soon!" Devon grabbed her hand. "I love you!"
My heart broke hearing him confess to another woman. To the woman I respected and looked up to for years.
Present day Devon wrapped his arms around me. "I was just hurting." He whispered in my ear. Of course he was. Back then he was being abused by Sekai and thought he wasn't worth being loved.
I was trembling in anger and sorrow. He's lucky I didn't punch him. Ahead of us, Lena did punch Devon. Inaudibly past Devon mouthed sorry. He gave her a wounded kitten frown and left.
Teenage Devon was gone, so I sagged against the tree. Kuzon should be pulling us back to the present now. Devon was gone, so his part was over. I saw it. I'm not happy, but I knew I couldn't blame him. Hell, I was engaged prior to all of this. Although, Devon killed my ex alongside my Father. Anyway, it was all over and I didn't hate Devon so this detour Kuzon sent us on was for nothing.
"Stop right there!" Well fuck me with a branch.
I turned back to see Lena, fire swarming around her figure. "That mark, it belongs to Shiuku. You wear his aura. And you! Why do you look like Devon?! Are-"
We ran. I read enough books to know not to mess with the past. I risked a glance back, but she wasn't following us. Of course, she was worried about her comrades during their entire conversation. Wait, was that it?
Gritting his teeth, Devon lifted me into his arms. "I get it now. Kuzon won't be satisfied until we witness what happened. If I carry you, we'll get there faster."
Demons and elementals really were faster than ordinary humans. I had to close my stinging eyes against the force of the wind. My stomach flipped when Devon started hopping up the mountain. I believe he was using his wind ability to scale it quicker. All I had to do was stop my knotting stomach from throwing up all over him. It'd be pretty embarrassing to screw up and be spotted in the past by slipping on vomit.
Inside the cave was no longer on fire. Ash and smoke were still present, so I lifted my shirt over my nose. I forgot Devon could use his wind to silently keep the smoke away from us. Devon set us down behind a large boulder. On the other side was a towering man wielding a large blade. In front of him was a man who never changed. Shiuku. To his right was Devon. The sour smell was back.
"The hidden mansion is completely destroyed along with Kuzon's home. Your team will all meet torturous ends by my hand."
Nye tossed his sword to the side. "Don't kill them. I'll give you all the information we got from Kuzon and take you to him."
"And your life. That will be enough of a setback for the DSS."
"I agree."
Shiuku ordered Devon to go over to his previous squad leader. For the first time, I noticed there was some vile and needle in Devon's pocket. The horrible smell must have been coming from whatever that thing was. Shiuku smirked, "you'll take the injection squad leader. It will take about a month to kill you and I assure you it is quite a painful death."
This was it. He didn't lead Nye to his death, he delivered it. Shiuku made him kill the first person to ever have faith in him. The Devon closing in on Nye kept a straight face; just like when he helped Shiuku abduct me. The Devon beside me shedded painful tears. Tom wasn't the only one to love Squad Leader Nye.
Nye didn't glare at Devon, he just gave a look of disappointment. No hate. No resentment. Nye accepted his fate. "I pray that one day you will stand up for yourself. My judgment is never wrong. This isn't you; coward." Nye held out his arm. "Keep a steady hand boy."
.
Everything went foggy as we were flung out of the past. Gone was the ash covered cave that hid Kuzon's mansion; replaced by a wooden table and pictures of the Hemmer family. I blinked several times, adjusting from natural light to the dim dining room. Kuzon sat in the same spot as before with an unreadable face.
"And that is how Shiuku was able to open the gate between dimensions. With Devon's aid, he got close to me and used his Goddamn ability to temporarily steal my strength and powers." Kuzon concluded. My mind was boggled. Devon had been the one to actually kill Nye. No wonder he had so much guilt about it. "But you two know all about that. He used the same one to steal your aura and bed your woman."
I squeezed Devon's hand, silently supporting him. We all have pasts and not a single damn one of us is perfect. We all change a bit everyday. Years later, look in a mirror and many see a whole new person.
Seeing all the suffering he survived and broke free from gave me more respect for him. This half demon was the most amazing person I had ever met. Life blessed me well.
"So you see why I'm not too thrilled about giving Devon his happily ever after."
Anger flared up in me, almost as intense as when I saw him kissing Lena. I was going to defend Devon, but he put a finger to my lips softly.
"I'm not going to go on a rant on how horrible my life has been, or how I won't have my happy ending until Shiuku is six feet under. My choices were my own. I let myself fall for his manipulations. I apologize about your home, him using your power, and killing Nye. But I am growing and learning. Now I'm a proud Father with a wife and child to protect. I'll keep getting stronger and train hard with Aileen, so we are assets in the upcoming war. I'll become a great leader so I can proudly take the throne as King of Lutz one day. I'm no one's lapdog anymore. Let me prove myself to you. Give me the chance to be the man Nye believed I could be." He slammed his palms on the table and stared directly at Kuzon. "I won't let you take me away from my wife and son."
"Nye was right in the end again." Kuzon sighed. To my utter surprise he gave us a warm smile. "So prove it to me. Aileen, learn to use your nullify power. Devon, continue to train with your abilities. I expect you to become better than that disgrace Darren. You and Aileen better bring out the best in each other and don't let Shiuku turn that adorable baby evil."
*I'm getting real sick of these fecking tests. Devon and I will be a loving family and protect our people.*
Devon kissed my cheeks. "I won't fail you, or my family."
"I must return to my NEW home soon. My stunning true love is expecting." Kuzon emphasized the word new. "It's time. Go and say your goodbyes."