The familiars were worried. It was obvious in their expressions as they returned back to his room. They stood next to him resuming to their animal forms hoping that the powers they had retrieved up to now would be enough to keep them alive. The room was small, small enough to make them feel like they were crumped in a hole since Allias, Theseus and Asmodeus were standing there examining the place as if it was some kind of crime scene.


    Mark appeared right in front of Allias and the elf king''s bright eyes widened as he met his best friend. He hugged him, letting out a relieved sigh and the red haired chuckled hugging him back. For a second he felt like the elf was hugging him a bit too tightly making it hard to breathe but he didn''t mind. He just caressed Allias'' back and waited for their hug to end. Once it was over the king stood in front of the human, shielding him with his body and stared at Asmodeus. The demon was expressionless, standing far away from them his eyes focused on the red haired. He had his hands crossed over his chest, his back resting on the cold wall and he was just looking at him.


    "Don''t even think about it." Allias threatened him but the demon was still frozen. Mark smiled.


    He didn''t know what to say. Now that he was seeing him again he felt so confused and the guilt of what he had done was terrorizing his heart. It was as if an invinsible hand had been wrapped about the sensitive muscle. It squeezed and squeezed tighter and tighter the more he thought about it.


    "What is up with this zoo?" Theseus asked more concerned about the fact that Mark was surrounded by demonic spirits. A flaming lion on his right, a puma of shadows on his left and a crow on his shoulder. The moment the general called them a zoo the crow flattered his wings aggressively.


    "It''s not a zoo." Mark told him. "They''re my familiars. This is Ignis, Kage and Arpaia." He said pointing at them one by one and Allias raised an eyebrow.


    "Familiars?" he asked and tilted his head to the side.


    "Yes, yes. I was and as it seems I still am an exorcist." He told them and Theseus nodded.


    "I guess no one will remain human in this story."


    "I am still human though." The red haired boy said with a chuckle.


    "A human that can die." Asmodeus talked for the first time. Mark looked at him and nodded his head, his eyes sad as he stared at his first love. He couldn''t describe how much he had loved Asmodeus, how saved he felt when he was on his side. He had saved him, protected him and he on his attempt to do the same he had banned him in hell, condemning him in three hundred years of solitude. That was the only thing he said and then he turned silent again. Allias and the spirits suddenly became alarmed by his words and Ignis let out a rawr, barring his teeth at him.  The demon scoffed as he watched the lion, a grin on his face.


    "You know I gifted you to him." He told Ignis. He belonged to Asmodeus first, but now he was with Mark. He also knew the truth about what had happened. He was barring his teeth at him wanting to show him he would always stay by his master''s side. That was his job. He had to protect him.


    "Mark come on, we are leaving." Allias said and took his hand in his. "There is no way you are staying in this room with him longer."  He tried to usher Mark to move but the young man remained rooted at the ground. He looked at his best friend and took a deep breath, trying to find the right way to tell him that he needed to be alone with Asmodeus.


    "I need to talk to him." He said and Allias stared at him as if he was completely insane.


    "What are you talking about?"


    "I have a few things I need to talk about with him, don''t worry I will be fine."


    "How can you tell me not to worry?" Allias asked raising his tone when he felt Theseus touch his shoulder.


    "Let''s just go Allias, he is old enough to decide for himself. Don''t pressure him."


    "Theseus what are you talking about you want to leave him here with a murderer? Listen to me Mark does not know how demons…"


    "Alright then" Theseus said and grabbed him, wrapping his arms around his waist and teleported away leaving only black smoke to where he was standing.


    Asmodeus had remained silent, all this time, even when he heard Allias call him a murderer he didn''t flinch. Mark thought that he looked like a ghost, no emotion in his eyes as he began walking and sat on the bed. He crossed his legs and breathed in heavily. His characteristics slowly changed, the horns growing, the eyes turning a pitch black color. His fangs getting longer and his nails turning deadly. Mark took a deep breath as he tried to calm himself. He looked at the familiars and signaled them to leave. He had to actually tell them a few times before they decided to retrieve.


    "I see you kept being a great exorcist. You have three familiars now. You must be strong. Did you get a promotion after you exorcised one of the kings of hell? Tell me,  I am very interested." He said and stared at Mark. Obviously his tone was dripping with irony but Mark didn''t mind. He could understand. It was easy to imagine what Asmodeus thought about him.


    "I, Well things were not go exactly like that." Mark said with a small smile. He had to find a way to tell him how things truly happened. But at the same time he felt like he didn''t deserve to be saved. It hurt, seeing him look at him with that expressionless face, like he was a complete stranger while together they had spent his happiest days.


    "I don''t really care anyways. So tell me little human, did I win our bet?" he asked him and Mark felt his eyes water. That ache in his chest was growing bigger and bigger. The red haired boy smiled as he tried to restrain the salty tears from escaping but it was pointless. As he cried with that smile he gifted Asmodeus a horrid image of despair.


    "I guess you won. I hurt you, didn''t I? I am sorry Asmodeus." He said. Maybe he deserved to be unhappy, for everything he did to him.


    ....


    Hello! How do you like the story so far? Please let me know in the comments! I hope you like it. Also please vote! I would like to thank all of you for the love and support you''ve shown my book, it means so much to me and I hope that I get to give off the messages I want with my writing. I would love for this book to be a means of comfort and enjoyement for you.


    Be brave, appreciate your friends, love like there is no tomorrow and believe in yourself.