Ten straightens as he walks towards the girl.
“I’m sorry. I just ate something bad and my stomach startled me.”
No response is given. Ten kneels in front of her.
“Do you need any help?”
Silence. Ten stands up and looks around. There is no one.
“I will walk you back home. Can you walk?”
The girl now looks up. This time Ten prepared himself, but the sight still shocks him. The girl reaches out her hand for Ten to grab. Ten gently holds it.
“Do you know how to get home?”
The girl doesn’t answer but starts walking. They leave the square and go into a blood-covered alley. Ten can’t believe what he is seeing. The alley leads to a street that used to be a shopping avenue. Broken windows, shattered buildings, and marks of a fight now decorate the street.
“What happened here?”
The girl’s grip tightens.
“The soldiers came.”
They continue walking, and as the horror of what happened becomes clearer, Ten’s concern grows.
“Are your parents ok?”
The girl shakes her head. They arrive at a broken-down home. The girl opens the door and Ten sees the inside. He covers his mouth in surprise and disgust. There is a baby carriage covered in old blood. Trails of blood lead outside. The house is all but destroyed. Ten pulls the girl towards him.
“Can I help you clean this up?”
The girl nods. Ten looks at the building with determination.
“Mai.”
The back of Ten’s hand lights up.
“I’m ready.”
Ten closes his eyes, then touches the side of the home. A wave of Higher Reasoning energy permeates the building and it lights up with energy. Everything is restored to a pristine state. On the table is a diamond vase with six red roses in it.
The girl can’t see it, but she can sense that her family is in front of her. She walks up to the roses, grabs them, and holds them close as she starts crying. Ten’s happy to see she recognizes her family.
Back in the cell with Demo and Orja, footsteps can be heard down the hall. It’s the prince Zoipa. He peeks into the cell like someone playing hide and seek.
“So you two will be my dad’s next playthings.”
Orja recognizes the prince and immediately kneels with his head down.
“Your highness.”
Demo stops throwing his pebble, stands up, and walks towards the cell bars. Face to face, Zoipa devilishly smiles.
“My dad is going to love you. I’ll be back to see you once he is done with you. Seeing the before and after is always a thing of beauty.”
Orja starts trembling as he’s heard the stories. Demo looks back at Orja.
“Orja, stand up.”
Orja doesn’t listen, to Zoipa’s amusement.
“Hahahah, you think a slave can disrespect their gods? Maybe I should drag you in front of that bitch Cleus and show him how we do things here. I’m sure his expression would be amazing.”
“Watch your words,” Demo replies.
His defiance triggers Zoipa.
“You dare talk back to me!? Guards, open the cell. I will teach this bastard a lesson myself.”
The guards look at each other with their eyes wide open. Reluctantly, they open the cell. Zoipa grabs a dagger from his waist. Zoipa tries to stab Demo, but he calmly grabs Zoipa’s hand. Zoipa is surprised at the strength and looks Demo in the eyes. Before the guards can react, Demo makes a fist, raises it, and throws a punch at Zoipa’s face.
Zoipa can see his life flash before him as he wets himself. The punch lands and sends Zoipa flying into the wall. The guards stand still in shock. Orja has tears in his eyes from the sight of the prince knocked out. The guards finally make a decision and go to help Zoipa.
“DON’T TOUCH HIM!” Demo screams at them.
The guards freeze up and look back at Demo, who continues.
“Leave him. Bring the king to come get his son.”
The guards try to object.
“How…”
“That wasn’t a question.”
The guards raise their weapons.
“You insolent…”
Before the guard can finish his sentence, Demo is in front of him and punches him into the wall next to the prince. The other guard sees this and drops his weapon.
“I’ll go get the king.”
The guard leaves. Orja stands up, mouth open from the view.
“Who are you?”
Demo looks back at him.
“I’m Demo.”
Chapter 93 fin
