Chapter 16: What's funny? You are.

**human world**

"Oh, isn't this a picture," Clover grinned.

Michael glanced up from the dark cell and stared up at them. On the other side of the bars, Albaric, Rena and Clover were standing before him. Michael's eyes dropped back to the grimy chard stone floor and let out a hallow laugh.

"I've see you've brought in backup," he scoffed. "Pathetic,"

"Funny hearing those words from you," Clover stated coldly, "Just look at you. Where were all your terrible and brilliant plans when you needed them?"

Michael didn't answer. Albaric glanced at Rena. She stepped toward Michael. The flames of her magic whipped around her palm casting a red glow over the shadowy dungeon. She lifted her hand. Michael let out a grunt and stared down at his hand.

A red spiralling ruin appeared engraved upon his hand.

"What the..." he paused. Then glared at Rena, "I didn't break the contract,"

"I'm afraid you did," Rena replied with resolute blue eyes, "and since you won't answer by other means, I will have to compel you to speak,"

Michael balled his fist bitterly, but his eyes dropped to the ground.

"Where's the necklace Michael?" Albaric demanded.

"I don't know," Michael said in a subdued voice.

"What do you mean you don't know?"Clover interrogated, "What did you do with it? I'm sure Ace gave it to you,"

Michael chuckled, "he did,"

"Then where is it?!" Albaric snapped, "Enough games!"

"I don't know!" Michael's eyes shot up vehenemously, "You know I can't lie. At least not while the 'good' sister is here,"

"He's right," Rena frowned, "he's telling the truth. So you really don't know where it is, but if you had the necklace, how did it leave your possession?"

Michael tilted his head back pensively, "He stole it from me,"

"Who?"

"Who do you think?!" Michael exclaimed, "That fucking kid!"

"Ace stole the the necklace from you?" Clover faltered.

"Right," Michael returned bitterly.

"How ?" Albaric questioned, "You must have been planning this for a while. How did he manage to take it from you?"

"He's not the good boy you think he is," Michael smirked, "He found my weakness and exploited it. Seems he was paying attention after all."

"Where did he go?" Rena enquired.

"How should I know?" Michael shrugged, "but he must have had help. A portal open and he stepped through,"

"A portal?" Clover reiterated, "Impossible. Without a demon door or prior set up, not anyone can use portals. Not even other demon lords. Only I can,"

"Interesting that," Michael grinned darkly.

Clover eyes twitched and their jaw clentched. They pivoted swiftly and took off all of a sudden. Albaric and Rena followed surprised. The journey back to the tower was spent with each person in quiet contemplation. When they reached the head of the tower, it continued into the office. Albaric was the first to break the silence.

"Clover," he said pensively, "can I ask you something?"

"Have at it," Clover was sat back on the window seat with somewhat of a distracted smile.

"Before we left for the mission, Ace came to talk to me," Albaric reflected, "He told me he was sorry for what happened to the tower. I...I thought I was doing the right thing by setting him on his own path but ...well did he say anything to you afterwards?"

"Not really," Clover replied reticently, "he just seemed sad,"

"Do you think it was because of me that he..." Albaric paused.

"Decided to take off?" Clover smiled knowingly.

Albaric looked down somberly, "nevermind...forget I said anything,"

"I don't know what you said to him," Clover replied softly, "but I know that there was more to it than that. I'm sure he was disappointed by your answer but these things never usually occur in isolation. It's probably been slowly building, one thing after the other,"

"I see," Albaric replied with a strained expression.

Rena glanced up at him thoughtfully but said nothing.

"I think we all made some mistakes," Clover added, "but I don't think it's too late to fix them,"

Albaric's eyes widened slightly and he nodded thoughtfully.

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**The Demon World**

"Did you enjoy your time in the black fairy?"

Ace didn't answer. He was staring ahead, his eyes utterly dark and vacant.

"How much longer are you going to drag this out? Just give me what I want and this will all be over," Varseille knelt down. "I don't enjoy hurting you,"

A smile crept over Ace's face and it grew into raucous laughter.

"What's so funny?" Varseille question.

"You are," Ace threw his head back with a laugh.

"I see," Varseille said quietly. " I was reluctant to the toys Terre Sol left here in the first place. It looks like I was wrong to throw you in the black fairy. It's had the opposite affect,"

Ace stared down coldly, "If you're trying to hurt me, you're going to need to try a bit harder, Varseille. This kind of thing doesn't scare me. I enjoy the dark. It gives me time to think about all the things i'm going to do to you."

"So it seems," Varseille observed.

"So what now?" Ace glared at Varseille frostily. "Will you try beating me again?"

"That didn't seem to work either," Varseille conceded.

"You sound like you're giving up, my lord. Isn't it a bit too early? You're a demon. Get creative," Ace smirked, "because it will have to be something quite spectacular. You'd better hurry. I'm getting bored,"

"Are you accustomed to pain?" Varseille asked softly.

"What possible answer could you expect me to give to such a question?" Ace scoffed.

"You're right," Varseille inhaled deeply, "Well if the stick doesn't work, perhaps we can try the carrot,"

Ace shook his head with a disinterested smile. Varseille slowly took the mask from his Ace.

"You.." Ace stared at Varseille in disbelief.

A fair haired young man with glowing red eyes looked back at him with a timid expression. Though the eyes were undoubtedly that of a demon, in every other regard he resembled Sena. A little older and fericer looking but it was still like him.

"You really are his brother," Ace exhaled shakily, "I can't believe it,"

"I told you," Varseille said softly

"Then even more reason you should keep that mask on," Ace rejoined viciously, "I don't want to see that face on someone like you!"

"Then perhaps the real thing?" Varseille stared at him with a blank expression, "My brother is still alive, Ace,"

Ace's eyes twitched. He glared at Varseille bitterly, "You should be careful about the next words that come out of your mouth," he hissed.

"It's true. I know where he is," Varseille added.

"I saw lord Terre Sol take him away myself!" Ace spat.

"But did you see him die?" Varseille replied. "You didn't, did you?"

Ace's blinked stiffly, "He would never have left me if he was alive,"

"I'm telling you he did. He's off happily living his life, while you're here sitting in the dark. That's the type of person my brother really is. I came all the way here. I killed Terre Sol. Sena got a happy ending and I got this,"

"You're lying," Ace returned hostilely, "for starters it was Clover who killed Terre Sol and as for Sena...he would never do such a thing,"

"Is that what the demon lord of the west told you? They said they killed lord Terre Sol?" Varseille questioned.

"They didn't have to say it!" Ace screamed, "Everyone knows!"

"The demon lord of the west doesn't care whether I was the one who killed him or not. It didn't matter. They were sent to kill him, but the job was already done. They just walked away with a smile," Varseille said in a low voice, "But I killed him. That's how I became the new demon lord."

"Even if you're telling the truth about that, what you said about Sena I would never believe," Ace scoffed.

"That he's alive or that he would leave you?" Varseille blinked slowly.

"Either," Ace returned flatly.

"Say that he is. If I did know where he is, what would you do?" Varseille leaned in towards Ace with wild searching eyes.

"What would I do?" Ace repeated thoughtfully, "I'd go to him,"

"Even after all this time, you still love him?" Varseille interrogated. "Even if he threw you away?"

Ace was quiet. His eyes appeared glazed as if in deep thought.

"Why aren't you answering?" Varseille demanded.

"What does it matter? He's not alive," Ace shrugged.

Varseille tilted his head to one side watching Ace with an intense stare."Then let me tell you something interesting. That necklace, how do you think I came to learn about it?"

Ace's eyes widened and he swallowed.

"Maybe you knew about it from before..."

"But how would I know you have?" Varseille cut in, "unless Sena told me."

"No.." Ace faltered, "that can't be.." his voice trailed off.

Varseille held a hand to Ace's trembling cheek. Ace stared back with a mixture of surprise and apprehension.

"So what do you say now?" Varseille smiled." Do you want to see Sena again?"