Chapter 20: Don't be pathetic

Song recommendation: "Every night I call your name" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfTkL-ZHDCY)

"Bird looks worse today than yesterday," Ace observed.

Michael glanced over with a look of apprehension, "He was hit directly with holy magic. I think it damaged the flow of his mana,"

"Can't you fix it?" Ace frowned.

"I've been trying but this type of thing requires a specialised skill set," Michael pinched his nose, "Why won't they send anyone?! It's been days,"

Michael went to the bars and yelled angrily.

"Is there anyone there?! We need help!" he shouted.

As usual, they were met by a resounding silence. Michael turned irately and paced the cell. Then just as abruptly he stopped to continue his rant.

"They've been ignoring us for days," Michael went on.

"They're not going to help us," Ace exhaled, "we're being punished. They're not going to step in unless we give up the necklace,"

"This isn't Bird's fault," Michael muttered. He pivoted and began to pace even more adamantly.

"Why hasn't Albaric come back?!"

Ace didn't reply. He already knew the reason. Ace suspected that as usual, Michael's temper had gotten the better of him. Although Ace knew he ought to be angrier, he felt strangely composed watching Michael's deterioration.

For the first time, Ace felt he was seeing the humanity in Michael. His genuine concern for Bird made the abrasiveness of his personality almost palpable. Despite, the obvious discomfort he had, Michael did try to speak to Albaric. He had also healed Ace's shoulder. Maybe he wasn't as bad as Ace had initially thought...

"We need to get out of here," Michael said soberly.

Ace raised an eyebrow. He wasn't sure what Michael would do now, but he could see the gears grinding behind his eyes.

"We can't stay here any longer," Michael uttered to himself.

"I thought you said it would be a suicide mission to try and break out of here and even if we did, they would hunt us down," Ace tilted his head back, surveying the mouldy ceiling apathetically

"Maybe we just need to give Albaric more time," he suggested.

He knew that time wouldn't change anything. However, Michael's mood swings were beginning to become annoying.

"No," Michael shook his head adamantly, "He's not coming back. We have to take things into our own hands,"

"How do you propose to do that?" Ace asked sceptically.

Michael turned to him with annoyance, "Is your misguided love the only thing that motivates you? Or are you really content to die here?"

Ace didn't rise to the provocation, "This was always a possibility. You did it for your reasons and I did it for mine. The deal with Rena was that you can't speak in court, but there's nothing stopping me. All we can do is wait. It's pointless to get agitated,"

"Oh right! Because you did so well in court before."Michael returned irately. "You just sit there in silence for days on end pretending to be fine about this! I'll just find solve the problem by myself,"

"There are much worse places we could be," Ace answered coldly, "Trust me,"

Michael rolled his eyes. He was about to snap back when his expression became fixed. His wild pacing abated. A solemn look came over his face.

"There's still one option left," Michael said in a low voice.

"I'm listening," Ace replied half-heartedly.

"You ask Clover," Michael turned to Ace suddenly.

"You really have lost your mind," Ace answered flatly.

"You think I want to ask for any favours from Clover?" Michael retorted, "Of course not. But since they caused this mess, they can get us out of it,"

Ace sat forward, staring at Michael baffled, "Have you forgotten that Clover wants the Demon world to be destroyed?"

"That may be true but they don't know what we've done," Michael knelt down excitedly, "Clover will only know that you're in trouble. We can go to the demon world and hide out there till Kalandra brings us the necklace,"

"Then what?" Ace returned sharply, "We wait to become demons or worse?"

"We only have to stay there long enough for things to calm down. Then we can set up someplace outside the Empire," Michael enthused.

"We'll still be fugitives. It's not worth it," Ace turned his face away angrily.

"Ace, it won't be long till they get tired of waiting. The Empire has ways of getting the answer from people," Michael said in a subdued voice.

"What will they get out of us?" Ace returned, "We don't know where the necklace is,"

"The court isn't going to believe us," Michael ignored him and went on, "Don't you see this is pointless? We have to leave here. Just tell Clover you need a favour,"

"I'm not going to lie to Clover," Ace said softly.

"Then don't. Just keep your mouth shut," Michael sneered, "I'm going to summon Clover here and we'll let them decide whether they help us or not,"

"If you think Clover will help you," Ace scoffed, "you're sorely mistaken,"

"Oh, I know Clover won't lift a finger to help me," Michael grinned darkly, "but you on the other hand...when they see the state you're in, I think they'll have a change of heart,"

"What are you talking about?" Ace's brow furrowed, "I'm fine now..."

Before Ace could avoid it, Michael pressed two fingers to Ace's forehead. Ace immediately fell flat to the ground. Michael surveyed him apathetically.

"Sometimes we have to do things we don't want to do," Michael said gravely, "That's what it means to be an adult,"

Without delay, Michael stood up. He pressed his thumb to his teeth and drew blood. He began to draw the symbols in blood. A large spiralling pentagram stained the wall.

"I offer this rite of blood and I call to the demonic dimension," Michael said the incantation aloud, he smeared the effigy with more blood.

"Bring forth the Demon Clover,"

A heavy silence followed and Michael's jaw clenched.

"You better come here," Michael breathed angrily, "Or you're going to regret it,"

"You have some nerve," came a voice. "Give me one reason I shouldn't just kill you right now,"

"Your reason is lying right there," Michael replied indifferently.

"What is this?" Clover stepped out from the shadows. Their eyes went from the bars and then to Ace who was passed out at Michael's feet. Finally, the red glow settled on Michael.

"You never learn," Clover remarked impatiently, "What have you done now?"

"You can talk. This is your fault," Michael retorted, "You just sent him back like it was nothing. What did you think would happen?"

Clover didn't answer. They ducked down and pressed the back of their hand to Ace's forehead, "What's wrong with him?"

"I don't know," Michael shrugged, "we were attacked with holy magic. They both were injured,"

"And yet somehow you remain unscathed," Clover observed.

"I have better control of my magic than they do," Michael dismissed. He turned to Clover with barely contained loathing.

"Will you help us or not?"Michael demanded.

Clover stood up to face him, "Us?" they repeated with disdain.

"We're all great friends now, haven't you heard?" Michael stared back defiantly, "If you leave us here to die, he'll never forgive you."

Clover tilted their head to one side apathetically.

"I think I can live with that,"

Michael gritted his teeth, "We're going to have to come back to this world eventually. And you know, the Empire doesn't look kindly on treason. You won't be around right? It'll just be me. I can either help him or I can leave him to die. So what's it going to be? Will you take us back with you?"

Clover ran a hand through their hair. For a moment it seemed they were considering the offer. Michael let out an unsteady breath. However, the moment he relaxed, Clover reached out and put an arm on his shoulder.

"You're in no position to make demands," Clover smiled unsympathetically. "You think I would believe a word you say? Who do you think you're talking to?"

Michael swallowed hard, "Then a deal. Tell me what you want?"

"You don't have anything I want," Clover continued to smile indifferently.

"Let me put this another way then," Michael rejoined, "Help us or I'll kill him,"

"Then what's to stop me from killing you?" Clover let out a laugh.

Michael inhaled bitterly. A mixture of seething rage and despair racked him. He stood quietly as his mind began to race through his options. The only thing he could offer was the necklace, but the moment he told Clover that would be the end of it anyway. There was nothing he could offer. Nothing...

"You haven't thought this through, have you?" Clover giggled malevolently.

They pulled their arm from him as if he were nothing more than a wall to rest against. Michael couldn't argue either way. He felt powerless. All this magic and what was good for? Even after all this time, he knew he couldn't beat Clover in combat. They had too much experience. And even if he could, what would that achieve?

"You're so desperate it's almost cute. " Clover said with dark eyes, "Hmmm, how about this? I will help you if you get down on your knees and beg. Think you can manage that?"

Michael's eyes widened in outrage. His fists balled and the water began to swirl around him uncontrollably. Clover watched him with a placid smile. Michael blinked rapidly as his anger flared wildly. However, something stopped him this time.

His chest rose and fell rapidly, but his eyes slowly gravitated to Bird. His eyes twitched and the veins pulsed against his head. The water hit the ground with a splash as his arms dropped. With every nerve in his body rejecting him, he came to one knee.

"Please, Clover," he expelled the words forcibly. Michael lowered his face barely able to match Clover's apathetic glare.

" Get up." Clover let out a dissatisfied sigh. "Don't be pathetic," they remarked coolly.

"Will you help us?" Michael asked again through gritted teeth.

"A deal is a deal,"