Devon Buford

"You monster!" Lily lowly seethed. She slowly took backward steps when Aziel began stalking closely.

"You've gotten away from me once," Aziel grabbed her hand and lifted it to her face level, "I won't let you go for the second time, so don't bother yourself," He said dangerously as he stared deep into Lily's glaring eyes.

His grip on her hands was so tight but Lily didn't want to lose so she kept mute and glared at him instead.

"You're hurting her!" Simon said lowly in a warning tone but his words only fueled Aziel even more.

Silence enveloped the room and at that moment everyone was in their thoughts.

Lily spanked her hand out of Aziel's grip and turned her face away from his. "At least let Simon go." She came up with a bargain. "I'll do anything you say if you let him go unscathed."

"I don't need to do you a favor before you heed my words but either way, It's up to Simon," Aziel turned to Simon and asked with a lewd smile. "Do you wish to leave, Simon?"

Lily looked at Simon, hopefully. At least one of them should remain alive and that person should be him.

"I'm sorry Lily, but I can't leave you alone here. Who knows what they'll do to you."

Lily quickly went to squat in front of Simon. She took both of his hands in hers and spoke, "I promise I'll be fine, nothing will happen to me. Besides, I won't be at peace knowing you're still here, so please leave, I plead with you."

Lily's pleas were overwhelming for Simon, but he had already made up his mind. He had something he needed to do and to be able to achieve that, he has to stay.

"I'm sorry, but I just can't leave," Simon remained firm in his stance.

"The poor boy said he doesn't want to leave, there's no need to force him," Aziel sighed with a bored look on his face. He leaned on the wall with his legs crossed as he watched Lily trying to convince Simon.

Simon's refusal to leave weighed heavily on Lily's heart, and she couldn't stop the tears that freed themselves from her eyes. She quickly stood up and wiped the tears away from her eyes.

"I'm sorry for dragging you into this mess," Lily said with her hand to her mouth before she took off.

Aziel heard a shuffle accompanied by a low grunt, "Where do you think you're going?" he asked Simon, who tried to chase after Lily. The injury on his legs made him limp, hence slowing him down.

"Lily ran off, I have to go look for her," Simon infromed as he slowly made his way to the door in ragged breaths.

"In that state?" Aziel scorned.

"I can't stay here and do nothing!" Simon yelled frustratingly.

"Oh, you definitely can. Doing nothing in your state will be the only beneficial thing you can do right now." Aziel stated as a matter of fact and left the room with a loud slam on the door.

"Don't you dare hurt Lily!" Although Aziel had left, Simon hoped he could hear the echoes of his warnings.

***

Lily ran out of the building not minding the questioning stares she got from the soldiers. She ran and ran until she got to a quiet large field then she finally came to a stop.

She bent halfway and placed her hands on both knees for support as she tried to catch her breath.

When she finally caught her breath, she stood upright and took in the vast greenery field before her.

The low green grass was very soft under her slippers. Out of curiosity, she pulled her slippers to feel the bed of grass under her foot and she felt tingles spread all over her body from the softness of the plant.

She took her astonishment to another level and laid down on the floor facing upwards towards the sky.

Gazing at the sky with the chilly breeze from the surrounding trees made all her worries disappear and she was filled with contentment.

Lying on the soft bed of grass for so long made her sleepy and she found her eyes closing slowly and snapping open occasionally until she finally gave in and fell asleep.

+++

"Who is she?"

"I'm not sure my Lord."

"Hmm do you think she came with the Maximilian royals?"

"I can't say. From what I know, princess Elena is the only female child."

Lily moaned in her sleep and wiggled a little. She heard voices that sounded distant yet so near. The owner of the voice seemed to be so close as his enticing smell filled her nostrils.

She tried to pass it off as a dream, but the disturbing closeness and warmth of the individual made her snap her eyes open only for them to meet beautiful blue-eyed orbs.

A young man squatted in front of her head as he gazed upon her beautiful face.

Lily stared at his face which she viewed upside down for a good minute until she realized what was happening.

"Ahhh!" She yelped and attempted to get up only for her to bump heads with the young man.

"Ouch, that hurt," The young man brought his hand to his forehead and massaged it, "What's your head made of?" He asked with a cocky smile as he massaged his aching forehead.

"My Lord," The guard that followed him fell on his knees and tried to help him up, but the young man signaled him to stop by raising his other hand.

Lily looked at him in a daze. She had never seen him around before, not like she had seen anyone other than the Maximilian siblings and the soldiers but...

The way he crept up on her while she was sleeping was imprinted in her mind and she can't help but find him creepy.

Judging from his aura and clothes, Lily figured he was someone of great importance and immediately apologized, "Forgive me, my Lord." She stood up hurriedly and bowed repeatedly.

She tried to leave but the young man caught hold of her hand and softly traced her hand till he got to her fingers.

"The name is Devon Buford, may I get your name my fair lady?" Devon said in a thick accent as he gently placed a kiss on the back of Lily's palm.