Chapter 53 - 52

The three of them ended up in a spare meeting room. Kaiden had been sitting opposite the two, while Theodora kept rubbing her hands to warm up Gideon. Kaiden had the servants prepare the fireplace to warm up the room. This made Gideon a little bit confused since the entire time Kaiden would simply use his powers to warm up a room. When he asked about it, Kaiden smiled at him.

"Well I can't use my powers constantly or else I'll get weak" Kaiden glances at Theodora who was still staring at him intently as he spoke to his Deon.

"Don't you know that staring is rude Ms. Theodora?"

"My Apologies, my prince. I'd like to ask if I may speak to Gideon alone?"

"No" Kaiden flat out refuses and Gideon looks at him.

"Kaiden..."

"What? I already let her use a room in this place"

"Kaiden, it'll only be short." Gideon frowned and thus Kaiden rolled his eyes.

"Fine. I'll let you speak for 5 minutes" Kaiden stood up and left the room.

Theodora was quite impressed with how Gideon managed to talk to that blockhead. Even the King has a hard time refusing the prince in that short amount of time.

"Gideon, did he threaten you to stay here or something?" Theodora squeezed his hands and rubbed the back of it with her thumb.

"It was nothing like that. I was supposed to be imprisoned for questioning but Kaiden intervened and that's why I'm stuck with him" Gideon explains the gist of his situation to his adoptive mother and Theodora frowned.

"He could be lying to get your trust."

Gideon shook his head and smiled. He remembers how Kaiden took care of him in these past few days. And the fact that even the others tried to hide it from him.

"I doubt it"

"Gideon..."

"I trust him. We just both misunderstood the situation but now it's alright. Please have faith in my judgement"

Theodora could only purse her lips. It was a rare sight to see Gideon be this stubborn other than getting support from her and Stephen. Such an independent person was willing to be dependent on the person that once tried to "kill" him.

"I... I will trust your decision. But the moment he does something, don't hesitate to ask me or Lady Kassandra for help. I promise that she will help you even if she's quite the uh... unique speaker" Theodora was referring to how Kassandra easily looks down on the weak and would call them degrading terms such as "insect", "Peasant", etc.

"I'll keep that in mind" Gideon paused for a moment before continuing "I'm sure you've heard of Uncle Steph?"

Theodora had a bitter smile on. She was close to crying again as she nodded.

"That's the other thing I want to talk about with you since I have spoken to Lady Kassandra"

"Oh yeah, she was also calling for me" Gideon mumbled and Theodora patted his head.

"You no longer have to speak with her since she told me everything"

Theodora seemed to be hesitating in explaining what Kassandra had offered to her. She already had chosen since she was reminded of what Emilia had told her prior to going here the moment she saw Gideon.

She wasn't going to throw everything and drag everyone else with her refusal to accept the reality of things.

She carefully explained everything to Gideon. From what those monsters do to them to the fact that Stephen is a lost cause. Although it was hard to admit that last part, she needed to be strong. Otherwise, everything that Stephen had done for her would be in vain.

"and with that... Lady Kassandra had given us two options. Either we continue to wait for a miracle while Lady Kassandra uses her powers to keep him alive. Or she goes all out one last time to wake him up for a short while to say our goodbyes. I'm certain that she only gave the first one to make me feel better but I know it's too late."

Gideon had lost the colors in his face. He can't help but wish that he had heard wrong. Was there any indication of Stephen's death in the original? He couldn't remember those details due to how many years had already passed. But nothing went according to the original anyways right from the beginning. He kept clinging to a false hope that he knew something of the future but the future always kept telling him that it was because of him that the story had changed already.

"Then, what did you pick?" Gideon asks slowly and Theodora was silent for a moment.

"She wants to pick the first option but she knows the correct choice is the second" Kaiden spoke up.

Their 5 minutes were long finished but he still waited outside the door. He could hear everything they spoke of in those additional minutes he gave to them. Theodora was still keeping quiet since she could not refute what the prince had said since it was the truth.

"In my opinion, it's the best option. The first option will only make everyone suffer. At least with the second option, you three could talk one last time." Kaiden returned to his seat and Gideon continued to hold Theodora's hand.

"Is that so?"

"I'm afraid so."

Kaiden also knew of this since Kassandra had already approached him prior. There was no guarantee that she would be able to do what she claims so she asked him for help. Given that he was a mix of Angel and Demon, this may have been the reason why Yohann managed to turn back into his old self despite the long-term and possibly lifetime side effects.

"Then I'll agree with the second option" That way no one would suffer and Stephen can finally find peace in this chaotic world.

Theodora squeezed Gideon's hand again. She was such a coward for not saying it directly and the prince even had to say it for her.

"if you need me to send word right now of your decision, we can. I'm pretty sure Kassandra herself wants this dealt with as soon as possible given she's putting herself on the line right now." Kaiden offers to the two and Theodora nods to his proposal. 

Gideon was unsure if he should be happy that Theodora was not disagreeing with Kaiden. Because this would mean that they would have to say goodbye so suddenly. His heart was not prepared and he didn't know what that was like for Theodora who had been with Stephen for hundreds of years now.

.

.

.

It was almost sunset when Kassandra and Kaiden finished preparations for the family. They were kind enough to move Stephen into Gideon's old room to give them some privacy. After a while, the two beings stood on both sides of Stephen.

"My Prince, will you do the honors?" Kassandra held out her hand and Kaiden took a hold of it.

"Certainly" His eyes seemed to have turned into a more vivid shade of violet as he used his powers.

Kassandra felt the sudden force pass into her and had beads of sweat form on her forehead. She can't get unsteady now, she needed to focus.

Just like how she would infuse a dying human to become a Vampire, she channeled her power as well as Kaiden's powers into Stephen.

This was a huge risk since they are not certain if this would work but then suddenly they hear Stephen groan a little.

Kassandra's eyes widened realizing that it did work. Then maybe... Maybe they could- ah?

Kassandra suddenly felt weak. She knew that she won't be able to handle it but it was good enough that her Theory would work. They just needed more and then maybe the others could be saved. Just a little more... Let him last longer...

"Lady Kassandra!" Theodora caught Kassandra who had suddenly fallen backward. Kaiden rushed to Kassandra's side and she had a fever.

Who could have known that a devil could still have a fever? But then again, he himself would suffer like this when he was a child and that's due to the fact he could not control his powers.

"She pushed herself too much. She needs to rest and replenish her powers but... I think he should come to his senses in a bit." Kaiden carried Kassandra in his arms and looked at the two worried figures in front of him.

"with his injuries, 10 minutes or less" He bowed his head to send his condolences before leaving.

Another groan could be heard from Stephen and Theodora rushed to his side.

"iubițel1?" Theodora suddenly called him in a different language. But for some reason, Gideon seems to understand that it was an endearment.

"Baby1?" Theodora continued to call out to Stephen in a worried tone and slowly he opened his eyes.

"My love1?" Stephen quietly calls out to her. His eyes swept the room and he saw Gideon by his side.

"Deon, you're safe. I looked everywhere for you... I'm glad" He smiled as he spoke in English now, trying to raise his hand and pat his head. Gideon's tears began to form in his eyes. He nodded as he grabbed the hand and kneeled down to put it on his head.

"Yes I'm safe Ste-" He paused and corrected himself. Tears continued to fall. "I'm safe Dad"

Stephen smiled and it seems like he wanted to laugh but it was too hard for him.

"I never expected to hear you call me that... Thank you, my child"

Stephen moved down his hand and wiped off Gideon's tears. He knew these two performed some miracle that allowed him to stay for a little while longer.

"Gideon, Just know that I'll always look out for you and that I'm proud to be able to call you my son" Stephen wanted to hug Gideon but his chest started to hurt once more again. So he needed to talk to Theodora now.