My Chances are Smaller than my Cell

Korosu POV:

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I woke up to hushed whispers. The air chilled me and my body stuck in an uncomfortable position. As I shifted position, the the rocks embedded in the old floor scraped across my skin. Despite my brain insisting on sleep, the voice only got louder. I tried to block it out. My brain demanded sleep.

I could feel the annoyance building as sleep was the only thing invading my mind. "Shut up! I'm trying to sleep!" I growled out turning onto my other side.

"Korosu!" I heard him whisper. Caster. I jolted upright at the realization of his voice and looked around. I found him on the edge of a cell. My cell. I slowly got up and cautiously walked towards the bars. The look on his face gave me a bad feeling in my stomach. The concern that blanketed his usually calm face unsettled me.

"How's everyone?" I said leaning against the wall, picking at my dress. Despite obviously hearing it, he ignored my question. "Listen. We don't know who ratted you out but we'll find them alright." he said to assure me.

But I didn't need assuring. "No. Leave it. It doesn't matter" I said shaking my head vigorously. "Doesn't matter?! You're in a cell! You know the Vatican won't treat you like a human after your what you did. I can't let you stay here" he said his concern turning to that of determination.

"Don't be reckless Caster. I need to stay. Those Keytas will only stand a chance if I make my court date." I said crossing my arms, my voice becoming firmer even if my decision had been concrete from the beginning.

"Who cares! They're caught. They can't do damage anymore, but the statistics don't look good for you. You'll get the death penalty. I can't let that happen." he said gripping the bars of the cage. But who said I mattered more then they did? In the end they were trapped and angry at a world that forced them into hiding. Getting even wasn't right but dying shouldn't be their repent for that.

"It does matter. They don't deserve to die-!"

"Neither do you!" He yelled. We stared each other down but he wouldn't change my mind. I made my choice long before he made his.

Doesn't matter what he thinks. Whatever happens happens. "I'm staying." I said firmly. "No you're not! I'm getting you out of here." he whispered. He can't. It'll ruin everything!

No! I thrusted my hand through the bars and gripped his shirt. I brought him close to my bars and whispered harshly. "Don't be stupid. You'll get caught and we will both die. Whatever happens happens and that's the end of it. Stay out of it, it has nothing to do with you."

Why did he decide to get in the middle this time! Why won't he drop it and trust me? Why doesn't he think they are worth the chance. After all... I'm just like them.

"It has everything to do with me." he growled, his eyes glaring into mine. "I'm your older brother. What happens to you is my business" he said trying to pull from my grip.

I'd never seen this strength in him before. This side of him was irrational, unmovable, irritating, nothing like who he usually was.

The anger bubbled up on me, consuming me. He can't do this! It is not his fight! He's going to ruin everything! Why can't he just get the hint and FUCKING DROP IT!

"Simple solution! You're not my real brother anyway." I said pushing his back. My anger was rocketing and I wouldn't change my mind.

I need him out of here. "How could you say that? Of course I am." he said getting off the floor. I rolled my eyes "Oh come on! You don't honestly think MY mom left your dad for no reason?" I scoffed.

"You're lying!" He growled. "Explain it to me then! Ask your dad! Didn't you ever notice she never called you her son!" I spit out, while my started hair growing. His fire fueled mine and it spread until it became uncontrollable.

And just as it started, it was over. His anger suddenly dropped like it fell off the earth and his eyes lifted from their glare into realization. And with his realization came mine.

Oh God. What have I done? Before I could even breathe the determination was back on his face. He turned to leave and oh how I tried to reach for him but missed.

"Caster come back!" I yelled as his form faded into the dark that surrounded the halls and his shadow that became one with the shadows on the stone floor. I sank to the floor while my words swirled around in my head.

I can't believe I did that.

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Several days passed. No visits but I thought I went crazy when I heard his voice. "Caster! Please don't go in there." I heard Grimora beg. His shadow betrayed his position in the hallway. "Let me go. I need to know why. I need to know why she told me. There was no harm in keeping it from me for the rest of my life. She just had to ruin my life. My relationship with my dad, my mom, everything." he demanded.

His voice was like ice in the sense that it had me frozen and was sharp. This was not the Caster we knew. Our Caster was gone. "We are your family. That's what matters. She isn't ruining it, you are. This guy, he isn't you. She hurt you, you know she didn't mean to but the secret is out. Big whoop. Nothing has changed. Not one damn thing." she said but her voice wavered.

There was a moment of silence before he spoke up. "Move out of the way Grimora." he insisted, his tone rough and slowly turning to anger.

"No! You need to stop this. Do you know how worried I am? Do you think I can't tell how broken you are about it? Stop being so stubborn. You can fake the tough guy act all you want but you're still the same as when you were a child. Angry, but so scared to be alone. Stop trying to be strong for once in your life. Let it go please. Please come back to me. Please go back to being my happy dork." she cried. 

The silence was filled with crying. My heart broke for them. It broke with every word and every minute my heart got heavier. I had ruined our happy Caster. I had ruined everything he thought he was with all of my scheming and plotting. Hiding everything to pull this off alone.

I never thought what this would do to my family. All I knew is I couldn't risk them over myself, yet I don't regret doing it alone. I would move heaven and Earth, bend the meaning of good and evil, and live a hair away from death to keep them safe. The longer they stayed, the closer I came to tears from their despair and relapse into finding themselves.

I wish I never hurt them. I wish I could just apologize for all the pain I had caused them from my selfishness.  The longer their tears filled the room, the more I found myself missing warmth beside me when my tears poured out. I wish I could see Amaimon again

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I was awoken- and by now I didn't know what day it was or if the sun even rose. I did my best to keep up with time but the hours and days merged together. It felt like a week had gone by but I wasn't sure. The lack of light in this underground cell made it hard to know how much time had really passed.

They stormed into my cell and ripped me up roughly, jolting me out of sleep. I knew better then to struggle. It would be useless even with my strength. I needed to comply and play by their rules if this was to go how I wanted.

I was dragged out of my cell. I said goodbye to the stone floor and the iron bars that would've been effective in keeping me caged had I not been a Keyta. They dragged me out into the hall that flickered with the torches fire.

They unlocked the heavy wooden door and upon walking out they were met with Mephy. "I've been appointed as her lawyer by the Vatican." he said expectantly leaning against the wall. "She's a Keyta. They don't get lawyers" the guard scowled.

"Now now Nicoli, not only is this girl in human form, but she's a minor and a student at my school no less. By law, she has to be appointed a lawyer." Mephy mentioned like it had been the most obvious thing in the world.

"Plus I would be much better at handling her then you two." he said smiling. "You think just because you're a higher rank, that you're better than us?" the guard, Nicoli, accused. "That's exactly what that means. Now hand her over." he laughed.

They shoved me roughly at Mephisto and walked away very tense. "Thanks." I whispered as we walked down the long, narrow but tall, hallways. "I'm risking a lot by defending you." he said but looked unphased.

"You won't survive that room without my help. You can do most of the talking. I'll support you legally any way I can." He said as we stopped at a turn. "You ready to face them?" he asked.

"Face who?" I asked confused. "The Gregory." he said looking at me. I had learned about them in ex-wire training but never thought of a day were I would ever have to meet them. "A lot of exorcist are turning out for this event. You're the first Keyta in a very long time and history proves you won't make it out of this. My little brother would be very upset if I didn't protect you with everything in my power. Stand up straight, you're about to meet the Gregory" he said putting his hand at the door.

"I hope you know what you're doing." he said looking back at me. I nodded. I do but it didn't make me any less nervous.

He pushed the doors open and suddenly all eyes were on us. The room was tall and the walls were covered in gold accents. Railings decorated the walls filled with exorcists. Some amazed and some upset at my betrayal.

I looked around trying to keep the awe off my face. Upon looking around, I managed to find my family and class on the third floor looking down at me.

I gave them a sad smile and a curt nod. Kasai was the only one who dared to wave. I could see their concern, their hurt, and their drastic sadness.

I was set back in focus by a hand on my lower back. I turned to Mephisto and he led me to a set of steps. "Go up there. I'll be down here" he said directing me to the steps I hadn't noticed before.

I slowly made my way up the steps and tried to calm myself. Don't show how nervous you are.

"State your name and accusation." the woman said. "My name is Korosuakuma and I'm accused of treason of the 1st and 4th degree." I said calmly as I could manage.

The Gregory seemed stunned but only of the moment. "You passed all the tests. There is no way a demon slipped into the ranks." one of the Gregory said.

"That your honor is because I am no demon. I am a Keyta." I said looking up at them for the first time.

The court room was in out roar. In most cases people either didn't know or would never admit it to the Gregory in hopes of being spared.

They silenced almost immediately, despite being impossibly loud, when a member of the Gregory raised their hand for the crowd to cease. "Very proud you are." one of the Gregory members on the end said being careful not to show any facial expression. "I have things to be proud of. My first transformation saved the lives of 6 exorcists and to this day I have only ever killed two demons despite transforming several times. A shadow demon that had been hunting me long before I knew what I was and a hybrid who kidnapped me. Both aimed to kill me and I had to protect my life." I said confident in my self defense.

"How do you plead to the claims of treason?" a women on the Gregory asked. "I'm just a first class after all so sadly I am not fully aware of all the treason laws. Could you explain to me the parameters of the treasons I am being accused of." I said in a way that I hoped I wouldn't sound ignorant.

"Treason of the first degree is to hide information that would be necessary to tell the Vatican and Treason of the fourth degree is to protect one's own species despite its view by the Gregory. There are to be no supernaturals in the ranks for they are unholy by the parameters of the Bible." Mephisto said looking up at me.

"I see. I plea guilty for the treason of the first and fourth degree but both were, in long thought and calculation, in the best interest of the Vatican if I may explain." I said bowing to do my best to show my respect.

The male Gregory member all the way at the end on the right turned his head in interest. "I'm very intrigued to hear this and for that I will allow you to explain." he said to the dismay of the man sitting two seats the left of him.

"I was kidnapped by a pack of wolves. They brought me underground somewhere and led me to sets of doors that only led me further underground. It was in that place that I realised I was not alone. There had been a town's worth of Keytas hiding for decades. They wanted me to lead. They wanted me to help them fight this war. They were going to find a way to Gehenna and wage war on the demons. They wanted revenge on what had happened hundreds of years before. I said no." I said forcing myself to stop playing with the edge of my dress.

I had to be careful with what I said. I would tell them the truth but not all I knew. I could not and would not risk the lives of anyone involved.

"You said no?" He asked confused. "Of course I said no. Attempting and or succeeding would result in nothing but pain and regret. Lives lost on both sides that would mean nothing in the end. I managed to get the information of the day and where they were heading. I knew I should tell you, I knew it was reckless but I couldn't risk it. I didn't know what kind of power these Keytas had, I knew they had trained for decades and their numbers far exceeded that of the amount of exorcist. I refused to risk the lives of the exorcists" I said looking that them. My eyes did not waver. I was serious and they needed to be sure of that.

"But you yourself are vastly under-trained as an exorcist yet you could risk your own life?" The women on the far left asked. "Me and my Keyta form have trained. I may not be very well trained as an exorcist, I do vastly excel more in my transformed state. Despite that, death was a very real possibility but if that was the price to pay for the safety of everyone and so I accepted the responsibility." I said nodding. "We did not ask you to." the man two from the end on the right side said. I could sense his destine. He likely saw me as a monster despite being in human form.

"Now Micheal. We had agreed to hear her plea." the man on the far right said. "No. You agreed for us." Micheal hissed more obviously upset by the man's decision. "She is being respectful. The least you could do is reciprocate" he said nodding at me. "I can respect the children of God but this is no creature of God. This is a murderous, lying, wretch of this world" Micheal said directing his attention at me.

I was shocked. I had never been so belittled for my being as I just had been by Micheal. Well not by a human. I felt almost chocked off. "S-Sir-" I tried to defend my self but the water had covered me before I could utter another word. He had thrown this glass at me and it shattered on the steps behind me.

I wanted to be mad. I was stronger, faster, will live beyond him, more powerful than he knew but I my anger couldn't surpass my fear. He had thrown glass, what would he throw next? What would he say next? In this world I was more than he would ever be but in this room I was nothing more then a monster no matter my intentions. If everyone felt that way then I wouldn't make it out of this room alive.

Suddenly the room began to shake. The old ceiling cracked and debris fell. The floor cracked all the way to the steps and broke the circle wards. Everyone looked around confused, waiting for any sign this was an attack. The doors slammed open and Amaimon ran in on high alert. He saw my dress and the glass on the steps. He saw my fear and he searched the room like an animal on the hunt until he saw the missing glass on Micheal's podium.

He let out a thunderous growl and everyone had broken from their trance. The world erupted into chaos. "Kill him!" the Gregory demanded but no one had weapons upon rules of the court room. The guards were the only ones allowed and were the only to attack. They threw their spears and readied their guns.

"No!" I screamed jumping of the platform and running to protect my mate. Instincts screaming, uncontrollable and raging I dove in front of him. The spears embedded themselves into my skin but none of it mattered. I had protected him. The state of me had only angered Amaimon though and had him ready to attack. "No! Don't! Don't do this please. This is my fight" I begged. 

The fire in his eyes was uncalculated, wild. He thought of nothing in that moment other then ripping Micheal apart and I could feel it. I could feel his anger course through our link.

"He hurt you. He disrespected you. I cannot allow him to live after that." Amaimon growled pointing to Micheal who was screaming, but held his ground. "They are above me. They decide what happens to me. You have to respect that." I said holding him back from attacking. I would not allow them the satisfaction of seeing him like he was exactly like they thought.

"No one is above you. Not to me." he said looking at me. "I know but they decide my fate so please respect that. Promise me. Promise me that you will respect the final decision no matter what." I begged.

"I can't do that." he shook his head. He was as scared as I was. He knew that if all this went south then he would lose me for good and I knew from the look in his eyes that frightened him more than anything in this world. "I know you're scared but if you can't respect the verdict then you have to go." I said tearing up.

I didn't want him to leave. I didn't want to die. There was nothing I needed more in this moment then for him telling me I would be fine. But none of that mattered because if he acted out then we would both die in the end. We stood there for a few seconds and he reluctantly grumbled "Fine."

"He cannot stay!" Micheal yelled. "Sadly, Section 23.7 of the vatican court law says that husbands and fiances can be present as long as the accusant so chooses" Mephisto said. "But they are not married! Demons cannot get married! They do not know any such emotions as love." Micheal protested.

I held up my ring to the Gregory. "A symbol of my dedication. Demons can get married and I have been engaged for a few months." I said holding Amaimon's hand. "This is unholy. This is hearsay! She should be executed at this moment! Arthur! Get rid her at once!" Micheal yelled.

Arthur Angel was an ex-paladin. His long blonde hair and broad sword were known to all in the Vatican. Amaimon immediately pulled me behind him. "You again?" he hissed at Amaimon who glared. Mephisto stayed calm before he slipped the card out from his sleeve. "Arthur cannot kill this girl. He owes her mother his life." Mephisto declared. Mom?

Time seemed to stop at this moment. It felt like years before someone spoke up. "Arthur, stop. Elaborate." the women on the far left said giving Mephisto a chance to explain. "When Arthur was but a teen, we had an issue with demons getting into the academy. The demons saw his potential and knew that Aurthur would eventually become a paladin so they did whatever they could to ensure his disposal. Arthur, who had not had the ability to see them yet, was falling deeper and deeper into depression. The voices wouldn't stop and there was no one he could turn to. A guardian angel was sent to protect him and this was documented of course. That angel had apparently had a run in and fell. That Guardian angel was Korosuakuma's mother" he said taking out a file.

"Let me see that file." Micheal said extending his hand. The file was passed from guard to Gregory. After some silence he looked at me. "Are you aware of your mother's name and title?" the lady one from the right asked.

"Enjeru guardian angel of the cracks and shadows in the soul. Her identity was never revealed to me until after her death, but, from what I've been made to believe, she was very powerful" I said.

"Enjeru is a legend among guardian angels. Ranked 3 in a core of 15,962, she has guarded many future exorcist and even paladins. Myself included. She was the savior of many and for those who could see her, was very beautiful." one of the women said smiling at me.

"Put the demon king in chains for now" the man on the right said. Looking at Arthur expectantly. Arthur sighed but walked towards the demon and pulled out the intricate cuffs. He slapped them on Amaimon's wrists and threw him back away from him when he accidentally touched him.

Amaimon had no care in the world when the cuffs got slapped on. I don't know if that was because he knew he could get out of them or because he wouldn't need to. But that didn't matter. I had to focus. I eventually, after much silence, had the courage to talk about my mother.

"You have claimed you have transformed several times. If you may, elaborate on how" one of the men said.

"When Keytas almost die slowly in human form they offer a deal. The deal allows me to switch back and forth" I said.

"You accepted a deal? You sold your soul?" The man asked.

"Before you answer that, can I hear the parameters of the deal?" The kind man asked.

"I either die and reunite with my mother in heaven but I cannot reincarnate or I could stay on Earth. I now surpass human strength, speed, can switch back and forth without the cure, can control my blood, and sadly have immortality" I said.

"Everything has to die. Your acceptance of immortality is to spit on the life that God gave you" Micheal said disgusted. "Please do not misunderstand. I am not invincible, I can die and I did not want immortality." I pleaded.

"Everyone wants to live forever" one of the women said. "My cursed existence has led to many people I love leaving me or dying. I do not want to watch everything around me die while I remain. I would avoid it all cost if I could, I swear to you that" I said.

"Is that why you have found refuge in a demon?" Micheal hissed. "He is the reason I chose to live. I did not choose him, nor did he choose me. We are bound by fate" said pulling my hand behind him to hold his hand.

"A Keyta and a demon as soul mates. That's rich." Micheal said sarcastically.

"We were friends before I became an exorcist, I didn't know who he was until then, and long before we knew what I was." I said.

"Why not give him up when you found out?" Micheal said accusingly. Suddenly the energy in the room shifted.

"You must understand that soul mates are neither in the hand of God nor the devil. Even they respect the bond. To give my mate up to be killed would be a crime in the eyes of both sides." I said holding Amaimon's hand tighter.

"But protecting him is not in the best interest of the Vatican. It isn't in the best interest of anyone but yourself. You protected him out of selfishness despite his violent behavior which he displayed only a few minutes ago." Michael reasoned.

"Now I don't like siding with Micheal but he has a valid point. His record is quite a feat" the guy said who had been on my side.

"He has not killed a human since we've met. He's changed. He knows empathy and loss and fear. He would not kill if he knew it would hurt someone, this is who he is now. He could have killed a number of exorcists when he broke in today but they are all alive and well. That displays a lack of violence and more sympathy than you have displayed towards me." I said the need to defend my mate allowed the offence to slip my tongue before I thought it through.

"I display it because you are a wretch. How dare you offend me in my court room?" Micheal jeered.

"I might not be every bit as human as you but that does not make me tainted, or a wretch, or unholy. God can and has adjusted to Keytas in fate before and he makes sure that even they have a place in heaven. If you think He is as opposed to my existence as you are then you are mistaken. He loves his children and that includes me and every Keyta in your possession." I said proud. I told myself long ago that I was sick of people looking down on me. I will not allow him to look at me as if I was a beast in this world.

The court room fell silent. As it had always been, but the energy shifted. I don't know in what way.

"I am guilty. I'm guilty of hiding the battle from the Vatican in hopes that I could protect all of you. You all have people who would fall to their knees to lose you. Wives, husbands, daughters, sons, and siblings. I have that all and risked it all for the safety of all of you. I would never put fellow exorcists at risk for a battle in which I was unsure of the disadvantages. I am guilty for protecting my species because they are all human. They are trapped and begging to see their families, unable to control the actions of their Keytas, and did not chose war. They should not pay the price of death for something not within their control. To kill them would be to kill an innocent human" I said.

The room was quiet. Only interrupted by the hushed whispers of the Gregory. Everyone on the edge of their seats for the verdict. I could feel the worried glances coming from my family.

Amaimon tightened his grip on my hand. "But to kill you would not be. You have admitted to crimes punished by death. There is almost nothing you can say that can sway the decision to have you executed." one of the women said. 

"I know, but I refuse to be afraid in this moment" I said nodding curtly. "And why not?" Another man said puzzled. "Because I still have faith. In humanity, my purpose on the destiny I was given, and that my intentions were pure. I have faith that this is not a place of fear and hate. Faith that when I joined I wouldn't kill on the based of prejudiced and misunderstanding but on the base of justice. If angels can be evil. Why can't demons be good?" I said. 

Everyone in the Gregory had something to say. I could see it in the way their eyes shifted and their jaws unhinged, ready to talk. but they could not. A large bell rung out so loud I knew somewhere it was above ground but we could here it clear as day. 

"The court day is over. Your sentence will be given tomorrow. So thank God you lived to see tomorrow." Micheal said standing up. 

"Guess He does have a plan for me after all." I whispered to myself lightly.