Devian faltered in his way and felt the shock hit him too hard. The conflict of emotions almost blinded him. He still had the urge to destroy everything in his path but at the moment something or someone was blocking it.

She carefully moved forward and among the anger and pain, Devian felt fear, like something terrible, would happen because of him. 

"Devian please listen to me, I know you are hurting but I promised I will protect you." She said softly.

Wendy and Crocell were in absolute disbelief on what was going on. Somehow Delia wanted to protect Devian from everything and from himself so ardently that she broke free from Pandora's control which was close to a miracle.

But another miracle was seeing Devian otherwise consumed by darkness now struggling just because the one he loved was asking him to stop.

Suddenly Delia felt the strong pull from her body and she threw up blood on the floor. Next moment the darkness swirled out of her body and she fell unconscious.

For a moment everything just stopped the terrified crowd, the angel, the light guardian Wendy and waited for Devian to react, who still had those black eyes, the evilness spread through him but he walked forward and bent down slowly as he lifted the unconscious girl in his arm.

And walked out of the cafe holding her too softly for someone that was consumed with darkness.

~*~

When Delia opened her eyes, her lids felt lead heavy. Her body had no energy left as she tried to move and see her surroundings. Her brain replayed the things that happened and she winced both with an ache in her head and things she did. She was still wearing the vulgar clothing and felt the need to take a bath as she felt disgusted.

But then she realized why she was back to being Delia and this time a shot of energy ran through her as she sat up and felt sudden dizziness.

"Where is he?" She asked as soon as she realized that Devian was not around.

"He dropped you here safely and just left, no one knows where he is. But for while he is controlled." Wendy said and Delia wondered why was she so calm about the whole thing.

"We need to find him before he hurts himself emotionally and physically." She pleaded with the present company.

"I am trying my best but for now I can't sense him at all," Crocell said.

Delia just stared at the gathered company comprising of Paulo, Crocell, and Wendy and she had questions for all of them.

"Delia, how do you feel?" Wendy asked carefully since she was well aware of Pandora's risk and it might be just another one of her tricks.

But a moment later she heard the sob and felt guilty for even thinking, "It's just me for now. I was in so much pain and distress seeing everything turn upside down in front of me. I can remember everything she did."

"Delia, you are the strongest Light Queen I have ever known. You broke free from her without any help."

"Oh, I had help, the mental torment of seeing Devian this was motivation enough."

"You need to rest before anything else. Your body has taken quite a toll." She said and soon Delia realized that various parts of her body were actually aching.

Slowly checking and rechecking Delia soon began realizing the injuries on her bodies, inflicted by Pandora. There were cuts and burns and that meant some part of her was always fighting Pandora internally.

"What should we do now?" Delia asked helplessly in this situation.

Her life was bad before but now it was worse.

"We need to ask assistance in making you ready mentally and physically to hold the darkness and set Devian free." Crocell gave the most practical solution.

But Delia knew she needed an alternate solution because this would kill Devian.

And she knew who to ask for help.

"I need to meet Persephone," Delia said even though even thinking about it terrified her.

"No way. That woman is tricky." Wendy said.

"She might have another solution to this."

"She has known about this for ages Delia, if she had a solution she would have offered. And you don't just walk to the Queen of Hell when you like." Wendy tried to make her see some sense.

"Then who else, I can beg for a way out or even give up my life if I have too. I need to help Devian." Delia pleaded with tears in her eyes.

Crocell sighed deeply, "There is one with all cures."

"And?"

"Asclepius, you can try meeting him." Crocell seemed a little nervous at the mention.

"Who is he?" Delia asked clueless at this. 

Even jogging through Queen's memories there was no mention of him.

"God of Healing?" Wendy gave an eye roll to Crocell.

"You have a better idea?"

"Ok, but how do we find him?" Delia was ready to take all the chances now.

"Umm.. that I don't know." 

Suddenly the doorbell rang shocking them all.

"What if it's Asclepius?" Crocell said mildly afraid.

"I hope it is."

But when they opened the door, it was just Melaney.

And she pulled Delia for a hug.

"What's wrong Mel?" Delia asked and immediately realized that last time she went to college, she was dressed in vulgar clothing.

"Thank God you are fine." She said with a concerned look in her eyes.

"I am okay, are you?" She asked seeing a slight bruise on Melaney's arm which she caused that day as Pandora.

Melaney looked at her like she was crazy, need of medical help kind of crazy.

"Delia, whatever is wrong you can tell me. I will help." She said and Delia felt nothing but gratitude for the friend she made.

Even after seeing a weird questionable side of Delia, she was here and offering her help.

"Please come inside and we can talk," Wendy said suggestively trying to delay the plan of finding a freaking Greek god.

As soon as Melaney sat down Delia realized there was nothing she could actually share with her.

"Don't be nervous please, I am- okay now." Delia tried to convince Melaney who looked a little fidgety.

"It's not that. It's just I was worried for you and now I came to know that you were here from the secretary of that mysterious man. Are you in some kind of trouble Delia?"

"You know Paulo?" Delia asked a little surprised and saw the guilty look cross Melaney's face.

"I will tell you something, promise me you will not be angry with me," She said and Delia nodded her head slowly not in a state to take in anymore surprise.

"Devian paid me to be friends with you."

Delia didn't know how to feel about that and just looked at her passively.

"I hope he told you everything now that you guys are close." She said and Delia's heart was drumming inside her.

"What Mel?" Wendy asked.

"Well... it's his secret to tell." Melaney said but Delia looked at her with eyes filled with expectation.

Melaney inhaled sharply, "He set it all up. It was revenge for something he mentioned, causing him the misery of eternity or something like that. He mostly got you in trouble so that he can be your 'hero' and earn your trust and make you fall in love just so that he can-well- break your heart. But now as it seems he loves you for real, so I guess-" She was lost for words now.

Delia felt like the whole world came crashing down on her. She never had anyone ever like or even be friends with her without a motive. She should have known. Her heart was hurting so much that she couldn't hear anything else anyone was saying, just a mere buzz of noises.

He set up the whole stage.

He made troubles to be the Knight.

He didn't find her beautiful or attractive or worthy of his attention. He did this because of hate he harbored for her.

"Delia, please breathe," Wendy yelled and she realized she had stopped breathing in shock like literally held breath that her lungs burned.

"Now let's see who saves the Light Guardian." With that Melaney's eyes went dark.

"This is exhausting, your paid friend will die soon as she can't handle me and she didn't even know any details I told you. She was only paid to be a spy for Devian and keep an eye on you." Pandora said absolutely rejoicing the situation.

And next moment she vanished.

Delia broke down into tears as shock dialed down and pain hit her.

~*~

You guys....don't hate me! LOL

This was bound to happen sooner or later, right?

this was a crucial moment for Delia to know the secret because now she can make future decisions.

Hope you guys liked it!

NEXT UPDATE: SATURDAY