RENEGADES - Horizon's Story

[MysteriouslyMaple]

RENEGADES

CHAPTER THREE

    Horizon's body felt numb as he was ushered towards Caesar's Throne Room by the demon himself. The devil barely noticed where he was going and allowed his father to push him around, although that was mostly due to the fact that he didn't know how to react to what just happened. Terrifying thoughts swarmed in Horizon's mind as he mindlessly walked forward, his gaze blank as he stared ahead. Did that person really deserve that? Horizon found himself asking. No, he didn't believe he did. The poor canine looked almost fearful of what was going on and looked absolutely confused just before his death. Is that what Caesar's Trials are all about? He didn't like the sound of that. The devil swallowed a bit of saliva that was forming in his mouth, the thought sending chills through his body. Innocent people didn't deserve to die and yet... Caesar just killed somebody, seemingly for no reason. His father wanted what was best for the Kingdom, right? Surely there was more to the story than Horizon realized.
    "Horizon." Caesar's voice snapped Horizon out of his thoughts, realizing he was in his father's Throne Room. The area was dark and unnaturally cold, he noticed, which only made Horizon feel a bit of fear at what was going to happen now. Caesar stalked past Horizon, his pawsteps placed down carefully and quietly as he moved towards his Throne. The demon quickly sat down, wrapping his long, stripped tail over his paws. Horizon looked up at his father, inwardly wincing at the smile on the feline's face.
    "So, what did you think, my boy?" Caesar spoke. The way his words sounded, slow and drawn out, made Horizon shuffled uncomfortably on the floor. Horizon once again bit his lip carefully, blinking innocently up at his father.
    "I-I think that person should have lived," Horizon replied, though the dark gaze that quickly covered Caesar's face immediately made him regret his words. The bigger male's tail tip was flicking out and Horizon was faintly aware of his claws glinting from beneath his tail.

    "Why's that, Horizon?" Once again, Caesar's words were drawn out with his tone sounding the way it had been at The Arena. His words were almost in a hiss, almost as if he was daring Horizon to say something else. The devil pinned his ears back and moved his gaze to his paws. He could still feel his father's burning gaze on him and tried to ignore it as best as possible.
    "I-I mean..." Horizon started out, trying to figure out what he wanted to say. "Did-didn't you see the way he was reacting? He almost looked confused as to what you were accusing him over." Almost as confused as Horizon had been himself. The canine was innocent, he believed, and the fact that Caesar refused to let the guy speak was horrible. "Y-you never gave him the chance to explain," The devil voiced his thoughts out loud, though once again he immediately regretted doing so. "I-I think he should have lived. Th-there was no need to kill him."

    The air went chilly, causing Horizon to look up at his father in surprise. Caesar was glaring down at him, his claws digging into the leather of the throne he sat on. The feline's lips were curled in a snarl, revealing thorn-sharp, blood-stained teeth. The demon's black gaze was unnaturally cold to Horizon and the devil flinched, eyes wide as Caesar begun to descend from his throne. Horizon backed up as his father stalked forward, his heart pounding in his chest. Wh-what's going to happen? The child frantically thought to himself. Is he going to kill me? But why would he kill his own son? Horizon had always tried to make his father happy and listened to his words, yet why was the demon so angry all of the sudden?
Horizon's heart skipped a beat as he felt the stone walls of The Temple press against his back, forcing him to stop scooting backwards away from Caesar. The savannah let out a growl as he neared Horizon, raising his right paw, his claws unsheathed. The way the cat's claws seemingly shone in the dark room sent chills down Horizon's spine once more and the devil closed his eyes, awaiting something to happen.

    A knock at the door made Horizon jump and snap his eyes open. Caesar looked towards the door and lowered his paw, an annoyed snarl coming from him as he called out, "The Hell do you want?"
"There's something you might want to see, Emperor." It was Foxgaze speaking. The female's tone wasn't exactly urgent and Horizon could sense some sort of pride coming from the she-cat. "It's extremely important. Come to The Arena as soon as possible."
    Caesar stood in front of Horizon for a few heartbeats before he turned back to his son with a growl. "Alright, Horizon. Listen to me." Horizon flinched at his father's words, his wide-eyed red gaze returning to the feline. "I know what is best for the Kingdom. I say that the prisoner was guilty and so he was guilty. I know everything that goes on around here." The demon paused in his speaking. Horizon blinked at him for a few seconds before he went on, "Is that understood?"

    Horizon gave a curt nod in response to Caesar's question, though his entire body felt frozen and stiff as he moved to do the action. Caesar seemingly relaxed at his response, stalking off out of his Throne Room without another word. Horizon watched him leave, releasing a breath of air he hadn't realize he had been holding. The devil collapsed onto the ground, his body trembling as he finally came to his senses. There was something strange going on here and he didn't like it at all. The sudden change in his father's personality was horrifying and Horizon wondered if things had always been this way and he was only just noticing things. But he's always been so caring... The male thought to himself. What caused this shift in his attitude? Or maybe he had been too young to really see his father's true self. Regardless, Caesar's attitude towards things terrified him and he didn't know what to think of his father anymore.