It had been an immediate reaction; the familiar body had skidded from the portal onto Meridian ground as soon as it had began to open, and Prince Phobos - for maybe the first time - intended to simply step aside. Will Vandom was right. He had cheated, and there was no power in cheating. And he hoped, as he ignored Caleb - tranced to stare questioningly at Elyon for only a few moments - that the shivering mass of bones would forgive his foolishness; in exposing her to his monster.[0] "Donec ibi." She's over there.
"Will!" Prince Phobos bowed his head, as Caleb ignored the fire; the danger, and was immediately at his knees beside her, and Prince Phobos wondered if there was a point in any apology, because Caleb faltered an attempt at reaching to touch her, before she seemed to latch herself onto him; finally allowing tears to fall, as Caleb pushed her hair from her face - with the gentlest touch - and whispered some form of apology maybe.
Possibly something of his presence to protect her - pulling her in to curl into his arching chest, and comforting her exactly how Phobos knew she would need.
And then taking her hand, then elbow, to help pull her up; supporting herself against him, because Phobos doubted that she'd be able to stand on her own.. And she'd clawed at him; the picture of the damsel in distress, with Caleb's bare chest to sob into.. While Caleb stared with daggers for eyes; his vision of course set on Phobos, rather than the perpetrator. "Ti kánate gia na tin? What have you done?"
Phobos knew, at this point, that all would be safe, because the steel coldness that Caleb had originally seemed to have inherited was not there.. But perhaps she had the same effect on both of them; she was certainly something to treasure - stirring guardianship and concern.. And Phobos smirked as Elyon blurted more than she need have said, "S-she.. I-I.. You only care because she's-"
...
Caleb stared, as Elyon stammered, and he realized that in his current state, Prince Phobos would be incapable of.. And only two people here had enough power to cause that much damage. "Y-you.. YOU?"
"I didn't- That's not-" Caleb's eyes narrowed, as he pulled Will a little closer; probably half-smothering her as he wrapped his arms around her, feeling her warm, stilted breath on his bare chest, but hearing the gasps that desperately came with each one. And where rage had been immediately, disgust and an eerie coolness overpowered him, because he didn't want to lash out, and he didn't want to see the lights fade in either of their eyes.. He just wanted to take Will away from these people.
"You disgust me. Both of you." Elyon opened her mouth to assumingly defend herself, but withered under his glowering gaze; he was sure that pure hatred would be visible in his eyes, because he could easily spit on this princess. "You.. You with your clouded judgement; too far from humanity to even feel compassion.. You're only sorry you got caught! You don't eve-"
He was glad, when Will's fingers pulled over his skin, somehow reminding him to stop, because there were tears, and he hoped Elyon would see tears in his eyes. He hoped that Elyon would know what he was; simply so that her shame would be larger. "I.. I didn't mean to.."
But Caleb couldn't listen anymore, and he found himself walking faster than he should have been, and he hoped Will would understand; as he pulled her by their arms' distance, with her hand secure yet grasping his - that he was too angry to even pace himself for her. For eveything that Elyon had done. For the fact that Prince Phobos had been stood there.. For the hot tears that both blurred his vision, and lay hot; soaked into his bare chest.. "We're going home Will."
Ti kánate gia na tin? - What have you done to her?
[0] 'His monster' meaning Elyon.