Asta layed on the big bed in their house, staring at the ceiling. The birds were singing outside. The sun shining brightly in the sky. It was a beautiful day. It had been more than a week now since they left the royal capital. More than a week since he began hiding himself with Yuno. Over a week since the wizard king began to search for a way to contact angels.

Asta wasn't so sure if he even wanted to meet them. Angels weren't known for liking demons. They were enemies, some would say. And if they saw him, maybe they would think that he stole the key. Why would they even start to think that all of this was just a coincidence?

But then again, he probably had the key since he was born. There was no other way for him to get the key. He hadn't even known about it for years. Not until that demon showed up and demanded it back. Since then, his life had been changing even more.

Whatever happened, he knew Yuno would protect him in every way he could. Asta would trust him with his life. He already did it a few times actually, and he had never been disappointed.

Over the past days, Asta had tried to figure out the words of the queen. She had said he would know when he knew his past. He wasn't good with riddles, but at some point, he had to find out. He would find out.

She was one of those people that liked to speak in riddles. Instead of just saying what she meant, she wanted him to find out himself. Asta was sure that he would know some day, but it would be easier to know now. How did she even know that he had been in such distress? Had she been watching him again?

Probably, Asta thought.

She had this weird thing. With that she could watch the whole witch forest. And know when something was going on.

Next thing Asta still pondered about was, what he and Yuno would do after all of this. Were they even a couple now? Or something else? Yeah, he got the whole 'mating' thing. But he kind of preferred to do this the human way. It made him feel more normal. Then again, when had he ever been human?

"Asta"

His thoughts were interrupted when Yuno ran into the house. For once he was smiling like an idiot. Asta sat up on the bed, showing that he was paying attention.

"I just received a message. We can go back"

A smile crept itself onto the teens face. He could go back. They could go back. It meant that they had found a way to connect with the angels. A way to get the stupid key out of him and destroy it. Then, all of this would be over, and no one would have to get hurt anymore.

His life would be normal again. Well, more or less. He supposed there was a way to let this demonic side of him disappear again. Like he could before. Call out to it with his willpower. That would be much easier. Going outside like this was impossible. The people would probably freak out.

"Finral is coming in a few minutes. Get ready" Yuno smiled, gathering everything they had taken with them.

Asta began to help his mate. They hadn't taken a lot with them, hoping it wouldn't take to long. It was going to be fine.

Once outside, Finral was already waiting for them to come. He was patient at always. And if he was annoyed to play the transporter again, he didn't show it. He was holding the portal open for them.

Asta took a deep breath. He was going home again. Once he spoke with the angels he would be left alone. All of them would be left alone. And right now, there was nothing he wanted more in his life.

Stepping through the portal, they ended up on the outside of the meeting hall. Confused, Asta looked back at his squad-mate. Finral smiled in apology.

"They insisted on talking to you alone" he meant.

"Bullshit" Yuno huffed.

"Yuno?" Asta looked back at the other in surprise. Normally he didn't curse like that. It wasn't like him to swear even once.

"Angels and demons are practically enemies. I won't let you go in there alone" he insisted.

"He's kind of right" Magna said. Asta only then noticed that almost everyone else was there too. His whole squad.

All of them looked a bit creeped out. Maybe because of the fact that they had seen angels? But they had seen demons before, including himself. What could be so different about them that they looked like that? Did he miss something else?

Something was wrong, Asta just knew it. But he didn't know what it was. All he knew was, that behind the large door someone was waiting for him. If it would turn out good, he had to find out himself. By experience.

Something told him to be on guard though. To be careful. And maybe it was good that Yuno insisted on coming in with him.

"Let's get this over with" the teen huffed.

He opened the door. What he saw, was not what he expected.

"Asta…."

His eyes widened. Noelle stood there a sharp dagger held against her neck. She looked weak and tired. She would be unable to free herself. She was crying, he realized.

Her body was bruised all over.

Asta gasped as the door was shut behind them, a seal appearing on it, shutting them in. This was no problem for him. With his magic he could easily get rid of it. But right now, something else was more important and told him to stay in place.

He should've known. It was to fast. No one knew how to contact angels and now they did it in just a week? Why did none of them notice it?

The demon holding the dagger against Noelle's throat seemed very pleased with himself.

"Noelle…" he muttered.

Asta could feel Yuno glaring at the other demon as well. He didn't even need to look at him to know it.

"I'm sorry" she whispered.

"You played well boys" Abaddon spoke, clearly satisfied with himself. "But the game ends here."

Asta clenched his fists at his sides. So that was why the others had been acting so strange. They knew about this. They were nervous. He didn't blame them. In all honesty, Asta didn't know how he would've acted if something like this happened around him.

He must've surprised all of them, demanding to get him there as fast as possible. And with Noelle being held hostage, there was nothing they could do but agree.

What was he supposed to do now? Every move could be deathly for Noelle. But he had no chance to get the key out himself. He didn't know how to do that.

"And now?" he finally asked, forcing his voice to stay calm.

"Oh, I am so glad you ask" the demon mocked. He twirled the dagger around, playing with it a bit before placing it back on Noelle's neck. He must've noticed the way Yuno had moved forward just a bit.

"Now you will come with me. I'll get the key out and you are all free to go"

Asta didn't like the way it sounded. He didn't know what would happen if the key was removed from his body. Was it going to kill him? Even if it did, it wouldn't make a difference. If Abaddon really opened the well again, all of them would , it wouldn't kill him, otherwise they wouldn't have thought of calling he angels.

But what choice did he have? If he didn't agree Noelle would die, and then there were the others. There was no way out of this.

"What guarantee do I have that you wont just kill her afterwards?" he threw back.

Abaddon hummed in thought. "None, I guess. But I don't have any use for her afterwards. So there is no reason for me to kill her" he shrugged.

The teen took a deep breath. This was the best thing he would get. It also meant that he would surely kill her if he didn't agree. He could already imagine Nozel killing him for even considering to not help his sister. This was his thing, right?

Being reckless and putting others before himself. It was the only way out.

By the weird amount of wisdom of the witch queen, what was he supposed to do?

"You tell me. You are the key after all"

Oh….

"Alright" he breathed.

"Asta!" Yuno grabbed his arm as he tried to move forward. He yanked his arm away. Yuno could beat him in a lot of things, but strength wasn't one of those things.

"It's fine Yuno, really" he tried to smile. To assure the other that he would be fine. And he knew he would be.

"You can't do that" the other insisted.

"You need to trust me. I can't let Noelle die here. Her brother would kill me" he chuckled lightly.

Yuno stared at him in disbelieve. Now he was joking about this? This was serious, and jokes didn't belong in this situation. Something was off. Asta would never joke about something so serious. Or was this just the new side of him?

He didn't know if it was.

"Yuno"

He looked back at the other. The tone was serious and yet playful. A strange combination.

"Just trust me" and there it was. That knowing smirk. It meant that he knew something the others didn't. Something Yuno didn't know himself. It also meant that he had no choice but to trust him for now. He knew what he was doing.

With a deep breath, Yuno took a few steps back, allowing Asta the free space to walk away from him. Something told him that this was right. This was how it was supposed to be. And it was the only way to help Noelle now.

Asta took Noelle's hand, carefully getting her out of the grip of the other. She was shaking all over. Scared as hell and still in shock. He could feel it from reading her Ki. It didn't surprise him at all. Of course, he could run with her now. But he also didn't know how fast the other demon would react. He didn't want to risk it.

Besides, it would probably happen again if he didn't comply now.

"I'm sorry" she whispered again.

"It's fine" he smiled, giving her a gentle shove towards Yuno.

When Noelle turned around to face them again, they were already gone. Both Asta and Abaddon had disappeared as if they had never been there at all. Not even the dagger was left.

The youngest Silva covered her mouth as she began to sob. This was her fault, and she knew it. If only she hadn't wandered outside alone.

The seal on the door disappeared, allowing the others to storm in.

"They're gone" Vanessa realized.

"We should've been more careful" Finral muttered.

"It'll be fine" Yuno assured.

"How can you be so sure? Abaddon has his key now. What is there that could stop him now?" Noelle was about to fall to the ground in a full meltdown. The tears were still stinging in her eyes. She tried to hold most of them back.

"No, he has Asta. Without the knowledge of how to get it out, there is nothing he can do" Yuno smiled.

"This is his key we're talking about. What makes you so sure he can't remove it?" Yami raised an eyebrow.

"He didn't place it there, so he probably doesn't know how to get it out."

"And you're sure he doesn't already know?" Finral asked.

Yuno smiled. He was surprisingly calm, and he didn't even know why. But the assuring look of Asta gave a calming aura.

"No, but something tells me he is unable to get it."

Now before you all get your mind fully blown away with theories for the next chapters I need to ask you guys something.

I have already told you about the new fic I've been writing. I want to give Asta a relationship there too, but I can't decide which one. So I would like your opinion.

You can choose between Asta x Yuno and Asta x Noelle

Think about it and tell me which one you would like to see more.

Bye