As Issei and his companions prepared for the upcoming trip to Poland and it's capital to see the Slavic God of Underworld. Issei told Lucy to go and call the girls to come to his room so that they could discuss what are their plans and to finally get an explanation from Cassie about her past that hunted her and to see if there is any way to help her.

Nodding her head the mighty heiress did what was told through on Issei's request she didn't told the girls why he was calling them and not half an hour later Issei's group was assembled in his room still not knowing why they were called, and the person who called them wasn't there.

Though just as they were about to go and search for him, Issei entered the room with 2 plates one with drinks and other with some small snacks were there was everyone's favorite on it.

Seeing them all there Issei smiled as he put it down on a small coffee table before leaning on the wall looking at the girls who were a bit unnerving at his serious gaze. And they knew that what was about to be said would be indeed serious.

"Well, I'm glad that you all came here." Issei told them with a smile before he chuckled at hearing Katase mumbling about him being an asshole for even thinking about them not coming.

"Now I called you all here to discuss about the trip to Poland and something that I personally think is way overdue but better late than never. It's about Cassie and her past." Issei said sternly as he heard Cassie gasp before lowering her head and giving him a nod.

"Good, now first is a trip. From what I gathered from Elsha and Odin, we should be at the border of the realm around noon, from the border we will be escorted to the capital by a squad of Wing Hussars and a battalion of the regular army. I was instructed to tell you that whatever happens to stay calm and do not show any aggressive behavior and that also applies to you girls." Issei said while giving a small glare towards Lucy and Cassie who whistled in innocent before he looked at all the girls who all nodded their heads. "As you heard we will also be going with Arnett and Asuna. Both were there a few times already and from what Arnett told me it won't be until we get to Warsaw that we need to worry."

"What do you mean by when we get there we need to worry Issei?" Katase asked as she took a few bites of a chocolate bar.

"Yeah, I don't get it either. I thought we need to be wary of them from the beginning." Chelsea said as some girls nodded their heads in agreement.

"Yeah well, while that would be true if the one that commands this squad of the elite unit isn't Asuna's fiance. So even if he would be a problem Asuna is there to help us and we also have, Cassie's new rival, Arnett on our side." Issei answered with a smirk.

"Okay, though what is waiting for us at the Capital?" Cassie asked in a shy voice as she was still a bit uncomfortable since after this it was her turn to speak.

"Sadly that I don't know yet, though be prepared for anything." Issei responded with a sigh while pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Well, either way, expect a good thing but prepare for the worst case basically." Lucy told everyone in a serious voice, and everyone nodded again in confirmation.

Seeing as they were done with a trip part Issei coughed in his hand getting attention from the girls who looked at him only to see him looking at Cassie who had her eyes wide as she knew what he was getting at.

"N-n-now?"

"Yes. Now Cassie, I know it must be hard for you to tell, but as your comrades, we need to know so we can start fixing whatever it is, your body, mind or spirit." Issei sternly said as he took Cassie's hand and gently lifted her feet from her position.

"B-bu-but I-I can't, it's to painful." Cassie responded her head down with her hair blocking everyone to see her eyes, though even if they couldn't see them, they knew instinctively that there were tears in her eyes that were treathing to come out.

Seeing her like that Chelsea stood up and walked over to the speedster and hugged her gently all the while whispering calming words to her, which after a minute or so managed to calm the greenett down enough.

"Cassie, don't worry, even if it's something horrible we will be there for you, look around you, all of us did or felt something that we are still having nightmares. I'm also barely coping with my past. I used to be/still am a assassin. I killed without remorse, be it, man, woman or...or even children. Lucy here was in a war, she was forced to kill also without remorse. he slughtered entire battalions of soldiers on a battlefield." Chelsea stopped for a moment to look at Lucy who gave a sad sigh as she nodded her head. "Mura and Kat, well they didn't have any bad experience from what I can tell in the past so I can't say for them. And there is our future King, Issei the Red Dragon Emperor. The boy turned man, killed in a most heartless way possible only to be revived and used as a Pawn literally. The one that saved all of our lives at the battle of Kuoh and the one that a few days ago showed a tremendous amount of power, and not just in terms of strength but of will." Chelsea said with a smile on her face as she looked at Issei, before winking at him. "You know we all have our demons that are hunting us. Some are bigger than others, while some are more painful." Cassie finished her little speech and as soon as she had, she felt Cassie's grip on her increase as if she was clenching to her for a dear life.

"Cassie, we know that it is painful but like Chelsea just said, we all have our demons that we need to conquer. Lucy is a prime example of it. She has spent her last how much again 30-40 heck maybe even 50 years in isolation, all the while waiting for her time to die. So if you don't tell us what is eating you we can't help you." Issei softly told her as he gentle put his hand on her shoulder giving her a soft nod to let her know that she isn't alone and that they wouldn't leave her on her own.

Looking at him and then at others who gave her a nod, Cassie took a big breath to calm her nervous nerves down.

Seeing as she was willing to tell her tale, everyone took their position and awaited her story.

XXXX FLASHBACK 10 Years Ago XXXX

In the dark and unforgiven evening, things have turned from bad to worse for the young Lockheart girl, not knowing what will hit her and will scar her for the rest of her life.

She was at home, seemingly safe and sound from the dangers that lurked outside her house. And as everything seemed fine until there was a sudden slam coming from the door at the back entrance. She was startled, afraid even, but thought that it could be her parents coming home from their respective workplaces and having a fight over something again. But unfortunately for her, it was anything but what she thought.

The racket was created by 2 men, all in dark robes with masks on their faces raided in, smashing the door and everything in their site, possessions, windows, plates all over the living room and kitchen. Cassie looked over the edge of the stair on her uper floor only to gasp in horror, she couldn't believe or bear to watch what was going on around her. Her gasp was just loud enough for the man to hear her and as they turned they saw her making a quick escape to her room. That made the 2 men smirk with satisfaction as they turned and run up the stairs towards her room.

Inside her room, Cassie was franctifly trying to call anyone who could help her, but to her horror, the phone lines were cut, which meant that she was all alone. So she opted to do the only thing what she could and that was to flee by jumping from her window on the first floor.

Unfortunately, and sadly, the greenette didn't make it. As soon as she was close to the window, the door of her room was blasted open and she could even think she was grabbed, bundled, gagged, taped and tied up, all thanks to the quick work of 2 cloaked males that intruded her house. They made a even quicker exit, taking a banddeged Cassie with them and trowing her into the back of their old worker's van before locking it.

"Are you sure she's the Lockheart girl?" One of the kidnappers asked, wanting to be sure that the plan does go well accordingly. The other, driving the van, nodded and smirked underneath his mask, confirming that they found and captured their target. "Positive, brother. We have found what we've come here for. Now it's time to make our message loud and clear to the Lockheart family… By using their precious little daughter Oh I can't wait to see what the Boss is going to do to her hehe...I only hope we can have a bit of fun with her also."

Hering this Cassie's eyes widened, her struggling to get out of the bounds of tape and rope incresed quadruple as her thoughts were filled with the absolute worse that could ever happen to her. She even began to break down mentally as she was in tears, slowly running down her cheek, whimpering and crying, all sounds muffled by the tape covering her mouth in the process so that she couldn't make any sounds to attract unwanted attention.

One of the kidnappers turned his head, looked at the poor girl with a sadistic amusement before he scoffed, shaking his head at her, not really impressed by her reaction. "What a weak pathetic girl…" He said before turning back and facing the the van keept going further and further away from her home.

After what seemed to be hours, or even a lifetime on Cassie's case, they have arrived at a run-down abandoned warehouse just outside the city. The force of the brakes has woken the poor greenette up, still tied and taped up, not knowing that the nightmare is far from over.

"This must be the gathering place, brother, let's go and meet the employer." The driver declared, to which his passenger nodded and walked to the rear doors of the van, swiftly opening it before grabbing the now terrified and horror struck Cassie who with as much as strength she had left, tried to scoot away from him, but all was in vain, as the thug took her swiftly before hitting her neck making her unconscious before carrying her into the darkness inside the run down warehouse.

XXXX

Inside was all black, an only a small amount of light was seen as candles were lit and slightly warming the place up. The place where there were was occupied by other people dressed in black robes, all male. But one of them was embroidered with gold stitching and patterns, with a hood covering his hair and making it only so that his light blue eyes were visible. The golden one stood beside what appeared to be a torture rack, which was modified to allow the capturers to do as they please to the unfortunate victim. As the 2 brothers slowly took the captive down the blood red carpet that decorated the bare and ransacked warehouse, they slowly made their way to the rack and strapped her into the device, whilst removing the tape and rope forcefully making Cassie jerk back into the land of the living with a painful yell.

The man in a black and gold suit smirked, seeing everything taking shape as he stepped forward leaning closer to the tied up greenett who was now fearfully backing her head away from the man who was looking into her eyes as if her own soul was seen. With one last smirk, he struck her with all his might making her fall backward bring the chair down with her. Which prompted a cry of pain to shot out of her thoughts as blood started to go from her lips.

"Pick her up, we are not done yet with her." The man in charge ordered as the thugs quickly brought her back up again facing the man.

"W-why a-are you doing this to me?" Cassie slowly and shakly asked with her head still dizzy from the sudden hit.

"Oh love, you really want to know?" The man asked and before he could let Cassie say anything, he again slap her making her againg scream in pain before he forcefully brought her up by grabing her hair making the poor girl scrwam even more.

"Well, sweetheart it is all thanks to your father." The man said before he spited in her face. "You see, he was so full of himself and he was so sure that he could become a big shot, so he asked for a loan. Now that wouldn't be normally a problem. But you see darling, we gave him 3 mils $ and as any good business we gave him a year to repay me, but as soon as he got the job running he didn't pay back, so we are going to use you as a way of getting my money back." The man said as he again struck Cassie with his free arm who was now on a borderline of going unconscious again, but what she heard sent chilling feeling down her spine.

"I'm sure I and my boys here are going to enjoy you. You are very well developing for a pre-teen. Don't worry maybe some of my men would go easy on you. Well hehe...some of them at least maybe." The boss finished with a dark chuckle as he was sure he was going to enjoy this, while Cassie was in tears.

XXXX FLASHBACK END XXXX

All the while Cassie was telling her story the group around her were a field with sorrow, anger, hate, horror and a lot more. Though while the girls were in horror at hearing this and guessing what had happened next, Issei was very very close to exploding in pure rage. He was extremely pissed off and ready to go where ever was needed to to kill the ones that did those unspeakable things to his friend. Sure he was and if he is honest with himself still is a huge pervert but even he wouldn't even in his most darkest and vile thoughts think or do those things. But right now he needed to comfort the girl that he forced to relive that horrifying past.

"Cassie..." Issei slowly muttered as slowly made his way towards her.

Cassie who was sobbing, crying and choking on air from the memories of that dreaded night as if on instinct lifted her head to see him coming towards her only for her to quickly back away for him while all but screaming at him. "Please, please just leave me alone, p-please..."

Seeing what made her even worst, Chelsea stood from her position next to crying Cassie and made her way towards Issei who looked down right horrible now.

"Issei, come with me, will ya dear?" Chelsea asked as she walked past him and out of the room, only to be followed by Issei a few moments later as he looked at Cassie with his eyes full of rage and sorrow. His eyes even made a few contacts with other girls who gave him a slow nod for him to leave and to let Cassie in their capable hands. With a heavy heart, Issei nodded and left.

As Issei exited the room, he turned his head to the side to see Chelsea waiting for him a few meters away with her back pressed against the wall, her head down and her breathing hectic. "Chelsea, you okay?" Issei slowly asked as he put his hand on her shoulder making her jump a bit from the sudden touch as her mind was preoccupied with her own dark past.

"Y-yeah, j-just thinking about everything that I did in the past, Lucy's past and now what we learned from Cassie, Issei." The auburn assassin said slowly, as she turned her head to look at Issei, her eyes full of tears that were falling freely down her cheeks.

"Chelsea..." Issei whispered before he took quick steps and enveloped the young

"I-Issei, I-I just can't handle it anymore..." Chelsea whispered as drop down on the floor her knees pressed up to her chest as she just cried.

Seeing her like this made Issei even worst, he just didn't know that this small discussion could turn this bad with his whole team almost breaking down, but he needed to do something to start bringing them back, and from the looks of things the first that needed his help right now was Chelsea. Making his way toward her he also seat down with his hand going around her neck slowly bringing the crying girl towards him into the hug.

"Hey, Chelsea." Issei whispered but all in response he got was a few chokes and sob which made him frow.

"Hey, Chelsea it's all going to be alright, I'm here for you, and so are all the other girls in the room. We aren't going to look down upon you or leave you. We are all together and we will be by each other side and protect one another, being there when it matters the most. You already did a lot during the whole Dickobiel shit. If it wasn't for you many would have died, you saved the world by stopping Kiba and getting Lucy away far away from fighting. And I wont leave you especially since that crazy chick Akame is still out there trying to slice both of our necks." Issei slowly said as he rubbed her silky smooth hair slowly making her sobs a bit lower as she look up into his eyes her own blood red from the tears.

"Y-you are not laying to me? Y-you will be here for me? Y-you won't just leave me?" Chelsea asked her voice shaky as her eyes look directly into his to see if he was laying going to lay to her.

"On my name and honor as a Dragon Emperor, I, Issei Hyoudou won't leave you or anyone behind, I will always be there for you, Cassie, Mura, Katase, Lucy, Elsha. Whatever you need, want, or desire as long as in my power I will do it for any of you. I will be your shield, your support pillar, a shoulder to cry or an ear to listen to whenever is something wrong or you have some kind of a problem." Issei answered her with passion as his eyes showed love, will to protect and make her happy.

Hearing his answer and seeing the resolve in his eyes burning, Chelsea with her unsteady hands gripped the collar of his shirt and with a yank lowered his head just enough for her to kiss him on the lips, effectively shocking Issei by her sudden action , though his shock lasted short as he heard her giggle a bit her cheeks and eyes still puffed from crying.

"Well, you can start doing what you just told me by making me an official member of your peerage when you get your pieces my dashing king." Chelsea said with a beautiful smile to which Issei grinned and took her lips which made her turn to be shocked.

"It will be my honor to have you in my peerage my vanguard, Chelsea Dalton." Issei declared with a grin.

"And it will be my honor to call and serve you my King, Issei Hyoudou-Lucifuge. " Chelsea said with a smile as she lowered her head on his chest enjoying the warm that his body produced.

While this was going on, Lucy was silently watching the scene with a smile on her face. He, Issei, managed to bring her back from the brink of self-destruction, he now saved Chelsea. She didn't have a doubt in her mind that he will do the same for Cassie when she calms down a bit.

Done.