A Broken Angel {Tag: James, Frollo & Philip}

James had only been taken from his home, from Ariel, a few days ago but each passing moment felt like an eternity. In his cramped little cell, there was hardly even a way for him to tell the time of day. All he had was a tiny little slit towards the top of the ceiling that led in fresh air and light. Each night, he would stare up as the moonlight spilled in and his only thoughts were of Ariel. He hated that she had to be alone. Yes, his father had been there when he left but he highly doubted that he would take care of her. Images of his father's disgust flashed through his mind.

"You are under arrest! For his participation in the murder of the King!"

His lips turned into a frown and he leaned back against the wall as he sat on the tiny bed. He still couldn't believe that this was all happening. Erida had only been a figment of his imagination, yet here was paying the price for setting her free. Each time he thought about that dream, his head pounded and the memories only came in flashes. The most vivid of them all had been the moment she drained his power.
Pain flashed through his head as he tried to think and he quickly pushed the thoughts out of his mind. It wasn't worth thinking about it anymore. He tilted his head back against the wall and closed his eyes as he thought about Ariel.

"James!"

His eyes flicked open when he thought he heard her voice and all of a sudden, there she was. James stared in disbelief at the blonde angel standing on the other side of the bars. "Ariel? What...What are you doing here?" He flung himself off of the bed and moved to the bars quickly, taking her hand lightly through the bars. His gaze searched her face and his heart stopped at the sight of her bruises. "Who...he did this to you, didn't he?" James' gaze hardened as he looked at her, his fingers lightly touching the bruises on her lip. He knew his father might have had a temper that night, but to do this...it angered him. It took all of his strength to not break his way out of this cell and have a 'talk' with his father.

James could feel his muscles tighten when she looked away from him, knowing immediately that she was lying to him. His gaze traveled over her body to take in her form. She seemed smaller, almost broken, and that tore his heart open. At her words, he frowned and leaned his head into her hand as she caressed his cheek. "I'm sorry you have to go through all of this by yourself." Before she could stop him, he placed a kiss on the back of her hand, sending a warm light throughout her body to heal her bruises with what energy he had left. He pulled back slightly but didn't let go of her hand as he looked at her, concern shadowing his eyes as she tried to change the subject. Knowing her, she was hiding something very important from him, but he didn't want to put her through more pain than the was already in. "I'm fine. They haven't hurt me aside from taking me away from you." He brought his hand up and caressed her cheek, taking in the image of her. For some reason, he hadn't expected to see her ever again. Treason against the king was punishable by death, and because of what he did, James wouldn't be surprised if his father let him be punished to his full ability. "I've missed you." Gently pulling her forward, James brought his face up to the bars and kissed her lips through the opening. It took him a moment to pull away, not wanting to break that contact with her.
"They are right though...I made a decision, even if it is one that I can't remember, and it led to the murder of the king. Father will punish me as much as he can for this, I know he will." He pulled back further and frowned as he looked at the ground.

James frowned at her words and took her hand when she reached for his. "I need you to do something for me. I need you to go somewhere, anywhere, as long as it's far away from here. Father...He will try to use you against me, I know he will. I don't want anything to happen to you." His eyes pleaded with her as he spoke. He couldn't bear it if something had happened to her because of his horrible decisions. His grip tightened on her hand, knowing that any minute she could be pulled away from him. He was lucky that his father had even let her come down here.
"Promise me you'll be safe."
As he spoke those words, footsteps sounded down the hallway and his heart sank. Only a few moments later, his father walked around the corner. James could feel every muscle in his body tense as he held his grip on Ariel's hand. He wasn't ready for her to leave. She had just gotten here, it wasn't fair. "Father, is this really necessary for you to follow my fiancée?" He glared daggers at his father, the very sight of the man just made his blood boil. From the state Ariel was in only a while before, he knew Claude had done something to her. As to what that was, he didn't know, but he was sure to find out about it. And when he did, his father would pay.

(and cue Frollo's entrance! DUN DUN DUN!)

"Who says I needed your approval." He gave his father a hard glare at the words. James returned his gaze to Ariel when he felt her grip tighten, concern flooding his eyes once again. The only time he had ever seen her act this like was when she was afraid. He knew his father could be intimidating, but something had to have happened. He could feel it. When he saw her wince, realization started flooding him. He watched as his father practically groped her in front of him; every tear, every shudder that Ariel gave caused something to rise within him. His eyes widened as he dropped Ariel's hand and shrank back slightly from the bars. "You son of a bitch.." Images of what his father could have done to her flashed through his mind.

"I'm sorry.."

At her words, one image stayed behind. The image of his father...and her...That had to be what happened. James could feel his hands tighten into fists as he stared at his father. How could he do this? Did he really hate him this much? Before he could think rationally, James lunged at the bars, gripping his father by the collar and pulled him as close as he could to the bars. He heard Ariel shriek and her knees hit the ground, but everything around him was muffled, blurry. The only thing in focus was his father. "You sick bastard. How could you do this?" He kept his voice calm at first as he was still processing the information. The images flashed through his mind again and he grimaced, squeezing his eyes shut as a pain flashed through his head. Anger flooded him and he could feel his body beginning to shake. His eyes flicked open, their color changing from the usual hazel green to a burning yellow, his pupils forming into the oval shape of a cat's. "How!?" He pulled Claude closer to the bars until he could feel them bruising the man's skin and even then, he didn't release his grip in the slightest. "After everything that I've done for you. What I've given up for you. You've ruled my life every single day. Not anymore. You touch her again, and I swear to Mythos that I will make you pay. And don't you dare call me your son again. You are not my father anymore. You are a monster."
It took all of his strength to not pull out his claws and kill his father right then and there. It would have made things so much easier in that moment, but there would be even worse consequences later on. Pain shot through his spine, causing his breathing to go rigid. He pushed his father away, hard enough for the man to slam back into the wall and he stumbled back from the bars. "Damn it, not now.." He whispered to himself as he clutched his head, fighting off the sudden power he was feeling. It had been almost three full months since the attack in the woods and the effects were starting to show. Every night he felt the pain in his spine, the urge to change. It was worse when he was angry, and because of tonight, his anger was speeding up the process. After a few moments, James managed to push the feelings away, his body breaking into a cold sweat and he looked up at his father. "This is all your fault..."

James stumbled back against the wall as he regained control of himself once again. Sweat dripped from his skin and he suddenly felt drained. When Ariel asked if he was okay, he gave her a small nod and straightened his posture, not wanting to seem weak in front of her. He had kept his changes a secret from her so she wouldn't have to worry about him and now that he knew what was happening while he was gone, she needed his support more than ever.
James scoffed at his father's words and had to use the wall to support himself as he regained his wits. "Self defense...You're the one that started all of this in the first place." He stumbled over to the bars, gripping them until his knuckles were white as a sudden dizziness washed over him. The anger was already starting again but he had to push it down. He couldn't change in here, not in front of Ariel. The fact that his own father had tried to kill him made James want to protect Ariel from him as much as he could. "Give it up. You'll never have her again. She'll never be yours...not as long as I'm around. I will protect her from you, I swear of it." James glared at his father as he slipped an arm around Ariel's waist, showing his father that she was his and only his. He had already failed in saving her once, he couldn't do it again. Even though his body felt weak and broken, he managed to keep his voice strong and possessive.

Ariel looked at Frollo when he spoke to her, asking her where she would go if James killed him. "I'll still be in our home, cooking for myself. As long as I am away from you, I'm fine." She said to him before she looked at James as he got closer to her once more.

"Give it up. You'll never have her again. She'll never be yours...not as long as I'm around. I will protect her from you, I swear of it."

Ariel blushed when she heard James speak those words before wrapping his arm around her. Her hand went to his arm and held him close. She felt herself get closer to the bars, wanting to be closer to him. If it weren't for the bars right now, she'd be cuddling against him. Something she really needed after everything Frollo had did to her. She turned to look at James and gave him a small smile before she heard Prince Philip's voice. Her head turned back to look at the Prince. Her eyes widened a little bit before she curtsied, showing her respect. Her head stayed lowed as him and Frollo spoke. She looked up when she saw the two shake hands. Her eyes narrowed a little in confusion before she turned around back to James.

Right now Frollo's attention had been taken away and she was going to use it. Her hand caressed James' cheek. "I'm sorry.." She whispered to him as she stared into his eyes. "I'll try to get somewhere safe. It's just so hard.. He knows your house too well. He knows every little escape route, I don't know what to do." She whispered as she got closer to the bars. All of her emotions were taking over and right now she was feeling frustrated she couldn't be held by him..

"I can't stand these bars separating us. I can't stand being away from you any longer. You don't deserve this." She said, her voice showing how much she hated it.