**Chapter 3: Kael's Trauma**

The flickering candlelight danced across Kael's face, casting eerie shadows on his features. His eyes seemed to hold a thousand secrets, and his dark, brooding gaze made Ryder shift uncomfortably in his seat. Elijah, ever the empathetic one, reached out and placed a gentle hand on Kael's arm, but Kael jerked away, his expression twisting in a scowl. "Don't," he growled, his voice low and menacing. Alessandro's eyes narrowed, his gaze piercing as he watched Kael's behavior. "Kael, it's okay. We're here for you," he said, his voice calm and soothing. But Kael just laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. "You don't know anything about me," he spat, his eyes flashing with anger. Elijah's face fell, his eyes filling with concern. "Kael, please. We're trying to help." But Kael just sneered, his lip curling up in disdain. "Help? You think you can help me? You don't know what I've been through." Alessandro's expression turned stern, his voice firm. "Kael, we're willing to listen. But you have to be willing to open up to us." Kael's gaze dropped, his shoulders sagging as he seemed to shrink into himself. For a moment, Ryder saw a glimmer of vulnerability, of pain and trauma. And then, like a mask slipping back into place, Kael's expression hardened, his eyes flashing with anger. "Fine," he spat, his voice venomous. "You want to know about me? I'll tell you. I'm a demon, a monster. I've been through hell and back, and I've got the scars to prove it." As Kael spoke, his words poured out like a dark, twisted confession. Ryder listened, horrified, as Kael revealed his traumatic past. He had been abused and neglected, left to fend for himself on the streets. He had been used and discarded, his body and mind broken. Elijah's face was pale, his eyes wide with shock. Alessandro's expression was grim, his jaw clenched in anger. Ryder felt a surge of compassion for Kael, mixed with a healthy dose of fear. This was a man who had been through hell, and he was still standing. But as Kael's words hung in the air, Ryder realized that there was more to Kael's story. There was a deeper pain, a deeper trauma that drove his behavior. And Ryder knew that he had to be careful, had to tread carefully around Kael's fragile emotions. As the night wore on, the group sat in silence, the only sound the flickering of the candles. Kael's eyes seemed to burn with a fierce inner fire, his expression twisted in a scowl. But Ryder saw something else, something that gave him hope. He saw a glimmer of vulnerability, of pain and trauma. And he knew that with time, with patience and understanding, Kael could heal. But for now, Ryder just sat there, his eyes fixed on Kael's face, his heart heavy with compassion. He knew that he had to be careful, had to tread carefully around Kael's fragile emotions. And he knew that he had to be prepared for the challenges that lay ahead, for the darkness that lurked within Kael's twisted soul. As the silence stretched out, Alessandro rose from his seat, his movements fluid and confident. "I think that's enough for tonight," he said, his voice low and soothing. "We'll talk more about this later, okay?" Kael's gaze dropped, his shoulders sagging as he nodded. Ryder felt a surge of compassion for him, mixed with a healthy dose of fear. He knew that he had to be careful around Kael, had to tread carefully around his fragile emotions. But he also knew that he couldn't give up on Kael, not now, not ever. As they left the room, Ryder caught Elijah's eye, and saw the concern there. He nodded, his expression grim. They had a long road ahead of them, a road fraught with danger and uncertainty. But Ryder was ready, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead, as long as he had his friends by his side.