Kayden or Demetrius?

[ReClove]

Definitely Kayden. He was right at the brink of what he thought would have been the best outcome for him. His family and lover right at his side at a quiet and upscale part of town. Somehow, he was already at a stage where he accepted what was to come for him. Even embraced it, as shown on how he wanted to be as a parent. It was like he already loved his child...

Then to suddenly see that gruesome event. Of how everything was murderously taken from him. Like wow. Good luck getting over that kind of thing.

In a world that didn't accept how he truly was (being slanted and such), he was now alone. With no one to be there for him. He was the most pitiful for me. Especially with the ending. Being manipulated.

[Juliet+1]

I seem to be out of step with the other readers. My greatest pity is for Demetrius. Certainly Kayden suffered an enormous loss, but Demetrius, in a sense, lost himself. He tried to do something good and instead caused an absolutely dreadful result, something he never intended. People who lose loved ones can recover over time, even if it is a very long time. But there is no way back from knowing your own guilt.

[jardenjarden]

On the one hand, I felt a great deal of pity for Demetirous because, as you said, he destroyed the one place he so desperately wanted to protect. To have all of those people you consider to be your community, your family, slaughtered because of your own actions would be unbearably miserable and guilt inducing. I'm not sure how he as a character is going to come back from that and try to make things right.

On the other hand, we have Kayden, who seemed to be a good man just trying to figure his life situation out. He had a child coming, a loving wife, and a great best friend who sometimes seemed to be more than that. In the end, not only were those he loved ruthlessly murdered, but they were mutilated and defiled in the process. He stumbled upon their bodies and found them that way, traumatizing him and no doubt creating a sort of fire inside of him that might ignite something later on in the series.

So in regards to who I pity more, I'm honestly not sure. I think they both made my heart ache, but for different reasons. I feel like I have more hope for Kayden as at the end of the book, it alluded to him possibly being involved in something more sinister later on and I just don't see how Demetrious could forgive himself and move on from his mistake. I think it will be interesting to see how they interact throughout the rest of the series.

[Alice Ngugi]

I also choose Kayden as the one who went through the most traumatic experience. He was already going through a tough time not being able to love the boyfriend he loved most, chose to marry someone he did not live only to lose it all in the end. Not being able to enjoy presently, sacrificing oneself only to lose eventually must be quite traumatic. As for Demetrius, he is a monk who in my thoughts can be able to compose himself and recover from his ordeal. My opinion

[kparikh]

In my opinion I pity Demetrius the most. Losing your whole family is not comparable to losing your hometown. Your hometown can also be rebuilt, but your family is irreplaceable.

[megan433]

I love this question. I would say that I sympathize with Demetrius because he did grow up here and while he tries to distance himself from his past, he still has a softspot for his hometown. I do feel sorry for Kayden, especially after what happens the last fifty or so pages. He lost so much in such a short amount of time that it's hard not to feel sorry for him becuase he is left completely broken by the end of the book.

[azidy]

Kayden lost everything. I can't say I agree with everything he did, but the social pressure and expectations made him choose a life he didn't want. What they did to the people he loved was horrible and I'm impressed he found the strength to get up.

Demetrius will have to carry the burden of guilt for causing the destruction of his hometown, but it's impossible to know what would've happened without him. I'm sure he'll try his best to make it right.

[Flora3 Witney]

I believe Kayden suffered the most. He lived a life against his wishes in order to conform to social norms. I expected him to rise again by the end of the book but ended up fully frustrated.

[Primetjay]

Losing all you have in one instance is trauma enough. Kayden lost all his dearest, wife and unborn child.. that alone made him have all my pity

[Krista Ash]

Definitely Kayden. He was right at the brink of what he thought would have been the best outcome for him. His family and lover right at his side at a quiet and upscale part of town. Somehow, he was already at a stage where he accepted what was to come for him. Even embraced it, as shown on how he wanted to be as a parent. It was like he already loved his child...

Then to suddenly see that gruesome event. Of how everything was murderously taken from him. Like wow. Good luck getting over that kind of thing.

In a world that didn't accept how he truly was (being slanted and such), he was now alone. With no one to be there for him. He was the most pitiful for me. Especially with the ending. Being manipulated.

I definitely agree. I think the ending is what really pushes me to pity Kayden more. Not only did he lose everyone he loved, but he will now be the demons' puppet for controlling the city.

[Jennifer Aldo]

Kayden. Demetrius lost, but Kayden lost more, if not everything. A loss like that is either life-shattering or life-changing.

[Wuoketch]

I felt sorry for Kayden. He lost everything that was important to him.

[Fasmin]

I feel really bad for Demi but I feel worse for Kayden. Demi still has hope, but for Kayden, you can't bring a lost soul back and he's being fooled for a terrible end as well.

[tafta]

Kayden lost his family but my sympathy for him is diluted by him being slanted and then having a wife. In my opinion, that was rather selfish of him. As for Demetrius, he was trained for honour, service and responsibility as a monk. That was his family. Having extreme destruction of people result from your actions of intended good can be a big burden on one's shoulders. I sympathise with Kayden, he suffered loss, and I also sympathise with Demetrius.

[beadeniseroa]

Although they both went through so much, my heart goes out to Kayden the most. Demetrius still has people who love and support him and I faith that he can take back his life and his future. For Kayden, death and loss is such a permanent thing. It will stay with Kayden forever. It’s a painful concept for me to grasp.