The Demon's Toy Book 2 :: WORLD'S DIVIDED

The Demon's Toy 2 - 11:
Behind the Curtain


Dartan's Room

The door clicked shut behind him with a soft snicket of sound. that was barely audible over his rapidly beating heart. Cupping his hands over his mouth, the dragon stared at the far wall with out really seeing the decor that surrounded him. It took several moment to bring his thoughts into his grasp they were centralized on the dark haired male that looked so much like Darhinan Blackwing that for a moment in time Dartan had thought that the mad had come back for him.

A hard shudder rolled over his small, human body as his eyes slipped closed . A tickle of fear ran down his spine as the dragon had felt his world bottom out until the revolution of the man's name.

Krinthen Silver.

The dark haired male was Krinthen Silver, Sereph's mate. The twin's mother. He had not expected for the man to just show up , let alone to have been there the whole time, right under his nose, but he had never asked Sereph about the twin' mother. Why would he ask the man such questions? It was not his place to bring up such a sore subject as the man's missing mate.

And then, Lucifer... Lucifer the Devil himself, standing there, holding onto Darhinan's son while Sereph dealt with the boys. That was just sick, Dartan thought as he dry washed his face, trying to remove the image of those two together from his mind. The man did not even seem to care that the Devil was holding onto him before his mate and children. The Fae was completely selfish, just like his father.

Dartan pushed away from the door, heading towards the bed so he could think about his next move. those boys, his charges, she wanted them. After all, they were Krinthen Silver's sons. Right? And they were Sereph's, too, which meant that as long as Lucifer's protection was in place, he could not do anything to harm them because of that agreement.

Not that he wanted to do anything for that woman. Shuddering once more, Dartan hugged his small framed body tightly. Persephone would break them and abuse them until those boys were no better off then himself.

No, he... He could not do that to them, no matter whose children they were. Ree and Mer would not know that kind of pain. Besides the woman asked for Krinthen's child. She did not say the twins. Maybe there was someone he didn't know about? Maybe....

Maybe... He should find away to confess what Persephone had done to him?

Licking at his dry lips, Dartan tipped over side ways on the bed and groaned. Only, he had tried and whatever she had done to him, kept him from finding away to speak up. Damn that bitch!


*****


The Temple of Time, Himmel

Lirina drew back the hood of her cloak as she came to stand next to the figure of Fate, a small smile tipped the young goddess' lips upwards, "So, you are at it again?"

"Go away, Lirina. I do not have time to play with you," Fate gave an exasperated breath.

No, I suppose you don't have time to play with me, do you? But you do have time to screw with the lives of my following, don't you?" The scantily clad female crossed her arms over her chest and glared towards Fate.

"I have done nothing to Rye --"

"Not Rye. Krinthen Silver."

Fate swung around, if Lirina had to guess she would have to say that the woman looked shocked.

"Yes, Krin's mother and grandfather are or should I say, they were the last of a breed of Pagans that worshipped me and well... Krin is mine. And as for his children..."

"They belong to Sereph!"

"Mmmm... Yes... that is that man..." Lirina purred thickly while rolling her fingers over a lock of her tresses, "You keep play with my people, Fate, and I will see to arranging a friendly meeting between our Avatars."

"Lirina--"

"You say you want to create a balance but all I see are those that inters with Sereph's life being taken down. One day he will see you for what you are and what you have done to him and he will want so very far away from you and I will be right there --"

"Lirina! you are dancing on a very fine edge. I am warning you..."

"No Fate, I am warning you, Krinthen is Mine, whether or not if he knows it, he is and --- Well... Should you continue on as you have with him, I will be forced to do something you won't like at all."

*****

Lucifer's Dominion

Blue eyes narrowed on a spot on the floor, willing it to go up in flames as a deep growl played in the back of his throat. Lucifer's long fingers twitched against the arms of the ornate throne before the nails curled in, dragging over the golden surface, scoring it with long grooves. A low sound of annoyance played against his lips, thankfully there was no one around to hear it, having chased everyone from his presence some hours before hand. Left alone with his internal plotting and circling, calculating thoughts about a certain Fallen Angel that just would not be tamed to his hand no matter how hard he tried to gain a footing in Serephium's life there had always been an unbreakable wall around the male. Now he understood why there was that wall, besides Serephium's own strong will not to be dominated by another, there was the saintly Krinthen with his ability to forgive.

The healer had more then gained a foothold in Sereph's life and he had no idea how the man had done it. It was more then the Fae's sleekly sexual appealing body with those finely toned long limbs and sweet face and tear filled eyes that reminded him of a virgin the night after her wedding. Only Krin's will was just as strong as Serephium's. The man wouldn't give up or give in. The healer, he would have to die. Horribly, painfully, but not before he had a taste of those sweet lips and rip body.

Thinking of taking tastes of rip bodies and sweet lips; last night he had used Sereph's while dragging out the man's other persona. Fucking Salloes into every available surface until he was screaming his name, begging for more then begging him to stop. Those had been the sweetest sounds, a slow evil smile spread across his lips as he thought about those offered up sounds. And when he had finished with Sereph's body and Salloes's mind he left the fallen angel tied to his bed and unconscious from the pained pleasure and still, he did not feel sated. It had been a long time since he had felt anything close to sated.

He did not feel in control, like he had won, like he owned the other so completely that Salloes would do anything and everything to please him... Not like how it had been with Son'Arrin. Now there was a man that knew how to please his master, simply stating, "Yes, My Prince, it will be as you will it to be," Bowing to him, bending to his will. Then that violet haired demon would go off and do whatever it was he was told to do and come back covered in glory of having accomplished his task for his Master's pleasure. Then again, the demon had been trained to be a personal body slave, had been used and abused and it had not taken much to get what he wanted out of Paragone's whore.

Growling low in his throat, yet Sereph was so very different then Son'Arrin. Sereph's heart belonged to the Fae while Son struggled to find his own way. Until recently Son'Arrin did not know that he was tainted with Angelic blood and struggled to maintain his control over his demonic self when he was pulled into helping those unfortunate souls he took pity on. Son was not as evil as he wished all around him to believe while Sereph were not as pure as he could wish to be.

Though the blasted fallen angel was pure enough to know love when it stared him in the face and welcome it with both hands and an open heart. His plan to call Krinthen Silver's mind back from the void in which he had banished it to had blown up in his face on such a grand scale. Instead of the little saint prig becoming furious with Sereph and shunning him complete when he walked into the room in time to witness his lover's climax at the hands of another man, Krinthen had forgiven Sereph. Now, Krinthen was not only awake now and had forgiven Sereph's trespasses, they had the twins to bind them further together, making the ties between them rather complete.

What a mess...

"Yes, Great Lord of Darkness, what a mess you have woven around yourself this time, and here I thought I loved Chaos and welcomed all he wrought." A familiar voice echoed through the empty Halls of Hell as a shadowed figure made his way toward the throne room, "Shall I recount your sins for you, Lucifer?" That voice purred darkly, sounding much like the hidden speaker was taking great joy from his pain. "First by taking that which did not belong to you and thinking that you could then use it to gain something that would never be yours. Second, because of the first error, should Sereph learn of your hand in his lover's fall," Sybel intoned to the great demon of darkness, as he came to a stop before the throne, lifting his jade green eyes upwards to gaze upon the blond Lord of Hell. Long blue hair flowed about bared tanned shoulders and down his back, the lilting voice softer now, "...He can now slip the bindings in which you have placed upon him." Leaning against his staff, the Seer's cat like eyes slitted eyes narrowed as he purred, "Fate sends her deepest regards."

Blue eyes scanned over the barley dressed figure that had intruded upon his hall. Sybel's green eyes glittered as brightly as the long strands of bejeweled chains looped about his neck, shoulders, arms and hips. Tufted ears rose upward on either side of his head holding back the long lengths of brightly colored hair. Lucifer could not help but to think that Sybel needed a tail to complete the look of a slinky feline.

There was a strange sense of prowling grace and unseen powers to Chaos's Seer and Fate's Messenger boy, but it was not to his taste. The man was slightly insane and jealously possessive of anything that he considered his. To hold such a creature in his thrall would take far too much effort to tame the beast and keep him sated and happy.

"Fate? And here I thought your master was Chaos." Knowing full well whom it was Sybel truly served. And it was not Fate that claimed the hellcat's loyalties unless she wanted to ask him a favor. "Why are you here, Sybel? I would think that you would have other things to do then playing errand boy for that Master of yours that can not run two coherent thoughts together."

Tsking in the back of his throat, Sybel found a chair and dragged it over and positioned it in front of the throne, "I would not speak so lightly of Chaos. He may be the only one to save you when Sereph finds out what you have done to his sweet, little saint. Though, I don't think Krinthen will remain sweet for much longer." Looking thoughtfully up at the Lord of Hell as he tipped his head to the side and ruminated on his line of thought, "After all, he is in Hell and the healer is part Dark Fae and an energy shifter." Arching a blue brow upward as he seated himself, reclining into the chair, long fingers tangling in a chain where the Anc hung about his neck. It was the Egyptian symbol for life, as a cat demon, he had nine of them and counting.

Blue eyes looked thoughtful for a long moment, "Yes, I never considered..." Trailing off as the thought of what he could do with Krinthen.

"Yes, obviously you had never considered what Hell would do to someone that struggles to hold back his dark edges," speaking rather boldly as he draped himself across the chair, head falling back against one arm as he stared up at the ceiling. "Fate and Chaos would also like you to be aware that Krinthen is the son of Darhinan Blackwing and that Mr. Blackwing has pledged his son's blood and life to Persephone in order to gain power. And should your queen in waiting find that she can lay claim to not only the healer but the healer's offspring..."

"...I will be forced to shield the one I hate and it will set me to war with her," Lucifer finished on a low growl of hate. Rising to his feet, Lucifer glared at the blue haired male, "I am damned all the way around, what else have you come to tell me?"

"That it might be wise of you to release Sereph from your hold now. In fact, I would also be so emboldened to state that you order him gone and that he take his Dark Fae and the twins and run far from here while he still can." Giving the lord of hell a lazy lidded look, waiting for the devil's reaction to this news.

"I will not set him free, He is mine!" Slamming his fists against the arms of the throne, "You, Fate and Chaos can all go fuck yourselves with my pitch fork, for all care about your joint warnings."

Rising to his feet, "Then I hope you will be ready for a visit from my Lord. Fate has given you warning and Chaos has agreed with her wishes on this matter."

"And what of Son'Arrin?" He might have banned the demon from Hell but he had not intentions of letting Son slip away from him. He would collar the man and bring him back as a slave, maybe even present him to Lilith or Persephone as a pet?

Sybel rolled his shoulders, "What would you like me to say? Fate as claimed Son'Arrin as well and should you find the need to claim him, what I see with Krinthen will look like a picnic in a park should you try to relay claim to that one." Rolling his chain between his fingers, Sybel cocked his head and considered the simple fact that there was one other that held claim to the former demon and she was more ruthless then Fate.

"Are you serious?" Lucifer growled, coming down off his throne and started towards the blue haired male, "Then what I am supposed to do? I am not going to just allow those two to slip through my fingers."

Bowing sharply to Lucifer, Sybel smirked, "I just might be the wisest thing you can do at this moment in time." Before the Lord could trap him, Sybel vanished before the man's hands could close around his throat and he was forced to spill all of his secrets to the Devil.


*****

Himmel, Christian's Office

Jason Alexander walked into Councilor Christian's office with the books the man had requested from the library and from his brother's home. There were several files he had found as well that added to the stack he was carrying for the new Councilor. The dark haired male had come to serve Cronan's replacement in the same capacity as he had served his elder brother, though he found Chris a far better man then his prejudice offspring that seemed rather bent on trying to make everyone into a clone of himself. There were still some members on the council that continued to tie Chris's hands on certain matters forcing the man to find other ways around them in order to bring about the kind of change that heaven needed to make in order to survive.

Setting the books down on the over loaded desk, Jason moved around the other side to hand the folders to the other male personally, "I found the missing notes among the things in my brother's study."

Glancing up at the dark eyed male, Chris nodded his head once, "I had a feeling that Cronan would not have departed with them." One warm brown eye studying the younger brother of the man his best friend had killed. Jason had also been one of his personal runners at the end of the second war, all but a boy back then, forced to leave for some reason he had not understood at the time but now he was slowly realizing the depth of Cronan's darkness.

"Yes..." letting go of the papers, Jason turned for the door, only to hesitate and turn to face the over worked male. "Chris..." Having been told over and over that he could call the councilor by the shorter name when they were alone, "...I do not understand why you freed Son'Arrin. He was a demon. A dangerous creature and a lord of hell and yet you freed him to that half-breed. I don't mean to question you or your methods." Not when his own nephew was still cursed by the hand of the Council. It was not right that one so evil could be freed while his own flesh and blood were still held by the chains he had never deserved. Tass was a good man, struggling to the best he could with what he had been left to him.

The brunette lifted his head from his work and regarded the other male for a long moment with one cool brown eye; the other lost beneath the length of hair that covered the scar. After a moment he leaned back in his chair and folded his fingers together over his stomach, "I know what you are thinking, Jason, and I sympathize. I am working towards gaining Sereph forgiveness for Cronan's death and bring him out of Hell. I need Son'Arrin free to accomplish this because if I can... if he can change then there is hope for everyone that your brother has oppressed while he was in control of the council. It will take time but I swear I will help your nephew as well. Just, please be patient."

Bowing his head, Jason lowered his lashes over his dark eyes, "I thank you for whatever help you can give Tass. I love him, dearly and I am tired of seeing my sister cry..."

"You do not hate Sereph for Cronan's death?" Questioning Jason over his loyalties, after all, it was Sereph that had killed Cronan in cold blood, though his friend had his reasons and they involved saving his family. He needed to know that he could trust Jason and that he was not a shade of his brother's ilk, just waiting in the corner to tear him down and feed on his carcass.

Gripping the knob under his hand, Jason turned to face the former General, "Sir, I do not hate Sereph for what he did to my brother. I hate myself for aiding my brother and adding to Sereph's fall. If I had been a stronger man I would not have followed Cronan's order so blindly. I should have stood against him and refused to kidnap the Dark Fae, I knew there was something wrong and yet I went along with his plans and all because he holds Tass's life over my head." Looking away from Chris, shamed by his own inaction of late, "The question is, Chris, can you forgive me for what I have done?'

Rising slowly to his feet, Chris walked around the desk and laid a hand over Jason's shoulder, gripping it firmly he spoke softly to the other male, "I am not the one you have to ask forgiveness from. But I know you are sorry and I think what we have all gone through as brought these lessons home to us all. We will not blindly trust in our leaders..."

"I never trusted my brother, it was the threats against Tass's life that kept me loyal. As long as you do not sink to such measures, then I will gladly continue to serve you in whatever capacity you would have me."

Tightening his hold on Jason's shoulder, "Good. I am glad to have you with me. Now," turning back to his desk, Chris fetched a piece of paper and handed it over to Jason, "I need you to attempt to find these things for me now. If you don't mind?"

Smiling, Jason took the slip of paper and with a nod of his head, he slipped out the door, going off to fill the next list that his boss had given him. And this time it was a pleasure to serve a man that had morals and was fighting for the rights of those that had been abused because they were not pure. He hoped that Son would prove Chris's line of thinking true, giving Sereph a chance to rise once more because if Chris could do that, then the man could do about anything. Including setting his nephew free from the binding curse that the council had leveled on him with out due cause.

"I hope you can keep that promise, despite Tass calling out Son, the boy's heart is in the right place," Faolan whispered as he stepped into sight from behind the hidden door that allowed Chris to slip to and from his office with out notice. Golden cast eyes settled onto the newest appointed member of the Angelic Council, dipping his head as his towards the taller male, "Sorry, I do not mean to ease drop, I seem to have a horrible habit of doing such things." The Aedon sighed heavily as he tucked his arms into the sleeves of his robes, the gaze slipping over to the open window. Lips thinning slightly as he breathed, "I have come to say good-bye. There is nothing left for me to do here, Son is free and with someone..." Breaking the thought before the pain of losing the demon could eat at him more then it already did.

Languid movements took him to the Seer's side, he could not say he understood how Faolan was feeling at the moment, maybe the pain of lose? After all, Son'Arrin had continued to deny every opening that Faolan had offered to him while he was being held. Chris settled his hand on the other's shoulder, grasping Faolan firmly before offer and sympathetic smile, "Are you sure I can not talk you into staying for a bit longer? You have been a great help so far in righting the course that Cronan was trying to stir us down."

Bowing his head, Faolan shook his head, "No, as much as I would like to stay, I can not. I am... My talents are needed else where, I would stay if I were not needed in other places." Even to his own ears his excuses sounded pathetic, yet Chris's hand only gripped him tighter, like he could understand for the need such a pathetic attempt.

Lifting his chin, golden eyes settled on the former General's kind face, "Do not worry, Serephium will find his place."

Chris studied Faolan for a moment longer then slowly nodded, "I hope you are right." With drawing his hand from Faolan's shoulder.

Swaying slight, Faolan reached out blinding forcing Chris to catch him, "...Chris..."

Moving swiftly, Chris had the Aedon up into his arms, "What happened?"

"Hurts..." the dark haired male breathed out as he clutched at his head, "I... I don't..." Feeling as if his tongue didn't belong in his mouth and the words that he were trying to speak wouldn't form.

It dawned on Chris that Faolan was about to have a vision or was in the midst of having a very devastating one. Who or what the vision was about, the celestial being could not say; worried because they had been speaking of Sereph at the time and his best friend could very well be at the center of Faolan's episode. Dragging out a long breath, Chris hoped that that wasn't the case, that Sereph and Krin and their children were safe but he would not place money against something rising to further hinder Sereph's return.

Gritting his teeth, Chris moved swiftly, having witnessed one of the Seer's visions striking him before even if it had taken him a moment to realize what was effecting the unicorn-kin. Calmly, the angel reacted to the situation at hand, needing to remove Faolan from his office to somewhere more private, the councilor carried the other male back across the room to the secret door. Staying silent as he took Faolan through it, the Aedon having lost his awareness as they moved along the secret passage, working his way around the building until he came out in the courtyard below. With the smaller male in his arms he started for his home, wishing to have words with Faolan as soon as he woke up.


*****

The Dungeons of Hell

Sek stared out through the bars of his cell, his fingers flexing above the cuffs that held his hands well over his head and dangled his feet off the floor. Humming a little under his breath, the demented offspring of Son'Arrin pictured his father's body stained with blood, wracked with pain, quivering with need, under him begging for merci. A slow, smile curved his lips upward before he started to swing idly back and forth. His tail swaying against the ground before he managed to swing himself upside down, with his legs wrapping around the chains and hanging idly there, the humming growing as the wealth of his long black hair brushed against the floor of the cell.

Lucifer had stuck him in the cell, beat him bloody, removed a few body parts until he realized that he could just grow them back and on top of it all, Sek enjoyed the pain and the attention. Now he was here, alone, left with nothing but his own mind to keep him distracted which was becoming a bit annoying. Rocking back and forth from the ceiling, feeling his hair brushing against the rough stones, he didn't know how much longer this would last and if it didn't end soon, he was going to snap. Like a rubber band pulled too tight and tighter until it broke. Perhaps that was Lucifer's intentions?

Huffing out a breath, lips twisting until his fangs peeked free from between his lips. A low growl playing in his throat as he tangled his legs with the chains, "Out... out, out, out, out, out, out..." Singing the word as he rocked back and forth.

"If you want out then you should have said so before now," A familiar voice crooned softly from the shadows.

"Oh, I have, but you weren't listening." Twisting around in the chains, the smaller male once more tangled by his arms, facing the direction of the Lord of Hell, "So, you going to un-ground me now? I have been a good little boy."

Lucifer smirked darkly at the tiny, little demon, "I suppose but there is something I want from you for your freedom."

"Oh? Do tell what you want?" Sek purred all too happily.

"I want you to find your father and give him a message for me."

"Mmm," Grinning broadly, "This I can do for you. And what would you like me to tell him?" Tipping his head to the side as he started to swing in the chains once more.

Lucifer stepped in closer, curling his fingers into Sek's long hair, drawing his mouth along the pointed tip of the younger demon's ear, "To come home. It's time he took his place at his master's feet. If you do this for me, Sek, I will allow you to play with your father when ever the desires burn with in you."

Sek stopped moving, dark eyes locked onto Lucifer's blue gaze, "If I bring Father home to you, I can play with him when I want to play with him? Swear it..." Sek watched the Devil, he knew that the man was a liar, but the bait was too good to pass up.

"I swear." Lucifer breathed as he released Sek from his bondage, stepping aside to allow the spider demon free of his cell.