The Demon's Toy Book 1: Secrets Unfold

 **NEW CHAPTER**

Here is how it all went down from between Chapter 15 to 16 in the first copy of the Demon's Toy, I will be adding one more new bit to call the Epilogue and then moving into Book 2, Entitled Worlds Divided, which will include more of Dartan and all your other favorite characters from Book 1: Secrets Unfold. And after that, I will try to get back into Book 3: Scions of Fate. I was already thinking of Book 4, but not sure where my mind will take me.

If I held another pole and asked those that read the story here whom they would like to see in an AU One shot... What kind of response would I get??? There are Two Aus and I will be posting the second soon as I finish with posting this chapter.

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The Demon's Toy 17

To End all Time

 

Himmel, Capital of Heaven

The gate spiraled open under them and Krin hit his knees, doubled over, unable to get a breath into his lungs, his stomach cramped so badly that it felt like he was about to give birth. It was too early. Tears blurred his eyes, he would not lose them. He could not lose them. Not another. No more. Whimpering pitifully, had he not already lost enough in his life, why too, did he have to lose the lives of his unborn children? Could he not have a moment of happiness?

Cold, iron fingers banded around his upper arm and jerked him back to his feet, "Xander. Derek. Inform the council I have returned with my proof of Sereph's defection. I would like to meet with them. Now." Snapping at the men as if he owned them.

Krinthen gave another low sound as he looked towards the man, seeming them hesitate before Cronan's rage but neither lingered. Forced to move, Krinthen found himself made to walk the other way, away from them. Where was he going? What was this man going to do? Damn it... "HHhhnnn... Stop... please... It hurts..." Seeing brightly colored lights flash behind his eyes, the healer started to tip against one wall only to have the hand shove into his back, forcing him to keep moving.

"You filth, you should have thought of that before laying with that whoreson, Serephium. That ... Garbage... should have been slain in his cradle. Should have been removed before he could breed..." Cronan sneered thickly through barely parted lips. "Do you really think I care if they live or die? I am going to kill you and them. No matter what the council rules, the three of you will be dead and Serephium will be removed from Heaven's warm embrace one and for all. If not... I can finally seal him and lock his wretched hide away in Mosterath for the rest of his life." Smirking happily into Krin's paling features.

Krin was not sure what to think with the pain gaining on him. He was not going to make it. "Sereph..." Closing his eyes, he started to slip, he did not want to be weak, he could not afraid to be weak, there had to be away to free himself, a place to hide should he manage it. Someone that would protect him and the innocent pair of lives that rested under his rapidly beating heart.

"He is on his way, do not worry. I have had him... paged." Cronan purred as he grabbed for the healer once more, pulling open a door and shoving the dark fae half blood before him into the room. "Oh my, you are looking a little pale."

The man's dark chuckle caused him to flinch, his grip on his belly didn't change as he pushed his healing into his own form to stop whatever it was that was going wrong to stop. Krin's iron will to live was meet by a pair of lives that refused to let him go. Smiling softly, he shot Cronan a heavy stare, "Good... Cause when he gets here, he is going to gut you for touching me."

Cronan's cold eyes swept over Krinthen where he crouched on the floor before the man's desk. There was a feathery shiver that spilled over his skin when the man started to speak in that low, heated tone, "He's all ready tried. And failed."

Krinthen watched the male as he picked up the dagger on the desk, his eyes moved up to Cronan's bruised and blistered face, slowly Krin rocked his head back and forth, "You are a demon."

Cold, green eyes flared wide before a slow coiling smile spilled over his lips, "So I have heard. Too bad for you, you will not live long enough to repeat those words to anyone else."

*****

Gavin stepped through to the other side of the portal, the last to cross of his mend and those he had brought back with him. Inclining his head towards those that were present, standing guard over the porting room, he spotting a young, sandy haired lieutenant that he could trust, "Thanos, I need you to seek out Councilor Muriel and allow her to know that I have brought back General Christian and another guest on top of finding Serephium." Glancing back at the growling white haired male, Gavin had been about to call him the Tainted Angel, but thought better of it at the last minute. Turning his attention over to the Aedon and the man he was holding onto for dear life, a slight frown marred his brow line, "We will need a healer as well." In for a penny in for the whole damned lot the man thought.

Thanos saluted his Captain and quickly left the room to do the bidding of the captain with out complaint. The man was good like that, Gavin noted, thinking of setting word with the current General to see about promoting him. Turning back to General Christian, Gavin ran fingers through his own hair, short hair, "Lady Muriel wished to handle your arrival over Lord Cronan to ensure that everyone was treated fairly in this matter."

"Fuck." Sereph hissed under his breath, his eyes locking on Chris' as his jaw set in a hard line. "Should have known he would have been behind this shit. Fucking gutless weasel--"

"Uncle is a lot of things, I will agree, but you will have some respect for his office." Came the voice of another man that had just stalked into the holding area. Looking out of place in his hunting leathers, a long staff held in both hands, hair dyed green and his oddly colored violet eyes settling on the group.

"Tass," Gavin knew the half blooded angel on sight because of that green hair that was not dyed at all, "What are you doing here?" As if he didn't know.

"I heard you went after that sick mind fuck, Son'Arrin. Finally. He's here, is he not? I wished to see his face when he was finally brought to justice for his crimes." Tass countered, his strange violet eyes sweeping over the group of men that had come back with Gavin.

Gavin sighed as he noted the strange looks he was given. Tass was not well known outside a select few after all, most half breeds were quickly slain before they could grow to become a problem. Currently, Gavin could only think of one other, a blind Seer that worked with Fate, Nicodaemys. The dragon-half breed was off limits to all and he tended to stay to himself while Tass on the other hand was Cronan's nephew and a demon hunter to boot. One that was rather obsessed with the demon lord, Son'Arrin.

Shaking his head towards the half-blood, "Son'Arrin was not there when we found Serephium and Christian, just a demon known as Sek-"

"SEK!?!" pouncing on the name, Tass' eyes grew wide with excitement, he wanted to know more.

"Look," Gavin held up his hands, "when Lady Muriel finishes with them, you can have the reports to read--"

"SEK is Son'Arrin's son. He would not have been there if Son was not close." Tass growled as he moved towards the blond male that clung to the strange creature with him. Staring heavily at the male, a frown formed upon his lips, "You!" Tass snarled, reaching out to grab for the injured male's face to pull it into the light only to yelp in pain when the horned creature smacked his hand with a stinging blow.

Tass jerked back while Faolan growled out, "You will l eave him to me. He's suffered enough."

"He will never suffer enough!" Tass shouted back, having seen what the demon lord had done to others.

"Who are you to judge him?" Sereph snapped back at the half blood, having lived a life where he heard that statement far too many times.

"I KNOW! Because I have SEEN what he's done to those that he claims! I know of his last victim, One Krinthen Silver whom has not been seen in some time because of him." Tass continued to rant.

"Leave Krin out of this," Son spoke as he lifted his head, the gold runes on his forehead clear for everyone to read. Silence followed his next words, "Just shut the fuck up all of you. I have had enough. Take me away. I give up." Moving a step away from the Aedon's grasping hands, Son righted his broken body as much as he could as thrust his hands into the air before him, "Kill me and end it! I am a demon. Nothing I do will ever change it. Go on. You want my blood, you can have it."

It was Tass that regained his composure first, he had not expected the demon to be so quick into giving up. Nor did he question it as he took the manacles that were offered to him to cuff Son's out thrust wrists.

Gavin seemed trapped as he watched what was going on around him, unable to find the words to explain away what was happening. And so he allowed Tass to arrest Son.

"I knew..." Tass started only to have Son growl at him.

"I gave up. Nothing for you to preen about, Hunter. I have no desire to be here in this life any longer. I am taking the quick way out and you are just a means to my end. I am using you." Son rubbed the words in and watched the half breed's face drain of color. "Everything worth living for has been stolen from me, now... march me off to Death, I am in a hurry to finally meet the son of a bitch."

Faolan made a pained whimper and covered his mouth, looking distressed until Tass started to snort with laughter. A low growl came from the creature's throat and before Tass was aware, Fao had slugged him in the face, "Open your mouth again and I will do far worse to you. Son--- that goes for you too..."

Son's dark eyes rolled at Faolan's words to him before he was dragged from the room by several of the guards that had been there to handle the arrival of Gavin's group. Leaving the man in question wondering at what point had he lost control of the situation. Rubbing at his head, he had to wait here until Thanos returned with the Councilor before he could send Chris, Serephium and the Aedon off to their appointed destinations. Though he was sure to catch hell from those above him for letting a demon lord slip into their midst with out realizing he was there. But would he not have been effected by the energy alone that guarded Himmel from demon invasion?

Frowning heavily, Gavin decided that was best left for the elders to worry about they could handle the questioning of the Demon Lord and leave him alone. Nodding once to himself, Gavin had missed the Aedon's movements towards himself and the lose of his keys to the cuffs that Christian and Sereph were still wearing. But neither of those men missed it. Nor did they miss the fact that Faolan set them lose from their bindings as Gavin tried to figure out what he was going to do or say about having a Demon Lord in the mess.

Faolan's ears slanted back as he whispered to the pair of men, "We need to reach Cronan's office... Now..." looking back as Gavin started to turn to face them. "He has Krinthen and is going to kill him and the babies..."

"What?" Gavin asked as he stared at the three men, "No... No.. You just wait..." Holding out his hands as if to ward off whatever was going to happen next.



Sereph's blue eyes blazed and fired whipped forth as Chris cast ice over the room, the pair working in concert brought forth a thick steam before the set upon the guards and the captain with bare fists. Gavin didn't see whom hit him, but the strike was solid enough that he did not recall anything after it but the blackness that followed.

*****

Sereph grit his teeth and rubbed at his bared knuckles, "fuck that hurt..." Shaking out his fingers, his heated blue eyes turned on Faolan, he pinned the other with a cold look as he spoke in a deathly chilled voice, "Are you sure?" Cronan was a lot of things, but he was not a stupid man, he wouldn't harm an innocent... couldn't... shouldn't be able to harm an innocent, but Krin was a half-breed and his lover, so that might just cancel out what the bastard thought of as innocent.

Faolan nodded his head to the question as he answered, "Son had a vision of it and told me to act that he would provide a distraction for us with the Hunter so you could save him. He's sorry. Really sorry."

The worry coming from the Aedon was giving him a small headache, but he couldn't afford to think about that at the moment and unsure if he believed the unicorn-kin's words about the demon that had stolen Krin in the first place. "Son?" Sereph questioned in a skeptical manner, eyes going to Chris wondering if he was believing any of this for himself, before he turned back to the Aedon, "He's a Seer? He's a fucking Seer and did..." Waving a hand to dispel the notions that rose up before his mind's eye, "Fuck. No... Don't answer. We need to go..."

Chris moved to the hall and checked it, "We are clear."

Hearing Chris, Sereph's sharp blue eyes turned to Faolan, "Are you with us or going to save Son?"

"I am with you," in a sure tone, the Aedon had answered the angel, ready to aid the men in their question to save Krinthen from Cronan's clutches.

Bobbing his head once, Sereph called Wing back to his hand and with Faolan between himself and Chris, they left the room behind with the unconscious men to be discovered by the returning Council woman. They portal room was part of the building that housed the councilors' offices and Sereph knew hot to find Cronan's office by the back of his hand, having been called in one too many times for his own liking for reason that he did not want to think about as they rushed along to save Krin's life.

*****

Son'Arrin walked silently, gritting his teeth to keep the pained sounds to himself, movement hurt, but he would not gift the amount of agony he was being caused by each torturous step to the enemy. Over the years, Son had become accustomed to all kinds of pain both physical and mental, emotional. He would not allow the Hunter to see him faultier, even though his body was covered in bruises, broken and bleeding, he would not gift the other the privilege. He was strong willed, never mistake him for a weak man. Lifting his chin a little higher, Son gripped his broken fingers into fists only to stagger and still.



Panting softly, Son closed his eyes and tried to catch his breath as his head dipped forward, it hurt. It hurt so bad. Shivering hard, the former demon remained with his head bowed for a moment longer until he felt someone shove into his back.



"Get Moving!" The order was given from one of the guards.

Tass turned around in time to see the guard shove him to his knees. "What is going on here?"

Struggling not too, Son's wet cough played harshly in the back of his throat before he was forced to cough loudly and openly, spitting blood from his mouth as he did so. Groaning heavily, Son's dark eyes came up, "Nothing... tripped..."



The green haired half breed watched him for a long moment, "Sek really did a number on you, didn't he?"

"Hhhhrrr... none... of your... Business... Hunter." The words were growled out as he worked himself back to his feet, jerking away from the Hunter when the man offered him aid, "Nothing.... gives you the right... to touch me."

Tass drew back a step, "I was not going to hur--"

"I care not for your intentions. You are only here to serve a purpose. Move on," Son rumbled as he tossed his bloodied golden mane from his eyes, "and leave me be. You and all your ilk have done me nothing by hurt since I came screaming into the world. Should I ever set my sights upon you again, I shall endeavor to rip your heart out through your asshole."

Tass' eyes flew wide and he moved back another step, it was obvious that Tass was considering just how in control they were of him from that stare on his face. It was almost worth all the energy he was spending.

Another push, this time, it was not so rough and Son moved forward, walking one shuffling pained step at a time as they moved through the city. They wove their way through the streets of gold and past the mansions for the citizens of Himmel. Son had dreamed of one day, being here, having a home here, having friends here, a place... a family... a time of peace.

A small wistful smile played against his lips as he took it all in and then burned it all down in his mind. Lucifer had lied to him. Trapped him. Robbed him of his chance of ever really being free and Fate had helped. They were both at fault and now... All he could taste was the ashes of what should have been in his mouth.

When they finally stopped, Son looked up to the only dark building in all of Himmel, Mosterath, the prison. It housed all those things that the angels found unworthy and needing to be guarded against ever escaping back into the world. Soon, he would be in there. Locked away for the rest of his life, never to see the light of day again. And... Son's dark eyes searched the building, he had to say he was ready for it. He wanted to lay down in a cell and never stand back up again.

"If you really wanted to change..."

"Hunter, animals like me will never change. Too much has been taken. Now... show me home. I wish to rest."

*****

They had run into a bit of trouble while on their way the office, a few guards that had waned to play hero and stop them from saving the filthy fae from his much deserved end. He now sported a gash along his arm and Chris had one that ran the length of his ribcage, but neither of the wounds were serious enough to stop them from reaching their destination. Nor had the guards been slain, left unconscious and stuffed into an empty room to be found later, they would most likely not be thanking them for the headaches when they woke.

With his heart in his throat, Sereph came to the door of the office. His blue eyes shifted back to those of Chris and then to Faolan. Both men were slightly flushed from the small skirmish in the hall and their panting matched his own. Gripping Wing tightly in both hands, Sereph looked back at the door with Cronan's name over it in golden lettering. If the Aedon was wrong, there would be no going back to his old life after this moment. Cronan would see that he suffered if he kicked in the door, most likely return him to his old sell in Mosterath and as for Krin...

In that moment of hesitation, Sereph heard Krin's yelp of pain as something in the office crashed over with a loud thud.

The angel's heart slammed to a stop and for a moment all he could see was red. His lover. His mate. His children. They were in there and they needed him.

Growling, a purely wolfish sound filling his throat and chest, Sereph backed up a step and set his foot into the door with all his inhuman might. Flames leapt to his finger tips and as he swung around and set Wing into the remainder of the door bringing it down and open, he flung out his right hand and set a tunnel of flame into the room, "UNHAND HIM!!"

The flames licked at Cronan's face, forcing him back and off of the Fae that he had pinned to his desk. Sereph had seen what Cronan was doing, there was a dagger in the man's hand and he had it at the Fae's still flat belly. For it, he was going to kill the man, slowly.

Krin slipped to the floor, hand to his throat and choking as he struggled to drag in a breath, if it was Sereph's name he was trying to say or not, the angel couldn't tell and that really pissed him off.

"How in the names of Hell did you get in here? Where are the guards?" the dark hared councilor shouted as he moved to grab for the fae and pull him up as a shield to use to keep Sereph from him.

It was the wrong room, the white haired male was across the room in two heart bets, Wing swung out to catch the man's arm as he flung another funnel of blackened flames, "Do not touch him! EVER! MINE!" The words growling out as he forced Cronan back step by step.

The man's green eyes widened and he shouted, "General! Do something!"

Only to watch as Chris rolled his shoulders, "You fucked with his family. I am tired of saving everyone's asses when they piss him off. You deal with him..." Moving further into the room, the man walked over to help Krin up and out of the room, out of the way.

Faolan winced and pinched at the bridge of his nose, "We have to get Krin out of here, now...

Krin whimpered as Chris pulled him up, "Can't... gate... already... Hurts... I think... I am... --"



"Hush..." Chris murmured and swung Krin up into his arms.

Sereph kept Cronan back, but the fool lunged towards Krin once more, the dagger aimed for Chris's back and Sereph was done. Done with him all together. Wing came around and buried deep into the man's heart. Shoving the blade into the hilt, the choked sound drew Chris back around in time to see Sereph pull the crystal blade free of his chest, allowing the councilor's bloodied form to slip to the floor in a small heap.

Cronan gave Sereph a smug smile, "You have sealed your Fate." Blood spilled from between his lips as the light left his eyes, slowly, his body slipped to the floor, unmoving as the pool of blood grew around his body.

Panting heavily, Sereph snarled, "No, you did the instant you set hands on my Krinthen." Lifting his eyes to Chris, "We need to get out of here, now. Is there another portal room?"

"You can't take him back in one," Faolan spoke up as he looked over Cronan's body, his hand over his nose and mouth, ears tipped back in a submissive state as the coppery essence warred with his unicorn blood.

"What do you mean?" Sereph snarled.

"The energies... They will kill him for sure, he's only just clinging to life now. You take him back that way and you are signing his death warrant." Faolan stated.

Sereph's eyes swung to Chris, "Is he right?" Coming closer, he drew Krin down into his arm, noting the bruises around his throat, he wished that Cronan would get back up so he could kill him, again.

"Yeah, I am afraid so. You nearly did him in the last time. And I am sure Cronan didn't do anything to shield him or the babies..."

Sereph looked over Krin's pale features, "hey there... I promised I would come back..."

Krin's arms looped around his shoulders, slow to respond to the change of people, the Fae tucked himself in against his lover's side, "I know... knew... you would... I... I can't... be here... please..." Whimpering softly, his healing struggling to keep up with the energy that was being soaked into his body that went against his very natural alignment to the dark forces that guided his body.

Clutching his lover to him, Sereph started to move forward, "There is one way out..." Understanding only now why Lucifer had bothered to show up at all. Fate. She had sent him for this very reason. She had forced the Lord of Hell into the agreement to save Krin and his children.

Chris' jaw clenched as he moved to follow the Hell bent man out of the room, "You can not be serious? We can fix this! Wait! No... Sereph!" The elder male complained openly at the sudden thought of Sereph going to Hell, willingly, he didn't care that Faolan was hot on their heels as they walked towards a flight of stairs and down two levels.

"What choice do I have? Watching him die and taking my only family with him is not in the cards. It's not even a wisp of thought. I would rather suffer in Hell then give him or my family up to these fuckers that have never wanted me around."

"SEREPH!"

"Do not eve try to change my mind Chris. Help me. Help me save my family..." Sereph breathed out as he gripped Krin tighter. He could feel the smaller male grow colder in his arms. "Krin is fighting as hard as he can to keep them alive... Why are you fighting me?"

Chris swallowed as they came into a room with a seal on the floor. It was a gate, only this one was a gate right to Hell. It was where they would send those that no longer lived up to the codes of honor. He had taken a trip through there, once. It had been Sereph that had brought him back.

Gripping his fingers tightly, the brunette hissed, "Fine... But I will find away to bring you back. I will get you cleared..."

Sereph looked up at his best friend, "I have never doubted that you would fail. Now... Send me to Hell... I need to talk to Lucifer about living accommodations."

Chris nodded and then activated the portal, there was a flash of light and the stench of sulfur and then... Nothing. The room was empty. "Did we just do the right thing?"

"For now, yes," Faolan answered, his golden eyes set to the male before him, "We had best find Muriel, she is with Fate and we have a little bit of explaining to do before the night is over."

Running his fingers through his hair, Chris nodded his head, "Yeah. We do." Grimacing as if in pain, "Are you going to try to free Son?"

Faolan gave a slow nod of his head, "But first, we need to settle the uproar."

*****

Lucifer jerked upright in his seat, a cold, hard smiled curved his lips upwards, that was faster then he thought it would take Sereph to realize where he belonged... Drumming his fingers upon the arms of his throne, his eyes suddenly narrowed, "Well, what is this... He came and is not alone... well... WE can't have that... Now... can we?" Purring thickly, the blond male reached out with his right hand as he left cupped a stone. "You are going to be mine, Sereph, and I will not share you with that creature... But I will keep my Word to Fate and not harm him... yet." Smiling softly as the Master of the Realm worked his power over those that were newly arrived... When he finished, the Devil tucked the blue stone into his pocket and headed out to greet his newest guest and soon to be Lord.