The Demon's Toy Book 1: Secrets Unfold

The Demon’s Toy: 4

Conflictions

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Eagerly awaiting Sereph’s return to the house that he had been sharing with the white haired angel, Krinthen found him self pacing back and forth across the large living room floor his thoughts circling around Sereph and the demon he had carted out this morning. How could the man just go off alone with that demon? How? Biting into his lip the healer turned and made another trip across the floor of the front room, watching the door for Sereph’s entrance. The healer’s stomach turned, tying itself into knots with not knowing what was happening out there in the woods between the two. To say the least he was worried for Sereph and about his safety, he’d come to rely on the angel more then he cared to admit over the last few weeks. And even if Son’Arrin was human, Krin had little reason to the demon had been rendered helpless. He knew the demon very well and what he was capable of, after all he’d been the one to spend three hellish months as his hostage and toy.

Shivering despite the warmth of the day and the fact that he was wearing a long sleeved soft gray shirt that reached to his neck and dark colored pants. Krin rubbed at his arms as he chewed a bit harder on his lip, letting out a pained whimper when he finally managed to gnaw a whole into it causing blood to roll down his chin and soak into the pristine fabric. Swearing, Krinthen sank down into the nearest chair and buried his face into his hands, tears forming just behind his eyes. The sweep of long black hair slipped over his trembling shoulders, brushing softly against his cheeks.

It’d taken a strength of will Krin never knew he had not to sub-come to the demon’s will, to retain a measure of him self, to fight back against the evil creature and win back his freedom. And now he felt like he was falling apart and there was nothing he could do to keep it from happening. Broken after all, Krin thought bitterly to him self.

Nightmares haunted nearly every hour of the day, sleeping or not. They would creep up on him from no where and fling him back into the demon’s less then tender mercies. It was worse then actually being there, having to relive the ordeal over and over. Sereph had come though and put an end to the physical abuse the demon was inflicting upon him. And Sereph was the one helping him deal with the emotional trauma that was left behind.

Drawing in a small, shuttering breath, Krin lifted his head and looked around the room when the light dimmed with out warning, casting the room in shadows, "…Sereph…" Krin whispered, getting to his feet once more, wrapping his arms around his chest. Why did he suddenly feel so cold? Where was Sereph? Why wasn’t he back yet? Did Son do something to the man?

"Oh god…" Krin muttered as tears wetted his pale cheeks.

Krin didn’t think that Sereph had fallen to the former demon, but he couldn’t be sure about it. Drawing in another shaky breath, the healer felt a panic attack settling in, he didn’t like being alone in the large house with out Sereph near at hand, even though Fate was just in the next room. She was not very comforting to the unbalanced Fae and besides that, he did not know her as well as Sereph seemed to, having grown mistrustful of strangers.

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Glancing towards the door one more time, Krin started to move again, why did it feel like he was waiting for Son’Arrin to walk through that door? Because, he would never be free from that evil monster as long as he lived. There was no escaping him. How many times had he heard that repeated over and over? His heart hammered in his chest as the room grew darker and colder.

Son was there… just beyond sight, hidden in the shadows just waiting to pounce on him. Krin stepped back from them, searching for the nearest exit, but there wasn’t one, not from his mind. Not from the demon.

A weak cry of distress slipped past his lips, "...No…" This wasn’t happening again. Red rimmed eyes glittering brightly as they stalked him across the room, the healer retreating until his back met with the wall, bringing up his hands to ward off the demon, but it didn’t seem to do any good as they were pulled over his head and held. A hand shot out and stroked his chest over his clothing before starting to undo the fastenings, "Don’t worry…" The deep husky voice whispered, "…I’ll take my time…" warm breath fanning one of the Fae’s tipped ears.

There were hands all over his bare skin, followed by lips and a velvet soft tongue, "nnnooo… nooooo… please… stop…" Krin begged softly. Trying to pull away from the bold touching that caused him to shuttered despite his best efforts to remain unfazed by the sure, strong touches that teased his nipples to pebbles. Then the hands were moving lower, cupping him through his pants, pushing the fabric out of their way to touch the soft flesh beneath.

"Shhhh," The voice breathed into his ear, "I know you like this, healer. You crave my touch, don’t you? Tell me to take you… Beg me to take you." It demanded over and over as the healer shook his head, denying giving in, it’d be so easy to say the words then to deal with what would come from not acquiescing to the demands.

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*****

Rain poured from the heavens soaking everything in sight, including the lone traveler along the forgotten dear trail in the middle of some already dark forest. Son’Arrin stopped shoving heavy wet violet hair out of his soul dark eyes he’d been slapped in the face with another branch, which left another stinging welt along his already abused face. Soaked to the bone, cold and miserable, hating being human with every fiber of his being. Hating being left out in the middle of no where with absolutely no way to defend him self, no way to find shelter. No idea how to find shelter with out the use of his powers.

The last thing he needed was for the trees to keep smacking his face.

Growling, Son cursed them all under his breath in vivid detail as he throw down the bag in the mud, not caring if it became covered. It was bad enough he had the angel playing judge he didn’t need the forest doing the same damn thing. It was not like he was outside his bounds as a demon in his treatment of the healer. Why should he be made to pay for his actions when there were so many worse things he could have done to the man. And it was not like it was his first time…

Son’s upper lip pulled back in a snarl, "GOD DAMN IT! I WILL not be MADE to feel GUILT over that!!" Grabbing up the bag, Son started on his way once more when his long hair was grabbed by one of those offending low hanging branches and pulled. Keening out in distress, the former demon swung around and kicked one of the nearest tress then yanked his hair free from the branch which drew another low, heated keening moan from his lips.

The former demon glared up at the gray clouds that were unloading their burden on him and everything else. Holding the length of his hair, he worked the tiny twigs from it knowing that if he did not do this now, then it’d be snarled later and more of a menace. "Why the trees are of little shelter is beyond me. As far as I can see, they’re completely worthless!" Then again, if it had been a light spring shower, they might have been of more benefit.

Lighting flashed followed by a low grumble of thunder letting him know that the rain was not going to let up anytime soon. If things could get worse, he was not sure how. Huffing out a breath the man hitched his bag further up on his shoulder, cursing the angel once more for changing him into something he wasn’t and damning him self for letting it happen in the first place. But how the hell was he supposed to know that the angel carried such a weapon in the first place?

Looking heavenwards Son ground out from between clenched teeth, "Oh, I bet you are having one hell of a laugh over all of this!" Snarling, "I hope that one day you eat your smug ass smile! Fucker!" Hissing as he turned to see where he was going and realized that the trail was gone, a flash of lightening illuminating the drop off before him and the fact that he was standing far too close to it. Before Son could back pedal the ground turned soft and gave out under his weight, sending him sliding down a muddy slope.

"OHHH! SHIiiiii," Son screeched as his body was slammed into a tree stump and kept going. There were other things that cropped up in his mad descent down to the bottom of the cliff he’d come across. His body was battered and beaten with rocks, parts of trees and god knew what else until he hit the bottom with a bone jarring thud. Pain exploding in his shoulder and through his head as he came to rest at the bottom of the very deep ditch. The pain in his shoulder spiraled outward causing Son to gasp and reach up to cup the wounded appendage, feeling the tree branch poking through from the other side.

Oh, he had to ask what else could happen and curse God all in the same breath. Karma was the variest of bitches! Hissing as he looked over the damage done then whimpered. Leaning back against the tree he’d landed against; Son broke down into tears. This truly was too much for him. Here he was the once very powerful 7^th Lord of Water, sitting at the bottom of a ditch covered in mud, wounded and human. Looking up at the heavens, the once proud demon tipped his head back and howled in rage and pain until this throat felt raw, swollen and soar.

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*****

Lightening filled the skies as Sereph walked in the backdoor of the house some time after having left Son to fend for him self in the woods. The angel was carrying a bag that was stuffed full of supplies with him since they were running low. The thunder that followed drowned out the sound of his closing the door. Clothing sticking to him as if they were a second skin and his hair plastered to his head, Sereph felt like a drowned rat as he dripped his way across the floor to settle the bag on the kitchen counter. He had not intended to be gone so long after dropping Son off in the woods, nor getting stuck in the down pour, but it’d been a little hard to find the hand full of market stales open once the rain had started to come down in earnest.

Though why Fate had decided to descend on them, Sereph wished he didn’t know. And what little she asked him to do hadn’t set well with him, but who was he to complain, at least she wasn’t fucking up his life again. Maybe a few nights alone in the woods would do the former demon some good? Though he doubted that anyone with a soul as black as Son’Arrin’s could be worth saving. The demon most likely would find another way to gain power and then he would become some other person’s problem.

Sereph let his eyes grow accustomed to the brighter lights of the kitchen, thankful that it was warmer in here. The angel went to stand in front of the stove that gave off waves of heat from the dish he had left to cook while he had run to do Fate’s bidding.

Looking up, a frown tugged at the angel’s brows, thinking of Fate, where was she? Listening to the sounds of the house, for that matter where was Krin? Reaching for the hand towel that hung off the stove he began to towel his hair dry. Fate was still here, that he knew with out having to go from room to room to look for her. After all, she had promised to stay with Krin until he returned. She owed him that much. So, why wasn’t she making herself known?

Leaving the kitchen, Sereph hung the towel around his shoulders and started through the dark house as more thunder rumbled outside. The scent of fear and arousal came to him as he neared the front room. Pausing in mid-step, white brows furrowed together in thought, that couldn’t be right, Krin was far to upset still to want contact with anyone and Fate she was not interested in those kinds of things. The place was warded so that no one could come in that didn’t belong here. So, what was going on?

Picking up his pace, Sereph called out to the healer as he entered the darkened room, "Krin..." Using his fire starting powers to light the candles that were placed around the room. They sprang to life with the flicker of his thoughts bathing the room in a soft warm glow. It didn’t take him long to spot Fate and Krinthen. The healer was curled up in one of the chairs, looking pale, pained and frightened in his sleep. Fate was kneeling next to him, hand brushing through his long ebony black hair trying to wake him from a nightmare.

Fate turned her head and looked up at Sereph as he came to sit next to her, "I have been unable to wake him from this nightmare."

Nodding once Sereph reached out and touched Krin’s cheek, "I am sure you could if you really tried," But didn’t push it, more worried about the healer then Fate not being able to wake him from the nightmare. Taking up the place that she left, Sereph bent his attention to the Fae, he really didn’t like to be around those that were as emotionally strung out as Krin was, but there were not many alternatives presenting themselves right about now.

The white haired angel swallowed hard then drew Krin in close to him, pulling him from the chair and into his lap as he curled around him. He didn’t have to be this close for what he had in mind to work. It was just easier this way then it was any other. Once he had the two of them settled, Sereph laid his head against Krin’s and let his eyes fall partially closed. Calming his heartbeat and entering a trance like state.

Once he was far enough under, the angel pushed his way into Krinthen’s mind, intruding on his dream. Dream walking was another of Sereph’s little known about talents and with this talent he intended to help Krin overcome the monsters that lurked with in. He disliked doing things this way, would rather not have had to subject him self and Krin to this level of meddling but Krin had suffered enough and it was time for the healer to heal.

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*****

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Pain. That was all there was. Pure, unadulterated pain. It lanced up his spine starting at his pelvis and he couldn’t make it go away. His powers weren’t working right. Crying out as the agony seemed to go up another level. That beast was inside him once more, raping him again. Tears welded up in his eyes as he scrubbed at the floor with blunted nails trying to get away from his tormentor. Son’Arrin laughed at him when all he did manage was to fall hard against the floor.

Clawed hands wrapped around his narrow hips, "Aw, poor healer," came that dark and throaty purr that Krin had come to hate with every fiber of his being, "Don’t like to be fucked do you? Then you shouldn’t tempt me." Those claws dug into his skin, breaking it, he was bleeding and bruised and hauled back to his knees and rocked into once more, "Pretty Lil’healer…." Son panted over and over again from behind him.

Things suddenly changed, spun, grew lighter. Krin found himself spread out on his back. His hands were tied over his head to the headboard in the room that had been his back at Son’Arrin’s keep. His legs were lifted, bent at the knees and he as so hard and needing to cum that it hurt. Gritting his teeth, he looked around the room for the demon and found him leaning against the wall, arms crossed over his chest and smiling in that condescending sneer that had Krin wanting to rip his face off. But he didn’t have time to think to long on that, his back arched and he bit off a moan, "Damn you… what… what have you done to me?"

Son threw his head back and laughed. Then he was moving, slinking across the room, reaching out and running fingers over Krin’s hard throbbing erection, "Oh, it’s a little drug I found that makes one very, very horny and in need of being fucked." Rolling the last word of his full lips as his thumb rubbed over the very sensitive head of Krin’s staff causing the Fae to buck his hips wildly and moan into the caressing touch, "Like that, do you?" Lifting his hand away and licking the palm of his hand, "Then you will really like this." Stroking his now damp hand up and down over his prisoners engorged flesh, "Beg me to fuck you, Krinthen. Tell me how much you want me inside of that hot little body of yours. Tell me you want me to fill that tight ass of yours. Beg me to take you."

"Never…" Krin ground out as Son continued tormenting him with his hand, the other finding his nipples, plucking at them until the pebbled under his finger, "…NNNhhhaa… not…not on-on your life…" Closing his eyes and twisting his head away from the demon’s growing frown, "I hate you!" He hated the way his body betrayed him as it bucked and writhed under the simplest of touches from the demon. If he had not been given the drug… Closing is eyes he let out a low agonized whimper, "Don’t touch me…"

Lowering his face so that his lips rested near the healer’s slightly tipped ear, "But I must. That is the only way to work the drug from your system. The more you fight the worse this becomes for you. Let me show you how bad things can ge-Ttiiiee!"

"I knew you were sick, Son, but I had no idea how perversely low you could sink!" The angel snarled darkly before demanding, "Let Krinthen up." His sword drawn and pointed into the demon’s back, giving it a sharp twist of the angelic steal drawing a fine line of blood, Sereph intoned in a deadly silken tone, "And that’s not a request."

Krin’s silver blue eyes flew open, "Sereph!" The white haired angel was standing there, glaring daggers into Son’s back, only he didn’t look so angelic or sound so as he was making threats and giving Son’Arrin that withering look that promised a great deal of pain if the demon didn’t listen. "Thank the heavens… how… how did you get here?" Frowning a bit, Krin wondered where Sereph had come from, "What are you doing here?" A blush stole over his features when he realized what he looked like and what Son was doing to him. His lips formed a silent O before he turned his head to hide his face in the crock of his upraised arm.

Son snarled, "I tell you what he is doing here… he is going to die, but not before I take my revenge on him!" Moving with the speed that only dreams could provide, Son snaked his tail around the angel’s waist to squeeze the breath from his lungs. Uncoiling his tail, Son twisted around and threw Sereph across the room before leaping after him, claws glowing green and extended to there full length.

Krin gave a startled yelp when he heard Sereph’s back crack against the wall, "SEREPH!" Yanking at the ropes that bound him to the bed, "Don’t you dare hurt him!"

"Oaf!" Sereph gasped, having not expected the attack or the fact that Son seemed so real here. Then again, Krin had three months of torture to draw from when his mind created this beast in such vivid detail. Twisting around, thankful that he had not lost his grip on his sword when Son had thrown him at the wall, Sereph slide to the right, moving along the hard flat surface now at his back just as Son hit where he had been.

Once the demon was facing the wall wondering where he had gone, his long black claws embedded into the brick, the angel leapt away from it, thrusting his sword into Son’s back while he could, "You are going to have to do better then that, demon!" Leaning into the blade to drive it further into the exposed back of Son’Arrin’s dream incarnation.

Howling, Son withered on the blade that protruded from his back. Cursing and snarling the dream gave over and melted into the floor leaving a dark gray smudge where once Son had stood. Sneering at the stain, Sereph waited a moment longer to see if the demon would reappear. Dreams did not follow logic. Sometimes things were no so easily finished as they appeared to be Sereph pulled his sword from the wall and waited another long moment. But when Son did not readily come back into being Sereph made his way over to where Krin was tied to the bed.

"It’s alright now. It’s over. Son is gone and it’s time to wake up," Cutting the ropes away from Krinthen’s wrists, "Come on. Let’s go."

Lowering his hands to his sides, Krin rubbed at his wrists for a moment then sat up, "What are you talking about?" Shaking his head a little as he tried to stand. It hurt, dreams weren’t supposed to hurt. Doubling over his lap, long black hair hiding his face from view, a small sob escaped his throat as he clutched at his legs. Would the pain ever go away?

"Shh, it’s a dream Krin, nothing more," Reaching out to touch the Fae’s hair and push it away from his face, "It’s all inside your head and I am here to show you that. That you are safe from Son, he’s never coming back, will never hurt you again, not while I am here." Reaching for the healer’s chin, Sereph tipped the Fae’s face upward so that he could see the shimmering blue of Krin’s eyes, "I promise you that much, Krin." Sereph whispered to the abused young healer, trying to sooth him. Hoping that he would come to understand that he was dreaming and wake up.

"A… a dream," Krin whispered, lifting his head so that he could see those vivid, living blue eyes that belonged to Sereph. "It was all a dream?" Searching Sereph’s face for the answer and realizing that it was just as the angel said. A dream. A very bad dream. It was over now. Producing a small choking sob in the back of his throat, Krin threw him self into Sereph’s arms, hiding his face against the angel’s bare chest as his arms wound around the lean waist, stroking the warm back. He wanted to believe so badly that this was all a dream, that all that time he had spent with Son’Arrin from the first moment that the demon had taken him until now.

Sereph bowed over Krin, holding onto him tightly. One hand coming to cup the back of Krin’s head while the other rolled down the Fae’s bare spine, feeling the tiny shivers that raced through the naked man. Krin felt so warm, real, heavy and solid in his arms. The smell of arousal and fear tickling his nose as he rocked Krin in his arms, "Will you wake up now? It’s alrrrriiii!!!" Crying out as pain slide up his back, tears blurred his eyes for a moment.

"It will never be alright, Angel!" Son grinned at the pair. Sinking his fingers into the long white hair, he yanked Sereph to his feet, pulling his head back to bare the man’s throat to him, "Watch carefully Krinthen Darling, you will be next."

"Nooooo! Sereph!" Eyes going wide as he slide back away from the demon that now held the struggling angel by his hair, "Please… just let him go. He was only trying to help me… Please…" Finding him self backed up against the head board, Krin wrapped his fingers around the bars, clutching at them until his knuckles turned white, drawing his knees to his chest to hide his state of undress from them both. Guilt coursing through him as Son laughed as his pathetic attempt to hide his body from view, which drew a growl from the angel’s throat.

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*****

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Waking slowly, dazed and disoriented, white hot pain searing across his shoulders, down his back through his chest and hips, wave after wave of unspeakable pain left him panting and wishing for the blackness of unconsciousness to re-swallow him. Letting out a piteous moan of agony, Son’Arrin nearly doubled over. The only thing that was keeping him from doing was so was the branch that stuck out of his shoulder. Reaching up, he fingered the sharp object now protruding through his soft human flesh. Long pale fingers encountering the branch began to explore just how badly it was jammed into his shoulder. He would have done this the night before, should have done this the night before, but he was too busy feeling sorry for him self. Now he was weak with blood loss and it was starting to hurt to breathe, he regretted not freeing himself the moment it had happened.

Turning his head to the side Son coughed, or at least tried too. His vision blurred then doubled and there was a slight ringing off in the distance. No… That was not it what the ringing was. The sound was from his ears, as if they were signaling for his stomach to start to turn and roll. Frowning to him self, Son gritted his teeth together against the pain he was about to cause him self. He needed to jerk him self forward away from the tree he was leaning against to free his impaled shoulder.

Silently counting to three, the once demon drew in a slow breath and pulled, or tried to pull his body forward. Only it was no use. His body was sapped of vital energy. He could barely move and every move he did make only aggravated the wound more. Caused more of his precious red blood to pump out of the whole caused by the fucking branch stuck through his twice-damned flesh. How the hell had he fallen this far?

Teeth starting to chatter from the simple act of try to free him self, Son clenched his jaw tightly closed, he wasn’t about to give in so easily as he gathered his thoughts and a second wind. He had lived through worse then a tree branch through his shoulder. He wasn’t about to give up and die here as a pathetic human. He wasn’t that weak willed. Growling deep in his soar throat, Son pulled on his anger to force him self away from the impaling object.

"Rrhhhaaaa!" Panting harshly through his teeth as the branch slipped free of his shoulder causing the outcast to land bowed over his knees. Now bleeding a new, Son could feel his heart racing in his chest. Free, he was free. Giving a weak chuckle into the ground, Son cradled his wounded arm into his body and remained bent over his knees as he fought off a fresh wave of dizziness.

At least he was free. Once he could stand, he would find a place to clean and treat the wound. Sereph had to have left him something in that bag to tend to wounds? Son thought to him self while gasped for breath noting that the woods was steadily growing dark once more.

The soft sounds of footsteps sinking into the wet earth which were growing closer as they approached his slumped form drew Son’s attention from where he was worshipping the ground. Not bothering to lift his head, though more from the cause of not having the strength to do so then lack of curiosity to know whom this unknown person was that was creeping towards him.

Groaning when he had realized he had fallen to sleep, more like passed out, instead of making his way up the embankment he had come down the night before. Once more, he had been stupid and not moved when he had had the chance. It seemed he was begging for trouble. Or worse, as Son’s mind conjured up what could be worse then just laying here, bleeding on the ground and anyone merci that stumbled across his fallen body. What a fool he was for not moving.

The footsteps stopped before him so that Son could see the tops of the man’s shiny black boots. Weight shifted as clothing was shoved out of the way so that the being could kneel down on his hunches in front of him, "Well, aren’t you the most curious looking creature I have ever had the benefit of stumbling across." The voice was overly sweet, soft and made Son’s insides crawl, or was that because he was dealing with massive blood loose and no food? Son couldn’t seem to make his mind on that account.

A hand soothed over his long violet, mud covered hair, pulling out bits of twigs and leaves out of the length as it went, "Though, I must say you are a bit of a mess." The hand traveling down one side of his head to cup his chin and lift his face, "Wounded and sick as well, poor baby." The man’s thumb rubbed against Son’s jaw line while he smiled down at the muddied, bloody mess before him.

Son lowered his lashes over dark eyes while he looked the stranger over and assessed his chances of rising to his feet and running further into the woods, away from the one that had just stumbled onto him. He didn’t care for the lust filled look that entered the man’s dark green eyes nor for the familiar way the man was touching his face. Son knew those touches that look, how it would end if he were to remain here in the company of the unknown male.

Gritting his teeth together, the former demon cursed Sereph’s name once more and the day he had come across the pretty Fae healer.

It was not that the man was unattractive, quite the opposite really. He appeared to be of elven descent with pointed ears, only they were slightly furred and far longer. Those dark green eyes were slightly oval and they tipped upward at the corners, the flaring brows rising over those eyes were dark as night, also drew upwards and long blond hair that was pulled back from his ears and pinned to either side of his head with bejeweled combs. The other male’s clothing which was a rich, deep green velvet, or was it suede, Son could not really tell, but it was tailored to fit the elegant shapely male like a glove and trimmed in gold braid. But unlike most elves that Son knew, his skin was tanned and his pupils were slight like those of a cat, which spoke of something darker then the fair folk.

Slowly raising his good arm, so that he could clasp the wrist of the hand that was touching his face, "Get your fucking hand off me," Growling the words out, Son’s voice rasped, like a saw on rust metal. Struggling not to cough and ruin the tone further, Son hissed out "And I am not a baby." Baring his teeth at the creature that sat before him in a warning to trespass no further on his personal space.

"Tsk, tsk. That is no way to speak to someone that has come to offer aid, baby." The well-dressed man chided softly in a teasing tone. Drawing Son to his feet when he stood, the man was slightly taller then the on human form that Son was forced to wear. The man’s body was warm, sold and far better built then the smaller violet haired male.

Backing Son up against the tree that had punctured the former demon’s shoulder, the stranger came to lean against him, his hand moving to press in against the slender column of Son’s neck, "And what will you do if I refuse to do as you have ‘asked’? Hmm?" Looking over his own shoulder then back into Son’s dark eyes, "Are you going to scream? I fear there is no one about that will save you from me." Ghosting his lips along Son’s jaw line and he pressed in closer to the small helpless male, tasting the fear that rolled off of his victim in waves. It was going to be a treat to take the man, make him his own and then sell him into slavery when he had finished with him.

Flash back

Son stood rock still, while Paragone, his Master, smiled down at him, the demon naga, having pushed his little pet up against a wall. The smile was cold, unfeeling, it never reached Paragone’s deep green eyes in all the time that Son’Arrin knew the other demon. Nor was it ever a welcome sight as it painted the snake man’s lips upward in a crescent curve of dominating lust. Son could feel the hands of the other on his body, groping him through the small cloth he was wearing to save some modesty. Though he wouldn’t be wearing it long if the naga had his way with him. Which he would, make no mistake about it. Son had no right to tell the other ‘no’ as long as he was the naga’s slave. His personal pet of pleasure and pain for as long as his Master wished to keep him bound as such.

His Master’s mouth lapped at his quivering lips, along his cheek, over his collar bone then over his bare shoulders, his Master’s teeth sinking into the warm flesh of the space between neck and shoulder. Softly sucking, nursing the blood to flush the wound before lapping the blood away.

Paragone pulled his head back and smiled, ruby red blood paint his lips, "Delicious… I shall never get enough of you, my pet, my Son…" taking long lock of violet hair into his hands, winding them around his fist, "...It’s time to make you sing."

Present Time

Son screamed, his voice roughened and hoarse, "NO! Take your filthy hands off of me!" Shoving harder at the cat like creature that had him pinned to the tree while it bit and lapped at his wounded shoulder. Fighting with a nearly inhuman strength to be free of his tormentor, "I won’t let you!" Drawing his knee up, he nailed the male in the groin with all the force he could muster given his state.

"UNHhhhhaaa, little Bastard!!" Came the cry of pain from the other male as he dropped down, holding his injured pride. Apparently he had not expected the smaller injured male to put up much of a fight. Lapping the blood that covered his lips while he panted in pain, he didn’t noticed as Son bolted around the tree, nor that the his prey was running deeper into the woods and further away from the embankment had come down the night before.

Son panted harshly as pain shot up his shoulder and across his back from the injury. If he had been his demon self, this would have healed by now. Hell, if he had been his demon self he never would have been injured like this. Just another thing to thank that blasted, fucking angel for. Gritting his teeth, Son pushed him self to run faster, needing to put some distant between him self and his assailant. But the blood lose was catching up to him, making his movements slower, or was that because he was human now?

Rounding another group of trees, Son came into a clearing. Great! Panic setting in he reached up to cup his shoulder, sagging in his steps. Now which way to go?

"HHnnn! Fuck!" Tackled from behind Son, found himself face down in the cold wet grass as a larger body pinned him, held him.

"That’s right, pretty. I am going to fuck you good." The cat like man hissed into his ear, placing one had on Son’s back to continue to hold him face down as the other grabbed onto his clothing to yank it off, not caring if it tore. "I am going to make you suffer for that you little prick."

Struggling, Son tried to dislodge the other male but only seemed in helping to get rid of his clothing. His mind bulked and screamed, but it was not use, he was going to be raped. Screaming as he felt the creatures fingers on his bare flesh, curving over his hipbone. No, no nononono… this wasn’t happening. Not again! Please, not again. Sobbing into the ground, the fingers of his good arm gripping at the grass trying to pull away from the hand and going no where.

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Black wings tucked neatly behind squared shoulders draped in purple hair, Son’Arrin stood tall and proud, an evil grin turning his gray lips upwards. Serephium arms were spread wide on either side of his body, his legs were spread, bond so that his toes barely touched the floor. Shadows holding the trapped angel against a wall while the demon looked over his prey, lust glittering in those black eyes, promising pain and pleasure at any moment. Sereph sneered back, lips curled back to bare his teeth at the foul menace. Leaning into the angel, Son drew the faint point of the other’s ear into his mouth, suckling on it, wetting it with his warm lips.

Sereph struggled against his bindings, hissing between his teeth as he jerked his head away from the demon, "Get away from me, you sick fuck!" Curling his fingers into fists, ready to summon his fire if this should go to far, bending the dream as best as he could to keep the demon that lurked with in Krinthen’s mind from going after the dark haired Fae.

Lifting his mouth away, Son purred softly, "Mmm, he can’t help you, my white haired friend." Tipping his head to take in the sight of the Fae on the bed as his tongue flickered across Sereph’s face, causing the angel to cringe and turn his face further into the wall to escape it. "Krinthen belongs to me now." Retaking the ear into his warm damp mouth, the demon continued to molest it as his hands worked on freeing Sereph from his clothing.

If this were real, Sereph thought, teeth bared as the demon’s mouth worked on wetting his ear and his hands roamed in more intimate places, Son wouldn’t be able to hold him like his long. But it wasn’t real, for that simple, small fact Sereph was glad, as the demon continued to molest him. Though it did pose another set of problems, he couldn’t use his powers to out right destroy the demon here since it would most likely cause the healer more damage then he was already suffering.

He had to get Krin to act. To know that he was safe with in his own mind, that Son’Arrin was never going to be able to do this again. Biting back a groan, damn it all, gritting his teeth, it may be a dream, but it certainly felt real to him. Then again, his conscious mind was really here, inside of Krinthen’s sleeping mind. Swearing under his breath, he turned his head to find the healer curled onto the bed, hands gripping the railings of the bed. He could feel the fear pouring off of the small healer in waves as he tried to shrink into him self.

This was not going at all as planned. Staring at the healer, his heated gaze willing Krin to look at him. To pay attention to the message he was going to imprint on the healer whether or not he wanted to be imprinted there. Needing Krin to hear him before Son got too far and he was forced to do more then stand here and endure.

Krin couldn’t stop shaking, feeling helpless all over again as Sereph’s pants were opened and Son’s hand reached inside of them. He didn’t want to watch, didn’t want to be here for this, only he couldn’t make him self move or look away either. Afraid that if he did so he would draw Son’s unwanted attention back to him self and the demon would have him. Guilt and fear warred across his mind, tears prickled at his vision. God, why was this happening? Sereph didn’t deserve this… Why wasn’t anyone coming to save them? Why wouldn’t anyone save them? Weren’t they worthy of being saved?

Startled out of his thoughts when he felt Sereph’s searing gaze on him, Krin held it for a long moment, lost and confused as the vivid blue seemed to dominate his field of vision. It was almost like Sereph was right there, standing in front of him, unbound, touching him, promising…

There was something there… Something feral and untamed, even demanding in that leaden gaze. Krin felt his fingers work free from the railings the fear melting slowly away leaving a warmed feeling behind despite what was being done to the both of them. Moving further away from the headboard of the bed, Krin was struck with the idea, he didn’t have to wait to be saved. He’d helped Sereph in the library when he slung the chair at the demon’s back. In fact that had saved Sereph from the demon’s claws, Krin reminded him self. He even had been the one to take the steps to save himself from the demon when he had acted in a manner to draw in the demon hunters. He wasn’t helpless. He could save him self from this pain. He could save Sereph. It was with in his power to do so.

Son laved his tongue over the warmed tanned flesh of Sereph’s neck, "Mmm, so sweet, I wonder what you taste like… lower." Breathing the last word as if it were a secrete promise against Sereph’s damp ear causing the angel to shiver.

Damn it, when had Son gotten that close to him? His control must have slipped away some to allow the demon to come up with that thought. Swallowing down a groan as Son’Arrin’s claws hooked into his pants and drew them further down, bringing the hidden flesh out into the cooler air. This wasn’t real, Sereph chanted, closing his eyes and tipping his head back against the wall. His body going tense all over, earning he demon a small bitten off moan from his own throat while he struggled to regain control of the dream once more.

Grinning, Son knelt in front of the angel, laving his tongue over the other male’s member, "Yes, much better," he murred before drawing the man into his mouth, suckling on him for a moment.

"Fucker! Get off of me!" Sereph howled, no longer paying attention to Krin, wanting to get the demon as far from his body as possible. Damn, groaning as the wet heat of Son’s mouth closed over him, swallowing him down with ease. The demon took to nursing on him, making hungry wet noises as he did. The dark violet hair caressing his stomach. Gods, it was so soft, silken. The golden spirals of horn peeking up through it caught Sereph’s attention as the larger demon serviced him orally and with the talents of the best paid courtesan.

Sereph forced his eyes closed, willing his body not to respond, but it was slowly turning traitor on him, begging him to reconsider. Especially when Son’s hand found the tender, sensitive sacs that hung just under the bit of flesh the demon was nursing on.

Son drew away for a moment, lapping his lips, "I think I would much prefer to ‘get you off’," A smug smile curling his lips further up. "Your mouth says no but your body is telling me yes," His lips just so against the crown of Sereph’s growing interest.

"Hhhnnn! St-stop..." his composer failing him as the demon hovered so close to his engorged flesh.

"Mmm… No." Son’s voice floated back to him.

"Bastard!"

"Most likely."

Lick! The hot slide of Son’Arrin’s velvet tongue sliding across the flushed member of Sereph’s antimony, "Come on," drawing the words on a hot moan, "You like it. Stand there and enjoy it."

"Damn you…"

Son’s dark chuckle wafted up, "I am a demon, I think being damned is already covered, angel boy."

Struggling against his bonds, Sereph wanted to drive his knee into the demon’s face before the man could touch him again. Neither of them noticing that Krinthen had gotten off the bed and moved up behind the kneeling demon until the healer had sunk his fingers into the demon’s long violet locks. Ripping Son’s head back away from Sereph’s body causing the demon to roar as if he had just gone into some form of heat, Krinthen glared at the ashen skinned male, "This is the last time you will ever do that." The Fae intoned deeply.

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Shivering despite him self, Sereph gave a small smile to the dark haired Fae, "About time." The dream had nearly slipped his control which would have left him at the mercies of Krinthen’s own devastated mind and the horny demon it had created to torment him.

Krin returned the smile, holding Son’s head back, he shifted his look from the angel to the demon, "It’s over." He hissed darkly, "Release Sereph, now!" Emphasizing his words with a sharp twist that brought another of those odd cries to the demon’s lips.

Moaning and panting, shaking from head to toe as his head was held back, seemingly under the power of Fae, Son gave a loud pained whimper. The gray skinned demon tried to nod his head in agreement but couldn’t manage it with the grip that Krinthen had on his hair. Instead, showing that he understood what Krin wanted he undid the power that was holding Sereph against the wall. The shadows retreating into nothing letting the angel drop neatly to the floor in front of him.

Drawing back his fist the angel delivered a solid right hook to the demon’s jaw line before looking up at Krin, "Thanks." Taking a moment to tuck himself back into his pants and refasten them. Though it was a little painful, it was better then not doing it.

Son’s head was turned to the side, teeth bared but he made no move to get to his feet. His chest rising and falling rapidly with each breath. A slow snarl started from his throat as his clawed hands rested curled on the floor.

Looking Sereph over, Krinthen inclined his head to the angel, "You’re welcome. Sorry it took me so long to understand." Twisting the hair a bit tighter he looked down at Son, "You have no power over me. Not any more. You are just a bad dream…" Looking back at Sereph, he let go of Son’s hair, watching the demon fade away leaving just the two of them standing there in a white blankness.

Silver blue eyes studied the intense blue of Sereph’s; "It is I who should be thanking you for giving me back myself. I don’t know if I can ever find away to thank you enough."

Smiling softly, Sereph reached for the Fae’s face, "You can start by waking up…"

"Huh?" Looking confused, "Waking up…?" looking around him, it slowly dawned on Krin, "This was a dream? You aren’t really here?" Turning his face into Sereph’s hand, "But you feel so real… it all felt so real."

Caressing Krinthen’s cheek, Sereph sighed, "I will explain, if you wake up."

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Faolan, the Black Prophet, as he was called by some, moved through the woods, being lead by a feeling of utter urgency. Something was very wrong and he needed to stop it before it got too far. Whatever was about to happen he had been feeling for the last few days. And then the vision had just slammed into him moments before. A young man running through the woods trying to out distant some evil that was about to through him into a life of slavery. Faolan had no love for slavery or slavers. They had plagued his former life too many times before. And now that he was the last of his kind, as far as he knew, the black Aedon of another plane. A plane called Limbo that touched on all other planes.

Bursting out of the woods on the other side of the clearing, Faolan was greeted by the sight of Gideon Nacthath’s blond head bent over a young violet haired male, pinning a young man to the ground about to rape him from all appearances. The slaver had no morals at all, then again, if did have morals he most likely wouldn’t be a slaver. Hissing under his breath, Faolan’s long tapered ears twitched and laid flat against the side of his dark hair. From where he stood, the Aedon could hear the soft sobs from the one pinned under the slaver to stop what he was doing. The slavery wasn’t stopping though, giving no quarter as he ripped the clothing from the violet haired man’s body.

Taking a moment, Faolan spotted a long, thick heavy branch lying on the ground, stooping down, the Aedon picked it up, feeling the heavy weight fill his hands and grimaced. His people were fighters and proctors. It had been a long while since he had to fight to protect anyone from harm. Moving silent across the green expanse of grass, the prophet came to stand before the slaver and his victim. "Gideon Nacthath," Faolan growled out between clenched teeth, waiting for the right moment to strike out with him impromptu to quarter staff.

Gideon’s head came up, "What!?!" Eyes narrowing as the dark haired Aedon came into view. Faolan wasn’t overly tall, about average height for a human, though the man wasn’t human. That was glaringly obvious by the long black horn spiraling from the middle of his forehead upward. The man was also dressed in long flowing robs that hid most of his body from view. His eyes were a bright gold and right now they burned with anger. It took Gideon a moment to get over the sudden appearance of the man to realize that he had something drawn back in his hands.

WHACK!!!

Faolan smashed the branch into the bridge of Gideon’s nose, "You are no longer welcome here!"

"UUUnnnRRRRhhhhaaa!!" Came the cry of pain from the slaver as he grabbed his broken nose and stumbled back off of the one he had been holding down. "Asshole!" he roared, holding his nose as blood gushed out over his hands.

WHACK!!!

Bringing the branch back around to slam into the side of the man’s head.

WHACK!!

Into the slaver’s back, beating the man back and away from the other injured party. Faolan had meant what he said. The slaver was no longer welcomed into the woods and he was going to make certain the man knew it and would not be forgetting anytime soon.

Gideon howled in pain as he stumbled and fell some feet from where Son was now curled on his side. Pain bloomed in his back and ribs as he was struck again and again. His head throbbed and he couldn’t seem to get up to defend him self. Then the stick was thrown down; he was grabbed by the front of his shirt and hauled to his feet. Staring at the angered Aedon, Gideon tried to struggle to get free, but his pained body wouldn’t let him.

"You will leave this woods, this area, and you will never return. If you do…" Leaving the threat hanging empty in the air as he tossed the filth away from him.

The slaver managed to get to his feet and limp off the way he had come. Faolan remained where he was for some time. Waiting. Fingers clenching and unclenching as he let his temper die away. He wasn’t usually and angry man, but when things like this happened so close to his home. Drawing in a deep breath and slowly letting it go. It seemed that Gideon would not be returning just this moment. But he would be back. They always came back. Evil never seemed to go away for long.

Letting out a pent up sigh, Faolan moved over to where the man’s current victim lay curled on his side and cradling an injured shoulder. Faolan knelt next to him, petting back the silken violet hair; "Can you stand? Walk with me?" Unsure if he could carry the other’s weight, he would if he had no other choice.

There was a weak nod from the young man as he whimpered low in his throat, "Yah… I-I can walk." With a little help he got to his feet, his head bowed against his chest and arms tightly wrapped around his body. Walking with Faolan’s aid, they started out of the clearing. Lapsing into brooding silence, the young man ignored the Aedon presence for the most part as he concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other.

Faolan looked down at the man, trying to catch his eyes, but they seemed glued to the ground. After a long minute he finally asked, "Do you have a name? I can not go around calling you, ‘you’… I am Faolan." Offering his own name in the hopes of drawing the other’s from him.

"Son’Arrin… " Came the breathy reply before a shiver slide over his body, causing his teeth to chatter together. Son moved closer into Faolan’s body with out meaning too. He was just so cold and Faolan’s warmth was more then welcomed against the shivers that were starting to rack his body.

Feeling the slight shiver and the way Son’Arrin moved into him, Faolan frowned slightly, "You are most likely going into shock." The smell of blood hung heavily in the air around the young man and it was making him slightly queasy. Aedon’s didn’t exactly like blood or meat since they were unicorn-kin. "Did Gideon do that to you?" Wondering if the slaver stabbed the other, it did seem unlikely that the slaver would damage the other male since it would lower the price he would fetch on the market.

Son looked at his bleeding shoulder then over at Faolan, "Mmm, no. I cursed God and Fate then Karma showed up and I tripped and fell and found out just how nasty trees can be in the defense of their creator." Son quipped softly, making a joke about how he was injured.

"At least you still have a sense of humor," Faolan replied, finding it rather funny but trying not to laugh at the other’s pain. He knew how some felt about God and Fate and talking bad about them lead to bad things happening. He should know he was a Prophet and his gift of Sight came from Fate. She had been the reason he was dragged from his home out to help Son’Arrin in the first place.

It wasn’t long before they were back at his place. It was a small off white cottage set in the back of the woods. A garden of flowers bloomed in the front and he had an herb and vegetable garden in the back. There was a well in the back as well. There was a stone walk that lead to the front steps; it also curled around behind the place, leading to a small pond that lay just out of sight of the cottage. All in all it was a neat and tidy home that he kept.

The inside was just as pleasant as the outside. There was a main room with a couch; chairs, fireplace and a wall lined with thick books. There was a set of oil lamps for when it grew dark resting on hand carved tables. Taking Son inside he sat the young man down on his couch, "I am going to go get some things to clean and bandage that wound for you." Waiting for Son to nod in response before leaving his side and going to find the medical supplies he kept in the other room.

From the living room there were two doors and a small hallway. Through the first door was the kitchen and the second was his workroom. Down the hall was a set of bedrooms and a bathing room. Faolan disappeared into his workroom, digging through the bottles of this and that, looking for needle, thread and antiseptics to clean out the would Son had gotten. Picking up all those things and a set of bandages as well, he come back out to the front room and sat next to Son.

"I am going to have to remove your shirt to clean and dress that…" Reaching for Son’s shirt and working the buttons free. "Once I am done, you can barrow something of mine for the mean time and go rest in the spare room." Explaining what he was doing while he worked on helping the injured male.

"Why do you even care?" Dark eyes searching the soft amber colored ones that be longed to his benefactor as he was helped out of his shirt, wincing as it slide off his injured arm. The cooler air of the room causing him to shiver all over again. The slight, involuntary movements of his body brought another way of pain from his injured shoulder. Wanting his shirt back while his teeth started to chatter once more, Son searched the ground with his eyes, trying to find where Faolan had set it.

Faolan looked over the puncture wound then back up at the violet haired male. It was hard to tell what race Son’Arrin was from. For the most part the other male smelled human but his exotic look said that he was something else. For one, humans didn’t have violet hair unless they dyed it, and Son’s hair did not have the scent of dyes. Two, their ears weren’t tipped nor where their eyes slanted nor that black and sinful. Reaching up, he touched the red scar that ran down Son’s face and then repeated on his chest. Something wasn’t right about the young man. He wasn’t what he appeared to be and that might have been the reason that Fate had driven him out of his house to go and find the lostling.

Besides most humans would have asked about his horn, Son wasn’t asking about it. Which would seem to mean that he already knew what it meant or didn’t care about it. Then again, the man was going into shock, which wasn’t good.

Son flinched when Faolan touched his face and then chest, but he didn’t stop him from doing so or from cleaning away the dried blood. Waiting to hear why Faolan cared, Son hung his head to the side, pulling his hair out of the way as the horned man worked on cleaning his shoulder wound. No one cared about him, Son thought bleakly. He was a demon. Would always be a demon, even if he were now a human on the outside. What Serephium did to him wouldn’t change things no matter what anyone thought or did.

Sighing, Faolan took a hold of Son’s face, drawing it up and cupping it in his hands, "I may not know you, Son’Arrin, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t care. Have you never felt empathy for another? Have you never taken pity on someone because they were in pain? Done something that brought another comfort even if you gained nothing from it?"

Staring at Faolan, Son tried to pull away from those rich amber eyes, the compassion that lingered in the warm depths. A compassion that this man shouldn’t be feeling towards him wouldn’t be feeling towards him if he knew. Snarling, Son tired to pull back, "No, I have never done those things. Why should I? No one has ever done them for me. And why would they? I am a demon…"

Sucking in a sharp breath, so, that was it. Faolan smiled tightly, "Then demon, perhaps it is time you learned these things? Learn what it means to care about another for no other reason then to see them happy." Drawing on his powers and finding the lines of Son’s own even though they were blocked from him, locked away tightly along with all that made Son a demon. Faolan started to weave another into what was already there. The demon said he had never felt empathy for another then it was time he learned what empathy was all about.

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Krinthen’s eyes fluttered open, moaning softly the Fae stretched out in Sereph’s lap. Wait… he was in Sereph’s lap. Starting to shift to sit up and pull away only to be pulled back against the hard chest, locked with in the strong wall of the angel’s warms. Letting out a small sigh, "Seph…" Krin let his own arms slink around the man’s waist, content to stay where they were for a few more minutes. Finding that he no longer wished to pull away from the warmth of this man’s touch. Taking the given comfort with out feeling dirty and guilty about doing so.

Sereph murred, brushing his chin over the top of Krin’s dark head, "It’s alright now. How are you feeling?" Holding the Fae a bit closer now that he was no longer trying to escape him. The healer no longer felt like broken shards of glass against his empathy either, which made him all the better to hold on to.

"Better… much better." Leaning his head on the man’s shoulder, "Not so broken any more. Like a part of me is starting to heal after so long…"

Making another soft sound, Sereph scooped Krin into his arms and stood, "Good." He had been rather worried that Krin would become lost to the pain and not recover. As he stood up with the Fae, the man wrapped his arms around his neck, trusting Sereph with a whole heart. Believing that he would come to no harm in his care. Those feelings warmed Sereph as he carried his burden into the bedroom.

Looking around, Krin tensed for a minute, but knew that Sereph wouldn’t hurt him. Even as he was laid down on the bed, there was really no fear which lead Krin to reach out for the angel, "Please, stay with me…" Moving over to make room for the larger male, "I don’t want to be alone right now."

Torn, Sereph sank a knee into the bed, "Someone has to do something about dinner…" Making a weak excuse, wanting nothing more then to curl up with the other.

Giving Sereph’s hand another tug and a smile, "Please… Dinner can wait. I want you here with me."

Yielding to the Fae’s request, Sereph laid down next to him, letting Krinthen once again curl into his side. The Fae sighed happily, pulling Sereph’s arm around him, before turning his smiling face upwards. Krin didn’t want to be alone, wanted to know that he could trust someone again. That no more pain would be coming his way. And Sereph seemed safe enough to trust with his fragile state of mind. After all, if Sereph wanted to hurt him all he had to do was leave him with the demon. Leave him to face all those angry people.

Curled on the bed with the Fae in his arms, Sereph stroked the long dark hair, letting his thoughts drift over the events of the last few days. Wondering what Fate’s purpose was in bringing him together not only with Krinthen, but the demon Son’Arrin, as well. There had to be a greater reason for turning Son human other then to stop the demon from hurting another one like Krin. Fingers trailing over the tip of the healer’s ear, rubbing the tip between his forefinger and thumb. Finding it rather hard to believe that Krinthen was part dark Fae. He seemed so gentle, willing to help others. He knew that humans were capable of great evil and it wouldn’t be hard for the darkness of the Fae to corrupt. So why wasn’t Krin evil, dark, bad? Something other then a healer?

Krin felt Sereph brooding, pressing his lips to the man’s throat, since they were lying facing each other. His face inches from the man’s neck, on arm looped loosely around the angel’s waist. His kiss drew a soft moan from the angel’s lips, which sent a thrill of pleasure along Krin’s spine. Warmed by the small noise, Krin wished to press more kisses to the man’s warm skin. But reframed from such as he asked, "what’s wrong?"

"Nothing… just wondering why you became a healer…"

Startled a little… of all the things for Sereph to be … "Because I can’t stand to see another in pain and not do something about it. I have this power to help others. To ease their pain, lighten their burden, how can I not use it to help?" Lowering his eyes to stare at the Adam’s apple, Krin sighed, drawing in a deep breath, "I am more then what my blood makes me. I refuse to be written off as less when I am so much more. Why should I just slink off into some dark corner because some seem to think that I am tainted by my darker side?" Lifting his eyes, "Is that what you were getting at Sereph? Why am I not hateful and selfish?"

Wincing, the angel sat up, "I didn’t mean it like that, Krin…" Hating the sound of the word tainted no matter who it was used to describe. How many times had he heard it flung at him as his own people looked at him sideways, wondering when he would just lash out and rip their throats out, betray them all to the agents of Hell, or worse… "I didn’t mean to imply that you were…"

"You didn’t?" Krinthen spat, shoving away from Sereph, "Sure as hell sounded that way to me," he started to roll over and get out of the bed only to be caught and drawn back against the angel’s chest.

"I didn’t," he reassured the young man, "It was a simple question and nothing more. I am curious about you. How am I supposed to get to know you if I do not ask? And I don’t think you are tainted." Adding the last bit to calm the man down, to draw him back into his arms.

Taken off guard, Krin stilled his actions, looking over his shoulder at the angel, "You… you don’t think I am tainted?" Wanting to hear Sereph say it.

"I don’t."

"Really?"

"Yes. Really. Now will you come back to bed? It’s been a long day and a nap wouldn’t hurt." Tugging Krin downward once more, forgetting that dinner was on the stove still. Krin was right, it could wait until later. "Unless you are going to fix us something to eat…"

Krin delivered a playful swat to Sereph’s arm; "Sleep sounds good. Food can wait."