Penance by Goth Kitten

Summary: Life isn't easy. Ludwig and Gilbert are demon hunters and it seems they both bitten off more than they can chew.

Rated : R for violence, gore, sex, and yaoi.

Prologue

Life was about as peaceful as it could get when your family are demon hunters. When mom got pregnant with me first dad would take over the physical part of the hunting while mom did desk work. I didn't know anything about their lifestyle other than dad was away a lot. Sometimes he'd come home looking like he picked a fight from a grizzly bear or something. Mom would be right there, tending to the wounds like nothing had happen. I never questioned it.

I never went to school. I was home schooled by my mom. I remember dad saying it would be safest way to protect me. I don't know what he wanted to protect me from or what at the time. I liked being around mom anyways; better than with strangers and strangers kids. Some of my lessons were weird. Like which salt would you use to protect yourself? Protect myself from what? It was so strange however, I tried my best to remember all that mom taught me.

Five years later I had a baby brother. His name is Ludwig. He has the brightest of blue eyes I have ever seen. Mom says that all babies are born with blue eyes and get their real colour sometime later. I was the exception. I was born with red eyes. I was what you would call an albino. Pretty rare, not so much awesome. I kind of hated it. I didn't want that for my baby brother. I had to be his big brother, his protector. I still smile at the thought when he turned to me and coo'd, gripping my finger with his little ones. Don't worry Ludwig. Big brother is here for you! I thought to myself as he smiled and drooled a little.

But life was cruel at times. I was seven years old when mom and dad had to do a job. By this time I pretty much knew how to do the basics in home defence if a demon were to ever attack. Get Ludwig and go to the safe room (in the basement), salt the doorway, grab holy water and the shot gun loaded with salt rounds. Call their cell. I knew I was young but I would do anything to make sure Ludwig was protected. Luckily that didn't happen but something bad did happen.

Dad kicked in the door yelling for me. I scampered downstairs and my blood froze. In dad's arms was mom. Blood had soaked her shirt through and was cascading down her limp arm. Dad's frantic yelling for me to get the first aid kit broke me out of my stupor. I stumbled up the stairs and grabbed it with shaky hands and brought it downstairs to him. There was so much blood. I wanted to cry and scream mom's name however, I wanted to be strong for dad. I had to. I helped him apply pressure to the wounds while he tried to stop the blood; his dust covered face was streak with tears.

Mom never woke up. I could feel her skin becoming cold and clammy. Dad stopped and looked at her with such regret and sorrow. I could almost feel his heart breaking as he embraced her close. A soul breaking sob muffled by mom's clothes echoed through the house. I just sat there completely dumbfounded. Mom was dead. Was all that reverberated through my head. I wanted to cry but I couldn't. Had to be strong. Strong for dad and for Ludwig.

Dad never spoke about what happened that night. He wrapped mom in bedsheets, telling me to get Ludwig. We drove out to the woods where it was isolated. He told me to stay here with Ludwig. I didn't know what he was doing. Ludwig slept in my arms and I too could feel sleep trying to over take me. But I didn't sleep. Every time my eyes closed I could see mom, soaked in blood on the living room floor. I think dad came back not even half an hour. I heard the clunk of the trunk of the pickup and felt it dip down as dad kneel down and picked up the mom's wrapped body. He carried her in his arms and motioned for me. I picked up Ludwig and slipped out of the truck and followed him.

I guess that was the first time I saw a funeral pyre. Dad had laid her down on the make shift table of branches. I saw him lean down and pressed a final kiss over her clothed lips, his fingers lingering on her face. Reluctantly he picked up the gas can and doused her body in it. I the familiar crack and hiss of a match being lit. With a final gaze he tossed it onto the branches below her. There was a small flame and by the time he came over to us, there was an inferno. I smelled the gasoline on him as he gripped my shoulder, pulling me to him.

"We do this so no demon can take her body or bring it back for evil." His voice was barely a whisper, cracked and raw. "Say farewell to your mother boys."

Ludwig was staring at the flames unable to register what was happening. I said our farewells for the both of us. "Goodbye mom, we love you."

That same week dad torched the house. He told us to only take what was valuable and what could fit in the pickup. Course dad took our valuables and put them in storage, giving me the extra key. And that's when we became travelling demon hunters. Well, not really.

Over the years they stayed with their father's friend Berwald. When I first met him he looked pretty damn scary and intimidating. But he became a second dad to Ludwig and I. I swear that's were Ludwig learned his stern expression from. When dad wasn't home teaching it was Berwald. I took it upon myself to take care of Ludwig when dad wasn't around. Berwald didn't seem to mind.

Ludwig was a pretty quick learner. Even at just nine years old he had memorized most of the books in Berwald's library. That's my little brother! Dad was still reluctant about him handling any sort of weapon still. Though in private I would teach him how to handle a knife in self defence. Dad was gone longer and longer on most occasions. Ludwig and I spent all of our time together, reading, working on lessons, playing outside. We did everything together.

I don't really remember much what happened. We were with dad for a few months on the road while he did his jobs. Travelling from one town to another. We stayed in the small trailer on the outskirts of towns. Kind of gave it an illusion that we were road tripping and camping. Ludwig always had fun roasting marshmallows over an open pit and staying up late under the stars while I told him stories. Dad often came home really late and by then we both would be sleeping in the trailers bed, just us two and he would pass out on the dinette sofa.

Dad came back rather early one night. Usually that meant he was done with the job. He looked pretty worn out as he came over and hugged us. We were leaving the next day and he wanted to sleep. Ludwig and I decided to leave the bed to him and play card games at the dinette. I think we both ended up falling asleep at the table a little while later. I remember waking up to the sound of rain. I looked up from my arms and saw Ludwig sleeping like I was. I glanced back at dad who was still sleeping. Feeling thirsty I ended up getting water from the tap. I heard a rapping, like someone was tapping against the window. I looked out the kitchenette window peering out into the dark. Seeing nothing I went to turn around to go to bed and I stared up at a person.

Glass shattered on the floor, my voice ready to scream but nothing came out. The glass crashing to the floor woke up my dad who had his shotgun ready in his hand. Ludwig I could see out of the corner of my eye was waking up groggily but became wide eyed to what was happening. The person or demon clutched me close to him, I could feel the barrel of a gun burrowing into my temple. My father was shouting to let me go but it didn't. It just smirked at my dad, caressing the gun against my temple. My heart was thudding wildly in my chest, panic was setting in. I felt sick.

My eye caught Ludwig's again. He was shaking but he was also pointing to something. The holy water! He had grabbed the the canister that was hidden under the table. He slowly nodded to me and I winked at him to acknowledge what he was thinking. The demon pulled the gun slightly away after something my dad said and was obviously pissed off. I readied myself as I slammed my elbow into his groin and Ludwig was there tossing the holy water into his face.

He left out a roar of pain as his skin sizzled on contact from the holy water. With him impaired dad loaded him up with salt rounds. Both of us ducked under the dinette table. I held Ludwig close to me as dad fought with the demon. Moments later dad got the demon out of the trailer and were still fighting.

Ludwig and I scrambled out from the table and rushed to the doorway. There was a terrible scream that turned into a smothered gurgle. Dad was on the ground holding his throat. The blood just poured out from underneath his fingers. Both of us stood there in utter shock. Then there was silence as his body slumped forward. It only took me a moment to realize that there were three demons now. Their soulless red eyes turned to us quickly. I hadn't realized that Ludwig was screaming. In that moment I grabbed his hand and ran.

I didn't know where to go. There was no one now. Dad was dead but Ludwig was alive. I had to keep him safe. We ran aimlessly through the woods, branches whipped at my face, my clothes became heavy from the rain. My lungs felt like they were gonna explode. I could hear Ludwig panting beside me, gasping for air as we ran. My foot sank into mud and I toppled forward into water. A river. Ludwig was gripping my hand still pulling me back from the river which was furious from all the rain. I landed back onto the muddy bank with a heavy thud.

Ludwig gripped me into a hug, shaking. I hugged him back thanking him. I dislodged my foot from the mud and stood up. We couldn't linger here, we had to keep running. Just as I helped Ludwig up I saw them; well one of them before me. I instinctively got in front of Ludwig to protect him. I didn't even hear the other two behind me. Ludwig gave a cry and I was on the ground, my face pressed into the mud.

My little brother was crying as he was practically dragged to the other demon that was in front of me. I struggled slightly against the other demon which was on top of me. I could feel his knee press down harder against my back. I glared up at the other demon who was petting Ludwig's head.

"Shhhh, shhhh," he whispered in an eerie calm voice, still petting Ludwig. "I promise it won't hurt too much."

His hand suddenly clasped over Ludwig's mouth, his blue eyes widening in terror. He demon behind him unsheathed a dagger that was covered in blood, dad's blood. My blood ran cold and I started to scream at them, begging them to stop. They refused to listen. The demon in front tilted his brother's head back as the demon behind him gently gripped the side of his head. The dagger rested against Ludwig's throat. I could see the tears streaming down his face, his eyes locked on mine. His eyes widen more and a sickening slicing sound whispered around me. His eyes rolled back and his body slumped against the demon.

I was screaming for Ludwig but he didn't move. The blood kept flowing out of the wound and I could see inside his throat. The demon let his body sag to the ground and started towards me. The demon hoisted me up, his arms felt like a vice as they gripped my frame. I could feel the tears streaming down my face my eyes still locked with Ludwig's small, motionless body. The demon was talking.

"Too bad you and your little brother were born into this life." He lifted the dagger over my throat. "You both would have lived longer."

I reared my head back, slamming my head into the demon's face. He cursed and the dagger slipped away from my throat. I wasn't going to die tonight. I wanted revenge. For my father. For my little brother. I started to run again up along side of the river. I had to get away, I was no match for them at this moment. Pain blossomed in my side. I stagger, gripping my side. I could feel blood seeping through my shirt. Another shot and more pain in my shoulder which sent my toppling over the side and into the river. I struggled against the current but I couldn't. I gasp choking on water and everything fading to black.

To be continue!