They ran for quite some time in silence until they reached a small cabin at the edge of the mountains "Finally were here." J said walking to the cabin. "Wait brother." Marcus said urgently, "Is it just me or does the hilt feel like it's burning into you..." he groaned holding his side. "Yeah... I thought it was just the cloth bothering me." J said clutching his side as well "Let me do the talking, so we can hurry up and get rid of these damned things." Marcus said walking to the door.
Before he could knock a voice came from inside "Come in!" she yelled, Marcus opened the door before stepping in the witch grabbed them pulling them inside. "Where is it! Let me see them!" she said anxiously. "Relax, we have them right here..." Marcus said as they pulled the hilts out their pockets, wincing as it burned their hands. She snatched them quickly dropping it on her table "That bastard actually had them..." she said her eyes flashing black "Are you okay?" Marcus said catching the shift in her eyes. "Yes I'm fine." the witch said scrambling around.
"Well... If you'll excuse us we'd like our pay so we can leave..." Marcus said cautiously trying to walk away. "No-no-no!" the witch said quickly pushing them into chairs, "We need to make sure these are the actual ones." she said anxiously again. "Fine... What do we need to do?" Marcus asked impatiently "Just relax." she said picking up the red hilt, "Ah... Sanguine... It's been so long since I had you in my grasp." she sighed happily.
Slowly she walked to Marcus pressing it to his chest "What..." he stopped his body going limp "Marcus!" J hopped out of his seat running at the witch. Quickly she lifted her hand "Sit!" a demonic voice boomed through the small cabin sending J flying back into the small chair. Slowly the witch pulled the hilt back and white smoke emanated from his chest flowing into the hilt "W-What is that..." J asked horrified. "That... Would be the soul of Marcus, don't worry you're brother won't be dead for long." the demonic voice chuckled.
Moments later the smoke stopped coming from his chest, it swirled around the hilt forming a black blade. "Finally... It's ready. Time for Marcus to be reborn as the ultimate predator!" she yelled plunging the blade into his chest. Marcus awoke suddenly screaming in pain as he fell to the floor "What did you do to me!" he shouted clutching his chest. "I made you stronger mortal." the witch walked over pulling the blade out of Marcus's chest. He writhed in pain as she walked to the table picking up the other hilt.
"Lycanthrope..." she smiled again walking over to J pressing the hilt to his chest "Brother help me..." J managed to choke out before going limp. "Leave. My. Brother. Alone!" Marcus demanded scrambling to his feet charging at the witch, she held he hand up again sending him flying through the cabin, crashing unconsciously into the small garden.
Marcus awoke slowly his face burning on the stone floor "Where am I..." he groaned looking around at the dark cave his vision blurring in and out. "Finally, your awake. I was starting to worry whether or not your pathetic mortal body could handle it." a demonic voice echoed through out the small space. He sat up quickly looking around again "Where are you..." he said clutching his chest, it thumped loudly sending sharp pains throughout his body.
"W-W-What did you do to me..." Marcus gasped for air "Don't worry you're only dying." the demonic voice echoed again, Marcus finally found the source of the voice "Who the hell are you!" he demanded scrambling backwards. The young man sitting in the stone throne took him by surprise. He stood slowly his black eyes burning into Marcus, long black hair falling down to his back, he stretched out slowly enormous horns flowing out his forehead. He stepped away from the throne his body covered in deep faded scars.
"I'm known by many name... I am the 'Morning Star' Lucifer." he bowed a massive black wing span stretching out. "What's happening to me..." Marcus demanded pulling out the small knife in his robe. Lucifer chuckled picking up the blade resting against his throne "Put away the chicken knife." he warned pointing the blade to Marcus, suddenly he was right in front of him pressing the blade to his chest. Marcus's heart thumped heavier as he stared deep into Lucifer's eyes then stopping as Lucifer smiled "Ah... Sweet silence." he sighed.
Marcus fell to the ground writhing in pain "What's happening to me! My body is on fire!" he screamed clutching his chest. His fingers contoured forming long jagged claws, he screamed louder as fangs forced themselves between his teeth. Finally his eye opened glowing a deep red "What have you done to me!" he shouted jumping to his feet. "I'll tell you soon enough but for now... I'd turn around" Lucifer smiled pointing.
Cautiously Marcus turned only to stare into the hairy chest of a beast, he stepped back slowly looking at the massive head of a wolf growling deeply. It stood on its hind legs but its massive arm span had its claws scrapping against the floor. "What in the hell..." he said before the beast took a swipe at Marcus's head, he hopped back not having time to plant his feet before the beast charged at him swinging wildly.
The beast rammed into Marcus crashing them both to the ground, it pinned him to the ground smashing it's claw down over and over trying to claw his face. With all his might Marcus put a hand on the beast's chest shoving him away and scrambling to his feet. The beast growled deeply swinging at him again as it stood up.
The beast swung again, this time Marcus lifted his arm catching the beast's wrist reaching back to swing "Would you really attack your own brother in cold blood?" Lucifer said suddenly make him freeze. "J...?" he muttered looking deep into the beast's yellow eyes. It took Marcus's hesitation to attack sending him flying into the a wall with a heavy kick.
"Brother..." he groaned stumbling to his feet, the beast charged unresponsive swinging wildly. Marcus quickly dropped to the floor kicking off of J's chest "Damn it brother stop!" he demanded sliding across the warm stone floor. J leaped across the room pinning him to the floor snapping at him "J snap out of it!" he commanded throwing him off. J flipped landing on his feet smashing back into Marcus lifting and pinning him against the wall.
He growled deeply before thrusting his claw forward "Stop!" Lucifer commanded snapping his fingers, J froze his claw pressed against Marcus's chest "As fun as it was to watch you two tear at each other I need the both of you alive..." he sighed. "Change." Lucifer snapped again, J let go of Marcus his body snapping and cracking, hair falling to the floor disintegrating as it landed "Brother?" J said falling into Marcus.
J looked around slowly "What happened? Wait... Where are my clothes?" J asked staring down at his body, he stumbled trying to stand leaning against the wall for support "God my skin feels like its boiling..." he groaned. "Why did you do this to us? " Marcus said with a deep growl coming from his chest "I have a job for you two." Lucifer smiled. "What kind of job?" J groaned, holding his burning chest "I need new soul gatherers." Lucifer said boringly sitting back on his throne "If we refuse!?" Marcus said angrily. "I'll kill you myself." He said grabbing his sword again, "Simple enough?" Lucifer smiled revealing jagged black teeth as he snapped his finger, a black robe appearing on J.
"Why us?" Marcus asked cautiously "I needed the best your pathetic world had to offer, sadly that was the two of you." Lucifer sighed again shaking his head, "Now if you are done with questions you must be on your way " He smirked snapping his finger one last time. They awoke again only to find themselves back in the small now empty cabin. "I had the weirdest dream brother..." J said slowly "Is your body still burning up?" Marcus asked "Well yeah...?" J said confused. "Then it wasn't a dream you fool." Marcus growled standing up slowly, he looked down as his hand hit something.
"Well look at this..." Marcus chuckled throwing the small black bag to J, "Our payment." he scoffed turning towards the door. With a swift kick the door flew off it's hinges smashing into a tree "My throat burns..." Marcus groaned holding his throat "Hell I thought it'd be morning?" J said walking out of the cabin, "How long you think we've been gone?" he asked "Not a clue brother... Let's go home." Marcus said walking through a group of trees, J quickly followed him.
Marcus growled steadily as he walked, his fists clenched tightly he finally let out a giant scream swinging and hitting a tree sending it crashing down. J watched him curiously "What's the matter brother?" J asked cautiously "Don't you realize what just happened brother!? We've just been branded someone's slaves! We don't even know what we are anymore! This burning in my throat is unnatural and its hurting my whole body!" he shouted falling to his knees clenching at his throat. "Everything will be alright brother." J said sincerely pulling him off the ground helping him walk forward.
They walked in silence after that, every few minutes Marcus softly sighed and J would pat him on the back urging him forward. After awhile they finally reached a village "Want to stop for a drink before we head home brother?" J asked him "Sure why not..." Marcus said pulling off of him, "I'm fine now." he said standing up straight. They walked into the town slowly heading for the wooden building in the center of the town. "After you my brother." Marcus opened the door for J and they stepped in.
"Marcus! J!" they were greeted by everyone as they walked in "Hey everybody!" J smiled as he walked to the counter sitting on a stool, pulling Marcus into the one next to him "Jerry! Two pints of your best." J chuckled to the inn keeper. "Coming up!" he said grabbing two mugs, he came over seconds later setting them down "Where you boys been? Its been days since I last seen you." he asked curiously. Marcus looked up at him, staring deep into his eyes "Leave us alone." he said blankly. Jerry's face went blank "Okay..." he said monotone walking away.
"Brother what the hell?" J said irritated "Jerry's been a long time friend to us, didn't have to be so rude." he said taking a drink from the mug. "I didn't feel like small talk alright?" Marcus said taking a big gulp from his mug, he choked it down "Damn it... I can't even enjoy a decent pint anymore." He growled pushing his mug to J, "I need some air. I'll be right back." he growled again walking to the back door.
Quickly he scaled the nearest tree rest back against it taking in a deep breath, few minutes later a female voice came from below "Marcus is that you up there?" she asked looking up "Susanne?" Marcus called down "Yeah it's me come down!" she called up, he swung himself under the branch letting go and landing next to her. She smiled widely, Marcus looked at the girl taking in her beautiful features. Her soft skin, long auburn hair, and huge brown eyes. "Um hi..." he said nervously looking down taking a deep breath suddenly gasping. "What is.. That smell..." he groaned as his throat burned.
"Um... I don't know." she said sniffing slightly, "Is it a bad smell?" she said looking down at herself "No it smells... Incredible." he said looking to her "What happened... To your hand?" he asked grabbing it slowly. "Oh there was an accident while I was helping my mother cook.. Was just going to see the doctor when I ran into you." she smiled. He slowly untied the cloth wrapped around her hand "Be careful it's still bleeding..." she said cautiously looking confused. Marcus stared at the cut intensely, his throat on fire as he stared at the blood slowly pour from it.
"W-What are you doing Marcus!?" she gasped frightened as he slowly licked her cut, "Stop it!" she said trying to pull away but he jerked her towards him biting her hand taking deep gulps. She started to scream but with amazing speed he threw her into the ground, slamming his hand over her mouth he bit her neck taking bigger drinks from her. Suddenly J came shoving Marcus into a tree "What are you doing brother!" he said holding Susanne. "Brother her blood... Tastes amazing! Like wine!" He laughed biting her arm.
J shoved him away again "Marcus this is Susanne! You can't do this..." he said solemnly "Look at her. She is dying anyway, might as well let me have her." Marcus said humorously. "Damn it! Your right you sick bastard." he said letting her go into Marcus's hands. Moments later he threw her into the bush "What the hells the matter with you?" J said in disbelief "What? Should we take her body home? Knock on the door and run? Or better yet fool have to explain this!?" Marcus asked sarcastically. "Just get your dumb ass inside." he said pushing Marcus to the door.