Chapter 7:

Rin's feet slammed against the dirt. His heart raced as he followed the paw prints out into the woods. He ignored the sudden smell of damp trees and morning mildew. He could hear Bon's footstep accompanied by the others.

'If Byleth killed that man…then that means she's a danger. She's after me, and if that's the case…'

"Rin hey! Wait up!" He heard Bon's voice call out behind him along with Yukio's.

'I can't let her get to my friends…I have to stop her.' Rin ran faster.

He kept his eyes on the giant paw prints that led him to where he needed to go. He ran faster and faster. Byleth she can't…

'You know all our other brothers and sisters are anxiously awaiting your arrival…brother and sisters? Did she mean the other kings? God damnit! I know absolutely nothing! What is she planning? Why is she here!?' Rin grinder his teeth angrily. The emotions were building up inside him about to rip him shred by shred. Anger because of Byleth. Worry for his friends. Fear. Fear of who he was, and what was to become of him. Rin didn't realize himself stopping, nor did he realize the suddenly silent trail of paw prints.

Bon, finally catching up, stopped right behind him. he was leaning forward breathing heavily.

"Don't…do that! Damnit Rin! You need to.-" Bon was interrupted by a low growl in the distance, hiding behind the green leaves of the forest. Bon stopped and looked over towards the noise. Rin immediately took a fighting stance, already on edge from his previous thoughts. going to grab his sword, Rin cursed silently to himself.

Shit! he forgot his sword. He growled in frustration. Out of desperation he must've left it when he ran out. The esquires all stood on alert.

"Uh, just wishful thinking here guys…maybe it was just the wind?" Shims said nervously only to get an immediate response from his friend Koneko.

"Shut up Shima." He replied curtly and quietly. Immediately shutting up the pinkette.

The silence was tense as the growling was soon accompanied by a pair of red glowing eyes. The esquires watched as the demon circled, in slow. Predator like steps. The growling doubled. There were two pairs of eyes. The esquires turned their heads over to the second predator. They were now back to back.

"Rin…" Bon whispered sternly at the demon. "Get out of here." He warned. Another growl echoed.

"What!? No way, I'm not leaving." Rin whispered/yelled back at the teen. Bon let out stressful sigh through his clenched teeth. No way was Rin going to leave Bon and his friends to fight alone.

"You don't have your sword, so unless you remembered something useful from class your practically defenseless right now." Bon explained. Rin glared slightly, deciding to ignore the implied insult. Before he could speak Konekomuru interrupted him.

"Bon's right Rin. Go and get your sword, your more use to us if your armed." Koneko tried to reason. Rin let out a sigh. What if Byleth's behind this? Is it really worth the risk? He looked at the path towards the monastery. It's not that long. He glanced back at his friends. Bon, Yukio and Koneko were looking at him. Daring him to go against their orders. He knew he wouldn't hear the end of it if he stayed. He looked around to the others only one expression was written on their faces. Determination. He sighed. 'I have to trust that they'll handle this.

"Alright. I'll go." He answered. Bon and Yukio both looked relieved at the response. Koneko nodded his head.

"Alright, the moment rin makes a run for it, the hellhounds will come after him. Everyone our job is to make sure they don't attack Rin alright!" Koneko explained to the others.

"Right" everyone said in unison. Rin got ready to run, waiting for koneko's que. Koneko looked at Rin ready to give him the signal. The growls that surrounded the group rang in Rin's ears. He inwardly prayed they'll be safe.

"Ready…..now!" Koneko yelled while Rin began to run. Hell hounds leaped. Rin ran. He could hear them. Izumi and shiemi calling their familiars. Bon's chanting. Yukio's guns and Shima's staff swinging. He could hear it all. His pace quickened. He had to hurry. He didn't realize the single tear falling down his face.

Did he make a mistake?

He ran as fast as he could, blocking out the sounds behind him. Focusing on something else Rin tried to think about the morning mildew and the damp trees. The sound of birds filled his ears he accepted their presences. He can't let his feelings get in the way of what he's supposed to do. Rin slowed to a stop…wait a minute. He listened again. The birds were silent. He looked around. Everything was still. He sucked in a breath.

"No…" he whispered.

"That face never ceases to amuse me brother." A voice called out followed by a click of what sounds like a camera. Rin turned quickly at the sound and glared at the blonde that stood in front of him. A smirk on her face. Seeing Rin's expression she rolled her eyes and scowled.

"Good to see you too." She said, putting away the photo and her device. Rin clenched his teeth and glared at the girl.

"Should've known it was you." He spit out venom. Byleth glared right back. She strolled up to the demon.

"You should be nicer to me Rin. Show your elder sibling some respect." She spit out. Rin scowled and glared at her.

"What do you want?" He asked. His eyes still glaring down at her. Byleth smiled deviously.

"I wanted to make a deal of course!" She said her voice sounding chipper. Rin scowled.

"What makes you think I'll ever make a deal with you." He demanded sharply. Byleth's smile grew wider. The sight terrified him. Suddenly with a snap of her fingers, they were both back at where Rin came from. Rin turned around and looked, his eyes widening at the sight.

Bon lay on the ground, a hellhound hovering over him viciously. Yukio was cornered against a tree, out of ammo, the hellhound was close enough to kill. Rin's eyes widened. There were more of them. One nearly at shiemi's throat. Another circling a passed out Izumi. And another about to latch itself on shima's torso. Rin gasped as he looked at a terrified Koneko about to watch his friends being mauled to death. If he knew one thing about hell hounds.

Is that It would be a bloodbath.

Rin's heart clenched painfully. He should've never left. He left them alone and now they're going to die and it would be all his fault. He looked down at the ground, his body quivering as tears almost filled his eyes.

"So how about that deal?" Byleth's voice came up to the foreground. She stood next to Rin. Her voice boiled anger within Rin. He kept his gaze away from her knowing he would probably kill her in a split second.

"You sick bitch." Rin growled. She let out a low whistle.

"Easy with the language, brother." She said shooting a smile over at him. "Look, here's the deal. I help your friends, call off my hounds and they live." She explained. Rin clenched his fist tightly.

"But…" he asked.

"I'll give you a year. Your friends live. And I get to drag you to hell myself." She explained nonchalantly. Rin glared at her, looking at his friends situation. No way was he risking their safety.

"Deal." He held his hand out. Byleth smiled. Her eyes turned a dangerous smoky black, before Rin could pull away he was pulled forward. He gasped as a small amount of smoke exited his mouth, entering Byleth's.

His lungs burned, as though something deep inside him was being torn apart and taken away from him. He tried to pull away but the grip on his hand was tremendously strong. The strength Byleth had. He was suddenly overwhelmed with terror.

Byleth had played him. She could've killed his friends. Or even him.

The thought scared him. Hell, it petrified him.

He was released and just like that. Byleth was gone, time was unfrozen and the hellhounds were running away.

Rin stood there. Realization flooding back to him. He sold his soul. He was going to hell. There was no way out of it. He felt his legs give out as he collapsed to the ground. There wasn't even a glimmer of hope of him going to heaven. His hands lifted to his face in devastation.

'No…please…no…' Rin's thoughts were weak as tears fell freely from his face.

The esquires got up from their position. Confusion written on their faces. The hellhounds...they just left. Why? Shima and Yukio checked on izumo, Koneko went to Shiemi's aid making sure she was alright. Bon stood there in aw. He looked around, for a sign as to what had happened. His eyes finally looked at a figure kneeling on the ground. They were crying. He looked closer, his heart clenching painfully when he realized it was Rin.

"R-Rin? Hey…" a soft voice filled the half demons ears. He looked up to see Bon and the others looking at him worriedly. A sense of confusion was there as well. Seeing his friends Rin jumped up as fast as he could. He lunged himself towards Bon engulfing him in a giant hug. Taken back Bon's eyes widened.

'At least their okay. Thank god their okay.' Rin thought.

"I'm so glad your okay…" Rin whispered as he buried his face in Bon's shoulder. Bon looked at Rin, worry written over his face. What happened? The hell hounds..? How was Rin here..? Why was he so upset…? Bon looked over at Yukio who's face held extreme concern for his twin. Bon, deciding it was too early to ask questions decided to hug his classmate as he held on for dear life.

'I don't want to go to hell…but there was no way in hell I would let my friends die because I wanted to be a coward.' Rin's grip on Bon loosened, he let go and pulled back, avoiding the smarter ones gaze. Dry tears stained his cheeks.

"Sorry." He said silently. He moved past Bon towards the path they were taking.

'I can't let them know. That too close of a call. Byleth…if she tries to pull that again…how much more would I give her? How much more would she want?'

"Rin, wait wh-" Yukio was interrupted.

"I'm going to find that girls brother." Rin said quietly.

'I'm not going to just leave him because I'm scared. I promised to find him so I will.' He stuffed his hands in his pocket and continued walking. The others followed, not going to argue with the teen any more. All of them occasionally stole a glance at the dazed teen, too worried to say anything.

They eventually found the body. Rin stood there and stared at the body before him. It was torn to bits. Giant claw marks tore the man in half. His blood everywhere. The mans skin was gray, his veins black. Rin stood there and imagined himself.

'I'm going to hell. I need to get used to that fact. There's no way out of a deal. Not with a demon.' He pales at the thought. A warm hand landed on his shoulder he turned his head to see Shima looking at him with concern.

"hey Rin…let's get out of here alright." Shima spoke. Rin walked away, ignoring shima.

He passed a small forming crowd and saw the girl from before crying. She looked at him, Rin gave her a sorrowful look, a pained expression on his face. He didn't know if he was sorry for her, or himself, or both. Rin decided to push the thought away and walk past the crowd.

A/N: hey guys! I really hope you enjoyed this chapter this was actually one of my favorites! I actually took the time to edit this a bit so if you see errors or maybe something that annoys you please let me know same with any other chapter. But I love you guys and all the sweet supportive reviews I've been getting so thank you so much!