Twelve: Hell Above

Hiiiii my lovely loyal readers,

I know, believe me! I really wanted to finish this chapter sooner, actually I wanted to do a chapter a month this summer because I had a semester off my university schedule. But, sadly, this year has thrown me another curveball. I won't go into the sad details, but it was a tragedy that just threw me into shock. Whenever I sat down to write no words came. I wouldn't wish that horror on anyone, to be so lost and upset that you can't even do what you love doing the most.

Anyway, more positive vibes needed! I'm very grateful I have this story and you guys, because once I did start- I couldn't stop. I have to say, the thing that did pull me through was Jayden of all characters. I don't know why, but his scene was the one to first give me back my spark in writing. I guess I connected with him being one of my old characters. So I decided to put this chapter to him and as a result a Pierce the Veil song is the chapter header. Vic has a pretty sweet voice that I've always paired with Jayden's, so I thought it would fit nicely.

Apologies in advance if there's a lot of emphasis on Original Characters in this. This chapter serves as a lead-up to the meeting between Buttercup and the Ruffs and gives some information that may indeed save her butt later on. I hope it explains a bit, too, especially about the strong bond between mates. I'd like to keep this short and sweet but have already rambled enough so I'll leave my review thank you's to the end this time. I'd also like to *subtley* point out this chapter is MORE THAN TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND WORDS (gasps for air) which is about two chapters in one! Did NOT plan on this turning into another 10 Years From Now but Gosh, I can ramble! Think of it as a make-up for leaving you hanging so long.

Let me know what you think!

…

(And please pretty please no more disappointment about how Butch and Buttercup don't meet in this chapter- I already told ya'll when they're gonna meet. I promise, it will all make sense when we get there. All this will come together, I swear! I, like, planned and everything.)

...

'Cause this is a wasteland,
My only retreat
With heaven above you,
There's hell over me

...

'Hell Above' - Pierce the Veil

...

...

~25 Years Earlier~

Lailah could feel her cheeks heat up at the sight of him, but still she hugged her books to her chest, keeping her head dipped low and away from those sensuous dark eyes. Too many thoughts were running through her mind to make sense, she could hardly contain her nervous giggling. A growing fear was brewing within her that she'd say something embarrassing. His crooked smirk and dark, lidded eyes sent the butterflies in her chest into a frantic scramble and she found herself pressing her back further into the library wall. They'd been kicked out hours ago, but still this boy was talking to her- he was smiling at her! She couldn't believe it.

"I really should go, though…" She mumbled sheepishly at him, staring up briefly from the ground into the handsome stranger's face. "I…I don't like to miss curfew, and I have some studying to do-"

"You should stay." The stranger told her, his strange reddish eyes were almost glowing at her as he crept closer to her, trapping her against the walls of the college library. "Come on Lailah, live a little…"

Bane's face was steadily closing in on her. Lailah felt a flutter and warmth spread through her chest that she'd never felt before. No boy had been this close to her before, not one with such a strong presence, so determined and clear in his attraction to her. It set her heart aflame, she wasn't going to deny that…

But she pulled away from his warmth, shaking her head. As a nervous habit of hers, she played with the tiny silver cross around her neck, skating it across the chain and back.

"N-no…" She turned around briefly, just missing the flash of fury crossing his face. "I have to get back to my dorm, I'm sorry."

"Wait…" He grabbed at her hand as she made to walk away. "Look into my eyes, Lailah-"

She let out a soft sigh. She wanted to- she was almost trapped by those eyes, there was something in them that drew her in, awakening feelings in her she'd never experienced before. It was almost scary, eerie, that a boy had such power over her. But she stayed straight, hugging at her books and gently tugging her hand away.

"I'm sorry, I have to go."

The boy behind her may have been young, but he was stubborn and didn't give up easily. He couldn't let her get away. This was his job. It wasn't supposed to be this hard. He fought back all the drive within him to just grab her- then and there. But instead he followed close behind her, heart beginning to race. He felt his cheek twitch in desperation and he rubbed it irritably, trying not to let his eagerness show.

"At least let me walk you to your dorm."

He sounded frustrated, and immediately Lailah was weighed down with guilt. She turned back to him, saw how deep, dark, his eyes were- widening at her with sincerity. The kind stranger had been so kind to her, she didn't even know his name.

"Well…okay."

...

Present Day

...

Buttercup

.

I was gathering firewood and watching Emmy playing with a few sticks out of the corner of my eye when Jayden stumbled up to me. He was a weak, shrunken mess that swayed just standing still- but his eyes were narrowed on me, faded and cold as they took in my face.

"You're pretty close with those demons, right?"

I cocked an irritated brow, glancing around to see if he'd stupidly let anyone hear him.

"Not that I'd advertise that..." I hissed at him. "But I haven't tried to kill them yet, no."

Jayden gave a slow blink, his sunken face lowering. "So… you trust them?"

"They're teaching us some stuff..." I slowed my tone, my glare washing over his pathetic face. "I think they can be trusted... for now."

He sucked one of his cheeks in, chewing on the inside of his mouth roughly as his sharp glare landed on me again. "I thought we weren't supposed to trust anyone."

"Maybe that's your rule." I shrugged, trying to bite back my own grin. "...But maybe that's why nobody but your boyfriend likes you."

Jayden squared his shoulders as I shoved passed him with my pile of kindling. He scowled and followed me. "Shut up! You don't know what it's like. One second I'm cruising along all fine, the next thing I know I'm sold to this guy and I'm branded like a piece of meat!" I turned to see him rubbing painfully at his neck. "And now I can't get rid of it! I didn't ask for this, you know."

"None of us did." My eyes narrowed on him once again. "But a life with demons is one we have to survive in, and one I'm ready to stop..." I glanced briefly at my little girl once again. She was bent over, helping out by collecting her own sticks. "With these guys' help- I have more of a chance of winning."

"Yeah, well." Jayden got all huffy then, tugging on the hood of his jacket and making to stomp off. "You seem pretty happy to trust them, but I wouldn't just yet. They scared a whole bunch of demons just to get at me, who knows what they'll do for someone like you."

I really wanted to bite back, but I let him stagger off without another word. He still looked frail and kept tripping, his head still lowered. I thought briefly about yelling out a warning to him as he made to disappear in what seemed to be the part of the forest we stayed clear from- but before I could, the noise from the campsite seemed to grow louder and I heard a scream from the crowd that was mingling by the church.

"WHERE'S BELLE!? BELLE!"

Cass?

At the sound of my best friend's screams and my own alias bouncing off the trees, I dropped the wood without a second thought and dashed closer to our campsite, Emerald at my heels. As I sprinted closer, Cass weaved out of the gathering- her hair a mess and her face stark white. Whenever Cass' face paled like that, I knew she was close to losing her grip on something. I knew something was deathly wrong.

She grabbed hard at my hand and staggered into me. Every move she made was panicked and frantic- without so much as a stammer she yanked me closer to the church.

"There's some-something out there! Inside Cain! In the forest! Rome said you had to get inside!"

My face flushed amongst my frantic thoughts and I grabbed Emmy and pulled her onto my hip. "Cass! Wha-"

"GET IN THE CHURCH!" She screamed, heaving me up the steps. The crowd of people seemed to jump to life and push all around us. We stumbled in through the doors as what felt like an ocean of bodies clambered in around us, screaming questions. Emmy's hands clawed into me, hugging at my neck. I fought to hold Cass close, pulling her out of the torrent and into the side wall, where the pews had been pushed against.

"Cass! What's going on!?"

"I don't know!" Her hand waved in a frenzy. "I was in the woods with Rome, and Cain came towards us, but it wasn't Cain! He was possessed! Rome had to fight him off! He told me to keep you in here no matter what!"

I felt my blood freeze in my veins, feeling as though I'd dived into ice cold water. My head throbbed in a numb pain, my feet sticking when I stood on the cold stone church floor. I faintly felt the warmth in Emmy's cheek as she pressed her face into mine, blinking in a panic.

"What's going on, Mama? Why aren't we fighting?"

Everyone clambered around us, screaming and crying for answers. A few fell to the ground and mumbled frantic prayers- but our eyes remained squarely on Cass, and she stared back at us with determination and shook off anyone who tried to grab at her.

"Please just stay in here!" She hissed at us, pulling me closer to lower her voice. "Cain looks possessed, Rome said something about Bane-"

"Bane?" A million memories crashed within me at once, but I shook my head- blocking it all out. I tried hard not to think about my old 'friend'- the one that seemed to love me, protect me, like a real father should have. He saw my ultrasound, I trusted him... without even knowing he was the root of all things evil in Butch, in all of the boys. I trusted him, without knowing that he would unlock a terrifying power within the father of my child I wished he never had... now in me...

All of this… it's his fault.

I shook myself again, harder this time. Cass' face floated back into view- wide eyed and worried. I did my best to swallow, keep my composure, but my breath was catching in my throat, my face heating up by the second. My fingers snapped into ready fists. My voice came out in a rasp.

"He's back?"

I put Emerald down. Blindly, I went to shove Cass aside but she held on strong, fingers digging into my wrist and yanking me back.

"You have to stay here!"

"The Hell I am!" My eyes narrowed at the very thought. "I have to face this guy-!"

"You can't!" She pulled on me harder, taking me by surprise at the amount of strength she had. Her hard eyes narrowed on me, returning my glare with twice the force. "Rome said to hide you! You can't go out there!"

"What's going on, who's out there?" Tyler pushed through the panicked crowds, almost running into us. His eyes were wide and pale with fright. "Cass? What happened? Why's everyone in here-"

"There's been an attack!" Cass spoke up without hesitation, pushing me aside and speaking earnestly to Tyler. "You've got to keep everyone in there, I'm heading back out-"

"Excuse me!" I gaped at her. "You're going back out there?Not without me-!"

"You have to stay in here!" She easily talked over me again, a growl deep within her voice. "Rome was specific about that! The demon might be after you."

"What? Rome?" Tyler's voice lowered angrily. "I knew these fucking demons would double cross you! How could you-"

"Tyler!" A panicked woman was tugging on Tyler's arm, her face a deathly white. "What's going on? Are we in danger?"

"Not now, just make sure everyone's here, there might be a powerful demon outside-"

"Powerful?"

"A demon! Where?"

"How powerful? Should we-"

"I don't know!" Tyler's voice echoed around the Church. People wailed and cried, stomping around and shoving into one another. Emerald clung to my leg in a panic. "Everyone just remain calm for now, it'll be okay-!"

"How do we know that?"

"What do we know?"

"Who saw it?!"

Despite the deafening panic, Cass' small voice drilled into my ear and she nudged me as she went to pull out her pistol from her belt.

"I'm going out there."

I was clawing at her before she could take another step, my words blurting out like vomit.

"If I'm not going you're not going! Are you fucking crazy?!"

But she turned to me once again, and the mere force of her glare hit me harder than her firm shove did. "I have to do this, BC. You've saved me more than I can count. If you can't go, I will."

She turned her head back to the door and wrenched it open, the campers scattering out of her way. The hinges creaked against her hold, her knuckles whitening against the hard wood. She turned back to me. Her hair fell into her eyes, but they were narrowed with a ferocity that could only have been mirroring my own.

"Even if I don't come back, you stay here until it's safe."

Without another word, she whipped her head around, pulled out her pistol and sprinted down the church steps. Fellow campers quickly closed in on the open doorway, batting the door closed. The heavy wood slammed shut with what felt like a deafening, final clang as my best friend disappeared out into the wilderness.

Tyler, spluttering, turned to me. "What the Hell? Is anyone going to tell me what's going on?"

Tears were burning behind my eyes, Emerald clinging to my hand only seemed to make it worse. All I could do was shake my head. Before I could properly open my eyes again, Tyler had run off after her.

It took all of my energy not to follow them, save my friends and protect them like I always did...like I used to. To know that Cass and Tyler were running off to meet Bane- the fierce figure from my past and my once loyal neighbour- shook me to the core. And Rome and Cain? What were they doing in all of this- could they really be trusted? I wanted to find out, I needed to know if I had made a mistake keeping them close.

But Cass' words still rung in my head- fierce and proud- and I couldn't betray her. I couldn't move. I just sat, with everyone staring and gaping at me, on the stone cold floor, and hugged Emerald onto my lap.

Bane was back. He was here, in our sanctuary. What if his sons weren't far behind? What if we were caught? What if they were already here?! I wasn't ready, I knew I couldn't fight them. They would win, and they would take Emmy. The mere thought crushed what hope I had built within me, and suddenly I felt so small in the church, huddled in a ball with Emerald hugging onto me. She pressed her head against mine and sniffed, closed her eyes. I closed mine. Both of us hoped, and we prayed.

That we'd see our best friend again.

.

Butch

.

We trekked back from the bar in silence, our heads in a whir. Even Brick was keeping quiet. We'd made a beeline for our meeting room on the top floor without a word- our faces grim. It felt as though a dark shadow had been cast over us. My stomach was tight and my throat was constricting with every breath I took. I still remembered those black curse lines- a sign of a deeper evil underground. An evil aimed at us. It was only we realised how we had created a world we knew nothing about.

I stared at the flames licking the edges of the fireplace, but I still felt numb and cold- despite the warmth illuminating the room and coating my skin with heat. Brick was sitting in the soft armchair in the corner of the room, enveloped by the cushions- but still sitting stiff. He was hunched over, his chin in his hands and his fingers over his lips. His eyes were narrowed in tense thought.

Boomer wasn't much better. He was pacing the room, kicking at the already beaten floorboards and twisting his lips as he mulled it all over. I could tell by the pinched look in his face he was on edge, ready to blow. My little blond brother had gotten a lot better over the years at taking control, but he still had his outbursts- just like when we were kids. He looked like a ticking time bomb. He clenched his drink in his hand like a grenade, sucking it down every few seconds.

My fingers twitched on the neck of the bottle in my hand. Brick hadn't even snapped at me when I'd grabbed it- I guess he was too wrapped up in his own thoughts to care. As soon as the warm burn of bourbon slipped down my throat, a spark lit in my brain and I began to process a clearer grasp of the anger and confusion racing through my head. One obvious thought ran through- throbbing hard in my skull like a fresh bruise.

What the fuck do we do now?

Edge was by the door, watching all three of us with narrowed eyes. Every few minutes he would let go of a tremble, shaking against the wall. He was tense, especially without the rest of the demons behind him. It wasn't often we were alone, but he knew the seriousness of being locked in a room with us- especially so silent.

He'd seen us kill, after all.

"So first thing's first." I had to jump as Brick spoke so suddenly, jumping to his feet with his eyes still on the fire. "We need a greater power with us. We have the humans under our command, but it's gonna take a lot more if we're attracting this kind of rebellion. We have to re-establish order in the demon world."

"I...I dunno where these guys come from, though." Edge mumbled, staring back at the floor. "They're from Hell, I know they're not from Earth. But that's all I can find out."

"Are you that fucking useless?" Brick hissed at him, his black eyes narrowing in on him.

Edge stiffened, his own eyes darkening.

"Those parts of Hell are beyond me!" He hissed back, teeth bared. "No sane person would travel into the lower depths of Hell! It's a fate worse than death!"

Brick growled, loudly, and folded his arms across his chest. "Not much use, are you?"

Edge's nostrils flared and he raised an eyebrow at my brother. "You're more than welcome to try. Any demon can gain access to Hell. Whether they get out, there's the problem."

"How did you get out?" I couldn't help but ask, eyes narrowed. Edge seemed to know a lot about demons, but didn't have any answers. His dark eyes spun around to narrow on me.

"There was a shift in leadership, our circle of Hell was weakened. We go where there's food and fun. The barrier between Earth and Hell is a fine line, after all, and with the shift to evil, it makes it easier for demons to access it, and gain power." He shifted his shoulders. "We have a lot more power up here... but the higher level demons-" He shook his head. "They're better off below."

"So why are they appearing up here, then?" Brick gritted his teeth in frustration. "You said the bodies at the bar were the work of the deepest circles!"

"They are!" Edge insisted. "No demon of my level can make marks like that. But look, I don't know how to find out without going down there-"

"You said you ran with Wrath demons." Boomer finally spoke, his eyes sparking with electricity. He was already twitching. "You said that- back at the bar."

Edge swallowed- I spotted the lump in his throat shifting with the motion.

"I...I did." He rolled his eyes. "They're ... in the Fifth Circle. They pray on the shallow circle demons, like Lust and Greed, for entertainment, and all..." His face flushed a sheepish pink and he avoided all three of our suspicious glares. When he noticed the heat from us, he let out a squeak. "Look, I did it to survive! You gotta do what you have to when it comes to those guys."

"Wrath..." Brick's eyes shifted with thought. "You think you could get a few wrath demons up here? They could hold some power, be able to shift back some authority..."

Edge shrugged, but he still avoided our eyes. "Look, I'm sure they would- but you gotta realise that... that they're wrath." He turned to us earnestly, eyes widening. "They represent the sin of anger, so they're angry- all the time. They're bred in an environment of pain and chaos, bringing them to Earth-"

"-Is the only chance we have." Brick finished his rant with a snarl. "This is clearly a fucking rebellion from somewhere! We gotta fight fire with fire. Besides, we have the powers they don't."

"They don't care about power." Edge growled, face slackening sickly. "They care about anger, and hate. Honestly, you don't mess with any demon from higher level circles- from Wrath down, actually. They're fixated on their sins. Even Lust demons-"

"They aren't a threat to us." Brick talked over him easily, and I found myself watching him with awe. Despite the fact Edge- our appointed leader for our demon crew- looked nervous, Brick only looked determined and deadly. "I read about the sins, okay? Those demons are unpredictable, but they only care for one thing, like money, or breeding. There's plenty of that here, chasing money and drugs-"

"But they're different." Edge spoke earnestly, but there was a definite squeak in his voice. "I mean, I come from Greed demons, but I'm young and uncorrupted-" He said that with a slight tick in his jaw- "...Well, I'm connected to a human side. Wrath demons aren't supposed to see the light of Earth, they're meant to drown in the Styx or fight forever on their own fiery turf. They kill each other- they have no loyalty. There is minimal human in them- they can't even breed. If they come up here, they'll cause more trouble than we can control-"

"We've already been invaded by higher level rogue demons, according to you." Brick's hands curled into fists, and his brows morphed together to form a furious, thoughtful frown. "It's too late to think about control, Edge."

Despite my best efforts, a shudder shook me where I stood and I had to hide it by taking another gulp of bourbon. The threat was closer than ever and now, on top of everything else, it only felt more real. We didn't know much about Hell, but Him was there and loving it. However, he never went further than the first few worlds or circles or whatever they were. That was saying a lot, with how much that stupid demon loved chaos.

"What's in the deeper circles?" I asked him, my voice much lower than I intended.

Edge glanced at the fire, then twisted his lips as he turned back to me.

"I don't know, I've never been passed the Fourth Circle. It was guarded. The second you went by the Styx in the Fifth Circle, you were considered done for. From the Sixth Circle on, it's all unspoken. It's all torture, and punishment. It's only reserved for the worst."

"We're supposed to be the worst!" Boomer snapped at him. "Are demons really punished down there?"

"Demons are made to punish- that's why they're so dangerous." Edge growled at him. "To punish horrific acts, you have to be bred on horror. It's no fun, it's a job." He turned back to me, eyes wide. "We at least have fun with our sins... they can't unless they're torturing somebody."

"So..." Brick rubbed at his jaw. "Heresy, that's the Sixth Circle-"

Edge nodded. "From what I heard it's all formal there. Tombs, and shit."

"So then the Seventh Circle is Violence, right?"

Edge nodded. "Look, I don't know anything passed that. There's three rings in the Seventh Circle- it's impossible to get through, unless you want to get to the tricksters in the Eighth Circle- they'll trap you in there forever. I heard there's no way to get out- even if you're an ally. I don't know anyone who would even try, even the worst Wrath demons I know. And they love blood, believe me. They'll torture you in the worst way possible, no matter what type of demon you are. They don't care, they're just born to make people suffer. You're playing with fire, dude. Don't even open those doors man..." He let out his own shiver. "Don't even talk about it-"

I took another gulp of drink. Truth be told, I didn't even know too much about it because I didn't want to know. Unspeakable evil was meant to stay that way. I had no idea what was down there, but I had a sneaking suspicion it was feeling what I felt when I thought of Buttercup- only every second of everyday. The same coldness in my chest with what felt like a gaping hole in my heart.

Even the whiskey couldn't warm me up. I fought back a shiver again, weighed down with sickness. I thought about saying something then, but before I could open my mouth, all four of us tensed at a noise- a soft gasp right outside the door that would have probably slipped past anybody else's ears. Boomer, who was closest to the door, threw it open to reveal Blayze and Bruiser- both with extremely wide eyes and obvious guilty looks on their faces. Bruiser was frozen in a panic, clutching onto Blayze, who was bracing himself, eyes flicking back and forth as if debating on whether or not to make a run for it.

"Don't even think about it." I heated back up immediately, darting over to him and grabbing the scruff of his neck. He pulled back only for a second before bowing under my hold, dragging his feet when I pulled him into the room. Bruiser let out a wail as Brick grabbed him too. "What the fuck do you think you're doing, Blayze?" I shook him when he refused to look at me. "How did you even get up here?!"

Blayze winced at my hold, but still stared with determination out of the corner of his eye, lips twisting bitterly. My anger only boiled at the thought of him spying on me, the secrets he might find. What if he'd heard me talking about Buttercup? What if he'd found out-

The thought twisted and turned in my head and my stomach lurched with it. I gripped him harder as Brick rounded on Bruiser.

"How long have you been listening?" Brick pulled Bruiser up so they were face to face, Bruiser dangling from the hood of his jacket, arms flailing. His eyes narrowed on his whimpering kid. He stammered back a reply.

"N-not long, Daddy, I swear!"

"What demons are after us?" Blayze, on the other hand, growled defiantly under my hold. "What's a rebellion? Are we gonna get attacked again? Are you really gonna get meaner people from Hell?"

"You." I grabbed at the neck of his shirt, yanking him closer and grabbing a firm hold of his chin. I forced him to look at me. "Need to stay out of this, Blayze, and get back to your floor where you belong."

He fought hard in my grip. Sweat started to bead on his forehead and he pushed me away, panting at the fight. I stared down at him, fists clenched and eyes burning.

"You don't tell me anything!" Blayze shouted at me, his own fists balled at his sides. "I'm sick of you lying to me, I wanna know what's going on!"

"I'll tell you what you need to know!" I shouted back at him, just as loud. "But you don't get to make the decisions on what you know! It's for your own good."

"That's not fair!" Blayze screamed at me, face screwed up in anger. He thought about it, for a brief second, before puffing out his chest and making sure I really heard him. "I HATE YOU!"

It ticked over in my head, those words, but they didn't hit me as raw as I would have thought. Instead, what felt like a stick of dynamite lit within me, and it was only a few seconds before the heat within me reached boiling point, and before Blayze or anyone else could react-my fingers had wrapped around his throat and I'd thrown his head against the wall behind me, where it bounced on impact. I faintly heard Boomer in the far distance, but all I could see was Blayze's wide green eyes- just like hers- staring at me, and all I could feel was blackened pain and furious desperation.

"Shit, Butch-!"

"I suggest you think twice before saying that to me." My voice was low, rough, like an animal out of breath. I growled right in his face, baring my teeth and clenching them as I fought for the words. "I know you don't mean it, so I'll go easy on you. But I wouldn't push me right now, Blayzer, and I wouldn't do anymore eavesdropping around here, if I were you."

I leaned back, taking him in for a moment. He was pale, suddenly small, and his eyes were crystal green-shimmering like they were precious stones. He was shaking in my hard grip, but I didn't hold back as I launched him back through the door and into the hallway, where he just caught himself just in time to skid across the floor.

"Now go to your room."

He blinked at me, horrified, but all I could do was glare back- his words ringing eerily through my head like a steady metronome. I twisted my lips to calm me down, but my heart kept humming, my demon rage strong. Brick was beside me and threw Bruiser back into the hall too, landing beside Blayze and scrambling to stop on the polished floor.

"That goes for you too, Bruiser." Brick growled at his own son. I gave Blayze one last snarl before slamming the door closed, the wood echoing against the stone walls and all around the room.

When I glared back at Edge, this time his eyes only widened.

"We need more powerful demons." I snarled at him, my voice so hoarse it came out in a rough hiss. "We need hunters like us. We need to show these worthless assholes we're not fucking around. They either bow down or get out."

"R-right." Edge nodded, running a hand through his hair. "You're right. I'll look into it."

"You fucking better." My vision was dotted with black and a sick, hot flash was soaring through my head. I grabbed another shot of liquor, ready to take some of this heat out on someone. "I'm done playing around. The next person who fucks with my family, I'm hunting them down myself."

.

Bubbles

.

It was getting late but I lost track of time as soon as the sun began to float back towards the horizon. I sat staring blankly at an old DVD while I picked at the rug. The pixels seemed to blur together into shapes that I couldn't recognise and I really didn't care. I felt nothing, for the first time in a long time. I thought maybe I could block it all out, on top of everything, like I usually could. Since the world went to shit, being the 'innocent' little sister still stuck with me. It was easier to ignore the reality around me rather than dwell on it.

But this time, it seemed a limit had been reached. Blayze's words, however innocent they were, tolled in my head grimly, over and over.

Buttercup. Dead. Mama's dead. Just like that.

While it probably hurt Blayze in a way I would never know, losing his mother while barely knowing her, the grief clung to me in a painful sting that I couldn't explain. Memories of Buttercup were swimming in my head, but at the same time it felt like a faraway dream, back when the world was right… back when we were all human.

It all seemed so hopeless now.

When Buttercup first went missing, and Boomer and Brick refused to tell us anything Butch told them, it was easier to hold onto hope that she was only missing. It was still hard to comprehend that the boys we grew up with, the boys we lived with, shared children with… were capable of taking our lives.

But now it was finally all clear for me to see... Butch hunted my sister down that night. He found her. And he killed her- just like he promised he would. I remembered back to that day- the day my raven-haired sister leaped out of an open window with her baby right behind her. It was all to show us that she was okay, she was still strong enough to fight for us… but the look on Butch's face- the one of such fury and heartbreak- was burned into my brain too.

…

"Well she's alive." He'd snarled at Brick, leering closer as Blossom and I looked on in horror. "BUT NOT FOR LONG!"

"BUTCH!"

The scream had escaped me before I could stop it.

"I KNOW you care about her!" I'd pleaded with him, my finger in his face as he towered over me- ready to snap my neck. "I KNOW you do! Y-You can't deny that Butch! I've seen the way you look at her, and despite how twisted you are- I know you know it too! You care about my sister! I-" I stared desperately into his face- hoping to all that I could there was still some human left in those black eyes. "I might even dare to say you love her!"

I remember the twitch in his face, the shake of his head, the desperate flicker in his eyes-

"FUCK!"

Before he finally exploded, throwing himself into the wall and out into the open air- ready to take my sister's life.

…

One of the most agonising thoughts was rushing through my head, desperately clinging to my heart and leaving a painful burn.

I wish he did love her…

I buried my head into my knees, pulled up to my chest. I wanted to crawl into a ball and sob my heart out, but I didn't have it in me. It was as if, after six years of tense waiting, I had reached my own limit on hoping for the best- only to find out the worst was in front of me all along. How do you deal with something like that? Deal with the fact you would never see your sister again, even though for years that had been the only thing getting you through the day?

"Knock, knock."

I looked up and rubbed harshly at my eyes at the sound of Blossom's meek voice at my door. She stuck her head in and I gave her the best smile I could muster. She crept inside- opening the door a lot wider to let her growing stomach through- and sat on the edge of my bed, her eyes on the movie still playing out on my TV.

"I haven't seen this in a while."

She sounded cheery, and I swallowed at the guilty lump that was growing in my throat. I looked up to see her wide pink eyes watching the screen, her face relaxed and her entire body leaning back against her hands. She seemed calm, at peace. For the first time in years, my older sister was actually happy.

I pushed out my legs against the rug, scuffing my toes against the cotton. I couldn't ruin that happiness for her.

"How…how are you feeling?"

"A lot better…" Blossom mumbled back lightly, kicking her feet. "Actually, I wanted to talk to you about something."

I tried to keep myself steady and my eyes calm and wide as I clambered onto my knees, brought myself up to the bed and sat beside my big sister. I swung my feet with hers.

"I'm starting to feel better about this whole…thing." She nodded towards her belly, sticking out over her old jeans. "I mean, I know this was never the life we wanted, but I think it's time to make the best of it, you know?"

"The best…" My throat seemed to close up, the image of Buttercup lying dead on the ground forming vividly in my head. "The best of this?"

Blossom nodded, her face darkening to a light pink. "I mean, I know we're stuck here, with the Ruffs and all… but there's no getting out, and there's no saving the world, you know? We're in too deep-"

"It's not like we were given a choice." My voice came out in a sharp rasp before I could stop it. My chest was tightening by the second. I couldn't stop thinking about my dead sister, even when my other sister was slackening with defeat at my harsh words.

"I…I know…" She fumbled with the hem of her shirt. "I was just, hoping we could at least live peacefully, you know?"

"While they're out there slaughtering the people we used to protect?" I spat hatefully. "I'm sure that'll work."

There was a tense, sharp silence that separated us. Despite the rumbling anger that had settled in my stomach, I felt a pang of guilt at the look of despair on her face. Blossom, always the righteous and sensible sister, had really made an effort to muster a positive attitude about this whole mess- and while pregnant too, of all things. It hurt me to see my only sister looking so sad, not as bad as thinking about my other sister, cold and dead in the ground and leaving us alone. But to see Blossom's pink eyes looking so dull and lifeless, staring down in disappointment… that hurt an awful lot more than I could explain.

I couldn't let her know. I couldn't pile more sadness on top of that. My hand found her shoulder and I rubbed at her cold skin, trying to maybe rub some life back into it.

"..I know what you mean though, Bloss. I understand."

She sniffed, but with a subtle twitch of her fingers under her nose she tried to pass it off as a small cough.

"Y-you do?"

I dropped my chin into a nod. "We have to make the best of it… even if we don't, for the kids."

Blossom gave me a shaky smile, her lips trembling but her cheek dropping onto my shoulder.

"Yeah…for the kids."

I had to laugh, my shoulders shaking against her face.

"It's pretty funny, saying that now." I told her, sighing to myself. It seemed to loosen the tight heat coiling inside me, but at the same time it weighed me back into the bed. "I mean, I'm still not used to being a 'Mum' and all."

Blossom nodded, lifting her head and cupping her stomach. "Tell me about it."

"So you're feeling better?"

"I don't feel as sick anymore." A meek smile twitched on her face. "I think it's finally calmed down… I think Brick will organise an ultrasound soon, they have the equipment and everything…"

It was strange, watching my sister rub at her stomach so lovingly. It had been a long time since I'd seen her so at peace. It was also weird, thinking about it, that for once in my life I was the sole one holding the burden of responsibility. Usually when Blossom wasn't leading us, Buttercup was the one to hold my hand through the hard times. It hit me harder than ever- that Blossom and I were the only ones left, and that we were the lone Powerpuff Girls left in this world. It didn't matter that I was the baby. This time I was the one that had to keep her safe, keep her going. Just like she had done for me for so many years.

…If that meant keeping Buttercup secret from her, by all means, I'd do it.

.

.

The only sound that reverberated through the forest at Cass' retreating footsteps was the animal-like panting escaping Cain's body. Rome watched him through blackening eyes, his fists trembling as he tried to hold himself steady. Bane had clearly been asleep so long, waiting for an opportunity to awake, that he could barely contain himself. Blood dripped from his brother's chin, but his father's eyes stared at him openly, his head cocking to either side as he took him in with energetic, impatient ticks.

"It's been a long time, Romulus…" He growled in that sleepy, thick voice again, drawing his brother's body to full height. He took a deep, shaky breath, closing his eyes and heaving a pleasurable sigh. His fangs flashed again in a wicked grin. "But it's good to be back on Earth. This place was always my home away from home."

"That's lovely." Rome sneered at him bitterly, trying to control his shaking. He would never show Bane just how hard and fast his heart was pounding out of his control. He dug his boots further into the dirt, making sure to catch every move his father made. "Now get the fuck out of my brother, you sick, twisted asshole."

Bane heaved a bored sigh once more, but stumbled as he took a step forward. He stopped, chewing on his tongue, before smirking and taking a sturdier step. Rome could see Cain was doing his best to fight back for control of his body- but all three demons were aware that possession was one of the hardest things to fight- especially against blood ties.

"You're not still mad about the whole…" Bane's blood red eyes trained on Rome's face for a brief second before rolling around in their sockets casually. "…Murder…Thing, are you?"

"You mean…" Rome tried, he honestly really did, to contain himself, but he was shaking harder than ever. His teeth were clenched so viciously he felt as though they were about to shatter. "Our mother?"

Bane clicked his fingers, like he'd remembered something. "Right, that's it… her." He tilted his head, looking over his son with mild fascination, his teeth sharpening in glee. Cain's blond hair hung in his face. "No hard feelings, right kiddo?"

"Kid-" Rome was finding it difficult to breathe. His nostrils flared and a deep, angry red filled his face. He fought back for control, but could feel his eyes changing, his body seizing as the anger took over. He had been setting this moment up in his head for over two decades, but now, faced with his father leering over him, he was finding it harder and harder to remember the control and confidence he had built up inside him. It was like he was back to being a teenager, lost and angry in the fiery depths of Hell with no plans and no ideas on how to get out. He glared hard at his father, fuming as the memories floated back to him. He was ready to lose it. "Y…you worthless, fucking piece of shit! You bring disgrace to our name and the circles of Hell!"

"Does your blood mean nothing to you?" Bane mocked him, scoffing harshly and stumbling once again, catching himself. "You came from me,you ungrateful mutt. I created you! What is Demon Lore between family?" He tilted his head again, licking his sharpened teeth. "Fuck, if I had followed the rules, you wouldn't even be here! And look at me." He held out his arms, his sharp teeth flashing in a wide, mocking grin. "Still here, kiddo. Still kicking!"

"Good." Rome spat back, now livid. Black had now completely taken over his eye sockets. He was swelling in ready anger. "I wasn't going to be happy until I dragged you down into the Ninth Circle myself."

"The Ninth-" Bane stopped, and even Rome picked up on the fearful twitch in his face, the sudden swirling in Bane's eyes. He, too, was quickly losing himself to demon fury. It was only for a second before he bared his elongated fangs, balling his fists and leering at his son once more. "So that's how it is, my own flesh and blood? Selling me out for a bounty?!"

"No…" Rome let out a lethal growl, scuffing his feet against the dirt. He was readying himself, drawing himself up for a battle. "Mark my words, Bane. You will die by my hand."

"You traitorous bastard!" Bane hissed through gritted teeth, losing himself completely. His eyes were darkening by the second. Cain's body seemed to be growing in anger too, his shoulders heaving as Bane huffed hard. "You would betray your own blood to Hell. You're no fucking demon, you're a fucking abomination!"

"Maybe I'm not a real demon." Rome sneered back, arms out now. He'd lost his cocky composure, and was now hissing and spitting just like his old man. "But that's what you were afraid of, huh, Dad?"

Bane drew himself up to Cain's full height, swelling with every breath. Bane's eyes were a sinister black and his face curled into a vicious, disgusted snarl. Rome never thought he could have seen his brother look so foul, but Bane had contorted his body and face into something evil, so unrecognisable, Rome thought for a second he'd lost his brother completely.

"I knew your mother should have swallowed you. It was the only thing she was ever good for."

The world finally went black, and with those words Rome finally lost what was left of his sanity. He charged forward like a lion, teeth bared and shoulders hunched, ready to tear into whatever he could.

"You-"

He stopped as he reached for his crossbow- eyeing his brother's body warily. He couldn't risk it- not when it was Cain he could be hurting. He threw his weapon aside and instead flexed his fingers readily. Bane was already closing the distance between them, his black eyes flashing hungrily.

"Better not do anything rash, Romulus. I'm amazed you can survive in this world, the mutant that you are."

"Mutant?" Rome repeated the phrase gravely, his voice darkening to a deadly growl, before his eyes filled with a dead black, his face tinged with a furious red blush. He couldn't hold on anymore, and the last of his control trickled from him like fragments of a broken mirror. "FUCK YOU!"

Rome threw himself forward and slammed into Cain's body, which lurched back into a tree. Just as he braced himself for another blow, a flash of blue crossed the dark, sick black of the eyes before him. Cain. He'd felt that- he was absorbing the pain too. He hesitated, a split second, before black filled Cain's eyes once more and Bane charged back at him, a thick fist flying at his face and landing square on his jaw before he could leap away. Rome stumbled back, head spinning at the blow. Cain could hit hard, and when there was Bane's added venom and hatred under it- it almost knocked Rome out.

"Fuck." He hissed under his breath, stealing a glance at Bane, who was readying himself for another hit, but still staggered under Cain's fight back for control.

After years of torturous training in the depths of Hell, Rome still couldn't get his head straight on the situation at hand. The hit had knocked him so much the world blurred before him and he stumbled on his feet. He had to claw at a tree, drawing blood, before he was jolted back to the black illuminating in his brother's eyes. The heat of the glare seemed to lick at his skin, scorching him just like the furious thoughts burning through his brain.

"You coward." He spat out, throat constricting as he fought hard to straighten. He took a step to the side and so did Bane, the two circling one another- waiting for the other to strike. "You're using his body just to hide! You're fucking pathetic!"

"Pathetic, am I?" Bane scowled back, his sneer darkening Cain's usually bright, innocent face completely. He mirrored his son's steps, the two dragging their feet in a tense, tight circle. His blackened eyes snapped onto the younger demon's face. "I was the one that survived both on Earth and Hell! Holy water couldn't destroy me. Nothing can destroy me. Even the Ninth Circle couldn't catch up to me!"

He let out a cackle, throwing his head back and wiping at the blood that had begun trickling from his mouth. "You can only dream of surviving what I have, son."

"You're nothing but a coward." Rome hissed back. "You never fought, you've just been hiding this whole time!"

Bane stopped, his lips curling in displeasure. His eyes narrowed and, like Rome, his fingers began to twitch as he felt himself slip of his control.

"Say that again."

Bane's voice was nothing but a rasping, throaty snarl now. He hunched over, swelling with anger, as his teeth grew sharper, longer.

Despite Rome's fear at that rough, threatening growl- the same one that had haunted his dreams and his nightmares since birth- his lips twitched into a ticking, manic smile. As his eyes grew darker in his rising excitement and anger at the thought of a battle, he looked more like his father than ever.

"You're nothing but a coward." He purred happily. "And you would be nothing if you weren't hiding behind your mutant, bastard children."

Bane charged forward at a lightning speed and Rome shifted, digging his feet into the dirt, but was side-swiped and thrown off balance as what felt like a semi-trailer ran into him, shoving him hard against a tree. His head cracked on the hard trunk, a thunderbolt of pain shooting through his skull. He sucked back a cry of pain, steadying himself to charge back at him. It had been a long time since someone with such anger fought him, actually threw him some force. He felt a chill in his blood- the bite of fear that he had missed so much. His human side was surfacing. His teeth scraped his bottom lip.

That's not good.

"What? Are you scared, bud?" Bane mocked him, stumbling back for another hit. "Guess they didn't teach you how to survive back down there, huh?"

Rome spat out a mouthful of blood and scrubbed at his bleeding face before straightening. Bane charged at him again in full force, but he darted to the side. Cain's body hit the trunk hard, splitting the thickened aged wood, and rounding again to focus those dead eyes on him.

"Gotta move faster than that." Rome hissed at him before drawing himself up, immediately grabbing his crossbow. It was an automatic reaction, but he hesitated as soon as his fingers hit the hot metal of his weapon. He didn't know what effect it would have on his brother's body, or even if it would affect Bane at all while he was possessing it. His eyes flicked back up in a split second decision.

Cain was his partner. To curse him would leave him on his own. He couldn't do that to his own brother- it had been the unspoken rule that bonded them together. Staring up into his brother's eyes- captured by his father's blackened ones- was enough to break him... but his brother's life depended on him holding it together. He had to help Cain get back some control- somehow.

For the first time, Rome didn't know what to do. He stared back helplessly, hoping to communicate to his brother. When Bane squared on him again, he dropped his grip on his weapon and threw it aside, bracing himself for another hit. He grabbed for his knife instead, gripping the blade in his pocket as Bane began to advance on him, cracking his knuckles.

"Why you running from me?" Bane growled. "Somehow scared with all your training, and you still can't face me like a real demon?" his head tilted, eyes shimmering with excitement. "You're just as much of a pussy as your slut of a mother was."

Rome's jaw ticked at that, his face darkening. "Shut the fuck up!" He tightened his hold on his knife, hating himself for showing such a weakness. Before he could properly calm his racing, thumping heart and ready himself for battle, Bane leapt at the open opportunity and charged into him, throwing him to the ground and staying there. He was ready to end this. He wrapped Cain's thick fingers around Rome's throat without hesitation and tightened his grip.

Bane could feel a fight within him- like someone was peeling away at his fingers. It felt like Cain was trying to fight back- but it was faint. Bane was sure he could push through it. Despite the desperate dotting in his vision, he stayed strong on his target and only hardened his grip, a smile tugging at his lips. He stared hard into his son's face, tilting his head as Cain's heart trembled in his ears. His eyes only narrowed on his son's face, which was reddening by the second as he tried to kick off the hulking body holding him down. Bane's thumbs locked- pushing harder under his victim's jaw, closing off the windpipe completely.

The loss of air was immediate to Rome, and suddenly his heart pounded in his chest in desperation. Staring into his father's eyes was the worst- to be face-to-face with your enemy, someone you've dreamed about defeating for years, only to be trapped in the most vulnerable position you can imagine- with your brother's own hands around your neck- was enough to make the young warrior collapse back onto the hard ground and give up his fight altogether. He looked up helplessly at the calm blue sky above him. The colours began to blur and fade, meshing together to form a sickening, gruesome gray.

Rome's pulse trembled beneath Cain's fingers and began to weaken under his hold. Cain tried hard to fight back for his body, but his mind was blank and he didn't know how. The heat from him was too strong. Rome began to fall in his grip as Bane only grew stronger, squeezing what little life there was from him.

A pop-like sound echoed through the trees, shattering the air around them. Bane felt his shoulder jolt at the motion, throwing off his hold and almost tossing him to the ground. His fingers slipped from his son's neck and he was thrown to the side. He looked around in shock.

Rome gasped for air, rolling over and coughing against the ground. He sniffed and took in a gracious, beautiful lungful of hair- inhaling a bunch of dirt with it. He looked up in a daze, head thumping in pain, before his consciousness began to slip from him.

Bane stood- awkwardly as Cain's control was still gripping for some control of his body- and saw that his shirt was ripped. A puddle of crimson began to smear against the fabric- slowly at first, but that circle began to grow, and suddenly a trickle of warm, fresh blood was sailing down his arm.

"Get the fuck off him."

His eyes lifted from the blood, over his shoulder.

Cass was taking steady steps towards him, her darkening eyes narrowed and her pistol still aimed at the demon's back.

.

Boomer

.

There was a definite throbbing ache building at the base of my neck when I stumbled down the hall to my room. The alcohol Butch gave me was definitely brewing sparks of happiness in my gut and head. It was releasing some tension, but the thought of seeing my beloved Bubbles shook any anxiety that seemed to take hold of me.

She may be mad at me now, but Bubbles never stayed that way for long. She was too sweet and forgiving- one of the many features that caught my attention from the moment I saw her. I knew I had to make her mine, even when I was a kid. I still made a point to kiss her every day and she never pulled away, even after a fight.

That has to be love. You can't fail at loving somebody. It's a natural human feeling…

Even though I'm not totally human anymore…

I shook my head at that- hard- but before I could gain back some control of my shaking I slammed into the hard wood of my bedroom door, stumbling back into the hall and straightening back up again. Maybe that booze hit me a little harder than I thought…

I finally found the door handle and turned it easily, falling through the doorway a lot less gracefully than I would have liked. Despite the waves of dizziness spinning in my head, when I saw my blonde beauty curled up at the foot of our bed, reality came crashing back down on my and immediately my buzz died down to make room for the squeamish guilt stirring in my gut.

I took a few ginger steps. I couldn't see her face.

"...Heeeey Bubs-"

Her dark, stormy eyes snapped to me- and it was enough to stop me dead in my tracks. I suddenly couldn't feel my feet, her deadly stare alone anchored me to the floor.

"You didn't tell me." Her face was stark white, her eyes dead and her hair limp. She seemed to be clenching at her knees so hard her knuckles were stark white. Her voice lowered. "You didn't tell me..."

"Didn't tell you what?" The stirring in my stomach became painful, guilt and trepidation creeping up on me. "I don't understand, baby-"

She jumped up, closing her eyes and breathing in deeply through her nose. I thought for a moment she was readying herself for an explosion, but when she spoke it was so quiet I could barely hear her.

"Buttercup's dead."

My heart twisted at that, as though caught in between my ribs. I couldn't find the words, her voice was so pained and broken I was almost spellbound at how sick I really felt at her words. I wasn't ready for this.

"Sh..." That telling lump grew in my throat, and I closed my eyes like a coward at the truth. "She is."

She didn't look at me, she barely opened her eyes. It was as though my happy, hopeful blonde had finally shut down.

"I'm so sorry, Baby." I tried, I really did. I took a step, but common sense held me back. Despite her eerie calm, I knew there had to be a storm brewing behind that heartbreak. "I wanted to tell you-"

"But you didn't."

"Please understand..." My own voice cracked as my heart began to sprint in a panic at the vision of her giving up on me, or leaving like Blossom tried to do. "I wanted to protect Butch, he never meant to do anything, he was just as scared as we were- it was an accident-"

"I can't believe I sat next to him, spoke to him- for all these years!" her hands went to her face, her long blonde hair waving in despair as she shook her head. "When all along, he murdered her!"

She hissed it in such a harsh, deathly whisper it sent chills rushing through me. I couldn't move- it was like she froze me.

"Baby…" I tried to reassure her from my corner, but she seemed far away from me, in a whole other world. "Look, I-I wanted to tell you, I really did. But Butch was so ashamed, he really didn't mean to hurt her-"

"Bullshit, Boomer!" Her scream cut into me, and she jumped up in a flurry of blonde hair. Her icy blue eyes cut into me- sharp and narrowed. Despite her being almost half my size, I felt like cowering at her threatening glare. "Butch wanted my sister dead the moment he found out about Blayze! He fucking attacked her when she was pregnant! He hunted her down like she was a fucking DEER! What makes you think he killed her on accident!? What makes you think anything you guys do is an ACCIDENT?!"

"Butch loved her!" I closed the distance between us, begging for her to understand. She hadn't been there- she hadn't seen all the tears Butch shed, how much he'd changed after that night. The light within him had gone, a piece of him died with her. She didn't understand. "Bubbles, I know my brother, he never meant to hurt her. He wanted to make it work with her. He loved Buttercup, he was heartbroken-"

Her shrill scream stabbed at my eardrums. She pushed herself off the bed again and lashed out at the dresser, throwing the lamp, some of her jewellery and a bunch of other trinkets crashing to the hardwood floor.

"He's heartbroken!?"She hollered throatily, voice breaking in a sob as she continued to scream and thrash around the room. "HE IS HEARTBROKEN!? MY SISTER IS GONE! SHE WAS TAKEN AWAY FROM US! BY THE VERY PERSON I SIT NEXT TO EVERY NIGHT AT DINNER! AND YOU DIDN'T EVEN THINK TO TELL ME!"

She tore a few clothes out of the dresser and threw them everywhere, tearing a few in two for good measure.

"When were you going to tell me, Boomer?! When were you going to tell me your brother took my sister's life? How many times have I told you I trusted you, that I stuck by you, that I believed you when you said you would do anything for me. But you couldn't spare me the truth about my sister, one of the only family I thought I had in this world!"

She grabbed at her hair and pulled, her narrowed red-rimmed eyes turning to me with her teeth bared. She crept closer to me in steady, hard stomps. Her eyes were colder than I had ever seen them. They were like solid panes of glass- sharpened and ready to slice into me with every step she took.

"Do you know how many nights I cried, I prayed, for her to come back to us? Do you know how many times I've cursed her out for leaving us? Do you know how many times I've played that same day in my head- the day she jumped out that window with Blayze right behind her? I thought she'd left us, Boomer. I thought she'd run away! RUN AWAY LIKE A COWARD!"

She took a deep breath and stopped. She glared hard at me before switching her stare to the wall beside her. Without warning, her hand curled into a sharp fist, and my wife- my dainty, shy, blonde, sweetheart princess- threw her entire fist not only through the wall… but through the brick, mortar and whatever structure that held it together. She punched so hard dust and wallpaper crashed through in one blow- and even with her hand outstretched, arm shaking and her chest heaving, she still managed to give me a glare over her shoulder… still with her teeth bared.

"And all along…" She snarled, pulling her fist back through. It was coated with scratches and blood, seeping down her arm. She kept it tight, her glare on my shaking form. She was blind to her hurt, and instead focused on my horrified eyes. "You and your brothers were the cowards."

"I..." My mouth was open, but I was empty of all words, substance or emotion. I was frozen to the floor. Her dangerous blue eyes were bearing down on me so hard it felt as though I'd run a marathon. I stared in shock, breathing hard. "B...Bubs-"

But she stalked off without another word, stomping into the bathroom and slamming the door so hard the whole room shook.

I was left staring, panicking, turning to that gaping hole in the wall next to me and wondering faintly what the fuck I was in for now.

.

Jayden

.

Ok, I know I've always been a bit of a screw-up, but this is a new level.

In the past, I never knew how to handle myself, never knew what I wanted. I wanted something- but I never knew what. I just wanted to feel useful, to feel like I was making a difference. It's never been a good difference, but at least when I was running around with demons they appreciated me… sort of.

Faintly, as I could barely feel the dirt underneath me and the tree I was leaning against, I touched the bruised skin and forced myself to think. My neck hurt- it'd been hurting ever since I left. I couldn't focus- shimmers of thoughts and memories floated through my head, but never settled on anything.

I could faintly remember when I last felt this dazed, like coming out of a weird dream with my skin feeling like it was on fire and a pair of bright, unreal blue-green eyes glinting at me out of the shadows-

...

"I hope you're okay, baby…" A rough voice cooed at me as the room began to piece together. I could make out a light tickling at my face. "That must have been scary for you."

I was out of it, but I still wanted to know why a fucking guy was stroking my face. I batted his thick hand away, my arm weighing against me.

"What the-"My voice seemed to melt and drip out of my mouth. My eyes rolled to where I thought up was. "Where am I?"

"You're in our room!" The bright smile widened, and I caught a flash of white fangs. My heart leapt into my throat and I threw myself back, skidding harshly against the scratchy carpet and away from him. He immediately crawled after me, those bright blue eyes wide. They were unreal- the most serene shade of green and blue I'd ever green. They reminded me of a murky sea and were staring into me with such vicious concern it numbed my skin. He kept trying to talk to me, even while I was blindly backing away. "You don't need to worry about those people anymore, beautiful. I got you, now."

His hand was reaching for me and with a numbness I couldn't quite grasp I let him, frozen in a sudden heated panic as his whole hand wrapped around my upper arm and somehow managed to lift and pull me onto his lap. I realised then how huge he was- hulking over me with enough body mass to match a bull. I stiffened in a numb shock as the warmth seemed to engulf me, such a stark difference to the cold night air I'd lived in for the last five years.

I was suddenly pressed into his chest, lost in the fabric of his shirt. Chills sparked up my neck, tickling my skin, and I jolted as I realised it was his nose grazing against me, sniffing me.

SNIFFING ME!

I pulled away, but he yanked me right back into place. His arms were around me in a second and his hard biceps pushed into my throat, dangerously closing my airway. My pulse beat hard against his unnatural strength.

"You smell so gooood…" His rough voice tickled my hair. My heart raced in my chest, pulse drumming against that inhuman arm.

"Cain!"

A hard voice jolted me from my stupor. His rough cheek brushed against my hair as he turned to stare at the hulking figure approaching. Whoever it was, he was just as tall and stomping hard against the floor, the entire room trembling in his wake. Far from the beachside eyes, this demon had eyes of burning coals, hard and unforgiving. I found myself curling into the blonde's chest, further into his warm lap. His rough fingers somehow found themselves wrapped around mine.

"It's okay, sweetheart…" The demon cooed at me. "That's just my brother, Rome, he's alright, you're still safe-"

"Fuck off with that shit." Rome spat at us. I really didn't want to jump again, but my heart gave out on me at a rapid pace, drumming so hard against my chest he could probably feel it vibrating within me. Rome gave me a pointed snarl. "I don't want you slipping up because you have a pet now. We have a mission, Cain-"

"I know." His arms tightened around me and his heavy chin dropped onto my shoulder. "I'm keeping watch, I'm still focused-"

"You are not." Rome's red eyes flashed in fury. "You haven't taken your eyes off this runt since it got here-"

"He's not a runt! He has a name!" Cain's snarl cut into my ear and I jumped at that too- his grip kept me in place. I found myself turning against him as he pulled me closer, tilting my head. I was limp, numb, against his heated body. His calming blue eyes washed over me. "What's your name, baby?"

It was as though my throat had caved in, filling my lungs with the same icy panic. All I could do was stare like an idiot as I was cradled like a Goddamn bride by this hulking supernatural evil that could probably rip out my throat in a few seconds.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the darker demon roll his eyes pointedly. "It doesn't have a name, Cain, stop babying it!"

"He does…" Cain's voice lowered considerably, so it was just he and I, like we were sharing some secret. He pulled me even closer- all I could see were those wide ocean eyes again. My heart seemed to lull into a steadier, yet harder beat- drumming against my chest in a rhythmic wave. He asked me again. "What's your name?"

Against my better judgement, I let out a squeak.

"Jay-Jayden…"

His arms tightened around me again and I felt my breath seep out of me. His face pushed right into mine, his voice a breathy snigger.

"That's so cute!"

"Oh for God's sake-" Rome stomped closer again and broke whatever trance Cain had struck with me with those mystical eyes of his. Rome's voice cut into me like a fog horn. "I consented to this deal because you said he would be good information, but now I find out you just want a fucking pet. Real fucking good timing, Cain, seriously-"

"Shut the fuck up!" Cain's growl vibrated through his chest, shaking me to the core. He hugged me closer, stilling me. I had no clue that someone with such a sappy baby voice could unleash such a terrifying, animalistic snarl. "You're scaring him!"

"Are you fucking kidding-" I heard Rome stop, breathing heavily through his nose. Cain hugged me closer to him, my face pushed against his shirt. I realised then that he smelt kind of nice, kind of smoky, like the spice of tobacco mixed with the warm bite of alcohol and smooth earthy scent of leather. He smelt something like the VIP area of a club- somewhere I always dreamed of being, but never remained in. I couldn't resist glancing up, taking him in with guilty interest. It had been so long since I was reminded of old times, back before demons took over. It had been even longer since I'd ever been comforted like this, with actual arms around me, deliberately holding me closer… rather than drunkenly, or angrily. I was used to being shoved, not held.

It was weird, but I wasn't going to deny how nice it was.

"You know you can't keep it." Rome was stern as he flicked through one of the books that were scattered over the floor. Cain's arms became even tighter, digging into my chest and almost cutting off my airway.

"What? Why!?"

"We have a job to do, Cain!"

"I know we do." I felt those fresh ocean breeze eyes washed over me again. "He can help, he can come with us-"

Rome slammed his book closed with a snap. "Absolutely not. How many times do I have to tell you, brother? You don't trust humans. They are weak, cowardly and totally disposable."

Cain didn't stick up for me this time, and I had to look up at his face almost tentatively. Not that I cared what he thought, or anything, but to tell how much danger I was in of being abandoned again. He was still watching me, eyes lidded with the corners of his mouth twitched up in a half smile. It was like we were already sharing some secret.

Rome went back to stomping around the room. I grew cold under his glare. He threw on a jacket and turned to his brother.

"I have a meeting at one of the inside clubs in town. You watch the place."

The blond nodded. "I will-"

Rome's harsh red eyes narrowed. "And when I say watch, I mean watch." His glare snapped to me again. "And hurry up with this runt, okay?"

Another icy chill snapped through me and I stiffened in Cain's hold. Hurry up with me? My heart trembled in my chest. I'd been sold off. These guys were going to use me for food- I just knew it. This was bad. As the door slammed, Cain's arms tightened around me and I realised then how much I was shaking in his hold- my mind fearfully blank.

"Sweetheart…" He cooed warmly in my ear. "You need to calm down, he didn't mean anything by it-"

A lump was swelling in my throat, and I fought hard to keep my voice strong but it shook as I tried to talk.

"Y-you're g-gonna kill me-e…" I was quivering harder and I had to sink my nails into my own skin just to get a grip on myself. Cain's arms still caged me in. "Aren't y-you?"

Cain hugged me tighter, hunching over so his soft hair tickled my cold face.

"No."

"Then w…" I coughed roughly, jolting in his hold. "What a-are you gonna do to me?"

He didn't reply, but he looked down at my cut up arms, tilted his head. He raised a finger and traced the lines in my arms. When I winced at the slight sting and made to pull away, he snapped a hand down and his eyes rose to meet mine.

"Just trust me."

My lips twitched in rejection, but I held still. His one hand could wrap around my entire arm, after all.

An unnatural warmth radiated from his fingers, and when he let go the warmth still remained. He traced a finger over the cuts again, but instead of leaving a sting, it left a slight tingle. My eyes seemed to blur in the light that tickled my skin- and in the wake of his finger, the slices in my skin disappeared… as if he'd painted on new skin.

"Wh-"

"Shh." He scoffed as he let go of my newly repaired arm, his eyes lidding behind his long blond hair. "Just don't tell Rome, okay?"

My mind was in a whir. I was so sure he was a demon. "But h-how did you-"

I caught the flash in his eyes and the twitch in his lips, but he bit down on his bottom lip before he gave too much away. He gently let me go, letting me fall back onto the mattress beneath us. He watched me with those ocean eyes, taking me in. Just when I started to get nervous under that close watch, he jumped up and came back with a large bottle.

"Want a drink?"

"Of what?" the lump in my throat was painful. "Poison?"

"I just healed you, why would I hurt you all over again?" Cain pouted at me. "Besides, I'd have no fun with you if you were dead."

My eyes narrowed, cheeks firing up all over again. But I couldn't get mad at him- not with my arm still tingling and with those bright blue eyes glimmering at me.

I took the bottle and took a giant mouthful- before realising it was straight tequila. I choked, my whole throat burning up, but at least the lump clamming up my throat finally disappeared. I swallowed it down, my head pleasantly spinning, just as Cain took the neck of the bottle and gulped it down like I did. He smacked his lips, though, and merely gave it back to me. I took it, stared at it. The last thing I wanted was to appear as a pussy to this guy- the same guy who went to put his arm around me.

I blinked back the burning tears in my eyes as he hugged me closer.

"You're really cute, babe. I'm glad I saw you when I did."

Babe? I'm in trouble. Despite my stomach lurching in protest, I drank down the bitter mix of tequila. It was the good stuff, but I could never handle it when I was younger...

Wait, he saw me?

"When did you see me?" I growled at him, my brain in a blur. "I never-"

But then my eyes widened on his blond hair, his broad shoulders and stubbled jaw. His eyes…

"Wai-" My lip drooped and my face grew even hotter as I remembered the hands all over him, his bare chest. I had seen him before, at the club, surrounded by girls. "You-"

His smile only widened.

"You're mine now, baby. I'll make it all okay."

Wait, what?

A hesitant burp escaped me once I lowered the bottle, my entire face twitching at the burn. Cain laughed out loud at me, only stopping to give me a goofy grin.

"You look like a rabbit!"

I narrowed my eyes at his goofy smile.

"What do you mean, I'm yours?" I grumbled as my head began to spin as I thought back to him in that room. "L-look, I'm not about to be someone's bitch. I live in the city, you know, and I'm doing fine by myself- I can get my own money my own way-"

"You don't need money with me, baby." He ran a few fingers through my hair. I repressed a shiver at his touch. It felt weird, being touched like this. A small thought pounded through my head that he was just doing it to butter me up, but he took so much care it was hard not to melt into it. "You just stick with me, I can give you anything you want."

I couldn't deny, that sounded tempting. The spinning in my head quickly swirled through my body, giving warmth to my lips and fingertips. I mashed my lips, flexed my fingers. The bed seemed more welcoming, a comfy site from the old couch I'd been crashing on. I looked back up at him, still clenching my bottle. The image of him at the club was still seared into my brain.

"Like...anything? What do you mean?" A numb chill seemed to coat my face, and the tequila clenched my stomach a lot more than I was expecting as the words burned up my throat, like vomit. "What do I have to do?"

But the blond still had that dopey-ass smile on his face, shrugging his shoulders as his face began to colour.

"I dunno...you don't have to do anything." He looked back at me hopefully, eyes shining through his long blond locks. "I'd do anything for you."

"But I saw you, at the club-"

His eyes widened and he cuddled me closer immediately.

"I was just doing a favour for my brother, honey…" He cooed on my skin, tickling the shell of my ear. "Those girls didn't mean anything, I swear. I couldn't keep my eyes off you. I had to make you mine-"

"You don't even know me."

"I want to."

"You don't." I couldn't explain why I got annoyed, but I took another swig of tequila anyway. It burned, and I was grateful for it. I blinked stupidly and found tears in my eyes... at least the liquor gave me a good excuse for that. "I'm kind of an outcast."

Cain blinked at me innocently. "We are too... my brother and I."

"Not like me." I handed the bottle back to him, still glaring at the wall as too much spilled out of me. "I'm a mistake. I fuck people up. I couldn't even survive in my own world without fucking other people up. People have to be drugged just to be around me."

Cain blinked, his eyes burning into my face. I felt my cheeks flare up at his wide gaze- it suddenly felt like I was on fire. When the silence dragged on, I had to shift my gaze- just to be amazed that he was still there, still with that dopey grin on his face. He crept closer to me, eyes lidding as he gazed at me intently- trained on my face.

"I told you, I'll make it all okay."

The lump in my throat was back, and the bottle slackened in my grip. My mind was fuzzy, and my body was losing control. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, I felt protected and I felt warm- locked away from the cold chaos outside.

"How?"

He wrapped both arms around me again, and I let him. I mean, when he crept forward, I had to stay there, I had to lean closer to him. I was feeling good, right? He felt really warm, and my mind was in a blur- a pleasant buzz I hadn't felt since I was a teenager.

He lowered his head, and I felt his breath tickle my cheek. Despite an initial twitch, I looked up at the unfamiliar feeling coiling within me. There were now tickles all through my stomach, fluttering like butterfly wings. His eyes were now boring into me- inches away. When they closed, my own eyes drooped down too, like I had no control. I was suddenly so heavy, falling into him.

Soft, warm lips pushed into mine- and that was new too. It was spicy, laced with liquor, and a wet tongue followed. The warmth in my brain completely took over, the sending tremors down my neck, my arms to my toes. His lips went from mine, down my jaw, eventually trailing down that thin skin that covered my neck. Every fibre of my skin vibrated- and I couldn't gain back control. No sensible thought propped up in my brain this time. When his teeth latched on, my fingers actually found his heavy shoulder and I pulled him to me as much as I could.

Even when the chill of the night air caught my naked chest, my legs, that didn't knock any sense into me. For some strange, stupid reason, when Cain kissed me that night- and every night after that- the warmth in me only spread, every thought I'd had before completely melted.

Every single fucking time, I kissed back.

And I couldn't stop.

And I didn't stop.

Until that one night-

...

I woke up from whatever trance I was in, my fingers still gripping my neck. The throbbing was still there, albeit the pain a little less dull. The queasiness in my stomach only hardened- the guilt burning up within me. I should see him. I want to, and I should.

He's right. I hate to admit it, but he rescued me, after all.

I pushed myself off the blurry ground way too fast, my entire body giving a feeble tremble as I found my feet. The whirring in my head picked up speed as I swayed to gather my balance. The trees seemed to blend together into one, and it was like a trance. I started stepping into what I hoped was back towards camp. Buttercup was on my mind. I can sneak off safely with her.

I set off to where I was sure camp was, shaky and half-blind… but, for once, my heart and head were focused on the same thing.

.

Brick

.

I thundered back down the stairs without even realising how much noise I was making. The worries in my head were a lot louder. I'd thrown open the door, slammed it shut behind me and kicked off my boots before I even realised Blossom had followed behind me, and was now leaning up against the bed, eyes wide.

"Are you…erm…" She awkwardly shuffled on the spot before sitting down on the bed. "…okay?"

I cocked an eyebrow as I took her in. She was in an old shirt of mine, a long white v-neck that highlighted her chest and stomach and slipped off one shoulder. Her hair was messy and falling around her elbows. She looked…soft, natural and sweet- everything that my life should be, but isn't.

I craved her then, more than anything. Like sugar.

"Just a shitty day." I blurted out to her before I could stop myself. "Just…" I shrugged my shoulders, wincing at the painful twinge at the base of my neck. "Lots to think about, that's all."

Her lips drooped at that, and she looked down in disappointment. "I'm sorry about that."

"Not your fault." I grumbled bitterly. I ripped off my shirt and collapsed onto the bed face first, letting out a long groan into the comforter. I tried hard to not think about the hunters and the prospect of new demons, but the thought sat in my head and seemed to throb against my skull painfully hard. I shifted and cracked my shoulders, hissing as my frustration began to build. I heard her shuffle next to me and the mattress dipped slightly before I felt her fingers lightly tickle my arm, sending delicate waves of pleasure across my skin and over my back. I had to hold back a shiver.

"Keep doing that."

Her fingers froze against my skin, fingernails scraping against my neck. I swallowed thickly, moving my face so I could stare at her.

"…Please?"

She gave a small smile under that curtain of auburn hair, and her fingers brushed against my arm again, rubbing at the thick muscles that now coated my shoulders. I bit back a groan, but when her fingers sunk into the knots in my back, I couldn't hold it in.

"Fuck." I hissed through my teeth. "That feels good."

She pushed hard at the twinges in my shoulders, fingers working through the kinks and tension that had formed under my skin. My eyes seemed to droop as waves of pleasure rocked through me. I faintly felt a trickle of drool drip from my lips onto the sheets- but it hardly seemed to matter. When I heard a sharp snore slip out and a small scoff of laughter escape her- that's when I jolted awake.

"Sorry…" She mumbled as I sat up, rolling my shoulders. "I- just-"

"Don't say sorry." I told her, rolling onto my back. I gave her a long, hard look. Under the soft lights of the night, sitting on my bed, it was almost as though we were normal. Her messy hair and genuine smile was getting to me. I threw out my arm and beckoned her with a lazy jerk of my fingers. "Come here."

She watched me, her faded eyes lowering shyly. I bit down my anger and tried again.

"…Please?"

Her lips pushed up into a meek smile, her cheeks caving to show off those dimples I missed so much. Without even looking at me she pulled herself back, lowering down gently to put her head in the crook of my arm. She fit perfectly there- when I could get her to lay against me. Sitting with that soft hair pushed into my face, her warmth draped over me, with the right smells floating off her- it was enough to send me into the sweetest, deepest dreams I've ever had. I didn't get her those froofy perfumes for her hair for nothing.

I buried my face in her hair straight away, eyelids fingers danced across my chest, tickling my neck. My brain had almost completely shut down when her gentle voice cooed in my ear.

"Are we in danger, Brick?"

"N-huh?" I jolted awake, eyes fluttering, to see her staring up at me with those wide, faded eyes. They were so full of fear. I curled my arm around and rubbed her forehead. "We're always in danger."

She looked down, swallowing, and curled up against my side. With a pang of guilt, I lowered my hand to wrap around her back so my hand rested on her swollen stomach. I turned around, too, so our chests were pressed together and I could stare deeper into her face.

"There are… hunters, getting closer to us." I told her. "We're hoping to bring in reinforcements from below, help us out."

Her voice came out in a dark whisper. "From…where?"

"You don't need to worry about that, babe." I told her, rubbing the back of her scalp. "Just let me worry about it."

"I…" She heaved a sigh, her stomach heaving against me. "I'm not used to this, Brick-"

"I know you're not." I flexed my fingers against her side, so they splayed out against her bump. "But you have other things to worry about."

She gave a small smile at that. As I hugged her closer, I felt a tiny nudge against my stomach- where little kicks were pushing against me from within her. I had to scoff at that, reaching down and cupping her belly. My heart soared at the feeling, staring down to see a new life between us, a life that was mine.

"I can set up an ultrasound tomorrow…" I mumbled, tiny feet bumping against my palm. I never got used to the feeling, it seemed magical to me. "So we can finally see the little guy."

"I'd like that." Her hand slid down to meet mine and our fingers interlaced. It was the first time I felt completely relaxed since I woke up. Seeing her dainty, pale hand in mine did things to me. Her slender fingers, with one sporting a bright, glitzy diamond, looked so strange next to my thick, calloused ones. Seeing her like that had a strange, calming aura that washed over me, made me forget everything that was hanging over my head, everything that pissed me off just melted away when I was with her.

"I like this." I eventually admitted, pushing my face so my cheek grazed hers. I hadn't shaved in a while, so her softness felt pretty good, but I wasn't surprised when she grimaced at the prickle. "You and me, our new baby... this is all pretty nice, right?"

"Yeah..." I felt her cheeks bulge in a smile against me, and I had to smile back, into her hair. "How was Bruiser today?"

My teeth latched down on my tongue in surprise and I hissed in pain. She glanced up at me curiously, and I racked my brain for a proper response other than 'I threw him'.

"Uh, he was good... I didn't see him much, being out with the guys, and all."

"I didn't see him at all." She sighed into my neck. "He's just turned five, and already he's forgotten about me."

"He hasn't." I scoffed at her. "He's not a teenager yet. Remember when we were that age? Running around the city and trying to destroy each other?"

She tilted her face to mine again, still pouting. "I'm not ready for him to run around like we did, I want him to stay little forever."

I poked her stomach. "You'll have another one to baby soon."

"But then he'll get older and leave me too..."

"I won't leave you." I promised her. Her eyes widened on me and I had to shift my shoulders, giving a half-assed shrug. "...If that helps. I mean, you can always look after me."

I noticed the tears building up in her eyes before she looked away, cheeks dimpling into a shy smirk again. "Thanks, Brick."

"Anytime." I nuzzled against her face, and just for the heck of it gave her a kiss on her temple. My head sunk against her hair splayed out on the pillows, and my eyes drifted closed once more. "'Night, babe."

"Goodnight, Brick."

.

Buttercup

.

I couldn't stand waiting anymore. It was like a ticking time bomb in my head, waiting to explode. Scenes of Cass being ripped to shreds and Tyler's throat torn out were among the worst- and I was sitting here, in a sanctuary with the rest of the cowering humans.

This wasn't right. It isn't me to stand to the side and watch everyone else suffer.

Emerald was cuddled up next to me, shaking. Even though to everyone else she appeared a scared little girl, it was clear to me she was trembling out of fear for Cass, and impatience that-like me- she didn't know what was going on out there… and assumed the worst.

"What's happening, Mama?" She whispered to my elbow. "When's Aunt Cass coming back?"

I tightened my hold around her shoulder, drawing her face into my side. I kissed the top of her head and ran a few shaky fingers through her hair- forcing a smile.

"I don't know, baby…" I stared out of the stained glass windows- at the eerily stillness of the campgrounds. I didn't like seeing it that way, abandoned. I wasn't used to being on this side of the battle- the bystander, the scared public. I pulled Emerald's tiny body to me again, this time pulling her up and into a proper hug. I breathed her in, felt her heart thump hard against my chest, and pulled away so I could look at her.

Even though she was only five, the same age I was when I was fighting crime for the City of Townsville, Emerald looked young, innocent. She still had her small, heart-shaped face and her wide, big deep green eyes. While I saw Butch when I looked at her most of the time, I'd only ever seen his eyes that open and caring when he was looking at Blayze, and-only a handful of times- when he was looking at me, upset and worried, deep in thoughts he would never divulge to me.

That's why Emerald, as well as being my warrior, my hardened, happy spirit and my inspiration, is so precious to me. Her eyes alone embody the best qualities in Butch… the caring side, the human side.

...The side I found myself missing so much.

"Mama?"

I was knocked out of my thoughts as I felt her hand on my cheek. It felt wet, and I stupidly realised I was crying. I kissed her hand, kissed her face and rose from the cold ground.

"I'm going out there."

Emerald gasped, eyes widening in a sudden panic that took me by surprise. "You can't!" She immediately grabbed my pants, pleading with me. "Aunt Cass told you to stay! Rome wants you to stay here!"

I shook my head in determination, gently detaching her grip from me.

"Baby, it'll be okay, I just have to help-"

"No!" This time, she had a definite growl in her cry. She looked down, face paling. She looked distressed, afraid, to the point of sickness. "He might see you!"

"He-" I stopped, my own eyes widening as I lowered back down to her level. "Emmy, what do you mean he? Who are you talking about?"

She looked away, lips twisting in a frenzy. It had been a long time since I had seen her look like such a powerless little girl. Usually such a spark of confident energy, she seemed to have deflated on the spot. There was a definite tremor in her voice.

"I can hear him, Mummy..." Her voice came out painfully, in a strained whisper. "He wants to hurt people, it makes him happy..." Tears sparked in her eyes, and my throat constricted as I thought of what she might be hearing, feeling. "He's not a nice person... he wants to hurt Rome, really bad."

"I know, Darling." I kissed her on the cheek, my arms wrapped tightly around her sides. I didn't want to let her go... I wanted to hold her and make sure she was okay- just like a real mother should. I really wanted to be the one to comfort her, to be the one by her side...

But when I thought of what was out there, what was ready to be conquered, I couldn't let myself stand back. I gently let her go and stared into her face, trying to hold back the tears dwelling behind my eyes.

"I know who's out there, baby, and I have to go."

She grabbed me again as I made to get up. This time, her eyes narrowed seriously- I even noticed a flash of darkness behind her pupils.

"No! He'll hurt you!"

"I can handle it, Emmy-"

"No you can't! He's from a bad place! Aunt Cass said stay!"

I felt the eyes on my back, on my face, watching us as she shouted louder. I tried to hold her close again, but she pulled away. She stared deeply into my face- her eyes narrowed and a stubborn tick to her jaw.

"He's evil, Mama." She refused to drop her darkened gaze. "He wants to hurt people."

"I know he is, baby! That's why I have to go out there." I grabbed her hands, pushed back a piece of her hair. I tried to make her understand, while the nervous, guilty twisting of my stomach grew tighter. "That's what we do, we help good people, we fight bad people. You know this- it's what we have to do! He's one of the bad guys-"

But she was shaking her head, so much so her ponytail came loose and fell over her shoulders. The grip she had on my hands tightened, and she gritted her teeth.

"Not this one..." She hissed. Her chin wobbled in warning, before a few tears bubbled up in her eyes. She still refused to look away from me. "He's different, Mama. You can't go."

"But Emmy, I have to." I spoke earnestly, feeling tears prick in my own eyes, as I stared into hers. "It's part of being what we are, I'm sorry baby." I pulled on her hands, kissing her forehead and finally letting go. "I'll be back, I promise."

"NO!"

Her scream echoed around the church and before I could take another step, a flash of green light whizzed by me and hit the door- a shield forming around me that I couldn't pass through. I let out a gasp, eyes widening. The light caused shouts and wails of the people around me to pierce my ears, throbbing in my eardrums and causing everything around me to muffle. I whirled around, heartbeat soaring, to see Emerald's determined, darkened glare aimed at me. Before I could shout a warning, a woman behind us screamed and another man drew his gun and pointed it at her.

"DEMON!" She screamed, a hand waving at my daughter. Before I could blink, a man with a shotgun rushed forward and pulled the trigger.

It was as if time slowed down just for me. I saw his finger tighten, the gun jolt, and the bullet seemed to rush straight for her. I staggered forward, sprinting across the floor, and shoved my daughter as hard as I could out of the circle of people. She fell, wailing, and I straightened as the crowd drew back and the gun reloaded. Black dotted my eyes as I saw her spread out across the cold stone floor, face stained with tears. Without even thinking, I reached over and yanked the loaded barrel out of his hands, and my other hand wrapped around his neck. As soon as his pulse thumped against my thumb, a new life was pumped into me. Anger flowed freely through me, fury and fear blending into one dangerous force. I wanted blood. I stared into his face, black staining my eyes as I watched the panic spread in his paling face.

"HOW DARE YOU!" I shouted in a voice that wasn't mine. "That's my daughter you're shooting at!"

"She's a demon!" Another woman howled at me, pointing a finger. "And so are you!"

"How dare you come into our camp, you've killed us all!" A man screamed at me, pointing his own gun at my face.

"You mean I've saved your ungrateful hides!" I scowled back at them. I could hardly recognise my voice, there was a definite growl radiating from my chest I wasn't able to hide. There was a hot, spinning anger that was shooting through my system like fire. I couldn't remember ever feeling so furious. The neck I held in my fist trembled as I began to shake. "I've protected all of you, and this is the thanks I get!"

My grip tightened on the man's neck and I threw my arm down, slamming his skull into the floor and causing chaos within the church. Men and women screamed and grabbed their children, running from me. Weapons and guns were tossed around, crying and pleading was heard from all around. Shots rang out. I hoisted Emerald up and out of harm's way. I jumped up and hovered over the crowd, where the screaming only grew louder. I could barely see, couldn't even focus, for the darkness that dazed me. I still managed to scream, the anger boiling within me.

"Look at what you've become, Townsville!" I screamed at them, letting it all out. "Without the Powerpuff Girls you become nothing more than helpless pieces of meat! You're not capable of saving yourselves, forget everyone else! You weren't worthy of a protector like me! YOU'RE NOT WORTHY OF ANY OF US!"

I took a moment to breathe, staring down at them through the blackness. My chest shook with every breath and I trembled where I floated. They all stared, in shock, probably taking in the familiar girl that was flying above them. I was probably unrecognisable, with such a fiery, darkened presence around me I doubted anybody would even try if they could to put a young name to such an old face. But I hugged my girl closer, and the second I heard her sob against my shoulder, another thunderbolt of fury struck me, and I turned to glare at the crowd once more.

"I may be the demon here, but none of you can call yourselves human!"

My fingers curled into a fist, and the arm that wasn't holding my girl I threw down towards them, and a cascade of light and energy rained down on them. They screamed, scrambled, shots fired through the air-

I took off through the window, a shower of glass sprinkling to the ground. I hugged Emerald to my chest, breathing hard. The light of the sun hit me harder than the darkness did, and as soon as the warmth hit my skin, I felt myself regress. I breathed easier, I closed my mouth over my teeth- I blinked away the blackness.

"M-Mama..."

I looked down at the girl in my arms, still curled into a ball under my chin. Tears dropped down her chin, her shaking fingers clenched into fearful fists to her chest.

"They shot at me-"

"They didn't mean to, baby." I tried to tell her. "They just don't understand, they're just scared."

She gave a shaky nod, but still burst into tears. I held her closer to my racing heart, trying to catch my own breath. I glanced over her head, my vision still dazed from the sun, to the forest below us. Somewhere, Bane was down there- with Rome, Cass and Tyler fighting my battles for me.

I couldn't let them lose.

.

Cass

.

What the Hell am I doing?

The same thought continued to rush through my head as I darted through the trees, jumping over logs and rocks and skidding in the dirt. I could feel scratches tearing at my skin and my muscles trembling at the force of it all. I grabbed onto Tyler's arm and yanked him aside, struggling for breath. My gun was still in my hand, and I peeked out from behind my tree to make out the lumbering figure after us- his eyes a sick black.

"Shit. Shit. Shit." Tyler was panting beside me, his gun trembling in his hand. "The fuck did you do that for? Now he's after us!"

"Just trust me." My begging came out in a meek whisper. I shakily tried to reload my bullets into my pistol, but my fingers were trembling so much most of them hit the ground. "We need both of them alive!"

"We need to defend the church!" Tyler hissed back at me, scrambling with his own gun. He pointed it around the tree and let off a clip. The bullets fired through the air in hard, rapid bursts. He reloaded with quick precision every time, the bullets firing out and hitting the dirt. While some sailed passed the demon, two bullets actually hit Cain square in the chest, and he jolted back at the force as blood began to trickle down his torso. His eyes flickered at the hit, but other than that his eyes only narrowed.

"Fucking humans…" He snarled in that dark growl. He seemed to be shaking with rage. He stomped closer to us, shoulders hunched and fists clenched readily.

I rounded the tree and aimed- my eyelids shaking with how much strain I was giving in my stare. I fired right into his neck and he dropped, clutching and hissing at the blood now pouring out all over his shoulder.

"Fucking cunt..." I could barely make out what he was saying, his voice was so far from human. I lowered my gun to see his dark eyes aimed at me. He staggered to his feet, his face twisted and set. He gave a snarl and glanced at his hand, covered in his blood, before he stuck it in his mouth and licked. "I will make you pay for that, beautiful."

"Shit! Shit! Shit!" Tyler started up again, jumping and grabbing my hand. I tripped in my haste to follow and quickly scrambled back up. I could hear Bane panting behind me like a wounded animal. I turned around again and fired another shot, but missed. I fired again- and my gun clicked.

Out of bullets.

"FUCK!" I threw the entire thing in the air and tore off after Tyler, my mind in complete chaos. "RUN! RUN! RUN!"

"I'm running!" Tyler screamed back at me, hurling away his gun too. We raced out into the light, where the clearing of the camp was. Without thinking, I yanked him back.

"We can't lead him out there! He'll find them!"

"We're safe in the church!" He pulled back on me. "Go! GO!"

Before either of us took a step, Tyler was thrown from me. He landed in a heap by the fire pit, smacking his head against the stones that surrounded it. I let out a scream, going after him- but a thick hand grabbed me by the arm and I met the ground face first, painfully scraping my face in the dirt and my head bouncing on the ground. The world blurred and shook, and those black eyes hung in my face again.

"You can't escape me, you filthy fucking whore."

I felt his spit hit my cheek and I threw out my arms, kicking, punching, hitting anything I could. I hit Cain's body hard, but in my blurred vision I could make out a fist flying towards me. I braced myself against the dirt, preparing for the worst-

"HEY, BANE!"

A flash of green flew by my face, and a familiar voice graced my ears.

Buttercup.

.

Butch

.

I cradled my head as best I could, but I just felt numb. Whatever didn't feel numb was tense with a dull ache. I didn't even have the energy to drink, the failure and pain just weighed down upon me until all I felt could do was sleep.

Instead my head rested heavily on the window frame, my body curled up against the glass.

You're a fucking failure. My head told me scathingly. Your fucking kid hates you, and you killed the only person that could ever help you feel good in this world.

I kicked out and lay back against the frame, smacking my head back on the glass. Staring out at the town, the very place where this whole mess started, just made me feel worse. I remembered flying over the skyscrapers, every square inch of the streets below, taking in the parks, the hilltops, the haze of the cars and people… just to fly free like that again felt like a distant dream.

I tipped my head to meet my bended knee. My arm dropped down to feel the neck of a familiar glass bottle and I grabbed at it, taking a few turns before my fingers actually wrapped around the lid. The only way I ever felt like I was truly free anymore was with booze addling my brain.

I haven't felt free in a long time.

"You feeling better, baby?"

"No."

I heard a shuffle next to me and a wave of her perfume washed over me. My nose twitched and Brat's claws suddenly wrapped around my shoulders, sinking in. She pushed her soft hair into my face, her lips sliding over my ear.

"Why don't you come shower with me?"

I shifted my shoulder, throwing her off. "Not now, Brat-"

"Butch." She issued her own growl at me. I had to admit, I stiffened at the snarl in her voice. I wasn't used to Brat being so aggressive, she was usually whining at me. It was a pleasant change, I wasn't going to deny that. "You need to relax. Let me take care of you."

My lips twisted. Brick and Boomer were always telling me to let go, stop thinking so much… But I couldn't- it was close to impossible to do anything without her popping up in my head. Her face, her eyes…

But the picture of Blayze in my head- the faint memory of his frightened eyes widening at me, my hard grip on his neck…

I had to start forgetting- for him, if anything.

With that, I felt my shoulders lower, and her grip on my hand became a lot stronger as I let her pull me away from the windowsill, the glass bottle rolling away from me as I got to my feet.

"Fine…"

She slipped behind me and ran her fingers down my back, gripping the hem of my shirt and tugging.

"I want this off."

I halted, but after a moment's hesitation I ripped it over my head and threw it into a crumpled heap on the floor. She dug her nails into my back and pushed me further into the bathroom. The water was running, causing a cascade of steam to rain down on me as soon as I stepped into the light. The warmth immediately wrapped around me and I found myself drooping in relaxation.

This is nice...

The door closed behind me and Brat ran a few fingers down my arm, spinning me around and pulling me closer. She hit the counter and backed up against the sink. My eyes found her face in the haze of steam. Her navy eyes were lidded lazily. She stared at me only briefly before closing in on me, pressing her lips against mine.

The kiss was only brief, thankfully. She pulled away and yanked off her shirt, wrapping it instead around my neck. She dragged me closer so our naked chests pressed together, warm and soft. Her arms wrapped around me and I heard the shirt hit the tile.

"I've wanted this for so long..." She sighed into my ear, a few of her fingers slipping into my hair. "For you to be with me, like this..."

I glanced down at her naked shoulder pressed against me. My heart was thudding dully in my chest, but I forced my arms to meet at her back. She twisted her hips against my palms, which sent shocks of desire through my torso, down into my thighs. She pushed her chest into me, her lips cascaded down my neck in a flurry of kisses. Her fingernails dragged down my chest, meeting the heat that was coiling within me. Her fingers reached my belt, curled around the buckle-

"NO! Get away from her!"

Blayze.

It was like a bucket of water had been thrown on me. I gasped, threw her off me and looked around wildly. Blayze- I swear- had just screamed right in my ear. But the bathroom was eerily silent- except for Brat, who was rubbing her head angrily.

"What the Hell, Butch!"

"Blayze!" I gaped, still whirling around, looking for him. I threw open the door. "Blayze!"

"He's not here, Butch! Goddammit!"

I spun around again, eyes wide. My ears were still ringing, the sound of his scream had been so loud. "You didn't hear him?"

She narrowed her eyes at me, wincing in pain. "No! He's fast asleep!"

But I didn't buy it. I still glanced around, half expecting him to jump out from behind the bed, or something. Brat grabbed softly at my arm, but then, even louder- another scream ripped through my head.

"MAMAAAAAAAA!"

Without a second thought I ripped open my door and tore down the hall, Blayze's screams still ringing in my ears.

.

Buttercup

.

I spotted him almost immediately, at the corner of the camp. I sprinted over, pushing Emerald back to the tent as I went.

"Stay, Emmy! You have to stay!"

"But-!"

"He can see me, Emmy, but he can never see you!"

I ran off without her, my heart leaping into my throat as soon as I saw her on the ground, Cain hanging over her, mouth open and teeth at her throat-

I blurted out the first thing that came into my mind, and my anger was still ripe in my blood.

"HEY BANE!"

I charged into him- throwing my entire body at his side before I could even think it through. We rolled through the dirt and grass, smacking up against one of the trees and falling in a heap on the ground. I jumped to my feet, while Cain struggled on his knees. As soon as I saw his face, I could tell what Cass was rambling was sickeningly true- those were not Cain's eyes, not by a long shot.

I pushed my fear and panic to the depths of my stomach, letting the anger rip through me. Instead of cowering, I stood strong and straightened my shoulders. I stared down at my baby's grandfather, and he set his scowl on me- then did a double take.

He blinked, cocking his head to the side. He swayed slightly in the dirt, twitching, before his black eyes took in my face once more.

"...Buttercup."

"That's right." My knuckles cracked as I breathed heavily through my nose, keeping my lips tightly clenched.

He looked down again, back up to my face. He licked his lips.

"Look at you..." He cooed at me, staggering to his feet. He swayed heavily, giving me a toothy smile. "My little girl, a demon!"

I felt my lip twitch at that, hiking up to reveal my sharpened teeth. They cut into my lower lip, and I had to snarl to shake off the anger building back up.

"I'm not your little girl, Bane." I hissed at him. "I'm not anything of yours."

"On the contrary, sweetheart." He cackled at me, eyes darkening by the second. "I was there to protect you when nobody else was... there to protect you and Blayze."

"I can take care of myself now, Bane." I scowled at him. "I don't need your protection."

He laughed again, this time louder. He took a deep breath, rose to his full height, and cocked an eyebrow at me.

"Oh, I think you do."

He charged at me, and I was so weighted with fury at his smirk that I didn't even launch off to fly out of the way. He tackled me to the ground, pinning my shoulders down and pushing his face into mine.

"Does Butchie know you're out here?" He smirked at me. "Maybe I should call to him, he deserves to know-"

My anger seemed to dissolve just with those words. I sank back into the ground and deflated under his meaty grip. Cold panic gripped me, froze me, and I whispered a plea at his words.

"N-no, please, Bane-"

Thundering footsteps suddenly echoed in my skull. Bane's face twitched before he reared back, screaming. Rome's hands came out of nowhere, yanking me off the ground. I stood shakily on the ground, sucking in the air that I could.

Bane growled, tumbling back and twitching on the ground. An axe was sticking out between his shoulder blades, and he reached up and yanked it out roughly. Rome threw out an arm, guarding me from Bane's evil glare. Cass ran over to me, gripping my arm. Tyler quickly followed, throwing himself on me and letting out a fearful wail.

"So that's how it is, Romy..." Bane snarled at him hatefully. "You're playing dirty now, I never thought you would break those demon laws you love so much-"

"I haven't broken any laws!" Rome panted back. Despite his own evil glare, his face was pale and pinched with fear. It struck a newfound fright in me- that the most powerful demon I had met was afraid of this guy-

Wait. Romy?

"Oh, really?" Bane hissed back, tilting his head again. "Rules of Mateship? You don't fuck your family's mates!"

Family?

"I haven't fucked anybody." Rome snarled lowly, pulling me behind him. "But I'll make sure you won't have her, none of you will!"

Cain's face twisted horribly, it was clear Bane was doing whatever he could to unleash his fury on us. He got to his feet, chest heaving.

"She-" He pointed at me, his fangs flashing menacingly. "Belongs to Butch. And she will never escape that promise. I'll make sure of it."

Rome gritted his teeth. He backed against Cass, Tyler and I, guarding us with his arms outstretched. But Cain's body continued to swell, contort, with fury. Bane was taking him over, and all we could do was watch. His teeth were growing, his nails grew, his muscles began to bulge as he readied himself to lash out-

There was a rustling in the bushes next to us, and without warning Jayden stumbled out of them, falling flat on his face. He quickly pushed himself back up and dusted himself off, but he still looked out of it. He barely noticed us there, instead his faded eyes washed over us and landed on Bane, where he blinked slowly.

"Okay..." he slurred and stumbled, almost as if he was in a dream, or drunk. He pointed at Bane, frowning with confused determination. "I have to talk to you."

Clearly oblivious to the danger of the hulking, black-eyed possessed demon Cain had become, Jayden stumbled over to him in a slight daze. While Tyler choked on his own breath, I had to blurt out some kind of a warning at the idiot.

"Jayden! You-"

He held up a weak hand to me, still tripping on his own feet.

"No..." He mumbled, eyes narrowing. "I have to do this. Fuck you guys."

Bane's dark eyes lowered onto the tiny human, who stumbled up to him and stopped, his hands on his hips as he looked him up at down.

"I..." Jayden started strong, but faltered on his words. He still looked drunk and sick, his eyes glazing over as he looked up at the possessed blonde sheepishly. "I...Fuck, I miss you."

"Wha-" Bane's eyes narrowed and his lip curled at the display in front of him. He even looked up to us, cocking an eyebrow in confusion. "The fuck is this thing?"

Jayden rambled on like he hadn't heard him.

"And I know I've been a jerk, and I've been avoiding you...but, I was, fuck- I was scared! And I have a right to be scared. Like, I dunno- I've never felt like this before... And I dunno what's going on, but I'm just so sad- like all the time now-"

"Listen, human." Bane was quick to snarl at him, but I noticed he kept his arms at his sides. He glanced down at his body, jerking in annoyance, but otherwise he hadn't moved since Jayden appeared, despite his hulking form. "Back away now, and I won't rip your throat out."

But Jayden only sniffed, scrubbing at his face. He looked sicker than ever, but his eyes were desperately wide as he stared up into the possessed demon's face.

"I just wanted to say I'm really sorry. I know now, I feel sick when I'm not around you. Like, it doesn't feel right. And I know it's stupid, but, I care about you- like I haven't with anyone else before. I don't know what's going on, exactly-"

From in front of us, Rome seemed to watch the whole exchange with wide, disbelieving eyes- looking from one to the other with a puzzled grimace on his face.

"What the Hell?" He snarled to himself.

Jayden shuffled his feet, and Bane looked extremely uncomfortable- but he still didn't move. His eyes darted to us, to Jayden, and back again. His brows contracted, lips twisted, and his chest heaved with disgust... but all he did was snarl, quietly.

"The fuck?" He hissed.

Jayden coughed, his shoulders and lips shaking with the motion. He looked up at the demon with the widest, most pathetic stare I had ever seen as he began to cry.

"B-But I miss you, an awful lot. And I wanna be with you, Cain. I-I don't care what anybody says. I'll go with you wherever you go. I won't run away anymore, I promise. Just take m-me with you... please."

Bane's black eyes widened, a look of sudden panic crossed his face and he seemed to freeze, jerkily trying to take in breaths. For the first time, I saw a flash of fear cross those black eyes- I saw the dash of blue trying to take its place.

"The fuck is happening?" He stared, hard, at Jayden with those cold eyes. "How...the fuck are you doing to me?!"

Jayden scrubbed at his tears, shaking his head as if trying to wake himself up. He lowered his gaze, to the amulet resting on Cain's chest.

"What is that?" He mumbled, narrowing his eyes. He reached out, and actually grabbed the stone, which rested heavily in his palm.

Rome let in a strangled breath.

"It's ugly..." Jayden muttered, rolling his eyes back up to Cain. "What are you wearing that for?"

"YOU FUCKING IDIOT!" Rome suddenly screamed, all of us jumping at the volume. "PULL IT OFF! GET IT OFF HIM!"

Jayden looked around, alarmed, over his shoulder. He blinked, slowly. "Wha-?"

Rome gaped at him, gobsmacked. "PULL THE FUCKING AMULET OFF! IN YOUR HAND! DO IT!"

Jayden frowned, but yanked- hard. The chain snapped and fell from Cain's neck- and as soon as it did the black eyes disappeared completely and instead the familiar bright, cerulean blue eyes sparkled in his sockets. Cain took in a deep, gasping breath- as if just coming up from under a deep sea dive. He stumbled back as his face filled with colour, brightening, to the roots of his blond hair. He blinked, alarmed, and breathed hard, looking around and flexing his fingers. His brightening blue eyes widened at Jayden in front of him, who was still glancing down at the amulet in his palm.

Jayden looked up at all of us gaping at him, his brows lowering with worry.

"...What?" He pouted, before he was snatched up into a tight, aggressive bear hug by Cain. His feet dangled, eyes widening even further, as Cain almost snapped him in half.

"BABY!" He yelled happily. "I knew you'd come back to me! I knew you loved me! I love you too!"

Jayden gasped desperately for air, kicking his feet weakly. "H-hey! I never said-wh-geh! Cain! Cain! Put me-Put me down-"

Tyler, Cass and I still stood stiffly, each with racing hearts, clutching each other, before we finally seemed to detach from one another and deflate on the spot. Tyler fell to the ground completely, hugging his knees and quietly hyperventilating. Cass leaned weakly on a tree, shaking her head and clutching her chest.

I looked over to see Rome, his bottom lip still dangling at the couple. I watched as he swallowed, blinked, and took a few steps towards his brother. He was only a few feet from them when Cain finally let the wheezing Jayden go and let him stumble back, rubbing his ribs. I watched the exchange with a small smile, truly expecting a loving display of sibling companionship-

But I wasn't at all surprised when Rome charged at him and started punching Cain repeatedly in the head, either, while screaming obscenities with every hit.

"YOU! STUPID! STUPID SON OF A BITCH! I'M YOUR FUCKING BROTHER! I'VE BEEN WITH YOU SINCE BIRTH!AND YOU COME OUT OF YOUR STUPID CAPTURE TO THAT ASSHOLE? TO YOUR FUCKING PIECE OF ASS! YOU COMPLETE AND UTTER MORON! YOU DUMBASS! YOU! TOTAL! BRAINDEAD! MOTHER-!"

"OW! FUCKING! OW!" Cain weakly tried to bat him off, but settled on just guarding his head and kicking weakly. "Rooooome! OW! I've just been possessed! Give me a-ow!- break!"

Rome gave a few more well-aimed jabs at the temples before eventually getting off his brother, stomping off and settling on giving him a foul glare over his shoulder. Cain pushed himself up, pouting, and rubbed warily at his beaten head.

"I can't believe-" Cass gasped for breath beside me, turning to gape at the necklace still clenched in Jayden's hand. "Is he really gone? Just like that?"

"He's not gone." Rome spat, glaring at the stone in Jayden's hand with venom. Despite his fury, his shoulders had drooped and his face had relaxed in relief as he took in his brother's normal form. "His spirit is stuck in that thing- extra pissed, it looks like."

"He just-" Cain's eyes widened as he pushed himself off the ground, rubbing at his face. "He just overtook me, I didn't even have time to react-"

"I can't believe he possessed you!" Cass looked at the stone warily, backing away."I didn't know demons could do that!"

Jayden suddenly balked, eyes widening on Cain.

"Wait! You were possessed? When?"

"Oh, for-" Rome smacked himself roughly in the forehead, looking as though he had completely given up.

.

.

"I'm sorry." Bruiser pouted again, looking on nervously at Blayze scrubbing furiously at his tears. "I didn't mean to get us caught, it's all my fault-"

"It's not." Blayze told him firmly, huffing at his own sadness. There was no point to crying, his Dad was right about that one. He was the one who got them caught in the first place, with his stupid idea to listen in on what his Dad and Uncles were saying in their important meeting. He thought for sure it would lead to some type of clue regarding his mother, and why she suddenly appeared to him the night a few weeks ago- but so far all he could tell was that she really was dead, that nobody was playing a prank on him, or tricking him, but really he had no mother- all he had left was his memories.

It hurt him even more than his Dad's yelling did.

Bruiser hesitated before asking. He knew how touchy his older cousin could be.

"You okay?"

"No!" Blayze yelled, sniffling.

"It's okay..." Bruiser's eyes widened, tentatively patting Blayze's arm. "My Dad gets mad too-"

"No! I'm not okay! I got no Mum!" Blayze yelled louder now, his hands curled into frustrated fists. "I thought she was here, but she's not, and it's not fair!"

"I'm sorry." Bruiser apologised, even though Blayze knew he didn't have to. He wasn't even sure it was something to be sorry for. He usually hated apologising for anything, but his cousin's meek condolence was actually enough for him to suck up what was left of his tears and get back on his feet. He hated crying, he hated it even more when someone was actually around to see him do it.

"I just wanna be alone, Bruiser."

Bruiser winced, but tried to nod his head. Seeing Blayze so down, he thought someone needed to be strong for him.

"Okay. Feel better... Cuz."

Blayze's breath hitched in his throat at the nickname, and he darted off into his room and into his bed before his cousin could hear him sob. He buried his head deep into the covers and let out a pitiful wail, his chest heaving with sobs. He cried harder than he could ever remember doing- even after all the hard training sessions and all the times he and his dad had come to blows- this somehow hurt more than anything. He was the only one in his home who didn't have anyone to run to, to escape to, and it sat deep within his chest and caused him so much hurt and pain it magnified over anything Butch had inflicted upon him.

He curled his fingers around his pillow and hugged it close, tears dripping down his chin into the sheets. His eyes throbbed in pain and his throat was raw. He wasn't even sure how long it had been, but crying and sobbing like that had taken whatever it could out of him. He collapsed back into his bed, his heavy, swollen eyes closing and sleep finally crashing down on him.

He felt his eyes open again, but this time it was different... it was darker.

Instead of softness hugging him, he was lying on something hard. He missed her. He was cold.

He gripped around blindly for any sign of her, but his fingers only crashed against rough wood. He blinked away the darkness, but could only find a cage. He felt his own lips pucker into a pout, but a dark, menacing voice reached his ears, and he felt cold all over again.

"You won't leave again. That's a fucking promise."

Blayze knew that voice, but all he could do was wrap a heavy hand around the bars of his cage. For some reason, he was weaker, he felt smaller as he lay in the darkness- listening.

Another voice floated over him, and his heart suddenly inflated in a heated, panicked rush.

"I will."

His swollen heart began to race in his ears. She sounded angry.

"I won't let any of my family be forced into evil. So what makes you think I will be?"

He clawed at the air, his fingers bumping against the bars of the cage. He tried to pull himself up and help her, but his head, his arms, weighed against him. He gripped at the bars and heaved- blurred eyes trying to make sense of the shadows. He could faintly make out her eyes. His heart danced in his chest at the sight of those light eyes- crystal light green, just like the pictures. In the faint light, he could just make out a hulking figure looming over her face, holding her down. In a panic, he fought hard to get to her- but it felt like he had weights chained to his feet. He reached out a hand- clawing at her- as her voice cut through the air again.

"I'm not going anywhere." She snarled at the figure fiercely, with determination. "I mean it."

Blayze saw the figure grabbing her snap, and he wanted desperately to shout out a warning to her. He tried again to fly to her, scream out, do anything to help her, because he knew it was coming.

"Mama!"

The shadow clamped down on his mother, and she let out a weak gasp of pain that stung in his ears.

A desperate, frantic flutter escaped in his chest and he lashed out, gripping at the bars surrounding him and fighting to escape.

"NO! Get away from her!"

The figure didn't listen to him, and he watched helplessly as his mother doubled over in pain, her face scrunched in agony. Her eyes snapped open again- and this time she saw him. He watched her eyes widen, and this time he could only see the panic, the fear-

"MAMAAAAAAAA!"

"Don't do this..." Blayze heard her whisper. "I don't want-"

The dark monster let out a growl- one that shattered Blayze's heart and rattled his ribcage. He desperately screamed out to her as the monster's roar boomed in his ears. The room went black.

"FUCK WHAT YOU WANT!"

"NO! DON'T HURT HER!"

"BLAYZE!"

Hands were grabbing him now, and this time Blayze hit something warm and soft when he lashed out, movement gracing his arms and legs once more and his body finally free of his binds. He pushed and kicked in terror, heart racing.

"NO! LET HER GO! DON'T HURT HER! STOP IT!"

"BLAYZE! Blayze- wake up! Wake up, it's me!"

Blayze's face scrunched at that familiar voice, all of a sudden it was too real. His face was cold and wet, his head was pounding in pain and he was immediately aware of the strong, hard arms wrapped around him. He opened his eyes- more tears streaking down his cheeks- and he looked up to see his father's emerald eyes hovering above him, wide and fearful. Warmth scraped across his cheeks, and he realised his Dad was cradling him, in his bed, and his thumping heart was the only thing left of the nightmare that had flashed in his head.

"Blayzer!" His Dad's voice was rough, but warm as he held him closer, his grip tightening. "What happened? Are you okay?"

Blayze felt the lump in his throat, the tightening in his chest. Even though he felt his soft bed beneath him, and could hear his father, he was still lost in that dream. The image of his mother's frightened eyes, and that hulking monster hurting her, was burned into his brain. He faintly gripped his father's arm, and it was only then he felt how hard he was shaking.

"Blayze!" He could tell his Dad was close to tears now. "Speak to me! What's wrong?!"

Before he could even still his heart, or stifle his shaking, the tears caught back up to Blayze. He could still hear her in his head, her soft voice radiating through his mind, and the harsh reality of it all came crashing down on him before he could stop it- and he did the only thing he could think of doing.

He grabbed his father and held on tight, letting out a flood of sobs into his shoulder.

"I- I saw her I saw her!"

"You saw what, Blayze?!"

"I SAW MUMMY DIE!"

.

Buttercup

.

Emerald zoomed so fast into my chest that she knocked the wind out of me, but she still went to strangle me, her arms locked so tight around my neck I felt my head throb in pain. Before I could hug back, however, she immediately let go of me and flew to Cain, tackling him back onto the ground before he'd even gotten the chance to get back up.

"I'm sorry, Cain!" She wailed, strangling him too. "I never should have given the-the necklace to you! I knew it was bad! I should never have taken that stupid stone!"

"Wait." My heart leapt into my throat and I charged forward, thoughts in a blur. "What necklace? Whatstone?"

Emerald pulled her face from Cain's chest to point miserably at the rock still clenched in Jayden's hand. Jayden immediately winced at it.

"It's what?"

"What?" I snarled gravely, whirling around on Cain, who gulped. The thought of my daughter holding that thing was enough to send me into a panicked frenzy, my heart racing and feeling as though it was about to jump out of my throat. "Emerald! You gave that thing to him?! Where the Hell did you get it from? How-"

"I didn't know what it would do!" Her eyes were wide and fearful, and when she turned to Cain her bottom lip had been pushed into a pitiful pout. "I'm sorry, Cain. I didn't mean for the bad thing to come out."

"It's okay, Emmy." Cain patted her head, but still winced and rubbed at his neck. "It's only to certain people, I didn't know that would happen either."

"Wait- hold up." Rome snarled at both of them, his dark eyes crossing over to the rock Jayden was holding. "How did you get that amulet, Emerald? Where the Hell did it come from?"

Cain craftily avoided his brother's glare, but Emerald wilted under Rome's stern look. I waited on baited breath, my heart at a standstill and my knees trembling.

I recognised that amulet-

"I took it from a boy." She admitted sulkily, staring at the ground. "When we fought, I won, and I took it."

"Y-y-" I found it hard to get the words out. They bubbled in my throat and I couldn't feel my legs. "You fought-"

"Fought who?" Rome grumbled at her, now more menacing. "Who's been here? Who did we miss?"

"Blayze."

The words weren't from Emerald, but from me. The name slipped out of my mouth so easily, so naturally, it was as though it wasn't a name that had been circling in my head all these years, the name that kept me breathing, kept me fighting through thick and thin. The name that was etched onto my skin as a reminder that evil would never win.

Emerald turned to me easily, her eyes widening curiously on my paling face. It was as if all the warmth within me had trickled down my legs, into the earth and been swallowed up.

"He didn't tell me his name, Mama, but he had black hair, and green eyes..." She tilted her head innocently, then brightened once more. "Actually, he looked kinda like you!"

The world began to slip from me completely and the last I saw was a flash of sky as my legs gave out and I crashed to the ground.

...

...

I've waited all this night to honor you and say,
"I know it's hard, but who are you to fall apart on me, on me?"

This is a wasteland, my only retreat
With heaven above you, there's hell over me

...

Review Replies!

Miss Leidi: Thank you, I really appreciate it! I love writing Rome and Cass' exchanges... well, I love torturing them both, anyway :P

FFLuvr: Haha, Thank you! Though I don't aim make people cry, not yet anyway. Rome and Cain's mother will be further explained later- she's a fun one! I'm sorry to hear about your puppy, too. It's so funny that dogs especially provide so much love and fun in your life, yet sadly are only around for a small part of it :( my baby was a goldie too! Miss him so much *Sigh* I did find a nice miniature dog that looks like him, though. That was a golden find :)

ROCuevas: Thank you! I appreciate it, it has been hard without him!

TheRedWolfAlari : Ahhh I love BioShock! The second was my favourite, but I just watched my brother play the third one and really loved the look of it! So Carnivalesque- I love that stuff. Haha, my characters do have a lot of Mummy/Daddy issues I've noticed... which is strange, as I get along with mine so well. I'm a sucker for the flawed characters I suppose! Thank you :)

Janiyah: Eh, the way I understand Buttercup's character is that she wouldn't just say 'Your father is a demon and he killed me and now I'm going to kill him' because I see her as wanting to protect her little girl, not scare or upset her. And she wants to keep Emerald safe and away from all things demon, as they've proven to be so unpredictable and dangerous. That's why she just wants Blayze and her sisters back, she wants to protect them, too. Emerald already knows about her aunts, but not where they are or if they're captured. It would be too much to explain to a five year old... in my view, anyway. Hope this helps!

519: Hope you liked this chapter! It won't be until a few chapters on they 'all' meet- but it's coming! :) I do love Bane, too, he'll be reappearing permanently soon! (shh!)

solaif79: Yay! :D You're welcome! The Ninth Gate? Heh heh, mystery waiting to be solved :P

RowdyPuff: Sorry it took so long! Hope it was worth it :)

buttercuprocks101 : Hope the wait was worth it! :) good mystery-solving!

CuriousFox99: I tried to keep it a mystery :P lots more coming!

JinxyClover : Aw thank you, and I love huskies! They are gorgeous! Haha, I'm flattered you read through my character bios! I have a lot of fun writing them, but wasn't sure if anyone else actually read them :P I appreciate it! And thanks for the double review ;) I'm glad you like it so far, hope this chapter was worth the wait, too! (:

AwesomeNumber0: Haha, so many questions! I wish I could answer them all- but all in due time! :P But yes, Rome and Cain do know the Ruffs are their brothers... that's why they hate them so much ;) Thank you! Hope you liked this chapter too :D

Aqua Star34: Darn it, I really thought I would beat you this time! A couple of days late! I hope you enjoyed your foreign adventure, despite the lack of internet connection ;) Haha, no- ship Rome and Cass! When some readers were considering Rome and Buttercup, I was a bit 'ah, no!' because I already saw them as kinda siblings, as they're already demon-related :P Muahahha, I do like my plot twists :D hope this was worth the wait!

ANSWERS! (1) Emmy finds it hard to make friends, she's always been keeping up with the adults so has too many secrets and has to hide her abilities most of the time, and with moving around so much can't really make a solid friend, sadly. (2) Chemical X has been stored somewhere, and nobody really knows how to use it, so it's not much use to anyone. The Ruffs don't know, only Jayden does (so far) as he heard rumours when he was working with the demons. (3) Rome/Cain have a different mother, they are older than the Ruffs and yep, they do know about their half-siblings (hence the fact that they hate them :p) (4) I'm basing the levels of Hell on Dante's Inferno. There is no set leader, except for the last circle which is headed by the Devil. Him isn't in charge of anything in Hell, he just has servants in the lower 'easier' levels around him willing to help, in exchange for being granted the sins of the world above them. (5) The Ruffs can travel to Hell, but it would be a bad idea. (6) Buttercup CAN travel to Butch (not that she knows this), that's why Rome told her to get a grip on her power- she accidentally almost did it last chapter ;). (7) The Children are part demon, they can't be full demon (as seen in 9 Months) until they voluntarily give into their demonic urges and take a life. Even Emerald hasn't done that yet, she has only ever protected her mother and defended herself.

Hope this helps :D

Buttercup99x : muahahah! Now he does :D!

Guest: YAY ME TOO :D :D :D!

Sage Is Kaldur'ahm : Heehee, point of flashbacks will be known soon! Bane is actually a powerful demon, but not *most* powerful. As Cain and Rome mentioned, Bane is an Incubus, which in itself isn't a powerful demonic being- but what he has done against Hell and accomplished as a power move against his natural roots... which I'll explain later as I don't want to give away too much of the plot :P Bane can't actually go back to Hell- he's too wanted down there ;) *muhahaha*

toryflowers14: *GASP* F-FAVOURITE?! *Fangirl squee!* Thank you! Gosh, I try! :#) The mystery of Lailah will soon be revealed, I promise! I know it doesn't really fit into the story right now, but it's necessary to know her- she has a big part coming up ;) I Hope you enjoyed this chapter too!

Ahdaze : Thank you! :D Hope this chapter was worth the wait!

CherryPieLovesU: Thank you for the suggestion, buuuut Avril probably doesn't fit the tone of the story, ya know? I'm kind of sticking to heavy metal to keep the vibe of demonic evil and all :P I love your name by the way!

Guest: Hope you like this chapter too! (:

Aries Druella: Aw yayyy! I'm glad you like my pairings :D They keep me entertained while waiting for my main couples to get along! I hope you liked the update ;)

buyyouarose: Aw thank you! :D That means a lot, I'm glad my stories keep dragging you back- they do that to me too... can never ignore them too long :P Hope you liked my newest update, I'm amazed you've been sticking by me for years now! *eep*

Kimarys Adriana: Hehe, it'll be a little longer until the Greens catch up- until then as you know I love my drama :D ! To answer your question, Rome and Cain do NOT have Chemical X in their systems, they were raised very differently compared to their half-siblings :P If you're interested in my Wordpress, it's the first link on my profile! Haven't updated in a while, but I do like to keep on top of it ^.^

Guest: Sooooooon my pet *pats head*

Sami97 : Thank you! :D Ooo! You caught that! :P It was Buttercup- she connected to Butch and almost reached him, but she really didn't mean to ;) hope you liked the update!

princetonlover : GAHHHH MY WORD! *Fangirl squeal!* I LOOOOVE your reviews! It makes me so much happy seeing how into the story you get- makes my day! Your take on Bane though is spot on, he does deserve an entrance like that- that's why he's not going far in my stories ;) I'm glad you like my characters just as much as I do!... Maybe even more, sometimes those guys bug me. I hope you liked my update! I always look forward to hearing your take on it :P

ANSWERS! (1) Flashbacks will be explained soon, I promise, but Lailah isn't the Ruff's mother, the Ruff's mother is Jezebel- who we first met in 9 Months :P (2) Rome and Cain did share a womb- they were born at the same time, from the same mother. (3) I haven't seen Inuyasha, but sounds like I have to! It sounds right up my alley. Rome and Cain's hatred for their father will be explained in the next few chapters ;) (4) Rome has many schemes up his sleeve... he's not a very trusting guy to give them away though. (5) Bane doesn't know about Emmy yet, thank god. Bane connected to Cain because he was a direct blood link and a full demon, so he was able to possess him. (6) Bane hates Cain and Rome, and actually thought they were dead (I'll explain that later- promise :P) (7) Nope- they have different mothers. (8) Cain and Rome are around 25, the Ruffs are about 24 now (6 years after 9 Months) (9) Brick- and all the Ruffs- just want some love in their lives, being so surrounded by evil all the time, they want to be reminded that they're human sometimes. (10) *excited giggle* I can't tell yet! You'll find out next chapter :P (11) Brute was with the Ruffs because she likes hunting with them, she's kind of a psychotic beyotch like that. (12) Antidote X only goes into the girls' bloodstream and attacks their Chemical X abilities, it doesn't affect the baby, and they're already infused with demonic blood which protects them anyway (in my logic, anyway). (13) Bane doesn't really have a body right now, he was banished from Earth when the Professor killed him- that's why he had to 'borrow' Cain's. (14) Cain had no idea what the amulet was or any idea of its significance- let's face it, he's not the brightest bulb. (15) Yeeeah, I did alter the Ruffs' past, that's why my stories are AU (alternate universe). In 9 Months, it was explained the Ruffs were born, not created, and then given to Mojo, who then infused them with Chemical X and sort of 're-created' them, that's why they have demon blood. Everything else sticks to the show. The Villains of Townsville are still around, but they're no match for most of the demons. They're having fun though, and may appear later ;)

Hope this helps :P!

...

To ANYONE that reads and enjoys my story I want to say a big THANK YOU and big HUGS! If you favourite/follow at all, I will pretty please ask you to take a few seconds out of your day to tell me why- it really helps in my writing and keeps me going on those sad days I sometimes have. Especially now, I'm starting back up on Uni next month! *EEP!* Only six more units to go!

Until next time!

Love,

Dino

xoxo