This chapter is rated M for references and mentions of attempted suicide.

Chapter 68: Bad Timing

Chaos was the only word Arthur could use to describe what exactly was going on in the house. People were crowding the entire foyer trying to get into the library and they certainly weren't being calm about it. Arthur searched for Dutch but couldn't find him, then he looked for Hosea.

"Dammit," Arthur growled. Suddenly he let out a loud whistle. "Hey!" he shouted.

People stopped moving about and started to calm down, the occasional whimper and cry echoing through the area.

"Everyone, just calm down!" he said, putting his hands up. "The library ain't the only room with a secret passageway. Lilly's main study has one, the ballroom has one...ah hell, throw a stone anywhere in the place and you'll hit a secret door. Now stop crowdin' the way to the stairs! I need to go get my children!"

People started making room for Arthur as he shifted to Finn. "Finn, you join up with the crowd and go through the passageways."

"But m'lord!" Finn yelped as Arthur walked away. "Your watch!"

Arthur looked back at him. "Keep it for now. It's got good luck."

Arthur raced up the stairs and to the nursery, charging through to find Abigail aiming a revolver at him. She sighed in relief before lowering it.

"Jesus, Arthur..." she groaned before stuffing the gun in her green petticoat. "You scared the livin' daylights outta me."

Arthur looked around. "Where's Jack and Aisling?"

"Already in the tunnels," John replied as he picked up Arthur Jr. "We ain't leavin' your kids with the nanny."

Arthur chuckled as he walked to Aoífe's crib, picking her up. "Hey there, darlin'."

Aoífe cooed and giggled before kissing his cheek and resting her red head on his shoulder. "Hi, Daddy."

Arthur couldn't help but chortle at his daughter. He watched as Abigail was packing things up in a traveling bag. "Whatchu doin'?"

"Gettin' the kids packed," Abigail said plainly.

"We already got an emergency cache of their stuff in our bedroom."

Abigail turned and blinked. "Oh. Well, don't I feel silly..."

Arthur nodded before walking to the door. "C'mon, let's hurry up and get you guys safe," he said as a flashing of light and a loud boom hit the house.

Arthur opened it and crossed the hallway to the master bedroom, putting Aoífe in Abigail's arms before pulling out a gun and turning the door knob slowly. Lightning flashed again and the door creaked open a little. Arthur stopped, chastising the door in his head. He moved it a couple inches, another squeak ringing out.

"God damn door..." he grumbled before pushing it harshly and yanking out his other gun, pointing the barrels around the room. He took a few steps in, inspecting the area for intruders. It was really dark now so the room was pitch black, except for the occasional lightning that was currently going on.

"John, the light," Arthur hissed softly.

The lights flickered on and Arthur read the room, taking a few steps forward and glancing into the master bathroom. Satisfied that nothing was in there, he backed up and aimed at the closet door.

"It's in there," he said. Lightning appeared outside and was soon followed by thunder.

John gave Arthur Jr. to Abigail before going to the door and placing his hand on the door knob gently. John looked at Arthur with a gulp, raising his own revolver up. Abigail took the babies into the hallway. Arthur nodded to his adoptive brother and John turned the knob before yanking it open.

"Where's Mummy?" Junior asked Abigail, lightning filling the hallway.

Abigail sighed. "She's off fightin' the bad guys right now."

"Bad guys?" Aoífe asked with a scrunching of her nose. "What's a...what's a bad guys?" Thunder clashed.

Abigail giggled. "What are bad guys, Aoífe. Bad guys are the ones who hurt others."

"Oh," Aoífe said before blowing a raspberry.

Abigail giggled again as lightning flashed. "You two sure are gettin' heavy. What's your mother been feedin' you?"

The twins giggled but then they gasped when the lights suddenly went out. Abigail looked around before getting closer to the door.

"Arthur! John!" she hissed loudly, peeking her head in. "Where you boys at?"

"We're in the closet!" John shouted. "C'mon, let's go!"

As Abigail took a step into the room, a loud ringing noise sounded out in her ears and she almost dropped the babies.

"Dammit, John!" she called out...or tried to.

She had said the words, she knew she had. And yet she didn't hear it. In fact, she heard nothing but a ringing sound. She tried yelling again but nothing came out. She looked at the babieswho were obviously crying but she couldn't hear them.

What the hell was going on?

Lightning flashed brightly down the hallway and Abigail took a step back, looking at the end of the long hallway. More flashes came, followed by thunder, until it suddenly all stopped. As if it couldn't get any darker, it did, making her spine tingle in the most terrifying of ways. Abigail could barely make anything out as she stared at the window at the end.

Then it appeared, closing off any remaining light from the window with its massive form. Two sinister looking yellow eyes appeared in the darkness, and they began bobbing up and down. Whatever it was, it was walking towards Abigail.

"What a treat this is," a deep, menacing voice sounded through the hallway. "Hors d'oeuvres and a main course..."

Thunder roared throughout the house, Abigail feeling a big rumbling. Aoífe and Junior were still screaming their heads off but Abigail still couldn't hear them. She tried screaming for Arthur and John but nothing came out. The creature came into view for not even a second but Abigail immediately ran into the room and shut the door. As the door slammed shut, Abigail heard a deep chuckling.

"Oh come now, Abigail Marston. Do you really think a door is going to stop me?" the monster laughed.

Abigail searched around frantically for the men, spotting them still in the closet. They were both on the ground covering their ears, writhing in pain.

"Arthur! John!" Abigail yelled.

"Daddy!" Aoífe screamed loudly.

Arthur slowly raised his head to settle his eyes on the children. "Aoífe!" he shouted with a groan.

The door broke and Abigail screeched as she took the kids and ran into the master bathroom. A loud, belly laugh rang out in the room.

"Really, Abigail, where are you going to go?" the creature asked through the slit in the door.

A low growl came out from the monster as it heaved its shoulder into the door.

Finn went racing down the stairs with other various household and staff members before stumbling into a narrow cave path. He was pushed and shoved around as he continued to walk. Eventually the pathway opened to reveal a giant cavern underground. Finn stared around in awe at the size of the cave. It was surprisingly airy and not as damp as he expected it to be. As he studied the area, he spotted a man...with antlers on his head and goat legs. Tilting his head to the side, Finn made a noise akin to a snort and a wheeze. He rubbed his face with both palms, gaping at the half-goat half-man.

Finn then noticed he was talking to two men that he had seen around before. Both of them were older gentlemen, one with white hair and the other with dark hair. Finn pushed his way to the crowd and approached the three.

"Um, excuse me," Finn said, standing behind the man with white hair.

The trio turned and looked at Finn questioningly. "Yes?" the older man asked.

"Have m'lord and the children gotten here yet?" Finn inquired as he looked around the dimly lit cavern.

The men looked at each other. "No, we didn't see them," the man with goat legs replied. "Who are you?"

Finn straightened his back. "Finn. I'm one of the...recruits," he explained with a pause.

The half man gave Finn a once over. "You don't seem like a soldier."

The younger man sighed. "I'm really not."

The man with antlers folded his arms over his chest, putting his head to the side slightly. "Then why fight?"

"Because I wantah do what's right and fight fer me country."

Laughter echoed throughout the cave as the goat man lifted his head back before looking back at Finn merrily. "Boy, we aren't just fighting for Ireland, we're fighting for the whole world."

"Cernunnos," the dark haired man began. "I'm not sure he knows what any of this means." He blinked at Finn. "You're Liam O'Malley's son, aren't you?" He stroked his chin. "Yes, I think I remember you," he said with a point.

Finn gulped. "Ya do, sir?"

"Yes. You live in Allanspark with your mother."

Finn lowered his head sadly. "Yes, I...did."

Before the man could ask what Finn meant, the older man pat the dark haired one on the shoulder. "Dutch, now isn't the time for reminiscing. This boy just asked about the whereabouts of our son and our grandchildren."

Dutch blinked at the man a few times. "Shit..." he looked at Cernunnos. "Cernie, could you go back upstairs and look for them? Make sure they're okay?"

Cernunnos growled before holding out his hand, a burly wooden staff appearing in his hand. "Don't call me that," he grumbled before walking off towards the tunnels.

Dutch and the other man chuckled. "Constipated, as usual," he remarked before looking at Finn. "Now, boy, what do you mean you did live with your mother?"

Adair, Lilly and Failinis were fighting the dark shades that kept coming as theywere trying to get back to the house. So far, it wasn't looking very good.

"Why do I need my sword?" Lilly asked, panting away as she ran on all fours.

"To repel these things!" Adair explained, sounding out of breath as she raced through the corn field.

"Ya gettin' tired over there, old woman?" the red wolf teased.

Adair giggled almost evily. "I haven't even gotten started with the battle!"

Just then she leaped up, her red wings unfurling from her back as she sliced at a shade that had come too close. It dodged out of the way just in time, exiting the corn field. Warbles of screeches and shrieks filled the air, Failinis still jumping up to try and grasp his jaws onto the next shade that dared to fly near them. Lilly stopped in her tracks when a particularly nasty shroud appeared before her, smoke billowing around its edges. Her fur stood on end and she bared her teeth, growling lowly at her enemy.

The black cloud with the horrifying face inched closer to Lilly before opening its mouth and screeching loudly, causing her to flinch and shut her eyes to fight the high pitched sound. It was deafening, especially with her heightened sense of hearing...and the pain was excrutiating. Lilly felt as if she was being ripped apart all the way down to her very soul. As her body lowered to the ground, like she was being pushed down by something ten times her weight, Adair and Failinis came to her aid. Adair swung her sword with a war cry, the metal clanging against something brittle. The shade disappeared, the only remains left behind were sticks being tied together.

Lilly groaned and shook as she attempted to stand. "What the fuck was that?!" she barked angrily.

Adair shook her head, taking a deep breath as she stood up straight, poking the pile of wood with her sword. Failinis barked a few times before going over and sniffing the sticks.

"I don't know," Adair replied, confusion lacing her voice. "This is magic I haven't seen before."

Failinis growled and pawed the sticks a few times before looking at Adair and whining. A few more flying shrouds flew near them but nothing major to worry about. Lilly shook herself and growled, narrowing her eyes.

"How the hell can ya not know?! Yer five thousand years old, fer fuck's sake!" Lilly snapped.

Adair sighed, eyeballing Lilly. "Okay, let me rephrase that. This," she began, aiming the tip of her sword at the pile of wooden sticks, "is definitely Carman's magic, but it's been...enhanced. She used to enchant stick figurines that she made to play with Olena."

Lilly shook her head. "Really? That's...well, it's hard to imagine Carman ever being a good person, let alone a good mother."

Adair smiled sadly. "When I met Carman, she was the sweetest mortal I'd ever met, and she absolutely adored Olena." The goddess sighed softly. "For example, these magical figurines. She'd enchant them and make them look like Olena's favorite book characters, even give them voices. It was a way for Carman to distract Olena when Olena was..." Adair paused and turned at the hip to look at the manor. "...sad..."

Failinis nudged Lilly with his head and she sniffed his face before licking it affectionately. She stopped midlick, however, when she realized what she was doing.

"Oh what the hell, I'm not a real animal," she mumbled.

"Lilly, we need to get to the house right now!" Adair spoke suddenly. "These things were just a distraction!"

Lilly perked up immediately and went bolting towards the house with the other two.

More evil cackling filled the area as the creature finally broke through the door. A black, smoky haze filled the room before he walked in, sniffing about.

"Now, where did you three go..." he giggled maniacally.

He spotted the two men in the closet, still jerking about and shouting from the pain of the noises going on inside their heads. Lightning flashed and the monster turned his head to look at a very tall mirror on one of the walls, spotting his own reflection. He really was a terrifying wolf to look at.

"Who...are you?" a voice called out from the closet.

"I am Dubh," the black wolf replied, looking over at the pathetic humans. "I thought that was obvious. Now stay there," he said, chuckling. "I have a story to frighten the children with."

Dubh snarled, baring his sharp, white teeth while he walked achingly slow through the room. He sniffed the air, catching onto their scents straight away and locking his yellow eyes onto the bathroom door. He licked his chops and made a wolfish grin.

"Little piggy, little piggy, let me in!" he shouted as he edged towards the door. Once he got to it, he cackled loudly. "Don't you know the next line, Abigail?"

"Go away!" the woman yelled in the bathroom.

Dubh shook his head and tsked. "That's not it. Try again," he said, going to the foot of the door and pushing his snout to it.

"You leave us the hell alone, you bastard!" Abigail screeched, the kids screaming and crying.

Dubh growled loudly before bashing his skull into the door, causing a loud crack in the wood. "The next line!" he bellowed.

"Feck off, ya flea riddled shitebag!" Aoífe shouted clear as day.

Dubh suddenly burst into loud laughter and shook his head. "It's a good thing you're going to live, little girl. Now, Abigail, be a good little lady and recite the line," he said, peeking his eye through the crack of the door.

He saw the woman trembling with a gun aimed at the door, glaring at Dubh's eye. "N-Not by the...the hair of our...our chinny chin chins," Abigail said barely above a whisper.

"Good. Now," Dubh said, backing away from the door. "Then I'll huff, and I'll puff, and I'll blow your house in!"

Something crashed through the bedroom door and Dubh looked in the direction of the sound just in time to be tackled by two white wolves. A battle began between the three of them, claws and teeth ripping into flesh and fur. Barks and growls dominated the room as blood was spilled onto the walls and floors. Dubh went for Brian's neck and tossed him about like a rag doll while kicking James into the edge of the bed. After slamming Brian on the ground by the scruff of Brian's neck, he pushed down on the wolf's ribcage and started applying pressure.

Brian snarled in pain and wiggled under Dubh's weight but he couldn't get out from underneath the dark wolf. James came running to attack once more, jumping on Dubh's back and biting the wolf's face. Dubh roared out and shook his face, sending James flying into the mirror. It crashed into bits and pieces as the smaller wolf struggled to get up. Dubh howled, then followed it with a laugh as he pressed down more on Brian.

"I'm going to kill you," Dubh said, leaning down to a growling Brian. "Then I'm going to kill your brother. An eye for an eye."

Brian whined and whimpered when Dubh heard a rib crack under his paw. James charged once more, growing in size as he attempted to ram Dubh off his brother. Dubh snarled and clamped his teeth onto James' head, biting down hard and causing James to make a loud, continual whining sound.

Abigail peeked through the large hole in the door, watching the battle ensue. It definitely wasn't looking good for the two white brothers. She had to do something. She looked over at Aoífe and Junior who were sniveling and standing in the copper bath tub.

"You two stay there," she ordered, pulling the hammer back on the revolver before opening the door.

Abigail aimed the gun and fired upon the dark, cloudy wolf. Dubh roared out and dropped James to the floor, then he narrowed his eyes at Abigail. She shot him several times in the face, making him flinch but it didn't do much else. A low chuckle escaped him.

"Silly girl, silver bullets can't kill me," he grumbled.

"But I can," a voice said from the bedroom door.

Abigail looked at the broken doorway and saw Cernunnos slam a wooden staff on the ground, a whirlwind of power surging from it as it traveled across the room and knocked into Dubh. It sent him flying into the wall with a loud crash, pieces of the wood falling on him as he hit the floor with a grunt. He shook his head as he got up, glaring at the immortal.

"Cernunnos, God of the Wilds," he hissed before giving a sidelong smirk. "How the mighty hath fallen."

It was at that moment Abigail watched Lilly enter the room in her wolf body. The red werewolf's fur was on end, her sharp, white teeth showing through a wicked snarl, and her sapphire eyes blazed with the power of a thousand suns. It was truly something terrifying to behold. So much so that Abigail felt she might faint.

"Ah," Dubh said. "Countess Lillian Rose Morgan, Monster Slayer of County Galway, Savior of Ireland...you honor me with your presence," he mocked.

Lilly let out a menacing growl. "Ya forgot The Fidus Et Audax Hunter."

Adair came strutting in from behind Lilly, her sword in hand as Dubh chuckled lowly. "Oh come now, that was literally child's play for you."

Lilly scoffed. "And how would you know that?"

Abigail eyed Adair who was mouthing, "get the kids and go!" to the brunette.

"Well, I've seen it all," Dubh replied.

Abigail nodded to Adair before slowly slinking backwards to the crying babies.

Lilly narrowed her eyes at Dubh just as John and Arthur came out of the closet.

"You alright, mo dheartháireacha?" Lilly asked Brian and James. [my brothers?] Brian and James took position by the bathroom door, guarding it from Dubh with snarls and bared teeth. Satisfied, Lilly focused her attention on Dubh. "What do you mean you've seen it all?"

Dubh chuckled before sitting down, facing Lilly. "I've been there since the beginning."

Lilly looked at Adair. "Adair, what does he mean?"

Adair tilted her head to one side, studying Dubh with a keen eye. "I'm not sure."

"Yes you are," Dubh said. "You know exactly who I am. After all, we spent a good time together down in the dark room, didn't we?"

Lilly blinked, realization dawning on her face. "Yer the one who bound me?" she asked incredulously.

"Yes," Dubh said with a cocky nod. "Do you remember the name Desmond Elders, Lillian? Oh, I doubt you do, considering you barely remember anything before you fled Ireland. Do you know why that is?"

Lilly shook her head. "No, but I doubt you know why."

Dubh laughed and threw his head back. "Of course I know why. Lillian," Dubh sighed, standing up and taking a step forward. "I have been with you since you were born. Why do you think The Morrigan made a deal with your father to watch over you?"

Lilly swallowed. "To protect me?"

"Yes!" Dubh laughed. "I may loathe you, but you really are...such a clever girl. And I respect that."

Lilly huffed before glancing out of the corner of her eye. Abigail had the children in her arms and was slowly moving her way to the closet with Brian and James protecting them. She quickly averted her gaze back to Dubh.

"So you've been watchin' me?" Lilly snarled. "The entire time, you..." suddenly Lilly had a thought. A very bad thought. Her eyes narrowed and she made an inhumane growl. "Did ya kill me family on The Emerald Star?"

Dubh cackled loudly with a shake of his head. "Oh goodness, no! I mean," he tilted his head to the side and flung a paw. "I...had something to do with the explosions, but no, your mother, father, and little sister dying? That was most certainly not me."

Lilly cocked her head to the side, utterly confused by this creature's odd behavior. "Then who was it?" she asked, eyeing Abigail getting into the closet with her children and John.

"Well, that's the million dollar question, isn't it?" Dubh asked. "Actually, no, it's not..."

Lilly rolled her eyes. She was starting to get bored. "What is the million dollar question?"

Dubh smirked, an evil twinkle in his eye showing through. "How many times have you attempted suicide?"

Lilly felt as if the wind had been knocked out of her before composing herself. She had been planning to have this conversation with everyone, but she never found the right time to. She looked at Adair who merely frowned and placed a hand on Lilly's shoulder.

"What the hell you talkin' 'bout?" Arthur growled, grasping his belt buckle and taking a step forward.

Dubh licked his chops and let out a low, almost inaudible humming. "Earl of Moycullen Arthur Morgan, adopted son of Dutch van der Linde and Hosea Matthews, a literal cowboy from the American west!" Dubh exclaimed. "Does it bother you that your wife has more titles than you do?"

Arthur raised a finger. "Shut up for a minute..." he mumbled before turning to Lilly. "Lilly, what the hell is he talkin' about? How many times have you tried to kill yourself?"

Lilly couldn't even bare to look at him. "Arthur, now is not the time for this discussion," Lilly said softly.

Arthur scoffed and shook his head. "Says who?" he asked, looking at her.

"Are ya bein' daft, man?" Lilly snapped, glaring at him. "We're in the middle of a battle! Now is not the time!"

Before Arthur could retort, Dubh broke the air with laughter. "Oh please, don't mind that at all. I'll happily call a truce for the moment just to watch you two dish it out."

Lilly blinked at Dubh. "For a demon spawn, you really are a cheeky fucker, ain't ya?"

Dubh nodded and plopped down on his behind before settling his upper body on the floor, crossing his front paws over each other. "By all means, continue. I'm not going anywhere, you have me outnumbered, and watching you fight amuuuuuses me."

Lilly gaped at the wolf named Dubh before looking at the windows. The clouds started to disappear and the lightning and thunder were nowhere to be seen nor heard. Dubh stretched his body out and groaned in satisfaction. Lilly was shocked to see that the wolf who was previously clouded in dark smoke and clouds was now just a regular black wolf, although he was still quite massive.

"Ah, that's better..." he sighed, rolling onto his back. "Using dark magic constantly can be so exhausting. Now, ignore me, I'm simply a curious spectator."

Lilly sighed before looking at Cernunnos. "Cernunnos, could you possibly...give us some privacy?"

"Hmm?" Cernunnos grunted. "I'm not leaving ya folks tah this dark, vile creature! And I wantah know-"

Adair shushed him. "Please, Cernunnos. I'll explain later, my friend," she said.

Cernunnos growled before gripping his club and glaring at Dubh. "I'm warnin' ya...one false move from ya and I'll be right back in here tah deal with ya!"

Cernunnos stormed off into the hallway and Lilly bowed her head. "Adair, you should probably go too."

Adair nodded and was about to walk away before Arthur grabbed her arm, his eyes still piercing into Lilly's. "Nope, you are stayin' here, woman."

Adair arched a brow. "Why is that?"

"Because you obviously knew about this so it involves you."

Adair frowned. "Fair enough." Adair went to Lilly's other side and rubbed the wolf's back. "Lilly, you know I'm here for you."

Lilly looked at Adair and nuzzled her shoulder. "Thank you, Adair." Lilly looked back at Arthur and sighed, who looked livid.

Lilly knew this was not going to go very well.