Chapter 5

The person came through the door.

Snek even hissed at them in warning. "No one asked you to come here!" he said defiantly.

"Tut, tut, I am merely here to pay my respects. That is all!"

Bad stared at this man oddly, dressed of all things in a strange druid robe. He approached Bad and bowed. "Hail King of the Shadows, even Death welcomes you with open arms"

Bad refused to settle, his mind was screaming at him. This guy cannot be trusted. "Who are you?" He demanded.

"I am but a humble druid…"

"Bullshit, you are." Bad snapped back. He wasn't a fool, his own shadow minions were on edge with this guy, he's not to be trusted. Not to mention, Bad was getting a weird sensation around him. His skin crawled at the sight of this man, but his eyes were focused on the robe. For a moment he swore he heard whispers for help coming from the Druid's cloak. "Who are you and what do you want?" Bad asked again.

His head rose. "I go by many names, but mainly, people call me the Druid." He said.

Bad tried to get a good look at his face but saw no features to be found. His cloak must be enchanted to say the least, yet his back was up. "I got to go with the company I keep here. No one wants you here… quite frankly either do I, please leave." Bad said as politely as he could.

Druid smiled and bowed. "I have come to speak with the New King, I knew the old one quite well myself. And, I offer a mere blessing for the child. An enchantment of protection, please King of the Shadows. Let me give the child…"

"Pass." Bad stated.

It caught the man off guard. "You… don't wish for my blessing? If it isn't accepted it shall be a curse!"

Black mist suddenly filled the floor. "Did… you just threaten my son?" Bad demanded as he began to seethe with anger.

Yet the Druid didn't back down. He had no fear of him!

Before it escalated, a strange man appeared out of nowhere as he placed a single hand on the druid's shoulder. "Now, now, he said nicely to leave, I suggest you do so!"

Even Bad froze at the stranger that appeared out of nowhere. Snek froze as he realized this man suddenly passed him! He wore a black suit but appeared to be a young man with a radiant smile. The Druid turned to glare at him, but froze… petrified to say the least of the stranger. He was quickly escorted out by the Snek and told not to return.

Bad turned to the stranger who smiled warmly, but he didn't bow or offer a greeting. "It's been a long time since I have seen something like this…" the man said offhandedly. His eyes glistened and appeared to be full of light and love. His short black hair shined in the sunlight but his gaze came upon Bad. "I have heard… SO much about you. May I say it is an honor to meet you after so long, I haven't kept track of everything mind you, but I heard what had happened and must say I am VERY pleased with the new Shadow King."

Bad felt oddly relaxed around him, he smiled warmly as well. "Thank you for your help, if that was your gift, it was VERY well received," he said with great sincerity.

"Oh goodness me, is this the new King?! So humble and gracious! Such a breath of fresh air!" Without warning, his hand reached and Bad found himself locked into a firm handshake with this man. "No, no this won't do!" he pulled Bad into his arms and embraced him.

Bad had never felt a hug like that in a while!

It was heartwarming and made one feel safe and secure… like when Garou embraces him. He was certain to return it after all, this man just effortless defused a situation that could have put his son in danger.

When he was released, the man's smile merely grew. "I am SO pleased with this, truly I am. Ooo, may I see the prince?"

Bad somehow nodded his head. "Garou… It's cool."

Garou however kept his defenses up, yet there was something strange happening around the room. Every shadow was bowing to this man! Bad took a moment to see it, but when Garou noticed he revealed Botan to the stranger who cooed over the newborn.

"Oh… so precious!" he whispered. "That's a good use of 10,000 souls if I do say so!"

"Wait, you know of that?" Bad asked.

"Oh indeed I do, so much death in little time, I could I not?"

Garou suddenly when white. "Wait… are you…"

The man smiled and bowed. "Indeed I am. I just had to see this for myself, the other gods insisted upon it, and I am glad I listened."

"Uh, Garou…" Bad asked awkwardly.

"This guy… is Death"

Bad even froze as the man gently took Botan from Garou and held him. He was remarkably gentle as he marveled over the young one. "Oh… so precious!" he whispered. He turned to Bad and was smiling proudly. "This… THIS is something worth celebrating! You are remarkable to say the least. I have to say this again, I am thrilled with the changing of the King. The last one was a pain, I nearly had to deal with him myself."

"Uh… thank you…" Bad said as sincerely as he could, but didn't know what to make of the Grim Reaper holding his son. Let alone why the god of Death is so… lively. "I hope I live up to the greeting now. I got to admit it's a little creepy but I am starting to understand it a lot better…"

"Do you?" Death asked. "You do not know you full power, let alone how it came to be. May I explain something to you? You are merely an extension of me." He explained. "However this part of me was to be a guardian, I am not all about doom and gloom to say the least. I LOVE watching people survive, when they fight for their being and make it out on top." He said with great sincerity. "I don't become petty about someone cheating me, after all, sooner than later I catch up to them, am I right?" he asked with a wink and a nudge.

Bad gave a nervous smile as he nodded in agreement. "You have no idea how pleased I am to see thing be as they should. King of the Shadows that you were unfortunately introduced to was never my intent." Death explained.

"No, the Shadows King was created to help keep the peace between Others and the humans. It became so corrupt in the past few thousand years I early abolished it. But then you… I heard about what you did…"

"If this is about the vampires…" Garou said offhandedly.

"Oh no, I am not the least bit upset over that, besides those ten were a pain in my ass too, so much death. You really helped me out there, thankfully you had the peace of mind not to kill all of them to create a vampire civil war! No, I've been watching you. Your very considerate to your legions, you are not eating souls for the sake of it…"

"I haven't really developed a taste for that to say the least…" Bad said.

"Well, you will need to. Just do what you did before, the monsters are more than acceptable for you to feed upon, again, they can cause too much work for me to deal with." His eyes came down lovingly to Botan once more. "Such a wonderful child… are you planning more?" he asked.

Bad felt a pit in his stomach drop. "More?" he asked.

"Indeed, if you are going to create a monarchy, you need more than one. I do suggest you get started sooner than later. Your child will age faster than others. By his first birthday he will be far older than he should!" Death then paused. "However I am not taking his vampire heritage into consideration, he may age faster depending on the circumstance…"

"I didn't know…"

"Of course you didn't. Now, about the other children…"

"Whoa, we got our hands full with the one for now… we will consider other children though…" Bad said, yet apart of him didn't quite believe what he was saying himself. He went through hell just having Botan, and now he is asked to do it again?!

Death however smiled. "Please see that you do. My one request, in return…" He gave Botan back to Garou as he place a hand over Bad's heart. "My gift. You have done well figuring a few things out yourself, but this will grant you full abilities without fear of harming others. You will know what you can do and your own strengths. Use them well." Bad gasped as he felt his heart nearly stop for a moment, but then fell back into its usual rhythm. He was breathless from the event but then he began to seethe with power.

Death then turned to Botan and placed his hand gently on his head. "You, young one, I am going to suppress most of your abilities until your fathers say you are ready. You will live happily and have a blessed life. However, you will see your father's power and abilities with your own eyes."

Garou nearly tear up from the little prayer for Botan, yet Death smiled warmly to him. "You, have done exceptionally well with your power. Keep up the great work, and soon, you will be able to train with Bad."

"Wait, what?" Garou said.

"I must bid you ado for now. Oh… keep an eye on that druid. He's a dark essence user, he likes to sacrifice souls for his own power…" Death however paused. "In fact… don't keep an eye on him… end him." He said with a hint of darkness in his voice. "He has harmed too many to be allowed to live." With that, Death walked out the door as happily as he did coming in.

Bad and Garou couldn't bring themselves to move at first. "Did… that just really happen?" Bad asked.

"Yeah… Death welcomed you with open arms."