I'm going to meld the three stories a bit now that I'm all caught up, so don't be too surprised…

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Chapter 3- Beginning of the end

"Give them back!" Torin yelled, humor gone from his voice.

"No, you gave them to me and I like them!" Paris shouted back, getting the attention of those walking down the hall.

"What's going on?" Reyes popped his head into the room to see Paris holding a stack of DVD's and Torin, green eyes burning with anger rather than the laughter they usually held.

Both men turned to their comrade. Paris spoke first. "Torin gave me DVD's, he said he didn't want them, but now he does. Tell him no give-backs…"

Torin scowled. "I shouldn't have done that, those are Mah-ron's. I only did that because I needed you to watch them and tell me if there's anything that would prove her as Bait on them…"

Reyes blanched. Those disks were most likely private. Mah-ron obviously didn't know or they would have heard her yelling on every floor. He smirked at the thought, the girl had a fire, one all her own and one strong enough to scorch him. "Paris, give them back to Torin, or you'll have me to deal with…"

Paris whined, lush lips better suited for kissing fell into a pout. "But if I can't take her, can't I at least have these? She's so…. naughty." He grinned, obviously Promiscuity relishing in something it saw in Mah-ron's video diaries.

"Paris…" Reyes fists tightened now, he wanted to take those disks and break them if he couldn't have them, he didn't want anyone else to. Sudden burning anger raced through his veins like hot white liquid fire. The tallest of the group, and the most sexually busy, sighed and put the stack down, before existing the room.

Torin blinked at the stack and then looked at Reyes. "Guess you should give those back to her… so I was wrong, she's not-"

"Bait? No… she's something…much more…" Came Aeron's hoarse voice.

Both Torin and Reyes whipped around to see the tattooed man carrying the passed out Mah-ron. They gaped at him, the man they loved, fought beside, and honored above themselves. The blood-caked wrists, the haggard and hated look, hair disheveled and much longer than it's normal length. He looked oddly calm. "How did you get out?" Reyes hissed, though he feared, he knew the answer.

Aeron grinned, fangs still elongated. "She let me out… clever girl…" He smiled down at the caramel skinned girl.

Torin held his hands up, acting as though Aeron held a dangerous weapon. "Aeron…put her down and we can help you…" He spoke, tentatively.

Aeron adjusted her in his arms and shook his head. "Don't worry about me, I'm actually fine…" His voice was confused. "I have no desire to kill Danika and her family, or any other blood lust…" This perplexed Reyes and Torin. They both froze. They knew that Aeron wasn't lying.

Aeron was still looking down. "But…" He sucked in air and looked up, eyes pained and something else. He now held Mah-ron tightly, as if she might vanish if he didn't. "This girl…"

"W-what?" Reyes' mouth went dry.

Aeron's face hardened. "She is Distrust…. and she …is like Ashlyn…" He muttered so quiet both Reyes and Torin had to lean forward to hear. And both nearly fell over. They knew Aeron could see the darkness in others. Wrath had that ability, a wife-beater, loss his hands. But did that mean that Mah-ron would loss her head? Reyes gulped.

Torin sat up. He looked nervous once again. "Is that why she was drawn to us? If Distrust was what confused Lucien?" He asked.

The tattooed man shrugged and did not answer his friend, for he had no answer to give. The room was eerily quiet. Like Ashlyn? Distrust? Baden's demon had found another host, but why her? Did this mean that there would now be two female lords? But Mah-ron was not a warrior.

Torin had the answer first. To take advantage of her ability. Just like the hunters took advantage of Ashlyn's ability. He suddenly felt pity for the girl and understood why she was the way she was.

"I'm taking her to my room now…" Aeron turned but Reyes stood up, walking over to him.

"You can't do that…"

"Why not? She let me free and she's mine now..." Aeron's voice was still confused, pierced brows knitting together. From the moment he was in her presence, the bloodlust silenced. He feared now what would happen if that was taken away from him. Without the cell to hold him and Maddox's chains, he would undoubtedly race after the Ford family. "Look at me. This is the first time in two month's I can walk around and not thirst for Danika's blood…" He voiced his theory. Without another word, he ran up to his room, cradling the fainted girl closer. The others did not chase him.

When he got to his room he was amazed at how much dust had collected in his two months of absence. Even more so that his things had been untouched, as if his friends had been too respectful to move his things, or too afraid.

The latter thought bothered him. But that was not important now. He didn't know where to put Mah-ron down so he could clean. He felt as though she deserved better atmosphere than this. He decided he would have to hold her. So switching so that she was cradled in one arm he pulled the black satin sheets off the bed and switched them for clean ones. Then he gingerly laid Mah-ron down on bed and covered her before getting to work on cleaning the rest of the room.

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Lucien stood watching silently as Torin showed him some of footage on Mah-ron. It had been wrong that Torin had put cameras in her room but the girl was strange. And Lucien was glad that he did.

He watched Mah-ron burn paper as though she could not help it, pyro. He watched her talk to herself and seem to be very frightened of absolutely nothing. He watched her throw up and wondered what it was that drove such a sick person to stay as strong as she did mentally. "She's strange but not unwelcome, that's my final verdict."

"There's one more thing…" Torin's voice was tentative. Lucien instantly looked down with a hard expression. "Aeron….got out of his cell."

"What?! So why aren't we-" Lucien paused and leaned so he was erect again. Torin had his hand in the air. "Talk."

"Mah-ron let him out, but he's not crazy with bloodlust for the Fords…" His voice proved confused.

Lucien froze and then stiffened. "Where is he now?"

Torin didn't look up from the screens. "His room…" He answered Lucien's unanswered question. "She is there too…. but…"

The duel-eye colored man glared at the pale angel sitting under him. "What?" He hissed.

Torin flinched and sighed. "She is Distrust Aeron said, and she has an ability, like Ashlyn's…."

Lucien's face twitched as he sucked in air. Torin turned to him, watching and ready, though he knew it might not be enough. Lucien was dangerous when he couldn't control his emotions. "Excuse me?" He hissed.

Torin flinched, his jaw popping as he tried to find the words. He closed his eyes. "I need not repeat the obvious. She must stay here. By the way she acts, she doesn't know…"

Lucien turned to glare at Torin, who merely watched his friend. "Perhaps, it's controlling her…"

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Mah-ron squirmed a bit on the bed. During her slumber, Aeron had had the notion to make the bed more in tune with feminine design, he had laid white canopy across the top and sides of the bed so that it draped perfectly over Mah-ron.

The little girl, disoriented and not used to the fortress yet, sat up too quickly and tangled herself in the white canopy. She shrieked, and Aeron ran into the room just in time to catch her from falling off the bed. He was laughing. But the caramel girl was shaking. "Hold still, so I can untangle you…"

But she kept writhing, almost panicked until she recalled she'd heard that voice before. Aeron. Instantly, she stilled. He raised his eyebrows but quickly untangled her. She watched through curious eyes but remained still well after he was done. He frowned, pieced brows coming together. Wasn't she going to thank him?

She was still wearing her little sailor's outfit and it was now disordered. Aeron's jaw dropped as he took in exposed thighs and tussled hair. Mah-ron blushed at his expression and pressed into the bed, which still left her pretty close to the hulking man. She whimpered softly.

Aeron, recognizing her whimper snapped from his trance and smiled, slowly reaching for her. She gasped and he recoiled. "It's ok, I'm not going to hurt you…" She seemed to feel the truth in his words and leaned toward him as well, eyes on all his tattoos. He suddenly felt self-conscious and afraid she would judge him on his appearance.

Without a word, she began to trace them. Her eyes seemed dazed and her fingers were delicate as they played across his skin. But when she got to the butterfly tattoo that had damned him for so long, he was surprised to find how sensitive and responsive it was to her. His head dropped back in a groan but the fingers pulled back.

He turned to see Mah-ron watching him with a horrified expression, eyes, full of shock and terror, focused on his face. And he noticed the red haze. Through it, he watched her jolt up and race from the room. He vaguely wondered on the fact of whether or not she was real but he could still smell her, still feel her warmth. And he was running for her without realizing.

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Mah-ron, heart racing as if it wanted to escape her, the sound pounding in her ears and drowning out the stomping behind her until she felt a hand around her waist. Her vision blackened and she swung to strike but her tiny hand, knife poised was pinned to the wall. Aeron hovered above her.

Take.

No… Aeron growled but was in shocked awe of Mah-ron. Her face was the skeletal mask of Distrust. But behind it, Mah-ron looked frightened.

Take, take, take!

"Ahem!" Reyes all but shouted at the duo. He did not see Distrust. He saw only Aeron scaring poor little Mah-ron and he shoved, making him drop her. "Here…" He handed her the silver tray that had a bowl of grapes and pulled Aeron to the side.

Wrath never took his eyes from Distrust as he was shoved into the closet room. He watched Mah-ron's caramel face re-appear and then begin to eat.

"What are you doing?" No response. Reyes ran his fingers over his chin. "Do. Not. Scare. Her." He glimpsed back at the tiny girl, following Aeron's gaze. Mah-ron sat picking the good grapes from the bruised and scarred and Reyes felt a pang in his chest. He had many scars. Would she separate herself from him? Then he remembered her scars.

The warrior beside him sighed, Wrath receding to the back of his mind. He should have known that she would fight and that if he wanted to win her, he would have to find another way. Before, he had been glad human women feared him. But Mah-ron wasn't fully human and she wasn't entirely scared of him. She was angry, to say the least. And even then that, he needed her. She quieted Wrath; the cursed bloodlust that the Titans put on him was gone when she was near.

He glimpsed at Reyes and the two fighters' eyes met. They realized that Paris was the least of their worries. And neither could understand how, after so much time with only the other lords for their company, how everyone was coming together, and seemingly finding their other half. But whom did Mah-ron complete?

Mah-ron paid no attention to Reyes or Aeron. She didn't really realize how hungry she was, the bowl was empty, save for those she didn't see fit to eat. Then she remembered what she was doing. She started to gag, clutching at her throat.

Both men quickly turned to her, their inner turmoil forgotten. Reyes, closer, scooped her up and petted her back. She flinched, feeling the pressure of his body and his warmth and suppressed it. "Better?" She nodded, but didn't look him in the eye. He knew she was lying. But what he didn't know was what Torin and Lucien saw in her room. That she was trying to purge her body of food. That she couldn't stop.

The tattooed warrior beside him, looked on, helpless. He had little experience with humans, and their illnesses. It felt like Ashlyn getting sick off their wine again and this time he understood Maddox's pain and frustration. Black spots winked into his vision.

He heard a deafening scream. "His face!" Mah-ron's voice. He quickly turned and raced to his room, cursing all the while.

Meanwhile, Reyes was trying to quiet a struggling Mah-ron. She writhed and squealed and by accident, his hand slid up her thigh. She froze in place, hair tussled, cleavage showing and panting hard, her face pink and inches from his. He growled and her eyes widened. "R-reyes?" Soft whimper.

"Enough…" The voice was even and monotone but held tremendous power anyway. A warning. Lucien's. Reyes slowly set Mah-ron down and picked up the tray. He avoided his leader's eyes. The doll-like girl however, scampered over to Lucien and gripped his arm, nails digging in deep. He winced and looked down at her but her eyes, wide saucers were focused on Reyes. He sighed. "Do I want to know what happened while I went collecting-" He paused and glimpsed down at the girl again and decided not to finish his sentence. He knew Reyes would know what he meant. And not to voice it either.

"I knew she was staying in Aeron's room and I went to take her food…. found them fighting in the hall and broke it up and then-"

Another scream. This time, Lucien jumped and scooped up Mah-ron, hoping nothing attacked her. "His face! His was scary!" She started to cry. Death's blood ran cold. She had seen. Would she find out? Did she already know? No. She can't have, or she wouldn't find comfort in him, Death.

He stroked her back and frowned at Reyes. "What did I say about our behavior around our guests?" The pained man nodded, stiff and short. He walked away, frowning at the grapes in a way that worried Lucien, but he would not ask. He had enough on his plate.

When the little girl had calmed he took her to his room and set her on the bed, then he went into the closet. Wiping her eyes, she sniffed and looked around. Soft bed, plain room. She frowned, recalling the other rooms that had lots of lavish things. They sure didn't decorate their rooms much. So much for personal, individual touches. "Why are your eyes different colors?" She blurted, watching the strong back in the closet and trying to see what he was digging for.

Lucien froze in place when he heard her question. He wasn't sure what to say. Surely, if he lied, Distrust would correct him. But if he told the truth, her reaction would be to leave the fortress, if she didn't already want that now. What with Paris's attempts and Aeron and Reyes scaring her half to death. "I'm…blind in one eye. My natural eye color is brown."

He hard a gasped and slowly turned. When he locked eyes with Mah-ron, her expressing wasn't one of hatred or fright. It was of sorrow and concern and pure innocence. So the spirit hadn't told her otherwise. She blushed and looked elsewhere. "I-I'm sorry…what happened?"

He sighed, knowing he'd have to keep up the lie now. "Fighting accident…" He watched her and she tilted her head to one side. Studying him. He was suddenly aware of the fact that she was on his bed, on her hands and knees, watching him like a cat poised to pounce and he could barely hold back a growl.

"Oh…is that where your scars came from too?" She asked, still the innocence hung in her voice, her safety net so far, but if Distrust should show itself…. He then recalled first the look on Reyes's face, then the answer to her question. No, these scars were to prevent her kind from loving him, so he would not lose them to death. He could not bear another soul on his conscious, and if they stayed away, he would too.

"No…" He choked out, his voice much huskier than he wanted it to be. "That was from…something else." Her expression turned curious and sad but not pressing.

Without warning, she jumped up. He expected her to turn and run, to scowl, call him a name and kick at him but she didn't. Tiny thing that she was, she ran and hugged him tight, arms around his waist. She was warm and smelt sweetly of spiced peaces. He groaned. "I'm sowwi…" Her voice was muffled against his chest, which she barely reached, even in her heels.

"Sowwi?" He asked. He slowly allowed himself to hug her back. He couldn't remember the last time anyone had ever down that to him. It was so simple, but so much. He looked down at her again.

Her soft breath tickled his chest and she giggled. "I like to talk like a little kid. I'm five; I might as well act it. But I'm not dumb…" Lucien nodded to her. He knew, if only on the surface, what she was. Distrust. Gifted. And yet, still innocent for all her tainted behavior. He sighed and eased her away from him. She frowned but then looked up at him, curious again. "Why do you smell like roses?"

He winced, ignored it. "You certainly ask a lot of questions…that's very cute…but it can get you in trouble, little one…"

She blushed, frowned and started to fidget. "Yes…well…I do that. But you didn't answer me. I don't care if curiosity killed the cat, the cat died smart and I don't believe ignorance is bliss."

"Well, I do." He spoke, pointedly and turned from her. He heard her stamp her foot, huff and walk over to his bed again. He smirked at her fire. Like Ashlyn. He thought and chuckled. He finally found her phone and palmed it. He walked over to her and held it out. When she reached for it he held it back. "If you're a good girl, you may have this back. But no more fighting. This is becoming a very bad habit of yours."

Instead of nodding, like he expected the child in her to do. She growled and leaned close to his face, expression dark. "Look, Mr. I'm-so-fucking-powerful-and-the-shit, I don't start it, they do, they keep bugging me. And another thing! I'm totally for staying here cause I like you and Maddox and Ashlyn…." She paused and he wondered who's others names she wanted to add. For some reason, that made Death stir. "I like it here and for me, this is behaving. So deal and gimme my phone." As of yet, he didn't see Distrust on her face. Only hers. He handed it over.

She pocketed her phone, not even checking to see if the SYM card was there, or the battery. She had been through a lot and then she suddenly felt dizzy. Lucien noticed. "Do you need your medicine? You have yet to show the others or me how to help you, should you pass out. None of us are medically trained…. We had no need of it…."

The doll's body became taut and she slowly turned to Death. A hiss escaped her. "I'm not weak and I don't need your help! Don't look at me with pity or concern! I take care of me!" in her rant, she didn't realize she was leaning off the bed and he caught her, fast and smooth.

He righted her and frowned, scars making his face hard. "Well, technically, we're taking care of you now. You live here and eat or food and room with us. And I'm only trying to help you…" And keep you from escaping. He mentally added.

The small girl, sighed, slipped off his bed, purposely leaving the sheets rumpled and warm. And stuck her tongue out at him. Without so much as a thank you, she wobbled to the door, slamming it as she went. "Butthead…" He heard from the other side. He frowned and then felt the call of more souls, wanting to cross.

Dizziness swept over her body, and yet Mah-ron was able to halfway stumble downstairs to the kitchen where she found Ashlyn cooking. She grinned. Perfect timing. "Mom? Can I have a smoothie? With strawberries and bananas and mangos?"

Ashlyn turned to see who addressed her. Did she really just call her mom? So Mah-ron saw her as a maternal figure? She grinned but part of her wondered what had happened to the girl's real parents. She was about to say yes when someone beat her to it. "I'll do it, if it's okay with the little angel."

The older girl turned to frown at Paris. "Are we going to behave?" She studied him carefully and he grinned. There were no strain-lines on his face and he was solely good-natured. If a little bit cautious.

"Yes, of course. I wanted to make nice." He nodded and grinned, reaching to pat Mah-ron on the head but she scampered behind Ashlyn. He frowned. "I'm not going to hurt you. You're too pretty." Mah-ron slunk further behind Ashlyn and he sighed. Ashlyn gave him a look to turn Promiscuity down as much as possible or she'd always hide from him. He nodded and cleared his throat. "Um, strawberry mango…. erm…" If he said banana he would surely be taken the wrong way, or start laughing at his perverse joke. But he tried anyway. "Banana smoothie?"

Maddox's woman sighed and stroked her stomach. She knew she couldn't take much more of Paris's failed attempts to woo Mah-ron. She eased to the side and smiled sweetly. "Don't mind him. He's a bit too much but he's harmless, I promise…" The tiny girl studied her before nodding and her eyes followed her hand to her swollen belly.

Paris followed her gaze as well. As much as he loved sex and women, he knew he could never have what Maddox had. He wasn't even sure if he could handle it. Many questions sprang to mind. How would the child be born? In the hospital? Here in the fortress? Would it be demon or human or both? Could a child live here?

All the while, Mah-ron reached and touched Ashlyn's stomach. She had always seen pregnant women where she worked but never was the room around it calm. She leaned and put her ear to it, trying to catch a heartbeat. Ashlyn watched and smiled, petting Mah-ron silky hair until the smaller girl gasped. "They kicked!" Her voce was excited.

Ashlyn's eyes went wide. "Maddox!" Louder. "Maddox!" In seconds, the hulking man was in the kitchen. He had palmed a knife and looked around wildly as he raced up to the two women.

"What's wrong?!" He bellowed but put the knife away before Mah-ron would see it. He saw the joy on Ashlyn's face and when she took his hand he understood. He felt a faint kick and his grin split his face.

Mah-ron, sensing something private, stumbled out of the room, unaware that she was being followed. She found the entertainment room and sat on the red couch. She frowned when she found a red spot. Blood. She rubbed it off on her dress but still it stained her hand. She was about to get up when the smoothie she had asked for was dangled before her. She looked up. Paris smiled down at her. "I wanted to say I was sorry."

Her eyes narrowed as she took it and studied it carefully. "Are there date rape drugs in this? If there are, Lucien will murder you…" Her voice was serious. She sniffed it. She really didn't trust anyone, especially not someone who watched her sleep and tried to see what color bra she wore.

"None. I promise. I would never harm a woman." He tried to sound sincere and must have succeeded because she started to drink. He had had four women today and so was strong enough to resist Mah-ron and try to make friends with her. For he knew she was staying. And yet, part of him wanted to ask her about those things in her diaries. From her exterior, she seemed an un-extraordinary person. Pretty, yes, and a stylish dresser but not the sex-freaky vixen he had watched, and throbbed for. She hid it well.

She was just barely listening to him though. Her eyes scanned the room. A pool table, a flat screen and video games and a punching bag, much like the ones in Reyes's room. She also found a small mat which she guessed was Torin's, for it was the farthest thing from the center of the room. She set her drink on the pretty coffee table and picked up a game. "Wow…" her jaw slacked as she took in the cover of two nude women fighting. Her cheeks heated.

Paris jumped at the opportunity. "Want to play? I'm never played a female before and I'm more than sure Maddox wouldn't let Ashlyn play." No response except the crossing of those thick thighs. "Please, little one?"

She looked up and nodded but her expression was sad as she handed the game over. "I don't know how to play…"

He laughed and eased next to her, hoping she wouldn't recoil. Amazed that he feared she would, considering who he was. How women normally clamored over each other to be next to him. He was sorely not accustomed to being ignored, even hated by women. Thankfully, she did not move away. He grinned. "That's easy. I'll teach you…"

He set up the game and handed Mah-ron the controller. It was awkward in her hands and she whimpered and watched the screen with anxious eyes. He smirked and inhaled her scent. "May I?" he asked, motioning to her hands. She nodded slowly and he picked her up. She let out a tiny yelp as he eased her into his lap and wrapped his arms around her. He sighed and kissed her forehead, hands sliding over hers and moving them into the right position. "Relax….want me to set it on Beginner?"

Another nod and he did so, letting the game start. She stumbled at first, failing a few times before she got the hang of it. When she did he eased his hand back and watched her. She didn't seem to notice, absorbed in the game and smiling wide. Her hair fell around her like a dark angel's veil and she was warm against him. He grinned wide as well and then picked up the other controller. "Want me to join now?"

"So I can kick your butt? Hell yea!" She winked at him and he reset the game. He let her win and as a reward she pounced him and hugged hi tight. "Thank you!" She giggled, not realizing she was grinding against him, or that her chest was temptingly close to his face.

He growled and his hands slid to her waist. "No problem…" She eased her close and kissed her neck.

Instantly, she stiffened. "U-uh, Paris?" her voice was nervous and he sighed. He didn't understand that she didn't want him and upset at himself for losing control, even a little. How much she tempted him, was torture.

He leaned back. "Forgive me. I honestly can't help it…" He blinked as she appraised him and then he got another tackle hug. He laughed and snuggled her and felt her breathing slow. "Mah-ron?" He felt her fingers slide through his hair, fluffing it curiously.

"Can we watch a movie?" She asked. Her voice muffled against the fabric of his shirt. He groaned softly and she flinched.

He cleared his throat. "What movie?"