Yup, still going. Hope you liked the last chapter!

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Chapter 4- Fall apart world again

"Um…The Notebook? If you have it. If not, I'm totally due for some Disney. You do know what Disney is right?" Mah-ron asked, moving so her chin rested firmly in the middle of Paris's chest. She searched his blue eyes with her dark ones.

"Of course I do." He grinned. "You're in luck. I have an abundance of female movies. I like them and now I have someone to watch them with me…" He gently eased up and picked her up so he could walk over to the small glass case that held them. "I used to have to force the others to watch them with me…"

"You talk normal then you talk like you're from another time…how old are you?" She watched him and without warning started to flick the rubber band at her wrist, she winced in time with the hits.

Paris did not turn, searching for the movie but wondered what the noise was. He was reminded of a good fucking in a hotel and he groaned. "Um, I'm just like that…I hang out in the city a lot. And 26." He figured that would satisfy her, and by her quiet, he assumed it did.

Mah-ron studied him and leaned to drink from her smoothie. It was cool and good and she purred happily. That is until Paris turned and blinked at her. His eyes darkened and lowered to half-mast in lust. She looked down to see her cleavage and straightened. "Don't…" She frowned at him.

He sighed and restraining Promiscuity as much as possible he sat beside her and went about starting the movie. "How is it you don't like me much? Normally, every female adores me…"

"I'm not every female. And apparently nor is mom…" At his confused expression, she corrected herself. "Ashlyn."

"No…you both aren't…" He studied her, confused at the new nickname she had given the only other female to infiltrate and stay in the fortress. To emphasize her point, she flicked the rubber band at him. It grazed his cheek, barely missing his eye. He jumped and growled. "Ow… that wasn't very nice, sweet."

"So stop treating me like a piece of meat…" Her eyes narrowed and for once, Paris looked at himself through her eyes. Not through the eyes of a one-night-stand lover, or as someone who made women feel good. He frowned and it deepened. She saw him as a man-whore and she saw him as someone who possibly used women. And she wasn't entirely wrong. But he couldn't tell her why he did what he did, that he had to. And up until her, he had enjoyed it.

Sensing that she won, she smirked and sipped at her drink. He watched and noticed the red welt on her wrist. "Is…that what you were doing with the rubber band before?" He almost growled. She was like Reyes and he was pained to find this out. Ryes had a reason; he doubted with his entire existence that this girl did. Though he did know one thing, she was a Lord. Even if she didn't know.

Her cute face paled and her eyes became cold as she slid her wrist to the other side of her cup so he couldn't see it, and pressed the red into the cool plastic, grinning in pleasure pain. "No…" Her eyes dared him to make a deal out of it.

He raked his hands over his hair and shook his head. "Hoenstly, love. I have no idea what you get from that…"

At that, her jaw dropped and her eyes instantly welled. She screamed, threw the shake at him and got up, running blindly right into Kane. She almost fell, had he not caught her. Neither Promiscuity nor Distrust knew he was watching them. He was amazed and grateful that Mah-ron had resisted Paris. "Are you alright, little angel?" He asked.

The small girl wrapped her arms around him, tighter than he thought to give her credit for, causing him to grunt. Her cheeks were damp and she whimpered. "Candy Kane! Can we go elsewhere? He made me feel bad."

Kane was unsure as to what to do. If he took her to Sabin, there was no telling what she'd do. Paris looked on with a sad helpless expression that also held a bit of bitterness and lust. To him, Kane spoke. "Go into town…please…" He was also amused that Paris was covered in smoothie: that had to be a new experience.

"I'll leave when I fucking want…" He scowled and stomped from the room, most likely going to do just that. Kane was silently glad Mah-ron had never seen Paris's room.

He looked down at the trembling girl. "What would you like, hmm?" He petted her hair and then down her neck. He felt raised bumps there and gently pulled back her hair. His jaw dropped. On her neck was the butterfly design that marked each lord. But it wasn't a tattoo, it was a birthmark. She had been born with Distrust.

Mah-ron did not notice Kane's reaction. "The weight room? Or maybe to Maddox, he and mo- Ashlyn are nice." When Kane didn't move, she sniffed and shifted. "What's wrong?"

So Sabin had not been fooled, because he could not lie. And if he could, he would not lie about this. His mind raced. This made no sense. If she was born with Distrust then that means that if the demons were ripped from the lords, there was a possibility that the spirits would not roam free and crazed, but find new hosts. That was both a blessing to the world and a curse for those unfortunate new vessels. "Sweetheart?" He gulped, unsure how to proceed. Kane didn't want to incite Distrust. He walked toward Sabin's room. He would know what to do. "I'm going to ask you some questions..."

Mah-ron sniffed and wiped her eyes on Kane's shoulder. She blinked up at him and nodded slowly, snuggling closer. He was kind and warm and clumsy and she liked him. A lot. "Can you kiss my forehead again?" It was bold, sure. But she wanted it. And he didn't seem like he would deny her.

As she expected, he did so. But his eyes were distracted. And his face had fallen into an expression that one wears when missing a loved one long dead. She felt a pang in her heart, and then instant jealousy. She wouldn't have him thinking of anyone else. Kane noticed the anger in her eyes and re-arranged his expression. "Honey?" Her face changed as well and she reached to touch his nose.

He was unsure of this girl. She was young and beautiful and strong but she was also dark and cold and susceptible to the spirit housed in her. He knew. But then where did this innocent sweetness come from? And how did it survive with Distrust so close to her heart? Her soul? "You said you had questions for me, Candy Kane…"

He raised an eyebrow at his new nickname and she blushed. He held her tight as he shut the door to Sabin's room, Sabin watching them with shock, rooted to his bed. "Will you answer honestly?" He asked and set her down between them on a plush chair.

Little Mah-ron looked between Sabin and Kane and edged toward the latter, clearly uncomfortable with Sabin. Doubt watched her carefully, suspicious and it chilled her to the bone. She focused instead on Kane, back to Sabin. "Yes, of course…" Her voice was quiet but sure.

Kane sighed and Sabin mouthed the word: 'Mark?' He nodded solemnly and motioned to his neck. He turned back to the tiny girl, who seemed to shrink with all the attention. He breathed deep. "Mah-ron…are you aware you have a butterfly mark on your neck? Does it bother you sometimes?"

She blinked up at him and in confusion, her hand went to the back of her neck, traced the ridges. "My birthmark? Yea, my sister used to tease me about it. But no, it doesn't bother me or anything." She studied his reaction; pain, fright and something indescribable flickered over his face. Why was he asking her these questions? Behind her, she couldn't see Sabin watching her. His eyes widened when he caught a glimpse of her birthmark before her hair fell over it again. A clever place for it to hide, whereas the other lords had to bear the mark outright, should they be shirtless or otherwise.

Kane breathed slowly. "Sweetie…" He watched her carefully. She didn't hesitate, so she wasn't lying. And he figured she liked him so she wouldn't lie unless the spirit told her to. "Do you…well, hear a voice in you that's not yours? Or feel a surge of power and your vision blurs when you get upset or scared? Any serious emotions?"

Now, Mah-ron's face fell. She paled but nodded yes to all his questions. Then she howled, clutching her head. The spirit, Distrust, angered at being revealed clawed the edges of her mind. She sprang up, shaking and knives appeared in her hand, sliding down from her sleeves. Within seconds, Sabin took them and Kane grabbed her. "Calm down. Please! Mah-ron!" She thrashed, not hearing, her face a skeletal mask.

A voice that was both Mah-ron's and not filled the room. "She's mine! I found her. Her blood is powerful and I shall be the one to hold the power!" The spirit receded and she fell flat against Kane, knocked out.

Sabin held a blade to the girl's neck, making Kane freeze in place. Doubt's face was a hard mask, but there was shock in his eyes. "If she has a gift, we cannot allow the spirit to rule her…as it has been doing."

"But!" Kane frantic, quickly moved Mah-ron down and away from the deadly blade. "She's innocent! She didn't know! And if you kill her, the spirit will wreak havoc on the world again. It choices her as a vessel, no other!"

"It said her bloodline is powerful, we should exterminate them all." Then realization cast its shadow over him. What if her family had already been eliminated? What if she was the only one left? Then Kane was right. He knew he was because if she had family, she would try to get to them, and leave the fortress, but she hadn't. He leaned close to Mah-ron, tucking the knife away. He recalled her mentioning her sister. "Where is she? Your sister?" He spook in her ear, he had to know.

A choked sob came and tears sprang in the girl's eyes, though she was still knocked out. "D-dead…car crash…. my fault…"

She slumped on Kane and wept in her tortured sleep. He petted her into submission and kissed her forehead, glaring at a shocked Sabin. "Enough…I'm putting her to rest in her room. You will not disturb her. You have what you wanted to know now deal with the consequences." With that, he left the room.

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Hours later, Mah-ron woke to someone petting her hair. She sighed and turned but didn't let them know she was awake. She let her eyes flutter and glimpsed the man touching her. Aeron. Instantly, her heart racketed to extreme paces.

Aeron had been in Mah-ron's room the whole time she had been with Lucien, Paris, Kane and Sabin. Something about her things, scattered as they were, calmed him in her absence. But when he saw Kane walk in with her, her too-still form, her tear-streaked face. He nearly went into a frenzy until Kane, quickly, explained what had happened. He had scowled, taken Mah-ron from him, and demanded he leave the room. Disaster did as asked, looking like a dog with his tail between his legs.

Wrath didn't care. He needed the girl. It was unbelievable, she was human but not, she was innocent, but not. And she was beautifully tainted and tortured and like nothing he'd ever seen. And he was sure he'd never seen again. When he looked at her, he also saw her sins. But the way he saw it, hers did not amount to his. What he had done when the demon ruled him. He smiled down at the girl before him. "I know you're awake…I'm not going to hurt you, I promise..." He growled softly at the husky tone to his voice.

Mah-ron, trembling, sat up and eased backward from his outstretched hand. He frowned and her arms slid to protect her chest, as if he would either touch her or slash her. Sharp teeth bit into her bottom lip and he licked his lips, wanting to taste. "W-what're you doing in here? I thought you were mad at me…"

He frowned and popped his jaw. "Only that you ran away…look at me…" He was half afraid that she wouldn't and Wrath rattled at his skull, demanding out. It wanted to touch the girl as much as he did and he panted, trying hard to reign himself. He glimpsed at Mah-ron and her expression was one of awe and want, mixed with fear.

"A-are you ok?" She carefully leaned toward him and in one quick motion, she was pressed against him, his arm tight around her waist. She couldn't even squeal. Her body instantly heated against his, eyes wide. She began to pant and writhe, her body arching against his just right.

He groaned and a new scent hit his senses. Delicious and addicting. Her arousal. "You smell like heaven..." He watched her with dark eyes and smirked as her face heated. She writhed worse and stilled only when she felt his shaft, hard and throbbing beneath her.

"I-I-I-" She was silenced with a kiss. The strongest and yet softest kiss she'd ever felt and she moaned. Aeron swallowed it and pressed harder for more, his hands wandered over her. His hand slid up her thigh and she pressed closer, as if not satisfied, not close enough. But then she gasped and pushed his hand away.

He paused, licked at her pulse. "What's wrong?" He held her tight and frowned at the other Lord's scents coated her, Paris included. He let out a feral growl and she stiffened. He barely was able to calm himself and repeated his question. "What's the matter?"

Mah-ron whimpered softly and eased away from him. "You…we…can't. I don't know you like that…" She looked up at him again, teeth drawing blood on her lip and he leaned to lick it away, she didn't stop him but she held his hands firmly in place.

"But I want you to get to know me…" He sighed. "Answer me this. Do you want it? Me?" He moved to gaze at her. She gulped, shivered and purred, nodded, voice caught in her throat. "Then I will wait…just…don't leave me." He felt her nod again and reach for him. He snuggled her close. He figured now was the time for them to talk.

"I know your secret...want to know mine?" At first, he felt her stiffen but then relax and nod again. He drew a deep breath that seemed to rattle even Wrath. "Demons exist, and I house one in me. You do too. I don't think you know it but…it's there. That voice that compels you to do wrong? It's Distrust. Mine is Wrath…" He spoke quickly; afraid she'd run away, screaming. "The demons come from long ago, they pillaged the earth until they were contained in a box. Pandora's. Minus Ashlyn, all of us helped plot against her, we released the demons and lost the box and she fell. Now, in place of the box, we all house the demons…but you. You quiet the demon. Just like Ashlyn quiets Violence in Maddox. So you must stay. Because…" He groaned at this. "I'm compelled to kill four innocents, the Titans…who have taken over from the Greeks, are forcing me, but you save me. I need you…"

As she listened, Mah-ron was confused, and awed and lost and hurt. She shivered and then stilled on Aeron, feeling both weak and cold and yet burning all at once. Her mind was screaming but it wasn't her voice. If what Aeron and Kane said was true then she was like them, and belonged with them. But unlike her ability to calm Aeron's demon, hers wasn't the least bit content except with Kane. She held her head, covering her ears as she shook. "It... wants…me…to…. hurt…." Knives appeared in her hands and they were taken from her.

"I know sweet, I know, think. Think of what makes you happy and it will stop…you can do it…" Aeron's voice seemed far away but she fought to get back to him, by thinking of Kane, and it worked. Her body slackened and she blinked at him.

"You made it stop…" Then a new idea occurred to her. "Is this why everyone is weird here? And…" Her eyes became too wide for her face. "You guys are thousands of years old, immortals…ageless…"

Aeron nodded again, though he didn't so much like being called weird. He sighed and then noticed her staring at his chest. He felt his cock jerk at the attention. And again when her tiny hand reached for him. "Pretty…can I?" He nodded stiff and fast and she smiled, contently tracing them.

"Don't they scare you?" He asked, amazed, she eased closer and touched with both hands, seemingly stroking something in him that caught fire and burned from the inside out.

"No they're awesome. Almost real…" She slowly circled him and her fingertips grazed his back. "What are these slits?"

Aeron chuckled. "You think they're real? Would you like to see how real?" He felt Mah-ron slide over his shoulder and her expression was of lost wonder. He smirked, in a clipped motion, scooped her up and strutted to the window, where an elegant balcony stood waiting, white against the dark night.

"What…are you doing?" She asked, clutched tightly to him and started to pant all over again.

"Hold tight to me…" Without warning, his gossamer wings, soft as silk but with tips as sharp as knives slid out from his back and he was in the air.

Mah-ron let out a scream. But it wasn't a scream of fear, it was one of pure joy and exhilaration, a scream that would be heard on a roller coaster, one of thrill. And it was music to Aeron's ears. She giggled and held tight as he flew a few times around the fortress and she looked down at the melting snow and smiled huge. "Aeron!" She laughed and he moved so that she was suspended beneath him, holding only by her waist. Another squeal. "Don't drop me!" But her arms came out and her face turned to welcome the night air that brushed over her, she was pretending she was the one with wings. He knew.

He let her do that for a few more turns and then pulled her close. "Wouldn't want you getting sick…" He flew back to the balcony and eased her down. "Go inside…please." He added and moved to close the windows, but felt a slam and something scamper up his back. A giggle in his ear. He smirked, shut the windows and craned his neck, trying to see the little adorable girl that was Mah-ron. "You like high places?"

She nodded and snuggled close, cheek cool from the night air and instantly trusting. He felt his heart swell and smirk, oddly enough Wrath agreed that the girl must stay close. And that she must be delicious. Taste. No. Taste, now! No. Later. He would gain her slowly and do it right.

He noticed how long his hair had gotten in the month he'd been in the dungeons and then moved to pet Mah-ron. "Why did you let me out?" He asked. But he could feel her grip slipping. Frowning, he turned in time to see she'd fallen asleep and laid her on the bed. He wandered to the bath and started to cut his hair into the familiar crop he'd kept it in for years.

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When morning came, Aeron found himself curled underneath Mah-ron, she was watching him, freshly showered, a cute crop top and very tight curve hugging jeans hid her delectable body from view. He growled but then stopped when he noticed her expression. "What?" She pointed to him and he was still confused. Her eyes looked more hurt. "Tell me…did Paris touch you while I slept? Did Sabin or Kane…" Then he figured out what was wrong. "What's wrong with my hair?"

She pouted. "I liked it long, you looked hot…" She sniffed and moved so that she was sitting beside him again, leaving a warm trail of body heat and static.

He reached for her. Stopped. "I'm not handsome now then?" For some reason, the thought scared him beyond reason. As if, for something so small as that, she would leave and he would fall to chaos without event h luxury to drink himself into oblivion. He would kill and lose the little of himself that was left.

Mah-ron eyes widened and she shook her head. "You are! Just…grow it back…" Her expression was so cute he couldn't deny her. He nodded. She had wrapped those little fingers around his heart. A heart he was sure was thorn out and stomped on long ago, but now was full and very much apparent. He then noticed she was watching him warily, and that there was also a flower in her hair. He raised a pierced eyebrow. He then saw that she was holding an empty wine bottle and his blood suddenly heated.

"What did you do?!" He sat up and gripped her wrist until she winced. He loosened the grip but didn't let go.

"I didn't drink it, if that's what you mean…I poured it out in the sink. That stuff is vile.." He was both appalled and relieved.

"But it was mine.." So much for drinking myself into oblivion. "Why?"

"Not. Around. Me." She threw the bottle into the garbage and handed him a tray laden with breakfast. He noticed she did not eat. She caught his look. "Had mine already…" She looked away, and he knew she was lying. He would have to fix that.

"Where did you get that flower? From Ashlyn?" He pulled her to him as he ate, musing that it made him human for doing so. That he could recall, he had never had breakfast in bed, with a beautiful woman at his side.

Mah-ron fidgeted, stared at the food. "Kane...Reyes almost punched him for it and Lucien looked about to jumped them both. And weirdly, Torin looked like he could cry. What's up with them? I-ow! You're hurting me!"

Aeron saw that his nails had become claws and were digging into Mah-ron's side, he released her. He knew full well what was going on. They wanted her as well. But they couldn't have her. She was his, whether she knew it or not, whether she wanted to be or not.

She shifted and inspected her side, it was slightly bloody but it would heal without scarring. She sighed. "Jeez…ok, change topic. If you're Wrath, which clearly shows, might I add…what are the others? You said Maddox is Violence.." Her voice trailed off.

Suddenly, Aeron lost all appetite. "I'll tell you, if you tell me your gift…" He knew she had one, but what it was in its entirety, he wasn't sure.

Mah-ron looked pained and clutched the side of her head. "It's hard to concentrate…" Don't, don't tell him! He lies. No, you lie. "Ok…" Deep breath. "I…well, when I want to, I can see what recent action a person has done by focusing on their heart. I used to do it by accident and I didn't so much like what I saw, so I figured a way to block it out. So now I only do it when I want to, not randomly. It's a paint though, you wouldn't think certain people do things, but…they do.." Her voice was quiet. But there was also something else. He sighed. He wouldn't force it out of her, yet. He had time.

He listened, in awe and slowly pulled her to him. He sighed. She had shared and now it was his turn. "Maddox, you know, is Violence. Paris is, obviously, Promiscuity. Lucien is Death, he collects souls. Reyes is Pain, he unfortunately cuts himself. Torin is Disease. He can't touch a living thing skin to skin without infecting it. That's why…what?"

"That explains the weird hug. He threw the comforter over me and hugged me." She noticed Aeron's jaw tighten and quieted about Torin instantly. "Um...what about the others?"

Aeron sighed softly and continued. "Sabin is Doubt, if you hear a sick voice in your head that tears at your confidence, it's him. Amun divines secrets when close to you, be wary. Kane is disaster, he's a danger without even trying to be. Cameo, she's' the only female, when she talks, you feel as though you want to jump onto rocks and that would be less painful. Misery. Strider is Defeat, never challenge him. Gideon is Lies, always take opposite of what he says to heart. And that's everyone…" Except one. Galen. Hope. One he thought was the most dangerous of all.

Mah-ron absorbed this in silence and nodded slowly. She curled into Aeron's side. "Does Lucien collect all souls? And he smells like Roses...because…oh…won't you get in trouble for telling me? Everyone else…was keeping this from me. What made you suddenly trust me?"

"No, he does not…he'd be a busy man if he did…" Aeron blinked at the girl. He could see the cute spiky shadows her lashes cast over her cheeks and the pout on her lips, tempting him to make her smile. He swallowed. "Because, you're one of us, though human and you ought to know. And because…" He held firmly to her for emphasis. "You're staying here with me so I won't kill. And so we can be your family…if you like."

"And the roses?" She blinked at him, with a curiosity that made his heart ache. "Another curse, to smell of funerals…"

She nodded and swayed, though she didn't realize. Aeron frowned. He knew she needed something and pressed his hand onto her stomach, pure bone. He froze in place. "You need to eat."

"Not hungry…" Was the instant reply.

"You're just bones…eat. Please?"

"No!" A growl.

"For me?" he blinked at her, willing his power over her equaled to hers over him. It didn't.

"No, not for you, either."

"Then..." He paused, growled. "For who you do want to live for?" He watched her, black and red winking into his vision out of jealous rage. He received a nod. "Who..." The word slid from between clenched teeth.

She frowned at him. "That freaky demon is showing on your face. If you're gonna get mad, I'll tell Lucien on you…"

He breathed. Counted. One, two… Another breath. Not calm but restrained. "Who?" He repeated.

"Kain…" A simple reply.