Jack reeled back from shock, "Wait, what?!"

Liam sighed, his smiled fading as he removed his hand from Amari's, "Jack, it's quite a long story."

Amari ignored Jack's reaction, "So, how has your stay here been, Anzan?"

Jack held his hand out before his so-called friend could respond, "Okay, wait. You aren't human?"

Amari didn't let him answer, "No, Jack, He is one of my superior's creation."

Jack glared at her, "Let him answer." he sighed, "I don't know why I'm surprised…" Jack sighed.

Liam looked to Jack, "Jack listen," He paused and waited for Jack's attention, "I don't know what you're thinking, but I hope you understand why I'm here."

Jack shook his head, "No, not really." Jack gestured to Amari, "She wants me to save the world, some fucked up creatures want me to supposedly destroy it-"

Amari interrupted Jack, "Just the Elder you met."

Jack put his hand up, "What ever. And you don't seem to care either way. And I don't even know what to call you."

Liam smirked, "Just call me Anzan."

Jack furrowed his brow, "Have you always been Anzan or did you steal Liam's body?"

Anzan frowned at the accusation, "I've always been Anzan."

Amari smiled, "He's been looking out for you."

Jack smiled sarcastically, "He wasn't around for eleven years, how is that looking out?"

Anzan frowned, "I'll admit, I didn't do a very good job, but give me some leeway, you were very hard to track down."

Jack laughed, "I thought you were all some omnipresent beings?"

It was Amari's turn to laugh, "Only the ones that aren't broken, Jack."

Jack turned to Anzan, "You're broken?"

Anzan glared at Amari, "We all have our faults. Amari here can't make her own decisions."

Amari glared at Anzan, "Anzan can't track anything without the internet."

Anzan stared at her stone-faced, "Amari is only able to create illusions."

Amari huffed, "Only in this plane."

Jack stepped in, "I don't care about that shit! Why are you both here!"

Anzan held his hand up to stop Amari from answering the question, "Jack, we're both here because you have to make a decision, whether you want to save this awful world, or attempt to save another world."

"Wait," Jack looked to Amari, "I thought that if I didn't save this world, everything would be torn apart."

Amari sighed, "There is a very slight chance that you can keep everything alive no matter your choice."

Jack shook his head, "Liam-Anzan, sorry, why don't care either way?"

Anzan smiled, "Ever since I was sent to look after you, I've done nothing, but want you to be happy."

Jack smiled, "That's sweet and all, but why does Amari want me to save this world?"

Amari looked at Jack, "As much as I dislike the human race, I find it to be a necessary evil."

Anzan scoffed, "If Jack were to become the Elder, the evil of the human's would be eradicated."

Jack frowned, "How?"

Anzan looked to Amari who gestured for him to answer, "The Elder who wishes for you to take his place, his job is one of the most difficult of their plane. He has to take the weak souls of this plane, and decides where they go."

Jack hummed, "I always thought that energy can't be destroyed."

Amari smiled, "A soul is not energy, Jack."

"How does he get rid of the ones that he needs to?" Jack asked.

Amari held her smile, "Only the Elder knows."

Anzan scoffed again, "No, he's not the only one. I'll tell you," Anzan paused and looked to Amari who's smile disappeared as he spoke, "He is called the Elder of Fog for a reason, when the Elder decides that the soul is too weak to even survive in their plane, He brings the soul to a place called the Smoke Fields, where he leaves it. Now this I'm not too sure how it works, but the fog consumes the soul. Not sure how that really gets rid of it, but if the Elder were to consume the souls, he would lose his voice and become as grotesque as the beasts that you see regularly."

Amari smiled, "He is actually much more frightening than that. And he does consume their souls."

Jack's eyes were closed, taking in all the information, "What does he do with the other souls?"

Amari spoke, "He gives them to Charon, who transport them between the other Elders."

Jack perked up, "I met him a while back."

Anzan's eyes went wide, "Well, has he visited you again?" Jack shook his head, "Okay, good, that means the Elder dealt with him." Jack tilted his head, "Charon is just a chaperone, if he does something he shouldn't, he gets reprimanded." Amari gave Anzan a confused look, "I don't what they do."

Amari sighed, "How do you, something that can't even keep track of a human, know more than me, someone married to the Elder?"

Anzan smiled mischievously, "It takes a lot of practice to go places you don't belong without being detected. Like yourself, I bet every Elder knew you showed up to see your husband."

Amari frowned, "How do you-"

Anzan winked, "Human's I'm not good at, beings as ourselves though, I'm an expert to say the least."

Jack smiled at Anzan, "So, you're neutral, what do you think would make me happy?"

Anzan gave a thoughtful look, "Being with Aster."

Jack looked to Amari, "How do I save the world?"

Amari gave a wide smile and thought, I win, dear husband.

_-_-_-_PAGE BREAK-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

Aster pushed the brush onto the canvas before him, creating a stroke of red. He smiled as he laid the final stoke. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and looked at his recent calls, finding the name he wanted, he pressed the call button.

The phone rang a few times before a deep voice answered, "Hello?"

"Ah, 'ello Mr. Smith," Aster said with a smile.

"Mr. Bunnymund?" Mr. Smith asked.

"Yup, Just calling ta tell ya I finished your gift," Aster said as he marveled at his work.

"Great! When Can I pick it up?" Mr. Smith asked with a pleased tone.

"Right now if ya can?" Aster asked the man on the other line.

"Yeah, that works, I'll be there within the hour," Mr. Smith said.

"Great, see ya then," Aster said before he hung up.

Aster put his phone back in his pocket and stood to go into his bedroom. He looked in closet for some wrapping paper. After finding the right kind, he went into his kitchen and looked in his junk drawer for a roll of tape. As he pulled the tape from the drawer, something moved in his living area. He didn't turn his head to look, instead he focused his vision in his peripherals. As he stood still, the thing he thought he saw move, was suddenly next to him.

Doing his best not to sound scared, "'Ello."

The black, glistening beast, didn't move. It simply held its gaze to Aster's peripherals. As the moments passed, Aster was becoming anxious. C'mon, do something Aster, don't just stand here. Don't let it touch y-.
Aster thoughts were cut off when the beast gripped his shoulder in a vice grip. Aster tensed as the pain that radiated from his shoulder coursed through his nerves. He finally turned to look at his assailant, only to have it disappear. The pain though, did not. His shoulder felt as if his bones were igniting and trying to melt. He wanted to move, to run, but he couldn't, he was stuck. The pain started to increase and spread to his head. His eyes felt dry and started to water. His skull felt like exploding. His mouth was agape in hopes of releasing the heat through it. He expected smoke to pour out his mouth and nose. He closed his watery eyes and prayed that his costumer would walk through his door to distract the monster from tearing his body apart by the nerves.
Aster felt a tug on his shoulder, he tried to pull away from the force, but it only seemed to tug harder. Suddenly the tug pulled him out of the kitchen and onto the living room floor. He groaned loudly as the pain that was racing across his nerves like the fires of Hell only amplified the pain from being thrown and falling.
He felt another tug, this time though, it was around his entire arm. As if a multitude of hands were pulling on his arm. He shouted out in pain as he was pulled into his room, the door slamming behind him as he was dragged into his sightless-dark room.

Eathan smiled to himself in the bathroom mirror, "Damn, I look good." He hummed in thought, "I should get a girlfriend." he waved his hand dismissively at his reflection, "Nah," He hummed in thought again, "Well, after I get a job." He stared at his mirrored eyes, "Okay, when Jack gets back, tell him you missed him. And that you never stopped worrying about him." He gave himself a critical look, "Okay, maybe that's a bit too sentimental. The first one though." He smiled to himself and checked his teeth for food. Finding none, he dried himself off and got dressed.

He walked into the kitchen, and poured himself a cup of coffee. As he sat down at the table he saw something move from the corner of his eye. He shrugged his shoulders. I should probably call Mom. He smiled at thought of hearing her voice. He got up and walked over to the counter where his phone was charging and went through his contacts. Finding his mother's number, he pressed the call number.
It went straight to an annoying dial tone. Eathan frowned, and hung up. He looked to see how good his signal was. He held a confused expression as his signal was at all bars. Something moved out of the corner of his eye again. He put his phone down and went and sat back at the table. He took a drink of his coffee and looked into the living room. Shrugging he got up with his cup of coffee and went to go sit in the living room. As he neared the couch, his coffee got suddenly very hot. He dropped it when it began to burn his hand. The spilled drink splashed onto his leg, he jumped back and rushed to throw his pants off, the hot liquid burning his leg.
He shouted out in pain, his pants weren't coming off. The coffee on his pants felt like it was liquefying his skin. He cried for help, as he tore at his scalding pants, struggled to get his pants off. The liquid that seeped into the carpet started to move towards him. He tried to yell, but his voice was silent. The moving liquid in the carpet touched the bottom of his feet. He shed tears as he fell over, and started to crawl away to the kitchen.
The coffee on his leg, started to creep up his leg, the feeling of his leg melting and his feet burning started to overwhelm his senses. He bawled as his hands met the tile of the kitchen. The coffee that had spilled on the carpet was now flood into the kitchen. Without the carpet to slow it down, it reached his toes. His face was dripping with tears and mucus as he wailed in pain. The all-consuming liquid on his pants reached his shirt. He reached up to the counter where he knew the sink to be. His mind becoming hazy with anguish. He fell to the floor, as the black veil of pain covered his vision and brought him to the numbness of unconsciousness.

_-_-_-_Page break-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

Anzan was smiling, "Jack, before Amari tells you how to save this shitty world you live in, I want you to know that you could still see Aster no matter what you choose. If you succeed as being as the Elder that is."

Jack gave a confused look, "Seeing and being with are different though, aren't they?"

Amari sighed, "Anzan, why did you say that?"

Anzan shrugged, "Don't you love your husband?":

Amari sighed, "I do, yes."

Jack hummed, "What's the problem?:"

Anzan frowned, "She knows that if you choose to become the Elder, her husband would still remain in his beastly form, however frightening that is."

Amari glanced between the two before her as she spoke, "That is true yes. If Jack decides to let my husband win-"

Anzan smirked, "That's what this is to you. A game."

Amari scorned, "It's a war, can't you see that?"

Anzan laughed, "Amari, I've traveled to every plane, the only war there is, is the one you created."

Amari held her glare, "I didn't start anything!"

Anzan frowned, "Don't be ignorant, you just want Jack for yourself."

Amari's voice was angry as she spoke, "That's not true!"

Anzan laughed mockingly, "Don't kid yourself, I know how strong Jack's soul is." He pointed at Jack, but held his eyes on Amari, "I also what our superiors intentions are."

Jack held his hands up, "Now, Hold up. What do you mean? I thought I was saving this world."

Anzan smiled a sly smile, "Before Amari explains what you have to do, I want you to know that you won't be able to be with Aster. You'll only be able to see him, as with either choice." He sighed, "The only you can be with Aster, is if-"

Amari slapped Anzan before he could finish his sentence, "Don't you dare finish that sentence."

Anzan rubbed his cheek, "Still as strong as ever I see."

Amari smirked, "Yes. And I will not let you tell him."

Jack leaned forward onto the table, "Tell me what?"

Anzan smiled, "Now we have to tell him."

Amari glowered at Anzan, "No, we don't."

Anzan held his smile and looked to Jack, "You both have to die before your time is up."

A/N

Hello, i've updated! Yay! Review please! I hope you enjoyed this chapter! And I hope I gave you something to read on this most delicious of days of food. Guys...I love food so much. ANYWAY! Wherever you are, I hope you have a good Dawn/Morning/Afternoon/Evening/Twilight or Night! Again, review please.