Awakening

*hides from a pissed off Mortem and Penny, along with the others* "I'M SORRY I DIDN'T UPDATE! SCHOOL WORK REALLY PILED UP SINCE IT'S THE END OF THE YEAR!"

"Bull," Penny hisses, poking Cp with her violin bow as Mortem dumps ice on her head.

"Ok ok…that's just been the last three weeks, before that it was because I got obsessed with Black Butler and watched the whole series in a six days and the whole manga(up to current) in two on top of schoolwork! Don't kill me!"

"Fine," Penny huffs as Mortem catches Cp on fire.

"I own nothing!" Cp yells as she flees from her angry characters.

Still Mortem's POV

I appeared in Cor, the Immortal's home dimension, in a fury. There weren't many people who had the power to steal a Soul, let alone an Immortal one; and even fewer who would dare to make such a move.

My aura manifested around me as I stormed through the land, younger and less powerful Immortals scampered out of my way as I stormed towards Infinitas' lair. She would tell me who stole my Bonded's Soul, or we would have a problem.

I wasn't surprised that she knew I was coming, I expected it. However, I was surprised that she met me at the gate. Infinitas wasn't one to leave her Tower often, as she preferred to be within her home, keeping an eye on the timelines, then speaking with others.

"Mortem," She spoke softly, her eyes looking at me sadly, and in worry. I gazed at her in question. I had long ago learned how to read my Sister's emotions, and this was pure worry, and concern. Something wasn't right.

"What is it Infinitas, do you know who has Aequivalere's Soul?" I hissed nothing bothering to be respectful to the Elder Immortal. Infinitas might be one of the Oldest, but at that moment, I didn't care.

"As much as I loath to admit it, Brother, I do not know." Infinitas sighed as my aura flared as my temper roared.

"How can you not know!?" I yelled, my eyes darkening and the air around me becoming solid.

"Something is blocking my power, something dark has interfered. I know not what, or even why. But it does not bode well for our Sister, or any of the other Immortals." Infinitas sighed sadly, her eyes holding the worry that she would not let her face show.

I sighed as the raging fire died down in my stomach. I knew that it wasn't Infinitas' fault that she didn't know what happened, but that just didn't help.

"I shall spread the word, and see if any of our Sisters or Brothers have any information for you, Mortem, but it may take longer than you wish to wait." Infinitas noted a knowing look in her eye. She placed a hand on my shoulder and gave it a comforting squeeze. She gave me a soft smile and I knew that she too wished for my bonded to be returned unharmed.

Sighing, I nodded, acknowledging her words and accepting her comfort. I would search Cor myself to see if I could sense Aequivalere's Soul; and then I would deal with the thief myself, before letting our Siblings have a go.

"May good fortune shine down on you." Infinitas stated as she withdrew her hand and regained her regal appearance.

I chuckled, "If Brother is only so kind."

Infinitas chuckled as well, realizing the pun she allowed. Our brother of wealth and fortune wasn't the most helpful of Immortals; and before Fati, was known as the greediest. He still was Fati was just more manipulative and mean.

"I do wish you luck, Brother, bring the Young One to see me when she is back to herself, understand?" Infinitas' tone turned hard at the end, showing her strong mothering side that had emerged from all of the years Watching all of creation.

"Of course, of course," I said holding my hands up, trying to please my Older Sister. "Now, may I please go find my Bonded?"

"I won't delay you any longer." Infinitas stated as she stepped backwards. "But do keep in mind; things aren't always what they seem."

I sighed as I watched Infinitas vanish back into her lair. While she wasn't as cryptic as she usually was, she still wasn't straightforward. She liked teasing the younger Immortals; and sadly, that included me.

Taking a deep breath to settle the anger within me, I turned on my heel and continued through Cor. I had already scoped the center of the world, where the Older Immortals lived, and hadn't sensed anything. That just left the outer rims of the dimension, where the younger and less powerful Immortals lived.

My Brothers and Sisters stayed away from me as I stormed through our home. They learned long ago to give me my space when I was angry, and today...I was beyond angry.

I wanted to know who had taken her, who had that guts to go up against me. I could not think of an Immortal who would have the power to steal a Soul, so I would just have to start with those who had the power to tamper with them.

The list was short, and our home small, but it still took me two hours (in Cor time) to search everywhere. Most of the Immortals I spoke with had never even met my Bonded, and even fewer held her in high regard. Sadly, because of my Bonded's strange condition, she had never been to Cor. This meant that she never had a Realm Ceremony, or even a Naming Ceremony. Our Bonding Ceremony didn't take place in Father's palace, and her lair hadn't even manifested into a building. It exited, but nothing more than a valley full of mist.

This caused tension between my Bonded and the other Immortals, and few ever bothered to acknowledge her. Many refused to answer me when I inquired about her, and even fewer were concerned. This just fueled my anger towards the purple haired Immortal.

I didn't know how, but I just knew that she was the one behind my Bonded's Soul vanishing, as well as her lack of access to Cor and her Immortal heritage.

My search ended and I literally just collapsed at the end of Cor and looked out onto the cosmos beyond. Cor was similar to Asgard in that opinion, it wasn't really a planet, nor was it set in a specific place in Existence. It just existed, it just was.

Some called Cor beautiful, others called Cor home. But to me, at the moment, it was the place Penny wasn't.

"Brother."

I jumped to my feet, my mind clearing and my energy flaring. I glanced around with narrowed eyes, I didn't see anyone, and I couldn't sense a Soul around either…

"Brother."

I spun around, and jumped back as a pair of large bright eyes appeared before me. My sword appeared in my hand and my aura manifested almost instantly, that was however, before I recognized her.

"Insania?" I asked, my eyes narrowing in suspicion. The young Immortal was just standing there, like nothing had happened. Her eyes were darker than usual and she looked, tired...which shouldn't be possible…

"What happened?" I demanded of the young girl, if she was here then she must know something. Somehow, she always knew what was going on…

"You must return Brother." My eyes narrowed further when I detected the exhaustion in Insania's voice. It took a lot to tire an Immortal, as we didn't physically tire like humans. I was right, she knew something.

"Not without Aequivalere." I snarled bringing my sword back up as I sensed my Bonded's Soul nearby. My mind connected the dots quickly and I growled at the young Immortal.

"What have you DONE Insania!" My words were wild and filled with power, as my dark energy swirled around me. My eyes turned black, and then started to ebb to red. Rage flowed through my veins like fire and very muscle, every fiber in my being screamed at me to kill the young Immortal. Or at least to tear her apart limb from limb.

My vision literally turned red, and my voice dropped from my usual icy monotone to a guttural growl. I was losing it…for the first time in my long, long lifetime, I was losing control…

In a literal flash, two, dark glowing swords were pressed up against Insania's throat, my hands were practically burning, twitching to slice open her flesh...she had stolen his Bonded….

"WHERE IS SHE!?" I almost didn't even recognize my own voice. But it didn't matter; I didn't care if I attracted a crowd. I didn't care if I was losing control. I wanted to know where my Bonded was; and I wanted to know now.

"She is safe, Brother...please, I'll return her soon. Trust me, she will be alright." Insania's words were soft, but there was pain in her wild eyes. I lowered my swords as confusion replaced my anger. What had she done, and why had she done it?

"She will return, and she will Awaken," Insania's words were sorrowful, but also deep; like she was trying to tell me something, but couldn't. "But she is going to need you, Hel, and her mortal family there for her. There are dark times ahead Brother, and little E're is going to need you."

My hands were shaking as they dropped to my side, my breath coming in gasps. I had never been able to understand Insania, not even when she was simply Chaos. She had always been a knowing, mischievous young Immortal. And I worried for her when she vanished all of those millennia ago. But now, she wasn't just mischievous loving, she really was insane. She was the embodiment of chaos; now she truly represented her Realm. Sadly, this meant that you never truly knew what side she was on. Or if she was on a side at all. I knew that she was fond of my Bonded, and I knew that my Bonded was fond of her.

However, she had been the one who Interfered and kept Aequivalere from Awakening three months ago; and here she was again, standing in the way of my Bonded's Awakening. There had to be a reason, as I now knew she couldn't' be working with Fati. I had seen the way she was around my Bonded, and I knew that the two Immortals were close. So what was she doing? Why was she doing this? There had to be a reason...even if it wasn't one I understood.

"Why did you take her Soul?" I hadn't even realized that I was speaking until the words were already out of my mouth. My eyes widened, and I pulled in my aura as Insania smiled softly, her expression for once, was calm and almost...sane.

"There is a reason for everything Brother, and mine is just. Sister dear was wrapped in lies, deep dark webs that stretched over her whole existence. Her Soul was cloaked in Darkness, her memories hidden in despair. It is time for her to Awaken, to be ready to face the battle that is to come. The time for her to break free is upon us Brother; I'll return her Soul when it is done."

My eyes widened as I deciphered the girl's words. "Your Cleansing it...aren't you?"

Insania didn't reply she just smirked; those pale lips of hers thin and her eyes twinkled mischievously. For a moment I was able to see the girl she used to be, the young Immortal I knew as Chaos.

"I'm only doing what Mother asked of me."

My eyes widened and I dropped my sword in shock at her words.

"M…mother?" I choked out, shock vibrating in every atom of my being. Mother had closed herself off from everyone besides Father eons ago, no one had spoken to her for millennia…

She didn't say anything more, but the small smile on her face told me that she was telling the truth. I sighed and closed my eyes; if Mother was involved...then it would be alright.

Opening my eyes I looked pleadingly at my younger Sister, hoping that Mother's trust was well placed.

"Just be careful Sister, Cleansing is a difficult process...and if one memory of hers is touched, or one drop of her personality changed, I will be dealing with you." I warned, though there was no real malice in my voice. With a grand swoop I vanished my fallen swords and turned on my heel.

The unease and worry in my stomach hadn't dissipated, but it had quelled slightly.

I wasn't alone in my quest to help and protect Aequivalere.

Without looking back I returned to Hel's dimension, leaving my younger, unstable Sister standing alone on the edge of Cor.

Third POV
Insania's smile widened as she watched her Older Brother vanish, things were going just the way they were supposed to.

With a small hum vibrating from her throat she melted into the background, returning to where E're's Soul was.

Mortem's threat didn't scare her; she had survived Fati for centuries after all. Compared to that, her Brother was nothing.

Besides, she truly was only doing what Mother requested.

OH MY GLOB, I am so so so so so so so soooooooooooo SORRY about the lack of updates, it's the end of the school year and everything just got insane! I'm out in two weeks, so I'll try to keep updating until then, but I promise that I'll update faster as soon as it is summer.

Hope you liked the chapter, we'll be back with Tony and Hel next chapter.
Thanks to everyone!
Cp