Chapter Seven
"Shadow when did you get back and who the hell is that?" Drake, a deep midnight blue hedgehog with the same quill style as Shadow and like his father and siblings had red eyes, called out with a bright voice as he greeted his baby brother then gave Sonic a suspicious look as he walked into the sitting room.
"Does your whole family have wings and long tails like you Shads?" Sonic asked Shadow in a whispered tone as he smiled at the new comer.
"Yes and Drake this is Sonic. Sonic this is my brother Drake and second oldest, Flame you haven't met and is the oldest. Ruby is third born, then Razor came along, then after him it's Mavis and it ends with me and...erm anyway that's the family." Shadow said with a faint smile as he spoke to Sonic.
"You missed out uncle Hector and aunt Katherine, dad's brother and sister. I assume you know our cousin Mephiles and our adopted addition Silver." Drake said with a grin as he took a seat opposite his brother and Sonic, looking at them both.
"Yeah I know them, not personally but I do know them." Sonic said with a grin of his own and was staring to get a little nervous, especially when Ruby and Razor walked in and took a seat.
"Who are you?" Razor question and looked Sonic in the eye with suspicion.
"His name is Sonic and stop looking at him as if he's suddenly going to strike you down dead." Shadow seriously said as he glared at Razor with annoyance.
"That's Ruby and Razor. Oh and that is Mavis, hi Mavis. Before you ask this is Sonic." Shadow said with a more happier voice then waved at his sister who walked in with a raised brow and slowly waved back.
"Ok have I missed something here?" Mavis, a deep maroon hedgehog with red eyes and long quills that flicked inwards at the ends, asked as she took a seat on the sofa next to Shadow.
"Not this time and we are all missing an explanation as to why Sonic is here." Ruby said with a puzzled expression as it was not every day you walk in to the sitting room for family tea and have a mortal sitting very closely next to your little brother.
"Yo if anyone asks, Shadow did it not me. Oh hey Shadow and is that Sonic? What the hell is he doing here? Wait does dad know?" Flame said as he came strolling in then stopped when his eye fell on the blue furred hedgehog.
"Yes dad brought him here and what are you blaming on me this time?" Shadow frowned with crossed arms as he glared at Flame.
"Oh but it was you, how could you deface hell like that. I know I'm the coolest big brother but you did not need to write it on the walls in virgins blood." Flame smirked as he took his seat in one of the two single chairs.
"Right well you know me, I just had to have everyone know the undeniable truth." Shadow sarcastically said with rolled eyes as he, and everyone minus Sonic, knew his father will know who really did that.
"Burn, you just got dissed by Shadow." Drake smirked as he sniggered to the response of Shadows words.
"He said undeniable truth, how is that a diss?" Flame asked with a puzzled raised brow as he knew that was a compliment, shame he didn't get saying it sarcastically was not a compliment.
"Even I can see why Shadow would write such a thing about his amazingly smart brother." Sonic smirked as he make himself sound genuine while looking at Flame.
"I can see why you gave him the nickname brainless." Sonic thought as he watched Flame give a smug look.
"See even the mortal agrees." Flame said with pride as he sat back with crossed arms and smirking to himself.
"I am not mortal but I don't want to share that just yet. Shadows dad might have a bigger issue with me being with Shadow." Sonic thought as he was a little tired with being called mortal.
Everyone just sniggered quietly to themselves at Sonics addition to dissing Flame and all were starting to like Sonic a little.
"Wonderful everyone is here, we can now start our family evening tea together with an additional guest this time." Xander announced his entrance and walking over to his chair with a grin, taking a seat when he reached it.
"Evening family tea?" Sonic thought as this was a little surprising, he didn't think demons sat around a large coffee table in a sitting room having tea together.
Xander clicked his fingers and a cup of steaming hot light brown tea appeared in front of everyone's space on the coffee table. Three silver platters appeared in the middle placed beside each other, each having very unusual things on them. One had blooded fingers with no nails and a red thick gloopy dip placed in the centre, in a silver bowl. One had skin looking crackers with sliced blood covered heart pieces on them. And the last one had something Sonic could actually stomach, fries or at least they looked like fries.
"Why don't you tell us all a little about yourself Sonic and please help yourself to something." Xander said as he picked up his tea and then took a small sip after talking.
"Don't feel obligated to eat any of this and those are not fires." Shadow discreetly whispered over to Sonic knowing Sonic would think those were french fries.
Sonic smiled in thanks for he was going to grab some of those and was now wondering what they were but decided he rather not know considering what else was on offer. Realising he had yet to answer the king of hell, he cleared his throat as everyone dug in and began to eat and drink.
"Well what would anyone like to know?" Sonic asked with his nerves starting to rise, hoping nothing was asked that he would find difficult to answer.
"Yeah I have a question, you banged Shadow yet or is he the one doing the banging?" Flame smirked darkly as he shot a devious look at Shadow.
"Flame!" Shadow growled with narrowed eyes at his now laughing brother.
"You do not have to answer that question for he is just being a jerk." Shadow said as he kept giving his brother a glare that promise revenge.
"Wait are you and Shadow like together?" Razor asked with a confused look in his eyes.
"Yes we are together." Sonic nervously said with a small smile.
"I kind of want to know the answer to Flames question now." Razor smirked and now he was being given the death glare from Shadow.
"I do not think that's an appropriate subject to be talking about on first meetings. So, sorry I am not answering that and I'll just leave you all guessing." Sonic grinned as he figured that was a good enough answer and it didn't exactly state anything factual.
"Nice save, I have one for you. You ever fantasise in killing anyone? No offence but you look like someone who would get away with murder." Drake grinned then shoved a finger into his mouth and chewed slowly as he waited for his answer.
"No, can't say that I have ever wanted to kill anyone." Sonic answered with a raised brow.
Shadow groaned as he flopped backwards in his seat and cursed his luck. He gave up bothering to dish out glares and was really hoping all of this wasn't going to scare Sonic away or freak him out. Then he widened his eyes slightly and looked over at his father who was just listening while casually drinking his tea.
"If he only brought Sonic here to try and scare him away I am not going to be very happy." Shadow thought as he soon began to frown, looking away from his father to half heartedly glare at his untouched tea.
"Wow ok so would you kill someone if you were asked to?" Drake asked as he seemed interested to know.
"No I don't think ending someone's life is the answer." Sonic answered and was starting to get a little freaked as it seemed Shadows family kept talking about killing someone.
"Ok but what if someone you knew was in danger and the only way to help them is to kill the one inflicting pain to them?" Ruby asked as she casually drank from her cup.
"I don't know, I guess if there was no other options available to me at the time I might. I would consider it as a very last resort but I would hope a different approach would show itself before then." Sonic honestly said as he was now thinking about it.
"You prefer night or day?" Mavis asked as she had a feeling the subject needed changing.
"That's a tuff one, I like them both in different ways. Day because I can walk around and enjoy the warmth of the sun. Day time is calming to me and I am free of any unwanted attention. Night because it's dark and not many people about and no one would see me when I'm out for a stroll in the early hours of the morning under low light." Sonic said with a smile as he glanced over at Mavis, not realising he just stirred up more questions to be asked.
"Unwanted attention? You shy blue boy?" Flame asked with an amusing grin at Sonic.
"Why would you not want people seeing you during the night?" Ruby asked with a puzzled frown.
"I erm, I'm a werewolf. I am forced to change into a werewolf every sunset and change back every sunrise. So you can probably answer those questions yourselves. Seeing someone like me at night can scare someone especially since I look like I wanna rip you to shreds. I've not had the best of times during the night and once was hunted down so I've moved a few times to keep myself hidden from those who would love to have my hide on their wall." Sonic confessed with an anxious voice and looking a little worried too since everyone just fell silent and were staring at him.
"Our brother is banging a werewolf, that is so awesome. Respect to you brother." Flame said with such a proud expression at Shadow, breaking that silence and everything went comfortable again.
"I aim to please now can you please stop bringing that up." Shadow rolled his eyes as he kept to his slouched position with arms crossed but no longer glaring at his tea and was just looking at it.
"Ha! Finally he admits it." Flame said with a laugh while pointing to Shadow, looking very smug and amused.
"Yes whatever Flame." Shadow slightly shouted back as he rolled his eyes and looked uninterested in what his brother said.
"You are a werewolf? This is very interesting yet you do not harbour most instincts of one. Werewolves tend to do a lot of killing and act like wild animals, hunting, protecting their territory and their mate if they have one. See now I understand why you were so adamant in keeping Shadow safe, saying all that you said to make sure he will be unharmed even if it meant you never see him again. You have my respect for that and my consent, I can see he will be well protected by you." Xander said with a faint smile at Sonic.
"Say what now?" Shadow half whispered with shocked eyes at his father, having looked his way as he was speaking.
"You should have heard his pleas for me to keep you in hell my son, to keep you safe from those mortals stealing demons away. He didn't care he wasn't going to see you again, your safety was all that he cared about. I thought he was just saying that because maybe it is what he thought I wanted to hear but now I know it was genuine and full of meaning." Xander sincere said as his smile grew more noticeable while he looked at Shadow.
"Thank you. Does that mean I can leave hell and continue the investigation?" Shadow asked with hope in his eyes as he looked at his father.
"No it doesn't mean you can leave hell and restart with the investigation Shadow. I told you I want you home and unless you can give me a damn good reason I'm not changing my decision." Xander seriously said with a firm look back at Shadow then sipped at his tea.
"Ok fine. I'll give you a very good reason why I need to get that book, I want closure. I want to know what happened to Annabel down to every detail and that book will tell me." Shadow seriously said with a low growl as he was beginning to get very frustrated.
The room after that fell into a very uncomfortable silence as all looked at the king of hell for his answer to what Shadow had just said.
"Shadow no good will come from knowing, it will only upset you and everyone else. Sometimes ignorance is bliss in sensitive matters such as Annabel's death. I want to know just as much as you and everyone here does but I can live without knowing of the torture she went through before her passing. As soon as that book is found I'm having it locked away to never see the light of day again. The key is going to be placed in a far greater hiding place and far away from the book so no one will ever have access to it." Xander calmly and sincerely said with a sad smile as he knew exactly how his son felt.
"Yeah bro why torture yourself, just let it go. She wouldn't want you to do this to yourself or know exactly how or why she died." Flame said with a small frown as he spoke to Shadow.
"Fine I, I won't look inside the book. I would still like to continue investigating and finding who is responsible. I'll even call you when I have found them and leave them to you. Just please it keeps me focused and clear headed." Shadow quietly said as he gave his father a begging look for that needed yes.
"If I allow this I want you to promise not to look in that book and call me as soon as you found those mortals location. They will have that book very close to them so wherever they are the book will be. Promise me Shadow you will not go near that book." Xander calmly said with a firm look in his eyes at Shadow.
"I swear I won't touch it, open it or look for Annabel inside of it. So do you approve of me continuing?" Shadow asked with an innocent smile, already having a plan to get around this promise.
"Yes alright you can keep investigating just be careful. You and Sonic are free to leave when you are ready to but I still want Mephiles and Silver home so tell them they have to." Xander sighed out in defeat.
"Thank you father, you are awesome. Come on Sonic let's get back, see you all next weekend." Shadow happily said as he stood up and dragged Sonic to his feet by the wrist.
"Be careful!" Xander called out as he watched his son rush out while dragging Sonic behind.
"Will do bye!" Shadow called back.
"B-bye!" Sonic quickly shouted before he was dragged too far for them to hear.
"Ok let's get back and have some proper food." Shadow excitedly said with eagerness in leaving hell.
"Erm might have a small tiny problem with that." Sonic nervous said as he was still being dragged quickly down hallways of hell's palace.
"Oh?" Shadow questioned as he slowed down and looked behind him at Sonic.
"Yeah it's probably night time now and well you know. I can't go out to dinner with you in my night form." Sonic sighed as he now realised something he could never do with his boyfriend, go out for a nice romantic dinner in the evenings.
"Then I'll cook us something back home, you staying the night yes?" Shadow smiled cheerfully as he spoke back.
"Yeah sure but how about we go back to mine instead. You know so we won't have anyone to disturb us or ask questions." Sonic suggested with a grin as he could tell Shadow was going to agree with him.
"Yeah good plan and I still need to get rid of your ghost problem too." Shadow smirked with a wink as he spoke in a semi serious semi playful way.
"Oh yeah that, the thing is it's cool now and I'm fine with old grandpa, whatever his name is, hanging around. So shall we get going?" Sonic said with a light laugh as he spoke back.
"Yes, lets get the hell out of hell and have a dinner date together." Shadow cheerfully said then teleported them both inside of Sonics home.
Seconds after appearing Sonic grunted and his hand was let go of. He took a few steps backwards while looking like he was in pain and quickly kicking of his shoes too. Shadow watched with amazement as Sonic changed into his night form right before his eyes again.
"Cool, it is even more awesome the second time watching." Shadow said with a gentle voice while keeping his eyes locked on Sonics now werewolf form.
"Yeah give it time and the amazement will vanish for ya." Sonic chuckled deeply as they locked eyes.
"You will always be amazing to me. Now lets have our romantic dinner with candles, steak and no romantic dinner would be complete without afters in the bedroom." Shadow started of softly then ended with a seductive wink at his partner.
"I am totally up for all the above so lead the way babe." Sonic said in a low sexual tone then followed his now excited boyfriend into the kitchen where Shadow clicked his fingers to make the place all romantic for them both…
It was roughly three o'clock in the morning when Sonic began to lowly growl in his sleep as he was having some kind of lucid nightmare. Shadow was far too deep within is own dreams to even notice the growls and twitches coming from Sonic.
In Sonics dream…
"No get away from him, leave him alone!" Sonic shouted as he was chained to a chair and forced to watch Shadow being sliced open with a dagger by some guy that was blurred out.
"Ahhh!" Shadow cried out as he was slashed across his chest, blood instantly pouring out and down his body.
"No just stop, why are you doing this to him?" Sonic cried out as tears of sadness and anger left his eyes.
"I will have him obey me then I will take this world and rule over it!" The guy said in a, way too unnatural, deep voice then thrust the dagger deep into Shadows stomach, twisting it before forcefully ripping it out.
"N-no more, please!" Shadow begged breathlessly as he was starting to lose his surroundings a little, getting light-headed and dizzy.
The guy chuckled sinisterly then the demon book appear in his hands. He opened it up then started to read from it in the language of demons. Shadow gasped out and then moaned in distress as he fought against the spell that was being spoken out loudly.
"Stop!" Sonic begged with despair as he helplessly watched as Shadow was slowly submitting to the spell spoken, the dazed emotionless look in his eyes was a clear sign of that.
"Shadow fight it, don't listen babe!" Sonic called out as he tried to get through to Shadow but it was no good.
"S-Sonic, I'm sorry…" Shadow whispered as he shut his eyes and fell into unconsciousness, his head bowed down forwards, chin resting on blooded fur.
"No! Shadow wake up love, please don't listen to it just please, don't listen!" Sonic shouted out as his tears kept falling and looking totally hopeless of what was happening.
"That should do it but just in case I will have the sword and ritual ready for when he wakes up, I believe I went a little too far when weakening him. As for you, you little mutt. I will find something to keep you contained, I don't want you transforming and ripping us apart." The guy said as he slammed the book shut then turned and faced Sonic.
"I will end you for what you have done to Shadow. I swear I will tear you apart, limb by limb until you breathe your very last breath." Sonic growled with rage as he narrowed his eyes at the blurred out guy in front of him.
Suddenly the dimmed lit area became blurry too and soon it went completely dark. Sonic shut his eyes tightly then all of a sudden light was shining on his face. He slowly opened them and tried to focus on the very blurry image before him. After blinking a few times he softly smiled as Shadow was happily smiling down at him and the bedroom curtains were wide open, which explained the sudden light on his face.
"Good morning, did you sleep well? I know I did." Shadow cheerfully said with his smile growing wider, moving a little away from Sonic so Sonic could have space to sit up.
Sonic did move to sit up and kept looking at his demon boyfriend.
"Yeah, what time is it?" Sonic asked as he made himself sound more cheerful than he felt.
"Was that nightmare just that or was it a different vision? I mean the course of time does change depending upon the choices we make so was that the new future?" Sonic thought and became lost in trying to figure out that question.
"Hello, Sonic you there? Hey come on don't ignore me." Shadow whined as he gave Sonic a sad expression while lightly shaking Sonic back to the world of the living.
"Huh? What did you say love?" Sonic said as he broke out of his thoughts then gave Shadow an apologetic expression.
"I said it is eight o'clock and I missed the change back again. Do you want me to do breakfast or shall we go out for breakfast? So going out or staying in for breakfast?" Shadow related what he had said with a small frown and crossed arms while sitting crossed legged and facing Sonic.
"Aw you look so adorable babe when you are all pouty and mad at me. I am sorry for zoning out but yeah we can have a breakfast date. We haven't exactly had a proper date out yet so why not have one this morning." Sonic ginned as he spoke a little teasingly towards Shadow.
"I'm not in the mood now." Shadow huffed as he turned his head to the side and kept pouting.
Sonic grinned wider as he moved into a position to pounce on Shadow. He waited for a few extra seconds then jumped onto Shadow. Shadow yelped out in surprise and found himself pinned down firmly underneath Sonic, who now had a seductive expression with his eyes half shut.
"How about I make you happy again then we can shower up then go on our date. What do you say love?" Sonic purred as he moved his face closer to Shadows, having their lips inches apart while they locked eyes.
"So you think sexing me up will put me in a better mood?" Shadow dryly said with an unimpressed look.
"Would it?" Sonic asked in a whispered tone then lightly licked Shadow lips.
"It's a start." Shadow smirked as he used a low sexual tone then moved his head upwards to connect their lips….
