The Completion of a Circle - Dark Love 3

CHAPTER 7

'You know. There are some days, that it just, don't, pay a guy to crawl out of his coffin' . Cerberus thought to himself, as he leaned back against a wall, rubbing his temples. 'There goes my love life for a while' .

Eris was livid. He had attacked him the moment he had rose from his rest. The fury so great in him that he, literally, vibrated from it. "He did it again." Arms crossed across his chest, challenge radiated from him.

"Who?" Yep, he would be sleeping along for at least a week. When, ever, his husband got this upset. He would pull away from everyone and everything for days, just to sulk. Was one of the reasons he went out of his way not to upset his lover. Because, when ever he was upset, he was a pain in the ass.

"Garren, that's who." The shock in Eris's voice was real. "What, you mean you don't know?"

Cerberus sighed. "No, Eris, I don't know. But I can, guess by the way you, are, acting that Garren is acting up again. Okay, what did he do, this 'time' ?" He felt the comings on of a really bad headache.

"He did it again." Eris didn't feel the need to explain what it was. The whole Covenstead knew what ' it ' was. Garren had killed another mortal.

"Shit." Cerberus hit the wall. "Okay, baby, I'll talk to him, again. He promised me that this wasn't going to happen again. I'll take care of it."

"Well, would you like to see how well he keeps his promises? He left the poor boy down stairs, locked in the room with those other two kids he has been keeping. He wanted them to see what would happen to them if they failed him again. Son of a Bitch doesn't even bother cleaning up after himself anymore."

" What ?" Garren had left a corpse in his house. He had tried to keep his nose out of Garren's business, as long as he didn't attack or threaten any that did not, belong to him. But this was going too far. "Where is he?" He moved across the room, heading for the stairs. He would see that this fool pay for this.

"Gone out to find a, 'replacement' ." Eris was satisfied. He had known the moment that Isaac told him what had happened, that Cerberus would see it dealt with.

Cerberus ripped the locked door off the hinges, in his anger. But the girls frighten scream, as he stormed into the room, pulled him up short. These kids had to be scared out their minds already, no need for him to make matters worse. "It's okay, you two. It's just me." But as his head lifted, and he took in what was on the bed, he fell silent. "Oh, Shit."

The sight before him sickened him. 'He dies' . The only clear thought he could focus on.

The two teenagers were, tied to the corpse. It was between them. Cerberus touched their minds lightly, before pulling back in horrified disgust. 'That bastard, he had no right to do this' . He was glad he had not yet eaten, for the sight before him would have brought any blood he had taken down, right back up again.

Garren had tied the corpse between the two and forced them to, lay, there locked in a sick form of intercourse with it. And now that they lay there, shivering with cold and fear, Cerberus seriously feared for their sanity. "Here, let me." He slowly moved forward to untie them.

Eris, who had followed him down the stairs gagged at the sight, as Cerberus gently pulled the body from between the two children. "I'll kill him." Anger gave his blood fire. "I swear this. That bastard is dead."

Cerberus shook his head as he gathered the two, close. "No lover, as Covenstead Master. That is my privilege. What you need to do is get rid of the body. And then come upstairs and help me decide what to do about these two." He shushed them. "It's okay, both of you, everything is going to be okay."

The little girl looked up in mindless fear. "Please, Master. Don't do this." She tried to pull away. "He will kill me."

Eris snorted. "Amy, listen to me. Your ex-master isn't going to kill anyone. He will never be allowed to touch you ever again." He looked to Cerberus. "I mean it. You let that, thing, near those two ever again, and I'll be gone so fast you won't know what hit you."

Cerberus nodded. "Trust me, love. The only thing this fucker is going to get is my fist down his throat." He had no idea what he was going to do with another two pets. His house was full, and though he knew that Zeph was looking for one or two, he didn't think his Childe was up to dealing with the two he had on his hands right now. "Come on you two, let's get you upstairs."

* * *

Loki had never, not even in his wildest dreams, ever thought to be where he was now. He had insisted that, upon rising, Azrael verify what he had promised the night before. Making sure that it wasn't just bed-talk. Azrael only laughed and kissed him, telling him he didn't have to worry about where his home was anymore. This left him speechless. But as Azrael greeted and introduced him to each member of his new household, he went quickly from merely shy and withdrawn, to overwhelmed and in tears. "I," he looked to the man that had given him a life that he had forever believed denied to him. "I can't believe that all of you want me. That I am not an embarrassment." Old patterns die hard, and though he was trying to remind himself that there was nothing to be ashamed of. It wasn't easy.

David looked to Billy. "Elder," he smiled. "You will learn, quick enough, that this house and Covenstead is unlike any other you might ever run across."

The room erupted in a many voiced laughter. "Just you wait, Master." Maria smiled at him. "Soon enough we will have you up to speed."

Zeph, who Morgan had attached herself to upon rising, had been silent during the introduction. But as he was the only one from his home there at the moment, he felt it best if he say something. "Elder?" He looked to Azrael. "Is there anything you think I should pass along to my Sire?"

"No Childe. I spoke to Cerberus last night. Warning him of the chance that Loki might not want to live here, and assuring that if he chose to leave, he would not be left alone." For the first time since the boy had come into his domain, Azrael gave him his full attention. "So, now that we have everything settled, what are we to do with you?"

Zeph shook his head. He didn't understand what the Elder meant. "Do with me?" He had thought that Azrael's agreement with his Sire would cover him. Now he was beginning to worry that it might not. "What do you mean, 'do with me' ?"

Azrael chuckled. "Oh, please, relax boy. I have no intentions of harming you in anyway. I was only curious about what to do with you, in regards to my Chosen." He pointed to Morgan. "I am going to assume that you are courting her with a purpose in mind."

Zeph looked down at Morgan, who was looking up at him with a curious look upon her face. "I know she is a woman, and all, but she is so cute, Elder." He was trying to figure out something to say that didn't sound stupid. But nothing he could come up with made him sound like anything but the village idiot.

Finally he took a deep breath, ran a hand through his hair, and looked up at Azrael. "Do you have a problem with my getting to know her?"

"No, not at all. The problem here as I see it is this. You're Sire is not one of the Lined Kin, nor do I think is he going to approve of a romance between the two of you. For all his desire to belong and be accepted, he is most intolerant."

'Well, I can't argue with that. Cerberus is the hardest headed man I have ever known'. But following right behind that thought was a reminder that his hardheadedness was one of the reasons he had fallen in love with him to begin with and that same hardheadedness is what allowed him to open and successfully run a Rogue's Covenstead. "Okay, so are you telling me that if I talk Cerberus into allowing Morgan to spend time with me, and she is willing, that you'll be cool about it too?" If that was true, he felt sure that he could have Eris talk Cerberus into almost anything.

Azrael smiled generously. "' If' , he agrees, and 'if' you are sweet and most importantly, 'if' my Chosen 'agrees' , I have no problem with the two of you having an affair. She is after all my Chosen, and as such she needs as many loves as she can live with. But." His tone turned harsh and cold. "Harm her, hurt her in anyway, and I will see that your Sire punishes you unlike you have ever been punished before. Lucky are you that you are Kin, for if you cause my Chosen pain, I will have your manhood cut from you, and you will have to wait until the thing grows back." His voice never raised, his tone was almost calm and conversational. But the words he spoke had Zeph clutching at himself as his scrotum crawled up into his body.

He opened his mouth to respond, when suddenly, * Zephyr . * It was his Sire.

Zeph held up a hand pausing, the, conversation. * Father ? * He wasn't sure if Cerberus knew where he was yet. * I'm at the Elder's place, what can I do for you? *

He had expected irritation, but the relief that swelled up through the tie, confused him. * I know. Eris told me when I started looking for you earlier. Actually, your being where you are, is, a good thing , * a moment of silence . * I'm going to have to talk to Azrael for a few minutes. Why don't you come home for now, I have something I am going to need you to do, and I need to talk to you . *

Zeph looked up to where Azrael sat, watching him. "I have to go home for now." He stammered rising to his feet. "Cerberus says he wants to talk to you. I'll be back as soon as my master lets me." And he was gone.

Azrael sighed. * Yes, your Childe says you have words for me . * And here he had thought that everything was going to be moving along quietly now. 'Oh, well, when will I learn'?

* I heard of the boy you have, the Mage. Is he as good as I hear he is? *

'Torin' , what in the world could this one want with his Chosen? * Yes, he is quite talented. Why, is one of your pets hurt? * Now this was not something Azrael expected. Why in the world would the Rogue Covenstead, Master, need his Chosen.

* Yes, and no , * silence. * Ask Gabriel if he remembers a Kin that lives here named Garren . *

Azrael looked up. "Gabriel, Cerberus has asked if you remember one of the Rogue that live with him. Garren is his name." This was getting more and more curious by the moment.

Zak growled softly. "Yeah, I remember him, I came within a hairs breath of challenging that fool. Why?"

* Yes, he remembers him. Now tell me Cerberus. Why do you need my Chosen, and what has this Garren to do with it? *

The silence lasted just long enough for Azrael to begin to wonder if Cerberus was going to ever answer the question. Then , * I have two of what used to be his feeders; they are in real bad shape. I won't go into detail over what that bastard did to them, but suffice it to say, I don't even think Set would have gone this far . *

The entire concept that anyone could be more cruel and twisted than the Renegade that he had, killed surprised Azrael. * What is wrong with them? *

* They are starving, have been beaten with an inch of their lives, the sexual abuse is unlike any I have seen, other than Set. I'm afraid that their minds are going to be the hardest thing to heal. They are none too stable right now. Trust me, old man, I wouldn't be calling for help if I thought I could take care of it . *

Azrael nodded to himself. * Very well, do you wish to bring them here, or should I bring Torin to you? *

* I'll bring them there, some of my folk are still a little shy around you. Give me a few minutes, and I'll bring them to you. * The connection broke.

Azrael looked up, troubled. "Robyn," he looked to his third Chosen. "Where is your mate?"

She grinned pulling away from Valerie. "Last time I checked, he was still with Casey. Why?"

"We have a situation on our hands. Cerberus, the Rogue Covenstead Master, is bringing two children here for Tori to heal. They have been severely abused by the Kin that was supposed to be caring for them." He held up his hand, to halt any further questions. * Tori pet, * there were times that the ability to speak mind to mind was quite handy.

A wave of, confused thoughts swept over him, then, * hi, this, is Tori. I'm out of my mind right now, but if you would leave your name, and a detailed description of what you want me to do to you at the sound of the moan, I will get right back to you . * The low, moan that echoed through his head caused Azrael to laugh out loud.

* Love, I do hate to interrupt your play, but Cerberus is bringing two abused pets to you for healing. I really think you should pull yourself together and hurry down here . *

A moment as he felt his pet struggle to control what was going on with his body, and lose. A cry of pleasure that seemed to pull Azrael along, with it came, from his Healer/Mages mind. Oh, shit, yeah. Pleased feelings . * Okay, boss, I'm on my way. Just let Cerberus know that Casey is probably going to be a bit put out with his timing.

I am sure your little friend will survive, after all, he is the last of any of the pets we have here, to begrudge your help to anther. You have been so much a part of his healing. *

*I know that, Master, so does he, but still, it came at a real bad time. *

Azrael came back to himself, aware of how his new brother stared at him. "Yes, Loki?"

"What was that all about." He had felt the surge of lust and passion that had flowed through Azrael.

"Tori, my other Chosen. He is both a Mage and a Healer. Cerberus is bringing two children here who need his help. I had to track him down, as he was rather busy at the time."

"But?" What he had felt didn't feel like a call for help. "I felt, you-he, what happened?"

Azrael chuckled. "As I said, he had been rather busy, and I caught him at the end. You are going to have to learn to deal with things like this, or the house will drive you mad."

Loki could only look at him and nod, trying to figure out what he had gotten himself into.

* * *

Zeph was surprised to see the two mortals that were huddled on the couch. "Shit, what the hell happened to them?" He could not accept that anyone here would do this to someone.

Cerberus growled. "Garren is what happened to them. Now I have to go hat in hand, again, to see if I can get them healed. I called you home so that I could ask you. I have no clue what to do with these two. I don't need them, and no one else that I know of does either. So Zeph, you have been looking for one or two of your own for the last few weeks, you want these kids?"

Zeph knew Garren, knew him well enough to really hate him. "No." There was no way he could even hope to hold up to what these two needed. "I, there is no way in hell." He backed up. "I'm sorry, Father. But I don't think I could take care of them the way they need to be taken care of."

"Shit." He swore. "Now I am stuck with trying to figure out what to do with them again. I had hoped that you could take them off my hands." He sighed. "Well I suppose we can wait and worry about what to do with them, after they are healed." He turned to look at Eris. "When that Renegade shows back up here, take what ever kid he has snatched away form him and tell him if he isn't here when I get back, I am going to track him down and kill him myself." Then his look darkened. "Slowly."

"Gladly." Eris reached for Zeph. "You stay here with me, Zeph. Your Father wants to talk to you when he gets back."

'Father' , okay it could be worse. Eris could have said 'Master' . "Sure. I'll be here."

The cold of the Dark Paths was all the warning that Azrael's house needed that they were going to be getting company. But when the company came in the shape of a vampire, with two battered, and frightened, mortals. "Holy shit." David swore and he and Michael moved so that Cerberus could lay the two down on the couch. "What the hell happened to them?"

"Like I told the Elder, one of those that live in my house. His name is Garren. He isn't exactly a good guy to know if you aren't already dead."

* Torin, we need you, now . * Azrael was so stunned that, for the moment, he could not even feel anger.

* Coming down the stairs even as we speak, boss . *

"Again, Azrael, my house is in your debt." He hated to admit it, but at the rate things were going, he would never be able to break connections with this man. And he wasn't sure if that were a good or a bad thing. And it was the not knowing that was driving him to distraction.

Azrael waved his hand. "Think nothing of it, You saved my girl, it is I who owe you."

A startled gasp at the door as Torin came in, and was pulled up short by the look of the two. "' Fuck me' ." He whispered. Then looked up at Cerberus. "You are gonna have to tell them what I am going to do. They are just scared enough to lose their shit right now." He moved into his role as Healer with a sureness that impressed anyone who didn't know him.

Cerberus knelt before the two kids. "I want you both to listen to me. This is Torin, he is a Healer." He smiled. "He will see to it that all the things that Garren did to you, go away." He would have to speak very slowly and carefully to these two for a while. He didn't think they were quite all there.

Torin sat, cross-legged, on the floor. "If you could, the girl looks hurt worse, would you hand her down here?"

"It's okay Amy." Cerberus picked her up. "See, he isn't a vampire, he is like you and Kyle. He's a Healer Hon, he will make it all better." He gently handed her over to Torin. "Fix her, I promised her that I'd see her and her friend taken care of. So if you can, fix her."

Loki looked that the two, horrified and confused. "Excuse me." He pulled up and away from where he had been leaning against Azrael. "But, tell me, what did these children do? You can't tell me that they misbehaved badly enough to deserve what was done to them." The thought was unthinkable. "If they were that much trouble, then why didn't their master just dominate them and deal with it that way." Sheltered he might be, but really.

Cerberus shook his head. "They weren't bad," he looked at him hard. "Elder?" His eyes sought out Azrael, who nodded. "Garren just likes to hurt people who can't fight back. He has killed so many that I told him after the last time he had to dispose of a body, that there would be no more killing in my home." He sighted. "Well, I thought I had gotten him under control, but this evening, I found out that I was wrong. That not only had he killed another one in his care, and in my house, but he had also tied the body between the two and added an extra twist of perversion." He would not mention what was done to these kids, not while they were in, earshot. * He forced them to lay, the girl with his dead member inside of her, and the boy with his frozen erection thrust into the body . *

Loki's face, which had already been ghostly white, took on an even paler hue, as Azrael began to swear. "What is going to happen to them?"

Cerberus shrugged. "I guess I will take them home with me and see what I can do about finding them a home again. I had hoped that, Zephyr would take them, but he isn't quite up to the challenge. So I am going to have to figure out something else to do with them." The frustration in his voice was like a raw wound. "I could just rip this, thing, to pieces for what he has done. He will die. I just can't decide how to do it yet."

Torin looked up from his work. "There you go, honey. You are all better now." Her mind was a little shocky, but Torin had every faith that with time she would heal. She had been damaged after the blood bond, so that the blood had protected her mind. She was luckier that Billy, and from what he could see, than Loki as well. "Master?" He looked up to Cerberus. "If you would bring the boy here, I'll take care of him as well." He indicated to the girl in his arms. "She is healed and is going to be fine. Lucky for her, that, jackass, blood bonded with her before he started to really hurt her. If he had waited, well, let's not go there."

Kyle looked up, warily, as Cerberus reached for him. "Come on, kid. You saw what he did to Amy. He won't hurt you, he's a Healer."

"Please." His voice was a breath above a whisper as Torin took him into his arms. "No more. Kill me, please."

Torin shook his head. "No one is going to kill you. And no one is going to do anything like this to you ever again. I am sure that once I get you healed up, a safe home can be found for you." He looked at Cerberus. "Isn't that right, 'Master' ?"

'Oh-ho' , Cerberus thought to himself with amusement. 'This boy has a mouth on him like Zeph does. Yeah, I can tell he's, Chosen, and he knows it too' . "Yeah, boy, I'm clueless about what I am going to do with them right now, but I will find somewhere, where they won't have to worry about being beat up on anymore."

David looked to Michael. * You want to offer, or shall I. It isn't right for those two to have to go back to the same house that had been their hell . *

Michael looked to Azrael, Master ? He would, of course, give his Sire first choice on this.

* Wait. I would, but the fact that relations between Cerberus and I are still, strained to be kind. But I believe if what I am feeling from my new brother is any indication, that the problem will be dealt with in just a moment or two . *

Loki looked at where Amy, huddled, on the couch. Then to the boy that was resting in Torin's arms, watching with amazement as the Mage healed him. "Cerberus.' He had made his decision. "What would you say to letting them stay here?"

Cerberus looked up confused. "Elder?"

"I asked." Loki was beginning to believe that his fears over his own failings were all shams. "If you would permit them to stay here? With me."

Cerberus looked to Azrael. "This is the one you came to me about last night, isn't he?"

Azrael nodded. "Yes. But as you can see, he has found his place and his home with me." Now he would see just how much of a battle he would have on his hands to get others outside of his house to respect the Childe/Elder. "Cerberus, those two children could do with a far worse master than my brother here. After all, he is far too withdrawn to ever do them harm."

Cerberus rubbed his chin. "Okay, Loki?"

"Yes that is my name."

"I gave these two my word that I'd see them taken care of. If I leave them here, are you going to see that my word is kept? They've had enough horror and pain to last them five or six lifetimes."

Loki actually laughed. "Trust me, I have lived almost my entire life, depending on mortals for my care. I'd be, more, likely to do myself harm, than them. My Sire wasn't much in the way of a Sire, but even he, as flawed as he was, would have ripped the life out of someone who did that to any living creature, most importantly, a mortal in their care." He reached out to squeeze Azrael's hand. "I know what fear is. I know what shame and self-loathing are. So as I see it, I am the best suited to take care of these two now that they are healed and are needing a new home."

Cerberus looked to Azrael again. "I don't have a problem with it, if you don't."

Azrael was really rather pleased with his new ' brother' . "Cerberus, " he chided, "this is a Covenstead. Unlike you, we have yet to get so many that we are, having, to turn them away. If Loki wants them, and believes he can care for them, far be it for me to refuse him."

Cerberus nodded, relieved. "Good, then they are yours Elder. Now all I have to do is decide what I am going to do with the thing that did this to them."

Torin looked up, finished with Kyle. "Master." He stood, helping the boy over to the couch. "Let me. It was my kind he hurt. Let me teach him the errors of his ways." He never once doubted that Azrael would permit it. After all, what good was all his training if he couldn't use it for something useful?

Cerberus looked to Azrael. "Sure, why not. Do you think your Chosen is up to it?" He hoped that Azrael would say yes. It would be just what Garren deserved to be beaten by a mortal.

"If my Chosen thinks he is up to this challenge, I have every faith in him." Azrael would let his Chosen try out his powers. "But Cerberus, if he fails, do not let this fool kill him. He is offering to do you a favor. So I am asking you one in return. My boy might end up hurt in the challenge. But see that he, does not, end up dead."

Cerberus nodded. "Not a problem Azrael. And after this is over. You and I are going to have to sit down and have a serious chat about the two of our Covensteads, and the fact that they are getting more and more connected."

Azrael nodded. "So be it." Then, turning to Torin. "Love, come here." He held out his hands.

"Master?" He was curious why Azrael had called him to his side.

"Listen to me. This is your first battle, your first real test. I believe you are capable of facing this creature, which revels, such, pleasure in abusing helpless children. I want you to show him that not all mortals are as 'helpless' as he thinks they are. But if you fail, just come home alive. There is no shame in trying something that is out of your ability. If you must fail, then do so with dignity."

Torin nodded. "I will, but trust me. I don't plan to fail."

He just smiled at his brave Chosen. No, he could see why his Mageling didn't plan on failing. It was a good bet that this fool, whatever his powers might be, was not a Mage. "Then I am worrying for nothing. That is good. I would rather worry for nothing, than to not worry and end up wishing I had."

Torin pulled away from his master. "I'm going to see if Cerberus will take me with him, and I will deal with this, jerk."

"Call me when you are finished. I will come and get you." The smile on Azrael's face was radiant. He was so proud of his Chosen, all of them, but at this moment, his Mageling most of all.

"Don't worry about it Azrael. The boy takes care of my problem, I'll make sure he gets back here in one piece." Cerberus held out a hand to Torin. "Come on kid, let's go deal with our mutual problem." And the stepped back, fading into the Dark Paths.