Hades was in a rage. The kind of rage that usually resulted in vortexes and demons sneaking through while he cast some pretty dangerous hexes. Unfortunately, his new environment cut him off from his hex magic entirely. The manufactured crystal the Persians had perfected blocked any kind of dark auric resonance. At least as far as he could tell. There was a humming in some of the crystals but it wasn't in Hades's area of auric expertise. He didn't think it would be of use.
Besides, the explosive collar around his neck made him hesitate to push his luck. He liked his head right where it was, thank you very much.
The Elementalist was in a prison. It was not the first time in his life he'd been incarcerated. But this place was different. It smelled of despair and deceit. One of the first things he noticed was while the population was overly leaning toward Black-furs, there were some other Furs present.
The cells were small dug-out holes in the dirt covered with
Oh, here comes King! We've been really excited for you to met him.
The wind was picking up and with it came blowing snow. Jinx had moved to a safer vantage point but he'd lost track of Guru and Spitfire. It was just too much. The ice cracked open, swallowing Spitfire, and then a blizzard came out of nowhere.Jinx called out, hoping for a response. The Orangelo was at a loss. Guru had a flare on him, just one, and to set it off was risky. If Jinx didn't see it, he had to assume they were okay or they were so not okay he couldn't do a damn thing about it. He wasn't sure he could turn the fishing pole to the purpose of finding them and if he could, would that make it lose the initial bearings? The beacon would lead him to the demon he needed to heal Lexi. Though having learned the beacon didn't recognize the idea of mortal peril, Jinx wasn't sure how far he should trust it.This was all one big mess. Hades knew the Underworld. What was he doing going to Persiana on a fucking vacation and simple infiltration while Jinx was freezing his ba
Lexi could do nothing to stop it. Jinx was taking too big a risk. A soul pact? For what? For him? The demon tried to speak, to sit up,but his body wouldn't budge. Why was he so tired, so weak? He was a demon, not even just a demon. He was one of the boss's most decorated agents.Three assassins shouldn't have been able to best him. Lexi hated that he hadn't been able to protect the two toms he loved. Instead, he had fallen in battle. Him. A demon warrior. And now he was causing his new love to throw away too much of his life.He watched the interchange between Jinx and his ancestor but even if he hadn't, there was no denying what was happening. Lexi's fur stood on end, the ground and sky sang to his demon blood. As it would every demon in the Underworld. They would know someone had made a deep soul pledge and they would respect that... for a time.Jinx didn't know it but his choice probably bought the time they needed to get to a healer without altercation
Doll was pushed into the huge semi-circle room carved of crystal. He wore the same outfit as every other no-fur already kneeling around the perimeter. The short, dark purple vest and shorts had a tiny bit of embroidery. The outfit stood out glaringly against his pale skin and made him feel out of place. The other no-furs' deep complexions matched the color much better. He was like a weed in a field of wildflowers.The gray-speckled tom at the front stopped his lecture. "Well, hurry along, small god. We aren't here on your schedule."The other no-furs looked at him suspiciously as he found a place to kneel. Doll was doing his damnedest to not cause a scene but his skin color was so different from the native Persians it seemed to make them distrust him instantly, going so far as to move away from him."Now,where was I?" Doll considered the speaker. He was wiry, even twitchy but there was a way his tail coiled that made the no-fur uneasy. He was not someone t
"Someone take my new boy to my cell and make sure he doesn't run away."Hades was hopeful he had made the right play. There would be no public display of sexual submission. Two of the toms who had meant to have their way with Hades did as King bid and dragged him to his feet. With a nod, they escorted him roughly but with a singular purpose to King's cell. Hades noticed the Calico guard making a wide berth after unlocking the exercise yard to let them through.King's cell was more of an office. There were several cushy chairs and a desk. Hades entertained the thought that King might have stolen the lead guard's actual office from the look of things. He didn't appreciate having his paws cuffed after he'd been made to sit in one of the plush chairs. Though it wasn't as bad as what he did to Doll on those thin wooden arms on the plane.He took a moment to savor that memory while he waited for King to join him.He considered trying to pick the handcuffs and esc
Not having any idea what was happening with Jinx, Guru became quite alarmed when the ground, the ice, and the water disappeared. It was just one big void where he sat holding Spitfire."I don't suppose you know what just happened?" Guru asked, not really expecting an answer but still in the act of keeping the pain in the ass awake.It was no surprise when Spitfire muttered sarcastically. "Of course I know. How did you find out I was an Underworld scholar in my free time?""Well, at least it's warmer." Guru unzipped his coat and in the processdumped Spitfire from the sanctuary he had created. "I have to take this off."As he shrugged out of his coat and set it down on what seemed like ground, Guru watched Spitfire. He wanted to make sure nothing was off, that the no-fur wasn't seriously harmed by the freezing water. The blonde tom didn't understand why he struggled so much with Spitfire. He practically started stuttering when he tried to talk t
Spitfire had experienced this once. But it only lasted five minutes before Agent rushed in and gave him the sweet candy drops and a needle with some kind of calming drug. That five minutes had been terrifying. The prospect of managing this without his candy was more than just terrifying. Spitfire didn't even know if there was a word for that.First, there were shakes and hot and cold spells with strange hallucinations. Next, the whole world would turn red and he would start scratching welts into his skin. Then the craving would start.Agent explained it could be managed if Spitfire could find something strong enough to distract him and help him ride it out, but it would come back over and over again until there was no managing it. The candy, which only the evil no-fur had, would be the only thing to soothe him.He couldn't worry about next time. He needed to have something right now. Something stronger than the pull of the candy."Get undressed, tom, and
Doll wanted to go home, though he struggled to remember where that was. Maybe he didn't have one anymore. But that didn't seem right.The blindfold shut out every bit of light. That was part of today's lesson as the strange, sweet smell from the other day made his mind fuzzy and the Great Sage of Persiana echoed in his ears.He and his fellow no-fur trainees were learning what it meant to be sacred. They were supposed to hone their god sight, whatever that meant. If he was so sacred why were his wrists in restraints that chained him to the wall? If he was sacred why wasn't he allowed to go find Hades? Yes, his Innehavre.Doll fought to flood his mind with images of his master, his Soot-walker. All the naughty things he did to him. He shifted his legs and sighed, feeling himself smile. If he tried with all his concentration, he could breathe in the sneaky thought-twisting smoke and stay in the memories.That was when he felt sacred. In Hades's arms, losing
This was getting old real quick for the Black-fur. Hades did not like feeling helpless. At least he had time to think. Hades was comfortable with darkness. They brought him to a concrete bunker and sealed the door with some of the omnipresent crystals.There was a fair amount of information to process so that was something. Granted, it was some out-of-this-world information. Did he believe King? Well, he'd seen some crazy things in his time so it was within his wheelhouse that the Black Devil himself would seek him out.The tom's first order of business was to study the Persianic crystal. This was the first time Hades had seen a tom summon it. And if it could be summoned, it could be manipulated and very possibly hexed. It didn't glow on his side and that felt deliberate, meant to keep his solitary cell in darkness. He wondered aloud if it was intentionally attempting to inspire fear.All toms could see in natural darkness so it wasn't something most toms knew h
Epilogue - Part 2Shadwell Sebastien Woolsey, also known as Hades, stomped in out of the rain, shaking it off his fur before he went any further into the house than the entry hall.He could hear the commotion in the main room. It was the kind of overwhelming noise only two bunnies, one large Northern Forest tom, a cosmic entity, and ten kits could make. It was the sound of a happy home, one that Hades had never dared to dream he could have. After his own rough upbringing with a sire who was embarrassed to be a Black-fur and an anonymous no-fur father, Hades had long since put aside any thoughts of being a sire himself.But his mates had changed all of that and helped him to realize he wasn't afraid of being a sire. He was just afraid of being his sire. Hades didn't feel shame about his fur color nor that of any of his many, many kits. He didn't think he was capable of feeling this much love. Though, he was grateful to Ink who had given both of the omega bunnies anti-pregnancy Marks. T
Epilogue - Part 1Guru hadn't been back to the Mousetrap since its renovations or since his kits with Spitfire were born. With all the little ones around and a very grumpy ginger-furred bunny to deal with, he'd barely left the mansion where himself, Spitfire, Doll, and Hades now resided.There was definitely a touch of Chaos everywhere he looked. A few booths sat at a slightly less than 45 degree angle and had straps like a carnival ride. No doubt when the bar was open those were full first from the novelty of it. Then there was the tricked-out pie case. Guru salivated a little, having heard from his mate Hades all about the supposedly world-famous pies.Jinx didn't have time to make them anymore so he'd begun to teach his brother Ink. Today appeared to be one of those sessions as Jinx was snatching a knife away from his paler brother and grousing about the proper way to cut certain fruits.The big Blonde tom put a paw around the other bunny in his life, his sweet Doll. Who looked esp
Everything was quiet for the first time in what felt like a lifetime.Spitfire sat down where he was, in the middle of the rubble left from fighting so many automa-toms and Agent's Hares. This part of Atlas City was wrecked. He wondered what it looked like outside of the battle barrier they had erected. Was Guru's mansion still okay? Did they still have a home?A ripple of auric energy told him Cosmo was on his way, having secured the collapsing bridge. Good, that was good. He needed to bond with his avatar mate to recover his god aura properly. But for now, since the battle was done, Spitfire was going back inside to see Doll and the kits. He needed to check on them. Something about this silence didn't feel... natural.Cosmo's voice in his mind assured Spitfire that it was not. Time had been frozen by a god and until it restarted, only the deities would be able to function.Spitfire wondered how long it would be before he knew how to do that. It was a pretty cool trick.He stood, stre
The ten of swords was not a magick to use lightly. Jinx had never actually cast that card before. He had been warned, repeatedly, that there were cards in the deck he was given that took as much as they gave. The pinnacle of the swords suit was one of those cards.Clutching his bleeding paw against his chest, Jinx drew one long breath after another. Everything smelled awful, the air was so thick with blood that he could taste it. He was certain that there was screaming all around him, but he couldn't hear it over the roar in his ears.He'd finally managed to end this stupid battle. He was the undisputed God of Chaos now. Jinx could feel it in his bones, right down in his soul. The power was flowing out of Agent's body as quickly as the blood that was pooling under both their paws."The kits..." Jinx's enemy was croaking out a few last words. "Are they safe?"Jinx's eyes followed Agent's weak attempt to reach out. There was a wavering shield, made up of th
Liar.The word kept echoing in Agent's head and in the air around him. The Demon was lying to him. They were made of lies and deceit, after all. There was no way King had pined for him for all those years. Tricksy had made a huge mistake when he'd tried to create the Innehavre bond. He'd killed a young no-fur, but it wasn't just any no-fur. He'd killed the oldest of his and King's litter. Stripped his soul bare and left the tom who loved him to take the blame.King had to know what happened to their kit. Both of them kept an eye on the three no-furs who were theirs. They couldn't help it. They were parents, after all. They worried.But throwing himself into the reincarnation cycle was the only way to make sure that the Innehavre bonds continued. Tricksy needed to sacrifice time and his own connection to King to the ancient powers that gave him his powers as the God of Chaos. Those beings, older than any god who now walked the earth, had changed who he was. Made him the God of Chaos an
*****Author Note - be warned, this chapter has the loss of a newborn in it ********If Priest so much as suggested movement, Doll growled at him and threaten his life. Ink seemed to be less in a hurry to take the small bundle from his arms.The no-fur cooed and cuddled the tiny, tiny form. "Hush, my kit. It will be alright. Your Daddy is right here and I'm not going to let anyone hurt you."In his head, Doll knew the smallest of his kits was gone. In his heart, he couldn't part with the sweet grey and white striped tom kit. He heard him release one small, strangled cry before Ink started swearing and Priest turned to try to revive the poor little dear before handing him to Ink and not turning around presumably so Doll didn't see his tears.Ink had said words... Sorry and hold him... Doll didn't really hear them all over the roaring in his head as he was handed the still kit.He kissed the babe's forehead, his tears unchecked. "I'm sorry, little one. I didn't get to let you grow. I tho
Lexi was enraged. At his clever attackers and at himself. He had headed straight back to the bar when he caught a glimpse of tufted ears and the skin of a no-fur neck.Deciding rather than join the fight against the automa-toms, he would capture and defeat the one controlling them, the Demon began to stalk Agent. As he'd gotten closer, the image of Agent began to fade away.A bolt of what had to be Chaos magick slammed into him, sending Lexi flipping end over end. When he'd started to push himself off the ground, Lexi was in his least powerful form, that of a green tom.Having no idea what auric power his tom form had as it wasn't a glamour any more, Lexi could barely summon any energy to mold and was no match for a trio of Tawny-furs that had thrown some kind of aura-draining net over him.Now he struggled to escape the net while the Tawnys had just fucked off.Muttering to himself, Lexi considered what the trap had meant. "Does Agent think I'm so easily beaten? No, he's like super s
Hades found himself alone with Doll again and he wasn't sure what to do. He was holding his hand, muttering encouragement, but that felt like nothing.Spitfire had experience with this stuff and Guru was able to ease Doll's nerves with his singing. Ink and Priest, though they were practically strangers, were doing more for Doll than he could manage. Maybe he should join Jinx and Spitfire outside. He was good at fighting. But that meant leaving Doll and Hades wasn't sure he was ready."Look at them, pretty baby," Hades whispered, nodding his head towards the line of bins where their kits were bundled up and mewling, an occasional wail comingfrom one of them. "It's hard to believe that this is really happening.""I can't wait to hold each one in my arms." Doll let his head fall back on the soft blanket. "Or see all of you cuddle them. Although I will be glad to rest, I still feel there's a somebody or two in there. But they seem quiet for now." His no-fur's
Arriving after three of the kits had been born, Spitfire took a moment to check on them before he grabbed Doll's hand and leaned close to talk to him."Look at how good you're doing, sweetheart. Three of our kits are already in the world." Spitfire stroked Doll's sweaty hair. "I know, this is awful. It feels like it will never end, but you are nearly done."The new Black Devil turned to look at Ink, who was acting as the birthing doctor. "How many more are there? He is nearly done, right?""There's at least one more. But without an ultrasound, I can't say for sure." Ink replied, already coaxing out a fourth kit."Little one so big." Doll sounded exhausted. He leaned his head against Spitfire. "But he looks just like Guru, my beloved. Only completely White-fur and with my copper eyes. He's gonna be trouble. This one is kicking a lot but much smaller.""They're all going to be trouble, I think." Spitfire nuzzled the side of Doll's face. The thundering sounds of battle from outside were