(WARNING: as always, there may be violence or inappropriate behavior! Please be aware!)
********
(AIDEN'S POV)
My eyes shoot open, and I look around frantically.
Where the hell am I?!
Where did that blonde chick take me?!
I snap my eyes forward, seeing five masked men.
"Oh. Umm...hey? Is there something I can...umm...help you with?"
"Yes. Shut your fucking mouth."
I nod slowly.
"Yeah. Got it."
I clamp my mouth shut and the guy in the front clasps his hands together in his lap.
"Now, Aiden, you're going to die today."
I stare at them blankly, still keeping my mouth shut.
"No reaction?! Do you want to die?!"
I shrug, blinking a few times.
"What's her problem?!"
I open my mouth again, grinning.
"Now look who's a fucking idiot today! You! You literally just told me to be quiet. Pick one or the other, dude."
I hear the cock of a gun, then the cool metal against my head.
"If you don't stop the sass, Weiss, I will kill you."
"Oh the fun. I was already shot in the chest...just my luck to be taken here by blondie to be killed. I'm laughing my ass off."
The man lets out a stream of curses, turning to look at one of the others.
"Why is she so fucking irritating?!"
"I don't know. I'll get boss...he can deal with her annoying ass."
"Wait...boss? Hey! Where are you going?! Come back here! I don't want to talk to some...some boss! I'm going to die!"
They ignore my yelling, and one slaps a piece of duct tape over my mouth before leaving.
"Mmm! Mmm!"
I snap my head around when I hear a door slam, seeing a tall figure move through the darkness towards me.
"Aiden Weiss..."
I track the person with my eyes, and they crouch down in front of me.
He pulls off the strip of duct tape before snickering.
"How does it feel to not be in control? To have your life and ultimately your fate in someone else's hands? I can easy snip your life thread and you'd die. That's the reason you never actually died, did you know that? Because when you're born, the Fates make an invincible thread that holds your entire existence. When the time is right for you to actually die they'll cut it. And I happen to hold a lot of people's threads...because I take them. I take them so I can torture them. Doesn't that sound funny? Torturing people with their own life."
Through the mask I only see eyes.
Red. And evil.
"You look like the perfect person to torture if I'm being honest, sweetheart."
I grimace.
"Don't call me that."
"Why is that? I believe I can call you what I please, babe."
I move my eyes away from his, and he smiles.
"You aren't as strong as you make yourself seem, Aiden. Can't even keep eye contact with me when I speak to you. You're just a coward, Weiss. I can see it in your eyes. This isn't what you want. You don't want to do this anymore. You want to go back to the way it was before."
"No."
I move my eyes back to his.
"No. I don't. I've found many things here that I haven't in the real world. You don't know a thing about me, and you won't ever. Even if you tried."
"I like a good challenge, Miss Weiss. And you sure are leading one on for me."
I scoff.
"What challenge? How fast can I fucking cut Aiden's life thread? Haha. So funny that I didn't even have to laugh."
He grins.
"You're funny. But no. That's not it."
He unties me from the ropes, and I stare up at him.
"Yes...?"
"Stand up."
I stand up, crossing my arms across my chest.
"Who even are you? And take off the damn mask. I'd like to know who I'm talking to."
"Oh. Gladly, dear."
He pulls off the mask, and I get a whole ass smack in the face, leaving me standing there with my jaw on the floor.
"What the—"
Black hair. Red eyes. Tan skin. Tattoos. And that same grin that I know too well.
"What in the actual fuck."
He smiles.
"Nice introduction, Aiden. I'm sure I look similar to you...like my sons?"
"Sons?! I—"
The man nods, grinning at me.
"Yes, sons. I know I don't look that old. I aged well...1000 years is well enough. But you may know me as Thanatos. The original Grim Reaper, and Alec and Alaric's father."
********
(STELLA'S POV)
"What do you mean before Aiden gets killed?!"
I hear Ryder's voice and then her clicking little footsteps from her heeled boots as she tries to catch up to me.
Mal and Ryan just kinda sit there in shock.
"What's happening, Stella?!" Ryan says, and I turn my head to look at her.
"I got kidnapped and threatened by Alec's father...now Aiden's in trouble...that's what."
********
Mal looks at me, dumbfounded.
"Alec's father?! Thanatos?! That dude's ancient! And I thought he like left a decade ago when Alec and Alaric were born."
"Apparently not...when Ryder got attacked I got kidnapped. They threatened to kill me and everyone I knew if I didn't bring Aiden back to them dead. But...they agreed for me to just take her and bring her to them. So there's still a chance she might be alive. So we should probably go quick!"
The all nod, before Ryan pauses.
"Wait...do you know where they are?!"
"Yeah! Yeah I do. It's this way...now come! We can't let her die on us just yet..."
********
(ALTHEA'S POV)
My heart wrenches in my chest.
Who could've killed her?! Who could've done this to her?!
"Maybe this is a sign..."
I jerk my head up to look at Pandora who seems sick to her stomach.
"What?! Myra being dead?!"
"Yeah...maybe it's a sigh of what'll happen to us if we don't leave."
My eyes widen, and Pandora nods.
"You can't tell me these people aren't weird...and sketchy as hell. If we can just escape and leave...all will be well."
I nod my head slowly.
"I guess so...when are we going?"
Pandora throws herself back over the ledge, jumping before landing on her feet.
I jump down as well, and she looks at me.
"Now. We're leaving right now."
********
"Are you sure this is a good idea?"
I look up at Pandora as she struggles to climb a tree, and she looks down at me, exhausted.
"I mean...there's no other way to get out of this darn invisible force field!"
"How come you can climb a whole building but not a tree?"
Pandora looks down at me again.
"I don't know, okay?! That's just how I work. Now I'm almost at the top, so give me your hand!"
I reach my hand out as high as I can reach it, and Pandora grabs it, lifting me up to the branch she's on.
"Phew."
Just as Pandora is about to start climbing again, we hear a voice.
"And just what do you two think you're doing?"
Pandora and I look at each other.
"Oh no."
********
(CARDEN'S POV)
Me and Rylan stare at the three sirens blankly.
"And you assume I know where she is why...?"
Lakeyn rolls her eyes.
"I mean it's obvious."
Fay and Maera nod.
"Yeah. You're obviously friends with her. And aren't you a Fate? You should know stuff."
I rub my temples.
"I mean...I can tell the future and do palm reading...I'm a psychic not a damn GPS. But if I had my crystal ball I could tell you."
Lakeyn makes a face.
"Crystal ball?! Damn girl, you're a whole ass Oracle."
"Oracle or not, I don't have a clue where Aiden is. Though I'd like to know...she always gets herself into trouble."
Rylan grins.
"We'll go find her...if you give us the key first."
"Yeah, right." Fay glares at him. "You're a fucking scammer and a player. As if I'd trust you with this darn key!"
Rylan holds up his hands in surrender.
"Carden will hold it...not me! I won't even touch it!"
Maera rolls her eyes.
"Fine! Carden, you take the darn key. But don't let that excuse of a man touch it! And bring us Aiden within three days or we'll find you and kill your asses before you could even say sorry!"
I nod slowly, taking the key from her hand as they start hissing at us.
"Okay! Okay! We'll leave!"
I grab Rylan's hand, dragging him with me out of the room before slamming the door.
I look down at the key, before looping it into my silver moon necklace.
I look back at Rylan.
"What do we do now?!"
"Find them, obviously. But first we have to pay Bryson and Blake a visit."
My eye twitches.
"Why those morons?!"
"They notified me in that letter that they found a woman who supposedly knows where Aiden is."
********
(ALEC'S POV)
I turn my head back to look at Davina, who looks at me.
"Where'd she go, Vina?!"
"I...I don't know! I just heard something and...I don't know."
I run over to the window, looking out.
Nothing.
Whoever took her didn't leave any trail.
I slide my legs out the window, and Davina looks at me like I'm crazy.
"What're you doing?! Are you trying to break your neck?"
"I can turn into a bird and float down if it's an issue. I'm going to find her...and if you're coming or not doesn't really matter to me."
I slide out the window, landing on my feet with a thump.
I look up and Davina slides herself out the window, jumping down before landing on her feet.
"That was easier than expected."
I rub my forehead.
"Have any idea where she could've gone?"
Davina smiles.
"Silly boy you are. Follow the footprints."
I look down, seeing small heel prints leading to the forest again.
Whoever took you isn't going far, Aiden.
*******
(HAZEL'S POV)
I stare in complete horror at the woman, and she looks between us with a crazed grin.
"I wonder who I should kill first? Hazel...or Alaric! Ooh, this'll be fun! I say I slit Hazel's throat and make Alaric eat her!"
She starts clapping and I look at her with a terrified expression.
"Please don't hurt me!"
"I love when you little children try to beg for mercy...it makes me want to laugh! So naive...so stupid. You really think I'd just let you live?!"
She shakes her head whilst shaking with laughter.
I turn my head to look at Alaric, who's eyebrows are furrowed.
"Alaric...I'll be fine, okay? Maybe she'll let you go."
"Shh...Hazel you'll be just fine. Don't talk like you aren't."
"But—"
He shakes his head, and I frown.
I'm going to die.
"Even better! Little love birds...I'll just...slut your throats, cut you open, and have a merry time with your insides! I can feed an organ to each of my hungry rats."
Alaric leans into my ear, and I make a face.
"It might be bloody."
"What?"
It all happened too fast.
A smash. A scream. A thud. Blood. Everywhere.
I jump, my eyes adjusting to see the woman with her neck snapped at a ninety degree angle and her throat slit so deep that blood is spilling all over the already dirty ground.
I feel someone lift me up, and I turn my stiff body around to see Alaric, with now only red eyes and sprouting black ink from underneath his shirt.
My eye twitches, and I open my mouth just to close it again.
"You killed her—her neck—my eyes—the blood—your neck! Your eyes! Red! Black! Demon?!"
"Form a sentence, hazelnut. I am older so I know how to control my true form."
"True what now?!"
"I'll explain later. First we should probably leave."
I nod slowly as he takes my hand.
"Agreeing with you for once, Walker."
*******
(AIDEN'S POV)
My eye twitches and I smile awkwardly.
"You must have a lot of children, sir. Because last time I checked your son is also Dean, Pierce, and who the fuck else. Ryan's also related to you?!"
"Yes. My lovely niece. I find it funny that you out of all people my twin sons like. The goth one. I thought it'd be some Bimbo Barbie like the one who brought you to me."
I give him a look.
"Who even was that...?"
Thanatos smiles.
"Stella. Alec's ex girlfriend. I also heard from a little birdie that you two dropped the L bomb."
"L bomb?! You mean love?!"
He nods silently.
"Ahh, yes. I will get a virus if I allow that word to come out of my mouth. But enough of that...I really want to kill you."
"What?! Why?!"
Thanatos shrugs.
"Just because, honestly. But before I actually kill you I want to torture you...I want to scar your teenage mind. How does that sound, Aiden?"
I make a face.
"Not good. But I have this nagging feeling that I don't have a choice."
"And that nagging feeling of yours is correct, love."
********
After being dragged down to a sort of basement-cellar, I'm locked in.
Literally.
"Umm...hello?! Thanie?! Thanatos?!"
"What is it, child?! I will kill you right now if you don't shut your trap!"
He appears, pointing a knife at me.
My eyes widen, and I grimace.
"Please get that damn hatchet out of my face! I don't like it in here! It's creepy! And cold!"
Thanatos grins.
"Then my plan is working, love. But don't worry. I'll be back in two hours time. To chop your head off and give it to Alec as a late 19th birthday gift."
*********
(STELLA'S POV)
After a while of trekking through the forest, we come to the area I dropped Aiden off at.
"This is it?"
I turn my head to look at Ryder.
"Yeah. This is it."
We sneak closer, and I approach the door.
"Okay. Hopefully she's here."
I push open the door, peaking my head inside before looking back at Ryder, Ryan, and Mal, bewildered.
"What?!"
"I don't hear anything. Or see anything."
They all give me the same odd look, and we all go in.
My eyes catch on a piece of paper, and I scramble over, the others following.
I stare down at it blankly, but as my eyes scan the words my heart drops.
Hey, Stella. Thanks for Aiden! We won't need you anymore...or should I say I don't need you anymore? I took her with the rest of my men...and I can assure you you won't find her. But even if you try...good luck! Maybe when you come we can have a nice fine dining, and of course with Aiden's delicious smelling meat as the main meal.
PS: she smells really good. Not to be creepy! I'm not a creepy dad. Just saying...if I put some oregano on her dead meat she'd taste fine as hell.
Your favorite psycho,
Thanatos.
********
(HAZEL'S POV)
Alaric teleports is from the building, and I stare at him, still wide eyed.
"I'm so confused. If you could teleport this whole time...why didn't you just do that shit from the start?!"
Alaric looks at me from the corner of his eye.
"It doesn't necessarily work that way, princess. If I was trapped in a damn cage with my powers halfway gone, what was I meant to do?! Go bibbidi bobbidi boo?!"
I start laughing, snorting before holding up my hand.
"I'm sorry. I just wasn't sure someone so manly would know what Cinderella is."
He rolls his eyes.
"Manly, yes. Stupid, no. I know what the fuck Cinderella is, Hazel. I don't live under a rock."
I stare at him, and he stares at me.
"Yes...?"
"Are you going to explain?"
"Explain what?"
"What the hell that black stuff was?!"
Alaric smiles.
"Oh. That. My father. As you know, or don't, my father is Thanatos, who is a demon. A very powerful one. Also a god. When he wants to he can go full demon mode which is black skin and red eyes. Me and Alec happened to inherit that, but Alec doesn't use it. I do, because I'm not a sissy."
I grin.
"Of course you aren't. Because you're just the big bad wolf. You're hilarious."
"Really?"
"Yes...I find you quite funny, sir."
Alaric grimaces.
"Please don't. That makes me feel old."
"You aren't old...are you?! Are you a catfish?!"
"No. I'm 19 you dumb hoe."
I glare at him.
"Now I don't like you anymore. I ain't a hoe, bitch! I'm a pure, uncorrupted virgin!"
Alaric grins, backing me into the wall.
"I can change that for you, Russo."
My eyes widen, and I gasp slightly before whacking him across the face.
"Dirty little boy!"
He cocks his head to the side, an even bigger grin stretching across his face.
"Dirty, you say? I can show you dirty, Hazel."
My eyes widen when Alaric takes my face in one of his hands, kissing me.
I never realized how motherfucking hot he was.
I kiss him back, and Alaric laughs.
"You don't kiss like a chaste girl would, Hazel. You don't happen to be lying to me, do you? I don't like liars...they get bad punishments."
I pull away for a second, catching my breath before responding.
"Chaste girl or not, you have yourself some nice lips, lover boy."
********
(ALEC'S POV)
After a while of following the footsteps we come across a large abandoned warehouse, seeing more footsteps leading to it.
Me and Davina start forward, and she frowns.
"I don't think anyone's here—"
"Shh!"
Davina's eyes widen, and we both hear voices.
Female voices.
"Darn it! They took her away?!"
I hold out my hand to Davina, carefully pulling open the door to see four silhouettes, standing over a small broken table.
"Who are you?!"
I cringe at a small scream, and one of them flips around, holding out their hands.
"Wait a minute, Ryan?!"
"Alec?!"
Another turns around, disoriented.
"Huh? Alec?!"
The other two turn around, and the one in the middle drops a sheet of paper.
"Alec?!"
I remember that voice. I move my eyes to hers.
"Stella?!"
Stella waves awkwardly, and Mal, Ryan, and Ryder look at me.
"What're you guys doing here?!"
"Trying to find Aiden! What're you doing here?!"
Davina slides past me, and they all look at her.
"Who's that?!"
"I'm Davina. Alec's friend...if that's what you call our relationship."
Stella bends down, grabbing the note before hurrying over to me, placing it in my hands.
"Read that."
I read it, looking back at her.
"My dad's involved with this?! You're involved with this?!"
She recoils slightly.
"I didn't have a choice...I was going to help her, but—"
"Guys!"
We all snap our eyes on Ryan, who holds up a key.
"I just found a key with a sticky note attached to it. It's for a house not too far from here."
*********
(AIDEN'S POV)
TWO HOURS LATER...
I wake up to the sound of a door slamming, jerking my head up.
"Guess what time it is!"
I move my head upwards, seeing a tall man with glowing eyes.
Thanatos.
"Oh no...what do you want?!"
"I said I'd be back in two hours to kill you...and guess how long it's been?"
I give him a look.
"Fifteen hours."
He slowly claps.
"Haha. So funny, Aiden. But...I'm excited to kill you. It's be fun, I could easily chop off your limbs and eat them for dinner."
I grimace.
"What's with all of you evil people and being fucking cannibals?! It's starting to scare me."
Thanatos rolls his eyes.
"Not cannibalism. I'll tell you that we eat humans, but we aren't humans. We can make ourselves look like them, like a disguise, but we're usually demons or some other weird ass mythical creature. But stop stalling me! I'll be back in five minutes now...I need to get my supplies. I'll torture you before I cut the damn thread. I even have the special scissors!"
He laughs as he disappears again, and I stare at the wall blankly as I start to hear voices.
I look around, confused to say the least.
"Here! I think she's in here!"
I'm starting to hear things at this point, aren't I?
I hear a thud, then another, and look over to see the damn door get kicked down.
"Aiden?!"
I hear a familiar voice, and look over to see Alec run in as well as Stella, Mal, Ryan, Davina, and Ryder.
He drops down in front of me, and I stare at him as he unties me again.
"Are you okay?!"
"Yeah, actually. Thanatos didn't hurt me yet. I just—"
"Well, well, well..."
We all grimace at dark laughter.
"This is hilarious! A whole party...and more flesh to eat. How have you been, Alec?"
Alec turns around slowly, frowning at the grin on Thanatos's face.
"I hope you missed me as much as I missed you, son. But...enough with that. Who's ready to die?!"