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Cerberus

Chapter 11: Wild Side

The command vibrated down Cerberus's leash and into his collar. At first Flynn didn't know if anything had happened, but then a cocky grin split Cerberus's lips as he stood back up.

“Listen up here Maggot!" Cerberus boomed. “You want to be one of my pups? Part of my legions? Then you're going to have to get in touch with your inner beast. I've trained many a hellhound, each one more ferocious than the last. You ready to be the most blood thirsty beast the world's ever known?"

Flynn didn't know if Cerberus was playing it up, or if he truly meant what he was saying, but Flynn was feeling more inspired than afraid. He nodded.

“THAT IS NOT AN ANSWER! ARE YOU READY TO BE A PUP OF CERBERUS!?"

“Yes!" Flynn straitened up.

“I CAN'T HEAR YOU MAGGOT!" Cerberus shouted. The drill sergeant routine was almost misplaced on a guy who was only wearing cutoff shorts, but somehow that made Flynn feel more comfortable.

“YES, CERBERUS SIR!" Flynn shouted back.

“Calm down kid," Cerberus chuckled, crossing his arms, but his demeanor was still sharp and pointed. “I ain't no Sir. I'm a beast, a blood thirsty cur who loves the feel of a spine snapping in my jaws and blood wetting my fangs. And if you want that, I can teach you."

Flynn didn't know if that's what he wanted, but he kept his stance rigid.

“Yes!" Flynn shot back. If he wanted to complete this mission, if he wanted to be able to fight for his mother, then he would need to fight ancient beasts of raw primal power. This was the path he chose, and he knew it would involve fighting hellhounds, so he might as well learn how to fight like one.

“Good," Cerberus smirked. “Now, all fours."

“What?" Flynn blinked.

Cerberus proceeded to get down on his knees, his back arched, his tail high while his palms smacked the ground.

“ALL FOUR'S MAGGOT!" Cerberus shouted. The command sent a shock down Flynn's spine before falling forward and mimicking Cerberus's stance.

“Yes," Flynn nodded.

“Good," Cerberus smirked. “Now, try and bite me."

“I…what?" Flynn tilted his head. “You're taking this seriously, right?"

“If I weren't, the collar would have severed my head already," Cerberus smirked. “Now, bite me. A hellhound's jaw strength has enough force to break a femur and burn away a bitch's mana. A hellhound's greatest asset is their bite. So, bite me."

“But, I'm not a hellhound. Wouldn't that be counterproductive?" Flynn cocked his head.

“BITE ME!" Cerberus barked his order. “I won't ask again!"

Flynn shook his head before lunging forward. Cerberus was a few feet away. He had plenty of time to get out of the way if he wanted to, but he didn't move. Flynn bit down and pulled off right away.

“Like that?" Flynn asked.

“You call that a bite? BITE ME!" Cerberus demanded, the back of his hand coming down to smack the wolf across the face. “Your next bite better break skin or I'll show you what happens to the pups that can't cut it as a warrior!"

Flynn gave a little yip at the smack, but then an anger burned deep inside him. Normally he would quash it, push it down, but this time, it raged from deep inside him like a roaring fire. He snarled and growled as he moved to bite down on Cerberus, his nose tingling as he snapped down hard on Cerberus's arm. He hesitated for a moment, his teeth right up against flesh, but then the anger came back and he bit. He bit down harder than he ever had on anything before. Biting with the intent to harm, to rip flesh, to maim, was very different than a controlled bite. Flynn felt flesh give way as he sank his teeth into that flesh. He snarled, he huffed, and he felt blood well up around his teeth.

“Shit," Cerberus grunted. “At ease Maggot!"

Flynn blinked and recoiled from Cerberus, his mouth filled with the coppery taste of blood, but it was almost rancid and sour. Flynn stood back up and put his hand on his lips and moved it away to see the black ichor of demon blood, blue sparks glowing through it.

“Cerberus, I'm…I didn't know I could…" Flynn felt a deep need to apologize. When he looked up though he saw a massive ball of fur coming at him with a duo of electric eyes. Flynn's entire world went sidewise.

“Fuck, pup," Cerberus was huffing, his breath hot as he pinned Flynn to the ground. Cerberus's eyes were wild, but he didn't look angry. If anything, he looked excited. “I usually have to fake it to give pups confidence, but shit. You broke skin on the first bite. Do you have any idea how rare that is?"

“Really?" Flynn blinked.

“I wouldn't lie to a pup during training unless it was to build their confidence, and I don't give a shit if you have any of that." Cerberus smirked. “I usually have to have them teethe on bones for a few months before they have the strength to even scratch me…wait a mo…"

Cerberus pushed off Flynn and lifted his forearm where Flynn had bit. Flynn didn't even know where he had sunk his teeth in. He was just biting in a blind rage. Cerberus inspected his arm and emerging from the black wound were shards of ice.

“Did you just augment your bite with magic?" Cerberus cocked a brow as he plucked a shard of ice from the wound. “Now that's interesting. Your innate ability might have more beastly roots than your sisters first thought."

Flynn licked over his teeth and winced as he scratched his tongue on a piece of ice that was encased around one of his teeth. It was so seamless he didn't even notice it.

“I think we've found a fighting style that works with your ability," Cerberus smirked before planting his hands back down on the ground, his haunches poised to tackle. “Lets move onto step two."

Flynn's ears drooped. What had he gotten himself into?

***

“Nathan dear? Can you help your father?"

“I don't need any help!"

“Yes you do! The doctor said—"

“It was just a bump on the head woman!"

“You almost died from swelling of the brain! You're taking it easy and you'll listen to me or I swear to god in heaven I'll—"

Nathan came out of the kitchen with a bowl of soup, the ferret entering the living room where all the furniture had been rearranged to allow his father's recliner in the center to watch his shows. His father, a much older and a bit heavier looking Nathan sat slumped in the chair while his wife, another ferret with long, tied back hair, fussed over him.

“Mom, out," Nathan ordered his mother while he brought the food tray over to the grumpy, older, and bulkier version of himself. “And Dad, I know you're stir crazy, but Lauren is handling your cases just fine without you for now. You let us help you get better."

“Bah!" His father rolled his eyes, the thick cop stash on his upper lip furrowing with his scowl. “What do you know."

“I know that I can either serve your soup in a bowl or in your lap. Don't make me regret coming over here and making sure mom doesn't fuss over you all the time."

“Nathan," his mother feigned hurt feelings, but gave him a wink as she slinked out of the room. She knew her husband would listen to Nathan more than her. The young ferret always thought it was some sort of sexist thing, but now that Nathan wasn't a little kid anymore but a grown man, his father looked at him in a new light. Less of the cute little boy that played dress up with his uniform and more of an independent man who knew how to take care of himself. A man that could make it out there in the world and one that looked after his friends. Nathan felt a bit of guilt over that last part thought, but then again, the friend he pulled from the gutter and sobered up may have fallen off the wagon because of his stupid desire for things to be the way they were before. Not only that, but maybe he became a hell mage in the process of becoming a druggy again, and that may have nearly killed his father.

This was entirely his own fault, and he knew that, but…the least he could do was make sure his father got better. Nathan was itching for some sort of recompense while he stewed with the idea of how to deal with Flynn.

“Fine!" His father grunted, adjusting his blankets so the tray could rest in his lap. “Just give me the damn soup."

“Good," Nathan nodded and handed him the tray. “Lauren should be over here tonight to make those hypertension inducing salt balls you love so much."

“Now don't you start talking like my cardiologist too!" His father huffed as he went to sip his soup only to wince and blow on it. “I swear, you and your mother do nothing but worry."

“And we're allowed to. You have a very dangerous job." Nathan crossed his arms. “So don't get all grumpy just because you have people who love and want to take care of you. You can mope about being on medical leave when you're better."

“God, you and your mother know just what to say to get under my damned skin," he huffed.

“Yeah, because we're right," Nathan nodded. “And you hate being wrong."

“Oh, go help your mother in the kitchen," he grunted.

“Love you too dad," Nathan smiled and patted him on the shoulder.

“Love you too," his father huffed over his soup.

Nathan went back into the kitchen, his mother cleaning up some dishes.

“Oh thank you Nathan, you've been a god send," she smiled. “I swear, your father would have done something to pop the stitches in his head if you weren't here. He never listens to me."

“Yeah, I know," Nathan sighed. “He needs to be outvoted or he'll veto you all day."

Nathan started drying dishes when someone entered in through the back door.

“Lauren! You're early!" Nathan's mother smiled, taking her hands from the soapy water and drying them off to give the tall dobby a big hug. “Tom will love to see you. He's getting tired of talking to me all the time. Oh and Nathan's here! We can play euchre!"

“Hey Judy," Lauren smiled and hugged her back, the package of frozen meatballs in one hand and a bottle of barbeque sauce in the other. “You got the slow cooker all ready for me?"

“Oh! I'll go get it from the basement and clean it in the slop sink down there. Would you be able to help Nathan?"

“Of course," Lauren smirked and lifted the bag of meatballs. “Got room in the freezer?"

“Always," Judy nodded. “Be back in a bit. I'll let Tom know you're here."

Nathan's mom walked off to the basement and Lauren put the frozen meatballs away and took her jacket off.

“Hey Aunty Lauren," Nathan smirked and handed her the dish rag. “You can dry and put away. I'll wash."

“Yes sir," Lauren nodded as she rolled up her sleeves.

The two were there for a moment, the sound of dishes clanking and dish water sloshing until Lauren broke the silence.

“So, were you going to tell me about your roommate's connection to Damian?"

Nathan paused, his spine going rigid. When he didn't answer Lauren continued.

“You know I helped your dad cover for that boy. Always hate to see someone throw their life away before it begins. Flynn's a good kid, but has he relapsed?"

Nathan started scrubbing a spoon aggressively.

“I haven't spoken to Flynn for a few days," Nathan huffed.

“You know," Lauren pulled out her phone and opened up a picture. “We finally got the security footage from the ATM machines across the street at the bodega."

She flipped it around for Nathan to see and it showed Nathan holding his taser up to Flynn. Nathan was forcing himself to take even breaths and asses exactly what Lauren was looking for. The ferret looked his dad's partner in the eyes, those powerful chocolate orbs were comforting, but sharp. She was fishing. He glanced back at the photo again. It was clearly him, but Flynn was moving, his image blurred.

“Do you want to amend your earlier statement, Nathan?"

Nathan had a split second to think, to try and come up with something that would be believable. But what lie could he say that his Aunty Lauren couldn't sniff out?!

“I'm sorry," Nathan sighed. “I know the taser model is illegal in our state, but it was the only one I could get on such short notice."

Nathan was hoping that would be the end of it, that Lauren would melt and comfort him for needing to pull a weapon like that in the city she was supposed to keep safe for him, but no. She pulled the rug out from under him.

“Why did you need a taser so quickly?" Lauren asked.

Shit!

“I…I don't know," Nathan was giving himself time to think as he pulled his hands from the water and got a fresh hand towel. By the time he got back he felt like he had regained his footing. “My father just got attacked and I think I just…didn't feel safe knowing he could get hurt, ya know?"

“Nathan," Lauren put a hand on the ferret's shoulder. “Around when did you leave your apartment to come here?"

“I don't know exactly. It was all sort of a blur" That was a believable answer.

“Was your roommate there when you left?"

“Yeah, what's with the third degree?"

“I went by your apartment earlier today," Lauren continued. “Did you know your unit has been condemned due to damages?"

“What?!" Nathan looked her in the eye before pulling out his phone and opening up his email. Sure enough there were half a dozen messages from their super.

“Yeah, water damage and half the outside facing wall was torn clean off. We can't be sure exactly when it happened, but was your unit in one piece before you left that day?"

“I mean, yeah," Nathan looked at her concerned. “What? You think I would have kept something like that from you?"

“I think you're keeping something form me," Lauren pressed. “So, this damage happens after you left your apartment, and moments later you're seen with someone matching the description of your roommate only a couple blocks from where those hellhounds were fighting."

Nathan gulped back the rising fear in his heart. Everything was starting to seem far too convenient. Nathan's childhood kitchen had been changed into a deceptively comfortable interrogation room and he was looking down the muzzle of one of the best civilian interrogators in her precinct. She was the second half of his father's legendary team of detectives. He bagged them in the field and she'd tag them in the interrogation room.

“Nathan," Lauren continued. “I know you might want to protect your friend, especially if he relapsed, but if he is a hell mage, if he has the capability to command familiars, then he might be the one who cast that ice spell the other day."

“I thought hell mages used fire magic?" Nathan tried to throw her off the scent, but he should have known better than to try and deceive the sharpest nose in the NYCE. Especially one that knew him so well.

“Hell's inner most circle is ice, and if a hell mage can cast magic of that level, then they are a threat to more than just this city. They are a threat of starting a nationwide hell march. This is far bigger than we first thought. Even government sanctioned hell mages from the Demon Slayer Core have come sniffing around. I'm trying to prevent a travesty here, and I need you to be honest with me."

Now it was Lauren who messed up. Nathan knew her tactics. She was laying on the pressure, but she also said that he needed to be honest with her. That meant she needed something, something important.

Proof.

The image that was on Lauren's phone was blurry, circumstantial at best, and Flynn wasn't the only timber wolf in all of New York. She needed a positive ID to confirm her hunch. She needed to know if it was Flynn. And if she believed Flynn was actually that kind of hell mage, she would bring down the entirety of the EC and the DSC down on Flynn in the matter of hours. The entirely country would be covered with his image. He would be the subject of every bounty, every agency's most wanted, the worlds most wanted man by the time the evening news cycled.

But if Lauren was right, and he was a hell mage…Nathan had an obligation to his country, no, his fellow man to assist in taking him down.

In taking Flynn down...

“I know what you're thinking," Nathan started, his eyes drooping as he rubbed his arm. “Flynn is using again…and…it's…it's my fault."

“What?" Lauren cocked a brow. “Where is this coming from?"

“Lauren…just…let me explain," Nathan looked up, his eyes glittering with tears. “I wanted to have my party friend back, to have him come out and just have some drinks and dance and maybe find a guy. But…I lost track of him, and the next day I found him strung out. It's my fault, it's all my fault. I helped him sober up and-and I…I thought he was okay, but then he came to me ripped out of his head again and I needed to just get out because I hated myself for what I did and…"

“So you just left your friend as he was relapsing?" Lauren cocked a brow. Nathan was sure she didn't mean it to sound so harsh, but it felt like a stab to the gut.

“No! I mean…I was there at the beginning, but…I didn't know what to do," Nathan put his hands on the sink. “I ruined my friend's life. I pulled him out of that world only to shove his nose back into it and now I don't know what's going on with him and I know I should be doing more, but…I just can't. I can hardly keep up with my dad and then all that shit happened at the intersection with the two hellhounds. Not to mention some random guy jumped me."

“Wait, a guy mugged you?" Lauren cocked a brow. “Nathan? Why didn't you report it?"

“It all happened so fast," Nathan was on the verge of hyperventilating. “He was just some wolf who was taking advantage of the confusion. I pulled my taser on him and he backed off—"

“Wait, you were mugged here?" She pulled out the picture from her phone again. “Here? Right here?"

“Yes!" Nathan huffed. “That's what I've been trying to tell you, and I don't know. It all happened so quickly and I panicked, then my injury with the soul ripping and-and-and-and—"

“Nathan," Lauren came forward and pulled him into a hug, the ferret's muzzle being buried in her neck. “Nathan, it's okay. I got you, it's okay."

Nathan was shocked at first, thinking that he was caught in his lie, but had Lauren bought it? He didn't care in that moment. He hugged her back, his breath a little shaky as a duo of tears dripped from his eyes onto her sweater.

“Don't worry Nathan, I got you," she gently stroked his hair as he calmed down. “You're okay, you're safe."

“Am I?" Nathan shuddered out. He was scared, he was terrified of what he had done and what could come of it, but he knew one thing. Flynn wouldn't hurt him. Whatever was going on was Nathan's doing, and he could fix it. He just needed time.

“Of course sweetheart," Lauren pulled away, her eyes looking deep into his. “You're safe. I'll always keep you safe. Me and your dad will always keep you and everyone safe."

Nathan was calming down, but he could tell in Lauren's eyes she wasn't going to let this thing rest. She might back off now that Nathan couldn't provide a link to Flynn, but it was a race. Nathan needed to find a way to fix this before the entire force of the EC came down on his friend.

A friend who might be a hell mage.

***

Cerberus's training was brutal. From the crack of dawn to the time they would lay down at night Flynn was constantly sparring with the hellhound. At first the three sisters tried to intervene, but ultimately Flynn told them to stop and to let him and Cerberus continue his training. It wasn't until the third day that Flynn really felt like he was getting somewhere. He could tell that Cerberus was pulling punches most of the time, but every time he struck back, he could feel that fire in his gut get a little hotter. Ice that was so cold it burned.

Currently he was pushing against Cerberus, their fingers interlocked as Flynn's foot paws dug into the dirt to stand his ground. That rage he felt in his gut, the anger, it wasn't just a fire for battle, but a primal need that tingled up his spine. He felt like he could keep going, keep fighting as long as he kept that flame burning. His mind was awash with a white hot heat that kept him snarling, his muzzle on his face to keep his innate ability in check while they worked against one another.

“That's it, feel it," Cerberus snarled as he pushed Flynn further back, his feet digging up more dirt as he stood his ground. “Have it course through you. Let it build!"

Flynn hissed and snarled, his teeth bare as he pushed back against Cerberus. That white hot heat was burning him up, it roiled in his veins and boiled in his blood. Drool dripped from his teeth like he were a rabid dog. He didn't like the feeling at first, but now that it thrummed through him, he gave up trying to make sense of it and threw himself into it like pressing his palm against a hot surface and feeling his flesh crackle and pop. It burned so good, it made his heart race and his fur stand on end.

“Now, let it melt any reason you have left, let it thaw out the beast you've been keeping inside. Unleash it, let it out," Cerberus snarled, his own eyes getting wild as his fangs were bared.

Flynn let it happen. His heart and reason were begging him to stop, but Flynn wanted someone to hurt, to bleed for all that has happened to him. He may have chosen this quest, but it also chose him by force. He was mad, he was angry, and he wanted someone, anyone to let it out on!

Flynn saw white as he pushed back, and this time, he felt Cerberus give. That heat inside him saw weakness and he lunged. He snapped, his maw flying open as his muzzle unbuttoned from his jaw strength.

He hissed and snarled, his jaw snapping at air. The world thrummed in odd colors, his mind was lost to the rage, his fur standing on end as he got down onto all fours. It felt right. He wasn't Flynn anymore. He was a beast.

Cerberus had side stepped and let the pup fly forward in blind rage. Flynn snarled and barked, his ice breath bursting over his face to create an icy wolf mask. It was far more beast like that Flynn's real face, his fangs sharp and detailed and his breath a rolling mist that frosted the grass below. His hands were encased in ice as well, adjusting his palms into powerful paws, his legs encased in ice as well, to even his stance out.

“Bout fucking time," Cerberus growled before rolling his shoulders, static rippling through his fur and causing it to stand on end. He fell forward, his paws hitting the ground before he let out a loud howl that cracked the air.

Flynn didn't need to know what that meant. He knew in his bones. That was an alpha calling on a hunt. Flynn spun around to face the woods, his tail flicking behind him before frosting over. He darted into the trees on all fours.

Despite his heightened state, he could still smell well enough, his other senses heightened as he bounded through the trees, his paws leaving a starburst of icicles wherever he leapt. He barreled forward, his claws tearing up dirt, slashing through bark.

Then he smelled it. He didn't know what kind of creature it was. He just knew it as prey. He snapped, snarling and hissing before changing direction and barreling onward. A howl echoed through the forest along with rolling thunder, the Alpha not far behind.

There was a rustle as something was kicked up and Flynn ran for it. He could see clear as day, his vision sharp and crisp despite how fast he was moving. He snarled and opened his maw and leapt forward. His maw sank into something, a light squeak of a rabbit before a snap and silence. Flynn almost came out of his trance, but the sudden coppery taste of blood in his muzzle made him snarl. He whipped his head around, beating his prey until he was sure it was dead. Then, as soon as it was, he felt it being jerked away. He held firm, the body in his muzzle tearing in two as Cerberus claimed his share as the alpha.

Flynn jumped forward, tackling the big beast. That was HIS kill! It was HIS!

“MINE!" Flynn barked, but was tossed aside and smacked chest first into a tree before he was pinned, his neck bitten down on by the big alpha. Flynn yipped before his body went limp, his submissive reflexes kicking in as Cerberus's fangs found his previous bite mark and sank his teeth into it.

Flynn snarled, his claws scraping across the tree, splinters and shards of ice flaking off as his maw hung open, puffs of cool air rolling past his lips as he was pinned against the bark.

There was no need for words, there was no need to explain what was happening. The alpha was taking his bitch. Cerberus's cock was hard as iron, his lips tipped with the blood of a fresh kill and glowing blue from the mana he was gorging himself on as he humped Flynn's ass. That thick member bouncing off the smaller wolf's tail as Cerberus looked for a hole. Flynn submitted, yet somehow the rage still thrummed through his veins. He didn't want to have sex, he wanted to fuck like a beast.

Cerberus found his mark, his head plunging deep into Flynn's pussy. The massive muscle beast snarled around that bite mark, static rolling off his body as he thrusted, his cock sinking into slick sexy silk. Flynn growled, his maw sinking into the tree before him as he was mounted. Smacking hips thrust forward with abandon with no regard for the other on both sides. Cerberus fucked up into that pussy and Flynn shoved back, over and over. The white hot bloodlust turning into white hot passion.

Flynn had never felt this way before. The burning pleasure raked over his senses, his fur standing on end as he smacked back over and over, those heavy alpha balls swinging up to smack his clit every time as they got into a deep rut. This wasn't about a dick inside his pussy, but the way the sensation built the more they moved with the motion of the mount. The more Flynn thrusted back, the harder they fell into the rut, the more it burned, the more it surged and pounded in his heart.

Flynn could feel the effects of Cerberus's drug, but it wasn't working as a narcotic this time. It was halving the opposite effect. It caused Flynn to snarl, to thrash back to make Cerberus force him down and take him. It thrummed in his skull, the bark of the tree before him writhing like snakes as it caused him to hallucinate. His reason was stolen from him as he was left as nothing but a beast. He was high, he was getting fucked, he was a beast, he didn't care. All that mattered, all that would ever matter was the here and now.

Cerberus continued to drink deep of Flynn's manna, his dick plunging deep into that pussy over and over, smacking relentlessly hard, beating the pup's cervix with his powerful tip. Cerberus wanted to ruin Flynn, to break him, to make him his bitch. He wanted to knock that slut up and force him to bear his pups. Flynn was powerful, he was strong, he was goddess blessed. The skank couldn't be a more perfect whore for his pups to be spat in. He would be his, he would be his bitch! He would be his beta! His mate!

The rhythm was sporadic, and it was a feral staccato that filled the forest with the beastly sounds of rut and mating. Two powerful forces clashed to do what nature did best, and they were quickly building to a crescendo.

Cerberus could see the finish line approaching and he wanted to snap his jaws around the tape and keep running. He pounded faster, HARDER, and Flynn wouldn't have it any other way. Spit flew, pussy juices and pre slung about in strands. Flynn was the same, he was quickly approaching the peak and he wasn't going to stop.

Cerberus's knot swelled and started popping in and out of that cunt. Flynn barked, snarled, growled, hissed, whatever he could do to dare Cerberus into breeding him. He would not be denied his tie with his alpha, and his alpha would not be denied his nut. Flynn's claws raked down the tree as pleasure rapidly approached, each shlorping plop of that knot rocketing him faster and faster to the finish line until it stuck inside him.

Cerberus tried to pull back only for that pussy to clamp down hard and pop. Flynn howled out in his pleasure, a lance of ice shooting into the sky. Cerberus switched gears and slammed harder into Flynn, seating his dick as deep as he could, making sure to bully that cervix as his knot swelled and distended that pussy. The big alpha's nuts drew up before bouncing, his powerful prostate snapping into action and shooting stream after thick, hot, beasty stream of nut into Flynn's twitching walls.

Cerberus didn't stop fucking, he didn't stop thrusting, and neither did Flynn. They were beasts lost in their feral rut. They would keep going long into the night until the sun broke over the horizon the next morning.

Though, during that time both Hemala and Kamila stood atop a duo of trees observing their brother and that mongrel communing with each other.

“Honestly, how far has that boy fallen into Cerberus's palm?" Kamila sighed.

“You have to admit though," Hemala shrugged, the nightingale smirking. “He has come a long way. I don't know if you drilling the same lessons into his head would have gotten him as far along as Cerberus has."

“Just because it works doesn't mean it's the right path," Kamila shook her head.

“And just because you didn't think of it, doesn't mean it's a bad idea," Hemala smirked. “Let them have their fun. Flynn's learning more about magic fucking in the woods than he would have on the veranda with us squawking at him."

“You know I hate to admit when I'm wrong," Kamila simply stated. That was as close to an admission of failure as she would ever give.

“Besides, there's something interesting here," Hemala pulled something from her pouch. It was the mangled corpse of a rabbit, only it looked like it had its fur burned off, his flesh almost mummified.

“So?" Kamila cocked a brow. “Cerberus bit it. That's clear signs of a hellhound bite."

“Yes, but I noticed the mana burn started when Flynn bit it," Hemala noted.

“Preposterous," Kamila shook her head. “You're seeing things."

“I guess we'll just have to wait till he gets a clean bite on something else to confirm," Hemala shrugged with a cocky grin on her beak. “Oh? What's happening to that tree? Hope you don't mind being wrong twice in one week."

Kamila quickly focused her eyes on the tree that Flynn had bitten. The two had gone off to fuck in the bushes, but on the tree was a distinct icy blue mark of a hellhound bite, the tree's mana slowly burning and causing it to turn black.

“I guess we can prove the old saying wrong that lightning doesn't strike twice," Hemala giggled.

“You love proving me wrong, don't you." Hemala held a furrowed brow, but a slight smirk played across her beak. “You know a hellhound bite hasn't been replicated for several thousand years. It's a specific rune made by a hellhound's bite. Special fangs for the depth, positioning of teeth and the like. Only one helmet still exists that can replicate one and that's Hade's helm of darkness."

“So, what do you think that says about our brother, dear sister?" Hemala hooked her arm around the trunk of the tree and leaned out to get a better look at her sister's brooding smile.

“I'm not sure, but if he can cast such powerful magic by accident, it's either because he's incredibly lucky…"

“Or…?" Hemala urged her on.

“I'm not sure I can say for certain, but he might be more divine than just in spirit."

***

Zagreus sat on the hood of a Rolls-Royce parked next to a rocky berm that lead to the calm waves below. The jet black wolf was looking over the great lake of Ontario, the setting sun a glorious amber as it glittered over the waves. He had a handful of pebbles as he tossed them one at a time into the lake, skipping a couple. In the demigod's lap was an open file, pictures of Flynn and information about the three sisters plastered across it. He sighed and closed the folio, the image clipped to the front looked like an empty alleyway, but with a bit of magic enhancement, the ghostly image of Cerberus hovered over it.

Zagreus set the folio down as he looked over the waves, his eyes tracing patters over the glittering whitecaps. Then, the sun kissed the horizon. It was time.

“Zagreus?" A shadowy figure walked up to the car. “Has it truly come to this?"

“Yes," Zagreus stood up, throwing another stone before turning to his guest. He was a cloak of black cloth, torn with various bony bird heads poking out of it like he was some demented birdhouse. Large, bony wings spread out behind him with dark feathers that shivered in the wind off the great lake. “Thank you for coming Iapetus."

“Please, call me Piercer." The shadowy figure stepped forward, a spear forming in his hand as a walking stick. “I am obligated to come when a child of the dead calls. Though, I wish this were under better circumstances."

“Here," Zagreus handed out his hand, a few flat pebbles in his palm. “I know how much you love skipping stones."

“It is a wonderful pastime," Piercer's bony fingers plucked a rock. With lightning speed he flicked it over the lake, the pebble skipping off into the sunset. “I hardly ever have time for it anymore these days."

“Don't I know it," Zagreus sighed. “I wish I came to give you more than a little break."

“Violent death doesn't have a break in this world," Piercer's hollow voice rattled out of his bird skull as he plucked another stone and skipped it over the lake. “The longer I'm here, the longer those who are dyeing suffer. But it's nice to take a moment and skip a stone or two."

“I'll make it brief then," Zagreus smiled. “You know what I'm here for."

“I do," Piercer nodded. “A blade that can kill one with an immortal blessing."

“What will it cost me?" Zagreus asked.

“This little reprieve from my duties will do," Piercer responded. He took the last stone from Zagreus's hand, but instead of feeling lighter, it felt heavier. Zagreus looked down, a shiver of fear, or maybe respect for such a deadly piece of weaponry, ran down his spine. It was a simple sickle, the handle made of worn driftwood and the blade weathered iron.

“I will expect it returned to me as soon as you're done with it."

“I'll toss it into the next sunset once I'm done, Piercer." Zagreus smiled. “And maybe we can skip another stone or two."

“Maybe," Piercer held a smile in his hollow voice. “That would be quite nice."

The two stood there for a moment, watching the waves glitter as the sun sank below the horizon, a little green flash forming just as it dipped below. Piercer's body glowed green at the same time as he started to fade.

“Until next we meet, son of Hades," Piercer's voice echoed off, taken with the wind off the lake.

Zagreus gripped the blade, looking at it intensely before slipping it into his coat.

“Gods damn you Cerberus. What are you thinking?"

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