---External POV---

"Monster!"

"Abomination!"

The words pierced through the child's heart as it ran further into the woods, black eyes looking back over his shoulder at the angry mob of humans that were lobbing stones at him. He whimpered when one of the rocks scraped over his shoulder but didn't dare to stop.

Angry cheers resounded behind him, making the little boy run faster in fright. What could an eight year old do against six fully-grown adults in a fit of rage?

Nothing.

Thorn gasped, fingers digging into the silk covers beneath him as he groaned. His eyes flashed wildly from side to side underneath their lids, reacting to the nightmarish memory that the elixir forced him to see yet again.

Cold, piercing air running through his lungs as he darted through the forest. His legs were stronger this time, carrying him farther and quicker. The years have been harder on Thorn, as it was etched all over his body. From the mangled clothes he managed to find in a ditch, the way his cheeks were hollowed because of hunger all the way down to the simple fact that several bruises adorned his body.

The warlocks that followed him grinded to a halt when Thorn flung himself of the cliffs, straight into the icy and dark waters of the ocean. He made it to the surface, gasping for air as he looked up, trying to keep as quietly as possible while he hid himself underneath the hanging ledge of the cliff, knowing that the warlocks were hesitant to follow him.

He winced though when several fish nipped at his skin, one of them managing to bite hard enough to draw blood. His eyes flickered down, waving his hands through the black water in an attempt to keep the toothed fish away from him while he waited with baited breath for the warlocks to go away.

The water itself stung, burned his wound as the waste, debris and the fine coat of oil was combined with its natural saltiness. The young man bit his lip and closed his eyes, praying that he could just for once, live in peace.

Fingers softly brushed through Thorn's sweaty hair, pushing it out of his face before he let out a pained groan, pressing his face further into the blankets. Bidziil looked on, his eyes expressing the worry he felt for the unconscious boy in his bed before he sighed and sat down on the edge.

He reached out again, gingerly touching Thorn's temples before he closed his own eyes and frowned, trying to slow the flood of images down as he lived through Thorn's nightmare by his side. Bidziil's frown deepened more and more as he watched Thorn's younger self push himself to survive, evading the claws of werewolves or the sharp fangs of the vampires on his path.

A soft smile slipped on his lips when he witnessed the encounter between Thorn and the two children, hiding in a hollow tree. Bidziil cursed though when a sharp pang of pain exploded behind his skull and the whole room seemed to dim slightly.

"What...was that?"

Bidziil turned around to look at his younger brother, who was looking around the room apprehensively before Ashkii looked back at him. "I don't know, but I need to go back to the human realm to fix this mess. You have no idea what your neglect has caused there Ashkii."

His younger brother at least had the modesty to look ashamed as he nodded dejectedly, staring at his feet. "I didn't mean anything by it really. I just found it...boring and I thought they could handle themselves for a while. Time flies, you know? I'm sorry."

This caused a tired sigh to slip from Bidziil before he heaved himself from the bed and covered Thorn back up, frowning slightly at the shadows that flickered on the edges of his vision. He didn't know what they were but they had something to do with the delicious man lying in his bed.

With another suppressed groan, Bidziil finally stood up and rolled his eyes. "I'm leaving for Earth. Don't. Harass. Him. Got it?"

Ashkii waited for a moment, looking curiously from Bidziil to the shivering young man on his brother's bed before nodding slowly, a smile growing on his lips. "Yup, don't harass the sexy man in my brother's bed- OKAY, OKAY! I got it!" he added loudly, throwing his arms up when sparks of fire zipped through the room.

Bidziil glared at him but sighed, knowing his younger brother didn't mean anything with it and closed his eyes, focusing on his destination.

He didn't know that the elixir had reached its goal and started to awaken Thorn's immortal side, nor the fact that the small fissure of power had reached a creature several realms away.

The man was older than time itself, known by most, hated by all. His black eyes flashed open as the shockwave reached him, the golden iris flaring brightly as he analyzed the power curiously before his jaw grew slack, memories bombarding him ruthlessly.

At long last, he shook the memories that reminded him of hidden pasts and painful goodbyes' off, and managed to realize that there was a reason why the surge of power felt oddly familiar.

He couldn't believe it but the evidence still surged through his veins, leaving him stunned in the darkness of his room, lost in his memories of what he thought was unrequited love.

Apparently, he was wrong.

---Thorn's POV—

I didn't know how long I was trapped in my memories, how long I had spent fighting against the elixir in my blood but now I felt a certain calmness ease over me. My muscles, which had been cramped up throughout the nightmares, were slowly relaxing again as I took deep, calming breaths.

The pain was slowly seeping out of my body, though I felt sore all over, as if I had been running all day without taking a moment to calm myself down. I ached all over and wanted to groan when a muscle on my back started to twitch, sending small bursts of pain through my over-sensitized nerves.

My mind seemed to be a little slow as it started to remind me what happened, pushing my past to the background while more urgent matters presented themselves. Matters like where was I and where are-

Fear gripped my stomach in an icy cold grip as my fingers dug into the luxurious material underneath them, because I just realized that I didn't feel nor hear the kids anywhere near me.

Wake up! Damn it, I have to wake up!

My eyelids struggled as I willed them to open so I could see where I was. They fluttered a few times before I managed to blink once, groaning slightly at the light that shot bursts of tinted flecks behind my eyelids as I squeezed them shut.

I hadn't seen much, since the light blinded me, but I had caught a glimpse of the luxurious and rather big bed I was lying on, so it was safe to assume that whoever that man was in those cells, he had saved me and brought me here.

With a sigh, I tried again and this time managed to open my eyes instantly, noticing that the source of light was gone. Instead, a face was hovering a few inches away from me, silver eyes blinking owlishly as the black-haired young man looked curiously at me.

Instinctively I cried out, shoving my hands between us to push the boy away. I was startled though when an audible and unearthly cry screeched through the room before the boy flew off me, being pinned to the wall by a thick black shadow.

Its core showed bursts of blue but the black was very prominent while I kept my eyes on them both, realizing that I wasn't the only one seeing this. The boy's silver eyes were opened wide in shock as he stared at the shadow on his chest, struggling against his hold.

"Whoa! What the- Bidziil!!"

At his cry, I shuffled off the bed, cursing under my breath when I collided against the cool floor before I was up on my feet and quickly backing away. I didn't want to stay put and wait for whoever he just called for to pop up.

I spun around and ran, my eyes aiming for the doorway ahead but soon, several things happened at once. My ears hadn't picked up on running water before, so I hadn't realized I was running for the source until the door next to me flew open.

Next thing I knew, both me and the person who ran inside the bedroom crashed head first together before we both fell to the floor, with me on top of the man. I quickly went to jump up and run away from both of them but gasped when a pair of hands grabbed me on my hips and yanked me down.

And again, I crashed face first in the solid muscle of the guy's chest before I glared up at him. Familiar golden eyes were twinkling with mischief as a teasing grin pulled over his features, lighting them up in the process. His brown hair was damp and tussled wildly as he slowly laid his head back down on the floor, pinning me with his gaze.

My eyes narrowed down at him as I struggled to get up, fighting against his hold on me. His firm grip on my hips held me down while his fingers, though gentle, didn't relent in keeping me perched right in his lap.

"Let me go! Where the fuck am I? Where are the kids, I need-" I was hushed by one of his hands covering my mouth and I blinked, as the man, who probably was Bidziil, was now a breath away from my face.

I blinked, staring in shock at his breath rushed over me, dazing me slightly before my senses sparked up instantly. His scent was filling my nostrils, since his hand was clamped over my nose and mouth, his thumb barely stroking my jawline.

A shiver ran over me and he must have noticed, because his grin turned into a teasing smirk while his eyes scanned me from top to bottom and up again. I narrowed my eyes again, silently daring him to try something but instead, he chuckled hoarsely and shook his head.

"As much as I like this position we're in and I'd love to keep you this way, " he said while giving his hips a roll, which made me look down to realize he was clad in nothing but a fluffy towel, "You need to calm down Thorn."

My eyes shot back up to his, the jesting expression turning serious as his eyes darted over my face. "Calm down, deep breaths. The children are safe and sound, the babe asleep and all of them somewhere in the house."

His urging focused me on my body and indeed, I was tense, my heart racing in my chest before I followed his advice and took deep breaths, all the while being pinned under his intense gaze.

"Yo bro! Little help over here!"

Bidziil's eyes left my face for a moment at the call before he barked out a laugh, shaking his head in amusement. "Why is it that when I ask you to do something, you do exactly the opposite Ashkii?"

The boy behind me huffed irritated before snapping, "That was days ago! I didn't bother him at all, he just woke up with a start and attacked me!" he whined pitifully and I could almost imagine him pouting while eying us with big, sad eyes.

"Yeah, you just shoved your face right up in his personal space."

"Did not!"

"Yes you did. I'd attack you too if I was in his place. You probably scared him and he reacted. Just hang on." Bidziil added before smirking when the other guy huffed again.

"Har har. I'm dying of laughter."

The conversation between the two of them gave me time to calm down as I listened to the sarcastic remarks of the boy behind us and the witty replies of the man holding me steadily in his lap. He noticed that I was staring at him, because he looked at me and winked.

"I'm gonna let you go now and then I'm gonna get dressed and we can go look for the children okay?" I nodded slowly, eying him warily as he released my mouth first before loosening his hand on my hip.

"Now, would you be so kind as to let my brother down?"

I blinked before scratching my head slightly, tussling the black locks while feeling slightly sheepish. "I uh, don't know how. That has never happened before..." I trailed off, looking back at the younger boy, who whined and struggled against the shadow. It wasn't as dark anymore though; the deep blackness was now lit up by the deep blue sparks from its center, making it seem more approachable.

But how was I going to control it? I didn't know how I let it grab Ashkii and pin him high enough up the wall so his feet couldn't reach the floor. And if I wanted to go look for Lyra, Blake and Noah, I needed to put Ashkii down-

The words barely crossed my mind before the shadow evaporated, leaving Ashkii alone as he tumbled down and fell on his ass. "Ow! Thanks, I guess, though the actual putting down could've been a bit nicer, don't you think?"

"Uh..." I stared at him, wondering if he was completely sane. Bidziil snorted and released me completely, making me jump away from him. He eyed me curiously, his full lips curling up slightly in amusement before he shrugged at his brother's whining and stepped back in the bathroom he'd previously occupied.

----

"Thorn, wait! You can't go in there-" I ignored Ashkii's voice and rushed through the doors that separated me from the children, smiling as they looked up at the loud noise and grinned wildly. "...alone." Ashkii finished his sentence in a whisper while Bidziil stepped up behind him.

"Where's Noah?" I asked Lyra as she ran up to me and jumped, throwing her small arms around my neck while Blake went for the calmer approach and smiled, giving me a small hug.

"Uhm, Noah is over there but-"

A low, rumbling growl echoed through the room as I had turned around and walked in the direction Lyra had pointed, not noticing that everyone except Bidziil hadn't moved. Now, I was staring at Noah as he slept soundly between the paws of a creature I've never seen before.

He yawned and turned around, clutching the black fur tightly in his chubby fist but my eyes weren't focused on him anymore. Instead, I was eying the other creature that walked up to me cautiously, wondering what it was going to do.

It's body looked like that of an overgrown dog, maybe a wolf combined with a large feline as its shoulders reached roughly around my stomach, its head could probably reach my chest if it stood close enough.

He growled again, a threatening sound that hissed in the tail-end while it swished its long tail through the air in annoyance. Its whole fur was black with a healthy shine to it, but he was bristling it up in anger as he curled his lips back and snarled again, stalking towards me.

"Thorn...meet Karma, my hellhound. Karma, he's a friend, so be nice." Bidziil spoke on the background, keeping a close eye on us both as the hound stepped closer, coming within striking distance. I stared at the hound before blinking back at the other one, surprised that the individual in front of me was a female.

My eyes looked from the spiked tail as it flicked dangerously through the air, down to her paws, which seemed to be influenced by something reptilian. Instead of the normal canine paw, the hellhound's paw started up normally but had a large talon on the back of his hind legs and his dewclaw was grown out to a sharp talon as well.

Its sharp nail's clicked ominously on the tiled floor before it reached me, red eyes assessing my every movement before they pinned me down with a withering glare. She sniffed a few times, each exhale distinctive by a few flecks of fire leaving its nostrils.

My eyes landed on Noah again, wondering if he was safe in between those large paws but the rumbling growl of the other Hellhound warned me not to come any closer until I passed the approval of the female in front of me.

And then I huffed slightly. "You named her Karma?" I asked dryly, eying the hound as she stepped closer until she pushed her head under my hand, allowing me to pet her slowly whilst purring softly.

Bidziil chuckled and shook his head. "No, Ashkii named her before I could and they only listen to the very first name they hear. He found it funny to call her Karma, since she's a bitch."

I bit my lip to stop myself from smiling, not knowing if I could trust these men well enough but then again, the kids seemed to trust them. Karma huffed happily before trotting away, flicking her tail through the air before she curled it around Lyra's waist.

"It doesn't hurt." She said at my confused look while she caressed the spikes on the tip of Karma's tail. "Bidziil told us if she's angry, her fur and spikes become as sharp as glass and unbreakable. If she's relaxed, they're as soft as a baby's skin." She finished, giggling when Karma's nuzzled her, demanding to be petted.

Well, maybe Karma was much like her masters. If I didn't go on what I thought at first, I could learn to trust them. For now, I was just going to sit back and watch closely.