Sean blinked, gawking out shakily. "You mean... THE Grim Reaper? Death... Is a person?" Darkiplier didn't answer, taking his wrist and rushing him from the building. He could tell that Dark was rattled by this turn of events, but his reaction was making him scared. What did this mean? Could this be taken off? Was Dark scared of Death? Rushing him into the passenger side of the car, Dark told the car that he was driving and sped off. The tires squealing against the pavement. Sean's heart raced as stared down at the ring. It felt icy against his ring finger, and he couldn't help messing with it. He could twist the metal around his finger but couldn't pull it past his knuckle without it tightening up on him. He felt so stupid for letting anyone put stuff on him. He should have known better. Yet, he had thought he had nothing to fear around here since Dark was so their king. Dark's hand drifted over to cup his hands, telling him in a gentle tone. "Don't play with it. You'll just hurt yourself. Just... stay calm." Lowering his hands into his lap, Sean asked him curiously. "Have you ever met Death?" Dark swallowed, avoiding his eyes as he admitted honestly. "He was the first demon created by Khaos. He is the son of the purest darkness. He's billions of centuries older than me. He's the only demon older than me. He doesn't socialize much... so... no."

Dark's hand moved off Sean's hands, heading to the buttons on the dash, when he told him seriously. "I've never dared to go to his realm... So, I have no idea what to expect. Or what might affect you." Removing an inhaler from the glove compartment, Sean popped the cap off and inhaled the contents deeply. The instant relief calmed Sean, before he shut his eyes tightly to hang onto that calm. Behind his closed eyes, a flash made him flinch and shrink in the seat. He expected the smell of death and hear unnatural things that no human should hear. Instead, he smelled... fresh grass and felt... cold rain? Opening his eyes cautiously, his jaw dropped as Dark slowed the car and uttered out just as surprised. "What the fuck...?" Sitting up, Sean stared out at the flat land as far as the eyes could see in all directions. The open plains had golden grain that shimmering in the soft breeze. While bright purple butterflies fluttered about through the cloudy sky that lightly rained. Dark slowly drove down the dirt path until he came upon a little cottage. All around the cottage were purple flower bushes that swarmed with butterflies of all colors and sizes. This realm had no one else, filling the realm with an frightening silence.

Dark tensed, whispering to Sean cautiously. "Remember what I said about those that are silent being the deadliest...?" Sean nodded, his skin breaking out in goosebumps. How frightening was Death to have a realm bathed in silence? Pulling up to the cottage, Dark turned off the car and told him seriously. "Stay in the car. Don't make a sound." Sean nodded, hugging himself as he watched Dark quietly exit the car. Standing beside the door, Dark called out. "Thanatos? Are you here? I wish to speak with you. It's urgent." There was no reply. Dark slowly walked away from the car toward the door of the house. Leaving Sean alone in the silence. Sean kept his eyes locked on Dark, hoping nothing attacked him. He didn't like how nervous Dark was about this encounter. Was Death stronger than Darkiplier? Did he share his mother's view of Darkiplier? Heated breath puffed over Sean's shoulder, causing Sean to scream out Dark's name as he fell back across the seats to avoid being touched by whatever it was. Dark whirled around, his hands igniting into flames, but he extinguished them quickly. Standing beside the car was a monstrously tall and muscled pure white horse. Its long white hair shimmered with streaks of silver and its faded white eyes stared unseeing at Sean. It wore no bridal and had no saddle. Its ears perked up with startled curiosity.

Dark slowly moved closer to the car, but his eyes were not on the horse, but its rider. Sean's eyes widened as he noticed the man staring down at him from under a large hood that obscured his face. That man sat relaxed on the horse; his pale bare feet exposed to the elements. He wore a pair of ripped black leather pants and a black hooded vest that was open to reveal his broad muscular chest. The man's chiseled muscles put Dark's own godly muscles to shame. If Dark was a muscular devil. This man had the muscular body of an angel. His skin was beautifully pale in color with dark tattoos of thick thorny vines that spiraled down his arms. Yet, there were a few beautiful blue roses among the spiraling vines that caught his gaze. He had imagined Death as a skeleton or a ghostly form in black robes with a scythe. This man was... not what he imaged by a long shot. Death suddenly didn't look so bad after all. Dark bowed his head, politely addressing. "Hello, Thanatos." Thanatos lifted his head to look at Dark, his voice so soft and powerful that Sean shivered from the sound of it. "Hello, Damien. You must be desperate for something to come to me. Or... someone." Thanatos turned his head to look back at Sean, prompting Sean to swallow hard.

The horse shifted on its feet with a little impatient snort. Thanatos stroked a hand along its neck without looking away from Sean as he softly added. "You frightened her with your yelling. She's only just as confused as I, in why a mortal like you is here. Sean McLoughlin." Slowing his hand, Thanatos asked curiously. "Are you here to try and bribe me to change your ending? Because if you are... you're wasting your time. You have nothing I want. Go. I will collect you when its your time." Thanatos pressed his heels to the horse's sides, spurring her forward. The horse got as far as the front of the car, when Dark stepped into her path and quickly rushed out. "I'm not here about that. I need your knowledge about vessel shackles. The ones you made for your mother." Thanatos straightened up on his horse, slipping in coolly. "And destroyed. Why do you seek that? I won't reforge them. They were a mistake." Dark raised a hand to place on the horse's head nicely to keep her from walking around him, while he continued swiftly. "I know that. I sent back all that you sent to my realm. But I think someone is forging them anew." Thanatos reached up to push his large hood back, revealing his long white hair and bright silver eyes when he said in a firm but calm tone. "Show me."

Dark extended out his free hand to the car, gently calling out. "Sean. Come here." Taking a deep breath, Sean eased out of the car and inched over to Dark. Dark wrapped his arm protectively around Sean's shoulder, his other hand dropping from the horse to lift Sean's hand up. Thanatos dismounted his horse gracefully, carefully taking Sean's hand in his own. The sensation of Thanatos's soft hands made Sean jerk a little, causing Thanatos's eyes to meet his for the first time. Thanatos's silver eyes flashed with a bright light, before it faded and in his eyes, he got an overwhelming sense of peace and unconditional love. The feeling hit him so deeply that tears fell from his eyes. Thanatos quickly lowered his gaze to his hand and the sensation pulled away leaving Sean to feel heavy and tired. Clearing his throat, Thanatos told him in a low whisper of a voice. "Apologies. I can't turn it off when it comes to mortals." Swallowing, Sean's voice trembled and broke with emotion when he blurted out. "Are you good or evil?" Thanatos's small smile had no emotion behind it, when he lifelessly answered. "I reflect your soul. If you are evil, then so am I. If you are good, then so am I. Everything you are, I reflect back at you in the end. It is... my blessing and my curse to judge you as everything you are. You have nothing to fear from me."

Thanatos fell silent as he looked over the ring closely, before lifting his eyes to Dark and teasing back. "But you on the other hand..." Dark shifted uneasily, averting his eyes from Thanatos. Thanatos smirked with a slight smugness. Thanatos's smirk faded away as he went back to examining the runes on the ring's silver band. Shaking his head, Thanatos mumbled out in slight disgust. "It is a crude copy at best. Lacks a lot of spiritual energy. So, the master ring must only be just strong enough to shackle one vessel to it. Pathetic really. It's an insult to my original design." Dark's voice turned hopeful when he pleaded gently. "But you can remove it? Surely, it can't surpass your skills in that part." Thanatos released Sean's hand, sighing out unenthusiastically. "That I cannot guarantee. The master and vessel rings have to be forged with specific ingredients. Like a combination lock. Without knowing what the person used... There are endless possibilities that we'd have to go through to unlock it." Dark let out a low growl, causing Sean to put a hand on his chest to calm him. Thanatos was unfazed though as he added lightly. "I said it was hard. I didn't say that I won't try a few things." Walking away toward the back of the house, Thanatos said over his shoulder. "Follow me."

Following him to a little workshop, Thanatos pointed to a metal chair nailed to the center of the room. Sean hesitated, uttering under his breath to Dark. "That is... concerning. Why do you want me to sit in that? What are you going to do?" Thanatos glanced over his shoulder looking past Sean to Dark to share a look with him. Sean glanced at Dark, asking shakily. "Dark?" Dark tore his eyes from Thanatos, giving Sean a kiss to the temple before calmly purring to him. "It's alright. I won't let him hurt you." Sean didn't move, boldly asking. "Could you stop Death if you tried?" Thanatos retrieved something off a wall, answering dismissively. "I can't take you before your time. It's a part of my very being. Relax. You couldn't be in safer hands." Sean huffed, letting Dark coax him over to sit in the chair. The second he was comfortable, Thanatos stepped on a pressure plate under the chair, causing straps to roll out and cuff him into place. Sean thrashed, whining out. "Dark! What's he going to do?!" Dark took a hold of Sean's hand that didn't have the ring, while Thanatos answered for him. "I'm keeping you still. Breathe, kid." Sean's lungs started to struggle, until Dark pressed an inhaler to his lips. Thanatos waited for Sean to calm down, then showed him the strange tools.

Flattening out Sean's hand on the arms rest, Thanatos told him as he worked. "Rings like these are temperamental. They vibrate and make noise when messed with. If you were a demon, I wouldn't bother strapping you down. Since you're mortal... I don't want you jerking if the ring... acts up." Sean blinked, starting to ask. "Acts up how- OW!" The ring pulsed once causing the spikes to stab his finger again. Dark squeezed his hand, trying to comfort him but Sean was getting restless now. Thanatos traced the runes with his tools, muttering out to Dark. "They may be crude on the outside, but whoever did this has a great deal of fire power. I haven't seen metal like this since the creation of the realms. It is intrigue as fuck." Groaning, Thanatos moved away from the chair to grab different tools. Pulling a stool to sit down on, Thanatos leaned over the ring again, cursing softly as he said bitterly. "Looks like he didn't copy my design exactly. Which means that he moved it. Or removed my failsafe altogether." After a few more minutes of playing with the ring, Thanatos gave up. Sitting up, Thanatos told Dark with a shrug. "I'm sorry. Without the failsafe, you have to figure out the combination. I've got to the end of the universe to figure it out. Him... not so much."

Squeezing Sean's hand more, Dark asked Thanatos with a sudden grim look. "If you removed it. Would that work?" Thanatos inhaled; his expression lost in thought for a moment. Sean looked between them confused. Thanatos then honestly retorted. "It would allow me to keep working on it. Although, it is his blood in the ring that will still be the problem. If the master ring calls him, his blood will compel him to go. Not the ring. The ring would just show him where to go. Otherwise, without it to guide him... his body could tear itself a part. Is that something you are willing to risk?" Dark was silent. Allowing Sean to interject nervously. "What are you plotting? If you can't get the ring off than how will take it..." Sean drifted off as he realized what they were referring to. Thanatos removed a small sickle looking blade from his vest, telling Dark a little too calmly. "Say the word. I can do it quick and painless." Sean blurted out in a broken high-pitched voice that made Thanatos wince. "Hey! Don't I get a say in this?!" Dark released Sean's hand, moving toward Thanatos despite Sean pleading for him not to let go of him. Taking the blade from Thanatos, Dark mumbled out. "If I agree... I will do it." Thanatos handed over the blade without a fight and backed away.

Laying his hand over Sean's, Dark told him without looking at him. "I don't want to do it... but this thing has to come off. Sean..." Sean jerked forward as far as he could, pleading desperately to Dark. "Dark, don't do this! Please! I want it off too but not like this! Please!" Dark opened his mouth to say something, when Sean blurted out through watery eyes. "Dark, I won't be able to wear your ring if you cut it off! Please...? Damien...? I love you. Don't do this. I don't want this." Dark didn't move for a minute or two. Suddenly passing the knife back off to Thanatos as he told him seriously. "We'll find another way." Sean slumped back in the chair, taking gulps of air. Slowly facing him, Dark stepped on the pressure plate to release the straps holding him. Without hesitating, Sean bolted upright to hug Dark tightly. Dark wrapped him up in his strong arms, his deep voice whispering against his neck. "I'm sorry." Sean clung to him, feeling relief that Dark had listened to him. Part of him wondered if the Dark had changed a lot since falling in love with him. Would old Dark have stopped? He'd tormented his old girlfriend without mercy. He had forced him to make decisions that only led to whatever Dark had wanted in the beginning. Yet, now... Dark was so different. Kissing Dark's shoulder, Sean opened his eyes and stilled.

There was someone crouching low on the roof of the cottage. The person's whip like tail swayed in the breeze and the light rain had forced the man's long acid green bangs to hang over one eye. While the other glinted a bright neon green. It was Anti. Only... Anti looked bruised and darker. Wild even. Gasping at the state he was in, made Dark jerk back and ask. "Sean? What's-?" Sean tore his eyes from Anti and locked eyes with Dark before pointing to the roof. Dark turned to look but Anti was gone. Dark looked back at Sean with a confused look that encouraged Sean to stammer out. "Dark, I swear. Anti was right there." Thanatos blinked, glancing from his roof to Sean before telling him seriously. "Sean. If he was here. I would have sensed him. Like I sensed you both. I think the stress is getting to you." Sean didn't bother arguing. Maybe he was right, but he didn't think he would imagine Anti looking so beaten up. Was he worried about him since he was missing? Dark pulled him against his warm chest, telling Thanatos coolly. "I'm gonna take him home. Let me know if you think of anything that might help." Thanatos nodded, casually replying. "I'll be looking into this personally. You can count on that." To Be Continued...