Sean followed Thanatos toward his work shed but slowed to a stop before entering it. Seeing the chair, he became uneasy. Last time he'd sat in it, he'd feared they'd cut his finger off. Thanatos moved to his worktable, removing the master ring to carefully set on the table. When he glanced over his shoulder and saw Sean hadn't entered, he smirked. Gesturing to the chair, he casually told him. "Don't be afraid. This shouldn't be anything like last time." Crossing his arms, Sean mumbled out. "Are you sure about that?" Thanatos brushed his silvery bangs away from his eyes, before cooing out nicely. "Ya. I'm sure. You can trust me." Easing an inch into the shed, Sean inhaled deeply to calm himself down. Being out of the rain felt nice. He just couldn't shake off the feeling of something bad happening here. Thanatos moved around him at a distance, coaxing Sean closer to the chair without force. Using only Sean's own fear of being touched right now against him. Reaching out to touch the chair with a shaking hand, Sean asked him softly. "Are you going to retrain me in it again...?" Behind him, Thanatos coolly whispered to him. "I must. It's for your safety. I don't want to hurt you." Sean swallowed hard in response.

Sean's eyes were then drawn to the Thanatos' shadow. His wings were rising and extending out slowly. Sean's breathing started to become strained as his throat tightened up on him. Straightening up, Sean stiffened, then flinched as Thanatos' hands touched his shoulders very lightly. He was going to have an asthma attack and he didn't have an inhaler. Thanatos' hands slid carefully around him in a hug with no rush. His wings curled around them to encase them in darkness. Only the sounds of the soft rain hinted at life outside. Sean's hand went to his throat, but Thanatos whispered so beautifully against his ear. "Give me your fears. Your worries. And I'll give you my strength. Let be everything you need to feel alright." The overwhelming calm filled him from being in his embrace. While his words made him feel like he could walk on air. His words seemed to remove any earthly shackles that kept him chained to the ground. He felt like if he let him go that he'd float away to freedom. Thanatos's arms suddenly tightened just enough that Sean felt both comforted and loved, before he added against his ear soothingly. "I told you. I can't reap you before your time. But if you'll listen to a little advice... before you bind yourself to Darkiplier. Make sure you are doing it because you love him. Not because you're afraid to feel alone. Complete your heart. Before trying to find someone to share your heart with. Only then will you know your worth. Otherwise, others will tell you what you're worth."

Sean inhaled deeply and serenely as Thanatos eased back from him. Allowing his wings to part slowly to let the light bathe him without blinding him. After he had taken a step or two back, Sean stroked his throat before saying over his shoulder. "How did you...? I thought I was going to..." Smirking to himself, Thanatos moved back to his worktable, telling him nonchalantly. "It's an angel thing. We are healers. Protectors. Light bringers. As a young boy once told me... we are the original superheroes. I was created perfect in every way... except one." Collecting a few jewelry looking tools, he didn't finish. So, Sean asked meekly. "How are you imperfect? Because of what Khaos did to you?" Nudging a stool closer to the chair, Thanatos took a seat and huffed out lightly. "No. Saule, Khaos' sister. She made angels after her own image. Imbued with her light and purity. But... we have no will of our own. We do as we are told to by her, or we perform the job we were created for without complaint or question. We are... content in that. It works." Sean bit his lip as Thanatos' expression turned sad upon adding with less enthusiasm. "What Khaos did to me... was give me free will. A concept that I am always going to struggle with now."

Thanatos gestured for him to sit, and Sean obeyed but asked curiously. "You don't like having free will? Why? I would think that you'd... like it." Thanatos waited for Sean to get comfortable, then stepped on the plate that locked the cuffs over him to keep him still. Sean jerked as the restraints tightened on him, but Thanatos took that moment to tell him seriously. "Free will scares me. Not having it allowed me to focus on my purpose. To help others easier. With free will... I question my purpose. I find myself thinking about not reaping anyone. I think about what happens to me if there is no one left to reap. I debate whether fighting battles that I can easily win is worth it. But... if I interfere. I'll take a life that isn't mine to end. It isn't for me to pick who lives and dies. I don't know what that soul has to learn. I am not a god. I don't want to be feared. I just want to do my job and help people the way I'm designed to." Relaxing in the chair, Sean mumbled out. "I never thought about that... I guess it is why humans feel so lost a lot. We can be anything... but don't know what to do half the time." Thanatos chuckled to himself, looking over Sean's ring as he told him softly. "Ya. I've heard that too. I think that is why I'm unlike the other horsemen. I question my own free will. They... embrace it."

Sean laid his head back against the seat, breathing slowly as he watched Thanatos dig his little tools into the ring. After clicking a few things, he pushed away to do the same with the master ring. Sensing his slight distress, Thanatos asked him casually while he worked. "Is the ring hurting you?" Shaking his head a little, Sean mumbled out. "No. Well... it pinches a bit but nothing like last time." Thanatos moved back to his ring to click another set of something within the ring. Glancing at him, Thanatos asked him curiously. "Nervous?" Sean shrugged, mumbling out. "I'm preparing for the worst." Thanatos chuckled, telling him openly. "It won't come to that. I can use the master ring to figure out this one." Licking his dry lips, Sean asked him softly. "You made ones like this? Why?" Thanatos paused in his work, avoiding his eyes when he told him reluctantly honest. "I was convinced that I as a member of the Dominion that I should have... souls that work for me. To lessen my burden. So... I did. Until I realized that I don't need help. It's not in me to rule over others. Or force them to do things my way. I shake the world by being the only one. So, I destroyed the rings and set the souls free." Sean smiled warmly, telling him sweetly. "Out of everyone that I've seen with power... it suits you."

Thanatos raised an eyebrow, prompting Sean to add nicely. "I'm told power corrupts people. It makes them dependent on it. Hardens them against others. But you... you have all this power, and you just seem to have it all figured out." Thanatos let out a throaty chuckle, moving back to the master ring as he mumbled out. "If you say so. Dark would disagree with you." Shrugging, Sean told him openly. "I'm sure he would. But he's younger than you. When he reaches your level... I hope he sees things the way you do." Thanatos seemed to blush, but softly said warmly. "If you stay with him. I'm sure he'll try. He's already changed so much from when I last saw him. It's a bit surprising." Sean's own cheeks flushed now as he asked. "He has? You really think so?" Concentrating on his work, Thanatos stated out distantly. "Ya. Last time I saw him. He tried to steal my scythe. We fought. I knocked him on his ass and when I reflected his soul... he couldn't take it and booked it before I killed him. I have to give him credit though... he held out longer than any that tried before him." Wincing, Sean uttered out softly. "That's why he was worried about coming back. He thought you'd..." Thanatos moved back to him, chuckling out. "Ya. But I don't hold grudges. Life is too short for that. Earning my trust back on the other hand... THAT is a challenge."

Thanatos suddenly frowned, removing his tools from the ring as he grumbled out under his breath. "Damn it." Sean tensed, asking curtly. "What? What's wrong?" Thanatos moved back to the master ring, bitterly answering. "I have every ingredient this master ring has been harboring... except one. It requires a specific drop of blood to release the magic on both rings. However, the drop of blood that should have been in here has circulated through the ring. There is no way for me to get it out. I'll need to find a fresh drop... but from what? Ugh. I hate this thing." Looking down at the ring, Sean tried to work it through with him by saying openly. "Khaos made these, right? Using blood because she's a type of succubus vampire thing?" Thanatos snorted but nodded without looking at him. Flexing his fingers, Sean whispered to himself. "If I was her... What blood would I value?" Thanatos waved a dismissive hand as he fumbled with the master ring, darkly muttering out. "Knowing her. It could be baby's blood. She gets quite a pleasure out of killing Verine's babies. It's become her favorite food source as of late. To my great frustration... but I can't stop her. Because Verine's half-demon children fall into a grey area that I have no domain over."

Exhaling slowly, Sean whispered out. "No. It couldn't be that easy..." Thanatos blinked, glancing back at him to say a bit offended. "You think getting Verine's baby's blood is easy? Cause I'm telling you, when they aren't born, it is." Jerking his head up to look at Thanatos in shock, he blurted out. "What? No! I meant... There is only one person alive she values and holds in high regard. Darkiplier." Thanatos dropped his tools, mumbling out. "Oh shit..." Relaxing in the chair, Sean told him innocently. "We need Darkiplier's blood." Thanatos exhaled heavily, grumbling out as he picked up his tools and tossed them on the table. "And the fucker is off world. Just my luck..." Shrugging, Sean asked him curiously. "You've got a way to get him a message, right? Anything?" Getting to his feet, Thanatos tossed his hands up, answering honestly. "Not really. I keep to myself. I can't do anything until he comes back. Then I'll at least be able to sense him on the plane again. Until then. We've just got to wait." Rolling his eyes impatiently, Sean started to say something but stopped himself as something darted to mind. Looking back at Thanatos, Sean asked curiously. "Oh no... How long would it take Darkiplier to search out the scent of blood?" Thanatos raised an eyebrow, shrugging out. "Depends on how familiar he is with it. Why?" Struggling in the restraints, Sean blurted out. "Verine put my bloody shirt in his realm to attract Dark to me. But if I'm not there..." Thanatos exhaled out as he finished off. "He'll kill Verine."

Back at Chase's house, Dark leaned lazily against the wall in the hallway. His hand discreetly rubbing his watch. This was taking too long. If Sean managed to break free, he wouldn't get his signal here. It was making him anxious by the minute. Natemare walked around the kid's bedroom just down the hall from him, chuckling out to Anti. "Well, damn. Ya, there is no way they are not going to think this guy did it. I admire your control. I would have slipped up. Too much fun to kill them quickly." Dark rolled his eyes, asking aloud. "How much longer before he shows up? I don't have all night." Natemare tossed the woman's phone to Anti, while Anti grumbled out. "Will you relax. These things take time. Anything worth doing is worth the wait." Tilting his head back against the wall, Dark grumbled out to himself. "Fuck..." The smell of blood was filling his nose and setting his demon blood on fire. He could smell a hint of Sean's blood from the kids, and it made him restless. What if Sean was bleeding out? What if he needed him right now? Anti chuckled, crushing the phone between his hands as he told them excitedly. "There. Sent him a text with a... BEFORE picture. That should bring him here in a few minutes. Happy?"

Dark clenched his jaw, refusing to answer. While Natemare asked him. "Well? What do you want us to do now?" Giggling, Anti excitedly answered. "I won't need you for this part. Go back to protecting the house. Just in case anyone else shows up. Or the cat escapes the shed. Go! Now!" Natemare chuckled, walking casually back out the hall and down the steps. Dark let Natemare go first, then started to move, when Anti softly called out. "Dark?" Dark stopped on the steps to look back indifferently. Allowing Anti to say rather calmly. "Thank you. I know how hard this must be for you." Lifting his chin, Dark growled out. "If anything happens to Sean because I was here... I'll never forgive you." Rolling his eyes, Anti huffed out. "Whatever. You're not the only one that needs him alive, Arsehole." Gripping the stair railing tightly, Dark snapped back. "Don't fucking play with him, Anti. When he enters. Possess him and let's go! Or I'm fucking leaving you here. Got it?!" Anti flicked him off, grumbling out like a spoiled brat. "Yes. I heard you. Go. You're ruining this for me." Stomping down the steps, Dark shot back coolly. "You're welcome." From the hallway, he heard Anti shoot back bitterly. "Fuck you!"

Outside, Dark paced the length of the backyard impatiently. Time was ticking and Chase had not shown up yet. Sitting on the steps to the shed, Natemare rubbed his temples and growled out. "Dark, please stop fucking pacing. You're making ME anxious." Ignoring him, Dark snapped out in a low voice. "This is taking too damn long. Anti should have just gone to him." Banging his head back against the door, Natemare muttered out with irritation. "He couldn't... too many people. Anti likes to hunt one on one. You know that." Dark stopped to snap out angrily. "YES! I KNOW!" Stilling himself, Natemare smirked out. "The smell of HIS blood is getting to you, isn't it? Admit it. I can smell it from here." Dark let out a deep growl and kept pacing again. Stretching, Natemare casually spoke aloud. "I'll take that as a yes." The grass under dark burned away to dirt as he muttered aloud. "Sean was bleeding when she took him. I could smell it all over the carpet... She fed on him, Natemare. I wouldn't expect you to understand how that feels." Natemare glared at him in passing, snapping back. "I do, actually. I care about Anti just as much as you do. It bothered me just as much to smell his blood on her at the meeting."

The sound of a car squealing to a stop in the driveway made them fall silent for a bit. They listened to the sounds of Chase running to the door and slamming doors inside. He yelled for his wife and kids, flicking on lights. Then all the lights went out and Chase's voice fell silent. Dark watched a flickering light move past a window and up the stairs, before hearing Chase yell out. "WHERE ARE THEY?! WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME?!" The sound of his familiar voice in such distress gave Dark goosebumps and a sickening feeling in the pit of his stomach. That could easily be Sean. Natemare noticed his restlessness and asked softly. "What do we do about the cat in the shed?" Dark exhaled, trying to calm himself down as he answered. "Leave Marvin. He'll find his way out. After what we did to Chase... I doubt he'll be much help to us right now. He'll just slow me down." Getting to his feet, Natemare dusted himself off and inhaled deeply before telling Dark with solid black eyes. "Mmm, smells like he's finished." Dark's eyes flooded to pitch black before bright flickering irises of flames sparked to life. Chase's blood was strong. There wasn't a lot of it, but it was more than enough to make him shake with a mix of anger and a primal instinct to hunt the weak.

Staggering down the steps, Chase wiped his bleeding nose and eyes before revealing his green irises. Smiling at them, Anti's distorted voice told them. "See? Worked like a charm. Let's go." Natemare prepared for them to go, but Dark hesitated. Reaching out to brush his thumb over a bit of blood on Chase's cheek. Other than his clothing, Chase looked so similar to Sean. Even his blood was closer in smell than Chase's kids had been. Anti took a step back from him, huffing out uneasily. "Dark? Can you do this? You seem... distracted." Forcing himself to turn away Dark, grumbled out. "I'm fine. It's just... We need to go." Natemare patted Dark's shoulder, playfully stating out. "Relax. We'll clean Chase up and then the smell will go away. You'll feel better." Slipping back through the shadows with them to appear outside Verine's club, Natemare told Dark chipperly. "Here. A brief stop. I'll take Anti to the bathroom to clean up. While you talk to Verine about... Dark? Are you listening?" Dark quickly covered Natemare's mouth to shut him up and sniffed the air more prominently now. He thought the scent was coming from Anti...but it was coming from inside the club. Dropping his hand from Natemare, he growled out as loud as a jet engine. "Sean's here. I can smell him." To Be Continued...