Almost a year later

"You're almost there!" Mexxy urges her, trying not to wince as Carmine gripped his hand tightly, almost squeezing the life out of it.

And finally, finally, with a piercing scream, she went quiet and relaxed. A second later, a small, desperate cry rang out, and Mexxy stood up with trembling legs as he went to the other side of Carmine.

A small baby stared back, covered in blood, with blue eyes staring back at him, mouth open as it wailed in surprise.

Mexxy had never truly understood when mothers and fathers said they had a weird feeling when they looked at their newborn children, but he could feel it now. A sense of awe, shock and relief that after 9 tedious months of hiding her away in an abandoned apartment building from the rest of the world, it was finally over.

Stooping down, he cut the cord (he had read a book on how to do it) and he wrapped his arms around the small body, cuddling the baby to his chest.

"Is it a boy or a girl?" Carmine wheezes, and Mexxy glances at his girlfriend, who's eyes were drooping tiredly. She had been in labour for about seven hours.

"A girl" Mexxy smiles, staring down at the life that he had created. Carmine tiredly reached out, and Mexxy handed her the baby, who kicked sharply with one leg, blue eyes wheeling around its new environment.

"What shall we call her?" Mexxy asks, cooing softly as he held her small, pink hand.

"Tia" Carmine sighs, relaxing onto the bed and drifting off to sleep. Taking Tia from Carmine's arms, he washed her gently in a small bowl of luke warm water, before wrapping her up in a pillow case and tucking her into her cot.

"Tia" Mexxy sighs, leaning down next to the cot.

"My daughter. I won't let anything happen to you, okay?"

Tia stared back, and she almost seemed to understand.

_________________________________________________________

Outside, floating near one of the smashed windows, a particular auburn haired boy peeped through, watching Mexxy holding his newborn in his arms. He strained his ears to hear the name of the child, but couldn't hear it.

No matter, he thought, I don't need a name to bring this prince down!

He floated down to the ground, chuckling quietly to himself. Oh, how he would enjoy destroying the Prince of Demigods.

And he'd bring Carmine and their daughter down with him.

_____________________________________________

6 Months later

"Tia!" Mexxy grins, bending down to scoop his child into his arms. The innocent, blue eyed girl stared up at him, her hands covered with what was either mud or melted chocolate.

"What are you doing, huh? You know you shouldn't eat things that you find on the floor..." Mexxy leans over. sniffing her delicate porcelain hands. Definitely mud. "Oh dear, you're going to have a tummy ache now, then what are you going to do?" he sighs crossly, but it was impossible to be angry with his baby girl.

"She's learning quickly, isn't she?" Carmine murmurs behind him, and Mexxy voices his agreement as he wipes her hands gently with a soft cloth dipped in warm water.

"She takes after you, of course" Mexxy beams, looking down at the now clean child, who looked very happy indeed to be nice and clean again. A grin came onto her face, and she waved her arms around joyfully, making her parents laugh.

Since becoming a father, Mexxy had changed dramatically. He had gone from the quiet kid in class to be an independent, young demigod who was quickly learning how to fly and do other abilities. Although he had not discovered his abilities yet, he didn't dwell too much on that. The prince had become at least a foot taller, and now almost matched the height of Ridge.

Carmine had become nothing but more beautiful, and almost wiser; not only that, she had discovered her power-the power to cause explosions on contact. And Mexxy adored her with all of his heart. After tucking Tia in for her nap, he practically sweeps Carmine off her feet as he kisses her. Tangeling her hands into his silver hair, they kissed for a while until Tia's whimpering (that was baby language for "feed me please") cut them off.

"I'll take care of her" Carmine smiles, flushed and slightly giddy. She, too, adored Mexxy, and would give anything for him, and vice versa. "You need to go to the kingdom today, don't you? For that meeting, to see whether you are good enough to be the King?"

She didn't mean that in a spiteful way. She was telling it as it was. Indeed, the kingdom had its doubts about their future king, who had been known as the weedy, lonely kid. But now, now was his chance to prove that he had matured enough to lead a kingdom. The thought scared him-now he had Carmine and baby Tia, he was putting both of their lives in danger. He didn't want the position, but after hearing that Ridge was one of the kingdom favourites, he knew he couldn't let this opportunity pass.

"I feel so horrible, leaving you here in this dump" Mexxy groans. He had moved them to a little abandoned cottage on the edge of the kindgom in the countryside.

"We'll be fine. You go and show everyone that you ARE the king" Carmine grins, cupping his face in her hands. "I love you, Your Highness."

Mexxy grins, curling his hand around her neck softly. "I love you too. And you baby Tia!" he shouts, and his child stares at him, almost understanding his words.

With that, he left for the kingdom, intent on proving his right to the throne. His fingers brushed his pocket clock, for the first time in a while.

Tick Tock. Tick Tock.

_______________________________________________________________

Ridgedog had also matured in age. In the past two years he had developed as one of the kingdom's favourites. Popular, handsome, rich and smart, he proudly strutted down the street as people waved at him. They all wanted HIM to be the king. And he couldn't agree more.

Right now, Ridge was sat on a bench, his hand on his chin, staring into space, deep in thought. His plan was coming together nicely. A sly smirk slipped onto his face as he watched Mexxy fly off to the kingdom, a brave and determined look on his face. For the first time in a while, the prince had confidence. But Ridge would be the one to cut that short.

Fixing his gaze into the distance, he spied the little cottage on the edge of the kindgom, and a manic grin popped up onto his face as he flew through the air like a dart, excitement pumping through his veins.

He stayed hovering outside of the house, peering through the window, waiting for his moment.

Carmine was busy in the cottage, fixing up some food for the baby whatever-its-name-was. Even Ridge could not deny that Carmine was beautiful. His girlfriend, Kaz, was pretty, but she was more sly and cunning, like a fox. And Ridge liked anything that was sly and cunning.

His mind was getting distracted and he watched as Carmine took the food over to the cot. Ridge's attention went to the figure inside it. The baby was cute, with blueish grey eyes. And it met his eyes silently, a staring match.

Ridge knew Carmine would catch on, so he straightened up, and cocked his head, folding his arms behind his back like he was studying the child. Maybe he wouldn't break Mexxy entirely. Maybe he'd just kill his girlfriend and leave the child...

Carmine frowned at her child, before following its gaze to the window. Ridge met her eyes with a grin, and she instantly began to scream. She knew what was coming. She knew why he was here.

"So sorry, my dear, but it really is better this way."

_________________________________________________

Mexxy landed neatly on the kingdom floor, nervousness making his heart thud. Today was the day where he proved himself to the world and to the kindgom that he had what it took to be the king.

"Five minutes, sire, then you will be sent in" a voice called and Mexxy nodded in the general direction of it before taking a seat, muttering practiced words under his breath. Remember what Carmine said, he thought, you'll be fine. You were BORN to be king!

It was when the last thirty seconds came that a familiar figure sauntered in, hands behind his back.

"Hello, sire" Ridge grins, and Mexxy smiles stiffly back. This was not what he needed right now.

"Hi" came his simple reply back.

"So, how's your life been? I haven't seen you for a while..." Ridge continues, gradually moving closer, his hands still closed behind his back.

"Okay" Mexxy shrugged, though he was lying. Life had been excellent ever since Carmine came into his life, and Tia...

"How's Carmine, by the way?"

Mexxy stiffened, his eyes widening. No. No! How did Ridge find out?

"And the baby? How is she?"

Mexxy's heart stopped. His blood went cold.

"Because I went to go see them, oh, just about ten minutes ago and...." Ridge took his hands from behind his back, and held them out in front of Mexxy. Dripping red, with blood caked up his nails and sleeves. When Mexxy looked up, Ridge's eyes were dark and wide with death.

"Let's just say the visit didn't turn out quite well. For them, anyway."

As a man came out to call Mexxy in, he spotted the prince-to-be fleeing, fear in his eyes.

____________________________________________________

Mexxy flew like he had never flown before, Ridge's dark laughter echoing in his ears.

No, no, no, no...

Upon reaching the cottage, he paused, feeling his body draining.

Smoke rose from the crackling fires inside the house. It was already smoldering and collapsing, black ash coating the ground. And on the ground in front of it-

"Carmine!"

Mexxy dropped to the ground like a stone, scrambling over to the figure. He knew in his heart it was too late, and when he rolled her over, he was almost sick.

Scratch marks were up and down her face. Bruises stretched along her arms and legs and face, and there were several knife wounds in her chest. She had bled to death. Slowly. and agonizingly.

Mexxy sat in horror, clutching his dead girlfriend in his arms. And his head sank forward as a sob racked his body, followed by many, many more.

Meanwhile, a little figure crawled from under a roof. A piercing cry came from her mouth and Mexxy's head snapped up to see Tia, a bruise on her head but nothing more, edging towards him. He couldn't sense any immortality within her-Ridgedog had taken it. Taken her immortality and left her a weak mortal child.

Mexxy reached out for Tia, and held her close, not letting her see her dead mother.

Deamon flew by, his face pale and grim. Ridge had been grinning and Deamon had asked him what was so funny. He touched down on the ground, watching Mexxy in distraught. He wished he could turn back time and not let any of this happen. But instead, he went to Mexxy and took Tia.

"Get off her" Mexxy slurred. His emotions were building up, threatening to explode.

"Mexxy, people are coming to look for you. When they find you with a child, they'll kill her. I'll take her somewhere safe, okay? I swear."

Mexxy just nods tiredly, watching sadly as Deamon flew off with his child, taking her to an unown place.

________________________________________________________

When the demigods found Mexxy, crouched in a pool of blood, wild with grief and insanity in his eyes, their mind was made up.

They took him back to his home, before leaving him and going into Voxeltopia to have a meeting to decide what to do.

________________________________________________

Just an hour later, the kingdom gathered in the halls to celebrate the new King, Ridgedog. He sat smugly in his throne, a crown on his head. He looked like he was made for it.

And as he gazed around, he met Deamon's eyes, who smiled encouragingly, but there was something in his eyes that made Ridge narrow his own, but he ignored the feeling. He was a king now.

He saw, in the corner of his eyes, Mexxy. His face was pale, like his hair, and he was staring at him, with wide, insane eyes.

And Ridge stared back, and grinned.