Mephiles was currently wandering away from his campsite, the light from the fire was helping too much with his hallucinations. He needed darkness for a while. And as he went further into the surrounding woods, he started to smell blood. It made him wary, but he wasn't sure if it was a hallucination or not. So he followed it almost willingly-- another hallucination would help keep him up longer since the nightmares were much, much worse.
He followed the scent until he saw a cave up ahead surrounded by brush and thorns. Realizing that the foliage was not there naturally, he drew his sword and sliced away at the intimidating shrubbery before gingerly stepping inside, sword still drawn and ready for any potential attack. But what, or rather who, he saw before him had the demon stop dead in his tracks.
He'd found him now, but he could clearly see Silver was dead. He instantly panicked; Silver said he would haunt him once he was dead! But he couldn't let that happen, he just couldn't!!
Carefully, he picked up the dead hanyou, but that was when he heard a small and weak cry. He turned around and laid eyes upon his children, not cleaned off from birth and either dead or like the little one before him, barely managing to survive. But there was no problem with reviving them all, of course. Besides, it would probably win him over with the half-breed enough to have him break the curse. Using his own cloak as a blanket to hold the pups against Silver's body, he carefully wrapped up the bodies. With the live infant, however, he had the baby held close to him, in between the warm layers of thick clothing and his father's body to share his body heat with the whimpering little one. Once he had the baby settled, he gave it a bit of his energy and soon, the pup's crying became stronger and healthier.
Carefully picking up the cloak that held Silver and the others, Mephiles then carried them all back to camp.
Once there, he laid the dead hanyou on the ground near the campfire, along with their dead pups. He wrapped them all up in a thick blanket as he went to retrieve his sword--his whimpering little look alike still held in his arms. The infant was too young to open his eyes yet, so there was no telling what his eye color would be.
And once he grabbed his sword and turned to face Silver's body once more, he froze.
Silver was there, his ghostly form transparent as he glared back at Mephiles with glowing gold eyes--his spirit hovering over his lifeless body and those of his pups.
Mephiles immediately lashed his sword at it, trying to get it to go away. He wanted this spirit to leave him alone, at least until he could bring Silver and the other pups back to life. But where the blade cut, Silver's spirit form fell like dust. But it reformed, still glaring angrily at him.
And the evil smirk the spirit gave him only made Mephiles freak out even more.
Gods, what had he done?! Why did he have to make Silver suffer?! Now his own life was falling apart!!
Mephiles slowly backed up, eyes never leaving the ghost. He had to try and get to the body. It'd just suck the spirit right back up. Instinctively, he held his son closer, unconsciously protecting him; the baby had started to cry as Mephiles’ heart hammered away in his chest. The little one could sense his father's fear and it too made him scared.
Silver's spirit then blinked curiously at the sound, all his attention now on the crying baby. He then turned his angered gaze back to Mephiles, his golden eyes turning red in maternal rage--sensing that his pup was in distress.
Mephiles backed away further, near having a heart attack. He wasn't even sure if this spectral form would understand him, but he had to try.
"I... I'm not hurting him, he's alright..." he stammered out, trying to calm his son and apparition.
"Then why is he crying?" the spirit hissed, though Silver never opened his mouth to speak. His voice had a cold whisper to it and sounded like nearly three Silvers were talking at the same time instead, making Meph's fur stand on end.
It was rather unsettling to hear....
"I... I'm not well, and he can sense it." He stated, not daring to say he was afraid. He held the infant close, gently rubbing its back while trying to relax himself. The whimpering pup started to calm down a little, but it was clearly hungry, as it nuzzled around the demon's chest, interacting with him as if he were his mother which earned a slight blush from his father.
Silver's spirit silently watched the two interact, his eyes golden once more golden though they were still calculating.
"He's hungry obviously," the spirit said before turning his gaze to Mephiles, "how do you plan to feed him?"
"I... I don't know... But I need to do something else first..." He murmured, lifting his sword again. "I won't hurt anyone."
"...What are you doing?" The spirit asked warily, eyes narrowing in suspicion.
"The sword's enchanted, it brings the dead back to the living," he stated, "It was what I was trying to do before...."
"And just why do you want me back when you are the one that contributed to my death?!" He asked, angered once more, "Other than for my son, what makes you think that I want to come back? The land of the living holds nothing but pain and suffering. I was here to escort my pup into the afterlife to join me and his siblings, but of course you had to step in and interfere like you have always done!!"
"Even in death, you just can't let me have peace, can you?" He hissed, his otherworldly voice and golden eyes displaying his hurt, "All I've ever wanted was to have peace, is that too much to ask?! What more do you want from me?!"
And as the spirit's anger rose, so did the very winds around them rose as well--the weather itself beginning to show the spirit's upset state.
"I just want you back to release me of this curse. I can't take it anymore. I need you back for but a moment. Then you can do as you wish," the demon tried reasoning with him.
Then, to Meph's misfortune, the spirit laughed--it felt as though tiny icicles were dancing along your spine when you heard it.
"Did you honestly think that it would be that easy?" Silver sneered, "You've tortured me till my dying day, and you expect a few weeks of your own suffering would compensate for all that? I think not."
The spirit pointed a ghostly finger at him and said, "The curse shall remain because you are unworthy of its removal. You still have evil intentions in your heart and must suffer the consequences."
"If you truly wish to have peace, then restore me and my pups back to life. I will see for myself if you are repentant of your ways once you have passed my test..."
Mephiles bared his teeth in rage, still hating the hanyou. He hated the dominant attitude the now held. It was annoying and humiliating that a half breed spirit actually had leverage on him. "No test, Silver. If you don't free me, I don't revive you, and I keep your children. You'll be all alone in the afterlife."
"And yet the curse will still remain," Silver smirked wickedly.
"And in case you haven't noticed, the curse will become permanent after a month's time. Only a few days left till its in full effect."
"And I've heard of your legendary sword," he added boredly. "The Sword of Hell, it belonged to the first fallen angel, the very first demon, and although it can revive the dead, it also has its limits. The sword can only revive a person that has been dead for no less than 24 hours; once the day has passed, the person cannot be revived. And a person brought back by the sword cannot be revived a second time once they've died again."
"And if you were to revive our pups and leave me for dead, they would eventually follow once more. They will not consume another's milk, and I'll take up residence in your palace and haunt you and your lands for as long as my children are away from me. And we both know your energy feeding will only go so far. So, in the end--if you were to take them now and still leave me, I'll still be with them in the end and you'll still be cursed..."
"So, what's it going to be, Mephiles?" the ghost practically purred as he circled around him once before hovering over his body again, "Do we have a deal?"
Mephiles snarled at him, gripping the handle for his blade. "What is your stupid request anyway?"
"To give me and my pups the carefree life that we deserve," Silver stated, "and as the mother of your heirs, I'd like to have the honor, lifestyle, and respect that is to be given to a consort of someone of your status, despite my background."
"And I know what all comes with being your consort and trust me, neither you nor I would like to be anywhere near one another. I don't want us to be mates, Mephiles, you just play the part," he stated before Mephiles could protest to his demands. "But do know this; I refuse to live in a palace where I will be considered nothing more than a breeder while you sleep with another. I will lift part of the curse so that you may eat, drink, and rest, but the part regarding you producing 'less embarrassing heirs' still stands. As long as I'm around, only my descendants shall rule these lands after you."
"Now do that, and I will partially lift the curse. Prove to me that you can be the father and mate you should've been in the beginning and not only will I lift what remains, but I will make it so that all the lands in Japan will be ruled by none other than you."
"Deal?" He raised a brow, his hand glowing to partially lift what he had cast.
Mephiles listened, but he didn't like it as the hanyou went on. Venom was practically through his veins as his anger grew. He would've sworn he would rather die first, but that promise of power, to rule all of Japan, could tempt any demon. He had to really consider this, both hanyou and demon lived a long time, and Silver was considerably younger than him. He'd be stuck with him until he died. And proving to be a good father and mate? He could handle being a father, he wanted to, but a mate? And to a hanyou no less?! He didn't want a mate in the first place, he enjoyed sleeping around. But he didn't want to die suffering like this either...
And even though he could practically predict Silver nit picking his treatment, even with him trying, he grunted and begrudgingly nodded.
"Fine, we have a deal," He snarled, forcing the words out.
"Excellent," the spirit smirked, outstretching his glowing palm, causing the reversed curse to hit him square in the chest, making demon grunt in pain upon impact. But, Mephiles didn't need to know that he'd only made it hurt on purpose, the spirit thought smugly, returning to hover above his and his pups' bodies while their son slept peacefully in his father's arms.
Mephiles growled at him in frustration. He then went over to Silver's body and thrust the sword into his heart. The blade burned white hot, glowing just as bright, and Silver's ghostly form slowly burned away into nothing. When he pulled the blade out from his chest, a white scar was left on his chest and Silver started to cough, gasping for air once again.
And once the now living hanyou had caught his breath, he slowly opened amber eyes to gaze dully at Mephiles as the ebony male stood near him, glaring down at him from where the uke lay.
His eyes slipping closed once more, Silver succumbed to a much needed rest as Mephiles went about bringing his other two pups--another boy and a little girl--back to life.
He gave his children the energy they needed to keep going, and he began to gently wash them off with a warm, wet towel as they were all still a mess from their birth. Once they were clean, he too supplied them with energy, just as he'd done with their brother, and proceeded to carry the slumbering hanyou and pups back to Emerald City which wasn't very far, nearly half an hour's walk away.
Most demons have been either sentenced to the death penalty or imprisoned for their actions, so it would be safe for Silver, Mephiles thought as he entered the city gates some time later. Although there were not many hanyou survivors from massacre, there were a few still, though no one would blame them for wanting to move....
Healers were quick to come and see to the young male, after being told by Mephiles that he'd recently given birth. And with him being in such a poor, weakened state, many of the elderly female healers would silently cast glances his way, wondering how he could've let his mate get in such a state in the first place, since the pups all looked like a mixture between the two of them anyways.
Mephiles didn't care what any of them thought, however, but he wasn't there for very long anyways. The hanyou seemed well off with all the nurses, so he went away to eat for the first time in weeks. The first few meals would definitely go towards replenishing his energy before he could even think of eating to fill his stomach.
And after nervously taking a bite of food and realizing it was not turning to ash, Mephiles sighed with relief, having never been so glad to have food before in his life.
He then proceeded to eat four courses before he finished, but it didn't make his gut look any bigger since he quickly digested it with his need for energy.
And once he was finished there, he went to see how the progression with Silver was coming along. He was eager to get back home as soon as possible.
Silver started to look better but he was still unconscious. The demon wanted to get some rest before they left as well. He was tired, but he was still afraid to fall asleep. His nightmares really had left an impression on him.
But when the healers offered him a place to rest for the night, he couldn't refuse.
He was given a simple cot in the infirmary near Silver, their babies safely tucked in a basket nearby.
He would've preferred a more suitable place to sleep for his someone of his status, but this would do. He was too exhausted to really care at the moment. He then got himself ready for bed, and lied down. But once in bed, he stared at the ceiling for a while. He didn't want to dream of the horrible things he had for weeks. The thoughts still plagued his mind, but he forced himself to close his eyes and slowly relax. Soon, sleep over took him and he slept the whole night through.
And while he was practically dead to the world, the healers would come in from time to time to check on the small family, mostly to check on Silver since the babies were all healthy.
.........................
Mephiles was content in his dreamless state for hours on end, at least till one of the nurses shook him awake. He glared at her harshly once he was awake; he was that close to be fully rested and she just had to wake him! She informed the young demon that they needed to feed the pups and they needed him to get Silver to feed them. He groaned in frustration, but he had to protect his young. He shouldn't have to in this case, but he'd never fully be rid of the curse unless they were well. The healers had his pups brought in to Silver's room, the hanyou still too ill to be woken up. He was asked to hold Silver against his chest while the children then nursed from their mother. After being revived, the uke had produced a lot of milk so the pups got more than enough to feed on. The healers proceeded to burp them all since their father showed next to no interest in doing so, but since they weren't babysitters and had other patients to attend to, they left the healthy, awake, and energetic newborns to their still very tired father.
Out of frustration for some rest, Mephiles had to move the basket to his bedside, so the triplets could be near him and hopefully shut up long enough for him to sleep. They grabbed at what they could of the demon's arm, and the youngest, being the boy, put Mephiles fingers into his mouth, the wetness shocking Mephiles back awake. He growled, and swiped his hand away, making the baby whimper and cry. Sighing heavily, he wiped his off and gently up his son. He was only irritable from his exhaustion, but soon they all started to cry anyway, so he had to get up to comfort each one before they calmed down again. He had to relax as well or this would just start again.
And once the little ones entertained themselves till they fell asleep, only then was Mephiles able to go back to bed.
Mephiles rested a long time, and when he woke up on his own, he felt wonderful. He still had bags under his eyes, but those would fade in time. He went and got some reading material and tea before he relaxed next to a set of lit incense. The nurses had told him Silver would be for to travel by tonight. So that meant only one thing...
They would leave tonight.
And once he'd read and eaten a rather refreshing breakfast, his now awake pups were brought over by an elderly healer, the demon Lord was able to concentrate and actually get a good look at his children since he wasn't focused on resting at the moment.
The little squirming and whimpering fuzzballs were 2 boys and a girl. His eldest, was an ebony furred little boy. The middle child was a little girl the same color as their mother, and his youngest was a gray furred little boy as well.
Mephiles stared down at them, analyzing them one by one. He could sense their power, and his eldest held the most demonic power out of them all. That was probably how he survived the birth and the others hadn't. He would have to teach him well in the ways of demon culture. He was certain he'd be the closest thing to a son he'd get, if Silver had anything to say about it. The other two took very much after their mother. Hanyou. They would be weaker than his eldest, he realized, unlike their mother, though, who had a secret to tell. How could he hold so much power...? That wasn't good, he thought; there was no way he'd have a mate more powerful than he.
But seeing as though they had the rest of their rather long lives together, Mephiles had quite a while to find out just how that was possible for someone of mixed decent.
....................
Silver was currently awake in the other room and wanted to see his pups. So Mephiles let them go when the nurses came to fetch them. He wanted to be alone anyway.
"Thank you," Silver said tiredly to the healer that brought him back his pups, the still weakened male having just enough energy to stay awake for now.
His eyes filled with happy tears as he smiled lovingly down at his little ones, his heart swelling with motherly love for each of his children. Gently, he ran a clawed finger over their little bodies, his smile growing when they moved or whined beneath his touch.
He would've never thought that he could feel such happiness and relief again...
His children snuggled up to him, the eldest shuffling around to suckle, obviously hungry again, and his mother was happy to oblige.
.....................................
Mephiles was later summoned by a nurse, saying that Silver would like to speak with him. He stated he'd be there soon, quickly making an insult towards his enemy. As soon as this curse was over with, he'd kill him. He wanted to get rid of the hanyou as soon as the opportunity came and it just couldn't come soon enough....
And once he did arrive, Silver was finishing off a light meal that wouldn't upset his stomach. And once he downed a potion that would help with his healing since his body was too weak to do it on his own, the hanyou then turned to Mephiles.
"Have you decided what we're going to name them?" He asked quietly, his voice a bit raspy from misuse.
Mephiles shook his head. "No. I've been catching up on my missing sleep." He stated, watching Silver cautiously, the demon fully aware that saying the wrong thing could harm him further with the curse.
Silver just glanced at him before saying, "Well, will you help me name them? They're your pups too..."
"I suppose." He murmured, glancing at his pups. "The girl first." Mephiles mumbled, wanting to put more thought into his sons' name.
"....I like Crystal for her," Silver murmured as he caressed the squirming little girl with his finger, the little girl yawning cutely.
"That's a good enough name." He muttered, glancing at his child. It didn't bother him too much what his children were called, as long as it wasn't something stupid. "The eldest, name him something that sounds powerful."
"...Reiketsuna," Silver replied a moment later for the eldest, "It means cold-hearted..."
'Like you,' he mentally added.
"And the youngest will be Jigoku, meaning Hell," he murmured, wanting his children to have intimidating names, but he hoped his boys didn't live up to those names when they were older.
"Suitable," He stared with nod. At least he had enough decency to give his children very traditional demon names. They weren't used very often with all the new world names like his, but he appreciated the classics.
"We leave tonight; I've arranged for a carriage to take us to my home," he then informed him.
Silver just nodded, readjusting the babies in his arms as they started to fall asleep.
Mephiles left in a bit of a rush not too long afterwards; he didn't like the hanyou feeling so comfortable around him. He shouldn't be. Mephiles the Dark was a killer and should be feared by all, especially hanyous.
And once Mephiles was gone, Silver decided to do like the pups and get some more rest as well till it was time to go. Once he was lying on his side, the still tired hanyou drifted off to sleep with his babies.
Mephiles returned later that night. He woke the hanyou up and allowed him to prepare on his own while he waited for him in the carriage. Mephiles drank an expensive tea and read in the meantime. He found it relaxing and did so often to help ease his mind.
It was 15 or so minutes later when Silver knocked at the carriage door, the hanyou having been given more suitable clothing for him and the pups for traveling by the rather kind and considerate healers.
Silver even handed Mephiles a scarf for himself that the elderly women had wanted the demon lord to have.
The demon sneered at it, giving it to the driver to wear instead. It smelled of medicine and old hags. There was no way he'd wear such an atrocious thing.
Silver just rolled his eyes at him before getting inside, making sure the children were all bundled up for the long ride.
Once the door closed behind the hanyou, Mephiles acted like they weren't even there. He wanted to be alone anyway.
And Silver didn't seem to care, all his attention on his babies as the carriage began to move. They were all the company he needed.
Mephiles' anger easily flared as the pups made cooing and other noises at their mother.
"Would you shut them up?" He growled in annoyance.
"You can always sit outside with the driver if they're bothering you," Silver said simply, not even bothering to look up at the ebony male.
"So could they," he growled, clawing gently at the paper he was holding.
Silver just choose to ignore him like he'd been doing all along.
Eventually the pups settled down and he was able to relax better. It was a long journey for all of them, but it was a great relief to be home for Mephiles when they finally did return. Except for his uninvited guests, that is......
And as per their agreement, Silver was immediately given a set of rooms suitable for a Lord's consort.
Silver smirked once he and the pups were settled in.
Oh, payback was a b**ch and he loved her for it!!
Mephiles, however, had left them with a room different from his own; he would not let them sleep anywhere near him. In fact, it was practically on the other side of the manor, closer to the servants quarters. But Silver seemed to be ignorant of that since he really hadn't a clue how Meph organized his home.
But one thing the demon did know for sure, though, was whether he did it intentionally or not.....
Silver was going to give him hell....
