Ember smiled at FUCKING Lilith. When she saw Nathaniel, she whipped her head around and stood up, going over to the kids instinctively because she saw he was disheveled and wounded. She looked around at Lilith, concerned to see if Lilith was just as worried as her. However, Lilith was gone by the time she glanced over. Shit. Ember didn’t know how to feel about the situation. Her heart raced and her head spun. Breathing heavily, she glanced at Nathaniel. “What happened? Are you okay? Why are you covered in blood?!” She whined at the last question
Rose wiggled out of Ember’s grip, running over to her papa, and hugging him protectively. “Why are you hurt? daddy? She reached her arms out, wanting to be picked up by her father.
Nathaniel frowned at Ember, staring at his kids. He felt his face looking down at his bloodied fingers. He wiped the blood on his pant leg. His hair was a tangled mess, red blood mixed into the blonde nest. His stern gaze fell upon Ember’s face. Nathaniel swallowed harshly, leaning onto the door frame. The room was spinning, everything turning upside down. He took a deep breath. “I am fine, dear. Typhon decided to fight me for the throne. I got a little banged up. Nothing too bad.” Nathaniel saw a small blob move toward him, something wrapping its little hands around his leg. The words barely reached his ears. He was disoriented. “I-I am.” Nathaniel’s vision folded in, turning black as he fell against the door frame, hitting his head on the frame. His body slid down onto the floor.
Percy watched his father fall, hugging him closer to Ember. He was scared. First, his mommy was abducted, then his daddy blacked out. He nuzzled into his mother’s neck. “Is daddy going to be okay?” Percy mewled.
Ember looked at Nathaniel worry flowing over her she tried to reach out for rose before she ran over to her father, she watched curiously as Nathaniel looked at their daughter "Nathaniel… What's going on, what can I do? " she picked up Percy and clung him close to her, her eyes darting between rose and Nathaniel she took a few steps forward slowly but when Nathaniel fell against the doorframe and she snapped at rose to move away from him "rose come here now stay with your brother!" She placed Percy down as rose made it over to them both she left Percy with rose and ran over to Nathaniel kneeling down next to him screaming "NATHANIEL?! guards! Lilith! Somebody fucking get in here!" She turned her head back to Nathaniel bringing her hands up to his face his wounds should be healed by now what is going on?
Nathaniel was out like a light. The cut on his face continued to bleed, spilling dark blood all over his suit. It wasn’t a pretty sight. His other wounds had slowed or ceased their bleeding, but the one on his face continued to bleed freely with no sign of stopping. Nathaniel didn’t hear Ember or feel her touch. He laid limp. The guards outside the drawing room peered in, looking down at their downed king. They didn’t seem to react, instead one picked up Nathaniel under the arms. They nudged Ember away, the other guard picking Nathaniel up by the midsection. The other guard let go of the fallen king, Nathaniel’s head leaning onto the shoulder of the guard that held him. The guards glared at Ember, taking their king to his bedroom to recover.
Percy started to cry, shaking as he ran over to his mother. He didn’t understand what was happening to his father. He just wanted to see dad, but his dad was taken away before he could reach his mom. “Mommy… Is daddy alright? Is he going to wake up again?” Percy whimpered, tears catching the corner’s of his lips. “I’m scared.” He clung to Ember tightly.
Ember began to Trimble her entire body shaking as tears fell from her eyes, she looked at the guards that started to peek into the room and growled "fucking do something don't just stand there! " her voice boomed which was quickly followed by her falling to the side as one of them shoved her out of the way and she glared at them her eyes glowing slightly, she watched as they took the king away tears still streaming down her cheeks but she didn't notice she didn't feel Percy clinging to her, her body felt numb and tingly
Rose watched as the scene before her unfolded and she took a breath and moved over to her mother and Percy pulling her brother away from ember and hugging him to her she was watching her mother her expression almost emotionless
Ember began to Trimble her entire body shaking as tears fell from her eyes, she looked at the guards that started to peek into the room and growled "fucking do something don't just stand there! " her voice boomed which was quickly followed by her falling to the side as one of them shoved her out of the way and she glared at them her eyes glowing slightly, she watched as they took the king away tears still streaming down her cheeks but she didn't notice she didn't feel Percy clinging to her, her body felt numb and tingly
Rose watched as the scene before her unfolded and she took a breath and moved over to her mother and Percy pulling her brother away from ember and hugging him to her she was watching her mother her expression almost emotionless
Percy fought back against his sister. He didn’t want her embrace. He wanted his mom and dad. Using his power, he pushed Rose away a few feet, tears running down his face. “I want daddy!” He screamed. Percy stood still, watching his sister before running out of the room, following the guards. Well, at least he tried to. Not until a certain demon got in his way. Percy swallowed harshly, whimpering as the force loomed over him. A strange blue fire engulfed the scene.
The guards brought Nathaniel to his room, laying the king in his bed. They didn’t know what to do, they were guards after all, so they called forth for Lilith. Lilith, however, was in a foul mood. “Why is it when I am-” she looked down at Nathaniel. “Oh.” The guards simply nodded, leaving the room to guard the outside. Lilith heaved a breath. This was not a good situation. None of it was.
Ember sat there in a daze as Percy ran past her she sat there for a moment before 'regaining consciousness' she looked over at ride and her heart sank she ran over to her and helped her up making sure she's okay before picking her up and running out the door looking for Percy it was about 4 minutes before she reached the boy and.. Typhon "percy…. Come here now" her voice trembling as she stared at the demon inches away from her son she clung to rose and made a move to grab Percy
Percy shied away from Typhon, scared of the demon who was grinning at him with bloody teeth. “It’ll be okay, boy.” The demon sneered. “I’ll make the pain go away.” Percy froze, his fear instinct kicking in. He instinctively threw a ball of hellfire at Typhon, making the tall demon curse out loud. It had blinded the discord demon, but not for long. Percy turned his head to see his mom, whimpering as Typhon stood over him. The discord before clasped a hand around Percy’s mouth. Percy struggled, tears of frustration running down his face. He wanted to be with his momma and his daddy. He wanted for this to be over. Typhon moved a dagger with a chip in it to Percy’s throat. “It was nice meeting you, little one.” Percy screamed, little markings spreading through his tiny body. Hellfire consumed Typhon, making the demon drop Percy. While he screamed in agony, Percy ran over to his mother, hugging her. “Can we go see daddy?” He questioned.
Lilith looked Nathaniel’s weakened body. It was strange. It was like he was resorted to a mortal form. Wounds weren’t healing and illness took him. Sweat beaded down Nathaniel’s forehead, his face consumed by fever. There was only on object that could kill a demon like this. Haiti’s knife. “Is there a piece still stuck in you?” She pondered out loud. If she couldn’t heal him, he might be dead in a day or two. She needed the book of damnation. “Sleep well, my dear king.” Lilith placed a hand on his forehead, disappearing to find the book and something else.
Ember grabbed Percy as soon as he ran to her and bolted straight to hers and Nathaniels room, she ran inside and sat the kids down before shutting the door and barricaded the door with whatever she could move shit this isn't good for the baby…what the fuck is even going on?! she was breathing frantically as she rushed the kids over to the other side of the room and stowed them way somewhere safe for the time being. She looked over to Nathaniel and she heart raced and her face went pale and she moved over to the bed and sat down placing her hand on Nathaniel's head, she felt his fever and he was still bleeding she got up and grabbed a few pieces of clothing and a bottle of wine to clean the wound and hopefully stop the bleeding when she sat down again it took everything she had to not burst into tears "Lilith.. I need your help- please." She spoke quietly with a shaking voice and the please cane out as a whine while she poured a bit of the wine on a shirt and covered Nathaniel's wound with it
Percy yelped when he was picked up, clinging to his mama as she booked up to his parents bedroom. He looked around, terror filling his innocent eyes. As soon as he was put down, he wandered over to his father's side of the bed, looking at his daddy. A small mewl came from his throat as his little hands gripped onto Nathaniel’s cool, but feverish skin. “Daddy, please wake up.” Percy laid his head on the edge of the bed, frowning before Ember grabbed him again. Sequels of protest came from him. He wanted to be with his parents, but instead, he was put somewhere safe with his sister. Not fun!
Nathaniel moved slightly. He didn’t open his eyes or make any drastic movements. He leaned in Ember’s touch exposing his slashed cheek more. “Ember.” He mumbled, wincing as she tended to his wound. It stung like hell, the wine seeping into his bloodstream. “It hurts.” Nathaniel whined. He wasn’t new to pain, but this pain was awful. A demon shouldn’t feel pain like this. Not this harsh. Lilith reappeared in a huff. She had the book, but not the other things she needed. She looked down at Ember, placing the black book on the bed. “I am incredibly busy. You need to wait.” She seemed stressed, looking from Ember to the book. “You know what to do.” Lilith gestured to the book. “I need to go check on something! It is quite serious!” She disappeared. Nathaniel opened his eyes. The bright blue was dull. Not a good sign.
Ember was having what looked like a panic attack when Nathaniel woke up she was gripping his hand tightly as tears streamed down her cheeks which she made no movement to wipe them away she rubbed his hand with her thumb as she applied more pressure to the wound "I know it hurts… I don't know what to do to help you Nathaniel- I-i called Lilith.. " as she said this Lilith showed up and embers head shot around and she nearly screamed "Lilith typhon- he's outside.. He was going to kill percy-" she was cut off by Lilith and her attitude which didn't help ember it only made her want to cry more than she already was, she didn't know what to do she was scared for her children, and her husband. "Lilith I don't know how to use that book- Nathaniel never let me go around-" but before she could finish Lilith was gone. She looked back at Nathaniel seeing his dimmed eyes and she whined "I.. I don't know what to do… "
Nathaniel shifted uncomfortably, squeezing Ember’s hand. It was weak compared to his normal strength. He looked pitifully weak and pale. His eyes didn’t shine like they used too. He seemed more— human. “Ember.” He whispered. The wound stung the more she pressed into it, causing him to cry out loud in pain. Heat spread throughout his face as the stinging went deeper under his skin. Nathaniel could feel his fragile body. The knife reverted his body into a mortal state and once it was that of a mortals, it was hard to reverse. “Lilith cannot—“ He heaves a breath. “Help.” Nathaniel closed his eyes, feeling a sharp, jagged pain in his chest. It unsettled him and he flinched. He opened his eyes to glance up at Lilith. She seemed worried. “Yes, yes. I know where Typhon is. He’s not outside. He is elsewhere.” Lilith sighed. “You’ll figure out how to use it. It’s the only thing that can reverse the effects.” She disappeared for good. Nathaniel peered over to Ember. “I can help you, dear.” He tried to sit up, but failed.
Ember took a shaky breath and nodded at what Lilith had said she looked at Nathaniel as he tried to speak she tried to keep him calm she wasn't trying to hurt him but it seemed that he was just in pain "Nathaniel.. How are you supposed to help me? I- please don't sit up.. It hurts you-" she gripped his hand a helped him sit up a little so she could put pillows behind him so he wasn't holding himself up, she took a deep breath and grabbed the book a shuffled over to Nathaniel "what do I do?
(It's short-)
Nathaniel leaned his head to the side, letting her clean the wound. He gritted his teeth, the pain numbing his face. He leaned into her touch, groaning from the banging in his head. Nathaniel could feel his body grow weaker by the second. He felt vulnerable, almost mortal. He was turning mortal. Nathaniel didn’t want this. “I-I can. Trust me. I’ve dealt with the book before. Please.” His voice seemed strained, just as weak as his body. Nathaniel gripped her hand, lifting himself into a sitting position. He laid back on the pillows, sighing heavily. He took the book from Ember, opening it carefully. The spine made a creaking noise, slowly breaking apart, but it mended itself. His hands shook, his eyes scanning over the yellowed pages of ancient language. Lifting his finger, he pointed to a line in the book, his entire arm shaking slightly. “T-That… that is the thing… the spell needing to be said.” The fever got worse, consuming him completely. Nathaniel leaned his head on Ember, shutting his eyes. He could feel himself fade. Fading ever so slowly to end up dead in the next few days.
Ember winced as his pain she didn't want to hurt him but she had to stop the bleeding or he'd bleed out "I'm sorry love i- I have to. " she moved closer to him sitting on the bed next to Nathaniel she looked at the book for a moment as she felt Nathaniel lean his head on her chest she could feel the blood seeping into her dress but she didn't care she just wanted him to be close to her she took a breath and took the other side of the book and reead the spell in her head a few times "okay.. I think I can do this… " she prepared herself for a moment and tried to calm she shaking hands "do I just say it or is there more to it than that? "
Nathaniel nuzzled into her neck, whimpering from the pain. “I know.” He murmured. He looked pitiful. Almost like a sickly child. The blood started to cease, and he moved his hand to her stomach. He kept his head positioned on her chest. Tears fell from his eyes, his grip getting weaker. “Ember. I am dying. You might have to accept that. Tell our kiddos that I love them.” Nathaniel paused. His vision was getting blurry, but he tried to make out the picture in the book anyway. “There is more. To reverse the dying, you have to use the ceremonial knife. It- it is like a coin. It is used to kill, but also to restore.” He summoned the knife with the last of his power, wincing at the pain it caused him. “You n-need to say the spell, then stab me with it in the chest or stomach.” Nathaniel’s voice was weak. His body slowly went limp. “Please. You need to do it.” He whispered, closing his eyes as he kept his hand on her stomach.
Ember held him close to her she tool the book from him and turned his head to look at her an she looked into his dim eyes and rimmed his cheek with her thumb "you are not going to die do you understand me? You know what will happen if you do, our kids will be orphaned, they need you.. I need you, we're getting you through this. " she placed her hand on top of his and gripped it gently before letting go and picking the book up once more so he could see it "I'll do what I have to do dear if it saves you. "
Tears dotted his fever ridden cheeks. It took a lot out of him to cry, his eyes dimming faster. “I love you, Ember.” He weakly kissed her on the neck. “I’ll always love you. Please take care of Rose and Percy. They’ll need their mamma until they're adults.” He moved closer to her side, laying the knife on her. “There is no chance of me surviving this, Ember. It’s a small chance. Even if the timing is off, I could still die.” He reached back out for her hand, placing his on her midsection now. “They won’t be orphaned.” He rasped, his breath getting shorter. His movements slowed. Nathaniel’s head and hand when slack. This was not a good sign. Ember needed to act quick. Very quick. “You will always be my love.” He whispered.
Ember sighed when he kissed her and moved to position herself and Nathaniel according to how the book showed an took a deep breath "your not dying Nathaniel please- just trust that I can do this. " she took the knife in her hand and watched as his body began to die and she shook her head looking at the book once again to see the spell "Omnem immundum amove. Quidquid potest nocere principi. Nondum est haec pugna, ut dimittam regem ab inferis ad dimicandum." She spoke the spell and winced before slamming the knife into the kings chest tears threatened to spill from her eyes and soon as she felt the blood and she felt nauseous and dizzy
Nathaniel nestled into the new position, leaning his head on Ember’s lap. “I’m scared.” He whispered. This was the first time he had said those words, and they were poison upon his tongue. “I-I can feel everything dying. It’s not pleasant.” His words were breathy as if his lungs ran out of air. “I love you.” Nathaniel whispered. His head went slack, so did his entire body. The knife slammed into his chest, blood threatening to spill out of the wound. Nothing happened for the next minute or so. Nathaniel’s body was still, the life in it gone. Then, the knife began to glow, and a strange magic seemed to entire his body. The fiery patterns of a demon lord appeared on his skin, glowing a bright red and orange. Horns sprouted from his head, the tips glowing a wrathful red. A small breeze moved his hair and the book vanished.
The knife fell out of the wound, somehow working itself out of the wound as Nathaniel’s body naturally closed up the wound. He took a deep breath. The book reappeared at the king’s side. A flush came back to his cheeks, his body returning to its former glory. The piece that was inside of him had been disintegrated. Flicking open his eyes, he stared at Ember. His eyes were glowy, just like how they once were. “Ember?” He pondered.
She sat there for a moment thinking, she never said she loved him she didn't say anything to him.. Her breathing began to pick up as she looked at the man before her in terror, she had killed him, she killed Nathaniel "I.. I thought it was going to work-" her voice broke and her nausea took over and she clutched her stomach a defeated whine escaped her and she began to cry, she clung to Nathaniel her face laid in the crock of his neck and she just held him she didn't notice what was happening to Nathaniel she was to busy grieving she poked her head up when Nathaniel spoke and she looked at him confused "Nathaniel? But I thought that… You, you died-"
Nathaniel nuzzled into her, moving his head out of the way. He tried to keep his horns out of the way. They could poke her or hurt her harshly. He looked at her face, using his hands to push her face up to face him. “I’m alive, Ember.” He kissed her, wiping the tears with his thumb. “I am not dead. The process just takes a minute to start. It’s okay.” His eyes were a glowy blue, sparkling in the harsh, red light. The horns disappeared and so did the markings. He snuggled up to Ember, keeping her company. Percy ran out from his hiding spot, climbing onto the bed. “Daddy!” He beamed, looking at Nathaniel. Percy hugged his dad. Nathaniel wrapped his arms around Percy. “Hey buddy!” He smiled.
She looked at him with her golden tears flowing even after he wiped them away she gripped the hand that was on her cheek and leaned into it, she kisses him back softly tears still flowing. She brought her hands up to the side of his head just over his neck and pulled away before just looking at him looking at every detail of his face until Percy and rose came out of hiding, had they come out sooner this would have been a different situation, ember watcched as Percy hugs his father and rose climbed into the bed before clinging to her father as well, ember got of the bed and backed up slowly looking down at the blood that was sticky on her skin and she turned to walk to the wardrobe to grab something else to wear
Nathaniel smiled. He kept wiping her tears away, kissing her passionately. A smile consumed his face, his fangs showing slightly. “Am I that interesting to you? My face is not very detailed.” He had his patches of burn scars, freckles dotting his cheeks, and sweeping blonde eyelashes. His eyes were sparkling, his blonde hair was tangled, and his lips were thin. He placed his calloused hands on her face, pulling her in for another kiss. Nathaniel opened his eyes upon realizing his children had come out of their hiding spot. A blush grew on his cheeks and he slowly pushed Ember away, embracing Percy in a hug. A big smiled was etched across his face as both of his kiddos came to greet him. “Hey there, Rose.” Nathaniel rubbed her back slowly. “Are you kiddos okay?” Percy tackled his father, giggling. “We’re okay now! We ran into a big, scary demon, but I burned him!” Nathaniel’s face turned to curiosity. Was Percy finally starting to use his abilities? Had they awoken so soon? Nathaniel knew Percy’s abilities would be wild and out of control since he was young. “You’re starting to awaken your abilities!” He ruffled Percy’s hair. “We'll have to start training.”
