Note: This story is the third part of our “Codex Omega” series. To understand what’s going on in the multiverse, we recommend to read “Demon of Mercy” and “The Sin and the Sentence” first. Enjoy! ;)

Recommended song: “Catharsis” by Machine Head

Catharsis definition: the process of releasing, and thereby providing relief from, strong or repressed emotions. For example, “music is a means of catharsis for them”. (Synonyms: purging, purgation, purification, cleansing, release, relief, emotional release, freeing, deliverance, exorcism, ridding.)

Fandoms: Slipknot, Trivium, SepticFlesh, Machine Head

Characters: Corey Taylor/Jim Root, Mick Thomson, Matt Heafy/Corey Beaulieu, Paolo Gregoletto, Spiros Seth Antoniou, Sotiris Vayenas, Christos Antoniou/Brent, Kerim Lechner, Robb Flynn, Balthazar, Smaug the cat, original characters

Rating/category: R (explicit), supernatural AU, post-apocalyptic AU, alternate dimensions, old gods, altered history by Christianity, mysteries, slash, M/M, light BDSM, drama (lots of it), romance, hurt/comfort, angst, dark, violence, fighting, biker gangs, demons, angels, magic, transmutation, blood, mating/bonding, first time, rough sex, addictions, drug abuse, alcohol abuse, some (kinda manly) fluff, orgies

Summary: The wheels are in motion and the fate of the Earth is in the hands of the only Nephilim. But for this fight being awake is not going to be enough… Sometimes the help of old gods and mythical creatures is needed to be prepared for the grim future…

Disclaimer: This is a product of our imagination and was written only for entertainment and fun. We don’t profit from this fanfiction and we mean no harm or disrespect against any real person, culture or custom that might appear in the story. All original pictures used in the story belong to their respective owners and credits go to them.

Full size pic HERE

Catharsis
by S.M.A. & Useless-girl

Chapter 1

A few days after the time Corey, the first son of Lucifer stayed with his band at the luxury hotel at the gate of Gehenna and met with Balthazar…

In Earth's history, the fall of nations was nothing new. It was almost periodically readjusting borders and merging together cultures and people traveling, or more like escaping their home in large numbers, bringing their habits and culture to new parts of the world.

Wiping most of the planet 'clean' was the method of most deities that cross the dimensions and find the infant part of the universe. Most decided to make something of it, form it and use it for their own amusement, or practice their power with gaining followers by forming some miracles and creating some new things here and there. Then after all that it was just fun to see the more primitive humans go against each other.

Apparently, most got bored after a while and left their creations and followers. Usually then some other supernatural being takes over for a while. But before that, all makes sure some kind of mass-extinction and apocalypse happens to start with a clean sheet, so to say...

This time though it was the humans themselves who caused the chaos upon their world. Their greed and hunger for power helped them evolve to try to use beings from outside their dimension. And literal Heaven and Hell broke loose with the gates of Gehenna and Valhalla being opened. Those worlds’ lower beings raiding the human world. The weapons human leaders tried had little effects on such creatures but brought the termination similar to their previous Gods’ on the poor planet. Chemicals and radiation poisoned the land and the air, making it harder for simple people to survive.

But before the skies permanently turned dark and acid rain fell, a few groups of special beings started something to help on things. Even if then they knew very little about their destination of fate.

At the Gate of the East an elegant western man was walking the streets of Athens. He knew Greece, Balthazar existed before the last God started to play with the world and humans. And being a renegade to all the higher leading orders, he was the true lord of trickery and gambling. His own life was all about that... Gambling his luck to be important to more higher lords for various advantages.

That is why he knew very well who not to cross, and whom to be loyal to all the time. If he wanted to keep existing and live a playboy life, that is...

Balthazar

The creatures guarding the gate at Athens were ancient. Seen a lot of changes in the world. Their powers were greater and chose to protect the gate and ancient knowledge throughout the centuries.

"Ancient ones," Balthazar got down on one knee and bowed his head in the high ceremonial cave.

The place was deep inside the tall Greek cliffs and some of the warm light peeked through the roof’s cracks where slowly water drops washed through and created gorgeous dripstone columns. The walls were richly decorated with the history of a once ruling world order. Before the trickster demon three thrones stood, in each an ancient God listened to the messenger bringing news about the first son of Lucifer and other beings heading to the ancient sanctuary.

***

It's been four days since the pair of Corey and Matt with Brent and their guardian angel Paolo have arrived to Athens.

Corey was still smiling on his pair's face seeing the Greek writings. “It's demon language... How can anyone learn that?” the dark cherub stated and thinking back on that moment it still made Corey giggle inside.

His band got a nice little residence on top of the cliff with an amazing view of the landscape on the outskirts of the old but modern city. It was calmer there – for now. The ancient trinity missed two members when they arrived, and the Guard of the Gate was on other duties. But it was good for them. Corey truly loved that they could just enjoy some peace and sunshine and relax for a few days.

But that day they were attending an audition with the Guard of the Gate and Corey wasn't sure if he was more nervous or Matt...

The meeting wasn't all formal. As the other two gods were away, Sotiris, the staying in ancient God only wanted to give them a late welcome and look at the pair. So when it was time, Corey walked into the huge library of the knowledge of all time and places, finding a tall bald and bearded man sitting by one of the desks.

Sotiris

Seeing the pair walking in, he stood up and focused his senses on Matt.

"Ancient one," Corey bowed when they came face to face with the tall man.

"Son of the Morning Star," Sotiris nodded with a small smile.

"Please, meet my pair, Matt," Corey only said that. He knew well that the Greek man already knew a lot about his pair.

"Nice to meet you, Matt. Sotiris is my Earthly name. We will get to know each other more with my mates present. This library is the first step in your training. You may learn from the scrolls and books freely for now," he said with a Greek accent.

Ever since Matt fully mated with Corey with the help of the demon shamans and his body stopped transmutating, he's been curious to see this place and these gods Corey and Paolo told him stories about while they were traveling there. He's been never in Greece and even after the burning of the world this place looked beautiful and less affected. It was a nice change of scenery probably for all of them. The place felt ancient too and Matt's new senses could strongly feel how much history was lying under the surface. 

In those few days they discovered their new surroundings either by foot or using their wings. Needless to say, the newly turned Cherub was amazed and probably had a mild culture shock too. Luckily, he had Corey on his side most of the time to explain things to him and the tall curly man drank in the new knowledge like a dry sponge.

But what really interested him was learning more and meeting with these gods. So obviously he was excited too on their way to that audition, but could sense that his pair was maybe even more.

He wasn't disappointed when the tall bald man stood up. Even as they entered the library, Matt could feel a strong presence quite different from any creature he has ever felt before. Matt could sense it right away how the god's powers were on him even as he greeted Corey.

Following his pair's example, the half-angel, half-demon Cherub bowed his head too in front of the man in a reverend-like black button down overcoat. It was hard to miss the winged sun medallion resting on his chest. Matt knew that it meant power, divinity, royalty and the eternity of the soul.

His thoughts and awe were interrupted a bit by the pride he heard from Corey's voice as he introduced Matt to the god. It made Matt smile and relax a bit as he glimpsed at his mate then returned the intense dark gaze of Sotiris, meeting it with his Asian black ones. "Nice to meet you too. I thank you for allowing us to take shelter here and letting us... me learn more about myself. It is a great honor," he bowed his head once more then his sly smile returned. "I see my mate seems to have a thing for powerful bald men," he teased Corey, not being able to help himself.

Corey's lips parted with a mild shock at that.

Sotiris narrowed his eyes and the corner of his lips pulled up into a small smug smile. "Perfect match," he said looking at Corey, who turned all red from all that. He used to study at this place and got close to the God. The approval he felt from him was very important for the demon. "King will always have a special place in my heart," Sotiris stated turning back to Matt. "Tell me young one, what do you know about things before your father?"

Smirking a bit wider from the other two males' reaction and Corey turning so red, Matt eased up a bit more. "I know you have a special place in his heart too," Matt showed his acceptance of the history those two had together as he knew about it beforehand and wasn't bothered by it since Corey was his pair now and knew that he loved him deeply.

He even stroked along Corey's arm before looking back at the god, frowning lightly. "Before my father? I'm sorry... I'm not sure I understand the question."

"Oh of course. I meant before circa 6000 years. Before your holy father happened to this world," Sotiris smiled warm and understanding at Matt. "You are so very young. But living along with humans you must know some of the ancient history. Also, what do you know

about your culture as an east Asian?"

"Oh I see..." Matt said and took a seat along with Corey once Sotiris offered them the chairs with a wave of his hand and sat back in his too. "I know that there were other... ancient cultures my 'father' and his angels would rather not talk about and keep humans from knowing. If I want to be honest, under the flag of the Christian Church they did a very good job at covering things up and destroying evidence in connection with those ancient civilizations and their gods..." Matt mused, showing that ever since he was on the run of his brothers and sisters and especially being on Corey's side, he's been reading up on things.

"Corey had told me of gods like you yourself. How many of you and other creatures tried to guide and teach humanity. To give them knowledge to prosper and grow spiritually too. But obviously things didn't go as planned thanks to the brainwashing of religions and also the self-destructive human nature..."

"Frankly... I know very little about my heritage from my mother's side. She was a Japanese human living in America but I was just a kid when she had died. I only know very little of that culture aside of food and some traditions and gods. Why do you ask?"

"Just to know how much work is ahead. But you have a lot of time. The caves and tunnels around these areas stood for over 10 000 years. We may hold up for a little while longer," Sotiris smiled. "When my mates arrive, we can start the proper training. Another group is headed here. With a possible Nephilim with them. We are pessimistic about such news, but these were sent here by the shamans, like you," the God's voice changed to a deeper one from his nice soft tone of speech as he started talking in the name of the other two too. In their connected consciousness all three of them talked as one.

"We are pleased to get to know the pair of the son of the Morning One," he continued in the same echoing voice. "We will let you learn from the ancient beings. You will be important in the new world. And so need to study your roots. We must know where we are from to know what our purpose is."

Of course as Matt listened to the god and noticed how his eyes and voice seemed to change, he glimpsed at his pair for a moment before swallowing hard. A Nephilim sent by J and M? Matt knew that those beings were very rare and also very powerful. But they could talk about that with Corey and maybe Paolo a bit later.

"I am honored to meet you all, ancient ones. And to be able to learn and train with your aid. I will try my best not to disappoint," he promised putting a slender hand over his heart and nodding towards Sotiris and the clearly present other two gods. It was a strange sensation too. It was as if all there were in the room, or at least it felt like that way to Matt's senses, even if he knew that they were talking in union with the bald god.

Sotiris nodded and his mates left his spirit. His eyes turned back to his own ones and he blinked a few times adjusting back. "Very well. You all are free to look around these halls. I would like to meet your guardian too, King. For now I retreat to my duties," he smiled with another nod standing up and turning into light gray smoke before vanishing.

"So... any questions?" Corey turned to his pair holding back a giggle as much as he could from Matt's face.

"Wow!" Matt mumbled on his deep voice and reminded himself to close his mouth which hung open from the nice disappearing trick. Collecting himself as he felt the overwhelming godly presence fade from the room, he turned to Corey in his chair in sync with him.

"This was more intense and at the same time more relaxed than I expected," he said and his lopsided smirk made a return. "How do you feel after seeing Sotiris again?" he asked, even wiggling his brows a bit.

Now it was Corey's turn to leave his mouth open for a bit, then clear his throat while turning all red again.

"It was nice seeing him… You must know that what we had was many thousands of years ago... And you must agree that he is…" he cleared his throat again there "charming and alluring… But I meant questions about... Never mind…" he just inhaled long and deep and looked Matt in the eyes. "It was nice seeing him again. I feel all fuzzy and shit all over. You wanted to hear something like that, didn't you?"

Frankly, Matt found Corey's embarrassment cute and amusing. It happened rarely that he could make him feel and look like this. "Yes, he is like that, it's clear as day and yeah. I mean... I want you to know that I'm okay with your history with him. Now you're mine for the rest of our lives anyway, so I don't mind," he said and leaned in to peck Corey's lips.

Then he stood up and started walking around, drinking in the details of the library and reading along the spines of the ancient books. He also saw scrolls here and there and his curiosity was piqued. "So... obviously this library is amazing and huge, containing lots of knowledge. But I'm not sure where to start, what to look for. And how will my training look like?" he asked from the other side of the table, hands behind his back so he wouldn't touch anything just yet.

"Thanks," Corey said with a shy smile at Matt's accepting words. "You really just know and saw a part of how powerful he and his mates are... I mean... they are literal Gods from an age way before and helped humans in many forms after they had decided to stay in this world," he added maybe a little bit more excited than he should have been right next to his pair.

But Matt's question made his attention get back from the glory of his teenage years in those caves...

"I think... As all things is best learned from the start maybe try those scrolls in the cabinet. There are notes for them too for easier understanding of the old wording. It's about the first human civilizations like Sumerian and Babylonian and such. Your training will be partly about a lot of reading and research and partly about practicing your skills. That will be Seth's duty. He is the more... how to say… physical aspect of the trinity. Any other questions about this meeting and all that doesn’t include my past love life?"

Matt chuckled a bit on Corey. "Okay, no more questions about that. For now. But later you'll have to tell me how it is to be with a god," he winked at his mate then walked closer to the cabinet with the glass doors that contained said scrolls while processing all the information Corey was sharing with him.

"So Sotiris is the spiritual one guarding the gate... It's to another dimension, right? Their home dimension?" he asked more and more curious. "Also... if Seth is the physical aspect then what is the third god, Christos?"

Carefully turning the key in the lock, he opened the cabinet and gently picked up the scroll at the top to take a closer look. "And do you know who these people in that approaching group are? And why does Sotiris want to meet up with Paolo in private?" the questions seemed to roll off his tongue now in his usual way as Matt walked back to the table and carefully rolled out the parchment, weighing down its edges to be able to read it. Or rather... stare at the Greek writings. "Err... I think those notes will come in handy to be able to understand anything from these scrolls..."

"Demon language, huh?" Corey scoffed and waited till Matt returned with the notes and sat beside him again. "But it's actually Sumerian. And myths about visitors they had. The Annunaki. Beings teaching them how to build things and grow grains and such. Sotiris led those outer world beings. But regarding your questions... Hmm... Having sex with a God is out of this world also. Maybe out of all of the worlds even," he chuckled. "Christos always stayed with the humans. Taking up various forms and for his obvious powers people always referred to him as some half-God... He is the aspect of knowledge and the connection between people. Between humans and other beings. Like other gods. You will learn from them all. They led great battles and led great empires. And somehow managed to be remembered and respected by humans till this day by their ancient forms also," Corey said with much enthusiasm.

But who could blame him? He almost rambled out how Seth even kept his ancient name… But he knew Matt has to learn most of these on his own and the connections between ancient and newer cultures.

"Paolo… Who would not want to meet him? Honestly? But I think just for a talk about the shamans. The other group… I don't know anything really. But I'm sure the shamans won't send an impostor here. A real Nephilim must be taken seriously. And it's been like… way before my and my father's birth when they lived. We just have to wait and see, I think..."

Pulling his chair closer to Corey's, Matt was listening to him fascinated, reading along the notes and sometimes glimpsing at the scroll. "Maybe I should keep you near me like this during my learning sessions as my personal translator," he smiled warmly and with love at his mate. "I love listening to your stories," the tall Cherub said, placing a hand on the prince's thigh for physical contact.

"It's just fascinating, really, how rich history really is and it's crazy just how much it was altered and edited to suit the interests of some. But I have a feeling I'll have a lot of fun relearning the past so I can understand the presence and myself better. Also, you are so cute when you are fan girling about these gods. Rightfully, of course. Still... it is cute to me," he confessed, rubbing said thigh with a loving smile. Damn, by now he should be better at reining in his emotions... But it was always somewhat difficult when his mate was so close.

"Hm... interesting about the Nephilims... As I understand, having one possibly walking the Earth again is a huge thing. How would that change things for the future?"

"Thanks, love," Corey blushed a bit again. It seemed this place brought back his teenage blushing self...

"A Nephilim is both angel and demon. And stronger than any of those. And how things now are... I think no one knows. Not even the ancient trinity. The trick is that a Nephilim is very powerful but can be either like... good or evil. As many of their kinds became humans. They have some traits like humans. And they can be evil and power-hungry if not supported and trained. I think an awakening one is good to lead to a road of a peace-guarding life," Corey thought out loud. That was a great issue affecting all of them. Well, them more as they will meet those arriving people.

"Aren't you hungry? I mean for food too not just knowledge," he grinned trying to seduce Matt to grab some food. "You heard the big man... We can roam free now... Well, I could already anyway… but you know..."

"So basically a weapon of mass-destruction or the savior of this world... A much more believable situation than the second coming of Christ," Matt chuckled a bit but his mind was running a mile a minute too meanwhile. He hoped as hell that this Nephilim guy or girl will be one who could be led towards the peaceful path instead of having to deal with another destructive force next to the humans.

"Huh? Food? I could eat, yeah... I could eat you up afterwards too as I'm hungry for sex as well," Matt said out without thinking. He had noticed that he became bolder too since their successful mating, but he wasn't bothered by that since there was no use in trying to hide anything from his mate who would know anyways if he tried. "This place seems to bring your past memories up," he added and boy, he could sense that there was plenty of sex in it too, but this time didn't voice it as he promised he'd leave that topic alone for now.

"That's acceptable… After a lamb chop," Corey smirked and stood to pull up Matt also and close him into his arms. "My naughty Ronin Cherub... I know you just want to punish me for all the blushing... I mean... I get it... how it looks for an all-powerful entity like you to be with someone blushing and shy... You need a strong man..." he cooed on his deep bedroom voice leaning to Matt's ear and gently biting the earlobe.

Closing his black eyes as a nice shiver ran down his spine from the bite on his earlobe, he put his long tattooed arms around his mate to keep him close. "Lamb chop sounds great, but not as great as what you just described for our activities after eating," he chuckled low and dirty and squeezed Corey's nice ass with both hands. "It seems you want to get punished, huh?" he murmured and turned his head to be able to catch Corey's plump bottom lip to suck on it a bit. "I can do that if you want to be my worthy pair..." he purred. It also didn't skip Matt's attention how he used to want to become Corey's worthy pair when he was just a half-breed. 

***

"They are at it again..." Brent mused from the sounds to be heard from the pair’s bedroom.

The demon and the guardian angel were sitting outside on the terrace, sipping on some Greek liquor. It was nice and easy to drink a lot from it till they started to giggle.

"I saw a T-shirt in one of the old closed shops. Probably from the time people went to holidays and such and no hordes of lower angels or renegade demons tried to attack them plus the human leader starting wars. So..." Paolo giggled on his long sentence. "The T-shirt said that... Umm... 'I drank so much ouzo that I woke up with a Greek accent!’" and they both rolled with laugher on that.

"I must get that. What do you think, the king would let us? Ohhh and you have to meet one of the Gods here. How are they? Matt and the king was out for long today. They said they’ve been going around and now I can too," Brent spoke while smearing his tears from the laugh.

"Yes... I have to but I think strange things would happen if we met now," the bald angel laughed a little too loud and high. "They are nice. You will love them... And the pair was all around the caves. I will take you tomorrow. But now... Let’s go get some funny tourist souvenirs!"

Next chapter