Chapter 9

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The first day back in the safety of the magical sanctuary for everyone was spent with resting and regaining their energies with their pairs and close ones. 

Samael was all hyped up even then. He was granted entrance inside and the place that still held the beauty and calm of the world before the crash of it all.

On the second day he convinced Robb to go out and show him around. As Robb stayed many times there Samael just loved the idea of a tour led by his devil prince.

They were already through the library (which produced quite a few squeals from Samael to Robb's amusement), the main hall and a few inside gardens, as well as the summer houses and the abandoned town that got included under the Gods' protective magic. Funnily enough, most of their Khazras found shelter in those buildings for themselves as the forest was close where they could hunt game for food. Of course, some of the curious war demons were roaming the streets there now too, even accompanying the goat men on the hunts at times.

Robb briefly wondered if they were also kinda "monitoring" what the Khazras were doing, but that thought disappeared as fast as it popped up in his head. The Khazras felt calm and content, their shaman healing the smaller injuries they have suffered during the battle.

Wherever they walked, they bowed to them and some even accepted the hugs of his hyper husband and communicated with him on their grunt-like strange language.

Robb let Samael have his fun, but kept his eye on him, hoping that it wouldn't be too fast and too much for his other half. After all, getting Samael overwhelmed by all these new impulses would be... unfortunate to all of them...

"I'm glad that now I had the opportunity to show you a slice of how the world looked like before its fall..." Robb said once Samael finally paused in his non-stop babbling and for a change wasn't dragging him somewhere by his hand. They were walking on a flowery hill top above the abandoned town. It was a good vista point to admire the still intact beauty of the Gods' land. They were heading towards an old stone watchtower overlooking a cliff.

"It's surely much better than in the films. The warm sun and the scents and all... I'm still surprised they let me in. And kinda glad they did not when I was not in the mindset to try to look at things on this world with a more open and accepting attitude," Samael giggled as they reached the old tower. "This feels ancient. Many things here are still from that old Hellas age, right? Their knowledge stayed with the western world thousands of years later too. Hmm... no wonder the feared dimension of torture and punishment ended up with the name of 'HELL'," he laughed as they walked up the stairs.

"I was a bit surprised too to be honest, but after that conversation between you and Lord Christos, it was bound to happen sooner or later," Robb said as he was climbing behind his pair. "You and the Khazras did well during our trip and fights. They appreciate the help and the way you try to evolve. You make me so proud of you," he added, stroking down on Samael's arm to hold his hand in his as they stood on the flat stone top of the tower, drinking in the breathtaking view.

"And yes, the whole of Sanctuary is ancient. Just like the Gods," Robb hummed in agreement and chuckled a bit on the Hell comment. "That's Vega's home," he pointed out the building in the distance, nestled between some trees and creeks. "It is modern from inside," he added meaning that it looked run down from the outside. "And that bath is the mated Gods' retreat and above that the entrance to the Sacred Cave. Both places are off limits to us guests. But what I love the most here is the endless sea," he turned back towards the deep blue body of water with the blindingly white beach littered with huge rocks. "What do you like here the most?"

"I think... probably the ocean too. It has just so many shades of blue and green. And all the limestone rocks. Sparkling white in the sunshine," Samael smiled at Robb as he looked around and left his eyes on Vega's house for a while. "You think our little brother will be okay again?" he asked on a lowered voice.

Also he hoped it was okay for him to use such relations... Vega was a younger angel brother of his husband. And the Seraph tried to get used to the idea of... family and relations and friends... He had spent too much time isolated physically and mentally in his mind as well. Retreating to only care for Lucifer, his kids and maybe the Khazra and some high demons… But he really decided he should use the fact of being alive to actually 'live' and learn and try to enjoy. Even if it meant learning a lot and processing a lot.

Robb returned that smile then it soon faded away as his eyes went back to Vega's home too. "I really hope so. He is a beautiful soul. It would be a shame to lose him. Though... his recovery will take some time. Such... injuries to an angel wing cuts deeper than the flesh," he said low, lightly caressing his pair's back.

"But our little brother is luckily not alone. He has Mick and the Gods. Soon Lord Christos will be back to his usual self too. Hopefully," he murmured. "Though... I wanted to ask you..." he turned to face Samael. "I mean, I know and can feel that you are enjoying this whole new world you gained permission to enter. But my love, please promise me to tell me if it's getting too much, okay? At any time," he asked softly, knowing that it was a sore point to his pair, but Samael had a better understanding about Lucifer's worries ever since the Khazra funeral.

"Yeah... You're right, love. And I'm okay. I'm doing this... constant self-analyzing thing Thoth always... taught," he said with a fake straight face then giggled. "I'm sorry... I just love how the Latin root of his name is still used in modern day English and it still means his very being. I do hope so that he will be back again…" he sighed turning serious again.

In the millennia of his solitude in the stronghold Samael has been reading a lot and secretly developed an honest admiration to the many materializations of the ancient trinity.

"Thoughts create reality... And all the powers are inside every living being who knows themselves. So… I try to watch how I feel. What I feel and keep trying to understand it and find the reasons for those feelings. I like the idea to have you all... I mean you and them all around me to spend time with. I think I may be the late to mature type," he shrugged.

"I see you haven't been idle back home either and did some reading next to spending time with our Khazras and the higher demons..." Robb chuckled, raising a brow then he reached up to caress his man's bearded face. "But yes, I love that too. And I also love you as a late bloomer, my devil," he smiled. "I'm into the silver fox look too," he winked, fondly stroking the white hairs in said beard.

"I am happy though that you like making new friends and getting to know them. They will love you once they know the real you, my love," he encouraged his pair, gazing into his eyes long.

"Yeah I’ve noticed this look is what you're most fond of," Samael wiggled his brows and pecked his husband's lips. "I'm trying. Had a looooot of time to read and study. Khazras and demon lords get boring too after a while... Hmm… well, for a few exceptions," he bit his lip and suppressed a giggle. "But what I really, really love the most in this place and being out is that I can learn about this world with you. You always told stories of your travels. Now I am here and with you, not waiting back home. And I don't want to be alone again..." he added then suddenly pulled Lucifer into his arms and nuzzled his beard into the crook of his neck.

"Yeah... for a few exceptions..." Robb murmured as he put his arms tightly around his pair, reaching up to caress the slicked back hair. "I love being on your side too while you see the world for yourself. And I'm very happy that you finally have the chance to discover Sanctuary too. Very few gets that privilege, you know," he murmured and turned his head to kiss Samael's head. "You won't be alone again, my love. You have new friends who will care about you and I'll be on your side too. I love you," he whispered.

"I love you too," Samael whispered back, enjoying that moment between them with closed eyes just a little bit longer. "Can we see how Vega is doing? What do you think?"

Robb pulled back enough to look into the beloved (now grey) eyes and nodded while spreading his demon wings behind. "Yes. I think it'd be okay to check on him," he said then kissed his pair before he lifted into the air. "Race you there!" he yelled back to lift their mood a bit and took flight towards the building where their brother was moved by the Gods after the cave.

"Cheeky bastard," Samael laughed and spread his wings too, taking off after his husband.

***

In the house Mick with his guardian senses already knew that the pair was coming, even before they landed on the terrace.

"Hi there, Samael, Robb," he nodded to them walking out as a greeting. "Kerim is still unconscious. I guess you came to ask about him."

"Yes, and to check on you too, my friend," Robb said, greeting Mick with a pat on his shoulder. "How are his injuries? And you holding up?" he asked with a slightly worried frown despite the small smile he had on his bearded face.

It was easy to see that this whole ordeal was taking its toll on the big guardian too. He was paler than usual, the dark circles under his constantly glowing white eyes clearly visible. "Did you eat recently? I could whip up something," he offered.

"I'm okay. I guess. He is still blue and purple all over… The gods said his torn wing will take the longest to heal. And his spirit, but that is no surprise…" Mick said with a little shrug and ignored the question about him eating.

"I know it must be very hard on you too. When he wakes up and we see how he is, it will be better. I hope you'll be able to rest then too," Samael said knowing well the suggestion of eating and resting means nothing to a man worried for his pair. He was like that many times when Lucifer came back to him days later than he said he would...

Dropping the food topic all together, Robb nodded and once they were invited in, he followed the big man inside the indeed modern-looking home with its light colors.

"Yes. It will be difficult for the wing to heal, but even more for his spirit. The... Fall had a kinda... similar effect on our spirits too. I mean, it messed us up for a while, not to mention the transmutations we went through. Luckily, Kerim only got a fragment of that pain. I would have hated to see our little brother going through that too," he quieted down at the end and glimpsed at his suddenly very quiet pair.

It was just a feeling of sensing his focus shift to something from Mick. And it was a big black long-haired cat sitting high on a book case near the door left ajar to probably the bedroom from where Vega's presence could be felt. Clearly, the majestic beast was guarding that door and who rested behind it in his unconscious state.

Source

Samael was mesmerized by the clearly not ordinary cat. He walked closer to the creature, slowly sizing it up.

"Aren't we gorgeous? Ain't ya, big boy? A very much feline spirit... An ancient wise one. Merged with the powers of the dark void. A demigod created by the ancients. Marvelous…" Samael whispered and bowed before Smaug, who returned the gesture.

"Sorry... This being is so amazing. Vega is in good hands… and paws with you, Mick and him," he turned grinning excited to the other two. "I mean," he cleared his throat, feeling he might not be appropriate to the situation "yes... The spirit breaks when such transmutations are forced onto one's. We had that too... And if we can help with anything to make it easier to Vega, we are always happy to help."

Robb couldn't suppress a smirk from the reaction Samael had to the guardian. "He's Smaug. Gifted to our brother by Lord Seth as a companion and guardian," he told his husband and bowed to the cat spirit too.

"Thank you. I... we appreciate the help. Have no idea how Kerim will be once he wakes up but I'll keep your offer in mind. Maybe you two can get to him better than I," Mick murmured, looking from Samael to Robb.

The latter simply nodded and reached out a hand for his pair. "Come, my love. Let Mick rest with our brother. His closeness will surely help on Vega," he smiled a bit then looked at Mick. "Be patient with him once he awakes. He might try to push you away."

"Yes. Yes we wish all the best for you two. And don't hesitate to call for us…" Samael said too and they said their goodbyes.

Leaving Mick to his thoughts about being useless to Kerim's issues before too. So how could he be useful to put the messed up angel back together now?

With a deep sigh, he walked back to the room and laid down next to the unconscious being, gently caressing the long toned arm and Kerim's side. He soon pulled his angel into his arms, closing his eyes and just inhaling that amazing sweet scent of his man as he slowly gave into exhaustion.

***

"An utter disgrace... You deserve to be punished and stripped from your wings!"

Pain. 

And not the kind Vega liked. It pierced through him sharply as his tormentors were back to ripping his wings out again and again. On a loop. Stripping him from his very essence and pushing him into the dark endless abyss... Making him reach out for the familiar forms of the Gods, but their silhouettes wouldn't move or look at him as they fell away and disappeared in the dark void. Leaving Vega falling and alone with the stabbing pain in his back... His wings were no more, they wouldn't carry him up towards the light...

No matter how hard he tried to reach out for something to hold onto, he knew that he was going to die once the Fall was over. And deeper and deeper he went into the darkness which was nothing like the familiar one of Seth. This was indifferent and cold, freezing his body and soul...

Then he heard a familiar voice just when some blue electricity flashed up in the blackness for a few moments. That voice... Mick!

The second that name registered in his mind, Vega's eyes were blinded by that blue light and above him the darkness ripped apart to give way to his electric demon. He reached out and their hands touched, the familiar energy running up on his arm and locking their hands together then Mick pulled him up...

Kerim's eyes popped open all of a sudden, his face pale and body swimming in sweat from the nightmare. An ugly guttural sound and a painful moan right after left him as he looked around bewildered, not knowing where he was.

It took him a moment to understand what Mick was saying or even the fact that his hands were fisted in the demon's black tee. Even breathing seemed to be a difficult task for the panicking angel.

"I... I can't move... Can't move... or feel my wings!" he whined on the brink of crying and twisted his head to try and take a glimpse behind him to see if he still had his wings.

They were there, lightly stretched out in the air and immobilized by the golden swirling and healing powers of Sotiris.

Mick was awake by the very first low painful moan of his pair. He’s been calling Kerim for minutes till the angel awoke from his nightmare.

"Sotiris used his powers to keep them still to heal up easier. Same about you… Here, I can move you. You are safe, my love. We are in your house," Mick said caressing the sweaty face as he moved Vega a bit to be able to half-lay on the bed. Smaug ran inside at once, loudly meowing to his owner.

***

Just before all that, in the mated Gods' residence Sotiris woke up in their bed, finding that he was all alone there. Sitting up, he had to smile from the vision before him.

Seth in his long black velvet robe was standing by the window and looked out toward the direction of Vega's house. In his arms Sethi the sphinx was purring. It was like something out of a gloomy Gothic Dracula movie, and it made a dreamy love-filled smile spread on Sotiris' face.

"Oh... Oh, my love. You feel it?!" he suddenly exclaimed just when Sethi meowed loudly too.

Caressing the hairless cat in his arms, Seth released a long sigh, some of the tension bleeding out of his slightly hunched forward back. Then he turned around to walk back to the bed and gently put Sethi down on it. "Yes... He is finally awake. I was worried he wouldn't... We should go..." he said and let his darkness envelop his body to change him in a black embroidered shirt and dark jeans while his naked pair got dressed too. Then after a brief hug and kiss, they disappeared from their room.

***

Meanwhile Kerim tried to calm down and lay still on the bed. His mind and vision were slowly coming to focus too and even smiled a bit from the raspy tongue of Smaug licking his cheek a few times before he butted his head against him, purring loudly.

"You saved me, Mick... Thank you," Kerim looked up at his man, the first teardrops escaping his tired eyes. "I would be forever lost without you..." he added hoarsely, his hand making an attempt to reach for Mick's bigger one as the angel was lying there only in his sleeping pants.

"I..." Mick started and took Kerim's hand in his, unsure about just how much he should tell about what actually happened to the broken angel. "You don't have to thank me. I love you so much, Kerim…" he whispered, kissing the back of the slim hand. "I will never leave you and help you in anything you need," he added, kissing his man's face.

Closing his teary eyes from the kiss against his face, he swallowed back a sob. Feeling the slight confusion and lots of worry in his man, he looked up at him. "You are my dark light. You saved me from that nightmare and the endless abyss in it," he added. "I love you too, Mick," he whispered then moved his eyes to the end of their bed.

Just then the two Gods appeared. Seth looked at the immobilized man with worried eyes. And Sotiris was practical at once, rather not getting into the mess of emotions just yet. First things first...

"We are very happy that you joined this dimension once again, Vega," he smiled at the angel, nodding to Mick, who got up to give way to the Sun God for his examination.

"Still weak, but healing in the right pace. I take away the spell from your body. But I don't think your muscles would be able to carry the weight of your wings yet. They stay outstretched and my powers will carry their weight. It will be a little uncomfortable that you can't fold them, but the main thing is that you are awake and will be moving around, gaining your strength back," he smiled as he pulled back his energies from Vega's body.

"Try to move, my precious boy," Seth asked softly and quietly.

The second Sotiris' powers were gone from his body, Kerim started to feel the many bigger and smaller pains all over it, but not in his back or wings. And he was grateful that the Sun God spared him from that because if it was as bad as in his nightmares...

"Thank you, Masters..." he whispered and reached up to wipe away a few tears before slowly trying to get to the edge of the bed to sit up, his wings turning with him still suspended in the air. It reminded him of the movies where humans surviving some incidents had their injured limbs immobilized to let the bones and muscles heal properly. He felt grateful that there were no pins and screws involved in his case, just magic.

Looking up at the Gods again, he pushed his long hair behind an ear, his dark eyes quickly checking the room while he caressed Smaug absently. As a picture of the battle flashed in front of his eyes, they widened. "W-why isn't Master Christos here?" he asked, dread and fear squeezing his heart and making him breathe shallower again. His senses were still messed up and he started to panic when he couldn’t find that familiar presence of the third God.

"He got a lethal wound before Mick fried that angel. Your demon husband saved you both. And we extracted his spirit and preserved his body till the turning point of the Moon. Like back in Egypt... and then in Rome... He will be alright," Seth said, forcing calmness on himself over the topic and a smile to calm down Vega too.

Just then Brent knocked on the open bedroom door. "Sorry... Everything was open... and he wanted to come here. I see now why," the short man smiled at the sitting angel. "I'm glad to see you better, Kerim," he said and the wolf next to him walked into the room and up to the bed. Smaug being a great guard was on his paws at once and quickly sized up the canine.

As much as Kerim felt that Seth wanted him not to freak out, some fresh tears slid down on his face. Especially when the beautiful white wolf hopped onto the bed. The second he entered the room with Brent, Kerim knew who he was. 

It seemed that Smaug quickly realized that too from the familiar vibes coming from the wolf and walked over to Mick, curling up in his lap and watching from there calmer too.

"Maybe we should keep him in this form. He's much cuter and easier to deal with this way..." Seth mused to Sotiris, earning a grumpy look and short growl from the wolf. 

"Yeah he is cuter. But he can do grumpy and bite you in the ass even more this way," Sotiris nudged at Seth's side after the wolf's reaction.

Kerim managed only a weak nod to Brent, Seth's joke completely flying past him then his eyes were tearing up again and he hugged the thick neck of the beast, burying his face into the fur. "I'm so very sorry, Master Christos. It's my fault... I tried to protect you but failed you instead... Please, forgive me..." he cried quietly, feeling the room spinning even with closed eyes, the faces of his tormentors laughing at him from the darkness.

The wolf huffed and rubbed his head to the crying angel.

"You did your best, Vega. We know and from our bond you can feel what he thinks too. He is just glad that you are okay," Seth said and even Mick moved to caress the crying angel’s shoulder to console him.

"We all love you and here for you in everything. Just as you are for us," Sotiris added as the wolf-Christos pulled his head back to lick the teary face of the angel.

All the love surrounding him slowly calmed down the angel and he sniffed as he pulled back with a small smile, caressing the soft fur. "Thank you. For all of you. For everything..." he said, though deep down he thought he didn't deserve all of this after everything he had done and all the problems he had caused. Still, he kept that little smile on his face as he leaned into Mick's half-embrace.

"Are the others okay? How did we manage to get here?" he asked, trying to piece the puzzle pieces together. "And what's next?" he looked at each of them questioningly and a bit calmer.

"Everyone is alright. As it was no use holding our powers back anymore, I connected to Sotiris and he opened a portal when we managed to finally finish the enemy off. We summoned more Khazra, war demons and even our Spartan warriors. But we did it," Seth smiled. "Now we rest. You heal. We get that" he pointed at the wolf "back together. Hopefully his grumpy spirit didn't do much harm in that poor wolf..." he added to Sotiris and Brent scoffed and the wolf let out a sigh, shaking his head with a grumble.

"You know... we understand how it all seems so dark. But no one is blaming you, only yourself. And I am saying this now because we won't let you sink any deeper. That asshole of a brother of mine risked the little mortal life he had to save you. We think that you are THAT MUCH worthy of our care. Try to slowly accept it again, please, my beautiful boy…"

A relieved sigh left the beaten up angel hearing that everyone else was okay. He even chuckled a bit from how Seth talked about his brother. It was nothing new to him as he has witnessed countless of times when they threw all kinds of comments and sometimes even objects at each other. He secretly loved that about them too.

But hearing what Seth said next made the pierced lip tremble again as the messed up angel tried to keep himself together. Still, those words moved him deeply. Yes, he was ungrateful for the sacrifices these people had made for him.

He carefully stood up, ignoring the slight spinning of the room and with some unsure steps walked over to Seth to hug him tight, resting his teary face on the God's shoulder. It felt like coming home...

Seth sighed closing his eyes and held the weakly trembling body. He caressed Kerim's long hair and back then he turned his head to kiss his temple.

"We love you. We never gave up on you. Mick loves you too. And everyone in this place is worried about your wellbeing," Sotiris said going over to them and tenderly hugged the angel too.

"Samael and Robb were here too just before you woke up, asking about how you were. Please let me… us help you and care for you." That was Mick who in all his desperation over Kerim in the past period spiraled down into his own darkness too. Now he saw a little ray of light to drag his pair out of there.

Kerim felt even more moved and he kissed the mated pair softly on their lips before turning around to walk back to the desperate demon on their bed. Crawling to him, he reached out to caress the bearded face. "I've put you through so much, Mick. I'm so sorry. You deserved none of that. I promise I'll try..." he said and kissed him gently too.

Then as he sat back on his heels, his eyes widened. "Wait... what? Robb AND Samael?" he asked confused, looking back at the Gods and Brent. "It seems that I've missed out on many things..."

"It seems," Brent chuckled low and walked over to caress the back of the white wolf with pride in his eyes. "As you might know, my pair forgave Samael for his past actions... So now at the end of the battle the Gods allowed Samael and even the Khazras to enter Sanctuary."

"Wow..." Kerim could only say that as he looked at the Trinity for confirmation, seeing the brothers nod in sync. And that was a reaction more characteristic to his old self. "So many new information... I think I have to lay down..." he laughed after a sniff. He did feel dizzy a bit and his body was still tired and aching.

"Samael and Robb said to call for them when you wake up and need anything. I try to cook something for you," Mick added, pecking the laid down angel's lips. "Is there anything I can do to help him heal faster?" he asked the Gods.

"Rest and love. That is what he needs," Sotiris smiled. "I think you would need that too. I send some servants over to bring food. We are only a thought away if needed," he giggled.

"Oh and I think the others will visit soon too. Or want to but I would like it more if you two got some real rest first," Seth added. He was clearly much more relaxed as it seemed that Vega was finally going to slowly get back from that pit he had retreated into.

The angel even chuckled a bit from Sotiris' joke. Usually it was he who found them good and hilarious. It also felt good how that made his wounded soul feel a tiny bit lighter. These people all loved him and wanted him to get better. He owed them to at least try...

"Thank you again. And yes... rest and love first," Kerim looked grateful at Seth while the others started moving out of the room.

"Yes," the God of Darkness nodded, his eyes lingering on the still beautiful boy. "I'll stop by tomorrow. Rest now. The both of you," he added then pulled the door nearly closed behind him.

By then the half-naked angel was lying on his side, wings slowly healing behind him. He reached out a hand for Mick, who quickly laid down next to him to pull his love into his arms. They gazed into each other's eyes for long and without a word then kissed softly.

Not long after that Kerim was drifting into a healing sleep in the arms of his man. Yes, he was finally home again...

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