"No! I don't regret Loki at all! Only how I used you!" Pellaz cried as he looked up defensively. He straightened and glanced away again, somehow realizing what he had just said. "I...I care about the children, but Loki is special. I birthed him and raised him. The others...I don't know what they are, but I can't claim them."

"They are your offspring! How can you turn a blind eye on them?" Galdra demanded, aghast at just how selfish Pell sounded at that moment. He stilled as he stared at Pell. "Or is it because they are from Caeru as well? Geburael is your grandchild from Abrimel, your first born, and Darquiel is the essence of the Triad-"

"They are abominations and I wish I had never thought to let them live!" Pell shouted at Galdra and then gasped at the same time as he paled. He gripped the banister tightly, wavering as he heard what he had just said echo around them.

"They are Wraeththu and of your flesh, Pell. But the cost of their creation has been even worse to Caeru than to you. Maybe you should look under the mask of uncaring and unselfish giving that is presented to you by Rue and truly see the ugliness that your so-called hatred and abominations have created and destroyed," Galdra stated coldly, shaken inside by the severity of what had just been said.

"What do you mean?" Pell whispered hoarsely as he peered up at Galdra, seeming smaller than he had ever been in his life. He frowned darkly when Galdra turned from him, not answering. “Answer me, Galdra! Why do you bring up such dark things?”

“Because darkness has destroyed so much light and you refuse to see it in your arrogance!” Galdra shouted back angrily as he stared out over the city, his face dark with his frustration. “You don’t see the pain and darkness that is hidden under Rue’s false light and faint hope,” he added softly before turning back towards the chambers. He went inside, leaving Pellaz staring after him in utter confusion.

Chewing on his lip, Pell ignored the soft talking that floated out from the room as Cal met up with Galdra. He hugged himself, thinking over the conversation. After a bit, he realized that the whole conversation had been revolving around Caeru. Was there something wrong with Caeru? He thought back on their recent encounters and contemplated them as he stared sightlessly out over the city.

Suddenly, it clicked. He remembered watching Cal and Caeru and the momentary fear and pain that had been in Caeru's eyes moments before his being penetrated. His eyes widened as he realized just what Galdra had been saying. With determination, he strode from the balcony past the two blonds, ignoring Cal's inquiries as he headed out and to Caeru's rooms.

He wasn't sure if the Tigrina was with someone for the night, but didn't care as he knocked on the large oaken doors prior to going inside. He allowed a faint smile to come to his lips as a rather disheveled and annoyed Caeru came out from the den to answer the door. "Forgive me, Caeru...am I interrupting something?" he asked softly as he came closer, watching the Tigrina intently as he approached.

"Mmm...nothing really...I just thought I'd come and be with you," Pell responded nonchalantly as he ran a light finger up his consort's arm, noting the watching har as he kept his gaze on Caeru. He saw the smile slip a bit from the blond's lips. "Is that a problem?"

"No...I think I'd like to stay. Cal can take care of Galdra. Besides, it looks like Gerith wouldn't mind a threesome," Pell replied lowly as he laced his arm around Caeru's waist and pulled him close, smirking when his consort gasped in surprise. He glanced over at Gerith and leered as he saw the avid want on the young face.

"Pell...let me go..." Rue whispered softly as he pushed at Pell's chest. He moaned when Pell began to nibble on his neck while the clever fingers trailed down his back and into his pants. "Pell..." he groaned out even as he arched slightly.

Watching Caeru closely whilst he pushed down the soft silk pants, the Tigron began caressing the moist folds of the Tigrina's soume-lam, shivering as his fingers encountered wetness. He leaned back just a bit and watched Caeru, frowning slowly as he saw the pain and shame on the blond's face before he looked down at where his fingers were caressing Caeru into arousal. Or so he thought as he found himself frozen in shock at what he discovered.

Instead of the brilliant blue and green that Caeru's essence had once been it was a sickly navy that bordered on black. The green was the color of mold and the essence wasn't silky, but sludgy, as if it had been mixed too often. He must have gasped because he suddenly felt Caeru's body stiffen against his as a feeling of rage welled up within him. But it wasn't directed at Caeru...it was directed at himself.

"Why didn't you say anything?" he hissed out angrily, barely controlling himself as he looked up at Rue sharply. His dark eyes focused intently on the blond, causing Caeru to jerk away in fear and a rage of his own. "Why didn't you say anything?!" he demanded again, his voice rising with his wrath.

"Get away from me!" Caeru snarled as he pushed Pell away hard, causing them both to stumble in reflex from the other. They straightened themselves and faced off. Hands clenched into shaking fists, Caeru glared balefully at Pell. "Why should you care?! Who the fuck-" He stopped as he paled and stumbled again, catching himself on Gerith's shoulder when the other har quickly moved to support him while he stared at the heaving Tigron. "Galdra...he broke his promise...that fucker! I'll kill him!!"

"Galdra said nothing, you jackass!! He clued me in, but I figured it out on my own!! Why the fuck didn't you tell us?!" Pell shouted back in fury as he stared at Rue, his fingers covered in the blond's essence as a testament to what had opened his eyes to Rue's true pain. "We've been hurting you every fucking time! And you still took it?!"

"What did you think I was going to do, say no?!" Rue retorted incredulously, then started laughing bitterly as tears rolled down his flushed cheeks. "Are you insane?! I've been longing to be with you and, now that you're *finally* paying attention to me, I should tell you I'm sterile and have been fucked up ever since Diablo stole Darquiel?! Did you fucking hit your head, Pell?! Or are you just that stupid?!" he snarled back as he pushed Gerith away, standing taller before the Tigron. "You give me scraps and I should ruin my chances by telling you that...right." He snorted derisively.

"We can help you, Rue...we coul-"

"Help me?! There's a thought!" Caeru's voice broke as he laughed again. "The great Tigrons deigning to help the Tigrina, whom I’m sure everyone knows they wish was dead. Oh yea, that'd go over great, Pell...in stories," he jeered.

"We do not! Rue, would you just shut the fuck up and listen?!" Pell snapped out as he stormed closer. But he had to duck as a vase flew at him suddenly, smashing into the wall near the door in a thousand glittering shards. Gerith bolted out of the rooms at that, terrified that he had been mixed up in the middle of one of their famed rows.

"Get out!! You don't own me, Pell!! Get the fuck out of my rooms!!" Caeru screeched at the dark haired har as he picked up another vase and threw it at Pell. Pell dodged it again and backed out. "GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT!!" he continued screaming as he threw vases, statues, and even glasses at Pell, his face red with his rage and despair. He continued attacking Pell before the door slammed shut behind Pell's hastily retreating presence. At the sound, the Tigrina sank to the ground with a heartbroken sob, shaking as he rocked himself.

He stayed that way for a few minutes before gathering himself and rising unsteadily. Not looking anywhere, he headed immediately to his bedroom, where he began packing a satchel with some clothes and a couple of utilities. He put a traveling cape on, not even caring on his condition, even though he had straightened his clothes somewhat absently, then grabbed his satchel and headed out to the sedim stables. Swiftly, he went through the shadowed alleyways to the stables and then inside, where he went to his sedu, Jancis. He touched the sedu’s snout with a gentle hand, and then hugged his steed’s long pale neck tightly, sobbing into the white coat as he trembled. "I have to get away, Jancis. Can you take me to Megalithica? Take me to Cobweb and Swift...they'll help me, right?" he whispered tremulously into the soft hair before pulling back and looking up into the knowing eyes.

Tossing his head, Jancis nickered softly before nudging Caeru’s shoulder, urging him onto the sedu’s back. Mounting swiftly, Caeru leaned in and pushed the gate open before holding tightly to Jancis’ mane. He tilted forward as Jancis picked up speed, galloping through the city past groups of surprised hara as they watched the hooded rider fly by on a sedu. They came to the outskirts of the sparkling city and picked up even more speed as they vanished into the Other lanes.

Rue fought to concentrate as they traveled through the maddening dimension, but his sorrow and rage were too great and he couldn’t lose himself in it. They came out of the Other lanes with a loud ‘crack’ and Jancis trotted towards the bustling mansion of Forever. Looking over as they slowed down, Caeru saw a single figure standing within the lit doorway before it separated from it and came to meet them. With relief, Caeru saw that it was Cobweb and dismounted. He fell to his knees almost immediately and shuddered as the gentle fingers of his friend cupped his face before sliding through his hair in a soothing glide. “Cobweb...please help me...” he whispered softly and was summarily hugged to the slender body.

Watching the Tigrina, Cobweb felt a blanket of sorrow and pain cover them. “Stay as long as you need to, Caeru. Pell and Cal will not find out where you are from me. You are safe here until you heal,” he murmured soothingly.

“I will never heal, Cobweb...I’m sorry...” Caeru choked out before sobbing. He was gathered close and carried into the house by the Varr, where he was taken into a room and laid down to rest. Cobweb stayed with him and wondered if the wrath of the past was now coming to a head.

Fin.