Hunters and the Hunted

"Not so much about keeping my cool as resisting the urge to commit mass murder in the general vicinity. We're territorial and if another is nearby, I might hit my Chaos period." Cain twitched a little before pressing his face into her hand with a soft noise in the back of his throat close to a purr. "Ian'll hopefully keep me sane enough for long enough."

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"Better?" Death smiled slightly.

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Aria moved to tuck Lucy's head under her chin, holding her as close as she could. She didn't have to worry about being gentle since she didn't have enough strength to hurt anything anyway.

She nodded. "I hope so." She kissed his cheek. "Be back soon." She then disappeared, ending up near Alarick.
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"Much." She smiled.
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Lucy snuggled close.

Alarick flinched violently, thinking it was Death as he suddenly twisted around to face her, standing in front of Tuesday who was sat on the sofa, just complacently staring at the far wall.

"You scared me Scarlet. Dad went out, if you're looking for him."

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Death smiled. "I'm glad you liked it."

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Aria gently settled back against the pillows, keeping Lucy held gently to her front.

She smiled. "Giver her back to them Death." She whispered to them.
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Scareth sat on the edge of the bed, watching them.
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"I know, I've actually come to get you."

"I don't know what you're talking about," he murmured in reply, though he'd stiffened subtly.

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"Did you not want to come up here and lie with us?" Aria mumbled quietly, resting her hand on the back of Lucy's head to keep her close, so Lucy would literally be lying on Aria's front with the way Aria had shifted down the pillows.

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"I'm not leaving mom when she's about as defenceless as a newborn kitten and this suggestible."

"Lucy told Scareth what you done, and he's just told me." She made him look at her. "They need her Death, they need their mother."
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"You're sister will be here soon."
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Lcy looked at her. "I want to mummy."

"They're not so young that they won't survive without their mother. I'll give her back when Rakin isn't a concern." Death shrugged weakly.

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"Faye'll be worrying more about Rosco, believe me."

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"You were with your aunt and uncle until you got scared, I thought you might have wanted to stay longer."

he shook her head.
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"Please Death."
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"Not Faye, you're older sister."

"Well, its fine with me if you want to stay. I could probably do with some sleep if you wanted to nap as well. Did you want to join us Scareth?"

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"Its an incentive. It's only for three days."

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"Oh, Penny. She has her own kids to look after, she won't be able to look after mom when she's - oh, stop it." He gently slapped Tuesday's arm where she'd lifted her wrist to her mouth to chew on, being thirsty.

"I hope it is, because that family has suffered enough."
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"She will."
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"Yeah I don't see why not."

"Not in my opinion. They're always messing things up to be honest."

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"What, is Alex caring for the kids while Penny cares for mom? I don't even see why I have to go with you. Don't fancy having to see Ian either."

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Aria smiled slightly before moving to kiss the top of Lucy's head as she began to relax.

"You don't see what I see."
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"Because Ian will be able to help you."
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Lucy relaxed and soon fell asleep, exhausted from her crying.

"And what is it you see?"

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"And why should I trust him? He hates me."

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Aria kept smoothing her hand through her hair, but didn't fall asleep herself yet.

"But I won't let him do anything to hurt you."
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Scareth watched them as he lay on his side. "She's really glad that you're back you know."
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"I see a family, torn apart when Scareth and Penelope were young, there is a fragile bond between them all. And I think your hatred for their immortality is what drives you to break them apart this way, your shadow crowds around all of them, but it's mainly Scareth's father."

"Ian snaps easier than a toothpick and you say you'll stop him from hurting me? Sorry, but I'm a little doubtful."

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"I'm glad to be back as well." Aria dropped her eyes to Lucy again, frowning.

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"I've already been too lenient with that family, Jessica. Tuesday and Sirius shouldn't be there. Scareth, Penelope and Alex should also be gone by now. Aria should have died years before she met Scareth. It's not that I'm threatening them, it's just that I'm running out of excuses to keep them alive long enough up until this moment. As for the hatred of their immortality...well, I dislike most people who don't abide by the laws of mortality by ignoring them."

"I'm the only one that he won't hurt, if you stay close to me then he won't go for you."
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"What's wrong?"
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"Technically I shouldn't be here either." She reminded him. "Death I should have gone when I was 10, but look at me I'm still here." She looked at him. "But you haven't ignored me."

"If he goes for me I'm going to sever the spinal cord for however long it knocks him out for, just so you know. I don't particularly want to get hurt, but considering nothing seems to kill Ian, he'll probably be fine if I do that to him. Just warning you."

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"Nothing," Aria murmured, shuffling herself gently down the bed to curl around Lucy carefully.

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"You aren't supposed to die until seventeen days after your three hundred and forty sixth birthday. As there is Death, there is Life. You were just kept going until your date comes up. I might be inclined to ignore it, however. I'm definitely developing favouritism. I just hope it doesn't come along and cause problems in later years."

"If there is a chance that it will cause problems for you in the future, then let me die." She told him. "Hopefully by then I won't be too scared to die."
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"Aria, tell me."
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"Then I will break your neck, so I wouldn't."

"It's not going to cause any problems at all. It's just the altered choices of this family has led to Alarick being a vessel to Rakin. You aren't a risk. Leaving you alive won't lead to the possible destruction of half of the lives on earth."

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"I don't really want to talk of the time I spent dead, Scareth. The memories are too fresh and, unfortunately, well remembered."

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"Ian could survive the end of the world, a little broken spine isn't going to kill him. I'd just want to get out without being skinned and quartered."

"He only wants to help you Alarick."
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"Ok, why didn't you just say that?"
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"Ok..."

"Ian and help in the same context? And you expect me to believe it?"

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Aria shrugged weakly. "Just did," she muttered quietly.

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"I'm not going to have you die if I can help it, actually."

"Yes, and you should believe me. Ian won't hurt you."
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"Yeah I know you just did." He kissed her forehead gently.
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Jess looked at him. "I know that, but what if I was in Alarick's position, what would you do to me?"

"Why the sudden change of heart that he's had?"

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Aria smiled weakly before she tried to huddle up.

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"Then I would step to the other side and threaten Rakin, or whoever thought it necessary to choose you as a vessel, to pick someone else before I tore them apart cell by cell and repeated the process when they eventually regenerated."

"Because of my connection to you guys through your dad."
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Scareth kissed her forehead.
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She looked at him. "Then please, try and do the same for him, for me."

"Ian fucking hates Sirius. In fact, I'm pretty sure he hates me more because I used to be his bastard son. There's something you ain't telling me, there has to be." He flinched when Scarlet's phone started ringing.

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"I missed you," Aria mumbled eventually, fingers twisting in the bed covers.

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"I'm not going to waste time I could spend with you unless it's absolutely crucial for your survival." Death cocked his head to the side. "It would take me sixteen years to cross into the Veil, two more to take Rakin apart, and then a further twenty six to cross back to this side. Forty four years. If Alarick means so much to you, then I will seal him myself, but I'm not going to waste forty four years on him."