C:SOD Chapter 25 (Patreon)

A meter tall Doberman dog on all fours viciously rip deer carcass off its bones as its brother pulls off the bone. Their Master fed them enough so the lean Dobermans still have muscles and fearsome bite force able to snap this deer's hind leg in two.

"Babies, my babies..." says a warm, gentle voice in the presence of two wild giant dogs. "Share with siblings, alright? I'll get you each a bunny next time. Or a kangaroo? Oh yes, how cute..."

He finishes unloading the shotgun and snaps it in place, proudly looking down at his children who have great big teeth that rip flesh off the bones. Then, their Master acknowledges the other person in the yard, "Beautiful creatures, aren't they? I hate how they domesticated the gorgeous dogs of the wild... they're meant to hunt, maim, kill... loyalty is better than love."

"Cut to the chase and tell me why you called me here."

"Because, Father Daniel," the man faces the Priest, a bandage wrapped around his arm courtesy of the little brawl between him and Hermes Quinn. "... I missed a target."

"I don't work for you anymore. The names I gave you will be all you have. I'm not helping you with Felicity Sanders."

"I don't need your help with her. I need your help with Hermes," he casually says, turning to observe his precious hounds who are loudly barking at each other, selfish of the carcass. "He is... tainting my boys. Isn't that right, my babies? Hmm, I won't let him anywhere near you, don't worry my little angels..."

Father Daniel rolls his eyes at the sudden immaturity. "He's a grown man, he's not my son. I have no control over him. And even if I had, I wouldn't control him in the name of you."

"There would be no controlling him, Father Daniel... there would be none but loyalty..." He takes out another deer part to feed it to his sadistic dogs, filling their ears with their aggression. Father Daniel is intrigued by what this charismatic man has to say. "I want him to be your lover again. And keep him away from the boys."

Father Daniel wouldn't believe his ears. "What? You're letting me—no, that's exactly exerting control. Keeping him from interacting with students is controlling."

"It's not controlling if it's out of loyalty," he says, turning to present a friendly and charming smile to the scowling priest. "He must love you so much, he would feel too guilty to even touch the twins, or Au."

"It's impossible for him to forgive me after what you drove me to do!" Father Daniel angrily exclaims while trying his best to remain calm. But, he really lost the love of his life because of his paranoia. "Screw off. I've told you over and over, I don't work for you anymore. I'm not helping you."

Fully rejecting this useless meeting, Father Daniel spins to exit out of the yard, not willing to deal with this cunning bástard.

That certain cunning individual is currently too busy attending to his sweet little puppies to even look back at the angry visitor. He keeps cooing and grinning and babying his hounds, telling them, "He may be too stupid to realize he doesn't need to work for me to help me, does he, my little babies? Oh yes, haha... well..."

As the dogs tore off the flesh of someone that came from Carvalle, the male was smiling at the difference in texture between the different meats. "... God works in mysterious ways."

later in the week,

Multiple students are being excused from Hermes' class to go rehearse or train for the upcoming Annual Festival. This year's theme is white carnations, in honor of the late students who met their unfortunate end in the hands of suicide. Everyone is having fun, barely anyone participates in lessons. Teachers are busy organizing as well.

And Hermes Quinn, the one in charge of the charity stalls in which the students would propose their ideas to him, is too busy even at this hour. However, there was still time to ponder over his plan, and his dangerous relationship with Mavis.

Oh, that boy... Images of Mavis fúcking him in the showers because he can't help but get a little addicted to the feel of séx, as a former virgin would. Hermes understood, he was like that before; Au was like that as well, until it slowed down the more they did it. He'll have to wait until Mavis gets over his post-virginity séx drive.

"Mavis! Slow down!" Hermes doubts if the guy can even hear him, because Mavis is drowning in his own desires to plunge deep into him.

"Mr. Quinn?" A student calls him back to the real world, Hermes raising an eyebrow to not make it seem too obvious. She continues, "You said something about... something too deep?"

"Ahh," the teacher brings himself to a more professional state of mind. "What I meant was, your concept is a little too deep. Everyone is always trying to have fun and move on to the next attraction, so they don't have time to philosophize every single detail. Simplicity is key, but be sure to stay unique."

"Okay, thank you, Mr. Quinn!"

The exhausted teacher nods at her, "You're welcome, Felicity."

She is flustered, still greatly admiring him for saving her that day. To Felicity Sanders, Mr. Quinn was a hero and she feels a little bad for not giving him something in return. Felicity walks with her friend through the hallway to organize the stalls.

"Do you really not miss Anna?" Felicity's friend chats with her as they enter the storage room where the cardboards would be.

"Anna? Psh, she got what was coming to her. I told her not to go with her drug dealer boyfriend," Felicity rolls her eyes, trying to pull out a cardboard from under the many boxes.

"But her boyfriend was nice," the friend tells her with a small voice, a little fearful of Felicity herself. "You were the one who planted drugs on her and blamed him."

Felicity turns around and scowls at her for bringing that up. "That doesn't change the fact that he's a lowlife drug dealer raised by a single mom with six baby daddies. I merely gave Anna her future early, you think she wouldn't grow up a druggie with a boyfriend higher than Snoop Dog jumping from the Empire State Building?!"

The other female is silenced, the sound of Felicity's bracelets worsening her anxiety even more.

"Lesson learned, bítch. Don't date the school shooter who snorts baby powder because he's too poor to afford both coke and pepsi. Or else, a good friend like me will jail that piece of shít with your consequence being expelled and disowned by your parents." Felicity snaps at her, "I saved her from him. You're such a bad friend for thinking I'm the bad friend. Ungrateful bítches. Can you imagine having a druggie as a friend?!"

The other female has no choice but to keep silent to avoid being next. She wouldn't have minded being expelled, but she's afraid of ending up like their former friend, Anna. After her boyfriend got jailed and she got disowned, she killed herself outside Carvalle.

The two girls were finding it hard to carry the many cardboards they will be used to store their products, when a very handsome and charismatic young male approached them and held onto the cardboards.

"You ladies must need help?" He smiles, stunning both of the young students. He brushes over Felicity's silky dark hands, "Such treasures should be in spas preserving nails with manicure instead of doing labor?"

Felicity smiles so widely, holding back a squeal as her friend just nervously giggles. "Oh, you're right, these are $600 nails..."

"Allow me," he offers to take all of the cardboard and walk with them to the hallways. Felicity was the loudest to chat with him, laughing at almost everything he says. After all, this is a very handsome student who they grew to love over time.

the next day,

Hermes is taking overtime again, sorting through papers for the Annual Festival, as well as balancing his lesson plans to accommodate each student. He has gained a reputation as the well-respected heroic teacher who can kick an intruder's áss and teach his students well. Though that is far from the truth and he works just as hard as the rest, and he only survived because of the police arrival.

Speaking of cops, a security knocks on his door. "Mr. Quinn, it is advised for you to go home?"

This is the second time. "Fifteen more minutes, Randy. I asked you for 30 minutes, 15 minutes ago."

"14 minutes now."

"I get it, big guy..." Now, please stop scaring me. The overworked teacher sighs, appreciating the security measures Carvalle is putting up.

Ten minutes later, a knock came to disturb him again. "Randy, I told you, five minutes—"

"I'll be honored to receive five minutes of your time," said a voice not from the security guard. Hermes looks at the door to see none other than Father Daniel, hair in a bun and neat, even, four-day-old stubble that aged him gracefully. In fact, it brought out his defined facial features and is split like his hair.

It doesn't look like he let himself go, in fact, it looked like he's grown even more mature. At the sight of him, Hermes can't even get mad. All he is, is afraid. "Father Daniel, I humbly ask you to get the fúck out."

"Let's talk like adults. I know you haven't been in the company of some," Father Daniel pulls out the most beautiful fresh bouquet of orchids, lavenders, and pink carnations to show to him. Then, a tall coffee tumbler.

The Equestrians aren't kids. "No, I'm not a girl for you to give flowers to, and I'm not drinking anything you give me," Hermes firmly said.

"Oh, don't tell me you're enforcing gender roles, they're pretty like you." Father Daniel then opens the coffee cup to reveal sachets of ground coffee beans, creamer, and sugar. "I know you're cautious, and I admire you for it. So here's some Starbucks coffee for you to make yourself."

Hermes stares at him in shock, that smooth voice filled with attractive discipline turning his shock into awe. He is still very wary of his ex-lover, but the security guard is outside and the school allowed him to keep a gun under his desk. He is safe enough to keep his guard up, and keep things civil.

"Alright then," Hermes sucks in a breath, thinking he'd be a coward if he doesn't face this man. "I'll get a vase for that."

The flowers were truly beautiful. Vivid colors that rival their plastic counterparts. Hermes carefully places them in a pitcher, all while Father Daniel is sitting on the seat in front of Hermes' desk. The teacher had successfully made Starbucks coffee from the office dispenser's hot water.

"Thank you for trusting me this once," Father Daniel says, before looking at the open door. "Barely, but it's still there."

"I was hoping my words would hurt you." When I said something about not being in love with him at all, and all of it was just séxual... "But you still keep going after me. Even when I said I didn't love you."

"That can't hurt me, because my goal is to protect you, not keep you for myself..." Father Daniel confesses, his genuine eyes glazing over Hermes when they meet. "I admit, I haven't been doing it the right way. I just... let my paranoia take over me, and I really did treat you like a helpless child."

Hermes stares the path between his lips and eyes, before sighing, "Thena would've done the same..."

Father Daniel looks up, intently listening to Hermes as he adds, "She gets mad, too. When I was a kid, she'd hit my hand if I take other strangers' hands. She'd hit it out of fear of losing me. I understood, and took it, because... her hitting my hand would be a better pain than what those strangers could do to me."

"Hermes..."

"I'm not excusing your actions. I'm not a kid who needs a hit to understand consequences any more. All I'm saying is... I kind of understand where you're coming from. Still..." Hermes drinks some coffee to avoid himself from crying, "I don't want to be with an abusive partner. Just a preference."

"I'm sorry," Father Daniel whispers, never removing eye contact because breaking it may sever the communication from his heart. "I don't expect your forgiveness. But, I am grateful that you at least understand what drove me to do that."

Hermes goes in front of his desk to lean on the edge, directly facing Father Daniel. He bluntly asks, "Are you gonna tell me who is behind this?"

Father Daniel stares at him for a long moment, admiring those eyes and missing how they smile. He answers, "An insane man."

"I know that, he stuck an axe on my leg," Hermes refers to his recovering leg, which he still needs a walking cane for. "Can you give me a name?"

Father Daniel's eyes fall to nowhere. "Even we don't say his name. He doesn't have one, I have nothing to give you."

Hermes sighs heavily, feeling hopeless. "Do I know this person?"

"No," Father Daniel answers. "Even if he has a name, you wouldn't know him."

"What does he look like?" Hermes crosses his arms, watching Daniel stare at him with so much admiration despite the other party sternly scowling. It's like Father Daniel is smitten and ignoring the snotty, snobby ex.

Father Daniel says, "Handsome. The type where you'll forgive the stalking, creeping, and even murder. He looks exactly the type to do that. He looks like a Prince Charming."

"I need traits, Father Daniel," Hermes asks. I know he'd have to be handsome for Thena to fall for him at one point.

"Dark hair. Light eyes," Father Daniel is smiling while gazing attentively at the specimen that is Hermes, and the other male is noticing the stare as well. "... pale as a Nordic prince."

"So not you?"

"Why would you suspect me?"

"You're weird. You know the school so much, and you have anger issues," Hermes sassily answers.

Father Daniel nods, accepting the judgment. "Unfortunately, I can't even command Frost to move out of my way with a please, let alone run the whole school."

"How does he control them, then?" Hermes interrogates, releasing his arms and planting them on the desk. If a school priest can't command Frost, then who can? "What does he make them do?"

"Why would I tell you, Hermes?" Father Daniel asks.

"You're gonna tell me because people are dying and I want to stop all of this!" Hermes exclaims, slamming his hands on the armrests of Daniel's chair. "Now help me solve this."

Father Daniel's gaze suddenly falls serious. "Give me a chance to fix us, and I will tell you everything you need to know... but, I won't lead you to him, because I stand by my purpose to keep you safe."

"Us? Did you fúcking forget what you di—"

"If I do it again and hurt you in any other way, it'll be over. And once I ruin this one chance, I will leave you alone and never bother you with another." Father Daniel stands up and takes Hermes' hands, just to kneel before him with one knee.

"What are you doing?! Get up!" A panicking Hermes looks to the open door just in case the security guard is seeing this.

"Hermes, I'm risking my life pursuing you. You're risking their lives by having affairs with them. I can protect you from him, because he cannot touch me. One word from him, and they will hurt you."

"Daniel, I—"

"I love you. So much, even the thought of you getting a paper cut from his letters fúcking enrages me. I'm trying my best to become a better person, all for you. But when I fail, just this once, everything will end and you can walk away from me freely."

From how Father Daniel changed his usual flirty demeanor into a serious, genuine man proposing to the love of his life, Hermes' heartstrings are being plucked. Had he not really loved Father Daniel, when his heart is getting pulled to his sleeves so they can rest in Daniel's hands?

This man... Hermes closes his eyes, denying his feelings for him, as he did to all of them. "What if I don't love you back?"

"All I want is to protect you, and the best way to do that is to keep you close. Love," Father Daniel kisses his hand, "... can come later, if it wants to."

"Are you really gonna tell me everything?" Hermes mumbles.

Father Daniel stands up to claim, "Yes. I will."

Hermes searches for a hint of dishonesty in his eyes, both eyes; one icy blue that can barely see, and a dark one who watches over him with the utmost regret and sadness. Hermes thinks it's for his sister; he has always done everything for her. But deep down, Father Daniel was something to him, at least. Everything was intended to protect him, good or bad. Now he has a chance to filter out the bad.

"Hurt me just once, and we're done," Hermes removes himself off the table, accepting the proposal. "And once we're done, you—"

Father Daniel didn't let him finish and snatch him by the waist, claiming his lips with an exaggerated dip. Hermes squeals in shock and slaps Daniel for the sudden action, but ends up laughing with him once he's straightened up. They're acting like high school sweethearts before prom, and it's silly enough for them to laugh about it. Hermes wraps an arm around his neck, both men laughing before they shared a tight kiss.

But, the door was open, and so was the window this late at night. Someone tightens their grip so much, their fist shook and their breathing became unstable.

"Hermes... no... no, you're supposed to be... no, no, NO! Not him, I HATE THIS!"

The lights suddenly turned off, shocking the two lovers inside the office. Hermes looks around and leaves Daniel for the door. "Randy? Randy—?"

BANG.

"RANDY?!" Immediately, Father Daniel pulls him back to the office and closes the door, all while Hermes is worried about the security guard.

"He's here! Stay away from the windows—" Father Daniel forces Hermes to crouch while pressing themselves against the wall separating the office and the hallway. Hermes is a little shaken, but feels a little safe now that he's not alone anymore. Father Daniel is a little confused amidst the silence.

"That's strange, he doesn't like guns..." Father Daniel mumbles as he tries to keep hidden from an armed attacker. "... there must be a target student nearby, or... Hermes, did you break a rule?"

"Rule, what?" Hermes whispers with a shaky voice, currently dialing the police. "Hello?! We're under attack, please help we’re in Carvalle—!"

"Did you break a rule? Because he doesn't go after students or teachers, unless..."

"Doesn't go after students, are you nuts?! Did you forget about Felicity Sanders—" Hermes froze. No, it was Hermes who forgot that she was attacked after they separated as well. He stayed with Hermes, while another...

"It's not him." Father Daniel curses. "Shít, they're after me!"

"Who?!" Hermes is dragged outside the office limping, where Father Daniel specifically avoids where the fire exits are because that's how they maneuver around the floors. He never neglected Hermes' leg and the priest is acting as a substitute for his bad leg.

As they run down the stairs, with Daniel carrying him down the steps, Hermes demands who it is again.

"It's the twins."

"The twins?!" Hermes gasps out, relying on Daniel to navigate through the dark. It's not as dark as before since there is an absence of a storm, but they have a new moon and the light from it is very faint. "Daniel what's going on—"

"The twins carry out his orders. They're the hitmen. All the girls who died, they're the ones hunting them down. That's why he's never killed before."

What...

"Do you know how much I love my brother, Hermes?"

"That's why I can't tell you who we're working with."

"Everyone has an ugly secret. We're just hiding in plain sight."

They were hiding in plain sight. They weren't talking about the masks.

"The twins..." Hermes starts to sob in disbelief, his heart racing from adrenaline and also stressed out. He cannot believe they would do such a thing, and worse is he fúcked the actual murderers. I trusted murderers. "D-did they kill Thena?!"

"No. They were at the bottom floor when she fell," Father Daniel spots a broken firefighting kit, making him stop and pull Hermes the other way. "I don't know which twin it is, but they have an axe right now. Usually, they don't carry guns because bullets can be traced."

I don't even know what to think anymore. They didn't kill Thena, but they still killed people! Hermes feels so betrayed and heartbroken. It felt like their sad story and happy smiles were just for show. The small second where Hermes thought they were good was such an embarrassment.

"Where's Randy—where are the security guards?!"

"They're not dead, they only kill the targets." But they're definitely planning to kill me. Father Daniel spots a broken CCTV camera in the other hallway, which means a twin has just gone that way. And when there are two, it's hard to go where the enemy isn't placed.

"So there's a dead student in school right now," Hermes cries. "Daniel, we have to stop this..."

"We need to stay here for a moment. They shot the gun without a silencer to draw us out. I know they're on the first floor right now, guarding the entrance and fire exits," Father Daniel holds him close as he locks the second-floor classroom.

Hermes starts pacing, debating on whether to call the police again, but his trembling hands can barely unlock his phone. "The twins... no, no, Ray... and Rain couldn't..."

"I told you they were bad news..."

"You didn't tell me they were serial killers!"

"They're hitmen, not serial killers," Father Daniel says, now trying to calm down a hysterical Hermes. I couldn't tell you back then because if you confront them about the truth, they will kill you.

"What's the difference?!" Hermes sobs at him. "Oh god, I actually cared about them... I grew to like them, they were good boys! They made me believe they were good! I can't... Daniel, you have to be shítting me right now, you're probably making it up so I'll hate them—!"

"I promised to tell you everything," Daniel firmly tells him, yet still keeps his voice hushed. He grabs onto Hermes' arms and squeezes to comfort him with pressure. "And here is the truth: the twins kill, Frost cleans up loose ends, and Au is the lure for the girls or backup hitman. That's how they operate."

And I... Father Daniel sighs in shame. I used to be the eyes and ears. The informant.

"Au... back up? H-has he killed... ?"

"He did. I don't know which victim it was."

Hermes froze, even his sobs suddenly silenced themselves. He backs away in shock, and soon sinks to crouch on the floor, knowing the disgusting truth about the men he thought to be innocent. Believe it or not, Au was special to him. He has feelings for that guy, but Hermes was caught up in his heartbreak with Father Daniel that he can't bring himself to date after that.

"What about Mavis?" Hermes sobs out, covering his nose and lips to prepare for any gruesome truth.

"He's just something to blackmail Frost with." Father Daniel revealed Mavis to be a harmless pawn.

Please come faster, please come faster, Hermes cries for the police to come and end the nightmare. He isn't heroic at all, truths scare him more than monsters. But, at least the truth about Mavis is innocent, and he remains innocent.

"Why do they work for him... why do they do this..." Hermes sobs, now sitting on the floor and putting his knees against his eyes, rocking back and forth like a little boy who is trying to hide from a grim monster.

He used to do this as a kid; Hermes would act so tough and threaten his sister's boyfriends, but when they start to hurt him, he cowers exactly like this. Rocking behind his knees, waiting for Thena to come home and kick the visitors out. Hermes Quinn isn't a hero at all; he's just a scared little boy, alone in the world and immaturely chasing vengeance.

He is not alone this time, for Father Daniel kneels before him and offers a hand to comfort his trembling body.

"Shhh, baby... I'm here..."

"Why..."

Father Daniel sighs, afraid that too much information may overwhelm him. But, he has to keep the promise.

"Mavis is in danger, and Frost has no choice but to follow orders to save his cousin. Ray is the weaker one among the twins, so he tortures him whenever the twins fail or step out of place. Au... is haunted by the tragedy of his past. He gives Au drugs to suppress memories, which is also the reason he surrounds himself with music and background noise all the time. The drugs look like cakes."

Cakes? Hermes looks up, Daniel pulling out a handkerchief to wipe his tears and snot. Pancakes. That's why he craves for it... "... drugs? Why, what happened?"

"I don't know, Au never talks." Father Daniel adds, "And Frost has evidence about their crimes. He can release it anytime they step out of line, so it's not a wise move to betray the Puppet King and the False God."

They have a reason. "P-puppet King... I know that... Frost told me about... working for a monster. They're... they're not bad, no... they're just trapped... like me..."

"Hermes..."

He hugs the priest, crying into his shoulder. "We have to save them, Daniel... they're innocent, they don't deserve to be trapped."

"Someone who has killed is not innocent, Hermes. Ray enjoys it more than a person ever should. And now... shít, he's definitely snapped."

I don't want to believe it. Ray is so sweet, he's been through a lot. But... he's not a good person. They hid in plain sight.

Something smashed onto nearby doors, and Father Daniel holds Hermes tight knowing the twins are axing each of the doors to find them.

A deranged, angry voice full of hurt and tears screams out, "DAAAANIEEEEL!"

But I am Ray's happiness. If that's him outside, I can do something about this. And if it's Rain, he won't let anything happen to me for the sake of his brother. Hermes is not a damsel in distress. He came here to conquer and bring justice to his sister.

"Daniel..." a calm Hermes slightly pulls away, still flinching at the destruction of the school's doors and windows. But, as his thoughts gather, so did his breaths. "Daniel, if it really is the twins, I can talk to them."

"Hermes, no!"

"DANIEL, COME OUT! YOU'RE DEAD... I'M NOT WAITING FOR ORDERS! YOU'RE DEAD!" A maniac crashes through wooden doors and glass. "DEAD, DEAD, DEAD! Your skin will fall apart and your eyeballs inflate, YOU'RE DEAD!"

"I have to! I... I..." Hermes stands up in the dark, following the sound of destruction out in the hallways. He couldn't say his intentions out loud. I have to break the rules.

I know he's watching. He sees everything.

"Hermes, don't go out there—"

"They aren't him. I'm not in danger with them. So, allow me to do this. Or else..." Hermes stands up for himself and pushes his partner away, bringing his heart to trust the twins one last time. "... or else, you'll die."

"Hermes?" Father Daniel's heart skipped a beat when he can hear true concern laced in Hermes' words. Of course, he is not a damsel in distress. Once scared, now taking action. Hermes faced him, and now he's facing the twins. Still, Father Daniel digs under his robes to pull out a gun with a silencer, just in case things go out of hand. Wrapped around the handle and his hand is a rosary.

CRASH. Bang! Along with the swings, a familiar battle cry can be heard, from a mentally unstable smiley twin. "COME OUT! YOU BÍTCH, I will bury you alive and dig you up to use you as fertilizer! YAAAAAAHHHHH—"

Hermes recalls him wearing night goggles at the time of their conflict. It is highly likely the twins would be, as well. So now, Hermes steps outside the hallways where an axe stopped two inches before his face.

"H-Hermes?" Ray squeaks out, hands trembling and the axe dangerous close to ruining his love's face. He was so stunned, insanity immediately draining out of his brain at the sight of Hermes' angry face.

Ray became too distracted, that he didn't even notice Father Daniel putting up precautions by pointing a gun at him from inside the classroom, a glass window between them. I can't risk it. This boy is unhinged. What is Hermes thinking, talking to him?!

"Ray," Hermes said in a stern, dominant voice. "Why the fúck are you acting like this? Destroying school property?"

Father Daniel is staring at Hermes through the glass. Hermes may very well be using Ray's fragile mind. His desires for a parental figure makes the disciplinary tone effective in shutting down his insanity.

"H-Hermes..." Ray looks visibly scared yet enticed with Hermes' presence. "Y-you and Father D-D-Daniel...kissing... I... it hurts, I didn't like that! You're supposed to be mine! Au and Rain is okay, but not that priest! NOT HIM, PLEASE! I'LL KILL—"

Much to everyone's surprise, Hermes walks up to Ray and slaps him so hard the mask flew off his face, bouncing off the hallway a meter from them. It stunned Ray, turned his mind blank, a droplet barely making a ripple in his frozen mind.

Don't look at the twins' faces. I'm staring at one right now.

"Hermes... why..." Ray's voice was dry and cracking, like an innocent boy who was deeply betrayed by the person he loves. His voice was dry and hoarse from all the screaming, and now the heartbreak.

"I know the truth. You're a killer. You and your brother. You killed the victims, didn't you?" Ray was silent, still crying over the slap. "DIDN'T YOU?!"

Ray starts to sob. "Do you hate me...?"

Hermes, he could kill you if his obsession goes too far! Father Daniel wants to interfere, but it's a terrible idea. He knows Ray. Getting noticed would trigger him even further, since Daniel is the subject of his hate. Right now, he's calmer since it's Hermes he's facing.

"Answer me, Ray. Admit it," Hermes demands.

Just what is he doing?! Father Daniel is just itching to shoot Ray just to subdue him.

"No, no, NO! You'll hate me! You'll leave me! No, no, I... I can't..."

"Ray," Hermes steps forward, looking back and forth between Ray's dead eye and the other. He stays firm, but his eyes are filled with sadness. "I can't be friends with a killer."

"NO, Hermes please!" Ray drops the axe and is trembling from knees to fingers, feeling lightheaded with tears streaming down one side of his face. The mere thought of losing his favorite person makes him tremble.

"I can never love a killer," Hermes scowls at him, which snaps Ray's broken heart in two.

"NO, I DIDN'T MEAN ANY OF THIS! IT'S NOT MY FAULT! HE MADE ME DO IT!" the hysterical boy cries out, face drowning in tears and nose barely working because of his fluids.

He's really tormenting the kid... Father Daniel gasps.

"Please... Hermes... don't leave..." Ray uncontrollably sobs out.

But, Hermes keeps his composure and steps forward. "I'm afraid you will kill me."

"No, no, no, no, n-" Ray chokes on his own words. "I won't, Hermes... I won't... I promise I won't hurt you... I won't kill you... I swear! P-please say you don't hate me--"

"I HATE killers, Ray!"

"I'm sorry!" Ray was about to hyperventilate. He didn't even notice Hermes now standing  in front of him. "I'm sorry, I—"

Father Daniel's face turns mad when Hermes hugs the insane young man whose tears suddenly stop at the feel of his embrace.

"Don't kill me," Hermes whispers. "And don't kill Daniel. He's here to protect me. That's why I love him."

Ray's spell broke and shakes his head violently, "No, no WHY HIM, NO NO!"

"Will you protect me, then?" I can't ask him to stop killing and I don't expect him to. To stop all this, I must cut the snake's head. The twins are just the fangs. "Ray... don't kill Father Daniel. If you do, I'll hate you."

"B-but..." His lips quiver, "He's a traitor! He betrayed us and he stole you away!"

"Shhh, I'm not being stolen away," Hermes holds him by the cheeks, calm even though this is an insane hitman he's gently caressing. "I can be yours, too. Just... don't be like this."

"I can't stop being ugly!" Ray exclaims angrily.

He's not talking about his face.

"Ray!" Another masked man runs through the hallways and gasps seeing Hermes with his brother. Rain scowls, noticing Ray's mask on the floor. "Where's Daniel? That traitor! This is our chance to get rid of him!"

"Don't hurt him," Hermes demands, scowling at Rain. "He's helping me get through Carvalle."

"We won't let him live!" Rain pulls out a gun, but not aiming it at Hermes. "After he hit you and seduced you... he's gonna steal you away and I'll shoot his brains—"

"Then I'll never love you," Hermes steps away from Ray, who immediately felt withdrawal and tries to hug him back. But no, Hermes backs away from a crying Ray. "Kill Daniel, and I'll never talk to you again!"

"NO!" Ray's breakdown caused him to fall to his knees, trying to reach for Hermes who coldly avoids him. Looking back at his brother he begs, "RAIN! RAIN, PLEASE! PLEASE, HERMES WILL LEAVE ME! DON'T LEAVE ME!"

"THENAAAA! DON'T LEAVE ME!" The last time Ray was this hysterical was when Thena crashed on the chandelier right before his very eyes. Ray wouldn't stop crying, he would need an inhaler and oxygen assistance because he keeps hyperventilating. He would go pale and dry out because of his constant tears. Once Ray gets attached to someone, that attachment will leave blood once torn away.

Rain knows what Hermes is doing. He's using Ray's infatuation in his favor. Hermes is also aware that Rain saw through him.  And for that, Hermes squints his eyes, daring Rain to reject his brother.

"Please accept my brother. You're his only happiness after the last one left."

I know how much you love your brother, Rain. Hermes backs away once again, and Ray's cry turn so painful, he starts to cough when his throat got too tight from crying. Let's see if you know how much he loves me.

"Fine! We won't kill Daniel!" Rain yells out.

I know he's watching. He won't punish the twins for not killing Daniel because he's not a target. But, he might punish me for this. "I want to see your face first, so I'll know you're not lying!"

Rain hesitates, but now Ray is crouching on the floor crying his eyes out because Hermes wouldn't let him touch. And so, he pulls his mask off. "We won't kill Daniel."

Inside the classroom, Father Daniel has lowered his gun. Hermes Quinn managed to convince the twins. He told them what to do. No one could ever do that except...

Hermes offers a hand to Ray, who grabs his wrist instead and throws himself on top of the teacher. Hermes consoles a wailing Ray, rubbing his back and allowing him to cry all over his shoulder. The boy is embracing him like a Teddy bear he can't live without. "Now now, Ray... don't worry. I don't hate you anymore. I won't leave."

Hermes Quinn. Father Daniel finally exits the classroom, and Rain's hand tightens around the gun at the sight of him. But, the promise had been said. Ray however, couldn't care less since he only wants Hermes. Father Daniel concluded, Maybe the only one who can stand up to him isn't me. Hermes has the power to destroy his empire.

And he's going through the Equestrians one by one. Don't look at the twins' faces.