KazAlkemi

Chicago After Hours

---

---

Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

---

---

Location: Caden&Nero's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

Cassiopeia plucked an evening primrose flower from its plant. She twirled it between her fingers and turned around to face Nero.

”The primrose has many properties for feminine health. As an oil extract, it's also good for arthritis and diabetic nephropathy. But the primrose is also a symbol of new beginnings and deep love.” She walked over and sat down next to Nero again.

”When Caden and I were betrothed, I was happy, thrilled. I was in love with my best friend and what could be better, but then something changed. Maybe it was because I was in love with him since I was twelve, maybe it was something else. The point is, Caden has never talked about me or looked at me the way he looks at you.” She set the flower in Nero's hand and stared at it.

”If I can give you a shot at that kind of love for all your life then I want to. Consider it an apology.”

---

---

Caden

---

---

Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

”I pay your trainer's salary. He'll live,” Caden chuckled.

He watched Kimiko close her eyes and go to that place where her fire burned brightest.

”Okay, I'm going to open our connection, but I'll only send one thing through to not overwhelm you, okay? Breathe and stay focused.”

Caden opened the window between Kiki and him. He sent the feeling of hunger towards her. Since Caden skipped breakfast and was working out, his hunger was starting to grow. If the connection was wide open, Kimiko would likely feel hungry herself, if her blocking work, she would loose that sensation and only have her feelings affecting her.

Chicago After Hours

---

---

Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

---

---

Location: Caden&Nero's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

Cassiopeia wasn't sure if Nero was actually okay, but she knew they would be. She felt some guilt slip over her at how cruel they had been to Nero. The demon had done nothing to warrant the cruelty she had given them, and now that she knew her grandmother had made a deal that killed her entire family, well, Cassi was struggling with several different emotions.

She pulled her hand back from Nero's and dug for a pen before handing it to them. Cass stood after and went back to the plants, looking for comfort from them that she couldn't find.

”When do you want to finish the bond with Caden?” she asked, needing the distraction.

---

---

Caden

---

---

Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

Caden grinned when Kimiko told him what her centre was. ”Why does that not surprise me. You and Avery compliment each other well,” Caden said, genuinely happy for the two of them.

Caden lifted his weights, thinking about fire and all the options that served to dim fire rather than put it out.

”How about an oil lamp? Or a fire grate. If you contain my strand in a lamp, or with a fire grate, some of the sparks can get through or you can turn up or dim the connection when you want to,” Caden suggested.

Chicago After Hours

---

---

Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

---

---

Location: Caden&Nero's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

Cassi leaned back against the couch, staring at the floor-to-ceiling windows that encompassed the back and one of the side walls of the greenhouse. She followed a path of greenery, trying to concentrate on anything aside from the roaring in her ears. She felt that her cheeks were wet as well and wiped at them absentmindedly.

”I got the answer I was hoping wasn’t right. It was something Ren said that reminded me of an argument my mother had with my grandmother. I just didn’t think she would have made a deal like that. Not with all the hate she preached. Not with everything we know about demons.” Cassi looked over at Nero. ”Or used to know. Are you okay?” If she hadn’t been there with Nero to witness the memory, she never would have understood how bad it was. Even then, it was a second-hand account since she watched from afar, rather than having to relive it like Nero just did.

---

---

Caden

---

---

Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

”Well, when you think of blocking, what do you think of? Do you want to keep everyone out completely, or do you want a sort of window? For example, I have Avery blocked completely, but there is a sort of window that allows me to still have access to him, so I know if he is in trouble or needs me. I want to establish the same for you on my end, but your side can be different.”

Chicago After Hours

---

---

Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

---

---

Location: Caden&Nero's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

”No. It was weird. The whole thing just…jumped.” It still annoyed Cassi that that had happened. She mulled it over until Nero told her they needed a break.

Cassi squeezed Nero’s hand. ”Okay, take some deep breaths. Remember we are in Caden’s house, in the greenhouse. Inhale and smell the peppermint and the lavender,” she coached Nero. Cass opened her eyes first and blinked. She took in her surroundings, a wave of emotions overtook her, and she exhaled. Cassi kept a firm hold of Nero’s hand, unable to bring herself to let them go.

---

---

Caden

---

---

Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

Caden chuckled and closed the invisible door. The sharing of emotions and thoughts ended, and he walked over to the weights.

”Yes, before I put the block up on my side, but there is a constant pounding on the door from you. You can see how not having a block can be overwhelming and make it difficult to control your own emotions. You may not have the same desires as I do for Nero, but the mingling of our feelings probably had you wanting to walk out that door to find them. Blocking not only keeps that at bay, but it gives you control over yourself again.”

Chicago After Hours

---

---

Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

---

---

Location: Caden&Nero's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

Cassiopeia stood in the back of the chamber, watching the entire memory unfold. Mundus had their hands on Nero like some Bond villain and Nero was dressed in practically nothing. The display of lust and power sickened her.

She shifted her focus to the newcomers. She knew Abbadon to be a Knight of Hell like Nero, and the other demon looked exactly like Mundus. Before Cassi could form any opinions of value, the entire memory shifted. She watched Nero fall to the ground with a broken neck before the memory shifted again. The chains that were wrapped around Nero disappeared as they came back to life.

The memory was seemingly over, but they were no closer to the answers they needed. However, the development of one of Mundus' siblings being involved was intriguing.

”Do you want to keep going?”

---

---

Caden

---

---

Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

Caden nodded in understanding. ”Well, you can feel what Avery does, although maybe that is more of a comfort.”

He looked over at Nic and Avery as they trained before he took a breath and released his block.

Kimiko would be flooded with feelings of curiosity and frustration. Of tempered rage, but also a strange mix of peace. The shifter’s family was under the same roof, together and safe. Safe. Safe. Safe. The word seemed to repeat itself like a mantra, but it wasn't complete. There was a hole, a longing for something, or someone, that wasn't in this room.

Caden felt a constant pull towards Nero when they weren't together. It had become a comfort to Caden, because he knew at the end of that line he would find Nero. His mate. The love of his life. The emotions shifted to something more primal and desirable, and Nero took over all of Caden's thoughts.

Chicago After Hours

---

---

Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

---

---

Location: Caden&Nero's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

Cassiopeia's hand tightened on Nero's when Mundus teased the idea of going after Caden's family. Clearly the prince was stupid, but he also had Nero pull out when Caden's family arrived, which led Cass to believe Mundus understood just how powerful Caden's family was. However, the news about the relationship between the two siblings was not comforting.

Cassiopeia watched Nero slink forward to crawl into Mundus’ lap. Cassi observed the demon's behaviour at seeing Nero like this and it sickened her. However, the desire in his eye told her a lot too.

”Let's move on from this. How did your free yourself?”

Cassi spoke into Nero's mind, into their memory to redirect them to a new problem, to unlock more of Nero's past.

---

---

Caden

---

---

Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

Caden slowed the treadmill to a walk before he hopped off. He stood in front of Kimiko's, smiling at her.

”Did you forget I'm fireproof? Come on, Kiki. If you don't keep trying you'll never get it. Do you want me to let my barrier down, so you can feel why we need it?”

Chicago After Hours

---

---

Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

---

---

Location: Caden&Nero's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

Chains tore through the ground and locked around Nero before dragging them back to Hell. Cassiopeia fell through the ground with them, the whisper of chains on her own wrists while she watched Nero and Mundus from a distance.

Cassiopeia devoured the image of the prince of Hell. She took his grey-silver skin, his clawed hands, and the deadly gleam of his eyes. She even let the sound of his voice lull her in. The sorcerer swallowed and squeezed Nero's hand in return. The power that seemed to roll off Mundus even in Nero's memory was all consuming.

”Good. That will remind the others not to break their deals with me,” he sneered.

Mundus stood and stepped down from his throne. His foot falls fell heavy as he stalked towards Nero. ”An entire army gone, because the old bitch couldn't keep her kin in line. You left the new matron alive?” Mundus put a clawed finger under Nero's chin and tilted their head up to look at Mundus as he asked his question. When Nero confirms, Mundus grinned.

”Good. I still intend to claim her as mine one day. She could be a fun new playmate for us,” Mundus purred, leaning in closer to Nero.

Cassiopeia forced herself to watch even though she desperately wanted to look away. Nero lived it. The least she could do was watch, learn, and understand.

---

---

Caden

---

---

Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

Caden followed Kimiko's gaze to Nic. He nodded, saying nothing as he took a moment to watch Nic train. It seemed it was a good thing Nic found them. At least now they could educate Nic on the supernatural world.

”Do you want to practice blocking me while we workout?” Caden asked, pulling both of them from their thoughts.

Chicago After Hours

---

---

Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

---

---

Location: Caden&Nero's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

Cassiopeia watched Nero's body language shift, and she hesitated a moment more, having recognized the dissociative behaviour.

”Yes, I think we'd all like some answers on that particularly. Alright, let's start with the last memory then. I want to know who made that order and why. Then, if you're feeling up to it, we can unlock more of your memories concerning Mundus,” Cassi stated.

She stared at Nero's hand, seeing all their scars, and sighed. Everyone had a past. Cassi floated several candles out of their places and drawers. She lit them before crushing up some herbs she magiked over as well.

”This will help keep you grounded and direct the memories rather than have them shift randomly,” she explained.

Once Cassi felt ready, she took Nero's hand and shut her eyes. She dove back into the memory of her family's death. She saw Nero on the hill. She saw them kill their grandmother, but didn't let go. Cassi held on, wanting to know who and why.

---

---

Caden

---

---

Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

”I do, but I figured while you're here and wanting to help more, you could access them. You could look into it with Nic and Avery while the rest of us contact Crowley,” Caden suggested.

Chicago After Hours

---

---

Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

---

---

Location: Caden&Nero's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

Cassiopeia was surprised Nero agreed so readily. She walked over to where they sat and took a seat beside them. She eyed Nero's hand before looking them in the eyes.

”I honestly didn't think you would agree to this. Didn't seem like you were having very much fun last time,” she noted.

---

---

Avery Zain

---

---

Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

Avery looked at Kimiko when he heard Caden should blame him for her grumpiness. He smirked, keeping his comments to himself, and resumed his workout.

---

---

Caden

---

---

Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

Caden raised an eyebrow, curious as to Kimiko's meaning, but he let the subject slide.

”Nic's dad, Ren, made a deal to save his wife from cancer. Turns out she had been diagnosed with the disease prior to their camping trip. The deal was made with Ren giving up ten years of his life. Cassi came to work with Nero on how to get Ren out of the deal. Since we have to summon Crowley, we're going to ask who holds the deal, and hopefully save Ren.”

Caden explained all of this while he continued to watch the video footage. He had scanned every part of the room several times over, watching for any glitches or indiscrepancies, but nothing was standing out to him.

”Do you still have access to your dad's men of letters files?”

Chicago After Hours

---

---

Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

---

---

Location: Caden&Nero's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

Cassiopeia stared at the peace lily she was working on, and sighed. ”It's not exactly easy to forget two hundred and fifty years of, well, hate for demons. I know you saved me. I know you love Caden, it's just… difficult,” Cassi confided and finished working on the lily.

She descended the ladder and turned to face Nero.

”If I wanted to know more about that day, the day you helped kill my family, and the order that told you to, would you let me dig in your mind?”

Cassiopeia couldn't shake this feeling she had since learning of Ren's demon deal. It had been how he said it. How Nic yelled at his father. There was something about that moment that had taken her back to the day she lost everyone.

---

---

Avery Zain

---

---

Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

Avery smiled at Nic and nodded. ”Go about your usual warm-up. We'll do a bit of cardio and arms together after before the bag,” Avery said and patted Nic's back before starting his own warmup.

---

---

Caden

---

---

Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

---

---

”Well, I did intend it to mean good news for you, not necessarily anyone else,” Caden clarified.

He looked over at Nic when he didn't reply to Kimiko. ”Do you want me to tell her or do you?” Caden didn't want to overstep, but he could also understand not wanting to repeat himself for the third or fourth time.