Chapter Text
“Hey, there’s a man in our yard.” Said Esther, and Abaddon paused, holding the spoon. He groaned, bending the spoon in his hand dropping the cereal. Honestly, if he has to go through the history of this world, one more time he’s going to finally lose it. He tossed the spoon into the bowl, and practically stomped his feet over to the window. What awaited him though, was not the sight of someone with red robes…but black robes Ok, that’s odd but not necessarily alarming. He stepped out, and the hooded figure removed his hood.
“Abaddon, at last I have found you.” Said the man, pulling out a crossbow and aiming it right at Abaddon.
“Do I know you?” Asked Abaddon, tilting his head to the side in confusion. The Freelings joined him, curious as well, and a little freaked out. Sure Abaddon was a demon, but it was still concerning seeing what looked to be an old man pointing a crossbow at a child.
“You’ve forgotten?! I vowed to chase you to the ends of the earth, to never rest until your head is on a spike!!”
“That doesn’t narrow it down.” Said Abaddon with a shrug.
“How many people want to kill you?” Asked Nathan, concerned. Abaddon paused to actually think, after all in his long life he has in fact had several people who’ve tried to kill him. All for one reason or another, so he really was drawing a blank here.
“Hey, he kind of looks like….” Said Esther, seeing the man and then seeing Abaddon. While the man had blond almost white hair, his features were much like the boy whose body Abaddon was currently inhabiting. The same nose, the same eye shape, even the same earlobes. “Wait, are you related?”
“Not to the demonic entity. I am Joshua Bishop, the son of Father Bishop…and the brother of the boy who was taken by that monster.” Explained the old man, glaring at Abaddon. Who blinked in recognition once he heard that.
“Ohhhh you! Wait how are you still alive?” Asked Abaddon.
“That doesn’t matter, what does matter is I’m finally going to kill you.” Said Joshua, gritting his teeth. Abaddon rolled his eyes, when he lurched forward as an arrow pierced his gut. He fell to his knees, crying out.
“Abaddon!!” Exclaimed Esther, bringing him inside as Katherine quickly shut the door.
“You ok buddy?” Asked Nathan, while Ben tried to hurriedly lock the door. Abaddon groaned, this was…alarming. He’s been stabbed, impaled, hurt, beaten, maimed….but none of those times has he ever actually been hurt. The body was bleeding, not red as it should be…but black. That was demon blood. He hissed in pain, as Esther removed it and he looked at the arrow….angelic weapons but how?
“I have forgotten how much I hate pain, when it’s done to me.” Said Abaddon, releasing a shaky breath. “Wait, how could he have angelic weapons?”
“Just go hide.” Said Katherine, while she and Ben tried to keep the door closed from the man currently trying to break in.
“Just give me Abaddon, and I’ll leave you alone.” Said Joshua outside. Abaddon groaned, trying to stand only to fall back to his knees. He let out a pained shaky sigh, for the first time…in a long time…he was afraid. Which couldn’t be right. He was Abaddon, he didn’t fear others..he caused fear. So why was he afraid?Esther helped him up, allowing him to lean on her as they made their way to the kitchen to get Abaddon back in his cupboard.
“Hey buddy, so uh you’re gonna need to go.” Said Nathan, phasing through the door causing Jacob to pull back and glare at him. “Abaddon’s not a threat to you.”
“You’re a foolish wayward spirit, whose heart has been corrupted by the devil.” Said Joshua glaring at him.
“Ok how about no name calling.” Said Nathan, hands on his hips.
“I have spent my whole life, training, practicing the art of magic, doing everything to ensure that I live a long life. That I don’t die, until I see the light leave Abaddon's eyes.” Said Joshua, “That woman, is she your wife?”
“Sister actually.”
“Then how would you like it, if a monster took over your sister’s body? If the sister you knew and loved, was gone…replaced, instead with a demon. A demon who caused pain and misery wherever he went.” Said Joshua, and Nathan winced. He remembered when Katherine and the kids had been possessed by those demons, seeing the darkness in their eyes, hearing the voices speak through their mouths…it was terrifying. So yes, he understands the anger. “Let me kill Abaddon.”
Nathan furrowed his brow, remembering when he first found Abaddon. A little boy, in a hole…and sure at the time he hadn’t known that Abaddon was a demon but….even after. It had been…nice, having a son. Having someone to spend time with, eat meals with, toss a ball around with. Even if Abaddon tended to bring home strange bones and was sometimes covered in blood….Abaddon was still his son. Regardless.
“I wouldn’t like it, but as long as I’m around. You’re not hurting him. I won’t let you.” Said Nathan standing his ground.
“Then I have no choice.” Said Joshua, reaching into his pocket. Nathan cried out, as he was tied up by some strange, spirit chains. Nathan groaned, struggling as the man entered the hotel via window. In the kitchen, Katherine was doing her best to stem the bleeding. Abaddon was looking paler than usual, and was struggling to stay awake.
“Ok, come on Abaddon you have to stay awake. Come on, I know it hurts man but you gotta stay awake.” Said Esther, Abaddon struggled to keep his eyes open.
“Uh guys?” Said Ben, and both Katherine and Esther looked up seeing the man enter the kitchen. Abaddon growled and glared at him.
“Why are you helping him? He’s a monster.”
“Abaddon’s our friend!” Exclaimed Esther, the man just pointed his crossbow at Abaddon only for Esther to get in front of him.
“Esther!” Exclaimed Katherine, but the little girl just glared at the man.
“Do you really think this hellspawn cares about you? Do you really think he’s capable of love? He’s just biding his time…waiting for the right moment to turn the world into ash.” Said Joshua, glaring at Esther. “Now get out of my way.”
“No, if you want Abaddon, you’re gonna have to get through me.” Said Esther, Ben placed a hand on his sister’s shoulder and got in front of her.
“No, through me.” Said Ben, who was scared right now…like really, really scared but he wasn’t going to let this man shoot an arrow through his sister, he wasn’t going to let this man hurt Esther or abaddon. Katherine stood, getting between the man and her children. All of them.
“No. Don’t…don’t hurt them.” Said Abaddon softly, as he tried to stand. He sighed, and shakily stood even though he felt his knees about to cave in, sweat causing the vessel’s hair to cling to his skin. “Leave them be.”
“So you do care for them?” Asked Joshua skeptically, Abaddon nodded looking up at the Freelings, before looking up at Joshua.
“Yes.”
“In that case.” He said, pointing his crossbow right at Katherine’s head. “Hand yourself over, or I’ll kill them…starting with her.”
Abaddon looked at them, normally he would have ran at the man, tried to bite, to attack, do anything…but the strange angelic weapons he had procured, meant that Abaddon was currently very weak and unable to do much.
“Ok, I’ll go with you. Just don’t hurt them.” Said Abaddon, stepping forward to deliver himself to the mad man.
“Abaddon no!” Said Esther, taking his hand. The demon hugged her, much to her shock…Abaddon never hugged. His grip was tight, and almost bone crushing….before he let her go and offered a sad smile. Studying her face, as if trying to memorize it. Only for Nathan to appear, when a chair hit Joshua and knocked him out.
“Whoo!! Awesome Jessica Thanks!” Exclaimed Nathan still chained up, but the creature roared and slithered back. Abaddon cleared his throat, and looked away from Esther, who scrutinized him slightly.
“Were you really just about to sacrifice yourself to save us?” She asked.
“Yes.” He answered simply,
“Awww.” Said Ben, and Abaddon looked away as they hugged him. Though he wasn’t objecting, even so he was glad they were safe.
“What do we do about him?” Asked Katherine, looking at the man who was now unconscious on the floor, as Esther tried to undo the chains on Nathan. Abaddon glared at the man, who threatened to harm those he cared for most.
When the man awoke, he was chained up in the attic, his weapons gone. Well, that was great. He glared seeing Abaddon standing there.
“They granted you mercy. I wanted to torture you, for daring to lay a hand on my people.” Said Abaddon, glaring at the man, his eyes turning red. The man just growled at Abaddon, clenching his hands tightly into fists.