I decided that this chapter will be a filler chapter. Showing you all just what The Blood father has been up to in the months that have gone by, and because the fight scene isn't done. Surprisingly difficult for me to finish it without me feeling it isn't right. So, I shall subject you to several schemes unfolding at the behest of The Blood Father, and show his moving machinations.

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The Blood Father

"...The weapons from the Demon scouting party were gathered, along with several bodies. Enough to make it appear believable Father"

Hawk, the most stoic of my Ten explained the details pertaining to a small tribe of Demons that had moved further than they should have into Hyborium. 

I smiled at the information he passed along, it would allow me to further my own plans. War would be set loose into the world, even if I had to drive it there with a whip of shadows and subversion. 

"Good, any news on the route the delegation Luxio sent to retrieve my welp?"

Hawk paused a moment, regarding the small stack of paper in his hands before speaking. "Yes, Father, they set out two days ago, and at their current rate of travel and the route they are taking they will arrive in four more days."

Quicker than expected. The old Lizard was smart, to say the least. "Void" a simple word, a name. With it spoken a figure detached itself from the wall, seemingly forming from the shadows to stand beside Hawk, who looked uncomfortable to be so close to his brother, a raspy "Yessss, Massster" Followed his appearance.

"Take four of your Reapers, and kill the party Luxio has sent out, no survivors. Then stage the area to appear like a Demon raid, Hawk will provide the bodies and weapons. Make it believable, no claws, teeth or fur. Some of the bodies are the Bone eaters, rip limbs and take them from the Draconian bodies."

He bowed, and simply disappeared into the shadows. The abomination would ensure it happened as planned, his fervored worship and loyalty would ensure each detail was done to near perfection. 'Even abominations have their uses,' I mused.

I turned toward Hawk, my eyebrow raised slightly. "Why are you still in my chamber?" 

He waited a moment, I could see his thoughts going through his eyes. "Father, why do you allow that creature to live? He is dangerous."

Ah, the issue they have all brought to me over the last several centuries. "Because, he is of the Ten, you were the first, and regardless of the monster he is now he was, at one time, someone I trusted. What Naamah did during his ascension to becoming a Prideling was tragic, but he has his uses." I paused, looking down to regard my hand, tracing the old scars against my ebony hide with my eyes before continuing, lost in old memories. "He cannot openly harm any of you, or those you deem worthy of higher spots. It was ingrained into you all, to prevent wars between you. You know this, now go, do your job. I have other things to do."

He swallowed his words, I was done with him and he knew it. They were my Ten, but I would still punish them if needed. Hawk bowed, and then left.

Once Hawk had left, I sighed lightly. Allowing a mediocre amount of my guard to drop and relaxed the muscles within my shoulders. 

My chambers, were relatively sparse in terms of material possessions. It was a room around thirty yards in circumference, a perfect circle, with no blind spots, or places to truly hide. 

The carpet that graced the floor was a deep, dark purple that your feet sank into when stepping on, it muffled and destroyed all sounds. I enjoyed my quiet.

The farthest portion of the room for the door held a fireplace, two stone lions on either side, a male and female, both roaring. A soft glow emanated from it as the flame within slowly warmed the room. To the right of it, sat a soft padded chair with a side table beside it, and a candelabra on top of it, along with an old, worn out looking book.

To the left, there was also a beautifully crafted mahogany desk. Strong, and sturdy. Darkened with age. 

I made my way to the chair, and the warm dying glow of the hearth fire. Taking a seat, I leaned my head back against the rest, staring at the ceiling a moment and shutting my eyes. 

Close, I can all but feel the gears turning, bringing my enemy closer, my welps slowly growing power. It would all lead to the same road. Regardless of my other sons interference. Rage was still to weak, and the brainwashing each Berserker child goes through ensures that he will unintentionally follow orders given by myself or one of the Ten for a time. 

Of course eventually I have no doubt the little bastard will break that conditioning. As weak as he is, he is still my spawn afterall. My children never do well with being controlled, neither did I for that matter.

After a moment or two longer, I open my eyes and take the old book in my hands, opening it to the center. What greeted my gaze, was as always, an ancient painted portrait. The edges frayed and dissolved by the passage of time, and even the painting itself, with all the preserving powers at my disposal was slowly beginning to chip away. 

But I could still make out the people in it. One was myself, a much younger, much more naive individual that knew what it meant to smile. You could see it in the fading image of my eyes, there was a spark of life and laughter there that I had long since lost. 

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I was standing, and my hand was on the slender, elegant, shoulder of a small raven haired woman with fire in her eyes. Catherine, my dear heart. My wife, and the only woman I have ever loved. She had bright blue eyes that spoke of her strength, and the fire like passion she held in all things she did. 

She had been human, and we had both been very young. I had to have been only one hundred at the time, and she a mere twenty-one, though her magics would have allowed her to live for several centuries. In her lap sat a small five year old child, a girl with bright red hair, almost orange, and my amber colored eyes. The artist had captured her laughing, and her hands holding a strand of her mother's hair. My precious Amber. 

This was my last true memory of them, before my own Father had come and swiped away what happiness I had found in one swift stroke. 

The memory came in a flash, my wife beaten, and her sweeping gown torn open to reveal her breasts, and groin. Semen stained the ground between her legs, the spark of life had left her still cooling body, and the screams of my daughter, just turning six, as my father raped her still vivid in my mind. 

That was the first time I had killed him, or so I thought. My own rage had taken hold, and the next thing I knew when I woke up, was I was holding the cold body of my child, and the land around me for as far as I could see was a barren wasteland. The Berserker rage had taken hold. 

I shrugged the old pain off, and rain my index, and middle finger, gently, down the painting along my wife, and child's face. 

It was for them I now planned this elaborate farce, to draw him out, and use my last born to finally kill him for good. 

Revenge, it was a simple emotion. I would use anyone, and everyone in my bid for it. Regardless of whom they were.

I closed the book gently, after hearing a knock come from the door. I drew my guard back up, and spoke. "Enter"

The door opened slowly, and in walked the hulking form of Ogre, roughly eight feet tall, he was a mass of pure muscle. His chest, and shoulders covered in swirling tattoos that denoted his northern heritage. His lower face covered in the bone mask of a fallen Demon general, his hair black, and tied in dreadlocks.

He was the first of my Ten, the only one I could say I may have trusted with anything. 

His deep rumbling voice echoed in my chambers. "Father.." I glared at him a moment, and he changed the way his mind was leading. ".. May I have your permission to leave and find my own spawn? I wish to see whether the weakling I have created has grown." 

I nodded at him, and turned to regard the fire in quiet contemplation. Each of my ten were now slowly doing this, requesting permission, and I didn't care either way. It was no secret to be kept unless they wished it. 

I felt him draw closer slowly, and I turned my head slightly to regard him. "Just say it, Ogre, I know you won't leave until you do."

I was graced with his full attention. "Why are you doing this, Father? Regardless of how weak they are, they are still newborns. Easily fifty years away from the scale of conflict they were thrust into, and will continue to be. They succeeded, this is true, but I was there, watching. Most of it was dumb luck, Why do all of this for a faded memory of a being that you have killed?"

I froze, and then moved in an instant, a faint blur the only indication I had been sitting. My claws were at his throat, and my voice was dead, a growl permeating each syllable. "You do not question my reasons, you do not EVER mention the past to me, regardless of what you think you know, it will happen. Understood?"

He nodded, and I removed my claws, and sat back down. 

"I did it, to force them to grow stronger, to see if it could be done, an experiment if you will. I want to see i the bloodline will be stronger, and advance further through early introduction where they must fumble through life, or if they needed more training. Now go, leave me."

He bowed after a moment, and left. I was growing tired of this. So very tired of being questioned. My reasons would be made clear in time. That will be enough for them.  I sighed a moment, and stared at the fire.

My plans were relatively simple, even with all the scheming, murder, and shadowy control I was using. 

To force my welp to grow powerful enough to draw HIS attention, and then finish what I have attempted so often. He would be weakened from the battle, and I would be fresh. Always before I finished, or thought I finished, him off, and was to exhausted to truly end him. Thus he escaped. 

Never again, this would be the final turn in the wheel of our twisted fate. I would have my revenge, and damn be anyone that stands in my way. 

As the fire died completely, only the soft glow of my amber eyes could be seen in the dim afterglow, the gears and plans turning within them. 

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Not a long chapter, I know. But it was meant as a filler, show some information, allow people to see the Blood Father in a bit of a more human light I suppose. -shrug- But I digress.

I hope you enjoy the chapter, and further insight into what is happening in the background. I hope to have the continuation of Rage and Terror-Fang fighting soon. 

As always, much love and cookies. Please rate, comment, and Follow.