Jasper preferred to keep his calm around everyone else. It helped to preserve his horrifying aesthetic. Once he and Felix were in the clear of any peering eyes, he was running down the stairs to the sanctuary. He wasn't expecting them to wake up this early. At the least, he thought it'd be a week, not three days. He underestimated the strength of their souls.

As he busted open the door to the sanctuary, he was nearly hit by an elf's body. Jasper and Felix jumped out of the way while Remington struggled to get back to his feet. He grabbed his head with a groan. Elves are hardest to knock off their balance than cats are. There was another thud, coming from the other side of the room due to Emerson being flung into the wall. 

The two demons on their knees in the center of the room were terrifying. They weren't in their human forms right now. Save Lumi, Felix had now seen all the true forms of Croc's brothers. He understood now why the mere mention of their names struck fear in the hearts of many. If it weren't for the fact that he knew bats don't have feathers like ravens, he wouldn't be able to tell which was which.

Covey's skin was pure black. In fact, every inch of him was monotone aside from his piercing green eyes. He must've been over nine feet tall in this form. His long inkwell hair fell in front of his face but it couldn't hide his agony. Thursday wasn't much different, the veins of his wings pulsing do loud, the heightened ears of a vampire could hear it. The noise made Felix's skin crawl. At least Covey still somewhat resembled a human, but Thursday? He was a true abomination. No wonder they hid behind human forms.

"What's wrong with them?" Felix asked, "This didn't happen to you when you transferred bodies."

"The body of a vampire is much more submissive than that of a demon. It's more willing to allow a new host to take over. In order to give them full access to their powers, we had to transfer them into bodies of equally powerful demons. That'll make it much harder as well. The stronger the previous soul, the harder it is for a new one to take control." Jasper explained. 

The two demons in front of them screeched loudly. That sound could make Felix's ears bleed. He covered them, cursing himself for having the hearing of a dog. Thursday and Covey were in a great deal of pain. Their vision was too blurred to see who was near them, making it so they pushed back everyone that tried to get close to help.

Jasper raised his hand, causing sharp crystal shards to jut out of the ground. They captured the two demons. Even as strong as they were, they couldn't break those gems. Remington and Emerson were unfazed by it. They'd seen Jasper's power before, but Felix never had. He stared, eyes wide, not sure if he should be impressed or afraid. If that's how much power Jasper has in a lesser body, what the fuck is he like when he has access to all his strength?

"That's enough!" His strong voice commanded, "Calm yourselves. I know you're in pain but you'll get nowhere like this. Your new bodies are fighting your souls. I will help the best I can, but it's inevitably up to you to force them to accept you." 

There was a bright flash of light, causing Felix and the elves to turn their heads way. Once it faded, they were relieved to see Thursday and Covey returned to their human forms. They were much easier to look at this way. That may be crude to say, but it's the truth. Their bodies were still trapped within those crystals. They seemed to have calmed down and reached a comatose state. The gems that encased them were glowing with red and purple energy respectively. 

Felix walked over to Emerson, helping him to his feet. He managed to bounce back pretty decently for just being thrown by an incredibly strong demon. "Is it ever weird to you?" Emerson pondered as he watched Jasper at work, "That that used to be your body?"

"Oddly, no. If it still looked like my body, maybe it would, but it doesn't bother me. Sometimes I actually forget that it once was because now, it looks, sounds, and smells just like Jasper's old body." 

"So if you had sex with your girlfriend in that body, would that mean in a weird way that Jasper's had sex with her too, or?" Remington replied.

Felix glared at him, "No, I don't think it works that way. It's not like he got my memories when he took my body." 

"Have you told your parents yet?" Emerson asked.

"No," He sighed, "But something tells me they already know. At least, my dad has to. He would've felt my death." 

He glanced back at the two demons encased in crystal. Jasper barely had to move his hand to shatter them. They both fell to their knees, gasping for air. It seemed the chaos was finally over. For now, anyways. Jasper used a summoning spell to bring forth a staff and necklace. They rested on the floor in front of their newest recruits. Thursday reached for his necklace, but it was quickly pulled back a few feet.

"Before I return these to you, I want a contract. In exchange for breaking you from the trance Lumi had you under and for providing you with new, advanced bodies, I ask that you serve me for the rest of your lives. A room at the mansion will be included, of course, if you'd like. You will also be offered a place beside Apollo when Hell is restored." 

"You think because you can convince our brother of it, we'd come so easily?" Covey responded.

"He saved our lives, and our futures." Thursday said. The timid bat used his sharp nails to slice open his palm. He offered his bleeding hand to Jasper, "I owe it to him. He could've asked for ours souls as well, but he didn't. His offer is pretty generous, if you think about it."

Covey watched in awe as his younger brother signed his life away. He knew Thursday had been the more naive of his brothers. Croc, though, was so fucking stubborn. If they both saw something in Jasper that called for their submission, maybe it was the right path to follow. 

Jasper knelt down, taking the younger demon's bloody hand in his. He gently kissed his palm, whispering, "'ant tantami li alana. aleaqd makhtum." His native tongue was nearly as chilling as the sensation of his power diving into Thursday's veins. The mark appeared along his wrist. Jasper licked his lips slowly, "You have sweet blood for a demon. It is a shame I let you keep your soul in our deal because it would've made a delicious feast."

"I know that was a compliment but it's hard to take it that way." He said.

Jasper picked up the bat necklace on the ground. He draped it around Thursday's neck, securing the clasp in the back. "Sweet blood is the sign of a gentle soul. Your youngest brother's was very bitter. Now you," He offered his hand out to Covey, "I can tell your will is tempting. All your brothers have either joined me or joined death. It is your choice."

"Do not say that. I do not have a choice." He sneered.

"Felix, I'd like Thursday to be the one to retrieve Sixteen. Please take him up to my office and explain the details of the case. You two," He spoke, referring to the elves, "This storm will surely make patients hysteric. Go see if Finch and Beau need help treating them."

It was made pretty obvious he wanted to continue this conversation with Covey alone. The others were fine with that, not wanting to see what he was about to do. They all cleared themselves out quickly. The doors were shut, leaving the two demons alone in the sanctuary.

"May I see your wings?" Jasper asked.

Covey looked at him strangely, "Excuse me?"

"You heard me. May I see them?" He rose to his feet, standing over the younger being. Covey figured there was no point in fighting him. So, he allowed his wings to sprout from his back. Jasper gently ran his finger tips along the top, musing, "They are truly beautiful. In all my years, I've only ever seen wings like this on a crow. Never a demon, though. Except one; Malphas. It is said that all crows are children of Malphas because they share his magic, but you, you are the only being to share his blood, aren't you?"

Covey's irises shook as did his voice, "How did you-"

"I know everything." He swiftly responded as he knelt down in front of him. "You are Beleth's son, but Malphas blessed you at birth to prevent your mother anymore heartache. Apollo and Lumi were born monsters. She wanted at least one beautiful child. She loved you all, but she wanted a baby that she didn't fear. That is why you all hide your true forms, for her sake. It is also the reason why Croc never learned to hide himself. She wasn't around to teach him what a monster he was."

"Yes, it's true. Our father was horrific. He did awful things to her, things that even I cannot speak of. It makes me ill to even think about it. All we wanted was for her to be happy. She gave us everything, down to the moment she took her dying breath."

"I aim to rid the world of creatures like Beleth. He may be dead, but there are still plenty more around like him. Please, Covey, join me. We can reshape this world together." Jasper leaned in closer, allowing their eyes to meet. "Submit to me. Submit to a higher power. Allow me to lead you down the path of closure." He gently grasped Covey's hands and turned them over. "You know what you have to do."

He was so tempting. His voice, his grasp, it was comforting. Covey would much rather live under someone's thumb than die. It wasn't like he was becoming a slave. He was agreeing to become a soldier in the fight against malicious intent. To stay with his brothers, to prevent unnecessary pain, he knew it was the right choice.

Just as his brother had done, he used his razor sharp nails to slice open his palm. Jasper placed soft kisses along his arm until he reached his bleeding hand. The smell of Covey's blood was intoxicating. There was something about it that enticed Jasper. He pressed his lips to the wound and whispered the words that sealed their contract. His tongue glided across his pale lips, the flavor sending his senses into a tizzy.

He licked Covey's hand again, moaning sweetly. "Your blood... It's arousing." Jasper ran his hand down his arm, pulling himself closer to him. "Your heart rate is increasing as well as your breathing, and your skin is flushed. Am I turning you on?"

Covey jerked back his hand, now having Jasper's mark on the back of it. "Don't be ridiculous. I hope you weren't planning on sending me away already like Thursday. I'd like to get settled into my room first."

"Yes, of course." Jasper handed him over his staff. "Follow me."

__________

  'ant tantami li alana. aleaqd makhtum. = You belong to me now. The contract is sealed. 

Covey's true form:

Thursday's true form: