Almost everyone's hands shot up, and I made sure to raise mine too. I had no clue what name I'd say, but the desire to be chosen overwhelmed me for whatever reason. Magsicter grinned since everyone finally listened. I could tell he lusted for alcohol like the rest of us, and I knew he'd fall victim to bad symptoms from his addiction, so he's really a determined man when it comes to the sake of those he loves. Even if they weren't born yet.

"Father, you go first," Magsicter said, and I expected groaning. But it seemed like they were all completely fine with Bleedy going. Magsicter dabbed the quill he held in the inkwell, putting the tip up to the paper.

Bleedy grinned brightly, his cheeks pink from happiness and not intoxication for once. We all eagerly and silently stared at the two. Well, most of us were silent.

Numi gorged on his corpse; slurping and grunts came with that. Cecinno had finished with as much meat as he wanted from his leg, so Falloven chomped and broke apart the bone noisily. For one that doesn't want to appear like a dumb animal, he surely acted like one. Whenever it happened, Riniuse was given another chubby human. But it was a woman this time. So, we had to deal with the sounds of his bloodgasm.

We all tried to ignore, and it worked pretty well. Bleedy cleared his throat a bit, and Magsicter calmly waited.

"So, I'm going to rapid fire ideas. For my grandson, Serialis, Baelion, Pieren, Asane, Weavick, Ryoel. For my granddaughter, Aliona, Evina, Lialetta-" Bleedy suggested, interrupted by Magsicter. Magsicter smiled brightly, and Icrela faintly nodded up and down by his chest after his lips whispered into her ear.

"Icrela and I have reached an agreement. For our daughter, we'll be goin' with Lialetta," Magsicter merrily informed, and I actually liked the ring of it. Bleedy wore a larger smile after chosen. "We've still got to find the right name for my son. After I choose you, put your hand down for the remainder of this."

Everyone's hands were back up, so Magsicter scanned everyone for a decision. With a sign, he placed his hand over his face.

"Should get this over with," Magsicter muttered, his hand leaving his face while he stared directly at the vampire. "Riniuse, what have you got?"

The vamp's face basically glowed when called on, and he became very cheery. He grinned, blood between the cracks of his teeth.

"We should call him Crimson. That'd be cool," he told, sparking laughter to ooze from all of us. He slumped in his chair, a pathetic countenance on him while he went back to drinking.

"This is why you're the idiot. Namin' my son Crimson is like suggestin' you want to consume him, idiot."

"I just really like red," Riniuse murmured, teary eyed. When I saw that he was upset, only one thing went through my head; he's a pussy.

"Dvipe, you go next," Magsicter sighed, turning to the bulky dark night. He smirked, his arms crossing.

"You've got to give a badass name. How about Slghallo?" With the suggestion, Magsicter appeared dumbfounded.

"You Wekbinds have a knack for weird ass names, don't you? Doesn't flow right. I can barely pronounce Dvipelns." Dvipe didn't seem offended in the slightest, instead laughing.

"Perhaps. I didn't think my name was that hard to pronounce till you all started calling me by the first half alone. But my youngest brother has a really complex name. He's Twizstlimn."

"Holy hell. You're brother is screwed with everything involving his name," Falloven jested, chuckling while going back to ripping marrow from the bone he tore apart. Dvipe simply laughed. I guess he isn't offended easily.

"Falloven, what name have you got?" Magsicter questioned, and the mutt scoffed.

"I've got enough pups of my own. All of my names are washed up," the wolf told, his voice cocky for no apparent reason.

"How many are you at now?"

Shockingly, Magsicter didn't seem slightly mad at the pooch's mannerism or refusal to give a name. I honestly thought he would be.

"I've been a rotten husband," Falloven started, his ears folding down on his head. "Thirty something now. I might have gotten with too many babes. And wolves have a few kids each, and they have had more than usual for whatever reason... I know wolves stick to one, but I've been badly influenced by you freaking humans."

"That's not true. Remember when you were drunk the other night? You're just a ridiculously sexual mutt," Trenis blurted, and Falloven slightly growled at him before his tail went between his legs, and he mellowed down in his chair. He covered his face with his paw like a human, and he seemed ashamed.

"I like women, alright? My instinct can screw, and so can I if I wish. I'm a harem kind of dog."

Falloven whimpered lightly, placing his head on the table with a guilty glint in his eyes. Dogs really can't hide their emotions. Cats, now, I hate those pretentious things. They just stare like a jerk, and it caused me to punt one once. Then it got trampled by a horse. But it's scrawny body suggested it'd die soon enough, anyway.

"Okay, before I ask someone else, who actually has a name? Raise your hand. Otherwise, don't have it up," Magsicter told, and the only hand up was Cecinno's. "What have you got, Cecinno?"

"Well, I think you should let him decide. I came up with my name, and I ditched my old one. I don't think names should be assigned," Cecinno replied, and I tried holding in my laughter. But everyone burst into it soon enough, and Cecinno didn't seem to think it was funny based on his glare and lowered eyebrows. "Why are you guys laughing?"

"Children are always named by the parents. You can't just say 'hey, you' for their entire childhood. Names are mostly just labels to make life easier," Dvipe explained, and Cecinno had a dull tone to his eyes.

"If that's how it is, I won't argue. I suppose it's not like my slave name. It's not as bad as having Fucker branded on your will and soul."

"You don't remember your name before resurrection?" I questioned, finding it odd. But I'd never heard much of the undead in my daily life. Cecinno appeared deeply hurt.

"I'd been Fucker since birth, it just wasn't attached to my soul. The old boss was my father, and he resurrected my soul after murdering me for refusal to be an assassin. I was too weak and young. But now I'll always be this small," Cecinno silently uttered, his hands on the table. "I apologize for killing the tone. I'm not important."

"It's fine, Cecinno. But I'm namin' my son," Magsicter calmly replied, an understanding tone to his voice. "Ersus, everyone won't help. Have you got somethin'? You aren't raisin' your hand, but you were earlier."

My mind began panicking, as I really didn't have a reason to put my hand up. I tried swiftly thinking of names, but I could only think of those from chicks I've slept with. Esette isn't exactly a manly name... But my thoughts were interrupted.

Persusin, Magsicter is screaming. His brother is missing. Ask him to go somewhere in private. I'll give instruction from there, Celelei yelled in my mind, and it echoed in my head. Immediately, a sharp headache took over my skull, and I grimaced from the pain. Magsicter seemed surprised and worried.

"Are you alright, Ersus?" Magsicter questioned, honestly nervous.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm good. Can we go somewhere in private?"

"Uh, yeah. Sure," Magsicter replied, stuttering from likely confusion.

I removed myself from the chair I sat in, unsure of exactly what I got myself into. After giving Icrela a tender kiss on her forehead, Magsicter strolled up to me. He had been smiling most of the day, and he still was, so I couldn't comprehend him mentally screaming for help as Celelei suggested. But I figured that she's the goddess, not me.

"What exactly are we talkin' 'bout?" Magsicter asked with an eyebrow raised.

"We should go somewhere further away from everyone," I suggested, as I didn't wish to create conflict with all of Magsicter's men on standby. The ginger put his thumbs in the sides of his pants, sighing.

"If you insist. We'll quickly head to my room, I suppose."

"Sounds good."

Magsicter began to lead, and we found ourselves in the hallways I always seemed to be in. The must filled my nose, but no dirt or webs were anywhere. It was as strangely clean as when I arrived.

Out of nowhere when walking in the semi-darkness, Magsicter snatched my wrist and held it firmly. He pushed up my sleeve, and my mind rushed. His fingers grazed my flesh, and I felt like yelling, "bad touch."

"You've got some peach fuzz. You aren't shavin'? Thought you shaved daily, though it takes from your manliness," Magsicter remarked, a shocked glint in his eyes.

When he's not torturing, he's strangely like a normal person. Well, that's what I thought. I mean, he showed emotions other than bloodlust, thought of his children's future without his bad habits, and he acted friendly to me. Almost brotherly in a way, as he shows more genuine and gleeful emotions with Bleedy and me. I found it strange, as I still couldn't comprehend the whole assassin thing, never mind being the brother to a crazy ginger slash assassin boss and the son to a respectable alcoholic.

Anyway, I'm off topic. Besides, I can't complain since I actually like... So, Magsicter mentioned my peach fuzz. Right.

His words startled me, and my eyes shot to my arm as fast as a woman decides she wants me. But I couldn't see anything. My fingertips slid against my skin, and I gaped in the realization that a slight growth occurred.

"You alright? Didn't notice till now?" Magsicter asked, laughing in a normal manner. It didn't seem ominous nor arisen from mischief and misfortune. It was simply a typical laugh.

"It's like your chest hair," I blurted, the thought passing through my mind for whatever reason. Magsicter's shoulders slumped, and he checked under his shirt quickly.

"I have more chest hair than you have arm hair... It's just pale!" Magsicter responded, ripping off his shirt. He pointed between his nipples, frantic for no reason. Maybe I challenged his manliness or something similar. "You've felt it. Look."

"Freakishly pale skin gives freakishly pale hair, so it's long but invisible. I get it, I get it," I quickly told, frowning. Magsicter laughed again, shuffling back into his shirt. "You're very chipper. It's strange."

"Oh," Magsicter muttered, placing his chin on his hand.

He must've neglected to shave from excitement for the day, as he had a light, ginger stubble. But it might've been a two day effort. A smile spread over his face, and it surprised me since I thought I accidentally set him off.

"Well, I can't not be. I mean, I've got my lovely Icrela who's carryin' my children, I haven't had anythin' to drink all day, Icrela's been feedin' me well, though I tried to fast... You've started trainin' and did great accordin' to Frias, my eye's healin' nicely, and you're my brother," Magsicter explained, blushing lightly at the end from embarrassment.

"That sounds nice."

"It is."

"However," I began, and Magsicter seemed surprised by my disagreement. "I'm not your only brother. You have Musriun, and I doubt you're happy about his presence missing at this time. I mean, you grew up with the guy."

Magsicter scowled, his feet planting themselves to the floor. I stopped walking, turning to him.

"Don't need Riun. I'm happy that he isn't here. Never invited him, and I trapped him in his room after takin' you without my permission. Should be sleepin' currently," Magsicter quietly replied with his eyes glazed over.

"You know, with all of the torture you unleash on people, I feel like the worst you've done is to Musriun. You weren't nearly as cruel to me who was a stranger at the time."

"I-I'm not cruel to him," Magsicter whimpered, tears leaving his eyes. "I-I don't torture him. He's just in a drugged up, sleep state. And he eats so much since it's comforting."

"Think about what you said. You keep him drugged up for month spans. It must be maddening, as you're eating away all of his life with sleep, and he's fattening from the food you make him consume. And you know you don't give him food for the comfort," I lectured, and Magsicter clenched his fists while looking down.

"I'm a monster, alright? Is that what you wish to hear?" Magsicter collapsed on the floor suddenly, lying and smashing his face into the floor. I heard the sound of his skull ramming into the stone, so I knew he slammed with a good amount of force. "Thought you were goin' to comfort me unlike Xelniozil's. But you spent too much time as a freakin' Vilcium."

I was shocked since he remembered my original last name, as I only mentioned it once. The fact he took the time to retain the information made me realize something. He's someone completely and utterly devoted to family, and it matched up with all I knew of him well. His greatest wish was to have children, he believed to stick to one woman and never cheat, the pride he felt for being a Durlikan was crazily high, he wished for me to be his brother, and an aura of abandonment seemed to loom over him whenever he brought up the Xelniozil name. And this abandonment was his greatest enemy.

"Hey, you're not a monster. That was your past. You need to stop linking the present to the past, and you need to let it go. Think about my mother. She was haunted by Bleedy for sixteen years, and she never once seemed truly happy," I told, and his face turned to me. It appeared like a beaten dog who finally felt the touch of a kind owner. "I will comfort you, but that only masks the problems. The best support I can give is breaking down your thoughts until you fix this unending cycle of turmoil you share with Musriun. You know that you care for him, and I seriously doubt you imagined your stress building to the point where you found enjoyment in torturing him. If you didn't care for him, why do you make excuses on why you do what you do to him?"

I was amazed by the words that left my mouth, as I never knew I understood him and his situation so well until that point. Before this, I don't think I'd ever said something so meaningful. But it was, and I knew for certain when Magsicter stood and hugged me.

His well defined arms were all the way around my upper body, and he squeezed unbelievably strongly. He's someone who needs others more than anything, so I accepted the hug and held back to calm him. I felt his tears drop onto my shoulder, and he sobbed by my ear.

"I make excuses since I can't deal with reality. Don't want to torture Riun, but I sickeningly find enjoyment in it. I'm just so stressed, and he's ignorant 'bout everythin' involvin' me. And his words toward me always hurt. Can't accept who I am, and he harasses my happiness. If I say somethin' joyous, it's bad to him. If I say somethin' miserable, it's nonexistent. Can't he just be fine with me? He simply would be best away from me, and I want him happily livin', but he won't leave me alone! Just don't want him interferin' with my choices and denyin' me of myself. But he won't leave! Ersus, I ask him to leave daily. Why won't he?" Magsicter sorrowfully rambled, and I patted his back awkwardly since I wasn't quite sure how to handle the situation. But I felt words on the tip of my tongue, so they rolled off.

"Well, he must love you. Family sticks together, and that's what he's doing for you, though you seemed to have left him all alone in his room. He likely is ignorant since he can't accept his parents, who were likely perfect to him, harming you so deeply. Nor can he picture town friends doing the same. He brings the bad out of your joy since he feels you should be cautious, and he makes the misery you feel disappear in his brain since he doesn't want to picture you like that. Perhaps he has inner demons you're oblivious to, as well."

Magsicter shook, and his legs wobbled in a way that suggested he lost all strength. His fingers dug into my clothes which he held tightly.

"I'm an idiot!" Magsicter shouted, his voice filled with sobs.

"You're not an idiot. You just made a few idiotic decisions. But you've made a lot of good choices, and those are pushing your life forward."

"Then what do I decide to do now? Don't know myself. I'm at a loss."

"Slowly connect with Musriun again. You're having children, so you can start conversation with that. You shouldn't raise children in a strife-filled atmosphere, so it's best to get rid of it. Maybe tell him more about current you and help him understand why you enjoy the darkness. Tell him why he should leave it. I think you should have your first talk today so it happens. Ask him for help on your son's name," I suggested, and Magsicter released me with a grin.

"Okay. Should take care of that now. Tell everyone to head back to their rooms, and I'm seein' Riun. I'll talk to you later," Magsicter told, his voice sure and somewhat cheery. But he still seemed sad. He booked it, running down the halls. So, I decided to take my leave.

After dispersing the crowd Magsicter abandoned, I took Faltufea and headed to my room. Not much really occurred, and Faltufea eventually left me alone. Lonely, I sat on my bed with no plan of what to do in my mind.

I stripped off my shirt, then I grazed my arms in amaze since they were slightly hairy. It gave me the thought that I'd finally be seen as a man, so I lightly grinned.

I exhaled, leaning back on my bed and staring at the stone ceiling. Strangely, I just had the realization I had no clue where I was. It was likely underground, but I knew nothing else. And I had no clue how long it took for me to get here, so I was at a complete loss. But I figured I'd be let out eventually, as my hands became a tool for killing when I accepted being an assassin.

While I shut my eyes and decided to rest with nothing better to do, I noticed the faint sound of panting and dragging. My eyes shot open, as I could tell the voice I heard made pained grunts and movements.

It grew closer, and I stood from bed. Like a dog, I stood and stared toward the door of my room, and a faint knocking echoed through my room. Swiftly, I ran to the door and opened it, completely shocked by what I saw.

Magsicter grimaced, but he slightly grinned when he saw me. His right leg dragged on the ground, and it was oddly bent to the side with an exposed bone that cut through his pants. Blood trailed behind him, and it gushed from the horrible wound. But that wasn't the only injury. Multiple stab wounds were in his shoulders and back, and crimson dribbled out.

"Ersus, can I come in? I need help," he wheezed, smiling for whatever reason. Maybe to block out the pain. Immediately, extreme guilt blanketed me, and my eyes widened.

"Of course. Don't move too much, I'll help you up."

I kneeled to the ground, and Magsicter wrapped his weak arms around my body. I slowly stood, and his leg flopped with dripping blood. He winced, and my heart thumped excessively and felt full of salt.

We carefully walked into my room, and I helped him onto my bed so he could sit. My eyes didn't and couldn't leave his broken leg and stab wounds.

Once he sat, I ran to the bathroom and covered a wet cloth in water. I carefully saturated it, then searched for disinfectant. But I couldn't find any, so I quickly went back to Magsicter.

I kneeled down to his leg, unsure of how to handle the protruding bone. The clothes needed to leave, though. After realizing I couldn't shred it with my hands, I flipped the floor off, and my shadowy claws formed. I ripped his pants off, the moved to his shirt that I tore. But I realized I was stuck with my weapon, and I stopped using my dominant hand.

I dabbed his shoulders with the cloth, but too much blood leaked. Magsicter stuck his hand up, motioning me to stop. I did as he wished, but I was highly confused.

"Does this hurt?" I asked, unsure if I could make it tolerable.

"Yes, but pain has never been too bad. But you aren't helpin', so I think it's best for us to get Riniuse to heal me. I'll send you to get him soon. Shouldn't ask this, but can you get out a bottle of whiskey from under the bed? I never told you I stocked the room with alcohol. I wish to be numb," Magsicter groaned, but he spoke surprisingly well for someone in such bad conditions.

I nodded, bending down beneath the bed. It shocked me that so much wine and whiskey resided underneath, but I ignored and grabbed what he wanted. I popped the cork, then I put it to his lips since his shoulder wounds likely made it hard for him to move. He chugged some down, and I put it away soon after.

"Thanks," Magsicter muttered, looking toward the ground.

"What happened to you?" I asked, my voice accidentally like a shout. His eyes shook, and he appeared as if he'd cry.

"I'm afraid that Musriun is lost. He's... deteriorated too far, and I'm afraid it's my fault. I went to talk to him, and he was extremely pissed by my happiness. He accused that it was fake, and he kept ramblin' 'bout us leavin' this place. I tried tellin' him I love it here, but he didn't listen. Then, he cried while pullin' out a dagger, and he said that he'd make me leave. But he thinks us both dyin' would be leavin'! He snapped my leg since I didn't wish to harm him, then he tried stabbin' for my neck. All I could do was avoid, and I'm not sure how I got out. But I locked him up tightly, and he's not comin' out for a long time. Till I can figure out what to do. Don't know how to calm him, but I'll find a way someday."

My eyes twitched, and I frowned from the story. It hurt my insides so bad to know I sent him there for him to almost be killed. But he smiled for whatever reason.

"I-I'm so sorry," I stuttered, placing my hand on my forehead.

"Don't feel bad. You made me aware of the problem, and neither of us thought this would happen. Just need some time to think 'bout how to fix him."

"I should go get Riniuse. You'll faint if you lose more blood."

"Okay. And, Ersus, I'm goin' to start your trainin'. I'll personally handle you for the next few months, but I'm sure you'll do fine. Also, I've decided my son's name. He'll be Laevin."