"Devil's gonna get you if I don't first. Take my body and do your worst."

-Rival Sons

                                                                            ***

When it finally came, her response was as cold as it was hard.

"No."

Caleb opened his mouth but she snarled, the sound harsh and animalistic enough that Sirius responded instinctively. His teeth lengthened and his pupils dilated at the threatening sound.

Moving almost impossibly fast, she lunged toward the edge of her cage. Chains rattled as she strained forward. "I said no, you son of a bitch. I know you all have trouble with the whole 'no means no' thing but I swear to God I will rip out your tongue. I don't want to hear another goddamn word out of your filthy mouth." 

The Hunter blinked rapidly before looking at Sirius, who just shook his head again. Softly, he said, "Talking won't help. Not while we're still down here." He glanced at Galloway to find her scowling at him. "She doesn't trust anything. Which is understandable. There's nothing worth trusting down here."

She narrowed those gorgeous eyes at him before tossing what was left of her hair as she turned, stalking back to the wall. Sitting down with a huff, she crossed her arms, wincing as the manacles rubbed at her already raw wrists. 

Sirius couldn't stop staring at her. He'd never known how... satisfying it could be to simply see someone.

Galloway eyed him warily, then growled in warning. "Stop looking at me like that."

"Like what?" he asked, curious. Did he look different when he was around her? He would bet he did.

A sound of disgust came from low in her throat as she fiddled with the manacles. He bristled at the flashes of raw, bright red skin that appeared as she moved them. 

"Like you aren't about to attempt to tear me apart," she eventually said, eyes darting to his, then away.

She looked unsettled. Like he had done something that disturbed her.

Sirius got slowly to his feet, leaning against the bars of his cage. Galloway bared her teeth, but didn't shrink back or threaten him again. Keeping his voice soft, he said, "I'm sorry that you're here."

A small sound of surprise or anger came from low in her throat. Then she shook herself, making the chains rattle again. The smile she gave him was brittle. "Yeah. We're all sorry for something. I'm sorry I made that damn deal." She looked across the room. "I'm sorry I saved the real Caleb."

The Hunter looked down, his jaw clenched and his hands balled into fists. 

Then she looked back at him. "But mostly I'm sorry I fell for someone I never should have."

Sirius didn't let himself so much as blink. The words ricocheted through his head, knocking loose every similar thought he'd ever had. That it was his fault. That she would still be alive if it hadn't been for him. That she would be happy if she hadn't loved him.

Did she still love him?

Galloway frowned, then shook her head, turning away like she couldn't bear to look at him any longer. Moving slowly, sure something inside of him would shatter if he wasn't careful, Sirius sank to his knees.

The vial in his pocket grew warm, responding to the weakness it could feel inside of him. Sirius' hand twitched toward it, but if Malechi had been telling the truth he would need it later.

"Where's Rick?" Caleb asked, shattering the silence that had stretched for too long.

Sirius glanced up, his mind foggy with pain. His words felt thick and unwieldy when he said, "He's here. Locked up where I was before they brought me here."

"Is he okay?"

Sirius had gone back to looking at Galloway. She pointedly stared away from him.

"Sirius!" Caleb hissed. "Is Rick all right?"

Reluctantly, Sirius peeled his eyes away from Galloway to look at Caleb. "He's fine. A little beat up, but not dead."

A relieved sigh gusted from the Hunter. He ran his hands through his hair, interlocking his fingers behind his neck before he tipped his head back, staring up at the ceiling. He glanced down toward Galloway, then let his gaze drift over toward Sirius again.

"I think Rhys is still alive," Caleb said quietly. At Sirius' questioning brow, he shook his head, mouth pressed into a thin line. "They ambushed us. Last I saw before I went lights out was Rhys drawing a handful of the demons that attacked us down a set of stairs."

Galloway started, setting the chains jingling. But then she shook her head like she was trying to clear it. "Not real," she muttered, squeezing her eyes shut. "Not real, not real, not real. You can't believe."

A lump formed in his throat at the helplessness he could hear in her voice. She brought her hands up, pressing her palms to her temples. Shivers spread across her body, making her tremble even in the stuffy heat of the room. Her breath came in rapid bursts and she suddenly looked nauseous, her skin pale and sweat beading up on her forehead.

"We're real," Caleb suddenly burst out, his voice pleading and raw. "Galloway. Galloway please look at me. Please."

"You're not real!" she screamed, slamming her palms into the floor. The scent of her blood filled the air as a sharp edge on one of the manacles cut into her wrist. 

Caleb bolted to his feet, slamming into the bars of his cage. He wrapped his fingers around the bars, rattling them uselessly. "You saved me when I was eight! You picked up a scared, screaming kid and tossed him outside before you stabbed that fucking wraith in the heart. That was me! I'm the real me."

Galloway's face was paper-white as she stared at the irate Hunter. She shook her head wordlessly, still denying him.

Tears glimmered in his eyes. "I left it open," he croaked. "I left the side-door unlocked. Dad told me every night to lock it. I lied. I let the goddamn thing in and you killed it before it could kill me too."

"Shut up," she whispered, fingers clutching at her hair.

"We're real, Galloway." Caleb slammed his hands against the bars. "We're real, dammit."

"You're not!" she shrieked, curling in on herself in a defensive manner. Like she could fend off his words if she could just get far enough away. "You're not! You can't be."

She pressed hard against the wall behind her, her bare shoulders scraping against the rough stone. The fear and agony on her face—an expression he'd never seen before—tore at his heart.

"Stop!" Sirius growled, scrambling to his feet. "It won't help, Caleb. Leave her alone."

"No!" the Hunter hissed. Then his voice turned pleading again. "Please, Galloway. Please. You know it's us. You can feel it deep down. This is real."

Galloway let out an inarticulate cry of anguish and rage, lunging toward the bars of her cage again. Sirius swore at the wet tearing sound that reached his ears before he saw the blood splash to the ground.

She'd torn against the manacles, skinning her wrists and the backs of her hands. To his shock and horror, she kept yanking at the chains even as the metal ripped deeper, making more blood flow.

"Stop!" Sirius swore again. "Galloway stop! Sweetheart, please."

She screamed again, the sound driving into his ears and making him cringe. With one last vicious tug, she pulled her hands free of the manacles, leaving bits of skin and blood behind on the metal. Galloway didn't seem to notice as she slammed against the bars of the cage.

"Don't call me that," she snarled, scrambling wildly at the lock on the cage. "I'm going to kill you."

Her already broken nails squealed against the metal, like she was trying to pry the lock open with her bare hands. More blood dripped down her arms as her eyes locked on Caleb, hateful and wild. All Sirius could do was watch helplessly as she tore the skin of her fingers on the edges of the lock.

"Oh my," a silky voice demurred. "What have you done to my favorite pet?"

Galloway let out a soft grunt of surprise before her eyes rolled back and she collapsed to the ground, unconscious. As Sirius watched, the skin on her hands repaired itself, the blood swept away. 

There wasn't even a scar left.

Sirius swept his gaze over her still form. Her skin was perfectly intact. Not a single blemish, scar or scratch to be found. Anger pulsed through him, hot and bitter.

No proof of her life before. No proof of what she had once been. The history etched on her skin wiped away like so much chalk from a board. 

Hell trying to take away who she was.

With a snarl, he whirled to find Hades standing in the doorway. Hands shoved into the pockets of his black jeans, he strolled forward with a small smirk on his face. He swaggered past Sirius and Caleb, throwing a wink at Sirius before he stepped through the bars of Galloway's cage like they were nothing more than smoke. 

The anger turned to sour fear, bile rising in his throat as Hades picked her up. She whimpered, her eyes darting around beneath her eyelids as her head rested against the god's shoulder.

Hades carried her toward the back of the cage, setting her gently on the ground there. He snapped the manacles back around her wrists before stroking his fingers down the side of her face, making her flinch and cringe away even in her sleep.

"Galloway," he called softly.

Her eyes flew open with a gasp and she gazed up into the god's face. She didn't so much as blink when he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear before lightly gripping her jaw.

Sirius' fangs sank into his lip, clawed hands gripping the bars tightly, but he didn't dare make a sound. He didn't know what would provoke Hades into hurting her just to torture him.

Finally, Galloway bared her teeth and jerked away from the god's touch. She sat up, looking disgruntled as she brought her hands up, rattling her chains again. She frowned at the manacles before letting her eyes flicker to Caleb.

The confusion in her eyes was painful as she touched the back of her left hand.

"What..." She shook her head in disgust. Glaring dully at Hades' boots, she said, "I thought I was riding the bench today."

Hades chuckled. "You are, love."

Galloway jerked in surprise, hands falling to her sides as she stared up at the god. Hades snapped his fingers and Sirius found himself standing just outside Galloway's cage.

Close enough to touch her.

But he couldn't move enough to even draw in a proper breath. Hades jerked a thumb over his shoulder. "He's up. You're just spectating."

Galloway paled, looking past the god to Sirius. Then she shot to her feet, hands gripping the lapels of Hades' jacket. She didn't flinch when he put his hands on her waist.

"Is he real?" she whispered, eyes wide and desperate. "Is he real?"

Hades smiled kindly, brushing a kiss against her temple, making her shudder. The god sent a vicious grin over his shoulder and Sirius attempt a snarl. 

Looking back down at Galloway, he kissed her cheek, then lightly kissed her mouth. "Can't you tell anymore?" Hades whispered.

Tears pooled in her eyes, streaking silently down her pale cheeks. "No." 

The look on her face was so miserable Sirius wanted to tear Hades' throat out. He wanted to pull her agony from her—take it on himself so she didn't have to feel it. He wanted to hold her and love her until she could no longer remember what Hades' touch felt like.

Hades laughed softly, brushing her hair back again. Then he looked down, taking in her appearance. With another smile aimed at Sirius, he said, "Why don't you put on something pretty for me?"

Before she had a chance to recover, Hades snapped his fingers. Galloway disappeared in a whirl of darkness, her wrecked eyes still glued to Sirius.

Silence echoed around him, so complete it made his ears ring.

Hades turned his attention to Sirius, who was still staring at the place Galloway had been moments before. But it was Caleb who finally spoke. 

"What did you do to her, you bastard?" the Hunter demanded, voice tight with fury.

The god of the underworld didn't deign to even look at him. Instead, he moved forward until he was standing right beside Sirius. Hades leaned over until he was speaking directly into the Hellhound's ear.

"Put on a good show, Siri," Hades snickered, "or she'll start losing important bits."

Then he was gone and Sirius was left staring at the streaks of blood Galloway had left on the bars of her cage. A door opened, light and sound blasting into the room. Tentatively, Sirius called the darkness to him, but it still wasn't responding. 

Hades still didn't want him shifting completely.

"What's happening, Sirius," Caleb asked, voice barely audible over the bloodthirsty roar they could now hear

Sirius turned in a slow circle, wondering if he was supposed to fight bare-handed. When he didn't find so much as a toothpick, he realized Hades wanted him to go out there and die in front of her, as horrifically as he could manage. 

Would it cause her any pain?

If she really believed he had abandoned her to Hell, how could she possibly still love him? But perhaps that's what Hades wanted him to see. That she had given up on him.

Maybe she should.

Finally looking at the Hunter, he said, "I'm going to go out there and get torn to shreds. Then after that, we're going to figure out how to get Galloway out of here."

Caleb opened his mouth, but Sirius didn't stick around to hear whatever the Hunter wanted to say. He walked toward the door, bloody firelight bathing him in a ruby glow. A short ramp would take him up to the sand.

Sirius almost wished he had something to pray to. But he knew nothing was listening. So instead he swore to himself that whatever happened, whatever he had to sacrifice, he would to save her. 

The only problem with that was he didn't know how to save anything. It wasn't something he'd ever done before. It wasn't in his nature.

Digging into his pocket, he pulled the stopper from the vial and downed the contents. The thick, silver liquid spread fire from his belly out to the very tips of his claws. 

His pupils dilated and his skin prickled with over-sensitivity. He couldn't feel any pain as his fangs stabbed into his lower lip. The Bloodlust—a nasty concoction favored around the pits—wrapped around his brain, obliterating any thought beyond the need to maim and kill.

It did kick in fast.

Sirius tossed the vial to the side, shattering the glass against the wall before he stalked out the door. It slammed shut behind him and he couldn't stop the vicious, snarling growl that ripped from him.

The bright lights shining down onto the arena burned his eyes, but he didn't blink, scanning the stretch of golden sand for his opponent.

He was back on familiar ground. This he knew how to do. This he excelled at.

Clicking his claws together, he risked a glance up at the emperor's box. The shadows were too thick for him to see Hades, but Galloway stood at the balcony.

Her hands gripped the metal railing as she stared down at him.

The Bloodlust let him look at her without a single flicker of emotion. He stared at the silver silk of the Greek chiton she had been put in, her blonde hair—magically regrown—piled on her head and studded with jewels.

Her grey eyes were lined with kohl, her lips painted bright red.

She was beautiful, and he mercifully couldn't care.

Hades' voice drifted down to him, brushing past his ears like a foul wind. "How about a little reenactment." 

Sirius didn't have a clue what he was talking about. It didn't matter. Something else had caught his attention.

A small folding knife glinted up at him from the sand three feet away. Curious, Sirius tread a cautious circle around it before he finally picked it up. It smelled like silver, but the Bloodlust kept him from feeling any pain. He flicked it open, watching the light play over the silver-coated blade.

He knew this knife. It was the one she always kept in her boot.

Sirius blinked, and he was suddenly standing in a familiar alley. An alley that had haunted his nightmares for weeks.

A familiar howl rang out, swiftly followed by the sound of claws clattering against concrete. Sirius whirled, putting his back to the alley wall. The silver covering the blade of the knife was beginning to singe the skin between his thumb and forefinger. He could smell it burning.

Four Hellhounds tore around the corner into the alley, snarling and snapping at each other as they drew near him.

He recognized Bane, his wolf form still smaller than Sirius'. 

Malechi. Selene. Lucia.

At least now he understood what Hades had meant by reenactment.

"This saves me some time," he crooned, raising the knife. "I'm going to spill your blood like you spilled hers."

He wasn't going to let them have the first move. Not very hopeful, he attempted to tug at the darkness once more. When it didn't come, he sighed. Bane grinned at him, flashing jagged fangs.

Sirius supposed the fight would be fair enough.

He dove forward, driving his shoulder into Lucia's ribs. She let out a high-pitched yelp as he tackled her to the pavement. Claws hooked in his leg, dragging him backwards but he looped an arm around Lucia's throat, plunging the knife into her chest once and twice into her vulnerable belly. 

Hot breath on the back of his neck made him twist violently. Malechi went sprawling sideways when Sirius' elbow drilled into his temple.

He turned back to Lucia and sliced the blade viciously across her hamstring.

As he stood, a body slammed into him, sending him into the alley's wall. Sirius snarled, burying his teeth into the Hellhound's shoulder. Claws dug into his stomach, tearing him open. Blood—slick and warm—gushed down his legs.

He drove his fist into the Hellhound's belly, trying to get free when a set of jaws crushed his knee, sending him to the ground. 

Slashing wildly with the knife, he laughed every time the blade met flesh. Someone yelped and Sirius curled in on himself before he drove his good leg into a mass of muscle.

He felt more than saw the space he created and took advantage. Sirius' claws tore viciously into the Hellhound still on top of him. He drove his fingers into the gaping tears, hooking his fingers into their flesh and yanked sideways.

They rolled until he was on top of who he could now see was Bane. Sirius planted the knife in the flesh just under his jaw and dragged it down, opening Bane's throat.

"Every drop," Sirius crowed. "I'm going to bleed you like a pig then let her cut you in to fish-bait."

Teeth clamped down on the space between his neck and shoulder, and a high-pitched yelp of shock came from him as the pain actually registered. His vision blurred and doubled as fire raced down his leg, pooling in his knee. The tears across his belly made him double over in agony.

His fingers went numb and he lost the knife as he was dragged over backwards.

Panting, he clawed his way through the pain and reached up, grabbing wildly for sensitive ears. The teeth clamped down harder, harder until there was a resounding crack as his clavicle snapped under the pressure.

A hoarse scream dragged itself out of him. The teeth disappeared and Sirius lunged to his feet, just for his knee to buckle. He knelt on the blood-drenched asphalt, breathing hard.

Lucia growled, her hind leg dragging on the ground as she limped forward. Malechi, his maw stained ebony with Sirius' blood, prowled back and forth. Selene watched from farther down the alley, her face and chest covered in smoking cuts.

Bane was still bleeding on the asphalt, his throat ripped open.

Sirius spat at Malechi's feet. "Little bastard," he snarled. "Did you sit back and watch with her too?"

The mastiff lunged forward and they went rolling across the asphalt, teeth snapping and claws scrabbling. Sirius managed to bury his teeth into Malechi's neck, just behind his ear.

His vision was beginning to blacken and sparkle, the wound in his gut taking the heaviest toll.

Malechi twisted, and the back of Sirius' head cracked against the ground.

For a moment, Sirius just stared up at the bleached night sky. Why couldn't this have been him the first time? 

His breath burned in his throat and every inch of him hurt. It was enough. He'd put Lucia out of commission and maimed Bane enough that the Hound would take at least three days to heal. It was a good enough show and the audience would get what it wanted watching Malechi tear out his throat.

So he closed his eyes and waited for the feeling of fangs on his neck.

Instead, the tears across his stomach healed. His clavicle snapped back into place, the bone crackling as it was repaired. His knee put itself back together, ligaments snapping back into place like rubber bands. 

Sirius opened his eyes in time to watch the illusion dissolve. The other Hellhounds were whisked away in a dark cloud, leaving him alone on the blood-soaked sand.

Free of the Bloodlust's influence, his eyes went immediately to Galloway. He was shocked to find her balancing precariously on the balcony railing. Streaks of black ran down her cheeks, the makeup around her eyes smeared. Her hair had come loose, billowing in a sheet of gold around her.

She kicked a bare foot at something behind her before stepping into the air to plummet to the ground. His heart stopped just as she did. Galloway kicked and struggled in midair, screaming a filthy string of obscenities until her feet finally touched the sand.

Sirius staggered to his feet just as she reached him.

Skidding to a halt less than a foot away, she stared up into his face. Her grey eyes shone with more tears and he sucked in a startled breath when she lunged forward, slamming her hands into his chest.

He stumbled backward and she shoved him again, then she drew a fist back. Sirius didn't have any intention to duck.

If she wanted to beat him bloody, she could. He deserved it.

But then she trembled and grabbed the collar of his torn shirt, dragging him forward.

"How do I know you're you?" she rasped, voice so hoarse it was nearly inaudible.

Sirius didn't know. He had always known the real Galloway by her scent. Hell had never quite managed to make it real enough. But she didn't have that kind of certainty. He didn't know what to say.

So he brought his hands up, trapping her face between his bloody fingers before he crushed his mouth to hers, kissing her feverishly. 

A shocked gasp came from her, but she didn't pull away. Sirius stroked his hand down her back, pressing her closer.

He could breathe again. His heart pounded fiercely against his ribs, like it wanted to burst from his chest and lay itself at her feet. A smile curled his mouth and he let his eyes open.

It was a mistake.

Galloway let out a strangled scream and bit down on his lip hard enough to draw blood. Sirius jerked back in surprise just for a fist to drive into his nose. More blood flowed.

Nails raked across his cheek before she kicked him, heel driving right into his solar plexus. It sent him to his knees gasping for air.

Fractured eyes stared down wildly into his. Then Galloway was shaking her head, shoulders heaving as she sobbed.

"I can't do this," she cried. "I can't do this anymore."

"Galloway," he tried, but all that made her do was lash out.

"Don't!" she screamed, belting him in the mouth. Then she was stumbling back, crying again. She fell to her knees, curling in on herself as she wrapped her arms around her middle.

"I'm done," she sobbed. "I'm done."

"No!" Sirius bellowed, lunging forward just for black smoke to erupt around him.

He hit the ground stretched prone, fingers still reaching for Galloway, the bars of his cage materializing in front of him.

Sirius let out a scream of rage and fear, keeping his face pressed against the warm stone.