Matt stood in Brunya Forest, not far from town. The large clearing around him was green and lush, and the morning sun was bright and warm. He was reminded for a moment of Sera’s dream state, but the grass there had been dotted with yellow buttercups, and white cherry blossoms has surrounded the meadow instead of the pine trees around him now. It also wasn’t Sera with him, it was Tess. Unlike her cousin who always wore her hair lose, Tess’ brown hair was held back in her usual braid. And it wasn’t loving blue eyes and open arms before him, Tess’ brown eyes were filled with determination and purpose as she pulled two daggers from her boots.

Cael stood beside them, calm and focused, but otherwise completely unreadable. “You will fight until submission,” he stated evenly. “I will not interfere except under two conditions: if someone submits and the other continues, or if someone will become mortally wounded without my becoming involved. Agreed?”

“Yes,” Matt and Tess answered in unison.

“Are there any other rules you would like to add?”

“Tess?” Matt asked. He didn’t like rules, but he hoped she would set some, to limit him, though knew her answer.

“No,” she said firmly. “Anything goes.”

Cael nodded, then took a step closer to her. “I will stop either of you before you make any fatal blows. I promise you that. So forget everything except that you must defeat him at all costs.”

“Maybe you won’t stop me from killing him,” she worried. “Since when have you liked him anyway?”

Cael gave her a stern look, though his tone remained the same. “There is no emotion in this. I will do as I say. I am disappointed that you would question my word. Even so, do you believe I would do that to Sera? After what she went through?”

Tess bowed her head slightly. “No. Sorry.”

He put a hand on her shoulder. “Feel nothing. Care for nothing. Your only desire should be to wear him down, to cause him pain, to make him submit.”

She glanced at Matt, who nodded in agreement.

“Good luck.” Cael took his hand away and walked to the edge of the clearing.

Matt took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, pushing everything away until the only emotion remaining was malice.

Tess attacked and the fight began. He didn’t hold back, didn’t baby step into it. When he got his first opening, he backhanded her. His force was brutal, and when she hit the ground he was over her instantly. He smiled when he saw the momentary flicker of surprise and fear in her eyes. He let himself go and now felt that savage lust for violence. This was the Matt she asked for, but she still didn’t understand. He was nastier than a girl like her could imagine.

He grabbed her weapons and ripped them out of her hands. She was no match for his strength. He slammed his foot into her side, making her roll away from him, and then he threw both daggers into the trees. He threw his own weapon as well, he was after pain, and he was much better at causing it with his hands.

—————

Sera held Ayden’s hand, trying to comfort him as they walked down the street. They decided to ask around about followers of Brex today to keep their minds off of the submission match.

Although Ayden was filled with constant worry, Sera was able to let it go. As a healing cleric, she was good at not holding on to things. If she were like Ayden it would kill her, she wouldn’t be able to handle feeling everything in and around her if she couldn’t let them go. It would be overload. But Ayden didn’t have to worry about that, he only had to feel his own emotions.

Their first stop was the orphanage. They headed upstairs and knocked on Vivyka’s bedroom door. Sera thought she had heard her say Brex’s name before.

“Hey.” Vivyka smiled, happy to see them. “What’s going on? Where’re the others?”

“Busy,” Sera answered dismissively. “We’re wondering if you know of any followers of Brex, he’s the—”

Vivyka laughed. “I know who he is.” She pointed to a painting on the wall next to her bed. It was of a pretty man with wild black hair and eyeliner enhancing his light silver eyes.

“Do you know where to find him?”

She sighed longingly. “I wish.”

“Well, does he have followers here in town?” Sera asked hopefully. “Maybe one with a meerkat necklace?”

“Oh yeah…”

—————

Without her daggers, Tess worked on luring Matt into the forest. When she finally got him there, the tenor of the fight changed, now she was in her element, and he was out of his. As soon as she got the chance, she cartwheeled to the side, then jumped up to grab a branch. She used it to pull herself up, and jumped to another. He watched as she found a branch she wanted, just the right size to fit her hand, she walked down the limb she was on with easy balance, then dropped, catching the branch in her hands on her way down and pulling it with her. It snapped and she fell lithely to her feet with it in hand.

She snapped the other smaller end off with a foot and then swung at him with her new weapon. He ducked and dodged most of her attacks as he was backed further into the woods. He grabbed a low branch finally and pulled, snapping it off with just the power of his strength, not needing the force of gravity to assist him as she had. He attacked back now, matching her blow for blow with the makeshift staff.

After a while, he knocked hers from her and she rolled out of the way. Before he even saw where she went, a fist size rock flew at him, hitting him in the chest. He headed in her direction. She threw another rock from behind a nearby tree and he ducked. He made a quick grab around the trunk as he got close enough, grabbing a handful of her shirt. But before he could pull her out, a rock slammed into his wrist.

She bolted out and swung at him, rock still in hand. He dropped his stick and caught her arm with his hurt hand, clenching his jaw as pain shot up his left arm. He grabbed her hair with his right hand and slammed her into the tree truck, then threw her to the ground. She rolled away and got to her feet.

He swung and she ducked, but his next blow connected with her stomach. She doubled over. He grabbed her hair again and hit her head against his knee. When he let go she fell to the ground, but it was on purpose. She grabbed the rock and slammed it into his gut when he made another grab for her.

She stood and she swung twice, but he dodged both times. She came at him from the side with a kick, he blocked with his arms, then shoved her and thrust his foot into her stomach at the same time, sending her hard into the tree behind her. Dropping her rock, she grabbed the branch above her and used it kick out, landing both feet on his chest and pushing him back a few feet. She climbed up into the tree and out of his sight.

There, she took a few minutes reprieve before she suddenly swung down and used the momentum to kick him in the ribs. She smiled when she thought she heard a crack. Her eyes were wild and savage now. She was spurred on by his maliciousness and attacked with her own ferocious passion. Her hits were harder than they’d ever been before and came faster.

Cael followed them silently through the forest, keeping a close eye on them. It was actually Tess who made the first attempt at a fatal blow. She jumped down from a tree with a dagger, that she had hidden in her belt, clenched in her fist. Cael used the wind to knock the weapon from her hand. Though Matt had moved by the time she would have stabbed him, Cael wasn’t taking any chances.

—————

“I still can’t believe it’s them,” Ayden said for the third time as they walked through town. “I mean… them.”

Sera laughed. “I know, but consider which god we’re talking about it.”

Ayden nodded. “Yeah, I guess. People call him the party god. And supposedly he’s very eccentric.”

“Brex is supposed be amazing,” Vivyka said, turning to walk backwards so she could look at them. “I’d just die to meet him.” She bit her lip and rolled her eyes like it would be the ultimate pleasure.

“A god who parties with mortals,” Ayden murmured. “Weird.”

“Exactly why it makes sense that they’re his followers,” Sera said.

“They aren’t just followers, I hear they’re close to him,” Vivyka said as she turned and watched where she was going again. She led the way down Tiern Street, almost to the edge of town. “I tried to get them to take me to his place, but they refused. Hope you have better luck. I mean, I tried everything.”

“What did you—oh,” Ayden said, realizing what she meant. “You know there are other ways to get what you want that don’t include using your body.”

She turned back, grinning. “But not nearly as fun.” She winked and he blushed. “See? You know what I’m talking about now that you’re finally getting some.” She shoved his shoulder playfully.

“So, they wouldn’t budge, huh?” he asked, getting the focus off himself.

“Nope, I don’t think they like women.”

“Maybe they just didn’t want you,” Ayden pointed out.

Vivyka stopped and turned to raise a dark brow at him. “All men want me, honey.” She smirked and messed his hair.

“I don’t.”

“Yeah because you’ve worshiped Tess since you were like two.”

“Six,” he corrected. “And it’s called love, Viv.”

“More like an adoring puppy.”

“You’re just jealous.”

She smiled. “Sometimes,” she admitted lightly. “Come on, this is the place.”

It was a small, one story stone cottage like most the other houses around it, except this one had a large awning over the door and black curtains in the windows.

Vivyka stepped up and knocked firmly. There was a shuffling sound and some muffled voices inside. Finally, the door opened a few inches—just enough to see a man’s pale face with black eyeliner around his slate blue eyes. She smiled at him. “Hi.”

“Oh… Vivyka,” Vinius muttered.

“What does she want?” Danis asked from somewhere inside.

“What do you want?” Vinius asked her.

“Nothing. I’m here with friends. You know Sera and Ayden?” she asked, motioning to them.

Vinius tried to turn his face just enough to see the others but without opening the door any further.

“Who’d she say?” Danis asked.

Vinius pulled back and turned to his brother so that all the others saw was his long, silky black hair. “It’s Sera and that guy Tess is always with.”

“Well, let them in,” Danis told him as if it was the obvious thing to do.

Vinius’ face appeared once more in the slender opening. “Um… you guys can come in.” He hesitated for a moment before he closed the door. They heard the sound of a sliding chain lock, and then he pulled the door all the way open.

As soon as they were all inside, Vinius shut and locked the door behind them. The twins were identical in everything, even their clothes. They always wore black. Today they had lace-cuffed shirts, skin-tight pants, and knee-high boots. They even painted their fingernails black. And, for the first time, Sera noticed the necklaces they were wearing—a little silver meerkat peeked out from the top of their button-up shirts.

Vivyka patted Vinius’ arm. “Thanks.”

“No touching,” he told her warily.

“Hey.” She smirked and put up her hands. “I’ve sworn off freaks.”

“We’re not freaks,” they said sharply.

She frowned at their hurt tone. “I was teasing. Besides, freak is a good thing, it’s unique, not boring and common.” They seemed happy with that. “Just not on my list of people I wanna seduce. Unless of course it’ll get me what I want,” she added with suggestive twitch of her brow.

“No,” they said quickly.

She shrugged. “Worth a try.”

“You’d really have sex with them?” Ayden asked her quietly, though in the small house everyone heard him.

“Sure,” she said easily. “Not usually my type, but they are very pretty.” She smiled and slid a finger down Danis’ jaw.

The twins gave a small smile, though Danis still moved away from her. “No touching,” he told her firmly.

It grew silent and the group looked around for a moment. The walls, ceilings, and floors were dark wood with spider webs left in a few corners. A closet could be seen down a hallway with its door taken off and set against the wall next to it. Flyers and paintings were hung haphazardly on the walls, some of the Chaos Demon Bards, who were a band of regular humans in crazy masks, and the singer Ember.

“Hey, I met her just a while back,” Vivyka said, pointing at a portrait of a woman with black hair and dark red lips. “You’re fans, huh?”

“You met Ember?” Danis asked.

“She’s amazing, isn’t she?” Vinius said.

“So you do like women?” Ayden blurted out, then blushed.

“Very rarely, but yes,” Danis answered.

“As long as they’re not trying to touch us,” Vinius added with a pointed look at Vivyka.

“Told you,” Vivyka said, smiling at Ayden. She turned back to the twins. “Anyway, I didn’t hear Ember sing or anything, she actually got roughed up pretty bad by some guy. She was saved, though, so she’s fine now.”

“Who was it?”

“Don’t know who he was, some out of town guy, but he got locked up.”

“Who saved her?”

“Oh… Mathias, actually,” she muttered.

“Mathias?” Vinius’ eyes lit up. “See? Didn’t I tell you he was a great guy?”

“No. I told you he was,” Danis corrected.

“You said he was scary.”

“Well… he kind of was… at the time.” He said this with a small grin, like it was a good memory.

“You two know Matt?” Sera asked.

“Who’s Matt?” Vinius asked.

“Mathias.”

“Sure, old friends,” Vinius said casually.

“Well, we’ve seen him around a few times,” Danis amended.

“Yeah, he saved us from some temple guards in Oraunt a while back.”

“Well, Tess did actually… but he was there.”

Sera nodded and they all fell into an awkward silence until Ayden finally asked, “Is that a coffin?”

The twins turned in unison to look at the long mahogany box with red velvet lining. “Yes.”

“In your living room?”

They looked back at him, swinging their silky hair back over their shoulders and lifting a brow. “Obviously.”

Ayden shook his head. “You guys are so weird.”

“We get that a lot.”

“So why are you here?” Vinius wanted to know.

“You can sit down,” Danis offered, motioning to some large roundish black balls on the floor.

When they only looked at them strangely, Vinius explained. “We saw some of these on… um… well, we made them ourselves, and they’re really comfortable. It’s just big bags filled up with lots of dry beans.”

“Beans?” the group asked in unison.

“Yeah, they—we called, I mean call, now presently… um… bean bags.”

Danis rolled his eyes at his brother, then looked back at them. “Sit.”

They sat down on the odd chairs, which were surprisingly comfortable, and Sera got to the point of their visit. “So, Vivyka said you two were followers of Brex.”

“No,” they told her quickly.

“Well, we do worship him.” Vinius said, a small smile tugging at his lips.

“Yes, we do,” Danis agreed, trying not to smile as well.

“Okay, well, would you be able to help us see him?”

“Told you that’s why she’s back,” Vinius said to his brother with a nod to Vivyka.

“You didn’t say that,” Danis replied.

“Oh, well I thought it.”

“I didn’t hear you.”

“You can hear each other's thoughts?” Ayden asked.

They glanced at him with an unreadable expression, then turned to Vivyka. “Our answer is still no.”

“Actually, I’m the one that needs to talk to him,” Sera said. “I’m trying to find the Temple of the Gods.”

“Why?” They asked in unison.

“So I can get to the Plane of Light and see Aryst.”

“Why?”

“Because I lost my dream healer power and I’m trying to get it back.”

“Why?”

“Because I want to reenter the temple. It’s my calling in life.”

“Why’d you lose it?” This, too, was asked in unison.

“I misused my gift so that I could see Matt,” she answered.

“Mathias?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because I love him and that was the only way I could see him at the time.”

“You’re with him?” Danis asked.

“Yes.”

The twins looked at each other for a moment, and then back to Sera. “Okay,” Danis told her.

“We’ll help,” Vinius agreed.

“Whoa!” Vivyka said. “How come you’ll do it for her but not for me?”

“Any friend of Mathias,” Danis said.

“Is a friend of ours,” Vinius finished.

“Just because he was there when Tess saved you from some guards?”

“Yes.”

“And he didn’t punch us when we saw him later,” Vinius added.

She rolled her eyes. “I don’t get you guys.”

They turned their attention back to Sera. “Meet us in Halimi at the Coral Tavern,” Danis said.

“We’ll take you to see him from there,” Vinius told her.

“Thank you.” Sera smiled. “When will you be there?”

“When you are,” they replied and said no more as they ushered their visitors out.

—————

Matt grunted with pain as Tess swung down again and kicked him, but this time he was waiting for it. He grabbed her ankle and pulled, causing her to slam onto the ground. He delivered a sharp kick to the leg he was holding and heard the crack. She cried out. He let go and she tried to get away from him. When he bent low to grab her hair, she took a swing, but he grabbed her wrist in one hand and slammed the palm of his other into her arm. Another crack. Another yell of pain.

He straddled her, holding her in place with his weight. He took hold of the injured part of her arm and crushed it into the hard ground. His fingers dug into her viciously while he grabbed her other arm and pushed his knee into her elbow, pulling back just slightly, ready to break that arm too. He hesitated, letting her anticipate what was coming. He met her gaze with an ice-cold stare and a vindictive smile. Her eyes watered as she endured the excruciating pain. His hand tightened on her first arm, digging in more, as he pulled the other back just a bit farther.

Finally, she whispered, “I… give.”

The words pissed him off and he broke her arm before wrapping his large hand around her throat.

“Matt,” she cried.

His grip tightened, choking her. Then he met her pleading gaze. Her big brown eyes were fearful, but there was also warmth and caring, even though she was looking up at a monster. Let go, some voice in the back of his mind said. With great effort, took his hand away and moved to sit on the ground.

Cael was already there. He began resetting the bones, and then laying his hands on her, silently asking nature to heal her as rangers could.

Matt closed his eyes for several minutes. He conjured the image of Sera’s face in his mind. It reminded him of everything he wanted to be now. It hurt to think of such an angel when he was still mostly in that monster part of himself, but it worked to bring him back.

When he finally looked at Tess again, his icy blue eyes had melted, turning warm, caring, but also tormented.

Her gaze met his once again. “I think being with you in the woods isn’t good for me.”

He shook his head sadly. “You asked for it,” he reminded her quietly.

“Both times.”

He stared at her for a second, then rolled his eyes when he realized she was actually teasing him. “That should hardly be linked with this.”

She smiled. “Uh huh, cuz both were fun… for the most part,” she said as Cael moved to Matt to heal him. “Painful, but fun.”

“That night wasn’t painful.”

She grinned. “It was brutal.”

He couldn’t help smiling. She was amazing, after all that, she was joking. “You’re…” He held his breath for a moment and clenched his jaw as Cael set his broken ribs. “Pretty fierce yourself,” he finished.

She lifted her hand to his face and wiped some blood off his bottom lip with her thumb. “I still come out more damaged.”

He scoffed as he felt Cael’s nature magic tingling through his body, healing him. “I’m just not a baby about it.”

She laughed. “Aren’t you supposed to feel bad about hurting people now days?”

He knew she was only playing, but he felt the need to make sure she knew. “I do though. More than you know. And I will never do this again, so don’t ever ask me, or try to provoke me. It’s over now,” he said firmly.

Cael gave his shoulder a single pat before he stood.

“A deal’s a deal,” Tess agreed. “Besides, I think I’ve had enough of your wild rides. A girl can only handle so much.”

Matt shook his head and chuckled.

“I knew I didn’t have a chance at winning anyway,” Tess told him.

“Then why’d you want this match?”

“Because if it was submission then it’d last much longer, I’d be able to see how far I could go, to test myself. You’re the only one who would really go full force with me. I just had to see how good I really am.”

“You are good,” he told her seriously. “I’ve never known a woman that can handle as much as you. And aside from your uncle, you’re probably the best fighter I’ve ever gone against.” He glanced up at Cael. “You were taught well.”

She grinned at her uncle. “By the best.”

Cael smiled and nodded.

You actually surprised me today,” Matt told her.

“I surprised myself. Thank you for doing this.”

He nodded. “Sure.”

“So we’re good?”

“Of course.”

She studied him for a moment, and then smiled. “I’m glad we’re friends.”

He was taken aback by her unexpected sentiment. He returned the smile. “Me, too.” She moved closer and hugged him. He held her and met Cael’s gaze, glad to see warmth in his eyes and not anger. “Come on,” Matt said after a bit, getting up and pulling Tess to her feet. “Let’s go show Sera and Ayden that we’re still alive and in one piece.”

“Good idea,” she said, then turned to her uncle. “Thanks. Wasn’t too bad was it?”

“You did well,” he told her. “I am proud of you.” She beamed at him. He put an arm around her as they started walking toward home. “Now find someone else to pick on,” he added seriously.

“Oh, I’m done with him,” she said lightly, shooting a smirk at Matt.

“I feel so used,” Matt teased back. “Just beat on me then leave me,” he said dramatically and Tess burst out laughing.

—————

Sera smiled before she even turned around. She could feel, as well as hear, their laughter as they entered the house. Ayden grabbed Tess and kissed her more passionately in his relief than he normally would in public. After a long moment, he released her lips, though still held her tightly. “No more now, right?”

She feigned disappointment. “Aren’t you even gonna ask how badly I kicked his ass?”

Ayden rolled his eyes. “I don’t care. I just hate you being hurt.”

“Aw Ayd, I hate how you worry about me,” she said. “But I love how you love me.” She smiled happily and kissed him again.

“Thanks, Dad,” Sera told Cael.

He nodded. “It was a good match.”

Sera slid her arms around Matt’s waist and offered up her lips. He kissed her tenderly and she sighed with contentment, feeling blissful with all the good emotions in the room—finally. “So, did you win?” she teased.

“Was there doubt?” he asked.

“No,” she said seriously. “Is everything okay now?”

“Perfect,” Matt said, grinning lazily at her.

“Are you actually tired?” she asked with a playful gasp.

He chuckled. “I think we wore each other out. But I’m never too tired for you,” he told her, twitching a suggestive brow.

Her father headed into the kitchen, more out of habit from being around humans than caring about seeing his daughter like that. Woodlanders had no problem seeing anyone do anything that was in their nature, whether it was eating, sleeping, sex or even going to the bathroom. But humans tended to like privacy, so he was in the habit of giving it to them.

“Stop it,” Sera said, grinning at Matt. “I have news, so no distracting me.”

He kissed her throat, then ran his lips along her soft skin until he found her earlobe and nibbled gently. “Would I do that?” he asked innocently.

“Be good.” She tried to sound firm, but it came out a bit breathless.

“Oh, I’m always good,” he told her in a low husky growl. She giggled when he scooped her up into his arms. “Maybe you need reminding.”

“Everyone—”

“Everyone can wait,” he interrupted and carried her up the stairs.

“Just take what you want then?” she asked when he closed the bedroom door behind him with his heel. “Maybe I don’t want to.”

He dropped her on the bed and headed back to the door. “In that case….” he said casually, calling her bluff.

She laughed. “Get your butt back here,” she demanded. He was on the bed, devouring her within seconds.