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you-know-honey · 1 year ago

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𝕯𝖊𝖊𝖕 𝕯𝖆𝖗𝖐𝖓𝖊𝖘𝖘

Chapter I:ℜ𝔞𝔦𝔫𝔶 𝔇𝔞𝔶

Sodo/Dewdrop x fem!reader

Summary: Copia summons a new nameless ghoul

Word Count: 1977

Note: bad english, i'm new to this whole ghost thing, correct me if i'm wrong on anything, I will use a name for the protagonist for more practicality.

Chapter II...→

The place was devoured by darkness, thunder rumbled outside the abbey like cries from heaven in response to profane acts, the wind hit the stained glass windows and lightning illuminated them with a flash of light, stained glass windows that reflected images of Baphomet and other demons. . Regarding Cardinal Copia, his face seemed extremely serious, something unusual for him but the situation warranted it. In each corner of a pentagram were each Ghoul and Ghoulette, the tools of the ritual. It would be an important night, a gift for the group, a refreshing element for the world.

Copia looked up at the sky, looking behind the glass dome above their heads at the moon obscuring the sun, the time had come, he walked down the stairs towards the group, with a light touch to the ground and the gunpowder ignited, burning powerful and bright, until completing the figure of a pentagram connecting with each Ghoul. The group placed their instruments in front of them, giving each other a supportive look.

Montain set the rhythm with the drums, Cumulus took the keyboard with Cirrus, Swiss and Aurora started the singing, Phantom activated his rhythm guitar, Rain shone with his bass and Sodo showed off his guitar. The instrumental flooded the chapel, the melody reverberated in every foundation and made the place shake. The ritual had a single motive, a single need, each Ghoul gave his best, letting some of his essence flow over the fire, calling one of his own, inviting whatever responded on the other side to come out of the darkness and join them.

"Belial, Behemoth, Beelzebub" Cardinal Copia sang, calling to the great leaders, asking for a demon from among his legions "Asmodeus, Satanas, Lucifer"

The place was filled with abysmal and intelligible murmurs, beings from the other side of the pentagram observing from the shadows without daring to cross the threshold. Copia looked proud and excited like a child to feel so many presences present with him, all interested in her vocation. Lightning fell around the Ministry with more force than before, attracted by the power, Swiss and Aurora began their prayers, in a language that only the creatures of the abyss could understand.

A murmur rose from everyone, a shiver ran through the body of all the Ghouls, something had answered the call and had crossed.

Thick black smoke emerged from the gunpowder and condensed into a humanoid figure with no fixed features other than shining fangs. He made small jumps inside the pentagram from one side to the other, looking (if you can put it that way) at each of the ghouls, analyzing them with amusement.

He danced with small childish leaps from one to another, from air to earth, from earth to quintessence, from quintessence to water. She tried to get closer to Sodo, the fire demon. He showed her fangs and the small cloud of smoke walked away scared, it was clear that she didn't want another Fire Ghoul and honestly one was more than enough. She snuck between Montain's drum set cymbals, breaking her personal space several times to check her height in amazement, the ghoul couldn't help but smile nervously.

Cirrus and Cumulus greeted the entity excitedly, letting out small laughs to get its attention. The figure floated towards them and smiled back, playing with the cloaks on their shoulders. She briefly made eye contact with Rain, but out of shyness it wasn't long before the ghoul looked away from her. The specter laughed softly and danced around Phantom a little, plucking the strings of his acoustic guitar with his ethereal hand. Swiss and Aurora laughed at the scene, enjoying seeing how the humanoid being seemed delighted with everyone present, both demons rubbing shoulders in complicity.

Cardinal Copia was excited, this was his first ritual to summon Ghouls from hell, although he somewhat regretted Sodo's bitter attitude, he counted on the others and especially the Ghoulettes to give a good welcome.

The figure took one more turn and his laughter echoed like a child. He returned to the center of the pentagram, looking at the eclipse behind the dome, and raised his hands to the sky, as if he could touch the moon. One after another drops of cold rain began to fall quickly, until they almost became a sea on the ministry, the figure smiled and turned towards Aurora, the latter tensed immediately and one shiver after another crossed her back. The air began to get cold and become salty, capable of hurting the nose when inhaling, everyone could feel it, even demons like Sodo so carried away in their element felt cold, the type that you can only find if you get lost in space or in the last circle of the hell.

Aurora took a step back. The band's instrumental was accompanied by a piano and an energetic female voice, the humanoid figure approached Swiss and extended his hand.

"Hello" the figure greeted before a group of lightning fell again, filling the entire room with absolute white, extinguishing the infernal fire and thus ending the ritual.

Everything returned to darkness after such a dramatic birth, Cardinal Copia applauded excitedly and the lights turned on showing a strange lump covered with a thin and opaque black fabric, a hand with shiny black enamelled nails peeking out of it.

The ghouls avoid the gaze of the lump on the ground, somewhat uncomfortable and extremely tired. But Cardinal Copia waited to see the slightest movement to ensure that the ritual had gone perfectly.

The lump trembled with a movement similar to a first breath.

"Okay, everyone out." announcement, the Cardinal "It's time to find out what they have sent us from hell"

The group's rib cage calmed and a huge sigh of relief escaped everyone's lips. Cirrus and Cumulus crossed their fingers, it was no secret that since Aurora's arrival no girl ghoul had arrived. The ghoul area needs more feminine energy.

"Swiss, can you wait outside?" Copia asked him.

Like owl heads, the group looked at Swiss waiting for his response. Even the disinterested Montain had turned to look.

"Yes," he responded with the firmest tone he could fake.

Aurora approached and pulled one of her sleeves, she didn't have to speak, her concern was obvious. The last time it had been Aether who had stayed at the ritual to bring Phantom. Aether never came back.

Swiss approached Aurora's ear in a hug. "I'm not going anywhere," she whispered, trying to calm her agitated essence.

The ghoulette didn't believe him, clearly. But I trust him, because Swiss never lied.

Inside, Swiss's soul wanted to run after them, but his duty prevented him from showing that kind of rebellion.

He turned to the Cardinal, this walk way towards Swiss handing him a shiny new helmet, accompanied by the usual uniform.

Copia crouched in front of the bundle, lifting the fabric a little to discover what it was hiding, squinting in case everything had failed, giving it more suspense. The figure trembled and both Copia and Swiss took a few steps back.

Little by little the figure stood up, showing a wild tangle of short black hair from which two small black horns with white tips protruded, its tail uncoiled from around its leg and waved behind its back, its hands holding the blanket to avoid being naked.

"She's a she," Swiss sighed with the air contained in his lungs and his lower lip slightly fallen.

"Wonderful" Copia pronounced with some pride, the girl raised her head quickly and the Cardinal was met with a gaze of coal-black pupils and eyelids that contrasted with the glaucous blue of his irises, the creature opened its mouth showing its fangs, perhaps to speak but I don't breathe out any words.

Swiss knocked after the Cardinal, a sign that he should start talking before everything became awkward.

"Do you want to get dressed?" Copia asked in a friendly tone. The girl nodded and the Cardinal nudged Swiss lightly to hand the package to the demon.

Her eyes lit up when he saw her clothes and without shame he completely dropped her blanket, amazed by everything he had before her. Swiss immediately looked at the ceiling and prayed to Satan that Copia had done the same. The lack of what they called modesty was normal in new ghouls, small details that lost importance in hell.

"It would be ideal if you could start with the pants," suggested Copia who had turned around.

They heard the fabric slide down her legs, the metal buttons clicked as she pushed them into the buttonholes of her pants, the next time she put her feet on the ground it was with the boots, giving her a few extra inches of height.

She continued dressing, tucking the Victorian-sleeved blouse into her arms and securing the vest to her body. She looked at herself for a few minutes, satisfied with her appearance.

"Already?" Copia asked, who had turned around with a hand over his eyes, he seemed somewhat uncomfortable or self-conscious about the situation.

"Yes" A feminine and friendly voice answered him.

Copia looked through his fingers to make sure before removing his hand from his face and remembering that he had a script to follow and had to start as soon as possible.

"Ahem…" He cleared his throat and began to speak. Swiss stood silently next to he, holding her helmet. "Do you know why you're here?"

"Yes" replied with a timid tone.

"You are here to be part of Ghost, to help me with your talent to bring the message of the Clergy to the whole world, do you understand that?" The young woman nodded "Do you understand that you are not indispensable and can be replaced if you become a stone in my way to fulfill my mission?" That was the part of Copia that he hated the most because he tended to get more attached to his ghouls and ghoulettes than he should, the punishment of returning to hell was too great for small delusions of fame or prominence, that is, he had forgiven Sodo several of those but He remembered that that was the reason why Papa Emeritus III had been taken out of circulation.

"I understand, sir." He pronounced as seriously as the situation warranted. "My only duty is to help you fulfill your duty to the Clergy and bring our Lord's message to the world."

The girl walked forward, face to face with Cardinal Copia. Now came the fun part, Copia took the helmet from Swiss's hands and placed it on the girl's head, thus sealing the 'contract'.

"Well…I…" Copia took a moment to remember the next step. "What's your name?"

"Aesir, sir," she responded quickly, almost over the Cardinal's question.

"Well…Aesir, the third quintessence ghoul" He raised his voice, proclaiming. "Welcome, dear" Copia lost the threatening and vehemently image that she had maintained until then, when she gave Aesir a warm welcome hug.

The girl seemed happy to have that hug but Swiss was sweating cold.

"He's one of your companions, Swiss," Copia said and the demon approached and extended his hand towards her.

"Hello," Aesir took Swiss's hand, shaking it in greeting.

"Swiss" I call Copia.

He sighed, afraid of the next words the Cardinal might say.

"Could you take Aesir with the others?" The ghoul's mouth opened a little in surprise, he was expecting farewell words "The girls will be very happy to see another female face in the pavilion."

Swiss smiled with deep relief and nodded. "Yes, Cardinal." He directed the girl to the door. "After you," he offered chivalrously.

"Oh, Aesir," Copia called. "If there is any problem, don't hesitate to tell me. In cases of emergencies or things like that." The Cardinal said goodbye.

"Bye," she said as Swiss closed the door behind them both.

I hope you like it, I'm new to the fandom and the lore is somewhat complicated, all help would be VERY welcome.

#sodo ghoul #montain #the band ghost #nameless ghouls #dewdrop ghoul #rain ghost #cardinal copia #aurora ghoulette #cumulus ghoulette #nameless ghost #oc original character #fanfic #slow burn #per sodomizer eriksson #sodomizer ghoul #swiss ghoul #sodo x reader #dewdrop x reader #spanish writer

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ivpapaemeritusiv · 4 months ago

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The Future is a Foreign Land

Summary: In this chapter, ten years down the road, we witness how each character has handled life without the clergy for better or for worse.

Word Count: 500

***10 years in the future***

Addeline stood in the foyer, waiting for Swiss to arrive. The band was in the midst of creating a new album, and he was coming over with the rest of the ghouls to collaborate. Papa Emeritus had redirected the ministry's focus from world domination back to the music, much to Sister's dismay.

After eliminating the clergy members, he assured her that they could conquer the world through song and in a positive way. Although it didn't satisfy Imperator's thirst for blood, she resigned herself to doing whatever made her son happy. She had always known he had a gentle heart.

Swiss pulled up with Sodo and Cirrus in tow, the rest of the ghouls following closely behind. Addeline opened the door and greeted him with a warm smile. "Hey," she beamed, giving him a kiss on the cheek, "No Aurora today?"

Swiss chuckled and ran a tired hand through his hair. "She's pretty exhausted. Being pregnant really takes it out of you."

Addeline laughed. "Is your oldest not helping out?"

"Well, you have my oldest, Adds. But if you're talking about my soon-to-be middle child, then no... she's not much help." He redirected the attention back to Addy, "How much longer until your little one makes an appearance?"

Addy smiled, her hand gently cradling her growing belly. "A few more months now," she replied, her voice tinged with anticipation. "It's going to be a boy... not that that matters anymore. Papa said he's getting too old to raise babies. He mentioned getting a vasectomy soon."

With curious eyes, Swiss asked, "Got any cool names picked out?"

Addy paused, lost in thought. "Well, if he had been a girl, his name would have been Genesis. But since he's a little boy, we're going with Impera."

Swiss's eyes widened in amusement. "To divide and conquer."

Addy smiled warmly. "Exactly."

"My favorite Ghost album."

They shared a hearty laugh, the thought of everyone's growing family bringing a lightness to their hearts.

After the laughter subsided, Swiss raised his arm, holding his guitar in the air as he asked, "Well, where's Papa Emeritus at?"

"You mean Frater Imperator?" Addy replied, raising an eyebrow.

Swiss nodded, subtly acknowledging the change of his title.

"He's in the studio with the new frontman right now," Addy pointed in the direction of his desired destination.

Swiss quickly and sharply corrected her, "You mean front WOMAN?"

"Yes, I forgot. Elizabeth has insisted on calling herself that. She says it has a ring to it. She's waiting for you. She has so many ideas. Papa can't keep her contained."

Addy and Swiss walked down the corridor together, each step echoing with memories of the past, as the familiar scent of incense transported them back to countless rehearsals, late-night conversations and lustful afternoons.

As they moved, the distant hum of music and muffled voices grew louder, signaling their approach to the studio. Elizabeth's voice rang out, strong and proud, reverberating through the walls. Her mother's eyes glistened with pride, a silent testament to the legacy she always believed Elizabeth would uphold.

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ivpapaemeritusiv · 4 months ago

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Addeline: The Darkness at the Heart of my Love

A captivating tale of love, sacrifice, and power struggles that delves into the pressure faced by the band's frontman, Papa Emeritus the IV, as the evil clergy demands he take a wife to continue his bloodline. The story unfolds as he meets a young woman willing to sacrifice everything for him, but she eventually grows weary of her role. As she seeks a new path, another character steps in to support her, leading to a complex web of emotions and loyalties within the band and the malevolent ministry, threatening to tear them all apart. Amidst these pressures and complexities, the question remains: can their love endure, or will it be their undoing?

Characters: Papa Emeritus and original female character; Sister Imperator, Papa Nihil, Papa Emeritus's children, Swiss/ghoul, Sodo/ghoul, Aurora/ghoul, Cirrus/ghoul, Aether/ghoul, Mountain/ghoul, Rain/ghoul, Cumulus/ghoul.

Fanart

Chapter 1: Holy Mother

Chapter 2: Come Together for Lucifer's Son

Chapter 3: Summoned For a Divine Cause

Chapter 4: Wanna Bewitch You in the Moonlight

Chapter 5: Are You Ready to Stand Rite Here Rite Now?

Chapter 6: You Want to Play with the Sire?

Chapter 7: I'll Be the Shadow, You'll Be the Light

Chapter 8: Can You Hear Me Say Your Name Forever?

Chapter 9: Elizabeth, in the Chasm where was My Soul

Chapter 10: I'm Your Rock, Baby

Chapter 11: Kiss the Go Goat

Chapter 12: Cry For Absolution

Chapter 13: You Will Never Walk Alone

Chapter 14: And We Are Tied as One Eternally

Chapter 15: Suffering For the Lord is Not an Easy Thing

Chapter 16: Kaisarion, A Prophecy Told

Chapter 17: Your Beauty Never Ever Scared Me

Chapter 18: This Chapel of Ritual

Chapter 19: That Glitter Wasn't Gold

Chapter 20: It's Your Burning Yearning Need to Bleed

Chapter 21: Drink Me, Eat me, Then You'll See the Light

Chapter 22: Opus and Cirice

Chapter 23: Call Me Little Sunshine

Chapter 24: Your Desolation Led You into This

Chapter 25: The World Rests Heavy on Your Shoulder

Chapter 26: Can't You See That You're Lost Without Me?

Chapter 27: Together As One

Chapter 28: Meliora

Chapter 29: But He's The Guy You Wanna Do

Chapter 30: Don't You Vomit Savage Slurs

Chapter 31: They Don't Hear Your Cries in Your Own World

Chapter 32: And You Know That It Takes Two

Chapter 33: Scourge In the Guise of Sanctity

Chapter 34: I Am the One Lascivious

Chapter 35: Can You Hear the Rumble That's Calling?

Chapter 36: You Go Down Just Like Holy Mary

Chapter 37: No Return from This Excursion of Possibilities

Chapter 38: All Your Faith, All Your Rage, All Your Pain

Chapter 39: I Know You Need It Now to Make You Feel Alive

Chapter 40: Even When You're Dead and Gone

Chapter 41: If You by Then Have Forgiven Me

Chapter 42: Faith is Mine

Chapter 43: You Share Not the Blood of Ours

Chapter 44: We Will Break Away Together

Chapter 45: We Focus on Your Death

Chapter 46: Future is a Foreign Land

*There is an alternate ending to this story on AO3*

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you-know-honey · 1 year ago

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𝕯𝖊𝖊𝖕 𝕯𝖆𝖗𝖐𝖓𝖊𝖘𝖘

Chapter II: 𝔊𝔦𝔣𝔱

Sodo/Dewdrop x fem!reader

Summary: Everyone needs a welcome, some are happier than others.

Word Count: 3185

Note: bad english, i'm new to this whole ghost thing, correct me if i'm wrong on anything, I will use a name for the protagonist for more practicality, but you know that I mean you, dear reader.

←Chapter I

The ghouls' living room was completely silent, everyone was giving each other anxious glances. Aurora had her face buried in her hands while she was curled up on her couch, Cumulus and Cirrus caressed her back trying to give her some calm. Everyone was excited by the idea of a new member, especially the girls, they had left the living room with a smile and excitement on their faces, but now…Now that the idea of never seeing Swiss again was more than present broke Aurora completely.

The other ghouls were just silent, Phantom had accompanied Rain to his room, the sensitive ghoul could not stand the absolutely heavy aura and was beginning to get dizzy. Mountain brought from the kitchen some calming teas for everyone, the strongest one for Aurora.

"Don't worry, he'll be back soon, I'm sure," said the tall ghoul, kneeling on the sofa in front of Aurora, moving her hands away from her face so she could drink the tea, she did so and took a few sips. It was clear that he himself was also scared, not at all prepared for what had happened.

"Don't lie to her" Sodo spoke from the single sofa next to the window "If Copia called Swiss it's because she won't come back" everyone looked at him annoyed, internally reproaching him for those harsh words.

"If you're going to say that stupid, you'd better not talk!" Cumulus shouted at her, it was a surprise to everyone, she had remained silent all this time, only giving words of encouragement to Aurora.

"It is only the truth!" This hurt Aurora even more and her cup fell from her trembling hands, shattering on the floor and tears began to fall on the broken pieces.

Cumulus stood up, ready to teach Sodo a lesson and he was not far behind her, standing up ready to face her. Swiss was the only one who always managed to calm Sodo down when his most cruel and hostile streak came to light, always turning everything into a joke, but now that he wasn't present in the Cumulus room she was willing to kick the blonde's ass right to the ground hell again.

But that didn't go anywhere. Thick roots swirled around both of their ankles and planted them on the ground far enough away from each other. Mountain's work of course.

"Stop it, fighting is stupid" Mountain's tone was calm as always, it seemed that nothing could upset the huge demon but if there was something that this boy hated it was the fights between members of the band in difficult moments, he was more than used to those sharp comments from Sodo but now he wasn't in the mood with all the chaos he wanted to cause. The fire demon raised his hands in the air, giving up, burning the roots that surrounded him to ashes and after a few seconds Cumulus also relaxed, just like the roots that disappeared into the ground, as if they were never there, she returned to comfort Aurora who was being hugged by Mountain.

It was difficult for everyone to do an invocation ritual, there was always the possibility of returning to hell. For Sodo it was something much more painful, no matter how much he said that he didn't care, he didn't want to lose Swiss just like he lost Aether.

The sound of footsteps in the hallway was irregular.

"Still a long way?" Aesir asked, looking up and down the hallway, playing with the helmet on his head.

"Almost there," said Swiss, turning down a hallway, coming across some sisters of sin who only lowered their gaze and quickened their pace to get away from them even though Swiss had given them a smile.

"Why are they walking away?" the young ghoulette asked.

"I don't know," Swiss replied. "I guess I'm very attractive in her eyes," he joked.

Aesir couldn't help but laugh a little at the joke. It was his first time in the human world in too many centuries and everything looked very different from how he remembered it. They walked in silence for a few minutes, crossing some doors and turning corners until they reached a hallway with no exit. The doors were made of black steel and the word "Ghouls" was written on them in ancient Latin. It was the furthest and least visited pavilion by all the inhabitants of the abbey, the most forgotten and forbidden place, like the pavilion of the Popes. As they crossed, the light of the moon and the cold air greeted them, the hallway was freer and overlooked a fountain and a well-stocked garden, there were torches that illuminated the corners where the moon could not.

"Cute," Aesir murmured behind Swiss's back, peeking his head into the garden, feeling the scent of an earth demon.

"He's from Mountain, he takes care of those plants as if they were his children" Swiss responded, leaning on one of the columns, watching how Aesir looked like an excited little girl in a playground "The fountain is Rain's, he made it work" Al At first the fountain was just an old decoration, it is said that it stopped working after the birth of Cardinal Copia, some took it as a prophecy and others as a simple error in the plumbing, when Rain was summoned there was nothing where he could cool off in the sweltering summer days and the bathroom had to be used continuously so he fixed it himself, for weeks he tried with trial and error to get it working.

"Are they going to like me?" Aesir asked, sitting on the railing, moving her feet in the air nervously.

"Of course," Swiss assured, it was something he didn't doubt. "Why you ask?"

"The energy is very tumultuous" he pointed to the closed door just a few meters away from them, Swiss inhaled some of the air and also felt the same.

Swiss didn't say anything, he knew his companions well and could identify the smell of Sodo's annoying aura slipping out of the doors like poison and some trails of Cumulus's annoyance. It was difficult for everyone to perform a summoning ritual, but Sodo was always the most negative about it. He put it in a horrible mood.

"It's nothing, don't worry." Swiss shook the fake dust from his hands. "Okay…" He sighed. "Let's not make the delay any longer."

Aesir stepped down from the railing and nodded, clasping her hands on his chest and playing with his fingers, hiding behind Swiss's back as they approached the door.

The doors opened with a loud creak and everyone raised their heads curiously, fixing their gaze on the ghoul in the middle of the hallway.

"Who died?" Swiss joked, taking away the horrible aura that hung around the living room. He understood the somewhat hostile state of the environment, from Sodo it did not surprise him, but from Cumulus it was something that made him remember the seriousness of the matter no matter how many times he tried to remove dirt from him.

The tension escaped as quickly as it had built, Mountain and Cumulus could finally breathe a sigh of relief. Swiss's laugh was contagious and as soon as Aurora heard it come out of her lips she ran to meet her and her arms holding him close to her.

"Silly" she murmured against her chest as she breathed in the demon's scent.

"Oh, enough of the cuddling, they're going to scare her" Swiss said, moving Aurora away a little, enough for her to dry her tears.

"She?" Cumulus got up from the couch and fixed his gaze on the small dark mass that was hiding behind Swiss trying to make itself smaller. Just like a scared puppy.

A small head with the helmet already on peeked out behind Swiss, smiling and showing small milky fangs. She looked at everyone in the room with amazement, even behind her dark glasses you could feel her intense gaze on each one.

Sodo snorted and shook her head, causing her hair to cover her face. He didn't know if that look bothered or disturbed him.

"A girl" said the ghoul. "We have a new girl." Mountain sighed at Swiss's words. He thought it was fantastic that it was a girl. There weren't many rooms left in the male ghoul pavilion and the girls would be excited to have someone new with them.

The little ghoul stepped out of the shadows and shyly greeted everyone in the room. Behind her her tail was tangled around her leg.

"AAAHHH!" Cumulus shouted excitedly and threw himself into a hug on the new girl. After such a tense situation, Satan had blessed them with a new female member, she liked the boys of course but sometimes they were simply men and they got on her nerves, especially Sodo and that was clear.

The girl bristled like a cat and stood still as a statue while Cumulus picked her up and moved her around the room. Aurora and Cirrus joined in the dancing embrace, humming excitedly to the new girl, like witches welcoming a coven.

Aesir had forgotten what it felt like to have that kind of contact with someone, in hell everyone was very much on their own and didn't have much time to show emotions, if they had any. There was no shape, everything was dark and they were mere passing shadows, at least that was the plane she came from.

"What's your name baby?" Cirrus asked when Cumulus finally let go of her and had sat on the couch next to Mountain, she was dizzy and her head moved a little. "Oops, sorry about that" she apologized and tried to lift her helmet to rearrange it.

Aesir grabbed her helmet tightly and shaking his head. Within the ghoul area none of them wore a helmet, except perhaps Rain who wore it when she felt overwhelmed.

"You don't have a container yet, it's not wise." Mountain say from the couch. The wisest ghoul.

And he was right, a ghoul did not have a material form until it possessed a human body and modified it to inhabit it. Until then the helmet and the suit were the only thing that maintained a constant shape. If he took off his helmet he would once again be a mass of humanoid darkness.

"Aesir" the girl said with a voice that sounded like a distant echo. "Call me Aesir."

"Ha! What a silly name" Sodo replied, covering her mouth in vain to hide her laughter and the row of long white fangs in his mouth under her mustache.

"Sodomizer" scolded Swiss, Mountain the bridge of his nose, tired of Sodo's sharp comments.

Aesir scrutinized the demon with his gaze, not looking for some flaw to return the comment, but rather out of mere curiosity. She was not stupid, she could know that he was a fire demon and because of his beauty she did not doubt that he belonged to Lucifer's legion. The small waist and thin shoulders, the zero amount of butt and the little flesh on her legs were not bad points, they were compensated by the straight blonde hair, the small horns white as ivory, the marked cheekbones, the feline yellow eyes, the hands marked by veins, the voice soft like that of a harp but sharp like a razor, the lack of height compared to the others and of course the suggestive name…he was cute or even beautiful if it weren't for his sour character, something which differed from the kind and flirtatious Lucifer demons she had met.

"What are you staring at?" Sodo asked, uncomfortable for the minutes that she had looked at him in silence.

"Nothing" Aesir said and adjusted his helmet. Completely ignoring him. "Hello" he calmly greeted the earth demon who was centered with his back straight to the couch.

"Mountain, a pleasure" The demon took her hand with his and like a gentleman kissed the back hand of her, something that made her blush quite a bit inside her helmet.

"How flirty" Cirrus joked.

"I'm just being nice," Mountain apologized, standing up, "well, it's late, she's already here. I'll go to sleep." As he stood up, Aesir's eyes widened in surprise, the name suited him like a glove.

"Me too, I'm exhausted," Swiss yawned, massaging his tense shoulders. "Is it okay if I leave you with the girls, sweetie?" Swiss asked.

"Of course, do not worry about it." Aesir replied. With that and one last look at Aurora the demon left.

She felt quite comfortable with the girls, who were now crowding around her.

"Maybe you should go too Sodo" Cirrus commented, he was the only one left.

"As far as I know THIS is also my house, I won't leave here" he responded, dropping onto the couch, centimeters from where Aesir was sitting.

Cumulus sighed and stood up "Let's go girls, let's leave this gremlin alone" he took Aesir by the hand and dragged her out of the living room, with some shouts of annoyance from Sodo at her nickname.

"Good night" was the only thing Aesir could say before she disappeared down the hallway.

"What a bother" the fire ghoul muttered to himself, inhaling some air, "what the hell?" The aroma of lavender and pine filled her nose and no matter how many times she shook her head, her aroma did not go away, she felt it like a trail of perfumed essence. He angrily stood up and followed her into the dark hallway where the girls had disappeared.

With every step he took the scent grew stronger and turned his stomach, it wasn't that he disliked the smell, it was just so strong that it made him want to vomit, maybe it came from the Cumulus scented candles but this time it felt different even for him. He walked carefully not to make as little noise as possible. She heard the laughter of the girls in the room at the end of the hallway, it was never inhabited but now that the new girl was there she would give it a use. A strip of light colored the hallway floor thanks to the half-open door.

Sodo was not a curious demon but he found that smell unbearable.

"Is he always like this?" I hear Aesir ask.

"Who? Swiss?" Aurora asked.

"No, the short one, the one with cute hair" Sodo froze when he heard the description of him, even more surprised that Aesir called him cute after her little evil 'act' towards her "Why for the bad attitude ?"

"He's always like that, he's always in a bad mood. You'll get used to it, today has been…" Cirrus responded, thinking how to finish the sentence.

"Totally an insensitive jerk? That's the description you're looking for." Cumulus finished the sentence with complete certainty about what he was saying. "Listen, he's a jerk, but he's great on the guitar, so it's good for us and the band. It'll take you a while to get used to him."

'I'm not an insensitive bastard… this hurts me… I'm afraid… I don't want to lose them' Sodo thought as he pressed his back against the wall. He understood why Cumulus thought that way about him, maybe it was even something the rest shared, but that doesn't mean it didn't hurt him. He didn't expect them to understand, after all they had never lost someone important, like he had lost Aether and he feared losing them, each one of them.

Sigh.

"Do you smell that?" Aurora asked, Sodo's breathing froze. "Is it lavender and pine?" he asked sniffing the air.

"It's me, it's the aroma we have on my infernal plane" Aesir said somewhat embarrassed.

"You smell good," Cumulus praised.

"Danm" the word escaped Sodo's lips. 'Is that the smell of her? Why is he so intoxicating?' he thought.

"Did you hear that?" Cirrus asked.

Sodo didn't stay to find out, as soon as he heard the sound of Cirrus standing up, he ran as fast as he could and left the hallway straight to the male bedrooms.

"There was something?" Aesir asked, turning to look at the door.

The girls had dragged her to an already decorated room, there were crystal cloud decorations on the ceiling, Aesir supposed they must reflect light throughout the room, the sheets were small suns, there were some plants and vines, shelves that she could start to put up fill and a huge mirror next to the closet. Looked pretty good. The girls had started decorating it a long time ago with the hope of having a new partner and that dream had come true.

"Nothing" Cirrus shrugged and sat back down in the circle on the floor with the others.

"So besides smelling extremely good, tell us, where do you come from?" Aurora asked curiously, hugging the stuffed goat that she had between her legs.

"I come from the Astral plane" Aesir smiled, it was something she was proud of, in her old job if that was what she could call herself she was a good one and she really liked her work.

"Oh really?" Aurora asked with extreme enthusiasm, you could almost see stars in her eyes.

"What a huge coincidence." Cumulus said, shaking her head in amusement.

"Because?"

"You still don't notice?-" Cirrus was quickly interrupted by an Aurora vibrating excitedly in her place.

"Swiss and I are also from the Astral plane!" Aurora threw the stuffed animal away and literally threw herself onto Aesir in a huge hug. "We're basically sisters!"

Aesir reciprocated the hug and laughed at the tender act, patting Aurora's back a few times before Cumulus pulled her away from her and Cirrus covered her mouth to contain a boisterous laugh, an attempt that was in vain.

"Why are you pushing me away?" Aurora asked, pouting slightly. "You hugged her too!"

"Yes, but I let her breathe" she responded and her laughter spread to the others.

Laughing, Cumulus stood up and walked out of the room.

"Where are you going?"Aesir asked, as he tried to regain control of his breathing.

"It's a gift." Cirrus said wiping a tear from her eye.

"You're going to love it" Aurora elbowed her conspiratorially.

When Cumulus returned, he had a shiny box with a golden bow and placed it on Aesir's legs before sitting back down on the floor and waiting excitedly for him to open it.

"What is it?" Aesir asked, shaking the box slightly in case it was something fragile.

"It's something special, a welcome gift." Cumulus' words were sweet and soft like the slightest breeze.

Aesir opened the box with excitement and inside it, upon removing the decorated paper, he found a beautiful cloak, the outside was black but the inside was a blue that reminded him of space, certainly his favorite color.

"Girls…I" He didn't know what to say or how to thank them, he just pressed the cloak against his chest and looked they.

"You don't have to say anything Aesir" Aurora spoke. "You're one of us now."

I hope you like this second chapter, I know it took me longer than expected and I'm sorry for that.

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ivpapaemeritusiv · 4 months ago

Text

We Focus on Your Death

Summary: In this chapter, the clergy faces a dramatic downfall, symbolizing the end of an era. Amidst the chaos and bloodshed, a promise of a new beginning emerges. However, the uncertainty looms as to whether everyone will survive the turmoil.

Word Count: 1,200

The grand dining hall was dimly lit, the flickering candlelight casting eerie shadows on the stone walls. The members of the clergy sat around the long, ornate table, their eyes fixed on Copia, who sat at the head, his expression carefully neutral. The air was thick with tension as they spoke, their voices dripping with false politeness.

“Papa, it’s time you stepped down from your role,” one of them said, his tone deceptively calm. “In light of recent circumstances. If you cannot control your wife, how will you be able to control an entire congregation? Our flock? The world?”

Copia nodded slowly, playing along, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the table. “I understand your concerns,” he replied, his voice steady. “But perhaps we can discuss this further. We do have several heirs, after all.”

As he spoke, a figure silently approached from behind. The room seemed to hold its breath as the figure raised a syringe, the needle glinting ominously in the candlelight. In one swift motion, the syringe plunged into Copia’s neck.

Swiss, standing at the edge of the room, let out a guttural scream. “No!” he shouted, his voice echoing off the stone walls. Chaos erupted. The clergy’s eyes widened in shock as Copia slumped forward, falling to the floor. In the confusion, ghouls and ghoulettes emerged from the darkness, their movements swift and deadly. Blades flashed, and in one coordinated motion, they stabbed the members of the clergy all together.

A few members fought back; their desperation evident, some even pulling out their own knives. Suddenly, one of the clergymen lunged at Swiss, a blade glinting in his hand. Swiss barely had time to react as the clergyman pressed the cold steel against his exposed skin, forcing it into his mouth. The sharp edge of the blade nicked Swiss’s skin, drawing a thin line of blood.

Swiss's eyes widened with a mix of fear and determination. He could feel the clergyman's hot breath on his face, the man's eyes wild with a desperate rage. The pain from the cut was sharp, but Swiss knew he had to act quickly. He had too much to live for to die now.

He glanced away from impending death and caught sight of a familiar ghoulette. It was Cirrus. She met his gaze through the windows of their eyes and signaled for him to get up, her expression filled with determination and urgency. That look, that unspoken encouragement, gave him the strength he needed.

With a sudden surge of strength, he grabbed the clergyman's wrist, twisting it with all his might. The clergyman's grip faltered, and Swiss managed to wrench the knife away, the blade still dangerously close to his skin. Using the momentum, Swiss turned the knife around, driving it into the man’s side.

The man let out a choked gasp, his eyes wide with shock and pain. As he crumpled to the floor, Swiss stood over him, breathing heavily, his heart still racing from the adrenaline. The hall fell silent, except for the sounds of Swiss’s labored breathing as he stood gazing upon the defeated.

The dining hall fell silent, the bodies of the clergy members sprawled on the floor, the air thick with the metallic scent of blood. Only Sister, Nihil, Psaltarin, and a groggy Copia remained. Swiss rushed to Copia’s side, his heart pounding with relief as he saw the rise and fall of his chest.

Sister stepped forward, a satisfied smile playing on her lips. “It was another decoy,” she explained, her voice calm amidst the chaos. “To distract everyone. Do you really think I would let anyone harm my Cardi?”

Nihil, still in shock, shook his head in disbelief. He couldn't deny the strange mix of lust and fascination he felt at her aggressiveness. It was unlike anything he'd ever encountered before, and it left him both unnerved and oddly captivated. “Wow! You outdid yourself this time, Seestor!”

"You think so?" she asked, "It's a bit bloodier than I had planned."

"No, Seestor, it reminds me of the night we first met. The night where I held you close, your body against mine. You were in that tight black dress, bewitching me in the moonlight."

Swiss looked around at the carnage, his heart still racing. But as he met Copia’s eyes, he knew they had won this battle. For now, they were safe, "You scared me, Emeritus. You could have let me in on that part of the plan."

"Well," he explained, massaging his neck where the needle had punctured his skin, "I only just found out about it myself."

Swiss pushed the man against his chest, sending him flying backward, his feet skidding across the floor. After Copia regained his balance, he turned to his mother and asked, "Now what?"

She looked at him with adoring yet mischievous eyes, a glint of satisfaction reflecting in her gaze. She had longed her whole life to be in charge of the chaos she had created. "Now, my boy, we make the rules," she declared with a wicked laugh that echoed through the room. Turning to Mr. Psaltarian, she placed her hand firmly on the man's back, her grip both commanding and unsettling. "Let's get this cleaned up, and then we'll discuss our plans for the future in my office," she said, her voice dripping with authority and anticipation.

Swiss pulled up to his house the next morning to find Addeline drinking a cup of coffee on his front porch. Aurora sat next to her, something that surprised him. Upon his exit from the car, Aurora jumped up and dashed to him. She leaped into his open arms and began to laugh. Addeline stood, gazing at the two as they embraced. She faked a smile, still getting used to seeing the man show affection to another. Then a feeling of dread overpowered her. She looked around and Papa was nowhere. Her arm fell limp, allowing the coffee to spill to the ground.

"Where's..." she whispered so low that not even a nearby bird was startled.

Swiss looked up in that instant to see her dismay and realized that she thought her beloved Papa had been killed. He whispered something in Aurora's ear that sent her to the truck, and then he walked up to Addy. He lifted her chin and with playfulness in his voice asked, "Did you really think I'd let something happen to the old guy?"

She looked past Swiss's shoulder to see Aurora helping a groggy Emeritus out of the car. Excitement overtook her and she began to run down the stairs, faltering on the first step, forcing Swiss to grab her arm to steady her. She dashed across the yard and collided with Copia, her heart pounding with relief and joy.

He made feeble noises as the weight of her body met with his, a mix of relief and exhaustion evident in his expression.

"Papa," she cried, her voice trembling with emotion, "I thought you were dead."

He smiled warmly, touched by her concern. "I am right here, Amore.”

She squeezed him tightly, her arms wrapped around him as if she never wanted to let go. "Oh, Papa, let's have another baby!"

His eyes grew wide with surprise, and he felt a momentary faintness. "Tesoro, are you quite sure? We have so many," he said, a hint of panic in his voice.

She burst into laughter, the sound echoing with joy and relief. "No, I'm kidding of course. Just happy to see you," she said, her laughter fading into a contented smile.

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ivpapaemeritusiv · 4 months ago

Text

We Will Break Away Together

Summary: In this chapter, Swiss and Papa prepare to join Sister in eliminating the dangerous members of the clergy who pose a threat to their lives. Addy battles to break free from the emotional chains of her past, while Swiss grapples with the uncertainties of his future. Their struggles intertwine as they face the looming danger together, each dealing with their inner turmoil while gearing up for the impending confrontation.

Word Count: 2,700

Sister and Copia sat in their office plotting the cult's downfall. "I know them," Sister said, "They will never expect an attack from within the circle. We shall keep the weaker among them and smite the founders."

"What about Psaltarian?"

She placed a hand under her chin, "Psaltarian is a friend. True, he does not like the idea of you being Papa for very long but I think he is harmless. We will let him live."

Copia nodded his head. He was never intent on murdering people, but he'd do anything to save his family. "How do you suppose we carry out this plan, Sister?"

She smiled, cleverly, "The same way I killed Nihil's sons."

Copia sank in his seat, "You? You killed Nihil's sons?" A shiver ran down his spine as Sister's grin did not falter.

"I will stop at nothing to put you at the top, my boy."

Sister Imperator outlined her chilling plan, detailing how she would summon her most loyal followers and some of the ghouls who often handled the clergy's dirtiest tasks. Papa knew Swiss would be among them. "We will host a grand dinner," she began, her voice dripping with malice. "As they revel in what they believe to be a moment of camaraderie, our operatives will strike. They will swiftly and silently stab each target in the neck with a syringe, injecting a potent poison. The victims will be left to endure an excruciatingly painful death, right under our watchful eyes."

Papa shivered at the woman's heinous plan. "My Satan, mother, you are evil."

She laughed, her eyes gleaming with malice. "When they are gone, you and I will run this ministry together. Just don't tell your idiot father. He'll ruin it all."

At that moment, none other than Nihil appeared, his presence casting a shadow over the room. "Don't tell me what, Seestor?" he asked, his voice dripping with suspicion.

She quickly masked her true intentions, looking at him with adoring eyes. "Oh, nothing, Papa. Just that you are the most talented and handsome man, so sensitive, so passionate, so hot..." she trailed off, her breath becoming heavy with feigned admiration.

Papa Nihil, completely taken by her flattery, responded, "And you, Seestor, are the most beautiful creature I've ever laid eyes upon. One touch from you can make me—"

"OK!" Copia interjected, unable to bear the scene any longer. "I'm out of here. I don't need to see this."

As he hurried away, Imperator called after him, "Cardi, remember what I told you, dear boy."

"Yeah, yeah... I got it," he replied, quickening his pace to escape the intimate and unsettling exchange between his parents.

The plan was set, and it was time for Papa to send his beloved children to his nemesis. Elizabeth, as always, had something to say on the matter. "Daddy, how long will we be at your ghoul's house? It's quite a simple place, isn't it? He doesn't even have servants, and I'm accustomed to the finer things, you know?"

"Elizabeth," Kaisarion interjected, "Don't be so snooty."

"I'm not snooty!" she retorted at her brother, and then bringing her attention back to her father, "But shall we bring our nanny?"

"Oh yes!" Addeline quickly added, "We will most definitely bring the nanny."

"Now, Amore," Papa addressed his wife, "Can I trust you at Swiss's?"

"Yes, Papa," she responded, "How could you even ask me something like that?"

"Addy," his tone was stern, "It will not be just me you hurt if you cross any lines."

Addy nodded, understanding that Copia was talking about Aurora. She knew that Aurora would be devastated if anything happened between them again. The memory of Aurora's plea after Faith was born resurfaced vividly. Aurora had come to her, eyes filled with desperation, begging her not to call upon Swiss. At the time, Addy was conflicted, unsure of her own feelings. But now, she could see the depth of Aurora's love for the man.

"I understand, Papa," she replied softly.

Swiss was in the kitchen when the phone rang. It was Papa, telling him that it was time. The ghoul confirmed the plan and slowly placed the phone back onto the receiver, his face clouded with a somber expression. The weight of the conversation hung heavily in the air as he heard Aurora approaching, her voice a melodic contrast to his troubled thoughts. She was chattering away about something, but his mind was elsewhere, unable to grasp her words. In her usual cheery manner, she walked up to the fridge, pulling out a beer while still speaking animatedly.

When she finally caught sight of Swiss's grave expression, her demeanor shifted to one of concern. "What is it?" she asked, setting the beer on the table with a soft clink.

Swiss looked at her with a heavy heart, his eyes reflecting the turmoil within. "Aurora, I need to ask you to do something... and I don't think you're going to be entirely thrilled."

She shook her head, stepping closer to him with a mix of curiosity and worry. "What? What is it?"

He sighed deeply, the sound filled with the weight of unspoken words, and took a step back from her. "Liv, I have to ask you to go home."

Her concerned expression quickly morphed into one of aggravation. "Go home? Why?" She already had an inkling of the reason but needed to hear him say it. "Why, Jutty?"

He remained silent, his gaze unwavering. Aurora placed her hands on her hips, looking down as she processed his request. She exhaled sharply, a sarcastic smile tugging at her lips. "I don't believe this. It's Addeline, isn't it?"

Swiss didn't know how to respond. He just continued to look at her, his silence confirming her suspicion. Aurora let her head fall back, rotating her neck to crack it a few times, trying to release the tension that had settled in her shoulders.

"I can't believe you're asking me to go," Aurora snapped at Swiss, her voice trembling with a mix of disdain and confusion, "I mean... I thought your home was my home. We're having a baby for God sakes."

"Liv, baby, it's only because I need to tell her about our kid," Swiss replied, his tone soft but firm, trying to calm the storm brewing within her.

Aurora stood in front of him, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. She clutched his hands tightly, as if afraid he might slip away. "I understand, but..."

"But what?" Swiss pressed, his eyes searching hers for the unspoken fear.

"Jutty, I love you so much. I need you like I've never needed anyone else," she confessed, her voice breaking. "But I don't think you love me the same. I think you love her more. I'm scared you'll..." Her voice trailed off, choked by the weight of her insecurities.

Swiss, sensing her turmoil, gently placed his palms on her stomach, feeling the life they had created together. His eyes softened with an intense, unwavering devotion. "Olivia, don't ever for a moment think that you aren't the most important woman in my life," he whispered, his voice filled with sincerity. "I care for Addy and her safety. I love her as the mother of my child, but you? Liv, you mean everything to me. Trust me when I say nothing will happen."

The room seemed to hold its breath as his words hung in the air, a promise wrapped in the tender embrace of his touch. Aurora's fears began to melt away, replaced by the warmth of his reassurance, "Okay," she replied.

"Besides," he attempted to joke, "There are going to be eight kids in the house. How would we do anything with that many munchkins running around?"

She nudged him playfully, "Soon to be nine."

"Yes, my love, soon to be nine," he echoed, a soft smile touching his lips.

"I know you won't tell me what's going to happen, but I trust you're going to be safe? I don't want to raise this baby alone," she said, her voice tinged with a mix of concern and hope.

Swiss pulled her closer, his arms wrapping around her protectively. "I promise, Liv, I'll do everything in my power to come back to you and our baby. You won't have to do this alone."

Hauling Addeline and all of his children in one vehicle was no easy feat. Papa had the nanny drive a car as well with the youngest ones, while he and Addy drove the older children. Once they arrived at Swiss's house, Elizabeth, Kaisarion, Opus, and Cirice tumbled out of the car, racing towards him.

"Swiss!" shouted Kaisarion, "Can we play cards?"

"No!" Elizabeth countered, "He's going to play world domination with me!"

"Hey kiddos," Swiss greeted, his eyes lighting up as he saw them. He looked up at Addeline, who was walking toward him with Faith in her arms.

"Hey you," he said, giving her a kiss on the cheek. "Need me to grab anyone?"

"Yes," she replied, a hint of relief in her voice. "As a matter of fact, can you get Mary out of the car? I think Papa has Belial."

Swiss clapped his hands and rubbed them together, a playful grin spreading across his face. "I'm on it, darlin'."

Swiss noticed Opus wandering off with his sister. "Hey, hey!" the ghoul yelled, "In the house, guys!" Papa wouldn't admit it, but he was thankful for the extra set of hands. Once everyone was inside, Papa pulled Addy into a kiss, not holding back the passion. He couldn't resist the urge to assert his dominance in front of his wife's former lover. Swiss, catching the display, rolled his eyes in mild annoyance.

He released Addy from his grasp and shot Swiss a knowing stare. "Don't forget the plan, ghoul," he commanded, his voice dripping with authority. Swiss locked eyes with Emeritus, his gaze steady and confident, and gave a subtle wink that seemed to say, "I've got this."

The hours of the day passed with Swiss getting a firsthand experience of what it was like to parent eight children. Despite the help of the nanny, he found himself constantly on the move—making food, wiping noses, giving bottles, washing hands, playing dolls, and even pretending to be a peasant in Elizabeth's game of Kings and Queens. By evening, he was utterly exhausted. Once all the children were finally asleep, he collapsed onto the couch, his shallow breaths a testament to the day's hard work.

Addeline walked in and laughed at the sight. "Kids, huh?"

He locked eyes with her, raising his eyebrows sarcastically. "I don't know how you do it, Addy."

"And you wanted to take us all and run away with us," she teased.

The mood shifted from lighthearted to heavy. His smile faded, replaced by a look of earnestness. "Addeline, I would have taken you guys away. I meant that."

With a heavy heart, she stared at the floor as she walked over to him. She let herself plop down beside him, the weight of their unspoken emotions settling between them.

"But it's too late now, isn't it?" Addy asked, not expecting him to answer. She continued, "Now that Aurora is pregnant."

A look of shock overtook Swiss's face. She knew. He couldn't believe she already knew.

"Addy," he began, "How did--"

"Swiss, I've been pregnant seven times. You don't think I can spot another pregnant woman? You sending her inside with the ridiculous oversized hoodie was an insult to my intelligence."

His expression was overtaken by angst. "I was waiting on the right time to tell you."

"I knew you were just trying to protect my heart. It's okay."

He took the woman's hands into his. They looked at each other for a long while without breaking eye contact.

"Hey, remember what we used to do on this couch?" she broke the silence.

He laughed, trying not to reminisce too much. He could already feel himself becoming aroused by thoughts of the past. But he made a promise to Aurora, and he wasn't going to break that. He broke their gaze and explained, "I need to get ready."

She shook herself out of the heat of the moment and brought herself back to reality and the task at hand.

"You're really not going to tell me what you and the Cardinal have planned?"

Swiss shook his head gently. "I think it's better if you don't know. You and the children will be safe here while Copia and I make the ministry safe for you there."

Addy nodded, still gazing at him with a mix of curiosity and concern. "I'm tired. I think I'm going to go to bed. Tuck me in? No funny business, I swear."

Swiss laughed as he stood up, pulling Addy along with him. "I'll show you to your room. You already know I don't live in a big ministry with a hundred rooms, so you're bunking with your little dictator."

Addy chuckled, "Elizabeth is something special. She's going to be somebody one day, you know?"

"I don't doubt it for a second," Swiss replied as he led her into a cozy room. "All three babies are in here too, just in case you need to feed them during the night."

As Addy looked around the room, a wave of worry washed over her. The reality of the impending plan, whatever it was, began to sink in. She felt a growing concern for Swiss, for Papa, and for their future. The thought of everything going wrong and leaving her as a widow weighed heavily on her mind.

She threw herself into Swiss's arms and held him tight. "Please, be careful. Please protect Papa. Don't let anything happen to him."

He pulled her closer to his chest, letting his face nuzzle into the crook of her neck. He inhaled deeply; the sweet aroma of incense lingered in her hair. "I won't let anything happen to him, Addeline. I swear."

Her scent was intoxicating, like quicksand pulling him deeper into a whirlpool of desire. Every breath he took was filled with her essence, trapping him in a haze of lustful thoughts. He wanted to devour her, to lose himself in the moment. He inhaled deeply, noticing that he had given her goosebumps.

In one swift motion, he lifted her effortlessly, cradling her as tenderly as he would his own child. Her head rested against his chest, and she could feel the rapid thumping of his heart. His hand slid under her rump, gripping it firmly as he bent to lay her gently on the bed. As he straightened, he felt Addy's hands clasp around his neck with surprising strength. She gazed up at him, her eyes filled with adoration and longing.

He chuckled softly, a thought crossing his mind that he could take her right then and there. She wouldn't resist, he knew. She would welcome him, savoring every moment of what he would do to her. But he didn't want to complicate things for her. He knew she had found solace in her relationship with the Cardinal, and he didn't want to disrupt that peace.

With a gentle touch, he pried her hands from his neck and laid them softly on the bed beside her. He leaned down, his lips brushing her forehead in a tender kiss, a silent promise of restraint and respect.

With a final, reassuring look, he left to make his way to Meliora's room. Stepping carefully over Opus, Cirice and Kaisarion who were sprawled out on the floor, he approached the toddler's crib.

He stared at the child, a smile tugging at his lips as he admired the features that mirrored his own. This little boy was his shining light through all the darkness. As thoughts of the woman who had given him such a precious gift filled his mind, he wondered if he would feel the same about Aurora and the new baby. Would there be enough love in his heart?

In that moment, he made a solemn vow: he would return. He wouldn't let the clergy get the better of him. He would help Papa take them out one by one and come back to the things that mattered most to him.

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ivpapaemeritusiv · 4 months ago

Text

Faith is Mine

Summary: In this chapter, Addeline welcomes her seventh and final baby to the world but whose will it be?

Word Count: 2.600

A few days following Addeline’s departure, Swiss called Aurora over. He would have contacted her sooner, but he needed time to think about what he wanted and where to go from here.

As Aurora's car pulled up, Swiss felt a knot of anxiety in his stomach. He watched her step out and make her way through the gate, her expression unreadable. The afternoon sun cast long shadows, adding a sense of gravity to the moment.

Swiss stood on the porch, the familiar creak of the wooden boards under his feet grounding him. As Aurora approached, her eyes met his, filled with questions. Swiss took a deep breath, ready to lay everything out, hoping that she would understand why he ghosted her.

"Well, hello, stranger," she greeted warmly, yet with a hint of anguish. "Long time no see."

"I'm so sorry, Liv," he said, his voice heavy with regret.

"I thought you'd call me back, you know? I know we said we'd take it slow but a week without a word?" she laughed, trying to mask her disappointment with humor.

"Liv, Addy was here."

Her demeanor changed instantly, concern replacing the lightheartedness. "Oh, for the week... she spent the night?"

He nodded, feeling the weight of his confession.

A look of worry crossed her face. "Did you guys...?"

"A few times," he admitted, unable to meet her eyes. He didn't want to lie to her.

Liv sighed heavily, her shoulders slumping as she wiped a small tear from her eye before it fell. She wanted to remain strong despite the revelation. "Why was she here, Jutty?"

"Emeritus sent her. It's a long story."

"I have time," she said, her voice soft but firm.

"Remember the girl Copia knocked up? She died after having the baby and... well, the guy needed some time to think about things I guess, so he sent Addy here with Meliora."

Aurora's hand flew to her mouth, her eyes wide with shock. "Oh my God, that poor girl. And the baby?"

"The baby is fine but Addy has to raise it," he explained.

Aurora nodded slowly, processing the information. "That must be hard for her."

"I think she'll get through it.” Swiss gave her some time to process this information before he began again, “Liv, listen," he said, his voice filled with sincerity as he stepped closer to her, "I want to give us a chance. I think we could really be something special."

She giggled softly, a mix of disbelief and hope flickering in her eyes. Gently, she placed her hand on his cheek, feeling the warmth of his skin. "Jutty, I've wanted that too, for so long. I can’t share you though. I respect myself too much for that. You have to be with me, and only me. There’s no room for her."

"Well, this might be a deal breaker then," he said, his voice heavy with uncertainty.

The woman's face, which had been full of hope just moments before, now bore a deep frown, shadowed by the anticipation of whatever he was about to reveal.

"The baby that Addy is pregnant with," Swiss began, his voice trembling as he struggled to find the right words. He didn't want to confess it, but he knew he had to be honest. "There's a chance it's mine."

Aurora's eyes widened, "How big of a chance?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

"Well," Swiss sighed, running a hand through his hair, "she slept with me and Copia on the day she got pregnant, so there's a huge possibility."

Aurora turned her back, bringing her fingertip up to her lip as she tried to process the information. She paced back and forth a few times, each step echoing the turmoil in her mind, before finally facing Swiss once more. "Ok," she began, her voice steady despite the storm of emotions inside her, "We'll co-parent then. We'll help with Meliora and the new baby."

Swiss's eyes lit up with relief and joy. He grabbed Aurora off the ground and spun her around, his grip on her waist tight and secure. "Really, you mean that?" he asked.

"Yes," Aurora said as he began to gently lower her back to the ground. "But could you maybe... not sleep with her?"

He laughed, "Liv, I'll be yours, ok? I won't sleep with anyone but you, I promise."

A smile of relief spread across her face. "Good, because I love you, Jutty. I can really see us building a wonderful life together."

He pulled her into his arms, holding her close against his chest. The kiss he gave her was filled with promises of the future they could share. "You love me, eh?" he whispered, a playful glint in his eyes.

She smiled back, her heart full. "You already knew that," she said, drawing his head down to kiss him again, sealing their newfound commitment with a tender, lingering lip lock.

Aurora’s heart swelled with joy. She knew their journey wouldn't be easy, but at that moment, she felt a renewed sense of hope and commitment to their future together.

Fall turned into Winter, and then Winter into Spring. It was time for Addeline to deliver her seventh child. She couldn't believe it. Because of all the complications she had faced with previous births, the doctor decided it was best for her to have a scheduled C-section. It was March, and she had her bag packed and ready to go.

"Addeline," Papa Emeritus called out from the corridor, "Addeline, you're going to be late for your own labor if you don't make haste." Elizabeth came running with Addy as she made her way to Papa.

"Mummy, I do hope that you will not die."

A look of anguish overtook Addy's face. Emeritus quickly reprimanded his child, grabbing her by the arm firmly and asking, "Eliza, why on earth would you say a thing like that to your mother?"

"Well," the girl began, "I overheard Sister saying that Belial's mummy died after having a C-section."

Addeline knelt down to the girl's level, her eyes softening with understanding. "I am Belial's mommy, dear Elizabeth. And I will be just fine. I have had a C-section before." Her voice was calm and reassuring, a stark contrast to the turmoil she felt inside.

The corridor was filled with a tense silence, broken only by the ticking of a distant clock. Addeline's words hung in the air, a promise of safety and strength. She gently brushed a strand of hair from Elizabeth's face, her touch filled with maternal love and determination.

“That’s good, mummy. I can’t handle all of these children on my own. They are quite a pain, you know?”

Addy laughed as Papa Emeritus watched them, his stern expression softening as he saw the bond between mother and daughter.

They made their way to the hospital, making small talk along the way. The one question still hung heavy in the air: "Whose baby was this going to be?" They didn't dare speak it out loud, but it weighed heavily on their minds. Once they arrived at the hospital, they were admitted immediately. Doctor Sullivan was careful to avoid any mention of Papa's mistress, but Addeline couldn't help but have some related concerns.

“Hello, Addy. Didn’t expect to see you back so soon,” the physician laughed, obviously joking because Addy was at the hospital often. “Alright, Addy, I don’t need to tell you what labor is like, but this is a bit different than what you’re used to so do you have any question for me?”

“Will I have contractions?”

“Nope! We are skipping the labor portion of this feature film, my darling. We’ll take you right back to be prepped for surgery and get that baby out with no pain at all.”

Addy nodded, insinuating she understood but as the doctor turned to leave, she had one more question, “Will… will I bleed out? Will I die?”

The question shocked the Cardinal, who snapped his neck to look at her. Addy continued to speak, "I know someone who had a C-section and then died right after. I don't want to die."

Copia kissed his wife's cheek and held her head close, "Amore, you will be fine."

The doctor understood in that instant that the woman had known about her husband's mistress. She took a deep breath and spoke gently, "Addy, what you're referring to is so rare. I don't like to say that something NEVER happens, but I can almost guarantee that you are going to be ok."

She continued, "C-sections are generally very safe procedures, you’ve had one before. The surgical team is highly trained and prepared for any situation. Most complications are minor and can be managed effectively. The risk of something severe happening, like what you mentioned, is extremely low. We have a skilled team to ensure the best possible outcome for you and your baby."

She ended her speech with a reassuring smile.

Although Addeline was not convinced, she nodded her head. The doctor promised to be right back, leaving the room and giving her a chance to speak with Emeritus.

"Papa, if something happens to me, please take care of our children," she said, her voice trembling slightly.

Squeezing her hand gently, he reassured her, "Amore, nothing will happen.”

"And just know that I have always loved you, even when it didn't seem that way," she continued, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, “You’ve given me more than I could ever have dreamed of.”

"I love you too, darling, but these goodbyes are not necessary," Copia replied, his voice soft yet firm.

"And please tell Swiss," She had his full attention now, "Please tell Swiss I am sorry. I hurt him so badly the last time we spoke. Tel him that I lov—" she didn’t need to finish the sentence. Copia already knew.

He held back a tear, nodding solemnly. "I will tell him, Amore."

Just then, the doctor returned, breaking the emotional moment. "Alright, dad, let's get you a gown and let's get this show on the road. We have a baby to deliver."

They took the parents-to-be to a surgery room where they prepped Addeline for the C-section. The room was bright and sterile, filled with the hum of medical equipment. Copia stayed by Addeline's side, holding her hand and whispering words of comfort. The anticipation and nervousness were palpable, but they knew they were about to meet their new baby soon

The team cleaned Addy’s abdomen and placed a sterile drape where the incision was to be made. The anesthesiologist administered medication so that Addy would be numb, and the procedure would be painless.

“How do you feel, Addy?” the doctor asked.

Looking at Papa, and holding his hand, she responded, “I’m ok.”

“Do you feel me touching your belly at all?”

“No,” the woman replied.

“Alright, let’s go then!”

Addeline squeezed Papa's hand and closed her eyes. Copia was busy looking down at his wife's stomach, anxious to meet what would be his or the ghoul's child. After ten minutes, the sound of crying filled the room.

"Congratulations times seven, Cardinal, you have a girl," the doctor announced, handing a small female infant to Copia.

Copia's eyes welled up with tears as he held their daughter for the first time. He wasted no time showing Addeline. "My darling, she is here. Our dear one is here," he whispered, his voice choked with emotion. Addeline opened her eyes, her face lighting up with a mixture of relief and overwhelming joy as she gazed at their newborn daughter.

Addy, unlike with her other children, wanted to give her husband the opportunity to name their new little bundle of joy, “What shall we call her Papa?”

Copia sat, lost in thought for a moment as he tried to come up with the perfect name, “Faith,” he said, “Because Faith… is… mine.” * Aurora approached the grand, ministry with determination, her mind set on talking to Addeline. As she knocked on the heavy wooden door, it creaked open to reveal one of the older Sisters of Sin, who silently nodded and pointed her in the right direction. She walked through the brightly lit corridors, the scent of incense lingering in the air, until she reached the nursery. There, she found Addeline gently rocking Belial in her arms.

Startled by the sound of the door opening, Addeline quickly stood up, her eyes widening in surprise. "Oh, hi Aurora," she exclaimed, a tired but genuine smile spreading across her face.

Aurora returned the smile warmly, "Hi, Addy. I came to see Faith."

Addeline, looking a bit weary but content, walked over to the ornate crib and gestured toward the new addition. "She's here. I assume you want to make sure that she doesn’t belong to Swiss," she said, annoyance in her voice.

Aurora laughed awkwardly, "Well, Jutty doesn't like to skip out on his fatherly duties, so it was important for him to know."

"Well," she began, "Tell him he dodged a bullet this time."

"Oh, I don't think he'll see it that way, Addy." Aurora gestured toward the child in the woman's arms, hoping to give the new mother a break, she offered to hold him, "May I?"

Addeline smiled gratefully and carefully handed the baby over to Aurora before sinking into a nearby chair.

"This little guy has Papa's eyes," she announced, gently bouncing Belial. She was stalling, trying to prepare herself to say what she came to say. After one more playful bounce, she cradled the baby in her arms and met Addeline's gaze, "Listen Addy, I wanted to talk to you about Jutty."

"What about him?" she asked, recoiling slightly.

Aurora took a deep breath before continuing. "I... I want to ask if you'd let him go, for me," she said, her eyes searching Addy's face for a reaction.

Her expression shifted to one of surprise and disbelief as Aurora pressed on. "I love him, Addy... and I think he loves me.”

"You love him?” the woman had always suspected that the ghoullete harbored feelings for her child's father. However, hearing it spoken aloud from Aurora's own lips was nothing short of shocking.

“I do. But he'll never let you go, Addy, and I can't live the rest of my life fearing you might call and make him come running back to you."

She got up to take the baby back from Aurora, jealousy and sadness bubbling within her, "So, you guys are a thing now?" she asked, her voice tinged with hurt.

Aurora looked at her sympathetically. "Addeline, I know that you love him and that you want him to be happy. But you can't make him happy; you can't be with him. I promise you; I will give him the world. I will make sure he's happy. I feel like such a fool even begging you like this, but I'm desperate. Please, Addy. Give him to me."

As hurt as Addy was, she couldn't deny the truth in Aurora's words. Reflecting on the last few years, she saw the reality of Swiss's unfulfilled desires. He had been pleading with her to choose him, and she now realized she had been stringing him along, knowing deep down that she could never fully commit herself to him. Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked at Aurora, her vision blurred but her resolve clear. With a gracious nod, she silently conveyed her acceptance. Aurora's face softened into a warm smile, and she returned the nod. It was an unspoken act of permission, a silent understanding that needed no words.

The ghoulette kissed Addy gently on the forehead, her lips lingering for a moment as if to impart some of her strength. Then, with a resolute glint in her eyes, she exited the room. She was hell-bent on finding her lover, the man who had captured her heart so completely. The anticipation of starting a new life together filled her with a fierce, unyielding hope. She couldn't wait to begin the journey of mending the shattered pieces of his heart, to bring warmth and light back into his life.

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ivpapaemeritusiv · 4 months ago

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Chapter 39: I Know You Need It Now to Make You Feel Alive

Summary: Addy, overwhelmed by the news of Annaliese's pregnancy, decides to return home before the tour ends, leaving Swiss to redirect his affections elsewhere. As Swiss begins to find solace in another, Papa is left to grapple with the consequences of his actions.

Word Count: 5,700

The following morning, the band had planned to gather for breakfast in the hotel lobby before preparing for that day's show. Addy and Papa arrived last at the table, drawing curious glances as they took their seats, looking worse for wear with marks on their faces and scratches on their arms. The table was engulfed in a heavy silence. Swiss watched Addy as she avoided his gaze, focusing instead on her empty plate.

As Papa perused the menu, the waitress arrived to take orders. "I'll have bacon with sausage and scrambled eggs," he declared. The waitress noted his order and turned to the quiet woman. Before she could inquire, Copia interjected, "She'll have the same." Swiss observed the exchange, his head subtly shaking at the notion of Addy not ordering for herself, wondering if she preferred it that way.

"What is everyone staring at?" Copia snapped. "Start throwing ideas out! This is our first show of the tour; is everyone ready?" As if on cue, everyone began to talk all at once, sharing their ideas and preparations. Under the table, Swiss nudged Addy's foot to catch her attention. Startled, she glanced up at him. He mouthed, "Are you okay?" She nodded and returned her gaze downward. The ghoul felt conflicted, unsure of how to assist her. He felt a closeness to her, yet at the same time, a vast distance. He regretted defending her husband when Addy confessed the man had impregnated someone else. He questioned whether he should have kept his thoughts to himself. Maybe it would have been wiser to let her vent. Now, he felt entangled in her problem and compelled to speak with her immediately.

Once everyone finished their breakfast, the group dispersed, heading back to their rooms to freshen up before the big show. Swiss, feeling a sense of urgency, spotted Copia grabbing Addy's arm, seemingly in a rush. Determined, Swiss hurriedly made his way over to them, his heart pounding in his chest. "Can I talk to you really quickly?" he asked Addy, his voice filled with concern.

However, before Swiss could get a response, the Cardinal pulled Addy even closer, his grip firm. Apologetically, she answered, “Maybe later," and continued walking in the arms of Papa Emeritus. Swiss's eyes widened in frustration, his mind racing with unanswered questions. He watched as they disappeared down the hallway, leaving him standing there, feeling a mix of helplessness and confusion.

Out of the band's sight, the Cardinal ushered Addy back to the room. He closed the door behind them, ensuring their privacy. Pacing back and forth in front of her, he commanded her to sit down, his voice filled with authority. Addy, feeling conquered, obediently took a seat. He paced before her for a while, back and forth in short strides, before he stopped and approached her. He groped her chin lightly before demanding to know, "When were you going to tell me you were pregnant again?"

Addy's mind raced, remembering how Swiss had blurted it out the day before. Before she could utter a word, Copia interrupted, "How long have you known?”

Addeline's empty eyes met his as she uttered the words, "About 9 weeks."

Copia shook his head in disbelief, "You've known for 9 weeks that you were carrying a child and yet, you told HIM before me?” he gestured toward the door.

She remained silent as he reprimanded her, but her gaze deepened, as if trapped in a dark forest, unable to lie or reveal the truth. The Cardinal nodded, his words dripping with bitterness, "And whose is it, Addeline?" Their eyes locked, the silence between them louder than any words. In that moment, words seemed inadequate, unable to bridge the gap between their conflicting emotions. She remembered Swiss telling her not to say anything about the baby’s possible paternity but the silence gave her away.

Copia, seething with anger, clutched Addy’s face, his voice filled with a mix of frustration and hurt, "You do not get to judge me, my darling. You do not get to be angry with me for my indiscretion for it seems as though you’ve not learned your lesson since your last incaution." The hold he had on her grew tighter and tighter and Addeline began to wince under the pressure of his fingers. She gritted her teeth in pain and braced herself for a possible fight. A fight did not come, however. Papa released the girl’s face from his strong grip and stormed off towards the bathroom to shower before the show.

Addeline sat motionless, disbelief anchoring her to the spot. The precarious state of her marriage weighed heavily on her mind, casting doubt on its survival through their current ordeal. Suddenly, the Cardinal's attention to another woman reignited Addeline's desire for him. He was still hers, after all. The thought of another bearing his children, when she herself had given him so many, was unbearable. She, after all, had sacrificed so much to give the man his heirs. Sister Annaliese had sacrificed nothing. Her jealousy consumed her. She knew one thing. She wasn't going to sit there in that chair. She didn't know if Copia wanted her to leave for he had not given her permission to, but she was far beyond waiting for his command. She stood up and ran to the door, slamming it behind her.

She dashed next door, looking for her comfort. Swiss stood in the kitchen of his hotel room, surrounded by the other ghouls. She plunged into his embrace. He gazed at the band members in astonishment, then gradually enfolded Addy in his arms. Aether, Sodo, and Cirrus exited the room, affording them privacy. Aurora, however, stood there in utter disbelief. It hurt her to her very core to see the man she cared for so deeply giving more of himself to this woman who did not give all of herself to him, while she was ready to give herself completely to him. Her heart ached with a mix of jealousy and longing, feeling like she was watching her dreams slip away. The room seemed to blur around her, the edges of her vision tinged with the sting of unshed tears. She clenched her fists, trying to steady herself, but the emotional turmoil was overwhelming.

Meanwhile, Addeline burst into tears, crying so intensely that Swiss's arm was drenched before he could utter a word. He embraced her tightly, staying silent, understanding that words were unnecessary. They remained in that embrace until her tears subsided. Gently lifting her head from his chest, he inquired, "Are you okay?"

She nodded, sniffled, and attempted to regain her composure. "I'm fine," she declared, "Let's get ready for the show." Aurora, unable to bear the sight any longer, quietly exited the room as well. The spectacle of the man she cared for engaging in this deranged cat and mouse game with another woman was too much for her to endure.

Cirrus emerged from her room, exchanging a glance with Swiss as if to ask if all was well. With a discreet nod from Swiss, she approached Addy, touching her arm gently. "Let's get our costumes and head to the bus, okay?"

“I don’t want to do the show tonight,” Addy quietly replied.

Cirrus looked at Swiss in disbelief. It was very unusual for the woman to ever want to miss a show. She would usually beg to do entire shows. Nevertheless, Cirrus took Addeline's hand and led her out, while Swiss followed closely behind.

Papa and Addeline spent the night shooting each other icy stares but not once did they speak to one another. They even went their separate ways after the show, Papa going to their hotel room and Addy to Swiss’s. She very openly walked with Swiss to his hotel room. As she lay in his arms, he couldn’t help but mention the obvious, “So he knows you’re with me and he didn’t have one thing to say about it?”

Addy repositioned herself so that she was facing the man. She brushed his cheek gently and smiled, “I suppose not…” she trailed off, “I mean… he knocked someone else up. What’s he going to say?”

The ghoul sighed, “Adds, I knocked you up too.”

She went to speak but Swiss quickly continued his thought, “I’m not saying he’s right by any means so don’t think I’m defending him in any way. But, come on! You see the irony in this whole thing, don’t you?”

The woman didn’t know how to respond. Of course, she saw the irony in the situation and silently acknowledged her own hypocrisy. But she couldn’t help but wonder how long Papa had harbored lust for the girl. She’d obviously been working for him before Addeline was in the picture. Or was it revenge? Was Papa trying to hurt her? And when she thought to the future, she wondered if her husband would want to be there for the birth. It shattered her to think of him in the hospital room with this other woman, coaxing her through labor, rubbing the sweat from her forehead, cheering her on as she gave him a child. Would he want to raise the baby as his own? Would he visit? Send money? All these unanswered questions drove her mad.

Swiss, sensing the wheels turning in her head, asked, “What is it?”

She shook her head as she buried her face into his chest, “How can he be there for my baby if he has to be there for hers?” she was almost shouting, “I hope it’s yours.”

Swiss bit his upper lip and played with a wild lose curl on top of Addy’s head, “You don’t mean that,” he said. “I know you don’t mean that.”

“I do mean it,” she reassured him, “You’d appreciate it more!”

As much as it pained the ghoul to say, he could not diminish the love that Papa harbored for his children, “Addeline, Copia would never turn his back on your baby. He raises MY baby for God sakes, and don’t think I enjoy saying that.”

The girl switched her gaze to look into Swiss’s eyes.

“I don’t know what role Annaliese and her baby are going to play in his life, but I can guarantee you that this baby right here,” he was rubbing her abdomen softly, “is going to mean more to him than they will.”

Addeline looked up as Swiss with loving eyes and kissed the bottom of his chin. He returned the gesture, kissing her forehead. He made his way down, kissing her nose and then her lips. Her perfect pink lips. She resisted slightly, only due to the heavy thoughts weighing on her mind, but quickly gave in to this caressing. She could feel his hands grab firmly to her back, pulling her even closer to him than she already was. She felt she might suffocate. She quickly released his lips and looked up for air, allowing him the chance to suck at her neck. Small moans escaped Addy’s lips as she felt the man tickle her skin with his tongue. Swiss let his hand slide up the woman’s waist and finding her breasts, he gently cupped them.

“Can I have you, Adds?” he desperately asked.

He’d been dying to make love to Addeline since they reunited.

Addy’s head spun as she answered his question with a kiss. Swiss quickly removed his pants and lined his hips up with Addy’s as she lifted her skirt to give him access to her entrance. She could feel that he was already prepared to perform. Even though she’d had him so many times before, the thought of being with him in this instant gave her butterflies. He let his hands slide down from her breasts to under her skirt where he gently pulled her panties off.

Suddenly, the woman grew nervous and pulled away. The ghoul sensed her apprehension and asked, “Are you alright?”

She looked into his eyes with a melancholy expression, “Just distracted is all,” she replied.

Swiss continued his affection and gently pushed her legs apart. He took two fingers and pressed them against her wet spot, “You don’t have to do anything, Adds,” he whispered, “Just keep your legs spread, ok?”

She nodded as she grabbed tightly to him. Addy’s body was very responsive to his touch as he teased her wet folds. She let out short intakes of breath while he rubbed her awaiting folds. He took this as a sign to continue. Her legs began to shake a bit as she tried to hold them open and so Swiss pushed her onto her back and climbed on top of her. He let his mouth crash down onto her lips and he kissed her passionately. Addeline had forgotten how much she missed this. He stopped kissing her long enough to ask, “Could I ever make you forget him, Addeline?”

The question caught her completely off guard as did the hasty way he drove himself into her. She closed her eyes tightly at the sensation and opened her mouth slightly.

“Tell me,” Swiss roared as he swayed in and out of her, “Can I make you forget him?”

Addy’s silence caused the man to thrust harder and more aggressively. His name escaped her, filling the room in succession, “Swiss… Swiss…” she continued to call out.

“I need you to forget him!” he pleaded with the woman, “Tell me right now you’re going to forget him!”

“Yes,” she screamed, “I’ll forget him!”

“Tell me you’re going to be with me!” Swiss demanded.

Addeline was hesitant but all it took was one gigantic and intense thrust from the ghoul and she was screaming, “Yes, I’m only going to be with you! Oh, God, yes!”

Swiss knew that the woman was only speaking her mind in the moment. He knew it wasn’t fair to ask her such things in the midst of an orgasm, but it still gave him great pleasure to hear it. Addy was still shouting his name when he finally let go and released into her. For him, the feeling of coming inside of Addy was the ultimate high.

He released the woman from his lustful grip, his fingers trembling as he pulled away. With a heavy sigh, he collapsed onto the bed beside her, his chest heaving with each labored breath. The weight of his sorrow pressed down on him, a sharp divergence to the fleeting passion that had just consumed them. He knew, deep down, that she would never forget her husband, and the thought pierced his heart like a dagger. In that moment, he was overwhelmed by a desperate longing to rid himself of the feelings he harbored for her, yet he felt ensnared by an unbreakable spell. The love he bore for her was a burden he no longer wished to carry, but he was powerless to escape its grasp.

When Swiss awoke the next morning, Addy was no longer in his bed. He reached out to feel the empty spot beside him; it was cold, indicating she had been gone for a while. He wondered if she had spent the entire night with him or if she had gotten up to go to Papa Emeritus.

He walked out of his room, determination fueling his every step. The thought of Copia's reaction no longer mattered to him. With a firm knock on the door, he was greeted inside by the frontman, who was casually seated at the table, enjoying his breakfast. "Where is she?" he demanded, his voice edged with urgency. Without a word, Copia simply pointed towards the bedroom. Swiss nodded in acknowledgment and made his way to the room. There, he found her, her movements deliberate and focused as she packed her bags.

The sight of her preparing to leave struck him like a blow and filled him with confusion. "What are you doing, Adds?" he asked, his voice tinged with concern.

"I'm going home," she replied, her tone resolute. "I can't be here anymore."

"What are you talking about? Is it him? You can't be near him? Come stay with me for the rest of the tour," he pleaded, hoping to change her mind.

"It's not that, Swiss. I just... I can't be here right now. I need time to think. I want to go home."

"You want to go to Tampa?" he asked, trying to understand.

"No," she revealed, her voice softening, "I want to go be with my children."

Swiss was struck with shock, hearing her refer to the ministry as her home. It dawned on him that the lifestyle had finally consumed her, and she no longer saw herself as a separate entity from the ministry she had once been wary of.

"Are you taking the kids with you?" he asked desperately, his heart sinking at the thought of not being able to spend time with his child.

She placed a gentle hand on his face and assured him, "I'll leave Meliora in your care. Please keep him safe for me."

Swiss followed Addy as she made her way out into the living room, where Papa Emeritus was rising from the table to join her. Swiss gave the man a confused look, to which Copia simply shrugged his shoulders.

"Bye, Swiss," she bid him farewell, her voice soft yet firm, as she left the room with Papa.

He was left in the room feeling confused and empty, not knowing when he'd see the mother of his child again. The silence that followed her departure felt heavy, and Swiss couldn't shake the feeling of loss that settled over him. He hated Copia in that instant and contemplated leaving himself. The thought of staying without Addy felt unbearable, and the resentment he felt towards Copia only intensified his urge to walk away from it all.

* The atmosphere between Copia and Addy at the airport was thick with tension and awkwardness. The Cardinal was heartbroken at the thought of his wife leaving his side to return home, but her decision was resolute. It was the first time she wouldn't complete a tour with the band, and he couldn't fathom how he would get through the remaining shows without her by his side.

"Are you sure I cannot change your mind, Tesoro?" he asked, his voice heavy with desperation.

She looked at him with deeply saddened eyes. "I'm sure, Papa. I love you, but I can't be with you right now."

"I'm so sorry, my sweet," he said, pulling her into a tight embrace, tighter than ever before. "I hope you will forgive me, my love. I never meant to hurt you. I don't want our marriage to be a battlefield, and us enemies to one another."

Addeline nodded, giving the man reassurance that that would not happen. She gently lifted Kaisarion high enough for Papa to bid his firstborn farewell. The man playfully tousled the boy's hair, a warm smile spreading across his face as he kissed him on the cheek. "I'll see you when I get home, son," he said softly, his voice filled with affection.

Turning his attention to his wife, Papa's eyes lingered on her, absorbing every detail of her presence as if trying to memorize it. He gently took her hand in his, his gaze filled with longing and love. "I'll see you in a month, darling," he whispered, his voice tinged with sadness. He leaned in and kissed her tenderly on the lips, savoring the moment before he had to let go.

The trip home for Addy was long and lonely. The landscape outside the window blurred into a monotonous stretch, mirroring the turmoil in her heart. She felt her life changing more quickly than it had when she had first married Papa Emeritus. Each passing mile seemed to amplify the weight of her thoughts, the reality of her husband's impending fatherhood with another woman gnawing at her.

She struggled internally, grappling with the profound sense of betrayal and confusion while also coming to terms with her own infidelity. The realization that she couldn't escape this life settled heavily on her shoulders, and she knew she had to find a way to deal with it, to navigate through the storm that had become her every day. She wondered if they would ever love each other in the all-encompassing way that they used to.

Sister Imperator was surprised to see Addeline return early. “Hello, dear. Home so soon without your Papa? That’s not like you at all,” she said, her eyebrows raised in mild astonishment.

“Yeah… well,” Addeline replied, her voice stained with a mix of frustration and sadness, “He’s done a lot of things too lately that aren’t very like him.”

In that moment, Sister realized that Addeline had found out about the young Sister of Sin, "Oh, you know about Sister Annaliese then?"

"Yes," Addeline replied, "And I assume you did too?"

Sister Imperator’s eyes grew sympathetic and somewhat guilt-ridden. She gently bid Kaisarion to go play with his siblings. Once the young boy ran off and they were free from the innocent ears of children, Sister confessed, "A long time ago, when Nihil and I were trying to patch things up, I discovered he had had three children with three other women. I was so hurt. So angry. I wanted to kill him, but sometimes for the greater evil, we must look past certain indiscretions. I believe I am stronger for it. Now, come. The children will be over the moon to see you."

Addy heard Sister's words and realized the woman wasn't as tough as she had seemed to be. A flicker of understanding crossed her mind as she wondered if Imperator had experienced the same pain she was feeling at that moment. This revelation sparked a newfound compassion for Imperator within her. With a softened heart, she followed the woman to the nursery, eager to see her children. They had become the joy in her life, a radiant light that shielded her from all else.

* Understanding Swiss's sadness, Aurora couldn't help but check on him. Despite his request for her to stay away, she couldn't control her urge to ensure he was okay. She approached his door and knocked softly, waiting for permission to enter.

"Who is it?" he shouted, his voice tinged with frustration.

Aurora hesitated, her voice barely above a whisper, "It's... It's me."

There was a moment of silence before he responded, his voice now filled with uncertainty, "Come in."

Swiss looked at the ghoulette, his eyes softening with regret, "Listen Liv, I’m really sorry for the way I snapped at you. I had no right to talk to you that way. I just… God, she’s just so…”

"I know… there’s no need to apologize," she said with sincerity, "You're right. It was none of my business and I should have stayed out of it."

"Liv..."

"It's just you deserve to be with someone who wants to be with you," she flashed her enchanting eyes at him, though they were filled with a hint of hopelessness as she prepared to make a confession, "Someone like me. I want to be with you."

Swiss examined his ghoulette counterpart with a newfound intensity. Her beauty was undeniable, her sweetness and big-hearted nature radiating like a warm, comforting glow. It wasn't entirely lost on the man that she might harbor feelings for him, but his mind had been clouded with thoughts of Addy, making it difficult to see clearly. In that fleeting moment, he found himself wondering what it would be like to be with someone who was fully present and able to commit to him. The thought stirred a longing deep within him, a yearning for a connection unburdened by his dark reality.

As she stood before him, looking so desperate, he felt an overwhelming need to have her. He walked slowly towards her, each step filled with intent. When he reached Aurora, he grabbed her so passionately that it knocked the wind from her chest. He held her tightly, his embrace firm and unyielding, squeezing the woman as if he feared she might slip away.

He buried his face into her hair, inhaling the sweet aroma as if the very essence of her could soothe the turmoil within him. Her gravitational force was irresistibly strong, drawing him in with an intensity he couldn't deny. He snatched her off her feet, her body pressed tightly against his, as though she were hanging off a cliff, connected to him only by the fervent touch of their lips. He held her close, feeling the warmth of her skin against his, and carried her towards the bed with cautious, calculated steps.

Aurora instinctively wrapped her legs around him, her grip firm and unwavering, as he gently sat down on the bed with her in his lap. He removed the woman's shirt, catching a few strands of hair in the process.

Breathing heavily, she asked, “Are you sure you want this?”

He paused, only to look into her eyes to answer with an affirmative, “Yes.”

Aurora reached behind her back and unfastened her bra, allowing her large, milky breasts to spill out. Swiss took one into his mouth, sucking them as she kissed the top of his head. She breathed in, inhaling the smell of his curls. The man gently moved to her other breast, paying this one heed as well. He switched back and forth, sucking, nibbling and licking. Auora threw her head back from the sensation of it, still clinging tightly to his hair. He let the woman down gently onto her back as he moved down lower. She released him from her grip as he began a mission, kissing her chest, her ribs, her belly and then finally... "May I?" He asked, wanting to know if he could unbutton her pants.

She chuckled, "Are you kidding me? I've been waiting forever to hear you ask me that."

He strategically unfastened her buttons, slowly and one at a time. He gave her a knowing glance before sliding them down her legs. Her panties were white and see through and his mouth watered at the sight. He couldn't wait to remove the garment.

"Go ahead," she moaned, impatiently yearning for his touch.

He ambidextrously guided the piece of fabric down her legs. He balled the underwear into his fist, and winked at her as he threw them far behind his back. She giggled at this and playfully bit her

Swiss settled between Aurora’s legs, letting the tip of his nose sink into her folds. "She smelled so good" he thought to himself. He started chewing at the skin of her delicate pink sex, burying himself into her, switching between nibbling and licking until he felt himself suffocating.

Aurora wiggled in delight, her fingers gently caressing the top of his head as he navigated her intimate parts. He slinkied his way up her body, finding her mouth with a gentle yet fervent kiss. She could taste herself on his lips. As he pressed himself intimately against the area that he had just paid tribute to, a shiver of anticipation coursed through them both.

“Do you have a condom?” she asked.

It was a question that had become foreign to the man. Having been with Addy so many times, he rarely needed one. He shot her a look that clearly said, "Of course," as he reached for one in his drawer. She laughed at his expression, a soft chuckle that filled the room with a sense of ease and familiarity.

“Give it to me,” she demanded.

The ghoulette unwrapped the package, a mischievous glint in her eyes. She placed the rubber on the tip of his cock and with her teeth guided the latex down his shaft. The sensation drove Swiss mad, an overwhelming wave of pleasure coursing through him. He fell back onto the bed, his body sinking into the mattress, throwing his hand onto his forehead as he let out a deep, primal groan that echoed through the room, "Fuck."

Aurora reveled in his reaction, her eyes sparkling with satisfaction. She watched as Swiss's body responded to her touch, his every movement a testament to the intensity of the moment. "So, do I get to see how mind-blowing you are?" she asked, recalling their conversation from the bus.

He grabbed her hips and hoisted her up, his fingers digging into her flesh. Aurora felt the strength in his grip, the way his muscles flexed as he lifted her effortlessly.

“Jump on it,” he said.

She happily obliged, lining herself up with the tip of the man’s cock. She was ready to sink down onto him, every nerve in her body alive with anticipation. As her wet walls enveloped the man, the world around them seemed to blur, leaving only the two of them in sharp focus, caught in a moment of pure, unrestrained passion.

It was a sensation she had longed for, a yearning that had simmered beneath the surface for what felt like an eternity, a feeling she had doubted she would ever experience. As she poised above him, the anticipation built to a crescendo, every fiber of her being attuned to the moment. The connection between them was electric as she bounced up and down on the man madly, chasing the ultimate high. The feeling of his manhood as it rubbed against her insides was almost more than she could handle.

Desperate for more, the man gripped her hips tightly and took control, his movements urgent and commanding. Like a propeller, he thrusted into the woman with such speed and power that it sent her into the air with each pelvic sway. She held onto his shoulders, trying to keep herself from fumbling, her fingers digging into his skin as she sought stability.

Aurora leaned down to kiss him, and he seized the back of her head, pulling her forcefully towards him. Swiss’s tongue invaded her mouth with a fierce passion. The intimacy of it was overwhelming, and she couldn’t hold off anymore. Moaning into his mouth, her body surrendered to the impending avalanche taking over.

She clenched around him, her back arching as a loud, passionate cry escaped her lips. The sound filled the room, so intense that the man quickly covered her mouth, muffling her cries to keep them from being overheard.

He too felt himself on the brink of release. With a few more powerful thrusts of his pelvis, his body tensed, every muscle tightening as he reached his climax, a wave of intense pleasure washing over him.

As the intensity of their shared moment subsided, they both lay there, breathless and spent. The room was filled with the soft sounds of their heavy breathing, the air thick with the lingering warmth of their passion. He gently removed his hand from her mouth, tracing a tender line down her cheek as he gazed into her eyes, a mixture of satisfaction and tenderness in his expression.

"Mind blowing enough for you?"

"Earth-shattering," Aurora smiled at his comment as she nestled closer to him, their bodies still entwined, feeling the comforting weight of his presence. The world outside seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of them in a cocoon of intimacy and quiet contentment.

Days had passed since Aurora and Swiss's intimate encounter, and the gnawing feeling that he had been avoiding her grew stronger with each passing moment. Every sideways glance and hurried exit only fueled her determination to confront him. As the pre-show bustle filled the backstage area, Aurora spotted Swiss adjusting his costume. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for the conversation ahead.

"Jutty," she called out, her voice firm yet tinged with an unmistakable edge of vulnerability. He looked up, surprise flickering in his eyes before being masked by a neutral expression. She stepped closer, the ambient noise of the backstage fading into the background. "Can we talk for a moment?" she asked, her gaze locking onto his. The urgency in her tone left little room for refusal, and she hoped this confrontation would bring the clarity she desperately sought.

"You haven't talked to me since we..." she smiled, knowing he would catch her drift.

The man rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly and began to speak, "Look, Liv, you're great, amazing even. And the other night was... it was wonderful."

She felt a "but" coming on, "But..." she helped him along in his explanation.

"I don't know if I'm ready to move on yet."

"I understand," she said, her voice tinged with disappointment.

"It's just... she's the mother of my only child."

"So far," Aurora snickered, her eyes twinkling at future possibilities.

Swiss laughed, breaking the tension, and she continued, "What if we take it slowly? No pressure, no expectations. Just us, getting to know each other."

He smiled, a genuine warmth spreading across his face. "Sure, I would like that."

"Alright, well... let's go out there and make beautiful music together," she laughed, pointing toward the stage. She grabbed his hand, and though he was initially reluctant, he clung to it tightly as she led him before the crowd.

On stage, as the song Cirice played, Aurora and Swiss put on quite the risqué and intimate display for the audience. The ghoul dramatically fell to his knees before Aurora. Each flash of the red stage lights intensified the moment, casting eerie shadows and revealing Swiss inching closer to Aurora's intimate areas. The crowd's reaction was a mix of shock and exhilaration, their screams growing louder with every teasing inch Swiss dared to approach. The performance was a masterful blend of theatricality and raw sensuality, leaving the audience wanting more.

They captivated the audience further during "Kiss the Go-Goat," when Aurora danced over to Swiss's platform, shimmying at him with playful energy. Swiss responded in manner, matching her movements as they danced toward each other. To the audience, it even seemed as though they shared a passionate kiss through their headgear, their chemistry undeniable.

Papa Emeritus remained blissfully unaware of their newfound relationship, his focus entirely elsewhere. He was preoccupied with the challenge of making it through the show with the absence of his wife’s voice behind him.

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ivpapaemeritusiv · 4 months ago

Text

Chapter 31: They Don't Hear Your Cries in Your Own World

Summary: In this chapter, Addeline, Papa, and Swiss grapple with the consequences of their indiscretions. The tension is palpable as they each confront the emotional wreckage left behind. Addeline is torn between her loyalty and her own desires, while Papa struggles to maintain his composure amidst the turmoil. Swiss, caught in the middle, must find a way to reconcile his actions with his conscience. As they navigate through the shattered pieces of their hearts, they begin to understand the depth of their mistakes and the challenges that lie ahead in mending their relationships.

Word Count: 3,100 Words

Swiss stepped outside, the cool night air doing little to calm his nerves. He lit a cigarette, hoping it would help him decompress, but his thoughts were consumed with worry about leaving Addeline with Copia for the night. He felt a deep sense of helplessness gnawing at him. As he took a drag, his eyes landed on Aurora, who was sitting nearby, looking lost in thought. The memory of how sharply he had spoken to her earlier hit him like a wave of guilt. Determined to make amends, he stubbed out his cigarette and walked over to her, his heart heavy with regret. "Aurora," he began softly, "I'm really sorry about earlier. I shouldn't have snapped at you like that."

"It's okay," she said, patting the empty spot beside her, inviting him to sit down. Swiss hesitated for a moment before sitting down. "I just didn’t want to get you caught up in that whole mess," he continued.

Aurora shrugged and smiled, waiting for him to explain. "It's Meliora," he began.

"Papa's new baby?"

Swiss took a deep breath, fighting the smoke he had just polluted his lungs with. "Meliora isn't Papa's baby."

The wheels in Aurora’s head began to turn as she pieced together what he was saying. Once the realization dawned on her, her mouth dropped, and her eyes widened. "Oh... is he... yours?"

"Yeah... he's mine." Swiss noticed that Aurora wasn't as shocked as he had initially thought she would be.

"So that means you and... Papa Emeritus’s wife…" she trailed off.

"Yeah…" he confirmed, leaving no room for doubt.

"Wow…" Aurora looked off into the distance for a moment before starting again. "I’m sorry, I gotta ask now that I know. You seem smart and you’re handsome, so you can obviously have any girl you want. So… why would you do that?"

Swiss sighed, feeling the weight of her question. "It's complicated, Aurora. I never meant for things to get this messy. Sometimes, life just throws you into situations you never expected, and you end up making choices that you might not fully understand yourself."

The ghoulette laughed, "So you love her."

Swiss shook his head, feeling a bit uneasy. "Look, I don't feel comfortable talking about this with you. I don't even know you."

The woman bit her lip, sensing his discomfort. "I'm Liv. What's your name?"

"I'm Swiss," he replied, a bit guarded.

Liv smiled endearingly, her charm was unmatched. "No, silly. What was your name before the clergy?"

Swiss paused, a flood of memories washing over him. He remembered the day they had stripped him of his old name, giving him a new one before he joined the band. "I'm Jutty," he finally said, a hint of nostalgia in his voice.

"Well, Jutty, now we know each other," she said with a warm smile.

He nodded, feeling a strange sense of connection despite the absurdity of the situation.

"Would you like to go get something to eat?" she asked.

"Oh no, I couldn't. I'm too preoccupied."

"Oh, come on, you gotta eat."

"Listen, Liv. You seem really nice, but no thanks."

"Okay," Aurora rose from her seat, intending to walk back to the hotel. Before leaving, she wanted to give him some words of reassurance. "She'll be okay," the woman gave a light-hearted smirk. "I'll check in on her for you."

"You would do that?" Swiss asked, surprised.

The ghoulette nodded, giving him a flick wave before walking away.

* The next day, the band traveled to the venue for rehearsal. Once they arrived, Addeline waited for Papa to walk off before she went searching for Swiss. Considering they had only just arrived she knew she would find him outside the other tour bus helping to unload equipment.

Addeline, knowing she was about to drop some news that wouldn’t be well received, prepared herself for the storm which would be Swiss’s rage.

“Hey,” she signaled to him, covering her face with the hood from her jacket so that nobody would see the Cardinal’s handprint on her.

He was holding a suitcase in each hand, a guitar inside both. He swiftly placed the cases on the ground, brushed his hands off onto his pants and ran up to the woman. Unbeknownst to Addy or Swiss, the Cardinal pretended to have left something on the bus and went back to retrieve it. From a hidden spot, he discreetly observed their conversation from afar.

Swiss took a quick peak inside the hood, completely unaware that Copia was nearby keeping a watchful eye. He wanted to assess the damage.

His jaw dropped a bit when he saw the injury had swollen up even more so than the previous day, “Jesus Christ,” he said, “How fucking hard did he hit you?”

She withdrew a bit in a moment of self-consciousness, “Hard enough,” she said now free from the shackles of silence that had held her back the day before.

"You know, that new ghoulette, Aurora, came to check on me last night," she remarked, a hint of curiosity in her voice.

Swiss nodded, his expression serious. "I sent her. I was worried about you, but I needed someone to infiltrate for me and make sure you were okay."

"She's... obnoxiously nice, isn't she? I want to hate her," she admitted, feeling conflicted.

Swiss chuckled, a light-heartedness returning to his demeanor. "She's not bad, I guess. Just doing her job," he changed the topic, "I assume you’re not going to be rehearsing with us today."

She shrugged her shoulders, “I’ll be lucky if I ever get to sing on stage again, I suppose.” Swiss continued listening as if he knew there was more on the woman’s mind, “I guess this sort of goes without saying but he doesn’t want us socializing anymore.”

He gave a begrudging nod of agreement, “What about Meliora?”

Addy simply shook her head. Swiss became increasingly erratic, his desire to be involved despite the circumstances driving him to seek answers from the woman.

“Damn it! He’s my kid, Addy,” Swiss passionately pleaded with her, Copia still nearby. Despite the distance, Copia’s sharp eyes and keen intuition allowed him to decipher Swiss’s words even from far away.

“I understand how important it is to you,” she said placing a hand on his shoulder, “I will talk to him.”

“Yea… ok,” Swiss said with a hint of skepticism, not having hopes for a positive outcome.

After the conversation the two shared a heartfelt moment and embraced each other, still without realizing the Cardinal was watching them. The Cardinal felt a mix of jealousy and satisfaction, contempt at seeing her in the arms of another but also knowing that his wife was following his instructions. He also felt a deep sting seeing her get solace from a man she shared so much intimacy with.

As Addeline walked away, Swiss caught sight of Copia for the first time since the incident. His eyes shot daggers at the frontman as he clenched his jaw. His fists involuntarily bawled up in frustration.

Step by step the Cardinal made his way toward the man. A torrent of nervous anger surged through Swiss. His heart raced and his brows furrowed with determination. The air around him sizzled with tension as he took a deep breath, ready to confront the person who had dared to harm Addeline.

Copia felt the electricity in the atmosphere as well as he came face to face with the man who slept with his wife.

“Swiss,” he said with a begrudging tone, his voice dripping with sarcasm, “Just who I wanted to see.”

Echoing the same sarcastic tone, Swiss responded, “Yea, I wanted to see you too.”

“I think I’ll have one of the ghoulettes train Addy from here on out.”

“So, you’re allowing her to continue in the show?” he said smugly, insinuating that she needed permission for anything she ever did.

“Perhaps, not yet. In a few weeks maybe.”

“Right,” Swiss concurred amidst the tension, “So, how is Addy? I just saw her and she had a nasty mark on her face.”

“She fell,” he lied, “The floor in the bathroom was wet. Poor thing hit her face on the counter.”

Swiss started to get testy, his frustration mounting as Copia refused to take responsibility for what he did. The ghoul considered himself at least man enough to admit his fault in the whole situation but to him striking a woman was the epitome of despicable behavior.

“And it just happened to form into the shape of a handprint, huh?”

Copia’s face flushed with a twinge of shame. But he quickly reconsidered “what nerve does this person have to criticize me when they fucked my wife behind my back?”

Swiss didn’t let Copia speak and continued, saying, “Listen, Cardinal, we both know what went down and why. If you want to lay me out right here in front of everybody then go ahead. I won’t even fight back. But don’t ever put your fucking hands on her again!”

Copia, feeling the weight of the threat, gave a solemn nod as Swiss walked away to grab the guitars for rehearsal. Copia wrestled with conflicting emotions. While he did entertain thoughts of seeking revenge on Swiss, he ultimately chose to prioritize his wife’s well-being. He made the decision to let go of his desire to hurt Swiss—at least for now.

As the anticipation for the show grew, the Cardinal sought out Addy. He found her already on-stage helping Cirrus set up her keyboard, “Darling,” he called, summoning her with two fingers as he looked her up and down.

Addy obliged, crossing over wires to get to him. The stage was always a mess right before a soundcheck. As she stood in front of him obediently, he noticed her cheek, and the sight shocked him, almost making him forget that he was the cause of it. Gently placing a finger under her chin, he turned her face to the side to get a better look. He stared at it in disbelief, shaking his head and letting out a sigh before releasing his grip on her. He felt a deep sorrow and was overcome with a profound sense of remorse for causing her harm.

With a gentle yet serious tone, he delivered the news that she wouldn’t be able to perform that night, hinting that it was a consequence for her actions. Addy’s disappointment was evident, but the Cardinal quickly reassured her that after training with someone else she’d be able to return to the stage in the coming weeks, “When I decide it is time, you'll stand on stage next to..."

Papa looked over his shoulder, finding the latest ghoulette, "Aurora, dear, would you come here?"

The bubbly woman bounced over to the Cardinal, her energy infectious. "What's up, Papa?" she asked with a bright smile.

"You've met my wife, Addeline," Papa said, motioning towards Addy who was standing nearby.

Aurora stood listening attentively, her hands clasped behind her back as she gently rocked back and forth. "Yes, I have. She's lovely," she responded warmly.

"My Addy is a singer," Papa continued, his voice filled with pride. "She's quite good, but she does get vocal training. I'd like you to help her with that."

Aurora's eyes widened with interest and excitement. "Oh, is she? I'd be delighted to help!" she exclaimed, practically glowing with enthusiasm.

Papa smiled at her eagerness. "Thank you, dear. I knew I could count on you."

Aurora lit up like a Christmas tree, her enthusiasm evident. "Oh absolutely, Papa. I'm happy to help in any way I can."

"Thank you, dear. You may go," Papa said, dismissing her kindly. Copia looked at Addy, his eyes searching hers to make sure she understood him. She gave a small, reassuring nod to confirm that she did. Satisfied, he shooed her away, directing her back to Cirrus.

As Addy approached, she noticed Cirrus giving her a motherly look, one filled with warmth and understanding. It brought a sense of comfort to her, easing some of the tension she felt. The ghoulette knew the inner conflict Addy was facing and wanted to offer support in her own gentle way.

* After the show that night, Addy thought she would casually bring up her conversation with Swiss from earlier to the Cardinal. She figured Papa would be too tired to overthink or get angry. She was in the bathroom brushing her teeth while the Cardinal removed the ghostly paint from his face. She kept glancing his way, dropping subtle hints that she needed to speak with him. Part of her hoped he would not catch on. Maybe it’s a bad time she considered.

He did catch on, however. He looked at her with a mix of sweetness and menace and asked, “Is there something you need, my darling?”

She spat toothpaste into the sink, washed her face, and then looked at him with a solemn yet stern expression.

“What’s on your mind?” The Cardinal pressed.

“Papa…” Her mind filled with apprehension now, making her hesitate to continue the conversation.

“Go on,” he could sense this anxiety.

“I won’t communicate with Swiss if that is your wish but…”

He remained silent, patiently waiting for her to find the words to continue.

“The children…” she said.

The Cardinal stood for a moment deep in thought. He gazed into the air as if pondering her words with great intensity. He knew that she was referring to just one specific child.

“You mean, Meliora?”

Addy, feeling a bit anxious that the Cardinal could see through her, returned a blank stare. She hoped that her expression would convey her question because she did not wish to ask it out loud.

The Cardinal finally expressed his desire to know more about her infidelity. He no longer wished to sweep evidence under the rug.

With a heavy heart he asked, “How many times, Addeline?” and then he prepared himself for the response, mentally bracing for whatever she would say.

She didn’t answer right away. Addy did not have an exact number, but she knew their emotional connection had been growing for quite some time, “I couldn’t tell you, Papa.”

There it was. The admission. Copia let out a dissatisfied grunt, his mind grappling with the image of his wife being with another man. His struggle was evident, as he tried to come to terms with the unsettling reality, “So many times that you cannot even count?” he asked, “And when?”

She shook her head vigorously, refusing to answer the question. She could feel his anger escalating, and it made her even more hesitant to respond.

“Addeline, I will never put my hands on you again. Just be honest with me.”

“When you were sleeping mostly or out,” she finally admitted, biting her bottom lip after the revelation.

Copia attempted to restrain himself from being crude, but the intensity of his emotions overwhelmed his ability to filter his thoughts. The words began pouring out of him uncontrollably, “So, all those times you two refused to join the rest of us?”

He let out a frustrated laugh, his anger bubbling beneath the surface, “So were you sneaking off backstage? Did you let him fuck you in the green room ? Hm? What about during those private practices?”

Addeline was covered with a blanket of shame as Papa continued to interrogate her.

“Did you revel in his touch, my darling? Did you scream out his name? WHERE DID YOU LET HIM FUCK YOU?”

She continued to shake her head violently, feeling upset that he went back on his promise not to get angry.

“No, don’t tell me. I don’t care to know,” Copia decided that this was information he could live without, “This thing you have with Swiss, it stops now, Addeline.”

In a sudden rush of memory, he recalled what Addy wanted to discuss before he unleashed onto her; his child, who painfully might not be his. The thought gnawed at him—did he truly have to grant another man the right to remain entwined with a child he considered his own?

“How sure are you about—”

“—I’m not 100% sure,” Addy lied, knowing exactly what he was going to ask, “But I can find out.”

The Cardinal, clinging to the idea that he was Meliora’s true father, strongly resisted the idea of unraveling the mystery of his biological paternity—something he himself had been denied as an infant.

Despite the Cardinal’s swirling doubts, the evidence was impossible to ignore. The child bore an uncanny resemblance to Swiss, with his Jamaican and New Zealand heritage shining through every feature. It was a painful reminder of the undeniable connection between them, a reminder that Addy couldn’t escape.

Papa’s children possessed an ethereal beauty that set them apart from the rest. Elizabeth, Kaisarion, Cirice and Opus with their porcelain-like skin and lustrous dark hair, seemed to emanate an air of mystery. But it was their eyes that truly captivated all who beheld them. One eye shimmered like the deepest sapphire, while the other gleamed with the warmth of rich chocolate. This mesmerizing combination, inherited from their father, gave them an otherworldly allure that some likened to vampires. Meliora, on the other hand, was a stark contrast to the Cardinal’s other children.

Meliora was captivating in a way all on his own, from the rich dark curls that framed his face to his sun-kissed complexion. Swiss had been mirrored in this tiny being. The child’s eyes, a captivating mix of deep brown and vibrant hazel, held a spark of familiarity that could not be denied.

“I’d rather remain in the dark, my dear. You see, my love for Meliora is unwavering and that will never change,” he shifted his tender tone to one that was resolute, “As for allowing Swiss to have contact with my son, you can inform your boyfriend that I’ll permit it on my terms.”

The Cardinal walked past Addy, grazing her shoulder with his. Just before exiting the bathroom, he turned around and casually mentioned, “I’ll be sleeping in the bus tonight. Don’t forget to break up with him during this conversation, my love.”

With a confident stride, he walked off but just before shutting the door behind him he had one more thing to say, “And if leaving is on your mind, Amore, don’t fool yourself into thinking you’ll be okay back in your own world. You will never escape me.”

The pain of his casual dismissal and insensitivity cut deep. To Addy, it felt like another painful blow to the face. "He may as well have hit me again, she thought. It would have hurt less."

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