Hedgesville, West Virginia
Caspian Residence
Monday, August 26, 1996
4:01 PM

“She’s falling apart,” Rem said loudly as he pointed to the trembling human who was sitting on the living room couch. “She can’t handle anymore of this fucking shit. We're all just letting her die from the inside-out.”

“In order for the Seraph to become strong enough to survive,” Nick whispered as his eyes went to Jennie, “she has to go through hell.”

“With the way this is going down, she won’t last!” Rem yelled as he bared his teeth. “Just take the goddamn thing away!”

“Take what away?” Nick asked, staring at his son with confused eyes.

“The title,” Rem replied, turning to look at Jennie a hurt expression. “If being the Seraph means you HAVE to die, then take it away NOW!”

“I can’t,” Nick whispered with a shake of his head. “It's not something you can take away. Just like you can't NOT be a Scion.”

“I don’t want her to die,” Rem said as his face twisted into a pained expression. “I don’t want to watch her die. This is why I didn't want to do this shit in the first place..."

"I know," Nick said, reaching out to wrap an arm around his son.

Swiftly batting his father's arm away, Rem faced Nick. "If I have to, I’ll kill her myself. I’ll end it now before it gets worse.”

As he took a step toward Jennie, a hard and abrupt punch slammed forcefully into Rem’s jaw. The sight of blood and spit flying into the air could be seen as Nick stepped back in awe.

Rem looked up as his eyes focused on the one who struck him. Reiyl had walked onto the scene, hearing everything. The cat demon's eyes were cold while his face appeared grim.

“Say it again,” Reiyl said gruffly. “Go ahead.”

“I’ll kill her!” Rem shouted from the floor as Reiyl’s foot rammed into Rem’s chest. The sound of the green haired boy gagging at the hit filled the air.

From the living room, the crippled girl barely moved to the uproar. Even with Rem's announcement, she didn't seem to care.

“Outside!” Nick shouted loudly as he whipped up his hand.

From across the room, the sliding door burst open. Both Reiyl and Rem were abruptly whisked into the air and tossed out the door, entering the backyard.

Flying toward the pond, the two crashed into the surface of the water and disappeared into the dark waters. Shortly afterward, a bluish head burst out of the water.

Reiyl shook his body, trying to get the water from off his hair and face. Before he could respond, he was whipped up into the air, being hung upside down while his ponytail swung back and forth.

“Kuso,” Reiyl cursed as he found he couldn’t move while his eyes focused on Rem who was emerging from the water with a look of hatred on his face.

“You son of a bitch!” Rem growled as he stared at Reiyl. An onslaught of heated punches filled the air as Reiyl became Rem’s punching bag. “You’re not going to stop me. You hear me!”

Reverting to his animal form, Reiyl dodged Rem’s attack as his body shrunk to a smaller size. A small, bluish-gray cat hovered in the area Reiyl had been as he was released from Rem’s mental hold. As the cat fell toward the ground, he reformed back into his human shape, smashing his knees into Rem’s face before flipping backward and landing on his feet.

Rem stumbled backward, flailing into the water. His eyes went to Reiyl who was once more coming at him. Biting at his lower lip, Rem forced a wall of water into the air, drowning out Reiyl’s approach. With a leap to his feet, Rem lunged at Reiyl, grabbing the cat demon by the shoulders and throwing up a knee into Reiyl’s groin.

Gagging slightly while bending his knees out and leaning forward with his hands between his legs, Reiyl was momentarily bound to where he stood. Rem’s arm wrapped around Reiyl’s neck as his other hand grabbed a hold of the seat of Reiyl’s pants, flipping the cat demon over his shoulder and slamming Reiyl face first into the water and mud.

Laying on top of Reiyl, Rem breathed heavily while trying desperately to keep Reiyl underwater. Hate was all he could feel at the moment.

“You’re going to die,” Rem stated as he threw his elbow into Reiyl’s unmoving body.

“Stop it!”

Rem’s eyes widened in shock as the water he laid in abruptly incased him and Reiyl, sheltering them from harming one another. Before he could fight the water bubble, a heavy pulse pounded at his mind and caused him to pass out.

4:21 PM

“That was a little much,” Nick whispered, staring down at his daughter who had a very solemn look on her face.

“But he was trying to kill Reiyl,” Rachael said in return as she covered her little brother with a blanket. “I don’t want him becoming like that man who was here before. That Rowen.”

Nick’s face became silent as he turned away. “I’m going to check on Reiyl and Jennie. Just keep an eye out on Rem. I don’t want him…hurting anyone.”