Let’s pretend it’s Friday and that I’m on time for something for once in my life :)

Dio smiled as Varick efficiently ripped apart the shackles. Apparently they weren’t made to withstand werekin attack.

Varick kissed Dio, branding him with his lips. “I almost lost you,” he growled. “I won’t give you up to anyone. If I see that damned demon again I will rip off his tail.”

“You think you can take me wolfie?” Lemon Drop said behind them.

Focused on each other they’d missed Lemon Drop’s entrance.

“I have no doubt demon.” Varick leapt across the room and threw Lemon Drop into the wall.

The demon’s body made an ominous crack as Lemon Drop slammed against the hard surface. He didn’t get up again.

Dio’s vision blurred as he took in the small body. “He used to read to me when I was younger.”

Varick wrapped a comforting arm around Dio’s waist. “I’m sorry mate.”

“My mother is the one at fault. She corrupted him.” Dio couldn’t keep the bitterness out of his voice. His mother ruined everything. “We need to put an end to this once and for all.”

“How do we do that?” Varick asked.

Before Dio could answer the triplets rushed into the room.

“Oh you found him!” Relief crossed Terris’s face as he spotted Dio. He scowled at the sight of the dead Lemon Drop. “Is that the one who kidnapped you?”

Dio nodded. Terris took a stop toward the body only to be yanked back by a hand on his arm.

“You don’t want to get too closer,” Dio said.

“Why?” Terris asked.

A soft whump filled the air and Lemon Drop burst into flames.

“Because mother is calling him back home,” Dio replied watching the body of the demon turn into ashes.

Ceiser rubbed his hands together. “What do we do now?”

“It’s time to go on the offensive,” Dio declared. “I’m tired of trying to guess what she’s going to do to me next. I need to be the one calling the shots or I’m going to be running from her for the rest of my life.”

Dio’s shoulders slumped. He hated fighting. Not that he couldn’t but he tended to be a non-combatant, which is how his mother had controlled him for so long.

Varick gripped his shoulder. “We’ll figure something out, mate.”

Dio smiled. Every time Varick called him mate it gave him a warm feeling in his chest. He’d never had anyone cherish him like Varick did. He kissed Varick’s cheek even as he straightened his spine in resolve.

“I know what I need to do. I’ve got to go visit my aunt.” Dio winced at the thought.

“Which aunt,” Ceiser asked.

Dio could tell from the vampire’s expression that he knew which aunt Dio planned to visit. “Auntie Carlotta, she’ll know how to stop my mother.” He hated pulling out his last resort not only because he worried what she would ask for in return.

“Why didn’t you go to her before?” Varick asked.

Dio gave a broken laugh. “Because she’s my mother’s sister and any help from her will come at a steep price.”