Chapter 23: Famine

Eros and Dagon arrived far sooner than Holly was prepared for. Lachesis left with the reapers and Holly was left watching them from the window as they strode out. "Will they really be okay?"

Eros crossed his arms over his chest. "They're reapers, we've been running from them remember? They already betrayed you once. You should save your worry."

There was a tenseness to him that had not existed before. It hit Holly like a branch in the face. Eros was jealous, and not just jealous, but extremely so. "Eros?"

"Don't mind him," Dagon instructed as he too watched the upcoming battle. "Instead we need to prepare. I fear we are walking into a trap at this point. There's something wrong in the air. I wouldn't put it past Death to attack us again while we are distracted."

Eros snorted. "After how his ass got kicked last time? You think he'll come back?"

Dagon nodded. "he's after Holly, he won't stop until I put him down for good, or she's too far from him to get." He turned to look at her. "This is why you should marry me."

Eros rolled his eyes. "Boss, you're no prince charming. You could probably learn a lot from Tydeus in that department."

The glare that Dagon gave the other man could melt steel. "I'm the one that's here right now, not him. I don't want to hear anything about him right now. Holly, no one else will hurt you. You don't need Tydeus, you have me. Just hurry up and say yes and let me take care of you."

"She doesn't know any of you enough to end up married to you. I'm more than enough to protect her." Eros glared at Dagon. "Holly, you know I'll keep you safe, right?"

Dagon snorted. "Are you sure about that? I created you, remember? If you get in my way..." He trailed off as he noticed Holly's glare.

"You're not going to touch Eros in this life, or any other life Why are you threatening him? Because you're jealous?" She shook her head again. "I'm so tired of this craziness. I don't understand why I've been cursed with this."

Dagon held up his hands. "I didn't threaten him, Holly."

"You were about to," she countered with a glare. "And despite you and that Tydeus guy claiming that you love me and want to protect me the one who has been with me has been Eros. He's been the one protecting me and trying to take care of me, just not very well."

Eros pouted. "I said I was sorry about that."

"How could you not know that humans would not want to eat stuff like that?"

"Protein, I was only thinking about protein. I didn't know what they wanted, and I had to keep you safe. I was willing to do whatever it takes."

"You don't have to do that anymore, I'm here." Dagon crossed his arms over his chest as he tilted his head. "I won't threaten Eros anymore."

"Or try to kill him in any life," she added. "I have a feeling that you guys are masters at taking advantage of the way humans word things."

Dagon chuckled. "That is so. I will not be the cause of his death in any life unless it concerns saving your own. Will that be enough? That's as far as I'm willing to bend."

"If it ever came to that, I would take myself out first. I'd never let her be at risk for me." Eros smiled at Holly. "No matter what, you're more important."

"That's stupid." Holly was already shaking her head at the two of them. "I'd never sacrifice a friend to save myself, period. And I'd hate anyone that would do that."

Eros sighed. "You're very stubborn, Holly. But that's okay. We won't worry about it anymore." He looked past them. "They're out there fighting Krim, and we have our own challenge to handle."

"What?" Holly demanded. "Death again?" she shivered at the thought.

"No," Dagon responded as he took a fighting stance in front of her. "It's not Death this time. It's someone else."

Holly frowned. "Who else could it be? One of Death's men?"

"Worse," Dagon sighed.

"What could be worse?" Holly looked around. Did Death have something more powerful than those disciples of his? They were already scary enough, traumatizing even.

"My other brothers," Dagon sighed. "I had hoped only one found you, but that doesn't seem to be the case. Famine is here."

Holly swallowed. "Does that mean he's as bad as Death?"

Dagon shrugged. "I can't be sure until I talk to him. He might be after your power too, or he might be just after me."

"You know it's not polite to talk about someone behind their backs like that."

Holly turned to stare at the man that lounged in the doorway. His steel-blue eyes roamed down her figure as he adjusted his suit and tie. "Who is that?"

"I believe my brother mentioned to you that my name is Famine, no?" He smiled revealing a mouthful of perfect teeth. "As for why I'm here, Brother, can't I come to visit my precious little sibling? Is it so wrong of me to do so ?"

Dagon snorted. "Not while Death is roaming around, no."

Famine chuckled. "As if I'd get involved with him. If I was to sponsor and support one of you, it would be you, Dear Brother."

Holly stayed behind Dagon and Eros who used themselves as a physical wall to keep her away from the Horsemen. "How do we know that you didn't offer this same thing to Death?" she demanded.

Famine turned his smile on her full-blast and ran a hand through his coal-black hair. "You do not, however, it would be in your best interest to side with me." He glanced over at the glaring Dagon. "You do know that War will side with Death I am sure."

"Why wouldn't he side with that maniac?" Dagon sighed. "Even if he's siding with him. It doesn't explain why you're offering help. Holly is right, this could all be a scheme to begin with and you're just waiting for me to drop my guard."

"You are squabbling over who is going to carry on after dear old dad. But I'd much rather have someone like you instead of him. That's the simplest way of explaining my potential allegiance here. Death would just make things more violent and rule with way too many rules and expectations. All you care about is the soul of some half-dryad woman. I do not see you interfering with me."

"Half-dryad?" Holly frowned. "Aren't dryads those tree women?" She turned to Eros for clarification.

The blond scratched behind his neck. "The entire reason Juniper, that's your original soul, was given to the Fates was because her mom had an affair with a human and she was the result."

Holly frowned deeper. "But that had nothing to do with her. Why wouldn't they just punish the mother instead? That would make way more sense." she noticed Famine watching her and took a step back. "Why are you staring at me like that?" It wasn't a predatory stare but it was almost as bad. It was as if he was inspecting a specimen in a lab. That cold distant detachment.

"You are the soul that has snared one of the Princes of Hell. It is no surprise that I am intrigued by you, half-dryad. You have caused quite a stir, and then of course is the fact that he wants you to be Queen. If you are to rule over me one day, I need to know your merit for myself."

"Just stay away from her," Dagon demanded. "I don't trust you, Brother. You're not the most trustworthy out of us, and I won't trust her safety with anyone else."

Famine pointed to Eros. "And yet one of your little pets is attached to her. Wouldn't the old you just snap him in two and create a new Sin? That is the type of thing you tend to do."

"I made a promise I wouldn't do that," Dagon grumbled. "Eros is safe from me."

Famine raised a brow. "Eros? This creature before me is obviously Lust. You might change the wording of his name, but his true nature will never fade. You should think twice about keeping such a dangerous element near one you hold in such high esteem."

"He doesn't even care about me," Holly corrected. "It's just the soul he cares about. He just wants my help to take his place as King."

Famine chuckled. "Oh, my dear doll. If he's in love with the soul, he's in love with the wielder of it, no matter what they look like. You could be an ugly troll and he would still love you and fight for you. You talk as if there is a separation between you and your soul but you're mistaken. The soul is reborn and you might have slightly different characteristics, but you are the same person with different circumstances, over and over again."

"That's not true," Eros argued. "Holly isn't like Acacia or Willow or Ivy. She's Holly and she's amazing."

Famine smirked and looked over Eros's head. "Brother, Lust compliments your woman more and more. Is that truly something you can allow?"

Holly snapped. She pushed Dagon and Eros to the side and marched past them and straight to the man that smiled down at her. She grabbed his eye which made those eyes of his widen, she jerked it down so he was eye-level and then she smacked him as hard as she could. "I'm not anyone's woman but my own, and don't you forget it." She turned on her heel and retreated to the safety of the others as Eros laughed behind her.