It appeared out of nowhere in a flurry of blood and feathers as if fleeing from some greater hunter. Chains slammed into the ground in a horrid cacophony with the ringing of the bells.
Dark feathers and strewn petals from the flower arrangements littered the floor, black blood staining the ground as a result of the beast's panicked and pained retaliation.
There were no guests left to view the monster left at the altar.
Ren eyed the chapel warily, dead and dying Gardenias hanging from brown wreaths and arches.
They had wanted to make it to the wedding itself, but given the smears of blood that covered great stained glass windows, the present that they had gripped in one hand seemed near irrelevant.
But, no one had heard from the higher-ups of the Redwing Mafia in days, and considering that the wedding was just supposed to have happened, the only one out should have been Darius.
And then the reports of some demon started coming in, haunting the last known location for all of these missing people. They would be sending hunters soon, to avenge the missing couple and guests.
Ren needed to know what was left of Darius, before the hunters delivered his body in mauled pieces from whatever had happened.
Gently placing a hand against the smooth wood of the church, Ren took a deep breath in and pushed the doors open as their boots crunched against dried flowers and leaves.
Shattered furniture and dismembered bodies lay scattered from the rafters to the corners, the sound of labored breathing echoing around the chamber. Despite all the bodies, They could not catch sight of any of the fabric that Darius had sent pictures of planning to have his suit made out of.
Ren's attention was drawn to the massive dark shape that slowly moved at the center of it all. Black feathers matted with blood, massive wings that seemed to have been clipped, silver hooks with chains that were embedded into its shoulders- and bright eyes that seemed full of fear as Ren walked inside, dried petals swirling around them. Yet, despite everything, Ren would know the kid they raised no matter the form.
There was a screech of pain, as it lumbered to its feet, wings flaring in warning.
"It's okay."
The beast hissed, lowering slightly as it prepared to lunge at the person who had known him the longest.
Darius stirred slightly at the voice.
"No one is going to hurt you anymore."
The Greed Beast growled something out in response, ears flicking back.
"You're going to be okay, kiddo."
The Monster lunged forward, talons digging into flesh and tears streaming from its eyes as Darius snapped into focus. The wedding present flew off to the side, skidding to a stop against a broken pew.
Ren let out choaked bark of pain, instinctively grabbing at the clawed hands that were halfway through their torso. Darius had been deeper in than they had thought- a mistake that they probably wouldn't live past for very long. The freeze of realization above them made Ren look up, red eyes bleeding into bright gold. There he was.
Darius let out a mournful warble as Ren slowly reached up a hand, pressing against his fanged beak and drawing his full attention. Silver eyes glowed slightly as they spoke, ignoring the blood working its way into their lungs.
"Listen to me, okay? It's time to go. You need to go home and get out of here."
Some memory flickered to life, the impulse to leave crashing over any thoughts that might have been running through his head. The scent of rotting gardenias suddenly became overwhelming, the compulsion cast by Ren so many years ago setting in to drive out Darius by any means.
Still holding Ren in his hands, he gently withdrew talons and set them on the ground and propped up against a broken chair, looking torn between leaving them behind and the urge to leave. Eyes glanced over the damage around them and the mutilated bodies.
"Go Home, Darius. None of this is your fault. I will take care of it, but you need to Go Home and be safe. You're going to be okay."
The compulsion rippled through the beast again, even as Darius wanted to protest and argue with the state of Ren's wounds.
Ren smiled, pouring magic into their next words.
"Everything will be alright. Go Home, and we'll see each other soon."
The Beast was easier to compel, claws trampling former allies and ruined flowers as it moved quickly to leave and escape.
Ren leaned back, their hands covering the wounds that were oozing blood as best as they could. Their eyes drifted to the gift they had brought. Closing their eyes, they tried to focus on using whatever magic they had left to try and stitch the holes shut, only to stop as a breeze of cold air rushed through the church and brought a sweet floral scent with it.
Shoes clicked on the tile, avoiding the mess that had been left behind and coming to a stop in front of Ren. Opening one eye and looking up, the flawless image of Vicktor loomed over them- a slight look of surprise on his face.
"I hadn't expected any survivors- especially one I hadn't seen on the guest list. Though, I suppose who you are doesn't matter. You'll be dead soon enough. I must ask though, do you know what became of the monster that was here? It shouldn't have been able to leave the church." He asked thoughtfully, silver earrings clinking together in a melodic tune as he looked around.
Ren shifted slightly, spitting out a glob of blood before speaking. "A church... is a good place for a demon to be exorcised. Hunters took the body." Their breathing was heavy, and it took a lot of self-control not to start coughing as they spoke.
Vicktor seemed... Disappointed. He walked around the area for a short while, pausing to pick up the wrapped gift that lay a short distance away from Ren. "A Shame about that, then. I was hoping he would have been a bit sturdier than that."
"I appreciate the information though. I'll do you a kindness as well since you were so kind to me." With a flick of the wrist, Ren felt something cold and thin wrap around their throat.
"W-wait, I-"
Wrapping paper fell to the ground and sat in a rapidly increasing puddle of blood as Victor studied the contents of the box and began walking away for the headless body.
Inside was a worn leather cord wrapped around a smooth pendant made of some kind of black stone with strange engravings. Something that would mean nothing to anyone other than the person it was for. A click of his tongue behind his teeth, and Vicktor tossed the necklace behind him with disinterest before snapping his fingers and returning back to where he belonged as the stone came to rest in the shadow and blood of its carver.
Far, far away by now, something inside both the beast and Darius snapped, and a screech of grief echoed through the hills as the lingering haze from the church sloughed off of them and left unnerving clarity about what had transpired.
