Balance The Realms Jan 2026 - May 2026

[Shadowess]

By the time Xenos had read his mind and ordered a different agent to escort him to someone else, Kodi had only barely calmed down and was somewhat disoriented. He watched him carry Reed away, hoping that the nervous and timid man would be alright. Then he turned to the new agent and followed him without a word to Agent Sterling. 

He stared with a mixture of curiosity, mild humour and incredulity at the various posters. He sat down when prompted and turned his attention to the agent. "Close. Demon," he answered him. "The uh, egg smell is usually a giveaway. It's sulphur. But then again, I could just be a human who happened to be around a few rotten eggs today." He half smiled and then sighed. "I'm looking for someone."

---

Audrey's eyes widened at the scene. The second Blake's attack bounced off Salem's forcefield. She bristled and marched in front of her granddaughter. Being the wise old woman that she was, she knew that some situations required magic and some... simply required a shock to bring someone back from mania. So, instead of using any magic to stop Blake, she fearlessly marched over to him. In spite of her age and fragile body, she could move when she needed to. Once close enough, she brought her hand up and struck Blake hard across the face. "Enough!" She snapped angrily, her voice sharper than usual to really bring home the seriousness of the situation. In fact, it was said with enough assertion that it could've made an elephant feel as small as a mouse. When she spoke again, it was with the same energy as a parent or grandparent scolding a child for misbehaving. "Get a hold of yourself and look at what you're doing! You should be ashamed of yourself! Are you a man or a bully?! Apologise this instant, young man!"

---

Viktor was taken aback by the decorations as he entered the home and set his bags down to one side. Beaming from ear to ear, he looked at Bryce and took his face in his hands as he planted a loving kiss on his lips. "It's perfect," he told him softly. He beamed again and bounced a little on his heels out of excitement. "I can't believe this is really happening. It feels like a dream. I can't wait to spend every day with you!" he gushed. 

---

"Father, no..." Lilly complained. She tried to sound assertive, but Azrael's aura was keeping her complacent, for now. He gently pushed her into Death's arms and kissed Death on the cheek. "I'll be with you as soon as I can," he told him. He then looked at Raven. "Look out for your sister. My aura won't keep her calm once you leave my presence. You know what it's like to feel the kind of fury and grief that she's feeling now. Help her through it." He'd watch them walk away before walking briskly towards the hall.

-

Seeing Ash in distress and knowing their resources for help were thin at the moment, Amelia felt torn between helping her guard and going to check on her son. She was about to rush over when Cassiel beat her to it. She gave him a thankful nod before turning back to Charles and helping him up. "Let's go," she said before vanishing with him. 

Cassiel was just about starting to feel better, having also been affected by the wine. He hurried over to Ash and knelt beside him. Having decided that it was no longer necessary to have his wings out, he'd tucked them away before his approach. "Geez, could you not have just brushed the feathers off?" he asked him as he plucked up the dismembered arm from the ground. He carefully picked all of the remaining feathers off and made sure it was completely feather-free before turning back to Ash. "Ok, hold still," he said as he pressed the arm against his shoulder and used his power to fuse it back onto him while also trying to heal his wounds. "Ok, oh boy, almost there... Just gotta-" He paused, still holding the Devil's arm, he used his free hand to lean on the floor as his vision swam. He took a breath and sat up again, using his free hand to continue healing Ash. Determined to help in any way that he could. "Aaand I'm back, don't worry. I've got you... I'm Cassiel, by the way. I don't think we've met."

-

David held the gift basket and sighed as he gently placed it onto the floor. He was in neither the right mood or mental state to even acknowledge the basket. All he wanted to do was focus on finding any way that he could to protect the ones that he loved. He looked at Hades. "I guess that means you're coming with me. Come on, we don't have any time to waste."

-

As soon as Nate got close to him, Tom jumped up and held onto him tightly. He was hyperventilating and shaking violently. "In my head! She was in my head! She took control of me! I-I couldn't fight her, I couldn't! I tried, but I couldn't! She took control and then made me watch! I heard myself talking, but it wasn't me! She-she told me-" he burst into tears. "She told me I-I was going to be her puppet and that when she was done with me she was going to- to-!" He glanced over at Unity's headless body and then hid his face in his hands as she began sobbing uncontrollably. It would be clear at this point that if Death hadn't intervened, then he would have suffered the same fate as Unity, and then there would have been two mortal deaths rather than just the one.

Of course, unable to help overhearing this as he entered the hall to address the remaining Reapers, Azrael would pause in his tracks. Discreetly, he pulled out his Reaping book and flicked through the pages. He scanned a particular page carefully. With a frown and his eyebrows knitting together, he quickly closed it and put it back into his robe. He then approached the remaining reapers as he'd originally intended to do and gave them the orders to begin patrolling the castle and the grounds in pairs. He told them to watch each other carefully for any signs of possession and what to do if that should happen.

-

"What is it?" Atma said a little more worriedly. Her words were still slurred, but she seemed a bit more sober than she had been. "What's happened?" She asked while holding on to Abaddon. Of course, she had seen what had happened to Unity, but everything after that had been a blur due to the wine. She looked around the hall with a frown. She saw Tom having a panic attack and overheard snippets about being possessed. She saw Gabriel carrying out the body of a man who had been very lively earlier that day. She watched a Devil whom she hadn't even met yet tear his own arm from its socket to relieve himself of some agony. But most of all, from the general atmosphere of the hall, she felt a horrid sense of impending doom. Shivering, she turned to Abaddon and buried her face in his shoulder. "Abaddon, I'm scared. Take me home. Please? I want to go home."

-

Shezmu was continually taken aback and confused by Eris's forwardness. He noted that she said she was joking, but he wasn't so sure. Her mannerisms perplexed him. While he was usually confident and quite the smooth talker, he found her endearing yet baffling attitude was causing him to occasionally falter. Regathering his composure, he gave her a charming smile while taking her hand in his. "A Devil's contract must be bound in blood. Especially when the Devil in question is one such as myself." As he spoke, he brought her hand up to his mouth. While maintaining eye contact with her, he kissed the back of her hand. "Perhaps I can assist with this?" he asked and opened his mouth a little to let his fangs grow. He then selected her index finger and ran it over the top of one of his fangs. He didn't bring it to the tip of his fang, and his grip on her hand was loose. This was so that she knew she had the option of pricking her finger there or pulling away if she wasn't comfortable with this.

- 

Hannes groaned awake. He felt as if he'd been electrocuted. "Jean?" he gasped as she sat up quickly and then winced. The last thing he remembered was trying to pick up Uriel's* sword. "What happened? Where is Uriel*?"

---

"Don't expect me to go easy on ya!" Layla grinned at Nil. As soon as the game started, Layla was in her element. She ran around, dodging and weaving between them while dribbling the ball effortlessly between her feet. 

---

The new nurse behind the counter looked at James tiredly. By this time, the receptionist was nearing the end of a twelve-hour shift. "I imagine she's working." He responded sassily.
"Be nice." Another nurse said as she rounded the corner. "Don't mind him. He's not used to the long shifts yet. Let me see here..." The nurse typed on a computer for a moment before looking back at James. "Oh, she's assisting in a minor surgery right now. All going well, she'll probably be a little while yet, but her shift ends right after. You can wait for her in the waiting room, if you want? We'll let her know you're here once she's out."

---

Samael was in a hell of a mood after the confrontation with Damien. He had hoped he'd never have to run into Lucifer's student at all. Never mind everything else that had happened. "Stuck up little-!" He grumbled as he rifled through book after book while balancing at the top of some very tall ladders. Of course, with his wings, the ladders were a bit redundant, but he couldn't be bothered flapping them right now. Whenever he deemed a book to be useless, he simply threw it over his shoulder with little care or regard for the books. The sounds the books made as they landed far below caused the noise to echo through the whole library. 
THUD
"Not my fault, he has daddy issues-"
THWAP
"And where does he get off telling me I didn't know my own brother?!"
BANG
"Sucker punching son of a-" He threw another one over his shoulder.

---

At Elliot and Vincent's house, Neva was standing in the corner of the room with her arms crossed and a pout on her face. She had given Vincent some attitude earlier and was currently in 'time out'. As far as any of them were aware, Oliver had been set down to nap in a crib in the bedroom and was sleeping peacefully. What any of them had yet to discover, though, was that he was no longer in the crib, or even the house, for that matter. Elliot would not be able to pick up any strange scents in the house, either. Only able to smell his family as well as Amelia and Charles when they arrived. Of course, when they appeared, and Amelia was still helping Charles stay on his feet, upon first glance, they looked like they'd simply had a good time out.

[Denix Vames]

Sterling tsked, "Nearly got it. So this person you're looking for, can you describe them and the events that happened prior?" He took out a vial of his own blood from the little stand where he kept a few vials. "I imagine you also want my blood in exchange for me wanting to learn a bit about Demons. Most supernatural folks that I've met tend to want my blood first. They say it's special but I don't know why."

---

Salem gasped. Blake was taken aback. His powers stopped. Letting Violet let out a sigh of relief. He blinked, "Auntie?" He turned. "Violet?" He looked back and saw a scared Salem. Tears dripped down his cheeks. "Oh god..." He collapsed to his knees. "I'm so sorry everyone! I didn't mean to! I just got so mad and then I couldn't remember what happened!" Salem ran to Blake's side and held him close, "It's ok. It's going to be ok. You're back now."

Violet forced herself to stand as she held her arm. She walked over to Aunty, "Hey, thanks for helping out. Sorry about kidnapping your niece. In case, you didn't recognize me, it's Violet. I'm in my real form." She shrugged, "Anyways, if there's anything I can do to make up for everything then just let me know."

---

Bryce laughed, "You might get tired after a while."

---

Raven nodded, "I understand Father."

At the library, Death said, "I know we are all upset. However, if we are to learn anything in order to beat this enemy then we must maintain our composure. Please help me look for anything that you would deem as valuable information." Raven replied, "Yes father." He walked over to Lily. "Hey I'm here. You're not alone in this."

-

Ash's antlers grew out as his eyes blackened. Pissed by what had happened and at the pain. "I am Astaroth! Bringer of pain to those who deserve it!" He caught his breath, "Yet it seems I was no match for this foe. Neither were you. Not a pleasant thought."

-

Hades gripped her own arms, "Guys...Just get to Storm's place and hang there for now. I know you're all Demons but this situation is different. Trust me. I'll tell you when we need extra muscles." Storm frowned, "Fine but don't hesitate to call us." Once the band disappeared, Hades clenched her fists. "When we find their weak point, I'm going to make sure they suffer every second of existing."

-

Nate rubbed the back of Tom's head as his wings covered him like a shield. "Hush now. It will be alright. For now, Uriel* is gone. We will find a way to take this monster down. Do not worry for I am here."

-

Abaddon appeared at the mansion. Still on his knees with Atma on the floor of their home. "Nothing. It's just....I was so scared for you. For everyone." He shook his head, "I was foolish to think that I could ever have any form of good in my life. I am a Devil. I suffer as I bring suffering to sinners. It is what I was made for. Nothing more."

-

Eris blushed, "Well, aren't you a charmer?" She flicked her finger against his fang. Drawing a smiley face on the signature area of the contract. "Ta da! How's that for a signature?"

-

Jean limply walked to Hannes. He soon collapsed from the wounds he received in battle. "Oh Hannes! I tried to stop him but I couldn't!" He silently cried, "It was nothing like I had ever faced. It was stronger than Shezmu!"

---

Nil said, "Same here! I'll kick the dirt with you!"

During the many moves, one elf kicked the ball and scored it into the goal. That elf was on Nil's team. Nil shouted, "We got this!"

---

James squinted at the male nurse. "Is this a nurse too? I hope he has been obeying the rules."

---

Abel appeared, "Now Samael! You should know better. We don't use harsh language in the kingdom of God." He picked up the books and set them on the nearby table. "And we most certainly don't throw his books either. Take a deep breath and think of your blessings."

---

Elliot whistled, "Whoa! Fun party?" Vincent couldn't help but smile at his partner's comment. Charles smirked, "You could say that. Where's Oliver?" "Should be in his crib. I'm sure he'll be happy to see ya'll."