### Sex God Saga 26
### Unholy Matrimony
TUESDAY:
Their unassuming black car parked across from a shabby diner near the highway when the sun hadn't quite crept over the horizon yet.
Keith was gently drumming on the steering wheel. "It's going to make their parents go even insaner, but if there ever was a way to get those loons to chat normally, someone would have figured it out."
"Is that manageable?" Theo asked.
Keith hummed. "If the kids play ball we can make the parents think they've been abducted to empty wilderness. Send some Outsiders ahead to act all demonic so they take the bait."
"Seems kinda cruel," Theo said.
"It's how we manage America's most murderous Redeemers. This is a huge win, by the way. And we might need the clout if some small-o outsider gets too curious about Cain."
"Right," Theo said. "Oh, there they are."
Sacred in his aged leather jacket, with his cousins Eucharist and Liturgy looking like wall flowers who wouldn't harm a fly.
Theo, Keith and Damien got out of the car.
"No immediate betrayals," the Stygian crown prince said. "No secret scheming that I can see. They're scared but hopeful."
Keith waved and the trios met at the edge of the tiny parking lot.
"Hey," Sacred said, nodding casually. "We're good to go, if..."
"To be transparent," Keith said, "I'll use magic to keep you all from lying for a minute. Okay? We need to be sure this isn't a trap to let you see our headquarters."
Eucharist chuckled bitterly. "Yeah, ask whatever. Not like I'm already having an emotional breakdown every five minutes anyway."
Sacred put his hand on the younger man's shoulder. "Can we get moving first? Genesis is scouting the area."
### ### ###
Liturgy had tears of joy in her eyes, giving gentle, hesitant head pats to the alabaster uni-deer Ascelin under the Ivory Haven's lilac tree. Kenya's daughter Paisley held her other hand.
Alessandra was present, to represent the strike force while Redeemers Godrick and Dawn recovered. Zara Ellis -- Omen of Antecedents and licensed therapist -- stood by, too.
Akantha, the muse of psychology, was present as a roaming vessel of an older woman in a simple yellow robe and Eucharist kept staring open mouthed. His first friendly Outsider contact.
Sacred looked between Keith, Damien and Theo. "Uh, thank you?" He half-shrugged. "Not sure what else to say. Trying really hard not to say 'by Jesus' or cross myself or something. Feels a bit empty. Is 'bless you' okay?"
Theo laughed. "If I sneeze, I'll accept it. We'll be busy today, but seems like so will you. We'll stay in contact from the moment you get a new number."
"Soon as I can. Hope to fight *along* with you again sometime."
Keith gave the man finger guns. "Same here. See you around. Now go get deprogrammed." He started pulling Theo away. "I gotta go before the sun's too bright or Mel is in trouble. She's barely coherent. See you at the wedding."
### ### ###
The dΓ©cor in the pavilion at Pavilion Glade was subtle by the standards of Bellerose money. White roses, garlands, lanterns and candles.
Ingrum the muse stood at a table, next to the 300 year old 'grandmother' Mila whose familiar resided in a brazier, her dress as orange as the flame.
Seated on cushioned benches in the eternal sundown lighting were Bianca and Caius and crimson and cyan respectively, Leylani in a formfitting dress and Damien in a casual, gray suit.
On the other side were Fulin in a black stringer and short gym shorts and Mako in a sky blue sleeveless hoodie taking care of music along with Jun in sweatpants and a tank top who took care of the catered food -- together representing the city's Primals.
They were joined by Cain who had nowhere else to be, Keith and Mira to represent the shamans and Mo in a black jacket with the collar overloaded with feathers to represent the remaining Stygians.
Theo's heart was beating out of his chest as he stood in a pentagram of candles and white flower petals.
He gripped the hands of his soon to be master.
"Feeling a little underdressed."
Paris had put on more gold than ever, his suit jacket sequin gold, matching the eye liner and lips. He gave a long once-over to Theo in a tie-less white suit. "Honey, babe, you're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen."
Theo was too excited -- too happy -- to speak even a thank you, just suppressing a squeal.
"Are we good to begin this rush-job?" Mila asked. She wasn't happy about the ceremony occurring at all but wouldn't have trusted anyone else to officiate.
Universal nodding.
The old Stygian raised her arms. "By ancient Stygian oath, we call upon Athan to create a Bond of Favors in accordance with the first laws of our lineages."
The atmosphere changed. Ambient sundown red became redder, more intense and richer in shades.
Athan was a storm -- a thing impossible to bind, acting as god of bindings. The eye of the storm appeared overhead, not just clouds following it but the sky itself twisted along the swirl. The pavilion remained in the silent center.
Ingrum flinched. "Something is not as it should be. An obstacle, not insurmountable, yet heavy in symbolism." She raised a finger. "Theo... Your nature is obstructed."
"Let me guess," Theo said, dizzy with a racing heart. "I'm supposed to be naked?"
He let go of Paris and stripped. There was a little bit of murmuring, Fulin whooped and got multiple slaps and elbow pokes.
Theo stepped out of his jockstrap last, his tiny cage all that was left on him. The clothes dropped outside the pentagram.
Mila glanced at Ingrum. "Is an equitable bond possible? The white one's half Stygian."
"No," the muse said. "Lacking any semblance of mesmer-power, the relationship can only be unequal. An attempt to have a like-to-like bond would cause distortions later."
"I'm so sorry," Paris said.
Theo forced his body to relax. "We've come this far, boyfriend."
"Then kneel," Mila said.
Theo dropped to both knees, holding the prince's right hand.
"Athan, god of all things tied together," Mila said upward, "we ask you to extend the minds of these men into a Bond of Favors, from Master to slave, from slave to Master."
Paris swallowed hard. "I... I'll save the sappy vows for when or if we get married the human way. Let me just say, I'll be yours as much as you'll be mine. The whole love and honor and respect things, till the end."
Theo met his misty eyed, adoring gaze. "Love you, too, Master Paris."
Damien stepped up to the pentagram without crossing the flickering candles. He took Paris' left hand. "I shall take responsibility for your possessions in case of your incompetence, brother."