The Father had woken up to a prayer from someone he thought he wouldn't hear from. It was Theo, asking his father to meet him alone, at a location Theo set. He advised him not to try anything funny.
When the Father told Leo and Luna, they insisted it was a trap, but what choice did the Father have? He suspected Theo was behind the ambush of the Elrods and company, so he decided to agree to meet Theo.
He altered his appearance to a younger, handsome man, in order to not be recognized by anyone other than Theo.
Before he left, he gave Luna and Leo instructions on what would happen if his soul was shattered, and teleported to the planet Rebirth, which was much hotter than Solace and home to many, many phoenixes.
He told Tej Theo would likely force the link off, but on the off chance to be watching either way.
"Sounds good, and knowing Theo, if he wanted your soul shattered he would have already done it. He probably just wants to remind you of his strength and demand to know more about the boy," Tej said with a smile.
The Father also left instructions for Tej, to which he instantly incinerated stating, "I'll see you later."
The Father always loved Tej's positivity, and with that, the Father teleported to the location.
To no surprise, he was encased in a dark, magical barrier and arrived to a, "welcome my dear Father," with a sadistic grin on Theo's face.
Theo pointed to a nearby vampire and commanded him to charge at the man in the barrier.
Without hesitation, almost as if he couldn't control it, the vampire sprinted toward the barrier, only to disintegrate into nothing as he hit the barrier.
"Now Father, this barrier is for both of our protection as I do not wish to kill you, but I must remind you, you are in my castle and home and you may underestimate my power," Theo said, as he summoned Erebos to his side.
Just then, a black phoenix with purple and maroon flames teleported to Theo's side, "you called, Theo?" Erebos asked.
"Ah, yes, and Father I'm sure you're linked with Tej, tell him I'm sorry for lying to him, but I was able to create a phoenix after all," Theo said with an evil laugh.
"Theo… my son, why?" Father asked.
"Why? You never paid me any attention even though you gave me magical ability as a pity gift. You made me follow Luna in the rotation which made my job even more difficult and less enjoyable, not to mention the fact rather than offering Tej, Leo, Luna, or myself the option to rest, you assumed all of us would just be fine continuing do your work because your precious humans and your precious Earth were at peace," Theo screamed back.
"Was it wrong for me to take rest after all I had done? I am much, much older than all of you and certainly you know I would have let you each rest after me," the Father stated with a calm smile.
"Sure, don't think I don't know about your precious Phoenix planet either. You always cared for everyone else but me, so I created planets for souls to have power unlike any other, and Erebos here, well, let's just say is special," Theo said while rubbing the phoenixes' wings.
"All phoenixes are special but how did you manage to create one and where did the soul of the person you sent to their death in the barrier go? " the Father demanded.
"It's so funny to see such an old man lost for the answers he always has. You don't think I couldn't create my own space for souls? Use your head Father, you gave me magical ability and dark magical ability at that, where do you think they could possibly be," Theo stated while looking behind his throne, where there was some sort of teleportation device, something no one, including those of Solace had seen.
He then looked at Erebos and said, "He also enjoys a nice meal now and again. You see, unlike you, I give Erebos here complete freedom to do and eat as he pleases."
"What about the recent attack near SilverCrest?"
Theo cut his father off with, "gagagagagaga, hahahaha," slapping his arm chair and walking toward his father.
"You see it took me all this time to find the people you protected so well that day, March 28th was it? At least you could have been a little less obvious with the birthday, you old Fool," Theo stated angrily.
"Once I was certain I found the parents, and how righteous their cause was, it took a simple call to a few of my most loyal and, well, would you like to watch what happened," Theo laughed and he shot magic at his Father which showed the entire ambush.
"So cruel and what are those beings, they're so young, yet so powerful and violent. Did you create the forbidden?" the Father asked with terror on his face.
"Erebos, do you feel like you're a forbidden entity," Theo chuckled.
"No I do not," Erebos expanded to his full size, which was even larger than Tej.
Theo snapped his fingers and a man, who looked in his middle thirties, with red eyes and fangs appeared in front of him and Theo summoned a human prisoner, a rather large one, and quite tall.
"Vigor, one of my oldest and trusted, a nice snack for you. All you have to do is answer one question to the man in the barrier: do you feel like a forbidden being?" Theo asked with a laugh.
"What kind of question is that? Of course not, I'm a creation of the greatest soul Solace ever created," Vigor said.
Theo motioned for him to proceed to the human, who began trying to run, screaming, even resorting to prayer but it didn't matter.
Vigor had pounced on him, and within 30 seconds, the Father witnessed one of the forbidden creatures, a vampire, suck the man dry of blood, and his soul went flying towards the back, teleportation device and went right through it.
Theo snapped his fingers again, this time twice, and Kian, a rather tall, muscular man, wearing nothing but a pair of training shorts on appeared. He licked his lips at the plump, obese man laying tied up like a pig on the floor.
"My dear Kian, a treat from me as long as you answer one question honestly," Theo said with a smile.
"Do you feel like you are a forbidden creation?" Theo asked.
Kian just laughed, pointed at the father in the cage and stated, "He's the forbidden creation, not me or any of us you have blessed Lord Theo."
Kian proceeded to transform into a werewolf and devour his snack in four bites.
Tej, back on rebirth, looked absolutely petrified and the other phoenixes noticed it, especially Soraya, Nixie and Zephyr. They all stayed close to him, praying for the Father's safety and for Tej to stay strong.
"Theo, what have you done?" the Father shouted back.
"I knew there was a temper down there somewhere, I'm just glad I was the first to get it out of you," Theo said as he shrank the barrier, causing it to float.
The two of them teleported to Braxus, which was full of, "forbidden life," living peacefully and mining minerals from mountains.
Next, Theo teleported him to Baxus and it was the same, but the, "forbidden beings," seemed to be collecting some type of crystals, cores and ores from different terrains.
Next, they went to the sight of the ambush, where it looked like nothing happened. After that, they traveled to the capital city of Nalthis.
Theo made his Father invisible, as he walked into the King's Castle and asked if he was doing well.
"Yes Theo, I've tried to convince SilverCrest to join us, but it seems they were able to sniff out phase one right away. Fortunately, with your wisdom and intuition, you were able to ensure all the warnings SilverCrest sent out simply, never arrived," the King said with a laugh.
That's when the Father noticed that the King shared the same scent as werewolf, and amongst his guard there were vampires as well.
"Very good, as a return for your great takeover, I have a present to show you," as he showed his father, hovering in a dark barrier.
"Let's just say after today I hope my dear Father will stop interfering with the matters on Earth with Humankind, otherwise, please bring out our next guest, my good King Justice," Theo said while staring directly at his Father.
It was none other than Father Glen, of the Solace Church in Harmonia. He was unharmed, in his traditional robes and just looked shocked to be seeing Theo, and he whom he could only assume was the Father of Solace.
"Make a bond with me right now, my dear Father, that you will, as of midnight tonight, never interfere with anything related to planet Earth or humankind. You are not to send your phoenixes to attack my planets, nor are you to aid this boy or girl you've kept so well hidden from me all this time," Theo demanded.
"And if I refuse?" the Father asked.
Theo looked directly at Father Glen and said,
"Justice how would you like a little snack?"
"Only if you insist, you know I've learned to curb my appetite and as my pack grows, I've taught them the same. It only makes us stronger, rather than just eating humans to power up. If we can't fight, curb our hunger and master our Chi, well, let's just say you would have found a new Alpha by now," Justice said with a polite bow to Theo.
"Well Father, what's it going to be, it won't just be Father Glen, everyone close to this child you've hidden from me will be next and after that, I'll have every single soul turned into a vampire or werewolf, although it sure is a shame demons didn't quite work out, but we could always try again with the souls of Harmonia," Theo belted out with a laugh.
"So the bond deal means: Solace with not interfere with humankind and in return you're willing to put your soul on the line that Harmonia will remain uninvaded and you will stop hunting the child," the Father asked.
"Not quite, Theo stated. If I was a betting man the spell of protection only lasts until the boy turns 18. So, I won't lie to you we need Harmonia for its technological advancements to remain hidden in plain sight, so I guarantee you I will leave Harmonia untouched, as long as you promise not to interfere and mingle with the affairs of humankind," Theo countered.
"You have my word I, the Father and creator of Solace, after midnight, will not interfere with humankind or Earth as long as the child lives and you don't break your end of the bond," the Father said.
Theo undid the barrier, warning his Father not to do anything foolish, but the Father simply teleported Father Glen back to his home in the Church of Solace in Harmonia.
We have a deal, and as Theo and the Father shook, light and dark magic emanated for all to see until a bond appeared on each of their hands. It was the sign of yin and yang on each of their hands and with that, Theo said goodbye to the King and his guards and began walking outside with his Father.
"Theo, I am sorry that I failed you as a Father and you felt this was the best and only course of action for you. I can only hope that one day maybe you will see the light again, and maintain peace between these vampires, werewolves and other creatures you have created. I will have someone remove them as forbidden creatures in the scripture, if that is ok with you?" the Father said to Theo.
"Do as you wish as long as it doesn't interfere with our bond, but don't think just because you're treating them as humans now they'll suddenly flock to you," Theo said with a stare.
"Nor would I expect them to. By the way, what of the souls of those who were ambushed the day? What does your device exactly do, if you don't mind me asking?" the Father asked, hoping for some answer for Theo.
"Ha, you do care for those humans so much so you asked about a small group. I'll give you the option to answer one of the questions you just asked," Theo stated.
The Father thought and was glad Tej had already taken the initiative and knew that Zander's girlfriend now had a phoenix inside of her. He figured he would have to reward him and knowing Zander had essentially mated, like a phoenix would, he figured the unknown teleportation device was the more pressing question.
"What does the device behind your throne do with souls?" the Father asked.
Surprised, Theo stated, "That is not the only one and I'm not as cruel as you may think. Let's just say it's like Solace, just without Limbo. The souls I feel did well in the world rest peacefully, where the souls I feel betrayed me, well, let's just say they don't rest so peacefully," Theo laughed.
"So what of the ambush? Are they good or bad in your eyes," the Father asked.
"I have no reason to torture those who helped others, why do you think I've allowed Justice to grow his pack, I truly value the family bond you failed to show," Theo said.
"So they're at rest then, that's good. Thank you, Theo," the Father said.
"Well, it's midnight, you can go," Theo stated.
"Theo, thank you for not just obliterating the Earth and your Phoenix is quite marvelous. I know this falls on deaf ears but I really do love you. Had you come to me first about changing the world like this, we could have done it together, side by side," the Father stated.
He teleported back to Eden, where he told his children not to worry, Tej had brought him up to speed and he needed to rest.
"What a foolish old man. To think he would have agreed to create werewolves, vampires, etc. If only he knew how much work it was and how many of my followers I lost due to failed transformations. I had to completely eradicate several of my races. Luckily, the souls can just be reborn through my new afterlife world, and they can be born as pure blooded vampires, werewolves and such," Theo sighed, when he realized he had shed a tear or two, which he wiped away in anger.
"Just wait until I find this boy or girl, Father. I don't care how strong you think he or she is, I promise you we are stronger," Theo thought as he teleported to his sleeping quarters.
Erebos woke and flew in and asked, "everything good my brother?"
"Yes, as of today my Father cannot break the bond or his soul will shatter, ceasing to exist, it went exactly as I wanted it too," Theo stated.
"Except the bond you had to create on yourself as well, what of that?" Erebos asked.
"We have two planets, the North and the East. I won't have any problems not breaking my bond. I know we've all been patient. But in the end, we will eventually rule the world," Theo said and Erebos had a deep grin.
"I still get to torch Tej right?" Erebos asked eagerly.
"When the time is right, you will be able to do as you please and have a frenzy of sorts," Theo promised.
Back on Earth, Soraya had just left Sophie with Scarlett inside of her heart, to which she got back at exactly 11:59 PM, very drained.