Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Somewhere in the 1700s...

The village lay hushed beneath a heavy veil of darkness. Mist curled low along the cobblestone path, clinging to the roots of the houses like fingers unwilling to let go. The moon, pale and half hidden, hung low over the clearing at the village’s heart, where a great fire pit cracked beneath the black sky.

A crowd gathered around it, their breath fogging in the autumn air. Men and women clutched their rosaries, whispering fevered prayers as they cast fearful glances at the path. At the far end of that path came the priest. His face showed grim resolve, dragging a small figure behind him.

A boy’s small frame struggled against his father’s iron grip. His shoes scraping against dirt. His hair, damp with sweat, stuck to his pale brow. Though his voice was laced with terror, his eyes seemed to show something else.

“Father, please,” the boy whimpered. “I beg of thee, release me. I know not what sin I’ve done. I am thy son!”

The priest’s jaw tightened, but his hand did not waver. “Nay,” he hissed, dragging him toward the flame. “Thou art not my son. Not any longer.”

The fire flared as they entered the circle. A branding iron. Its tip forged into the shape of a cross, burned red in the pit. Heat rippling the air around it. The villagers stepped back, muttering, their voices trembling like the flame itself.

The boy’s trembling voice turned into a piercing scream as the iron neared his skin. But the sound warped, as it shifted from a child’s terror into a low, jagged laugh, a sound too old, too cruel to belong to a mortal throat.

Then came the voice.

“I am Abaddon,” it spoke through the boy’s mouth, unnaturally deep and threatening

“The Destroyer.”

The villagers froze. One woman dropped her rosary; another clutched her cross to herself so fiercely the knuckles whitened.

“Thou darest lay hand upon me?” the demon mocked, lips twisting into a grin far too wide for a child’s face. “Thou — a trembling mortal — think’st to bind me with iron and whispers? Art thou so blind to the pit that yawns beneath thy feet?”

The air thickened. Clouds gathered above the square, swallowing the moon whole. Lightning flashed across the heavens.

The demon’s voice grew louder, spreading through the clearing like fire to dry hay. “Hast thou not trembled at the burning gates of the Pit? Hast thou no fear of the eternal furnaces that scorch the souls of men? I am the gatekeeper thereof. I am the pestilence that chokes thy children. I am the famine that cracks thy soil. I am the silence after kingdoms fall.”

The boy’s blue eyes flared crimson, casting an unnatural glow across the faces of the townsfolk.

The priest bared his teeth as he snatched the iron from the flames and pressed it against the boy’s chest. Flesh sizzled. The stench of burning skin filled the air.

The demon hissed, the sound rising from the pits of hell itself. “Is this thy weapon?” it spat, voice breaking into the demons once more. “Pain is mine oldest companion, priest. Dost thou think to best me with that which I was born from?”

The priest did not answer. Lifting his hands heavenward, and began to speak. Latin verses spilled from his lips, harsh and firm. Every syllable weighted with centuries of faith.

The villagers joined in, voices trembling but united. The ritual circle closed around them like a noose.

For the first time, Abaddon’s grin faltered.

The sky trembled with distant thunder. The demon’s voice cracked with rage. “Thou wilt not cage me!” it roared. “I am the maw that devoureth cages!”

With inhuman strength, the boy’s body slammed into the priest. The circle broke; the villagers scattered, cries piercing the night. Ash and sparks filled the air as the two figures rolled through the dirt, toward the black cliff that edged the village.

The priest gripped the boy’s arm with the strength of a man who had already accepted death. The demon laughed in his ear, its breath cold and unforgiving.

“Fall with me, old man,” it whispered. “Thy prayers shall find no ear in the dark.”

And with a brutal shove, both figures tumbled over the cliff.

The crowd rushed to the edge, lanterns swinging wildly. Far below, the priest’s body lay broken against the rocks, a sharp stone piercing his chest. But the boy…

The boy rose.

His chest smoked where the iron had branded him. The flesh around the cross blistered and blackened, yet he moved as though pain no longer bound him. His red eyes burning like coals as he moved. 

The ritual had failed. The demon’s essence had not been purged. It had only been caged trapped in flesh, twisting the child into something unholy.

A silence fell over the cliffside; a single howl broke the still air. The villagers cowered at the sound, but the hushed whispers from the village turned to screams as a shadow loomed from the cliff. Fire rained down from the sky, dowsing the cliffside in a roaring inferno.

Down below, the lone figure of a boy stood next to his fathers body. Cackling as he heard the cries of fear and pain he inflicted with his final curse. But he soon collapsed with a roar of pain as the cross on his chest burned. 

"No, no, NO!" he snarled as he felt the last of his power escaping him. 

The demon tore at his chest. Attempting to be rid of the mark that branded and weakened him. Blood and bits of charred flesh tore away, but the marks soon healed revealing permenant scarring. He spat at the priests body as he writhed screaming into the night. 

“Thou shalt not contain me, mortal vessel! I shall one day rain down the fires of Hell upon this forsaken land!”

Chapter Text

Abaddon sat up bold upright, hitting the top of his head against the top of the cabinet with a loud thud. Enjoying the slight throbbing sensation of pain on the top of his head, he opened the cabinet doors and slid out of the small space onto the floor. He stretched slightly and opened his eyes, only to see a pair of honey brown eyes staring down at him with amusement. 

“Morning Esther.” Abaddon said from his position on the floor.

“Well good morning to you too Abaddon.” Esther chuckled. Extending her hand to help Abaddon up.

He stood and dusted himself off before heading to the table where the matriarch had prepared their daily sustenance; breakfast. “Now now Abaddon, wash your hands before coming to the table!” Katherine scolded as she placed the plates on the table. He grumbled and trotted off to the sink. Using the small waterfall to wash his hands. After he sat down, Esther dragged two egg cups towards them and handed Abaddon a spoon. 

“What is the meaning of this?” He asked poking the egg suspiciously with the spoon.

“It’s a soft boiled egg.” Esther pointed to his egg. “You can crack it open with the spoon and eat it.” 

“Like the skulls of my enemies!” He said eagerly. And attacked the egg with perhaps too much force, causing bits off white and yolk to fly in all directions. 

Ben got hit in the eye with a piece of flying egg and yelped clutching his face. “My eyes!” Katherine sighed. “Can’t we just have a normal breakfast for once?” 

Nathen immerged through the wall and exclaimed; “Not in this household! Cmon Kathy, let the kid have fun.” “The ‘kid’ in question is a 1000 year old demon.” 

Nathen ignored her and floated to the middle of the table. “Great news every one! We are going on a trip! Found a nice shallow lake that is not infested with ghosts and leaches. We can all go there and have a quick swim for a bit of a getaway!”

Ben(who managed to wash out the egg from his eye) looked excited “Mom! Can we go there! Haven’t had a chance to swim since we moved. And the girls would love my swimmers body.” He flexed to reveal no muscle whatsoever.

Esther also looked eager as she spoke through a mouthful of pancakes. “I also need some new herbal supplies from the lake for new emergency black magic stuff.”

Katherine pondered “Well… I’ve been meaning to take a quick break from running the hotel for a while. And I did buy the kids new swimwear for the summer to try out.”

All of the kids (and Nathen) looked at the matriarch pleadingly. 

“Fine! We can all go. But make sure to wear sunscreen at all times!” 

Ben whooped and scurried upstairs to his room. “I’ll  get my swim trunks!”

Abaddon looked up from his thoroughly destroyed eggs. “What are swim trunks? Are they trunks with swimming abilities?” Nathen idled over and explained “They are pants for swimming.” “How about your shirt?” “You don’t need ‘em! You get to swim in nothing but pants.” 

Abaddon thought about it for a moment before shaking his head. “I fancy the coldness of the waters that resemble death on my skin. But I refuse to take my clothes off for that purpose.” 

Katherine folded her arms. “If you want to come into the water, wear your swim trunks. I am NOT bringing you back into the house sopping wet again. Do you know how long it took to dry the carpets after you escaped your bath last time?”

Abaddon shook his head. “I am going, but I refuse to take off my shirt.”

Esther quirked her eyebrows. “What’s wrong with swim trunks? Thought you were over the whole ‘old fashioned fashion’ nonsense?” 

He hesitated before scowling and scuttling out of the room. Slamming the door behind him.

Chapter Text

Esther stuffed her tote bag with her essentials: sunscreen (no more freckles!), an emergency ritual kit, a water bottle, some snacks, and swim goggles. But there was something missing. “Where is it?” Growling in frustration as she pushed aside various jars and dried specimens hidden in the back of her closet.

“Ah ha!” She finally tugged out her copy of

and stuffed it into her bag. “Esther! Ready to leave?” Katherine called from down the hallway. “Coming!”

Esther jumped up from her seat on the floor and sprinted outside. She slid down the banisters to the lower floors, landing neatly next to Ben, who was dragging a suspiciously bulky golf bag behind him.

“I told you not to do that!” Katherine scolded her daughter. “And what is this?” She pointed to Ben’s golf bag. Ben sheepishly pushed the golf bag behind his back in a poor attempt to hide it. “It’s… um… tanning stuff.” But as he tried to move the bag aside, the half-open zipper gave way to reveal a metal detector tucked inside.

Nathen (who was standing beside Katherine) gasped. “That’s my metal detector! Where did you find it?” Ben gave a guilty look. “Well… I found it after we first moved here. In the back of the broom closet behind the bellboy ghost. Sooo, I thought it would be fun looking for treasure along the way! A lot of rich folks died here, so there might be something worth finding.”

Esther huffed slightly. “Well, that MIGHT have been more useful when we were looking for Annabelle’s corpse.”

Katherine sighed and massaged her forehead. “Fine—whatever, just get Abaddon and we’ll be on our way.”

“There is no need mother figure.” Came a voice from behind. Everybody jumped and turned to Abaddon, who seemed to appear out of nowhere behind them.

“Abaddon?” Ben said. “What are you wearing?”

He was wearing a pair of navy blue swim trunks along with a full-on shirt with his doorman vest. He looked somewhat uncomfortable but determined about going.  “I am now wearing the trunks that are meant to make you swim.” He trotted forwards as he headed towards the open door.

“Is it just me, or is Abaddon acting more… Abaddon than normal?” Esther pondered.
Nathen shrugged and led the rest of the family out the front porch and onto the dirt path towards the woods. “C’mon, gang! Let’s not make the lady of the lake wait any minute longer.”

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Unlike many of the marshy swamps that occupied the large plot of land surrounding the hotel, the lake was sparkling clean and beautiful. Surrounded with lush vegetation on one side and large flat rocks that were warmed by the sun on the other. Truly a perfect spot for a picnic.

Ben threw off his jacket and dived headfirst into the lake. Spraying them all in a cold deluge of water. Esther yelped indignantly and also jumped in after Ben. Trying to put his head under water while splashing him in the face. Katherine adjusted her sun hat and shades and sat down on the rocks near the edge.

Dipping her feet in the water, she looked down at her reflection in the lake. Seeing her own face staring back, she sighed. “Where did those years go…” She examined the subtle signs of crow's feet that had started to show near her eyes. Her brother casually sat down beside her.

“Lighten up, Kathy, you’re in your prime! You still look the same as when you took your wedding photos. And this is coming from. Your brother. That’s saying something!” He pretended to nudge her with his elbow.

Katherine smiled sadly at Nathen. “Thanks for the comfort… but I know that’s not true. I mean—” She gestured towards herself in the lake. “I’m a single mom running a rundown hotel with three kids! That’s not exactly ‘in my prime’ I’m way past that.”

She grabbed a flat pebble beside her and skipped it across the lake. It jumped a few times only to smack Abaddon in the head as he emerged from the lake, clutching a wriggling fish in his hands. Causing him to let go of the fish and cuss in old English, not noticing Esther creeping up behind him. He turned around just in time for her to jump him and send both of them tumbling into the deep once more.

Katherine watched their scuffle in bemusement. “Then again… who needs to be in their prime to enjoy life? I think this is enough for me. At least for now.” Nathen grinned. “That’s the spirit!”

The two of them lay down on the sun-bathed rocks. Enjoying the warm sunlight washing over them.
They relaxed for a bit. Hearing the occasional splash and laughter from the kids as insects chirped in the distance.

But then the clearing grew quiet. Too quiet. 

Nathan squinted as he sat up from his spot. “Katherine… where are the kids?”

Chapter Text

Abaddon and Esther tumbled into the lake. He snarled and grappled with her as they dipped in and out of the water. They had these play fights from time to time, just rolling around and attempting to subdue the other.

None of them had any intention to hurt; Abaddon knew by now how fragile human life could be after the countless time loops he had endured after the incident with the cult. But thankfully the girl was not as fragile herself; being able to fend off a demon with candlesticks and stools (see episode 1) is something! So they were usually equally matched.

The two kids were too preoccupied with their little scuffle to notice the start of a river approaching them. Abaddon noticed a small tugging sensation from his back and turned, too late discovering the small downward slope that was rapidly getting closer.

He attempted to hold onto one of the low-hanging branches near his head. But slipped and was swept up by the strong current.

“Abaddon!” Esther yelped as he disappeared from view. She struggled out of the lake and ran down the side of the moss-covered rocks, slipping and falling as she attempted to reach her friend. She stopped for a moment before realizing he’ll probably be fine, shrugged, and climbed more cautiously down the side of the riverbank.

Looking around, she spotted the demon boy’s doorman vest floating along the surface of the lake. Esther snatched it up and continued searching for its owner.

“Abaddon? Abaddon! Abby? (he hated that nickname) Abracadabra? (that too)”

She heard splashing as Abaddon dragged himself out of the wide river. Hurrying over, she noticed that the shirt he insisted on wearing while swimming was torn open.

“Curse you spirits of the depths!” He turned to her.

Esther gasped.

He looked mostly fine for someone who went over a small waterfall, aside from some minor scrapes and cuts from hitting some boulders on the way down. But what really caught her eye was the scar that was embroidered in the middle of his chest.

It looked old; it was white and faded slightly around the edges, so it looked a bit rounded. But it was clear as day that it was a cross—a cross of religion. Something that was so unnatural to the demon boy’s body.

Abaddon froze. Then attempted to cover the scar from view as he turned and ran barefoot through the woods. Esther ran after him, calling out to him.

“Wait, Abaddon! Please listen to me!” They crashed through a thicket of brambles, cutting themselves in the process. Esther silently thanked her mother for making her wear a long-sleeved swimsuit with aqua shoes.

Ahead of her, the boy finally tripped and crashed to the ground, brown leaves scattering around him. Esther pinned him to the forest floor. He struggled and tried crawling away from her. “Let go of me! This is not one of our games anymore!”

She was still shaking from the adrenaline of the chase but held firm. “I know Abaddon, but will you stop wiggling for a bit? I’m not gonna hurt you.” “You? Hurt me? The guardian of hell’s gates? The blight of countless civilizations? The-“ She stuffed the vest into his face. “Just put this on, will ya?”

He calmed down as Esther let go of him. Quickly shrugging the vest over himself, he turned his head away from her. “You weren’t supposed to see that.”

She tilted her head. “See what?” He finally looked at her again and scowled. “My one weakness.”

Esther raised her eyebrows.

“Your ‘one’ weakness? You are afraid of ladybugs!”

“That’s because of the woman who cleanses demon possessions in that glowing window—“ (Get the reference?)

“You hate being trapped in small confined spaces for too long—“

“I spent three centuries trapped in this small body—“

“You are ticklish—“

“That is merely the response of my mortal prison being tortured—“

“Anyways—“ she finally cut in. “That is not your only weakness! You have a lot of ‘em. But why hide this one?” She gestured vaguely to where his scar should be.

He was silent for a moment. “…Remember when I told you about how I got into this body?” “Yeah.” He brushed a hand across his own chest. Wincing slightly at the prickling feeling on his skin. It was not the usual feeling of pain he sometimes enjoyed—rather, a reminder of his shortcomings and failures as a demon prince.

“It was made during the very ritual that bound me to this mortal coil. A mark of what I used to be: a full-fledged demon with unimaginable strength! And yet… because of this simple mistake, I am cursed to walk the earth with humans for eternity. This is the mark of my failure. A burden to carry for the rest of my days.”

Esther was silent for a moment. She had never seen Abaddon look so… sad. Well—except for the one time her mom got rid of his vent privileges. Suddenly, an idea came to her. “Hang on, you mentioned a priest did this to you, right?”

“Yes.”

“How long did the ritual take?”

He looked at her curiously. “Not too long. Just in an evening.” Esther tapped her chin, deep in thought. “Do you still have the spellbook they used for your binding?”

“No…? Why?”

“Because,” she said, grinning.

“I might have a way to get rid of the scar, and the bindings! Once and for all.”

Chapter Text

Sooo I need some ideas on how Esther is going to get rid of the scars and bindings.

A new ritual? Some unholy water? Therapy?

I have too many ideas yet don’t know how to write them.

Also; I’m thinking of a title change(it doesn’t fit in with the story anymore)

So if anyone has some ideas(canon events, random facts, new lore, future writing style, constructive critisisim)

please write them in the comments in this chapter!

Guest comments are also open

I’ll also be taking Q&As about the plot/parts that might be confusing.

This chapter is always open!

Chapter Text

Sooo I'm back in school since my 10 day break ended

:(

I'm still gonna post from time to time but it might not be as frequent as before(maybe once or twice a week)

A big thank you to everyone who has commented their own ideas on how to continue this story!

I promise I will update soon!

- Fluffernuttermushroom