A young girl awaits her abusive father, only to be rescued by a boy with auburn hair, freckles, pointy ears, and golden eyes.

Brom makes liberal use of Celtic and Scottish mythology as, in a parallel storyline, he describes Peter's history from birth to Lord of Deviltree.

Their predecessors were revealed to be pagan and druid children fleeing from enslavement, persecution and execution by knights working on behalf of the church.

Ulfgar, out of jealousy, leads the children of Deviltree into an ambush where many of them are killed and many more are captured by the Flesh Eaters (he then brainwashes one new recruit, self-serving Leroy to murder and further betray for him).

The Flesh Eaters during this time are revealed to be a group of English Puritans who sailed to Avalon accidentally while en route to North America.

After being tortured, (during which one Devil, feral child Redbone due to his sustained injuries doesn't survive the process) some of the devils lead the Flesh Eaters to the Lady's hiding place and they kidnap her (on discovering Leroy's treachery Peter executes him as Leroy shows his true colors and cowardly tries to shift blame from himself).

The Flesh Eaters are startled by their surroundings, some even believing themselves to have entered Heaven, and cause a panic among anyone who sees them, which leads them to kill several police officers who come to investigate them.

The Flesh Eaters go to Central Park to execute the Lady, only for Peter and the remaining devils to attack in a desperate rescue attempt.

Judging from what goes on in modern gang culture, seeing how quick teens are to define their own morals, to justify any action no matter how horrific, I believe it wouldn't be that hard.

(Brom, The Child Thief) The Flesh Eaters were a group of Puritans who set out to the new world from England, as well as the crews of the ships that carried them.

When they came to Avalon they were people no worse or better than others of their time, but after 300 years they have degenerated in body and soul to resemble demonic creatures with horn and black scales.